Compact archive January 2008

Czech-US missile defense negotiations complete

Thursday 31 January 2008 17:31

illustration photo The radar in Brdy, close to Prague, will be build, announced the Minister of Defense Parkanova.

Both sides agreed that they will return to the talks soon. Before that, there will be consultations regarding taxes and penal jurisdiction.

NATO sees expansion of the missile defences as necessity to protect European members against a possible missile attack from Iran. The radar, which is going to be placed in the Czech Republic, is a unit with 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.

The Greatest opposer of the system is Russia, stating it threatens its security, sometimes threatening the CR variously.

Czech government officials announced an agreement could be entered into in April of this year. The Prime minister Topolanek travels to Washington on February 27, the radar will be expectably the main topic of his meeting with G. W. Bush.

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Blockade of Prague Taxi drivers again

Thursday 31 January 2008 16:01

Prague Holesovice see another protest of taxi drivers today, as the angry drivers block Vrbenskeho street again. They demand the sign which doesn’t allow any other taxis than those from City Taxi company musts go away. The sign doesn’t allow taxis to go through, so they can neither drive their clients to the train station, nor pick them up there.

Vrbenskeho street probably stays blocked the whole day. As on Tuesday, there is about 50 taxi cars. “We keep the expressway blocked, until somebody contacts us. We communicate with Prague 7 Municipal council and City Police.” said the speaker. “we are sorry to everyone who needs to pass, but the situation has gone too far. We defend the rights of all taxi drivers.”

The Prague Municipal council doesn’t want to talk with them: “We are not going to negotiate” commented the speaker. “Now it’s on the police to deal with them.”

The speaker of the taxi drivers became famous when he hunger-stroked for 11 days last year, in front of the municipal council building last year, for the right of charging the customers by 99 CZK/km. In comparison with the price of City Taxi, which is 28 CZK/km, it is more than three times as much.

The Shortest Prison Sentence in History

Thursday 31 January 2008 13:34

prisonbars A 20 year old woman in Brno, Eastern Czech Republic, was send to prison for 24 hours.

This is the shortest sentence in the Czech history. Her Monday, she spent in prison, was filled with activities – she had to go through all the prison formalities. That means, go through the prison regime presentation for two hours, medical check-up, hand over clothes and belongings and put on a prisoner’s outfit.

She spent the day behind the bars for avoiding 2 hours she had left from her 50 hours of community work, to which she had been sentenced to in 2006 for a theft. She has been repeatedly called to take her work up, but she didn’t response. At the end, she was given the prison sentence.

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Czech Hydrogen-Powered Bus Coming Soon

Thursday 31 January 2008 11:17

hydrogen engine by bmw The first Czech hydrogen-powered bus development is in its first half, informed Nuclear Research Institute in Rez near Prague.

The bus with hydrogen machine should start working at the beginning of the year 2009, said the leading engineer of the hydrogen technology department of the institute Ludek Janik. To adjust a bus to hydrogen power costs about 30 millions CZK (12,1 mil €), the project is co-financed by the European Union and the Ministry of Transport.

If successful, the hydrogen vehicle will be the first developed in the new member countries of the EU. The development is supported e.g. by Skoda Auto, that develops the electrical engine and steering system, and at the end puts all the components into the vehicle.

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Union of Architects : Blob won according to the law.

Thursday 31 January 2008 09:55

golden blob The International Union of Architects (UIA) doesn’t change it’s decision – the Blob won by legal and proper way. The President of the Union Gaétan Siew sent the director of National Library Vlastimil Jezek a letter, stating: “This is to confirm, UIA accepts the decision of the International Union, and so the results of hte competition.”

The iniciative to examine legality of the competition came from the ‘Ateliér HSH Architekti’ company, which claims the competition was contested.

The National Library Team continues in their debates about Blob.

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The first Klaus vs Svejnar duel

Wednesday 30 January 2008 17:06

Teh Czech Republic Presidential elections are in 9 days already, however the very first debate of Vaclav Klaus and Jan Svejnar took place yesterday. Who expected a serious debate, which would influence decisions, was disappointed. The 75 minutes debate would be easier to call a TV show (watch here). Questions were given by the CSSD senators.

Meanwhile Svejnar kept his professional poker face, Klaus gesticulated variously, rolled his eyes and his head, when he disagreed with Svejnar.

There were no new or unexpected quotes. The debate was more about irony, performance, and banter. But some quotes are worth translating:

svejnar photo by michigan uni Svejnar

“I thought, you just don’t publish in scientific magazines, but you don’t even read them. “

“You can vote for somebody for the past, or you can vote for somebody for the future.”

klaus photo by i.treehugger Klaus

“When I red one of his publication from the 90’s, I was horrified.”

“I can guarantee knowledgeable presidency, continuity, and enforcement of authentic interests of our country.”

The questions were from themes which are well known, but controversial. Global warming, privatization, European Union or Euro. Hopefully the planned ‘real’ debate will bring more.

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Lenka Smidova qualified for Peking

Wednesday 30 January 2008 15:54

lenka smidova Czech duo Lenka Smidova and Lenka Mrzlikova have qualified for the Olympic Games in Peking at the World Championship in Melbourne in the ship class 470. They have gained the last fifth position. The winning pair are Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Kinsolving from the USA.

Lenka Smidova so have a chance to gain her second Olympics medal. She gained one, when she won the Silver Medal in Olympics 2004 in Athens, Women’s Europe class.

Lenka Smidova is the most sucessfull Czech yachtsman of all times.

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American Solider Stabbed to death by drunk Prague Policeman

Wednesday 30 January 2008 13:55

Close to Prague Sazka Arena, the American solider, who served at a Germany base, was stabbed to death today at two o’clock am. The attacker is a member of the municipal police, and he is at questioning at the moment.

The car with American soldiers was passing the area, when the Czech reportedly did some offensive gestures. The American stepped out of the car, demanding an explanation. The man was however drunk, and attacked instead. He stabbed him three times, into the heart area, after which the person fell at the ground an died at the spot. The attacker than fell into the shock state, and the other two soldiers hold him until the police came.

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Klaus: Passive smoking doesn't harm

Wednesday 30 January 2008 12:02

Meanwhile Al Gore got the Nobel Prize for his fight against Global warming, Klaus denies global warming has anything to do with men. When Blob won the competition of the best National library design, Klaus said he would rather drastically protest against, than saw it build (thanks to him the ‘Blob matter’ has been debated about half a year, with the perspective of another half a year of debates). Now, when the world fights smoking, and in the Czech Republic there are activities to limit smoking at public places, Klaus protests, and supports smokers. Vaclav Klaus himself is a non-smoker.

passive smoking In the CR, the specialists speak about twice as much deaths from passive smoking, than from traffic accidents. That means, over 2500 people died last year, because they were staying in heavily smoky places. The illnesses they died from were all smoking-based, or it’s proved smoking demonstrably worsens the development.

Klaus’ statement for LN surprised the expert community; Eva Kralikova, a practitioner of the centre for smoking quitting, said: “Studies about passive smoking are being carried out in many countries and the outcome is always the same.” To inhale cigarette smoke can lead to lung and heart diseases. Vaclav Klaus doesn’t think so.

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Connection - house, trance party in Prague club Mecca

Wednesday 30 January 2008 09:11

Boosted sound distribution, new stage with perspective talents of dance scene Samuel Wega, DejFF and Cortezz, sexy dancers and possibility to buy tickets to VIP stage waits at Mecca.

Mecca club spaces are ideal for arragement of exclusive club parties. That is why the club management decided to organize a brand new series of parties called Connection. The performance of Netherland trance DJ and producer star Johan Gielen is coming on 15th February.

Gielen was working for artists such as Tiësto, Boy George or Chicane. His music was in Pepsi-Cola commercial advertisement and every fan has to know his song L’Esperanza. We are sure, that the fans of LayDee Jane will be pleased, if they find out that this DJane is coming back to Czech Republic after a relatively long period of time.

Her first performance in Prague will be at the Connection party. “In the last couple of months I have been on tour across Turkey and China, so I am looking forward to play again for Czech audience,“ says LayDee Jane.

VIP lounge costs 490CZK in advance-sale and in front of the club 650CZK. You will get your own privacy, a place next to the DJ, your own bar, catering menu and a luxurious lounge on the second floor in the VIP.

Fridany 15th February, New party Connection presents Johan Gielen in Mecca, Prague, U Pruhonu street 3

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Smetana and Tchaikovsky in Prague

Tuesday 29 January 2008 17:06

If you are looking for a city that offers opportunities to listen to good classical music, Prague is the city for you. The concert in Rudolfinum, advised here, is just one of many concerts Prague Rudolfinum offers. Check their web pages for more.

Afternoons in Rudolfinum with Zdeněk Mácal. B. Smetana – From Czech Forests and Meadows, symphonic poem. P. I. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36 “Fate” Performed by : Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Zdenek Mácal. Approx 1hr 30mins, start 26th April 2008 – 15:00

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Czech Brands Advertisements in the World

Tuesday 29 January 2008 14:59

Skodacarpark When Skoda Auto introduced , during the Christmas season, their skoda-cake advertisement, it was just one of the ads they show to the world. By the way, the British Television Advertising Craft Awards went to this ‘baking’ advertisement.

Skoda advertisements have their place reserved at the web Ads of the Wold, which maps creative ideas, like the one when Skoda inform es they re-plant forests at various places of Earth; “Skoda compensates for the pollution of its cars, reforesting specific areas in the world.” (picture)

The second most well-known Czech product is beer, and the Kozel brand advertisements are recognized by world’s creative minds. Kozel is the beer with the billy-goat in its emblem, and the billy-goat propagates the beer e.g. by presenting ‘beer receipts’ in Finland, or by re-cycling the 3D glasses idea in Russia.

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Amsterdam Klezmer Band in Prague

Tuesday 29 January 2008 14:03

Jewish dances and songs from the Eastern Europe went through a revivalist wave in the last quarter a century. At the beginning there were musicians not from Europe, but from the US. The pioneers were groups like Klezmatics from New York, whose example was followed in the 90’s a whole generation of followers in Europe.

Amsterdam Klezmer Band Most of the Amsterdam Klezmer Band repertory has been created by the band members themselves, who all without exception contribute musically to an ever-growing melting-pot of infectious Balkan/Gypsy/Klezmer cross-overs. In this manner the band endeavours to breathe new life into the Eastern European Balkan, Klezmer and Gypsy music tradition.

The members of the Amsterdam Klezmer Band are passionate musicians and well-versed in a wide range of styles. They have made their musical mark on the Dutch and European club and festival scene and are well known for their parts in various other remarkable pop, jazz and world music projects in the Netherlands , past and present.

The Amsterdam Klezmer Band has managed to extract Klezmer from its dilettante ambiance and added a good dose of street credibility, bringing you the pleasure of Eastern European music as it’s meant, because: The Amsterdam Klezmer Band guarantees a spectacular live show at which there is only one option: Dance until you drop.

31sh January 2008, Palac Akropolis, Kubelikova 27, Prague 3.

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Obcan Havel – Citizen Havel: New Czech Comedy Movie

Tuesday 29 January 2008 12:01

obcan havel The new Czech movie Obcan Havel is a documentary movie depicting fifteen years of Havel’s life, in presidential function and after. But it is much more than just a document – when I started watching, I started to smile a little at first, than more, and than I couldn’t help and started to laugh as the rest of the audience in the cinema I went. The Obcan Havel movie is hilarious.

Vaclav Havel in the presidential role entertains by his shyness and impracticability from the first moment. “Where is my suit?”…. “Where the hell do I have my suit?!?” (running around nervously, meanwhile there are important state matters waiting behind the door) or asking his foreign secretary: “How it is possible you have such a nice new red carpet going to your office, and I have the ugly, old, Husak’s gray one, against which I have been fighting for 7 years?” the foreign secretary: “It is not my fault, I don’t understand it and I don’t agree with it.” Havel: “You have lied yourself nicely out of it.” the secretary: “I don’t know anything about it.”

This film is not just a documentary, it is a film full of comedy, carrying a story of the very special and important human being, we now finding out we were lucky to have as a president.

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Overcrowded Prague Forests

Tuesday 29 January 2008 10:00

prague forests More people go to Prague forests. They want to relax from the noise of the metropolis, but there has never been so many of them.

The recent study of Prague City hall brought quite surprising numbers. Especially those, where Prague forests are compared to touristically attractive Sumava in the South of the Czech Republic. On one hectare of Prague forest 5200 visitors take turns. At turistically attractive Sumava, it is only tens of people.

The most favorite Prague forest is Hvezda park at Prague 6, visited by the same numbers the as the botanical garden in Troja – seven thousand four hundred on one hectare per year.

Prague so started planting of new forests, in supplying of the demand. 100 hectare forest is being planted at Brezineves, another will be planted in Dubec.

Constitutional yard denied Prague Olympics referendum

Monday 28 January 2008 17:05

Prague Constitutional yard denied the petition for whole-state Olympics referendum. Prague so didn’t used it’s own priviledge to propose to the parliament, all the people should speak about the very expensive games.

Prague representatives don’t want the citizens to speak, but they ask for our law and finantial guaratees. Even when the Prague Mayor in 2006 sated that there should be not only Prage, but whole-country referndum.

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Svejnar: I'm willing to give up U.S. citizenship

Monday 28 January 2008 16:49

The title is true – the economist and presidential candidate Jan Svejnar decided to give up his U.S. citizenship if he would became the Czech President. He revealed this truth this weekend to MF Dnes.

Decision, which was according to Svejnar hard, is quite surprising, as when he was confronted with this idea before by the KSCM, he said: “It is like to give up your forester-mother, when your own has forced you out.”

He said many people all over the country, with whom he debated, made him to change his mind.

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Bohemian Carnevale in Prague

Monday 28 January 2008 14:05

Bohemian Carnevale in Prague Under the auspices of the Mayor of the City of Prague Pavel Bém and the Mayor of Prague 1 Petr Hejma the second year of culture is organized.

Why a carnival? Celebrating the joy of life, fantasy, talent, craft, and creativity. Director of the festival Zlatuse J. Müller informs :

“Festivals of this type belong to the all-European culture heritage. They were usual in the Czech lands, as in other parts of Europe, for more than seven centuries and they have its historic tradition, that we would like to bring to life again at the Bohemian Carnevale festival.”

To held marches of masks clearly has long tradition in the Bohemian lands, even when until recently it was for some reason kept outside of big cities. Metropolises like Prague has to find the way to its roots, and Bohemian Carnevale is one of these moments Prague wakes up and brightens with joy, food, and masks.

The organizers have divided the event into four parts, having exotically sounding names; Divertimento Furioso, Cuisine d’Alchimiste, Praga Mysteriosa, Bohemia Divina. Those are quite describing – Divertimento Furioso means ‘Furious Fun’ – that is the part when the masks march the city in joy.

The main theme of this, the second Bohemian Carnevale, is Metamorphosis.

The event in Prague, January 31 – February 5 2008, at Clam-Gallas Palace, Husova 20, Prague 1, and in the centre of Prague. Tickets to Clam-Gallas Pallace at ticketpro.com, or since the day before start at the desk.

Detailed information on Bohemian Carnevale in Prague here

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