The dumpster delivers. Useful items for foul weather and safety found in a dumpster by Crane-Station (as masonbennu) on flickr. Note the reflective tape on the bike helmet. Safety equipment is scarce among the homeless population.After listening to an interesting and informative Firedoglake webinar yesterday, it dawned on me that Peaceful protester ‘sleepers’ are, in a realistic way, experiencing daily life as our homeless brothers and sisters do. The work and dedication that the membership drive has put into this peaceful movement taking place in American streets is really impressive, and...…The dumpster delivers. Useful items for foul weather and safety found in a dumpster by Crane-Station (as masonbennu) on flickr. Note the reflective tape on the bike helmet. Safety equipment is scarce among the homeless population.After listening to an interesting and informative Firedoglake webinar yesterday, it dawned on me that Peaceful protester ‘sleepers’ are, in a realistic way, experiencing daily life as our homeless brothers and sisters do. The work and dedication that the membership drive has put into this peaceful movement taking place in American streets is really impressive, and...WW…

Jail art rendered from an art card that my family sent to me. I am unable to find the name of the original artist, but I loved the card, with the frogs on the tulip.Jail religious pamphlet, McCracken County Jail. In another pamphlet in this series is the clear statement that the pope (papacy) is the “antichrist,” and the additional statement, “That’s not to say that there aren’t some good Catholics.”Internal fixation, right calcaneus- 10 screws and a plate. In the hole, I wrapped toilet paper strips around my ankle to fend off the arthritis from the cold. I also have a healed L-1 burst...…Jail art rendered from an art card that my family sent to me. I am unable to find the name of the original artist, but I loved the card, with the frogs on the tulip.Jail religious pamphlet, McCracken County Jail. In another pamphlet in this series is the clear statement that the pope (papacy) is the “antichrist,” and the additional statement, “That’s not to say that there aren’t some good Catholics.”Internal fixation, right calcaneus- 10 screws and a plate. In the hole, I wrapped toilet paper strips around my ankle to fend off the arthritis from the cold. I also have a healed L-1 burst...WW…

Champagne Supernova by Matt Sorensen spray paint art, space artI hope that you will enjoy this as much as I did.Here are some other beautiful things created with spray paint:Class: Spray Paint Art by DoNight on flickrcreative commonshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadic_lass/6330311157/lightbox/Burlington Northern train car in Montana with spray paint art, image by Nomadic Lass on flickr, creative commons.By Christian D under creative commons on flickr with caption:2006 – awesome SciFi spray-painting Christian & Shannon got in Aruba – 163462992_255db1b761_o (by Christian)By Rev. Xanatos...…Champagne Supernova by Matt Sorensen spray paint art, space artI hope that you will enjoy this as much as I did.Here are some other beautiful things created with spray paint:Class: Spray Paint Art by DoNight on flickrcreative commonshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nomadic_lass/6330311157/lightbox/Burlington Northern train car in Montana with spray paint art, image by Nomadic Lass on flickr, creative commons.By Christian D under creative commons on flickr with caption:2006 – awesome SciFi spray-painting Christian & Shannon got in Aruba – 163462992_255db1b761_o (by Christian)By Rev. Xanatos...WW…

[This post has been updated with a link to the full text of Mr. Krugman’s column, “The Forgotten Millions.” I did not realize I had not provided this initially. Also, Thanks to newtonusr, I have edited to add the proper link to an interview that I mention. I apologize.]Yesterday, New York Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman wrote a column entitled “The Forgotten Millions.” Here is a link to the article:He states that,“More than three years after we entered the worst economic slump since the 1930s, a strange and disturbing thing has happened to our political discourse: Washington has lost...…[This post has been updated with a link to the full text of Mr. Krugman’s column, “The Forgotten Millions.” I did not realize I had not provided this initially. Also, Thanks to newtonusr, I have edited to add the proper link to an interview that I mention. I apologize.]Yesterday, New York Times op-ed columnist Paul Krugman wrote a column entitled “The Forgotten Millions.” Here is a link to the article:He states that,“More than three years after we entered the worst economic slump since the 1930s, a strange and disturbing thing has happened to our political discourse: Washington has lost...WW…

Five minutes into the introductory session of a Mobile Home University ‘boot camp,’ the multi-millionaire workshop’s co-founder tells attendees not to “make fun of the residents” when visiting the properties, and not to “throw peanuts at them.” Flashed on the screen as he talks is the bullet point, “When we are on the property, don’t make fun of the residents, or say things that can get us in trouble or offend anyone. I once had a bank come to a mobile home park and say in front of my manager, ‘Only a white trash idiot would live in a trailer.”In an article titled, “America’s trailer parks:...…Five minutes into the introductory session of a Mobile Home University ‘boot camp,’ the multi-millionaire workshop’s co-founder tells attendees not to “make fun of the residents” when visiting the properties, and not to “throw peanuts at them.” Flashed on the screen as he talks is the bullet point, “When we are on the property, don’t make fun of the residents, or say things that can get us in trouble or offend anyone. I once had a bank come to a mobile home park and say in front of my manager, ‘Only a white trash idiot would live in a trailer.”In an article titled, “America’s trailer parks:...WW…

Military or police?The militarization of US domestic police is evident in recruitment advertising and beyond. Through government grants, police are receiving military equipment that is fit for wartime combat, to use in civilian domestic communities. Civil law and civil rights are , and a form of military justice by police, or what some call a is the new norm.In an article titled, “,” ACLU explains:Billions of dollars’ worth of military weapons and equipment is available to local police departments through grant programs administered by federal agencies such as the Departments of Defense,...…Military or police?The militarization of US domestic police is evident in recruitment advertising and beyond. Through government grants, police are receiving military equipment that is fit for wartime combat, to use in civilian domestic communities. Civil law and civil rights are , and a form of military justice by police, or what some call a is the new norm.In an article titled, “,” ACLU explains:Billions of dollars’ worth of military weapons and equipment is available to local police departments through grant programs administered by federal agencies such as the Departments of Defense,...WW…

Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) recited a  on the House floor a few days ago. His heartfelt call for justice is simple and truthful. The refrain, “I can’t breathe” is repeated eleven times, the same number of times Eric Garner said the same words, his final words. The poem speaks for itself and it speaks for many.Black men and boys killed by police.I can’t breathe.Impunity for the killers – no justice, no peace.I can’t breathe.Militarized police met peaceful protesters on their knees.I can’t breathe.Weapons of war – a show of force on our streets.I can’t breathe.Disenfranchised...…Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) recited a  on the House floor a few days ago. His heartfelt call for justice is simple and truthful. The refrain, “I can’t breathe” is repeated eleven times, the same number of times Eric Garner said the same words, his final words. The poem speaks for itself and it speaks for many.Black men and boys killed by police.I can’t breathe.Impunity for the killers – no justice, no peace.I can’t breathe.Militarized police met peaceful protesters on their knees.I can’t breathe.Weapons of war – a show of force on our streets.I can’t breathe.Disenfranchised...WW…

by Letty OwingsThe farm my father purchased in 1920 was referred to as the “Hicklin place” because it was a hundred and sixty acres carved from the Hicklin plantation. The designation “plantation” was given to land owned by a farmer if he had at least twenty slaves. The graveyard for the Hicklin slaves was on our farm. My father plowed around it, so it survived as a weed patch with tumble-down tombstones. As a kid, I sometimes walked there to have a look. It always gave me the creeps, especially when I noticed how many of the stones marked the resting place for children. I wondered what...…by Letty OwingsThe farm my father purchased in 1920 was referred to as the “Hicklin place” because it was a hundred and sixty acres carved from the Hicklin plantation. The designation “plantation” was given to land owned by a farmer if he had at least twenty slaves. The graveyard for the Hicklin slaves was on our farm. My father plowed around it, so it survived as a weed patch with tumble-down tombstones. As a kid, I sometimes walked there to have a look. It always gave me the creeps, especially when I noticed how many of the stones marked the resting place for children. I wondered what...WW…

Every once in a while I take some time away from Frog Gravy. During my time away from writing this week I once again searched for notes. To my utter shock, I located probably close to another thousand pages of notes. Most are related to the legal case.Frog Gravy is not even about me. It is about a criminal justice system gone mad. I will try my best to illustrate it with documents, official transcripts and audio YouTube recordings (as soon as I learn the technology).The Bill of Particulars is a document, sworn to under oath by the prosecution (ie, The Commonwealth) and then filed with the...…Every once in a while I take some time away from Frog Gravy. During my time away from writing this week I once again searched for notes. To my utter shock, I located probably close to another thousand pages of notes. Most are related to the legal case.Frog Gravy is not even about me. It is about a criminal justice system gone mad. I will try my best to illustrate it with documents, official transcripts and audio YouTube recordings (as soon as I learn the technology).The Bill of Particulars is a document, sworn to under oath by the prosecution (ie, The Commonwealth) and then filed with the...WW…

First, “The death penalty is hella fuckin’ balls-to-the-wall awesome…”:The religious symbol Wine, Wheat, Sea, Grapes by Crane-Station on flickr. Jail Art: colored pencil, magazine ink and eye shadow. Drawn in Ricky’s World.Frog Gravy is a nonfiction incarceration account in Kentucky in 2008 and 2009, in jails and in prison, and is reconstructed from my notes.Inmate names are changed, except for nicknames that do not reveal identity.Frog Gravy contains graphic language.McCracken County Jail, Spring, 2008, Cell 107After some frantic searching in the cell, Ruthie finds the photograph of her...…First, “The death penalty is hella fuckin’ balls-to-the-wall awesome…”:The religious symbol Wine, Wheat, Sea, Grapes by Crane-Station on flickr. Jail Art: colored pencil, magazine ink and eye shadow. Drawn in Ricky’s World.Frog Gravy is a nonfiction incarceration account in Kentucky in 2008 and 2009, in jails and in prison, and is reconstructed from my notes.Inmate names are changed, except for nicknames that do not reveal identity.Frog Gravy contains graphic language.McCracken County Jail, Spring, 2008, Cell 107After some frantic searching in the cell, Ruthie finds the photograph of her...WW…