Podcasts about Wenceslas Square

More than two dozen Czech Centres on four continents represent a shop window for Czech culture around the world. But what more can the country do to boost its international image? And how does the network decide where to open, or close, branches? I discussed those questions, and way more, with the director of the Czech Centres, Jitka Pánek Jurková, who took up the post a year ago this month, at the organisation's headquarters on Prague's Wenceslas Square.

News; new plans unveiled for Wenceslas Square; Jan Žižka's face reconstructed; 40 years since Jaroslav Seifert won the Nobel Prize for Literature

News; new plans unveiled for Wenceslas Square; Jan Žižka's face reconstructed; 40 years since Jaroslav Seifert won the Nobel Prize for Literature

Off Center, the podcast, is back with a new episode. Scott Rettberg, our host, is joined by Jaroslav Švelch, an associate professor of media studies at Charles University in Prague. In this episode, they will discuss local game production in Czech Republic, gaming the iron curtain, and Jaroslav's book on monstrous antagonists in games.     References Croucher, Mel. 1984. Deus Ex Machina. Automata UK.  Namco. 1981. Galaga. Midway.  Spytihněv. 2023. HROT.  Spytihněv. https://store.steampowered.com/app/824600/HROT/.   Švelch, Jaroslav. 2023. Gaming the Iron Curtain. The MIT Press.  Švelch, Jaroslav. 2023. Player vs. Monster. The MIT Press.   Unknown. 1989. The Adventures of Indiana Jones in Wenceslas Square in Prague on January 16, 1989. Video Game.  

Allan Little recounts his journey from his student days in Edinburgh to working as a journalist the front lines of Cold War history in Eastern Europe and beyond. In 1989 he found himself on the night shift at the BBC's Today programme in London when the Berlin Wall fell. Witnessing the world change in real time Allan's desire to be part of these monumental events grew stronger. He shares is his experience as a journalist during the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. Allan describes the electrifying atmosphere of Wenceslas Square and the fear of a violent crackdown. Allan also takes us to Romania during the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu's brutal regime. He recounts in detail the chaos, the gunfire, and the bloody reality of the revolution's human cost . The episode also delves into his time covering the 1991 Gulf War in Baghdad. He describes the eerie experience of watching the city being bombed from his hotel room and the resilience of the people around him. As the episode draws to a close, Allan reflects on the lessons he's learned from his career. He reminds us that while we may know what a society is transitioning from, we should be cautious in predicting what it is transitioning to. His insights are a powerful reminder of the complexities of history and the importance of journalism. Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode357/ The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You'll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you'll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Hemp Podcast, I recap my recent visit to the Heart of Europe, the Golden City, the City of a Hundred Spires, the capital city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia — Prague. The occasion for my trip was the European Industrial Hemp Association's 21st annual Conference, this year held in the Czech Republic. I was invited to be part of an American delegation representing the American hemp industry. The trip was funded through a grant from the USDA Market Access Program, or MAPS. The Market Access Program allows the Foreign Agricultural Service, the FAS, to partner with American trade associations, cooperatives, trade groups and small business “to share the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities that help build commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural products and commodities,” according to the USDA website. The National Industrial Hemp Council was given official cooperator status by the USDA earlier this year, giving it access to MAP funding. At the conference, I witnessed my fellow Americans developing relationships and making business deals, and I saw the purpose of the USDA's Market Access Program playing out in real time. During the conference, I interviewed over 30 hemp people from around the world. On this episode we'll hear what people had to say about hemp in Europe, what the U.S. can learn from the Europeans, what the Europeans can learn from the U.S., and a whole lot more. Before the conference started June 5, Lorenza Romanese, managing director of the European Industrial Hemp Association, was hopeful for a successful event. “I hope that people will engage. I hope that people will go back home knowing more than what they knew when they arrived,” she said. “I hope that they are able to develop business opportunities.” Francesco Mirizzi is senior policy advisor at EIHA and focuses on the fiber and grain sectors. He said the fiber industry is well developed in Europe, thanks in large part to farmers and processors in France. “We kept production in Europe after the Second World War, and we have something like seven or eight big size decortication facilities that allowed us to build a market for fiber,” he said, “mostly dedicated to specific paper application composites, and especially in the automobile industry, and fibers for insulation material in construction and chives (hurd) for construction, like hempcrete.” An epicenter of hemp construction in Europe is war-torn Ukraine, less than 800 miles to the east of Prague. Sergiy Kovalenkov is a Ukranian hemp builder who has been teaching refugees displaced by Russia's war on Ukraine how to rebuild with hemp. “We train the refugees, the people that lost their houses. And they started to build their own homes during the war using local biomass,” he said. “So when you tell me you have problems, trust me, let's go to Ukraine. I'll show you what problems are,” he said. Hana Gabrielová, a recent podcast guest, is from Czech Republic and was instrumental in bringing the conference to her home country. She has worked with hemp for over 20 years and is involved in many ares of hemp in Europe, including as a board member of EIHA as well as a member of the CzecHemp Cluster, an advisory board to help guide and grow the Czech hemp industry domestically and abroad. Gabrielová was very kind to me, pointing me in the right direction on Czech food, restaurants, pilsner, and what I should see while visiting this ancient city. She recommended the svíčková (pronounced sveech-covah), which she described as the national dish consisting of a root vegetable cream sauce and high quality beef sirloin, served with dumplings. It was good. As for what to see in Prague, she said I should see the astronomical clock in Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge over the River Vltava. “They are not far from each other,” she said. “Prague is not too big so you can walk it out and have a nice afternoon and see everything basically,” she said. I took her advice and wandered around the city each day after the conference ended. I cannot express to you how impressive the city was to me, with its ancient streets of cobblestone and castles and medieval fortresses. So much history in one place. But not all ancient history. I was inspired to learn more about the Velvet Revolution that took place in 1989. It started as student protests against the one party rule of the Czechoslovakian Communist Party. Within a week, the crowd grew to over 500,000 people in Wenceslas Square, shaking their house keys, telling the communists to step down and go home. It worked. By the end of the month, the party relinquished control over the people. I think we can all learn lessons from this story. We the people hold the power. IN this episode you will hear: 15:22 Hana Gabrielová https://hempoint.cz/en/ https://www.konopius.com/ 17:05 Lorenza Romanese EIHA Managing Director https://eiha.org/ 21:18 Francesco Mirizzi Sr. Policy Advisor, EIHA 27:06 Laurie Blanchecotte Antoine Moussie La Chanvrière 32:51 Sergiy Kovalenkov Ukrainian Hemp Builder https://hempire.tech 36:13 Jörg Morgner Axel Philipps https://www.temafa.com/ 38:43 Otilia Frolu Romanian Hemp Cluster 42:45 Stephania Christodoulou Pavlos Kitsis https://klostiki.com/ 50:15 Daniel Kruse https://hempconsult.com/daniel-kruse/ 53:26 Catherine Wilson https://uk.linkedin.com/in/catherine-wilson-b2a7133b 58:20 Christophe Nourissier https://en.augur.associates/equipe 1:07:26 Maciej Kowalski https://kombinatkonopny.pl/ 1:10:27 Daniel Matthews, Caroline Matthews, Tatham https://tatham-uk.com/ 1:12:47 Frederic Vallier Maren Krings Federation of International Hemp Organizations     https://marenkrings.com/ Learn More about USDA's Market Access program https://fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-program-map Learn More about the National Industrial Hemp Council https://nihcoa.com/ News Nuggets Pa. Gov. Visits Lancaster County Hemp Farm to Announce Ag Innovation Grant https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/news/shapiro-farm-visit-promotes-10m-for-ag-innovation-in-budget-proposal/article_65f3adfe-2755-11ef-a48b-4f9a0a14b320.html 2024 NIHH Hemp Building WorkshopJune 20 – 21 • maple park, IL Register: https://nihh.org/ Read Eric Hurlock's blog about his trip to Praguehttps://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/hemp/follow-lancaster-farming-at-the-2024-european-industrial-hemp-conference-in-prague/collection_64c3071c-1f54-11ef-aa56-63dfa0a4ce3f.html Lancaster Hemp Circuit, August 20-21Learn more and register: info@kingsagriseeds.com Thanks to Our Sponsors! IND Hemp in Fort Benton, Montana https://indhemp.com/ Pennsylvania Hemp Industry Council https://www.pahic.org/ Kings Agriseeds https://kingsagriseeds.com/ Forever Green https://www.getforevergreen.com/ Music by Tin Bird Shadow https://tinbirdshadow.bandcamp.com/album/dot-dot-dot

News; Pro-Palestine demo on Wenceslas Square highlights divisions in Czech society, Bubny drumming; Via Czechia 

News; Pro-Palestine demo on Wenceslas Square highlights divisions in Czech society, Bubny drumming; Via Czechia 

Enjoy Ethan Scheiner discussing his new book, "Freedom to Win." Here are some highlights: 3:23-6:23: “The thing that is so incredible about this story is that it is an unbelievable marriage of politics and sports. That really is the thing that jumps right out. … This communist country, Czechoslovakia, which had started to become free, suddenly got invaded by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union said, ‘We're not gonna allow this country to become free,' and so all of a sudden the people of this little country were crushed. And they found that there was only one way they could fight back. … So they turned their whole world into supporting their team to try to fight back against the Soviets on the ice, and I just sat there going, ‘This is actually politics and sports completely overlapping. I think this is the greatest story I've ever heard.'”       14:08-15:36: “It took me a little while to realize that I actually had to tell the story from a more personal angle. At first, I just thought the history of hockey in Czechoslovakia was so amazing, that it was this country where hockey was so central to fighting the Soviets. … I thought that was enough. … ‘The great narrative nonfiction books, the things that really draw people in, are really focused on individual human beings at extraordinary times, so you need to focus more on the individual human beings.' Then all of a sudden, I said, ‘Oh, my gosh. This Holík family has had this extraordinary history that actually also at the same time tells the story of this incredible country, and it's woven into this unbelievable story of hockey and sports fitting in with everything.'”   32:06-35:27: “At one time, the communists in Czechoslovakia had imprisoned the national hockey team and sent two guys and sentenced them to 15 years in the uranium mines. So people actually thought that the Soviets had forced their hockey to die so that the Soviet team could become good. And so as time went by and Czechoslovakia had a hockey team again, people thought they weren't allowed to beat the Soviets. So this was all part of this sense in Czechoslovakia, ‘The Soviets are keeping us down, and they're using the communists to do it.' … The Soviets won the 1968 Gold medal, but Czechoslovakia was so happy to have beaten the Soviets. And people actually got a sense of ‘You know what? We actually seem to have real freedom now. We even are allowed to beat the Soviets.' They actually believed that.”       47:20-48:06: “We tend to think of democracies falling apart because a bunch of people in the streets start chanting and come in and run roughshod over those in power, and then suddenly grab the gavel and say, ‘OK, we're in charge now,' sort of Doctor Evil style. But more common, what happens is people gain power through free and fair elections, but then use the instruments of power to completely undercut democracy. And so that's a big fear that people have [that] could be happening in the United States; that's certainly what happened in Czechoslovakia.”      58:07-59:07: “We've heard this chant before when we get to 1989, as now there are hundreds of thousands of people in Wenceslas Square, and they start chanting, ‘Dubček! Dubček! Dubček!' over and over. And he steps out onto this balcony as 300,000 people are chanting his name. And so he hasn't been seen for 20 years, and he's this symbol of hope, and they're chanting his name. And in this moment, he had planned on reading some remarks, but he's so touched by the moment he pantomimes embracing the crowd. … It's a stunning moment.”

News; Prague street called after Soviet general to be renamed; Metronome festival to spotlight Czech and international artists in Prague; “It's quite an amazing year”: Robin Wright latest star name for Karlovy Vary;  Koruna Palace: The “Crown” of Wenceslas Square

News; Prague street called after Soviet general to be renamed; Metronome festival to spotlight Czech and international artists in Prague; “It's quite an amazing year”: Robin Wright latest star name for Karlovy Vary;  Koruna Palace: The “Crown” of Wenceslas Square

Interview with Jakub Cigler, architect behind many of the highest profile projects in Prague, including the remodeling of Wenceslas Square.

Interview with Jakub Cigler, architect behind many of the highest profile projects in Prague, including the remodeling of Wenceslas Square.

Architecture expert Adam Gebrian on recent development projects in Prague, including the remodeling of Wenceslas Square and the major overhaul of the Masaryk Station area.

Wenceslas Square, Prague

Google "Czechia" and you'll find my article in Forbes. Although it has about 200,000 views, a few outliers are still resisting the name Czechia. They cling to The Czech Republic name as stubbornly as they cling to their Czech beer in a pub. In this WanderLearn episode (#112), I talk with two Czechs: Petr Pavlinek: Professor of Geography at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  Václav J. Šulista: Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic to the Swiss Confederation (or Honorary Consul of Czechia to Switzerland, for you short-form name fans). We discuss: Why Czechia is a good name. Who dislikes the name. Why they dislike the name. How long will it take for the world to adopt the name. Why it matters.     You can watch most of the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ivX9h4c5a4       Here is my article on Forbes: Czechia Has Won The Czech Republic Name Debate Quick: Paris is the capital of which country? You probably said, “France.” However, technically, it’s “the French Republic.” But who says that? Only a petulant Frenchman. Now try this: what’s the name of the country that drinks more beer per capita than any other country? If you’re feeling petulant, it’s the Czech Republic. If you want to be cool, it’s Czechia (pronounced Che-ki-ya). I'll drink to Czechia. (Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)     Peruse the CIA’s Factbook and you’ll find that most countries have a long-form name and a short-form name. The People’s Republic of China is the long-form name, while China is its short-form name. The United States of America is also a mouthful, which is why there are popular alternatives: America (which many Latin Americans object to), the USA, the US, the States or Gringoland. For the last 100 years, the Czechs have been unable to come up with an easy name for English speakers to call their country. In 1918, when they first formed their country, the Czechs called their country Czechoslovakia. That tongue-twister was ridiculed by National Geographic, which called the new country’s name “awful” and an “unfair handicap for the young state.” In 1993, following Slovakia’s Velvet Divorce with Czechoslovakia, the Czech bureaucrats once again failed to promote a catchy English name for their new country. The Czech Republic is all they could come up with. It became both the long-form and short-form name of their new country. Why couldn't they come up with a short-form name? They were obviously too busy doing more important activities, like drinking their legendary beer. After American entrepreneurs tried Czechia's Budweiser Budvar Brewery beer, they named their version... [+] You can’t fault the Czechs for being unable to realize that what their nation’s name is a mouthful for English speakers. These are the same guys who have phrases like “Prd krt skrz drn, zprv zhlt hrst zrn.” I asked a Czech how you’re supposed to say that, he said, in complete seriousness, “Just like it’s written.” After I tried and comically failed, I asked him what it meant. He said, “A mole farted through grass, having swallowed a handful of grains.” Suddenly, calling their country "the Czech Republic" didn't feel so cumbersome anymore. The Czech Republic was one of the few countries that insisted on having a definite article in front of their country’s name: the Netherlands and the Gambia also annoyingly demand that. Sensing the frustration of English speakers who have to say “the Netherlands,” the Dutch offer the informal “Holland” alternative. It’s a bit easier to say, “I’m going to Holland,” instead of, “I’m going to the Netherlands.” It sounds weird to say, “I’m going to Netherlands.” Strangely, it doesn’t sound weird to say, “I’m going to Gambia.” Perhaps the Netherlands has been simply better than Gambia at demanding that we put a definite article before their name. Insisting on saying the Gambia implies that there are many Gambias. “Hey buddy, I’m not going to just any Gambia, I’m going to the Gambia.” In an effort to improve the linguistic lives of all English speakers, the Czech Republic registered its short-form name, Czechia, on July 5, 2016. How’s it catching on nearly a year later? On the one hand, there’s been little change. Some official Czech government websites still refer to "the Czech Republic." Because they're official government sites, it's not that surprising that they use the formal name, just like the United States government websites often spell out the long-form name of the USA. Czechia has yet to update its national athletic uniforms. Pavel Maslak celebrates on March 4, 2017.... [+] A few months after Czechia was officially registered in the United Nations databases and Czech leaders started to encourage English-speaking governments to use it, some quickly declared that Czechia was dead on arrival. Part of the “proof” that Czechia wasn't catching on was an unscientific survey of people in Prague’s Wenceslas Square. However, most Prague pedestrians aren’t native English speakers. Although some must have passionate opinions on the matter (and they’ll surely comment on this article), most Czechs probably don't care that much what English speakers call their country, as long as we don’t come up with an insulting name. The Czechs call their country Česko. Imagine asking New Yorkers what they think of Les États-Unis? Most New Yorkers aren’t fluent French speakers and are way too busy to worry about what the baguette eaters call their country. Consider the Finns. Nearly every language calls their country something that sounds like “Finland.” But what do the Finns call their own country? Suomi. This hockey star is happy to score goals for either Suomi or Finland. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty... [+] Albanians do the same thing. Almost everyone calls their country something that sounds like “Albania.” Meanwhile, Albanians call their own land Shqipëria. Neither the Finns nor the Albanians are trying to change what the world calls their country nor do they seem that concerned about what people call their motherland. The Czechs, on the other hand, want to make life easier for English speakers, which is why they’re encouraging us to say Czechia. It takes years for new names to catch on. As anyone who has changed their name knows, getting your friends to adopt it is difficult. Ten years ago, my wife changed her name from Binta to Rejoice. Her old friends and family still call her Binta. Similarly, when Burma became Myanmar, Leningrad became St. Petersburg and Peking became Beijing, the world took years to adapt. It would have saved cartographers and the rest of us English speakers plenty of trouble if China had just called their capital Beijing from the beginning. For whatever reason, they asked English speakers to start calling their big city Beijing. We complied. Prague, Czechia is arguably Europe's most beautiful city. Just don't tell that to the French. (Photo... [+] Czechia is an old name. The name Czechia first appeared in Latin about 400 years ago. The first English text to mention it was in 1841. Czechia’s party poopers say that it’s a lousy name because it sounds like Chechnya. However, it’s hard to avoid naming confusion. When I was writing my book about Eastern Europe, I discovered that most people confuse Slovakia and Slovenia (it doesn’t help that their flags are similar too). The poor folks who live in Seattle must spend their lives clarifying that they live in Washington state, not Washington, DC. And what were the people in Paris, Arkansas thinking when they came up with their city’s name? Compared to these cases, Czechia is clear as a watered-downed ale. Also, Czechia doesn’t ignite a vicious name debate like the one regarding Macedonia. The Greeks stir like a Poseidon-powered tidal wave whenever they hear the northern neighbor call themselves Macedonia. Chechnya has yet to declare war on Czechia. Speaking of war, it appears that Czechia has won the war against the Czech Republic . The October 2016 reports of Czechia's death recall a famous quotation: The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. - Mark Twain More and more people are using the word Czechia. The CIA World Factbook uses Czechia. Similarly, the US State Department refers to Czechia. In September 2018, the European Union's official style guide proclaimed that Czechia should be used just like we use France. Had you searched for "Czechia" on Eurostat last year, you would have gotten zero results. Today, their databases have over 5,000 entries. On the European Union's list of member states, the EU refers to Czechia, not the Czech Republic. In addition, Google Maps uses Czechia. Apple iOS 11 uses Czechia in its maps and system settings. As usual, the British are slower to change than the Americans: the UK government still clings to the long-form name. No wonder the Yanks wanted independence. Had you Googled “Czechia” in February 2016, you would have gotten 460,000 hits. Today, you'll get 12.5 million hits. Google Trends indicates that when the Czech government announced that "Czechia" would be their... [+]  GOOGLE TRENDS Instagram had 10,000 #Czechia mentions in 2015, but now it's nearly 300,000. In 2015, Twitter and Pinterest had negligible hits when you searched for #Czechia. In 2017, Twitter (300,000 hits) and Pinterest (200,000 hits) have seen a surge of #Czechia usage. Length matters: shorter country names are sexier than long ones. (Photo was taken in 2010 by MARK... [+] Czechia is encouraging English speakers to use its new short-form name. Try it out next time you fly to Europe’s two most beautiful cities: Prague, Czechia, and Paris, the French Republic. Sponsors This show is sponsored by: My Patrons  Sawyer Icelab More info You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com. If you like this podcast, subscribe and share!  On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on: http://facebook.com/ftapon http://twitter.com/ftapon http://youtube.com/user/ftapon http://pinterest.com/ftapon http://tumblr.com/ftapon My Patrons sponsored this show! Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon Rewards start at just $2/month! If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at FT@FrancisTapon.com If you prefer giving me Bitcoin, then please send BTC to my tip jar: 3EiSBC2bv2bYtYEXAKTkgqZohjF27DGjnV  

HERE - New Town, New Jerusalem with Raymond JohnstonGuest: Raymond Johnston, JournalistPrague's Nové Město (New Town) is only new in comparison to other parts of town. Founded by Emperor Charles IV in 1378, it was actually intended to be a substitute for Jerusalem - a place where the Second Coming could happen in comfort and style. Journalist Raymond Johnston talks about this as well as other interesting facts about New Town. We'll visit Karlovo náměstí, the holy relics that used to be there, Prague's mystical city plan, a pagan grove that's now a tram stop, a street that may be an accident and historical helmets, just to name a few items.SECTIONS01:49 - Charles IV's Plans for Prague's New Town as a Jerusalem Substitute, Karlovo náměstí as the Center, Home to a Lot of Holy Relics (including the Spear of Destiny)06:33 - Prague's Mystical City Plan09:31 - Former Pagan Sites Incorporated into New Town11:01 - Nekázanka Street, Wenceslas Square, the Statue of Wenceslas Music by Fanette RonjatFor events in Prague, go to the Facebook page The Prague Haps Follow us on social for extras:FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramOther Podcasts by Derek DeWittDIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. CONSPIRACY CLEARINGHOUSE - A rather skeptical look at conspiracies and mysteries. Each episode will examine conspiracy theories, most of which are not true, a few of which might be a little bit true and even a couple that turned out, in fact, to be true. This is the podcast that dares to look behind the curtain that’s behind the curtain.

Based on the recent book Gaming the Iron Curtain, this lecture will outline the idiosyncratic and surprising ways in which computer hobbyists in Cold War era Czechoslovakia challenged the power of the oppressive political regime and harnessed early microcomputer technology for both entertainment and activism. In the 1970s and 1980s, Czechoslovak authorities treated computer and information technologies as an industrial resource rather than a social or cultural phenomenon. While dismissing the importance of home computing and digital entertainment, they sponsored paramilitary computer clubs whose ostensible goal was to train expert cadres for the army and the centrally planned economy. But these clubs soon became a largely apolitical, interconnected enthusiast network, where two forms of tactical resistance could be identified. First, the clubs offered an alternative spaces of communal hobby activity, partially independent of the oppression experienced at work or at school. The club members’ ambitious DIY projects often substituted for the deficiencies of the state-controlled computer industry. Hobbyists not only built joysticks and programmed games, but also introduced new standards for data storage and ran large-scale bottom-up education programs. Second, especially in the late 1980s, local authors started making games that were openly subversive. Several anti-regime text adventure games were made in 1988 and 1989, including The Adventures of Indiana Jones on Wenceslas Square, January 16, 1989, which pitted the iconic Western hero against riot police during an anti-regime demonstration. These games rank among the world’s earliest examples of activist computer games. About Jaroslav Švelch Jaroslav Švelch is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bergen and assistant professor at Charles University, Prague. He is the author of the monograph Gaming the Iron Curtain: How Teenagers and Amateurs in Communist Czechoslovakia Claimed the Medium of Computer Games (MIT Press, 2018). He has published research on history and theory of computer games, on humor in games and social media, and on the Grammar Nazi phenomenon. His work has been published in journals including New Media & Society, International Journal of Communication, or Game Studies, and in anthologies published by Oxford University Press, Bloomsbury and others. He is currently researching history, theory, and reception of monsters in games.

Prague's Wenceslas Square is the main square of the Czech Republic, and the natural assembly point when the Czech people need to raise their collective voice for change. At www.ricksteves.com, you'll find money-saving travel tips, small-group tours, guidebooks, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, and more on this destination.

Prague's Wenceslas Square is the main square of the Czech Republic, and the natural assembly point when the Czech people need to raise their collective voice for change. At www.ricksteves.com, you'll find money-saving travel tips, small-group tours, guidebooks, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, and more on this destination.

Take an illustrated stroll through the history and architecture of one of Prague’s most important open areas. Founded in the …Continue reading →

Few cities can match Prague for over-the-top romance and evocative Old World charm. Starting on historic Wenceslas Square, we'll stroll through the Old Town and end on the ultra-atmospheric Charles Bridge. Allow two or three hours for this walk. Don't forget to download the PDF companion map at https://www.ricksteves.com/audiotours.

Few cities can match Prague for over-the-top romance and evocative Old World charm. Starting on historic Wenceslas Square, we'll stroll through the Old Town and end on the ultra-atmospheric Charles Bridge. Allow two or three hours for this walk. Don't forget to download the PDF companion map at http://www.ricksteves.com/audiotours.

Veteran director Jerry Zaks talks about his role as Creative Consultant on "The Addams Family" since joining the production after its opening in Chicago and the work he has planned for "Sister Act" as a result of seeing its current London staging. He also talks about his introduction to theatre while a student at Dartmouth; his early years as an actor in productions including "Grease" and "Tintypes"; his role in the founding of Ensemble Studio Theatre; finding Christopher Durang's "Sister Mary Ignatius" and why a nice Jewish boy was drawn to a play about a nun; how he fully made the shift from acting to directing; his relationships with playwrights Durang ("Beyond Therapy", "Baby With the Bathwater", "The Marriage of Bette and Boo"), Larry Shue ("The Foreigner", "Wenceslas Square") and John Guare ("The House of Blue Leaves", "Six Degrees of Separation"); how he approached productions of such revered classics as "Guys and Dolls" and "Anything Goes"; why he likens his relationship with actor Nathan Lane to that of orchestra conductor and concertmaster; his plans for the new revue of Randy Newman songs "Harps and Angels"; and why he's always hoping to provide his audience with an "ecstatic experience." Original air date - July 28, 2010.

Veteran director Jerry Zaks (Tony Award winner for Best Direction of a Play in 1986 for “The House of Blue Leaves”, in 1989 for “Lend Me a Tenor”, and in 1991 for “Six Degrees of Separation”; 1992 Tony Award winner for Best Direction of a Musical for “Guys and Dolls”) talks about his role as Creative Consultant on “The Addams Family” since joining the production after its opening in Chicago and the work he has planned for “Sister Act” as a result of seeing its current London staging. He also talks about his introduction to theatre while a student at Dartmouth; his early years as an actor in productions including “Grease” and “Tintypes”; his role in the founding of Ensemble Studio Theatre; finding Christopher Durang's “Sister Mary Ignatius” and why a nice Jewish boy was drawn to a play about a nun; how he fully made the shift from acting to directing; his relationships with playwrights Durang (“Beyond Therapy”, “Baby With the Bathwater”, “The Marriage of Bette and Boo”), Larry Shue (“The Foreigner”, “Wenceslas Square”) and John Guare (“The House of Blue Leaves”, “Six Degrees of Separation”); how he approached productions of such revered classics as “Guys and Dolls” and “Anything Goes”; why he likens his relationship with actor Nathan Lane to that of orchestra conductor and concertmaster; his plans for the new revue of Randy Newman songs “Harps and Angels”; and why he's always hoping to provide his audience with an "ecstatic experience.

Veteran director Jerry Zaks talks about his role as Creative Consultant on "The Addams Family" since joining the production after its opening in Chicago and the work he has planned for "Sister Act" as a result of seeing its current London staging. He also talks about his introduction to theatre while a student at Dartmouth; his early years as an actor in productions including "Grease" and "Tintypes"; his role in the founding of Ensemble Studio Theatre; finding Christopher Durang's "Sister Mary Ignatius" and why a nice Jewish boy was drawn to a play about a nun; how he fully made the shift from acting to directing; his relationships with playwrights Durang ("Beyond Therapy", "Baby With the Bathwater", "The Marriage of Bette and Boo"), Larry Shue ("The Foreigner", "Wenceslas Square") and John Guare ("The House of Blue Leaves", "Six Degrees of Separation"); how he approached productions of such revered classics as "Guys and Dolls" and "Anything Goes"; why he likens his relationship with actor Nathan Lane to that of orchestra conductor and concertmaster; his plans for the new revue of Randy Newman songs "Harps and Angels"; and why he's always hoping to provide his audience with an "ecstatic experience." Original air date - July 28, 2010.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Audrey Scott and Daniel Knoll of UncorneredMarket.com about Prague where they lived for 5 years. Audrey and Daniel are currently traveling around the world and talked to me from El Salvador. Audrey and Daniel talk about the touristy things to do in Prague like the Prague castle, the Charles bridge and Wenceslas Square. They also talk about the touristy things that they would recommend skipping like Karlova street and its souvenir stands (they even give us a shortcut through the university and the Karolinum to avoid it). They would not; however, skip drinking Czech beer in a beer garden like the Latna (but would pass on Czech wine). They tell us how to walk around the barkers in period costumes selling packaged concerts to tourists and find the real music scene in Prague from classical to Balkan. Since they have moved on you can’t crash on their couch but you can share in their expertise of how to cherish Prague.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Audrey Scott and Daniel Knoll of UncorneredMarket.com about Prague where they lived for 5 years. Audrey and Daniel are currently traveling around the world and talked to me from El Salvador. Audrey and Daniel talk about the touristy things to do in Prague like the Prague castle, the Charles bridge and Wenceslas Square. They also talk about the touristy things that they would recommend skipping like Karlova street and its souvenir stands (they even give us a shortcut through the university and the Karolinum to avoid it). They would not; however, skip drinking Czech beer in a beer garden like the Latna (but would pass on Czech wine). They tell us how to walk around the barkers in period costumes selling packaged concerts to tourists and find the real music scene in Prague from classical to Balkan. Since they have moved on you can’t crash on their couch but you can share in their expertise of how to cherish Prague.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Audrey Scott and Daniel Knoll of UncorneredMarket.com about Prague where they lived for 5 years. Audrey and Daniel are currently traveling around the world and talked to me from El Salvador. Audrey and Daniel talk about the touristy things to do in Prague like the Prague castle, the Charles bridge and Wenceslas Square. They also talk about the touristy things that they would recommend skipping like Karlova street and its souvenir stands (they even give us a shortcut through the university and the Karolinum to avoid it). They would not; however, skip drinking Czech beer in a beer garden like the Latna (but would pass on Czech wine). They tell us how to walk around the barkers in period costumes selling packaged concerts to tourists and find the real music scene in Prague from classical to Balkan. Since they have moved on you can’t crash on their couch but you can share in their expertise of how to cherish Prague.

Commissioned in the 14th Century by the Holy Roman Emperor, the Charles Bridge in Prague offers one of the most pleasant 500-yard strolls in Europe. A gauntlet of sights, shops, and restaurants lead from the bridge to Wenceslas Square, but for many the top Czech tourist attraction is beer. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Commissioned in the 14th Century by the Holy Roman Emperor, the Charles Bridge in Prague offers one of the most pleasant 500-yard strolls in Europe. A gauntlet of sights, shops, and restaurants lead from the bridge to Wenceslas Square, but for many the top Czech tourist attraction is beer. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.