History.

Toponymy.

About the origins of the name given to Palmi is a constant tradition, followed over the centuries to its foundation, it has acquired its name because of the many palm trees that stood in its territory, so much so that the indication "De Palmis", Roger I Count Calabria specified grant of the "Church of San Georgium", in 1085, the Church of St. Mary of the Twelve apostles and Bagnara Calabra. "Dominus Palmae" was called instead by Baron De Iacobus Roto of Seminara in the records of the Angevin barons of Calabria in 1333, while in the following centuries, the ancient "Civitas Palmarum" notaries they used the expression to indicate Palmi. Which, in the 16th century, by Gabriel Barrio was called to "Parma" while Lando Alberti was appointed as "Palma". "Carlopoli" was also named in the aforesaid century, in honor of the Duke Carlo Spinelli, who rebuilt the fortress after a Saracen devastation, so much so that in 1567 are given the title of "oppidum" (a confirmation of fortification) and "Palma nunc Carlopoli" assuming that the new Carlopoli was built next to the old town. Only in 1669 it began to be written "Palmi", but with the start of the 18th century, the city was known as ordinarily "Palme", a name that always prevailed until the unification of Italy (1860), where he settled as "Palmi".

Prehistory and antiquity.

The municipal area was already inhabited by the Bronze Age, as evidenced by findings obtained in the excavations conducted in the "Cave of Pietrosa" or hut remains discovered in Taureana of Palmi.  From the 4th century BC and up to the 10th century, in the municipality developed on the city of Tauriana before Brettia and Roman. The latter was in 951, which was destroyed by the troops of the Emir Palermo Hasan Ibn Ali, for failure tribute owed by the Byzantines to which belonged the extreme southern Italy. Fleeing, the part of Taurianensi dedicated to traffic and the arts seamanship chose and planted the upper part of the coast, between Monte Aulinas and the river Metaurus, in district "De Palmis" where there were houses of the Tauriani.

Middle Ages.

The small town, hamlet of Seminara and feudal lords of the latter, was hit again in the course of centuries by Saracen pirates until, in 1549, after the devastation of the last feudal lord Duke Charles Spinelli decided to fortify it. In this way, the city took on a rectangular shape and was surrounded by walls with four imposing towers which stood extremes. In that century, the city grew in importance attracting all the maritime trade of the southern coast of Calabria.  Independent of Seminara in 1632 in the 17th century, the city developed urbanistically and economically thanks to the commercial activity of its inhabitants and the foresight of the Marquis Andrea Arena Concublet that instituted a "fair". The walls to the east fell gradually to allow the coupling to the new agglomerations were to be formed as a result of population growth. Also in the 17th century the urban fabric focused around a node formed by the new "Market Square".

Early modern.

In the 18th century Palmi crossed one of the most flourishing periods of its history, until 1783, when it was hit by an earthquake which resulted in 1,400 deaths. The reconstruction of the city took part following the plan prepared by Ing. G. De Cosiron.  The city was placed in the capital of the district in 1806. In 1860 took the landing of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his expedition of the Thousand to Marina di Palmi, and the event had put to flight the large garrison Bourbon in town. With 'Unification of Italy, the district was repealed and the city was placed at the head of the district of Palmi (abolished in 1927).  In 1894, the city was the epicenter of an earthquake. Despite the power of the shock and the great ruins that produced, the number of deaths was only eight, of this was due to a condition referred to as miraculous, which coincided with the history of the miracle of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Palmi.  In 1908 Palmi was almost totally destroyed by the violent earthquake of December 28, which resulted in about 600 deaths. The town was rebuilt. Pucci stavolgendo almost completely urban planning of the past centuries. The reconstruction, which involved the entire first half of the 20th century, gave the city a pleasant appearance, with the uniformity of the volumes, with the neoclassical style of the new buildings and the construction of monuments and works of art.  World War II saw the urban development in the field of tertiary putting Palmi as the main administrative center, office and school of the Tyrrhenian coast of the province through the establishment of secondary schools, facilities of the armed forces, health facilities and judicial offices and other public and private entities.  In 1999 was established by the Province of Reggio Calabria, the Environment of the Plain, renamed in 2008 district of Palmi.

Geography.

Topography.

Palmi, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, is located close to the slopes of mount Sant'Elia, on a terrace overlooking a stretch of the Violet Coast.  Much of the territory is formed by a series of terraced hills that rapidly degrade the sea through a system of cliffs, small beaches and cliffs. The remaining part of the municipal area is made up, to the south by mount Sant'Elia and to the north-west by a flat area on which stand the districts comprising the seaside Lido di Palmi.  The main waterway is the river that marks the border Petrace north-east of the township, the resort "Pontevecchio" to its mouth on the Tyrrhenian Sea.  The most westerly tip is called "Cape Barbi", and from this promontory starts the Violet Coast. The name comes from the fact that the sea, a short distance from the coast, reaches great depths by placing the water a deep blue color that the sun, at sunset (between May and September), color with violet reflections. A little further south is the "Cape Motta".  The whole coast of Palmi, in which are located the "bay of the Marinella" and the "bay of Tonnara", is enriched with marine and coastal caves and reefs. Among the first are the "cave of the Sirens", the "cave dell'Arcudace" and the "cave Perciata" while the rocks are the main stumbling "reef Trachini", "Stone Galera", "the reef of island" and "reefs Agliastro". Among the latter is the famous reef of the Olive, which is a rock on top of which is grown in the past centuries, an olive tree.  A part of the area included in the list of Special Protection Area and Site of Community Importance of Calabria.

Demography.

Religion.

The most widespread religion is Roman Catholic. With such a confession would be baptized on 98.1% of the population. The town is part of the Diocese of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi, which houses the offices, and is also seat of the vicariate. The district is now divided into five parishes. The municipal statute recognizes Saint Nicholas, as the patron of the city "to safeguard the Christian roots of their community". The Catholic Church has elected, September 12, 1733, the Our Lady of the Sacred Letter as patron of the city and the popular devotion, over the centuries, has elevated to the title of Saint Roch, patron and protector.  In ancient Tauriana and Mount Sant'Elia, before the foundation of Palmi, were born or have lived personality venerated as saints by the Catholic Church. These figures are the Saint Fantino the old, Saint Fantino the Young, Saint Elias of Enna and Saint Filarete.  The deep-rooted Catholic culture town is also evidenced by the institution of four lay confraternities and some convents male and female religious.

Cityscape.

Architecture.

Almost all of the architecture in Palmi is of the 20th century, since the 1908 Messina earthquake destroyed the city completely. Of past centuries has remained the Watchtower (1565), the Church of the Crucifix (17th century), the Church of the Our Lady of the Help (1788) and the Temple of Saint Fantino (4th century), the oldest place of worship in Calabria which were crypt houses the remains of the saint. The other architectures have been so altered or rebuilt after 1908. The main one is the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas (1932), in Romanesque style, with near Civic Tower (1956). In front of the religious complex there is a communal palace, called Palazzo San Nicola (1932), and subsequently there is a park that houses the War Memorial of the First World War (produced by Michele Guerrisi). Nearby is the mausoleum of Francesco Cilea (1962), in which are the remains of the local artist. Of particular interest to the artistic and historical heritage is the shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Baroque style, bound to its high value. The other churches are dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary (1937), Immaculate Conception and Saint Roch (1952), Adoration (1966) and the Holy Family (2005). This is an example of modern religious architecture. Of note, the church of Saint Elijah (1958) reconstructed in a place where a church was built in 884 by St. Elias of Enna.  The old town is full of civil architecture of neoclassical style and the fascist period. Among the most important are two buildings designed by Marcello Piacentini. In addition Palmi is rich in monumental fountains. The main one is the "fountain of Palm"(1922) built in Baroque style, the type Bernini modern, for which he was issued a national stamp. The most recent is the "fountain of Saint Roch" (2010). Other important monuments are the obelisk to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the monument to Saint Francis of Assisi and some Roman columns found in the archaeological remains of Tauriana.  At the Lido di Palmi is located on the Fort of Pietrenere. The work designed by the French military during the period of Joachim Murat, at the beginning of the 19th century.  The last structure to be reported is the Open Air Theatre (2000), which is perched on a terrace which is admirable the Straits of Messina and the centers of Scilla and Bagnara Calabra. The property hosts numerous events "Summer of Palmi" and has a capacity of 1,000 seats.

Parks.

The main natural area is the "Villa Comunale "Giuseppe Mazzini"", a public park in the historic center built in the 19th century and falls in the list of "National Monuments". To confirm this, in 1927, a decree was issued constraint for "panoramic scenes from the place that they enjoy". The park, from whose balcony are wonderful the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Straits of Messina and the Aeolian Islands, Scilla and Bagnara Calabra, consists of tall trees, with cobblestone walkways, a small fountain and some marble busts.  The Archaeological park of Tauriani, opened in 2011, consists of the archaeological sites of the ruins of the ancient Tauriana. In the park there are the Watchtower, the remains of a theater having from 3,000 spectators, a Roman road that led to Via Popilia, a Roman sanctuary, a "House with mosaic" dating from the 1st century BC, an ancient Roman residential district and a protohistoric village with huts dating back to the Bronze Age (4,000 years ago). Not far from the park there are the caves of Pignarelle, forming a rock settlement of Byzantine monastic origin, made by the monks themselves between the 6th and 8th centuries, digging in the sandstone. The complex consists of several caves, the largest of which appears to have a shape of a basilica with three naves with side corridors that form a cross in the shape of a Greek cross, and some tunnels. Testimony of the prehistoric age is also the cave of Pietrosa, the cavity formed by a single large underground environment in which it is a human settlement since the Bronze Age and the Helladic period, as shown by the pottery found in it.

Economy.

The service sector is the main driver of the city economy, especially in the presence of public and private offices (law firms and professional). The city is the seat of the court, prison, police, Court of Assize, Judiciary Police, firefighters, health organizations, general hospital, high school, universities and other offices of decentralization of the Italian Agency of Revenue. From the point of view of trade, the development of Palmi is served primarily by small business, especially apparel and clothing boutiques, bars and restaurants, mostly located in the historic center. The other main source of the city's economy is tourism.

Tourism.

Palmi is one of the major tourist destinations of the Province of Reggio Calabria in the sea. The "beach Rovaglioso" scored in 2013, the recognition by Legambiente as the most beautiful beach in Calabria and among the top 17 beaches in Italy. The other beaches of Lido di Palmi, which attract many tourists, in 2010, received the award of two "Blue Sails ", always by Legambiente, placing the city in second place in the entire Tyrrhenian coast, in the stretch between Tropea and Strait of Messina. In addition Palmi is a tourist destination for summer events organized within the "Summer of Palmi". Regarding the tourism infrastructure in the city center you can find many hotel facilities while in the seaside suburbs of Taureana and Lido di Palmi are located various hotels, beaches, restaurants and campsites.

Transport.

The main road infrastructure that crosses the city of Palmi is the motorway A2 Salerno-Reggio di Calabria, in the municipality, has two outputs, the "release of Palmi" and the "release of Sant'Elia". Besides the highway the most important way is the highway state roads 18 that runs through the urban area town for about. Other important routes are the roads that connect Palmi with Seminara and Taurianova.  The railway lines that run through the area of Palmi are two: the Battipaglia–Reggio di Calabria railway and the Gioia Tauro-Palmi railway, for a total of four train stations (Central Palmi, Palmi Trodio, Taureana, San Fantino).  Palmi is reachable by sea from the port in the bay of Tonnara. The structure is the main hub for tourism of the Tyrrhenian coast of southern Calabria, thanks to its 200 berths (300 in anticipation).  Urban mobility is given by the "Piana Palmi Multiservice", the public transport company of the city, connecting with each other the various neighborhoods of the city.  The nearest airport is that of Reggio Calabria.

Education.

Palmi is, Reggio Calabria after, the main educational center of the province with approximately 6,000 students and 43 schools. Based in a city library, which has more than 120,000 volumes and is specializing in the history and literature of Calabria, a school of applied psychology which is a center for research and education and a private university in which active undergraduate courses in law, economics, political science and education. The public schools consist of two elementary schools, three middle schools and many secondary schools. The school is the oldest high school classic, established in 1889. Was born in 1909 instead of the Agrarian Institute, with the support of the American Red Cross $250,000. In 1961 were founded the Institute of Technical Sales and the Teaching Institute was founded in 1968 as a school of art. In 1971 was created the high school and sports. In addition to these schools, over the years they were born a Professional Institute of Industry and Handicrafts and the private technical institute.

Culture.

Entertainment.

There are many events that take place in Palmi, especially in the summer ("Summer of Palmi") and with religious significance. The main one is the Varia di Palmi, inserted in 2013 in the list of UNESCO "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity", which is a huge holy wagon that represents the universe and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Above the sacred chariot, 200 "mbuttaturi" (carriers) carry tall human figures: "Animella" (child representing the Virgin Mary) and human figures representing "Padreterno" God, the apostles, and angels. The 2013 edition saw the participation of about 180,000 spectators.  Important is also the feast of Saint Roch (August 16). There are numerous traditions. During the procession of the statue through the streets, some wearing faithful participate for votive offerings, stripped to the waist, a cloak of thorns of wild broom (called "spalas"). The procession lasts four and a half hours and covers of road, with a participation of about 30,000 devotees. Another form of votive offering is wax, anatomical human, as a sign of gratitude for a miraculous healing.  The last of July is celebrated "Our Lady of the High Sea", with a procession of the statue in the sea with a boat, followed by a procession of boats and yachts. The procession of Saint Fantino instead is formed by a procession of horses and riders. Other processions are dedicated to the Crucifix, Saint Anthony, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of help (with torches), Saint Elia, Our Lady of the Mountain and the Immaculate and provide all of the small fairs and fireworks.  All religious festivals are accompanied by the city's "Parade of Giants". The Giants are two enormous papier-mâché figures that run through the city streets to the rhythm of drums. A represents a Saracen warrior named Grifone and the other a white woman named Mata.

Museums.

The House of Culture Leonida Repaci, is a modern multi-purpose museum. Its construction began in 1968 by the will of the municipal administration of the time and under the auspices of Giacomo Mancini, then Minister of Public Works. The building was inaugurated on 17 January 1982 and named after the local writer Leonida Repaci in November 1984. The property has an area of over, and inside there is a modern auditorium in which they are held conferences and meetings. Its construction was funded by the Region of Calabria, designed by technicians of the Superintendency of Public Works of Catanzaro and built by local craftsmen. In the House of Culture are located: the "gallery " Leonida and Albertina Repaci"", the "ethnographic museum "Raffaele Corso"", the "library "Domenico Topa"", the "antiquarium "Nicola De Rosa"", the "museum music "Francesco Cilea and Nicola Antonio Manfroce"", the "plaster casts "Michele Guerrisi"", the "State Archives of Reggio Calabria - Section of Palmi".

Sports.

Football is the most popular sport in Palmi. The football team is the main U.S. Palmese 1912 that in the past he played for five seasons in the league of level III (now Lega Pro) missing, among other things, the playoffs in 1935 for access to the Serie B. In addition, in 1934, Palmese has played in Palmi two friendlies against AS Roma and AC Fiorentina.  Golem Volley is the town's professional women's volleyball club.  In road cycling, May 25, 1982, Palmi was home to start the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia 1982. The city is crossed by the caravan of the Giro d'Italia in other 11 editions. In addition Palmi has been home to start, or passage, numerous editions of the Giro di Calabria and, above all, the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria. On the ascent of Mount Saint Elias, in the past the biggest names in Italian cycling gave the show in climbing to the summit. These included: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Felice Gimondi, Fiorenzo Magni, Francesco Moser, Gastone Nencini and Vittorio Adorni.

Palmi (; Reggino:, ) is a "comune" (municipality) of about 19,303 inhabitants in the province of Reggio Calabria in Calabria.

Palmi je italská obec v provincii Reggio Calabria v oblasti Kalábrie. Leží u pobřeží Tyrhénského moře. K 31. prosinci 2011 zde žilo 19 321 obyvatel.


Early life.

Vujicic was born in Melbourne, in 1982 to Dušanka and Borislav Vujičić, Serbian immigrants from Yugoslavia.  He was born with tetra-amelia without fully formed limbs. According to his autobiography, his mother refused to see him or hold him when the nurse held him in front of her, but she and her husband eventually accepted the condition and understood it as "God's plan for their son."  Vujicic has two small and deformed feet, one of which he calls his "chicken drumstick" because of its shape.  Originally, the toes of his "chicken drumstick" foot were fused. An operation was performed to separate the toes so that he could use them as fingers to grab, turn a page, or do other things. He has been able to use his foot to operate an electric wheelchair, a computer and a mobile phone. Vujicic attempted suicide but notes that he had an "amazingly normal childhood."  Vujicic thrived in his teenage and young adult years despite being bullied. After his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability when he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group. Vujicic graduated from Griffith University at the age of 21 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a double major in accountancy and financial planning.  In 2005, Vujicic founded Life Without Limbs, an international non-profit organisation and ministry. In 2007, he founded Attitude is Altitude, a secular motivational speaking company.  Vujicic starred in the short film "The Butterfly Circus". At the 2010 Method Fest Independent Film Festival, he was awarded Best Actor in a Short Film for his starring performance as Will.  In August 2011, Attitude is Altitude released a single and music video by Vujicic called "Something More".

Beliefs.

On his webpages, in a self-formulated "Statement of Faith", Vujicic states his adherence to born-again Christianity. His tenets of faith also include the imminent Second Coming of Christ. He does not publicly identify with or adhere to any denomination or congregation.

Personal life.

In 9 March 2002, he moved to California. In 2008 in McKinney, Texas, near Dallas, he met Kanae Miyahara. They married on February 12, 2012. The couple has four children and reside in Southern California.

Books and publications.

Vujicic's first book, "Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life", was published by Random House in 2010 and has been translated into over 30 languages.  Vujicic markets a motivational DVD, "Life's Greater Purpose", a short documentary filmed in 2005 highlighting his home life and regular activities. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane. He markets a DVD for young people titled "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!".

Nicholas James Vujicic ( ; born 4 December 1982) is an Australian Christian evangelist and motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder (called phocomelia) characterized by the Double of arms and legs

Nicholas James „Nick“ Vujicic ( respektive, * 4. prosince 1982 v Melbourne) je srbsko-australský motivační řečník a křesťanský kazatel.


Career.

Vitiugov was the under 18 Russian champion in 2005 and the runner-up at the European under 18 championship in the same year. He came second at the Russian Junior Championship both in 2006 and 2007. He finished runner-up in the 2006 World Junior Chess Championship.  In July 2006, he won the "Blue Sevan" round-robin tournament in Sevan, Armenia to achieve his last norm required for the title of Grandmaster. In December of that year, he took part in the Russian Championship Superfinal for the first time, finishing eleventh.  He qualified through the 2007 European Individual Chess Championship for the FIDE World Cup 2007, in which he was knocked out by Konstantin Sakaev in the first round. In September of that year he won the Russian Championship Higher League and qualified for the Superfinal. Here he tied for 4th–6th places.  In 2008 he won the Baltic Sea Cup in Bornholm, Denmark edging out on tiebreak score Boris Savchenko, and the Cup of Russia, defeating Savchenko in the final.  In November 2009, he took part in the FIDE World Cup, where he sequentially knocked out Abhijeet Gupta, Gilberto Milos and Konstantin Sakaev, then lost to Sergey Karjakin in the fourth round. The following month, Vitiugov finished third in the 62nd Russian Championship Superfinal. Thanks to his results in the 2009 Superfinal and in the 2009 World Team Championship, he crossed the 2700 Elo rating mark for the first time in the FIDE rating list of March 2010.  In April 2010, he took part in the 11th Anatoly Karpov Tournament in Poikovsky, finishing joint third, fourth on tiebreak. In March 2011, he tied for 1st–3rd with Evgeny Tomashevsky and Lê Quang Liêm in the Aeroflot Open, placing second on tiebreak. Later that year, Vitiugov competed in the World Cup, where he knocked out Alexei Bezgodov in the first round and Anton Korobov in the second, before losing to Vladimir Potkin in the third round. At the end of December 2011, VItiugov took part in the 54th Reggio Emilia tournament, scoring two wins, two draws and six losses. In June 2012, Vitiugov tied for first place with Dmitry Andreikin and Daniil Dubov in the Russian Championship Higher League, finishing in third place on tiebreak.  In January 2013, Vitiugov won the Masters tournament of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival beating defending champion Nigel Short in a rapid playoff. He and three others finished the tournament with a score of 8/10 points. In the 2013 Alekhine Memorial, held from 20 April to 1 May, Vitiugov finished fifth, with a score of 41⁄2 points from 9 games (one win, one loss, seven draws). At the World Cup 2013 he defeated Conrad Holt and Markus Ragger in rounds one and two respectively, then was eliminated in the third by Alexander Morozevich. In October of the same year, he finished third in the Russian Championship Superfinal.  Vitiugov acted as a second for Peter Svidler in the Candidates Tournaments of 2013 and 2014. In January 2014, at the Gibraltar Masters he tied for first place with Vassily Ivanchuk and Ivan Cheparinov. In the playoffs, after winning against the former, he lost to the latter and eventually finished second. In the 2015 edition he tied for third place, placing fourth on tiebreak. In August 2015 he placed third in the Russian Championship Superfinal. In the following month, he competed in the FIDE World Cup, where he was knocked out in the second round by Le Quang Liem, after defeating Samvel Ter-Sahakyan in the first. In 2016 Vitiugov tied for first in the Grenke Chess Open in Karlsruhe, Germany with Matthias Blübaum, Vladimir Fedoseev, Milos Perunovic, Ni Hua, and Francisco Vallejo Pons, taking third place on tiebreak. Vitiugov won this tournament the following year on tiebreak from Maxim Matlakov, Étienne Bacrot and Zdenko Kožul. In December 2017, he tied for first with Peter Svidler in the Russian Superfinal scoring 7/11 points. Vitiugov lost the playoff.  In 2018, Vitiugov participated in the 5th Grenke Chess Classic. He finished fourth with a score of 5/9 points (+2–1=6). With the same score he won the Masters tournament of the Prague Chess Festival the following year.

Team competitions.

Vitiugov made his debut in the Russian national team in August 2009 playing in the 6th China-Russia Match, held with the Scheveningen system. He played board 6 for the Russian team that win the gold medal at the World Team Chess Championship 2009 in Bursa scoring 5.5/6. His rating performance of 2939, the second best of the event, earned him also an individual gold medal. Vitiugov played on the third board for Russia's second team at the 39th Chess Olympiad scoring 6/9. In July 2011 he took part in the 8th World Team Championship in Ningbo scoring 4/6 on board 5; thanks to this result, he won an individual gold medal. In the World Team Championship 2013 in Antalya, Vitiugov won the team gold medal and an individual bronze playing on the reserve board. In the 2017 edition of the event, he won the team silver medal in Khanty-Mansiysk. The next year, Vitiugov played for Russia in the 43rd Chess Olympiad and took the team bronze medal.  Vitiugov plays for Saint Petersburg Chess Federation in the Russian Team Championship and in the European Chess Club Cup. He helped his team to win gold at the European Club Cup 2011, scoring 5.5/7 with a rating performance of 2835; thanks to this result he also won individual gold on second board. In November 2012 he helped his team to win silver at the 28th European Club Cup and also won individual bronze on board 3. In the Russian Team Championship 2013 he won team gold and individual bronze on the second board. In the 29th European Club Cup he took silver on the third board. His team, renamed to Mednyi Vsadnik ("Bronze Horseman") in 2015, won the gold medal again in the European Club Cup in 2018. Vitiugov also won an individual gold.

Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov (; born 4 February 1987) is a Russian chess player. He was awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE in 2007. He was a member of the gold-medal winning Russian team at the World Team Chess Championship in 2009 and 2013. Vitiugov won the Gibraltar Masters tournament in 2013 and the Grenke Open in 2017.

Nikita Viťugov (* 4. února 1987, Petrohrad, Sovětský svaz) je ruský šachový velmistr. V roce 2009 byl členem vítězného ruského týmu na mistrovství světa družstev v Burse a znovu v letech 2010 a 2013.


Description.

Since the extinction of the great auk in the mid-19th century, the murres are the largest living members of the Alcidae. The thick-billed murre and the closely related common guillemot (or common murre, "U. aalge") are similarly-sized, but the thick-billed still bests the other species in both average and maximum size. The thick-billed murre measures in total length, spans across the wings and weighs. The Pacific race ("U. l. arra") is larger than the Atlantic race, especially in bill dimensions.  Adult birds are black on the head, neck, back and wings with white underparts. The bill is long and pointed. They have a small rounded black tail. The lower face becomes white in winter. This species produces a variety of harsh cackling calls at the breeding colonies, but is silent at sea.  They differ from the common murre in their thicker, shorter bill with white gape stripe and their darker head and back; the "bridled" morph is unknown in "U. lomvia" - a murre has either a white eye-stripe, or a white bill-stripe, or neither, but never both; it may be that this is character displacement, enabling individual birds to recognize conspecifics at a distance in the densely packed breeding colonies as the bridled morph is most common by far in North Atlantic colonies where both species of guillemots breed. In winter, there is less white on the thick-billed murre's face. They look shorter than the common murre in flight. First year birds have smaller bills than adults and the white line on the bill is often obscure, making the bill an unreliable way to identify them at this age. The head pattern is the best way to distinguish first-year birds from common murres.

Distribution.

The thick-billed murre is distributed across the polar and sub-polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere where four subspecies exist; one lives on the Atlantic and Arctic oceans of North America ("U. l. lomvia"), another on the Pacific coast of North America ("U. l. arra"), and two others that inhabit the Russian arctic ("U.l.eleonorae" and "U.heckeri").

Habitat.

Thick-billed murres spend all of their lives at sea in waters which remain below 8°C, except during the breeding season where they form dense colonies on cliffs.

Breeding.

Thick-billed murres form vast breeding colonies, sometimes composed of over a million breeding birds, on narrow ledges and steep cliffs which face the water. They have the smallest territory of any bird, requiring less than one square foot per individual. A breeding pair will lay a single egg each year. Despite this, they are one of the most abundant marine birds in the Northern Hemisphere.  Adults perform communal displays early in the breeding season to time their breeding cycles. They do not build nests, but lay the egg directly on bare rock. Both parents are involved in incubating the egg and raising the young. Due to the enormous amount of energy needed to take off in flight, adults can only provide one food item at a time to their chick. Chicks spend between 18 and 25 days on the cliffs before leaving for the sea. Once ready to leave, the young will await nightfall and jump off the edge towards the water. A parent immediately jumps after and glides within centimeters of the fledgling. At sea, the male and the chick stay together for around 8 weeks during which the adult continues to provide food for the young.  Survival rates of the young is not based on the number of individuals in the colony, but rather on the age of the breeders within the colony. Offspring of inexperienced pairs grow more slowly than those of experienced breeders, possibly because they do not receive as much food from their parents. Also, pairs which contain at least one young breeding bird tend to have lower hatch rates. Older and experienced adults obtain the better nesting sites located in the center of the colony, while the inexperienced individuals are kept on the margins where their young are more likely to be preyed upon.

Migratory patterns.

They move south in winter into northernmost areas of the north Atlantic and Pacific, but only to keep in ice-free waters.

Flight and feeding characteristics.

The thick-billed murre's flight is strong and direct, and they have fast wing beats due to the short wings. Like the other auks, these birds forage for food by using their wings to'swim' underwater. They are accomplished divers, reaching depths of up to 150 m and diving for up to four minutes at a time; usually however birds make either shallow short dives or dive down to 21–40 m for longer periods. While hunting, the diving trajectory resembles a flattened 'U'. Birds will make long trips to get to favorite feeding grounds; while they usually forage several dozen km from their nest sites, they often travel more than 100 km to fish. The strong and direct flight of murres, which is, for their body size, the most costly form of sustained locomotion of any animal, is a result of their short wingspan  The diving depths and durations regularly achieved by these birds indicate that they, and similar auks, have some—as yet unknown—mechanism to avoid diving sickness and lung collapse when surfacing. It is postulated that auks temporarily absorb excess gases into the vascular structure of their bones. From there, it is gradually released from temporary storage in a controlled process of decompression.

Trophic Linkages.

The nominate race feeds primarily on fish such as "Gadus spp." and Arctic cod ("Boreogadus saida"), as well as the pelagic amphipod "Parathemisto libellula". Other fish such as capelin ("Mallotus villosus") and "Myoxocephalus spp.", as well as other crustaceans, polychaetes, and a few molluscs, are found in their diet but in relatively low numbers. When wintering near Newfoundland, capelin can account for over 90 percent of their diet.  Thick-billed murres have few natural predators because the immense number of concentrated birds found on the breeding colonies and the inaccessibility of these breeding sites make it extremely difficult for them to be preyed upon. Their main predator is the glaucous gull ("Larus hyperboreus"), and these feed exclusively on eggs and chicks. The common raven ("Corvus corax") may also try to obtain eggs and hatchlings when they are left unattended.

Status and conservation.

Although declines have been observed in many parts of their range, the thick-billed murre is not a species of concern as the total population is estimated to contain between 15 and 20 million individuals worldwide.  Egg harvesting and hunting of adult birds are major threats in Greenland, where populations fell steeply between the 1960s and 1980s. In the Barents Sea region, the species has declined locally, due to influences associated with polar stations in Russia. Fisheries may also be a threat, but because thick-billed murres are better able to use alternative food sources the effect of over-fishing is not as severe as on the common murre. Pollution from oil at sea exerts another major threat. Murres are among the seabirds most sensitive to oil contamination. Incidental mortality brought on by entanglement with fishing gear is also an important cause of population decline.  Thick-billed murres are closely associated with sea-ice throughout the year. Consequently, some scientists believe that climate change may be a threat to this Arctic-breeding species. However the species seems adaptable. Populations at the southern edge of their range switched from feeding on ice-associated Arctic cod to warmer-water capelin as ice break-up became earlier. Dates for egg-laying advanced with the earlier disappearance of ice. The growth of chicks is slower in years when ice break-up is early relative to egg-laying by the murres. In extremely warm years, mosquitoes and heat kill some breeders.

As a vagrant.

Brünnich's guillemot is a rare vagrant in European countries south of the breeding range. In Britain, over 30 individuals have been recorded, but over half of these were tideline corpses. Of those that were seen alive, only three have remained long enough to be seen by large numbers of observers. All three were in Shetland - winter individuals in February 1987 and November/December 2005, and a bird in an auk colony in summer 1989. The 1989 and 2005 birds were both found by the same observer, Martin Heubeck.  The species has been recorded once in Ireland, and has also been recorded in the Netherlands. In the western Atlantic, they may range as far as Florida, and in the Pacific to California. Before 1950, large numbers appeared on the North American Great Lakes in early winter, passing up the St. Lawrence River from the East coast. Such irruptions have not been seen since 1952.

The thick-billed murre or Brünnich's guillemot ("Uria lomvia") is a bird in the auk family (Alcidae). This bird is named after the Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich. The very deeply black North Pacific subspecies "Uria lomvia arra" is also called Pallas' murre after its describer. The genus name is from Ancient Greek "ouria", a waterbird mentioned by Athenaeus. The species term "lomvia" is a Swedish word for an auk or diver. The English "guillemot" is from French "guillemot" probably derived from "Guillaume", "William". "Murre" is of uncertain origins, but may imitate the call of the common guillemot.

Alkoun tlustozobý ("Uria lomvia") je bíločerný pták z řádu dlouhokřídlých, z čeledi alkovití, který dorůstá velikosti okolo 42 až 45 cm s rozpětím křídel až 75 cm. Od poloviny 19. století, kdy byla kvůli nadměrnému lovu vyhubena alka velká ("Pinguinus impennis"), se jedná o největšího zástupce této čeledi.


Geography.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and (1.58%) is water.  Pontiac is bounded by the city of Auburn Hills to the east and north, the city of Lake Angelus to the north, Waterford Township to the west, and Bloomfield Township to the south.  The former Pontiac Township included what are now the cities of Pontiac, Lake Angelus, and Auburn Hills. The township incorporated as the city of Auburn Hills in 1983. Although the township no longer exists as a civil entity, it is still used as a survey township for land use purposes.

Demographics.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $31,207, and the median income for a family was $36,391. Males had a median income of $31,961 versus $24,765 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,842. About 18.0% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census.

As of the census of 2010, there were 59,515 people, 22,220 households, and 13,365 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 27,084 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 34.4% White, 52.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 6.2% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.5% of the population.  There were 22,220 households of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.4% were married couples living together, 27.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.28.  The median age in the city was 33.4 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.2% were from 45 to 64; and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

History.

Early European expeditions into the land north of Detroit described the area as having "extreme sterility and barrenness". Developments and exploration were soon to prove that report false.  The first European-American settlers arrived in what is now the city of Pontiac in 1818. Two years later the fledgling settlement was designated as the county seat for Oakland County. The Pontiac Company, consisting of 15 members and chaired by Solomon Sibley of Detroit, comprised the first landowners in Pontiac. Sibley, along with Stephen Mack and Shubael Conant, Pontiac Company members, also formed the partnership Mack, Conant & Sibley to develop a town. Solomon and his wife Sarah Sibley largely financed construction of the first buildings. While Solomon was the first chair of the Pontiac Company, for two years Sarah Sibley was the most active as the go-between with settlers at Pontiac. Solomon Sibley was constantly traveling as a Territorial Congressman and later a Territorial Supreme Court judge.  In the 1820s Elizabeth Denison, an unmarried, free black woman, worked for the Sibleys. They helped her buy land in Pontiac in 1825. Stephen Mack, agent for the Pontiac Company, signed the deed at the request of the Sibleys, conveying 48.5 acres to Elizabeth Denison. She is believed to be the first black woman to purchase land in the new territory of Michigan.  In 1837 Pontiac became a village, the same year that Michigan gained statehood. The town had been named after the noted Ottawa Indian war chief who had his headquarters in the area decades before, during the resistance to European-American encroachment. Founded on the Clinton River, Pontiac was Michigan's first inland settlement. Rivers were critical to settlements as transportation ways, in addition to providing water and, later, power.  The village was incorporated by the legislature as a city in 1861. From the beginning, Pontiac's central location served it well. It attracted professional people, including doctors and lawyers, and soon became a center of industry. Woolen and grist mills made use of the Clinton River as a power source.  Abundant natural resources led to the establishment of several carriage manufacturing companies, all of which were thriving at the turn of the 20th century. At that time, the first self-propelled vehicles were introduced. Pontiac quickly became a capital of the new automotive industry. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Pontiac had tremendous growth in its population and size as tens of thousands of prospective autoworkers moved here from the South to work in its GM auto assembly plants at Pontiac Assembly. African Americans came in the Great Migration, seeking work, education, and the chance to vote and escape the oppression of Jim Crow in the South.  As the small "horseless carriage" manufacturers became consolidated under the mantle of the General Motors Corporation, Pontiac grew as the industry grew. It also suffered the same setbacks as other cities during the Great Depression years of the 1930s. The buildup of the defense industry and conversion of the automotive industry to war demands increased the need for labor. The first postwar years after World War II were a time of prosperity, but the city changed as suburbs were developed and people commuted by car to work. The more established residents moved out to buy newer housing being built in the suburbs, draining off business and resulting in vacancies downtown.  In order to prevent flooding, Pontiac confined the Clinton River in concrete through the downtown in 1963. Changing ideas about urban living in the early 21st century prompted the city to study uncovering the river to create a waterfront community in the city.  In late 1966, Pontiac-born real estate developer A. Alfred Taubman tried to build a large-scale shopping mall on vacant downtown land (where the Phoenix Center now stands). It was unsuccessful. Pontiac resident C. Don Davidson and his University of Detroit architectural class created a more comprehensive plan for development to benefit the city and the entire region around it. In 1969, the city of Pontiac adopted the Pontiac Plan as the official plan for rebuilding the vacant area of the downtown district.  In 1965, Davidson overheard news that the Detroit Lions were seeking a new football stadium in Southeast Michigan. Professor Davidson and city leaders made a push to develop a new multi-purpose stadium, which was built and became known as the Silverdome. Construction began on the 80,000-seat stadium in 1972 and it opened in 1975 as the Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium.  This was a part of Davidson's vision for Pontiac. Besides becoming the new home stadium of the NFL's Detroit Lions, NBA's Detroit Pistons and USFL's Michigan Panthers, the arena hosted such events as the 1979 NBA All-Star Game, the 1982 Super Bowl XVI game between the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals, and four matches of soccer's 1994 World Cup.  Construction began in the 1970s on an urban renewal project known as the "Pontiac Plan". The initial phase of this plan included the Phoenix Center, three office buildings, a transportation center, and a high-rise residential complex. The remainder of the plan was never completed. The city has struggled with declining population since 1980, due to industrial restructuring and the loss of jobs, especially in the automotive industry.

Emergency financial manager.

From 2009 through 2013, Pontiac was under the oversight of an Emergency Financial Manager appointed by the state government. The Emergency Manager was authorized to make day-to-day executive and financial municipal decisions. The position was not subject to the usual checks and balances, nor to election. The first and second managers, Fred Leeb and Michael Stampfler, were appointed by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. The third manager was Louis Schimmel, who was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder.  In order to balance the budget, state-appointed emergency managers drastically revised labor union contracts with the city, sold off city assets such as parking meters, and privatized most public services. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office handles all police (saving $2 million a year) and nearby Waterford township has responsibility for fire protection (saving $3 million). Pontiac sold its water treatment plant for $55 million, and outsources garbage collection, animal control, vital records and street maintenance. Many people working in City Hall are employed by contractors. The city payroll has declined from 600 to 50 employees. The Silverdome Stadium, once valued at $22 million, was sold for $583,000 (it would end up being demolished in December 2017). The emergency managers reduced the city's annual spending to $36 million from $57 million, and erased almost all of its long-term debt.  In August 2013, Schimmel resigned as Emergency Financial Manager. Schimmel now serves as part of the four-member Transition Advisory Board for the city. Other members of the board include Deputy Oakland County Executive Bob Daddow, Rochester Hills Finance Director Keith Sawdon, and Ed Karyzno, administrator of the Michigan Department of Treasury's Office of Financial Responsibility.  In July 2012, Mayor Leon Jukowski and Emergency Financial Manager Louis Schimmel announced plans to demolish the Phoenix Center. Its vacancy rates were high, and the city did not want to continue the high maintenance costs. New thinking about downtown was to re-emphasize the street grid; the city wanted to reconnect Saginaw Street to the downtown area. Owners of the connecting Ottawa Towers filed an injunction, claiming the demolition would devalue their property and result in lost parking. In December 2012, a judge granted an injunction for the Ottawa Towers on an "expedited calendar", which prevented the demolition of the Phoenix Center for the time being.  In 2010, city leaders and business owners had launched "The Rise of The Phoenix" initiative. This plan was intended to attract businesses interested in downtown retail space. The applicants selected would be given free rent in exchange for multi-year leases (two years or more) as well as one year of free parking in city lots. Some 52 new businesses were recruited to locate in downtown Pontiac, bringing new life to the city. Plans for the development of mixed-use and loft flats in downtown were announced in September 2011 by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA). MEGA estimates the development could generate $20.4 million in new investment and create up to 107 permanent full-time jobs in downtown. The development was to be supported by a state tax break.  On January 26, 2012, West Construction Services began the renovation and restoration of the former Sears building for the Lafayette Place Lofts, the largest construction investment in Downtown Pontiac in approximately 30 years. The project is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified residential and commercial mixed-use development: it will have 46 new urban rental lofts, a fresh food grocery store and café, and an Anytime Fitness center. Construction was completed during 2012, and the lofts and market opened in December of that year. 10 West Lofts, another development in the area, will bring more residents to downtown Pontiac.

Culture.

Regionally, the city was known for the Arts, Beats and Eats Festival, a widely attended summer festival featuring an art show, musical concert venues, and a sampling of food from numerous regional restaurants. In 2010, the festival was moved to nearby Royal Oak. The First Annual Scheme Cruise was held September 6, 2015, an event sponsored by the Scheme Street Battle League. The event combined rap battles, basketball competitions, and a car show. Pontiac officials are considering relocating the event to the downtown area of the city.  The city is at the north end of the famous Woodward Avenue, which extends as a major boulevard into Detroit. It was originally lined with mansions and prestigious businesses. In the 1950s and 1960s it was popular with young people who would "cruise" and drag-race their hot-rods in the area. Pontiac participates in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, an event celebrating Woodward's hot-rod history, with a parade of cars stretching from Detroit to Pontiac.  Downtown Pontiac's nightlife includes nightclubs and music venues such as Club Visions, Tonic, and The Crofoot.  The city hosts two nationally renowned haunted houses: The Realm of Darkness and Erebus. The Realm of Darkness has in previous years been chosen as America's Best Haunted House. Erebus held the world record from 2005-2009 for "Largest Haunted House;" it is 4 stories high.  Pontiac was an early location of movie making, with the Raleigh Michigan Studios, renamed as the Motown Motion Picture Studios. Scenes of the 2012 remake of the film "Red Dawn" were filmed in Pontiac and other Michigan locations, recreating Spokane, Washington. Additionally, downtown Pontiac in August 2012 was the filming site for the tornado-themed disaster movie "Into the Storm." The 2013 fantasy adventure film "Oz the Great and Powerful" was filmed at Motown Motion Picture Studios. "" is the latest movie to be filmed within the studio, with the bulk of filming taking place in Pontiac.  Pontiac is home to the Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial. It is located within the Oakland County Government Complex off Telegraph Road.

Transportation.

Rail.

Amtrak operates passenger service with its Wolverine from Pontiac to Chicago via Detroit and Battle Creek, Michigan. Service is three times daily, both arriving and departing.  Commuter rail service was once provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GTW) and later Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA) from Pontiac to downtown Detroit. This service ended on October 17, 1983, after subsidies were discontinued. Efforts continue to restore such commuter service.  Class one freight rail service is provided by Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GTW), which also operates a large classification yard in Pontiac serving the local auto industry. The Grand Trunk Western Railroad (reporting mark GTW) is an important subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway (CN). It constitutes the majority of CN's Chicago Division (which is part of CN's Southern Region). It operates in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, forming the CN mainline from Port Huron to Chicago, as well as serving Detroit and Toledo.

Air.

Oakland County International Airport serves the city and surrounding areas with commuter air service. When previously owned by the city, it was known as the Pontiac City Airport. But it is located outside the city in neighboring Waterford Township and not on land contiguous with Pontiac's city limits.

Bus.

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.

Road.

The major thoroughfares in the city are: Woodward Avenue (M-1), Huron Street (M-59), and Telegraph Road (US 24). Portions of Woodward Avenue were once known as "Saginaw Street" and "Wide Track Drive" (the portion of "Wide Track Drive" that encircles the downtown business district is now known as the "Woodward Loop")

Government.

The Mayor of Pontiac is Dr. Deirdre Holloway Waterman, an ophthalmologist who was elected as Pontiac's first female mayor by more than 68% of the vote on November 5, 2013. The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.  For Pontiac Library Board, nine candidates filed for the November 5, 2013 general election: Incumbents Joyce Allen, Roger Derby and Deirdre Waterman, as well as challengers Vernita Duvall, Juliene Dixon Jenkins, Ronnie Karpinski, Evelyn LeDuff, Rosie Richardson, and Deveda Travis. The top six vote-getters will earn the four-year Library board director positions. After dropping out of the library board elections, Deirdre Waterman was elected Pontiac's first female mayor on November 5, 2013. Patrice Waterman, her niece, became mayor pro tem.

Oakland County Service Center.

The East Campus of the Oakland County Service Center is located in Pontiac. It includes the county courthouse and jail for adults.

Education.

Residents are zoned to the School District of the City of Pontiac. The district runs one main high school, Pontiac High School. There were once two high schools, Pontiac Northern and Pontiac Central, but by December 2008 administrators were making plans to consolidate the schools.  Four charter schools operate in Pontiac; they are Pontiac Academy for Excellence (K-12), Arts and Technology Academy, Walton Charter, and Great Lakes Academy. Pontiac is also home to Notre Dame Preparatory High School, a private Catholic school located in the North East area of the city.

Climate.

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb" (Warm Summer Continental Climate).

Pontiac () is a city and county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit.

Pontiac je město v okrese Oakland County ve státě Michigan ve Spojených státech amerických. S celkovou rozlohou 52,52 km2 byla hustota zalidnění 1133,2 obyvatel na km2.


History.

Initially the company was dedicated to reissuing early jazz material licensed from the Chicago-based Paramount Records label and Gennett Records. Reissued artists included Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Ma Rainey, and James P. Johnson, but the label began issuing its own contemporary jazz recordings in April 1954, beginning with pianist Randy Weston. In 1955 the Prestige Records contract of Thelonious Monk was bought out and Monk was signed by Riverside, where he remained for the next five years. During the next few years, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Charlie Byrd, Johnny Griffin and Wes Montgomery made substantial contributions to Riverside's catalog. Most new records were produced by Keepnews, who served as creative head of the label and several subsidiaries, such as Jazzland Records, with Grauer directing the company's sales and business operations.  Riverside offered an extensive folk catalog, including traditional performers like Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Obray Ramsey, and George Pegram and Walter Parham; and folk interpreters like Ewan MacColl, Jean Ritchie, Paul Clayton, Billy Faier, Oscar Brand, Cynthia Gooding and Bob Gibson.  In 1956 Bill Grauer recorded, produced and edited the racing sounds of the Florida International Twelve-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance, Riverside Records RLP 5001. The record also contains interviews with Stirling Moss, Juan Manual Fangio and other racing drivers.

Living Legends.

In 1960–61 Riverside produced an acclaimed series of albums featuring jazz and blues veterans such as Jim Robinson, Sweet Emma Barrett and Alberta Hunter. The objective was to record musicians before their artistry was lost forever. Many were no longer active and their union memberships had expired. Recognizing the importance of the project, the American Federation of Musicians suspended the rules. This "Living Legends" series was initially recorded in New Orleans. Later sessions were recorded in Chicago. The sessions took place at Societé des Jeunes Amis Hall, built in the 1800s. According to the producer, Chris Albertson, the hall was a "Creole fraternal headquarters and it proved to have every advantage over a studio; apart from its live sound, it gave the performers familiar surroundings... The hall's acoustical sound was exactly what I wanted to recapture: the same kind of ambience that lent such character to Bill Russell's 1940s American Music recordings from San Jacinto Hall." One of the musicians invited to participate was Louis Cottrell, Jr. Cottrell organized a trio comprising McNeal Breaux, Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau with Emmanuel Sayles sitting in playing guitar and banjo. The band was so well received that they continued to play together. The music on this album has been described as "more polite and subtle than the city's 'downtown' music... an intimate, low-key delight." Cottrell's playing has also been well received:

Riverside Wonderland.

Under the subsidiary label Riverside Wonderland, the company also produced a series of children's albums, including two Alec Templeton albums, an album of Martyn Green reading from the Arabian Nights, a Christmas fantasy, "Grandpa Magic's Toyshop" starring Ed Wynn, Edith Evans narrating the story of the first Christmas, and a six-record album set of the complete "Alice in Wonderland", narrated by Cyril Ritchard, a rarity in the LP era when books were seldom recorded complete. An album of excerpts from the book was also issued, and the six records in the complete set were also issued as separate volumes.

End.

Grauer died, following a sudden heart attack, in December 1963, and the company filed for voluntary bankruptcy in July 1964. The catalogue was taken over by ABC Records, which reissued some of it, but virtually all Riverside masters were acquired by Fantasy Records in 1972. The majority of this material was subsequently reissued on CD as part of the owners' Original Jazz Classics series and remains available today from current Fantasy catalogue owner Concord Records.

Riverside Records was an American jazz record company and label. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions in 1953, the label played an important role in the jazz record industry for a decade. Riverside headquarters were located in New York City, at 553 West 51st Street.

Riverside Records je americké hudební vydavatelství, které v roce 1953 založil producent Orrin Keepnews a spolu s ním Bill Grauer, podle nějž se původně také jmenovalo Bill Grauer Productions. Vydavatelství Sídlilo v New Yorku a specializovala se převážně na jazzová alba. Poté, co v roce 1963 Grauer zemřel, začalo vydavatelství postupně upadat. Práva na nahrávky připadly vydavatelství ABC Records a v roce 1972 pak Fantasy Records.


Structure.

Dectin-1 is a transmembrane protein containing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation (ITAM)-like motif in its intracellular tail (which is involved in cellular activation) and one C-type lectin-like domain (carbohydrate-recognition domain, CRD) in the extracellular region (which recognizes β-glucans and endogenous ligands on T cells). The CRD is separated from the membrane by a stalk region. CLEC7A contains putative N-linked sites of glycosylation in the stalk region.  CLEC7A is expressed by macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. Expression has also been studied on other immune cells including eosinophils and B cells.

Function.

The C-type lectin receptors are class of signalling pattern recognition receptors which are involved in antifungal immunity, but also play important roles in immune responses to other pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and nematodes. As a member of this receptor family, dectin-1 recognizes β-glucans and carbohydrates found in fungal cell walls, some bacteria and plants, but may also recognize other unidentified molecules (endogenous ligand on T-cells and ligand on mycobacteria). Ligand binding induces intracellular signalling via the ITAM-like motif. CLEC7A can induce both Syk dependent or Syk independent pathways. Dimerization of dectin-1 upon ligand binding leads to tyrosine phosphorylation by Src family kinases and recruitment of Syk. Syk activates transcription factor NFκB. This transcription factor is responsible for the production of numerous inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as TNF, IL-23, IL-6, IL-2. Other responses include: respiratory burst, production of arachidonic acid metabolites, dendritic cell maturation, and phagocytosis of the ligand.

Antifungal immunity.

CLEC7A has been shown to recognize species of several fungal genera, including "Saccharomyces", "Candida", "Pneumocystis", "Coccidioides", "Penicillium" and others. Recognition of these organisms triggers many protective pathways, such as fungal uptake by phagocytosis and killing via hypochlorite generation. Activation of dectin-1 also triggers expression of many protecting antifungal cytokines and chemokines (TNF, CXCL2, IL-1b, IL-1a, CCL3, GM-CSF, G-CSF and IL-6) and the development of Th17.  Histoplasma capsulatum can evade recognition of β-glucan via CLEC7A on phagocytic cells by secreting an enzyme that removes exposed β-glucans or by masking the β-glucan with α-glucan.

Co-stimulatory molecule.

Also operating as a co-stimulatory molecule via recognition of an endogenous ligand on T-cells, which leads to cellular activation and proliferation, CLEC7A can bind both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

C-type lectin domain family 7 member A or Dectin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the "CLEC7A" gene. CLEC7A is a member of the C-type lectin/C-type lectin-like domain (CTL/CTLD) superfamily. The encoded glycoprotein is a small type II membrane receptor with an extracellular C-type lectin-like domain fold and a cytoplasmic domain with a partial immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif. It functions as a pattern-recognition receptor for a variety of β-1,3-linked and β-1,6-linked glucans from fungi and plants, and in this way plays a role in innate immune response. Expression is found on myeloid dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages and B cells. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized. This gene is closely linked to other CTL/CTLD superfamily members on chromosome 12p13 in the natural killer gene complex region.

CLEC7A (z anglického C-type lectin domain family 7 member A/ Dectin-1) je protein, který je u lidí kódován genem "CLEC7A".


Selection of saints included.

The General Roman Calendar assigns celebrations of saints to only about half the days of the year, and contains only a fraction of the saints listed in the 776-page volume "Roman Martyrology", which itself is not an exhaustive list of all the saints legitimately venerated in the Catholic Church. The Martyrology assigns several saints to each day of the year and gives a very brief description of each saint or group of saints.  While canonization involves the addition of the saint's name to the Roman Martyrology, it does not necessarily involve insertion of the saint's name also into the General Roman Calendar, which mentions only a very limited selection of canonized saints. There is a common misconception that certain saints, e.g., Saint Christopher, were "unsainted" in 1969 or that veneration of them was "suppressed". In fact, Saint Christopher is recognized as a saint of the Catholic Church, being listed as a martyr in the Roman Martyrology under 25 July. In 1969, Pope Paul VI issued the motu proprio Mysterii Paschalis. In it, he recognized that, while the written "Acts of Saint Christopher" are merely legendary, attestations to veneration of the martyr date from ancient times. His change in the calendar of saints included "leaving the memorial of Saint Christopher to local calendars" because of the relatively late date of its insertion into the Roman calendar.  Many sources give calendars that mention one or more saints for each day of the year, usually selected from those listed in the Roman Martyrology. One example is "Saints by Day". They mention the saints of the General Roman Calendar, but they also give names of saints not included in the General Roman Calendar, especially on a day to which the General Roman Calendar assigns no celebration whatever of a saint.

Particular calendars.

The General Calendar is printed, for instance, in the Roman Missal and the Liturgy of the Hours. These are up to date when printed, but additional feasts may be added later. For that reason, if those celebrating the liturgy have not inserted into the books a note about the changes, they must consult the current annual publication, known as the "Ordo", for their country or religious congregation. These annual publications, like those that, disregarding the feasts that are obligatory in the actual church where the liturgy is celebrated, list only celebrations included in the General Calendar, are useful only for the current year, since they omit celebrations impeded because of falling on a Sunday or during periods such as Holy Week and the Octave of Easter.  The feast days of saints celebrated in one country are not necessarily celebrated everywhere. For example, a diocese or a country may celebrate the feast day of a saint of special importance there (e.g., St. Patrick in Ireland, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the United States). Likewise, a particular religious institute may celebrate its founder or members of the institute, even if that saint is not listed on the universal calendar or is included in it only with a lower rank. The "General Roman Calendar" contains only those celebrations that are intended to be observed in the Roman Rite in every country of the world.  This distinction is in application of the decision of the Second Vatican Council: "Lest the feasts of the saints should take precedence over the feasts which commemorate the very mysteries of salvation, many of them should be left to be celebrated by a particular Church or nation or family of religious; only those should be extended to the universal Church which commemorate saints who are truly of universal importance."

The liturgical year.

In the liturgical books, the document "General Roman Calendar" (which lists not only fixed celebrations, but also some moveable ones) is printed immediately after the document "Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar", which states that "throughout the course of the year the Church unfolds the entire mystery of Christ and observes the birthdays of the Saints". The birth of a saint to heaven is as a rule celebrated on a fixed day of the year (although sometimes they may be moved either to or from a Sunday), but the mysteries of Christ are often celebrated on dates that always vary from year to year. The Church's year combines two cycles of liturgical celebrations. One has been called the Proper of Time or Temporale, associated with the moveable date of Easter and the fixed date of Christmas. The other is associated with fixed calendar dates and has been called the Proper of Saints or Sanctorale. The General Roman Calendar includes celebrations that belong to the Proper of Time or Temporale and is not limited to those that make up the Proper of Saints or Sanctorale. An instance where two observances occur on the same date is called an occurrence.  The document on the liturgical year and the calendar includes among "liturgical days":  Under the title "The Cycle of the Year" the same document arranges under seven headings the Church's celebration of "the whole mystery of Christ, from the Incarnation to Pentecost Day and the days of waiting for the Advent of the Lord":

Transfer of celebrations.

Some celebrations listed in the General Roman Calendar are transferred to another date, as explained below.  Solemnities that fall on certain Sundays or on days within Holy Week or the Octave of Easter are transferred to the next day that is free for them, and special rules govern the transfer of the Solemnities of Saint Joseph and of the Annunciation of the Lord.

General Calendar.

Variations from the following list of celebrations in the General Calendar shall be indicated not here but, below, under the heading "National calendars".

Congregational Calendars.

Each institute of consecrated life (religious institute or secular institute) also has its own calendar, with variations from the General Calendar.

Augustinians.

Includes the Discalced Augustinians and the Augustinian Recollects

Benedictines.

According to the Calendar of the Benedictine Confederation (additional feasts may vary among congregations or even among monasteries within a congregation):

Capuchins.

Besides the celebrations listed in the Common Franciscan Calendar, the Capuchin Proper Calendar is as follows:

Vincentian Family.

Includes the Congregation of the Missions and the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul

National Calendars.

Only variations from the General Roman Calendar for celebrations according to the Roman Rite are given here. The various Eastern Catholic Churches have completely different liturgical calendars, as do Latin Rite Catholics who use the Ambrosian and Mozarabic Rites.

Argentina.

According to the national calendar of Argentina, as requested by the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) and approved by the Holy See:

Australia.

See Liturgy Brisbane

Austria, Germany, Switzerland.

The Episcopal Conferences of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland share one regional proper calendar, although each country remains free to insert additional celebrations (Austria, for example, has inscribed the optional memorial of Blessed Charles of Austria for its territory on 21 October).  From "Das Stundenbuch Online"

Canada.

According to the national calendar of Canada, as requested by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and approved by the Holy See:

Chile.

According to the national calendar of Chile, as requested by the Episcopal Conference of Chile (CECh) and approved by the Holy See:

China (Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China).

From the website of the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference

England.

According to the national calendar of England, as requested by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and approved by the Holy See:

Finland.

"From the website of the Catholic Church in Finland"

France.

According to the "Calendrier propre à la France"

Ireland.

According to the national calendar of Ireland, as drawn up by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference and approved by the Holy See:

North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia).

The dioceses within Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia constitute one Episcopal Conference, and so share one regional proper calendar.

Norway.

"From the website of the Catholic Church in Norway"

Portugal.

As by the (National Secretariat of Liturgy):

Puerto Rico.

According to the proper calendar of Puerto Rico, as requested by the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference and approved by the Holy See:

Scotland.

According to the national calendar of Scotland, as requested by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland and approved by the Holy See:

Sweden.

From the website of the Diocese of Stockholm

United States.

According to the national calendar of the United States, as requested by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and approved by the Holy See:

Ordinariate use.

In addition to the national calendar of the United States, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter contains a number of saints from the British Isles in its liturgical calendar; this calendar now supplants the former one used by Anglican Use Catholics in the United States: prior to 2015.

Wales.

According to the national calendar of Wales, as requested by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and approved by the Holy See:

Local calendars.

The calendar for a diocese is typically based on a national calendar, such as those listed above, with a few additions. For instance, the anniversary of the dedication of the cathedral is celebrated as a Solemnity in the cathedral church and as a Feast in all the other churches of the diocese. The feast day of the principal Patron saint of the diocese is celebrated as a Feast throughout the diocese.  The calendar of a parish is based on the calendar of its diocese, but—in addition to the celebrations in the diocesan calendar—there are other celebrations, including the anniversary of the dedication of the parish church and the feast day of the principal Patron saint of the church, both of which are celebrated as Solemnities.

The General Roman Calendar is the liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and mysteries of the Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Roman Rite, wherever this liturgical rite is in use. These celebrations are a fixed annual date; or occur on a particular day of the week (examples are the Baptism of the Lord in January and the Feast of Christ the King in November); or relate to the date of Easter (examples are the celebrations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary). National and diocesan liturgical calendars, including that of the diocese of Rome itself as well as the calendars of religious institutes and even of continents, add other saints and mysteries or transfer the celebration of a particular saint or mystery from the date assigned in the General Calendar to another date.

Všeobecný římský kalendář (latinsky "Calendarium Romanum Generale") je celosvětově platný liturgický kalendář pro katolíky římského ritu. Nynější verze byla vytvořena Kongregací pro bohoslužbu a svátosti a platí (s pozdějšími změnami) od 1. ledna 1970. Jeho doplněním o další slavnosti, svátky a památky a místními úpravami vznikly další liturgické kalendáře, například český liturgický kalendář.


Plot.

Young Vera is a girl around twenty who just finished school. Her parents want her to apply for university, but at the moment she prefers going out with her best friend, Lena, dancing, party and nightlife. Vera loves listening to American and Western European rock and pop music and wears clothes and make up inspired by some of her idols such as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Debbie Harry. She lives with her mother and her alcoholic father, Kolya, who are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with her choice of friends and what they consider her "decadent" lifestyle. They wonder why she can't be more like her brother Victor, a doctor living in Moscow. At an underground dance party that is broken up by police, she meets Sergei, and they immediately fall in love. It turns out Sergei is an old friend of Victor, who, in town for a visit, calls on his friend only to find him alone with his sister.  Vera and Sergei decide to marry, but her parents object. Vera convinces them to accept the planned marriage by falsely telling her mother she is pregnant. Sergei's first meeting with her parents is disastrous, and he leaves with Vera without finishing dinner, but he soon comes to live with them.  The tension between Sergei and Kolya increases and comes to a climax on Kolya's birthday. Fed up with the drunken Kolya, Sergei locks him in the bathroom, where Kolya breaks the basin. When he is let out of the bathroom, he stabs Sergei in the side with a knife, the wound requiring a long convalescence in the hospital.  Vera's mother tries to convince her to tell the authorities that Sergei accidentally caused the wound to himself, to avoid Kolya being sent to prison. Victor, visiting from Moscow, prescribes tranquilizers to calm the despondent Vera. The family goes to the beach for a picnic, ostensibly to help take Vera's mind off the situation. Vera believes, however, that it is a ruse to persuade her to lie about the stabbing. A storm suddenly comes up, and as the family prepares to leave, Vera is nowhere to be found. Kolya searches for her and the two are seen embracing on the beach.  Vera testifies that her father was not to blame for what happened to Sergei. She visits him in the hospital and explains that the family needed Kolya to survive. Sergei now seems uninterested in her, and tells her to go away.  Back home at her parents, she finds herself alone and starts drinking and taking the pills. Victor arrives and rescues her. Sergei escapes from the hospital and soon arrives on the scene.  When Vera asked Sergei why he came back, he replies, "Because I was scared". As the film ends, Vera asks Sergei if he loves her.  Kolya sits alone in the kitchen once Vera has been put to bed. He slowly collapses and calls out to Victor and then Vera. It is assumed that he dies.  A subplot involves Andrey, a former classmate of Vera, who is infatuated with her and wants her to marry him. At the beginning of the film, Andrey is about to leave for naval training and attempts to persuade Vera to come home with him, but she spurns his advances. Later, she meets him on her way home from the hospital after visiting Sergei. He explains that he is on leave for only one day and again tries to arrange a tryst, only to have Vera resort to physical violence to fend him off when he attempts to force himself on her.

Interpretation.

Little Vera shocked the Soviets with its depiction of an ordinary Russian family in a dull industrial town. "Vera" means "faith" in Russian, but Vera's life is a life in a vacuum. The lack of physical and psychological space in her apartment and her consistent dependence on the men around her makes her an accurate figure of a young woman from a blue-collar Russian family that time.  Natalya Negoda, who played Vera, talked about the character in an interview in 1989: "It's our tragedy to have so little faith. The Russian people used to be very religious; then, they lost their faith in God. At the same time, they lost faith in themselves, in their sense of life."  Vera's parents, Kolya and Rita, are played by two stars of the Soviet era, whose typical roles as socialist realists are inverted in the film. Kolya is an unsuccessful and nondomineering father figure. He longs for love from his family rather pathetically, shouting "no one loves me" when he suffers a heart attack, and frets over Sergei for not drinking and not working, and later stabs him in a quarrel. Rita, Vera's mother, is depicted as distant and hostile to Vera. She does not offer Vera any maternal support, and at the family picnic scene by the sea, she shouts at Vera, "I never wanted to have you anyway."  Every scene of the film seems to start on a congenial note but breaks down eventually. Vera starts her affair with Sergei passionately, but is unable to reconcile the eccentric Sergei with her family. In a conversation with Chistyakova after she is married, she says, "it's supposed to be the happiest time of my life. And I feel like howling." And the romance-loving, poetic Chistyakova, in turn, gets into a similar situation with the middle-aged Mikhail Petrovich, who keeps her from going to school. The film explores a limited reality of life, as characters have neither the hope nor the consciousness that is common in classic Soviet films. The films ends with Victor leaving his family for his job immediately after Vera's attempted suicide, and Kolya passing away under a heart attack on the kitchen floor.

Production.

Little Vera is directed by Vasily Pichul, who was then 28-year-old, and written by his wife, Maria Khmelik. The movie is filmed in the port city of Zhdanov (now Mariupol, Ukraine), where Pichul was born and raised. Using the brackish water of the port as his primary motif, Pitchul shot the picture in a ragged, off-the-cuff style, adding images of the polluted waterfront and rusting machinery. Many elements in the filming of Little Vera is said to mirror America's own period of social opening-up in the 1950s, including the character's unstructured shouting, which reflects the Method techniques that are dominating in the `50s Hollywood.

Reception.

Little Vera is advertised as the first Soviet film that honestly explores youth rebellion and discontent with the system. The film frankly takes side with the youth against the authority, depicting the police as repressive and uncaring of the fate of the people. Vera's sarcastic line before her lovemaking with Sergei: "In our country, we have but one goal: communism." reportedly became famous in the USSR after the release of film in 1989.  While Little Vera was sold as a sex film in the West, its more profound innovation is in its portrayal of typical Soviet family life. Natalya Negoda, the star behind Vera, became the first Soviet actress that appear nude in an explicit sex scene, and posed nude for Playboy with the headline "From Russia, With Love" to help the film launch in America. As Soviet Union's first sex symbol, Negoda is said to have received so many obscene letters after the release of the film that she told the New York Times in March 1989 that she didn't even open letters anymore. The film was able to attract more than 50 million Soviet movie-goers, largely thanks to its unprecedented sex scenes.

Influence.

Little Vera is one of the breakthrough movies of the glasnost era. Tearing down the facade of socialist realism, the film portrays honestly a provincial Russian family supported by an alcoholic father, their meaningless works, and the aimless youth around them. This portrayal is credited with being representative of the Soviet population at the time, as Natalya Negoda said in an interview, "If the movie weren't so true, it wouldn't be so popular."

Little Vera (, "Malenkaya Vera"), produced at the Gorky Film Studio and released in 1988, is a film by Russian film director Vasili Pichul. The title in Russian is ambiguous and can also mean "Little Faith," symbolizing the characters' lack of hope (or a glimmer thereof).

Malá Věra ( – "Maleňkaja Vera") je sovětský film režiséra Vasilije Pičula z roku 1988. Film natočený v době perestrojky kriticky pojednává život soudobé společnosti. Věra (Natalja Něgodová) je bez práce a žije se svými rodiči, přičemž otec (Jurij Nazarov), zaměstnáním řidič, je alkoholik a spolu s matkou se marně snaží vést Věru ke spořádanému životu podle svých představ.


Club career.

Early career.

Born in Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia, Baljić began his career with hometown club Željezničar, but in 1993, during the Bosnian War, he signed for FK Sarajevo. During his time with Sarajevo, he played eleven games, and scored eight goals.  Later, he moved to Turkey where he played for Bursaspor. Baljić was the best player at the club for several seasons, which made him an interesting target for the best Turkish clubs. During his spell in Bursaspor, he also took Turkish citizenship in 1996. However, Baljić chose to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina instead of Turkey.

Fenerbahçe.

In the summer of 1998, Baljić signed a contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe for a €9.3 million transfer fee. He spent a season at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium scoring 18 goals in 30 appearances as the club finished the season in third place.

Real Madrid.

Baljić's stellar performances at Fenerbahçe made the 25-year-old a target for various European clubs. Still, his €26 million transfer to Real Madrid under club president Lorenzo Sanz during summer 1999 caused a major surprise. The signing was initiated by Real Madrid's head coach John Toshack who knew Baljić well from Istanbul as the Welshman coached Beşiktaş while the Bosnian starred for Fenerbahçe. For more than a decade, the transfer fee paid by Real to Fenerbahçe for Baljić stood as the biggest sum of money paid for a player from ex-Yugoslavia, until Edin Džeko's January 2011 move from VfL Wolfsburg to Manchester City for £27 million (€32 million).  Just before the start of the 1999-2000 season in Spanish top flight, Baljić suffered rapture of both pairs of cruciate ligaments in his left knee, anterior (ACL) and posterior (PCL), after which he underwent surgery and was put off the field for prolonged rehabilitation. Subsequent loss of form caused Baljić's Real stint to turn sour pretty much immediately. Throughout the 1999–00 season, he made only 11 league appearances (8 of them as substitute), scoring just 1 goal. He never managed to secure a first team place, and the November 1999 sacking of Toshack followed by the arrival of new head coach Vicente del Bosque, marginalized Baljić even further. At the season's end, del Bosque included Baljić in the 18-man squad he took to Paris for the 2000 Champions League Final, but did not give him a single minute of action as Real beat compatriots Valencia CF.  During the 2000 summer transfer window, Baljić was sent back to Fenerbahçe on a loan deal.

Loan spells at Fenerbahçe and Rayo Vallecano.

Baljić spent the entire 2000–01 season back at his old stomping grounds with Fenerbahçe. He simultaneously managed to recover some of his old form with 5 goals in 27 league appearances as Fenerbahçe won the Turkish Süper Lig.  In the following 2001–02 season, he got a chance to showcase his abilities closer to the club that still held his rights as he got loaned to Madrid's Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. Baljić actually insisted on joining Rayo due to its proximity to Real as he had his eye on getting a fresh opportunity with the big club in the future. For their part, Real Madrid obliged and managed to hammer out a loan deal with Rayo. Also, in Rayo he joined countrymen and friends Elvir Bolić and Emir Granov, which Baljić cited as another reason he wanted to be at Rayo. However, the move did not do much to improve Baljić's standing at the Bernabéu as more injuries, poor form, and even disciplinary issues followed with only 1 league goal from 10 appearances.  During the 2002 summer transfer window, Baljić's Real contract was terminated and he again transferred back to Turkey - this time to Galatasaray. Due to his substantial price tag and the subsequent high-profile failure at Madrid, Baljić's acquisition by Real features consistently and prominently on various "worst-ever signing" lists.

Galatasaray and later career.

Baljić turned just 28 years of age when he began his Galatasaray stint, but it soon became clear his best days were far behind him. His form was average at best and his overall interest in football seemed to be decreasing by the day. He said that he would retire on several occasions, but every time he would come back.  In December 2004, he left Galatasaray and in January 2005, signed with Konyaspor. After only half a season at Konyaspor, Baljić left the club and took a break from football at only the age of 31.  Baljić came back to the sport in January 2006, when he signed for Turkish side MKE Ankaragücü. In the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, he played for İstanbulspor, before deciding to finish his career in July 2008 at the age of 34.

International career.

Baljić's international career was prolific. As part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team since its inception, he scored 14 goals in 38 caps. He will be remembered as the first, and for now only, player who scored four goals in a single official match for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in an away game of the Group 9, during the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifications, between Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 9 October, just a couple of weeks after he signed a contract with Real Madrid. The final result was 1–4.

Managerial career.

Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Almost two years after finishing his playing career, in February 2010, Bosnia and Herzegovina's national team manager Safet Sušić revealed that Baljić would be one of his assistants. While as an assistant, Baljić was part of the historic achievement of the national team, which was qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Baljić left the national team in 2014 with Sušić's departure.

Karabükspor.

On 2 October 2015, Baljić became the new manager of Turkish TFF First League club Karabükspor. Less than three months later, on 21 December 2015, he resigned from the position of Karabükspor manager after a 3–0 loss against Adanaspor, which was the clubs third loss in a row in all competitions and second in a row in the league.

Konyaspor and Akhisarspor.

During 2017 and 2018, Baljić had a roll as assistant manager of Safet Sušić again, and during that period, was the assistant at Süper Lig club Konyaspor in 2017 and one more Süper Lig club Akhisarspor in 2018.

Tuzla City.

On 1 October 2019, it was announced that Baljić became the new manager of Bosnian Premier League club Tuzla City. The next day, on 2 October, Baljić officially took over the role of manager of Tuzla City, signing a three-year contract with the club. In his first game as Tuzla City manager, the club beat Zvijezda 09 at home 3–0 in a league match on 5 October 2019. He suffered his first loss with Tuzla on 19 October 2019, after the club lost to Radnik Bijeljina at home 0–3 in another league match.  In his first Tuzla derby, Baljić's team drew against city rivals Sloboda Tuzla 1–1 on 30 November 2019. On 9 March 2020, Baljić decided to terminate his contract with Tuzla City because of poor results, which culminated with an away 1–0 league loss against Željezničar the day earlier.

Career statistics.

International goals.

"Scores and results table. Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first:

Honours.

Player.

Real Madrid  Fenerbahçe

Individual.

Awards

Elvir Baljić () (born 8 July 1974) is a Bosnian-Turkish professional football manager and former player. As a player, Baljić's biggest success was winning the UEFA Champions League with Spanish giant Real Madrid in the 1999–2000 season. Apart from the UEFA Champions League success, he also won the Turkish Süper Lig with Fenerbahçe in the 2000–01 season.

Elvir Baljić (cyrilicí Елвир Баљић, * 8. července 1974, Sarajevo) je bývalý bosenský fotbalista. Baljić patří mezi nemnoho bosenských hráčů, kteří v národním dresu docílili hattricku (mj. Elvir Bolić, Zlatan Muslimović, Zvjezdan Misimović, Vedad Ibišević, Edin Džeko). Baljić dal v jednom zápase dokonce 4 branky, podařilo se mu to 9. října 1999 v kvalifikačním utkání v Tallinnu proti Estonsku. Svými góly zařídil vítězství 4:1.