Compact archive January 21, 2008

Jan Svejnar, who works as Michigan University professor, made a PowerPoint presentation for the press, Pravo informed. He did it in university fashion.

Svejnar introduced his three pillars – “President should help dialogue on the political scene, with political parties and human society. President should be non-party, legible and fair, representing something universal from the society.” He said, adding that he is against Prague Castle acting as a centre of power.

The third pillar are for Svejnar the future challenges. “…we are not at the end of the WWII, it is necessary to look forwards.”

Svejnar would also like to contribute to the Czech Republic being more successful and self-confident.

Roisín Murphy, the ex-singer of the electronic duo Moloco, comes 24th January to Prague notorious club Roxy, to introduce her last solo album Overpowered, which gained nomination for the prestigious Irish Choice Music Prize.

Roisin comes to Prague with more than two months delay in comparison with her November tour, which she had to postpone because of her eye injury in Moscow.

Music of Roisin Murphy, (as concerts of Moloko) joins electronic dance music and trip-hop with lyrical vocals and catchy melodies of creative whole. This should be shown at the Czech concert, too.

Roisin was nominated for the MTV Europe music awards for her Overpowered – best performance. If she will be in a good shape, there is something to look forward in Prague Roxy.

The typical Czech music award ‘Zlaty Slavik’, that concerns with the most commercial music, is altered by ‘Fliter awards’ which are given by one of the most original Czech music magazine Filter.

The best Czech Music group is Sunshine. They became the total winner of the awards, and they also won in the ‘Group of the Year’ category, where they competed with Aneta Langerova, Tata Boys, Vypsana Fixa and Bullerbyne.

The best music video award gained Monkey Business for their video Kit Bike, about a Japanese, who likes Czech things. The best concert Group is Gipsy.cz, who played i.a. at the Glastonburry festival and in South Korea last year.

The best foreigner concert was made by 50 cent in T-mobile arena.

The Czech album of the year – Sunshine: Dreamer
The best Czech song – Tata Boys: Pesaci
The best Czech concert group: Gipsy.cz
The Czech Group of the Year: Sunshine
The new group: Scissorhands
The best music video: Monkey Business: Kit Bike
The best foreign concert: 50 Cent in Sazka Arena
The best Czech Music Festival: Rock for People

As in the case of the last march, the right-wing extremists organized in Prague, most of foreign support was hold out of the Republic. The expected German support in the end counted just a few heads, and they arrived to Prague. Prague Paladskeho Square, which is a Prague ‘Hyde Park’, so became the host place for the neo-nazi once more.

As the Pilsen Mayor Pavel Rodr forbid the march in Pilsen, the right-wing radicals moved the place of their march to Prague, and those who stayed in Pilsen faced much dismay of the locals, especially those of Jewish origin, but also left-thinking groups, who organized even an open air concert of punk groups. Few dozens of neo-nazi, facing huge numbers of police, ended their attempts to demonstrate ‘for the freedom of speech’ and moved into a pub. 3 neo-nazis from Poland were taken into custody for heiling, which took place at half past eleven am already.

Prague meeting at Paladskeho square attracted about 150 neo-nazi. They had their heads talking about ‘the oppression in which those who tell the truth live’ or about ‘how many foreigners sell drugs to our kids right now’ than they all shouted ‘Protest! Protest!’ The whole action took place without fights, as the police managed the crowd quite professionally. There were also many of ‘civilians’ who came to control the radicals, and many from the press. Four demonstrates were taken into custody, two for identification and two because of weapons they had (a boxer and a nunchuck)

Although each international book fair is unique, all book fairs aim to create a climate for successful business negotiations between exhibitors and visitors. Book fairs draw attention to new releases by publishers and booksellers, and they showcase companies and institutions active in the book market and culture. Like other international trade fairs, Bookworld Prague balances commercial and educational goals.

The first day of the fair is reserved exclusively for trade professionals and members of the press the organizers focus on attracting as many booksellers, librarians, information professionals, literary agents, and representatives of publishers and printers as possible.

Bookworld Prague features numerous programmes for visitors: professional seminars and conferences, meetings with writers, author readings, presentations by publishers, and awards ceremonies for outstanding publishing and creative achievements.

On the humorous note, the Translators Guild presents the annual Rack Anti – award – a prize for the worst translation of a foreign work into Czech.

Bookworld in Prague 2008 – 14 th International Book Fair, 24th – 27th April 2008, At the Industrial Palace Prague – Holesovice Exhibition Grounds.