News / Petition for War Crimes Reparations for Poland [126]

Concerning the thead topic, I quote the current title of the Yom Ha Shoah commemoration ceremonies beginning next month: "Auschwitz - Not Long Ago, Not Far Away".

Tough to draw that proverbial line in the sand, when you don't know who owns the beach.

No one has a patent on suffering, nor private ownership of memory.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

"Bzdura" is the expression with which I'm most familiar. I remind myself of that high school slogan from several years ago MATURA BZDURA! This helps me to recall the word.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Purest torture, paw:-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Add to that, "well and HEARTY"!!!
lol

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Doug,

If I want to eat "healthy", I'll nibble on some lonely celery stalks, maybe a carrot! If I want to eat elegantly, I'll dine on

a meal at France's best kept secret, La Pyramide, once I can afford itLOL....and if I want to eat WELL, I'll continue

stuffing my face with all the wedliny, kielbasy, czerwona kapusta and nice, crispy placki ziemiaczne I can possibly
(and legally) get my hands on, thank you!!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Recently sampled some wedliny at a Polish fair here in New Jersey!
Can't tell ya'll how much I gorged on all the goodiesLOL

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Ah, "kren"! The grandmother of all smelling salts:-)

Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1050]

"Oh Captain, my captain....."

A reference obviously to the death of Lincoln!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Well now, you guys are neighbors, after all, if not exactly on the friendliest footing:-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Golonki can be delicious, and that's a fact!

So similar to certain German dishes with which I grew up, such as "Eisbein" (as it's known in Berlin), I often barely noticed the transition to Polish cuisine

when I was over there, albeit far too briefly.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Definitely, pawian. Especially in a light dill-cream sauce! Hmmm, soo good:-)

Whoops, almost forgot to add to my favorites list, a nice shot of Zubrowka after the meal.
Really settles the ol' stomach.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Polish herring (sledz) is quite tasty.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Oh yes, it's a lot blander than the German variety, that's for sure.

Life / What is Poland's view on obesity? How healthy, fit are Poles? [166]

Read an article in last week's >Nowy Dziennik< about how Polish immigrants to the US are putting on weight as never before.

Life / Prejudice about Poles; Poland has changed [39]

The real almost dirty shame of it all is that Poland is a country which has given the world much of modern culture, not to mention science. from Copernicus up through Mme. ("Sklodowska") Curie.

Imagine a concert season without at least some offerings by Chopin, classic cinema without one major work by Andrzej Wajda, contemporary experimental theater omitting Jerzy Grotowski or Tadeusz Kantor etc.

History / Unforgettable quotes about Poland and Poles from Polish and world`s history and culture [99]

Thanks, pawian.

Any relation then to our simian ancestors is purely coincidental, I take it:-)

Life / Prejudice about Poles; Poland has changed [39]

Once burned, twice shy.

History / Unforgettable quotes about Poland and Poles from Polish and world`s history and culture [99]

Point of information, gang!

What's the exact difference between a "prelate" vs. "a primate", since I always learned in biology class that a primate was some type of

monkey. Only within the past twenty years or so did I hear of a cleric being referred to as a "primate" which I found most amusing indeed:-)

History / Unforgettable quotes about Poland and Poles from Polish and world`s history and culture [99]

True what you said about Miller's exposure to Polish people, but as a writer especially, he was probably prone to outrageous statements! Writers typically like to be known by their colorful utterance, not to mention their behavior away from the typewriter. Just look for example at literati as different in temperment as Alexander Wolcott, Ernest Hemingway or John O'Hara.

The first enjoyed shocking through scandalously anti-Semitic tirades, the second with adventurous exploits, and the latter of the three by sometimes "mock" threatening visitors whom he spied coming up the walkway to his house by aiming a shotgun in their direction, sometimes even firing it in the air, delighted by the startling effect it could have on his "guests".

Shock value was Miller's stock in trade.

Incidentally, he identified his nationality as American, but his ethnicity as Jewish rather than Polish-:)

History / Unforgettable quotes about Poland and Poles from Polish and world`s history and culture [99]

Undoubtedly, his exposure to Polish people, quite apart from the language, was limited to those Polish immigrants whom he encountered while living in Chicago!

Often, Americans can get an unfavorable impression of certain groups based usually on the class of people who are representative of that society here in the US, normally not from the upper eschelons.

History / Unforgettable quotes about Poland and Poles from Polish and world`s history and culture [99]

Always thought of Arthur Miller as a great playwrite. I didn't realize he was also perceptive in other areas of language too!
Thanks for sharing that quotation, jon!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Among desserts, I must confess to a weakness for jableczna with fresh beaten cream, yummy!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Italy, admittedly, I'd have expected such. Can't judge though the other places mentioned.
Not been inside a German school lunchroom in more than a decade, but there too, I can't remember anything
to write home about:-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Most institutional grub I'm sure tastes the same all over - LOUSY!!!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

I once tasted some delicious fish dish when visiting Szczecin. I was told it was a specialty of the region, but have forgotten what it's called.

The only thing I do remember was the barszcz, and that name stuck!
:-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Polish-style red cabbage, that's the ticket!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

You're right about that, paw! Anyhow, when I was last in Poland, I was much younger, plus, an inveterate speed walker:-)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

My ideal Polish meal would be: Zurek (or chlodnik) for starters with a main course of bigos, pierogi beneath some sour cream, pyzy, and a nice glass of any brand local beer:-)

After that, I'm set for the day!!

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Reminds me a little of the German "Stinkbesoffen wie eine Haubitze" = Drunk as a Howitzer
:-)

Genealogy / Which Polish first names are considered unpopular / obsolete in Poland? [124]

...or more PolishLOL

Isn't there some old (children's) folk song, "Halinka, Halinka.......drabinka....", or something like that?
Perhaps I'm just imagining things:-)

...nursery rhyme, excuse me