He laughed and said, “Don’t be down there too long. I might like it.” I gave him a dirty look. “Hey man, I don’t play like that.” He apologized and that was pretty much the end of the day. Many people have different types of humor, however I believe some things are unacceptable. Although I … Read more
“Most profitable business ideas are simple: they focus on creating systems that can be multiplied and duplicated without massive costs. A few of the many critical concepts presented in this book are: premium pricing, exclusivity, niche marketing, up-selling, cross-selling, and franchising. You’ll also learn how to become a recognized expert in your field, market products … Read more
As I get older I realize that my lack of productivity or lack of motivation isn’t always because I’m lazy. Sometimes I’m unmotivated to write because my room is dirty or because I need new equipment. Other times, it’s because I don’t have a clear focus as to what I want to do or I … Read more
Americans want to believe that sending people to prison for drug-related crimes are the best option for keeping the streets clean. However, sending people to prison for drug-related crimes doesn’t make the country safer. According to a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts, there were less than 5,000 people serving federal prison time for drug-related … Read more
This week I read on SF Bay Review that California State and local prison have been forced to limit their use of solitary confinement units, or SHU. This is thanks to a settlement reached in the Ashker vs Brown federal class action suit. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of prisoners held in Pelican Bay … Read more
As a writer, I am always looking for two things; a way to improve my writing and a way to produce more blog posts. During my search I’ve learned that many of my writing issues are right in front of me – meaning my work space (my room is dirty as hell!). It’s a horrible … Read more
As I get older, I realize the importance of working at jobs I like and enjoy. I’ve learned that being negative at work will drain my energy. I’ve also noticed that working jobs where I feel overworked and underpaid, or where I just didn’t like the people prevented me from having mental clarity. At times … Read more
For a while, I was having wrist and shoulder problems while typing. It felt as if I was squeezing my shoulders and my chest just to type on a traditional keyboard. The problems were so bad, I had to stop blogging on a regular basis. However, blogging and writing are my passions. Plus, my dream … Read more
As many people know, I’ve been working minimum wage jobs for most of my life. I’ve also been working with Sacramento ACT, along with other organizations, in the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. In order to fairly pay workers for their time and effort, the minimum wage should be increased … Read more
It seems I’m always looking for a way to increase my productivity. I’ve tried going to libraries, getting a new keyboard, and using to television trays for my computer. These ideas have worked out great, but I still didn’t get the productivity I wanted. There is a saying that states having two monitors improves productivity … Read more
On May 19, 2015, I had the honor to speak at the Live Free Public Forum which was put on by Sacramento ACT at the South Sacramento Christian Center. This community forum was created to get state and local officials to commit to helping our communities and to reduce mass incarceration and gang violence. The … Read more
It’s bad enough that African Americans are stereotyped negatively by the media and other ethnicities. We shouldn’t have to deal with negative stereotypes within our community too, however, sadly we do. For some reason, our mannerisms are supposed to define and solidify our racial status. I’m not sure who thought of this, but it’s wrong. … Read more
After reading an article about Why you should be a writer, I thought to myself, “If you know why you love doing what you do, you’ll never allow anything negative to come between you and your passions.” I try to remember this when I’m making myself write. I admit it’s hard to get up in … Read more
If you’ve never lived in a small town then you probably won’t understand the outrage I’m currently feeling. Small towns are known for their close knit, neighborly communities. They take care of each other and have a genuine kindness about them. Their unique in ways that large cities aren’t because they allow its citizens to … Read more
Have you ever committed to doing something you loved, but once you’ve done it for a while you’re uninterested? Although you still have a heart to pursue your passions, you may find yourself in a slump when it comes to enjoying it. As you try to partake in the activity you get bogged down and … Read more
I frequently read, watch and listen to things that pertain to inmates, former felons and jails. I recently watched a video about a man pleading guilty to killing his cellmate. The man’s name is Steven Sandison. He was assigned a new cellmate and it happened to be a guy who molested children. Child molesters immediately … Read more
The majority of inmates in a prison camp are non-violent offenders that just needed money and sought it out illegally. Many wanted to take care of their families the best they could and others just wanted the wealth and luxury that money brings. Even if they didn’t commit a crime with regards to illegal financial … Read more
You can tell a person’s characteristics by the way they work. It doesn’t matter if they are in prison or outside of prison, their work ethic shouts volumes about them. If someone doesn’t do their job right, you can tell that they are lazy. If someone puts all of their interest and time into learning … Read more
Prison stories are often filled with memories of inmates being victimized by the staff, the overall system or even other inmates. It’s hard to protect yourself from this type of harassment while you are under someone else’s authority. While trying to protect yourself you run the risk of bringing harsher or unnecessary punishment to … Read more
I was reading an article from the Standard Media website called “How Being Single Painfully Sucks.” While I agree that being single sucks, I also believe that it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. Like any other situation, it has advantages and disadvantages. When I was single I obtained a better … Read more
They say fasting has benefits for the mind, spirit, and body. Many people have to fast for medical procedures and some do it for religious reasons. I did it fit none of those reasons, but I still experienced the benefits of a cleansing fast. My fast was purely accidental. Since I missed the 3:30 pm … Read more
If you read my post about first drafts, you may understand this post a little more. I’m a bit sentimental about writing my first draft with pen and paper. There’s just something special about it. It feels as if I can think better when I write with pen and paper as opposed to typing on … Read more
Aaliyah was a more than a great artist that was on top of the world. It seemed as though the whole world loved her, but unfortunately, she was killed in a plane crash in her prime. It has taken some years for her life to be written and portrayed as a movie. When it finally … Read more
While in prison camp, I struggled with procrastination and low motivation until an inmate handed me a book called Self Discipline in 10 days books by Theodore Bryant. This book is one of the best things I took away from my prison camp experience. This book helped me not to be so emotional or allow … Read more
It’s the start of a new year, at least it is for me. I’m glad another year has passed by, but instead of making some half-brained resolution that I’ll never really set my mind to accomplishing, I’ll just start my new year off doing something I love. My goal is to dive head first into … Read more
I’ve been thinking about what would make prison camp more productive for the inmates. I thought carefully about all of my experiences when I was in prison at Herlong Prison Camp and when I stay at the Oakland Halfway House. If these suggestions are possible, it would better prepare inmates for society and make their … Read more
Prison isn’t a place of positive enlightenment. It’s full of strict rules and regulations, required forms and paperwork, and negative attitudes from staff and inmates. However, I wanted a positive experience. I was determined to make my stay there a beneficial one, even though I knew it wouldn’t be easy. As I entered the prison … Read more
Serving your community is great way to give back and impact your local area. I’m always looking to help out when I can and volunteering is such a rewarding experience. This past March, I was able to volunteer to help families with insurance policies. The event was hosted by Greater Sacramento Urban League and various … Read more
Inmates are required to get jobs while in prison. They are paid various and competitive wages just as if they are in the real world. The only difference is that the wages are significantly lower, so when a good job goes out of business, it’s a lot more detrimental to inmates. One business in particular … Read more
One of the most important details when looking for a job is the amount of money being offered for the position. As inmates, one of the privileges lost is job hunting by salary. In fact at Herlong Prison Camp, the amount of money given to a working inmate is just about the same given to … Read more
I saw this picture on Pinterest today and I thought to myself, “What movies would I want to watch on this type of screen?” It looks like this family is enjoying some homemade movies and videos of when they were on the beach. Clearly there are more pillows than people so the kids must be … Read more
After reading a blog from Standard media about women lying to men, I started thinking about the lies women have told me. When a woman lies to me, I feel as though it’s my fault. Maybe I’m unapproachable or I made fun of her for something. Whatever it is, I must have made her feel … Read more
When most people think about being an entrepreneur, they think about owning their own business, long hours and being their own boss. They could also think about being up late hours of the night working on finances and marketing plans/, but most people fail to realize is that being an entrepreneur means you have to … Read more
Update 7/31/2024: I’m still using this combination for my daily routine. However, I did take a break from it for about five years. When I was consistent, I saw great productivity. I will learn over the next ten years, that my actual trouble with these hunger pains were the result of having a sensitive or … Read more
As I was browsing the internet, I came across a blog post by Tara Pringle Jefferson. Her site is called “The Young Mommy Life“. In her post she mentioned her younger sister who is in her twenties and just finished college. She has high aspirations to make a positive impact on the community and make … Read more
You can hear it and you can also feel it, but how often do you ignore it? It’s the sometimes peacefully quiet, sometimes boldly obnoxious voice on the inside of you. It’s the voice that you second guess or brush off, but it’s the voice that when you follow it, affords you opportunities beyond your … Read more
It seems as if writer’s think that writer’s block is some inevitable obstacle that lurks behind them until it’s ready to pounce, stopping them from doing everything they wish to do in the writing world. That’s only true if you say it’s true. I have a problem with writer’s block, but I think of it … Read more
Part of the prison care system allows inmates to receive healthcare. In order to be able to see a doctor, dentist, or any healthcare provider, a form called a cop-out was needed. Once it was filled out and approved, inmates could visit the appropriate office. I needed to have my teeth cleaned so I filled … Read more
If you’re in the corporate world or even just the professional world, you understand ceilings. There are ceilings in talent, position, promotion and much more. Most ceilings are glass and you never see it until you hit it, but what if you create your own ceiling? Did you find that it wasn’t glass and you … Read more
Today I was reading a post from VerySmartBrothas which discussed why men don’t discuss their sex lives openly. Like the author, I was thinking, “All I ever hear are men talking about their sex lives.” In fact, I think men do it too much. It gets really old hearing men talk about their latest female … Read more
Sentencing Guidelines to Qualify for Federal Camp Status If you’re here, you’re wondering how to qualify for federal prison camp or camp status. Great, I know exactly the information you’re looking for. Qualifying for federal prison camp or camp status is based on two things, your criminal offense and your criminal history. I was able … Read more
Rumor Has It Sexual desire is normally very strong in males to begin with and everyone knows the urge for sex doesn’t relinquish its grip when you’re in prison. In fact, the desire increases with every hour that it’s unfulfilled. The media has brainwashed society to thinking that every prison is filled with stories of … Read more
While I was in camp, I learned that if you became a strong person because of being in prison camp, then you were already a strong person before you got to camp. Prison camp isn’t really about rehabilitation, it’s more about being restricted or like being in detention. When I did wrong at home, my … Read more
My goal in prison was to find various methods to help me stay positive. I knew it was going to be difficult, but I kept pushing to find ways to relax as well. As a method of staying busy, I kept a journal. Here is an insert from my personal prison camp journal. I discussed … Read more
I found this journal entry in my prison camp journal at home. I wrote it because I was working on some self-development ideas about getting over procrastination and accomplishing my goals. Once I found it, I gave it a quick edit and decided to post it. Self-development was extremely important for me in prison camp … Read more
With a plethora of interests and hobbies available to us, it can be hard for two people to be on the same page when it comes to making dates, having fun and exploring new activities. There are times when it’s difficult to share the remote. Watching TV and/or movies can be a tricky task when … Read more
One of the most famous saying for anyone going to prison is, ‘Don’t drop the soap’. Most people think that the showers in jail are large community showers where CO’s and other inmates intimately watch over you. However, I found that to be untrue at Herlong Federal Prison Camp. I admit, I was surprised when … Read more
“Snitches get stitches” is a powerful statement that implies that tattle tales or snitches deserve the consequence of being beat up various people. The outside community never favors a snitch and neither does the prison community. I spent a little time in Herlong Prison Camp and encountered snitches. Here’s a little story about why you … Read more
As men and women play this game called love, each side has to go back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong with their last date. They second guess themselves and then they somehow come up with the conclusion that it wasn’t them, it was all the other person’s fault. For example, … Read more
Many people dream of being in love with someone. They dream of what their life will be like when they’re dating, engaged and then finally married. Society has watched movies of women who were down and out all of a sudden find her prince charming. The world has seen men who were discarded in their … Read more
I swear one of the most difficult things to do is get over hard times. Everyone has them and although they create character, it’s rough to get through. It’s like trying to see the forest apart from the trees. It’s difficult because it seems like you have to focus more on the trees than the … Read more
I guess I should be used to being the in the minority. I should probably already know what to say and what not to say. I’ve been in this situation since I was a child. I still remember being in those classrooms surrounded by 25 white kids with only 2 or 3 kids from other … Read more
Have you ever seen a smooth poetry cafe where various poets get on stage, recite their poems with a cool swag, perfect delivery and awesome performance? Remember how the crowd snaps their fingers in approval? The entire experience is unforgettable and amazingly enjoyable. I decided that I wanted to get on stage so I’ve been … Read more