There are certain states -- Maryland has become one this year, North Carolina has been one and New Jersey has been one -- where there's no real home-school advantage. Guys can just come in here and cherry-pick who they want.

That tells you North Carolina was indistinguishable from states without laws.

I love my State, because her people have been good and kind to me, and because her sky is above my home, as it will be above my grave.

....mountains. They stand at every view, like a mother offering a blanket in which to wrap everyday life and shelter it from useless. dreads. In june they are walls of white rhodendron blossom. In autumn the forests set themselves afflame with color. Even winter has its icy charms.

We were motivated by the fact that (North Carolina) had won four in a row. We know all about the reputation they have as a basketball state, but we just said they weren't going win this year.

Barbecue is the third rail of North Carolina politics.