What is the North Carolina connection to today’s postage stamp release? Thanks go to Evelyn Ruth Ragan for today’s blog topic. She points out that Frank Sinatra, whose stamp goes on sale today, was the third husband of North Carolina’s own Ava Gardner.

Ragan points out: “They were married from 1951 to 1957. They remained good friends until her death in 1990. The Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield has some items given to Ava by Sinatra & vise versa. Although it has been over the required 10 years to get a stamp, Ava still does not have one. She does have a US Post Office honoring her (Smithfield) as does Sinatra in Hoboken, NJ.”

What other stamps have North Carolina links? In 1995 the US Postal Service issued a $.32 stamp honoring President James K. Polk of North Carolina. North Carolina was also included in a commemorative stamp series in 2002.  It was a $.34 stamp featuring the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the

When I was 16 years old I struggled with depression following the unexpected death of my father. With the help of a kind and caring minister John Carter, a lot of great friends and an inspirational book by Norman Vincent Peale I was able to turn the corner. It was a big growth period for me.

I have come across another inspirational book that I like very much. It’s called “Live with Intention” by UNC Journalism School graduate and motivational coach Adair Cates of Asheville. Adair has carved out a list of ten steps to creating the life of your dreams. Her book is a nice and easy read full of interesting quotes and thoughts on the importance of “following your bliss” as author Joseph Campbell put it so well. Adair coaches us how to live with a patient expectancy as we let go of negative energy and concentrate on the truly important things in our lives.

This is not just another ego-oriented road to riches formula. It is a sensible

What advice would you like to leave on this blog for the thousands of college graduates who will be turning their tassels this weekend across North Carolina? What inspirational words might resonate with the students getting ready to face the real world of work and life as a responsible adults?

I heard something simple this week that I really liked. It came from Nate James, the new assistant basketball coach at Duke. Asked what his philosophy of coaching will be, Nate said it is the same as it was in college: "Bring it every day." Bring your best effort to everything you do and bring it day in and day out.

I keep a daily collection of quotes and here are some of my favorite inspirational ones:


"Life should be a daring adventure." Helen Keller

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

"Whatever excites you do it. Whatever drains you stop doing it."

1. What former NC governor lived in Nepal for two years?

2. The father of what higher education leader grew up with former Senator Jesse Helms in Monroe?

3. What former candidate for governor served a subpoena on Richard Nixon at the White House?

4. What Durham bricklayer's son who ran for governor in 1972 was later convicted of fraud?

5. What former governor of NC is best qualified to discuss atomic and molecular structure?

6. What Robeson County native became the first African American elected to the General Assembly in the 20th century? Hint he later made similar history on the NC Supreme Court.

7. What former governor was nicknamed "The Mountain Mannered Mountain Man" and whose dialect was the subject of a Rick Dees radio spoof?

8. What Laurinburg native who served as governor became a strong civil rights advocate in the 1960's?

9. What former US Senator went through Harvard Law School

It’s the best kept secret since Dean Smith’s retirement as basketball coach eleven years ago.  Today’s announcement of the new chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill  follows a lengthy period of silence and secrecy. The school which touts itself as the "people's university" has upset a lot of people by keeping an airtight seal on the selection process.

You can argue that much of the process needs to be confidential to protect potential candidates and cast as wide a net as possible. In previous searches a list of finalists was released. Not this time.

What do you think? Has the UNC Board of Governors been too secret in their search? Should the public have more input in choosing the next leader of a public university such as UNC?