Magazine
To drink or not to drink? And if so, from what kind of glass? The man whom Czech Prime Miniater Vladimir Spidla made rich. And, what are the advantages of being a chimneysweep in the Czech Republic? Find out more in this week's edition of Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.
Three deputies of the Lower House and one senator are taking part in a most unusual experiment. They have agreed to try to live on the minimum monthly wage in the Czech Republic - that is 6, 700 crowns - in order to see first hand what it is like. Members of parliament were challenged to do this by Radio Impuls and the daily Mlada Fronta Dnes. Civic Democrat deputy Petr Bratsky was in an upbeat mood on January 1st telling the press "It's a big challenge, but I think I can handle it. There are plenty of healthy, tasty and low-cost dishes that I can cook". Christian Democrat MP Michaela Sojdrova was more realistic, telling newsmen that she would "go for it" but did not think it would give her a realistic idea of the problems the socially weaker groups of the population face. There's a huge difference between living on 6,700 crowns a month all year round and just trying it out once, she pointed out. Czech MPs make over 46 thousand crowns a month and they can avail themselves of tens of thousands more for representation and travel expenditures.
A booklet called "To drink or not to drink?" has just hit book stands in the Czech Republic. It is written by two of the country's leading cardiologists and the good news is that -according to these specialists- a glass of white wine a day is an excellent way of preventing a heart attack. Reportedly the ideal time to have it is -at leisure - with your evening meal.
Czech beer drinkers are very particular about how you serve their beer. Pub owners know not to waste their money on thin beer glasses because their clientele would simple go elsewhere. Czech beer drinkers demand think glass mugs through which you can admire the golden brew and beer "cap" but which due to the thickness of the glass keeps the drink at the right temperature for a much longer time and delivers the ideal taste. Pilsner Urquell is now producing its own beer glasses - bearing the company's trademark. We take care of our clients all the way, a Pilsner Urquell official said. Since most Czech pubs sell just one or two brands of beer the pubs selling Pilsner beer will all be supplied with the right glasses.
On the first day of the new year most people are treating a sore head and battling the after-effects of too much food but some people are in top form. Among the bizarre New year races and competitions which take place is a race in stair climbing which has a fourteen year tradition now. This year's winner is seventeen year old Jiri Mares who ran up 145 stairs in 25 seconds flat.
130 contestants took part this year - from a year old toddler to a 67 year old man. The contest originated from a bet when one man in a pub challenged his friend to run up a hundred stairs faster than he could drink three pints of beer.
One of the frequent motifs on Czech New Years cards is a chimneysweep. In the Czech Republic an encounter with a chimneysweep is believed to bring good luck. When you see one you should either grab hold of a coat button for luck or better still touch the chimneysweep to get a little soot on your fingers. The first ever association of chimneysweeps in the Czech lands emerged at the end of the sixteenth century and although there aren't as many of them as there used to be -they are still around. They look much like they did in the old days - although now they use computers - and people still believe they bring great good luck. There are seven hundred of them in the Czech Republic and they claim that being a chimneysweep has many advantages. Who else does a good looking girl approach and say "May I please touch you?" -one of them jokes.
