Give the names of some well known American writers and put them in cultural and historical context.
Choose one or two to talk about them and their work in detail.
Present a book / books you read and say whether you liked it or not and give the reasons. Would you recommend it / them to someone?
Give the names of some Nobel Prize winners. Are there any other prizes awarded to writers?
American literature
At the beginning I’d like to describe how the literature in USA has evolved..
Before the 19th century, America didn’t produce much of traditional literature. The Founding fathers wrote actively in the 18th century, but most philosophical or political works.
Washington Irving may be considered as the real founder of American literature. The literature written during the period of the War of Independence was mostly of political character - such as a pamphlet of Thomas Paine demanding complete independence. The Independence was proclaimed on July 4th 1776 in the Declaration of Independence, the main author of which was Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson spoke also about terrible problems of slavery.
Romanticism in American literature
The first literary works after independence are represented by books of James Fennimore Cooper - they talk about American wilderness (The last of the Mohicans, The Pioneers...) Coopers novels are still widely read by young people.
Herman Melville was the great symbolist among American writers. On his travels he met and some time lived with a cannibal tribe, went to Japan, his experiences at sea were the basis for the books Teepee, Omoo - they talk about the advantures of two young Americans who were caught by the canibals. These they found more honest than civilized people. His best novel Moby Dick is a narrative about the fight between a big white whale Moby Dick and captain Ahab. Once this whale had crippled him, he lost his leg. Ahab doesn?t want to be defeated by this whale - he follows her with another ship and crew. Ahas is killed, the ship smashed. Moby-Dick represents a mighty natural power - the only survivor of Ahab?s ships is Ishmael who tells the story.
Jack London became very popular with readers all over the world. Born in San Francisco, was a successful sailor, tramp and gold-miner before he took to writing. His most popular stories are those connected with Alaska at the time of gold rush, such as The Call of the Wild. The book is about Buck, a sledge dog, who loves its master. After its master is killed by the Indians, it becomes a leader of a wolf pack.
H. D. Thoreau – philosopher, wanted to live without money
Symbolism
Walt Whitman
-poet of democracy, freedom, sexual love
-Leaves of Grass
Edgar Allan Poe
- a poet and short stories writer, founder of psychological horror
- The Raven (the most famous poet), The Black Cat, The Hole and Pendulum
Realism
Many people prefer the works of Mark Twain. He successfully wrote for both children and adults. In our country he is known for his works The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain based these on his boyhood and early adult experiences of life and friendships in Mississipi. In other books, Twain drew on his vast travel experiences, his understanding of human nature, and his appreciation of comedy in life. On other hand, he was often gloomy in his outlook, which is also reflected in his writings.
Upton Sinclair became famous with his novel ?The Jungle? which talks about the disorder and poor working conditions in the slaughter-houses and meat-packing industries in Chicago where there is no hygiene and the bodies of dead rats are tinned together with meat. Sinclair is the author of many historical novels.
Theodor Dreiser is the chief representative of the naturalistic school in America. All his works are biographical, reflecting his life, the conflicts between his parents, sisters and brothers and his own experiences. His master-piece is the novel The American Tragedy - its hero, Clyde Griffiths, a poor boy, understands that the only possible success in life is financial success. Everything standing in his way he overcomes ruthlessly. Instead of marrying a poor girl whom he made pregnant, he plans to murder her. However, when he is with her in a boat on lonely lake, he cannot act and it is only by chance that the boat is overturned. He is executed for a crime he has not committed. He is only guilty not saving his girl.
THE LOST GENERATION AND ERNEST HEMINGWAY
The twenties in American literature were characterized by an econemic boom after World War I and by the Jazz Age, the wild marry life of the young, and their desillusionment and pessismism; the Lost generation, best expressed by the prose writer.
The best known writers of the first half of the 20th century are Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck. Ernest Hemingway is one of American's best known writers. He was born there in 1899. His native city is Illinois. He did not stay there all his life, however. Cuba and Paris became his adopted homes. Of course he lived in USA as well. Apart from this he traveled a lot in Africa where he hunted wild animals.
Ernest Hemingway worked as a newspaper reporter. That is also why he was interested in public affairs.
During the First World War he served in a hospital unit. During the Spanish Civil War he remained in Spain as a war correspondent. His life was interesting and full of adventures.
Ernest Hemingway belongs to the group of writers and artist group that called themselves the lost generation?. Hemingway's work includes a social critique and the atmosphere of public life. He tended to naturalism. He used brief, understandable and literary language. His books include frequent monologues.
Ernest loved adventure and danger, hunting, bullfighting and fishing. His life was varied and wild. His books reflect that.
He is the author of a Farewell to Arms, For whom the Bell Talls, The Green Hills of Africa. In his short novel The Old Man and the Sea for which he was awarded the Nobel prize, Hemingway shows the fight between the man and nature, which man must lose if he fights alone. The settings of this novel is in Cuba in the city called Havana, and later on the sea in the Gulf of Mexico. The action covers a very short period. The author pointed out the human dependence on nature and their mutual permanent struggle. According to E. Hemingway it is not possible gain mastery over nature.
All this symbolized by the positions of the little boy and the old man, the difference berween generations and finding and searching for something new. Man carries victory hidden inside him.
For Whom The Bell Tolls ? he reacted to the Spanish Civil War by celebrating mankind. He showed the danger that threatens all people. He described three days of American volunteer Jordan and his relation to the Spanish girl Maria.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald
he loved the wild life of the rich youth and at the same time, rebelled against the American dream of success. His short stories were highly fashionable and made him lots of money (Tales of the Jazz Age, All the Sad Young Man, etc.). During the economic depression of the 30's his success came to a sudden end together with the Jazz Age.John Steinbeck - another Nobel prize winner, is the author of many novels - his masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath, one of the best American novels reflecting the deep Depression which followed after the crisis of 1929. The Pearl, The Wayward Bus, Cannary Row, Sweet Thursday...
The 30's were most progressive in prose as a result of the Black Friday and the rise of Fascism in Europe. The new critisism in the social field represented by John Steinbeck, the struggle against Fascism by Ernest Hemingway, and the deeply felt radical problem of the U.S.A. by William Faulkner.
William Faulkner
himself a Southerner, wrote cycles of novels dealing with the deepest problems of the South and of its racial tensions. The perversities and cruelties of his novels are partly symbolic.
some of his novels - The Wild Palms, The Reivers, Roses for Emily.
John Stainbeck
experienced in person of the life of poor workers, especially of agricultural labourers. His best works - Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Travels with Charley. In the last two works a second line in his work - romantic stories of
inrresponsible happy poor people - appears.
Eugene O'Neill
was sailor, then actor and the greatest american dramatist. He is the only American dramatist to be awared the Nobel Prize. His dramas - Agatha Christie, Desire under the Elms, Mouring becomes Electra, etc.
The American literature is very rich in really great authors. Let us mention only some outstanding literary personalities : Jerome David Salinger, John Updike (Rabbit...), Arthur Miller, Walt Whitman, Joseph Heller, Alex Halley, John Styron, Rob. Graves, James Clavell etc.
I think it would be pitty not mention a very important tendency in American literature in 20th century -
Beat generation
Next very important generation of 20th century was Beat generation. Beat generation is a term for group of American writers and artist. The members of the Beat Generation are called Beatniks. The main representatives are Allan Gingsberg, Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Charles Bukowski and others. They practised free life and behaviour. Their life was nonconforming. They were opposed to traditional literature. They searched own style. Beatniks often described their facts of life – tramping, happenings, drugs, alcohol, sex etc. Authors were influenced by the philosophy, especially by Zen Buddhism. The adjective beat means “tired“ and “down and out“, but also “positive“ and “beatific“. Beat was about freedom and living.
My favourite Beatniks are Jack Kerouac and Charles Bukowski.
JACK KEROUAC wrote the Bible of Beat Group, names On the Road. It is autobiographical work based on the spontaneous road trips. His novel The Dharma Bums influenced many young people, including also Hippies.
CHARLES BUKOWSKI was poet and novelist. His writing style is very gross. He hated people and Beatniks and he loved alcohol, bitches, racing and classic music. I think that his best book is All the Assholes in the World and Mine. "
Mario Gianluigi Puzo (October 15, 1920 – July 2, 1999) was a two time Academy Award-winning Italian American author and screenwriter, known for his novels about the Mafia, especially The Godfather (1969), which he later co-adapted into a film with Francis Ford Coppola.
Main characters
The Corleone family patriarch is Vito Corleone (The Don), whose surname (Italian for "Lionheart") recalls the town of Corleone, Sicily. Similarly, the maiden name of Corleone's mother is Corigliano, named after the town of Corigliano Calabro, Calabria; an area well known for 'Ndrangheta activity. (Puzo, however, never mentioned the family name Corigliano in the novel.) Vito has four children: Santino "Sonny" Corleone, Frederico "Freddie" Corleone, Michael "Mikey" Corleone, and Constanzia "Connie" Corleone. He also has an informally adopted son, Tom Hagen, who became the Corleones' Consigliere. Vito Corleone is also the godfather of a famous singer and movie star Johnny Fontane. The Godfather referred to in the title is generally taken to be Vito. However, the story's central character is actually Michael, and a central theme of the novel is that it is Michael's destiny, despite his determination to the contrary, to replace his father as the family head.
The Corleone family are in fact a criminal organization with influence in many areas of crime, notably protection, extortion, gambling and the union control. Under the Don is his consigliere who is a 'cutout,' to protect the Don from implication. The book also explains the consigliere position as that of the Don's most trusted advisor and counselor. The operational side of the organization is headed by two 'Caporegime,' or 'Captains,' Peter Clemenza and Sal or Salvatore Tessio, and they are high ranking officials in the family being seemingly joint fourth in power
[edit] Plot
The plot deals with a mob war fought between the Corleone family and the other four of the five families of New York. After Don Vito Corleone is shot by men working for drug dealer Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo, his two sons, Santino and Michael must run the family business with the help of consigliere Tom Hagen and the two Capos Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio. When Sollozzo and an Irish police captain are murdered by Michael, the conflict escalates into a full scale war which results in Santino's death and Michael, despite his wishes, ascending to the head of the family. He slowly becomes more ruthless than his father, even killing his brother-in-law Carlo Rizzi, who played a part in Santino's murder. Also as the story progresses many of the minor characters, such as the Don's godson Johnny Fontane and his friend Nino Valenti, Sonny's former girlfriend Lucy Mancini, and Michael's bodyguard Al Neri, are expanded on and given their own subplots. Many of these subplots are not included in the movie. The novel culminates when Michael has his two main enemies, the novel's main antagonist, Emilio Barzini and a lesser but still severely important antagonist, Philip Tattaglia, assassinated. After the total elimination of the Tattaglia Family and Barzini Family, Michael sells all his business in New York and makes the Corleone Family a legitimate business in Las Vegas.
[edit] The families
The five New York City families are the Straccis, the Tattaglias, the Corleones, the Cuneos, and the Barzinis. Other families, such as the Bocchicchio clan of New York (who act as negotiators/hostages), the Tramontis in New Orleans and the Capones in Chicago are also mentioned. [Note: In what appears to be a consistency mistake within the novel, on more than one occasion the author refers to "the five families” in a context that indicates that the Corleone Family is a fictional, sixth family. The war that is set off by the attempted assassination of Vito Corleone is referred to as being between the Corleone Family and the five families aligned against them. Yet, only four New York family dons show up and are mentioned at the peace parley that Corleone calls in an attempt to end the war after the death of Santino Corleone. Additionally, in what appears to be a research mistake on the part of the author, the Upstate New York family (the Cuneo Family, which apparently is inspired by the Magaddino Family of Buffalo) is included as one of the five families of NYC, which is not the case in reality. All five of the actual five families are based in NYC.]
[edit] Film adaptation
Main article: The Godfather
In 1972, a film adaptation of the novel was released, starring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Mario Puzo assisted with writing the screenplay and with other production tasks. The film grossed approximately $269 million worldwide and won various awards, including three Academy Awards, five Golden Globes and one Grammy and is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. The sequel, The Godfather Part II won six Oscars, and became the first sequel to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
The film is similar in most places, but leaves out some details, such as extended back stories for some characters. Some of these details were actually filmed, and were included in later versions such as The Godfather Saga. A subplot involving Johnny Fontane in Hollywood was not filmed. The biggest difference was that the novel included a more upbeat ending than the film, in which Kay Corleone found a peaceful acceptance of Michael's decision to take over his father's business. The film, in contrast, ended sharply with Kay's dreadful realization of what Michael had done and his ruthlessness, a theme that would develop in the second and third films, which were largely not based on the original novel. (The Godfather Part II included flashback sequences including scenes about the rise of Vito Corleone that were in the novel.)[citation needed]
The third film also introduces "impossible" characters such as Vincent [Vincenzo] Mancini, inconsistent with the continuity of events from the novel.
+ my feeling about the book ( z hlavy kamo)
The EU
How has our country/life changed since we entered EU?
Pros and cons of Schengen borderless zone
Studies and work in EU
European institutions and elections
Euro or national currencies?
Hello everyone, at the very beginning I’d like to say some facts about the EU, even though it’s not in the task, but I consider that as something very important to know.
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member countries
The EU has developed a single ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital.
History of EU
It’s necessary to know some of the history of EU.
The modern-day European Union is a direct result of a determination among European politicians to prevent future violent conflicts in Europe after World War II. The original aim was to tie (svázat, nebo put) countries together by forging closer industrial and economic cooperation. Since then, the EU’s responsibilities have grown in response to new challenges and many more countries have joined.
1950 – The European Coal and Steel community was established in The Treaty of Paris with six members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.
The community had evolved through the years, many countries joined this organization during that time.
Big change came in 1992, when the city Maastrich in Netherlands hosted the European Council.
The Treaty of Maastricht is signed, creating the European Union and introducing new forms of cooperation between Member State governments – for example, on defence and justice and home affairs issues. EU leaders also agree to create an Economic and Monetary Union, with a single currency managed by a European Central Bank, within a decade.
1999 - Europe’s single currency – the euro – is officially launched and 11 EU
On 1th of May we joined the European Union together with countries from central and Eastern Europe.
The population of the EU is about 500 million people. The biggest country is Germany (over 80 million)
The official currency is Euro – the currency of 13 states; the UK has Pounds, we’ve got the Czech krowns.
We should know some names – the Herman Rompuy is the President of the European Council (unformal president of the EU) . Barosso is the President of the European Commission and Stefan Fule is our European Commissioner
How has our country/life changed since we entered EU?
We joined the EU on 1th of May. We have many advantages because of that.
You can travel, study and work wherever you want in the European Union countries, if you are an EU citizen. In most countries of the EU you can travel without carrying your passport. There are no borders, so aren´t stopped for checks. Mostly you may buy anything you want anywhere you want and take it back home with you without being checked.
The EU supports young people very much, gives them opportunities to start a successful career and find work – I’ll talk about that later.
It’s unthinkable to fight with any of EU country.. keeping the peace is one of the goals of EU
The free movement of service means that firms can offer their service in all countries of the EU. The EU supports scientific research, universities, using modern technologies, finances various projects which deal with industry, medicine and other things. The EU tries to solve environmental problems, eliminate pollution and clear our nature. Pollution is very harmful; it can endanger our health and cause serious problems. It tries to prevent air and water pollution.
Pros and cons of Schengen borderless zone
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries based on The Schengen Agreement. We joined the Schengen zone on the first of May in 2008. The good point is, that you need only your ID when you travel to other country in the schengen zone, so there are not any longer queues at the border.
On the other hand the criminals can travel free…
Studies and work in EU
Now it’s much easier to work or study abroad.
The EU ensures that all students should have the same condition for studying, doesn’t matter from what country the student is … that’s why many student programme were founded - (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates..). You can use some of them at university.. if you take the posibility to go study abroad, you can apply for the stipendium…
Another good point of being in the EU is the posibility of finding jobs You can work without work permit in most of the countries in EU. Unfortunately, some countries like Germany and France are little bit afraid of the workers from the eastern Europe, so they still don’t allow to work there with no restriction as they should.
European institutions and elections
Elections in the European Union takes place every five years when 736 persons are elected to the European Parliament. Every from 27 countries have to set up elections where we vote for parties. Then in the voting list we have a schedule [šedjůl] of candidates and there we should circle these persons which we want to see in European Parliament. The party with the highest amount of votes is able to send more of its members to the European Parliament. The maximum size of members depends on a number of people living in the country. For Czech Republic is recently possible to choose 22 members to the European Parliament. The parliament includes many parties but the most powerful are these: The European People's Party, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The European Union is governed by seven institutions:
Political institutions:
1. European Parliament - is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union; together with the Council of the European Union, it forms the legislative (able to create a law) of the EU and has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world; it has 736 members; recent president is Jerzy Buzek
2. European Council - is the institution of the European Union responsible for defining [dyfanájink] the general political direction and priorities of the Union
3. Council of the European Union - is the principal decision-making institution of the European Union and shares the legislative authority with European Parliament; it concludes twenty seven prime ministers (one per state)
4. European Commission - is the executive of the European Union; it is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing (to put into effect) decisions and the general day-to-day running of the Union
5. European Union legislative procedure - is principally divided between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, with the power to initiate laws (the power to propose law proposals)
Non-political institutions
6. European Central bank (Frankfurt)
7. Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxemburg)
Euro or national currencies?
Every country which wants to convert their currency to Euro has to do some economical requests called “Maastricht convergent criteria”. They include four main conditions:
1. Price stability
2. Government finances is divided to two following criteria:
a) annual (every year) government deficit (lack of something) - the ratio of annual government deficit to gross domestic product must not exceed 3% at the end of the preceding financial year
b) government debt - the ratio of gross government debt to GDP must not have exceed 60% at the end of the preceding financial year
3. Exchange rates - applicant countries should not have devaluated its currency during the period of two years (exchange rate between two currencies specifies how much one currency is worth in term of the other; for example an exchange rate of 19 Czech crowns to the United states dollar means that 19 Czech crowns is worth the same as 1 American dollar)
4. Long-term interest rates - the rate must not be more 2 percentage points higher than the three lowest inflation member states; to keep low rate of inflation
Why accept Euro?
• it will be possible to pay all over the European Union with one currency (except Great Britain - they have a special exception), it won’t be necessary to convert
• the activity of our domestic companies will increase because of deleting convert risks in the Eurozone
• the interest rate will decrease and this is linked with higher investing activity
On the other side there were many comments about that the Euro won’t bring the economic boom. But these speculations are generally only not concrete sentences and phrases on internet B-level websites and we can’t carry on them much.
Czech Republic isn’t prepared yet for accepting Euro currency because we have problems with the second point of convergent criteria (annual government deficit). Judgments (predictions) say that we will be prepared probably in 2015 or 2016 but who knows...
Pros and cons of Schengen borderless zone
Studies and work in EU
European institutions and elections
Euro or national currencies?
Hello everyone, at the very beginning I’d like to say some facts about the EU, even though it’s not in the task, but I consider that as something very important to know.
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member countries
The EU has developed a single ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital.
History of EU
It’s necessary to know some of the history of EU.
The modern-day European Union is a direct result of a determination among European politicians to prevent future violent conflicts in Europe after World War II. The original aim was to tie (svázat, nebo put) countries together by forging closer industrial and economic cooperation. Since then, the EU’s responsibilities have grown in response to new challenges and many more countries have joined.
1950 – The European Coal and Steel community was established in The Treaty of Paris with six members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.
The community had evolved through the years, many countries joined this organization during that time.
Big change came in 1992, when the city Maastrich in Netherlands hosted the European Council.
The Treaty of Maastricht is signed, creating the European Union and introducing new forms of cooperation between Member State governments – for example, on defence and justice and home affairs issues. EU leaders also agree to create an Economic and Monetary Union, with a single currency managed by a European Central Bank, within a decade.
1999 - Europe’s single currency – the euro – is officially launched and 11 EU
On 1th of May we joined the European Union together with countries from central and Eastern Europe.
The population of the EU is about 500 million people. The biggest country is Germany (over 80 million)
The official currency is Euro – the currency of 13 states; the UK has Pounds, we’ve got the Czech krowns.
We should know some names – the Herman Rompuy is the President of the European Council (unformal president of the EU) . Barosso is the President of the European Commission and Stefan Fule is our European Commissioner
How has our country/life changed since we entered EU?
We joined the EU on 1th of May. We have many advantages because of that.
You can travel, study and work wherever you want in the European Union countries, if you are an EU citizen. In most countries of the EU you can travel without carrying your passport. There are no borders, so aren´t stopped for checks. Mostly you may buy anything you want anywhere you want and take it back home with you without being checked.
The EU supports young people very much, gives them opportunities to start a successful career and find work – I’ll talk about that later.
It’s unthinkable to fight with any of EU country.. keeping the peace is one of the goals of EU
The free movement of service means that firms can offer their service in all countries of the EU. The EU supports scientific research, universities, using modern technologies, finances various projects which deal with industry, medicine and other things. The EU tries to solve environmental problems, eliminate pollution and clear our nature. Pollution is very harmful; it can endanger our health and cause serious problems. It tries to prevent air and water pollution.
Pros and cons of Schengen borderless zone
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries based on The Schengen Agreement. We joined the Schengen zone on the first of May in 2008. The good point is, that you need only your ID when you travel to other country in the schengen zone, so there are not any longer queues at the border.
On the other hand the criminals can travel free…
Studies and work in EU
Now it’s much easier to work or study abroad.
The EU ensures that all students should have the same condition for studying, doesn’t matter from what country the student is … that’s why many student programme were founded - (Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates..). You can use some of them at university.. if you take the posibility to go study abroad, you can apply for the stipendium…
Another good point of being in the EU is the posibility of finding jobs You can work without work permit in most of the countries in EU. Unfortunately, some countries like Germany and France are little bit afraid of the workers from the eastern Europe, so they still don’t allow to work there with no restriction as they should.
European institutions and elections
Elections in the European Union takes place every five years when 736 persons are elected to the European Parliament. Every from 27 countries have to set up elections where we vote for parties. Then in the voting list we have a schedule [šedjůl] of candidates and there we should circle these persons which we want to see in European Parliament. The party with the highest amount of votes is able to send more of its members to the European Parliament. The maximum size of members depends on a number of people living in the country. For Czech Republic is recently possible to choose 22 members to the European Parliament. The parliament includes many parties but the most powerful are these: The European People's Party, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The European Union is governed by seven institutions:
Political institutions:
1. European Parliament - is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union; together with the Council of the European Union, it forms the legislative (able to create a law) of the EU and has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world; it has 736 members; recent president is Jerzy Buzek
2. European Council - is the institution of the European Union responsible for defining [dyfanájink] the general political direction and priorities of the Union
3. Council of the European Union - is the principal decision-making institution of the European Union and shares the legislative authority with European Parliament; it concludes twenty seven prime ministers (one per state)
4. European Commission - is the executive of the European Union; it is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing (to put into effect) decisions and the general day-to-day running of the Union
5. European Union legislative procedure - is principally divided between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, with the power to initiate laws (the power to propose law proposals)
Non-political institutions
6. European Central bank (Frankfurt)
7. Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxemburg)
Euro or national currencies?
Every country which wants to convert their currency to Euro has to do some economical requests called “Maastricht convergent criteria”. They include four main conditions:
1. Price stability
2. Government finances is divided to two following criteria:
a) annual (every year) government deficit (lack of something) - the ratio of annual government deficit to gross domestic product must not exceed 3% at the end of the preceding financial year
b) government debt - the ratio of gross government debt to GDP must not have exceed 60% at the end of the preceding financial year
3. Exchange rates - applicant countries should not have devaluated its currency during the period of two years (exchange rate between two currencies specifies how much one currency is worth in term of the other; for example an exchange rate of 19 Czech crowns to the United states dollar means that 19 Czech crowns is worth the same as 1 American dollar)
4. Long-term interest rates - the rate must not be more 2 percentage points higher than the three lowest inflation member states; to keep low rate of inflation
Why accept Euro?
• it will be possible to pay all over the European Union with one currency (except Great Britain - they have a special exception), it won’t be necessary to convert
• the activity of our domestic companies will increase because of deleting convert risks in the Eurozone
• the interest rate will decrease and this is linked with higher investing activity
On the other side there were many comments about that the Euro won’t bring the economic boom. But these speculations are generally only not concrete sentences and phrases on internet B-level websites and we can’t carry on them much.
Czech Republic isn’t prepared yet for accepting Euro currency because we have problems with the second point of convergent criteria (annual government deficit). Judgments (predictions) say that we will be prepared probably in 2015 or 2016 but who knows...
Important Events of British History
Are you interested in history ? Why/why not ?
Put the names of the most important British kings and queens in chronological order.
Choose one of them and talk about his/her time in more detail.
Have there been any contacts between our countries throughout the history?
I’m interested in history, I like history because I will be doing (I’ve done) maturita from history today. However more than British history I like the old time of ancient civilizations such as Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, etc. We were supposed to write a seminar essay and my topic was connection between The Great pyramid of Giza and Orion belt. And believe me - there is a strong connection linked to origins of human religion. But let’s go back to British history.
William the Conqueror
He was the greatest Norman king. After the battle of Hastings (1066) he became the English king. He is also the author of Doomsday book in which was recorded all landholders (držitelé půdy) in England. As he became the king he brought to England his Norman culture instead of Anglo-Saxon; Normans built for example Tower of London.
Richard the Lionheart
He was known for his leading role in the Third holy crusade (1189 - 1192). He was also the first crusader who succeeded in negotiations with mighty Arabian leader Saladin. The result was peace profitable to both sides both Crusader and Arabian.
Henry VIII. of England
He is known for his role in separation of the Church of England (anglikánská církev) from Roman Catholic Church. His conflicts, during 16th century, with Rome led to completely separation of the Church of England from papal authority; he established himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He was also one of founders of Royal Navy.
Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland)
He was known for his role in civil war and for creating Commonwealth of England - the republic. After the execution of King Charles I. Stuart he became the leader of England - the republic and he occupied Scotland and Ireland. From the year 1653 he was called as Lord Protector.
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Today we say Victorian era which was one of the most lucrative and prosperous period of time in whole history of United Kingdom Empire. During almost 64 years leadership of Victoria Britain came successfully through the industry revolution, in 1851 was built Crystal Palace - the place in Hyde Park constructed from glass and iron - where took place the first Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations. Victorian era is known for its original style of architecture which is typical for buildings of town hall in Manchester or ... When Victoria died the whole country was drowned in tears (utopena v slzách).
I want to choose William the Conqueror because he was skilled military leader of very strong nation - Normans which influenced more than British kingdom. William was illegitimate son of Norman king Robert I. and king’s mistress (milenka) Herlev of Falais. For this reason sometimes we can see the name William the Bastard. After his father’s death he became the king of Normandy. In the spring of 1051, William received an important message from King Edward III. Confessor. In that message Childless Edward wrote that William will be the next king on English throne. After Edward’s death William submitted his claim to the English throne (vznesl svůj nárok na anglický trůn). However the English throne got the last Anglo-Saxon king Harold II. Godwinson. At this time William cross the sea and launched the Norman invasion; and there in England fought a battle near the place called Hastings. He won this battle and established himself the king of England in 1066 Anno Domini. During the first years of his reign (vláda) William had to solve problems with unsatisfied Anglo-Saxon noblemen; but he could successfully deal with them. Normans started building great castles and fortification (for example The Tower of London, chapel in the White Tower). In the year 1086 William wrote the Doomsday book which was record of survey from all England. The reason why this happened was to find out how many properties people have and based on that set up the taxes. He died because of serious injury in the year 1087 in France.
The very first thing which comes to my mind is situation during the WWII. after villages Lidice and Ležáky were burnt down. Great Britain was one of the signers of Munich Agreement together with France, Nazi Germany and Italy. After massacre in these two villages Great Britain with Winston Churchill as a great leader withdrew (odstoupila) from Munich Agreement and the sympathy between our countries increased very much.
Put the names of the most important British kings and queens in chronological order.
Choose one of them and talk about his/her time in more detail.
Have there been any contacts between our countries throughout the history?
I’m interested in history, I like history because I will be doing (I’ve done) maturita from history today. However more than British history I like the old time of ancient civilizations such as Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, etc. We were supposed to write a seminar essay and my topic was connection between The Great pyramid of Giza and Orion belt. And believe me - there is a strong connection linked to origins of human religion. But let’s go back to British history.
William the Conqueror
He was the greatest Norman king. After the battle of Hastings (1066) he became the English king. He is also the author of Doomsday book in which was recorded all landholders (držitelé půdy) in England. As he became the king he brought to England his Norman culture instead of Anglo-Saxon; Normans built for example Tower of London.
Richard the Lionheart
He was known for his leading role in the Third holy crusade (1189 - 1192). He was also the first crusader who succeeded in negotiations with mighty Arabian leader Saladin. The result was peace profitable to both sides both Crusader and Arabian.
Henry VIII. of England
He is known for his role in separation of the Church of England (anglikánská církev) from Roman Catholic Church. His conflicts, during 16th century, with Rome led to completely separation of the Church of England from papal authority; he established himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He was also one of founders of Royal Navy.
Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland)
He was known for his role in civil war and for creating Commonwealth of England - the republic. After the execution of King Charles I. Stuart he became the leader of England - the republic and he occupied Scotland and Ireland. From the year 1653 he was called as Lord Protector.
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Today we say Victorian era which was one of the most lucrative and prosperous period of time in whole history of United Kingdom Empire. During almost 64 years leadership of Victoria Britain came successfully through the industry revolution, in 1851 was built Crystal Palace - the place in Hyde Park constructed from glass and iron - where took place the first Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations. Victorian era is known for its original style of architecture which is typical for buildings of town hall in Manchester or ... When Victoria died the whole country was drowned in tears (utopena v slzách).
I want to choose William the Conqueror because he was skilled military leader of very strong nation - Normans which influenced more than British kingdom. William was illegitimate son of Norman king Robert I. and king’s mistress (milenka) Herlev of Falais. For this reason sometimes we can see the name William the Bastard. After his father’s death he became the king of Normandy. In the spring of 1051, William received an important message from King Edward III. Confessor. In that message Childless Edward wrote that William will be the next king on English throne. After Edward’s death William submitted his claim to the English throne (vznesl svůj nárok na anglický trůn). However the English throne got the last Anglo-Saxon king Harold II. Godwinson. At this time William cross the sea and launched the Norman invasion; and there in England fought a battle near the place called Hastings. He won this battle and established himself the king of England in 1066 Anno Domini. During the first years of his reign (vláda) William had to solve problems with unsatisfied Anglo-Saxon noblemen; but he could successfully deal with them. Normans started building great castles and fortification (for example The Tower of London, chapel in the White Tower). In the year 1086 William wrote the Doomsday book which was record of survey from all England. The reason why this happened was to find out how many properties people have and based on that set up the taxes. He died because of serious injury in the year 1087 in France.
The very first thing which comes to my mind is situation during the WWII. after villages Lidice and Ležáky were burnt down. Great Britain was one of the signers of Munich Agreement together with France, Nazi Germany and Italy. After massacre in these two villages Great Britain with Winston Churchill as a great leader withdrew (odstoupila) from Munich Agreement and the sympathy between our countries increased very much.
American history
Pre-Columbian era
The origins of American population are probably situated in Asia. The first inhabitants crossed the Bering land bridge (thanks to the last ice age) almost 15 000 years ago. Some of them settled in Alaska but most of them continued and through the North America down to the South. After some town they settled down and created many tribes. The most important were situated in the Mesoamerica which is the region extending from Central Mexico south to the north western border of Costa Rica.
1) Aztec civilization - their country was situated in the central Mexico, their government was really powerful, they built many beautiful cities such as Tenochtitlán or Texcoca, they also built many monuments and pyramids, they were attacked by Hernan Cortez
2) Inca empire - it was the largest empire of the pre-Columbian era, it was situated on the west side of South America, Inca people built also many cities and the most known is Machu Picchu, they were attacked by Spanish conqueror Francisko Pizzaro
3) Maya civilization - native habitants of Mexico, well known for their fully developed language in pre-Colombian era, they were also good in observation of night sky and stars, they created Maya calendar
In the year 1492 the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus found now days Cuba and discovered by the New World.
America as a British colony
Starting the 17th century British Emporium was a large mighty country which was controlling many colonies all over the world. There were 13 colonies founded under the rule of England along the Atlantic coast in the 18th century. One group of colonies was also in North America. Britain gained control over these colonies thanks to their successful no-compromised diplomacy which lead (from time to time) to war with France. Other important things of successful evolving colonies were slaves from Africa. Without this manpower it would be very difficult to produce such a huge amount of wood, tobacco and other raw materials. Moreover this business with slaves was very lucrative.
Great Britain decided to gather a large amount of taxes from colonists because of war with France. American colonies weren’t satisfied with this plan and because of that became American Revolution in which USA won and became one of the independent countries in the world. The first president was George Washington who was one of the military leaders; he reorganized American army and with others (56 important USA leaders including: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams or Benjamin Franklin) wrote the Declaration of Independence on 4th of July 1776; and this meant that United States of America were established.
The problem with salves from Africa divided USA to two groups. On the North United States as a Union and on the South Confederate States of America as a Confederacy. Union wanted cancellation of slavery in all United States. However Confederacy on South was depending of slave manpower. The civil war started in 1861 and ended in 1865 by victory of Unionists and slavery was abolished (zrušeno). However the president Abraham Lincoln was murdered by actor (who was sympathized with Confederation) in theatre.
During the 1st World War America promised the neutrality. But the situation was bad for the allies and the USA had to enter the war on their side in 1917. The allies won the war. The same situation happened during the World War II. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour forced the American army to take part in the war on the side of Britain and the Soviet Union against Germany, Italy and Japan. The allies won again, but the world didn´t have a long rest from the warfare.
The period called the Cold War started in 1948 and it lasted for 40 years. It was a conflict between democratic countries in the West and the Communist regime under the Soviet rules on the East of Europe. A very important point in this conflict was the birth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. The Korean and Vietnam Wars are the examples of this conflict, too. The northern parts of these countries remained under the communist influence and they wanted to take over the democratic southern parts. This conflict almost led to 3rd World War. The Cold War ended with tearing down the Berlin Wall and disintegration of the Soviet Union and so called Eastern Block.
Nowadays the United States of America is the most powerful country in the world.
Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919)
• Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States.
• He is well remembered for his energetic personality, range of interests and achievements, leadership of the Progressive Movement, model of masculinity.
• He was a leader of the Republican Party.
• He extended national parks and gave lots of money to the protection of the wildlife.
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963)
• Was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
• He was charismatic, good-looking and convincing.
• He had to solve a serious international crisis. The first problem occured when the Berlin Wall was built in 1961. He went to Berlin to support the west part of Germany but he didn’t have enough power to stop building of the wall.
• The next problem was represented by the Caribbean crisis in 1962. The communist regime of Fidel Castro allowed the Soviet Union to use Cuba as a base for nuclear weapons. Luckily, the problem was solved and the Soviet troops left the island.
• He was assassinated 22nd November 1963 in Dallas.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
• Was a prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement.
• King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
• King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination.
• He was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee on 4th of April 1968 at the Lorraine Motel where he was about to support labour strike. He was shot by single bullet to his neck.
The origins of American population are probably situated in Asia. The first inhabitants crossed the Bering land bridge (thanks to the last ice age) almost 15 000 years ago. Some of them settled in Alaska but most of them continued and through the North America down to the South. After some town they settled down and created many tribes. The most important were situated in the Mesoamerica which is the region extending from Central Mexico south to the north western border of Costa Rica.
1) Aztec civilization - their country was situated in the central Mexico, their government was really powerful, they built many beautiful cities such as Tenochtitlán or Texcoca, they also built many monuments and pyramids, they were attacked by Hernan Cortez
2) Inca empire - it was the largest empire of the pre-Columbian era, it was situated on the west side of South America, Inca people built also many cities and the most known is Machu Picchu, they were attacked by Spanish conqueror Francisko Pizzaro
3) Maya civilization - native habitants of Mexico, well known for their fully developed language in pre-Colombian era, they were also good in observation of night sky and stars, they created Maya calendar
In the year 1492 the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus found now days Cuba and discovered by the New World.
America as a British colony
Starting the 17th century British Emporium was a large mighty country which was controlling many colonies all over the world. There were 13 colonies founded under the rule of England along the Atlantic coast in the 18th century. One group of colonies was also in North America. Britain gained control over these colonies thanks to their successful no-compromised diplomacy which lead (from time to time) to war with France. Other important things of successful evolving colonies were slaves from Africa. Without this manpower it would be very difficult to produce such a huge amount of wood, tobacco and other raw materials. Moreover this business with slaves was very lucrative.
Great Britain decided to gather a large amount of taxes from colonists because of war with France. American colonies weren’t satisfied with this plan and because of that became American Revolution in which USA won and became one of the independent countries in the world. The first president was George Washington who was one of the military leaders; he reorganized American army and with others (56 important USA leaders including: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams or Benjamin Franklin) wrote the Declaration of Independence on 4th of July 1776; and this meant that United States of America were established.
The problem with salves from Africa divided USA to two groups. On the North United States as a Union and on the South Confederate States of America as a Confederacy. Union wanted cancellation of slavery in all United States. However Confederacy on South was depending of slave manpower. The civil war started in 1861 and ended in 1865 by victory of Unionists and slavery was abolished (zrušeno). However the president Abraham Lincoln was murdered by actor (who was sympathized with Confederation) in theatre.
During the 1st World War America promised the neutrality. But the situation was bad for the allies and the USA had to enter the war on their side in 1917. The allies won the war. The same situation happened during the World War II. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour forced the American army to take part in the war on the side of Britain and the Soviet Union against Germany, Italy and Japan. The allies won again, but the world didn´t have a long rest from the warfare.
The period called the Cold War started in 1948 and it lasted for 40 years. It was a conflict between democratic countries in the West and the Communist regime under the Soviet rules on the East of Europe. A very important point in this conflict was the birth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. The Korean and Vietnam Wars are the examples of this conflict, too. The northern parts of these countries remained under the communist influence and they wanted to take over the democratic southern parts. This conflict almost led to 3rd World War. The Cold War ended with tearing down the Berlin Wall and disintegration of the Soviet Union and so called Eastern Block.
Nowadays the United States of America is the most powerful country in the world.
Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919)
• Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States.
• He is well remembered for his energetic personality, range of interests and achievements, leadership of the Progressive Movement, model of masculinity.
• He was a leader of the Republican Party.
• He extended national parks and gave lots of money to the protection of the wildlife.
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963)
• Was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
• He was charismatic, good-looking and convincing.
• He had to solve a serious international crisis. The first problem occured when the Berlin Wall was built in 1961. He went to Berlin to support the west part of Germany but he didn’t have enough power to stop building of the wall.
• The next problem was represented by the Caribbean crisis in 1962. The communist regime of Fidel Castro allowed the Soviet Union to use Cuba as a base for nuclear weapons. Luckily, the problem was solved and the Soviet troops left the island.
• He was assassinated 22nd November 1963 in Dallas.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)
• Was a prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement.
• King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
• King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination.
• He was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee on 4th of April 1968 at the Lorraine Motel where he was about to support labour strike. He was shot by single bullet to his neck.
Jobs
Your future career
Booming jobs
Good tips for a successful interview
Success or satisfaction
Working environment, relationship with colleagues and superiors
We know that the job is a regular activity performed in exchange for payment, usually as one’s occupation (povolání).
My future career is not clear yet, but I’m sure I want to get to the university and graduate. I have to possibilities to decide:
Firstly - I have been interested in ancient Egypt for whole my life and I’m amazed by high level technology building they created. For example the Pyramids in Giza - so many mysteries around them - how they were built, why is the youngest one the smallest? I want to explore these pieces of knowledge and find new proofs.
Secondly - I want to be economist in a big lucrative company. In the last year I started to interest in the world of money, exchange rates in the European Union etc. Moreover as the big economical crisis hit our economy WE will be needed.
However the problem is that isn’t only me who share this opinion on world trade economy. There is thousands and thousands young people all over the world which want to solve this problem connected with crisis too. So I definitely think that economist is one of the booming jobs today. Actually it results from researches in Czech Republic too. Masaryk University noticed the massive intake (nábor) of students registering on the Economic way of learning.
However after finishing whatever University we will have to find a job. Before starting working we have to go through the interview with specialist or representative of that company which we like. There are many hints how to do that right impression but there are few general principles which we have to do before this interview starts:
1. We should choose conservative wear. Women should wear coat and skirt (kostýmek) and court shoes, decent rate of make-up. Men wear classical smoking and they should cut down their beard.
2. Before the dialog at home we should prepare a few sentences about us, our life, family, what we expect from the work opposite to the mirror. It’s always good to see our mimics.
3. In the company building we should greet everybody in our way to the interview room.
4. In about to entering to the interview room we should check ourselves in the mirror and get a smile upon our face - the first moment can’t be repeated.
Success and satisfaction are like two sides of coin. I would tell you about myself because archaeologist is not a well paid profession. Moreover sometimes there is a long time period when you cannot see your family and friends because you have to go to other country for new researches. But I would love this job - discovering something what is a long long time forbidden or there wasn’t enough money or time to look into. There are many things to discover all over the world. I don’t know a person which is successful and satisfied with its job. May be it is possible but on the beginning there must be a great original idea, starting amount of money and the rest is up to our personal skills and experiences.
When we are successful on the interview we can start working in company. Of course there we meet a lot of new faces and it’s always good to carry on our face a smile - again it’s similar as during the entering to the interview office - the first impression can’t be repeated. The environment between colleagues is very important thing for successful spending days in the office. If we are unhappy because of bad relationship with our colleagues we even can’t do our best in the job and the last what we need is to get fired.
Booming jobs
Good tips for a successful interview
Success or satisfaction
Working environment, relationship with colleagues and superiors
We know that the job is a regular activity performed in exchange for payment, usually as one’s occupation (povolání).
My future career is not clear yet, but I’m sure I want to get to the university and graduate. I have to possibilities to decide:
Firstly - I have been interested in ancient Egypt for whole my life and I’m amazed by high level technology building they created. For example the Pyramids in Giza - so many mysteries around them - how they were built, why is the youngest one the smallest? I want to explore these pieces of knowledge and find new proofs.
Secondly - I want to be economist in a big lucrative company. In the last year I started to interest in the world of money, exchange rates in the European Union etc. Moreover as the big economical crisis hit our economy WE will be needed.
However the problem is that isn’t only me who share this opinion on world trade economy. There is thousands and thousands young people all over the world which want to solve this problem connected with crisis too. So I definitely think that economist is one of the booming jobs today. Actually it results from researches in Czech Republic too. Masaryk University noticed the massive intake (nábor) of students registering on the Economic way of learning.
However after finishing whatever University we will have to find a job. Before starting working we have to go through the interview with specialist or representative of that company which we like. There are many hints how to do that right impression but there are few general principles which we have to do before this interview starts:
1. We should choose conservative wear. Women should wear coat and skirt (kostýmek) and court shoes, decent rate of make-up. Men wear classical smoking and they should cut down their beard.
2. Before the dialog at home we should prepare a few sentences about us, our life, family, what we expect from the work opposite to the mirror. It’s always good to see our mimics.
3. In the company building we should greet everybody in our way to the interview room.
4. In about to entering to the interview room we should check ourselves in the mirror and get a smile upon our face - the first moment can’t be repeated.
Success and satisfaction are like two sides of coin. I would tell you about myself because archaeologist is not a well paid profession. Moreover sometimes there is a long time period when you cannot see your family and friends because you have to go to other country for new researches. But I would love this job - discovering something what is a long long time forbidden or there wasn’t enough money or time to look into. There are many things to discover all over the world. I don’t know a person which is successful and satisfied with its job. May be it is possible but on the beginning there must be a great original idea, starting amount of money and the rest is up to our personal skills and experiences.
When we are successful on the interview we can start working in company. Of course there we meet a lot of new faces and it’s always good to carry on our face a smile - again it’s similar as during the entering to the interview office - the first impression can’t be repeated. The environment between colleagues is very important thing for successful spending days in the office. If we are unhappy because of bad relationship with our colleagues we even can’t do our best in the job and the last what we need is to get fired.
Ray Charles Robinson
He was an American musician and one of the greatest piano players ever. During the 1950’s he was trying to bring a new kind of music to the American society - the soul music.
I haven’t known this person much until I saw a film called Ray starring with Jamie Fox as a main character. From that time I have been starting interested in and I’m still because for me as an amateur piano player is Ray Charles something like ideal. Moreover when he was 7 years old he fell ill with his eyes. From that time he was blinded for the rest of his life and even this made impression to many of people all over the world because he travelled to many countries including Czech Republic. But now I’m going to tell you his biography in shorter way.
Ray Charles Robinson was born Albany, Georgia to Aretha Williams – housewife and Bailey Robinson mechanic. They didn’t have much money and moreover not long time after Ray Charles born his family moved to Greenville in Florida because there were many problems with Afro-Americans in Georgie (they were discriminated. In his early years, Charles showed a curiosity for mechanical things and he often watched the neighborhood men working on their cars and farm machinery. His musical curiosity was sparked at Mr. Wiley Pit's Red Wing Cafe when Pit played boogie woogie on an old upright piano.
Charles started to lose his sight at the age of five. He went completely blind by the age of seven. It’s not sure why he became blinding but it could be possible because of infection from water he drunk.
During his teenage years he wanted to play jazz. He established a small bug band called “RC Charles and the Shop Boys”.
In his 15 years his mother died (1945) he decided to travel around cities in the United States of America (Orlando, Tampa). But the big time waited for him in Seattle where he met Ahmet Ertegun who offered him relationship with Atlantic records.
T relation with Atlantic records was a breakthrough for his career. Especially the songs as “What I’d say”, “Mess Around”, “Night time (Is the right time)” etc. with his first awesome album “The Genius of Ray Charles”. He met his big love – everything seemed to be O.K. But then Ray Charles started to use drugs – heroin (he was using it for nearly 20 years!!). He was for a few times in jail because of that.
But in the 1980s and 1990s he was performing all over the world and many of his concerts broke into the history of modern music.
If I would meet Ray Charles Robinson he would wear a black smoking with sequins (flitry) and his famous glasses. That glasses has a rectangular shape (obdélníkový tvear) and black colour. He would be smiling. During each concert he ever has he was smiling to everybody.
The fateful choice in his life was the period of life when he became blind. Unfortunately he didn’t see anything but this fully replaced his phenomenal hearing ability and his skills playing very difficult song the piano. Then it surely is the moment when he met Ahmet Ertegun – the moment when he joined to Atlantic records. The third is moment when he stopped being dependent on drugs. He threw away this heavy burden.
When he joined to the Atlantic records he started being famous all over the America – especially in his homeland state Georgia. Georgia invited him to make a piano performance. But when he arrived there were a massive demonstration because the Afro-American people couldn’t access the concert. When Ray heard that he decided to leave because he didn’t like the government didn’t want black people on his performance. State of Georgia banned him access to his own homeland. After many years later they admitted they didn’t right and Ray Charles’s song “Georgia on my Mind” is nowadays a hymn of this state.
I haven’t known this person much until I saw a film called Ray starring with Jamie Fox as a main character. From that time I have been starting interested in and I’m still because for me as an amateur piano player is Ray Charles something like ideal. Moreover when he was 7 years old he fell ill with his eyes. From that time he was blinded for the rest of his life and even this made impression to many of people all over the world because he travelled to many countries including Czech Republic. But now I’m going to tell you his biography in shorter way.
Ray Charles Robinson was born Albany, Georgia to Aretha Williams – housewife and Bailey Robinson mechanic. They didn’t have much money and moreover not long time after Ray Charles born his family moved to Greenville in Florida because there were many problems with Afro-Americans in Georgie (they were discriminated. In his early years, Charles showed a curiosity for mechanical things and he often watched the neighborhood men working on their cars and farm machinery. His musical curiosity was sparked at Mr. Wiley Pit's Red Wing Cafe when Pit played boogie woogie on an old upright piano.
Charles started to lose his sight at the age of five. He went completely blind by the age of seven. It’s not sure why he became blinding but it could be possible because of infection from water he drunk.
During his teenage years he wanted to play jazz. He established a small bug band called “RC Charles and the Shop Boys”.
In his 15 years his mother died (1945) he decided to travel around cities in the United States of America (Orlando, Tampa). But the big time waited for him in Seattle where he met Ahmet Ertegun who offered him relationship with Atlantic records.
T relation with Atlantic records was a breakthrough for his career. Especially the songs as “What I’d say”, “Mess Around”, “Night time (Is the right time)” etc. with his first awesome album “The Genius of Ray Charles”. He met his big love – everything seemed to be O.K. But then Ray Charles started to use drugs – heroin (he was using it for nearly 20 years!!). He was for a few times in jail because of that.
But in the 1980s and 1990s he was performing all over the world and many of his concerts broke into the history of modern music.
If I would meet Ray Charles Robinson he would wear a black smoking with sequins (flitry) and his famous glasses. That glasses has a rectangular shape (obdélníkový tvear) and black colour. He would be smiling. During each concert he ever has he was smiling to everybody.
The fateful choice in his life was the period of life when he became blind. Unfortunately he didn’t see anything but this fully replaced his phenomenal hearing ability and his skills playing very difficult song the piano. Then it surely is the moment when he met Ahmet Ertegun – the moment when he joined to Atlantic records. The third is moment when he stopped being dependent on drugs. He threw away this heavy burden.
When he joined to the Atlantic records he started being famous all over the America – especially in his homeland state Georgia. Georgia invited him to make a piano performance. But when he arrived there were a massive demonstration because the Afro-American people couldn’t access the concert. When Ray heard that he decided to leave because he didn’t like the government didn’t want black people on his performance. State of Georgia banned him access to his own homeland. After many years later they admitted they didn’t right and Ray Charles’s song “Georgia on my Mind” is nowadays a hymn of this state.
Sports and Games
Sports and games are activities that are well known for everybody of us. People started to do sports and play games many years ago, but the biggest boom was in 20th century. With coming of new technologies people got new possibilities and new ideas how to spend their spare time for pleasure. People do the sports because they want to keep fit, build their muscles and make their body better for look. It is also very good (the best) kind of relaxation. It helps to keep our mental health in order. The majority of people do the sports as a hobby but some people do the sport as a job. We can practise outdoor or indoor sports, water sports, summer sports or winter sports...
Outdoor sports are golf, skiing (cross-country, down-hill, slalom, ski-jump), climbing, marathon-running, orienteering, hiking, tourism, mountaineering, horse riding, rallies etc.
Indoor sports include table-tennis, gymnastic, chess... However there are also sports which could be played both inside and outside such as tennis, ball games (basketball, volleyball), ice-hockey etc.
Water sports are swimming, water-skiing, diving (fin swimming [ploutvové plavání]), water polo, yachting, canoeing or rowing (veslování).
We can also divided sports according to the season they are practised:
Summer sports: swimming, ball games (football, cricket, golf...), athletics (sprint, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, ball throw etc.)
Winter sports: all sports connected with snow; skiing, biathlon, skating, snowboarding, speed skating, ice-hockey, competitive figure skating (single skating, pairs or ice-dancing).
In our country is the most favourite sport football. In almost every village or town we can find a football pit and almost every village or town has its own football team. Some cities have more than one team (for example Prague). Even it is exactly 12 years from our historical success in Nagano when we won a gold medal on Olympic Games ice hockey is still very popular sport. But in general - Czech ice hockey team is more successful than Czech football which is known for its bribe scandal and for its slowly decreasing level of playing. In our town we have very successful swimmers from fin swimming team “Čochtan” which is one of the best here in Czech Republic. So the swimming is popular in our town. Of course football is very popular too; it is played by little boys, teenagers even adults; but is not as successful as our swimming. I have to mention speed skating because our town was original home of Martina Sáblíková - leading woman of the world rankings. Especially after Olympic Games in Vancouver where she won two gold and one bronze medal she became extremely popular everywhere. Her big boom caused that speed skating is becoming more and more popular in Czech Republic. The last very popular sport in our country is skiing. Our representatives such as Lukáš Bauer, Martin Koukal, Jiří Magál or Martin Jakš were very active recently when on Olympic Games in Vancouver together won relay (štafeta) four times ten kilometres.
Our sportsmen can take part in many sport events all over the world. For example Lukáš Bauer was successful Tour de ski in season 2009/2010 when he beat Finnish Norwegian Petter Northug. Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing event held annually (každoročně) since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic,Germany, Italy over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 750,000 Swiss francs (which is more than 13 millions Czech crowns!!) Men's and women's events were held together on the same days.
Wimbledon is a suburb (předměstí) in south west London, part of the London Borough of Merton. For most of the past one hundred years, Wimbledon has been internationally known as the home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
National Hockey League is the most famous ice hockey league in the world in which take part teams from USA and Canada. Those teams are the best in the world. The main trophy is Stanley cup.
The Olympic Games are the most important and the most famous – they are held every 4 years, they have their summer and winter parts which change once every 2 years. First were held in 776 before Christ in Greece, but in the year 393 Anno Domini were cancelled by roman emperor Theodosius. The modern era of Olympic Games started in 1896 in Athens with help of Baron Pierre de Coubertin which founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894. Later in 1924 were Olympics divided to winter games and summer games. Nowadays the Olympic Games are a major international event, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions.
My favourite sport is swimming because in my opinion is the most healthy sport and personally I enjoy it very much. It is not much expensive (for an amateur) - all you need is a swimming suit. The professionals like Michael Phelps wear special swimming costumes that help them to be quicker and more hydrodynamic. When you have your swimming costume you can go to the swimming pool. I’m able to get there for free because I have insurance (pojištění) Metal Alliance which fully covers fee for entering to the pool. Others will have to pay about 30 Czech crowns.
Outdoor sports are golf, skiing (cross-country, down-hill, slalom, ski-jump), climbing, marathon-running, orienteering, hiking, tourism, mountaineering, horse riding, rallies etc.
Indoor sports include table-tennis, gymnastic, chess... However there are also sports which could be played both inside and outside such as tennis, ball games (basketball, volleyball), ice-hockey etc.
Water sports are swimming, water-skiing, diving (fin swimming [ploutvové plavání]), water polo, yachting, canoeing or rowing (veslování).
We can also divided sports according to the season they are practised:
Summer sports: swimming, ball games (football, cricket, golf...), athletics (sprint, high jump, long jump, javelin throw, ball throw etc.)
Winter sports: all sports connected with snow; skiing, biathlon, skating, snowboarding, speed skating, ice-hockey, competitive figure skating (single skating, pairs or ice-dancing).
In our country is the most favourite sport football. In almost every village or town we can find a football pit and almost every village or town has its own football team. Some cities have more than one team (for example Prague). Even it is exactly 12 years from our historical success in Nagano when we won a gold medal on Olympic Games ice hockey is still very popular sport. But in general - Czech ice hockey team is more successful than Czech football which is known for its bribe scandal and for its slowly decreasing level of playing. In our town we have very successful swimmers from fin swimming team “Čochtan” which is one of the best here in Czech Republic. So the swimming is popular in our town. Of course football is very popular too; it is played by little boys, teenagers even adults; but is not as successful as our swimming. I have to mention speed skating because our town was original home of Martina Sáblíková - leading woman of the world rankings. Especially after Olympic Games in Vancouver where she won two gold and one bronze medal she became extremely popular everywhere. Her big boom caused that speed skating is becoming more and more popular in Czech Republic. The last very popular sport in our country is skiing. Our representatives such as Lukáš Bauer, Martin Koukal, Jiří Magál or Martin Jakš were very active recently when on Olympic Games in Vancouver together won relay (štafeta) four times ten kilometres.
Our sportsmen can take part in many sport events all over the world. For example Lukáš Bauer was successful Tour de ski in season 2009/2010 when he beat Finnish Norwegian Petter Northug. Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing event held annually (každoročně) since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic,Germany, Italy over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 750,000 Swiss francs (which is more than 13 millions Czech crowns!!) Men's and women's events were held together on the same days.
Wimbledon is a suburb (předměstí) in south west London, part of the London Borough of Merton. For most of the past one hundred years, Wimbledon has been internationally known as the home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
National Hockey League is the most famous ice hockey league in the world in which take part teams from USA and Canada. Those teams are the best in the world. The main trophy is Stanley cup.
The Olympic Games are the most important and the most famous – they are held every 4 years, they have their summer and winter parts which change once every 2 years. First were held in 776 before Christ in Greece, but in the year 393 Anno Domini were cancelled by roman emperor Theodosius. The modern era of Olympic Games started in 1896 in Athens with help of Baron Pierre de Coubertin which founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894. Later in 1924 were Olympics divided to winter games and summer games. Nowadays the Olympic Games are a major international event, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions.
My favourite sport is swimming because in my opinion is the most healthy sport and personally I enjoy it very much. It is not much expensive (for an amateur) - all you need is a swimming suit. The professionals like Michael Phelps wear special swimming costumes that help them to be quicker and more hydrodynamic. When you have your swimming costume you can go to the swimming pool. I’m able to get there for free because I have insurance (pojištění) Metal Alliance which fully covers fee for entering to the pool. Others will have to pay about 30 Czech crowns.
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