UK, Ireland / Polish homeless in the UK [42]


yes they do report it, from time to time. and no, they do not have a "handle" on it...

News / Poland Rejects US Missile Shield (talks will continue...) [80]


haha that would be typical, just about what many of us expected. The US is the master of twisting agreements to make it so the other side ends up getting its share through "trade credits" and so on. There have been many nasty rumors associated with Poland's Iraq-Afghanistan adventure, namely that the US is paying for Poland's participation through trade credits, and the costs to keep the soldiers there actually come from our state budget-the budget that should be increasing teachers/nurses/doctors salaries and building highways. What idiots!!! (if true, which wouldn't surprise one considering what buffoons our politicians are)

but just you wait, the Dark Side of the American Force will shove this stupid shield down our throats yet...

News / Poland: the 51st state of America [119]


Madam, quit smoking dope, it is warping your brain waves. I personally could care less if they get rid of those visas, I was just mentioning a few reasons why many Poles are starting to drop the "I love the USA" act, so don't poo-poo me. Secondly, I don't know many people in Poland who think it is the greatest place on Earth-in fact most people I know think quite the opposite.

The only thing you are correct on is the Polish refusal to abide by rules, we are people who can't even handle standing in line correctly, but most of us aren't proud of it...

News / Poland: the 51st state of America [119]


although Poland is one of the more pro-US nations in Europe, your statement is a bit presumptuous and outdated. America's refusal to get rid of entry visas for Poles, Bush's stupid remarks, and the Iraq invasion have started to turn many Poles against the US. Not outright hatred or anything, but rather a vague sense of "fukc those idiots, who needs 'em" kind of feeling...its increasingly common.

News / Father Rydzyk: Any comments? [28]


by Polish standards that is a media empire. Rydzyk is credited with being able to swing elections (giving PiS their big win a few years ago, upsetting PO)

History / Poland between 1989 - 2008... [7]


only if you live with your parents. if you dont pay rent its a decent wage..

Law / Paper bag market in Poland [12]


no, its the right topic. now the drive to be more enviro-friendly is slowly seeping out, and one sees people with re-usable canvas shopping bags more and more. Last week on of the main daily papers included them along with a newspaper purchase. Most stores use plastic, but I have been wishing for paper bags for a long time. A few cities have gone so far as to ban plastic bags in shops, but I think so far enforcement has been a problem. Your paper bags could be the answer..

News / RADICAL PRO-COMMUNSIT PORTAL CLOSED DOWN IN POLAND [7]


interesting, i've never heard of such a law...

Life / What is there to do in Warsaw?? [37]


buy a mountain bike and explore Warsaw on two wheels - its relatively flat, and you see way more because everything is so spread out...plus you get some excersize. Cool places to bike around include centrum, around the national theatre/plac Pilsudskiego, and around Lazienki, plus Zoliborz...the list goes on and on...

News / How to form political party with Pan Slavic orrientation in Poland? [34]


Why not devote your admirable energy instead to fighting big Oil, the fast food/junk food peddlers, and the pharmaceutical industry?

Travel / Is train travel recommended for tourists in Poland [14]


they are better than the roads in Poland, if you drove a car you would know that to be the truth of the land. trains are more comfortable than buses/coaches, the INTERCITY trains are in good shape and up to standard - you will be fine.

Life / What is there to do in Warsaw?? [37]


there is a new bilingual guidebook in shops called "Do it in Warsaw" and it is supposedly full of interesting ideas, not the typical guidebook fare...

Life / Poland's youth & their way of living [16]


Not so rare in Poland - especially in Warsaw's Praga neighborhood..and binge drinking is one of the things Poland is known for.

News / Polish/Croatian Relations [70]

What would you recommend in Zadar? May be going there soon....looking for great places to do some swimming and some great food...

Travel / WE ARE BACK FROM POLAND AND HERE IS OUR REPORT [96]


Poland is full of dogs, and pet ownership is very high, even in the cities. The mounds of steaming dog poo on almost every city street is proof of this. There are many coffee shops and and pubs that don't mind if you bring a dog, but generally people don't do this. You see it now and then in the smaller, local establishments. Dogs on public transport are ok, but they should be muzzled and leashed....

USA, Canada / POLISH AMERICANS AND THE 2008 US ELECTION [79]


not meaning to be nit-picky but where did you get this statistic? According to the US Census the percentage of Americans with a Bachelors degree or higher is about 27%

USA, Canada / POLISH AMERICANS AND THE 2008 US ELECTION [79]


Doesn't matter. The corporations in charge (military-industrial complex, banks, oil) have perfected their use of the media to the point that even you, yes YOU, will be in love with McCain by November. How else do you explain the media show in 2004, where Kerry, a decorated war vet, was made out to be some drug-crazed coward who wouldn't go near the front lines, and Bush - who is a certified draft dodger - ended up looking like a war hero. Hint: It's the television. Turn it off. Ignore it. And believe half of what you read in the papers. Remember what Goebbels said: "If you repeat a lie often enough, it eventually becomes the truth."

News / Polish/Croatian Relations [70]


Mind u the following is just my personal experience, so take for what its worth: Croatian seemed a bit more reserved than Poles. My first impression was negative because the border guard who looked at my passport rolled his eyes when he saw it was from Poland, and kind of threw it back at me with a measure of disgust. In Dubrovnik, locals seemed a bit sick of the tourists in general, me of course being one of them. One of many. Obviously too many. One guy at a fruit stall asked me where I was from as he was loading his goods into a bag. I said Poland and he gave me a wide smile and started waxing poetically about Poland and the heyday of Poland's football team and how great they used to be. He ended by saying "Polska-good people!" The couple running the B-B where I stayed were nice enough, although I got the feeling they were weary of another Pole who may or may not steal the towels. But that was Dubrovnik, an anthill of tourists, and stories of pillaging Poles who steal the towels are legendary in here in Poland, making me doubt it was my imagination or paranoia. Pretty girls and great food. Croatia visibly has a good infrastructure and it seems unlikely that they would be in any way a drain on the EU. End of report.

Travel / WE ARE BACK FROM POLAND AND HERE IS OUR REPORT [96]


thanks buddy, just taking some time off but I missed the hyper-intellectual discourse so I'm back

Travel / WE ARE BACK FROM POLAND AND HERE IS OUR REPORT [96]


That is a fascinating question, and not an easy one to answer as so many theories abound. Many people point to the "difficult" situation of many Poles but this doesn't explain why even the rich folks in Poland don't smile too much, only when they are buzzed on alcohol or after being pleasantly surprised by something. But this doesn't explain why in some poorer countries people smile more than Poles do, including countries where the politicians cause even more headaches than here. My personal theory is the weather in Poland, which is usually and consistently crap...

And your dinner guest was right - Americans do smile too much, leading one to think that they are always up to something or secretly getting a bj under the table..

News / Polish teachers on Strike. [62]


what the hell is a vague?

Life / My girlfriend wants to go back to Poland as she thinks lifes better there [36]


like you said, that was two years ago, and now 2500 isn't that much. Most people I know make that roughly, the ones that don't are teachers working at state schools or some kind of shop assistants...but then again food prices are going up so fast, the gains made in salary over the past two years are quickly being eroded...

News / Wojtek Cejrowski gives up his Polish citizenship! [19]


POLAND is rated as one of the least friendly places for entrepreneurs/small businesses in the world. Maybe he wanted to start a business and had enough.

Travel / TAXI FARE BETWEEN WARSAW AIRPORT AND OLD TOWN ? [16]

about 50 zloty sounds right, maybe 60 if you get stuck in a traffic jam or if you choose one of the more expensive taxi firms. FYI the bus (#175) costs only 2.40 and it will drop you off within walking distance of the old town..

Travel / Understanding travel within Gdansk/Gdynia [9]


Its actually been about 50-50 lately, but yea the point is don't be a fare-dodger, its embarrassing and expensive to get caught

Life / Few questions about Poland / social securit, health-insurance, liability [2]

1. Rather poorly, it is underfunded and too many old people place a heavy burden on it, and the monthly pension is below poverty level.

2. Yes, but it is underfunded or poorly managed and walk-outs and strikes are rampant. Lines are very long. Despite these problems most people admit that it is better than nothing. Private insurance/clinics exist but not everyone can afford it.

3. Not usually, unless it is private, then yes.

4. Not as common as say, the US.

Language / 'Tak (więc) jak robi wy zajmujecie się będący *scum* ziemii' [8]

use "ścierwo" for this one, ścierwo = scum

Life / Warsaw - most boring capital in Europe, after Brussels - comments? [78]


You are right! Those little pubs are the best in Warsaw for a hassle-free chill out time, no dress code, tons of pretty girls, and cheap beer!

Law / What will happen to PLN Zloty when the Euro is adopted? [10]


it will go into the trash heap of history