Comments on: three squares greetings

three squares greetings

Armitage Shanks — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:03:43 -0800

Three Squares Greetings is a new greeting card line designed to keep you in touch with your family members or friends who are in custody. NPR interview with the founder.

By: John of Michigan

John of Michigan — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:13:29 -0800

"New Year's Resolution: It's that time of year again. While doing your time, resolve to make better choices..... " "Just Do It: When you called recently, I wasn't very sympathetic. I guess I've heard your promises to change too many times..... " Daaaayyuuuuum. Now that's just cold blooded.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:17:05 -0800

This is a brilliant solution to a burgeoning niche. With our prisons brimming at record levels, I can envision a whole line of cottage industry ("cell-block" industry?) products. Where do I invest?

By: tippiedog

tippiedog — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:35:04 -0800

Like John of Michigan, I'm not so sure about some of the messages, but I agree with Dizzy--it does fill a possible niche. I have a friend in federal prison, and cards are the easiest thing to send, though I tend to think he'd rather get 'normal' cards than ones specifically geared for inmates.

By: tippiedog

tippiedog — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:36:02 -0800

Whoops. My sarcasm meter was offline. I see Dizzy's may not have been quite as serious as I initially read it.

By: The Straightener

The Straightener — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:38:29 -0800

There's a thriving niche business around prison transportation services for the family members of inmates incarcerated in state facilities which tend to be in remote, rural locations. For instance, if you're from Philly and your family member is locked up at SCI Greene, you're looking at about a 6 hour ride to see them, and most families in Philly with incarcerated family members don't have the resources to travel that distance on their own. You see flyers for these services at the police districts, welfare offices, and around criminal and municipal court here in Philly. Most of the services use passenger vans but sometimes you'll see a service that runs busses. I've heard some stories about how wild a job this is, the drivers apparently have to break up at least one fist fight between different families per trip, and since it takes all day to cycle through the system for visitations they generally leave at like 3 or 4 in the morning depending on how far they need to go.

By: lunit

lunit — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:40:52 -0800

Is there a transcript of the interview available anywhere? Also, there's a big part of me that wishes that ex-offenders were somehow involved in the production of these cards. Wishful thinking, I guess.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:42:19 -0800

I think a card like this would turn even the nicest inmate violent.

By: Dizzy

Dizzy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:44:49 -0800

I was not being flip. I think this and things like this are going to be a growth industry. I'm not judging the appropriateness; I'm thinking I'd like to invest in a money-maker.

By: grubi

grubi — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:48:05 -0800

They're like a four-dollar flip of the bird to the incarcerated. Hm.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:07:48 -0800

CONGRATULATIONS on your impending suicide!

By: Dr-Baa

Dr-Baa — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:41:46 -0800

Card exterior: Happy Birthday! Card interior: Prison rape lol

By: astruc

astruc — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:49:28 -0800

I want to send one to Blake, incarcerated.

By: bargainhunter

bargainhunter — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:06:02 -0800

Not surprised taken the US has always been a land of entrepreneurship

By: solipsophistocracy

solipsophistocracy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:07:06 -0800

I think that my buddy who's locked up would find this hilarious. Then again he'd probably just appreciate a letter more than a four dollar joke. In fact, I can't see anyone being happy about receiving one of these unless it was sent ironically.

By: Floydd

Floydd — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:53:28 -0800

A friend of mine and I actually sent this one to her mom in Federal prison: This Mother's Day card may seem kind of hokey but Hallmark doesn't make one for when your mom is in the pokey. She loved it.

By: mygothlaundry

mygothlaundry — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:21:15 -0800

The idea is good, I guess, if you need to spend $4 to come up with a new and novel way to say You Suck but I'm a little taken aback by the harshness. I mean, come on: It's your birthday and I know that you'd rather be almost anywhere else right now. Hopefully, one year older will really mean one year wiser for you. Take care. What a lovely sentiment. I mean, you know, nice. Friendly. Kind. Thoughtful. Your friend/relative/loved one is already in prison, card buyer! You really want to make him/her feel worse? Huh.

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:43:41 -0800

Also, from the Christmas card: You had the choice to be "naughty or nice." And you chose . . . . . . . Oh well, now you have to do your time. But, Christmas won't be the same without you here. Stay safe. Merry Christmas That's just fucking tasteless and horrible. If I were in prison and got one of these, I'd save up cigarettes to get La Eme to put a hit out on whoever sent it.

By: disclaimer

disclaimer — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:54:40 -0800

I listened to that interview, and I have to say that lady is a complete bitch. She also works as a legal advisor for sheriff's department. So she's got the prisoner/loser attitude down cold.