Published: Monday, August 31, 2009
IN THE NEWS
Crime can sicken, or inspire
Lawbreakers come in all stripes:
n A Shoreline couple were found equally guilty, and despicable, for draining the bank account of an 89-year-old woman they called “grandma.” Michael and Katie Lambard were convicted of stealing up to $350,000 from Margaret Martin and sentenced to nine years in prison. Prosecutors said the Lambards “befriended” Martin and took over her care. Then they took over her money. Which they spent on cars, trips and “living it up.” In many cases, Michael Lambard, then a bank teller, would simply transfer funds from Martin’s accounts to his. The Lambards said Martin gave them the money as gifts for being the only family she had. Nice. Martin died betrayed and penniless.
At the sentencing, the Seattle Times reported, Michael Lambard begged the judge to go easy on him and his wife: “We did what she asked, and what she wanted, and we’re paying the price for not being educated.
“We’re not these horrible people that they’re trying to make us out to be,” he said. “We’re not like some evil villains in a movie where we’re rubbing our hands together, saying ‘Ha, ha, ha, we got money.’”
Exhibit A in how to talk yourself into a longer, not lighter, sentence: Blame the dead victim. Be a bank teller and blame your “lack of education.” Paint a Kodak moment of you and your wife rubbing your hands together saying, “ha, ha, ha, we got money.” Plant the excellent description “evil villains” in the judge’s head.
n Last week a Seattle artist engaged in an act of “guerrilla art,” leaving papier-maché sculptures overnight at Gas Works park, without first getting the proper permits from the city. The exhibit drew positive attention from park goers and the city decided the sculptures could stay until Labor Day. (Admirer Sandor Szabados told the Seattle Times: “This is allegorical. Grown people in their psychological shells become full persons. I saw it and immediately understood what it is, it’s about breaking through nakedness and having to start anew, like the Age of Aquarius.”)
In keeping with the guerrilla nature of it all, pieces moved on. One, a human-size, gold-colored man, showed up at the Laurelhurst Community Center. The rest was put in storage.
To endorse such spontaneous civil acts of creativity, like mandating casual Fridays, takes the fun out and puts the establishment in. So we denounce such behavior. We call on officials to forbid Snohomish County artists from ever perpetrating such original, engaging, fun works of guerrilla art.
n A Shoreline couple were found equally guilty, and despicable, for draining the bank account of an 89-year-old woman they called “grandma.” Michael and Katie Lambard were convicted of stealing up to $350,000 from Margaret Martin and sentenced to nine years in prison. Prosecutors said the Lambards “befriended” Martin and took over her care. Then they took over her money. Which they spent on cars, trips and “living it up.” In many cases, Michael Lambard, then a bank teller, would simply transfer funds from Martin’s accounts to his. The Lambards said Martin gave them the money as gifts for being the only family she had. Nice. Martin died betrayed and penniless.
At the sentencing, the Seattle Times reported, Michael Lambard begged the judge to go easy on him and his wife: “We did what she asked, and what she wanted, and we’re paying the price for not being educated.
“We’re not these horrible people that they’re trying to make us out to be,” he said. “We’re not like some evil villains in a movie where we’re rubbing our hands together, saying ‘Ha, ha, ha, we got money.’”
Exhibit A in how to talk yourself into a longer, not lighter, sentence: Blame the dead victim. Be a bank teller and blame your “lack of education.” Paint a Kodak moment of you and your wife rubbing your hands together saying, “ha, ha, ha, we got money.” Plant the excellent description “evil villains” in the judge’s head.
n Last week a Seattle artist engaged in an act of “guerrilla art,” leaving papier-maché sculptures overnight at Gas Works park, without first getting the proper permits from the city. The exhibit drew positive attention from park goers and the city decided the sculptures could stay until Labor Day. (Admirer Sandor Szabados told the Seattle Times: “This is allegorical. Grown people in their psychological shells become full persons. I saw it and immediately understood what it is, it’s about breaking through nakedness and having to start anew, like the Age of Aquarius.”)
In keeping with the guerrilla nature of it all, pieces moved on. One, a human-size, gold-colored man, showed up at the Laurelhurst Community Center. The rest was put in storage.
To endorse such spontaneous civil acts of creativity, like mandating casual Fridays, takes the fun out and puts the establishment in. So we denounce such behavior. We call on officials to forbid Snohomish County artists from ever perpetrating such original, engaging, fun works of guerrilla art.
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