Compact archive October 2008

Respect is not going to apologize to Kundera. The writer considers to sue.

Friday 31 October 2008 17:33

The Respect magazine is not going to apologize to Kundera for the article “Kundera informer” Kundera’s representative in the Czech Republic Jiri Srstka announced Respect wrote him very briefly, they are not going to apologise for anything. Kundera is now considering his next steps, the legal proceedings for personality protection against Respect is not excluded.

Respect published the article about alleged Kundera’s informing in the middle of October. At the basis of the document, which a historian found in the office for totalitarian regimes study they claim the famous writer alleged an anti-communist fighter Miroslav Dvoracek, who than spend 14 years in a communist prison.

Kundera said the article is an “attempt on a writer’s life”. And a few personalities stand by him, e.g. literary historian Zdenek Pesat, who claims the informer was Miroslav Dlask.

When do I need Winter Tires in the Czech Republic?

Friday 31 October 2008 15:33

The Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic came with the public notice for 2008 – Since this November, Winter Tires are necessary when there is -5 Celsius, on the D1 motorway. Originally, you didn’t have to use Winter Tyres from ht law, but when there was an accident, the one with regular tyres was always in truble.

So carefully, when the termometer shows less than -5, and you are going from Prague to Brno, and you see the traffic sign, you can get fined for summer ones. It is also possible to continue with snow chains on. Placement of the sign on other roads is now in jurisdiction of districts themselves. The Sign is valid from November to the end of March.

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Bronze babies at Kampa

Friday 31 October 2008 11:41

baby on zizkov tower One of the unofficial Prague symbols, the black babies which climb the Zizkov television tower and bring back to memory that to make innovative art means to fight the system, like their author, David Cerny. His babies at Kampa are, as opposed to those black at Zizkov, bronze-coloured.

The sculptor, whose art is placed in many public spaces of Prague, co-produces the face of Prague, whether we like it or not. Even when the Bronze Babies are at Kampa legally, for example during the August anniversary of USSR occupation of Czechoslovakia he wanted to put a pink occupation tank again on the street, however the government had strongly opposed. Cerny didn’t waste time, found a sponsor, and put a torso of an occupation tank on the square by himself again..

He didn’t get in confrontation with the law this time. So Kampa park in Prague is now in token of giant statues.

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The station Narodni trida in Prague will be only closed for 8 months

Friday 31 October 2008 09:44

The initiative against the construction of the new business centre at Prague Narodni Trida have managed an achievement for those travelling to Prague centre – the station will be probably closed ‘only’ for eight months instead of incredible sixteen. This is the length which announced the Prague Public Transport company as needed for building of the centre above and interrelated reconstruction of the metro station itself.

Those 5000, who signed the petition, aren’t, however, going to get rid of the station closure. According to the councilman Steiner the reconstruction is necessary to be done anyways. The station has been, since it was build in 1985, in permanent service without any repairs for 23 years. He also adds, that when stations at line A were reconstructed, it appeared the minimum time necessary is one year. We will see.

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The tunnel under Vysehrad is going to be closed.

Friday 31 October 2008 08:06

Prague expect troubles in traffic due to Vysehrad tunnel, where the tramlines need repair. The reconstruction starts this Monday, it will last a month and will bring a few changes in tramlines. The substitute traffic around the tunnel will also be done by ferries and buses. The travellers can use substitute boats X-21 going from Vyton to Podolska Vodarna, or the bus line X-17.

The tramway track which supports very used lines like 17 and 3 hasn’t been repaired for 26 years. The 300 m section Vyton – Podolska a complete renewal. The reason is executable: emergency state of the track. The rock in which the tunnel will be reconstructed can’t be blown away, because there are remains of one of the oldest Prague buildings atop of it.

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First 2008 snow, Czech weather

Thursday 30 October 2008 17:35

The winter reports for duty once again. On the Krusne hory mountain top Klinovec lie, after whole-day snowing, about ten centimetres of snow. The meteorologists warn, that the eastern part of the country, especially Jeseniky and Beskydy will be having strong winds all week – the 100 km/h drift arrived to Lysa hora and in to Beskydy yesterday. Warning before the strong wind applies especially for Olomoucky, Moravskoslezky and Pardubicky districts.

This summer was normally hot, with all the marks of cold winter ahead, the meteorologists foretell this winter will have freezing temperatures, probably snow. The autumn looks according to it – now Prague is rainy, foggy and cold.

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Czech Radar Matter Put Simply: Russia or USA?

Thursday 30 October 2008 15:33

The whole debate around the radar can be indeed put that simply: To which area of power want the CR to belong? Fools, irresponsible pacifists and people linked to Russia will say: we do not want to belong to any groupement of power. This answer guarantee to Russia they have a chance of returning one day. This is the way our world works, there are no neutral paradises, and for small countries, especially for those ‘in the middle of the road’ will always be necessary to unite with a strong country.

Those people who protest so vehemently against the radar should ask themselves: Which radar do I want? To protest against the US is easy, when we live in a country which is democratic thanks mostly to the USA. When there will be the Russian radar build, there will be no protests, as the protesters will be locked up, or worse.

The arguments, which country is better are clear to everyone, and still, the opposition CSSD which won the election, now want to close the radar negotiations, a few steps from the approval. But they may make a real mistake – their government will be there for four years, but the question, where the country goes is much more important and long term. If they say they do not want the radar, they should say openly: I don’t want the Radar, I like the way of government Russia has. And behave according to it.

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The Czech Crown has Strengthened Again

Thursday 30 October 2008 13:39

For many Czechs, who still enjoy lower prices of most of consume goods outside of the Czech Republic, it is a positive development, for many businesses it is a tragedy. The Czech Crown has strengthened again, returning under 24 czk/Euro yesterday. Returning to the price from the middle of September, before the news about bankrupting banks in the USA and stock markets bankrupts, after which the czk lost a lot from its value, almost to 26 czk/€.

If the yesterday course lasted, it would mean a trouble for Czech businesses. Many of them are already in crisis, some very important ones have already closed some of their factories, like the glass-works Czech Crystal.

Stock prices have grown rapidly, bringing along optimism for the financiers in the stock markets. But the main reason for strengthening of czk was different – the main reason was the Hungary save loan of 20 billions Euro, which helped to calm those, who were afraid of financial crisis in the middle Europe.

Horace Andy from Jamaica in Roxy

Thursday 30 October 2008 11:33

Club Roxy will be shined through by the atmosphere of fragrant Jamaica. On Tuesday, one of the most significant and most popular vocalist of the Caribbean Horace Andy. It was his specific voice that made him famous. He was born in 51 in the capital of Reggae Kingston. He has put his energy into reggae for a few tens of years, his recordings from the 70s are among the very best from Jamaica.

Horace made many successful and breakthrough hits, and even when he is not as famous as Bob Marley, he belongs to the big names of the genre. Europeans, however, probably know him more as the host on the records of triphop icons from Bristol Massive Attack. Horace Andy is going to perform in Roxy with his support band Dub Asante Band.

Horace Andy in Roxy Dlouha street on 4th November 2008. Tickets in the pre-sale of TicketPro.

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The Industrial Palace will revive. By Erotic Exhibition this weekend.

Thursday 30 October 2008 09:22

Since today to Sunday, the Industrial Palace at Prague Exhibition grounds, which suffered from fire and lost its left wing, is going to host the Erotica Sex 2008 exhibition. This time, it will have to squeeze into the main building and its right wing.

What is the exhibition about? Firstly, it is possible to buy here ‘usable things of erotic character’. There are going to be meetings with porn actors, and presentations of ‘thematic movies’. Beside of it there will be 45 exhibitors, offering ‘erotic clothes’ and ‘job in the field’.

The Zlata Hvezda awards (Golden Star) 2008 are to be given away, for the best actors in the field, also some of them will perform live there. The organizers also promise there will be ‘free entertainment’ whatever that means. The tickets are 299 czk.

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Paroubek's party murderer: a normal quarrell

Wednesday 29 October 2008 17:55

Police investigation of Vaclav Kocka murder is going to its finale. According to the police the motive of shooting at the Paroubek’s book was not a payback of two mafia groups, but a ‘normal’ pub quarrell. If those two, who were clearly highly positioned persons of Prague underworld, wanted to settle accounts, they probably wouldn’t do it on Paroubek’s book party. If they weren’t drunk.

If the court finds Duricko guilty, he can get 10-15 years. The murder got media coverage as a consequence the victim was a famous son of the Matejska pout renter, also because the shooting took place at the party of CSSD, right before the regional elections. The funeral ceremony was massive. Both the shooter and the victims are members of Social Democracy.

Queen want to Rock the world in Prague

Wednesday 29 October 2008 15:42

The music pact Queen + Paul Rodgers lasts and goes around the globe for the second time. Songs from the new album The Cosmos Rock and older hits they they want to rock if not the universe, so at least the fans in O2 Arena in Prague. The concert starts on Friday 31st October at 20:00.

To join the half of Queen (guitarist Brian May and a drummer Roger Taylor, the bass-guitarist Jophn Deacon refused to participate on the comeback) with the singer Paul Rodgers, two words collapsed. The shining theatre of Queen with earthy Blues-rock of Paul Rodgers appealed somehow unfit for some fans, for the others it was somehow more honest, than if the rest of Queen only found Freddie’s doubler and acted like nothing happened.

Not many people expected this would work for more than one tour. But it happened and in September a new studio album called The Cosmos Rock was published.

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Bem to became the new leader of ODS?

Wednesday 29 October 2008 13:39

After the Civic Democrats sustained the crushing defeat in regional and senate elections, the party is looking for a new leader. Even when