iNSTRID

If you like revolutions and radical evolutions in the automotive industry, then the new Peugeot 308 will definitely interest you. Peugeot simply breaks everything that has characterized it until now, but has changed that “everything” for the better.

Fresh youthful image

   The design of the body, headlights and even the silhouette of the car have changed radically compared to the previous generation of the car. Despite the fact that the car is still called 308, the manufacturer could easily call it 309. In the past, it has chosen just such a logical sequence for each new generation. This is paradoxical, especially considering that this is the most significant generational change in the history of the 300 model range.

   The Peugeot 308 is elegant, balanced, and ideally represents the current design concept of the French manufacturer. A significant part of the face of the new 308 are the headlights made up of a total of 62 LEDs, 31 each, which give the car the image of a technological delicacy.

   A new level of compactness

   The new generation of Peugeot 308 vehicles weighs just over one ton. The basic petrol version weighs just 1,075 kg and the basic diesel version only 1,090 kg. The Peugeot 308 is therefore the lightest model in its class. Despite this, the luggage compartment volume has increased by 120 liters to an amazing 470 liters! Perhaps the only one that competes with the new Peugeot is the Honda Civic. The length of the vehicle has reached 4,253 mm, it is 1,804 mm wide and not even one and a half meters high. Thanks to the combination of advanced materials, lightweight engines and compact dimensions, the vehicle is able to maintain excellent driving characteristics.

   Revolution under the hood

The Peugeot 308 is entering the market with five engines and for the first time in history it will also be available with an economical 3-cylinder engine. The basic naturally aspirated 3-cylinder petrol 1.2 VTi (60 KW) will be supplemented by two turbocharged 1.6 THP (92 and 115 kW), the diesel variants will be 1.6 HDi with a power of 68 and 85 kW. In spring 2014 the offer will be expanded by the petrol 1.2 e-THP (81 and 96 kW) and the diesel units 1.6 BlueHDi (88 kW) and 2.0 BlueHDi (110 kW) with AdBlue injection. The engines will be combined with a 6-speed automatic Aisin transmission.

  i-Cockpit style interior

   The new generation of 308 vehicles is a representative of the ergonomic i-Cockpit concept. Its task is to provide the driver with all the elements necessary to control the vehicle at hand. That is why the thick steering wheel has a diameter of only 35 cm, there is a head-up display, a 9.7-inch touch screen and a very clear graphic of the dials behind the steering wheel. The large touch surface serves not only to mediate multimedia, but also to control the air conditioning and additional vehicle functions.

   Safety and assistance packages

   The Peugeot 308 is also catching up with the competition in the area of assistance systems. The Driver Assistance Pack includes collision warning, automatic braking in a collision situation and radar cruise control, a reversing camera, blind spot monitoring in the mirrors, active parking assistant as well as keyless unlocking and starting and an electric parking brake with hill-holder function (braking the vehicle when starting uphill).

   The new Peugeot 308 was a success

   The Frenchman has finally shown that he is ready to produce not only beautiful, but also functional and capable cars. The Peugeot 308 could, without exaggeration, become a serious competitor for the Volkswagen Golf or Opel Astra, and I am personally convinced that after a test drive, most potential customers will decide for it.

Summer is primarily a time of relaxation, energy, joy and lots of sports activities. However, we must not forget that the sun's rays, in addition to their beneficial effects on our body and soul, also bring many inconveniences to our skin, even diseases of varying degrees.

   From irritation, burns, allergic reactions to the sun to the most insidious disease, which is dangerous malignant melanoma, or skin cancer. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that it often does not hurt, does not make itself known at all, and yet it is among the fastest-spreading cancers of the human body.

   If you have even the slightest suspicion that one of your "birthmarks" is changing size, color, itching, swelling, redness, bleeding or becoming asymmetrical, has irregular, fuzzy, ragged edges, see a dermatologist immediately. He or she will examine and diagnose not only the suspicious mole, but also all others on your entire body using a handheld dermatoscope or digital videodermatoscope. At the dermatovenerology clinic PLK ProCare, Bratislava (Central), I regularly examine each of my patients with dermatoscopy at least once a year.

    If a patient has any suspicion that something is wrong with their mole outside of the regular preventive dermatological examination, they are examined urgently - immediately. All you need to do is call to make an appointment for the exact time you specify.

   Malignant melanoma begins very inconspicuously with the changes already mentioned. These changes may, but may not always be a manifestation of a malignant tumor. Do not be in doubt and have a suspicious mole examined immediately by a dermatologist who will recognize structural, color, vascular and other changes in the mole. If the dermatologist determines that there is a real risk of malignant melanoma, the skin formation will be removed immediately with a protective edge on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. It will then be sent for a final histological examination, in which a specialized histopathologist will definitively exclude or confirm the diagnosis of malignant melanoma as quickly as possible. As with any disease, regular and rapid prevention is most important in this case, especially since melanoma spreads very easily and quickly to the lymph nodes, which subsequently worsens its prognosis. It responds only minimally to treatment in the late stages. That's why I recommend that you have all your moles examined by a dermatologist at least once a year, not only for adults, but also for children from the age of 3.

   Finally, let me remind you of a few useful tips on how to sunbathe properly:

1. During the summer, avoid sun exposure between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., as UV radiation reaches its maximum at this time.

2. Protect yourself from the sun even when you are in the shade and even when the sky is cloudy, because clouds transmit more than 80% of UV radiation. In the shade, approximately 50% of ultraviolet radiation can reach you.

3. Children under 3 years of age should not be exposed to direct sunlight. When on vacation, choose morning and early evening hours, and don't forget to protect your children's skin from UVA and UVB rays. Always choose products specifically designed for children's skin.

4. Only tan after applying a cream with a protection factor of at least SPF 15 and higher, according to your phototype and skin type. Always choose a cream that states SPF (UVB) protection, but also UVA (PPD) protection. Buy the listed products at a pharmacy. It is not realistic to produce a quality protective product for a few cents.

5. Don't forget to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.

6. After swimming, dry yourself and reapply sunscreen. During continuous tanning, reapply every 3 hours.

7. Mountains are just as dangerous as the sea, and the above rules must be followed even during mountain trips.

Dr. Renata Kurisova
Dermatovenerology clinic
for children and adults
Aesthetic and corrective dermatology
PLK ProCare, Jelačičova 7,
Bratislava (Central)

Every year, a book is published worldwide and locally, featuring a selection of the most valuable or popular brands. Among the various fashion brands, premium car companies, prestigious hotels and products, you can also find AVIS car rental.

We are making more effort

   The slogan "We try harder." - "We make more effort." has the reputation of one of the most famous advertising slogans in the world. It has become an expression of the corporate philosophy and the company's employees, which is the constant improvement of services and the confirmed price of the reservation. AVIS's international presence has contributed to many innovations in the world of car rental, and its Slovak branch owes nothing to this acquired prestige. Slovak AVIS has several firsts to its credit. For example, AVIS has the most branches in Slovakia among all competing car rental companies - and work is continuing to expand them. In addition, Slovak AVIS takes great care to ensure that the fleet is always up-to-date and that it contains only the latest car models. As many as 80% of the fleet are diesel vehicles, and when purchasing them annually, emphasis is placed on their safety standards, consumption and image, which is so important to AVIS's demanding clientele. No less interesting is that in addition to classic rentals, the Slovak AVIS also offers everything related to it. The client has the opportunity to deal with complete logistics services from car rental to chauffeur services, van rental and operational leasing. AVIS remains true to the idea of “We try harder.”

   7 decades of acquiring know-how

   AVIS was founded in 1946 when US Air Force pilot Warren Avis started a three-vehicle car rental business at Willow Run Airport in Detroit, USA. Over the course of half a century, it has grown into a leading car rental company operating in over 170 countries worldwide with 500,000 vehicles.

   In 1996, AVIS acquired a local dealer to create a general representation in Slovakia. Vladimír Orth, who started in 1992 with a small local rental shop offering Skoda Favorit and Felicia, participated in a tender for an international company: "I found out that if I wanted to reach higher goals, I would not be able to do without foreign know-how, because the market would increasingly demand above-standard services. After winning the tender and signing the contract, we had to transform the entire fleet in one year, equipping the company with new vehicles of nine classes from group A to group H. We sold the old cars and opened two new branches," recalls Mr. Orth, CEO of United Rental Group.

Erik Stríž and Juraj Mačik for UnitedLife

Masové produkty sa začali objavovať vo svete koncom 19. storočia v čase, keď populácia začala rásť mnohonásobne rýchlejšie vďaka vedecko-technickej revolúcii. V automobilovom priemysle bol pionierom masových produktov Henry Ford (zakladateľ automobilky Ford) a prvé masovo vyrábané vozidlo malo názov „Model T“.

   Ideou Henryho Forda bolo zmeniť celé odvetvie, ktoré dovtedy vyrábalo iba kusové série automobilov. A to sa mu aj podarilo – sprístupnil automobil širokým masám, pretože si ho už mohli dovoliť. Až do započatia výroby vozidla „Model T“ bol automobil symbolom vyššieho spoločenského postavenia, mohli si ho dovoliť len horné vrstvy obyvateľstva. Spustením masovej výroby už nebol len doménou bohatých ľudí, ale stal sa bežnou súčasťou strednej triedy.

   V tom čase (1896-1930) pôsobilo v USA približne 1 800 automobilových spoločností, v krízových rokoch 1928-37 však veľa z nich zbankrotovalo. Ford prežil práve vďaka masovej výrobe, keďže svojim automobilom „Model T“ zaviedol pásovú výrobu. V tomto čase nielenže zamestnal tisíce ľudí, ale aj umožnil, aby si toto auto mohli dovoliť aj jeho robotníci vo fabrikách. Jeho veľkou výhodou bola totiž veľmi nízka cena. V tom čase išlo o veľký pokrok. “Model T” bol skromný, praktický a jednoduchý automobil vyrobený z pevných materiálov a štandardizovaných súčiastok.

   Ford nebol jediný, kto spustil v masovej výrobe revolúciu. Neskôr vznikli mnohé ďalšie “massproduktové” firmy, ako napríklad Procter & Gamble alebo Unilever. Tieto dve spoločnosti pôsobili hlavne v potravinárskom segmente a na trhu s domácimi chemickými prostriedkami.

   Vedecko-technický rozvoj pomohol vytvoriť príležitosti pre mnohých, nielen pre bohatú časť obyvateľstva, a tak masové produkty postupne začali prenikať do všetkých oblastí podnikania. Produktový priemysel sa neskôr zväčšil natoľko, že väčšinu dnešných produktov vlastnia práve masovoproduktové spoločnosti.

   Podľa môjho názoru sa bude masovoproduktový priemysel v budúcnosti viac koncentrovať a konsolidovať s tým, že bude mať väčší podiel na trhu. Tento názor podporuje aj Olduvaiova teória, podľa ktorej má byť industriálna doba od roku 1930 do 2030. Vývoj nových produktov vytvorí pre ich materské spoločnosti širokú škálu produktov.

S masovými produktmi prišiel aj ďalší fenomén a to vertikálna a horizontálna integrácia. Podľa vertikálnej integrácie spoločnosti vyrábajúce masové produkty najprv získavajú dominantné postavenie na trhu a neskôr odkupujú konkurenčné spoločnosti za účelom získania monopolného postavenia. Pri horizontálnej integrácii celý proces okolo služieb alebo výrobku ovládajú spoločnosti naviazané na toho istého vlastníka, čím dochádza ku kontrole výrobných procesov a ceny.

   Na záver by som chcel zdôrazniť prínos masových produktov pre dnešnú spoločnosť. Tým najväčším je azda to, že masové produkty umožnili, že i v tej najviac odľahnutej krajine máme k dispozícii výrobky, ktoré sú globálne prezentované a zákazníkom ľahko rozoznateľné.

 Filip Orth

   Zaobstarať do firmy vhodný notebook pre zamestnancov je v súčasnosti pomerne netriviálna záležitosť. Ponuka výrobcov je najrozsiahlejšia v ich histórii a zvoliť si riešenie, ktoré bude moderné aj po troch rokoch, je komplikované. Našťastie sa v ponuke objavil aj HP Revolve 810.

Je masívny, pevný, s úžasným dotykovým displejom a dokonalou klávesnicou. Tieto dojmy vo vás zanechá prvý kontakt s notebookom HP Revolve, ktorý je právom považovaný za jeden z najlepších hybridných systémov na svete. Ako notebook plní svoju funkciu výborne a z pozície tabletu poskytuje všetko, čo sa od moderného dotykom ovládaného zariadenia očakáva.

HP Elitebook Revolve 810 je vynikajúcou Windows 8 alternatívou k produktom značky Apple, pričom ponúka aj možnosť použitia ako extrémne výkonného tabletu. Telo hybridného notebooku HP Revolve 810 je vyrobené z pevného kovu, pričom kryty sú pokryté jemným, na dotyk príjemným materiálom. Displej tohto hybridu má pri uhlopriečke 11,6 palcov rozlíšenie 1366 × 768 pixelov, ktoré je garanciou čistého a detailného obrazu. Nielen fotografie a video, ale aj grafy v prezentáciach a grafiku predvedie v nevídanej detailnosti.

Spolu s notebookom HP Revolve 810 dostane jeho majiteľ aj slušnú zbierku softvéru. Ten však nemá ten otravný charakter, s ktorým sa stretávame pri mnohých iných notebookoch. Ide o služby Evernote, Intel WiDi, HP ePrint, MS Office 2010 na 60 dní, PDF Complete Corporate Edition a mimoriadne rozsiahlu zbierku bezpečnostných funkcií. Ak ste zástancom filozofie, že správne fungujúca firma musí svojim zamestnancom poskytnúť najlepšie možné technické prostriedky, potom by ste mali svoju pozornosť zameriať práve na HP Elitebook Revolve 810.

• Procesor: Intel Core i5 a i7
• Pamäť: 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD
• Displej: dotykový 11,6” 1366 × 768 pixelov
• Hmotnosť: 1,4 kg
• Záruka: 2 roky
• Hodnota: 1200 – 1600 EUR

"The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is more than just a powerful premium smartphone. It's a work tool with unprecedented potential." The product offensive of the Japanese company Sony for 2013 has taken on an unprecedented value. While in the past it preferred to produce and sell mid-range devices, this year its products are classified as high-end. One of them is the Xperia Z Ultra smartphone.

   The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is designed primarily for tech enthusiasts and business customers who need a device that can meet their demanding needs. That's why the Xperia Z Ultra is extremely thin and compact, equipped with a 6.4-inch Full HD display, laptop-like performance and an extensive collection of communication technologies.

  Sony has successfully represented the Omnibalance design trend with the Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z devices, and the latest Xperia Z Ultra is their ideal complement. It is neither a smartphone nor a tablet, with a 6.4-inch display diagonal it is somewhere in between. With such a screen size, presenting an offer to a client in a cafe is not a problem either.

   The Sony Xperia Z Ultra works with an extremely powerful core. It is represented by a 4-core processor with a frequency of 2.2 GHz (i.e. more than the popular Samsung Galaxy S4), an Adreno 330 graphics processor, 2 GB of RAM and the Google Android Jelly Bean operating system in version 4.2. This combination, which is also suitably complemented by the Timescape environment directly from Sony, ensures reliable operation of the system and therefore a positive user experience. Another unique feature of the device also contributes to its improvement - it is completely waterproof. If you leave it on the terrace of your house during a thunderstorm and remember about it only after half an hour, the device will be fine.

Theodore Sedgwick is the United States Ambassador to Slovakia, a position he has held since June 4, 2013. After graduating from Harvard College, where he studied Ottoman history, he worked in various commercial and non-commercial organizations. He founded the publishing house Pasha Publications, the energy company Io Energy, and served on the boards of Inside Higher Ed, Atlantic Information Services, and Washington Business Information. A significant part of his activities also takes on a charitable dimension, as his career also includes work in charitable organizations such as the Civil War Preservation Trust, the Wetlands America Trust, and the Land Trust Alliance. We asked Theodore Sedgwick not only about his view on US foreign policy.

   1) You represent the US in Slovakia at the diplomatic level. What does this job entail?

   At the diplomatic level, I simply represent the US in foreign policy positions. However, it is important to note that my work as a diplomat encompasses many other aspects, such as promoting trade and investment, military and security cooperation, cultural and educational exchange, and various other topics. That is what makes this job so interesting.

   2) Readers have already had the opportunity to read several interviews with you in various media in Slovakia, but what would interest readers of our magazine is how you perceive the business environment in Slovakia and what, in your opinion, is the difference with that in the USA?

   All things considered, Slovakia has a good climate for foreign direct investment. A skilled workforce, a generally flexible labor code, and reasonably low taxes are all positives. However, many companies doing business in Slovakia express concerns about the legal principles in the country, and I share this view. Companies say they lack confidence in the reliability of the judiciary, which is a serious problem.

   3) Why do you think Democratic Party supporter Barack Obama won the US presidential election for the second time?

   In the last US election, we had two good candidates. I think that overall voters preferred President Obama's approach to economic policy. However, the American public is generally fairly evenly divided on many key issues.

   4) What can the USA expect from B. Obama in his second term? What changes will there be in foreign policy?

   I don't think there will be any significant changes in foreign policy during President Obama's second term. I think many Europeans are concerned that the US is shifting its focus away from Europe to Asia.

   While the US is clearly focusing more of its attention on Asian security and commercial matters, this is not at all at the expense of the US relationship with Europe. As you can see with the start of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU, we see this relationship as crucial, both strategically and economically.

   The global economy and recession are a serious problem. Recent months suggest that better times are already dawning in the US.

   5) How do you see it compared to Europe?

   We have expressed our concern that there may be an overemphasis on necessary austerity in Europe, leading to a continued recession in Europe. The pro-growth measures taken by President Obama in the US – with the stimulus package, quantitative easing and tax cuts – are succeeding in growing our economy and reducing unemployment.

  6) After being elected president, B. Obama gave a very action-packed speech in the Senate in February of this year, with a lot of detail on various topics, without reading the text. Which part caught your attention the most?

   The speech was a road map for the president's second term, laying out the policies he wants to enact for the rest of his time in office. I was particularly struck by his focus on making the necessary decisions to reduce our budget, but at the same time continuing to invest in things like infrastructure and education. He also emphasized the need to rebuild America's middle class, which has been hit particularly hard by the economic recession. Finally, he spoke eloquently about the need for immigration reform and for both political parties to come together and address the challenges facing the US.

   7) The United States has been growing mainly on the wave of immigration since its inception, this topic is also important for the current government administration. What is your opinion on this topic?

   The United States is a nation of immigrants, and our country is enriched by the waves of immigrants who come to our shores. President Obama would like to liberalize our immigration policy by giving some illegal immigrants a path to citizenship while strengthening our borders against further illegal immigration. Our Congress is working on this right now.

   8) In your position as ambassador, you and your wife represent a country where dreams can come true for those who are smart. What do you think about this statement?

   My wife and I certainly believe that the United States is a place where dreams come true. Someone like Barack Obama can come from a broken biracial family with little means and become President of the United States. And many entrepreneurs can become millionaires almost overnight.

   9) In the past, people like A. Carnegie and Rockefeller did a lot for the country and people in the USA. Nowadays, their followers W. Buffet and B. Gates and others are following the same path. Why do you think that companies and people from the USA are among the greatest philanthropists in the world?

   Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker and historian, traveled to the United States in the 1830s and commented on how generous and hospitable Americans were. Perhaps it began when settlers were dependent on the charity of earlier settlers in the country. However, I believe it is true that Americans are generally generous people and want to give back to society.

   10) If we may ask you, what is your life credo?

   "Giving money away is easy and anyone can do it. But deciding who to give money to, how much, when, and why is not easy for everyone, and that is why such an excellent quality is rare, praiseworthy, and noble." Aristotle

Vladimir Orth

   Opening gala performance of the season – opera Svätopluk – prepared by the management of the Slovak National Theatre (SND) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of composer Eugen Suchoň and the 1,150th anniversary of the arrival of Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia. The work maps one of the most important periods of our history, which indelibly predetermined our historical development. In the image of Svätopluk, the creators of the opera offer a study of a monarch longing for the unity of his empire. This central character is not understood schematically. They give him the painful features of a man who fails in his efforts. The author honed the musical and dramatic “edge” of this work in the sharp conflict between paganism on the one hand and the new Christian message on the other. However, Suchoň’s Svätopluk is by no means just a historical canvas describing Slavic history. After all, the work ends painfully, tragically – and culminates with the prediction that it will take a whole thousand years for the desire for freedom and unity to be fulfilled.

   On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth, the SND Opera, directed by Martin Schüler, will present the popular opera Rigoletto, which will feature the Slovak singing elite along with high-quality foreign guests. One of the most famous works by the great Italian master needs no special introduction. Victor Hugo's drama The King is Having Fun was an ideal subject for Verdi to portray great passions, a socially critical perspective and a touching personal line. The main character, the court jester, alias the lord's servant Rigoletto, is faced with a dilemma: to survive at all costs without existential harm in an immoral environment, to ignore the consequences of his behavior or to resist, as Count Monterone proved, because in life every action is paid for, sometimes very dearly, by the loss of the most valuable thing - in this story, the beloved daughter Gilda.

   The upcoming season at the SND Drama Theater presents a parade of great classic titles – theatrical adaptations of Gustave Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary (dramatization by Iva Klestilová, directed by Eduard Kudláč) and Jana Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (dramatized by Anna Saavedra, directed by Marián Amsler). Both titles bring to the stage the story of strong women who seek their happiness outside of social conventions.

   Madame Bovary – that's Emma, a beautiful young lady raised in a convent who marries the village doctor Karol. However, their marriage is not a happy one. Karol is not a bad man. On the contrary. He is good, kind, trusting and even shy. However, he does not understand his wife's soul and does not realize that unless he finds a way to make her happy, he exposes her to the temptation to seek happiness with someone else.

   Sympathetic, naturally humble and at the same time strong, self-confident Jane Eyre also overcomes the rigid social restrictions of her time. With the harmony of her external and internal beauty, she represents a bright counterpoint not only to the suffocating grayness of the rigid society that has been trying to deform her since childhood, but also to the dark secrets and spontaneity of Rochester - the man she loves devotedly despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The theme of self-confidently and purposefully chosen sacrifice as the only path to purification and achieving the goal is surprisingly uplifting even today, or especially today.

   The long-awaited premiere of the SND Ballet before the end of the year will be Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. The premiere of the children's ballet with a Christmas theme is a return to the traditional and most awarded version of the Russian choreographer Vajnonen. In a narratively generous production, full of artistically rich images, as well as technically demanding variations, the child audience will embark on a fairy-tale journey through the Christmas story, interpreted by soloists and members of the SND Ballet choir and students of the Eva Jaczová Dance Conservatory in Bratislava.

New season at the Slovak National Theater opens with classics

   The opening gala performance of the season – the opera Svätopluk – commemorates the 20th anniversary of the death of its composer Eugen Suchoň and the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia. This monumental historical drama is not only a celebration of the famous history of Western Slavs, but also a convincing musical drama, with a complex inner world of the leading characters. Svätopluk faces a dilemma: to fight for the new Christian future, or to give way to the Pagans; to follow the heritage of Rastislav, or to remain in power at any cost? Svätopluk also experiences the personal drama of a king who committed serious moral crimes on his way to power. His reconciliation with God and his own conscience comes as a culmination of the drama at the end, in the form of a prophetic wisdom and leniency.

   On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Guiseppe Verdi's birth, the Slovak National Theater Opera stages a new production of Rigoletto directed by Martin Schüller with a cast featuring leading Slovak singers and excellent foreign guests as well. There is no need to introduce one of the most famous works by the great Italian maestro to an opera visitor. Victor Hugo's drama Le roi s'amuse was an ideal story for Verdi, containing great passion, a critical view of society and a touching personal line. Rigoletto, the leading character, a court's jester alias minion of the noblemen, has got a dilemma: to survive with no harm in a shameful environment, to ignore the consequences of his own behavior, or to protest as Count Monterone did. One has to pay a price for each action in life, and sometimes the price is very high, and means losing what is most precious to us, in this story his beloved daughter Gilda.

   The start of the season of the drama ensemble is dedicated to great classical works. Both Flaubert's Madame Bovary and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontëdepict the story of strong women looking for their happiness, breaking social norms in their times.

   Madame Bovary – Emma, a beautiful young woman who received a good education in a convent marries Charles, a countryside medical doctor. But their marriage is not a happy one. Charles is not a bad man. On the contrary, he is good, nice, trusting and even shy. He does not understand his wife and he is not aware of the fact that without finding the way to make her happy, she will be exposed to the temptation to find happiness with somebody else. He is not able to reach her soul and so Emma lives her life as in a dream.

   The novel Jane Eyre written by the English writer Charlotte Brontë is a story of an amiable, naturally humble, but at the same time strong Jane, who overcomes the rigid limitations of Victorian conventions. In the harmony of her outer and inner beauty she presents a positive counterpart not only against the repressive greyness of the regimented society, which has been trying to deform her, but also against those dark secrets and the spontaneity of Rochester, the man she truly loves in spite of seemingly invincible obstacles. The topic of consciously and resolutely chosen sacrifice, as the only way leading to a purge and meeting one's goal is surprisingly inspiring even today, or especially today.

   The eagerly awaited new production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker based on the traditional version by Vassily Vajnonen, choreographed and directed by Rafael Avnikjan and Jozef Dolinský, shall premiere in December. This Christmas-themed ballet for children returns in the traditional and highly acclaimed version of the Russian choreographer Vainonen. The visually striking production with beautiful sets and costumes and sophisticated technical variations takes children on a fairy-tale journey through the popular Christmas story together with the Nutcracker and soloists and ensemble of the Slovak National Theater Ballet and students of Eva Jaczová Dance Conservatory in Bratislava.

Formula 1 has always been an attractive sport for the masses. A significant role in its popularization is played by the pair Niki Lauda and James Hunt, whose rivalry has also become interesting for the media. The new film “Rush” is about them.

   The 1970s are considered the golden era of Formula 1. It was in this period that director Ron Howard set his new film Rivals. In it, viewers have the opportunity to look not only behind the scenes of the most prestigious car race in the world, but also into the battles between two brilliant drivers, Niki Lauda and James Hunt. They were rivals not only in their professional but also in their private lives.

   Niki Lauda (played by Daniel Brühl) recovers from a near-fatal accident and returns to the game to take on a British playboy in the pursuit of the world championship. Despite suffering lifelong health consequences from the accident, he did not give up his fight to be the best single-seater driver. He entered the race 48 days later to defend his title. Many consider this move to be the most courageous in the history of the sport.

   James Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth, known for his role as Thor in the film, was a phenomenon in his time. He had a lot of crashes and collisions, but when he finally learned to keep the car on the track, he achieved great success. Once he won the Formula 1 world championship in a duel with Niki Lauda in the spectacular 1976 season, British television stations even decided that it would be worth broadcasting the races on television.

   The filmmakers did not remain true to reality. They also included sponsors who actually supported Formula 1 drivers in the 1970s, including TAG Heuer. Interestingly, TAG Heuer carries out its marketing activities in the Slovak Republic through an official distributor, which is a client of the media agency Multibrand, a member company of the United Group.

From June 6 to 8, 2013, an event was held in Piešťany again, which, in addition to a beautiful display of historic vehicles, is also a demonstration of the excellent management work of the organizers.

    The development of motoring in Piešťany is inextricably linked to the local spa. In 1912, the Winters bought a Dion Bouton passenger car, which they rented out to spa guests, including with a driver. In this way, rather unknowingly, they laid the foundation stone for the future emergence of car rental companies, which today, a century later, are dominated by AVIS in Slovakia.

   The history of the Piešťany car show dates back to the years 1932 to 1937, when famous competitions for the most beautiful car were held in Piešťany. The events were known as the Concours d'Elégance and were the culmination of long parade drives. Interestingly, they were also attended by famous spa guests and personalities with shiny cars, such as actor Vlasta Burian, singer Richard Taubner or the famous Countess Geraldína Apponyiová of Oponice.

However, World War II stopped the tradition of the competition, which was resumed after 1980 under the name Piešťany Golden Ribbons – Concours d'Elégance, but as a show of historic vehicles. The competition program usually consists of a drive on a selected route outside Piešťany. However, the most attractive to spectators is the drive through the city and the show of cars on the Spa Island with an evaluation of the most beautiful of them. Thanks to ardent lovers of vintage cars, we can admire rare cars from different countries and their crews dressed in period clothing every year. In front of the Thermia Palace Hotel, which creates a dignified, elegant and period-appropriate environment, individual vintage cars and their crews are ceremonially presented to the public. It is an experience not only for younger generations, but also a full-fledged excursion into the past for adult admirers of motoring.

   The unique parade of historic vehicles Piešťany Golden Ribbons – Concours d'Élégance 2013 began in the afternoon, when the shiny vintage cars passed through Winterova Street to Kúpeľný ostrov. Here the organizers welcomed them and introduced the individual vehicles. On Friday, June 7, the crews of their oldtimers dressed in period costumes started from Kúpeľný ostrov. They had a 120 km long route with a stop at the prestigious manor house in Oponice, from where they continued to Nitra and back to Piešťany. On Saturday, lovers of historic vehicles presented themselves in Trnava. Among the participants in the event were also the racers of this year's Dakar Rally on their racing Tatra 815. The people of Piešťany also welcomed an autograph session with motorcyclist Ivan Jakeš, who at the prestigious Rally

Dakar achieved a lifetime achievement – 4th place.

   Among the interesting models were also the Rolls Royce Phantom from 1926, the Jaguar from 1952 or the Belsize Cabrio from 1903 and dozens of other rare vehicles from several European countries. The culmination of the event was the Saturday "beauty parade" in front of the Thermia Palace hotel. An international jury selected the most beautiful cars and the best period clothing of the crews in individual categories. The presentation of the crews on the red carpet was accompanied by a musical program and the event culminated with fireworks in the rhythm of period music. The Piešťany golden ribbons were a success again and, according to the organizer, Ján Horňák, they certainly surpassed the world rallies in Sweden and Berlin.