Non-Adversarial Bird Interaction

Usually my posts having to do with birds involves shotguns and clouds of lead or steel pellets and death. This is not the case in the "off-season." During the Spring and Summer my wife and I enjoy providing refreshments to the myriad birds that live in the woods and fields near our house. I installed several birdhouses that my son and I built a few years back in the Cub Scouts and these dwellings see inhabitants and baby birds every year. We have feeders and baths and have daily visits from Cardinals, Yellow Finches, Junkos, Chickadees and the ubiquitous English Sparrow. There is some shooting involved...I punish thieving squirrels with a BB gun thru an upstairs window to keep those rapacious grey bastards from gobbling everything.

The most interesting of the winged dining guests is the Hummingbird. We stock these feeders with sugar syrup and these little wonders buzz in and out all afternoon. It really is a treat to watch them feed and then zip off like a lazer...their speed and maneuverability is amazing.

Shane Punished for Prison Blogging (by Shane)

Shane - Denied psychiatric medication by ValueOptions, Shane turned to illegal drugs financed by burglaries. For stealing a few hundred dollars worth of goods, he was sentenced to eleven years. Shane is the author of the blog Persevering Prison Pages. 

Sorry it took so long to write. Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC) is coming down hard on me because of my blogging.  I’ve been moved around a lot. From Eagle Point to Barchey to Buckley to Stiner detention to Rast Unit. I suspect I’ll be here until Nov 15^th, my release. Despite all of the disciplinary sanctions, moves and lack of blogging, I’m OK. 

The blogs that upset ADOC are the ones about former Senate President Russell Pearce’s son, Josh Pearce and the one about the murder of Shannon Palmer.  

Josh Pearce ended up at Eagle point. I asked him questions and showed him the blog about his dad. Shortly after that, a CO4 warned me about blogging inmates. A few weeks later, the same CO4 accused me of dealing/financing drugs, and I was moved to Barchy Unit. 

Around the same time, I blogged the murder of Shannon Palmer and did an interview with the Phoenix New times for their article. Every disciplinary ticket I received I was found guilty, and given maximum punishment by the Disciplinary Captain. For the drug paraphernalia ticket, an inmate claimed possession and stated he committed the violation, yet I was still found guilty with maximum punishment. 

ADOC can do whatever they want, I will be blogging soon. It is a violation of my freedom of speech for them to try and stop me like this.

Shane’s original blog about Shannon Palmer, a prisoner Shane was helping get his story out until his cellmate murdered him by slashing his throat and castrating him: 

Another Unfortunate Death

  
This week I learned that a mentally ill inmate who left Eagle Point Unit a couple of weeks ago was murdered while in a lock-down detention unit.

I knew the guy. Sharing first names, we had spoken on occasion. Shannon Palmer appeared to be a normal, polite person. Somewhat stand-offish, but harmless.

One day Shannon asked me if I would help him get his story out to the public. I agreed to listen and sat in my cell with him for nearly two hours as he told me his entire story, which he also told me he had written down and kept in his cell.

It was an extremely far-fetched conspiracy, which he told me I'd think it was. It involved the MCSO, Center for Missing and Exploited Children, CIA, US Military Black ops, and various other agencies who were after him. Men in suits of shimmering armor that cloak a person making them invisible. He believed these invisible assassins had been following him and were waiting outside the prison fence to kill him. He also believed he had been given an implant in his thigh by the CIA.

A couple of weeks ago he was just removed off of the yard here. Rumor has it that he was moved to detention for a "Psych Watch".

Based on news reports, and comments I heard from brown & orange shirts, Shannon's cellmate (another guy I know from Tucson's Manzanita Unit) cut his throat and castrated him.

I don't know exactly what happened, but I do know that there are multiple things that trouble me about this.

Shannon Palmer seemed severely paranoid and delusional. He needed psych help. He was put in detention, which is generally used for discipline or protection. He was put in a lock-down cell with another prisoner. He DIED! A horrible death...

Is ADOC so over-crowded and under-staffed that severely mentally ill prisoners aren't receiving adequate mental health care, protection from other prisoners and themselves, and simply ignored until blood is spilled?

I'm fairly certain Shannon Palmer was a minimum security inmate. I also suspect that his cellmate was not. Why did Mr. Palmer have a cellmate, let alone a higher security one?

How did he get his throat cut in a lock-down unit that doesn't allow shaving razors to be possessed by prisoners and is supposed to be a highly secure unit?

These are all questions that should be asked. Who will investigate this preventable murder?  

Shane’s original blog about corrupt Senate President Russell Pearce’s background and sinister links to the prison-industrial complex:

Arizona Senator Russell Pearce 

Born June 23, 1947, Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce represents District 18, which covers most of Western and Central Mesa, and a small portion of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Previously, this Republican lawmaker also served in the Arizona House of Representatives, and is widely known for sponsoring legislation seeking to stop illegal immigration. Senator Pearce favors a strong border security policy. In January 2011, Sen. Pearce became the President of the Arizona State Senate.

Pearce grew up in a troubled and impoverished home. His father was an alcoholic. At times he would come home from school and find that the neighbors had left groceries for his family. However, his mother would always put the food aside, not accepting charity.

Initially, Pearce wanted to attend medical school, but his family wasn't able to afford it. Russell Pearce joined the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department. In time he became a highly decorated peace officer and even received the Medal of Valor for his 35 years of service. Pearce rose to the level of Second in Command, Chief Deputy Sheriff, under Joe Arpaio. Interestingly, Pearce claims credit for one of the most publicized and controversial actions of MCSO, under Arpaio's cruel reign, that of housing jail inmates in military-type tents. During his tenure with MCSO, Pearce investigated many violent crimes and was also the victim of a violent crime when he was shot in the chest while on duty. In 1994, Russell Pearce was appointed to the position of Director of the State Highway Safety Department.

In 1995, Pearce became the Director of the Arizona Motor Vehical Division. Two notable accomplishments he had as such were: 1) Bringing in IBM to create the first version of servicearizona.com, on online resource for Arizona citizens to update the MVD info and 2) Pearce enrolled Arizona in the then optional National Drivers Registry program, making collection of Social Security numbers for driver's licenses mandatory at the state level to comply with the federal program. According to Chris Moesor of the Arizona Republic, in his August 21, 1999 article, Russell Pearce was discharged from that position in 1999 after an investigation revealed he had been complicit in tampering with state driving records.

Russell Pearce is an advocate for the following positions:

1. Smaller and more efficient government
2. Using ID cards that link to Social Security numbers
3. Eliminating abuse of eminent domain
4. Tightening border security
5. Supporter of 2nd amendment in the context of US gun rights
6. Supporting private property rights
7. Improving education and discipline
8. Supporting Boy Scouts of America in their moral leadership goals
9. Supports traditional family values
10. Promoting pro-life views
11. Amending the Citizenship Clause of the 14th amendment to limit who can a citizen by birth on US soil
12. Supporting the Taxpayers Bill of Rights
13. Against judicial activism
14. Improving transportation

Additionally, Russell Pearce was a lead sponsor of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 (SB-1070), which attracted nationwide attention after the Obama administration challenged the law, resulting in a federal court ruling that most of the law was unconstitutional. Pearce told gathering activists, "when you talk about jihad, that is exactly what Obama has against America, specifically the State of Arizona" (Los Angeles Times, January 17, 2011). It's also important to note that Russell Pearce has been criticized for drafting SB-1070 as a way to provide income for private prisons by incarcerating illegal immigrants. Pearce was linked to the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) through a December 2009 meeting with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. It was at this meeting that Pearce and ALEC members, including CCA officials, wrote the document that would later, almost word for word, become SB-1070 in Arizona. This according to National Public Radio (NPR), October 28, 2010.

Russell Pearce now lives in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Luann. He is the father of five children, Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin and Joshua. In February 2011, Mesa police arrested Joshua Pearce on two outstanding warrants connected to probation violations and failure to appear in court. Joshua Pearce had previous run-ins with the law and was granted probation for DUI. Recently he was taken into custody again.

With Senator Russell Pearce's extensive background in Arizona law enforcement, history of supporting Arizona's ineffective and arguably detrimental sentencing and corrections statues, and his oppositional stance on sentencing and corrections reform legislation in recent years, I'm curious to see whether his son receives the same treatment by the powers that be in his criminal justice travels or if Joshua will avoid the same "justice" the rest of us get and which his father supports, because of his father. I'm even more curious to know whether the recent changes in DUI laws in AZ got Senator Pearce's vote of approval. 

Click here for Shane's previous blog

Shaun Attwood

The Longest Day

In a few short years all of the brave souls who lived through this day will be departed. There will be no more active memories providing details. We will have "Saving Private Ryan" and Cornelius Ryan's fine book to get a glimpse of the events and experience of that day. But we will not be able to speak to men like the one above, men who stood in landing craft when that ramp splashed into water and the Czech conscripts and Wehrmacht regulars ripped them to pieces with machine gun and mortar rounds,men who huddled behind the sea wall and bravely followed their officers and each other up the dunes under withering fire.
On this 68th anniversary of the landing I can barely conceptualize the dedication and courage of these men. I can only respect them.

Tiger Woods Incredible Chip In Shot on the 16th Hole

I am not a big fan of Golf. I will watch the Masters, but I neither play nor follow the game. However, when you see something like this shot made by Tiger Woods you have to appreciate the expertise. Yeah, Tiger is not the brand name he used to be...what with bangin' the Denny's hostess, consorting with high-end hookers,divorce from the stunning Swedish hottie he somehow tired of, and gambling to excess with Charles and the boys...but his skill on the links is undeniable.
Normally I would not have seen this. On Sunday I was at the gym and the cable package which services the TVs on the cardio machines is limted at best. I could not even watch the Phillies. So I was watching the Rugby 7's being held here in Philadelphia. During a commercial I switched to the Golf Tournament just in time to see this astounding shot. All I could say was "Wow."

Question Time

Nav wrote: 

Hi, I've seen one of your talks in one of my citizenship lessons at school about your experience in jail. I just wanted to ask you if American prisons are different to U.K prisons, and in what way, and ask how people cope in there. If prison actually is as daunting as it seems, and if people come out more violent or if they look at life differently. I've got to say I admire the way you've blogged your experience and stayed strong! It’s really nice how you've visited schools and shared your stories too. 

My response: 

Thanks for the questions. All prisons are different, but most are daunting. I have blogged the UK prison experience from the perspective of a young man, Chris: 

http://jonsjailjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/going-to-prison-by-chris-chris-is-young.html 

http://jonsjailjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/prison-food-by-chris-chris-is-young.html 

And a woman, Andrea:

http://jonsjailjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/09-oct-08-women-in-prison-from-andrea.html 

I'd say the major difference is that in the US the prisons are run by gangs like the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia divided by race. We are seeing some of that in the UK now, but not like in America. There seems to be more education and rehabilitation in the UK, whereas in America the emphasis is on punishment.

Some people come out of prison more violent. They join gangs. Violence and injecting drugs become a way of life. Some prisoners use the time wisely. They educate themselves and do good when they come out.

People have different ways of coping. For me, I read, did yoga, meditated, worked-out and wrote. Religion plays a big part for many people, such as T-Bone who turned to Christianity. 

Click here for the previous Question Time 

Shaun Attwood

Philly Boxer Mike Jones-Gunning for a World Title.

I have mentioned Mike Jones in prior posts. He is a local boxer with great talent and dedication. I have seen most of his fights live. I have met him several times and spoken to him about his craft. He is a gracious man and forgoes much of the cocky gangsta braggadocio we see and hear from other boxers.
This weekend he is fighting for a World Title. Tune in and cheer for this likeable and talented Philly Welterweight.

Devon

Last weekend of the Country's largest and longest outdoor horse show. Weather threatens to ruin the night. We had a wonderful night in the box seats last weekend and hoped to finish with a flourish tonite. We'll see if the rain holds off....at least the Meyers's Rum will hold out.