ARTICLE: "The Terrorists Next Door? Plot Suspects Lived Quietly in Suburb," By Anthony Faiola and Dale Russakoff, Washington Post, May 10, 2007; Page A01

This is exactly what I'm talking about: notice how in the Core this type of insurgent has to hide in plain sight? Then notice how they get caught: the video store.

In a connected place with strong local government (we have no idea how strong our local government is compared to the Gap), it's hard to be the guerrilla. You have to hide all the time. To emerge is to shoot your wad, one way or the other. The calibration of local rules, police, vigilance, etc, is constant. There are no warlords to buy off, just other off-grid types like yourself to ally with.

Do something weird and the grid's alerted and you're done.

Different in the isolated hinterland, though. There the bad boys can rule because the power is far away and the locals have to choose.

No choosing in the suburbs. Behave or we call the cops.