History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

A law graduate of 2 Scottish universities, yes :)

As I said, they were just impressions. Lem wrote in different times and for audiences not such as I. However, I don't know until I try.

What denigrating opinions? I was just saying that I don't know, in common knowledge terms, of prominent Ukrainians. That doesn't mean that they don't exist.

Do any of them write in English, Nate? I can't read cyrillic.

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

Well, I'm a sceptic/cynic when it comes to such tests. Cultural and societal knowledge is a forte of Poles and has been so for some time. They are so keen to discuss what you know but it is based on observation and experience more than raw IQ. That is for another thread but I prefer to see Polish writers as having been/being highly informed and driven also by heart. They keep the flame of the Polish psyche alive in their own way.

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

So did Madonna and Sharon Stone, LOL. Amazing what money can buy ;0 ;)

I'd love to see Mensa's coffers :)

I'd like to read some Lem. Despite having been able to read Polish well for at least 3 years, I dare say that I wouldn't understand the context or some of the words he uses. The same goes for some Poles so I don't mind.

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

He was one of the most prolific strikers in Europe. He went off the boil but is still a symbol of Ukrainian sport.

However, they don't appear to have anyone like Czesław Miłosz, Szymborska or Lem.

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

Yeah, he is known internationally and sport is part of culture :)

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

How about Andrzej Shevchenko then? ;)

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

Then do them for plagiarism or breach of patent, Sok ;) ;)

My impression of Ukraine, of course based on virtually no experience, is that they value subsistence in that they provide for their own. They are like Polish farmers of long ago in that respect. Vodka shots in the morning and off to tend the fields :) Forgive my ignorance but I've never been there.

Different indeed :)

Eh, oil&gas capital of Europe (Aberdeen). The SAS. Tidal power leader in Europe (35%). Major industrial powerhouse in many areas for centuries (name an industry, Sok). Many of the world's leading inventors. STEEPED in culture of our own. Scotland is SOOO insignificant I see ;) ;) ;) Perhaps because Ukraine isn't as rich as Scotland or that we beat them to it ;)

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

Maybe they don't place such a high value on such things, Sok. I also don't know any high-profile Ukrainians in scientific circles but maybe they would put more on the table were they to be drafted into the EU (to a lesser extent, NATO). Their culture is as it is and we can describe it as different. They don't seem to excel in that dept for sure but maybe their lack of resources has played a part in that.

UK, Ireland / Irish Times: Irish workers warm to Poland [24]

Will the Irish be greeted with colcannon? ;) ;) It's easy to make for Poles :) Or will they just be met with 'thanks for the jobs, you're on your own now'?

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

I'd say Hugh Pennington is a noteworthy scientist, Sok. Look him up.

I'd proffer Shevchenko and Rebrov ;) ;)

News / WHY IS POLAND STILL GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER? [197]

Good point! The added bonus is that those Buddhists couldn't be criticised on religious grounds as Buddhism isn't a religion given the lack of a solid, core dogma. They'd be beyond reproach :)

Poland is given the cold shoulder simply because they haven't attained the necessary level of clout in the international domain.

Life / Gypies/Indian-looking women with kids beg for money in Poland [143]

Yeah, they tend not to do that here. You may find some gypos pestering you when eating at good places on the rynek. Thankfully, they usually take a telling but some don't know when to stop and then you have to put the foot down.

News / WHY IS POLAND STILL GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER? [197]

First sentence in the second para, spot on. Jealous and conniving!! Meaningless family feuds where nobody gives ground. Uncompromising! I have first-hand experience of the wspólnota phenomenon. Petty squabbles over what is, to a Westerner, nothing particularly attractive anyway. They say they never rat one another out. That's BS!! I've seen it many times. Oh, plenty sabotage attempts too and then they play the good Samaritan as if nothing has happened.

Poland needs to give the boot to its old hags. Let them walk the streets, pick up their bread and feck off home out of sight. They are nothing but troublemakers with nothing constructive to offer.

I did like the part about Poles being able to do things for themselves, though. They place a lot of emphasis on skills. It's a shame that they are so driven by money that they don't accept so many jobs that could be good for them.

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

3 places, wow. That's quite a feat! There is some charity work to be done here :)

Polonia / MOVING MY STUFF TO MOSCOW and a Harley motorcycle ...any ideas? [58]

Yeah, just be sure to ask her first ;)

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

If you set your heart on it, I can see it becoming a reality. You'd just have to assess the demand/viability in your area but I hope it will be a goer. Helping is what comes naturally to you or I and I wish more people would become that way.

Polonia / MOVING MY STUFF TO MOSCOW and a Harley motorcycle ...any ideas? [58]

Maybe send delphiandomine a PM. I know of a van that goes to Scotland but he might know of some places that go to Russia. Sth like the Japanese takyubin :)

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

I'm sure she'll reward your charitable spirit in full when there :) I too would like to give to animals and the blind. I've maintained that they are the 2 charities that stand out the most as being worthy. I know how hard it is, wildie, your employer will not think twice about cutting your salary while inflation/taxes soar. I am hardly in a position to give but I'd like to.

Language / Slovio - the international simplified Slavic language [37]

The balance of how Slovio would lean to any one Slavic language should depend on contributions and effort shown towards the concept. For example, the Russian group Arkona have really set out to be pan-Slavic and they should be rewarded for that.

Also, Slavs would do well to remember that folk metal unites and religion divides. I remember being at a concert in Brno where there were Slavs from all over. It was actually a Celtic shared festival with Slavic elements. Great stuff!

For those pan-Slavic followers here, check out Arkona. They are worth listening to :)

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

You know what they say, charity begins at home.

Don't worry, wildie, you can make a New Years Resolution to upgrade to Heinz Beans after eating Tesco Value for so long. Nothing like good student food :)

Language / Slovio - the international simplified Slavic language [37]

Natasa understood a fair bit of Polish when I asked her but Slovio would facilitate a compromise. I fear that many Poles wouldn't be fair game as too many lazily stick to their own language (coming from a Brit, runs for cover with BB). Many Poles don't even know Ukrainian. Look at me, I know my neighbour's language and I'm Scottish ;) ;)

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

Time to whip out the groszy? ;) How about the charity slant, would that work? ;) From what I can glean, the Poles tend to be far less charitable than the Scots. Whoops ;)

Rumour has it that they will only give after checking out the charity's validity/authorisation code for 10 hours at the local city hall :)

Language / Slovio - the international simplified Slavic language [37]

But they are readily identifiable by language and often facial features.

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

I dare you to go to your neighbours and supply them with a few spades and point across to what needs to be done ;)

Work / CHRISTMAS CHARITY WORK IN POLAND... [29]

In places? The ones you fell into, my friend? ;) ;)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Darłowo?

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

The Israeli embassy in Warsaw? ;) ;)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Israel? :) ;0

Food / The 12 dishes of Poland on Christmas Eve. [51]

Well, that went down well :) £azanki with expensive mushrooms mixed in :) :) The stuff of legends! I opted for trout instead of carp. Trout isn't my favourite but it's streets ahead of carp.

History / Lwów, Wilno ... kresy - Poland have lost enormoust part of our heritage... [389]

The language in which most of his writings were, yes :) However, it wouldn't make much sense not to follow the change from Thorn to Torun with some writing in Polish.

Copernicus wasn't an administrator or a lawyer ;) ;)

I agree but as you said before, times change. Negotiation is the best hope but proper negotiation and not those that don't want to get to the heart of the matter.