North Carolina Budget: The Game

I’ve read lots about financial situations in North Carolina during my time working in the North Carolina Collection…pro-tax hikes, anti-tax hikes, printing more paper money in Revolutionary War-era NC, the gold standard, layoffs, hiring…and so on, and so on. However, Governor Perdue’s “Balance the Budget Challenge” has to be one of the most interesting things I’ve ever seen. Take a look at it and let me know what you think:

http://www.governor.state.nc.us/budgetapp/default.aspx

Watch out for Charlie…those sad Plott Hound eyes make the game a bit harder (that and the fact that the numbers and situations are real-world stuff).

Putting North Carolina in “Jeopardy!”

Thanks to the fan site J! Archive we know that since 1985 North Carolina has been mentioned on “Jeopardy!” in answers or questions at least 258 times. For instance…

1.  “Hawk” Eyes for $1,200 (Feb. 9, 2011)

“This aircraft carrier named for a North Carolina site has been nicknamed ‘Battle Cat.’ ”

2. The CW for $1,000 (Nov. 10, 2009)

“Chad Michael Murray & Hilarie Burton might be gone, but North Carolina holds plenty of drama on this series.”

3. The Bible Belt for $1,000 (May 9, 2005)

“It’s Jerusalem to Isaiah, a peaceful ‘land’ to John Bunyan & small ‘ville’ in North Carolina.”

4. Stamps for an $1,800 daily double (Feb. 8, 2010)

“The Distinguished Marines series honors the man for whom a North Carolina Marine Corps base was named.”

Answers Questions:

1. What is the USS Kitty Hawk?

2. What is “One Tree Hill”?

3. What is Beulah? [The Duplin County town is spelled “Beulaville.”]

4. Who is John Lejeune?

When contestant Nick ventures “Who is… MacArthur?” Alex Trebek responds, “No.  Who is Lt. Gen. John Lejeune, hence Lejeune Camp.”

“Lejeune Camp”? Alex, we’re consulting the judges on that one.