Food / Lazanki recipe request please.... [12]

Shown here are not łazanki (noodle squares) but farfalle, bow-shaped pasta. Not that the flavour is any different. The Italians seem to have dozens or maybe scores of different types of pasta mostly differing mainly in size and shape.

Life / How popular is Radio Maryja in Poland? [163]

RM and Trwam provide hope and solace to many OAPs, including house-bound shut-ins or those neglected by their snooty, better-to-do kids who run with an upscale crowed and now prefer to conceal their humble poreltarian or rural roots. In addition to sermons, prayers and other relgious content, they Chrisitna cultural alternatives, family-oriented programmes and a Catholic take on currents events, a refreshing change from the ubiquitous secularist PC crapola that dominates the media. Unfinished Conversations (Rozmowy niedokończone) are the most controversial to those who exhibit the usual leftist, secularist or PC paranoia, because ordinary people are actually allowed to speak their mind without the de rigueur PC muzzling common to the mainstream media. But those phone-ins constitute only a vey small part of those stations' overall broadcast actuivity.

News / Polish Foreign Ministry 'prepared' for new Wikileaks material [100]

A democratic government may have to keep infomation classified precisely to protect the masses. Should anti-terrorist , anti-underworld and anti-druglord activities be planned car in public so the wrongdoers cannot get caught? Oh, sorry, wrongdoer is subjective. It's all relative, innit? Hitler was a good guy because he loved dogs and children, but Churchill was evil because he absued alcohol and smoked those foul-smelling cigars!? The logic of those relativist PC creeps is really hilarious!!!

News / Polish Foreign Ministry 'prepared' for new Wikileaks material [100]

Classified information is part and parcel of secret services as well as diplomacy's information-gathering tasks and that information to be useful has to be truthful and sincere to the core.

Such data and facts help a country shape its foreign-policy priorities and strategy and are not meant fro public consumption. Besides, what good is it to the proverbial Leeds bus driver Munich plumber or Manitoba librarian? They can read the Sun or National Enquirer for their daily dose of titillation, if they can't live without it.

Meant for public consumption (although most of the public regard it as boring) are public statements by diplomats (speeches, declarations, unveilings, ribbon-cuttings, etc,) which are usually honed, chiselled and peppered with high-sounding generalities and well-rounded phraseology. But behind the scenes factuality is what counts. At a dinner party attended by ia your mum-in-law you migth not openly say what you really think of her but, you migth do with a mate over a beer.

I know America-bashing is trendy among the PC creeps, but, c'mon guys, let's not confuse illegitimate dictatorial regimes with America, 'the land of the free, home of the brave and arsenal of democracy' which defends human freedom world-wide. Sure the PRL and USSR also kept things from their people, but exposing those secrets was something noble, virtuous and brave, because it amoutned to counteracting evil. Undermining the inner security workings of the world's leading democracy is ignominious, mean-spirited and cowardly.

News / Polish Foreign Ministry 'prepared' for new Wikileaks material [100]

Ever wonder who is bankrolling hacker Assange and his Wikileaks gang? Or does he piously profess that his only interest is in the public's 'right to know'?

History / Christopher Colombowicz: America's discoverer Polish not Portuguese, claim historians [60]

By rights it should not be Columbowicz (which would have meant 'Kolumb's son') but Krzysztof Władysławowicz or, in older Polish, Władysławic.

My Spanish aint' that good so could anyone tell me if it would be Ladislarez (patterned on Spanish patroynmics such as Gonzalez, Perez, Sanchez, Fenandez et al), or does that hold only for indigenously Spanish Christian names? Władysław is Ladislao in Spanish.

Life / How popular is Radio Maryja in Poland? [163]

Can anyone identify the make of Fr Rydzyk's the bluish-grey car that Jonni posted? Can't say I ever saw a Maybach in person.

History / Christopher Colombowicz: America's discoverer Polish not Portuguese, claim historians [60]

Wasn't the Polish mariner Jan of Kolno the first to discover America?

Language / Poles - don't fall into the French/Spanish trap re pronunciation/accent! [81]

Spiking off akSONTS zis reminds me off en anecDOT. A British couple were on the Eiffel Tower sightseeing when they saw a Frenchman attempting to jump off. They restrained him and asked why he wanted to do away with himself. His reply: 'You see zis taWER? I bilt zis taWER. But do zey col me "Pierre ze taWER bilder?" - NON! You see zat breezh (should be pronounced with a uvular r)? I bilt zat breezh. But do zey col me "Pierre ze breezh bilder?" - NON! But f--- just one peeg...!

Language / The Future of Polish Language [179]

Mijołaj Rey z Nagłowic, known as the ‘father of the Polish literature’ (the first major writer to write exclusively in Polish, not Latin) wrote the following tirade against hypocritically keeping up appearances in the mid-16th century round the time Shakespeare was born. I wonder if native Polish speakers can understand it less well, as well or better than Anglos understand Shakespearean English.

Jedni, gdy łańcuch uźrzą, wnet mu się kłaniają,
Już nie pana, lecz złoto za ślachcica mają:
Snadź na sprośnego osła, gdyby ji włożono,
I temu by poćciwość z daleka czyniono.
Wystrój się ty jako chcesz, ale jeśliś świnia,
Nie ozdobi cię szata iście ni rodzina.
Także i ty, chcesz-li być ślachcic prawy, czysty,
Nie bądźże jako kamień z wierzchu pozłocisty,
Ale bądź wszytek złotem, a prawym szafirem,
Wadź się wszędy z niecnotą, a z cnotą idź mirem.

News / Polish Foreign Ministry 'prepared' for new Wikileaks material [100]

The old 'people have a right to know' slogan used by the Murdochs and other smut, sensation and gossipmongers is both hypocritical and cynical. How is this information going to benefit the bus driver in Leeds or the Kansas City school teacher? Besides, do you naively believe the news and gossip pedlars are truly interested in anyone's rights? They are out only after their own selfish interests, be it profits, influence, publicity or poltical power.

If a nation's security is in jeopardy, then extreme measures are warranted and justified. In war, many civil rights get suspended. We are engaged in a world-wide war on terrorism whether anyone likes it or not.

News / Polish Foreign Ministry 'prepared' for new Wikileaks material [100]

The Wikileaks affair is another proof that the net should not be accorded privileged status but treated like every other ledia. If it threatens people's or nations' security, a portal should be shut down and the web operator duly prosecuted. The same goes for libel or character assissination. A n ewspaper or TV station could not get away with the calumny swirling around the web. Too many people want to tippy-toe round the sacrosanct Internet, treating it like some sacred cow!

History / Poland, Lacking External Enemies, Turns on Itself [106]

Nein danke! Germany did enough to 'help' Poland in the late 18th century to 1918 and again in 1939-1945.

Law / Poland low on national brand chart [66]

Poland's mission statement could be a combination of ZA WOLNOŚĆ WASZĄ I NASZĄ (For your freedom and ours) and GOŚĆ W DOM, BÓG W DOM (When a guest enters the home, God enters the home).

Law / Poland low on national brand chart [66]

It is interesting about the product brand names (Orlen, Smyk, Wedel, etc.), but I believe the country branding issue had to do not with individual brand names but with the brand image conjured up by the name of the country itself. The word Poland, Pole or Polish either does not ring a bell world-wide (except for the 'late Pope and Wałęsa' - usually pronounced £olesa) or does not really evoke anything positive. Does the name make a foreigner keen about buying a Polish product, or visting the country or sending a son ro daughter there to study?

Law / Poland low on national brand chart [66]

Don't think footie would be a Polish claim to fame. They're way down on the FIFA list. But the Świebodzin statue as a Guinness type thing could become an unusual European attraction. I hear many Germans are coming to have pictures taken with it...

To sme the natural resrouces such as Białowieża, the Biebrza wetlands and the rugged Bieszczady Mts could be an attraction. The dilemma is this: attract too many tourists and they will trample the naturalness away. And tacky commercial interests will soon contaminate the landscape with their booths, stalls, snackbars and souvenir shops.

Genealogy / Need help locating FRACKOWSKI family... [8]

FRĄCKOWSKI: and variant spellings most likley originated as a patronymic nick to indicate the son of some Franc, Frącek, Froncek, etc. which is a take-off on the German Franz (for Francis). The proper Polish equivalent Franciszek which has the endearing form Franek and Franuś. That first name in its various forms has generated a slew of surnames including Frątczak, Franczak, Fronczyk, Frankowski, Franciszkowski and many more.

Genealogy / Pyszka... last name [23]

PYSZKA: diminutive of pycha (pride, haughtiness) can mean vanity or conceit; another meaning in some areas is bruised barley otherwise known as pęczak, pęcak or pęsak.

KOSTOWICZ: patronymic nick from Kostek (short for Konstanty) = Connie's kid.

BRZEZIŃSKI: topo nick bfrom Brzezina (Birchville)

WADZIŃSKI: possibly from wadzić się (to pick fights, start trouble)

JAWORSKI: from jawor (sycamore) or locality incorproating that root such as Jaworów

KAMIŃSKI: variant of Kamieński - topo nick from Kamień or Kamieniec (Rockville).

Genealogy / Robert, bobka, stosh, iggy, kasia? - What is my name in Polish? [32]

Blanka is the Polish equivalent of Blanche, Bianca, etc. Originally it meant 'white' buit now is only a girl's name.

News / Giant Jesus Rising in Świebodzin ( Tallest in world ) [323]

Indeed, boozers and topers are known to slur and reword most everything they blurt out.

Food / Stuffed cabbage - gołąbki - recipe [59]

Many PolAms use minced beef or even suety hamburger in their gołąbki. To the Polish palate, pork or pork & veal are far superior. If you use the so-called meatloaf mixture available in many supermarkets (pork-veal-beef), that can be quite nice too. Whaddya think?

News / Giant Jesus Rising in Świebodzin ( Tallest in world ) [323]

It's better to be under the influence of the Church than that of Madumma, Christina Agislutta, Justin Lumberjack, Naomi Whatsit, Angelina Jalopy, Paris Hilltop or suchlike!

Genealogy / Tracing my Polish ancestors? My fathers Polish surname is Daj [13]

No Munisky or Muniski or even Muniwski in Poland. The closest is Muniewski (extremely rare - used by only 1 person). It would have probably emerged as a patronymic tag for the son of Munio (short for Edmund, Zygmunt. Rajmund and similar).

USA, Canada / PolAm style Thanksgiving? [35]

In the Detroit area many PolAm families also serve Kowlaski or Bożeks' sausage on Thanksgiving. .. BTW anyone heard of a clam stuffing for turkey? I think they do that in New England but have never sampled it myself.

Genealogy / DNA Testing in Poland. Is it popular? [81]

Sorry, but I couldn't resist this one. Have you heard about the moron who stayed up all night cramming for a DNA test?
No, that's not to suggest that DNA testers are morons. It's just a rehash of an old moron joke in which the moron stayed up all night cramming for a blood test.

Genealogy / Olkowski, Rombkowski - Finding my Polish Roots [10]

The Suwałki area is in today's Poland, but the Podlasie region in which it is situated once stretched farther east into what is now Belarus.

Language / The Future of Polish Language [179]

Does this mean: Are you a Beijing resident?