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Posts by pawian  

Joined: 30 May 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 19 Mar 2025
Threads: Total: 226 / Live: 154 / Archived: 72
Posts: Total: 27401 / Live: 21318 / Archived: 6083 		From: Poe land
Speaks Polish?: Yes, but I prefer English
Interests: Everything funny

Displayed posts: 21472 / page 675 of 716
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pawian   
6 Jan 2013
History / Life in communist Poland - personal relations [503]

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 [503]

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

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

How could one not know it, Ironside? Are you 15 years old?

Nope. Ironside must be about 30 years old. He left Poland 10 years ago when his parents won the green card in the American visa lottery. In 1989 he was a kindergarten kid (or had a nanny at home).

As for economy - implying that all what was build during communism times in Poland by the magic of 1989 become overnight worthless junk that Poles shoudl be grateful if somebody agreed to dispose off is a biggest lie and propaganda there was and you all 12 years old have just bought that lie and you are stuck with it for better and worse.

Of course, not everything was worthless. I guess only 90% industry was junk. :):):):)

And I suspect Pawian was there to witness it first hand too.

Yes, sad, but I was already an adult in late 1980s. And vividly interested in the problems of the country .

And I am glad things have improved by now, enormously.

Yes. Do you know in 1989 communists created the highest inflation in Poland ever?

1989 - 639,6%

It is hard to believe today, but it is true.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation
pawian   
4 Jan 2013
Life / Advocating euthanasia routinely causes scandals in Poland... [63]

Strange this topic hasn`t appeared in the forum yet.......

In one of his recent interviews Jurek Owsiak (organiser of the biggest annual charity event in Poland) declared his support for euthanasia

He said: I am not afraid of the old age, but I am afraid of infirmity, especially dementia, Alzheimer. Not only old people, but all members of the family are degraded by those conditions. I am eager to start a discussion on euthanasia. Personally, I accept euthaniasia - for me, it is a way to ease the suffering of old people.

In result, both bishops and politicians of various colours are voicing their opinions - most are against, saying that euthanasia is immoral, inhumane, devastates the bond between generations, ruins family. In countries where euthaniasia is legal old people are afraid to use the medical services for fear of their lifes.

They are expecting Owsiak to withdraw his words before 13 Januray when the next edition of the charity event is going to collect money to help the old in need:

" Allowing for euthanasia , not only legal but also a moral dimension , is one of those phenomena which causes serious consequences for the functioning of societies. Especially for families , a sense of intergenerational compounds . Though subconscious mind that in certain circumstances, grandmother or grandfather you can sleep , causes real change in the relationship between people and observe it in societies that have gone in this direction. 's something almost inhuman in the fact that in countries where euthanasia is permissible , elderly people are afraid to use the assistance of health professionals because of concerns loss of life " - says aperl signed by Kazimierz Jaworski (SP ) , Marek Sawicki (PSL ) , Jack Zalk (PO) and Przemyslaw Wipler (PiS ) .
pawian   
3 Jan 2013
Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

I know you won`t believe it but it is lower.
Last year - 497.
This year - 494.

A few taxes went up a little but other went down. Hence the difference.

This is the rent with central heating, water, rubbish, cable, lift, repair and maintanance costs for our own 60 m flat.
pawian   
3 Jan 2013
Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

the real thing that is a true menace is not some still elusive crisis but very real inflation which is two digit for poor people - the whole method of calculating in Poland is screwed and does not reflect the true inflation

Wow! I haven`t heard or read about it so far. That is some novelty, really.

(especially the food prices) - we are constantly paying more for lower quality products

Yes and no. Products are more expensive than 3,4 years ago but the prices have been stable for the last 1, 2 years.

PS. Be careful - I often do shopping alone or with my wife and I have a good memory. :):):):)
pawian   
2 Jan 2013
Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]

I dont know what happend to some of the links, Pawian

Linka are broken because they contain this phrase: " title=".

Ask mods to remove it and all will be fine.

Strange. I tried to find a few British Old Towns for comparison and there are practically none which preserved their Medieval character (except for Edinburgh). Or is it me who can`t find them? What`s the matter???????
pawian   
2 Jan 2013
Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]

Despite slowdown and crisis looming, Poland is not bad in rankings, e.g., where to be born in 2013

s

But, making a living out of teaching English is becoming harder every month. Teachers of English are still going down with prices. I have come across ads where a teacher is ready to accept 15 zlotys per 60 min lesson. Native speakers are satisfied with 30 zlotys.
pawian   
2 Jan 2013
History / The restoration of Polish cities from WW2 destruction [123]

As much as I despise communism, I have to defend the bastards in this case.

You are probably right. The needs were gigantic, the resources very scarce. Poland didn`t receive aid from the Marshall Plan.

People can get sniffy about high rise buildings, but unlike the pre-war homes they replaced, they were warm, dry, and clean.

True. Warsaw was raized to the ground in 70%. Communists built new houses according to Soviet pompous architectural style but at least those houses had all facilities.

Before the war

plac Defilad

Today:

Plac_Konstytucji
pawian   
1 Jan 2013
History / The restoration of Polish cities from WW2 destruction [123]

Yeap. And many intelligent communists agreed with architects that some non-Polish things had to be rebuilt. :):):):)

And yet the castle was hugely restored after being hammered by bombs.

50% destruction

malbork

malbork
pawian   
1 Jan 2013
Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]

A picture is worth a thousand words -

Yes, that is my specialty! :):):)

Pawian has always been about pictures, give him a break.

Thanks!! :):)

Very few of the pictures actually belong to the OP (in this thread).

Of course, this thread is full of not mine pics.I hope it isn`t a problem.

If I want pictures I'll go to Flickr.

No, you won`t, you are too busy moderating the forum. The only chance for you to see real Poland is here. :):):)

Rules are Rules and they apply to every poster equally.

Hey, I read the rules twice but cannot find anything about photos and text?
polishforums.com/rules-privacy-tos/

Where the hell is it?

Edit: I read the rules thrice and still cannot find it. Am I blind?

Nor can I. But I would still ask for some text as this is listed as a discussion forum.

There are two Sącz towns in Poland - Old and New. Both established in 13 century.

Stary Sącz (old)

s

Nowy Sącz (new)

s

s
pawian   
1 Jan 2013
History / The restoration of Polish cities from WW2 destruction [123]

Strange, you'd have thought a monument to German Teutonic might would have been dismantled.

Fortunately, despite WW2 massacres of Polish intelligentsia by Nazis and Soviets, after the war there were still intelligent people who understood the value of ex-German heritage and they negotiated the restoration with communists, often successfully.