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Post by Bonobo on Jun 8, 2009 22:12:56 GMT 1
Government cannot afford milk?
The Warsaw Business Journal
2nd June 2009
The "Glass of Milk" program, introduced by the Polish government in 2004 to provide school children with a daily portion of milk, could soon be shut down.
According to Rzeczpospolita daily, the Agricultural Market Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, which run the program, owe local milk producers up to z³.44 million in arrears, and there is no budget for the program in the next school year.
"The agriculture minister admitted that there might be no funds for school-children' s milk," Agnieszka Maliszewska, head of the Polish Dairy Council Organization, was quoted by Dziennik.
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 16, 2009 21:31:01 GMT 1
What does a one family home, cost, in American money? And what would you pay for rent on a one family apartment? How big in square feet, are both? Mike Warsaw is the dearest city......
For Sale In ... Warsaw
By LISA KEYS
The New York Times
6/2/09
graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/06/02/greathomesanddestinations/03warsaw2_lg.jpg
TWO-BEDROOM, TWO-BATH APARTMENT IN THE CITY CENTER
2.98 MILLION POLISH ZLOTYS (ABOUT $945,101)
This two-bedroom, two-bath apartment is located on the first floor of a four-story building constructed in 1906. The building's moniker, "The Angel Residence," comes from sculptures of cherubs that decorate its exterior, most of which was rebuilt shortly after World War II (a further renovation is planned for next year).
The interior was renovated five years ago and now has central heating, new electrical wiring and an elevator. The 130-square-meter (1,399-square- foot) apartment has also been remodeled, and is divided into "day" and "night" areas — a conceptual distinction that reflects the preferred layout style of Polish apartments. The day portion has a large, open living and dining area, and a small balcony. There is a contemporary- style kitchen, with a dishwasher and washing machine, and a bathroom. The night portion of the apartment consists of two bedrooms and a windowed bathroom. A corridor with built-in closets connects the two areas.
The ceilings are three meters (almost 10 feet) high throughout and the wood-framed windows, original but restored, all overlook a small, green courtyard that is available exclusively to building residents. There is also an attended parking lot.
The Angel Residence is located in the Srodmiescie district, the city center that is Warsaw's cultural, business and tourist heart. It is home to numerous galleries, theaters and embassies, as well as landmarks like the Palace of Culture and Science. Shopping, dining and nightlife options are all within walking distance, and the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport is 20 minutes by car.
MARKET OVERVIEW
During the communist era, the majority of Warsaw's inhabitants lived in what are known as housing cooperatives, state-controlled organizations that served as property developers and managers. Most of the cooperatives consisted of multi-unit buildings in which families occupied individual units, said Kazimierz Kirejczyk, the president of REAS, a Warsaw-based real estate consulting and research firm. Some cooperative units resembled rentals, while others, at least in theory, offered residents quasi-ownership of their homes. "Everyone pretended it was a sort of self-government, but practically everything was controlled by the state, starting with the financing and land allocation," said Mr. Kirejczyk.
Following Poland's first free elections — 20 years ago this week — Warsaw's residential real estate market began to "slowly grow up," said Olimpia Bronowicka, an agent at Maxon Real Estate, a Warsaw-based agency. Many residents were given the opportunity to buy their homes from the government, at prices 5 to 10 percent of their value, said Aleksander Skirmuntt, the director of sales at Emmerson Real Estate, a Warsaw-based agency. The privatization process happened gradually, along with a rise in real estate values.
Around 2001, the real-estate market began to develop at a more rapid pace, in part thanks to the drop in inflation, the establishment of a mortgage market and increased residential development, said Mr. Kirejczyk.
In 2001, the average price of a resale home in Warsaw was 3,200 zlotys per square meter ($94 per square foot). Real estate prices began to rise after Poland joined the European Union in 2004. By 2008, the peak of the market, prices rose to 9,062 zlotys per square meter ($267 per square foot), according to Marcin Plazinski, the associate director of the research department at Emmerson Real Estate. For new construction, prices rose from 3,500 zlotys per square meter ($103 per square foot) in 2001 to 9,503 zlotys per square meter ($280 per square foot) in 2008.
However, with the global economic downtown in late 2008, Warsaw's real estate market has gone into a decline. Developers have frozen their projects and there are few, if any, buyers, said Mr. Skirmuntt. Asking prices have fallen, too: According to Mr. Plazinski, the average price per square meter of resale homes in the first quarter of 2009 was 8,989 zlotys ($265); new homes were 9,250 zlotys ($273). Actual selling prices are some 10 to 15 percent lower, said Mr. Kirejczyk.
WHO BUYS IN WARSAW
In the years prior to Poland's joining the European Union, Warsaw began to attract an influx of European investors, with residents of Spain, Germany, England and Ireland being the most common, said Ms. Bronowicka. Interest has dwindled since the global economic crisis began, she added.
BUYING BASICS
There are no restrictions on foreigners wishing to buy an apartment in Warsaw, said Ms. Bronowicka. However, for citizens of countries outside the European Economic Area who want to purchase a house or land, permission from the Home Office is needed. The fee is 1,570 zlotys ($498); a response will be given within three months, Ms. Bronowicka said. The process is simple and is usually handled by a notary, who is required for the process. (Notary fees vary but are usually about 0.5 percent of the purchase price, Ms. Bronowicka said.)
Buyers of resale homes pay a 2 percent stamp duty, while new homes, sold by the developer, are subject to a 7 percent value-added tax, said James Yrkoski, a partner and head of real estate department at TGC Corporate Lawyers. Agents' fees are usually 2 to 2.5 percent of the purchase price and are typically paid by both the buyer and seller, said Ms. Bronowicka.
The use of a lawyer is recommended; Mr. Yrkoski said legal fees usually range between $1,000 and $3,000. (Use of foreign currency in these transctions is common.)
Despite tougher restrictions, mortgages are available to foreign buyers, said Mr. Skirmuntt. European Union and United States residents can usually borrow 80 percent; citizens of other countries may be limited to 50 percent, he said. Interest rates are around 8 percent, he said.
USEFUL WEB SITES
Official city site: www.e-warsaw. pl
Tourist information: www.warsawtour. pl
LANGUAGES AND CURRENCY
Polish; zloty (1 zloty = $0.32)
TAXES AND FEES
A monthly service charge of 800 zlotys ($254) includes heat, water, maintenance of common areas and property taxes.
CONTACT
Olimpia Bronowicka, Maxon Real Estate; 011-48-509-679- 642 or 011-48-22-530- 6038 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nation in the poor house?
The Warsaw Business Journal
1st June 2009
Living conditions in Poland are among the lowest in Europe, with as many as 54 percent of citizens unable to afford unexpected expenses. Only Hungary and Latvia fared worse, according to Eurostat data. Meanwhile, the EU27 average for this figure stood at around 34 percent.
Having emerged from behind the iron curtain just twenty years ago, Poland is still considered a poor country despite its strong economy. Figures published last week showed Poland was managing to buck the EU trend towards recession, posting 0.8 percent y/y GDP growth over the first three months of the year while data from the remaining nine other eastern EU members showed negative growth.
However, this will be little comfort to the hundreds of thousands of Poles living on or near the breadline. According to Eurostat's 'Living Conditions in the EU27', as many as 17 percent of Polish households are in arrears on utility bills, placing them a close second behind Hungary, with 18 percent. Greece, with just seven percent of the population and France and Cyprus, tied at 6 percent, had the best rating as regards utility-bill arrears.
The report, which was based on 2007 data, indicated that Polish households fared little better in terms of living conditions. Just 54 percent of families could afford unexpected expenditures, which the EU's statistics office defined as "equal to 1/12 of the national poverty threshold" – €145 (z³.650.78) in Poland's case. In joint bottom-placed Hungary and Latvia 63 percent of the population were unable to meet unplanned expenses.
The report also found that one fifth of Poles could not afford a car, compared with the top countries Cyprus and Luxembourg, where only two percent were unable to find the means to run an auto. |
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Post by Bonobo on Jul 2, 2009 22:51:18 GMT 1
Polish forums
One thing i Really hate about most Restaurants in Poland!
Today, 23:40
#1
Is the Price of Pepsi!!!! why does only 0.2L of Pepsi cost like 3.5, 4.5, 5Zl while pepsi cans(0.33L) cost 0.99Zl in supermarkets
it's like everyone is winning 800% from Pepsi... is Pepsi considered as Gold or something in Restaurants?
i remember back in Lebanon, a pepsi can(0.33L) in most restaurants cost(prices converted) 2zl, MAX 4zl.. yet here.. they want more and they give you less :/
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Post by jeanne on Jul 3, 2009 1:42:57 GMT 1
Polish forums
One thing i Really hate about most Restaurants in Poland!
Today, 23:40
#1
Is the Price of Pepsi!!!! why does only 0.2L of Pepsi cost like 3.5, 4.5, 5Zl while pepsi cans(0.33L) cost 0.99Zl in supermarkets
it's like everyone is winning 800% from Pepsi... is Pepsi considered as Gold or something in Restaurants?
i remember back in Lebanon, a pepsi can(0.33L) in most restaurants cost(prices converted) 2zl, MAX 4zl.. yet here.. they want more and they give you less :/They'll be healthier if they don't drink that stuff! |
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Post by Bonobo on Aug 24, 2009 16:20:26 GMT 1
Poland climbs EU prosperity ladder
Polish Market
2009-08-11
Poland is no longer the poorest EU country, next to Bulgaria and Romania. It is now rated as a moderately wealthy European country and is catching up with the rich ones, Dziennik daily newspaper reports.
According to Eurostat, last year Poland outpaced Latvia – now in the midst of a crisis – in terms of living standards. It is expected it will overtake Lithuania and Hungary this year.
Poland's per capita GDP, taking into account the purchasing power of a currency, amounted to 57.5% on EU average in Poland in 2008. It was the first time Poland managed to reach half of the living standard of Germany, compared to one-third 12 years ago.
Poland is most likely to first catch up with Portugal among older EU member states. Portugal scored 75.3% of EU's average prosperity last year. Economist Prof. Witold Or³owski of Price Waterhouse Coopers tells Dziennik Poland may need 10 years to reach Portugal's living standard.
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 7, 2009 21:17:38 GMT 1
My 16 yo cat got pyometra. Previously my other cats and dogs had had it too, so I was used to taking the animal to the vet for a quick operation without much hesitation. It cost me 27 zl initial examination and one injection. Then at another place 65 for blood tests. Next 165 for the operation, check exam the day after and an injection, and finally stitches removal. Altogether - 257 zlotys. About 85 dolars.
What about US and UK?
PS. The vet is one of best in Krakow.
This was probably said - I pay about 270 zlotys for a state kindergarten with three meals, from 7.30 to 15pm, 5 days a week. Less than 100 $.
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Post by valpomike on Sept 7, 2009 22:10:20 GMT 1
Far less than you would pay here, I am sure, and no better care.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 11, 2009 20:57:44 GMT 1
Poles deep in debt
thenews.pl
02.09.2009
Poles have fallen in to a collective debt exceeded 3 billion euro, shows a report by the Economic Information Office.
In the last four months the amount of personal debt has grown by 20 percent and in the last year by 70 percent.
Over 1.5 million people in Poland are indebted, shows the report. Most of the debtors are men. Women tend to pay off debts more often.
The most indebted are the inhabitants of the Mazovia and Salisia provinces. In August the average debt in the regions equaled 8 203 zloty (1 960 euro).
According to the report, a debtor is a person who has an active debt for more than 60 days, resulting from not paying off a loan, rent, TV license or alimonies etc.
Fortunately, I have no debts. I am afraid of taking loans.
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Post by valpomike on Sept 11, 2009 21:41:55 GMT 1
Do you own your home free and clear?
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 11, 2009 21:51:04 GMT 1
Do you own your home free and clear? Mike Yes, it is mine. Or ours. Parents bought it out in 1990s, and after they died, I inherited it. It was a great relief because their apartment is much bigger than the one I bought for myself once. I never cease to pray for them. |
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Post by valpomike on Sept 12, 2009 20:21:22 GMT 1
Thank God, you are a lucky man, and all ways pray for your parents, and thank them.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 10, 2009 21:14:45 GMT 1
Poland ranks 41st in UNDP report
thenews.pl
05.10.2009
Poland ranks 41st of 182 in the latest UNDP Human Development report – down two places from 2008.
Authors of the report claim that Poland's ranking shows that the country is amongst the world's more developed countries and, as such, has a responsibility to aid those countries with lesser-developed societies.
In 2008, Poland ranked 39th in the United Nations Development Programme report, and the drop this year can be attributed to the addition of two new countries – Andorra and Lichtenstein – to the list.
Norway remains top-ranked in the report – titled Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development – while Nigeria ranks 182nd.
The UNDP report shows that the average Pole lives 75 years, earns 16,000 USD annually and almost 100 percent of the country's population is literate. Norwegians live an average of 80 years and earn four times as much money as Poles. The average Nigerian has a life expectancy of almost 51 years and earn 630 USD annually. Thirty percent of Nigerians are able to read and write.
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 31, 2009 21:34:58 GMT 1
85 percent of Poles have a mobile phone
thenews.pl
27.10.2009
Eighty-five percent of Poles have mobile telephones, with the 'over-50' age group showing rapid interest in mobile communication.
Research carried out by the Ericsson Consumer Lab shows that 54 percent of those over the age of fifty years have a mobile phone, whereas three years ago, that figure measured only 23 percent. General statistics encompassing all of Polish society show that 85 percent of the country has a mobile phone, up thirteen percent from 2006.
The number of stationary phones in Poland is declining. In 2006, 65 percent of people claimed to have one at home, whereas the latest research shows that only 56 percent of households have a stationary landline.
The Ericsson Consumer Lab research was carried out between March-May 2009 on a representative sample of 1,500 Poles between the ages 15-69 years of age. The Lab carried out similar research in 2006.
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 2, 2010 20:50:43 GMT 1
A few days a little pebble got stuck between my teeth. I wasted a lot of dental floss, in vain. I checked the dental emergency near my house. The dentist worked 2 minutes with a special metal piece and removed the pebble. He charged me 20 zlotys for that, 8$. I thought it was a little too high for so little work.
How much would it cost in US or UK?
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Post by valpomike on Jan 3, 2010 2:42:36 GMT 1
Anywhere for $50. to $100, and you would have to wait a few weeks to get in, if you were lucky.
Mike
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Post by tufta on Jan 3, 2010 18:28:00 GMT 1
A few days a little pebble got stuck between my teeth. I wasted a lot of dental floss, in vain. I checked the dental emergency near my house. The dentist worked 2 minutes with a special metal piece and removed the pebble. He charged me 20 zlotys for that, 8$. I thought it was a little too high for so little work. How much would it cost in US or UK? Little work? you have spend several days an didn't complete the work. ;D |
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 3, 2010 22:15:11 GMT 1
A few days a little pebble got stuck between my teeth. I wasted a lot of dental floss, in vain. I checked the dental emergency near my house. The dentist worked 2 minutes with a special metal piece and removed the pebble. He charged me 20 zlotys for that, 8$. I thought it was a little too high for so little work. How much would it cost in US or UK? Little work? you have spend several days an didn't complete the work. ;D Actually, I suffered about 30 minutes. We were just leaving for a walk in the snowy park. Fortunately, we live in an area well-equipped with various facilities, like the dental emergency, and it was empty. Anywhere for $50. to $100, and you would have to wait a few weeks to get in, if you were lucky. Mike Such queues? You pay and wait? Unbelievable. |
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Post by valpomike on Jan 4, 2010 16:46:45 GMT 1
It the new insurance plan passes a vote, this will get worst.
Mike
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Post by tufta on Jan 5, 2010 13:19:49 GMT 1
It the new insurance plan passes a vote, this will get worst. Mike I think the opposite. Among many, well, disputable political moves he made in the office, the health sytem reform is something that is likely to make him forever present in history books , and the future generations of Americans will praise him very much. |
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 15:32:48 GMT 1
But you don't live here and talk with the people on the street, of both color. We don't want it, it will cost us much more, and give us much less. You have to be here to understand. We did not push any programs on Europe, for there hospital plan, so Europe should not try and force a bad plan on us. This will never work, and if he forced this on us, yes he will go down in history as the worst president ever, and after he is gone, it will change back, to the way we now have it.
Mike
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 15:33:48 GMT 1
Read his, the president's plan, and you will agree with me, it is no good, for the people.
Mike
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Post by tufta on Jan 5, 2010 17:56:53 GMT 1
But you don't live here and talk with the people on the street, of both color. Of course I don't, but that doesn't make may argumentation wrong and yours automatically right. The only way to prove I am wrong is to show where I am wrong not where I live. Even if the majority would be against the health system reform - it doesn't really matter until next elections,as the majority has already chosen a president. The class of politician is easiest to observe while watching if he's able to make the reforms AGAINST popular will. Those who simply listen to popular will are called populists. Mike, in what way "Europe' is pushing for health reform in USA, could you explain that? He might go in history as a worst president ever on the international basis and ending the US dominance era, that is true. However if he makes a successful reform of health care system, after some time even the hardcore conservatives will understand that caring for the health of ALL citizens is something very basic. And that will become a standard also in US. Subsequently, he will be remembered as teh man who did do the needed reform. |
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 19:29:19 GMT 1
No one here, in the USA, is ever turned away for health care, now. But with this new plan, we will have to buy a coverage insurance plan, and if we don't we will be given a fine. They want to control the quality of our service, and make sure that ACORN gets many dollars, for nothing. As they are now. Check into this more, than get back to me. I would not want this same type plan for Poland, or anywhere.
Mike
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 19:30:10 GMT 1
Read the 2,000 page bill, with all it's pork, and you will understand.
Mike
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 19:32:36 GMT 1
You must walk the walk, to talk the talk, and I think you just don't understand. I know that the news, you receive on this, is very slanted, so it would be hard to see both sides of this.
Mike
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Post by tufta on Jan 5, 2010 20:58:51 GMT 1
You must walk the walk, to talk the talk, and I think you just don't understand. Yes perhaps I don't understand. So please could you help me to understand? In my understanding there're currently around 50 million uninsured people in the USA, roughly 1 in six American citizens. They very rarely, extremely rarely, if ever, use preventive medical measures, as a result they are sick more often and die prematurely more often. As you rightly state the uninsured are not totally denied the health aid, but while sick they mostly seek help in emergency units, where the help is of course limited. And they are charged for that of course, often more than the insured. Since many uninsured cannot pay the bills for their treatment, the costs of it are 'passed' to the insured in higher cost of the insurance. In result, part of ie. your insurance money you pay, goes to those uninsured who cannot pay their health-care bills. This is a very unjust situation, don't you think so? Wouldn't it be much more just to make all who work pay for the basic insurance? Not to mention such an humanly idealistic, almost nonsense fact, that also those who don't work would have the basic preventive and 'curative' health care covered? Not all those who don't work are lazy bums, do I understand correctly at least that? Could you please explain how do you know what kind of news I 'receive'  |
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 23:27:06 GMT 1
The uninsured can us one of many free clinics, that give good to better care, than a private place. Many of the doctors give there time, for free, to help the poor. Many of the hospitals are for profit places, so if some one can not pay, they write it off there tax, and take the loss. If you go to a free clinic, you would see, many people there who can take care of small things them self, if they wanted to, but it is free, so they go.
The new insurance plan, lets the government decide what care we would get, and when it would stop, not the doctors. The old would not be given the same care as the young. Many people would be told to go away and die, as per the plan. They will pull the plug when it starts to cost to much.
This is not, what I, and most Americans want, but government wants, so the only way out, is to replace them, and this will happen even if they don't get this plan into law, since the idea was a bad one to start with.
One party controls the new media here, so they only put out what they want, and this goes all over the world. So you, in Europe never get the other side.
Mike
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Post by valpomike on Jan 5, 2010 23:29:32 GMT 1
I think you are a smart man, who needs to see the other side of this. Search for more information, read the plan, you can on the INTERNET, talk to more Americans, who live here.
I will try and help you understand, if you open up your mind.
Mike
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Post by tufta on Jan 6, 2010 14:09:07 GMT 1
The new insurance plan, lets the government decide what care we would get, and when it would stop, not the doctors. No Mike. You should know the plan you critisize better. The government will not decide when to stop the treatment. Yes, it will be decided what kind of medical conditions will be refunded. That is something different. Besides - anyone will be able to buy additional insurance plan. Would you like to be treated as a young men are? Would you like your grandchildren to be treated as the elderly? Of course not. Mike, this is simply not true. Right now many people are told to go away. If the reform is correctly done the number of those left in the cold will be much smaller. Additionally, the general health of population will increase, as EVERYONE will be able to use preventive medical tests etc. You might not like the fact that also cynical and lazy people will use the system for their benefit. Yes this is unfair. But isn't it better to cure for free 10 of those sly fellows than to leave in the cold one person who cannot pay the insurance not because of own laziness? As to euthanasia (I think this is what you mean by pulling the plug). The complusory medical insurance system and euthanasia are two different things. We have a compulsoty insurance in Poland and we have no euthanasia! |
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Post by valpomike on Jan 6, 2010 17:32:00 GMT 1
But that is Poland, not the USA. Read the plan, in full, with all the pork, than we can talk more. I am sure you will change your thinking after you read it. It can take time, to read, and more time, to try and understand it, but please take the time. Don't believe what you hear on the news, or read in the papers, they are slanted. Take the time, and we can talk more, after. You will be in for a big surprise.
Mike
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