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Posts by Polonius3  

Joined: 11 Apr 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - Q		 Last Post: 9 Apr 2018
Threads: Total: 980 / In This Archive: 289
Posts: Total: 12275 / In This Archive: 906 		From: US Sterling Heigths, MI
Speaks Polish?: yes
Interests: Polish history, genealogy

Displayed posts: 1195 / page 16 of 40
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Polonius3   
3 May 2009
Genealogy / looking for kulczycki [5]

FYI a bloke named Kulczycki set up Europe's first coffee house in Vienna after getting hold of the coffeebeans left by the retreating Turks after King Sobieski's victory over the Moslem hordes.
Polonius3   
2 May 2009
Genealogy / My last name... Dybczak [4]

Dyba means post, pillar or somenone who lies in ambush (dybać). If someone with that nickname fathered a son, fellow-villagers would have dubbed the descendant Dybczak, Dybak or Dybczuk (in the east). Also possible toponmyic nickname for an inmhabitant of Dybów, Dybowo, Dyblin, Dybawka, Dybki, etc.

Dybczak is probnounced DIP-chahk.
Before a cz the b is pronounced like a p.)
Polonius3   
2 May 2009
Genealogy / LIST OF POLISH FIRST NAMES [10]

Adam is multilingual and you can always use the Polish hypocoristic form Adaś in a family setting.
Polonius3   
1 May 2009
USA, Canada / DO POL-AMS GIVE THEIR BABIES POLISH NAMES? [4]

I'm quitye aware of the historicla aspects such as the fact that actress Stephany Powers was actually Stefania Fiederkiewicz (something like that). But I'm wondering whether US-born Pol-Ams now simply go with the flow or sometimes add Polish touches to their baby-naming process.
Polonius3   
1 May 2009
USA, Canada / DO POL-AMS GIVE THEIR BABIES POLISH NAMES? [4]

These are supposedly the top-trendy baby names this year in teh USA. I'm wondering whether amongst Polish Americans there is any Polish ethnic input into the baby-naming process. For instance amongst Italo-Americans Dino and Gina are more common, and Patrick and Sean would be found more often amongst the Irish Americans.

The first US-born generation of the old pre-World War I Polonia often pseudo-Anglicised such names as Czesław, Kazimierz, Władysław, Stanisław and Mieczysław into Chester, Cass or Casey, Walter, Stanley and Mitchell respectively.

Most popular 2009 girls names in the USA
Ella
Grace
Emma
Elizabeth
Lorelei
Riley
Rory
Isabella
Chloe
Anna

Top ten baby names for boys in 2009:
Aiden
Jayden
Dylan
James
Gavin
Benjamin
Caleb
Nathan
Jack
Andrew
Polonius3   
1 May 2009
Language / CAN UK'S POLISH MIGRANTS HELP WITH POLISH LEARNING? [3]

Generally, the best way to learn any language is through extensive exposure to a language or, even better, total immersion therein. That is possible through intensive courses such as the Berlitz Schools or spending a lot fo time interacting with natives. Of course that depends on whether native speakers are eager to interact with learners in Polish. My question is: are groups of Polish migrants in the British Isles eager to have locals fraternise with them in Polish and be helped with the language? Or are they clannish and standoffish and/or prefer to use such opportunties to imrpove their English?
Polonius3   
1 May 2009
News / Is Poland ready for the swine fever stuff? [59]

PAP reporting on Friday that an 8-year-old girl from the SW city of Wrocław (formerly Breslau) who returned from Mexico is suspected of having swine flu. Results of tests should be forthcoming shortly. Several cases have already been reproted in neighbouring Germany.
Polonius3   
30 Apr 2009
USA, Canada / STEVENS POINT, ANYONE? [11]

If all the Stevens Point Polonians are in graveyards or old-people's homes, then that must mean that either:
1. Nearly all their descendants have leftz the area for big cities, and/or:
2. They are stilll there physically but have drifted away from and no longer identify with their Polish heritage, preferring to be "just plan Heinz 57 Americans".

3. There is been no or only a negligible injection of new blood such as an influx of Polish immigrants during the post-Soldiarity and visa-lottery periods.
Polonius3   
30 Apr 2009
Life / DO AWAY WITH COMMIE MAYDAY IN POLAND? [3]

Over a million signatures have been collected to restore the Feast of the Three Kings or Epiphany (6th Jan.) as a public holiday in Poland -- something the bolshies took away from the Polish people. Others want to make Good Friday a public as it si in other EU countries. But having too many free days is not good from an economic strandpoint. One solution would be to do away with commie Mayday (1st May) -- a relic of 45 years of Soviet oppression. Since both the 1st and 3rd (Constitution Day) are now public holidays, over the past two decades that has created week-long mega-weekends, when little business can be conducted, school is disrupted and workers have to work off the free days at different times, causing disorganization and confusion. For the benefit of a tiny minority of post-commies who cherish to Soviet- insprued past, perhaps Mayday festivities could be somehow blended into 3d May celebrations and one working day would be saved.
Polonius3   
28 Apr 2009
USA, Canada / STEVENS POINT, ANYONE? [11]

Anyone live in or has visited Stevens Point, Wisconsin? It was once heavily Polish, maybe still is. There's a Polish language newspaper Gwiazda Polarna, and some fine brews come out of the local Point Brewery.
Polonius3   
28 Apr 2009
News / Krystian Zimerman's shocking Disney Hall debut [13]

America has long been the arsenal of democracy, not a colonial power the likes of Britain or France. No, it's not perfect. Everything man-made is flawed. But when all is said and done, if you had to choose one power to play the dominant role in the world, would you choose China, Russia, Venezuela, India, Germany, Brazil or something else?
Polonius3   
28 Apr 2009
History / Heretics Asylum - The First Republic of Poland [50]

One need not take up weapns to side with someone. During hostiliteis it is treason to spy for the enemy, advance his cause (from the pulpit) and/or demoralise the troops of one's own homeland regardless of motivation. In times of war, when a nation's fate hangs in the balance, there is little room for such niceties as whether the Aryans backed the Swedes becuase they were fellow-heretics or due to their blind hatred of Polish Catholicism or perhaps some other reason. Let's face it, Swedish troops and their paid mercenaries flooded Poland almost to the southern mountainsm, and only Jasna Góra, that bulwark of Polish Catholicism, broke the advance of the Nordic, heretical hordes, triggering their roll-back across the Baltic.
Polonius3   
27 Apr 2009
Food / FRIED (OFF & SLIMY) CHEESE, ANYONE? [13]

Anyone on PF ever tried Polish fried cheese? it's not bad and is enjoyed esp. by those who like herring, brined cucumbers and hunter's sausage as bite-downs (zagrycha).

But just as some Anglos are turned off by the thought of deliberately souring milk (which to them has gone off and should be dumped), so too this type of cheese is not likely to appeal to them. White curd cheese (pot cheese, farmer cheese, pressed cottage cheese) that has started to turn yellow and slimy (there's even a Polish word for this: zgliwieć!) is simply fried, heavily seasoned at eaten like a spread on bread. Some like it so much they actually set fresh cheese aside to "zgliwieć". Plenty of vodka is recommended to wash it down. SMACZNEGO!
Polonius3   
27 Apr 2009
Food / Looking for recipe for Polish "black" bread. [2]

It was probably some form of chleb żytni razowy (wholegrain rye). There are dense, heavy breads in Poland baked in long squarish loaves, stretches of which are cut off and sold by weight. The recipe would probably be a very involved several-day procedure uisng sour-dough starter, extensive kneading, rising, re-kneading and in the end it could be a flop after all that effort. Polish bread ovens (piec chlebowy) have just the right heat, humidity and ventilation required, and these are nearly impossible to reproduce at home. But hunt about on the net. In English they may call it whole rye, whole-grain rye or maybe even just black bread. POWODZENIA - GOOD LUCK!
Polonius3   
27 Apr 2009
History / Heretics Asylum - The First Republic of Poland [50]

Poland has long been known as a haven for dissidents, as the Polityka article poitns out. The main exception are the Aryans (Uniatrians) who were expelled from Poland in the 17th century. Most often the reason, which was poltiical not religious, is ignored. THE ARYANS SIDED WITH THE INVADING SWEDES AND THEREFORE COMMITTED TREASON AGAINST THEIR NATIVE LAND, POLAND.

On another score, one of the ironies of history is that Poland is indebted to Stalin (although that was hardly his intention) for being so staunchly Cathlolic. His truncated Poland devoid of the Ruthenian east, became a compact, ethnically homogenous country. And during the years of communist oppression the Catholic Church was the people's only refuge and soruce of comfort and consolation.
Polonius3   
26 Apr 2009
History / Polish Jews we are (Poles) proud of [30]

I have heard it said if you removed those of Jewish descent from pre-war Poland's literary and cultural scene between the two world wars, there wouldn't be much Polish culture left.
Polonius3   
26 Apr 2009
Life / Polish Name Day celebration [40]

A sine qua non element of name celebrations is serenading the guest of honour with "Sto Lat"!
Polonius3   
26 Apr 2009
News / Will economic crisis hit Poland? [38]

Apr 26, 09, 14:28 - Thread attached on merging:
GLOBAL CRISIS LESS SEVERE IN POLAND?

It seems the global crisis so far has been less painful in Poland than elsewhere? Is that because fewer Poles were living on credit beyond their means than Americans or what? Also it doesn't seem the recession (negative GDP) will even hit Poland compared with Germany and other EU countries. What are the reasons according to you?
Polonius3   
26 Apr 2009
Law / Want to start new business in Europe - New Business Options in Poland? [17]

Merged: EASY TO START A BUSINESS UNDER TUSK?

The Tusk government pride themselves in their "one window" approach to setting up new businesses in Poland. Used to be a potential entrepreneur would have to chase from one bureaucrat to another with a fistful of papers and such red-tape could drag on for months. Tusk claims it can now all be dealt with at a single office Windows -- simply, quickly and efficiently. Has anyone in Poland witlessness this change?
Polonius3   
26 Apr 2009
Life / Drug use and culture in Poland [17]

Apr 26, 09, 12:25 - Thread attached on merging:
POLISH DRUG CULTURE?

How hard or easy is it to get drugs at GROUND ZERO, BLUE VELVET and other clubs in Warsaw and other big cities? What are the drugs of choice (roughly percentagewise)? What percentage of the customers, according to you knowledgeble estimate, would be high on drugs, booze or both? Can someone turn down a joint, say "I don't do drugs" and still be considered cool? What penalty does a drug dealer caught in the act face? Have any clubs been closed down for tolerating drug dealing on the premises?
Polonius3   
25 Apr 2009
Genealogy / US POLONIAN BUSHA (BUSIA) DISPUTE/DILEMMA RESOLVED [7]

Merged: WE GONNA GO BY BUSIA's?

Anyone ever encounter such English speech by 2nd generation Polish Americans?:
We gonna go by busia's who's making kabassi. Was youse on a wedding yesterday?
Dat ain't no good. Ciocia Mary's coming over.
Polonius3   
25 Apr 2009
Language / Iterative and semelfactive verbs [37]

Ted Knight must have originally been Kaszyński, not Kasziński!

Merged:PORYKIWAĆ - FREQUENTATIVE OR SOMETHING ELSE?

The po- prefix used with frequentative verbs creates a notion of distributiveness or successivness. So whereas in English we migth say: He poured vodka for his guests, in Polish: Ponalewał gościom wódkę evokes the image of the host filling one glass after another.

Or Krowa stała przy płocie i porykiwała. The cow was standing by the fence of lowing every so often. This is not the kind of frequentative as czytywać or pijąc (to read or drink over a long period of time), but a single occasion (day, morning, several hours) where an action is intermittently repeated.

Is there a special name for such verbs in linguistic terminology?
Polonius3   
25 Apr 2009
History / Polish Jews we are (Poles) proud of [30]

Artur Rubinstein, piano virtuoso
Bronisław Wildstein, revealer of commie agents in post Poland
Julian Tuwin, writer (but had a pro-Stalin episode)
Two Jewish socialists, one was Alterman (the other name has slipped my mind) who despite Soviet torture refused to squeal on their Polish party comrades

Władysław Szpilman, composer (hero of Polański's "Pianist")
Poet Bolesław Leśmian (originally Lessmann or soemthign like that)
Bruno Jasieński, poet killed by Soviets
Casimir the Great's Jewish mistress and confidante
These are off the cuff without checking...I'm sure others will have many more examples.
Polonius3   
25 Apr 2009
Life / DO ORDINARY POLES DRINK ALCOHOL BEFORE NOON? [25]

It is common in the US (maybe our Brits and Aussies could confirm whether this also applies to other English-speaking countries) that Americans ordinarily do not drink alcohol until noon. Does any such notion exist in Poland?

Other American notions include not going into the water for at least one hour after eating because you’ll get cramps and drown (as far as I know not encountered in Poland). But in Poland parents and grandparents tell kids not to sit on a cement stoop or porch because they'll get rheumatism. This idea is not known in America.

In the sphere of superstitions many notions are the same, but Poles, if they forget something and have to return home, they briefly sit down on a chair. Otherwise it brings bad luck.