News / Polish religious pilgrims crashed coming back from a pilgrimage [62]

Ok Daisy, your public pity is greater than my public pity, does that help any bereaved?
Is being pi$$ed off a new moral high ground?
I apologise for my inability to take part in public wailing and hand wringing.
Anything further is between me and a widely despised creator.

News / Polish religious pilgrims crashed coming back from a pilgrimage [62]

Condolences are tricky on this forum.
Catholics pray for the dead, Protestants don't believe in purgatory and pray for the living relatives, Hindus wish them better luck next time and the humanists, athiests and agnostics offer empty plattitudes into the air - Take your pick.

History / Communist Era in Poland: Some questions [28]

To Regionpolski and others with experience of Communist Era Poland, please keep up this thread.
I don't speak Polish, German or Russian and have to rely on under 30's to translate for their parents (my contemporaries) and Grandparents when I visit Poland. The kids get bored with oldies talk and there is so much I would like to know about those times.

I love the grandparents gardens with their chickens, beehives and vegetables - just like my English grandparents, but my contemporaries went in for higher education and less gardening (just like me).

Poles in our family used to make road trips to Polish relatives in the 1970's & 80's with colour TV's, early computers, microwave ovens and similar unobtainables and I remember Levi jeans being high on the shopping list. The return trip brought some leather goods - jackets and shoes. I shudder to think how well instant cake mix and other foodstuffs were actually received.

I am ashamed to say that as a callow youth at that time, I took no interest in these matters and the really interesting older guys are now long dead.

Love / Do Polish women date Polish men? [16]


Just when I understood a thread, which incidentally answered a burning question I didn't dare ask (Thanks Artur), I've hit a translation problem.

I can understand most colonial English like: "he dove in and drug her out before he'd gotten her permission" and "an ass is not a donkey"but Cooties?

Is this an amalgamation of Cutie and beauty or Booty?

To a simple English country dweller a Cootie would be a young black feathered water-bird with a white beak

Please translate ~:(

Love / Are polish girls generally curvy, tall with nice round butts [74]

Quoting a 16 year-old Polish girl on her first visit to England:
"English girls make Polish girls look anorexic".

draw your own conclusions

Travel / Polish Airports and Air industry are pathetic [32]

I like small airports.
Poland should not follow the western airport shopping mall mentality, just cut the queues and move passengers to and from planes without fuss.
Krakow is my kind of airport - small and convenient. I don't need the planes to park close enough for bendy walkways to lock on, buses and staircases are good enough as long as both me and my luggage are on the same plane.

I look forward to trying the new Bournemouth/Katowice route.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]

Unfortunately, the UK economy is now based on skills and knowledge in the workforce as we are no longer a manufacturing country. I know how this happens as I have spent my working life in engineering and watched it all slipping away overseas. My farming friends who used to grow milling weat and produce milk, have switched to document storage and oil seed crops and make less money than they did 20 years ago.

Survival is a matter of changing to suit a changing society and while there is truth in the old saying "where there's muck there's brass", it is better to be a certified electrician or a registered gas fitter - the necessary certification excludes immigrants.

It tough, I've been unemployed, but you learn to diversify and gain a skill that is hard to duplicate.
Good luck and best wishes.

News / Poland's Contribution to the E.U. [56]

70% of Polish Steel is made by Mittal Steel of Katowice. Mr Mittal, a British tycoon of Indian origin has been buying up many steel mills all over Europe and is one of the world's biggest producers. He is cashing in on the car manufacturing boom in Poland/Czech Rep/Slovakia. Most UK Fiats are built in Poland (only the MPV's from elsewhere).

There is a shift in car manufacture in the EU; as Spanish & Portuguese costs have risen, so Eastern Europe has taken over small car production - even the Chinese will be producing cars there soon.

It may not look like it just now, but Silesia (Slaskie?) is improving rapidly in all economic measures.
The Polish Film industry is having a bit of a revival too; you can expect a big increase in Polish and Polish/international productions.
Friends in Polish HR say that it is not easy to find workers with good English, so I guess that when the "toilet cleaners" return home, if their English has improved their job prospects will have improved too - except for the doctors and nurses currently demonstrating night and day in Warsaw.

USA, Canada / Gas prices in America [127]

Comparative fuel prices in April 2007 - Source Automobile Association

Price per litre in Euros
Country Gasoline / Diesel
Austria 1.06 / 0.97
Belgium 1.36 / 1.07
Finland 1.29 / 0.99
Germany 1.32 / 1.13
Greece 0.96 / 0.93
Netherlands 1.47 / 1.08
Italy 1.27 / 1.18
Luxembourg 1.13 / 0.90
Spain 1.01 / 0.93
France 1.27 / 1.06
Ireland 1.11 / 1.07
Portugal 1.30 / 1.04
Sweden 1.33 / 1.20
Estonia 0.89 / 0.87
Latvia 0.98 / 0.93
Lithuania 0.92 / 0.87
Slovakia 1.16 / 1.15
Switzerland 1.06 / 1.09
United Kingdom 1.38 / 1.42
United States 0.58 / 0.58
Norway 1.49 / 1.37
Poland 1.16 / 1.01
Hungary 1.16 / 1.10
Czech Republic 1.05 / 1.02
Denmark 1.42 / 1.21

When you read the list, bear in mind that unlike the US, Norway is a net exporter of oil products!

UK, Ireland / Great Britain vs England, Ireland, Scottland, Wales [37]


Just as person who starts a sentence with "We British..." only means "I managed to get a passport".
The internet is a great disguise and descriptions only of notional value.

I share your grief over passport nationalities as pedantically, Britain is not a nation and British is therefore not a nationality. "United Kingdomish" would be more valid as a statement of soveriegnty and citizenship.

USA, Canada / Gas prices in America [127]


The UK is bad because of high taxes (Spanish diesel is almost 50% less) but Poland is nearly as expensive as the UK.
I agree with Szarlotka’s view on current situation and the bad news is that it won’t improve for gasoline.
US refineries have been holding back on low sulphur fuel for a number of reasons but they are now catching up and adding extra hydrotreaters etc by extending regular shutdowns or cutting output to add new plant – so the production costs have risen.

For many reasons, not least increasing competition, market prices of crude have risen; increasing material costs.
Oil producers are now refining more light crude rather than exporting it, forcing net importers to buy refined products which are much more expensive, or high sulphur crudes which require more refining.

You can make gasoline from coal but it’s not a cheap option, so will only happen when gas prices make it worthwhile. Gas rich countries use gas-to-liquid technology, but that is expensive too.

Oh - please don't invade Venezuela - or Canada it will only cause trouble :)

The bottom line is we all need to use less gas, which is why Europe uses far more diesel than the US – an 85 cu in diesel car has four times the gas mileage of a 300 cu in V8 on gas

Language / Polish phone keypads - roman alphabet? [5]

Thanks, you confirmed my suspicions of "one keyboard fits all".
Now I only have to solve the mystery of why numeric/calculator pads are inverted compared to phone pads and I might see some logic in keyboard layout...

News / What do you associate Poland with? [27]

great hospitality
Good food
Good speedway Riders
lovely countryside
part finished communist concrete tower blocks
strip farming
poor roads

History / Polish movies about Poland's role during WWII [20]

I agree that for Non-Polish documentaries, the English "timewatch" or "Peoples War" series are most accurate, along with any specific BBC documentaries.

The problem with Polish films are the Soviet occupation and censorship and the subsequent lack of resources largely preventing documentary films. But for the authentic atmoshere, try the following:

Drama
"Lotna" by Andrej Wajda – Set in 1939 during the German invasion, showing the story of a cavalry squadron.
(Contains the infamous cavalry charge against tanks which never took place in reality)

"Kanal" by Andrej Wajda – Set during the Warsaw upsrising, not quite documentary but close to reality – a film by men who were there.

“Passenger” by Andej Munk – psychological drama about the post-war meeting of an Auschwitz survivor and a former SS guard.

“Night Train” by Kazimierz Kutz – Set in 1943 during German occupation. Passengers on a train including smugglers, lovers & resistance activists are in danger of random execution by German military Police

“Pills for Aurelia” by Stanisław Lenartowicz – Set during German occupation. Partisans struggle to free a colleague from a nazi prison

Documentary

“The Eagle” by Leonard Buczkowski – The story of the Polish Submarine “Eagle” evading German forces in 1939.

If you find and enjoy these, it will be easy to find more of the same.

UK, Ireland / The Problem i have with Culture Differences (UK + Polish) [32]

In my experience as a Brit with friends in other cultures, the biggest problem is with us - we cling to ridiculous national stereotypes and are generally insular and shallow.

1. All nationalities smile and have a sense of humour but try translating our jokes for them and you will find that too many feature word-play, sex or swearing; which doesn't work in another language or culture. My Polish friends tell great jokes and find fun in all aspects of life.

2. We aren't the only nation with a history and others have writers and poets just as good as ours - better in many cases.

3. We know less about our own parliament than Indians do for example, which is most embarrasing, and we know almost nothing of any other governments - hence we are shallow and insular.

4. Be honest about yourself and Britain. We are eccentric people living on a tiny Island, we didn't win two world wars on our own and Brits were a minority in every sphere of conflict, we don't lead the world in football, cars, technology or music and it is amazing that anyone should find us likeable or even interesting.

A relationship requires mutual understanding - learn some Polish, surprise her with a new phrase as often as you can. Learn about Polish history and culture, read Polish books (they are available in English) and watch Polish films.

Polish friends e-mail me phrases and I have fun every day trying out my poor Polish on the girls in the local coffee shop, they in turn correct my pronunciation and give me phrases to tell my friends in Poland. This also pays off with every other UK Pole I meet and helps with my Polish friendships because it shows that I care about them.

Love / Are Polish women in serious demand by Western men? [43]

Because I'm old, my feelings don't hurt easily - but I can do one line responses and my English is better than yours, so my potential responses are wider ranging than yours.

The thread is: Are Polish women in serious demand by Western men

I speak to beautiful Polish girls, in Poland, almost every day (amazingly we remain friends even though they are half my age).
I speak to the Polish girls who serve me coffee (graduates and college educated) every working day in the UK and sometime I chat to the cleaners.

But I work and talk with western men - and I know who they look at, I hear their comments and I know who they date (and why).

This is the result of my survey: Western men try to date girls based on perceived socio-economic parity.

Serious demand? No. In a multi cultural society being Polish is not exotic.
Hope of an easy lay? Yes - but Polish origin is not necessary.

Love / Are Polish women in serious demand by Western men? [43]


Not as many as in the automotive industry obviously

Love / Are Polish women in serious demand by Western men? [43]

No - based on biased observations in the oil & gas industry in UK

I work in a very multi-cultural, multi-racial industry and what matters most is education. In our mini-world, Polish girls are sometimes pretty, but always serving in the resaurant or cleaning the toilets. South American girls come in all shapes and sizes but the qualified chemical engineeers are most desirable. From the Indian sub-continent to Japan, Thais are considered prettiest, but lose out to better qualified Chinese girls and all Indians look the same (except the 1 in a million with green eyes).

Polish girls are non starters because of their (usually) lowly status and always lose out to French or Italian girls in the sexy accent stakes. African girls look good but lose out in the status and education stakes. Middle Eastern women come out well on looks (Iraqi, Iranian and Lebanese especially) but the real stars of sexy femininity are Byelorussian translators, they are the ones that young professional men actually want to marry (in sprite of the family baggage). Apparently only losers and social misfits marry Thai girls or Philipinos - maybe the cultural and finacial difference helps here.

I didn't mention US girls - no-one does, or Canadians - If you can't pronounce roundabout when you have finally discovered what one is, or scream when the car reaches 60 mph, the bright young engineers in their BMW's don't want to know and big bums (butts) don't fit sports car seats.

The bottom line is that no-one looks sexy in a cleaner's or caterer's uniform and education and qualifications matter a lot.

I've probably insulted everyone by now but always, the most attractive feature is to be different but pretty and redheads always stand out among blondes and brunettes.

USA, Canada / Shootings in America; over 30 people shot [52]

Any murder is tragic but it is easy to lose a sense of perspective, or value one life more than another.

30 people die in one incident in America and it is tragic world news. But how many innocent people die in iraq every day?
On Saturday 14th it was 47 dead and 224 wounded
On Sunday 15th it was only 45 dead

In the case of Iraqi civilians actually killed by US soldiers, only about 1/3 receive a "condolence payment" and these are capped at $2500

I recall the furore that Ralph Nader caused when he equated a car design decision that the cost of re-designing a gas tank, compared to the probable compensation payments to crash victims wasn't worth it - and an Iraqi life is valued at $2500!

The "war on terror" counted in terms of "an eye for an eye" is a staggering over-reaction, in terms of "a life for a life" it is an obscene massacre.

The value of a life has nothing to do with ethnicity, wealth, age or gender. Each life is worth more than any government could ever pay.

I sympathise deeply with all who grieve and I loathe hypocrisy and senseless killing, irrespective of "motive" or belief.
If you believe in God, pray for all his children in every place

UK, Ireland / Polish Migrants makes room for '20 to a house [59]


Stupidity repeated, remains stupidity

Life / Garbage and Smoke Pollution in Poland [13]


I didn't mention that since recycling facilities (rubbish dumps) aren't open on Sundays, there is the unofficial nationwide hobby of fly-tipping, which I notice hasn't caught on in Poland yet.

So Szarlotka is correct, come to Britain and bring lats of bin liners.

(I won't mention the sad lack of an incinerator in Guildford, it will only inflame matters)

Food / what is the best way to skin and cook a rabbit? [60]

Mmmm rabbit casserole...

Its funny how everything tastes like chicken unless it has hung for a while though.

Why are rabbits feet lucky? they obviously didn't help the rabbit that lost them.

Life / Garbage and Smoke Pollution in Poland [13]

This might explain in part the current Polish exodus to Britain - burning garden refuse (having bonfires) is illegal on Sundays and Smokeless fuel is mandatory in almost all urban areas.

Come to Britain where the air is clearer on Sundays...

UK, Ireland / Polish girls 'too pretty' for British schools [150]

If the accuracy of this article matches the geographical accuracy of "Lincoln" near "Nottingham", I don't think that you can take the two reported cases as any indication of nuber of incidences of bullying or indeed incidence of Polish teenage beauty.

UK, Ireland / The un-acceptable side of new entrant countries coming to the UK [56]

Varsovian,

Thank you for the name link. I can see my family name breeding its way across the country over the last century but frighteningly, they branch out into the Hebrides and Wales; some very wild oats being sown there obviously.

My first name is also very short, and was chosen for no greater reason than my older brother became an instant diminutive, so I was restricted to three letters to prevent a similar occurence.

What happens to Lee in Poland where nicknames get longer - Leeovitchowka?

News / Germans file WWII claims against Poland [198]

Poland should be pleased that their international standing, and fair legal system is recognised to the point where even the most spurious legal claim can be discussed.

If I were in the Polish judiciary, I would happily discuss these cases for the next 20 years provided that the German plaintiffs pay for their court costs.

Of course that would mean that the plaintiffs may not live long enough to receive their claim anyway - so problem solved!

Now you see the benefits of a free and democratic society.

Life / About Polish People (who are the hardest working).... I found Poland a wonderful country [9]

For the non-native English speakers among you, there are many hidden nuances in Mosmoy's posts. The first post is probably sacrcastic in the praise of Polish soldiers and the second is simply an unreasoned rant lacking historic accuracy or objective views.

to quote an Irishman: I never engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

History / Poland and why in the past it was so many times attacked [16]

Well, Henri de Valois was a dead loss who skipped back to France as soon as possible. Stefan Batory was a soldier and was OK for beating Ivan of Russia, but did bring in conscription and Cossacks.

Bringing in the Swedish Wasa's resulted in Baltic wars, land losses and more migrations.

(Please don't take this as anti-semetic, but the only people who thrived in 16th century Poland were the incoming jews, whose continued presence was arguably the critical factor in Poland's fate during the 20th century).

Later, bringing in the German, Frederick Augustus, re-ignited the old Swedish problems and weakend Poland so that there was no way to avoid the Prussian/Russian/Austrian carve-up.

So yes, I think that bringing in foreigners to run the country has been a disaster.

You can count me as a republican living under a monarchy...

Language / How do you say "give me a kiss" in Polish [53]

pocaluj mnie dupa?

Forgive my poor understanding of Polish, but are you implying that this is a nice invitation rather than an insult?

I'm sure a direct translation to English or US English would invite a punch on the nose.