Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes and yes.

to hamster as a verb. But in Polish the noun hamster changes into a verb after adding a suffix. So, it might be better to say: to hamsteren.

Genealogy / What are common Polish character traits? [425]


That wasn`t their own choice, really, but a result of shortage of apartments - people had to live in multigeneration families as they couldn`t afford an independent accommodation. But the truth is that Poles as individuals love to be independent. That is why that tradition from communist times has changed today.

History / Unforgettable quotes about Poland and Poles from Polish and world`s history and culture [99]

Julien Bryan, Am photographer in wartime Poland, said: If Spartans lived, they would pay tribute to Poles.

One day these words by Trump might become historical, who knows? :) He told the journalists about his September visit to Poland (prolonged to 2 days):

"I look forward to it. I like the people,"

Should I feel honoured? :):)

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]

How do you know more Bulgarians miss socialism? E.g., is there a political party in Bulgaria which openly claims communist heritage ? There is such a party in Czechia (10% support) but isn`t in Poland.

Life / How do Polish people treat their animals? [33]

That son of the bytch was arrested for 3 months. I suppose he will get 1- 2 years without suspension, similar cases in the past ended with such sentences. Those fekking bastards have to learn respect for animals at last - if their families or school didn`t teach them basic things, the jail will.

polsatnews.pl/wiadomosc/2019-06-04/areszt-dla-kierowcy-ktory-celowo-przejechal-psa/

Ye bunny debil.

• 
  wcpsofyx5ahmxw7zek25.jpg
  

USA, Canada / Historic(al) Americans and their ties with Poland/Poles [78]

So, the last picture is Peter Cetera, a singer with Polish roots, first in the band Chicago, then solo career. . Whenever I heard his name on the radio decades ago, I smiled cause it reminded me of a setter, dog breed.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Cetera

PS. Explanation - historic or historical doesn`t mean those people should be dead. Living ones are also worth talking about, but they must be known, of course.

Who is she?

• 
  Arlene_Golonka_Maybe.jpg
  

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


That is one of the greatest vices of communism - total neglect and ignorance of the environment protection. Yes, they built factories and powerplants to provide people with jobs but at the same time they gave us lethal gases and waste and nobody cared.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Just used it in another thread:
cry like a beaver.

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]


Ha! You guessed Kondrat as an adult actor and decided to play a trick on us by showing him as a child actor! No way we can be tricked like that! :):)

Wawrzek who is a trainee sculptor under the guidance of a great German artist, Wit Stwosz, making the giant altar for St. Mary`s Cathedral in Krakow in the film The Story of the Yellow Kid Shoe. I watched it on a school trip to the cinema. It was decades ago but I remember such important details like they happened yesterday. :):)

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]


Frolicking with the Devil. Staged by Meeting with Ballad cabaret.


One is Kołek (Peg), the other Kotek (Kitten) and have to share the same flat due to a mistake in documents. From Alternatives 4 series.


That`s Alternatives 4. Not deputy but caretaker - Angel.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


I don`t remember such beaches in Bulgaria. However, I remember the nudist beach there behind the fence with gaps between those giant metal sheets. What emotions! hahaha

USA, Canada / Historic(al) Americans and their ties with Poland/Poles [78]

Are you talking about my last photo? If so, then no. It isn`t Peppard aka Banaczek.
Hint - I said: on the radio.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


Not wherever. My family had a ban on Western direction for a long time. My father was a specialist engineer in electronic industry and communists feared he might defect and reveal the secrets of the system. :):) Such people weren` t allowed to travel West. We only visited countries of the Warsaw Pact. All of them except Romania. E.g., holidays in Bulgaria were quite cheap in 1970s.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]

Poles were always restive and stubborn. If communists tried to crack on society`s aspirations too much (e.g, Western ones), they risked another anticommunist revolt with strikes and street riots. Therefore, there was more freedom of travel in Poland than in Romania. Of course, it doesn`t mean anybody could go anywhere. Passports were kept at local police offices, you had to apply for the right to receive one, many people were turned down for various reasons. Sometimes people agreed to cooperate with secret police to get a passport, hundreds such cases has been revealed since the collapse of communism.

Have we accidentally run into another myth which should be abolished? Namely, a typical communist country was like a prison or concentration camp for its citizens and they had no chance to leave. Well, Poland wasn`t. We were actually called the merriest barracks in the Warsaw Pact countries. :):)

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]


I vaguely remember it is from a kid film about some forest creatures from swamps. :).

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


4 reasons:
1/ I already said: Poles are Western Slavs who feel strong cultural connection with the West. Anybody who tries to block that connection is doomed to fail. Communists allowed average Poles to travel West because they felt it was natural. They prefered to let some steam off than to risk another outburst in streets.

2/ Hard currency that Poles brought from those trips was later spent in the country in Pewex shops (income for the state) or bought by secret police for their dirty activities.

3/ Communists allowed a lot of Poles of German origin to leave for West Germany in 1970s - it was called uniting families. If those Poles could go, why others not ?

4/ Getting past Soviets. Polish communists had some independence - as long as they were loyal to the idea of the eternal friendship with the Soviet Union, they could do their own things in Poland. Remember Romanian Caucescu in 1968 when he condemned the Soviet crackdown on Prague Spring? Did anything happen to him later on? No.

Soviet people couldn`t travel to the West or even talk to Western tourists because:
1/ communism lasted longer in Russia and really brainwashed people`s minds.
2. Russians, being both Europan and Asian, feel a bit suspicious about the West - sort of national tradition.

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


They were pretty good when PO made the government. Now, with PiS in the government, Poland will get much less money. And I don`t take into consideration the loss of British contribution.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes and no: sb pretends a nice person when suddenly it is revealed he/she isn`t and then the comment is uttered. Herbs can have either healing or poisonous properties.

to pretend a holy person.

USA, Canada / Historic(al) Americans and their ties with Poland/Poles [78]


Oh, you are as impatient as a young male on the third date. :):) Come on, we have plenty of time, one at a time, not all of them packed into one post.

Whenever I heard the name of this man on the radio, I smiled.

• 
  231px2004_12LosAnge.jpg
  

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


One more photo of a congested Berliet city bus - the best illustration of communist reality. People couldn`t afford cars so they had to rely on public transport which was scarce.

In case sb tried to propagate the myth that public transport was well organised and widely available in communist times, call them a liar. But I haven`t heard such an opinion yet.

• 
  0005R4A3ID98D7TNC11.jpg
  

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


Yes, Dirk, you accidentally or deliberately reminded us of that scene from cult comedy Teddy Bear. Actually, cutlery wasn`t chained to the tables but it was marked in different ways, e,g.., they drilled holes in handles. There was one chained item, though - directory books in phone booths, probably in 1960s.


Well, another way. Berliets were very modern but unsuitable for such load of passengers as happened in Polish buses on the daily basis. There weren`t enough of them and people crowded inside like cattle. And bumpy roads, too. Belriet buses were too delicate for such conditions. Hungarian buses were simple and sturdy.

• 
  images.jpg
  

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]


Thank you for sticking to gender and sexual preferences parity - it is really important to be politically correct in today`s times. :):)
This trans is Eugeniusz Bodo who impersonated Mae West and sang the fav song of Polish cabarets: Sex appeal is our female weapon. Film Upstairs from 1937.

youtu.be/FSKvi5sB1Po

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]

Yes, Mother Joan.

Adam Miauczyński from The Day of the freak.
How can you cheat here? I wonder...

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]


Kaprys recognised Przybylska, I am trying to find that film but .....

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Przybylska

Well, it seems I am lousy at new films. You can beat me here. Plus, apart from depressive films, I also don`t watch romantic comedies.

Language / Busha and JaJa [140]

Yes, when seeing Jaja, we read eggs or balls.
Busha when uttered reminds of busz - the bush or scrub.

Language / Puns and language games in Polish adverts [33]

Yes, that is why that billboard was reported to a private Advertisement Chastity Board as too allusively obscene. PC in action. :)

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


60s and 70s are mostly black and white. 80s - more colours but still most bw. Colour photographic films were never produced in Poland. Sometimes East German ORWO films were used, cheaper than Western but still expensive.

USA, Canada / Historic(al) Americans and their ties with Poland/Poles [78]

Yes, Rita Cosby, her father was a Polish Warsaw insurgent Kossobudzki, she published his story.

Yours looks like a singer to me. Of course not Tina Turner, but another one. :) Janet Jackson has similar hairdo but it isn`t her.

Life / Do you know these characters from Polish movies? [223]

ha, that is why I didn`t know! I heard that title but as I don`t like depressive topics and people, I will never watch it. :)

This one was also depressive so I didn`t watch it full, only main scenes. :):)

• 
  1445193319.jpg
  

USA, Canada / Historic(al) Americans and their ties with Poland/Poles [78]

Of course. Her father became famous after she retold his story to people .