Thursday, July 29, 2010

Quick hits: N.C. leads nation in copperhead bites, and here comes the drought (again)!

Watch out for that snake!

"North Carolina leads the country in copperhead snake bites, according to Carolinas Poison Center.

"Five venomous snakes call North Carolina home, including copperhead, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback, pygmy, and timber, but it's the copperhead snake that causes the most bites," says NBC 17.

"According to CPC, in 2009, almost 500 snake bites were reported. Of those, 228 were identified as copperhead bites. ..."



13 counties upgraded to moderate drought

"13 counties have received upgraded drought status in the U.S. Drought's Monitor's weekly report, while another eight have escaped abnormally dry status," says the N&O.

"Phil Badgett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, said nine counties were upgraded to moderate drought status. These were Caswell, Pitt, Lenoir, Greene, Granville, Nash, Wayne and Person counties.

"Four counties, he added, were upgraded to severe drought status. These were Hartfield, Halifax, Warren and Northampton counties. ..."

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

UNCA among best environmental studies programs

The University of North Carolina-Asheville is among the best schools for offering environmental studies undergraduate degree programs, according to The Fiske Guide to Colleges.

"You know environmental college programs have become popular when they earn a special mention in The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011 edition," writes the Mother Nature Network.

Along with UNCA are Colby College (Maine), College of the Atlantic, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder, UC-Davis, Dartmouth, Eckerd College (Fla.), Evergreen State College, Tulane, and the University of Washington.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Here's a shocker: N.C. ACC football teams not expected to do well

The media has made its preseason Atlantic Coast Conference picks, and the Hokies of Virginia Tech are the early favorites.

Not surprisingly, the four N.C. teams are not expected to compete for a division or conference title.*

Here are the preseason picks:

ACC Championship votes:

1. Virginia Tech (50)
2. Florida State (26)
3. Miami (10)
4. Georgia Tech (8)
5. (tie) Boston College and UNC (2)


Atlantic Division

1. Florida State (78)
2. Clemson (16)
3. Boston College (4)
4. NC State
5. Wake Forest
6. Maryland

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (62)
2. Miami (20)
3. Georgia Tech (11)
4. North Carolina (5)
5. Duke
6. Virginia

*In all honesty, the goings-ons and uncertainty at UNC probably prevented the Heels from ranking higher.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Quick hits: 49ers football close to happening, and Daughtry gives some love to a W-S theater

49ers football program needs one more signature

"UNC Charlotte’s first on-campus football stadium is now just a governor’s signature away from becoming a reality," according to reports.

"The N.C. General Assembly passed a bill last week that allows the school to borrow $40 million for the construction of a new 15,000-seat football stadium, field house and practice fields to house the Charlotte 49ers’ new football program, scheduled to start play in fall 2013.

"Gov. Beverly Perdue is expected to sign the bill as early as next week. The school plans to mark the event with a celebration among supporters sometime after Perdue gives final approval. ..."


New Daughtry music video highlights theater

"A refurbished former silent movie theater in North Carolina has a starring role in the newest music video from Daughtry," according to the AP.

"The video for the song 'September' was shot earlier this month at the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The center in Winston-Salem dates to 1929, when it was a silent movie theater. It's now the primary performance venue for the arts school.

"The video premiered online Friday on the music network VEVO. The song is from Daughtry's platinum-selling album, 'Leave This Town.' ..."

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

MoogFest performers announced

Massive Attack, MGMT and Thievery Corporation are three of the acts confirmed to perform at the inaugural MoogFest Oct. 29-31 in Asheville, according to the Citizen-Times. The event is in honor the late Robert Moog, creator of the eponymous synthesizer.
More than two dozen other acts will also be featured at MoogFest, with shows booked at the city’s three biggest music venues – the Asheville Civic Center arena, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and The Orange Peel club on Biltmore.

A full schedule is due to be released on on July 27, and tickets will go on sale July 30.

MoogFest is the latest project from AC Entertainment, the creator and producer of the wildly successful Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

The Halloween weekend festival will honor the late Asheville-based music pioneer Robert Moog, creator of the music keyboard synthesizer. Considered the Edision of electronic music, Moog’s synthesizer revolutionized performing. He died at 71 on Aug, 21, 2005.

Moog’s work continues to have an enormous global impact, and not just in music.

Most recently, Asheville Brewing Co. honored the inventor with a specialty craft beer, Moog Filtered Ale, which has been very popular with sales across the country.

Plans also continue for a Moog museum in Asheville, which would house his archives.

(Image from Wikipedia)

Monday, July 12, 2010

Jordan starting to call Charlotte home

"Michael Jordan sightings in Charlotte used to be rare enough that they had a Halley's Comet quality," writes the Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler.

Not anymore. Jordan, who recently bought the Charlotte Bobcats, is making himself more visible and at home in the Queen City.

Jordan has bought a home in uptown Charlotte five minutes from Time Warner Cable Arena and plans to start living there part time in September. He has found several places he likes to hang out in Charlotte - bowling at Strike City in the EpiCentre, schmoozing at Mez restaurant, eating New York-style pizza and watching sports on TV at Selwyn Pub.

"I'm starting to understand my surroundings," Jordan told me in an interview Friday. "I'm moving around. I'm finding out where I like to go in Charlotte to eat and to relax. I want to be part of the community and to interact with the public."

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Quick hits: Lumbees need unity, Elkmont doesn't need hikers

N.C. Lumbee chairman: Unity needed

"The Lumbee tribal chairman in North Carolina is calling for unity in the tribe's fight for federal recognition even as some members are trying to unseat him," according to reports.

"The Fayetteville Observer reported that Chairman Purnell Swett called for unity Tuesday during his first State of the Tribe address. Swett didn't refer to federal recognition during his prepared remarks, but saved his comments for the end of the speech.

"He says the tribe is at a critical point in the federal recognition process and must work together. ..."



Hiking discouraged at Elkmont area in Smokies

"Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are discouraging hikers from using the Elkmont trails through the end of August," says the AP.

"They cited the repaving of all connecting roads to the popular trails, and limited parking. Additionally, a clubhouse in the area is being renovated.

"A news release from the park encouraged visitors to take advantage of the other 750-plus miles of trails in the Smokies. ..."

Thursday, July 01, 2010

What's the food you must eat in your county?

Our State magazine has published a list of the "must-eat" foods from all 100 North Carolina counties. You can view it here (PDF).

From those counties close to me, I'm ashamed to say I've never had the Apple Pie MmmMarmalade from Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Foods in Erwin (Harnett County). I can boast to enjoying a steak from the Angus Barn (Wake County), 'cue from Kings (Lenoir County) and the ribs from 12 Bones in Asheville (Buncombe). I've also been to the Beaufort Grocery Co. (Carteret County), but have not had the Apple Granny Chicken Sandwich; same with the Magnolia Grill's grits concoction (Durham County).

And one of these days I'm gonna brown bag it to he Beefmastor (Wilson County).