Compact archive April 2008

No-confidence vote in the CR, third of present government

Wednesday 30 April 2008 17:51

The coalition government of Mirek Topolanek have withstand third try of opposition of no-confidence vote. The opposition didn’t collect 101 votes necessary, it was narrow, though; for no-confidence voted 98 MPs.

The government is dangerous for the state and its citizens, Paroubek said. This becomes a kind of tradition, as this was the third shot Paroubek had to put the government down. Communist deputies also vote for the no confidence motion.

The starter was earlier this month, when the Constitutional Court ruled that the new sickness benefits law abolishing benefits for the first three days of sickness, which was a part of Julinek’s (ODS) health reform, is anti-constitutional.

Prague Sex Exhibition - Sex(ism)?

Wednesday 30 April 2008 13:57

logo of the exhibition Theme: Sex as a power instrument, woman as a misuse subject or clever manipulator

The possibilities of visual arts provoke us to unveil things that are usually out of scope of our everyday communication. Descriptive presentation, often criticised, is considered insufficient as far as projection of erotic motives is concerned. Rightly described affinity touches the boundaries of what is usually called pornography. But is not pornography the most natural visual language of all? Things that we are unable to reflect become taboo, but taboo has become something that is no longer respected today. And there is another interesting aspect of this ever present and absolute freedom – intimacy. How do we relate to intimacy in various presentations of erotic motives? Does intimacy still have a meaning for us when we can calculate it? And how important is morality for us after its definition has been made relative? It looks as if there was only a soft and indistinct boundary between art and pornography in the best works of art. Entering sexual relations we find ourselves within an intricate communication network supported by a dominant hierarchic structure and the important question: „Who is using who?“ There are not many Czech artists who would find this topic open and appealing.

Participating artists: Andy Warhol, Corinna Schnitt, Katarzyna Kozyra, Elke Krystufek, Lenka Klodová, Franz Kapfer, Mark Ther, Ondřej Brody, Petra Pětiletá, Roy Stuart, Veronika Drahotová. Curator: Pavel Humhal

The exhibition is not suitable for persons under the age of 18!

Roy Stuart’s film „The Lost Door“, 2007 – 2008, 120 min., will be shown in the gallery on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 p.m. The film is in French with English subtitles.

Andy Warhol’s film „Women in Revolt“, 1971, 95 min., will be shown in the gallery on Thursdays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. The film is in English.

Gallerie Vaclava Spaly (Vaclav Spala Gallery), Narodni 30, Praha 1. 34th April -15th June 2008

Theme:

Kaplicky Adjusted Blob Size

Wednesday 30 April 2008 11:55

In the partially adjusted design there is a slight change, Kaplicky announced the little piece of ground which was a problem for the City Hall won’t be used. “Our project team found a new solution, which will able the library realization on Prague Letna, on the place intended for it, and do so without change in the ground plan.” Said Jan Kaplicky in his declaration.

Meanwhile, the other declaration is still waited for – the politicians should simply say, there will be no Blob, because they just don’t like it. The Leader of Czech Anti-monopol Office Pecina repeatedly announced he won’t be the one who looks uncultured and he resist pressure to forbid Blob, when there is no reasonable problem with it.

Knizak, the leader of Czech National Gallery, who is presently asked by a petition signed by 50 000 to resign, came with a new solution – to get around the international contest, by not building a new library, but reconstructing another building. Taking the fact he is a Klaus’ good friend into consideration, this might be very well the end of Blob in Prague.

Theme:

Over 1000 Police Officers ready for 1st May

Wednesday 30 April 2008 09:55

Among the most expected gatherings announced to be that day is the neo-nazi gathering ‘corridor of shame’ prepared to humiliate the communists, who are going to come to their traditional communist meeting at the Prague Exhibition Ground.

Another very closely watched event is the gathering of ‘left-wing supporters’ at Namesti Miru in Prague 2. The participants than get on their way to the Svatopluk Cech Sady.

More extreme left-wingers are planning to get together at Strelecky Ostrov, There should be approximately 150 of them, they are going on parade, heading to Namesti Miru Square. Than they will probably move to Cisarska louka, where is planned a festival against racism.

There is something in the air. Something will happen. Do the City Hall expect clashes? We are going to inform you about the events.

Theme:

Up-to-date electro show in Mecca

Wednesday 30 April 2008 08:54

SElectro, the party that brings the hip sound of electro that rocks dancefloors worldwide to Mecca, presents young up’n’rising star DJ Jack Michaels. Spearheading the next generation of young determined DJ stars, Michaels has become one of the most exciting new names on the house/electro scene in London over the past couple of years.

In 2007, with Jack’s reputation spreading like wildfire, he has rocked Space at The Cross, helped to celebrate 20 Years of House at The Island, stoked up the main room at Fire It Up! at KOKO, tore the PUSH Boat Party to pieces, played the main room at Pacha for Eivissa, and warmed-up the main room at Release Yourself.

Sharing the stage and warming-up for huge DJs like Roger Sanchez, Norman Jay, Eddie Halliwell, Sarah Main, Junior Jack and Kid Cr?me has afforded him a wealth of experience that helps to make him a versatile and skilled DJ who can adapt to any set time.

SElectro resident DJs Bon Finix and Scarcoke will provide you with a delicious portion of selective electro. The second stage will echo to the sexy sound of minimal with DJs Kristo and Deff taking charge.

Sat 3th May, Entry: 190 czk, start: 22:00, Club Mecca Prague

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1st May in Prague – 56 Events!

Tuesday 29 April 2008 17:44

Four groups of the town-council officers will be in the streets assisted by the police, ready to disband demonstrations prepared for the day, at the first violence shown. 56 events were reported to take place, but there will be probably less of them, as e.g. only the Jewish community have registered 20 gatherings.

Two from the registered gatherings were forbidden already. Those were gatherings of right-wing extremists of the National Party, who wanted to demonstrate ‘National Power’ The deputy of the Mayor Rudolf Blazek informed they intended to appeal for limitation of human rights according to race, political or religious beliefs.

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Crown Jewels to come back to the Crown Chamber

Tuesday 29 April 2008 15:45

The exhibition of Czech Crown Jewels drove to the end. The Prague Castle doors closed yesterday and at 6 pm, the jewels went back to the Crown Charmer in the Chram Sv. Vita (St. Vitus chapel) seven key makers will once again lock them for at least five years.

During the ten days of the exhibition, more than 30 thousands visitors came to see it. This means ten thousand people more than five years ago. The main reason is probably the exhibition was moved to larger Vladislavsky Sal, together with other interesting pieces which were uniquely exhibited.

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Slovakia Converts to Euro in 2009, CR Waits

Tuesday 29 April 2008 14:04

The plan of Slovakia, to convert to Euro in 2009 seemed maybe too ambitious at the beginning, however yesterday news revealed it was quite realistic. European Commission stated they believe Slovakia will hold its growth at reasonable level even after the Euro adoption.

All in all, this suggest the European Ministers of Finance will say ‘yes’ as their final verdict next year. Czech Crown is gaining its value at very good speed, so the Czech Republic doesn’t plan to convert quickly. The ex-presidential candidate Jan Svejnar supposes that Euro adoption in 2012 would work, however the Prime Minister Pavel Topolanek stated that the idea of adopting the Euro in 2012 is unreal.

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Digital Television Era in Czech Republic begins in Month

Tuesday 29 April 2008 11:58

The term of analog broadcast end is finally known. After two years of obscure debates the digital TV age in the CR finally begins. In June, a new station Z1 of financial group J&T wants to be the first Czech ‘commercial news station’ TV Barradov, another of those six new channels, we have been waiting for two years.

Z1 wants to make money by the yet unexplored way in the Czech Republic; every half an hour broadcast news and the rest fill with ‘publicistics for richer and more demanding audience’ the TV Z1 leader announced yesterday.

Theme:

Wenceslas Square First Step to Freedom

Tuesday 29 April 2008 09:55

do you see cars there? they will hopefully be hidden underground At first, let me explain the title. How do I perceive freedom of a square? People should be at least able to walk from one end to another, which is, in the case of Wenceslas Square, impossible. During the communist era, when to be a city architect was conditioned to be a communist, a speedway was placed among the cherry on the cake, and the cake – the National Museum building was cut off from the rest of the Wenceslas Square.

The Prime minister Mirek Topolanek, Pavel Bem and the Minister of Culture Vaclav Jehlicka are going to sign a memorandum today, to confirm moving the incriminated speedway under the ground. From the point of view of a Prague Citizen, this is a sign of hope the Wenceslas Square could return to the times of glory. The project will cost approximately 10 billions czk (400 mil €).

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Greenpeace protests against the Radar

Monday 28 April 2008 17:44

illustration photo Members of the Greenpeace motion have occupied the hill, where the American radar should stand. About 20 activists build tents, some have settled in trees. The organization protests against the radar, they spread a huge cloth with a target. They plan to organize ‘cultural and social events’.

Signing of the radar treaty was planned on 5th May, however this will be probably moved, as the American Minister of Foreign Affairs Condoleezza Rice, who was supposed to come on invitation of Czech Minister of Foreign won’t be here. (Her colleague Sean McCormick supplied the information).

Theme:

Kylie Minogue in Prague soon

Monday 28 April 2008 15:49

One of the most expected concert of this year comes. The big show starts 12th May 2008 in Prague. Kylie Minogue is at her biggest tour of her singing career. The costumes for her show were made by the uber-famous French designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Her stylist William Baker said it is time Kylie would give up her hotpants and come with something which would show her more mature and charming.

“Dresses by Gaultier are incredibly sophisticated, we try to move them a level up.” Baker stated. Kylie is on a tour of her life: In less than 4 months, she is going to visit 33 European cities. One of her concerts will be in Prague O2 Arena. Her stage will be bigger than the one which was build there for Madonna.

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The Blob story goes on and on

Monday 28 April 2008 14:02

There was a new proposal of placing the Blob on Vysehrad, about which we didn’t inform because it was clear it won’t work. Pavel Bem was finally against in that case. But he may agree with Knizaks’ proposal of not building a Blob, but placing the very much needed new National Library into the building of the Congress Centre at Vysehrad.

Knizak has many opposers in whatever he does (right now, about 50 000 people signed a petition he should resign on his function of the leader of the National Gallery, but he is strongly in power) but this time he came with a proposal which could kill two birds with one stone; what to to with the congress centre and what to do with the National Library.

The Prague mayor Pavel Bem have arranged a meeting wit Knizak this week, where they should discuss the matter. The manager of the National Library Vlastimil Jezek however sees the matter as a nonsense, because to run the communist-constructed building costs a fortune, and to change it into a library would be too expensive as well.

Theme:

Czech Parliament wastes paper?

Monday 28 April 2008 11:49

MF Dnes brought an interesting insight of Czech Parliament meetings; it the times of computers and electronic documents, one law-making, which lasts two weeks, needs seven tons of paper, which costs 2,2 million czk. Still, this is only the paper used for law proposals for the M.P.

One member of parliament gets four thousand pages. If we piled the paper, it would make a tower 136 meters high. And most of it goes straight into a trashcan.

All the documents could be of course burned on cds, which would cost two-three thousans czk, the state could save millions. At least the MPs relize there is a problem they plan to solve. The leader of the parliament Miroslav Vlcek stated the law change will be ready in autumn.

Surprising Concert of Lenny Kravitz took place

Monday 28 April 2008 09:15

Rocker Lenny Kravitz unexpectedly concerted in the centre of Prague close to Rudolfinum. He sung to flamed out fans on an