What can you say about The Ernies?

Not much, really. Except, this is what happens when society doesn't address the needs of its at-risk populations. The Ernies?! At risk of what, you fairly ask.

The enemy: ennui. Not just any boredom, mind you. The kind of back-breaking, bone-crushing apathy that only the moderately well-off can afford. Think Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime, or if you're bookish, anything by Richard Ford.

Faced pointbland (sic) with their 30s, with too much time and too much money (thanks in no small part to the lack of children), our lads had to decide between the only choices available: form a band or succumb to illicit drugs. (We'll admit that others have managed to balance both, many with some degree of success. Those individuals were far more talented at both. And while our anti-heroes did put illegal drugs off-limits, beer, ibuprophen and herbal teas continue to take a horrible toll.)

The Ernies desperately needed a diversion program. So they created their own.

There are those who would argue that The Ernies' antics in fact "saved" them from something worse. If this is redemption, I would ask, can't we do better? In rebuttal, I submit the linked exhibits as evidence.