posted
I think anything that brings attention to the state of West Virginia is positive for the state.
Is it a ridiculous state motto? Sure.
Does it matter? Meh, it's West Virginia. The only things I know they have are coal and white water rafting, and other than that I have zero interest in going near that state.
The state legislature probably figured it would make the state seem either more business friendly or more tourist friendly. Can't blame them for trying.
Edit:
It's one of the few mottos not in Latin. But it's still better than Guam "Guam, where America's day begins."
Seriously, look at a list of the mottos of the states of America. Some of them are rather poetic, many are powerful or beautiful.
quote:Originally posted by Elmer's Glue: I hate West Virginia.
Why? If you have ever actually been here (and thus have reason for hating it), then I'd like to hear your reasons.
West Virginia has plenty of shortcomings, I'll be the first to admit, but it is the single most beautiful place I've ever had the opportunity to visit (and for me, to live in), has probably the single best program for encouraging post-secondary education in the country, is a great place to raise a family, has decent elementary and secondary schools (some are worse than others, some better, just as you'll find anywhere), and it certainly has an enormous amount of untapped potential (hence the slogan, 'Open for Business'). It may seem stupid, but when the biggest complaint (really, the only real complaint with the state) is that we're not business-friendly enough, it makes more sense. Besides, can you all think of a better slogan to emphasize that point?
Posts: 143 | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
A little background here. On our signs along the interstate as you enter WV it used to read: “Wild and Wonderful”. Our Governor changed it to “Open for Business” this past January. Here’s a little more on the whole story: http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2006101519?pt=0
So Elmer….. is California that much better?
Posts: 2845 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I love West Virginia. I want to live in Wheeling some day. My family drove through it on our way to Washington DC and it had to have been the most beautiful place I've ever seen.
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posted
I'd choose nature over urban decay. But doesn't California have both? It's why I love Michigan so much. I can drive 20 minutes and be in downtown Detroit with all a major urban center has to offer, or I can drive an 20 minutes and be at a pristine beach, or a half hr-45 minutes and be in the middle of some of the most beautiful nature America has to offer. We have it all, and it's all easily accessible, and quickly.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Wait, wait, wait. From what Lyrhawn said, Elmer, I take it you're from California. You can't stand the humidity of the East Coast becaue of the humidity, yet you live in a state whose entire climate is affected by the Pacific Ocean?
Posts: 143 | Registered: Sep 2005
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So you don’t like WV cause you can’t crave it in a pumpkin? That’s pretty sad since WVU’s band can make it on the football filed: http://tinyurl.com/yeezd4 Not only can they make the WV they can march the outline up the filed, invert it and then back down the field before every WVU home game: http://youtube.com/watch?v=armiocYufZk
posted
And if you want something academic, WVU is decent university (we've produced something like 26 Rhodes scholars, for example, which is one of the highest numbers of any university in the country), not to mention that one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20th century came from West Virginia (John Nash, subject of A Beautiful Mind, was from Bluefield).
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quote:Originally posted by Eldrad: Wait, wait, wait. From what Lyrhawn said, Elmer, I take it you're from California. You can't stand the humidity of the East Coast because of the humidity, yet you live in a state whose entire climate is affected by the Pacific Ocean?
Shall we discuss the direction of the jet stream and other relevant wind and water currents? How about shapes and types of coastlines?
It is simply a fact that the Pacific coast is FAR less humid (on average) than the Atlantic coast.
Not that humidity seems like much of a reason to actually HATE a place. I mean, I wouldn't want to live in NYC, but I like to visit. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Michigan sucks royally. Hot humid summers. Cold snowy winters (ironically much worse, not better, when global warming pays a little visit).
I never want to live anywhere else as long as I live. I'll go where I have to for the girl I love, but my heart and my home will always be in Michigan, and it'll always be the place I want to return to.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
What does wishing to reserve the word "hate" for things that actually, you know, matter, have to do with being cheerful?
I'm actually doing great. Had a lovely dinner with my parents at a marvelous (relatively new) French place. The food was superb, and the company was great. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Eldrad: Wait, wait, wait. From what Lyrhawn said, Elmer, I take it you're from California. You can't stand the humidity of the East Coast because of the humidity, yet you live in a state whose entire climate is affected by the Pacific Ocean?
Shall we discuss the direction of the jet stream and other relevant wind and water currents? How about shapes and types of coastlines?
It is simply a fact that the Pacific coast is FAR less humid (on average) than the Atlantic coast.
Not that humidity seems like much of a reason to actually HATE a place. I mean, I wouldn't want to live in NYC, but I like to visit.
Shall we be needlessly condescending in an online forum, or the fact that the Appalachian Mountains which run straight through West Virginia prevent most of our state from being affected by the Atlantic?
Posts: 143 | Registered: Sep 2005
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WV is a heart-breakingly beautiful state in spots.
It also has some of the worst poverty in the country and some of the lowest level of essential services per capita.
I can't really blame them for trying to bring in more business.
I doubt it'll really work. What attracts business these days is high concentrations of educated work forces, tax incentives for relocation, and a good fit for that business' logistical needs (transportation, infrastructure, etc.)
WV is going to have to invest big time in education over many years to get to where it could attract anything but low-skill jobs in high numbers.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Bob_Scopatz: WV is a heart-breakingly beautiful state in spots.
It also has some of the worst poverty in the country and some of the lowest level of essential services per capita.
I can't really blame them for trying to bring in more business.
I doubt it'll really work. What attracts business these days is high concentrations of educated work forces, tax incentives for relocation, and a good fit for that business' logistical needs (transportation, infrastructure, etc.)
WV is going to have to invest big time in education over many years to get to where it could attract anything but low-skill jobs in high numbers.
You're spot on. The problem is that West Virginia already does invest heavily in education (something like 1/3 to 2/5 of the budget goes to education), but because there are so few job opportunities for highly skilled people, they're forced to move out of state (as I'm going to have to do). That's the reason why the legislature's trying to get businesses in here.
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Pennsylvania had a competition when the slogan was replaced a couple of years ago. The news story at the time was the the governer (Ed Rendell) found "Our governer can eat more than your governer" to be a hilarious idea for the slogan.
It all ended on the same kind of stupid note that WV has now. I don't recall what the new slogan is, but I do know that it used to be a volvo (?) slogan.
Posts: 1621 | Registered: Oct 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Eldrad: Shall we be needlessly condescending in an online forum, or the fact that the Appalachian Mountains which run straight through West Virginia prevent most of our state from being affected by the Atlantic?
Why didn't you just say that to begin with, instead of making ridiculous claims about the East vs. West Coasts?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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It's not particularly humid here in san jose even though we're right on the bay. The water here is cold, not steamy.
I've been to West Virginia. My parents took us there when we were little and pointed out "Mountain Mommas" like from the song. When rednecks from Arkansas make fun of you for being hick, well, it's time for you to just take off your shoes and marry your sister.
posted
As a former resident of South Charleston West Virginia, I prefer the old "Wild, Wonderfull, West Virginia" slogan. I remember when my parents got the new license plates with the slogan on it. I can see them wanting to shake things up after 25 or 30 years of the same thing, but "Wild, Wonderfull, West Virgina" sums things up quite nicely and is kind of appealing.
Posts: 148 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Eldrad: Shall we be needlessly condescending in an online forum, or the fact that the Appalachian Mountains which run straight through West Virginia prevent most of our state from being affected by the Atlantic?
Why didn't you just say that to begin with, instead of making ridiculous claims about the East vs. West Coasts?
There was nothing 'ridiculous' about it. Just because the West coast isn't affected as much by the ocean it's on as the East coast doesn't mean that what I said had any less validity. First you were being condescending, now you're trying to be insulting; just stop being a prick, and let's leave it alone.
Posts: 143 | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote: You can't stand the humidity of the East Coast becaue of the humidity, yet you live in a state whose entire climate is affected by the Pacific Ocean?
That's funny. As a life-long Californian, very funny.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Less earthquakes in West Virginia than California, I'd bet. And less of an energy shortage. Not as much of an illegal immigration problem, either. Or as much pollution.
posted
They also have a hell of a college football team that I'm not looking forward to Rutgers playing at the end of the season. Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Being a NoVa resident, I tend to think of WV as that embarrasing drunk uncle that you try to forget lives next door...but that's just me...
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
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quote:Just because the West coast isn't affected as much by the ocean it's on as the East coast doesn't mean that what I said had any less validity.
What you said is completely valid, if you actually were referring to the cooling effect the Pacific Ocean has. But you implied humidity, and that simply is not the case. I'm still waiting for any evidence you might have that it is.
quote: First you were being condescending, now you're trying to be insulting;
Aw, did I not achieve insulting? Darnit!
quote: being a prick,
Biological impossibility.
Look, I said from the start that I think hating a place for its humidity is dumb. I have said nothing negative about your beloved state, and have in fact read with interest the information you have presented, since it happens to be a state that I know little about. But if you're going to make nonsensical claims about MY state, expect to be called on them.
And for the record, I was not going for condescension OR insulting -- until this post, anyway.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:Originally posted by FlyingCow: They also have a hell of a college football team that I'm not looking forward to Rutgers playing at the end of the season.
By the way, go Rutgers this weekend. Beat Pitt!
Want you all to keep moving up for our big date!
Posts: 2845 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Hey, they could have gone the way Ottawa did. "Ottawa: Technically Beautiful." ... I mean, seriously, who thinks these things up?
Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote: Less earthquakes in West Virginia than California
Yeah, see here's the thing. I have lived in California for 17 years now, and I have felt one earthquake. I don't know why everyone from the rest of the country seems to thing we have thing falling down everyday.
And Michigan does suck. Horrible place.
Posts: 1287 | Registered: Apr 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Artemisia Tridentata: Humidity? Sacramento!
I don't believe I said there was nowhere in California that was humid. Merely that there is far more humidity, on average, on the East Coast.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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So Elmer what about the pumpkin thing. I was hoping for some sort of response to the band thing……
Posts: 2845 | Registered: Oct 2003
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