Journal 3/2/25
I am now realizing that getting convicted of a felony is the “gift that keeps on giving.” We are forever tainted with the Yellow Star of a felony conviction, even though we paid for our crime with a prison sentence & probation. While I am not comparing the extent of the suffering of the Jews in Germany in the 30’s & 40’s, I am stating that the the acts of the USG towards those with felonies is correlated to that, as you can see below.
a) It is difficult to open a bank account and/or credit card, thereby making it hard to get a job or conduct business. In fact, my personal credit card and my retirement account were unilaterally closed after sentencing. I have heard that you have to try to open multiple accounts when you get out just to get one to “stick.” Jews in 1930’s Germany faced financial restrictions.
b) I cannot own a gun afterwards, even though my crime was a white collar & non-violent crime. Jews were not allowed to own guns during this time period, which made them easier to control. Personally, I think this flies in the face of the second amendment, but I am not a constitutional lawyer.
c) Our passports are marked and we are now denied entry into some countries like the UK, Ireland & possibly Canada (these are the ones I know about). German Jews were prohibited from most international travel.
d) Ex-cons are dehumanized and face extremely long prison sentences. I am friends with a guy here who got a 40 year sentence for hacking into ~300 computers in 2012. Another guy got a life sentence for hacking into ATM’s. How can we chastise Russia for imprisoning Alexi Navalny for ten years when a fellow inmate got 40 years – a longer sentence than what many murderers get? The dehumanizing effect takes place when we get out, many of us will find it difficult to get jobs. Attorney ex-cons have been disbarred, physicians & pharmacists have had their licenses revoked, brokers are no longer allowed to be brokers, CDL drivers with HazMat capability can no longer haul petroleum products – this list goes on & on. I understand the prison sentence, but removing one’s ability to work afterwards seems particularly severe & dehumanizing – especially for those who went through years & years of extended education.
On a separate note – some bigwig is visiting the prison tomorrow. All the sudden the lights on & off time is enforced, we are forced to follow the room sanitation (that really means that our bed is made, nothing is hanging on the walls (not even a calendar), only 1 book on our locker, towel folded nicely, no clotheslines in the room, etc.) to the letter and we get multiple daily visits where the guard walks in and looks around. 6:00 breakfast really starts at 6:00 instead of sometime between 6:00 & 6:45 (although this may be a function of Ramadan which started on Friday). I am sure this will end after the Tuesday visit.
Yesterday we were doing our weekly crossword puzzle – with 3 of us huddled around the little desk. The guard burst in, probably expecting something nefarious. Imagine his surprise when he saw three prison geeks just doing the Wall Street Journal crossword puzzle!
As for my progress in prison, as of 3/3/25 (my 2-month anniversary):
1) I am doing 80 push-ups, 80 sit-ups (non-stop) and 18 pull-ups (when I can get to rec room). I intend to go to 100 push-ups and sit-ups later this week & may start doing Burpees.
2) I have read about 40 books and completed 26 book reports to be listed on PrisonProfessorsTalent.com. I am still working my way through my book list that I brought to prison, plus additional books that I have discovered & added to the list. I did not do book reports on the fictional novels I read.
3) I have learned 41 vocabulary words (I thought it was more, but cannot find the third list).
4) I am close to 100 words in Spanish. It will be better once I get into the Spanish II ACE class and can study for 2 hours per week under the guide of an actual teacher.
5) My wife & kids visited twice and one friend (Steve Welker) has visited. I have several visits from additional friends scheduled later in March & April.
