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Posts by jon357  

Joined: 15 Mar 2012 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 9 Sep 2025
Threads: Total: 75 / In This Archive: 51
Posts: Total: 24855 / In This Archive: 10045 		From: Somewhere around Barstow
Speaks Polish?: Not with my mouth full

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jon357   
5 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

But i Guess people didn't want to upset Stalin.

The Polish government in Warsaw didn't, hence non-participation. The British invitation was however to all non-Commonwealth servicemen and servicewomen on the same terms.
jon357   
5 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

I guess you are technically right, but how would you feel if you were part of the world cup winning team, but you weren't able to hold the cup or celebrate with the team mates that you played with.

As far as I'm aware, Poles were eligible in the same way as French, Dutch, Belgian and other Non-Commonwealth Allies.
jon357   
5 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

No way was he going to march at the back.

So he was in fact eligible to take part.

The London Poles were invited and refused to attend because they got the same invitation as the pick of the other non-commonwealth nations

Exactly.
jon357   
5 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

It was not a myth, my father was exclude, and was upset that Britain was kowtowing to the Soviets.

All were eligible to attend - there has been much discussion over the years on here.
jon357   
5 Sep 2015
USA, Canada / How Poles and other Slavs celebrate and participate in USA everyday life. Chicago as Polish province? [47]

Should Chicago become autonomous Polish province within Illinois, USA ?

You mean like a Native American Reservation? I'd think that most people certainly wouldn't wasn't it, however the tax breaks and excise-free cigs and booze plus the casinos might be a draw.

Or do you mean a Balkan-style one, as in the former Yugoslavia? No need, because unlike the Serbs, the Americans are not terrorising Pol-Ams.
jon357   
5 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

Russians forced their language on Polish people like my parents.

Yes - this happened (not for the first time in Poland) but the country thankfully survived.

Regarding who helped Poland upfront. Nobody.

Partly due to communist-era propaganda, people often forget the British role. In the Warsaw Uprising, nobody else even tried to help.

The Poles weren't even invited to the VE parade in London in 1945.

Myths like this (much discussed here) don't help.
jon357   
5 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

Without USA Poland would be part of Germany. Speaking German today.

Russia would probably dispute that.

They are greatful that the USA stepped in. Fact.

This much is true.

Worth remembering that the thread is about who was the first to help Poland. The US came into the war rather late and only after they needed help after Japan had attacked their base on Hawaii and declared war against them.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

Only a tiny percentage of Poles returned from Britain after the war.

I thought it was a bit more than that - around half. Perhaps I'm wrong. We have to remember that for a lot of people, their homes were in the Soviet Union, perhaps if they were or if they weren't, their loved ones were dead or in the UK.

All had the right to stay and receive full British citizenship.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

I would imagine most of the objections come from the mothers who want to keep their 'babies' in a state of arrested development. Polish mothers are very over-protective and do far too much for their children which they could easily and happily do themselves.

Don't forget granny - the Polish babcia finding her little ones plucked away from her. This is a big part of the motivation for opposing the change.

Yes, I was three! Started September, turned four in November.

I was close. Turned 4 in the August, started in the September. No harm in that at all, whatever they say about summer-born kids.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

The new age for starting school wasn't just plucked out of thin air; it is for very sound pedogogic reasons and in any case, Europe is moving towards standardisation of practice.

PO may have implemented it, and PiS (such an unfortunate name) may have huffed and puffed out of opportunism and pandering to their rural/small town public, however it would happen regardless of the party in office.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

Most of the arguments are utterly invalid. For instance, there's one claim that they can't go to school "because the toilets are too big". They usually go silent when you ask them if the toilet at home is also adapted for their small child

Spot on. The reasons behind it are purely resistance to change and sentiment.

So hilarious the way Polish kids don't learn how to read or write until they're 7!
WTF is wrong with you lot?
Jaysus I started school when I was 4.

So stupid that Polish students don't finish university until they are in their mid twenties. Get them finished college and out working by the age of 22.

Likewise, spot on.
Platform did the right thing here. It had to be done sooner or later.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

selling them down the river at Yalta

Please, look at a map, read my post, Stalin had all the chips at that poker game!

Warwicktiger is right here. Stalin held the chips, the Americans (with a President who was half dead and didn't last long after it) were unwilling to help Poland (if anyone 'sold' Poland, it was America) and Britain tried but were blocked by our American 'allies'. Plus the country was in ruins.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
Life / Christian Fellowships & Prayer groups in Poland - Szczecin [43]

they're in full communion with the Anglican church through the Union of Utrecht.

They were, but broke it off due to female priests and bishops.

There are a few protestant organisations in Szczecin, but probably not English language:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kategoria:Zbory_protestanckie_w_Szczecinie
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
Work / Help and Guidance needed on Poland Work and Move. Gdansk, Senior Management role salary. [11]

1. Appartment rental for 2 Rooms, furnished in Gdansk Area.

Have a look here. Most look between 1500 and 2000. There will also be bills (gas, water, electric, internet, 300-400 on top.

With a Net take home, of 16000 PLN / month, how much can i save - considering once / twice month eat out and entertainment , utilities, internet, etc on a broad scale. How much can i potentially save ?

Up to 10,000. You will live very comfortably on 6000 and many people manage to save on just that.

3. Is buying a used car and maintaining it a costly proposition ? Or should I stick to public transport.

It's a nuisance but possible. People in Poland don't like buying second-hand cars, and it would be difficult (or impossible) to get credit for a longer period than your residence permit. Public transport in Gdansk is excellent however one possibility would be to speak to your company about leasing.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
Life / Christian Fellowships & Prayer groups in Poland - Szczecin [43]

These people do a great deal of bible study. They aren't for everyone, but perhaps they're worth a visit: jw.org/pl
This: kech.pl may be closer to what you're looking for.

I'm not sure that either operate in English.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

Patriotyzm i Szalchetność

Neither of those suit them. Pseudopatrioci possibly. As for szlachetność, I almost literally fell of my chair laughing, however on reflection and given the appalling behaviour, decadence, incompetence, greed, corruption, superstition, histrionics and fecklessness of the old szlachty, there is a clear parallel.

And the Citizens' Platform is still the most successful government Poland has had since the day before the First Republic was formed.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

they managed to pull the wool over the public's eyes and got to rule for all of eight years. But they were finally caught onto and seen through....

You've actually summed up PiS (Paranoia and Suspicion) very easily, however history will not judge them well.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

That just sound like someone spewing bad rhetoric. A shame that so many of the youngest voters don't remember how bad PiS were when the PiSuarzy briefly formed a government. If they do get in this time, they won't serve a full term (I can see the awful Jaro trying to seize the top job) and I doubt the party will even exist in 10 years time.

As educational levels improve, their natural electorate become fewer and fewer, whereas Platforma Obywatelstwa has a long future to look forward to.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
History / WHAT IS POLAND? (Poem) [12]

Can't seem to find it in English -- only Slovak, Swedish and Hungarian

Józef Magnuszewski and Jerzy Sliziński both wrote about him, however this predates the online world.

On one of his journeys he sailed the Danube and wrote about this.

Be careful though, there were two of them, father and son, both men of letters, both with a Poland connection.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
History / WHAT IS POLAND? (Poem) [12]

Or any other sort, thanks. Though you are trying to go off topic, wonder how familiar you are with Krman's writing. By the way, he wasn't a 'polish (sic) peasant' either.

What do you think about his other works?
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
History / WHAT IS POLAND? (Poem) [12]

I see, but remakes and rewritings can also be masterpieces to be enjoyed very much, right ?

Only if they actually are a masterpiece. That version just doesn't add anything or have any interesting qualities.

am particularly interested if he travelled to Silesia, in his time still part of the Kingdom of Bohemia under Austrian rule since the Prussians conquered Silesia in 1741.

I think he did; he certainly travelled. There's an interesting biography of him though I no longer have a copy.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
History / WHAT IS POLAND? (Poem) [12]

Yes. Though I prefer the more accurate translation rather than your made up version.
jon357   
3 Sep 2015
Food / Is black tea disappearing from supermarkets in Poland? [29]

I have tried "local" brands. There are tasteless and to get a minimum of taste, need to put 2 bags in the cup and still not much taste.

That's how people like it in PL. They don't usually let it brew (just dipping the teabag in) so really it's just coloured water. One reason that other types may be becoming more popular than black tea - they just don't make it properly. Another issue is the number of people who reuse teabags - sales are therefore low. But not disappearing.