The best and the brightest and the results...

Well, I was proud to go and cover for Doug, who is on a well deserved vacation, at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. Remember I do try to avoid them, and my wife admonished me not to wink at anyone while there today, laughingly. So I drove off and reported on time, in uniform (pocket protector and tie - the things I hide behind). I found I could open Doug's locker, and leave my keys, and I got to come back and leave my wallet, too. But I had no chit to turn in for library keys, and when confronted with the irregular and unexpected the institution shut me out. The shift Lieutenant couldn't issue me a temporary chit, and I could have hung around all day and collected my pay - but the library never would have opened. Sigh

I called the Associate Superintendent to report that I had been there and couldn't help their library, but I tried. I drove off, paid my four dollars for crossing the bridge over the Narrows - if it weren't so cold and the octopi so large I might try swimming to save the money next time. Anyway, I stopped at the Western State Hospital to report, request a leave and report that I have managed to keep two library branches closed instead of only one. Somedays, I should just stay in bed it is always warmer there than the cold, cruel world awaiting me - but then I could try to warm it up for the rest of humanity - start with a smile, a gentle attitude and sure knowledge that I am going to be loved by someone today. My supervisor sent off quick emails and got the corrections requested - she was going to cover tomorrow and Thursday, and I will try again on Friday --- wish me luck.

Abstinence works it really does...

Abstinence implies the willful avoidance of pleasures... yep, that it does and it works for me. I am working on this irritation in my mind because of the mainstream media (which haven't a soul nor moral bone in its body) which seem to have Sarah Palin as a target of their wrath. Doing it by pointing out Bristol as proof of foolishly believing in the better behavior of humanity. I wish Bristol and her child all the beauty in love and life possible and I know that she is a much better person than they will ever be.

My mother made me believe in abstinence, there were still virgins at the wedding ceremonies when I was growing up and old, seemed to be fewer each year, but at a certain age I realized that it wasn't as important as love and commitment in a marriage. But I do believe in abstinence -- really it is critical and I want to point it out.

Abstinence is the only cure for addiction to tobacco, drugs and alcohol that ravage one's life - if you don't smoke, drink or shoot up, snort or swallow those things that you will not suffer anything more than better health, and that could be very good.

For me there isn't much more pleasure than a great shot, bullet striking target in exactly the point preferred and planned, and only my practice of Abstinence has allowed flaming fools to survive to be totally stupid another day. Handgun registration, gun control and all the laws in that flaming fools of the Left and Right pass to prevent my potential criminality have no effect on my better behavior - I practice Abstinence in my use of firearms, legality be hanged it will never match my will. I am one of the GOOD GUYS!

And last just for those that assume that Abstinence has to do with SEX, I close with why I don't say anything to that hot young lady over there - between sixteen and twenty-two, American, showing lots of well displayed skin, tasteful tattoo or two, enough makeup for make out, and in general a fine figure of a woman that would arouse my male interest. First, I really think I am one of the GOOD GUYS!, second that young lady could be as young as 13 - my eyes aren't that keen, third that young lady may have taken up a commercial enterprise and I am way too cheap to pay for something I think should be part of romance, fourth the government in its intelligence may have made a policewoman go out of uniform and under the cover to catch sexual solicitors and just general dirty ol' men -- and I am one of the GOOD GUYS! or so I think.

Lastly, I want to thank Gustav Klimt for his art and appreciation of the beauty of women --- and for not being my model of better male behavior. He was a very fine artist.

Economy... if it were to be better,,,

If every dollar I earned was a whole dollar - not net, if I only paid for the product, not and the tax and the interest on the credit card I get slow about paying -- my economic situation would be so much better. Or, so I thought as I rode my motorcycle to work. Just take away taxing everything and it would mean I get to spend and invest more of my work in caring for me and those I love.

The first comment is without taxes the government can't exist and take care of the stuff it does -- which isn't exactly true but almost. I see a government that could make, print, create more dollars depending on the economy - when it expands and contracts. Just a thought.

And about the banks charging interest on consumer spending, smarter consumers and they will die on the vine - the cards are convenient, but the interest rate is terrible and for consumption just not the way to pay on time - you are paying for that Big Mack and fries long after they gone from your system...

Aren't you glad I am not helping the Treasury Department fix the current Crisis - I have already declared it a raid on the pockets of working Americans, by those that want theirs NOW.

They are stealing pages from the books in the library!

I am almost to the point that I am going to put a sign on the door "Stupid People steal pages from free books and magazines, so don't come in if you are STUPID!" but my supervisors won't allow it.

It is brought to mind because of non attribution abounds on the Internet.

From View From The Porch and the munchkin wrangler, their take on the theft of stealing from the person that did the work...

Me, I see the books with missing pages, pictures and information, books I have to remove and destroy... it probably started with school work one was too lazy to research and cite properly. Or it is just "everybody does it" and they look at you as though you are a fool because you don't do it or don't understand how easy it is to become 'Everybody'. It isn't your fault you are bad.

I do know, that when I pick up a weapon, and follow all the rules, good advice and engage a target - it doesn't help me if I tried to lift Breda's performance from her last range visit - nope, that instant of target, trigger, bullet and I - is all my fault and I had better make my Mother proud.

Just busy as a dead honey bee...

I did take out the .22 rifles today and fired a couple of dry rounds, sitting position, have to get some good sling instructions for the target rifle. Postal match from SailorCurt to shoot early Saturday and email results to him quickly. Deadline is midnight in another time zone or so. Still, it is time for rifle shooting. After all, Kim du Toit has announced his blog will end in December and other riflemen will have to stand watch.

Attended a Motorcycle Safety Rally...

Lakewood had a Motorcycle Safety Rally and I went with the Patriot Guard Riders, the motorcycle police from Lakewood demonstrated their riding skills and we got doughnuts and some free stuff. There were prizes from sponsors and we got to look over everyones ride and talk about what ever. Then we took off on a long group ride.

Parts of the ride I have done before and most of it was brand new, the riding in a group is still new and I have been placed at the back of the pack because of that - but that was where I felt best before. I had a good time riding and wanted to go to the reception of the returning troops, but I am informed that I don't have a current sticker on my tags and looking at my registration I find I don't have a new registration with me. I turn around at the Fort Lewis gate and go home. Some days I just can't get it right.

Registration Day, more paper about Earl's life...

I had to register the new pistol, the one I purchased to keep concealed, worn always and forgotten about normally. I have to register all my firearms on Fort Lewis, so I can use the ranges and hunt, and if I ever bump into what I am hunting I could shoot it. Hunting may not be one of my strongest points, but I love looking, tracking and figuring game out. Anyway, off to register I go, since we have a returning Brigade from Iraq there are lots of soldiers processing vehicles and weapons, lots of soldiers making plans for their future and getting settled back into Garrison life after FOB. I have filled out the documentation before and do so again, get a number and wait to be called forward to one of three clerks processing.

I have a long list of firearms already registered, and I understand the effort is to improve the control of the weapons, make sure they have responsible owners and users, and if there were ever a crime committed with a weapon they know which one of us might have that particular weapon. No fired cartridges, and no fired full metal jacket bullet saved, but still they do know that the next time a 9mm is used wrongfully my name could come up. I also have three vehicles registered on post, for vehicles they give you a large sticker so the gate guards can identify registered vehicles - it doesn't make any of the drivers better or safer, but everyone knows it has been registered, had insurance coverage and a licensed driver at the time of registration. On my motorcycle I also had to have an approved motorcycle training course certification and the Army Approval of my motorcycle training. All paperwork must be carried when riding the motorcycle on post, along with reflective gear - since they really frown on stealth motorcycle riders running under cars and trucks of people talking on cell phones.

The registration process is quick, the temporary ten day paperwork lists all my weapons registered and amazes me, the fellow that thinks more than one of anything is a bit too much to carry, but it isn't a really long list like some of the real gun toting crowd - I just like to shoot a bit, and am not completely paranoid yet, so I only have three rifles for real game getting, five for small game, targets and plinking, one shotgun, two authoritative .45s, two .22s with sass, and one lone 9mm. But they are all enough for me. One new twist to the registration process, I got my picture taken, which is now permanently attached to the registration record - yes, they did look at my military ID, and my driver's license - and still they need a picture along with my signature to prove I am me and I have all the rules and am approved for using my firearms responsibly on Fort Lewis. Not a universal, international registration for world wide but good for right here and right now. Let me see, the Federales got my finger prints again for my Concealed Carry, the Post has all my firearms registered and my current picture - the weight is wrong by twenty pounds, but I was so much heavier when eating Frank's Doughnuts and Scones. Still if anyone needed to know about me, there are government agencies that know - I have used my passport for years. Don't you all feel safer, knowing I am totally a registered fellow? I certainly do, but then realize that it was like the TSA, a large waste of money and effort, to make some people feel safer.

Win some and don't dwell on the others...

I am fascinated by experts, especially since I won't become one, the ones on television news I discount completely - they are there to sell snake oil medicine and make rich folks richer. But on the blogs and the internet I have watched some wonderful minds make my knowledge and truth so much besser. Anyway, I will continue to dwell a bit too much in cyberspace.

I left for work early, to go to Galloping Gerties, Exit 122 off I-5, 15417 Union Ave SW,
Lakewood, WA. I wanted to meet and see the Patriot Guard Riders, and did so. Nice bunch of folks, on very nice Harley-Davidsons. They were going to spend the day with soldiers practicing safe motorcycling. It is Motorcycle Safety Month, you did know that didn't you? Community spirit, and motorcycling is fun when done at speed safely. I left them, as more arrived, crowds make me skittish, wary, and paranoid - leftover mental social problems. I don't fit in well, but am often present just there in the background watching, close but untouchable.

Work went mostly well, one of my new workers slept in an hour after lunch but did return, I thought he had quit on his day two - I backed the training pressure off a bit since it was Friday and I do want the two new guys to come to work on Monday.

In the prison it seems like the rules are from Junior High School, one of them is 'snitching', one just doesn't 'snitch' on another inmate for crimes and conduct. So I never expect names of thieves and thugs to be brought to my attention, the crew has to live within the rules of the Department of Corrections and the Rule of The Stupid Thugs and their Criminal Controllers. Two sets of guidelines and you may guess which one you would pay attention to most - the Department of Corrections can only do so much to you, the Thugs have a world of pain at their fingertips.

Anyway, I must be trusted (which I like to think everyone should trust me, as far as they can throw me anyway). Today I found out who from the departing crew seems to have enriched himself with the new CDs, and he left a trail on the computer but was also turned into me for the cops (Corrections Officers) to do a cell search and get the CDs back. Ah, I did notify the Unit floor officer, and told him what I was looking for to be returned. I don't expect they will find the CDs, I hope they do, but I like being able to tug on this inmate's chain - especially as he is getting out in two weeks to rejoin civil society - and I won't tell you his name, he could become a better person in those two weeks and live like a saint for the remainder of his life. I pray for miracles constantly, and am often amazed when I see them. An inmate turning in this petty thief is almost a miracle - but then they look at me as not really part of the cops, they look at the CD collection as improvement in their living and returning to normal life, and figure that they can't live by Junior High rules their whole life. If the CDs are found and returned it will be a three pointer, but I have no trouble taking the two points for the inmate that will work with me to make the library the best place on the island.

RULES? well, Gravity Rules... all other is pretense.

the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. No cheating!
2. Find page 123.
3. Find the first five sentences.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people

1. Picked up
2. Found
3. Found first five
4. Posted:
"I did not see how this was possible but did not challenge Ali's claim. If anything, I encouraged him to increase his boasting as the pool shot up to positively astronomical sums. A kind of fever gripped the division."
from "Matches" by Alan Kaufman, from the McNeil Island Corrections Center Library branch.
5. Tag five people, sigh, I am not that kind of a guy - I could in good conscience recommend the book to those thinking about military life, the Israeli-Arab question and where are all the good men gone. But I hardly know five people on the internet to tag. But here are five that would benefit from the reading: Toy Soldier, Ka-BOOM!, Iraq: The Purgatorium, Rogue Gunner, They should have asked. A finer bunch of people would be difficult to find and they have their own reading and writing to do. Anyone else thinking this is a good thing may hop on and blame Breda for trying to make me a joiner... time to go get some fighting knives to save, sharpen and shoot.

Nice thing about being dangerous is...

Not too much. I think babies have it right, the first line of defense is a smile, the second is the loud red faced crying to gather helpful adult attention. I did grow out of the baby thing, and took to being me - fighting wasn't automatically a sin in a boy growing up - so I fought for fun, dominance or fright. I often wished I was still working on that smile, but other boys don't tolerate boys smiling at them... but they respected me when I could take my lumps or dish them out in return. I started carrying knives somewhere along the Cub Scout Boy Scout period, by junior high and high school there was no doubt that I would have a folding knife in my pocket, even owned a switchblade once, but never carried it - that was against the law.

I did get cast out of my second family's home for almost a year, because someone said I had used my knife in a fight or scuffle - I hadn't, and I don't really remember a fight or a scuffle with the people that said I had been there and had pulled a knife. When I was growing up a knife was something a Mexican would use in a fight, and like kicking (before Martial Arts boom) wasn't a MANLY way of fighting. The truth came out and I was re-invited to my second family's home again - which was always wonderful for me.

As an Airborne Artillery First Sergeant I allowed my paratroopers to carry knives and drape them on their combat gear. For three years we never had difficulty doing rigging nor de-rigging our equipment for or on airborne operations. Of course there would be excesses in size of the blades, cost of the blades, numbers of the blades - but I never had a problem with the blades being used in anger or assault of another paratrooper. Two First Sergeants after me didn't change the knife situation, but finally a good First Sergeant showed up and in six months he had them back to a proper size, and number of blades for real work instead of posing as some really bad airborne dudes.

In Hawaii, when my mother wanted to peel an apple she asked for my knife, my brother wondered how I had gotten a knife through the airport security, and I wondered how my mother knew I would have a knife to borrow. Some things are probably certain about some people, and I will have a blade or a reasonable replacement - I have been watching inmates with their house key, what they can cut through is almost amazing... technique not edged. Rogue Gunner has a nice blade and story I think worth the time.

So now in the days of the Second Amendment, and the contest between the gun lobby and the anti-gun gaggles (yes, I am allowed to chose the terms I label them with - they will do it to me) I am still encouraging responsible knife ownership and use. You see, I know about cutting flesh and blood flow - do it every time I really get to sharpening my blades, and I also know that one must get close and personal to fight with a knife - Jim Bowie is one of my heroes, he was great with the blade. The problem I see with pistols, in today's age, is that most people haven't gone to that level where they understand death done with guns, bullets striking flesh and breaking bones, and such -- too much Hollywood, and not enough time in the field taking down animals in the hunt (then picking them up and gutting them or butchering them for food). Somethings just don't happen as cleanly nor as ugly as film has made it.

But to be really dangerous one should know how dead a human will be when shot properly - they won't come back in next week's episode, or the next blockbuster hit - they will be waiting for you when you go to sleep and dream, as you start to accept them being there -- then you will be dangerous.

Shhss!!! Library at work...

Yesterday the Chain came in, new inmates from other institutions, rotating because of... custody level, security or preference -- they get to move. Shackled in chains, on a bus that rattles with its own ills as well as those chains, with tiny windows that you can't pop out in an emergency nor look out as you are locked in until you arrive somewhere new and less confined. Rumor among the inmates is that there are two of the vehicles, the regular one to your next facility and the special that never unloads -- the really bad guys get on it and it only stops for refueling along the way and to load another guy somewhere else (no one ever gets off and they are never heard from again!).

When the Chain comes in and unlocks and unloads the institution is at peril, periods of transition are always the best time for attack, escape or insurrection and so security must be higher. After processing and the departure of the Chain bus things will go back to normal, well, a prison normal. In the library suddenly five to ten extra men will show up outside of the movement period and from the wrong units, their explanation: I wanted to get something to read.

Male voices are loud, deep and carry well - some of the inmates have trouble making anyone believe them unless the volume is overwhelming. So inmates from the chain are quickly establishing their rights, priviliges and collecting debts or establishing threat levels they can survive with (pecking order). Old buddies from county lockup two years ago, old buddies from criminal enterprises, old school buddies and of course the old drinking buddies.... re-establishing the connections, telling the stories and asking the questions. The noise level builds as the TRUTH is always LOUDER than fiction... unfortunately, I have good inmate library clerks, which along with their other duties show off their positive customer service skills by getting just as loud or better and shouting across the library to get information to that table in the corner. Lovely and lively here, sigh.

I am a guy, I understand and I listen for the mellow in the bass booming broadly by... situtation normal, no threats nor fears funded here, the Library is at work and the beeps of the computers scanning barcodes count the time. Still the noisiest Library in the planet, have to be first at something.

Work Alone in a Prison? What kind of fool am I?

I mentioned wanting to look into other employment since I feel alone at work, but then I am a loner so what am I looking for? I did take a test for a job in one Public Library and was called to schedule an interview session with another Public Library System, so I am working at seeing what is out there, but my wife reminded me of what my problem was with the Public Library before, aside from the part-time positions I was working (evenings and weekends, of course). Seems that I had forgotten how bored I was there - you know the times that there isn't a patron in sight, all the work seems done but you dasn't get caught doing nothing by the management - ah, the times when you can only think and check books for status, or start shelf reading. Boring, after all - the excitement is inside the books, on the tapes and cassettes and as staff on tax payer money I only get to use the materials on my time at home. So I went for the full time employment in a prison library and boring it never has been.

http://wastatelib.wordpress.com/ That link is the Washington State Library blog, directly from the State Library building in Tumwater, Washington, and it is boring. I actually worked there in Collections and Media sharing (ILL) once and nice enough people but in the end it was boring, too much time to do so little. When the chance came to return to a prison library I jumped on it and have been very well employed ever since. http://www.secstate.wa.gov/office/employment.aspx is the WSL employment link and you could paste it and visit and look at the offerings, they just don't describe the eight hour days and the mad rush of impatient patrons, all certain the universe revolves around them and only them first... and always. That might scare most gentle library types away...

I expect that if you haven't worked inside a prison that you think there are too many terrible people around and it is dangerous, and that might be almost true. But I have about seven years in prison libraries and only one half-hearted fight the entire time I have been working, the real fights are held elsewhere so they can't be interrupted by staff and the Emergency Response Team (Goon squad to the inmates). The more dangerous problem is staff being influenced to break the rules for an inmate - name the rule and they will try to get a staff member to break it, there are almost as many illegal activities inside a prison as outside. When they put tobacco off limits inside the facility the inmates say it just changed the price of the tobacco - since a heavy smoker still smells like stale smoke, I would have to agree that someone is still smoking.


Still like the world outside the fence, most prisoners (inmates, felons and violators) inside the fence are going about behaving well and getting along. They do demand that staff obey the rules and regulations (although they are sure they are okay to break the ones they need to) and there is a long list of customs and polite manners that other inmates know and dare not break without paying the penalty for crossing the line. Everyone makes choices and stands on what they have chosen to do. I watch, work and talk about this and other things with the questioning patrons and penalized, every work day. One never needs count the minutes and the hours for the days fly full.