Our Friends and Neighbors: No iPhone in Vermont, New Hampshire Militia Man

Plenty of fascinating news this week for our oft-neglected New England neighbors:

Vermont:
The poor folks in Vermont will miss out on the wonders of the new iPhone because the iPhone will use Cingular, and Vermont doesn't have Cingular networks.

They won't be the only ones: "The iPhone service won't be available in all or large portions of Alaska, Colorado, the Dakotas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, upstate New York, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming, among other places."

New Hampshire:
Bostonist can't say enough about the nutter who has decided he's not gonna pay his taxes, ever, and he's barricaded himself in his concrete home to make a point. The guy wants to get the David Koresh treatment:

"Ed Brown has not been to court since Jan. 11 and said he has no intention of returning. In interviews over the past few days, he has said that he is readying himself for a shootout with federal officials. His hilltop home was built with 8-inch-thick concrete walls and can function without outside power or water, Brown said in an interview this summer. Several supporters have joined Brown at the house and Brown said he expects them to stay for the foreseeable future."

In an ideal universe, the Guv'mint would just let Mr. Brown sit up in his concrete castle, spoiling for a fight that will never come. A guy like him might see that as worse punishment than being forced to pay his taxes.

In news that merits a giggle, the state's legislators are debating a bill to legalize using and selling pot. The last name of the bill's sponsor is "Weed."

Image of New England from UMass.