If you're going to watch television, and you're going to purchase cable channels, is there a better channel than "The History Channel?" Of course, The Discovery Channel runs a close 2nd (for those of you that know me, Nick scores high, too, primarily for their discovery and development of SpongeBob Squarepants).

Last night they ran a program called "The Big House" featuring Alcatraz and interviewed former guards and inmates. I was riveted.

Anyway, something that piqued my interest was the fact that they put the most hardened criminals in the cells that faced the Golden Gate or the skyline of San Francisco. The rationale was that it would break their spirit to see those symbols of their former freedoms continually and be powerless to benefit from them. The guard they interviewed said if the wind was blowing just right, you could smell the chocalate factory or even hear families talking on the docks.

There is obviously something to the idea that the loss of hope will break your spirit...