News / Eat fish you idiot! (EU massive media campaign in Poland) [54]

Sasha,
Funny you mention that.
What fish are your favorites in Russia (I'm sure we have some of the same kinds of fish as there, or at least similar)

I saved and saved, and for my honeymoon went on a cruise to Alaska (with my wife, obviously) and she almost wouldn't eat with me I took such a liking to the stuff. I liked the hot smoked salmon better than the squishy cold-smoked lox version. She does not like fish, but will gladly eat things I'm not keen on (menudo, for instance....yeccchhh....she is of Mexican descent and grew up with it)

I probably reeked of fish. I still love good salmon.
I used to catch wild perch, sunfish, and trout as a boy, and still quite enjoy those as well.
Never been big on shellfish though. Just plain, regular fish.

John P.

News / Are Christians prosecuted in Poland (and Europe in general)? [53]


Not sure wrt the EU, but you are off-base wrt the U.S. If anything it is becoming more difficult to be a Christian here, much as the above. Presidents are ridiculed for giving praises to God (whichever they happen to claim) and courts have ordered crosses removed from war memorials, at the request of (non-veteran) atheist protesters who sue, and teachers lose jobs if they mention God in the class room.

Whether this is right or not I have my own opinions over, but this idea that the US is controlled by "religious fanatics" couldn't be farther from the truth. If anything the government is a bit too "anti" religion here lately.

Sorry for the side trip,
back to our regularly scheduled programming.

News / Are Christians prosecuted in Poland (and Europe in general)? [53]

As far as teaching creationism in schools vice some other theory, I think I would be happier if the schools simply said they didn't know. So far no experiments performed by those studying the abiogenesis hypothesis have conclusively demonstrated successful creation of life, nor proof that it wasn't at some point created. So....they really don't know. So while they don't teach creationism at school, I also believe equally unproven hypotheses should also not be taught as "fact", but rather leave the student with the tools he or she needs to make decisions. Which is what I think education should be all about, rather than indoctrination for one theory over another equally unproven one...

Sorry for the ramble, it just is interesting to me at any rate.
It's likely many of the politicians most wishing to be thought "religious" often do so for the effect they believe it will have on some voters, IMHO.

I could be wrong, of course. At any rate I disagree with the idea certain religions (Christianity for instance) should exclude someone from public office, so long as the person's religious beliefs apply to him or her, and aren't imposed on the entire nation. In my view, excluding Christianity (Catholicism, for instance) is persecution, and prejudice in favor of the Atheist religion....

I've been wrong before, but that's how it all seems to me.

News / Are Christians prosecuted in Poland (and Europe in general)? [53]

This is the point-both of you mention evolution, one even claiming it to be a "proven fact" (it isn't, even though there is evidence to support it) as somehow a counter balance to "creation". The two are not and have never been mutually exclusive.

Evolution seeks to explain the apparent adaptation of various organisms to their environments, not how life began which is an entirely different thing. We could argue about this all day long, but there are many who so want to believe evolution (and on the other end of the spectrum, creation) that they fail to see that evolution has never, once, ever been a theory which seeks to explain the initial beginnings of life (even Charles Darwin...was not an Atheist...)

That hypothesis is called abiogenesis, whose supporters have discovered quite a few interesting things in nature but have so far been unsuccessful at creating life from its components, even intentionally.

For that matter, even evolution has not been observed actually *occurring* although many suppose certain creatures must have derived from others.
Personally, I think the main stream science establishment will support whatever is in their fiscal best interests. My sister is a scientist in the genetics/biology field and this is something even she will quite gladly tell you. That, and that "broken English" is the true language of science ;)

Sorry...rambling there. Until one side is able to create a living organism under natural conditions, from "scratch", and prove that the *first* time this happened could not have had any outside influences, creation will never be disproved. Abiogenesis has made many inroads into the mechanisms of life, DNA, etc. but to prove it is the source of life, rather than simply the mechanism that they are studying, would require proof that not only do the various compounds involved create viable organisms naturally, but viable organisms that also *improve* themselves when faced with adverse conditions, or "adapt", rather than degenerate and die, which has so far been the result of all attempts at observing actual evolution in the laboratory.

So, what all this means, is that while I believe in creation, I also do not see where this conflicts with evolution, either. Abiogenesis supporters like to attach it to the coattails of evolution, but it does not in fact belong there, and is its own hypothesis with ultimately the same evidence behind it as creation.

So....again, the schools could just say "we don't know" and follow with "here is the science we are using to find out...."

Claiming the government (including the school systems) know what happened when in fact they do not....is simple indoctrination, not education. Just because a person who is a Christian (or Muslim, or Jew, or....) believes something, doesn't mean it is completely wrong.

News / Are Christians prosecuted in Poland (and Europe in general)? [53]


While it is arguable that evolution can be observed in the laboratory (genetic mutation leading to extinction of the test subjects rather than adaptation to their environment is hardly the same as "evolution" IMHO) it is a different discussion. Ultimately, the irony to me is that evolution is so often paraded out as somehow a "counter" against creation, when evolution does not explain the origin of life nor attempt to.

Ultimately the origins of life cannot be proven at this point, whether one believes it to be the result of chemicals (which somehow, were in the right combinations in the right place, etc etc to make an organism with a DNA program complex enough that not only conducts all the processes of life, but just happens to allow it to adapt) or if you believe these were intentionally arranged.

Personally, I don't see fire next to iron ore producing steel as evidence my truck was not built by a factory, either, but of course I understand such is not so simple, and that is a decision we each have to make.

There simply isn't enough evidence to teach that any of these options was or was not the origin of life,
and more importantly (and on topic) teaching one or the other, so long as it is not exclusive of other theories, should be ok, but teaching one unproven theory at the expense of another when neither has a preponderance of evidence to support it or at least disprove the other....well, is not education. Education should be keyed toward those who can think for themselves rather than simply believing whatever the state spoon feeds them this week because it happens to be the current dogma....

This has gotten so off-topic, but mostly I feel one theory should not be taught as "correct" and another not, when neither has been proven. To do so, is to give credence to that which has not earned it.

Love / Dilemma, Flight School or beautiful polish women????? [19]

If you love the girl...I'm not sure how serious you are, but stake your claim, man! if she is the one, I mean. Take her with you.

I also thought I would mention, I don't know how it is with European air carriers but I work with a lot of people who on the outside are airline pilots (mobilized reservists, that sort of thing) and they say times are tough and there is not much hiring happening. Of course that is just the big US air carriers, it might be completely different for European airlines. Still I agree sounds more interesting than working an office unless you get some REALLY interesting cases.

If you are in love with this girl, don't give her up when you don't have to. You CAN have both a great woman and a great job. There are plenty of people who will tell you "There are plenty of fish in the sea" but there are also quite a few who for the rest of their lives wonder about the one that got away.

Hopefully you find the path that works best!
Good luck
John P.

Love / Dilemma, Flight School or beautiful polish women????? [19]

Glad to have helped.
be greedy (I've even been told it's the American way...but we didn't invent it!) take BOTH.
Good women are NOT dime a dozen.
Sounds like she might be a "keeper". Might as well have a job you like, while you're at it, right?
6 months in Arizona is NOTHING. If she can't be there with you, a good woman (sounds like she is) will wait for you.

John P.

News / Poland aids the world [37]

We can hope, although just noticed a headline in the paper claiming Hamas has seized much of the aid intended for Gaza, which doesn't bode well, at first glance anyway.

Will read it next time I go by there and see what the article says.

John P.

News / Poland aids the world [37]

Makes no difference to me, Seanus. Hadn't heard the Israelis were doing this; I simply saw a headline that mentioned Hamas.
Hamas, incidentally, is a terror organization; they are not one and the same as saying "Palestinian".
No doubt there's plenty of blame to go around, as there's no love lost between Hamas and the Israelis, for sure.

John P.

Love / Dilemma, Flight School or beautiful polish women????? [19]

What the hell are you talking about?
The man has a woman he loves-and a potential good career; it is quite acceptable for him to have both.

Incidentally...pot...kettle.

John P.

News / Poland aids the world [37]


Fair enough....perhaps I got carried away a bit. My apologies for having the blinders on for a bit.

I did read the article finally; it was the UN claiming Hamas raided them, not the Israelis; Hamas spokesmen said of course that they would never operate as the UN claimed they did. You are also correct, a ship was also reported as stopped by the Israeli Navy in the same paper, which they claimed was going to give supplies to Hamas.

Oh what a world we live in.

John P.

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

Sorry, too late. All of those involved were retro-actively executed for their crimes.
Still, if you want to fault the various European nations for sending colonizing forces to America in the past centuries, good luck.
All nations have been conquerors and also been conquered themselves at some point in their history. Likewise in the Americas. We have enough 1,000 year old grudges without adding a few more.

John P.

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


True....
I do see the irony...sometimes I think I start losing my sense of humor through various political arguments, and it has to be pointed out to me again, from time to time...

John P.

News / Stealing electricity in Poland... being resourceful or theft? [21]

I used to hear about people running a coil next to a main transmission line to steal power, but hadn't heard about taking it from a traffic camera. That's pretty neat.

Yes its stealing, but you still have to respect the inventiveness of the thing...

John P.

Language / IS POLISH LANGUAGE'S VULGARALISATION MEDIA-DRIVEN? [23]

I think the media has a huge part in it.
Film and other media are just a reflection of life, if you will, and they are ever grasping farther and farther to make their product interesting. So, how do you make a group of overweight millionaire actors passable as murderous gangsters, for instance? Add a lot of cursing. It wouldn't surprise me if some of the types running Hollywood and its many worldwide equivalents are so out of touch that they believe regular every day people curse like that. They think it makes their story somehow "more realistic".

As it becomes less shocking, it takes more to draw attention to a particular show, movie, etc and so they test the boundaries even more....

Meanwhile...people watch television then mimic it, to a large degree. Teenage girls go out and HAVE to have a 400$ designer purse, for instance, regardless it was made in China on the same production line as the $20 one, but without certain initials on it...same thing I think.

Also there is the rating system. Many people won't bother with a "G" or "PG" rated film, thinking there's nothing interesting to see...so if a movie drops into that area, add some profanity, maybe some gratuitous (nudity/violence/whatever) so its entry rating is a little more restrictive.....and people buy tickets.

Probably not making any sense, but perhaps someone knows where I'm going with this.

John P.

Language / IS POLISH LANGUAGE'S VULGARALISATION MEDIA-DRIVEN? [23]

Honestly, I don't know...but I would imagine the millionaires in those places have no idea, either. So they portray what they *think* looks realistic. Honestly...it wouldn't surprise me if mobsters like that...did not use so much foul language, but rather were very smooth. They are businessmen, after all, even if they deal in things not quite legal. Hollywood might be more accurate on some of the smaller more violent gangs which were founded almost as much on hate of rival gangs/ethnicities as they were business... but still I think you know where I was going with this.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Whoop-de-doo.
Assuredly, it's the same now 60 year old men who were drafted in 1968 who are fighting our wars now, too.

FWIW its nobody's business what the US military is doing in Pakistan or Afghanistan...but the US, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Soon as public opinion starts deciding things again, people will scream for mercy for the guys who were recently lopping heads, they will complain loudly if these men have to endure any discomfort in efforts to find OTHER head loppers etc out there, and ultimately they will receive trials with highly paid lawyers that any of the citizens of our own countries could not themselves afford. Shortly thereafter, the US or Polish or whoever captured these men...will be made to be the bad guys.

forgive the sarcasm, rant concluded.
That said, people ARE going after the people who did these things. Forgive us for not inviting a news crew to go along this time, so they can call their friends at Al Jazeera who then call THEIR friends, so ultimately...the news crew can film a bloody fire fight, which could have been a quiet capture leading to a trial.

Of course, in certain cases, one almost hopes for a fight, just so the gloves can figuratively come off for certain of these.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


This is true...
Yes must feel sorry for the salt of the earth types; they behead people (even their own) because no doubt of some oil deal the US made...never mind most of them have never seen an American, many simply hate because it is what the Wahabbist Madrassahs apparently teach them to do. Is this true (I've not been in a madrassah, but have to admit I am suspicious of some)? I don't know.

The massive media coverage in favor of the "freedom fighters" (which apparently now means people from anywhere who come to lop heads, not just Afghans or Iraqi, etc) even seeps into our ranks sometimes, I understand there were complaints made about how many times the man who beheaded Nick Berg was shot, for instance, never mind that he fired first rather than be captured. Not sure how true this is, of course, but rumor has it there were complaints that they fought back too well.

If you can imagine.

what a world.
As an aside, having had Poland's GROM work with a unit I was in a few years ago, if Poland does send these guys after the murdering "freedom fighters" in question...trust that your men do not play games, and will do an excellent job. We were glad to have them on our side back while they were still here.

John P.

Language / How do people mispronounce your Polish names? [60]


Send me a PM. I think we are related....

John P.

Language / How do people mispronounce your Polish names? [60]

Yes...
I am named after an annoying plant.....

:)

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


nrx, I have been following your posts with interest, as you are in a position to have a fairly informed viewpoint (esp. with respect to Pakistan and things happening there). I think in general the case was made that Afghanistan under Taliban leadership had become a state supporter of, or at least harborer of terrorist groups (Al Qaeda, esp.) so capture of OBL is a prime mission but it is not the only mission, nor the reason for the war. I simply think it is interesting that the same people who scream "LIE!" when the CIA believes Saddam had WMD's or that Iran's purposes might be less than respectable...then listen to a supposed tape of OBL, and assume it to be gospel because "well, the CIA verified it". Perhaps I'm the only one who sees humor (albeit tragic) in this.


If they are not dead they are on a list. Perhaps they are in Guantanamo...but don't worry if they are,
they'll be tried by people who think they are simply poor farmers fighting an evil invader...and released.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


I'm not so sure...
While his quote might not have been "wiped off the map", you are correct in calling me out on this, his intent is ambiguous enough to make one nervous. I don't speak Farsi, either, which compounds things...but.... Add in the speed with which he is increasing his nuclear purification (for peaceful purposes) and the (claimed at least) successful launch of a satellite...say that he already has technology to reach MUCH farther than people previously thought, and while his Manhattan project may indeed be for peaceful purposes, I'm not against holding a gun on him just to make him stay honest. If he DOES indeed wish to destroy another nation, or bring the coming of the Last Imam, or some such (sorry, I'm not as well versed in Islam as others here) then I would rather him die a martyr than innocents somewhere else whose only crime was being alive in an area that spited Ahmadinejad in particular.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


While he is correct that other countries did do this, I have a few objections. First, I understand he was ONLY interested in methods which would result in him having weapons grade plutonium, and is doing so on an almost frantic scale ominously coinciding with increases in missile technology...it looks bad. Would you allow an arsonist to have a book of matches-he claims he only intends to build a cooking fire, and not burn down your house (as he's told his friends) but insists that you give him the matches and leave him alone, rather than watch him.....?

This man does not need nuclear matches; my understanding was he was offered technology that would not produce weapons grade material...and refused it. Am I incorrect on this?

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


You have no idea what the US is or isn't doing at Gitmo, other than what they've told you they did. IF playing bad music, or scaring specific known terrorists that we are going to kill them unless they give names or places.....somehow bothers you, it only shows you are human. It doesn't take away from the fact of what these particular individuals did to be put there in the first place.

Having talked to people who were guards at Gitmo...perhaps this stuff happened somewhere else or something, because they (the guards) did not get to lift a finger toward the prisoners, and even had to wear gloves if they had to pass something in like a Koran etc. which they were considered "unclean" to touch.

Also the inmates were being treated so badly that they are getting fat.
As posted above, don't believe everything you hear. Some is true, some is not.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


nrx,
reading your post it must be truly frustrating to put up with a lot that you do, and people wonder "why doesn't US invade Pakistan". It is because Pakistan is at least TRYING to do something, and just because some of the public doesn't know this, there are people who do. Every little bit helps. It's just a mess is all. When people say that I wonder why they don't say, well, "why doesn't the EU/US/UN whatever invade the UK, or the US or whatever, because there are criminals there (gasp!)"


True....
Not that you would know one way or other anyway. I'm sure all prisons theoretically house one or two innocents. However most of these were not captured pending some civil trial for a crime...but were captured in the act or some such, and used to gain information on others who were still out there killing. POW's are NEVER released before the end of hostilities, and last I checked, there hasn't been a message from OBL or any of those calling for the end of attacks. Methodology may be distasteful, but I'm sure most of the people released from basement "prisons" awaiting their video recorded executions...are not concerned that one of the leaders of their captors was put through discomfort to disclose where he or she could be rescued.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Maybe so. Also alluding to your other post, mentioning that the biased policies of the government create hate...maybe maybe not, I think the problem we as Americans have, is that there are two massive parties controlling everything, and they spend years now in campaigns, and mountains of money on the media...all to convince the populace that the other party and its administration is the center of all that is evil in the universe. Both parties do this. Unfortunately, they forget that when they are successful, they also make America as a whole appear to be this center of all that is evil, as well. So, after years of this, they start believing their own stories, as do the public...next thing one knows, the election has been won, and they promptly throw out all the good policies as well as the bad, if only because the other party supported them.

I imagine if this frustrates me, as an American, it must be doubly so for other nations looking for our support. We no doubt seem somewhat schizophrenic as a nation. There are things both parties pay lip service to, but in their rush to bash the policies of the opposition, the baby is thrown out with the bath water it would seem.

This no doubt makes it difficult to feel secure in an agreement with the U.S. knowing that the next party may use it only as so much kindling, or friendships with nations are dropped, etc... It is silly, perhaps, but this is how I see it.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Now YOU are making things up.


who says this is the "condition" there? again...?


Wrong again. One of them is allegedly head of AQ in Sudan, now. They weren't kept to be tried for crimes, initially...that is something that has been invented by people trying for their release. They insisted they are POW's....so we let them stay til the war is over. German POW's in Pennsylvania during WWII...did not get tried for crimes, but nor were they released back to German forces until the end of the war. Some of the people at Gitmo no doubt are terrorists of the worst sort. Perhaps they will be tried for this. Others were merely participating in other roles. When they are deemed by some court somewhere to no longer be a threat, they are released. As in the case of the people you refer to. So again....wrong.


I don't think they are, but because they demand protection as the same under Geneva conventions, they have to be treated as such. Remember that argument from the past? it has come full circle. Terrorists have never been covered by Geneva conventions nor have combatants hiding amongst innocent civilians...but people insisted they be treated as if they were soldiers. You can't have it both ways, even though our government is trying to give it to them that way.


So we've established your feelings about Americans...but ultimately...your country does it too, and did before America was anything more than a struggling nobody on the international scene. By your measure, ALL countries should be hated.


Ahhh I see now. Good luck avoiding those mind control transmissions...if ours don't get you, the Russians' will ;)

John P.

Love / Polish women are known for their beauty, but men are so ugly (most of).. [250]


I agree with most of your above posts, but thought this part was hilarious....years ago I had some friends who could have been Calvin Klein models (I am in the military, fitness goes hand in hand) who were desperate to be "hooked up" with my sisters. I know these particular guys, and told them "over my dead body". Not going to introduce my sisters to some 20 year old guy looking for a month or two (to him a long relationship) of fun.

anyway, thanks for the laugh

John P.

Love / Polish women are known for their beauty, but men are so ugly (most of).. [250]


Ahhh we share some culture here...(I have a Polish name, but I am an American) I didn't quite come out and say it...but yep. I didn't even get along with my sisters too much while growing up, but the armies of hell couldn't protect some B@stard that took advantage of either of them.

John P.

News / Polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan. [347]


Ones who are kept because they were captured in combat, and are not deemed to return to it...sometimes get lucky. It isn't as if political decisions are made using common sense, unfortunately. I think all of us can point to examples of this, not just in the US, either.


They are allowed to exercise and aren't put under so much hardship that they are uncomfortable eating, either. As to the cell sizes...it IS a prison, not a vacation club, but they still have living conditions perhaps even better than the men who guard them do, if what I have heard is correct. We could just set them free I'm sure you have a guest room much bigger than 8x8...


Seems the definition was changed by the media and people like yourself many many times, just to make sure they were eligible for every possible creature comfort. Originally, they were simply terrorists. Then people scream, because terrorists are protected by virtually no laws...but the definition of an enemy combatant (which would allow them protection) is quite specific, and they do not fit it therefore the term "illegal enemy combatant" was coined, to justify Geneva conventions protection while ignoring that these often used civilians as shields (and often, targets) wore no uniforms, attacked then dropped weapons, and terrified townspeople by beheading and or shooting those of differing political views. That's just the "little" guys. The big ones...are high ups in larger international organizations, some involved in 9-11, others in the UK and Spanish train bombings, etc... but hey, if the media wants to make them into innocent farmers or "tourists" etc, so be it. As long as THEY have a guest room for the people in question.


Again, you obviously pay lip service to the Geneva conventions, but ignore the portions about who is excluded. You speak as if you know much about secret US actions, but honestly you have no more clue than anyone else. I only have slightly more information...so it is beyond me how you portend to know all these things you claim.


I'm sure you could spend millenia arguing over the meaning of life, too...how much money do you think should be spent? Sometimes the people with the smoking gun actually DID it. You smugly say "investigations" in quotes, again, like you know what is or isn't. Many people worked very hard on what they had. Just because some nutjob has a conspiracy theory doesn't mean the conspiracy is true, or that billions should be spent attempting to follow each and every one. There is a dead man in the room, 2 of his friends and one who openly hated his guts....sometimes it really is the one who hated his guts who killed him.

John P.