Manufacturing Information Systems (MISys, Inc.)

Dateline: Woodstock - Like much of the country, Vermonters are breathing a sigh of relief that the transition of government in neighboring New York seems to have been completed on Monday without event. Rumors had circulated at the end of last week that New Jersey would take advantage of the fact that New York had no sitting Governor and was preparing to stage a coup which would expand New Jersey's influence north and east. Vermonters have a heathy respect for people from New Jersey (their SUV's are responsible for 28% of the gasoline sold in Vermont) but, frankly, we are not that excited about having them as neighbors. Since Ethan Allen began his fight against the Province of New York in 1777, Vermonters have been wary of flatlanders invading the Green Mountains of the Vermont Republic. Over the years we have become quite comforatble with our neighbors to the west, resting in the certain knowledge that managing ! the largest city in the United States would keep the power-mongers well occupied and away from people who just wanted to be left alone. Today, you will notice very little change as you travel west from Rutland, Vermont to Glenns Falls, New York except, curiously, that Cabot cheddar cheese sold in New York is colored bright orange, while the identical cheese sold in Vermont is its natural yellowish white. We're not quite sure why such cultural differences still remain after 230 years of peaceful coexistence. We can only image the cultural clash resulting from an unfriendly takeover by New Jesey. Good thing Ethan Allen didn't feel he needed to take up the fight over the proper color of cheese.