That's what eventually pushed North Carolina over the divide. It gave Governor Easley an argument: Why should our people be paying for schools in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina?

The lottery has become the white noise of society. It doesn't stand out as it once would have. As long as people here keep the lottery cool and don't offend the North Carolina sensibility — as long as it doesn't get tacky —I think it'll come off fairly well here.

In general, what they allow folks like me to do is take what I've learned and the resources of the university and connect them to the greater society.

They are a way for a big university to enhance its research capacity, enhance its ability to discuss and bring together people for learning, and advancing knowledge that's not strictly classroom instruction.

He calls it helping his team. What he is really doing is selling out the people of North Carolina.

Our goal is to train people to prepare for and prevent emergencies.