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Posts by pawian  

Joined: 30 May 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - O		 Last Post: 25 Nov 2024
Threads: Total: 221 / In This Archive: 66
Posts: Total: 25385 / In This Archive: 5451 		From: Poe land
Speaks Polish?: Yes, but I prefer English
Interests: Everything funny

Displayed posts: 5517 / page 166 of 184
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pawian   
3 May 2011
News / Poland A and Ukraine B. Compare how far Poland has advanced. [282]

The visual evidence is overwhelming.

It is understandable. Polish GDP per capita is about 18.000$ while Ukrainian 8000$.

So why is it a sucha big difference between these two countries? Both have been "free" since the ealy 90's.

Polish elites from Solidarity, joined by retreating communists, were more determined in reforming the country.

Besides, Poles are probably the most enterprenual nation in this part of Europe.

Look at those ugly advertisements near Warsaw - it looks as if their motto was: Give me a road and a plot so that I can start a business.
pawian   
3 May 2011
News / "Poland is flourishing" [62]

Poland got the lions share. Not a valid point ?

How do you count it? :):):)

2007-2013 funding program had 347 billion EUR. 177 billion EUR was available for the ten new member states in CEE. Poland received about 66 or 67 billion, with the population of 38 million.

Now, look at other countries. The Czech Republic got 27 billion though its population is 10 million. The same with Hungary.

Besides, do you know that the lion`s share means everything or almost everything, actually? Read a known fable by Aesop:

The Lion's share
The Lion went once a-hunting along with the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf. They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag, and soon took its life. Then came the question how the spoil should be divided. "Quarter me this Stag," roared the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four parts. Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass and pronounced judgment: The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts; the second is mine as arbiter; another share comes to me for my part in the chase; and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it." "Humph," grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his legs; but he spoke in a low growl. "You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil."

SO, who really got the lion`s share? :):):):)
pawian   
2 May 2011
News / "Poland is flourishing" [62]

Regardless, the debt is still there and Polands stability is only surviving thanks to EU funding.

No, the debt in its large part is a result of EU funding. :):):)
pawian   
2 May 2011
News / "Poland is flourishing" [62]

I haven't read the article yet - but I think from the choice of the 'flourishing' title thats it pretty delusional

No. Compared to what had been happening here for the last 300 years before 1989, the term flourishing is completely justified. I think you are too young to remember certain things.... :):):)
pawian   
2 May 2011
History / Poland Lithuania - current relations [124]

Re-establishing common ground would be very difficult, and Russians are working hard to prevent this from happening.

Yes, the affairs and relations are really messed up here. Lithuanians don`t want Polish influence but stick to Poland in case Russians strike. Poles want to defend their minority in Lithuania but simultaneosly are afraid Lithuania might fall prey to Russian imperialism again. Russians would like to extend their rule over the Baltics again but are afraid of new Cold war with the rest of Europe.

It will take not years but decades to solve that all.
pawian   
30 Apr 2011
Life / Realistic grocery budget for a family of three in Warsaw? [20]

Yes, correct. Apart from Biedronka, there is also Liedl. You might check their sites and try to figure out the prices.
E.g.,: lidl.pl/cps/rde/xchg/SID-99A63CB8-E1F47666/lidl_pl/hs.xsl/7509.htm

What is Kaczynski style?

It is posh performance shopping in the style of a superstar, with TV cameras around you etc, in the most expensive stores/shops in the area.
pawian   
29 Apr 2011
History / The Piast dynasty did most for Poland [24]

Poland would invade Lithuania.

Total annihilation of Poland. Lithuania saved Poland. It was a smart move.

Nope. By invading Lithuania and then Poland, Russia saved them both from petty bickering and mutual anihilation.

Thank you, Russians.
pawian   
29 Apr 2011
News / Will many Poles migrate to Germany in May 2011 (after opening labor market)? [157]

Is it gonna be disastrous for Poland's situation?

No. People who thought of migrating have already done it, to Ireland, Britain, Holland etc.

Language barrier is the main problem - Germans require German speaking immigrants, while most young Poles learnt English at schools or universities.
pawian   
28 Apr 2011
Travel / Driving to Krakow - which route to take from the Tri-Cities? [10]

How are the roads from Gdansk? By the looks on Google it looks like not much of highway, and more of small roads and villages which should slow down the speed. Not very interesting in my mind (if it's true).

Yes, it`s true. Roads are mostly two-lane and through settlements. It is about 620 km, will take you about 10 hours.

I was told that it is better to drive from Swinoujscie. But from there I see two options, either to drive down on the polish side and connect to the A4 around Legnica

Yes, it is quite fast. From Świnoujscie to Legnica you can take the Polish S3 express way and then A4 highway. About 750 km. Also about 10 hours.

But there's also a way to drive down to Szczecin and then in to Germany and go to Berlin, and in Berlin make a right towards Cottbus and then connect to the A4 not long after crossing the border.

Going through Germany will also take you about 10 hours but the distance is 850 km.

So, as you can see, the time is the same.
pawian   
27 Apr 2011
History / Question on Poland 1980-82 (the history of Solidarity during the years of 1980 and 1981) [17]

Thanks for that information. Was the "white march" only in Krakow or were there similar marches in the other main cities? Did the authorities respond to that march? I did see a Solidarnosc banner.

Yes, only in Krakow. The white march was repeated in Krakow in 2005, to honour the Polish Pope.
Local authorities didn`t respond, Solidarity was at its peak then.

Since you were chasing skirts then, what was the popular music then? Was Pugacheva rocking there despite her being Russian or was 2+1 (the only Polish group I know from that time) the thing?

Pugacheva was a bit popular but with the older generation. 2+1 was a nice pop group which sang about spring and flowers blooming, adults liked it, I suppose. In late 1970s and early 1980s they played Abba and other Western music on our school discos.

The Song Festivals, especially in Opole, created 5-minute-fame pop singers.
E.g.,
..
Some lasted longer than 5 minutes.
...

As for me and my friends, we preferred rock. In 1981 was the first time I heard AC/DC and got infected by heavy metal. Famous Polish groups like TSA, Oddział Zamknięty, Lady Pank, Maanam or Perfect started their careers at the time, which later rocketed to unbelievable dimensions. Jarocin Rock Festival started in 1980 and was an oasis of freedom throughout 1980s.

You can watch the film about Polish rock of 1980s: The Beats of Freedom on youtube:
...

(the only Polish group I know from that time)

Your education about Polish music has giant holes, like Swiss cheese. Why don`t you start a new thread so that people contribute the Polish music of 1980s?

One example from 1982, one of my fav then:


pawian   
26 Apr 2011
Polonia / Relocation to Poland from Romania [11]

and that was a Russian guy who apparently spoke Polish as well as a native does and who had a Polish wife (and so no need for a work permit).

Funny, I came across the same situation with one difference - the guy was a female - Tatyana. Very positive acquaintance.
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
History / Poland Lithuania - current relations [124]

lol cry craven. btw anything else from the 18th century I need to be admonished about...? ;) or was it 19th ?:))))

Adamus Mickievicius created poetry in 19th century. :):)

there was serious anti-Polishness among Lithuanian elites in the first half of the 20th century - I come to think it is still lingering here and there

That is a massive understatement. Lithuanian complex of Polish colonization is as big as Mount Everest.
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
History / Poland Lithuania - current relations [124]

Yes, it is 21 century so why still so many Poles feel anxious about Germans ? :):):)

Lithuanians fear Poles the same as Poles fear Germans or Russians.

Do you know Adam Mickiewicz, the great Belarussian poet who was born in Lithuania and wrote in Polish????

Here is the ending of one of his poems:

A zając rzekł do siebie: "Niech nikt nie narzeka,
Że jest tchórzem, bo cały świat na tchórzu stoi;
Każdy ma swoją żabę, co przed nim ucieka,
I swojego zająca, którego się boi".
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
History / Poland Lithuania - current relations [124]

hmm in my ears you sound rather patronizing towards Lithuanians suggesting some sort of inexplicable void in their culture that above all needed filling with… ‘Polishness’

I don`t know if it needed filling or not. I just know the facts: Lithuanian elites prefered to turn Polish in the past. Today we are proud of those Lithuanian Poles and kids learn about them at school..
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
History / Poland Lithuania - current relations [124]

I feel proud not only by Lithuania's history, but by Poland's too. I wish to learn the polish language someday too.

Welcome, Lithuanian brother.

I want to warn you - most people who will write here won't be Poles. This is forum of foreigners writing about Poland. Poles are minority here ;)

How about fifty fifty?

The time for this thread might not be perfect, but I hope we could overcome this by discussing about these recent events. I mean the current down-grading relations between Poland and Lithuania.

How do I see it? Lithuanians are torn between two options. On one hand, they are trying to protect their country against Russian imperialism. The year 1940 and later on is still well remembered.

On the other hand, they are trying to diminish the Polish influence in/on their country because they fear another Polish cultural colonization. That is why they are refusing to acknowledge the rights of Polish minority etc etc.
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

Pawian, the difference is that you are told to take your shoes off when entering a mosque. It was that way in Tirana when I was there. They actually enforced the rules.

The example of Tirana mosque isn`t a good one. They enforce shoe taking off because people still need being reminded how to behave in such a place:

The campaign against religion peaked in the 1960s. Beginning in 1967 the Albanian authorities began a violent campaign to try to eliminate religious life in Albania. Despite complaints, even by APL members, all churches, mosques, monasteries, and other religious institutions were either closed down or converted into warehouses, gymnasiums, or workshops by the end of 1967.[27] By May 1967, religious institutions had been forced to relinquish all 2,169 churches, mosques, cloisters, and shrines in Albania, many of which were converted into cultural centers for young people.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism

No, we still have money here lol

And we can afford longer pants? :):):)
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
Life / How could things have gone so wrong (Poland church dress code) [195]

Yup, leave them at the door and collect them on your way out ;) ;)

And he should also do it on a wedding or funeral. After getting critical reaction, he might come and start a new thread: How could things get so wrong(wedding/funeral dress code).

In the States in the summer just about everybody where's shorts to the Catholic Church.

Poland isn`t like the States yet.
pawian   
26 Apr 2011
History / Question on Poland 1980-82 (the history of Solidarity during the years of 1980 and 1981) [17]

In 1980s I was in my early teens. Naturally, I wasn`t interested too much in party or Solidarity matters at the time. But I remember a few things.

-What was the reaction after the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II?

General dejection. The uni students` festival in Krakow, Juvenalia, was cancelled. Instead, white march was organised.

More:
wawel.net/papa-bialy-marsz-1981.htm