News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

The mainstream will continue to hold rallies until the crap that's currently in office has gone.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]

In Poland, Cro, people prefer the EU and democracy to Russian style extremism.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


People have been conformists since, well, Cro-Magnon times, eh?


Better than some appalling nationalistic alternative such as the situation in Russia. People in Poland will choose a democracy (and no form of democracy is ever ideal - just workable and practical) every time having lived through the alternatives, especially the horrors of fascist occupation.

News / Foreign investors fear Poland's instability [26]


Why begging? If an investment is attractive and if the business environment is stable, the inward investment will come. If there is political instability as we are seeing now in Poland, it will not.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


Better remember that all the Americans can do without escalating the issue is to pussyfoot around. More important is the EU's relationship to Russia and this is with only a few exceptions a negative one. In Poland's case very negative.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


This we all know, hence the Polish pro-democracy rallies.

PiS don't just want a democratically elected term of office; they want to be in power always by fair means or foul - in effect a PRL-bis. Their heroes are certain pre-war poiliticians who weren't in the least bit interested in democracy and they will resort to some very dirty tricks to achieve their end. They will not succeed.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


Looks like you're unclear about the meaning of the term "standard of living".


You're certainly entitled to hold that view, however here in Poland there is support for the sanctions.


Exactly. And a good windfall outcome is the increase in locally grown produce here in the shops as well as the development of new products and new markets.

Poland doesn't need Russia, and the response of Poland to aggressive Russian expansionism and sabre-rattling does prove that it's an important part of the European counterweight.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


Amazing that can happen and I suspect we'll see a lot more such abuses of democracy before PiS go.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


???


And increased subsidies. The difference in standard of living out in the sticks is palpable.


Not any more we don't.


In fact, as you were told before, the Polish government and the main opposition party are wholeheartedly behind the sanctions. As President Duda recently affirmed to the man who is now Ukraine's new Prime Minister.

News / Foreign investors fear Poland's instability [26]


There speaks someone who is not among the 8% (and in reality far more) who are unemployed in Poland. Someone wanting to feed their family doesn't generally mind which country the capital for the company who might offer them a job comes from.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


I wonder what that's got to do with Poland as a counterbalance to the Russian threat.


Having been there, I doubt you'd have liked it.


Massive suspicions, and all justified.


Those would be the same farmers who have done very well out of the EU.

The sanctions against Russia are there for a reason, and Poland (including the current President Duda whoi has recently spoken in favour of maintaining them) is resolute in its support of Ukraine and other states threatened by Russian expansionism.

Language / Beginning to learn Polish- help? [29]


Skype lessons aren't much good - usually a waste of money.

Language / Beginning to learn Polish- help? [29]


Almost certainly something similar however if she/he really does want to learn Polish, the best way is real life lessons and a lot of conversation practice.

Love / Polish men penis size [21]


Crikey! And yes, no good for anything. I once knew someone (not in Poland) who had one so vast he fainted from loss of blood when it was 'working'.

As for Poland, if anything they're slightly smaller than the European average however for some reason there do tend to be extremes here, as in Germany.

Genealogy / Looking for information on my great grandfather Josef Sokolowski [10]


Jesionowo, Warminsko-Mazurskie is quite a long way in Polish terms from Galicia. That's an inconsistency which suggests that you maybe right - there is something not being said. Equally he could have been born in one place and lived in the other.


It might be one of many things, most of them fairly ordinary. Something scandalous decades ago could be very normal nowadays. If you think there might be a Jewish connection, why not try a DNA test?

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


According to you - others might say it's the best system we know.


Not incompatible with democracy.


They have that in Russia? Amazing all those people want to leave...

And Russia is a country to which Poland is rightly very negative. Not a counterweight - the EU (of which Poland is an enthusiastic member) as a whole has that global role, hence Putin's attempts at destabilisation.

Law / Buying an English Plated Car in Poland [2]


Not so easy unless things have recently changed - have a look at the search function here.


Perhaps a better way to do it. Or just buy a LHD car.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


Yes, you said that before, albeit in a cruder way.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that Poland vastly prefers NATO and the EU to the Russian sphere of influence. Counterbalance is a strong word given the size and level of danger from Europe, however as a keen member of the EU and NATO, Poland has a robust role in countering Russian geopolitical ambitions.


And of course they are one of the most corrupt major states in the world.

Classifieds / Self addressed mailing labels (English) can be purchased where in Warsaw? [4]

Empik (certainly the Nowy Świat branch) has a stationery department. The department is called 'artykuły papiernicze'.

There's also a stationers near the main post office (assuming the private kiosk in there doesn't have any) at ul. Świętokrzyska 14.

Law / I want to run a Persian (Iranian) restaurant in Poland! [46]

I wonder if there are any resources that might help the OP

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


A journalist did some things data mining recently and it turns out it all originated with one dodgy website known for pure fiction. No other corroboration.


No, Duda apparently has. So much for the traditional Catholic values he trumpeted.

Should make for some fun placards at the next Poiish pro-democracy march.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Probably the Wendy Deng story which he denies (and in any case allegedly happened after he left office and was a private citizen). Not that he ever preached 'back to basics' or stood on a traditionalist religious ticket like Duda anyway.

The public toilet rumour is apparently pure internet woo.

The point here is that those ultra-conservatives who were trying to make a point about the leader of the Polish pro-democracy movement's alimony payments have been completely wrongfooted now one of their idols has turned out to be an alleged adulterer and marriage breaker.

News / Poland -- Europe's only counterweight to Russia [271]


A very strong believer in the EU and certainly no apologist for Russia.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


I detect some interesting double standards here. Po, you were certainly keen to make tacky insinuations about the personal life of the leading figure in the Polish pro-democracy movement!

There is however a very big difference. Only one of the two people, the dud Duda, is a politician elected on a 'back to basics' ticket, preaching traditional Catholic moral standards. Standards which he allegedly does not bother to keep.

And of course if someone takes the marriage bond so lightly that they cheat on their wife, can we be sure he isn't cheating on the country.

A case of failing to practice what one preaches and entirely typical of PiS.


A very wise comment and as true today as in the past.

Law / I want to run a Persian (Iranian) restaurant in Poland! [46]

I wonder what's made that Warsaw restaurant a success when others fail.

Sounds worth a visit anyway.

Law / I want to run a Persian (Iranian) restaurant in Poland! [46]

Persian food can be delicious and delicate. Afghan food's nice too, though not a vast range of dishes.

His restaurant might work in Warsaw if he has;
a. Perfect premises, excellent location and cheap
b. A 'cash cow' like a kebab window
c. A very keen eye for the restaurant trade
d. A business idea that isn't just his dream of a lovely restaurant but is something that is commercially viable
e. Enough money to not need to depend on the cash income for a couple of years at least
f. A lot of luck
g. A drinks licence

Work / Never work for Mike Mills in Warsaw [28]

Quite. It's just a snapshot of what the person was doing at the time they uploaded it.

Mike was in my opinion fine before and hopefully he is fine now. It was all a few years ago anyway and I haven't heard anything since which suggests all is OK.

Often business people are quite interesting and forthright - without it they wouldn't have set the business up. Disgruntled ex-employees who don't care much about the truth of what they write aren't a good guide to anyone's character (or their professional conduct), unfortunately in English Teaching there are some spectacularly hapless 'teachers' who can't find their way to a lesson or even remember the name of the school they work for!

Work / Never work for Mike Mills in Warsaw [28]


No, he put it there online himself, sort of random monologues from behind his desk delivered in a way that reflected very badly on himself. A normally decent guy, I assume he had some serious health/wellbeing issues and hope he is OK now.

As language schools go, his was always one of the better ones.

Law / I want to run a Persian (Iranian) restaurant in Poland! [46]


Remember it's got to appeal, fit an established format and have the right premises.

Even a falafel place earns its bread and butter from greasy kebabs.

News / Foreign investors fear Poland's instability [26]

In business, everything comes down to the bottom line and the lack of new investment in Poland speaks volumes, as does the unfortunate reduction in credit rating.