The stories you are about to read are true, and all the names were changed to protect the innocent. These are true stories from a police dispatcher, stories about handcuffs and headboards, and some of the dumbest criminals, and how one police dispatcher made a transition from the old school way of doing things to the new, and after twenty-six years of experience, I share some of the most memorable stories. Joseph L. Swick

This book looks at the radio and television series Dragnet (1949 - 1959) as a document of postwar culture, analyzing the ways in which the series informed listeners and viewers about the workings of the justice system and instructed Americans in their responsibilities as citizens.

Lewis Lew B. Castner, my maternal grandfather was a night watchman/boilerman when he passed away at the age of 75 on March 11, 1963. Lew was an ordinary, hard-working man, neither financially wealthy nor famous. However, Lew was wealthy with friends and family, the rooms at the funeral home in Belvidere were packed with people. Lews funeral service provided inspiration for this book. The pastor gave a short sermon; he then asked if anyone cared to tell a tale about my grandfather. A number of people, one after another, stood up and told a story about Lew. I was eight, and wished that I had a pad and a pen to record the stories, regretting that they would be lost to memory. The compilation of these stories, as poems, is to preserve them from being lost to memory. Bloodroot was the name of a plant displayed in my botany class at West Virginia Wesleyan College. The stem when cut resembles bleeding. In regards to genealogical bloodlines I concluded that the term Bloodroot would be a good title for this collection of mostly family stories. My daughter Beth Ann suggested the title 101 Dadmations, and the two were combined: Bloodroot: 101 Dadmations.

The "Esquire" and "Vanity Fair" humor columnist wipes out on the road to Wellville in this bitingly funny memoir about one man's frantic lifelong search for inner peace.

Daniel and the Lions Den, the true story of an eight hour inmate is a compelling no holds barred story of humorous and disgusting anecdotes written by the author of The Father The Son and The Railroad Ghost and The Straw Servant. Dan Starrett spent twenty-five years in law enforcement and knows first hand what it is like to be in The Lions Den. One of the best ways to face the strain and stress of prison life is to have a cynical sense of humor and a desire to come out of The Lions Den Alive when the long shift is done. I worked closely with Dan and he has made my day go by faster with his wit and humor . I can attest to the contents of this story because I am retired from the DOC. This is life behind bars at its best and worst and can only be described by this man who has been there , done that. Prison violence goes from mild to unbelievable. The correctional officer does not have the best job in the world and is sometimes caught in the middle of the administration, the inmates and a speculating misinformed public that would keep him/her from doing their job. This story lends credence to Doing your eight and hittin the gate. If graphic sex and violence offends you, please do not read this story. This is reality. Ray McGuire, Yanceyville N.C. N.C. Department of Corrections Ret.

"My People Perish for Lack of Knowledge" I was between a rock and a hard place and my life had just seemed to stand still. I was not sure of anything any longer in this world because nothing seemed to go right or work out. This made me wonder if I had missed my position and/or the calling of God in my life. Could I be on a different course than God had planned for me? Was I supposed to turn Left instead of Right at Albuquerque? This book is much like an "Owners Manuel" for understanding "How" to become Victorious, where we were given our "Power of Attorney" and how to walk in that Power every day of our lives. When you begin to gain "Knowledge" then your Faith increases so that you will be able to speak unto that mountain that stands in your way and watch it be cast into the sea! (Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23)