At its heart, the battle is a border dispute.

July 13, 2001 6:06 AM

At its heart, the battle is a border dispute. Virgina poses a threat to Marylands border integrity. It is "..the first skirmish in a much larger battle."
posted by stbalbach (16 comments total)

Anybody ever read The Sot-Weed Factor?
posted by bob bisquick at 7:15 AM on July 13, 2001

In some parts of Maryland mentioned in Sot-Weed things havnt changed much.. going to school there all there is to do is drink and swindle.
posted by stbalbach at 7:42 AM on July 13, 2001

Give Texas to Maryland and Virginia, then. They can split it.
posted by pracowity at 7:51 AM on July 13, 2001

Maryland doesn't want Texas, and Virginia is already fairly indistinguishable from it.

We don't want DC either, so don't even go there.

And we especially don't want Detroit.

Maryland and Virginia are vastly different states, and it causes a lot of problems, notably in areas like the one mentioned here, but even more so in transportation. The state governments (and DC) really can't get along to solve problems that very much need to be solved.

A lot of the problem has to do with the diverse nature of Virginia. The real solution to the problem would be to give Northern Virginia to Maryland.

Of course, Virginians are pretty uppity, so they'd insist that Northern Virginia absorb Maryland, and we're not having any of that.
posted by anapestic at 8:06 AM on July 13, 2001

Heh. Maryland pride. Woo.

Lessie -- owillis is from Silver Spring, I think. I'm from Bethesda. Any other Marylanders?
posted by jragon at 8:59 AM on July 13, 2001

posted by redfoxtail at 9:28 AM on July 13, 2001

I hereby claim this thread, and all of its riches, in the name of Maryland.
*plants flag*
posted by rorschach at 9:32 AM on July 13, 2001

If Maryland calls me to arms, I will report proudly for my home state.
posted by owillis at 9:36 AM on July 13, 2001

It's funny this link came along today. I was looking at some travel videos about MD last night and I am *this* close to moving back home...
posted by owillis at 9:56 AM on July 13, 2001

Taking the detour from I-95 along US-50 to Annapolis, on the drive up from Atlanta to Hartford, was well worth the extra hour on the road: it's lovely. Although that did involve avoiding DC and Baltimore, which, I'm told, was also a good decision. Does that make me neutral on this?
posted by holgate at 10:20 AM on July 13, 2001

Does that make me neutral on this?

I don't think anyone has ever confused you with Switzerland, Holgate.
posted by anapestic at 10:30 AM on July 13, 2001

Ex-Marylanders unite! Fatti maschi, parole femine ...
posted by allaboutgeorge at 10:50 AM on July 13, 2001

Did you know that the state seal of Maryland was stolen in 1645? Or that the official sport of Maryland is jousting (although some have suggested duckpins as a superior alternative)? My home state's state fish, the rockfish, has it all over Virginia's state fish, the brook trout!

And Holgate, great museums and, depending on when you drove through, the world's best soft-shelled crabs.
posted by snarkout at 1:48 PM on July 13, 2001

Arrgh. Baltimore. Baltimore Museum of Art.

I should force myself to drink a six-pack of Natty Boh as penance.
posted by snarkout at 1:51 PM on July 13, 2001

Taking the detour from I-95 along US-50 to Annapolis, on the drive up from Atlanta to Hartford, was well worth the extra hour on the road: it's lovely

The old highways are always a better choice than the boring old interstates.
posted by daveadams at 2:19 PM on July 13, 2001

From a scenery perspective, that is.
posted by daveadams at 2:19 PM on July 13, 2001