Pete's Log: Log Entry 281

Entry #281, Thu, April 27, 2000, 17:50 EST (Politics)
(posted when I was 21 years old.)

the latest linux journal seems to have a good article on signal handling. i should give it a read, i might actually learn something new (and if not, it never hurts to refresh) ...

i've fixed ltfs such that if a daemon child responsible for a file system dies, the file system call active at the time will no longer hang, and additionally all new file system requests will now fail immediately. this should improve stability by enough to make ltfs usable outside of vmware.

from the advocates from self-government:


   Dear friends,



   Did you see this shocking news story, dated April 20?



   * * *



   Gun Ban Results In Tragic Deaths



   BOSTON -- National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of
   recently banned assault rifles were ambushed on April 19th by elements
   of a paramilitary extremist faction. Military and law enforcement
   officials estimate that 72 were killed and more than 200 injured
   before government forces were compelled to withdraw.



   Speaking after the clash, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage declared
   that the extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has
   links to the radical right-wing tax protest movement.



   Gage blamed the extremists for recent incidents of vandalism directed
   against internal revenue offices. The governor, who described the
   group's organizers as "criminals," issued an executive order
   authorizing the summary arrest of any individual who has interfered
   with the government's efforts to secure law and order.



   The military raid on the extremist arsenal followed widespread refusal
   by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault weapons.
   Gage issued a ban on military-style assault weapons and ammunition
   earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting earlier this
   month between government and military leaders at which the governor
   authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal arms.



   One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed
   out that "none of these people would have been killed had the
   extremists obeyed the law and turned over their weapons voluntarily."



   Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply
   of outlawed weapons and ammunition. However, troops attempting to
   seize arms and ammunition in Lexington met with resistance from
   heavily-armed extremists who had been tipped-off regarding the
   government's plan.



   During a tense standoff in Lexington's town park, National Guard
   Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered
   the armed group to surrender and return to their homes. The impasse
   was broken by a single shot, which was reportedly fired by one of the
   right-wing extremists.



   Eight civilians were killed in the ensuing exchange. Ironically, the
   local citizenry blamed government forces rather than the extremists
   for the civilian deaths. Before order could be restored, armed
   citizens from surrounding areas had descended upon the guard units.
   Colonel Smith, finding his forces overmatched by the armed mob,
   ordered a retreat.



   Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national
   joint task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor
   has also demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and
   leading the attack against the government forces. Samuel Adams, Paul
   Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as "ringleaders" of
   the extremist faction, remain at large.



   * * *



   Oh, I forgot to mention the year - that was April 20, 1775.



   (Thanks to New American magazine, where we first saw this, and to
   George Schwappach, who reminded us of it. Author is unknown.)