Remember "Barry vs. the Hoons"?
Scooter
and over as different cities decide to use that plan, in some cases
calling the teens "hoons." The first time it showed up in the Australian
media in 2006, Barry fired off a response to the coverage. Here's a ng
post with that response:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.barry-manilow/msg/8ec709492f0ac386
The idea seems to still show up every few months from some city somewhere
in the world. When Christchurch, New Zealand, used the idea earlier this
year, this columnist noticed:
.......................
http://www.thedailystar.com/opinion/local_story_353034508.html
Daily Star
Oneonta, NY
December 19, 2009
Sammies honor best of the worst
By Sam Pollak
All year long, while all of you are out doing who knows what, here I sit,
working my poor fingers to the bone, slaving over a hot keyboard,
searching high and (in particular) low for candidates to include in this,
the Fifth Annual Sammy Awards.
And this ... this is the thanks I get?
But don't worry, darlinks, it's all right. Don't worry about me. It gives
me pleasure just to give you pleasure.
Sit back. Put your feet up. Can I get you a pillow for your feet? No? OK
then, just enjoy The 2009 Sammy Awards.
[snip to]
The "I Write The Songs That Make The Whole World ... Leave" award goes to:
The New Zealand city of Christchurch.
It seems Christchurch was having problems with teenagers throwing garbage
about, spraying graffiti, getting drunk, doing drugs and bothering
shoppers, so the business folks came up with a solution.
Playing Barry Manilow songs over the mall loudspeakers.
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29474213/)
"The intention is to change the environment in a positive way ... so
nobody feels threatened or intimidated," Central City Business Association
manager Paul Lonsdale told The Associated Press. "I did not say Barry
Manilow is a weapon of mass destruction."
Hey, whatever works.
[snip]
...................
--
Scooter