Awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995 Seamus Heaney published his poems under the pseudonym “Incertus”, meaning “uncertain”. Perhaps his reticence was understandable. With time, though, as the critical adulation has flowed, the shy soul has transformed into the most lauded poet of our times. Compared to B.W Yeats, turned down the Queen’s laureatship saying: “My passport’s green/ No glass of ours was ever raised/ to toast the Q ueen.” Irish at heart, but respecting Polish poetry in his translation of Jan Kochanowski’s “Treny” – “Laments”. Great man, full of soul-opening stories and speaking poetry unintentionally – even in the recorded in Cracow on the 24 October 2009 during the first edition of Czesław Miłosz Literary Festival. By Viola Lamot

Part One: Walking on air of poetry:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Part Two: A jolly Noble man:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

One of the many pubs in Wrocław? Not really. And it’s not just that they share the name with us – WrocLove. That’s nice, but there’s more. The place in Ruska Street, recently a favourite expat joint, has a special atmosphere and artistic flair. Founded almost exactly a year ago, the club features regular talent nights, a unique decor, close co-operation with the Music Academy and best Pilsner draft in town. Ola Lęcznar, in her conversation with Jurek Chyb, tries to grasp the phenomenon of WrocLove Pub.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It’s terrible to be Number Two. And to be Number Three is even worse. Especially when you have all the makings of a scientific genius. Tycho de Brahe was unlucky enough to have Copernicus. And Kepler, for that matter. No wonder the Dane got into trouble at every opportunity before and during his stay in Prague. Even his death couldn’t have been more grotesque… One of the most bizarre figures in the history of the city, this astronomer-turned-astrologer sported a prosthetic nose and was always accompanied by a pale, red-headed crippled dwarf who liked to bark like a dog once in a while. Intrigued? Jurek Chyb has more about the spooky character whose spirit looms over Prague to this day.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Are people from Poland, or precisely from Wrocław understanding to other cultures? We can find an answer to that question during the oncoming Wrocław Days of Mutual Understanding organized by the Bente Kahan Foundation and the Wrocław Centre for Jewish Culture and Education. The event commemorating the 71 anniversary of Crystal Night features various events e.g. theatre performances, lectures and screenings. Listen to Michael Bryś - the spokesperson of the foundation and feel invited to the grand opening of the newly renovated synagogue on Włodkowica Street scheduled for the 6 May 2010. An interview by Viola Lamot

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Full programme of the events is to be found at: www.fbk.org.pl

By the time a hamburger finally lands on a dinner plate, it has taken a heavy toll on the environment. According to Swedish scientist Ulf Sonesson, the process of making a one half-pound all-beef burger adds the equivalent (made up of other greenhouse gases) of about 19 times that hamburger’s weight in carbon dioxide. Therefore eating less beef would save our planet, the life of a few cows and our arteries. By Viola Lamot

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Anthea Caddy and Thembi Soddell, the young Australian musicians from Melbourne stopped by in Wrocław during the European Tour, promoting their debut album. In our city, though, they decided to play a special concert accompanying the classic horror movie – “Nosferatu”. Before the show they shared impressions on the taste of Polish “pierogis” and explained why they perform in darkness. By Przemek Pozowski

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

With 62 million regular players all over the world, FarmVille is the most popular application in the history of Facebook. In the United States, FarmVille users outnumber this country’s actual farmers by 60 to 1! The simple game based on planting, tending, fertilizing, buying and selling is harmless when approached sensibly but highly addictive when treated too seriously. Middle-aged executives and city-based teenagers alike set their alarm clocks for 2 am to milk their cows! Jurek Chyb looks into the phenomenon.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In football, a new giant-killer is born in Spain. To the utmost shock of all observers, a Third Division club beats the mighty Real! Raul Gonzalez begs his fans for forgiveness in his unprecedented speech. Listen to Jurek Chyb talking about the story of AD Alcorcon making footballing history by hammering the Galacticos 4-0 in a Copa del Rey clash. How could that happen?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Napoleon’s army destroys the defence walls and grows platans near the moat. The moat of Wrocław is 3.6 km long and is the biggest in Europe. As late as in the XIX century it was still surrounded by enormous defence walls. However, when the French conquered Wrocław in 1806 they pulled them down and replaced them with a promenade. Where you can find the huge platans today and where is the French cannon ball to be found? – the answer is given by Maciej Latosik, an alternative tour guide of Wrocław. The series by Paweł Kempa.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This new initiative of the Grotowski Centre and Impart Art Centre in Wrocław, the aptly named Zero Budget Festival hosts both well-known and less-known theatre groups from around the world. As it’s a no-budget and zero-income undertaking, all ZBF’s events are for free. Anna Wołek from Impart tells you more about the festival, its programme and website. By Przemek Pozowski

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This New York-based band is living proof that even sayings are sometimes wrong, because this song is as good as Fake Gold. And it’s good for real. Read more

Wrocław’s Festival Agaist Exclusions culminated in a parade which brought supporters of equality together. Wiktor Kostrzewski spoke to Emily Prudencia, who had the opportunity to witness both Wrocław’s and Amsterdam’s Pride Parades. The conclusions are breathtaking (hint: they involve boats).

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

“You have the right ingredients” – these words, when spoken in the context of Wrocław’s future as a business and IT centre, sound even more promising when the person saying them is actually a Vice-President of Nokia Corporation and the former Prime Minister of Finland. Przemek Pozowski managed to catch Esko Aho for a brief interview – right after a round of meetings with the City Council officials.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

What do Melbourne, Wrocław and Nosferatu have in common? Just before Hallowe’en, it turns out that these three can actually combine to provide a scary scenario. Wiktor Kostrzewski sits down for a chat with Paweł Trzciński.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The famous Dutch architect – Hubert-Jan Henket – was visiting Wrocław during the conference Concrete Conservation Challenges. Just after a walk on the roof of the UNESCO heritage – Centennial Hall he discussed the ongoing renovation of the historical building with RadioWroclove.com journalist, Przemek Pozowski. He also warned: “Do not tear down your buildings” and admitted that among beautiful modernist works of architecture there are plenty of new, ugly buildings in the city

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mateusz Kusznierewicz – Poland’s most talented sailor – claims that there are many similarities between golf and sailing. His first love and passion is still sailing, but in his life, golf has a steady second place. Paweł Kempa met Mateusz on Toya Golf, a Wrocław golf course.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

After recording their third album in America, Warsaw-based indie rock band The Car Is On Fire is touring in Poland. On Wednesday evening they’re performing in Wrocław at Bezsenność (Insomnia) club. Read more

These Tapes are definitely of the Scotch variety, as you will find it problematic to put this song aside. Read more

Last weekend were the last two days of the Festival of Lights 2009 in Berlin. It’s an annual open air event during which various landmarks of the city are illuminated with colorful lights. Below you can check out some of this year’s light arrangements. Listen to Aleksandra Szczepaniak talk about the novelties in the German capital and announce the oncoming MTV Awards celebrations that are to take place on the 5th of November.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Photo Gallery from the Berlin Lights Festival by Aleksandra Szczepaniak:

[flagallery gid=6 name="Gallery"]

Actors that are superheroes and never sing the songs themselves, but just make the audience laugh and cry. Actresses that are extraordinarily beautiful, easily fall in love and appear in 20% of the movie scenes in to their male counterparts. Sharath Chertlur, an Indian scriptwriter, enumerates the basic elements of a Bollywood super production. He also talks about his oncoming project, “The Flower”, a Polish Bollywood movie. By Aleksandra Szczepaniak

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

And here listen to some of the Bollywood songs that Sharath Chertlur is talking about:

Shahrukh Khan – Tujhe dekha to

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Shahrukh Khan – Chaiya chaiya

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.