News / Poland's new golden age : shifting from Europe's periphery to its center [29]

ABBA was perhaps the first of the international European rock stars back in the '60's to perform in English.
Somehow, it was able to be pulled off convincingly and with no trace of a "foreign" accent.

When other continental bands have attempted same, it usually sounds odd, to say the least, particularly those from Russia, with that jarring combination of native language interference mixed with country-western aspirations:-)

Strangely though, there seems to be a double standard regarding opera performed in the original language by singers, many, perhaps most of whom, are not native to the language they are singing.

And speaking of Poles, before I found out his name, I thought Jan Beczala was Italian from the way he sang in "Masked Ball"!

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Probably, Merkel acted her conscience when she, actually Schaeuble, enacted those austerity measures against Greece to prevent her going under from taking the EU with her.

Can't say as I blame her, but of course, Tsipras and the naysayers love to brand the "mean, harsh Germans" and the big bad boys from Bruxelles, even though the government of Greece freely admitted they were in desperate financial straights!

History / BARBAROUS / BARBARIC / BARBARIAN tribes in Poland [62]

Exactly. The term "barbarian" became used to denote ANY non-civilized nation or group, for instance the Northmen aka "Vikings", "Goths", and "Vandals"!

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

I agree with Tacitus on that score.

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Germany per se didn't "cause" the crisis! Assad murdered probably more of his fellow citizens than either Arafat or Achmadshinishad and so Merkel decided to try to help. She's a typical product of her generation, as is President Steinmeier, what more can I say:-)

She never weighed in the mood of the German electorate, her constituents, and so failed to deliver on her campaign promises of serving the German nation/state.

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

@Maf, I have the same right as you...and I live some five-THOUSAND miles away! Distance never stopped anybody from expressing themselves in both a sensible, cogent fashion.

:-)

Life / Best Polish actor/actress ever? [35]

I didn't realize that, Pawian.

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

@Maf,
I'm a born US-citizen, you're not a German citizen. If anyone, only B.B. or Tacitus here on this forum are fit to judge whether or not Ms. Merkel is.

@Weimarer,
You are exceedingly unenlightened and represent, hopefully, only a small, disaffected fringe of German society which wants to thrust Germany, and in so doing, the rest of Europe, back into the Dark Ages, where bigots burned a man for daring to think differently!

You people are on the wrong track (Ihr seid da auf dem Holzweg) and by the time you realize it, your country will have long since become de-railed.

Life / Best Polish actor/actress ever? [35]

Who then played the hitchhiker?

WHOOPSIDAISY, confused Niemczyk (Andrzej) with Zygmunt Malanowicz LOL
Thanks!

News / Poland's new golden age : shifting from Europe's periphery to its center [29]

Back to the thread, Poland's long since been the "Slavic Tiger" with comeback city Cracow as the "Miracle on the Vistula" (Cud nad Wisla) and well deserved, I feel!

Always felt the Poles have been shortchanged throughout much of their history, both recent and distant. Therefore, nice to see things going right for them for a change.

Life / Best Polish actor/actress ever? [35]

I simply thought his performance as the stray hitchhiker in "Noz w wodzie" was superb, so plain and unaffected!

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Think you just answered you own question, pal:-)

@Maf,
How are you fit to judge whether or not she's "fit" to govern or not?

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

However a leader, like a spouse, best friend or trusted ally, unless intentionally set out to betray or ruin, is NOT like a commodity which can be exchanged, disposed of at will and "traded in", heaven forbid, for the latest model! We're talking about a human being here, who's busted a gut trying to do what she thinks is right.

Merkel has become the most trusted politician/statesman in Europe among thinking people who value democratic values. Why pander, as does our US-president to the cacklings, hoots, or idiotic rhetoric of a frustrated, if unenlightened, minority?

If change in policy is what is required as is the case with Merkel's immigration policies, then let it be effected DEMOCRATICALLY, in open forum, and, as in the UK, through an honest, well-thought out vote of no-confidence.

Folks sure were slow to want to impeach Trump, why then so quick to condemn Merkel and boot her out of office early? She's about ten years younger than Trump anyway:-)

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

But destroying Merkel is, once again, throwing out the proverbial baby with the proverbial bathwater. The only logical future for Germany or any country
must be democracy, using debate and discussion, not strong-arm tactics a la Donald Trump!

News / Poland's new golden age : shifting from Europe's periphery to its center [29]

While it is sadly the case, that not only well-intended funds have frequently been diverted, as you say, and that furthermore, there have been even more disgusting examples of those seeking to profit from said funds by either embellishing or outright lying about being survivors (much less being Jewish), the idea of justified compensation is obviously the only right, just action which could be taken!

As in any human situation, plenty of rotten apples spoil the whole batch.

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Look at the past in order to gain perspective on the present!
1933 - "Der Staatsakt" - Hitler shakes a doddering Hindenburg's hand in the latter's moment of weakness.
2020 - Hoecke shakes Ramelow's hand in front of Thomas Kemmerich in a last ditch concession by the SPD to curry favor with the enemy

The tell-tale signs are smackin' ya in the face, buddy:-)

Life / Best Polish actor/actress ever? [35]

Leon Niemczyk?

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Germans will surely learn the errors of Hoecke's ways and see the the liberal agenda, with some alterations, is the only path for Germany.

If they don't, they and the rest of Europe will have hell to pay, that's for sure.

Life / Blasphemy not OK in Poland! [54]

I as well, Milo.
At least we both can laugh at ourselves. Although I'm not a Catholic,
I did find his irreverent fun poking no end a delight!

Genealogy / Why are some Polish people dark complected, and others very light [511]

Normally, I can as a rule distinguish random Poles from Russians or certain other Slavs on the street by their facial bone structure, not necessarily by their hair, eye color or even skin tone.

Often I'm right, though one doesn't usually go about staring at total strangers, does one:-)

Life / Blasphemy not OK in Poland! [54]

If you let it be so.
Tell me, would the late George Carlin have "offended" you in his masterful irreverence?
Just curious:-)

Life / Blasphemy not OK in Poland! [54]

Precisely!

Not by working, but by buying low and selling high.
Just remember, as in Morse code, "short, short,......LONG"
:-)

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

A glib remark, Spike31, but I'm not even so sure that Polish nationalism has as much of a bright future as you may think.

If anything, it's the Croats, Slovenes, and of course, the Serbs, against whom we must all be on our guard!

Lyzko, please stop "chopping" your sentences by the "enter" key

Life / Blasphemy not OK in Poland! [54]

Blasphemy can be indeed offensive, yet scarcely a punishable offense! Swearing against the Allmighty can actually
serve as almost a cathartic release of anger in times of stress.

Eliminate the stress and, I suppose, you'll eliminate the need to be blasphemous:-)

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

...and an Austrian Emperor:-)

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Quit makin' stuff up and grasping at straws!

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Vesko, we don't need any more Nazi sympathizers on this Forum than we already have, thank you very much!

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Prussia was responsible for land reforms which helped the enviably rapid industrialization of Germany during the middle to latter half of the 19th century!! Von Stein, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau (the latter two war ship names during WWII) represented a triumvirate of significant reformers who helped to transform Northern Germany from a rural into an industrial power:-)

Language / New Years wishes in Polish? [40]

Oh, sure, only not available everywhere:-)
Still looking to buy "Rzeczpospolita" in Manhattan, but unfortunately only available in Greenpoint(:-

News / Why is Poland so hostile against Germany? Do they realize how their reparations rubbish damages relations? [510]

Exactly.

"I am a Frankfurter..." [...with or without (Duesseldorf) mustard]
"I am a Hamburger..:[...hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special order don't upset us...he-he]

Y'all get the point!

Hey, if Cem Ozdemir ever runs for Chancellor, "Ich bin ein Doener!"
LOL