1967 double slaying roils Staunton... again

Probably never hear anything else about the case. Several months ago an Elkton cop was suspected of murdering Rachel Goode back in 2003. An arrest was supposedly pending shortly. The case/arrest just fizzled away into oblivion.

I'm not familiar with any specific problems or allegations in reference to the Elkton Police Department. But I feel sure they have their share of problems internally, just like every other law enforcement agency does nowadays. A lot of these problems are because of the applicants they are having to hire. Atlanta, Goergia is so desperate for apllicants now that they hire people with criminal records. Even the Virginia State Police now people who have used drugs in the past. Something to the effect of an applicant can not have used pot within a certain time PRIOR to their application, and an applicant can not have used heroin or cocaine within a certain time PRIOR to their application. This was confirmed to me by a veteran state trooper although I still hope it has been misunderstood by all involved somehow. It's really getting sad out there if this is true.

Oh, I know about the problems, Sick. Philly--as a lot of urban departments--softened hiring requirements about two decades ago. What you get with that is converse to the old police culture. In the old days--for both good and bad--you had generations of officers from the same family who took pride in their job. Now--in the big cities--if the Sanitation Department offered pay higher than the PD, then a lot of these officers would become trashmen. It is just like another government job to them.

Re: Elkton, I thought there had been some other story coming out of there in addition to the Good disappearance. Hey, the Good case might be something CNN's Nancy Grace could devote 84 straight nights to whilst overdosing us on saccharine with tiresome pics of her demon baby twins: little (I just have to say "little," as all good 21st Century reporters tenderly use that adjective when describing infants and toddlers) Beelzebub and Satan.

Hey, I think that's fine for them if they want to live in 1900. But in my opinion they're really doing that kid a disservice by taking him back in time, too. It might see quaint now, but how will he compete with his peers? Maybe he'll just stay on the farm and work it and take care of his parents as they get older. That's what they did back in 1900, right?

Their son was approximately two years old when they began the experiment, which lasted one year. I don't believe they did their child any harm, and I think the benefit of having two parents at home with him daily for a full year of his preschool life probably was very good for him. I envy them their courage and determination to do what they did. I read the book. It painted a vivid picture of how difficult life must have been then. It made me realize that the good 'ol days were probably not very much as I had always imagined, and it made me aware that I can and should live with less and try to be more independent on many levels. The book is excellent, and well worth reading.

I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but no one has to go essentially into exile like the couple in this story in order to live simply, lovingly, and happily. I ought to know; I've lived a simple, delightfully happy life for years without all of the bells and whistles that virtually everyone else feels obliged to embrace.

You get the feeling that the two people in the story had no will power or self-control if they couldn't manage to extricate themselves from the enslaving trappings of the modern world without going to such extreme lengths. I hope readers won't feel they need to follow in this couple's footsteps in order to live better lives.