News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

It's not just the protests but the buses and trams and trains they used to get there.

I'm skeptical about the football games, Cheltenham or Trumps rose garden thing spreading the virus, but it's clear that if they did then this gathering last night also would do. Outdoor gatherings are either very dangerous or they are a bit dangerous or not dangerous at all. It will probably be decades before there is a scientific answer to that.

It's not a question of how educated people are or whether they wear masks. I saw plenty of people in village cemeteries today too.

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

It's really horrible :(

Voting out Trump and deposing Kaczynski aren't going to fix the sorry state of the world - will be many decades before we start to talk normally to each other

News / New "Polish memorial" in Berlin [316]

That is very good news - there are a few memorials to Polish troops who fought alongside the Soviets in Berlin, Seelow, Sandau. But this one for civilian victims is much needed

Life / Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints Day) // Dzien Zaduszny (All Souls day) [106]

I went to the cemetery this morning - quite a lot of people but easy to keep a safe distance

Probably the family gatherings afterwards are more of an issue

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Well I was thinking about pouring a whisky but the kids are still up

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Maybe it's more about looking forward than being self centered. Obsessing about Katyn, cursed soldiers or martial law or nocny zmiana won't make this society stronger. What it needs are working institutions and PiS have worked hard to destroy them.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

Yes, just as much as you are.

And like all Polish families I had some relatives killed in the war, some by the Soviets and some by the Germans. They are people I didn't know - just photos.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

No that's nonsense - while you were in the Polish Club lamenting the loss of the Dwor and the Uhlans lots of people were working hard to free and build a new country - that includes people from all sides of the current debate.

Their experience is still needed

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

Surely these German anarchists will get picked up at Slubice when they try and get back home- you need a Covid test to enter Germany now from Poland

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

Is it ok to go to the cemetery ?

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

I'm not panicking or hysterical - I'm confused.

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

So is it dangerous to be in a crowd or not ? Because I am confused about that.

I want free choice and PIS out but I also want my kids back at school and my business open and to be able to fly again

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

This has been a rough year but just imagine if we finished it with Trump and JK both deep sixed

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a staff walkout at TVP this week. It's been getting worse for a few years but it's never been this bad - real Chemical Ali stuff. Surely the technicians, editors etc must have some self respect and will find work elsewhere

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

In Secret Army they were always in a cafe

And it's not really pleasure - I'm on the road working and I would like somewhere more civilized to eat than in my car

News / Thousands of Polish women attend Czarny Piątek rally in Warsaw [780]

Well crowds are either dangerous or they are not. There are many things I feel strongly about but it's weird if I can't sit outside a cafe and read but it's ok to parade in the street

Law / Which is the best city in Poland to open a kebab shop? [56]

Please not another Zabka !

For Pizza my favorite in Warsaw is Ciao a Tutti. I used to love that Italian place Delizia (not a pizzeria) but sadly that closed about a year ago.

Law / Which is the best city in Poland to open a kebab shop? [56]

Oh - I didnt know that place has closed. I used to go there quite a lot but I'm not often in that part of town. Dubrovnik does well and I think that with more Poles coming back from Croatian holidays they will get more familiar with that.

Work / Expected gross salary per month of a market risk/ credit risk professional ? [10]

A few years ago maybe 10k a month gross plus a small bonus.

There has been a complete bloodbath in the banking industry the last few years due to mergers, a govt tax on the banks and now Covid. I am really surprised that they are looking outside Poland for staff so maybe you have some specific bank or role in one.

Law / Which is the best city in Poland to open a kebab shop? [56]

Deep dish might work in Warsaw - but advertised as Chicago not New England. There are probably enough Poles and expats with a Chicago connection to make it kind of familiar. I would certainly give it a try and my wife is a deep dish addict.

But you would need to educate customers that it takes longer than regular pizza. You would need a good location too.

There is some great Italian pizza in Warsaw these days so research that.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

What they are doing is turning off the people like myself who are social church goers. It's suicidal for the church in Poland.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

It's not just a lack of money - raising a disabled child can take over every aspect of your life. Fathers often leave and the mothers often find themselves sandwiched between caring for Babcia and caring for a special needs kid.

But I'm sure the timing of this whole issue is cynical - to get people on to the streets in crowds and without masks. Sets the stage for a whole lot of whataboutery for 1st November and the annual tight t shirt parade on the 11th.

News / Abortion still under control in Poland [2986]

I don't think the consensus view of Polish women is for abortion on demand. I think there are many (like my mother in law ! but even among younger women) who think it should be allowed in these cases but not just because of an unwanted pregnancy.

Polonia / Why do Lviv & Vilnius look nicer than Polish cities? [16]

Vilnius downtown is much quieter than big Polish towns - apart from govt there is not much commercial activity during the daytime and at night the bars and clubs are in very specific areas.

There isn't much traffic - even on the main drag, Gedimino there are only a few cars and a few buses. A few times I have needed to be at a meeting the other side of town and made it in 10 minutes. In Warsaw or Prague you would start thinking about that an hour beforehand. In Bucharest you probably wouldn't even bother arranging two appointments in the same morning. Sofia is also pretty quiet for traffic though ?

Vilnius does have very ugly suburbs - lots of high rises and some of the osiedle are just as big as in Warsaw or Krakow. All of the shopping is also outside the town centre - it has some enormous, tasteless malls.

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1199]

Well there is a simple way to get "your turn" - to consistently elect Republican presidents. Which means policies that voters like and making voters lives easier. In all the discussions about your court there doesn't seem a lot of interest in that.

And the US system is not an example for us to follow here - it has become too politicized and in the US it can still be balanced by other branches of government. Poland's system doesnt have those checks yet

Work / Additional freelance work in Poland - ZUS, taxes? [11]

Yes there are but you need to pay on time (10th of every month) in order to deduct the social taxes from your taxable income.

News / PiS candidates are losing positions in EU Parliament. Will they keep power in Poland? [358]

Well people whos main platform is concerned with abortion and gay rights might nit be the best people to steer us through a crisis.

Travel / What is the weather like in Poland where you are now? [211]

Well here it is soaking wet and i thought it would be good time to get some grzyby even thiugh its late in the season.

Nothing left - just some soggy opieki and ltos of kania

News / A good day for animals, fur trade and ritual slaughter banned / limited in Poland [22]

Well people can eat what they want - if that's factory farmer meat then that's a personal decision.

News / A good day for animals, fur trade and ritual slaughter banned / limited in Poland [22]

I'm trying hard to cut out factory farmed meat but it's not easy in Poland