Weekend of celebrations:
-Christmas Party of BohemianToastmasters, photos.

-Christmas Charity Bazaar at Hilton Hotel, photos.

-Birthday party at home, photos.

French Film Festival started this year. Many excellent movies will be presented this year. I'm volunteering to help and see some movies for free. Some photos.

Concert of SunSay from Kharkiv, Ukraine in Palac Akropolis, Prague, Czech Republic - 21.11.2008... in photos.

Fringe C0medy Nights are ON at Divadlo Na Pradle.

Steven Frost and ImproAllStars were great this year. Very funny improvisation comedy. Many acting so they don't have to understand native English that well.

Stephen K Amos - was funny. Also English is quite advanced and not all humor I could catch. The stage presence nad relaxed movements on stage are excellent.
Here is his other performance caught on video.

A Bday of Sasha, from Belorussia, Gomel was nicely celebrated. My Italian friend Simone joined. One of the most memorable Birthday present was a Spanish dance by Luba (Grunya). Here are photos of a lovely sangria-nemiroff celebration. Also as an aevening continued I had a luck to visit a sectred bar in Zizkov - A Blind Eye, something that I have heard a few times "as a hard to find place", but never been. So it was the day, pardon evening...

Fringe Comedy Nights is ON! Go!

Greenarchitecture.cz exhibition of eco friendly buildings and concepts at Architecture Faculty of Charles University, Prague in photos.

10 days of adventure and sightseeing with Ivushka in photos.

Designblok.cz - hit Prague again, for 10th year in a row now. Nice, clean, massive. All-in-all great fun to spend time and few krowns. The cheesecake at Sony Cafe (Superstudio Dox) with selected berries - is just jammy!

Tickets can be purchased at both Superstudios form 7. 10. to 12. 10. 2008. The admission is 150 CZK, students 100 CZK and children under 15 are free of charge.

2 major locations:
Superstudio Dox - catwalks fashion shows and design concepts.
Poupětova 1a, Praha 7
10:00 - 21:00

Superstudio Corso - design concepts
Křižíkova 34, Praha 8
10:00 - 21:00

last entry 20:30

Now GO! You will love it!

I have seen this lyrical and fun comedy at kino Svetozor as part of the Der Film, German movie festival in Czech Republic. Simple, romantic, funny. Music is very nice. Note the original version is in Russian, but there are also dubbed version in Czech and German. Check it out at your local cinema...

How would national folklore look like in the dry statistic data?! ... Now you know... Thanks to Andrew (Sand) who send me this... Have a fun day!

Sunday:

19:30 at Rudolfínum listened to Prague Autumn Classical Music Festival:

PROKOFJEV - Skytská suita
MONTSALVATGE - Cinco canciones negras
ČAJKOVSKIJ - Symfonie č. 5 e moll

Orquesta Nacional de Espana
Soprán: Nancy Fabiola Herrera - I was not expecting anything like this...Brilliant, magnificent and strong voice. It was so emotional. My 1st opera-like singing that captured my soul.
Dirigent: Josep Pons

Saturday:

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2008 at kino Svetozor

My personal preference:

The Golden Thread
dir.: Diego Sanchidrián Rubio | 16' | Spain
Sometimes, mystifying bonds are set up between people. Bonds which overcome distance, oblivion and unawareness. And when those bonds are created, they can become what we need to survive.

Ripple
dir.: Paul Gowers | 16' | United Kingdom
One small random act of malice forces an ordinary man off the safe road and on to a dark journey he’ll never forget.

Ode Ober
dir.: Hiba Vink | 11'| Netherlands
The waiter has been supplying perfect strangers with food and drinks for as long as he can remember. His murmured maelstrom of acute observations reveals an acquired omniscience regarding his clients’ preferences and character traits. One day, something makes him ponder the concept of life beyond the doors of the restaurant.

New Boy
dir.: Stephanie Green | 11'05'' | Ireland
The only thing harder than Joseph’s first day of school in Ireland was his last day of school in Africa.

Make My Day
dir.: Pelle Moeller | 8' | Denmark
A Man arrives in the emergency hall with his son who has sprained his ankle in school. The father has always told the boy to never let anyone put you down, and what would “Clint” do in such a situation. However, when the attending doctor turns out to be one of those that bullied his father back in his school days, the kid takes matters into his own hands.

Music of the moment: T9, Vdoh-Vydoh (Breath in - Breathe out)

• Photos from the concert.

Recent photo reports:

• Shakesperovski Spavnosti - "Comedy of Mistake". It was a comedy or mistake after all. As the rain started using umbrellas and not much of the actual show could be seen; also many people left. After 30min sitting under rain it was a last drop and I have left this comedy evening. Here some photo impressions.

• Boyka (my roommate) Birthday cake eating event at home here.

• Art installation by the Andel neighborhood to promote recycling habits. Here.

• As part of the Days of Poland in Czech Republic a photo exhibition at the garden by the Czech Parliament (zahrady Strakovy akademie, entrance from the river side, Kosarkovo Nábřeží) installed and be opened on Sat and Sun 10-17:00 till end October. Worth attending as it is usually closed to public.
  For Your Freedom and Ours
  Few pics from captured a day without a car - drive your bicycle day. Nice, interesting, but now the pedestrians could be annoyed by bicycles everywhere same as bicyclists are annoyed by car traffic sometimes.

  http://www.wpppraha.cz/ - World Press Photo 2008, Praha, Karolinum 19.9. - 12.10. 2008. IN parallel in the same areal there is an Charles University Exhibit where you could see the original order of the King Charles to organize this world renown institution.

If you happen to know Russian language, then here is a comparative table of basic slang terms development over recent years:

Papa has visited me in Prague 27-31 August, 2008. In photos.

I have visited Kiev for a wedding of Denis Aparshyn, one of my best friends. He has married Marina. They are now husband and wife. Here are some photo moments.

Great sunny weekend. Tip to Krivoklat castle photos.

On Saturday with Tomasz and Iva visited Dobris castle in about an hour drive from Prague. There Tomasz showed Iva how to take nice photos using his professional Nikon D 700 camera. Their masterpieces are yet to be posted (here). In comparison here are few taken by my blue Nikon Coolpix 4100.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Déborah
Date: Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Subject: Ah ah
To: Anastasia
Cc: Ivan, Producer of arthousetraffic.com, Ivanna

Merci pour les cartons!!!! Bises from Iva,Marina,Ivan,Dennis and Deborouchka

Envoyé depuis mon iPhone

Hilarious film I would recommend to see is "Hank and Mike".

"HANK and MIKE's Blurbs:
HANK and MIKE is a feature film that is probably unlike anything you've ever seen. It's the story of two Easter Bunnies who get fired and have to figure out what to do with their lives. It stars Thomas Michael as the hard drinking, chain-smoking HANK; Paolo Mancini as the neurotic and insecure MIKE; Chris Klein as the arrogant efficiency expert CONRAD HUBRISS; and Joe Mantegna as the mischievous businessman MR. PAN. We're just getting this site up and running, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the official HANK and MIKE website at www.hankandmike.com. Word to yo mama! -Hank & Mike"

Few photos from the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

Fifth Prague Museum Night took place on June 14th 2008 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. For me it was a 3rd one I have participated. Free entrance to museums, free organized transportation. Friends, Prague at night, walking and fooling around. Also it was a chance to learn about one more MEETinPRAGUE community from meetin.org - and opportunity to meet new, cool people. Photo report here.

Latest adventures were:

• Trip to Hanover, Germany to meet my dad and help him with translation and moral support during the CeMAT intralogistics exhibition. Here is photo story.

• Meeting with Dominic and Pieter in Basel, Switzerland for some culture, city-walk, party time and watch the opening of the EURO2008 championship on a big TV in a public fun zone. Here is photo story.

I'm volunteering my free after work time for the Prague Fringe Festival this year (same as I did last year).

http://www.praguefringe.com/2008/programme.php
From the insiders perspective of Fringe Festival:

I would recommend to see/hear at least:
-40 Feathered Winks (touchy feeling...)
-Adolf (mind opening... please remain till the very end of the story
even if you feel like quitting in the middle)
-Sax to the Max! (many many great musicians exported from UK in
location that is normally hidden from general public)
-Magic & More with Frisco Fred (just hilarious)


Personal rating:
1. Magic & More with Frisco Fred
18:30 - 19:30 Divadlo Na Prádle - Kavárna
Comedy On The Square
Come spend a fun hour with the world's only nearsighted comic, magician, ...

2. 40 Feathered Winks
21:00 - 22:00 Divadlo Na Prádle
The Paper Birds
One third of human life is spent in bed; resting, crying, hiding,
lovemaking, ...

3. Adolf
8:15 - 19:15 Nosticovo divadlo
Pip Utton
Utton, looking uncomfortably like the Fuhrer, stands before a huge Nazi ...

4. Karagiozis Exposed
19:30 - 20:20 Divadlo Na Prádle
Open Arts
Karagiozis is a Cypriot shadow puppet. Through a mistake of his
puppeteer, ... In English and French


I heard was good (did not verified yet myself):
-The Sacred Sow
19:30 - 20:30 A Studio Rubín
Prague Playhouse
Dark and lyrical, the play's characters spin yarns about themselves, each ...

-The Tale of a T-Shirt
18:30 - 19:30 Divadlo Inspirace
Kennwort:Bergstation & Fixt Point Theatre
Float around the world as you follow the fantasy of a t-shirt, from cotton ...

-A Stretch of the Imagination
19:45 - 20:45 Nosticovo divadlo
Monk and Mort
Monk O'Neil, in the back of beyond, is facing death alone, with resilience ...


For those who appreciates music and songs:
-Sax to the Max!
19:30 - 20:30 Kostel sv. Jana Křtitele na Prádle
The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain
SAX to the MAX! pushes the energy and imagination of thirty feisty
saxophonists ...

-Yellow Sisters
5:30 - 16:30 Divadlo Na Prádle
Ženská vokální skupina (Female a cappella group)
"… four hearts, four souls, four voices, four ways to share emotions ...

Some photos from volunteering times here /some more here / from Kostya.

Great, great District 59 Toastmasters conference is over. I have enjoyed every moment of helping to organize this conference. I have learned so much!!! Even guiding the Prague castle and old town walking tours under the rain was somewhat new and interesting, that I have never done before. Here are photos from main event and following gala dinner.

Been to Kiev on May vocation. Home. Intense meeting days. Got charged emotionally. Kiev is not an easy place to live, but it there is an electricity of growth and development. Very motivational environment - feels like you have to do something, stand for your rights, dreams, territory, otherwise you may be pushed overboard. Natural survival. But at same time there is tender love and natural beauty everywhere.


Here are photos.

It was a fun weekend. Been to Arno concert at Palac Akropolis; Arthur's (a fellow toastmaster from Bohemian toastmaster club) speech video record at Casa Luisitana, Karlin, Praha; Depressive photo Exhibition of Gregory Crewdson at Rudolfinium; Museum of the Prague city, incl. Prague's coffeeterias exhibit and historic/modern images exhibit; Gypsy music at studio Rubin. Here are photos.

Horoscope for Russian readers.

• Photo report from SUN Tech Days in Saint Petersburg.
• Photo report from my 1st social event with Czechs/(other photos). 1st!!! Believe it or not but it took me 2,5 years in Prague to be invited for a social event by Czech colleagues. I don't know if I had a bad luck or it is really Czechs being a closed society. I believe in many other countries it would have happened much earlier.
• Photo report from the concert of a French band Les Touffes Kretiennes and opening of the Febiofest 2008.

Been to a great concert of Rihanna. But the most important I had a great and fun company to go with. So it was another cool day with Ivanna. Despite it was snowing and cold.



Photos are here.

Great weekend we have been up to:

• Have met a girl, who I was thinking was my classmate visiting from Kiev, who has contacted me via odnoklassniki.ru community site, and later on I have figured out that we actually have never been a classmates before, but she has just got on my friends list by chance. Interesting and fun, huh?!
  
• But we had a great fun climbing to the Petrin Hill Tower, that offered a best city overview in the sunny weather. Definitely it is my favorite tower location in the city now.
• Been to the Birthday party of a friend Aisa. Congratulations, darling!
• On Sunday: Iva's friend Nadia took us by her lovely little silver Skoda Fabia to a nice town neighboring Prague - Teplice. We were very surprised by the picturesque areas around it and the noble history of this spa city itself.
  

Photos here.

During the last weekend we have been up to:

• Angelka, sister's friend from Kiev was on a biz training here in Prague and stopped by our home.
  
• Motorbike exhibition at Vystaviste.
• Checked the dentist emergency service, since Iva has a "wise tooth" appearing.
  
• Saw the Japanese movie, within OneWorld festival -Mechanical Love.

Photos here.

• Yesterday seen quite a cool move:

Mechanical Love / Mechanical
LovePhie Ambo / Denmark / 2007 / 79 min.
The ability to love and be loved is one of the basic definitions of humans. Nevertheless, as modern technology increasingly encroaches upon people's everyday lives, this idea might need to be redefined, i.e. how does artificial intelligence fit into this concept? Director Phie Ambo follows the story of Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro from Osaka University who creates a Geminoid – a remote–controlled duplicate of himself – and prepares to introduce him to his wife and daughter. Another Japanese scientist creates an artificial baby seal called Paro, who keeps lonely and mentally handicapped people company and demonstrably increases their brain activity as a result. The animal–robot responds to the voice of its owners and can even "remember" its name with the aid of sensors. Naturally, these innovations necessarily give rise to some ethical questions: Is it right to allow someone to live under the illusion that they are "loved" by a machine, which does not have the same feelings for them? And then there is the old question about robotics itself: If machines can replace us, are we therefore not totally redundant?

• Today is preparing myself to see quite a difficult one. But I prefer to see the reality how it is even if it is something very, very unpleasant.

On the Edge. Six Episodes on AIDS in Ukraine / Am Rande. Sechs Kapitel über AIDS in der Ukraine
Karsten Hein / Germany / 2006 / 105 min.
Ukraine has one of the highest rates of AIDS in Europe. According to the official statistics, 26,000 people in the country are HIV positive. In reality 200,000 to 300,000 Ukrainians are infected and experts from non–governmental organisations describe the situation as a rising epidemic. This alarming situation has probably also been facilitated by the changes of the past two decades, which robbed people of their certainties and stable social order, leaving many lost in the process. In six chapters, this film examines the issue from all possible angles and pays attention to the other problems that are connected with the spread of HIV, particularly drugs, prostitution and infected children. The director not only presents several people suffering from this insidious disease, but also shows workers from non–profit organisations who are striving to temper the consequences of the illness for both individuals and society as a whole.

• OneWorld photos.

With Ivanna we were on the opening of the 10th One world / Jeden Svet documentary film festival in Lucerna, Praha. Very unusual presentation with toy theater, founders speeches and very emotionally strong movie The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo story about consequences of war resulted in raped and assaulted women in Democratic Republic of Congo that was pesented by it's director of the film Lisa F. Jackson. I have been working in Kinshasa, DRC for 6 month and I felt the movie is objective in showing this narrow problem, but the move does not show and analyzes the much bigger problem of a social catastrophe resulted by the civilian war. I would say the situation in DRC is similar to 1945 in Europe, when some places were completely devastated by war and building of a new social society has to be done from zero.

Yesterday in small hall of Svetozor seen Czech documentary Pul Ctvrte (http://www.pulctvrte.cz) about the simple live of people in the Ukrainian village in Carpathian region, close to the highest Ukrainian mountain Goverla. The film is said to be about the "rich live in poor region". Either it is only a story about one region and does not compares the regions of the countly for example with modern and wealthy capital Kiev, or advanced Odessa or Lviv, I still found it funny and interesting, very realistic from insider point of view. It made me think were Ukraine and myself are now and were I want myself and Ukraine to be and how to get there. Which values are really important to me. Recommend to watch.

La Pelicula 2008 - Spanish Film Festival in Prague. Visited the opening today at KinoSvetozor. Photos.
Movies I have seen:

• La Dama Boba - it was an opening of the festival at Svetozor. Unfortunately the director an main actress could not attend the opening as planned. But even without knowing a word in Spanish I felt it was funny, romantic and nice love story.
  
• Obaba - interesting movie. A flash back to beautiful village in Spain and the multiple storylines about graduates of the local school. Nice images. Great if you love to feel how different time runs in small places and corners - not like in big cities.

Move I have not seen since all tickets has been sold out prior a 5 days - Yo soy La Juani / official website. Hope to see it some other time and place.

Saturday, Feb 24th day trip to JindrichuvHradec in photos.

Now my favorite cartoon "Adventures of Vrungel(Liar ;-)) Captain" / "Приключения капитана Врунгеля" from childhood is available online. Sofar for free view.

Fri, 15 Feb - Sun, 17th Feb. Great weekend meeting with friends (ex-AIESEC trainees in Ostrava, ex-rommates) Dominic, who flew from Basel, Switzerland and Pieter, Netherlands who hosted us in Rotterdam and was guiding our Party Squad through Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Amsterdam.

Photo report here.

Music of the moment - I'm from Holland by Bobby Burns feat. Casablanca Connect:

Songs of today:

• Когда мои друзья со мной. When my friends with me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voys6mQug9s
• Голубой Вагон. Blue cart - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95qCtdpmlc
  

Song of the yesterday

I saw new documentary about Czech photographer Jan Saudek who became world known before he got recognition in his own home country after 1989. I recommend to see it. It is unusual and interesting perspective on live through eyes of one man. I believe he made art from nudity, differentiated from what otherwise could be seen as pornography.

Been to the Festival of Contemporary Japanese Film. Saw: Ramblers and Bright Future. I liked "Ramblers" more due to some unusual humor.

Fantastic holidays at home in Ukraine is just over. I'm back to Prague from Sat, 5th Jan, 2008. What a memories. I don't really have many words. It is just pure emotions...highest state of mind. Here are some fantastic moments in photos.

and music of the moment...