Compact archive November 2007

Freezing weather ended Charles Bridge repairs

Friday 30 November 2007 17:53

right now, one half of the bridge is closed, so you have to push your way through the other half Snow and cold ended this year season of Charles Bridge repairs.

Long prepared works on the Charles Bridge started in August. “Up to now, we looked at the bridge floor, stone rail, and we have also done little archaeological investigation “ said a leader of Mott MacDonald company, which reconstructs the Bridge.

Workers took the first layer of paving stones off, under which the wooden isolation is going to be replaced in spring.

“We are going to prepare new block-stones during the winter from sandstone, which is the original stone used” the leader Tvrznik adds.

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Radio 1 party in Roxy

Friday 30 November 2007 16:37

radio 1 logo Some of our readers asked lately, why do we announce so many events that have so little to do with Czech culture. So here you go – a party of Prague Radio 1 in Roxy.

“Radio 1? Is it any good?” “Definitely.” If you are used to radio stations that serve the same set of songs every day every hour like penicillin, well, it’s your choice. Radio 1, on the other hand, has balanced commercial and alternative songs for 15 years and there are various shows every night focusing on various styles of music. Anything but boring.

You ask for genre? It is announced as a smart dance combination of house, breakbeat and electro, always with a good groovy feeling and focused on mixing.

So here you go – that would be the typical Prague radio show for you. You wanted some show including people hoping around wearing traditional costumes? Well… maybe next time…

The entry is free until 23:00, after 100CZK. Roxy, Dlouha 33, Prague 1.

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Proposal of Change of Czech Electing system

Friday 30 November 2007 14:20

jiri pospisil The party which wins the elections to the parliament should get a few more parliamentary chairs. So called bonus for winners is probably going to appear among the new set of proposals, how to change the voting system, and so lower the risk of after-elections stalemate.

“We work on some variations, how to solve the thing. We explore, for example, how the winner’s bonus (the system works well i.e. in Italy) works in European countries.” minister Pospisil ( ODS, Civic Democratic Party ) announced.

Pospisil, Czech Minister of Justice, announced the decision of passing the new law will be on whole situation, which implies the system is designed so it wouldn’t harm the small parties.

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This is Sparta vs Spartak

Friday 30 November 2007 12:03

sparta prague Spartak Moscow Yesterday UEFA cup battle was a draw, but not without action.

There were not many people watching the duel at Prague Letna, but those who came saw a dramatic show, unfortunately more in the auditorium than on the grass.

Moscow Spartak fans had to be calmed down by a special police pack. Six people were injured, the police took ten foreigners with them.

According to TV Prima, 2-3 thousands of Russians arrived to Prague. Part of them got drunk in an airplane so much the airplane didn’t touch down at Prague Ruzyne, but it had to land in Pardubice. The fans arrived to metropolis with police assistance.

Riots were from the beginning of the game, when one of the Spartak fans threw a flare at the ground and passed by Sparta player just close.

After half an hour, other Spartak fan jumped into the gamefield with a flare and run the whole ground to the Sparta’s goal, after which was pacified by the organizers.

The biggest riots started before the halftime. The stadium resonated with petards. Organizers tried to calm it down, but the situation ended by fighting, which had to be pacified by the anti-riot police.

Blob - No way smaller or moved said Kapilcky

Friday 30 November 2007 09:45

jan kaplicky zdroj ct krasny ztraty The architect Jan Kaplicky announced to introduce changes of the Blob library, but at the end he stood by his old design. And again, he commented the idea of moving the library ‘somewhere else’ as not very wise:

If you find a place in Europe, or in the world, where they have their National library at a periphery, please tell me. I’ll make it easier for you – such a place doesn’t exist. Modern transport and short distances are essential. It is not necessary to talk about moving the building. If the city doesn’t want the library, it won’t have it 1

The other point, where Kaplicky again demonstrated he has some balls on one hand, and no will to compromise on the other, was the height of the building: “ Compared to the planned stadium at Letna the library design is petite. The height is the same as the height of the National Theater

Kaplicky also said Blob library should be much smaller than Petrin observation tower, and that his design was really at the small side.

Vaclav Havel went to see the debate and described it is as ‘civilized’.

1 Kaplicky is a renowned architect and his Blob design would be appreciated not just by other Czech cities like Brno, but deputies of three foreign cities have already showed interest as well.

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Americans, Geography and Prague

Friday 30 November 2007 07:39

It is true, that Americans sometimes are rather lame in the matter of Europe’s geography, but to be honest, if a Czech is asked, what are the neighbours of i.e. Nebraska, he/she never knows. But that story is something. Just a starter:

… people – mostly American students – would ask me were:
1. Do you guys have traffic lights? ( I would answer: “No, we just dance naked around the fire”)
2. Is Czechoslovakia (I gave up correcting them on that one) next to Turkey?
3. You guys speak Russian?
4. Oh yeah, that’s by the sea, right?

The rest is here and it’s quite unbelievable

Big and Small – Tomas Julinek and Tomas Cikrt – Czech Health Reformers

Thursday 29 November 2007 17:56

Minister and Speaker as comics characters Zdroj MF Dnes The handbook ‘How to Use the Health Reform’ was published. The whole book is presented by two comics figures, representing Czech Minister of Health Tomas Julinek and his speaker Tomas Cikrt.

They may looked odd, when they first appeared together, Julinek being almost two meters tall and Cikrt only 110 cm. But they both proved they form a team, which is not only able to get reformations through, but also able to make fun of themselves, which are two things that are anything but common in Czech politics. When their reform was passed, they announced they have much more plans for the Ministry.

Tomas Julinek
(b.1956) is a politician and Minister of Health for the Czech Republic. He is a member of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS).
Julinek was appointed Minister of Health in September 2006 to replace David Rath whose radical reforms of the Czech health system were strongly opposed by the country’s private doctors.

Tomas Cikrt
(b.1969) Founded citizen union Palecek which is a union of little people, and a long term editor-in-chief of Zdravotnicke noviny (Medical news).
Became a speaker of Minister of Health for the Czech Republic in 2007.

tomas julinek cikrt Left: Tomas Julinek is almost 2 meters tall Czech Minister of Health
Right: Tomas Cikrt is about 110 cm tall speaker, awarded ‘The best public speaking performance of 2007’

One Health Care Reform takes place, Other is on the Way in CR

Thursday 29 November 2007 16:04

free health care is not really free, is it After the changes the Czech Minister of Health Julinek brought to the system of charges for health care, there is a very new reform ahead, sometimes called the Hospital revolution.

Czech patients should be able to legally pay for better care. The scheme of need for bribing on a daily basis should became legal. Patients should be able to pay for a better plaster, modern haunches or a better crystalline lens.

Julinek, Minister of Health, said he wants to submit the bills to the government next May and to parliament next June, so that they take effect from January 2009. His speaker Cikrt said the bills will guarantee the availability of health care, while the range of services will not change.

Important thing is patients shouldn’t pay for the whole i.e. operation, but just the difference between the above standard and the price insurance company pays.

The consequent change, the most important, should be health insurance companies having greater freedom of dealing with their money. They should be able to generate profits and offer more advantages.

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Czech MPs lost Free Rides

Thursday 29 November 2007 14:02

no, to run such a bus is not for free Czech private transport companies do not have to let Czech Members of Parliament ride for free on their lines, a court has ruled Wednesday.

According to the judge, MPs travelling for free is not a public interest. “The law concerns for public transport only” MPs get special benefits worth thousands of CZK for transport and they also get a car.

The lawsuit started from Student Agency company owner Radim Jancura who refused to give MPs on board of his buses free rides. After all those benefits and fancy cars given to them by us, tax payers, he simply didn’t like the idea any private transport company should give more extra money, to sponsor the MP just becase they are so charming. The court said it is not possible to force by law any private businessmen to sponsor a MP.

This is just one little step, that gives a glitter of hope. Maybe there will be more cuts on the benefits the politicians have. But just maybe. Every time there is a proposal of lowering their bonuses, most of the Mps vote against.

Christmas Markets in Prague Begins

Thursday 29 November 2007 11:55

this is how it looked like the last year This Saturday eventing those forty thousands light bulbs on the Old Town square Christmas tree are going to be lighted up, and Christmas markets of this Noel begins.

Marry Drunk Christmas at the Old Town Square “Compared to the previous years there are going to be more stances with refreshments”, said the leading organizer of Tamiko company. “The decorations are going to include four 7-meters tall laser light angels, placed at the corners of the market place.”

Isn’t it just great – the right Christmas spirit needs those stances offering mull, after which crowds of drunken tourists are going to potter around! And what would be Christmas without laser angels. What is going to be there the next year? Mull tanks and laser Baby Jesus getting out of a laser comet? Marry Christmas!

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Skoda cars constructed in Russia

Thursday 29 November 2007 10:01

octavia engine From the assembly line in Russian city Kaluza, the first completed Skoda Octavia car came out yesterday. The factory hall owner is Volkswagen concern.

Skoda Octavia automobiles for the Russian market are still just assembled there, but since 2009 the factory should start complete manufacturing. Skoda Auto wants to meet the increasing demand of the Russian market.

“…we expect … that around 2011 the total volume of Russian car market will be about three millions automobiles… we would like to sell 50 000 cars next year”

Jan Hurt, the leader of Russian branch of Skoda Auto, commented.

Dutch band Within Temptation in Prague

Wednesday 28 November 2007 17:08

Dutch gothic metal band Within Temptation will visit Prague Club Roxy after the New Year. They released a new single CD on 5th October, although they have released album “The Heart Of Everything” this year.

Within Temptation is a symphonic metal band from the Netherlands. The band was founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is variously described as symphonic metal, although in an interview, Sharon den Adel said they fell into a symphonic rock genre.

You can see and hear their concert on 17th January 2008 from 19:30 in Prague Club Roxy. Tickets are available in Ticketpro chain outlets and cost 700 CZK (23,3 €).

Read the full article here

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Jaroslav Skala, the founder of addictology, died.

Wednesday 28 November 2007 09:14

Jaroslav Skala, the founder of addictology Did you know the idea of Alcohol Addiction Treatment was born in Prague?

The founder of the first center for rehabilitation of people addicted to alcohol died at the age of 91. Jaroslav Skala had not drink alcohol from solidarity to his patients for 52 years, in order not to ‘preach water and drink wine’.

His granddaughter said he died at home, and didn’t suffer from any serious disease.

Skala was a psychiatrist by his original profession, but became an important person of addictology; the next year is the 60th anniversary of his addicted patients club. The first Alcohol Emergency Room was founded in Prague 1951 at Apolinar Hospital, thanks to him. Now it is common that every disease has its ‘club’ of patients, but at that time it was unique.

According to statistics, alcoholism is the second most common reason for hospitalization in a psychiatric asylum, about 12 000 alcoholics ends there every year. Czechs belong to the world top nations in alcohol consumption.

Armstrong's Moon Boot in Prague

Wednesday 28 November 2007 09:05

The boot Under strict safety measures, the most valuable exhibits of the new exhibition called Stopy Lidi (Footprints of Men) have been installed in the National Museum.

For example it was the previously mentioned boot of Neil Armstrong, who left the footprints of men on the moon, his reserve helmet, or the american flag of the expedition.

“The authors were inspired by a human foot as a tool or a subject. But also metaphorically, from the prehistoric ages (a reconstruction of Ozgi’s, the iceberg mummy, footwear) until today, from the depths of ocean to footsteps on the surface of the moon.”

Visitors of this exhibition will find themselves in a war turmoil, can try their abilities on a running track, can leave their foot stepson a walk of fame, or try various kinds of walking surfaces.

The exhibition starts in the historic building of the National Museum today, and it lasts until 30th June 2008.

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Lexy and K-Paul (de), pre-New Year party in Roxy, Prague

Tuesday 27 November 2007 18:00

Lexy and K-Paul Two icons of the contemporary electro music are going to Roxy to test whether you are ready for the New Year’s eve! They are one of the most sought-after Djs of this style and their festive performance at the end of the year is not a coincidence.

Lexy and K-Paul first met up in 1998 in a Berlin club and their initial meeting emerged from a dispute over a young lady. Their argument resulted in both of them being thrown out of the club and banned from the premises.

Roughly six months later, the two freaks couldn’t believe their eyes when they coincidentally met in the Low Spirit office in Berlin. Leaving the little Casanova dispute behind them, they decided to meet up for a studio session. These nocturnal meetings were the first test runs of their joint production ventures.

The couples first track titled ‘Do you like disco’ became initial success, the young team decided to continue sprinkling their creative dust and infecting the masses with their hypnotic sound. And so, the track ‘The greatest DJ’ was released and nominated as Loveparade’s hymn.

The spring of 2000 proved to be the youngster’s ultimate breakthrough. Their single ‘Freak’ became an instant Love Parade hit, celebrating to new team as the new found heroes of the Berlin Love Parade. With the shooting of the music video, the freaks launched a new found fad in the German Music scene.

The highlights of their acts included The Mayday, Love Parade, Love Parade in Vienna, Electric Kingdom and Love Nation.

If you are heading to Prague for the New Year’s eve, it may be a problem to get tickets to Roxy for 31st of November, so this starter on 28th November can became the opening party of your Prague stay. You also can look forward to decorations, plasma projections and specially adjusted light park. Experimental space Roxy, Dlouha 33, Prague 1. Tickets – advance booking 280CZK, at the spot 350CZK. Session starts at 22:00

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President Vaclav Klaus impugned Olympic Games

Tuesday 27 November 2007 14:02

The president Vaclav Klaus has impugned the idea of organizing the Olympic games in Prague again yesterday. Klaus, according to his words, is not sure if “organizing of the Olympic Games would bring the Czech Republic positives only”. According to the Czech president the Olympics are troublesome, not only because of their expenses.

“I fear the immense impact of various Olympic sports, sports that are normally not done in our country at all, those that might not have a single viewer, but need specific sports grounds built for them anyway.”

Vaclav Klaus proclaimed he still remembers a debate with one minister of Greek government about one area, where Greeks have built stadiums for Olympic Games 2004. “…he said: there is a stadium for baseball, and I responsibly say there is not a single person, that would play baseball in Greece”. Klaus described.

According to the director of the Prague Olympic community Tomas Petera there are going to be only three new stadiums build in Prague, the other sports fields are going to be made by reconstructions of stadiums that are already build, and by constructions of provisional Olympic stances.

Klaus have expressed his opinions earlier, i.e. in May, when he said “skeptical yes” for the Games.

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MONO + Bee and Flower in Prague Akropolis

Tuesday 27 November 2007 10:01

MONO Japan going down the hill Palace Acropolis sometimes offers real music delicacies from the world production. Like today, when the performers are Mono, a post-rock group from Tokyo, that formed in late 1999, and Bee and Flower, a band that was founded in 1999 too, but in NYC, nowadays they reside in Berlin.

The music of Bee and Flower envelops the listener into an intimate, luxurious and orchestrated world, filled with moody strings, piano, percussion, ghostly slide guitars, and lush female vocals. Bee and Flower brings together elements of classically-arranged film-score soundtracks with well-crafted rock songwriting, creating a bold, unique and fluid style. Lyrically, the songs weave tales of the universal human experience: of hope and heartbreak, of love and living, and of isolation and oblivion.

Mono is a group which dominated Prague during their two concerts in 2006, and which is said to have ability to make their sound almost tangible. Mono are known for their powerful live performances. Part of their power in concert reportedly comes from their intense physical involvement in the music. It should also be noted that their shows are extremely loud, even to well-seasoned show goers. They effectively use dynamics to their advantage by playing extremely soft and then extremely loud, giving the impression of even more power.

Tuesday, 27th November 2007, Palac Akropolis, Kubelikova 27 Prague 3. Tickets: 300 CZK

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Wenceslas Square in Prague shakes off Communist Reconstruction

Monday 26 November 2007 16:49

wenceslas sqare project One of the most notorious reconstructions that took place in Prague was definitely taking the D1 expressway, and leading it between the statue of St. Wenceslas and the National Museum, and so cutting it from Wenceslas Square. It is the typical example, how does it ends, when a public commission is controlled by a political party.

Now it seems, Wenceslas square could come back to the pre-communist state of things. How was it before, and how it should look like again? An elegant city boulevard with wide pavements, alleys of trees, and tramways. The expressway, which is definitely a thorn in our side, will be moved away.

wenceslas sqare project Cigler&Marani Architects, who won the public competition of the future face of the square stated that return of tramways and reduction of car traffic should act out as a component which brings back life, but smooths it down at the same time. The expenses of the square reconstruction were estimated at 100 – 200 millions CZK (3,4 – 6,9 mil. €). The expenses of moving the expressway are reaching 450 millions CZK (15,5 mil. €).

foto: Cigler&Marani Architects

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