Biography.

Early years.

Margaret Berger was born on 11 October 1985 in Trondheim, Norway and grew up in Hitra, where she lived for twelve years. She sang in a gospel choir and began writing her own songs at the age of twelve. Berger studied music at Heimdal videregående skole. She made her debut as a lyricist with the local band Slim Void with the song "In Company With Bottles" on their album "Slim Void" released on a local label.

2004: "Idol".

In 2004, Berger participated in the second season of Idol: Jakten på en superstjerne. She advanced to the top 50, and competed in the semi-finals. She did not make it through in her initial semi-final round, where she lost to Maria Haukaas Storeng and Kjartan Salvesen (the eventual winner). However, she received a call-back for the wildcards from the judge Anneli Drecker, who said that Margaret was one of her favorite contestants. She received the most votes with her rendition of The Beatles' "Come Together" thus advancing to the top 11 alongside fellow contestant Susanne Nordboe.

2004–2005: "Chameleon".

Berger's debut album, "Chameleon", was released on 4 October 2004. The album reached number four on the Norwegian albums chart. According to Allmusic's review of the album, "its ten tracks seem to snatch indiscriminately from rock, dance, R&B, and electro, though the cumulative effect is less of a hodgepodge than a harmonious cohabitation of electronic beats and rock guitars, within a plush, polished pop context, in a manner that hasn't been particularly prevalent (in mainstream music anyway) since the '80s".  The album did not receive an official single release, but the music video for the song "Lifetime Guarantee" was awarded a Spellemannprisen.

2006–2010: "Pretty Scary Silver Fairy".

Her second album, "Pretty Scary Silver Fairy", was released on 2 October 2006. The album reached number eight in Norway and received positive reviews. Influenced by Björk, Daft Punk and The Knife, the album was a departure from her previous effort, and featured a mixture of electronic and dance-pop music.  The lead single, "Samantha", reached number six on the Norwegian singles chart. Its lyrics discuss women who change themselves to please others. Two more singles followed: "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow?" (which peaked at number 13 on the Norwegian singles chart) and "Robot Song".  In 2008, Berger became the music director of NRK P3, one of the three nationwide radio channels of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

2011–2012: "Four Hits: Margaret Berger".

On 21 February 2011, Berger released the single "In a Box" on Universal Music. This single included the B-side "4-E.V.E.R. L.O.V.E".  In June 2011, her label Sony BMG issued the 4-track EP compilation "Four Hits: Margaret Berger", which included the singles "Lifetime Guarantee", "Samantha", "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow?" and "Chameleon".

2013–present: "Eurovision Song Contest 2013" and "New Religion".

Berger represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "I Feed You My Love" after winning the Norwegian national final on 9 February 2013. The song, written by Karin Park and MachoPsycho, reached number four on the Norwegian singles chart. On 18 May, Margaret Berger finished in 4th place with 191 points—Norway's best result at the contest since their victory in 2009, and their sixth best result ever.  Berger is currently recording her third album, "New Religion", in Gothenburg, Sweden. The album will include her Eurovision 2013 song, "I Feed You My Love", as well as a collaboration with Swedish indie-pop group Lo-Fi-Fnk. On 28 August 2013 she announced the second single "Human Race" on Instagram. The single was released on 6 September. In an interview with So So Gay she announced that the album will be released in February 2014. However, this release date was pushed back. On 14 March 2014, the third single from the album, "Scream", was released. As of May 2015, the album still hasn't been released. She was one of the five jurors for Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Austria. In December 2015 she announced her single "Apologize" on Instagram, which was later released on 22 January 2016.

Margaret Berger (born 11 October 1985) is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, music director, and DJ. She made her debut on Sony BMG after she placed second on the second season of "Norwegian Idol" in 2004.

Margaret Berger (* 11. říjen 1985; Trondheim, Norsko) je norská elektropopová zpěvačka-skladatelka. Umístila se druhá ve druhé řadě norské odnože pěvecké soutěže Idol v roce 2004. Následně obdržela kontrakt se společností Sony BMG. V roce 2013 reprezentovala Norsko na Eurovision Song Contest 2013 v Malmö, kde s písní ""I Feed You My Love"" obsadila čtvrté místo se ziskem 191 bodů.


Club career.

Bossis was born in Saint-André-Treize-Voies, Vendée. A longtime starter for FC Nantes during the club's most successful period during the 1970s and 1980s, he was noted chiefly as a full-back on the left flank, but filled in at various roles in defence. Bossis spent much of his time at right back during Nantes' championship-winning seasons in 1977 and 1980, in which Thierry Tusseau normally started on the left, but made the left back position his own beginning in 1981. Bossis helped Nantes to finish first or second in every season between 1976 and 1981. The club added a third title in 1983, finishing ten points ahead of second-place Girondins Bordeaux. In 1985, Bossis moved to the ambitious RC Paris, but the Parisian club achieved only modest success in spite of heavy spending that acquired such players as Enzo Francescoli and Pierre Littbarski. Bossis returned to Nantes for one final season in 1990, lining up next to future French international Marcel Desailly before retiring from play.  Bossis was named Footballer of the Year by France Football in 1979 and 1981.

International career.

Bossis also represented France for ten years, appearing at the 1978, 1982, and 1986 World Cups, reaching the semifinals of the latter two editions of the tournament. He is mostly remembered for missing France's last penalty in the 1982 World Cup semifinal against West Germany. While the score was tied at 4–4, Bossis missed the next penalty, allowing Horst Hrubesch to score the last penalty and send the Germans to the final. Bossis was also an important member of the French team that won the European Championship on home soil in 1984. From 1985 to 1992, he held the French record of caps, before fellow defender Manuel Amoros established a new mark with 82 caps. He also held the French record of matches played in the FIFA World Cup with 15, which was subsequently surpassed by Fabien Barthez in 2006.

Personal life.

Bossis' younger brother, Joël, also played professional football and holds the all-time record for most goals scored for Chamois Niortais.

After retirement.

After he retired in 1991, Bossis briefly embraced a career as a football executive, heading the Coupe de France Central Commission (1993–1995) before he joined Saint-Étienne as sporting director (1996–1997). He then reinvented himself as a TV commentator, working first for TPS, then for Orange Sport and since 2014 for BeIn Sport.

Honours.

Club.

Nantes

International.

France

Maxime Jean Marcel Bossis (; born 26 June 1955) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Maxime Bossis (* 26. červen 1955, Saint-André-Treize-Voies) je bývalý francouzský fotbalista. Hrával na pozici obránce. S francouzskou reprezentací vyhrál roku 1984 mistrovství Evropy, získal bronzovou medaili na mistrovství světa roku 1986, zúčastnil se Mistrovství světa ve fotbale 1982, kde Francie skončila na čtvrtém místě, a Mistrovství světa ve fotbale 1978. Celkem za národní tým odehrál 76 utkání, v nichž vstřelil 1 branku. S FC Nantes vyhrál třikrát francouzskou ligu (1977, 1980, 1983) a jednou francouzský pohár (1979). Roku 1979 a 1981 byl vyhlášen nejlepším fotbalistou Francie.


Taxonomy and etymology.

The genus name, "Heteralocha", derives from Ancient Greek "ἕτερος" "different" and "ἄλοχος" "wife". It refers to the striking difference in bill shape between male and female. The specific name, "acutirostris", derives from Latin "acutus", meaning "sharp pointed", and "rostrum", meaning "beak", and refers to the beak of the female.  John Gould described the huia in 1836 as two species: "Neomorpha acutirostris" based on a female specimen, and "N. crassirostris" based on a male specimen—the epithet "crassirostris" derives from the Latin "crassus", meaning "thick" or "heavy", and refers to the male's short bill. In 1840, George Robert Gray proposed the name "N. gouldii", arguing that neither of Gould's names was applicable to the species. In 1850, Jean Cabanis replaced the name "Neomorpha", which had been previously used for a cuckoo genus, with "Heteralocha". In 1888 Sir Walter Buller wrote: "I have deemed it more in accordance with the accepted rules of zoological nomenclature to adopt the first of the two names applied to the species by Mr Gould; and the name "Neomorpha" having been previously used in ornithology, it becomes necessary to adopt that of "Heteralocha", proposed by Dr Cabanis for this form."  The huia appears to be a remnant of an early expansion of passerines in the country of New Zealand, and is the largest of the three members of the family Callaeidae, the New Zealand wattlebirds; the others are the saddleback and the kōkako. The only close relative to the family is the stitchbird; their taxonomic relationships to other birds remain to be determined. A molecular study of the nuclear RAG-1 and c-mos genes of the three species within the family proved inconclusive, the data providing most support for either a basally diverging kōkako or huia.

Description.

The huia had black plumage with a green metallic tinge and distinctive rounded bright orange wattles at the gape. In both sexes, the eyes were brown; the beak was ivory white, greyish at the base; the legs and feet were long and bluish grey while the claws were light brown. Huia had twelve long glossy black tail feathers, each tipped for with a broad band of white. Immature huia had small pale wattles, duller plumage flecked with brown, and a reddish-buff tinge to the white tips of the tail feathers. The beak of the young female was only slightly curved. Māori referred to certain huia as "huia-ariki", "chiefly huia". The "huia-ariki" had brownish plumage streaked with grey, and the feathers on the neck and head were darker. This variant may have been a partial albino, or perhaps such birds were simply of great age. Several true albino huia were recorded. A white specimen painted by John Gerrard Keulemans around 1900 may have been the result of progressive greying or leucism, rather than albinism; the current whereabouts of this specimen are unknown.  Although sexual dimorphism in bill shape is found in other birds, such as the riflebirds, sicklebills and other wood-excavating birds including some species of woodpecker, it was most pronounced in the huia. The beak of the male was short at approximately and slightly arched downwards and robust, very similar to that of the closely related saddleback, while the female's beak was finer, longer at around, and decurved (curved downward) like that of a hummingbird or honeyeater. The difference was not only in the bone; the rhamphotheca grew way past the end of the bony maxilla and mandible to produce a pliable implement able to deeply penetrate holes made by wood-boring beetle larvae. The skulls and mandibles of the huia and saddleback are very similar, the latter essentially miniatures of the former.  There are two possible explanations for the evolution of this sexual difference in bill shape. The most widely supported is that it allowed birds of different sexes to utilise different food sources. This divergence may have arisen because of a lack of competitors in these foraging niches in the North Island forest ecosystems. The other idea is that the ivory-coloured bill, which contrasted sharply with the bird's black plumage, may have been used to attract a mate. In animals that use sexually dimorphic physical traits to attract a mate, the dimorphic feature is often brightly coloured or contrasts with the rest of the body, as with the huia. It has been suggested that as the female was the main provider of food for the chicks by regurgitation, this sex evolved the longer bill to obtain the protein-rich invertebrate diet required for the chicks.  Another, less obvious aspect of the huia's sexual dimorphism was the minor size difference between the sexes. Males were long, while females were larger at. Additionally, the tail of the male was about in length and the wingspan was between, while the female's tail was and the female's wingspan was.

Distribution and habitat.

Subfossil deposits and midden remains reveal that the huia was once widespread in both lowland and montane native forest throughout the North Island, extending from the northernmost tip at Cape Reinga to Wellington and the Aorangi Range in the far south. Only a few huia are known from the extensive pitfall deposits in the karst of the Waitomo Caves area and they are also rare or absent in fossil deposits in the central North Island and Hawke's Bay; it seems to have preferred habitats that are not well sampled by the deposits known at present. The huia vanished from the northern and western North Island following Māori settlement in the 14th century, due to over-hunting, forest clearance, and introduced kiore preying on nests. By the time of European settlement in the 1840s it was only found south of a line from the Raukumara Range in the east, across the Kaimanawa Range, to the Turakina River in the Rangitikei in the west. In the south, its range extended to the Wairarapa and the Rimutaka Range east of Wellington. Reports collected by Walter Buller and a single "waiata" (Māori song) suggest that the huia was once also found in the Marlborough and Nelson districts of the South Island; however, it has never been identified in the rich fossil deposits south of Cook Strait, and there is no other evidence of the species' presence.  The huia inhabited both of the two principal forest types in New Zealand. They were primarily found in broadleaf-podocarp forests where there was a dense understorey, but occasionally also in southern beech ("Nothofagus") forest. The species was observed in native vegetation including mataī ("Prumnopitys taxifolia"), rimu ("Dacrydium cupressinum"), kahikatea ("Dacrycarpus dacrydioides"), northern rātā ("Metrosideros robusta"), maire ("Nestegis"), hinau ("Elaeocarpus dentatus"), totara ("Podocarpus totara"), rewarewa ("Knightia excelsa"), mahoe ("Melicytus ramiflorus"), and taraire ("Beilschmiedia tarairi"), and at sea level in karaka ("Corynocarpus laevigatus") trees at Cape Turakirae. It was never seen in burnt forest or land cleared for farming.

Ecology and behaviour.

Movements.

The huia's movements are little known, but it was most likely sedentary. The huia is thought to have undertaken seasonal movements, living in montane forests in the summer and moving down into lowland forests in the winter to avoid the harsher weather and cold temperatures of higher altitudes. Like the surviving New Zealand wattlebirds, the saddleback and the kōkako, the huia was a weak flier and could only fly for short distances, and seldom above tree height. More often it would use its powerful legs to propel it in long leaps and bounds through the canopy or across the forest floor, or it would cling vertically to tree trunks with its tail spread for balance.

Feeding and ecology.

The huia, with the previously endangered saddleback, were the two species of classic bark and wood probers in the arboreal insectivore guild in the New Zealand avifauna. Woodpeckers do not occur east of Wallace's line; their ecological niche is filled by other groups of birds that feed on wood-boring beetle larvae, albeit in rotting wood. The woodpecker-like role was taken on by two species in two different families in the New Zealand mixed-podocarp and "Nothofagus" forests; one was the huia and the other was the kaka.  The huia foraged mainly on decaying wood. Although it was considered a specialist predator of the larvae of the nocturnal huhu beetle ("Prionoplus reticularis"), it also ate other insects—including weta—insect larvae, spiders, and fruit.  Insects and spiders were taken from decaying wood, from under bark, mosses and lichens, and from the ground. Huia foraged either alone, in pairs, or in small flocks of up to five, which were probably family groups. The sexual dimorphism of the bill structure gave rise to feeding strategies that differed radically between the sexes. The male used its adze-like bill to chisel and rip into the outer layers of decaying wood, while the female probed areas inaccessible to the male, such as the burrows of insect larvae in living wood. The male had well-developed cranial musculature allowing rotten wood to be chiselled and pried apart by "gaping" motions. There are corresponding differences in the structure and musculature of the head and neck between males and females. Huia had very well developed depressor jaw muscles, and an occipital crest that provided extra surface for muscle attachment, allowing the jaw to be opened with considerable force. Once the bird had secured a meal, it flew to a perch with the insect in its feet. The huia stripped its meal of any hard parts, then tossed the remainder up, caught, and swallowed it. Pairs did not cooperate in feeding, at least not in a strict sense. All such reports are based on misunderstanding of an account by ornithologist Walter Buller of a pair kept in captivity obtaining wood-boring beetle larvae. According to this misunderstanding, which has become part of ecological folklore, the male would tear at the wood and open larval tunnels, thus allowing the female to probe deeply into the tunnels with her long, pliant bill. Rather, the divergent bills represent an extreme example of niche differentiation, reducing intraspecific competition between the sexes. This allowed the species to exploit a wide range of food sources in different microhabitats.  The New Zealand forest relies heavily on frugivorous birds for seed dispersal: about 70% of the woody plants have fruits that are probably dispersed by birds, which included the huia. The range of fruits eaten by the huia is difficult to establish: hinau ("Elaeocarpus dentatus"), pigeonwood ("Hedycarya arborea") and various species of "Coprosma" are recorded by Buller, and they were also recorded as eating the fruits of kahikatea ("Dacrycarpus dacrydioides"). The extinction of the huia and other frugivorous New Zealand bird species including the moa and piopio, and the diminishing range of many others, including the kiwi, weka, and kōkako, has left few effective seed dispersers in the New Zealand forest. For plants with fruit greater than 1 cm in diameter, kereru are the sole remaining dispersers in the ecosystem, and they are rare or extinct in some areas. This depletion of avifauna in the forest ecosystem may be having major impacts on processes such as forest regeneration and seed dispersal.

Voice.

Like so many other aspects of its biology, the vocalisations of the huia are not well known, and present knowledge is based on very few accounts. The calls were mostly a varied array of whistles, "peculiar and strange", but also "soft, melodious and flute-like". An imitation of the bird's call survives as a recording of 1909 huia search team member Henare Hamana whistling the call (see "External links"). Huia were often silent. When they did vocalise, their calls could carry considerable distances – some were audible from up to away through dense forest. The calls were said to differ between sexes, though there are no details. Calls were given with the bird's head and neck stretched outward and its bill pointing 30 to 45 degrees from the vertical. Most references describe huia calls as heard in the early morning; one records it as the first bird to sing in the dawn chorus, and captive birds were known to "wake the household". Like the whitehead, huia behaved unusually before the onset of wet weather, being "happy and in full song". The bird's name is onomatopoeic: it was named by Māori for its loud distress call, a smooth, unslurred whistle rendered as "uia, uia, uia" or "where are you?". This call was said to be given when the bird was excited or hungry. Chicks had a "plaintive cry, pleasant to the ear", would feebly answer imitations by people, and were very noisy when kept in tents.

Commensals and parasites.

A species of parasitic phtilopterid louse, "Rallicola extinctus", was only known to live on the huia, and apparently became extinct with its host. In 2008, a new species of feather mite, "Coraciacarus muellermotzfeldi", was described from dried corpses found in the feathers of a huia skin held by a European museum. While the genus "Coraciacarus" has a wide range of hosts globally, the presence of a representative of the genus on a passerine bird was an "enigmatic phenomenon". The discoverers suggested the mite could have been horizontally transferred from one of the two native, migratory species of cuckoo (Cuculiformes).

Social behaviour and reproduction.

A quiet, social bird, the huia was monogamous, and pairs probably paired for life. The bird was usually found in breeding pairs, although sometimes groups of four or more were encountered. Walter Buller records that a tame pair would always keep close to each other, constantly uttering a "low affectionate twitter", even when in captivity. There are records of this same pair and a further, wild pair "hopping from branch to branch and fanning their tails, then meeting to caress each other with their bills" and uttering these noises. The male is said to have fed the female in courtship. It is thought that these behaviours may have been a sexual display. The claim that the male fed the female while she was incubating and on the nest "lacks evidence". When the male of this captive pair was accidentally killed, the female "manifesting the utmost distress pined for her mate and died 10 days afterwards". A Māori man in the 19th century recalled: "I was always told by my old people that a pair of huia lived on most affectionate terms... If the male died first, the female died soon after of grief". The huia had no fear of people; females allowed themselves to be handled on the nest, and birds could easily be captured by hand.  Little is known about the huia's reproduction, as only two eggs and four nests were ever described. The only known huia egg to still exist is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The breeding season for mating, building nests, laying eggs and raising young is thought to have been late spring (October–November). It is thought they nested solitarily; pairs are said to have been territorial and the birds would remain on their territories for life. Huia appear to have raised just one brood per season; the number of eggs in a clutch is variously described as being 3–5, 4, 2–4 and 1–4. These eggs were greyish with purple and brown speckles, and measured. Incubation was mostly by the female, though there is evidence that the male also had a small role, as rubbed-bare brooding patches that were smaller than those of females were discovered on some males in November. The incubation period is unknown. Eggshells were apparently removed from the nest by adults. The brood size was usually one or two, though there was the odd record of up to three chicks in a single nest. Nests were constructed in varying places: in dead trees, the crooks of large branches, tree hollows, on branches, or "on or near the ground", and some nests were covered with hanging vegetation or vines. The nest itself was a large saucer-shaped structure, up to 350 mm in diameter and 70 mm deep, with thick walls of dry grass, leaves and "withered stems of herbaceous plants". A central small, shallow cup of soft materials such as grass and fine twigs cushioned and insulated the eggs. After hatching, young remained in the family group and were fed by the adults for three months, by which time they appeared adult.

Relationship with humans.

In culture.

In Māori culture, the "white heron and the Huia were not normally eaten but were rare birds treasured for their precious plumes, worn by people of high rank". The bold and inquisitive nature of the huia made it particularly easy to capture. Māori attracted the huia by imitating its call and then captured it with a "tari" (a carved pole with a noose at the end) or snare, or killed it with clubs or long spears. Often they exploited the strong pair bond by capturing one of a pair, which would then call out, attracting its mate, which could be easily captured. Opinion on the quality of huia meat as food varied wildly; although not usually hunted for this purpose, the huia was considered "good eating" in pies or curried stew by some, but a "tough morsel" and "unfit to eat" by others.  Although the huia's range was restricted to the southern North Island, its tail feathers were valued highly and were exchanged among tribes for other valuable goods such as pounamu and shark teeth, or given as tokens of friendship and respect. Through this trade, the feathers reached the far north and the far south of New Zealand. They were stored in intricately carved boxes called "waka huia", which were hung from the ceilings of chiefs' houses. Huia feathers were worn at funerals and used to decorate the heads of the deceased. The "marereko", described by Edward Robert Tregear as an "ancient war-plume", consisted of twelve huia feathers. The highly valued "pōhoi" was an ornament made from the skin of the huia: the bird was skinned with the beak, skull and wattles attached and the legs and wings removed, carefully dried, and the resulting ornament worn from the neck or ears. Dried huia heads were also worn as pendants called "ngutu huia". A captured huia would be kept in a small cage so that its tail feathers could be plucked as they grew to full size.  The bird was also kept by Māori as a pet, and like the tui, it could be trained to say a few words. There is also a record of a tame huia kept by European settlers in a small village in the Forty-Mile Bush in the 19th century.  New Zealand has released several postage stamps portraying the huia. The New Zealand sixpence coin, minted between 1933 and 1966, featured a female huia on the reverse.  The degree to which the huia was known and admired in New Zealand is reflected in the large number of suburban and geographical features which are named after the species. There are several roads and streets named after the huia in the North Island, with several in Wellington (including Huia Road in Days Bay – not far from where one of the last sightings of this species occurred in the early 1920s in the forests of East Harbour Regional Park) and also in Auckland, where there is even a Huia suburb in Waitakere. A river on the west coast of the South Island and the Huiarau Ranges in the central North Island are also named after the bird. The species was once found living in great abundance in the forests of these mountains: "Huiarau" means "a hundred huia". Businesses include the public swimming pool in Lower Hutt, a Marlborough winery, and Huia Publishers, which specialises in Māori writing and perspectives. The name was first given to a child in the late 19th century, to the son of members of a lower North Island "iwi" concerned about the bird's rapid decline, and although uncommon, it is still used today in New Zealand as a name for girls and more rarely for boys (e.g. Huia Edmonds), of both European and Māori descent.  Tail feathers of the extinct huia are very rare and they have become a collectors' item. In June 2010 a single huia tail feather sold at auction in Auckland for NZ$8,000, much higher than the $500 the auctioneers had expected, making it the most expensive feather ever. The previous record price for a single feather was $US2,800 (NZ$4,000) achieved by a bald eagle feather at auction in the United States.  In the 2016 New Zealand film "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" two of the characters encounter a huia, and eventually set out to obtain proof of their sighting.

Extinction.

The huia was found throughout the North Island before humans arrived in New Zealand. Māori are estimated to have arrived around 750 years ago, and by the arrival of European settlers in the 1840s, habitat destruction, hunting, and introduced rats had reduced the bird's range to the southern North Island. However, Māori hunting pressures on the huia were limited to some extent by traditional protocols. The hunting season was from May to July when the bird's plumage was in prime condition, while a "rāhui" (hunting ban) was enforced in spring and summer. After European settlement the huia's numbers began to decline more quickly, due mainly to two well-documented factors: widespread deforestation and over-hunting.  Like the extinctions of other New Zealand birds such as the piopio in the 19th century, the decline of the huia was poorly studied. Massive deforestation occurred in the North Island at this time, particularly in the lowlands of southern Hawkes Bay, the Manawatu and the Wairarapa, as land was cleared by European settlers for agriculture. The huia was particularly vulnerable to this as it could only live in old-growth forest where there were abundant rotting trees filled with wood-boring insect larvae. It seems it could not survive in regenerating, secondary forests. Although the mountainous part of its former range was not deforested, the lowland forests of the valleys below were systematically destroyed. The destruction of this part of its habitat would have undoubtedly had a severe impact on huia populations, but its removal would have been particularly dire if they did in fact descend to the lowlands as a winter refuge to escape snow at higher altitudes as some researchers including Oliver have surmised.  It appears that predation by invasive mammalian species including ship rats, cats, and mustelids was an additional factor in the decline in huia numbers – introduction of these animals by New Zealand acclimatisation societies peaked in the 1880s and coincided with a particularly sharp decline in huia populations. Because it spent a lot of time on the ground, the huia would have been particularly vulnerable to mammalian predators. Another hypothetical cause of extinction is exotic parasites and disease introduced from Asia with the common myna.  Habitat destruction and the predations of introduced species were problems faced by all New Zealand birds, but in addition the huia faced massive pressure from hunting. Due to its pronounced sexual dimorphism and its beauty, huia were sought after as mounted specimens by wealthy collectors in Europe and by museums all over the world. These individuals and institutions were willing to pay large sums of money for good specimens, and the overseas demand created a strong financial incentive for hunters in New Zealand. This hunting was initially by naturalists. Austrian taxidermist Andreas Reischek took 212 pairs as specimens for the natural history museum in Vienna over a period of 10 years, while New Zealand ornithologist Walter Buller collected 18 on just one of several expeditions to the Rimutaka Ranges in 1883. Others keen to profit soon joined in. Buller records that also in 1883, a party of 11 Māori obtained 646 huia skins from the forest between the Manawatu Gorge and Akitio. Several thousand huia were exported overseas as part of this trade. Infrastructure development within lowland forest did not help the situation: hundreds of huia were shot around road and rail construction camps.  The rampant and unsustainable hunting was not just financially motivated: it also had a more philosophical, fatalistic aspect. The conventional wisdom among New Zealand Europeans in the 19th century was that things colonial, whether they were plants, animals or people, were inferior to things European. It was widely assumed that the plants and animals of New Zealand's forest ecosystems would be quickly replaced by more vigorous and competitive European species. This assumption of inevitable doom led to a conclusion that the conservation of native biota was pointless and futile; Victorian collectors instead focused their efforts on acquiring a good range of specimens before the rare species disappeared altogether.  There were some attempts to conserve the huia, but they were few, poorly organised and poorly enforced legally: the conservation movement in New Zealand was still very much in its infancy. There were successive sharp declines in numbers of huia in the 1860s and in the late 1880s, prompting the chiefs of the Manawatu and the Wairarapa to place a rāhui on the Tararua Range. In February 1892, the Wild Birds Protection Act was amended to include the huia, making it illegal to kill the bird, but enforcement was not taken seriously. Island sanctuaries were set up for endangered native birds after this act, but the new bird sanctuaries, including Kapiti Island, Little Barrier Island and Resolution Island, were never stocked with huia. Although attempts were made to capture birds for transfer, no huia were ever transferred. The Kapiti Island attempt is documented as being particularly poorly managed. A live pair destined to be transferred to the island in 1893 was instead appropriated by Buller, who bent the law to take them back to England as a present for Lord Rothschild, along with the last collected live pair of laughing owls.  The Duke and Duchess of York (later George V and Queen Mary) visited New Zealand in 1901. At an official Māori welcome in Rotorua, a guide took a huia tail feather from her hair and placed it in the band of the Duke's hat as a token of respect. Many people in England and New Zealand wanted to emulate this royal fashion and wear huia feathers in their hats. The price of tail feathers was soon pushed to £1, making each bird worth £12, and some feathers sold for as much as £5. Female huia beaks were also set in gold as jewellery. Shooting season notices ceased listing the huia as a protected species in 1901, and a last-ditch attempt to reinforce government protection failed when the solicitor general ruled that there was no law to protect feathers.  The decline of the huia over the southern half of the North Island occurred at markedly different rates in different locations. Areas where dramatic declines were observed in the 1880s included the Puketoi Range, the Hutt Valley and Tararuas, and the Pahiatua-Dannevirke area. The species was abundant in a few places in the early 20th century between Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa; a flock of 100–150 birds was reported at the summit of the Akatarawa–Waikanae track in 1905; they were still "fairly plentiful" in the upper reaches of the Rangitikei River in 1906 – and yet, the last confirmed sighting came just one year later.  The last official, confirmed huia sighting was made on 28 December 1907 when W. W. Smith saw three birds in the forests of the Tararua Ranges. Unconfirmed, "quite credible" reports suggest that extinction for the species came a little later. A man familiar with the species reported seeing three huia in Gollans Valley behind York Bay (between Petone and Eastbourne on Wellington Harbour), an area of mixed beech and podocarp forest well within the bird's former range, on 28 December 1922. Sightings of the huia were also reported there in 1912 and 1913. Despite this, naturalists from the Dominion Museum in Wellington did not investigate the reports. The last credible reports of huia come from the forests of Te Urewera National Park, with one from near Mt Urutawa in 1952 and final sightings near Lake Waikareiti in 1961 and 1963. The possibility of a small huia population still surviving in the Urewera ranges has been proposed by some researchers, but is considered highly unlikely. No recent expeditions have been mounted to find a living specimen.  Students at Hastings Boys' High School organised a conference in 1999 to consider cloning the huia, their school emblem. The tribe Ngāti Huia agreed in principle to support the endeavour, which would be carried out at the University of Otago, and a California-based Internet start-up volunteered $100,000 of funding. However, Sandy Bartle, curator of birds at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, said that the complete huia genome could not be derived from museum skins because of the poor state of the DNA, and cloning was therefore unlikely to succeed.

The huia (; "Heteralocha acutirostris") is an extinct species of New Zealand wattlebird, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. The last confirmed sighting of a huia was in 1907, although there were credible sightings as late as the early 1960s.

Laločník ostrozobý ("Heteralocha acutirostris"), maorsky nazývaný, je vyhynulý druh laločníkovitého ptáka, který se endemitně vyskytoval na Severním ostrově Nového Zélandu. Poslední potvrzené pozorování laločníka ostrozobého se v literatuře nejčastěji uvádí na rok 1907 z pohoří Tararua, nicméně neověřené záznamy o jeho existenci pocházejí ještě ze začátku 60. let 20. století. Vyhynutí tohoto druhu mělo dvě hlavní příčiny. První příčinu představoval nadměrný lov pro okrasné peří a pro muzejní a soukromé sbírky. Druhou příčinou pak bylo rozsáhlé odlesňování Severního ostrova evropskými osadníky. Většinu z těchto oblastí navíc tvořily starobylé ekologicky komplexní pralesy a laločník nedokázal přežít v regenerovaných druhotných lesích.


Biography.

Crown of Creation was founded in 1985. The band’s name was inspired by the album "Crown of Creation" by Jefferson Airplane.  The band began in Großmoor (belongs to the municipality of Adelheidsdorf) and moved to Hannover in 1987. After numerous line-up changes and many recordings, the band went into the studio of Rick J. Jordan (Scooter) in 1993 with Nicole Sukar and recorded, with the help of the record producer Herman Frank (Victory), their debut CD "Real Life". Following that release (1994), Olaf Oppermann was the band's guitarist.  In 1994 and 1995, the band was in the department of Seine-et-Marne, near Paris, on tour. In 1998, the band dissolved. After 11 years of absence, Crown of Creation came together again in 2009, with the new singer Anne Crönert.  In 2010, the CD EP "Darkness in your Life" was produced and, in conjunction with the Dance Factory from Lachendorf, a video was developed. In May 2010, over several weeks, a series ran with the story of Crown of Creation in the "Wathlinger Bote" and the "Wathlinger Echo", which presented the facts and news from the past 25 years.  For Christmas 2010, the band gifted their hometown of Hannover the song, "At Christmas Time".  The children’s choir of the primary school of Adelheidsdorf performed with the band in August 2011 in a studio in Hannover to sing the chorus of "Child's Eyes" with three German-language passages. In 2012, Crown of Creation contributed a new and unreleased song to the charity compilation "Made in Ce(lle)" in support of the children's hospice work and even worked with the lead in the production and marketing of the sampler.  In 2013, the CD maxi "With the Rhythm in my Mind" was released. On this occasion, the video production company "" produced the video of the main title and another one of the songs, "Child’s Eyes".  On August 18, 2015, Hofa GmbH label released the best of album "Best of Crown of Creation 1985–2015", a double CD with songs from the original albums, unreleased tracks, special mixes and live recordings.

Crown of Creation is a band from Hannover, Germany. With their music, they developed their own style: pop music with strong trance influences, to the classic, distinctive voice of Anne Crönert.

Crown of Creation je německá synthpopová formace z města Hannover. Vytvořila si vlastní hudební styl: pop music se silným vlivem trance a výrazným hlasem Anne Crönert.


Structure.

Glycolaldehyde exists as depicted above as a gas. As a solid and molten liquid, it exists as a dimer. Collins and George reported the equilibrium of glycolaldehyde in water by using NMR. In aqueous solution, it exists as a mixture of at least four species, which rapidly interconvert. It is the only possible diose, a 2-carbon monosaccharide, although a diose is not strictly a saccharide. While not a true sugar, it is the simplest sugar-related molecule. It is reported to taste sweet.

Synthesis.

Glycolaldehyde is the second most abundant compound formed when preparing pyrolysis oil (up to 10% by weight).  Glycolaldehyde can be synthesized by the oxidation of ethylene glycol using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron (II) sulfate.

Biosynthesis.

It can form by action of ketolase on fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in an alternate glycolysis pathway. This compound is transferred by thiamine pyrophosphate during the pentose phosphate shunt.  In purine catabolism, xanthine is first converted to urate. This is converted to 5-hydroxyisourate, which decarboxylates to allantoin and allantoic acid. After hydrolyzing one urea, this leaves glycolureate. After hydrolyzing the second urea, glycolaldehyde is left. Two glycolaldehydes condense to form erythrose 4-phosphate, which goes to the pentose phosphate shunt again.

Role in formose reaction.

Glycolaldehyde is an intermediate in the formose reaction. In the formose reaction, two formaldehyde molecules condense to make glycolaldehyde. Glycolaldehyde then is converted to glyceraldehyde. The presence of this glycolaldehyde in this reaction demonstrates how it might play an important role in the formation of the chemical building blocks of life. Nucleotides, for example, rely on the formose reaction to attain its sugar unit. Nucleotides are essential for life, because they compose the genetic information and coding for life.

Theorized role in abiogenesis.

It is often invoked in theories of abiogenesis. In the laboratory, it can be converted to amino acids and short dipeptides may have facilitated the formation of complex sugars. For example, L-valyl-L-valine was used as a catalyst to form tetroses from glycolaldehyde. Theoretical calculations have additionally shown the feasibility of dipeptide-catalyzed synthesis of pentoses. This formation showed stereospecific, catalytic synthesis of D-ribose, the only naturally occurring enantiomer of ribose. Since the detection of this organic compound, many theories have been developed related various chemical routes to explain its formation in stellar systems. It was found that UV-irradiation of methanol ices containing CO yielded organic compounds such as glycolaldehyde and methyl formate, the more abundant isomer of glycolaldehyde. The abundances of the products slightly disagree with the observed values found in IRAS 16293-2422, but this can be accounted for by temperature changes. Ethylene Glycol and glycolaldehyde require temperatures above 30 K. The general consensus among the astrochemistry research community is in favor of the grain surface reaction hypothesis. However, some scientists believe the reaction occurs within denser and colder parts of the core. The dense core will not allow for irradiation as stated before. This change will completely alter the reaction forming glycolaldehyde.

Formation in space.

The different conditions studied indicate how problematic it could be to study chemical systems that are light-years away. The conditions for the formation of glycolaldehyde are still unclear. At this time, the most consistent formation reactions seems to be on the surface of ice in cosmic dust.  Glycolaldehyde has been identified in gas and dust near the center of the Milky Way galaxy, in a star-forming region 26000 light-years from Earth, and around a protostellar binary star, "IRAS 16293-2422", 400 light years from Earth. Observation of in-falling glycolaldehyde spectra 60 AU from "IRAS 16293-2422" suggests that complex organic molecules may form in stellar systems prior to the formation of planets, eventually arriving on young planets early in their formation.

Detection in space.

The interior region of a dust cloud is known to be relatively cold. With temperatures as cold as 4 Kelvin the gases within the cloud will freeze and fasten themselves to the dust, which provides the reaction conditions conducive for the formation of complex molecules such as glycolaldehyde. When a star has formed from the dust cloud, the temperature within the core will increase. This will cause the molecules on the dust to evaporate and be released. The molecule will emit radio waves that can be detected and analyzed. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submilliter Array (ALMA) first detected glycolaldehyde. ALMA consists of 66 antennas that can detect the radio waves emitted from cosmic dust.  On October 23, 2015, researchers at the Paris Observatory announced the discovery of glycolaldehyde and ethyl alcohol on Comet Lovejoy, the first such identification of these substances in a comet.

Glycolaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula HOCH-CHO. It is the smallest possible molecule that contains both an aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group. It is a highly reactive molecule that occurs both in the biosphere and in the interstellar medium. It is normally supplied as a white solid. Although it conforms to the general formula for carbohydrates, C""(HO), it is not generally considered to be a saccharide.

Glykolaldehyd, systematický název 2-hydroxyethanal, je nejjednodušší hydroxyaldehyd (aldehyd s hydroxylovou skupinou). Je to jediná možná dióza. Nejde však o monosacharid, jelikož obsahuje jen jeden hydroxyl, jde však o nejjednodušší sacharidům podobnou látku.


Background.

Crichton's assistant discovered the manuscript on one of Crichton's computers after his death in 2008, along with an unfinished novel, "Micro" (2011).  According to Jonathan Burnham, a publisher of a HarperCollins imprint, "Pirate Latitudes" had been written concurrently with Crichton's then most recent novel, "Next" (2006).  According to Marla Warren, however, there is evidence that Crichton had been working on "Pirate Latitudes" at least since the 1970s; to substantiate her position, she quotes a statement by Patrick McGilligan in the March 1979 issue of "American Film" that Crichton was aiming "to complete a long-standing book project about Caribbean pirates in the seventeenth century."  Additionally, in 1981, Crichton said he was working on a pirate story, and he mentioned the project in his non-fiction book "Travels" (1988).

Historical basis.

Alan Cheuse said, in review for NPR Books: "It builds on an actual event in maritime records, when a crew of English pirates out of the Caribbean port of Port Royal attacked a fortress on a Spanish island in order to plunder – I like that word, and it's what pirates do, they plunder – a ship filled with new world treasure."  Though reviewers have compared Crichton's novel to Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean", the Historical Novel Society notes: "Crichton’s portrayal of Port Royal and its inhabitants is far more grounded in reality than Disney’s portrayal. Crichton does not gloss over the slavery, addiction and brutality of colonial Jamaica, nor does he endow his characters with abilities beyond their training or station in life."

Plot.

In 1665, Captain Charles Hunter is hired as a privateer by the Governor of Jamaica, Sir James Almont, to lead an expedition to the island fortress of Matanceros. It is there that a galleon, supposedly containing treasures untold, is awaiting protection for safe travel across the Atlantic, back to Spain. Almont is excited about the possibility of reward in this venture, though his secretary, Mr. Robert Hacklett, is less than enthusiastic and calls Hunter a pirate.  Hunter gathers his crew in Port Royal, Jamaica and sets sail to capture the ship in its own harbor. Mere days into the journey, their ship, the "Cassandra", is captured by a Spanish warship commanded by none other than Cazalla, the infamous Spaniard who commands Matanceros. After a daring escape from their cell, Hunter and his crew reboard their ship and continue on their way before Cazalla can retaliate.  Upon their arrival at Matanceros, Hunter, Black Eye, Lazue, Sanson, and the Moor all make their way behind the fortress. Encountering high cliffs, rough jungle foliage, and deadly animals, the crew comes to see that Cazalla has docked under the suspicion that Hunter is still on his way to the island. The privateers manage to make their way around the village and the soldiers occupying it long enough to set their traps. After a short duel between Hunter and Cazalla, the traps are sprung, and a cut to the throat kills Cazalla. The "Cassandra" appears, and the crew takes their captain, his shipmates, and the galleon out to sea.  After a few days, the treasure inside the galleon, "El Trinidad", is accounted for, but Hunter refuses to split the treasure between the two ships, not trusting Sanson. Soon afterward, Hunter discovers he is being pursued by the warship commanded by Bosquet, Cazalla's second-in-command. Hunter is chased to Monkey Bay, where he narrowly evades capture with the aid of Lazue's keen eyesight. The sun's glare on the ocean renders the warship unable to follow. Here, Hunter waits a few days, until the crew spy an impending hurricane. Now they divide the treasure between the two ships, in case one sinks in the storm and all is lost. Using Don Diego's genius, they arm their cannons and aim for a mere two defensive shots. Upon their departure, however, the warship has disappeared.  While celebrating their surprise escape, they see – a few miles out to sea – the warship quickly approaching their stern. With Hunter aboard, "El Trinidad" sustains massive damage from cannon fire. The aimed cannons fire upon the warship, merely damaging it with the first shot and seeming to miss entirely with the second. However, after a moment of inactivity, Hunter realizes the second shot actually landed a devastating blow, and the attacking ship explodes and sinks rapidly. Moments later, there is little evidence of the warship.  Victory evades the two ships, however, as rain and storm begin. The "El Trinidad" and the "Cassandra", helmed by Sanson, are separated by fierce winds and strong currents. After the storm abates, Hunter finds "El Trinidad" beached on a strange island. A few hours later, they see the island is inhabited by cannibal natives, who nearly capture Governor Almont's niece. On their way back to Port Royal, the crew suffers yet another misfortune when a Kraken attacks their ship. After the beast has killed many and damaged the vessel, Hunter manages to mortally injure it. Their path to Port Royal is finally clear.  Upon the crew's arrival, a courier informs them that Almont is gravely sick, and Hacklett has taken charge as governor. Hunter is arrested and put to trial, at which Sanson betrays his captain and lies to the court. Hunter is sentenced to be placed in prison and then hanged. With the aid of Almont (who was being held prisoner by Hacklett), Hunter is sprung from prison and kills the men who sentenced him, save for the judge, who pardons Hunter. Hacklett is shot in the groin, and Sanson sends word that he alone knows where the other half of the treasure is. Hunter turns the man's own crossbow against him, killing Sanson, and throws his body overboard letting the sharks eat his body, and is never able to find Sanson's treasure.

Film adaptation.

In August 2009, Steven Spielberg (an admirer of Crichton's work) announced his intention to adapt the novel to film, reportedly having wanted to make a pirate film. Spielberg hired David Koepp to pen the screenplay. Anil Ambani's Reliance Big Entertainment and Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios will produce the film, which will be the third of Crichton's novels Spielberg has adapted, after the highly successful "Jurassic Park" films. This project is still in development.

Pirate Latitudes is an action adventure novel by Michael Crichton, the sixteenth novel to be published under his own name and first to be published after his death, concerning 17th-century piracy in the Caribbean. HarperCollins published the book posthumously on November 26, 2009. The story stars the fictional privateer Captain Charles Hunter who, hired by Jamaica's governor Sir James Almont, plots to raid a Spanish galleon for its treasure.

Pirátská odysea (v orig. "Pirate Latitudes") je poslední dokončený román amerického spisovatele Michaela Crichtona (1942 - 2008). V USA vyšel roku 2009, v Čechách pak vydalo knihu s překladem Michala Prokopa nakladatelství Euromedia Group v roce 2011. Román byl objeven až posmrtně, uložený v autorově počítači. Crichton na něm pravděpodobně začal pracovat již v 70. letech, dokončil jej však až později. Na textu je znát, že autor si zjistil i ty nejmenší podrobnosti, aby byla věrohodnost příběhu a dobové reálie co nejdokonalejší.


History.

The club were founded on 18 August 1965 as the successor to BVV, who were formed in 1906 and Dutch champions in 1948. They were champions of the 1965–66 Tweede Divisie B., They merged with Wilhelmina (1890) on 10 May 1967 to form F.C. Den Bosch '67, before being crowned champions of 1970–71 Eerste Divisie to secure promotion to the Eredivise for the first time in their history. Their first season in the Eredivisie, the 1971–72 season saw Den Bosch struggle with relegation all season, but they would eventually finish 16th, three points above the relegation zone, following a late-season upturn in form. Despite this the club lasted just two seasons in the Eredivise as they finished bottom of the 1972–73 Eredivisie and were relegated back to the Eerste Divisie.  Den Bosch struggled following their return to the Eerste Divisie, failing to finish in the top half until the 1977–78 season. However, come the turn of the decade, Den Bosch were consistently challenging for promotion, with the club competing in the promotion play-off for the 1980–81 season, only to lose out to De Graafschap. However, they would win the promotion play-offs for the 1982–83 season, marking their return to the Eredivisie. The clubs first season back in the Eredivisie saw them finish 10th in the Eredivisie, before the next two seasons saw 6th place finishes for the club, with the latter seeing Den Bosch finish just 3 points off the UEFA Cup qualification places. This success did not last though as they were relegated back to the Eerste Divisie in the 1989–90 season, shortly after the club was renamed B.V.V. Den Bosch in 1988.  The club saw promotions to the Eredivisie in the 1991–92, 1998–99, 2000–01 and the 2003–04 seasons (the latter three as champions), only to be relegated back to the Eerste Divisie each time. The club also changed its name back to FC Den Bosch in 1992. In the ten years following their relegation back to the Eerste Divisie, they competed in the promotion play-offs on six occasions bit failed to get promoted on any of them.  In the summer of 2018, after years of financial problems and bad performances in Eerste Divisie a Georgian businessman Kakhi Jordania, decided to invest in the club with intent to purchase. His ownership group was allowed to start making changes in the management, while they were awaiting the approval of KNVB. The club had a best season in years. The team finished as winter champions in Eerste Divisie, but could not continue their good form after the winter break. Den Bosch still managed to qualify for the promotion playoffs, where they lost to Go Ahead Eagles. After a year of due diligence, KNVB decided not to grant the new ownership group the right to purchase the club.  In November 2019, Den Bosch supporters racially abused SBV Excelsior player Ahmad Mendes Moreira in a match against the club, with Moreira having allegedly been called a 'negro and cotton-picker' prior to the match being halted after 30 minutes. Following the match, Moreira was labelled as a "pathetic little man" by Den Bosch's manager and the club originally stated that Moreira mistook 'crow sounds' for racist abuse, before later apologising for that statement. A few days after the match Den Bosch's manager apoligezed to Moreira. The "pathetic little man" label was about the way Moreira celebrated his goal and had nothing to do with racism. Moreira accepted these words. Following the incident and criticism from Netherlands internationals Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum, it was announced that players in the Dutch top two divisions would not play during the first minute of the following weekend's games in protest against racism in Dutch football as a result of the incident. In response to the incident, Den Bosch banned a number of supporters from attending games in January 2020. It was the first time a professional match in the Netherlands had to be halted as a result of racism.

Honours.

Below is a table with FC Den Bosch's domestic results since the introduction of professional football in 1956.

FC Den Bosch () is a football club from's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. They were founded 18 August 1965, as FC Den Bosch/BVV. They are the successor of BVV (1906) and Wilhelmina (1890). Their stadium is called 'De Vliert', an 8,500 all-seater. Ruud van Nistelrooy started his professional career at this club. In 2005 they finished bottom of the Eredivisie and were relegated and currently compete in the Eerste Divisie.

FC Den Bosch je nizozemský fotbalový klub z's-Hertogenbosch, který působí v Eerste Divisie. Klub byl založen v roce 1965 a svoje domácí utkání hraje na stadionu De Vliert s kapacitou 8500 diváků.


History.

The competition was conceived during a board meeting of the Dutch National Football Association, in the Hague, on 19 January 1898. The tournament began the following season, 1898–1899. The first final was played on 9 May 1899 between RAP Amsterdam and HVV Den Haag. In 1946, the trophy was changed to one made out of silver, which was extremely rare in the immediate aftermath of World War II.

Name changes.

Like many national cup competitions, the name of the tournament has changed with sponsorship. From 1995, the competition went from being the KNVB Cup to being known as the Amstel Cup after the then sponsor Amstel. On 16 August 2005, the name was changed to the Gatorade Cup after the drinks company Gatorade. In 2006, the name returned to being the KNVB Cup with Gatorade remaining as the principal sponsor. Its name, as of the 2019–20 season, is the TOTO KNVB Cup.

European competition.

Up until 1998, the winner of the cup entered into the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, but with the abandonment of that tournament, the winner now goes into the UEFA Europa League. If the winning team has won the Eredivisie and thus entry into the UEFA Champions League, then the berth will be based on performance in that season's Eredivisie.  In 1998, both KNVB Cup finalists, Ajax and PSV, had won places into the Champions League. So a game was played between the beaten semi-finalists, SC Heerenveen and FC Twente, to determine who would take the Cup Winners' Cup place.

Media coverage.

The broadcast package is included in KNVB package, which contain the Johan Cruyff Shield (aired before the KNVB Cup tournament seasons starts).

Netherlands.

Both tournaments is currently broadcast live by Fox Sports Eredivisie channels.

The KNVB Beker (; ) is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) since 1898. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup. The tournament consists of all teams from the top three tiers of Dutch league football (Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie and Tweede Divisie), as well as the 24 semi-finalists (or replacements) of regional amateur cup tournaments. The finals of the tournament traditionally takes place in De Kuip, and has been held there every season since 1988. The winners of the cup compete against the winners of the Eredivisie for the Johan Cruyff Shield, which acts as the curtain raiser for the following season.

Nizozemský fotbalový pohár (nizozemsky KNVB beker) je pohárová vyřazovací soutěž v nizozemském fotbalu. První ročník byl zahájen Nizozemskou fotbalovou asociací (Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond) v roce 1898, prvním vítězem se v sezóně 1898/99 stal klub RAP Amsterdam. Herní systém je založen na modelu anglického FA Cupu. V poháru účinkují všechny týmy ze tří nejvyšších nizozemských fotbalových lig, postupně Eredivisie (1. liga), Eerste Divisie (2. liga), Topklasse (3. liga) a také 24 semifinalistů (nebo náhradních týmů) z regionálních amatérských pohárových soutěží. Finále se odehrává (na výjimky) na stadionu De Kuip, což je domovský stánek klubu Feyenoord z Rotterdamu. Vítěz nizozemského fotbalového poháru se střetne s vítězem nejvyšší ligy Eredivisie v superpoháru zvaném Johan Cruijff Schaal, tento se odehrává vždy na začátku následující sezóny (typicky v srpnu týden před zahájením nového ročníku).


Load impact system.

There are two different types of load impact systems; single-mass (e.g. Dynatest, Sweco - former Carl Bro, PaveTesting) and double-mass (KUAB). In a single-mass system, a weight is dropped onto a single buffer connected to a load plate, which rests on the surface being tested. The load force is transferred through the plate, and the plate creates a deflection that simulates a wheel load. In the double-mass system, the weight drops onto a double-buffer system, which includes a first buffer, a second weight, and a second buffer. The principle is based on the law of conservation of momentum with an elastic collision of two unequal masses. The double-mass system essentially produces a longer loading duration that more precisely represents a wheel load. The double-mass system has higher reproducibility and gives a more accurate result on pavements built on soft soils. The single-mass system may seriously overestimate the capacity of pavements built on soft soils due to the mass inertia of the pavement material. The effect of the load pulse shape and rise time cannot be overlooked because it can affect the peak values of center deflection by as much as 10% to 20%. However, single-mass FWDs are smaller, cheaper and faster. Low-cost FWD:s for the Indian market are currently (2015) being developed independently by Geotran, PaveTesting and KUAB.

Deflection sensors.

Deflection sensors (geophones; force-balance seismometers) mounted radially from the center of the load plate measure the deformation of the pavement in response to the load. Some typical offsets are 0, 200, 300, 450, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 mm. The deflections measured at these sensors are termed D0, D200, D300 etc. The advantages of seismometers compared to geophones are built-in calibration devices and higher range (5 mm vs 2 mm). Geophones are more sensitive to disturbance immediately before the impact since the initial error is integrated. Geophones however are much cheaper than seismometers. Dynatest, Sweco - former Carl Bro, Jils and PaveTesting use geophones while KUAB have seismometers in their standard FWD's and geophones in their low-cost models.

Analysis.

FWD data is most often used to calculate stiffness-related parameters of a pavement structure. The process of calculating the elastic moduli of individual layers in a multi-layer system (e.g. asphalt concrete on top of a base course on top of the subgrade) based on surface deflections is known as "backcalculation", as there is no closed-form solution. Instead, initial moduli are assumed, surface deflections calculated, and then the moduli are adjusted in an iterative fashion to converge on the measured deflections. This process is computationally intensive although quick on modern computers. It can give quite misleading results and requires an experienced analyst. Commonly used backcalculation software are:  Many analysts use simplified methods to calculate related parameters that are empirical in nature. The most common is maximum deflection under the centre of the load plate (D0) which is related to empirical measures such as the Benkelman Beam deflection (after minor adjustment for differences in the two devices). Historically some used the radius of curvature (D0-D200) but this is out of favour now because it is clear that the steel loading plate of 300mm diameter affects the shape of the deflection bowl between the centre (D0) and the D200 sensor at 200mm. However this means that a lot of useful information about the shape of the deflected bowl is wasted. Horak and Emery have published indices that use this information: BLI=D0-D300 and gives an indication of the basecourse performance, MLI = D300-D600 and gives an indication of the subbase performance, and LLI=D600-D900 and gives an indication of subgrade performance. These and other similar indices are known as shape factors. The FWD data can also be very useful in helping the engineer divide the length of the pavement into homogeneous sections.  FWD data can also be used to calculate the degree of load transfer between adjacent concrete slabs, and to detect voids under slabs.

Other models.

A Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) is a portable falling weight deflectometer used primarily to test insitu base and subgrade moduli during construction. LWD measurement is quicker than the isotope measuring method and requires no reference measurements. The equipment has no radioactive sources requiring safety courses and can be operated by one operator, allowing for the analysis of collected data and printing out of data files on site. The most simple LWD's have no load cell but use only a nominal load value while Dynatest and KUAB LWD's use a load cell for measurement. The most common LWD's have only one geophone in the centre, while Dynatest LWD's can also have sensors at 300 and 600 mm positions. KUAB LWD's come with 300 and 600 mm sensors as standard.  A Fast Falling Weight Deflectometer (FFWD) is a FWD with pneumatic or electric actuators rather than hydraulic, making the mechanics several times faster.  A Heavy Weight Deflectometer (HWD) is a falling weight deflectometer that uses higher loads, used primarily for testing airport pavements. Maximum load for HWD:s are typically around 300 kN (Dynatest, Sweco - former Carl Bro and PaveTesting) and 600 kN (KUAB). A common misunderstanding is that a higher load is needed to test an airport's capability to handle heavy aircraft. But in fact, the testing methods are not designed to test the strength of the construction but to find the material properties of the construction.  A Rolling Weight Deflectometer (RWD) is a deflectometer that can gather data at a much higher speed (as high as 55 mph) than the FWD, which allows the data to be collected without traffic control and lane closure. It is a specially designed tractor-trailer with laser measuring devices mounted on a beam under the trailer. Another advantage of the RWD over the FWD is that it can gather continuous deflection data as opposed to discrete deflection data collected by the FWD. RWD development has been carried out independently by Applied Research Associates (ARA) since 2005 and KUAB Sweden since 1991.  The test materials are described in ASTM D 4694, and the test method is defined in ASTM D 4695.140

A falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is a testing device used by civil engineers to evaluate the physical properties of pavement. FWD data is primarily used to estimate pavement structural capacity for 1) overlay design and 2) to determine if a pavement is being overloaded. Use includes (but is not limited to) highways, local roads, airport pavements, harbor areas and railway tracks. The machine is usually contained within a trailer that can be towed to a location by another vehicle. It can also be built on a pickup truck or inside a mini van. There are also comprehensive units where a FWD device is mounted on a heavy truck together with a GPR cart and a TMA protection to have a complete road survey vehicle.

Deflektometr (rázové zařízení) – zařízení, které tlumeným rázem zatěžuje na povrchu vozovky její konstrukční vrstvy a případně podloží zatížením odpovídajícím zpravidla zatížení jedním kolem návrhové nápravy a zároveň měří hodnoty tohoto zatížení a jím vyvolaného průhybu v jednotlivých bodech průhybové čáry v místech snímačů.


Club career.

Daegu FC.

Kim Min-kyun was drafted from Myongji University to Daegu FC in 2009. He made his Daegu FC first-team debut on 8 March 2009 in a match against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, and rapidly established himself as one of the first choice midfielders in the squad. Kim scored his first goal against Gangwon FC on 16 May 2009. During the 2010 season, Kim was used mainly as a substitute player, making eight out of his ten appearances in the K League from the bench. Kim left Daegu FC after reaching an agreement with the club for a mutual termination of his contract in March 2011.

Fagiano Okayama.

On 20 April 2011 he joined Fagiano Okayama. During his time at Fagiano Okayama, Kim became an ever-present member of the starting eleven as an attacking midfielder. Kim played in 73 out of 79 league games during his time at Fagiano Okayama and featured in the starting eleven on 66 of those games. Kim scored his first league goal for Fagiano Okayama in a 2–1 loss against Consadole Sapporo on 29 May 2011.

Jagiellonia Białystok.

On 28 January 2013 he joined Jagiellonia Białystok on a -year contract. Kim failed to secure himself as a first team regular during his time in Poland, featuring in five league games without playing the full 90 minutes in any of those games. Additionally, Kim also played four games in the Młoda Ekstraklasa, the under-21 league for youth players in the Ekstraklasa. On 15 July 2013 Kim left Jagiellonia Białystok after reaching an agreement with the club for a mutual termination of his contract.

Fagiano Okayama.

On 31 July 2013, Kim returned to Fagiano Okayama. After a few substitute appearances, Kim once again became a starting regular in midfield, where he was present in the starting eleven in all eight league matches from 15 September 2013 to 10 November 2013. He scored his first goal since coming back in a 3–1 loss against Tochigi SC on 25 August 2013.

Ulsan Hyundai.

On 10 January 2014 Kim joined Ulsan Hyundai on a three-year contract. He scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against Suwon Samsung Bluewings on 19 April 2014.

International career.

Kim was a squad member of the South Korea U-20 team which participated at the 2006 AFC Youth Championship.

Kim Min-kyun (; born 30 November 1988) is a South Korean association footballer who plays as midfielder for Seoul E-Land.

Kim Min-kjun (hangŭl: 김민균, hanča: 金民均; * 30. listopadu 1988) je jihokorejský fotbalový záložník, současné době hraje druhou nejvyšší jihokorejskou soutěž za klub Asan Mugunghwa FC.


Name.

The word Pakhta(پخته) in Persian means cotton and kor from kar-, kardan(کار، کردن) "to do, to make", produces a job name from a noun. So it literally means cotton maker.

History.

The early Soviet period.

Pakhtakor's first official match was on 8 April 1956, and is considered to be the club's "birthday". Its first match was played against a team from the city of Perm, Russia (then called Molotov city), presumably FC Zvezda Perm. The first goal in Pakhtakor history was scored by Laziz Maksudov on a penalty shot and Maksudov's goal was the only and game-winning strike.  The team was formed in three months, and the government invited the senior trainer Valentin Bekhtenev from Moscow to recruit the best Tashkent players for the new Pakhtakor. At the time, the club was to represent Uzbekistan in Soviet football.  In 1959, the club was promoted to the Soviet Top League for the first time. During the 1960s, Pakhtakor's squad was anchored by the striker Gennadiy Krasnitskiy, who led it to a 6th-place finish in 1962. After periods back and forth between the Top League and the Soviet First League, the club reached the final of the Soviet Cup competition in 1968 – the only Central Asian club to reach a Soviet Cup final – losing to Torpedo Moscow 1–0.  In 1971, Pakhtakor again departed into the First League, but was not long detained in the lower division as it gained promotion the following year.  Pakhtakor was the only Uzbek side to appear in the history of the USSR Championship during the Soviet era, appearing the highest echelon 22 times, and recording 212 wins, 211 draws, and 299 losses. Their best league finish was 6th place, which they achieved twice, in 1962 and 1982.

Aircrash 1979.

In August 1979, Pakhtakor made it back to the Soviet Top League, but shortly thereafter disaster struck the club and Soviet football. During a flight to play Dinamo Minsk, Pakhtakor's plane was involved in a mid-air collision over Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukrainian SSR. All 178 people aboard both planes involved died.  Seventeen Pakhtakor players and staff members died in the crash:  Annually, in August, the club sponsors a youth tournament in memory of the lives lost in the disaster.  Following the tragedy in 1979 and spurred on by its prolific goalscorer Andrei Yakubik a few years later, Pakhtakor had its best record in 1982, finishing sixth and in front of several Russian and Ukrainian football powerhouses such as Zenit Saint Petersburg, CSKA Moscow, and Shakhtar Donetsk amongst the few. Pakhtakor had a point deducted that season due to exceeding the allowed limit for the games tied (drawn), but it did not influence the club's final standings.

The lean years: 1984–1990.

After leading Pakhtakor to its best finish, age finally caught up with Yakubik and he moved back to his hometown of Moscow to continue his football career. With the departure of their great forward, the club struggled and spent six years in the Soviet First League. Although the discontent of their fans grew, Pakhtakor's reemergence as a major footballing force followed fast upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Modern period, since 1992.

After the USSR collapsed, a new page began in the club's history. 1992 saw Pakhtakor participate in the first season of the Uzbek Oliy League. Since 1992 Pakhtakor have become the most successful Uzbek club with 10 Uzbek League titles, and 11 Uzbek Cups. Until 2014 the club is the only team to have participated in all seasons of the AFC Champions League since its inauguration in 2002. Since 2002 the club participated 11 times in AFC Champions League.  The participation in the AFC Champions League season 2011 was not successful. On 4 May 2011 in a match against Al-Nassr Pakhtakor lost and finished its Asian campaign. In that match, because of many injured players, Pakhtakor's coach Ravshan Khaydarov formed starting squad from youth team players and club made record in the AFC Champions League history as the youngest team of the tournament with average players age of 21,8. The average age of club players for season 2011 was 23,3. In 2014–15 seasons Pakhtakor won its 10th and 11th League champion titles.

Central match.

Since Bunyodkor's promotion to the Uzbek League matches between club and their other rival from capital, football powerhouse Pakhtakor, considered by supporters of both sides and football journalists as Uzbek capital derby or Toshkent derby.  The match between Pakhtakor and Neftchi Farg'ona is one of the most popular rivalries in Uzbek League held since 1992. The first match between the two clubs was played on 25 May 1992 in Tashkent.

Stadium.

Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium was built in 1956 with capacity of 55.000 spectators. Stadium renovated in 1996. In July 2007 club management announced next renovation of stadium. Reconstruction works were finished in 2009, the amount of capacity was reduced to 35.000 and stadium became all-seater stadium. In January 2010, the stadium was chosen as best sporting facility 2009 of Uzbekistan.

In popular culture.

The famous Uzbek singers Shahzoda, Rustam Gaipov, groups "Parvoz"(ex), "Quartet", "Bojalar" and "Ummon" dedicated their songs to Pakhtakor Football Club.

Notable players.

Former players.

Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Pakhtakor.

FC Pakhtakor Tashkent () is an Uzbek professional football club, based in the capital Tashkent. Pakhtakor literally means "cotton-grower" in English.

Pachtakor FK (uzbecky Paxtakor Futbol Klubi) je fotbalový klub z Taškentu. Jeho název znamená uzbecky „pěstitel bavlny“. Klubové barvy jsou černá a žlutá, fanoušci Pachtakoru přezdívají "Šerlar" ("Lvi").


Playing career.

Club level.

Happel started his professional playing career at Rapid Wien, where he made his first team debut at age 17. Forming a solid defensive partnership with Max Merkel, he played 14 years for Rapid, from 1943 till 1954 and 1956 till 1959, winning the Austrian Championship title six times. He was chosen in Rapid's Team of the Century in 1999.  The two years in between Happel played for Racing Club de Paris in France.

International level.

Happel made his debut for Austria in September 1947 against Hungary and was a participant at the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland, where he helped them reach third place, and also at the 1958 World Cup. His last international was a September 1958 match against Yugoslavia. He earned 51 caps and scored 5 goals.

Managerial career.

After retiring as a player, Happel went on to become one of the greatest coaches of all-time. He won the league title in four countries. He also took two clubs to gold in the European Champions' Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) and the Netherlands to second place in the 1978 World Cup. His first club was ADO Den Haag in 1962, with whom he won the Dutch Cup in 1968. After Den Haag he coached Feyenoord, with whom he won the European Cup (defeated Glasgow Celtic in the final) and the Intercontinental Cup in 1970, and the Dutch championship in 1971.  At the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Happel was coach of the Dutch national team and reached the final against the Argentine national team. Always a man of few words, Happel's pre-match pep talk is said to have consisted of just one sentence: "Gentlemen, two points." The Dutch, however, lost the final 3-1 in extra time.  During his career as coach, Happel worked for several clubs, including Sevilla, Club Brugge (winning the Belgian Championship title several times) and Hamburger SV (1981–1987, German champions in 1982 and 1983, German Cup winner 1987).  In 1983, he won the European Cup again, 13 years after the triumph with Feyenoord, this time with Hamburger SV, defeating Juventus in the final. He is one of five coaches in the history of the European Cup (now called Champions League) to win the title with two clubs, the others being Ottmar Hitzfeld, who won with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich; José Mourinho, who won with Porto and Inter Milan; Jupp Heynckes, who won with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich; and Carlo Ancelotti, who won with Milan and Real Madrid.  In 1987, Happel returned to Austria as coach of Swarovski Tirol. With the club, he won the Austrian Championship title twice (1989 and 1990) before becoming coach of the Austria national team in 1992.

Personal life.

All youth players of Rapid Vienna automatically became member of the Hitler Jugend in 1938. Ernst reported he refused to sing along to their songs until he was kicked out of their gatherings.  He was conscripted and dispatched to the Eastern Front in 1943. Although he never saw action, he was arrested by the Americans in 1945. He escaped by jumping out of the train wagon in Munich and took several months to make his way back to Vienna. He smuggled himself into the Soviet occupation zone with the excuse that he had seen from afar his house was still standing and that he'd started playing at Rapid Vienna again.  Ernst Happel never married. He was described by one of his ex-players Birger Jensen as a bit of a loner, always accompanied by his cigarettes and cognac. He nevertheless would meet up with Austrian friends, enjoying card games, pool and darts.

Death.

A heavy smoker for most of his adult life, Happel died of lung cancer in 1992 at age 66. In the wake of his death, the biggest football stadium in Austria, the Praterstadion in Vienna, was renamed the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. Four days after his death, Austria played against Germany and reached a 0–0 draw; Happel's cap lay on the bench during the entire match.

Ernst Franz Hermann Happel (29 November 1925 – 14 November 1992) was an Austrian football player and manager. He is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, winning both league and domestic cup titles in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Austria as well as winning the European Cup twice, the first in 1970 and the second in 1983, and a runners-up medal at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He was the first of the five managers to have won the European Cup with two clubs, Carlo Ancelotti, Ottmar Hitzfeld, José Mourinho and Jupp Heynckes being the other four. He is also one of six managers – along with José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Giovanni Trapattoni, Tomislav Ivić and Eric Gerets – to have won domestic league championships in at least four countries.

Ernst Franz Hermann Happel (29. listopad 1925, Vídeň – 14. listopad 1992, Innsbruck) byl rakouský fotbalista a fotbalový trenér. Hrával na pozici obránce.


History.

The Beijing–Shanghai railway is composed of three sections. These three sections are some of the earliest railways in China, built before 1910 during the Qing dynasty. The first section is from Beijing to Tianjin, constructed as part of the Imperial Railways of Northern China between 1897 and 1900.  The second section is from Tianjin to Pukoua suburb of Nanjingand used to be called the Tianjin–Pukou railway.  The third section is from Nanjing to Shanghai, built between 1905 and 1908. This section is called Shanghai–Nanjing railway. During 1927–1949, however, when China's capital was Nanjing, this section alone was called the "Jinghu" railway.  Between Pukou and Xiaguan, the railway crosses the Yangtze River. Before the completion of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in 1968, the trains were ferried across car-by-car. Passengers could also disembark at Nanjing North (Pukou), take a passenger ferry, and take a train again at the then Nanjing main station south of the river (now known as Nanjing West).  After the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge was completed in 1968, these three sections were linked together and renamed as a single Beijing–Shanghai or Jinghu railway.

Current status.

The railway line is the principal line between Beijing and Shanghai and along with the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway, it serves as one of the busiest rail corridors in China. It has dual tracks between Beijing and Shanghai, and the full length of the railway has been electrified. The entire line is dual tracked. Passenger rail service now offers overnight service on CRH Sleepers (D-series trains).  D type express overnight sleeper bullet trains have now commenced operation between Beijing and Nanjing/Shanghai/Hangzhou.. There are currently 6 overnight D bullet trains. Overnight Bullet trains take between 9 hours and 23 minutes to 9 hours, 36 minutes between Beijing and Nanjing and were Soft sleeper only but now changed to sleeper first-class and sleeper second-class, which provide better facilities than Soft and Hard sleepers on conventional trains respectively. Some trains also have second-class seat cars.  On June 30, 2011, the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway opened and runs roughly parallel to the Beijing–Shanghai railway. The opening of the high-speed railway relieved the Beijing–Shanghai railway from overcrowding, and it's increasingly shifted to freight traffic. As of 2017, two regular trains per day (not including aforementioned overnight sleepers) go the full way from Beijing to Shanghai on the old line, although hundreds of trains still use selected sections of it.

The Beijing–Shanghai railway or Jinghu railway () is a railway line between Beijing and Shanghai. The line has a total length of and connects the municipalities of Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, as well as the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu. It is commonly referred to as the Jinghu railway, taking on the abbreviated names of the two terminal cities. In Chinese, "Jing" means "capital" and refers to Beijing, and "Hu" is the abbreviated name for Shanghai.

Železniční trať Peking – Šanghaj (, tedy "trať Ťing-chu") je železniční trať v Čínské lidové republice spojující hlavní město Peking přes Tchien-ťin se Šanghají. Celková délka trati, která byla dokončena v roce 1968 a začíná na Pekingském nádraží, je 1462 kilometrů a trať prochází provinciemi Che-pej, Šan-tung, An-chuej a Ťiang-su. Z Pekingu do Tchien-ťinu je tříkolejná, z Tchien-ťinu do Šanghaje je dvojkolejná a v celé délce je elektrifikovaná. Čínské jméno "Ťing-chu" naznačuje, která města spojuje, neboť "ťing" znamená hlavní město a "chu" je přezdívka Šanghaje.


Club career.

1. FC Köln (1984–1990).

Häßler spent his early playing days in the youth team of Reinickendorfer Füchse. He began his professional career in 1984 with 1. FC Köln of the Bundesliga, for whom he played six successful years, helping the club to become Bundesliga Runners-up in 1989 and 1990.

Juventus (1990–1991), Roma (1991–1994).

Soon after winning the 1990 World Cup with the German national team in Italy, Häßler transferred to Juventus for a sum of DM15 million. He spent only one year in Turin before he decided to join another Italian club, A.S. Roma, for a fee of DM14 million. This time he stayed for three years, making 88 appearances and scoring 11 goals.

Karlsruher SC (1994–1998).

In 1994, however, Häßler wanted to return to the Bundesliga. Despite offers from some of the biggest German clubs, he decided to sign with Karlsruher SC in a DM7 million deal, the highest transfer sum the club has ever spent. In the following three years, Karlsruhe and its new key player achieved positions in the upper third of the table which resulted in UEFA Cup participations in 1996–97 and 1997–98.  By winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1996, Karlsruhe not only qualified for the UEFA Cup but also accomplished to throw out Häßler's former club AS Roma in the second round of the tournament. In the first leg of the third round, Häßler scored twice in his team's 3–1 win over Brøndby IF in Copenhagen. However, shortly after this win Häßler received the first big injury in his career when he broke his leg in a league match against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Without its captain, Karlsruhe played a catastrophic second leg and was eliminated from the tournament after a 0–5 home defeat. Following his recovery, Häßler returned for the last two games of the season and helped his team to finish in sixth place in the 1996–97 season, securing another year of international football competition. In the end, once again the club failed to survive the third round.  At the end of the 1997–98 season, the club's situation had worsened significantly. For the first time in his career, Häßler was confronted with a possible relegation. Feeling the pressure he once more showed his extraordinary skills and scored four goals in the last three games of the season. Despite Häßler's performances, Karlsruhe lost its last match in a dramatic season final and was relegated from the Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund (1998–1999).

Due to a contract clause, Häßler could leave Karlsruhe immediately on a free transfer. He decided to join Borussia Dortmund, which had won the UEFA Champions League in 1997. There he met the later assistant of the German national team, Michael Skibbe, then with 32 years the youngest head coach in the history of the Bundesliga. In the course of the season, there were some serious disputes between Häßler and Skibbe because the latter entrusted the midfield leadership to Andreas Möller. In the end, Häßler made only 18 appearances and never played over the full 90 minutes.

1860 Munich (1999–2003).

Disappointed about his season in Dortmund, Häßler left the club towards Bavaria and signed a contract with TSV 1860 Munich. He spent four very successful years in Munich and became an important part of the team. Already in his first season the club reached a sensational fourth place in the Bundesliga. After they failed to win against Leeds United in the qualification for the UEFA Champions League, Häßler and his team participated in the UEFA Cup. But also with 1860 Munich he failed to overcome the competition's third round. In the following two years, the club took part in the UEFA Intertoto Cup but didn't manage to succeed. After the 2002–03 season, Häßler left Munich to finish his career in Austria.

SV Salzburg (2003–2004).

In 2003, Häßler signed a one-year contract with the Austrian club SV Salzburg. He made 19 appearances and reached a seventh place in the 2003–04 season before he announced his retirement.  Overall, Häßler chalked up an entertaining 539 games and a total of 81 goals throughout a football career in which he was voted Germany's footballer of the year in 1989 and 1992. Although he is considered as one of the best German footballers of all time, he didn't win a single major club title, having lost the UEFA Cup final with 1. FC Köln in 1986, the Coppa Italia final with AS Roma in 1993 and the DFB-Pokal final with Karlsruhe in 1996.

International career.

For Germany, Häßler was capped 101 times, scoring 11 goals. Other than the two major tournament wins at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 UEFA European Championship, he also played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, Euro 92, and Euro 2000.  He also won a bronze medal for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was the dominant figure of the Euro 92, displaying performances that were reminiscent of Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup exploits. He displayed a specialty for scoring spectacular free kicks, tireless stamina and dazzling dribbling sprees, as Germany went on to reach the final of the tournament.

Style of play.

A world-class playmaker, who was considered to be one of the best German players of the 1990s, Häßler was a talented, dynamic, and creative midfielder, with quick feet and a good right foot, who stood out for his speed, energy, and constant movement across the pitch. A diminutive player, despite not being particularly physically gifted, he was known for his technique and dribbling skills, as well as his ability to score goals or provide assists for teammates; he was also a free kick specialist, and stood out for his leadership throughout his career. He usually played as an offensive-minded central midfielder – known as the "mezzala" position, in Italy, although he was also capable of playing as a right winger, or evern as a number 10, in either an attacking midfield role behind the forwards or as a second striker, a position in which he was tasked with playing betwen the lines and linking up the midfield with the attack; he was also used in a creative, holding midfield role on occasion. During his time in Italy, he was nicknamed "Tommasino" and "Pollicino" (Hop-o'-My-Thumb, in Italian), due to his short stature, while he was instead nicknamed "Icke" in Germany.

Coaching career.

Häßler was an assistant coach at 1. FC Köln. He previously served as an assistant coach to Berti Vogts when he was head coach of Nigeria but both were later sacked by the Nigerian FA.  Häßler interviewed for the managerial position at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in June 2010. On 24 May 2014, he was named as the assistant coach of newly Iran Pro League promoted club, Padideh. He will work with his long-time friend, Alireza Marzban.  In February 2016 Häßler joined eighth division "Bezirksliga" side Club Italia Berlin as their new coach with the self-declared aim of eventual promotion to the 3. Liga.

Other information.

Häßler's nickname is "Icke" – awarded to him for his pronunciation of "Ich" (German for "I") in typical Berlin dialect. He founded the music label "MTM Music" in March 1996. He participated in the 2016 season of German dance show "Let's Dance". In 2017, he participated in German tv-show Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!|.

Career statistics.

Club.

Note: Häßler appeared in the following European club competitions - UEFA Intertoto Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Cup Winner's Cup, UEFA Champions League qualification

Honours.

Club.

1. FC Köln  Juventus  Roma  Karlsruher SC

International.

Germany

Thomas Jürgen "Icke" Häßler (; born 30 May 1966) is a German former professional football player. He played as a midfielder throughout his career.

Thomas Jürgen Häßler (* 30. květen 1966, Západní Berlín) je bývalý německý fotbalista a v současnosti fotbalový trenér. Hrával na pozici záložníka.


History.

Formation.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 1989. Two 3-year-olds riding bicycles in their neighborhood accidentally bumped into each other. Both named Vasil, they became friends and together discovered bands such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Their shared passion for music and sound inspired them and soon Vasil Parvanovski started playing the guitar and Vasil Raykov began singing and playing the piano.  In 1995, the 8-year-old Parvanovski’s classmate, Martin Stoyanov, joined them. His initial desire was to be the drummer of the band, but this idea quickly vanished as he received a bass guitar as a present from his neighbor. So Martin became and remained the bassist of the band to present day.  In 1998, the parents of Vasil Parvanovski took him to visit a family friend, one of the most famous blues performers in Bulgaria, Vasko ‘Krupkata’ (the ‘Patch’). 12-year-old Parvanovski heard hard drumming coming from the basement of the house they were visiting, and that turned out to be the young son of ‘Krupkata’, the then 8-year-old Boyan ‘Bonzy’ Georgiev. Parvanovski was immediately impressed by Bonzy and proposed him to jam with the band.

And it's Rock Again (1998–2000).

1 August 1998 is the date of the first rehearsal for the four band members which remain unchanged as of today. The band was originally called "Kaskadiori" ("Stuntmen"). They chose the name because they had a car accident on the way to the studio. One year after their formation the band recorded its first album - "And It's Rock Again", released in the spring of 2000.

On the Road and River of Time (2001–2006).

In 2001 Kaskadiori joined the blues band of Vasko "The Patch" and toured with him in the next several years. During this period they continued writing songs and in 2005 they released the album "On the Road". In 2006 they released another album called "The River of Time".

Odd Crew and We Are What We Are (2007–2008).

As the members of the band grew up they started writing heavier songs which quite differed from the past melody rock material. They gradually adopted music as a lifestyle and started using it as way to express themselves and talk to society. At that time the members of the band decided to substitute their present name (Kaskadiori) with another one which better reflected their new ideas about making music. On 1 August 2008 the band had a concert to celebrate their birthday and announced their new name - Odd Crew. Later that year Odd Crew released the album "We Are What We Are". Suddenly the band attracted a lot of fans who shared their ideas and vision about united society having music as lifestyle.

European tour and A Bottle of Friends (2009–2011).

In 2009 Odd Crew had already played on every club stage in Bulgaria and went on the 11 Years of Brotherhood tour in various countries around Europe, including Hungary, Germany, Switzerland and England. During the time the band was not on the road they reconstructed their rehearsal room into a recording studio in order to experiment and improve their sound. Soon Butcher House studio was built and they recorded their latest album, "A Bottle of Friends", released on 22 October 2010. Odd Crew released their first DVD on 29 December.

Beyond the Shell (2012).

In 2012 Odd Crew signed a deal with KMK Records and on 9 June released the album "Beyond the Shell". It contains 15 tracks, including "Death Trap" (their most famous song so far) and three instrumentals.

Mark These Words (2015).

On 27 December 2014 the band started a crowd-funding campaign on IndieGogo and announced that they were preparing to record their upcoming album "Mark These Words". The plan was to record the album with the American producer Jason Suecof at his studio in Florida, U.S. When they reached 20% of the money for the campaign they released a demo track from the album called "Lay On Me", and three weeks later an acoustic version of the song. Shortly after that, though, the American embassy declined to give them visas for the project in the United States. The band decided to record the album with Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand in Dugout Studios (Uppsala, Sweden) and then send the tracks to Jason Suecof for mixing and mastering. The campaign was set to end on 18 February and shortly after that the band started the recording process. Through the campaign they sold over 300 copies of the album in advance. In 2017 Odd Crew finally released the long-awaited live DVD - "Mark These Words - live at Christo Botev Hall".

The Lost Pages (2018).

On February 14, 2018 the first video was released for the band's new album - "Same old me", directed from Supers4upen Motion Madness. On 19 March 2018 "The Lost Pages" album was officially released. It can be bought from Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon, or played on Spotify. The album shows much more lyrical and acoustic sound than the previous studio albums. A Bulgarian tour was started to support the album.

Odd Crew is a Bulgarian metal band from Sofia (Bulgaria), formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist Vasil Raykov, guitarist Vasil Parvanovski, bassist Martin Stoyanov and drummer Boyan "Bonzy" Georgiev. The band has released six studio albums and two live DVDs. Their latest album, "The Lost Pages", was released on February 14, 2018.

Odd Crew je bulharská metalová kapela ze Sofie. Skupina byla založená v roce 1998 a všichni její původní členové jsou v kapele do současnosti. V současnosti má čtyři členy.