Archive of articles - October 2002, page 4

Around Slovakia

Record-breaking Slovaks showcase bizarre skillsKindergarten left in the darkSlovak youths kill two in ViennaLeaning tower of Nitra tilts further than othersMan helps poor around the worldGranny nabbed for dealing smackSoldiers' graves plundered for memorabilia

Halloween 'BOOOO' or cemetery visits?

TRICK or treat? (trik alebo maškrta?) The first time I heard that expression was on October 31 in Michigan, United States, where I was spending the year as a foreign exchange student. It was right around then that I started to feel homesick. With the end of October approaching, I imagined my family back home in Slovakia getting together to remember the dead (zosnulí).On the first day of November many Slovaks go to cemeteries, lay flowers and light candles for each family member and friend who has passed away. During that night, the cemeteries fill with flowers and are aglow with candles, just like a starry summer night.

Policeman caught robbing car

Reader feedback: Rusko needs a clue

Regulator expects electricity price jump

Fitch not ready to raise rating

Timber: Chipping away at state arrogance

THE FORESTED SPINE of the Small Carpathian mountains has always made it a little less grim returning to Bratislava from the east of Slovakia. The hills loom over the country's main village in counterpoint to the refinery stacks, the power lines and pylons, the peeling paneláky.As the years have passed, however, those gentle hills have been going bald as trees are logged in huge swathes that city officials describe as 'sustainable forestry'.

Top Pick: Exhibition presents a world-class collection of children's literature

HUNDREDS of illustrated children's books are published in Slovakia every year, several of them first editions. Many of these books find their way abroad, where they are often highly acclaimed."Our children's books enjoy a very good reputation around the world and our illustrators win many awards abroad," says Eva Cíferská, head of the Slovak section of the International Board for Books for Young People (IBBY) at Unesco, based in Switzerland.According to Cíferská, not many Slovaks are aware that Slovak children's literature gets a lot of praise abroad.

How popular is digital photography?

Arboretum attracts visitors

Reader feedback: Get used to it

Builders call for state support

Archbishop hurt in car accident

Blair weighs in on race debate

Cabinet to get list of potential SE buyers

Judges: We're not all guilty

Review: I wish it was Saturday

THE REPUTATION that precedes TGI Friday, and most of my Slovak friends believe this, is that it is an expensive fast food restaurant. My American acquaintances told me not to call it fast food because TGIF is supposedly better quality, not self-service and has a decent atmosphere. So I agreed to leave my prejudices against American eating culture behind and allow Friday's to impress me.The interior design is the same as every Friday's in the world, with faux Tiffany lamps and bric-a-brac on the walls. The service is American-style. One can tell that the waiters have been trained to be smiley and friendly, but you can go too far. When we left, our overzealous waitress told us to "enjoy this beautiful sunny day", even though it had been grey and rainy since the morning.

Slovakia to back solo US strike against Iraq

After months of silence on the subject, Slovakia has said it will support independent American military action in Iraq, a decision at odds with the policies of many European countries.The announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Eduard Kukan was described by some analysts as "courageous", as it goes one step further than the official EU line, which is against the US taking military action without UN support."Iraq should meet all United Nations (UN) resolutions. We support a resolution that will force Iraq to take action. [However,] if it fails and American military intervention is necessary, Slovakia will act as an ally of the United States," said Kukan in a recent interview for the Domino Fórum weekly.

Reader feedback: Media attention