Travel / Is Poland mostly plains? [57]


I'm surprised to hear that the foothills extend that far north. I thought they ended pretty much at the northern end of the Magurski National Park, near Pielgrzymka. I was there for the first time this past July and loved the area - you're fortunate to live there.

Travel / Is Poland mostly plains? [57]


Near to Gorlice? My ancestry on my grandfather's side is just east of there - Wola Cieklinska. Are you near to that village?

Travel / Is Poland mostly plains? [57]


Is Tarnow a mountain village? Looking at the map, it seems to be a bit north to be considered one.

News / Poland Needs to Shape up [43]


I love your consistency.

Life / Religions in Poland. [64]


That's a good start, but I prefer to extend this to "there is nothing supernatural."

Life / Religions in Poland. [64]


I have some practices associated with it. For example: I like to roll my eyes and put on that "here we go again" expression every time someone gives credit to god for some stupid little thing that went right for them that day. I also enjoy positioning my car (with it's "Science" fish proudly displayed on the trunk) right in front of any car I come upon that has a "Jesus" fish or a "Real Men Love Jesus" (or similar) bumper-sticker on it.

Life / Religions in Poland. [64]


In your opinion, what is that one single belief?

Life / Burlesque in Poland? [8]

Like Lily von Shtupp (from Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles")? "I'm so tiyad..." "ooh, it's twue, it's TWUE!" :-)

Life / Unusual Sightings in Warsaw - millions of black crows... [22]


Actually, it's a murder of crows. Cool, huh?

News / US DOLLAR = 2.47 on 2 Oct 2008? [54]

Too late for me - it was 2:1 while I was there in July. But we had a wonderful time anyway, so no regrets.

News / What is the future of Catholic church in Poland. [154]


See? What did I tell you?

News / What is the future of Catholic church in Poland. [154]


This thread is about the future of the Catholic church, not its stand on an issue or our opinions on that issue.


A jew? I think not. Typical reconstructionist "logic" of the faithful.


Ooh - accusing Switezianka of being uneducated? Not wise.

News / What is the future of Catholic church in Poland. [154]

Can we just get back to the main topic here, please?

News / What is the future of Catholic church in Poland. [154]

The point I was making is that religion and politics will be inter-connected, making established religions powerful, long after the religion itself becomes less popular. Less than half of the population, endorsing their religious views with their votes, will have a significant affect on an election.

Travel / Walks up the Beskids mountains [44]


You live about as far west from Nowy Sacz as Gorlice is east of it. I have friends in Gorlice and was in that neck of the woods in July. We went south through the Beskids, touring Lemko villages, to Wysowa. The area is gorgeous - I could definitely see myself living there and loving it. Do yourself a big favor and get down that way as soon as you can.

News / What is the future of Catholic church in Poland. [154]


I'm referring to a woman's right to choose whether or not to carry a fetus to birth, not their right to vote. The religious consider abortion a sin, so those who are pro-abortion to be sinners - don't vote for a sinner!

News / What is the future of Catholic church in Poland. [154]


Hmmm, probably not. Maybe not directly, but certainly indirectly, as it is in the US. It is amazing how politics and religion, which are supposed to be separate, merge in so many American communities. Sermons around the country urge listeners to reject candidates who endorse a woman's right to choose. This and other litmus tests are all that at least half of Americans use to determine for whom they will vote. Regardless of the failed policies of the republican administrations of recent years, the race for the presidency is deadlocked simply because so many will vote for the candidate who will be more likely to appoint a conservative judge to the Supreme Court, so the chances to overturn Roe v. Wade will improve in future years.

So although the church may appear to be less of a political power, any entity that can exert such strong influence on only half of a country's population will always be a major player in that country's politics.

Life / Gift for good luck/protection...any ideas???? [11]

Give 'em an erector set - you make your own luck.

Travel / BIKING in POLAND [75]


Really? In which village?

Study / Study Music in Poland? [26]


You MUST hook up with my friend in Krakow. He is very big on composers, composition, "church music" and choruses. I think you'd get along quite well. You're not already in Krakow, by any chance, are you?

By the way - I just saw one of your postings in another thread in which you identify yourself as an atheist. Me too. Raised by a VERY Catholic mother and (as I found out only a few years ago) an atheist father. Rejected all religion in my early teens when I realized what a crock it all was.

Life / Are Polish traditions dissapearing [93]


If witnessed in Silesia it may have been brought there by Lemkos in exile. I have heard a Lemko wedding celebration described by a person who has taken part in many of them and this event is on Day 1 of a 3-day celebration. There is a lot of singing involved, and a full day of fun.


No, it's more than just another trip to a grocer's. It IS traditional in that it is handed down from one generation to the next. Most 'shroomers are knowledgable only in the few species they go out to collect at specific times of the year an in specific types of woods. I got started as an amateur mycologist only because I found some mushrooms that looked like the ones that my father collects. However, this tradition IS a great excuse to walk in beautiful woods, along streams, on cool, foggy mornings when nobody else wants to be out there. It is a meditation that may reward you with something tasty for the table. I love it and practice this tradition as often as I get the chance. Some day I hope to bring a group of my fellow mycologists from the US to the Beskidis to join our Polish and Lemko colleagues there for a weekend foray.

Study / Study Music in Poland? [26]


When you're ready to start I have a young friend in Gorlice/Krakow who is fully prepared to record and mix your CD. Let me know if you'd like his contact information. He's in his fifth year of university this year and just returned from a trip to America where he purchased a LOT of recording and engineering equipment, so he has a "mobile studio" all ready to go.


You say that as if I should know what it means, but, I'm sorry, I do not. What does this mean?


I think he needs a couple of years at an American college before he would be ready for an academy. Thank you again for sharing your insights with me.

Travel / BIKING in POLAND [75]


I highly recommend the Beskidis - south from Gorlice to Blechnarka. So many beautiful vistas. Lovely people. Outstanding food. Gotta carb up? Hit the Lemko Tavern in Wysowa - pierogi like my Aunt Mary used to make.

Study / Study Music in Poland? [26]

Thank you very much for sharing that with us - how very cool.
But, look, if you're trying to warn people off, I think you're doing a pretty darn good job of it. >-)
You're clearly an educated and cultured young woman (at least, based on your avatar). It's very nice to meet you. Are you an artist? writer? musician? all of the above?

Getting back to:


I'm pretty sure all of this is beyond my nephew's level. I doubt he has the drive to bring himself to that level, either. It's a common character defect in my family - we do just about as much as we need to, and not much beyond that. Fortunately for me, a few of us have overcome it, but I'm no standout, either.

Study / Study Music in Poland? [26]

Now THAT's intriguing! What is the nature of a true Slavic deamon?

Life / Catholic Church services in Poland [10]

I find this odd, considering that this is the "miracle" that supposedly takes place during the mass. What I find even odder is that those who claim to believe this miracle don't make more of an effort to witness it more often than weekly (if that). I think if I really believed that was happening, I'd be there every day to witness and take part in it.

Study / Study Music in Poland? [26]

I knew it would be good!
So which are you? Demon? Dragonfly? Both?

Life / People with Down Syndrome/Mental disability in Poland [26]


Well said.
Unfortunately, the times they are a-changin' Look at what's happening with the financial markets here in the US. Soon able-bodied (and -minded) people will be competing with illegal immigrants and those with lower IQs and physical capabilities for the jobs that these same able people now believe to be well beneath them. Financial stress trumps pride. What will happen when today's "middle class" discovers that the majority of the lower-paying jobs are filled with illegals? What's going to happen to those people? Will they be ridden out on rails? Will there be violence against them? Will there be a kind of financial civil war? It's scary. And it's inevitable. And it's not just going to be in the US, either. As we go, so goes much of the world.

Travel / BIKING in POLAND [75]


You've sure got that right. I can't wait to get back there. Some day.

Travel / BIKING in POLAND [75]


There you go! Motivation abounds. The trick is getting him to see himself through the eyes of potential girlfriends, teammates or coaches. What kind of shape would they like to see him in? In what kind of shape would he be most proud presenting himself? What's the gap between where he is now and where he'd like to be? What would it take to bridge that gap? How much time can be budgeted for the activities required to bridge it? What current activities might be getting in the way by either using up time that can be spent more productively or actually working against his desires? If he puts his mind to it, I'm sure there are plenty of things he could be spending his time on, even in his current condition, that would help him to move ahead with some aspect of these objectives. Try to keep him focused on reasonable and achievable objectives - both short- and long-term. Help him to understand that none of this is going to happen overnight, but, with a plan of action and some modified priorities the goals can be achieved in time.

Tennis is a very aerobic sport and one that would be great for him to be involved with, but I think you should also encourage him to get involved in something more team-oriented. Having teammates who want and need you to perform better is great motivation. Golf can take a toll on people with strong healthy backs - lots of back injuries from that game - that one might have to wait for a year or so. How about soccer? Lots of cardio and team-orientation. Tickets to professional games are a lot cheaper than those to more popular sports, too, so it's easy to set his sites on some high-level and approachable role models.