Mountain State Matters

In more serious news, Education Week released their 2008 State Technology Grades. The results? West Virginia was the ONLY state to receive a grade of “A” for their overall use of educational technology in grades K-12. The report deemed that West Virginia was exemplary in providing access to technology, using the technology and  including the technology in its teacher and administrator standards.

From working (temporarily) in a WV public school, I would have to agree. Every classroom had one or more computers, there were several computer labs, and I was generally impressed by the familiarity most kids had with the computers. It’s admirable that the state education system has put so much emphasis on technology in the schools, as there are parts of the state where broadband isn’t yet available and personal computer use isn’t as widespread as it is in more urban areas.

Despite all this technology, the state’s achievement levels are still lagging the rest of the nation, according to the report. The superior technology grade is a great start, but until that technology begins translating into higher student achievement, there’s still work to be done.

Hot dogs are representative of America, and perhaps more American than the reliable fall-back apple pie. Each city and state has a different way of enjoying hot dogs (and according to an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, each baseball stadium has a unique way as well).

Hot dogs in West Virginia are different, as shown by two connected websites dedicated to the dog: W.Va. Hot Dog and The West Virginia Hot Dog Blog. The West Virginia Hot Dog is a “uniquely delectable gift from heaven,” according to the blog, which should be accompanied at all times by mustard, slaw, chili and onions. Ketchup?

There are many reasons why one shouldn’t eat ketchup on a hot dog any hot dog. First, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council’s “Hot Dog Etiquette” rules dictate that no one over 18 should never eat ketchup on a hot dog. Ketchup is destructive of all that is right and just about a properly assembled hot dog since its sweetness and acidic taste overpowers food and disguises its true flavor.

In the film Sudden Impact, San Francisco detective Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) launches a tirade while conversing with a cop who’s munching a ketchup-topped dog at a murder scene:

“Nah, this stuff isn’t getting to me — the shootings, the knifings, the beatings… old ladies being bashed in the head for their social security checks[.] [...] Nah, that doesn’t bother me. But you know what does bother me? You know what makes me really sick to my stomach? It’s watching you stuff your face with those hot dogs. Nobody… I mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog.” We agree with Harry.

Possibly the coolest thing about this already-cool site is the slaw map. Cole slaw is something that isn’t typically put on a hot dog outside of the state (in fact, when I sent a friend this website his response to a picture of a loaded hot dog was “is that egg salad?”). I think this map accurately shows the cultural divides within West Virginia. You can get slaw throughout much of the state, but the northern and eastern panhandles are a bit “slawless,” perhaps because they are culturally closer to Ohio and D.C. The northern counties are also a bit different, and sometimes don’t offer slaw.

Yum.

Hot dog photo by VJ Beauchamp