tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42644794095382404842024-03-05T04:06:44.921-08:00Charles AndersonFFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-76947929402732096982012-07-26T14:34:00.003-07:002015-07-31T18:04:48.221-07:00pathway to progress, pathway to freedom<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">PATHWAY
TO PROGRESS; PATHWAY TO FREEDOM</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">A
legislative proposal to help balance the budget and restore constitutional
integrity in state government*****</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">WHEREAS
our state budget is unbalanced in terms of reactive legislation and expenditure
of valuable resources which are not possessed by the State Treasury;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">HEREBY
is presented a series of proposals which will lead our state back to its
progressive roots and also lead us into the 21<sup>st</sup> century <b>of
fiscal responsibility.</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">PREVIOUS
legislation in response to isolated crime has led the state to a reactive mode
which resulted in the incarceration of thousands of former citizens for often
long periods of time in a "lock 'em up and throw away the key'"
model. This has led to the situation we saw festering up until the election of
Scott Walker</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">—the proliferation of
powerful unionized state jobs as a driving factor in the spending explosion
which had led the state toward bankruptcy.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">THEREFORE,
the following proposals are set forth in overall terms and also in three specific
categories: (1) Offenders who have served 20+ years after receiving excessive
sentences; (2) Youthful offenders who have been sentenced at age 17-23 and have
served five years; (3) elderly offenders 67+ years who can be better monitored
in the community while accessing their Social Security benefits. There is a
fourth category of "special needs" prisoners but these mentally ill
men and women will be dealt with by separate legislative efforts.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">CATEGORY
(1) requires the following considerations: (a) that the inmate has gone five
years without receiving a major <b>conduct report; </b>(b) that the inmate has
participated in a 9 month <b>Restorative Justice </b>program and received a
passing grade of 80 on all cumulative testing, class attendance, and personal
relationships; (c) that the inmate has demonstrated family, community, or
church support; (d) that demonstrated job skills have been obtained during the
prison term; (e) that educational requirements such as G.E.D. have been
completed along with a 500 word essay outlining their long term goals The
applicant will then appears in person before a five person <b>Board of Release </b>comprised
of a legislator, retired judge, prisoner advocate, community representative and
a certified professional such as a teacher, psychologist, VI.D, etc. of which
four votes are required for an endorsement of release in 30-60 days. Since the
outcome is a form of parole, the prisoner shall be supervised also by the
Community corrections agent in the county where residence is established upon release.
Note: those serving EWOP are ineligible for this program.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CATEGORY (2) requires youthful offenders
to demonstrate all of the previous requirements of (1 a-e) with the following
modifications: (a) two years of CR free time served; In (b) the RJ program
duration will be six months; (d) enrollment in the community of a certified
apprentice or vocational ed program;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">CATEGORY
(3) will entail the requirements of la, b, c, and in (d) demonstrate a
willingness to volunteer in the receiving community for a period of not less
than ten hours per week; and in (e) the essay shall be 1000 words. Furthermore,
this category of prisoner shall have served a minimum of five years into the
sentence of conviction and have participated in a mentoring (of younger
prisoners) program to the satisfaction of the five person release committee.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">IT
IS IMPORTANT to note that each of the proposals for categories (1-3) will
result in large cost savings to the D.O.C. budget in that those age 67+ are the
most costly to maintain in prison and the cost in categories (1-2) are still
high at apx. $33,000 per year.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">HOWEVER,
there is one additional proposal which can apply to each category (1-3): which
has been successfully implemented in both Chicago and Washington, DC: called <b>"One
Prisoner; One Church" </b>and entails the participation of a five member
committee of any recognized church, civic club, or community organization in
the mentoring and release preparation of any inmate who has been identified as
eligible under categories (1-3). Any member of the committee will then meet
with the designated prisoner to establish a working relationship which will
lead to them meeting the ex-inmate at the prison gate and accompany him or her
to the residence which has been prepared, the job or job access designated and
other community services of value. In return, the ex-inmate will uphold all of
the rules and recommendations of the group as well as the community and be
prepared at some point in the first year to offer twenty hours of community or
church service per week as designated. Although a prisoner can be released
successfully without this safety net under (1-3) such identified participants
in this 1-1 initiative will move to the <b>top of the list </b>for
consideration of the five member release committee upon completion of the first
phase of in-prison mentoring by the outside church or civic group. THIS
INITIATIVE will activate a $10,000 state grant to assist the civic club or
church community to provide resources such as transportation to the institution
and things such as apartment deposit and transportation costs upon arrival in
the community. Each service agency thus designated will account for this money
to be used in the first year of participation upon release of the individual
from prison. At that point the next person designated will become active in the
next grant proposal. In other words, only one participant group per year will
apply and access the grant. Twenty five designated groups of eligibility in the
state would thus access $250,000 per year from this special budget which will
be obtained easily by the cost savings from the D.O.C. when a prisoner is
released instead of serving time in the institution.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 6.5pt;">'to</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THUS, in contrast to previous criminal
legislation, this program accounts for expenditure in advance and will result
in more successful releases, more ex-prisoners successfully integrated into the
community, and a net savings of many times the actual cost of this last
proposal. The return to rational thinking in response to the societal cost of
crime and punishment will have then returned to the progressive roots of this
great state of Wisconsin.</span></div>
FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-8402639286927691742011-07-19T20:06:00.000-07:002011-07-19T20:08:13.270-07:00Teamwork in Group and Life.Teamwork in Group and Life........................by Chas. A<br /> I was raised in what I would call a "competitive" sports background and era. I got most of this attitude from my dad, a very successful athlete in Chicago in the late 1920s. Every¬one on the South Side knew him and greeted him warmly. As a lad in tow on many such cases, I wondered what it would take for me to receive such adulation. I had plenty of exposure to the competitive world of sports but not the skills to make it happen. My mom's brothers were both interested in sports also but were small, skinny guys with no athletic ability. Now, if my dad had wanted to sire a clone with his athletic ability, he would have chosen a different mate. And then, he seemed disappointed that I didn't measure up. Was he secretly happy? He would remain the "king" and then we moved to the West Side—away from his power base.<br />Although I did not have the potential for top success in sports, I did learn the value of teamwork by watching my dad and the sports he followed—mostly high school football. He had a network of friends from his days in sports (as their teammate), lifelong cohorts from his days in a nascent Boy Scout group, and then many friends from his work station. I never met any of his friends from school—as he was a graduate of the Chicago Music College. Both Dad and Mom were professional entertainers but it wasn't their "day job." Dad worked himself up the ranks in the Chicago Police Department and Mom was a successful writer and author.<br /> In my life I had a burning desire for success but it actually was more: recognition is what I was after. But, was I willing to pay the price for such or would I deserve it? Unfortunately, when I ended up in the headlines, it was not for achievement, but the opposite: crime and depravity. How could I have gone so wrong? I can't blame my parents but they thought I had "fallen in with the wrong crowd." Preposterous. Now, in this present position, I am faced with the prospect of cooperation with many who I would not choose as my teammates. If I was going to be on a baseball team, it would be with people who had like-minded skills and aspirations. The best players are those who love the sport and the effort it takes to train, practice, cooperate and be successful. In the professional world—let's say—of journalism—I would have the same goals. If I were to be involved in the production of a magazine, newsletter, or other organized publication, I would hope that the members assigned or recruited or interested in the project would have the same goals: integrity, professionalism, and the skill to research, compile, and write. I would not expect that the person who would be in charge would be the one with the best computer skills. Such a person might do well in a start-up project that takes programming skills, etc. But to put that person in charge of the writers, the people who actually create the material would be like putting a stenographer in a C.E.O. position of a major network. Compiling other people's work in a acceptable format is indeed a skill but none greater than those who write, proof, and publish. Such is a team concept where all skills are blended into one successful effort. The Manager of such a team is a person who has skills in all areas—particularly concensus building. When I am involved in an activity where there is no opportunity to participate creatively, I get dis-couraged.<br /> The same is true in (therapy) group. The people in charge have complete power and there is no room for creativity. In my last term at SRSTC, I did have a few months with JoAnn where she let me try some innovative things in group. This, however, was overwhelmed by the jealousy of group members who viewed me as a threat to their normalcy. The group was floundering in ennui and inertia, stuck in the same "Applications"mode for months on end. When I volunteered to join a new group I was met with the same type of resistance. Here, in my recent I-S group, there was no teamwork in evidence. It was (and is) "every man for himself." If I have no input into an activity I am involved in, I don't do well. I thrive on creativity—as did my parents—and find this location (and some activities) bogged down in mediocrity. How else could it happen to ensure my successful completion?<br /> Using the concept that patients should be involved in the formulation of their therapy groups, I think better effort could be made to match equally competent individuals in a group. It is correct that drug addicted, high school dropouts (I get in big trouble for that disparaging remark) have something to offer (as human beings) in any such group but their grasp of the material and overall performance is dismal in many regards. I feel as though I am assigned to a Special Ed classroom in my quest for treatment success. Every topic seems to skirt the real problems of sex offending. At this rate, I will never be challenged to face the demons which put me in my present position. A team of motivated, educated, reliable treatment participants would be paramount in my goal of therapy success. I think part of my socialization improvement would be to sit around a conference table and hammer out some goals and specifications. This applies to my newsletter activity as well. Our effort there has always been dominated by the computer geeks and valued by many as the ultimate achievement in publishing. Journalism is not for amateurs but dedicated professionals who know how to make it work. Of course, in this setting, it is also very therapeutic for guys who can write articles which examine their core issues and "put themselves out there" in their quest for sanity, safety, and release.FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-56191345058627682052011-02-24T12:49:00.000-08:002011-02-24T12:53:34.227-08:00The continued Harvesting of our citzensTHE CONTINUED HARVESTING OF CITIZENS..........................by Chas. Anderson<br />
In one of our recent articles, we tried to make the point that the prison-industrial complex was continually striving to create "customers" and concurrent jobs. What would the unemployment rate be if half of the men (and women) incarcerated in this state (and nation) were released to fend for themselves in society? There was a "token" attempt at this awhile back in the state of Wisconsin as a few "non-violent" offenders were released a few months early from their sentences. What real jobs are available to sustain these (former) citizens and also the laid-off public employees who used to tend them? Isn't that the stated goal of the new administration set to take over in Madison in early January, 201 I?<br />
Creating jobs and trimming the state budget seem to be incompatible unless the new governor is a magician. That has actually been the previous plan as "creative Financing" has enabled the State Fiscal Bureau to mask the real debt that has been accruing over the past decade. We owe a debt to our Progressive tradition in Wisconsin but here is also a mandate to not burden our progeny with excessive debt for as Lincoln said in his first inaugural address: "(for we) drink from wells we did not dig and are warmed by fires we did not build" and thus we have the potential to leave a legacy of despair to future generations saddled with burdensome debt. The power of government can become excessive (as Obama's critics have continually contested) but the "cut & slash" politicians have no problem with the continued harvesting of citizens as pawns in both the welfare state and the prison-industrial complex. This (prison) industry has resulted in thousands of highly paid, union contracted jobs in the state—mostly in hard-pressed rural areas. <br />
Is there little wonder that many ASFCME unionists did not vote to enable this new (frugal) administration. I remember when Jimmy Carter was elected President and he preached that the American taxpayers would have to make "sacrifices" so that the national budget would not bankrupt the country. The response: he was "thrown out" by the voters after one term.<br />
It will be interesting to see if the new administration in Madison uses "their power" to invoke austere measures on the taxpaying citizens of this state. Where should he start? It seems the first order of business will be to reject the $810M in Federal Stimulus money earmarked for high-speed transit from Milwaukee to Madison. The Spanish company (125 jobs) that has the contract to build the trains has already threatened to relocate to Illinois. In recent years, taxes have been raised both directly and insidiously by various mandates and "user fees" which results in Wisconsin having one of the highest "percapita" tax rates in the nation.<br />
Economics has a theory that an entity can borrow money at the current value of currency (what I mean is the net worth of the money in circulation) and then when it is time to pay back, one's access to more valuable money guarantees an easy pay back. For example, if your wages are $75,000 at present and you borrow $250,000 for a house, in ten years you will be making $125,000 and so the repayment is facilitated. That has been the government plan which enables them to exceed their revenue each year. This worked until the middle of Bill Clinton's term but in the intervening decade, this penchant for unlimited borrowing has led to a severe <br />
recession and loss of tax revenue. People who are out of work and companies which are out of business do not pay taxes. At this point, the horizon for recovery is quite cloudy. It may take ten years. What, then, does our beloved Cheese State IF& WHEN it runs out of money. At this rate, it may not take long. <br />
There is no question that painful cuts have to be made. In California, the outgoing governor proposed a $1B cut in services which included programs for school-age children coming off welfare, cuts in mental health services and special educations and also AIDS prevention and treatment. Similar to Wisconsin, they have instituted pay cuts in the form of "furlough" days and benefit reductions. State employee benefits and retire¬ment packages have always been generous in order to retain good workers who might be snatched away by the private sector. This is not true for public school teachers who far outpace the private sector. The process of attrition can be used to avoid painful layoffs but what the (state) employer is saying is that those remaining on the job will have to shoulder a higher burden. When four people are running an office that used to be staffed by five, the pressure grows and the process of exploitation begins. That has always been the benefit of unionization but that system has been curtailed in recent years. But, the government can't go out of business nor can its employees "strike" so the discussion reaches an impasse and budget deficits continue to mount as the state borrows more money each year at higher interest rates (because they now have a risky credit rating.) <br />
How to proceed? Since both California and Wisconsin embarked on a prison building spree from 1990-2005, they are both stuck with numerous "white elephants," including SUPER MAX facilities (which are eminently expensive) and an even more ominous system called "civil commitment." Such was a traditional outlook in all states as the "State Hospital" served every community, paid for by the taxpayers who didn't want to deal with "mental illness" in the community. The current Mental Health Complex in Milwaukee Co. is beset with numerous problems and threatens to bankrupt the county. The residents cannot get federal assistance (SSI or SS retirement benefits because the Feds have issued a "Max: 16" provision for such benefits—mandating that recipients be housed "in the community" in order to qualify. So, the county (assisted by the state) is responsible for the entire cost of this plan. Most people were OK with this system over the past decades. The state is resp¬onsible for mental health complexes such as MMHI—just outside of Madison. There the residents—deemed mentally ill after committing ghastly crimes (Keith Kalota bludgeoned his wife and kids with an axe; Jane Jacobsen killed her lover's mate in a classic love triangle) and they live an (expensive) "non-prison" life which includes outside employment, weekend furloughs, and community outings. No "hard time" in these state facilities. P.S. Both have been released into the community.<br />
The most extreme of possible incarceration methods is the civil commitment scheme—which combines the mental health concept with the intention and mechanics of (prison) incarceration. When this plan was promulgated by legislatures in Washington and Kansas, Wisconsin quickly followed. The Kansas statute was declared unconstitutional by its Supreme Court and the Washington law ran into trouble in the local Federal court but in Wisconsin, Ch. #980 (located right in the middle of criminal statutes) the law was upheld by a 6-1 margin. Only Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson had the courage to dissent. See State v. Post 541 N.W. 2d 115. Contrary to the Constitution's admonition in favor of "equal protection under the law" (Amend #14,) this law applies ONLY to convicted sex offenders—who have served their (well deserved) prison sentences at an already staggering cost to the state budget—now in arrears by $3 B .<br />
What next? Well, after the federal court in Washington (state) declared that this new class of "prisoners" could not be interred in an actual prison, Wisconsin embarked on a $45M building project in a depressed rural area in Juneau. Then the residents of Mauston rejected the plan until it was pointed out that a financial windfall would accrue in terms of (recession proof) jobs and local sales revenue. Then, after the facility was filled to capacity (275) after opening in 2000, a 150 bed addition was planned, budgeted, and built in 2008 (for another $40M) but lo and behold—it stands empty. Meanwhile 75 or so "left-over" guys are retained (or banished) back to the original "holding tank," WRC in Winnebago Co. (on the shores of beautiful Lk. Winnebago.) The same thing happened in California where the new $100M "sexual predator" facility built in Coalinga stood empty for two years before funding could be found to staff the place (in the middle of the desert valley where water is at a "premium.") Both states are paying a hefty tab for this largesse whereas a "get tough on crime" state, Texas, just supervises their released sex offenders in the traditional way: quick revocation upon the first complaint. <br />
In the interest of full disclosure, the tab for Wisconsin's venture into what I call "Ultimate Punitive Incareration" amounts to $381 per day X 365 days (per year) for 400 "patients" which equates to an expenditure of apx. $130,000 per man, adding up to a $40M budget drain on the DHS, now separated from the former DHFS as the "Family" has been deleted—so as not to give the impression that the sex offender law is more important than the families it was drawn (ostensibly) to protect. Go, figure. ?<br />
Thus, Ch. 980 seems to be the "golden calf of Wisconsin budgetary considerations or a #1 priority in the view of various legislators. Even former Gov. Tommy Thompson was "up front" in his description of this plan (back in 1993-94): "We might be able to use civil commitment procedure to keep them (sex offenders) in jail." By jail, he meant prison, or the current "nom-de-plume": Secure Treatment Facilities. No weekend passes or other frills like the regular mentally ill.<br />
This scheme entails an extension on the traditional definition of mental illness (as recognized in the diagnostic Manual of the American Psychiatric Association to include various paraphilias and the nebulous "anti-social personality" diagnosis—a cover name for rapist—which is not specifically included in the APA diagnosis—for various reasons. This regimen is in constant flux—as we see by the deletion of the former category of homo¬sexuality as a component of "mental abnormality." This is not the highly specific category such as a designation of schitzophrenia incurs. A recent court of appeals decision (7th Circuit, Chicago) allows almost ANY such testimony of such abnormality by an expert witness as qualification for a ruling of "dangerousness" and the concurrent (indefinite) commitment. Due process be damned as many legal rights are not extended to civil matters as opposed to the "rights of criminal defendants."<br />
Additionally, the threshold of commitment has been extended (modified from) a "much more likely than not" (67%) to a meager "more likely than not" (51%) standard State v. Smalley in complement to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Crane (nexus of events) which followed the seminal case Kansas v. Hendricks. In that confirmation, the court was more evenly split than Wisconsin, a 5-4 decision upholding the concept of civil commitment based on perceived dangerousness. Swing voters Kennedy and O'Connor sided with the majority in 1994—otherwise this entire deal would have been abandoned—at great savings to the taxpayers. Can we truly afford the luxury of keeping 400 offenders whose terms have expired under the pretext of keeping the entire state safe from sexual predators? What about the other 18,000 registered sex offenders living in the community? What about the thousands of released drug offenders who provide constant mayhem in the cities of the state as they attempt to recapture their drug turf?<br />
In conclusion: we have abdicated our responsibility to leave a better society for our heirs in the quest for safety. Most sexual assaults are performed by someone known (and trusted) by the victim—whether it be rape, incest, or child sexual assault. Teenage "Romeos" are caught in the net as circuit court judges routinely abandon their courtroom to the exalted class of psychologists who have entered this profession of expert and therapist and reap the benefits of society's modern day witch hunt: the search to crucify those accused of sexual offending. Let those without guilt cast the first stone. <br />
Addendum<br />
The Dept. of Public Instruction has proposed a 2% ($420M) increase in assistance to school districts for 2011-12 and 4% for the next year thereafter. Sen. Alberta Darling predicts the proposal will be "pretty much dead on arrival" in the next state legislature, under REP control in the next term. The Supt. says he would use the budget increase to help school districts to control costs and earmark $3000 from the state for each student enrolled. MPS would stand to gain 5% under this proposal. This measure is in stark contrast to the enactment of Ch. 980 where Darling's co-sponsor, Rep. Lolita Schneiders intoned: "(The bill) seeks to place further restrictions on the most heinous of repeat sex offenders by ensuring the prison term would be extended." Her hysterical rant continued but I get sick to my stomach when reading it and I don't want to "fan the flames." Legislative attorney Greg Olsen, who helped to draft the bill, gives his candid view (back in 1993-4): "I am not confident that the law is being narrowly enough drawn because it is impossible to say who should be committed on the basis of a mental disorder we are not sure even exists." Greg Van Rybrock, MMHI Clinical Dir. States: "Mental disorders are the broad umbrella that all of us could fall under.""<br />
At this point, the statute has netted a handful of very dangerous criminals with a violent past, some of which has been sexual in nature. These guys are primarily thugs and gang leaders and the chance for rehabilitation is slim. Also, there are two units at Sand Ridge for developmentally disabled men who have committed sex offenses. These men do not really attend therapy (low attention span) but participate in various "projects" that one might see in any Special Ed classroom. There is a class for non-violent offenders—primarily child molesters and incest perpetrators. The program they are in is scheduled for 6-8 years but few graduate. The most ubiquitous group is called CT—a tougher group of rapists whose every response to anxiety is "I'll kick your ass." Few graduate after as much as 10-15 years attendance. Some drop out and may reapply. And then there is SKU, "skilled care unit" for older and infirm guys who can no longer take care of themselves. Diabetes is rampant throughout the entire population at Sand Ridge. Sharon Patrick, a member of the Sand Ridge steering committee comments: "These guys are getting a free ride. If anything, they are over-socialized (by sitting around all day playing cards.")<br />
The PEW Research Institute releases stunning information about each state's commitment to keeping their former citizens locked up. It states that Wisconsin devotes 14% of its workforce in its Dept. of Corrections. If you want to rank us in line with the 50 states, we are thus 6th highest. Even California, with over 100,000 former citizens locked up is ranked 1111 at 12.8%. Our Midwest neighbors are well below this standard—except Missouri at 13.9%. The state most demographically similar to us, Minnesota, is near the bottom at 5.2%. Now, only 19 states have civil commitment statutes in place, so the cost of that is hidden—surely in Wisconsin-as the cost is bourn by our Dept. of Heath Services. Yes, California and Minnesota have similar laws but the #1 state, Texas (16.9%) does not. What this means is that our already cash-strapped state is devoting MORE than just an exorbitant amount in the quest to keep us safe.<br />
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Just a word about the private sector—in case you think they can deal with the mess of incarceration that we have established in this state and nation. The American Legislative Exchange Council, comprised of powerful corporations and their lobbyists meets regularly in Washington, DC to forward their collective agendas back to various state legislatures. One of the members, the Corrections Corporation of America (chief shareholders: former TN Gov. Lamar Alexander and TV personality Bob Barker) met to promulgate the recent law passed in AZ deemed to arrest and detain illegals. Where would they be housed? Yep, CCA. This was the same process used in the promulgation of "civil commitment" laws in the states that now use them. When Wisconsin "deported" over 4000 of their prisoners in the late 1990's, CCA was the beneficiary. The entire gamut was a mess and they had to settle a $600,000 law suit for tazoring our former citizens.<br />
No elected jurist or Dist. Atty. will ever want to appear soft on crime—particularly sex offenders—nor will any legislator in Madison. The media-created hysteria about sexual criminals has impacted our society to great dimensions in the past twenty years. Furthermore, a class of human piranhas, known as psychologist/therapists (Psychiatry does not really support the concept) have landed windfall profits to their ledgers by testifying in court and writing reports at the crack of $150-500 an hour in support of the continuing incarceration of those offenders that are deemed to pose a continuing threat. What are the chances that a convicted drunk driver will get behind the wheel again while impaired? Drug offenders do not give up their illegal activity easily—many despite years of "therapy" and REHAB. The concept that sex offenders can be treated successfully is a myth. The best society can hope for an ex-criminal is to dissuade them from further activity and offer them a reasonable alternative that does not bankrupt the state. <br />
Probation & parole costs a mere $8000 per year.<br />
One Possible Solution: This matter about "civil commitment" and the state budget are not incompatible IF anyone who cares (such as the sponsor of this blog) will consider this recommendation: Release every man (and women) who is incarcerated in this state on their 67th birthday and let the federal SS system take care of them. Statistics are clear—particularly for sex offenders—that the potential for reoffense is quite low—particularly after age 60. Hansen and Thornton (Treatment Dir. At Sand Ridge) have researched the matter and found that the actuarials reveal only a 2% rate of reoffense and -2% every year thereafter. These men constitute the highest rate in terms of health care also and drive up the expenditure for this folly to the point where it reaches $139,000 per year. This cost (and the cost of maintaining prisoners in the D.O.C). would be substantially lower if this (humanitarian) plan would be followed. LIFE without parole anywhere is an abomination and leads to despair for all those concerned. What to do about people like Bernie Madoff who are convicted of ghastly crimes in their 60's? Take them up in a plane with a parachute and backpack (with a tent, etc.) and drop them over Gates of the Arctic N.P. in Alaska and let them fend for themselves. This message is not about people who are just starting a term of incarceration BUT those who have finished and are indefinitely retained under the guise that they may remain dangerous to society. Yes, reduce the state budget but also concentrate on things which matter:<br />
Early childhood education, Family support and nutrition, Elementary, secondary, and higher education, health care coverage, and job opportunities in the inner city and rural areas so we can harvest their citizens—at age 18 and welcome them to society as productive members.<br />
Address the deficiencies in our society which lead to only 44% of Black kids graduating from high school in Milwaukee and the fact that on average 63 children died in homocides (2007-08) and 31 died of suicide in the state of Wisconsin. None of these are sex crimes. The continued binge of incarceration leads to a bleak future for many of our citizens.<br />
For further research information, and to check on abuse of kids by ADHD medications, see Clinical Psychiatry News (Sept., 2009 p. 27) and Duke (Univ.) Medicine Health News, Vol 16, No. 1, p. 5. Honing in on one possible source of offense to children, teens, and women in our society and disregarding the many other factors that may lead to their victimization is outright folly and misguided use of the media, government, and the psychological community of certified (and uncertified) practitioners. See also "Life Before the Modern Sex Offender Statutes" Northwestern Univ. Law Review . Denno, Deborah Vol. 92, Summer, 1998, No. #4 and also "Megan's Law: Can It Stop Sexual Predators—and At What Cost To Constitutional Rights?" 11 Crim. Just. 3,3 (1996.) Joel B. Rudin.FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-64997975968140076912011-02-24T12:46:00.001-08:002011-02-24T12:46:41.955-08:00Teamwork in Group and Life<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Teamwork in Group and Life........................by Chas. A</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was raised in what I would call a "competitive" sports background and era. I got most of this attitude from my dad, a very successful athlete in Chicago in the late 1920s. Everyone on the South Side knew him and greeted him warmly. As a lad in tow on many such cases, I wondered what it would take for me to receive such adulation. I had plenty of exposure to the competitive world of sports but not the skills to make it happen. My mom's brothers were both interested in sports also but were small, skinny guys with no athletic ability. Now, if my dad had wanted to sire a clone with his athletic ability, he would have chosen a different mate. And then, he seemed disappointed that I didn't measure up. Was he secretly happy? He would remain the "king" and then we moved to the West Side</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—away from his power base.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Although I did not have the potential for top success in sports, I did learn the value of teamwork by watching my dad and the sports he followed</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—mostly high school football. He had a network of friends from his days in sports (as their teammate), lifelong cohorts from his days in a nascent Boy Scout group, and then many friends from his work station. I never met any of his friends from school—as he was a graduate of the Chicago Music College. Both Dad and Mom were professional entertainers but it wasn't their "day job." Dad worked himself up the ranks in the Chicago Police Department and Mom was a successful writer and author.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In my life I had a burning desire for success but it actually was more: recognition is what I was after. But, was 1 willing to pay the price for such or would I deserve it? Unfortunately, when I ended up in the headlines, it was not for achievement, but the opposite: crime and depravity. How could I have gone so wrong? I can't blame my parents but they thought I had "fallen in with the wrong crowd." Preposterous. Now, in this present position, I am faced with the prospect of cooperation with many who I would not choose as my teammates. If I was going to be on a baseball team, it would be with people who had like-minded skills and aspirations. The best players are those who love the sport and the effort it takes to train, practice, cooperate and be successful. In the professional world</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—let's say—of journalism—I would have the same goals. If I were to be involved in the production of a magazine, newsletter, or other organized publication, I would hope that the members assigned or recruited or interested in the project would have the same goals: integrity, professionalism, and the skill to research, compile, and write. I would not expect that the person who would be in charge would be the one with the best computer skills. Such a person might do well in a start-up project that takes programming skills, etc. But to put that person in charge of the writers, the people who actually cu<span> </span>the material would be like putting a stenographer in a C.E.O. position of a major network. Compiling other people's work in a acceptable format is indeed a skill but none greater than those who write, proof, and publish. Such is a team concept where all skills are blended into one successful effort. The Manager of such a team is a person who has skills in all areas—particularly concessus building. When I am involved in an activity where there is no opportunity to participate creatively, I get discouraged.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The same is true in (therapy) group. The people in charge have complete power and there is no room for creativity. In my last term at SRSTC, I did have a few months with JoAnn where she let me try some innovative things in group. This, however, was overwhelmed by the jealousy of group members who viewed me as a threat to their normalcy. The group was floundering in ennui and inertia, stuck in the same "Applications"mode for months on end. When I volunteered to join a new group I was met with the same type of resistance. Here, in my recent I-S group, there was no teamwork in evidence. It was (and is) "every man for himself." If I have no input into an activity I am involved in, I don't do well. I thrive on creativity</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">—as did my parents—and find this location (and some activities) bogged down in mediocrity. How else could it happen to ensure my successful completion?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Using the concept that patients should be involved in the formulation of their therapy groups, I think better effort could be made to match equally competent individuals in a group. It is correct that drug addicted, high school dropouts (I get in big trouble for that disparaging remark) have something to offer (as human beings) in any such group but their grasp of the material and overall performance is dismal in many regards. I feel as though I am assigned to a Special Ed classroom in my quest for treatment success. Every topic seems to skirt the real problems of sex offending. At this rate, I will never be challenged to face the demons which put me in my present position. A team of motivated, educated, reliable treatment participants would be paramount in my goal of therapy success. I think part of my socialization improvement would be to sit around a conference table and hammer out some goals and specifications. This applies to my newsletter activity as well. Our effort there has always been dominated by the computer geeks and valued by many as the ultimate achievement in publishing. Journalism is not for amateurs but dedicated professionals who know how to make it work. Of course, in this setting, it is also very therapeutic for guys who can write articles which examine their core issues and "put themselves out there" in their quest for sanity, safety, and release.</span></div>FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-23681500462254397282011-02-24T12:45:00.000-08:002011-02-24T12:45:36.851-08:00Christmas in and Heart of Germany<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 27.5pt;">Christmas in the Heart of Germany</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;">by Chas. Anderson</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When I first began thinking about this topic, I realized how little I knew about the country of Germany. I had received a brochure from Globus Travel in New Jersey about their Christmas river tours and thought it was a great idea. I had grown up in the post WWII era and so the thought of anything "German" was averse to the hard-fought victory we had won. Furthermore, the tour featured a stop at Nuremburg, one of the most negative connotations I could imagine. It was time for me to reeducate myself now in the 21st Century.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As many know, the Germanic culture is quite ancient but the country was only politically united in 1870 by Kaiser Wilhelm I. The fact that he used the German equivalent of "Caesar" barkens back to the Holy Roman Empire and before. Michel lists the reign of "Kaiserreich" as 1871-1918 and the first stamps were issued in 1872 with their eagle symbol (Michel #1-6) followed by a revised eagle for M #7-11. The Eastern Auction catalog of October, 2010 lists one (Sc. 8) at $160.00 used so I see that set as attainable.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Like our neighbor Canada, the German Confederation had consisted of numerous states, called "Staaten" and were going to be a lot more difficult for me to learn than the easy 13 Provinces in Canada</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—most of them right on our border. The German map I am looking at seems to designate 16 states but I think I am missing a few. Michel lists 19 of them as having issued stamps, with the earliest being Bavaria (Bayern) in 1849. The denomination is listed as 1 Kreuzer. In 1876 the German currency was set at 100 Pfennigs=l Mark.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">When the Kaiser's reign ended after WWI, Bavaria declared itself to be a republic and overprinted their 1914 issue as such (see Michel #116-133.) While I don't want to neglect the other German states, my purpose will be to concentrate on Bavaria for this combination travel/philatelic article</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—with a further emphasis on the Christmas season. It was always my impression that the Germans had contributed much to the lore and celebration of this holy Christian festival. Bavaria continued to issue stamps until 1920, and I have one example to offer—albeit a "festive" post card which is postmarked in December, 1911.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The Globus tour begins with a flight to Frankfurt and then the boarding of their luxury river cruiser for the five day journey to Nuremberg. This region is also referred to as Franconia, which sprawls from the Main River to the Danube and from Frankfort to the Czech border. This area, controlled by Catholic bishops through</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">the 18th century, lured some of Europe's finest artists, architects, musicians, and thinkers to the area. For example, the Italian artist Tiepolo worked in Wurzburg from 1750-53 painting his version of the Sistine Chapel.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Taking this tour in December accesses the area's great Christmas markets and associated lore. The first stop, in Miltenburg, gives the traveler a taste of the traditional spice bar, called Lebkuchen, consisting of flour, honey, almonds, cinnamon, cloves, and candied fruits with white egg icing. Both Wertheim and Wurzburg feature special Christmas markets. Glassblowers also forge ornaments which are distributed throughout the world. Shown here is a typical local German Christmas celebration.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">German culture is the source of many Christmas traditions that have spread throughout the world. Their season starts on December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, patron of children, and reaches its climax on December 24 with the unveiling of the decorated tree on Christmas Eve. The children do not get to see this event until that very night. The entire festival is called Froeliche Weihnachten, which I translate to "Festival of the night of small ones." (I know I'm going to get corrected on that one. If I knew German idioms, I'd say it really means, "Happy Christmas.") On December 26, the season winds down with Zweiter Weihnachstag (St. Stephen's Day.)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">As far as Christmas stamps are concerned, I find a 1971 West Germany issue (M#660-63) featuring children's paintings of a king and snowman but it is issued on February 5, so that does not qualify. (1971-72 offers several issues commemorating the fateful Olympics held in Munich. Where were you when you first heard the news?)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I find an issue (M#749) of November, 1972 featuring Wiehnachts-marke, a semi-postal that seems to inaugurate this theme for German stamps</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—at least of the modern era. 1974 brings us a Wiehnachten issue in October, but it is merely a flower so I must have my translation wrong. Then, another in November, 1975.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The 1976 (November 16) Wiehnachten issue now features a religious theme on a stained glass window motif on a small souvenir sheet (Michel #912, shown). I'm satisfied</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—for the time being—that this is the first German Christmas stamp. I'm not even bothering to look in the DDR section and West Berlin has nothing in 1990—the year of reunification. (Where were you when the Berlin Wall crumbled on November 12,1989?)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Many more Christmas stamps have appeared in November each subsequent year in Germany. I will contact the American Topical Association to determine the first such stamp in the U.S. and the U.P.U. countries.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Those of us who really like the trappings of Christmas (not to deny the religious implications) can thank the Germans many times over from the legend of the fir tree</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—from pre-Christian times (fertility rite) to the influence of Martin Luther, who—according to legend—was walking through the forest on Christmas eve and marveled at the starlit tree. He then determined to bring one indoors and decorate it with candles. The custom spread to England in 1841 and then to America. German-born printer Louis Prang introduced colorful Christmas cards to the U.S. in 1875. They were an instant hit.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Two more German traditions are that of Santa Claus and Candy Canes. The latter originated in 1670 when the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral bent sugar sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff. Most know that St. Nicholas morphed into the jolly, bearded fellow by way of Germany to Holland and the Dutch settlers introduced the 'fat guy' to New Amsterdam. Children everywhere are quite thankful for this legend.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Whether you are "naughty or nice," you still get to finish your Christmas trip on the River Main at Nuremburg</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—in the heart of Bavaria. Their Christmas market features 180 stalls—made of wood—and the adjoining children's market lures them with carousels, a steam train, puppet show, and other "hands-on" activities. Who needs Disneyland?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A Christmas angel opens the fair each holiday season with the words: "You men and women, you who once were children too; you little ones</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—whose life has just begun..." a very appropriate reminder to grandparents and grandchildren. Remember the specialties of the Nuremberg market are toys, metalwork, Lebuchen, and of course, the beer—to warm you up on a cold night.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">This wonderful area of Germany</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—home to churches, markets, Bishop's Residences, palaces, museums, and quaint villages symbolizes the combination of religious and secular power that served for many centuries in the bastion of Christian Europe. They were seldom threatened by "infidels" (as elsewhere) and used their prosperity to enjoin a majestic lifestyle and the traditions that accompanied it. The Wurzburg Residence is sometimes compared to Versailles in France. This German architectural masterpiece is now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Now that our voyage has ended in Nuremburg, it is time for me to return to thoughts of a comprehensive German collection. Such would consist of the original states, the unified Germany to WWI, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, the occupied territories during WWII, the four part partition after the war</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">—leading to three categories: West Berlin, DDR, and the Bundesrepublik.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Who can forget the Saar issues of 1922-34, Saarland (1947-56) and OPD Saarbrucken (1957-59). Notwithstanding the German Colonials, things got much easier after reunification. My favorite is the Schillinger painting issue of 1993 (M#1684-86, the first part of a 15-stamp Scenic Regions of Germany series issued between 1993 and 1996), shown here, Sc. 1793, Rugen Island.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The great thing about Christmas stamps is that we can look forward to new issues each year. For that we can thank Dave Kent to supply the newest information.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Happy Christmas and to all: a prosperous New Year. In China, they will celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">December 24, 2010</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Mekeel's & Stamps MAGAZINE</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">December 24, 2010</span></div>FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-89693498433730876422011-01-26T16:43:00.000-08:002011-01-26T16:46:53.363-08:00welcome, Governor Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtHerunzTjKOrnut5g9vV3GzQpQhHiGKJh5W-hhPZKPUXeAXnY7PdRX2IAU1OoGgPsnK11z_VvHNAJJmS3jtbsgBTKBIjCuF4krpIYh3F4BjJKp9krTBAUmwKPJDsKEmy1cV5FW70ScCh/s1600/walkerphoto+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtHerunzTjKOrnut5g9vV3GzQpQhHiGKJh5W-hhPZKPUXeAXnY7PdRX2IAU1OoGgPsnK11z_VvHNAJJmS3jtbsgBTKBIjCuF4krpIYh3F4BjJKp9krTBAUmwKPJDsKEmy1cV5FW70ScCh/s320/walkerphoto+sm.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br />
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By Chas. A<br />
Now that the election "season" is over (Thank God) it is time to get down to the serious business of governance. Winning the election is one thing; governing a diverse state of people and resources is no easy task. The formula: "To the victor goes the spoils" may or may not be applicable. We would hope that elected officials would have the best interests of the "people" (and environment) at heart regardless of the mandate that was exhibited in the election.<br />
Some citizens may be heartened by the fact that you have already made your wishes known to the present administration in Madison: curtailing negotiations with the state employees' union (AFSCME) and proposing to reject the Fed. Stimulus money "ear¬marked" for commuter rail transportation. While it makes sense to link Milwaukee with Madison via rail, I'm thinking this route already exists between Chicago, Milwaukee, Wise. Dells and Minneapolis-St. Paul (and points west). I don't understand why Madison was "bypassed" in the first place. Yes, the money may be better spent on our eroding roads and bridges (which have been neglected for the past 20 years) but it is the Fed's money and so they can dictate how it is spent.<br />
If I have the message straight, I'm thinking you were elected as a fiscal Conservative who is interested in red¬ucing the state budget deficit-projected to be $3B over the next budget (but that is for the next two years so in my math—that is just $ 1.56 per year. Yet, that may be a staggering amount considering the amount of services required (by government entities) to make this state operate successfully. I was stunned to learn that the public employees sector in California uses up 80% of the state budget. Upon further review , I guess that means that the State of Wsiconsin must PAY its employees for work every day at the various bureaucratic and blue collar jobs. On the other hand/ not much work gets done anyway on Christmas and New Year's Eve or the Friday after Thanksgiving or Good Friday. None of these people would vote to give up their jobs.<br />
What, indeed, are the priorities of any state government? What are the most important jobs in the public sector that our citizens fill every day? I'm going to list them in the order of importance in my mind. You may have a different order of priority. No. #1: Education; 2) Health & Welfare; 3) Infrastructure; 4) Business & Agriculture; 5) Tourism; 6)Corr-ections; 7) DOJ & State Police.<br />
Each agency portends to spend more money each year--supposedly supported by increased revenue--supposedly supported by an ex¬panding economy--but at present/ it's not happening.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BcnZ6BD8iMxQMkqJB3V9bmWyCZSor7R0ZQpzyXbZx1BxNWcirqqL8uXqYL7_rcU_fUMqwTVFYyZcMPcuxRf7wiOK6xERCTAwqJ1TIwb6rrSZgZQYQ8CWh70a4wRcO6ELO8d6FHcAllaq/s1600/Wi+div+of+tourismsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BcnZ6BD8iMxQMkqJB3V9bmWyCZSor7R0ZQpzyXbZx1BxNWcirqqL8uXqYL7_rcU_fUMqwTVFYyZcMPcuxRf7wiOK6xERCTAwqJ1TIwb6rrSZgZQYQ8CWh70a4wRcO6ELO8d6FHcAllaq/s320/Wi+div+of+tourismsm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <i> WI Division of tourism</i><br />
our bureaucratic and blue collar jobs. On the other hand/ not much work gets done anyway on Christmas and New Year's Eve or the Friday after Thanksgiving or Good Friday. None of these people would vote to give up their jobs.<br />
I think Gov. Walker might put my #4 at the top of this list--so as to better fund the other budget needs. We'll see if this might work. If I have the political climate gaged properly/ he will have two years (like Obama) to noticeably turn things around, since he fits our demo¬graphics better in Wisconsin/ maybe he'll get the full four years consideration .FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-46809927185176400832010-11-15T17:58:00.000-08:002015-07-31T18:05:22.463-07:00Harvesting Citizens and Pink RibbonsHARVESTING CITIZENS: A View From Both sides by Chas. A<br />
This topic can be viewed as a "loaded" question. What do you mean, Chas?<br />
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On the positive side, I can explain that my premise is that all societies actually "harvest" their youth by (eventually) turning them into productive citizens. We generally set a goal of 18 years old for those who which to enter the military or have specific skill set— such as athletics (Kevin Garnet, who entered the NBA directly from Farragut H.S. in Chicago) or music (Jennifer Hudson, 18 who turned pro after an appearance on Fox TV's "American Idol)" or entrepreneurship as more than several teen "wizards" have started Internet businesses and projects. Others have learned a family trade or business and slip in the back door on the way to V.P.<br />
For others, the plan is to enroll in college and become a professional in the white collar world or at least attend a tech school and go into a needed field such as court stenographer or lab assistant. Unfortunately, that initial college degree is no guarantee of success; some recent graduates are tending bar but it's at least a job. Previously, it has been determined that college grads earn 2-3X as much over a lifetime that those with a diploma from a regular high school. Exeter Acad. Might be a different story.<br />
The remainder of youths can be in jeopardy as few will "hang on" to their original jobs (if any) to become a manager at McDonalds. 1 understand that the Manager position at K-Mart is a real cut-throat job as they are usually "cut loose" after 7 years unless they have moved up to Dist. Mgr. Some sharp high school graduates can take the postal service exam or apply to the police or fire academy or enter training to become a prison guard on their 18lh birthday. High school one day and Department of Corrections the next. One other basis requirement might be: no PEL convictions. A simple domestic abuse conviction can also deter a police candidate by denying the right to carry a gun.<br />
On the negative side, the very same dialogue from the previous paragraph may entail the harvesting of<br />
"customers," more often than not: young men "of color" and those with poor job skills. You can make some good money running a meth lab or dealing drugs but of course—it's not legal. At one point in the last decade Wisconsin had more Black men of college age in prison than enrolled in college. Approximately one in three Black men will find themselves incarcerated at one point in their lives. A cynic would say that these "citizens" are being harvested by society as "customers" for the prison- industrial complex which has gained ascendancy during the past 20 years in the U.S.<br />
Of course this scheme can be a salvation to any rural area of the state which needs to augment the job (and tax) base in (correctly forecasted) tough economic times. After all, if three kids grow up on a farm, two of them will probably have to look else¬where for employment. It is no coincidence that prisons have been built in New Lisbon, Redgranite, Boscobel, Prairie du Chien, Union Grove, and Mauston. Yes, Mauston! After original opposition by some, most residents might now agree that the facility there (SRSTC) has been an economic boom. The landfill and water treatment situation might be another story.<br />
This last example is the inevitable story of the extension of the incarceration of (former) citizens—many incarcerated since their youth—under the pretext of "dangerousness," a.k.a. civil commitment Ch. 980—right "smack dab" in the midst of the criminal code. Who did they (the legislators) think they were fooling?<br />
So, not everyone can be instantly successful at 18 like Lebron James or Michael J. Fox but for many inner city kids, the choice is only one or the other— all or nothing. The "Nothing" means many years in prison or short terms and repeat incarcerations—as these people are also harvested—as clients of the state and non-contributors to society. The more that we encourage non¬productive "citizens," the closer we come to the breakdown of society.<br />
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PINK RIBBONS SAVE LIVES<br />
by Chas. A<br />
On the first Sunday in October, all the NFL foot¬ball teams joined to bring awareness to breast cancer treatment and prevention by wearing pink on their uniforms, helmets, shoes, and wherever possible. Every member of every team was showing solidarity with their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and girlfriends—many in danger—through genetics—but other victims have been found with Vitamin D defi¬ciency. Breast cancer is the #1 killer of females in the U.S. Unlike prostate cancer in men which usually strikes much later in life, breast cancer can strike at much younger ages and is a dire threat to the female population.<br />
By now, everyone knows that the best prevention is self-inspection and care. Mammograms have been a controversial topic but have been effective in some regards.<br />
How to prevent and control? If the malignancy is spotted early, the protocol is routine with chemo and radiation treatment. Cancer Treatment Specialists of America have founded a complete industry to address this problem.<br />
Drug treatment is equally controversial. How can we establish effective drugs which will not bankrupt the health care system or insurance companies? The solicitation of cancer research donations is meant to help formulate a cure and various government and university researchers have taken up the cause. Conversely, the major drug companies are motivated to spend millions on this cause—in the hope of major<br />
profits upon success.<br />
Investor-driven schemes may or may not be the most effective. The market place may prove to be the best method but so far—no one has found a "miracle cure."<br />
Government agencies routinely award major grants to university researchers in hope that their expertise— not profit driven—will prevail. There have been false starts and false hope but these scientists are less likely to issue false reports or minimize the side effect of such treatment.<br />
In any case, the threat continues. In 2002-06 half the women diagnosed were less than 61 years of age. White women have a higher incidence than Blacks from age 45. The state of Hawaii has the highest rate. In 2009, an estimated 192,000 new cases of invasive cancer were expected—as well as 62,000 cases of in situ breast cancer. Increased diagnosis occurred after 1980 because of more prevalent use of mammography which is very effective in spotting DC1S (ductal carcinogen in situ), 80% of such. These cancers are not easily determined by self-examination.<br />
A more radical approach to the problem (for those deemed at high risk) would be partial or complete mastectomy but that is not easy for me to contemplate as a male writer. The best care gives you the best chance to survive. Look at the statistics of the rich and famous. Elizabeth Glazer left a husband (Starsky & Hutch) and a young son. He has been spotted in several on-screen continuations of his parents' careers. Many others have survived but we don't hear about all the wives and grandmothers who have succumbed unless we have personal involvement. God bless them all and keep them safe in eternity.FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-76221970842455697372009-09-15T15:32:00.000-07:002009-08-14T19:56:34.943-07:00Notes from Sand Ridge<strong>Notes from Sand Ridge</strong> by Chas. A.<br /><br />While our oldest patient made it to 103, we did have a recent death here. This may lead some to believe that they will never leave this place alive. Nor do some care; there is a certain comfort level here that may not be available during community release.<br /><br />Is there any alternative to this civil commitment scheme which places 275 convicted sex offenders in very close proximity to each other. We are learning to be social as opp­osed to the anti-social activities which victimized people,young and old.<br /><br />A dissenting opinion is delivered (7/29/07 WIS State Journal) by Sharon Patrick, a member of the Sand Ridge steering committee: "If anything, they are over socialized. We're providing these guys with a free lunch...the longer they're (the patients) are in this ins­titution, the less they're going to want to get out." Ouch! But she is right.<br /><br />She is correct on two accounts: in this "closed" society, the sex offenders tend to group (socialize) by class. The aggressive rapists try to take the high road and act sup­erior, the incest offenders occupy the middle ground, and the highly manipulative child offenders stick in an underclass of scorn. Granted, it was worse in prison where the rapists could hide their conviction by their aggressive nature. These is another sub-culture: the homosexual community; when you put people together who are subject to sexual entang­lements, trouble can brew. Read: "love triangles." These serious relationships formed here (out of desperation or choice) can lead to serious trouble when a friend is "disrespected" by another or intimidated in any manner. Good friends are apt to offer assistance and the treatment modality falls by the wayside. These social liaisons become more important than any progress possible in treatment and become a severe hindrance.<br /><br />Secondly, the comfort level here can be very high. I have as good a medical coverage as the governor,and it doesn't cost a week's wages (per visit) as is the policy in prison. The food is good. The pay is a disappointment after having been lowered from $6.50 to $2 per hour. They are talking about raising it to $2.50 as an incentive to those who remain on the same job for six months. Enrichment activities are multitudinous: leisure garden­ing, hobby and music (as in some prisons); cooking class, card making, U.S. geography, book club and the annual Talent Show. REG tournament and leagues are ongoing. Some specialized REG activities can involve 8-12 patients and two highly paid REG therapists who are assigned. Guys can be active and busy or sit on the unit playing cards or hide out in their rooms.<br /><br />The food and kitchen activities on F Unit, however, lead to disparate societies from the rest of the facility. Only the "haves" can afford to purchase the gourmet food from local groceries while the others try to ingratiate themselves into this elite group or just steal from the unit refrigerators. The canisters for our gas grills cost $16 to the unit budget and are available almost any time upon request. The grilled corn on the cob was excellent back in summer. My pork chops didn't make it out there; they were pil­fered from the freezer. Many guys gain 15 pounds within the first six weeks of residency. More than a few become obese. Dr. Thornton is right: "Therapy is like losing weight; it takes a lot of personal discipline. Meanwhile, the (19) guys on skill Care Unit have settled in to a "paid retirement" venue courtesy of Wisconsin taxpayers. They have round the clock nursing care and air conditioning.<br /><br />After all these "social activities" are successfully completed and a guy is released to the community, they become cut off from all Sand Ridge associations, positive or: nega­tive, and become isolated in their new placement. Many will revert to smoking and video game habits. Such still plagues some of the younger guys ("gamers") here. People who can't live in this solitary physical atmosphere (opposite from Sand ridge) can go "stir crazy" and become at risk to reoffend. Many get revoked and rejoin this (dysfunctional) society. Want to see how they really think and act (after years of therapy?) Check out the behav­ior and conversations "among friends" on the yard where no one is closely supervising.<br /><br />So it would seem that legislators would have to be out of their minds to approve the expansion that is proposed in the current budget. It would double capacity by 2009. As it stands, DHFS can hardly hire enough therapists to staff the few (2-12) hours of ther­apy that are scheduled per man per week. I attend therapy two days a week but the state has to feed and house me all seven days, 52 weeks per year (after year.) Court hearings are routinely postponed. So many "setbacks" are almost programmed into this experience, it may take years or decades to complete. Several guys have been under this (980) regimen for 13 years. Various stages of treatment are constantly being revised.<br /><br />Perhaps a "line item" veto will nix this self-fulfilling prophesy: "Build it and they will come."<br />There might be a hidden agenda with the proposed plans for expansion (wrecking our garden enterprise)as with a capacity of 500-600, this "white elephant" could be converted to a maximum security prison to treat incarcerated sex offenders who were in the last half of their sentence. The only problem might be for Sand Ridge staffers to get these new clients to give up their prison mentality: "It's us against them."<br /><br />It would be more cost efficient to have a director/warden and assistant in place for 600 men as opposed to the present 275. Staff therapists are already in place. Yes, it would be a costly maximum security facility but could probably be accomplished for half the current cost of approx. $100,000. They might have to install a few watch towers but everything else is in place.<br /><br />The current 980 committees could easily be moved to special housing in the communities, at the end of airport runways, in FEMA trailers, or isolated locations. Send a minibus around two days a week to pick them up and take them to therapy sessions. If they exhibit any violations or suspicious behavior, revoke them and send them back to prison, an outcome few here would choose. This was the original intent of the law: to offer a "least restrictive" placement as the first option. That was the main selling point when the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld 980 as not unconstitutional. (Note the Abrahamson dissent.)<br /><br />Many other states have implemented this system, most notably Texas, a state famous for locking up a sizeable portion of their population.<br /><br />By the time you read this, we may have the budget answer. Build the expansion and let the other areas of state budget continue to get short shrift: U.W.tuition continues to rise. Local school districts continue to be squeezed/ bridges and highways are in disrepair, and taxes continue to rise. Or sanity can prevail and 980 be modified to reflect the true needs of this population as well as fiscal responsibility.<br /><br />Until then, I'll just stay here and enjoy life. I wouldn't be this safe on the street.FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-39856157821429986252009-09-09T13:17:00.000-07:002009-08-14T19:51:11.137-07:00DOIN' TIME IN THE CHEESE STATEDoin’ Time<br />DOIN' TIME IN THE CHEESE STATE: The Prospects of Getting Out and Staying Out<br />By Chas. Anderson<br />"Doin' time" in the state of Wisconsin can be daunting. With the advent of presumptive M.R. (1994), PLRA(1996), Truth in Sentenc­ing (2000) and T-in-S II (2003), the deck seems stacked against the prisoner—often a person of color. African Americans are incarcer­ated at a rate of 10x their representative population in the state, a severe risk to the 18-40 age category. In the nation, the 560,000 imprisoned Blacks constitute 1/4* of the nations prison population. That percentage is even higher in Wisconsin.<br /><br />Your future as a convicted felon consists of two phases: doing time and post release. You might think all you have, to do issurvive years behind bars at Supermax, Max, Medium, or Comm.Custody and you 'II be "back on easy street" with your homies. But if you return to your previous lifestyle, whatever it was, chances are you 'II be back. (Some guys are more comfortable in the joint—as comfort­able as they were in the hood, surrounded by their "guys. ")<br /><br />Goin' straight is a different matter. You will be discriminated against in many ways—so be prepared. Chances for meaningful employment will be diminished. If the employment you apply for in no way relates to your conviction, you may be able to invoke EEOC guidelines: an employer may discriminate only if it is a "business necessity." (See Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended : 42 U.S.C. ;2000e [at 2J of Sept, 1990.) Wisconsin standards are codified in 111.325,335(1)(C).<br /><br />The Housing Opportunity Extension Act (1996) and the Qual­ity Housing and Work Responsibility Act (1998) require local hous­ing authorities to permanently bar any individuals from public hous­ing premises who were convicted of certain sex crimes and meth production. They are also given discretion in denying eligibility to virtually anyone convicted of criminal activity. This includes exclu­sion from Sec. #8 housing. (See 42.U.S. C. 13661.) Their wide dis­cretion may eventually be an advantage to a released prisoner who is educated however, as there are exemptions such as length of disbar­ment and proof of rehabilitation. That is why AOD A programming can be meaningful. The parole board also acknowledges such.<br /><br />Eligibility for public assistance and food stamps are also impacted by a criminal conviction. Specific conditions apply in Wisconsin per 49.148(4) such as WW grant of $673 mo. for job training. This program requires drug testing but not if the conviction was over 5 yeas old. In addition to banning PELL grants to prisoners, a drug related conviction renders one ineligible for any government student loans, grants or work assistance. That doesn't mean you can't give (low cost) VOC Tech, or 2 year college "Centers" a try—equipped with your GED.<br /><br />The goods news is that most states—including Wisconsin (165.84(1)), allow or require the expungement of juvenile and some­times adult records of arrest or older convictions. Employers cannot legally ask for expunged information. Voting rights will be restored to Wisconsin felons upon completion of "paper service." (See 6.03(l)(b)) Don't abdicate your restored right to participate in the political process. Driver's license privileges will be re­stored (upon application) unless you have been convicted of DWI or drug related matters. (See 961.50 of 2003).<br /><br />The first step is to obtain release. Try a Motion for Modification to get your time cut or run concurrently. Avenues are open to T-in-S II inmates by application per SAR [Admin Code 302.32]. Those with 5-15 years served now have a more meaningful chance for parole. Older inmates can apply for special status and younger ones for boot camp. Keep your face card clean.<br /><br />If you intend to go straight upon release, you need to have effective strategies in place. Take the skills you have mastered in prison and put them to good use in the com­puter, construction and culinary arts trades. Don't settle for a minimum wage job unless there is sure promotion or you need to build a work history. Many construction crews on the streets are comprised of ex-felons. Try a new location-Chamber of Commerce in any small town and ask if there is any need for services you can offer (au­tomotive, tailoring, diner, etc) and ask them to send an application for a small business loan. They may be willing to help you identify and rehab an unused property on their "Main Street." A church community may also provide useful contacts and assistance.<br />Remember, your homies got you into the joint and they will be waiting there if you return.<br />TIP ("Treatment Iitstead of Prison") Legislation<br />Wisconsin legislators, in March 2004, almost passed a bill that would have sent non-violent drug-influenced offenders to community-based treatment instead of jail/prison. The campaign to pass such a bill has been conducted by WIS-DOM~seven congregation-based groups located in Milwau­kee, Racine, Kenosha, Beloit, Green Bay, Waukesha County, and the Fox Valley. Thirteen other WI organizations have endorsed the legislation. A new bill will be introduced in the 2005 session, probably in January or February. Sup­porters are urged to participate in a rally in Madison in late February or early March to demonstrate to legislators a broad statewide support.<br />According to one Wisdom spokesman, this legislation would give non violent drug offenders "wholistic treatment--not just treatment for the addiction but treatment for the underlying causes, such as anger management, family prob­lems, lack of job, inadequate education, whatever the of­fender needs to treat his or her medical and human prob­lems. The goal is to offer offenders a path to becoming healthy, productive citizens and also to reduce the fright­ening rise in Wisconsin's prison population... The cost to house an inmate in general population for one year is $25,000; this involves no significant treatment. The cost to treat a person wholisticallyfor that period is less than half that amount. The T.I.P. legislation has been called a win/ win legislation."<br />For more information contact: WISDOM Inc; 3767 E. Underwood Ave; Cudahy,WI 53110; 1-414-8311-2070; email wisdom@sbcglobal.netFFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-63511653358135257842009-09-08T15:28:00.000-07:002009-08-14T19:50:03.714-07:00The Future Depends on What We Do in the PresentThe Future Depends on What We Do in the Present<br />by Chas. Anderson<br /><br />It is unlikely that Gandhi was referring to the present state of affairs in Wisconsin and the U.S.A. We find ourselves in a local midterm election race that portends to repudiate the war-mongering of George W, Bush and contrasts two local politicians in a battle for governor.<br /><br />One of them, Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay is surely proud of his Two Strikes legislation in Congress and the other, James Doyle, presided over the expansion of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the implementation of 5980. All of these measures promise to siphon off precious funds from both the federal and state budgets in an infamous "war on crime" effort. Actually, it is an attempt to punish crime rather than forestall it. (read: 9/11.)<br /><br />I realize much of this legislation is aimed toward protecting our most valu­able resources, no, not timber, cheese, or oil, but our children. Not even a few years removed from childhood, however, the current war in Iraq threatens to dec­imate a new generation. With 2800 dead and tens of thousands injured, we are not yet approaching the levels of Viet Nam (60,000) but the results will be the same: a total waste of human life and effort.<br /><br />At all costs, we have protected these young men from sexual abuse as youth and then sent them off to Iraq to be executed by insurgents. We have also sacri­ficed family men in the fray, former reservists, leaving women and children with­out their parent (Breadwinner) for long periods of time, some never to return alive or intact. How does this protect our children?<br /><br />In Wisconsin the hysteria directed at sex and other offenders has resulted in scarce budget resources being diverted to the Dept. of Corrections at the ex­pense of UW and local school funding, while transportation and DNR budgets have also suffered. Social, services has also been affected as SRSTF now eats ud a dis­proportionate amount of DHFS costs.<br /><br />Does any of this national or local campaign really protect our children and enhance their future? Kids are still being victimized in many ways. Has any of this effort prevented gross physical abuse by distraught mothers or sociopathic step-fathers or boyfriends, sometimes resulting in death or severe injury (shaken baby syndrome?) Much of the public effort, aimed at stranger sex abuse is mis­directed (including sex offender registry) since this type of event accounts for only 6-7% of sex offenses involving children. * CPR Newsletter, Santa Fe, NM 10/06<br /><br />The Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Avenal, NJ reports recidivism rates of 13% for untreated sex offenders and 9% for those completing treatment. *ibid This rate is clearly less than drug offenders, not in the crosshairs of political effort.<br /><br />Prof. Thos Zander (Marquette Univ.2005) questions the propriety of try­ing to single out certain sex offenders based on controversial diagnoses whereas most offenders confined under §980 could be supervised intensely under house arrest while participating in the Thornton program via closed circuit TV or Internet.<br /><br />This essay is not to be construed as me trying to evade responsibility for my criminal behavior. I pled guilty and served 13 1/2 years of a twenty year sentence, finishing in October,2005.<br /><br />What we are doing in this country and state is mortgaging the future by our recent, actions in the present. We are stressing punishment and conflict instead of emphasizing education, recreation, enrichment, and responsible adult interaction. Currently, only half of Black and Hispanic kids graduate from high school in the U.S.A.*CBS news 10/23/06<br /><br />These children are our endangered future.FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-54708671021564454072009-08-14T17:23:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:40:13.012-07:00Bligh: Enigma of the South Seas<div><strong>Bligh: Enigma of the South Seas</strong><br />by Chas. Anderson<br /><br />No single person other than Capt. James Cook has elicited as much interest and controversy as William Bligh, captain of the Bounty, although only a lieutenant in rank. Gone to sea as an able bodied seaman at age 16, by 22 Bligh had gained enough skill to serve as sailing Master of the Resolution on Cook's third voyage.<br /><br />The well known saga of the Bounty mu­tiny off Tofua on April 28. 17 39 had its roots in the personality conflicts between Bligh and his protege, Fletcher Christian as well as other members of his crew. Bligh was not at a Captain's usual advan­tage, hav­ing been placed in command of 45 men on a small ship converted from the merchant fleet<br />div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq169tV5vQnyMddiux4JEOwSkxkzG8HD-4kO7otjflrRsFNdek68mzdWtNhaxrwL6kmoQb2y4J7GpCwKwHpXoZQGOD0fKRaV_oWD5TMakZjEShjIQn6Wez4owQOH063A_zuLsT4c3QzAmy/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369981704097370690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq169tV5vQnyMddiux4JEOwSkxkzG8HD-4kO7otjflrRsFNdek68mzdWtNhaxrwL6kmoQb2y4J7GpCwKwHpXoZQGOD0fKRaV_oWD5TMakZjEShjIQn6Wez4owQOH063A_zuLsT4c3QzAmy/s320/pitc+stamp+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQtEo530H6GwRFnlATExofS1_AsyFueQN0Y8n-pgCIxQT6Sw1CA-ncfTzxO8dlN8OkMn0QTQ67Qn5e0cHVTP5lOEGRSlzQLZ6_zTPXf3umLlWxKTgt4T7RNdGzSkLr9jAmMesvObzhXUP/s1600-h/bligh+and+bounty+pict.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370028539817805266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQtEo530H6GwRFnlATExofS1_AsyFueQN0Y8n-pgCIxQT6Sw1CA-ncfTzxO8dlN8OkMn0QTQ67Qn5e0cHVTP5lOEGRSlzQLZ6_zTPXf3umLlWxKTgt4T7RNdGzSkLr9jAmMesvObzhXUP/s320/bligh+and+bounty+pict.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Bligh was the only son of a custom's official, having gained appointment to the Hunter in 1770 and later to the Crescent, stationed at the Isle of Man for 18 months. Bligh took advan­tage of this time to court Elizabeth Betham, whose father was acquainted with Bligh's father. He also took advantage of this quiet time to study chart making, navigation, and related sub­jects. He then received the astonishing news of his appointment to serve with Cook.<br /><br />When the Resolution returned without Cook in 1780, Bligh did not receive the promotion or accolades he expected. Rumors had implicated him in Cook's death and his vehement denials were met with disapproval by the Admiralty. Bligh returned to the Isle of Man to resume his courtship of Elizabeth. They were married on February 4, 1781 and had six daughters. Twin sons died at birth. By all accounts, Bligh was a devoted husband and father.<br /><br />The Isle of Man held a three-fold connection for Bligh: his wife was born and raised there; Christian's mother, along with son Fletcher, had removed there upon the death of her husband and loss of his estate; and Bounty protagonist Peter Heywood was also a well-connected Manx.<br /><br />Christian's somewhat higher social status also may have caused friction in the long run, but at first it was appealing to .Bligh. Christian twice sailed with Bligh to the West Indies upon Duncan Campbell's merchant ships. Campbell was Elizabeth Bligh's uncle. At some point during the mutiny, Bligh pleaded to Christian, "You have held my child on your lap." Indeed, during the period before the Bounty embarked on October 4, 1787 but had not cleared Spithead on December 24 Christian had petitioned him for appointment and typical family connec­tions were accessed.<br /><br />On the Bounty, Bligh held his first command highly and treated the seamen in the tradition of the British Navy: harshly. There was one perplexing exception: he had learned from Cook to maintain the crew in good health—for his own benefit at least, since 46 men were a sparse amount in which to circumnavi­gate the globe to obtain a valuable , cargo in Ohtahetee and deliver it I to English plantation owners in J the West Indies. Little ! did they know that the slaves I would reject this "bread grown on trees" as a food source.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcdgXDIU460uUDTntyEnR2AgEkNAiE_GmnoCpl7mWEVcMzXW7NleKwjbT_Bo2ukZGOcxT3UXe9YoUFezON0p2R2gFYXL4E0eZOAfkNna7LUYvpq_1jj_E2-avSoBQHJZw2xhKJbNna5mM/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+breadfruit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024068023201730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcdgXDIU460uUDTntyEnR2AgEkNAiE_GmnoCpl7mWEVcMzXW7NleKwjbT_Bo2ukZGOcxT3UXe9YoUFezON0p2R2gFYXL4E0eZOAfkNna7LUYvpq_1jj_E2-avSoBQHJZw2xhKJbNna5mM/s320/pitc+stamp+breadfruit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbCN0izYdei06ylkTf5LP_uVZpIoEsnpBTujNk9HVtfKwfvwPYZRWZTbq8TpNPbn8K9HxsjAJcTl36mE2tQWqeGqz7fatHYIvYaCrkshyphenhyphenrLL8vWYZ6m0czCr6zYrbMV_395uADWtV-QSD/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369981697529156898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbCN0izYdei06ylkTf5LP_uVZpIoEsnpBTujNk9HVtfKwfvwPYZRWZTbq8TpNPbn8K9HxsjAJcTl36mE2tQWqeGqz7fatHYIvYaCrkshyphenhyphenrLL8vWYZ6m0czCr6zYrbMV_395uADWtV-QSD/s320/pitc+stamp+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Because of Bligh's new found position, he was lenient on the most common form of punishment: flogging by whip. This may have led some of his officers to believe he was weak or did not have the stomach for discipline.The Bounty reached Mataivi Bay, Tahiti on October 26, ten months out of England. At Tahiti, Bligh treated three desert­ers leniently but punished the watch commander more harshly. Bligh could fall into a rage on more trivial matters such as the bartering procedure with the natives. He insisted that all goods brought on board were to become the king's (read: his) pos­sessions. Bligh was accused of skimming some of the ship's provisions before leaving Spithead and was possibly hoping to turn a profit on his budget. At one point the ship's Master, John Fryer, refused to sign his ledger.<br /><br />The incident which precipitated the final break between Fletcher Christian and Bligh occurred a few days before the mutiny when Bligh accused him of pilfering coconuts from the stock on board. Christian had served Bligh as emissary at Tenerife, had been promoted to acting lieutenant by Bligh (a slap at Fryer) and had been placed in charge of the breadfruit gathering party on Tahiti.<br /><br />Upon departure from Tahiti on April 4,1789, things had de­teriorated between the two men when Bligh chastised Christian after his watering party to Numuka lost several items to native theft. Christian countered the criticism by stating that he should have been allowed the use of weapons.<br /><br />On the fateful day much indecision occurred during the brief three hours in which Bligh and 18 men were placed in the 23 foot launch and set off to what was thought to be almost certain death. This view represents a gross underestimation of Bligh's navigational skills. He may have not been a beloved leader of men but his navigational acumen was incomparable. Thus, he and the castaways proceeded on an epic journey to the closest European settlement on Timor, 3,600 miles distant.<br /><br />His total voyage has been estimated at 3,870 miles with I loss of only one man—Quartermaster John Norton—to hostile natives at the onset of the journey. To navigate, Bligh had only a sextant so he could determine latitude by noon observations of the sun but without an accurate time­piece, he could not determine longitude by astronomical means. But he did have longitude tables available so he was able to use a method known as "dead reckoning." At this point the men joined Bligh in a supreme test of survival, rationing morsels of bread, a pint of water, and thimble of rum. No fish were caught but an occasional bird was nabbed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoajwE2-nHy-fzY2XpJ2hjKbsqUjFDqJHQ0i0Jy_aVQf3idT2Pef7AuVAVfDtHqJzZZlE2HP6iVq3tTYFFSRiiQ3iBJQJK_r3-rLAALWyW96Myij9S69eJoueOPoB0pQYFfVNa1uecIsKL/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+chron+7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024082725689714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoajwE2-nHy-fzY2XpJ2hjKbsqUjFDqJHQ0i0Jy_aVQf3idT2Pef7AuVAVfDtHqJzZZlE2HP6iVq3tTYFFSRiiQ3iBJQJK_r3-rLAALWyW96Myij9S69eJoueOPoB0pQYFfVNa1uecIsKL/s320/pitc+stamp+chron+7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_EUzhOz9KFYtr2bbpPwz_NuCA-2bOWZmIqdrWK5VqUFwZluhjWD3XV7Cn9VfyFendq3G2sR9kXgRnKGNjXDF4EDTgN10bWbnAShVqxClKcaTxCwxNxZp7qWEjefXOphz-JcQlr4knA8A/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+5.jpg"></a><br /><br />They made one landfall off the coast of Australia which they named Resolution Island. On the uninhabited Resolution Island, the crew made oyster stew. A working party dug a well and refilled the boat's water kegs. Was survival a real possibility?<br /><br />Bligh was later to return as governor of New South Wales but again faced mutiny by "gangster ruling convicts" as his accustomed naval authority meant nothing in the colony. In 1810 he was forced to return to England via the Great Barrier to face another court martial. Bligh's navigation had taken them on a direct route to the Great Barrier Reef—exactly where he planned.<br /><br />Was Bligh a different man on this life or death voyage? Probably not, but there was no need to impose ship's discipline other than the agreed on tight rationing. Contemporary explorer and writer Sam McKinney salutes Bligh as "one of the greatest navigators of all time." Whatever qualities of leadership he had were mustered on this difficult journey, now through the Barrier Reef and poised to run for Coupang, a Dutch settlement off Timor.<br /><br />(Compared to other famous open boat voyages, this one ranks as foremost, much longer than Shakleton's emergency trip in the far South Atlantic. Shakleton had two companions to keep alive and he succeeded brilliantly to rescue his crew. Bligh's also was much more successful than the crew of the whaleship Essex whose crew was stranded for 95 days in three open boats after it sank in 1820: only a few men survived after resorting to cannibalism.)<br /><br />Bligh and his crew faced further peril upon arriving in Coupang on June 14, 1789 after a 42 day journey. Later they reached Batavia after another 42 day trip through pirate infested waters. Both of these Dutch outposts were infested with malaria and several of the weakened men of the crew succumbed.<br /><br />Bligh no longer seemed concerned about the welfare of his men as he and his clerk embarked after two weeks on the Dutch merchant Vlydte, landing in England on March 14, 1790. By then Fletcher Christian had established his fledgling colony on Pitcairn Island (Figure 6).<br /><br />Bligh was eager to clear his name at court martial and bring the mutineers to justice, particularly Christian. He had left one parting shot to his two other nemeses: Carpenter Wil­liam Purcell and Master John Fryer, chained and left at Batavia after Bligh accused them of insubordination. Upon return, Bligh immediately set out to publish his account of the events of April, 1789 and began a (published) war of words with Edward, Christian's brother. Attempting to present himself in the best possible light, he writes: "For if the mutiny had been occasioned by any real grievances, I must have discovered symp­toms of their discontent which would have put me on guard." This might also be taken to mean he was simply impervious to the sentiments of his crew.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXG3g9xOEzwlXeDJMefalPj-3pxAgJ5rrkiVQSZTJaj9pB1Vf8J-wcwm6ft8RTqTwN7TWhYyDUxpRjZGwUBXpW2Zo8LnaNg98LHAqDurTV8Y1XJSQRS-U6CggknU9FaPd6QklQAkEgPly/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+landing+6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024073348671202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXG3g9xOEzwlXeDJMefalPj-3pxAgJ5rrkiVQSZTJaj9pB1Vf8J-wcwm6ft8RTqTwN7TWhYyDUxpRjZGwUBXpW2Zo8LnaNg98LHAqDurTV8Y1XJSQRS-U6CggknU9FaPd6QklQAkEgPly/s320/pitc+stamp+landing+6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />In letters to his wife, he was particularly bitter about Chris­tian and acting midshipman Peter Heywood. Bligh's court martial occurred in late October, 1790 and he was acquitted. Purcell was dismissed with a reprimand for insolence. Soon thereafter on November 7, the.Pandora sailed for Tahiti with orders to apprehend the mu­tineers. Bligh's midshipmen Thos. Hayward and John Hallet accompanied Capt. Edwards. They had been in the cutter with Bligh and now were to endure another open boat voyage when the Pandora wrecked on Great barrier Reef. The Pandora had come close to discovering the mutineer hideout on Pitcairn as they sighted Ducie (Figure 7), only 290 miles distant. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br />The Pandora had apprehended 14 Bounty crewmen on Ta­hiti. When the ship wrecked on August 28, the Bounty men were in extreme peril, having been held in the infamous "Pandora's box" just below deck. They were doomed as the ship started to sink until the last minute when a crewman opened the latch. Four drowned and ten survived to face trial in England. The trial commenced in Spithead on August 12,1792 but Bligh did not stay around to testify and only three were hanged. He had departed on his second breadfruit expedition.<br /><br />This time the Admiralty did it right: providing an accom­panying ship and a contingent of marines. Bligh was joined by Bounty crew members Lawrence Lebogue and John Smith. Bligh fell very ill from recurrent malaria but recovered by the time they reached Tahiti via Cape Horn. Upon completion of this successful trip to the West Indies, Bligh was cheered by the crew. Of course, there was a sizeable bonus to be split up after payment by the planters.<br /><br />Bligh went on to distinguished naval service with Admiral Nelson in the European theatre. Bounty crewman Robt. Tinkler served alongside. After surviving another court martial in 1810 after returning from Australia, Bligh was promoted to rear admi­ral in 1811 and to Vice Admiral of the Blue in 1814.He died in 1817 at age 64. He is buried in the family vault at St. Mary's Lambeth, across the River Thames from Westminster. His wife had preceded him in 1812. His last surviving daugh­ter, Jane, died in 1875. By the time of his death, the fate of the experimental colony on Pitcairn became public knowledge but it is unknown if Bligh had been informed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VXeLOOfZN3pJHWpFs7-U8OxL5ePIoQ8rNo_t2FtJ1Zok8Sv3SXDmmD1fNB-iqxzypcSBL8FWuRDDUL5ddgg4536nyZjsHjXoGhx8NSr0hocEzCX1-VUmLAh4i4KonO7afiQfBlvSOU_G/s1600-h/pitc+stamp+bury8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024088643305362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VXeLOOfZN3pJHWpFs7-U8OxL5ePIoQ8rNo_t2FtJ1Zok8Sv3SXDmmD1fNB-iqxzypcSBL8FWuRDDUL5ddgg4536nyZjsHjXoGhx8NSr0hocEzCX1-VUmLAh4i4KonO7afiQfBlvSOU_G/s320/pitc+stamp+bury8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />When the colony had 'been discovered in 1808 (Figjure 9) by American Capt. M.[Folger, a cousin of Benjamin<br />{Franklin, sailing in the Topaz,[only one remaining mutineer, John Adams, a.k.a Alex Smith (Figure 10), was still alive. This information was passed along to British authorities in Chile and published in 1809. Bligh had his own problems in Australia at this time so he was apparently unaware.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhWOlf6nmLdMvZwh2u6VPmarfkl6-wTnJKjTKA2yAXY-uG7CUmZy-1eU3VheXvoOe4c7zU4N3NvFLEEcYIzhu5_FjsObjC__CyyHBEc59cvpzoC5Vm3EbAkuVD8CojYheUYDOJmfbbuMx/s1600-h/john+adams.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370028544633654722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhWOlf6nmLdMvZwh2u6VPmarfkl6-wTnJKjTKA2yAXY-uG7CUmZy-1eU3VheXvoOe4c7zU4N3NvFLEEcYIzhu5_FjsObjC__CyyHBEc59cvpzoC5Vm3EbAkuVD8CojYheUYDOJmfbbuMx/s320/john+adams.jpg" border="0" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-6hYUTlqG9B9NKlWONvCBDJXYcnQ91_LL_1w4govRMdg-zVnYvNVKJLrwk44P_tLv0wMvYixtIMtdx75bSLNmKiqGmH_-mPLtDBsa07vmdw5ckK5pGb9SG25WYLyPY55PcgT8gnuP1Ze/s1600-h/topazstamp.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370028526670964578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-6hYUTlqG9B9NKlWONvCBDJXYcnQ91_LL_1w4govRMdg-zVnYvNVKJLrwk44P_tLv0wMvYixtIMtdx75bSLNmKiqGmH_-mPLtDBsa07vmdw5ckK5pGb9SG25WYLyPY55PcgT8gnuP1Ze/s320/topazstamp.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />John Adams, a.k.a Alex Smith (Figure 10), was still alive. This information was passed along to British authorities in Chile and published in 1809. Bligh had his own problems in Australia at this time so he was apparently unaware. Would he bother to confront Adams/Smith? When two British ships arrived at Pitcairn 11814 Adams offered to remove himself to England. He surely did not know that three of his crew mates had been hanged. Lt. Heyward had been serving in the South American British command during this period and the outcome might have been dif­ferent if he had he been stationed on the Briton or Tagus. Adams Continued to live on as head of the community until his death at age 65 in 1829. He had outlived Bligh by 12 years.<br /><br />Bligh's adventures in the South Seas led to the formation two island colonies, Pitcairn and Norfolk. Both have of­fered stamp collectors a diverse and interesting view of history nd modern life on these rather isolated outposts .Norfolk has regular air service but Pitcairn still is not served by oat or plane route. Pitcairn is noted for its rock-like fortress appearance and Norfolk for its stately pine trees.<br /><br />Whatever personality disorder Bligh exhibited during the Bounty trip may be compared to a head of a modern isolated family who becomes highly dictatorial and subject to being abusive. In other situations he was a highly competent naval officer, navigator, leader, and devoted family man. His career<br />might have paralleled many other officers of his time if not for the mutiny of the Bounty under the direction, of Fletcher Christian. While the Bounty still lies at the bottom of the bay bearing its name on Pitcairn, the crew of the Yankee, Capt. Irving Johnson, located its position in 1957 and was able raise its 12 foot V-shaped anchor to the surface .He was assisted by diver/writer Luis Maiden, who had made this a project for National Geographic (December, 1957).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIwZeEtBSZaRMD6iwthF4VzoJ5mmlmLlytukCwej6qO3DSX_sql85WgCkg5vZ5F9GmJ3jgpYKPPZk7Lnk9tZ-rRgr1Pbl_lB6oHeNinG01m8jboYA9lvid-W6XuiYZIgymvz8C7Zgygn8/s1600-h/pict+stamo+model+9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024090803626130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIwZeEtBSZaRMD6iwthF4VzoJ5mmlmLlytukCwej6qO3DSX_sql85WgCkg5vZ5F9GmJ3jgpYKPPZk7Lnk9tZ-rRgr1Pbl_lB6oHeNinG01m8jboYA9lvid-W6XuiYZIgymvz8C7Zgygn8/s320/pict+stamo+model+9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l3wfptYuB7ofJU0kcAcbjLnq6R06aWj2oBSyg23oKXPTpTTjMU86iNLkk75t8VKAk84Fz5egiM2w4QzIqLleBKhiP5sVQkKCKlyjsJKhBcGuW49fqvgtjBMWoFcvOdG5MA0GIsJbM7CE/s1600-h/pitc+anchor+11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370028515858233634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l3wfptYuB7ofJU0kcAcbjLnq6R06aWj2oBSyg23oKXPTpTTjMU86iNLkk75t8VKAk84Fz5egiM2w4QzIqLleBKhiP5sVQkKCKlyjsJKhBcGuW49fqvgtjBMWoFcvOdG5MA0GIsJbM7CE/s320/pitc+anchor+11.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The editor of Bligh's journals. Owen Rutter, describes him thusly: "Many of (his) characteristics remained constant throughout his career; his detestation of inefficiency, insistence on discipline, accuracy in navigation, and determination in the face of danger and (finally).. .his irascibility."<br />In 1967 the Pitcairn islanders were gracious enough to is­sue a three stamp memorial to William Bligh (Sc. 85-87), not exactly a hero on the island.<br />Bligh has been portrayed on film several times: 1916 by George Cross (Australia); 1933 by Mayne Linton (also Austra­lia); 1935 by Charles Laughton (Hollywood); 1962 by Trevor Howard (also Hollywood) and the third classic from Hollywood: 1984 by Anthony Hopkins. Several replicas of the Bounty have been used for these efforts.<br />Fig. 12, Pitcairns Sc. 500, the Bounty & its anchor<br />1986 stamped envelope picturing the Bounty, with August 4 First Day of Issue cancel at Stampex, in Adelaide, Australia<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazbRp70JHjpYZutCHYJOWwjqvBw4loxu54MwxuHXqtXhJp2p8OKSWYD_AHW2m9AG5y73RQ77DqjHaW5r3yHySr6DMoWGx9DrqwPJUtw7m0s-InIyXwDvDhV7xVMU8vK03O2VemB7A51V9/s1600-h/1st+day+of+issue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370028535612769106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazbRp70JHjpYZutCHYJOWwjqvBw4loxu54MwxuHXqtXhJp2p8OKSWYD_AHW2m9AG5y73RQ77DqjHaW5r3yHySr6DMoWGx9DrqwPJUtw7m0s-InIyXwDvDhV7xVMU8vK03O2VemB7A51V9/s320/1st+day+of+issue.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />December 14, 2007<br />Mekeel's & Stamps MAGAZINE<br />25_ - _</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-68213878197788905132009-08-14T17:22:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:50:38.278-07:002009 Lincoln Bicentennial<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe-0fGpsdefhy8xswDorSyzzjjJd_2QfNORnA_F532RsKm3Ey7bj1KpQfIqc2fyP4bnu_PGLVJ_W1UTL6j35nb-jzqKyqWENqEtxLs45HQJ635OgYwECsCCKRR_PKUlB22UP1iylh9x97/s1600-h/stamps+3.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5sq-wFxVvCKMMf42powh7fltTD7XbbH5wMzSGpyXdRk5lv7KZO8rKXrYYycWKI9ubenquXpni78Vkoiw0wS62Sv5Ult5OAy7XmVY2A-pFUmoVysZT4Xcz1JfFnKsrheklafo0NeGzzS0/s1600-h/stamos+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370031298358446514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 217px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5sq-wFxVvCKMMf42powh7fltTD7XbbH5wMzSGpyXdRk5lv7KZO8rKXrYYycWKI9ubenquXpni78Vkoiw0wS62Sv5Ult5OAy7XmVY2A-pFUmoVysZT4Xcz1JfFnKsrheklafo0NeGzzS0/s320/stamos+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2009 Lincoln Bicentennial<br />U.S. History by Chas. A.<br /><br />LINCOLN and OBAMA: A Comparison<br />As we are all aware, Barack Obama was sworn in as our country's 44th Pres- ident in January,2009,the first such of African-American heritages His father was from- Kenya and his mother from Kansas.<br />Soon after, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. Facing the division of the country over the question of slavery after his election, he delivered his famous Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, later codified by the 13th amendment to free the slaves. Many people are surely proud to be slave descendants as are Obama's wife and daughters.<br /><br />Neither of these men were born to privilege and both could be considered "self-made" men. Both were elected from the Prairie State: Illinois-a1though born elsewhere. Lincoln was born in Kentucky on the frontier--and loved it: a hardscrabble farm in Indiana—where his mother died. Moving further west in the frontier, his father and step mom relocated to central Illinois.<br /><br />Lincoln began his adult life as a shopkeeper in New Salem, population 100, where he studied law in books, Harvard U. not being available to him. The town’s people urged him to run for the state legislature and his election marked his entrance into politics. He later was elected to the U.S. House of Representa­tives but defeated for Senate. Obama was defeated in a run for the House but elected to the Senate in 2004. He, like Lincoln, had initiated his political career in the Illinois legislature as State Senator.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1ZWgR_M9jG06y758NmVz3alhU0m_dg1MuMK-aCU-9nQAatLM0kQV2ALWqeH9S0XuOePskB5_ZP6Dnfc7XnD9_TuMucBBlGjBSS2dprRw53P0daJ8q_VB_MHfALufPeuvUaBpGL0KbYSc/s1600-h/stamps+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370031301818398306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 630px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1ZWgR_M9jG06y758NmVz3alhU0m_dg1MuMK-aCU-9nQAatLM0kQV2ALWqeH9S0XuOePskB5_ZP6Dnfc7XnD9_TuMucBBlGjBSS2dprRw53P0daJ8q_VB_MHfALufPeuvUaBpGL0KbYSc/s320/stamps+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1ZWgR_M9jG06y758NmVz3alhU0m_dg1MuMK-aCU-9nQAatLM0kQV2ALWqeH9S0XuOePskB5_ZP6Dnfc7XnD9_TuMucBBlGjBSS2dprRw53P0daJ8q_VB_MHfALufPeuvUaBpGL0KbYSc/s1600-h/stamps+2.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>above: lincoln as rail splitter, lawyer and president</em><br /><em></em><br />Obama was born on our last frontier, Hawaii, our 50th state, and was raised by his single mom and her parents in Honolulu. When she remarried, Barack joined them in Indonesia but came back to live with his grandparents for high school. He was admitted to Columbia Univ. and later Harvard Law School where he became ed­itor of the Law Review. Yes, a journalist, just like us.<br /><br />Obama came to Illinois to work as a community activist on the south side of Chicago—where minority citizens were working to establish their rights in a public housing project--Altgeld Gardens. Like Lincoln, his neighbors urged him to run for public office and events were put into motion which resulted in his election as our first Black minority president.<br /><br />Both of these men face(d)immense national problems in their presidency and both seemed to be aware of the plight of the common citizen. Lincoln also<br />had success before coming to the nation's highest office. He represented the fledgling Illinois Cen­tral Railroad: thus opening up the state to further development. His success in his debates against Stephen Douglas propelled him to national promin­ence. Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic conv­ention rocketed him to national attention. Just four years earlier, when he arrived at LAX for the previous convention, his credit card was rejected when he tried to rent a car. He only paid off his student loans when his first book "Dreams of MY Father" (check your library) became a success.<br />-, Lincoln's legacy (below) is well established and history will be quick to judge Obama.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5sq-wFxVvCKMMf42powh7fltTD7XbbH5wMzSGpyXdRk5lv7KZO8rKXrYYycWKI9ubenquXpni78Vkoiw0wS62Sv5Ult5OAy7XmVY2A-pFUmoVysZT4Xcz1JfFnKsrheklafo0NeGzzS0/s1600-h/stamos+1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe-0fGpsdefhy8xswDorSyzzjjJd_2QfNORnA_F532RsKm3Ey7bj1KpQfIqc2fyP4bnu_PGLVJ_W1UTL6j35nb-jzqKyqWENqEtxLs45HQJ635OgYwECsCCKRR_PKUlB22UP1iylh9x97/s1600-h/stamps+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370031309906642274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe-0fGpsdefhy8xswDorSyzzjjJd_2QfNORnA_F532RsKm3Ey7bj1KpQfIqc2fyP4bnu_PGLVJ_W1UTL6j35nb-jzqKyqWENqEtxLs45HQJ635OgYwECsCCKRR_PKUlB22UP1iylh9x97/s320/stamps+3.jpg" border="0" /></a>FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-60074264900710614622009-08-14T17:20:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:52:21.241-07:00Packers lose their legend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibBg21XbBg6_PM09y1Oa_jKlyIYXMrZZC42eyaV2oo4RRFKlG3Vr1Dco9b12te2PaMyKIX2d2Rlczy_k3pi7n-DZ7ROnamwIUkSjM_nPUsAJEAAM94yt4Fr3mk5hIfGeKXaQKZsUipUXa/s1600-h/brett+Farve+pict.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370033340166494178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibBg21XbBg6_PM09y1Oa_jKlyIYXMrZZC42eyaV2oo4RRFKlG3Vr1Dco9b12te2PaMyKIX2d2Rlczy_k3pi7n-DZ7ROnamwIUkSjM_nPUsAJEAAM94yt4Fr3mk5hIfGeKXaQKZsUipUXa/s320/brett+Farve+pict.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Packers lose their legend</strong><br />By Chas. A.<br /><br />Winning Isn’t everything..it’s the only thing…Vince Lombardi 1913-1970<br /><br />An earthquake along the magnitude of 4.0 struck the Green Bay area on March 4, and reverberated throughout the cheese state and into the NFL. After 16 seasons with the Packers, Brett Favre (QB) announced on ESPN that he would not return for his 17th as QB.<br /><br />Favre burst on the NFL scene in 1992 as he replaced an injured Don Majkowski early in the season and proceeded to start the next 275 games for the Packers, the NFL onlv small town team. This feat matches the starting streak of Cal Ripken as Oriole SS. Brett's first pass was completed to himself and it was all uphill from then on, leading the team to consecutive 9-7 seasons before reaching Super Bowl #31 after the 1996 season.<br /><br />The victory over New England may have been his career highlight until he broke the career TD pass record this past year, which ended in a disappointing and hard-fought OT loss to the Super Bowl Champions NY Giants.<br /><br />The credit for "stealingir Favre from Atlanta Falcons goes to the former GM Ron Wolf, who told reporters he was familiar with this gritty QB after watching him almost every game during his last two years at So. Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, which is now Brett's home. He was a local boy from Kiln, Mississippi, where his dad was a football coach.<br /><br />His early career was hampered by substance abuse problems, but he overcame and flourished under the guidance of girlfriend (then), now wife Deanna. They also have two daughters.After becoming an icon in Green Bay, the Farvre's have been very involved in charitable causes, including the Make a wish foundation, and also helped considerably when his home area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He also joined in the fight against cancer, after Deanna battled the disease herself.<br /><br />On the field, Brett blossomed under QB guru Mike Holmgren, but Mike stretched himself too thin by insisting on being GM and was replaced by Mike Sherman. Farvre made this new coach look good except his last season. The present coach (another) Mike... McCarthy, had been Favres' QB coach previously and Favre flourished again, going out on top as NFC North Champions with only two loses.<br /><br />Favre was a legend in NFL circles, playing with a gusto not seen since the days of Ray Nitschke, often throwing blocks on "end-rounds" and chasing down DB's who intercepted him. His opponents held him in awe. Brett was consummate sportsman, allowing NYG (DE) Michael Strahan to get a fairly easy "sack" to wrap up a season record for amiable lineman, rewarded finally with a 2008 Super Bowl ring.<br /><br />I can envision him playing a rousing game of "touch" football with his cousins and neighbors next fall in Mississippi, or. his farm—as long as he doesn't have to practice during the week. Please, Brett, do me one favor; do not change your mind. At present you will go down not just as one of the greatest QB's of all time but one of the best football players in the annals of the NFL.<br />P.S. This article was written by a Bears fan.</div>FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264479409538240484.post-27340059818488101042009-08-14T17:19:00.000-07:002009-08-14T17:20:34.425-07:00Lake Winnebago: Majestic EcosystemLake Winnebaso : A Majestic Ecosystem<br />by Chas A<br />While living on the shores of Lake Winnebago these past months, I didn't give it much thought other than thinking it might resemble the Sea of Galilee, bordered by hills.<br /><br />The recent Sturgeon spearing season caught my attention and I vowed to learn more about this body of fresh water, 10 X 30 miles, 137,000 acres, and 88 miles of shoreline at depths of 13-21 feet. This quite shallow ecosystem lends itself to be the habitat of the mysterious, el­usive bottom feeder, the lake sturgeon. Prized in Russia for its eggs, made into caviar, it is considered a trophy fish in Wisconsin along with walleye, northern pike, and Musky. Many sports­men consider Lake Winnebago a top fishery.<br /><br />Every February the WI Dept. of Natural Resources designates a sturgeon harvest of 5% of the total population estimate, to be taken only by spear­ing. This unique method ensures a fair chance for both animal and fisher. Appropriate holes in the ice must be chiseled, often enclosed in a shanty hauled onto thick ice.<br /><br />This endeavor also extends on Winnebago's sister lakes: Poygan, Winn-econne, and Butte des Mortes, all fed by the Wolf River. Winnebago1s outlet to Lake Michigan, the Fox River is not accessible to boats because of num­erous dam/locks. Rapid Croche lock also seals the waterway from invasive species from the Great Lakes.<br /><br />This year, the season ended quickly with harvest of 1513 adults and~ juveniles, with 300 taken upriver. 43 sturgeon weighed in over 100 Ibs. The largest was 172, third largest on record. The state sold 8759 licenses, 130 to out-of-staters, so this fishery seems to be a well kept local secret,<br /><br />Winnebago is the largest, inland freshwater lake in Wisconsin, a rem­nant of glacial times but its level is regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, through the Fox River dams. Only two other such inland lakes in the U.S. are larger, Lake Okechobee in Florida and Red Lake, MN. Lk. Champlain and Lk. Tahoe might be larger but are not contained in a single state.<br />Winnebago is our own gem, a pristine ecosystem unmatched elsewhere.FFUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02860136791099005665noreply@blogger.com0