The Flat Tax May Spread to Poland Sooner than Expected

Brief Comment from the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy:

"The Flat Tax May Spread to Poland Sooner than Expected", written by Dr. Alvin Rabushka, Senior Fellow at The Hoover Institution, Stanford University in California, describes the growing flat tax movement that is sweeping across Eastern Europe. (The flat tax article can be found below.)

Croatia and its political leaders can no longer afford to a turn deaf ear to the thundering economic reforms taking place in neighboring nations which is intensifying regional competition for investments. The recent negative EU decision on March 17 coupled with declining economic indicators should be a wake-up call for Croatia's political leaders.

Furthermore, on January 1, 2005, Romania's leaders boldly passed the flat tax of 16% and in fact, today, Bulgaria's major political parties are promoting the flat tax as part of their competitive economic reform-oriented platforms.

It is time for Croatia's leaders to act boldly and seriously work toward implementing necessary economic reforms. The discriminatory and distortive tax system in Croatia is encouraging Croatians to spend for unproductive purposes, and the heavy tax burden is making Croatian products uncompetitive in the global marketplace. Croatia's tax system and its high government expenditures as a percentage of GDP which is approx. 55% impedes real economic growth.

Free market reforms in Eastern Europe are transforming economies and moving these nations forward! On the other hand, individual Croatians should not be left behind.

The Adriatic Institute for Public Policy
www.AdriaticInstitute.org

March 17, 2005
download pdf version
http://www.russianeconomy.org/comments/031705.html
The Flat Tax May Spread to Poland Sooner than Expected
by Alvin Rabushka
For some time, the opposition Civic Platform party in Poland has proposed a 15% flat tax on individuals and corporations to replace the country's current income tax system. Personal income tax in Poland is assessed at three rates: after a tax-free threshold of about PLN 37,000 (zlotys), (about $12,200 at the current exchange rate of PLN 3.03 = $1), a rate of 19% is levied on taxable income up to PLN 37,027, 30% on the next PLN 37,024, and 40% on all income exceeding PLN 74,040. The current corporate tax rate is 19%. Elections are scheduled to be held later this year, which would permit the Civic Platform, if it emerges victorious, to implement a 15% flat tax beginning January 1, 2006.
Perhaps the country will not have to wait for a new election for the flat tax. The Telegraph of the United Kingdom reported on March 16, 2005, that the ruling center-left Polish government plans to enact a flat tax, joining the flat-tax revolution spreading throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Poland's minister of finance, Mirosaw Gronicki, is proposing an 18-18-18 solution: 18% flat rate on individuals, 18% on corporations, and 18% value-added tax (four percentage points less than the current standard 22% rate). The personal income tax will likely retain the current tax-free threshold.
The Civic Platform is likely to argue that its lower 15% rate would give Poland a competitive edge against Slovakia's 19% rate and newly-enacted Romania's 16% rate. Regardless of what rate is enacted, it's clear Poland feels the pressure of its neighbors in the quest for investment and jobs.
Poland is the largest of the new European Union countries. Its adoption of the flat tax will increase the pressure on the remaining holdouts in the region—Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia, Belarus, and Moldova—to respond quickly in kind, and Lithuania to get serious about slashing its high 33% rate on wages and salaries. It will certain get the attention of Germany and France, and, after that, who knows?
 

Veliki Tjedan

Veliki Tjedan - Vrbanj

Psalam 68
Spasi me BoĹže: * jer dodoĹĄe vode sve do duĹĄe moje
Propadam u duboku glibu: * gdje nema dna
Tonem moru u dubine: * i oluja me potaplja
Potomstvo sluga njegovih imat ce ga: * koji ljube Ime njegovo prebivat ce u njemu

Antifona
Revnost za dom tvoj izjeda me, i ruĹženja onih koji tebe ruĹže padaju na mene
Odstupili natrag i zasramili se , koji mi zlo misle.

2 :: Pocinje plac Jeremije proroka
Alef. Kako sjedi osamljen grad pun puka: postade kao udovica gospodar naroda:
Glava zemalja potpade pod danak.
He DuĹĄmani postaĹĄe glavari njegovi, neprijatelji se njegovi obogatiĹĄe, jer je Gospodin progovorio nad njim za mnoĹĄtva bezakonja njegova: djeca njegova povedena su u ropstvo pred licem mucitelja.
Jeruzolime, Jeruzolime, obrati se Gospodinu Bogu svojemu.

3 :: Iz razlaganja svetoga Augustina biskupa o psalmima
UsliĹĄi BoĹže, molitvu moju i ne prezri proĹĄnju moju: pogledaj na me i usliĹĄi me.
TeĹĄko mucena , u nevolji postavljena rijeci su ovo.
Ne mislite, da su zli za niĹĄta na ovom svijetu, i da Bog niĹĄta dobra od njih ne izvodi. Svaki zao covjek ili zato Ĺživi, da se popravi, ili zato Ĺživi, da se po njemu dobar covjek vjeĹžba.

V Nesretnik ne obazre se na cijenu krvi i najposlije se zamkom objesi.

4 :: Iz poslanice prve bl. Pavla apostola Korincanima
A ovo naredujem : ne odobravajuci ĹĄto se ne sastajete na korist, nego na ĹĄtetu.
Prvo dakle, kad se sastajete u crkvi, cujem, da ima razdora medu vama, i dijelom vjerujem.
Eda li nemate kuca, da blagujete i pijete? Ili crkvu BoĹžju prezirete, zasramljujete one, koji nemaju? Ĺ to da vam recem? Da vas pohvalim? Za ovo ne hvalim.

V Svi neprijatelji moji miĹĄljahu zlo proti meni, govoreci: *
Dodite, stavimo drvo u kruh njegov, i istrjebimo ga iz zemlje Ĺživih.

5 :: Antifona za Blagoslovjen
A izdajnik dade im znak govoreci: Komu podam cijelov, onaj je, uhvatite ga.

Blagoslovljen
Blagoslovljen Gospodin Bog Izraelov, * jer pohodi, i otkupi puk svoj.
I podiĹže nam jakost spasenja * u domu Davida sluge svojega.
Da prosvjetli one koji sjede u tminama, i u sjeni smartnoj: * da upravi noge naĹĄe na put mira.

Antifona
A izdajnik dade im znak govoreci: komu podam cijelov onaj je uhvatite ga.

6 :: V Isukrst posta za nas posluĹĄan sve do smrti, i to smrti na kriĹžu.

Psalam 50
Smiluj se meni, BoĹže,* po velikom milosr|u svome.
I po mnoĹĄtvu smilovanja svoga * zbriĹĄi zlocu moju
Tada ceĹĄ primati posvetiliĹĄte pravde, prinose i Ĺžrtve: * tada ceĹĄ na Ĺžrtvenik svoj stavljati juncice.

Pomolimo se
Pogledaj, molimo Gospodine, na ovu obitelj tvoju, za koju Gospodin naĹĄ Isukrst nije se ustezao predati se u ruke zlotvora i podnjeti muku kriĹža.

8 :: Slava Bogu na visini
Slava Bogu na visini, i na zemlji mir ljudima dobre volje
Hvalimo te, blagoslivljamo te

9 :: Pripjevni psalam
Ĺ to da uzvratim Gospodinu za sve ĹĄto mi je ucino;
uzet cu caĹĄu spasenja i zazvati ime Gospodnje.
CaĹĄa blagoslovna, zajedniĹĄtvo je krvi kristove!

10 :: Ĺ tenje knjige blaĹženoga Pavla apostola Korincanima
Braco!
Kad se sastajete ujedno to viĹĄe nije blagovanje Gospodnje vecere.Jer svaki uzme prije svoju veceru da blaguje i tako jedan blaguje a drugi je pijan.
Ali kad smo osudeni od Gospodina smo pokarani, da se s ovim svijetom ne osudimo.

11 :: Evandeoski pripjev
Zapovjed vam novu dajem, govori Gospodin: ljubite jedni druge, kao ĹĄto sam ja ljubio vas.

Citanje svetog Evandelja po Ivanu
BijaĹĄe pred blagdan Pashe.Znajuci da je doĹĄao njegov cas da prijede s ovog svijeta Ocu, Isus, jer je ljubio svoje, one u svijetu, do kraja ih je ljubio.
Ako dakle ja - Gospodin i Ucitelj - vama oprah noge, treba da i vi cinite kao ĹĄto ja vama ucinih.

12 :: Antifone
PoĹĄto Gospodin ustade od vecere, nalije vode u praonik i pocne ucenicima prati noge: taj im primjer ostavi.
Gospodine, zar ti da meni pereĹĄ noge? Odgovori mu Isus: Ako ti ne operem noge, neceĹĄ imati dijela sa mnom.

13 :: Svet, svet
Svet, Svet, Svet: Gospodin Bog Sabaot, puna su nebesa i zemlja tvoje slave, Hosana u visini. Blagoslovljen koji dolazi u ime gospodnje, Hosana u visini.

14 :: O jezici
O jezici, hvale dajte tajni tijela slavnoga,
I krv svetu opjevajte, cijenu roda ljudskoga
Koju Kralj u smrtnoj boli, da otkupi svijet proli.

Roditelju, rodenome, vijecna slava i radost,
Cast i slava budi k tome, i blagoslov i krepost;
Ista Duhu cast u svemu, od njih ishodecemu.Amen

15 :: Psalam 21
BoĹže, BoĹže moj, pogledaj na me: zaĹĄto si me zapustio?*
Daleko su od spasenja moga rijeci vapaja mojih.
BoĹže moj , vapim danju, a ti me ne sluĹĄaĹĄ:*
I nocu, ali mi nema pokoja.

Ĺ trofa
Ti nam Oce bi proslavljen Duhom Svetim uvik. Amen.

20 :: Citanje poslanice Hebrejima
Braco! Imamo velikog svecenika koji prodrije kroz nebesa - Isusa, Sina BoĹžjega.
Zato se cvrsto drĹžimo vjere.
I bi usliĹĄan zbog svoje predanosti: premda je Sin, iz onoga ĹĄto prepati, naviknu sluĹĄati i,
postigavĹĄi savrĹĄenstvo, posta svima koji ga sluĹĄaju zacetnik vjecnog spasenja.

21 :: Evandeoski pripjev
Krist postade posluĹĄan do smrti, do smrti na kriĹžu. Zato ga Bog preuzvisi i darova mu ime
koje je nad svakim imenom.

Muka Gospodina naĹĄega Isukrsta po Ivanu
P: U ono vrijeme: izade Isus s ucenicima svojim preko potoka Cedrona, gdje bijaĹĄe vrt,
u koji ude on i ucenici njegovi
A Isus znajuci sve, ĹĄto ce biti od njega, stupi naprijed i rece im
I: Koga traĹžite
P: OdgovoriĹĄe mu
Z: Isusa Nazaranina
P: A kad ovo rece, jedan od prisutnih momaka dade mu zauĹĄnicu govoreci :
J: Tako li odgovaraĹĄ velikome sveceniku?
P: Vojnici dakle, kad ga propeĹĄe, uzeĹĄe haljine njegove (i naciniĹĄe cetiri dijela: svakome vojniku po dio)
i odjecu. A odjeca ne bijaĹĄe ĹĄivena, nego istkana sva od vrha do dna. RekoĹĄe dakle medu sobom:
Z: Ne razdirimo je nego bacimo kocke za nju, cigova da bude.
P: Da se pismo ispuni koje govori: RazdjeliĹĄe medu sobom haljine moje, i za odjecu moju baciĹĄe kocke.
P: Uzeťe dakle tijelo Isusovo, i obaviťe ga platnom s mirisima, kao ťto je obicaj u Židova ukopavati.
A bijeĹĄe na mjestu, gdje ga propeĹĄe vrt, i u vrtu grob novi, u koji joĹĄ nitko ne bijeĹĄe bio poloĹžen.
Ondje dakle radi petka Ĺžidovskoga, jer bijaĹĄe blizu grob, poloĹžiĹĄe Isusa.

22 :: Otkrivanje kriĹža
Evo drvo kriĹža, na kome je visjelo spasenje svijeta.
Dodite poklonimo se.

23 :: Puce moj
Puce moj, ĹĄto ja ucinih tebi? Ili u cemu oĹžalostih tebe odgovori meni.
Puce moj, ja tebe hranih manom kroz pustinju: a ti si mene bio zauĹĄnicama i bicima.

24 :: Pocimje molitva Jeremije proroka
Spomeni se, Gospodine, ĹĄto nas zadesi; pogledaj i vidi sramotu naĹĄu.
Nasljedstvo naĹĄe preĹĄlo je tudincima; kuce naĹĄe inostrancima.
KoĹža naĹĄa sprĹžena je kao pec od ljute gladi.
Žene u Sionu oskvrnuťe, i djevice po gradovima Judinim
Jeruzolime, Jeruzolime, obrati se Gospodinu Bogu svojemu.

Barjaci krecu kraljevi
Barjaci krecu kraljevi, otajstvo kriĹža blista se, na kojem Ĺživot umrije
i smrcu Ĺživot donese.
Zdrav, KriĹžu, nado jedina u dane muke Gospodnje, umnoĹži milost dobrima, krivicu digni s grijeĹĄnika.

26 :: Ĺ trofa
Tila tvoga sveti zlamen svarh nas budi uvik. Amen

 http://www.eco-hvar.com 
a info mail je
zakrizen@eco-hvar.com 

Monsignor Raymond W. Stafford Died

Monsignor Raymond W. Stafford, pastor of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, in Astoria, New York, died unexpectedly in the early morning hours of March 20, 2005. The news of his death came as the parish prepared to commemorate the beginning of Holy Week, and
has left the parishioners deeply saddened. Monsignor Stafford served as pastor of Most Precious Blood for eleven years, and celebrated forty-five years of priesthood. Croats, who are an integral part of this multiethnic parish community, deeply mourn his loss. Monsignor
Stafford was always very supportive of the Croatian community at Most Precious Blood. He was present at all Croatian functions that took place at the parish; he would come to say a prayer and give his blessing. As a pastor, he had a very good relationship with the Croatian bishop of Krk, who in the past has been responsible for the Croatian priests that serve at Most Precious Blood. He warmly welcomed visiting Croatian priests and bishops. The former bishop and now archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Bozanić visited the parish on a few occasions. Monsignor Stafford always concelebrated Masses with visiting Croatian bishops. In the past 10 years, the Croatian community has grown in number and spirit, in no small part due to Monsignor Stafford’s concern and support. He was a dedicated priest committed to
the well being of his parish. His loss will be felt by the whole parish community. May God grant eternal rest onto his soul!

Poznato je jezicno pocelo izricaja kulta (=bogosluĹžja) i kulture(=stvaranje, olikovljenje i njegovanje covjekova duhovnoga i materjalnoga stvaralaĹĄtva). Nerijetko se - nadasve u drevnim civilizacijama - oboje stvaralo s bogosluĹžjem i oko bogosluĹžja, no u nastavku povijesti stvari
su sve naglaĹĄenije hodale cas u bliĹžoj med|usobnoj povezanosti, cas odvajajuci se, pa i udaljavajuci se od protimbe jednog s drugim. U pasionskom pjevanju u Vrbanju na otoku Hvaru, kao i na citavom otoku, te dakako, i na ĹĄirem naĹĄem priobalju i otocima - od Srednjega se vijeka na ovamo odvijalo osebujno tkanje, odnosno sljubljivanje kulta (bogosluĹžja) i duhovne kulture. Pri tomu mislimo na cudesnu bogatu krĹĄcansku pasionsku baĹĄtinu - nadasve u mediteranskom krĹĄcanskom krugu - koja po citavoj Europi i kod nas svjedoci o ljepoti tog
povezivanja. Stvaralo se je tkanje od vjernicke duĹĄe i od materjalnih sakralnih znakova i simbola, te na dojmljiv i dirljiv nacin od glasovnoga oblikovanja biblijskih i drevnih liturgijskih tekstova u Velikom tjednu. Pored grada Hvara, Staroga Grada, Vrboske i Jelse i Vrbanj se istice proĹžetoĹĄ}u tih ÂŤdvajuÂť izraza, naime kulta i kulture. No, za razliku od cetiri spomenuta hvarska gradica - po njihovoj urbanoj slici i povijesno-umjetnickoj baĹĄtini svima doista prilici ime grada - Vrbanj je izrazito poljodjelsko mjesto. BaĹĄ kao takvo sacuvalo je baĹĄtinu
spomenutog tkanja na vlastiti nacin, te bi se moglo kazati da je pucko pasionsko pjevanje u Vrbanju tradicijski sacuvanije, u odredenom smislu izvornije.

Ljepoti i dojmljivosti takvoga tkanja vec se stoljecima dive stanovnici - u pravilu vjernici katolici-otoka Hvara, ali i mnogi drugi, jer je zapaĹženo da se na tomu otoku ponajbolje sacuvalo, dapace da je ostalo Ĺživo to pasionsko tkanje. Zato su naĹĄi etnolozi i muzikolozi s
pravom posjecivali paĹžnju tom duhovnom bogatstvu na otoku Hvaru, pocevĹĄi od marnoga sakupljaca puckih obicaja s kraja 19. st. A.I.Carica, te glazbenika i muzikologa B. Sokola, izmedu dva svijetska rata, do Ĺživuceg glazbenika i tonskog snimatelja Ljube StipiĹĄica, da
navedem samo najvaĹžnije. Spomenutima se sada pridruĹžuje i gospodin Miki Bratanic, koji je ne samo zaljubljenik u vrbanjsku (i hvarsku) pasionsku baĹĄtinu, nego je i njen marni njegovatelj i, evo, zauzeti snimatelj i objavljivac. Medu poznatim nam, dakle, sakupljacima i snimateljima pasionskih napjeva otoka Hvara, ovaj je izbor Bratanicevih puckih napjeva posebno vrijedan. M. Bratanic se je dobro odlucio da prezentira samo jedan uzorak, naime pasionsko bogosluĹžje (liturgijsko i pucko) triju zavrĹĄnih dana Velikoga tjedna samo u jednom mjestu, tj. u Vrbanju. Zato je u izabranoj zbirci cjelovit. Uz to, ovaj tonski zapis - pored vec objavljenih i snimljenih - nosi napjeve koji joĹĄ nigdje nisu objavljeni. Zato nam ovaj nosac zvuka dolazi kao dragocjeni glasovni zapis pasionskih sadrĹžaja. Pred nama su, evo, napjevi koji viĹĄe nisu u repertoaru crkvenih puckih pjevaca. Tom gubljenju je, naĹžalost, uvelike doprinjela krivo protumacena liturgijska obnova Velikog tjedna prema normama Drugoga vatikanskoga sabora, u kojoj je doĹĄlo - kako nam je poznato - do znacajnih tekstovnih promjena. No, taj gubitak, skoro do zaborava, joĹĄ viĹĄe se je dogodio u naletu novih nekriticki vrednovanih pjesama i popjevki. Voditelji Ĺžupnih zborova nakon Drugog vatikanskog sabora - nerijetko tek priuceni u glazbi, a ne pravi glazbenici - podcjenili su viĹĄestoljetnu vrijednost puckih kantadura i nisu znali vrednovati glazbeno bogatstvo ÂŤstarogaÂť. Dakako, sve ĹĄto je staro nije nuĹžno i vrijedno-nerijetko nalazimo i na manje vrijedne, pa i na nevrijedne baĹĄtinjene tragove - ali o hvarskoj se pasionskoj baĹĄtini - da se posluĹžimo evandeoskim rijecnikom- utemeljeno moĹže kazati : ÂťValja staroÂť(usp.Lk.5.39). U tome stoji i vrijednost ovoga tonskog zapisa. Dvadeset i ĹĄest napjeva - koliko ih nosi ovaj iznimno vrijedan CD-prva je cijelovita zbirka pasionskih napjeva iz jedne hvarske Ĺžupe. Pri tome je dolicno spomenuti da je dugogodiĹĄnji vrbanjski Ĺžupnik - i sam odlican pjevac - don Branimir Marinovic, imao duboki osjecaj za ocuvanje i vrednovanje svekolike glazbene i druge kulturne baĹĄtine.

Posebna je pak vrijednost ovog CD-a ĹĄto on donosi ne samo psalme s antifonama, prorocke i evandeoske ulomke koji i danas - prema obnovljenom bogosluĹžju Velikog tjedna - ulaze u sadrĹžaj bogosluĹžnih slavlja, nego doslovce i sve bogosluĹžne sadrĹžaje doista velikih i svetih
dana Velikog tjedna, koji su nekoc bili dio bogosluĹžja, a koji do danas nisu prispjeli na neki nosac zvuka.U Bratanicevoj zbirci imamo i sacuvanu arhaicnost svega obradenoga dogadanja, i, dakako, stari liturgijski jezik kakvoga je s osjecajem za ÂŤstaroÂť znao izreci biblicar i
prevodilac Svetoga pisma, franjevac o. Petar VlaĹĄic. Taj biblicar je nadasve znao ostvariti suodnos izmedu jezika kulta i jezicne kulture u naĹĄemu kulturnom krugu. Iz svega, na ovom nosacu zvuka imamo etno-muzikoloĹĄki zapis iz kojega se zorno vidi sljubljenost kulta
(bogosluĹžja) i jedne lokalne kulture. Ovaj CD istinski obogacuje fond naĹĄe pasionske baĹĄtine, te valja izreci zadovoljstvo uz objavljivanje ovako visoko kvalitetnog nosaca zvuka.
 

Fra Bernardin Ĺ kunca
U Zadru, Sijecanj 2005.

Veliki Tjedan - Vrbanj
 

From Croatia with love: Jazz win one for the sisters

By Phil Miller
The Salt Lake Tribune



Sisters Anne Kearns, 85, left, and Mag Curry, 88, devoted Jazz fans, got a special treat on Tuesday night, meeting Croatian Jazz player Gordan Giricek before the start of the game against the Lakers. The sisters are daughters of a Croatian immigrant. (Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune)

The dialects don't quite match up anymore, not between early-20th-century Croatian and the language spoken in the modern Eastern European country today. So it took a few moments Tuesday, a couple of back-and-forths, before Gordan Giricek could communicate with Anna Kearns and Mag Curry.
But the octogenarians were finally able to explain to the professional athlete, in the tongue of their childhood, two heartfelt sentiments: Other than family and faith, Jazz basketball forms the fabric of their lives. And they're never prouder than when their fellow Croatian helps the Jazz win.
"He makes me think of my parents, of their homeland," said the 88-year-old Curry. "He touches my heart."
It's an odd juxtaposition, the worlds of millionaire athletes and retirement-home widows, but sports has always offered fans the opportunity to emotionally adopt players from afar, whether as part of the home team - or just home.
Kearns and Curry, who share an apartment at Cottonwood Creek Retirement Home, took the Jazz as their own practically from the moment the team arrived in 1979. "We never miss a game," said Kearns, 85. "We don't do anything else when they're playing. ("Well, maybe bingo if there's a TV," corrected Curry.) We watch on TV, or listen on the radio, without fail. People know not to disturb us."
That includes doctors. When Curry was in the hospital last year, her family smuggled in a radio headset so she could follow their team. "My heart aches for them when they lose," Curry said, so it's been a difficult season - though she's pretty sure of the culprit. "I blame the referees," she said.
But the children of Croatian immigrants discovered that their connection with Utah's team could become even deeper 13 months ago, when Giricek joined the Jazz in a trade with Orlando. A member of the Croatian national team, wearing a Jazz uniform? "I never imagined such a thing," Curry said. "He's like family."
Such are the ties of home. Michael Dosen emigrated from Zagreb to Tooele in 1913, and his eventual bride, Katie, escaped a land embroiled in World War I to join him four years later. Like many Croatians, they found work in the smelters around the community. Eventually,

the Dosens had a family, and spoke nothing but their ancestral language in the home.
"My mother came alone to Ellis Island, and she didn't speak one word of English," Kearns said proudly. "Not even hello."
The daughters lived in adjoining houses in Tooele for 75 years, raising three children apiece before moving together to their new assisted-living domicile in Salt Lake four months ago. Their apartment, decorated in Jazz memorabilia, casts them as the biggest basketball fans in the complex - "We've been big sports fans since we took part in posture parades in Provo in 1932," Curry said - so it must have seemed odd Tuesday when the home's community room included a large throng of Jazz fans, but not the ring-leaders.
That's because they were at the Delta Center for the first time together, with fifth-row VIP seats arranged by a friend of Kearns' son Michael. Highlight of the outing: a chance to speak with Giricek before the game.
Once the dialects were sorted out, and photos were taken - Andrei Kirilenko and Jarron Collins stopped by as well, adding to the thrill - the sisters asked a favor of their countryman: End the Jazz's nine-game losing streak, please. ''He said in Croatian, 'I will try to do it for you,' '' Kearns said. "I guess he meant it."
Guess so. Giricek, in the Jazz's starting lineup for the first time since Feb. 1, came out hot, nailing a couple of three-pointers and scoring 22 points - his best game of the season - to help Utah beat the Lakers, 115-107.
"He's doing it for us," Curry said with a laugh. "We should come back."
pmiller@sltrib.com 

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2618093

I was not prepared for FREEDOM FROM DESPAIR

Bay Area Casting News
by Nina Hauptman

FREEDOM FROM DESPAIR
Brenda Brkusic
CINEQUEST Film Festival
I was not prepared for FREEDOM FROM DESPAIR. Honestly, I'm not sure it is possible to prepare one's self for documentaries such as these. Like most Americans, I was unaware of the full extent of terror that has plagued Croatia for the past 50 years or so, and certainly had never heard detailed personal accounts of living through it. Whether or not the Yugoslavian government was torturing and murdering Croatians in the name of Communism or Democracy (obviously skewering both ideologies), the stories of torture and concentration camps rival those of the Holocaust in their atrocity, if not in their numbers.
FREEDOM tells many tales of horror experienced in Yugoslavia-controlled Croatia, using interviews as well as stock footage and recreations to paint a picture of the oppressive lifestyle endured by the native people. While giving a broad picture, the film also closely follows the life of a man named Kruno Brkusic. After being repeatedly abused and persecuted by the government (he was imprisoned at the age of five!), Kruno finally made it to Italy where he was recruited from his refugee camp into the US army. Although he had managed to escape physically, his thoughts never strayed from his homeland and thus Kruno has spent his life fighting for the freedom of his people. He never thought that the battle would last as long as it did, but is now thankful that things are finally improving over there.
Almost as shocking as the carnage is the seeming indifference of the rest of the world. Though the Yugoslavian government tried its best to present a humanitarian front by hiding it's actions from the media, neither America nor the rest of the world can claim that it was unaware of what was happening. In fact, tens of thousands of Croatian refugees protested in front of the White House, receiving no media coverage whatsoever. As President Bush was invading Iraq on the pretense of preserving freedom in Kuwait, Croatians continued to suffer a fate even worse than those in the Middle East. However, there was no monetary incentive for the United States to place sanctions on the Yugoslavian government, so nothing was done.
This documentary is exceptionally well-crafted, giving a detailed account of both the situation in Croatia and the political mood in the U.S. at the time. Several American political figures were interviewed, including Congressman Dennis Kucinich. I strongly recommend this film to anyone who is ignorant of the full extent of the "ethnic cleansing" in Croatia, and I have a feeling that includes the majority of U.S. citizens.


The Viewer's Voice Award at the Cinequest Film Festival &
The Golden Reel Award for Best Student Film at the Tiburon International Film Festival.

I am grateful to the Freedom from Despair team and to these festivals for honoring the film.

Pasted at the end of this email is a great review of the film that was done by the Bay Area News after Cinequest. The film was also mentioned on Film Threat for being a Viewer's Voice Winner -http://www.filmthreat.com/FilmFestivals.asp?Id=1697 .

Thanks for your continuous hard work and hope you are all well.
Brenda
www.freedomfromdespair.com  - update in progress!

ARRIVE WITH THE SUNRISE
ANNOUNCING DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM USA TO CROATIA
 

Business groupAstada and travel agencies Croatia Travel from New York and Vega International Travel from Chicago are announcing the
start of direct seasonal flights from JFK in New York and O’Hare in Chicago to Zagreb and Split in Croatia. Direct flights from USA to Croatia are finally here! After many years American Croats, their American friends, business people and numerous tourists will finally be able to travel directly starting on June 3rd from New York to Split.

Direct flights are operated by Trans Meridian Airlines, Inc with a fleet of 2 modern Boeing 757-200 ER. The plane carries 200 passengers: 190 passengers in economy class and 10 passengers in business class. The round trip flights from Chicago and New York to Split and Zagreb will make a short refueling stop on Iceland. The flights will operate from June 3rd, 2005 to September 5th 2005, with 4 weekly flights from New York and Chicago.

New York flights are leaving from JFK’s terminal 4 to Split on Fridays at 5:15pm, arriving at Split on Saturday 9:20am. Return from Split is on Saturday 11:30 am, arriving JFK at 6:05pm.
From New York to Zagreb flights leave on Sundays at 5:15pm, arriving Zagreb on Monday at 9:30am, returning from Zagreb on Monday at 11:30am arriving JFK at 6:05pm.
From Chicago to Zagreb flights leave on Fridays at 2:15pm, and to Split on Sundays at 2:15pm, returning back to Chicago at 10:00 am arriving Chicago at 4:50 pm.

Baggage allowance is 2 suitcases weighting up to 45lbs each, or 1 suitcase weighting up to 99lbs. Children have the same baggage allowance while infants have none.

This is a great chance for the American traveler to experience a great event. Direct flights will make your Croatian vacation more pleasant
and give you an opportunity to discover the superior natural beauty and rich historical and cultural heritage Croatia has to offer!

For flights from Chicago call

VEGA International
Travel Services, Inc.
Phone: 800- FLY THERE (359-8437)
www.vegatravel.net

For flights from New York call

CROATIA TRAVEL AGENCY, Inc.
Phone: 800-662-7628
www.CroatiaTravel.com

Or contact your own travel agent.
 

Krecu direktni letovi iz SAD-a zaHrvatsku cetri puta tjedno

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Astada Group Inc.
Croatia Travel Agency, Inc.
VEGA International Travel Services, Inc.

Krecu direktni letovi iz SAD-a za Hrvatsku
Poslovna grupa Astada i turisticke agencije Croatia Travel iz New Yorka i Vega International Travel Services iz Chicaga najavljuju realizaciju direktnih sezonskih letova od zrakoplovnih luka u New Yorku i Chicagu do Zagreba i Splita u Hrvatskoj.
Putovanje direktnim letom iz Sjedinjenih Americkih Drzava do Hrvatske napokon postaje stvarnost. Nakon dugogodisnjeg iscekivanja americki ce Hrvati, kao i njihovi americki prijatelji, poslovni ljudi i brojni turisti imati priliku prvim promotivnim letom vec 3. lipnja ove godine putovati direktno od New Yorka do Splita.
Direktni letovi ce se realizirati u suradnji sa zrakoplovnom kompanijom Trans Meridian Airlines, inc., koja je za letove do Hrvatske osigurala dva supermoderna zrakoplova tipa Boeing 757-200 ER. Nosivost zrakoplova je 200 putnika od cega 190 u ekonomskoj i 10 u poslovnoj klasi. Na putovanju od Chicaga i New Yorka do Splita i Zagreba, zrakoplovi ce se nakratko zaustavljati samo na Islandu gdje ce uzeti gorivo.
Iz SAD-a prema Hrvatskoj zrakoplovi ce u razdoblju od 3. lipnja do 5. rujna 2005. polijetati cetiri puta tjedno – dva leta iz New Yorka i dva leta iz Chicaga.
Iz New Yorka ce zrakoplovi polijetati sa zracne luke JFK za Split petkom u 5,15sati popodne, a slijetanje u splitskoj zracnoj luci se ocekuje u subotu oko 9,20 sati ujutro. Povratak iz Splita bit ce istoga dana, u subotu u 11,30 sati prije podne, a dolazak na zracnu luku JFK u New Yorku se ocekuje u 6,05 poslije podne. Iz New Yorka za Zagreb ce se letjeti nedjeljom u 5,15 popodne, a dolazak na zagrebacku zracnu luku se ocekuje u ponedjeljak u 9,30 ujutro. Zrakoplov polijece iz Zagreba istoga dana u ponedjeljak u 11,30 sati ujutro, a u New Yorku se ocekuje u 6:05sati popodne.
Iz Chicaga za Zagreb ce se letjeti svakog petka u 2:15 poslije podne, a za Split svake nedjelje u 2:15 poslije podne. Zrakoplovi se vracaju za Chicago u 10:05 ujutro sa dolaskom u 4:50 poslije podne.

Postanite i sami djelom dugo ocekivanog dogaðaja na ovim prostorima. Direktnim letom ucinite svoj odmor ugodnijim i priblizite sebi i svojim prijateljima vrhunske prirodne ljepote i bogato kulturno nasljeðe nase domovine Hrvatske. Osim izuzetno prakticnog i ugodnog leta, koji ce od sada put prema domovini uciniti ugodnim i prijatnim iskustvom, organizatori jamce i autobusni prijevoz s aerodroma u Zagrebu i Splitu u druge hrvatske gradove koji su krajnja odredista putnika iz SAD-a.
Ukoliko boravak u domovini zelite pretvoriti u nezaboravno iskustvo, nakon ugodnog leta prepustite se potpunom uzitku. Zajedno s direktnim letovima putnicka agencija Croatia Travel iz New Yorka nudi vam i osam vrhunski osmisljenih turistickih tura, koje ce svojom bogatom ponudom najbolje opisati zbog cega je Hrvatska ove godine vodeca svjetska turisticka destinacija.

Vise informacija potrazite kod turistickih agencija;

VEGA International
Travel Services, Inc.
(The consolidator for flights from Chicago-ORD)
Phone: 800- FLY THERE (359-8437)
www.vegatravel.net 

CROATIA TRAVEL AGENCY, Inc.
(The consolidator for flights from New York - JFK)
Phone: 800-662-7628
www.CroatiaTravel.com 

ili kod svog putnickog agenta.

Croatian Andrew Bogut is Basketball's latest rising star

I just found out that college basketball star Andrew Bogut of the Utah Utes is Croatian. He is an Australian of Croatian heritage and plays for Australia's national team. He was doing an interview for CBS and was wearing an Australian shirt and a Dinamo touque. The significance is that he is projected by most experts to be the number 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Mike Pocrnic

Basketball is an international game, and 7-foot Andrew Bogut is its latest rising star.

Utah's Bogut sure to be a tourney attraction

[published on Thu, Mar 17, 2005]
By BOB BAUM
The Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. – He was born in Australia. The roots of his game are from his parents' native Croatia.

He was a star in Athens, and he has carried Utah into the NCAA tournament.

Basketball is an international game, and 7-foot Andrew Bogut is its latest rising star.

Soon, the NBA will make him a lottery pick, maybe the No. 1 choice overall. Before that, though, Bogut has some unfinished business with the Utes.

"Here's a guy that no one's been able to stop all year," UTEP coach Doc Sadler said. "He's probably the premier guy in college basketball. If they're talking about whether or not you're going to be the third pick or the first pick, that's pretty good. I mean, what can't he do?"

Sadler's 11th-seeded Miners (27-7) will try to contain Bogut and the No. 6 seed Utes (27-5) today in a first-round Austin Region game at Arizona's McKale Center. The game will be the second afternoon contest. In the first game, No. 3 seed Oklahoma (24-7), the Big 12 regular-season champion, will play 14th-seeded Niagara (20-9), making its first NCAA tournament appearance in 35 years.

The evening contests feature teams from the Albuquerque Region. No. 3 seed Gonzaga (25-4) faces No. 14 Winthrop (27-5), and sixth seed Texas Tech (20-10) plays No. 11 seed UCLA (18-10) in the nightcap.

Utah wants Bogut to touch the ball on every possession. If he does not score – and he can even hit an occasional three-pointer – then the collapsing zone defense or double-team leave a teammate wide open.

"He's throwing it out, and we're basically playing horse out there," Ute guard Tim Drisdom said. "We get a lot of open jump shots, and it's up to us to knock them down."

Bogut was recruited by Rick Majerus and was Mountain West freshman of the year last season. But his game truly blossomed with the Australian national team at the Athens Olympics, where he averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in five games. He returned to the college game a wiser player.

"I'm playing with guys my age again," the 20-year-old from Melbourne said. "In the Olympics, you're playing guys who are 26, 27 with experience playing all around the world. I came back to play against guys my age and my strength. I thought I could do very well, and I've done pretty well to this point."

Bogut is averaging 20.7 points and is third in Division I at 12.3 rebounds a game. He made 64 percent of his shots, third-best in the country.

"To see what he's been able to do for this team and this program this year is really amazing," said coach Ray Giacoletti, hired after last season when Majerus resigned for health reasons. "He's the focal point, but the rest of the group has really bought in to understand that he needs to touch the basketball whether it be in transition or the halfcourt game. That's something, to me, that is even more special."

UTEP, in its first season under Sadler, wants to make Bogut and the rest of the Utes run.

"He's going to get his points and rebounds," UTEP forward Omar Thomas said. "We know he's a good player, that he's a top-five pick. He's going to do what he does. We're just going to hope he doesn't kill us too bad. We're going to play UTEP basketball and make him run up and down the court, what he's not used to, and make him guard our big man."

Thomas leads the Miners in scoring at 20.4 points per game, but Puerto Rican point guard Filiberto Rivera makes the team go.

The Purple Eagles of Niagara, whose long trip to Tucson included a 4-hour flight delay, are relishing their underdog status against the Sooners.

"Like I always say," coach Joe Mihalich said, "they've got McDonald's all-Americans on their team, and we've got guys that eat at McDonald's."

Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson, of course, was having none of that. He said that Juan Mendez "could start for any team in our conference."

"We just played a fast, I mean fast, point guard in Jarrius Jackson (of Texas Tech) and Alvin Cruz is every bit as fast," Sampson said.

Gonzaga and Winthrop bring the two longest active winning streaks into the NCAA tournament. The 'Zags have won 12 in a row, Winthrop 18. Gonzaga is in its seventh straight NCAA tournament and has its second consecutive high seeding. It was No. 2 last year.

The finale Thursday features Bob Knight's Red Raiders against a UCLA team that barely made the NCAA field. Texas Tech is in the tournament for the third time in Knight's four seasons at the school.

UCLA, meanwhile, has its lowest seed in history in a tournament it has won 11 times.

http://www.nwherald.com/SportsSection/college/283680824811736.php