BETWEEN THE BARS
P.O BOX 425103
CAMBRIDGE, MA, 02142

[IMAGE: Drawing of 'AUTUMN' in block letters] SEPTEMBER 14, 2014

Grand Greetings & well wishes, may your day bring 4th mad-joy and
Peace. I've been incommunicado 4 quite some time. I've been up and
down the great slip & slide; round & round on the great whirl-a-wheel
and I just couldn't find the peaceful space in which to sit down & write.
It's not that I haven't wanted to And, Lord knows there's plenty to expound
on.

I hate 2 complain, 4 several reasons. Mostly becuz I realize
that regardless of what I'm going thru, I'm in North America & I've got
'1st world' problems. All I need 2 do is compare them to how people's
lives are in other places, '3rd world' spaces. The other reason that
compels me 2 check myself is: now the great Queen of Spirit-Soul-
Wisdom has passed N2 the next dimension, I'm obligated 2 apply what I've
learned thru her gracious sharing...

It had been quite some time since I'd awoke & remembered a dream.
But that morning I did. The details are fuzzy but it was something 2 do with
me & another person watching her in some sort of hologram, and I'm saying
'I told you, that's what she said.' I got up & turned on the television
and the 1st thing I heard was that she'd passed-away in her sleep. I went
out to my group therapy session that morning, and our facilitator, in
a good mood, decided 2 let us 'watch a DVD 2day.' But when she checked
her carrying-case there was only 1 DVD available: 'Tyler Perry's family
Reunion.' I'd seen it B4, just a month earlier 4 the 1st time. And I
thot it was brilliant the way Maya Angelou captured the absolute essence of
who she always is, and yet added the familiar feeling of family. It really
felt like 1 of my Aunts was talking to me. I couldn't contain my elation at
the synchronicity. I told our facilitator about how this was Miss Angelou's
last movie & the significance of the day. She hadn't heard about Miss Angelou's
transition yet, so she understood how I felt: special, blessed, gifted
somehow that of the DVD's she could've had with her this day, she had,
in fact, just this 1.

The movie touched me on the spinal-chord & squeezed tears from my
eyes the 1st time. But seeing it again this day...'Ahh, jus forgeda-
bowdit.' One of Queen Maya's famous sayings was 'If you don't like
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Page Two
(cont)

something, change it.' If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't
complain! She also once said 'When you complain, you let the local bullies
know there's a victim in town.' Those r both mind expanding insights
that I must've forgotten, becuz I was doing so much complaining that I
ran out of people to complain to. I found out that 1/2 of them were just
glad it wasn't happening to them, and the other 1/2 were glad it was
happening to me! I'm glad to say I'm basically back on track now and
I'll keep my complaints to an absolute minimum.

[Image: Drawing of a man's face]

Hey world, it's been a minute. And I can't say I've learned much
more about how 2 write a blog. Remember: I've never seen 1, other than a
printed-out copy of my own. Since I've been out of touch a lot has transpired.
It occurred to me that since I have so much goin' on that I need help
with, I certainly couldn't hurt to let it be known.

At this point I don't have the funds I need to take care of my personal needs.
I'm at the start of my 25th year. I've had 3 wonderful people who've been
there for me rain or shine, thru thick & thin. They will do all they can, when
they can. But hard times have befallen the soul survivors. At this time I
wish I could be of help 2 them. The one way I can be of help to them
is 2 get my needs met another way. I'm proud 2 say that I haven't resorted 2
crime during my incarceration: I give that Glory 2 the Almighty. As it now
stands, I need a television. I also have a couple of outstanding debts
attached to my inmate trust-account that must be paid B4 I could go to the
'canteen' again.

I haven't had a T.V of my own since December 26, 2013. It was confiscated
when I was at CSP-Corcoran. They kept my 13' colour flat screen TV/CD
combo -made by Hiteker- becuz it had 2 broken buttons. When they issue them
to us a seal is placed on them so it will be known if the appliance has been
opened-up. Mine has never been opened, seal in tact. It's a clear technology
model - You can see thru it - No possibility of contraband inside. Yet, they
say that the buttons being damaged constitute an alteration. Everyone
who has one knows those buttons are the 1st thing 2 go. It's all a scam. I've
appealed at the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd level already. Next step- small claims court.
This is some crazy pettiness goin' on here. But, that's not all of it. (Over)
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Page Three
(Cont)

I'm at CSP-Sacramento (New Folsom) now. I was given a 'Loaner TV' to
use that had been around the block a few times already. One day the cable
connector broke off in my hand as I unscrewed the coaxial cable from
the wall 2 place it in the window 2 watch digital stations as I do everyday.
When I saw the property-officer c/o Porter, I gave him the TV. He
looked at it, then told me he would fix it & bring it right back 2 me. He
didn't come back for 5 days. But when he did I was handed a '115' (Disciplinary
write-up) for 'Destruction of State Property.' I've never destroyed any
State Property. It took a month for the hearing. I was found 'Not Guilty.'
And yet, they are saying I'm still responsible for the entire price of the TV
as it was brand-new. $299.00 plus $3.95 for a cable. I'm appealing
this also. It's just wrong on many levels. The TV isn't broken, or cracked
it wasn't dropped or mishandled. I had been complaining about my cell
being different when I come back from yard. Before it broke off I found
it loose one day.

I can receive a TV from a vendor. But I can't get another loaner until I
clear this debt. From an injury I received when I was hit by a car years
ago, I had 4 pins & 2 screws in my ankle. CDCR performed an operation
to remove the pins & screws, and 1 of the screws was stripped. That 1 is now embedded
permanently. I will always need orthopaedic-boots for walking. I
recently got a pair & they must be paid for: $139.00. I also wear prescription
eyeglasses & they just took $35.50 for those. But, they owed
me $35.50 so, I'll appeal that also.

So this is the boat I'm in. I need a new TV. And I have about $273.00
of medical bills (Boots) & highway robbery (their TV) in the way B4 I
can even get anything at the commissary. And, right now I need everything
they've got in there! LOL!

Anything you can do to help will be most sincerely appreciated. I know
it's tough out there, it's tough in here, too.

[Images: Drawing of two musical notes]

When I realized that I was no longer just fantasizing about being this
talented man, and that I actually had more going-on than I'd ever prayed
for, I was still reluctant to put it out there. It took me some time 2 get
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Page Four
(cont)

comfortable enuf, to be sure. I've come some distance now, and I have
to be straightforward about it. I've wasted time in my life, and even tho I
made a terrible mistake & I came N2 prison becuz of my own actions, time
has been stolen from me. I'm in my 25th year now. There are a couple
of hurdles 2 get over B4 I get back 2 freedom life. But I can make records
even right here. I certainly don't have any time 2 waste. I need 2 let
the world know that I can sing in many colors. But what I can do with
my voice is so big & strange that I need a producer with balls of steel.
So, somebody needs 2 tell Rick Rubin that there's this guy they call
'Zawad-the Diamond' that needs 2 to be recorded 4 posterity. Tell Mr. Rubin the
guy rocks! On many levels. He sings 'R+B' like the greats, i.e. Sam Cooke,
Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett etc. His special forté is 'LV': his Luther Vandross
show. He sounds just like him. Plus he rocks! I mean like the greats of
history: Led Zep, Van Halen, Aerosmith, etc. He's got vocals, man: Judas
Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden, really all in 1 guy. Basically, a master of top-notch
Top 40 'Classic Rock', Top 40 'Old School R&B.' He does a perfect
Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley & Al Green. Yes, Chris Cornell, too. Damn it, Rick,
the man can sing like old school Prince - All the men of Motown (Except)
Michael Jackson. [Image: Drawn picture of man's face]

I may be somewhat out of touch with the world @ large right now. But
I do realize how this sounds. I don't want 2 sound like I'm bragging, or
just like any other crazy-on-the-internet, but this is real & the one who
finds me 1st will strike gold with me becuz I'm a goldmine. I mention
Mr. Rick Rubin becuz he is very progressive - as am I. But, actually
any visionary, creative, gutsy-artistic somebody could found an
empire with me.

Everybody tell somebody. I need somebody 2 tell Dr.Dre, Kendrick
Lamar, and Schoolboy that I am the black-hippy movement. I gotta
get this in the box now, but I'll be back next week. Be good 2 each
other.

Robin Williams & Joan Rivers were 2 of the really greats.
Originals.