Archive of articles - August 1999, page 5

Energy producer SE suffers 1H99 loss of 3.28 billion crowns

Culture Shock: Slovak keyboards "a mzsterz"

Call me crayz. Or yanz. Upon arriving in Slovakia, all I wanted to do was write a letter home. But the computer did not want to co-operate. It was a mzsterz to me. Then, I discovered the root of the problem: the kezboard. Slovak kezboards are different from English ones. Not verz different, but just enough to make text look reallz sillz.To begin with, the Z is where the Y was, and vice versa. That can be confusing, but not a big headache, unless the subjects of zour writing tend to be jayyz. For example, if zou are describing Yach the zak herder. Or if zou write about kazaking in Kayachstan.Lest zou think me a complete dummz, I can report with pride that I have tamed the beast. It took me some years, but where my prose used to "yig" and "yag," it now zigs and zag with the best of the key-ticklers.

Five tiger cubs poisoned

Palacka's resignation: Form over substance

At first, the decision of former Telecom Minister Gabriel Palacka to resign on August 9 seemed a mature and responsible one. His competence and honesty questioned, Palacka stepped down without having to be dragged from his seat.But a closer look at what Palacka and his boss, Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda, said during the episode, shows that far from taking responsibility for bungling his job, Palacka blamed media hysteria and political backstabbing for his departure. Moreover, far from clearing the air and restoring stability to the cabinet, Palacka's departure simply reinforced the impression that Dzurinda's ministers still don't understand how important it is to avoid corruption.

Matador building new truck tire factory in Púchov

Letter to the Editor: British also have curious practices

Community Grapevine

International youth camp teaches about human rights

Underworld boss 'Žaluď' gunned down

Infamous Bratislava businessman and alleged underworld figure Peter Steinhubel was shot and killed by an unknown assassin on August 4. Police said that this was the sixth attempt to assassinate Steinhubel in the past six years.The shooting occured shortly after Steinhubel, known in underworld circles by the nickname Žaluď , or "Acorn" in English, had arrived at the Bratislava premises of Bratislavské Mraziarne, the frozen-food company which he owned. Steinhubel, 34, had asked his bodyguards to prepare an armour-plated Mercedes for him at the plant. As he stepped out of his red Ferrari to switch cars at about 11 p.m., the unknown assassin shot him once in the back.

Boating enthusiasts have many options for water adventure

It's summertime, and the many rivers, lakes, and waterways around Bratislava are beckoning. Kayakers can be seen out on the fast-flowing Danube and the muddy Morava, while other Slovaks tow canoes to the nearby Malý Dunaj (Small Danube), with its calm water and beautiful scenery, and the Starý Dunaj (Old Danube), both southeast of Bratislava. The more intrepid head farther afield, to the dramatic Váh, Belá and Hornád rivers in the mountains of northern Slovakia.For those who don't own boats, it is possible to arrange float and paddle trips on some of the many nearby rivers. Most of the providers are either private individuals or small businessmen willing to provide boats and itineraries to small groups. There are also a few places which will just rent you a boat, allowing you to strike out on your own.

Unions preparing for possible mass protests in fall

Construction output down 23.4% in June from year ago

Letter to the Editor: Public cowed by skinhead violence

Real wages fall in most sectors in first half of 1999

Slovak pensioner has royal connection

Sme: Arrival of new US Ambassador likely delayed

ŽSR tender results puzzle audit firms

The issue of transparency and the clarity of public tenders came to the fore again after the state-owned national railway company Železnice Slovenskej Republiky (ŽSR) awarded a contract to audit its books to international audit house Ernst & Young - even though the winning bid was about four million crowns higher than the cheapest offer.The tender, which was called in early August, had been contested by four international audit houses active in Slovakia - Ernst & Young, Arthur Andersen, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Along with international auditor Deloitte & Touche, which did not submit a bid, these companies are collectively known as "the Big Five."Ernst & Young's managing partner Peter Feith told The Slovak Spectator that his firm's bid for the ŽSR audit contract had been approximately 10 million Slovak crowns ($240,000).

Young eagles commit Cainism

Soviet NHLers pull exhibition no-show

Approximately 3,500 hockey fans packed Bratislava's Ondrej Nepela Winter Stadium expecting to enjoy an exhibition match of current NHL hockey stars residing on the terriroty of the former Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. However, with no fore-warning or explanation, the Soviet all-star team failed to show and the home side was forced to put together a hastily-organised squad consisting of three Russians who play for the Slovan Bratislava team and other players from the Russian "Dinamo Voronez" hockey club, which is currently training in Slovakia.

Retail sales up 11.9% in June from year before