News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


It's not a question losing or winning. It's a question of truth and facts. I might point out that I didn't start the argument. Johnny did that.

He contradicted my initial post by saying that as he understood it a rocket was taken out by the Iron Dome and debris fell on the camp. He said this because he has a problem with reading comprehension - should have paid attention to those nuns. His problem with comprehension means that he doesn't understand that Simon Harris, the Taoiseach of Ireland is not the same person as Lt. Gen. Clancy, whom Johnny, at one point thought he was quoting, when in fact, he was quoting Simon Harris.

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


He didn't say that. Simon Harris, the Taoiseach said it.
The content of Lt.Gen.Clancy's statement was published on 31st October because he was attending an event in Athlone (that's a town in Ireland) and reporters from RTE, the national television station, asked him about the attack. The news was therefore broken by RTE. Here is the filmed statement. You can hear the words from his own mouth. He says 'a rocket', not part of a rocket or debris from a rocket.

facebook.com/reel/1557376288505396

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


While what you say is true, there was never any suggestion by the Irish government or defence forces that it was deliberate.


I just did. Three sources that quote the Chief-of-Staff of the Irish Defence Forces saying that it was a rocket. Not my problem if you don't have the attention span to read the articles.

I did not post any links to the Irish Sun. Btw they didn't quote Gen. Clancy in full. They left out the bit where he said it was a rocket and was deactivated by bomb disposal. Their information regarding the incident was incomplete. That's why I linked you to three sources giving the full statement he made.

Study / Are Masters in Poland free of charge for EE citizens? (English) [7]


Because a lot of the international students are from outside the EU and think that studying in a European country is a way in on a more permanent basis. Poland is one of the cheapest options for them. And there are also students who don't have the academic results to get into university in their own country but can get accepted in Poland.

Language / Polish Language Exchange Thread [144]

I said socially conservative, not politically.

Study / Are Masters in Poland free of charge for EE citizens? (English) [7]

EEA is European Economic Area which includes European countries that don't belong to the EU but have special links/mutual recognition for trade purposes. Switzerland doesn't belong to either but is treated as if it does to all intents and purposes.

Language / Polish Language Exchange Thread [144]

Yes, people do think that Poland is socially conservative because of Catholicism, which is far from the truth. Poland is very much a mixed bag these days.

Language / Polish Language Exchange Thread [144]

I don't know why you feel it's necessary to say you're a 'Christian'. In fact, that would put a lot of people off as it makes you sound a like a religious maniac :) Your religion really has nothing to do with language learning unless you're also looking for friendship in the same package.

These people might be able to put you in touch with somebody. The second link has more detailed information about the people involved. They seem to encourage missionaries to come to Poland so they could probably help you with the language skills.

ewangeliczna.pl/en/

depoolsebergen.pl/en/evangelical-poland/

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


They are all quoting both the Taoiseach and the Chief-of-Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sean Clancy whom you want to ignore because he says it was a rocket which the bomb disposal team deactivated. Although previously, before you realised who he was, you said you'd take his word because he was 'closer to the source'.

I know you're having trouble in making sense of it but it's quite simple. Two people made similar statements which differ in one detail, whether it was a rocket or part of rocket, that's all. In matters military I'd take the word of a soldier over that of a politician.

independent.co.uk/news/uk/irish-lebanon-iron-dome-israel-united-nations-b2638965.html

breakingnews.ie/ireland/irish-peacekeeping-troops-escape-injury-after-lebanon-camp-struck-by-rocket-2-1689567.html

echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41507462.html

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


Lt. Gen. Clancy didn't say 'part of the rocket'. He said 'a rocket'. Clancy further said that the device was "dealt with and made safe in the camp itself" the following morning. It was a politician, Simon Harris who mentioned part of a rocket. He was wrong.

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]

Here is a nice report about the bravery of a Polish member of the Irish Defence Forces in Lebanon. He's described as a native of West Cork so presumably he was born in Ireland to Polish parents. His name is Jakub Kowalczyk. He was in command of a company whose jeep was surrounded by an angry mob for over an hour. He managed to talk them down and get his troops out of there to safety. This happened last year.

corkbeo.ie/news/brave-west-cork-soldier-leads-27168799

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


Where did you quote this:

"there was a Katyusha rocket that landed within 2-45"

"bomb disposal officers sealed off the area on Wednesday night and dampened the ground before making the device safe yesterday morning."

Debris has never been mentioned anywhere in the media by Lt. Gen. Clancy. He said, a rocket, not part of a rocket or debris from a rocket. You're the person who decided it was debris based on a quote from Simon Harris who got it arseways.

Off-Topic / Arts and crafts [143]


Brilliant!

Here's an artist I only discovered recently, Ivan Shiskin. Very modern style for a Victorian artist, I think. This was painted in 1890:

• 
  Ivan_Shishkin__Wint.jpg
  

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [182]


You're right :)

I was lucky, for my last five years teaching in Ireland I had a lovely classroom, very big (usually I seemed to end up in the smallest classroom in the school!), windows down both sides with a view over the school garden and the old convent cloisters; it even had a piano, painted cream, no less. And the door to the school yard was right outside my room and only a quick hop across the corridor to the staffroom, very handy at breaktimes! You'd be amazed how much of a short break is taken up by escorting junior classes safely to the yard and getting to inconveniently located staffrooms, not to mention the queue for the staff toilets which are usually nowhere near the actual staffroom!

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


You're quoting Simon Harris again. He was repeating what he believed to be the facts but he got it wrong. On the other hand, the Chief-of-Staff of the army gave the correct information.

Lt Gen Clancy confirmed the incident during a Defence Forces event in Ireland.

Here's what Lt. Gen. Clancy said:

"I can confirm that yesterday afternoon there was a Katyusha rocket that landed within 2-45, this was by an armed element obviously, our assessment is it was travelling north to south into Israel.

"A lot of these are undirected, unguided and therefore unpredictable rockets, and they have been known to fall or been taken down by the Iron Dome. We haven't assessed [if that is the case] right now.

"But it did fall in an unoccupied area of the camp itself. It caused minimal damage on the ground."

He said bomb disposal officers sealed off the area on Wednesday night and dampened the ground before making the device safe yesterday morning.

Now, as you can see, according to the head of Ireland's Defence Forces, a rocket, not part of a rocket, fell within the camp. The fact that that area of the camp was unoccupied is completely irrelevant. Unoccupied space within the camp is still part of the camp, just as an empty room in your house, is still part of your house.

He also says that they are still investigating how it came to fall.

So, if anybody is nit-picking, it's you.

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [182]

Oh, I love the dark evenings and the dark mornings even more! Actually, the mornings are too bright in Poland in winter for me. I miss the Irish mornings. I remember when I was teaching and I would arrive into school at 8 o'clock because I always liked to start an hour before the bell went. I remember the total darkness when I'd go into my classroom - lovely! Especially nice at Christmas time. Used to turn off the classroom lights and just have the tree lights on and a lamp on my desk. Wonderful, cosy atmosphere.

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


And so did I. Johnny, General Clancy IS the Chief-of-Staff of the Irish Defence Forces.

And you didn't quote him. You quoted Simon Harris, the Taoiseach. Read the article again.

Nobody suggested it was fired at the camp deliberately. It's just a question of whether it fell or was shot down by Israel.

But the simple fact of the matter is that a rocket fell on the camp,not debris from a rocket. Gen. Clancy himself said that it was deactivated by a bomb disposal squad. You don't need a bomb squad for debris.

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]

You contact them. I quoted the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. He says it was a rocket, disarmed by the bomb disposal squad. His word is good enough for me.

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


Don't. They're not a reliable source.

What Gen. Clancy actually said was '"I can confirm that yesterday afternoon there was a Katyusha rocket that landed within 2-45, '
He said bomb disposal officers sealed off the area on Wednesday night and dampened the ground before making the device safe on Thursday morning.

and

'they have been known to fall or been taken down by the Iron Dome, we haven't assessed which or whether that is right now.'

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]


No, it was an actual rocket, a Russian-made Katyusha. It fell in an unoccupied area of the camp, causing minimal damage. There was no suggestion that it was deliberately fired at the camp.

News / Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]

Camp Shamrock which is the headquarters of IrishPol Batt was struck by a rocket last night. Everybody is safe.

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [182]

Of course!!

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [182]


Was that a streetcar named desire? :)) So weird to hear you call it a streetcar and not a tram!

Travel / Looking for a new long-term stay in Poland [18]


Yes, and a much better choice that way, plus more competitive pricing too.

Did you go to Hel or Kolobrzeg? Seems like they might suit your requirements. The places you mention seem very urban for nature lovers with a lively dog. Or if you want to go inland consider somewhere in the Mazury area perhaps.

Off-Topic / Best posters [886]


I wonder if many people would recognize him? I do, from Simon Sebag Montefiore's book. Looks like a PLO scarf doesn't it? Great head of hair which he managed to hang on to. He's a bit boss-eyed though.

Life / What do Poles really think about cats? [470]

Have any of you ever seen the documentary about the lion called Christian who was rescued as a cub from Harrods pet department and later returned to the wild by his owners? It's a beautiful story, worth watching. It certainly belies any suggestion that cats are disloyal or hating their keepers.

Off-Topic / Things We Love [307]


But the Choctaw, themselves virtually destitute, gathered money to send to the starving Irish during the Great Hunger of the 1840s. Civilisation is not about science and inventions. The mark of a civilised human being is empathy and compassion- by a strange coincidence qualities of which you seem to be especially devoid.

bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3zvq3vz8o

Off-Topic / Things We Love [307]

Pretty little church, beautiful setting. On further research I discovered that rather amusingly it's located in the diocese of Gaylord.

Off-Topic / Things We Love [307]


And of course you need the right variety of spuds. .

Off-Topic / Things We Love [307]


I think that in the case of 'when the chips are down' it probably refers to chips in gambling ie. a risky situation which could have a bad outcome.

It's a shame how no enterprising Pole hasn't brought the chippy to Poland. I mean enough of them have been in the UK and Ireland and they must know how yummy good fish and chips are. At least we can make them at home Jon :) though I do get tired of being restricted to cod. I'd love some hake. You don't see any decent plaice here either.