Richfilth
9 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
Is there another protest tonight? For whom? Cross-supporters, or cross-removers?
Is there another protest tonight? For whom? Cross-supporters, or cross-removers?
Richfilth
8 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
This is a big feature of almost any nation in the world. However, being in a democracy demands that you occasionally swallow the bitter pill because the majority want something you don't. It also means that you don't stamp your foot and cry like a little child when you don't get what you want.
I understand the older generation's feelings of alienation, but violent protest is never a solution; you'd have thought the last 200 years would have taught Poles that.
This is about people who feel alienated in their own country and do not believe the ruling powers that be represent them.
This is a big feature of almost any nation in the world. However, being in a democracy demands that you occasionally swallow the bitter pill because the majority want something you don't. It also means that you don't stamp your foot and cry like a little child when you don't get what you want.
I understand the older generation's feelings of alienation, but violent protest is never a solution; you'd have thought the last 200 years would have taught Poles that.
Richfilth
7 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
Are you suggesting Kazik is the new messiah?
he was a political radical, of low social status, a heavy drinker and physically very unattractive.
Are you suggesting Kazik is the new messiah?
Richfilth
7 Aug 2010
News / Heavy storm / tornados cause chaos and flooding in Poland [23]
I went out for a walk in this last night; I'll admit, it was absolutely tipping it down, and the sky was electric - never a space of more than 2 seconds without a lightning flash, so as a storm it was pretty intense.
Based on the way the water was overflowing from the gutters onto the pavement, and the way the manholes were doing this: ...
then I could believe that some underground stations got flooded, and plenty of cars' engines stopped working.
I went out for a walk in this last night; I'll admit, it was absolutely tipping it down, and the sky was electric - never a space of more than 2 seconds without a lightning flash, so as a storm it was pretty intense.
Based on the way the water was overflowing from the gutters onto the pavement, and the way the manholes were doing this: ...
then I could believe that some underground stations got flooded, and plenty of cars' engines stopped working.
Richfilth
7 Aug 2010
Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]
Some of the starkest things for me in terms of culture shock, and that remind me I'm a foreigner even after six years here, are the attitudes towards Religion and Patriotism.
The Church and the Nation are absolutely above any form of criticism; a tiny throwaway comment will spark an enormous debate and lengthy lecture on Polish history and the role of the Church. I can understand why Poles are so defensive of these things;* they've told me why, thousands of times, but the vigour with which they well defend these establishments can be scary at times.
Coming from England, where no institution is beyond criticism, and where bad taste humour has become an artform (check the sickipedia website, if you like), these rigid social taboos still amaze me. Sometimes it's charming (I wish the English could feel genuine pride for their nation, rather than that awful mix of sport-based arrogance and colonial aloofness), other times its infuriating, but this undying attitude of Polska Polska still has the power to shock me.
The other thing I still don't get is to what enormous lengths the women will go to to look beautiful, so that they can hang on the arm of a Polish man with his shaved head, Nike t-shirt, shorts, white socks and black trainers.
* a semi-colon on a forum; who'd have thought it.
Some of the starkest things for me in terms of culture shock, and that remind me I'm a foreigner even after six years here, are the attitudes towards Religion and Patriotism.
The Church and the Nation are absolutely above any form of criticism; a tiny throwaway comment will spark an enormous debate and lengthy lecture on Polish history and the role of the Church. I can understand why Poles are so defensive of these things;* they've told me why, thousands of times, but the vigour with which they well defend these establishments can be scary at times.
Coming from England, where no institution is beyond criticism, and where bad taste humour has become an artform (check the sickipedia website, if you like), these rigid social taboos still amaze me. Sometimes it's charming (I wish the English could feel genuine pride for their nation, rather than that awful mix of sport-based arrogance and colonial aloofness), other times its infuriating, but this undying attitude of Polska Polska still has the power to shock me.
The other thing I still don't get is to what enormous lengths the women will go to to look beautiful, so that they can hang on the arm of a Polish man with his shaved head, Nike t-shirt, shorts, white socks and black trainers.
* a semi-colon on a forum; who'd have thought it.
Richfilth
6 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
I'm wondering what happened to this morning's posts (including my own.) Where they mod-edited? Did this discussion finally go too far?
I'm wondering what happened to this morning's posts (including my own.) Where they mod-edited? Did this discussion finally go too far?
Richfilth
5 Aug 2010
UK, Ireland / What's the rule on 'the UK' but just 'GB'? [60]
So how about this definition:
Any entity with a political state word in the title (Kingdom, State, Union, Republic) requires The.
That also explains The European Union* too, which definitely isn't a country
*another joke
So how about this definition:
Any entity with a political state word in the title (Kingdom, State, Union, Republic) requires The.
That also explains The European Union* too, which definitely isn't a country
*another joke
Richfilth
5 Aug 2010
UK, Ireland / What's the rule on 'the UK' but just 'GB'? [60]
I see your point, the trouble in my explanation comes to the definition of "country." The Soviet Union was a political state, as is The United Kingdom. Russia is a country, as are Wales and Scotland, unfortunately.* But what's the difference between a country and a political state?
On the international political arena, such as The United Nations (there's another one) or NATO, you'll never see anyone sitting at a desk marked "Great Britain." That's my point about what is and isn't a country. The Olympics don't count.
* another joke.
I see your point, the trouble in my explanation comes to the definition of "country." The Soviet Union was a political state, as is The United Kingdom. Russia is a country, as are Wales and Scotland, unfortunately.* But what's the difference between a country and a political state?
On the international political arena, such as The United Nations (there's another one) or NATO, you'll never see anyone sitting at a desk marked "Great Britain." That's my point about what is and isn't a country. The Olympics don't count.
* another joke.
Richfilth
5 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
If this is a criticism of getting drunk in general as morally corrupt, then I ask you find me a morally pure person in Poland.
If this is a claim that going to Mass makes you morally pure, then please be aware that the RCC does not hold the monopoly on morality.
If this is something to do with Sunday being special, not all of us agree that our morals can change depending on the day of the week.
It's obvious that those who spend Sunday sleeping off and nursing a hangover after a big Saturday night booze-up are morally superior to those who go to Sunday mass.
If this is a criticism of getting drunk in general as morally corrupt, then I ask you find me a morally pure person in Poland.
If this is a claim that going to Mass makes you morally pure, then please be aware that the RCC does not hold the monopoly on morality.
If this is something to do with Sunday being special, not all of us agree that our morals can change depending on the day of the week.
Richfilth
5 Aug 2010
UK, Ireland / What's the rule on 'the UK' but just 'GB'? [60]
I'm surprised there's confusion over this. If we look at the list presented:
The Soviet Union, The United States, The Czech Republic, The United Kingdom, Great Britain
can you spot the odd one out? One of these is not a country.
If the name you are using contains a political state word (Union, State, Republic, Kingdom) then we need the definite article. Attaching "The" really doesn't have anything to do with the country being some sort of plural as a political entity. If it's a group of islands then sure (The Bahamas, the Maldives, The Canaries) but we're referring to the geographical idea of a group, not the political one; the same way we talk about groups of mountains (The Alps, The Tatry) but not individual ones (Mont Blanc, Kasprowy Wierch.)
And Great Britain is NOT a country. It is a geographic land mass, not a political one, which contains three countries that make up a substantial portion of the political entity, The United Kingdom. The confusion comes from the car sticker 'GB', which makes people think that Britain is a country, like PL and DE do, but Northern Ireland have their own symbol, 'NI', so that the Irish know which particular car to attach their bombs to*.
The use of "-lands" in the name of the country (as opposed to just -land) is the background behind this idea of "plural countries", and that's why we have The Netherlands. And there are other countries that still defy sound explanation (The Gambia and The Congo are just two), but The Ukraine, once it gained its independence, cleaned up its ungrammatical international reputation, and politely asked to be called Ukraine. The End.
*this is a joke. A tasteless one, but a joke nonetheless.
I'm surprised there's confusion over this. If we look at the list presented:
The Soviet Union, The United States, The Czech Republic, The United Kingdom, Great Britain
can you spot the odd one out? One of these is not a country.
If the name you are using contains a political state word (Union, State, Republic, Kingdom) then we need the definite article. Attaching "The" really doesn't have anything to do with the country being some sort of plural as a political entity. If it's a group of islands then sure (The Bahamas, the Maldives, The Canaries) but we're referring to the geographical idea of a group, not the political one; the same way we talk about groups of mountains (The Alps, The Tatry) but not individual ones (Mont Blanc, Kasprowy Wierch.)
And Great Britain is NOT a country. It is a geographic land mass, not a political one, which contains three countries that make up a substantial portion of the political entity, The United Kingdom. The confusion comes from the car sticker 'GB', which makes people think that Britain is a country, like PL and DE do, but Northern Ireland have their own symbol, 'NI', so that the Irish know which particular car to attach their bombs to*.
The use of "-lands" in the name of the country (as opposed to just -land) is the background behind this idea of "plural countries", and that's why we have The Netherlands. And there are other countries that still defy sound explanation (The Gambia and The Congo are just two), but The Ukraine, once it gained its independence, cleaned up its ungrammatical international reputation, and politely asked to be called Ukraine. The End.
*this is a joke. A tasteless one, but a joke nonetheless.
Richfilth
5 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
Haven't you confused "survived" with "caused"? Except for the last one, which I was think was the fault of the 5th Dimension.
Over the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has survived schisms, revolutions, wars, the collapse of empires, plaques, the Borgias, the Reformation, the Enlightenment and the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. What makes you think it'll not survive this silly event, boys?
Haven't you confused "survived" with "caused"? Except for the last one, which I was think was the fault of the 5th Dimension.
Richfilth
3 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
I'm trying to explain kondzior's confusion about "public representative space should be free from any religious symbols". I'm well aware of why the political parties are handling this issue the way they are (or aren't.)
what the hell? Are you blind ? I said its about politics and has little to do with religion - you panicked **** less agnostic's !
I'm trying to explain kondzior's confusion about "public representative space should be free from any religious symbols". I'm well aware of why the political parties are handling this issue the way they are (or aren't.)
Richfilth
3 Aug 2010
News / New cross war in Warsaw [530]
The President of Poland is a secular office. Poles may justify their beliefs (and their incomprehensible hypocrisies) with a shrug and the phrase "Poland is a Catholic country," but to erect one religious symbol would mean having to put up a Star of David too (were there any Poles of Jewish origin on the plane? I'm not sure, but there are certainly still Jews in Poland.) Next thing you know, the square in front of the Palace will become a forest of religious symbols as every faith demands recognition, and that won't please the old berety much either, and then there'll be even more riots.
The religious have already got an enormous cross at Plac Pilsudski for public displays of faith; it's common for the Old Town to be shut down whenever the big churches hold a service (blocking Krakowskie Przedmieskie); and there's that lovely big Temple of Divine Providence being funded from the state in Wilanow. Demanding a cross outside the Presidential Palace, and for such reasons, is not appropriate.
The President of Poland is a secular office. Poles may justify their beliefs (and their incomprehensible hypocrisies) with a shrug and the phrase "Poland is a Catholic country," but to erect one religious symbol would mean having to put up a Star of David too (were there any Poles of Jewish origin on the plane? I'm not sure, but there are certainly still Jews in Poland.) Next thing you know, the square in front of the Palace will become a forest of religious symbols as every faith demands recognition, and that won't please the old berety much either, and then there'll be even more riots.
The religious have already got an enormous cross at Plac Pilsudski for public displays of faith; it's common for the Old Town to be shut down whenever the big churches hold a service (blocking Krakowskie Przedmieskie); and there's that lovely big Temple of Divine Providence being funded from the state in Wilanow. Demanding a cross outside the Presidential Palace, and for such reasons, is not appropriate.
Richfilth
3 Aug 2010
Language / na co dzien v. na codzien [3]
A company email was sent out with the line "...wykorzystującej na codzień język angielski." The comment has been returned that "... na co dzień..." should be written separated. I'm trying to use google to find out which one is right. Can anyone explain the difference?
I thought "codzień" worked liked the compound adjective in English, "everyday".
A company email was sent out with the line "...wykorzystującej na codzień język angielski." The comment has been returned that "... na co dzień..." should be written separated. I'm trying to use google to find out which one is right. Can anyone explain the difference?
I thought "codzień" worked liked the compound adjective in English, "everyday".
Richfilth
17 Jan 2010
Law / Motorcycle Polish drivers license? [37]
And I'm looking at getting this in Warsaw, if anyone has any experience in the matter.
Only info I have for Varsovians is that it's better to go out of town to take the actual test, as the queue in Warsaw can be well over a month to get the actual test, which you can't sign up for without completing all your lesson hours.
And I'm looking at getting this in Warsaw, if anyone has any experience in the matter.
Only info I have for Varsovians is that it's better to go out of town to take the actual test, as the queue in Warsaw can be well over a month to get the actual test, which you can't sign up for without completing all your lesson hours.
Richfilth
21 Oct 2009
Love / Polish girlfriend going back to Poland if I dont buy engagment ring [85]
of course this ultimatum isn't about the physical ring itself but the promise of marriage; we might be cynical but there aren't THAT many gold-diggers in Poland who would wait 2 years to demand an Elizabeth Duke special (someone mentioned Argos.)
But this odd social pressure to get married is something that, as a man trying to have a relationship with your average Polka, you will have to either fight stolidly against or give in to at some point. I'll die fighting, but you might have a less negative attitude towards marriage than I do. If she's worth it, give her what she wants to feel secure. If she's not, let her go and find someone else so that she can find her own doormat Polish husband to settle down and abuse for the rest of her life.
of course this ultimatum isn't about the physical ring itself but the promise of marriage; we might be cynical but there aren't THAT many gold-diggers in Poland who would wait 2 years to demand an Elizabeth Duke special (someone mentioned Argos.)
But this odd social pressure to get married is something that, as a man trying to have a relationship with your average Polka, you will have to either fight stolidly against or give in to at some point. I'll die fighting, but you might have a less negative attitude towards marriage than I do. If she's worth it, give her what she wants to feel secure. If she's not, let her go and find someone else so that she can find her own doormat Polish husband to settle down and abuse for the rest of her life.
Richfilth
11 Oct 2009
Work / Polish Residency Cards. Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? [37]
I renewed my passport last month and at no point was I asked for fingerprints, and I don't believe I've ever given them to any agency either. So no, the new ones don't store it.
I agree with the sentiment on Embassy fees though. Having a stony-faced old bint ignore me for 20 minutes at a desk, ignore all the extra papers I'd been told I needed, and then charge me over 120quid for the privilege of coming back in two weeks and being ignored again, really makes me patriotic.
Merged thread:
Residence Card
Both my old-school EU residency card, and my Zameldowane Czasowego have expired, and I'm having a nightmare trying to find out how to renew them.
I went to the local Ratusz for a 'zameldowac sie', and I was told I could only do so for three months, even though I'm the owner of the flat. This is because I don't have a Polish ID card. Apparently, this is to give me some time to GET an ID card.
Then I went to the Office for Foreigners (Warsaw, ul. Dluga) and was told that EU citizens can't have an ID card of any type; they're not issued any more.
I'm not queuing every three months to re-register myself in an apartment I've owned for half a decade; is there any solution to this? Is there such a thing as an ID card for EU residents?
I renewed my passport last month and at no point was I asked for fingerprints, and I don't believe I've ever given them to any agency either. So no, the new ones don't store it.
I agree with the sentiment on Embassy fees though. Having a stony-faced old bint ignore me for 20 minutes at a desk, ignore all the extra papers I'd been told I needed, and then charge me over 120quid for the privilege of coming back in two weeks and being ignored again, really makes me patriotic.
Merged thread:
Residence Card
Both my old-school EU residency card, and my Zameldowane Czasowego have expired, and I'm having a nightmare trying to find out how to renew them.
I went to the local Ratusz for a 'zameldowac sie', and I was told I could only do so for three months, even though I'm the owner of the flat. This is because I don't have a Polish ID card. Apparently, this is to give me some time to GET an ID card.
Then I went to the Office for Foreigners (Warsaw, ul. Dluga) and was told that EU citizens can't have an ID card of any type; they're not issued any more.
I'm not queuing every three months to re-register myself in an apartment I've owned for half a decade; is there any solution to this? Is there such a thing as an ID card for EU residents?
Richfilth
10 Oct 2009
Work / Polish Residency Cards. Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? [37]
delphi - the issue here is that when this card runs out, I won't really have any effective ID in Poland other than my passport, which I'm not too keen to carry around with me on a daily basis. I'd imagine it will be almost impossible to do any banking, bureaucracy or even post office pick-ups without an ID card here, let alone something involving the law.
delphi - the issue here is that when this card runs out, I won't really have any effective ID in Poland other than my passport, which I'm not too keen to carry around with me on a daily basis. I'd imagine it will be almost impossible to do any banking, bureaucracy or even post office pick-ups without an ID card here, let alone something involving the law.
Richfilth
10 Oct 2009
Work / Polish Residency Cards. Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? [37]
thanks mafketis - yes, I'm all too aware of the inconsistencies between bureaux. It's more a general enquiry as to whether this permanent residency card still exists, and if anyone has recently applied for it.
Specifically, I'm Engish (therefore EU) and working in Warsaw.
thanks mafketis - yes, I'm all too aware of the inconsistencies between bureaux. It's more a general enquiry as to whether this permanent residency card still exists, and if anyone has recently applied for it.
Specifically, I'm Engish (therefore EU) and working in Warsaw.
Richfilth
10 Oct 2009
Work / Polish Residency Cards. Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? [37]
I obtained a Karta Pobytu back in 2006 which was time-limited to my adres zameldowego czasowego - both of which will run out next year. Anticipating Polish bureaucracy, I want to look into this now.
Upgrading my adres zamel. won't be a problem, as I own my own property and can declare a regular income, but how about this ID card? Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? Is this temporary card I have still issued? Is there any other option than going for Polish nationality (shudder at the thought!)
I obtained a Karta Pobytu back in 2006 which was time-limited to my adres zameldowego czasowego - both of which will run out next year. Anticipating Polish bureaucracy, I want to look into this now.
Upgrading my adres zamel. won't be a problem, as I own my own property and can declare a regular income, but how about this ID card? Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? Is this temporary card I have still issued? Is there any other option than going for Polish nationality (shudder at the thought!)