The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by Claude Muncey:

A generalization from an instructor or mine some years ago that fits my experience since. He said there were three groups of prisoners.

The first are the innocent. This is more common in jails where there are lots of pre-trial detainees that have been denied or can't afford bail. You do get them in prisons though. In most prisons it's a very small group -- the great majority of inmates are there because they did something. One problem working inside is that the innocent tend to get lost in the larger group of those claiming to be innocent.

The second are the serially stupid, the group that Tey was talking about. Her description is apt enough, but you do need to note how affective agression plays a role as well. This is the great majority of prisoners, at least male prisoners. (Women inmates, especially long term inmates, are a different group entirely.) When you work inside, the first two groups make up most of your routine.

The third group are the predators. Whether as a learned set of behaviors and perspectives, or as a result of any of a list of psychoses (the current favorites tend to be APD and NPD with some preferring the more traditional psycopathy or sociopathy), members of this group seem to see other people as either competitors or prey. Inside prison this will include the staff, other inmates, and you. Predators are not always habitually violent, but sometimes are unbelievably persuasive. Make your own generalizations about corporate management and political officeholders.

I add a fourth group based on experience: the mentally ill. Some develop problems once inside due to stress or isolation. But there is a growing body of inmates who have had substantiall mental problems for some time before incarceration, and got in trouble largely because of their illness. A couple of years ago Harpers Index cited that we instituionalize about the same percentage of the population due to mental illness as we did 50 years ago. The difference is that the majority were in mental institutions of various kind back then, but are sent to prison now. In California, almost all the newer prisons (built mid-80's or later) were built with no provision for mental health diagnosis or treatment. One of the two big lawsuits that may result in a Federal population limit for these facilities concerns mental health treatment and the inability of the California prison system to adequately treat mentally ill inmates after nearly 20 years of trying under court supervision.

So, according to the press release, these robots are vegans. I assume that when a cosmic ray burst damages their systems and they become zombie robots terrorizing the plant kingdom, they will be shamble forward, rasping "Grains, grains . . ."

"I picked up some books at the base library for you to read until you get over the flu. I think that one is about robots."

"What do you mean you have never heard of the Lord of the Rings?"

"Claude, this is my friend from college -- she's staying with us over Christmas."

"Why don't you talk to my son over there. He manages computer operations at *company name deleted*."

"No, don't worry about your retreat -- you will love the hermitage."

"I just heard that you just resigned as detention ministry coordinator. I still have some pending projects that need your approval. Do you have any idea who will be taking over the job?"

Teresa, I was driving to work on CA-99 during the inauguration with a towel in my lap so I could mop my face down every mile or so.

Crying is good and fitting today.

(Well, as long as I can keep it off my shirt until after staff meeting this morning.)

The 19th century drystone walls made by Chinese laborers in the Sierra gold country persist as well. There is a 75 foot high stone retaining wall built by Chinese Central Pacific RR workers for the original transcontinental rail line that still exists -- though that rail route is no longer in use. I am trying to find confirmation that is is drystone, which was used commonly by those workers along that route.

ajay @ 46:

"Think ya used enough C4 there, Butch?"

Michael @ 25:

He wanted to cook spaghetti, and got a recipe, but didn't know what a "clove" of garlic was. Assuming it meant the purchased unit (and hey, why not?) he made some ... really spicy spaghetti.

Be careful, you are getting close to my Secret Chili Recipe, to be defended to the death and never written down.

My first attempt at scratch chili was about 30 years ago for a group of friends. I worked from a restaurant recipe, and somehow became confused about the relationship of 1 clove vs. 1 head of garlic. It got rave reviews, especially when reheated the next day. It continues to be a central feature, allowing a lot of punch whithout cranking up the heat too much. I also makes for great burps.

My condolences -- but not only is it good not to pass whatever you have around (speaking as someone with a freshly compromised immune system), it is important that you have the rest to get well yourself.

Blessings for you and Patrick this season.

I'm another military brat, and we always lost stuff each move. Heirlooms, from my side of the family at least, are a bit short around our place.

There are two exceptions -- our wedding rings. I was a reporter when we married, which meant that I was chrnically broke. My wife to be still had her mother's ring, which she wanted to use and which solved that problem. My father had been dead a couple of years at that point and my mother surpised me with his ring. He had died a few weeks after their 25th anniversary, and Marilee and I will be married 29 years this coming December.

Sometimes I just take it off, look at it for a while, and think of the half century or so it represents in my family. There really isn't much else left.

SylvieG @ #63

Actually, I'm getting tired of the vole thing.

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