Language / Difference between zbyt and za [11]

I know that 'za' has a few different meanings, but where it means 'too', what difference is there between za and zbyt?

I used to think that zbyt was used in a subjective statement, expressing one's personal opinion; jesteś zbyt stary - you're too old, and za is used in conjunction with another clause making it more matter of fact; jesteś za stary by wstąpić do wojska - you're too old to join the army. Then I was told that zbyt it used in simple, direct statements; zima w Polsce jest zbyt zimna - winter in Poland is too cold, and za is used in indirect statements; zima w Polsce może być zbyt zimna - winter in Poland can be too cold.

Are either of these right? Or are the words interchangeable? What are the rules exactly?

Language / Piotr trwał w drwiącym wietrze [7]

Does anybody else have trouble pronouncing these words? Piotr, wiatr, trwać, and drwić? I know how they're supposed to sound, and I've read many guides on how to pronounce the trilled R. But that doesn't make it any easier. Do any of you other Polish learners have trouble with these words? In English the letter R just doesn't act like this.

Feel free to mention any other Polish words causing us lousy foreigners trouble. ;-)