Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]

olito, it is not very good time to find good job... maybe good option for you would be "one person private firm" and working as a contractor.

Another option is apply in companies concentrated on IT wich main job is to sell people to other companies, PowerMedia for example.

PS.


This actually tells us nothing about your specialization :-) But your language skills are exceptional. If you are fluent in german and CapGemini didn't take you, then it means that current market conditions sucks... In my opinion, if you are really so fluent in german and english then you should go to Germany and don't look back. Of course there could be some legal problem because of your "karta pobytu".

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


Amen :-)

News / PUTIN'S LETTER HAILED BY TUSK POLISH GOVT [17]


Well... :-) as a fellow Pole my advice for you Sokrates is:
step 1. take off from the wall this map of central Europe from XVI century, which you evidently have
step 2. put on map of modern world
step 3. put pin in place where Poland is (you will probably manage to cover all of our great land with single pin)
step 4. take few steps back, take dip breath, look at this map and come to terms with our current position, where Poland definitely is not the hub of the universe :-)

This simple process will probably allow you to stop writing things like:


because sincerely, although I am a Polish, patriot, etc. I had almost died from laughing... ;-)


Scrappleton, you are putting your emotions on the wrong person :-) I won't deny that there is much antirussian sentiment in Poland but, before Putin era it was more antikremlin than antirussian. What is more important in my opinion you are confusing reasons with results. On political level first was political clash over election in Ukraine, and only afer that historical issues once again came to top politics... All this historical fog, especially in recent Kremlin driven publications is only useful tool in geopolitical wrestling over Eastern Europe.


Hm.. it is question you should rather ask to USA goverment. It was their idea that this shield must be exactly in that place because <military tech. bla bla bla>. If so there wasn't more eager premier in Poland to make that deal than Kaczynski. It was a bargain for USA, and if this shield in that place is really something USA need, then USA (probably) ruin it together with reputation of reliable business partner...

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


I agree with that...
This Poland vs Holland thing was just coincidence :-) I wish Holland well.


Maybe not only, but main for sure. On the other hand without EU entry Baltic states wouldn't be on such roller coaster now. Paradox, isn't it?

News / POLAND'S POPULATION IS SHRINKING... [62]

Actually, 2008 was first from 11 years when population grew. Birth rate grew. It is no surprise, population boom from 80' decided to reproduce...

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


Thx for correction. It means that in total GDP PPP terms, Poland already reached Holland (of course if prices relatively didn't change much). But in those circumstances unfortunately there is not much to be pleased with. I suppose that in next EU budget Warsaw would lose EU funds for poor regions... It would be better to be last in racing EU train than first in EU broken one I think. Maybe this is exactly current situation? The locomotive already derailed, some wagons just drive pushed by inertia forces..

News / PUTIN'S LETTER HAILED BY TUSK POLISH GOVT [17]


Well, I didn't try to asses "the project" itself. I've just pointed at USA way of looking at things. "If there is deal to make we go, otherwise we don't". For me Obama's absence is irrelevant in emotional sense. It just confirmed that "the shield" in Poland is at least halted.

Do we need "the shield"? There is one big thread about it somewhere. Let me just say that for me it was bussiness too, because this shield wasn't for our protection, well we would become a shield :-) Few patriots was a bargain for USA. I guess that war in Afghanistan and route through Russia is currently much more important for USA than "the shield"... Well, looking at the way Europe and Poland is changing next try will be more expensive for USA.

News / PUTIN'S LETTER HAILED BY TUSK POLISH GOVT [17]


Oh, I think that in a sense JulietEcho is right. Upon Obma's trip to Russia they had confirmed that "the shield" project is halted. So there was no bussiness in Poland for Obama...

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


Not really, the average for Poland for last 17 years is about 4,5%. For Dutch 2,1-2,4%.
So the difference remains. But of course EU entrance was big kick up in recent years after 2001/2002 slowdown. I simply point out that if pattern from last 17 years remains in next decades, then Poland will reach the Netherlands in 28 years in terms of total nominal GDP, thats all.

Of course it is pure speculation. If you want to count "EU entrance effect", then different estimates are that it gave Poland 1-3% addtional growth. Last five years is to little for statistics but:

Poland: 1992-2003 -> average 4,11%
Poland: 2004-2008 -> average 5,24% growth
It seems to me that it isn't illogic to assume that difference between Polish and Dutch growth/decline will widen this additional 1%. Which means that with 3% difference in next 20 years in terms of total GDP Poland will draw level with Netherlands. But in recesion time we came back to 2% difference:

Poland 2009 2Q : 1,1%
Holland 2009 2Q: -0,9%


Well, this only support my thesis about reaching Holland total GDP value by Poland :-) Of course, there is many "if". Nonetheless patern do exist.

Last but not least:
2008, GDP in nominal terms by IMF
Poland: 525,735
Holland: 868,940

2008, GDP in purchasing power parity terms by IMF
Poland: 666,052
Holland: 675,375

hm :-) it looks like the Netherlands are a little overestimated in nominal terms...

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]

scrappleton, southern, Wroclaw Boy, mvefa, I think you all missing the point:
USA: 31,83 person/km²
EU: 115,00 person/km²
cities in USA: mostly newest and wider
cities in Europe: old, beauty but dense with narrow streets

Many cities in Europe without public transport would simple clog up. In European dense cities bicycle is the fastest means of transport in 4 km range (except people living next to metro station...). It is not about lifestyle. Actually this lifestyle is derivative of necessity. With a main star Holland: 397,6 person/km²

News / PUTIN'S LETTER HAILED BY TUSK POLISH GOVT [17]


That is good, let's hope that there will be no step back. Because from some reason in last years Russian-Polish relations are rounding in circles...

USA, Canada / SHOULD WE POL-AMS BE ASHAMED OF AMERICA? [24]


I'm sure that USA foreign department is big enough to match that task... Actually isn't that part of their job they are paid for?

News / PUTIN'S LETTER HAILED BY TUSK POLISH GOVT [17]


That is huge step forward. The problem is that few days ago Medvediev said in Russian TV something slightly different. They are saying different thing inside and outside Russia.


Usual trap is, that before any Polish-Russian meeting on high level in Russian state owned media there is kind off "artillery fire" preparation with quite grotesque historical views from some grotesque russian historics. Atmosphere is getting tens. Some polish politicians don't get it, and ranting starts... In the end Russian top politics (which usually don't get involved) becoming victims of "polish russophobia"... Off course in western media you can only see short articles without background. Ergo Poland is seen as russophobic...

This time, polish politicians where quite resilient, so this usual russian "artillery fire" was much heavier. It started in newspapers, it did not do the job. Next was Russian TV. Next, Russian counter-inteligence agency accused Polish Foreign Minister in 1939 of being German spy... Well it obviously was getting surreal at this point (I think I don't have to tell you that they base this accusation on secret files, which of course are secret so nobody can check them...).

And after all this Putin generously wrote that Nazi-Soviet pact was immoral. Great, but why he didn't said it in Russian TV ?

In the end, I have no problem with things Putin wrote to me as a Pole, because I know history of my country and I don't need him to tell me that part of this pact was immoral. I have problem with things that are in Russian history school books.

USA, Canada / SHOULD WE POL-AMS BE ASHAMED OF AMERICA? [24]

As Pol-Pol :-), I don't know if ashamed, but certainly USA lost some points in Poland...
It wouldn't have to be Obama, but at least some politician from current administration (well, today I've read that USA added someone to the team). Anyway harm was done, the message to Poland from USA was "hm... we don't care". It is really not so important, but with rumours about withdrawal from "the shield" agreement, combined it sends clear message about current USA administration foreign priorities.

News / PUTIN'S LETTER HAILED BY TUSK POLISH GOVT [17]

I think that luckily polish politicians didn't get in this usual russian trap... We can rant all we want on Putin on internet blogs but in the end on CNN and all others global networks it will be Putin speech not Tusk or Merkel... Putin would be in heaven if he could defend poor Soviet Union in "russophobic" Poland... We shouldn't give him this gift.

This is international event and is not about who is right but which voice will be heard better. And what kind of message will be sent. It is not about history, it is about current politics.

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]

ekhm... I fail to see what USA public transport has to do with future of Polish economy ;-)

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


True, I've check, it will take 28 years...
On average Polish GDP in last ten years grew 4%, Dutch 2%. But if the difference will be 3% not 2%, then it will take less than 20 years.


That is why Netherlands is in Poland's range... On per capita basis I don't see it too in this century...


Except war time, I have to disagree. Especially when I take into consideration geopolitical shift in global markets from USA-EU, to China-USA, China-EU, well South Asia - rest of the world. Poland can gain from that change. Atlantic Ocean is becoming less and less important.

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


Oh, Netherlands is entirely in Poland range (in Total GDP) but in next 10 to 20 years...
UK, Germany, France - of course not, simple demographics factor.


Ha... it all depends on Russia, Ukraine and Belarus... True, in current crisis it seems that Poland geographical location sucks, because Ukrainian and Russian GDP fallen from the cliff.

But before crisis Polish foreign trade with those countries was rising in double digit pace.
If those countries rebound then:
a) Poland geographical location will be great advantage
b) Polish language too (because it is really easy to learn basic Russian if you know Polish :-) )

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]


That is true in some extent for USA, GB, and all other smaller finacial centers. Countries such as Poland don't have so strong and influenatial financial sector. Which is actually good thing in debt driven crisis.

History / WHO WILL REPRESENT THE USA AT WESTERPLATTE? [28]

Oh, come on, it is even better that way. It shows clearly for those who didn't know where is Poland from USA perspective. There is no significant economic ties, so in the long run there will never be any significant political relationship. Maybe finally we will realize who are our real partners which are, oh surprise, Germany and Russia... Our eternal neighbours... Yeah, they've f*** our ancestors badly couple of times. It is a shame but it is issue for 01.11.[iiii].

Be realistic, it is USA which in the first place undermined NATO, we cannot count on it in the long run...

News / The Polish Economy and its future [101]

I think that globally recession is not over. In my opinion it would be W not V recession, so buckle up boys and girls :-) As for Poland it means another currency roundabout, so stay away from FX credits... We hold on first hit, hard to say if we are capable of withstand second wave.

But what is promising is road building program and Euro2012 preparations. Thanks to that currently Poland is one of the biggest building sites in Europe. Luckily much of funds is already protected for that, part of it from EU... We don't have to like USA, make big stimulus and search for showel ready projects, it is already in place. What is better it is not entirely from our own pocket. I know, I know "highway in Poland" seems to be a joke... but check this:

skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=41515970&postcount=3108
skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=41459236&postcount=3100
skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441854&page=158
skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=693008&page=30

This map:
skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=41504956&postcount=3105

would be much thicker in next two years with "under construction" lines.

History / WHO WILL REPRESENT THE USA AT WESTERPLATTE? [28]

They don't know how to tell us that "The Shield" deal is no longer valid... So they've choosen to avoid us for some time...

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]


Canada is small in terms of population... Even smaller than Poland.

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]


Poland is to small to be a partner for Russia... and Russia is to imperial and autocratic to pretend that this is not the case. Size matters :-)

Russian autocratic system prevents regionalisation of Russia, and stops social cooperation with neighbours. There is no true cooperation between countries without regions cooperation. That is how and why EU works. And that is why CIS doesn't. I'm 100% sure that if Russia would let Kaliningrad district to act more freely then cooperation with Polish Warmian-Masurian district would bring to both Poles and Russians in that region more tourists, more jobs, more wealth. But from Moscow far far away view it is to small issue... That is the problem, everything except gas and military is to small issue for Moscow.

Life / How do Polish people see Deaf people in Poland? [14]

I have no data for adults, but as people familiar with deaf problems maybe you will be glad to know that:
"(between 2003 and 2006) a total number of 1,392,427 children were screened for hearing impairment, what stands for 96.3% of all delivered babies, registered in Poland. The screening program enabled to identify and refer for further treatment 2485 children with various types of hearing loss, 312 with profound (0.02% of population) and 145 with severe sensorineural hearing loss (0.01% of population)."

linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165587608004175

It was possible thanks to "Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity":
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WO%C5%9AP

News / Poland among the greatest enemies of Russia [112]

Did you know about this?:
According to Rossija TV, Poland wanted to attack Russia (uh.. sorry, USSR) together with Hitler. But thanks to (brave and outstanding) Molotow Poland didn't... :-)

Ok guys, it is no coincidence, first this crazy colonel, now this. I have a few (not very revealing) hypothesis:

1. Economy in Russia sinks (like everywhere), so they are looking for outside enemy to channel mob anger,
2. North Stream project has big problems with Baltic area countries, so according to Russia Poland should be seen in EU as "not pragmatic and russophobic". Luckily it is much harder with current goverment to play such foolish games..

3. Putin will visit Poland in autumn, recent history shows that Russians like to raise tensions before meetings with political leaders

Conclusion: 1. Global economy will sink more in next few months, 2. North Stream will have the same problems, 3. there is still a few months to Putin's visit, so this is just warm-up.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn in the next few months that Poland actually invade Russia (uh, sorry USSR) with Hitler in 1941...
And why not: that good Stalin had evil alter ego. Good Stalin had Russian ancestors, but his evil alter ego ancestors were evil georgian grandfather and more evil polish grandmother. And this polish grandmother were my aunt from my mother side :-)

Interesting but sad: nybooks.com/articles/22875

"Exaggerated Russian claims about numbers of deaths treat Belarus and Ukraine as Russia, and Jews, Belarusians, and Ukrainians as Russians: this amounts to an imperialism of martyrdom, implicitly claiming territory by explicitly claiming victims. This will likely be the line propounded by the new historical committee appointed by President Dmitri Medvedev to prevent "falsifications" of the Russian past. Under legislation currently debated in Russia, statements such as those contained in this paragraph would be a criminal offense."

Travel / Planning On A Trip To Poland [4]

Hello, maybe not to late :-)

Hard to be specific, because you weren't, but if you are interested in architecture on this site: skyscrapercity.com in polish sections you will find threads about architecture with nice pictures.

In my opinion it is good to braid vacation with some cultural event, most popular you will find here: eventim.pl/portal/pl/ more here (but on the short term):

cjg.gazeta.pl

PS. If by any chance you will be in Wroclaw and like to use city guide, try here: wrota.wroclaw.pl

Travel / Paris to Lublin [6]

OMG train to Lublin... It is the best way to learn hatred toward PKP... at least from Wroclaw. If you can, spare your friend that experience...

On the second thought, it is much closer from Warsaw, maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

Food / Can anyone teach me an easy and fast Polish dish? [40]

vodka + appetizer :-) Easy and fast....

News / What Poland thinks about China [27]

I have to upset you, but in general poles don't think much about China, except that most people are aware that vast amount of staff is imported from China. There is a quality problem with it but it seems to me that it is changing for the better fast. Of course there was the summer Olympic lately but besides stadiums it wasn't about China, beside people care less and less about Olympic because of doping, but it is another story. My personal felling is that China should promote more with some cultural events, thing like "China cultural year" in Poland could be useful.