News / The quality of Polish media coverage [54]


Without a reason?


They shot in their own feet with the article about explosives on the Smoleńsk plane wreck. It was very unprofessional, you must admit. Did Tusk order them to publish it???


Come on, the fall of popularity is nothing unusual considering the times we are living in.


Impossible.

News / The quality of Polish media coverage [54]


You might try Polityka which is critical both of opposition right wingers and ruling libertarians.

Polityka (Polish pronunciation: [pɔˈlitɨka], Politics) is a centre-left weekly newsmagazine in Poland. With a circulation of 170,000 (as of June 2006) it is the country's biggest selling weekly, ahead of Newsweek's Polish edition and Wprost. Today, the magazine has a slightly intellectual, social liberal profile, setting it apart from the more conservative Wprost and the glossier approach of Newsweek Poland.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]


Yes.


Yeah.


Yeap.


Yup.


Wow! I didn`t know that.


Exactly.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]

It is the problem of all armies. You wouldn`t like to know what kind of guys serve in American army.....

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]

It was done on purpose the secret of which cannot be revealed right now. Sorry. But to help you relax, here is a current link:

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]

Yes, sure, show us the pics!!

Not just pics. This is a discussion forum. Some text would be nice too.



OK, why not.....

Not a too fascinating Old Town, but, whatever....

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]


Kalisz looks the best when seen from the air:

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]



Guys, come on.....

OK!!!!!! LET IT BE YOUR WAY!

Zamość
Kazimierz Dolny

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]


Guys, why are you so impatient??? Is it the end of the world tomorrow or what? Come on, there is plenty of time. When I start a thread, I expect to run it for months, even years.


Why not??

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]

Yes, I liked it too a few years ago though it has too many post-war buildings:

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]


If so, I am sorry! :)


Oh la la, what can I say? You are too good for me.


I promise I will, I will even show the Old Town of Pacanów where they fit goats with horse shoes, but the English say: First things first! and you can`t deny this is also an English forum so we have to follow the English way.....

First things first.
Prov. Do things in the proper order; do not skip things that you should do first. Jill: Should we go to the museum first, or should we go shopping? Jane: I'm hungry. Let's eat lunch before we discuss it. First things first. First things first: read the directions carefully before you try to assemble the bookcase.

idioms.thefreedictionary.com/First+things+first

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]


So have you, monster! Are you going to haunt me again like you did in our past lives????

Wrocław:

Travel / Greatest Old Towns in Poland [74]


Thanks for appreciation and encouragement!! :):):)


Have you run a survey? Can we see the results? :):):):)

PS. What is wrong with female PF members at the end of the year? Most of them seem to be extremely dissatisfied ...... or unsatisfied..... I don`t know exactly.....

Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]


Kondzior, ask mods to go back on their action of merging your thread. After all, Polish vodka isn`t the only one drunk in the world.

Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]

I prefer wine but once or twice a year I fancy vodka.

Having a sweet tooth, I have always liked Stomach Bitter



which, paradoxically, isn`t bitter at all, but my recent discovery was simple traditional Wyborowa, which, frozen, also tastes a little sweet. Amazing!

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

No, monarchs were only an element of the whole system in which they were virtually powerless puppets, due to a series of legal acts bestowing most power to the nobility eg

The Privilege of Koszyce was a set of concessions made by Louis I of Hungary to the Polish szlachta in 1374. The privileges were granted in Kassa, Kingdom of Hungary (Polish: Koszyce; today: Košice, Slovakia). In exchange, one of Louis' daughters (Catherine, Mary or Jadwiga) was to ascend the throne of Poland after his death.

The szlachta obtained following privileges:
tribute release, with the exception of 2 groschen from one field and 4 groschen from monastic properties,
release of duty of building and repair castles, with the exception war,
offices only for Poles,
Szlachta for fight on the war got soldier's pay,
release of building towns and bridges,
release of support king's court when he was voyaging in the kingdom.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szlachta%27s_privileges


Many sites in Poland bear the information: destroyed during Great Northern War.

E.g.,: The castle in Ogrodzieniec, burnt by Swedish troops in 1702, was never rebuilt.



We finished our historical musings on destruction in early 18 century. What`s next?

There was some destruction after partitions of Poland, especially during several Polish Risings when enemy soldiers plundered houses and properties.
But nothing as serious as almost total destruction which happened in 20 century.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

That would be a too big provocation at the time. Remember, when the English beheaded their king in 1649, Cromwell and parliament took over for a few years but soon after he died they brought back monarchy. Old habits die hard! :):):):)

Americans gave an example much, much later.

1700 The Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth was still a huge country



But neighbours were too powerful and they did what they wanted.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

It seems the discussion on the first destruction is over so.....


Yes! It happened half a century later, in 1700. Foreign armies fought their war on the Polish territory for 20 years. Poland was ruined again and indeed, in 1717, it became formally vassalised by Russia (yet, not partitioned yet).

remus.shidler.hawaii.edu/genes/wprussia/Great%20Northern%20War/home.htm

Long years of war, with the constant billetings and tramping of troops across the country, had brought widespread ruin. In Poland, the Russian, Swedish and Saxon armies alike lived off the land over which they maneuvered, falling mercilessly on village and town for contributions of money and supplies. It is estimated that 60 million thalers were extorted in this way more than triple the total revenue of the Polish government budget throughout the Great Northern War.

1717 - Poland becomes Russia`s most important sphere of influence.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Sejm

Silent Sejm (also Dumb Sejm and literally Mute Sejm, Belarusian: Нямы сойм; Polish: Sejm Niemy; Lithuanian: Nebylusis seimas) is the name given to the session of the Sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of 1 February 1717. A civil war in the Commonwealth was used by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great as an opportunity to intervene as a mediator. It marked the end of Augustus II of Poland's attempts to create an absolute monarchy in Poland, and the beginning of the Russian Empire's increasing influence and control over the Commonwealth.

News / The quality of Polish media coverage [54]


Why did you mention only two titles?

Life / Video games centers and culture in Poland [22]


Can you tell us the names of foreign games which promote other cultures? We need an example to know what to look for......

Life / Video games centers and culture in Poland [22]

You mean computer games, too?

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]

Hey! It wasn`t me who invented this saying. To the best of my knowledge, a French philosopher at the time of First Partition of Poland.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


But only Poles treated faith seriously and truly believed in God, 10 commandments etc !! Germans believed in technological progress (one day in Fuhrer too), while Russians blindly believed in their tsars.


Yes, they swallowed us but couldn`t digest. :):):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


OK, you convinced me. :):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Pure defence against aggressive politics of Muscovites who, for over a century then, had been trying to expand their territory at the cost of Lithuania who was allied with Poland. Poles defended Lithuanians` asses and their own in the longer run, too. The same in Moldova - Poles tried to pacify local Turks who endangered Polish southern borders.

I sometimes wish Poles had been as aggressive and expansionistic as Germans or Russians. We wouldn`t have many of today`s problems. But we were always too delicate, forgiving and tolerant. Catholic upbringing!! Hence such frequent devastations of Poland by our neighbours.

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Of course not. Poles only defended their own territory. Yes, sometimes they crossed the borders, but it was in pure defence of Poles who lived out of Poland.

Travel / Monuments, statues, memorials of Poland [25]

It isn`t a monument but a traditional Armenian cross:

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


Sorry, quite the opposite. Ask your Polish granny! Go out and ask your next door Poles.


You cherish illusions. :):):):)

History / Destructions of Poland thoughout centuries [55]


No, it is completely unknown. Swedish diplomats and regular Swedes who come to Poland learn about it for the first time. Come on, how many Poles know that once Polish troops invaded Moldova or fought in San Domingo? :):):):)