News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]


No, not always, there was even one PiS' politician that I actually liked (Past Simple) - Tadeusz Cymański... But after watching one interview with him (after PiS came to power) I realised that even he has authoritarian tendencies and has a peculiar attitude to the rule of law. That was very disappointing and scary, to be honest... And anyway, you don't exactly love PO either, do you? :)))


Posting an open letter to the government on their sites for one day (and losing money from ads as result) is "an attack"? Wow, how "terrible" lol

News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]


Gumishu, you're clearly a hardcore PiS supporter, so it's natural that you'd think that. I think you're the one who's biased. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

But what do you think about giving 500+ to rich people? Have you read those articles I linked to?


This whole tax is political (anti-non state media) and zwyczajne zdzierstwo too.


Exactly.

News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]


She is (or was, not sure about now) pro-PiS - I even noticed that, not only my parents, gumishu.


But it was hit, and there's a freaking pandemic, businesses need help, so why instead of burdening private media with another tax (they're hiring many people too, you know) PiS won't cut the social spending - why don't they give 500+ only to those who really need it? I mean, that would be the sane, decent thing to do, for God's sake...

Btw, Poland was among the least hit during the crisis that delph mentioned and during the present crisis:

goldenmark.com/pl/mysaver/zielona-wyspa-kryzys-subprime-w-polsce/

News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]


OMG, you're right, I thought they changed that! PiS is more stupid than I thought:

spidersweb.pl/bizblog/500-budzet-bogaci-polacy/

finanse.wp.pl/500-nie-dla-bogatych-polacy-nie-chca-powszechnego-swiadczenia-6356747862022273a

(the title says: "No for the rich. Poles don't want 500+ for everyone")

Unbelievable...


One doesn't need to listen to Rostowski or live in an information bubble - all you need is to live in Poland and have a working brain. Do you know who Teresa Czerwińska is? She was the Minister of Finance in the first cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki in years 2018-2019. She also wasn't, to put it midly, a supporter of all of those PiS's social handouts. She said that there are going to be money for that in short term, but in the long term it's going to be a serious problem. So she got dismissed:

newsweek.pl/polska/teresa-czerwinska-odwolana-z-rzadu-trafi-do-nbp/2rdcjqf


It used to be objective - at one point my parents preferred it to watching TVN for this reason. I'm not prejudiced, I barely ever watch Polsat's news, I'm basing it on what my parents said, on some of my own observations and the general opinion which Polsat and Solorz have on the Polish internet. My parents have been watching all kinds of TV news channels for years, they're news maniacs lol, so they know what they're talking about.

And even if Polsat is just trying to be objective - then why are they taking part in the media protest if the new tax isn't an issue?


During the PiS rule in the years 2016-18 (just two years) Poland's debt rose by 110 billion PLN:

businessinsider.com.pl/finanse/makroekonomia/zadluzenie-polski-opinia-prof-dariusza-filara/47bkj9j?utm_source=detal_viasg_businessinsider&utm_medium=synergy&utm_campaign=allonet_detal_popularne&srcc=ucs&utm_v=2

The budget's deficit for 2020 is supposed to be 90 billion PLN:

bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Deficyt-za-2020-rok-wyniesie-90-mld-zl-Ministerstwo-Finansow-przedstawilo-wstepne-szacunki-8034693.html

Gumishu, Poland has been developing for years since the fall of communism, you can't say that Poland's economic boom somehow happened suddenly only thanks to VAT revenues... lol

News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]


I don't remember anything like that either, but the Western media don't have to stage such protests... And such protests make sense only at the beginning when the independent media are influential enough in the country... In Russia, for example, nie ma już czego zbierać... I remember that at one point the only independent channel was Dozhd and it got evicted and ended up being forced to air on the internet:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dozhd

The only independent media that I know that is left is private radio station "Echo of Moscow". I don't know what's their situation nowadays but they already got one Roskomnadzor warning during the annexation of Crimea in 2014 (a radio station can be closed down if it receives two Roskomnadzor warnings in one year).

I don't know about Hungary, but imagine that if a similar protest would take place in Belarus probably not many people would notice, just like in Russia...


At one point I vouched to myself not to write about my personal/romantic life on this forum, so I won't answer the first part of your question. As far as the second part is concerned - I knew from the beginning that 500+ was a mistake that Poland can't afford and that it will bite us in the ass. I just didn't realise how hard it will bite us. At first they were giving away those money to anyone who had one child, no matter the income, btw. All those money that were given away, and all those money given to TVP and to "father" Rydzyk, etc. could be used nowadays to aid the health care and to help all the businesses struggling due to pandemic. PiS was too stupid and short sighted to realise we're not freaking Sweden. Buying votes, power - those were more important for them than the future of the country.

And I wouldn't trade democracy in my country, the rule of law, independent judiciary, free media, etc. for 500 PLN once a month, sorry.

I stand by what I wrote - I HATE those irresponsible, power-hungry morons. It's always the ordinary people who are paying for the mistakes of such people in power. The politicians are great at giving themselves raises even during the pandemic, in case you haven't heard... They won't be the ones to go hungry...


Indeed...


No, it isn't. And if it isn't such a problem then why even Polsat, which is pro-PiS nowadays, is taking part in the blackout? Their main channel Polsat and some others from their offer are blacked out all day.

Also:
bbc.com/news/world-europe-56007942

"Recently, Poland's largest state-controlled oil refiner, PKN Orlen, said it was buying the country's leading regional media company, Polska Press, from its German owners, saying it makes sound business sense."

"In their open letter, the private media companies said that while they faced $270m in additional costs because of the levy, public media received twice as much a year from taxpayers."

Btw, after the last presidential election in which the opposition candidate got almost half of the votes, Kaczyński told his party that he's disappointed with the result and that those Poles who didn't vote for Duda should be persuaded that PiS is the right political option. Many wondered if it means that the independent media are going to be targeted...

I don't think this tax will kill off the big stations, but it probably will do that to the smaller ones, local radio stations, etc.

Gumishu, why don't you read the open letter of the private Polish media (you know Polish, right?)? This is a local newspaper in my region - it's been around since I can remember - they're taking part in the protest too (the content of the open letter is the same in all the private media who are taking part):

echodnia.eu/swietokrzyskie/

News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]

@Looker, you're right, I was thinking the same - nothing like that happened in Poland before...
Btw, it's nice to see you taking part in a discussion and not just giving info to people asking questions :)

News / Previous Poland's government corrupting the media. [125]

@jon357, of course it is politically motivated - after all TVP isn't founded by adds, but by taxpayers' money. And PiS is somehow never short of those money when it comes to TVP.

@maf, true.

I think I've reached a point at which I hate PiS. I've never hated politicians or political parties, but I do hate PiS. Anyone who's a member of PiS these days is politically finished in my eyes.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

I don't know... Neuter, I suppose?

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

I was thinking about the lakes too, but "Mamry" isn't of feminine gender, so I don't know...

@jon357, those "two ladies" aren't Poland and Russia by any chance?

@delph, this is a nice looking building, btw :)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Is it in the Silesia region near the border?


Do you mean that the "two ladies" and the Masurian Canal are very connected?

History / What makes you feel Polish? [167]


But you claimed you did. I'm just saying - that's what you wrote. When I wrote that it isn't possible to completely forget a native language if you were born in a given country, raised and educated and left it as an adult and I gave an example of one Pole who left Poland for the US in the 1950's and still could communicate in Polish, you started ranting about Poles living in the US for years and not knowing English. Because of all your ranting I didn't manage to explain it to you that the Pole I mentioned not only knew English, but was a university professor who lectured at American universities... in English. He had a very thick Polish accent when he spoke English, but he didn't fail to learn English for all those years in the US...


When you state something without providing proof - you claim. When you provide proof (no matter whether true or fake) - you're trying to prove something. You wrote yourself that you provided your WUT diploma, birth certificate, passport and the book you translated with your name on it. Just saying...

History / What makes you feel Polish? [167]


Yes, you were trying to prove that you were born in Poland, but as far as I remember you also were making sure that everyone on this forum know how much you don't feel Polish, you don't want to be Polish, you don't regard yourself as a Pole even in the slightest part, but as an American. You even claimed that you forgot the Polish language. It turned out you didn't forget.

Btw:


These days there aren't any "Polish Jews" left, I'd say. There aren't any Jewish enclaves anymore. There are only Poles with Jewish roots. They even have to import rabbis from abroad, it seems... I had only one Jewish classmate at highschool and I knew that he had Jewish roots only because of his first name and surname.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Ah, so the riddle is about the names of the "two ladies" and not about the canal lock in the photo?

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Oh, OK ;D In all seriousness, though, I am impressed, actually :) I'm even more impressed with jon357 solving your riddle (I'd have to live in that area to know all of this, I suppose)! Chemikiem was right on both accounts: that was one nightmare riddle and it looks like you're worse than pawian ;D


Yes, it is! :)


Kind of... but not quite. It's something more :)


You're welcome :) What's interesting about Bieszczady is not only the unspoiled, wild nature part, remoteness, but also the history - there are ruins scuttered around the area, remnants of cemeteries, Orthodox churches, road signs for villages that don't exist anymore... All of this put together makes those mountains quite mysterious, somewhat magical, I guess :) That's cool that you've been invited by the locals - if I were you, I'd definitely take that opportunity and visit!

@jon357, isn't that the canal lock in Leśniewo Górne? Are those "two ladies" rivers?

@delph, I don't know this building, all I can say is that it does look Western... Is it a railway station, as jon357 wrote?

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Sweet torture, huh? ;D


Yeah, because that's not vague at all... lol Eh... Kaczawa river?


Is that a clue? :P

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Yeah, delph is becoming as "merciless" as pawian ;D (where is pawian, btw?? ;/) But I think in his comment to my response he revealed that the river in the photo is a tributary of the Oder :)


True, they all look similar from what I can see, but those ptysie in my photo aren't cut in half, so it seems they are called "cream puffs" after all (in the US, at least, I guess?):

sugarspunrun.com/homemade-cream-puffs/

Btw, I just have one of them on my plate right now - bought in local Lewiatan - the filling is sooo good ;/ I think it's made of whipped cream + mascarpone...


It isn't a bread roll, bread or anything of this kind and it doesn't have anything to do with Easter or other holiday celebrations, but, yes, it's lying in the sand with leaves :)


Correct!! Good job :) Yes, Bieszczady mountains are pretty wild still, untouched by humans, difficult terrain, if a tree falls there, it stays there, it blocks the way, rots, falls apart, forest undergrowth is thick and it's a scarcely populated, desolate area, so it ensures privacy and secrecy. There's more about it here in English:

sofrep.com/news/grom-selection-happens-every-day-never-ends/

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Most of the links that come up are about that general Karol Świerczewski :) I've read up a bit about him now... Wow, what a scum he was...


Hmm... I don't know then... Another wild guess - Ślęza - also a tributary of the Oder?

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Nope!


Nope! But it rains quite a lot there, so, yes, it's humid and the flora is rich. There are also other reasons why SAS operators called it like that.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Why is that? lol I wrote that you solved part of the riddle, although it would be better if you'd given it as an English equivalent, not translated into Polish...


Yes, really.. In Poland they're called "faworki" or "chrust/chruściki":

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faworki


The feathery things that grow out of an angel's back? :)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Well done, Chemikiem! I must admit I was counting on you with this riddle :D When I was looking for a translation for "ptysie" I found "cream puffs", but judging by the photos "choux buns" look the same. Are "choux buns" British English and "cream puffs" American English?


Wow, awesome! I thought I'd have to give some hints, but clearly it wasn't necessary :) Nah, I wouldn't post a tank, that would be too easy for you people ;))) Btw, I didn't take that photo :) I don't think they would show it at an expo like that - it doesn't have the camouflage painted on yet. I posted it as a riddle because AHS Krab is Polish and the photo is from the factory in Stalowa Wola, where it's produced :)

I didn't know dolno knows so much about military stuff - I'll have to think of some difficult military riddle for him, hmm...


No way... I had two theories: that some drunk villagers destroyed a statue or that a general was executed by drunk enemy soldiers ;) I don't remember whether that guy was mentioned at our history classes at school, but I doubt we would be informed about some general's drinking problems, tbh... If it wasn't for that second part of the riddle, I would have to do a lot googling and I'm not sure if even that would help.

@maf, I googled "crullers" and they don't look like chrust/faworki at all. According to Wikipedia they're "angel wings" in English. So it looks like johnny_reb solved part of the riddle, since he knew the English equivalent, just translated it into Polish.

@johnny_reb, we don't call them "skrzydła anioła" in Poland. We have only two names for them: "faworki" and "chrust/chruściki". Where I live they're called "faworki". They're called "faworki" in central Poland (due to more foreign influences in this part of Poland) and "chrust" in the South. "Chrust" is the most "Polish/Slavic" name - they're called like that because they resemble dry twigs (brushwood?). Were they made by your family in the US? Did you call them "angel wings"?

Btw, I guess Jaffa cakes aren't well known in the US? In Poland they're pretty popular :)

@delph, a wild guess - is it Bystrzyca - a left tributary of the Oder?
I guess we must be somehow linked telepathically, because I thought today of posting nature-related riddles too :))

Riddle 1:
What is it and where do you think I could've taken this photo?

Riddle 2 (the forest):
Where is it? Hint: soldiers from British SAS who trained there called it "Polish f*cking jungle" lol Why did they call it like that?

• 
  zagadka9.jpg
  
• 
  zagadka10.jpg
  

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

@johnny_reb, you could call it "deser" as a whole, but I'd like people to give the names of those types of confectionery products: there are three types in the photo and each have their own name both in Polish and English.

History / What makes you feel Polish? [167]


And where does it say that just because a Jew/Jewess is born and raised in Poland, he/she is obligated to like Poland and everything Polish or identify himself/herself as Polish? You were born, raised and educated in Poland and yet you don't identify yourself as a Pole, despite being ethnically Polish and not experiencing any discrimination in Poland because of whom you were born.

Generally, Rich, I have an impression that just like Polish language, human beings and the world at large are a bit too complicated for you. Why don't you get interested in robots? They don't have "feelings" and such... lol

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Yay! :D That's the second riddle I solved on this thread ;) I should celebrate ;D


I translated the second part of the riddle into Polish and googled it :P Wiki page popped up and everything was there ;)


Polish speakers had an advantage with that one, I think...

So, I've decided to post one that's going to be easy for Polish speakers, but I'd like to ask Poles who were born in Poland and people who have been living in Poland for years to abstain from answering this one, because I'm guessing it's going to be too easy (unless, of course, noone else will be able to name all of them).

Riddle 1:
1. Advanced level: what are the names of those goodies in Polish.
2. Less advanced: if you don't know how they're called in Polish, name them in English.

Riddle 2 (the vehicle):
And one for everyone - what is it called?:

• 
  zagadka7.jpg
  
• 
  zagadka8.jpg
  

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

@delph, I don't have the time to think about it right now, but is your riddle about a statue of some general? Is it in the Holy Cross mountains area/region?

@delph, the riddle is about the statue commemorating general Karol Świerczewski aka "Walter" in the place where he was killed and the photo was taken in the podkarpackie region.

Love / Am I The Only One Who Doesn't Find Polish Women Attractive? [93]

@Strzelec35, the same is with women - when I find out that some guy is a pedo or an ephebophile or a sociopath or a misoginist (or all of the above put together) his attractiveness goes to the below zero level for me.

History / What makes you feel Polish? [167]

@delph, really? Foreigners from the West often complained on PF how blunt Poles are, as far as I remember... I wouldn't say we're very open about our emotions here in Poland though... But maybe to someone who grew up in a Scandinavian country we seem like it :) ;)

Love / Am I The Only One Who Doesn't Find Polish Women Attractive? [93]

@Barney... lol

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

@Joker, Milo, that was why I chose this photo - because tenement houses around the square and near it often look similar in many cities, but at the back of the photo that building on the left looks different - it would be unusual for many cities and towns in Poland.

Joker, it isn't Tarnobrzeg - look at the hight of those tenement houses - those in Tarnobrzeg have less storeys (stories). Buildings around the square and near it in smaller cities and in towns usually look like that and those in big cities are often higher.

Chemikiem and Miloslaw are right - it's Wrocław :) Chemikiem was first, so she solved the riddle!

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]


Um, nope...


OK, so let's see who'll guess it besides you :)


Haha... I was spared such views, maybe because it was winter when I took that photo and it was really cold lol

Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]

Looks like jon357 knows already... lol I knew I should've cropped that photo more ;D So you're giving others a chance? ;)