Friends in Liberty,

Some of you know me already, but many of you do not. I thought it would be interesting to write letters to have posted on line and give everyone the chance to hear about life in jail. The difference being, I'm here long term. This idea is from Kurt Hoffman's letters from jail. He is my inspiration in this and also a big part of me becoming an activist from the same letters.

I have been in the Franklin County Jail in Greenfield, MA for a month and a half, estimated. I don't know anyone here but they knew me fairly quick with the nickname of “Hippy”, being an activist and because of all the shit they found in my car when I was arrested with fellow activist and great friend, Rich Paul, and my friend Jackie. Luckily, I get along with most everyone pretty well.

July 30, 2010

Hello Dave Ridley!

It was very good to hear from you again! Thank you for the inspiring words from La Bo'ie. What is his full name - the first letter of his name failed to print (_ienne de la Bo'ie)? And how is his name pronounced? The French name brings to mind the name of Friedrich(?) Bastiat and his excellent lecture I think called "Legal Plunder." It was delivered before the French parliament in the 1700s(?) and he pointed out the errors in the logic of socialist policies and forms of government activity.

18 June 2010

Dear Family & Friends,

First of all I would like to thank Mike Barskey for transcribing my letters and emailing copies to my mom & brothers and sharing them with my friends through his website and Facebook. It saves me time and money and makes it easy to communicate with more people than I would otherwise be able to. Last week Hobbycraft was only open for about 10 minutes. Today it was open from 8:20 to 14:20. I made several wooden spoons from cherry and one from maple. Several days ago someone on my block got lugged when contraband was found in his room during a search. I find the underground economy in the prison interesting. Inmates are not allowed to sell products or services within the prison, but many do despite active suppression by staff. Even when free market economies are prohibits, free market principles can be practiced through barter and other unsanctioned methods. The problem is that by prohibiting free exchange of products and services, the prison system removes some of the options for resolving disputes and preventing thefts peaceably, so rather than dispute resolution through arbitration, inmates often resort to threats and violence. Outside of a prison environment, agorism should be fairly easy to practice compared to inside a prison environment. Yesterday I had an appointment with Dr. Eppolito. I told him about the side effects I had gotten from the Trazodone he had prescribed to me. I had only taken it twice because the side effects were worse than the problem it was supposed to treat. I've been having trouble sleeping because of muscle tension and spasms in my neck, back & legs. The Trazodone made the spasms worse, gave me a dry mouth and made me feel dopey, but didn't help me sleep. He discontinued the Trazodone and prescribed Benadryl. I don't understand why a Dr. would try to treat muscle spasms & cramps with an antidepressant then an antihistamine when my medical records show that a muscle relaxer was usually effective before I cam to prison. I learned today that inmates who get bone fractures often have to wait weeks to get a cast. Dr. Eppolito prescribed 3 extra blankets for me, but I was told that they don't have any available now and when they do get some, I'll get an appointment slip in the mail for an appointment to go downstairs and pick them up. I found out about a week ago that my chess set arrived at the prison on March 29th, but for some reason it was never delivered to me, so this Monday I sent a request slip to the property officer asking him to either send it upstairs or let me know when I can go down to his office to pick it up. It's disappointing that mail sometimes takes weeks to go from one end of the building to the other when it takes less than 5 minutes to walk that distance. I figured out that the best way to minimize leg spasms & cramps at night without appropriate medication or a massage appears to be to wear pants and cover my legs with both blankets so that they stay hot all night.

The Constitution

Eleven score and fourteen years ago the delegates to the Second Continental Congress, at great risk to themselves and all that they had worked for, signed the Declaration of Independence. They could no longer endure the relentless pursuit of absolute tyranny that their central government was striving to attain over them. Their heroic decision unified their efforts and galvanized the sentiments of the people and lead to the formation of the best contract in history between a people and their government: The Constitution of the United States of America.

June 22, 2010

As of today, I have been imprisoned in dismal county jails for a year. Without being required to prove that I have broken any law, the government is punishing me as though I am guilty and with the same degree of severity as a convicted thief, murderer or career criminal. There is still no definite date for my trial. The uncertainty of my future is a deep, dark tunnel with no end in sight! Is this conduct befitting a nation of laws - of "the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

21 May 2010

Dear friends and family,

A couple days ago while I was chatting with my friend Mike Barskey on the phone, Lyman dumped a cooler of ice water over my head. Yesterday I finally got to see Dr. Eppolito, who wrote me a few prescriptions and DXed my ibuprofin prescription. I also got an eye exam, where I learned that my eyeglass prescription is -2.0 for both eyes. I was told that I should get my new glasses in about 2 to 3 weeks. There were only 5 frames to chjoose from, all of which were plastic and ugly. This morning I took the TABE test. I also got my first issue of Recumbent & Tandem Rider Magazine. Some of my older friends were excited to see that issue. My friend Castine is scheduled for release at the end of this month and is planning to buy a delta style recumbent trike.

11-17 May 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Earthday 2010

Our family grows; our family of conscious caregivers of this beautiful blue-green island in the sun. Each of our individual ripples of effort reach out, meet, and grow to greater and greater waves of change that are making smooth even the most jagged rocks of resistance and indifference.

The Dance

'Round and 'round the dance we go
Dipping, swinging, heel and toe.
A joy for each - a joy together
The Cosmic Dance our deepest tether.

Whirling, twirling, stamp your feet.
Lose our cool and feel the heat.
Compassion comes and compassion knows
Time marches on as the kindness grows.

To give and take wise hearts know
Love may reap and also sow.
We've danced together another year
Devine Love grows with The One so near.

W. Kevin Innes
4/5/10

[This letter was sent by Kevin back in early January, 2010, but the post office did not forward it to Mail-to-Jail's new address. Kevin resent it to us just a few days ago.]

A seed has been planted

Deep within our hearts a seed of tremendous power has been planted. This seed is the longing to experience boundless and lasting joy while making a significant and possible impact on the world around us. Human life becomes an increasingly painful burden if the innate human desire for expansion is confined within a shell of self-limiting beliefs, negativity and a survival mentality. but, under the increasing severity of the storms of life, the shell of this seed of greatness will inevitably crack, open, and the spirit cries out! A higher power will awaken and a new life will begin; a life of irresistible growth towards the Sun of Enlightenment.

[In addition to the letter, below, Tim also requested that I scan a form so that you could download it, print it, fill it out, and return it to to the prison. The form is to put yourself on a list of approved visitors, so that you can visit Tim in jail. The form is attached to this letter as a .jpg file.

- Mike Barskey]

Dear Family & Friends,

It's 1:00am on Wednesday 20 January 2010. I sent my last letter out to my twin brother last night during the last movement of the night (21:20-21:30). After dinner Tuesday evening, we got 2 new guys who moved into our pod from Concord R&D. The younger of the 2 had moved to 1 East a few days before I moved out. Now all 10 of the bunks in the dayroom are occupied again, so there is no room left in this block for more inmates until someone moves out. I played a few hands of rummy with the guys who moved in tonight and explained the important parts of the routine here (like when we have standing counts and what time breakfast is). This morning for breakfast I got oatmeal, chocolate muffins, pear slices, 16 oz. 1% milk & coffee. After breakfast I went to canteen. They still didn't have locks. I was finally able to get batteries for my radio. It can pick up 94.9 WHOM, WVMJ (Magic 104 at ninety-something), "93.7 & 94.1 Littleton," "the Outlaw" (although reception is spotty), 103.7 WPKQ (also kind of spotty), KISS 102.3 (also kind of spotty), NHPR, AM1230 ("KISS 102") (also kind of spotty & apparently the same station as "KISS 102.3") and a couple really weak stations that are mostly static. For lunch I got 2 slices of ham, 4 slices of wheat bread, pea soup (not nearly as good as mom's), a pastry & artificially flavored drink. Apparently someone moved out of one of the rooms because the guy who was in the bunk under mine moved into a room. The sores that were on my right foot appear to have healed. My right thumb has felt like it has a sliver in it for the last couple days but there is no visible evidence of one. For dinner I got mixed vegetables, mac & "cheese" with ham, an apple cinnamon pastry & artificially flavored drink. After dinner I went to the chapel to watch a video. When I got back to the pod I played Scrabble with one of the guys.

The Cosmic Lover

Take time to go within, reflect and become aware of the steady stream of love and kindness that is being sent to you by the Cosmic Lover. The delicate, sweet fruit of Divine Love is always there ready to be opened and enjoyed.

Take your time… Go slowly… Gradually, as you go deeper and closer to the divinity within you, you will experience increasing expansiveness and bliss - the nectar of boundless Love.

A very warm and sincere "thank you" to Lee in Black Mountain and to all the others who send letters of support. As this legal process drags on with no end in sight, it is good to know that there are people like you cheering me on. It gladdens my heart and helps to give me hope that my efforts are part of a greater positive change that is sweeping the planet.

Thank you.

W. Kevin Innes

Welcoming 2010

I am looking forward to this coming year and how it will unfold. What many-hued flower will it become? One thing is sure: we don't know. Each special petal will come into view when the time is right.

Hi Mike,

Someone may have contacted you already, but I wanted to send this confirmation to yo anyway, that I was moved to a new county jail. 1/10 the size and twice as bad as the last place. The last place was "spartan;" this place is for the Spartan's slave. They even make you pay $.95/roll for toilet paper! But, I got to go outside for the first time in 6 months! Yippy!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 A.D., Day 40 - 140 to go…

If you hadn't heard from me by now, it's because I thought I'd be doing a Porc411 by now and letting you all know that the torture was suspended. Well… it's not. After "my" hearing yesterday, Judge Burke gave the word that we ought to have his order in about 30 minutes for my release. That was day 39 of my pain, neglect, sadness, loss, headache, heartache, and lots of other "wonderful" things. Today is day 40 and quite honestly I don't know if I can take much more of this. The pain that has been in my body for so long now, the neglect of the ones who are supposed to have the job of caring for me has gone on now for far too long. What "lesson" could I possibly be learning here? Immediately after "my" anxiety filled video hearing here from the jail, my words were used against me, twisted in a way that I can't possibly understand the motive. The "Corrections" OFficer, Merrill, and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, misheard what I said and immediately used it as an opportunity to keep me caged by calling the court via tele. Granted, I'm not the most eloquent of speakers these days and it's compounded dramatically further due to my 40 day long incessant pain in my body, it's just not easy to smile folks. I'm just being honest. So, it's possible he took my words to mean something other than what they were intended to express. I felt like vomiting, I often do. It's likely due to any combination of aches, pains, stress, anxiety, side affects of long term Motrin use *which thankfully I've been switched over to a generic Tramadol (sp?) pill which is helping a bit more, etc. I'm not exactly un-grumpy a lot. Do you think that gets taken into consideration? No, it got twisted. I get further beaten into the ground, miss my family, my dog, my ability to care, my ability to get proper care, my fingers… oh… yes, two plus two DOES equal five! And the beatings continue. No, I am at the point where I understand that I do not deserve this. I have all along felt that way, but now more than ever. I never hurt anyone, but I can tell you that I understand why people do, who have no ability to cope or forgive, do hold awful resentment upon departure from a place like this. It only is the product of what this place manufactures. When are WE going to stop this insanity? The system of fake justice has beaten me. I'm just being honest folks. I really don't know what to do now.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 A.D., Day 37 - 143 to go

I'm officially out of cash. The human cages who hurt me and caged me wiped out my "canteen" account. All I received was two Chick-o-stick candies which I ordered for another human who is caged in here who is indigent. If they were trying to shut down my mail, they found their way.

I'm guessing they are charging the account because of the "meds," the Motrin I'm on that barely takes the edge off and permits me to sleep. It's all about profit from any angle they can get it. If they can't force the humans they cage in here to pay, they will steal it from you, at the point of a gun, and tell you it's for God and glory and to keep you safe from the bad people who hurt others… sorry, I never could quite swallow all of that giant turd of a story, though for a time, I remained silent and therefor consigned the abuses, though I knew in my heart what it was all about… though not in my head.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 A.D., Day 34 - 146 to go… only :{

Who Owns The "System?"

Well today was a bit usually unusual, meaning, the atypical bull that passes for "unusual" is the "usual." Today I saw yet another condescending "divide and conquer" type individual and sadly it was the same Dr. Honahan, that ignored my calls for medical help the last time. This time I actually stood, with little or zero weight on my feet (because that causes excruciating pain in my back and neck) while supporting myself from my hands and arms from the foot of the examination table. The "Doctor" lifted the back side of the costume used for mental degradation, called a "jail uniform." You know, it's hard to be pleasant to people when they consistently ignore the incredible amount of pain you are in, for 34 long days and nights. Yes folks, if you hadn't guessed it by now, I'm a bit grumpy, but I'm trying. By the gist of the one way conversation, they, the Dr., nurse, and others, are doing their best to not help as much as possible. So far I've given in to being medicated with anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, and if you know me, I abhor taking pharmaceuticals. I just couldn't take it any longer. I'm sorry tax-payers but this was not exactly my choice.