NEAL CONAN, Host: It's Tuesday, and time to read from your emails and Web comments. Many of you shared stories about the jobs you held while serving in prison - working in call centers, making furniture, mixing paint.</s>I: I served a two-year sentence in federal prison. I started working in the kitchen, where I made about $7 a month. I then worked as an electrician, where I made seven to $9 a month. Both of those jobs were 40-hour-a-week jobs. There wasn't one job that paid inmates fair wage. The system is unjust.</s>I: I suggest that's a great reason to stay out of prison. It's not supposed to be nice, comfortable or fun. It's punishment. That by email from Mark Vanderbeer(ph) in Michigan.</s>HR: And a final word from John Faulkner(ph), also in New York State. For Euphemisms of death he wrote, you can't do better than the parrot sketch from "Monty Python."</s>JOHN CLEESE: (as Mr. Praline) This parrot is no more. He has ceased to live. It's expired and gone to meet his maker. This is a late parrot. It's so stiff, bereft of life. It rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it on the perch, it would be pushing out the daisies. It's run down the curtain and joined the Choir Invisible. This is an ex-parrot.</s>MICHAEL PALIN: (as shop owner): Well, I better replace it then.</s>NEAL CONAN, Host: And if you're on Twitter, you can follow me there, @nealconan, all one word. As always, if you have comments, questions or corrections for us, the best way to reach us is by email. That address is talk@npr.org. Please, let us know where you're writing from, and give us some help on how to pronounce your name.
Talk of the Nation listeners — and former inmates — wrote to the show to talk about their experiences working in prison. Also, listeners shared their favorite euphemisms that get around explaining a worker was laid off.