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Current AffairsVaclav Halek - composer inspired by the plaintive cry...of the mushroom
For the last 20 years, the composer and passionate mushroom-picker Vaclav
Halek has been strolling through Bohemia's woods and fields, carrying a
traditional mushroom-picker's basket, a small knife, and a notebook with
the musical scale. Vaclav Halek claims he can hear the "song" of
the mushroom, and has more than 2,000 compositions to prove it - from film
and theatre scores right up to a full symphony. He's even produced a
"Musical Atlas of Mushrooms", complete with its own CD. Rob
Cameron went for a walk in the woods with this rather unorthodox composer.
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Press ReviewPress Review
The news that former president Vaclav Havel has failed to win this year's
Nobel Peace Prize came too late for Friday's papers of course - although
several commentators do ponder over Mr Havel's presidential career and
falling popularity at home. Also making headlines today - the current
president, Vaclav Klaus, invited by Ombudsman Otakar Motejl to explain his
recent scathing attack on the institution.
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MagazineMagazine
A Saudi Arabian princess gets her jewels stolen in Karlovy Vary -right
across the street from the town's police headquarters, a noted Czech
composer shares the secret of his success: he can hear mushrooms sing. And
the Prague 2 magistrate organizes a public execution: a pickpocket gets
his hand chopped off as a warning to others. Find out more in this week's
magazine with Daniela Lazarova.
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Press ReviewPress Review
A hitherto unknown MP is the big star of today's dailies. Opposition Civic
Democrat deputy Petr Kott is under pressure to leave the lower house and
resign from the party after missing a crucial vote in parliament because
he was drunk. Also making the front pages today - the Czech women's
basketball team who took the silver in Sunday's European Championships,
and the Reverend Tomas Spidlik, one of the 31 new cardinals appointed by
the Pope on Sunday.
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MagazineMagazine
A Czech town declares war on bureaucrats, on average every tenth child born
in the Czech Republic has a different biological father than presumed, and
a man gets one million crowns in compensation for unwittingly fathering
twins- find out more in this week's Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.
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Current AffairsDry weather has negative impact on popular pastime of mushroom picking
One of the most popular activities in the Czech Republic at this time of
year is mushroom picking. Or at least it usually is - the long, dry summer
this year has had left the ground very dry and mushrooms hard to find.
It's got so bad that some Czech experts are even going abroad to find
mushrooms. I discussed the situation with Miroslav Smotlacha, who is one
of the leading members of the Czech Mycological Institute.
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ArtsNational Theatre to produce new opera featuring Nagano golden victory
The National Theatre, next to the National Museum, is the biggest and most
famous cultural institution in the Czech Republic and a trip to Prague
would not be complete without an opera, ballet or theatre performance as
good quality entertainment is guaranteed. But to offer some variety to its
visitors, the National Theatre has decided to turn to something more
contemporary and feature an opera based on a sport that is close to many
Czechs' hearts - ice hockey.
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Current AffairsMushroom sellers must undergo eye tests
As every devoted mushroom-picker in the Czech Republic will tell you, the mushroom-picking season has begun. Even though experts say that due to increasing pollution it's not too healthy to eat them, mushroom-picking still remains a kind of Czech national pastime. But those who want to sell mushrooms are currently facing a problem: they have to have their eyes tested. Alena Skodova has more:
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