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Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
And here is Kocab's "Frank Zappa is our Pappa": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQwiiymUdMk&featur… Kocab, by the way, is fascinating: http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Koc%C3%A1b I've enjoyed his music for a long time. Glad to have an excuse to spread it around. From the stuff that the commies banned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEIKmLzVxlY To his farcical anti-authoritarian stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU7rtxLzASs&featur… And Pavlicek's (Kocab's bandmate) symphonic version of Zubata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdy_SpRUMts I hope you all enjoy it. Best, Fred— July 2, 2010 1:16 p.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
Oh, hey...look at this. Frank Zappa hanging with Michal Kocab back when: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fzDL7Hr5sc If you want to understand Czechs, understand Frank Zappa first. :-) Best, Fred— July 2, 2010 1:04 p.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
So, with everything settled now...how did Jim Morrison get into this thread? (Wish it was Zappa instead...he's much more interesting. http://www.radio.cz/en/article/79169) Have a great weekend everybody! Best, Fred— July 2, 2010 12:54 p.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
I was forwarded this email written by Mr. Veseskis: ***** http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/jun/22/tr… Well some knucklehead ripped my article and I am pissed! I am asking you guys to go to the above link and comment on how much of an idiot Fred is. I already did. You need to make a quick account but it takes a minute. Thanks! This dude Fred has no idea what he's in store for! This guy's a PUNK!! **** So now we know why a few of Matt's buddies are logging in to talk a lot of trash. In addition, it's pretty clear that Matt is using multiple IDs to comment...at least two we're positive of, three more we all suspect. Pretty pathetic...and amateurishly done. Even sadder, Matt, is that at least one of the guys who you think is your friend doesn't actually like you very much...and sent me what you wrote. Matt...you ought to know better. This kind of stuff is frowned on at the Reader. You might be putting your job in jeopardy. Best, Fred— July 1, 2010 7:24 a.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
I suspected you were using multiple IDs to post your angry reactions to criticism, Matt. Thanks for proving it, "mamabear". As to "Jan Golka", please let me put the record straight. I first came to Prague in the summer of 90, less than a year after the revolution. I wouldn't call myself a "scholar" of Havel or Kafka, but I've read most of their works, and briefly met the President while volunteering with the Helsinki Citizens Assembly. During the so-called Velvet Revolution, I was serving on the Board of Trustees of the San Diego Community College District. I represented the students of City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges, and vocational campuses including students of the Educational Cultural Complex. I was inspired by what the civil society of then Czechoslovakia achieved. From 84-88 I served in the US Navy, based at Miramar and deployed overseas twice. I am against oppression, and in favor of freedom, and put myself on the line during the cold war. I sure was glad it ended, and wanted to see for myself. So I sold everything I owned and came here, giving up a UC scholarship to do so. I ended up studying international law here in Prague. I haven't been here in Prague non-stop. In between, I lived and worked in Sweden for two years, a year and a half in Laos, a summer in Korea, and of course for several years I worked with leading San Diego software companies when I wasn't helping with political campaigns. So, "Mr. Golka", (whose writing is surprisingly similar to Matt's writing), I hope I have dispelled your false notions about my having recently arrived here, or having no experience. Matt, I haven't criticized your experiences. As Grasca says, we all have our own. I am correcting your misstatements and faktual errors, and suggesting how you could improve your writing. If you cannot take this kind of feedback, you should really find another line of work. Creating multiple online pseudonyms to attack your critics isn't something that's going to get you more work from the Reader in the future. Best, Fred— June 28, 2010 11:18 p.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
Wow, I must have touched a nerve. Matt, you seem to have a real problem with being corrected...the answer is to do better research next time. Looking up the proper spelling of panelak, for example, would have taken no more than a minute (go to www.seznam.cz and use the slovnik). Then get an editor, or at least do a proper re-write before submitting your piece for publication. Try reading it aloud to hear the cliches and non-sequitors, and delete them. (Review what George Orwell had to say about tired similes and metaphors.) As to the anonymous cowards accusing me of bitterness, anger, over-analysis, ignorance, repugnance, and so on...well, what can I say except...you're right: Everyone hates me. I have no friends. They're gonna kick me out of the country. I don't know how to write. I'm a fool. I over-analyze everything too much, and no one loves me. Plus, I have bad breath and my mother dresses me funny. Other than that, please, "polib mi prdel". Best, Fred "Who always uses his real name" Williams— June 28, 2010 1:14 a.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
Hi MsGrant and A2Z, I haven't fallen off the edge of the world, just busy with a lot of work lately. San Diego is always my home, but I'm not happy with what it has become. You know I've put my money and time where my mouth is, actively campaigning to change things, but so far there's been precious little to show for it. The same corrupt clowns are still running the place. Here in Prague there's plenty of corruption too...but I'm not a citizen here, and I don't feel the moral compulsion to get involved. I do my business then enjoy the culture and time with my friends. (And when I see the party-boy expats like the author of the above piece, I pretend I don't speak English so they'll leave me alone.) John, I'm glad you helped defeat the SDGE power grab. Unfortunately, I didn't see much else positive come out of the last election, and lots of negatives. It also looks like CCDC and the Mayor are going to cram a football stadium downtown no matter what it does to our economy. If I were in San Diego, I couldn't work...I'd have to be campaigning full time to try to defeat these bad ideas. So I'm glad to be here, a place where lots of people do odd things like reading books, discussing world events, and actively making culture instead of just consuming it... Even when I'm not commenting here, I'm keeping up with San Diego news and events, and that includes reading the Reader religiously. If you ever want to see what a world class city is like, come on over for a visit. When you do, let me know and I'll show you around. Best, Fred "Frajer" Williams— June 24, 2010 10:39 p.m.
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
I'm in Prague right now. There is so much in this article that is either outdated or superficial, that I have to comment. The Czech word for "Yes" is "Ano". Sometimes this is shortened in colloquial speech to "no". But I have never heard a Czech say "Fakt, no". Instead they say, "fakt, jo" or "to je fakt". Ten years ago, Prague was still moderately priced, but today it's a relatively expensive city. With the exceptions of beer and tobacco, almost everything costs MORE than what it would in America....and it's spelled "panelak" because the buildings are made of tilt-up panels. Absynth was made with wormwood a hundred years ago. Today's versions have no wormwood and no halucinogenic properties - they're just strong alcohol. Only tourists drink it. The locals prefer Slivovice, Fernet, or Becherovka. Yet these are all trifles. What annoys me is reading yet another self-congratulatory "Amik", who lived here for two years and didn't even bother to learn the basics of the language, blathering about his alleged enlightenment found in Prague. Please consider: * "The Czech Republic has made a 21st century name for itself". What does that even mean? Could they have made a 17th century name for themselves instead? * "Czechs are still Czechs." Uh huh. Yes. Good thing they didn't turn into Siberian Huskies, or werewolves... * "Prague is the type of city where, if you visit without knowing anything about her, you’ll come away with a new best friend." Hmmm. What happens if you visit WITH knowing something first? You end up with enemies? * "My conscious thoughts of a new life and a new beginning expanded more than those with minds that weren’t open to other stimuli. I was completely immersed in what I aptly called 'The Feeling.'" I'd aptly call that "The Smugness". I don't think you experienced much here beyond the very superficial life of the party-boy expat on an extended holiday...do a bit of English conversation, drink a lot of beer, screw some local girls, and go home pretending to be an authority on the culture. Matt, you mean well...I can see that. But you didn't have your eyes open while you were here, or you might have noticed a lot more interesting things than the architecture and alcohol, and you'd never write such trite and cliche-ridden prose.— June 24, 2010 6:54 a.m.
Remember: Most Scams Are Legal
See: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36522064#… Puppets explain how Wall Street works to schoolchildren. What do you do when something is wrong and illegal? "Change the Law!" Hilarious...enjoy.— April 23, 2010 2:12 a.m.
Del Mar’s Arthur Lipper III says whistle-blowers should be rewarded
Take the time to watch this video: http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/760 The former chief economist of the IMF speaking at MIT...talks about regulatory capture. He asks the rhetorical question, "If you were given official permission to drive as fast as you like with no fines, wouldn't you be tempted?"— April 21, 2010 9:15 p.m.