Language / A slow and casual method to get started learning Polish? [8]

Suggest you try the University of Pittsburgh at polish.slavic.pitt.edu/

Has a first year course you can do at your leisure. On line pronuciations, dictionary, etc.

Good place to start w/o cost.

Language / Abecadło (The alphabet) [19]

z_darius said, "The purest (literary) form of Polish was, at one time, regarded to be that spoken in Western Poland along the border with Germany."

May I ask your source for that, and why do they say so?

Life / Why are Polish people cheap? [126]

Jkn005 wrote, "when was the last time an American took something to a repair shop?"

The modern world lives in a throw-away society. Last year, e.g., our eight year old color TV (telly) stopped showing a picture. Sound still worked. To have a new picture tube installed would have cost $400. Just to have the repair people look at it, and give me an estimate would have cost $100. I took it to the recycle yard and bought a new one for $525.

For the record, Poles are not cheap. We're frugal.

USA, Canada / Gas prices in America [127]

Europeans pay OPEC the same wholesale price Americans do. American gas prices are cheap compared to Europe because of low taxes on gasoline or diesel fuel. Our state goverment tax on gasoline or diesel is used entirely road repair and construction. With the increased delays at airports, it's almost as fast to drive 300 miles than to try to fly.

I live 300 miles (480 km) from Chicago. It's 30 minutes to the airport, get there at least one hour before the flight, one hour flight time, 30 minutes for luggage (if you are lucky), 30 minutes at Rent-a-Wreck, an hour to drive to south Chicago suburbs. In total, 4 to 5 hours, door to door. Driving my own car, five hours.

USA, Canada / Gas prices in America [127]

US Federal tax is $0.18/gal. Canada's federal tax is $0.107 per liter or about C $0.43 per gal. Thus, Canadians are paying $0.25 per gal than U.S. customers. Ontario and Quebec each have approx. $0.15 per liter or $0.60 per gallon provincial tax vs $0.30 in New York. Thus, Canadian have $0.55 more in federal and state/provincial taxes than the US. I would presume that local Canadian taxes are also higher.

We in the US and Canada, however, have it made compared to Europe where the governments really know how to tax car fuel. See the chart at:

truthinmedia.org/truthinmedia/Bulletins2000/tim2000-9-4.html

Language / The only polish word a foreigner won't ever say correctly :P [113]

My personal favorite:

Nie pieprz, Pietrze, wieprza pieprzem bo przepieprzysz, Pietrze, wieprza pieprzem.

Life / Polish amateur movies - Ambasada Pictures [29]

Darkside was the best.

Language / Seeking a basic intro to the Polish Language [17]

Try both of these sites: grzegorj.w.interia.pl/kurs/ and polish.slavic.pitt.edu/ without of course the spaces between h t t p.

Love / Getting married?? Keeping parents happy etc... Big Polish family. [9]

I suspect Marta is not going to church because she believes living together without being married is a sin. Going to church only increases that feeling.

In marriage, there's always the issue of money, and there's never enough.

Have you asked Marta to marry you? Are you and she ready to commit to marriage? If so, then get married in Poland. Every woman dreams of a big wedding, surrounded by family and friends. Your dad and grandfather will enjoy the vodka.

Have you seen the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding?" If not or if so, see it again. Watch it a few times with Marta.

Language / Capital Letters at the start of Polish words. [26]


In English, Person from Poland should be Polish, not polish. Big difference in meaning. Small p polish is wax used to make shoes shine.

Polish and polish are pronounced differently. What other English word is pronounce differently when capitalized?

USA, Canada / Gas prices in America [127]

Dice's comment is very true. The U.S. has enough fuel in coal and oil shale to last current needs for 400 years. The problem is, how do you get it out? I'm sure we'll find out when the price of crude hits that magic price. The German's didn't concern themselves with the cost during WW II; they needed the petro (gas).

Don't forget, Szkotja2007, that some 70% of your price is tax, tax and more tax.

Love / Polish boyfriends [77]


I think you are deluding yourself. My experience has been no self-respecting woman or man puts up with his or her lover having another on the side. I'd make a side bet, you are the one paying the rent, providing the food and free sex.

USA, Canada / Gas prices in America [127]


It's called the law of supply and demand. Vacations, three or four day weeks, etc. occur more often during the summer. Same supply, higher demand, higher prices.

Or as the oil companies say: We demand your cash. You supply it.


Never, never buy a car with fixed side view mirrors. Kowalski's sixth law of motion:

Moving fixed mirrors are always attacted to non-moving fixed objects.

Love / Polish-Islam Relationship Union [450]

Suggest you all read:

The Myth of Islamic Tolerance: How Islamic Law Treats Non-Muslims by Robert Spencer.

Available new and used through Amazon.com @$17.00; Amazon.co.uk for £15.40 or £8.60; also available at Amazon in Canada.

Love / Polish-Islam Relationship Union [450]


I'm about half way through the book. It's a collection of articles and essays regarding laws of Islam regarding the treatment of non-Muslims. There are six parts:

1- Islamic Tolerance: Myth and Reality
2- Islamic Law Regarding Non-Muslims
3- Islamic Practice Regarding Non-Muslims
4- The Myth and Contemporary Geopolitics
5- Human Rights and Human Wrongs at the United Nations.
6- The Myth in Comtemporary Academic and Public Discourse.

For example: by Islamic law, non-Muslims don't have much of standing in court. The court law counts the word of the Muslim as true even if two pagans, three Jews and four Christians say otherwise. Christians cannot build new churches or repair the old ones. Non-Muslims cannot own a house that is bigger than their Muslims neighbors. Muslim woman may not marry non-Muslims.

Love / Polish-Islam Relationship Union [450]

If you are Muslim and you wish to withdraw, you can't. If you do, you're an apostate and subject to death.

In Egypt, e.g. Judaism and Christianity are recognized religions. Hindus, Buddists, Shintoist, Wiccan, aethists, etc. have no rights. The Egyptian Supreme Court ruled that one must select Muslim, Jew or Christian as one's religious identity.

Love / Polish-Islam Relationship Union [450]

After we take away the rights of the Wiccans, who's next?

UK, Ireland / National Holiday To Celebrate Britishness Could Be On It's Way [83]


From an non-Brit's perspective, this is very true. The countries of the U.K. are like brothers and sisters. You'll squable among yourselves, but if anyone else butts in, you'll join together in a flash.

UK, Ireland / National Holiday To Celebrate Britishness Could Be On It's Way [83]

What about Oktoberfest?

UK, Ireland / National Holiday To Celebrate Britishness Could Be On It's Way [83]


I always thought it was a lot of fun.

UK, Ireland / National Holiday To Celebrate Britishness Could Be On It's Way [83]

Yes. Celebrate bier und broads.

Love / Polish-Islam Relationship Union [450]


Define "proper." I am certain many, many Romans said, "Christianity is not a proper religion."

The "only true" religion is non-existent. We each have our thoughts, ideas and philophies as to what is right. Everybody has the right to go to hell his own way.

We don't have the right to force our beliefs on other people.

Love / Polish-Islam Relationship Union [450]

Try this one for a catchy beat with it. Thanks to another forum member whose name I lost.

UK, Ireland / National Holiday To Celebrate Britishness Could Be On It's Way [83]


Here in states during Lent, many churches, VFW halls, etc. have a Fish Fry . Do you some similar get together in the UK?

UK, Ireland / National Holiday To Celebrate Britishness Could Be On It's Way [83]

Along with a national day, perhaps it's time to completely revamp the UK's symbols of nationhood.

Develop a new flag. Something that Scotland, Wales, England, the Isle of Mann, etc. can all accept. Canada went completely new with a red maple leaf. A complete break from the old.

Maybe a new anthem. Instead of God save the Q or K, sing "There'll always be a UK."

History / WWII planes in Poland [38]

Great place to visit is the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

They have the Spruce Goose on display. Although it's mostly birch.

sprucegoose.org/aircraft_artifacts/Aircraft/PostWarYears/HK-1.htm

Love / what is reasonable - he does not want me to go back to poland [55]

He's either married or in a relationship with another women in Poland.

The best thing you can do is to dump the s.o.b.

Language / learning aids for polish learning english [8]


Of course he can get it there. But you won't be the one paying for it then.

History / WWII planes in Poland [38]

Partially disassembled, parts moved by ocean barge to the Willamette River and then up river to Dayton, finally trucked to McMinnville.

See sprucegoose.org/aircraft_artifacts/exhibits_cont.html

Life / Mobile phone reception in Poland [17]


You keep shoving good money after bad. Add a phone to your contract. Boy friend isn't going to pay you back. Was that his idea?

Wait until you see the bills for numbers that aren't yours.