Archive of articles - June 2000, page 6

Obituary

This is the first time I've been asked to write an obituary for a close friend. It is a very difficult thing for me to do for Colin because I am still suffering from disbelief at losing him. Colin had become a very good friend indeed, and I want to express the loss that all his friends feel. And the fact that Colin is no longer here has made me think not only about Colin and the loss of him but about all my friends, and all our friendships.They are so important to us, and yet we take them for granted. It wasn't until he died that I knew Colin's second name, or his religion, or many of his interests, or many other things about him. And none of it matters, because he was Colin.I still find it hard to believe that never again will I see Colin sitting at the bar of the Irish Pub, cigarette in hand, looking steadfastly ahead. Or sitting with another friend at the table by the door, which is how I remember him from the last time we met, on his last Friday a month ago.

Busines Briefs

Volkswagen Slovakia opens Martin plantFinMin opens talks with delinquent Devín bankaŽSR signs Eurobond contract with JP MorganCentral bank lowers repo rates by half percentSTV calls for representation on ST commissionShell Slovakia reports five billion crown turnover

Slovakia chooses new 'fighting bombers' over radar

Defence Minister Pavol Kanis confirmed on May 23 his ministry's intention to purchase 35 to 50 subsonic jets to replace the country's aging Soviet-made Su-22 and Su-25 'fighting bombers,' which provide close air support to ground forces. While Kanis said that the purchase of the subsonic jets would serve to upgrade the country's shoddy air force, not everybody was happy with the decision.Military experts have said that Slovakia's military forces are in dire need of upgrades in areas other than aircraft. One high ranking US Air Force expert said on May 22, under the condition of anonymity, that buying the jets would be a mistake, and that Slovakia should instead invest into the purchase of new radar systems.

Around Slovakia

99-year-old dies before meeting Queen MotherSpectator killed at car raceMüller fails to show up for court hearingGreenpeace protests Nitsch exhibition at Austrian embassy

New pubs flourishing in bustling city centre

Boris Mravec, co-owner of Bratislava's new shoot-em up, wild west pub El Diablo, said that it had always been his dream to open such an establishment in the Old Town. In only six months time he and his partners, former owners of the Harley Davidson pub in Bratislava, transformed empty office space into a modern day saloon with saddles, spurs, steer heads and tanned leather bric-a-brac.El Diablo sits next door to the Dubliner Irish Pub on Sedl8rská ulica, Bratislava's most popular expat pub, and probably the most successful bar in the city. Theoretically, El Diablo and the Dubliner are competitors, but you'll hear nothing but friendly words among the owners. "It's a great-looking place," said Robbie Norton, one of three brothers who own the Dubliner. "I congratulated those guys on creating a great bar and I'm delighted that they are our neighbours."

Top Pick: The Best of Slovak Films

Hoping to take advantage of the summer influx of foreign visitors to Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute is presenting The best of Slovak Films in the native tongue accompanied by English or German sub-titles. Organisers hope that foreigners will therefore take advantage of the opportunity to see and understand the nature of Slovak cinematography.Each week at the Kino Hall Voskovec and Werich in Charlie's Centrum near Tesco, a new pair of films will be played. Each show begins with a short animated film or documentary, which is followed by a select full-length movie. The films mostly illustrate life in specific Slovak regions while reflecting the mentality of different people and their individual characteristics. The films aim at capturing these ideas, emotions and relations.Tickets for each showing cost 37 Sk. All shows begin at 20:00 at Charlie Centrum, Špitálska 4. Tel: 5296 3430.

This Week

Culture Shock: Americans...

The reason it's so easy to pick Americans out of a crowd in Slovakia is simple: They look as if they were all born of one American mother, and as if they were raised by a single American father. The paradox is, of course, that the American gene pool has been fed from all corners of the earth.Still, the similarities are striking. Americans, more than anyone else, shout at each other - on buses and trams, in restaurants and pubs, their conversations are carried out at top volume (maybe this is what distinguishes 'American English' from other varieties). Whatever the case, US citizens outshout Brits, Canadians and all other English-speaking visitors to Slovakia. Indeed, the only foreigners who manage the same decibels as the Americans are the Austrians.

The headhunter's survival guide

When I am at business cocktails or receptions and I introduce myself as a headhunter I generally meet with three types of reaction. One is that of an angry manager who does not like headhunters, probably because they blame the headhunter for losing good employees. Another reaction is of managers who are interested in learning more about potential job offers for themselves. The third is from the manager who needs key people and is interested in learning more about our services.Is it right to blame the headhunter when your people are leaving the company? Does a headhunter have such a strong influence on individuals that they quit their job and start somewhere else? I do not think so.The applicants we offer jobs change company of their own free will and there is no manipulation or pressure from our side whatsoever. The most frequent reasons that applicants change are:

Correction

In the new Bratislava, the Devil takes the hindmost

I was supposed to be in LA last weekend. I'd bought the ticket in February when British Airways had a fire sale and the ice lay firmly packed on the park across from the US embassy. My thoughts at the time, naturally, turned to sunshine. Apart from a handful of very good friends I would be able to see, there was really no other good reason to endure 11 hours each way in a packed jumbo jet with nanny BA flight attendants telling us what to do at every turn. I put off my trip for a number of reasons, and the airline changed the ticket to the end of May.

Brewers handcuffed by cheap beer prices

One of the most notable differences between Slovakia and more developed economies the western first-time visitor to Slovakia comes across is the comparatively cheap cost of goods and services. From taxi fares and eating out to simply travelling on public transport, the price differences can be dramatic. But within all the bargains to be had, possibly the most striking is that of one of the nation's most popular drinks - beer.Although taxes play a large part in Slovakia's comparatively low beer price - Slovak beer is taxed 400 crowns ($11) per hectolitre, a rate half of what is charged in Poland and an average of a quarter as much as in the west - added costs from tariffs don't account for the entire price differential. On a deeper level, the local discount can be traced back to both tradition and the availability of locally produced ingredients for brewing.

Internet in manufacturing

Can you think of an order you lost because the supply of parts was late, or the order changed at the last moment and you couldn't respond? Or have you ever had to turn down a sudden rush order because you couldn't be sure of fulfilling it on time?The Internet is having a profound and permanent effect on the manufacturing industry. Last month we saw how manufacturers could find new customers and partners world-wide using online Exchanges. So, once you've successfully bid for and won those lucrative orders, how do you ensure you fulfil the contract on time, on budget and satisfying fluctuating demand? In fact, how confident can you be when you are even submitting the quote? Simple, it's all in the planning.A plan shared is a lead-time halved

Only two suitors remain in ST race

Telecoms colossus Deutsche Telekom (DT) emerged as the most likely winner of the tender for state-controlled Slovenské telekommunikácie (ST) after Telekom Austria pulled out of the running on May 29.Telekom Austria representatives said that the decision came after a review of the firm's capabilities, with an impending float on the Austrian stock-market approaching and internal restructuring underway. The firm said that it would be overstretched if it entered a new market - a claim that fuelled speculation that KPN, the third bidder in the tender, was also about to rethink its involvement in the ST tender given its interest in boosting its stake in Czech telecoms firm Český Telekom."The only reason we pulled out was because of the restructuring in our company and our up-coming stock exchange entry," said Martin Predl, spokesman for the Austrian telecoms firm. He rejected initial speculation that the firm had backed out of the race because of recent concerns with ST's involvement in a capital hike at the state-owned Poštová banka.

Quote of the Week

Italian Cuisine

Bratislava boasts a large number of Italian restaurants, with the total amount increasing each year as more and more pasta and pizza venues open for business. To help you choose from the large selection, The Slovak Spectator has compiled a list of some of our favourite Italian restaurants in Bratislava.

News Briefs

HZDS condemns the World Congress of HungariansDzurinda to hear universities' demands by JulySchuster calls for long-term agricultural planSchuster receives Polish Prime Minister Buzek