Everything tastes better with charts

September 20, 2003

Or something like that. If you'd like to see the disparities discussed in "Incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment" on the home page, check out the version with charts.

The Man in Black is gone

September 12, 2003

The Man in Black, country music star Johnny Cash, died today at age 71. Although Johnny only spent one day in jail himself, he consistently identified with the downtrodden, eagerly performing a number of free concerts for prisoners. Two of these concerts became popular albums Live at San Quentin and Live at Folsom Prison.

We'll miss you Johnny. Please read our longer obituary including the lyrics to "Man in Black" and "San Quentin".

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
--Johnny Cash, "Man in Black" 1971

San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell.
May your walls fall and may I live to tell.
May all the world forget you ever stood.
And the whole world will regret you did no good.
--Johnny Cash, "San Quentin" 1969