Presentations

Here are my presentations in English:

• Presentation of the town of Kyjov in Word document and in PowerPoint.
• Presentation of the book of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe in Word document and in PowerPoint.
• Presentation of the city of London in PowerPoint.

Robbie Williams takes new step into digital music

BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- A new mobile phone that includes a link into Robbie Williams' Web site and plays his songs is another step in a "digital revolution" that the recording industry must take advantage of, not spurn, his manager said.

Williams, one of Europe's most successful entertainers, has angered music industry executives in the past by praising Internet piracy, once even calling it a "great idea."
In an interview ahead of the British pop singer's world tour, which starts on Monday, his manager Tim Clark said the industry should classify digital music seekers as customers, not criminals.
Defending the piracy comments, Clark said: "The recording companies are taking a big stick to people who are not criminals at all.
"What Williams means is that if we can't provide the fans with the wherewithal to do it (download) legally, frankly it's our fault and not theirs. If they're not providing the carrots, they're leaving it to others who will."
Clark said Williams, who in October live-streamed a Berlin concert to 100,000 mobile phones, wanted to push the "digital revolution" further. He said the new phone made with T-Mobile and Sony Ericsson was just another step toward that aim.
"Digital sales are a reality -- it's clear that the physical sales (of music) are dropping at double-digit percentage rates," said Clark, one of Williams' two managers, when asked why the star was teaming up with firms outside the recording industry.
"Digital sales already mean a great deal in places like Korea and Japan. We want to be involved because people like T-Mobile and Sony will have a huge influence on how music is distributed. We need to be involved to have some influence.
"It's about being part of that future," he added. "Even though there might be some drawbacks now -- some people say the quality of compressed music is not as good as CDs. They are right, but that will improve dramatically over time."
The "Walkman" phone to be unveiled on Monday contains Williams' music and live video clips, and links to his Web site.
Williams, 32, launches his five-month world tour in Durban, South Africa.
Encompassing 40 concerts in 14 countries, it is his first tour in three years, and entered the Guinness book of world records for the fastest-selling concert after 1.6 million tickets worth $187 million sold out in hours on November 19.

80 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Queen Elizabeth

To mark the British monarch's 80th birthday, Buckingham Palace released a list of lesser-known facts — one for each year of her life

Queen Elizabeth II is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England.

In 2002, aged 76, she was the oldest monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee. The youngest was James I (James VI of Scotland) at 51 years.

Since 1952, she has conferred over 387,700 honours and awards.
Elizabeth has personally held over 540 Investitures.

She speaks fluent French and often uses the language for audiences and state visits. She does not require an interpreter.

The Queen has received over 3 million items of correspondence during her reign.

Over the course of the reign, around 1.1 million people have attended garden parties at Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse (Elizabeth ended Presentation Parties in 1958).

Over the reign, she has given regular Tuesday evening audiences to 10 British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill 1951-55, Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57, Harold Macmillan 1957-63, Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64, Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76, Edward Heath 1970-74, James Callaghan 1976-79, Margaret Thatcher 1979-90, John Major 1990-97, Tony Blair 1997-present. There have also been 10 US Presidents during her reign.

Tony Blair is the first Prime Minister to have been born during her reign. He was born in early May 1953 — a month before the Coronation.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh introduced small, informal luncheon parties at Buckingham Palace to meet distinguished people from all professions, trades and vocations. The first was held on 11th May 1956 and the tradition continues to this day. There are usually 6-8 guests and two members of the Household attending.

Elizabeth is patron of more than 620 charities and organisations.

http://www.time.com/time/europe/html/060417/facts.html

WINTER OLYMPICS 2006 - Torino

In June 1999 the International Olympic Committee elected TORINO, Italy, as the host for the 20th Olympic Winter Games in 2006.

Turin beat a total of five candidate cities, including:
Helsinki (Finland)
Klagenfurt (Austria)
Poprad-Tatry (Slovak Republic)
Sion (Switzerland)
Zakopane (Poland)

The Olympic Winter Games will run from 10 to 26 February 2006 in TORINO. The Winter Games comprise seven different sports and 15 different disciplines, which will be played out in eight different competition sites. Around 2,600 athletes, 650 judges and umpires and one million spectators are expected to participate in this 20th edition of the Winter Games.

Happy New Year!

There are 25.6 days until 2006!

It's Another New Year... ...but for what reason?
"Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year's Day in modern America was not always January 1.

ANCIENT NEW YEARSThe celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.


NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year's resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.

The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California.

Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.

The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus.

The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century.

Merry Christmas

The Christmas are coming very guickly. I look forwart to Christmas very much because this time is full of love, happiness, peace and well-being. If you haven´t sent a letter for Santa yet then you have last chance to do it.
I wish you merry Christmas, a lots of gifts and love.

Christmas songs

Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell rock.


Let It Snow!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.


Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so Tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!

Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Christ the Saviour is here,
Jesus the Saviour is here!

Silent night, Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth;
Jesus Lord at thy birth.

Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas in Czech Republic

Celebrations for Christmas begin with the visit of St. Nicholas on December 6th and end with the visit of the Three Kings.

In Czech Republic, St. Nicholas is called Svaty Mikalas and is believed to climb to earth down from heaven on a golden rope along with his companions: an angel and a whip-carrying devil.
In Czech Republic, a girl can tell her future, it is said that according to tradition, by putting a cherry twig in water on December 4th. If the twig blossoms before Christmas Eve, the girl will marry sometime during the year.

The famous King Wenceslas of the Christmas Carol was a real King in this country. His goodness and his beliefs in Christianity infuriated his mother, and his brother murdered him on the Church steps. Before he died he asked for God's mercy for his brother's evil act. He became the patron saint of Czech Republic.

Christmas is a quiet and peaceful religious time here. They fast for one day, and have baked carp for Christmas dinner. St Nicholas visits, and brings good children gifts, and for those children who are bad, the devil is said to come with switches.

At midnight, most families go to Holy Mass or Pasterka as it is known. On Christmas Day, the churches are filled with evergreens and Christmas Trees. Celebrations go on for three days.
Czechs eat a soup made of cod roe and tempt each other with tales of a mythical golden pig.


Christmas in Great Britain

In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well before Christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending of Christmas cards, the decorating of houses and churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family members.

On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when Father Christmas comes he can leave them something.

On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware, and at every place on the table there is a cracker. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.

In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbors other family members.
Some churches in Great Britain have a Christingle service on the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is a carol service of Scandinavian origin at which every child received an orange and candle wrapped in a red ribbon. The candle represents Jesus and the ribbon stands for the blood of Christ and the love of God embracing the world.

In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.

At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside that bring their finders good luck. Britain was the first country to hang up mistletoe.


Christmas In BETHLEHEM

The little town where Jesus is said to have been born is the site of the Church of the Nativity, which is ablaze with flags and decorations every Christmas. On Christmas Eve natives and visitors alike crowd the church's doorways and stand on the roof to watch for the dramatic annual procession. Galloping horsemen and police mounted on Arabian horses lead the parade. They are followed by solitary horseman carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed. Then come the churchmen and government officials. The procession solemnly enters the doors and places an ancient effigy of the Holy Child in the church. Deep winding stairs lead to a grotto where visitors find a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.

Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross painted over the door and each home displays a homemade manger scene. A star is set up on a pole in the village square. .

The High Tatras

I love hiking - especially in The High Tatras. These mountains are a national park from 1 January 1949. I go there every year at the end of the summer. The first time I was in the Tatras, I was 12. I go with my dad and his friends from his job.

English grammar

Sometimes I learn English at the internet. My favourite links are:

• http://www.ewa.cz/index.php?sekce=300&d=2
• grammar.englishclub.com
• www.better-english.com/grammar.htm

And useful is some translator.