When Czech Airlines [ČSA] decides to change some of its ticketing rules for flights from JFK and EWR to PRG to compete with other carriers ("ČSA replaces half its top brass," Business, Nov. 29—Dec. 5) then their load factor will increase and perhaps be more profitable. The rule requiring a 93-day advance reservation and ticketing should be replaced to compete with the other airlines' rules. I can book on other carriers for the same or lower fares and not have an advance 93-day requirement.

Donald Bowman

Orlando, Florida

It's very sad to still see Czech government officials are still implementing a "friends and family" policy for senior positions in large (partially or fully owned by the state) companies ("ČSA gets hope after 2 bleak years," Business, Nov. 22—28). These people have no or very little sound commercial awareness of the industries they reside over.

Take, for example, Tvrd*k: Why make someone like him president of ČSA? This position gives him overall influence of the company. He has absolutely no idea of the industry and no idea what it takes to run a company. He employs his friends on the board and makes crazy decisions. He was also put in charge of Aero Vodochody in 2003 and failed miserably. It frustrates me to see that for every such leadership post, the government still puts in personnel with very little experience, and then after two or three years of incompetence asks the government for another bailout.

Why not just give these guys a bundle full of cash, let them retire and then get someone else in who is competent enough to manage industry? Why not be honest, instead of bleeding these industries dry? What I see are my taxes being spent on this kind of stupidity, putting key people (friends) into positions where they have no right or reason to be. A very sad state of affairs ... this, in light of the Czech Republic's poor performance in the corruption ratings released last month.

Steven Winstone

Prague

Green housing

People building these houses (especially wooden ones) need to research possible problems ("Green houses: not just for flowers," News, Nov. 22—28). Many such houses were built in California, which has a prevalently dry and sunny climate, and are doing well.

On the other hand, in wet and cooler British Columbia, there are many problems with similarly designed houses, apartment blocks and condominiums.

The mold from airtight insulation (recommended by the government in the '70s and '80s), leakage and the accumulation of moisture within walls caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and economic loss for their owners. There are dozens of large condominium developments still covered in plastic foil while the costly repairs are being done.

The Czech Republic has a similar climate to the west coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island — perhaps slightly cooler.

My advice to people looking for energy-efficient houses is to really look at various options before they will be required to pay extra untold riches for inadequately researched ideas.

Jiri Hubacek

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Jiri,

Thanks for sharing your comments and advice. However, did you read the article? The technology being referred to is and has been used for the better part of 15 years already in Germany and Austria — whose climates, by the way, are the very same as the Czech Republic's. So the warning really has little reference to our situation here in Central Europe, unless you have heard of problems with these technologies/techniques.

Our only real problem here is that we do not get the support from the government that the Germans and the Austrians do. Don't forget that the average wage here is 19,968 Kč [$940] per month — but in Germany, it is something like 76,000 Kč per month. But the article references that assistance from the Austrian government is something like 38,000 euros [$50,160/1.1 million Kč], but the Czechs give something like 1,400 euros! A big gap there.

Michael Rainey

Prague

Without doubt, meeting "green" standards is not only desirable for the owners, but is something on which European Union legislators will pass laws soon. There is no reason why a "green" home should be any less practical than a "traditional" one that relies on conventional heating/cooling, etc. There may be some extra cost to the owner/developer, but, with a strong housing market, this hardly affects the economics of building, except perhaps for the very cheapest housing. My firm belief is that, at the middle/top end of the market, homeowners will begin to show their preference for eco-friendly specifications and lower running costs. Your article will be the first of many on this subject.

Richard James

Prague

Bad Borat

I find this article biased to make Americans out to be stuck-up jerks ("Fool me once ..." Night & Day, Nov. 22—28). While many of your points are valid, you cannot say people never asked Borat about his country when the film was edited to be funny. I agree some Americans are ignorant and stuck-up, but giving us all that stereotype is a big stretch.

Christopher Benso

Houston, Texas, USA

Down on downloads

I just purchased a Samsung MP3 player and do not have good success downloading music ("Upping downloads," Business, Nov. 22—28). It seems most of the providers have limited selections and have a new way to impose charges frequently. "Sharing files" is the poorest way to go, it opens your computer and, again, the music you seek provides a notice (that they are) seeking more sources. Our local library provides audio books that work out well.

Robert Johnson

Olathe, Kansas, USA

Nuclear fallout

"Yes, the material is encased in ceramic and under guard." ("If you can't stand the heat, don't go nuclear," Postview, Nov. 22—28). You are completely wrong. The spent fuel assemblies in the Dukovany facility are stored in Castor casks made of thick-walled ductile iron bodies with borated steel panels inside, i.e. there is no ceramic material. Be sure, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, etc., will change their nuclear policy in a few years. On the other hand, the United States, France and Finland have already taken the first steps toward nuclear recovery. After a decline in the '90s, at present, the big players like Areva, Westinghouse and General Electric have increased very fast the qualified personnel in their nuclear divisions.

Josef Říha

helps prevent leaks.

Inspiring survivor

Excellent article ("On the joys of 'Jew chasing,' " Tempo, Nov. 15—21). Dr. Fried can be an example to all on the values of culture and humanity.

Joe Phelan

Dublin

Well done. Prague needs more people like Dr. Fried to re-create the intellectual ambiance that made her famous at the beginning of the last century.

Denny Kalensky

Ottawa

Actually, the "Yiddish community organization" in Toronto that Dr. Fried headed was not the "Farbund," but the "Farband" — full name Yidisher Arbeter Farband, known in English as the Jewish Labor Zionist Alliance.

Also, one of the reasons that some Hussites converted to Judaism was that many Jews had helped to provide arms to the Hussite revolt.

Hershl Hartman

Editor's note: Thanks for the correction. The online article at www.praguepost.com has been amended.

It is quite shocking. I am the same age (probably) and have exactly the same history, being a KZ survivor and having emigrated to Canada in 1949. I travel to my birthplace, Prague, three times yearly and would like to meet Mr. Fried when I will be there from May 8, 2007, for two weeks. Please forward my message to him. I live nearby Café Louvre and eat there often.

Fred Korn

Editor's note: Your contacts have been passed on as you suggest. Best wishes for an inspiring meeting.

Red bias

The reason that Piska has failed to get his land back is what I have written about many times ("Paying respect," Opinion, Nov. 15—21). The officials that stand in the way are the same ones that were part of the old (red) government that did the taking in the first place. It is like asking the wolf to return the lamb it has clutched in its teeth.

Dusan Lipensky

Wheaton, Illinois, USA

Cheap air

It's probably more accurate to say that Czech TV has been depressing the cost of television advertising ("On the spot," Business, Nov. 15—21), because its budget did not wholly depend on advertising revenue. I saw the same phenomenon when Czech TV technicians were "renting" out their employer's post-production facilities at below-market costs. It depressed the development of privately owned post-production studios.

Increases in the cost of television advertising are more likely to generate growth in competition from other media sources, which can only be good for everybody, in the long term.

Whether Czechs should be forced to pay a "service fee" to support Czech TV is another issue, but one that ought to be revisited.

Brant Hadaway

Miami

Returning home

Thanks for another interesting piece about the Kazakh Czech people ("Homecoming," News, Nov. 15—21). I wonder what the Czech government's agenda is around the move to re-patriate them.

Jonathan Freilich

Hythe, United Kingdom

Bonded and licensed

Ouch! Having just seen the Czech Republic and still riding high from the adrenaline-pumping chase scenes and Daniel Craig's outstanding performance in the iconic role ("Live and let try," Night & Day, Nov. 15—21), I'm compelled to offer an opposing view to Mr. Silvis'. Craig gives us an edgy Bond, still rough around the edges, but with skills, confidence and charm that makes his character a fully credible Bond-in-the-making. He also shows an emotional depth in his romance with Green's smart and sexy spy (refreshing indeed!), a vulnerability the future Bond will never allow. There is real character development here along with the edge-of-your-seat thrills, sure to satisfy most — if not quite all — Bond fans. Respectfully yours, Lauren Adams, former Prague resident.

Lauren Adams

Boston

A fine dystopia

I watched this movie [Children of Men] last night, and have to agree with you all the way ("Mother and child reunion," Night & Day, Nov. 8—14). In the midst of the surrounding atmosphere of violence and civil war, Theo's refusal to engage in violence (apart from beating up Sid, which was self-defense) really symbolized a powerful attempt to retain some sense of humanity.

I did, however, have three problems with the film:

1) I think it would have been helpful if the script explained how or why there was an infertility crisis in the first place. Perhaps they could have linked it to a massive bio-terrorist attack (which would tie in to the rest of the movie quite well).

2) Technical detail: In the movie, Britain appears to be run by a fascist, far-right BNP-styled government. But if this was the case, then how would getting papers for Kee have helped her, since she was black and therefore an obvious immigrant? Besides, during the fighting at Bexhill, some of the soldiers are also black. Something doesn't quite square there.

3) Technical detail: A lot of the weapons used by the army before and during the attack on Bexhill date back to the 1980s or earlier (Chinook helicopters, Chieftain tanks and early SA80s). If this were 2027, surely the weaponry would have a more futuristic look (I'm just nitpicking here).

Erwin Tan