Luke's Thunder

The judge declares, "I am sentencing you to 10 years in state prison..." OK, but what does that really mean? What does that look like? Is it simply that you are released from one cult only to be imprisoned by another? Well, kinda. Is it like The Blip that is part of the Marvel Avengers storyline? After 10 years of absence, you can return to the life you had before you went in? Definitely not.  10-year sentence. Some say it's nowhere near long enough. Some would have sentenced the convicted like Doc Hudson wanted to do with Lightning McQueen. "All right, I wanna know who's responsible for wrecking my town, Sheriff. I want his hood on a platter! I'm gonna put him in jail 'til he rots. No, check that... I'm gonna put him in jail 'til the jail rots on top of him, then I'm gonna move him to a new jail and let that jail rot." But in Pixar's Cars , what actually plays out is transformative justice--a realization and demonstration that active...

Updated August 15, 2019 We have made the 4-hour trip to Dannemora's Clinton Correctional Facility several times in the past two years. Dad was originally transferred to Clinton Correctional Facility in July 2017. He was transported from there for a family court hearing a couple months later and ended up spending too long at Auburn--in the SHU--because the court date was postponed. He returned to Clinton in October 2017 and has been quite content to stay put ever since. The atmosphere of Clinton is much more laid back and overall pleasant (as far as prisons go) than other facilities we have visited--both local jails and state prisons. I like to say it is because of the location. Anybody who has a view of the glorious Adirondack High Peaks on a regular basis cannot possibly have their panties in a wad. Our typical route takes us through Plattsburgh, as we go north on I-87 (the Northway). Green Mountains of VT seen across Lake Champlain from Plattsburgh, NY From there, ...