In terms of the Terms and conditions for the competition (6.1), I would like to verify the information, whether a foreign (Portuguese) architectural studio can participate in this competition. The main architect (leader) of the studio is an authorised architect in Portugal.
I would like to ask: is it possible to place proposed development at the area "stabilized areas with the possibility of free plots intesification"? In my opinion ,/new developmental areas /new build-up area/ themselves are not suitable for the task.
Yes, proposed development can be placed at areas, which are marked as "OV č.33", therefore areas, which are intended to be developed: "stabilized areas with the possibility of free plots intensification" (homogenous bright green colour) and "developmental areas /new build-up areas/" (thin black hatch on white background).
Do we need to consider reconstruction of existing object? Is it possible to modify/change it?.
Proposal of reconstruction of the main building is not a topic of this competition.
After our visit of existing building, our opinion is, that all interior spaces need to be reconstructed. Does competition deal with their reconstruction? If not, why?
A sketchup file was mentioned as competition instrument but we are not able to identify this file. Where can we download it?
This was announced in the file "Informativny dokument sutazne podmienky.pdf", which was available since announcement of the competition in ERANET system, together with other competition instruments.
In chapter about Ground Plan of the Machnáč Zone (UPN-Z) at page 8 it is explicitly communicated, that new development can be placed only at areas which are intended to be developed. In the meaning of the map key of drawing UNP-Z it is the area above service communication (developmental areas - new build-up areas). This means that all required programme needs to be realized in this area (between communication and north-east border of AFAD area). According to another drawing of UPN-Z ("výkres 2-Z2 - komplexné urbanistické riešenie / complex urbanistic design) it is possible to build at the area "third block of school", on the meadow on the south-east face of existing building. Is it possible to define, where can be development designed, respectively to explain this conflict?
In the meaning of the answer to question no. 2: proposed development can be placed at areas, which are marked as "OV č.33", therefore areas, which are intended to be developed: "stabilized areas with the possibility of free plots intensification" (homogenous bright green colour) and "developmental areas /new build-up areas/" (thin black hatch on white background).
It is not clear, if it is possible to build on "stabilized areas with the possibility of free plots intensification".
We have doubts, if Aula with 800 seats is not too big for Academy's needs.
This requirement is based on current number of students (cca 660) and pedagogues (cca 120) and is considered to be adequate.
Is it possible to provide previous projects dealing with the topic of AFAD area (Artcampus)?
Before the start of organisation of actual competition, it was discussed at relevant forums of AFAD, whether to use previous projects dealing with the topic of this area. These discussions were closed with voting of pedagogic part of Academic community of AFAD and student part of Academic senate of AFAD with the result, that competition will be announced without requesting of compliance with older urbanistic conceptions. In the meaning of this, no previous designs of this area will be provided by AFAD as competition instruments for ongoing competition.
We still can not access sketchup model and photos. While using provided link we get the answer "The folder '/_shared/2018 10 19 Art campus' doesn't exist."
I would like to ask about slope near Drotárska cesta. In materials, which were provided, it is marked as "extension of high deciduous greenery - areas not to be built-up". Is it possible to place parking here?
Based on consultation with author of ground plan of the zone, we inform, that it is possible to propose parking, respectively garage with green roof to reasonable extent, maximal 30 % of area. Near Drotárska cesta there should be tree alley, rest of area will be planted with trees.
In materials which were provided, it is mentioned, that "main teaching building is the torso of the modernist monolith of the original architectural design - it has not been able to build its third block, as well as other buildings and parts of the academic campus". Does Inviting Party not find this project relevant to be provided?
According to answer no. 9 - no, because none of old projects is determining for new design.
Is it possible to propose underground buildings, parking areas and access routes, which would be part of greenery in the area between AFAD building and Drotárska cesta?
According to answer no. 11 - based on consultation with author of ground plan of the zone, we inform, that it is possible to propose parking, respectively garage with green roof to reasonable extent, maximal 30 % of area. Near Drotárska cesta there should be tree alley, rest of area will be planted with trees.
There are objects at areas OV č.33. Is it necessary in terms of service of the area to preserve some of these objects, respectively to move the technical equipment that they contain?
Objects which are around the main teaching building can be considered for removal.
Is it possible to provide more detailed information on supply vehicles which are used for operation of workshops? Types of their sizes, approximate count, frequency of visit per day.
Garbage trucks needs acces for garbage removal. A vehicle carrying a large container of 5 or 10 cubic meters comes 2 to 3 times a month. Material supply (wood, metal ...) is usually provided by trucks with a length of hull up to 7 meters, with a different frequency of visits, usually 1 to 3 times in 3 months. In exceptional situations (approximately once a year), it is necessary to allow the access of a semi-trailer truck (import of a large technological equipment, a material of an extraordinary size) or large vehicles used for film-shooting.
Do underground stories count as built-up areas, if there is not built up/paved/green area on their top?
In the meaning of definition of "built-up" area, as it is defined in chapter 2.2.1 of obligatory part C of Ground plan of capital city of SR Bratislava, Changes and amendments 2, built-up area is "area of orthogonal projection of outer perimeter of vertical constructions of the largest part of buildings, which can be perceived above terrain into horizontal plane.
Area, which is above underground stories without overground part of building counts into paved areas, respectively green areas, according to its character, with taking into account table for counting of greenery, which was published in the same chapter of the Ground plan.
How do you picture operation of canteen. Is the kitchen for preparation of all meals needed, or is heating-up of foods sufficient?
A kitchen for preparation of meals should be part of a design.
n a ground plan there is a limit of 4 floors for height of new objects. This height is not defined in metres. Can you tell, if there is any maximum height limit of the new objects, respectively, if their height can exceed existing building?
According to ground plan, maximum height of new buildings is not limited in metres, height of new objects can exceed existing building.
Is is necessary to consider intention of new development on plots behind north-west border of AFAD areal. There is an intention of building new single detached houses, as is outlined in a drawing of Ground plan of Machnáč, Accessories and amendments, 2005: (https://bratislava.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/Dokumenty/Str%C3%A1nky/Chcem%20vediet/UPNZ-Machn%C3%A1%C4%8D,%20ZaD%202005,%20Komplexn%C3%BD%20v%C3%BDkres.pdf).
Can we work with premise, that some of the spaces at 1st storey, which are related to activity of new centers, will be moved into new technological pavillion?
I would like to ask, what are requirements for daylight for activities in technological pavilion?
Workshops and other workplaces in technological pavilion will serve for daylong long-term stay of students, pedagogical and non-pedagogical employees, which should be considered in design of lighting/illumination according to valid regulation.
In the urban plan ""Outline of the Ground Plan of the Machnáč Zone - Amendments, 2005" one caption is missing for grey hatching, please find attached the pdf of this document, can you please explain what this hatching means?
Caption of this hatching is not missing, it is "extension of high deciduous greenery - areas not to be built-up" which is listed under "other significant areas and lines".
By catering facility it is listed, that required capacity is 100 eating places/seats. Is it expected that breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served? What is maximal amount of portions, which should be served daily?
Yes, it is expected, that breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served. Exact number of portions is not set. But it is assumed, that canteen will be used by residents of dormitory and partialy by other students and pedagogues from other parts of campus. It is welcome, that amount of served visitors could by the biggest possible (ideally 800 portions/day at maximum), while maintaining requested capacity of 100 seats.
In documentation of existing building, there are drawn 4 floors. Does this object have another underground stories, which are not drawn in documentation? If yes, under which part of building?
Existing building has 1 underground storey under south-west tract - the one which is facing valley. There are spaces for technical equipment of building.
Is the number of presentation panels (4 pieces) binding, or is it possible to raise this number for the reason, that it is not possible to fit everything on original 4 panels.
Number of panels 4 is binding. In case, that according to way of solving assignment it is not possible, that 4 panels will contain all content in requested scales, it is possible while maintaining requested level of detail of plans and sections illustrating design for facilities in 1st and 2nd phase, to scale them down, so they can fit in panel.
We are having difficulties to know with total certainty which areas are adequate for build up, optional or even prohibited. We would appreciate some clarification in regard to the areas that are adequate for building and therefore for placing the proposal in them. In order to clarify it as much as possible, we are attaching a simple diagram with the three main zones (A, B, C) that we have considered within the site boundary. (Please see attachment). Would you please provide us a feedback about the possibility of each of these three areas for buildup or their prohibition?
Zone C: adequate to be built-up.
The brief requires the option B cell: cell consisting of two double rooms sharing a toilet and a bathroom with a capacity of 4 students.
Concerning the Library Use, apart from having the measurement of book quantity in the brief, we would like to know if you would have more information regarding on how those books would be managed. In terms of space and general surface required we feel it varies greatly if we consider the stock being in a deposit with some extraction method or whether they would all be accessible freely anytime by any user of the Art Campus. We would like to know if these concerns are a matter that depend of the design proposal or if we should follow a specific indication.
The library is meant to be built prospectively. Mentioned topics are left to participants.
We have some questions about the requirements of the Free-Time Zones. Is there any specific character in mind that we should consider? As, for instance, having both exterior and built free spaces? Or is it up to us and our proposal?
There is no strict requirement for the character of Free-Time Zones. Solution is left to participants.
For what number of students and teachers should we adjust capacity of the toiletes in the technological pavilion?
Currently there are 462 students and 105 employees in the existing building. It is expected that part of them will move to the technological pavilion. Exact number of people, that will be in technological pavilion on daily basis will depend on the amount of work during academic year and therefore will be very variable. It can be assumed, that in seasons of maximal traffic, it will be up to 250 people - students and employees altogether.
In the document Art Campus 06 (Art campus - 06 - vynatok z uzemneho planu zony - extract from ground plan of the zone) it is mentioned, that it is an "unacceptable way of building: (…) section pooling" could you please specify what is meant by "section pooling"?
It is a way of building that is irrelevant to current competition's subject. While working-out proposal, there is not needed to take this requirement of ground plan of the zone into account in any way.
Is it allowed to present realistic renderings on the panels to illustrate the concept of the proposal?
In the "Terms and Conditions for Public Anonymous One-Round Architectural and Urban Design Competition - Art Campus of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, 2018" under "9.2 Delivering the second part of the proposal participants", foreign offices are asked to state the address of the organisation equivalent to the Slovak Chamber of Architects. Why is that? Is it also possible to state the address of the Slovak Chamber of Architects or the address of the Inviting Party only?
Purpose of this point of competition's Terms and conditions is to maintain anonymity of contestant while sending and receiving of envelope with documents. Foreign offices can use address of Slovak chamber of architects as an address of sender.
We would need to know, if the cinema in technological pavillion should be a cinema in true meaning of the word, with all relevant requirements and prescribed shape of auditorium.
Cinema hall which was requested within "Teaching and Presentation Centre" doesn't need to meet all requirements and shape of auditorium, as it would need if it is a cinema in true meaning of the word.
In the question no. 23 the presence of an underground floor is highlighted. Is it possible to get more informations about it, e.g. floor plan, section, exact position etc.?
The announcer provides new material which describes this underground level: :"Art campus - 11 - podzemne podlazie a aktualizovany rez – underground floor and section actualisation.dwg".
– Classrooms and lecture rooms - 2 classrooms (for about 25 students) - Should each of these classrooms have capacity of 25 students, or is it together?
– Department of Theory and Art History - 6 classrooms (for about 25 students) - Should each of these classrooms have capacity of 25 students, or is it together?
– 2 lecture rooms (for about 120 students) - Every room for 120 students?
– Academic Library - We ask to define "Communication Centre for about 30 students".
Classrooms and lecture rooms - 2 classrooms, each of them with capacity of 25 students.
Department of Theory and Art History: - 6 classrooms, each of them with capacity of 25 students.
2 lecture rooms, each of them with capacity of 120 students?
Communication Centre in Academic library for about 30 students - a place within Academic library, where it is possible to talk aloud.
Is the Aula (Teaching and Lecture Pavillion) considered to be a big Auditorium (sloped fixed seats) or a big flat hall which can be furnished in various ways (tables, seats, empty)?
The Aula will serve primary for lectures, academic ceremonies and other events of Academy (assembly of academic community, etc.) and secondary for cultural and other formal actions. Specific solution in the meaning of the question is up to competitors.
Is it possible to affect existing roads (road situated in AFAD areal, which is circling around existing building) with new buildings, or is it possible to change profile/trace of this road?
Yes, it is possible, but is also welcome, that proposal will still count with some form of road in AFAD areal, so it will be possible to continue with supply of material with large vehicles, as was described in more detail in answer no. 5.
We have a question about the two existing building in the built up area, north of the main building, is it possible to rebuilt or integrate them in a new building? If it's possible can you please explain what is the function of this two building?
In the meaning of answer no. 14 - these objects can be considered for removal. Their function is storage and supplementary and while other requirements of assignment will be fulfilled, it is not necessary to take functions of these buildings into account.
Does Dormitory needs to have controled entrance (doorman), or does Announcer have no preferences?
Announcer lets competitors to provide their solution for this. If their solution will count with other way of control of entry (not centralized gate), it will be accepted.
The requested blank square (30 x 30 mm) on the layout, does it have to be marked (visible with an outline) or is it enough to leave some blank space on the layout sheet?
Square with outline with blank space inside is preferred.
We have a question regarding documents. Is it necessary to stamp them, or is it sufficient to sign them by authorized person (authorized architect)?
It is not necessary to put stamp of authorized architect on documents, but we would like to highlight, that authenticity of signatures in Annex no. 3 must be officially verified.
Terms and Conditions 6.2 – There are mentioned two ways of proving of fulfilment of requirements. Do we understand it correctly, that it is needed to provide ONLY ONE OF THEM until the start of direct negotiation procedure?
Yes, as it is mentioned in Terms and Conditions, it is sufficient to provide one of listed ways of proof.
How is defined "start of direct negotiation procedure"? Is it a moment of invitation to negotiation by Announcer of the competition or is it the date of first negotiation?
Direct negotiation procedure starts on date of sending a notice about its start.
Terms and conditions 6.2 - demanding of documents according to (ii) usually takes 30 days, similarly document according to (ii). Will prospective invitation to negotiation procedure in the case of winning competition tolerate this time period? Since without these documents it will not be possible to start direct negotiation procedure.
Yes, Announcer will provide sufficient amount of time since the moment, when the result of competition will gain its validation, until the start of direct negotiation procedure. Winner of competition will have objectively sufficient time to fulfill requirements, which are demanded of him. Announcer accents, that he has intention to contract winning competitor.
Terms and conditions 6.5 – Annex 3 (Agreement on Compliance with Conditions) is submitted in 3 originals with officially verified signatures (notary), correct?
Terms and conditions 8.2 – Do we understand correctly, that panels with proposal are submitted ONLY DIGITALLY?
Yes. Printing of panels with proposals will be provided by Announcer on his expenses.
In the case of documents which are signed or include a stamp, these shall be submitted in electronic form, stating the name and surname of the persons who signed the documents and the date of signature, without stating the signature of those persons and the imprint of the stamp.
We assume, that it aims on document "ucastnik.pdf". Does it mean, that Annex 1+2+3 will be in digital form only with inserted data, but without signature and stamp? Does it mean, that annex 3 will be scanned until its verification by notary? What is the meaning of submitting this unauthorized documents?
Yes. Digitally submitted scans of these documents will serve for archiving.
Competitor commits, that in the case of winning competition, at the latest until the moment of sending INVITATION TO NEGOTIATION he will be able to provide fulfillment of requirements (Tax Office, Social Insurance, Trade registry etc.). Acquiring of these documents from public institutions usually takes 30 days. How is it secured, that winner will be invited by Announcer after expiration of this time period? Otherwise winner will have to pay a fine of 45 000€, since he does not have an influence on the moment, when will the Announcer send invitation.
Do we understand correctly, that by the reason of protecting self, it is suitable to acquire demanded documents immediately, since expected deadline for announcement and publication of results is 6 February 2019 and Announcer can theoretically invite winner to negotiation immediately and winner will not have sufficient time for acquiring of documents?
In the meaning of answer no. 44: Announcer will provide sufficient amount of time since the moment, when the result of competition will gain its validation, until the start of direct negotiation procedure. Winner of competition will have objectively sufficient time to fulfill requirements, which are demanded of him. Announcer accents, that he has intention to contract winning competitor.
Are storehouses of wood and sawdust, which are situated outside of the main building included in the Assignment, or is it necessary to add them in case of their removal?
In the meaning of answer no. 38: these objects can be considered for removal. Their function is storage and supplementary and while other requirements of assignment will be fulfilled, it is not necessary to take functions of these buildings into account.
I would like to ask considering possible modification of Ground plan (in area "extension of high deciduous greenery - areas not to be built-up") if it is possible to count with another function as parking? While respecting demand for keeping 30% of area, green roof, etc.
For the purpose of this competition it is necessary to abide valid actual Ground plan and guidance, which was provided after consultation with author of Ground plan of the zone in answer no. 13. In the meaning of this, it is not possible to consider area "extension of high deciduous greenery - areas not to be built-up" for another use of building.
I would like to ask about Technological Pavilion - aiming on requirement of possible acces with trucks to storages of single centres – does every storage need to have single and direct access with car or is it sufficient one common access to shared drive-through hallway, where the goods are distributed further?
Both mentioned solutions are acceptable.
We assume, that draft of the Contract of Work (Article 15 of Terms and Conditions) and list of points according to Article 15 of Terms and Conditions are of purely informational character and Contract will be not submitted filled. Is this correct?
Contract of Work will be not submitted by participant in this competition.
As competitor from Slovakia, we fill only Slovak version of document according to clause 8.3.i (Annex 1, 2, 3). Is this correct?
Page 9 of Terms and Conditions, clause 9.1. - The first part of the proposal is not marked down. We ask to explain.
It means, that boxes in the top right corners of the panels will be left empty.
We ask for information, if in the case of defective file we receive information about its failing (with possibility of correction)?
Proposals, which competitors upload into Eranet system can not be according to law displayed before expiration of deadline for submission of competition proposals. Thus we can not check, if the file is functional. It is possible, if competitor has any doubts about functionality of file after its upload, to recall it, and send again, until expiration of deadline for submission of proposals.
In Annex 3, II. 2.5 a natural person undertakes to guarantee commitments of legal person, in connection with paying of contractual penalty of 45 thousand €. In our case, the participant is a legal person. Is it obligatory for us to fill this part? Would it be considered as an non-fulfillment of Terms and Conditions and disqualification from competition in a case, that we do not fill this?
In clause 6.5 of Terms and Conditions it is stated, that: "the participation in the competition is subject to the submission of a duly completed and signed Agreement on Compliance with the Conditions according to the Annex no. 3 by the competition participant". In the meaning of this, it is needed, that the Agreement on Compliance with Conditions (Annex no. 3) is filled completely. Violation of this requirement would be considered as an non-fulfillment of obligatory requirement and as it is defined in clause 17.2, proposal would be excluded from the assessment.
– in this part, it is not needed to provide any documents to the date of submission 21 January, correct?
– Neither European Single Procurement Document, nor listing from Business register, nor confirmation of registration in List of economic subjects lead by Office for public procurement, right?
In a manner of confirmation of fulfilling terms of participation in this competition, it is needed to submit just documents listed in clause 8.3. European Single Procurement Document, listing from Business register and confirmation of registration in List of economic subjects are not amongst these documents and are not submitted in this competition.
– In this part participant uploads two things: panel.pdf and ucastnik.pdf, correctly?
– In this part, file 10 with bilancies is submitted until date of submitting 21 January, right?
Simple statement of planar and spatial bilancies should be a part of panels with proposal, as it is defined in clause 8.2 of Terms and Conditions. This table is not submitted as separate file.
In the meaning of clause 7.3 Communication and language of the proposal, it is needed to provide proposal in bilingual form - does that mean, that text (approx.3 normpages), which is part of presentational panels, should be provided in both languages (Slovak, English)?
Anex 2: in a case of foreign author (self employed), what information are required?
registering authority: ... for example Tax Office?
registration (section, insert, register number): ... ?
in case of self employed there is no statutory body, only self employed himself?
– registration - way and number of his registration, if there is entry different to ID.
In the case of self employed, statutory body is not filled, since it is self employed himself.
Announcer highlights, that in the case of win in this competition, direct negotiation procedure will be lead with the same participant.
is amongst Annexes, but does not figure in clause 8.3. Can I understand that in a way that it does not need to be submitted?
European Single Procurement Document is not submitted in this competition.
balance sheet according to clause 8.2 is inserted to presentational panels and is not submitted as separate file, do I understand that correctly?
We have a question about Terms and Conditions, in more precise Annex no. 3 (document sample according to clause 6.5 of Terms and Conditions). Can the Annex (Agreement on Compliance with Conditions) be verified by notary in Czech republic or by Czech postal office?
Yes, signatures on this document can be verified by notary in Czech republic or by Czech postal office.
We would like to ask a question about the required rooms in the teaching studio pavilion. In the assignment, 4 studios are required for the Department of Painting and Other Media (for about 25 students in 2nd - 4th year of study + approx. 15 students II. Stage of study + Approx. 5 students III. stage of study ), Is this meant like each atelier must have capacity of 45 students so we are designing 4 studios each for 45 students or is this meant like 2 studios for 25 students, then one for 15 students and one studio for 5 students? The same principle then applies to the Department of Architectural Design, 4 studios for 65 students each or 2 studios for 35 students, 1 for 20 students and 1 for 10 students. Thank you for the answer.
4 studios of Department of Painting and Other Media will serve for 45 students altogether.
4 studios of Department of Architectural Design will serve for 65 students altogether.
I am a registered architect in Spain in the COAM (Oficial Chamber of Architects of Madrid). I am also registered as natural person individual independent professional in Spain for the profesional practice of Architecture and related economical services.
As the penalty defined by Annex no.3 is quite high, I would like to make sure that these conditions that I have correspond to the ones defined in Act. no. 343/2015 Coll. of the Act on Public Procurement and on Amendments to Certain Laws, as amended (the "PPA") (in its section 32 and 39). And also in the Section 4 of the Act. no. 138/1992 Coll. on Authorized Architects and Authorized Building Engineers, as amended (the "AAA") or the authorization of the Slovak Chamber of Civil Engineers pursuant to Section 5.
Could you please provide me a verification?
Regarding the provided information ("registration in the COAM, registration as natural person individual independent professional in Spain for the professional practice of Architecture and related economical services") we consulted the representative of the Slovak chamber of architects (further referred to as "SKA"). However, given the limited information you provided, they were not able to give us a founded answer on whether you meet the requirements on professional competence (licence to provide services according to § 4 or § 5 AAA). For a more quick and effective verification of the questioned requirements please free to contact Ms. Olga Mihalikova (e-mail: mihalikova@komarch.sk, phone numbers: + 421 911 443 414 and + 421 2 544 312 54) who is in charge of the agenda of recognition of foreign education, licenses and degrees of the SKA. We suggest you to present her with information on your acquired education and membership in professional chamber.
The recognition of professional competence fulfills the condition for participation according to the par. 6.1 of the Terms and Conditions, but does not automatically make you fulfill the conditions according to par. 6.2 and 6.4. We would like to inform the participants, that the conditions for compliance with par. 6.2 and 6.4 are provided in more detail in the 1st chapter of the Agreement on Compliance with the Conditions (Annex no. 3, especially par. 1.2.2.
Furthermore, as the above mentioned Act. no. 343/2015 and Act. no. 138/1992 have not been provided and they seem to determine a crucial Contractual Penalty, I would really appreciate to have an English version of them prior to the signature and submission of Annex no.3.
The compliance according to Law 138/1992 reflects the par. 6.1 of the Terms and Conditions and it is possible to verify their fulfillment via consultation with the SKA, as suggested in the answer no. 66.
The compliance according to Law 343/2015 reflects the par. 6.2 and 6.4 of the Terms and Conditions, and the requirements are given in more detail in the 1st chapter of the Agreement on Compliance with the Conditions (Annex no. 3).
In case you are interested in obtaining a english version of the above mentioned Laws, we suggest you contact the Slovak embassy or consulate in your country or some Slovak law firm.
Could you please verify the conditions determined by 'Article 11 of the PPA' that are needed to be proved by submitting the relevant confirmation in case of the participant becomes a winning participant?
Art. 11 PPA requires the winning participant to be registered in the Slovak register of the partners of the public sector. The participant proves the compliance with this requirement by submission of a certificate that is being issued by the District court of Zilina, as the organ that administers the register for the whole Slovak republic. The participant may obtain the registration by means of a Slovak attorney, notary, bank, auditor or licensed tax advisor. The purpose of such registration is to declare the final beneficiaries of the participant. It is a measure introduced in the Slovak republic in order to prevent corruption.
I would like to know if any of the above mentioned Conditions determine a further requirement that has not been explicitly stated in the Competition Terms and Conditions. For instance, the requirement of a minimum amount of economic turnover in the past years; or the requirement of previous constructed buildings; or any other possible restriction that would condition the participation in the competition.
Previous constructed buildings of the participant is not required.
For all the above mention concerns: Do they apply exclusively to the winner of the First Prize of the competition? Or also to the Second and Third Awardees?
The winning participant who will be invited to the direct negotiation process, is then required to submit the documents proving (i) compliance with the requirements given by par. 6.1 during the time frame since the delivery of the participant's proposal and (ii) compliance with the requirements given by par. 6.2 and 6.4 at the time of invitation to the direct negotiation process. Participants at second and third place will note provide these documents.
For the authentication of the signature of Annex no. 3, is it valid to have signed it electronically with the Official Electronically Proof Signature of the government of my country? As that signature provides a code that can be verified digitally, we understand that the physical copy would be also valid in that sense. Could you please verify that?
In case the legal provisions of your country allow a means for official authentification of your signature by notary or other public administration body, the Agreement on Compliance with the Conditions (Annex no. 3) shall be submitted with the authenticity of the signatures being verified in this manner. Otherwise the Agreement on Compliance with the Conditions (Annex no. 3) shall be submitted with the authenticity of the signatures being verified by means that are common in your country.
In the meaning of answer no. 24 - yes, in case, that according to way of solving assignment it is not possible, that 4 panels will contain all content in requested scales, it is possible while maintaining requested level of detail of plans and sections illustrating design for facilities in 1st and 2nd phase, to scale them down, so they can fit in panel.
Do the panels have to be bilingual? Slovak + English?
In question no. 68 it is stated: Art. 11 PPA requires the winning participant to be registered in the Slovak register of the partners of the public sector. The participant proves the compliance with this requirement by submission of a certificate that is being issued by the District court of Zilina, as the organ that administers the register for the whole Slovak republic. The participant may obtain the registration by means of a Slovak attorney, notary, bank, auditor or licensed tax advisor.
First of all we would like to know if that registration correspond to the one we have already done through ERANET in order to participate in the competition.
As a foreign architect and in case of being a different type of registration we would like to know if it might be done after the notification of the results.
It is a different type of registration. The registration in the Slovak register of partners of the public sector may be carried out in the time frame between the communication of results of the competition and the invitation to the direct negotiation procedure.The inviting party reassures the participants that will provide them with enough time that will be objectively sufficient for the performance of the registration.
In case that the winning proposal wouldn't meet the requirements stated in Annex no.3 after the notifications of the results of the competition. Would it be possible to partner a Company, Architect or Engineer that would meet and fulfill all those requirements even if it is after the notification of the results?
The requirements stated in Annex no. 3 must be met by the entity (natural person or legal entity) that will be identified as participant of the competition. According to the legislation, only that entity may be invited to the direct negotiation procedure.
In case you are not sure whether you meet the requirements or not, we would like to draw your attention to the possibility of establishing a partnership with another entity (natural person or legal entity) which with no doubt meets the requirements and submitting the proposal by that entity as participant.
The ground plan lost its binding effect and became only a guidance. The fact that along the Drotarska street are being permitted also more than 6-floor buildings, we consider the interpretation of the ground plan too oversimplifying and narrowing the possibilities of such a important institution, as VSVU. Though, the project of Art Campus will in any case require a new area regulation procedure. We do not understand the strict interpretation that doesn't allow for construction (except of parking lots) in the school's foreground (Parcel A). It contradicts the Bratislava municipal plan. In case a participant does not follow the oversimplified and disputable interpretation, will that have the proposal's rejection at the verification of proposals as consequence? Or proposal's rejection at the evaluation of proposals? We would like to remind you that the interpretation on the answers is independent from the process of obtaining the building permit.
– providing of the answers to the requests no. 2, 6, 7, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21, 25, 30, 50.
These guidelines were sent to registered participants via the system ERANET and simultaneously were published on the competitions' website www.artcampus.sk. The jury will assess the proposals in accordance with that information provided. In case a proposal does not comply with these guidelines, the verifier will annotate it into the protocol at the verification of proposals. Before commencement with the evaluation, the jury will be informed about the results of verification and will make a decision about their admission into evaluation. The jury will evaluate the proposals according to the Art. 12 of the Terms and Conditions.
Is it necessary to submit the Agreement on Compliance with Conditions signed by various natural persons acting on behalf of the participant or it is enough with just one representant?
In case acting on behalf of the participant - legal entity is defined in such a way that various natural persons are required to act together on participant's behalf, names and surnames of all these natural persons shall be written in the participant's details in the heading of the Agreement. Every one of these natural persons is required to make the guarantor's promise (par. 2.5 and 2.6) and sign the Agreement. In case acting on behalf of the participant - legal entity is defined in such a way that only one natural person is required to act on participant's behalf, name and surname of this natural person shall be written in the participant's details in the heading of the Agreement, this natural person is required to make the guarantor's promise (par. 2.5) and sign the Agreement. In case the participant is a natural person, the participant shall make the guarantor's promise (par. 2.5) and sign the Agreement.
I would like to ask about documents which have to be filled in. I am authorized architect, natural person, I have ID, which were assigned to me by Statistical office of the Slovak Republic. Are sections (registration in section, insert, register number) in Annex 2 relevant to me and must be filled in?
In a case, that participant is natural person, named sections will be left empty.
Is even partial intervention to original building reason for exclusion of proposal?
I would like to ask, if it is possible to deliver 5 panels instead of 4.
It is not possible. Former answers relevant to this question are answers no. 24 and 72.
How announcer will be able to secure anonymity of the competition if contestant should send Annex 1 -3 and panels altogether in electronic form (even if there are two separate files named "panely s navrhom.pdf" and "ucastnik.pdf"), and simultaneously the announcer will have to verify if they were sent in paper form? That is possible only by opening the envelopes and verifying the document "ucastnik.pdf", correct?
Verifying of the proposals is provided by the verifiers named under clause 2.5 of Terms and Conditions during the time period between deadline for submission of proposals and the jury´s evaluation session. Verifiers keep the information regarding the identity of the participants and author confidential from the jury and the secretary.
In the initial part of the jury´s evaluation session the main verifier will report results of verification process and answer any question of the jury, that will not lead to violation of the anonymity. Than he leaves the session. Remaining participants of the jury's evaluation session - the secretary, members of the jury and experts will not be able (before and during the evaluation) to know or to get identity of the participants and the authors of the evaluated proposals.
This process is similar to verification of documents in other competitions, that were running before use of electronic procurement system.
We inform participants, that the address of Slovak Chamber of Architects was changed recently and it is possible to use as return address for delivering of second part of proposal (clause 9.2 of Terms and Conditions) new address: Slovenská komora architektov, Námestie SNP 18, 811 06 Bratislava, Slovak republic. Use of the old address doesn't mean a problem, since Slovak Chamber of Architects still has access to its older inbox.


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Are Xanthi And Brett Dating? The Circle Stars Spark Relationship Rumors Being The Cute Couple
Srijita Saha
Are Xanthi and Brett from The Circle dating? Being the "cute couple" of the reality show, the duo has been recently making headlines where the viewers are suspecting them to be romantically related. What's happening between Xanthi and Brett? Before that, let's look at who they are and what the show is all about.
Starting from the basics, Brett Robinson is a content creator. He has pursued his education, more precisely graduated from the University of Alabama. When it comes to his profession, Brett works as a cybersecurity analyst.
Previously, Brett also appeared on Big Brother Season 20. Remember?
Xanthi Perdikomatis is a model, hailing from Greece. Initially, she pretended to be a preschool teacher though.
Well, Xanthi and Brett participated in The Circle Season 5, meeting each other for the first time on the set. It premiered on 28 December 2022.
Now, if the show is new to you, The Circle is more like a strategic reality series where the participants compete to win a certain amount of cash, either being themselves or others. It's indeed a fun show to watch.
Coming back to Xanthi and Brett's relationship rumors, they appear to be the "most loved couple" on The Circle Season 5. Don't you agree with this? This started being on the top after they played Jennifer and a catfish. But, are they romantically linked in real?
If you are looking for whether Xanthi and Brett are dating, here is everything that you need to know.
Also Read: The Circle Alum Manrika Khaira Opens About Ongoing Speculations About Her Ex!
Are Xanthi And Brett From The Circle Dating?
In The Circle Season 5 Episode 1, Xanthi and Brett lost but still managed to return to the following episode for the play. Both get along pretty well, which makes the viewers wonder if Xanthi and Brett are a couple in real.
While they shot The Circle, Xanthi and Brett appeared to be very good friends. Still, some people were able to notice the rumored spark between them. Now, it is to see if Xanthi and Brett are dating after they wrapped up the filming.
No. Xanthi and Brett are not dating in real life. What? You may be disappointed after knowing this. But, indeed, there has never been anything romantic between these stars from The Circle.
At present, Xanthi and Brett follow each other on their respective social media accounts. They are in touch and are believed to meet up as well. But, do you consider these things as hints for their relationship? If yes, then you are wrong as it doesn't make any sense.
Xanthi Perdikomatis and Brett Robinson from The Circle Season 5
In short, Xanthi and Brett have been pretty good friends and are still on the same page. The "cute couple" has been the title given by the fans but it is not valid in reality.
Both are so friendly that they often crack jokes and pass naughty comments on their social media posts. This fueled the rumors of them dating. In one post, Xanthi addressed Brett as a "baby." On the other hand, he called her "the man-eater."
Talking more about them, Xanthi and Brett live within a two-hour drive distance. So what? Knowing this, people still speculated them dated with the fact- distance can never be an issue or an obstruction when in love.
But, the possible truth is- Xanthi and Brett, The Circle's "cute couple" is not a couple in real. Also, neither of them has passed any comment related to this. So, it's safe to say that they are not dating until they are officially announcing it.
Best Wishes to Xanthi and Brett for the upcoming days of their life. Even though some fans were convinced that the duo is dating, we hope that their friendship stays like this forever.
Well, we can't ignore the fact that Xanthi and Brett do look cute, together. So, we would love it if their dating rumor turns out to be true.
Also Read: Chloe and Mitchell From The Circle Dating or Not? Latest
Written By Srijita Saha
Hey, I'm Srijita Saha. Writing has always been my hobby. I write articles on Asian entertainment, especially Kpop and Kdramas. Besides that, I also write about dating stuff and gossip. You can reach out to me at srijita@otakukart.com Gamsa-haeyo!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


James Hobson quit his full-time job as a mechanical engineer to pursue his passion as an inventor. With the hope to inspire others to do the same, James documents his innovative creations on his YouTube channel, the Hacksmith. Whether making adjustments to his homemade exoskeletons or creating functional prototypes inspired by fictional ideas in comic books, movies and video games; James is a mashup of MaGuyver ingenuity and playful Mythbuster engineering rigor.


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Tony Maniaty
In Istanbul: Ara Güler's Kafe
"The history of the world is the sum of the lives of everyday people, the atoms of this world. It was this magnificent world that Ara Güler sought to preserve." Bishop Sahak Maşalyan, at Ara Güler's funeral on October 20th 2018, in Istanbul…
The day after I arrived, a terrorist attack killed six people. Istanbul: East and West, Asia meets Europe, the clash and blending of cultures. And the beloved home of Ara Güler, the legendary Turkish/Magnum photographer who documented this fabulous city over a lifetime, and died four years ago at 90. (Kidney failure and on dialysis, but he kept going.) The locals called him 'The Eye of Istanbul' because his focus was on the city he was born in and captured with absolute devotion. And what photographs! Even the word 'timeless' seems too short, too brief: these were eternal images. The cobbled streets, the smoking workers and street kids, the ferries plying across the Bosporus. All captured in monochromatic magic with a battered Leica and a pocket full of film. The pure joy of it.
And what remains? A body of incomparable work, without which Istanbul – as we know it, imagine it, dream it – might not exist; for so much has changed here, even between visits. Now it's all big brands, fashion labels, design; seven years ago, my last stay, it wasn't so globalised but expanding rapidly. When I first came in 1984, it was a city locked in some enigmatic past, a strange blend of Orientalism and Modernism, the ideals of Atatürk buoyed by hopes for greatness.
And now bomb blasts, uncertainty.
The times are fragile but Güler gave us permanence, a set of images so strong they defy the passing of time, the terrorists, even the passing of Güler. (He who hated being called an artist – 'I don't do art' – preferring 'photojournalist', an archivist recording life as it exists.)
Today I make my way uphill – this district, Beyoğlu, is nothing but hills – to the Ara Kafe, which Güler opened long ago and where his photographs adorn the walls, and his memory lingers. At three in the afternoon, it's almost empty, allowing me to reflect on Güler's graphic images, always of this city. The shooter who captured celebrities – Picasso, Churchill, Hitchcock, Dali, for Life, Time, Paris-Match, Stern – invariably returned to these crowded, muddy streets. I sip my Turkish coffee, eat lokum. Every image triggers memories of others; his documentation of Istanbul is seamless and never-ending. A passion, an obsession, or both? Güler was no Proust in search of lost time, of nostalgia. Here, his work becomes image-time itself.
How many great photographers open a café, a meeting place? Maybe only one.
Güler and Istanbul, inseparable.
http://www.tonymaniaty.com
Kafe Ara, İstiklal Caddesi Tosbağa Sokak 2/A, Beyoğlu, İstanbul
https://www.magnumphotos.com/newsroom/ara-guler-1928-2018/
https://www.araguler.com.tr/
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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN defender Marquinhos has vowed not to repeat the "mistakes" that cost the French club in last season's Champions League quarter final against Chelsea.
PSG drew the Blues in this morning's Champions League last-16 draw in Nyon after finishing second in Group F behind Barcelona.
Last season the French club took a 3-1 lead into the second leg at Stamford Bridge but went down 2-0 to go out on away goals.
And Marquinhos insists PSG have the smarts to overcome Chelsea, who lead the Premier League by three points this campaign.
"At this level, there are only great teams," the Brazilian told PSG TV.
"We will train and work hard to prepare for the double header.
"Chelsea have already won the Champions League (in 2012) and are top of their league.
"They will give everything to earn progression (to the quarter finals).
"Last year's elimination was painful. We will build on that to avoid repeating the same mistakes."
Chelsea were top seeds in today's draw after comfortably winning Group G.
They could have faced Juventus, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen or Shakhtar Donetsk but were first out of the pot against Laurent Blanc's men.


This is a beautiful concert instrument featuring several unique and striking design elements. Materials are very high quality and a pleasure to look at, including a perfectly quarter-sawn spruce top and flamed maple back and sides. Rosewood is used in the binding, back center strip and tie block, framing the guitar beautifully with its contrasting dark-brownish hue. The meticulously layered headstock is in 4 pieces of maple and 3 pieces of walnut (with rosewood front veneer), which "opens" elegantly into the neck, when viewed from behind. The top has an inner layer of half-herringbone purfling around the entire perimeter as well as in the inner and outer extremities of the rosette. To top it all off, there is a subtle use of blue in the rosette, barely noticeable with the naked eye, but definitely contributing to the unique look and feel of this instrument. The shellac finish is applied with a level of attention to detail and perfection found in very few makers. The sound is extremely responsive and open, with plenty of volume and character. The trebles are very clear and full, and the basses are deep with a nice bouncy response. Playability is a dream with very low action and shorter scale length. It is also fitted with a 20th fret for repertoire requiring a high c natural. Overall, a beautiful-sounding and intricately made concert guitar for a great price.


text:
Politics U.S.
Where are witnesses, evidence, facts? GOP questions Nadler on impeachment hearing
Dems failed to provide report or supporting materials from intelligence committee
Published December 2, 2019 at 7:24pm
The top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, which traditionally has been tasked with reviewing impeachment charges, says Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., is evaluating impeachment without any evidence.
No report on impeachment proceedings has been released, nor has any evidence been provided, he said, noting the first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., told Nadler he hasn't seen a report or "supporting evidence" from House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
"On November 12, 14, 18, 21, and 30, I wrote you asking specific questions about the process the House Judiciary Committee will use to bring some legitimacy to this 'impeachment inquiry' launched by Democrats alone," Collins said.
"During the markup on November 21, I asked you to keep me apprised of the process. Every letter and nearly every question remains unanswered, with only 48 hours before our first hearing to consider the impeachment of the president," he said.
Collins said Nadler has failed to provide a witness list, and there's been nothing from Schiff's 10 days of hearings. There also are no supporting materials for Schiff's allegations.
"We do not know of any hearings other than one of academics and possibly a presentation by Chairman Schiff's committee. For the first time in history, this committee will weigh impeachment without any evidence for us to review. Any discussion with the yet-to-be identified witnesses will, therefore, be in the abstract," he said.
Collins cited the White House's announcement that it would not participate in Nadler's proceedings.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said the "countless procedural deficiencies that have infected this inquiry from its inception ... shows the lack of seriousness with which you are undertaking these proceedings."
Collins said: "Once again, I request clarity on how you intend to conduct this inquiry. As Republicans have stated before, and consistent with Chairman Schiff's repeated statements, withholding information from the minority shall constitute evidence of your denial of fundamental fairness and due process, as well as obstruction of minority rights."


Technologyissue.com is a tech and business related company, that is also the publisher of the magazine, Technology Issue. Technology Issue has a global reach as it brings to its readers the latest trends in the world of technology, business and investments trends. The magazine, launched in 2016, is one of the best sources of technology business trends, enterprise technology solutions, technology leadership, and tech startups. It addresses issues pertaining to enterprise technology solutions that can redefine the institution objectives and goals and focuses on relevant content.
Technology Issue is a leading informative source that shares innovative business technology solutions created by the most revolutionary tech ventures. The magazine has its stretch to the CXO's CFO's CEO's, IT Decision makers, IT Head, IT Managers, Business Heads, Project Managers, Technology Experts, and investors.
India has witnessed a remarkable upsurge in the creation of startups. The much-needed funding for these startups is supported by a growing number of investors, angels, funds, and support organizations such as incubators, accelerators, event platforms, and academic programs. In the wake of such developments, Technology Issue has emerged as the best platform to project your startup to the world. Get the latest updates on conferences and events revolving around technology on our website. We are abreast with the latest buzz in technology. All the companies featured in our magazine will also be featured on our portals.


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Swaggy Bastard Theme for Ghost
==================

A free boilerplate responsive theme for [Ghost](https://ghost.org) blogging platform.

Swaggy Bastard is a fork of Bastard!
It mostly contains UI changes to make the theme look a lighter.
## Demo

A demo can be seen here. [swag.gferreira.me](http://swag.gferreira.me)
![gferreira.me screenshot](http://res.cloudinary.com/gatec21/image/upload/v1416866665/gil_blog_lfkr9g.png)

## Download

You can download the theme by clicking **Download Zip**

## Using Bastard Theme

1. Copy the theme folder inside `/content/themes` of Ghost.
2. Restart Ghost and then go to Ghost's Settings (http://your.domain.com/ghost/settings/general/). Choose "Swaggy Bastard" from the theme dropdown menu and save your changes.
3. Optionally, you can update the background cover with your own image to replace the default cover image.
4. Have fun :)

## Customising Bastard Theme

Bastard theme uses Grunt to lint, compile, and concatenate the javascript and [SASS](http://sass-lang.com/) components. Customize the theme by editing the `assets/js/bastard.js` and `sass/*` files. Run `grunt` to compile your changes or use the `grunt watch` while you build your own theme.

1. Make sure you have [Node.js](http://nodejs.org), [Bower](http://bower.io) and [Grunt](gruntjs.com) installed on your system.
2. Copy theme folder to Ghost themes directory `/content/themes`. Open your terminal and make the theme's folder your current working directory.
3. Run `bower install` to install package dependencies.
4. Run `npm install` to install Grunt components.
5. Restart Ghost and switch the theme to use `Swaggy Bastard` in the Ghost's Settings.
7. Make your changes by updating `/sass/*`, `/assets/*`, and `*.hbs` files of the theme.
6. Run `grunt watch` to start watching for file changes or run `grunt` to build your latest changes.
7. If you have new images for the theme, just place them inside `image_sources` folder and Grunt will handle the optimisation automatically and store the optimized version inside `assets/images/`.
8. Update the social media icon links by updating `partials/social.hbs`.
9. Update gravatar by updating URL in `partials/gravatar.hbs`.

## Resources & Dependencies

- [Bootstrap Sass](https://github.com/twbs/bootstrap-sass)
- [Font Awesome Icons](http://fortawesome.github.io/Font-Awesome/icons/)
- [Grunt: The JavaScript Task Runner](http://gruntjs.com)
- [Bower: A package manager for the web](http://bower.io)
- [Sass - Syntactically Awesome Stylesheets](http://sass-lang.com/)
- [HighlightJs - Syntax highlighting for the Web](http://highlightjs.org)
- [FitVids.Js - A lightweight, easy-to-use jQuery plugin for fluid width video embeds](http://fitvidsjs.com/)

## License

MIT License

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


On the Feast of Christ the King, the Archdiocesan Human Life & Dignity office and Young Adult Ministry sponsor this film and talk with Fr. Raymond Tyohemba. Fr. Raymond is a Nigerian priest who ministered in an area afflicted with Boko Haram attacks. Fr. Raymond will speak on the problems of religious persecution today, especially in Nigeria, and their relation to the Feast of Christ the King.
His talk will be followed by a screening of For Greater Glory, a 2012 epic film starring Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, and Peter O'Toole. The film is based on the Cristeros Wars in Mexico in the 1920s that inspired the Vatican to institute the Feast of Christ the King. Come and learn more about the challenges facing our religious liberties today and historically. All are welcome, and food and drink will be provided. Parking is ample, and there will be Mass at 5:00 pm right after the event ends. Information is on Facebook here. A flyer is here.


Commemorate a special event with a celebration greeting card designed by Shanna Noel, creator of Illustrated Faith. Whether you're recognizing birthdays, graduations, a specific accomplishment, or simply celebrating life, this 'Let's Celebrate' premium greeting card is a perfect choice. Inside this blank greeting card is the Bible verse from Ephesians 1:3 and generous space for writing a thoughtful message to the recipient.


This is of particular importance for horizontal scalability. In a multi instances setup like the publish farm depicted below, load balancing cannot be achieved in an optimal manner. With stateful authentication, the persisted authentication state will only be available on the instance where the user is first authenticated.
A user may be authenticated on publish instance one, but if a subsequent request goes to publish instance two, that instance does not have that persisted authentication state, because that state was persisted in the repository of publish one and publish two has its own repository.
The solution for this is to configure sticky connections at the load balancer level. With sticky connections a user would always be directed to the same publish instance. As a consequence, truly optimal load balancing is not possible.
In case a publish instance becomes unavailable, all the users authenticated on that instance will lose their session. This is because repository access is needed to validate the authentication cookie.
The solution for horizontal scalability is stateless authentication with the use of the new Encapsulated Token support in AEM.
The Encapsulated Token is a piece of cryptography that allows to securely create and validate authentication information offline, without accessing the repository. This way, an authentication request can happen on all the publish instances and with no need for sticky connections. It also has the advantage of improving authentication performance since the repository does not need to be accessed for every authentication request.
Please note that the Encapsulated Token is about authentication. It ensures that the cookie can be validated without having to access the repository. However, it is still required that the user exists on all the instances and that the information stored under that user can be accessed by every instance.
For example, if a new user is created on publish instance number one, due to the way the Encapsulated Token works, it will be authenticated successfully on publish number two. If the user does not exist on the second publish instance, the request will still not be successful.
Because of the cryptography involved, all of the instances need to have the same HMAC key. Since AEM 6.3, the key material is no longer stored in the repository, but on the actual filesystem. With this in mind, the best way to replicate the keys is to copy them from the filesystem of the source instance to that of the target instance(s) you want to replicate the keys to. See more info under "Replicating the HMAC key" below.
The Encapsulated Token needs to be enabled. This can be done through the Web Console.
Look for an entry called Day CRX Token Authentication Handler and click it.
In the following window, tick the Enable encapsulated token support box and press Save.


Isabella Alden was a prolific writer of Christian stories and novels for children and adults. We've compiled a list of 213 of her titles (which you can see here) and she may have written even more!
To celebrate Isabella's beloved stories, here's a word search puzzle for you, created from the titles of her books.
To play online, click here. Then, click and drag to reveal each listed book title. You can play the online puzzle until September 30.
To print the puzzle and share it with others, click here. The print puzzle never expires!
Once you've completed the puzzle, be sure to leave a comment to tell us how you liked it, and to be entered in this week's drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
This post is part of our Blogiversary Celebration! Leave a comment below or on Isabella's Facebook page to be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card!
We'll announce the winner on Friday, September 14.
Church organs were often mentioned in Isabella Alden's books, but they looked nothing like the organs we frequently see in churches today.
So here's a jigsaw puzzle for you to solve that will reveal the type of church organ Isabella probably had in mind when she wrote her novels.
Just follow this link to solve the puzzle online. Start the puzzle by clicking "Okay," then just drag and drop the individual pieces in the order you choose.
Once you're done, be sure to return here to the blog (or visit Isabella's Facebook page) and tell us how you liked solving this jigsaw puzzle.
Remember your comments enter you in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card, which will be awarded on Friday, September 7, 2018!
It's hard to believe, but we've been blogging about Isabella Alden and her books for five years!
And to thank you for your support and encouragement, we thought we'd throw a party . . . a party that lasts the entire month of September!
Please join us every weekday in September for fun and games, weekly Amazon gift card drawings, and plenty of Free Reads!


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12-year-old Hollie Widdows shows blistering pace to win Summer Meet gold
12-year-old Hollie Widdows claimed the third fastest time of any swimmer in the Women's 50m Freestyle as she won the 12/13 Years title at the Swim England National Summer Meet.
Only 16 Years champion Annabel Smith and 17 Years and Over winner Lauren Cox went quicker than Widdows, who raced to the gold medal in 26.97s.
That would have been enough to see the Guildford City swimmer finish in fourth place at last week's British Summer Championships.
Widdows shaved almost 1.5 seconds off her previous personal best over her two swims on Thursday.
Bolton Metro's Lisa Barzaghi won silver in 27.45, while Team Ipswich's Matilda Bogle sealed the bronze medal in 27.58.
The 15 Years final was too close for the eye to call, with the top three finishing within 0.15s of each other.
City of Sheffield's Charlotte Berry did enough to win gold in 27.29s, with Poole's silver medallist Catherine Eland just 0.01s ahead of Stockport Metro's Amy West, who won bronze in 27.44.
2018 European junior silver medallist Lauren Cox won the 17 Years and Over national title by a comfortable margin.
Cox streaked home in 26.39s, with Beckenham's Eve Luhmann in second place, just 0.04s ahead of Peterlee's bronze medallist Giorgia Harvey.
Annabel Smith smashed her personal best for the second time in as many races, going under the 27-second barrier for the first time to win the 16 Years title.
The Bromley swimmer improved her previous mark to 27.23s in the heats and she went quicker again in the final, taking gold in 26.78.
Bournemouth's Ella Chown won the silver medal in 27.50, while Team Ipswich's Emma Cruickshanks and Enfield's Lucinda Andrews tied for bronze.
Cockermouth's Jess Prokas was crowned 14 Years champion, ahead of Stockport Metro's Hermione Roe and Ellesmere College's Katie Hale.
Men's 100m Butterfly
Ross Philp held off a fast-finishing Ewan Wilson to win the Men's 17 Years 100m Butterfly title.
Staines swimmer Philp was fourth at the halfway mark, but preserved his energy finely to touch the wall in 57.63s for his second consecutive national title in this event.
Wilson was just 0.09s behind as he won silver for his second medal of the day.
The City of Salford swimmer had won the 1500m Freestyle title a few hours earlier and showed great durability to return to the pool in the evening.
Plymouth Leander's Freddie Ashley-Sparks rounded out the podium, clocking 57.83s.
Eliot Desforges was in total control as he won the 16 Years title.
The Bracknell swimmer went out in 26.18s and finished in 56.80s, more than 1.2s clear of his nearest rival – Mount Kelly's James Bartley.
Desforges took more than three seconds off his personal best time over the course of the day.
Sevenoaks' Aiden McMillan won bronze.
Wycombe District's Samuel Tucker led the way as four swimmers went under a minute in the 15 Years final.
Tucker won gold in 57.77, with Harlow's Alessandro Rioda second in 58.75 and City of Sheffield's Matthew Woodhall pipping City of Peterborough's Connor Walker to bronze.
Caleb Griffiths won a closely contested 13/14 Years final, with the top three all within half a second of each other.
City of Liverpool's Griffiths was first in 1:00.36, ahead of Wirral Metro's Lucas Horton and Sutton Cheam's Filip Malov.
Meanwhile, City of Sheffield's Tom Downs went close to his lifetime best as he won gold in the 18 Years and Over final.
Downs clocked 55.64s, just 0.22 outside the PB he set at the 2017 British Summer Championships.
City of Cambridge's Hugo Bellamy won silver in 56.45, while Downs' Sheffield teammate Jack To joined him on the podium.
Women's MC 50m Freestyle
Fern Sneddon claimed her second national title in as many days, winning the Women's MC 50m Freestyle final.
The MC 100m champion produced another rapid swim, finishing in 39.11s for a total of 588 points.
The S6 swimmer was 72 points ahead of silver medallist Catriona Chung (S8), of Leicester Penguins.
Rushden's S10 swimmer Amber Haycock touched the wall first in 34.62, earning her 494 points for bronze.
Men's MC 50m Freestyle
Kieran Williams was first to the wall and first overall in the Men's MC 50m Freestyle final.
Newquay's S10 swimmer improved on his heat time, clocking 28.59s for 531 points.
That was just enough to hold off Bolton Metro's Luke Batty, who won silver with 520 points.
Wirral Metro's Matthew Harding won bronze with 491 points.
Swim England National Summer Meet 2019


The 1460 Stationary Living Room Group by Fusion Furniture at Lindy's Furniture Company in the Hickory, Connelly Springs, Morganton, Lenoir area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
The 1460 collection is a great option if you are looking for Transitional furniture in the Hickory, Connelly Springs, Morganton, Lenoir area.
Browse other items in the 1460 collection from Lindy's Furniture Company in the Hickory, Connelly Springs, Morganton, Lenoir area.


We're looking at Stage 3 investor options – when you need to live off the returns from your investment corpus. Paramount imperatives are Safety, Return, Predictability and Tax-effectiveness; and then there's a nice-to-have Liquidity consideration.
A lesser-known alternative to Fixed Deposits is the Fixed Maturity Plan (sometimes called the Fixed Term Plan) that mutual funds offer. Lots of people have the misconception that mutual funds are only about risky equity investing when nothing could be further from the truth.
FMPs share many of the characteristics of FDs with some additional nifty advantages.
Mutual fund houses offer FMPs at various intervals, so unlike an FD, you can't just plop down the money whenever the fancy grabs you. However, these intervals are often as frequent as several times a week, and definitely several times a month. So, for all practical purposes they're fairly easily available for investment all year around.
FMPs come in various flavours from as little as 60 days to 3 years and everything in between. However, the different durations are decided by the fund house based on what kind of investment opportunities are available – and the rates of return accordingly vary. The rules dictate that the FMP can only invest in instruments (called "paper") that match the duration profile of the FMP itself. So, if the FMP says its duration is 368 days, then it can't invest in paper that has a longer duration than 368 days. This protects you because it means that when the time comes to repay the FMP to you, the money is available because the underlying investment will also have matured. The only catch is that not all duration FMPs are available all the time. However, the usual 365+ days duration is the most popular and there are usually several offered each month (across the fund houses).
FMPs invest only in debt – bank paper, commercial paper, government securities and similar instruments – much the same things that banks themselves invest in. However, there are varying degrees of safety when it comes to debt, so if you're really paranoid ensure that the FMP you're investing in is only investing in AAA+ paper. In practical terms however, FMPs are one of the safest investment options available regardless of whether they're investing in AAA+ paper or AA paper. Your money is safe.
Mutual funds are prohibited from promising a specific rate of return and this prohibition extends to all debt schemes too including FMPs. In reality, an FMP's return is fairly predictable because it's based on the return of its underlying investments. These are market-driven and closely correlate to the return available in the debt market for paper of the chosen duration and safety. Practically, this means that FMP returns are at least as much as FD interest rates and often a bit better.
Here's where FMPs really shine thanks to some leeway in the tax laws. An FMP is a debt security under tax law which means that when it's redeemed the investor's gains are treated as capital gains, not interest. Now, if it's a 365+ day FMP, the gain becomes a long-term capital gain and another bit of tax advantage steps in. The investor can opt to have the gain taxed at "20% with indexation". Indexation is a bit of tax legerdemain which legitimately allows you to inflate your cost of purchase for tax purposes by indexing it via the inflation index (which is announced each year by the Tax Department). This means that in most years, you can bump up your cost of investment when calculating the tax due so that your FMP return shows much lower gains than you actually earned – often zero or negative gains. Which means no tax. This entirely legal and very handy when it comes to minimising your tax liability and it's not available to you if you dumped all your money in FDs.
Of course, a little reflection will show that if your FMP is showing a negative return when adjusted for inflation (as indexation does) then your investments are not beating inflation, which means that over time you're going to start running out of income to meet your expenses. Unfortunately, this is true of all debt investments, which is why you need to continue saving and need to park a portion of your nest egg in risky equity, to at least give you the chance to beat inflation down the road.
In practical terms, unlike an FD, once you're invested in an FMP you're stuck with it till it matures – no loans against it and so on. You can opt for an FMP to pay you a periodic return but this is not predictable or definite as it would be for an FD. You're better off choosing the cumulative option and taking home an enhanced lump sum when the FMP matures. You can game this a bit by staggering your FMP investment through the year so that, after a year, you have something maturing each month, which will provide a reasonably predictable cash flow.
FMPs tick all the boxes except liquidity and should be an essential part of every Stage 3 investor's portfolio.


My partner, Dan Toussant, often says that the goal of any meeting is to get another meeting. The goal of an interview is to get another interview. Sometimes he gets an argument over this, but the sentiment is genuine. In a job search, our overall goal is to get a job. But in the midst of the angst and hassle of the search, the goal of each individual action is to get to the next step, right? Of course. You've networked, you've schmoozed, and finally you snagged an interview. YEAH!!!
Make sure you look the part. Get your shoes shined and your hair cut. Have your suit cleaned and pressed and make sure everything that can be groomed is groomed.
Know how you add value. Polish your response to "Tell me about yourself" so you know how you will highlight your value.
Research the people you will be meeting. If you don't know for sure, research on LinkedIn to figure it out. Look up the company and see who works there who is listed on LinkedIn then look at their profiles. What is important to those people? What groups do they belong to? Any special interests?
Review your answers to the likely questions. Use our list of the 30 most frequently asked questions to start with. Write out your answers if you have not already done so.
Practice your responses to likely questions. Practice out loud because it never comes out of your mouth the way you think it in your head. Make sure you have stories to illustrate the important points you want them to remember.
Prepare a list of questions you want to ask them. Base the questions on your research so they know you know about their issues. Be curious about the future and about how the business operates. We recommend typing up the list of questions so you can pull them out of your portfolio when you are asked, reinforcing the interviewers' awareness that you are prepared.
for your next interview. After all, an interview is a terrible thing to waste!


Rophe dental clinic was established as a professional dental care organization to fill the huge gap identified in the provision of affordable and qualitative dental services to meet the growing needs of Nigerian patients. We are located at 92 Adeniran Ogunsanya street, Surulere, Lagos. Our clinic is equipped with latest dental technology with capacity to provide first class dental services in line with global best practices in dental care. Rophe Dental clinic plans to extend its professional services to key commercial centers In Nigeria over the years.
Our greatest asset is our friendly and professional team whose goal is to create a positive experience for our patients. We combine our dental care expertise with a genuine concern for your comfort and convenience. Your comfort and health is always our priority. You can rely on us to listen to your concerns, recognize your individual needs and provide thorough, unhurried appointments. We always take time to answer any questions and explain treatments and procedures.
The Clinic is open Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 8.00pm and Saturdays/public holidays from 10am to 4pm. The clinic phone lines are available 24hrs for dental emergencies. Patients can be seen on Sundays for emergency cases and strictly by appointment only.
At Rophe dental Clinic, our mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children, Youth and adults by offering the highest-quality dental care in a private-office atmosphere. By providing a team of professional, highly educated, honest, compassionate and committed staffs, we aim to improve patient health, appearance, self-confidence and overall quality of life.
Our vision is putting a healthy smile on our clients while nurturing a culture of dental awareness.
At Rophe Dental Care, we work tirelessly in our efforts to develop technology, business, and healthcare solutions in Nigeria and to improve the quality of life of populations with complex oral health and social needs.


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Fast Forward Newsletter
Ryan Tate
The Rise of Julie Larson-Green, the Heir Apparent at Microsoft
Today's Microsoft reorganization marks another huge win for Julie Larson-Green, the 20-year company veteran whose pluck and team spirit helped her rise from rejected applicant to steward of Microsoft's core mission.
Julie Larson-Green at the Wired Business Conference this past May.Photo: Andrew White/Wired
It remains to be seen whether the Microsoft reorganization announced by CEO Steve Ballmer this morning can rejuvenate the once-mighty software company. But one thing is crystal clear: The reshuffling marks another huge win for Julie Larson-Green, the 20-year company veteran whose pluck and team spirit helped her rise from rejected applicant to steward of Microsoft's core mission.
The reorg, outlined in a series of memos obtained by AllthingsD, puts Larson-Green, formerly co-leader of Windows, in charge of all hardware devices, games, music, and entertainment. That portfolio of devices and services puts her at the epicenter of Microsoft's predominant goal to become "a devices and services company," as Ballmer put it in an October letter to shareholders.
Today's promotion is just the latest leap for Larson-Green. Most recently, she replaced her longtime boss and mentor, Steven Sinofsky, to become engineering head of Windows this past November, jumping two rungs up the ladder. Unlike the notoriously prickly Sinofsky, Larson-Green is known for her communication skills and ability to work well with others, uniting people, including those outside her own purview, around a common goal.
But if you step back a bit, her biography has been a story of tenacity and persistence in pursuit of a closely-held personal mission to reshape how the world uses computers, according to various press reports, public appearances by Larson-Green, and Microsoft in-house media.
Would she replace CEO Steve Ballmer? 'I wouldn't rule it out, but I'm not in a hurry.'A native of the northern Washington town of Maple Falls, near the Canadian border, Larson-Green took to math as a child and wrote in her high school yearbook that she wanted to work at a computer company, even though she had yet to use a computer. After enrolling at Western Washington University -- where her father was a student and where her grandfather had once worked as a maintenance worker -- Larson-Green had to temper her interest in digital devices. Waiting tables to make ends meet meant that Larson-Green couldn't hit the computer labs at night, when they were open to undergraduates, so she switched her major from computer science to business administration.
The change-up seemed to lead Larson-Green into an inauspicious start: She received a rejection letter from Microsoft, already a local powerhouse and big player in the national PC market, settling instead for a tech support job at Aldus, a nascent Seattle-based maker of desktop publishing software. In the end, answering calls from angry customers for 10 months may have given Larson-Green a lasting advantage over more sheltered, cockier coworkers she no doubt encountered at Microsoft. "I learned a lot about empathy" at Aldus, she would later tell the UK's Telegraph.
It was around this time that Larson-Green finally learned to program, teaching herself coding during breaks from her day job. Later, she earned a master's degree in software engineering from Seattle University and upgraded her Aldus gig to become a development lead.
Roughly five years later, Larson-Green found herself in the potentially embarrassing situation of giving a frank assessment of the weaknesses and strengths of software code compilers made by Microsoft, along with those made by Microsoft rival Borland, to a room that turned out to be dotted with Microsoft staffers. But the Microsofties were impressed, and soon roped Larson-Green into a gig helping to oversee the development of Microsoft's Visual C++ -- just the sort of software development tool she had critiqued.
Larson-Green was finally inside the borg, where she found she had a penchant for developing the more humane side of computing, the user interfaces that bridge low-level computer code to actual people trying to complete real-world tasks. After Visual C++, Larson-Green became program manager for Microsoft's website builder FrontPage and then oversaw user interface design for Office XP and Office 2003.
One of her brightest moments came with the release of Office 2007, for which she oversaw an innovative, context-sensitive user interface known as "the ribbon." Though initially controversial with some hard-core Office users, the ribbon won wider acceptance and acclaim as an elegant way to expose the growing and often bewildering set of features available within Office. Larson-Green won Microsoft's "outstanding technical leadership" award for championing the ribbon.
Larson-Green also won recognition for leading the planning around Windows 7, the successor to Microsoft's poorly received Vista operating system. Where Vista was derided for being late, confusing, and painfully slow, Windows 7 shipped quickly and ran fast too, setting new sales records and winning plaudits in the tech press.
It was Windows 7's brilliant but bizarrely bifurcated successor Windows 8 that ultimately thrust Larson-Green into the top leadership ranks. Overseen by Sinofsky, Windows 8 proved to be a poor seller, even though it has finally given Microsoft a truly innovative, even beautiful OS across tablets, phones, and PCs. Longtime Windows users were baffled by the new "Metro" interface and retreated into Windows 8's old-school desktop mode, complaining that, even in classic mode, it wasn't enough like Windows 7.
In retrospect, Sinofsky should have taken a page from longtime protégé Larson-Green, who, as Microsoft once put it, "decided not to compromise the integrity of Office 2007 with the safety net of a 'classic mode.'" Although it was Sinofsky who pushed Larson-Green toward her ribbon project in the first place -- "I didn't want to do it," she once said -- it was she who largely assumed his duties once Sinofsky was pushed out this past fall.
It's hard not to wonder whether Larson-Green will end up replacing a controversial boss once again, if and when Ballmer leaves the company. The longtime Microsoft sales executive has been rightly criticized for allowing once-catatonic rival Apple to surpass Microsoft in driving the growth of personal computing, first through music players and now via smartphones and tablets.
And it's interesting that when asked about replacing Ballmer at Wired's business conference this past May (see video below), Larson-Green was uncharacteristically blunt. "I wouldn't rule it out, but I'm not in a hurry," Larson Green said. "Give me a year and ask me again."
We definitely will.
Windows VP Julie Larson-Green: Starting Over with Windows from WIRED on FORA.tv
Ryan Tate is a WIRED senior writer and the author of "The 20% Doctrine: How Tinkering, Goofing Off, and Breaking the Rules Drive Success in Business" (HarperBusiness 2012). His PGP fingerprint is C8B5 6AEC 1DB6 C532 7F48 3446 FEA5 DD4E B13D EAC3. Email: ryan_tate@wired.com
TopicsMicrosoftsoftware


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Heinrich Janssen (ur. 13 października 1932 w Kevelaer, zm. 27 maja 2021 tamże) – niemiecki duchowny rzymskokatolicki, w latach 1986-2010 biskup pomocniczy Münster.

Życiorys
Święcenia kapłańskie przyjął 2 lutego 1961 w diecezji Münster. 4 lipca 1986 papież Jan Paweł II mianował go biskupem pomocniczym tej diecezji, ze stolicą tytularną Aquae Sirenses. Sakry udzielił mu 21 września 1986 biskup diecezjalny Münster Reinhard Lettmann. W październiku 2007 osiągnął biskupi wiek emerytalny (75 lat) i przesłał do Watykanu swoją rezygnację, która została przyjęta dopiero po ponad dwóch i pół roku, z dniem 31 maja 2010. Od tego czasu pozostaje jednym z biskupów seniorów diecezji.

Przypisy

Bibliografia

Biskupi Münsteru
Urodzeni w 1932
Zmarli w 2021

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Talk Journalism- A Media Fest to Uncover Trends & Tools of Press in Jaipur!
Awarness program in Jaipur, Jaipur, Jaipur Beat	by Admin July 18, 2017 July 18, 2017
Media has always played a huge role in the development of any country. It is high time that media gets constructive about creating value for itself and its counterparts. The format and delivery of news has always changed as a result of technological change and innovation, but the basic human behaviour of wanting to uncover, tell, and share stories of common interest always remains. Keeping the same in mind an initiative has been taken in the form of, Talk Journalism, which is now coming up with its fourth edition in Pink City after a successful run of three editions (2012, 2015, and 2016) you can listen to some of the finest voices in Indian journalism and also meet them socially.
About Talk Journalism – A not-for-profit initiative, which is based on the idea to discuss about the present day journalism, a profession that brings forth and discusses upon every important aspect of the society but hardly ever gets to debate about itself.
Talk Journalism has seen a successful run of three editions (2012, 2015, and 2016) and now it is coming up with its fourth edition. The event has been designed to benefit all the professionals, students, companies and enthusiasts of journalism and is completely free of cost.
Highlights in 2017
One of the biggest highlights of Talk Journalism is its speakers. The talk will host prominent speakers from the fraternity like Arun Shourie, Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai and Christina Lamb (Author of I am MALALA) among others.
Workshops by digital media giants like Google, Twitter and Instagram is going to be one fantastic opportunity for student journalists, college newspaper editor, reporters, and those interested in a career in journalism so as to learn about various issues relelating to journalism. A workshop on storytelling by Kommune, a leading community of artists, producers, patrons and art lovers, will also take place at the event.
The students of journalism will get a chance to meet the veteran investigative journalist; Nick Davies, who will hold a workshop for the students of journalism. Apart from the students the media houses of Jaipur are also in for a treat as they will get a chance to showcase themselves at the event. See you people at #TJ2017.
Register yourself online at: http://www.talkjournalism.in/tj-online-registration/
jaipurjaipurbeatJournalismMediaFestival in Jaipurtalk journalism 2017Technext2017TJ2017
Women of Jaipur Ride E-Rickshaws & Paint the Town Red
An Ambiance that Makes You Want to Talk, Read, Listen and Indulge-My Place Café!


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Strange Rain: Why Fish, Frogs and Golf Balls Fall From the Skies
Unusual precipitation doesn't just belong in myth and legend, and it's more common than you might think
Sarah Zielinski
Nuts, shredded meat and bee poop are just some of the odd things that have reportedly rained from on high. Ed Darack/Science Faction/Corbis
Earlier this year, a milky white rain coated cars, windows and people in parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The precipitation wasn't dangerous, but it was a bit of a mystery.
Rain isn't pure water, because precipitation can't form without some sort of particle to act as a nucleus, which gathers water molecules from the air until the drop gets heavy enough to fall. But sometimes rain is a lot dirtier than normal. Brian Lamb, an air quality specialist at Washington State University, and his colleagues thought that the milky rain might be due to one of the wildfire burn scars they were studying in the Pacific Northwest.
"If a windstorm comes along with the right conditions, you can produce really huge dust and ash plumes from these burn scars," he says. But the team couldn't trace the milky rain to one of those sites. Eventually, scientists found the source—a dust storm had whipped up particles from a shallow lakebed in southern Oregon that had a high amount of saline, similar to the composition of the milky rain.
This unusual weather in the Pacific Northwest is just the latest in a long history of weird rains that may have scientific backing, according to Rain: A Natural and Cultural History. "Frog and toad rains, fish rains and colored rains—most often red, yellow or black—are among the most common accounts of strange rain, reported since ancient times," author Cynthia Barnett notes in the book.
Heraclides Lembus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the second century B.C., writes: "In Paeonia and Dardania, it has, they say, before now rained frogs; and so great has been the number of these frogs that the houses and the roads have been full of them."
The phenomenon is not restricted to history. The village of Yoro in Honduras celebrates the annual Festival de la Lluvia de Peces, to commemorate the rain of small, silvery fish that allegedly happens at least once a year. And in 2005, thousands of itty-bitty frogs reportedly rained down on a town in northwestern Serbia. "The frogs, different from those usually seen in the area, survived the fall and hopped around in search of water," according to one news story.
"Still more peculiar rains reported over history have included hay, snakes, maggots, seeds, nuts, stones and shredded meat (that last one is suspected to have dropped from a boisterous flock of feeding vultures)," Barnett writes. She even found one account of a rain of golf balls in Florida—potentially linked to a waterspout crossing over a golf course.
A 16th-century illustration shows a rain of frogs recorded in Europe in 1355. Heritage Images/Corbis
"I always find the frogs and the fish to be weird," says John Knox, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Georgia. "And I'm not sure we total understand that, but it seems that it has to be that somewhere there's a waterspout or a tornado … something must have gone over a lake, sucked up a bunch of fish" or other material and dropped it somewhere else.
How far an object travels depends on shape, weight and wind, Knox says. In his studies of tornado debris, he has documented printed photographs that traveled as far as 200 miles and a metal sign that flew about 50 miles. "That sign went up and did the magic carpet ride," landing in the next state, he says.
Dust, the usual culprit behind oddly colored rains, can travel a lot farther. Yellow dust that fell on western Washington in 1998 was traced to the Gobi Desert. And the Sahara can spread its dust thousands of miles across the Atlantic. "If that dust plume interacts with some precipitation, then you've got the ingredients where the dust is washed out in rainfall," says Lamb. "The color of the rain will probably reflect the mineral composition of the source."
The Saharan dust produces red rains, for instance, and the Gobi Desert yellow ones. Black rains can come from volcanoes or from pollution. Dirty, greasy rains that turned sheep black in 19th-century Europe were linked to the soot from the great manufacturing centers in England and Scotland. And in more recent history, the burning of Kuwaiti oil wells in the Gulf War in 1991 caused black rain and snow to fall in India.
Rain: A Natural and Cultural History
Cynthia Barnett's "Rain" weaves together science—the true shape of a raindrop, the mysteries of frog and fish rains—with the human story of our ambition to control it.
The source of colored rains is not always clear. A mysterious red rain has sometimes fallen on the southwest coast of India. "People have observed red stains so rich they can stain white clothes pink," Barnett writes. Researchers have found tiny red particles in the precipitation that look like cells, but what those cells might be has yet to be determined.
And there is one yellow rain that fell on villages in Laos in 1978 that has people still arguing over what actually happened. Refugees claimed that the substance fell from planes or helicopters, and some experts suspected that it was a chemical weapons attack. But other scientists proposed a different cause: mass "defecation flights" by honeybees that rained yellow bee feces.
But while rains of objects or colored rains may seem odd, they are more common than we realize. In the early 20th century, Charles Hoy Fort collected around 60,000 newspaper reports that described falls of everything from frogs and snakes to cinders and salt. Even that milky rain in the Pacific Northwest wasn't a first for the area, notes Lamb.
"Here in eastern Washington, we've experienced those kinds of rains periodically," he says.
Sarah Zielinski | | READ MORE
Sarah Zielinski is an award-winning science writer and editor. She is a contributing writer in science for Smithsonian.com and blogs at Wild Things, which appears on Science News.


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China says Canada's attempt to link U.S. trade matter with other issues doomed to fail
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Friday Canada's attempt to link Sino-U.S. trade matters with other issues is doomed to fail.
Geng Shuang, spokesman at the ministry, made the comment at a regular media briefing when asked about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's latest remarks on China-U.S. trade talks.
Trudeau said on Thursday that the U.S. government should not finalise a trade deal with China unless the pact also secured the release of two Canadians detained by Beijing.
Reporting by Huizhong Wu; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Tom Hogue