by Laurelin

There are lies that we tell ourselves to keep our minds from wrapping around the truth. In our heart of hearts I genuinely feel like we always know what is right and what is wrong. When we make a tough decision and someone is hurt, a lot of the time the pain is manageable because you know it was the right thing to do. Whatever pain you or the other person is going through, it’s okay because you made the right choice. Other choices we make because they are easy or because they are fun. Some choices that we make will be wrong.

When it comes to the people you spend your time with you would think the choice would be easy, and always right. That’s not always the case. Lies come easier than one would think and sometimes the wrong people get a little too close. I know I can’t be with anybody right now because my mind is elsewhere. I made that choice. I push away the people who want to get close to me, but I still want them by my side every day. They are the shoulders I want to cry on. They are the ones I want to call when something amazing happens. They are the ones who I will miss once they open their eyes and realize I am a broken mess and they deserve better.

What I gravitate towards is something to fill the right now; the men who are on the road year round who stop and see me when they’re in the area and who make me feel so special that I am happy while they’re gone. I find that I like men who appear to have other lives, and I tell myself that they’re just busy (like me). But really, they have girlfriends or wives. I find that I don’t care, and I hate myself for it. Eventually they all disappear and I comfort myself by telling myself that next time I’ll choose the good guy, though I never do.

I like to think I find the good in people. That guy on the road with the girlfriend, he does amazing things for people, he changes people’s lives and he changed mine. I don’t think I could ever believe that he is a bad person, but he’s still a liar, a cheater, a mean boy. The alcoholic, the drug addict, the steroid user, the married guys, they are all broken and I suppose part of me thought I could fix them. Part of me thinks I don’t deserve any better and the other part of me literally can’t stand the thought of someone getting so close. I lie and tell myself I love the broken ones because they know just when to leave; just before it gets real.

[..]

by Alexander Hinkley

This week’s SuicideGirl Gamer of the Week is Toxic. Toxic loves nerds. Probably because she is one. She’s into Transformers and role-playing games, especially Final Fantasy. I spoke to her about some of her favorites and whether or not she would support a FFVII remake.

Toxic seems like an odd nickname for such a pretty girl. What made you choose it?

Honestly, Toxic wasn’t my original choice. I had a different name picked out that was totally girlie but it didn’t roll off the tongue like “Toxic Suicide” does. Toxic suits me though in more ways than one. Get to know me and you will see why!

Judging from the fact you have “Decepticon” tattooed across your ribs, I take it you are a fan of Transformers?

Don’t let my hot girl disguise fool you. I am just lying low until our leader Megatron collects enough energon cubes here on Earth. With the energy we acquire we can finally reconquer Cybertron and take down the autobots.

When did you get that tattoo anyway?

Wade Davidson at Raven Ink Tattoo tattooed “Decepticon” on my ribs the summer of 2011. I debated getting this tattoo for a long time. Originally I did not want a lot of tattoos…Wow has that changed! Being a Transformers fan since childhood, I can’t imagine not having a tribute to Saturday mornings of watching G1. I cannot believe I didn’t get it sooner. My tattoo always gets me attention from my favorite people to converse with NERDS! Fellow nerds like me! GOODNESS DO I LOVE NERDS!

Tell me about your other tattoos.

Where to start? We can start with my first tattoo. I have “Your Name” tattooed in a heart on my right butt check. Originally I wanted something small that could be easily covered. My heart was done by an artist named Steve O in Susanville, CA.

I have two full sleeves. Both of my sleeves are being done by Jason Iffert at Raven Ink Tattoo in Portland, OR. My right arm is a floral sleeve. It features many of my favorite flowers including a tiger lily and a sunflower. I also have a pinup witch of my mother on my right arm. The pin up is a contribution by Wade Davidson. My left arm is a sleeve of Dr. Seuss characters. All the characters from all my favorite books. There are two small pieces on my left wrist not part of the Seuss theme. I have a matching friendship tattoo on my inner left wrist with my BFF Britney. I also have a “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” piece done by artist John MacDonell.

On the back of my neck I have an owl I named “Dexter” by artist Tomma Mueller. I love Dexter– he has the body of a strawberry! Below that is my full back piece being done by Sharkbait Struckman at Mr. Tattoo in Milwaukie, OR. My full back piece is of the tree of knowledge with owls. This piece is my newest and I love how it is turning out so far. He is such an awesome artist!

Favorite transformer?

My favorite transformer is a hard subject because it’s so close between two: #1 is, and always will be, Megatron. Megatron is a ruthless leader who shows no mercy. #2 is Soundwave, not only because he talks in a cool robotic voice, but he has a cassette deck in his chest that popped out more Decepticons (Like Ravage and Laserbeak). Sooooo rad!

What are some of your favorite video games?

I am a sucker for the classics, especially RPGs, they are by far my favorite to play. My favorite game of all time has to be Final Fantasy VII on PS1, though. The storyline, characters, and summons, I can spend all day running around getting into battles to work up my materia and limit breaks. A close second favorite has to be Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for Super NES. Best Zelda game ever hands down! I used to spend hours playing this game with my dad as a kid. When I finally beat it by myself it was a moment to remember… I mean I had the Triforce in my little Link hands!

Other games I really enjoy playing Final Fantasy VIII (PS1), Donkey Kong Country 1-3 (Super NES), Kingdom Hearts (PS2), Street Fighter II (Super NES), Mortal Kombat (I play it in the arcade), Eternal Champions (Sega), Tomb Raider (PS1), Legend of Legia (PS1), Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega), Tetris (NES), Duckhunt (NES), and of course Super Mario Bros. (NES). I like pretty much every Mario but especially love the original 1-3.

Preferred system?

I really love my Wii because I can download classic games and play them on my console. I have so many amazing games downloaded into it. Thank God because my NES is to the point where you blow hard and they still aren’t playing!

What about least favorite game? Ever played one that just absolutely sucked?

There is one game that I like but I am terrible at it – Altered Beast which I played on Sega Genesis. I was really good at it when I was a little kid but now I can’t even make it past level two. I strive for improvement though. Besides that I am not a big fan of shooting games. I’ve tried them and they aren’t really my thing.

If you could compare yourself to one video game character, who would it be and why?

I am totally Yuffie Kisaragi from FFVII. When my brother and I used to play we always gave her character my name. For one, Yuffie is a babe with a big personality just like me. She is a very sassy, feisty, and headstrong. I like to compare myself to her good traits because I am definitely not a Materia thief. The best part about Yuffie is she is a ninja just like me!

Did you get a Gold Chocobo and all that?

Yes, I obtained the Gold Chocobo. So much racing, breeding, and gil spent. It’s a long and grueling task but is necessary! Trust me you want the “Knights of the round” Summon especially in the “weapons” and final battles. The way you get it is with the Gold Chocobo. I just started a new FFVII game a while ago and am at the Chocobo side quest yet again. Got to have a game night soon so I can tackle it.

Which was harder in your opinion, Ruby or Emerald Weapon?

They are both pretty tough battles but if your equipped well and have the “Knights of the Round” Materia it makes it a lot easier. I would have to say though Ruby is harder than Emerald weapon, though.

Do you think Sony should remake FFVII in high definition for PS3 or leave the game alone?

I am usually one to say don’t mess with the classics but I wouldn’t mind playing a revamped version of FFVII. It would look so pretty on my LED TV. Only condition though is no major changes to the game/storyline and it keeps its integrity.

For more on Toxic find her on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and SuicideGirls.

[..]

by Blogbot

This Thursday, August 1st on SuicideGirls Radio host Nicole Powers will be joined in studio by dating expert Marni Kinrys of The Wing Girl Method and podcaster and online personality Vince In The Bay. Though they occupy very different worlds, they have much in common. As a mainstay of the Pick Up Artist scene, Marni teaches Social Engineering skills to men who want to improve their love life, and as the host of a popular Blog Talk Radio show which is beloved by hackers, trolls and Twitter tricksters, Vince is surrounded by denizens of the internet who are experts at SE. This week’s panel will be completed by VICE contributor Dell Cameron, and special guest co-hosts Moon and Brewin Suicide.

You can listen – and watch – the world’s leading naked radio show live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Marni Kinrys | @WingGirlMethod

Educated at University of Western Ontario (Canada) with a BA in psychology, Marni Kinrys is the ultimate Wing Girl. A woman who puts her insider knowledge to good use for the betterment of all men by telling them what women really want, not what they say they want. Over the past eight years, Marni has collaborated with the top male attraction experts, sharing expertise and advice to help men find their ideal partners. She has worked with thousands of men all over the world to help them understand women so they can attract, date, seduce and get any woman they want without being a jerk. Her method is based on the key principle that: You gotta turn yourself on first before any woman will ever be attracted to you. Marni was recently awarded “World’s Best Female Pick-Up Artist” from the World Pick Up Artist Summit in Hollywood, CA and was honored as the “World’s Best Wing Girl” at the 2010 Global Pick-Up Conference. For more on Marni and her dating technique visit: winggirlmethod.com

About Vince In The Bay | @VinceintheBay

Vince is a podcaster, filmmaker, cyber criminal and activist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vince’s short films have screened at various film festivals and his short documentary “A Subway Siren” was broadcast on PBS. He has shot/produced music videos for artists such as The Coup, Atari Teenage Riot, Galactic, and Black Sheep. As an activist, Vince has participated in campaigns against The Federal Reserve (End The Fed) and BART Police (Operation BART). Presently he is host of “Disorderly Conduct”, an Internet radio call-in show covering current events, digital activism, cyber crime, technology, politics, music, sexuality and featuring calls from some of the Internet’s most mentally challenged characters. Listen here: blogtalkradio.com/vinceinthebay

**UPDATE**
ICYMI: Here’s our August 1st pre-DefCon show featuring Marni Kinrys (Wing Girl), Vince In The Bay (Blog Talk Radio), Dell Cameron (VICE), and Brewin and Moon Suicide. Interweb trouble has a habit of following Vince around and this show was no exception. Though it was perhaps fitting that on the eve of our trip to the hacker-fest that was DefCon 21 in Las Vegas, our show got DDoSed and pizza bombed, and one of our girls got d0xed, all in the space of two short hours!

Video streaming by Ustream

Let us answer life’s questions – because great advice is even better when it comes from SuicideGirls.

Q: I am a hopeless romantic that cares more than most, but one-sided relationships have taken a toll on me. I have been emotionally abused in my past four long-term relationships and I’m tired. I need to bring that spark back into my life. Having so much to give and nothing in return has been my curse.

I enjoy spoiling and tending to the needs of the one I love. However, it seems as though I find women who are negative, abusive or unfaithful. Why do women take my kindness for weakness? What does a man have to do to be happy and find the missing piece to his puzzle?

A. I once fell into the categories of ‘under-appreciated’ and ‘doormat’ until I read Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov. While I don’t have a men’s version to recommend to you, I can tell you the basic premise: Take care of yourself first.

More specifically:

1. Don’t always be available. Don’t always pick up your phone when she calls or text her back right away. Don’t agree to meet up with her last minute. You’ll become her back up plan if you’re at her beck and call for when she has nothing else to do.

2. Don’t neglect yourself or your friends to meet up with her. If you’re in the middle of fixing a shelf or watching football or whatever guys do when they’re single, or if you made plans to go out with the boys or help your friend move, and she calls you to go out, tell her you’d love to but you’re very busy and give her a couple of other days and times that would work and let her pick one.

3. Have a life! Have interests of your own. Go out with friends. Pick up some hobbies. Don’t you find it attractive when someone has passions and interests and activities? Yes, you do. So be one of those people.

4. Don’t act like every woman is The One. Not every relationship is going to work out. Don’t hang onto her because she’s filling a void. Fill that void by having a life, and if she’s not fitting into it, don’t be afraid to leave.

5. I know I just said it, but DON’T BE AFRAID TO LEAVE. Remember how I said you need to take care of yourself first? If it’s not working for whatever reason, breaking it off is doing just that.

6. Be good company when in her presence, and have minimal contact outside of that. Give her the space to show you who she really is. Will she treat you and your time with respect? Will she be okay with you having friends and interests outside of her? Does she have friends and interests of her own? Not smothering her will allow her to show you her best self.

7. Did I say don’t be afraid to leave? I did? Well, let me say it one more time. If she shows that she is lacking in any of the areas above, cut her loose. If she wants to monopolize your time when things first get going, imagine how crazy she’ll become once things get serious. Does she have a problem with your female friends? That doesn’t just go away with time. Does she expect you to drop everything and drive to see her at a moment’s notice all the time? You are her backup plan. Don’t try to convince her that you’re the one for her. Don’t tell her she should spend more time with you. Don’t do more things for her to make her like you more and show her how much you reward her for mistreating you. Cut off contact and carry on with your life. Don’t settle. You teach people how to treat you.

I highly recommend finding a book for men along the same lines. You don’t have to play games or be conniving. You have to take care of yourself and give her the opportunity to show you who is she and how she’ll treat you. Do that, and you’ll start attracting the right women while the wrong ones weed themselves out for you.

Yours in Agony,
A Mystery Suicide Girl

Got Problems? Let SuicideGirls crack team of Agony Aunts provide solutions. Email questions to: gotproblems@suicidegirls.com

by Blogbot

This Thursday July 18th on SuicideGirls Radio hosts Nicole Powers and Juturna Suicide, and guest co-host-in-residence Dell Cameron, will be joined in-studio by investigative journalist, truth seeker and news junkie Jason Leopold, who has reported extensively on Guantanamo Bay.

166 prisoners remain in indefinite limbo at the US military outpost, despite the fact that 86 of them have technically been cleared for release. Currently 81 are on hunger strike, with 45 of those being force fed – a horrific procedure which was graphically illustrated recently by Yasiin Bey a.k.a. Mos Def who volunteered to undergo it for a video produced by the human rights organization Reprieve UK [see above].

Despite campaigning on the promise of closing Guantanamo, conditions at the facility under Obama are worse than ever. A recent letter from Younous Chekkouri, an inmate who has been behind bars for more than 11 years, revealed that sexual abuse is commonly used as a deterrent to stop Guantanamo prisoners contacting their lawyers, family and friends (a claim that has been backed up by other inmates – see report below), and a FOIA request filed by Leopold exposed the fact that the Obama administration is aware that guards are routinely violating the military’s own Standard Operating Procedures.

Leopold has visited Guantanamo twice and therefore has a rare insight into what day-to-day life is like there. In an article entitled A Guantanamo Tour, which was published by Al Jazeera in January of this year, he reports:

Each cell has a bed, a metal sink and a metal toilet, leaving a functional living space little more than half the size of an average horse stall. Prisoners are allowed a Koran, as well as books and magazines to while away the years.

During a walk-through of an empty cellblock in Camp 5, we were led into the “media room,” about the size of a cell, where a dirty reclining chair faced a television set. At the foot of the recliner were leg shackles and next to the television set was a force-feeding kit, a grim reminder of the prolonged and widespread hunger strike that brought me here looking for answers.

All of the cells had surveillance cameras attached to the ceiling. Prison garb – white for compliant prisoners and orange for those who misbehave – was neatly laid out on a thin mattress pad along with toiletries provided to the inmates: toothbrush, toothpaste and soap.

Camp 5 is maximum security, holding the most troublesome prisoners in isolation 22 hours a day, with two hours out of their cells for showers and “recreation.”

Prisoners at Camp 6, on the other hand, were once allowed to leave their cells and mingle freely with other prisoners in a communal living arrangement where they shared meals, a recreation yard and gym privileges. There once was free access to satellite television, video games, DVDs, books and a wide range of comfort items.

That all changed two months into the hunger strike, when tensions flared and violence erupted, culminating in an April 13 pre-dawn raid by the guards. Since that time, occupants of Camp 6 have been confined to their cells in isolation, the same as residents of Camp 5. They are wakened as early as 3 a.m. for their two hours of recreation time.

The crackdown has done little to enhance relations between captors and captives, some of whom have spent more than a decade occupying this peculiar state of 8-by-10 limbo – untried, uncharged and with little hope of resolution.

Suicide attempts – some successful – have been documented among prisoners over the years. Now it seems the unprecedented hunger strike – a form of slow and deliberate mass suicide – is the only means of control at their disposal.

You can listen – and watch – SuicideGirls Radio live on Thursday nights from 6 til 8 PM at our new state-of-the-art all digital home: TradioV.com/LA.

You’ll also be able to listen to our podcasts via Stitcher – download the app now!

If you have questions for the SG Radio crew or our guests, you can call in during the live broadcast at: 1-855-TRV-inLA (1-855-878-4652)

For updates on all things SG Radio-related, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

About Jason Leopold | @JasonLeopold
Jason Leopold is an investigative reporter covering Guantanamo, counterterrorism, national security, human rights, open government and civil liberties issues. He’s been called a “FOIA Terrorist” by federal employees for his aggressive use of the Freedom of Information Act, which included suing the FBI and forcing the agency to changes its policies.

He’s the author of the national bestseller, News Junkie, and an investigative report, From Hopeful to Immigrant to FBI Informant: The Inside Story of the Other Abu Zubaidah, which was published in the form of an ebook. Leopold’s investigative reporting highlights includes “Revised Guantanamo Force-Feed Policy Exposed,” a story based on a military document he exclusively obtained, and “Sold Into ‘A Piece of Hell’: A Death of Innocence at Gitmo,” about the suspicious death in September 2012 of prisoner Adnan Latif. A radio documentary about Leopold’s life, based on his book News Junkie, was broadcast by the award-winning podcast, Love + Radio and featured on NPR.

**UPDATE**

ICYMI: Last night’s ‪#‎GITMO‬ To Go Show with investigative journalist, truth seeker and news junkie Jason Leopold, who has reported extensively on Guantanamo Bay.

Video streaming by Ustream

Here’s a link to the CNN “Names & Feces” CNN news/propaganda report Jason mentions during our conversation.

by Laurelin

Disappointment is a part of life, there’s no doubt about that. It takes many forms; it can be predicable, it can surprise you, it can be laughable, and other times it can be enough to bring you to your knees. In some form or another I think we feel at least a little twinge of disappointment every day. Maybe not the kind that catches your breath like a lump in your throat, but the kind that’s just enough to make you crinkle your nose. Like when the coffee shop on the corner of Harvard and Brighton Ave is closed by the time I walk home from work on Sunday and I have to get an iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts instead of a loose leaf iced green tea.

Disappointment goes hand in hand with people letting you down and you yourself letting down others. The look in that boys’ eyes as I told him I didn’t want to be with him, having to shout it because we were in a crowded bar and there was a band playing. His brown eyes usually danced, turned up at the corners with his big smile. But as I shouted they crinkled and the weight of my words changed him. Part of me screamed, “You’re making a mistake, this boy would love you.” The other part told that part to shut up even though I was so sad: I knew I was making the right choice. But still, I was disappointed for letting the nice boy go. I always let the nice boys go.

I was disappointed in the one I did choose, a disaster of a human being who intrigued me more than anything. I willingly walked into some strange dark forest, the trees so thick they blocked out the sun, and I know I will willingly stumble through this darkness until I’m so broken I have no choice but to fight to get out in one piece. I can’t bring myself to smile as I type this even thinking about the mess I’ve gotten myself into, but I know I will continue to wait for his name to pop up on my cell phone, and when it does I will see just that one ray of light through the trees, and I will think it’s enough. It won’t be.

Disappointment can crush a person or inspire them to do better next time. Long term it can break your spirit, short term it can ruin your day. Either way, it’s a part of life, and sadly, a part that people come to expect even when they shouldn’t. Right now I’m disappointed in my job; I am sitting behind an empty bar at 12:30 PM on a Sunday afternoon in the city. While it’s nice to be able to get some work done I would much rather be at the beach or down by the waterfront drinking sangria. Over in the corner my cell phone buzzes and I run over to see if it’s him. It’s not, and all alone I don’t have to hide my disappointment.

[..]

by Blogbot

Video streaming by Ustream

This past Thursday, July 27th, our show was devoted to the topic of Bradley Manning. Host Nicole Powers and guest co-host Dell Cameron (VICE) were joined via Skype by independent journalist Alexa O’Brien, artist and activist Clark Stoeckley (Wikileaks Truck), and RT America reporter Andrew Panda Blake, who have all spent quality time on the Fort Meade base observing the trial.

Alexa O’Brien has been called “a national treasure” by Jesselyn Radack of the Government Accountability Project for her work chronicling the Manning proceedings. Though working outside of the mainstream media, she has provided by far the most extensive coverage of the trial. During our 45 minute conversation, O’Brien talked about the unprecedented treatment Manning is receiving and the alarming precedents with regards to whistleblowers and the freedom of the press that the US government is trying to set with this case:

“Manning is being tried in a court martial, so it’s a military court…But what makes it unusual is here we have a whistleblower, or even if you want to call him a leaker, we have somebody who is a soldier who is being tried for aiding the enemy – without the intent to actually aid the enemy. He gave the information to a media organization, or he published it on the internet, and they’re charging him with aiding the enemy, even though he didn’t have that bad faith motive.

“The other thing that I think is really important about this trial, and unprecedented, is that he has charges against him that have never been used in either a federal court or in a military court. One of them is called “Wanton Publication” – this is where the government is trying to also control large data sets being published…

“It has co-aspects to it…It’s the fact that he leaked it to Wikileaks and the government’s trying to [frame] Wikileaks [as] this evil organization, and not a journalistic one, but it also has to do with the size of the leaks. You and I know that in this day and age, with data modeling and the like, large leaks are completely appropriate for the age this young man grew up in, which is basically the information age.

“But people always talk about aiding the enemy, and they should, but when we even take away the aiding the enemy charge, Manning is charged with 21 other charges that total 149 years if he’s convicted. So here we also see the government using the Espionage Act, which should be used for spies, is addition to aiding the enemy and everything else.”

O’Brien not only talked about the legal and moral aspects of the case, but gave an incredible insight into the character of the key players inside the Fort Meade military courtroom:

“The military prosecutors, they come into court, they talk about Al Qaeda and the enemy, and they talk about harming US soldiers – and there is no actual evidence of any harm, and that will come up later in the sentencing phase. They talk about the US and patriotism, and they’re very aggressive.

“And then you have the defense…

“David Coombs is an amazing defense attorney and he plays this case like a poker player, everything is very close to his chest. He’s not very vocal in the press, in fact Manning has never really talked to the media. He also has shielded his own defense tactics…And here we have him come into court and when David Coombs is actually cross examining he’s really likeable – immediately likeable – so he’s very disarming, but boy, he can really just cut apart witnesses, and he’ll do it with a smile and in a really respectful way. It’s really amazing to watch him.

“And then you have this judge, who is probably two generations older than Manning, and the questions that we have are ‘does she really understand the environment that Manning grew up in and his upbringing in the information age.’”

Our next guest was Clark Stoeckley, who is familiar to many activists as the man responsible for the art installation on wheels that is the Wikileaks Truck. Stoeckley, who comes from a military family, has been supporting Manning – and the truth – by sporting a “truth” T-shirt in court and serving as a courtroom sketch artist:

“I’ve sat in the courtroom in more seats than any other person ever, both in the courtroom, in the press room, in the theater, and the overflow trailer. I’ve tried to get as many different angles of this trial as possible. It’s a trial that I believe should be televised for the world to see…

“We’re going after the sources, and we’re going after those that report this information, rather than focusing on the misdeeds and the corruption of our governments and corporations.”

The illustrations featured in this blog post are all by Stoeckley, and will be collected together into a graphic book, The United States vs. PFC Bradley Manning, featuring quotes from the court transcripts.

In depth coverage of the trial has been noticeable by its absence in the mainstream media, which is why independent journalists like O’Brien and citizen journalists like Stoeckley have been so invaluable. One of the few outlets that has provided consistent coverage of the trial, somewhat ironically for such a historic US case, has been RT a.k.a. Russian Television. Andrew Panda Blake, a reporter for RT, has been covering the Manning beat and joined us for the final half hour of the show. Among other things, he gave us an insight into the incredibly harsh treatment an as-yet-to-be-convicted Manning received at the hands of the US government:

“He was arrested on 8/26 2010 and he was transferred to an 8 by 8 by 8 wire mesh cage in Kuwait, and the only things in the cage were a shelf and a toilet…When he testified a few month ago, he said, ‘I just thought I was going to die in that cage…’

“‪Manning said he thought he was being treated like an animal. He was there for almost two months, and then they flew him into BWI, that’s the Baltimore Airport, then brought him to Quantico in Northern Virginia. He was held in a Marine brig there in a cell that was 6 foot by 8 foot. He was only allowed out for 20 minutes per day while still in shackles…So he was in there for twenty-three and a half hours a day. He was forced to sleep from 1 PM to 11 PM – naked – and was only allowed to do so when facing his lamp. This was at the most extreme of his conditions, it wasn’t always this terrible. Pretty much the only thing he had in there was a mirror and he would make faces into it – that’s how he’d keep himself entertained…

Blake also gave us the run down of the possible outcomes for the trial, and the worrying precedents it might set:

“The trial is supposed to be all done by the end of the summer. Bradley has already admitted guilt to a handful of lesser crimes that would get him perhaps 20 years in prison. The prosecution said that that wasn’t good enough for them and they want to keep charging forth. They’re still trying to convict him on aiding the enemy, and if he gets convicted on aiding the enemy that could potentially be a life sentence…

“What really infuriates me more tha anything else about this case – aside from the terrible treatment that Private Manning had to endure – people aren’t responding to this case, and they are picking up on it to the degree that they should, but the repercussions that could happen if he’s convicted of aiding the enemy will seriously destroy freedom of the press, and potentially Western democracy. It’s such a blow to journalism and press freedom that the publication and the distribution of this documentation of war crimes warrants a potential death penalty. And it’s not even hyperbole because they have been trying to convict so many people for espionage that have only been exposing really terrible truths that the US government is guilty of and never would have admitted to.

SuicideGirls would like to thank all of our amazing guests for participating in our show – and for contributing to the public record of this historic trial.