HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Organization: The Leader Desslok School of Diplomacy
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 22:04:26 EST
From: Mark 'Mark' Sachs <MBS110@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: Why consider an Amiga? [A stoned Mac user wants to know]

In article <84082@ut-emx.uucp>, ifbb657@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Douglas Floyd) says:
>1:  What is the difference between programming on a Mac or an Amiga?

The Amiga is more fun. :-) Seriously, multitasking is easier on the
Amiga (it's done automatically for you, while Mac programs need WaitNextEvent.)
Mac documentation is probably better than Amiga's. Other than that, ask
someone more technical; I'm just a dabbler, meself.

>2:  Will Apple's ButtKicker line (PowerPC) kill off the C= line?

I'd wait and see if and when it actually ever comes out. I have my doubts
about the whole deal. Even if it does come out, C='s new AGA machines are
very competitive. The Amiga's staying around for a while.

>3:  I heard the Amiga is the only computer out there with every
>    major app key-disk or hardware copy-protected.  It this true,
>    or crockery?

Applications are NOT copyprotected.

Games do tend to be. Why? Because our game publishers are a bunch of idiots.
That's IMHO, of course.

>4:  How large is the C= presence in the US and worldwide?

In the US, teeny. In Europe, pretty big. And England -- well, they own it.

>4.5:  What are these freddie fish, or whatever thingies that are at
>      the local archive site?

Public domain software. Lots of it. One of the Amiga's major strengths is a
*great* public domain library.

>10:  How crashworthy is the Amiga OS?

Very very stable, at least 2.04 is. My A3000 never crashes.

>11:  (The beeg question :-)  Why should I port stuff over to the
>     Amiga line?

Um, 'cause we'd be reeeeeeally grateful. :-)

>PS:  Thanks in advance for any mail, and flames.

No prob. Hopefully this thread won't degenerate.

 "But Dr. Radium, was that necessary?" "Rez, _everything_ I do is necessary."
[Your blood pressure just went up.]        Mark Sachs IS: mbs110@psuvm.psu.edu
DISCLAIMER: If PSU knew I had opinions they'd probably try to charge me for it.
From: 925wardell@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: Oh my God! Help my friend not buy an IBM!
Date: 19 Nov 92 22:37:35 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

In article <BxzJu4.3vA@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, nap42487@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Nishith A. Patel) writes:
> das9674@usl.edu (Stephenson Daniel A) writes:
> 
>>>>very noticable on any machine.  
>>>
>>>OS/2 ray-tracers never kill my system.
>>>
>>>John W. Linville
> 
>>John, can you suggest a OS/2 ray tracer and where I can get it?
> 
> I would also like to know this.
> Thanks.
> 
	I use DKB Ray tracer for OS/2.  It is on hobbes.nmsu.edu
in this directory: pub/os2/all/graphics (I think)


> 
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: danaf@bray1b.its.rpi.edu (Frank R. Dana Jr.)
Subject: Re: WB3.0 & ECS machines - a thought
Reply-To: danaf@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 05:11:40 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.051345.5640@spartan.ac.BrockU.CA>, tmc@spartan.ac.BrockU.CA (Tim Ciceran) writes:
|> In article <6mx12an@rpi.edu> danaf@rpi.edu writes:
|>
|> >Well, sh*t... what **IS** in WB 2.1???
|> 
|> CrossDOS, localization, increased consistency in look and feel, a nifty time
|> zone display, and good karma :).

SIGH. I already have CrossDOS (most everybody that wants it does). I only live
in one time zone, localization is cute but not worth paying for. Increased
consistency in look and feel? Well, all of my system "stuff" has been replaced
by system hacks (MFR,ARQ,LacePointer,Beep,NickPrefs,etc...) so I might not even
NOTICE the piddling little "improvements".

I'll wait for 2.2!  8)

-- 
/////////////////////////[[[[[[[[[[]]]]]]]]]]\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
(718)             (212)                        (516)             (518)
=======Amiuser============Frank R. Dana, Jr.============Doc Ami=======     
--------My opinions rarely reflect those of any sane person,----------
	   living, dead, or undead... that's gonna CHANGE.
From: Aric.Caley@ofa123.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: A3000 is not dead, d
X-Sender: newtout 0.02 Nov  5 1992
Date: 14 Nov 92  11:14:02

> Organization: BBS
> From: csmith@terapin.com (Colin Smith)
> Message-ID: csmith.279i@terapin.com
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
>
> Hi. Do you mean there are 486 bridge boards with 256 color VGA out for the
> 4000? Did I read this right?

There is a "486SLC" Bridgeboard called the "Golden Gate", from Vortex.

25Mhz, 2MB ram exp to 16, IDE HD interface and optional 2.88 meg floppy
controler.  Around $1100.

386SX version for $600 with 512K ram (identical otherwise).

You can then buy a VGA card and stick that into one of the IBM slots on an
A2000/A3000/A4000.

 - Dances With Coyotes - World's slowest programer -Given that the universe-
 --- AKA Dances V2.0, Coyote, Magnet, Major, etc ---is infinate, and god is-
 --- Former Net-Lurker - YES, an AMIGA godammit! ---all powerful, would you-
 - If it says SEX and FREE BEER I'll mess with it! -like some toast?       -


--- Maximus 2.00
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: mba3@Ra.MsState.Edu (Michael Boyd Adams)
Subject: Shut the fuck up!!!!
Summary: Shut the fuck up!!!!
Organization: Mississippi State University
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 17:08:20 GMT

OK, I am really tired of this Amiga is better/IBM is better argument...
I mean, be a little tolerant.... Isn't that the whole problem with 
our society?  That we aren't tolerant of other views?

Both the Amiga and the IBMclone world have their advantages and 
disadvantages...   The IBM can do certain things and has a very large
market in the US....The Amiga can do certain things and has a very
large market in Europe....  Yes, the Amiga can do fast graphics and 
all that, but then the IBM is about to catch up (hence the A4000),
but Motorola has new chips coming and Commodore is working on another
chip set for future Amiga's and so on and so on forever...

People who want graphics and 3d rendering and such, buy and Amiga.
People who want a large software base and "industry standard" hardware,
buy an IBM clone.....

If you you want both, buy both (or an Amiga with a bridgeboard).....

The main thing the Amiga has that IBM can't offer is seamless multitasking.
I know I know!!! Desqview (spelling?) multitasks, and all, but that isn't
an issue given the 640k memory barrier, but hey, I'm not arguing....

Let each person get what they want, and everyone else shut up about it,
because it isn't your business....

By the way, *I* have an Amiga 2000 with a VXL 030 accelerator, 9M RAM,
FlickerFixer and 116M GVP SCSI 17ms hardcard.....
(which I bought after selling my Packard Bell 386sx-16)

I personally will never ever go back to IBM, but that is my business,
and it is everyone else's business, what they buy.....

Peace, and be tolerant, damnit!

Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: tmc@spartan.ac.BrockU.CA (Tim Ciceran)
Subject: Re: Commodore, here's a clue
Organization: Brock University, St. Catharines Ontario
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 17:37:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov17.120604.8908@ludd.luth.se> pjotr@ludd.luth.se
(Peter Sj|str|m) writes:

>>Unix has to be updated to work with the 040.
>
>	Since when??? You are wrong, I'd guess.

Unfortunately, he's right.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: eachus@Dr_No.mitre.org (Robert I. Eachus)
Subject: Re: === 1200 Releases this Week ===
Organization: The Mitre Corp., Bedford, MA.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 23:09:01 GMT

In article <jayson.0496@tbag.tscs.com> jayson@tbag.tscs.com (Jayson Phillips) writes:

   And this is how it is implemented in the A1200.  The A1200 with its 68EC020
   running  at  14.3MHz  on a 32-bit memory bus should be significantly faster
   than  the Mac Classic & LC with 68030's that run at 16MHz but on a *16-bit*
   memory bus.  In fact, the A1200 (with fast RAM) will probably be near twice
   as fast as these truly crippled Macs.

-- Correct, but emphasis on the near.  Some benchmarks will run
-- significantly faster on the Mac, ans some will run more than twice
-- as fast on the 1200, but most should be around 1.7-1.8 times as
-- fast on the Amiga.

   And if you think that 16MB is a real low limit for memory
   addressing then try to recall how many Amiga owners you know who
   have even 16MB in their machines.  In fact, how many Amiga owners
   do you know who even have 8MB+ in their machines?  Probably none of
   the former and very few of the latter I'd wager.

-- The real limit on the Amiga 1200 is to 4 Meg of 32-bit FAST RAM and
-- 2 Meg of 32-bit CHIP RAM.  (Another 4 Meg is assigned to the 16-bit
-- wide PCMCIA cards.)  However, most all Amiga users out there are
-- completely satisfied with 5 or 6 Meg, and that is where the machine
-- is aimed.  (That includes me, I have two 2 Meg 16-bit wide boards
-- in my desk drawer, and 5 Meg (4 Meg 32-bit) in an Amiga 2500/30. If
-- I ever need more memory, I'll put the boards in, but I have never
-- felt the need.)

--

					Robert I. Eachus

with Standard_Disclaimer;
use  Standard_Disclaimer;
function Message (Text: in Clever_Ideas) return Better_Ideas is...
From: matt-dah@dsv.su.se (Mattias Dahlberg)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: The falcon's super.. NEW!
Date: 17 Nov 92 11:32:48 GMT
Organization: The DSV institute of Stockholm, Sweden
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

RUNE HYLDMO (runehy@dhhalden.no) wrote:

: Many of you Amiga freaks are telling the Falconers things like these...

Sorry, the graphics of the Falcon isn't good enough.

--
=========================================================
=  Regards  =  email:              =  1280x512x256000+  = 
=  Mattias  =  matt-dah@dsv.su.se  =  I love it.        =
=========================================================
=  If we don't *buy* our programs, there soon won't be  =
=  any new software for the Amiga. Obvious, is it not?  =
=========================================================
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: 22black@sol.cs.wmich.edu (Martin Black)
Subject: Re: Future Entertainment Show, London
Organization: Western Michigan Univ. Comp. Sci. Dept.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 19:13:06 GMT

>>
>>> Of course, if they don't, it is not impossible to reverse-engineer the
>>> Photo CD file format and release it as a public domain datatype...;-).
>>> (Not that I'm necessarily advocating this 'brute force' approach).
>>
>>There's already source code for that posted on the net ;-)  Unfortunately,
>>Kodak says anything not licensed from them can't be called "Photo CD", and
>>since "Photo CD" covers more than just their file formats they have a point.
>>Which is why I think we should just call it something else and have fun :-)

>Also, there was a recent thread in alt.sources, where a Kodak representative
>was claiming that any attempt to read in pictures from a Photo CD without
>first paying them $695 for a license for their development software, was a
>violation of their copyright/patent on the compression methods that they use.

So your saying it is not illegal to make software that will read, as long 
as you don't actually do it.  Hmmm.  Sounds like a nibbler disk copier.
It is legal to have the copier, it is legal to sell the copier.  Just illegal
for the customer to use it on such disks.  Hmmm.  Sure there won't be any
success of cbm to market or even sell their cdtv-dctv combo, but for those
of us with cd-rom drive and a computer can 'illegally' view photo-cd disks
without owning a photo cd player.

I know it isn't exactly the same comparison but close. And I know it isn't 
illegal to copy the disk just to give the copy to someone else is.

Martin
From: barrett@astro.cs.umass.edu (Daniel Barrett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Give a medal to their marketing department
Date: 23 Nov 92 16:36:19 GMT
Reply-To: barrett@astro.cs.umass.edu (Daniel Barrett)
Organization: BLAZEMONGER INCORPORATED


	I just saw an advertisement for a piece of software to be used with
the Video Toaster.  Well, maybe it's just me, but I simply cannot take a
program called "WipeMaster" seriously.  It sounds like a digital toilet bowl
accessory.

                                                        Dan

 //////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
| Dan Barrett -- Dept of Computer Science, Lederle Graduate Research Center |
| University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA  01003  --  barrett@cs.umass.edu |
 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////////////////////////////////////
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: jgrimm@TorreyPinesCA.ncr.com (Jeffrey Grimmett 9999)
Subject: Re: The piracy argument to end all arguments....
Organization: NCR (Torrey Pines Development Center)
Disclaimer: This posting does not necessarily reflect the opinions of NCR.
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 18:51:00 GMT

Quoth CMS129@psuvm.psu.edu (ChrisSlothman Stoy):

]> In article <69657@cup.portal.com>, TomK@cup.portal.com (Tom R Krotchko) says:
]> >
]> >You are allowed to make tapes of stuff from the airwaves, as long as its
]> >for personal use only. Its only a copyright violation if you try to sell it.
]> >
]> Gee, does this mean that it's ok to copy software as long as I don't sell it?
]> 
]> Chris "Slothman" Stoy |  DISCLAIMER: The views expressed within are not

My personal opinion... if it's just for your own use, making a copy of what you
already own is not really that big a deal.  On the other hand, that means that
for the copy-protected stuff you have to rely on your own resources, not get a
free ride from a pirate board.  If you can't crack it yourself, too bad.  No
one helped you out recording that concert off the radio, eh?

Of course, your licensing agreement says otherwise, usually, so be careful who
you let look over your floppy collection :-)
-- 
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@********************************************
Jeff Grimmett [SuperBitMap BBS]          * fido!1:202/1401.0 [619-460-7290]
jeff_grimmett@f1401.n202.z1.fidonet.org  * jgrimm@TorreyPinesCA.ncr.com
 The opinions expressed in this message are thoughtful, reasoned, and logical.
      	It goes without saying that they are not those of my employer.
*******************************************************************************
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: DSP not as good as we thought?
From: <DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 01:38:14 EST
Organization: Penn State University

In article <1992Nov20.184901.15161@dcs.warwick.ac.uk>, mashton@dcs.warwick.ac.uk
(M.S. Ashton) says:

>Am I to understand (from reading a review of the Falcon) that the DSP chip
>is not capable of reproducing digital sound at variable frequency (like Paula
>can) and is, in fact, limited to fixed rates such as 12.5,25,50KHz.
>If this is the case then all the nice DMA sound is completely unusable for
>computer generated music (soundtracker/Med etc.) and only useful from
>replaying
>a sample at the frequency it was sampled at.
>Am I to understand that to get round this, one needs to use masses of
>real-time CPU intervention,thus spoiling the whole point?
>Is this why Commodore left it out?
>Any more info?

No, you can very easily change the pitch of a sample by skipping and
repeating samples as appropriate. This does introduce a kind of
"noise", however. (Whether it is audible, who knows). If the DSP in
the Falcon doesn't have DMA access to main memory, the CPU will have to
spend much of its time copying sample data to the DSP local memory.
In any case, if all you want to do is synthesize music,
it would be cheaper and better to use a custom chip designed for this
purpose (like the state-of-the-art Gravis Ultrasound card for PCs).
From: Rick_Kelly@amicol.UUCP (Rick Kelly)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: What Amiga Users Want In Future Software Applications!!!!
Distribution: world
Date: 17 Nov 92 13:24:57 EDT
Organization: Amiga Colony BBS

In a message dated Fri  6 Nov 92 16:17, Djkordsm@quesadilla.engr.ucdavis.ed
wrote:

 D> Path: tegra!ulowell!m2c!nic.umass.edu!caen!uwm.edu!linac!att!ucbvax!ucd
 D> avis!quesadilla.engr.ucdavis.edu!djkordsm
 D> From: djkordsm@quesadilla.engr.ucdavis.edu (David Joseph Kordsmeier)
 D> Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
 D> Subject: Re: What Amiga Users Want In Future Software Applications!!!!
 D> Message-ID: <18952@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
 D> Date: 6 Nov 92 17:02:47 GMT
 D> References: <Bx2tzA.8t2@news.iastate.edu> <1992Nov3.125456.2740@ghost.d
 D> si.unimi.it> <18919@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
 D> Sender: usenet@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu
 D> Organization: College of Engineering - University of California -
 D> Davis
 D> Lines: 33


 D>  So the A4000 is finally out.  We've got the A1200 on the horizon,
 D> with more 
 D> computers promised.  I think we can all stop disputing over the fact
 D> that the a4000
 D> is an awesome machine and CBM is on the right track.  

 D>  None of this means anything without software.  

 D> Let me rephrase that:

 D>  The future of our Amiga in the home and workplace depends upon there 
 D>  being an adequate supply of QUALITY sofware applications( DTP, CAD, 
 D>  Spreadsheets, etc ) .  

 D>  I think it is time we Amiga users took some initiative to let 
 D> Software Developers know what we WANT.  This involves not only
 D> coorespondence
 D> on what you like and dislike about the product, but it also involves 
 D> SUPPORTING ( aka buying your software ) these Developers.  The Amiga
 D> community cannot
 D> afford to see anymore developers fold or move to other platforms.

 D>  My main purpose of this post is to get people thinking and post some
 D> of their own 
 D> ideas on what they applications they want to see developed, or what
 D> improvements they 
 D> want to see in existing applications.  Perhaps we could get a TOP 10
 D> MOST WANTED 
 D> SOFTWARE APPS list going and keep it regularily updated until
 D> developers DELIVER.
 D> ( much like the one you see in NextWorld ).

 D>  Don't doubt the power of the net.

 D> -dk

This is just a test to see if DLG/Amigacol.uucp supports quoting of
articles
when following up.

It certainly seems to.

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: akerman@qucis.queensu.ca (Richard Akerman)
Subject: Using Amiga for School/Science
X-Disclaimer: All opinions expressed herein were sent to me telepathically
              by Elvis from Mars.
Reply-To: akerman@qucis.queensu.ca (Richard Akerman)
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Queens Univ., Kingston, Ontario, Can.
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 20:00:48 GMT

A very brief and incomplete comparison of working on the school system and
working on my Amiga 2000.

In order to use an Amiga productively for school/science work, it is essential
to follow the newsgroups to know what is available, and to be able to FTP 
programs and get them onto your Amiga.  It does take a bit of work using
Aquarium to find all the programs you may need to assemble a good system.

At university we have a Sun (3 & 4) network.  I use MIT X (startx) and the
Tab Window Manager (twm). All but two of the machines 
availble to students are monochrome.  Only the few Sun-4's have sound.  I use
the machines to run GNU emacs, ispell, GNU plot, and TeX.  I also like the
powerful UNIX commands, such as grep, diff, and the usual ls, mv, etc.

At home, I have an Amiga 2000.  I use it to run GNU emacs, ispell, GNU plot,
and AmigaTeX.  I also like the powerful (ported) UNIX commands, such as grep,
diff, and the usual ls, mv, etc.

The main difference is that my Amiga provides a nicer, more integrated
environment, particularly due to ARexx.  I run GNU emacs on a 662x430 
1-bitplane interlaced public screen (created with PSX) with the colours set
(with Colour) so that there is no flicker.

My current system is an Amiga A2000 (512k CHIP RAM) [1987]
                        1080 monitor                [1985]
                        external 3.5"               [1985]
                        GVC external 2400 bps modem [1992]
                        AmigaDOS 2.04               [1992]
                        second internal 3.5"        [1992]
                        GVP HC8+ (120 MB disk, 8 MB FAST RAM) [1992]

AmigaDOS 2.04: 512k ROM, 2.4 MB disk.
Auxiliary DOS libraries and commands: 1 MB disk or so.

So far the most FAST RAM I've managed to use at once is about 3 MB.

A reasonably powerful set-up would be about 60 MB disk and 4 MB FAST (and of 
-- 
Richard J. Akerman   | akerman@QUCIS.QueensU.Ca    |    "There is no plot."
Semi-competent       | akerman@QUCIS.BITNET        | -Guinan in Time's Arrow II 
 Graduate Student in Computer Science              |    Star Trek: The Next 
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada      |        Generation
From: FAA102@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: Why consider an Amiga? [A stoned Mac user wants to know]
Date: 22 Nov 92 20:21:11 GMT
Organization: Penn State University


In article <70031@cup.portal.com>, TomK@cup.portal.com (Tom R Krotchko) says:
>
>>9:  Does C= sell TEMPEST spec Amigas?
>
>No, in fact just the opposite.  When you turn on an Amiga 2000, every TV
>within about 30 yards can pick up the output. Someone may have Tempest'd
>them, but I don't think CBM has.

30 yards!?
I can't speak for A2000's but a TV that's 3 inches from my A500 can't
can't pick up the output.  So that sounds very wierd to me.
From: root@rkamiga.UUCP (Rick Kelly)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re:   NO MORE *&#*$(^*& FEMALE BIMBO ADS!!!!!!!!
Distribution: world
Date: 18 Nov 92 14:17:36 EST
Organization: Rick's Amiga

In article <Bxu2L1.BGL@starnine.com> mikeh@starnine.com (Mike Haas) writes:
>In article <root.02o9@rkamiga.UUCP> root@rkamiga.UUCP (Rick Kelly) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov5.011503.3155@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> papo@pyuxf.uucp (25241-anaya) writes:
>>>In article <dusek.720901172@shale> dusek@rtsg.mot.com (James Dusek) writes:
>>>>
>>>>	Instead of stomping on the rights of advertisers, why don't we stop
>>>>the goverment and a few elitetists from repealing the rights of these women
>>>>and the rest of us. I'm talking about letting the Amercian people be taught
>>>>how to use handguns for self defence, given consealed weapons permits, and 
>>>
>>>YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
>
>A thousand YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
>
>>>
>>>>allowed to buy handguns. You would see the crime rate plummet. Attacks 
>>>>against women will also drop. 
>>>
>>>YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!
>
>ditto
>
>>
>>If a woman shoots a man in an isolated area at night, before he rapes her,
>>what does she use for a defense in court if his corpse is unarmed?
>
>Self-defense.  Any other questions?

What if he just wanted to know what time it is?

>>Twenty years for manslaughter could be as bad as getting raped.
>
>No reason anyone should do 20 years for self-defense.  In the above
>case, you do what is always done...examine the evidence and
>come to a determination of guilt or lack of it.

If a man walks towards a woman late at night, and she shoots him from
20 feet away there is no evidence as to whether he was going to rape
her or just ask her what time it is.

>It would seem extremely unlikely that a woman who defends herself
>legally with a handgun will suffer prosecution.

In the state of Mass she would have to have a good reason to get a
license for the protection of life and property.  This is the only
level of handgun license that allows one to carry a concealed weapon.

One good reason might be a previous rape, or she is being stalked by
someone whom she has a restraint order against.

>Of course... she COULD just lay down and die.  Is THAT worse than
>20 years?

In Mass, that depends.  At MCI Framingham, which is the only women's prison
in the state, one out of four inmates has HIV/AIDS, cells are overcrowded,
and rape and violence are common.

While I feel that the gun laws here are too strict, I don't know if I would
want to live in a state where guns are handed out to anyone who steps up
to the counter with money.

--
Rick Kelly		Rick's Amiga		Framingham, Mass.

		think!unixland!rmkhome!rkamiga!root