The Waking Years Of America

Who Let the Dogs out?

2012-02-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

This picture, one that I took in Panama City a few years back, reminds me of the last description of the end of time for Earth as H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. Where the time traveler is sitting in the Time machine at the end of time at the edge of the ocean as the sun dims and is burning out. The traveler can hear the scratching of the crabs on the sled rails of the Time Machine having gone a far in the future as he dare.
Having root memories in time with no air conditioning, Television or money for summer footwear, it seem surreal and a paradox to have moved this far in just a short time in sixty years. From a time when a handshake was a serious event and my word was fact to whoever I gave it to. I could sleep with my doors open, drink from another person's well with only a nod or a tip of the hat. Corn cob pipes were what we used to test a variety of dried plants that would give us the same dizzy feeling as spinning in a rope swing twisted as far as we could reach. Fishing with cane poles with worms we fiddled up and ending up skipping flat stones when they weren't biting. We proudly wore out flour sack shirts to church on Sunday and giggle as older men would doze during the sermon, and snicker as we watched how many choir members could read there hymnals upside down. We weren't afraid of horses slept with dogs and would play for hours with the scary looking Ant Lion under the front porch. Always proud of our hand me downs and sad when we out grew a favorite pair of overalls. Our closets would smell of moth balls and shoe stretchers were a new invention that only grown-ups could use. We washed our hands before we ate, said a blessing and removed our hats when we came indoors. It didn't take but one trip behind the wood shed to learn not to back talk your elders. Having to pick the hickory switch to be used on your legs,often being sent back for a larger one taught you bite you tongue and mind your language. We learned to tie a knot young because your hay baling twine was often your belt. We didn't need watches we always new what time it was, everybody knew their dad's whistle and grandma's yell, which often was not a word just a sound. We would sit around the radio at night listening for war news about our men folk and pray for their safe return. We could chew weeds as we lay in the grass at night and view the most magnificent array of stars and could always find a shooting star, that sometimes we would name;we were taught that in our day. We cut our grass with a sling blade and swept our front yard often displacing the old dog that only barked when the mail came. We would learn the value of a good garden and how to take care of one: and we planed for winter with canning of vegetables. We would hang our clothes out to dry for everyone to see and make lye soap in large kettles in the yard. We had other pots also one we made hominy with,a job I didn't care for. One was used for heating water to scald the fresh hen in as to make the feathers come of more easily.

We lived in a Norman Rockwell world with trips to the barber, We had no Wal-Marts, the salesmen came by our house, Butter and sometimes eggs, sorghum new pots iron skillets were all bought from traveling salesman who never ask for tax or denied credit or turn down pickled peaches as payment. Later they would deliver milk and cheese, and even put in the ice box if you were still asleep or away and the dog wouldn't pay no mind. We didn't have phones then, but when we did we could call anyone with just three numbers, or share a partyline useually with someone who was prone to gossop. Christmas ment candy clothes and fruit. Hopalong Cassidy pocket knife that everyone knew I would cut my fingers off with. Not all my hero's were cowboys, some were baseball players, Mickey Mantle, Lue Burdett, Dizzy Dean all played a part in my devlopement for love of my country. I relly don't want to just roll over and let what is happening to my country throw the baby out with the bath water. I have served in her military, seen her might when correctly governed and watched with embarassment as fundamental rights are broached and moral indignation a forgotten lesson. I expected more from those of my age; not the indifferent attitude that seems to prevail today. It is those who seek power and control who probe for weekness's and they seem to have found a few, this generation is awe stricken with technlogy, some we've embraced in our effort to fit in and conform, but confused by the lessons of the past and the developements of today moving so fast; too fast. We are not charged with clear cut medthods of collective thinking, fear of big brother jerking the rug out from under us and being treated as expendables in a world where their morals, knowledge and experience is our generation. It is only in number that we posess any power and using the rights still recognized as fundamental. Use your phone use your computer and raise hell, Bitch slap Congress and the executive and judicial branches for the selfserving idiotic deviation from the constitution based on a lie gone arie. America is but a paper tiger with the governing body we have, evilly led monetarily driven by idiots with the light off. We do not need change first we need damage control then solutions. Change the flat tire before you plot a new course.

As lond as we give the government premission to act as they please they will.
At some point we have to get the dogs out, give them the scent and see what they tree......

A tribute to a wonderful soul

2012-02-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

The experience of losing a grandson is indescribably painful and a life changing condition. To be enjoying a simple game of tossing the football when he suddenly collapses and never moves again can cause you to question the very existence of God himself and pleading that he take you instead, such a young and caring thoughtful child whose life has just began to bud,exposing the rare thoughtful soul one stands in awe of. Why not take a sixty two year old shriveled up old man, scarred from being in life's tumbler and having experienced life's harder times instead of someone destined for greatness? I wanted to die, I have lived through times I shouldn't and wondered why am I suffering such pain only to see things I love vanish before my very eyes. Even today I am at a uncomfortable position with my faith and its only through John Wesley that I have the strength to take a step further and find a positive outlet that he might have wanted or even encouraged as being the right thing to do. Providing awareness of cardiac arrest; detection methods, prevention and treatment to a seemingly invisible but detectable disease can and does save lives for young and old. My body is my vessel, worth but little, my efforts and intentions without commitment even less. To honor his memory and not so much the glory of God, I dedicate myself towards that end. Our family and friends have for the second year of his untimely death intend to help as many young people and adults discover what we have had to experience with poor results, the knowledge that might prevent a loss of life. Schools, sports complexes and places where people congregate are being supplied with AED's and heart screening at little or no cost because of the foundation. We have made it a family thing that grows even larger at every event undertaken. It is with this dedication and love along with the memory of John Wesley Foster that draws our family even closer with a spirit we have all seen in the eyes of that special nine year old hero.

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2012-02-05T16:06:00.001-08:00

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2011-04-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Not Always Right | Funny & Stupid Customer Quotes » Emulation Alienation

2010-08-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

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How the Media hide or witheld the truth

2010-04-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

For me it was local politics that sounded the first alarm for me. The Governor's race in the state Of Alabama, had closely resembled the Presidential race with backdoor politics and claims of victory at a time that no one was sure.The numbers just didn't add up. But somehow although a foul was claimed it was somehow squelched and it was politics a usual.
We settled into a period of time when it seemed we watched subtle intrusions on some of our fundamental rights, and the debate rang on with subjects like abortion and whether a women had the right to decide what she was able to do with her own body. The right to bare arms was challenged in many areas of this nation, even in this country's capitol of Washington that right was taken away until it was brought before a judge who had read the Constitution and ran across it in the second amendment. After the questionable event of 9/11 things went haywire and a flood of events began to happen, the creation of Homeland Security, and its failure when a visit from a storm named Katrina visited our continent. The ridiculous summation of the Warren Commission was an event that evidenced the extent that Congress would go to insult our intelligence.

Then the war on terror was launched with little evidence and a lot of anger that has to this day offered no clear solutions while at the same time polarized Muslims from all over the world with hatred for Americans. Then The Patriot Act with its sweeping governmental authority and invasions of privacy to the extent that it gave everyone paranoia . America watched as war death tolls added up, suicides increased and we learned new words like embedded, IE D's enemy combatants and WMD's .
Where was the media all this time?, well most of them were being manipulated by officials and the truth about many things was being ignored and while some reporting of the truth was getting through the reporting of the truth was not what most people were being told. The ones who would report the truth were being labeled as reactionaries, extremist's and were quickly ostracized.
The nation was ready for change and many were ready for a lynching so by the time America saw a new administration, banks had collapsed company to big to fail did indeed and bail outs after bail outs and the rich never skipped a beat. America, thinking things were beginning to better, car companies fail, and jobs are lost by the hundreds of thousands and the housing market, taking the hit from the bail out families were being thrown out of their houses because they couldn't make their mortgage payments. Americans, being who they are demonstrated everywhere, and were quickly called un-American, and racists leftists and many other names, the formed parties, TEA, GOOOH, and America is fractured but clear on intent, and with the right elements in place this next election will prove to be one of extreme interest.

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2010-03-23T04:15:00.001-07:00

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2010-03-14T17:59:00.001-07:00

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Does doing the Right Thing for America Require a rebublican or a democrate?

2010-01-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Having being born during the 1940's allows me a view shared by many of our senior citizens today, many of whom fought in the many wars we were asked to. I can recall a few years between the Korean conflict and the involvement in Viet Nam. I suppose those years were the easiest to experience, America was a world power, we were innovative, we experienced discovery and science technology that put us in space and on the moon. Our manufacturing was next to none, and we lead the world in lifestyle and freedoms. We saw the emergence of unions who fought for workers rights and a fair wage, supported by for the most part the Democratic party, we witnessed booms in steel and automobile middle class America, it was our way out of poverty and off the farm and not so dependent on the whims of nature and Government programs controlling commerce. A Democrat would be in office and the middle class would prosper for a while and the pendulum would swing and we would not do so well under the Republicians. And the the meltdown, It got increasingly harder to tell the difference as politicians became career choices and the lines of distinction blurred like our income tax structure it was impossible to differentiate and draw any clear conclusions as to who was what.

Then the meltdown, America was viewed as an enemy by some a friend by some, we backed the Shah, and then we didn't we backed the Taliban, and then we didn't, we backed Iraq, and then we didn't, we sat on the edge in every corner of the world judged by these people we had elected and had no real clear view of the nature of their policy, sure they would say we are for this or that, and we would discover Iran-Contra, Watergate, Lt. scapegoat Cally, Oliver North Richard Nixon, and on and on. We could point fingers in all directions, but the one constant we could count on was the elected officials who we sent to Washington were using the system to perpetuate their own agendas. Squabbles would erupt and one side or the other would give ground, but the same people would always remain, guarded by their Golden Umbrella. While America worked harder as jobs disappeared overseas, both parents would join the ranks of the working to keep up with the ever increasing cost of living, as we supported a war here a war there, there seemed no end. While we were policing the world, we lost our own security at our borders because no one cared if the Mexicans came to America because they would take the job the middle class didn't want. So we left our guard down, by some opinions, and woke up one day to discover that not only had our security been breached we had seen an influx supported by NAFTA talks and bad decision making.

And then came George Bush and Cheney, election anomalies and different agendas seemed to emerge, secret deals, eight years of embarrassment to America, and finally....9-11... shocking as it was what became an excuse to began a war was in itself of a suspicious nature, planes crashing where we saw no plane, pentagon (regarded as one of the most protected buildings in the world) attacked and no positive visible evidence, and finally the 9/11 Commission, what a joke. again career politicians acting as puppets might with a rubber stamp. As a veteran I was trained as a demolition expert and I am well aware of the likelihood of the towers being destroyed as they described. At every election we were beaten with the word "Change" they all used it Republications and Democrats alike until today, the sound of it releases hormones that taste like sulphur and smell of burnt rubber. Why we waste our time trying to decide if this one is a left wing, Hippocrates or a yellow belly, warmongering thingamawho, when knowing the enemy's name has little to do with the actual battle.
The came the bailouts, oh yeah, the same ones,act up on camera, but do the bidding legislative branch of Government. I watched my house I had worked and paid for while raising three kids, a place I had improved, remodeled up-coded devalued by 33%. To some the American dream became a nightmare, job loss, home loss, retirement no longer an option.
Like Rev. Martin L. King I have a dream, unlike his dream of better feeding and watering grounds for a single segment of society, I dream that America will wake up and shed the distracting fixation with party and party affiliation and realize that America really has only only one party, its the same one that Thomas Jefferson spoke of, the same one that Samuel Adams spoke of and the same one that Abe Linchon spoke of, one that is mindful of our God, respect the will of the people and act for the good of the Nation and work for peace and tranquillity for all, for all Americans the pursuit of happiness should be our birth right.

Is America's Legislature a Slaughterhouse for Liberity?

2009-10-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

Rep. Price’s remark: “The protest rally is a declaration by a new generation of patriots to carry that torch of liberty to take our country back.” Sen. DeMint suggested that, “It is time that the President started listening to us.”This was a description used for the Recent "Tea Party" that was attended by some estimates reaching 200,000 participants in Sept. this year.
Less then a year into the Obama administration House Bill are flying through with legislation revoking or effectively altering many of our rights. I have never seen such carnage in my life time.

I was born during WWII and read about the nuclear bombs on Japan, learned of the Holocaust in Germany, saw my dad off to the Korean conflict experienced the invention of the black and white television and traveled by train and bus. I visited foreign countries as a military brat and I broke my back skinning trees. I learned a foreign language and spoke it well. I have seen UFOs and played cowboys and Indians and no one died, and had a Joe Plooka punching bag, and rode sticks for horses. I have smoked rabbit tobacco and grape vine, marijuana and once took a toke of hash. Saw people die, even my dad when I was 12, I have been bitten by dogs, horses, cats, turtles, rabbits, squirrels, fish, snakes and humans and other of Gods creations to numerous to mention. I have witnessed injustice more then anyone should, been called names just because I am white and I have been beaten for no reason. I have had people try to kill me and I took a job willing to kill people for my country with no questions ask. I have witnessed assassination and cover-up of political figures and seen the guilty go free and the free die. I saw Sputnik with my dad, and moon landings resulting in giant leaps for mankind, and discoveries that marvel the imagination. I have dug up arrow heads and cried for native Americans, I have hitch-hiked and escaped sexual predators because I was savoy and recognize things extraordinary. I have exercised as many rights as needed and defended those of others. I am indebted to many, even some who don't know I am, and I am in love with thoughts of those who have passed. I refuse to hate, prefer to change and always willing to listen. Selfishly value my own thoughts, offer opinions only when ask and always try to be tactfully truthful.

In the last ten years I have witnessed the attack on all of our liberties through lies and deception that is unprecedented in the history of this country. The call go's out to all Americans, look around and ask yourself what is happening, what has changed, what control do you now have? What can you do to preserve American values? Who speaks for who? Time to stand up and be counted for what is our only chance to take our country back from the hands of those who would willingly sell our country for power and monetary gain..

Digital Image Resources on the Deep Web

2009-09-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Digital Image Resources on the Deep Web

Can America Recover?

2009-05-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

I was born in the 1940's and over the years I have grown to know some things about my country. I have seen the quality of it's leadership slowly deteriorate over the years. Many of our freedoms trodden in the dust,small business impossible to create and grow and the American dream resembling more of a nightmare. Americans have become so displaced and burdened with government and the decisions it has made that many have become complacent and prefer not to even participate in the election system, I personally know people who don't vote yet are vocal about political affairs,but that, in itself a good thing because our will is not completely broken. Likely gone are the days when we as a people of common ground or accord could decide between statesmen to handle our affairs as a sacrament to the public trust. Nor do I feel the upwelling of strength enough to throw off our bondings and address this nation in such mass as only seen in third world starving nations. Yet it begins, it begins with people feeling lost and left out with urges to horde and prepare for some as yet unknown happening. I don't see the people pouring out of the hills with guns as the Appalachians did or those in Boston and new england. I get a sense of "less urgency, lets wait for a Messiah feeling". Well it ain't happening folks, What your likely to see is someone from the Homeland Security kicking your door down because you were protesting within so many feet of a government occasion and drag you off to rot in some unknown place out of the way, making fear the number one weapon being used against Americans. Will it take the loss of one more right, or two until people feel united again? By design fracture and confuse and conquer is a common ploy used by many powerful people who would have the world to do their bidding. If it takes money for you to ignore whats going on around you, well here, take some we make it everyday, and we will make as much as it takes because we don't need it to rule you, we've taken your sons and daughters and turned them into killing machines who will march down your street and shoot you, because thats what we trained them to do. In the name of civil order your government will allow you to have your guns, but regulate your ammunition. They will render you immobile by cutting off your gas supply, They will regulate your food, because they are big business, they will hound you with this strain of flu or salmonella attacks, tainted drugs and unfair laws. They have created enemies where none stood, lied their way into war, all to say "You need us". As of now we have a nation so dependent on its government that with the sum of all of its parts, it can still control, without that collection, or states right to secession, also listed under the tenth amendment, it would die off like a cancer having been told to pack up their belongings and go home, go home to your constituents whom you betrayed whilst the states would form another republic, one in hopes it would hold and control as originally intended and served us so well for years. Far fetched as it sounds, its how the system was designed to work, ultra problematic and next to imposable to accomplish. Hundreds of thousands federal employees thrown out of work, services halted, armies disbanded, commerce grinds to a halt crime intensifies and government programs, even the good ones. Mail almost useless now with the electronic age, social welfare programs people depend on couldn't stutter without cost of lives and any number of problems would prevent that tactic from ever working. We as a nation, even one united could not endure what it would take to quick fix our nation. Can America Recover? Sure we can, American's help put us here, we are guilty of expecting too much, giving our kids everything they wanted and raised a nation of spoiled fat people who took liberty way to lightly spent to much time on racial hate and money loathing. What ever problem popped up we threw money at it. We kept doing the same things and solutions, as Einstein had suggested, expecting different results. My children suffered corporal punishment when they knowingly mis-behaved and I wasn't jailed and my children stayed out of trouble and bore me grandchildren who have their hand slapped when they reach for a hot stove. My poor grandmother would be serving life if present law were applied then. We have hard work ahead, we are faced with a system whereas anyone charismatic enough with a lot of money can become president or less, who serves a personal agenda can fool a lot of the people a lot of the time.

I wish for a time when we can forget parties and focus on issues that effect us all and who is best suited to gather around them the people who can serve the public trust in solving these problems without the bullshit of race, religion or political orientation and forget the Ass or elephant and remember the person having to sleep under a bridge or tent cities or not buying medication to pay their power bill. I wish for a time that justice is fair, and law abiding citizens are allowed to restart the mom and pop nation we grew up with by being allowed to compete with Wally-World and Shell Stop N Go by keeping a larger portion of their earnings and not be burdened with taxation with or without representation. I wish for a nation NOT owned by government but one that answers to people who ask questions and questions intentions and not bought and sold statements from tainted media who's driving force is shock and awe for ratings.
In short, if you believe as I do that America has within its borders, people, regardless of ethnic orientation capable of bolstering the values this nation was founded on, possessing moral consensuses, regardless of wealth, urge them to stand up, speak up and exercise your and their rights to change this country one step at a time...

That odor you smell is Alabama

2009-04-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

The picture I chose to use for this article on the left is one I found in the web domain, and I have no idea who to give credit to. But it provides me with a place for my consciences to to be while I write this blog.
Its Easter Sunday in the starry state of Alabama and as people dress themselves in their Sunday best to attend church services, many are scanning the daily paper educating themselves about the developing accounts of the daily happenings. Here are their choices, the front pages has an article about a local judge who was removed from the office of the Alabama Supreme Court for refusing to obey an order from a federal judge, his crime and claim to fame is having placed a large marble stone with the inscriptions of the ten commandments in public view under the cloak of darkness and refused to have it removed.
The article today states that he is considering running for governor next year. Now America has embraced the connection between government and God quite well over the years and it's obvious that out founders were comfortable with the idea as am I, however a man of law who contempt and arrogance led him to pick a fight with a federal judge and not consider other options,shows very poor judgement and not the type of diplomat I would want in the governor's office. Yet he will likely attract a following hell bent on Bible thumping his way to office.
On the editorial page they refer to this senator from north central Alabama as lucky, here is his story: At the age of forty was arrested for drunk driving,failure to yield to an emergency vechicle,driving on expired tag and the open container law. The article states that in the many run-ins with the law all charges were dropped or he was acquitted, wonder how? He states it must have been God's will the the latest case opened his eyes and now he will seek help for his alcohol problem, imagine that.The people of Cullman Alabama are indeed fortunate to have God watching over one of their own while he tirelessly represents them with such good favors and examples.
Considering the state of affairs of Alabama, the senate seems so perplexed with the concept of possibly having gambling and a possible lottery that nothing else seems to matter, local bills favoring certain areas are stopping the whole process of representing the people of Alabama, Alabama is in proration, losing jobs declining health care coverage and underfunded programs all fall by the wayside while they squabble amongst themselves. Corrections struggles with its ever increasing prison population is causing bad judgement decisions on the part of those officials charged with the programs to keep people from returning to prison. People with non-violent crimes, rather then given help to stay out are sumarily given life with out parole, and cramming them into two and three man cells to live in squalor and filth because hygiene items are some of the privileges lost on citations and disciplinary.
Alabama is not likely to recover any time soon, based on the quality of its leadership, anyone offering to help this state has some sort of mental problem, and I will need to qualify that by saying everyone wants their public servants to be honest, believe in a supreme being whose fundamentals are moral, they want them to work diligently but ethically and not seek personal gain. Well what sane person could be elected if they followed those rules and lastly and most importantly what person would want to wash their hands in that cesspool only to be stymied by those who use their office as a self perpetuating power trip. We all know that the only way to fair representation is to level the playing field, which short of anarchy simply will not happen. Alabama will have to absolutely hit the bottom for things begin to improve, all things mean and evil will have to be removed or enticed to leave office and forces that influence information be called to account and understand that the right to free speech comes with the responsibilities of delivering the truth and not twisted accounts of public servants misconduct.
Alabama's Governor, aloft and arrogantly panders to those with the most influence today, and later he splits hairs to side with other factions constantly wrestling for power to select this or that position, assuming control without justification, meddling in local business, all for the sake of preserving for those who follow reserve power least he need their help in the future. He and his appointed Attorney General can't agree on what is or is not bingo in Alabama. The only thing Alabama leads in is the alphabetical list of states, never by its stats unless they're negative, and certainly not by example. Burdened by the worst debt in Alabama history, Governor Bob Riley made sure that every road entering the state be dressed with a sign with his name on it, the only state I, being somewhat well traveled, I know of the allows their Governor to do that. That's using taxpayers money for personal gain,. But to take that a step further Alabama obviously allows county sheriff's to also use taxpayer's money to adorn their patrol cars with their names also.
The state of Alabama has some of America's absolutely beautiful beeches, scenic mountains, epic waterfalls and flora and fauna as tourist attractions yet they are mostly ignored by self serving hang-ons left over from the racial wars. Blacks and whites alike are still holding on to the same self destructive habits that will never work to put this state in good favor of the rest of the states. Alphabetically, Arrogance, bigotry, cronyism,deceit,elections, fixed elections, gaming, hate, ignorance,gerrymander and many other things are holding this state back from using the goose that lays the golden egg to bring it citizens out from the cloak of being perceived as fat cats in smoky rooms scheming and white judges slamming young black men with life without parole for shoplifting a cartoon of cigarettes. If you come to Alabama, role your windows up,stop in Fla,Ga,Tenn.,Miss, get your lotto tickets a new air freshener, and pay no heed to the sucking sound you hear, it is only Montgomery sucking the life out of its citizens.

Sawdust the deaf Cat

2009-03-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

The day in day out happenings in prison would be very upsetting to most people who by most standards live somewhat of a mundane lifestyle with few distractions. In a typical day I might witness confrontation between officer's and inmates, often to the physical point. Over hear a discussion between inmates about homosexual behavior and deviant tendencies, which by the way I am supposed to document under the Prison Rape Eradication Act. PREA for short. Were that the case I would spend most of my time with a pen and paper just writing who said what.

Working in an environment that has developed its own culture where men take on woman's names to project their sexual preferences, money is items with a graduating scale of worth, twelve ounces of coffee is worth three bulgier, a brand of tobacco used to roll into cigarettes. A place where men stalk other men and foul language is thrown about like sawdust. Which leads me to the topic. Some months back a litter of kittens were born somewhere in camp around the area where I work near the back of the prison and few paid attention as in prior times most cats would just end up being victim to the electric fence that surrounds the camp. Well as luck would have it several inmates took to protecting the litter, bringing them food from the kitchen and generally giving the no reason to go near the fence. Of the three I have seen one was of particularity interesting as it appeared audibly challenged, or deaf. All of the cats would venture into my shop area but as soon as the table saws or sanders would come on, all but one would high tail it out the sixteen foot roll up door.,

The little white cat became friendly with all the inmates, she would show no fear in being passed from inmate to inmate with intermittent feeding. At lunch when the horn sounded for the inmates to return their tools before leaving for lunch the little cat would be soundly sleeping by someones worktable. Typically the inmates would return in about thirty minutes and the work day would continue. Sawdust as she was aptly named, often awoke to find that she would be alone which would be quite upsetting to her and she would cry like a wildcat, climb the sixteen steps to my office and sit and issue such a loud roar for such a small cat until my co-worker or I would open the door and allow her to come in where she seemed content sitting on my desk until the inmates returned where again, off she would go riding the shoulders of an inmate like a parrot.

By the days end as the horn sounded and this was the only stipulation I have about the cat, and that was for someone to see that the cat went out before they left for the day. That task was often seen to by several inmates, our plants are separated so some inmates from the chemical plant and the upholstery plant have to exit through my plant meaning that I cannot close the walk through or the roll up door until all inmates are in my plant ready to be padded down and filed through the metal detector before going to their respective blocks. In that time Sawdust might have to be taken out side several times and on one occasion I had to lower the door and have someone toss the cat as I closed the door to keep her out.
By morning, Sawdust has forgiven me and greets me as I open the door and she follows me to take her place in the pathway awaiting the arrival of the inmates starting the cycle of feeding sleeping and back rides but she doesn't hear the foul language the sound of a saw or even her own name, so much love in the most unexpected place......

Alabama's struggle with corrections

2009-03-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

Bellow is an article that reflects the opinions of many Alabamians, and most Americans. Bringing the spotlight on some of the real reasons prisons are full and and a waiting list is in our jails waiting on the bed space.

Corrections figures highlight problem

March 9, 2009

Unless one believes that Alabamians are significantly more inclined to criminal conduct than the people of most other states, it is hard to justify our state having the sixth highest rate of incarceration in the nation. Something else has to be at work here.

A revealing new study by the Pew Center on the States should be examined closely by officials in Alabama -- indeed, by any Alabamian concerned about sound public policy. The study found that at the end of 2007, one in 75 adult Alabamians was incarcerated. There were more than 43,000 people in state prisons and county or city jails.

That one-in-75 figure is troubling enough, but when the Pew study expands the "correctional population" to include those on parole or probation, the figure jumps to one in 32 adult Alabamians.

Ponder that for a moment. One in 32 adult Alabamians is in jail or on parole or on probation.

As for the one in 75 behind bars, many of them, of course, should not be anywhere else. They are serving sentences for violent crimes or for offenses that present a physical threat to law-abiding society.

Many others, however, are locked up under ill-designed laws that incarcerate people needlessly. Nonviolent property crime offenders, most of them with drug problems, are not well served by incarceration, and neither is society. It's expensive and unproductive.

Alternatives to incarceration are crucial for Alabama, not merely to help contain the costs of incarceration -- although that's important -- but to lead over time to better outcomes for both the offender and society. Little is accomplished by incarcerating a person with a drug addiction whose crimes do not involve violence. The offender and the society to which he or she will eventually return both will benefit much more from an effective drug abuse treatment program.

That doesn't mean that these crimes draw no punishment. Instead, it means that alternative sentences for such nonviolent offenders include appropriate treatment along with restitution to victims. Simply locking up someone in this category of offender just raises the cost to the taxpayers without providing any real return in long-term enhancement of public safety.

Alternatives such as community-based corrections programs are far less expensive to operate than prisons and provide much better opportunities for treatment and restitution. In the end, everyone benefits more from that than from a mindless insistence on incarceration.
ON THE WEB
V To read the Pew report, log on to the following Web site:
pewcenteronthestates.org

Living with and without Hope: The money shower

2009-03-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

Living with and without Hope: The money shower

The money shower

2009-03-06T16:42:00.000-08:00

Although this place is not on my way home,I wanted a picture of it because it speaks a little about who I am and where I have found myself to be. Strangely symbolic in a way, it is and of itself,representing hard work and additional alterations over time. We will ignore the abandoned part.
For those who are reading my blog for the first time, I work in a Prison, a maximum prison in the State of Alabama, known for its corruption and political slaughter of those who would disrupt the powers that be, (and this changes from time to time) and among my friends and colleagues believes that our present Governor stole the election by unlawful conduct conducted by overly eager supporters and hopeful recipients of political favors. But this isn't the core of this post. I am employed by the Department of Corrections as a Cabinetmaker, there are only a handful across the state and we all do different jobs, some do mill work, some do furniture construction using press board and laminate and some travel across the state constructing modular work stations that we build at our facility. In my case, a colleague and I have the only furniture restoration and furniture construction from raw material plant in the state. We will take a piece of furniture, be it a desk or chair credenza or whatever, strip it with solvents break it down into components and re-construct it to showroom condition and return it to the customer. We do this using inmates who we screen as being candidates who are receptive to conditioning in the necessary ability to work with others and taking pride while developing abilities and skills useful in a workplace setting.
If you're thinking working with inmates who are convicted of murder, robbery, and heinous crimes can be trying you're right, sometimes I am tested, I have witnessed murder, came within seconds of being a victim, walked up on inmates making knives, caught them stealing even discovered prison whiskey. Yet I have never regretted a day I have spent dealing with men who's lives was changed by their actions or circumstance's they found themselves in.
At the end of the day the inmates are returned to the Department of Corrections, to be dealt with in a more controlling manor by officers who do not respect them as human or indulge in barter by bringing them dope, cell phones porno movies or whatever, only to have their fellow officers go and discover these items for promotional purposes. The three time looser law has filled Alabama's prison's to dangerous levels and something must be done to address the over crowding. Alabama doesn't seem to be in any hurry. With D.A.'s and Judges not willing to admit to making mistakes and ignoring court orders, it isn't likely things will change any time soon.
Where I work is located, as are some prisons, in a rural area which means I can go for a ride in the country after work every day before I get home and not feel so much like I have a tiger outside my gate. Oddly,I am told or reminded almost daily, that the world I have to move around is much more dangerous then the one the inmates have as in predictable structure. I can't argue the truth of that fact as I pass food marts that used to belong to mom and pop with attendants behind bullet proof glass while occasionally venturing out to make latte or brew coffee or restock the beer cooler. All the while people are pulling up to gas pumps in SUV's guzzling gas at $4.00 plus per gallon on their way to Wal-Mart built with Chinese money by Mexican labor using foreign raw materials stocked with very few items built in the old USA. If your unaware of what the road to ruin looks like then take a good look. Families loosing jobs then their homes while companies in financial destitute foreclose on houses they can't sell because nobody will loan money so the cycle begins. Large company's absorb the financial stimulus money and use the unstable market as an excuse not to pass the money on in loans and the line between the rich and poor widens and we are enslaved to submit to the bidding of the powers that be. There will continue to be suffering until a tally will show what is real money and what is just paper, and who holds what is of real value. Right now we're just throwing money at it, hoping it will solve itself. I have read some articles that seem to suggest that many states have legislation in place to enforce the tenth amendment, which gives the states the right to say that "we don't want to continue in this manner and demand our rights as states to succeed from the United States and not be represented by the government as it stands" In essence Those of you in Washington can just go home and we'll just find new beginnings as we did id the 1700's. Some would say division is an opportunity to conquer but the "right to bear arms" would act as a deterrent to any serious thoughts of that. Would the government view anarchy as a terrorist threat? who can say, laws are in place to honor both "the peoples rights or the Governments right to protect"?

I have heard people say "I shouldn't have to take a loss just because people bought more house then they can afford" and having said that would appear to be like complaining about climbing into an already over crowded life boat while the luxury liner they just left, sinks after being hit by a torpedo because the captain thought a passing boat had enough weapons to harm us so he shot at it. Look around buddy, we are all in the same boat and it's sprang a leak. Before you get rescued, the bailout crew (no pun intended) has already paid the owner of the luxury liner for his loses which they quickly come back with " this only covers our ship not the loss of revenue by all those people floating around sinking lifeboats, so they pay them again. So when you paddle back to the ship you are told that without money you will not be boarding and the lifeboat you are using is just on loan. Just make things worse they say if you try something crazy like trying to take over the ship we'll chum for sharks and watch the feeding frenzy. To me, at least putting the stimulus in the hands of taxpayer would have been a more effective way of dealing with the crisis. Daily, jobs are being lost, company's complaining no body's buying my product so I have to lay off workers, I know, lets give the already out of touch car makers lots of money to build cars that they should have developed years ago and they can ask what remaining workers they have to take pay cuts to build cars that no one can afford. Wall street should be re named the black hole and who needs it?, surround it by several blocks with crime scene tape a see if it can be dropped in its own footprint and build a park. Get ready for tent city and campfires bicycle commuters who have jobs, campfire smoke mixed with the smell of Deet insect spray.

Civil unrest is brewing, there my be use of force of people being thrown out of their houses and the smell of gun powder,but remember this I will always be grateful that we look down on the criminals and have a place to house them, for it means that I may still have a job and every day I leave I can view that image in my rear view mirror as I look out at all of the empty homes for sale whose signs have faded with age and wonder if that family is living in a tent or out of their SUV in Wal-Mart parking lot.

Living with and without Hope

2008-12-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

If you can, imagine parking your car in the parking lot of a maximum security prison. Quickly checking your pockets for pocketknives and any unnecessary change as there are no soda machines where you are going, no snack or candy machine and what you eat that day is what you carry in your hand. No cameras, guns, or cell phones allowed on state property. Walking towards the entrance you see a few people smoking under the portico before work, as all state buildings are smoke free, nods and greetings exchanged you proceed into the lobby, where you are met by a lady behind a counter to your left just in front of a glass wall exposing another area with offices with one being the warden's and his staff, decorated for the holidays with blinking lights and garland draped in celebration. Three steps and you are at a conveyor monitored by an officer that operates an x-ray machine that you must submit your carry-along to, along with emptying your pockets of any metal objects as pens keys etc. one step to your right is a metal detector you must walk through as many times as it takes, removing belts shoes with steel or anything else that might be picked up on the detector. Having done that you gather your belongings and use one of the two time clocks with numbers pads where you enter your six digit number along with a fingerprint ID and wait for the little beeping green light. To your left is a long hall at the end of which extends a flight of stairs ascending out of sight. After reaching the top of the stairs you are facing a bullet proof glass wall with a microphone hanging from one of those goose neck mounts on the ceiling. Usually there are two uniformed people in side operating the sliding doors that lead in three different directions, one from the way we came leading down the stairs, and the second door that leads to what is referred to as the visiting yard, but really isn't a yard at all, more like an indoor cafeteria with a small brick walled area just out side that's maybe eight wide and thirty feet long that used for smoking.
The third door leads to an area known as the breezeway with two gates, one leading to the segregation area and the other to the "G" yard which sits smack in the middle of everything on the population side. The blocks, the infirmary and kitchen all are accessible from the "G" yard. My job is just past the kitchen through a tunneled area where many stabbings have occurred towards the rear of the camp just inside the three fences facing the Sally port that handles most of the traffic necessary to running a prison. In this area we have six operations in five plants,Chemical plant that makes all of the chemicals used by the state agencies. The upholstery plant also doubles as a mattress plant along with turning out chairs and sofa's freshly re-finished and beautifully clothed. Our Restoration plant does anything from chairs and sofa's to the manufacturing from raw material several types of chairs. We have a re-working area where furniture is stripped and broken down refitted and reassembled for stain. We have a powder coating area for metal works like lounge chairs and beds. This area is shared with the assembly area that builds modular cubicles and furniture. And last is our fleet service area where some vehicle repair and restoration work is done. The inmates working in industries have been screened for sex crimes, since we have females working here, and there have been incidences where some females have been raped,gunned (a term used to describe inmates who will openly masturbate in front of females) or approached inappropriately. We pay $.15 per hour to start out and up to $.60. We employee between 140-160 inmates and one officer, all of who know me and I can call most of them by their first or last name and can tell something about each one's case and who is or is not life with out parole. My job is never dull always dangerous,and is run by Murphy's Law. My supervisor has never made a mistake, so he tells me, has selective memory,and more then a few double standards and one eye that looks in another direction. I work with one Jehovah's Wittiness who doesn't believe in Christmas, but has no problem excepting the yearly Christmas bonus. And always ask for annual leave that time of year. I have often been stuck with working the day before Christmas or the day after as our plants operate year round. And yes I am more afraid of the prison guards then most inmates because they can do the most harm by planting things and plotting against you if you have somehow crossed them,or they just don't like you. Inmates use language like hot rail, bling,and kicking it with the BoBo. They steal from each other, and you if they can and believe in degrees of guilt. Many are flaming homosexuals and some are closet ones. They pitch, and not catch, and pitch and catch,have few loyalties and always studying free world people like a fish bowl. If you ask one how much time they have they might say "I'm gonna be here a minuet" Some young black men whose pants seem to defy gravity are often referred to as "Gang bangers" because of their affiliation with one of the gangs. The most popular are Bloods, Crypts and a few others. White inmates who belong to anything its always associated by the blacks as racist. Tattoos of lighting bolts are called cracker bolts.Blacks out number the whites 70-75% and are the most likely to become gunners. Groups of blacks can be disbursed by bluff or Boo-games, where as white in a group are more frighting then blacks, The Boo-games doesn't work on them as they will call your hand. Anything can and has been used as a weapon, so plastic eating utensils is all that's used. Soap, locks, or rocks in a sock are common. Razorblades used in the right spot are lethal.

Crossing the yard after work you hear the jeering of inmates you have fired over the years along with pleas of those wanting a job as hundreds stand in an un-orderly line waiting for chow as we make our way to the Breezeway and our release.

Is That me in There?

2008-09-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

There are tons of people who live a more interesting life then I. But I'm not up to trading with anyone; for what precious memories and experiences I've had along the way are uniquely mine and make up what and who I am. I shave my own face everyday so I can't hide anything from myself. It s me in there no hiding that, same face looking a bit used by now but I can live with that. especially sense I don't have to look at it all day. Being inside this aging body is becoming a bit f a bother, I miss my agility and people are speaking softer and listening to stupid music. I don't by into idea that my hearing is failing, hell I hear just as well today as I did yesterday so we'll get off that subject. I am living in the greatest time of world history, everything has happened in my lifetime. I was born during a war and I guess I will die during one. All the greatest music was made in my lifetime and man has stood on our moon and traveled beyond. In that span I have known two presidents who were shot, one was killed, and two men were shot trying to become president. Things are beginning to heat up again, Every family in America is facing some kind of crisis, and in some way served up by greed on the part of someone somewhere. I'm not going to get off into the presidential mess, it doesn't matter what your stand is, your wrong, yeah wrong. We don't need this crap, we did not ask to be told that we are fat and unhappy and need a war to feel better about ourselves because we feel real guilt about not giving our government enough money to stomp on a few more of our rights. Well I said I wasn't going to get into all that crap so I'll move on. I did mention I miss my agility and I do, I don't run so well anymore (its true, just ask the nurse standing next to me at my last stress test) and my field goals don't go so far anymore. I probably hold the world record for number of times visiting the bathroom after bedtime. I sometimes think with four letter words, I guess luggage I have working in a prison. But try working in a prison and acting normal, no can do. I haven't seen my belly button in years and its probably full of lint. And sex? who could forget that with all that stuff being flashed across my computer, stuff I didn't ask for I mean. Some of the most fun things I have ever had I had with my clothes on. Shaving my face every day gets old, staring at the old geezer in the mirror makes me want to punish him by growing facial hair. Something inside is yelling "I'm a young man, I just need a new body" And where did my butt go by the way? Once I could walk around with out a belt, Then late one night my butt left, I say it was late at night because if it had happened during waking hours I would've remembered that, unless it was on one of those trips to the bathroom. I can experience leg cramps in rem sleep and be on my feet in two seconds flat. I can wink at anyone I want to, especially women, some smile, some just think I 've had a stroke, none have winked back. I can cuss murders, thieves rapists and child molesters and not fear for my life. I do not call homosexual inmates by their girl names or refer to them as "her or she". I do not wink at inmates. I do not eat in front of them. I gag when I walk past their kitchen. Yes I have been detained against my will. I have witnessed murder and attacks on inmates and prison guards. So I don't get on the geezer in the mirror too much, I have him to thank for bringing me here. Excuse me while I go have a group hug with myself.

How are my Spirits Today?

2008-08-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

There have been many pets at our house over the years, a varied selection of cats, some with tails and some less fortunate
Ones, who for some reason became separated from their tails. One in particular, was a fixed male (we never told him) whose playful nature earned “Bandit” another trip to the vet that eventually led to the removal of his tail after it became infected from a dog bite. I think we had him 13 years. One day or week or however it took him to cover his territory, he just didn’t come home and we never had a clue what happened. Our latest pet loss was a loss of two dogs with a month, one “Lucy” a Chihuahua we inherited from our daughter after she became allergic of her in her first pregnancy. “Lucy” the darter would play by running around in circles as fast as she could dart left, then right all at top speed with legs just a blur. She had been on meds for some time for a heart problem. After ten years just two days before Christmas she passed away. Not long after, early January “Shilo” a red heeler we had for 12 years on his last escape from the back yard was hit by a car. I buried them both side by side in a nice shady spot in the back yard. Along with pets and children running down the same hallway are the many grandchildren who scuff the same floor bounce off the same walls and slam the same doors in the thirty something years in this house. Two of our three children were born after we bought this house, and all three were raised here. As with all homes you spend years in, memories are in every room indeed every square inch of it. I guess that leads me to area of familiarity I have developed over the years that seem to tease me just outside my peripheral vision, as I am usually but not always alone. I am often at my laptop where I have positioned it in the kitchen where I can get a good wireless signal and be comfortable while I type and glance at the baseball games or some interesting show on a small flat screen that snuggles nicely on the counter just in view. Suddenly “Lucy” will dart just out of the corner of my eye, or so it seems, yet I still take a long look thinking I will catch full view next time but she knows I’m waiting so I won’t see her until she suddenly darts through the other door. “Bandit” will stroll across the darkened dinning room and disappear when I cut the light on. Often on stormy nights one of the grandkids will call me from the “Kids” room just after a loud crack of thunder, sometimes I even answer. I think I’ve even had a visit from my grand son John Wesley who passed away while playing in the front yard, by leaving his butt impression in the bed cover on his bed and I am not sure if it is in my head but I hear the faint laughter unmistakably his from his room. Now I don’t want to come across as a “case” but these glimpses from the past and sounds of laughter and joy lift me, and I guess those Spirits lift my Spirits and fling me headlong into past times and good times and fill me with a warm glow like a blanket that is this house and all it has meant to all of the voices and attachments that come with it. We have a new dog now, “Sandy” another Chihuahua who loves kids and grownups alike and the middle of September A new grandson who likely will call “Poppy” to bring him a glass of water or start the DVD.

Cooking for Sunny: A tribute to a wonderful soul

2008-07-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

Cooking for Sunny: A tribute to a wonderful soul

Cooking for Sunny

2008-07-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

This is the meal I cooked for Sunny and I Saterday night

I enjoyed this dish as a child while my family joined our dad on a tour in Germany in the Army in the fifties.

This is called Snitzel, while originally and traditionally is made with veal, lean pork tenderized with tenderizing mallet breaded with flour, egg and milk wash and dipped in bread crumbs before frying at 350. I usually serve this with a lemon wedge and I have seen it served with a fried egg on top.

These are butter boiled potatoes lightly salted and peppered.

Brussel sprouts steamed to the perfect tenderness, seasoned with the leftover butter from the potatoes.

This is red cabbage fried with onoins, apples and sugar with vinegar reduced with a crumbled Bacon garnish before serving.

2008-06-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

Through the years I have had a view from many different perspectives and being human some have changed my outlook on many issues. At my age I would expect to encounter health concerns that left unnoticed could cause serious problems. As a child, born in the early 40's shoes and non-essential clothing were options during the hot months of summer with out air conditioning, all our days were spent outside left to our own devices as to amuse ourselves and baseball and a backyard game we called cork ball was a pastime. All games were sunshine enjoyed and thats where our problems began. It took many years for us to learn that too much sun was not always a good thing but by then it was already written what was going to happen. You guessed it; skin cancer for those of us of lighter skin tone and not just one kind, moles became one kind and freckles another, and seemingly plain skin something else.Well, anyway, I am getting away from the subject and we all have had our stories dealing with curves and fastballs life has thrown at us and we deal with it and go on.So suffice it to say that I am a survivor with a detailed experience record. Recently I encountered a perspective I was unfamiliar with, I started driving in 1960, and in all the years since, have never encountered a problem where I caused or was involved in an accident because I drove very defensively and in some encounters, lucky. I commute daily to my job almost 30 miles away and having driven that route for many years was aware of all trouble spots and how I should react if a problem arises. Well it seems I wasn't prepared for what happened this week as I headed to work. In a area where most traffic chooses to turn left and favor a more traveled road, the car in front of me indicated the turn and to borrow a phrase from football, deeked a move and then stopped when they saw an approaching car from around the curve, I, anticipating the turn did not alter my speed and was quickly aware of an impending collision. Seeing no option other then breaking hard and avoiding contact applied my brakes and aimed towards the space between the stopped car and the shoulder and that when things got weird, leaving the roadway I struck the bank with my right tow hook "I drive a 4x4 f250 " and fliped over and struck the bank with the roof of my truck and rolled over facing the direction I was comming from hanging from my seatbelt upside down. Now I don't like upside down, addiled, but aware, I turned my ignition off, and tried to release my seatbelt, but with all my weight hanging from it, I had difficulty but was aided by the person in the car that had stopped. For a fleeting moment, looking out my windshield, hanging upside down having dodged a maglite, umbrella and a safety kit flying around inside my cab, I must be blessed because it doesn't get any better then walking away from a total wreck without a scratch...I'm gonna miss that truck, one of the best I have ever had......

Behind the razor wire: A tribute to a wonderful soul

2008-06-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

Behind the razor wire: A tribute to a wonderful soul

2008-06-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

I know its been a while since I've been here, seems I've had some healing to do from a pinched nerve in my left elbow. I also have confession to make; I thought that this surgery would be a walk-in walk out type of thing and I would be back at work, maybe the next day. I even joked with the nurses who were doing my pre-admittance about having surgery and how simple they have gone for me. I even had one nurse tell me about a surgery she had, and upon waking, finding a phone number written in her hand from someone present at the time. Now I have had angioplasty twice, one stent, back surgery on L4 and L5 and C3 and C5 and numerous skin cancers removed. But when I woke up from nerve relief surgery on the elbow with my arm in a sling and twice its size and four pounds of ice strapped to it I began to worry. Pain medication doesn't work on the pain it only dulls the senses that feels the pain (does that make since?) Looking at my wrappings, and judging by the pain I imagined my arm cut from shoulder to wrist and evidently I couldn't convey or phrase coherently the burning question of WTF happened? I think I was somewhere six hours out that I realized the first thing I usually do with my left hand and over the course of the next week how many more things I did with my left hand or how many things I did that takes both hands. When the time came for my dressing to be changed, my youngest daughter, who by the way used to be a EMT with a morbid slant, wanted to change the dressing the first time and even tugged at the stitches with the usual ooh and ahh's she is known to emit when she is enjoying someone's medical condition. It was then that I saw the incision was only five or six inches long. Hell that didn't explain why my whole arm felt as though it had been through an old fashioned clothes ringer. I guess most painful was the fact that my hand was void of any writings, no smiley's or phone numbers.

Behind the Razor Wire

2008-03-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Recently in our newsletter at camp, A directive from the warden said that any officer or staff member who carries a fire arm in their vehicle,must register make, model and serial numbers with the warden's office. Well since my General contractor days when I often carried large sums of money, I have had a license to carry a concealed weapon. Recent changes had caused me to replace the usual gun I had in my truck to one I didn't particularly care for and seeing as I was working for the state with security everywhere I decided to just stop carrying a weapon. This is where it get a little fuzzy. A co-worker had said that he had a problem with the state having that information when the sheriff didn't require that info to get a permit. I concurred and thought no more about it. Yesterday I get a call at home (I was off for a Dr. appointment) from an officer who tells me that he received a call from his Capt. that he was told by whomever,inmate or officer, that I had said that it was none of the warden's business about my firearm and I would not co-operate with the directive. He went on to say that I should expect my truck to be searched, and he went on to describe my truck in some detail and that I should expect to be called to the warden's office. OK.. I replied in a calm voice that I welcome any opportunity to speak with the warden and I had expected to be searched from time to time , so to me whats the big deal? Let me get this straight, I am being called to the warden's office because someone said I said something in a disparaging way? And the warden has time for this stuff? So I devised, if it happened, what I would say; Good to see you again warden, I'm not sure why I'm here, no one's talking, have I committed a crime? or violated some administrative regulation I'm not aware of? Oh ,someone said I said that? OK, can I face my accuser? Capt got a tip huh? OK..I believe this is the same officer that only three weeks ago was told by an officer where inmates had a cell phone. My inmate don't view me as a threat and will often share information with me that someone else is doing just to not be involved and not be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well it seems that an inmate came to me with where a cell phone his cell mate uses can be found. I relayed this information to an officer and he contacted this Capt. Three weeks later during a routine shakedown the cell phone is found in the possession box of the inmate who told me and he was given a citation which is loss of privileges. When the inmate went to see the Capt. to tell him that he could call the officer who called him he would explain the mix up. He was informed by the Capt. that there was nothing he could do. Warden, If your officers have nothing better to do then make their warden look foolish, then here are the keys to my truck and they can bring the dog squad, I&I the Capt. and anyone else who isn't busy hunting knives and dope and cell phones and meet in the parking lot and take my truck apart. Later I cleaned my truck out of anything that might be objectionable like documents on the Fair Labor Standards Act and other evidence I have been collecting on non-compliance with Federal law. That another issue to be dealt with...

Behind the Razor Wire

2008-03-16T13:27:00.001-07:00

It was on a busy day when we were swamped with work, four truck loads of furniture had been delivered to us from ADECA who is charged with acquisition from the federal government in the purchase of used office furniture usually at a ten cents on the dollar value. It is eventually destined for the Attorney Generals office when it moves into its new building in Montgomery Alabama. I am charged with the task of overseeing inmates restoring these items to as close to original as possible. My job is made more difficult by the fact that my supervisor, who knows little about cabinetwork or furniture restoration does all quotes and I often have no idea what he has included in the process, so we have our clashes. The 63 year old guy struggling in an already volatile environment with a condescending control freak can make for an interesting day. The one thing I have going for me is no one else in the state can do what I do or as well, so he needs me, he desperately needs me. So he gives me some room when I throw a fit as the inmates call it. Recently I cleared my tool room of some clutter, wore out tools scraps of metal etc. I had them sent to our maintenance supervisor for processing. When My supervisor discovered this he dusted off some old admin regs requiring me to change my tool inventory when any activity involving tool counts, a reg never before used on anyone else, so after a day of updating my tool inventory and creating an up dated inventory sheet he left me alone after I flooded his office with item by item changes like; drill 3/8 yellow in color thought to be suffering from switch damage was sent to maintenance for evaluation at 9:03 am Tuesday Feb 19, 2008, please update your files to reflect this change. Seven flat head screwdrivers, various lengths, suffering from years of grinding and misuse was also sent to maintenance on that day at 12:21 pm for evaluation and or disposal, please update your records to reflect those adjustments. He has never mentioned the incident again.

Occasionally inmates will talk to me about their case, whether its being appealed or sometimes the facts of the case, they never read like their jacket does but now and again I find one who has been railroaded with the three time looser law. I think the original intent was to remove violent habitual offenders from society, however some judges went a step further and threw the book at non-violent offenders also. I have several inmates working for me who have LWOP for strong arm robbery with no weapons charges. I have known cases of this sentencing abuse used on petty criminals with planted evidence, using past crimes including those crimes time was served for up to and including traffic stops. The United States has more people in prison then all of the rest of the world combined. Seems ironic, lie to America or congress and people can die, write a book about it and all is forgiven. Miss a child support payment, stumble into the wrong place at the wrong time, its hammer time. Moral of the story is-- White collar crime pays great benefits so get an education elevate your criminal behavior and you stand a good chance of being treated like you have some rights...and so it goes behind the razor wire...

Behind the Razor Wire

2008-03-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

It was on a busy day when we were swamped with work, four truck loads of furniture had been delivered to us from ADECA who is charged with acquisition from the federal government in the purchase of used office furniture usually at a ten cents on the dollar value. It is eventually destined for the Attorney General's office when it moves into its new building in Montgomery Alabama. I am charged with the task of overseeing inmates restore these items to as close to original as possible. My job is made more difficult by the fact that my supervisor, who knows little about cabinetwork or furniture restoration does all quotes and I often have no idea what he has included in the process, so we have our clashes. The 63 year old guy struggling in an already volatile environment with a condescending control freak can make for an interesting day. The one thing I have going for me is no one else in the state can do what I do or as well, so he needs me he desperately needs me. So he gives me some room when I throw a fit as the inmates call it. Recently I cleared my tool room of some clutter, wore out tools scraps of metal etc. I had them sent to our maintenance supervisor for processing. When My supervisor discovered this he dusted off some old aAdmin regs requiring me to change my tool inventory when any activity involving tool counts, a reg never before used on anyone else, so after a day of updating my tool inventory and creating an up dated inventory sheet he left me alone after I flooded his office with item by item changes like; drill 3/8 yellow in color thought to be suffering from switch damage was sent to maintenance for evaluation at 9:03 am Tuesday Feb 19, 2008, please update your files to reflect this change. Seven flat head screwdrivers, various lengths, suffering from years of grinding and misuse was also sent to maintenance on that day at 12:21 pm for evaluation and or disposal, please update your records to reflect those adjustments. He has never mentioned the incident again.

Behind the Razorwire

2008-02-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

Early on working in prison, I became aware that the super information highway called the world wide web couldn't hold a candle to the speed at which gossip and news could travel throughout this camp. So keen is the process that its been said that if you fart inmates could tell you what you had for diner. They know if you wear the same shirt in the same month change shoes or try a new cologne, the latter not being one I would recommend using in prison, unless you are single and looking to impress a female co-worker. Females who work in prison especially male prisons do not suffer from lack of attention. If she's fifty, fat,hair longer than a finger and breasts they will be "gunned down". Forget that, little or no hint of breast doesn't matter. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, "gunning " refers to an inmate who will expose himself to the female and often masturbate at the sight of a female. Some "gunners" will often cut through their pockets in preparation for the next encounter. Being caught as a 38 as its referred as will result often in severe beating at the hand of the officer making the catch and automatic lock up in segregation for a while plus a label that will prevent you from working in some areas where females are. Kitchen, where you can trade stolen food for favors or items, infirmary where you can sometimes get drugs from patents who will trade or sell their meds for profit. Most of your 38 cases seem to be black males and many have sex crimes, young weak whites seem to fill the role as sissy's or females substitutes (as if you never herd of that) typically they are often protected and sometimes ceremonies for them to be married are performed and, let it be known that the sissy's rule the camp, they are responsible for more fights, stabbings, and turmoil and have been known to set off riots. Even most officers tread lightly around sissy's and give them space, but as is the case in all prisons some officers just don't get it, and will down talk or mistreat one and he will pay often with a severe beating himself at the hands of inmates who see a chance to claim a little "get back". Often they will have girl names, and openly display their sexuality with posture, speech and subtle attire as in tight clothing and (I have herd, night gowns) and sexy weekend wear. I make it a point to use their given names when addressing them and they seem to understand that it makes me neutral and non-judgmental and they except the idea that I don't condone that conduct and I have had no problem from that area, some supervisors can't make that claim and often problems occur when they are allowed to behave inappropriately. Homosexuality is a given in all prisons, it happens often condoned because it keep inmates happy, but you didn't here that from me...................

2008-02-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

2008-02-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

Behind the razorwire

2008-02-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

I am never surprised by the happenings behind these fences, as was the situation the other day. We recently welcomed a new warden, well, welcome might not be the term some officers would use. It seems that this particular warden started his carrier in Corrections at this very facility and under command of some of these same officers who, as I've been told were not the kindest of teachers and suffice it to say some of them were a tad miffed at some of the changes implemented by the new warden. Some officers retired some transfered and some became dubious in their relationship with the inmates. Whatever they could do to cause the new warden misery was the name of the game, even solidified some fractured relationships between some officers.
In manageable groups the new warden addressed the inmates and explained that if they would respect his officers they in return would respect them and any mistreatment or unnecessary behavior by the officers reported to him would be dealt with immediately. Well this was a slap in the face of the ranking officers, who pretty much ran the camp before the new warden appeared. They were subject to issue citations and disciplinary at will for minor infractions, and often hold these citations for information from the inmate, a game often used by officers to make themselves look good, It would go like this "You bring me a shank or knife and I'll make this paperwork go away".
Often as not the inmate involved might not have access to a knife so he'll make one and another weapon in created. In my work area I happened upon an inmate doing just that, with a large file he had gotten from my tool room and his back to me he was filing away at a flat piece of steel finishing off the edges around the point. When he saw me his head dropped knowing it was over, I ask him to hand me the knife, and he did, I then ask him why he was in violation and he explained that he was out of his area or in another dorm and an officer I recognized as one who was particularly foul "went off" on him and wrote him a citation and made him the offer. I had the knife destroyed told the inmate to be twenty-one about his citation because a knife could only get him more time if his timing were off. He agreed and I never brought the incident up to him again, my co-worker whom I admire greatly was in disagreement with my decision to drop the issue and his point was that I had put myself in danger approaching the inmate, I let him say his piece but inside intuitively after seven years of dealing with inmates I knew this one wouldn't harm me..... I trust my instincts.

Behind the razorwire

2008-01-30T17:05:00.000-08:00

The twenty-seven miles I commute to the state prison everyday often is spent reflecting on how I find myself working daily with society’s worthless castaways; murderers and thieves, rapists and psycho’s, and that’s just the inmates. I have made the statement before that I am more leery of the officers then I am of the inmates. As I drive through the parking lot the shortage of prison officers is reflected in the number of expensive cars and trucks that line the curb facing the entrance lobby. I often speculate if by parking at awkward angles occupying more than one spot, is as much a cry for attention as it is to prevent others from parking to close. Officers at this camp are encouraged to work overtime and some seem to live here and take every advantage possible to earn more money. I have heard it said by many officers that they earn more then the warden and judging by the Mercedes, BMW’s and Escalades I don’t doubt their claims. In some ways the officers are a close Knit group and depend on each other, in other ways they will snitch or cross one another out, but all wouldn’t hesitate to find some free world person in violation of something. I suspect to the point that one might find drugs hidden on your vehicle with the dog team on the way if you happen to get crossways with a connected officer. I have been detained against my will, ordered to remove part of my clothing and stand barefooted on concrete used by barefoot inmates and all of my belongings searched because someone reportedly dropped a note that one of our co-workers was bringing in drugs. Nothing was ever found. I greeted some of my co-workers as I stepped up on the curb under the covered entrance protecting the lobby door, and I noticed that a chair was propped against the right double door, “Door broke again?” I ask, “yeah” answered a co-worker as we entered the lobby. Cal, the officer operating the metal detector and conveyor x-ray always chews an unlit cigar informs us that the camp is on lockdown, he doesn’t say why, and that’s not all that unusual as it quite common. It wasn’t until we had arrived in our work area that officer Dan told us that the weather last night had knocked out the phones and we had no contact with the outside world. The trip to the other side of the camp involves, after leaving the lobby we must enter a six digit number into a keypad, use a finger pad that identifies us (as if recognition doesn’t work) pass through central control and leave your ID with David who mans central as support staff, through two remote controlled doors, into what is referred to as the breezeway that leads to two manned gates going in different locations, one to segregation, and one to population, a fifty yard walk across G yard by the kitchen into the tunnel and a right turn into Industries. After arriving in my work area, I must remove locks to the tool room where two inmates work issuing tools for the inmates to use in two of our plants. It wasn’t until phone service was restored around 8:30 AM and work call and mail call went out over the radios and the inmates were allowed to come in and 160 inmates filed past my office and each and every one I call by their name and to them I am “Boss man”. Today we are expecting some furniture from a local library that needs to be refurbished and returned within a week, a do-able for us, but often Murphy’s Law bites my butt, so I have to physically tell each inmate that will be involved of our intent and let him know that we expect his corporation. One inmate who has been with me for a while, is working a parlay board on the super bowl, and has ask me if I want to buy a square, once I discovered that he as a reward for getting up the board has claimed 20 squares for himself (I know this is common in prison) I bow out claiming since it doesn’t pay by the quarter I didn’t like the odds and he left me alone for the rest of the day. He is alright with that, we have known each other for several years, he’s good with his hands and here on the habitual offender law for robbing a drug dealer of $800, and he has legal work pending…odds are not good in this state. Non-violent background so who knows…..Chaswald, as he is referred to is 26or 27 is my clerk, is here on a mandatory LOWP for killing his best friend trying to break up a fight between friends who were fighting over a girl by shooting from an occupied vehicle in to an occupied vehicle, at sixteen he was tried as an adult, exhausted many of his opportunities for a re-trial because of his ignorance of the law and limitation statues. A smart kid, I would like to see him get out of prison at some point. He reminds me that we need to balance our stain inventory as we close out some orders, he covers my back and I often bring him my leftover food. The kitchen food turns my stomach just to smell, hell I don’t even drink the water. I am working in a prison that is designed and built for 800 that holds over 1500, you know the infrastructure is stressed…three to a cell, couldn’t pack more powder in that cannon…..I got to go home, the inmates didn’t want it today…..

Behind the Razor wire

2008-01-29T16:17:00.000-08:00

There's something that happens to a person when they become a correctional officer, or anyone who works in that environment and often those changes aren't immediate, and lets face it working in a prison will test your resolve and patience and that often spills over into your personal life creating stresses on any relationship outside of the workplace. Incarceration has been around for a long time, and networks of schemes and scams tricks and games have had plenty of time to perfect themselves into a formidable web of actions by snitching, dropping notes and planting contraband that can give a "free world" person, a term used for anyone who lives in the free world ; the blues.
Often officers and staff personnel are caught up in situations whereby one can be benefited financially by bringing into prison by whatever means available, contraband like cell phones, drugs, which are most common. Alcohol on the other hand is available in most prisons, made possible by yeast from the kitchen, and any ferment-able sugar base substance, apple, orange potato, or any number of things. But getting back to the unpleasantness of dealing with inmates who could just as soon watch you bleed to death from a beating or stabbing without so much as a passing glance. Fights among inmates are common, and fight with officers is also common given the treatment some officers dish out. Its like a dare of who is the toughest where the inmate always loses. They may get their licks in the beginning, but woe be unto them when they get to lockup. I have watched as officers deliberately provoked confrontations only to have to give the ten-double zero officer needs assistance call over the radio because he miscalculated an inmate's determination to whip his ass. Some officers who are friendly with inmates and often are seen "kicking the bobo" or interacting are often seen as easy marks for use or distraction by "hot rails" who watch while other inmates move contraband throughout the camp. I have thrown some definitions and terms We use daily where I work and even with the serious side of my job, there are humorous and often comical insistences that can make my job interesting... We explore soon the mind of a serial killer, a child molester, and a 16 year old given life without........for shooting his best friend..

behind the razor wire

2008-01-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

Behind the Razor wire

All States have prisons, many also have Federal prisons and federal prisons are run by federal employees whose job it is to follow the statutes set by the government. States on the other hand can be run as the states see fit with management entrusted with the task often powered by whatever political power in office at a given time and changing as administrations change. Also there are varying degrees of security from Minimum to maximum in some states this is usually 1 through 6 levels. 6 being the max camps, that are normally on lockdown most of the time with limited movement. Some, states, not all, use inmate labor to provide services and manufacturing processes to ease expenses to those agencies who, whole or in part are supported by taxpayer’s money, i.e. School districts, state agencies and even federal offices use the services provided at considerable savings to the taxpayer. I work for one of those service centers located in a fifth level prison camp, restoring furniture and manufacture various styles of furniture hand built to customer specifications. All state’s prison are over crowded, In federal prisons 57% are drug related and in 2003 there were close to 7 million people in prison in the U.S. The overcrowding is due in part by a law often referred to as “three time looser law” or three strikes and you’re out of society serving life without the possibility of parole or LOWP. Those inmates comprise a major portion of my workforce. I have (it varies) around 30 inmates under my direct supervision with a total of (again it varies) 150 inmates in the industries division duly sent daily to toil for .15 to .60 per hour. 75% of the inmates we employee are LOWP’s and this blog is about my daily contact with my states incarcerated misfits behind the razor wire.