PragueBuzz!

From Russia with love! To many but apparently not to the Czech Republi

My two-year-long grievance had finally been heard as the Czech Republic sent Gipsy.cz to Eurovision
2009, only to be eliminated again for the third year…in the row.
Ouch! Can someone give these carefree, beer lovers a break!  They are
still infantile in theirEurovision growth, only three year in the
making.  Czech Republic almost withdrew from the competition due to
their low showing from the last two years. How bad were their last two
performances? Try last and second-to-last finish.

I don’t know
whether Czech’ lacking of experience is to blame or its small emigrate
population in neighboring countries to gather patriotic votes.  Germany
doesn’t reward 12 points to Turkey because it suddenly decides to
become Turkey’s new best friend even though::hush hush::it stills block
Turkey from joining the EU. Turkey has the huge minority Turkish
population in Germany to thank for the votes.  Additionally, was it
also because Europeans’ strong prejudice against the Roma people that
sent Czech’ all-gypsy band packing from Moscow?

Why talk about the Czechs as they are DOA when it comes to Eurovision?
Let talk about about other cool things which suck me into this booty
shaking, fleshing flaunting, lip moving Euro insanity year after year.

I missed yesterday semi-final::OMG::and
haven’t listened to many songs from other countries. From those I
heard, I am completely drawn to Israel’  “There must be another way”
sung in Hebrew, Arabic and English byNoa and Mira Awad ; the latter is
the first Arab-Israeli to represent Israel. The voice of these two
singers blend beautifully. By the time I finish this post, I probably
will have heard it no less thanthirdty times.

Will Russia
have any love for Israel? I’m afraid not much. Let forget the fact that
these girls can’t dance for a moment and focus on the bigger picture.
(1) The Eastern-bloc stickiness has irritated the heck out of me for
the last few years. By this factor,  Israel has little to zero chance
of winning. (2) Being the only Middle East country participating in a
European music club means there won’t be any neighboring votes for
Israel there. (3) This song and the collaboration between an Israeli
and an Arab-Israeli might be seen as a political gesture. This usually
doesn’t fare well. (4) The singers look too decent; they don’t show
naked legs, boob or belly button. Hell no, they don’t even try to shake
their bon bon.

It might be another disappointing final again
when you know in advance who will vote for whom, but maybe there will
be another 2006 Finland’s monster hard-rock “Hallelujah” surprise.

Olives and vodka anyone? Hallelujah!

This version is better than live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9-GrdHYLUM
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9-GrdHYLUM]

The singers don’t sing well in this semi-final version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N22ovj9HlU

Should I or shouldn’t I? I objected watching this movie because my damaged-from-childhood-by-grandma-ghost-story brain could not tolerate horror scenes where some murderess bludgeons helpless girls to death, sliced them up to draw out blood. “How about Kungfu Panda?” I offered the alternative. Ignoring my plea, my boyfriend blabbed on, “It’s the most expensive Czech film ever, costing 300 millions Czech crowns.” “So it’s not another Hollywood box-office wannabe?” I asked. “No. The event happened in Slovakia when it belonged to Hungary.” We spent another fifteen minute to debate our Saturday evening’s fate: laughing-off-the-chair, noodle-maker-aspire, Jackie-Chan cartoon or scared-off-the-seat, sophisticate, historical Hungarian/Slovak epic. I opted for the latter.

Elizabeth or Erzsebet (in Hungarian) Bathory, a Hungarian countess from a powerful noble family in the 16th century, makes the Geniuses for murdering 600 virgins to bath in their blood, believing that it would made her eternally young. Her arranged marriage at 11 to a Ferenc Nadasdy, another noble breed, multiplies the wealth and status of her name. Throughout the first part of the film, Elizabeth is seen innocently harmless with no shred of evil in words, manner or intention. She wonders in her wedding night how she and her husband can make a baby boy to further their family line. To that, her husband replies, “My uncle taught me all.” Far from the image of a murderess, Elizabeth is a mother of two young daughters; a benevolent ruler who heals many peasant girls with her herbs and a lonely wife whose husband being away from home most of the time, commanding the Hungarian troops to fight off the Turks. One of his gift to his young wife is a talent Italian painter, Merisi captured by the Turks on his way to Vienna and then later by Ferenc’ army. Merisi later reveals to be Caravaggio, a famous Italian painter at the time. Elizabeth and Merisi carries on their master-slave and artist-model relationship for a while until pained by her husband indiscreet behavior with her maids, she commits adultery with the young painter. Ferenc returns and gets madly jealous by rumors about her alleged affair; he offers Merisi a cup of poison-spiked wine which Elizabeth unknowingly take and drank herself.

This incident leads to the second part of the movie, “Darvulia”, named after a healer who nurses Elizabeth back to life with secret portions and herbs. Darvulia claims to know the cure to the countess’ pale complexion. The blood, her own, Elizabeth dabs on her face seems to signal the beginning of an evil mystery with her bathing in red, blood-like water and her stabbing a maid to death. At the same time,bodies of murdered peasant girls found along with Bathory family seal. A humorous, good-hearted, mismatched duo is sent to a village by the Cardinal to investigate the accusation rumored about Elizabeth. Elizabeth plunges more into madness and paranoia as she jails her once trusted confidante Darvulia after Darvulia admits that Elizabeth killed her hair dresser.

Elizabeth, now a widow, faces challenges from Thurzio (title of the third part), her husband trusted ally who demands a share of her family property which Ferenc allegedly promised him while they fought together. Again and again she shrugs him off and publically humiliates him. Despite his love and lust for the Elizabeth, Thurzio plots revenge with the the most unexpected people.

140 minute is too long for any movie to remain interesting to the audience. Additionally, the film’s plot is not well-connected; some events happens too quickly without any explanation making it difficult to follow the story. But I find “Bathory” worth every crowns. Directed by Slovak’s best, Juraj Jakubisko, who favors a strong visual quality (*), the film impresses me with vivid colorful costumes and design and the simple yet breath-taking rural depiction of Slovakia. And of course, kudos to Anna Friel’s performance of the murderous scountess.

(*) Juraj started his prestigious career as a painter and a photography teacher.

A friend visited Prague and took the nicest food pictures. Too nice I behold them at one instance and pinch my butt out of jealousy for not being able to do the same

 
Czech Chicken at Hotel              Czech Pepa Cheese at Hotel
restaurant “U Divadlo”               restaurant “U Divadlo”

 
Ham and Potatao Pancakes       Beef Goulash
with sauerkraut

 
Ham and flour dumpling with     Potato dumpling with Sauerkraut
spinach

 
Boar steak and bacon                Grilled meat
dumpling

 
Risotto                             Black Squid with rice

Bread goulash

[Source]

Most of you probably want to shop at stores where you can choose, play and feel your guitar. Also, it’s easier to return the guitar to the shop for repair. Three weeks ago, I started hunting for my first guitar and indeed had a hard time locate shops and online stores. Maybe you did and will too. But worry no more, I have compiled a list of stores and sites.

Stores

* Muziker.cz: You can buy online or at the store too. They have hundreds of guitars for sale together with other instruments and gears. In deed, I bought my SX acoustic guitar there. The guys who work there are very helpful too. Take tram number 5 and get off at “U horou”, 3 stops after Vlatava. Turn left at the street and you will see Meca Club, the store is located in building 5/827. There is no sign, just a name on the building door, so you might miss it.
* Kytary.cz: This is another store where you can buy either online or at the store. They have stores at Nusle and in Chodov Centrum.
* www.harfa.com : Have a small collection of used guitars. I almost bought used guitar there before opted for a new one.
* Liskapiana.cz

Online

* www.aukro.cz : This is similar to Ebay; however, you don’t have to link your bank, credit card because you can pay upon delivery or in person in which you and the seller meet up. But remember, Aukro takes 14 days to verify your account and address, so if you consider this route, please register before hand. You can try to contact the seller and agree on the price without going through the bidding process.
* www.muzikant.cz
* vyhledavani.hyperinzerce.cz : Sold directly by the seller (Czech only).
* www.eorchestr.cz
* www.a-znastroje.cz
* www.music-city.cz
* www.hudebni-dum.cz
* hudba.inzertal.cz (2nd hand)
* www.bachmusik.com : Out of Prague. It’s a guitar maker and distributor. But I think you can get a guitar from them too.
* www.super-bazar.cz : Not a guitar shop, but you can find a few used guitars.
* www.humlmusic.cz
* www.vecerekinstrwuments.com

Bazaar

It’s not easy to find a cheap (money-wise) guitar. I notice that guitars are more expensive sold from Bazaar sites. Additionally, pawn shops are other options.

If you want a guitar lesson, you can try cool American Rob at 420 775 566389