Awesome fuckin' news !

Gotta share this with ya' - Skyhorse Publishing of New York made me an offer this afternoon for my book of Thai prison stories - Land of a Thousand Smiles.
The advance is really small, but it has 10% royalties, and i'll be in print w/ a traditional publisher, which means a lot.
And why Bryan Adams ? I dunno - just seemed to be a good fit for having a good time.
Ciao !

Bryan Adams - Summer of '69

Pelican Bay Hungerstrike Support Info

Since July 1, thousands of prisoners across California have participated in a hunger strike against torturous conditions at Pelican Bay State Prison's Security Housing Unit. Roughly one hundred prisoners have stated that they will refuse food until death if their demands for basic human rights are not met.   Hungerstrike News documents their struggle and the actions of those who stand in solidarity with them.

MAKE CALLS AND WRITE LETTERS OF PROTEST TO: Secretary Matthew Cate CDCR 1515 S Street Sacramento 95814 TEL: (916) 323-6001   Governor Jerry Brown State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 TEL: (916) 445-2841   CDCR Public Affairs Office:(916)445-4950

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TO LEARN MOREhttp:// prisoner hungerstrike solidarity. wordpress.com/

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Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers Reject Proposal: The Strike Continues! drawing by Kevin "Rashid" Johnson       Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition         Friday, July 15 - This afternoon leaders of the Pelican Bay hunger strike unanimously rejected a proposal from the CDCR to end the strike. In response to the prisoners’ five, straightforward demands, the CDCR distributed a vaguely worded document stating that it would “effect a comprehensive assessment of its existing policy and  procedure” about the secure housing units (SHUs). The document gave no indication if any changes would be made at all.   While the CDCR has claimed that there is no medical crisis, mediators report that the principal hunger strikers have lost 25-35 pounds each and have underlying medical conditions of concern. Despite the promises from the federal Receiver overseeing the CDCR, no one has received salt tablets or vitamins.   The hunger strike is now in its third week and shows no signs of weakening. In fact, the settlement document distributed last night to all hunger strikers at Pelican Bay prison, resulted in some people who have gone off the strike to resume refusing food. Hundreds of prisoners at Pelican Bay remain on strike, with thousands more participating throughout the CA’s 33 prisons. Advocates and strike leaders dismiss the false claims that the strike is being orchestrate by prison gangs. (Click here for a clip from a legal visit with hunger strikers, explaining why prisoners are doing this hunger strike)   International solidarity with the striking prisoners also continue to mount with demonstrations and messages emerging from the US, Canada, Turkey and Australia.   According to mediation team Laura Magnani, “From day one. the CDCR has demonstrated it’s inability to resolve this situation. We call on Gov. Brown to step in and negotiate in good faith to bring this situation to a just resolution.” Strike supporters plan to flood the Governor’s office with phone calls and emails, echoing the striker’s demands.   Given how basic the strikers’ demands are, it is immoral that the CDCR would insult these men with such poor faith proposal,” state mediator Dorsey Nunn.     The challenge for supporters outside of prison is to match the courage of the hunger strikers, and to effectively pressure the CDCR to immediately negotiate on the standards any negotiation should follow: with the prisoners in good faith, addressing allof the demands, and with the prisoner-approved outside mediation team. It is still important to continue calling in and writing letters to Sec. Cate.     We also need to intensify pressure on all elected officials, from Governor Brown to local state representatives, to get involved in this struggle–urge them to make sure the CDCR negotiates with the prisoners, urge them to visit Pelican Bay and demand to see the prisoners. We can also be targeting press and media to do the same.   MOBILIZE to SACRAMENTO:MON, July 18th from 1-4pm. Demonstration outside CDCR Headquarters. 1515 S. St.  *FOR SUPPORTERS EVERYWHERE: Join a conference call to hear direct updates, and to strategize effective ways to support the strike and the prisoners in winning their demands!   NATIONAL HUNGER STRIKE SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE CALL: Monday, July 18th: 6 pm EDT/ 5 pm CDT/ 4pm MDT/ 3 pm PDT Toll-Free Call In Number: 1(800) 920-7487 Participant Code: 62435226 Click here for a complete list of Coalition press releases and advisories. Recent Media Coverage Protestors In Support Of Pelican Bay Prisoners March Through SF - Jana Katsuyama reports for KTVU television, July 15 2011 Prison Reform Movement's Blogtalkradio show talks to Ed Mead, Julie Tackett, and D.J. Vodicka, on July 16, 2011 Interview with Carol Strickman, staff attorney for Legal Services for Prisoners with Children "The CDCR is using every method they have to try and stop this hunger strike" Revolution #239, July 17, 2011 Interview with Clyde Young, revolutionary communist "We should stand firmly with the prisoners and their demands" Clyde Young is a revolutionary communist and a former prisoner. This interview was originally done on The Michael Slate Show and has been posted at revcom.uscourtesy of The Michael Slate Show (KPFK, 90.7fm Los Angeles, 98.7fm Santa Barbara, www.kpfk.org worldwide). Interview with Lance Tapley, journalist; U.S.: "The World Torture Champions" Lance Tapley is an award winning investigative journalist at the Portland Phoenix in Maine where he has covered the Supermax prison in Maine. Lance is also one of the contributors to the anthology "The United States and Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration and Abuse". This interview was originally done on The Michael Slate Show and has been posted at revcom.us courtesy of The Michael Slate Show (KPFK, 90.7fm Los Angeles, 98.7fm Santa Barbara, www.kpfk.org worldwide). Interview with Manuel LaFontaine, member of All of Us or None and the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition: "The worst of the worst is not allowing people to be treated as human beings" Manuel LaFontaine is a member of All of Us or None and the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity coalition. This interviewed was originally done on The Michael Slate Show and has been posted at revcom.us courtesy of The Michael Slate Show, (KPFK, 90.7fm Los Angeles, 98.7fm Santa Barbara, www.kpfk.org worldwide) Emergency Press Conference in San Francisco: "We cannot stress enough how critical the situation is" Revolution #239, July 17, 2011 Thousands of California Prisoners & Supporters Rally for Weeks MIM(Prisons), July 2011 When the Hunger Strike is in the US | Cubadebate (English) By Juana Carrasco Martín, Cubadebate Jul 16th, 2011 A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann Letters from Hugo Pinell and other hunger strikers – Rally to support the hunger strikers San Francisco Bay View July 15, 2011 Protests Grow in Solidarity with California Prisoners as Hunger Strikes Enter Third Week Democracy Now July 15, 2011 Carl Small of the Montreal Hungerstrike Support Committee interviewed on Radio Free Worldinterviewed on Radio Free World, CKUW 95.9 FM Winnipeg, July 15 2011 Pelican Bay/California hunger strike: 6,000 prisoners and growing By Michelle Schudel, Liberation (Newspaper of the Party for Socialism and Liberation) July 15, 2011 Pelican Bay Hunger Strike: Supporters Plan to Rally, Possibly Disrupt the Evening Commute By Erin Sherbert San Francisco News, July 15 2011 Rush Hour Protest Today to Back Hunger Strikers at Pelican Bay Rachel Swan East Bay Express, July 15, 2011 Calif. inmates fight lockdowns, punishment of groups by race BY ARLENE RUBINSTEIN, The Militant - July 25, 2011 July 15: Amidst Pressure, CDCR Enters Negotiation with Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers press release from the Prisoners Hungerstrike Solidarity Coalition Corrections officials accede to pressure, begin negotiating with hunger strikers as their health deteriorates by Isaac Ontiveros, Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity, San Francisco Bay View July 15 2011.     Needless to say, a link to an article does not imply endorsement.     Click here for complete list of links to news articles since July 1.     Upcoming Events (next 72 hours)   EVERYWHERE *Monday, July 18th: 6 pm EDT/ 5 pm CDT/ 4pm MDT/ 3 pm PDT: NATIONAL HUNGER STRIKE SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE CALL: FOR SUPPORTERS EVERYWHERE. Join a conference call to hear direct updates, and to strategize effective ways to support the strike and the prisoners in winning their demands! Toll-Free Call In Number:1(800) 920-7487. Participant Code: 62435226   In the US:   California Los Angeles Monday, July 18th, 9am - 5pm ALL DAY - Reagan State Building, 3rd and Spring Sts., Downtown Los Angeles   Sacramento Mon, July 18th1:00-4:00pm: Demonstration @ CDCR Headquarters.1515 S St. Sacramento, CA     San Bernardino Sun, July 17th 12:00-3:00 pm: Demonstration at San Bernardino County Central Detention Center (CDC). 630 East Rialto Avenue. San Bernardino   San Francisco EVERY DAY at noon. California State Building, Van Ness and McAllister, San Francisco.   Nevada Las Vegas Mon, July 18th 8:00- 9:00 p.m: VIGIL IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGER STRIKE ACROSS CALIFORNIA. Address: *waiting on location*   New York New York City Mon, JULY 18th 11:30am – 1pm Demo in Solidarity with Hunger Strike in California. California State Franchise Office, 1212 6th Ave. between 47th & 48th, Manhattan, New York City, New York.   Arizona Tuscon Tues, July 19th @ 8pm: Informational Update on the Hunger Strike and Radical Folk Music Show featuring Ryan Harvey. At Dry River Radical Resource Center 740 N.  Main Ave. Clickhere for more info.   Rhode Island Wed, July 20th: Fast/Rally (assuming the strikers haven’t had their demands met by then). organized by DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality). For more info, call: 401-351-6060   This list is of upcoming events we know of within the next 72 hours - for a complete list click here   If you are organizing an event in your area, let us know! Hungerstrike News can be reached at hstrikenews@yahoo.ca Unsubscribe / Change Profile

Finished the Text of Nature of Religion !

I wanted to share this with all of you.
This morning, I finished reformatting the text for my book, Nature of Religion.
I've been working on it, one way or another, since 2005. This is the final version - ended up being 253 pages, with 244 illustrations (most of them rather macabre).
I still have to finish redoing the index, table of contents, illustration credits, etc. - the book will probably end up being 300 pages or so, and I've got another week or two's worth of work to be truly done, but I feel great right now - a real sense of accomplishment.
Took me about a month and a half to get it from a typewritten MS, scanned into a crappy-looking pdf, into pro publishing software called Scribus, then a separate job of merging in text with all those images.
WHEW !
But I am one happy camper at the moment - hence my choice of Triumph for a vid.
Fight the good fight - and (sometimes) you win !
;)

Triumph - Fight the Good Fight

Yeah, I know he's gayer than Liberace !

Is that some mind-blowing scenery, or what ?
And that guitar solo always blows me away.
Just traipsing down memory lane...thought I'd share.
Got laid a few times to this one, ya' know ? Just joking ! - Jeez !
Besides, we should reach out to the gay community - right ?!
Ciao.

The Darkness - Love is Only a Feeling

Not Very Romantic...But You Belong With Me (and laugh a little !).

Yeah, it's fuckin' silly, but I couldn't bear to put Taylor Swift up here !

Welcome, Masyanya ! Our country's disturbed like this - you'll like it !

Masyanya's Coming !!!

The sexy beast on your left is coming to stay with me here in Tucson, in about 2 weeks !
Wild, eh ?
Please welcome the incredibly edible Masyanya to our country - she'll definitely make it a more beautiful place, don't ya' think ?
And I thought I'd put a sexy song on here as a sort of little gesture of welcome...
Hope you like it.

Pelican Bay Hunger Striker's Update

URGENT: Hunger Strikers' Health Rapidly Deteriorates

       

URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

Posted on July 12, 2011

Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity coalition received an urgent update from medical staff at Pelican Bay State Prison that the health of at least 200 hunger strikers in the SHU is rapidly worsening. A source with access to the current medical conditions who prefers to be unnamed reported:

"The prisoners are progressing rapidly to the organ damaging consequences of dehydration. They are not drinking water and have decompensated rapidly. A few have tried to sip water but are so sick that they are vomiting it back up. Some are in renal failure and have been unable to make urine for 3 days. Some are having measured blood sugars in the 30 range, which can be fatal if not treated."

SHU prisoners at Pelican Bay have said they are willing to risk their lives and will continue to strike until their demands are met. The CDCR continues to refuse to negotiate.

Prisoners across CA continue to refuse food in solidarity with the Pelican Bay SHU hunger strikers.

This past weekend, families and friends sent encouragement and support to their loved ones during weekend visits at prisons across the state, witnessing the toll the hunger strike is taking on their bodies. Families have said their loved ones are extremely pale, shaking and have already lost 20-30 pounds. Some families of prisoners who have only been drinking water for 12 days now witnessed their loved ones faint or go into diabetic shock in visiting rooms over the weekend.

People locked up across the state have been telling their friends and families about the tactics prison officials have been using to break the strike.

Many prisoners have said that medications are being denied to prisoners on hunger strike.

Prisoners have reported that guards in at least Pelican Bay General Population and Calipatria State Prison have been calling throughout blocks and units: "The Hunger Strike is over! The 5 demands have been met!" which is not true. According to family members of prisoners at Calipatria, participation at Calipatria was huge-at least 1,500 prisoners throughout that prison alone joined the hunger strike- until the guards spread rumors of the strike ending. Some prisoners at Calipatria remain on hunger strike, however.

While the CDCR released it's estimate of 6,600 prisoners participating in the hunger strike during the 4th of July weekend and declared the numbers dropping to over 2,100 in the following days, of course the CDCR failed to mentioned how and why that happened. The decline in numbers in no way demonstrates a lack of support or dedication to this struggle from the prisoners, rather how eager the CDCR is to make this issue go away quickly and quietly.

Families and community organizations like Prison Moratorium Project continue to rally support outside of striking prisons like Corcoran, sharing information and trying to visit their loved ones as regularly as possible. Families and community members are also supporting the strike outside Pelican Bay.

Support for this hunger strike is at a crucial point, where we need to pressure the CDCR to negotiate with the prisoners immediately. Call the CDCR and urge them to negotiate NOW. Also call your legislators and urge them to make sure the CDCR negotiates with the prisoners in good faith. Click here for more info, including a sample script and phone numbers.

***The coalition also needs help getting updates and information to prisoners throughout CA. If you know people who are locked up in CA, please either send us their information or send them updates of the strike, including how people are supporting outside. The Hunger Strikers need our support, and need to know how much support is growing for them outside prison. ***

***An emergency press conference will be held Wed July 13th at 11 am outside the California State Building in San Francisco (Van Ness & McAllister)***

------------------------

Stand with the Prisons! Support Them in Winning Their Demands!

Contact the CDCR & your representatives and urge them to negotiate with the prisoners and honor their demands!

Make Calls and Write Letter to:

Secretary Matthew Cate
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
1515 S Street

Sacramento  95814
Phone: (916) 323-6001

Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841

CDCR Public Affairs Office: (916)445-4950

Sample Script for Phone Calls:

"Hi my name is _____. I'm calling about the statewide prisoner hunger strike that began at Pelican Bay. I support the prisoners & their reasonable "five core demands." I urge the CDCR to negotiate with the prisoners immediately & in good faith. Thank You."

***Don't Stop there!***

Look up your elected officials here and urge them to pressure the CDCR to negotiate with the prisoners and honor their demands!

Sample Script for Phone Calls:

"Hi my name is _________ and I live your district. I'm calling about the statewide prisoner hunger strike that began at Pelican Bay. I support the prisoners & their reasonable "five core demands." I urge you to make sure the CDCR negotiates with the prisoners immediately and in good faith. Thank you."

Twisted

I badly needed some distraction this evening, and stumbled on this.
Hope you get a laugh out of it !
Ciao.

Is this how Mother Nature feels ? Makes ya' wonder...

This is deeply disturbed...but I laughed anyway.

Well, It Doesn't Suck That Bad...

Just talked to my publisher in New York; at long last (this has been going on for about 5 months now)
I'll have a decision from them whether or not they're going to publish my book of short stories about my 5+ years in Thai prison (called Land of a Thousand Smiles).
So I'm pretty jazzed - we'll see what happens.
And thanks, everyone, for all the encouragement and kind comments. Really appreciated !
Like the ol' Swedish saying: "Joy shared is doubled, sorrow shared is halved." So true.
And below is yet ANOTHER dreadful hair metal song to celebrate this - "Kyrie Elaison" (I thought it was appropriate - it means "Lord, have mercy on us !" in ancient Greek).

Mr. Mister - Kyrie Elaison

Shit Sucks !

Yes, I'm gonna use you all as unpaid psychiatrists, and vent.
One of those weeks - all sorts of rotten shit goin' on. Huge chunk of lost data on the computer,
rents overdue, phone/internet's overdue, and, in general, lots of unpleasantness.
And, of course, the heat. It was 117 the other day here in Tucson. UGH ! Then the monsoon rains came
on the 4th, and that made it hot and muggy. Great, huh ?
But I can't bitch too much. I have my health, my freedom (after 16 years in federal prison, that's sayin' something, believe me !), nothing hanging over me, and many excellent possibilities.
So - I guess I should just shut the fuck up, and deal with it, right ? I'm a privileged white male, who just happens to be one of those that DON'T prosper from the evil system that operates to benefit PRECISELY my fuckin' cohort.
Yeah. A homeless member of the elite, that'll be me ! lol.
But, there's always hair metal, and wine, and women. So WTF.
I'm a believer.

Giant - I'm a Believer

The "Glorious 4th"

That's what they used to call it - the "Glorious 4th" (of July).
Call me grim, call me a pessimist, but nowadays, i feel like this ol' Blue Oyster Cult song - Dancin' in the Ruins.
Is my vision too dark ? Are things not as bad, as depressing, as they seem to me ?
I feel like the end of the world as we know it is close at hand, and i am powerless to stop it.
But as BOC noted, all those years ago - fuck it ! Might as well dance...

BOC - Dancin' in the Ruins