Weekend is for sports! I so wanted to play squash but could not find anybody... and I was bored to do push-ups (not the bras!) or sit-ups at home. I thought about some running in a nearby park but then I noticed a friend's bike. YEA! Let's go on a bike trip!
I set my journey by the riverside to a nearby village. I thought it will be nice - you know, the river is nice, the name of the village (Krallupy) also sounds ok, and I had a cycloroute all the way.. shit I was wrong!
The cycloroute began okay in the park, then it was just worse and worse. Imagine, one section was looking like this - a narrow path for one bike right next to the river - but the river was 3 metres below! One fault and you are done. This looked like a Czech version of the Dead Road from La Paz to Coroico which I did last year. The Bolivian one was right next to abyss of 100-200 metres :) But still I did not expect this today!
I arrived to the dreamy village and already had enough of biking for a week. I never thought that only 25 kilometres from Prague you can find such an ugly village!!! La Paz in Bolivia seemed hundread times nicer to me. I took a different route on a way back - at least I tried to, I had no map so I relied on indigenous peoples' advice. The return was neverending but so much nicer, a normal road with almost no cars, going through small villages and fields with sunflowers. Totally PEACE, brother.
When I arrived to Prague, I was ready to be buried alive. I checked my cyclocomputer for the result of today's trip - 70.05km!!! For the rest of the evening I am eating bananas and watching U TURN movie. And I guess I am going to buy Lance Armstrong's book because now I know again how it feels to be tough on bike!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Weekend Music
Hi again, this time after the weekend music festival. I should summarize a bit...
Franz Ferdinand was great. I loved their performance, they were playing all their hits like Dark of the Matinee or Take me out, etc. In the end of their show three guys from the band together played just the drums with crazy tempo.
Pet Shop Boys concert was one of the few I will not forget. Audio-visual-dance madness, I had my mouth opened all the time and I was astonished again and again. They changed dresses quite often, once they were golden cowboys, then soldiers with medals or "big hats" (the black hat covered all body)... just the guy playing the keyboards (or sampler, I am not an expert) was standing in his flashy yellow baseball cap and sunglasses and did not care about anybody :) There were two dancers and they were doing they job really well. Once they came dressed half in half - one guy had half of the jogging suit and half of business suit, the other guy the same dressed in the opposite parts and then together they were doing a sportsman or a businessman. I almost forgot to mention "the cube". It was a dominant object on the stage in the shape of a big white cube, of course. During the show, it was flashing on the edges, had video projected on it, it was unfolded and then united again, Pet shop boys were hiding behind it, etc. The show was indeed very funny, true legends of pop!
Okay I have written a lot already, let's be short now. On Saturday I liked Bodycount and their hard rock rap or what it is. Ice-T, who founded this band and was playing as well, actually started the gangster rap movement. He was crazy motherfucker! Yeaah :) During a show, a blonde girl with big silicone tits came on the stage, he took off her black leather bra, licked her balloon and made her give him a head, then he threw her out. OF COURSE it was not real, but it was really funny :)
And after this, on another stage, I have seen Hooverphonic :) Totally different kind of music, but my favorite band. The singer Geike Arnaert was dressed in jeans and red sweater, not really attractive. It seemed to me that the sponsor of the stage (Kenvelo - a Czech-Israeli ""fashion"" brand for teenagers) also sponsored her clothes. This was quite a shock for me! In the festival leaflet I read that she usually wears nice dresses and only if the conditions are bad (like rain and mud) she will wear a sweater. Her voice was still beautiful and I liked it, I was almost in the front because there were not too many people at all.
After I left the place, I met with Matej, my friend and we went to WAKATA to have more fun. In this small pub, three not really professional DJs or just some guys from FRANCE were responsible for great FUN, almost everybody was dancing and so did we. They played some reaggae, french oldies, ska, simply they played well and made me to wake up again :) This is it for the weekend music!
Franz Ferdinand was great. I loved their performance, they were playing all their hits like Dark of the Matinee or Take me out, etc. In the end of their show three guys from the band together played just the drums with crazy tempo.
Pet Shop Boys concert was one of the few I will not forget. Audio-visual-dance madness, I had my mouth opened all the time and I was astonished again and again. They changed dresses quite often, once they were golden cowboys, then soldiers with medals or "big hats" (the black hat covered all body)... just the guy playing the keyboards (or sampler, I am not an expert) was standing in his flashy yellow baseball cap and sunglasses and did not care about anybody :) There were two dancers and they were doing they job really well. Once they came dressed half in half - one guy had half of the jogging suit and half of business suit, the other guy the same dressed in the opposite parts and then together they were doing a sportsman or a businessman. I almost forgot to mention "the cube". It was a dominant object on the stage in the shape of a big white cube, of course. During the show, it was flashing on the edges, had video projected on it, it was unfolded and then united again, Pet shop boys were hiding behind it, etc. The show was indeed very funny, true legends of pop!
Okay I have written a lot already, let's be short now. On Saturday I liked Bodycount and their hard rock rap or what it is. Ice-T, who founded this band and was playing as well, actually started the gangster rap movement. He was crazy motherfucker! Yeaah :) During a show, a blonde girl with big silicone tits came on the stage, he took off her black leather bra, licked her balloon and made her give him a head, then he threw her out. OF COURSE it was not real, but it was really funny :)
And after this, on another stage, I have seen Hooverphonic :) Totally different kind of music, but my favorite band. The singer Geike Arnaert was dressed in jeans and red sweater, not really attractive. It seemed to me that the sponsor of the stage (Kenvelo - a Czech-Israeli ""fashion"" brand for teenagers) also sponsored her clothes. This was quite a shock for me! In the festival leaflet I read that she usually wears nice dresses and only if the conditions are bad (like rain and mud) she will wear a sweater. Her voice was still beautiful and I liked it, I was almost in the front because there were not too many people at all.
After I left the place, I met with Matej, my friend and we went to WAKATA to have more fun. In this small pub, three not really professional DJs or just some guys from FRANCE were responsible for great FUN, almost everybody was dancing and so did we. They played some reaggae, french oldies, ska, simply they played well and made me to wake up again :) This is it for the weekend music!
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Friday, August 11, 2006
Live and Direct... LOVE PLANET PRAGUE!
Hi all! I am currently at a music festival of the name above. I cannot hear anything because on the Rock Stage MINISTRY is playing. This is USA hardcore band, totally haaaaaaardcooooooore! I like this music when I am falling asleep usually or when I work, but this is too loud :) Fucking my ears off!
But what is more important - next at this stage, there it comes, FRANZ FERDINAND! Come on! Scottish or where do you come from! Waaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaa!
And then infamous Pet Shop Boys, this is gonna be A LEGEND! HAhahaha... and then I will drink and dance until the morning, hopefully. Tomorrow there is more! See yo later!
PS: Many thanks to Michal from my work that who is responsible for giving me a free ticket, neat! This is going to be the best first week in a new job ever :D
But what is more important - next at this stage, there it comes, FRANZ FERDINAND! Come on! Scottish or where do you come from! Waaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaa!
And then infamous Pet Shop Boys, this is gonna be A LEGEND! HAhahaha... and then I will drink and dance until the morning, hopefully. Tomorrow there is more! See yo later!
PS: Many thanks to Michal from my work that who is responsible for giving me a free ticket, neat! This is going to be the best first week in a new job ever :D
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Once I will be a new Warren Buffet...
The first week in my new job has almost finished. Now I am employed by Czech media group called MAFRA. The group owns three newspapers, one music magazine, two radio stations, one music channel and print production.
I work in the department of distribution and marketing of two newspaper labels MF DNES and LIDOVE NOVINY. The former is the biggest newspapers in Czech Republic which sells about 300k issues a day – I do not count BLESK newspapers which sells 500k but it is a tabloid with main focus on Czech “celebrities” and their “scandals”. The latter is the oldest newspapers in Czech Republic which sells about 75k daily and is oriented on educated people – it brings more focus on politics, culture, education and human sciences.
Two departments are not joined together but the office where I work is called SALESDESK. Physically it is a big table (about 10 people) in a spacious office which is a result of process reengineering (German owners of the company). It is quite interesting because the people sitting here are both from marketing and distribution and everyday there is a small meeting held. Telephones must be hung out and everybody who comes late has to pay a fine (just symbolic 50CZK=2€). What is the agenda of these meetings?
First we talk about last day/week sales and about new acquisitions of subscribers. There is also a topic on media planning – which medias were used for promotion and to what extent. This can be made either cash or reciprocal – they advertise our newspapers content in their TVs and radio stations and we help them to get down from screens on the physical reality of daily paper. It is funny how different media formats work in this symbiosis. Actually you can get almost anywhere because you have the ability to contact people – so you can develop partnerships with sports organizations, cultural events, even with companies. Okay, enough of imagination for now :) Then the meeting becomes more interesting with debates on future plans. There is a wide whiteboard hanging on one of the walls with content of issued newspapers until the end of September. We suggest how the distribution will work according to these opportunities.
I always dreamed of working in media sector and now I am inside. I like the modern building we have, people seems to be nice, pretty girls are common… When I was younger I remember TV series called something like “Tomorrow’s News” about a guy who everyday received the newspapers already from next day so he knew what will just happen. He was a nice guy so he helped people of course :) If I stayed in the office a bit later I could also get some fresh copies :) I realized that I did not write anything about my position! I work in controlling as a junior… so when I will get more inside the topic, I think I will be telling these guys what went wrong or well and allow them what they can do in future! Hahaha! BTW, have I mentioned that I have received my own PRESS ID?
I work in the department of distribution and marketing of two newspaper labels MF DNES and LIDOVE NOVINY. The former is the biggest newspapers in Czech Republic which sells about 300k issues a day – I do not count BLESK newspapers which sells 500k but it is a tabloid with main focus on Czech “celebrities” and their “scandals”. The latter is the oldest newspapers in Czech Republic which sells about 75k daily and is oriented on educated people – it brings more focus on politics, culture, education and human sciences.
Two departments are not joined together but the office where I work is called SALESDESK. Physically it is a big table (about 10 people) in a spacious office which is a result of process reengineering (German owners of the company). It is quite interesting because the people sitting here are both from marketing and distribution and everyday there is a small meeting held. Telephones must be hung out and everybody who comes late has to pay a fine (just symbolic 50CZK=2€). What is the agenda of these meetings?
First we talk about last day/week sales and about new acquisitions of subscribers. There is also a topic on media planning – which medias were used for promotion and to what extent. This can be made either cash or reciprocal – they advertise our newspapers content in their TVs and radio stations and we help them to get down from screens on the physical reality of daily paper. It is funny how different media formats work in this symbiosis. Actually you can get almost anywhere because you have the ability to contact people – so you can develop partnerships with sports organizations, cultural events, even with companies. Okay, enough of imagination for now :) Then the meeting becomes more interesting with debates on future plans. There is a wide whiteboard hanging on one of the walls with content of issued newspapers until the end of September. We suggest how the distribution will work according to these opportunities.
I always dreamed of working in media sector and now I am inside. I like the modern building we have, people seems to be nice, pretty girls are common… When I was younger I remember TV series called something like “Tomorrow’s News” about a guy who everyday received the newspapers already from next day so he knew what will just happen. He was a nice guy so he helped people of course :) If I stayed in the office a bit later I could also get some fresh copies :) I realized that I did not write anything about my position! I work in controlling as a junior… so when I will get more inside the topic, I think I will be telling these guys what went wrong or well and allow them what they can do in future! Hahaha! BTW, have I mentioned that I have received my own PRESS ID?
Friday, July 14, 2006
I don't hate cars but cars hate me
Guess in what absurd situation I have found myself today. I am in Prague, doing an internship for a company that deals with car starters and alternators. Yes you are right, I am not really valuable so far, because I have no idea how these things distinguish not even how to sell them. And absolutely no idea how to sell them to France :)
But today I had a small task in which I could be excellent. Deliver some samples to an English speaking manager in Avia on one side of the city and then pickup some repaired computers on the other side of the city. I got a company car and headed for the first one. Oh what a nice car, silver body, black leather interior. All mine! The delivery went smooth, the manager liked the service, I think I did a good first impression as a professional because he asked me for my name and was pleased. That is always worth it because I could give him a call just to ask for a piece of advice concerning sales development which I am supposed to do on my internship
Then I left the company and headed back. Right opposite to main entrance to TESCO hypermarket, right at the lights, in the middle of an intersection, the engine of the car went off. I tried to start the engine but without success. Another few attempts, but no cooperation from the car. I am calling the company manager Vladimir to ask what is wrong with the car? He says it could be the immobilization system which rarely has some kind of problem and I should just wait a few minutes. Imagine my situation. I am stuck in the middle of the lights, I could not start the car which I am using for the first time in my life, this is the first helpful thing I could have done on my internship. Plus it is the internship for company that works with things that start the car. A lot of cars passed around me, I had only blinking lights and of course I was looking like the most stupid guy in Prague. Then the same police car went around twice but they must have been eating donuts because they have not stopped by.
Then one cool guy with nice blond chick stopped next to me, he jumped out, pushed me in the car to the side of the road. After few minutes he turned the key and engine started! Hooray I am saved, thank you czech man. I leave. After 10 minutes of driving, the engine just... stops. At least this time it was not in the middle of the lights or intersection, but right after the curve in the hill. I look like stupid again to all cars that pass me, sitting in the car. I was lucky that I was there only for another 10 minutes. This time Vladimir called me, then I waited for him at Tesco for half an hour and he came, we drove to car repair. Hehe, he got the same problem on the way there :)
We left the car there until the service finds the matter. Oh it is so bad that next Monday guy from company were supposed to use the car for a business trip! Now they have to drive in Kokot's Audi (to my Slovak and Czech speaking friends, it is really a surname of one guy in the work) which he sais has consumption of 14 litres per 100km. Hahaha.
But today I had a small task in which I could be excellent. Deliver some samples to an English speaking manager in Avia on one side of the city and then pickup some repaired computers on the other side of the city. I got a company car and headed for the first one. Oh what a nice car, silver body, black leather interior. All mine! The delivery went smooth, the manager liked the service, I think I did a good first impression as a professional because he asked me for my name and was pleased. That is always worth it because I could give him a call just to ask for a piece of advice concerning sales development which I am supposed to do on my internship
Then I left the company and headed back. Right opposite to main entrance to TESCO hypermarket, right at the lights, in the middle of an intersection, the engine of the car went off. I tried to start the engine but without success. Another few attempts, but no cooperation from the car. I am calling the company manager Vladimir to ask what is wrong with the car? He says it could be the immobilization system which rarely has some kind of problem and I should just wait a few minutes. Imagine my situation. I am stuck in the middle of the lights, I could not start the car which I am using for the first time in my life, this is the first helpful thing I could have done on my internship. Plus it is the internship for company that works with things that start the car. A lot of cars passed around me, I had only blinking lights and of course I was looking like the most stupid guy in Prague. Then the same police car went around twice but they must have been eating donuts because they have not stopped by.
Then one cool guy with nice blond chick stopped next to me, he jumped out, pushed me in the car to the side of the road. After few minutes he turned the key and engine started! Hooray I am saved, thank you czech man. I leave. After 10 minutes of driving, the engine just... stops. At least this time it was not in the middle of the lights or intersection, but right after the curve in the hill. I look like stupid again to all cars that pass me, sitting in the car. I was lucky that I was there only for another 10 minutes. This time Vladimir called me, then I waited for him at Tesco for half an hour and he came, we drove to car repair. Hehe, he got the same problem on the way there :)
We left the car there until the service finds the matter. Oh it is so bad that next Monday guy from company were supposed to use the car for a business trip! Now they have to drive in Kokot's Audi (to my Slovak and Czech speaking friends, it is really a surname of one guy in the work) which he sais has consumption of 14 litres per 100km. Hahaha.
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