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The recent delivery of new electric trucks allows four Fortune 500 US companies and two utility companies to drive with zero emissions on a technology that embodies a breakthrough in world transportation. These vehicles are even more special considering the connection to the Czech Republic, since they are built with AVIA cabs and chassis. The trucks were handed over at an official ceremony at the Capitol Hill in Washington DC, on July 28th, 2009 hosted at the Capitol Reflecting Pool on the National Mall by Missouri Senator Kit Bond. Carol M. Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change was also present. These new all-electric trucks represent not only independence from foreign oil for the US companies, but they also bring new possibilities for the Czech-based company and its products. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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The Russian song, set to a popular 1970s Czech tune Jozin z Bazin (Joey of the Marsh) by a Czech singer Ivan Mladek, is becoming trendier on YouTube in recent days. Today, over three million people have seen the video. The Russian lyrics say, “Putin, Putin goes to Pikalyovo. Putin, Putin will make it cool for us… Putin, Putin is quick to do justice. Putin, Putin is our Prime Minister… Jozin z Bazin is the people’s choice … oligarchs, miners and even cops know that Jozin z Bazin will be our new president.” The spoof song was made to make fun of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy, who was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term as President in 2008 and became Prime Minister. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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What great news when you hear about Czechs abroad making a significant impact on local communities or even the whole world. Many of you may recall how hard it was for you, your parents or other people in your family to start a whole new life in another country. It not only requires lots of courage but also determination and energy, especially when you can’t see “the light at the end of the tunnel.” Yet, lots of Czechs and Slovaks were able to overcome these obstacles. Today, five Czech women abroad received the award for Significant Czech Woman Abroad for 2009 from the Czech Senate chairman Premysl Sobotka. Each of the women lives in a different county, has a different career, but all of them equally contribute to their home country, the Czech Republic. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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Czech/Slovak dumplings are very popular at home and even abroad. Dumplings or “Knedliky” can be served with sauerkraut and pork, or on the other extreme, with fruit and sugar. They can be prepared from bread, flour, potatoes or other products. They can have different shapes as well: balls, slices, crumbles and can be filled or used separately as sides, which depends on a way they are prepared: boiling, steaming, frying, baking etc. Fruit-filled dumplings are very popular at home at eating contests, as you may see with hot dogs at other places around the world. One such contest just took place in Miroslav, a town in the Znojmo District, where contestants competed in eating apricot-filled dumplings. The winner did not break the record, but was able to beat the winner of last year’s competition. Would you like to make your own dumpling or even compete in the same competition? There are as many variations of fruit dumplings since their fans, or dumpling experts, learn to make them from ingredients available abroad and we have a couple of them for you to try. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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Let’s start the weekend with some fun. As we promised, we have a great prize for CzechFolks.com readers. Everybody living in the USA can participate. You will not only win a wonderful item related to the Czech Republic or Slovakia, but you will also be able to pick a T-shirt of your taste and size.

The sweepstakes are sponsored by ABC Imports – a company that imports great goods mostly from the Czech Republic. What can you find there? Here is a brief list of items that you can find on their website www.abc-imports.com: Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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Who has not heard of Karel Gott, a Czech singer, an amateur painter and a successful entrepreneur that has been voted the best male singer 34 times during his lifetime? The popular singer, also known as the Sinatra of the East, just celebrated his 70th birthday on July 14, but he is still full of energy and drive to continue in his brilliant work.

Gott already celebrated his birthday in style last month. A total of 140 of his colleagues, friends, performers, artists and more came to the O2 Arena to wish him a Happy Birthday. The concert started with a 5-minute applause from about 13 thousand of his fans that filled the auditorium to its full capacity.

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This article is just one of other future curiosities that we will periodically bring to you. Hopefully, they will refresh your mind but also teach you a little bit more about the Czech and Slovak country, culture and more. The story below caught our attention for its brilliant concept.

Beginning the 7th of July, 2009, drivers around the town Brno (the second largest city in the Czech Republic) have an opportunity to receive Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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Another sweepstakes has ended and we have selected a winner of a free language course from our partner Edulink.cz. Again, we randomly selected a winner:

Stephen Nors
Texas, USA

We are sorry we could not select more winners, but next week we are starting NEW sweepstakes with products from our new partner ABC Imports. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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According to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, the chances that Canada would re-impose visa restrictions on Czechs are getting slimmer. The visa reinstatement came to mind after the massive refugee claims submissions in the past six months. The Czech Republic was the second highest country contributing about 1700 claims submitted between January and June 2009, right after Mexico with about 5500 claims during the same time period. The Roma, also known as Gypsies, complain about living conditions and racism, however, others believe that they only seek asylum in Canada for its generous welfare system and due to the lenient immigration laws. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

Like every July, even this year the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (IFF) introduces more than 200 new and popular films from many countries around the world. The 44th year of this festival opens with the red carpet and the arrival of the guests as you see in the American Academy Awards Show. The location of this festival is, however, much different since it takes place in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), a historic town known for its healing mineral spring water that in the 14th century helped Charles IV to heal his body and mind. During this time of the year, the town is filled with tourists, visitors and locals eager to see the beauty of the city and creations of many talented filmmakers. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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Author: Josef Čermák (CzechFolks.com PLUS)

According to an announcement made by his family on June 30, 2009, Jan Rubeš, one of the most impressive, most important and best loved Czechoslovak artists in the world, died at the age of 89. No cause of death was given.

Rubeš was born in Volyně, Czechoslovakia, on June 6. 1920, attended Real-Gymnasium (a Czech term for a high school) in Strakonice (graduating in the year of the Munich surrender), and matriculated at both the Faculty of Medicine. Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »

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Today the official act of passing the EU glass relay pin to the next country, Sweden, ended the EU presidency by the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic presided over the European Union for an entire six months. This special task was very challenging for the country taking into consideration the worldwide economic situation, the dissolution of the government and other activities associated with this task. We should not forget about the infamous Entropa display in Brussels that made our presidency less forgettable than the colorful logo and its slogan “Europe in Sweet Harmony.” Read the rest of this entry (Čtětě více ZDE) »