News / 11th November Independence Day in Poland [73]

GK, what historical depiction is the top photo?

Yeah, I love me a good parade. They are dying here in the USia.

BB, a country with such a rich heritage of pageantry doesn't do parades? I tell ya, the West needs a little more self-love.

How was the parade, GK. Take any pics?

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

@Novichok

Haha! I guess it depends in what you mean by extreme, but, regardless, it doesn't necessitate those events to be presented with bias. You simply present what is known as factual and/or the differing interpretations of whatever the historical record holds at the moment without giving preeminence over one particular view.

@Lyzko

I don't understand what you mean.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

What's your point? I don't see how that correlates with teaching history dispassionately without bias.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

The same is to be said about individual teachers. How about teaching history dispassionately without bias of focus?

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

@Lyzko

But is that what is happening when an individual teacher decides to focus more on one perspective than the other?

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

I do.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

Just wondering if education was centralized or not. I've talked to educators in Poland in the past and they were saying different things about how education was going to look like in Poland.

Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

Do all grade schoolers throughout Poland use the same curriculum and books?

Travel / Photos from Poland [258]

Right! Celebrate one's own rich heritage!

Travel / Photos from Poland [258]

Nah, if it's mini- America it's not progress. It should be Warsaw, not America. Know what I mean?

News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]

@pawian

From your arguments, it seems like you prefer the EU to tell Poland how to organize its courts etc as long as it runs against PiS.

Do you consider yourself more European or more Polish?

News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]


But, when does the grievances end? It seems what you're proposing is perpetual grievances by nearly every existing nation on Earth.

But, if this is the real goal:


Then, three cheers for a clever move. :)

Travel / Photos from Poland [258]


Yeah, that place is amazing. The chapel is something to behold.

News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]


* nods emphatically

Ludicrous isn't strong enough a word.

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [396]


Reminds me of a movie based on a famous blind taste test: m.imdb.com/title/tt0914797/. Ever see it?

If they keep their best for themselves, I need to get over there and try some, because their less-than-best is pretty damn good.

What's interesting is recently the new winemakers from California, Aus, S America, New Zealand, etc. are starting to influence the old winemakers from the old world. I watched a wine documentary (can't remember title) not too long ago that touched on this. There was one well-established French vinter (9th or 10th generation) who was excitedly talking about how he started incorporating some of the innovative techniques of California winemakers in his wines that produced excellent results.

It's a great time to be an oenophile.


Hahaha! What's with your lack of determination?

Life / Banners and slogans at soccer games in Poland [63]

Haha!! I guess FIFA didn't circulate that memo internally.

All of the virtue signaling and political commentary drives me nuts. It'd be nice to spend a couple hours away from politics and just watch athletes play a game.

Life / Banners and slogans at soccer games in Poland [63]


You fed up with the politicization of sporting events?

Off-Topic / Pop A Cork - Wine [396]


I'm not sure about that. There are plenty of top Italian and Spanish labels to be had here in the States. There is no shortage of barolo, rioja, here

Life / Is Polish church involved in politics too much? [137]


That's not true. The US was founded on the self evident truths of the natural law. Our culture (including the law), however, is very much grounded in judeo-christian values.

Read the Declaration carefully and see if it mentions Christianity.

Food / Polish Pizza !! The best in the world? [330]

Pizza Hut is an American company, hence the Hut. It's ok. They make a better pizza in their Polish chains than their American ones, IMO.

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]

:D :D :D Freaking hilarious!

Yeah, once they get you on a list, they call incessantly.

I went to see a concert at the Cleveland Symphony when I was there on business...I do not live in Cleveland.

They call me, at least, 6 times a year. Even though, I've pointed out to them that my address--the one they have on file--is not anywhere near Cleveland. They're vultures.

But, the concert and concert hall were very good.

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]

:D

You've got one of the best symphony orchestras in the world just a public transit ride or walk away from your apartment in NYC, get your distinctly uncultured Russian ass down to the Lincoln Center and catch you some concerts.

If you have time and some dollars you don't mind parting with, check this out:

thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-listen-to-and-understand-great-music-3rd-edition

I just realized that the link I sent is to purchase the series at a price that makes my eyes hurt. Instead, get a subscription to wondrium.com, same thing but MUCH cheaper and gives you access to many more courses.

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]

Yeah, give me choice and I choose Chopin 6 days, 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 58 seconds of the week.

Off-Topic / Public Supports Biological Perspective of Sex Gender [31]

OK, I'm open to a compromise. Let's call it peculiar literacy. :)

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]

Penderecki isn't the most beautiful of composers, but I find some of his stuff very interesting.

Off-Topic / Public Supports Biological Perspective of Sex Gender [31]

@Lyzko

Not that anyone would care an iota, but that is the first post of yours I completely agree with! :) At least I think it is--you have a peculiar way of expressing yourself. :)

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]


I haven't. I vaguely familiar with his music. Frankly, my knowledge of Polish composers is pathetic.


Understandable, as 19th and 20th cent. music virtually leaves a harpsichordist unemployed. :)

Personally, I like the romantic era very much--might be my favorite. Mahler blows me away, my local orchestra (who are very good, sound more european than Amercian) are performing Mahler's 2nd and 7th this upcoming season--looking forward to it.


Yeah, I like the Baroque era very much. I'm not crazy about Purcell, though. The usual suspects are irreplaceable: Bach (a gift to mankind), Handel, Vivaldi, Monetverdi. I really like Pergolesi. And, Torelli is nice.

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]

Firebird is a nice piece. The only Stravinsky piece I've heard live is Rite of Spring. Hearing it, or, really, any piece, live is better, unless the orchestra/band isn't that good.

I think Stravinsky had some Polish lineage.

I like music-- early, middle, late; although, our contemporary music is pretty **** poor. How early you talking: monophonic greek theater music, plainchant, organum?

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]

Weird in that he lived outside Russia but didn't intend for his music to go beyond Russia.

Even his music at the end of his life became less Russian when he began writing serial music. Interesting stuff, although not the most beautiful stuff.

@Miloslaw

Here you go, you heathen:

youtube.com/watch?v=gBWH3OWfT2Y

Life / Polish Classical Music [101]


That's a weird statement considering he moved to Switzerland, France, and died in US.

@RussianAntiPutin

If you're going to recommend a humoresque, go with Dvorak's. :)