April/May - Midnight Express Books
Transcription
April/May - Midnight Express Books
CORCORAN SUN April/May 2011 ISSN 2162-2779 (Print) ISSN 2162-2760 (Online) TO OUR READERS: "HOPE FOR SALE" Awhile back, we were In the chow hall and one of the kitchen workers, Mousie, passed by the table and asked "You guys alright? You need anything from the kitchen?" Issue 59 WHERE THE WOODS WON’T END (Preview exerpt) Chapter One: "The Golden Pony" It was powered eggs & cold, half-cooked potatoes for breakfast, nobody really wanted any more of that, but somebody did ask, "You got any hope back there?" Mousie didn't miss a beat and answered, "They're sellin' it on the tier all day long, 3 for 2." It was funny, sort of, in a cynical convict kind of way. It didn't necessarily mean anything specific, yet, in its simplicity,that off-the-cuff remark stated everything that anybody could ever say about the condition of being locked up... and, about life. Many years ago there was a boy whose grandfather owned a horse farm in north Missouri. This was no well-tended thoroughbred ranch, these were work horses; back then people still used stock for plowing the fields or pulling wagons. Every Sunday the family would gather for dinner and sit around and talk. The boy would listen to the adults attentively and inevitably during the course of conversation, the term 'horse sense' would come up. How 'this' one or 'that' one didn't use their horse sense, or didn't even possess any. The boy always wondered what horse sense was...as the horses around the farm didn't seem, to be especially smart. In fact, the old dirty animals seemed sort of broken down and downright dumb. Some of these guys have been sold false hopes all their lives; by gangs, abusive or abandoning parents, drugs and drug dealers, teachers, lying and cheating partners, shyster lawyers...so much so that hope doesn‘t seem real anymore. You can see It In their eyes--the ones who have given up--the light is gone. They spend their time & energy & what's left of themselves going for the quick fix--a little dope, a little wine, whatever seems to work. It's a hell of a thing to see a man so beat down by life that he's tired of getting back up. The thing about hope is, it's priceless and Invaluable and impossible to let go of once you've had a good taste. It is that little light inside that keeps you going when the odds seem insurmountable. Just as the littlest candle can bring light to the darkest room, even the smallest bit of hope can enlighten the darkest spirit. You can't buy it on the tier, but it's free if you know where to look for it. The boy was always asking to ride them though; he didn't care how big or dusty they were. One day, the grandpa traded for this beautiful Palomino pony. You know the kind, with the blond mane and long tail, and gold coat that shines in the sun. Well, the boy got a Iook at that pony and fell In love immediately. He begged and pleaded, "Please let me ride the pony! Oh, PLEASE, I've got to ride that pony!" Of course, the grandfather was softhearted, as most grandparents are, and the old man gave in and lifted the boy up and put him on the pony. The boy was thrilled and the grandfather was happy...for a second. In an instant though, everything changed! The pony reared up on its hind legs and when they came down, it took off in a full gallop! Instinctively, the boy clung on to the mane and held on for dear life as the pony took off across the pasture at top speed. Its hooves pounded the ground like a rumbling train, and the wind cut into the boy's face as tears streamed down his cheeks. He was scared to death, but he was excited, too. Those people In Japan who survived the earthquake, the tsunami, and now nuclear radiation...losing loved ones and barely clinging to life themselves; they're still going for it. Those people who took to the streets in Egypt and Libya, they're going for it. I saw a guy on TV who got his face electrocuted completely off, now he's undergoing a face transplant, still going on. You see those orphaned kids In Africa, raising their brothers and sisters, with nothing...still going. Things like that make you realize that no matter how bad you think you got it, somebody else is always doing worse. And if they can summon the strength to continue, why not me? Across the pasture they went; the colt was surprisingly agile and swift. They glided over the grass barely touching the ground. It was a big pasture, at least two country acres, but it was surrounded by a sturdy fence made out of railroad ties and barbed wire. As they neared the end of the meadow, the boy anticipated what was to come. They were going to run head-on into that fence, and the pony was not slowing down! Continued on page 7 Optimism, faith, confidence, expectation, desire, dreams. belief--not things that can be bought, but a way of Iife, and a state of mind. Even on the tier. -RZR Welcome new readers and hey y’all to old timers. The SUN strives to be a source of light to reach the darkest corners, and a beacon of hope for the forgotten. Thank you contributors to this issue. Your work is greatly appreciated and your participation is warmly received. Much love to all! GOODBYE NATALIE Chapter two TROUBLE ON THE LINE Fallon Dawn Hunter hadn't planned to be a receptionist when she escaped her tiny hometown of Lonely, Kansas over a year ago. Now, she found herself in a stuffy shoebox of an office, four floors above Hollywood Blvd, answering phones for two bosses. If she perched herself atop the sturdy oak desk and peered out the dirty window, she could just make out the Hollywood sign in the distance. The last 3 letters at least, O-O-D, which seemed appropriate. sent a shiver down her spine when the caller spoke her name, "Fallon Dawn?‖ One boss was a struggling attorney who kept himself busy behind one closed door. The other door was marked with a non-descript sign that read, ―A-1 Detective Agency.‖ After 6 months on the job, Fallon Dawn had never met anyone from A-1, no calls ever were directed on that line and her pay arrived promptly twice a month in the mail; always cash. She obediently complied. "OK, I got it." As boring and dreary as the job might seem, she didn't mind it. She could take off whenever she wanted and the attorney, Burl Barnes, was a friendly, decent type. She especially liked that fact that he didn‘t hit on her. She'd had her fill of being chased around desks and it was comforting to know he wasn't interested in her in that way. "Good. Now follow these instructions to the letter. The key opens the A-1 office. There's a floor safe in the southeast corner under the rug. The combination is… " ―Yes?" The voice was very businesslike. "Listen carefully; don't ask questions and do exactly as I say. There's a key taped to the 'underside of your lower left hand desk drawer, get it." He continued, "Is Barnes there?‖ Fallon Dawn glanced to the closed door, "No. he's left for the day." She scrambled for a pen & wrote quickly. He continued, "There's a briefcase in the closet; inside it, there's a card with an address. Place the contents of the safe in the case, lock it and then deliver the briefcase to the address on the card. Can you do all that?" Judging by the way he specialized in immigration law and seemed to gravitate towards young male clients, Fallon Dawn realized that she was definitely not his type. Her voice was tight, "Yes." She'd arrived in Hollywood with the usual ambitions that so many others seemed to share. She had been on the auditions & interviews and call-backs. She'd attended evening and weekend actor's workshops and had the obligatory headshots done. She had even met a producer who said that she had just the right look for an exciting new picture he was working on and he could arrange a try out. To calm her nerves he provided a mild sedative and champagne. When she came to, face down in the middle of filming with her 3 co-stars in various stages of undress and obviously excited to make her acquaintance, she stormed off the set in humiliation and rage. A consoling associate producer hastily offered a monetary apology for "any inconvenience or misunderstanding", but he also pointed out the fine print in her signed release form. "That a girl. And Fallon Dawn, don't tell anyone what you're doing or where you're going. Don't make any calls. Don't talk to anyone. Do you understand?" Fallon Dawn felt a throbbing in her head from the pulse of her quickening heartbeat. Blood was pumping to her brain furiously & her ears were ringing from the pressure. She wasn't sure what she was feeling--fear, indecision, panic, excitement, intrigue? "Yes, I understand.‖ "Good girl. Be there as soon as you can. And one more thing, make certain you're not being followed." The phone went dead. Her hands shook slightly as she lit a cigarette & went about the task. She surveyed the office one last time before shutting off the lights and happened to glance at her own reflection the window. She barely recognized the figure there. Comically she thought to herself. "Well, sweetheart, you're definitely not in Kansas anymore. She shut and locked the door behind her. You might leave the doors unlocked back home, but not in L.A. As she made her way down the shiny, tiled hall, her high heels echoed clearly in the waning light She'd given up snow boots for stilettos and innocence for wariness. She patted her purse reassuringly. The psychological bruises and self-imposed shame took time to heal. Luckily, the video entitled. "September Dawn" wasn't a huge seller and the heavy make-up and blond wig disguised her face. The experience, however, did sour her on the movie business and the once optimistic and trusting farmer's daughter was now a more streetwise & steely-eyed femme fatale type. Fallon Dawn stayed to herself mostly and could spot a come-on a block away. She‘d traded her starry dreams for the steady 9-5 and her trust in the kindness of strangers for a loaded Colt .25 automatic in her purse. (to be continued) When she placed the weekly calls to her aging mom & pop back home, she still let the bubbly old Fallon Dawn show through. Her old dad could tell though that his little girl had changed. There was an indefinable edge in her voice that was different. An underlying sadness that hadn't been there when she used to go on hayrides after the October harvests, or when she'd laugh freely when he pushed her too high on the rope swing in the Cottonwood tree that grew in the front yard of the modest house with the warm glow of home fires lighting the frosted windows. Sweet, innocent Fallon Dawn was lost to the world now and she'd have to find her own way, for better or worse. For all exciting, uncensored episodes, go to: www inmate.com/goodbye-natalie ©2008, Dbabb It was another brilliant, sunny and hot L.A. afternoon when the office phone awoke Fallon Dawn from her daydreaming. She was more than a little curious when she noticed it was line two ringing. She answered, ―A-1 Detective Agency. How may I help you?‖ P.O. Box 3311, Granada Hills, CA 91394 Best Pen Pal Ads Service Since 1996 The voice on the other end was low and gruff. In her mind, Fallon Dawn envisioned the caller to be dark and mysterious, masked in the shadows. It 2 www.inmate.com One page ads to min. Web sites, personal message box downloaded and mailed to you weekly, respond to your pen pals with e-mail and more. Accept no imitations! Send SASE for more information today! Attwood tells his story in sparkling prose that flows like ferociously goosed up electricity. For example, "A topless man with WHITE PRIDE tattooed across his midsection barged past Billy. Everything about him screamed king of the jungle. Size. Aura. Blond mane. 'Wattup, dawg! I'm Outlaw, the head of the whites.'" BOOK REVIEW HARD TIME Besides his knack for telling a story and his yummy use of the English language, what makes Hard Time so interesting is that jail changed Shaun Attwood. He went from being a spoiled rotten rich kid to a mature, thoughtful human being. In other words, living in the middle of a twilight zone teetering on the edge of the Abyss had a modifying effect on Attwood. And watching the metamorphosis take place is a large component of Hard Time's attraction. For the reader, it's like watching a chameleon change color. By Shaun Attwood Christopher Zoukis, Reviewer Most people are happily ignorant of the difference between the term 'jail' and 'prison.' And since you don't learn the difference until after you've been arrested, ignorance is indeed bliss. Jail is where prisoners are held while their cases are pending. If convicted, prisoners are sentenced and shipped off to prison, where they serve out their time. Before arriving in jail, Attwood's life revolved around money and pleasure. In jail, his focus expanded. He began reading literature and philosophy, trying to understand the human condition, his condition. And he took the first baby-steps toward becoming an author, writing letters and articles, and blogging. Hard Time is an accomplished literary work that moves along like a thriller. It has tension, humor, a plot, and snappy dialogue. At the same time, it's a story about real people, who although flawed are still human beings. And buried underneath the primary story is a scathing indictment of the U.S. penal system. Most prisoners, whether in jail or prison, are not inclined toward literary endeavors. Which pretty much explains why so few jail or prison memoirs are published. Of those that are published, only a few are good. Two 'good' ones that immediately come to mind include Kenneth Hartman's Mother California and Jimmy Lerner's You Got Nothing Coming. On the Read-O-Meter, which ranges from 1 star (really bad) to 5 stars (really good), Hard Time gets 5 stars. A third one can now be added to the list - Hard Time. Hard Time is available for $13.60 plus $3.99 postage at Amazon.com and their book sellers as well as other book stores. Hard Time is the true story of Shaun Attwood. Attwood was born and raised in England. After taking a degree from Liverpool University, Attwood migrated to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked as a stockbroker. Attwood flourished in his career, bringing home $500,000 a year. When he wasn't making money, Attwood was raving. Raving is a combination of Halloween, earsplitting rock n' roll music and, of course, drugs and alcohol. Drug-fueled, non-stop wild partying is another way to put it. And for Attwood, it was not only fun, but also a stress reliever. His drug of choice was Ecstasy, but pretty much anything would do in a pinch. Eventually, Attwood quit his day job - which had been very, very good to him (he was rich) - and concentrated on buying up large quantities of drugs and partying. Since his parties lasted for days and included all the free drugs anyone could want, he had a lot of friends. Life was good for Shaun Attwood. Then everything went to hell in a handcart. The police arrested him and tossed him into Maricopa County Jail, which is run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is also known as "America's toughest sheriff." Sheriff Arpaio's reputation is well-deserved. He is tough. However, he is also the most sued sheriff in America, because of his jail's deplorable conditions, extreme violence, and prisoner death-rate. Shaun Attwood spent twenty-six months in Sheriff Arpaio's jail. Welcome to Hell on earth. Attwood's life in jail makes Dante's Inferno look like a Sunday school picnic at the beach. For the jail was awash in sewage, cockroaches, food unfit for human consumption (you wouldn't feed it to a dog), contraband drugs, and brutal violence. This, despite the fact most of the prisoners held there were - supposedly - innocent until proven guilty. Phone service not available in all states – call or write for more info 3 Keeping you in touch with the outside world and bringing you new and innovative ideas. Prisonworld Magazine $4 or 12 stamps for a single issue $20 or 50 stamps for 1 yr subscription. 1 yr subscriptions ARE STILL available. Prisonworld Future Entrepreneur Network - $2 or 6 F/C stamps per report – Prisonworld Acapella Radio Hour $10 for a 30 second commercial ($5 Business Roll Call. Inmate Rate Only) no minimum week commercials. Prisonworld Blogtalk – 5 stamps to have your comments posted online (200 words or less) PO Box 380, Powder Spring, GA 30127 (678) 233-8286 www.dawahinc.com www.prisonworldmagazine.com www.prisonworldrecords.com www.prisonworldradiohour.com www.prisonworldradionetwork.com A biker walks into a yuppie bar and shouts, “All lawyers are assholes!” He looks around obviously hoping for a challenge. Finally a guy comes up to him, taps him on the shoulder, and says, “Take that back!” The biker says, “Why? Are you a lawyer?” “No, I’m an asshole.” From Walter Allen’s PRISON GET YOUR OWN COPY NOW FREE SHIPPING to inmates Don’t wait for the next installment!!!! Now you can have your own copy of Icicle Bill and Goodbye Natalie! GOODBYE NATALIE - $14.95 ICICLE BILL - $14.95 Send check or money order to: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOOKS POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 http://MidnightExpressBooks.com HUMOR available at Midnight Express Books DOC: ACLU claims 'misinformed' By Kelly Kazek [email protected] Reprinted with permission The commissioner of state prisons said he has not been served with the lawsuit ACLU lawyers said they filed Monday demanding equal treatment for HIV-positive inmates, but he said the claims are “by all accounts false and misinformed.” The American Civil Liberties Union filed the class-action suit against the Alabama Department of Corrections over a policy to keep HIV-positive prisoners segregated from other prisoners, which, in effect, bars them from rehabilitation services. Among the plaintiffs are four inmates from Limestone Correctional Facility, which has more than 200 HIV-positive prisoners. The suit names DOC Commissioner Kim Thomas, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and other DOC officials. Thomas said in a statement released Thursday morning the allegations “regrettably ignore this department’s important obligations to provide health care, prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, and manage the prison population in such a way to ensure the safety of that population, departmental staff, and the public at large.” According to the ACLU, prisoners with HIV in Alabama are excluded from residential pre-release units where prisoners near the end of their sentences learn to transition back into the community and from jobs that enable prisoners to gain marketable work skills and experience. It also stated that the inmates are not allowed access to the community corrections program, which affords qualified prisoners the opportunity to work in the community during the day. The suit was filed on behalf of 10 plaintiffs. The four local prisoners are Louis Henderson, Darrell Robinson, Dwight Smith and Albert Knox. Two other prisoners are part of the Decatur work-release program and four female plaintiffs are housed at Tutwiler Prison for Women. Allison Neal, legal director for the ACLU in Alabama, said the ACLU and DOC have been communicating on the issues since 2006 but have reached an impasse. Margaret Winter, associate director of the ACLU National Prison Project, described Alabama’s prison segregation policy as “nothing more than a shameful remnant of an earlier era of ignorance and hysteria about HIV.” The ACLU stated South Carolina is the only other state with similar prison policies. Adam Smith contributed to this report DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT WHAT’S SO FUNNY? The old man was telling his friend, ―I just bought a brand new hearing aid. It costs me four thousand dollars, but It's worth every penny, Its state-of-theart, the best available. It's perfect!" ―Really?" Says the friend, what kind Is It?‖ "Twelve thirty." Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right While out shopping for vacation clothes, an old couple passed a display of bathing suits. It had been many years since the wife had bought a swimsuit, so she asked the husband's advice. "Should I get a bikini or an all-In-one?" "Better get a bikini," he replied. "You'll never get it all in one." Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright The following are actual headlines that were published in various newspapers: Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Man kills self before shooting wife & daughter. Something went wrong in jet crash, expert says. Panda mating fails; veterinarian takes over. Miners refuse to work after death. Juvenile court to try shooting defendant. War dims hope for peace. If strike isn't settled quickly, it may last. Cold wave linked to temperatures. Red tape holds up new bridge. Kids make nutritious snacks. Typhoon rips through cemetery: hundreds dead. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight, Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. A man and woman meet on vacation and quickly fall in love and decide to get married. On the honeymoon, they realize that they should probably open up to one another so they might have a chance to make it work. "It's only fair to warn you," the man says, "I'm a golf nut. I eat, sleep, and breathe golf." "Well," she begins, "I'll be honest too; I'm a hooker." The man is very concerned and seems crest-fallen for a few minutes, then says... "Have you tried keeping your wrists straight?" And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. -Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) Send jokes or other Items to: MEB Sun, POBox 69, Berryville AR 72616. ...and the dead, bury their dead. Dividing up the loot and booty of the freshly deceased, sitting around formica tables laden with tuna helper and Pepsi, cigarette smoke filling the little rooms and hidden corners of the desperate and pitiful minds of those who tally their own value by the amount of coupons left in their food stamp booklet, or the price they get on day-old bread at the discount bakery. The stench of greed and poverty can't be washed away, stains on the soul are unwashable and forever, fate deliberate and unkind. "Humor is a precious treasure to the soul." -Nick Bone If the spirits have a sense of humor, surely they must laugh when the inlaws and out-laws remark, aghast: "The will! It is UN-SIGNED!" To submit stories, etc., to the Corcoran Sun --send to: MEB Sun, POBox 69, Berryville AR 72616 (send stamps for issues) Everyone is welcomed to submit or contribute. The Sun is seen statewide and across the U.S. CALIFORNIA LIFER NEWSLETTER CLN: A comprehensive newsletter mailed every 6-8 weeks. State and federal cases, parole board news, statistics, legislation and articles on prison, parole and correctional issues of interest to inmates and their families. CLN also provides services such as copying and forwarding federal and state cases, articles and news and materials available on the Internet. 5 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Prisoners $25 (or 80 stamps) per year (6 issues minimum). Free persons: $90 CLN, Box 687, Walnut, CA 91788 STUNTIN’ IS A HABIT By Laura Shope Chapter Two I slid my I.D. badge through the time clock on the wall at work. It was six a.m. and I was tired as hell. Me and Slick stayed up until three in the morning making love. The thought of it made me smile. I went into the bathroom to text him an ‗I LOVE YOU‘ before I started work. After my phone displayed, "your message has been sent‖ I headed out to the floor. I was working in a Calvin Klein warehouse, picking clothing orders for businesses such as Sears, J.C. Penny, and Macy's. All I made was minimum wage and I worked my ass off. I always looked forward to my lunch break, that's when I caIled Slick and we would talk for the whole thirty minutes. At noon, I ran outside to the picnic tables, lit a Newport and called my sweetie. "You have reached the voice mailbox of 'Slick' please leave your message after the tone." My brain boiled because I knew instantly what was going on. Slick was getting high. He was just like me when it came to the phone... if he didn't answer, that meant he was up to no good, and I knew what his no good was, crack. The rest of the day went by agonizingly slow. I was fuming and itching to get home to yell at Slick .. and find out where he got the dope. Our town was really small and drugs weren't usually there, unless someone from out of town brought them. The only person that I could imagine doing that was Murphy, and I was hoping to hell he wasn't back. It was always the same and this was just more of it...everyone I dealt with always needed me to get the money. I never f---- it up. They called me the ‗organizer.' They'd deliver me the drugs & I'd get the money. I loved that paper, so I got on the phone and went through my list of fiends. I felt like I was always working. First shift was my legit job, second shift was taking care of Slick, my baby, Elijah, and the house, and the third shift was selling drugs. Sleep wasn't in the equation. $700 was my stopping point, I called it a night. It was 2:45 a.m. and my alarm clock was set to go off at five a.m. Slick did good; he didn't smoke anymore and laid down with me to go to bed. In no time at all ―Must Be Nice‖ was playing on the radio, waking me up for work. I felt like I had just closed my eyes, but I was ready to get up and get paid. I had a routine for every morning. Straight to the kitchen for coffee, wash my face, do my hair and makeup, and finally, wake Elijah up and prepare him for daycare. The horn from my grandmother's car beeped from the back alley. She dropped me off at work and Elijah at daycare every day. I paid extra money to keep Eli in daycare just because I didn't trust Slick to look after him. It's sad, I thought I was in love with this man, but yet, didn't trust him enough to be with my son. My grandma drove me around because I lost my license. SIick liked to smoke that hard, and I liked to drink. Two DUI's were on my record before I was nineteen. Not good. So, off to work again to make some pennies. Lunch came around, and as always, I ran to the picnic tables, lit a smoke and called Slick…. Three o'clock finally came around and I flew home, only to discover what I already knew. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled at my man. He was high out of his mind. 'Gooped up' is what I call It. "I'm at work bustin' my ass for pennies while you're here gettin' high! Get out! Get the hell out of my house!" I was screaming and blazing mad. Whenever I get upset, I always throw him out, or threaten to... and, I always let him back in in a day or two. "You have reached the voice mailbox of 'Slick' please leave a message after the tone." That bitch operator again. Son of a... Later that night, Slick came home after sobering up. I was chIllin' on the couch watching CSI: Miami when he crept back in. "You alright, Journey?" Nikeisha asked as we filled out our truck tickets for the next clothing order. This was all too familiar from yesterday. That mother-------- was getting high again! I knew I should have hid the rest of that crap before I went to work, but Slick had gotten over on me again, convincing me he could handle it. ―I‘m sorry." he apologized weakly. "Yeah, I'm cool. It's just that piece of shit, Slick, is on my nerves again." I complained. I looked at him, I didn't really want to, but I couldn't stay mad. "Why do you keep gettin' high, Slick? You know I can't stand to see you Ike that." "Why don't you just leave his broke ass? Every other day you're either complaining about him getting high or not having a job," Nikesha said. He deflected the blame onto me. "You started it by lettin' your man, Murphy here'" Referring to that little episode where I flipped some weight for Murphy, which I KNEW would come back to haunt me. Still, I was defensive. "You know what, you're right! I'm better off without him. When I get home I'm putting his ass out for good!" I said with certainty—I meant it. "What's that got to do with right now?‖ I blasted. He just looked at me for a minute then stomped off to the bathroom. I followed him, hungry for a fight. "You motha-f------ , you better start talking!" "Journey," Slick began, "Murphy stopped by here today and gave me an ounce to get rid of." I can imagine how I looked at that moment, big eyes even bigger, mouth agape, shoulders tense and fists clenched... my temperature was rising and I couldn't seem to speak without yelling. "Why the hell did you take it!?" I screamed. "I thought we agreed not to sell no more!" Slick argued back, "So did I, but when I was out in Ohio, I found out you were doing it anyway. What's so different when I'm the one doin' it?" Hustling was always at the core of all of our arguments. "So, that's how it is? Tit for tat? We ain't never gonna make it nowhere living life like that, Slick." I was frustrated and drained. "Listen, baby, we'll come to an agreement. You did what you did while I was In Ohio, and let me flip this onion and then we're done, deal?" Emotion gave way to business sense. "Alright. So, did you get rid of anything or did you just smoke all day?" I asked. Slick had a hard time sellin' when he smoked, that's why I was surprised he had some product left. "I made a couple' dollars. Get on the phone and make some calls." He ordered. Little did I know he was about to be out of the picture anyway. (to be continued) Laura Shope, the author of 'Stuntin‘ is a life coach, personal counselor, artist, dog trainer, and body waxing aficionado serving a term In a federal pen in West Virginia. Chapter Three of "Stuntin' Is a Habit" will appear in the next Sun and we'll find out what kind of dynamic twists and turns young Journey runs into then...with or without the unreliable Slick. Thanks to all the supporters and contributors who made this edition of THE SUN possible. When you're done, please pass it on to the next person. Your neighbor down the tier or a loved one at home might find something herein that could be of benefit. Your letters & comments are much appreciated and inspiring. LARGEST INMATE SHOPPING GUIDE 400 businesses serving inmates Order: SHOP DiSSE $11.96 Amazon.com Any size ad for 8 months: $58.93 Send ad copy to: [email protected] PEN PALS OF THE MONTH The Inmate’s Friend Patsy Montowski, #58686-083, (28 yrs. old) looking for POBox 903, North Fork CA 93643 someone to correspond with that's open and fun-loving. Include a picture if you have one. Write: P. Montowski, #58686-083, SFF-Hazelton, POBox 3000, Bruceton Mills, West Virginia 26525. I will help you be connected to the outside world! Write and tell me what you need. Internet services, legal information, printing services, photocopies, photograph copies, search engine requests, email, on-line orders. I am here to help, special orders will be considered. Celine Piccar #30347-068, SFF-Hazelton, POBox 3000, Bruceton Mills, W.V. 26525. Blonde hair, blue eyes, 150 lbs., currently a college student and dog trainer, 1/2 way through a 70 month term. Looking for someone to kick it with. Now offering Facebook, My Space, Pan Pals and Artist’s Website. The above are in a Federal pen., so use an Intermediary when writing. Please be polite and use discretion when responding. THE GOLDEN PONY (continued from page 1) In the distance, the grandfather gave chase, but he wasn't going to catch the pair. Peril waited, and closed in with every passing second. The pony's wild nature had been hidden behind a veil of beauty, and now, its instincts would command that this was to be a final ride for the Iittle boy. The fence stood strong and immovable before them and the boy knew they were absolutely going to crash. It had been an exciting, breath-taking adventure but now, if was to end tragically. Unless... If you would like to be listed as a pen pal, send your info to: IBP POBox 211 Raymond, WA 98577. The boy had grown up around the farm and he was a tough little kid when he needed to be. If there were ever a time to summon up some courage, this was it. At the very last second, before the disasterous crash, he leapt from the pony's back and tumbled across grass! Please include five stamps for postage, forwarding, and handling. The grandfather finally caught up and ran to the boy gathering him up and checking him over. "Are you all right?" He asked, out of breath. BUY SINGLE COPIES OF MAGAZINES MYMAGSTORE.COM 4212 University Way NE Suite 210 Seattle WA 98105 1000 single copy mags 1200 subscriptions 600 newspapers Books Custom CDs Hot Pix SEND FOR OUR NEW CATALOG 10 stamps or $3.00 ($3 discount coupon included) The boy picked himself up, dazed and bewildered, but none the worse for wear. "Yeah, I'm okay." "Why'd you jump off the pony?" Grandfather asked. Payment with stamps Prepaid Accounts Newsletter The boy was confused, why'd he jumped? "He was going to run into the fence!" He said. Then he remembered the little pony and quickly turned to see how it had survived the crash. The pony was standing calmly over near the fence, munching on a big mouthful of juicy bluegrass. He was looking back at the boy, and seemed to sort of be...smiling, if that's possible for a pony. [email protected] (206) 324-7373 The grandfather laughed and said. "Naw...that horse wasn't gonna run in to that fence, that horse got horse sense. He got more sense than you do!" THE SECRET TO RELATIONSHIPS And THAT was when the little boy finally realized what horse sense is." "In relationships we're so used to complaining about other people. For instance, "My co-workers are lazy, my wife makes me mad, my children are difficult. It's always focusing on the other person. But for relationships to work, we need to focus on what we appreciate about the other person, not what to complain about. When we complain, we attract more of the same bad things. Even if you're having a really hard time in a relationship, you can turn it round. Make a list of all the things you appreciate about that person. Think of the reasons you love them. List 30 things and take time everyday to focus on one. When you switch to focus to what you 'like' then you'll get more of that. Often, we want others to MAKE us happy, and often, that fails. Why? Because only one person can be in charge of your joy, that's you. The other person can only share your happiness. If you want to be happy, YOU have to decide that's how it's going to be." (from: The Secret, by R. Byrne ) "Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, when you go into that deliberation room, that's exactly what I want you to use when determining this case. Horse sense; common sense to see that the prosecutor hasn't proven their case against me. They haven't proven it because they can't. They can't, because I am NOT GUILTY of these charges. And that is what I want you to find me, NOT GUILTY!" The above story was written by, and told to a jury by a pro-per defendant, representing himself In trial on a 25-to-life case. The conviction rate In L.A. County is well above 90%, convictions of proper's is about 99.99%. When the prosecutor got up for final closing, she had a story, too; her story began, "When I was in law school..." The jury crossed their arms and legs in text-book negative body language. They didn't want to hear about law school, they wanted a pony! The jury deliberated for an hour and a half, 60 minutes of that was for lunch. On the 14th day of trial, they came back "NOT GUILTY." Till next time, we wish you health, wealth, beauty, peace, and love. As the famous defense attorney, Gerry Spence noted, "A Jury thinks with it's heart, not it's head." 7 PUBLICITY PACKAGES HOW 2 EARN PAROLE 2010© Are you a SELF Published Author looking to get the word out about your book or do you have a business or service you would like to advertise to the prison population? We now offer publicity packages at REASONABLE RATES! By ex-offender who stayed out. It’s that easy! We only take select projects. To discuss your project or for questions regarding the package, send us an email to [email protected] or inquire by mail. POBox 380 Powder Springs, GA 30127 IN THE NEWS (From Coalition For Prisoners' Rights) A recent article In the Coalition for Prisoners' Rights newsletter reports that cell phone usage in prisons is way up. This might seem odd, in that cell phones are prohibited in all state and federal prisons in the U.S. and an August 2010 law made possession of a phone in a federal prison a felony. Yet, usage is on the rise. In the first four months of 2010, over a thousand cell phones were confiscated in federal prisons. In California, over 8,000 have been confiscated in the past three years. Prisoners actually use their phones to call news outlets and report conditions in their various locations, at times. Access seems to be similar to other contraband and prices vary depending on the type of phone (and service plan). Reports indicate prices are around $300-$1,000. How are they getting in? Some reports suggest guards or other prison personnel bring them in, the money is hard to ignore. For instance, one prisoner reports buying a $50 phone for $800, quite a mark-up, but supply met demand. It appears capitalism is alive and well, even on the inside. The largest prison strike in U.S. history to date was carried out in December of 2010, in Georgia. At least six of Georgia's prisons carried out a peaceful, planned, selflockdown to protest conditions. The list of demands included: A living wage for work, educational opportunities, decent health care, an end to cruel and unusual punishments, decent living conditions, better meals, vocational and self improvement opportunities, access to families, just parole decisions. There was much public support and the next phase, litigation, is in the works. Hospira, the only U.S Company that makes thiopental sodium, an anesthetic used in U.S. executions, has halted its production. The Illinois-based company had been planning to resume production in Italy, but Italy's parliament issued a caveat to insure any Italian-made thiopental would not be used in lethal injections. This may delay U.S. executions. However, a drug used to euthanize animals, was approved for use In executions in Oklahoma. To receive the COALITION FOR PRISONERS' RIGHTS newsletter, send stamp donations to: CPR, POBox 1911, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1911. 95 55 Send $14. + $1. S&H, check or money order, to: SteelBar Publications POB 26613 Indianapolis, IN 46226 Personal Parole Plans also written indepth on case-by-case basis. Write for rates. Q: What did the doe say when she walked out of the woods? A: “I’ll never do that again for two bucks.” A guy walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a beer. “Yes sir, that will be one cent.” the bartender says. “One cent!” the man marvels. “That’s awesome!” Then, he looks at the menu and orders the best steak. “Yes sir, that will cost you four cents.” the bartender says. “Four cents!” the man says surprised. “Where’s the guy who owns this place?” “He’s upstairs with my wife.” the bartender tells him. “What’s he doing with your wife?” the man asks him. “The same thing I’m doing to his business.” the bartender tells him. Jokes from inmate Walter Allen’s Prison Humor Send $14.95 plus $3.99 S&H, check or money order, to: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOOKS POBOX 69 BERRYVILLE AR 72616 http://MidnightExpressBooks.com CELLPALS INMATE CORRESPONDENCE Worldwide Internet Pen Pal Organization for Inmates Only Since 1999 CELLPALS POBox 470 Montgomery TX 77356 www.cellpals.com TYPING SERVICES U Midnight Express Books NOW offers typing services. Please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your project details for a quote. MEB TYPING SERVICES POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 http://MidnightExpressBooks.com - BE-UP strives to restore dignity in individuals, while encouraging them to leave a positive legacy. We're passionate about helping people improve their quality of life. This is why parents, pastors, teachers, social workers, and correctional personnel need to look at making What Makes The Great Great as an integral part of their services. Youth group leaders will also discover how it will help them in reaching hard to reach youth. Colleges will find that What Makes The Great Great can be used as an elective to supplement business or human services courses, too. This book is not just inspirational; it is powerfully motivational, too. If you want to grow and develop a life-long vision for your life, this course is definitely what you've been waiting for. Teacher’s manual for this course available June, 2011. CORCORAN SUN Prison Yard Monthly Send $11.95 + $3.99* check or money order to: News Entertainment Resources Featuring Goodbye Natalie Midnight Express Books POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 Send 6 stamps per issue to: MEB Corcoran Sun POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 http://MidnightExpressBooks.com Discounts available for multiple copy purchases for classes PRISON EDUCATION Prison education is a vital topic for not only prisoners, such as myself, but also for society at large. As important as education is in the ‘real’ world, it is even more important for prisoners. In the ‘real’ world education determines one’s status and income. Once released from prison, education does more than determine the former prisoner’s status and ability to make money. Education determines whether society views him as a person, who has worth, or not. Education is the lifeblood of prisoners. In the confines of the prison system, much of each person’s humanity is drained away. In some cases, even sanity proves to be elusive. One way for prisoners to hang onto their humanity is through education. Yet the two terms – prison and education – don’t seem compatible. When I entered prison, I realized that a large part of my problem was a lack of direction. Prior to prison, I had no goals and no purpose in life, other than having a good time. It was as if I had conspired against myself. The end result was prison. Prison made it clear a change needed to be made. I needed direction. However, prison offers very few directional choices. One that is available is education. And that’s the one I chose. It has not proven to be an easy choice. Educating oneself in prison is difficult and continues to get worse. The primary problem is money. With the elimination of Pell Grants many post-secondary opportunities have evaporated. Like many prisoners, by Christopher Zoukis I make $5.25 per month, which makes it impossible to afford a college education. This means prisoners must find alternative sources of funding. And from personal experience, I can relate that most simply do not work out. Without funding, educational programs cease to exist. And as more and more programs close, there are fewer opportunities for prisoner-students. For every door of opportunity that closes in prison, two or three doors slam shut in the ‘real’ world, because later, after being released from prison, the prisoner-student will discover he is unemployable. It is by means of education that the prisoner-student becomes employable. A post-secondary education informs potential employers that the prisoner-student is not only intelligent, and thus capable, but also that the prisoner-student has learned from his past mistakes. He has changed and desires to become a productive member of society. Without a post-secondary education, the prisoner-student has little to offer. No education. No change of heart. He has only a prison record with which to compete against other applicants, who have not been in prison. The employer has absolutely no reason to give him consideration for any job. To be continued http://www.christopherzoukis.com 9 I had the blues Because I had no shoes Until upon the street I met a man who had no feet. CLASSIFIED AD SPACE AVAILABLE Denis Waitley No MLM, get rich quick, dealerships, lotto, mail order business or porn. Publications, reports, pen pals, stationary, labels, etc. are OK. Introductory Rate: 35 words, $6.00 for 6 months 70 words, $12.00 for 6 months For a limited time only! Space is limited. Free Newsletter send SASE to: Free Newsletter, POBox 521070, Independence MO 64052 USED TOMBSTONE perfect for someone named Homer Hendle Bergen Heinzel. One only. Call 000-555-1234 FEDERAL NIGHTMARE featuring Drive By by James Hairston. Hot new urban tale!! $11.95 + $3.99. Send check/MO to: MEB, POBox 69, Berryville AR 72616 WANTED somebody to go back in time with me, no joke. POBox 0000, LA, CA 93022 You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before. HAVE VIAGRA need women. Any women between 18 and 80. POBox 0000, Boise, ID 83701 THE LIFE WE CHOSE by Dre Urban tale from FL inmate. $14.95 + $3.99. send check/MO to: MEB, POBox 69, Berryville AR 72616 USED TOILET PAPER FOR SALE. Wide selection of brands & styles. Call for details and prices. 000-555-4321 TURKEY for sale. Partially eaten. Only 8 days old. Drumsticks still intact. Call 000-555-9876 RAILROAD by Dell Robertson If you believe in the American notion of innocent until proven guilty, THIS BOOK WILL DISTURB YOU. If you believe that jury trials are unbiased searches for truth, THIS BOOK WILL SHOCK YOU. If you believe that only the guilty are convicted and sent to prison, and sometimes put to death, THIS BOOK WILL SCARE YOU. Send $14.95 check/MO to MEB POBox 69, Berryville AR 72616 Yes, some of these are silly classifieds.....but YOUR ad could be here being read by hundreds....maybe thousands of people!!! What are you waiting for???? Send check/MO to: MEB SUN Classified Ads POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions. Words may overlap but do not share letters. GREETING CARDS All Occasions Your choice of (choose one): Humorous Religious General Hispanic Romantic. Send $5.00 for FIVE cards or $10.00 for TEN cards to: 10 MEB Greeting Cards POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 Currently, the discussion on which drugs to use in lethal injections and where to produce or procure them is being had on the international stage. This is because of a number of companies and a number of countries are involved in the issue at hand. Sadly, one can not even come close to seeing when or where this discussion will end. But for now, Cleve Foster, Daniel Cook, and other death penalty activists can breathe a sigh of relief and live to fight another day. Executions in Texas Halted? By Christopher Zoukis The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is in a panic. On March 1, 2011, their supply of sodium thiopental, one of the three drugs used in the lethal injection protocol, reached its expiration date. This caused Texas, and other states experiencing shortages or expirations of their stock of sodium thiopental, to search for either a new supply of the drug or to find an alternative drug to be used in its place. Sources: Wall Street Journal; USA Today; State and Federal Criminal Law Review Christopher Zoukis is a writer housed at FCI-Petersburg. He is the published author of numerous book reviews, articles, essays, and poems. He is a New York Journal of Books authorized book reviewer and a Blog Critics authorized Texas, like several other states, has come to the conclusion that pentobarbital, a drug used in animal euthanizations, is a good replacement for sodium thiopental. But, like other states, they have failed to go through the proper procedure to change the lethal injection protocol; a procedure that requires public comment. As Maurie Levin, one of the attorneys representing Texas death row prisoner Cleve Foster, said, "Executions, and the manner in which we carry them out, are of unique public interest and importance, and precisely the sort of decisions and procedures that should be aired in the light of day." writer. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, National Writers Union, PEN American Center, and the Correctional Education Association. His works have appeared in Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, Blog Critics, Midwest Book Review, Basil and Spice, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, Wopular, Rain Taxi, Ezines Articles, and many other publications. His content has been syndicated internationally by the Associated Press, Google News, and Yahoo News. Currently, Christopher is a staff writer at State and Federal Criminal Law Review and The Update: Federal Criminal and Immigration Law . He is the Associate Editor of Corcoran Sun and he is a contributing writer at Blog Critics. He recently completed his first book, Education Behind Bars; a 652 page reference guide to distance education for the prisoner-student. To date five publishers have requested the full manuscript to review and send out for blind reviews. Besides Education Behind Bars, he is working on his debut novel, In 1976, the death penalty was reinstated. Since then Texas has executed 446 prisoners; more than any other state. But, with the expiration of Texas' supply of sodium thiopental many death penalty activists and death row prisoners were starting to breathe a sigh of relief. That was until Texas said that they planned to resume executions with the aid of pentobarbital instead of sodium thiopental. As Michelle Lyone, the spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said, "Oklahoma has successfully used the drug [pentobarbital] in its execution process and our protocol would be the same." Practice Electra. Christopher can be reached for comment, collaboration, or assistance at: Christopher Zoukis, P.O. Box 1000, #22132-058, Petersburg, VA 23804 or http://www.christopherzoukis.com. FREE INMATE AUTHOR BOOK CATALOG The reason this is front-and-center today has to do with one man: Cleve Foster. Mr. Foster, 47, was sentenced to die in 2006 for the rape and murder of 28-year-old Nyanuer "Mary" Pal. Mr. Foster insists that not only is he innocent of the rape and murder, but that he received ineffective assistance of council. It is this claim and the change of execution protocol that brought him to the Supreme Court. To receive your free book catalog featuring books by inmate authors, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: And, upon reviewing the case, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution. But not only was a stay of execution issued for Mr. Foster, but an Arizona death row prisoner by the name of Daniel Cook too. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS BOOKS POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 http://MidnightExpressBooks.com 11 Make sure you don’t miss a single issue of the Corcoran Sun SEND YOUR STAMPS IN TODAY!!! MAY 2011 Sun 1 Mon 2 May Day Wed 4 National Teachers Day Thu 5 Fri 6 12 13 Cinco De Mayo 8 9 10 11 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 30 31 Mother’s Day Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT’s relativity. Tue 3 22 National Maritime Day Victoria Day 29 Albert Einstein 28 The Cocoran Sun is published monthly. Subscriptions are $25.00 a year or 6 new, unused postage stamps per issue. Editor in Chief............................................Dave Babb Associate Editor ....................................... Christopher Zoukis Associate Editor ....................................... Laura Shope Advertising ............................................... Victor Huddleston Layout & Design ....................................... Linda Huddleston How to use Inmate Book Service (IbS) IbS will advise you of available copies, retailers, and prices. 21 Armed Forces Day % Midnight Express Books POBox 69 Berryville AR 72616 is a simple and inexpensive way for inmates and others with no access to the internet to access the huge markets available to those in the “free world.” Whether you are interested in the latest best seller, or something hard to find, IbS will locate it and advise you of the cost and shipping options. Texas inmates may order paper and envelopes from Staples.® Your order will be placed with the online supplier as soon as your payment and authorization are received. 14 Corcoran Sun 405-747-4829 [email protected] Send your request to IbS Join Hands Day Memorial Day InMaTe BoOk SeRvIcE Nurse’s Day Sat 7 HERE’S WHAT I THINK...... About time Send your order with payment* or Establish a deposit account and your purchase will be deducted after each transaction Everything in the past is memory. Everything in the future is imagination. Both are illusion; memories are unreliable and we can only speculate about the future. The only thing that is real is now – this very instant and it is constantly changing from imagination to memory. So most of our life is illusory. *The cost of this service is $1.50 per item. We accept money-orders, all checks, and postage stamps. Send SASE for complete details and order forms to: IBS Box 58221 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 From the upcoming book of inspirational quotes compiled by Victor Huddleston, Editor-in-Chief, Midnight Express Books, http://MidnightExpressBooks.com 12
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