sbahns - the blog

Moving to sbahns.com

2009-01-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

I'm overdue doing this, but I am moving my content to my own domain. I've decided to repurpose my sbahns.com domain name as my blog so I can run it on wordpress. I like Blogger just fine, but I can do a lot more with WP. Go to sbahns.com My professional website is now at http://sarah.barnesmarra.com If you are so inclined, also feel free to look me up on:LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Delicious

Proud to be an American

2008-11-04T23:23:00.000-05:00

There is little that I can say that hasn't been said by anyone else. I am incredibly relieved and happy that this nightmarish reign of idiocy, warmongering, and deregulation is OVER. Barack Obama has given us hope again. I'm so very grateful to have my faith in humanity restored. To McCain's credit, I just listened to his concession speech and it was probably the most eloquent I've heard

Preston County, WV NEEDS to pass this school levy

2008-10-09T11:49:00.000-05:00

I am extremely skeptical that Prestonians will pass this bond because there are a lot of curmudgeonly, self-interested old people and Boomers in Preston County who are still pissed off that schools were consolidated in the 1970's. Preston County has GOT TO BUILD NEW MIDDLE SCHOOLS. It is not an option. The schools currently serving 11-13 year olds in this county were bad almost 20 years ago

Statement of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd on the Economic Bailout Plan

2008-10-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

Good details on the plan and scolding from our elder Senator. Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., submitted the following remarks upon casting a vote on the Senate economic bailout plan: Mr. President, This is an enormous package - $700 billion. That ain't chicken feed! That's 17 times what we spend annually on health care for our nation's veterans. That's 14

Now if only I'd heard this last week...

2008-10-01T06:45:00.003-05:00

Great speech. He did a far better job than anyone else actually explaining the "bailout." Sounds more like a loan to me. This is a fine piece of oration, IMHO. Unlike (apparently) most people I am not looking forward to Thurs. I think Biden will do great, but everyone's expectations of Palin are low that it'll be considered a victory if she just doesn't choke. Which she won't do. She'll

Plastic Jesus Cool Hand Luke

2008-09-27T20:54:00.001-05:00

Give the "bailout" to everyone else - not Wall Street

2008-09-25T14:10:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine (Thanks Amy!) emailed this to me today. I thought it was great. It's exactly what I was thinking too. Screw Wall Street. If can give this kind of money out, give to to everyone else for a change. Talk about a shot in the arm for the economy. Kind of like a giant Reset button on debt. What is so wrong with this idea anyway? Of course I am not an economist and I am sure the

A sinking feeling about University Town Centre

2008-09-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

This is a few days old, but I just realized I had left the tab open in FF with this story because I wanted to post about it. The State Journal resported last week that Target is suing the developers of University Town Centre because the store has sunk FIVE inches in the last three years. Target Sues UTC Developers The store says its Granville location has sunk five inches. MORGANTOWN --

Barack on the Economy

2008-09-17T13:34:00.001-05:00

He's very clear about where he stands on economic solutions. If one more small business person tells me Democrats are bad for business I'm going to scream. It is categorically untrue and not based on fact. Republicans are bad for your business because all they care about is the super-wealthy corporations and government staying out of the way while they run roughshod over us. Regulation keeps

YouTube - Ben Walker - You're No One If You're Not On Twitter

2008-09-17T08:14:00.001-05:00

Obama and The Palin Effect

2008-09-13T22:47:00.001-05:00

Obama and The Palin Effect From: Deepak Chopra | Posted: Friday, September 5th, 2008 Sometimes politics has the uncanny effect of mirroring the national psyche even when nobody intended to do that. This is perfectly illustrated by the rousing effect that Gov. Sarah Palin had on the Republican convention in Minneapolis this week. On the surface, she outdoes former Vice President

Pam Anderson: Sarah Palin

2008-09-12T14:31:00.001-05:00

Normally I don't give a rat's ass what Pam Anderson thinks, but I think she said it best here about Sarah Palin.

Contact Gov. Manchin ASAP

2008-09-09T19:43:00.001-05:00

Repost from WVaBlue Paging Gov. Manchin: stop Blankenship's shenanigans by: Carnacki Tue Sep 09, 2008 at 13:55:14 PM EDT From an email: Help us ask WV Governor Manchin for "stay of execution" for Coal River Mountain Hey Folks, The residents of the Coal River Valley in West Virginia urgently need your help. While we thought we had months to stop

Mark it with a K (and P) for Kira, Piper, and me!

2008-09-06T20:49:00.001-05:00

Mark it with a K (and P) for Kira and me!Originally uploaded by sbahnsI made a blueberry pie a few weeks ago. We had amazing blueberries this year. Though the crust burned a little on the edges, the K & P was a thing of beauty. Tasted great too, if I do say so myself!

High School Reunion, Birthday, start of new semester at WVU, etc.

2008-08-27T08:37:00.001-05:00

WVU is back in session and I'm teaching again on Tuesday nights. So far so good, but I already have to cancel a class because my friend Marisa from Spain is coming to visit that day with her husband, Frank. They'll be in WV Aug. 31-Sept 3. I guess they are staying in Kingwood 2 nights and then visiting here one night. [Marisa was an exchange student during my junior year.] She wants me to go

YouTube - 3D morphable model face animation

2008-08-14T08:27:00.001-05:00

Steve suggested I check this out today. It's really neat! The implications are also kinda scary, but it's fascinating.

Government Asks Public for Views on Charity Student-Loan Forgiveness Rules

2008-08-11T13:30:00.001-05:00

I guess the College Cost Reduction and Access Act finally took effect on July 1 and it offers people in public service a way out of the nightmare of student loans - finally. It's not perfect, but it is definitely a start. One thing that has not been clear, however, is what constitutes "public service." I've been scouring these articles about the law for months and it is not clear if this

Must Watch: I Am Legend\'s Original Ending - This is Amazing « FirstShowing.net

2008-08-07T08:40:00.002-05:00

Must Watch: I Am Legend's Original Ending - This is Amazing « FirstShowing.net Posted using ShareThis

Muh Brutha's famous y'all!

2008-07-30T21:32:00.002-05:00

This comic was posted Monday on Delegating Denver #54 of #56: West Virginia. See my brother, Noah, in the upper left. ;PAwesomeness!

WV Blue: The Tax Man

2008-07-30T07:53:00.000-05:00

Repost: from West Virginia Blue by spruceshoe Here's a tasty little chart from the Tax Policy Center posted as a "Web Extra" on WSAZ's site tonight. According to The Tax Policy Center, here's how the average taxes would change in 2009 based on the two candidates' tax proposals. Average Income Over $2.9 million: McCain's Plan -$269,364 ; Obama's Plan +$701,885 Average Income $603,000

Maps of War: Imperial History of the Middle East

2008-07-27T12:37:00.002-05:00

I saw this linked to via Gawker this morning. Pretty interesting little map. Good use of Flash.Maps of War: Imperial History of the Middle EastWho has controlled the Middle East over the course of history? Pretty much everyone. Egyptians, Turks, Jews, Romans, Arabs, Persians, Europeans...the list goes on. Who will control the Middle East today? That is a much bigger question.

People of the world - look at Berlin!

2008-07-25T09:03:00.001-05:00

Transcript:Thank you to the citizens of Berlin and to the people of Germany. Let me thank Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Steinmeier for welcoming me earlier today. Thank you Mayor Wowereit, the Berlin Senate, the police, and most of all thank you for this welcome.I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before. Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but

Al Jazeera English - Inside USA: Healthcare in Appalachia

2008-07-25T08:16:00.003-05:00

WV Public Radio's Newsroom Blog had a link to this this morning. It is a 15 minute segment on healthcare in Appalachia. It's a very well researched piece.

Movie Clip: Network - Jensen/Beale Boardroom Scene

2008-07-24T21:40:00.002-05:00

I watched this movie last night and this scene was such a surprise. Ned Beatty is incredible here.This movie is best seen as a collection of really interesting singular performances. Faye Dunaway is incredible. The married guy cheating on his wife subplot is completely extraneous and unnecessary, IMHO, though I guess Lumet was trying to illustrate the generation gap between the "TV Generation"

The Rural Blog: Berea College, where students pay no tuition but work, is an example in debate over endowments

2008-07-22T08:32:00.001-05:00

I heard about Berea College when I was looking at schools as a senior in high school, but I was convinced that it was probably not good enough since it was free. I was so ignorant. Looking back I really really wish I had considered it more seriously. I enjoyed my time at WVU, but I wouldn't be way over my head in student loan debt if I had gone there. Of course I wouldn't have met Steve or