On 5/28/06, David Hobby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: > Apparently that day is here: > > <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006240126,00.html>> "BatLeth" meant nothing to me, and it's not clear the thing is a very useful weapon. But the part I'm amazed at, is that swords/knives are outlawed? Can someone clarify this for me, I mean you have to be able to have kitchen knives, and maybe a machete for the "garden"?
Anecdotal and mostly irrelevant story: Back during the original run of Babylon 5 (probably 9+ years ago, so forgive me if my memory is faulty), JMS (the series creator) discussed in the B5 newsgroup how the BBC censored part of a major scene involving use of a knife (where when Vir apologizes to G'Kar for the Centauri's crimes against the Narn, G'Kar pulls a knife, cuts his hand and as the blood drips, counts off "dead, dead, dead...". ) IIRC, he mentioned another minor scene censored , apparently for being too disturbing, where a few characters were briefly held at knifepoint (no one cut or injured). I'd seen the scene refered to, and it was nothing shocking oand probably a lot less violent than some scenes on B5. JMS explained that in the UK, knives were considered especially horrifying, which brought on the censorship. When I saw this knife amnesty story, I was immediately reminded of the JMS's notes. Outlawed knives seems to fit with that. As far as how can knives be outlawed and still have kitchen knives...maybe not for long....http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4581871.stm But aside from the nanny doctors calling for the kitchen knife ban, it seems the operative point to the law as described is "public place", so presumably a knife in a kitchen an perhaps a machete in a garden are OK. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
