Police officers in Thailand are experiencing a unique punishment for rule violations like parking illegally and being late. The cops are required to do desk jockey work and to wear pink Hello Kitty armbands at the station. "'Simple warnings no longer work. This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor,' said Pongpat, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok." That is, unless the officers happen to be Hello Kitty fanatics.

Interesting that the enigmatic, mouthless cat of a thousand outfits will now be a scarlet 'A' on the biceps of Thailand's police force. The officers won't have to wear the armbands in public, which seems like a real shame to me. I am enamored with the idea of being pulled over by a guy with a hot pink Kitty armband. And by the way, should the senior officers run out of Hello Kitty likenesses, we have a crapload at my house I wouldn't mind seeing put to good use. As always, thanks boing boing!