Favorite Band Names ...
Yesterday I saw a link about the humpbacks that are heading towards California. It titled them Wrong Way Whales. When I start my band, that's the name.

But I think The Barbie Bandits could have some cred for, like, an all-girl group. I'd listen.


The Saga of the Barbie Bandits!
I think this is a fascinating story: Ashley Miller (the worse of the bad girls) pairs with Heather Johnston--a straight A, HOPE scholarship winner! They drop out of the college scene, start stripping, and do a bunch of drugs.

They hook up with these guys:

And it's all downhill from there!

The robbery itself is a thing of beauty:

1. They get lost and almost hit the wrong bank. But they call their "inside man" who directs them to the right one.
2. Inside, with designer shades, matched outfits, and low-rise jeans, they are literally giggling while shoveling money into the bag. Like 11Gs.
3. Afterwards they get their nails done and go shopping!

This is awesome.

I'm going to be honest here and say that if these two do hard time and their lives are ruined, I consider it a loss for the criminal justice system: I see potential for rehabilitation here (mom's a school teacher--they have a family support system to go to). Should something happen? Yes--and it should be unpleasant--but it should not involve the horrors our criminal justice system is capable of unleashing.

I'll also note that, while no fan of Paris, she shouldn't go to gen-pop (and she's not) if Prince "Bullet-Magnet" Harry doesn't get to go to Iraq ... for the same reasons.

Basically I think we need to make sure that the jails are bad because they are jails and not because they are lawless places filled with violence. Until that changes: Free The Bandits! (and you can let Winona go too, for all I care).

And the other guys? I don't think they should go down too hard for this either. I have no idea if they "put the girls up to this" (at 19, I don't think it matters either)--but this is a heist anyway--not a violence-laden robbery.

-Marco