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Posts by Bobko  

Joined: 13 Mar 2017 / Male ♂
Last Post: 16 hrs ago
Threads: Total: 27 / Live: 23 / Archived: 4
Posts: Total: 2282 / Live: 2206 / Archived: 76
From: New York
Speaks Polish?: Y
Interests: reading, camping

Displayed posts: 2229 / page 38 of 75
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Bobko   
12 Dec 2023
News / Grzegorz Braun extinguishes Hanukkah candles in Polish Parliament [358]

@Novichok

I'm trying to imagine what would happen if someone brought a Menorah to the State Duma.

I think, probably, nothing would happen?

Putin invests a lot of effort in appearing with imams, rabbis, lamas and bishops.

But this is Poland - the most hardcore Christian country on Earth. That's why I ask.
Bobko   
12 Dec 2023
History / Poland must get back Lwow, Wilno and Brest back [345]

You'd need a Time Machine

What I meant by Anglo-Saxon, was being cold-blooded and reptilian.

As Oscar Wilde once said, "knowing the price of everything, and the value of nothing".

Regardless of what is said about your kind, you are a pragmatic and calculating bunch.
Bobko   
12 Dec 2023
History / Poland must get back Lwow, Wilno and Brest back [345]

Want to be seen and heard in most places.

Well.... everyone wants this, or nearly everyone.

However, there is probably a good reason why this is not for everyone.
Bobko   
12 Dec 2023
History / Poland must get back Lwow, Wilno and Brest back [345]

Suddenly, unexpectedly. I let it pass, and arrive as it wishes.

How very Zen.

That it suits the political elites and the likes to vilify me.

The political elites do not give a f*ck about you. Trust me on this.

Your problem is typical Polish romanticism of the brain. Some Russians have similar mental issues.

Be a little more Anglo-Saxon in your ways - see the world for what it is.

We are entering a new age Bobko.

On this we agree.
Bobko   
12 Dec 2023
History / Poland must get back Lwow, Wilno and Brest back [345]

I am a monster. Ask any women on this board, I do not expect any positive remarks.

Why so pessimistic, Mr. Grunwald?

Guys in prison, with one eye, and a hairy forehead manage to get married.

That is to say - it can be done.

However, self pity has never been attractive - to either sex. Cheer up, fella.
Bobko   
10 Dec 2023
News / Coronavirus in Poland - part 2 [592]

That mask over your nose is a filter. It

People with compromised immune systems, or some kind of respiratory illnesses may be harmed through wearing a mask - and have to employ other methods to stay safe. For a normal, healthy person, however, I think it is sufficient to change the mask frequently.

Also, understand - I'm talking about people that have Covid. I agree the earlier blanket mandates were stupid.

I think it's a mistake to think, that when someone is coughing or sneezing, that those drops fly towards the other person's mouth like a homing missile or a torpedo.

Instead of laminar flow, think of turbulent flow.

The mask is like a chain link face, which can trap pebbles at a beach.

It's not a perfect defense, but it substantially increases your odds.
Bobko   
10 Dec 2023
News / Coronavirus in Poland - part 2 [592]

they thought it was spread by droplets... once it was clear it was airborne there was no justification for masks

This makes no sense.

An aerosol can travel by air.

I think masks are still necessary if one has COVID.
Bobko   
10 Dec 2023
Travel / What are the best countries to live in? [161]

Depends on what one means by "live".

America is definitely not a good country to "live" in, but it provides potentially more opportunity than any other place.

Similarly in Russia - Russia may not be as nice a place to live as Georgia, or some place like Kyrgyzstan (I love Kyrgyzstan) - but the opportunities are simply on a different scale in Russia.

So for me, it depends on your system of moral coordinates, and where you are in your life at that point.

When I visited Hawaii, I thought I had discovered paradise on Earth. Perfect climate, stunning views, warm people, amazing food....

But after being there for two weeks I wanted to hang myself. I started to view the locals with extreme contempt, for their laidback lifestyles, and couldn't wait to get back to NY.

So for me, with no kids, no wife, and still relatively young parents - the best place to live is where I can maximize my potential.
Bobko   
10 Dec 2023
News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

The reason they lost the elections 8 years ago and paved the way for Kaczynski and PiS is the deeply rooted contempt that they have for ordinary people.

Sounds like the American Democrats.

Their candidate in the 2016 elections, Hillary Clinton, was famously caught saying this:

"You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. (Laughter/applause) Right? (Laughter/applause) They're racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic - you name it. And unfortunately, there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He has given voice...

The racists, xenophobes, sexists, homophobes and Islamophobes did not receive this message very well.

They already felt that Hillary was a typical representative of the arrogant coastal elites, but being called "deplorable" really rubbed them the wrong way - even if few of them understood what the word meant.

Along with James Comey's reopening of the FBI investigation, this comment of hers probably cost her the presidency.
Bobko   
10 Dec 2023
News / Polish Parliamentary Elections 2023 [933]

I wanted to write a post in the Polish Army thread, about new purchases of Krab and K9 Thunder artillery systems - worth billions of dollars - by the outgoing Minister of Defense.

Then, I decided I'd rather write about my theory of how PiS is attempting to lay the groundwork for their return into power.

So here it is:

1) PiS puppet Duda, appoints short term PiS government. Short term PiS government proceeds to stuff all state companies, and government ministries with loyalists that will be difficult to remove in speedy fashion by KO.

2) PiS takes strong protectionist approach on Ukrainian grain and truckers question. This is despite constant pressure from the EU to disperse the protests and enforce the law on EU border transit. Expectation is that Tusk will come in, and lift the grain and transit embargos. This will immediately dent his popularity, since he will be seen by those two constituencies as betraying Poland's national interests. PiS talking heads will immediately capitalize on the drama.

3) PiS contracts enormous quantities of weapons, that Polish budget cannot sustain (read articles on this subject). Tusk comes in and inevitably has to curtail these orders, or delay their implementation. PiS attacks him for being weak on defense and a Putin stooge. "When we were in power, Poland received more weapons than in its entire history of independence."

4) PiS purposefully runs relations with Germany into the ground, on a farcical premise. Tusk comes in and repairs relations with Germany - perhaps even apologizing for some past excesses of PiS government. PiS of course initiates "Operation German Agent", and Tusk is once again painted as a German lapdog.

This is what I think this past year of insanity has been. A long desperate attempt to push all the possible populist buttons in a politician's arsenal, and now that's its failed - a deliberate attempt to create a "bridgehead" from which to attack KO in the future. The central pillars of that "bridgehead", will be the above points:

1) Active sabotage through loyalists remaining in non-elected government positions. This includes both state companies like PKN Orlen, and government ministries.

2) Accusations of abandoning Polish farmers and truckers interests.

3) Accusations of being weak on defense matters

4) Accusations of being a German/Russian puppet.

Let's see if it will work for PiS.
Bobko   
7 Dec 2023
Law / Polish Police and Their Tactics [185]

@jon357

I had the pleasure of working on two cases which appeared before the High Court in London. I'm not a lawyer, so my involvement was limited to me producing several white papers as part of my internship at a firm in NY.

It was most impressive to observe English judges and barristers in action.

Some of the most intelligent people I had ever listened to.
Bobko   
7 Dec 2023
History / Good enough for British - Joseph Conrad? Poland-born novelist. [30]

Nabokov

Can't speak for the others, but can speak for Nabokov.

Nothing extraordinary here, except the size of the family fortune.

Nabokov's father was the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, in the last Duma before WWI. He came from an aristocratic family, tracing their lineage back to the Horde in the 14th century.

His mother was a heiress, daughter of a famously wealthy gold mine owner.

He read in English and French, before he ever learned to read in Russian.

As a Russian aristocrat, he didn't have to do anything at all - and could devote his time to whatever he wanted.

I'm sure Joseph Conrad was not the son of a plumber either.
Bobko   
7 Dec 2023
Law / Polish Police and Their Tactics [185]

But correct

Yes...

There's a reason even a Russian company, registered in Cyprus, engaging in relations with a company from Georgia, still wants their contracts governed by English law.

And this makes the City lawyers oh so rich...
Bobko   
7 Dec 2023
Law / Polish Police and Their Tactics [185]

Remember that England and Scotland use a system based on Common Law rather than an inferior system based on 'codices'.

Disgusting arrogance.

What's more, it's not like the English invented a totally parallel system to the Romano-Germanic codices.

Your system emerged in the decades after the Normans took over. So thank the French.

Before the Normans, most English law worked like historic Russian law, on a folk basis in the various hundreds and shires. Given that you had earlier experience of Roman law, my conjecture would be that this is something the Vikings gave you.
Bobko   
5 Dec 2023
Genealogy / What does my Polish name mean? [402]

Most people think our name russian

That's because you are Russian.

Your grandparent came in on a Russian passport - he's Russian.

Your grandparent is Russian - you are Russian.

Enjoy.
Bobko   
29 Nov 2023
History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Yes, I think that could give them a more balanced view and greater understanding of this conflict

Unlike you, who does not know South African history - whatsoever - they likely do know this history. That is to say, Africans know much more about European history, than Europeans do about African history (stupid term to begin with, because this continent is impossibly huge).

I have met many Africans at university and through work. Emphasis on Africans - not African-Americans. Their best is just as good as our best. They don't want to move to any New York, London, or Singapore. They want to improve the livelihood of their people.

All that educated Africans, that remained in Africa, have experienced from the West is: exploitation, lies, a grating paternalistic anttitude and finally a myriad of broken promises. The supposed window that English or French supplies onto the World, is balanced by the incredible xenophobia when arriving in those parts of the world.

I think Africans know why they support Russia.

They don't need your help in understanding your position.
Bobko   
28 Nov 2023
History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

Eh?

I understood your argument as: "The 'Global South' might have more sympathy for the Western coalition against Russia, if they had a deeper historical appreciation of how Russia had oppressed its near abroad."

I laughed out loud at the idea, because back then truly everyone was doing it. Hating on Russia for being rather more successful at it than others, seems comic. That's all.
Bobko   
28 Nov 2023
History / What should Russia and Poland do to become if not friends, then at least not enemies? [945]

whom you think noone would defend or stand up for

Defending small helpless countries is Russia's middle name.

Nobody, in the history of humanity, has spent as much blood, treasure, or political capital as Russia on liberating small, helpless peoples.

Sorry, just a fact.

1) Slavs from Ottomans
2) Vietnamese from Americans
3) Cubans from Americans
4) Angolans from a whole host of a$$holes
5) South Africans from racists
6) Ethiopians from wannabe colonizers
7) and everybody else, too many to list