Two Damaged Psyches, Clashed in the Night

[discreet_chaos]

The Scene:
Nestled between the West and Connecticut Rivers, Brattleboro is a community of 12,000 which may best be known as a gateway into Vermont from western Massachusetts, but it also has a vibrant arts and alternative scene. FBI statistics show that in 2005, Brattleboro had no murders and 24 violent crimes, 18 of which were assaults. These same

Comments

[eparchos]

The more I learn about Vermont, the more uncivilized it is. That would be considered stalking in any civilized state.

[discreet_chaos]

I don't know that I would use "uncivilized" to describe Vermont. It is somewhat divided between the north and the south, but I've always thought of it as a genteel place that I like to visit.

When I think of the place, I think of bucolic small towns filled with clapboard buildings, a strong anti-Walmart mentality and American entrepreneurism. Pretty much everyone has home-based businesses and they all sideline in maple syrup. For example, let's say that somebody's primary business is lawnmower repair, well they also sell syrup and that's reflected on their handlettered sign.

Vermont is also home to civil unions and their former Congressman, who was recently elected to the Senate with 65% of the vote is officially listed as an independent, but was an unabashed socialist when he was mayor of Burlington, Vermont's largest city. Plus, the place is home to Ben & Jerry, along with Phish, so "uncivilized" really isn't the word that comes to my mind, especially when you're talking about the central and northern parts of the state

[nebris]

And the lawyers sharpen their knives...

~M~

[discreet_chaos]

You're probably right and I had a similar reaction when that story about the California woman who died holding her "wee for a Wii" made the rounds over the weekend. (Here's an updated story, if you're not familiar with the situation) But, when I first heard about the water intoxication case, my initial comments were that the least her kids were going to get would be a Wii. And in the case of Tina Fiorillo, it may be safe to assume that her kids will probably end-up with at least Paul Canon's house.

Also it appears that some good may have already come of this unfortunate event because if you followed many of the above links, you'd see that the police were strongly opposing oversight by the civilian government, but that situation appears to have dramatically changed and procedurally, they appear to be doing some things different.

PS) Thanks for the links.

[hulagalinthesky]

Wow, you always find the most interesting stories.

[discreet_chaos]

Thanks, but a lot of credit also has to go to the web

[tequilaprophet]

Wow.