Sam Update: Visiting Hours Confusion & New Name

by | May 6, 2009 | 3 comments

It may be wise to call the jail before your visit to confirm the hours. They are saying it’s 7-9p Thu and 10-11a Sun, whereas Sam told me it was 8-9a Sun. Also, Sam is now listed as “Sam A. Miller” instead of “John Sam Doe”. Those sending mail should take note of the change.

Parking Tickets and the “Consent of the Governed” Part 3

by | May 6, 2009 | 13 comments

Longtime readers of this blog may recall that springtime of last year my car was ticketed for an expired parking meter. I wrote a letter to the Keene PD expressing my willingness to pay the fine if they could show me the proof of the obligation they were alleging I have to follow their statutes and ordinances. Weeks later, Captain Kenneth Meola wrote me back this letter, claiming the ticket had been paid and citing a bunch of their laws, then claiming I have an obligation to obey without providing evidence as I requested. I let that letter go unanswered, as he claimed the matter had been paid, which I certainly did not do, and I’m not sure who did. Perhaps they just marked it paid, or perhaps some anonymous observer of this blog went and paid it for me. I did post the ticket number last time, so that’s a possibility.

Flash forward to April 14th when my lady Julia parked the car in the road out front of my house because our tenants were blocking her side of the garage. She forgot to move the car and left it overnight. In the morning she found a $15 parking citation had been left on the car for “NIGHT TIME PARKING”. Here in Keene, there is some ordinance that says no street parking after 1am between November 1st and May 1st. The reason for the ordinance is so plows can get down a street during snow nights. The dates are arbitrary, of course, and so even though there was no way accumulating snow was going to happen in the middle of April, the cops were out ticketing people. (more…)

Sam’s New Visiting Hours & More

by | May 6, 2009 | 4 comments

SamSam is now available for visitation Thursdays 7-9pm and Sundays 10a-11a (new time, see update below). He is being held in the gym now (where 26 other prisoners are living on cots and sharing one bathroom), which means he can walk outside into the fenced in yard at virtually anytime, though they will probably try to prevent that by locking the outer door if activists show up at the jail.

He asks people to contact state reps and senators to ask how they feel about him being locked up indefinitely as well as the NH supreme court justices and ask them what reason they have to delay a writ of habeas corpus? Do they not care about basic civil rights? He also requests that people around the country write letters to the editor about what is happening. One easy way to accomplish this might be to write a letter up and post in on the Free Keene Forum so others can copy it and put their names on them, then send them to their local papers.

Speaking of papers, I just got off the phone with a nice reporter from the Boston Globe. If they manage to not go out of business this week, this could be the story that breaks Sam’s situation into the mainstream media! Thanks to everyone who is contacting their favorite media and blogs about this outrageous story!

UPDATE: The jailers claim his hours are 10-11a on Sun, not 8-9a as Sam had told me today. Make of this what you will.

Sam’s Jail Blog: Sunday, May 3

by | May 6, 2009 | 8 comments

Sunday, May 3:

I skipped a day or two. I’ve been sleeping more. Yesterday I had visitors, and Ivy has been allowed access to me. The write of Habeas Corpus was very well put together. I’m looking forward to seeing he Supreme Court’s response. I don’t see how they could deny it and retain any sense of legitimacy.

I have everything I need in here now, and I’m reading lots of books. COmmissary came in Friday so I no longer need to trade meals for anything. The question of what to do with them has been on my mind. I’ve decided to offer them in return for random acts of kindness.

Laramie, a guy who called in a bomb threat to divert police from a planned bank robbery, came by asking for breakfast. I told him I would trade it for a random act of kindness. Laramie looked perplexed and couldn’t think of anything saying, “THis is like a pay it forward thing right?” I said yes, something like that. BReakfast came and went, my tray went back in the stack uneaten.

Nobody asked for lunch so I eventually gave it to a new guy who came in speaking very negatively, but has since toned it down. I thanked him for sweeping and mopping the day room (which he did to turn on the TV). He seemed surprised and grateful, it was a fulfilling experience for me.

Allan came by earlier asking for dinner, inquiring about my unusual trade. I asked him what do you have to offer? He replied, “I don’t know. I’ve given away everything I had left (from commissary).” I smiled and asked, “What can you give of yourself?” He had no idea, and after struggling with this for a while I suggested he find 3 people to acknowledge. He’s been here 4 months and could only think of 1 person out over over 20 to say something nice to. I asked him to think about that, and his interactions with others. After exploring this a while he acknowledged me for standing up for marijuana and speaking out about it and everything the free staters are doing. Now he’s getting it! I told him that’s one, two to go.

Allan walked down the hall to Scott’s cage and told him how much he appreciated his help and friendliness. It was very heartfelt and wonderful to hear them talk.

The third one was tough. He came back to my cage several times saying there was nobody else he could think of anything good to say about them. I only asked him questions that had him reflect on his statements to me. Eventually he came back complete. He thanked one of the prisoners for beating up one of the other prisoners!

I asked him if he thought that was a positive attribute – resorting to violence – given that’s what government does, and that’s the reasons we’re here. He agreed, but asked if it was good enough. I told Allan we would decide when it was complete.

I asked him if he felt the spirit and intention of the exercise had been fulfilled. I reminded him the way he does this exercise is the same way he takes on challenges in life. He could cheat, but he’s only cheating himself. Allan struggled with this a while longer and agreed he was not complete.

After another 10 minutes, he acknowledged another prisoner Chris for controlling his anger over the last month. (I’ve been talking to Chris too) It wasn’t taken very well, but I could see the sense of accomplishment in Allan, who has been homeless and addicted to crack.

I asked Allan what he learned, the final requirement. He said it was hard for him to find good things to say about people. I asked him how many people he pushes out of his life because he focuses on the negative aspects or the things he doesn’t like about them instead of finding something to appreciate about them. It gave Allan something to think about, I felt great, and it was the bet trade I’ve made for a meal yet!

Want to experience some personal growth of your own today? Try this at home! 🙂 Want to really stretch? Find three people you don’t like very much to acknowledge. Look for the gifts they have to offer the world, we all have them, and you might just be surprised at what you learn about yourself in the process.

I’m feeling okay, sleeping more, pulled a muscle in my back and couldn’t get out of bed for a couple of hours. I’m drinking more miulk, it’s still sore, but I’ll be alright.

SamIAm