[Ches]

Believe me I understand your disgust.

IMHO, the costs to society are huge and the government reaction confirms that big government sucks. I have moments, days and weeks where I can rant and rave about these costs, both financial and to our liberty as well as the next guy. I have been fortunate. I'm neither an addict nor terminally ill and I have to remind myself to be grateful for this on occasion. This story was one of those occasions.

BTW, the article didn't say he was gay. A friend of mine from high school had leukemia and required somewhat regular transfusions and contracted AIDS as a result back in the early 80's and consequently died shortly after.

[FITZ]

No --- he might not be gay --- drug use and sharing of needles is another common way for the HIV virus to spread. I have fairly close family members who are alcoholics or recovering alcoholics ---and I know drug addicts ---- I think most of these people are drowning some kind of pain --- but there is something about mixing extreme flammables with anything and then lighting up that brings out the unsympathetic side of us. Almost like a jackass stunt makes us lose a little sympathy for the victim.