add protect for args of coerceVectors, asCharacterFactor
fixes for lack of protection
Merge branch '29-cleanup' into 30
new date in NEWS, new info about protection fixes
Merge branch '29-rel-news' into 30
added some internal error checks
Merge branch '29-cleanup' into 30
fix lack of initialization bug
Merge branch '26-sym-binding' into 29-cleanup
Merge branch '26-sym-binding' into 29-rel-news
Merge branch '26-sym-binding' into 30
Merge branch '26-sym-binding' into 29-speed-tweaks
Merge branch '29-cleanup' into 30
Merge branch '29-rel-news' into 30
Merge branch '29-speed-tweaks' into 30