Life / Gun-range Practice At Night [14]

That would be interesting, although most weapons beyond pistol/submachine gun caliber are seldom suppressed in that way...might as well train with the weapons one is actually going to use, not that many wouldn't love to have some of the toys from James Bond's kit...

Automatic fire is also hard on most silencers....

In the US silencers are a big deal (after media portrayal of them being seemingly fit only for assassins) so they are very uncommon.
Special military units have them (not just for stealth but for ease of communication)
but the largest user, even more than the military? Animal control. Dog chasers.
Can't upset the neighbors when one shoots the marauding stray dog, after all.
Seriously though, to the OP, try some earplugs or something until they are done with training, so you can get some sleep. Hopefully there are simply night drills taking place and these will be complete shortly.

John P.

Life / Gun-range Practice At Night [14]

Who owns the range, and what sort of facilities does it have?
Might be interesting to find out who is doing the practicing. There is more to shooting than just shooting, if that makes any sense.
Still, hope you can get some sleep soon. If it is a military unit preparing for some required capability, odds are you will have some peace once everyone has practiced until they know what they need to. In the mean time, soft foam earplugs might be your only option.

John P.

Life / Polish man finds wife working at brothel [43]

Wow.
To be a fly on that wall. Wouldn't be surprised he wasn't getting what he wanted at home because it was too much like "work" for her. It often happens to guys who date or marry strippers also (at least in the US) no life in the bedroom because it becomes just work and another source of income to her.

Bet that was a really awkward moment, though. Sounds like the punch line to a joke.
John P.

News / Poland..wake up to a multicultural world [1059]


I'm not sure how dipping your hands in the blood of other's forefathers so YOU could do the same thing to THEM is going to solve anything or even create equality...it's just going to have your hands dirtied also. Who would you enslave? none of the slaves you know about from the past are alive, nor are their owners, nor are even the owners' great grandchildren. Who did you want to put into slavery to make you feel better about something you yourself have never endured?

Makes about zero sense.

If tribal chieftains in Africa hadn't been so willing to sell members of opposing tribes they had taken as slaves in battle to the Dutch, there would have been no slaves from there in America. So there is plenty of blame to go around.

A truly fair government, and a colorblind one...has no "affirmative action" programs, no "reparations" borne out on the descendants of those you perceive slighted your ancestors; it would truly not matter what color one is, only one's qualifications.

Demanding slavery of innocents....only puts you right back same as those tribal chieftains, selling others into slavery for a quick profit. The color of your skin or mine has nothing to do with it. Otherwise, there are a LOT of us who've had ancestors slighted by people of one race or another, we could keep this slavery/oppression thing going forever!

Imagine how much simpler the world would be if people looked at each other for their actual merit, and not what their Great great great great grandparents might have done. Otherwise, we harm innocents for what they took no part in, and give THEM in turn reason to seek the same vengeance against us.

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

Nah...it'd be safe a few weeks after you were gone, and the government could give it to some poor "needy" family to prevent them from having to get a job...

Just make sure to pay your taxes ;)

And look me up when you're ready to live on the surface and see the sun again...I'll keep some of that lead insulation and a water filter aside for you...

I may not have a lot of money...but nice, clean, water and a place to sleep...with windows....has to be worth something, right?

Of course, if it has been flattened, I'll have to work on the windows part.

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

It would be interesting to see how the order of things turned out afterward, considering suddenly people with edible food and drinkable water would be the new "rich" as opposed to someone with a large number in a computer database assigned somewhere to be his "account".

Hmmm.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]


True...but knowing government for how "efficient" it is, it wouldn't surprise me if both governments didn't really bother messing with the targeting that often, other than the vague idea they were headed to somewhere REALLY strategic...

Hope they do their homework instead of wasting those nice silos-turned-homes "just in case"....

I imagine indoor gardening would take on a larger following, even amongst those who do not smoke....
After all, submarines grow their own lettuce...and stuff from a can will drive you crazy.

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

Those silo homes are probably great (they keep the same temperature year round, naturally, as I understand)
One would wonder however, my luck I would be the unlucky soul living in one of those when it takes a direct nuclear hit, because the Russians/Americans didn't bother changing the target coordinates in their silos from the cold war and just "hit the red button" instead of re-aiming then hitting the red button...

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

Hmm lead space blankets, anyone?
maybe lead-lined "safe rooms" so if you aren't instantly vaporized you can live until levels either subside or are low enough to go somewhere else...?

If you plan to stay, there's other stuff to consider, of course.

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

Chernobyl is a different situation to that posed by a nuclear detonation. The place is STILL irradiating dirt as the nuclear reaction is STILL happening there (possibly still leaking out too?). It is a fallout factory, as opposed to a nuclear detonation with a finite amount of fallout created in a microsecond flash.

Not continually produced, as in Chernobyl.

IMHO, Chernobyl and the surrounding area would be WORSE considerably (wrt being able to live there) than the aftermath of a nuclear detonation. Especially if it is an air burst (most common tactic....keep the fireball high to cause more loss of life instantly, even if it causes less fallout....remember one's OWN soldiers then have to occupy the poor survivors' towns after the blast). People live in Hiroshima, People live in Nagasaki, they even live in Fallon, Nevada...where some REALLY big ones have been detonated. Not sure about Russians in Siberia. It's different, though.

Nasty regardless.

Still I think being able to offer people a symblance of humanity after such a horrific event...would be simple good sense.

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

Pretty sure, most of the radiation of a nuclear blast...occurs at the instant of the blast. There is residual from fallout....less from a high altitude burst, lots from a surface or subsurface burst...essentially irradiated dirt sucked up into the explosion, as well as water vapor which returns as rain, dust, well...fallout.

A few heavy rains, and while perhaps not as nice as prior to the war, it would be liveable.
I think living in a little hole in the ground for years would drive one to WILLINGLY die; whereas risking radiation on the surface is hit or miss.

Hiroshima radiation levels dropped to acceptible habitation limits in well under a week.
Even the dreaded neutron bomb talked about in the 1970s...was considered to be ineffective beyond a certain distance if troops dug in only 5 feet below the surface...but this would be equally effective...a stopped army is a dead army.

Antiradiation sickness supplements, lead insulation, and water filters. Make a killing selling them. People WILL come out of their shelters and they will want water, food, and a no kidding bed to sleep in.

A nice stiff drink might also be in order.
Food hoarding, on the other hand...is a good way to be slaughtered by those just a little bit better armed.

John P.

Life / What should Poland and Poles do, after first day of nuclear war? [133]

At the end of a nuclear exchange?
I think I would endeavor to reintroduce lead based paint, and perhaps even lead lined insulation, for people who would feel more secure sleeping in their own beds instead of a hole in the ground.

House water filters might not be a bad idea either.

Assuming currency is useless, other things can be bartered for, and I would imagine, ammunition and untainted food would become currency in many places...as would be clean water.

Gold is pretty, and rare...but you can't eat it and it doesn't do squat to keep one's family safe.

Just a hunch.

John P.

History / Polish soldier stories [50]

They pretty much didn't have a choice. Congress has to declare war, and the people mostly wanted to sit it out as long as possible before doing anything. But that has all been discussed elsewhere. Interestingly, my grandfather was born in the US while his parents were visiting from Poland, (allegedly anyway, lots of things went to his grave with him) grew up in Poland, and prior to WWII joined the US army.

Which promptly told him he was in for the duration and sent him back to Europe. At the end of the war, he was apparently within a scant few miles of his parents' home, but was not allowed to go, because it was now controlled by the Soviets.

Sometimes, I think I inherited his cr@ppy luck, too.

John P.

Food / History of the Polish potato (what did Polish people eat before?) [17]

Hope so...although if not, one begins to wonder about this mystical "wolod" rice.
It's probably FAR more delicious than plain rice..... ;)

Travel / Going to visit Poland for long period of time - need passport? [25]

Just go get your passport. You will need it at a minimum. Just got my Grandparents their first passports, they did not pay extra for the "expedite" service, but they still received them within 2 weeks. Of course there are warnings it could take much longer but I have not seen this happen to anyone I know.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Somehow I doubt it. More likely as a head of state he is seeking the solution that is the most practical balance between radicalism and bloodshed. He has a thin line to walk, and I do not envy him.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


History repeats itself, especially if we do not pay heed to it. Also, the trouble the U.S. seems to have (my opinion as an American) is that each new administration wants to re-invent the wheel, so to speak, there is no continuity; often policies of the previous administration are pronounced failures for years during a campaign (regardless of whether they really are) and are tossed. This happens every 4 years sometimes 8. So unless total success happens in under 4 years, realistically 2 (the last US Presidential campaign started half way through the last term...) it is doomed to ridicule.

nrx,
as usual I enjoy the insight your posts give. Some of the information I did not know, but ultimately I tend to agree with the parts I do know about. I am not in Pakistan nor Afghanistan, but the first hand knowledge you give puts a lot more into perspective that did not previously seem to make sense.

John P.

News / Is Poland Provoking Economic Warfare With Russia? [26]


Basically agree although do believe I would argue if one dug deeper into the details...its in my nature...


News to me. One's religion is seldom advertised in the armed forces, let alone is it a reason for promotion. The officer ranks seem to have a political basis of course, especially in the senior ranks, (from the outside looking in, of course) but my perception is it wouldn't have mattered if he were a scientologist. He was simply the general who was in place at the time, just as Colin Powell, Norman Schwartzkopf...were the generals in a different war.

Of course you did say "because he could be 'trusted'...." which, honestly...has NEVER been a bad trait in a top general.
To be honest, I trust the EU and the UN and Russia...all the same. Not at all. I think Russia should be strong, although I disagree with the mess in Georgia as I perceive it...and totally distrust any organization which seeks control of many nations with loyalty to none. UN, EU, all of them with their own "governments"...give me the creeps. What's wrong with a regular old alliance, and let British control British, Polish rule Poland, Americans America and so on... We IMHO do not need some "higher" government composed of self important, secretive people who are the "masters of the universe". If it isn't THEIR people they are governing, how can we expect them to be fair.

Dunno. Just doesn't make sense to me.

John P.

News / Tanks stolen from military training ground in Poland [28]

Waiting for them to fix the things up...

News / Tanks stolen from military training ground in Poland [28]

ahhh.
environmentalists. So much for my theory of mischievious old ladies running a criminal recycling ring....
:D

John P.

News / Tanks stolen from military training ground in Poland [28]

I have to say that until they got caught one has to appreciate the guts to pull that stunt.
We shoot up old tanks in the U.S. as well; it is interesting that someone would just take one for recycling. Those things weigh quite a bit, I imagine that there would be considerable income just from the scrap metal.

Yes, it is also feasible that someone could just take one with a crane and a truck. That's how they probably got there in the first place...

Still I get a chuckle out of this story.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Honestly I had posted that part about Mossad in sarcasm, but unfortunately the last part of your statement here rings all too true. Everyone has their little piece and they guard it.

Supposedly it's a lot more streamlined today, but who knows.

Back to the original topic, I think that even when GROM or US or Pakistani forces get the offenders who beheaded this man, it won't matter...the zealots that create such people will see him as a winner either way. If they get away with it, then they have poked the eye of the west (yes, Poland is included here...) and if they do not, they have become "martyrs" while ...poking the eye of the west.

We can hope to deter those who are not QUITE as strong in their convictions. Make it more obvious to them that doing such things lands them in the latter category more than the former...

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]

Interesting.
Where in there does it actually say he was tortured by Americans..."rendered" being simply the secret flights themselves? did the Egyptians say they tortured him or something....or did the Swedish feel guilty about being caught turning him in, and pay him? Obviously if he was innocent, they would probably even try to get him released...something they didn't do.

Politicians make decisions based on public opinion and outcry, but not necessarily the truth. That said, that link is getting there at least. It isn't established in this that the CIA tortured him, honestly not even positive the Egyptians did, but that's up to the Egyptians, not the US...unless the Egyptians said they did those things to him, it is just as likely to be an allegation of someone wanting to be freed who thought himself previously untouchable(?)

John P.

History / germany prepares for invasion of Poland [43]

There are armies and there are politicians...the one will always be the downfall of the other.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]

szkotja...reread above. Nobody (not even me) says they did or did not have flights...but what their purpose exactly or what happened on them...it has not said, to my knowledge; it has only been accused. Maybe they are exactly what you say they are...but likewise your statement that so many documents were being withheld...does not prove in fact the reason for their being witheld. It may have nothing at all to do with what you think it does. After all, every flight here in Iraq...is also secret. Even the mundane, dropping off the mail kind of things. The purpose...may or may not be what we think it is.

Likewise there is probably a different reason for witholding those documents, especially if it is as you imagine, common knowledge that there are rendition flights specifically for torture or some such. I would imagine often the reason for secrecy is a lot less glamorous or interesting.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]

This is possible, or then again perhaps they do know who these people are. The trouble with televised executions and such by terrorists...is that even though they cover their faces they often crave fame. Everyone talks. "you know, I'm not supposed to say anything, but did you see what so and so did, and video for entire world!??? " eventually they brag to the wrong person. Or someone else they slighted recognizes them and makes a phone call.

Which, I guess, if you plan to be a "martyr" anyway...doesn't matter so much.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Yes, you are quite late...the conversation has progressed quite a bit. No one (not even me) was saying "rendition" or whatever you want to call it...flights did or did not take place. The only challenge I make is that it has not been established what the secret flights were actually doing. It is quite easy to make accusations, but proving them is another matter. Just like your assumption that


This last part, while possibly true, is completely speculation on your part or that of the original source you got it from.


This is why it always surprises me to hear people (not just Americans but Brits too) wonder why we haven't invaded Pakistan...it's not like the government is completely an enemy, but somewhere in between. They have to deal with the people they govern, not the people we wish they governed. Must be a tough job.

There are lawless places in a lot of countries. Pakistan does not have the monopoly by any means.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


So says you... of course, "over the last century" doesn't leave quite a few countries spotless. Still, what YOU perceive to have happened 100 years ago has no bearing on whether someone should sit on their laurels on the global stage today.


Why do you think this is, exactly...


We can hope not.


Wrong, unless you mean only in the specific sense...


Again wrong


Seems ALL the banks have been doing this...although I'm sure you only see evil when it flies an American flag...greed is greed and it knows no nationality.


You are being ridiculous, here...


I am still awaiting your evidence...otherwise this is all bluster and hearsay by people with political motive. You make accusations as if this is all common knowledge, providing links that explain why these stories are verifiable...you have not done, for some reason.


I stand by this point. Until you provide something that uses more than hearsay. I want to know why some horrible acts could be committed for years on someone only to release them. If such things were really happening and were really a secret...what is the explanation given for such a person going through what is alledged....and then being left alive? Show me this, otherwise your examples are not credible as they do not fall within the reasonable man confines.

John P.

History / germany prepares for invasion of Poland [43]

I think in the U.S. education varies from state to state, county to county. I knew about this maneuver at the beginning of WWII, from school, but have also met people who did not.

Different states of the US decide what makes it to their curriculum and what is important in their state.
Unfortunately it seems to me that in some states history seems almost unimportant, with the emphasis being placed instead on "social studies". Which is not the same thing at all.

Admittedly, though, there's also the chance that this was mentioned, but that was the day someone was asleep in class. Most concentrate only on the part *after* the US entered the war, or our part in it.

Just my opinion.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Interestingly, those numbers come from who? Last I checked alledged numbers here in Iraq have been called into account and those who (made up?) the numbers either could not or would not provide how they arrived at their numbers. It definitely wasn't from a count. Some have even suggested his estimates were exponentially higher than reality. If similar methodology was used by those in other wars, well hey, we might as well just make them up.


Funny...they believe a lot of things, but somehow I doubt ANY of them have been to any secret prison, nor have they confirmed anything happened as this man claimed. They can suspect all they want, but that is not the same as proof.

Forgive my incredulousness when someone is made a celebrity in a time when it is popular to slam the US policy on terror...claims a "secret" prison tortured him for "years"...(all to the "knowing" looks from pampered producers) but no one asked the questions, like...how he "knew" anyone capturing him was CIA or, for that matter, if all these illegal acts supposedly were already happening to him...why would such monsters not simply shoot him in the head and leave him somewhere?

Heaven forbid anyone suggest the man made up the story, it simply doesn't ring true unless some really important key information is missing.

Does ANYONE validate people anymore, or do they simply put a camera and microphone in front of the first guy that has a good story about what the dirty Americans did?

I mean honestly, the crap people expect us to believe because it SOUNDS JUICY on TV is pretty thick. Perhaps I want to be famous...I could go on and on about how Gordon Brown, Barack Obama, and the Pope all kept me in a secret compound as a child where they abused puppies, and oh yeah...(see what I mean? ) So there's a lot left out of the story to expect me to believe it.


I'm not the one making the accusations here. I can look around me and see what is happening, and more importantly, what is NOT happening...then I listen to people like you trying to tell me what I see is wrong, because, from the comfort of your chair you heard about it or read about it, from still someone else who heard it from THEIR chair. You presume guilt without even knowing if a crime has been committed. At least I ask the "why, and how do you know" questions. You simply parrot accusations you've heard from others, without knowing really if they are true or not. Perhaps you don't consider this drinking coolaid, but it definitely isn't demonstrative of an inquisitive mind.

John P.