News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Rather confirms that PiS don't know what they're doing if they can't get the money spent.

By the way, that's only the cohesion funds. You've forgotten about the CAP and other fiscal transfers.

News / Germany After the EU and the Russian Scenario - future of the European Union and Poland [310]


Absolutely. It was by far the biggest failing of the Euro that it should never have been extended to many of the countries. I can only count Ireland, France, Germany, Benelux and Austria as really being ready in 1999 for it. Maybe Finland, but it's a judgement call after the collapse of their economy in the early 1990's.

Even today, who else really belongs? Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Malta, that's about it.

News / Germany After the EU and the Russian Scenario - future of the European Union and Poland [310]


I wouldn't say no cultural power, but the cultural influence rapidly diminished after 2004.

News / Germany After the EU and the Russian Scenario - future of the European Union and Poland [310]


Let's not forget that they were occupying Berlin until 1990 as well.

In fairness, the British hardly cared from the 70's onwards, but the Americans and French certainly took their occupying power status seriously.

History / Film "Wałęsa" - historical reality vs myth - controvercies [103]


Basically, it's not a commemoration. It's a political rally, which many families are against as they won't let the dead rest in peace.

The disruption of the event is in protest against the way that Krakowskie Przedmieście has been turned into a political rally grounds monthly.

History / Film "Wałęsa" - historical reality vs myth - controvercies [103]


Proven by who, Polonius?

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]


I'm very sorry to hear that. Marienborn was such a focal point during the Cold War that it must have tormented your mother every time it was mentioned - especially given the huge restrictions that were in place near the border. It would have been nearly impossible for her to get permission to go there, and the Russian brutes had absolutely no respect for the dead.

It's even more of a shame to think that had he been buried a short distance to the west, all would have been fine with the graveyard.

Food / Poles have a more loving attitude to food than here in the UK [89]


Probably not. I've never seen a 'honesty box' type system here.

Law / Eviction process from an apartment in Poland [13]


Not true. Where did you get that from? Polish law is quite restrictive in terms of what you can do with tenants.

Genealogy / Displaced Persons Camp / Work camp and concentration camp difference [86]


Of course, later known as the most important East German border crossing with West Germany. Always wanted to visit there, actually.

News / The dossier of TW "Bolek" - Poland's IPN assisted by police enters the home of the late general Kiszczak [306]


Has it been proven in a court of law with an independent judge? No? Then nothing has been proven at all.

The fact that the IPN has dropped the case strongly suggests that the scientific analysis will not stand up to a criminal trial.

Food / Poles have a more loving attitude to food than here in the UK [89]


Yes, that's exactly my point. People in large towns and cities often believe in this myth, and of course, every seller will swear blind that it comes from their own farm. Strangely enough, their prices always seem to be higher than the wholesale price...

The countryside is a different beast, but even then, it's not exactly uncommon to be sold eggs that came straight from Biedronka. It's a different story if you know a trusted farmer, of course.

Food / Poles have a more loving attitude to food than here in the UK [89]


Yes, but what is particularly interesting is their ignorance to what actually goes into growing their produce.

Food / Poles have a more loving attitude to food than here in the UK [89]


LOL, as if. They're almost always bought from the same wholesalers. It's highly unlikely that hers would have survived that brutal frost that came in a couple of months ago if they were genuinely home grown.


Yes, plenty of people either remember or were told by their parents about how bad things were then. People remember all too well what it was like to not get things, hence the madness before a holiday.

The amount of food wasted in Poland is truly shocking.

Language / Some German loan-words in Polish language [17]


Wow, it's so high?

I've always found some Polish words to be much nicer than others - for instance, pomidor rather than rajče or paradižnik.

Language / Some German loan-words in Polish language [17]

Now, this is a truly interesting topic Polonius!

Yes, it's fascinating that Polish took so much legal and political words from German. It seems that Polish was responsible for passing rada onto other Slavic languages too, though the South Slavic languages didn't use it. English now seems to be playing the same role, and I notice plenty of odd things being used now in Polish. For instance, the other day, I saw "strefa chillout" - eh?

I assume the word "handlarz" comes from the German Händler?

Polish as a language seems to have an incredibly rich vocabulary in terms of foreign influences, probably reflecting the reality of the country at the crossroads of Europe.

UK, Ireland / Racist ex-priest Międlar tries to fly from Poland to U.K. again. [293]


Why the hell was he allowed on the plane to begin with? You have to give advance passenger data to the UK when booking, and it was obvious that the little creep would only be coming to stir up trouble.

No doubt he'll now play the martyr because he was refused entry.

UK, Ireland / Racist ex-priest Międlar tries to fly from Poland to U.K. again. [293]


Did he even get to the UK? Usually the UK stops them from even boarding the flight, though the idea of that little weasel spending a few hours in a detention cell awaiting deportation makes me laugh.

UK, Ireland / Racist ex-priest Międlar tries to fly from Poland to U.K. again. [293]


The concerns about the radicalisation of the Poles in the UK are obviously quite strong, then.

Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]

Apparently one of the more interesting things that happened in the 1980's was that the communists put a lot of the leading opposition figures into normal prisons, hoping that the prisoners would do the damage for them. What happened was exactly the opposite, the political prisoners were treated with respect by inmates, and the political prisoners in return would help them with reading/writing letters, providing legal advice, etc etc.

Life / Health insurance in Poland - your suggestions please [35]

Of course, of course. The American Clinic is so bad that it has to spam forums to try and find clinics.

BTW, your lack of articles is very Polish. Why would someone with medical problems go from Kraków to Wilanow for treatment anyway?

Life / Boże Ciało (Corpus Christi) - a beautiful celebration in Catholic Poland [22]

Could be, I can understand keeping All Saints because people would have just treated it as a holiday anyway, but this one is a bit stranger.

I suppose the PZPR knew fine well that allowing some limited Church activity was also a good way of keeping people passive.

Life / Boże Ciało (Corpus Christi) - a beautiful celebration in Catholic Poland [22]

Any idea why the Communists kept it as a holiday, Polly?

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Yes, perhaps he can explain why such things are being kept from the public eye. Could it be that the actual amount spent is significantly lower than claimed?

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Untrue. He was not and was never a member of KOD.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


LOL, even PiS have stopped trying to claim that one! Do keep up with the latest propaganda Goofy.


Shows how little you think of Polish doctors if you're calling them "nurses".

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


Actually, the trip was organised by Lech Kaczyński's chancellery. Are you telling us that they are in fact to blame? It's taken you 7 years to admit this, but well done. I'm also surprised that no-one in his office picked up on the fact that Smolensk-North was completely unsuitable for such a flight, especially when there was a perfectly good train available that could have taken him there.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


So in other words, you want the State to control the means of production. Very communist of you, Polly.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]


No accusations here, the First Bankster was responsible for funnelling large amounts of cash out of Poland to Spain.

News / Poland's post-election political scene [4080]

Well, they are owned in theory by their members. The reality is that the PiSlamic state pushed through some changes by bamboozling their elderly members, at which point vast sums were extracted to Luxembourg.

Strange how Polly never talks about the First Bankster Morawiecki and his deputy Bierecki, isn't it?