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Wednesday 2 October 2019

State of the Union - North Carolina







George writes:

The state capital of North Carolina is named after Sir Walter Raleigh. It took the Raleigh part, not the Walter part. And by the way, there is no city or town anywhere in the USA called Walter.


North Carolina is famous for one thing and one thing only: the Orville Brothers’ first flight. Despite what some sites on the Web are trying to tell me, it is famous for nothing else. Such is the extent of barrel-scrapingness several people ramble on about barbecues. For some reason, the fact that one of only twelve people to have walked on the moon, Charles Duke, does not seem very noteworthy, to the extent that one website calls him Charlie Brown.


Reasons to avoid North Carolina: (1) it grows more sweet potatoes than any other state


First song, by Townes Van Zandt, and after my research I am convinced that the Greensboro of the title is the Greensboro of North Carolina. This involved listening to a podcast of an interview Raleigh-born singer Tift Merritt.




I know someone who has a story about his friend assaulting Townes Van Zandt……….


The Avett Brothers have a song about the state capital. And the Sonic Youth have a song that is connected to a small city in North Carolina, referencing the shooting of a bookstore owner. There are other Chapel Hills, of course, in the USA, and in England, for example, but on checking the lyrics and even more extensive research, the song is definitely about the Chapel Hill in today’s state.


Reasons to go to North Carolina (specifically Durham): (1) The birthplace of Clyde McPhatter

                                                     

A second relevant track, a lo-fi track by The ORanges Band




Reasons to avoid North Carolina (2). Cape Fear is in North Carolina. You’ve seen the film (and/or the remake), there’s some seriously deranged happenings there.


And the state frog, pictured below, is the Pine Barrens Tree Frog. It is very small (25-75cm) and does not live in trees. It is the winner in today’s Frog Of The Day competition.

                                                    



That’s North Carolina. Sorry it’s a bit flat but I could not get inspired but it.

CC writes
More on the alleged assault on TVZ
I'm surprised that George neglected to inform you that North Carolina is the Cigarette State

Robbie Fulks - Cigarette State


8 comments:

  1. Were the Orville Brothers giant green ducks, who wanted to fly right up to the sky? Or were they perhaps the Wright Brothers in disguise?

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    Replies
    1. I must have been pissed when I wrote this

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    2. I am now picturing said green duck in the Wright Borthers' plane, thanks very much Ernie!

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    3. What’s your excuse for the other weeks?

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  2. Very funny Ernie! A typo I’m sure.

    Not sure if the moon in Carolina Moon is seen from North or South Carolina but that’s my only input I’m afraid.

    I think someone is going to have to recount the tale of that assault on TVZ around here? Sounds intriguing.

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    Replies
    1. Click on the TVZ link Alyson
      What I neglected to say is that he had Townes pinned up against a wall

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  3. Gorgeous frog! Hopefully it's 25-75mm rather than cm, otherwise maybe not so gorgeous....although probably more easily kissable.

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    Replies
    1. C, yet more evidence I was off my face when I wrote this. It would have been great if said frog was indeed 25+cm long but alas no

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