Earlier this week we had the privilege of touring the Yorktown Victory Center and it's various areas of living history. Today we are going to cover the Continental Army Encampment. Again, a super job of recreating an historical view of what life was like during the American Revolution has been extremely well done and again, this one area alone is worth the visit for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of American History.
An interpreter, well versed in history, explains every step of preparing to fire a musket in a military lineup. He goes through all the steps and fires the musket into an area free from any form of endangerment to any humans or species. Once done, he further explains the steps for reloading and demonstrates the process until he once again fires a second shot.
Pictured above is part of a table of tools and weapons used during the period.
Multiple canons are on display and yes one of them does actually get fired.
There are a number of muskets on display and if you have never had the opportunity to hold one in your hands, you get a chance to do so here at the encampment. Again, this is a living museum and many areas are hands on. How often do you get such a grand opportunity?
There are numerous tents that you can go into and explore what life was like inside one of these.
Attention to detail is never lacking. There are surprises around each corner and if you have your camera ready, you have some great opportunities to take advantage of.
An entire area has been dedicated to what cooking for the troops was like and even includes the supply shed.
Foods and their preparations are fully demonstrated. The above is only a very small sampling of what you will see.
Pictured here is the troops laundry area and costs for having someone wash your cloths for you based on the money used during that period.
There is also the encampments doctor with all his tools and medicines used during the time and he covers their uses in full detail. Sure we have pictures, but the objective is to get you to pay a visit and see everything for yourself and start your own educational process. While we seek to educate as many people about our nation's history, we have found that taking a hands on approach gives a more true appreciation for such. With that said, this is why we are promoting area museums and sites and will continue to do so. It's a combined effort to bring our nations history to as many people as possible for a greater appreciate of what this country really is and can once again be.
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the appointments of three board appointees to fill vacancies on the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors. The three appointees are: Lt. General Michael Rochelle (Ret.), Dr. Deborah DiCroce, and Mr. Bryan Cuffee.
Speaking about the appointments, Governor McDonnell noted, “Today I have made three appointments to fill vacancies on the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors. Each appointee brings unique strengths and experiences to the board that will be vital to carrying out an innovative, strategic path for the University’s future. Norfolk State University has a history of academic excellence, outstanding alumni, and strong community support. I have no doubt the University can overcome its current challenges and become a leader again in placing graduates in competitive, in-demand careers. I commend interim President Eddie Moore, Rector Tom Chewning, the administration, faculty, and the Board of Visitors for the steps already being taken to move the school forward.”
The Governor added, “In addition to these appointees, I have asked two individuals to serve as senior advisors to the board and administration on an as-needed basis. Jim Dyke, as a former Secretary of Education in Virginia, can provide the board and administration with counsel on an array of matters, assist the university with strategic implementation, and work with the administration to address SACS concerns. Professor Ervin Jordan, alumnus of Norfolk State and current professor at the University of Virginia, can provide counsel to the administration and faculty on matters related to the academic environment and lend expertise on academic excellence at NSU.”
Biographies of each of the board appointees are below:
Michael D. Rochelle (LTG, USA, Ret.) of Manassas, Founder, President, and CEO of MDR Strategies, LLC
Michael Rochelle is Founder, President, and CEO of MDR Strategies, LLC, a strategic human capital consulting and executive coaching firm. Rochelle retired from the US Army after 37 years. Rochelle earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language Education from NSU in 1972 and a Masters in Public Administration from Shippensburg State University in 1994. He is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni for NSU and a member of the Boys and Girls of America Hall of Fame. Rochelle was honored as an NAACP “Barrier Breaker” award recipient in 2008.
Deborah M. DiCroce, Ed.D. of Chesapeake, President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation
Dr. DiCroce is President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. She has thirty-five years of experience in Virginia higher education, serving as President of Tidewater Community College for 14 years until 2012 and previously as President of Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville for nine years.
Dr. DiCroce is a past Trustee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and past member of the SACS Commission on Colleges. She has taught at the University of Virginia, The College of William and Mary, and Old Dominion University. Before her appointment to the NSU Board of Visitors, she served on the Board of Visitors at Christopher Newport University and Governor McDonnell’s Commission on Economic Development & Job Creation. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in Higher Education from The College of William & Mary. Very active in the Hampton Roads region, the Chesapeake Rotary Club named Dr. DiCroce First Citizen of Chesapeake in 2012.
Bryan Cuffee of Virginia Beach, Vice President of Development for Gold Key/PHR Hotels and Resorts
Bryan Cuffee has worked at Gold Key/PHR Hotels and Resorts since 1995 and currently serves as Vice President of Development. He serves as an appointee to the Virginia Beach Development Authority, the Virginia Beach Resort Advisory Commission, and the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance. He is also a member of the Norfolk Middle Town Lions Club and a charter member of the United Way African-American Leadership Giving Initiative. Cuffee earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Norfolk State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Old Dominion University.
getting arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
MIKE RIGGSNOV 07, 2013
Dale Carson is a defense attorney in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as an alumnus of the Miami-Dade Police Department and the FBI. So he knows a thing or two about how cops determine who to hassle, and what all of us can do to not be one of those people. Carson has distilled his tips into a book titled Arrest-Proof Yourself, now in its second edition. It is a legitimately scary book—369 pages of insight on the many ways police officers profile and harass the people on their beat in an effort to rack up as many arrests as possible.
"Law enforcement officers now are part of the revenue gathering system," Carson tells me in a phone interview. "The ranks of cops are young and competitive, they’re in competition with one another and intra-departmentally. It becomes a game. Policing isn’t about keeping streets safe, it’s about statistical success. The question for them is, Who can put the most people in jail?"
Which would make the question for you and me, how can we stay out of jail? Carson's book does a pretty good job of explaining—in frank language—how to beat a system that's increasingly predatory.
Carson has four golden rules, the first of which is, "If police can't see you, they can't arrest you." The simplest application of this concept is that if you plan on doing something illegal, you should do it in the privacy of your home. Yes, you can be arrested while at home, but you can't be profiled sitting in your living room, and profiling is what you're trying to avoid.
Be Invisible to Police
Carson has four golden rules, the first of which is, "If police can't see you, they can't arrest you." The simplest application of this concept is that if you plan on doing something illegal, you should do it in the privacy of your home. Yes, you can be arrested while at home, but you can't be profiled sitting in your living room, and profiling is what you're trying to avoid.
The rule extends to activities that are perfectly legal. "In 21st century America," he writes, "as long as you're not committing a crime, you should be able to wear the wildest clothes you want, roam the streets when you feel like it, and lean on a light post or hang out at some wild club if it amuses you." "Should" is the key word. In reality, cops love hassling people who stand out, even though it's not illegal to, say, have a Buckeyes bumper sticker that looks like a pot leaf. If you drive a sports car or a lowrider, you're more likely to attract a cop's attention than if you drive, say, a gray Honda Civic. Same goes for clothes, hairstyles, tone and volume of voice. Be boring.
So try to blend in. Beat cops who patrol the same routes day after day are "incredibly attuned to incongruity." But don't be too reactive when you see cops. "Police are visual predators," Carson writes. "Any sudden change in motion, speed, direction or behavior immediately attracts their attention." That means even if you're doing something you think might attract a cop's attention, quickly doing something else will attract even more attention. "Don't alter the pattern," Carson advises. "Keep on keeping on."
Also, if you can help it, don't go out after dark.
What if I can't be invisible to police?
If police want to hassle you, they're going to, even if you're following the above tips as closely as possible. What then? Every interaction with a police officer entails two contests: One for "psychological dominance" and one for "custody of your body." Carson advises giving in on the first contest in order to win the second. Is that belittling? Of course. "Being questioned by police is insulting," Carson writes. "It is, however, less insulting than being arrested. What I'm advising you to do when questioned by police is pocket the insult. This is difficult and emotionally painful."
Winning the psychological battle requires you to be honest with cops, polite, respectful, and resistant to incitement. "If cops lean into your space and blast you with coffee-and-stale-donut breath, ignore it," Carson writes. Same goes for if they poke you in the chest or use racial slurs. "If you react, you'll get busted." Make eye contact, but don't smile. "Cops don't like smiles." Always tell the truth. "Lying is complicated, telling the truth is simple."
He also says you should be dignified—unless it looks like you're about to lose both the psychological contest and the one for custody of your body. In which case, you should be strategically pitiful.
First off, you should ask for a notice to appear as an alternative to being arrested. You still have to go before a judge, but you can go under your own power without first going to jail. Carson says the least degrading way to get a cop to issue you a notice in lieu of arresting you is to tell them that you're not a hardened criminal and that being arrested (and having your mugshot taken) is going to impact your employment, education and/or family.
And if that doesn't work? It's debasement time. Start with crying. Bawl hard while begging for a notice (the option here is a notice or jail, not notice/jail or getting off scot free). "Don't waste time worrying about what your friends will think," Carson says. "If they're with you, they're getting arrested too." If they're not with you, they won't know.
If crying fails, and you're willing to do whatever it takes to not go to jail, Carson advises you to "foul yourself so that the police will consider setting you free in order not to get their cruiser nasty." Vomit on your clothes. Defecate and urinate in your pants. Then let the officers know what you've done. If they arrest you anyway, you'll get cleaned and reclothed at the jail.
Reasonable things you should never do
If you're driving too fast and see a police car up ahead, don't hit the brakes. "If you suddenly hit the brakes," Carson writes, "cops in front of you will see your front end dip, a tip-off that you were speeding." Don't drive perfectly, or too slow. Don't slouch or put too much heavy stuff in your trunk, causing your car to ride low. If you're a dude, and you want to roll around town with your fellow dudes, be prepared for a stop. "When cops see four young males in a car, they immediately wonder if this is a crew of criminals out to do a job." If you're going to ride four deep, have one member of your car wear a highly visible item of clothing indicating what you do for a living. For instance, if you're all construction workers car-pooling on the way home from a job site, someone in the car should wear a hard hat. Seriously.
Another reasonable thing you should never do? Allow a cop to search your car. There are many loopholes that allow cops to search your car without probable cause or a warrant, but Carson advises you to say no every time. You should still follow all the rules of a traffic stop—keep hands where cops can see them, give them your paperwork, get out of the car if they ask you to—but never let them search. Always, always, always say no (politely).
Link back to original story at The Atlantic Cities
Our Notes:
Violations to the United States Constitution continue to prevail throughout the nation. Citizens are now the hunted. We have all become pry to our government at so many levels and the insults continue to grow each year. It's a sad state of affairs when a book like this becomes critical to daily survival. We continue to head towards being nothing more than a major banana republic. If you do not know your Constitutional rights, you do not see all the violations that exist in the above story.
Virginia is one of the nation’s 12 highest-performing states in fourth-grade reading. These states have what the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) views as statistically similar percentages of fourth graders earning proficient or advanced scores.
“Developing a strong literacy foundation is imperative to a child's success in school,” said Governor McDonnell. “In 2012, we passed legislation to end social promotion in order to ensure that all students are reading on grade level prior to moving on to fourth grade. We have seen great improvement in reading scores over the last four years. As more students are impacted by the strategies implemented in our third grade reading program we expect we will see even greater success.”
Forty-three percent of the commonwealth’s grade-4 students met or exceeded the NAEP proficiency standard and 12 percent performed at the advanced level. Nationwide, 34 percent of fourth-grade students demonstrated reading skills at or above the proficient level and eight percent achieved advanced scores.
The improvement in the reading skills of Virginia fourth graders follows an expansion of the commonwealth’s efforts to strengthen the skills of struggling young readers. In 2012, the General Assembly approved Governor Bob McDonnell’s request for funds to provide early reading intervention services for 100 percent of eligible students in grades K-3 and to make the promotion of students who fail the grade-3 reading Standards of Learning (SOL) test contingent on intervention. The 2013 General Assembly approved McDonnell’s request for state funding for an additional reading specialist in elementary schools with grade-3 reading pass rates below 75 percent.
“In recent years, we’ve placed an increased emphasis on strengthening adolescent literacy and equipping students with the reading skills that will prepare them for college or a career,” Secretary of Education Laura Fornash said.
NCES describes the increase in reading achievement among Virginia fourth graders since 2009 — when 38 percent achieved proficient or advanced scores — as statistically significant.
For the first time in the history of the state-level NAEP, a majority of Virginia’s white fourth graders — 51 percent — achieved proficient or advanced reading scores. Twenty-three percent of black Virginia fourth graders earned proficient or advanced scores, as did 25 of Hispanic fourth graders and 65 percent of Asian fourth graders.
Board of Education President David M. Foster said that persistent differences in the performance of student subgroups underscore the importance of the SOL program in detecting achievement gaps and in identifying low-performing schools in need of state interventions and resources.
“The Board of Education is raising the bar with college- and career-ready standards and innovative assessments that require critical thinking, as well as the mastery of content knowledge,” Foster said. “Helping all students meet these higher expectations — regardless of where they live or the schools they attend — is the surest prescription for narrowing and ultimately closing achievement gaps.”
Thirty-six percent of Virginia eighth-grade students achieved at or above the proficient level in reading on the 2013 NAEP, the same percentage as in 2011. Four percent achieved advanced reading scores, also the same percentage as in 2011. Nationally, 34 percent of eighth graders achieved proficient or advanced scores and 4 percent earned advanced scores.
Forty-five percent of white eighth graders in Virginia earned proficient or advanced reading scores, as did 17 percent of black students, 26 percent of Hispanic students and 49 percent of Asian students.
In mathematics, 47 percent of Virginia fourth graders achieved scores at or above the proficient level, compared with 46 percent in 2011. Nine percent scored at the advanced level, the same percentage as in 2011. Nationwide, 41 percent of fourth-graders demonstrated achievement at or above the proficient level and eight percent achieved advanced scores.
NCES says the percentage of the commonwealth’s fourth graders achieving proficient or advanced scores in mathematics has improved significantly since 2007, when only 42 percent met or exceeded the NAEP proficiency standard.
Fifty-six percent of white fourth graders achieved proficient or advanced mathematics scores, as did 22 percent of black students, 32 percent of Hispanic students, and 70 percent of Asian students.
Thirty-eight percent of Virginia eighth graders achieved proficient or advanced mathematics scores in 2013, compared with 40 percent in 2011. NCES does not regard this two-point decline as statistically noteworthy. Ten percent of the commonwealth’s eighth graders earned advanced mathematics scores in 2013, compared with 11 percent in 2011. Nationally, 34 percent of eighth graders earned proficient or advanced scores; eight percent achieved at the advanced level.
Eighth graders in only five states — Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Minnesota and Vermont — achieved higher average math scores than Virginia students, compared with seven states in 2011. NCES describes the increase in grade-8 mathematics achievement in Virginia since 2005 — when 33 percent earned proficient or advanced scores — as significant.
Forty-seven percent of white Virginia eighth graders achieved proficient or advanced mathematics scores on the 2013 NAEP, as did 15 percent of black eighth graders, 25 percent of Hispanic eighth graders, and 64 percent of Asians.
NAEP — also known as the Nation’s Report Card — reflects the performance of representative samples of students in each state and nationwide. The 2013 NAEP sampling of Virginia students included approximately 6,100 fourth-grade students and 5,700 eighth graders. NAEP results are not reported by division or for individual schools.
Reading and mathematics tests are administered every two years and provide a means of comparing the progress of states in raising student achievement. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a proficient NAEP score represents solid performance on challenging subject matter — a more rigorous standard than grade-level achievement.
RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) will invest more than $15 million in the expansion of the company’s operations in the Town of Culpeper in Culpeper County. The plant designs and manufactures undersea fiber optic telecommunication cables, electro-optical-mechanical cables, and steel wire. The project is expected to create approximately 30 new jobs.
Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “TE Connectivity has been a strong employer in Culpeper since the 1930s, and this major investment and expansion exemplifies the success companies experience in the Commonwealth. This operation is significant, as it will be the only TE Connectivity manufacturing site to produce wire and cables for the marine industry, servicing domestic and international markets. Access to key clients, a trained and available workforce and the cost of doing business are key factors that gave Virginia the advantage. We look forward to TE’s success for the next 80 years.”
“TE Connectivity is a global company that does important work for a major industry to keep us connected,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “This tremendous investment to expand in Culpeper County and create new high-tech jobs enables the company to add capacity and build on its long-term success and growth in Virginia.”
TE Connectivity is a $13 billion world leader in connectivity. The company designs and manufactures products at the heart of electronic connections for the world's leading industries including automotive, energy and industrial, broadband communications, consumer devices, healthcare, and aerospace and defense. TE Connectivity's long-standing commitment to innovation and engineering excellence helps its customers solve the need for more energy efficiency, always-on communications and ever-increasing productivity. With nearly 90,000 employees in over 50 countries, TE Connectivity makes connections the world relies on to work flawlessly every day.
“TE is pleased to make this investment within our Culpeper manufacturing site, as the facility expansion and the newly created positions will play an important part in the growth of our business,” stated Kevin Rock, President - Aerospace, Defense and Marine, a Global Business Unit of TE Connectivity. “Virginia has always had a talented and skilled workforce, which has allowed us to hire highly capable people to support our technical business.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Town of Culpeper, Culpeper County, and the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Culpeper County with the project.
Town of Culpeper Mayor Chip Coleman stated, “The expansion and prospect of additional jobs is great news on so many fronts. It shows that our economy is slowly recovering and that a major corporation sees that we have a high quality workforce in a community with a quality of life that is attractive. We are indeed fortunate to have this major expansion and the new jobs it brings to our community. Economic development is the cornerstone of a prosperous community.”
Sue Hansohn, Chairperson of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors, said, “We are very excited about this news. TE has been a corporate partner with Culpeper for many years. We are also pleased because light manufacturing is one of our target industries and helping our existing businesses grow and expand is one of our major economic development strategies. Culpeper, Virginia was not the only location that the company was considering for this expansion. I would like to thank the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the County’s Department of Economic Development for the outstanding effort they put forth in helping TE Connectivity choose Culpeper, Virginia as the location for this important project.”
