Where were you born?
I was born in Olomouc, it’s a small historical town in Czech Republic (former Czechoslovakia), not far from Prague, and I grew up in historical center where houses from the 15th century can be found. Olomouc used to be the seat of Czech kings after Prague and since my early years I have been feeling the touch of the history from every place of the town.

Where do you live now?
Now, I live with my family in Prague - in The Heart of Europe. What I like most about Prague is the magic spirit of the historical town - The Old Town, The Lesser Town, The Prague Castle area and many other places. Especially autumn and early spring gives the town special atmosphere that makes you feel the steps of the past times. I love to take long walks in the town and feel the spirit of the historical places. I like to visit art galleries and studios then have rest in old pubs with live music and a view on the Vltava river.

Thanks to the Internet I can work all over the world and can service clients virtually in any location. You know my profession is ideal for this kind of work.

Have you lived any other interesting places?
One of the advantages that gave me my profession was the possibility to visit other countries like USA, Netherlands, UK, Germany or Ireland. I worked and lived with my family in Dublin for nearly one year - we all enjoyed it very much, just wonderful. We liked the countryside and the fantastic views on the ocean, which is so rare to us.

Ireland and Czech Republic have something in common, it may be the touch of the history - there have occurred some new proves of the Celts living in our country in the far past.

Have you done anything for a living other than software development?
After graduation I started as programmer but latter on I was chopping and changing jobs. I used to be a photographer, cameraman, creative writer, manager of an advertisement agency, manager of a fair-agency, teacher of IT, head of IT department ... But beside all these professions I used to be still a programmer because every activity is always in a certain way connected with computers. I think a man should try more professions during the life in order to prove what direction is the right one for him, which area brings him the best success and what makes him fully satisfied.
 

What are your hobbies?
I like to take photos, make video movies (before the video had appeared I used the 8-mm and 16-mm cameras). In the past I showed my works as an active photographer on art photograph exhibitions (mainly Black/White photos) and in the future I would like to give a show of large-surface photographs. I like to watch movies, travelling, reading and listening to good music. But my best hobby is my family and the most of my leisure time I like to spend with my family and play with my daughter.
 

What is your favorite food/drink?
I love good food and drink but the most important is the company sitting around the table. With family or friends is every food and drink the best one.
 

What is your favorite type of music?
I think that music gives us something that can't be touched but accompanies us through the whole life. But the strongest music I know is the first cry of a newborn baby!

We have excellent bands and musicians in Czech Rep. and I like many of them - ASPM, Buty, Mnaga & Zdorp, Support Lesbiens, Monkey Business, Ticha dohoda, J.A.R., Chinaski, Wanastowi Vjecy,... Dan Barta, Anna K, Naceva,...

I like the Irish music - U2, Enya, The Corrs, Sinead O'Connor, Cranberries and the marvelous Bjork from Iceland; Jazz, Blues and Swing - Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee; and Rock in all shapes – Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, or Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Garbage, Nirvana, Morcheeba,…It always depends on the mood.
 

What is your favorite movie? Book?
I like all movies of the 60's directed by the Italian director Federico Fellini (e.g. La Dolce Vita, Amarcord, La Strada) and the Spanish Luis Buńuel (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Beauty of the Day or Viridiana.).
I like the sense of humor that produces Monty Python. Like American Musicals – Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris, West Side Story, and old Hollywood movies of 40’s - 60’s (The Postman Always Rings Twice, Sunset Blvd., Some Like It Hot), wonderful Woody Allen, some independent American movies and many many others. There could be a very long list. See an example: The Godfather, my favorite Czech director Milos Forman’s One Flew the Over Cuckoo's Nest, Rain Man, Philadelphia, Schindler's List, Forrest Gump, Matrix, Star Wars (and the old Star Trek), Saving Private Ryan, Lord of the Rings.

And my favorite books? I’ll let it for the next talk - a similar long list!

Which person, from past or present, do you most admire and why?
It is not easy to choose only one person. I admire several personalities from various areas of the human activity (politicians, philosophers, artist but a polite bus driver or a woman at the counter with a smile on her faces although it is Monday morning as well) and I think of what do they have in common. It may be their enthusiasm for life and their approach to the things their are doing for living. I admire people who have fun of the life with positive approach no matter whether good or bad things come to them in the course of life. In the same time they don't forget to help other people and they are just "living"- I mean enjoying the life, not only surviving somehow. I admire everybody who has caught the sense of life and who keeps doing his best not only for himself but for the others as well.

Married, children, other close family you want to mention?
I am married for 12 years and I appreciate my wife Romy that she has been able to overcome the rough and restless years. She works as a free-lance translator and interpreter in Czech, English and German. We have an 8 years old charming daughter Luisa. Her enthusiasm, self-sacrificing and sense for fairness is a great source of joy for us.

Text was copied from Alfred Blaho's INN Biography page on
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