Bad Medical Experience

I've had nothing but positive experiences with health care here in Czechland.  But last month that streak came to an end.  So here's what happened...

I had two lipomas that I wanted removed.  If you don't know, a lipoma is just a fatty tumour normally below the skin.  Normally it's a genetic thing and usually harmless.  I've had them before and they're usually not a big deal to have them removed.  

I went to my primary physician who referred me to a local surgeon's practice.  I got a consultation with the surgeon who examined me and sent me to go get a sonogram.  I went back to the surgeon's office with the results.  He told me that the sonogram looked fine but that he was not set up to remove them in his office.  He was not able to refer me to someone who could.  WTF! Why not tell me that before going to get the sonogram?  I really got the impression that doctor just wanted to be able to bill the state for the two office visits.

I was so angry.  I immediately went to my primary physician's office and complained.  My doctor apologised and referred me to a surgeon that's located at the same place where I got the sonograms done.  

I managed to see the new surgeon a few days later.  He examined me and reviewed the sonograms.  He told me that it wouldn't be a problem.  I got a surgery scheduled for two weeks later.  

I showed up for my appointment and everything went smoothly.  Both lipomas were removed in under 30 minutes.  I went back 10 days later for a follow-up and to have my stitches removed.  My faith has been restored and one bad experience hasn't ended my confidence in the Czech healthcare system.

Day at the Zoo

We went to Vienna yesterday with Kája's friends Hana and Alena.

After the 90 minute train to Austria we started the day at Aïda, my favourite Vienna coffee and cake shop.   

Then it was off to a day at the zoo.  Of course I had to check out the the pandas, koalas and penguins.

The pandas, because they are my goddaughter Tünde's favourite.

A few years ago I told Tünde that the English word for "penguin" was "snow chicken."  She knows the real word now but we still call them "snow chickens."

Back to School Supplies

Kyndryl, like IBM, is good about getting involved with the local community in various ways.  At Christmas time there are always toy drives and such.  

In Atlanta, we used to collect school supplies for kids in need before they headed off to a new school year.  

A few years ago I suggested that we do this in Brno and I'm so glad that this continues every year.

My team collected quite a bit for this year's school supply drive.  I'm so proud of them!!

Normalizace

Normalizace was the period that followed the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 that brought an end to the Prague Spring.  

"Normalisation" began in 1969 and lasted 20 years until the Velvet Revolution in 1989. 

It was the systematic restoration of hard-line control of the communist party in Czechoslovakia characterised by political repression, censorship, and enforced societal conformity.

In April 1969, Gustáv Husák replaced Alexander Dubček as First Secretary of the Communist Party.  There was no Stalin-style executions or gulags but rather administrative and bureaucratic oppression to keep people under control.  

• About 500.000 people who had supported the Dubček's reforms were kicked out of the communist party.  Many were demoted to manual labour positions regardless of their education or expertise.  
• Loyalty declarations were required to:
• Keep your job
• Study at university
• Hold cultural or academic positions
• Travel abroad
• Censorship was fully reinstated.
• Books, films, and music from the reform era were banned
• Artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers were blacklisted
• Independent organisations were dismantled
• StB surveillance increased dramatically with informants recruited, or coerced to inform, in workplaces, apartment buildings and student dorms

Normalisation relied on quiet pressure, social isolation and the fear of consequences to keep people in check.  

Basically that the system will leave you alone so long as you don't challenge the system.  

This helps explain why today Czechs are often so skeptical towards authority, don't trust political slogans and value personal freedom.

23rd Strážnice Vinobraní

This past weekend was the 23rd annual vinobraní in Strážnice. 

We went on Saturday morning.  It was a full-day wine and folk festival.

Lots of wine and burčák, plus beer and slivovice, along with performances by local music and dance groups.

Here are a couple of videos I filmed at the festival.

Příběhy z Ukrajiny

Příběhy z Ukrajiny, Stories from Ukraine, is an exhibition showing the experiences of Ukrainians feeling the country due to the Russian invasion.

Near the Moravian Gallery, there are civilian cars that were hit by Russian missiles in Ukraine.  

The exhibition brings a bit of the war to the centre of Brno.  

Я за Україну. Я за Україною. Слава Україні  Stojím za Ukrajinou!  I stand with Ukraine. 

Open-Air Concert

On Thursday, the Janáček Theatre out on a free open-air concert, in front of the theatre, to kick of the start of the 2023-2024 season.

Kája and I met up there after work to enjoy the performances before going to dinner.

There were performances by soloists, a choir and the opera company orchestra.  

Here are a couple of videos I took during the performance.

Brno's Museum of Applied Arts

Yesterday we went to the Museum of Applied Arts. 

The museum was founded in 1873 and its among the 10 oldest such museums in the world.

Today the museum is a part of the Moravian Gallery.  

The museum's collection focuses on applied arts from the Middle Ages to the present and includes collections of glass, ceramics, porcelain, textiles, furniture and metalware. 

It was pretty interesting.  One of the coolest things though was actually in the cafe where a machine scans your face, then a robot makes you a latte with the image of your face on the foam.

55th Anniversary of the Invasion

Today was the 55th anniversary of the Soviet led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. 

The invasion ended the reforms of the Prague Spring and ushered in the era known as "normalisation" which was the strict alignment of Soviet policy that didn't end until the Velvet Revolution in 1989.

In 2019, the Czech Senate declared 21 August as a Significant Day that's officially known as "The Day of Memory of the Victims of the 1968 Invasion and Subsequent Occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact Troops."

Different Time Same Occupation

There were memorials across Czechland today and there are clear parallels between the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

1. The aggressor fabricated internal threats to justify invading an independent country.

• In 1968, it was framed not as an invasion but as "fraternal assistance" to protect communism from alleged Western interference and counter-revolution.
• Today, Russia's narrative is that it's not a war but a "special military operation" to "protect Russian speakers" from alleged Nazism and NATO control.

2. Both the Soviet Union and Russia deny the sovereignty of smaller countries. 

• The Soviets asserted that communist countries had "limited sovereignty" that later became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.
• Vladimir Putin claims that Ukraine is a historical part of Russia so therefore doesn't believe it is a real state.

3. Use of propaganda.

• In 1968, the Soviet media claimed that the military was invited.  They suppressed independent media and forced agreements signed under duress.
• Today, the Russian media, which is under state control, claims that they were asked to come help by Russian-speaking Ukrainians.  There are heavy disinformation campaigns and staged referenda in occupied territories like when Russian annexed Crimea.  

Many people here in Czechland see Ukraine living out 1968.  A common phrase I hear is My už toile jednou zažili which means "We've lived through this once already."  The difference I see though is that Ukraine is fighting back where as Czechoslovakia never had the chance to.

Я за Україну. Я за Україною. Слава Україні  Stojím za Ukrajinou!  I stand with Ukraine. 

Lom Janičův Vrch

Lom Janičův vrch is a former limestone quarry that's located just outside of Mikulov.  It is 51 km (32 miles) from Brno and is part of the Pálava Protected Landscape Area.

Limestone mining at the Mariánský mlýn (Marian Mill) was intermittent throughout the 20th century but ceased around 2004.  

Once mining stopped, the quarry flooded and created a clear water lake which in 2014 became a protected natural monument.

After work yesterday we headed to the lake and the water felt great.  It was about 15℃ (59℉).   

There are strict controls about what you can take in.  No disposable plastic or glass bottles allowed.  

There's minimal infrastructure; just a few changing stalls.  There is a nude section if that's your thing.