Here’s a reason to celebrate. At least for me, a Google junkie. The Big G finally owns the wonderfully simple and logical Google.cz domain, the one and only URL that’s ever going to really work. After years of being stuck with the embarassing and impossible to remember google.com/intl/cs/ (which gives an error page if you skip the last slash – why is that, anyway?), Google Czech Republic now has a proper home on the web. Congratulations, guys!
I Want My Czech IPTV
Telefónica, the Spanish company that owns Telefónica O2 Czech Republic (the renamed Český Telecom), launched an IPTV pilot program in the Czech Republic last month. The “digital television over the internet” offering will initially include 30 channels and around 250 movies for download. Telefónica is planning to expand its offering beyond its employees in the next couple of months.
Cable television is not available in our apartment in Prague. We have a satellite dish, but have not signed up for any packages to increase our selection of English language channels. So the selection remains limited to two news stations – BBC World and EuroNews, which we have named our “disaster channels”. Through our antenna, we get the four Czech stations – ČT1, ČT2, Nova, and Prima. But between the reality TV programming, low budget 1998 German made-for-TV movies and Czech variety-type shows, there is not much to get excited about.
I hope Czech IPTV is available to us soon. It’s about time we had a better selection of entertainment and an added bonus will be playing with the new technology.
Telefonica 02 Czech Republic Launches Pilot Operation of IPTV – 7/19/06
Telecom preps IPTV – 2/20/06
Don’t touch that browser! ČT to launch Internet TV – 8/29/05
A Revolution on Czech Roads?
The Czech Republic has one of the worst accident rates in Europe. According to an article on the Radio Praha website, “Critics say in general Czech drivers drive too fast, don’t keep their distance, take unnecessary risks and are generally very aggressive”. The national goal is to cut the number of road transport fatalities in half by 2010, based on the 2002 level.
On July 1, a new road transport law came into effect. Some important parts of the law are that it creates a point system for driving offenses, establishes when licenses can be taken away, and increases fines.
The articles below discuss the law, including some of the controversy surrounding it. It’s too early to make any final judgement, but so far, so good.
Radio Praha
Czech drivers study new rules as points system approaches
Summary of new rules for driving
Prague Post
Law aims to punish unsafe drivers
ČTK
Fewer die on roads on July’s first weekend as law comes to force
Radio Praha
Fewer deaths on Czech roads as new law comes into force
Update – one week after:
ČTK
Only one person dies on Czech roads during two national holidays
Czech Elections Result in Stalemate
The voting is over and the results are in for the fourth elections to the Chamber of Deputies since the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. There was a higher voter turnout this year (64.5%) than four years ago (59%). The center-right ODS (Civic Democrats) won the elections with 35.38% of the vote and center-left ČSSD (Social Democrats) came in second with 32.32%. This is after eight years of ČSSD in power.
When converting the percentages into the number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies, it looks unlikely that a majority government will be formed. The Civic Democrats/Christian Democrats/Green Party coalition would only get 100 seats, which is the same number the Social Democrats/Communist Party coalition would have. ODS will begin negotiations and has not ruled out a grand coalition with ČSSD.
I have linked to some news articles below:
ČTK (Czech News Agency)
Topolanek has ambition to form govt, does not exclude CSSD
Chances to form coalition govt slim — analysts
ODS wins elections, left has half seats in lower house
BBC News
Czech election ends in deadlock