HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: justice@panix.com (Michael Justice)
Subject: Re: ALERT! Anti-gun meeting in NoVA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:50:41 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix & Internet, NYC
Keywords: knothead

In article <1ghf0gINN5ga@mirror.digex.com> tjones@access.digex.com (Tom Jones) writes:
>In article <1992Dec9.014838.8623@panix.com> justice@panix.com
>(Michael Justice) writes:
>>D.C. has some
>>of the strictest gun control laws in the nation.  Do *you* think they've
>>worked?  
>
>Corollary:
>L.A. has some of the strictest pollution control laws in the nation.
>Do *you* think they've worked?  It's the most polluted city in the country!

Obviously, they are regulating the wrong things.  Now, if they mandated
electric cars (which *DO* exist, dude), put in public transportation, and 
stopped adding new roads every five minutes, they'd get somewhere in
controlling their air pollution.

However, since they are regulating the wrong areas, they have lousy air.

It's like most of the "solutions" that politicians advocate:  don't fix the
problem, whitewash the problem and try to make everyone feel good by enacting
"politically correct" but ineffective laws.

>*Of course* LA is better off because of their pollution controls; it would
>be like Mexico City if the laws weren't there.

Unlikely.  Mexico City is in a BASIN, surrounded by rather high mountains.
The topography restricts air movement.  Also, the major problem there is
government corruption -- the government's vehicles (buses, etc.) are exempt
from the laws, and the government officials are cheap to bribe for the
civilian vehicles.

In short, try comparing apples to apples, not night to orange juice.

>Maybe gun laws reduce crime, maybe they don't.  But don't use these old
>fallacious arguments, please?

Hmm.  Seems like you ignored the whole point.  I pointed out CRIME REDUCTION
from allowing concealed carry laws, in other American cities, and you say
I'm using a "fallacious argument"?  What would you compare DC to??  Good ol'
low-crime Mexico City, where they mug you with knives instead of guns??

>-tom jones

As an aside, Panix has been off the net for a few days.  I've missed some
of the argument, and have apparently lost any incoming mail since last Friday.
(At least, I haven't gotten any of either news or mail since then.)

			-- Michael.
-- 
Michael A. Justice / Will hack X11 for peanuts (stolen, with apologies).
justice@panix.com /  "It's barbaric, but hey! it's home!" -- "Aladdin"
Organization: The American University - University Computing Center
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 12:43:04 EST
From: Victoria E. Ames <VA2452A@auvm.american.edu>
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: DC Cablevision


Hi. I was wondering if anyone else has had it with DC Cablevision's monopoly on
cable service in the District. I have encountered neumerous problems with both
the servcice and the employees of this company. My local channels all have
"ghosts", they continually threaten to disconnect my service even when I pay my
 bill on time, their charge for basic service is $6 over the national average
and they will not add more channels to their basic package. This is just the
short list of grievances. I am curious to see if I am the only dissatisfied
customer who would like to change things.  We can't wait for the Congress to
address our problems with cable and the Better Business Bureau has already
recieved hundreds of complaints this year and I have seen no sign of any action
on their part. It is time for us to take matters into our own hands.
If anyone is interested in joining me in a movement which simply desires
adequate cable service for our hard earned money, please contact me through
E-mail at the node above.  I will be writing letters and phoning key people on
my own but they will carry more weight with the names of other customers behind
them.
     Thank You.
          Vicky Ames
From: m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: ALERT! Anti-gun meeting in NoVA
Date: 12 Dec 92 16:07:05 GMT
Reply-To: m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY)
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Next Challenge, Fairfax, Va.


The NRA decided long ago that fighting DC laws in DC courts were an
exercise in futility.  That is why cases are being developed outside
in other states that may eventually reach the Supremes.

Yes, the NRA is still against gun registration.  Considering the use
of registration lists in CA NJ and NYC, they are right.

Frank Ney N4ZHG EMT-A  LPVa NRA ILA GOA CCRTKBA "M-O-U-S-E"
Commandant and Acting President, Northern Virginia Free Militia
Send e-mail for an application and more information
----------------------------------------------------------------
Ask Rodney King if the LAPD is under control.
Ask John Lawmaster if the BATF is under control.
Ask the american people if the government is under control.
Ask yourself what you plan to do about it.
-- 
The Next Challenge - Public Access Unix in Northern Va. - Washington D.C.
703-803-0391 To log in for trial and account info.
From: karl@thuja.gsfc.nasa.gov (Karl A. Anderson)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: ALERT! Anti-gun meeting in NoVA
Date: 14 Dec 92 01:54:21 GMT
Organization: NASA/GSFC Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics

In article <1874@tnc.UUCP>, m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY) writes:
|> 
|> And the sad truth of the matter is that under law and judicial
|> precedent, the police are not obligated to protect any citizen from
|> criminal activity.
|> 
|> If anyone disputes this thesis, I'll be more than happy to post proof.
|> 

OK, I'll bite.  I'm curious to see what kind of proof (of anything) a person
could simply post.
-- 
Karl A. Anderson		| Internet: karl@thuja.gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA/GSFC code 920.2 (HSTX)	| voice: (301) 286-3815
Greenbelt, MD 20771		| #include "std_disclaimer"
From: stxtnt@rs733.GSFC.NASA.Gov (Nigel Tzeng)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: EveCon 10: Jan.1,2,3 '93 (was Re: Needed - Ideas for New Year's Eve)
Date: 14 Dec 92 06:20:18 GMT
	<ByqC54.9rJ@access.digex.com> <62776@mimsy.umd.edu>
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md, USA

In article <62776@mimsy.umd.edu> waksman@.umd.edu (Adlai Waksman) writes:

>   EveCon 10 will be held at The Doubletree Inn (formerly the Holiday Inn
>   Crowne Plaza), 300 Army/Navy Drive, Arlington, VA,  (703) 892-4100.

>___________Adlai Waksman(@cfar.umd.edu)

Hmmm...rumor has it that Evecon is going to ban toy guns...a tad far
for gun-control dont you think?  If so I may show to see old friends
but damned if I'll buy membership...Bruce can kiss one former member
goodbye.

Nigel

--
Nigel Tzeng
.sig under construction
Newsgroups: dc.general
From: arritter@helix.nih.gov (Alice R. Ritter)
Subject: Re: DC Cablevision
Reply-To: arritter@helix.nih.gov (Alice R. Ritter)
Organization: National Institutes of Health
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 18:54:14 GMT

Are you SERIOUS?  So don't subscribe to cable.  Aren't there more
important things to get worked up about than the fact that MTV is
coming in a little fuzzy.  give me a break!  Get a coalition
together to help feed the homeless, or to help young kids with their
reading, or.....
alice ritter
From: Deacon.Maccubbin@f421.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Deacon Maccubbin)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: DC CABLEVISION
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 13:47:26 -0500

VA2452A@auvm.american.edu
 
I, too, have been dissatisfied with District Cablevision. They botched the
wiring job in our condo, took forever to get the (faulty) wiring in place, can't
get rid of the ghosts on channel 4, have a high percentage of employees that
just don't give a damn, etc.
 
But you'll get nowhere with District Cablevision itself. Their monopoly was
granted by the D. C. City Council and that is where any changes will have to be
pressed. Jack Evans (councilman for Ward 2) has been very helpful in putting
pressure on District Cablevision to correct problems. He serves on a council
committee that is supposed to provide oversight for the system. Of course, you
should also seek the involvement of your own councilmembers (including the
at-large members and the council chairman, John Wilson).
 
My biggest complaint at present is District Cablevision's reluctance to add the
Science Fiction, Comedy and Cartoon channels. :)

Xref: sparky dc.general:3197 dc.forsale:3101
From: shenton@lite-brite.gsfc.nasa.gov (Chris Shenton)
Newsgroups: dc.general,dc.forsale
Subject: WANTED: mini AUI-thinnet transceivers; ELECTRONICS SURPLUS store?
Date: 14 Dec 92 20:12:22 GMT
Organization: Hughes/STX, Lanham, MD

I'm looking for a few mini AUI-to-thinnet tranceivers -- got any you'd
like to sell? I can get 'em new for $60 each, but would like to spend
less than this.

Failing that, know of any surplus/used electronics stores in the DC
area? I'm aware of Electronics Plus (or whatever) on Route 1 in
College Park.

Thanks.
--
-- Chris Shenton    shenton@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov    NASA/GSFC/HSTX 301-286-9430
From: og@access.digex.com (Gary Goldberg)
Newsgroups: dc.general,comp.sys.mac.wanted
Subject: Looking for person who offered to lend CDROM in DC
Date: 16 Dec 1992 14:17:27 GMT
Organization: Order? Just a small bureaucracy really. (DIGEX)
Distribution: dc
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

A kindly soul who runs a BBS in DC offered to lend me use of his CD ROM
drive so I can install A/UX on my Mac.  I was supposed to call him a week
ago to arrange a time, but I misplaced his name/phone and my files
got wiped out on digex in a freak COMPRESS accident.

If this person is reading this, could he contact me at (301) 763-1447
or at night at (301) 249-2271, or here on og@access.digex.com ?

Thanks. - Gary

-- 
- Gary Goldberg og@access.digex.com Bowie, MD KA3ZYW
From: Power@cup.portal.com (Ron A Uitz)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: DC Cablevision
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 16:34:44 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

>short list of grievances. I am curious to see if I am the only dissatisfied
>customer who would like to change things.  We can't wait for the Congress to
>address our problems with cable and the Better Business Bureau has already

Vicky, as you may know, Congress preempted virtually all state and local govern
ment regulation of cable back in 1984, including price.  That is
why people seem to be "waiting" for Congress and the FCC to act; under 
current law, only the federal government can address most cable problems.

Also, while new regulations probably will have little effect on many 
of the issues (quality of service, personnel) of importance to you (it
is hard to "regulate" anybody into doing a good job), you may be 
interested in knowing that competition to cable is expected as early
as a year from now, when many of the cable programmers begin distributing
their programming by high power direct satellite.  
Newsgroups: dc.general
From: esther@verdix.com (Esther Lumsdon)
Subject: Re: One-car accidents (was: Re: ALERT! Anti-gun meeting in NoVA)
Organization: Verdix Corp
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:12:36 GMT

stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead) writes:


>I've been reading the gun/anti-gun flame war with bemused detachment, but
>this post hit home for another reason.  Last year, I had my first accident
>ever after more than 10 years driving in several areas (including 7 in
>traffic-dense LA).  I was driving on 50 in VA, approaching an intersection,
>when a woman in the opposit lanes apparently decided she'd waited long
>enough to make her turn, and gunned it left directly in my path just as
>I entered the intersection at about 45 mph.  Before I had time to form
>the thought "I'm about to be hamburger", my instinctive responses ripped
>the car left (toward oncoming traffic) and back again, avoiding all
>traffic including the clueless one.  In the process, I blew out both
>tires on the left side, then could not regain control.  I spun out onto
>the grass median, but managed to avoid flipping.  The roof and hood
      [ deleted text ]
>mind it was clear).  A kind soul stopped and gave me the license of the
>car (clueless left the scene immediately, of course).  The police said they
>were powerless to do anything unless I could pick her out of a lineup.
>Right, like anyone can get a good enough look in a moment like that.
>They also said that even if I could pick her out, it was doubtful that
>any charges would stick (There is a "leaving the scene non-contact"
>violation in VA, but apparently nobody ever gets pegged for it).  Anyway,
        [  deleted text  ]
>a ride to work after my car was towed.  So even though they aren't obligated,
>the people are very helpful and have my support.  But the system failed me.
>It's only a matter of time before that crazy driver kills someone, if
>she hasn't already.

I had an incident somewhat like that in 86 or so.  Fortunately I wasn't
injured and my car wasn't damaged.  The Virginia state police officer
told me that I could file a civil suit against the other driver, but
that it would be my word against his about what happened, and about
whether there were any other occupants (witnesses) in the our cars.
At least he didn't give me any false hope.  And he did contact the other
driver, who gave him a nicely fabricated story about how I was at
fault.

It seems that the only thing you can do to another driver in Virginia
is report them for throwing trash (including tobacco trash) out their
window.  The commonwealth will not cite them, but will send them a
letter saying they were reported to have done this, and that this offence
carries $___ fine.
-- 
-- Esther Lumsdon, not speaking for Verdix.   esther@verdix.com
Q: How many user support people does it take to change a light bulb?
A: We have an exact copy of the light bulb here and it seems to be
   working fine.  Can you tell me what kind of system you have?
From: prb@access.digex.com (Pat)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: New Years Eve (  Ideas)  Try Resolve to Evolve.
Date: 14 Dec 1992 01:04:00 GMT
Organization: UDSI
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com


Ecomedia,  Now a 501-C-3  corporation is hosting a new years Bash.

Resolve to Evolve.  Party starts around 9, goes til noon.

Movies,  Films,  Eco-logical info.  2 bands.  Cheap beer,  free bread.

Ecomedia, is located at 926 N street NW, in the blagden alley.

Cover should be about 6 dollars.
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: Dog sitting services?
From: bhall@pbs.org (Bruce Hall)
Date: 17 Dec 92 12:22:46 EST
Followup-To: dc.general
Distribution: world
Organization: Public Broadcasting Service

In article <1992Dec15.180546.21837@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>,
schieb@shark.gsfc.nasa.gov (Brian D. Schieber) wrote:
> 
> 
> I need a dog sitting service.  Kind of a bonded, come by and walk it kind of thing.
> Does anyone know of such a service? How much would it cost?
> 
> Thanks,
>  Brian

I know of one that is sort of the opposite.  They come by and pick up your
pet
and then take it to a contractor family to take care of it.  When you are
back,
then they bring your pet back to you.  I don't know how much it costs
though.

The name is "Pets Are Inn".  You can find out more from Barbara Perrino
at 703-780-7676 or 703-538-9184.

Good luck.

--
Bruce Hall                     Domain: bhall@pbs.org
Public Broadcasting Service    UUCP:...uupsi!pbs!bhall
Phone: 703-739-5048            FAX: 703-739-0775
"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes" - Oscar Wilde
Newsgroups: dc.general
From: gjones@gateway (Gordon Jones)
Subject: SKI BLOWOUT AT BLUE KNOB -- Jan 8-10
Organization: Mitre Corporation, McLean, VA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 21:57:16 GMT




             S K I  B L O W O U T  A T  B L U E  K N O B  !


Get ready for an outrageous skiing adventure at Blue Knob, January 8-10 !
For as little as $155.00 per person you can ski the highest vertical drop in
Pennsylvania (1052').  The trip includes:

   two nights lodging at RAMADA w/ tropical indoor courtyard
   parties each day (plus refreshments on the bus)
   FREE equipment rentals
   jacuzzi and pool
   round trip transportation
   free meals
   roller skating
   horseback riding

Two of the ski trails are "double diamond" trails for experts, and there are
several long, level slopes ideal for beginning skiiers.

Blue Knob is only 2 hours 45 min from D.C., so an early return home on Sunday
is possible.  For further details, contact Gordon at (703) 204-0768 or
leave message.
From: bote@access.digex.com (John Boteler)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Where are the Solstice Selebrations?
Date: 18 Dec 1992 12:50:25 GMT
Organization: Express Access Public Access UNIX, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Distribution: dc
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com


Are there any Solstice Celebrations in this straight-and-narrow
town?

(Only 2 shopping days left 'til Solstice!)

-- 
bote@access.digex.com (John Boteler) 
This week's usenet malapropism: its, it's
its = posessive pronoun; "My car blew its engine."
it's = contraction of 'it is'; "It's cold outside!"
Newsgroups: dc.general,va.general,dc.talk.guns
From: al@escom.com (Al Donaldson)
Subject: Re: ALERT! Anti-gun meeting in NoVA
Reply-To: al@escom.COM (Al Donaldson)
Organization: ESCOM Corp., Oakton VA (USA)
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 07:34:35 GMT

In article <1992Dec10.191624.13321@clsi.COM> kevin@clsi.com writes:
>What kind of gun do you own ?

Since you asked, I still have a .357 Ruger bought for home protection
about 10 years ago after coming home and finding a message on my
answering machine that said "I'm gonna kill you, Al.  Tonight."
I didn't have a clue who the caller was, or why anyone would want
me dead.  The Fairfax County policeman who showed up seemed to think
it was a high-school prank, and seemed put off that I bothered them 
about it.  I got the impression that he didn't want to be called
again unless there was a body involved.

So the next day I bought a 9mm from a friend, and for a couple weeks
I slept with it loaded within reach of my bed.  After a couple trips 
to a local pistol range, I traded the 9mm back to my friend for the
Ruger because .357 ammo was less expensive and I wanted to get in 
enough range shooting to be able to use the weapon if I had to.

No one ever showed up.  To be honest, I didn't expect any problems,
because I hadn't done anything to warrant such a threat.  But crazies
do exist (does the name Manson ring a bell?) and a death threat
directed at me personally was serious enough that I didn't want 
to risk not being able to protect myself in case it wasn't a prank.
I didn't want to be in the position of waking up at 4am with someone
crawling in through a window and having the police tell me they'll
be here in 15 minutes.  This is not meant to knock the Fairfax Police,
nor any police department.  They have to allocate their limited
resources to the most serious problems, and there's a lot of problems.

If this hadn't happened, I probably still wouldn't own a gun and
I'd be wondering why some of these people think guns are necessary.
But there's nothing like a practical exercise in self-preservation
to form one's opinions, eh?  (What's that they say about a conservative
being a liberal with experience..?)

Al
From: eric@npri6.npri.com (Eric Williams)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: One-car accidents
Summary: danger zone
Date: 18 Dec 92 16:30:47 GMT
Organization: NPRI, Alexandria VA

In article <51642@seismo.CSS.GOV>, stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead) writes:
> Last year, I had my first accident
> ever after more than 10 years driving in several areas (including 7 in
> traffic-dense LA).  I was driving on 50 in VA, approaching an intersection,
> when...
[description of close call deleted]

This wouldn't happen to be that stretch of 50 between Annandale Road and
the Beltway, would it? This section has become notorious, if not to
the AAA, then to friends and friends of friends alike who swear that an
inordinate number of "jumpers" cross busy Arlington Blvd. here whether
or not they have the right of way. (This is not urban legend--these
folks were part of the crash scenes.) I don't want to sound
racist or elitist or whatever, but *all* of these reports involved
newly-arrived foreigners who live in the neighborhood, and who
apparently have brought in some creative driving skills from abroad (or
are inventing variations here). My advice: use *extra* care when
navigating this part of US 50, especially if you see vehicles waiting
on the margins of the highway.  The next sound you hear may be your
fender caving in...

-------- eric@npri.com ---------- or ---------- ...uunet!uupsi!npri6!eric -----
         You look as though you could use a little cHaOs in your life.          
Eric C. Williams/ NPRI/ Alexandria, VA/ USA/ (703) 683-9090/ Usual disclaimers.
Newsgroups: dc.general
From: rlb@access.digex.com (Richard L. Butler)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: EveCon
Date: 17 Dec 1992 04:46:31 GMT
Organization: The Fourth Drawer on the Left, Second Column
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY) writes:
>Also, word to the wise: anyone found crashing the convention will be
>taken to central holding by the Arlington PD, after being given one
>chance to buy a membership.  Again, don't blame Bruce, the hotel is
>insisting on this one.

How do they define "crashing the convention"?

-- 
Richard L. Butler            rlb@access.digex.com                 301-220-2020
Digital Express Group Inc.   6006 Greenbelt Road #228   Greenbelt MD 20770 USA
Express Access Online Communications --- news, mail, IP services available NOW
Login as "new": Washington 301-220-0462 Baltimore 410-766-1855: info@digex.com
From: purtilo@cs.umd.edu (Jim Purtilo)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: No documentation, again
Date: 14 Dec 92 19:07:42 GMT
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742

In article <28492@oasys.dt.navy.mil> mulvihil@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Lawrence Mulvihill) writes:
>Leaving off the case no., the officer's badge number, and the date
>do not make your post more credible.  This is not the first time
>that the police have been smeared in this newsgroup without proper
>documentation.  While I'm no great fan of the people carrying the
>badges, I don't trust posts when no source is given.  It reeks.
>
>Most of the postings that show in this newsgroup would be strengthened
>by some documentation.  Without facts, your post is just an opinion,
>and who the *&#$@ are you anyway?

Someone who shares in this public forum just like you do.  Of course,
there are some differences.   I'm not in charge of sleuthing out potential
liars the way you are, and I don't have responsibility for attacking other
posters on the net who share their opinions.  I'm willing to accept your
claim that police have been smeared here on the net rather than call you
a liar for not having submitted proof.  Perhaps in your position of judge,
you will explain how my observation would have been any more credible had
I lengthed the post with information irrelevent to the point (namely, that
police have no obligation to assist us.)  Or I suppose then you would call
me a liar for having made up the extra information?  I'm sorry that the
freedom to share ideas, opinions and information also accommodates innuendo
from people like you.
From: dba@c-cat.UUCP (D. Brian A.)
Newsgroups: dc.general
Subject: Re: Dog sitting services?
Date: 18 Dec 92 05:15:46 GMT
Organization: Intergalactic Rest Area For Weary Travellers

schieb@shark.gsfc.nasa.gov (Brian D. Schieber) writes:

] 
] I need a dog sitting service.  Kind of a bonded, come by and walk it kind of 
] Does anyone know of such a service? How much would it cost?
] 
] Thanks,
]  Brian

Perhaps there is a "Pet Nanny" franchise in your area.  My wife and I
have utilized their service for our cat on many occasions.  I highly
recommend them.  The number I have for them is (301)731-0011 in Lanham.

                                D. Brian A.
Xref: sparky dc.general:3204 va.general:175 dc.talk.guns:20