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Friday, August 29, 2003
9:49:00 AM EDT
Hearing Will It Ever Stop Raining? -- The Saw Doctors

Feloniously Inventive!


Via Boing Boing, the collaborative blog co-edited by the previously-mentioned Cory Doctrow, Prisoner's Inventions -- a book on things prisoners make for themselves with the materials they're given to work with (which ain't much, baby). And, no, smartaleck, it's not all shivs made out of spoons.One of the objects illustrated is a chess set made out of toilet paper, sugar water, and cardboard. Showing that incarceration is indeed the mother of invention. Or at least its big burly cellmate who demands (and gets) the top bunk.



Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry
This entry has 3 comments: (Add your own)
  • #3 Comment from susieqooo2 
    7/26/05 11:15 PM Permalink
    This is where I have a problem with responding.  I really wanted to respond to the person who was concerned about the lack of materiels for prisoners.:-)

    I would gather that you do not have a familiarity with many prisons..lol..

    Suppose I should add that I only know what I have read or seen through the media.

    But seems some are incredibly over loaded with supplies for such projects and many others.  Some of the federal prisons come to mind.  Many in California come to mind.

    Then there is the exact opposite.  The one in Phoenix which is run by Sheriff Joe Arapaho which is called tent city.  Definitely no frills and he is saving the tax payers billions and continues to be re-elected.

    As a side note about a San Diego Jail.  Several years ago the down town jail, not prison, ended up with several escapes and holes in it.  It was found out that the filler between the inside and outside walls was styrofoam.

    One has to wonder who approved it, who designed it, etc.
  • #2 Comment from lurkynat 
    4/21/05 2:09 AM Permalink
    Dear Mr. Scalzi,

    I am admittedly shocked at the lack of offered materials and I have to wonder to what degree the prison public may negociate and barter to allow say volunteers to perhaps prepare by cutting or sawing appropriate tools and paper supplies for said project and for other said art projects. The prison public could even create a viable stock of fancy notecards, say similar to dual colored notes wiht envelopes were this allowed.
    Lurkynat
  • #1 Comment from davidsssis 
    8/31/03 1:09 AM Permalink
    paid for by our taxdollars as well as their upkeep.