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Posts by SeanBM  

Joined: 10 Mar 2008 / Male ♂
Last Post: 6 Jun 2017
Threads: Total: 34 / In This Archive: 14
Posts: Total: 5781 / In This Archive: 2780
From: Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

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SeanBM   
17 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

Not in Poland surely...??

Yeah. seriously, she told me because of my pile of rubble.

The local villagers shunned me untill i got myself a pile of rubble and some old window frames to decorate the garden...

:) :) :)

Many people use rubble here for under layer for the not yet existing road to the not yet existing mansion that someday they will live in.
SeanBM   
17 May 2011
News / Dumbing-down in Polish schools and the Matura [185]

they have to use calculators. And those red booklets contain Maths formulas.

It has been a while since I sat a math test but if you have a calculator and the formulas, what else is there?
Am I missing something?

i do feel that the oral exam should demand more from the student though.

There is a dirty joke in there just waiting to come out :)
SeanBM   
17 May 2011
News / Dumbing-down in Polish schools and the Matura [185]

I thought at first that you confiscate the calculators for the math exam, hence the pile of them.
But then I see the guy sitting the exam with the calculator, is he the one who bought your BMW for you? :)

Officially, Brits have secondary schools, but sometimes they call them High School.

Depending on the amount of drugs in them.
SeanBM   
17 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

I heard... (and in two words excuse myself for the theory I am about to put forward) that during communism everyone got the same or to be more precise didn't get anything but they all got the same nothing (have you watched alternatywnych cztery?) and people are expected to do it themselves.

Another one is, now that CAPITALISM has arrived people can chose their own styles, to their own tastes and life choices i.e. we all go to Castorama and buy their limited selection.

Maybe the real reason is lost in the mists of time but one thing is certain, people are used to it and defend the idea of buying an unfinished property just because that's the way things have always been.

I always thought that with the slow down in the market, developers would have to finish their projects but that has not happened en mass like I expected.

even stranger is the habit of building a house, then living in one room for ages until they have the money to finish the rest of the house.

I think a large house is a statues symbol and people here work hard and long to do it.
I have seen people here work out how much a house would cost, then work out how much the repayments to the bank are (usually twice what the initial price of the house is) and opt for building their own palace over 20 years.

Maybe we wouldn't be up the financial creek with out a paddle in Ireland and the U.S. if we had thought about things that way?
SeanBM   
17 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

the curious Eastern habit of half-finishing properties.

I have heard a few theories as to why this is in excommie countries but no definitive answer.

For most, your home is the most expensive thing you will ever buy, so you fork out the hundreds of thousands and can't even stay the night in it, you still have to live somewhere else (obviously different on the second hand market).

Any theories as to why?
SeanBM   
17 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

I can see why - building costs aren't much lower than in Western Europe

I don't understand your point, if the prices are almost the same as in Western Europe i.e. very expensive comparatively, then would it not make sense to get it done the cheapest and best way?
SeanBM   
15 May 2011
News / Dumbing-down in Polish schools and the Matura [185]

Feel free to choose your point.

My point, Seanus, was made that the title isn't correct and on an issue about dumbing down, I thought it was relevant even though the OP might not be a native English speaker.

Still wanna be a mod I see.
SeanBM   
15 May 2011
News / Dumbing-down in Polish schools and the Matura [185]

Down-dumbing in Polish schools has already started?

Could someone change the title to ''Matura, a Matriculation Exam, for immaturea posters'' or ''Has dumbing-down in Polish schools already started?''.
SeanBM   
14 May 2011
USA, Canada / What Polish Spirit would you bring back to the States? [13]

What are some things which you cannot find in the States you would bring with you if you were travelling between the two countries?

adsfDfsdfc

Żubrówka in the United States

Because bison grass contains the toxic compound coumarin, which is prohibited as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration, importing of Żubrówka into the United States was banned in 1978 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

wiki

Poisonous, illegal and tasty, what's not to like? :)
SeanBM   
14 May 2011
Life / European Capital of Culture 2016: Which Polish city do you wish to win? [42]

Where the hell is Krakow?

you hear Cracovians going on about how Krakow is the "Cultural capital' of Poland (typical rivalry between a large city and the capital, similar can be found in many countries).

Krakow didn't get the Euro Championship and aren't even a candidate for this, which I think they would love.

Are they incompetent or what?
SeanBM   
13 May 2011
UK, Ireland / Are you Poles proud of your country? Then why do you keep coming to Britain? [100]

Are you Poles proud of your country? Then why do you keep coming to Britain?

It's your own fault for having a huge gherkin in your capital.
The Poles were drawn to it, like a moth to a flame.

Gherkin_l.jpg

But fear not for I know how you can expel Poles from your country.

As anyone who has ever driven in Poland can testify, Poles appear to be absolutely terrified of flashing orange lights.
So put a flashing orange beacon on top of your gherkin and it'll repel them like water to a cat.

dsgfzsdfzsdf
SeanBM   
13 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

being left with some shoddy workmanship.

That's it exactly.

But I got a good idea.

I am glad, information is power.
Many Westerners come to excommie countries and buy apartments only to be dumbfounded at what they actually get.
I myself am surprised the Stan deweloperski thing has not been done away with altogether.
You basically have to live/rent somewhere else after spending a crap load of your money on a property, it's just wrong for all the right reasons.

Let me know if you have any further questions.
SeanBM   
13 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

Stan deweloperski is the most common standard which is sold in excommie countries.

I will post photos to show you exactly what Stan deweloperski means.

This is a typical example:

(Admin, the comments are a nice addition to uploading the photos)


  • this is where the toilet and sink go.

  • this is where your kitchen will go.

  • this is the living room.
SeanBM   
13 May 2011
Real Estate / Stan deweloperski vs stan surowy [developing or undeveloping property state] [36]

Although it is true that these standards do depend, I will attempt to give you the break down:

1. Stan surowy otwarty:

Is just the foundations, walls and roof.

There is no: plumbing, the walls aren't plastered, there is no wiring, the concrete floor with insulation will need to be poured, no windows, no front door or garage door, no taps, no internal doors.

stan surowy zamkniety:

Is the same as stan surowy otwarty but with external doors and windows.

My advice is do not buy this Stu, it costs a lot to finish it from this stage.
if you knew what you were doing it would take about 5/7 months to finish to a normal standard like in the Netherlands (i.e. any western country).

I have seen two story houses for sale with no stairs!!!

2. Stan deweloperski:

This is with: front door, windows, plumbing pipes installed, electrical wires installed, the place is plastered and may or may not come with interior doors or a boiler. (most cases they come with a boiler but without interior doors but check).

You will have to paint the place, install everything in the kitchen and bathrooms (including taps), tile the place, install lights, interior doors.
This is the standard finish in all excommie countries.

Most properties are sold in this condition, if it's a house you are thinking of, make sure you check for sewage, water and electrical connections have been installed.

This still costs quite a bit and there are some fitout companies but you will have to look over their shoulders everyday to make sure that you get what you want (it is still a good deal of work for you and should take about 2 months).

As I said this is normal in excommie countries, it's good if you have the time but be warned you have to get professionals in to finish it.

3. Pod klucz:

The apartment is finished but without furniture.
It includes a kitchen and all appliances, in the bathroom taps, toilet, bath/shower.
Might not include wardrobes and curtains.

Quite a few developers offer a fitout service but most Poles think they can install one toilet for cheaper than a developer can install 500.
This is what Western countries offer, take a look at their showroom )if they have one) they should offer a few options and you should be able to negotiate more if you get the house to this standard.

This is what you want, have a good contract clearly stating the time when they will be finished and include some sort of penalty fee for lateness (they are always late but if it gets too much then sue or have the option of suing and renegotiate your price).

Where are you thinking of buying?
SeanBM   
12 May 2011
Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

To be honest, he was the only one on your list I didn't know, so I googled him:

was one of the commanders of the Kościuszko Uprising. A shoemaker by trade,

SeanBM   
12 May 2011
Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Kilinski`s

He gets my vote because he was Kośsciuszka mate and he has a hill.
SeanBM   
12 May 2011
Feedback / Why PolishForums? Give us your stories! [60]

Put it this way, if there was an organ harvesting of PF abusers, they'd fetch a high price as they've never been used.
SeanBM   
12 May 2011
Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Whose boots are they?

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their boots.

That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their boots.

~Author Unknown
SeanBM   
12 May 2011
News / Recent Polish Scientific Discoveries... (Scientific News) [19]

Great! National Centre for Science Unveiled in Krakow.

Poland's new National Centre for Science (Narodowe Centrum Nauki - NCN) opened on 4 March in Krakow. It is the only agency charged with distributing funds for applied research on a large scale.
ncn.gov.pl/index-en.html

This will be overseen by a council of specialists from across Poland and the hope is that red tape can be avoided by centralising the agency. This year's capital injection is 305 million PLN, however, this will increase significantly after a coherent set of policy objectives for the centre have been formalised.

Krakow Post
______________________________________________________________________ __________________

Polish scientists hope to patent graphene mass-production technology
SeanBM   
11 May 2011
Law / Mr. Men and Little Miss series - trying to bring it onto the Polish market [20]

Roger Hargreaves' Mr Men books not to be translated

Mr Bump, an innocent sounding name in English, translates as Msr Tamponner in French, whilst Mr Happy is Herr Lustig and Mr Tickle is Herr Prickle in German. Even the innocent Mr Tall becomes Mr Gross in German. Mr Nosey has the unfortunate Italian translation of Snr Indiscreto, though Snr Illegittimo makes Mr Wrong even more wrong.

:)
SeanBM   
8 May 2011
Food / Polish food at home or out? [57]

I got a tureen of hot and sour soup, eggrolls, wontons, rice, and Hunan tofu with lots of garlic and vegetables.

Generally the Chinese places here are what I call "Polish Chinese", never spicy, half the plate is cabbage, the sweet and sour sauce is some kind of ketchup and generally the ingredients are for Polish dishes not Asian.

One of the best things about multicultural America is the delicious variety of cuisine and the sauces are to die for.

Here, if it is a good tasty Asian restaurant it's at least twice the price that I mentioned earlier and the ones I have been to are higher end rather than takeaway jobbies.

In Krakow there are many (maybe mostly) French restaurants after Polish and the new fad is Sushi.

Can be please get back to Polish food.