The BEST Guide to POLAND
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Posts by pawian  

Joined: 30 May 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - O
Last Post: 21 hrs ago
Threads: Total: 221 / Live: 149 / Archived: 72
Posts: Total: 25410 / Live: 19327 / Archived: 6083
From: Poe land
Speaks Polish?: Yes, but I prefer English
Interests: Everything funny

Displayed posts: 19476 / page 608 of 650
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pawian   
8 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

No,the record was set by my uncle-4 ppl,luggage,tent,gas cylinder and other staff in Maluch :)

OK, I give up my Trabant world record. :):):)

excellent post, enkidu.

Yes! Enkidu made great job, providing real food for thought and material for further development. Thanks!

I don't really agree about people wearing the same clothes though, like uniforms. Just about every woman knew how to sew, or at least adapt what was available to the latest fashion.

Yes. I still remember foreigners` comments on Polish women in 1980s- classy!

We never reached the Turkish border, only got to Golden Sands in our Trabant. :(:(:(:(

(the East Germans had no sense of humor)

It is natural - they had orders to shoot any trespassers. To death.

Money did not matter much. I know that is hard to believe but really - everybody got the money. And the money was mostly useless.

Yes, true. Most people had similar earnings. Exchanged into foreign currency (at the black market rate) : 20 -30 $ per month.

For instance - flats were given not bought. If you wanted to live in your own flat - you should find a job and make yourself useful. You get married and applied for a flat. In time - it was given to you

Yes, after having worked in a factory, office, mine etc etc for a long time it was possible to receive a flat. But still you had to pay about 25% of its value.

However, such flats` quality was incredibly low. Even Polish comedies from 1970s noticed it and communist censorship had to close an eye because it was so notorious:

Amazing technical problems after moving in, from 1:15:
pawian   
8 Jan 2013
News / Achievements of the Tusk's Polish government [532]

The photo of Tusk and his dog is causing a positive furor on the Net:

donald_tusk_i_pies_szeryf_640x0_rozmiar-niestandardowy.jpg

Poles are proud to have a Prime Minister who loves animals. :):):):)
pawian   
8 Jan 2013
Life / News on driving in Poland [57]

The aim of this thread is to present new laws/legal acts/reforms/changes etc etc concerning driving in Poland.

Opps! The end of paradise for Polish drivers? Traditional hairdryers

s

and regular radars

s

are slowly pushed out by new technologies. The authorities are installing high tech dual direction radars

Rostowski, Minister of Finance, is planning to gather unbelievable1.5 billion zlotys from fines and tickets for the state budget this year.

There are the first dissenting voices in Poland as to what action the new speed controllers . The idea is that the director is notified of the commission of the offense after the fact , however, is not pre- warned as is the case of fixed speed cameras. Alternatively , if they are " caught " by a vehicle equipped with a video recorder are immediately punished mandate. The thing is that the director does not have consciousness, if they are controlled or not, because there is no information on the control of photo radar . However, the provisions are directed as in the case of unmarked patrol cars equipped with video recorders , and even believe that this driver will be ridden more formally , since they're not sure whether or not it is going for a vehicle equipped with a speed camera .
pawian   
7 Jan 2013
Life / Advocating euthanasia routinely causes scandals in Poland... [63]

Owsiak went back on his words and said he had been misunderstood. He was only sharing certain dillemma of his with the interviewer but in fact he has never been a supporter of euthanasia.

Jerzy Owsiak denied that he was a supporter of euthanasia. Earlier, the head of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity urged politicians to canceled his words that caused a storm .

I am for euthanasia and have never been . I'm talking about the dilemmas of a man who has the courage to admit that when watching the suffering , it asks for its meaning. Discussion and exchange of views is important - Owsiak said on TVN 24 .


Today the Polish RC Church issued an official declaration fully condeming euthaniasia. Euthanasia is out of question.

Human life is too precious to reckless statements result in a loss of its importance - Team members believe the Polish Episcopate for Pastoral Assistance to Health.

In his declaration criticizes team Jerzy Owsiak his say about euthanasia. In an interview with dziennik.pl he said among other things that euthanasia is to help the elderly in suffering.

The National Health Service Chaplain Father Stanislaw Warzeszak in an interview with the Agency 's Information Radio recalls the position of the church - euthanasia is murder . The priest says clearly that man is the master of life and has no right to deprive him or herself or someone innego.Eutanazja is murder, even with the consent of the other person - said the priest Warzeszak .

pawian   
7 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

In every shop there was exactly the same stuff at exactly the same price (no special offers or "buy one get one free").

Yes, except for private boutiques where prices varied considerably.

Unification was total. In every house you would find exactly the same set of furniture. Not "similar" - exactly the same. .

Not really. There were two or three dozen furniture manufacturers then, state or semiprivate, they produced quite a variety of stuff, I don`t remember seeing the same furniture like ours in my family`s / classmates` etc houses.

There was a few kinds of cars (I believe about 4 different models)

A little more.
Throughout 1970s and 1980s, cars produced or assembled in Poland: - Warszawa, Syrena, Fiat 126, Fiat 126, Fiat 127, Fiat 128, Fiat 131, Polonez, Zastava 1100, .
autokult.pl/2008/02/25/top-10-polskich-aut-epoki-prl-u

plus imported Skodas (Czechoslovakia), £adas, Wołgas and Zaporożec (USSR), Dacias (Romania), Trabants and Wartburgs (East Germany) etc etc.
pawian   
7 Jan 2013
Language / Fun with Polish ambiguous language [59]

Definitely not used in my region :)

Neither in mine. It sounds Russian, indeed.

- but I am aware that Russian has 'zakliuczit''

Another one:

Siedzi baba i słyszy tupanie z szafy, otwiera, a to jej sukienka wychodzi z mody.

A woman hears steps from her wardrobe, opens it and sees how her dress is going out of fashion.
pawian   
7 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

your shock more than likely stemmed from the fact that the bag was leaking!

Really? I don`t remember that.

As far as taste goes, I prefered the glass (as I do my beer;)

No, glass milk tasted like shyt. Milk in a bag was professional! :):):)

PS. Shyt. I made a mistake! Foiled is the wrong term! :):) So what is the proper word for milk in a plastic bag?
pawian   
7 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

Yes, that`s what I meant. They originated in late 1970s (I still remember our shock when mother brought foiled milk home) and have remained till today.

Funny, but that foiled milk somehow tasted better than the bottled one.
pawian   
6 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

I liked the 1st May parade. With the flags, music, sweets.

I attended only one as a child. Yes, I got a balloon and a giant red lollipop. A few years later parents told me they had to go. :):):)

There was no one homeless.

The communist police called militia took care of it - the streets had to be clean - communism couldn`t have homeless people, come on. :):):):)

"Avoiding of the duty of work" was an criminal offence. lol

Exactly. those who shun work were called blue birds. :):):)

here was no advertisements or flashing neons.

No. I still remember giant neon ads in Krakow, e.g., one which advertised Soviet railways (with moving wheels, incredible) And Warsaw and other big cities were full of them.

More: skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1204331

Milk was simply a milk.

Milk was sold in giant glass bottles - only two kinds - regular (silver cap) and rich fat (golden cap).

s.v3.tvp.pl/images/d/c/a/uid_dcad3269e31955f94a57ae24d933dc8f1274101790513_width_268_play_0_pos_3_gs_0.jpg

The only communist relict that survived till today is a small bottle of kefir with a green cap:
pawian   
6 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

but my non-communist grandparents do remember a brief period of relative material well-being around that time.

Early 1970s Gierek shops:

More

fakty.interia.pl/galerie/fakty/1-majowe-pochody/zdjecie/duze,12 53541,22

I detest that guy and everyone else who was actively helping him to subdue Poland at the time.

Yes, but Poles had no choice then. 1 million Soviet troops stationed in Eastern Europe, including Poland. So, wasn`t it better that Poland was ruled by Polish communist swine rather than Soviet swines? :):):):)
pawian   
6 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

Pawian, what do you think of communism being used in advertisements?

I have nothing against as long as the ad is a joke.

Such ads are directed at young people who know very little nothing about communism.

given Poland's history it seems ridiculous to me to use such icons to sell things but perhaps Poles see the irony better than me, of using the symbols of communism to sell products?

Lenin in your ad is a caricature, indeed. The ad is meant to be amusing.
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [413]

I decided to start a thread about our experiences with communism (socialism) in Poland after learning that the leftist party :

Leftist party wants 2013 to be communist leader 'Edward Gierek year'
Gierek replaced Władysław Gomułka as communist party first secretary in Poland in 1970, following rioting and protest over the massive price rises of basic commodities. Gierek developed relations with western leaders, particularly France's Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and West Germany's Helmut Schmidt. Foreign loans from western credit fuelled a short-lived consumer boom in Poland, which petered-out by the middle of the decade. Protests again broke out in 1976, laying the foundations for the growth of the Solidarity movement four years later. Gierek was replaced as party leader in September 1980 by Stanisław Kania and died, in July 2001, a highly controversial figure in Poland.

thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/122957,Leftist-party-wants-2013-to-b e-communist-leader-Edward-Gierek-year

s

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gierek
Gierek promised economic reform and instituted a program to modernize industry and increase the availability of consumer goods, doing so mostly through foreign loans.[2] His good relations with Western politicians, especially France's Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and West Germany's Helmut Schmidt, were a catalyst for his receiving western aid and loans.

The standard of living increased markedly in the Poland of the 1970s, and for a time he was hailed a miracle-worker. The economy, however, began to falter during the 1973 oil crisis, and by 1976 price increases became necessary. New riots broke out in June 1976, and although they were forcibly suppressed, the planned price increases were canceled


PS. I used relations in the title on purpose, btw. I like it more than storiesor accounts.

PS.2 I lived in communism for about 20 years - during 1970s and 1980s. Enough to start a thread. :):):):):)
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Life / Advocating euthanasia routinely causes scandals in Poland... [63]

I had once created a thread on PF, concerning Passive Euthanasia. The thread no longer exists.

I am really sorry. I checked in search and found nothing.

The thread no longer exists. I had mentioned the difficulties and decision making my family experienced, when a relative was on life support.

Can you share the details if it is not a problem?
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Language / Fun with Polish ambiguous language [59]

robiła babcia na drutach, przejechał tramwaj i spadła ;)

Hey, it took me 15 seconds to understand this one! :):):):)

Why is it ambiguous??

- Wzięłaś pigułki?
- Nie...
- No to dupa...


Did you take a pill?
No..
Shyt!
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Travel / Castles and Palaces in Poland (with pictures) [155]

Apart from grandest Malbork, we can visit other castles built by Teutons with Polish bricks :):):):):) :

Kwidzyń

Apart from grandest Malbork, we can visit other castles built by Teutons with Polish bricks :):):):):) :

Bytów

Apart from grandest Malbork, we can visit other castles built by Teutons with Polish bricks :):):):):) :

Gniew:

gniew

Golub Dobrzyń
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Travel / Castles and Palaces in Poland (with pictures) [155]

What are Polish bricks? And the Old Prussians settled on Polish land? And why had the Polish king to buy something he already owned?

Apart from grandest Malbork, we can visit other castles built by Teutons with Polish bricks :):):):):) :
Some are well- preserved ruins, but most are fully operational.

Radzyń Chełminski:
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]

It is really amazing that the Brits allowed the transformation of their Old Towns into ..... shyt......

Yes, progress......

But again I appreciate living in Poland where people may seem conservative but their allegiance to history and tradition is still strong and that`s what I like.

The Old Town of Elbląg, rebuilt from scratch in 2000s.

https://polishforums.com/history/restoration-cities-destruction-32836/2/

PS. Most pics in the post above are mine.

In another member`s thread you can learn about a major Polish city which is considered a shythole by foreigners.

If you want to discuss if the opinion is justified or not, visit the thread: https://polishforums.com/uk-ireland-31/city-moved-britain-63987/.

I am pretty sure £ódź partly deserves its bad reputation to the lack of the Old Town. After all, the city developed in 19 century. I remember staying in £ódź for a few years as a child, about 30 years ago, and later I never visited it except for driving through. No point. Compared to historical Polish cities and towns, £ódź is poor indeed.

I do prefer every small armpit town with medieval design to industrial city of £ódź:

£ódź

s

Wodzisław:

More about small towns: skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1082605&page=14

Danzig:

 s

Shyt! Why is everything so fekking dark??

Holy cow! I forgot to take off my sunglasses!

Aaaah, now that`s much better.....
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Language / Fun with Polish ambiguous language [59]

"Zamek" has few meanings.

Yes, you are probably right. :):):)

Lock or zipper are rather cheap,

Depends.

but I don't know anyone who would like to buy a castle.

How about the guy?:

Wszedł facet do warzywniaka i nasrał w pory.
pawian   
5 Jan 2013
Language / Fun with Polish ambiguous language [59]

I can't afford a new lock (or castle or zipper, depending on the context).

Yes!

Which meaning would you choose?
pawian   
4 Jan 2013
Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

You still haven't answered my qestion.

In 1989, when you played hide and seek in the kindergarten garden, I was a young man fully aware of historical events taking place in Poland. I can even say: I was fascinated with changes going on our eyes.

Later I read a lot of publications on the period. And still am fascinated.

Simple, isn`t it??? :):):):):)

Stop fantasizing about me it is an unhealthy habit.

Everybody knows about that, come on.