News / PiS politicians` mailboxes hacked. Russian intelligence suspected. [33]


Yes, I can, I even kind of wrote about it in your thread about Territorials :P

Life / Books, shows and movies set in Poland [16]

@Silesia2Canada, I don't have much time right now, but I've tried to think of something connected to a given place, showing it...

So, for now: TV series - I can't say they're my favourite because I haven't really watched much of them, but I know they're popular:

"Ojciec Mateusz" (father Matthew) - rather family friendly based on Italian TV series "Don Matteo" about a "detective" priest. It takes place in Sandomierz - a rather charming city in my region which is more like a small town. The TV series popularised it, tourists visiting the city want to see the places where the show is being filmed, go to the same cafes, etc.

"Wataha" (the pack) - criminal-thriller TV series about border guard unit working on the Polish-Ukrainian border. It popularised the Bieszczady mountains area as a tourist destination.

"Przyjaciółki" (friends/girlfriends) - it's sth like "Sex and the City" Polish style since it's about four female friends in their 30's. It lacks the humour and wit of those American series, but it's watchable, shows everyday lives and is set in Warsaw, so I guess you'd get the feel of the city.

If your family is from Silesia then for historical context - "Sami swoi" - a cult comedy film with the plot taking place after WW2. Very funny :)

As for books - also historical context, this time for the city of Łódź - "Ziemia obiecana" ("The Promised Land") by Władysław Reymont. It was also filmed by Andrzej Wajda under the same title (the movie was nominated for Oscar).

Study / Studying Medicine in Poland with weak Polish? I speak native Slavic language - Macedonian [10]

Hmm, to be honest... tonsillitis is one of the symptoms of "angina", so I'm not entirely sure what's the right translation in English for the whole condition... 🤔

Study / Studying Medicine in Poland with weak Polish? I speak native Slavic language - Macedonian [10]


To be honest I have a hard time imagining this... Macedonian has some similar words to Polish language, but studying medicine is not having a chat over a beer in a bar... How would you pass exams?

As for "angina" in Polish - it's tonsillitis, not common cold or just sore throat.

USA, Canada / Looking to move to Poland within the next 5-7 years from the US and need some guidance on your process. [15]

@geauxlsu32, if you or both you and your wife are going to be retired then I guess the language won't be such an issue as in case when you would have to find a job here, but it's still an issue... Polish is a difficult language, I'd slowly start learning it already if I were you...

Btw, why Poland? Do you or your wife have Polish roots?

As for politics, in 5-7 years time we may have a different government, so I'm not sure if that's a good enough reason to move across the ocean...

Do you know already where exactly in Poland you would like to live?


What do you mean by that?

History / Cursed soldiers controvercy - not all Poles respect them [320]


Why shouldn't he? And what kind of bad message?
As for his job - he's the President of Poland and making such gestures is one of the things that presidents do.


Not really, Polish presidents are being voted in into the office in democratic elections and have the right to represent the Polish nation... Just like Yeltsin did when he apologised for the Katyń massacre:

tygodnikprzeglad.pl/jelcyn-przeprosil-za-katyn/

I suspect you don't have a problem with such a gesture in that case?

And, anyway, I don't get it what's your problem - Duda didn't apologise for anything in the name of anyone. He just put a wreath and said a prayer for the victims - it's the most basic, humane gesture...

Law / Polish citizenship by descent for "Brześć nad Bugiem" born 4 grand-parents? [15]

@APoleInBel, according to the info in that link I posted you have to get your Pole's Card first and only then you can apply for the Pole's Card for your kids. Also, if their father doesn't have the Pole's Card he will have to consent to them getting it (unless he doesn't have parental responsibilities).


I know what you mean, when I told my mother some years ago that I was discussing with Russians on the internet, she said that maybe better I didn't, because I'd get into trouble lol I'm not what sure what she meant by that... I can't blame your mum though, no wonder she's worried with all the stuff that has been going on in Belarus these days, I guess...

Law / Polish citizenship by descent for "Brześć nad Bugiem" born 4 grand-parents? [15]

@APoleInBel, 4 grandparents with Polish birth certificates sounds good:

migrant.info.pl/how-to-obtain-polish-citizenship.html

Do you know Polish language?

Do you have Karta Polaka (Pole's Card)? With Karta Polaka you can ask the Polish president for the citizenship, I think.

Language / Terms of endearment in Polish [222]


Yes, it looks like it:

sjp.pwn.pl/doroszewski/zmuda;5532881.html

I didn't know that such word exists, I guess it isn't used anymore :)

Btw, guys, I'm not advocating for babies to be called "szmondaks" lol I meant that maybe Sdan's father calls his/her son like that, because he doesn't know what it means (if that word really is "szmondak", that is). It's just a theory though...

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Sorry, but this is a free discussion forum, not Russia :)

Velund, I'm sorry about your mother (if your story is true, that is), but me and other Poles discussed with another Russian living in Moscow for years and his only concern also seemed to be traffic jams in Moscow, not democracy and stuff like that :), even though noone from his family died from a heart attack because an ambulance couldn't get on place in time. I've also seen on YouTube videos ambulances being stuck in traffic jams in Moscow despite the fact there weren't any protests. The drivers simply wouldn't make way for the ambulances. So I'm guessing people's indifference was or maybe still is at least part of the problem. My Russian friend (living in Moscow) wrote that whenever she visited Warsaw she was amazed, because there was always some kind of demonstration taking place, so it can be done.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Nope, he can't. And as you can see - he doesn't even want to. I've seen such discussions hundreds of times, I took part in some of them too. The putinist's greatest worry are traffic jams in Moscow :), not democracy, fair elections, journalists and opposition leaders being murdered, etc.

Language / Terms of endearment in Polish [222]


So?


Yes, but I didn't know about that and I suspect many Poles don't know about it either... I had to google the meaning. For me it was a funny sounding name that you can call a person jokingly. I can imagine people using it in a humorous way instead of "łobuz" (rascal) for example...

Language / Terms of endearment in Polish [222]

I've never heard "żmuda" in my life...


The only thing that comes to my mind starting with "sh" is "szmondak" (shmondak)...

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


That's true, I've done that myself for photomanips, it depends on what and how many photos you have available though. I had a quick look at photos posted by Velund. The first photo (in the phone) - it doesn't look like it's him. The second photo - the guy is wearing a balaclava, so it's hard to say if it's him or not. Third photo - it looks like him, but he's the only one wearing something around his neck - it could be used to hide photomanipulation. The last photo - again, he's the only one wearing a balaclava. Additionaly, there's something wrong with that balaclava and the area on the right of his neck and head looks a bit fishy - it doesn't fit any of the cars, so it could mean sloppy photomanipulation. I'm using my phone now, so I would have to have a closer look later on my computer (preferebly with high resolution photos).

I've also noticed that he's the only one wearing yellow goggles. The soldiers are all wearing the same goggles.

Since Protasevich was working for a year as a journalist in Ukraine, it's possible he simply accompanied the Azov Battalion, as war correspondents often do. The founder of the Azov Battalion stated that Protasevich "fought" against the occupation of Ukraine with Azov and other units, but as a journalist he was doing it with words, not with a gun. That would mean he wasn't a soldier in the Azov Battalion or any other Ukrainian unit:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Protasevich

Those are my conclusions for now.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Cops don't threaten to blow up such a bus though, with killing all the innocent people on it as a result.

Language / Which books do native Polish people in Poland use to learn Polish? [72]


Oh, I loved that book! And the illustrations! (I had exactly that edition) It taught me more empathy towards animals, because it was showing what dogs were thinking/"saying" - it was written from their point of view. After reading it I started nagging my grandma during summer holidays (which we were spending in the countryside when I was a kid and a teen) to give more and better food to my grandparents' dogs (and cats) lol Btw, my grandma still has such tiled stove as in one of the illustrations :)

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


Thanks, maf! :) I'll try it, if I find it somewhere...


lol


Yes, I made ptyś and other stuff as one of the riddles in this thread :) I don't think I ever had it with a pink filling though... Judging by the photos in Wikipedia the filling ineed looks similar both in the waffle bears and the warm ice-cream.

So, the waffle bears are called "misie bezowe" (meringue bears) in Polish, because of the meringue filling - it's light, fluffy and pretty sweet. I've always liked it, as far as I remember. The second photo shows the bears' insides (not for the fainthearted lol):

• 
  Misiecale.jpg
  
• 
  Misiewnetrze.jpg
  

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

@gumishu, two riddles in one day, nice :))


Yes, the bears are made of waffle :)), but the filling has been always white...
Do you know what they're called in Polish? The name is connected to the filling...


Those bears are a treat from my childhood days, I haven't seen them for years, so when I spotted them once in some supermarket I bought them out of sentiment and took this photo :) But I think that when I was a kid they weren't in the shape of bears, it was just that oval shape (without the bear's head and legs), but maybe I remember it wrong...


I've never had them, I only heard or read about them... To be honest I don't even know what they looked like... I suppose they aren't being sold anymore these days?


Piotr Jaroszewicz, he was a Prime Minister of Poland during PRL. He and his wife were murdered in mysterious circumstances at their home in 1992. He was tortured before death and the attackers allegedly didn't steal anything apart from two guns, I think. Some suspects were captured, but they were released because of lack of evidence. Theories circulated that the killers had been looking for information, documents, in Jaroszewicz home office, which could be used to blackmail people - for example, according to one theory Jaroszewicz was in posession of Nazi archives that could compromise political leaders from different countries. In 2017 the case was resumed and new suspects were arrested and accused of the murder in 2019 - members of some gang and apparently the murder was nothing more than a robbery. The trial started in 2020.

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

Nope, nothing to do with chocolate either.

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

Nope, they don't have anything to do with honey.

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


Railway stations?


Don't be - those easier riddles are a nice counterbalance to those difficult ones :))


Is this instrument some kind of dulcimer?


At first I thought that perhaps they physically prevent birds from flying into something, but I think you may be right...

Another riddle - what are those?

• 
  zagadka14.jpg
  

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


So, when you posted the riddle: "What is carried in this case?" - did you mean what was in the case when the photo was taken or what's the instrument the case is supposed to carry?


Yes, it's Szczerbiec, the ceremonial sword used in the coronations of Polish monarchs :)


Well, when I make riddles for this thread I usually try to make it at least a bit interesting and share some knowledge about the subject... Also, I mentioned already that my brother was in the army... And I wrote the truth - when I don't want to talk about sth then I simply don't - I don't lie or make stuff up or use smoke and mirrors... if you know what I mean :P ;) And, anyway, my personal life isn't the topic of this thread (I see not only women are curious creatures, huh? ;D).

As for the aerials - they look like the ones on the Kraków's railway bridge over the Vistula river, but I have no idea what they are for...

The sign - I've seen it for sure on some bridge and probably on a factory fence...


That's too easy for a Pole, so I'm going to leave it to others :)

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


Is this instrument in one of those black cases?


So it's for one dish, not two (beetroots are not for the red borscht?)?


Yup :)) And do you know what sword it is on the badge?

It's a commemorative badge of Polish Central PSYOPS Group (PCPG) - in Polish it's called Centralna Grupa Działań Psychologicznych. They're an elite unit of Polish Armed Forces specialized in conducting psychological operations and their symbol is black spider on a sword - that's why they're called "black spiders". One former GRU agent blamed this unit in Russian press for protests in Belarus lol Some years ago a former soldier from this unit made it to the news in Poland - he was found in Polish mountains with frostbites, living in some self-made hut. He wouldn't talk to anyone. Eventually he started talking in the hospital, but only in Arabic and English. Fortunately, there was a Syrian doctor at that hospital, so he could communicate with him (that soldier served in Iraq and Lebanon). The doctors figured that he probably suffered from PTSD:

natemat.pl/1355,odnaleziony-w-tatrach-zolnierz-mowi-po-angielsku-i-arabsku-to-nie-pierwszy-taki-przypadek


Do you think I would write about it here if that was the case?? ;)) There isn't even a Wiki page about them, they don't have their own internet site... Do they even exist??? ;D Just kidding... No, none of my family members works for them :)

@Lenka, yeah, I wouldn't have guessed it either...

@pawian, when I was posting riddles during your absence sometimes when I thought that my riddle was going to be difficult someone would guess it right away and when I thought it's going to be easy, people had some problems (like with the dinosaur egg), so you never know... I don't think it was possible to figure it out from the photo itself why the dust bin was tipped over though, so sometimes more hints are needed :)

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

I still don't have any ideas about the tipped bin and the elegant case, I'm afraid...


In the pot on the right it looks like beetroots are being cooked (for the red borscht?) and on the left - I don't know... I think I can see onions, maybe sliced potatoes, I don't know about those round, brown things - are those wild mushrooms? Is it some kind of stew?


I don't know what kind of dish it is, so the only thing that comes to my mind are potatoes...

And a riddle from me - what is this thing with my "favourite" creepy-crawly bug on it ;P ;):

• 
  Zagadka13.jpg
  

Life / Territorials - Polish National Guard [57]


Ah, so you knew, but forgot! How convenient lol


Had they been? All 22 of them? I guess we'll see when those new guns get issued to the army, because I'm not buying what this company is saying anymore...


I see, so onet.pl wasn't "lying" or "manipulating". You simply don't mind (or even agree with) what PiS and "Łucznik" did.


That's bullsh1t. Somehow they've been producing guns for years (and the Polish army and police are using them) and there haven't been such controversies or the need to go "against the book".

And as for PO, you're talking out of your ass again... :/ As I wrote, "Łucznik" has been producing guns for years, the company has been developing (and earning more and more money) under different governments and that fancy, most modern factory in Europe was built during PO rule (Ewa Kopacz was at the opening). I'm a patriot, Iron, and I agree that Poland needs it's own manufacturers and I'm glad when they're doing well, but Polish soldiers should be getting guns that work and don't fall apart. Fortunately, WOT won't be using them in battle, but what if the rest of the army will be getting Grot (that's the plan)? Will they be "OK" by that time? lol Those 43 000 guns were recalled back to the factory only after the Onet article was published (and that's not ancient history). What if it wasn't published? Would the soldiers be forced to use them? And for how long? I guess we'll never know... I think it's good that Onet released that article. That's the journalists' job.

Poland needs it's own manufacturers, but they should be honest and do their job well.

Btw, in March this year "Łucznik's" board of directors fired the company's chairman of the board. They're looking for a new one. If everything is so OK and the company didn't f*ck up, then why did they do that?

Iron, it's easy to underestimate you, because usually all you do is throwing insults, getting histerical and often not using any sensible arguments. It's good to see that you can do better for a change lol

Life / Territorials - Polish National Guard [57]


I suppose Iron didn't realise whom he stumbled upon ;D (and I don't mean just me lol)


Well, I guess noone needs faulty guns...

Life / Territorials - Polish National Guard [57]

@Iron, the link works for me.


What Lenka post? You mean that screenshot? lol Iron, for God's sake, that's just an introduction to the article! lol Read the freaking articles! Only then we'll be able to discuss the issue. I can clearly see that you haven't read any of them.

Read those:

1. wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/szokujacy-raport-o-karabinku-grot-ujawnia-pelen-zakres-jego-wad/0yent0v
2. wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/raport-zespolu-pawla-mosznera-dotyczacy-karabinka-grot/zd5zwvq
3. wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/onet-odpowiada-na-zarzuty-o-klamstwo-w-sprawie-karabinkow-grot/61lezf2

...and only then you can comment. Before you do that you're just talking out of your ass and you're making baseless accusations.
The first link describes only 8 major flaws out of 22 and it already gave me a headache. The factory didn't even make the sand test (they claim they made dust test) for the guns. When sand gets into Grot the gun becomes unusable. It makes it unfit for military lol And it's just one of those major flaws...

The second link is the report describing all of the 22 flaws. I didn't have the time to read it yet, hopefully I'll manage later.

The third link is Onet's response to the allegations of "lying" or "manipulating".


I've read about this in other sources too, but those articles were short, very general and based on some opinions. None of them was as long, thourough, detailed and based on tests performed by people so experienced in the field, as those published by onet.pl


Who is "worthless scum", according to you? GROM soldiers?? :D Territorials? :D Haha... The report was made and the articles were written, because of the complaints made by soldiers who were using Grot... and who had to pay for parts falling off from those guns, despite the fact that those parts were falling off because of construction flaws and it wasn't the soldiers' fault... You realise that 220 PLN is one third of what a Territorial is getting for taking part in the course?


Iron, I dare say that I know about guns more than an average Polish woman and maybe even more than some men. It's still very little, but at least I do know something :)) And, yes, I am aware what problems there were with M-16 before it was called like that and that American soldiers still had issues with M-16 even in Vietnam, for example, and that there were modifications, etc. But a) that was years ago and b) I imagine American soldiers were listened to by the gun manufacturers (or the guns wouldn't sell). The problem with Grot is that the producer didn't listen to soldiers (or, at least, not enough). If you know about important flaws, you make modifications (without waiting for a scandal to erupt and a recall of 43 000 guns!).

Apart from Radom's "Łucznik" factory in Radom also Military University of Technology in Warsaw took part in designing Grot. That military university entrusted GROM, among others, with testing the weapon. GROM soldiers said Grot is faulty. They concluded it's a good weapon, but has many flaws that need to be corrected. GROM presented evidence how faulty it is to "Łucznik", but the company stated that they're spoiled "because they're GROM and they worked with the best equipment" (I guess "Łucznik" doesn't want to make "the best equipment" - it may be "Poland B" mentality at work, I'm afraid) and the factory won't change anything, because it won't be "profitable" for them. So, GROM decided to get Heckler & Koch HK416. Other Polish special forces don't seem to be interested in Grot either.

And yet the guns (Grot A0 version) were ordered during the testing phase (against the rules for buying equipment for the military) and Territorials got 1000 pieces. They had to be modified into the A1 version for free by the factory (those were very small changes though and didn't tackle the serious problems with the gun). During two following years Polish army got 43 000 pieces of A1 version. Soldiers still had problems with them. Finally, the factory made a new improved version A2, but the army will get it only this year. In the meantime the army sent those 43 000 guns... back to the factory for... "modifications" :):

wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/producent-karabinkow-grot-poprawki-wszystkie-egzemplarze-broni-po-tekstach-onetu/k46ez0s

43 000 guns... Wasted taxpayers money (500 millions)... Wasted time and tarnished reputation... And who will pay for those "modifications" of 43 000 guns???
It looks like turning a blind eye to Grot's flaws wasn't so "profitable" for the company after all...


lol
Do you have any clue, Iron? If you do, then, please, do dazzle us with your expertise and comment on all those 22 flaws described in the report made by experts headed by former GROM officer who's been a shooting instructor for over 20 years...

Life / Territorials - Polish National Guard [57]

@Iron, it isn't a lie, read this:

wiadomosci.onet.pl/tylko-w-onecie/onet-odpowiada-na-zarzuty-o-klamstwo-w-sprawie-karabinkow-grot/61lezf2

Food / Easter meal on a typical Polish table? [16]

I figured kids helped with the cookies - it looks as if a rainbow exploded on them :D Both the cookies and cakes look great :) Sernik especially looks yummy ;d

Love / Polish Women Versus Your Local Women ? [289]

Kris2020, I'm a bit confused by what you wrote - did she contact you during those 9 months after she left you or not?