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Home » Oil & Gas » Company News
Virginia Natural Gas signs deal for next generation natural gas
Oil & GasMidstreamLNG Terminal
By NS Energy Staff Writer 25 Oct 2019
Gas from this purchase is from SWN wells that have been certified through the Independent Energy Standards Corporation Trustwell Responsible Gas Program
Image: VNG will purchase one-fifth of its customers' annual natural gas supply from select wells. Photo: courtesy of LEEROY Agency from Pixabay.
Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) announced today that it aims to be the first natural gas utility in America to provide its customers with natural gas that is 100% sourced, transported and distributed by companies that have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than 1% across the natural gas value chain. And as a down payment on that pledge, it announced a deal to source a large percentage of its annual gas consumption from such companies starting this year.
Beginning Nov. 1, VNG will begin purchasing one-fifth of its customers' annual natural gas supply from select wells operated by Southwestern Energy (SWN).
A natural gas industry-led organization, ONE Future is dedicated to voluntarily achieving meaningful reductions in methane emissions across the natural gas supply chain. Members are focused on achieving a science-based average rate of methane emissions that is equal to 1% or less of total natural gas production by 2025. VNG's distribution system and all the interstate transportation pipelines that serve it participate in the ONE Future program. The purchase of next generation gas reflects VNG's desire to help move the market in this direction, a first of its kind from well head to burner tip, and the method by which VNG aspires to source all its gas by 2025.
In addition, the gas from this purchase is from SWN wells that have been certified through the Independent Energy Standards Corporation Trustwell Responsible Gas Program. The program's goal is to manage emissions and produce natural gas in a more sustainable way that produces an even cleaner fuel using an independent, third-party rating system for gas wells or entire asset bases.
Coupled with the Virginia State Corporation Commission's recent approval allowing VNG to double its award-winning Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy (SAVE) infrastructure replacement program, the announcement signals VNG's commitment to accelerate its sector-leading commitment to emissions reductions.
"Our customers want their fuel of choice to be both clean and economical. Stakeholders want to know we're working to be a part of the climate solution. This independent third-party certification using state-of-the-art wells provides both transparency and accountability," said Jim Kibler, VNG president. "We know that to meet our goals will require not only aspiration but working with our stakeholders, regulators, and supply chain partners to obtain excellent results for our customers and our communities," Kibler added.
Richard Hyde, executive director of ONE Future stated, "I am excited to see two founding members of ONE Future enter into this agreement which enables both companies to continue the hard work they have put into in reducing methane emissions over the last several years. I think these types of agreements prove that reducing methane emissions is a critical part of helping to ensure the reliability and sustainability of our nation's energy supply as the economy moves toward lower carbon usage."
Purchasing this next generation natural gas complements VNG's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through additional initiatives such as its Energy Efficiency Program and its pipeline modernization program, SAVE that started in 2012. Through SAVE, VNG has replaced more than 350 miles of older, aging pipes with more modern pipes that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25%, taking the equivalent of 13,000 vehicles off the road.
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The first Sunday of Advent represents a marked shift in the seasons. Just last week our sanctuary was starkly decorated with green paraments and simple adornment. Now, we see stars, wreaths, trees, festive blue banners, and the Advent candles. Festive holiday tunes will fear our ears, especially as we grow closer to our annual commemoration of our Lord's nativity.
Yet, some things don't seem all that different. We still sing, pray, and preach about sin and grace, depravity and redemption, death and resurrection. The themes of our readings sound very similar to last week. Last week we heard "Be Prepared!" The Bridegroom is coming late. Trim your wicks and store up the oil of our Lord's means of grace and faith.
Last week we heard from our Lord about being prepared for his coming in judgment on the last day through the parable of the bridegroom to the bridal party. Today, we hear of this coming through the lens of Holy Week. Our minds are drawn to the last days, when our Lord will come again. Behold, Your King Is Coming To You!
This first Sunday of Advent we prepare for the coming of our infant King. We prepare for the King riding into Jerusalem on the beasts of burden, riding towards his death. We prepare for our resurrected King coming at the apocalypse.
Just like last week, we continue to talk about being prepared. Yesterday we prepared the sanctuary for Christmas, the advent of Christ in the flesh. This time is a wonderful and joyous time to prepare to remember the birth of our Lord. Christmas is looms huge in salvation history, a significant event in our Lord's redeeming work.
Yet, the dawn of Easter larger on the horizon, when our Lord Jesus Christ poured out his blood for our salvation. The quiet night of the nativity will give way to the bright light of the resurrection. The infant king was the crucified King of the Jews. Advent prepares us for Jesus as infant king, crucified and resurrected king, and the king of glory.
In the Gospel, Christ, the once child, now humbly rides on beasts, trotting upon cloaks and tree branches. His life as the innocent son of God will soon lead to his death as the accursed upon the cross. The ultimate triumph of God over sin isn't merely taking on the form of servant, where he is the son of woman. His ultimate triumph is being obedient unto death, even death on the cross, where he is the son of God who obeys the Father's will.
The infant child was marked as king by the Magi, bearing the riches of royalty. They bow before Him as royal blood, holy borne. As he rides into Jerusalem, he only bears his cloak and sandals. He does not wear the royal diadem, holding a scepter, and wielding the sword and shield of David. He comes into town as a servant.
Pilate recognized Jesus' royal blood. He placed above his cross a sign which read, "the King of the Jews." After his resurrection, Thomas greeted Jesus as a king. Jesus showed him the marks of triumph and conquest over death in his hands and his side. Thomas recognized him saying, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) When we call out to Jesus as Lord, we are calling to him as servants call to their master, as subjects to their Lord. Every time you call Jesus Lord you are calling him your king.
This is not insignificant. There is great comfort swearing fealty to the king who rules heaven and earth, life and death. You are his soldiers of the cross, fighting for the faith once delivered to the saints. You are fighting under your King, Jesus Christ. Thus, you are properly called Christians, subject to his rule. He is the righteous branch sprung forth from the root of Jesse. He is the son of David, of royal blood. Christ is the one foretold who delivers Judah and Israel. He is the one who reigns upon the throne, executing righteousness and justice.
As we have recognized Jesus as King, it is fitting for us to prepare. It is fitting for us believe and act as if he is truly sovereign over all things and most of all, over our hearts. The Psalmist told us who is well-prepared for the Lord of all creation and all creatures therein. "He who has clean hands and a pure heart." (Psalm 24:4) Our holy King cares for his subjects, granting them all they need to be suitable for his heavenly glorious presence.
This is why Advent historically had purple paraments: Purple signifies royalty. Advent is a time of preparation for Christ our King. Advent was not a time of drunken revelry but historically featured what Dr. Luther calls "fine outward bodily preparation," that is, fasting. Since we know that our King comes with salvation and the heavenly banquet, we put off our earthly pale imitations and prepare with eagerness for the real thing. We prepare ourselves with repentance and humility to enter again into the remembrance of our Lord's life, from the Nativity to the Ascension. We cast off the desires of the flesh and find our satisfaction in our Lord and His salvation.
Advent is not merely preparing to remember a baby born in a manger. Advent is about preparing to receive your King. Not just any king but the king who dies for you, the king who is your righteousness, the king bearing salvation. Wisely then, we hear again of our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Our ears perk up at the sound of not the Nativity but Holy Week. We are drawn forward to our Lord's suffering and death and glorious resurrection. We remember his ascension to the right hand of the Father and will be prepared for His coming in judgment upon the clouds.
From the perspective of history, we are stuck in the gray and latter days, having heard of our Lord's birth and death, resurrection and ascension, but yet waiting for his glorious return. But, our Lord keeps his promise to never leave us or forsake us. In fact, he comes to us as our King even now.
Our King proclaims royal edicts from His throne. Our Lord Jesus comes to us through His holy Word. These aren't mere words of judgment but words bearing gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. We are comforted at the hearing of the Holy Scriptures.
The victory begun with our Lord's triumphant entry continues with us each Lord's Day when the blessed Sacrament is celebrated. In the Sanctus, we sing "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" T vision of heaven from the prophet Isaiah and the benediction the crowds shouted are merged when we sing at the advent of our King in his body and blood. At these words, we mark the advent of King, singing the shout of both Palm Sunday and the melody of the heavenly banquet.
Christ our Lord, our King, comes to us in the Holy Supper with forgiveness and more. By receiving his body and blood into our mouths, we join in communion with him into one mystical body, subjects of his kingdom. We acknowledge him to be our monarch and to serve him. We agree to cast off the works of darkness, not gratifying the desires of our flesh. The Lord's Supper is our King's testament, his ultimate will, expressed in a holy meal. God has brought us into his kingdom and feeds us with the life-giving sacrifice in a banquet that never ends, where he rules forever and ever.
On this first Sunday of Advent, we prepare for the coming of our infant King, our crucified and resurrected King, and the King of the heavenly kingdom. He came as the child king, born of the virgin Mary, adored by the Magi. He came as the king of humiliation as he entered Jerusalem to his death and resurrection. He will come as King of Glory with the train of the holy resurrected believers behind him. And even now, he comes as King in His flesh and blood in the Holy Sacrament. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" In the holy name of Jesus. Amen.


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How to Import Sony a5100 XAVC S to Final Cut Pro (X) on Mac?


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Iain Stewart MP: A minimum unit price for alcohol has few discernible benefits – and plenty of downsides
Seven Cabinet Ministers. Half the Whips Office. Eleven Ministers. All these failed to back the Government in yesterday's extension vote.
Donelan, Quin, and Stewart join the whips office; Spencer, Stephenson, and Freer promoted
The full PPS list. One third Leavers. One third women. And ninety per cent May supporters.
Updated list of Conservative MPs at today's Chequers constitution meeting
Iain Stewart MP: The official evidence showed minimum alcohol pricing doesn't work – I hope you all noticed!
Iain Stewart is Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes South. Follow Iain on Twitter.
I have considerable reservations about the efficacy of a
minimum unit price for alcohol (MUP). I am concerned that it will penalise
responsible drinkers but not tackle the problems of binge drinking.
I was therefore interested to see the edition of the Metro recently with a front-page story about a bold claim that a 30p rise
in the price of a pint "can cut deaths by a third". It is
important to look carefully at these claims.
They are based on research from the University of Victoria Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia, Canada which asserts that
between 2002 and 2009 a 10% increase in the average minimum price for all
alcoholic drinks was associated with a 32% reduction in alcohol-related deaths.
Yet official hospital records paint a different picture.
They show that the number of deaths from alcohol actually went
up from 1073 in 2002 to 1169 in 2009! I am therefore concerned about the statistics on which UK MUP policy is being built.
Researchers in charge of Sheffield Model that underpins the
Government's policy have described the accuracy of their own model as akin to "weather forecasting". The unmodelled, real life fact is that in
the UK since 2004 overall alcohol consumption has dropped by 13%, but alcohol
harms have gone up. How can a blanket policy of cutting consumption by
increasing price be seen as the solution to the alcohol fuelled anti-social
behaviour and binge drinking that we all want?
I have not yet seen convincing evidence that MUP will change
behaviour on alcohol. However, I can see many downsides from such a policy. It
will do little for my constituents who are responsible drinkers. MUP will
unfairly penalise all responsible drinkers buying a bottle of wine or a
multi-pack of beer, but will be more acutely felt by the poorest 30% of
households who already tend to have the lowest consumption. For more information
on the impact on responsible drinkers, the "why should we pay more"
campaign has some interesting facts and figures.
We should also be cautious about the argument that it will
help the pubs if we narrow the difference between prices in supermarkets and
those at the bar – indeed it might make matters worse for our beleaguered pub
trade. With alcohol part of many people's weekly shop, there is the risk
that MUP will simply reduce the funds available to spend in the pub.
Nor am I convinced that a MUP would address the problem of
binge drinking and anti-social behaviour which so disfigures our high streets
at the weekends. It is not unusual for people to spend £50 on a big night out –
so what difference will a few extra pounds make on the pre-loading booze bought
in the off-licence?
Even the researchers behind the Sheffield Model have
admitted that minimum pricing is not effective at tackling binge drinking by
I am also concerned about the financial implications of
MUP. Based on the Government's own figures, MUP will cost consumers £5
billion over a Parliament with none of that money going to the Exchequer in
tax. In the same period, the Treasury recognises it will lose £1 billion
cash from excise duty with the projections for health and crime savings
amounting to £715 million. So the net cost to Government would be in the
order of £285 million at least, revenue which we might need to find elsewhere.
So, if we have all those millions to spend on harmful
drinking why don't we take the bull by the horns and invest that money on
direct interventions targeted at harmful drinkers, cutting NHS and crime bills
with new GP services, city centre booze buses, better enforcement of existing
laws and Community Alcohol Partnerships which stop young people accessing
alcohol? We can do it through the new Public Health Framework.
Then we wouldn't need to punish the 78% of the public in the
UK who drink responsibly with a price hike designed to tackle only those who
abuse alcohol and is almost certainly destined to be ineffective – except in
pushing up inflation by a further 0.2%!
I hope this has been a helpful contribution to the debate.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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In Ireland / Palestinian and Irish prisoners go on hunger strike
Posted in Europe, North Africa & West Asia, Palestine, Prisoners
By Christian Noakes
Issam Hijjawi-Bassalat, a Palestinian doctor and dedicated ant-imperialist, was arrested on Aug. 24 along with nine members of the Irish Republican Party Saoradh, as a result of entrapment by the British police agency MI5. These arrests are part of the ongoing repression of the Irish Republican movement* by British military and intelligence forces.
Irish-Palestinian Solidarity mural on Falls Road peace wall that separates Belfast's Catholic and Protestant communities. Credit: Talia Lux
The prisoners were taken to British-operated Maghaberry Prison in Antrim, one of the Occupied Six Counties in Ireland's northeast. After undergoing the intial 14-day isolation now being practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were taken to Roe House at Maghaberry, which is used to detain Republican political prisoners.
Due to persisting, numerous health problems, Dr. Hijjawi-Bassalat, who is 62 years old, was taken to an outside hospital for an MRI scan. However, after the procedure he was separated from his comrades and placed in dilapidated Foyle House at the same jail — where non-political prisoners are held — instead of being taken back to Roe House. Authorities claimed that he had to undergo another 14 days of isolation to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
However, this claim is contradicted by the preferential treatment given to loyalist prisoners. The Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Asscociation (IRPWA) Facebook page posted a message from a Republican prisoner on Roe 4 landing at Maghaberry jail. It states: "Issam is being needlessly held in the filth and squalor of the occupation's Foyle House in intense pain, unable to sit or lay down. …"
The statement continues: "There is no logic to Issam being held [there] … as over the past two-week period, two loyalist prisoners were taken to outside hospitals and returned to loyalist Bush House. They were not forced to endure the 14-day, 24-hour lock-up due to 'COVID isolation'. This is clear proof that the occupiers' MI5-led jail administration is using the isolation of Issam as a tool to persecute Republican Prisoners."
Cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Foyle House, too. Additionally, there is plenty of room in the Republican section at Roe House to allow Dr. Hijawi-Bassalat to be in isolation, say Republican activists.
Solidarity growing in prisons and on the streets
In response to such blatant, brutal repression, Dr. Hijjawi-Bassalat began a hunger strike on Sept. 16 to demand his return to the jail's Republican wing. He has been joined in his strike by at least 50 Irish Republican political prisoners in both Maghaberry Prison and Portlaoise Jail in County Laois in the Free State (commonly referred to as the "Republic of Ireland").
Women incarcerated at the Hydebank Wood Prison in Belfast began refusing food on Sept. 23, and stated: "We unreservedly support Issam in his hunger strike and his demand for immediate transfer to Republican Roe House." (The Irish News, Sept. 24)
Activists on the outside have also committed to fasting in solidarity. The hunger strikers are continuing the struggle of Irish Republican hunger strikers, such as Bobby Sands. Thirty-nine years ago, this hero fought to the death for political status and basic human dignity.
Dr. Hijjawi-Bassalat's experience in Maghaberry Prison is reflective of the common experience of political prisoners — whether in Ireland or Occupied Palestine. This is true in regard to both the harsh and brutal conditions in the jails and the prisoners' means of resistance.
Much like Irish political prisoners, Palestinians have a long history of demanding their humanity through tactics such as hunger strikes. Like their anti-imperialist comrades resisting oppression in Ireland, over 300 prisoners plan to go on hunger strike Sept. 24 to protest the appalling conditions, brutality and repression in Israel's Ofer Prison in the Occupied West Bank. (Palestine Information Center, Sept. 22)
Solidarity actions with Dr. Hijjawi-Bassalat and the Republican political prisoners have been held in several cities in the north and in Dublin, as well as in Glasgow, Scotland and London. IRPWA is organizing a 24-hour solidarity fast of "activists from across Ireland" on Sept. 26. They will set up a camp outside Maghaberry jail, picket the Kennedy Center in West Belfast, then travel by car caravan to the prison's gates where they will hold a rally.
In addition to pressuring British occupation forces, supporters from around the world can write letters to the hunger strikers. Contact Samidoun Palestine Prisoners Solidarity Network via Facebook or email at samidoun@samidoun.net. Also, see Irish Republican Prisoner Welfare Association via Facebook.
Anti-imperialists worldwide have a responsibility to show solidarity with political prisoners from Ireland to Palestine. They are imprisoned for us! We are out here for them!
*Irish Republicans have fought for centuries against British imperialism and for the right of self-determination. The loyalists, on the other hand, support and protect Britain's occupation of the northeastern six counties in Ireland and London's policies of global intervention, repression and exploitation.
Kathy Durkin contributed to this article.


BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Despite a season of pioneering firsts which included a No. 7 ranking in the national polls, and a berth in the NCAA Div. 2 national tournament's round of Sweet 16, a magical post-season run by the Simon Fraser Clan women's basketball team ran out of momentum on Tuesday.
Three seasons into its NCAA life, but in its first with the full ability to win a national title, the only international school within the ranks of the U.S. collegiate behemoth had rolled to a 25-5 record with near-exclusive Canadian talent as it headed into a sudden-elimination showdown with the host Western Washington Vikings in the Western Regional championship final at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
On a night when only their best would do, with a berth to the national Elite 8 tournament later this month in San Antonio on the line, the Clan sputtered down the stretch in a 75-58 loss.
Energetic defence and purposeful offence have been trademarks of the Clan all season, but things bogged down against the Vikings, who were led by guard Corinn Waltrip's game-high 29-point performance, one that included five triples as part of an ultra-efficient 10-of-15 shooting from the field.
It was a tough end to the careers of the Clan's three seniors.
Forward Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, later named a West Region all-star, point guard Kristina Collins, and guard Carla Wyman, the trio which helped the Clan transition from the CIS to the NCAA, played the final games of their university careers.
Raincock-Ekunwe started Tuesday's contest by scoring 16 points over her first 16 minutes on the floor, but was effectively limited by the Vikings the rest of the way, finishing with a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Wyman scored 10 points and Collins six, as the hosts laid a pair of huge runs on the visitors.
With 12 minutes left, SFU trailed just 43-40. But a three-point play capped from the free throw line by Britt Harris, and then a trey by Jenni White, got Western's crowd energized, and Waltrip then stepped up to scored eight of her team's next 10 as part of an 18-6 run that put the game away.
Afterwards, WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo, a Penticton native, said her team used a 74-59 loss to SFU on Feb. 9 atop Burnaby Mountain to refocus its efforts.
And so the Vikings will continue in the hunt for a national title, while the Clan turn attention to next season. Junior-to-be Erin Chambers says the influence of the three seniors wil help her assume a leading role next season.
WWU's Waltrip was later selected the West Region's MVP.


12 lines on a nearby point before good light. As we hit the point we started to get hits and put a fish in the boat. I circled back around and set up to hit the same point but trouble approached. Another guide in a center console drove up within 100 yards of us and proceeded to fish right up on the same point we were fishing! So much for Sportsmanship or courtesy these days. I had no other alternative but to turn and leave the point . I wanted to say something to him but did not want to embarrass him in front of his client. I should have picked up my lines and gone to one of 50 other spots that are holding Stripers but I did not want to sacrifice 12 fresh baits so we continued to work nearby areas. The bite was fairly weak in the rain with the fish hitting the baits short. We put 5 or 6 fish in the boat and relocated to a deeper flat and pulled downlines and boards. After getting a dozen more hits we went and caught more bait and fished up in the river getting hits on secondary points and humps. We had over 30 strikes today, clients keeping 11 Stripers, a Cat and a Bass. Overall it wasn't such a bad day, Senior can look forward to enjoying his 'special ' hors d'oeuvre.
Thanks for the great time at your office. The day turned out to be greater than at first anticipated and brought us a bundle of fish. Yes, Jeff's catfish included.
I would have a great time with or without catching any rockfish. As far as the other dude following you, can you really blame him since he always seems to follow the leader?
Take care and look forward to coming down again.


Aims of the course: The aim of the course is to present student with basic principles of agile development and practically try-out these principles. Also teach students to cooperate in a team and effectively communicate. Teach students different methods of software development techniques and modern trends in software development.
- Student is able to describe general principal characteristics of agile software development methods.
- Student is able to enumerate some generally used agile methods and explain their principles.
- Student is able to prepare for an effective team meeting and briefly present his achievements.
- Student is able to produce deliverables (e.g. source code) which are easy to understand to coworkers.
Assessment methods: Student is required to actively participate on a single group project. Both the activity and the results achieved are evaluated. Attendance is monitored and mandatory. The absence is required to be excused.
The class cannot be studied during foreign study stay.
KNIBERG, H. Scrum and XP from the Trenches. 1st ed. Stockholm: Lulu.com, 2007. 140 p. ISBN 978-1-4303-2264-1.
FEATHERS, M C. Údržba kódu převzatých programů. 1st ed. Brno: Computer Press, 2009. 367 p. ISBN 978-80-251-2127-6.
RUBIN, K. Essential Scrum: A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process. Boston: Addison-Wesley Professional, 2012. 462 p. ISBN 01-37043-29-5.
KNIBERG, H. -- SKARIN, M. Kanban and Scrum - making the most of both. USA: C4Media, Publisher of InfoQ.com., 2010. 122 p. ISBN 978-0-557-13832-6.
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Who didn't see this coming?
September 19, 2019 deaconmike51907Leave a comment
Ocasio-Cortez faces primary challenge from second-generation Queens immigrant
You start a brand new job and then immediately begin dissing the boss who just happens to be one the most powerful women in the United States. Did you really think Fancy Nancy was going to just grin and bear it?
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., will have to get through a primary challenger if she wants to hold on to her seat in 2020. Democratic activist Badrun Khan, who has challenged Ocasio-Cortez for the Democratic nomination to represent New York's 14th district. says on her website that she'll provide "REAL Results… Not Empty Promises" — an apparent jab at the socialist darling. When asked about Khan's challenge, Ocasio-Cortez said: "I just focus on delivering for my district and doing the best job. I try not to focus too much on other folks in the field," according to The Hill. Khan filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Committee in July. The website for New York City's government confirms that Khan serves on Queens Community Board 2.
Posted in UncategorizedTagged 2020, @aoc, election, pelosi, politics, power


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Broken Promises On Display At Native American Treaties Exhibit
By Hansi Lo Wang
Published January 18, 2015 at 1:57 PM PST
James Clark
Suzan Shown Harjo points to a signature on Treaty K at the National Archives. The document will be on display in 2016 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian for an exhibit on treaties curated by Harjo.
For centuries, treaties have defined the relationship between many Native American nations and the U.S. More than 370 ratified treaties have helped the U.S. expand its territory and led to many broken promises made to American Indians.
A rare exhibit of such treaties at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., looks back at this history. It currently features one of the first compacts between the U.S. and Native American nations – the Treaty of Canandaigua.
/ Courtesy of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Courtesy of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
The Treaty of Canandaigua is one of the first treaties signed between Native American nations and the U.S.
Also known as the Pickering Treaty, the agreement was signed in 1794 between the federal government and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, or the Six Nations, based in New York. The deal secured an ally for the young U.S. government after the Revolutionary War and returned more than a million acres to the Haudenosaunee. But their territory has been cut down over the years. More than two centuries later, the U.S. has kept one promise.
"Article 6 says that they will provide goods in the amount of $4,500, 'which shall be expended yearly forever,' " explains museum director Kevin Gover, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
Every year, those goods from the U.S. government include bolts of cloth to distribute to tribal citizens. Haudenosaunee leaders have said that cloth is more important than money, because it's a way to remind the U.S. of the treaty terms, large and small.
Paul Morigi / AP
Kevin Gover, director of the National Museum of the American Indian, stands inside the "Nation to Nation" exhibit.
"The physical treaty, like all things, will eventually fade," Gover says. "But that doesn't mean the commitments that were entered into are completed or are undone."
At least seven other original paper treaties will be featured in rotation at the museum before the exhibit "Nation to Nation" ends in the fall of 2018. For now, the documents not on display are kept at the National Archives, where one almost-forgotten treaty is stored underground.
The light-blue pages of Treaty K are signed without ratifying seals or ribbons — like 17 other unratified treaties signed by representatives of the U.S. government and Native American nations in California during the Gold Rush.
California lawmakers pressured the U.S. Senate not to ratify the treaties, which promised reservation land to the Native American nations. There was one reason the lawmakers didn't want the treaties, according to the exhibit's curator Suzan Shown Harjo of the Cheyenne and Hodulgee Muscogee Indian nations.
"The answer is always gold," she says. "And if it's not gold, it's silver. And if it's not silver, it's copper. And if it's not, go right through the metal chart."
A museum visitor views wampum belts, fans and other diplomatic tools used during the treaty-making process.
Harjo says many American Indians in California suffered without treaty protection.
"They were not only scattered from their lands, and lots of people murdered during the Gold Rush, but they were erased from history," she explains.
While many treaties resulted in tragedies, Harjo says she hopes museum visitors will take away the full span of this diplomatic history.
"People always think of broken treaties and the bad paper and the bad acts, and that is our reality. But it didn't begin there. It began on an honorable footing," she says.
Anyone who wants a strong grounding in American history, Harjo adds, needs to understand the history of these treaties.
"The people who are citizens of the U.S., these are your treaties. They aren't just the Indians' treaties," she says. "No one gave us anything. No one was dragging any land behind them when they came here. This was our land."
Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) is a national correspondent for NPR reporting on the people, power and money behind the U.S. census.
See stories by Hansi Lo Wang


Tight deadlines can make writing and editing Veeam's quarterly magazine a challenge – but when the results are this good, it's a privilege to be involved.
It's always great to work with a client who's committed to producing regular, high-value content and understands the value well-crafted copy can bring.
And that's what I get from Veeam, one of the biggest hitters in the world of data availability software. I've been working with the company's marketing team on VeeamUP for several years now, helping the quarterly magazine earn its place on the coffee tables and computer screens of the world's IT decision-makers.
Every edition brings a new challenge, whether it's conjuring a riveting article from a dry analyst report or researching the data availability challenges of a dozen different industries. But my personal highlight was when Veeam asked for a photo to include next to my very own byline – my long overdue 15 minutes of fame are finally here!
No matter who I speak to at Veeam, they all rave about VeeamUP – it's seen throughout the company as the benchmark against which other content is judged. That's a real vindication of the effort the whole team puts in every quarter, and I'm proud to be part of it.


A different sort of castle: The Castle of Muskogee.
I recently visited the Ozark Medieval Fortress and was impressed by the workmanship I found there. But I've had several people ask me if I'd ever been to a proper Renaissance Faire… I had not. They encouraged me to go.
Now, as a matter of full disclosure, I must mention that I am a card-carrying member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, which I've been a part of for 20 years now. I know a lot about the Middle Ages. I do my research. I get fussy when my garb isn't just so or the recipe I'm redacting doesn't meet my own high standards. These things, though, I had to throw out the window before visiting the Castle of Muskogee, the home of the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival.
This annual event takes place during all the weekends of May each year at a specially built 60 acre facility on the north side of Muskogee. Performers come from several states out to join in the festivities and recreate the Middle Ages.
There is a certain amount of whim and fancy about the whole affair, a fact not lost on me when we arrived on the grounds on the last day of April. The parking lot is set out with north-south roads bearing the names of English kings and east-west roads named after the six wives of Henry the Eighth. There was a lady in peasant wear at the front gate hawking programs for folks entering the "kingdom" (this program is also available online here).
After purchasing your ticket, you proceed to the gate and launch yourself into a different sort of world. It is… entertaining. It's amusing. It's not all that accurate, but for the average Faire-goer it's a lot of fun.
Our first stop was in a clothing shop, where one might obtain clothing to blend in with the natives. Dresses and separates ranged from $40 to $400 depending on the material used and how elaborate each piece was. We quickly noticed we were in the minority -- most of the attendees were making some sort of attempt at Medieval-esque clothing, though the hemlines for most of the ladies' clothing I saw while there would have been scandalous even in Victorian times.
We passed a leather shop and pottery and paused at a stand selling turkey legs. My photographer absorbed my gripes about the fact that Henry the Eighth would not have been likely to have seen a turkey leg (turkeys come from North America) and that they certainly wouldn't have been available to the peasantry, and how the closest thing to a funnel cake would have been the Indian delicacy known as a jalebi. He laughed at me and in not so many words hinted that I needed to loosen up a bit.
We ventured into an open-air tavern, where beer and soft drinks were being served. Security guards mingled with the public and with festival workers, some eating hunks of stew from wooden plates with plastic forks. There I spotted a woman wearing -- I kid you not -- a fluorescent green and day-glow fuschia Tudor-style dress that was about a foot shy of the ground. Underneath she wore a crinoline and stripey socks that matched her dress. Her headpiece sported matching beads and feathers, and it was by this nickname "Feathers" that her fellow festi-villians called her. She was bright and cheery and the kids loved her.
Onward we went, past more clothiers, a jewelry shop and a stand that sold rock lanterns, a pantaloon shoppery and a collection of catapults and trebuchets into a large building. This facility hosts demonstrations such as a Queen's Tea, bards singing, courts and the like. There's a pub in one back corner and an armory where you can look up your last name and get a printout of your family crest.
Outside this facility there was a carriage waiting, a white carriage drawn by white horses. For a fee, a few people can take the carriage around the entire park and relax a bit.
On the other side of the road from the facility was a grand ring where sometimes jousting and the like take place. There was a falconry demonstration going on, with the showing of a great red tailed hawk and a few owls. This I found fascinating… the bird were the real thing.
We passed by more shops, by a blacksmithy and a real armory where armor and helms were being created and sold. A soothsayer had a booth there, as did a weaver and a guy selling fox tails to wear.
It was about this point that I really noticed the children passing by. There were a lot of children, from toddlers and tots to pre-teens, most of them dressed in some attempt at Medievalwear. There were little witches and pirates and Vikings and harem girls, all bouncing about and all seemingly headed in the same direction. Parents carried a few but far more were on foot, peering into booths and attractions along the way.
We stopped in at a small area off the beaten path, a series of decks and stepwork cloistered in the trees. A small group called the Talstin Troubadours were just wrapping up their gig. It was shaded and cool amidst the trees. Paths took off in different directions on the elevated boardwalks above the undergrowth, taking gentles back in all directions like a little bit of a maze.
We emerged onto another road, this one teeming even more with children who were heading towards a bevy of activities along the roadside. There was a gigantic dragon's head, which children were coming through with squeals of delight, the apparent end point of the big maze that started on another road. There were children digging for buried treasure in a sand pit with joy and fervor. There was a paper making station where kids were making paper together.
And there were camel rides -- for a fee, one or two children at a time would be carefully placed on a camel's back by an adult. They would bob up and down on the slowly pacing camels as they were lead around the ring. The camels seemed amused by these activities, leisurely enjoying the smattering of sunlight that played through the leaves of the overhanging trees.
For other kids there were pony rides, the ponies shorter than I am, the kids laughing and waving to their parents, who without exception were snapping away with photographs. Every parent I saw had a camera… and most carried bags, full of the things that keep kids clean and happy like diapers, wet wipes, beverages and perhaps a favored toy or two. I was just starting to get what this Castle was all about.
A little further along the way we passed through the Gypsy Camp, where dozens of gypsies were lounging about in the woods and under tents, sharing some small skills like bracelet weaving and bad (but not dirty) jokes with the passers by. The colors here were even brighter than we'd seen in other areas, with all the scarves and skirts and such about. Gypsy wagons sat entrenched in the dirt, staging areas for the activities of the day.
Further even still was a stage at a pub and a collection of food vendors selling everything from Reuben sandwiches to stew in bread bowls to, of all things, Haagen-Dazs ice cream. There was a giant chess board in action and all manner of shops. We did take a look through a gate and back to a pit used at the Mud Stage, but they were in-between shows at the time.
There were games of skill and chance available for the kids to play, and I watched as axes were thrown and arrows were shot. One young man went after a bale of straw for a good 20 minutes with his bow and arrow, somehow always managing to hit one of the other targets instead. He kept on until finally he managed to strike the target. His parents cheered every shot.
We managed to make it up to the Maypole just in time for a Maypole Dance, where the participants were members of the crowd chosen to learn how to wrap the pole with the weaving dance. There were kids and seniors and every age represented, all assisted by festival workers. The participants all seemed to be doing their best to learn the appropriate actions. When they made it around the second time there were bursts of laughter.
And it was this, really this, that bore home what I was experiencing. The Renaissance Festival at the Castle of Muskogee (and I suspect, other Renn Faires as well) isn't about authenticity per se. It's about a good time, especially for the kids, and just about every kid I saw there had this look about them, this gaze of wonderment that was a joy to behold.
So should you go? Absolutely. You should go at least once. If even a cynic like me can find a great time to be had at such a place and be able to let loose and let go, you should be well set. Don't expect authenticity. Expect amusement. And maybe a little astonishment. And some turkey legs.
You'll find the Castle of Muskogee on the northwest side of the city… directions there can be found here. It's open every weekend in May and Memorial Day. For more information, check out the website or call (918) 687-3625.
And in case you were wondering what goes on the other 11 months of the year -- the Castle of Muskogee hosts a Halloween Festival, Christmas Kingdom... and it's a prime location for obtaining fireworks. Strange? Well, there you go.
I don't really see many blog posts on Oklahoma, so this was interesting. I lived there for 5 years, but sadly never made it to Muskogee. Looks like a fun festival.


JAMB Form Price | Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria for the 2017/2018 academic session. – Read Below;…..
Once details of the 2017 JAMB forms are released, you can be rest assured that Myschool will provide you with proper guidelines for a successful registration.
Meanwhile, ensure you already know the Course you Intend to study, or register for, and the proper subject combinations to gain admission. You can use the Free Online JAMB brochure on this website.
The latest 2017 JAMB Syllabus is also available for free to enable you study appropriately for your coming UTME.
1. The registration fee, once paid is non-refundable.
(UTME) is available at the CBT centres and JAMB Offices Nationwide. The accredited centres have been empowered to assist in this regard.
3. As it is the practice, centres are allowed to charge not more than Seven Hundred Naira (₦700) only as registration fee. Any centre that charges more than Seven Hundred Naira (₦700) should be reported to JAMB for appropriate sanctions.
5. All CBT centres have been mandated to select any of the participant banks. These banks are to be present in their premises for the purposes of collecting all fees. No centre-staff is allowed to conduct cash transaction with the candidates.
before commencing the process of registraon.
7. Multiple registrations are not allowed. Candidates who register more than once will be identified and disqualified.
8. Candidates should note that their uploaded image or photograph will be embossed on their result slips and admission leers.
9. Candidates are to note that irrespective of their choice of course of study or method of testings, they will also be tested on a general text: "In Dependence" by Sarah Ladipo Manyika for UTME and "The Last Days at Forcados High School" by A.H. Mohammed for Direct Entry Candidates.
Click here JAMB ADVERT 2017 to download in pdf format for printing & reference Purpose.


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Umberto Trippa (6 April 1931 – 18 December 2015) was an Italian wrestler. He competed in the Greco-Roman featherweight division at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics and finished in fourth, sixth and fourth place, respectively. He won the silver medal in this event at the 1953 World Championships. Moreover, he was eight times absolute Italian champion.

References

1931 births
2015 deaths
Olympic wrestlers of Italy
Wrestlers at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Wrestlers at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Wrestlers at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Italian male sport wrestlers
World Wrestling Championships medalists

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A large number of the world's most able professionals were born in developing countries. Today, hundreds of thousands of skilled men and women from those countries live, work and choose to settle abroad permanently.
The major factors for the brain drain are lack of employment opportunities, salary differentials, disparity between professional competence acquired through education, job dissatisfaction, cumbersome employment procedures and abrasive institutional setting.
Evidently, the difficulties generated by migration, or the circulation of human capital in international market, not only emanate from the loss of absolute number, as from the loss of a critical few highly qualified professional. The narrower the human resource base the more significant is the loss of even a small number of highly trained people.
TOKTEN has proved to be a practical and effective scheme for transferring advanced knowledge and skills in cost-effective ways.
Fortunately, nature has endowed us with a strong homing instinct. The desire to return to one's place of birth, to give something back of knowledge gained, is what motivates TOKTEN volunteers.
This TOKTEN mechanism is particularly relevant today, as many countries in various part of the world modify their political systems, making it possible for motivated and talented men and women to return for short-term consultancies in support of development efforts in their countries of origin.


The retreat is created to help participants get the best spiritual experience while working with the sacred plants in the best setting to heal and connect with the supreme being dwelling in us. In this retreat you will not only experience the plants medicine but also the medicine of mother nature (pachamama).
In this retreat we will be working with Ayahuasca a very powerful medicine to awaken our consciousness. We will be hosting 2 ceremonies of Ayahuasca . These ceremonies are an intense, profound, and almost always a highly transformative experience that can facilitate deep healing on all levels of your being – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The medicine is a doorway to inner worlds that allows us access to higher states of consciousness and the experience of spiritual connection. To many people it reveals the multi-dimensional nature of reality and ourselves and it leads us back to who we truly are.
We will work closely with common healing plant allies used in western herbalism and shamanic practices: sage and palo santo smudging, fire ceremony, and gentle yoga. The idea is to deepening our relationships with self, spirit, nature plants and the sacred Earth herself. In a spirited and intimate community of sharing we will also enjoy learning about the natural medicines.
Our healing center in Costa Rica is at the tropical forest close to the pacific coast and also in the highlands in the Cordillera of Talamanca conveniently located in high energetic centers.
We want to help you heal and improve, but also we want to share with you the beautiful nature wonders of Costa Rica. As part of our retreats, we give our groups the chance to do activities like hiking into the cloud forest, trips to our nearest beach, a tour to the Waterfall near to our location, among other options.
We can also plan custom activities and take you to specific places within our country as part of an integral experience. Just let us know what do you have in mind and we would try to arrange it.
Day 3- visit local reserve or beach, Second Ayahuasca Ceremony at night.
Day 4- breakfast and circle Integrating the experience to share and conclusion of the retreat.
We provide you all the meals. You'll be eating a simple but healthy vegan organic diet, where every meal is cooked using locally grown ingredients, totally free of pesticides and any other chemicals traditionally used in industrial agriculture. To get the best of the sacred medicines, it is important to cleanse your organism from all toxins, and this includes food that is hard for the body to digest/process such as meat, dairy product and sugar/salt saturated food.
We offer variety of options from single bedrooms with private baths, to single and shared rooms the beauty of simplicity, confort and clean is part of our compromise.
We like you to know the options how to get to our retreat gathering.
-Private Driver (UBER) We have a trust driver that offer the service for airport pick up and back to the airport: The price is $200 and is lower than normal rates. If you're interested in this service please let us know and we can arrange it for you as your request.
-Getting to the retreat using public transportation is safe, simple and very economic.
From the airport you can take a taxi or Uber to the bus station is about 30 minutes ride and the cost is about $30, the bus station is name is MUSOC, the bus leaves every other hour from San Jose to San Isidro, from 5:30 am to 5:30pm.
You need to buy a ticket to San Isidro the ticket price is $8.00, This bus is about 3 hours ride.
There will be a service to the retreat center waiting for you, at the bus terminal in San Isidro (Please let us know your arrival time estimate).
We are a place to help you reconnect with nature a space of self healing, with sacred ancestral plant medicines and alternative therapies to continually provide the best options and practices for a complete reconnection of Mind, body and soul to explore a self connection with your being obtaining the tools to enrich your present.. This medicines are for those who are looking for an authentic way to pursue their personal journey to consciousness. During our retreats, we participate in Ayahuasca ceremonies and Kambo sessions in a harmonic environment for profound self exploration, personal integration and healing.The ceremonies are lead by an experience facilitator with ancestral medicines, ready to assist the traveler with different situations that may arise with in the ceremony. Ideally, one person leads the ceremony, while other experienced assistants support the participants, in order to provide a safe environment for you to experience with peace of mind. We know it is important for you to feel safe, especially during the important sacred experience of Ayahuasca.
I finally found my peace, thanks Erick.


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IFSC Plenary Assembly 2019 – A Full Recap
Saturday 16th March saw the 14th Annual IFSC Plenary take place at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, the Host City of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris
welcomes delegates to the 14th Annual IFSC Plenary Assembly
2019 Plenary Assembly reaches Key Decisions
As is protocol, the IFSC plenary Assembly began with a confirmation of the attendees and approval of the 2018 session minutes. IFSC President Marco Scolaris then provided a report of the 2018 IFSC season and his vision for the future, highlighting the achievements of Sport Climbing at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, the great moments of the past year and the strategic plan for 2020-2024 and beyond.
"2018 was an exciting year for our sport. As we continue our journey as an Olympic sport, we face increased exposure and responsibilities, so must climb higher to keep our heart and soul at the very centre of the sport. So far, so good," opened President Scolaris.
Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA) President Mr Kuniaki Yagihara next welcomed the IFSC and its Member Federations to Tokyo, Japan, as host federation of the 2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly. President Yagihara confirmed the strong relationship between the IFSC and JMSCA, promising the JMSCA's full support in making the PA and the 2019 World Championships in Hachioji, Japan, a success.
JMSCA President Mr Kuniaki Yagihara
alongside IFSC President Marco Scolaris
Koji Murofushi, 2004 Olympic gold medallist and Sports Director for the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG), rounded-off the Plenary Assembly welcomes with a discussion around preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Urban Sports category, in which Sport Climbing is included.
Koji Murofushi of TOCOG
talks Tokyo 2020
The Plenary Assembly continued proceedings with a discussion of Governance, presenting the work of the Governance Working group in consultancy with the Ethics Commission and the ASOIF Governance Unit. The Member Federations were presented with and voted on several changes to the IFSC statues, including a modification for electoral procedure within the IFSC. Member Federations then went on to vote on a series of Membership issues, fulfilling their oversight role in ratifying new and changed membership statuses. With the ratification of the Fiji Mountaineering and Climbing Association as IFSC Continental Member, the number of IFSC Member Federations reached a new total of 91.
Moving forward, a vote was taken on the proposal presented during the Pre-Plenary Assembly by IFSC Paraclimbing Development Officer Daniel Torchia, which saw the approval of the Paraclimbing Development Plan.
Member Federations received a thorough de-brief of the current state of IFSC Finances from IFSC Vice-President Treasurer and Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson and Administration Director Francesca Jengo, and provided approval for the 2019 budget. Representatives from the IFSC Sport Department Silvia Verdolini and Alessandro Di Cato then reviewed and previewed the events of 2018 to 2021. The Board looked for approval for the mandate to search for a Host City for the 2020 Youth World Championships with the possibility of proposing a different event format, as well as confirming the 2021 World Championships Host City following a vote in Moscow, Russia. The Plenary Assembly also considered the Olympic Qualifying events and discussed preparation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel provided attendees with and additional review of 2018 and presented the key areas of focus from a marketing perspective. She introduced the contract with Synca and Dentsu, gave an overview of Sponsorship and TV developments, and presented a model for sustainable events beyond 2019.
This comprehensive review of actions of the IFSC were followed by the reports of activities at a local level and at the level of IFSC Commissions. President Scolaris outlined the work of Professor Marc Le Menestral, Director of the Ethics Commission, and Athlete Representative on the IFSC Executive Board Sean McColl presented the work of the IFSC Athletes Commission before a vote was held on Athlete's rights and responsibilities. Member Federations approved the addition of a female Athlete Representative to the Executive Board, who will be elected during the IFSC World Championships in Hachioji, Japan, later this year. Statutes were amended accordingly to include both one male and one female Athlete Representative on the Board. The Disciplinary and Appeals Commission looked to the National Federations to confirm Ian Fullagar (AUS) as a new member and presented their annual report. In addition, Dr Eugen Burtscher offered an overview of the work of the Medical Commission and how the IFSC aims to protect the health and wellbeing of its Athletes. An update from the Anti-Doping Commission was also provided, outlining the number of Anti-Doping tests completed in 2018.
Finally, the Assembly concluded by confirming the upcoming Plenary Assemblies in 2020 and 2021, which will take place in Limassol, Cyprus and Paris, France retrospectively.
Leading Figures in Japanese Sport Climbing present at the IFSC Press Conference, Tokyo
The subsequent Press Conference, held in the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in the presence of IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris, President of the JMSCA Mr Kuniaki Yagihara, Mayor of Hachioji Mr Takayuki Ishimori, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Mr Kobinata Toru, JMSCA Vice-President Mr Yuji Hirayama, Bouldering season champion in the IFSC World Cup series Mrs Miho Nonaka and Youth Olympic champion of Sport Climbing Mr Keita Dohi.
Left to right:
JMSCA Vice-President Mr Yuji Hirayama, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Mr Kobinata Toru, President of the JMSCA Mr Kuniaki Yagihara, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris, Mayor of Hachioji Mr Takayuki Ishimori and Sport Climbing Athletes Mrs Miho Nonaka and Mr Keita Dohi
Gala Dinner to say Goodbye to Tokyo
The evening continued with a gala dinner, to which all Member Federations and representatives were invited. A formal conclusion of the day's proceedings, the dinner was a final chance for the attendees to spend time together and experience Japanese culture and cuisine. The dinner took place at Gonpachi, a restaurant specialising in the Japanese delicacies Soba, Kushiyaki and Izakaya. With Tokyo's Rainbow Bridge winking through the restaurant windows, it was the perfect farewell to the city following a busy week of meetings, workshops and key decisions concerning the future of Sport Climbing.
Thank you to the JMSCA and President Mr Kuniaki Yagihara for organising a special week of events, in the city which will host the Olympic debut of our sport in less than 500 days at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris thanks JMSCA President Mr Kuniaki Yagihara for hosting the 2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly with a special award.
The Tokyo skyline, including the famous Rainbow Bridge as seen from the Gala Dinner restaurant.
IFSC PLENARY ASSEMBLY 2020
Limassol, Cyprus 13-14 March 2020
PA Documents
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2019 – Tokyo (Japan), 15-16 March 2019: Agenda
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2018 – Innsbruck (Austria), 16-17 March 2018: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2017 – Québec City (Canada), 11 March 2017: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2016 – Tehran (Iran), 20 February 2016: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2015 – Baden (Switzerland), 14 March 2015: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2014 – Paris (France), 1 March 2014: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2013 – Shanghai (China), 9 March 2013: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2012 – Amsterdam (Netherlands), 25 February 2012: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2011 – Rome (Italy), 26 February 2011: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2010 – Bali (Indonesia), 27 February 2010: Meeting minutes
IFSC Plenary Assembly 2008 – Imst (Austria), 21 June 2008: Meeting minutes
Download the Annual Report 2018


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: 15 INCREDIBLE BUT DIFFICULT PLACES TO VISIT
Posted by123photogo November 23, 2018 Posted inPhotos of the week
Photos of the Week: 11-23-2018 – 15 incredible places it's almost impossible to visit !
Amazing spots that are nearly out of reach
With over-tourism dominating the headlines and the onslaught of photos on social media it's easy to feel that visiting somewhere without the crowds is something of a pipe-dream. But there are still plenty of places that you can travel to and have wholly, or almost all, to yourself. From booking a private island in Belize to bagging a space to explore Vietnam's most incredible cave system, here are 15 amazing places that only a handful of people get to visit.
© Vietnam Stock Images/Shutterstock
Hang Son Doong Caves, Vietnam
If two year waiting lists don't daunt you then read on. Currently only one operator, Oxalis, runs trips into the Hang Son Doong caves and they cap visitors at just 500 people per year. Those lucky enough to get in, will find themselves enveloped in a strange world, for even in a country blessed with countless caves, the million-year-old Hang Son Doong are something else. Located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, at their highest point the caves could fit a 40-story skyscraper and at their widest point a 747 could glide through.
hanchoo/Shutterstock
In fact, the Hang Son Doong cave system is so massive that it even creates its own weather system. And it doesn't stop there. Inside you'll find the biggest stalagmites in the world (a mighty 80 meters high), a tangle of jungle plants that have invaded the interior, an underground river that gurgles through the chasm, and, most bizarre of all, tennis-ball sized "cave pearls" – which are actually calcium deposits – that are scattered across the cave floor.
© Valenti Renzo/Shutterstock
Montecristo, Italy
Known to many Italians as "the island that doesn't exist", Montecristo's nickname highlights just how few people have set foot on the island. In fact, until 2008 Montecristo wasn't open to tourists at all and things haven't got much easier in the decade since. The island accepts visitors just twice per year – between April 1 and 15, and from Aug. 31-Oct. 31 – and into that slender timeframe only 1,000 people are allowed to squeeze in. On top of that, many permits are reserved for students, while groups of 40 or more people get priority over individuals when applying.
sansa55/Shutterstock
But just why are people clamoring to visit a tiny island 40 miles off the coast of Italy? The answer is treasure. Montecristo (which is rather conveniently diamond-shaped) became immortalized in popular culture as the site of hidden treasure in Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo. That pirate loot may be mythical but visitors today will find another bounty: a rich history, which has seen everyone from Turks and Greeks to Catholics and Romans pass by, and a fiercely protected environment that's home to a number of endangered species.
© allou/Shutterstock
Clavell Tower, UK
The Landmark Trust is no stranger to oversubscribed properties. Its host of spectacular and often quirky historic buildings are unsurprisingly popular with people looking to book a self-catering staycation with a twist. But even among such a well-curated collection of properties, Clavell Tower is something else. With a 19-month waiting list this place is a hot contender for the UK's most in-demand holiday home. Prepare to put in some rather intense forward-planning and a stay here could be yours – and you'll be pleased to hear that it's rather affordable too.
© Panglossian/Shutterstock
So what's all the fuss about? Well, for a start Clavell Tower has a rather intriguing past. Built in the 1830s as a folly by Reverend John Richards, the property later became a coastguard lookout and then an observatory. But it's more than just history here, the four-story tower is strikingly situated overlooking the sea at Kimmeridge Bay in Dorset – in fact, it's right on the beautiful stretch of coastline that once coaxed the inspiration out of Thomas Hardy and P.D. James. And let's face it, who can resist the idea of sleeping in their very own tower?
© Thomas Kauroff/Shutterstock
Gheralta's cave churches, Ethiopia
A journey to Gheralta's cave churches isn't an undertaking for the faint-hearted. These 30-odd churches are incredibly remote, smuggled away in northern Ethiopia and carved into soaring sandstone cliffs which rise some 8,464 feet above the dusty plains. To get to the churches requires hiking through slot canyons, free climbing almost-sheer rock walls and shuffling along cliff edges – all without a support rope in sight. It's a journey that's strenuous, and at times terrifying, but visiting these churches is an experience like no other.
Vladimir Melnik/Shutterstock
Dating back over a thousand years, making them even older than Ethiopia's famous Lalibela, the churches were carved away at such a lofty height to protect them from raids and to bring worshippers closer to heaven. While the churches' situation is astounding – graced with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and scorched earth below – their interiors are also magnificent. Inside many of the churches are walls and pillars awash with frescoes, none more so than the small but exquisitely decorated Abuna Yemata Guh.
© Ben Loyd Holmes
Bird Island, Belize
Ever dreamed of a castaway experience? Well you can now book your very own private island on Airbnb. Set off the coast of Belize, Bird Island, ticks all the Robinson Crusoe boxes: a little slice of paradise surrounded by limpid turquoise waters with not another soul in sight. The owner drops guests off at the island, which currently can sleep up to six people, and the self-sufficiency starts there. Bird Island does have drinking water and electricity (powered by solar and wind) but with no other inhabitants there, guests need to bring everything else they might need with them.
But fending for yourself is all part of the appeal and is a pretty small price to pay for undisturbed tranquility and for being surrounded by coral reefs that you can explore to your heart's content. So what's the catch? Booking your stay. While the price is $491 (£376) per night for the whole island, at our last check Bird Island was booked up well into 2020. Cancellations do sometimes happen, however unsurprisingly these are rather rare events.
© Abhijeet Khedgikar/Shutterstock
Mount Fuji's summit, Japan
As the Japanese proverb goes "A wise man climbs Fuji once. A fool climbs it twice" but get your timing wrong and you won't be climbing it at all. The official climbing season is restricted to just a slim section of the year, from July 1 until August 31, a time frame that rules out visitors who want to see Japan in its loveliest seasons of spring's cherry-blossom or autumn's golden hues. Outside the climbing season, the hike is only suitable for the most experienced climbers, with almost all facilities closed and the conditions at their most treacherous.
Abhijeet Khedgikar/Shutterstock
The climb to Fuji's summit is hardly a walk in the park at the best of times. The six-hour clamber from the fifth-station – which requires a five-hour hike to reach in itself – takes place at dawn when temperatures drop well below freezing and sudden storms near the summit aren't as rare as you might like to think. But the hard trek is certainly worth it, few experiences in Japan can compete with the thrill of standing on the country's iconic roof gazing across the landscape as a new day rolls in.
© Janos Rautonen/Shutterstock
Aldabra Island, Seychelles
To many people the Seychelles spell out paradise, yet for the remote Outer Islands group paradise seems almost an understatement. Of this archipelago, the most remote is the untouched Aldabra Island, which is situated more than 100km from Mahé. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and nature reserve, the island's environmental value is so weighty that David Attenborough described it as one of the world's greatest natural treasures and scientists view it as a baseline for what Earth once looked like.
MattiaATH/Shutterstock
A whopping six tons of marine biomass per hectare encircle the island, thousands of migratory birds flock there and it's the only place on Earth where reptiles – represented by over 150,000 giant tortoises – still dominate the ecosystem. Visits are restricted to scientists and volunteers and, as there's no boat or air service, a handful of wealthy visitors who can fork out for a private yacht or flight. All visits must be approved by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and even then sometimes the island is off-limits due to the area's fluctuating piracy risk.
Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize
Hidden in the remote northern foothills of the Maya Mountains, one of the most fascinating sites in Belize lay completely undiscovered until 1989. The three-mile-long Actun Tunichil Muknal cave system is more than just a series of rock-hewn formations, this is the site of Mayan remains that date back more than a thousand years, with bones and fragments that are thought to date between 250 and 909 A.D. Referred to by locals as the "place of fear", this was once believed to be the site of ritual human sacrifice.
© Antti T. Nissinen/Flickr/CC.2.0
If the contents of the caves make you feel uneasy, it's unlikely that you'll derive much comfort from the journey you'd need to undertake to reach the site. Shut off for centuries, the caves have only been accessible to visitors, on official tours, for the past 10 or so years and the journey there is challenging to say the least. The excursion is kicked off by a strenuous hike through humid rainforest, followed by a swim across a potentially crocodile-infested river, and finally ends with a descent into the cavernous mouth of the cave system.
© Karen Roe/Flickr/CC.2.0
Frogmore House, UK
It's been quite the year for Frogmore House. Selected as the location for Harry and Meghan's engagement interview and later for the couple's wedding reception, 2018 has added another glimmer of limelight to add to the property's illustrious history. Built in the 17th century, Frogmore House became a royal residence when George III purchased it for his wife Queen Charlotte in 1792. In fact, much of the striking 35-acre gardens nod to this time, thanks to Queen Charlotte who sculptured them with lakes, bridges and glades.
In the centuries since, successive members of the Royal Family have left their mark on the house and gardens: Queen Victoria's Tea House; the 18th-century lake; the white-marble Indian Kiosk; and the artworks in the house. However, although it's no longer a permanent royal residence, access to Frogmore House is highly restricted with the house only opening to individual visitors on three Charity Open Days in June each year. Groups might have a bit more luck, as pre-booked groups of over 15 people can gain access during August. Or why not try one of these other royal residences?
© OceanGate
Titanic Wreck Site
Viewed as the pinnacle of luxury travel when it launched in 1912, now a handful of wealthy people are being offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the Titanic. Experience company OceanGate are launching the first manned exploration of the site since 2005, with June 2019 marking the beginning of its six-week expedition. The price tag is high – tickets for the first trip cost $105,129 (£80,500) – but this certainly isn't a luxury vacation, it's a proper scientific mission where each week nine guests will be donning the cap of "mission specialist" and actively aiding the research crew.
And the mission? To laser scan the wreck site to assess the rate of the ship's decay and to capture the first ever 4K images of the site – something that will open the door to creating a virtual reality experience of the wreck. During the expeditions, the site will be visited in a purpose-built submersible that plunges more than two miles below the surface of the Atlantic. The mission is set to run annually after the 2019 trip, however given the rate of decay of the wreck, these voyages could soon become some of the last opportunities to visit The Titanic.
© Chris Howey/Shutterstock
Northeast Greenland National Park and Ittoqqortoormiit
Travelers seeking a slice of wilderness have been increasingly looking to Greenland. And nowhere fits the wild bill better than the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest protected area in the world. It's utterly uninhabited, populated instead by musk oxen, orcas, humpback whales and polar bears. Aside from a handful of scientists that visit each summer, only the sealers and whalers from the village of Ittoqqortoormiit are allowed any access.
© Adwo/Shutterstock
For the rest of us, the best bet is to view the park from the deck of a rarely visiting ship. Slightly more accessible is Ittoqqortoormiit: nestled between the park and the world's longest fjord system, this remote settlement – a scattering of colorful houses with just 450 inhabitants – is breathtaking. Getting there isn't easy, boats can only reach the village in July and August, while the rest of the year the frozen sea limits travel to dogsled, skis or snowmobile.
© Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock
Tsingy de Bemaraha, Madagascar
The word "tsingy" translates as "the place where one cannot walk", a name that indicates just how impenetrable this place can be. In fact, the Tsingy de Bemaraha – Madagascar's most extensive plateau of limestone karst pinnacles – is one of the hardest to reach UNESCO World Heritage sites in the world. The area was pretty much inaccessible until the 1990s when an organization began installing a series of suspension bridges, ladders and steel cables to navigate the thorny pinnacles.
Exploring the park may have become easier but getting there remains a challenge. Located on Madagascar's far-flung west coast, the 10-or-so hour dirt-road drive involves crossing two major, crocodile-infested rivers, while in the six-month rainy season the road becomes an impassable quagmire. But the journey's worth it for the chance to climb the serrated needles of rock, explore the geological maze of erosions, and gaze down across the jagged limestone forest.
© cpaulfell/Shutterstock
Saudi Arabia is another place that keeps its riches very much under-wraps. From the modern glitz of Riyadh and world-class Red Sea diving sites, to the ancient mud-brick ruins of Dir'aiyah and the desert-scattered rock-tombs of Mada'in Saleh, Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly one of the world's most fascinating countries to visit. And until recently, it was all but closed to travelers, with a ban on tourist visas and a strict policy that limited foreign travel to only those entering the country for work, business, or on a pilgrimage.
© Hussain Faisel AL-Salehi/Shutterstock
However, Saudi Arabia's tight travel restrictions are now starting to thaw. In April 2018 the often closed-off country rolled out a new visa scheme, allowing single-entry travel to the country to tourists for the first time. This also included allowing travel for women aged 25 years and over (younger women still need to be accompanied by a husband or male family member).
© Denis Belitsky/Shutterstock
Of all the hard to reach and rarely visited places in the world – from the murky depths of the ocean floor to ice-sculpted mountain peaks – there's one final frontier that glimmers furthest from reach for most travelers. Space. No matter how many science fiction films you watch, the world beyond our planet still remains the most mysterious of places. Well, that's until 2020 at least, when plans for the first civilian trip into space are set to commence with aerospace companies Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic all jostling for first place in commercial space exploration.
© Kent Weakley/Shutterstock
Unsurprisingly being one of the first civilians in space comes with a hefty price tag, over 300 people have already reserved their seats for Virgin Galactic's inaugural flight at the eye-watering cost of $200,000 (£153k) per seat. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to launch its first commercial flight in 2023, a private trip orbiting the moon which has been paid for by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa who will be accompanied by an elite guest list of eight artists who he's invited to capture the experience.
© Kai19/Shutterstock
Tiger's Nest, Bhutan
If you've ever seen a photo of Bhutan's Tiger's Nest, then no doubt the image has remained firmly etched in your mind. If you haven't, then picture this: the world's most breathtaking Buddhist monastery, glinting in gold, ochre and white and seemingly floating 2,952 feet above the Paro Valley floor as it clings to a craggy Himalayan cliff. For many, this description is the closest they will get. The journey there is an arduous one, across rickety bridges and through narrow passages as you tackle the steep 3,000-foot mountain climb to reach the lofty monastery.
© maodoltee/Shutterstock
But first, you need to get into Bhutan. To enter the country almost all nationalities require a visa, must book their trip with a Bhutanese travel operator, and must pay for a pricey all-inclusive package in advance. But it's worth it: Bhutan is no ordinary place. The last great Himalyan Kingdom offers more than the majestic Tiger's Nest, it's home to fascinating architecture, spectacular festivals and a pristine environment of snow-dusted peaks and forest-cloaked mountains that are fiercely protected by law.
That is some of the most beautiful sites in the world, but, yet so hard to see. It is too bad they are hard to get to, or to costly. But, if you can get there, as a photographer, you will have photos that will certainly be rare. I hope you enjoyed this gallery of photos and hope you will hit the "LIKE" button and stay with us for more incredible photos.
This special presentation of these photos was originally put on the internet by:
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Boys hoopsters back home for New Year1/8/09
Losers of three of their last four games in 2008, coach Scott Bliss and his 4-4 Champlain Valley Union High boys basketball team will be out to start 2009 in a positive fashion when they host St. Johnsbury Academy (1-8) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Bremner Gymnasium.
The contest opens a busy stretch for the Redhawks, scheduled to entertain 6-3 Essex High on Saturday before motoring to 4-5 Colchester High for a Monday night matchup.
Last Saturday's home contest with North Country Union High was postponed and rescheduled for Feb. 14, the last day of the regular season.
The Redhawks were an enigma wrapped in a riddle in their last two outings of the outgoing year. On Dec. 27, they fell at home to Bellows Free Academy of St. Albans when the underdog Bobwhites — CVU had crunched them 75-52 in St. Albans — racked up a 27-9 fourth quarter outburst to triumph, 71-62.
Then, on Dec. 30, they gave a veteran 8-1 Rice Memorial High team some serious concerns before being nipped 50-47 on the Green Knights' home court. CVU's Three J's — John Donnelly, Jack Jesset and Jake Donnelly — garnered 13, 12 and 11 points for the Hawks.
— Mal Boright, Observer correspondent
Unbeaten Spaulding High next up for girls hockey1/8/09
CVU wrestlers end series of road matches1/8/09
Right to the point
July 17, 2008By Mike Benevento We decide the Axis of Evil's fate in November In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush singled out Iraq, Iran and North Korea as sponsors of t
CVU sports schedule (Sept., 11, 2008)
CVU SPORTS SCHEDULE Cross country Saturday: vs. Essex High at Catamount Center, 9:30 a.m.Tuesday: at Mount Mansfield Union, 3:45 p.m. Field hockey Thursday: at Colchester High, 4 p.m.Saturday: MIDDLEB
By Kim HowardObserver staff Use of a secondary bus loop at Allen Brook School, which a state official called unsafe, has been suspended for the school year. Since the installation of the secondary loo


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Interesting Facts About Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa , known as Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration, is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is currently the tallest manmade structure in the world, at 829.84 m (2,723 ft). Here are some interesting facts about Burj Khalifa :-
1. Standing at 2,723 feet, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai beats out the next-tallest building in the world by more than 1,000 feet. The Burj Khalifa is roughly three times the height of the Eiffel Tower, 15 times the highest point at Niagara Falls and almost twice as tall as the Empire State Building.
2. The Burj Khalifa isn't just the tallest building in the world, it holds a bevy of records. It's the tallest free-standing structure, has the highest occupied floor, and boasts the most stories of any building on the planet. It also has the highest observation deck anywhere.
3. The design is an abstraction of the Hymenocallis, a flower that has long petals that extend from its center. The flower is found in tropical and subtropical spots around the world, and its name means "beautiful membrane" in Greek.
Burj Khalifa at night
4. The actual construction of the building was done by a South Korean company, Samsung Engineering and Construction.
5. It took more than 110,000 tons of concrete, 55,000 tons of steel rebar, and 22 million man-hours to complete the Burj Khalifa.
6. The building's exterior is made up of 26,000 individually cut glass panels. More than 300 cladding experts from China collaborated on the Burj Khalifa's cladding system, which was designed specially to withstand the heat of a Dubai summer.
7. For the Burj Khalifa, 36 cleaners board, 12 13-ton machines that move along tracks attached to the outside of the building, at heights of 20,000 feet.
8. The Burj Khalifa is supplied with an average of 250,000 gallons of water every day, and can reach an electrical demand equal to that of 360,000 100-watt bulbs burning at once.
9. Cost of construction of Burj is about $1.5 billion and it is part of downtown Dubai's $20 billion redevelopment program.
10. The name of the tower was changed from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa at the last minute in honor of Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, and in recognition of Abu Dhabi providing Dubai $10 billion in December 2009 to bail out Dubai's bankrupt sovereign wealth fund.
11. Construction of Burj Khalifa began on Sept. 21, 2004.
From Top of Burj Khalifa, you can see rotation of Earth
12. More than 12,000 people will occupy the building's 6 million square feet. Residential apartments number 1,044.
13. Special amenities include a 15,000 square foot fitness facility, a cigar club, the highest mosque in the world (on the 158th floor), the highest observation deck in the world (on the 124th floor) and the highest swimming pool in the world (on the 76th floor), as well as the first Armani Hotel in the world.
14. The Burj has 54 elevators. They can speed up to 65km an hour (40 mph)
15. The building was designed by Chicago's Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and developed by Dubai's Emaar Properties.
16. Burk Khalifa has the World's highest elevator installation and also World's fastest elevators at 18 m/s compared to previous of Taipei 101 which was 16.83 m/s.
17. The double-deck elevators are equipped with features such as LCD displays for the visitors during their way to the observation deck.
18. Burj Khalifa has 2,909 stairs to be precise from the ground floor to the 160th floor.
Amazing View Of Burj Khalifa
19. Burj dubai is surrounded by a 27-acre park which has a design inspire by the design concepts of this building and is called "Burj Khalifa Park".
20. Just outside the Burj Khalifa there is the beautiful "The Dubai Fountain" which shoots water at about 490 ft into the air, followed by a series of classical and contemporary Arabic as well as world music.
21. At the time of New Year, the amazing and breathtaking display of fireworks that take place at Burj Dubai is worth an experience.
22. Also, it includes World's highest nightclub at the 144th floor, and is said to be one of the most amazing nightclub's of the world.


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So if you're looking for the guides on how to find your blocked list on Facebook, this post got you covered.
Continue below to see how to locate your blocked users on Facebook!
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