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Home Advanced Search James River High Quality Profile
James River High
Category: High (09-12) School
Address: 9906 Springwood Rd Buchanan, VA 24066
Principal: Mr. James M. Talbott Jr.
Superintendent: Dr. Lisa Chen
Division: Botetourt County Public Schools
Dropout Rate Level One
Graduation and Completion Level One
Black No Students Level Two
English Learners Level One No Students
select test Overall EOC English Reading Grade 3 English Reading Grade 4 English Reading Grade 5 English Reading Grade 6 English Reading Grade 7 English Reading Grade 8 English Reading
4 90 94 6 12 78 90 10 5 86 91 9
6 84 90 10 14 81 95 5 8 87 95 5
3 94 97 3 10 76 86 14 2 85 88 12
- 67 67 33 5 60 65 35 - 38 38 62
5 93 98 3 13 81 94 6 5 91 96 4
- 92 92 8 7 70 77 23 - 80 80 20
select test Overall EOC Writing Grade 8 Writing
- 92 92 8 10 68 77 23 10 58 68 32
select test Overall Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Grade 3 Mathematics Grade 4 Mathematics Grade 5 Mathematics Grade 6 Mathematics Grade 7 Mathematics Grade 8 Mathematics
11 81 91 9 13 80 92 8 9 83 91 9
< < < < 9 82 91 9 < < < <
- 84 84 16 - 93 93 8 - 84 84 16
- 86 86 14 - 91 91 9 - 91 91 9
- 92 92 8 - 98 98 2 - 88 88 12
10 52 62 38 6 72 78 22 - 55 55 45
5 91 96 4 22 71 93 7 4 96 100 0
- 82 82 18 21 75 96 4 < < 100 0
select test Overall Biology Chemistry Earth Science Grade 5 Science Grade 8 Science
- 92 92 8 10 90 100 0 < < < <
14 74 88 12 15 77 92 8 7 81 88 12
10 80 90 10 11 77 88 13 < < < <
16 79 95 5 12 83 95 5 7 93 100 0
- 92 92 8 - 85 85 15 < < 100 0
8 85 93 7 10 79 89 11 12 78 91 9
10 81 91 9 7 79 86 14 7 87 93 7
9 90 98 2 12 82 93 7 14 80 94 6
select test Overall VA & US History World History I World History II Civics & Econ VA Studies Geography
38 62 100 0 < < < < < < < <
19 67 85 15 - 63 63 37 < < < <
Division 4 - 4
Grade 10 146 129 116
Diplomas and Completion: Class of 2019: All Students
Most Virginia students earn either an Advanced Studies Diploma or a Standard Diploma. To graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma, a student must earn at least 26 standard units of credit by passing required courses and electives and at least nine verified units of credit by passing Standards of Learning end-of-course assessments in English, mathematics, science and history. Students who entered the ninth grade in 2013-2014 and afterwards must also successfully complete one virtual course. To graduate with a Standard Diploma, a student must earn at least 22 standard units of credit by passing required courses and electives, and earn at least six verified credits by passing end-of-course SOL tests or other assessments approved by the Board of Education. Students who entered the ninth grade in 2013-2014 and afterwards must also earn a board-approved career and technical education credential to graduate and successfully complete one virtual course. The Applied Studies Diploma and Modified Standard Diploma are available for certain students with disabilities. To reduce the likelihood of school-level pie charts being suppressed to protect student privacy, these diplomas are combined with Standard Diplomas in the pie chart as "Standard and Other Diplomas."
Status of the Students in the 2018-2019 Cohort
Advanced Diplomas
Standard Diplomas
Other Diplomas
GED's
Other Non-Graduates
240 117 10 4 11 3
50715 36614 2715 1064 5504 1801
125 49 0 0 5 0
27679 16161 917 351 2003 680
115 68 10 4 6 3
23036 20453 1798 713 3501 1121
< < < < 0 <
5184 1290 96 10 113 46
7794 10864 1035 246 1353 673
5184 6274 354 116 2441 386
225 109 10 4 9 3
29845 16400 1112 631 1440 605
2 23 10 1 3 0
1140 6715 2715 154 1081 103
206 691 67 30 305 65
1928 1197 49 15 36 24
Four-Year Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate
On-Time Graduation Rate Over Time: All Students
The Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate is based on four years of longitudinal student-level data and accounts for student mobility, changes in student enrollment, and local decisions on the promotion and retention of students. The formula also recognizes that some students with disabilities and English learners are allowed more than the standard four years to earn a diploma and are still counted as "on-time" graduates.
Graduates are defined as students who earn an Advanced Studies Diploma, Standard Diploma, Modified Standard Diploma, or Applied Studies Diploma. On-time graduates are students who earn one of these diplomas within four years of entering the ninth grade. Special education students and English learners who have plans in place that allow them more time to graduate are counted as on-time graduates or as non-graduates when they earn a diploma or otherwise exit high school.
Status of Students After Four Years of High School
Students Subgroup
Students in Cohort
On-Time Graduation Rate
Completers
Cohort Dropouts
Cohort Dropout Rate
140 135 96 137 98 3 2
< < 100 < 100 0 0
< < < < < < <
Advanced Program Information: Number and Percentage of Students Enrolled in Advanced Programs
Advanced Program Information - Count/Percentage
Advanced Placement Test Taken - 33 / 6.02% 22 / 4.11%
Advanced Placement Course Enrollment - 35 / 6.39% 24 / 4.49%
Dual Enrollment 127 / 23.05% 75 / 13.69% 87 / 16.26%
Governor's School Enrollment 6 / 1.09% 7 / 1.28% 11 / 2.06%
IB Course Enrollment - - -
Senior Enrolled in IB Program - - -
2017-2018 Postsecondary Enrollment: All Students
Postsecondary enrollment reports show the number and percent of Virginia high school graduates who enrolled in an institution of higher education within sixteen months of graduating from high school. In keeping with federal reporting requirements, postsecondary enrollment reports only include students who earned an Advanced Studies Diploma, International Baccalaureate Diploma or Standard Diploma; students who earned other Virginia Board of Education-approved diplomas are not counted as graduates in the calculation. Reports are available at the state, division and school levels for all students and for student subgroups. The data represent the best available estimates at this time of postsecondary enrollment. There is currently no definitive source of all postsecondary enrollment records by state, division or school. Virginia Department of Education and external researchers have determined that the best available estimates contained in the postsecondary enrollment reports are likely underestimates, but capture at least 88 percent of Virginia public high school graduates' postsecondary enrollments.
2017-2018 FGI cohort year (students entering high school in 2014)
Total number of students in the cohort earning a federally recognized high school diploma
Students who enrolled in any Institution of Higher Education (IHE) within 16 months of earning a federally recognized high school diploma
Total HE
Remaining Percent
85,899 57,725 33
< < 100
10,102 5,826 42
13 < 100
- - 100
< = A group below state definition for personally identifiable results.
- = no data available for that group
This report provides the best available estimates about college enrollment according to the National Student Clearinghouse.
For more information, see the answers to Frequently Asked Questions about this report at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/arra/stabilization/reported_data/assurance_c/faq_c11.pdf
Students who attended schools that do not participate in NSC are not included in the number or percent of students enrolled in an IHE.
Federally recognized high school diplomas include Standard, Advanced Studies, or International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas. Most subgroups are based on students' most recent status.
Students Earning One or More CTE Credentials: All Students
Virginia's 16 career clusters help students investigate careers and design a rigorous and relevant plan of study to advance their career goals. Each career cluster contains multiple pathways that represent a common set of academic, technical and work-place skills. Career pathways lead to credentials that qualify students for a range of career opportunities from entry to professional level. A credential is defined as:
State-Issued Professional License, required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency;
Full Industry Certification, from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation;
Pathway Industry Certification, which may consist of entry-level exams as a component of a suite of exams in an industry certification program leading toward full certification; or
Occupational competency assessment, a national standardized assessment of skills/knowledge in a specific career and/or technical area, (NOCTI).
Virginia defines a CTE completer as a student who has met the requirements for a career and technical concentration and all requirements for high school graduation or an approved alternative education program.
State Licensures School 3 7 -
Industry Certification School 259 253 131
Division 712 625 405
State 109,275 104,601 107,234
Workplace Readiness School 245 154 2
Division 620 436 10
State 42,313 50,241 44,892
Total Credentials Earned School 507 414 133
Division 1,342 1,085 427
Students Earning One or More Credentials School 283 291 127
CTE Completers School 92 102 117
NOCTI Assessments School - - -
Division - - -
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Examination School - - -
11 2 < < < <
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Offenses 51
2.2 18 1.6 1.6 1.5 7
0.2 - - 0.2
93.3 82 94.2 93.5 94 91.2
93.3 94.2 100 94
Asian TS TS - TS TS
Black TS TS - TS TS
Hispanic TS TS - TS TS
Economically Disadvantaged Yes Yes - Yes TS
English Learners - - TS TS -
Students with Disabilities Yes Yes - Yes TS
Black < 85% 60% 75%
Hispanic < < 63% 75%
All Students 92% 84% 84%
Asian < 90% 84%
Black < 82% 84%
Hispanic < 81% 84%
White 92% 86% 84%
Economically Disadvantaged 79% 78% 84%
English Learners - 65% 84%
Students with Disabilities 65% 56% 84%
The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 requires states to set annual and long-term targets for increasing the percentage of students who graduate with a Standard Diploma or Advanced Studies Diploma within four years of entering the ninth grade. Virginia's ESSA implementation plan expects that by the 2023-2024 school year, at least 84 percent of all students, and of students in the student groups listed in this table, will earn a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma within four years. Annual targets for student groups reflect improvement upon base-line performance from the 2015-2016 school year. Student groups meeting or exceeding annual or long-term targets must improve performance compared to previous year.
All Students 8% 11% 9% 10%
Asian < < 5% 10%
Black < 14% 9% 10%
White 8% 11% 9% 10%
All Students 99% 100% 95%
Black < < <
White 98% 100% 95%
Economically Disadvantaged 93% 100% 93%
Not Economically Disadvantaged 100% 100% -
Students with Disabilities 95% 100% 95%
Students without Disabilities 99% 100% -
Female 100% 100% -
Male 97% 100% -
James River High to top


'Slegers & Koch creates exclusive, high quality business bags and accessories.
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Tight spaces on the road can increase the likelihood of motorcycle accidents occurring. Thankfully, rider assistance systems make two-wheeling safer than ever before.


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Great little cabin for a quiet getaway!!!
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This house was amazing, the land was beautiful. We will definitely be back! Jim and Pam are wonderful to book with!
Wonderful, hard to believe view and perfect place to call home in the mountains.
Very comfortable cabin with everything you could possibly need. Great central location with beautiful view.. We enjoyed our stay. Thank you Millers.
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Plenty of room, great kitchen/dining area. Great location. Shady outside. Our family voted to try to rent it again next year.
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Rick Hansen
Man In Motion | Champion for Accessibility and Inclusion
Rick Hansen, C.C., O.B.C., is a Canadian icon who has dedicated his life to awakening the world to the potential of people with disabilities. He is best known as the "Man In Motion" for undertaking an epic 26-month, 40,000 km journey around the world in his wheelchair. Now the Founder and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, an organization committed to creating a world without barriers for people with disabilities, Rick uses his presentations to challenge everyone to become a difference maker and a legacy leaver.
When Rick was 15, his life changed forever. On the way home from a fishing trip, Rick was in a car accident and thrown from the back of a pickup truck. Rick injured his spinal cord and was paralyzed from the waist down. His new reality came with a lot of challenges, but with determination, a sense of humour and a lot of heart, he found a way to keep doing the things he loved, and began to make new dreams.
In 1976, Rick enrolled at the University of British Columbia, becoming the first person with a disability to graduate with a degree in Physical Education. Between 1979 and 1984, Rick turned his focus to track and marathoning, winning 19 international wheelchair marathons, the world title three times, and nine gold medals at the 1982 Pan Am Games. He won two gold medals and one silver at the 1984 Paralympic Summer Games in Stoke Mandeville, UK, and gold, silver and bronze at the 1980 Paralympic Summer Games in Arnhem, Holland.
As a young athlete in a wheelchair, Rick had a vision to show the world that anything is possible. On March 21, 1985, Rick pushed his wheelchair out of Vancouver, to set out on a journey that would make history. The Man In Motion World Tour was fueled by Rick's two original dreams of a world without barriers for people with disabilities and a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury. Over 2 years, 2 months and 2 days, with nothing but a trailer, and a passionate team of supporters, Rick traveled across 34 countries, wheeling 40,072 kilometres before returning to Vancouver on May 22, 1987. The Tour raised $26 million and marked the beginning of an ultramarathon of social change, it altered attitudes and created a more positive image of people with disabilities.
Following the completion of the Man In Motion World Tour, The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was established in 1988. To date, the Foundation has raised over $360 million dollars and has delivered programs that have heightened awareness, changed attitudes and improved the quality of life for people with disabilities. For over three decades, Rick and his team have been focused on the removal of barriers and rethinking how people of all ages and abilities access the spaces where we live, work, learn and play. The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) is the only program that rates, certifies and showcases accessible buildings.
Rick is the recipient of many accolades and notable achievements the Lou Marsh Trophy for Outstanding Athlete of the Year, (an honour he shared with Wayne Gretzky in 1983), induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, Honourary Colonel of the Joint Personnel Unit of the Canadian Armed Forces; torchbearer of the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games; Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; Ambassador of the 2017 Invictus Games, and the Order of Canada.
Leadership: Becoming A Difference Maker
Through the power of his own story and the inspiration he's found in others, Rick Hansen encourages us all to recognize the Difference Makers in our lives and to see ourselves as Difference Makers.
Difference Makers are leaders by example, catalysts – those whose passion and courage ignite talent and action in others. Their energy empowers them to believe in their own potential and find solutions to barriers.
Who among your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors create an impact? What can you do to make others around you better?
Rick shares his vision and inspires audiences to join his journey to create a better world.
Managing Change to Achieve Your Goals
When Rick Hansen was 15, his life changed forever. He was thrown from the back of a pickup truck and he sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. He would never walk again.
Lying in the hospital bed on his 16th birthday, Rick recognized that his new reality interfered with all his goals and dreams – he had wanted to become a professional athlete and thought this was no longer possible. But with the incredible support of those around him, Rick learned to move forward.
Once he could see the possibilities and stop the comparisons between life before and after his injury, it got easier for Rick to adapt and excel again.
Rick has won four World Championships and six medals as a Paralympian. He also competed for Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. And then of course, he wheeled across the globe through blinding snowstorms, endless mountain ranges and uncompassionate political borders to compete his Man in Motion World Tour.
Today, Rick looks back on his amazing experiences since his injury and wouldn't trade them for anything. Sometimes change is unexpected and uncomfortable, but if you can learn to manage change, it also brings new opportunity.
Visible and Invisible Barriers to Success: Accessibility & Inclusion for a Better World
Rick Hansen challenges us all to fight for accessibility as a human right. But a barrier-free, inclusive world will only be achieved when we all work together, one good turn at a time. Technology and science are slowly improving health outcomes but we need inclusivity and accessibility to be at the core of our laws and innovations. And, in addition to removing physical barriers, we must acknowledge and tackle the stubborn invisible ones, too.
This means changing the way we think and talk. By reflecting on our own actions and beliefs, we can challenge existing standards and dream up new ones – ones that foster hope, inspiration and acceptance.
New Market Opportunities for Businesses
Today, there are more than 1.3 billion people in the world with disabilities, representing an untapped economic potential worth $6 trillion in disposable income. This is an emerging market the size of China, and one that all forward thinking businesses should be paying attention to. Making workplaces, venues, products and technology accessible makes economic and social sense; businesses have much to profit from, in dollars and talent.
Rick will show you how to make your space accessible and what it might cost, but importantly, he'll explain the potential return on your investment and why you can't afford to miss out. In the year ahead, diversity will affect your bottom line.
Improving Health Outcomes
Since 1988, the Rick Hansen Foundation has funded quality of life initiatives, accessibility programs for people with disabilities, and research for the prevention, care and cure of paralysis after spinal cord injury.
The Rick Hansen Institute connects scientists and clinicians in Canada and around the world to collaborate on projects that will reduce long-term costs, improve quality of life, and achieve the greatest impact for people living with an spinal cord injury.
With greater collaboration and innovation within and outside the healthcare industry, we can make more progress, quicker. Not just in spinal cord research but for other causes too, we need to expand our global database around the world, facilitate research, and disseminate best practices knowledge to medical professionals everywhere.
Educating the Next Generation
Rick and his team believe in the next generations of Difference Makers. They are passionate about inspiring youth and empowering them to be compassionate, engaged and socially responsible leaders.
Raising awareness about inclusion in the classroom through the Rick Hansen School Program (RHSP) has been proven to decrease bullying, change perceptions and increase volunteerism.
Understanding the significance of the support and mentorship he has received throughout his life, Rick is committed to working with young people to support the development life skills. He encourages them to be the best that they can be and to believe that anything is possible if they have the courage to try.
Rick Hansen is represented by The Spotlight Agency for sponsorships, endorsements, public relations and media spokesperson campaigns, product launches, voiceovers, celebrity appearances, and more. Please visit The Spotlight Agency for more details.
Chris HadfieldAstronaut | First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station
Roberta BondarAstronaut | Physician | Scientist | Photographer
General Rick HillierFormer Chief of the Defence Staff for Canadian Forces
Chantal PetitclercParalympic Champion | World Record Holder
Martin Luther King IIICivil Rights Activist & Global Humanitarian
Changing the Conversation on Disability
A Goal and a Dream - Farm Credit Canada
25th Anniversary - The Journey Continues
Interview: George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
Man in Motion
In 1973, Rick Hansen was a carefree teenager hitchhiking home from a fishing trip, a kid who lived and breathed sports. But after the truck he was riding in went out of control and crashed, Hansen was left a paraplegic. For some people that could have been the end. For Rick Hansen it was the beginning of a story that is at once sad and funny, heartbreaking and inspirational.
Going the Distance offers a unique blend of the personal experiences of someone who has suffered monumental change and someone who has actually done research on change itself. Arguing that people fear change because they lack the tools and skills to manage it, the authors explain the important principles which actually allow people to manage the changes they face in their daily lives. And, unlike other self-help literature, Going the Distance demonstrates how emotions like fear; depression, anger or guilt can actually be used to inspire positive action.
In the News: Talking Accessibility, Vaccinations, and Humanity's Hidden Blind SpotsPosted May 31, 2019
In the News: Talking Productive Conflict, Changemakers, and Building an Accessible CanadaPosted May 3, 2019
"Man In Motion" Rick Hansen recognized with honorary degree by University of LethbridgePosted June 4, 2018
May 28 proclaimed Rick Hansen Day in BC, $10 Million Contributed to Increase AccessibilityPosted May 30, 2018
WE and Rick Hansen Push for Accessibility TogetherPosted November 14, 2017
New Book Celebrates Rick Hansen's Man in Motion TourPosted September 27, 2017
The Future is Accessible: The International Day of Persons with DisabilitiesPosted December 5, 2016
"Man in Motion" Rick Hansen Says More Incentives Needed to Design Accessible BuildingsPosted December 2, 2016
40/40 Hindsight: Rick Hansen Reflects on His Fifth DecadePosted November 28, 2016
Highlights From We Day Toronto 2016!Posted October 21, 2016
WE Day Kicks Off In Toronto!Posted October 19, 2016
Our event with Rick Hansen as keynote speaker was a smashing success! It was very well received by everyone and we received countless positive comments about his presentation. Not only was Rick down to earth and relatable, the presentation was funny, but yet it had a strong message for everyone! I was impressed with the fact that he was able to weave and perfectly highlight some of our corporate initiatives into his presentation. It really showed how much he cared about the presentation and his message. Our guests genuinely loved the session and enjoyed the opportunity to speak with Rick and have their photos taken with him.
NAV Canada
Rick was definitely the highlight of the conference based on all the feedback I've heard so far. I haven't received the survey results yet from the keynotes, however, once I do, I would be happy to share…Rick and Connie were a pleasure to deal with and rick was nice enough to do a surprise visit to see our volunteers the day prior to the event as we were getting ready for the big day. Thanks for everything on your end also.
Association of Public Sector Information Professionals
Mr. Hansen's obvious sincerity and down-to-earth manner, combined with an unbeatable story of inspiration, made his theme of "Personal Best" an absolutely outstanding presentation. The importance of striving towards one's personal best was brought to light as feelings of renewed hope and determination were stirred in every listener.
The Commercial Travellers' Association of Canada
Your address could not have been more supportive: it lent credence to our theme and provided a powerful stimulus, not least to those among us who may be intimidated by change, and for whom your message of achievement based on personal commitment and perseverance was especially valuable.
Pharmacia
Everything was fantastic! Rick was great and a huge hit.
Grape Growers of Ontario

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


While we had to endure rain on day one of the Newport Folk Festival, day two turned out to be a right nice. This is what it looked like through my lens.
Joe Fletcher curated the Museum Stage for the afternoon. I somehow managed to miss nearly everything over there. I did catch some of Bobby Bare, Jr.'s set and I did spot Mr. Fletcher across the field and managed to say hey to him.
I saw Father John Misty here, there and every where roaming the grounds...and even doing nothing but simply standing, he pulled off the nonchalant rock star thing effortlessly. He just has that look. He took the stage with what he described as strawberry moonshine...we now have what we describe as a music crush on Mr. Tillman.
This was one of my favorite sets of the day. And, if you happened to bump into Nicki Bluhm while strolling around the festival, then you know what a super nice, down to Earth, lady she is.
Jim James seems like a nice fella...we've exchanged pleasantries in passing. But Mr. James, your art apparently goes over my head. I don't understand. But there were a whole field full of people who did understand and did so enthusiastically.
The Avett Brothers closed out day two to an enthusiastic crowd. And, on a personal achievement note, I'm happy to say my Avett photo curse has been broken!


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Mine deaths spark criticism of operator's record
Safety an issue at Massey mine
Massey mines typically are in better shape than others in U.S., CEO says
Company's number of citations doubled from '08 to '09, former official says
Company appears to treat violations as cost of business, ex-official says
Monday's explosion at West Virginia mine was fourth fatal accident there in 12 years
(CNN) -- The deaths of at least 25 workers in a West Virginia coal mine this week have turned a harsh spotlight on the safety record of the mine's owner, which has paid record fines for safety and environmental violations.
Virginia-based Massey Energy Co. has racked up millions of dollars in penalties in recent years. The Montcoal, West Virginia, mine where Monday's fatal explosion took place received 458 citations from federal inspectors in 2009, and more than 50 of those were for problems that the operators knew about but had not corrected, according to federal mine safety records.
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration hit the company with nearly $900,000 in fines in 2009 and has sought more than $100,000 in the first quarter of 2010. Inspectors cited the operators more than 100 times in the first quarter of 2010, including six times for "unwarrantable failure" to correct violations.
"They had a doubling of the number of site citations from 2008 to 2009 and a doubling or a tripling of the penalties," said Davitt McAteer, who led the Mine Safety and Health Administration during the Clinton administration. "What that suggests to you is ... that there are problems here and that those problems are not being addressed."
Massey Energy has paid less than $200,000 of the penalties assessed at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Montcoal and is challenging some of the penalties. Its CEO, Don Blankenship, told CNN that his company's facilities are "typically in better shape than others in the area or in the country."
Video: Massey CEO: The mine was safe
Video: CEO defends mine's ventilation plan
Video: A life of waiting and worrying
Video: Hope for West Virginia miners
Mining Accidents and Disasters
Massey Energy Company
"We would take great exception to the fact that someone would claim Massey's mines aren't generally safer than competitor coal mines," he said.
He said the company was "uncomfortable" with the number of violations reported, but said tighter enforcement has driven up the numbers of violations across the industry since the Sago Mine disaster that killed 12 men in 2006 in Tallmansville, West Virginia.
"Certainly violations are a bad indicator, but they're not a sole source for judging safety performance," Blankenship said.
Massey Energy is the fourth-largest American coal producer and the largest mine operator in central Appalachia. It churned out 38 million tons of coal in 2009, 1.2 million tons of which came from the Upper Big Branch South Mine, and reported earnings of $497 million.
Its annual corporate "social responsibility report" says that safety is its No. 1 concern and that its employees "are the best-trained, most productive, and safest miners in the world."
But McAteer said on CNN's "American Morning" that "some companies, and this appears to be one, take the approach that these violations are simply a cost of doing business -- it's cheaper for us to mine in an unsafe way or in a way that risks people's lives than it is for us to comply with the statutes, comply with the laws."
Monday's explosion at the Upper Big Branch South Mine was the fourth fatal accident there in 12 years.
In addition, a 2006 fire killed two miners in the Alma Mine No. 1, operated by Massey subsidiary Aracoma Coal Co. Aracoma pleaded guilty to 10 criminal charges in connection with the fire and paid a record $4.2 million in fines and civil penalties.
In January 2008, Massey paid $20 million in fines for Clean Water Act violations at coal mines in West Virginia and Kentucky. Federal regulators accused the company of violating its Clean Water Act permits more than 4,500 times between January 2000 and December 2006, sometimes discharging more than 10 times the allowable amounts of metals, sediment and acids into rivers and lakes in those states.
And another Massey subsidiary paid more than $3.5 million in state and federal penalties after about 250 million gallons of coal sludge spilled into rivers and streams around Inez, Kentucky, in 2000. Federal investigators determined that the company could have prevented the spill.
Industry analyst Ellen Smith said the safety record of Massey mines has improved "as a whole" over the past few years, and three installations won safety awards in 2009.
"That said, there are troubling issues here at this particular mine where the explosion happened," said Smith, managing editor of the trade publication Mine Safety and Health News.
Smith said that what raises the biggest red flags at the Upper Big Branch South Mine, which employs about 200 miners, are "unwarrantable failure" violations, which include citations involving escape routes for miners and air quality ventilation, according to Mine Safety and Health Administration records.
"One mine that we looked at for comparison purposes had two unwarrantable failure violations last year, but it had 500 miners underground. It was working a lot of hours," Smith said. "Another mine we looked at was a West Virginia mine, and I think they had six unwarrantable failure violations in one year, where this particular mine -- not Massey in general, but this particular mine -- had six unwarrantable failures since January."
Massey operates 44 underground and surface mines, and controls 2.2 billion tons of coal reserves in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.
A post on its Web site touts the company's 2009 safety record, saying it "marked the sixth consecutive year and the 17th year out of the past 20 years in which Massey's safety performance was stronger than the industry average."
CNN's Scott Bronstein contributed to this report.
Miner was prepared to die, family says
Search for miners after deadly blast could take days
Mine accidents in the United States
Talk of the town: Who's on 'The List' of alleged sex clients?
U.S. motorist wounds Canadian border officer in shooting, then kills self
Students in blackface re-enact Chris Brown beating Rihanna


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Mulberry jumps on Lake Placid, holds on for win
MULBERRY — Mulberry continued its offensive surge in the opening round of the Class 5A, District 8 boys basketball tournament. For the third game in a row, the Panthers have scored more than 70 points in their 72-60 victory over Lake Placid on Monday night in the Collins Smith Gymnasium.
Mulberry (7-13) will play at McKeel in the district semifinals at 7 Tuesday night. The victory was Mulberry's second in a row over the the Green Dragons — who are coached by former Bartow baseball coach Dan Coomes — after losing to Lake Placid (3-19) by 23 points in the first meeting of the season. Mulberry coach John Phillips said his team's uptempo style has continued to improve.
"In the first game, we were still trying to find out who we were as an identity," he said. "The second time we played them, we started playing up-paced, pressure everything as it comes over half court and try to get in transtion, and it worked. It kind of worked tonight, but we got kind of sloppy."
Jay'lin Cooper led the Panthers with 14 points and was one of four players who scored in double figures. Quadry Daniels, Gabe Broussard and Cameron Chambers each scored 12 points.
Mulberry took control of the game in the first half, outscoring Lake Placid 19-9 in the first quarter and 22-13 in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead at the half. Kahmari Lewis paced the Panthers by scoring all of his nine points in the first half.
The Panthers couldn't come up with a knockout blow in the second half as Lake Placid slowly chipped away at Mulberry's lead. The Green Dragons nearly made it a game as they finally got their deficit to single digits by making it an eight-point game, 68-60, with just over a minute to play. The could get no closer as Mulberry scored the game's final four points.
"Knowing the winner of tonight has to go and play McKeel tomorrow, I changed by rotation," Phillips said. "Normally, I wouldn't do five-for-five (substitution), but knowing they had to play back-to-back, I wanted to give my first group a rest so they'd have their legs."
Class 2A, District 5
Vanguard wins by forfeit
LAKELAND — Vanguard advanced in the 2A-5 district tournament with a forfeit victory over Kingdom Prep and will play Central Florida at 5:30 Tuesday night at Victory Christian.
Kingdom Prep's program is in disarray following last week's arrest of Charles Aguon II. Aguon, 34, the headmaster, was also a seventh-and eighth-grade teacher, who served as a football coach, He was arrested and charged with two counts of lewd molestation of a teenage male student of the school in Auburndale.
In Tuesday night's other semifinal, host Victory Christian will play City of Life at 7 p.m. Life defeated International Community 74-60.
Gateway 75, Ridge Community 65
Ridge Community's season came to an end with the loss. Gateway will play top-seeded Kissimmee Osceola in the semifinals on Wednesday. Haines City and George Jenkins will meet in the other semifinal game.
Cornerstone Charter 64, Lakeland Christian 24
Lakeland Christian finishes its season with the loss. Cornerstone Charter will play Santa Fe Catholic in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at LCS.
Lakeland Christian varsity basketball team lost Monday's away playoff game against Cornerstone Charter Academy (Belle Isle, FL) by a score of 64-24.


It's a girl's night out when you bring out the feminine charms of your Persian Cat Trivet. These three lovely ladies are dressed to the nine lives on a stunning 8 x 8 inch Trivet encased in a Pinewood Frame. Purrfectly posed on an art gallery quality portrait with a Pre-Drilled Hole for Hanging and Soft Non Slip Cushions, these cherished cats are 100% Made in the USA. For stellar use as a Hanging or Hot Plate, these fluffy felines will win over everyone in the room.


text:
O Estádio Durival Britto e Silva, também conhecido como Vila Capanema, é um estádio de futebol brasileiro localizado em Curitiba, capital do estado do Paraná. Foi inaugurado em 1947.

História
O nome Durival Britto e Silva é uma homenagem ao então superintendente da Rede de Viação Paraná-Santa Catarina (RVPSC) na época da construção do estádio.  Já o apelido Vila Capanema é a denominação antiga do bairro onde esta localizado, hoje Jardim Botânico. Foi uma das sedes da Copa do Mundo de 1950, realizada no Brasil. Foi construído pelo Clube Atlético Ferroviário, que posteriormente se fundiu com o Britânia S.C. e com o Palestra Itália F.C., formando o Colorado Esporte Clube, que passou a ser administrador do estádio. Em 1989, uma nova fusão, desta vez o Colorado se uniu ao Esporte Clube Pinheiros e formou o Paraná Clube, novo administrador do estádio  (a propriedade é do governo federal - União).

O terreno onde foi construído era de propriedade da VRPSC, empresa que ajudou a fundar o Clube Atlético Ferroviário, por meio de seus funcionários.

Desde 1971, existia uma ação judicial pela posse da área. O Governo Federal repassou o direito para o estado do Paraná, mas a prefeitura de Curitiba procurava selar um acordo para ocupar a área e construir um Centro Administrativo.

Em 24 de setembro de 2018, o presidente Michel Temer assinou medida provisória que concedeu ao Paraná Clube a posse do Durival Britto por um período de trinta anos, renováveis por igual período e tempo indeterminado. A Medida Provisória, que tem força de lei, encerrou a disputa judicial pela posse do terreno, que se estendia por cerca de quatro décadas.

Construção e inauguração
Sua construção foi um marco na vida do Clube Atlético Ferroviário e na história do futebol paranaense. O clube, fundado em 1930 por funcionários da Rede Ferroviária, estava crescendo e precisava de um estádio de porte para mandar seus jogos.

Foi feito então um projeto pelo arquiteto Rubens Maister, projetista da construtora Thá, que foi apresentado por Reinaldo Thá ao superintendente da empresa, Durival Britto e Silva e ao presidente do Clube, Heron Wanderley. Ambos acharam ótima a ideia e se entusiasmaram com o projeto, mas alegaram não ter recursos para bancar a obra. Então o dinâmico Reinaldo Thá foi à luta, atrás do dinheiro, do material e da mão-de-obra para construir o estádio.

Depois de inaugurado em 23 de janeiro de 1947, ele passou a ser o terceiro maior estádio do país, com capacidade inferior apenas ao Pacaembu, em São Paulo e ao São Januário, no Rio de Janeiro.

A inauguração foi realizada em uma quinta feira à noite e serviu para testar o sistema de iluminação. Foi uma partida amistosa entre o dono da casa, o Ferroviário, e o Fluminense do Rio de Janeiro, um dos principais clubes do Brasil. O jogo terminou em 5 a 1 para os cariocas, e o primeiro gol foi marcado por Careca, atacante do Fluminense.

Copa do Mundo de 1950
Quando o Brasil ganhou o direito de sediar a Copa do Mundo de futebol em 1950, a primeira após 12 anos de paralisação por causa do grande conflito mundial, a cidade de Curitiba credenciou-se para ser uma das sub-sedes. A Federação Paranaense de Futebol ofereceu à CBD (então Confederação Brasileira de Desportos) o recém inaugurado Estádio Durival Britto. A CBD incluiu Curitiba no circuito da Copa, graças à existência do estádio do Ferroviário, e uma comissão de vistoria veio até a cidade para analisar o espaço.

O estádio foi aprovado por unanimidade e no dia 25 de junho de 1950, ficou lotado para o jogo entre Espanha e Estados Unidos. O segundo jogo da Copa em Curitiba aconteceu no dia 29 de junho entre as seleções de Paraguai e Suécia. O estádio Durival Britto e Silva entrava para a história das grandes praças esportivas do mundo.

Jogos da Copa do Mundo de 1950 na Vila Capanema

Clube Atlético Ferroviário, Colorado Esporte Clube e Paraná Clube na Vila Capanema
Sob o comando do Clube Atlético Ferroviário, a Vila Capanema foi palco de grandes jogos e grandes finais de campeonatos. O primeiro foi em 1950, quando o Ferroviário disputou a final com o rival Coritiba e sagrou-se campeão Paranaense. Três anos mais tarde, no dia 28 de novembro de 1953, o Ferroviário conquistava o seu mais importante título, "Campeão do Centenário", mais uma grande festa na Vila. E em 1965 o Ferroviário conquistava mais um título paranaense no Estádio Durival Britto, novamente em cima do rival Coritiba.

No ano de 1971, o Ferroviário se fundiu a outros dois clubes de Curitiba, dando origem ao Colorado Esporte Clube, e o Durival Britto e Silva passou a ter novo dono. Em toda a história do Colorado, o jogo mais marcante na Vila Capanema foi a final do Campeonato Paranaense de Futebol de 1980, disputado contra o Cascavel que podia perder por até 3 a 0. Após sofrer dois gols, o time do interior iniciou um "cai-cai" no gramado e a partida precisou ser paralisada diversas vezes antes do término do primeiro tempo. Mesmo assim, os jogadores do Cascavel continuaram a se atirar no campo e o jogo foi encerrado. Com um ato administrativo, o presidente da FPF na época, Luiz Gonzaga da Motta Ribeiro, declarou as duas equipes campeãs.

Em outra fusão, desta vez entre o Colorado e o Esporte Clube Pinheiros, em 1989, nasceu o Paraná Clube. A Vila muda de dono novamente e passa a ser um dos estádios do promissor clube, que também herdou a Vila Olímpica do Boqueirão (Estádio Érton Coelho Queiroz), que pertencia ao Pinheiros. Após muitos anos, a Vila Capanema voltou a ser palco de uma comemoração de título. Foi em 1993, quando 16 mil torcedores compareceram e viram o Paraná Clube ganhar do Matsubara por 3 a 1 e conquistar o seu segundo título de campeão paranaense.

O Paraná seguiu mandando jogos na Vila até que em 2003 foi criado o Estatuto do Torcedor, que exigia o uso de estádios com capacidade mínima para 15.000 pessoas. O clube passou então a atuar no Pinheirão, e designou a Vila Capanema para o treinamento dos profissionais e para partidas das categorias de base. Os únicos jogos do time profissional realizados nesse período foram os do Torneio da Morte, quadrangular que definiria os rebaixados no Campeonato Paranaense de 2004, quando a Paraná venceu facilmente os três jogos que contaram com casa cheia, mostrando todo o carinho da torcida paranista com o estádio histórico.

Campanha "Vila, tá na Hora!"
No fim do ano de 2005, após inúmeros pedidos da torcida, o Paraná Clube iniciou a campanha "Vila, Tá na hora!", comandada pelos então diretores de planejamento e marketing, Márcio Villela e Neto Gayer. Iniciou-se então, uma série de obras de revitalização, ampliação e de adequação ao Estatuto do Torcedor.

Além de reformas no gramado, bares, banheiros etc., e a construção da curva norte, com capacidade para 8.500 pessoas, a principal obra foi a construção de 72 camarotes sobre a arquibancada da reta do relógio. Vendidos rapidamente a preços entre R$ 26.000,00 e R$ 39.000,00, o valor arrecado foi de R$ 1.820.000,00, alavancando as obras, orçadas em quase dois milhões e meio de reais. Além disso, uma série de produtos, como canecas, pulseiras e chaveiros da campanha foram lançados. Com excelente resposta da torcida, as obras foram todas feitas por esses recursos.

A reinauguração do estádio, agora com capacidade para 20.083 torcedores (a capacidade operacional liberada conforme CNEF/CBF 2016 é de 17.140 torcedores), aconteceu dia 20 de setembro de 2006, às 19h30, quando o Paraná ganhou do  por 2 a 0, com gols de Leonardo e Peter, em partida válida pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

Em 2007, a Vila Capanema voltou a figurar no cenário internacional do futebol. Foi quando o Paraná Clube participou pela primeira vez da Copa Libertadores da América. Foram disputados cinco jogos na Vila até o time paranaense ser eliminado da competição, pelo Libertad do Paraguai nas oitavas de final. Na fase de grupos os jogos foram contra o compatriota Flamengo, o Real Potosí da Bolívia e o Union Maracaibo da Venezuela. Na primeira fase, também chamada de pré-libertadores, o Paraná enfrentou o Cobreloa do Chile. Também em 2007, a Vila foi o palco de mais uma final do Campeonato Paranaense, quando o Tricolor da Vila perdeu o título para o Paranavaí.

Localização
O estádio fica no bairro Jardim Botânico, região central de Curitiba, oficialmente na Rua Engenheiros Rebouças, sem número. Fica ao fundo da Rodoferroviária de Curitiba e do pátio de manobras da Rede Ferroviária. Muito próximo ao estádio passa o Rio Belém e o Viaduto Colorado.

Apesar de ser um bairro residencial, perto ao estádio, na Rua Engenheiros Rebouças encontram-se sedes de alguns órgãos públicos e empresas, como IAP, Sanepar e Cavo.

Até as obras de 2006, o acesso principal para a torcida paranista ao estádio era pela Rua Engenheiros Rebouças. Depois das obras, com a construção da Curva Norte o acesso foi transferido para a Avenida Doutor Dário Lopes dos Santos (continuação da Avenida Presidente Getúlio Vargas).

Setorização
As arquibancadas da Vila Capanema são divididas em cinco setores para o público, dos quais quatro são para a torcida local. São eles:
 Curva Norte
 Reta do Relógio
 Sociais Cobertas
 Cadeiras Cobertas
A área destinada aos Visitantes fica ao lado das arquibancadas sociais. Além desses setores, existem a geral que fica à frente das Sociais e os Camarotes que foram construídos recentemente sobre a Reta do Relógio. As cabines de rádio e TV ficam em cima das arquibancadas sociais (de frente à Reta do Relógio).

O acesso para a torcida mandante é feita pela Rua Dr. Dário Lopes dos Santos e para a torcida adversária pela Rua Engenheiros Rebouças, na antiga fachada do estádio. A entrada para o estacionamento é na Rua Pedro de Araújo Franco.

Ligações externas
 Site oficial do Paraná Clube

Durival Britto Silva
Durival Britto Silva
Paraná Clube
Durival Britto
Jardim Botânico (Curitiba)
Fundações no Paraná em 1947

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Have to write full path when checking background image javascript if ($("#canvas").css('background-image') == 'url(images/endOfGame.jpg)') {

does not work. But this does:
var element = document.getElementById('canvas');
                var style = window.getComputedStyle(element);
                var imagex = style.getPropertyValue('background-image');
                console.log(imagex);
                if (imagex === "url(file:///C:/Users/Jack/Documents/myGames/Pong/images/endOfGame.jpg)") {

and this does not:
var element = document.getElementById('canvas');
                    var style = window.getComputedStyle(element);
                    var imagex = style.getPropertyValue('background-image');
                    console.log(imagex);
                    if (imagex === "url(images/endOfGame.jpg)") {

why? I have to change the full file path code for every computer i run my game on. Not good.
Thanks.

A: You could use indexOf which returns the character position of the found text (0 and above) or -1 if not found:
if (imagex.indexOf("url(images/endOfGame.jpg)") >= 0) {
    // yes, string contains that text
}

I would prefer:
if (imagex.indexOf("images/endOfGame.jpg") >= 0) {
    // yes, string contains that text
}

ignoring url(..). The following version ignores differences in case (upper or lower):
if (imagex.toUpperCase().indexOf("images/endOfGame.jpg".toUpperCase()) >= 0) {
    // yes, string contains that text
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


19.1 What Is an Information Cue?
19.2 What Kinds of Cues Are Available for Political Decisions? How Consequential Are They?
19.3 Who Uses Information Cues?
19.4 When Is the Public Likely to Use Information Cues?
19.5 What Attributes of Cues Matter?
19.6 Can Cues Mislead the Public?
This chapter addresses the role of cue taking by citizens. Cue taking is a way to answer the question: can democracy work when most of the public is rationally ignorant? The cue-taking literature gives a resounding "yes" as an answer to this question. This chapter elaborates upon the reasons for this answer and the conditions under which it holds. There are, however, reasons to be cautious in being too optimistic about this answer. While cue-taking behavior is both present and helpful, it is not infallible. The chapter also notes the times when cue-taking behavior does not really allow one to say that it is a panacea so far as democratic decision making is concerned.
Shaun Bowler is Distinguished Professor and Dean of the Graduate Division at the University of California, Riverside.
Stephen P. Nicholson is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Merced.


Thank you for your interest in presenting at the 2019 CAEL Conference, "Plug In: Energize Adult Pathways to Success," in Chicago, IL on November 6 - 8, 2019. The deadline for proposals to be submitted is March 31, 2019. CAEL will inform you of your acceptance status in June 2019.


text:
Vonhof is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:

 Fritz Vonhof (1907–?), German bobsledder
 Peter Vonhof (born 1949), German cyclist

See also
 Von Hoff

German-language surnames


The history of Twin Bay Resort is rooted in strong family values and faith in God. Our parents, Oscar and Jean Betty, believed in strong work ethics, a healthy lifestyle, sharing and caring for others, and the management and wise use of our natural resources and beautiful land, They raised all of us (13 children) on the trap line and fishing camps. To this day, some of us maintain that traditional lifestyle, fishing and trapping, and just enjoying nature at our cabins. Our late father believed in community development, establishing the Ossey Fishers Co-op more than 65 years ago, which still provides employment to local fishers today. Our mother was the first woman to get her commercial fishing license.
Our parents believed in formal education, but not at the expense of losing our culture. Managing our natural resources, a managed fishery, and using only what you need for food was always important. We encourage recycling and catch and release fishing.
We honour the legacy of our parents. Twin Bay is locally owned and operated since 1987. Twin Bay Resort is a small camp that offers a quiet, relaxing and friendly atmosphere. We offer personalized service, warm hospitality and clean, modern conveniences. We do not sell alcohol or cigarettes at our establishment. We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere that allows our guests to feel comfortable and to consider Twin Bay Resort as their home away from home. We want this to be a place where you can come to rest, enjoy quiet reflection and to have fun fishing.
To learn more and book your stay, be sure to contact us today.


Identity and access management (IAM/IdAM)is the security discipline that enables the right individuals to access the right resources at the right times for the right reasons.
It addresses the mission-critical need to ensure appropriate access to resources across increasingly heterogeneous technology environments, and to meet increasingly rigorous compliance requirements. This security practice is a crucial undertaking for any enterprise. It is increasingly business-aligned, and it requires business skills, not just technical expertise.


text:
The surviving records of the Ashern United Church include the following: Sacramental Register, pertaining to Baptisms, 1946-1995, Marriages, 1956-1996, and Burials, 1946-1997; Membership rolls and records of the Session (joint meetings with Stewar...
Ashern United Church
Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada fonds
Fonds consists of publications, correspondence, reports and other records of the Jewish Historical Centre of Western Canada (JHC) and its predecessor organizations. The records were created in support of the organization's mandate to preserve and...
Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada
Broomhill United Church fonds
The records of the Broomhill United Church as held at the conference archives of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario include Sacramental registers: Baptisms (1928-1952), Marriages (1928-1942), Burials (1929-1953); and Communion Rolls (1916-1977).
Broomhill United Church
Thomas H. McLeod Papers
Thomas McLeod's collection consists of a paper written in 1995 entitled "S.J. McKee of Brandon College: A Biographical Note on a Man and an Institution." This paper is a brief history of Brandon College and S.J. McKee's role in...
Thomas H. McLeod
Résultats 4961 à 4964 sur 4964


text:
You Know St. Patrick's Favorite Norman Castles in Ireland?!
By rarely VT / Ireland
Historically, March is the month we celebrate St. Patrick. Okay, in the States, March is the month we celebrate getting drunk on the 17th and eating boiled cabbage.
Fun fact: While Corned Beef and Cabbage may be an Irish-American dish, it is not a native Irish dish.
But if you've wondered what Norman castles existed in Ireland during the time of St. Patrick while he preached the Gospel – continue reading!
The outer wall of Cahir Castle.
While a Britain by birth, but born into a Roman family, Patrick was kidnapped by raiders when he was a young man. Once in Ireland, he was sold as a slave and served as a shepherd. A lonely and low-value position.
Click on the photo above to get your FREE guidebook for de-stressing.
After six long years, in which he spent much time reflecting on his faith, he escapes on a ship and landed back in Britain. And Patrick was finally reunited with his family.
Sometime after his return to Britain, Patrick dreamed he received a letter entitled "The Voice of the Irish". The legend goes as he read the letter, he heard the voices of the Irish begging him to come back to Ireland. He dragged his feet for a while before answering the call because he felt he needed more training.
Once in Ireland, his hesitation vanished and he traveled over Ireland preaching and baptizing. And like the Apostle Paul, he too was cast into chains.
Patrick is a popular name in Ireland.
Historians aren't entirely sure when Patrick lived and died, but given his writings, they speculate sometime between 432 and 496. And some historians believe he died around 460.
Norman Castles in Ireland
For the romantic in you, Patrick predates the Norman stone castles in Ireland by over 600 years. Bummer, right? Imagine all the stories you could have read if the two coincided…
Who are the Anglo-Normans?
When the Vikings settled in northern France and intermarried with the locals, the area became what is now Normandy. Then the Normans set out to colonize parts of Britain, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
The Normans who came to Ireland came from Britain, so they had the name Anglo added on. Anglo implies a relation to the English culture.
The Anglo-Normans came to Ireland about 1169. They had already conquered Britain and needed another diversion.
As the Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland and began conquering lands, they build earthen fortifications. However, the more land they conquered and the bigger their defenses needed to become. And since Ireland is plentiful with rocks, they began building stone fortifications, or castles. (Though some historians now argue this timeline. Some of the conquers may have begun building their stone castles as soon as the land was conquered.)
The trip steps at Bunratty Castle.
The older castles were designed with safety in mind. A tower was built with few windows, trip steps, and several floors to gain height to better see longer distances.
Anglo-Normans knew to use natural defensive features to help protect their tower houses. Building their castle on a river or on a cliff or the top of a hill, so the enemy has numerous disadvantages.
For some of the tower occupants, looking out from the top of their towers must have offered visual stress relief. Partly for the beauty of the countryside and partly for being able to sight the enemy from such a great distance.
View from the grounds of the Rock of Cashel.
But the tower houses weren't enough and so a tall wall was added around the tower house. This could be used two-fold. Make it more difficult for the enemy to get to the heart of the fortification, the tower house. And allow some of the townspeople to seek shelter inside the tower house complex, the castle grounds, from enemy attacks.
Grand Houses
As the need for the defensive structures began to ease, the rich Anglo-Norman lords began building large stone houses. While we still consider them castles, they have too many windows and are not defensible enough to be a fortified structure. But they do stir the imagination, especially for telling fairy tales and of princesses who need rescuing.
Can you pick out which are fortified structures and which are grand houses?
If you visit Ireland, you'll have around 30,000 guesses. That's how many castles are in Ireland.
Quin Abbey
An Abbey? This site and structure have an interesting history. The first structure on this site was a castle built in 1278. The castle was destroyed sometime after 1318 and the land was given to Franciscans.
Quin Abbey.
The Franciscans founded Quin Abbey in 1402. Archeological studies suggest the building was built in sections over time, instead of all at once. And the castle structure was incorporated into the friary.
The last Quin friar was buried in 1820.
Tower inside Quin Abbey.
You can read more about our first visit to the Abbey here.
Roscrea Castle
Roscrea was built in 1280. If you take a tour of the castle, what you see in the Great Hall is original to the 1300s.
Roscrea Castle entrance.
The circular steps in the castle are called trip steps. Not only are the steps built in a clockwise direction to impede an attacker's right sword arm, but the steps are uneven to further off-balance invaders.
Roscrea Castle.
Read more about our visit to the castle here.
Cahir Castle was built on a rocky island in the River Suir. Work on the castle began in the 1200s. The Butlers took possession of the castle in 1375 and over the next few centuries added on to what you see today. The Outer Ward was added in the late 1400s. The Middle Ward was created in the 1500s.
Cahir Castle corner tower.
Cahir Castle entrance.
Bunratty Castle
Next to the Ralty River, not too far from the Shannon, is Bunratty Castle. This castle was built around 1425. And was built by the same clan as those who destroyed the castle at Quin.
Bunratty Castle roof.
View from Bunratty Castle roof.
(When Covid is over and they resume the traditional nights, it's worth the experience!)
Ross Castle
On the shores of Lough Leane is Ross Castle. The castle was built in 1460. One tip we learned while touring this castle – most castles were whitewashed. So back in the Middle Ages, instead of gray castles off in the distance, you would have seen white castles.
Ross Castle.
Side of Ross Castle.
Ross Castle entrance.
Leamaneh Castle
Part of the ruin you see before you was built around 1480. And part was built around 1648. Can you tell which part is the original castle?
Leamaneh Castle.
(Other sites to see along the way past this castle.)
Don't forget to pin this post!
Don't forget to pin this to your Ireland Travel board on Pinterest!
So, which Norman castles in Ireland look like fortified structures to you? And which ones look like grand houses?
You can let me know on FaceBook here!
(P.S. If you notice some of the dates aren't the same across the websites linked to this post and wonder when the castle was actually built? I don't have a good answer for you. Frustrating when informational sites don't agree, isn't it?)
Unique Cards Not In the Grocery Store
Are You Tired of Boring and Predictable Grocery Store Cards?
One of the last things you want to do is waste time in the grocery store looking for a card to send.
Introducing our 3 Unique Western USA Card Pack!
Get yours today here!


So I'm aware that vampires have made a come back back in the west. I was surprised to discover the craze is starting to sweep through China. I came across this vampire themed bar tucked into a traditional Chinese hutong (I actually wrote about it for China Daily). The owner has a penchant for romantic vampire films and series like Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, and sees them as romantic creatures of the night, rather than narcissistic psychopaths or grotesque monsters.
The V isn't the only vampire-themed-bar-type-thing in Beijing, first came Vampire in Beijing.
A vampire-themed-bar-type-thing on Gulou Dongdajie (close to where The V is). Vampire in Beijing sells what appears to be blood, zombie blood and poison (Psst: actually it's just fruit juice). The owner is more into old school vampire culture rather than the lovely-dovey stuff that's come with the recent ressurgence.


Globalization. How many times a day do we hear that term bandied about in the news, in advertising, in political rhetoric? As a concept, it may be valid and worth considering, but the word itself is worn out.
Too bad, because globalization (read: the world s getting smaller, making it easier to trade ideas and goods between far corners of the sphere [do spheres have corners?]) can be a vitalizing force in jazz as well as in macroeconomics. For example, we get a Vietnamese guitarist interpreting Jimi Hendrix, a Dutch band swinging through the Little Rascals theme, or an Indian mandolinist creating a typhoon from Bird riffs. You get the idea.
Audio is going through the same sort of-gulp-globalization, and last month we examined some of the ways the Internet is facilitating this process. Among the new trails that have opened up for consumers of high-performance gear are those leading to the many boutique manufacturers now dotting the globe in such far-flung places as Cincinnati, Hong Kong, Germany, Poland and Western Australia. In the old days of strictly brick-and-mortar retailing, a small designer of fine amplifiers producing a couple of units per week had little chance of making his or her product known outside his or her immediate geographic area. But that's all changed with the onslaught of Web-based marketing: Artisan component builders located anywhere on Earth can sell their products to anyone with an Internet connection, regardless of location.
So, here I am, somewhere in Middle America surfing the Web for new and interesting audio equipment. There's some questionable junk out there, to be sure, but some high-value, highperformance equipment as well.
George Wright of Kent, Wash., has been building some very affordable, high-quality tube amps and preamps for decades via his Wright Sound Company (wright-sound.com), while Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio (wavelengthaudio.com) has become a legend doing the same thing in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the wilds of Connecticut, Louis Chochos cranks out his handsome and efficient Omega speakers (omegaloudspeakers.com).
I recently stumbled upon two dedicated souls during my own Web searching, two craftsmen who satisfy my tastes for oft-esoteric tube stuff: One is a former crayfisherman on the west coast of Australia, the other is a displaced Canadian apparently thriving in the former Crown Colony of Hong Kong.
Nearly 10 years ago, when his Hong Kong-born wife could no longer tolerate Canadian winters, Brian Cherry left Toronto for the Chinese island-city in order to give his spouse some relief from the cold, and to see how the other half of the planet lived. After a couple of years, he resolved to convert his long-standing hobby of building audio equipment-begun when he was only 10-into a business. And so was born DIY HiFi Supply, initially aimed at supplying kits to the do-it-yourself market.
Because he felt a parallel between the expressiveness of jazz and that of his simple tube designs, Cherry decided to name his products after notable jazz musicians. "It's only my opinion, but of all the music types, none better reveals the virtuosity of a performer and the tonality of a musical instrument than jazz," he says. Right on. So we get the Basie preamp, the Ella integrated amp, the Bix turntable, the Billie monoblock amps, the Tram preamp and so on.
All of these and several others are still available in kit form, but Cherry admits that about half of his sales go out as preassembled, finished components, the assembly stage adding only a modest amount to the final cost of the equipment. In this way, even the soldergun-impaired among us can take advantage of the interesting array of value laden gear offered by Cherry and his crew at DIY. But confident beginners can usually tackle and conquer many of Cherry's kits, though with some caution. "Some experience in soldering is needed," Cherry explains. "We use picturebased assembly manuals. Difficulty ranges from easy to difficult depending on the kit. A novice who can solder, understands basic electricity and the inherent danger of high voltage, and has basic hand skills should be OK to build the Lady Day Level One as a first kit.
Well, with the supplied TJ Mesh Plate 300B output tubes, a slight upgrade to the basic unit, I found the amps to be totally spellbinding. A certain magic came into the music; the instruments became real instead of just accurate portraits of instruments, and the feeling of music being played just for me was there. I played disc after disc, ranging from Brazilian samba to Glenn Gould pouring out Mozart piano sonatas and everything in between. It all just seemed right, believable and a joy to listen to.
By the way, though the amps only produce about nine watts, I got earsplitting results from three different speakers including the notvery-efficient Almarro M33As and the easier-to-drive DeVore Fidelity Super 8s. But the best marriage was with the recently debuted Sonist Concerto 2s (sonist.com) whose 95db sensitivity rating allowed me to nearly bust out the windows with some amazing music. More on these speakers in the near future, but be aware that one must take care in matching any lowpowered amp with the proper speaker.
In fitting with the theme of globalization, I tried to concentrate on music from other places. I started with the brand new CD by Canadian vocalist Holly Cole. Though recorded in NYC, my copy was pressed in Japan and, ironically, the disc seems unlikely to see a U.S. release. That's a shame, because the music-from beginning to end-absolutely rocks. Well, no, it swings. On the super-uptempo "Charade," Cole propels the band through a 100-mph roller-coaster ride of a song. Each measure, each beat is easy to follow. In fact, she pulls the listener along at the same speed; one can't resist her deft vocal treatment of this Johnny Mercer standard, particularly since the Lady Day allows every tiny nuance of her distinctive style to exude a liquid sensuousness. The timbre of every horn, the drums, the piano and the bass in this nonet is reproduced perfectly, and each is maintained as a clearly discernible thread through the music, not something many systems can do with this level of refinement, especially at this price.
For a couple of years, I've lusted after an Australian preamp produced by the little-known outfit called Supratek (supratek.biz). Each model is named for a quality wine, outfitted with a striking jarrah wood case, and presents a visual impression like no other preamp I've ever seen. How could I resist such temptation? After reading countless positive reviews, both from audio critics and from happy consumers, I resolved to get my hands on one. So contact was made with the iconoclastic designer, Mick Maloney, the former crayfisherman who now lives in Western Australia in a small bohemian coastal wine-producing town.
Like Cherry, Maloney, who shyly admits that "Kind of Blue still does it for me," was a hi-fi hobbyist for many, many years before he managed to evolve that love into a business. He encapsulates the transition this way: "When I quit fishing I decided to do what I loved and started an audio business called Micrex. I aimed for the Asian market, as I figured it would be next to impossible to make a living from the Australian scene, and produced a tube preamp and hybrid power amp. However, dealing with retailers was a challenge, and Micrex wasn't successful financially for me, so I sold it. I did a few years building boats for a living and developing my phono preamps and building lots of tube amps in my spare time.
And comment I will. When put into the system with the Lady Day amps, the Chenin preamp ($2,900 with phono pre) made the sensation of listening to music even more engaging, more seductive.
Back to the global music. In 1974 Wayne Shorter released the remarkable Native Dancer, which featured Brazilian singer and composer Milton Nascimento. Soon thereafter, Nascimento recorded his own LP, very jazz inspired, and very much his own counterpart to the Shorter disc. It features Nascimento's Corner Gang, with whom he recorded regularly in the 1970s, including saxist Nivaldo Ornelas, who sounds very Shorter-like on the record. Of course there is lots of percussion and haunting vocals, all laid down in thick layers designed to achieve a certain harmonic and textural richness. I've heard the disc at least 500 times (I swear), but it never sounded as good as it did through the Supratek. All those individual element, the jingles, clangs, voices and more voices could be easily delineated within the complex mix, while new sounds I'd never noticed before jumped out at me, even startling me, during the audition. The sense of reality was that pronounced.
On another Brazilian CD, we'll examine the Chenin's phono section in a future column by super samba composer Paulinho da Viola, the instrumental textures were again easy to dissect. And his voice could have been produced across the room from my chair, I could hear his breathing as he sang each verse, so clear was the vocal line. Dino Sete Cordas, the master and progenitor of the Brazilian sevenstring guitar, plays on this disc, and his fascinating running bass lines nearly pop out of the mix. For the fi rst time listening to this disc, I could really hear what he was playing.
The short time I've spent with the Supratek has convinced me that Maloney is correct about the importance of the preamp in the chain. And when the vintage is as good as this Chenin, you just want to drink more and more.
Combine that heady cup with the DIY HiFi Supply Lady Day Premium 91 and it's hard to imagine that music could sound any better. I cannot recommend both of these highly reasonable gems enough.
Are CD Players Finally Delivering What They Promised All Along?


As Rob Ford's lawyer begins to argue his appeal today, I was pleased to get a mention in the Toronto Star for my post about the history of municipal conflicts of interest. The author, Marco Oved, takes a similar approach, although with a much broader lens. Worth a look!
This entry was posted on January 7, 2013 by Daniel in Active History, public history, Toronto.


text:
From Senior Academic Appointments Committee
Appointing a Dean or Head of School
The procedure followed by the Senior Academic Appointments Committee to appoint a Dean or Head of School.
View more corporate information in Senior Academic Appointments Committee
In accordance with Section 8.1 of the Statutes of the University, the Senior Academic Appointments Committee is responsible for considering and recommending to Council persons for appointment as Dean/Head of School. The Committee is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor.
The Vice-Chancellor will invite the views of all staff in the Faculty/School on the vacancy for Dean/Head of School. This is the opportunity for the staff to comment on the proposed remit of the post and identify any internal candidate(s). The consultation will be by e-mail and/or meeting(s) as necessary.
A job description, person specification, notice of vacancy and candidate brief will be prepared by the Vice-Chancellor and the Director of Human Resources.
The Vice-Chancellor, in consultation with the Director of Human Resources, will determine whether the vacancy is to be subject to external or internal recruitment.
External Recruitment
The Vice-Chancellor will establish a Search Committee with the following remit:
To oversee the initial recruitment process from advertisement to selection of long list;
To consider and approve the job description, person specification, advertisement and candidate brief;
To determine which executive search agency (if any) will be employed to assist the University with the identification of candidates for the vacancy;
To select the long list of candidates;
To establish the Interview Panel.
The Search Committee will normally consist of:
Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Deputy Chair)
One member of the Faculty/ One member of the School
One Dean of Faculty/Head of School
One member of the Senior Academic Appointments Committee (normally a lay member of Council)
The Search Committee will select the long list of interview candidates and then stand down.
An Interview Panel will be established by the Search Committee with the following remit:
To shortlist candidates for interview;
To conduct the interview process and make a recommendation for appointment to the Senior Academic Appointments Committee.
The Interview Panel will normally consist of:
Deputy Vice-Chancellor or a Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Two Deans/Heads of School
One Head of a Professional Services Department
The Interview Panel will shortlist the candidates for interview.
There will normally be two stages of selection. The first stage will include initial interviews with key stakeholders. Selected candidates will proceed to the second stage which will include an interview by the Panel.
The successful candidate will be offered the post subject to confirmation by Council as set out below.
The recommendation of the Panel will be reported to the Search Committee by correspondence and considered by the Senior Academic Appointments Committee. The formal recommendation for appointment will be made to Council.
Internal Recruitment
The Vice-Chancellor will:
be responsible for the recruitment process;
approve the job description, person specification, notification of vacancy and candidate brief;
select the short list of candidates.
Following notification of the vacancy on the University's Website and receipt of expressions of interest in the vacancy, the Vice-Chancellor will meet with prospective candidates for the vacancy. The Vice-Chancellor will consult further within the Faculty/School before making his/her recommendation.
The Vice-Chancellor will recommend the candidate(s) for consideration by the Senior Academic Appointments Committee. The Committee will then recommend the selected candidate for appointment by Council.
Confirmation of Appointment
The offer of the post will be confirmed to the candidate by the Director of Human Resources following the appointment by Council.
Internal candidates are eligible to apply for vacancies subject to external recruitment. The advertisement for any such vacancy will be placed on the University's Website.
The Vice-Chancellor will determine whether to recommend to the Senior Academic Appointments Committee that the existing postholder continue for a further term by reviewing their performance and following appropriate consultation within the University. If the existing postholder is recommended by the Committee to continue for a further term, this will be subject to appointment by Council and then announced on the University's Website.
The above internal recruitment procedure will apply to the appointment of a Deputy Dean/Deputy Head of School.
Angela Pater a.m.pater@bath.ac.uk 01225 383075