Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Letters from the Inside: BOOK ON SARAH PENDER OUT
Today I read Sarah's letter in preparation for writing to her and it turns out a book about her was just written called Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender. She had mentioned it a few times in the last year. I just went online to purchase it and happened upon some interesting reviews I thought I'd share.
Product Description
Sarah Pender was an attractive, outgoing, intelligent woman with great potential. But the straight and narrow had no appeal for this depraved young woman dubbed "the female Charles Manson", who knew how to get what she wanted from men-even if it meant murder.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars From one who knows, June 22, 2011
By MurderMan - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender (Paperback)
Superbly researched and written account of "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED FEMALE CHARLES MANSON."
Just a brief response to the review of the ill-informed "brunogh."
I prosecuted both Sarah Pender and Richard Hull for the brutal shotgun murder of their roommates, Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman, and was intimately familiar with the facts of the case. I was not absolutely certain who actually fired the shots. There were reasonable inferences from the evidence that suggested that one killed Cataldi and the other killed Nordman.
I argued to the jury in Sarah's trial that it made no difference who fired the fatal shots, for the evidence was overwhelming that if Sarah did not shoot them, she was "with Hull every step of the way." The trial judge even stated that very thing when she sentenced Sarah to 110 years in prison. Legally, an accomplice is responsible for the acts of his confederate and is just as culpable in the eyes of the law. Sarah's jury agreed, as did the trial judge and the appellate court.
Also, "brunogh" erroneously stated that Hull received 130 years after his trial. Hull never had a trial. He pled guilty, maintaining that he was an accessory. He initially was sentenced to 75 years imprisonment, but appealed the sentence as being illegal. He won his appeal, resulting in his being sentenced to a legal sentence of 90 years!
There are other factual errors in "brunogh's" review, too many to mention. Suffice it to say, that whoever coined the phrase "a little knowledge is dangerous," had "brunogh" in mind. A little knowledge, coupled with a biased agenda is even more dangerous.
Steve Miller's factual account of events is "spot on," and the book is a terrific read!
Sarah Pender is a scheming sociopath who seduced others to, among other things, help her commit murder, escape from prison and remain a fugitive. She currently is in "lock-down" at the Indiana Womens' Prison. But mark my words, you have not heard the last from Sarah. She has the "will" to escape, and she may very well find the "way!"
Larry Sells
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars well-written, fabulous storytelling -- this is a movie in print!, June 20, 2011
By Journo-girl - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender (Paperback)
Girl Wanted is a fast-paced, well-written accounting of a life on the lam that captivated the law enforcement community and many around the nation. Author Steve Miller, a true investigative reporter, gets inside the not only the hunt for a fugitive in the heartland, but the head of a complicated female criminal. Far too little time has been spent looking at women who murder -- the their motivation for crimes. This story, which is rapidly paced and researched with intense details, hooks you from the beginning and keeps you engaged, chapter after chapter. We will never know if Sarah Pender pulled that trigger. But the window is opened on her depraved "anything necessary" narcissism that allowed her to lure both girlfriend and boyfriend with sex, emotional captivation and guts. After reading this book, you really want to talk to some of the key players, from Rick Hull, her accomplice to Scott, the prison guard who drove her away to freedom. Although Sarah is rather average looking, something about her intensity, her capacity to intoxicate others to do her bidding, is fascinating. This book drives you to wonder just how dangerous Sarah might be? Frightening. The book is also tribute to the dogged police work and the determined law enforcement officer who went all out -- heroically -- to bring Sarah to justice. Without his singular determination, Sarah Pender might be the killer next door. SCARY. Again, another real-life character study that could easily move from book to movie screen. This is one of the best summer true crime reads ever. Loved every page of it.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars No respect for the readers, no respect for the truth, June 19, 2011
By brunogh - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender (Paperback)
In 2002 Sarah Jo Pender got a life sentenced for allegedly masterminding the murder of Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman. Richard Hull, her boyfriend, was condemned for being the one who pulled to trigger on both fellow drug dealers. Steve Miller feels otherwise : he beleive that, in fact, It was Sarah Jo Pender who pulled the trigger and that she somehow manipulated HUll into taking the blame for her.
The only problem is that, in order to convinced readers of his theory, Miller never ceases to manipulate them by dishing out half truths and deliberatly conceiling key elements of the story.
At the beginning of the book, Miller wants to convince readers that Pender is a highly manipulative woman. Describing the beginning of her escape and her relation with Scott Spitler, the guard who helped her, he writes (Ch 1, p14) :
"... She even had sex with Spitler to ensure he was in league with her scheme. She had him wrapped up. If he refused to do anything she wanted at this point, Sarah Could simply tell on him and produce the drugs he had brought her, and Spitler's Job would be over..."
At this point, and during the whole description of her escape from prison, Miller allways presents Pender as threatening from the beginning to the end of her escape plan and Spitler as a man completely under influence. BUT he keeps an important information from the reader : that Sarah Pender had agreed to pay the guard $15, 000. There's little chance the average reader could know that, since it was never made public by the media at the time of Pender's capture or Spitler's trial. After having the reader running 100 pages with a missing information, Miller eventually reveals this when he narrates Pender's escape for the second time. And then, confident the average reader won't remember what he has read before, he completely inverses the roles : From threatening, Pender becomes threatened, while Spitler is the one who uses threats :
"She had to play it smooth. After all, she had promessed Spitler $ 15, 000 for helping her escape.
"Everything's cool," Sarah said, "Just give me six weeks to get everything settled and I'll start sending you your money."
"You Better, said Spitler, because I'll tell you something, if you don't I will track down every person you know and love and I will hurt you and I will hurt them."" Does Spitler still sounds like a coerced man afraid for his job ?
I'm quoting Miller because this is a good exemple of how, by retaining informations from the readers, he can completely change their understanding of the situation. And this is a one exemple we can discover merely by reading the book. It's not, however, the only time Miller manipulates the reader.
When Miller narrates the way the murder weapon landed in Hull's hands, he goes directly to it's purchase by Pender at a wallgreen. His goal is to make the reader believe that it was pender who took the decision to buy a gun and that she placed in the hands of Hull. But here again, Miller deliberatly hides an important information to the reader, which he will, this time, never reveal : he skips the part where Hull tries to illegally purchase a weapon from the son of his neighbour's boyfriend. How do we know that ? Because that neighbour, Jana frederiks, testified about it. Could Miller ignore her existence and her testimony ? No : he mentions her on page 95. And if he did serious researching, he knows about the testimony. It is indeed mentioned in the court paper of Pender's appeal, which anyone can purchase at amazon.com : Sarah Pender V USA: The Federal Court Files Documenting Sarah's Battle Against The USA.
Having read those court papers, This is a first instance about which I can say that Miller hides key facts from his readers.
p 118 : "Also introduced was a letter produced by Richard Hull, allegedly written by Sarah and mailed to him in the fall of 2001."
Here, Steve Miller mentions one of the two evidences presented against Sarah Jo Pender at her trial : A letter she allegedly wrotte to Richard Hull, in which she allegedly take responsability for the murder. This point is of extreme importance because ever since the beginning, Sarah Pender has claimed the letter was a forgery done by Steve Logan, a cellmate of Richard Hull, in exchange for protection. She stresses that her fingerprints were never found on the letter while both those of Hull and Logan were.
Here's an information Steve Miller never cares to reveal to his readers : the letter was dated May 16th 2001. And he never reveals the date because the chronology of events proves that the letter is, indeed, a very dubvious evidence.
Hull gave that letter to his lawyer in September-October 2001. He never produced the enveloppe of the letter (probably because a postmark would have given the superchery away) and claimed he had discarded it (Miller also doesn't care to mention this in his book).
However, between these two dates, as Steve Miller himself writes on page 112 "In a search warrant served july 17 2001, at the Marion County Jail, prosecutors took 51 pieces of correspondance from Hull's cell". Furthermore, Miller states on page 108: "All of Sarah's letters out of jail were being monitorered by the prosecutor's office and became fodder for daily dissection as well as being possible evidence." If what he writes is correct (and he dwells needlessly over gross details about the content of these letters) how could the prosecutor's office have missed a letter in which Pender took responsability for the murders? And how could prosecutors could not have found, during the July
search, a letter written in May ?
Had Sarah Pender's claims been false, it is certain that Steve Miller, having access to inside information, would have exposed them one by one. But oddly, Miller does exactly the opposite. Not only does he not refutes Penders claims, but he buries facts to hide the controversial issues, first by avoiding to mention at which date the letter used as main piece of of evidence was written, an information which would enable readers to get a clear picture of the sequence of events. And then by systematically lying by omission to mislead the readers.
Miller goes on writting, p 118 " The letter was analyzed for the prosecution by a state forensic analyst, Lee Ann Harmless, who concluded that Sarah Was the author of the letter. An examination of the letter also found fingerprints belonging to steve Logan, an inmate who shared a cell in the county jail with Hull."
Here, Steve Miller feeds the reader with a true information which points out to Sarah Jo Pender as the author of the letter. However, as I wrotte, Sarah Pender has allways claimed that the letter was a forgery. One of her arguments is that her fingerprints were never found of the letter. Knowing this little bit about Sarah Jo Pender's case, I expected Steve Miller to enlighten me over this matter and tell the readers if this was truth, or not. If he can writte that Steve logan's fingerprints were on the letter, he certainly knows if Pender's fingerprints were also on it or not. but on this particular point, Miller remains silent. He doesn't lie, but it doesn't tell the truth either, and that makes him, in my mind, mostly a liar . He chooses one more time to hide an important information to his readers, being confident that they will be none the wiser. In my opinion, this is a complete lack of respect.
Here's what Pender's court papers also say about Steve Logan :
"Hull testified [...] that the state had 80 letters he and pender exchanged while in jail. He insisted [...] that he directed Steve Logan to write it while they were in Maryon County Jail [...] Logan testified Hull showed him letter from pender and asked him to writte some sort of letter for him as a way to reduce his charges or sentence [PCR 7-8] He denied writing the letter incriminating Pender [PCR 8, 11] He previously told an investigator, "I think I can remember him asking me, but I don't see why I would go to the extreme of doing something like that." (US district court southern district of Indiana, case 1:07-cv-00464-DFH-TAB, document 2, filed 04/16/2007, page 8-9 of 34) available on amazon Sarah Pender V USA: The Federal Court Files Documenting Sarah's Battle Against The USA.
This version to be sure, is extremely important. Logan is a witness who, if he denies writting the may 16th letter, admits Hull was indeed seeking to have a forgery made that would benefit him. What do we read about this in Steve Miller's book? Not a line. Yet, this was also the kind of thing I was hoping Steve Miller would confirm, or debunk. What does the reader gets in place of solid investigation ? a long silence and half-baked truths... Personnaly, had Miller told me flat out, with good arguments, that the logan testimony and the fingerprint claim were bogus, I would have believed him. But the way he constantly twists facts makes him loose all credibility. And it has eventually reinforced my belief that Sarah Jo Pender was convinced using false evidence. Miller's hatred for Pender is so plain throughout the book that, had she not told the truth, I'm certain he would have let us know in so many pages.
Steve Miller's narration of the Pender's and Hull's trials were an extreme disappointment to me. Here again, I found nothing that I didn't allready knew. Where I expected quotes from court transcripts, I found that Miller had mostly borrowed from articles published in 2002 by the Indianapolis star and written by Vic Ryckaert. He doesn't have the professionnal courtesy to mention the names of either the newspaper or his colleague. This is well in keeping with his methods. Alltough many court documents and news articles are available on line, many of them for free, Millers didn't care to include a list of sources in his book. Thus, he effectively makes it impossible for the readers to check any informations contained in the book (or to discover what he has hidden from them).
What about the rest of the book ? The tale of Pender's 136 days of life on the run ? It is simply impossible to check anything Miller tells his reader. But if the first half of the book is any indication, nothing is to be trusted and whatever "revelations" miller does must be taken with a grain of salt the size of a rock.
Oddly enough, if Miller eludes the embarrasing question of the forged evidence, he opens as ambarassing an issue when he reveals, at the end of the book, that Richard Hull took three polygraph tests in which he successfully exonerated himself as the killer of Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman. Of course, this information should have been given to the reader when Miller wrotte about the prosecution and the trial. Miller probably decided to reveal this at the end of the book as a "coup de theatre". But also because readers reading about the polygraph tests and almost immediately after, about the way Hull's trial was conducted, would have raised an eyebrow about what Miller's revelation implied.
Prosecutor Larry Sells, if we are to follow the writer's reasoning, had genuine proof in which Sarah Pender took responsability for the murders. Prosecutor Larry Sells, If we believe Miller's revelations, knew Hull had successfully passed three polygraph tests in which he exonerated himself of the murder. And yet the same Prosecutor Larry Sells, knowing the man hadn't pull the trigger, is gone in a court room and has said with a straight face to a judge and an audience : "He picked a man's gun to do a coward deed" (p 130, quote borrowed from the indystar), and then got that person sentenced to 130 years in jail for a murder he knew the man hadn't commited... Either Prosecutor Larry Sells is a man without ethics and deontology, or Larry Sells knew better than the polygraphs and Steve Miller hasn't told us, as usual, the whole story behind the these.
I will not hide that I was very skeptical about Miller's book even before he got in my mail box. But if Miller had been honest in the way he narrated the Sarah Pender Case, if he had dared to tackle every issue and had shedded light on every shadow, he could have convinced me and changed my mind. Reading carefully ""Girl Wanted", I have closed it thinking that its author had a complete lack of respect for his readers. By systematically hiding important facts, by deliberatly leaving many stones unturned, by avoiding the most controversial aspects of the case, by avoiding to source his informations, by writting in a dishonnest manner. "Girl Wanted" has not been written by a truth seeking man. Miller has no respect for his readers, I don't recommand his book.
Product Description
Sarah Pender was an attractive, outgoing, intelligent woman with great potential. But the straight and narrow had no appeal for this depraved young woman dubbed "the female Charles Manson", who knew how to get what she wanted from men-even if it meant murder.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars From one who knows, June 22, 2011
By MurderMan - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender (Paperback)
Superbly researched and written account of "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED FEMALE CHARLES MANSON."
Just a brief response to the review of the ill-informed "brunogh."
I prosecuted both Sarah Pender and Richard Hull for the brutal shotgun murder of their roommates, Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman, and was intimately familiar with the facts of the case. I was not absolutely certain who actually fired the shots. There were reasonable inferences from the evidence that suggested that one killed Cataldi and the other killed Nordman.
I argued to the jury in Sarah's trial that it made no difference who fired the fatal shots, for the evidence was overwhelming that if Sarah did not shoot them, she was "with Hull every step of the way." The trial judge even stated that very thing when she sentenced Sarah to 110 years in prison. Legally, an accomplice is responsible for the acts of his confederate and is just as culpable in the eyes of the law. Sarah's jury agreed, as did the trial judge and the appellate court.
Also, "brunogh" erroneously stated that Hull received 130 years after his trial. Hull never had a trial. He pled guilty, maintaining that he was an accessory. He initially was sentenced to 75 years imprisonment, but appealed the sentence as being illegal. He won his appeal, resulting in his being sentenced to a legal sentence of 90 years!
There are other factual errors in "brunogh's" review, too many to mention. Suffice it to say, that whoever coined the phrase "a little knowledge is dangerous," had "brunogh" in mind. A little knowledge, coupled with a biased agenda is even more dangerous.
Steve Miller's factual account of events is "spot on," and the book is a terrific read!
Sarah Pender is a scheming sociopath who seduced others to, among other things, help her commit murder, escape from prison and remain a fugitive. She currently is in "lock-down" at the Indiana Womens' Prison. But mark my words, you have not heard the last from Sarah. She has the "will" to escape, and she may very well find the "way!"
Larry Sells
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars well-written, fabulous storytelling -- this is a movie in print!, June 20, 2011
By Journo-girl - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender (Paperback)
Girl Wanted is a fast-paced, well-written accounting of a life on the lam that captivated the law enforcement community and many around the nation. Author Steve Miller, a true investigative reporter, gets inside the not only the hunt for a fugitive in the heartland, but the head of a complicated female criminal. Far too little time has been spent looking at women who murder -- the their motivation for crimes. This story, which is rapidly paced and researched with intense details, hooks you from the beginning and keeps you engaged, chapter after chapter. We will never know if Sarah Pender pulled that trigger. But the window is opened on her depraved "anything necessary" narcissism that allowed her to lure both girlfriend and boyfriend with sex, emotional captivation and guts. After reading this book, you really want to talk to some of the key players, from Rick Hull, her accomplice to Scott, the prison guard who drove her away to freedom. Although Sarah is rather average looking, something about her intensity, her capacity to intoxicate others to do her bidding, is fascinating. This book drives you to wonder just how dangerous Sarah might be? Frightening. The book is also tribute to the dogged police work and the determined law enforcement officer who went all out -- heroically -- to bring Sarah to justice. Without his singular determination, Sarah Pender might be the killer next door. SCARY. Again, another real-life character study that could easily move from book to movie screen. This is one of the best summer true crime reads ever. Loved every page of it.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars No respect for the readers, no respect for the truth, June 19, 2011
By brunogh - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender (Paperback)
In 2002 Sarah Jo Pender got a life sentenced for allegedly masterminding the murder of Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman. Richard Hull, her boyfriend, was condemned for being the one who pulled to trigger on both fellow drug dealers. Steve Miller feels otherwise : he beleive that, in fact, It was Sarah Jo Pender who pulled the trigger and that she somehow manipulated HUll into taking the blame for her.
The only problem is that, in order to convinced readers of his theory, Miller never ceases to manipulate them by dishing out half truths and deliberatly conceiling key elements of the story.
At the beginning of the book, Miller wants to convince readers that Pender is a highly manipulative woman. Describing the beginning of her escape and her relation with Scott Spitler, the guard who helped her, he writes (Ch 1, p14) :
"... She even had sex with Spitler to ensure he was in league with her scheme. She had him wrapped up. If he refused to do anything she wanted at this point, Sarah Could simply tell on him and produce the drugs he had brought her, and Spitler's Job would be over..."
At this point, and during the whole description of her escape from prison, Miller allways presents Pender as threatening from the beginning to the end of her escape plan and Spitler as a man completely under influence. BUT he keeps an important information from the reader : that Sarah Pender had agreed to pay the guard $15, 000. There's little chance the average reader could know that, since it was never made public by the media at the time of Pender's capture or Spitler's trial. After having the reader running 100 pages with a missing information, Miller eventually reveals this when he narrates Pender's escape for the second time. And then, confident the average reader won't remember what he has read before, he completely inverses the roles : From threatening, Pender becomes threatened, while Spitler is the one who uses threats :
"She had to play it smooth. After all, she had promessed Spitler $ 15, 000 for helping her escape.
"Everything's cool," Sarah said, "Just give me six weeks to get everything settled and I'll start sending you your money."
"You Better, said Spitler, because I'll tell you something, if you don't I will track down every person you know and love and I will hurt you and I will hurt them."" Does Spitler still sounds like a coerced man afraid for his job ?
I'm quoting Miller because this is a good exemple of how, by retaining informations from the readers, he can completely change their understanding of the situation. And this is a one exemple we can discover merely by reading the book. It's not, however, the only time Miller manipulates the reader.
When Miller narrates the way the murder weapon landed in Hull's hands, he goes directly to it's purchase by Pender at a wallgreen. His goal is to make the reader believe that it was pender who took the decision to buy a gun and that she placed in the hands of Hull. But here again, Miller deliberatly hides an important information to the reader, which he will, this time, never reveal : he skips the part where Hull tries to illegally purchase a weapon from the son of his neighbour's boyfriend. How do we know that ? Because that neighbour, Jana frederiks, testified about it. Could Miller ignore her existence and her testimony ? No : he mentions her on page 95. And if he did serious researching, he knows about the testimony. It is indeed mentioned in the court paper of Pender's appeal, which anyone can purchase at amazon.com : Sarah Pender V USA: The Federal Court Files Documenting Sarah's Battle Against The USA.
Having read those court papers, This is a first instance about which I can say that Miller hides key facts from his readers.
p 118 : "Also introduced was a letter produced by Richard Hull, allegedly written by Sarah and mailed to him in the fall of 2001."
Here, Steve Miller mentions one of the two evidences presented against Sarah Jo Pender at her trial : A letter she allegedly wrotte to Richard Hull, in which she allegedly take responsability for the murder. This point is of extreme importance because ever since the beginning, Sarah Pender has claimed the letter was a forgery done by Steve Logan, a cellmate of Richard Hull, in exchange for protection. She stresses that her fingerprints were never found on the letter while both those of Hull and Logan were.
Here's an information Steve Miller never cares to reveal to his readers : the letter was dated May 16th 2001. And he never reveals the date because the chronology of events proves that the letter is, indeed, a very dubvious evidence.
Hull gave that letter to his lawyer in September-October 2001. He never produced the enveloppe of the letter (probably because a postmark would have given the superchery away) and claimed he had discarded it (Miller also doesn't care to mention this in his book).
However, between these two dates, as Steve Miller himself writes on page 112 "In a search warrant served july 17 2001, at the Marion County Jail, prosecutors took 51 pieces of correspondance from Hull's cell". Furthermore, Miller states on page 108: "All of Sarah's letters out of jail were being monitorered by the prosecutor's office and became fodder for daily dissection as well as being possible evidence." If what he writes is correct (and he dwells needlessly over gross details about the content of these letters) how could the prosecutor's office have missed a letter in which Pender took responsability for the murders? And how could prosecutors could not have found, during the July
search, a letter written in May ?
Had Sarah Pender's claims been false, it is certain that Steve Miller, having access to inside information, would have exposed them one by one. But oddly, Miller does exactly the opposite. Not only does he not refutes Penders claims, but he buries facts to hide the controversial issues, first by avoiding to mention at which date the letter used as main piece of of evidence was written, an information which would enable readers to get a clear picture of the sequence of events. And then by systematically lying by omission to mislead the readers.
Miller goes on writting, p 118 " The letter was analyzed for the prosecution by a state forensic analyst, Lee Ann Harmless, who concluded that Sarah Was the author of the letter. An examination of the letter also found fingerprints belonging to steve Logan, an inmate who shared a cell in the county jail with Hull."
Here, Steve Miller feeds the reader with a true information which points out to Sarah Jo Pender as the author of the letter. However, as I wrotte, Sarah Pender has allways claimed that the letter was a forgery. One of her arguments is that her fingerprints were never found of the letter. Knowing this little bit about Sarah Jo Pender's case, I expected Steve Miller to enlighten me over this matter and tell the readers if this was truth, or not. If he can writte that Steve logan's fingerprints were on the letter, he certainly knows if Pender's fingerprints were also on it or not. but on this particular point, Miller remains silent. He doesn't lie, but it doesn't tell the truth either, and that makes him, in my mind, mostly a liar . He chooses one more time to hide an important information to his readers, being confident that they will be none the wiser. In my opinion, this is a complete lack of respect.
Here's what Pender's court papers also say about Steve Logan :
"Hull testified [...] that the state had 80 letters he and pender exchanged while in jail. He insisted [...] that he directed Steve Logan to write it while they were in Maryon County Jail [...] Logan testified Hull showed him letter from pender and asked him to writte some sort of letter for him as a way to reduce his charges or sentence [PCR 7-8] He denied writing the letter incriminating Pender [PCR 8, 11] He previously told an investigator, "I think I can remember him asking me, but I don't see why I would go to the extreme of doing something like that." (US district court southern district of Indiana, case 1:07-cv-00464-DFH-TAB, document 2, filed 04/16/2007, page 8-9 of 34) available on amazon Sarah Pender V USA: The Federal Court Files Documenting Sarah's Battle Against The USA.
This version to be sure, is extremely important. Logan is a witness who, if he denies writting the may 16th letter, admits Hull was indeed seeking to have a forgery made that would benefit him. What do we read about this in Steve Miller's book? Not a line. Yet, this was also the kind of thing I was hoping Steve Miller would confirm, or debunk. What does the reader gets in place of solid investigation ? a long silence and half-baked truths... Personnaly, had Miller told me flat out, with good arguments, that the logan testimony and the fingerprint claim were bogus, I would have believed him. But the way he constantly twists facts makes him loose all credibility. And it has eventually reinforced my belief that Sarah Jo Pender was convinced using false evidence. Miller's hatred for Pender is so plain throughout the book that, had she not told the truth, I'm certain he would have let us know in so many pages.
Steve Miller's narration of the Pender's and Hull's trials were an extreme disappointment to me. Here again, I found nothing that I didn't allready knew. Where I expected quotes from court transcripts, I found that Miller had mostly borrowed from articles published in 2002 by the Indianapolis star and written by Vic Ryckaert. He doesn't have the professionnal courtesy to mention the names of either the newspaper or his colleague. This is well in keeping with his methods. Alltough many court documents and news articles are available on line, many of them for free, Millers didn't care to include a list of sources in his book. Thus, he effectively makes it impossible for the readers to check any informations contained in the book (or to discover what he has hidden from them).
What about the rest of the book ? The tale of Pender's 136 days of life on the run ? It is simply impossible to check anything Miller tells his reader. But if the first half of the book is any indication, nothing is to be trusted and whatever "revelations" miller does must be taken with a grain of salt the size of a rock.
Oddly enough, if Miller eludes the embarrasing question of the forged evidence, he opens as ambarassing an issue when he reveals, at the end of the book, that Richard Hull took three polygraph tests in which he successfully exonerated himself as the killer of Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman. Of course, this information should have been given to the reader when Miller wrotte about the prosecution and the trial. Miller probably decided to reveal this at the end of the book as a "coup de theatre". But also because readers reading about the polygraph tests and almost immediately after, about the way Hull's trial was conducted, would have raised an eyebrow about what Miller's revelation implied.
Prosecutor Larry Sells, if we are to follow the writer's reasoning, had genuine proof in which Sarah Pender took responsability for the murders. Prosecutor Larry Sells, If we believe Miller's revelations, knew Hull had successfully passed three polygraph tests in which he exonerated himself of the murder. And yet the same Prosecutor Larry Sells, knowing the man hadn't pull the trigger, is gone in a court room and has said with a straight face to a judge and an audience : "He picked a man's gun to do a coward deed" (p 130, quote borrowed from the indystar), and then got that person sentenced to 130 years in jail for a murder he knew the man hadn't commited... Either Prosecutor Larry Sells is a man without ethics and deontology, or Larry Sells knew better than the polygraphs and Steve Miller hasn't told us, as usual, the whole story behind the these.
I will not hide that I was very skeptical about Miller's book even before he got in my mail box. But if Miller had been honest in the way he narrated the Sarah Pender Case, if he had dared to tackle every issue and had shedded light on every shadow, he could have convinced me and changed my mind. Reading carefully ""Girl Wanted", I have closed it thinking that its author had a complete lack of respect for his readers. By systematically hiding important facts, by deliberatly leaving many stones unturned, by avoiding the most controversial aspects of the case, by avoiding to source his informations, by writting in a dishonnest manner. "Girl Wanted" has not been written by a truth seeking man. Miller has no respect for his readers, I don't recommand his book.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #121
My Dear Kelly,
Obviously given the significant delay inherent with written, mailed letters, events often supersede our comments and impassions :-) reflections. So as I beging this letter, two events are quickly approaching: the glitzy premiere of Amir's PBS film ; AND of course your 41st birthday: a dynamic, beautiful woman in the prime of her amazing life! I am not being facetious.
[BTW, you never commented on the rather interesting coincidence that you and Tina Fey were born only two days apart. At least I thought it was interesting...]
Your most recent letter downgraded the AK/KK "alert level" to "topsy turvy" .. as compared to Amir's fever dream email of a couple of weeks ago!
Tell Amir you and he need your very own color-coded relationship threat level!!! And my God-what an amazing reality show you two could star in!
OK, as mentioned above, received your letter and a postcard just before the weekend/much to discuss, so let me get right to it, along with the inevitable digressions.
No way you could know every rule of this most remarkable institution. I believe you that is not the policy elsewhere. Thanks for your continued understanding.
Given the enormous popularity and critical praise (richly deserved) of AMC's The Killing, I am sure that the original Danish series will become easily accessible and affordable quite soon.
Postcard: Richard Prince/He certainly has some evocative images in his head. Especially since the "Untitled" work is 7X9 feet.
[Ed.: Omitting TV commentary.]
>The single greatest cultural/entertainment advantage of living in your great city would have to be the theater. No other city anywhere, with the possible exception of London even comes close.
Great cast of The Motherfucker with the Hat. Curious how Chris Rock is on stage.
[Ed.: Omitting film discussion.]
***
Now to the Twilight Zone portion of your letter.
>John--I have to admit his trainwreck of a life is utterly bizarre. You cannot seem to get away from him, can you?
I could not help but think of the widely reported but false stories of the Haitian link to HIV/AIDS early on in the pandemic. And now John visits Haiti? Talk about a consequence-free zone for his "proclivities".
You mentioned previously and in this letter that the non-civil case is inactive barring any future incidents. Tell me again why his incidents with our female hero were not prosecuted? The cases in upstate NY were.
Anyway, your dilemma is heartening. When is the next date (deposition)? Did anything I saw help even a little bit? Feel free to ask other questions.
Is it just me or does it seem weird for you to have dinner with Reid and then watch Idol with him especially when he clearly has Kelly locked into his Brain Housing Group?
Oh KK, You must tell me next time Amir is scheduled for Eliot Spitzer or any other cable news show. I know, however, that those bookings are usually made only a day or even hours ahead of time.
And I'll say this: Between the C**T in Amir office and Reid, it seems like everyone has their opinion on your suitability for Amir and vice-versa. My God, FB has turned even NYC into a gossipy small town...Screw them.
Final note for now to your Amir:
Dude, you don't live on the street and you are not HERE. You do NOT cut your own hair. I am appalled. Listen to your Kelly, man!
The fictional story I suggested we write of the male and female sociopaths who become an unbreakable couple would be oh-so-dark and chilling. Imagine a novel where the normal-appearing suburban couple do not put their children's welfare above their own selfish and dual needs. Indeed, where the couple use their children for their ownneeds without a hint of conscience or remorse.
Proposed excerpt: "...The new neighbors? Oh yes, the Kirks, such a tragedy. They lost a child a few years ago in an accident with a crib. You might have read about the lawsuit and huge settlement..."
Michael
Obviously given the significant delay inherent with written, mailed letters, events often supersede our comments and impassions :-) reflections. So as I beging this letter, two events are quickly approaching: the glitzy premiere of Amir's PBS film ; AND of course your 41st birthday: a dynamic, beautiful woman in the prime of her amazing life! I am not being facetious.
[BTW, you never commented on the rather interesting coincidence that you and Tina Fey were born only two days apart. At least I thought it was interesting...]
Your most recent letter downgraded the AK/KK "alert level" to "topsy turvy" .. as compared to Amir's fever dream email of a couple of weeks ago!
Tell Amir you and he need your very own color-coded relationship threat level!!! And my God-what an amazing reality show you two could star in!
OK, as mentioned above, received your letter and a postcard just before the weekend/much to discuss, so let me get right to it, along with the inevitable digressions.
No way you could know every rule of this most remarkable institution. I believe you that is not the policy elsewhere. Thanks for your continued understanding.
Given the enormous popularity and critical praise (richly deserved) of AMC's The Killing, I am sure that the original Danish series will become easily accessible and affordable quite soon.
Postcard: Richard Prince/He certainly has some evocative images in his head. Especially since the "Untitled" work is 7X9 feet.
[Ed.: Omitting TV commentary.]
>The single greatest cultural/entertainment advantage of living in your great city would have to be the theater. No other city anywhere, with the possible exception of London even comes close.
Great cast of The Motherfucker with the Hat. Curious how Chris Rock is on stage.
[Ed.: Omitting film discussion.]
***
Now to the Twilight Zone portion of your letter.
>John--I have to admit his trainwreck of a life is utterly bizarre. You cannot seem to get away from him, can you?
I could not help but think of the widely reported but false stories of the Haitian link to HIV/AIDS early on in the pandemic. And now John visits Haiti? Talk about a consequence-free zone for his "proclivities".
You mentioned previously and in this letter that the non-civil case is inactive barring any future incidents. Tell me again why his incidents with our female hero were not prosecuted? The cases in upstate NY were.
Anyway, your dilemma is heartening. When is the next date (deposition)? Did anything I saw help even a little bit? Feel free to ask other questions.
Is it just me or does it seem weird for you to have dinner with Reid and then watch Idol with him especially when he clearly has Kelly locked into his Brain Housing Group?
Oh KK, You must tell me next time Amir is scheduled for Eliot Spitzer or any other cable news show. I know, however, that those bookings are usually made only a day or even hours ahead of time.
And I'll say this: Between the C**T in Amir office and Reid, it seems like everyone has their opinion on your suitability for Amir and vice-versa. My God, FB has turned even NYC into a gossipy small town...Screw them.
Final note for now to your Amir:
Dude, you don't live on the street and you are not HERE. You do NOT cut your own hair. I am appalled. Listen to your Kelly, man!
The fictional story I suggested we write of the male and female sociopaths who become an unbreakable couple would be oh-so-dark and chilling. Imagine a novel where the normal-appearing suburban couple do not put their children's welfare above their own selfish and dual needs. Indeed, where the couple use their children for their ownneeds without a hint of conscience or remorse.
Proposed excerpt: "...The new neighbors? Oh yes, the Kirks, such a tragedy. They lost a child a few years ago in an accident with a crib. You might have read about the lawsuit and huge settlement..."
Michael
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Letters from the Inside, Sarah Pender, #63
Kelly,
I love how the first sentences of the Puzzle blog says that "Art makes Tim Kelly's heart palpiatate, " and you happen to be one of the best puzzle pieces...put on Japanese TV, asked to do another one...you've definitely earned brownie points and he's not married YET.
Tonight is your big night at the movie premiere. I'm wondering if Amir has stuck to the status of you two officially not dating or have you two made up for the sake of the night or are you boycottiing the event?
Yiour last letter and blog entries so completely remind me of being 15 and very depressed, full of teenage angst, and hopelessly in love with someone who would slow down long enbough for me to touch, fuck and run away, just far enough so I could see, hear, smell him, but only touch the careless laughter hanging in the air. One shitty thig about being depressed and in solitary is that I don't have the luxury of an object of attention, passion or even lust. I am alone and all I have is my hate as anb emotional companion. Even it leaves me alone so that I become numb and left with no feelings at all. Your cut out lines, puzzle expression--I bet it was beautiful and eeire at the same time. Collage made with deep emotion always are.
Whenever did you invite the third entity? That is so perfect? I often think back and year for Kim or David or even Rick when I am lonely and I think, why the fuck would I long for rick after what he's done? I realize that what I long for so deeply is the third entity, that chemical reaction or soul reaction that is more beautiful than the finest art, more alive than a 6-month old baby, more magical than Disney World. It is everything you need and more than you could want and I wonder if I can ever get that back again. That world is ending for you and Amir and evenI feel the loss of it halfway across the US.
The Die! about your building lock was great. I wonder if you'd put that on the HANDS site. PERFECT!
As I sit at my little shelf and stool I'm listening to world news and wishing myself somewhere across the world, living a parallel life and wonder if I focus on the vibrations of my energy if I can leap my conscience from this life to a parallel one. If we are not our bodies then it should technically be possible. Perhaps I should look into astral projection. I would certainly become a legendary escape artist if I could do it...they'd find my body in a ocma with my conscience inside another bady, basing in the sun on the terrace of an Italian villa.
Has there been any flirtation with Bruno? If he did show interest would you reciprocate despite his connection to Amir? Do you have any hope for you and Amir? Did you make your new puzzle piece? Not sure how long this will take to get to you but I hope you have a VERY HAPPY 41st BIRTHDAY!
Sarah
I love how the first sentences of the Puzzle blog says that "Art makes Tim Kelly's heart palpiatate, " and you happen to be one of the best puzzle pieces...put on Japanese TV, asked to do another one...you've definitely earned brownie points and he's not married YET.
Tonight is your big night at the movie premiere. I'm wondering if Amir has stuck to the status of you two officially not dating or have you two made up for the sake of the night or are you boycottiing the event?
Yiour last letter and blog entries so completely remind me of being 15 and very depressed, full of teenage angst, and hopelessly in love with someone who would slow down long enbough for me to touch, fuck and run away, just far enough so I could see, hear, smell him, but only touch the careless laughter hanging in the air. One shitty thig about being depressed and in solitary is that I don't have the luxury of an object of attention, passion or even lust. I am alone and all I have is my hate as anb emotional companion. Even it leaves me alone so that I become numb and left with no feelings at all. Your cut out lines, puzzle expression--I bet it was beautiful and eeire at the same time. Collage made with deep emotion always are.
Whenever did you invite the third entity? That is so perfect? I often think back and year for Kim or David or even Rick when I am lonely and I think, why the fuck would I long for rick after what he's done? I realize that what I long for so deeply is the third entity, that chemical reaction or soul reaction that is more beautiful than the finest art, more alive than a 6-month old baby, more magical than Disney World. It is everything you need and more than you could want and I wonder if I can ever get that back again. That world is ending for you and Amir and evenI feel the loss of it halfway across the US.
The Die! about your building lock was great. I wonder if you'd put that on the HANDS site. PERFECT!
As I sit at my little shelf and stool I'm listening to world news and wishing myself somewhere across the world, living a parallel life and wonder if I focus on the vibrations of my energy if I can leap my conscience from this life to a parallel one. If we are not our bodies then it should technically be possible. Perhaps I should look into astral projection. I would certainly become a legendary escape artist if I could do it...they'd find my body in a ocma with my conscience inside another bady, basing in the sun on the terrace of an Italian villa.
Has there been any flirtation with Bruno? If he did show interest would you reciprocate despite his connection to Amir? Do you have any hope for you and Amir? Did you make your new puzzle piece? Not sure how long this will take to get to you but I hope you have a VERY HAPPY 41st BIRTHDAY!
Sarah
Friday, May 6, 2011
Letters from the Inside, Sarah Pender, #62
Kelly,
Wow, wow and wow in the life of Kelly KXXXX! I am happy that work opportunities and cash has pickd up, even if it is overwhelming, it must be better than worrying about how you will pay your bills. Plus, two other benefits: you have the opportunity to meet new people within your business interests, successful people, and you have so much on your TO DO list that you are a) distracted from yoru state-of-the-relationship stress and b) are less affected by Amir's long hours leading up to them movie premiere.
I think it's cool that Amir was on CNN talking to Eliott Spitzer about Donald Trump. New York is an interesting place. You will have a good time at the movie premiere and make good memories. Both you and Amir have to maintain a frenetic pace at work for a little while, which I think will be a good time for both of you to reboot, and give you time to really miss one another. I think that once, and life slows down a bit for Amir, he will more deeply feel the emptiness lingering where you once were. But it wont' be a game changer. Get your Amir fix when you can and buckle in for a long ride.
Tell Reidtard to please stick to Scrabble because he'll never score enough points playing you with his lame con ons and shabby charm to win the Kelly prize.
Doesn't he still live w/his girlfriend? Okay---your intuitive powers to Google John are scary good.
Even a better mystery: Who left the note - message- link to John's article? Clearly it is someone with whom John must work. or date. But likely an associate of some sort of company. Did you leave a reply note of confirmation? Good idea to alert the legal body. Why can't you confirm whether his name changes in legal or assumed illegally? Don't people have to give public notice of a name change? Maybe that's just an Indiana requirement. With John going to Haiti for company business, he would have buy the ticket in the name of his ID, right? And be paid payroll checks in his legal name. And pay incomne taxes and file a federal 1040 in his legal name. He's weasel. If he was worry for what he did to you, I would be sympathetic to him not wanting that stigma attached to his career life, especially if he were really being an agent of charge in world. But he's not sorry and that makes him a weasel. I think it would befit the situation for a made up person to call him by his actual last name, although in a non-chalent manner. If he's actively avoiding his sociopathic persona, the fact that people have found him out to be the weasel he is might put little fear in his heart. Let him worry about what may or may not be breeding... I have a real distate for men who sexually abuse women. You don't deserve this. If at some time you supsect that his boss does not actually know the full story, maybe a copy of article in her mail box would be appropriate. I DON'T KNOW...To call him a weasel insults weasels.
You mentioned that you never experience mania only depression. Are you chronically depressed? I listen to the NPR Sound Medicine and other interviews with scientists on the hung for cures and better treatment for all that ails us. This time I promise I heart it--I took notes. A few days ago, I heard an interview...son of a bitch. I started taking notes but now can't find them, I have notes on the effects of chronic sitting, reviewed books, activists, and can't find this one. Fuck it! The experiment had to do with Ketamine, the stuff the use tranquilize cats and horses. AKA Special K (Note: I am not sure what the difference is in Ketamine and PCP---which is also as an anesthestic in veterinary medicine. Both are used illegally.)
Basically, Ketamine has been found to alleviate chronic depression in patients who responded to no other drug or treatment. People who had not felt psychologically (or physically) well in years felt markedly better almost immediately.
I think this was an interview with Teri Gross on the show FRESH AIR. It was wirthin the past week on NPR. The interview was not about depression, it was with an an anesthesiologist. He was talking about how when you go into surgery, you don't get put to sleep, you actually get put in a reverse coma.
He talked about how brain relays work and how some anesthesic work on shutting down one area that essentially shuts down the others by its own silence (in some drugs). Anyway, some drugs are used in combination and ketamine is one of them. It seems counterintuitive because Ketamine is actually a stimulant. In small doses, it acts as a stimulant and i tis at this dose that chronic depression sufferers experienced relief. In much higher dosages it causes hallucinations and euphoria (which is why people use it illegally) and in even higher dosages, causes a coma. But the level used to alleviate chronic depression was referred to as "a tiny dose".
Since it is already approved in certain uses, it may be available to you as an option. I am almsot positive that it was FRESH AIR if you want to check it out. With all of your creativity and ability to make things happen, if you were relieved of the heavy blanket of depression, imagine it--your powers would be immeasurable. And perhaps if your moods were more stable, you could scare a REAL engagement ring. No mug joke.
Do you take medicine now? If so, what?
What the fuck are you going to do if you run into John? How is it that in a city---NEW YORK CITY--that big, you two are magnetized? Maybe the Universe is keeping you close so that when he does do another act of attempted murder, you'll know--and everyone else will know--hwere to find him or maybe your sleuth skills are somehow saving someone else's life...because he knows he can't hide from the almighty KK.
How did your coffee date go with Tim Kelly? I secretly want you to fall madly in love with each other (now that his wife left him for a woman lover!) and become semi-famous artists- you doing PR and managing exhibitiions and sales/auctions/galleries and contributing your own creative skilils when you please. You and Amir become honestly content being best friends and you live happily ever after as Kelly Kelly.
Why on earth would a man who has heated m arble floors cut his own hair before appearing on national television? Really, Amir? If his barbering is in anyway reflected by his gift-wrapping skills, only my appearancefrom the bowels of hell onto AMW could be worse... Okay, Okay. It could never be that bad!
Still, I'll never forget that your Scrabble dictionary was described as being wrapped by a handless elf.
Sorry about the paper; I'm recycling. Makes me feel better about eating meat.
I want you to tell me about your experience with the PunchDrunk theater performance. It sounds genius. I'm not into violence, but the rest...YES! In November, while I was out, my lover and i went to a swinger's club house for the first time. Had great fun. Anbd the carnival mask requirement is brilliant- to alllow the audience to watch with less self-consciousness or shame.
I look forward to seeing your 41st birthday puzzle piece and your AK+KK hand art. You two should get married. You will marry a man whose last name begins with K. The Universe would not have brought you the KK necklace with a fate of having to change your initials. NOPE.
Have you heard of ADELE? An amazing, powerful foice. "Rolling in the Deep" one of the lines talks about having despair and "making a home DOWN THERE". Reminded me of you so I listed and jotted down the chorus.
Take care,
Sarah
Wow, wow and wow in the life of Kelly KXXXX! I am happy that work opportunities and cash has pickd up, even if it is overwhelming, it must be better than worrying about how you will pay your bills. Plus, two other benefits: you have the opportunity to meet new people within your business interests, successful people, and you have so much on your TO DO list that you are a) distracted from yoru state-of-the-relationship stress and b) are less affected by Amir's long hours leading up to them movie premiere.
I think it's cool that Amir was on CNN talking to Eliott Spitzer about Donald Trump. New York is an interesting place. You will have a good time at the movie premiere and make good memories. Both you and Amir have to maintain a frenetic pace at work for a little while, which I think will be a good time for both of you to reboot, and give you time to really miss one another. I think that once, and life slows down a bit for Amir, he will more deeply feel the emptiness lingering where you once were. But it wont' be a game changer. Get your Amir fix when you can and buckle in for a long ride.
Tell Reidtard to please stick to Scrabble because he'll never score enough points playing you with his lame con ons and shabby charm to win the Kelly prize.
Doesn't he still live w/his girlfriend? Okay---your intuitive powers to Google John are scary good.
Even a better mystery: Who left the note - message- link to John's article? Clearly it is someone with whom John must work. or date. But likely an associate of some sort of company. Did you leave a reply note of confirmation? Good idea to alert the legal body. Why can't you confirm whether his name changes in legal or assumed illegally? Don't people have to give public notice of a name change? Maybe that's just an Indiana requirement. With John going to Haiti for company business, he would have buy the ticket in the name of his ID, right? And be paid payroll checks in his legal name. And pay incomne taxes and file a federal 1040 in his legal name. He's weasel. If he was worry for what he did to you, I would be sympathetic to him not wanting that stigma attached to his career life, especially if he were really being an agent of charge in world. But he's not sorry and that makes him a weasel. I think it would befit the situation for a made up person to call him by his actual last name, although in a non-chalent manner. If he's actively avoiding his sociopathic persona, the fact that people have found him out to be the weasel he is might put little fear in his heart. Let him worry about what may or may not be breeding... I have a real distate for men who sexually abuse women. You don't deserve this. If at some time you supsect that his boss does not actually know the full story, maybe a copy of article in her mail box would be appropriate. I DON'T KNOW...To call him a weasel insults weasels.
You mentioned that you never experience mania only depression. Are you chronically depressed? I listen to the NPR Sound Medicine and other interviews with scientists on the hung for cures and better treatment for all that ails us. This time I promise I heart it--I took notes. A few days ago, I heard an interview...son of a bitch. I started taking notes but now can't find them, I have notes on the effects of chronic sitting, reviewed books, activists, and can't find this one. Fuck it! The experiment had to do with Ketamine, the stuff the use tranquilize cats and horses. AKA Special K (Note: I am not sure what the difference is in Ketamine and PCP---which is also as an anesthestic in veterinary medicine. Both are used illegally.)
Basically, Ketamine has been found to alleviate chronic depression in patients who responded to no other drug or treatment. People who had not felt psychologically (or physically) well in years felt markedly better almost immediately.
I think this was an interview with Teri Gross on the show FRESH AIR. It was wirthin the past week on NPR. The interview was not about depression, it was with an an anesthesiologist. He was talking about how when you go into surgery, you don't get put to sleep, you actually get put in a reverse coma.
He talked about how brain relays work and how some anesthesic work on shutting down one area that essentially shuts down the others by its own silence (in some drugs). Anyway, some drugs are used in combination and ketamine is one of them. It seems counterintuitive because Ketamine is actually a stimulant. In small doses, it acts as a stimulant and i tis at this dose that chronic depression sufferers experienced relief. In much higher dosages it causes hallucinations and euphoria (which is why people use it illegally) and in even higher dosages, causes a coma. But the level used to alleviate chronic depression was referred to as "a tiny dose".
Since it is already approved in certain uses, it may be available to you as an option. I am almsot positive that it was FRESH AIR if you want to check it out. With all of your creativity and ability to make things happen, if you were relieved of the heavy blanket of depression, imagine it--your powers would be immeasurable. And perhaps if your moods were more stable, you could scare a REAL engagement ring. No mug joke.
Do you take medicine now? If so, what?
What the fuck are you going to do if you run into John? How is it that in a city---NEW YORK CITY--that big, you two are magnetized? Maybe the Universe is keeping you close so that when he does do another act of attempted murder, you'll know--and everyone else will know--hwere to find him or maybe your sleuth skills are somehow saving someone else's life...because he knows he can't hide from the almighty KK.
How did your coffee date go with Tim Kelly? I secretly want you to fall madly in love with each other (now that his wife left him for a woman lover!) and become semi-famous artists- you doing PR and managing exhibitiions and sales/auctions/galleries and contributing your own creative skilils when you please. You and Amir become honestly content being best friends and you live happily ever after as Kelly Kelly.
Why on earth would a man who has heated m arble floors cut his own hair before appearing on national television? Really, Amir? If his barbering is in anyway reflected by his gift-wrapping skills, only my appearancefrom the bowels of hell onto AMW could be worse... Okay, Okay. It could never be that bad!
Still, I'll never forget that your Scrabble dictionary was described as being wrapped by a handless elf.
Sorry about the paper; I'm recycling. Makes me feel better about eating meat.
I want you to tell me about your experience with the PunchDrunk theater performance. It sounds genius. I'm not into violence, but the rest...YES! In November, while I was out, my lover and i went to a swinger's club house for the first time. Had great fun. Anbd the carnival mask requirement is brilliant- to alllow the audience to watch with less self-consciousness or shame.
I look forward to seeing your 41st birthday puzzle piece and your AK+KK hand art. You two should get married. You will marry a man whose last name begins with K. The Universe would not have brought you the KK necklace with a fate of having to change your initials. NOPE.
Have you heard of ADELE? An amazing, powerful foice. "Rolling in the Deep" one of the lines talks about having despair and "making a home DOWN THERE". Reminded me of you so I listed and jotted down the chorus.
Take care,
Sarah
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #120
Dear Kelly,
Hi sunshine! Late April, which means heavy, wet snow, lots of it--in the Colorado mountains to the west and south. Like happy hour it is always winter somewhere....
Returning immediately to your letter(s):
I think we left off with: have you heard anything about the super-twisty thriller DOUBLE HOUR? It still blows my mind about the letters/and and OMG! the cast of GLEE will be covering Rebecca Black's "Friday"...talk about an internet sensation and fifteen minutes of fame!
Request: IN ADDITION to anything you see on David Foster Wallace's THE PALE KING could you also send anything that discusses or analyzes THE KILLING. Everything about that show is brilliant. I could easily talk about it for 30 minutes but much more to get to. Actually, one thing to ask you: Before it started ou thought it would be a GREAT show (agreed) and that you hoped it would be Lynchian. I doubt if I've seen as much David Lynch as you have [Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks] but even though it does not seem Lynchian. I think they've found a different sort of excellence. Your thoughts?
Just heard the opening bass guitar riff to Duffy's Mercy -- being used in a commercial. One of my favorite songs from the last 3-4 years...the video is outstanding as well.
Quick hits from your small print letter:
>Sorry the Tyson show was so boring. When I heard about it I immediately thought of you bcause I know you like Iron Mike AND pigeons!
>Do not complain, bitch or moan about your "Client List". Was it only eighteen months or so ago that you were looking at boxes to live inm on the street? I am so glad you are so busy and so wanted.
> Not so ironic or unusual that i mentioned Louis CK's return [Yay!} in June. You, my dea, lead an extremely busy and(as you told me) occasionally harried life. Honestly? I'm amazed that you are as "up" on and involved with as many thing as you are. Thank God for the internet, FB, BBerry that keeps you in touch and aware 24/7.
> Twelve Days of Amir--I love Ak+KK. Does this guy realize how adored he must be? You two certainly have a lot of those unique couple stories that make a relationship. Then I got your letter with Amir's email...more in a bit.
[Ed.: Omitting movie talk.]
>Good question: I cannot save letters for very long for the reasons you correctly stated. However, you are able to save mine and yours since almost all of your letters are on your computer. Quite an interesting record, n'est-ce pas?
***
Let me talk about your most recent letter, just received. Regarding the endless angst and Stum and Drang* of your tempestuous relationship with Amir...
What a brilliantly and intelligently written email...romantic, loving, and utterly, absolutely perplexing. I totally believe tht he loves his KK, but for some reason cannot embrace it. He seems to see such a loving "permanent for now' relationship as an ending and not as a begining as it is.
[Personal note: Hard as it may be to believe, I was once in a somewhat similar situation with the genders reversed...I gelt as you do---hopelessly, madly and obessively. She did as well, but had some strange paradoxes of Amir's way of thinking.
I, of course, did not stop or give up but as a man in the pre-internet age it was probably easier than it is for a women--even today.
Yes--she became my "one and only" finally. However it was hell on wheels for a while...
BUT [always the but} Kelly I did not know his friend were poisoning the well against you. Especially female friends/colleagues. This time I agree with your use of the C-word for Lauren---Who the eff is she?????
This I know: A guy's male friends will rarely say anything negative about his girlfriend--not their business except to support him. And if they do he probably won't listen and will resent it.
Same--more or less--with a woman's female friends. KK loves him--tell us all about it. Unless he's beating her or sleeping around....again--supportive with her.
It is a man's female friends or work colleague who can have far more inlfuence on them regarding his lover, girlfriend or fiance.
OMG Kelly--how do you NOT (as Seinfeld would put it-ambush the bitch with a sackful of pennies! I think a woman like Lauren can be even more insidious than a man in a similar position. Especially when a man is a successful, intelligent, yes---very good looking, man with what sounds like an amazing career and limitless future--LIKE AMIR.
What she said is terrible--"bad for his magazine's rep" "loose cannon". Again---I ask the question:
WHO THE EFF IS SHE???
I've never met these people and I'm furious.
Again, unless a girlfriend/boyfriend/lover is physically abusive, sleeping aroundor something destructive--it is no one's business.
Your final question: What can I do to get him back?
ANSWER: You haven't lost him yet. Fight like hell. I would expect nothing less.
Must ask one more question, which might help to understand Amir's "Bartleby the Scriveners" - like reluctance and incertaintly.
Question: Has Amir ever had anything really bad happen to him? Suicide of a loved one- a cherished one...a near-fatal car or motorcycle accident...serious illness...death of someone young, close to him...something that makes you aware in a brilliant blinding flahs that all this we take for granted can be gone in an instant--tomorrow...even today?
Thank you. I really want to know.
[BTW, In the ABC fam show "Make it or Break it" the QUEEN BITCH is named Lauren.]
You hang in there and stay safe. Thinking of you, sunshine.
Hi sunshine! Late April, which means heavy, wet snow, lots of it--in the Colorado mountains to the west and south. Like happy hour it is always winter somewhere....
Returning immediately to your letter(s):
I think we left off with: have you heard anything about the super-twisty thriller DOUBLE HOUR? It still blows my mind about the letters/and and OMG! the cast of GLEE will be covering Rebecca Black's "Friday"...talk about an internet sensation and fifteen minutes of fame!
Request: IN ADDITION to anything you see on David Foster Wallace's THE PALE KING could you also send anything that discusses or analyzes THE KILLING. Everything about that show is brilliant. I could easily talk about it for 30 minutes but much more to get to. Actually, one thing to ask you: Before it started ou thought it would be a GREAT show (agreed) and that you hoped it would be Lynchian. I doubt if I've seen as much David Lynch as you have [Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks] but even though it does not seem Lynchian. I think they've found a different sort of excellence. Your thoughts?
Just heard the opening bass guitar riff to Duffy's Mercy -- being used in a commercial. One of my favorite songs from the last 3-4 years...the video is outstanding as well.
Quick hits from your small print letter:
>Sorry the Tyson show was so boring. When I heard about it I immediately thought of you bcause I know you like Iron Mike AND pigeons!
>Do not complain, bitch or moan about your "Client List". Was it only eighteen months or so ago that you were looking at boxes to live inm on the street? I am so glad you are so busy and so wanted.
> Not so ironic or unusual that i mentioned Louis CK's return [Yay!} in June. You, my dea, lead an extremely busy and(as you told me) occasionally harried life. Honestly? I'm amazed that you are as "up" on and involved with as many thing as you are. Thank God for the internet, FB, BBerry that keeps you in touch and aware 24/7.
> Twelve Days of Amir--I love Ak+KK. Does this guy realize how adored he must be? You two certainly have a lot of those unique couple stories that make a relationship. Then I got your letter with Amir's email...more in a bit.
[Ed.: Omitting movie talk.]
>Good question: I cannot save letters for very long for the reasons you correctly stated. However, you are able to save mine and yours since almost all of your letters are on your computer. Quite an interesting record, n'est-ce pas?
***
Let me talk about your most recent letter, just received. Regarding the endless angst and Stum and Drang* of your tempestuous relationship with Amir...
What a brilliantly and intelligently written email...romantic, loving, and utterly, absolutely perplexing. I totally believe tht he loves his KK, but for some reason cannot embrace it. He seems to see such a loving "permanent for now' relationship as an ending and not as a begining as it is.
[Personal note: Hard as it may be to believe, I was once in a somewhat similar situation with the genders reversed...I gelt as you do---hopelessly, madly and obessively. She did as well, but had some strange paradoxes of Amir's way of thinking.
I, of course, did not stop or give up but as a man in the pre-internet age it was probably easier than it is for a women--even today.
Yes--she became my "one and only" finally. However it was hell on wheels for a while...
BUT [always the but} Kelly I did not know his friend were poisoning the well against you. Especially female friends/colleagues. This time I agree with your use of the C-word for Lauren---Who the eff is she?????
This I know: A guy's male friends will rarely say anything negative about his girlfriend--not their business except to support him. And if they do he probably won't listen and will resent it.
Same--more or less--with a woman's female friends. KK loves him--tell us all about it. Unless he's beating her or sleeping around....again--supportive with her.
It is a man's female friends or work colleague who can have far more inlfuence on them regarding his lover, girlfriend or fiance.
OMG Kelly--how do you NOT (as Seinfeld would put it-ambush the bitch with a sackful of pennies! I think a woman like Lauren can be even more insidious than a man in a similar position. Especially when a man is a successful, intelligent, yes---very good looking, man with what sounds like an amazing career and limitless future--LIKE AMIR.
What she said is terrible--"bad for his magazine's rep" "loose cannon". Again---I ask the question:
WHO THE EFF IS SHE???
I've never met these people and I'm furious.
Again, unless a girlfriend/boyfriend/lover is physically abusive, sleeping aroundor something destructive--it is no one's business.
Your final question: What can I do to get him back?
ANSWER: You haven't lost him yet. Fight like hell. I would expect nothing less.
Must ask one more question, which might help to understand Amir's "Bartleby the Scriveners" - like reluctance and incertaintly.
Question: Has Amir ever had anything really bad happen to him? Suicide of a loved one- a cherished one...a near-fatal car or motorcycle accident...serious illness...death of someone young, close to him...something that makes you aware in a brilliant blinding flahs that all this we take for granted can be gone in an instant--tomorrow...even today?
Thank you. I really want to know.
[BTW, In the ABC fam show "Make it or Break it" the QUEEN BITCH is named Lauren.]
You hang in there and stay safe. Thinking of you, sunshine.
