News / Duda invited to march in Poland's Independence Day parade [182]

Yes, and the idea of Duda in the parade is an odd one. He certainly wouldn't be joining the nationalists ripping up and throwing paving stones or setting fire to TV vans - amusing though that would be to watch.

You are probably unique in holding that view, Crowie. Rather as thinking that Duda turning up for a photo-op at the official bit of the Independence Day parade somehow involves Serbia is also unique

Everyone, stick to the topic please

News / Duda invited to march in Poland's Independence Day parade [182]


Exactly. People rarely mention those places except to criticise from time to time Serb butchery during the 90s; they are not part of the national consciousness.

Language / Differences in Polish and English idioms [69]

It's the name of a nursery rhyme which starts something like W krainie kredek żył sobie Edek (Teddy lived in the land of chalks).

Language / Polish names without a nickname (or less frequently shortened) [61]

What about Robert? Or one of those names that you shorten by just adding -ek to the end, like Piotr.

For a girl, Beata is a nice name, and isn't I think often shortened.

Life / Poor hygiene of people in public places in Poland [46]


Spot on. That generation survived a lot, and if Pigsy thinks they wash a little less than he'd like (this from a guy from India!) remember that their tiny old age pensions have to stretch a long way, hot water bills are a burden for many and elderly people's senses (including the olfactory one) aren't as sharp as when they were young.

History / Royal Family still in Poland? [79]

23 generations is a long long time (there are about 80 generations between people today and people alive at the time of Jesus). People of high status in Europe who were alive then have an awful lot of descendants of all nationalities, skin colours, socio-economic backgrounds, whatever.

One thing about claiming royal descent from Polish monarchs (I do myself, by the way as well as from royalty in several other countries including England and Scotland) is that there were several royal houses over the centuries, meaning several royal families and none of them with any sort of legal status today.

Another thing is the reliability or otherwise of family legends.

Nevertheless, there's a very strong chance that your grandfather's story has some basis in truth. That means nothing today in an official sense, and certainly doesn't mean that either of us are royal. It just means we have a nice story to tell and you should be grateful to your grandfather and other forebears and happy that the story has been passed down by them through the generations.

Life / I woke up in Poland's Hilton of Drunks after the Juvenalia party. Must I pay the 300zl fine? [49]

Pweeg is right here. The system of arbitrary drunk tanks to which admission is based on alcohol level rather than actual behaviour doesn't fit EU law (a lady got a nice payout for this recently) however unless the OP wants to take it to Strasbourg he should just pay up. It isn't much.

Btw, Grezorz, I'd bet quite a lot of money that the number of expatss (or other foreign-born residents) at the drunk tank is lower than that in the population as a whole.

News / Duda invited to march in Poland's Independence Day parade [182]


I don't think he'd be that daft and they'd certainly want to keep Kaczynski away.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Schengen does not only refer to border controls - in fact there are from time to time checks at the borders within the Schengen zone if there is an issue. The Schengen Treaty covers a lot of areas including visas, customs and excise and much besides...

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Spot on the countries are ever closer and 100% positive - the links are growing all the time. Trade is strong.

There are some people who are naive and stupid enough to say things like "Schengen is dead", when a couple of the borders are exercising special precautions that are provided for under the Schengen Agreement.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Absolutely. The only difference is that PiS would handle it less competently.


To suggest that's 'the main goal' is just tinfoil helmet stuff.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Doesn't look that way, not from the EU approval ratings.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


More, Grzegorz that Poland wants to stay in the EU.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Spot on. Any Union needs to be large and rich nations too. Poland would be the largest and richest in this one and have to give, give, give.


Mountains. Molehills. Burza w szklance wody.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

Ironside, I doubt the figure will fall that much. Most Polish people don't live in the big cities where refugees will come. And the farmers & agribusiness (40% of Polish people of working age are somehow connected to this) absolutely love the EU.

And back among the urban intelligentsia, I think you'll find that most Platforma voters and activists are thoroughly decent people.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

Ironside, are you really saying that 72% of Poles (see above) would "sell their own mother"? Is that why you left and rarely return?

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

You forget, Ironside, that CBOS, Pew and the EU itself conduct regular approval ratings. Support for the EU is particularly strong within Poland.
pewglobal.org/2015/06/02/faith-in-european-project-reviving/

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News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

And doubtless there's something in the accession treaty that if they left, the grants would be converted to loans. Though there's no chance at all about them leaving.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

Yes, money talks, and Poland isn't exactly overcrowded.

Plus the infrastructure funding from the EU has changed it massively.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

Given that all polls suggest that the population of Poland is one of the most pro-EU groups in the whole Union, I doubt that would happen any time soon.

Law / Is it illegal in Poland / Schengen zone to transport refugees inside? [22]

Perhaps buy someone a train or coach ticket - that would be untraceable and some of those people by the side of the road would doubtless be grateful.

News / Nazi gold train 'found in Poland' [90]

Looks like there's even more. Next someone will find Lord Lucan living down there.

Probably no treasure (in this one) but significant historical interest and could be a boost for tourism:


dailymail/news/article-3231989/Polish-explorer-finds-massive-secret-underground-Nazi-shelter-built-house-THOUSANDS-people.html

News / Degenerate "rainbow" eyesore to disappear from Saviour Square (Plac Zbawiciela) in Warsaw [297]


Nobody does think that - except perhaps Po3 and a tiny number of people who are obsessed.

I rather like the rainbow - its symbolism is very broad and the fact that there's another one is rather positive.

Food / Smalec in a Jar - how to make it better? [19]

Cold on bread. It's just dripping, the same as any UK butcher and most supermarkets sell. Easy to make too, except the Polish one tends to be pork only and include the bits (these give some flavour) that a lot of people would filter out.

News / Degenerate "rainbow" eyesore to disappear from Saviour Square (Plac Zbawiciela) in Warsaw [297]

Most of us however do not. Nor do we rant and rave about homosexuality to the extent that we start 30 plus threads on an internet forum and comb the internet looking for stuff (pictures too?) about it. Nor do most people who've seen it have any objections to the Polish Rainbows either.

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News / Degenerate "rainbow" eyesore to disappear from Saviour Square (Plac Zbawiciela) in Warsaw [297]

I think I know who you mean - a regular fixture in the dives around plac Zbawiciela and a big supporter of the Polish Rainbow there (when coherent). What's his/her name(s)? I can never remember.

edited
You meet some interesting people in plac Zbawiciela...

News / Degenerate "rainbow" eyesore to disappear from Saviour Square (Plac Zbawiciela) in Warsaw [297]


Down from plac Zbawiciela, towards pl Unii Lubelski? If it's the place I think, they demolished the whole building and the club there (behind and above a Bulgarian restaurant?) moved nearer centrum (and went a bit more upmarket, not that it would be hard). No grizzly middle-aged fat crossdressing musicians, just drinks and a dj.

That's one of the things about siting the first Polish Rainbow in plac Zbawiciela - it's a very eclectic district with more people out clubbing and partying of an evening than ever darken the door of that church.

Life / Bribery and corruption 'fact of life' in Poland? [152]


Remember that in the old days, it was often the good guys who took bribes. Others were not so amenable.


Not everyone does it however in a culture where Poczta Polska is staffed by thieves, tipping is a good way to encourage them not to rob you. It should be banned and punishable.


I always think it's odd that people don't always say thank you to drivers when getting off the bus. I suppose it depends what you're used to.


It isn't so much a 'think' thing - in some areas it's customary and in some it isn't. Remember, in areas where there is tipping, wages often reflect this.

News / Food producers from Poland should stop suffering from obliged sanctions against Russia [75]


And what shape would 'peace and normality' take? Apart from Russia being hobbled to the point where it can interfere no more. Peace and normality would be Poland having the same sort of relations with Russia that it has with, say India. Less strong that those with, say, Turkey and obviously far less strong than those with the UK or Germany.


Like a united country?


Why, the very same EU that you're begging to join, Crowie..

News / Food producers from Poland should stop suffering from obliged sanctions against Russia [75]


Unfortunately for you, nobody else wants it. And nobody in Poland wants stronger links with Russia; in fact most want as little as possible to do with them.


Are a candidate for accession to the European Union, so apart from sharing in the sanctions against Russia, it looks like your dream of stronger ties to Poland may be realised, as two member states in the same Union.