What's Up summer 2019

SAYING GOODBYE Our trip to Wien Week of unorthodox education Mgr. Jana Podzámska From maturita essays

Tcaobnltoeefnts EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 4 Saying goodbye FILIP JANUŠKA SUPERVISOR 6 Bradlo 7 Our trip to Wien Alena Cilíková 8 The “week“ of unorthodox ESTAFF-WRITERS education Bronislava Bendová Katarína Borovská 11 Romeo and Juliet on stage Dominika Brezinová Veronika Hazuchová Nina Holičová Veronika Hudáková introducing our teachers Julka Hurbaničová Filip Januška 12 Mgr. Jana Podzámska Alex Jurča Janko Košík MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Nina Kovaříková Matrin Krč 14 Alex Jurča Daniela Kročianová Ema Kuhajdová MUSIC Lenka Michaličková Viktor Mokrohajský 16 Invisible tentacles of modern music industry Matúš Rybnikár Matúš Samek MOVIES Vincent Vystavel Mgr. Ľubica Durcová 18 Who holds the Academy Award for the Best Picture? GRAPHIC DESIGNER WORDPLAY Jarka Petrášová 20 Barmecide - Chapter 2 IT 24 From maturita essays Jarka Petrášová 25 How good should one be? ONLINE PUBLISHING JOKES Jarka Petrášová 26 Jokes PHOTOGRAPHER Nina Mockovčiaková LANGUAGE CORRECTION Matt Haarman Alena Cilíková Filip Januška Martin Krč

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Filip Januška Saying goodbye 4 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

Everything has a beginning and an end. Beginnings tend to be joyful, full of expectations and high hopes. Ends, on the other hand, are often heart-breaking and filled with tears. Nobody likes when good things end. It is however an inevitable part of our lives. Nothing can last forever, even if we wish for the opposite. So, after five years, this is the end of an incredibly important chapter of my life. The five years that I’ve spent in this school were life-changing and they helped me find my place in this world. I’m sure that if you asked any of my classmates, they’d say the same thing. When I first set foot in this school, I had no idea who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. I let time pass through my fingers and spent my days enclosed in my own bubble, not caring about the outside world. But slowly I started to realize that this is no way to live. I wanted something more. So I started looking. And eventually I found the ‘something more’. I found out that I love putting my thoughts into words and putting those words out there for people to read. This was one of the many steps which helped me form my personality. And it wouldn’t have been possible, if it weren’t for What’s up and a good friend of mine, who convinced me to start writing. And I am incredibly thankful for being able to share my opinions with other people through this magazine and also for later receiving the honor of becoming the editor in chief and having the responsibility for the functioning of the magazine to a certain degree. The years that I’ve spent working with the What’s Up collective weren’t always perfect, but they are filled with great memories and even greater people. And before I realized how the time flew by, it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye to a five year long journey and to all the people who shared it with me. To all my friends who are leaving with me, I’d like to say thank you for all the amazing memories and moments of laughter, joy and sometimes even tears. To all teachers who guided us through this difficult road, I want to say thank you for not giving up on us and helping us discover our passions. To all the younger students who might be reading this, I want to say: cherish the time you have left with people around you right now. Because the day will come when the harsh realization hits you: ‘This may be the last time I see this person’. Every moment counts. Every moment you spend with them becomes a wonderful memory for you to come back to in the future. So don’t waste your time. I don’t want this to end on a sad note. So, in the spirit of optimism, I leave you with this quote: “Sometimes, good things need to end for better things to begin”. Every new beginning is an opportunity to start over. And every end is an opportunity for someone else’s new beginning. I leave this magazine in great hands of a group of incredibly talented young people and I’m certain that the legacy of What’s up will continue on for many more years, long after people forget about the 2.05m giant who used to roam the halls of this school. Ladies and gentlemen, you may unbuckle your seat belts. This ride is over. WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 5

bradlo by VERONIKA HAZUCHOVÁ and LENKA MICHALIČKOVÁ On 15th April“ we“, the 1.B class and our teacher Mrs. Cilíková, went on a trip to Bradlo and Košariská. It all started in Myjava when some of us got on a bus headed to Brezová, where the rest of our group was waiting for us. After meeting up, we started walking towards Bradlo. Firstly, we tried to go along a path in the forest , but after a while we realised that the better option was to go next to a road. The feeling, when we finally reached Bradlo, was excellent. We took some photos and then we continued on to Košariská along the road next to some fields and nature. We were breathing fresh air and enjoying that sunny day. It took us about an hour before we arrived in Košariská. There we visited the museum of M. R. Štefánik. In the museum we listened to an interpretation of his life, his travels and his achievements. Afterwards, we had a rest and then, again in groups, we left the village. It was a really good idea to spend the day together in nature, instead of going to school. Surely, everybody enjoyed themselves and we are looking forward to future trips. 6 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

OUT TRIP TO WIEN by LENKA MICHALIČKOVÁ It was last month when we decided to visit one of WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine the most beautiful cities, Wien, with 3.B class and our teachers, Mrs. Cilíková, Mrs. Durcová and Mr. Vydarený. When we came to the bus station, we had to wait for our driver for about half an hour as he confused the time of our departure. Everybody felt cold and we were happy when he finally arrived. When we came to the place, we wanted to go to the Schonbrunn Palace looking forward to experiencing the imperial nostalgia which Wien is famous for. However, it was overcrowded so we decided to go to the city centre at first. Half of us went to the Naturhistorische Museum and the second group went to see one of the tallest and the most beautiful churches in the world, Stephansdom cathedral in the city centre. Yes, the architecture was amazing! At last we visited one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in the country, the Schonbrunn Palace which we had wanted to see before. This place is a former imperial summer residence and a major tourist attraction. We took plenty of photos in its beautiful gardens and we plan to exhibit them in our class for a keepsake. At the end of our trip on the way back, we stopped to buy something sweet in a chocolate shop in the village called Kittsee. We enjoyed this trip a lot and we are loooking forward to next trip spent together. 7

The “week” of unorthodox education by MATÚŠ RYBNIKÁR, JANKO KOŠÍK The time came once again, with Easter being around the corner, the week could begin. Its first alternative feature being the fact that this week does not really last just a week, rather some of the events are scattered throughout the spectrum of almost a month. But what is it actually like to take part in this week, you ask? Well, we (Matúš and J.M.Košík) wrote a few words concerning this ‘’week’’. Without further ado, let’s get straight to it. Get to know Gymy’s postgraduates Adela Zábražná, Soňa Štefková, Lukáš Adámek...Those Soňa: For me the reasons were similar (I thought are the names of the people who attended GYMY 10-15 years back and now, reportedly, they occupy dream jobs about what I would have wanted to hear, too). Maybe which do not fill only their souls with a generous dose to tell the younger version of me (the high school of enjoyment but also their bank accounts with a solid student) something about my personal experience. financial amount what is an ideal scenario for any career And the other reason was just to give thanks for what often appearing to be unattainable. This trinity had this school had given, so as to return it. accepted an invitation to our school and visited us during the week of unorthodox education to make an informal Lukáš: To me, just the idea of students listening to lecture about their current lives, about their lives before, at high school, university and about their ways of thinking me seems quite delightful because I don’t really feel during these periods. as if I had that much to tell them. I don’t really see myself as that much older nor experienced, yet if there The idea of an event like this sounds attractive, is something and they would like to listen to it, then especially for young, indecisive pupils who hold only I would definitely love to tell them what I’ve gone vague images about what they actually do want in life. through and to share my experiences. We’ll see how they react. Well, it is pretty important to stimulate young folks to start thinking about the future, where do they see THE NEXT QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK themselves in 15-20 years. It is almost essential to plan YOU IS ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS CONSIDERING and define your life goals, priorities and purpose since APPEARING ONCE AGAIN IN THIS SCHOOL. an adolescent age, because then, you rise the chance HOW DID IT FEEL TO ENTER THIS BUILDING of leading a meaningful and organized (or at least less AFTER A FEW YEARS? chaotic) life throughout adulthood. A: The first thing was being able to enter the teacher’s room. The school is …. well it’s quite similar, you see However, by all the systematization, there is one thing the same people (and you’re very happy to see them, that was also one of the most mentioned matters during because you have not been here for 10 years). Overall, the lecture and which we definitely should not forget it’s a very pleasant feeling to be here and see that some about. It is flexibility. Yes, the skill of understanding things do not change. that certain circumstances in your life may change. S: I realised that the relationship between me and my The acceptance of the fact that not everything will go former teachers have strengthened and now we see the way we imagined. The ability to admit that your each other as co-workers. The bounds created between life vision might modify since you evolve. The open- the student and his teachers do not end. mindedness towards new concepts brought by a rapidly L: I have not been here for so long.I felt a little nostalgic. developing era. The presence of something like plan B The first thing I realised was that the same charwoman in your life... has been here for over 12 years (Greetings!). Overall, it feels nice. Matúš made an interview with all of them beforehand: WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE 3 YOUNG TO COMPLETE, IS THERE ANYTHING (FOR SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE, GRADUATES OF OUR EXAMPLE: AN ADVICE, ETC.) THAT YOU WOULD SCHOOL, COME BACK FOR A MOMENT AND LIKE TO TELL OUR READERS? SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH ITS CURRENT A: That you don’t have to fear anything! STUDENTS? WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO COME? S: Of course, I have a quote from Tomáš Baťa in my presentation and it says: You can achieve anything you Adela: What prompted me? Well, I don’t know about want! Thus, even if one does not have the best marks, but has got a passion for something, he can just go for the others, but for me it was thinking about what I, back it (even if there are obstacles). as a student of Gymy, would have wanted to hear. For L: I’ll just reapeat what’s already been said. If you know me it would’ve been experiences of people that were what you want to achieve, just go for it. Sometimes still relatively young, that had achieved sometihng and you’ll have to do something you’re not really into, but yet had gone through all of what I was going through. do not let it deceive you! I would like to thank you all for your time 8 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

22 countries in 11 weeks YOU HAVE MANAGED TO TRAVEL ACROSS QUITE A FEW COUNTRIES. IF YOU COULD ONLY Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit 22 CHOOSE ONE OF THEM, WHICH WOULD IT BE? countries in 11 weeks? If your answer is yes, then this J: You’re giving me a very hard question, ‘cause , you presentation was for you and even if you haven’t yet know, for a traveller it’s just always difficult to say. I thought of it, then it had something to offer to you as would be thinking about New Zealand, Argentina and well. Juraj Saliba showed us pictures from his expedition, Canada. But at the end it would probably be Argentina souvenirs, equipment and yes, he narrated the journey, because of Patagonia. That would be my #1 choice and so that we could imagine experiencing all of it and start it is currently the #1 in my list, too. planing our own journey. DURING YOUR PRESENTATION YOU GAVE US I made an interview with him, too. A NUMBER OF TRICKS/RECOMMENDATIONS HAVING GRADUATED FROM GYMY AND LEFT FOR TRAVELLING. I WON’T BE ABLE TO IT, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK FOR A MENTION ALL OF THEM IN MY ARTICLE, SO WHILE? COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR #1 ADVICE? J: #1 is safety, always. Whenever you’re travelling you J: Well, to be honest, I come here pretty often, because can be spontaneous, do crazy things, have a lot of fun, explore, talk to people, ... but safety should always now I live in Myjava. However, it’s always nice to be be your #1 priority, therefore never underestimate it back, although I don’t know any students anymore. because once you die you cannot explore anymore (it’s It’s always great to see my former teachers, sometimes as simple as that). I come to visit them also with my former classmates. But to be here giving a kind of a lecture is a new and Thank you for your time very unique experience for me (it was my first time), so that was very exciting. It was a challenge in some way, *You can find out more about Juraj’s trip on his blog, but the guys were great, they were asking questions called Projekt 22/11 at blog.refresher.sk. and seemed to be very excited about the trip, so I hope they all’ll travelling next summer. Swordsmen throughout The war that split Slovak history Yugoslavia Historically suited costumes, weapons, people and 2 war veterans from UN Veteran Slovakia came to slight action as subjects of the conflicts within Slovak talk about the Yugoslav War, as they participated in history. And what else should I say? To be honest, I a UN peace mission sent to help inhabitants stricken am slightly negatively biased as we’d already had this by the war and to re-establish the infrastructure in show come to our elementary school. Which, however countries spoiled by this war. They explained to us is also a part of the problem. The audience was most what happened in the war and shared their memories. likely meant to be made of younger pupils. I see it was Moreover, they expressed their opinions concerning made to popularize Slovak history but what I lacked war and some issues. We could ask them questions and was approaching the conflicts from their other sides discuss our opinions. and a higher historical criticism. ZERO WASTE Probably all of us are (at least to some extend) aware of the impact our lifestyle has on the environment. We might have first gotten in touch with the fact in school, during a presentation, in What’s Up, etc. Likewise, we are familiar with steps to take in order to lower our impact, yet some might still wonder whether it actually possible to maintain a normal living, while having a minimum impact on the environment. During her presentation, Petra Slezáková, of Zero Waste Slovakia, proven it to be possible. She told us the reasons for her commitment towards a zero-waste lifestyle and shared her advices on living an eco-friendly life. *Zerowasteslovakia.sk WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 9

An American nutritionist (95) at Gymy Prof. Dr. John Scharffenberg, MD, MPH is an lectures of this kind fall on stony ground? American professor of nutrition. He was born in Are people able to change their habits easily, December 1923 in China, where his parents served with proper effectiveness and durability? Are as religious missionaries. In a certain period of his people successful in accomplishing long- early adulthood, he went to the United States of term changes in their lives? We are humans, America. There, as you rightly presume, began his impatient and lazy beings who do not like it professional career. After the study of preventive to change something what we are already used medicine, Mr. Scharffenberg got his doctorate to. Many of us would not take any change even degree in nutrition at Harvard university. if we had a tiny suspicion that it might be the right step towards a better life in some way. We The idea of an event like this sounds attractive, are passive. The current era has taught us that especially for young, indecisive pupils who hold in order to survive, there is almost no need to only vague images about what they actually do fight for something. want in life. But what is that element that causes people to Professor Scharffenberg used to work as a main act, what influences them to make substantial, lecturer in the field of primary prevention at the effective and long-lasting changes in their University of Loma Linda. The elderly professor lives? Well, there must be a serious reason for also lives in this small Californian town which that and from my perspective, it is generally is one of the so-called blue zones. The blue something unpleasant. Something what drags zones are geographical areas on our planet people to the state of a huge discomfort and with remarkably high life expectancy of local diverse concerns. Something what threatens residents. The average male in Loma Linda lives our well-being in a certain sense and attracts to 89 and the average female to 91. Reportedly, all our attention. One probably won’t change it is mostly because of their lifestyle based on his lifestyle if there is no severe reason for a vegetarian diet and regular exercise. Other doing it, even though that change would mean blue zones could be found in Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), or Icaria (Greece). a vast improvement in several ways. One probably won’t transform his Professor John Scharffenberg still, poor eating habits till there are no despite his age, tours across the US palpable signs of serious health and outland lecturing about sundry complications. One probably findings on nutrition whose won’t quit smoking till he isn’t putting into practice can make diagnosed with a life-altering our health better. disease. People are aware of risks that smoking, overweight, At the beginning of May, this alcohol and stuff like that almost 96-years old doctor came brings. The knowledge of an to our school to talk about... unpleasant statistic reporting nutrition. The old professor was that tobacco kills around 8 armed with tons of facts, statistics million people each year won’t recommendations, myth-busting persuade you to throw your information and interpretations cigarettes away. Prevention is of various discoveries. The better than cure, but it seems to me present students that changes that are preceded by were advised an alarming experience are what to eat, more efficient and drink, how persistent. much, when or what is better to avoid. However, don’t 10 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

ROMEO AND JULIET ON STAGE by NATÁLIA KROČIANOVÁ At the end of March, we had an opportunity to go for a school trip to Bratislava. The main aim of our trip was seeing Romeo and Juliet, one of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, performed in English language. Above all, this most frequently performed play of Shakespeare was played by British ensemble! At 8:00 am we started our trip to Bratislava by bus. At first, everything was going well, we had a plan to make a stop at the Avion shopping centre, buy some lunch there and go shopping to our favourite shops. Unfortunately, we had to make a change in our plans, because we got stuck in a traffic jam right before Bratislava. When we finally got to the capital city, we had only half an hour to have some meal. Luckily, our teachers made a quick decision and we made a short stop in the shopping centre right opposite Istropolis - the theatre where Romeo and Juliet was on. In the shopping centre we bought some snacks and hurried to the theatre. The performance was played brilliantly and we enjoyed the old Shakespearean English that was so unusual to us. Our seats were right in the first row, so we had a great view and we saw a lot of details of the costumes and actors, too. Although, the plot was familiar with everyone, we still enjoyed it. I can say that the story of Romeo and Juliet and their unfortunate love is always a pleasure to see. In the end, we made it home right on time we were supposed to and we were full of new memories from this trip. We found out that even everything did not go according to our plans, there was still something positive at the end. WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 11

INTRODUCING OUR TEACHERS Mgr. Jana Podzámska by VINCENT VYSTAVEL This year was full of changes for GYMY. Not just because of YOU HAVE BEEN TEACHING CHEMISTRY the usual changes, like the coming of new students and the AND PHYSICS AT GYMY FOR A LONG leaving of old ones, or the important changes in the highest TIME. IF YOU COULD MAKE THIS CHOICE AGAIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TEACH positions in our school, but also because of the leaving of THOSE TWO SUBJECTS? OR WOULD YOU two of our favourite teachers, Mrs. Podzámska and Ms. CHOOSE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROFESSION? Pribišová. Both of these teachers contributed a great deal to our school. Mrs. Podzámska has devoted many years of her At the beginning of this little life to making students love, the not so popular, sciences, confession of mine, I want to make a and she is leaving now (maybe a little bit too early) with many memories and the good feeling of nurturing many summarization of my teaching years. happy and grateful students. Ms. Pribišová wasn’t at our school as long, but great was her impact. Mrs. Podzámska I started teaching at primary school, generously agreed on an interview, so let´s see what her where I had been teaching for about a experience was, in her own words. 12 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine year and I experienced the teaching of subjects which I did not study. Then later I moved to a secondary vocational school, where I could teach my subjects and I have been teaching them for fourteen years at our gymnazium. Chemistry and physics aren´t the most popular subjects among students, but I can´t imagine teaching something else.

INTRODUCING OUR TEACHERS I have personally experienced EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM EVOLVING IN A me the happiest. I will always have teaching on every level of education, and GOOD DIRECTION? memories from school trips and from I must state that students´ characters are I have been teaching for 23 different activities outside school. the same everywhere. There are always years, so I think that if nothing had students, who are good at these subjects changed in education, there would Many of them I would have never (chemistry and physics) and want to be be a mistake somewhere, especially got to without children or colleagues even better, those who are hungry for nowadays, when everything changes (climbing, riding a bobsled, a path knowledge and move forward by their so rapidly. Not all changes in education through a spooky forest, short sci- persistence and talent. Next, there are improve it, though. fi stories by the fireplace and much students that start to show their interest more...) in a particular subject, mostly thanks to The use of IKT (information and their teacher, and finally those, who just communication technology) has made I can say that I´ve never consciously get through the years of schooling with teachers´ work easier when presenting wanted to hurt anyone, I´ve always tried less than great marks. For me, those new learning material, and therefore to be tolerant and I´ve given everyone students, who were not interested in the students also gain new sources for a chance to show what is good in him, lesson, but learned what they wanted acquiring and verifying knowledge. I but also the worst. I might have pointed or what they were able to and never am, for example, terrible at writing and out the things I didn´t like, many times inclined to cheat, were always likable. drawing, so I am very happy for the using sharp words or a stronger voice, computer´s help. but always with the intention to settle Cheating has become a norm. That relationships and to feel good together. assures me too that I have made the right As far as students are concerned, decision and that it is about time to try I´ve already characterised them, and WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST doing something completely different. I there I see the negative side of using DIFFICULT PART OF TEACHING? must admit that from the beginning I did IKT. Students no longer write their not feel totally comfortable in the role cheat-sheets by themselves, they just For me, the most difficult thing of a teacher, which I always assigned to copy them and make it smaller... was always to build and keep natural my peaceful personality. I have always respect of students towards the teacher, believed that when I find a cheat-sheet, Teachers also have to educate which lasted throughout my whole I take it and let the student finish the themselves and sacrifice their free time, pedagogical career. From today’s´ point test, that I am being generous in a way unfortunately they often don´t agree of view I also see many mistakes that and that this student will be grateful with this. The system forces us to take I made and I am still making. What is and will never cheat again, but in reality part in various workshops frequently, worse, I can´t change it. It shows more the opposite was true, and found it as which are more useless than helpful. I or less according to the character of the my failure. know ´x´ good teachers, who have great class. results, and have no time to hunt for I tried my best to transfer the most credits, which unfortunately also means IS THERE SOMETHING YOU ARE of my knowledge to my students. After a lower number in their pay check. LOOKING FORWARD AFTER YOU END those years I feel like I do the best I am YOUR TEACHING CAREER? able to but without feedback. So I tell Teachers are looked upon as people, When I finish teaching, I am myself, that it´s about time to free up whose every step needs to be controlled. looking forward to everything I want to space for young, more flexible teachers. I How could it be otherwise? They have do, what I did not have time for while am grateful for the years spent in school, holidays all the time, they leave work teaching. I want to do more things for during which I got to know countless whenever they want, when others gain myself, brush my English, because my different personalities of students and money honestly and work hard, but few son lives abroad,and it seems that I won´t colleagues, many of which I still enjoy people see how much work teachers be able to chit-chat with my daughter- meeting and they do too, hopefully. I do at home, when they are preparing, in-law otherwise. Furthermore, except feel and see their gratitude and that is creating or grading tests, managing for yoga, I want to go cycling, swimming the pretty side of this profession, when problems and school activities at the and hiking with my colleagues, who I can celebrate achievements in jobs, expanse of their free time. During the will hopefully stay my friends forever. study and personal life with so many. school year they live and do more for I still think that I will have much more students and the school than their own free time that I will read more, take care I have said many times that if I children and families. of my soul, and take more care of the could turn back the time, I would have closest ones of mine. The last thing is chosen different profession, but maybe In every profession there are great, to stay healthy and I believe that all the it was supposed to be this way and I do good and also the not so good ones, but things to come will push me higher and not regret the fact that I was part of our I must say that the most of us do their to a greater satisfaction. school, class, chemistry and physics in job honestly, in their best faith and the role of a teacher. abilities, for not only do we teach but we THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE also raise up our students. INTERVIEW. I WISH YOU MANY GREAT HAS SOMETHING CHANGED ABOUT MEMORIES OF GYMY, WELL-DESERVED EDUCATION, TEACHERS OR STUDENTS WHAT DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST REST AND GOOD LUCK IN EVERYTHING SINCE THE TIME YOU STARTED ABOUT BEING A TEACHER? TEACHING? IN YOUR OPINION, IS OUR In my profession I´ve always THAT STILL LIES AHEAD. tried to charge with the positive things. As I´ve mentioned the things that make WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 13

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE by ALEX JURČA Message in a bottle It was summer 2017 when my life changed from ordinary stereotype to absolutely new chapter in my life. A month after finishing my studies at GYMY, I packed my baggage and decided to move 1000 km north to Copenhagen. Do you want to know if this was the biggest mistake in my life or the best thing that could have ever happened to me? Keep reading and you will find out. 14 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE Usually when you spend few fully prepared to adapt within your studies given that it days on a holiday in quite new society. is not easy and often your different place compared to experience sleepless nights your hometown, everything Anyway, I should probably spent over the books just seems to be ravishing. You write a little about university couple of hours before final feel excitement. I did not life. Most of the stories you exam. However, where to feel differently. The first heard from your high school find this motivation? Simply two-three weeks were like teachers are true. You are it has to be in you. Don’t a nice holiday. If you can not treated in the kid gloves study subject that is not in arrange yourself a shelter, anymore. If you do not deliver your interest. If you study for the first obstacle is tackled. what you were expected, engineer just because your Be prepared for the fact, nobody cares that you had parents want to have a son- that setting up of an dentist appointment or a engineer, you will, sooner or accommodation is financially meteorite fell on your house. later, end up burned out. Study rather costly since you have to You can save your excuses those subjects which excite pay a couple of rents upfront. because the university you. At the same time, even teachers do not like when if you are already studying Then there is another issue their time is being wasted on in university and you don’t and that is finding a job. something irrelevant as your feel that your expectations Unless your parents are excuses. They simply express are met, simply change the willing to fund you. But most their interest in sentence university or programme. Or of the time finding a part- “see you at re-exam”. don’t, take a gap year, travel time job is a natural step. On the other hand, you are around the world and make up My advice to you is to be not treated as a kid anymore, your mind. There is so many original and impress your which feels great in some opportunities. Once you find potential employer. Realize situations. In my programme, a passion for something, then that employers receive tons teachers treat us with respect you will have the motivation of CV’s, show to improve something and progress that separates I am just living my dream. within the you from the specific crowd. My field. first boss was Scottish and from the as we were equals and To conclude, I will just moment he saw on my CV honestly, we are not. If I had announce that the best years that I like hiking, we just 20 years of experience from of your lives are ahead of talked about hiking and 10 the one of the biggest firms you guys. Leaving the high mins later I had a trail shift, in Slovakia, then I would be school creates imaginary one day later I had the job. equal to them. These are the moment when you become May this situation serve as people you can meet in the adults. You have freedom, a funny example while being universities, top experts in but with freedom hand-in- real life situation ;) their field. hand comes responsibility as What I find most difficult in well. You are responsible for Furthermore, if you move to university is finding a will to your fridge, finances, grades country which is further than get my ass in chair and my and many other important Czech Republic, you (most head over the books. Nobody things. It may be difficult at likely) will experience a state is pushing you and nobody the beginning, nevertheless called as a “cultural shock”. basically cares if you pass I know you will master it on It is said the cultural shock the exam or not. Therefore a account of the years spent appears after 3 months. Out large dose of self-motivation at GYMY since this place of the sudden, you perceive is crucial. prepares you more than the downsizes of moving dandy. In order to answer the abroad, you feel sad, missing Finally I get to the gist of question from introduction, family and friends. Don’t this message in bottle. As I nothing better could have worry, it will pass and when mentioned, you need strong happened to me. As Matt says you overcome this, you are motivation for finishing “I am just living my dream”. WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 15

MUSIC INVISIBLE TENTACLES OF MODERN MUSIC INDUSTRY by JÚLIA HURBANIČOVÁ In elevators, coffee-shops and shopping-malls, households, “Songwriting is an impersonal, assembly- movies, cars and buses these noises float in the air. line-driven process that would make Henry Ford proud.” - John Seabrook These over-compressed sound waves with the simplistic, undeveloped lyrics comfortably seated on its tones. The This “master-chef ” is a Swedish songwriter, record hypnotic melodies accompanied by unoriginal four-chord producer and singer with the third-most number-one harmonies, yearning to meet your ear, to erode your brain singles on the chart — behind only Paul McCartney forever and, abusing the mere-exposure effect, the rotten (32) and John Lennon (26) — who has so far written kingdom of consumerism was established in your mind. and co-written 22 Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, starting in 1999 with “Baby One More Time” sung Pop-up hit factories, the homelands of these invisible by Britney Spears. Among other hits are: 2010 – “Raise tentacles, where two teams of songwriters —beat makers Your Glass” (P!nk), 2011 – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “topliners” — combine together into smaller groups to (Katy Perry), 2012 – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back create components for up-coming radio-hits. Long hours Together” and 2014 – “Shake It Off” (Taylor Swift), 2015 are put into the final gluing-together process till the main – “Can’t Feel My Face” (The Weeknd), 2016 – “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (Justin Timberlake)… producer´s glass of satisfaction is filled; the timer clock rings and another fresh-baked pop album is ready for sale. Many cooks take part in this big, album-baking business, yet the ultimate master-chef is Max Martin. 16 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

MUSIC Last year, he achieved an income of approximately $54 million and a profit of $19 million for his services. However, most of us have never heard of this pseudonymous millionaire neither of his apprentice, a certain Dr Luke. Following the first-class teachings that made him a credible journeyman ready to cook up his own pop-star-dish “Ke$ha” with “Take It Off ”. He earned his Master’s degree with his famous composition of the new American anthem called “Party in the U.S.A” sung by the well-known Miley Cyrus. “Do you know why all modern range more frequently thus becoming the period of 1955 to 2010 and they ran hits sound the same?” depleted of the unique subtle nuances, every single song through a set of complex the depth is shallower, the melody less algorithms — the quality of music Nowadays, catchy tunes are made diverse, and on the whole the richness production has been degrading since according to a “cookie-cutter” formula within the sound of music is lost. The the second half of the previous century. — the same combination of a keyboard, desired goal and major reason for Music is getting worse every year. The drum machine, sampler and computer music compression is the hold of the harmony and lyrics are too simple and software. Even the lyrics are short and consumer´s attention and because most repetitive. Almost as if they wanted to quite repetitive. Yet, in order to make the of us suffer from having a too short of an seem familiar? really catchy-ish hit of the 21st century attention span, the over-compressed beat Let´s do a little reasoning now. Last a very precious component must be hoots have become necessity. summer an immediate hit was released incorporated, the “Millennial Whoop.” As Patrick Metzger put Physical law: “When you make a sound called “Despacito”. Try to think of it: the “Millennial Whoop louder (by compression) than the how many times you have heard is a sequence of notes that volume it was recorded at, the quality of it, also if only a part of it? Just alternates between the fifth and the sound is reduced.” how many times have you pushed third notes of a major scale... A Back in the day the matrix of music used the play-button by yourself? Not singer usually belts these notes to be very complex but unfortunately, so many, I guess, the song was with an “Oh” phoneme, often in according to a study by the Spanish following you as a well-heeled a “Wa-oh-wa-oh” pattern. And National Research Council — the dog. On the radio during your it is in so many pop songs it’s researchers took around 500,000 rendezvous in a café, long car drives, criminal.” recordings from all genres of music from at parties, even while grocery- The more you hear this same shopping, casually watching pattern of notes the more you YouTube videos or just talking enjoy it. In scientific words, with friends, inconspicuously this listening to similar songs over summer hit became the back- and over activates your pituitary round noise of your life. After gland which then releases all that brainwashing, you even dopamine hormones swarming happened to have said: “I like it!” straight into your brain. HOW? Addicted to floating noises. Your - The mere exposure effect is a mind has been transformed into psychological phenomenon by a gramophone, turning round which people tend to develop and round, not knowing whether a preference for things because they are or not you agree with the record familiar. that is being played at the moment. You are a consumer, their consumer, “Silence is getting louder” therefore you are not obliged to doubtful reasoning. Moreover, the way you think We, the idle civilians, have been living about, consume, and create art has deep unawares in the heyday of a so-called implications for the way you live your “Loudness War”. For decades’ music life and treat new unfamiliar ides, so you producers have been making their songs better keep an eye on those who put the louder using one efficient technological records on. Say, the music producers, weapon, the dynamic range compression. parents, family, teachers, governments, Songs reach the peaks of their dynamic potential dictators… WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 17

MOVIES Who holds the Academy Award for the Best Picture? by BRONISLAVA BENDOVÁ I personally consider it quite amusing when people, especially interviewers on television, ask somebody to describe something in three words. Until this day I have thought that it is an impossible task. However, if someone asked me to describe the movie Green Book in this way, I would indisputably know how to answer. I would say that it is a story about FRIENDSHIP, DEVASTATION of a man and RACISM and I would stand on my words. The plot revolves around two diverse worlds of two even more diverse people - an African-American pianist Don Shirley and a nightclub bouncer Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga. The film is set in 60´era when life in America was not that easy, especially for an African-American man. From an early age, it is obvious that Shirley is extraordinary gifted in music. At the age of two, he learns to play the piano and later attends a university and becomes a noble man with two honorary doctorates. And Tony, simply said, is an ordinary man with a wife and two children. His character is a complete opposite to Shirley - he appears to be poorly educated, 18 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

MOVIES short-tempered and uses strong language. Can The last and probably the most noticeable issue you imagine a relationship between these two that Green Book deals with is the issue of racism. I individuals? They have nothing in common, just believe that everybody can imagine or just outline like two sides of a coin. The only thing they share the social situation concerning discrimination is their journey to the South of America where in America in 60´. (The story of Shirley and Tony Shirley organizes a classical music tour and Tony dates back to 1962 - a year before ´I have a dream´ provides him with a bodyguard and driving service. speech.) I guess that you might be wondering what And yet, they become friends. It is not of course Green book as a name refers to. Of course, it is not a trivial and meaningless relationship, but it is a just any random expression ... Green book was a truly real friendship based on mutual respect and guidebook for African-American travellers that understanding. helped them along their journey to choose e.g. hotels where they could stay (there were separated Even though Don Shirley as a famous pianist is hotels for them). well-off, internally he is a very devastated man what mirrors in his multiple breakdowns during What I appreciate about the movie is the depth the film. He is divorced and has a feeling of not with which it depicts situations and problems belonging anywhere. He feels irretrievably lonely Tony and Shirley encountered during their tour. which sometimes results in drunkenness and other For example, Don Shirley performes at a mansion problematic situations... Despite all of this, he full of people. The host welcomes him, promises manages to maintain his composure and raises his to help him with anything he needs... Outstanding principles above all. Arrested after Tony punches performance, people clapping ... And then Shirley a policeman, he says that you never win with (a noble man wearing a tuxedo and a bow tie) wants violence; you only win when you maintain your to go to the toilet and the host bans him to do that dignity. After all, he is a strong man. and tells him that he has to use a latrine because the toilet is only for white people. Another strong moment occurred during the last performance of his tour where Shirley is supposed to play in a restaurant. There are tens of people astonished to see the performance of the world class pianist. Everybody is looking forward to it. However, before the show Shirley wants to have his dinner in that restaurant. He is denied with the host telling him that he cannot have a meal there (even though he is going to have there a highly anticipated concert) because no African-American has ever dined there. It goes without saying that the situations like this are not just two... All in all, I believe that Green Book is definitely worth of your attention and of your free time, not to mention that it has overall won three Academy Awards and belongs to the list of top films of two thousand eighteen. The reason why I am so grateful for Green Book is the truthfulness of characters and the powerful message it contains and I am sure you will appreciate it as well. WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 19

WORDPLAY BARMECIDE Chapter 2 - It’s raining somewhere else by MATÚŠ SAMEK Ephen woke up exceedingly tired that morning. Since he started experiencing night terrors 2 weeks ago, his daily performance slowly aggravated under fatigue and repeated loss of focus, as he was unable to get a good night’s sleep. He sat on the bed in his mess of a room for a good thirty minutes and rummaged through lumps of his unsorted ideas and thoughts about his unresolved past, dismally-sketched aspirations and such. He felt like he’d been brain-fogged for a month. The room was filled with a plethora of trinkets lying around on his desk, shelves and the night stand, an accumulating cluster of books and scraps of paper stacked on top of each other on wooden shelves going full circle around the plain white walls. A gargantuan wardrobe containing tons of solely-black clothing was covered in sticky notes to guide his sclerotic self through the day, plus several posters of his favorite TV shows, artists and nostalgic leftovers such as „The Wooden Puppet“, „Cross-Incrimination“, and of course the „Mugshot Grin“. Woodworking apparatus, which Ephen couldn’t bring himself to put where it belonged, was placed in the compartment of his bedside cabinet, but hadn’t been touched for quite some time, along with his collection of books, which he endorsed, but had never gotten around to finish reading. He stood up, ambled to the windowsill and slowly opened the window. He let some fresh air in, and looked out on his backyard. Ever since a brat, Ephen was very fond of nature, so by the time he was an adult he had promised to himself his house would be somewhere nice and tranquil. And thanks to a fortunate stroke of serendipity – or Ephen’s undaunted nature – it was after all. He looked at his pair of birch trees which had gotten about 3 feet taller in the last 2 years he’d been there, now reaching about 50, but swaying in the wind just the same. He reached for the cigarette case on his desk and lit a fag. Then exhaled with satisfaction after the brittle leaf smoke had filled his lungs. In a mere moment, he started looking around for his cat Yoko, and at the same time, began delving into his memories. Yoko, who sort of just showed up a year ago, was running around like a madman playing catch with a desperate squirrel. Yoko followed a specific subconscious routine. Nimble in the mornings, he was up-and-running around the house and also quite literally AROUND the house. In the afternoons he was as idle as a cat can get, sitting on the porch table, or guarding the place in a sphinx position in the gap between the porch’s roof, and the meticulously crafted house sign attached to it. The sign spelled “Ephen Klein” a name so unheard of, none of the locals would have reckoned he was from Norway. Yoko regularly disappeared during the evenings, but could be found back on the porch in early morning with whatever he had found – rodents, mice, birds – anything to satisfy his appetite that day. Since he was a human, Ephen’s obsessions were a bit more complicated and time-draining. He was very keen on building stuff himself. This peculiar house which more or less resembled a cabin had a small extension built onto it, which served as a workshop for anything that Ephen wanted to build. Unlike his room however, it was perfectly arranged, despite being littered with various woodworking paraphernalia top-to-bottom, left- to-right. Complete with scissors, box-cutters, bandsaw, hacksaw, handsaw, jigsaw, rasps, files, sanders, countless crayons and pencils neatly packed in holders , numerous knives, giant mallets and hammers, chisels, a power drill or 2 if things got out of hand, certain clamping tools placed on the tables and vast selections of open-end wrenches, allen wrenches, socket wrenches and 20 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

WORDPLAY adjustable wrenches showcased and ready-to-grab on the wall. An average human being would run out of appropriate names for all the items. Also – screwdrivers. Another very important tool was the tape measure, longer than standard, which was used equally often in measuring as in watching Yoko chase after it retracting across 65 feet. He was exceptionally proud of this place and everything he had built in it. He was disconnected from Norway’s political affiliations and social events both physically and mentally, living in a remote part of a tremendous forest dragging it’s way through serrated hilltops near Birkeland - a village of the Aust-Agder county with no more than 3000 inhabitants, lying on the eastern shore of the Tovdalselva river. From “Birki” - meaning Birch trees, and “land” - meaning farm. His father died of lung cancer when Ephen was only 16, and his older brother Nikolai took his own life not too long after. Described as quite a jubilant fellow by peers, though in reality particularly morose – his sudden departure swept away every trace of comprehension his mother thought she had of her oldest son, and drained Nikolai’s endless potential , reduced it to a vessel of nothingness –void left unfilled for all eternity. His mother Selena was making him his favorite supper meal - elk with potatoes and veggies, plus cream sauce on the side. She was especially glad she got it all right to give him at least something for his outstanding performance on the final semester exam. When she opened the door she found a noose attached to the ceiling and on the other end her perfect son Nikolai with a broken spinal cord. Now the only traces left of their immediate family were Ephen and his mother down in Fredrikstad. A 51 year old, sweet and loving single mother enjoying fully what little (or preferably long) time she had left. After 25 stressful years of being a mother - full of dedication, financial problems, untold effort that went into taking care of her husband and two sons, and the pain and misery the last 10 years had brought, she absolutely deserved to let go for a bit. Ephen paid little to no attention to expanding his family tree. He has now long accepted his destiny as someone who lives for himself and his own aspirations, and as far as he could tell, he couldn’t imagine stopping down to set up a family anytime soon. But momentarily, he was happy. The squirrel had suddenly changed direction and Yoko followed it into the woods. His father Evan had been a famous and successful woodworker on a local-scale in his hometown of Fredrikstad. He shaped and sculpted Ephen’s future just like he had done with wood, when he taught him the trade. Needless to say, Ephen was absolutely fascinated by his dad’s endless ramblings. He would absorb it like a sponge. As his father passed away, Ephen continued his own craft, but obsessed over it, as if he had replaced him and continued his legacy. Although, the only attention he now received came from Yoko, who often observed him from a pole, but you couldn’t really call it “recognition”. Yoko was a wild cat (and a good one at that), a typical breed of a Norwegian forest cat, although parallel to human faces, he seemed like the stereotypical “old man” overseeing everything Ephen did until night light hit the evening. The fur around his chin was shaped like a beard, further adding to the humorous resemblance. At 22 years of age, Ephen stood with confidence and a spark in his eyes, with aligned posture. Quite muscular, given the physically-exhausting labor, his hands were covered in blisters and his right palm beared a scar stretching its way through the web of his thumb - a mark left by being a klutz, and a nail. Born black-haired, whatever you’d call a haircut was generally non-existent in Ephan’s case. His head wasn’t fully shaven, but sufficiently enough to reveal his scalp and fully expose his head shape. He used to have longer hair but as time flew by, he decided half-way to bald was a perfect combination of efficiency and having enough hair to not look like a complete douchebag. Ignoring the latter, he might had gone for the skullet. Plus it’s quite comfortable to feel the swift breeze of Norway between your hair follicles. For an unclear reason, he kept stumbling upon mysterious objects that seemed to be intentionally hidden around these parts, and being the keen „souvenirist‘‘ he was, he put them on his unused shelf to be on display and collect dust, but to never be touched, removed, or put to any effective WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 21

WORDPLAY use whatsoever, collated in rows, based on chronological discoveries, and levels of his piqued interest towards them. They ranged from iron and rusty, to tin and preserved - always metallic, occasionally monoliths and statuettes, but predominantly obelisks or cylinder shapes, covered in unknown symbols, eerie faces and letters, or something vaguely resembling letters, but wondrously perfected, with precise sculpting, which led him to believe they’ve all been made by the same skilled person or a group of people, given that they were mystically kindred and none of them recognizable. He had never seen anything even remotely similar and thanks to being a general nutjob about mythology and fantasy literature he deduced that behind this work stood no fellow norwegian, even if it had been made in this region. It gave no nod to classic norwegian styles, folklore, culture, mythology, nor to any paganistic religion or one of these modern black- metal satanic shticks. He has been unable to determine the year of their origin however, as he had no point of reference to start from. Every one of his favorite indian, buddhist, christian and even tribal statuettes he possessed and had held in high regards for many years stood no chance in prestige when compared to these newfound oddities. Along with fine esthetics, the objects brought to him a series of ineffable dreams. Dreams hybridly encompassing feelings of dread and agitation, vicariousness and attachment as he saw the downfall of outlandish ancient cities built so deep underwater sun rays could not reach its denizens, but shining with an eerie glow of bright fluorescence. He observed the demise of a race so inhumane, one would be called mad for describing it as humanoid, while being such at the same time - figures with bodies covered in scales and sprouted with barnacles, bearing a humongous set of dragon-like wings and gills under their ear holes. The figures were kneeling before strange towers, or rather monoliths, of an unknown material akin to an ore embodying a fine-line between stone and metal, and living in dwellings that were (from a human’s point of view) architecturally nonsensical. Temples and obelisks were etched with recognizable imagery and symbols from the strange objects he kept. A monstrous circular glyph encompassed the city and its populace. Everyone standing in it had festered, decayed, and decomposed alive. The towers shattered and turned to dust. Their prosperous existence was no more. The nightmares started occurring the night after he had found the latest grey piece of a small monolith and it did not let him sleep peacefully ever since. He woke up completely ruined every day, but while his dreams lasted, the feeling was otherworldly. His mind was made up. He wanted to know more. He had to know more. Just 2 days prior he tried chalking out the same circle in his garden and made sure it wasn’t bigger than a few inches, but he achieved none of the previous effects. While he re-evaluated his previous efforts constantly and was starting to think he had gone mad, he still continued to scavenge for other clues each day. A method to his madness. As his stream of consciousness came to an end, he reached the cigarette butt, so he put it out and threw it under the window. Yoko has returned, proudly carrying the remnants of a squirrel in his mouth. He elegantly tip-toed up the stairs and slammed the rest of the squirrel on the porch. He made a long yawn and had a decent bite of his rightfully earned breakfast. Ephen rarely spoke with other people anymore so he utilized his larynx by talking to Yoko and carrying never-ending monologues with himself. He was aware of this, so he made no efforts to stop. With Yoko being his only partner in this hermitry, he asked him many questions, made sarcastic remarks and complimented him numerous times every day - just for the sake of it. Yoko remained silent however, and refused to retort. Despite this, he behaved as if he perfectly understood Ephen’s requests and remarks. Twitched when insulted, purred when congratulated after killing “that damn mouse”. Yoko observed him with a judging gaze of endless curiosity. His fur was excessively fluffy and excelled with smooth transitions between shades of grey and black with sharp hints of beige at the hair ends. White fur covered the outlines of his eyes and then stretched from his chin down to his chest. An all-around adorable and reliable companion. ... 22 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

WORDPLAY Every dog has its day or two. Unfortunately this wasn’t one of them. „Now, you’re well aware I have to do something about this, aren’t you , lieutenant Mole?“ „To be fair, this was the third time I slipped, and number four seems like a fine number of chances to get. Don’t wanna end on an odd note.“ „Very funny. Do you enjoy breaking the protocol? Your job isn’t even that difficult. You’re suppossed to patrole the upper halls of the palace. For FIVE HOURS. You could even grab some cakes and wine from the kitchen while you’re at it for all I care. Do you know how impotent I look in front of Lord Vale when civilians see my right-hand assistant sneaking out and getting hammered when he should be on patrole – Making sure the upper hall is nice and dandy, and doing NOTHING except that? Yo-“ „So I advanced in rank and as a reward I get to walk back and forth for five hours is what I understand?“ „That’s how it works pal. You’re not in the lower echelons anymore and this isn’t the city watch, your work here’s simple and boring. Now I understand there was this guy... what’s his name... Allan? Yes, Allan. I heard he likes to receive some generous amounts of gold into his pockets and stand in front of that door during your shift... anything to add to that?“ „The best footman I’ve met indeed.“ „Well he’s no longer a footman, Mole.“ „That’s very unlucky.“ A slight smirk appeared on the lieutenant’s scarred face. „You may be very dear and essential for His Royal Highness, but he didn’t say I can’t cut off a finger or two If someone were to forget their place. You seem to get carried away quite often. I get that your wife died, don’t get me wrong. I know you humans tend to get fixated on your current ways of being and don’t like to let go of them. It’s an attachment of sorts, I get that. But it usually takes just a month or two for a soldier to recover, atleast on the outside, especially if he’s seen a fair share of dead people and you’re not one of those that didn‘t, Mole. Heh. Humankind. Nothing short of riveting, you know? You lose something dear to you and choose to black out every night as means of coping. Now that’s just hilarious. You know what - look at it this way; you’re a lieutenant in a land devastated by a gruesome plague and you have a safety net. Plus, now there’s no one left for you to worry about. Isn’t that wonderful?‘‘ „No it isn’t.“ „You’ve been granted life by His Highness, and have the option the enjoy your last days, maybe weeks if you get lucky, with the honor of being a lieutenant. Now frankly, that seems a lot nicer than torture and the ol‘ spanish inquisition.“ „...“ „Hmph. We also swarmed the tavern you snuck out to. A lot of sought-after people go there from what I’ve heard. The kind to slit a nobleman’s throat in seconds, if the price is right. The kind of people you should not be seen with. Huh, you know, I was genuinely surprised. That had to be the worst name of a tavern I’ve ever heard.“ „The Whale Ale?“ „Were you born without taste, Mole? You know ale is for the lower-class folk, right? Guys like us usually get some... higher quality beverages.“ Captain Pliers reached for a bottle in the compartment of his prestigious table. „Personally, I usually go for a bottle of the Surlee brothers 1820 vinta-“ „Keep your damn wine.“ „Resentful, are we? Oh well, what do I care. Off you go then. Mind your actions Mole. There will be no fifth time, and there will be some unfriendly consequences if I don’t see you standing in that hall with every inch of your pathetic existence ready to dismember and decapitate everyone and everything that doesn’t belong there, even if you have to look under every tile and every brick to find one of those Elpher spies. Congratulations. You’ve just become a fine worker bee. Buzz, buzz.“ Mole gave an appeasing nod to the captain, got up from the chair and walked away with simulated obedience. „Oh by the way, Lord Vale sent for a whole platoon to go into that excavation site he’s been fiddling with lately. Said it’s an emergency. Some disturbance of sort, he says. If that’s of any interest to you.“ „Curiosity killed the cat. “ „Watch your tongue Mole. We’ll see what this is about in due time...“ WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 23

From maturita essays by ALENA CILÍKOVÁ The beginning of March is really tough time for all graduates. This year our bilingual students had to write an essay in which they were to justify their opinions of the following quotations providing three arguments. • If you wish to be loved, love. (Seneca) • If the world were governed by love, laws would not be necessary. (Aristotle) • A lack of love is the cause of every sin. (Aurelius) The essays were amazing and we found out how romantic souls our students have. So here are the most beautiful ideas. ´Love is the strongest force in the universe. It is the most powerful emotion humans are capable of experiencing, which has been proven countless times during the course of human history. Selfless acts of kindness, people sacrificing themselves to save others and even various religions, whose ultimate goal is to spread love. But love does not appear out of nowhere. Love is always being passed on from one person onto another. ´ ´Love is very similar to energy. Energy is neither created nor spent. It simply changes its form. Love is just like that. Love is a cycle of giving and receiving. ´ ´... being openly loving can lead to a plentitude of positive changes in our lives, but also in the lives of those that are close to us. Acts such as offering a hand when needed, giving advice or reassurance, or simply being there at the crucial moment will surely make our lives better and easier.´ ´... being assertive and open-hearted could give us loads of important life lessons, knowledge and inspirational experiences. What is more, by being a loving person we can become acquinted to crucial mentors and friends. ´ ´With the fast rise of technology in our lives, we sometimes find ourselves emotionally unavailable and even if we connect to someone, we occasionally end up getting hurt. ´ ´Love is what drives us and it makes us do silly things. I believe everyone has a special someone out there waiting for him. If it was not for love, the world would slip into chaos, for as the great Aurelius said, “A lack of love is the cause of every sin.´ ´Love is all that is needed for people to happily coexist together and hate is the source of misery and negative behaviour. ´ ´Love is not a thing or anything we can buy, love itself is the purest something what may warm our bodies and melt our hearts when we really feel it.´ ´Love is the most precious state and emotion and it makes us rich in spite of our poor economic situation.´ ´Every decision we make, every step that we take, every thing that we do is strongly affected by our emotions, by our currents state of mind and soul.´ ´Life without love is just an empty book full of sadness and helplessness.´ 24 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

How good should one be? by MARTIN KRČ Bertolt Brecht in his play The Good person of Szechwan tells a story about (unsurprisingly) the one good person in the whole city. This person is (surprisingly) a prostitute called Shen Teh. Although she has never really had the ambition to be particularly good, she is deemed so by three gods wandering through Szechwan after she is the only one who offers them shelter. The gods reward her generously which allows Shen Teh to leave behind her abominable vocation. It also sets her into an awkward situation, however, as it binds her to remain a good person. In her effort to be good, Shen Teh allows people to take advantage of her and eventually looses everything. She is uncannily saved by her cousin, Shui Ta, who is in many ways the opposite of Shen Teh – he is mean and only focuses on his personal interests (under the pretext of helping his cousin). It turns out that Shui Ta is actually Shen Teh in disguise, it’s an alter ego Shen Teh calls for help when being too good gets her into trouble. After numerous plot twists Shen Teh concludes with a dilemma that whenever she is good to others, she isn’t good to herself. And when she tries to be good to herself, she can’t be good to others. The play illustrates the conflict between philanthropy and sustaining your own life, which is ultimately the condition for helping others. It just seems impossible to be altruistic without acting in a selfish way at times. The question is, how can one estimate the optimal ratio between these two attitudes? I would like to try to apply the second law of thermodynamics to this problem. Yes, thermodynamics. Of course, as I am discussing very complex issues, it is necessary to commit the crime of simplification. I beg the reader to forgive me this trespass. So, without further ado, let’s get to it. According to Rudolf Clausius, the second law of thermodynamics can be defined as follows: “Heat can never pass from a colder body to a warmer body .” Let’s tweak that a little to suit our needs: “Satisfaction can never pass from a less satisfied person to a more satisfied one.” Behold – the second law of emodynamics! What would it look like if Shen Teh tried to behave according to this law? Soon after using the reward from the gods to open a tobacco shop, a woman asks Shen Teh for shelter. According to the law of emodynamics, Shen Teh is more satisfied (she has a new shop!) than the woman (she has nowhere to sleep!) and so she agrees. As a result, Shen Teh becomes significantly less satisfied (she has to take care of the woman) and, in turn, the woman’s satisfaction increases. Let’s say that the woman asks Shen Teh for food. Fair enough, she is hungry and Shen Teh can afford plenty of food, so she feeds her. Eventually, however, as the woman begins to take advantage of Shen Teh, the former prostitute begins to worry about the future of her business, while the woman is content with being taken care of – in other words Shen Teh becomes less satisfied than the woman and that is the time when she should stop being altruistic (perhaps a little earlier), according to the law of emodynamics. There are, of course, numerous problems with this approach. One of them being the threat of becoming surrounded by dissatisfied people or with a person dissatisfied beyond measure. Should you just give all of your property to the poor? This one could be solved by focusing solely on the subjective experience of satisfaction and not trying to make it objective. For instance a rich person might not become very dissatisfied by giving away a few euros while a homeless man can become considerably satisfied by receiving the money. The same amount of effort (here represented by money) has a completely different effect on each of them. Thus a small act of kindness on your part can be life- changing for someone in need and you don’t need to raise him to your level from the material point of view. He can get as satisfied as you are although he has far less money. Another catch is that this approach leads to short-term “patches” to the suffering of others which don’t really help them in the long run. Acts that only bring relief to the benefactor’s conscience. There’s also the risk of making situation worse by a presumed act of kindness. (The homeless person might get wasted if you give him too much) Intention is one thing, the actual effect another. Moreover, I’m sure that this theory could be abused in some horrifying way just as many other well-meant ideas have been in the past. Such is the hazard of simplification. So I definitely wouldn’t claim that these are the words to live by. For me it’s at the very least something interesting to think about and at best a sort of guideline for those gnawing situations when a homeless guy asks for some change with a heartbreaking voice and tears in his eyes and you wonder weather he will be chuckling at your naivety over a shot of vodka a while later. But then, if he’s dissatisfied enough to humiliate himself, what the hell! 50 cents won’t kill you, right? 1 The full formulation: “Heat can never pass from a colder to a warmer body without some other change, connected therewith, occurring at the same time.” Clausius (1854), p. 86. 2 I’m using satisfaction instead of happiness because the term happiness far more difficult to define and really a philosophical puzzle on its own. WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine 25

JOKES JOKES by Mgr. ĽUBICA DURCOVÁ THERE IS A MAGICAL CAVE IN WHICH WHEN SOMEONE SAYS WHERE HE WANTS TO TRAVEL IT TRANSPORTS HIM THERE. - A CZECH COMES INSIDE AND SAYS: “TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC!” THE MAGICAL CAVE TRANSPORTS HIM TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC. - A RUSSIAN COMES INSIDE AND SAYS: “TO RUSSIA!” A MAGICAL CAVE TRANSPORTS HIM TO RUSSIA. - A SLOVAK COMES INSIDE, TRIPS AND SAYS: “DO PR...!” THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCOTLAND YARD CALLS TO HIS DETECTIVES TO FIND OUT, IF THEY SOLVED A MURDER OF A STABBED MAN: - DETECTIVES: “YES, WE SOLVED THE CASE. IT HAPPENED LIKE THIS: A WIFE WAS WIPING FLOOR AND HER HUSBAND STEPPED ON IT WHILE IT WAS STILL WET, SO SHE STABBED HIM TO DEATH.” - A CHIEF INSPECTOR: “AND DID YOU ARREST HER?” - DETECTIVES: “NOT YET, WE ARE WAITING FOR THE FLOOR TO DRY.” CHUCK NORRIS GOT 250 WATTS FROM A FIREFLY. A PIECE OF WISDOM FOR WOMEN: HAPPINESS DOESN´T DEPEND ON MONEY. BUT STILL IT IS EASIER TO CRY IN A LIMOUSINE THAN IN A PUBLIC TRANSPORT. A NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN COMES TO A TWO BACTERIA MEET: LOCAL REGISTER OFFICE AND SAYS: - “HOW ARE YOU?” - “I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SHORTER NAME.” - “I DON´T FEEL VERY WELL. I THINK I CAUGHT - “OK, AND WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” PENICILLIN.” - “QUICK TRAIN WHICH WHISTLES TWICE TWO BLIND HORSES IN A STABLE: WHEN IT PASSES BY.” - “ARE YOU GOING TO RUN IN A HURDLE - “HMM, THAT REALLY IS A LONG NAME. AND WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE YOUR NEW NAME RACE?“ TO BE?” - “WHY NOT. I CAN´T SEE AN OBSTRUCTION.“ - “TOOT, TOOT.” - “FATHER, WHAT IS IT A CHAMOIS?“ EVERY EMPLOYEE IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE - “YOU KNOW SON, IT IS SOME KIND OF A ROBINSON. WHY? BECAUSE HE LOOKS FORWARD TO FRIDAY. STUPID FISH.“ - “A FISH? MY TEACHER SAID THAT IT JUMPS IN “I MET LUCK, IT CAME TO SAY GOODBYE.” MOUNTAINS!“ - “I TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS STUPID .“ SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: A HORSE´S YOUNG ONE IS A FOAL, ITS MOTHER IS A MARE AND ITS FATHER IS A STALLION. SO WHY DO WE CALL THEM HORSES? TWO FLEES COME OUT OF THE THEATRE: - “ARE WE WALKING OR SHOULD I ORDER A DOG?“ 26 WHAT’S UP the GYMY magazine

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Cover photos by NINA MOCKOVČIAKOVÁ