http://www.croatia.org/crown en-us http://www.croatia.org/crown N/A letters@croatia.org Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:27:27 -0700 20 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9941/1/Daniella-guest-hosts-on-Malaysian-Dance-Radio.html  Daniella Pavicic (Daniella) has always been surrounded by dance music. Growing up, she developed a connection and an attraction to electronic music through radio stations and club gigs. But she never thought that one day that it would be her voice on the radio, her face on a CD cover, and that she'd be one of the genre's biggest stars. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9938/1/Ivo-Robic-1923-2000-Croatian-pop-singer-and-a-global-star.html Ivo Robiæ 1923-2000 is probably the most famous Croatian pop singer in history. For Germany's Polydor Record Co he first cut "Morgen" in 1959, and in a few weeks the "Morgen" climbed to Germany's top songs. It was sold in more than a million of copies, half a million in the USA! He was a guest star in some prestigious USA programs: Perry Como Show of NBC, the Ed Sullivan Show, the Dick Clark Show, etc. darko@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach and Darko ®ubriniæ) Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9933/1/Steve-Rukavina-met-Barack-Obama-at-the-White-House.html National Federation of Croatian Americans President Steve Rukavina (left) and his wife Diane met with President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama at a December holiday party at The White House. The NFCA President was thrilled to meet the President and to extend well wishes from the Croatian American community. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9932/1/Ivica-Kostelic-wins-silver-in-Vancouver.html Ivica Kostelic's silver medal added to the Olympic legacy of one of the great Alpine ski racing families. Second behind Bode Miller in Sunday's super-combined, Kostelic got advice from his younger sister Janica on how to master a slalom course set by their father and coach, Ante. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9930/1/Zoran-Orlic-Croatian-American-photographer-featured-in-Jutarnji-List.html Croatian-American photographer, Zoran Orlic (left) sat down and spoke with Jutarnji List of Croatia and spoke about how he got started in photography, who his influences are and how he has made a successful career of immortalizing musicians in photographs.  stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9929/1/Vladimir-Hudolin-distinguished-Croatian-psychiatrist-and-humanist.html  Vladimir Hudolin, 1922-1996, is distinguished Croatian psychiastrist of worldwide reputation, professor at the University of Zagreb. He has  created the social-ecological approach to alcohol  related problems centred on the  family  and on the community. In Italy only more than 2500 Clubs of Alcoholics have been founded which exploit his methodology. Professor Hudolin is a honorary citizen of San Daniele del Friuli, Italy, since 1983. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9927/1/Anton-Cetin-distinguished-Croatian-painter-in-Canada.html Anton Cetín was born in 1936 in Croatia. He studied printmaking and painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. Since 1968 he has been living and working in Toronto, Canada. A deluxe monograph about his work was written in 1986. by Dr. David Burnett of Toronto. Several documentary films about Cetín's life and work were produced. vgoss@aol.com (Dr. Vladimir Goss) Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9925/1/Croatian-Cooking-Show-on-the-OC-Channel-PBS-Jan-27-and-Feb-3-2010.html Brenda Brkusic (left) drops in to co-host two episodes of "Cooking for Health and Pleasure".  She will be preparing Croatian dishes on the show. These episodes will be airing on KOCE's OC Channel with part one airing on Jan 27 and part two on Feb 3, 2010 stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9916/1/Dalia-Lazar-has-Carnegie-Hall-recital-on-January--27th-2010-at-730-pm.html Dalia Lazar is Croatian pianist who had concerts and recitals in the United States, Israel, Russia, Switzerland, Greece, Venezuela, Croatia, Mexico, etc. At the age of sixteen she was admitted to Moscow's P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She has perfomed throughout former Soviet Union. She will perform a recital in memory of Maria Curcio on Wednesday, January 27th 2010 at 7:30 pm at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9915/1/Robert-Herjavec-Croatian-born-Canadian-entrepreneur-businessman-and-TV-star.html Herjavec began his career with IBM mainframe sales but in 1990 founded BRAK Systems which soon became Canada's top provider of Internet security software. BRAK Systems was sold to AT&T in 2000 for $100 million. Subsequently Herjavec founded and runs The Herjavec Group, a fast-growing security software company. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9914/1/Ivo-Josipovic-Croatia8217s-new-president-to-write-an-opera-on-John-Lennon.html Croatia’s new president, Ivo Josipovic, who won in a runoff on Sunday, is a bona fide classical composer. He majored in composition at the Zagreb Music Academy, graduating in 1983. From 1987-2004 he was a lecturer at the same school. Since 1991, he has been director of the Zagreb Music Biennale, one of the more prestigious contemporary music festivals. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9913/1/Vrijeme-i-Zemlja-frontman-Nenad-Bach-to-release-EP-later-this-year.html Zoran Tuckar of Muzika.hr called Vrijeme i Zemlja "the most talented Croatian band of all time." In his last statements before he died, famed Croatian music critic, Darko Glavan said regarding Vrijeme i Zemlja that it was "a project that essentially expanded the boundaries of the possible." This year Vrijeme i Zemlja's frontman and the Nenad Bach Band will release an EP featuring all new material.  stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9911/1/Maksim-Mrvica-Croatian-pianist.html Maksim Mrvica found himself to be the focus of intense media interest and he made frequent television appearances as well as giving a great number of interviews. His album The Piano Player gave a new spin to compositions by Handel and Chopin. It has been very successful, particularly in Asia, where it has achieved Gold status in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China, Platinum in Taiwan and Croatia and Double Platinum in Hong Kong. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9909/1/Zoran-Orlics-work-is-featured-on-new-Wilco-DVD.html  Zoran Orlic is a Croatian-born fine arts photographer with a flair for revealing the many moods of rock photography. Orlic's passion for the camera and music has led him to capture rock bands on film for the last seventeen years. Most recently noted for his work with The Frames, Wilco and Lucinda Williams, Orlic's snapshots have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, websites and music packaging. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9908/1/Martina-Filjak-interview-of-the-winner-of-the-2009-Cleveland-Competition.html Martina Filjak gave a very intersting interview on the occasion of her 1st prize won at the prestigious 2009 Cleveland International Piano Competition. The critical praise and general buzz she received for her performances during the final rounds have been merited, given the brilliance, sensitivity and imagination of her playing. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9907/1/Jaksa-Cvitanic-a-leading-expert-in-Mathematical-Finance.html Jak¹a Cvitaniæ is Professor of Mathematical Finance at Caltech. Prior to joining Caltech in 2005, he held positions as Professor of Mathematics and Economics at USC and Associate Professor of Statistics at Columbia University. He is regarded as a leading expert in mathematical finance. Professor Cvitaniæ was born in the city of Split, Croatia, and completed his studies of mathematics at the University of Zagreb. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9893/1/Romano-Sole-is-among-the-best-Croatian-musicians-in-Germany.html Romano Sole, born in Split, he studied music and at a young performed with many big names on the Split music scene. His song "Niz Vrijeme" was voted number 7 of the Split Radio top ten list for 1995. Fate would send him to Germany where he continued his musical endeavors and would succeed both as an artist and producer. He was named the best Croatian diaspora musician by Matica Hrvatska in 2008. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9882/1/Japanese-Ambassador-in-Croatia-HE-Yoshio-Tamura-uses-CroTram-to-go-to-work.html We as a new nation, but an old civilization, should look into other cultures as an inspiration in behavior. Japan, the third largest economy in the world, certainly gives us that opportunity. Are we capable of recognizing these values? That will remain to be seen. Your Excellency Yoshio Tamura, WELCOME to Croatia! We are honored to have you in our country. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9878/1/Giovanna-Drpic-covers-the-news-in-New-York-City.html Giovanna Drpic has been a general assignment reporter with My 9 News since April 2005. Drpic joined My9 from WKMG in Orlando, Florida. New York's diversity was a big draw for Drpic, especially since she's Bolivian, Peruvian, German and Croatian. And about her last name - no, it's not a typo. And, yes, people have told her, on more than one occasion, to please buy a vowel! stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9871/1/Miletich-Fighting-Systems-Home-of-Champions-Past-Present-and-Future.html Often known as "The Croatian Sensation" Pat Miletich at the age of 26 began to train for the MMA. He had already trained in a variety of martial arts including karate, kickboxing, and boxing. He was very much inspired by the boxing aspirations of his uncle, Johnny "Miler" Miletich who was present at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles as part of the boxing squad. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9866/1/Zeljko-Brkanovic-distinguished-Croatian-composer.html Renwned German composer Erhard Karkoschka commented on the music written by ®eljko Brkanoviæ on the left: "I have already encountered and learnd to appreciate his music at the concerts of the Zagreb Biennale... What I noticed in particular is a differentiated use of instruments, which makes his orchestral works very interesting due to sudden shifts. In the same manner the formal structure and logically controlled lines always make a convincing impression." darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9860/1/Croatian-guitarist-competes-at-Francisco-Tarrega-competition-in-Spain.html Srdjan Bulat, (left) a 5th year guitar student at the Musical Academy in Zagreb performed at the 43rd annual Francisco Tarrega international competition that was held from August 28th – September 4th 2009 in the Spanish city of Benicassim. This year's competition marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Francisco Tarrega, a renowned Spanish composer and guitar instructor. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9863/1/Nenad-Bach-plays-for-global-peace-in-Kansas-City.html  Internationally renowned Croatian musician Nenad Bach (left) performed at the first ever Concert for Global Peace on Saturday August 29, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. The concert was organized by the International Visitors Council of Kansas City in collaboration with Dr. William Everett, Associate Professor of Musicology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9853/1/-In-Memoriam-Virgilije-Nevjestiae-1935---2009.html Virgilije Nevjestiæ was a poet and an artist of rich, surreal and poetic expressions.  He was born in the village of Kolo near Tomislavgrad (BiH) in 1935 and moved to Paris in 1968, where he built a respectible artistic career. He died on August 24th 2009, after a long and difficult illness at La Tourelle hospital in the Parisian suburb of L'Hay-les-Roses, where he had been since September of last year. MBrkanovic@t-online.de (Mirna Brkanovic) Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9852/1/Ana-Vidovic-distinguished-Croatian-guitarist.html Ana Vidoviæ was born in Croatia in the town of Karlovac. At the age of 13 she became the youngest student to attend the National Musical Academy in Zagreb.  Her international performance career includes recitals in London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas and St. Louis. She has a recital in Cavtat Croatia within Epiduarus Festival September 2, 2009 - 8:00 PM. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9851/1/Blanka-Vlasic-defends-her-world-title-in-Berlin-2009.html High-jump queen Blanka Vlasic, one of the best athlete in the world,  retained her world crown on Thursday when she saw off arch-rival and local favourite Ariane Friedrich to win gold at the World Athletics Championships. Vlasic was the only athlete to clear 2.04m in the electric atmosphere of Berlin's Olympic stadium. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9848/1/Loreta-Kovacic-to-play-at-the-Contemporary-Arts-Museum-in-Houston-Sept-3-2009.html Croatian pianist Loreta Kovacic and her group the Texas Slavs will be performing at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston on September 3, 2009 starting at 7:00 p.m. The show is called Immigrants Out There, and will feature songs composed by her. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9847/1/Martina-Filjak-clinches-victory-in-Cleveland-International-Piano-Competition.html Two weeks of intense musical rivalry came to an end last Saturday when jurors in the 2009 Cleveland International Piano Competition crowned Martina Filjak, 30, of Croatia (left), winner of the 18th biennial contest. mijat.marko@gmail.com (Marko Mijat) Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9846/1/eljka-Eorak---Warps-of-abidance-in-small-things-.html There is something amazing in ®eljka Èorak's need to handle the most relevant issues in Croatia at one point, and then, almost in the same sentence, to write about barely visible objects from her environment, things that help her work on the most important theme of her opus – the art of remembering. vibor@astoria.hr (LivingStone Magazine) Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9843/1/Ivan-Vucetic-dactiloscopy-exhibition-in-Milan-Italy-in-July-2009.html An important exhibition dedicated to Ivan Juan Vuèetiæ, founder of scientific dactiloscopy - identification by fingerprints, has been organized in Milan from July 8-20 2009, in the representative building of Palazzo Triennale  It was conceived by Ljerka Galic from the Croatian Hertage Foundation in Zagreb, who opened the exhibition in the presence of Consul General of Argentina, Consul General of Croatia, representatives of Italian State Police and other guests. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9841/1/Epidaurus-Festival-in-Cavtat-Croatia-Aug-28---Sep-22-2009.html CROWN invites you to attend the Third Epiduarus Festival in Cavtat,  from  August 28 to September 22 2009. The Festival has been founded and is directed by infatiguable Croatian pianist Ivana Marija Vidoviæ, on the photo. Cavtat is a lovely town south of Dubrovnik, on Croatian coast. Among principal guests of the Festival this year will be a famous Croatian guitarist Ana Vidoviæ. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9839/1/Feri-Sucic-91-years-old-Croatian-musician-and-writer-from-Gradisce-Austria.html Feri Suèiæ was born in 1918 within a Croatian branch in Austria, in the region of Gradi¹æe - Burgenland. He composed or arranged 300 songs, and many of them are circulating as traditional songs. He is also known as prolific writer. An extensive monograph dedicated to his life and work has been issued last year on the occasion of 90th birthday. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9835/1/Igor-Stagljar-distinguished-Croatian-molecular-biologist-in-Toronto.html Professor Igor ©tagljar and his team of scientists in Toronto began developing an original biological method for the identification of new proteins involved in the development of cancer. This method paved the way for the research of grave genetic diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9832/1/Zvonimir-Atletic-distinguished-Croatian-photographer.html Zvonimir Atletic is professional Croatian photographer. His unique photos include such persons like Mother Teresa and Father Ante Gabriæ, well known worldwide for their humanitarian work, especially in India. Mr Atletiæ had numerous exhibitions not only in Croatia, but also in Italy, France, Poland, Indonesia, Brasil, etc. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9836/1/Bozidar-Finka-1925-1999-distinguished-Croatian-linguist.html Bo¾idar Finka 1925-1999 was distignuished Croatian linguist, a member of Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. This article has been published on the occasion of 10th year anniversary of his death. He is one of the authors of the Croatian orthography prepared in  1971. jasna.finka@zg.t-com.hr (Jasna Finka, prof.) Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9827/1/Radojka-Sverko---Croatian-Diva.html Radojka ©verko is one of the greatest female singers Croatia ever had. She had concerts in Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Seul, Athens, Puerto Rico, Caracas, Los Angeles, New York and Kopenhagen among others. Listen to her extraordinary interpretations of Croatian songs, and evergreens like The Shadow of Your Smile, Amazing Grace, The Automn Leaves, Bridge Over Troubled Water and many others. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9818/1/Children-Festival-of-Klapa-Singing-in-Zadar-May-2009.html Klapa singing in Croatia is a unique phenomenon of European culture. The phenomenon has been enriched in the past few years by  existence of children's klapas. The City Library in Zadar, Croatia, organizes the annual Children Festival of Klapa Singing since 2006. Each year it is becoming more and more popular and widespread. One of the principal proponents of klapa singing in Croatia is Ljubo Stipi¹iæ Delmata. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9814/1/Andrea-Kulier-17-years-old-Croatian-in-the-USA-to-study-cosmology-at-Princeton.html Andrea Kulier who is only 17-years-old will graduate from California State Los Angeles University and attend Princeton in the fall to study cosmology. Kulier and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Croatia. While most in her age group are graduating high school, Andrea Kulier received dual bachelor's degrees and is on course for a PhD. JKraljic@msn.com (John Kraljiæ, Esq) Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9809/1/Four-Croatian-female-alpinists-conquered-Mt-Everest-in-May-2009.html Four Croatian female alpinists climbed on Mt Everest, among them two sisters Darija and Iris Bostjanèiæ on the photo. It was for the first time that two sisters climbed on the top of Himalayas. This success was a result of team work in which 11 Croatian female alpinists participated. The expedition was organized by Croatian Mountaineering Association on the occasion of 135 years of its existence, founded in 1874, one of the oldest such organizations in the world. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9808/1/Mime-Cuvalo-Croatian-expert-for-GoogleU-Tube-and-benefactor.html Mime Èuvalo is not only successful Croatian computer science expert in the USA, employed at prestigeous Google/U-Tube in California, but also an active member of the Franciscan community. In the course of last 3 years this young man donated nearly $35,000 for his Croatian homeland, mostly for the needs of children. On the photo Mime with a Bosnian child that he adopted. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9807/1/Trideset-godina-od-prvog-rijeckog-rock-LP-albuma-Vrijeme-i-Zemlja-I-iz-1979.html Vatru rijeèke glazbene scene zapalio je prvi rijeèki rock LP album 1979, kad se o albumima moglo samo sanjati. Èetvorica mladiæa iz Rijeke, Nenad, Davor, Marinko i Jo¹ko ostvarili su ono ¹to nitko do tada nije. LP Vrijeme i Zemlja I postala je rasadnikom novih glazbenih ideja.  Nenad Bach i svi èlanovi grupe Vrijeme i Zemlja biti æe na Press Party 19. lipnja 2009. u Rijeci. Davor Tolja i Nenad Bach su lijevo na slici iz 1979. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9806/1/Drazen-Domjanic-and-his-wonderful-musical-family-in-Liechtenstein.html Dra¾en Domjaniæ is Croatian pianist born in the town of Èakovec, living with his family in Liechtenstein. He is artistic director of Musik & Jugend (Music and Youth Foundation) which organized many master classes and concerts aiming to help young musicians from Central Europe, with emphasis on Croatia. His children Sara and Andreas are also musicians, playing violin and piano. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9804/1/Ivan-Mestrovics--Mother-Teaching-Child-to-Pray-sold-at-Sothebys-auction.html Lauded by Rodin as 'the greatest phenomenon amongst the sculptors', Ivan Me¹troviæ began his career exhibiting with the Vienna Secession at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries. His fame led to important exhibitions across Europe, and in 1915 he made history as the first living artist to have a solo exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. mate.mestrovic@zg.t-com.hr (Rumjana Me¹troviæ) Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9803/1/quotDownloading-Nancyquot-screenings-in-New-York-and-Los-Angeles-on-June-5-2009.html Igor Kovacevich (left) graduated in 1992 from the University of Sarajevo with a B.F.A. - Diploma in Film, Theatre and Comparative Literature. He also worked as an intern on "Time of the Gypsies" by Emir Kusturica (a two-time winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival). In December 2007, Kovacevich completed production of the psychological thriller "Downloading Nancy". stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9801/1/Branko-Lustig-receives-2009-IFF-Lifetime-Achievement-Award.html Born in 1932 to a Croatian-Jewish family, Branko Lustig (left) began his film career in 1955 working on films like Fiddler on the Roof and The Tin Drum before landing a job on Meryl Streep's unforgettable "Sophie's Choice." He is the recipient of two Oscars, having won one for "Schindler's List" in 1993 and another for "Gladiator" in 2001. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9800/1/Eat-that-Croatian-food-man-and-you-just-feel-the-power-in-your-veins.html "30 Rock" actor, stand up comedian, and World Champion, Judah Friedlander (left) is an outspoken fan of Croatian food. To which he was undoubtedly exposed to, by his Croatian mother. Describing the power of Croatian cuisine, he says: "I like pretty much all food, but eat that Croatian food, man, and you just feel the power in your veins." robert@croatia.org (Robert Malkovich) Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9795/1/Joseph-Haydn-Austrian-and-Croatian-composer-died-200-years-ago.html Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), a famous Austrian and Croatian composer, died 200 years ago, May 31. He was born in a Croatian ethnic enclave in Burgenland (Gradi¹æe) in Austria. Joseph Haydn composed a lovely melody which is based on a very old Croatian folk song. He named it Volkslied (Folk song), and later it became the Austrian national anthem. This melody is the contemporary German national anthem that everybody knows. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9794/1/Srdjan-Bulat-wins-three-times-in-Gorizia.html Srdjan Bulat (left) a fourth year student from the Zagreb Music Academy from Split, confirmed once again that he is known as one of the best guitar players at the European Classical Guitar Competition "Città di Gorizia" held May 15-17 in the Italian city of Gorizia. He won three prizes in three of the toughest categories in the competition. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9787/1/Ivo-Macela-distinguished-Croatian-medical-scientist-in-Prague-and-Bratislava.html Dr. Ivo Maæela 1891-1952, born in Trpanj on Pelje¹ac peninsula, was professor at the Charles University in Prague and at the Comenium University in Bratislava. In 1945 he founded the Medical Faculty in Plzen in Czech Republic. In 1947 he was nominated unanimously candidate for the Nobel Prize by the Council of Professors at the Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague, for his research and important achievements in endocrinology. najka.mirkovic@du.t-com.hr (Najka Mirkoviæ) Sat, 02 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9786/1/Branko-Istvancics-film-depicting-Croatians-wins-Italian-award.html Branko I¹tvanèiæ, distinguished Croatian screenwriter, film and TV director, provided very interesting inserts of his films depicting various aspects of life and spirit of the Croatians: Wellman, The Stone Picker, The Cormorant Scarecrow, The Ghost in the Swamp, Saying Goodbye, From Grain to Painting, etc. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9782/1/Sofia-Mulanovich-Peruvian-surfer-of-Croatian-descent-inducted-in-Olympic-Museum.html Sofía Mulánovich Aljovín is a Peruvian surfer of Croatian descent. She is the first Peruvian surfer ever to win an Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour event. In 2007 she was inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame, and in 2009 into the Olympic Museum in Laussane in Switzerland. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9779/1/Matko-Jelaviae-releases-his-latest-album-Prvoj-Rui-Hrvatske.html Matko Jelaviæ (left) has released a new album of original music entitled "Prvoj Ru¾i Hrvatske" (First Rose of Croatia) containing twelve original songs. He has been performing and composing music since he first won at the Split Music Festival in 1988 with his original song "Majko Stara" (Old Mother). stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9772/1/Djuro-Janekovic-photographing-Croatias-captial-Zagreb-in-1930s.html Ðuro Janekoviæ and his newly discovered photos of Zagreb from 1930s reveal the capital of Croatia in new light and atmosphere. He exhibited his photos in Vienna, München, Buenos Aires, London, Oslo, Stockholm,  Amsterdam, Debrecin, Prag, Var¹ava, and in Zagreb. An exhbition of his photos is organized at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb until March 12 2009. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9770/1/Bratislav-Lucin-leading-expert-for-Croatian-Renaissance-classic-Marko-Marulic.html  Bratislav Luèin, distinguished Croatian scholar and director of Marulianum institute in the city of Split, has recently published two important books dealing with a famous Croatian Renaissance writer Marko Maruliæ 1450-1524. Maruliæ's books were read by St Francis Xavier, Cervantes, Thomas More, King Henry VIII, etc. Marko Maruliæ is the author of the notion of PSYCHOLOGY. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9765/1/Jerry-Blaskovich---Anatomy-of-Deceit.html Jerry Blaskovich is a US physician of Croatian origin. During the 1991-1995 war in Croatia, nobody had to tell Dr Blaskovich where to go, what to do, whom to help, and what to write. Although living in California, Jerry knew what his homeland needed, what tasks suited his abilities, what pressure his family was able to go through, and what his health and strength allowed him to do. joza.vrljicak@gmail.com (Joza Vrljièak) Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9764/1/Sime-Strikoman-millenium-photos-of-Croatia.html ©ime Strikoman is the author of a series of unusual photos representing various aspects of Croatia. For example The Kutjevo Wine Cellars celebrate 777 years of existence, so he made a millenium photo. Equaly interesting are his photos related to the island of Pag, towns of ©ibenik, Zadar, Biograd, Split, etc. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9760/1/Stana-Katic-Croatian-Movie-Star-in-Canada.html Stana Katiæ (b. 1980) is a Canadian film and television actress active in the United States. Stana Katic was born to Croatian parents. In addition to English, she speaks Italian, French, and Croatian. She has an alto mezzo-soprano singing voice. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9748/1/Josip-Mikulec-tireless-world-hiker-hundred-years-ago.html  Very brave Croatian adventurer Josip Mikulec set out to circumnavigate the globe on foot in the span of five years.  With the start of this journey in Croatia's capital Zagreb he became a perpetual wanderer.  Mostly hiking, he traveled the world some 28 years and achieved a degree of fame for having collected more than 30,000 autographs of world-famous people.  cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante Èuvalo) Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9746/1/Louis-Cukela-recipient-of-USA-Navy-and-Army-Medals-of-Honor-during-WWI.html Louis Cukela (Vjekoslav Lujo Èukela, 1888-1956), was awarded both the Navy and Army Medals of Honor for extraordinary heroism in France 1918 during World War I. He was the only living man to hold two such decorations for extreme bravery in a single war. Èukela was born in Split in Croatia, and emigrated to the USA in 1913. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9745/1/Jack-Baric-presents-Searching-for-a-Storm.html Is the UN complicit in the wartime tragedies of the former Yugoslavia ... and is the Croatian general Ante Gotovina indicted for war crimes to justify their failed policies? Robin Harris, London: Gotovina is a scapegoat of  the politics and judiciary. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9741/1/Kristian-Krekovic-portrayed-Mahatma-Gandhi-Queen-Mother-King-Gustav-V-etc.html Kristian Krekoviæ (1901-1985), distinguished Croatian painter born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since the end of 2008 has a web site www.kristiankrekovic.com dedicated to his life and work. It was launched by the Associtiation of Friends of the Krekovic Museum in Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Among his numerous portraits, we can find those of Mahatma Gandhi, Queen Mother, King Gustav V, and many others. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9739/1/Lady-Jadranka-Njers-Beresford-Peirse-promotor-of-Croatian-culture-in-GB.html Lady Jadranka Njer¹ Beresford Peirse of London is a fascinating personality and a great Croatian patriot, whose efforts  have been engaged in raising funds both for the restoration of the damaged monuments that form such an important part of Croatian heritage and in finding ways to promote Croatian culture in Great Britain. She is recipient of the 1999 INA Award for international promotion of Croatian culture. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9736/1/Ante-Sardelic-distinguished-Croatian-sculptor-painter-and-printmaker-in-Canada.html Ante Sardeliæ Kraljeviæ, sculptor, painter, and printmaker was born in the town of Blato on the island of Korèula in Croatia. The last ten years he worked on the project The Eternal Homeland. This exhibition is now traveling through many major cities throughout the world. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9735/1/Luka-Sulic-Croatian-cellist-wins-the-first-prize-in-Warszaw-Poland-2009.html Croatian cellist Luka ©uliæ (1987) is the First Prize winner of the Witold Lutoslawski International Cello Competition held in February 2009 in Warsaw. This very prestigious biannual competition, whose Honorary President during his lifetime was legendary Mstislav Rostropovich, attracted some forty cellists from all over the world.  Luka also won special prize for the best performance of Lutoslawski's Sacher Variations. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9710/1/Vladimir-Kristl-filmmaker-and-artist-from-Croatia.html Vladimir "Vlado" Kristl (24 January 1923 – 7 July 2004) was a filmmaker and artist from Zagreb, Croatia, best known for his celebrated animations and short films. Kristl first came to international prominence for his formally challenging and rigous animations, particularly Don Kihot. The film is a "graphical and abstract masterpiece which went beyond all existing conventions" darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9734/1/Prof-dr-Sreaeko-Gajoviae-utilizes-glowing-mice-to-study-stroke.html A group of scientists at the Croatian Brain Research Institute in cooperation with the Laval University in Canada started a research on post-stroke events in the brain using unique models. Project was started by the group of prof. dr. Sreæko Gajoviæ, Head of the Section for Neurogenetics, Cytogenetics and Developmental Genetics at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb. srecko.gajovic@hiim.hr (Prof.Dr. Sreæko Gajoviæ) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9731/1/Support-Ann-Marie-Boskovich-For-The-Next-American-Idol.html  Support Croatian talent. Vote for Ann Marie tonight! We begin an exciting week as Ann Marie was picked to sing in the first group set to perform on Tuesday, February 17th. 2009. If you have the privilege of knowing Ann Marie, you were a fan long before her involvement with American Idol simply because she is just one of those special people with an amazing heart. This is a grass root support. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9727/1/ChessQuire-is-a-new-game-created-by-Zarko-Svatovic.html  ChessQuire is an expanded Chess Game played on ten by ten, 100 squares board, instead of classic 64 squares. The new game introduces one new type of chess piece named “Esquire”: four of them in total; two Esquire on each side of the board, belonging to the two opposing sets of pieces. There are also extra four pawns on the board, two on each side. Invented by Zarko Svatovic. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9725/1/Robert-Belinic-to-play-guitar-at-the-University-of-Chicago-March-10-2009.html Robert Beliniæ, acclaimed Croatian guitarist, will have a concert at the Khorsabad Court of the Oriental Insitute at the University of Chicago, Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 pm. He was the sole winner of the 2001 Young Concert Artists European Auditions in Leipzig, Germany, and in 2002 was the first guitarist ever to win a place on the Young Concert Artists roster in New York. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9724/1/Miro-Sinoveiae-innovative-Croatian-artist-in-the-USA.html In 1985 Miro Sinovèiæ emigrated from his native Croatia to the United States, where he became one of the most-sought after artists in publishing, advertising and motion pictures. His art has appeared on more than a thousand book covers, and his innovative techniques helped transform the traditional look of book illustrations into more modern treatments of color and atmosphere. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9721/1/Paul-Bucha-Leading-Candidate-for-the-Secretary-of-the-Army-in-Obama-Biden-team.html Paul Bucha is of Croatian descent; his paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from the Croatian town of Na¹ice. Bucha attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Earned an MBA at Stanford University before his military career at Fort Campbell. Recipient of a Medal of Honor, he was very instrumental in Admiral J. Robert Lunney's successful effort to present Peter Tomich's Medal of Honor to the next of kin. jrlunney@yahoo.com (RADM J. Robert Lunney) Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9720/1/Caridad-Svich-is-a-playwright-songwriter-translator-editor-with-Croatian-roots.html Caridad Svich is a playwright-songwriter-translator-editor of Cuban-Argentine-Spanish and Croatian descent. Her works have been staged across the US and abroad at venues as diverse as Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, INTAR, The Women’s Project, 7 Stages, Cleveland Public Theatre, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, Dad’s Garage and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9717/1/Dietrich-Mateschitz-another-Croatian-billionaire.html Another day another Croatian billionaire. Dietrich Mateschitz (born May 20, 1944 in Sankt Marein im Mürztal, Styria) is an Austrian businessman and billionaire. He is of Croatian heritage. Lives in Salzburg, but also owns Laucala Island, off Fiji. Brilliant in marketing and business, he holds 49 percent of shares in the energy drink producer Red Bull. mijat.marko@gmail.com (Marko Mijat) Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9716/1/Bruno-Krajcar-dedicated-himself-to-the-study-of-Istrias-ethnic-heritage.html Bruno Krajcar is academic musician, composer, singer, journalist and  editor. Krajcar plays various instruments and has been composing since he was ten, now being the author of many compositions. He represented Croatia at the 25th EBU International Folk Festival. Moreover, he has dedicated himself to the study of Istria's ethnic heritage. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9715/1/Damir-Simic-featured-in-Premier-Guitar-Magazine.html As musicians, many of us are lucky to be surrounded by our peers and influences. Imagine, if you will, the horror of growing up in a place where you have to not only leave the city or state, but cross international lines in order to get new music. Damir Simic Shime grew up in Croatia before moving to America at the young age of 22. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9708/1/Martina-Filjak-from-Croatian-child-prodigy-to-mature-pianist.html Martina Filjak is one of those few young artists who have successfully made it from child prodigy to mature musician. Her stage presence and personality regularly impress audiences and critics alike, whether she plays delicate baroque and classical pieces, or colossal works such as Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata or Bartok's 2nd Piano Concerto. robert@croatia.org (Robert Malkovich) Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9703/1/Boris-Miksic-considering-run-at-Croatian-presidency.html Boris Miksic has amassed millions from his White Bear Township business Cortec Corp. Now, he said all he wants to do is give back to his country of Croatia - as its president. If he runs for the office in 2009, it won't be the first time. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9702/1/Dr-Mladen-Vraniae-in-the-Canadian-Medical-Hall-of-Fame.html In a world where diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions, Dr. Mladen Vraniæ is colossal. He is recognized as a global leader in diabetes research. In 2009 he will join the group of outstanding individuals recognized by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9701/1/Dennis-Kucinich-Receives-the-2008-Vinodol-Code-Award.html The Croatian American Bar Association (CABA) is pleased to announce that Dennis J. Kucinich (left) is the recipient of this year's CABA Vinodol Code Award for his outstanding contribution to the law as a tireless advocate for workers' rights, civil rights and human rights. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9697/1/Charles-Bene-French-expert-for-Croatian-Renaissance-writer-Marko-Marulic.html Dr. Charles Béné, a retired professor from the University of Grenoble, France, is a European authority on 16th century literature. He studied various aspects literary works of Marko Maruliæ, Croatian Renaissance writer, and his discourses were published in distinguished European magazines. He has also studied other Croatian writers of the Humanism and Renaissance movements. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9696/1/Ivana-Marija-Vidovic-Croatian-pianist-touring-Pennsylvania-NC--January-14-21-2008.html Ivana Marija Vidoviæ is Croatian pianist and poet, born and living in Dubrovnik. We are happy to announce her USA tour in Pennsylvania, North Carolina,  January 14-21, 2008. She is a young pianist with great natural instinct, a beautiful musicality, lovely desire to express herself artistically, with taste, poetry and extroversion. She is the founder and artistic director of the Epidaurus Festival, and involved in humanitarian work. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9695/1/Goran-Simic-is-the-worlds-best-neuropathologist-in-2008.html Prof. Dr. Goran ©imiæ from the University of Zagreb won the award for his discovery of the spinal muscular - atrophy mechanism and, due to that, has been acclaimed as the world's best neuropathologist in 2008. The "Kurt Jellinger Prize" is awarded by one of the world's leading magazines specialising in neuropathology, "Acta Neuropathologica."  ©imiæ is also the first Croatian scientist whose picture has appeared on the cover of the journal. robert@croatia.org (Robert Malkovich) Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9694/1/Croatias-Zeljko-Rohatinski-named-best-world-banker-in-2008.html "The Banker" magazine, which is one of the publications of a group of the most influential European newspaper, "The Financial Times", bestowed on the governor of the Croatian National Bank, Zeljko Rohatinski (left), two awards for the past year - the best governor of Europe and the best central bank governor of the world in 2008. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9692/1/Dr-Vinko-Ribariae-Hawaiian-captain-John-Dominis-originates-from-the-island-of-Rab.html Captain John Dominis is the father of John Owen, the husband of the last Hawaiian queen Liliuokalani. Prof. Dr. Vinko Ribariæ, on the photo, has issued a monograph in 2008 proving that both John Dominis and his son John Owen have their roots from the island of Rab in Croatia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9683/1/New-Soccer-star-Argentinian-Croat-Dario-Cvitanich-nets-hat-trick-for-Ajax.html Dario Cvitanich (left) secured his hat trick in the 3-0 win over Den Haag inside the first hour of play (6', 17', 55'). He has also scored 6 goals in the last 3 games for Ajax. Cvitanich was born in Argentina but is of Croatian origin. mocnaj@gmail.com (Ratimir Mocnaj) Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9682/1/Renata-Pokupic-acclaimed-Croatian-mezzo-sporano.html Croatian mezzo-soprano Renata Pokupiæ is known internationally through her acclaimed performances of baroque, classical and other coloratura - mezzo repertoire as well as solo songs. She holds numerous awards among which are the International Circle of Friends and Patrons of Théâtre du Châtelet and the Orlando for the best performance at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival 2004 with the Purcell Quartet. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9679/1/Croatian-born-Mirna-Jukic-wins-Austrian-quotAthlete-of-the-Yearquot.html  Thomas Morgenstern (ski jumping) and Mirna Jukic (swimming) are the Austrian Athletes of the Year for 2008. More than 300 members of Sports Media Austria voted this year for the nation's top athletes including the team of the year. Mirna Jukic is Austria's most successful swimmer ever. Born in Croatia, she came to Austria in 1999 and received Austrian citizenship a year later. robert@croatia.org (Robert Malkovich) Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9678/1/Ivica-Kostelic-Croatian-skier-wins-his-9th-World-Cup-at-Alta-Badia.html Ivica Kosteliæ, Croatian skier, secured his ninth career win at the Alta Badia slalom in Italy, finishing ahead of France's Jean-Baptiste Grange and Austria's Benjamin Raich. This is a nice introduction to a world skiing event "Snow Queen Trophy" that will take place on January 4th and 6th 2009  in Zagreb, capital of Croatia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9676/1/Ivan-Rabuzin-1921-2008-outstanding-Croatian-painter-died.html Ivan Rabuzin 1921-2008, Croatian painter, designed a curtain decorating the stage of one of the best Kyoto theaters in Japan, as well as the Takarazuka theater in Tokyo (10.5 x 24 m, 1980), and several other museums in Japan. Among numerous monographs devoted to his work we mention only Masayoshi Honme, Ivan Rabuzin, Taiji Harada, 1990, published by Kodanasha, Japan. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9675/1/Martin-Kotarski-Croatian-pupil-winner-of-prestigious-humanitarian-award-in-Japan.html We are proud to report in more detail about prestigious Japanese humanitarian award conferred by the Goi Peace Foundation to Martin Kotarski, a very young Croatian student. Martin is on the photo with Natalija Juri¹iæ, his prof. The report has been prepared on the bases of material submitted upon our request by Martin himself, exclusively for the readers of the CROWN. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9673/1/Petar-Zoranic-1508-1569-important-Croatian-Renaissance-writer.html In 2008 we mark 500 years since the birth of Petar Zoranic, Croatian Renaissance writer, born in the city of Zadar in 1508. He is best known for his novel Planine (The Mountains), published in 1569, the first one in the history of Croatian literature. It is considered to be the oldest novel about mountains in the world. It is also one of the earliest patriotic books in the history of Croatian literature. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9672/1/Zlata-Bartl-Croatian-inventor-of-Vegeta-died.html Zlata Bartl (1920-2008) is known as inventor of Vegeta, an original, natural, and universal condiment of unique taste. Vegeta was created in 1958 in Podravka company in the town of Koprivnica, Croatia, and is used in over 40 countries. It is one of the most popular of European condiments. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9671/1/Stjepan-Hauser-double-winner-at-international-music-competition-in-Italy.html On December 5th, 2008 Stjepan Hauser won two first prizes at the International Music Competition "Francesco Forgione" in Verbania, Italy near Milano. He won 100 points out of 100 and became absolute winner in two different categories (Solo and Solo with Orchestra). A part of the prize includes 70 concerts in Italy. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9668/1/Bishop-Alejandro-Goic-Karmelic-Chile-in-ad-limina-visit-to-pope-Benedict-XVI.html Pope Benedict XVI met with a group of 33 bishops from Chile, who were in Rome on their ad limina visit. Three of them are of Croatian origin. Moreover, Msgr. Alejandro Goic Karmelic (on the left with the Pope), whose both parents come from Croatian island of Braè, is the president of the Chilean Conference of Catholic bishops. He was a guest at Croatian program of the Radio Vatican where he spoke in Croatian. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9665/1/Vlaho-Paljetaks-Marijana-sung-by-Seiji-Tanaka-in-Japan-in-1976.html Vlaho Paljetak (1893-1944) is a famous Croatian pop singer born in Dubrovnik, known for several still very popular songs, among them Marijana. It is not widely known that this Croatian song had two Japanese recordings. It was sung by Seiji Tanaka in 1976. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9664/1/Miro-Gavran-3-premieres-in-3-countries-in-2-weeks-Latvia-Slovakia-and-Czech-R.html Miro Gavran, the most succesful contemporary Croatian playwright, will have three premieres of his plays in three European countries in only two weeks. His three playes "All About Men", "Greta Garbo's Secret" and "Othello from Susak Island" will be performed Latvia November 28,  2008. Slovakia December 11, 2008 and Czech Republic December 13, 2008 in respective languages. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9661/1/Slavonski-Poduzetnik-a-Croatian-success-story.html Vladimir Mihajloviæ, on the photo, is a newspaperman of Slavonski Poduzetnik - Slavonian Entrepreneur. He sent us a few very interesting stories published in this monthley issued in Osijek, a major town in Slavonija. Slavonia is a very fertile historical region on the north of Croatia. The editor in chief of this excellent bussiness journal is Tihomir Jelaviæ. vladom@xnet.hr (Vladimir Mihajloviæ) Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9660/1/Hrvoje-Gunjaca-Great-story-about-operation-of-eagle-owl-on-CNN.html An injured eagle owl was brought to the Falconry centre near ©ibenik, Croatia, with its wings badly damaged. Under carefully measured anaesthetic,  30 damaged feathers have been changed with new feathers. The operation was done by Emilio Menðu¹iæ, director of the centre (on the photo). The resulting film prepared by Hrvoje Gunjaèa was awarded by CNN. Daria.Marjanovic@hrt.hr (Prof. Daria Marjanoviæ) Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9655/1/Croatian-pupil-Martin-Kotarski-and-Bill-Gates-awarded-in-Japan.html   Martin Kotarski, 14 years old Croatian pupil, and Bill Gates (both on the photo), are recipients of a recognition from the Goi Peace Foundation in Japan. Martin received Children's Category 1st Prize for his essay Joined by a Cookbook. He prepared a cookbook with traditional Croatian meals in order to get money for poor people of his school. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9654/1/Ivan-Mestrovics-The-Descent-from-the-Cross-sold-for-250-000-EU-at-Sothebys.html Ivan Me¹troviæ (1883-1962), a famous Croatian sculptor, is probably best known for his Chicago Indians, prepared in Craatia in the course of two years. His another famous sculpture carved in wood is The Descent from the Cross,  exhibited with undprecedented success at Albert Museum in London in 1915. It has recently been sold for 250,000 EU at Sotheby's in London. mate.mestrovic@zg.t-com.hr (Dr. Mate Me¹troviæ) Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9653/1/Croatian-Heroes-Kata-oljiae-legendary-Croatian-mother-died.html Kata ©oljiæ, considered as a hero of Homeland War, lost her four sons who defended Croatia in 1990s during the Battle for Vukovar. She was seeking the remains of her children for twelve years, and the last one was found in 2003. During the Second World War she lost her four brothers. Kata ©oljiæ died in 2008 in Zagreb, at the age of  87. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9650/1/Eck-Spahich-distinguished-Croatian-American-died.html Ekrem Eck Spahich (1945-2008) was distinguished Croatian American in Texas, born in the town of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1972, Eck organized the Croatian Philatelitic Society and started the social journal, Trumpeter (Trubljac). He was an active member of  "Bluebonnet" CFU Lodge 1836 in Houston. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9647/1/Hrvoje-Saric-1922-2007--inventor-of-the-first-360-degree-camera.html In 1972 Hrvoje Sariæ invented and patented the first professional 360  degree synchro-rotational photo-camera in history. In 1988 he deviced the first electronical construction consisting of nine BETACAM videocameras, catching the range of the full circle. It was used at 1998 and 2000 EXPO exhibitions in Lisbon and Hannover in Portugal and Germany. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9646/1/Valentina-Golubenko-and-Ivan-Saric-young-Croatian-world-chess-champions.html Valentina Golubenko and Ivan ©ariæ are world youth chess champions for 2008, at the competition organized in Vietnam. With two gold medals and one bronze, Croatia is ranked third at the World Competition, after India and Vietnam, and before China, Russia, USA, Germany etc. Congratulations from the CROWN! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9643/1/Katarina-Livljanic-presenting-Judith-in-Vancouver-Chicago-and-Kansas-City.html Katarina Livljaniæ, singer and musicologist, is one of the principal international specialists in medieval chant performance. Born in Zadar, Croatia, she directs the vocal ensemble Dialogos, Paris, specializing in medieval chant and liturgical theater of the Glagolitic tradition.  She will perform Judith in Vancouver, Chicago and Kansas City, November 2nd, 7th and 8th, 2008. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9641/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-8.html Part 8 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ, entitled Slavonska and Hercegovaèka Street will be available on Friday 24.10.2008, at 20.10. You'll meet Mirko Brekalo senior, Nenad Gagiæ (on the photo), Ivan Kapular, Ivica Lukiæ, Dragan Luketiæ, Ivica Habajec. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Galiæ, producer) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9639/1/Ante-Gabric-the-Saint-of-Sundarban-in-India.html  Fr. Ante Gabriæ (Metkoviæ, Croatia 1915 - Bengal, 1988) lived like a  Bengali, and he worked tirelessly for the spiritual development of  the Bengali community in India. People in Bengal consider Fr. Gabriæ should be beatified like mother Teresa and all the people are praying for for this. He was very much related to Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata  and they worked hand in hand. nema@nema.in (Fr. Sylvester Xavier) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9636/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-7.html Part 7 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ, entitled New Banijska Street will be available on Friday 17.10.2008, at 20.10. Main characters in this episode are Miroslav and Tomislav Josiæ, Vlatko Voloder, Ivica Bano¾iæ, Ivan Kapula and Dragutin ©pac (on the left). dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Galiæ, producer) Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9635/1/Ivan-Vueetiae-the-father-of-dactilosopy---fingerprinting-as-a-method-of-identification.html Ivan Vuèetiæ (1858-1925), in Argentina better known as Juan Vucetich, introduced dactilosopy, that is, fingerprinting as a method of identification. This year we mark 150 years since his birth on the island of Hvar. On this occasion The Croatian Heritage Foundation in Zagreb has organized a series of events and issued a nice publication. muzej@matis.hr (Ljerka Galic, prof.) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9634/1/Helen-Crlenkovich-renowned-Croatian---American-springboard-diver.html Helen Crlenkovich (1921-1955) was one of the most successful athletes in America and the world on the three-meter springboard and the ten-meter platform. She was an American-born Croatian lovingly known as  "Klinky." She was the first female to do a full-twisting 1 1/2 somersault and several other dives that were heretofore only achieved by men. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante Èuvalo) Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9633/1/Croatian-Heroes-Vinko-Gecan-USA.html Vinko Gecan (1862-1916) is one whose name is woven into the historical fabric of our Croatian and American people. True heroism is not something that is planned. Rather, it is something that takes place under difficult circumstances as presented by life. Heroic moments are those that for some mysterious urge within us surface out of love for others - those in danger or need. cuvalo@gmail.com (Dr. Ante Èuvalo) Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9630/1/Mirna-Brkanovic-working-on-her-debut-film.html Mirna Brkanoviæ studied at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb since 1994. In 1997 she started studying  at the Academy of Television and Film in Munich, Germany. "Hidden Truth" is her graduation film. At the moment she is working on her debut film. Her motto is: "Stay true to your deepest and inmost wishes, because one day they will become your true." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9629/1/Croatian-Heroes-Heroes-of-Vukovar-TV-serial-by-Eduard--Dominik-Galic-part-5.html Part 5 of the Vukovar Heroes series by Eduard and Dominik Galiæ is among others about Zdenko Horvat, Croatian defender (on the left), who destroyed 10 tanks and one armored vehicle and almost alone stopped a large enemy breakthrough in Vukovar across Bobota channel in 1991. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Galiæ, producer) Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9628/1/Eduard--Dominik-Galic-Croatian-film-producers.html Eduard Galiæ and his son Dominik (on the left) are very successful film producers. Especially important is their joint work on the Heroes of Vukovar series, which is just being shown by Croatian Television with great success. Dominik holds a Croatian national record in butterfly swimming. dominik.galic@missart.hr (Dominik Galiæ, producer) Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9627/1/Mark-Begich-for-US-Senate-to-be-the-first-Croatian-American-in-the-US-Senate.html I met with Mayor Begich last night in Washington, DC and was very impressed with his wit, intelligence and commitment to bring reform and an energy expertise to the U.S. Senate. He acknowledged how pleased his dad was with all the support he received from Croatian Americans when he was starting his first campaign and did get elected to the U.S. Congress in 1970. It's our time now to help elect for the first time ever - a  Croatian American in the U.S. Senate letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9625/1/Marin-Soljaeiae-Named-MacArthur-Fellow-for-Work-on-Wireless-Power.html Asked how it felt to be a certified genius, Marin Soljaèiæ (left) laughed, "What, did I just grow a second head?" No, it's just that his head’s in two fields at once-electrical engineering and physics. That polyvirtuosity may have helped the MIT professor win one of the 25 fellowships announced today by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9624/1/Branimir-Budetiae-won-silver-medal-for-Croatia-in-China.html Branimir Budetiæ of Croatia celebrates after finishing second during the final of the men's javelin F11-12 classification event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in Beijing on September 10, 2008. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9623/1/Darko-Kralj-won-gold-medal-for-Croatia-in-China.html Darko Kralj won gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paraolympic Games in China. Competing in Men's Shot Put he broke a new world record at the National Stadium known as Bird's Nest. He said: "My biggest wish was to listen to the Croatian anthem in Beijing." Mr. Kralj lost his left leg  in 1991 during the Serbian aggression on Croatia (1990-1995). darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9622/1/Croatian-Heroes-Dr-Juraj-Njavro-legendary-surgeon-at-the-Vukovar-Hospital-died.html  Dr. Juraj Njavro (1938-2008) was a legendary Croatian surgeon at the Vukovar Hospital in 1991, during one of the most dramatic events in the history of Croatia. He was known as exceptionally pleasant and tolerant person. He wrote a book about his internment after the Serbian occupation of the city of Vukovar. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9621/1/Antonia-Balek-won-two-gold-medals-for-Croatia-in-China.html Antonia Balek two gold medals for Croatia at the 2008 Paraolympic Games in China. The first gold medal has been won in women's javelin, and the second in women's Shot Put, both with new world records. The competition was held in the National Stadium known as Bird's Nest in front of 85,000 spectators. Antonia survived  a deep coma which lasted for 3 years. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9619/1/Billy-Kirchen-and-his-musical-quotMirrors-of-Desirequot-in-New-York-on-October-19th.html Mirrors of Desire is a magical love story set to music and dance complete with a fairy godmother of sorts, angels, imps, and of course magic.. Preview of musical, "Mirrors of Desire" is on October 19th 2008 at the Richmond Shepard Theatre 309 East 26th Street, New Yok City, New York. 8 PM. American baritone, pianist, and composer Billy Kirchen is very proud of his Croatian roots. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9612/1/For-retired-coach-Chuck-Mrazovich-keeping-fits-a-slam-dunk.html At 84, Chuck Mrazovich has been aging well. The retired EKU basketball coach keeps himself fit and by staying active with multiple hobbies, like antiques, raising grandchildren designing furniture, playing the brac, eating well and working out. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9606/1/Veljko-Rogosic-first-to-swim-from-Europe-to-Africa-via-Sicilia-in-July-2008.html Veljko Rogo¹iæ, one of the most famous longdistance swimmers in history, swam from the island of Sicilia to Tunisia at the age of 67! He is thus the first human being to be able to connect Europe and Africa along this way. It took him 50 hours. This is one of the greatest achievements of Croatian sport in history. He is swimming under the motto "With sport against drugs!" darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9605/1/Erik-Margan-an-artistic-scientist-in-search-for-invisible-particles.html Erik Margan is a specialist in electronics working in Slovenia, with roots from Croatia. He participates a particle physics experiment called ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland. The ATLAS detector will search for new discoveries in the head-on collisions of protons of extraordinarily high energy. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9603/1/Croatian-Heroes-Pavo-Urban-defended-Dubrovnik-with-his-camera.html Pavo Urban was a young photographer. He lost his life in 1991 during Serbian and Montenegrin shelling and bombing of the city of Dubrovnik with his photo camera in hands. His last photos are taken literally a few seconds before his tragic death. His photos reveal subtle spirituality of a young soul. Great talent. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9599/1/Marko-Vuketiae-Burgendland-Croat-Austrian-ambassador-in-Ukraine.html His Excellency Mr. Marko Vuketiæ was recently appointed as Austrian ambassador in Ukraine. He belongs to Croatian branch in Austria known under the name of Burgendland Croats, or Gradi¹æanski Hrvati, living there since the 16th century. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9595/1/Andrija-Stampar-Croatian-scientist-father-of-the-World-Health-Organization.html Andrija ©tampar (1888-1958), Croatian scientist and professor at the University of Zagreb, is the father of the World Health Organization, founded 60 years ago. He introduced the public health service in China in 1930s, where he spent three years as a specialist and representative of the then League of Nations. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9594/1/Charles-Billichs-Bing-Ma-Yong-cycle-of-paintings-in-China.html Inspired by the conviction that the Chinese Olympic Committee should adopt a traditional symbol as the official image of the 2008 Beijing Bid, Billich created the Bing Ma Yong cycle of paintings. Charles Billich is Croatian-Australian painter, born in Croatia, and official painter of the 2008 Olympiad in China. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9592/1/Marijan-Busic---a-Croatian-visionary-with-The-Cravat.html  The name of Mr. Marijan Bu¹iæ, Zagreb, is with the unbreakable knot connected to one of the most original and the most attractive Croatian products and souvenirs worldwide, the indigenous Croatian invention - to the CRAVAT. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9591/1/Ilija-Veselicas-photo-view-of-Croatia.html Ilija Veselica, born in the town of Sinj, Coratia, is a student of Computer Science at the University of Split. He offers us his poetic view to various parts of Croatia via his top quality photos. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9589/1/Stjepan-Radiae-1871-1928-The-Russian-branch-of-our-Jelacics.html Stjepan Radiæ is one of the greatest Croatian personalities of the 20th century. We present his article dealing with a branch of the Croatian noble family of Jelaèiæ in Russia and their contribution to the Russian culture. With this article we mark 80 years from his tragic destiny. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9586/1/International-Conference-in-honour-of-Josip-Pecaric-in-Trogir-Croatia.html On the left you can see three mathematicians: professor Lars-Erik Persson, Sweden, academician Vladimir D. Stepanov, Russia, and academician Josip Peèariæ, Croatia. An exceptionally successful international math conference was orgnaized in June in the town of Trogir, attended by 150 participants. Trogir is a part of World Cultural Heritage, protected by UNESCO. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9576/1/Korado-Korlevic-and-Visnjan-Astronomical-Observatory-in-Croatia.html Korado Korleviæ is Croatian astronomer of international reputation, infatigable promoter and popularizer of astronomy, especially among the young. He founded the Vi¹njan Observatory in the town of Vi¹njan in Istria, where he discovered more than 1,100 asteroids and three comets. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9570/1/Drazen-Petrovic-a-famous-Croatian-basketball-player-left-us-15-years-ago.html Dra¾en Petroviæ, a famous Croatian basketball player, died on June 1993, ie 15 years ago. With all the problems going on in Croatia back then, Dra¾en gave all of Croatia the joy of Basketball to alleviate their pains. His very nice monument can be seen in front of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. ipuscenik@yahoo.com (Ivan Pu¹æenik) Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9562/1/Azra-Ljumanoviae-little-known-Croatian-sprituality.html Azra Kristina Ljumanoviæ (1958-1998) is one of the symbols of Croatian spirituality. Working as a school-teacher, she left deep and indelible traces on her pupils and contemporaries with her beautiful songs, poetry and inspiring Christian messages. mario.essert@inet.hr (Prof. Dr. Mario Essert) Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9547/1/Ivana-Zahiroviae-invited-to-play-flute-in-Kansas-City-on-August-7-10-2008.html Ivana Zahiroviæ, Croatian flutist living in Germany, is invited to have a performance at the National Flute Association Convention in Kansas City, Missoury, USA, in August 7-10, 2008. She will appear with another Croatian musician living in Germany, Diana Grubiæ on piano. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9540/1/Brenda-Brkusic-Named-quotTop-Business-Executive-Under-40-Years-Oldquot.html From Chapman University, to the Halls of Congress, European Union, and a high-profile position as channel manager of KOCE-TV's OC Channel - activist, humanitarian, and businesswoman, Brenda Brkusic (left), has been named to OC Metro Business magazine's list of "Top 40 Business Executives and Entrepreneurs Under 40 years old." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9535/1/Stjepan-Hauser-performed-for-Prince-Charles-at-Buckingham-Palace-on-April-23.html Mstislav Rostropovich proclaimed Stjepan Hauser to be the greatest young cellist he had ever heard. We are happy to announce that Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser, one of the most promising upcoming instrumentalist today, performed for Prince Charles at the Buckingham Palace on April 23rd, 2008. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9536/1/Robert-Beliniae---Guitar-performs-in-New-York-City-on-April-29th-2008.html Young Concert Artists will present Croatian guitarist Robert Beliniæ’s New York concerto debut on April 29, 2008 with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Michael Stern. "Robert Belinic displayed charm, musicality, virtuosity and spirit. He performed the Bach Chaconne with an astonishingly warm and evocative tone, full of feeling." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9533/1/Niko-Dzapo-will-be-racing-for-Team-USA-in-China-May-29---June-1-2008.html Great success by young Niko Dzapo (left). Niko will be racing as part of the Team USA at the UCI BMX World Championship in Taiyaun China which will be held on May 29 - June 1, 2008. This has been a dream come true for Niko to represent the USA. Niko's motto is "keep trying, you have nothing to lose". ddzapo@tibco.com (Dragan Dzapo) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9525/1/Duje-Draganja-the-fastest-swimming-man-on-the-planet-Earth.html   Croatian Superman, Duje Draganja, the fastest swimming man on the planet conquers world record on 50 meters free style in Manchester, England on April 11th 2008. The Croatian swimmer, wearing Speedo's LZR Racer suit, finished in 20.81 seconds. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9520/1/Damir-Spanic---Artist-of-the-Week---Photographer-for-Life.html   It was the turning point of trying to capture the essence of the person, after arrival of an idea that all people are beautiful for no reason related to their outside appearance but more to inner qualities. Now I am a stock and lifestyle photographer with the strongest point in portraits and emotive portraits. I license my images through a Canadian agency, subsidiary of Getty. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9515/1/Josip-Ganza-Croatian-klapa-singing-break-out-to-Europe.html Dalmatian klapa singing is a part of Croatian identity and being such is dear to us all. Our klapas know nothing about Italian people's choirs, and Italians even less about our klapas. That was unallowable hole and Josip Ganza was intrigued by and felt the urge to fill in. iremlanik@gmail.com (Irena Nikoliæ) Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9512/1/Croatians-in-America---photo-collection-by-Vladimir-Novak-part-2.html Mr. Vladimir Novak is well known for his rich collection of photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. We continue with the second part of a series of articles. Much of this material is presented for the first time, exclusively for the readers of CROWN. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9510/1/Vladimir-Devide-and-Haiku-poetry-in-Croatia.html Professor Vladimir Devidé, Croatian mathematician, is better known as outstanding Japanologist and tireless promoter of haiku poetry. Croatia is one of the most successful nations in haiku in the world, counting the number of prizes won at various international competitions. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9467/1/Professor-Balthazar-and-Zagreb-Film-a-Croatian-trademark.html Probably the most famous Croatian professor worldwide is Professor Balthazar, a well known figure from Croatian cartoon movie series initiated in 1967 by late Zlatko Grgiæ. This was the most successful project of Zagreb Film ever. His popularity is amazing even today, especially in Scandinavian countries, but also in Iran for example! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9455/1/Belichick--Diehl-Two-Croatian-Americans-face-off-at-Super-Bowl-XLII.html Croatian-American Bill Belichick (left) has led the England Patriots to three Super Bowl victories, the most recent in 2005. This Sunday, February 3, 2008, his Patriots face the New York Giants led by fellow Croatian-American offensive lineman David Diehl. The Giants have not won a Super Bowl since 1990 and are ready to rise to the challenge. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9454/1/Guitarist-Ana-Vidoviae-says-she-cant-imagine-her-life-without-music.html It is surprising to hear that a young woman who describes herself as being both close to her family and an introvert moved across the Atlantic Ocean on her own at 20 to become a performer. Ana Vidoviæ is far from her native Croatia, but feels at home wherever she is when she has her trusted guitar along. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9437/1/The-Worlds-Healthiest-Foods-by-George-Mateljan.html The George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods was established by George Mateljan to discover, develop and share scientifically proven information about the benefits of healthy eating, and to provide the personalized support individuals need to make eating The World's Healthiest Foods enjoyable, easy, quick and affordable. mijat.marko@gmail.com (Marko Mijat) Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9439/1/Croatian-sensations---Niko-Micin-and-Petra-Radovic-at-the-University-of-Washington.html Each year, thousands of students from around the country come to Seattle to start their college careers at the UW. Some come from small towns, some from big cities and some even come from other countries. Niko Micin (left) and Petra Radovic are two people who fall into the latter category. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9434/1/Croatian-Aussie-Stan-Bilic-quotMoney-wont-make-you-rich-insidequot.html Stan Bilic (left) moved to Sydney in 1970 at 22 and then settled in Melbourne. He is a leading figure in the Australian-Croatian community, runs a building company that specialises in residential homes and is the president of Melbourne Knights, one of the biggest and most prominent football clubs in the country. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9425/1/Mime-Cuvalo-web-developer-and-proponent-of-open-web-standards.html Mime Cuvalo, on the photo with small Stipo Adzaip, is a young Croatian web developer and proponent of open web standards. He is currently employed at three jobs: YouTube/Google, finishing up FireFTP, and creating the online music database The Rock Hard Times. His "charityware" FireFTP has been downloaded over 4.5 million times! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9421/1/Croatians-in-America---photo-collection-by-Vladimir-Novak-part-1.html Mr. Vladimir Novak, on the left with Alma Franuloviæ Planèiæ in Croatian national costume, is well known for his rich collection of photos related to life and work of Croatians in America, collected over several decades in the USA. We start with a series of articles, presented for the first time exclusively for the readers of CROWN. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9420/1/Amigos-del-Museo-Krekoviae-Palma-de-Mallorca-Spain.html Amigos del Museo Krekoviæ (Friends of Krekoviæ's Gallery) is a society in Spain which in 2007 opened a nice blog devoted to life and work of Kristian Krekoviæ, a famous Croatian painter. His gallery in Palma de Mallorca has been solemnly opened in 1981 by the Spanish Queen Sophia. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9400/1/Compassionate-player-Vedran-Corluka-BiH-and-Croatias-pride.html 'Me and my family have had to fight for everything that we have ever had and I still have that attitude. It has played a big part in helping me deal with life and my profession.'  Raised in the small Bosnian village of Derventa, Corluka and his family fled to Croatia when he was six to escape a Serb onslaught that was to burn down the family house letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9401/1/Croatian-Americans-The-Cynics-waited-till-their-40s-to-release-best-yet.html Five long years went by without The Cynics rolling anything new out of the garage. The USA Today even called "Here We Are" "one of the best neo-garage-rock albums in years."It began as just an acoustic demo for the principals, Gregg Kostelich and Michael Kastelic, (left) but it turned into a rock 'n' roll explosion with the help of producer Jorge Explosion. JKraljic@msn.com (John Kraljiæ, Esq) Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9405/1/Ivan--Klasnic-enjoys-fairytale-finish.html Werder Bremen's Ivan Klasnic (left) enjoyed a Christmas fairytale finish to the kidney transplant nightmare - which almost ended his career - with two goals in the 5-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9376/1/Zvonimir-Janko-an-outstanding-Croatian-mathematician.html Zvonimir Janko, professor of mathematics at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, is a well known expert in the theory of finite groups. His discovery in 1964 of the group now called the first Janko group in his honour, launched the modern theory of sporadic groups. We wish him a happy 75th birthday! And a happy 100th birthday to his father in Bjelovar, Croatia! darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9371/1/Zoran-Dukiae-Croatian-guitarist-one-of-the-most-prominent-players-of-today.html Zoran Dukiæ won more prizes on international competitions than any other guitarist in the world. He had solo concerts in more than 30 countries on all five continents. He is teaching among others at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Hochschule für Musik in Aachen, and at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Barcelona. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9369/1/Sidro-Californias-favorite-Croatian-Tamburitza-Orchestra.html Sidro, formerly known as Blue Adriatic, is one of Northern California's favorite Croatian Tamburitza Orchestras. For over 20 years, Sidro has been performing throughout California, accompanied San Jose's Koraci Folklore dance group in Croatian Folklore Festivals throughout Canada, and fused Tamburitza music with rock'n'roll when recording on Nenad Bach's, "Thousand Years of Peace". letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9359/1/Nikola-Baiae-author-of-the-Zadar-Sea-Organ.html Nikola Ba¹iæ, on the left, is one of the pioneers of cultural tourism in Croatia, author of the project of the Zadar Sea Organ, the newly built urban musical attraction in the city of Zadar, Croatia. His principal collaborator was Ivan Stamaæ, expert in acoustics who contributed musical solutions to the project. The random music is created by sea waves and tubes. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9349/1/Zdravko-Duemeliae--el-pintor-preferido-de-Borges.html Zdravko Duèmeliæ (1923-1989), outstanding Croatian - Argentinean painter, masterfully illustrated a famous book "Laberintos", written by Jorge Luis Borges, with his surreal, quasi-metaphysical works. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9348/1/Silvija-Gradeeak---young-and-brilliant-Croatian-scientist-born-in-Vukovar.html Professor Silvija Gradeèak, with diploma in physics, University of Zagreb, Croatia, 1999, is employed at MIT, USA. Her research focuses on nano-photonics and electronics. She explores novel optoelectronic applications such as nanoscale light-emitting sources, single photon sources, or nanowire lasers. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9344/1/Luka-Brajnovic-outstanding-Croatian-scholar-in-Spain.html Luka Brajnoviæ (1919-2001) was professor of Ethics of the University of Navarra, a former director of the Institute of Artes Liberales, a well known Spanish intellectual, a Croat born in Boka kotorska. A prestigeous international award Premio Brajnovic a la communication was established in 1997, ie during his lifetime. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9312/1/ProfDr-Daniel-D-Gajski-a-hero-of-Computer-Science.html Prof.Dr. Franz Ramming: "... Daniel Gajski did not just light the fire, he also fuelled it substantially. During the last three decades he achieved pioneering results. He was a principal contributor to the areas Silicon Compilation, High-Level Synthesis, and System-Level Design. ..." c.mateo@verizon.net (Martin Cvjetkoviæ) Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9301/1/Jaz-Spelic-Actor-Producer-based-in-Sydney-The-Trinity-of-Vukovar.html Since graduating in 2004, most of my time has been spent developing 'The Trinity of Vukovar'. I am also employed as a guest Actor at Sydney's International Film School, have done a few televison commercials and my first feature film 'The Warrior' was screened at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Directed by Melbourne based Croatian, Steve Ravic. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9284/1/Henry-Suzzallo-president-of-the-University-of-Washington-from-1915-to-1926.html Henry Suzzallo (1875-1933) was president of the University of Washington from 1915 to 1926. The central library of the University of Washington is called Suzzallo Library. His parents Petar and Ana Suzzallo, Croatians originating from Dalmatia, arrived to San Francisco in 1852. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9276/1/Vida-Jurcic-runs-an-award-winning-design-firm-Hangar-18.html   Vida Jurcic is a principal of Hangar 18, a fast-growing, award-winning design firm specializing in corporate and retail communications that she co-founded in 1996.  to_nena@hotmail.com (Nena Kazulin) Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9268/1/Nick-Bicanic-Director-Producer--Creator---A-new-filmmaking-star-on-a-horizon.html Nick Bicanic comes to the film and television industry from 8 years of experience in the world of new media. Nick abandoned PhD studies in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Shadow Company is his new film. Nick will testify on Friday Sept 21 on a Capitol Hill. Watch CSPAN letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9223/1/Ivan-Krstiae-Harvard-Making-antivirus-software-obsolete.html  Instead of blocking specific viruses, Krstiæ's system sequesters every program on the computer in a separate virtual operating system, preventing any program from damaging the computer, stealing files, or spying on the user. "This defeats the entire purpose of writing a virus," says Krstiæ. hrabri.rajic@intel.com (Hrabri Rajiæ, Ph.D.) Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9216/1/Nela-Erinik-a-Croatian-actress-and-entertainer-died.html   Nakon kratke bolesti u Voloskom  umrla je 14. kolovoza 2007. u 84. godini Nela Er¾i¹nik, hrvatska glumica, estradna umjetnica i najveæa komièarka hrvatske scene. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9214/1/Zoran-Orliae---Brilliant-book---The-Frames-behind-the-glass---True-Rock-and-Roll.html   Zoran Orlic is a Croatian-born fine arts photographer with a flair for revealing the many moods of rock photography. Orlic's passion for the camera and music has led him to capture rock bands on film for the last seventeen years. Orlic's snapshots have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, websites and music packaging. A new star is born. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9211/1/2-Silver-medals-for-Croatia-at-the-World-University-Games.html Josipa Kusanic (right), and Danijela Grgic won silver in Taekwondo and the 400 meter race respectively at the 24th World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9210/1/Martin-Sinkovic-wins-bronze-in-Beijing.html  Martin Sinkovic (left) won a bronze medal at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Beijing, China. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9207/1/New-Jersey-Singer-is-1-in-Croatia.html  When Gina Picinic was a senior at North Bergen High School a few years ago, she was already a recording star in her native land of Croatia. Just 17, Picinic was like the Croatian version of Celine Dion. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9200/1/Marko-Puljiae-PhD-Philosophy-with-the-touch-of-Artificial-Intelligence.html   Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, University of Memphis, 2005. Master of Science in Finance, Fogelman College of Business and Economics, 1998. Bachelor of Science in Mathematics / Economics, University of Zagreb, 1996. Unique, to say the least. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9126/1/Mark-Viduka-Croatian-Australian.html   Mark Viduka (left) is surprised how much the green and gold shirt has become ingrained in his soul. He has contemplated leaving behind the Australian national team many times. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9105/1/Family-tradition-continues-at-Grgich-Hills---The-Croatian-connection.html Of his life's work, 84-year-old Mike Grgich says he is clearly not done, but adds, "All of my life's work is coming to fruition unexpectedly."   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9088/1/Michael-Kaufman-Power-Values-and-Reform-Through-the-EU-Accession-Process.html   The EU's efforts to promote democratic development are at odds with the incentives created by the accession process itself, where the EU gives priority to efficiency over legitimacy, which leads to questions about the potential of the EU to export its own democratic deficit...with a specific reference to Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9079/1/Miro-Gavrans-works-translated-into-more-than-30-languages.html   Miro Gavran, the contemporary Croatian author, was born in 1961. His works have been translated into more than thirty languages, and he is the most prolific and frequently performed writer. He has published eight books of prose for adults. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9057/1/Dr-Drago-tambuk-one-of-Croatias-best-loved-poets---Presentacion-de-Andres-Morales.html Dr. Drago Stambuk is presently the Croatian ambassador to Japan and former Croatian ambassador to Great Britain, India, Egypt and six other Arab countries; he is a medical doctor and researcher; and one of Croatia's best loved poets. His selected poems are being published in a volume which will comprise approximately 600 poems.        letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9030/1/FC-Sydney-inks-Croatia-born-Culina-as-coach.html  Croatia-born Branko Culina (left) has signed a two-year contract to coach Sydney FC in Australia's A-League soccer competition, the team's third coach in less than a year. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9018/1/Croatian-born-Radovan-Vlatkovic-virtuoso-hornist-makes-it-sound-easy.html  Croatian-born Radovan Vlatkovic renders divine sounds from the notoriously difficult French horn.   EAAndrus@comcast.net (Edward Andrus) Sat, 07 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9010/1/Damir-Matausic-sculptor-and-medal-designer.html   The medal designer creates this system gradually as a symbolic sublimation of history. The central circle of values - the national culture - has been analitically articulated by Matausic. I would say: An incredible artist.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8995/1/Domagoj-Ivanovic-violinist---violin-teacher.html   Mr. Ivanovic appeared as a soloist with the Zagreb Philharmonic orchestra and with the Miami Symphony orchestra. Described as a player with "clear technique and great sensitivity" by El Nuevo Herald, he has performed in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, France, Spain, Hungary, Canada, and the United States. fedor.kabalin@nyu.edu (Fedor Kabalin) Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8992/1/Prof-Dr-Nikola-Buble.html   He is an author of ninety (90) professional and scholarly papers and twenty six (26) recording editions. In his scholarly papers he 'plunges into interpersonal relations, social environment and cultural circumstances, and in that way he sets the whole music culture into an enlarged social context' and by doing so he expresses' a differentiated need for ethnomusicology research of the phenomenon of music'. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8963/1/Carmen-Verlichak-Los-Croatas-de-la-Argentina.html Carmen Verlichak is a well known Argentinean writer with Croatian roots. She is the author of  important book Los Croatas de la Argentina. Recently an exibition was opened in Zagreb with a nice collection of photos devoted to Croatians in Argentina. Her brother Joza Vrljicak is one of pioneers of Internet promotion of Croatian culture worldwide via Studia Croatica journal,  Buenos Aires.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8956/1/Vjera-Odak-Jembrih-Receives-Teaching-Merit-Award.html Ms Vjera Odak, a teacher at the Elly Basic school of music, was chosen among 117 candidates from all around the world to receive the most significant award for classical accordion teachers - the CIA Merit Award.   nikola.mihaljevic@unimedia.hr (Nikola Mihaljevic) Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8946/1/Goodbye-Champion-is-the-five-piece-incarnation-with-a-Croatian-roots.html Collaborative recording effort between Steven Vidaic and Aaron Snyder. They began earnestly writing and recording together in late 2003 focussing their efforts on the cohesive marriage of words and music. Their songs are a mixture of social commentary and personal experience.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8940/1/Katarina-Livljaniae-in-the-USA-and-Canada-in-February-2007-with-Tondals-Vision.html Places of performances of Dialogos Ensemble, Paris, directed by Katarina Livljaniæ: New York City (Feb. 18th),  Wellesley College (Feb. 20th), Vancouver (Feb. 22nd), Kansas City (Feb. 24th). Tondal's vision is an Irish legend from 12th century, which in the 15th century became a part of the Croatian Glagolitic literature (The Petris Miscellany, 1468). darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8937/1/Darko-Ivaneiae8217s-story---Genes-of-stone-and-the-sea-in-his-veins.html   Collaborate - Innovate - Integrate. The production and engineering literary started in his own garage, which is how ELCON Marine started. The largest cruise ship in the world, Queen Mary II, they equipped. Creativity and quality are the two principles he goes by in life. His deepest wish is to implement thier expertise and knowledge in the future of Croatia. elcon-marine@ri.t-com.hr (Dragana Mièetiæ) Sat, 10 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8925/1/George-quotCatfishquot-Metkovich---Outfielder-and-First-Baseman.html Got the nickname "Catfish" from his Boston teammates, after he stepped on a catfish while trying to pull the hook out of its mouth and a barbed fin went through the crepe sole of his shoe, incapacitating him during Spring training.   olujanovine@hotmail.com (Tomislav Kapular) Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8910/1/Famous-Croatian-American-Philosopher-Prof-Dr-Daniel-Kolak.html   Kolak's numerous articles, stories, essays, books and other creative works bridge traditional philosophy with all areas of inquiry and expression, from neuroscience to quantum mechanics, from logic and mathematics to art, music and literature. Among his best known recent works are I Am You: The Metaphysical Foundations for Global Ethics letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8906/1/A-Cellar-Full-of-Miracles.html Wine has been part of Miljenko Grgich's (left) life since he was born, the youngest of 11 children in the small village of Desne, Croatia. His father was a respected winemaker and young Miljenko, at the age of 3, would be put into a vat of grapes and told to - walk around and have a good time.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8900/1/Andrija-Mohorovieiae-and-his-MOHO-discontinuity-of-the-Earth.html Among scientists studying seismology the famous Moho layer (or Moho discontinuity) of the Earth is well known. It was named after the great Croatian geophysicist Andrija Mohorovièiæ (1857-1936), professor at the University of Zagreb. His discovery was essential for understanding the inner structure of the Earth and the behavior of seismic waves. This is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian science.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8894/1/John-Mayasich-Olympic-medal-winner-The-First-Miracle-on-Ice.html John Mayasich (right) has enjoyed an outstanding career as one of the top broadcast executives in Minnesota. A talented athlete, he is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and an Olympic medal winner.   olujanovine@hotmail.com (Tomislav Kapular) Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8893/1/Croatias-Ana-Jelusic-en-Route-to-the-Podium.html   Ana Jelusic was excited about her first ever World Cup podium on home soil after twice finishing fourth earlier this season. "I wondered if I could manage such a result here despite the pressure from the crowd and the media and I'm proud to have achieved such a performance in front of so many fans," said the young skier from Rijeka, who turned 20 on Dec. 29. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8889/1/Otto-Lang-1908-2006-Northwest-icon-founded-first-ski-school-at-Mount-Rainier.html   Otto Lang, a skiing pioneer and filmmaker, was a Northwest icon who had few equals in elegance, work ethic and zest for life. Lang, who touched the lives of neophyte skiers and Hollywood stars alike, died at his West Seattle home at the age of 98. olujanovine@hotmail.com (Tomislav Kapular) Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8887/1/Ivan-Illich-1926-2002.html Ivan Illich, was one of the world's great thinkers, a polymath whose output covered vast terrains. He worked in 10 languages; he was a jet-age ascetic with few possessions; he explored Asia and South America on foot; and his obligations to his many collaborators led to a constant criss-crossing of the globe in the last two decades. olujanovine@hotmail.com (Tomislav Kapular) Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8875/1/Night-At-The-Museum---New-Movie-Has-Croatian-Roots---Milan-Trenc-in-Action.html Milan Trenc (pictured right) was born in 1962. in Zagreb, Croatia where he graduated graphic arts and film direction. His comic strips appeared in Heavy Metal Magazine and his children's book, The Night At the Museum (Baron's 1993,) became a Twentieth Century Fox. feature movie directed by Shawn Levy, with an all star cast including Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Dick Van Dyke.   stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8869/1/William-Feller--outstanding-Croatian---American-mathematician.html  William Feller (Zagreb, 1906 - New York, 1970), graduated in mathematics from the University of Zagreb (1925), earned his PhD in Göttingen (1926), since 1939 living in the USA. One of the founders of Probability Theory as a scientific discipline. Many mathematical notions bear his name. Author of a one of the best math textbooks of the 20th century. Recipient of the National Medal of Science, USA. darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8861/1/Edin-Dino-Zonic-winner-of-Golden-Karma-National-Awards-2006.html Edin Dino Zonic winner of Golden Karma National Awards 2006. Unity Through Music a nonprofit organization founded by Maestro Dino Zonic. As Composer, Conductor and Cultural Ambassador, Maestro Zonic is dedicated to continuing the expansion of peace and unity through music, music that bridges cultural, national and religious barriers to bring the universal message of peace.   jeep77@prodigy.net (Peggy Jurecic Jasina) Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8855/1/IGOR-SUNARA-Director-of-Photography-HFS.html   Education: BA, Honours in Film and TV. University of Westminster, UK. American Dream 1990 Oskar, Dir/Barbara Kopple. Music Videos (selected list) Bon Jovi, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli, Barry Manilow, Notorious BIG, Lil Kim. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8854/1/Priv-Doz-Dr-med-Natalija-Novak-Winner-of-2006-Heisenberg-Fellowship-of-the-German-Research-Council.html 2003: Fujisawa Young Investigator Award on Achievments in the Field of Atopic Dermatitis Research2004: Karl Hansen Award DGAKI 2004 2005. Heinz Maier Leibnitz Award 2005 of the German Research Council 2005. Award on Atopic Dermatitis Research (Pro Derma Foundation) 2006: Heisenberg-Fellowship of the German Research Council   marianne.novak@hotmail.de (Marianne Novak) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8853/1/Tomislav-Kuzmanoviae-Esq---Croatian-Rising-Star---8220Super-Lawyer8221-for-the-second-time.html   In November 2006, Mr. Kuzmanovic was named for the secondtime a "Super Lawyer" in the area of Business Litigation byWisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2006 magazine. Inaddition, he was profiled as the subject of "A Small Part to Play,"an article in Super Lawyers describing his litigation practice andhis human rights work on behalf of independent Croatia. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8841/1/Can-We-Go-Higher.html www.croatia.org is a web site initiated by Nenad Bach. It is an attempt to answer the question "Can We Go Higher?", raised in the title of his beautiful song. We invite you to visit his fantastic video-clips maintained at video.google.com, revealing the driving force and spirituality of the artist. This video is a Christmas gift for all of us, that everybody should see and listen to.   darko_zubrinic@yahoo.com (Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic) Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8828/1/Razgovor-dr-Radoslav-Mariae.html   Dr. Radoslav Mariæ, autor knjige "Moja polnoæka" (urednik knjige prof. dr. Ivan Biondiæ, naklada "Kamen" Publishing LLC.), roðen je g. 1938 u Hercegovini, ¹kolu je polazio u ©irokom Brijegu i Mostaru, medicinski fakultet zavr¹io u Zagrebu, a porodni¹tvo i ginekologiju specijalizirao je u Petrovoj bolnici. Zbog politièkih pritisaka ¹ezdesetih godina odlazi sa ¾enom i djecom u Kanadu. Jedan je od utemeljitelja i èlan Upravnog odbora Udruge amerièkih Hrvata "Croatian American Association" (CAA). stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8822/1/Prof-Dr-Marin-Soljaeiae-one-of-the-top--innovators-under-the-age-of-35.html    Prof. Marin Soljaèiæ was born in Zagreb, Croatia on  February 7th, 1974. An expert in photonic crystals and nonlinear optics. Co-authored more than 60 scientific articles, a co-inventor on 12 patents (10 more pending), given more than 40 invited talks around the world. In 2005 awared Adolph Lomb Medal of the Optical Society of America. In 2006, chosen by Technology Review to be one of the "TR35": top 35 innovators under the age of 35. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8819/1/Jelena-Vukotiae-again-in-The-New-Yorker.html Check a current issue of The New Yorker. Born in Pula, Croatia. Jelena's photographs have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Forbes's Four Seasons Magazine, Prague Business Journal and others. Her work was exhibited at solo and group shows in Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia and USA.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8792/1/Helen-Merrill-60-Years-of-Warm-Sweet-Songs.html   One of the most distinctive jazz singers ever, Helen Merrill started singing professionally sixty years ago when her warm voice paired with the Reggie Childs Orchestra in 1946. But that was just the start of a long and vivid story which would lead the talented young daughter of Croatian immigrants to make history in jazz by recording with [trumpeter] Clifford Brown and [arranger/bandleader] Gil Evans in the 1950s. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8681/1/Biloxi-Native-Dr-Frank-G-Gruich-Gives-Back-to-his-Community.html Dr. Frank G. Gruich, or Dr. G, as he likes to be called, still goes to Biloxi Regional Hospital nearly every day. The hospital, and Biloxi for that matter, owes Gruich considerably more than a plate of red beans and rice. He is a living witness to the past, a spokesman for a city and an era that has almost vanished from memory. Beyond that, Gruich is a venerable local figure widely known for his fierce loyalties, mischievous spirit and substantial accomplishments. stecak@sbcglobal.net (Marko Puljiæ) Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8561/1/EH-Petar-Miso-Mihocevic.html Petar Miso Mihocevic       Petar Miso Mihocevic (1949), BA in Letters and Philosophy from the Zagreb University (Political Sciences never completed), from a family of musicians and professors. Scholarships to USA, Italy and Great Britain. In theatre and music since early childhood, first 'position' of an errand boy at the Press Office of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival when only 14 ( after being forced to interrupt a promising career in swimming for skin infection on the eve of federal championships); subsequently spent each summer with the Festival, progressing from an assistant to the General Secretary to the host and interpreter in charge of international artists. After his BA, he was scouted by chance and was invited to become a fashion model in Rome, where he was soon engaged by a famous family of designers as personal secretary to the company’s owner. Followed an international 'career' in fashion and films (he never took seriously either of the two). After many years he was engaged by the Dubrovnik Summer Festival as its PR Manager, then as Principal Producer (1986-1991) in which period he re-established the Festival's fame by engagements of world’s foremost artists and theatres of the time (Caballe', Ughi, Wiener Sängerknaben, Dresden Symphony, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Royal National Theatre with Daniel Day-Lewis as Hamlet, Moscow Philharmonic, etc). When in 1991 the Serbian-Montenegrin Army attacked the area of Dubrovnik, he volunteered to the National Guards (later Croatian Army; was its Senior Liaison Officer with international missions – UN forces, EUMM, UNICEF, UNESCO, Red Cross - and the opposite army; in late 1999 demobilized upon personal request in the rank of colonel), was the first local negotiator with the aggressing forces on the occupied territories, has hosted all the most prominent personalities visiting Dubrovnik, including HRH Prince of Wales, Turkish President Demirel, HRH Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the members of the Royal family of Habsburg, all ambassadors to the new country, foreign ministers of defense ( USA, Germany, Great Britain). Thereupon he again joined the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, where he was appointed General Manager. He stepped down out of his own will in late 2001, whereupon he founded his own event and concert management agency AGEVENT. The agency soon came to fame internationally, both in events (catering to clients such as Microsoft, Estee’ Lauder, Falck, Medipharm, CEO, YPO, to Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Culture of Croatia etc.), and, especially as the organizer of the Festival of Chamber Music ‘Julian Rachlin & Friends’, considered by many expert critics the best festival of its kind ever. (More on all at: www.agevent.biz  ).During the same time, in summer 2004 he was asked by the Lady Mayor of Dubrovnik to take over the City Theatre which was undergoing a serious crisis (wrong repertoire, no audience). In less than one complete season, all evenings of the totally new repertoire at the theatre have become a sell out.Interests include reading, music (an amateur singer, started as a small boy, later a leading vocal in a band, singer in several choirs, among which he was a co-founder of the Dubrovnik-based ‘Libertas’ Symphony Choir; has appeared in choruses in opera productions at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival; plays so much applauded role of a ‘Presenter’ in his own latest production of a musical in the Dubrovnik Theatre). On the list of essential needs is humor and goodwill.    Petar Miso Mihocevic    Petar Miho eviZlatni potok 11Dubrovnik  ZivotopisRodjen 1949.Skolovanje: Gimnazija u Dubrovniku, Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu; stipendije u Italiji i SAD.Radno iskustvo: - od 1964 petnaestak sezona na Dubrova kim ljetnim igrama (kurir u press uredu, pomonik u tajnistvu, u propagandi, prevoditelj), sef za propagandu, direktor programa (1986-91), ravnatelj (2000-2002).Nakon iksustva u svim segmentima organizacije i produkcije, kao direktor programa DLJi posebno: nastupi Montserrat Caballé, Uto Ughi, Zbor be kih dje aka, Ratni rekvijem B. Brittena sa Moskovskom filharmonijom, Hamlet sa Danielom Day-Lewisom.2001. utemeljio projekt 'Julian Rachlin & Friends'; po odlasku iz DLJi projekt koji je kao samostalni festival komorne glazbe dvije posljednje godine jednoglasno ocijenjen kao najbolji glazbeni festival u Hrvatskoj, preuzeo u vlasnistvo.Na DLJI takoer nastupao kao pjeva ( Ecce homo, Kako braa prodase Jozefa, Seviljski brija ).- od 1973 do 1979 foto model i maneken u visokoj modi (Rim, Firenca, Milano , Njema ka, Slovenija itd), osobni tajnik vlasnika firme Brioni.- neprekidno se bavi prevoenjem (posebno tekstova vezanih za umjetnost, npr. monografije I. Dul i, . Pulitika, J. Trostmann, brojni katalozi, umjetni ka kritika), te simultanim i konsekutvnim prevoenjem sa/na engleski i talijanski jezik na stru nim skpovima i kongresima.- prvi predsjednik Mjesovitog zbora 'Libertas'.- organizator i producent mnogih promotivnih, sve anih i drugih posebnih skupova za Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova RH, Ministarstvo obrane RH, HOO, Nj.V. Francescu von Habsburg, Miscosoft Europe, Esteé Lauder, Canon, Altana Pharma, Strabag, Gorenje, HBOR, HEP, Hrvatsku udrugu banaka, Europsku udrugu banaka, HVB-Splitsku banku, Volksbank i dr.- Domovinski rat : dragovoljac u Kriznom stožeru obrane grada od 1.10.1991., sudjeluje na pregovorima na okupiranom podru ju od samog po etka, najprije kao prevoditelj, zatim kao asnik HV ( demobliziran u inu bojnika u prosincu 1999.g.). Prvi hrvatski asnik koji je zavrsio Skolu za vojne promatra e UN (Be , 1996). Odlikovan i pohvaljen.- Od srpnja 2004. g. ravnatelj Kazalista Marina Držia u Dubrovniku.-----------------------VI. Festival Julian Rachlin & FriendsAug 29 - Sept 4, 2006program HRV / programme ENG www.agevent.biz www.julianrachlinandfriends.com Agevent mail. online@agevent.biz , agevent@agevent.biz Agevent tel. + 385.(0)20.358616 / fax. +385.(0)20.358617 letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8560/1/E-Croatian-Chronicle-Profile---Pete-Radovich-Man-Behind-the-Scenes.html PROFILEPete Radovich: Man Behind the Scenes Emmy award winning CBS Sports producer, fundraiser, and proud Croatian-American By Josip Bogovic Did you ever wonder as you sit on your comfortable couch watching a major sports event like the U.S. Tennis Open, an NFL football game or the Olympics, what it takes and who the people are behind the scenes that make the broadcast possible? During the 2005 U.S. Tennis Open and the NFL game between the Giants and the Denver Broncos, Croatian Chronicle had an opportunity to go behind the scenes to witness the grand operation of sports broadcasting, courtesy of Pete Radovich. Who is Pete Radovich? To begin with, he is a CBS sports producer, a feature story Emmy award winner and a gentleman who has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help de-mine Croatia. That’s already too much factual information, so let’s take it slow and find out what he does, how he got there, and what makes him tick. Let’s also discover how he got us on to center court 10 minutes before a match between Roger Federer and Andre Agassi and on to the New York Giants’ field during team practice. At CBS Sports, the A-team covers major sporting events and Pete Radovich is one of its principal members. The A-team travels around the country in mobile trailers that broadcast in high definition; CBS is one of the few networks that have such a setup. The operation is huge and complex and the communication and coordination between the more than one hundred workers is at the core of a successful broadcast. Everyone has to get it right because it’s a live, unedited broadcast. As the replay producer, Radovich is one of five people that are at the center of the sport broadcast operation. In this role he gives the viewer information about a replay or some other aspect or action of the game. This is one of the roles of Pete Radovich in his capacity as a live producer. As a tape producer, he goes out, creates a story then films it with a crew. The footage is then broadcast during a live telecast or separately on its own. In this role he is a creative force, a filmmaker and a storyteller.As we walk around the secret corridors of the stadium, he gives us details about the operation. Radovich is warmly greeted by his colleagues as we pass them. This guy carries weight, we think to ourselves. “You want to find out more about me, go to my colleagues and ask them some questions,” he suggests. So off we went forty minutes before game time. We were warmly received at the Giants Stadium skybox by Jim Nantz, the veteran sportscaster who has more than 20 years of broadcasting under his belt at CBS. He and co-sportscaster Phil Simms worked their 31st games together. Nantz is a true professional in every respect. “Look,” I said to Mr. Nantz, “I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Pete. Surely you can tell us about a time when he dropped the ball? Some secret the world is eager to know?”The sportscaster smiles at my comment. “Sorry to disappoint you, but when we are talking about Pete we’re speaking about a true professional. Pete’s a very talented guy who gives texture and a polished look to our broadcasts, making them look and feel unique. Pete produces little vignettes (stories) on players and teams; this too adds spice to our broadcast,” says Nantz. So how does one become a nine-time Emmy award winning sports producer? Pete Radovich’s father was born on the island of Kaprije near Šibenik; his mother was born in Nevidane on the island of Pašman. Radovich’s parents immigrated to the U.S. in the mid 1960’s and settled in New York where they met and got married. Peter was born in Astoria, Queens. Since Croatian was the spoken language at home, it was Peter’s first language. He recalls his parents as working hard since the family lived a small apartment in Astoria. “My parents taught me the value of hard work. They have always taken their jobs seriously and never missed a day of work for trivial reasons. I can say from experience that Croatian people are proud people who take their work seriously. This is one of the attributes I carry with me from my Croatian heritage,” he recalls. Throughout his youth Pete played soccer, basketball and baseball. In the early 1980’s he played soccer for Croatia-New York as a goaltender when the team was in the Metropolitan league. “I played for the team at a time when it wasn’t politically correct to be Croatian. What was also great about the experience was that our team played against Dinamo in 1989 at the Croatian Highlands in Boonton, New Jersey. I was good at everything but great at no one particular sport,” he recalls. The other thing that he excelled at was art - drawing, painting and photography in particular. He was voted “most artistic student” several times in grade and high school. It was this combination, together with several other factors, he believes, that allowed him to be where he is. Croatian experience changed my life In most peoples’ lives there comes a time when their direction and focus is not clear. But there usually follows a pivotal point from which their life takes a turn for the better. This was the case with Radovich when he started high school in Queens. “When I started high school I wasn’t focused. I didn’t know what I should do. I then decided to go to high school in Croatia for two years and see what would happen. Off to Zadar I went, alone and ready to experience the land of my parents. This experience most definitely changed my life. I became more patient and appreciative of what I had and the fact that my life was comprised of two cultures. From an American kid I became a Croatian-American kid. I learned the language, the culture, made life-long friends. Ever since then I go back every year. At my job at CBS everyone knows of Croatia and my roots. In a small way I try to give Croatia some positive and well deserved publicity,” he explains. Radovich played baseball for the Zadar high school he attended and was the best player on the team, having the U.S. experience under his belt. “I was the only player to have hit two home runs in the same day - one in Varaždin and one in akovec,” he says proudly. Upon entering college in the U.S. he came upon an internship at NBC Sports. That’s when everything clicked for him; his love of sports and art became one body.“In the last 10 years of my career I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of great moments in sports. But the biggest and most memorable are those where Croatia has made incredible results. I was covering the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It was at these Olympics that Croatia received its first Olympic gold medal, in handball. I was standing behind the Croatian bench for the game and for the singing of the Croatian national anthem. I will never forget these moments; I get goose-bumps whenever I think of them. In 2000 I covered Wimbledon for NBC. Goran Ivaniševi dedicated the final match in memory of Dražen Petrovi, the Nets Hall-of-Famer. What I did was to put together a live footage montage of Dražen, inter-spliced with live footage of Goran in action. I gave him the completed project the morning of the match. Goran watched the footage before the match. I believe that it must have stirred his emotions quite a bit. The final match stirred my emotions to the point where my coworkers told me to leave my post and go watch the game. I was so emotional I could only think of Goran winning. That’s all that was on my mind that day. Well, the good news is that he did win and I got to see it as a spectator as well as from behind the scenes. I hope my reel made a little difference in the great outcome,” says Pete with the expression of a great moment relived in his memory. Radovich has combined his love of his heritage with his work to help Croatia in other ways as well. “When I started at NBC I was very fortunate to be taken under the wing of Jim Bell. Jim was my mentor and I owe him a lot. Jim is now the executive producer of the Today Show. Matt Lauer does this three hour show once a year showcasing a particular country. The show is seen by millions of viewers. So I said to Jim in a somewhat joking way, “Jim, you should have Matt check out Croatia; maybe you’ll like it. Maybe do a showcase on it. I didn’t think anything of my comment. Next thing I know, I get a call the day before the airing of the show only to find that Matt was showcasing Dubrovnik, Croatia. I was pleasantly shocked and should have told Jim to include Zadar,” he says smiling. Radovich won his solo Emmy award for a feature story he did called “Super Bowl Quarterbacks and their Sick Sons.” He picked up on the idea that there was this coincidence of more than six Super Bowl quarterbacks having sons that were very sick so he put together a very emotional story that moved everyone who saw the work. Radovich shies away from the notoriety of being an Emmy winner. “It’s a good conversation piece at home when friends and family come to visit. I’m sure my parents told more people about me winning the Emmy than I did. An Emmy is a benefit of doing my job.” He says that giving the speech when receiving the award really racked his nerves like few other things before. Radovich’s ties to his heritage extend beyond the professional realm. He is also involved in fundraising, particularly for the annual Croatian-American Golf Outing to raise money for de-mining in Croatia and the work of the American Cancer Society. He auctions off tickets for special sporting events like the one we experienced. “I’ve been fortunate in my life and this is a way for me to use my position to give back to Croatia and society at large,” he says of his fundraising activities.“Professionally, I take it as it comes. I love what I do now. So far, I feel like I’ve won the lottery so I don’t play the regular one. The only drawback to my job is that I miss many family functions since I’m always booked on the weekends. I’d like to semi-retire early so I could perhaps do some projects in Croatia and spend more time there.” Radovich may have the opportunity to rework some of the Croatian tourism commercials shown abroad. He believes they don’t measure up to a higher standard. For now, Pete Radovich is on the road and a very busy man. Currently, he is off to Korea to do a story on Hines Ward, the MVP of last year’s Super Bowl who is half Korean. The story will air sometime during the Super Bowl in Miami. The theme of this story seems to be that when Pete Radovich wins, the world becomes a better place. Formatted for CROWN by Croatian Chronicle Subscribe to Croatian Chronicle letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8559/1/H-Croatian-Chronicle-Razgovor-Visnja-Staresina---Medju-iseljenistvom-je-posijana-apatija.html RAZGOVOR: VIŠNJA STAREŠINANovinarka, autorica knjiga”Vježbe u laboratoriju Balkan” i “Haaška formula” samo za Hrvatsku kroniku govori o Haagu, hrvatskoj politici i iseljeni kim brigamaMeu iseljeništvom je posijana apatija Razgovarala: Jadranka Jureško-KeroVišnja Starešina je poznata hrvatska novinarka koja je od 1992. godine pratila meunarodno upravljanje krizom u Hrvatskoj i BiH kao dopisnica Ve ernjeg lista s Meunarodne konferencije o bivšoj Jugoslaviji u Ženevi, i kao posebna izvjestiteljica s brojnih meunarodnih pregovora i konferencija. Pratila je rad Meunarodnog kaznenog suda za bivšu Jugoslaviju u Haagu od samog osnutka, izvještavala s prvih suenja, a kao kolumnistica i urednica u Ve ernjem listu posebno se bavila poslijeratnom politikom meu državama nastalim iz bivše Jugoslavije. Višnja Starešina je autorica dviju zapaženih, i za hrvatsku državu i povijest, te za razumijevanje meunarodnih odnosa i rada suda u Haagu, vrlo važnih knjiga; “Vježbe u laboratoriju Balkan”, objavljena 2004. godine i “Haaška formula” objavljena krajem 2005. godine. Zamoljena za razgovor za Hrvatsku kroniku odmah je pristala, komentirajui kako izuzetno cijeni ulogu i pomo hrvatskih iseljenika u stvaranju i obrani naše države.Hrvatska kronika:  Mislite li da nakon vaših dviju knjiga Hrvati i naša vlast bolje razumiju što se zapravo dogaa u meunarodnim odnosima prema Hrvatskoj i u radu Tribunala? Višnja Starešina:  Knjige se u nas malo itaju i njihov sadržaj je dostupan vrlo uskom itateljskom krugu, ako nije predstavljen ili problematiziran u masovnim medijima. A u hrvatskim je masovnim medijima gotovo prešuen sadržaj moje knjige Vježbe u laboratoriju Balkan, koja govori o meunarodnim politi kim igrama u upravljanju ratom u Hrvatskoj i BiH. A gotovo je potpuno bojkotiran sadržaj knjige Haaška formula, koja govori o politi kim manipulacijama iza scene Haaškog suda, koje se dogaaju pod egidom pravde, o krivotvorenju istine i krivotvorenju novije povijesti u ime pravde, koje stvara nove frustracije i sjeme novog sukoba. Kad kažem bojkotiran, želim rei da su u nekim hrvatskim dnevnim listovima urednici ak odbili objaviti desetak redaka vijesti o promociji knjige, iz pera mojih kolega, a svojih svojih vodeih komentatora. A osobito su otklonili objavljivanje recenzija koje bi predo ile itateljstvu sadržaj kniige, i otvorile raspravu o njemu. No to se u Hrvatskoj radi sustavno sa svim knjigama koje nisu u skladu s vladajuim svjetonazorom i njegovim mitovima. Taj prvi zid šutnje postupno je razbijan promocijama knjige u Hrvatskoj i BiH, mojim nastupima na lokalnim televizijama, a zatim i na državnoj televiziji, gdje sam bila u prilici iznijeti svoje argumente. Paradoksalna je injenica da je sarajevsko Osloboenje objavilo informaciju o sarajevskoj promociji i vrlo korektan prikaz “Haaške formule”, a u hrvatskim novinama je i dalje postojala šutnja. Kao da sam pisala o zadnjim nogicama žutih mrava, a ne o klju nom politi kom problemu hrvatske države! S druge strane u Hrvatskoj se ipak nešto dogaa, izvan kontrole i iza scene: knjiga se ita unato prešuivanju, estitaju mi na njoj vratari u javnim institucijama, dok se njihovi šefovi i dalje ponašaju kao da nisu itali. H.K: Možete li komentirati za naše itatelje od kuda potreba da se piše i govori o politi kim zamkama koje postoje oko nas.V. Starešina: ini mi se da je normalno nastojanje da se razumije što se zapravo oko nas dogaa, i kakve se politike vode iza naizgled lijepih rije i i plemenitih ciljeva: O pravdi, ljudskim pravima i slobodama. Bitno je znati, da se ne bi donosile pogrešne odluke i vodile naivne politike i da se hrvatska povijest ne bi još jednom pisala u obavještajnim radionicama Londona i Beograda, da ne bi bila skrojena kao krivotvorina koja proizvodi nacionalnu frustraciju i postaje žarište novog sukoba. A bojim se da idemo upravo tim putem. Gotovo zastrašuje kako olako hrvatska politika i mediji usvajaju kao povijesnu istinu tako banalnu propagandu koja dogaaje iz devedesetih godina prošlog stoljea tuma i iz jednog sastanka Tumana i Miloševia u Karaorevu, njihovog navodnog sporazuma, kojeg nitko nije vidio i kojeg su svi kasniji dokumenti demantirali, i famozne karte na jelovniku britanskog obavještajca Paddya Ashdowna. I kako se potcjenjiva ki odnose prema svakom dokumentu koji dovodi u pitanje tu konstrukciju. Gradei optužnice upravo na tim tezama, haaško je tužiteljstvo optužilo hrvatsko državno, vojno, politi ko i policijsko vodstvo, kao i prakti ki sve pripadnike obrambenih snaga za sudjelovanje u dva zlo ina ka prothvata, u Hrvatskoj i BiH. A velikorspska agresija bit e u kona nici svedena na lokalnu srpsku pobunu, osobito nakon Miloševieve smrti. Neshvatljivo je da je službeni hrvatski odgovor na to: Mi smo otvorili arhive, pa tko hoe, može se poslužiti!HK: Kako objašnjavate ponašanje Carle del Ponte i haškog tužiteljstva u slu aju podizanja optužnica protiv novinara, i ovaj zadnji slu aj u kojem jedino novinar Jovi ostaje "boljka" Haagu? V.Starešina: Institut zaštite svjedoka je strahovito zloupotrebljavan pred Haaškim sudom i postao je jedno od klju nih sredstava manipulacije. On ne služi tome da zaštiti žrtve od nelagode ili moguih osveta, ve tome da štiti od provjere nevjerodostojne iskaze nevjerodostojnih svjedoka. Nije trebala zaštita nizozemskom asniku koji je 1998. godine razgovarao s Miroslavom Bralom i kom, patološkim ubojicom iz Ahmia i tada ve optuženikom Haaškog suda, koji se predao SFOR-u želei u Haag. Zaštita je trebala tužiteljstvu, koje nije željelo ubojicu u Haagu, da ne naškodi njegovoj tezi o zapovjednoj odgovornosti politi kog i vojnog vodstva. Vjerujem da nije trebala zaštita Stjepanu Mesiu ni 1998. godine kao svjedoku tužiteljstva u postupku protiv Blaškia, a osobito nije trebala predsjedniku Stjepanu Mesiu nakon 2000. godine. Zaštitom svjedoka štitila se injeni na nedosljednost iskaza na kojima je zasnovana presuda o hrvatskom sudjelovanju u meunarodnom sukobu u BiH i na kojima je kasnije izgraena teza o hrvatskom zlo ina kom pothvatu u BiH. Kazneni progon novinara zbog nepoštivanja suda, koji uostalom njegovim Statutom nije predvien, služio je prije svega njihovom zastrašivanju i bio je opomena i drugima koji bi se mogli usuditi ukazati kako je sud štitio identitet stranih i bivših udbinih obavještajaca, i na temelju njihovih konstrukcija, protivnih temeljnim injenicama, donosio presude. Vjerujem da je zastrašivanje razlog zbog kojeg tužiteljica ne povla i optužnicu protiv kolege Jovia, koji se nije pokajao niti je prestao kritizirati Sud. Carla del Ponte voli graditi autoritet na prijetnjama, suci je u tome nažalost pre esto podržavaju.HK: Možete li komentirati najnovije podizanje prašine oko Bilandžieve nove knjige i u isto vrijeme medijski gotovo ignorirane Tumanove knjige "Vrijeme krivokletnika" ?V. Starešina: Ne mogu se oteti dojmu da je knjiga profesora Bilandžia pisana po narudžbi, kao svojevrsna “knjiga na knjigu” profesora Tumana, koji je svoju analizu politi kog djelovanja i haaškog svjedo enja Stjepana Mesia dugo i minuciozno pripremao. Tumanova je knjiga vrlo neugodna za predsjednika Mesia, jer ne samo što secira neistine i injeni ne manipulacije vezane uz njegovo svjedo enje i politi ki rad, nego uz to iznosi i ozbiljnjne dokaze koji upuuju na zaklju ak da Mesievo djelovanje suprotno hrvatskim nacionalnim interesima i ponavljanje tue propagande kao vlastite istine nije tek stvar neznanja ili trenuta ne inspiracije. U svakom slu aju ti su argumenti previše ozbiljni da bi bili tek tako prešueni. A upravo se to u Hrvatskoj dogaa. Na promociji knjige profesora Tumana bilo je više od tisuu ljudi, i gotovo da i nije bilo novinara, osobito ne televizije, a sadržaj je prešuen. Na promociji knjige profesora Bilandžia bilo je nešto više od stotinjak, ljudi uklju ujui i predsjednika države s lanovima obitelji, mnoštvo novinara, kamera i knjiga je odmah dobila epitet “prevrijedne”, a da ni im nije argumenatirano zašto. Knjiga “otkriva” tek još jednu promjenu Biladžievih ranijih, takoer višestruko mijenjanih tvrdnji, sukladno potrebama politi kog trenutka. O autoru i o knjizi možda najviše govori posveta koju je napisao predsjedniku Mesiu, a objavljena je u jednom hrvatskom dnevniku: ”Da nije bilo Tebe, ova knjiga vjerojatno ne bi ugledala svjetlo dana. Ti si svojom vizijom daleko nadmašio svog prethodnika kada si uz bok hrvatske nacionalne zastave stavio zastavu EU, jer hrvatsko nacionalno pitanje više nije ni državno ni teritorijalno, ve demokratsko”. Pristojni autori takve posvete nisu pisali ni drugu Titu. HK: Hoemo li se u Haagu obraniti od "zlo ina kih udruživanja" i što bi, po Vama, sve trebalo napraviti dok još nije kasno da u Haagu sprije imo to što se sprema? V. Starešina: Ja ne primjeujem da se Hrvatska država uope bilo kako brani u Haagu od optužbi za zlo ina ke pothvate, koje su strašne. U zlo ina ki pothvat su uklju eni svi vladajui politi ari na državnom i lokalnom nivou u Hrvatskoj, i svi pripadnici vojnih i policjskih snaga, te prakti ki svi Hrvati u BiH . Hrvatska vlast nije u inila ništa da ukaže koliko je sumanuto koncipirana optužnica, niti primjeujem da se priprema kako bi je pobila. Obrana optuženika prepuštena je njihovim odvjetnicima, koji uz najbolju volju, toliki posao ne mogu obaviti sami. Na optuženi koj je klupi prakti ki cijela država, dokumente za njezinu obranu prikupljali su optuženici vlastitim sredstvima, ponajviše general Praljak, radili su to esto uz ignoranciju, a ponekad i opstrukciju državnih institucija. Na drugoj strani, država je izdašno i u potpunosti plaala obranu generala Blaškia, koja je dokumentima upitne vjerodostojnosti i svjedocima iz bivšeg jugoslavenskog obavještajnog miljea potpomognutih britanskim obavještajcima pomagala tužiteljstvu da potvrde teze o hrvatskom zlo ina kom pothvatu. Presude Haaškog suda, nažalost, izgledaju kao da su kazne odmjerene ve uo i procesa, bez obzira na dokaze izvedene u vrijeme suenja, a ta je “mjera” za Hrvate vrlo loša. Dario Kordi je, uz “pomo” Blaškieve obrane, osuen na 25 godina zatvora za etni ko išenje u opkoljenoj Lašvanskoj dolini, a Biljana Plavši na 11 godina za sve srpske zlo ine u BiH. Prepusti li se obrana od zlo ina kog pothvata samo Sudu, bojim se da e presude ii uhodanom logikom, bez obzira na dokaze. Hrvatska se definitivno ne može obraniti od “udruženih zlo ina kih pothvata” samo u sudnici, ve je nužno razotkriti manipulacije Haaškog suda, opasne po stabilnost cijele regije, u svjetskim medijima, te u meunarodnoj politi koj i pravni koj javnosti. To je ono što bi Hrvatska država trebala initi, i na tu je obvezu uvijek treba podsjeati. Iako je ve jako, jako kasno. HK: Iseljenici su uvijek upozoravali na tajne službe bivših sustava s kojima su oni imali bliske susrete pa tvrde da su njihove hobotnice još meu nama. Ima li istine u tome i mogu li iseljenici pomoi u razotkrivanju?V. Starešina: Moram priznati da sam i sama ula istu pri u gostujui u nekim europskim državama na promociji knjige. Model je zapravo uvijek isti: Suradnici bivšh jugoslavenskih obavještajnih službi koji su nadzirali hrvatske emigrante su se jedno vrijeme pritajili, da bi se krajem devedesetih infiltrirali u iseljeni ke udruge i potom ih ili preuzeli ili podijelili i uništili. Tako je posijana jedna apatija meu iseljeništvom. Oni koji su ih pratili za bivšu UDBU, sad ih prate za novu hrvatsku vlast. Oni znaju kako se to radi. No sli na je situacija i u Hrvatskoj: I u institucijama vlasti, i u medijima dominantnu ulogu imaju pripadnici bivšeg obavještajnog sustava, koji su se u meuvremenu nametnuli kao mjera za ljudska rava i slobodu mišljenja. Taj fenomen obnovljene moi komunisti kih obavještajnih struktura prisutan je u svim postkomunisti kim zemljama, no u hrvatskoj je osobito opasan zbog toga što je u osnovi i antihrvatski, odnosno projugoslavenski orijentiran. Neki kolege vjeruju kako e ta mreža, ili kako vi kažete hobotnica, odumrijeti prirodnim putem. No bojim se da je to preoptimisti no o ekivanje. HK: Planirate li prevesti vaše knjige na engleski i kad ete u Ameriku? V. Starešina: Uz podršku grupe prijatelja tražimo na in da knjigu prevedemo na engleski i da naemo izdava a. Oni imaju mnogo dobro volje, ali kad u tome nemate podršku institucija vlastite države, to nije jednostavno. Takoer planiramo i promotivnu turneju po SAD-u, vjerojatno najesen.HK: Na kojim novim projektima radite?V. Starešina: Upravo ovih dana u Lašvanskoj dolini po injemo snimanje dokumentarca po motivima knjige “Haaška formula”. Filmom zapravo želimo pokazati s kakvom je bezobzirnošu haaška birokracija manipulirala životima obi nih ljudi, poput muzikanata brae Kupreški, koji su lažno optuženi proveli etiri godine u Haaškom pritvoru; želimo pokazati nemo pojednica u žrvnju meunarodne pravde, ali i veli inu nekih njihovih susjeda Muslimana, koji unato osobnim tragedijama zbog gubitka bližnjih, nisu željeli lažno svjedo iti pred sudom. HK: Ima li još u medijskom prostoru RH mjesta za iseljeni ka ulaganja u TV ili novine? V. Starešina: Mjesta svakako ima, pitanje je ima li interesa i novca. Hrvatskoj nedostaje jedan ozbiljan i kvalitetan politi ki tjednik. Arhai no je rei – tjednik hrvatske orijentacije, jer bi se to u normalnoj državi valjda trebalo podrazumijevati. No u Hrvatskoj nije tako; u hrvatskom tjedniku Globus vas, recimo pou avaju kako bi za državu bilo dobro i korisno, da TV Novu, koja ima koncesiju na državnoj razini, preuzme srpska mafija. Dakako da bi bilo idealno da iseljeništvo može kupiti Novu TV. No bojim se da je, kako vi kažete “hobotnica” i tu ve obavila posao, proizvodei ulaga ku apatiju meu iseljeništvom, a s druge strane pripremajui one koji e preuzeti televiziju – a da baš na prvi pogled ne izgledaju kao srpska mafija. Formatted for CROWN by Croatian Chronicle Subscribe to Croatian Chronicle letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8558/1/E-Dr-Borislav-Arapovic-Croatian-humanist-in-Sweden.html Dr Borislav Arapovic  Dr Borislav Arapovic Croatian humanist, honorary director of the Biblical institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Born in  Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1935, studied in Zagreb, emigrated in 1965 to Sweden. Founded The Institute for Translation of The Bible into Languages of (former) Soviet Union.  In 1996 the Russian Academy of Sciences conferred him a doctorate honoris causa. In 1999 he was elected foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. For the creation of the Children’s Bible in 1983, Dr. Arapovic was awarded the Leo Tolstoy medal by the Russian Children’s Fund. He discovered an amazing pacifist sermon given in 1778 by an anonymous Croatian preacher to Croatian soldiers. The sermon was published in German in 1778, in Dutch in 1778 in the Hague, Amsterdam, and Leeuwarden, in Swedish in 1778 in Norrköping, and in 1779 in Stockholm, and in Latvian in Riga - Leipzig in 1804.  Submitted by Darko Zubrinic, Zagrebwww.croatianhistory.net letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7082/1/H-Josip-Konta-akademski-kipar-i-slikar.html Josip Konta   http://www.konta.bi .hr/  Josip Konta je strastveni promotor vlastitog do ivljaja svijeta stvarnosti. Njegovi i ra aji odvode nas na mjesto ra miÅ¡ljanja biti i bitka i poimanja svijeta oko nas i u nama.Roden u Livnu 18.05.1946., diplomirao na Akademiji likovnih umjetnosti u agrebu 1972., postdiplomski studij u majstorskoj radionici prof Antuna Augustincica od 1972-1974. Poslije dvoipolgodinjeg rada na mjestu direktora Ljevaone umjetnina pri Akademiji likovnih umjetnosti u agrebu, ivi i radi kao samostalni umjetnik u agrebu.Rad popracen ni om samostalnih i skupnih i lo bi re ultirao je umjetninama koje se nala e u privatnim birkama kako u Hrvatskoj tako i u ino emstvu.  Sa adovoljstvom Vam predstavljamo Internet stranicu akademskog kipara i slikara Josipa Konte. Na istoj stranici je u kratku biografiju predstavljena virtualna galerija podijeljena po skupinama radova kako bi Vam olaksali uvid u dio velikog opusa ovog umjetnika. Stranica se nala i na adresi http://www.konta.bi .hr/ . Srdacan po drav! Josip Konta, akademski kipar i slikar Bo idara Magovca 163 agreb 10 010 Hrvatska Tel: 01 66 05 111 Mob: 091 53 67 788 e-mail: konta@amisa.hr Web: http://www.konta.bi .hr/   Formatted for CROWN by Ivo Bach  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7083/1/E-Vanja-Rogulj.html  Vanja Rogulj Class:JuniorHometown:Zagreb, CroatiaHigh School:SplitHeight / Weight:6-0 / 165Event:Breast/I.M.NCAA All-American: 2005: 100 Breast (1st), 200 Breast (1st), 200 FR (H.M.); 2004: 100 Breast (H.M.), 200 Breast (H.M.), 400 MR ACC Champion: 2005: 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 400 MR; 2004: 200 Breast, 400 MRUVa Career Bests: 50 Free (21.36), 100 Breast (53.27), 200 Breast (1:56.57), 200 I.M. (1:50.56)Continues to make an impact on the ACC, NCAA and international levels in the breaststroke ... tremendous relay competitor ... had fastest 100 breaststroke split at the 2005 NCAA Championship meet ... represented Croatia in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games ... has the ability to challenge for a NCAA title in the breaststroke ... 2005 Men's ACC Swimmer of the Year ... holds the second-fastest spot in the 100 breast and third spot in the 200 breast on the UVa all-time top times list ... a member of the 200 medley relay team that holds the school record (1:27.70) ... a five-time All-American, including two first-team awards in 2005 ... a five-time ACC champion.2004-2005- Named the Men's ACC Swimmer of the Year ... earned first-team All-America accolades in the 200 breast by finishing fifth at NCAAs ... placed sixth in the 100 breast at NCAA to garner first-team honors as well ... was a member of the 16th-place 200 free relay at NCAAs to earn honorable mention accolades ... won the 200 breaststroke for the second consecutive year at the ACC Championships ... also won the 100 breaststroke at ACCs ... was a member of the ACC title-winning 400 medley relay ... swam in the consolation finals of the 200 I.M. at ACCs (10th) ... swam on the 200 medley relay that set the school record (1:27.70) at the Last Chance Meet held at UVa ... competed in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke at the FINA World Championships in Indianapolis in October 2004 ... was awarded the Ramirez Scholarship. 2003-2004- Earned the first All-America certificates of his career at the NCAA Championships ... finished 10th in the 200-meter breast and 14th in the 100-meter breast at NCAAs to earn two honorable mention honors ... also earned a certificate for swimming the breaststroke leg of Virginia's ninth-place 400 medley relay at the NCAAs ... won the ACC title in the 200 breast at the ACC Championships ... earned All-ACC honors for his second-place finish in the 100 breast at ACCs ... was a member of the Cavaliers' ACC champion 400 medley relay ... represented Croatia at the 2003 World Championships and placed 24th in the 50-meter breaststroke and 38th in the 100 breast ... also competed in the 400-meter medley relay and helped Croatia to a 15th-place finish ... is the Croatian National champion in the 100-meter breast. Prep & Personal- Represented Croatia in the 2000 Olympics held in Sydney, Australia ... holds the Croatian national records in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke ... son of Silvija and Andrija Rogulj ... born February 13, 1982 in Split, Croatia. http://virginiasports.collegesports.com/sports/c-swim/mtt/rogulj_vanja00.htmlUniversity of Virginia Athletics Swimming & Diving  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7084/1/E-Mark-Milovats.html Mark Milovats'Croatian King of Christmas' www.markmilovats.com  Mark Milovats began his career as a pop standards crooner and has been expanding his musical variety with each passing year. He has a rich and powerful voice that has been compared to many of music greats. Mark has taken standards like "Mack the Knife' , "Fly me to the Moon', "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' and "My Way' and given them a powerful new lift without straying too far from the originals. Mark has been compared by industry insiders to, Sinatra, Bennett, Connick and Andy Williams. He is versatile. He engages his live show audiences with song, dance, and laughter. Mark is a true showman. He can go from "Oh Holy Night" to "Luck be a Lady' and then to "Zorba the Greek' as one of the featured dancers. His shows are a delight to see. Mark has appeared on television, radio and in print campaigns. He alsohas been the MC for beauty pageants like Miss Indiana, corporate awards shows and many more. Mark has performed with country music legends like Boots Randolph, ('Yakity Sax' ... 'Benny Hill') Rascal Flatts and has opened for Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdink, Barry Manilow, Perry Como, as well as having numerous leading roles in Musicals.Mark has been a repeat performer for Arnold Palmer and many other celebrities. He was the creator and producer of 7 Sold Out holiday shows to raise monies for the Children's Miracle Network and other Children's Hospitals. WISH-FM's Chris Shovlin has called Mark the 'King of Christmas.' US AIRWAYS / America West Airlines have used Mark's newest song 'You Got Me Thinkin' in one of their recent radio campaigns. USA3000 airlines has been featuring two of Mark's songs on their in flight music stations. He has been featured for the past 7 years on the NBC Thanksgiving Day Parade and is a producers dream. Mark is the WHOLE PACKAGE! A class act who woos audiences of all ages. Interested in booking Mark Milovats to entertain at your next event,corporate function, or concert theatre please call MARKM EnterprisesPhone 412 372-2609 www.markmilovats.com letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 25 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7085/1/E-Katarina-Livljaniae.html   Katarina Livljaniæ     Katarina Livljaniæ, singer and musicologist, is among the leading international specialists in medieval chant performance. Born on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, she decided to become a medieval music performer at a very early age, training at the Zagreb Music Conservatory before moving to France to study voice with Guillemette Laurens and musicology with Marie Noël Colette. She now directs the vocal ensemble Dialogos, specializing in medieval chant and liturgical theatre of the Glagolitic tradition. For her work in this field, she was decorated for cultural achievement by the president of Croatia in 2002.She obtained a Ph.D. at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris, based on research of medieval chant manuscripts of Southern Italy. She is currently Maître de conferences in medieval music at the Sorbonne University in Paris. As a vocalist, she also performs in major international festivals with the ensembles Sequentia and Alla Francesca. She spent a semester as visiting lecturer and directed a gregorian chant schola at Harvard University. In 1998 she founded a chant performance program at the University of Limerick in Ireland. With Benjamin Bagby, director of the ensemble Sequentia, she is invited to several universities in the United States and Canada as a teacher and resident artist (Vancouver, Harvard). She has emerged as an important international speaker about medieval chant performance and publishes articles in specialized reviews worldwide. In 2002 she was artistic advisor at the Early Music Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands. http://www.ensemble-dialogos.org   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7086/1/E-Ivana-Kunc-preparing-a-recital-of-her-fathers-original-songs.html  Ivana Kunc Ivana Kunc comes from a musical family. Her aunt was dramatic soprano Zinka Milanov, and her father noted Croatian composer Bozidar Kunc. Ms. Kunc, a lyric soprano, has performed with numerous opera companies including Opera Northeast, Amato Opera, and Brooklyn Lyric Opera. Some of the roles in her current repertoire include Mimi in La Boheme, Micaela in Carmen, Liu in Turandot, Marguerite in Faust, and Pamina in The Magic Flute.Ivana has performed solo recitals throughout the Tri-State area. Her most recent, “Try to Remember” produced by Boz and the Bard Productions, included Broadway standards as well as classical pieces. Currently, Ms. Kunc is preparing a recital of her father’s original songs.A native New Yorker, Ivana now resides in New Jersey with her husband, guitarist Monroe Quinn. She is also an avid animal rights activist and vegetarian.Hear Ivana sing the song "Strepnja" composed by Bozidar Kunc  Contact Ivana:ivanajoy@yahoo.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 31 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7087/1/E-Marija-Miletic-Dail.html  Marija Miletic DailDirector - Producer - Animator - Filmmakerwww.marijamileticdail.comWork HistoryEducationBiographyAdditional Information WORK HISTORY 2005 - Supervising Director for animated series - European Studio 1999 - Co-directed the feature animation film “Madeline lost in Parisâ€? for DIC Animation Studio. 1996-1998 - Produced and directed 24 half hours of “Casper the friendly ghostâ€? series for UNIVERSAL STUDIO. 1989-1995 - Independently produced and directed three half hour specials for the ABC NETWORK in USA in own studio ANIMATION COTTAGE, utilizing up to 200 people, domestic and foreign. Directed and animated 10 min. promotional for the opening of MGM hotel and park in Las Vegas. Produced and directed three half hour specials for the Christian TV Network. Produced and directed the environmental short “Think Earthâ€?, and an educational 15 min. spot. 1989 - Produced and directed eight half-hour of “Kissyfurâ€? for DIC Studio and NBC Network. 1984-1987 - Producer and Supervising Director at the MARVEL STUDIO for the ABC series “Little Wizardsâ€?, syndicated series “Moondreamersâ€?, “Glo-friendsâ€?, and “Jemâ€?. 1983 - Animation Director and Designer for STUDIO OPERATIONS. Animated the trailer for the Disney feature film “Black cauldronâ€?. Produced and directed musical video for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, “Olympiad Iâ€?. 1980-1982 - FILMATION STUDIO â€" Animation Director and Layout Supervisor. 1977-1980 - HANNA BARBERA â€" Presentation designer. 1975-1977 - FREELANCE ARTIST â€" TV commercials (Toyota, Toys R Us, Kleenex etc.), book illustrator, independent short animation films. 1970-1975 - ANIMEDIA â€" Animator and Art director. 1968-1970 - HANNA BARBERA â€" Animator. Started in animation at “Zagreb Filmâ€? studio in Zagreb, Croatia.Upon immigrating to Canada and Hollywood independently produced directed and animated three shorts, one of which, “Why Not?â€? received “The best of animation awardâ€? in Switzerland. back to top ^ EDUCATION1981 Earned the Master’s Degree (MFA) from UCLA in theater Arts, majoring in animation.Was offered to lecture at the animation workshop with a promise of professorship. She did it simultaneously with working at the studio for two years. The double duty proved too taxing and she had to decide for the better paying job at the studio.Still keeps in touch with students, who want her input. back to top ^ BIOGRAPHY Marija was born in Zagreb, Croatia, just before the WWII started. She remembers seeing clusters of bombs falling down on her town and learning at the same time the valuable lesson of “Golden ruleâ€?. She and her brother’s home teacher held their hands as they looked skyward and Marija said, “Oh,God, let those bombs fall anywhere else, but not here.â€? The teacher looked down at her and said: “You gave God an impossible task, Marija. What if others are praying the same prayer?â€? Her brother Anthony wrote and she illustrated their “house newspapersâ€? as children and young adults, and through writing about a daily life in their communist country, they got in trouble. Brother Anthony, at age eighteen, was sentenced to eight years in prison, where he contracted hepatitis three times and died of chyrosys, not even reaching his best years of life. He managed to escape to Canada, where Marija followed a year later. She continued with her artistic endeavors, once she learned enough English. Until that time she washed dishes in restaurant, picked fruit for canning industry, and picked worms at night on golf courses for fishermen. Anything to stay alive and above board. She made a point of learning a word of English every day and using it. The articles of “aâ€? and “theâ€? have always presented a problem, since they don’t exist in her language. After about two years in Canada she got a job in an animation studio, and worked there ten years. Bill Hanna of Hanna-Barbera called her to come and join his company in Hollywood, to which she responded enthusiastically. She was by this time a divorced, single mother with two daughters and a mother to take care of. In Hollywood she worked as an animator, designer, writer (“Janeâ€? the pilot for Edgar Rice Burrows comic strip). She gave them the idea to write “Janeâ€? in 1974, “The year of womenâ€?. She directed and produced animation series and features for Hanna-Barbera, Marvel and Universal Studios. She met her husband Sukhdev while both worked at H&B in 1968. Marija started her own studio “Animation Cottageâ€? and produced a series of specials for the ABC network. Her last job in Hollywood was directing and producing 24 half hours of “Casper the friendly ghostâ€? series for television. She writes and directs her own films and participates in animation festivals in France and Croatia. Since her homeland became a free and democratic country, she travels there every year, since she has a house there and many friends. Marija’s next project is a story about Joe Magarac, the Legend of the Allegheny Mountains. She made a five minute film presentation of it, while presenting her thesis for Master Degree at UCLA in 1982. “Joe Magaracâ€? is a genuine American legend, which has its roots in Croatian immigration and steel and mine workers of Pennsylvania. Maria’s father and brother worked in the steel industry in Hamilton, Ontario â€" and she feels it’s up to her to tell the story, since she is Croatian/American â€" just like “Joe Magaracâ€?. back to top ^ ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONMember of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Member of the Board of Directors of ASIFA, Won the “Best of Animation Awardâ€? at the International Film Festival in Switzerland, 1974, for the film “Why Not?â€? Won the “Presidential Awardâ€? in 1992 for the environmental film “Think Earthâ€?. Lectured on animation at UCLA, LACC and Cal Arts (Disney college). TV Reviews in Los Angeles Times wrote on 4th Feb. 1989: “… as director Marija Dail and the artists at the Animation Cottage studio managed to imbue P.J. (animation character) with an agreeably bouncy way of moving. Their attention to details like shading the character to suggest shadows and highlights gives the program a richness that’s rarely seen on Saturday morning television. These animators are clearly capable of interesting work…â€? Marija was included into the chosen group of “Creatives in Animationâ€? in the “Animation Magazineâ€? March 1997 issue, page 18. In 2005, Marija published Pixletown - The World Found and is presently writing Joe Magarac - The Legend of the Allegheny Mountains.  Contact: dailart@comcast.net  Op-edJust a small addition to the above biography from a personal and professional point of view. Marija is 'Odlikasica' with a huge heart for Croatia and Croatians. She was one of the first to help me with Can We Go Higher? Video that was produced at the very beginning of the war. Generous to many as I personally witnessed... and gave a lot for our country, silently, without asking anything for herself. Talented as the best come. Her vision of Joe Magarac should be supported long time ago to become a feature animation film. Croatia should have an ear to help Marija create an epic that involves Croatian characters form the American legends. It is still not too late. It comes down to the same song I always sing. So much talent and so little collective support. Croatia as a country needs to create a STRUCTURE OF SUPPORT for her best daughters and sons, who are so undeniably representing Croatian culture around the world. Marija Miletic Dail, certainly deserves your attention.  Nenad Bach, New York August 26th, 2005 Joe Magarac:Joe Magarac is a genuine American Legend with roots in Croatian as well as other nationalities' immigration.The story evolves around the lives of steel mill and mine workers of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains at the turn of the century. Joe Magarac is a hero who helped save many a live and changed the course of the steel industry forever.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 25 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7088/1/E-VJEKOSLAV-MARTINKO-live-the-life-beyond-the-main-stream.html  VJEKOSLAV MARTINKOHeritage - Tradition - Friendship - Creativity Look for the life style that is alternative to the 'main stream' Live the life beyond the 'main stream' Make sustainable change of person, community and environment the first priority. VJEKOSLAV MARTINKOOwner and Chief Executive OfficerLOVRANSKE VILE d.o.o.(Lovran, Croatia) Heritage - Tradition - Friendship - Creativity vjeko@lovranske-vile.com www.lovranske-vile.com  Short Description of your company/business: Company Lovranske Vile Ltd., was established in 1996 with the main objective of developing Unique Concepts in Holiday Living, which address the personal needs of each and every guest. It is intended to blend the Croatian natural and human heritage with a warm personal approach, friendly environment and high comfort levels, while enhancing creativity and personal health. Our activities include purchasing and reconstructing historical properties in north Adriatic seaside town Lovran and converting them into the top of the range tourist facilities, consultation in local development. We provide hospitality services according to the formulas:-           self catering apartments in historical seaside villas;-           rental of country farm house for holiday ;-           hotel-restaurant with spa and conference services; and-           destination management services.   Mr. Martinko with his son Hrvoje on the leftand personnel of Hotel 'Villa Astra'   Mr. Martinko planting cherry tree on farm 'Oraj'   What is your vision on Entrepreneurship? My entrepreneurship is holistic. It's entrepreneurship of life. It involves my whole person. It is an inside-out process. I would like to create positive change (wealth creation) by realizing certain potential but I can do it only if I am open for positive changes in myself. Instead of repeating experiences of the past, judging others and then planning and acting, my action is starting from my heart based on feelings, tuning in to future and bringing it to present by exploring all future possibilities. This requires reshaping of the will from ego-centred (small self) to the essence (real self) or 'Grand will'. My everyday spirituality and ethics are actively involved in change/business I am undertaking. Although I often experience cultural clash it helps me to steer my inner change and growth. How did your started your business? After 10 years in corporate business in Croatia and 15 years in leading position in global company in the Netherlands I decided to get out of my corporate life at the age of 48 in spite of possibility for further working opportunities. I have decided to stop and return home. Without any specific plan I came to medieval sea side town Lovran in a search for the family holiday property. This was the moment when in new state Croatia social properties were turned into private. Owners of apartments in historical seaside villas built in 19th century for tourism purposes were selling it after buying it out from the state. I saw the possibility to turn them to high quality accommodation facilities combining with different packages for holiday experience. What are the five most five important feature of a businessman/women? Please rank them in decreasing importance. to have a feeling and ability to recognize potentials and  future trendsto know yourself and have developed self observation capabilityto have self development/growth plan to have necessary education, skills and lifelong learning attitude to have motivation/desire to change the world for the better What is your expectation from the Government in supporting favourable business and regulatory environment? -Provide strategic development plans for region and local communities-Provide subsidies for renovation of heritage properties-Provide free consultancy to entrepreneurs when they start business-Organise providers and suppliers into the cluster (tourism)-Support and subside environment protection projects undertaken by private enterprises What is the role of an enterprise/business in the current globalized world?  Mr. Martinko -on the right- receiving annual reword from Ministry of environmental protection for preservation of farm house Oraj as example for sustainable development To secure sustainable wealth creation by creating new jobs, making positive social impact on its employees and the community and protection of the environment. Networking with related partners on the global scene. What do you understand on business responsibility?  Securing profit for sustainable growthNecessity for quality assuranceFairness toward customers and sub suppliersEducation and the personal growth of its employees Development of the civil society sector in its environment Respect for the environment   What do you do for the civil society? -We gave initiative and assisted in establishing NGO 'Lovrana nostra'-NGO for heritage protection in the local community. -Initiative for the integrated local development-Partnership with 'Eco Liburnia', an NGO for sustainable development and bio agriculture.-Donations to several humanitarian NGOs What is your hobby? Do you have time to practice it? Mr. Martinko relaxing near labyrinth built near farm house Oraj Mr. Martinko with his children Marija and Hrvoje on the top of Risnjak mountain -Writing-Reading -WalkingWhat do you think as important for the current and next generation? What is your message to the society as a whole? Look for the life style that is alternative to the 'main stream' and live the life beyond the 'main stream'. Make sustainable change of person, community and environment the first priority.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 06 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7089/1/E-Tomislav-S-Peric---Media-Relations-Expert.html  Tomislav S. Peric’  Tomislav S. Peric’ is president of Galileo Communications Inc., a communications consulting firm that specializes in creating editorial products and initiating aggressive public relations campaigns on behalf of its clients. Tom’s client list includes the largest developer of embedded software in the world, the 25th largest privately held company in the United States, the 12th largest investor-owned utility in the United States, the third largest business-to-business publisher in the United States, the Republic of Croatia, the largest architectural firm in Ohio, the most influential trade expert in Ohio and one of the nation’s top supply chain experts.A Cleveland, Ohio native, Tom forged his editorial expertise with a decade-long stint as a senior reporter with American News Features Syndicate in Washington, D.C. Tom spent an additional seven years as a journalist in Northeast Ohio, serving as a business editor of a daily newspaper and holding various senior editorial positions on a variety of magazines, including senior editor at Cleveland Magazine. He helped launch editorial products in his areas of expertise for two Penton Media publications, one focusing on small business (Managing Small Business magazine) and the other on the HVACR industry (HVACR Distribution Business magazine). He has worked with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and the Convention and Visitors Bureau on a variety of editorial and public relations projects.He is the editor of the award-winning (in its first year) B2B Marketing Trends.His 1994 article, The House of Martin, won an award as the best reported magazine feature in Ohio.In the public relations field, he is known for obtaining remarkable results with his media relations campaigns. One client with a national practice had approximately $5,000 to $10,000 worth of media coverage annually before enlisting Tom’s assistance. In less than two years, his publicity program garnered the client more than $1.4 million in media coverage. In the process, he turned one of the company’s principals into the most published writer in his industry (excluding professional writers or columnists). He has also written advertising copy and speeches for various CEOs.Tom was born of Croatian parents in a refugee camp in Europe and immigrated to the United States as a child. He opened his first business at 19. He sold it several years later and attended The American University in Washington, D.C., on several academic scholarships, including a Scripps-Howard National Journalism Scholarship. He studied communications and history as an undergraduate and international affairs as a graduate student.Tom has extensive teaching experience as an instructor of writing and as a speaker on how the media works. He has taught at the University of Maryland, the University of Akron, Lakeland (Ohio) Community College and Camden County (New Jersey) College. Tom earned his Certified Toastmaster with Toastmasters and served as vice president of public relations for the oldest Toastmasters club in New Jersey. He is the author of Wacky Days: How to Get Millions of $$$ in Free Publicity by Creating Your Own “Realâ€? Holiday & Other Tactics Used by Media Experts (Gregson & Lestrade).In 1997 he started Galileo Communications Inc., which has offices in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Cleveland Ohio. Tom lives in Haddonfield, N.J., with his wife, Cheryl Federline, an international trade expert, formerly with a Fortune 200 company and the Greater Cleveland Growth Association where she served as deputy director of the World Trade Center. They have a son, Andrew, 11, who recently was the highest scoring 5th-grader in the New Jersey State Geography championship.www.wackydays.com Order a book: orders@wackydays.com Telephone orders: toll free 1-866-WACKYDAYS (922-5932)Op-ed:The book is worth every penny. Buy it.Nenad  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 27 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7090/1/E-Ana-Petercic-Buzancic---Art-Around-the-Neck.html   Ana Petercic Buzancic - Art Around the Neck     My pleasure in silk painting is in creating accessories that complement everyday wear and make it unique.   One of a kind Scarfwww.artaroundtheneck.com   Ana Petercic Buzancic  Growing up surrounded by stage art and costumes influenced my creative direction. Color choice and composition are determined during involvement with the process of making the piece. My design scheme--partly figurative and naturalistic, partly abstract--uses characteristic swirls combined with geometric patterns and are intensely saturated with color. My pleasure in silk painting is in creating accessories that compliment everyday wear and make it unique.I grew up in Zagreb, Croatia in an artistic family. My mother was a ballerina and my father an actor. Growing up surrounded by stage art and costumes has influenced my creative direction. I studied fashion and design at University in Zagreb and subsequently worked as costume designer. Shortly thereafter I began painting on silk, realizing my interest in depicting the natural beauty of my country trough the texture and fluidity of the fabric. In 1993 moved to Chicago where I continued to develop and hone my talents as a fiber artist.I think my work reflects the boldness and drama of theater. When faced with canvas, a blank piece of silk, I think how to incorporate a variety of tones that will accent the colors worn in everyday clothing and yet enhance the overall effect.Both abstract and figurative, my designs are intensely saturated with color.Using “sertiâ€? the French approach to fabric design, combined with tie-resist, shibori and block printing, I create art to wear. My pleasure in silk painting is in creating accessories that complement everyday wear and make it unique.     Contact: phone: 847-676-1763 anasilkdesign@comcast.net   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 21 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7094/1/E-50-years-of-photography-for-Don-Wolf.html   50 years of photography for Don Wolf Photo by DON WOLF  By BRANT STACYKansan Staff WriterDon Wolf has experienced a lot of powerful moments during his lifetime.Wolf, a local photographer and Kansas City, Kan., native will display his 50 years of photography at the Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. Fourth St., from noon to 5 p.m. beginning today. The exhibit will also be on display Sunday and continue on Saturday's and Sunday's until July 30. Wolf said the exhibit will give him an opportunity to share with friends and family the extent of his work."For the first time in my life, I have an opportunity to share with my friends, clients and family my experiences," he said. "So many people have fragmented concepts of what I do. They don't really understand. This will be a chance to show them the scope of my work."Wolf began his career as a photographer when he was 14 years old, he said. One of the first pictures he took was of the 1951 flood in Kansas City, Kan. He said he photographed the area using a camera that his uncle, Johnny, brought him from World War II. In 1956, he joined the Navy, serving as an aerial photographer for two years aboard the U.S.S. Kearsage, he said. During his time on the ship, he would shoot pictures of landings, take-offs, and officer portraits. He also said one of his most treasured shots he ever took was aboard this ship."I was asked by the captain to photograph our ship heading back from Japan to the United States," Wolf said. "In order to do that, I told the captain we needed to turn it around because of the sun. It costs $12,000 to do this, but it was one of the most powerful moments in my whole life."Before Wolf initially became a crewmember upon the U.S.S. Kearsage, he was given an opportunity by the Navy to enroll in college. Between graduating from high school and his first year at Donnelly College, in KCK, he said he spent the summer in photography school."In 1955, I spent the summer in Oakland, Calif., in photo school," Wolf said. "Then, I went to Donnelly and upon graduation in 1956, I went aboard the U.S.S. Kearsage."After two years at sea, Wolf returned to Kansas City, Kan., in the fall of 1958, to begin his career as a commercial photographer. He said his first professional camera was a 4-by-5 speed graphic camera that he used to photograph famous faces and his travels throughout the world. He said he has photographed presidents Harry S. Truman and Richard Nixon, as well as singer, Tony Bennett and actress, singer and dancer, Ginger Rogers. He said in 1979, he brought his camera along to Croatia when he went to visit his grandparents. In later years, he said he went on a European tour with former Kansas City, Kan., mayor Carol Marinovich.Several years later, Wolf said he purchased two large studio cameras, a Sinar 4-by-5 and a Sinar 8-by-10 that he only used in his first studio he had for 25 years called Wolf Photography. These cameras he used to photograph everything from furniture to automobiles."I had Wolf Photography for about 25 years," Wolf said. "I then sold it because I thought I was going to die at 64 like my father did."After Wolf sold his business, he said he realized that he was 64 and still alive. He went to Johnson County Community College for several years to teach studio lighting, and during that time he received numerous calls asking him to restart his business. He contemplated the idea for awhile, then decided to get things rolling again."I called up several people that used to work for me, and a friend and we put the business back together again," Wolf said. "This business we called New Vision Photography, which is still located in a 15,000 square-foot building at 3117 Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kan."Wolf said he has been at this studio for about 20 years. He said the new studio is great for photographing large objects because it is so big. He said he works with a lot of clients who bring their products to his studio for him to photograph.Pat Malinak, studio manager for New Vision photography, said she met Wolf 20 years ago while she was working as a model. She said the first time he spoke to her he used a Croatian greeting."Since his family is of Croatian descent he thought I was, because of my last name," Malinak said. "I joined his staff at Wolf Photography as a production manager until he closed it."Malinak said a few years ago, Wolf called her asking if he could use her studio she had recently purchased at 3117 Merriam Lane. She said she agreed, and since then she, Wolf and the original members of Wolf Photography came back together to create New Vision Photography."We all just fell back together two and a half years ago," Malinak said.Malinak said she has always been impressed by Wolf's incredible energy. She said she is constantly amazed of how well liked he is."He's a very benevolent man, and I respect him for that," Malinak said. "All of his images I love. It's hard to just choose one."Matthew Fey, an account executive with J. Schmid Associates, a direct marketing agency, said he and his company have worked with Wolf for quite a few years. He said Wolf does a lot of photography for catalogs and direct mail pieces."He has provided us with stellar photography over the years," Fey said. "He is the man we turn to when we need incredible catalog shots."Fey said he considers he and Wolf's relationship both a professional and friendly one. He said a lot of people at his office attribute a grandfatherly figure to him, and are impressed by the level of quality and professionalism he brings to his work."He's just a humble master and down to earth," Fey said. "His level of knowledge is sublime."Nate Accardo, chief executive officer and chairman of Custom Colors, is another one of Wolf's clients, who has also been a friend and former 15-year partner of Wolf's since the 1960s. He said over the years Wolf's work has done nothing but gotten better."He has a great attitude about what he does and it comes through in his photography," Accardo said. "After 50 years few people are still excited about their work, and he is."Accardo said he wouldn't miss the exhibit down at the museum. He said he respects Wolf's creativity and his willingness to do what it takes."He's a good guy and extremely creative," Accardo said. "His attitude separates him from the rest of the world."Adrienne Nastav, a volunteer at the Strawberry Hill Museum, who is helping Wolf set up his exhibit, said Wolf has always been involved with the museum through its Croatian exhibit. She said he has donated many of his family photos and pictures he took while in Croatia to the museum."Besides his Croatian photos, he has helped raise $700,000 for orphanages in Croatia," Nastav said. "He even adopted a child during the war and brought her back to the United States. When it was safe, he returned her back home."Nastav said one of the most interesting things about Wolf is his creativity as well as his unselfish volunteerism. She said he is able to excel in all aspects of his life."He has inspired me to go back and try doing black and whites," Nastav said. "He proves that photography can be accomplished whether you take a picture in your backyard or in a foreign country."Wolf said he has come along way since he first acquired that camera from his uncle Johnny. He said he does mainly studio work now, and most of his clients are outside the Kansas City, Kan., area. Everything is also completely digital now, he said."We are all 100 percent digital," Wolf said. "We are also one of the best kept secrets in Kansas City, Kan."Wolf said the exhibit will be broken up into images of Strawberry Hill, Navy and travel and commercial work. He said the exhibit will reflect his diversity throughout the years."If I would've concentrated on one aspect of photography I would've gotten bored," Wolf said. "Everyday is different. You get to go places and meet all kinds of people. It was a good life and still is."http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2005/05/09/news/local/news2.txt  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7093/1/EH-Visnja-Coric---Artist---Slikarica-from-Kiseljak.html   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7092/1/EH-Boris-Hodak-Artist---Akademski-slikar---from-Sarajevo.html  Hodak Boris - Artist - Akademski slikarHyper-sensible interpreter of our fears and desires  I was born in 1970. in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina where I  still live. I started to paint 1993. Those early paintings were made in realism manner, in oil technique.Graduated at The Academy of Fine Arts (ALU), Sarajevo 2001.in the class of Prof.Radoslav Tadic. In those years I was working on definition of my style and exploring within graphic techniques, sculpture and painting. Nowadays I am mostly working with oil painting and photo collage in combination with oil and acrylic interventions.I’m regular member of Bosnia & Herzegovina Association of Artists (ULUBiH) and Croatian Cultural Association (HKD “Napredak”).I’m invited to represent BiH on the Florence Biennale 2005. I have participated in several group exhibitions.Most recent:- 10. Fine Arts Annual (Likovna Udruga HKD Napredak) Sarajevo, 2004-Collegium Artisticum 2005. (ULUBiH) Sarajevo, 2005. Web page:www.surrealistica.tk Email:borhodak@hotmail.com   Hodak Boris – Akademski slikar Rodio sam se 1970. godine u Sarajevu gdje i danas zivim. Sa slikarstvom se pocinjem baviti 1993. godine. Ti rani radovi su radjeni u realistickom maniru - tehnika ulje. Studirao sam na Akademiji Likovnih Umjetnosti - Sarajevo u periodu od 1996-2001. godine, gdje sam i diplomirao u klasi Prof. Radoslava Tadica 2001. godine. U tom sam periodu radio na definiciji svog stila i istrazivao u sferi grafickih tehnika, skulpture i slikarstva sa posebnim osvrtom na tehnologiju stafelajskog i zidnog slikarstva. Danas radim slike u ulju i fotokolaze u kombinaciji sa uljem i akrilikom. Ucestvovao sam na vise grupnih izlozbi u Sarajevu. Posljednje:-        10. Likovno Annale - Udruga Likovnih Umjetnika HKD Napredak, Sarajevo, 2004.-        Collegium Artisticum 2005. –  Izlozba povodom 6. Travnja Dana Oslobodjenja Grada Sarajeva, ULUBiH, Sarajevo, 2005.  Pozvan sam da predstavljam BiH na Bijenalu u Firenci 2005, ali zbog financijske situacije i nerazumijevanja u BiH nisam u mogucnosti da izlozim svoj rad na Bijenalu. Clan sam HKD Napredak i ULUBiH-a. Web stranica:www.surrealistica.tk Email:borhodak@hotmail.com    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7091/1/E-Stjepan-Vlahovich---Collecting-Croatian-textiles.html  Stjepan VlahovichCollecting Croatian textiles "I love the fact that peasants, sometimes looked down upon as simple people, created such sophisticated work."Stjepan Vlahovich Short Biography:  Stjepan Vlahovich is a second generation Croatian-American whose Grandfather emigrated to the US from the Zumberak region of Croatia and settled in Cleveland. Mr. Vlahovich's interest in Croatian folk dress and textiles began during the eleven years he was a dancer and singer with Zivili, a Columbus-based ensemble that featured Croatian folk dances and songs in its repertoire. After retiring from Zivili, Mr. Vlahovich began collecting folk dress and textiles during annual trips to Croatia. He has visited there nineteen times. Here's the more involved version of the story:My interest in Croatian folk culture came from a desire to explore my family heritage. My Grandfather emigrated from the Zumberak region of Croatia to the United States in the late 19th century. He eventually settled in Cleveland, where my Father was born and raised. Although I have Croatian ancestry, I grew up in Washington, DC where I had virtually no contact with Croatian culture. However, between my freshman and sophomore years at The Ohio State University, I visited Croatia for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the experience. After my return from that trip, I took as many college courses that related to Croatian history and literature as I could. By chance, I also took a folk dance class, which sparked an interest in folk dancing.Several years after graduating from Ohio State, I became a dancer and singer with Zivili, a folk dance ensemble that was based in Columbus. The majority of Zivili's repertoire was from Croatia. I was with Zivili for eleven years and performed with them throughout Ohio and the Midwest, in New York City, at the Epcot Center, at the 1983 World's Fair in Knoxville, and in Croatia. Through my experience with Zivili, I had my first contact with Croatian folk dress and textiles. In 1986, after retiring from Zivili, I began annual trips to Croatia. It was then that I started to assemble my collection of textiles. I started buying them because they were the most unusual and interesting things I saw in the market. I was attracted by their great beauty. I was drawn to their intricate designs, incredible use of color, and amazing variety. My collection began very haphazardly. I just picked up the things I came across that attracted my attention. As my knowledge and interest evolved, I tried to be more systematic, seeking pieces from all over Croatia that represent the rich variety of materials, designs, and techniques used by Croatian women in their textile art. I love the fact that peasants, sometimes looked down upon as simple people, created such sophisticated work. One thing I'd appreciate being known on your site is my interest in having exhibitions of materials from my collection at other places. (There have been three so far, all in Ohio.) As you will see when you receive the photos from Notre Dame College, I have collected some beautiful pieces that have a great deal of symbolic meaning. I would like for more people to be able to see and appreciate this wonderful Croatian textile artwork. Let me know if you have any questions about this information. I look forward to chatting with you again some time.Stjepan Vlahovich A Croatian folk dress from Bizovac in Slavonija Op-edDear All,If you are interested to see this extraordinary - ordinary collection, please contact Stjepan at, as he calls himself  NarodMan@aol.com  In my eyes, you are nothing but special. Because of people like you CROWN exist. Because of the sprits like yours, we have been able to rise above obvious. Thank you, and everybody please support Stjepan and invite him to your city with his exhibition. As soon as possible. CROWN will promote it all the way. The world is yours.Nenad  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 09 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7095/1/E-Frank-Radosevic-Veteran-headhunter-not-slowing-down.html  Frank Radosevic a Veteran headhunter not slowing down "the quality remains long after the price is forgotten." Photo: Diana Casanova/The Daily TranscriptVeteran headhunter not slowing downBy MICHAEL BUCHANAN, The Daily TranscriptFriday, February 18, 2005After 35 years in the business, Frank Radosevic is considered the most senior executive search consultant in the United States. As president and founder of the local headhunting firm Radosevic Associates, Radosevic has placed countless executives with companies specializing in consumer electronics, telecommunications, biotechnology and various other industries.Last September, at the annual Executive Search Summit in New York, Radosevic was named the most senior retainer executive search consultant in the United States.Sitting in his home office in Carmel Valley, the 72-year-old native of Croatia said he has no plans to retire any time soon."I believe in what I'm doing," Radosevic said. "There is no more important job."Radosevic wasn't always a headhunter. He spent his early years studying engineering and living in various countries as a political exile during turbulent times in Europe. Consequently, he received engineering degrees from three different universities in Croatia, Austria and Germany.In 1962, he came to the United States as part of an immigration program sponsored by the United States government. Radosevic jokes about being the ideal candidate for the program."I was single, educated and healthy," Radosevic said. "I was the perfect European slave."Slave or not, Rados evic soon found engineering work. He designed vacuum furnaces for Hevi-Duty Heat Treating Co. and later moved on to become vice president of engineering and operations for Hughes Aircraft Co. in the late 1960s.While working for Hughes, Radosevic was often asked his opinion of engineers who applied for work there. This led to Radosevic's career as a headhunter.Back then, there wasn't really a headhunting field. "Even today, the U.S. Labor Department does not have a classification number for it," Radosevic said.In 1970, he went to work for San Diego-based VIP Employment Agency as director of the "high-tech" department. Back then terms such as "retainer," "compensation package" and "severance pay" were either rare or unheard of. Radosevic developed his own, patented methods for headhunting. One such method involved having his corporate clients write out an extensive "search position profile" for a job opening to spell out a company profile, employment conditions, ideal candidates and other key aspects of the job.A typical profile could be eight pages long for a vice president and nearly 30 pages long for a president. On the flip side, he also came up with a profile for job candidates that included everything from extensive references to what mistakes the person has learned from on the job.Radosevic recalled one experience where he asked his client why they chose to hire someone who had completed one of Radosevic's profiles. The head of the company told him, "Because I made the same mistakes," Radosevic said.Radosevic started his own firm in 1979. In the beginning, he worked with companies involved in high technology and nuclear and military electronics because those were the driving industries in San Diego.Since then, not only have more industries arrived, old industries have branched out, he said. For example, what used to be called the "medical industry," is now divided into bioinformatics, diagnostics, drug discovery instrumentation and software, biomedical and so on.This poses challenges for headhunters, who have to stay on top of all those industries to do the job, Radosevic said."Our job is to understand and differentiate," Radosevic said. "A competent headhunter is not particularly an expert in any one of those fields; his or her expertise is understanding the industry."Having placed people in jobs worldwide, Radosevic said San Diego poses another unique problem: the high cost of living."San Diego, a city of 3 million people, is considered one of the most expensive areas regarding the cost of affordable housing," Radosevic said. "It is essential to consider that aspect of relocation when recruiting people from other areas."According to Radosevic, people should look for the same things in a headhunter as they do a financial planner: knowledge, experience, familiarity, trust and confidentiality. While he finds it difficult to define his job, he applies the old saying, "if you're in the business long enough, then you know the ropes.""The end of the rope is not when the candidate is hired," Radosevic said. "It's when the guarantee is up and beyond, in order to create the repeatable business."In his office, Radosevic keeps the first three dollars he made as a consultant in a frame on one wall. He also has a statue of Santa Claus on his desk to remind him "to always give something," and a picture on one wall bearing his firm's motto, "the quality remains long after the price is forgotten."Friday, February 18, 2005editor@sddt.com http://www.sddt.com Source Code: 20050218tbb letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 23 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8368/1/E-End-of-the-world-but-the-beginning-of-everything-Logbook.html  “End of the world but the beginning of everything.”Logbook of the m.s.Andrea USHUAIA — ANTARCTICAJanuary 6-15, 2005 www.elegantcruises.com/  First Wedding on the AntarticaIn late afternoon the wedding of Jessica and David Wilborntook place ashore at Orne Harbor. A crowd gathered on a smallsnow covered slope, Dick gave the preamble and then CaptainPazanin conducted the service –pronouncing them man and wife.Then Praba and Jittu sang a traditional Sanskrit song of goodwishes for the bride and groom. Then the revelers were taken ona zodiac tour of the area and then back to the ship for a champagnecelebration. We remained at anchor all night in this beautiful area. expedition leader: Dr.KimCrosbieassistant E. L.: Sonja Messicklecturers: Dick Cameron, Gustavo Lovrich, Nanette SchleichMonday, 6 December ushuaia, argentinaThe m.s. Andrea calmly awaited dockside for its passengers whilethe crew was stowing supplies, preparing staterooms, and settingtables for dinner. The expedition crew was also busy checkingradios, and practicing Zodiac launching from the bow area.The passengers arrived at about 1600 hrs and were shown totheir cabins and their luggage appeared as well. All received theirown luggage and for the crew there was a sigh of relief, for whenluggage is misplaced immediate confusion breaks out with everyonesearching everywhere for the missing piece.A buffet of sandwiches, pastries, tea and coffee was set in theKittwake Lounge for the passengers. This allowed them to mingleand get to know one another. Dr. Kim Crosbie, Expedition Leader,took advantage of this gathering to introduce the expedition staff :Sonja Messick (Assistant Expedition Leader), Dick Cameron,Nanette Schleich, and Gustavo Lovrich.People then had the chance to familiarize themselves with theship by taking a nice walkabout. The Mandatory Life Boat andSafety at Sea Drill was postponed as cargo was still being loaded.Dock workers were on strike so the cargo had to be brought tothe ship by small boat and then loaded through the starboard side(the port side was along the dock). Just before 2000 hrs the shipbegan to maneuver from the dock and by 2007 hrs. the Andreawas full away. And then in short order the mandatory drill tookplace followed by dinner as the passengers were, by this time,famished.Leaving Ushuaia the sign on shore read “End of world but thebeginning of everything.” The Andrea sailed smoothly down theBeagle Channel on its way to Antarctica.Tuesday, 7 December All night long and all day long, the Andrea did her imitation ofRock and Roll. Numerous passengers and a few of the Expeditionstaff were somewhat without sea legs and thus scheduled lecturesand other informative activities were postponed. Severaltimes during the day one heard the crashing of dishes and onewould think that we were attending a Greek wedding.Some lectures were given and they were:A Time to Krill – Gustavo LovrichKrill are the keystone of the Antarctic ecosystem with whales,penguins, and seals depending on krill for sustenance. Krill are themost abundant animal on earth. Gustavo presented informationon numbers of krill, their biology, and the way in which krill studiesare being done.Antarctic Sea Birds by KimOverview of the types of birds and their unbelievable life at sea.Basic Geology by DickThis was an overview of basic geology and a primer on platetectonics and the overall geology of the Antarctic continent.Passengers reported seeing penguins and a whale. The systemworks, as the only real way to enjoy Antarctica is out on deck. At2000 hrs fog appeared and the sea temperature dropped to 0degrees Centigrade. We were crossing the convergence wherecold Antarctic waters meet the warmer seas to the north.In the evening a contest was announced whereby the person whosaw the first iceberg would win a bottle of champagne. The excitementof the passengers was keen but it all came to a halt when at2100 hrs all were notified that it was Ivan, the Ice Captain, was theone who sighted the berg. As he is considered staff he was ineligiblefor the bottle. The berg was sighted at 59 degrees and 25 minutessouth latitude and 62 degrees and 23 minutes west longitude.NOON POSITION: 57°22.7’S 69°28.9’WWednesday, 8 December Icebergs were all over this morning, and under a beautiful bluesky we sailed on Southwards. The first lecture of the day was byNanette, entitled Science in Antarctica Part 1. This lecture explainedthe Antarctic Treaty and how it is the basis of worldwide cooperationand governance of the continent. She also gave a briefoverview of the significant research projects that are underway.Kim conducted a Mandatory Zodiac Briefing whereby the passengerswere given the rudiments of how to board and disembarkfrom these rubber crafts and the do’s and don’ts while in the zodiac.They were also instructed in the IAATO Code of Conduct inAntarctica. The environment on the continent is fragile and theanimals have such a short summer their activities must not beinterrupted.The first landing of the day was to be Aitcho Island in the groupof islands called the South Shetlands. However, the wind wouldnot quit and a landing was impossible. So we sailed on. We founda decent place to land at Half Moon Bay where there was an abandonedboat most likely left by whalers. The landing went smoothlyand we were able have a nice walk to see the Chinstrap penguinsand some Weddell seals. Of course I am only kidding about a nicewalk, as every step of the way on the snow surface was one ofanticipation as to how deep will my foot go this time. This landingwas great as there was plenty of time to spend absorbing this environment.After this good time ashore the passengers returned tothe Andrea to prepare for the Captain’s Welcoming Cocktail Partyand Dinner.During the evening we sailed towards the Weddell Sea side ofthe Peninsula. As we approached the Antarctic Sound the greattabular bergs appeared as if on parade. A beautiful sightNOON POSITION: 62°29.2’S 59°22.0’WThursday, 9 December By early this morning we had passed through the AntarcticSound and were in Terror and Erebus Gulf. The destination wasDevil Island but as we arrived the wind was too strong for a landingso we sailed south along the Prince Gustav Channel that separatesJames Clark Ross Island from the mainland Peninsula. Butbefore long sea ice obstructed further progress and the ship cameabout and we once again headed for Devil Island. This island is astrange one, set in an embayment of the larger island called Vega.The islands in this area are fascinating in two ways. The first isthat the Swedish explorer Nordenskjold wintered on Snow HillIsland in the early 1900’s and the story of his travail and rescue isan amazing one which is yet to be properly appreciated. And secondly,the islands have some interesting Mesozoic and Cenozoicrocks in which numerous unique fossils have been foundincluding the remains of a 6 foot tall penguin.We were able to land on Devil Island as the wind speeddecreased. On the island were large rookeries of Adelie penguinsguarding their precious eggs and it was more than entertaining towatch their antics of communication and their serious attention tothe business of keeping the eggs at a proper temperature. Somepeople climbed to the summit of the island while others watchedpenguins and strolled along the beach.There were several good examples of columnar jointed basaltalong the beach. This jointing is produced when lava flows outonto the surface and cools rapidly. Back to the ship and Gustavotold the fascinating story of Nordenskjold’s expedition with itsunbelievable coincidences of sledge journeys, boat trips, time, andplace that finally reunited the expedition.During the evening we sailed towards Paulet Island wherethere resides a tremendous number of penguins. Enroute, however,the wind increased to a gale over 50km/hr. and the ship had apermanent list to starboard. We could see where the huge rookerywas on Paulet but there was no way to visit the island so wesailed on into the Antarctic Sound and then during the night theship made its way to Deception Island.NOON POSITION: 63°45.7’S 57°16.1’WFriday, 10 December As we awoke we were just off the entrance to Deception Island.The sky was overcast but visibility was reasonable. When passengerswere notified of our position and what we were about to dothe decks were immediately filled and we sailed throughNeptune’s Bellows and into Port Foster. We made directly forPendulum Cove and the morning swim.There were a large number of passengers hardy enough to dothe swim. Steam covered the beach and the shallows. Nanettewas to be the sacrificial lamb so in she went and said the waterwas fine. The rest followed with giggles and oh’s and aw’s. Asswimmers came out they were handed nice heavy towels. Nowthey could brag they had been swimming in Antarctica.Our next stop on Deception Island was Telefon Bay where theeruption of 1967 created a large crater. The passengers climbed tothe crater and viewed this large depression with steep sides and aflat central area, and waterfall on the far side. Kim led a group ofwalker/climbers up and around the crater while the remainderrelaxed and strolled to view a small crater nearby and then back tothe beach. At the beach a group of Weddell seals were sunbathingon the snow so passengers had another opportunity to take a fewphotographs. The number of photos being taken on this trip mustbe phenomenal as cameras seem to be in constant action. In the olddays one could here the clicking of cameras – now they are silent.Onto Whaler’s Bay to view the remains of the old whaling stationand the equipment used for rendering the blubber and storingthe whale oil. Here also are the remains of a British research stationabandoned after the 1967 volcanic eruption. LincolnEllsworth landed here on his historic flight from South America toLittle America in 1935.We left Deception in early evening headed for a landing on thecontinent.NOON POSITION: 62° 56’ S 60°40’ WSaturday, 11 December Early this morning we approached the continent of Antarctica. Itwas with palpable anticipation that the passengers were ready toland on what is known as the Seventh Continent. The Zodiacstook the Redcoats to Selvick Cove of the Antarctic Peninsula andpeople stepped onto a new continent. For many of them it wasindeed their 7th continent while others, especially the youngerpassengers, have a few continents yet to go. Group pictures weretaken and people mingled about on the rocky beach and on thesnow platform beneath the rocky cliff.Taking advantage of surrounding majestic mountains and theirice cover as plateau glaciers and outlet glaciers, Dick gave a brieftalk on glaciology; their classification from ice sheet to ice cap tovalley glacier and how they are formed and how they flow.From here the zodiacs took all to Cuverville Island where therewere several Gentoo penguin rookeries. The water here was veryclear so one could watch the penguins swimming underwater. Anumber of passengers went on a stimulating walk high up on therock for fantastic views of the mountains and glaciers that surroundthe area.With all aboard once again the Andrea sailed from Cuverville forNeumayer Channel, a spectacular waterway between Anvers andWiencke Island. Unable to penetrate the channel very far, the shipcame about with the intention of trying to reach the southernentrance of the Neumayer via the Gerlache Strait. Had we beenable to do this we would have visited Port Lockroy, a Heritage Siterun by the British. But unfortunately ice blocked the Andrea’s pathonce again and at 64 degrees 47 minutes south latitude, the mostsoutherly point reached on this trip, the Andrea headed north.Before long a pod of orcas’ were sighted headed south.In late afternoon the wedding of Jessica and David Wilborntook place ashore at Orne Harbor. A crowd gathered on a smallsnow covered slope, Dick gave the preamble and then CaptainPazanin conducted the service –pronouncing them man and wife.Then Praba and Jittu sang a traditional Sanskrit song of goodwishes for the bride and groom. Then the revelers were taken ona zodiac tour of the area and then back to the ship for a champagnecelebration.We remained at anchor all night in this beautiful area.NOON POSITION: 64°41.0’S 62°38.0’WSunday, 12 December Waking, the passengers could not believe their eyes, for onceagain blue sky and absolutely wonderful calm weather engulfedthem as if embraced by a loved one. Well, that seems to be a littletoo poetic but it indeed was a beautiful day.We arrived at Enterprise Island and a zodiac cruise was initiated.The island is located in Whilemina Bay where whalers wouldbring in the whales for processing. The wreck of the factory shipGuvernorn is there rusting away. The ship was destroyed in a fireon the 27th of January in 1915. Through a hole in the hull wecould see the explosive harpoons that were used to kill the whales.A bygone age. Although the Japanese are still doing some whaling.We cruised around the area and saw many Kelp Gulls and afew Weddell seals. One seal left his snowy perch, entered thewater, and swam past the zodiac creating a fantastic wake. Backto the ship and we sailed north to Ceirva Bay.Into the zodiacs again. This area is the sight of the Argentinestation Primavera which is presently unmanned. These stationscost a great deal to maintain and so it will most likely only be utilizedfor special research projects. The reason for our visit herewas to see leopard seals. Kim knows this Peninsula so well thatindeed we saw a wonderful leopard seal on an ice floe. We wereable to get quite close and get good pictures. As we were concentratingon the seal a Minke whale appeared and began to playwith us. The three zodiacs cut their engines and drifted about asthe whale came up between the boats and then dived under theboats. The passengers and the staff were thrilled with this performance.In the evening we made our last landing on Trinity Islandwhere there was a Argentine Refuge and many Gentoo penguins.This was a somewhat sad visit as the passengers knew this wastheir goodbye to Antarctica. It was a quiet evening with no windand on the ride back to the Andrea we could see golden clouds atthe horizon.The Andrea set sail on a heading of 330 degrees for Cape Horn.NOON POSITION: 64°32.1’S 61°51.2’WMonday, 13 December At sea in the Drake Passage. This cruise has been an extremelylucky with a southern crossing in relatively moderate seas andnow as we head north the seas seem to be behaving once again.Today the activities were confined to shipboard as the zodiacsare stowed away for the crossing. We have had eleven landingswhich is quite remarkable in such a short time.Today’s lectures were:Science in Antarctica II by NanetteNannette devised a research project to determine the amount ofsunlight that penetrates snow. She conducted this work nearScott Base on Ross Island, McMurdo Sound. Her results agreedfavorably with other researchers.Armageddon in Antarctica by GustavoIcebergs scrape the bottom of the sea destroying animal andplant life that have been living for hundreds of years. It will take along, long time for these biota to reestablish their communities.Global Warming by DickA series of examples of warming trends were presented includingcoral reef loss, drying up of Chinese rivers, increased rain andstorms on East coast of the U.S.A°., and finally how the ice coverof Kilimanjaro will be gone in about 15 years. An astute observationby one of the passengers noted that in the map shown amajority of the ice cover disappeared between 1910 and 1923,before real concern about the greenhouse effect.After each lecture there were numerous questions that led tomore questions and a lively ensued.Just before dinner we had the Andrea Quiz with groups of sixanswering 25 questions, doing a crossword puzzle, and composinga song. The creativity of the songs was amazing. The group withthe highest number of points won a bottle of champagne.Dinner was delightful as ever with conversation somewhatmore animated stemming from some of the controversial answersto quiz questions.NOON POSITION: 61°08.0’S 63°33.8’WTuesday, 14 December At sea. Last night the Andrea gave the passengers a taste of theDrake with pitching and rolling for a number of hours. But bybreakfast time the sea had moderated and remained that way forthe rest of the day. By late morning Cape Horn was sighted –South America was in sight.Today the lectures were:How to Cope with Antarctica by GustavoThis talk explained the mechanisms by which the various animalskeep from freezing.Long line fishing and the Albatross by KimThe ongoing slaughter of these birds is a terrible tragedy that iscaused by the birds taking the baitand being pulled under thewater and drowned. Efforts to develop methods to minimizethese deaths were discussed.The Uttermost Part of the Earth by DickTwo books that are about the Beagle Channel area were reviewed.Lucas Bridges was the son of a missionary to the Ushuaia area in1871 and in his book “Uttermost Part of the Earth” he describesthe life in Tierra del Fuego and the various the Indian tribes.Rockwell Kent’s book “Voyaging Southward from the Strait ofMagellan” describes his trip to this area in 1922 and his woodcutsare gorgeous.Rain began to fall as we approached the Beagle Channel. Thefirst bad weather of the trip. We hove to for part of the eveningas we waited for the pilot to take us into Ushuaia. The Captain’sFarewell Cocktail Party and Dinner was a splendid affair. At theend of the Cocktail Party Kim showed a series of photos withAfrican music in the background. The photos were made availablefor those contributing to the Save the Albatross effort andthis wonderful group of passengers all did so.The dinner was magnificent. It was a great finale to this adventure.NOON POSITION 55°54.8’S 66°43.3’WWednessday, 15 December The Andrea arrived at the dock in Ushuaia at 0700 hrs amid abright sunny day and the mountains about the harbor coveredwith powdered sugar. While rain was falling on the lower Beaglelast night snow was dusting the mountains.Disembarkation day is always a day of where did I put my luggage?What time does the bus leave for the airport? And can Iboard the ship again to look for my pen? But it always works outand the passengers leave for their many destinations with happymemories of a wonderful trip to Antarctica and a good feelingabout the Andrea and its crew.NOON POSITION 54°48.5’S 68°16.4’W Captain Stanovic, owner of m.s.Andrea, Nenad Bach, Marilyn Armbruster  For further information regarding our special luxury cruises call your travel agent or contact us at: Elegant Cruises & Tours, Inc. 24 Vanderventer Avenue Port Washington, NY 11050 Ph: 516-767-9302 1-800-683-6767 Fax: 516-767-9303 e-mail: info@elegantcruises.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 13 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7097/1/E-Croatian-Ivan-Zugelj-Charlotte-Symphony-Player.html  Croatian Ivan Zugelj Charlotte Symphony PlayerHelping the architecture of a musical work take shape during a performance.Posted on Sun, Feb. 13, 2005 The challenge of the first-chair job is that other players are taking cues from there. "If you do something wrong," Zugelj explained, "somebody else may make a mistake. Because people are depending on you." But what's "tremendously gratifying," he added, is helping the architecture of a musical work take shape during a performance. "You get this weird thing going where you can sense what the people around you are thinking. It's an awareness that happens in a totally indescribably way."CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY PLAYERS | SEVENTH IN AN OCCASIONAL SERIESHe changed name, instrumentsSTEVEN BROWNClassical Music WriterThe noble strains of Edward Elgar's Symphony No. 1 will cap off the Charlotte Symphony concerts next weekend. As with much of Elgar's music, the symphony's broad melodies and grand sonorities are a musical afterglow of the mighty British Empire of 100 years ago. The sonic underpinning will come in part from the orchestra's double basses, whose co-principal player since 1974 has been Ivan Zugelj.HOMETOWN: McKeesport, Pa., about 20 miles from Pittsburgh.GOING BACK TO ROOTS: The name on Zugelj's birth certificate is John Zugel, a name he was still using when he came to Charlotte. John had come from his mother's father, a native of Croatia who switched from Ivan when he came to the United States. Zugelj's father's family had dropped their surname's final j after immigrating from Slovenia. About 10 years after the maternal grandfather's death, Zugelj was drawn to the original versions. "I can still remember my grandfather saying he didn't like the name John," Zugelj said. "I remember thinking, `If I'm named for this guy, why should I have a name he didn't like?' " So he legally switched.FALSE START: In the first or second grade, Zugelj got an urge to play the accordion. His parents bought an instrument and set him up with lessons. After about six months, he lost interest. But he was stuck. "My parents said, `We spent a lot of money on this. You're going to learn to play it.' "SILVER LINING: One morning a few years later, Zugelj couldn't get up from his bed. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a paralyzing disease set off by a reaction to a polio vaccine. He had to stay home for the sixth grade, studying with tutors. But the ailment at least got him free of the accordion, Zugelj said.RECOVERY: Thanks in part to physical therapy, Zugelj returned to school for the seventh grade. "They were looking for bass players," he recalled. The theory was that kids who had already studied music were better able than beginners to pick out the pitches of low notes. That led to Zugelj. "I had to really work at it," he recalled. "I had a hard time."CHOICE: While he was laid up by Guillain-Barre, Zugelj said, he read a lot and "turned into a science freak." His high school teachers thought he would end up in some scientific field. But he did well in high school music competitions, and he "astounded" his teachers by deciding to aim that way. He earned a music degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.SOUTHLAND: Zugel landed a job in the Atlanta Symphony, where he spent three seasons -- interrupted by not-quite-finished work on a master's degree. When his former wife had a shot at the first-chair flute job with the Charlotte Symphony, Zugelj auditioned and won a spot, too, sharing the top double-bass position.PERSPECTIVE: The challenge of the first-chair job is that other players are taking cues from there. "If you do something wrong," Zugelj explained, "somebody else may make a mistake. Because people are depending on you." But what's "tremendously gratifying," he added, is helping the architecture of a musical work take shape during a performance. "You get this weird thing going where you can sense what the people around you are thinking. It's an awareness that happens in a totally indescribably way."Charlotte SymphonyGuest conductor Anthony Bramall leads Henry Purcell's "Chacony in G minor," Joseph Haydn's Cello Concerto in C major (with cellist Daniel Müller-Schott) and Edward Elgar's Symphony No. 1. WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.WHERE: Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St.TICKETS: $14-$68.DETAILS: (704) 972-2000; www.charlottesymphony.org  .This is one in a series of features on Charlotte Symphony members, interviewed by Observer classical music writer Steven Brown. (704) 358-6194;sbrown@charlotteobserver.com .http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/entertainment/performing_arts/10888789.htm?1c  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 13 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7096/1/E-Croatian-Antony-Sumich-Story.html  Antony Sumich Dragi Hrvatski Prijatelji,My name is Antony Sumich and I am a seminarian currently studying in Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, in Denton, Nebraska. I belong to the Fraternity of Saint Peter, which is a priestly Fraternity of Apostolic life founded in 1988 after the Holy Father’s Motu proprio Ecclesia Dei adflicta granted to the Fraternity the right to form priests in the Traditional Liturgy of the Roman Rite.I was born in New Zealand and lived there until my 25th year when I moved to Europe to trace my family roots. My two grandfathers had emigrated from Croatia to New Zealand early in the twentieth century, where they married daughters of Croatian immigrants. All four of my grandparents came from the same region of Dalmatia, namely the Makarska coastal region. I then lived and worked in Croatia for six years where I learnt to speak Croatian, and where, more importantly I found my way back to the light of the Catholic Church. The Catholic way of life in post war Croatia made me proud to be both a Croatian and a Catholic. After a successful career coaching sport in Croatia, I answered God’s call and entered the Fraternity of Saint Peter’s other Seminary in Wigratzbad, Germany. In August 2003 I was transferred to the USA so as to continue my studies in my mother tongue, as I had been studying in French whilst in Europe. Although I am very happy to be studying here in Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, I feel as though I am half way between my two homelands, in New Zealand and Croatia.I have a particular affinity for the Glagolitic Mass of the Roman rite, which was celebrated in many parts of Croatia up until 1970. I dream that one day, God willing, I shall be able to celebrate a Glagolitic Mass in my home village of Podgora with a Klapa choir as backing, thus keeping alive the glorious tradition of the Mass begun by Saints Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century.In writing this letter I am obeying the wishes of my superiors who have requested that all seminarians look for sponsors or benefactors to help alleviate the none too inconsiderable costs of seminary formation. In short, I am appealing to you as members of a Croatian Catholic parish, to help me find personal benefactors who can help me through my seminary years. My costs are placed in three categories, namely, seminary, daily, and travel. The seminary category covers the cost of general formation, lodging, insurance etc, the daily, covers my phone bills, books and stationery, visits to the dentist, clothing and toiletry, and the travel, covers my vacation periods should I wish to travel to New Zealand, Croatia, or remain in North America. If you feel you are able to assist in my formation, or you know of someone who may be able to help, please ring me at the seminary, or send me an e-mail to the following address:- antonysumich@yahoo.com Also you could look at our website www.fssp.org“Seek, and you shall find, ask, and you shall receive, knock, and it shall be opened to youâ€?These words of our Lord, give me the courage to place things in His hands, and I ask that you also pray for me on my path to the Holy Order of Melchizedech.I remain, in Jesus and Mary,Humbly Yours,Ante Sumićantonysumich@yahoo.com     letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 13 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7100/1/E-Vlasta-Vlakancic.html  Vlasta Vlakancic  Review of Vlasta Vlakancic ConcertCabrillo College, April 24, 2004Richard LyndeThe vivacious Vlasta Vlakancic, a youngish Croatian pianiste, had performed at the home of Distinguished Artists director John Orlando a few weeks before her appearance on Saturday, April 24, at the Cabrillo College theater. Her recital was the latest in the ongoing series of benefit concerts for the Carole Holdaway fund, the purpose of which is to buy a new grand piano for the soon-to-be-constructed Cabrillo Performing Arts Center. Once again, Vlasta did not disappoint. Indeed, with her stunning combination of physical appeal and passionate musicality, she easily conquered the large audience.Her program was ranged widely within the 60-year period of 1781-1839. It included both the classicism of Mozart and the romanticism of Liszt and Chopin, with the transitional protean figure of Beethoven as well. This sequence included two jokes (one of them an unintended program-note glitch), some walks and marches, along with several songs without words (though not by Mendelssohn) in slow movements, all of them performed with tremendous feeling of the sort that won Vlasta the First Prize in the 1991 Roma International Competition.The evening started off with a hilarious “mistake” on account of Orlando’s having forgotten to cross out the Mozart Sonata K. 330 in C Major. Instead we heard the Beethoven “Pathetique” (1798), which began stiffly under Vlasta¹s cold fingers, then progressed with assurance. When most of the audience applauded wildly after the first movement, it was not in ignorance but in enthusiasm. Just listen to the recent genuine appreciation.Beethoven¹s “Rage over a Lost Penny” from 1795 is a hilarious early work of program music, where a young stroller in Vienna struts out cockily, then realizes he has lost his “Grosschen” – as in the 20th century Weill’s “Dri Grosschen Oper” and must look for it, going from despair and self pity as he retraces his steps, to triumph, on finding the coin. These emotions were well conveyed.Liszt¹s “Venezia e Napoli,” from his “Years of Pilgrimage,” dates from 1838, when the noble composer returned to Vienna to give big benefits for victims of the Danube flood. Vlasta spun out the “Gondoliera,” a work that might have been one of Mendelssohn’s boat songs, except for the ornamentation; and the “Tarantella” was a wildly headstrong spider-bite dance.After intermission came the Chopin “Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise in E Flat,” Op. 22, from 1834. This was followed by the great “Sonata Op. 35 in B Flat Minor” (1838), the famous “Funeral March” work. The march (third movement) was especially well played, as was the presto finale. In the past, various critics have compared this brief coda to “wind whispering among gravestones” or “only two hands gossiping.” But I like as much its recent characterization by writer Josef Sekon in the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian as “a huge swarm of bees flying almost silently at high speed.”In addition to the passionate, if sometimes inaccurate, keyboard forays of Vlasta, the audience was treated to her stunning appearance, perhaps a reminder of the enthusiasm of the Italian jury of the early 1990’s. Stunning in a matte black gown with sequins, she also displayed stiletto heels at the pedals. And her silhouette was unintentionally thrown up, as if by a magic lantern, on the acoustic screen behind her, which added to the drama.Also unintended but remarkable were a couple of motifs: walks/marches and melodic songs. Here are some of the worthy tunes from this recital that beg for lyrics and a golden voice: the “Andante Cantabile” from Beethoven’s “Pathetique,” which I have never heard better; the “Canzona” from Liszt’s “Venezia & Napoli,” and, yes, the soaring middle section of the Chopin “Funeral March,” which Vlasta sang out divinely. Ditto the “Andante Spianato” of Chopin, fit for a wordsmith as well as a voice. Singers and composers of lyrics – where are you now? We need you for such melodic fare.Then there was the other side, the foot-stomping march music that is not fit for words, simply because it is too fast to be sung. The third movement of the “Pathetique” is a fast walk, but nothing like the cocky strutting of the ending of the “Rage over the Lost Penny.” Liszt’s “Tarantella” is no cakewalk, but a frenzied Neapolitan “out with the spider bite.” Chopin¹s “Grand Polonaise” after the Andante starts off like his “Military” one, and also has echoes of his “Heroic.” His “Funeral March,” as played here, was slow, somber, and dignified, without the heavy-handedness of a Rachmaninoff, as in his recordings.And the surprise encore, tossed off perfectly, was a return to the unplayed but programmed Mozart of the unbeginning, in his famous “Turkish March” which concludes the Sonata in A Major, K 300, from 1781-83. Here, we had a military band of Turks, right outside the walls of Vienna, as they had threatened the city many years ago. You can look up this date on the Internet if you wish. For myself, I am computer illiterate, so will instead look forward to the next recital in these parts by Vlasta Vlakancic.Richard Lyndehttp://www.vlasta.us VLASTA VLAKANCIC was born in Croatia and was educated at: The Novi Sad University, Yugoslavia (Professor Arbo Waldmann and prof Rita Kinka), The Zagreb Academy of Music, Croatia (Professor Vladimir Krpan), and the famous "Mozarteum" Hochschulle fur Musik in Salzburg, Austria (Professor Peter Lang). She has studied in advanced Master Workshops all over Europe.Since 1987, she has performed with great success in concerts throughout Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Romania, Macedonia, Belgium, Hungary and France, with repertoire of all music periods from Bach to contemporary music.She was awarded First prize in "Roma International competition", Rome, Italy in 1991 Honored for outstanding achievement as "Best Artist Performer in Croatia" by Zagreb Society of Artists, Zagreb, Croatia in1994Since 1998, she has played in Salzburg, the acknowledged empire of the solo and chamber music in Europe, as exclusive musician of the agency "Mirabell Schlosskonzerte". During this time, she has performed with numerous famous names as Igor Oistrakh, Luz Leskowitz, Eugen Rosseau. She is awarded the celebrated "Permanent Guest" of the "Salzburg Soloists".She travels regularly to Europe performing on concert tours, and she is the founder and Artistic Director of the annual "Vukovar Music Festival", Croatia which completed its third season in July 2001.Besides her intensive concert activities, Vlasta Vlakancic is permanently engaged by the Music Academy at the University of Zagreb as member of Piano Faculty.BASIC REPERTORY:J. S. Bach: Italian concerto, Toccata in D Major, Partita B Flat Major, Suite A minor, Goldberg VariationsBach-Busoni: ChaconneW. A. Mozart: 19 Sonatas(in full),Fantasy C minor, VariationsL. van Beethoven: Sonatas op. 13, op. 14 no 1 and 2,op. 26, op. 31 no. 2,op. 106, op. 109, op. 110F. Schubert: Wanderer-Fantasie, Sonata A Major, 4 impromptusR. Schumann: Kinderszennen, Carnaval op. 9, Fantasia C Major, a-b-e-g VariationsF. Chopin: 4 Balllades, Polonaise op. 53, Waltzes, 4 Scherzos, Sonata op. 35, Nocturnes, Barcarolle op.60, Andante Spianato and Grande PolonaiseF. Liszt: Sonata BFlat Minor, Hungarian Rapsodies, Etudes de concert, Venezia e Napoli, Spanish Rapsodie, Mephisto-Valtz, Valee d'Obermann, "Rigoletto" ParafraseS. Rachmaninov: Moments musicaux, Polka, Liebesleid, Liebesfreude, VocaliseA. Scriabine: Sonata-Fantasia no. 2, FantasiaC. Debussy: L'Isle joyeuse, Estampes, Suite BergamasqueM. Ravel: La Valse, Pavana, SonatinaI. Stravinski: Suite "Petroushka"S. Prokofjev: Sonata no. 3A. Webern: Variationen op. 27G. Ligeti: Etudes I. Albeniz: Triana,Granada, CordobaGranados: GoyescasPiano concertos:J. S. Bach: Concerto for two pianos C Minor, Concerto F MinorW. A. Mozart: Concertos K.V.271, 413, 414, 415, 466, 467, 595L. van Beethoven: Concertos no. 4, 5J. Haydn: Concerto D MajorF. Chopin: Concerto no. 1,no.2F. Liszt: Concerto no 1,E Flat MajorE. Grieg: Concerto A MinorS. Rachmaninov: Paganini-VariationsC. Saint-Seans: Concerto G MinorP. I. Tchaikovski: Concerto no.1, B Flat MinorREVIEWS:"... With rare sensibility and imagination, V. Gjura has awakened Mozart's piano pieces to new life. Accurate in her rendering, adept at phrasing and the use of agogical liberties, displaying a high level of tone control and a careful attention to detail, faithful to the spirit of the period in her treatment of dynamic amplitudes, Vlasta Gyura has realized a natural and profoundly musical interpretation of Mozart's works.Vecernji List daily, 1996"… Performing Bach, Mozart, Debussy, Chopin and Stravinski with consummate ease, the young artist has displayed excellent concentration and maturity and a beautiful, carrying tone. Particularly impressive was the performance of the 3rd movement of Starvinski's "Petrushka," which ranks this recital among memorable musical achievements.Dubrovacki List daily, 1997"Vlasta Gyura's studied and absorbing exploration of the world of music is reflected in the unconventionality of the programme. Her playing is pure, simple, immediate and stylistically defined... The culmination of the performance was the superb rendering of "Petrushka" - confident, convincing and joyful, a wondrous mingling of simple melodies, luxurious harmonies and enticingly pregnant rhythms. V. Gyura selflessly gives of her vision of the work of the Russian master she has long nurtured within herself."Slobodna Dalmacija daily, 1999"... I really think that her interpretation of the Goldberg Variations was a very remarkable achievement... especially the rendering of Variations 13, 15, and 25 was breathtakingly sincere and touching. I could feel in her performances that she is not worried about producing an "effect" ... This is for me the most important element inherent to all artistic truth and achievement."Claus-Christian Schuster (Altenberg Trio)"... This young artist has performed the Goldberg Variations by J.S. Bach with surprising maturity, displaying in her interpretation not only the required technique but also a wonderful dynamic plasticity... Departing, for the most part, from the abrupt Baroque dynamics dictated by the structural limitations of the harpsichord, she interpreted the thematic line in a truly modern spirit...Once again: congratulations!"Vjesnik daily, 1994"Daring to perform such as substantial work as the Goldberg Variations by J.S. Bach, Vlasta Gjura took upon herself a Herculean task. The pianist's spiritual discipline, her ability to interpret the capital pages of piano literature in a focused and deeply poetic way, bespeaks a remarkable musician."Vecernji List daily, 1994"... The Fantasy in C minor, K.C. 475, was rendered with remarkable ease. V. Gyura has revealed herself as a virtuoso of renown, worthy to be counted among the world's leading pianists. She showed extensive knowledge, perfect technique and a superb power of interpretation."Glas Istre daily, 1995 "Vlasta Gjura has shaped a delicate, airy Mozart... With crystalline ease, she created a musical world of surpassing beauty ... elegance in the performance of the melodic line, controlled contrasts, brilliant passages ... all was permeated with warmth and musical sensitivity... With their clear architecture, ease and loveliness, the fast movements magically brought back the world of sunny, spacious withdrawing rooms of Mozart's time."Karlovacki Tjednik weekly, 1995"Vlasta Gyura's recital took place two days after Jorg Demus' performance, thus providing an opportunity to compare these two adventurers of musical interpretation. Staying closer to the accepted idea of what late 18th century music sounded like, V. Gjura proved the less adventurous of the two... Gyura's concentrated, technically sound and musically sensitive interpretation of Mozart's Fantasy, Variations on a Theme by Gluck and the B Flat Minor Sonata (K.V. 333 and 570, respectively) has shown that these pieces, usually reserved for teaching purposes, can feature as the piece de résistance without fear of monotony...”Salzburger Nachricht, daily 1998  Connors and Vlasta Vlakancic  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7099/1/E-Zoran-Dragalj---Croatian-Canadian-Filmmaker.html  Zoran Dragelj  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7098/1/E-Connor-Vlakancic.html  Connor VlakancicLos Gatos, California 95032M: 831-295-7827 F: 408-364-9108email: connorv@gmail.com Creative key-director-level, communications technology product business development manager with a comprehensive background in large multi-national enterprise and entrepreneurial startups.Connor Vlakancic was born in the "Corn Belt" of Illinois, about 75 miles west of Chicago. He was raised in a conservative family environment where productive work was encouraged and rewarded. His paternal Grandfather was of Croatian heritage from the Dalmatian Coast in the north Adriatic Sea, as a citizen during the end of Austro-Hungarian rule. His maternal Grandfather was of German heritage from the Alsace-Lorraine region.* * * * *Connor Vlakancic's early Silicon Valley technology career includes Fairchild Semiconductor, Timex, Inc., Microma/Intel Corporation, Siemens Opto and Raychem, where he developed semiconductor RF, IC, hybrid, LED and LCD display chips, products and systems. He traveled frequently to manage production at manufacturing sites in several Asian countries. He also spent many years at Measurex Corporation (acquired by Honeywell) developing digital control systems in paper and rubber manufacturing, and traveled worldwide to install multi-million dollar control systems.During the mid-1980’s, he was an early entrepreneur in the personal computer systems revolution by founding the most successful IBM-PC compatible (Leading Edge) computer sales company in California. He followed this success with several years at Apple Computer as a computer-marketing competitive annalist and Macintosh networking evangelist.When ARPANET gave rise to the Internet in 1990 he became an open-standards computer network consultant at Advanced Computing Environments which evolved to become Networld+Interop, the world’s largest open computer standards, tradeshow and exposition. He then joined US based Fujikura America, Inc., (subsidiary of large electric power systems manufacturing company) as Business Director of a new product division to produce and distribute (thru Anixter and Graybar Electric) innovative Desktop Area Network (DAN) products aimed at the Fortune 1,000,000 companies.During the late 1990’s, he founded a family reunion, live videoconference service to provide "Familia Visitas" from San Jose, California to Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. He captured business videoconference service contracts with Western-Union, the State of California, Sprint International and EPRI. As the millennium changed, he was a business consultant and due-diligence investigator for international venture capital investors headquartered in Silicon Valley and a business development manager at Netscape/AOL and iPlanet/Sun Microsystems where his communications business development expertise was focused in 3rd party wireless client/server-side software application solutions.He has published technology articles in several computer magazines and was a featured lecturer at Internet and video conference expositions. He has been awarded three US and international technology patents. Following the implosion of the Silicon Valley centric "Internet bubble" by the end of 1991, he selected a change of business direction. Based on his international business acumen and family heritage, he co-founded a company to import a variety of organic food and other consumer products from the Adriatic Sea region (Croatia) of Mid-Europe. Due to the impact on international shipping following September 11, 2001 and his US Federal political experience, he became very involved with US Federal FDA food traffic issues within USA food industry trade groups. By late 2003, he had grown the company to obtain rounds of angel investor funding and incorporated as a holding company with LLC divisions that would specialize in specific product families to be positioned for acquisition by large US food service industry companies.His education includes undergraduate and graduate studies in Illinois and California Universities. These include DeVry University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he earned an under-graduate degree in electronic systems and an aircraft pilot’s license with over 5000 PIC hours. He continued his professional and leadership education in several graduate-level extension programs such as Stanford University. A few of his past and current memberships in professional organizations include: The Commonwealth Club of California, The Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs Club, The Churchill Club of Silicon Valley and The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.* * * * *He is a published political author with a major dissertation registered in the U.S. Library of Congress, Thomas Register, “The 1996 Federal Paradigm” which defines a 10-point "contract" agenda to be championed and advanced by the President of the United States. The Paradigm was recognized by GOP leadership, in 1994, and become the cornerstone of the GOP “The Contract with America” in 1995. The visionary concepts of The 1996 Federal Paradigm forecast future national issues, which have become of paramount importance since September 2001.He has been a candidate for US Congress in California. He was recommended by US Ambassador to Croatia, William D. Montgomery, and selected to represent the US Department of State in international elections monitoring, with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), during the year 2000 federal elections, in the Republic of Croatia.* * * * *His wife, Vlasta Vlakancic is renowned as Croatia’s foremost classical concert pianist with current teaching credentials at the Music Academy, University of Zagreb, Croatia. She has played professionally in international performances in Europe for heads of state in several countries, and guest lectures at GWU in WDC. She has performed in several California Concerts and music festivals.* * * * *Sun University, Java API and J2ME Enterprise and Service Provider Workshops, Palo Alto, CA (1999)CompuMaster, Microsoft Professional Series, Business Software Clinic, Redmond, WA (1996)Yale University, (Tufte extension), Visual Display of Quantitative Information Clinic, Palo Alto (1994)Stanford University, Executive Business Development, Certificated Program, Palo Alto (1993-94)Network+Interop, Ethernet, TokenRing and IP Networks Clinics, Palo Alto, CA (1990-91)Apple University, Graphic Software Applications Workshops, Cupertino, CA (1987-88)Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Aircraft Pilot License, Oakland International Airport, CA (1986)DeAnza College, Fortran and Assembly Language, Advanced programming, Cupertino, CA (1985)Foothill College, Business Management and Marketing Program(s) Certificate, Los Altos, CA (1968-74)DeVry University, BSES, Applied Science Degree in Electronic Systems, Chicago, IL (1967)Technical competencies include 3 US and foreign technology patents:Microcomputer and Ethernet systems, #4,694,694 - #5,480,319 - #5,545,982  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7101/1/E-Damir-Simic---Shime.html  Damir Simic - Shimewww.damirsimic.com  S.Stevens, D Simic - Shime, S. Lukather Damir Simic - Shime is an extraordinary musician and an intelligent man who was able to developed his talent to the world class level. The best is yet to be shown. On a more personal note, my trips to Los Angeles are always enhanced when I see Shime and his family. You support artist by buying their art. Nenad  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 14 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7102/1/E-Tajana-Raukar-Five-Time-World-Champion.html  Tajana Raukar Five Time World Champion http://www.icedreams.cc Photo: Morris Richardson II / The Detroit NewsIce sculptor Tajana Raukar works on her piece called "Reindeer" in front of her Plymouth home, where she prepares for the Plymouth International Ice Sculptor Spectacular. Contact:Address: 1280 Junction StPlymouth, MI 48170 Phone: (734) 207-3363 Email: PaulRaukar@aol.com  Website http://www.icedreams.cc   Money loss won't stop ice festivalBy Shanteé Woodards / The Detroit NewsIce fest details * The Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular, celebrating its 20th anniversary, will be Jan. 16-21 in Kellogg Park. * The ice show will feature more than 100 sculptures in downtown Plymouth and an exhibit at the Plymouth Historical Museum, 115 S. Main. Judges will rate sculptures for student, team and individual competitions. Tajana Raukar uses six blocks of ice weighing 300 pounds to create "Reindeer."PLYMOUTH -- Tajana Raukar was studying to become a chef when she decided to give ice sculpting a try. She took classes from an instructor she knew and by the beginning of the year, she entered into her first competition -- the Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular. She won second place in the student competition. That was five years ago. Since then, she has opened an ice carving studio and traveled around the world for different sculpting events. Raukar considers the Plymouth festival one of her favorites, but she wasn't surprised that organizers were having a difficult time raising money for the event. "If money is a problem, we can't expect as much," said Raukar, who will compete in the 2002 ice carving olympics. "(The financial difficulties) are part of living today. There is nothing you can do about it." Officials at Watts-Up Inc., which promotes the event, said the festival will go on despite the challenges. It has received last-minute help from Plymouth Cadillac dealer Don Massey, who became a sponsor, and a $4,000 contribution from the city's Downtown Development Authority. Fund-raising for the ice show is down 30 percent this year and it previously lost its largest sponsor, auto supplier Johnson Controls. The festival is not-for-profit and relies on donations and sponsorships. Mike Watts, head of Watts-Up Inc., attributed the financial situation to this year's harsh economic conditions. Big businesses and corporations are facing tighter budgets and when it comes to donations, many opt to give toward relief efforts for families in New York and Washington, D.C., instead of local events.But the show will still go on, Watts said. "Hundreds of people .. are joining hands and making sure the event comes off," Watts said. "It's a tribute to Plymouth and all the people here. This will be the largest and most spectacular event in North America this year." This year's competition will be held from Jan. 16-21 in Kellogg Park. The free show is a 24-hour event and ice carvers come from around the world to display their work. It is billed as the oldest, largest ice carving event in North America. More than $10,000 in prize money, scholarships and awards will be presented. The ice festival began in 1981 as a way to bring in more traffic to downtown businesses. More than 10 million people have come to the event since then, spending their dollars with local retailers. City officials said it has become an even greater boost for restaurants and bars that are able to attract new customers. Matt Cassidy works at Backyard Birds Garden and Nature Store in downtown Plymouth. He said the store is able to get more customers than usual during the ice festival. "But most of the people are looking, not buying," Cassidy said. "But (the extra business) doesn't hurt ... a lot of people don't know about the store, because they are not here." This isn't the first time officials have had a hard time with the event. Ron Loiselle, a festival organizer, said the 1993 event almost didn't happen because of a lack of funds. But Massey, the Cadillac dealer, became a sponsor and helped with a lot of the money problems. Earlier this year, festival organizers struggled to repay an overdue debt to the city. Organizers owed the city more than $7,000 for providing cleanup, police and road closures for the 2001 festival. That event brought in revenues of $140,000, but another $10,000 was needed to break even. The money was due to the city in May, but it wasn't paid until November. Like all businesses, ice carvers have been feeling the effects of this year's economic conditions. At this time of year, Raukar is usually working on sculptures for holiday parties and dinners. But that didn't happen this year, since many celebrations have been canceled. "I hope everything will be fine," she said. "Because of the happenings in September, people are afraid to spend money. It's difficult." You can reach Shanteé Woodards at (734)354-4049 or at swoodards@detnews.com. Plymouth Bureau: (734) 354-4048; Fax: (734) 354-4046235 South Main St., Plymouth, Mich. 48170 http://www.detnews.com/2002/wayne/0201/01/ TAJANA RAUKAR, RODOM S KRKA, U SAD-u IZRAÐUJE SKULPTURE OD LEDA I TROSTRUKA JE SVJETSKA PRVAKINJA U TOM NEOBICNOM SPORTU/ZANIMANJU Primorka oblikuje ledene blokove na minus 30 CelzijevihKad smo suprug i ja 1995. godine preselili u Ameriku intezivnije sam se pocela baviti skulpturama, a ubrzo sam se u Plymouthu posvetila ledenim skulpturama koje se u Americi koriste pri dekoraciji stolova na vjencanjima, prepricala je pocetak karijere Tajana RaukarImpozantne skulpture od leda, osim na slikama ili televiziji, zasigurno je malo tko u Hrvatskoj imao priliku vidjeti u živo. Vijesti o cudesnim ledenim kreacijama, pa i citavim objektima »sazidanim« od leda, u nas se uglavnom može doznati iz rubrika za razbibrigu, a gotovo nikad u pregledima sportskih dogadanja iako se radi o olimpijskoj disciplini. Autori, pak, cudesnih ledenih zdanja iz hrvatske su perspektive velika nepoznanica, o njima zapravo ništa ne znamo, a i ukoliko su se njihova imena mogla cuti ili procitati, vjerojatno su u trenu zaboravljena. Jer, ipak sve se to dogada u dalekim zemljama, vjecito okovanim ledom, ciji stanovnici, u šestomjesecnim polarnim danima/nocima, »nemaju« što ciniti, pa, eto, vrijeme krate »suludim« aktivnostima. Medutim, takvo je razmišljanje posve krivo... Slab interes za rukotvorine u HrvatskojNaime, trostruka svjetska prvakinja u izradi skulptura od leda i sudionik zimskih Olimpijskih igara u Salt Lake Cityju 2002. godine, je iz Hrvatske. Ona se zove Tajana Raukar, rodena je u hrvatskom Zagorju, a odrasla na Krku gdje je upoznala i svog supruga Paula Raukara. Poput mnogih Hrvata, slavu je stekla izvan domovine, u Americi, jer u Hrvatskoj njezina nadarenost nije prepoznata. Za svega šest-sedam godina života u inozemstvu, obitelj Raukar stekla je veliku slavu, k tomu je u gradu Plymouthu pokrenula uspješan posao izrade skulptura od leda, što je danas veliki hit u Americi, te pronijela slavu Hrvatske diljem svijeta. - U pocetku sam, dok sam još živjela na Krku, izradivala skulpture od gline, zatim voca i povrca. No, interesa za takav oblik stvaralaštva u nas nije bilo. Kad smo suprug i ja 1995. godine preselili u Ameriku intezivnija sam se pocela baviti skulpturama, a ubrzo sam se u Plymouthu posvetila ledenim skulpturama koje se u Americi koriste pri dekoraciji stolova na vjencanjima, prepricava svoje pocetke karijere Tajana Raukar. Tijekom pet dana cetiri skulptureU Plymouthu Tajana Raukar prvi put sudjeluje na amaterskom takmicenju u »Ice Carvingu«. No, kako je izradila višestruko uspješniju ledenu skulpturu od ostalih sudionika, receno joj je kako više ne može sudjelovati na amaterskim natjecanjima. Prelazak medu profesionalce bio je više nego uspješan, do danas Tajana Raukar osvojila je 40-ak prvih mjesta na takmicenjima profesionalaca. Dakako, s najviše ponosa istice trostruku titulu svjetskog prvaka u »Ice carvingu« u organizaciji »The National Ice Carving Association« (NICA). Prvi put u ekipnom takmicenju sudjelovala je 2000. godine na Aljasci. Godinu dana kasnije, takoder na Aljasci, s ledenom skulpturom propetih konja, Tajana Raukar, u momcadi s Aaronom Costicem, Stevom Briceom i Marjom Pohjoisahom ponavlja uspjeh. Pod hrvatskom zastavom prošle godine u Belgiji po treci je put svjetska prvakinja u izradi ledenih skulptura, što je u belgijskom tisku iznimno popraceno. Na prvenstvu u Belgiji, prema propozicijama natjecanja, sudionici su, tijekom pet dana, trebali izraditi cetiri razlicite skulpture tematski povezane.Cetvrta na zimskoj Olimpijadi Hrvatska predstavnica predstavila se s ledenim skulpturama naslovljenim - Voda, Vatra, Zrak i Zemlja, cime je oduševila ocjenjivacki žiri. Svemu tome, treba pridodati i cetvrto mjesto na Olimpijskim igrama u Salt Lake Cityju, gdje je s Aaronom Kosticem izradila orla, kao simbola americke nacije, probodenog strijelom, kao njihove posvete tragicnim teroristickim napadima. Tajana Raukar ne krije svoje razocaranje prijemom svih njezina uspjeha u Hrvatskoj. Tim više, jer je »Ice Carving« svojim iznimno zahtjevnim umjetnicko-sportskom karakteristikama stekao veliku popularnost u svijetu. »Ledena umjetnost« zahtijeva iznimnu kreativnost, poznavanje crtackih tehnika, izdržljivost na niskim temperaturama (na Aljasci skulpture su radene na temperaturi od minus 30 stupnjeva Celzijevih), te fizicku snagu, jer se stvara u ledenim santama od nekoliko stotina kilograma, i to s alatima koje je potrebno »ukrotiti«, motorne pile, bušilice sa svrdlima, specijalni noževi i dizalice pomocu kojih se slažu blokovi. Srdan BRAJCIChttp://www.novilist.hr/Default.asp?WCI=Rubrike&WCU=285F286328592863285A28582858285B2863288E2897289328632863285C285A2858285E285828632863286328582863TAll sculptures are hand carved to perfection by Tajana Raukar.  Contact:Address: 1280 Junction StPlymouth, MI 48170 Phone: (734) 207-3363 Email: PaulRaukar@aol.com  Website http://www.icedreams.cc    letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 15 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7103/1/H-Ivo-Pervan---Croatian-Photo-Legend.html  Ivo Pervan - Croatian Dream by Croatian legend  Op-edRijeci su suvisne u opisu rada i talenta Ive Pervana. Svaka slika govri za sebe, dubinom duse, naseg covjeka i krajolika. Dubinom nase kolektivne memorije. Najveci kompliment umjetniku mozete dati tako sto podrzite umjetnika kupnjom njegovih djela. Ako ste zainteresirani, poklonite prijateljima koji ne znaju puno o Hrvatskoj jednu ili vise ovakvih monografija. Imajte nekoliko knjiga pri sebi tako da mozete podijeliti tu lakocu uzivanja u kontaktu s domovinom. Ovakvi umjetnici, kao Ivo Pervan,  imaju respekt prema zivotu, i tako bi se i mi morali odnositi prema njima. Words are not enough to describe work and talent of Ivo Pervan. Each photography speaks for itself, with the dept of our Croatian soul. With the dept of our collective memory. The best compliment you can give to an artist is to buy his/hers work. If you can, please share it with your friends who have never seen Croatia. And keep one for yourself so you can share this lightness of pleasure with a contact of our homeland. Such artists like Ivo Pervan have reverence for life, and that is exactly how we should treat them. Nenad Bach p.s. Ako kliknete na bilo koju sliku doci cete na website CroatianDream.com gdje mozete nabaviti djela Ive Pervana.p.s.2 If you click on any photo, you will be linked to CroatianDream.com where you can purchase his art.   Ivo Pervan - Hrvatski Snovi, ocima Hrvatske  legende Kontakt:studio-pervan@net.hr  http://www.croatiandream.com/ http://crosea.com/tourist/camera.htm  Rodjen 24.06.1947.Nakon zavrsene gimnazije u Splitu, upisuje pravni fakultet koji napusta nakon dvije godine, shvativsi da pravo nije studij koji je blizak njegovoj kreativnoj prirodi, od malena okrenutoj ljepotama kojima smo okruzeni, vidljivima i skrivenima. Potom upisuje studij na Visoj ekonomskoj skoli, a zatim prelazi na vanjsku trgovinu na kojoj apsolvira. Poceci bavljenja fotografijom datiraju iz srednje skole, u uvjetima koji su najblaze receno bili skromni, sto njegovoj kreativnoj energiji nije ni najmanje smetalo. Njegovim fotografijama sesluze izdavaci turistickih publikacija ( vodici, plakati, razglednice, turisticke revije ), stampaju se razne foto monografije, autorske i koautorske, posebno trazena je njegova fotografija kulturne bastine. To i nije bez razloga, posto je kulturna i prirodna bastina njegov prioritetni interes u fotografiji, i zelja da se slikom sacuva povijest naseg naroda, posto vrijeme a cesto i nas nemar, kao i nedostatak sredstava rezultiraju nestajanjem brojnih vrijednosti. Vec tada dobiva prestizne medjunarodne nagrade za svoju fotografiju ( Prag, Copenhagen, Karlovy Vary… ), i to za turisticke plakate, motivi kojih su bile upravo prirodna i kulturna bastina Hrvatske. Od 1990. godine pocinje samostalno raditi, uz teskoce koje smo nazalost svi morali proci, te je mladoj drzavi Hrvatskoj donio prvu internacionalnu nagradu, koju je ova osvojila za njegov plakat god 1992. u Becu. Bilo je to I mjesto na svjetskom natjecaju za turisticki plakat, i to bas za plakat «SPLIT-A». U to vrijeme dok smo imali rat, to priznanje je odjeknulo u Europi, sve TV kuce su informaciju prenijele svijetu. Od 198 do danas, Ivo Pervan ima 16 autorskih foto monografija, koautorskih cca 60, odrzao je velik broj izlozbi, a posebno je svojim radom vezan uz promidzbu hrvatskog turizma ( brosure, prospekti, CD-ovi ). Od 1992. do danas, Hrvatska je dobila 7 ( sedam ) prvih svjetskih nagrada za plakate s njegovim motivima.- 1986 - foto monografija "STAROHRVATSKO KULTURNO BLAGO" - 1986 - foto monografija "UMJETNICKO BLAGO HRVATSKE" - 1986 - foto monografija "ANTUN MASLE" - 1986 - foto monografija "IVO DULCIC" - 1988 - umjetnic ki vodic Dubrovnika - 1990 - "SVETI SPAS U VRH RICI" - povijesnokritic ka rasprava o hrvatskoj sakralnoj i kulturnoj bastini u danasnjem selu Cetini kraj Vrlike - 1991 - foto monografija "ANTICKI PORTRET U HRVATSKOJ" - 1991 - foto monografija "DALMACIJA, LEGENDA O SVJETLU" - 1992 - Bec - , I nagrada za turistic-ki plakat "SPLIT" - 1994 - foto monografija "DUBROVNIK" - 1994 - od strane Vlade RH, a preko Ministarstva turizma, angaziran za snimanje materijala za izradu brosure HTZ-a, kada Hrvatska okuplja vrhunske struCnjake da bi osmislili kvalitetan materijal za promidzbu, od kojega su napravljene sjajne brosure «Mala zemlja za veliki odmor» i «1000 otoka hrvatskog Jadrana», te serija od 59 plakata, od kojih je 39 napravljeno od njegovih motiva, a od tih 39, 27 plakata je nagradjeno I svjetskom nagradom - 1995 - Lisabon, II nagrada za turistic-ki plakat "JEZERO MIR NA DUGOM OTOKU"- 1995 - Opatija, I nagrada za turistic-ki plakat "LOVRAN" - 1996 - foto monografija «MORE HRVATSKO» - 1996 - Lisabon, I nagrada za turistic-ki plakat "HVAR" - 1996 - Opatija, Zlatno zvono ( I nagrada za promidzbene materijale "MALA ZEMLJA ZA VELIKI ODMOR" - 1996 - brosura "1000 OTOKA HRVATSKOG JADRANA" - 1997 - turistic-ki vodiCDubrovnika - 1997 - izlozba plakata HTZ ( 39 komada u Multimedijalnom centru u Splitu ) - 1997 - kolekcija plakata HTZ, I nagrada Lisabon ( 14 plakata u kolekciji ) - 1998 - Santiago de Chile, I nagrada za plakat "EXPO 98" ( mjesec sijecanj )- 1998 - foto monografija "SPLIT, TKO TO MOZE PLATIT" - 1998 - Lisabon, hrvatski paviljon na EXPO izlozbi - prezentacija dijapozitiva u hrvatskom paviljonu - 1998 - Lisabon, I nagrada za plakat "EXPO 98" ( mjesec lipanj ) - 1999 - Pariz, Vodic Hrvatske u izdanju GUIDES GALLIMARD ( najpoznatiji svjetski vodic- i ) - 1999 - foto monografija "MATKO MIJIC" - 2000 - Hannover, EXPO 2000 - prezentacija dijapozitiva u hrvatskom paviljonu i plakati za EXPO 2000 - 2000 - New York, foto monografija "CROATIAN DREAMS" (izdavac- North American Publisher iz New York-a u zajednici PAZ Publishing iz Tel Aviva, predgovor Martin Sheen ) - 2000 - katalog HTZ-a "HRVATSKO KULTURNO BLAGO" - 2001 - foto monografija "HRVATSKA OBALA I MORE" - 2001 - foto monografija "DUBROVNIK, NJIM SAMIM" - 2001 - New York, knjiga "NADA ME NIKAD NIJE NAPUSTILA" - 2001 - CD za HTZ kojim se Hrvatska promovirala na turistic kim sajmovima sirom svijeta, - 2001 - izrada velikog CD-a ( 400 slajdova ) i CD-a s muzikom Mateja Mestrovic- a naziva «CROATIAN DREAM», koja je u mjesecu listopadu iste godine na Sajmu turistic kog i dokumentarnog filma u Splitu, dobio specijalnu nagradu FIJET-a ( svjetska organizacija turistiCkih novinara ), a koja ce se uruc iti u Libanonu ovog proljeca - 2001 - foto monografija "ALKA" - 2003 - foto monografija "ZAGREB" IZLOZBE: Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Trogir, Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Sibenik, Ljubljana, Budimpesta, Pariz, Palmizana, Pula. Godine 1999. uvrsten u Likovnu enciklopediju Hrvatske. Iste godine pozvan i primljen u clanstvo FIJET-a ( svjetska organizacija turistickih novinara ) i OMJET-a ( mediteranska organizacija turistickih novinara ), gdje na kongresima navedenih organizacija postize zapazene rezultate putem prezentacija foto materijala o Hrvatskoj ( Tunis, Turska, Spanjolska - Calpe i Barcelona ). Prezentacije su rezultirale pozivima od strane navedenih zemalja za snimanjem reportaza o istima i snimanju materijala za potrebe turisticke promidzbe tih zemalja. Od 1995. do danas, oko 3000 motiva Ive Pervana je zastupljeno na razglednicama Hrvatske. Zadnjih 5 godina, svojim reportazama sudjeluje u INFLIGHT magazinu avio kompanije Croatia Airlines, u kojima na svoj karakteristican nacin prikazuje prirodnu i kulturnu bastinu hrvatske obale. Od 1990. do danas, redovito objavljuje u casopisu JET SET, CICERO, VOX. Autor je fotografije u mapi Sjevernog Jadrana «LIVING ARHIPELAGO» u izdanju Hrvatskog hidrografskog instituta iz Splita. Vec 5 godina za redom ADRIATIC CROATIA INTERNATIONAL CLUB koristi iskljucivo njegovu fotografiju za svoj katalog. U projektu «GAJETA FALKUSA» drustva ARS HALIEUTICA, fotografija je njegova, a s dr Joskom Bozanicem organizira i predavanja s projekcijom dijapozitiva o istome. Organizira projekcije dijapozitiva uz citanje stihova nasih uvazenih lirika Gordane Benic i Luke Paljetka, i to u nekoliko nasih gradova, sadrzaj kojih je opet kulturna i prirodna bastina. U zadnjih 10 godina, za brojne kalendare koji su se stampali s njegovim motivima, dobio je oko 15 nagrada. Od 1994. Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova ( uglavnom ) i ostala ministarstva koriste njegove knjige kao poklon diplomatima i suvenir iz Hrvatske. Dobitnik je i Zupanijske nagrade ( SPLITSKO DALMATINSKE ZUPANIJE ) 1997 godine. Posjeduje dijateku od cca 100 000 slajdova, sto predstavlja veliku riznicu kako u aktuelnom tako i u dokumentarnom smislu. Novi projekti na kojima radi su: foto monografija grada Zagreba, otoka Hvara, otoka Visa, Paklenih otoka. U suradnji s HTZ-om grada Splita, radi na novoj foto monografiji grada. Najnovija izlozba odrzana u Copenhagenu 30.08.2002. uz prezentiranje CD-ova CROATIAN DREAM i HVAR koji su autorski projekti tandema Matej Mestrovic - Ivo Pervan.Nakon zajednickog nastupa na: Svjetskoj izlozbi u Lisabonu 1998. (EXPO 1998) na kojoj je Ivo Pervan dobio 1. svjetsku nagradu za najbolji plakat, a Matej Mestrovic Nagradu grada Zagreba za glazbu u Hrvatskom paviljonu, te Svjetskoj izlozbi u Hannoveru 2000. (EXPO 2000), autori su nastavili suradnju, te za samostalni projekt CROATIAN DREAM na 4. Medunarodnom festivalu turistickog filma u Splitu 2001. dobili specijalnu nagradu “FIJET”-a (Svjetskog udruzenja turistickih novinara) za najoriginalniju “video razglednicu” u konkurenciji 10 zemalja Mediterana.CROATIAN DREAM je projekt koji se temelji na fotografijama Ive Pervana koje su ozivljene pomocu kompjutera, pretvorene u pricu i montirane na filmski nacin, uz pripadajuce sumove, zvucne efekte i autorsku glazbu Mateja Mestrovica. Projekt je namijenjen promociji Hrvatske i njenih ljepota. Pogledajte video Croatian Dream Narucite CD Croatian Dream Ivo Pervan - Fotografija Matej Mestrovic - Rezija i glazba CROATIAN DREAM HVAR je novi film iz serije filmova CROATIAN DREAM. Film se takoder temelji na fotografijama Ive Pervana, ovaj put oko 150 fotografija otoka Hvara, tekstu "OTOK" Veljka Barbieria te glazbi i reziji koju potpisuje Matej Mestrovic. U filmu pratimo nastajanje otoka od njegovih pocetaka do danasnjih dana. Film je sinhroniziran na hrvatski jezik - tekst cita glumac Zlatko Crnkovic te engleski jezik - tekst cita Graham McMaster. Tonska postprodukcija filma radena je u studiju SHY BY - Maria Mirkovica koji na oba CD-a svira gitaru. Na CD-u se takoder nalazi screen saver sa vise od 80 fotografija otoka Hvara te foto galerija Ive Pervana.CD je moguce gledati na DVD-uredajima koji podrzavaju VCD-standard. Film je prikazan na Sonetnim danima Hanibala Lucica u Hvaru, PRIX Marulic - Starim tekstovima u pohode u Hvaru, Gradskoj vijecnici u Kopenhagenu, kod predsjednika Stjepana Mesica... Pogledajte video Croatian Dream Hvar Narucite CD Croatian Dream Hvar Ivo Pervan - Fotografija Matej Mestrovic - Rezija i glazba Ponosno objavljujemo da se od danas na trzistu nalazi i NOVI CD- Croatin Dream Zagreb - Videomonografija.Ulovljen genijalnim okom Pervanova fotoaparata,u filmu je Zagreb prikazan na jos do sada nevidjen nacin. Spustivsi se iz zraka, vodimo Vas u setnju kroz cetiri godisnja doba, od atmosfere ranog jutra, preko gradskih trgova i fontana, ljetnih terasa i ispijanja kave, do jesenskih magli i snjeznih zimskih vizura. Autorska glazba redatelja i kompozitora Mateja Mestrovica, upotpunjena autenticnim sumovima grada Zagreba, u klasicnoj cetverodjelnoj formi zaokruzuje atmosferu u potpunosti docaravajuci duh grada. Kao i u filmu "Croatian Dream" i "Croatian Dream Hvar", tako su i u filmu "Croatian Dream Zagreb" sve fotografije ozivljene na nenametljiv nacin uz pomoc racunala, sto filmu daje zivost i tempo.Osim filma,na CD-u se nalazi i screen saver sa vise od 50 fotografija Zagreba, te fotogalerija Ive Pervana.Redatelj i kompozitor filma - Matej MestrovicFotografije - Ivo PervanAsistent redatelja - Lukrecija KovacicSnimatelj autenticnih zvukova grada Zagreba - Mario Mirkovic.CD je moguce gledati u DVD playerima koji podrzavaju SVCD standard te u PC racunalima.http://www.galerija-badrov.com/online-galerija/ivo-pervan/ Galerija BadrovHR-10000 ZagrebTrg Zrtava fasizma 1Telefon: 01/4572 57501/4572 577 E-mail:foto-galerija@badrov.hr http://www.plovput-exhibition.com/autori_galerija/Pervan_Blaca.htm Kontakt : zeljko.visic@plovput.hrtel: 011- 385- 21- 390-600  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 11 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7104/1/E-Paul-Svornich-Washington-Tuna-Fisherman.html  The tuna man & the sea This article comes from The Sun Newspaper of Bremerton, Washington. John Peter Kraljic, Esq.The tuna man & the seaBy Sue Edwards, For The SunOctober 17, 2004It's the last weekend of September when Paul Svornich docks his tuna boat, the F/V Ocean, in Port Orchard with his final catch of the season. A Bainbridge Island resident when he's not on the open seas, Svornich comes from a long line of Croatian fishermen and operates the smallest boat in the commercial Pacific Ocean albacore fleet.Many of his customers received postcards in advance of his arrival. They swarm the dock, eager to buy his catch. As the crowd gathers, Svornich's daughter, Kashmira, and her friends weigh the frozen rolls of loin fillet and whole fish. Nearby there are tins of Svornich's premium canned, smoked albacore, sold under his own label. Some folks, like Kit Burch of Everett, make an annual trek to Port Orchard to buy his sushi-quality fish."Paul has the best fish," Burch says. "This is my third year to come down here to buy it."Jeremy Bethel of Port Orchard buys a whole fish, although he admits he's not sure how he's going to cook it. But Kashmira comes to his rescue, giving him a sheet she's put together that tells how to prepare the fish."First I'm going to go over there where they're coming in from salmon fishing and tell them I caught this in the bay," Bethel says with a chuckle.Svornich's tan, weatherworn face creases into a smile at the joke.Commercial fishing is in Svornich's blood. Both his grandfathers arrived in Puget Sound from Croatia sometime between 1907 and 1910 to do salmon seining here and in Alaska.Svornich's father also was a salmon seiner, but Svornich says he is the only one of four kids who really loved fishing and stuck with it. He's been aboard ships since early childhood and worked his first full summer as a deckhand when he was 13."I loved fishing from the start, and those hard-working men of integrity I fished with provided wonderful role models," says Svornich.He usually fishes by himself or with one carefully selected deck hand. His daughter, Kashmira Svornich, made the most recent trip with him."She goes every couple of years or until she forgets what hard work it is," he says as father and daughter exchange grins.Svornich's fishing season runs from the start of July through the end of September. He fishes for tuna off the Washington, Oregon and Northern California coastline at the edge of the continental shelf where tuna feed on swarms of bait fish.His small sailboat is powered by a one-cylinder engine fueled with "bio-diesel," made from soy bean oil, and a pair of gaff-rigged sails. The 38-foot wooden ship was designed and built by Svornich in a little over three years. It was launched in 1987 and has been running ever since. The vessel is patterned after a traditional Croatian sailboat-fishing vessel, with one exception."Most tuna vessels carry an average of about 15 tons of fish," says Svornich. "Mine only carries three tons."Svornich uses the more labor-intensive sails by choice."I grew up in generations of using power boats," he said. "I found fishing with a sailboat is a lot more challenging and interesting. It forces you to work with the ocean as opposed to just barrelling through it with lots of horsepower."Svornich looks every inch the fisherman, clad in old sweats and tall rubber boots, with his long, shiny brown hair pulled back in a ponytail.As customers mill about the ship, Svornich answers questions while he pulls fish from the hold.He hand catches every fish using six lines with only one hook per line. The small engine also powers the compressor to flash freeze his fish in a single hold at minus 40 degrees Farenheit. The fish are bled, processed and packaged by hand, then placed on the freezer plates - all within two hours of being caught. They're stored at minus 30 degrees Farenheit.He fishes three trips a year, about 22 days at a time, and sells to local restaurants, friends, customers and passersby on the dock in Port Orchard.He chats with his customers about other types of fishing he's done. He says he was inspired by sailing a similar boat from Belize through the Panama Canal and around to Port Townsend during a 106-day voyage in 1980.Svornich lived aboard his boat for many years in Eagle Harbor, but now lives at home with his wife, Lorraine, on Bainbridge Island. When he isn't fishing, he serves as an Eagle Harbor port commissioner, does routine maintenance on the F/V Ocean and works at marketing his business."I love the deep ocean," he says, his expressive brown eyes lighting up."Once you get 50 or 60 miles out, it turns from green to a deep blue and the water temperature is about 10 degrees warmer," he says. "There's absolutely nothing like it."To reach Paul Svornich about albacore tuna from the F/V Ocean, call (206) 842-6036.Sue Edwards is a contributing writer for The Sun. Reach editor JoAnne Marez at (360) 792-9208 or jamarez@kitsapsun.com  Copyright 2004, kitsapsun.com. All Rights Reserved.  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 18 Oct 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7105/1/E-Roger-Maris----9-NY-Yankees-Croatian-Baseball-Legend.html Roger Maris - # 9 NY Yankees, Croatian Baseball Legend Seventy years ago today, Roger Maris (originally Maras) whobroke Babe Ruth's home run record of 60 was born inHibbing, Minnesota to Croatian parents on September 10,1934. His father, who worked for the Great NorthernRailroad, moved the family to North Dakota in 1942, whereRoger and Rudy, his older brother by one-year, grew up. The Maris brothers played sports and attended Shanley HighSchool in Fargo, North Dakota. It was in the 10th gradewhen Roger met Patricia, his future wife, at a high schoolbasketball game. Roger played baseball in the American Legion program duringthe summers, since the North Dakota high schools with thecold weather did not have a program. He led his AmericanLegion team to the state championship. With his excellentspeed, Roger was a standout in football as well. In onegame against Devil's Lake his senior year, he scored fourtouchdowns on kickoff returns to set a national high schoolrecord. Roger was recruited by legendary coach Bud Wilkinson toplay for the University of Oklahoma, but with aprofessional baseball contract looming, Roger gave up hisscholarship at the University of Oklahoma to pursue acareer in baseball. He signed a $15,000 contract to playfor the Cleveland Indians organization. Roger spent four years in the minor leagues playing forFargo-Moorhead, Keokuk, Tulsa, Reading, and Indianapolisbefore making it to the major leagues. During his first year in the major leagues, Roger hit 14home runs and drove in 51 RBI's for the Cleveland Indians. Midway through his second year, Roger was traded to theKansas City Athletics and finished the season with 28 homeruns and 81 RBI's. Roger received attention and in histhird year, was elected to the 1959 All-Star team. After the 1959 season, Roger Maris was traded to the NewYork Yankees. In 1960, his first season with the Yankees,Roger led the major leagues with 27 home runs and 69 RBI'sby the halfway point and was again named to the All-Starteam. An injury sliding into second to break up a doubleplay caused him to miss 17 games. However, Roger stillfinished the season first in RBI's with 112, second in homeruns with 39 (one behind Mickey Mantle who led the majorswith 40), won the Gold Glove Award, and was named theAmerican League's Most Valuable Player. He also hit 2World Series home runs, but it would be for the followingyear that he would be most remembered.In 1961, Roger and teammate Mickey Mantle received nationalattention as they chased the single season home run recordof 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927. Although Roger got off toa slow start hitting only 1 home run in April, he quicklymade up ground hitting 11 home runs in May and 15 home runsin June. The two Yankee sluggers went back and forthleading the majors in home runs during the summer. Rogerbecame the first player in history to hit 50 home runs bythe end of August. Mantle had 46. The Yankees continuedto win and were playing to sellout crowds both at home andon the road. An unfortunate illness to Mantle inSeptember caused him to miss games at the end of theseason, but he still finished with a career high 54 homeruns.Roger tied Ruth on September 26th, hitting his 60th homerun of the year. Then, on October 1, 1961, the final dayof the season, Roger hit his 61st home run, against theBoston Red Sox, to set the new home run record. TheYankees won the game 1 to 0 on Roger's home run, and wenton to win the World Series that year. Roger was named theMost Valuable Player in the American League for the secondstraight year, as he led the league in home runs and RBI's.Roger and Mickey also set the home run record forteammates hitting 115 home runs between them. In 1962, Roger hit 33 home runs. He also drove in 100RBI's and was selected to the All Star team for the 4thstraight year. Mickey hit 30 home runs, drove in 89 RBI's,and was named the league's Most Valuable Player that year. The Yankees repeated as World Series Champions. In 1963, Roger missed almost half of the season withinjuries playing in only 90 games, but still hit 23 homeruns and drove in 53 RBI's and the Yankees returned to theWorld Series. In 1964, Roger hit 26 home runs and 71 RBI's and theYankees again won the pennant and a trip to the WorldSeries. Roger sustained a wrist injury in 1965 and was only able toplay in 46 games for the Yankees. After the 1966 season,the Yankees traded Roger Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals,where he played his last two years. In 1967, Roger helped lead the Cardinals to the WorldSeries, where he then homered and drove in a Cardinalrecord 7 RBI's as St. Louis won the World Series. In 1968, Roger helped the Cardinals return to the WorldSeries and then announced his retirement. In all, RogerMaris played in seven World Series in the Sixties (1960,1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968), hitting six WorldSeries home runs and driving in 18 World Series RBI's. Hefinished his career with 275 home runs.On July 21, 1984, in a ceremony in Yankee Stadium, theYankees retired Roger's number (#9) and erected a plaque inhis honor paying tribute to his achievements.Roger Maris died on December 14, 1985 of lymphoma cancer atthe age of 51. http://www.rogermaris.com/biography.htm   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 10 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7106/1/E-Tony-Maglicas-Story.html  Tony Maglica's Storypatriot and businessmanEvery flashlight made by Mag Instrument, Inc., represents an abiding commitment to perfection and underscores the indomitable spirit and prowess of American manufacturing. A champion of free enterprise and “Made in the U.S.A.” manufacturing, Anthony Maglica founded Mag Instrument in Los Angeles in 1955 and designed the Maglite® flashlight, now an American product icon.Through sheer determination, hard work, and know-how, Anthony Maglica achieved the American Dream when he founded Mag Instrument in 1955. When he went on to design and manufacture a product that revolutionized an industry, he achieved that dream all over again. In his ongoing pursuit of innovative technology, quality products, design and the customer service to back them up, Maglica believes he has found the key to creating worldwide demand not only for his company's products, but for all goods made in America.HUMBLE BEGINNINGSBorn in New York City during the Great Depression, Maglica was raised in his mother's native Croatia. He was a small child when his mother decided to return to Croatia so that he could be raised close to her family. In 1950, he returned to the United States. With complete faith in the American free enterprise system, Maglica set out to make the most of his training as an experimental machinist, in spite of the fact that he spoke no English. Five years later he had managed to save $125 in order to buy a lathe and start his own machine tool business in a Los Angeles area garage.Maglica manufactured precision parts for industry, aerospace, and the military, and quickly earned a reputation for quality, efficiency and ingenuity. Mag Instrument was eventually incorporated in 1974. By that time, Maglica had clearly demonstrated his innovative techniques for cutting production costs and increasing quality. Continuous improvement is a talent that continues to keep his company ahead of the competition. Maglica established a hands-on leadership style, as well as a core business philosophy of combining superior quality of all Mag products with unsurpassed customer service.LIGHTING THE PATH TO SUCCESSAs his company grew, Maglica set his sights on designing and manufacturing a new and improved flashlight. Initially targeted for the public safety sector, the Maglite® flashlight was introduced in 1979. Police officers, firefighters and mechanics quickly spread the word about this rugged, reliable anodized aluminum flashlight, which would change the portable lighting industry forever.Committed to product innovation and refinement, Maglica followed up the success of the Maglite® flashlight with the Maglite® Rechargeable Flashlight System™, one of the most powerful rechargeable flashlights of its size. The Mini Maglite® AA flashlight was launched in 1984 and set a new standard for personal size flashlights. A smaller AAA-Cell version of the Mini Maglite® flashlight, ideal for many industrial and medical applications, was introduced in 1987; and the Solitaire® single AAA-Cell flashlight, designed for key chains and purses, was introduced in 1988.Often referred to as "A Work of Art That Works®", the Maglite® and Mini Maglite® have been honored by the Japan Institute of Design and the Museum for Applied Art in Germany. Fortune and Money magazines ranked Mag Instrument® products among the top 100 products that "America makes best". In 1996, the Wall Street Journal referred to the Maglite® flashlight as "the Cadillac of flashlights", and quoted then-CEO of Apple Computer Gilbert F. Amelio as saying he wanted Apple to be "essentially the Maglite® of computers".EXPANSION AND INNOVATIONHeadquartered in Ontario, California since 1982, Mag Instrument has 850 employees and occupies 450,000 square feet of space, including factory, offices and a distribution center. A new fully integrated manufacturing facility, now under construction in Ontario, is expected to create 2,400 additional jobs. This expansion will help Mag Instrument® meet the increasing worldwide demand for its products. The long-term goal is for exports to account for no less than 50 percent of sales.Mag Instrument is proud to be a leader in the current renaissance in American manufacturing. Maglica himself, a fervent believer in the importance of manufacturing in the United States, insists that all Mag Instrument® products be produced domestically and bear the "Made in America" label. He has dedicated himself to proving that American-made products can excel in the global marketplace by using technology to continually improve quality and reduce costs. Over the last two decades, Maglica's innovations have allowed Mag Instrument to offer consumers consistently better value than the competition.Maglica, who is personally involved in all product research and development, holds hundreds of patents and trademarks for features that are employed in company products. Over the past decade and a half, Mag Instrument has vigorously enforced its intellectual property rights in courts here and abroad. Maglica believes that all American manufacturers benefit from the aggressive defense of patent and trademark rights against any and all infringers.Several new products are under development, to be introduced only when Maglica is personally satisfied that their design and execution are up to Mag Instrument standards. In the meantime, he has plenty of other interests to occupy his time, including building an environmental reclamation plant in Zlarin, Croatia, where he grew up. From Maglica's childhood home to the birthplace of his success, this patriot and businessman continues to champion and exemplify the blessings of free enterprise. http://www.maglite.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 25 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7107/1/E-Clem-Simich-Parliaments-perfect-gentleman.html  Clem Simich, Parliament's perfect gentleman  08.08.2004By AUDREY YOUNG Tamaki MP Clem Simich is a man of superlatives. He is known mainly as the man selected to replace the dominant figure of Rob Muldoon as MP for Tamaki in the 1992 byelection. But he was also National's longest-serving senior officer to come into Parliament. He was best trainee in his intake at police college with a mark, he says, that has never been equalled. He was the youngest detective and detective sergeant in the force. He did a double degree in arts and law in four years that should have taken five. And he has been one of the best select committee chairmen. These are all facts offered by the man himself this week in the course of an interview occasioned by his becoming Shadow Speaker. But there's more. "I've made a major contribution to the caucus", he says, then with a hint of modesty, "so I'm told." It is surprising that Simich is so forward about his achievements. His image has been that of the reluctant hero, demonstrated last year when he helped an elderly couple escape from their car teetering on the edge of the sea wall around the eastern bays. It is also surprising because he has famously good manners. There is no shortage of praise about him from any number of people around Parliament where Simich, now the Assistant Speaker, is regarded with an affection and respect that sits at odds with criticisms heard in Auckland about his being the invisible man. Ask any MP. "It was a pleasure standing against him," says Labour MP Lynn Pillay, his opponent in 1999. "He is a perfect gentleman." "I've found Clem to be a gentleman and a straight man," says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters whom, it must be said, was backed by Simich during the Winebox ordeal. "He has natural authority and you just know he's the sort of person you can't mess with," says former Act leader Richard Prebble. Simich would not disagree. "I know I have a presence and that always went part of the way to being able to deal with situations calmly and forcefully." He chairs the House up to three hours a week. He has yet to throw anyone out. His own colleagues test him the most, but that is because the chamber is the Opposition's forum to make the executive accountable. He thinks it best to let people have a long leash. "If some want to make fools of themselves, I let them do that, too." His talent for exhibiting and demanding good behaviour was apparent at an early age. "I was considered to be a model child by my mum and an angel. And as I grew up, nothing changed. I guess I was just good. "And when I was in police school, all of my classmates had the same view." Simich is sitting in his third-floor office at Parliament, ready to head down to chair a robust scampi debate after Question Time. His immaculate manners are matched by his immaculate appearance: black suit, gold silk pocket handkerchief, matching gold and black tie, shining brogues and three rings. With his smartly groomed moustache, he would make a perfect Poirot if he were a little more Belgian and a little less tall. He confirms the suspicion that he is fond of an old-fashioned waltz - but only with Mrs Simich, "top New Zealand high-fashion model Ann Lynch", as she is described on his website. He has given up the roll-your-own cigarettes for a more dignified pipe. Someone looking for a reason behind the heavy emphasis on achievement might find it in his humble beginnings. He began life as a barefoot boy on the gum fields of Northland, born in Te Kopuru in 1939. His mother was half-Maori, his father Croatian."We had nothing. We just looked after ourselves. We made our own fun. Grew most of our own food." The family, his parents and two brothers, went toCroatia for what was meant to be six months but turned into five years. From 8 to 13 he went to school in Croatia, almost forgetting how to speak English and topping the school in Croatian language studies and maths. When the family came home to the gumfields, he finished his schooling by correspondence, being too far away from school to attend daily. And he remembers learning an encyclopaedia by heart at home. Then in a surprising admission for a high achiever, he says he made it only to fourth form and that when he sat School Certificate at police college, he passed only on his third attempt - on a recount. Simich moved from the police force to a stonemasonry business with one of his brothers, which grew into a construction and development company. And while he was gaining that double degree in the late 1980s, he was also general manager of the public company Corporate Investments. He was made Minister of Police and Corrections by Jenny Shipley in the dying days of National's nine-year tenure in Government. Despite the rumblings in Auckland over Simich's lack of vigour and lack of profile, he is National's elder statesman in caucus, where he is said to say little but makes it count when he does. His colleagues are delighted to save him the ordeal of a challenge for selection - as had been foreshadowed. In a tidy solution to possible problems for National in Auckland's eastern suburbs, Simich agreed to stand aside as an electorate MP in the next election for a high list position. Simich gets what he wants in the promise of the Speaker's job - to which Northland MP and senior whip John Carter might well have laid claim. An unpleasant challenge against a sitting member is avoided and the party gets to hold a real contest to attract new blood in the crucial Auckland market. The solution would allow Tamaki's National supporters to vote strategically for Act - if that looks like what it would take for National to claim the Government benches - without upsetting a highly regarded local MP. Simich, 65, may take some quiet satisfaction from the fact that he could spend his political twilight years in Parliament's most respected posts. His entry to politics was less reverential. For years he has been teased about promising during the 1992 Tamaki byelection to "take a message to Wellington". Asked if he was sick of being asked about "the message", he is genuinely puzzled. "What message?" Reminded about it, he explains that the "message to Wellington" was not just "a" message. It was two years after the 1990 landslide election to National and - following the Mother of All Budgets - the party had been rating a dismal 26 per cent. "My invitation to [National Government] caucus members was to come and get a feel for things on the ground, but what the Government had done either had not been sold or was not very well received. "I wanted them to get that message. How it lingered on was that I said 'if you want to send a message to Wellington, send it to the Government, not the Opposition'. "That's a message I passed on at my very first caucus, mainly that their policies were good but hadn't been sold properly beforehand or 'take the people along with you before you implement the policy'. "I was given about half an hour of caucus time." Simich knocked aside one of New Zealand's most loved sons and a paper-perfect contender, Dr David Kirk, who came qualified with medical degree, Rhodes scholarship and World Cup trophy to his name. "It was the biggest line-up for a selection ever - 19," says Simich. Observers outside Tamaki could not understand how the electorate had chosen a supposed "unknown" against a world-beater following Muldoon's retirement. But he wasn't an unknown. Simich's relationship with the National Party began 30 years ago this month, in 1974. He had stood against David Lange in the Mangere byelection and for 15 years was on the governing body of the party, the Dominion Council. And an activist in Tamaki had a special window on the party. "We were very lucky to have Rob there for 30-something years, nine of them as Prime Minister. All of us in Tamaki had a ringside seat on what was happening."And of course I was his right-hand man for 18 years, both in the electorate and on the Dominion Council in Wellington." His Tamaki electorate ranges from the elite of Auckland on Paritai Drive to the poor of Glen Innes and Pt England, and he cites as one of his proudest achievements the bulldozing and replacement of the infamous Madeleine Ave flats.Asked how he would like to be remembered by the people of Tamaki he offers this: "I'd like to be remembered as someone who represented them well, who represented their views at this end - and who got into Cabinet in a shorter time than Rob Muldoon." http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3582765&thesection=news&thesubsection=general  Getting In TouchI consider it important for constituents to be able to talk directly and easily with their Member of Parliament. You can reach me at either my Tamaki Office or through my office in Wellington.Tamaki OfficeMy Tamaki electorate office is run by a husband-and-wife team, John and Vicki TremewanBetween them they have many years experience in politics and the operation of an MP's home base.If you have any problems that you feel need the attention of your Member of Parliament then please get in touch with the office.26 St Heliers Bay RdP.O.Box 25-189St HeliersPhone: 575 9842 Fax: 575 6597 Email: tamaki@ihug.co.nz Wellington OfficeClem Simich MPFreepost Parliament BuildingsWellington.Ph 04-471-9302Fax 04-473-0469E-mail: clem.simich@national.org.nz  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 08 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7109/1/E-Andrej-Urem-poet-sculptor-designer.html      Andrej Urem is a poet, sculptor and graphic designer who lives in New York City from the year 2002. He was born in 1965. in Rijeka, Croatia, where he completed hiseducation. He was a member of Rijeka's new - wave band Kaos (1980).Andrej continued his studies in sculpture in Rome and Florence, during the middle of the 80-ies. His solo exhibitions were held in Rijeka and Zagreb. He worked onportraits and other statuary forms within plastic art across the USA, Canada, Mexico and Italy. After return to Croatia in 1990, he started working as a graphic designer mainly for books and magazines. He is the author of the numerous graphic solutions in differing design fields. In the year of 2000. Urem's monography "Aeterna Croatia" was published. For already two decades Andrej Urem has been writing poems. Those were published in Croatian and American periodicals and translated to the English. He has published four collections of poems: Ballad of the Yellow Knife ( 1991), Bugged Hart ( 1993),Laughter in Darkness (1996) and Singing to the Essence (2000).He is represented within the anthology of the Croatian poetry titled Passion ofDifference, Dark Sound of Emptiness (1995) as well as within Small Encyclopedia of the Croatian Pop and Rock Music (1994). In 2003. Andrej Urem founded Urem Publishing Inc., and in 2004. he co-founded DOORS Art Foundation. Contact: urem@earthlink.net   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 10 May 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7110/1/E-Ivan-Dikic-MD-PhD.html  Ivan Dikic, M.D., Ph.D. Molecular signaling group Head: Ivan DikicIvan Dikic, M.D., Ph.D.Professor, Institute of Biochemistry IIGoethe University Medical SchoolUniversity Hospital, Bldg 75Theodor-Stern-Kai 7D-60590 Frankfurt, Germanytel: (069) 6301 83647fax: (069) 6301 5577http://molsig.biochem2.de If there are any problems with the e-mail connection please usedikic@biochem2.uni-frankfurt.deIvan DikicProfessor of BiochemistryGoethe University Medical SchoolTheodor-Stern-Kai Str. 7D-60590 Frankfurt am Main, GermanyTel: 00 49 69 6301 83647Fax: 00 49 69 6301 5577E-mail: Ivan.Dikic@biochem2.de PERSONAL INFORMATIONDate of Birth: 28 - 05 - 1966Place of Birth: Zagreb, CroatiaCitizen of Croatia, Resident of GermanyFamily Status: Married with Inga Dikic, M.D. Ph.D.Children: Daughters Karla (1999-2002) and Petra (2003), Son Lovro (2001)Scientific conferences: 1st International conference on signal transduction, Dubrovnik 1998http://www.icst.irb.hr/icst1introduction.html 2nd International conference on signal transduction, Dubrovnik 2000http://www.icst.irb.hr/icst2introduction.htm EMBO Lecture Course- Cellular Signaling in Development and Disease, September 2001 3rd Dubrovnik conference on cellular signaling, Dubrovnik 2002http://www.icst.irb.hr/icst3intro.html FEBS Lecture Course/Dubrovnik conference 2004, May 21-27, 2004http://www.icst.irb.hr/ STUDIES1995-1997 Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Joseph Schlessinger, New York University Medical Center, New York, USA1991-1995 Ph.D. - molecular biology University of Zagreb and New York University under supervision of Prof. J. Schlessinger1986-1991 Medical Doctor-University of Zagreb Medical School, Summa cum laude, GPA-5.0POSITIONS HELD2003-present Professor of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Medical School, Frankfurt, Germany1997-2002 Assistant Member and Group Leader, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala, Sweden1992-1997 Research associate at the New York University, NY, USA1991-1992 Intern, Institute for Mother and Child Health Care, Zagreb, CroatiaAWARDS2002 Lilla Förnstrom Award, Lund, Sweden - for the identification of signals that control intracellular transport of growth factor receptors and associated molecules2000-2003 Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Research Award, Germany1997-2000 Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Research Award, Germany - for studies on signalling and endocytosis of receptor tyrosine kinases1997 Young Investigator Award - Gordon Conference, Barga, Il Ciocco, Italy1991 University of Zagreb Rector's Award, Croatia1991 D. Perovic Award- Best Medical Graduate at University of Zagreb, Croatia; maximum GPA 5.01991 FEBS scholarship, Aarhus, Denmark1990 Karyn Kupcinet fellowship, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel1990 University of Zagreb Award for Distinguished Students, CroatiaMEMBERSHIPS2002 German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, FEBS and IUBMB2001 International Union Against Cancer2001 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology2001 European Life Science Organization (ELSO)2000 The American Association for Cancer Research1998 World Association of Croatian Physicians1995 New York Academy of Sciences1995 American Association for the Advancement of ScienceSCIENTIFIC MEETINGS and LECTURESInvited speaker at 23 conferences in Europe and USA.Invited lecturer at more than 30 Universities across Europe, USA and CanadaLecturer instructor at 5 EMBO, ESF and FEBS CoursesFounder and co-organizer of the Dubrovnik conferences on signalling (1998-2004)Organizer of EMBO Lecture Course on Signalling and Development (Split, 2001)Organizer of the FEBS Lecture Course on Cellular Signalling (Dubrovnik 2004)MEMBER of EDITORIAL BOARDS2003-2008 Journal of Biological ChemistrySCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER2002-2003 Betagenon, Stockholm, SwedenMENTORS for students and EDUCATION5 Ph.D. and 4 M.Sc. Following courses and practicums:2003-2004 Seminar courses and module-based practicum in biochemistry at the Goethe University Medical School 2000-2001 Graduate course in Cellular Signalling - Karolinska Institute, Hudinge, Sweden2000 Advanced Course in "Physiology: Cellular and Molecular Aspects", The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Sweden2000 Graduate Course in Molecular Biology, Split University, Split Croatia1999-2000 Graduate Course in Cell Signalling, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden1995-1997 Research instructor, NYU Medical School, New York, USASCIENTIFIC SEMINARS in 2003Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Institute for Cancer Research, Torino, Italy,NKI, Amsterdam, Holland Yale University, New Haven, USAMount Sinai University, New York, USAUmea University, SwedenInstitute of Physiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, GermanyInstitute of Neurology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany ESF endocytosis meeting, Marathea, ItalyPhysPharm 2003, Odense, DenmarkFASEB meeting, Cooper Mountains, USABiochemical Society meeting, Essex, UKFEBS Lecture Course, Spetses, GreeceBSI Annual congress, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UKSFB Signalling congress, Jena, GermanyAstra Zeneca, Sodertalje, SwedenMerck, Darmstadt, Germany   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 18 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7108/1/H-Darko-Varga-dipl-ing-el.html   Darko VargaŽIVOTOPIS Roden sam u Osijeku 17.travnja 1956.godine, a odrastao u Bilju, Baranja, u blizini Biljskog i Kopackog rita. Baka i roditelji su me naucili prijateljskom odnosu prema prirodi, životinjama i biljkama u svom okolišu, a otac i stricevi upoznali su me sa svim tajnama ribolova u bogatim vodama poplavnog podrucja Dunava i Drave. Osnovnu školu pohadao sam u Bilju, a više razrede svakodnevno putujuci u Dardu. Sudjelovao sam i pobjedivao na natjecanjima iz matematike, fizike i kemije. Pohadao sam i osnovnu glazbenu školu- odsjek klasicna gitara, te bio aktivan i u novinarskoj sekciji, igrao nogomet i košarku.Srednju školu, gimnaziju, završio sam u Osijeku, u Tvrdi, koja je dala dva hrvatska nobelovca: Vatroslava Ružicku i Vladimira Preloga. Bio sam prvi na natjecanjima srednjih škola iz fizike.Nakon gimnazije upisujem Elektrotehnicki fakultet u Zagrebu, gdje sam 1981.g. diplomirao na smjeru Elektroenergetika. Tijekom studija bio sam aktivan u radu KSET-a (Kluba studenata elektrotehnike), gdje sam organizirao glazbene slušaonice, nastupe mladih bandova, te bio disc-jockey. U to vrijeme pisao sam priloge i za studentsko glasilo "Naš list", te igrao nogomet za ekipu fakulteta u prvoj sveucilišnoj ligi. Nakon završetka studija iste godine zapošljavam se u "Elektroslavoniji" Osijek i radim na izgradnji elektroenergetskih objekata, kao voditelj izgradnje. Od 1990. g. sam rukovoditelj odjela Elektromontaža. U razdoblju od 1993. do 2000. g. obnašao sam dužnost direktora HEP- Prijenosno podrucje, Osijek. Od 2000.g do danas sam savjetnik direktora. Zadnji znacajniji posao, koji sam obavio u funkciji nadzornog inženjera, bio je nadzor nad obnovom visokonaponskih dalekovoda 110, 220 i 400 kV iz nedavno završenog programa obnove «Ernestinovo».Osim hrvatskog, govorim engleski i madarski, a služim se i njemackim jezikom.Oženjen sam i imam dvoje djece. Starija kci Dunja je ucenica Klasicne isusovacke gimnazije u Osijeku, a uz stipendiju Schwaben International, završava drugi gimnazije (10.razred) u Herrenbergu u Njemackoj. Clanica je zbora "Brevis" iz Osijeka, najboljeg djevojackog zbora u Hrvatskoj, a završila je i osnovnu glazbenu školu-smjer klavir. Bila je sudionica Medunarodnog kongresa mladih: II. European Youth Water Congress, održanog u Barcsu, Madarska 2001.godine. Sin Matija je ucenik cetvrtog razreda osnovne škole, i pobjednik je na opcinskom natjecanju iz matematike, a na županijskom natjecanju je bio osmi. Ocekujemo da ce biti pozvan i na regionalno natjecanje. Igra aktivno nogomet u "Elektri", gdje je i kapetan momcadi. U STD (Slavonsko tamburaško društvo) "Pajo Kolaric" uci svirati tamburu "brac". Supruga Željka radi u knjižarskom poduzecu "Libraria".HobijiKao dokazani prijatelj životinjskog svijeta bavim se uzgojem crvenih irskih setera. Sa svojim psima postigao sam europski znacajne rezultate, a moj uzgojni koncept (vracanje na Wendover tip irskog setera) je priznat. Imam registriranu uzgajacnicu od 1986. pod imenom REDHOT, pod brojem F.C.I 2536.Veliki sam ljubitelj i poznavatelj glazbe, a slušam mnoge forme, pocev od jazza i bluesa, pa do rock glazbe, narocito one iz 70-ih godina prošlog stoljeca, a nije mi strana niti klasicna i etno glazba iz razlicitih dijelova svijeta.Fotosafari, snimanje živog svijeta, tradicijske arhitekture, povijesnih znamenitosti Podunavlja, obicaja, a najviše Kopackog rita, takoder je moj hobi, ali i potreba za materijalom s kojim predstavljam naše lokalne vrijednosti svijetu. Skupljam stare povijesne knjige, a narocito "ludujem" za starim zemljovidima.Volim putovati i otkrivati nove svjetove, te prikupljati tuda iskustva u zaštiti prirode, u održivom razvitku, te ona dobra i našem podneblju primjerena iskustva nastojim primijeniti u svom radu.Volonterski rad• Opcina BiljeKao prognanik iz Bilja, gdje smo živjeli prije Domovinskog rata, u Osijeku sam se aktiviro u radu tadašnje, jedine baranjske mjesne zajednice u progonstvu. Od 1991.- 1993. g. organiziram humanitarnu pomoc prognanicima, nabavljam krevete, hranu za djecu, organiziram zbrinjavanje prognane djece u Madarskoj, radim u nadzoru na izgradnji prognanickog naselja u Cepinu, i izradujem programe povratka i razvitka Baranje. Od 1992. g. bio sam clan Povjereništva Vlade za Baranju kao koordinator opskrbe energentima i clan Povjerenstva za povratak, obnovu i razvoj Baranje. Bio sam i nacelnik opcine Bilje u dva mandata. U prvom mandatu, od 1993.-1997.g. radio sam i dalje na humanitarnim poslovima, organizirao razne priredbe i okupljanja prognanika kako bih održao tenziju za njihovim povratkom, ali i zbog edukacije o vrijednostima podrucja te njihovom mudrom korištenju nakon povratka. U to vrijeme izradio sam više razvojnih programa za opcinu Bilje, a 1995. g. pokrenio i prekogranicnu suradnju sa susjednim jedinicama lokalne samouprave iz Madarske. Vec 1996. g. je tridesetak opcina i gradova iz Hrvatske i Madarske potpisalo sporazum u suradnji, a 1997. g. u selu Kopacevu je održana i Konferencija: "Dunav-Drava-biseri prirode", gdje su nam gosti bili predstavnici WWF-a, Euronatura i Ministarstva zaštite okoliša iz Madarske, kao i mnogi drugi koji donose odluke u vezi uredenja prostora. Na moju inicijativu, glavne teme su bile turizam i zaštita prirode i okoliša, te prekogranicna suradnja po tim pitanjima. Tijekom 1996. i 1997.g. aktivno sudjelujem u procesu mirne reintegracije Podunavlja u pravni sustav Republike Hrvatske.U mandatu od 1997.- 2001. g. radim na obnovi infrastrukture u Opcini, u obnovi obiteljskih kuca, u formiranju lokalne samouprave i njezinih tijela, te aktivno promoviram prirodne i kulturne vrijednosti lokalnom stanovništvu, ali i u svijetu. U to vrijeme izradujem strategije razvitka, programe, te održavam i organiziram citav niz edukacijskih seminara (ekološka poljoprivreda, turisticki vodici, tecajevi engleskog), vodim predstavnike iz sela Opcine u Madarsku, u Nizozemsku i Austriju gdje mogu vidjeti primjere seoskog i ekološkog turizma...• Ekološka družba "Prijatelji Kopackog rita"Družbu sam pokrenuo 1996. godine, u progonstvu, i od tada do danas sam predsjednik Družbe. Družba broji stotinjak clanova medu kojima su sveucilišni profesori, ekonomisti, pravnici, biolozi, kao i ribari i ekolozi, a imala je citav niz aktivnosti i projekata. U 2001.g. doradili smo Statut i još bolje se organizirali.• Turisticka zajednica Opcine BiljeU 1998. g. sam inicirao osnutak TZ Opcine Bilje i bio njen prvi predsjednik.Popis aktivnosti na promociji vrijednosti Podunavlja• Filmovi1995.g. – Bio sam scenarist, producent i režiser prvog hrvatskog video filma "I rode se vracaju…" koji je prikazan na festivalu dokumentarnog filma u Madarskoj, u organizaciji "Lakiteleki alapitvany". Film je dobio posebno priznanje.1996.g. - S policijom organiziram dozvolu ulaska u Kopacki rit gdje, u suradnji s Marijom Romulicem, snimamo prvi video film o Kopackom ritu. Zašli smo i preko crte razdvajanja, iznad minskih polja, ali i napravili prvi hrvatski film o Kopackom ritu. Bio sam producent filma.1997. g. - Uz propusnice UNTAES-a ulazimo u isti prostor i pravimo drugi video film.1998. g. - Takoder u mojoj produkciji radimo i treci film koji, uz prirodne vrijednosti, prezentira etno i opcenito kulturnu baštinu Baranje.1999.g. - Ekološka družba s Marijem Romulicem izradila je promotivni film za namicanje sredstava za razminiranje. Rezultat je donacija kanadske vlade od milijun dolara.• Djecji festivalOrganizirao sam, uz pomoc Vjekoslava i Jelene Buric, Osjeckih zumbica i Brevis-a, Prvi medunarodni djecji festival ekološke pjesme "Bilje 1998". Sudionici su djeca do 12 godina iz 6 država. Vlastitim sredstvima supruga i ja smo financirali izdavanje CD nosaca zvuka.• Edukacija i ostalo- Tijekom 2000. g. predlažem projekt Medunarodnog etno sajma "Dunav-Drava, zajednicka baština" koji je sufinancirao WWF International, a proveli predstavnici Družbe, Opcine, Turisticke zajednice. Ovaj projekt je bio veliko ohrabrenje lokalnom stanovništvu da je turizam moguc, te je ta aktivnost prekretnica u razvitku Opcine. Od tada je "niklo" 11 obiteljskih gospodarstava koja nude turisticke usluge, smještaj, jahanje... - Web stranica www.bilje.hr je bila druga web stranica jedne opcine u Hrvatskoj (prva je opcine Matulji). Postavljena je 1997. g. u progonstvu, a 2000. je osvježena.- Još 1996.g., u progonstvu, pokrenuo sam izradu turistickog prospekta opcine Bilje, gdje je Kopacki rit bio posebno istaknut.- Pokrenuo sam 1997. g. i izdavanje lokalnog glasila "Štekavac" i dao mu ime po najznacajnijoj ptici Kopackog rita, orlu štekavcu.- Tijekom 1996.,1997. i 1999.g. organizirao sam i slikarske kolonije s temom Kopacki rit.- Objavljivao sam tekstove o Kopackom ritu i ustupao svoje fotografije sljedecim casopisima: "Hrvatski zemljopis", "Cro-turizam", "Oasis" (Italija), te fotografije za bibliografiju "Kopacki rit", grupe autora...- Organizirao sam više izložbi, uvijek s prigodnim katalogom: "Spojimo list" (izložba eko-karikatura) i "Mine ubojita ostavština" autora Tomislava Dušanica; "Uskrs naš hrvatski" (izložba radova prognane baranjske djece, a nagradeni su posjetili Muzej za umjetnost i obrt u Zagrebu, te Hrvatski Sabor.- Organizirao sam 1998.g. izradu vec zaboravljenog ribolovnog sredstva-«vejsze», koji još zna izraditi samo stari ribar Horvat iz Kopaceva.- Organizirao sam, uz pomoc madarske ekološke udruge "Teampannon", posjet predstavnika opcine Ramsarskom podrucju, Tisza-to u Madarskoj.- Angažirao sam uciteljicu foklora (1998.g.) za rad s djecom, te pomogao izdavanje knjige Jelke Mihaljev "Hrvatski baranjski vez". - Organizirao sam 1995.g. (u progonstvu) te 2000.g. tecajeve rucnog rada za lokalno stanovništvo.- Znacajna edukacijska aktivnost bila je izložba koja je organizirana 1995.g. u suradnji s državnim arhivom u Osijeku (prof. Sršan): "Opcina Bilje na starim katastarskim zemljovidima". Znacajan je i katalog za tu izložbu, u kojem je autor, dr. Stjepan Sršan, napisao i kratku povijest opcine Bilje, te je i taj materijal edukacijsko-promotivnog karaktera. Nakon te izložbe, Hrvatske vode su narucile 1998. g. slicnu izložbu i katalog "Kopacki rit na starim zemljovidima". Nakon toga je uprilicena i izložba "Baranja na starim zemljovidima".- Pokrenuo sam, 1997.g., održavanje "Ribarskih dana" u Kopacevu, što je danas vec tradicija i uspješan poslovni turisticko-ugostiteljski dogadaj za lokalno stanovništvo.- Godine 2001., u suradnji s Državnim arhivom iz Osijeka i Austrijskim veleposlanstvom (ataše za kulturu), organizirao sam izložbu "Pohodi Eugena Savojskog u Hrvatsku i Bosnu" koja se održala u dvorcu Eugena Savojskog u Bilju.- Od 1995. do 2002. g. organizirao sam nastupe Opcine Bilje na raznim sajmovima: Agrozemlja u Bizovcu, u Viškovu (kod Rijeke), Zagrebu, Varaždinu, na kojima smo predstavljali naše ekološke i etnološke vrijednosti. Na prvim sajmovima u Bizovcu bilo je aktivno ukljuceno preko stotinu ljudi s podrucja Opcine Bilje.• Prekogranicna suradnja- S gradonacelnikom Beremenda (Madarska) inicirao sam osnutak Koordinacije pogranicnih opcina i gradova, a 1996.g. potpisan sporazum o suradnji.- U Kopacevu je 1997.g. održana Prva medunarodna konferencija pogranicnih opcina i gradova: "Dunav, Drava-biseri prirode", gdje su dogovarani projekti biciklistickih staza, vinskih putova koji ce se povezati u obje države, a pokrenuta je i inicijativa za otvaranjem novih granicnih prijelaza (otvoren je novi prijelaz Baranjsko Petrovo Selo - Beremend), te je dogovorena suradnja na zaštiti prirode i okoliša. Suradnja je pocela održavanjem "Delta kupa", malonogometnog turnira koji se održavao u Osijeku i u Beremendu, a sudionici su bile ekipe iz lokalnih samouprava, potpisnica sporazuma o suradnji.- Od 1998.g. u svojstvu predstavnika Osjecko-baranjske županije sudjelujem na sastancima u sklopu prekogranicne suradnje dviju županija, i na sastancima prve hrvatske EU regije: Dunav-Drava-Sava. U Pecuhu sam održao predavanje pod nazivom "Održivi razvitak Opcine Bilje" na madarskom.• Suradnja i inicijative- U svom radu suradivao sam s predstavnicima mnogih udruga i institucija: World Wildlife Fund For Nature (WWF) International, WWF-Austrija, WWF-Švicarska, Euronatur-Njemacka, Teampannon-Madarska, ProNatura- Švicarska, REC-Hrvatska, s mnogim fakultetima i profesorima sa Sveucilišta u Osijeku.- Sudjelovao sam, s dr. Jožefom Mikuškom, u izradi materijala za UNESCO, prijedloga za uvrštavanje Kopackog rita u popis Svjetske prirodne baštine.- Sudjelovao sam u izradi Projekta Svjetske banke i GEF-a (Global Environmental Fund) za dobivanje kredita i donacije GEF-a. Smatram se najzaslužnijim za dobivanje donacije od 750.000 USD za Kopacki rit. Program je raden po mojim idejama i vizijama.- Pokretac sam, inicijator osnutka Javne ustanove "Park prirode Kopacki rit" i bio sam prvi predsjednik Upravnog vijeca, te s ravnateljem dr. J. Mikuškom postavio temelje rada te državne ustanove.• Znacajna medunarodna aktivnost- 1997. g., u organizaciji ProNatura-Švicarska i Cause commune, posjetio sam Švicarsku. Jedini sam predstavnik ekoloških udruga iz Hrvatske koji je posjetio sjedište Ramsarske konvencije u Glandu, kao i sjedište IUCN-a i WWF-a. Svoj razvojni program i video film o Kopackom ritu predstavio sam u sjedištu Ramsara, WWF-a, ali i u Ministarstvu zaštite okoliša Švicarske u Bernu. Nakon toga krenula je medunarodna potpora mojim projektima.- 1998. g., kao gost UNESCO-a, kao jedini predstavnik lokalne samouprave s podrucja koje obuhvaca Sjevernu Ameriku i sve europske države, ukljucujuci i države bivšeg SSSR-a, boravio sam u Finskoj na Trecem susretu koordinatora rezervata biosfere u organizaciji UNESCO-ve institucije EuroMaB (Man and Biosphere). Predstavio sam referat: "SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF BILJE MUNICIPALITY", objavljen u zborniku radova sa susreta pod nazivom "Protect The Nature And Live Of It" koji je izvucen iz mog slogana. Ovaj zbornik izdala je Finska akademija znanosti 1999. godine.- 1999.g. predstavio sam svoj rad ”DEVELOPMENT BASIS OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL TOURISM OF THE MUNICIPALITY BILJE”, koji je objavljen u zborniku radova sa simpozija “ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE IN NATIONAL, EUROPEAN AND GLOBAL TRANSITION”,održanog u Osijeku.- 2000.g. predstavio sam svoj rad ”AN APPROACH TO THE STRATEGY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BILJE MUNICIPALITY”, na Medunarodnom znanstvenom simpoziju u Varaždinu pod nazivom ”MARKET DEMOCRACY IN CROATIA, SITUATION AND PERSPECTIVES”, u organizaciji HAZU, koji je objavljen u zborniku radova Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti 2000. godine.- Svoj rad ”AN APPROACH TO THE STRATEGY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BILJE MUNICIPALITY”, predstavio sam (objavljen je u zborniku radova) na medunarodnoj konferenciji “GIS CROATIA 2000” održanoj u Zagrebu i Osijeku 2000.godine. Isti rad objavljen je u izdanju Hrvatskog instituta za lokalnu samoupravu u knjizi ”LOCAL SELFGOVERNMENT CROATIAN AND HOLLAND EXPERIENCES”, Osijek, 2001.godine.- 2001. g. sam u Bukureštu (Rumunjska) na summit-u Dunavsko-karpatskih zemalja pod nazivom “GREEN LIGHT FOR EUROPE”- ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CARPHATIAN AND DANUBE REGION, kao jedini sudionik iz hrvatskog Podunavlja s projektom, predstavio svoj rad “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF BILJE MUNICIPALITY THROUGH COOPERATION”.- U Barcsu (Madarska) 2001.godine, na medunarodnom forumu za zaštitu europskih rijeka “EUROPEAN FORUM ON WATER AND TOURISM” predstavio sam svoj rad "MUNICIPALITY ON TWO EUROPEAN RIVERS”.- 2002. godine, kao gost americkog State Department-a, u sklopu Visitors Program-a boravio sam 25 dana u SAD-u, u grupi ljudi sa cetiri kontinenta, kao jedini iz Europe. Upoznavao sam se s iskustvima u prekogranicnoj suradnji po pitanjima zaštite okoliša (Crossboarder Environmental Issues). Posjetio sam više federalnih ministarstava (Agencies), ministarstava saveznih država, susretao se s mnogim nevladinim udrugama koje rade na zaštiti i prekogranicnoj suradnji izmedu saveznih država i u suradnji s Kanadom i Meksikom.- 2003.g. na medunarodnom simpoziju ETHNOGRAPHY OF PROTECTED AREAS: Endangered habitats - endangered cultures održanom na Pohorju u Sloveniji predstavio sam referat: "ETHNOGRAPHIC HERITAGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BARANYA REGION, CROATIA". Trenutno još nije objavljen zbornik radova.• Zanimanje svjetske javnosti za moj rad-Interview u On the Danube, a Nature Reserve Unites Old Foes By MarliseSimons 23 October 1999 .- Video film " Portreti znacajnih pojedinaca koji rade na zaštiti prirode". Video film financirao je WWF-International, a predviden je za emitiranje na Discovery Channel-u. Kroz razgovor i kadrove iz podrucja prikazan je moj rad na zaštiti Kopackog rita.• Nagrade- "Zelena povelja Osjecko-baranjske županije", za promociju vrijednosti Kopackog rita. (1996.g.)- "Medalja Vukovar", odlicje predsjednika Republike za aktivno sudjelovanje u mirnoj reintegraciji Podunavlja (1999.g.)- "Državno priznanje" za posebni doprinos pojedinca u zaštiti prirode i okoliša (Vodice, 2001.g.)U Osijeku, 17.travnja 2004.g. E-mail: darko.varga@os.htnet.hr darko.varga@hep.hr  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 17 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7111/1/E-Kemal-Gekich-pianist-at-edge-of-genius.html  "Gekic rides the charismatic edge of genius" Richard Dyer, The Boston Globe  Kemal Gekic, pianistFlamboyant, daring, provocative, exciting, seductive and sensitive are some of the words used to describe one of today's most formidable pianists, Kemal Gekic, whose playing has been acclaimed worldwide by public and critics alike. www.kemalgekic.info  Born in Split, Croatia in 1962, Gekic amazed his family by accurately picking out melodies on the piano at age one and a half. The young prodigy received all his early musical training from his aunt, Lorenza Batturina. In 1978 he entered the class of Prof. Jokuthon Mihailovich (a graduate of Moscow Conservatory) at the Art Academy of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. He graduated in 1982 with the highest mark ever granted a diploma exam recital, and was immediately given a faculty appointment by the piano department which he eventually directed until 1999. During his school years he won prizes at the Franz Liszt Competition in Parma (1981), the Viana da Motta in Lisbon (1983) and the Yugoslav Artists' Competition in Zagreb (1984).He earned his Master's degree in 1985, the same year he created a sensation at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Although panned by the jury he won the hearts of audience and critics alike, and began receiving many invitations to perform abroad, including several from the Chopin Society of Hannover, Germany which had awarded him a special prize for best sonata performance at the competition. A recording of his Warsaw performances sold 60,000 copies in Germany by the end of the year, and the Victor Entertainment Corporation, Japan (JVC) sold 80,000 copies of a CD version in their home country. The Warsaw Philharmonic invited Gekic to perform the Chopin E minor Piano Concerto in Philharmonic Hall in their regular series that season. In the same hall, with the same orchestra as he would have done in the competition finals, Gekic wowed the Warsaw audience once more, and for an encore gave Chopin's Third Sonata in B minor in its entirety!In the years following the 1985 Warsaw Competition, in addition to extensive concert activity in Germany, Denmark, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Italy, Canada and of course Yugoslavia, he completed tours of the USSR and Japan-Southeast Rim. Programs on his life and his performances were broadcast by RAI Italy, TV Portugal, TV Yugoslavia, NHK Japan, POLTEL Poland, RTV Lower Saxony West Germany, RTV USSR, Intervision, CBC and PBS.But it was during the early 1990's that Gekic drastically curtailed his concert activity, going into seclusion for a further period of intensive study, seeking even higher levels of perfection in his art. The 'first fruits' of this retreat was the landmark recording of the complete Liszt Transcendental Etudes, generally considered as the best recording of the set ever made. Shortly to follow were the Naxos recording of Liszt-Rossini transcriptions (including the William Tell Overture) which won the "Rosette" Prize from the Penguin Guide to Music, and live recordings from Yugoslavia (VAI), Montreal (Palexa), and Liszt's Années de Pelerinage Book II from The International Piano Festival Williamstown, Pennsylvania.In 1999 he was invited to perform at the Miami International Piano Festival. Minutes before he was to walk on stage, a chance glance at a television showed houses burning in his hometown of Novi Sad. It was March 24th; the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia had begun. Instead of canceling, he went out on stage and played what many consider to be the best recital he ever gave, one that launched his current re-emergence as one of the major pianists of our century.Over the past few years, Gekic's appearances worldwide have consistently generated frenzied audience enthusiasm. There are concert recordings from Japan where audible weeping can be heard among members of the normally reserved Japanese public. His sound is constantly evolving, setting a new standard for other pianists to aspire to. His daring approach to interpretation is often perceived as provocative or quixotic, but this is the price he pays for breaking new ground - to "boldly go where no pianist has gone before" might well be taken as his motto. Of one thing you can rest assured - at a Gekic recital you will not receive 'standard' interpretations but renditions of the great masterworks that have been subject to his razor-sharp musical scrutiny, his flamboyant imagination, his amazing digital dexterity, his stunningly colorful, wide and varied tonal palette and his ever-deepening comprehension of the spiritual elements of these works. For sure, a Gekic recital will wow you, seduce you, overwhelm you, delight you, transfix you, but in the end Gekic sees the process of musical communication as something even more: as the transmission of spiritual material. In this as well he is sure to give you an unforgettable experience. http://www.kemalgekic.info/main.htm   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7112/1/E-Peter-Zovak-Elected-New-Mayor-Temple-City-California.html  Peter Zovak is a member of the Croatian Community in Los Angeles, California.  Congratulations!Peter & Joanne ZovakCouncilmember Peter Zovak Elected MayorDate:  March 16, 2004TITLE: City Council Reorganizes - Councilmember Peter Zovak Elected Mayor                        Councilmember Dan Arrighi Elected Mayor Pro TemporeAt the regular City Council meeting of March 2, 2004, the City Council of the City of Temple City held its annual reorganization.  At that time, Councilmember Peter Zovak was unanimously elected Mayor and Councilmember Dan Arrighi was unanimously elected Mayor Pro Tempore."I'd like to thank my fellow Councilmembers for their support tonight.  I am looking forward to the next year."  said the newly elected Mayor.  Mayor Zovak also introduced members of his family, including his wife Joanne, his three children, his mother, two uncles, aunt, three sisters, two brothers-in-law, two nieces and a nephew.Mayor Zovak, who was fist elected to the City Council in March 2001, is beginning his fourth year on the City Council.  Mayor Zovak spent the last year as Mayor Pro Tempore and championed issues such as youth activities and economic development.  Prior to being elected to the City Council, Mayor Zovak served on the City's Planning Commission for three years.  In his regular full-time position, Peter Zovak serves as an Administrator in Housing Development with responsibility for developing affordable housing. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 16 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7113/1/E-Nick-Stozic-Croatian-American-Vet-Honored.html  Nick Stozic Croatian-American Vet HonoredThe following story appeared in today's Concinnatti Post. John KraljicIrish to honor former POWHe is featured in 2004 paradePost staff reportFor most of the year Nick Stozic is of Croatian descent, but for St.Patrick's Day this year the 99-year-old former POW will be a wee bitIrish.Stozic, who spent part of World War II as a prisoner of war in a Germancamp, has agreed to be the honorary grand marshal of the annual St.Patrick's Day parade in Cincinnati."Yeah, my nephew, Davey, talked me into it," said Stozic, who has livedin Clermont County since he got out of the service.That nephew, David Maher, is grand marshal of the March 14 parade, whichover the past 37 years has become one of the largest Irish culturalcelebrations in the region.The parade's Hometown Heroes theme this year honors those who haveserved the country, said parade spokesman Dave Lane.With the death of U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina last year,Stozic is believed to be the oldest living veteran of the Army's 82ndAirborne Division.Stozic "represents the spirit of service and stands as a positiveexample of the sacrifices that have been made," said Lane.Stozic joined the Army after leaving home at age 16 and lying about hisage so he could enlist in the Army.He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne as a glider pilot.When he was shot down over Holland, Stozic was hit in the leg by enemygunfire and captured by enemy troops.He spent his captivity in a German concentration camp."It happened seven months before the end of the war," he said earlierthis week. "I thought I had it in the bag."Stozic was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart and eventuallyretired with the rank of warrant officer after a 25-year career.The local St. Patrick's parade began in 1967 when the local chapter ofthe Ancient Order of Hibernians, a group that promotes Irish culture,staged a loosely organized religious procession downtown.The event was later changed to Sundays because of it size and evolvedinto a full-fledged parade with floats, step-dancers, pipers, marchingbands and Irish families.This year's parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Eighth and Reedy streets,just east of downtown.To learn more or to participate, call the parade committee at (513)922-2230 or visit www.cincinnatisaintpatrickparade.netfirms.com.   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 04 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7114/1/E-Bing-Crosbys-Croatian-Daughter-In-Law.html  Bing Crosby's Croatian Daughter In LawThe following appeared in today's Monterrey Sun and concerns HarryCrosby, Bing Crosby's son. It notes his recent marriage to a Croatiancancer researcher Mihaela. I am guessing that this is Mihaela Skobe,whose work has made the press previously. Dr. Skobe is currently withthe Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. John KraljicBing would have liked it, son saysThe special feeling never leaves, said Harry Crosby, when he comes backto the golf gathering his father started.And he is certain that if Bing Crosby were around today, that he wouldlike what is going on with the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am."Absolutely, I think he would," Crosby said Thursday after the firstround he has played in the tournament in four years."Dad took great care to create the right environment, with people whocare about the community," said Crosby, whose 8 a.m. starting time wason the back side of Spyglass Hill Golf Course, far removed from thecelebrity field up the road at Poppy Hills. "He was strict about thepeople who participate."The tournament came to the Peninsula in 1947 as the Bing Crosby NationalPro-Am, the first on the PGA Tour to showcase pro golfers andcelebrities together.Crosby, 44, a managing director for Merrill Lynch in New York, said theevolution of the event -- from paying the winner $40,000 in 1977, theyear Bing Crosby died, to a $954,000 first prize this year -- wasinevitable."There was a time in the '70s that the Tour was organizing in a way likenever before," Crosby said. "We needed a sponsor. The family couldn'tunderwrite it."The backlash from the Crosby name being dropped from the tournament whenAT&T became title sponsor in 1986 still rumbles round the Peninsula abit. And for a time, the move to corporate sponsorship put a strain onthe family."Change is always a little bit painful," Crosby said.But he has been on board with the progression since 1986, and still is,as a member of the board of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, whichruns the AT&T Pro-Am.Although Crosby has not played in the event recently -- creating a voidof the Crosby name in the event he and his younger brother, Nathaniel,have played in the past -- he has been at most events, to attendFoundation meetings.And while he hasn't played much golf lately -- "It's a little hard whenit's 20-below in New York" -- Crosby still shot 79 on his own Thursday.The trip back to the Peninsula is always special to Crosby, who wasmarried last August. His wife, Mihaela, is a scientist from Croatia whois working in cancer research."It's always a little nostalgic to be here, but I like what PeterUeberroth, Clint Eastwood and AT&T have done," Crosby said, noting twoof the four principal owners of the Pebble Beach Co. Eastwood is alsochairman of the Foundation board. "They have taken such pains to ensurethe tradition is still there."It's about the people who participate," Crosby said. "They know that.They got it right." letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Fri, 06 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7117/1/E-Vlado-Franjevic---Artist.html  VLADO FRANJEVIC1963 born in Martinac, Croatia. 1985 finished the school for applied art (painting) in Zagreb. From 1988/89 till 1993 he left in St. Gallen, Switzerland and after that he moved to the Principality of Liechtenstein, homeland of his wife. Exhibitions. From 1990 till today he exhibited his works (drawings, paintings, objects & plastics, space installations and videos) in the Principalities Liechtenstein and Monaco, in Switzerland, Croatia, Germany, French, Indonesia, Bulgaria and Serbia. As one of five artists from Liechtenstein he took a part in the culture-exchange Liechtenstein-Indonesia 2002 & 2003. From 2002 he is a member of HDLU Zagreb (Croatian Society of Fine Arts).The most important exhibitions: Monaco-Ville, Gallery by the Cathedral, 1993; Zagreb, Croatian Horizons, MGC Klovicevi Dvori, 1997, Ed.: Croatian Centre of Strategic Studies; CH-Männedorf, PoEthisches, Benefit for Kosovo, 1999; CH-Altstätten, idee: scholle, Schollenmühle, 2000; HR-Bjelovar, Museum of City Bjelovar, 2001; Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Culture-Exchange Liechtenstein-Yogyakarta, Gallery Taman Budaya 2002 & 2003 in FL-Vaduz; D-Berlin, Berlin Art project, Taking Pictures & Writing on the Wall, 2003; BG-Sofia, Lessedra Second World Art Print Annual / Mini Print Kulturpalast, 2003.Writing. He is also a member of Society of Interest of German Authors and of the literature Society called 'Rheinische Brigade' in Germany. His lyrics in Croatian, German and English was published in different physical and online literature magazines or in the poetry collections in Croatia, Germany and also once in USA. 2001 he published his first lyric collection in German under the title 'Uraufführung'. Many times he read his lyrics and short stories in Liechtenstein, Germany, and Switzerland. A few times he wrote and read the speeches for the opening of exhibitions for other artists. He wrote a column for Croatian magazines and made interviews with the prominent peoples from Liechtenstein. He translated different literature texts from German in Croatian for the Croatian online literature magazine www.konture.com . 2000 he got the support prize for the young authors of Society of Interest of German Authors. 2002/03 as an artist he got one year scholarship of Culture Adviser of the Government of Principality of Liechtenstein. VLADO FRANJEVIC letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7116/1/E-Marija-Dalbello-PhD.html  Marija Dalbello, Ph D Marija Dalbello is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Library andInformation Science, School of Communication, Information and LibraryScience at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Her researchinterests and publications are in the area of knowledge creation asrelated to print and electronic culture. She focuses on the interplaybetween technology and society in the context of modernity, focusing ondigital libraries, transformation of visual genres and modernity, memoryand identity, and the role of memory institutions in shaping access toinformation and national identity. She uses critical theory, qualitativeresearch methods and historical approach in her work. Her doctoral thesiswas a cultural analysis of Croatian diaspora almanacs. She has presentedand published on Croatian cultural history in Book History, Slavic andEast European Information Resources, book history and information scienceconferences. She is invited to edit a special issue of Vjesnikbibliotekara Hrvatske devoted to the history of books and printing inCroatia for which a call for papers will be available shortly. She isco-organizer of an annual conference and summer seminar in Dubrovnik,Libraries in the Digital Age (http://knjiga.pedos.hr/lida/venues.php) andhas been involved with this international conference from its beginning.She was involved with a digital art project Peace 2000 (linked from thehome page of the Philosophy Faculty in Zagreb athttp://www.ffzg.hr/peace2000/fragility.html ). Since last year, she hasbeen on the board of the Croatian Academy of America. Her goal is to aidthe establishment of this notable scholarly organization's archives. Youmay learn more about Dr. Dalbello and her other research and teachingactivities athttp://scils.rutgers.edu/~dalbello .Her email is: dalbello@scils.rutgers.edu .Marija DalbelloAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Library and Information ScienceSchool of Communication, Information and Library StudiesRutgers, The State University of New Jersey4 Huntington StreetNew Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1071Voice: 732.932.7500 / 8215Internet: dalbello@scils.rutgers.eduhttp://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~dalbello EDUCATIONUniversity of Toronto Ph.D., Information Studies, April 1999 Major fields: history of books and printing; ethnographyDissertation: Croatian Diaspora Almanacs: A Historical and Cultural AnalysisKent State University M.L.S., 1991 Master's research paper: Hrvatski kalendar (=Croatian Almanac): A Case Study in Ethnic PublishingPhilosophy Faculty. University of Zagreb Diploma of Graduate Librarian, 1988Thesis: The Methodology of Compilation of a Bibliography of Ethnic GroupsPhilosophy Faculty. University of Zagreb Diploma, English and Indiology, 1984Major: English language and literature; Minor: Sanskrit Thesis: Austin's Taxonomy of SpeechWORK EXPERIENCEAssistant Professor. Department of Library and Information Science. School of Communication, Information and Library Studies. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. July 2000 to dateVisiting Assistant Professor. School of Library and Information Studies. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Aug. 1999 to May 2000Visiting Assistant Professor. School of Library and Information Science. The Catholic University of America. Aug. 1997 to May 1999Teaching and Research Assistant. Faculty of Information Studies. University of Toronto. Sept. 1992 to Aug. 1997WORK EXPERIENCE IN LIBRARIESThe Ohio State University Libraries (Columbus, Ohio). Cataloger, Charvat Collection of American Fiction., Sept. 1988 to Dec. 1990 (full time until mid-Sept. 1990)Library Assistant, Special Collections Cataloging, Sept. 1987 to Sept. 1988Institut za etnologiju i folkloristiku Archive and Documentation (Zagreb, Croatia) Librarian, July 1984 to Sept. 1986Library and Documentation Assistant, Sept. 1982 to July 1984GRANTSRutgers Research Council Grant ($1,500) (2002/2002) (study: Theorizing Spectacle: The Transformation of Vision, 1886-1925)Reinvest in Rutgers grant "Gendered Public Policies" ($1,700) (2002) (for course development: 'Gender & Technology')Andrew A. Mellon Foundation colloquium participation grant ($500) (2002) (to showcase research project, Photography, Shadow Theatre, Silent Film: Transformation of Vision, 1886-1925)Rutgers Research Council Grant ($2,000) (2001/2002) (study: Global Processes and Localization Strategies: A Cross-Cultural Study of National Digital Library Projects)Andrew A. Mellon Foundation time-release grant ($6,000) (2001/2002) (for research and course development using Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum materials)WebWorks Grant Program (1999). UW-Madison (application of web technology in classroom instruction)FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDSOntario Graduate Scholarship (held in 1995/96) (also 1994/95 recipient)Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship(held in 1994/95)University of Toronto Open Doctoral Fellowship (held in 1991/92, 1992/93; 1993/94; 1995/96)Research fellowship at Fudan University, Shanghai(held Sept. 1986 through Feb. 1987)PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIESInvited speaker:The University of Osijek, the University of Zagreb, and the regional chapter of Croatian Library Association in Rijeka "Education for Librarianship in the United States: Tradition and Transformation" three lectures10-16 June 2002.National and University Library (Zagreb, Croatia), "Building Archival Digital Libraries: The Model of an Information Mosaic," 13 June, 2000.Colloquium "Global Perspectives in Librarianship." School of Library and Information Studies. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 13 October, 1999.Toronto Centre for the Book. Special Session for Graduate Students. Toronto, 29 January, 1997.Contributor, International Dictionary of Library Histories (Ed. David Stam. Chicago, Ill.: Fitzroy Dearborn, forthcoming 2000).Panelist, "Libraries and the Internet: Promises and Pitfalls." LIDA (Libraries in the Digital Age) 2000. Dubrovnik, Croatia, 25-28 May, 2000. Referee, Information Processing & Management, 2000; Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, 1997.Consultant, the Canadian Review of Books, 1997.Reviewer, Index to volumes 1-30 (1960-1989) of Journal of Croatian Studies (New York, 1995), 1996.Conference co-organizer, Connections '96 Great Lakes Doctoral Students ConferencePlanning, Review Committee, Panel ChairMember, SHARP (Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing) (1994- ); Modern Language Association of America (1995- ); American Printing History Association (1995-1997); American Library Association (1989- ). Association of College and Research Libraries; Academic Library Association of Ohio (1989-1990); ASIST (1999-); Croatian Academy of America (1994- ); Croatian Library Association (1984-1986).Seminar participant, Rare Book School (Charlottesville, Va.): Electronic Texts and Images (SGML workshop) (1999); Rare Book Cataloging (1989)CIVIC OR OTHER ACTIVITIES"Project Gutenberg" digital libraries initiative (volunteer contributor of etexts -- still working on Ivana Brlic Mazuranic's fairy tales)"Kareta," Canadian charitable organization helping women, victims of war, 1996.Teaching Focus: In most general terms, my teaching focuses on the creation, diffusion and use of knowledge as shaped by social and cultural forces. Courses taught reflect interest in reading and reading genres, information sources and scholarly communication, culture of the book, print culture, electronic publishing, historical and naturalistic research methods, rare books and special collections librarianship, organization of information and knowledge organization, history of libraries and information science as a field of study, social aspects of technology, and its intersections with gender, race, and class. In the delivery of courses and integral to the learning process is the use of technology in expanding the notions of literacy and writing and as agency for knowledge production and diffusion.Student Projects: Significant group projects include Frautschi Letters Virtual Archive and The Wisconsin Mosaic, a digital library of historical materials developed by the M.L.S. students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (and in collaboration with Max Kade Institute, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison). The story behind the creation of the Wisconsin Mosaic presents the history and the rationale for this project. A group of students involved in creating a component of the Wisconsin Mosaic received an award for the innovative use of technology. At Rutgers, the Journals Database is an online assignment focusing on domain knowledge building in scholarly communities of practice; it is updated on an ongoing basis by M.L.I.S. students enrolled in the Knowledge Structures and the Information Professions class. This project was executed in collaboration with the Scholarly Communication Center (Rutgers University, Alexander Library). A resource page listing virtual communities emerging around popular reading and genre fiction is regularly updated with reviews and links contributed by students in the Reading Interests of Adults class. Several generations of students from the Reading Interests of Adults class presented their research at the New Jersey Library Association annual meeting in April 2003, featured in a panel titled Reading, Readers, Reading Genres.The record of a semester-long online participation of the students enrolled in my book history class, with the class taught by John Unsworth at the University of Virginia's English Department, can be found at the 20th Century American Bestsellers site (archived). The experiences of that project are discussed in an article titled "Is There a Text in This Library? History of the Book and Digital Continuity."At Rutgers, I advise M.L.I.S. student group SOURCE (Student Organization for Unique and Rare Collections Everywhere). This community consists of M.L.I.S. students interested in historical aspects of book, paper, and writing materials, and bridges between digital librarianship and special collections, rare books, visual resources librarianship and archives. It was founded in Fall 2000. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7115/1/H-RAMON-DIAZ-ETEROVIC.html  RAMON DIAZ ETEROVICHrvatska Mativa Iseljenika www.matis.hr Odjel za kulturno-prosvjetne djelatnosti i sportO autoru, književnom opusu i najnovijem prijevodu:RAMON DIAZ ETEROVIC: SEDMERO SIMENONOVE DJECE(Nakladni zavod Matice Hrvatske; Hrvatska matica iseljenika, Zagreb, 2003.)U izdanju Nakladnog zavoda Matice hrvatske i Hrvatske matice iseljenika i uprijevodu Zeljke Lovrencic, krajem 2003. godine objavljen je novi romanpoznatoga cileanskog pisca hrvatskog podrijetla Ramona Diaza Eterovica,Sedmero Simenonove djece.Ramon Diaz Eterovic rodjen je u Punta Arenasu, na krajnjem jugu Cilea 1956.godine. Njegovi preci po majci dosli su u Cile s otoka Braca. Jedan je odnajvaznijih cileanskih knjizevnika – pjesnik, esejist, pisac pripovijetki iromana. Neka od njegovih djela su: knjige poezije El poeta derribado(Iscrpljeni pjesnik, 1980.) i Pasajero de la Ausencia (Prolaznik uodsutnosti, 1982.); knjige pripovijedaka: Cualquier Dia (Bilo koji dan,1981.), Obsesion de Ano Nuevo (Opsesija Novom godinom, 1982.), Atras singolpe (Natrag bez udarca, 1985.) i Ese viejo cuento de amar (Ta stara pricao ljubavi, 1986.), te romani La ciudad esta triste (Grad je ozaloscen,1987.), Solo en la oscuridad (Sam u tami, 1992.), Nadie sabe mas que losmuertos (Nitko ne zna vise od mrtvaca, 1993.), Angeles y solitarios (Andjelii osamljenici, 1995.), Correr tras el viento (Trcanje za vjetrom, 1997.),Nunca enamores a un forastrero (Ne zaljubljuj se u stranca, 1999.) i El ojodel alma (Oko duse, 2001.).Dobitnik je tridesetak knjizevnih nagrada, poput one Vijeca za knjigu icitanje za najbolju objavljenu knjigu 1995. godine ili Nagrade gradaSantiaga 1982., 1994. i 1996. godine. Bio je u finalu za nagradu Casa de lasAmericas, Dashiell Hammett, Medjunarodnog udruzenja pisaca policijskihromana i argentinske nagrade Planeta. Njegova su djela objavljena uantologijama prica u Spanjolskoj, Juznoj Americi i Sjedinjenim AmerickimDrzavama, a prevodjen je na vise jezika, izmedju ostalih i na hrvatski. Bioje predsjednik Drustva cileanskih knjizevnika. U cileansku knjizevnost uveoje «crni roman». 1997. godine prvi put posjecuje Hrvatsku gdje je bio gostZagrebackih knjizevnih razgovora.Sedmero Simenonove djece treci je roman ovoga knjizevnika koji se pojavljujekod nas. 1999. godine objavljen je njegov spijunski roman Trcanje za vjetromcija se radnja odvija u Punta Arenasu i glavni lik mu je Hrvat Yako Rendic,a 2001. godine roman Ne zaljubljuj se u stranca, art-krimic u kojemudetektiv Heredia pokusava rijesiti slucaj ubojstva jedne mlade zene. Radnjase opet odvija u knjizevnikovome rodnom gradu Punta Arenasu. Roman SedmeroSimenonove djece prvo je objavljen u Santiagu 2000. godine u izdanjuizdavacke kuce LOM, a potom u Barceloni 2001. godine u izdanju SeixBarral-a. Glavni junak romana ponovno je samotan, marginalan, razocaranidetektiv Heredia koji ovaj put istrazuje slucaj ubojstva istaknutogodvjetnika iza cega se skriva mracna drama vezana uz izgradnju plinovodaizmedju Argentine i Cilea. Tu se ispreplicu i politicki i gospodarskiinteresi koji narusavaju ekolosku ravnotezu. Privatni detektiv Herediaistrazuje slucaj ubojstva, ali isto tako i cileansku stvarnost. Vracajuci ses obale gdje je radio i ljetovao, prenoci u jednom hotelu u Santiagu gdje sedogadja ubojstvo. Buduci da njega okrivljuju za to ubojstvo, odlcuje otkritisto stoji iza toga. Heredia je profinjeni detektiv koji jako dobro poznajeknjizevnost i ima izvrstan glazbeni ukus, a citati poznatih knjizevnikacesto se ponavljaju u stalnim razgovorima s njegovim mackom Simenonom kojije zapravo njegova savjest. Citatelju se nudi romanticna i cinicna atmosferau isto vrijeme, dok je on sam istovremeno i njezan i grub. Uz macka Simenonakoji postaje samohrani otac, tu su i prodavac novina Anselmo, Heredijinsusjed i prijatelj, prorocica Madam Zara koja se zainteresirala za Herediju,ali se kasnije udaje za Anselma, Amerikanac Ballinger, novinar Cambell icitav niz drugih zanimljivih likova. Heredia stanuje u stanu koji mu jeujedno i ured, u jednoj od starih gradskih cetvrti u sredistu grada. U tomdijelu ima mnogo barova, trgovina, restorana i nocu je dosta opasno. Ovagradska cetvrt privlacila je knjizevnike - boeme 20 i 30 godina proslogstoljeca i tu su cesto boravili cileanski knjizevnici (medju ostalima iPablo Neruda). Lik Heredije prvi put se pojavljuje u romanu Grad jeozaloscen, a njegove se pustolovine nastavljaju u sedam ostalih romana.Heredia obozava svoj grad, njegove tradicionalne cetvrti i ljude koji zive unjima. Melankolican je i senzibilan, i duboko su ga pogodili dogadjaji zavrijeme diktature u Cileu. Njegov najveci prijatelj i ponekad jedino drustvoje bijeli macak Simenon koji je ime dobio po belgijskom piscu, tvorcuslavnoga inspektora Maigreta. Macak je Heredijino drugo ja, s njim vodi dugerazgovore koji mu pomazu kad razmislja o egzistencijalnim problemima ilitrazi rjesenje zlocina koje istrazuje. Simenon se pojavio u drugomEterovicevom romanu Sam u tami, objavljenom 1992. godine u Buenos Airesu.Dosao je u Heredijin stan - ured, smjestio se na primjerke sabranih djelaGeorgesa Simenona, te zaspao. U prvim romanima u kojima se macak pojavljuje,Heredia ne zamislja dijaloge s njim, ali od pojave djela Nitko ne zna viseod mrtvaca, njihovi su razgovori obimniji i postaju znacajni za razvojradnje romana Diaza Eterovica koji rado priznaje utjecaj Georgesa Simenona,i Osvalda Soriana na njegovo stvaralastvo. Osjeca se i utjecaj klasicnihsjevernoamerickih majstora detekcijske proze Dashiella Hammeta i RaymondaChandlera. Heredia je slican Chandlerov liku Philu Marlowu koji je isto kaoi on samac u godinama, pomalo rezigniran, neurednog zivota, sklon alkoholu icinizmu. Ali, kod Diaza Eterovica je razvidno da se on sluzisjevernoamerickom detekcijskom pricom samo kao podlogom za postmodernistickopripovijedanje i za koristenje brojnih citata iz suvremene svjetske icileanske knjizevnosti. Privatni detektiv je srediste svijesti i na nekinacin alter ego ovoga povucenog i sutljivog pisca koji u njegovim romanimapostoji vec 17 godina. Heredijina pesimisticka vizija cileanske stvarnostiproizlazi iz piscevog vidjenja i mnogi dijalozi izgledaju kao da supreneseni iz nekoga bara u Santiagu. Diz Eterovic nam cesto nudi citavugaleriju pitoresknih likova i mjesta grada Santiaga koje koristi za svojuigru. U romanu Sedmero Simenonove djece Herediju zapravo najvise zanimajukorupcija i bahatost onih koji su na vlasti (u ovom slucaju sve se vrti okoizgradnje plinovoda) i nimalo ne vjeruje u pobjedu pravde na zemlji. Tajlik, iako razocaran, cinican i sentimentalan, iako zivi od nepostojecihuspomena i ne polaze mnogo racuna na svoj izgled, ipak ima svoja sitnazadovoljstva: putuje na obalu, juri za djevojkama i od Anselma dobiva napoklon automobil koji je nekad bio posljednji model. Njihova zajednickastrast su konjske utrke. Heredia posjecuje barove, ulice i trgove Santiagakoji pomalo nestaju i nostalgicno zali za njima. zali i za svojom znatnomladjom djevojkom Grisetom koja ga nakon nekog vremena provedenog s njimnapusta jer ne moze pratiti njegov ritam.Ovaj roman nije samo napeta kriminalisticka prica nego i prikaz jednogaprostora, jednog vremena, jednog zemljovida, te kritika politickoga idrustvenog zivota velikoga juznoamerickog grada Santiaga po cijim ulicamakoraca pomalo izgubljeni detektiv Heredia, moderni Robin Hood koji nemadrugo drustvo osim svog macka i prodavaca novina. Taj privatni detektiv bezimena, antijunak i anarhist, simbol je citave jedne generacijetraumatizirane posljedicama diktature, a iza njegove vjecne spremnosti zanove avanture krije se piscevo veliko zanimanje za socijalnu problematiku ikritiku drustva. Ovo zabavno, ali ne i povrsno djelo privuklo je pozornostsiroke citalacke populacije sirom svijeta i nadamo se da ce i hrvatskapublika koja Diaz Eterovic toliko cijeni uzivati u njemu i da cemo imatiprigodu ponovno se susresti s Heredijom koji ce uz pomoc svojega mackarazrjesavati jos mnoge dileme. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Thu, 29 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7118/1/EH-Tamara-Obrovac.html  Tamara Obrovachttp://www.tamaraobrovac.com ...jazz je moja sloboda, a korijeni su moja istina......jazz is my freedom and my roots are my inner truth......che esso ha nella formazione della mia identita' personale e musicale... u potrazi za originalnoscu glazbenog izricajashvatila sam vrijednost i smisao osjecajaza vlastiti zavicajjeziki tradicijukao i njegovu ulogu u stvaranjumog osobnog i skladateljskog izraza jazz je moja sloboda, a korijeni su moja istina  my approach towards music went from jazz standards, through my own compositions, to my finding of an original expression by connecting the language of the folk music of my homeland (Istria, Croatia) with the rhythms and improvisation typical for jazz, so jazz is my freedom and my roots are my inner truth Inseguendo un concetto di originalita' d'espressione musicale ho inparato a capire il valore ed il senso del sentimento che nutro verso la mia lingua, la mia tradizione, e la mia terra, come pure del ruolo che esso ha nella formazione della mia identita' personale e musicale The singer flutist and composer Tamara Obrovac was born 1962 in Croatian city of Pula where she finished High school of music for flute.She is one of the most important artists on the Croatian music scene, and in the past few years she has become very popular due to the influence of the Istrian folk music that has been the creative force of her works. Istria is a beautiful Croatian region, a North Adriatic peninsula, particular for It's musical and dialectal tradition. She also writes lyrics in a local dialects. In addition to here international concert activities she composes for theatre performances, cartoons, movies, musicals, etc. and she is also a member of the international Balkan winds ensemble.This creative musician has become known for her highly aesthetic performances, her interpretations are suffused with spontaneity, inventive improvisation, freedom, humour and the ability to communicate with the audience. Her musical career began in Zagreb where she went by the beginning of the 1980ies to study sociology - it was then that she formed her own band that played her compositions. She slowly began discovering the jazz scene of Zagreb and Ljubljana and began to perform with young Croatian and Slovenian jazz musicians, to finally enroll in the jazz singing classes at the High School of Music in Ljubljana. With her natural inclination towards exploration and experimenting she always participated to projects that brought something new and as a person of powerful imagination and ideas she strived to dedicate herself to her own, personal projects. However, by the beginning of the nineties the war in former Yougoslavia quieted many things, and so it quieted club performances in both Croatia and Slovenia - it was at this time that Tamara returned to her native Istria, untouched by war, where she dedicated herself to her own musical progress and prepared her first CD entitled "Triade", issued in 1996.This CD was a compilation of sorts, in which she presented three areas that were most present in her work at the time: jazz standards, original jazz compositions, and compositions inspired by Istrian folk music. With this CD she introduced freshness and a new way of thinking on Croatian jazz scene. A stylistically more refined CD entitled Ulika followed 1988, on which all her compositions are sung in dialect. This is an exceptional work of unusual strength, distinctiveness, intellectual but also spiritual permeatedness with the roots, habits, folklore, language, music and spirit of Istria and the Istrians. At that time she began to perform with here quartet in the neighbouring countries, Italy, Slovenia, Austria.A new page in her musical development was opened by the CD "Transhistria" on which she inaugurated a new ensemble and a different sound with which, remaining faithful to the musical expression rooted in her native Istria, she definitely proved herself as an extraordinary artist that has created, by using elements of tradition, a distinctive musical expression with which she has become increasingly more present on the European musical stage. Through the communion of different musical forms and improvisation, the last CD "Sve pasiva" (All fades away) conveys an even more profiled authorial approach, creating a unique authorial form that, inspired by the vastest Mediterranean tradition, has established the "personal poetics" of the author, while in the alchemy with her extraordinary musicians she creates an incredible lightness of expression that truly characterizes only the greatest artists. Tamara Obrovac within the Istrian cultural contextTranscript from the magazine La Battana, no. 130, December 1999, page 106, 107, author Loredana Bogliun We seldom encounter authors that create a new style drawing their strength from the existing poetic sources. Tamara has understood that if she intelligently picked from and artistically handled the traditional values at her disposal, she could draw from a well of infinite, creative and original stories. She understood that this approach would give her a strong artistic identity and that by creating melodies, lyrics and different interpretations she can best express herself and her artistic singularity: to live with art - a privilege of only few. I feel that these few are those who have felt the calling, the need for a complete dedication to art, the gift of their own beauty to the beauty of others.The language of truth is always universal. But the universality also needs a Voice. For Tamara Obrovac that Voice is Istria; more precisely, the cultural matrix of chakavian Istria, that typically rural, strongly rooted Istria, characterised by a distinctly melodious speech. The authenticity of this musical story and the interpretations of the same derive precisely from Tamara's sense of belonging to this Istrian soil. On the concert, when she interprets her songs, she is the soil from which the wheat grows, the sun that scorches at noon, the woman that knows the hardships of life, the impudent and innocent fury of the Istrian peasant that was always trodden upon by the historical events, the rebellious song of the American Negro, the voice that gently caresses and strongly requests; in beautiful harmony with the musicians that during their performance become one, communicating to us the magic of rhythm, music, sound… The modern rendition of culturological archetypes is wonderful.Contact:Tamara ObrovacCarlijeva 1, 52100 Pula, Croatiatel: ++385 52 50-58-89e-mail: tamara.obrovac@pu.hinet.hr Pjevacica, flautistica, skladateljica i autorica tekstova Tamara Obrovac rodjena je 1962. godine u Puli, gdje je zavrsila srednju glazbenu skolu za flautu. Jedna je od najznacajnijih i najsvestranijih osobnosti na Hrvatskoj glazbenoj sceni, a zahvaljujuci utjecajima istarske narodne glazbe koje koristi u kreiranju svog glazbenog izraza, u nekoliko je posljednjih godina stekla i veliku popularnost. Uz internacionalnu koncertnu aktivnost sklada glazbu za balet, kazaliste i film, a stalni je clan medjunarodnog ensemblea Balkan Winds (CD u pripremi) Ova kreativna glazbenica postigla je prepoznatljivost i visoku estetsku razinu, a njezine interpretacije prozete su spontanoscu, inventivnim improvizacijama, slobodom, humorom i snaznom komunikativnoscu. Najzahtjevnije aranzmane izvodi sa lakocom i jednostavnoscu svojstvenom samo najvecim umjetnicima. Njena glazbena karijera zapocela je u Zagrebu u koji pocetkom osamdesetih dolazi na studij sociologije - tada osniva vlastiti band koji svira njene skladbe. Polagano otkriva zagrebacku i Ljubljansku jazz scenu i pocinje nastupati sa mladim Hrvatskim i Slovenskim jazz glazbenicima, a u Ljubljani upisuje jazz pjevanje pri srednjoj glazbenoj skoli. Sklona trazenju i eksperimentiranju, uvijek je sudjelovala u projektima koji su donosili nesto novo, a kao osoba snazne imaginacije i ideje zeljela se posvetiti vlastitim projektima.No pocetkom 90-tih rat je utihnuo mnoge aktivnosti pa tako klupske svirke u Hrvatskoj i Sloveniji - tada se Tamara vraca u rodnu Istru netaknutu ratom gdje radi na vlastitom glazbenom usavrsavanju i priprema svoj prvi CD "Triade" koji izlazi 1996. Bila je to svojevrsna kompilacija u kojoj je predstavila tri podrucja prisutna u njezinu radu : jazz standarde interpretirane jezikom suvremenog jazza, originalne jazz skladbe pjevane na engleskom, te skladbe inspirirane istarskom narodnom glazbom. Ovim CD-om najavila je svjezinu i novi nacin razmisljanja na nasoj jazz sceni. Uslijedio je stilski profiliraniji CD Ulika, na kojem sve svoje skladbe pjeva na dijalektu. To je iznimno djelo neobicne cvrstine, posebnosti, intelektualnog, ali i duhovnog prozimanja obicajima, folklorom, jezikom, glazbom i duhom Istre i Istrana. U to vrijeme zapocinje nastupati i u susjednim zemljama, Italiji, Sloveniji, Austriji. Novu stranicu u svom glazbenom razvoju otvara CD-om "transhistria" inaugurirajuci novi ansambl i drugaciji zvuk kojim se, ostajuci vjerna izricaju vezanom uz rodnu Istru, definitivno potvrdjuje kao iznimna umjetnica koja je koristeci elemente tradicije stvorila osebujan glazbeni izricaj kojim je sve vise prisutna na Europskoj glazbenoj sceni.Kroz suzivot razlicitih glazbenih formi i improvizacije posljednji CD "Sve pasiva" donosi jos profiliraniji autorski pristup stvarajuci unikatnu autorsku formu koja, inspirirana opcom Mediteranskom tradicijom, etablira "osobnu poetiku" autorice, a uz alkemiju sa izvanrednim glazbenicima postize nevjerojatnu lakocu izricaja svojstvenu zaista samo najvecim umjetnicima. TAMARA OBROVAC U ISTARSKOM KULTURNOM KONTEKSTULoredana BogliunRijetko susrecemo autore koji stvaraju novi stil crpeci snagu iz postojeceg poetskog. Tamara je shvatila da iz tradicionalnih vrijednosti ukoliko ih inteligentno zaokruzi te umjetnicki obradi, moze crpiti izvor neiscrpnih, kreativnih, originalnih prica. Razumjela je da joj ovakav pristup pruza snazan umjetnicki identitet i da ona, stvarajuci melodije, tekstove i dajuci razlicite interpretacije moze najbolje iskazati sebe i svoju umjetnicku osobnost. A to je: zivjeti sa umjetnoscu - privilegija rijetkih. Mislim da su ti rijetki upravo oni koji osjecaju poziv, tu potpunu predaju umjetnosti, poklanjanje vlastite ljepote ljepoti drugih.Istinski govor je uvijek univerzalan. Ali i univerzalnost treba Glas. Taj Glas je za Tamaru Obrovac Istra; preciznije receno kulturna matrica cakavske Istre, ona tipicno zemljoradnicka, snaznih korijena i posebne govorne melodioznosti.autenticnost ove muzike price i interpretacije iste izlaze upravo iz Tamarine pripadnosti istarskoj zemlji. Dok na koncertu interpretira svoje pjesme, ona je zemlja iz koje raste zito, sunce koje przi u podne, zena koja pozna nedace, ljutnja drska i nevina onog istrijana koji je uvijek bivao pregazen povijesnim dogadjajima, buntovno pjevanje americkih crnaca, glas koji njezno miluje i snazno zahtijeva; u predivnom skladu glazbenika koji se u izvodjenju spajaju u jedno, prenoseci nam magiju ritma, glazbe, zvuka…..Moderna izvedba kulturoloskih arhetipova je velicanstvena.VOTE: GLASAJTE: for WORLD AWARDS 2004http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2004/vote/audienceaward.shtml Moto poruke: kocekomenegosvojsvome... letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 24 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7543/1/H-Dr-Pavuna-Deset-posto-kako-bismo-pokrenuli-Hrvatsku.html  DR. DAVOR PAVUNA U Hrvatskoj svi znaju za neke nogometase, a nitko nema pojma da su, primjerice, na Institutu za fiziku razvili najbolji septometar na svijetuTreba nam deset posto 'borbeno spremnih'ljudi kako bismo pokrenuli Hrvatsku VJESNIK,  Nedjelja, 11. sijecnja 2004. 'Pokusat cemo udruziti sve hrvatske strucnjake po svijetu i u domovini i gotovo sam siguran da ce ministar prihvatiti moj prijedlog o povecanju postotka inzenjerskobiotehnoloskih strucnjaka, sustavno slanje odabranih u tzv. centre moci, te jacanje uloge juzne Hrvatske, tocnije Splita, jer mi se cini da je previse 'znanja' centrirano u Zagrebu. Potrebna nam je jasna nacionalna vizija i konsenzus kakvu zemlju zelimo, koji se nece mijenjati nakon svakih izbora. Neke bih ljude vratio u Hrvatsku, Cak se usudim tvrditi da ce na nasim strucnjacima iz dijaspore Hrvatska zaraditi ako ce ih znati koristiti', kaze dr. PavunaOtkad je novi predsjednik hrvatske Vlade Ivo Sanader najavio posvecivanje vise pozornosti znanosti te akademika Miroslava Radmana imenovao Vladinim savjetnikom za znanost, o znanosti se u javnosti ne prestaje govoriti. Tko bi se sve mogao naci uz prof. Radmana koji ce HDZ-ovu Vladu savjetovati u kojem smjeru treba ici domaca nam znanost?Jedan od strucnjaka koje je Radman pozvao iz dijaspore kako bi pomogli u osmisljavanju nove strategije znanstvenog razvoja, jest i dr. Davor Pavuna, ugledni znanstvenik koji zivi i radi u Svicarskoj. Dr. Pavuna doktorirao je 1982. fiziku u Engleskoj, a nakon tri godine istrazivanja u Nacionalnom centru za znanstvena istrazivanja u Grenobleu te kraceg boravka u Australiji i SAD-u, 1986. prelazi u Institut za tehnologiju u Lausannei gdje i danas vodi istrazivanja na podrucju visokotemperaturnih supravodica i kompleksnih sustava.Vecinu vremena danas provodi u Americi gdje mu je trenutno najvazniji projekt na Syncrotronu u Wisconsinu, koji financiraju svicarski i americki Fond za znanstvena istrazivanja. Objavio je vise od 150 znanstvenih radova u vodecim svjetskim znanstvenim Casopisima te udzbenik o supravodljivosti koji je postao bestsellerom u svjetskim strucnim krugovima. Uredio je 20-ak strucnih knjiga, odrzao stotinjak predavanja po elitnim svjetskim sveucilistima od Cambridgea, Harvarda, BellLabsa i Parisa, do Berkeleya, Sydneya i Tokija, a redovito predsjedava Svjetskim kongresom nanoinzenjeringa i novih oksidnih tehnologija. Predsjedavao je i na 20-ak svjetskih konferencija i ljetnih skola o fizici, medju kojima i na NATO-u. Savjetnik je nekoliko korporacija u Engleskoj, Njemackoj, Francuskoj, Japanu, SAD-u i Koreji, a i vanjski je suradnik naseg Instituta za fiziku. Zivi u svicarskim Alpama, ozenjen je Francuskinjom s kojom ima dvoje djece.-Rekli ste mi da ste, kao hrvatski strucnjak iz dijaspore, s hrvatskom vladom suradjivali vec i ranije, tijekom Domovinskog rata pa i kasnije?Da, bio sam savjetnik Vojnotehnickog savjeta Hrvatske od 1991. te tijekom rata, a suradjivao sam s akademikom Slavenom Barisicem, potom sa tadasnjim ministrom i kasnije rektorom Zagrebackog sveucilista dr. Brankom Jerenom, te predsjednikovim savjetnicima i nizom drugih istaknutih hrvatskih mislioca. O tome se malo zna jer je bio rat i nismo ni htjeli da se zna. Dakle, dio nas iz dijaspore suradjivao je preko generala Cosica izravno i u vojno-tehnoloskom sektoru, o cemu postoje detaljna izvjessa, kao i cijela strategija koju sam osobno izradio i predstavio drzavnim duznosnicima. No, iako su se nacelno svi slozili sa mnom i jasno postavljenim parametrima o tome kako i po kojim kriterijima udruziti ili vratiti neke nase strucnjake, s time nikad nije ucinjeno nista vaznije jer prosirenoj oligarhiji pri vlasti i u vojnom sektoru tada valjda nije odgovaralo moje jasno postavljanje pozitivnih kriterija odabira najboljih. A buduci da se nista nije zbilo, moji brojni prijatelji i ja naprosto smo udruzili vidjenije Hrvate preko Interneta i sad smo tu gdje jesmo, spremni za nove izazove.-Novi vas je ministar znanosti, obrazovanja i sporta, dr. Dragan Primorac, nedavno kontaktirao i predlozio vam suradnju. O cemu je tocno rijec?Vec smo ranije s prof. Radmanom dogovorili da cemo nas nekoliko, svatko u svojoj strucnoj disciplini, pomoci Vladi i, konkretnije, ministru Primorcu. Iz dosadasnjih razmjena ideja ocito je da cemo pokusati udruziti sve hrvatske strucnjake u svijetu i domovini te sam gotovo siguran da ce ministar prihvatiti moje prijedloge povecanje postotka inzenjersko-biotehnoloskih strucnjaka, sustavno slanje odabranih u tzv. centre moci, te jacanje uloge juzne Hrvatske, tocnije Splita, jer mi se cini da je previse 'znanja' centrirano u Zagrebu. Nama je potrebna jasna nacionalna vizija, treba nam konsenzus kakvu zemlju zelimo koji se nece mijenjati nakon svakih izbora. Recimo, svi podrzavamo Radmanov Institut MedILF u Splitu, imamo i podrsku Instituta 'Rudjer Boskovic' kao i Instituta za fiziku, a te ce podrske biti i vise. To bi ministru umnogome olaksalo posao jer vecina nase znanstveno-tehnicke elite u nekim stvarima ima zajednicki jezik.- Vase je stajaliste da bi Vlada trebala organizirano povezati nase strucnjake po svijetu. Mozete li konkretno reci kako bi to povezivanje trebalo izgledati?Za pocetak je dovoljno da postoji jedna osoba zaduzena za koordinaciju na razini Vlade ili u Ministarstvu znanosti. Ta bi nas osoba zatim povezivala odnosno kontaktirala s nama prema potrebi i dinamici Vladina rada. Nesto slicno vec je postojalo i u doba predsjednika Tudjmana, ali je problem bio u tome sto vecina ideja nije realizirana jer domace institucije i ljudi tad jos nisu bili spremni. Sada je stanje nesto bolje, svi postaju svjesni da nece izbjeci ni znanju ni otvaranju ni globalizaciji, trendu koji postoji u svijetu i u pozitivnom i u negativnom smislu. Svi smo u tome zajedno. Ponavljam, neke bih ljude vratio u Hrvatsku, Cak se usudim tvrditi kako ce na nasim strucnjacima iz dijaspore Hrvatska zaraditi ako ce ih znati koristiti!- Predlazete da se svi nasi strucnjaci i mediji, poglavito HTV, mobiliziraju kako bi se nacija bolje informirala o ulozi obrazovanja i znanosti u drustvu. To bi znacilo da bi mediji trebali dati puno vise prostora temama znanosti i obrazovanja, sto dosad nije bio slucaj. Kako biste vi promijenili tu sliku prioriteta?Po mom bi misljenju trebala postojati barem jedna emisija tjedno u kojoj bi brojni hrvatski strucnjaci i izumitelji mogli javno pokazivali svoja znanja, odnosno govorili o ulozi znanja i novih izuma te se tako javno predstavljali. U Hrvatskoj svi znaju za neke nogometase, a nitko nema pojma da su, primjerice, na Institutu za fiziku razvili najbolji septometar na svijetu i uveli metode koje su u stanju mjeriti kvalitetu najfinijih vina. Ili, pak, da su na IRB-u razvili nove metode proucavanja u medicini koje povezuju fiziku i medicinu na spektakularan nacin. U Hrvatskoj nitko, recimo, ne zna tko su dr. Dubravko Babic, dr. Ivica Kopriva, dr. Slaven Garaj, dr. Neven Matasovic, dr. Ivana Mrkonjic ili dr. Ante Bilusic - da spomenem samo neke, a sve su to ljudi koji su na svojim podrucjima svjetski relevantni strucnjaci. Osobno imam kontakte s mnostvom takvih strucnjaka, postoje i baze podataka koje smo stvorili - neke dragovoljno, a neke organizirano. Sve bi nas to trebalo spojiti, sto bi, za pocetak, mogla uciniti jedna sposobna osoba u Zagrebu. Uostalom, to vec dragovoljno radi Nenad Bach. Pogledajte web stranicu croatianworld.net  koja radi vec godinama i nitko ga u Hrvatskoj sluzbeno ne podrzava. - Kako biste tocno, preko jednog centra koordinacije na visokoj razini, povezali strucnost nasih znanstvenika iz inozemstva s domacim znalcima?Akademik Radman prihvatio je ulogu Vladina savjetnika za znanost te pozvao jos nas nekolicinu da takodjer pomognemo - sto je normalno. Detalji te suradnje ovise o Vladi i ministru. Uostalom, nismo mi jedini mudri i pametni, u Hrvatskoj na svakom podrucju znanosti ima odlicnih strucnjaka. Dakle, za pocetak nam je potrebna jedna sposobna osoba s racunalom i telefonom...- Naglasavate prioritet 'prirodnjaka' nad 'drustvenjacima' u znanosti, sto trebamaksimalno koristiti.Da, mislim da je jasno kako je fizika, primjerice, revolucionizirala ne samo elektroniku ili tehnologiju, vec doslovno i filozofiju pa cak religiju i nase ideje o svijetu i medicini. Imali ste kod nas one koji su se bavili ulogom marksisticke misli u razvoju radnickog pokreta ili ulogom radnicke klase u razvoju socijalistickog boljitka, sto je ocito bila kriva formula .Vecina nasih ljudi nije svjesna koliko su duboko takve ideje i floskule usle u svijest i srû nacije, pa vjerojatno osobe poput mene nekima zvuce kao ,desniCari, ili 'radikali', jer je nas narod zaboravio sto je u 21. stoljecu 'normalno'. U tom stoljecu integracije strucnosti nece biti moguce vjecno se snalaziti preko veza i poznanstava, vec ce vazna biti strucnost iz prirodnih znanosti i inzenjerstva. To ne ukida vaznost cijelog obrazovanja i kvalitetu u umjetnosti, literaturi ili jezicima, to samo znaci da sredista mjerodavnosti u Hrvatskoj treba vise pomaknuti prema znanstveno-inzenjerskom smjeru i smanjiti broj i utjecaj tzv. drustvenih intelektualaca. To, medjutim, nece biti lako.-Hrvatska znanstvena dijaspora, nasa znanstvena elita u svijetu, baza je koju naprosto treba poceti koristiti. Kako bi oni ubuduce mogli pomoci Hrvatskoj, pri cemu poglavito mislim na uklapanje znanosti u gospodarstvo kojem bas ne cvjetaju ruze?O toj sam temi drzao predavanja bivsoj vlasti jos 1994. i 1995. Karikirano, mi se uvijek salimo govoreci da bi bilo koji bolji americki menadzer supermarketa 'WallMart' jednostavno 'sredio' pet milijuna Hrvata u najljepsoj cistoj zemlji u Europi. Drugim rijecima, problem Hrvatske problem je jednog ocajno krivog obrasca menedzmenta bivseg socrealisticko-boljsevickog tipa u kojem se nista nije znalo o uspjesnom gospodarstvu. Istina je da oko 60 posto hrvatske ekonomije predstavlja petrokemija, da vecinu stanovnistva cine neaktivne osobe, umirovljenici, nezaposleni i studenti... Sve to slici na tanker prepun rupa koji kosta mnogo novca i strasan je teret za svakog zaposlenoga. To nijedna vlada nikad nece moci do kraja sama rijesiti, i zato joj je potrebna i pomoc Crkve, ali i aktiviranje svakog pojedinca. Nakon toga moguce je s preostalih 10 posto 'borbeno spremnih' pokretati male inicijative - nalik malim brodicama za brze operacije (dok tanker jedva prezivljava). S tom skupinom znalaca postupno se moze izgraditi nova Hrvatska, zemlja znanja koja sustavno i mudro slijedi jednu nacionalnu strategiju i viziju koja pojednostavljeno kaze: 'Stop crno-sivim tehnologijama'. Nasu buducnost cine kultura biotehnologije i ekoturizam, nova znanja u gospodarstvu te stvaranje velikih dohodaka s malo znalaca ('Microsoft' nema ni 300.000 zaposlenih) u najljepsoj i zadnjoj cistoj zemlji u Europi! Evo, na taj nacin mi u dijaspori pojednostavljeno vidimo Hrvatsku. I naglasavam, takva ce Hrvatska i biti jer bi u suprotnome mogla nestati, izmanipulirana najgorom vrstom tzv. eurokapitalista. Ponavljam, mi smo sve to detaljno razradili i dosad, samo sto nista od toga nije realiziralo. Cini se, naime, da je mnogima bilo bolje loviti u mutnome, u starom sustavu koji je samo promijenio ime i make-up. Ali, tako se vise nece moci dalje i zato ce promjene koje predlazemo - morati zazivjeti. Moji brojni prijatelji i ja imamo toliko znanja da cemo u svakom slucaju uspjeti- S obzirom da ste savjetnik korporacija iz raznih zemalja svijeta, od Engleske i Njemacke do Francuske, Japana i Koreje, koje biste konkretne mjere predlozili Vladi, odnosno ministru Primorcu? Koji su nasi prioriteti?Svaka zemlja ima svoje posebnosti i zato izravno ne treba primijeniti nijedan model, vec njihovu kombinaciju. Iz Svicarske bismo mogli kopirati ustroj i stabilnost institucija, iz Koreje restrukturiranje inzenjersko-proizvodnog sektora, iz Izraela stvaranje i infiltriranje elite u centre moci i odlucivanja, a iz Irske mozda integraciju, nazovimo to 'izvandomovinstva' i dodatnih strucnosti. Nase bismo studente, odabrane po kriterijima izvrsnosti, trebali sustavno slati u, primjerice, Harvard Business School i druge slicne centre moci, ne samo da steknu znanja, vec i veze i poznanstva, jer i to pomaze jednoj zemlji u globalnim svjetskim igrama mocnika, koje su, nazalost, neizbjezne. U igri moci i utjecaja bilo bi zanimljivo kopirati i tzv. centre publiciteta (PR centre) u New Yorku, Washingtonu, Bruxellesu ili Prizu. Na taj se nacin stjecu brojna iskustva. Ili, kako bi rekao moj kolega Nenad Bach 'idemo izvoziti i nase klape i obicaje', neka svi cuju za Hrvatsku! Uvjeravam vas da moji brojni prijatelji i ja imamo toliko znanja da cemo u svakom slucaju uspjeti, samo ako bude malo dobre volje, ne samo kod nove hrvatske Vlade, vec i opcenito, za dulje vrijeme. Iskreno receno, mi u inozemstvu ionako smo se dogovorili da sve to 'nametnemo' Hrvatskoj jer smo uvjereni da je vizija koju predlazemo gotovo optimalna. Mislim da se Sanaderova vlada i dr. Primorac s nama slazu. Davor.Pavuna@urbanet.ch (Prof.Dr. Davor Pavuna) Sun, 11 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7119/1/EIH-Lara-Oreskovic.html  Lara Oreskoviclara oreskovic was born in zagreb in family of artists • english school atage of three • she went to classic ballet school, youth theatre • startedto paint with her uncle painter in his atelier (first mentor) • fine arts school,animation school at zagreb-film and studied languages • speak croatian,italian, english and spanish • after spain, denmark and canada she goes toItaly • she lives eleven years in bologna where she paints and do computerdesign • till 2001 she owned a gallery "i particolari" where bologna's artistsand fine arts students were exposing their works • her favorite materials arepaper, canvas and their combinations • she experimented various paintingtechniques, frequently applies materials one upon another or applies detailson painted surface.lara oreskovic è nata a zagabria nella famiglia degli artisti •ha frequen frequen--tato la scuola inglese all'età di tre anni• ha frequentato la scuola di danzaclassica, teatro dei giovani • iniziato a dipingere nell'atellier dello zio pittore(primo mentore) • frequentato la scuola delle belle arti, scuola di animazionea zagreb-film ed ha studiato lingue • parla croato, italiano, inglese e spag spag--nolo • dopo spagna, danimarca e canada arriva in italia • vive a bolognada undici anni bologna dove dipinge e si occupa del computer design • finoa 2001 aveva la galleria "i particolari" dove esponevano gli artisti bolognesi estudenti delle belle arti • suoi materiali preferiti sono la carta, la tela e le lorocombinazioni • ha sperimentato varie tecnoche di pittura, frequentementeapplica materiali sovrapposti oppure applica detagli sulla superfice dipintalara oreskovic je rodena u zagrebu u umjetnickoj familiji • pocela je ucitiengleski od trece godine• pohadala je skolu klasicnog baleta i kazalistemladih • pocela je slikati u ujakovom alellieru (prvi mentor) • pohadala jeskolu primjenjenih umjetnosti, skolu animacije u zagreb-filmu i studirala je jezike• govori hrvatski, talijanski, engleski i spanjolski • poslije spanjolske, danske icanade odlazi u italiju • zivi jedanaest godina u bologni gdje slika i bavi sekompjuterskim dizajnom • do 2001 imala je galeriju "i particolari" gdje su izl izl--agali slikari bologne i studenti akademije za likovnu umjetnost • njeni omiljenimaterijali su papir, platno i njihove kombinacije • eksperimentirala je razneslikarske tehnike, cesto primjenjuje slojevite materijale ili aplicira detalje naoslikanu podloguexibitions 1999 " tra arte e gioco" - paese dei balocchi - bologna (g)* 1999 " particolari" - lo scugnizzo - bologna (s)** 2000 " bologna città europea della cultura" - galleria interarte - bologna (g)2001 " senza titolo" - teatro del naville - bologna (s) 2001 " le ambivalenze del corpo" - villa mazzacurati - bologna (g) 2001 " lui&lei" - galleria dioscuri - Zagabria (s) 2002 " corpo della materia, materia del corpo" - villa mazzacurati - bologna (g)2003 " sognando" - ciacco - bologna (s) 2003 " paesaggi e altri paesaggi" - villa mazzacurati - bologna (g) 2003 " mostra annuale degli artisti" - galleria castiglione arte - bologna (g)2004 " divinations" - agora gallery - new york (g) annoucing exibition 2004 " l'arpa del ragno" - galleria castiglione arte - bologna (s) - 21. 02. 2004 (g) - group exibition ** (s) - solo exibition e-mail: lara_o@tin.it   Related articles: (E) Lara Oreskovic - New York Exibition Jan 8, 2004 Jan 04, 04 Culture And Arts   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 07 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7120/1/E-Prof-Dr-Branko-Ladanyi.html  Prof. Dr. Branko LadanyiHarold R. Peyton Award Winner Branko Ladanyi, who was born and educated in Zagreb, Croatia, is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering of Ecole Polytechnique, University of Montreal. After graduating in Civil Engineering at the University of Zagreb, and getting his Ph.D. degree at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, he came to Canada in 1962 to take a teaching post in geotechnical engineering first at the Laval University in Quebec City, and then in 1967 at Ecole Polytechnique, University of Montreal, where he has since then been teaching and doing research in geotechnical engineering, and in particular, in the fields of permafrost engineering and rock mechanics. Branko Ladanyi is one of the Canadian pioneers in northern engineering education and research, and in particular in the area of civil engineering. His northern engineering research work, which he started in the 1970-ties, has resulted in over 200 scientific publications, some of which have contributed significantly to the development and improvement of field investigation methods for frozen soils and ice, as well as to an improved design of civil engineering structures in permafrost regions. Several of these methods have found a wide application in practice, not only in Canada, but also in the U.S.A., and in Scandinavia, Russia and China. Since 1970, Branko Ladanyi has made with his students and collaborators several field research stages in Northern Québec, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Newfoundland, as well as in Alaska and on Spitsbergen. He is co author, with O.B. Andersland, of the book: "An Introduction to Frozen Ground Engineering" (Chapman & Hall, 1994), the Second Edition of which was published in 2003 by ASCE Press and John Wiley Sons. Dr. Ladanyi is a recipient of numerous scientific awards, such as: The Québec Scientific Award (1974), the R.F. Legget Award of the Canadian Geotechnical Society (1981), the E. E. De Beer Award of the Belgian Geotechnical Society (1987), the E.F. Rice Memorial Lectureship Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (1991), and the R.J.E. Brown Memorial Award of the Canadian Geotechnical Society (1993). In 1995, he also received the Canadian-American Civil Engineering Amity Award from the ASCE, the Standards Development Award from the American Society for Testing and Materials, as well as the Canadian Northern Science Award from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Quite recently, In 2003, he received also from ASCE the Harold R. Peyton Award for his research contributions to the field of Cold Regions Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, as well as of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.Branko Ladanyi is married, and has three children and three grandchildren.-- Branko Ladanyi, P.Eng., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Dept. C.G.M. Ecole Polytechnique C.P.6079, Succ. Centre-ville Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7 Canada Phone: (514) 340-4711 #4804 Fax : (514) 340-5841 E-mail: bladanyi@polymtl.ca  Dear Nenad, OK. Here it is: My brief CV and my relatively recent photo are attached. However, the really recent news about me in 2003 are: 1. The second edition of my book, with Prof. Andersland of Michigan State University, entitled: "An Introduction to Frozen Ground Engineering", was published last year simultaneously by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and by John Wiley & Sons. It took us a lot of time to write it, and I am happy that it is out now.The book is being used currently as principal handbook for graduate courses in Cold Regions Engineering by several universities in Canada, U.S. and Norway. 2. Quite surprisingly, I received last year from ASCE the Harold R. Peyton Award, for my continuous efforts in research and teaching in the area of Cold Regions Engineering. So, this is the real news. The rest is history.  Sve o knjizi "Cold Regions Engineering" mozete saznati na adresi:www.pubs.asce.org/books2.html Sto se tice tog problema, on je vazan za sve zemlje oko Sjevernog i Juznog Pola, kao: Kanada, Alaska, Rusija, Norveska, Swedska, Finska i Argentina. Na srecu, Hrvatska nema tog problema! Hvala na interesu! All the best, i hvala lijepa, Branko letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 06 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7122/1/E-Ana-Vidovic-Croatian-Classical-Guitar-Virtuoso.html  Ana Vidovic Croatian Classical Guitar Virtuoso Croatian classical guitar virtuoso, Ana Vidovic, will be performing with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra at the Center for Performing Arts at Governor's State University, in University Park, Illinois on January 10, 2004. Come early at 7:15 p.m. for a free pre-concert discussion with a music expert. Main floor tickets are $35 and balcony tickets are $25. Reviews:"It is difficult to know where to begin when discussing the enormous talents of Ana Vidovic. Her dynamic range, beauty of sound, precision of articulation and virtuosity are such that listening becomes more of an absolute musical experience."- Stephen Griesgraber Guitar Review "Ana Vidovic produces so many moments of insight that you often feel you are listening to the music for the first time.This is very impressive indeed in one so young-she is only 20." - Colin Cooper Classical Guitar "Her virtuosity continues to astound...with no apparent technical limitation and a musical maturity that belies her age, Ms Vidovic is in a position to do great things with the classical guitar." - Stephen Griesgraber Guitar Review "It's truly a delight to discover Vidovic's talent...A fluid virtuosity which serves purely the expression! Supple phrasing, a particularly solid technique, totally at ease. It's all there, energy, intelligence, finesse...Striking!" - La Guitare Classique Review of Naxos CD Ms. Vidovic's website:www.anavidovic.com Concert details at Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra website:http://www.ipomusic.org/schedule_detail.cfm?concert_id=5 Venue information at Governors State University website:http://www.govst.edu/center/ipo.html Ana Vidovic is a bright young talent of formidable gifts destined for a major international career. Ana comes from the small town of Karlovac near Zagreb, Croatia and started playing guitar at the age of 5, and by 7 had given her first public performance. At the age of 11 she was performing internationally, and at 13 became the youngest student to attend the prestigious National Musical Academy in Zagreb where she studied with Professor Istvan Romer. Ana's reputation in Europe led to an invitation to study at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, USA, with Manuel Barrueco, from where she graduated in May 2003. At the age of only 22 Ana has won an impressive number of prizes and international competitions all over the world. These include first prizes in the Albert Augustine International Competition in Bath, England, the Fernando Sor competition in Rome, Italy and the Francisco Tarrega competition in Benicasim, Spain. Other top prizes include the Eurovision Competition for Young Artists, the Mauro Giuliani competition in Italy, the Printemps de la Guitare in Belgium and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York. Ana has given over one thousand public performances since first taking the stage in 1988. Her international performance career includes recitals in London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas and St. Louis. In Croatia she has performed with the Zagreb Soloists and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and with Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian Radio and Television, as well as having been featured in three television documentaries by the eminent Croatian film director Petar Krelja. Ana continues to broaden her repertoire and maintains an ongoing performance schedule. Please refer to upcoming concerts for more details.Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Governors State University, Illinois, US, January 10, 2004 8pmMario Castelnuovo Tedesco Concerto for Guitar and OrchestraSteve Gray Love Songs Albuquerque,NM Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, NM, USJanuary 16, 2004 3pmMasterclass Albuquerque,NM Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, NM, USJanuary 17, 2004 7pmRecital Tennessee Guitar Festival Wright Music Hall, Murfreesboro, TN, USFebruary 24, 2004 8pmRecital and Masterclass Portland,OR Portland Guitar Festival, Portland, OR, USMarch 5, 2004 8pmRecital Malmoe,Sweden Malmoe Guitar Festival, Malmoe, Sweden, SwedenMarch 13, 2004 7:30pmRecital Salt Lake City Utah Classical Guitar Society, Salt Lake City, Utah, USMarch 22, 2004 7:30pmRecital Salt Lake City Utah Classical Guitar Society, Salt Lake City, Utah, USMarch 23, 2004 6pmMasterclass San Francisco,CA Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA, USApril 3, 2004 5pmMasterclass San Francisco,CA California Palace of Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA, USApril 3, 2004 8pmRecital Lake Tahoe,NV Parasol Community Foundation, Incline Village, NV, USApril 4, 2004 3pmRecital Sierra Nevada College Croom Theater, Incline Village, NV, USApril 5, 2004 1pmMasterclass Northwest Guitar Festival Boise State University Morrison Center Recital Hall, Boise, ID, USApril 9, 2004 8pmRecital and Masterclass Wichita,KS Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS, USApril 24, 2004 2pmRecital and Masterclass Zagreb,Croatia Croatian Music Institute, Zagreb, Croatia, June 1, 2004 8pmRecital Dundee,Scotland Dundee Guitar Festival, Dundee, Scotland, July 21, 2004 8pmRecital and Masterclass Nurtingen,Germany Nurtingen Guitar Festival, Nurtingen, Germany, July 31, 2004 8pmRecital Nurtingen,Germany Nurtingen Guitar Festival, Nurtingen, Germany, August 1, 2004 3pmMasterclass Arizona State University School of Music, Tempe, AZ, USOctober 7, 2004 7pmMasterclass Tempe,AZ Katzin Concert Hall, Tempe, AZ, USOctober 8, 2004 7:30pmRecital Tucson,AZ St.Phillips Foothills, Tucson, AZ, USOctober 9, 2004 7:30pmRecital Tokyo,Japan Musashino Civic Cultural Hall, Tokyo, Japan, February 19, 2005 8pmRecital Bloomington,IN Waldron Auditorium, Bloomington, IN, USMarch 5, 2005 8pmRecital Bloomington,IN Monroe County Historical Museum, Bloomington, IN, USMarch 5, 2005 2pmMasterclass Management Contact :Robin Bryson1 Moss ClosePinnerMiddxHA5 3AYUnited KingdomTel/Fax : (44)20 8429 4556e-mail: management@anavidovic.com Booking Agent :Luba Booking Agency3302 Clarks LaneSuite BBaltimore,MD 21215U S ATel : 410/358-2689e-mail: lubabooking@hotmail.com   letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 09 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7121/1/E-Dipl-Ing-Mario-Juric-MAPSTER-OF-THE-UNIVERSE.html  Mapster of the UniverseDipl. Ing. Mario Juric "Warning! Time spent observing the heavens is not deducted from your lifespan" Korado KorlevicI've graduatedOn Thursday, 27th June, 2002, completed my undergraduate studies and attained a degree in Physics ("dipl. ing. fizike", (more than) equivalent to B.Sc.) at the University of Zagreb. My diploma thesis (in Croatian only) was on identifying asteroids imaged with the SDSS survey. The paper on which I've based it has been accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal (somewhere around September 2002).Newsflash !I've decided to accept the admission offer of Princeton University Graduate School to enter the Department of Astrophysical Sciences's graduate program this fall !!! Special thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially toKorado Korlevic  ofVisnjan Observatory where I've learned what science is and how to do it in creative ways and toZeljko Ivezic, who gave me a chance to show what I know and can do in the "big league". Graduate student Mario Juric and his mentor J. Richard Gott III measured the largest structure in the Universe.(scroll down for the map)Postdiplomac Mario Juric i njegov mentor profesor J. Richard Gott III izmjerili su najvecu strukturu u Svemiru. (pogledaj na dnu)Op-ed Front Page of the New Scientist magazineMario Juric,Graduate Student, Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton UniversityWeb : http://astro.princeton.edu/~mjuric http://alumni.fizika.org/~majuric/cv.html Phone : +1 609 258 7936 PGP: ~mjuric/crypto/public.keyhttp://student.fizika.org/~majuric/ http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~mjuric/universe/ Forum Hrvatskih Astronoma je neformalno on-line okupljalište hrvatskih profesionalnih astronoma u cilju razmjene korisnih informacija i neformalnog povezivanja sve veceg broja hrvatskih astronoma u svijetu i domovini.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forum of Croatian Astronomers is an informal on-line assembly of professional Croatian astronomers with the goal of exchanging useful professional information and connecting the growing number of Croatian astronomers around the world and in the country.http://connect.znanost.org/astro/  Mario Juric - Curriculum Vitae Time of last modification : December 15, 2001. Location of this document : http://alumni.fizika.org/~majuric/cv.htmlPersonal information Name and surname: Mario Juric Date of birth: 9th Feb. 1979 Address: Nova cesta 142/1, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia Telephone: ++385 1 3095 649 ++385 98 736 550 E-mail: majuric@astro.hr Website: http://alumni.fizika.org/~majuric Marital status Single Citizenship: Croatian Native language: Croatian Education Elementary school: Julije Klovic, Zagreb, Croatia (1985-1993) Highschool: XV. Gimnazija, Zagreb, Croatia (1993-1997) University: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics (1997-) Current status: Undergraduate student of physics (theoretical physics and astrophysics), senior year GPA: 4.94 (on 1 to 5 scale) Languages Fluent in English, both in oral and written form. Studied English for 10 years Limited knowledge of Latin. Studied Latin for 6 years Computer skills Fluent in C/C++, FORTRAN and Java Administering and developing for Oracle8i (3 years) and MySQL (2 years) Practical knowledge of IRAF, Mathematica 4.0 and SuperMongo Knowledge of and experience with VRML 2.0 UNIX (Linux) and Windows NT/2000 administration Achievements/Awards 1st place in national astronomy contests in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. The City of Zagreb Scholarship Award: 1996-2001 1st place in 1994-1995 ACSL (American Computer Science League) contests (intermediate-5 division) 1st team place in 1995 ACSL finals (Cypress Creek High, Houston, TX, USA), as a member of XV. Gimnazija's 5-member team (intermediate-5 division) Awarded, together with Korado Korlevic of Visnjan Observatory, the 1999 Edgar Wilson Award for the discovery of comet Korlevic-Juric (P/1999 DN3). In 1999 awarded the University of Zagreb Rector's Award for work on asteroid observation strategies at Visnjan Observatory entitled "Visnjan Observing Strategy - a new method for scheduling and optimization of astrometric observations of asteroids" In 2000 awarded the University of Zagreb Best Physics Student award for academic year 1999/2000 In November 2000 elected to a two-year term as the student body representative in the faculty council Work Member of the Editorial Board of the Croatian astronomical magazine Bolid (1994-1996) Founder and coordinator (1995-1997) of Virtual Reality Application and Development Group (VR ADG). VRADG was mainly involved in exploring the uses of VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) version 1.0, and cooperated on development of VRML 2.0 (now ISO-IEC 14772-11997 standard). VRADG was supported by CARNet (Croatian Academic and Research Network) throughout it's existence. Attended Visnjan School of Astronomy from 1993 to 1996 as a student, 1997 and subsequent years as an instructor Worked on the Visnjan Observatory's "Visnjan Automatic Telescope" project (1996-1997) Have been a part of joint Visnjan Observatory/ICSC-World Laboratory program "Education of students in basic sciences" (code T-1 A/I), first as a student, then as an instructor Designed and implemented an automated asteroid detection and measurement system at the Visnjan Observatory (1998). Authored the RINGS software package, VOID and VOID 2 databases for efficient automated acquisition, processing and storing of asteroid information. With Korado Korlevic, a discoverer of comet 'Korlevic-Juric' (P/1999 DN3), and over a thousand of other asteroids. Currently working on V2 Web , a web based system for 3D visualization and data mining of asteroid information. Also developing 3Xplorer, a general query/3D visualization tool for point source catalogues (2000-...) Project leader of AccessGrid Teleconferencing Sessions between the University of Zagreb, Physics department and Center for Computational Sciences, University of Kentucky (2001)  Project leader of STUDNet project - physics student computer network at the Physics department, University of Zagreb (2001) Spent 30 days in September, 2001 with SDSS team at Princeton, working on identifying SDSS moving objects (2001) Conferences 3rd Science Meeting of the Croatian Physical Society, Zagreb, Croatia, December 5-7, 2001. Asteroids 2001, Palermo, Italy, June 11-15, 2001. 2nd Meeting for GAIA photometry, Asiago Observatory, Italy, October 8, 2000 CARNet Users Conference 2000, Zagreb, Croatia, September 24-26, 2000 Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, Cornell University, July 26-30, 1999. The Brijuni Conference '98 - End of century state of science, Brijuni, Croatia, September 7-11, 1998 MIPRO'96, Rijeka, Croatia, May 20-25, 1996 Publications Vucic R. et. al, VirtualMIOC - Applied VRML Technology, Proceedings of MIPRO'96, Multimedia and Hypermedia Systems, Rijeka, Croatia, 1996 Korlevic K., and Juric M., Visnjan Observatory NEO Followup , poster presentation, IAU Asteroids-Comets-Meteors Conference, Cornell University, Ithaca, 1999 Juric M., and Korlevic K., Visnjan Observatory Image Database 2 , Proceedings of CUC 2000 Conference, Zagreb, 2000 Korlevic K., and Juric M,, Visnjan Observatory Asteroids Followup Program 1995-2000, Asteroids 2001 Conference, Palermo, 2001 Juric M., et al., Comparison of Asteroids Observed in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey with a Catalog of Known Asteroids, submitted to AJ Published a number of measurements in the Minor Planet Center's MPEC circulars Additional information Visnjan observatory: http://www.astro.hr V2 Web: http://void.astro.hr 3xplorer (experimental) http://void.astro.hr/3xplorer CARNet VRML (VRADG website): http://pubwww.srce.hr/vrml STUDNet http://fizika.org  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 07 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7123/1/EH-Michael-Mile-Milkovich-Ambasador-of-Croatian-Culture.html  Michael Mile Milkovich "Ambasador of Croatian Culture" By donating five individual medals created by our great artist, Ivan Mestrovic, Michael (Mile) Milkovich (Director Emeritus of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida) again showed his great love for his homeland. Mr. Milkovich became famous when he organized the magnificent display of Croatian Naive Art here in St. Petersburg, Florida under the title "The Fantastical World of Croatian Naive Art". This exhibit lasted from February 13th through May 28; over 60,000 visitors came to see this exhibit.Continuing this "ambassadorial" and selfless work of promoting Croatian culture, Milkovich transported to Croatia from America a unique set of medals, which were the work of the great master, Ivan Mestrovic, while he lived in America. These medals were donated to the Zagreb Archeological Museum, to the Mestrovic Foundation in Zagreb and Split and to the Vukovar City Museum.During the festive reception of these medals, Ante Rendic-Miocevic, director of the Zagreb Archeological Museum, Guido Quien, director of the Mestrovic Foundation and Ruza Maric, director of the Vukovar City Museum, thanked Milkovich for these gifts so important and significant for our cultural institutions. Croatian television and newspapers were on hand to cover this event.In the special edition of this exhibit's catalog, the above mentioned director's stated:"On this occasion we would like to express our special gratitude that this portion of Mestrovic's work were recently donated to Croatia, thanks to selfless action of Milkovich, retired director of St. Petersburg Fine Arts Museum in Florida. Having expressed his desire to give a donation to our museums, Milkovich acted upon our suggestion that these "American Mestrovic medals", practically unknown in Croatia, be purchased and taken to Croatia."In this special catalog edition, Milkovich concluded his remarks by saying:"I am both honored and happy to have been able to give these gifts to the Zagreb Archeological Museum, to the Mestrovic Foundation (in Zagreb and Split) and to the Museum of our heroic city of Vukovar, so that they might become the owners of such important set of medals."I consider myself to be particularly honored to have Michael Milkovich as a friend. He has tirelessly worked for his homeland during all of our get-togethers and has exhibited extraordinary attachment to his native land, a land he had to leave early in his life. Because of his devotion to his homeland, Milkovich made many friends in the "Croatian-American Club of Florida", of which he was one of its founders.Croatia truly needs to have "ambasadors' like Michael Milkovich if it wishes to show the world the beauties and values of  its thousand-year-old culture.Dr Frank Z. Beluhan Mile Michael Milkovich "AmbasadorHrvatske Kulture" Mile (Michael) Milkovich (Director Emeritus, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida) ponovno je pokazao ljubav prema svojoj Domaji poklonom petjedinih medalja, koje je izradio nas majstor Ivan Mestrovic ovdje u Americi. Gosp. Milkovich se je proslavio velicanstvenom izlozbom hrvatske Naive ovdje uSt. Petersburgu, Florida "The Fantastical World of Croatian Naive Art" (13togVeljace do 28og Svibnja 2000g), a koju je posjetilo vise od sesdeset tisuca posjetilaca.Nastavljajuci taj "ambasadorski" posao propagiranja i nesebicnog rada za hrvatsku kulturu, ovaj puta je odnio iz Amerike u Hrvatsku jedinstvenu zbirkusvih medalja, koje je izradio nas majstor Ivan Mestrovic u Americi. Medalje subile poklonjene Arheoloskom Muzeju u Zagrebu, Fundaciji Mestrovic u Zagrebu iSplitu, te Gradskom muzeju u Vukovaru.O znacaju ovog poklona nasim ustanovama ravnatelj Arheoloskog Muzeja u ZagrebuAnte Rendic-Miocevic, Guido Quien, ravnatelj Fundacije Ivana Mestrovica, te RuzaMaric, ravnateljica Gradskog Muzeja Vukovar, zahvalili su gosp. Milkovichu prilikom svecanog primanja medalja. Ovu svecanost su pratile hrvatske novinskeagencije, a i hrvatska televizija.U prigodnom izdanju izlozbenog kataloga, gore spomenuti ravnatelji izjavili su:"Zelja nam je u ovoj prigodi izraziti osobito zadovoljstvo sto je taj dio Mestroviceva opusa nedavno poklonjen Hrvatskoj, zahvaljujuci nesebicnoj gestigosp. Michaela Milkovicha, umirovljenog ravnatelja Muzeja lijepih umjetnosti (Museum of Fine Arts) u St. Petersburgu u Floridi. Izrazivsi svojedobno zelju zadonacijom hrvatskim muzejskim ustanovama prihvatio je nasu sugestiju da se njegovom pomoci otkupi skupina u nas gotovo nepoznatih Mestrovicevih "americkih"medalja."I na kraju svojeg izlaganja prilikom izdavanja prigodnog kataloga, gosp. Milkovich je izjavio:"Sretan sam i pocascen sto sam omogucio da ovom donacijomArheoloski muzej u Zagrebu, Fundacija Ivana Mestrovica (Zagreb i Split) i Gradski muzej naseg herojskog grada Vukovara postanu vlasnici ove vazne skupinemedalja".Ja sam osobno pocascen biti prijatelj naseg cijenjenog Michaela Milkovicha, kojiprilikom svakog naseg susreta nema dovoljno rijeci i ljubavi prema svojem rodnomkraju, kojeg je morao napustiti jos u ranoj mladosti. Kao takav nasao je ovdjemnogo prijatelja i u "Croatian-American Club of Florida", ciji je jedan od osnivaca kluba."Ambasadore" takovog kapaciteta kao sto je Michael Milkovich, zaista treba nasaHrvatska, da bi se pokazale svijetu ljepote i vrijednosti nase tisucljetne kulture.Dr Frank Z. Beluhan letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 23 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7125/1/E-Akademski-Kipar-Sculptor-Vesna-Osojnicki.html  www.olr-plemenitas.hr BiographyVESNA OSOJNICKIVesna Osojnicki was born on August 31,1960 in Moravice, the city of Vrbovsko, in Gorski kotar, Croatia. She completed her schooling in Slavonski Brod, specializing in teaching. Meanwhile, she also completed legal studies.She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts, specializing in sculpture, under Dr. Damir Matausic, in small plastics and medal making.She began her artistic work with ceramics in the Center for Culture and Education, Zagreb, under Mirjana Rajkovic.At the Agora school, she attended sculpting classes under academic sculptor Ivan Kozaric, for two years.MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS since 1996 HDLU Croatian Association of Artists;since 2002 HZSU Croatian Freelance Artists Association.ARTISTIC CREATIONS:In her work today, she has appeared publicly in both independent and joint exhibitions, and participated in art colonies. She is also the founder of the art project: "Sculpting workshop Plemenita1" in Gorski Kotar. She is part of the art project in small plastics and has public sculptures.Independent Exhibits: 1994 - "Exhibition of ceramics", ZAP Gallery, Zagreb1994 - "Form of the circle", Gallery of the Croatian Historical Museum Lukovdol1996 "Ties" Gallery of the Sculpting artistic workshop Plemenita12000  "Gorski Kotar", Kurija Gallery, Prigorje MuseumJoint Exhibits:1993 - Zagreb IV World triennial of small ceramics (judged exhibition)1994 - Zagreb, Gro njan, "Modern ceramics in Croatia" 1994 - Ljubljana, "Modern Croatian ceramics"1995 - Lisabon, "Modern Croatian ceramics" 1996 - Canada, "International Miniature Art Biennial" (judged) Ville-Marie, Quebec, Canada1996 - Hungary, Budapest, 4th International biennale of sculpting drawings 1997 - Vara din, Homage to Baroque, (judged)1998 - Omi1alj, "Exhibition" Lapidarij Gallery1998 - Osijek, "Sixth Memorial to Ivo Kerdic" 1999 - Zagreb, 3rd festival, University of Zagreb2000 - Switzerland, Art and Sport, Lausanne, International Olympic Museum (judged)2000 - Canada "International Miniature Art Biennial" (judged), Ville Marie, Quebec2000 - Zagreb, "My cross still burns" Passion heritage, Mimara Museum, (judged)2000 - Velika Gorica, Kordic Gallery, ALU Exhibition2001 - Delnice "Mountain dawn" 2001 - Osijek,"Seventh memorial to Ivo Kerdic" 2002 - Zagreb, "Seventh memorial to Ivo Kerdic"2002 - Canada, " International Miniature Art Biennial" Ville Marie, QuebecArtistic Colonies:1993 - "Clay as expression", Bedekovèina1996 - I and II Raku international gathering, Plemenita11997 - Internationale Rakufachtagug Freistaat Burgstein, Austria- Tirol1997 - III and IV Raku international gathering, Plemenita11998 - " Fulfinum", Omi1alj- Njivice1998 - V Raku international gathering, Plemenita11999 - VI Raku international gathering, Plemenita12000 - VII Raku international gathering, Plemenita12001 - VIII Raku international gathering, Plemenita1ARTISTIC PROJECTS:Founder and director of the sculpture workshop Plemenita1, an artistic non-profit organization, registered with the Ministry of Culture. Each year, the workshop hosts international artistic colonies, with artist, sculptors and potters from around the world participating.This workshop has signed contract with:- Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb, sculpture division- Delgado Community College, New Orleans, USA.ARTISTIC PROJECTS IN SMALL SCULPTURE1999 - medal "University race of eights"1999 - trophy "Otokar" for HRT "My first film and video journal"2000 - medal "University race of eights", Zagreb2000 - medal "Benefits of olive oil" Omi1alj2000 - medal "Recreational fishing club Bream" Jelsa2001 - medal "Benefits of olive oil" KrkPUBLIC SCULPTURES 2001 - Italy, Brixen, oak sculpture, “Pulsations of time from history to today” ( international competition) 2001 - China, Changchun, stainless steel sculpture, “Wind “ 5th International Sculpture Symposium, (international competition)www.olr-plemenitas.hrMoj sadasnji College:http://www.dcc.edu/old/briefs.htm www.dcc.edu. je Delgado Community College, New OrleansPuno hvala, i najljepsi pozdrav ak. kipar Vesna Osojnickiplemenit@net4u.hr letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 16 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7124/1/E-Sanya-Mateyas.html  Sanya Mateyas "all the way from Croatia" Los Angeles ( 2000 and up)Trans - Siberian Orchestra's member for two years as a singer and flutist.Awarded with platinum record for 1 million copies.Every tour sings for about 250.000 TSO fans with a solo singing act and on every concert is specially introduced as "Sanya - all the way from Croatia"Other members - Al Pitrelli ( Megadeth , Alice Cooper , Asia)Paul o'Neill (producer)Johnny Lee Middleton (Sabotage)Carmine Giglio ( Ritchie Blackmore) "Holes" feature movie directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Red Dragon etc.) produced by Disney. Plays a role of "Myra Menke".  Cast: Jon Voight, Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Arquette and Shia La Buff.Hrvatska:Clan Zagrebackog kazalista mladihClan djecjeg zbora "Zvjezdice"Voditelj humoristicne serije "Jel me netko trazio"Uloga u zagrebackoj cult predstavi "Kabaret"Stalni clan ansambla gradskog kazalista 'Tresnja" sa odigranih oko 300 predstavaJaguar - igrani filmNe zaboravi me - igrani film by Jakov Sedlar CD-iS tobom il' bez tebe - Croatia recordsSanja Matejas 2 - Croatia records Pitanja bez odgovora - Croatia recordsMi smo andjeli - Croatia records (dobrotvorni CD za sirotiste u Zagrebu) Trans - Siberian Orchestra's Tour dates. Go and see Sanya !!!www.trans-siberian.com • 11/18: Des Moines, IA (Civic Center Theater) • 11/19: Omaha, NE (Music Hall) • 11/20: Wichita, KS (Kansas Coliseum) • 11/21: Kansas City, KS (Memorial Auditorium) • 11/22: Colorado Springs, CO (World Arena) • 11/23: Denver, CO (Pepsi Arena) • 11/25: Salt Lake City, UT (E-Center) • 11/26: Nampa, ID (Idaho Center) • 11/28: Spokane, WA (Opera House) • 11/29: Portland, OR (Rose Garden) • 11/30: Seattle, WA (Key Arena) • 12/02: Sacramento, CA (ARCO Arena) • 12/03: Cupertino, CA (Flint Performing Arts Center) • 12/04: San Diego, CA (Cox Arena) • 12/05: Los Angeles, CA (Universal Amphitheater) • 12/06: Las Vegas, NV (Alladin Theater) • 12/07: Phoenix, AZ (Dodge Theater) • 12/09: El Paso, TX (Haskins Center UTEP) • 12/10: Amarillo, TX (Civic Center) • 12/11: Austin, TX (Erwin Center) • 12/12: San Antonio, TX (SBC Center) • 12/13: Dallas, TX (Next Stage Theater)- 2 Shows • 12/14: Houston, TX (Houston Rockets Arena) • 12/17: Moline, IL (Mark Of The Quad Cities) • 12/18: Chicago, IL (Allstate Arena-Theater Set Up) • 12/19: St. Louis, MO (Saviss Center) • 12/20: Madison, WI (Alliant Energy Center) • 12/21: Milwaukee, WI (Bradley Center) • 12/22: Minneapolis, MN (Target Center) • 12/23: Green Bay, WI (Resch Center) • 12/26: Tampa, FL (St. Pete Arena) • 12/27: Orlando, FL (Bob Carr Theater)- 2 Shows • 12/28: Atlanta, GA (Gwinnet Center) • 12/29: Nashville, TN (Ryman Auditorium) • 12/30: Indianapolis, IN (Murat TheaterOp-edI met Sanya today in front of the Croatian Church in Manhattan (New York), knowing her from Los Angeles. She is a modest star in progress. Check the film "Holes" with a small but impressive role and if you can, Trans Siberian concerts. Good luck and congratulations on all the success so far.Nenad letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sun, 16 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7127/1/H-BRUNO-BJELINSKI-skladatelj-1909---1992.html  BRUNO BJELINSKI BRUNO BJELINSKI Roden: 1. studenoga 1909. u TrstuUmro: 3. rujna 1992. u ZagrebuMalo je skladatelja u XX. stoljecu s tako raznolikim i bogatim glazbenim opusom kakav je ostvario hrvatski skladatelj Bruno Bjelinski.U ranom stvaralackom razdoblju Bjelinski se zanima iskljucivo za glasovir i komornu glazbu, da bi kasnije napisao golem broj orkestralnih djela, od koncerata za glazbalo i orkestar, petnaest simfonija i sinfonieta, više opera, nekoliko djecjih scensko-glazbenih djela i baleta do velikog broja drugih glazbenih ostvarenja. Nema gotovo niti jednog glazbala kojemu Bjelinski nije posvetio barem jedan koncert. Jednako je važan opus njegovih pjesama, dua, tria, kvarteta i kvinteta posvecenih gudackim, puhackim i kombiniranim komornim sastavima. Bruno Bjelinski roden je 1. studenoga 1909. u Trstu. U Zagrebu je završio studij prava s doktoratom, te radi kao sudski i odvjetnicki pripravnik. Medutim, od gradanski uglednoga i poželjnog zanimanja pravnika i odvjetnika Bjelinskom je važnija glazba pa tijekom studija upisuje i Glazbenu akademiju, gdje ce uciti u klasi poznatih pedagoga i umjetnika Blagoja Berse i Franje Dugana. Zatim pocinje bogat skladateljski rad. Bjelinski je još kao djecak svirao violinu, potom i glasovir, pa je bilježio i glazbene teme, koje poslije koristi u svojim prvim skladateljskim ostvarenjima. Nastaje niz sonata, tokata i suita, no stvaralacki rad prekinuo je svjetski rat tijekom kojeg je Bjelinski interniran na Vis. Poslije Drugoga svjetskog rata Bjelinski predaje kontrapunkt i polifoniju u splitskim i zagrebackim školama, a potom i na Glazbenoj akademiji u Zagrebu. U to doba nastaju velika djela poput Koncerta za klarinet, Koncerta za flautu, Serenade za trublju, klavir, gudace i udaraljke i Koncertne simfonije za klavir. Pedesetih godina Bjelinski takoder stvara velik opus za djecu u kojem se isticu Sedam bagatela za klavir, opere Pcelica Maja, Heraklo i Ružno pace, te baleti Pinokio, Petar Pan i Macak u cizmama. U svom kasnom stvaralackom razdoblju Bjelinski sklada operu Orfej XX. stoljeca, Koncert za Romea i Juliju te nekoliko simfonija. Umro je u Zagrebu 3. rujna 1992. Stalna osobina u opusu Brune Bjelinskog je neoklasicisticka forma i glazbeni izraz. Bjelinski se krece u granicama tonalnosti i nije sklon avangardnom eksperimentiranju. Njegova je glazba pjevna, ritmicki raznolika i polifona, a u najvecem broju njegovih djela prepoznaje se mediteranska vedrina i otvorenost. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Wed, 12 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7126/1/H-Lindjo-Zenska-Klapa-iz-Dubrovnika.html  ŽENSKA KLAPA FOLKLORNOG ANSAMBLA LINÐODUBROVNIKHRVATSKA Folklorni ansambl Lindo u gradu Dubrovniku djeluje vec dugih 37 godina njegujuci vrijednu kulturnu baštinu ne samo dubrovackog, vec i hrvatskog podneblja. Njegova posebnost obogacuje turisticku ponudu Hrvatske i cini ju originalnom, što je razlog da je danas FA Lindo poznat i u svijetu. U veljaci 2000. godine rodila se ideja kod nekolicine plesacica Linda o osnivanju ženske klape pri Folklornom ansamblu, što im je i pošlo za rukom uz pomoc Vedrana Ivankovica, glazbenika u Lindu, koji je preuzeo vodenje klape. Prvi put se ova klapa predstavila javnosti u kolovozu 2000. godine kada je FA Lindo slavio svoju trideset petu obljetnicu postojanja i djelovanja. Klapa je nastupila na brojnim znacajnim susretima klapa, od Omiša, Bola, Korcule, Blata, Stona i Mlina do Cavtata na najjužnijoj hrvatskoj obali, gdje je pokazala neskriveni entuzijazam i veliku volju za unaprjedivanjem kulturne baštine. Klapa sudjeluje na Festivalu dalmatinskih klapa Omiš zadnje tri godine (2001., 2002., 2003.). Ove, 2003. godine, ulazi u finalnu vecer i osvaja Broncanog leuta – 3. nagradu publike, što predstavlja veliki uspjeh. “Intonativnom stabilnošcu, glasovnom snagom i svježinom, uigranošcu i rafiniranošcu interpretacije, te izborom repertoara ženska klapa FA Lindo zavrjeduje svaku pohvalu”*. (*Ivana Tomic – Feric) .Klapa je sudjelovala i na Festivalu klapa Dubrovacko-neretvanske županije 2002. i 2003., koji se održava u Blatu na Korculi, gdje je 2002. osvojila srebrenu plaketu, a 2003. zlatnu plaketu prema ocjenama strucnog ocjenjivackog suda.U travnju 2002. godine klapa je sudjelovala na 13. Medunarodnom festivalu zborskog pjevanja u Veroni. Na tom svjetski poznatom festivalu klapa je ostvarila takoder veliki uspjeh – zlatno odlicje u kategoriji ženskih folklornih skupina, što je uvelike doprinijelo promidžbi same klape u klapskom svijetu, ali i promidžbi Dubrovnika i Hrvatske.U listopadu 2002. godine klapa je imala svoj prvi samostalni koncert u Kazalištu Marina Držica u Dubrovniku.U listopadu 2003. klapa je snimila svoj prvi nosac zvuka u suradnji sa svjetski poznatim glazbenikom i producentom Nenadom Bachom.U klapi pjevaju dugogodišnje Lindove plesacice u dobi od 18 do 24 godine, pjevaju izvorne i autorske dalmatinske klapske pjesme, ali i obrade domacih zabavnih skladbi. Klapa djeluje u sastavu:Ana Bacic, I. sopranPaula Kusalic, II. sopranJelena Jozovic, II. sopranLuci Vierda, II. sopranLidija Jerosimic, I. altMargarita Stražicic, I. altFani Favro, II. altIvana Butigan, II. altIvela Raguž, II. altVedran Ivankovic, voditelj klape  letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Tue, 11 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7130/1/H-Zeljko-Ivezic-Ph-D-Astrofizicar---Mapiranje-neba.html  Zeljko Ivezic, Ph. D.   Zeljko Ivezic: Curriculum VitaeAddress:Department of Astrophysical SciencesPeyton Hall, Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ 08544-1001e-mail: ivezic@astro.princeton.edutel: (609) 258-1692Positions:2003- Assistant Professor, University of Washington2002-04 H.N. Russell Research Fellow, Princeton University1999-02 Research Staff, Princeton University1998-02 Adjunct Assistant Professor, CUNY, York College1997-99 Postdoctoral Researcher, Princeton University1995-96 Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Kentucky1991-95 Teaching & Research Assistant, University of Kentucky1990-91 Teaching & Research Assistant, University of ZagrebEducation:1995 Ph.D., Physics & Astronomy, University of Kentucky1991 B.Sc., Physics, University of Zagreb1990 B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, University of Zagreb--------------------------------------------------------------------------------What is the Sloan Digital Sky Survey?Simply put, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey is the most ambitious astronomical survey project ever undertaken. The survey will map in detail one-quarter of the entire sky, determining the positions and absolute brightness's of more than 100 million celestial objects. It will also measure the distances to more than a million galaxies and quasars. Apache Point Observatory, site of the SDSS telescopes, is operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC).The SDSS addresses fascinating, fundamental questions about the universe. With the survey, astronomers will be able to see the large-scale patterns of galactic sheets and voids in the universe. Scientists have varying ideas about the evolution of the universe, and different patterns of large-scale structure point to different theories of how the universe evolved. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey will tell us which theories are right -- or whether we have to come up with entirely new ideas.The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is a joint project of The University of Chicago, Fermilab, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Japan Participation Group, The Johns Hopkins University, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), the Max-Planck-Institute for Astrophysics (MPA), New Mexico State University, University of Pittsburgh, Princeton University, the United States Naval Observatory, and the University of Washington. Funding for the project has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Participating Institutions, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Japanese Monbukagakusho, and the Max Planck Society.http://www.sdss.org/ http://www.astro.princeton.edu/ NGC 2068 (M78), a star forming region in Orion Bok Nenad, Evo par odgovora na Tvoja pitanja:> * Postoje li mogucnosti suradnje sa astronomima u Hrvatskoj?Gdje ima volje i sposobnosti, uvijek se pronadju mogucnosti.Posebno sam ponosan i sretan sto sam uspio uspostaviti jakusuradnju izmedju nase SDSS grupe na Princetonu i istrazivackegrupe na celu s prof. Kresimirom Pavlovskim na PMFu u Zagrebu.U poslijednje dvije godine u istrazivacke posjete nam je doslopet apsolutno izvanrednih studenata (Mario Juric, Branimir Sesar,Vernesa Smolcic, Marko Gacesa, Mirela Obric). Svi su postiglivrhunske rezultate koristeci SDSS promatranja. Premda jePrinceton prema mnogim istrazivanjima najbolje americko sveuciliste,a astrofizicki odjel se posebno istice, nasim studentima nije dugotrebalo da se dokazu cak i u tako prestiznoj okolini. Cesto mepitaju kako je moguce da tako mala zemlja moze proizvesti tolikotalentiranih mladih astrofizicara u samo dvije godine. Ta iskustvasu naravno prekrasan dokaz kvalitete astrofizickog programau Zagrebu.> O SDSS-u> * Sto je Sloan Digital Sky Survey ?Sloan-ov Digitalni Pregled Neba je jedan od do sada najambicioznijihastronomskih poduhvata. Cilj projekta je napraviti dvo-dimenzionalnumapu neba koja ce ukljuciti oko 100 milijuna zvijezda i oko 100 milijunagalaksija, i tri-dimenzionalnu mapu dijela svemira sa oko milijun galaksija.Osim sto ce te mape biti od deset do sto puta vece od dosadasnjih, imatice daleko vecu tocnost i detaljnost informacija. Glavni razlog tako velikognapretka je koristenje CCD osjetnika (ista tehnologija kao u video kameramai digitalnim fotoaparatima), umjesto starih mapa koje se bile bazirane nafotografskom filmu. Jos jedna velika prednost digitalnih slika je sto suvrlo pogodne za koristenje racunala u analizi, sto omogucava efikasnu analizutako velikoga broja objekata.Projekt ukljucuje stotinjak ljudi sa nekoliko sveucilista i znanstvenih institutaiz SAD, Japana i Njemacke. Ukupni trosak ce biti oko sto milijuna dolara, uglavnomfinaciranih od NASA-e i americke National Science Foundation. Prvih desetak milijunaje dala Sloan fondacija, po kojoj je projekt nazvan.> * Sto vi radite u sklopu SDSS-a, koliko dugo ?Poceo sam raditi na SDSSu 1997. godine, u sklopu grupe sa Princetona. Mi smozaduzeni za konstrukciju kamere i razvijanje softvera za analizu slika. Softverukljucuje oko milijun linija koda (C i Tcl), i sposoban je potpuno samostalnoanalizirati oko 20 TB podataka koje cemo sakupiti u pet godina snimanja.> * Koja su dosadasnja postignuca SDSS projekta ?Do sada najpoznatija postignuca su otkrice desetak kvazara koji su sada najdaljipoznati objekti u svemiru, dokaz da je nasa galaksija Mljecni Put imala"kanibalsku" proslost jer je "prozdirala" obliznje manje galaksije i takorasla - postoji zgodan clanak iz NY Timesa nahttp://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/041100sci-cannibal-galaxies.htmli otkrice da u Suncevom sustavu ima znatno manje asteroida nego sto se mislilo. (vidi  clankehttp://www.er.doe.gov/Science_News/feature_articles_2002/January/Sky_survey/Sky_survey2.htmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1644899.stm )Uz te "sexy" rezultate, postoji puno znanstveno vrijednih rezultata koji su do sadaobjavljeni u oko stotinjak clanaka.> * Imate li vi (tj. SDSS) jos iznenadjenja za nas u buducnosti ?Carolija znanosti je sto se rezultat nikada ne zna unaprijed. No, uzevsi u obzir da imamooko 10 puta vise podataka nego sto je do sada prikupljeno, i da su novi podaci punodetaljniji i tocniji, vjerojatno ce biti jos iznenadjenja i uzbudjenja.> * Zasto je SDSS vazan za Sixpack Joe-a (prosjecnog covjeka)Ovo je tesko pitanje, pogotovo bez six pack-a pri ruci :)SDSS je sada najveci projekt u astronomiji, i svojom digitalnom mapom nagovijestavasto ce sve biti moguce u 21. stoljecu. Vec smo pokazali kako su mnoge teorije bile netocne,pa se moze realno ocekivati kako ce SDSS znatno unaprijediti nase razumijevanje kakodalekog, tako i obliznjeg svemira. SDSS je vazan ne samo za astronomiju, nego i zaznanost opcenito. 20 TB podataka koje cemo sakupiti, i obraditi svaki bit, je puno putavise informacije nego u cijeloj Library of Congress. Jedini sadasnji projekt koji barata saslicnom velicinom podataka je Human Genome Project koji ima za cilj napravitidetaljnu mapu ljudskih gena.> O Zeljku Ivezicu ?> * Vec dugo ste u USA ?Nakon diplomiranja strojarstva i fizike na zagrebackom sveucilistu, u USAsam otisao 1991. na postdiplomski studij fizike i astronomije. Nakon doktoratana University of Kentucky 1995. ostao sam jos godinu dana tamo, a onda presaou Princeton raditi na SDSS projektu. Jos uvijek sam fizicki u Princetonu, premdasam od ove godine profesor astronomije na University of Washington u Seattle-u.> * Princeton je jedno od najboljih sveucilista u USA, kako vam se svidja ?Mogucnost svakodnevnog suradjivanja sa ovdasnjim znanstvenicima je za astronoma slicnokao kosarkasu igrati za Chicago Bulls-e. Sveuciliste i gradic su ljepsi nego americkiprosjek, i blizina New Yorka ima svoje ocigledne prednosti.> * Jednog dana povratak u Hrvatsku ?Sunce tudjeg neba ne grije kao nase... Salim se, astronomi znaju zasto Sunce ne grijesvugdje jednako. No bez obzira na "toplije" Sunce, svakako bih se zelio vratiti kuci(u stvari, mama me uvijek podsjeca kako sam obecao vratiti se odmah nakon doktorata).Recimo, parafrazirajuci moju analogiju sa kosarkom, bilo bi krasno jednog dana procitatiintervju sa nekim americkim znanstvenikom koji kaze kako mu je raditi na zagrebackomsveucilistu bilo kao nogometasu igrati za novog svjetskog prvaka iz Maksimira...> * Zasto sam se i kako poceo baviti znanoscu?Poceo sam u skoli "Sestre Bakovic" gdje je prof. Ana Kovacicek sa puno entuzijazma vodilaastronomsku grupu. Kasnije sam nastavio redovno odlaziti na Zvjezdarnicu na Gornjemgradu, gdje sam pod utjecajem Dr. Hrvoja Bozica, i drugih zaljubljenika u astronomijuokupljenih oko Pokreta "Znanost mladima", definitivno odlucio postati astronom.U stvari, vecina prednosti americkog sistema obrazovanja u usporedbi s nasim semogu jednostavno sazeti u cinjenicu da je ovdasnje cjelokupno obrazovanje slicnoidejama naseg, jos uvijek ne dovoljno prosirenog, Pokreta "Znanost mladima".A to znaci manje strebanja cinjenica i kojekakvih brojeva, te ploca-kreda predavanja,a vise samostalnog i zabavnog rada.         Srdacni pozdravi citaocima Crowna,            Zeljko letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 03 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7129/1/EH-Prof-dr-sc-Ante-Simonic-Deputy-Prime-Minister.html  Prof. dr. sc. Ante SimonicPotpredsjednik Vlade Republike HrvatskeDeputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatiahttp://www.vlada.hr 2001 - 2004CURRICULUM VITAEProf. Ante Simonic, Sc.D., was born in Rijeka on 19 September 1949. He graduated from grammar school in Rijeka in 1968, and from the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka in 1973.In 1975 he became assistant lecturer at the Pharmacology Institute of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, where he still works. He won his master’s degree in 1977, and his doctor’s degree in 1980.He has been Director of the Pharmacology Institute since 1985 and Head of the Pharmacology Chair since 1991. He was appointed senior-lecturer in 1981, reader in 1987 and professor in 1990. He has organized and run a number of graduate and post-graduate courses, and lectured at various institutions in Croatia and abroad. He has also frequently supervised master’s and doctor’s theses.Prof. Simonic has attended advanced training sessions in a number of national and foreign institutions, e.g., at the Institute of Pharmacology of the Nobel Prize winner C. Heymans at the Faculty of Medicine in Gent (Belgium) in 1978. In 1995 he also spent two months at the same Institute. In 1981 he completed the course in clinical and preclinical pharmacology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, University of London (United Kingdom). In 1982 and 1983 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship for scientific advancement with Prof. E.F. Domino, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (United States).He has for years reviewed articles in national and foreign scientific journals. He has also been on the editorial board of journals such as Acta Facultatis Medicinae Fluminensis, Medicina, Croatian Medical Journal, Pharmaca and Medicus. He has reviewed a number of books, and authored and coauthored seven books. Prof. Simonic has supervised a number of scientific projects, and produced many expert opinions for the pharmaceutical industry. He is also an expert witness. He has taken active part in many national and international scientific and professional meetings as invited lecturer, and member and chairman of conference committees. He has published about 300 scientific and technical publications, some of which are cited in leading international journals and 7 books.Prof. Simonic has been involved in the activities of many bodies of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka and of the University of Rijeka, as well as of various educational, scientific and health institutions of the Republic. Thus, he was twice President of the Croatian Pharmacological Society, President of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Croatia, member of the commission for the drafting of the Law on Institutions of Higher Learning of the Republic of Croatia, Chairman of the Board of the Rijeka Clinical Centre, and Chairman of the Board of the Lovran Orthopedic Clinic. Between 1990 and 1994 he was Dean and Administrative Director of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka. In 1990 and 1991 he served as advisor at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, member of the Drug Commission of the Republic of Croatia, and founder and member of the Executive Committee of Academicus.For more than thirty years he has been very actively involved in the work of various public and sports organizations of Rijeka, the region and the Republic. He won several national rowing championships and was for a number of years member of the national rowing team. He was member of the Presidency of the Rijeka Sports Association, President of the Jadran Rowing Club in Rijeka (for years the most successful and exemplary rowing club of the former state), and vice-president of Panathlon, the international association of successful sportsmen and friends of sport. He is a member of Medicinar, the doctors’ football team which appears as the team of the Republic of Croatia and is the world and European champion.He is a member of many professional and scientific national and international associations, e.g., the Croatian Medical Society, the World Pharmacological Association (IUPHAR), the International Toxicological Society, the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP), the European College of Neuropsycho-pharmacology (ECNP), the Calcium Club. etc.He acted as president of initiative committees for the foundation of many friendship societies in Rijeka, e.g., Croato-Turkish, Croato-German, Croato-Slovenian, Croato-Polish, Croato-Chinese, etc. He is a member of the Presidency of the Coordination of Croatian Friendship Societies in Zagreb, and also served as councillor of the City of Rijeka. He has organized and supervised many international economic, political, culturological, scientific, professional and sports events. He was vice-president of the Rijeka Lions Club. He is a member of the Croatian Peasant Party, he was the member of Parliament and President of the Parliamentary Committee for Education, Science and Culture. He is actual Departy Prime Minister of Croatia.Prof. Simonic has received several awards from the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka, the City of Rijeka, and various scientific, sports and other organizations.But, ŽIVOTOPISProf. dr. Ante Simonic roden je 19. rujna 1949. godine u Rijeci, gdje je polazio i završio osnovnu školu i gimnaziju. Maturirao je 1968. godine, te diplomirao na Medicinskom fakultetu u Rijeci 1973. godine.Godine 1975. zapošljava se na Medicinskom fakultetu u Rijeci kao asistent na Zavodu za farmakologiju na kome je radio do 2001. godine. Magistrirao je 1977. godine te doktorirao 1980. godine.Od 1985. godine je predstojnik Zavoda za farmakologiju, a od 1991. godine i predstojnik istoimene katedre. Docent je postao 1981. godine, izvanredni profesor 1987. godine, a redovni profesor 1990. godine.Organizirao je i vodio dodiplomsku i poslijediplomsku nastavu veceg broja kolegija, te predavao u razlicitim institucijama u Hrvatskoj i inozemstvu, a bio je dvadesetak puta mentor tijekom izrade magistarskih i doktorskih disertacija.U nekoliko navrata boravio je na kracem ili dužem usavršavanju u razlicitim institucijama u zemlji i inozemstvu. Primjerice 1978. godine boravio je na farmakološkom institutu nobelovca C. Heymansa, na Medicinskom fakultetu u Gentu (Belgija). U istom institutu je opet boravio dva mjeseca 1995. godine. Tijekom 1981. godine je završio tecaj iz klinicke i predklinicke farmakologije u Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, University of London (Velika Britanija). Tijekom 1982. i 1983. godine boravio je kao Fulbrightov stipendista na znanstvenom usavršavanju kod prof. dr. E. F. Domina, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Sjedinjene Americke Države), i td.Godinama recenzira clanke u domacim i inozemnim znanstvenim casopisima. Bio je ili je još clan uredništva veer broja casopisa: “Acta Facultatis Mediceae Fluminensis”, “Medicina”, “Croatian Medical Journal”, “Archives internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Therapie”, “Pharmaca” i “Medicus”. Recenzent je veer broja knjiga.Bio je voditelj niza znanstvenih projekata, ucinio je brojne strucne ekspertize farmaceutskoj industriji i sudski je vještak. Aktivno je sudjelovao u radu mnogih nacionalnih i internacionalnih znanstvenih i strucnih sastanaka. Bio je pozvani predavac, te clan i predsjednik kongresnih odbora u vecem broju zemalja.Autor je tristotinjak znanstvenih i strucnih radova te 7 knjiga ili dijelova knjiga.Prof. Simonic je sudjelovao u radu mnogih tijela Medicinskog fakulteta u Rijeci, Sveucilišta u Rijeci i republickih obrazovnih, znanstvenih i zdravstvenih institucija. Primjerice: bio je dva puta predsjednik Hrvatskog farmakološkog društva, bio je predsjednik Zajednice zdravstvenih fakulteta Hrvatske, clan komisije za izradu Zakona o visokim ucilištima Republike Hrvatske, clan Znanstvenog podrucnog vijeca biomedicinskih znanosti Republike Hrvatske, predsjednik Upravnog odbora Klinickog bolnickog centra Rijeka i presjednik Upravnog vijeca Klinike za ortopediju Lovran. U dva mandata (od 1990. do 1994. godine) bio je dekan i ravnatelj Medicinskog fakulteta u Rijeci. 1990. i 1991. godine je bio savjetnik u Ministarstvu zdravstva Republike Hrvatske i clan Komisije za lijekove Republike Hrvatske. Utemeljitelj je i clan izvršnog odbora “Academicus-a” i nekoliko humanitarnih udruga.Tridesetak godina vrlo aktivno radi u razlicitim društveno-športskim organizacijama grada, regije i Republike. Višestruki je prvak države i godinama je bio clan državne veslacke reprezentacije. Bio je clan Predsjedništva Rijeckog športskog saveza, predsjednik npr. Veslackog kluba “Jadran” u Rijeci koji je godinama bio najuspješniji veslacki klub bivše države i najuspješniji športski kolektiv Rijeke, podpredsjednik je “Panathlona” - medunarodne udruge uspješnih sportaša i prijatelja športa. Clan je “Medicinara” - nogometne ekipe lijecnika koja nastupa kao reprezentacija Republike Hrvatske s kojim je bio prvak Europe isvijeta i td.Clan suradnik je Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, clan je i brojnih strucnih i znanstvenih udruženja u zemlji i inozemstvu. Primjerice: Hrvatskog lijecnickog zbora, Svjetskog farmakološkog društva (IUPHAR), Hrvatskog društva za pomorsku, podvodnu i hiperbaricku medicinu, Internacionalnog toksikološkog društva, Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum; (CINP); European College of Neuropsycho-pharmacology (ECNP), Federation of European Pharmalogical Societies (EPHAR), Calcium Club i td.Bio je predsjednik inicijativnih odbora za osnivanje mnogih društava prijateljstva u Rijeci: Hrvatsko-Turskog,Hrvatsko-Austrijskog, Hrvatsko-Njemackog, Hrvatsko-Slovenskog, Hrvatsko-Poljskog, Hrvatsko-Kineskog i td. Clan je njihovih uprava, a bio je predsjednik ponekih. Clan je Predsjedništva Koordinacije Hrvatskih društava prijateljstva u Zagrebu, bio je vijecnik grada Rijeke, i td. Organizirao je i rukovodio brojnim medunarodnim manifestacijama gospodarskog, politickog i opce kulturološkoga, te znanstvenog, strucnog i športskog karaktera. Bio je potpredsjednik “Lions Club-a” Rijeka, bio je potpredsjednik je Hrvatske seljacke stranke, bio je saborski zastupnik i predsjednik saborskog “Odbora za obrazovanje, znanost i kulturu”, clan je odbora za dodjelu Državne nagrade za znanost, clan je Hrvatskog povjerenstva za suradnju s UNESCO-om, bio predsjednik je Odbora Nagrade “Ivan Filipovic”, predsjednik manifestacije “Nazorovi dani”.Predsjednik je Nacionalnog povjerenstva za suzbijanje HIV/AIDS-a, te Savjeta za mlade Vlade Republike Hrvatske.Medicinski fakultet, grad Rijeka, te razlicite znanstvene, športske i druge organizacije dodijelili su mu nekoliko priznanja, medu kojima se istice Godišnja nagrada Grada Rijeke 2002. godine za izuzetan doprinos spoznaji, unaprjedenju i popularizaciji znanosti. letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 03 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7128/1/E-Quo-Vadis-Scientia---Ante-Simonic---Autor.html  Prof. dr. sc. Ante Simonic - Autor Kad netko kaze "sveobuhvatno", vjerojatno i povjeruje samom sebi da je obuhvatio sve sto je naumio. Prof. Ante Simonic je postavio toliko pitanja da koju god stranicu otvorite doznati cete nesto sto do sada niste ili nikad culi ili nikad razmisljali ili nikad povezali, da samog sebe parafraziram SVE "od sarme do zvijezda". Ove knjige su sveobuhvatne koliko i sama definicija rijeci.Predgovor knjige Civilizacijske Razmedje Znanja ( Dvije Knjige) pocinje citatom Sv. Toma Akvinskog: "Covjeku je urodjena teznja za kreposcu...  Svi ljudi po prirodi teze za znanjem"Slijedi tekst:"Medju svim igrama intelekta, kao jedan od najvecih civilizacijskih izazova, napora, odusevljenja i inspiracije, izdvaja se znanost. Uz Vjeru, filozofiju i umjetnost - pomazuci otklonu od sirove borbe za materijalnu nadmoc - ona omogucava spoznavanje predjela koje covjek moze dohvatiti samo svojim duhom"                                                                                                Ante SimonicSami uvod kao i prvih pet minuta u dobrom filmu otkriva intelektualnu avanturu kroz koju nas provodi Simonic. Trebalo bi procitati sve knjige i sve stranice da bi se ista pisalo, cak ni meritorno, ali nemir duse uzima svoje. Od Mezopotamije pa i puno prije pa do Suocenje sa sadasnjoscu.Etika: "Najblizi smo velicini kada smo veliki u skromnosti" R. TagoreHrabrost: "Hrabrost je dostojanstvo u nevolji" E HemingwayI sami citati koji su dio trece knjige "Znanost, najveca avantura i izazov ljdskog roda" a pocinju poglavlja na temu etike, hrabrosti etc govore dovoljno o polaznoj tocki razmisljanja."Quo Vadis Scientia? Tragovima Znanja u Buducnost" otvaraju i ove rijeci samog autora: "... I ja sam naucio dvije stvari:- postoji veza koju ne moze prekinuti niti jedan rastanak- ucenjem postajemo veci, ali razumijevanjem spoznajemo kako smo mali." Fasciniran sam neobicnoscu obicnih tema koje su sve obradjene u ove cetri knjige.Preporucio bih svima da kupe ove knjige i da ih citaju kao kad listas enciklopediju. SVE je zanimljivo i ne-obicno. Otkud, Ante, sva ta energija i znanje i hrabrost i ufanje upustiti se u sklisku kalu intelektualne pasivnosti koja nas guta ovih dana? Svaka cast,Nenad Bach.Ovo je nacin kako mozete naruciti knjige:Knjizara Tamaris: www.tamaris.hr Knjižara, Trg bana J. Jelacica 3, Zagreb Hrvatska telefon 01/4882-680 fax 01/4882-681 bookshop@tamaris.hr Ukoliko želite naruciti neku od knjiga koju ste našli na našim web stranicama pošaljite e-mail na adresu narudzbe@tamaris.hr. Možemo Vam je poslati poštom, a možete je preuzeti i osobno u našoj knjižari na Trgu bana Jelacica 3. Ako Vas zanima neka strana ili hrvatska knjiga koju niste našli na našim web stranicama, uštedite vrijeme i pošaljite nam upit e-mailom na adresu books@tamaris.hr. U najkracem roku javit cemo Vam imamo li tu knjigu u knjižari, a ukoliko knjigu u ponudi nemamo - može li se nabaviti, u kojem vremenskom roku i po kojoj cijeni. Ako zelite stupiti u kontakt s autorom radi intervjua, kontaktirajte Ljerku Ivankovic: ljerka.ivankovic@vlada.hr letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 03 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7131/1/E-ANTE-BEZIC-ARCHITECT-AND-PROFESSOR-1849---1906.html  HOMMAGE TO ANTE BEZIC, ARCHITECT AND PROFESSOR - AN EXHIBITION Ante Bezic was my Great grand father who was born in Grohote, island of Solta, in 1849.He finished grammar school in Split in 1869. As a child he was showing a special interest in science and had a talent for drawing and technical designing. At the beginning of 1870s he studied at The Polytechnic Unversity ,Graz, Austria and attended a course for firemen. He, later continued his education at the University in Vienna, where he graduated as an architect. At the beginning of 1880s he returned to Split, where was enthusiastically involved in social, cultural and political life of Split , as an architect and a teacher, thus leaving rich heritage to the future generations. He designed, independently or as a cooperator, several buildings in Split, such as the building of the Municipal theatre, fish market and a number of mansions and villas. Besides, he was an excellent draughtsman of archeological remains and a close assistant to Father Frane Bulic. As a teacher, taught drawing and calligraphy inHigh grammar school and he was one of the founders of the Voluntary Fire Brigade in Split and it's President and Captain for many years. He died of stroke in 1906, at the age of 57, in Split.As this year we celebrate the 120 anniversary of the Voluntary Fire Brigade and the 110 anniversary of the Municipal theatre, it was a great occasion that an exhibition about the life and work of Ante Bezic would be done and inaugurated at the Day of the City of Split. The authors of the exhibitionwere the curator of the City Museum, professor Helga Zglav Martinac and an architect Stanko Piplovic. It was inaugurated by the member of the City Council, professor Ivo Simunovic.After Split the exhibiton was shown in Trogir and finally on August the 3rd 2003 in Grohote at the island of Solta, inaugurated by Mr Piplovic, the captain of the Fire Brigade and the Mayor. So, almost 100 years after his death, Ante Bezic was brought to the place of his birth, with the story of his life and work with which all of us can be proud of.                                                                                            Branka Bezic Filipovic, Split letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Mon, 04 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7132/1/E-Croatian-American-Donates-His-Liver.html  Gift From a Loving Husband: Part of HimselfCroatian American Donates His Liver to his wife Teddy and Elena MocibobThe New York TimesAugust 2, 2003Gift From a Loving Husband: Part of HimselfBy RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑAIn the annals of selfless devotion and far-fetched coincidence, no cheappaperback, no opera, no daytime soap has anything on the tale of Elenaand Teddy Mocibob.They don't quite look the part of the romantic leading lady and manright now, what with the tubes in their arms and the groggy, painedexpressions, but they can be forgiven that. On Tuesday, surgeons atWestchester Medical Center in Valhalla removed Ms. Mocibob's diseasedliver, cut out 60 percent of Mr. Mocibob's healthy one, and transplantedit into her. Without a new liver, doctors say, she had no more than twoor three years to live.To make the donation, Mr. Mocibob (pronounced MOH-chee-bob), 50,accepted a serious risk of illness and a slim chance of death from thesurgery, and the certain knowledge that he would emerge from surgerywith great pain from a foot-wide wound shaped like an upside-down "y"across his belly. Those were not his only sacrifices; he had to give upthe cherished vices he acquired in his native Croatia: the cigarettes hehad smoked for 35 years and the firewater he made, a home-brewed drinkthat he calls "Crazy H."Yet sitting in his hospital bed Thursday, hoping to see his wife for thefirst time since the morning before the surgery, he dismissed the notionthat he is any kind of hero. He did the best he could for her "because Ilove her," he said. "I would not go through this pain for fun. But whatelse could I do? I could not just lose her."A minute later, Mr. Mocibob, a handyman and a landscaper who has livedin the United States for 21 years, tried to insist that he was merelybeing practical. "She can't work; she can't even wash the dishes," hesaid. "I work seven days a week. I'm poor. Maybe someday she can work."Mrs. Mocibob, 43, took a different view. She was very weak even beforethe operation, and she underwent more than nine hours of surgery, twicethe time her husband's operation took.Her speech was barely audible, punctuated by long pauses as she caughther breath and hunted for words through a narcotic fog.On a few topics, however, she was absolutely clear. A nurse's aide, sheintends to work again after years of being too exhausted to leave home.She wants, more than anything, to have the energy to play with hergrandchildren, ages 5 and 2, and to take them to the zoo. And sheunderstands what her husband has done for her."He could have just thrown in the towel any time - a lot of men would,"she said. "I know enough to know I don't want to live with a man who'sgoing to have regrets afterwards. But it was his idea. He wanted to doit."He wanted to, but it seemed unlikely at first that he could. When theMocibobs, who live in Pleasant Valley, near Poughkeepsie, first exploredthe idea early this year, doctors said the odds were against his being asuitable donor.There was only a one-in-four chance that their blood types would match,and there were other reasons his liver might not have been right forher: it could have been too fatty, for example, or too large, or therisk to him might have been too great.Live donor liver transplants are relatively uncommon. There are about300 to 400 a year nationally, compared with about 5,000 from cadavers.Spouse-to-spouse transplants are rarer still, accounting for about 1 inevery 300 live donations.As it turned out, this was that one, but the Mocibobs were no strangersto long odds. Mrs. Mocibob suffers from primary biliary cirrhosis, anautoimmune disorder that slowly destroys the liver, and afflicts 1 inevery 20,000 people.She was one of thousands of people on transplant lists, waiting for theright organ to become available. About one in six people who need a newliver dies while waiting for one.Most liver transplants involve whole organs taken from people who havedied, and, in fact, the sickest patients need the entire liver. But thechronic shortage of dead donors has steadily increased the use of livetransplants since the 1980's.A living donor gives up one of the liver's two lobes. Unlike otherinternal organs, a liver can regenerate, so in most live transplantcases, each lobe grows enough after surgery to give both donor andrecipient full-sized, fully functioning livers.But the surgery is trickier, for both patients, than most organtransplants and comes with serious risks, a fact made clear last year,when a man died at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan afterdonating part of his liver to his brother."The risk of death to the donor is about 1 in 350, and there's about a10 percent risk of complications" like bile leaks, bleeding andinfections, said Dr. Patricia Sheiner, director of the liver transplantprogram at Westchester Medical, who took part in the operations on theMocibobs. "And we tell them, `Don't expect to feel yourself for a fewmonths.' "This is the sort of complex, highly specialized care that used to bedone almost exclusively by major urban hospitals, but that a growingnumber of suburban and small-city hospitals have taken up.Westchester Medical began doing kidney transplants in the late 1980's -it now performs more than any other hospital in the state - livertransplants in 1997, and heart transplants in 2001.Teddy Mocibob, whose first name is Tarcizio, and his wife met in 1992.She was divorced, working in a supermarket and supporting four children,aged 3 to 14. She did not seem sick most of the time, but even then, sheknew she was not quite right.Mr. Mocibob likes to tease his wife by claiming that she knew she wassick when they met, and won his love under false pretenses. "She trickedme," he said. They lived in Yonkers. He did not drive then, so she drovehim to and from work. (He has since learned.) Then came the days whenshe was too fatigued to drive.In 1994, doctors found that her immune system was attacking her liver asif it were a foreign invader. If she did not have a transplant, shelearned, the disease would lead to other ailments like osteoporosis andthyroid disease and, potentially, a host of autoimmune disorders likearthritis and diabetes. Eventually, it would kill her.She worked as long as she could, and took classes to become a certifiednurse's aide, determined to work with the elderly. But by 1997, familymembers said, she barely had the energy to move around the house. In1999, she and Mr. Mocibob married."I always believed I'd get my liver," she said. "The Lord has too muchwork for me to do."As Mrs. Mocibob's condition worsened, she entered a paradoxical phase ofthe disease. She would soon be sick enough to be placed near the top ofthe list to receive a liver from a dead donor, but she would also runthe risk that no matching organ would become available in time to saveher. She would also soon be too sick to be helped by a partial liverfrom a live donor.Then Mr. Mocibob suggested that he give part of his own liver. Doctorstold him that a blood test showed that he might be a compatible donor,but that they would not even consider him as a donor until he hadstopped smoking for three months, and stopped drinking.He went cold turkey that day, Feb. 5, he said, quitting the Crazy H, thebeer and the generic cigarettes he ordered by the carton over theInternet. He cannot swear that he will not want them back some day.Mrs. Mocibob knows what she wants. "My grandson, he goes, `Grandma, comeplay with me outside,' and I always have to say `No, I can't,' " shesaid. "I really want to play with my grandkids. I don't even know whatit's going to feel like to be normal. I can't wait."The Mocibobs hoped to see each other Thursday for the first time sincethe surgery, but they had to wait. Mr. Mocibob had a slight fever, anddoctors could not take the chance that he might give some new illness tohis wife.But by yesterday morning, his temperature was down, and he was bundledinto a wheelchair to go to Mrs. Mocibob's room.He wept when he saw her, unable to speak for a few minutes. He grippedher delicate hands in his thick ones and kissed them, and stroked herface. "It's been three whole days," he said when he finally found hisvoice. "So much has happened. I have so much to tell you."http://www.nytimes.com/ads/secureie720x300nytimes10.htm Op-edThis hospital is very close to where I live. If you want to send a letter to Mocibob family, I can deliver it to them either by mail or in person.Nenad Bach letters@croatia.org (Nenad N. Bach) Sat, 02 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/7133/1/E-Mara-Kerum-Croatian-caterer-to-the-stars.html  Mara Kerum is a star at feeding starsLights! Camera! Food!Chef-caterer Mara Kerum is a star at feeding movie crews. In her latest role,she cooked for the cast and crew of 'Ladder 49.' By Francine HalvorsenSpecial To The SunOriginally published July 9, 2003For the last three months, some of the best food in this city was not served ina restaurant but from the sides of catering trucks.Grilled swordfish and mango salsa, fillet of beef with bearnaise sauce, pastaprimavera, Caesar salads, Key lime pie, fresh fruit tarts and chocolate brownies were among the tempting dishes prepared for the stars, cast and crewof Ladder 49, the action movie starring John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix, which wrapped up shooting last week.The chef behind these creations was Mara Kerum, 34, who has been feeding actorsand production crews on location for 15 years.Kerum, a native of Croatia who attended culinary school at France's Le CordonBleu, oversaw a team of five chefs feeding 200 to 300 people a day, five days aweek."I have the perfect job in the food business. I love what I do. I get to makecreative food for people who really appreciate it," said Kerum, who works forTony's Catering, a company her uncle, Tony Kerum, started in California 20 years ago.Her credits include catering movies starring Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis andRobert De Niro.Cooking for movie stars isn't all glamour and glitz, however. Extremes of rainand cold, heat and humidity, surprising delays and changes of location are constants. But Kerum is never frazzled, always the quiet center in the middleof the daily whirlwind.Ten days before the movie about firefighters started filming in mid-March, Kerum and her crew drove a caravan of trucks across the country from Chatsworth, Calif., to Baltimore.One truck was equipped for cooking, another was refrigerated and the third transported and stored equipment, including the biggest and best portable grills available. Wood-grilled fish, poultry and meat are the company's specialties.After arriving, Kerum lined up her purveyors and was happy to find that she could get all the supplies she needed in Baltimore."It is a pleasure working here because I can accommodate everyone," she s