Does the global Facebook empire have some local competition? Two students from the University of Economics think so. Two weeks ago they launched an interactive English language  social networking website called Sense-of.com/Wroclaw and there are already almost 200 users. Radiowroclove.com’s Lisa Matuska talked to Aleksander Fafuła and Anna Skopowska to get a sense of this “Sense-of” business model.

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Pictures from Bangkok (Thailand), Ankara (Turkey), Laos and Poland were on display in the photo contest “Kulturowe Eksploracje” patronised by RadioWroclove.com. In the category “Stories” the winner was Patryk Mariak with his work “Life according to Thai”. The award for best single picture went to “The Prayer” by photographer Wojciech Gajewski. Additionaly, the photo series “Asian Triangle” by Kajetan Głowacki and Jakub Ochnio’s single photo “Hassid” both received awards. Winners were selected by a jury and judged on their ability to show the meeting of young people with different cultures. To produce the pictures, photographers explored countries such as Mali, Iceland, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Poland of course. Starting June 18 th, the most interesting photo stories will be exhibited in Mediateka (pl. Teatralny). It’s also possibile to view the awarded works on the contest’s website: www.kulturoweeksploracje.pl/galeria.

That’s what Martin Kallen, Euro 2012 Director, said during his visit to our city. Kallen was taken to the stadium construction site and saw the progress made on the new airport terminal.  When asked about the possibility of the quarterfinals being held in Wroclaw, he just smiled and said, “Everybody wants quarterfinals…”. Listen to more of his comments on Wrocław 2012 preparations.

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Polish-American musician Michal Szostało introduced his audience to what you could call an accordion/folk/computer/improv show at a Staalplaat gallery in Berlin last week as a part of the Quiet Cue Festival currently going on in Berlin. The show was called “Artificial History Museum” and RadioWroclove.com’s Lisa Matuska talked with Szostało after the show about how he used humor, folk music, his computer, and his grandmother to engage and connect the audience – you know those people who are listening to the music – an element of the show that Szostało says is ignored by many “experimental” or “intellectual” musicians.

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For more go to: http://quietcue.blogspot.com

Just few weeks ago they were in space, now they’re visting Wrocław and other Polish cities. The American astronauts are here meeting with children and school youth. One of them is colonel George Zamka, who was a crew member on the Endavour spacecraft and whose roots are Polish. Listen to what he said during the Press Conference in Wrocław’s Town Hall.

On being an astronaut:

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On his last space mission:

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A new season of performances of the Wrocław Fountain begins at the Centennial Hall. There is a new, special show prepared for Saturday and Monday evening. Listen to more details about the upcoming performances as well as about the Conference Centre, which construction is coming to the end, in converstion with Hana Cervinkova, president of Centennial Hall. By Przemek Pozowski

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For more info go to: www.wroclawskafontanna.pl

Remember the guy from the Police Academy series who could imitate just about anything with his lips? Gabriel Skitaniak does. But what does Michael Winslow have to do with Jimi Hendrix and our very own, Wrocław attempt to break the Guinness world guitar record? Listen to find out.

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The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the  European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural  life and cultural development. What chances does Wrocław stand of winning with other cities which run in the competition? What can we do to help? Listen to Anna Bleja from the Wrocław 2016 Culture Institute talking with Viola Lamot and visit the following webistes to support Wrocław in the race: www.candidatecities.com, www.wro2016.pl

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In an attempt to keep up with Scandinavian cities, Wrocław is trying hard to become a more bike-friendly metropolis by challenging the car domination problem. According to the City Council Bike Officer, Daniel Chojnacki, we are on track, with new ideas to encourage some citizens to switch their cars for bikes. Even if you don’t quite believe this, listen to the latest and future changes in the city’s bike infranstructure. By Przemek Pozowski

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“My battery is flat. Where is my charger?” – soon this question will become obsolete as the answer will be more than obvious. The charger is right with you. Made up of your body and heat. A prototype of the thermoelectric power generator has just been assembled by scientists in Singapore giving you hope that one day you will be free of all the worries about recharging your batteries. Perk up your ears to Viola Lamot’s findings.

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Who doesn’t?

Aloe Blacc is an American rapper, singer and musician. He started his career as a member of the underground hip-hop group Emanon. After a few years, he got deeper and deeper into American soul and R&B. A few years ago, he signed to Stone Throw, an independent and highly-regarded Los Angeles-based label. His album “Shine Through” presented him not only as talented singer but also as an up-to-date producer for his future-R&B pieces inspired by works of, for instance, Madlib.

The latest single from Aloe Blacc taps into the great tradition of American soul and R&B. “I Need A Dollar” is based on the simple piano sample, bringing to mind the music of Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye. Definitely worth a dollar and your attention.

The founder of www.blackstareducation.wordpress.com, Filip Kalinowski, in conversation with Jurek Chyb, talks about his inspirations, fascinations and initiatives connected with black culture. Who is the Black Star Education blog for? What is the Black Star Liner? And – most importantly – were there as few black cowboys in the Wild West times as it might be assumed from the mainstream western movies?

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Inspired by Gordon Brown’s latest gaffe that may end his political career, Jurek Chyb invites Philip Fairweather to reflect upon the poor politicians who are not told often enough that microphones may actually still be on after the official part is over. Listen to Jurek and Philip listing the top microphone blunders, including the famed “Yo, Blair” remark and a Ronald Reagan off-mic comment that could have led to catastrophic consequences.

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See the video below:

The journey ends. Or – does it? Does anything in this city really come to an end? After all, “Prague doesn’t let go. This old crone has claws. One has to yield. We would have to set fire to it and only then would it be possible for us to get away.” No, not Jurek Chyb’s own words. That was Franz Kafka.

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An unofficial Indian embassy in one of Wrocław’s restaurants? Why not, as long as those involved in this initiative show enough passion. Jarosław Kret, whom you may know as a TV weatherman, is one of such passion-driven people who fell in love with India once and forever. In his conversation with Przemek Pozowski, he talks about his travels and photographs.

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A nightmare for any fan of nice, fast, technical, offensive and goal-studded football: a Champions League final between a Bundesliga team and an Italian club managed by the guy whose ambition is to make the most beautiful sport virtually unwatchable. Jurek Chyb officially decides he’s not watching the Bernabeu final this year, especially after seeing Barcelona bang Inter’s defences in a futile attempt to save the game from falling into the destructive, cynical trap of Jose Mourinho’s so-called “football philosophy”. In the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League 2010, it’s Mourinho 1 – Fans United 0.

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It gives us pleasure, it makes us free and it comforts us from the impossibility we humans have to fly like birds, bringing us closer. A conversation with Emilka Jędrusik from “Dom Tańca Pałacyk” in Kościuszki street. To celebrate the International Dance Day, people around the globe…just dance. In conversation with Paul Mayevsky, Emilka talks about the idea behind this day as well as the very nature of dance itself. Listen to the conversation to know why people dance and  why we like looking at them.

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It was the first such exibition of conceptual, architectural projects in Poland. Unfortuntely, after 40 years, the exeptional ideas to put some life into the public space stayed mostly on the sheets of paper. Until now, when one of the projects was put on Wrocław’s Piaskowa Island and some others are waiting to be reminded. Listen to Dorota Monkiewicz from the City Council telling you more about the history of the symposium and its present meaning for the city.

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We are not alone! In the infinite space packed with more than 100 billion galaxies and infinite number of stars and planets, there is bound to be life. Maybe it is even better developed than us. If you see an alien walking down the street, do not stop to start a chit chat. They might be hostile. Stephen Hawking warns us no to be friends with aliens. Paul Mayevsky takes his advice.

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Despite, or maybe even “due to” the controversies it sparked, Siekiera’s (Axe) debut belongs to the greatest recordings in the history of Polish punk. But is it still punk?

Siekiera is deeply rooted in the punk scene. Not only did its demos contain straightedge punk but its members played their parts in other bands – including the widely acclaimed Armia. Therefore the group was tagged as representatives of this genre and had most of fans in this subculture. Siekiera was a laureate of Jarocin 1984 – highly reputed punk festival, which put the band in the lime light. But later that year things changed. Due to the disagreements in the band, the line up changed. Two of the members, who constituted the punk-wing were replaced by the new drummer and keyboardist. The new wave era began.

After two years of existence with the new line up, Siekiera released its debut. It is entitled “Nowa Aleksandria” (”New Alexandria”), which refers to the members’ hometown – Puławy, which is sometimes called that.  The reception of the album was very divided. While some praised its ambiguous lyrics, others accused the band leader Tomasz Adamski of betraying punk’s ideas. In this case the truth is far from lying in between. “Nowa Aleksandria” owes its extraordinariness to the distinct rhythm section. In fact, it’s easy to pick as the guitar sound is not, frankly speaking, overused. However, riffs like the one in “Idziemy Na Skraj” just can’t be overestimated. Even though the album is a bit minimalistic, the key parts introduce, typical for this period, new-waveish aftertaste. The outcome is a gloomy, lifeless album, whose atmosphere might be compared to Joy Division’s most depressing pieces.

Unfortunately, Siekiera disbanded just two years after its stunning debut. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to add that two years ago the compilation of the band’s early works was released. It’s entitled “Na Wszystkich Frontach Świata” (”At World’s All Fronts”) and it presents the furious, punkish face of Siekiera.

Even though there is no doubt that “Nowa Aleksandria” owes a lot to the British new wave scene, it stands out with the quality of its compositions and its manic, paranoid lyrics. It’s a highly artistic statement from the period of great changes – a guiding light of the Alexandria’s lighthouse that shone with passion and energy. And it’s shinning still.

Recommended, if you like: Killing Joke, Joy Division, New Order