it is a rare day, indeed, when i am glad that my state (or actually commonwealth – VA is a commonwealth, although i forget the legal distinction between a state and commonwealth, so if someone knows out there, please let me know) is full of backwater, red-necked, conservative, bible thumpers.

but today, i am glad.

they have moved the sniper suspects to VA to stand trial. they have wiped away the federal charges, so now these assholes can come here to VA where we have no compunction about making people swing for evil deeds. i am only sorry that i probably cannot be on a jury as i don't live in fairfax county. linda's murder took place in an area called seven corners, which is sort of this no-man's-land that seems to be part of arlington, alexandria, falls church, and fairfax county all at once but in fact is really mostly fairfax county. of course, how impartial would i be, anyway, so i guess i shouldn't be on a jury for this. after all, they could cite that i had my mind made up before i even went in. mistrial, anyone?

there are quiet moments, though, when i wonder about the 17 year old. i wonder whether he was coerced to participate in this spree by John Mohammed. 17 year olds can be so impressionable. they like to pretend they know everything, of course, and they don't. we have all been (or hopefully will be one day) 17, and we all remember that feeling of young omniscience. and omnipotence.

but, as BS reminds me often, intent means nothing. facts mean everything. (that's where we often disagree. to me, intent can mean everything. but we won't go down that argumentative path now.) and allegedly, the 17-year-old gunned down linda. if so, he deprived the world of a wonderful, warm soul. and he should pay the price.