mafketis
21 Sep 2022
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]
They do not have a firm grasp on geography, do they?
The Tuvalu embassy is in Brussels.
They do not have a firm grasp on geography, do they?
mafketis
21 Sep 2022
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]
It's the ambassador of Tuvalu (whose ISO 3166 code is TV and whose internet TLD is .tv
why such a photo of a car registration plate?
It's the ambassador of Tuvalu (whose ISO 3166 code is TV and whose internet TLD is .tv
mafketis
21 Sep 2022
History / The British Royal Family and Poland: Any connection? [70]
I used to know the person who interpreted for her and Charles (and Thatcher as well). But I haven't seen him for many years now...
I wonder where She visited.
I used to know the person who interpreted for her and Charles (and Thatcher as well). But I haven't seen him for many years now...
mafketis
18 Sep 2022
Travel / Poland in photo riddles - part 2 [1680]
he's a doctor and patients give him 'presents'?
friend of mine keep so much foreign alcohol
he's a doctor and patients give him 'presents'?
mafketis
18 Sep 2022
Life / Polish movies with English subtitles [87]
The version I heard was more like (paraphraising) "Translations are like women, beauty and faithfulness are seldom found together."
a faithfully captured poem isn`t beautiful
The version I heard was more like (paraphraising) "Translations are like women, beauty and faithfulness are seldom found together."
mafketis
17 Sep 2022
News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]
show me evidence that russia was involved that hasn't been cherry-picked and massaged into an inch of its life....
again... do you really think russians are competent enough to make it _hard_ to figure out that they did it (if they did... which I doubt).
fervently believe they are innocent?
show me evidence that russia was involved that hasn't been cherry-picked and massaged into an inch of its life....
again... do you really think russians are competent enough to make it _hard_ to figure out that they did it (if they did... which I doubt).
mafketis
17 Sep 2022
News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]
My gut instincts:russia totally _would_ have crashed the plane had putain deemed it necessary or desirable.
But... russia is a nation of bumblers and it would have been extremely obvious if they had done it...
all the evidence is that it was a tragic accident maybe (not for sure, but possibly) brought on by the hubris of whoever had a h@rd on about landing at all costs.....
Do you not trust your gut instincts?
My gut instincts:russia totally _would_ have crashed the plane had putain deemed it necessary or desirable.
But... russia is a nation of bumblers and it would have been extremely obvious if they had done it...
all the evidence is that it was a tragic accident maybe (not for sure, but possibly) brought on by the hubris of whoever had a h@rd on about landing at all costs.....
mafketis
15 Sep 2022
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]
I do try to tip according to service... but the degree to which Poland isn't a real tipping culture can be demonstrated by the time I took a taxi and the driver thought the tip was too big and wouldn't take it all... (IIRC the fare was around 13 and it had been bad weather so I just gave him a 20 and told him to keep it)
Also, delivery guys. I always tip delivery guys (depending on size of package) and half the time I have to call them back as they usually hand over the package and head for the hills....
a small pity cause the working staff expects small tips regardless of service
I do try to tip according to service... but the degree to which Poland isn't a real tipping culture can be demonstrated by the time I took a taxi and the driver thought the tip was too big and wouldn't take it all... (IIRC the fare was around 13 and it had been bad weather so I just gave him a 20 and told him to keep it)
Also, delivery guys. I always tip delivery guys (depending on size of package) and half the time I have to call them back as they usually hand over the package and head for the hills....
mafketis
15 Sep 2022
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]
That's what I do too (or just tell them how much change I want back (say 20 back from a 100 on a 72 zl bill)*
*US readers, that's not cheap in Poland where 10% is quite sufficient (traditionally it's not really a tipping culture, unlike say Hungary where'd you'd better tip if you know what's good for you....)
put a rounded up amount
That's what I do too (or just tell them how much change I want back (say 20 back from a 100 on a 72 zl bill)*
*US readers, that's not cheap in Poland where 10% is quite sufficient (traditionally it's not really a tipping culture, unlike say Hungary where'd you'd better tip if you know what's good for you....)
mafketis
15 Sep 2022
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]
I remember when the best option was to hand it directly to the server (apart from settling the bill)
This was weird since the US practice was (still is?) to leave it under the edge of a plate.
It's always important to tip in cash so the owner can't skim it.
I remember when the best option was to hand it directly to the server (apart from settling the bill)
This was weird since the US practice was (still is?) to leave it under the edge of a plate.
mafketis
15 Sep 2022
Life / Polish movies with English subtitles [87]
what are some example?
Iubesc România! I've been four or five times, mostly Bucuresti but one also Constanta (extremely weird place). What's up at present?
also has some connections with the Romanian history
what are some example?
Iubesc România! I've been four or five times, mostly Bucuresti but one also Constanta (extremely weird place). What's up at present?
mafketis
14 Sep 2022
News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [870]
All politicians play to audiences... K-M isn't a populist because as Kashub1410 says, populism = advocating for things many or most people want. Calling them a mob becasue you disagree is a child's rhetorical trick....) I don't agree with all majority opinions (far from it) but appealing to them is part of politics in a democracy.
Hardly anyone in Poland wants what K-M is selling (monarch? subjugation by russia? no voting rights for women?) he's a fringe figure who strikes most people as being mentally ill - the one time I saw him in person at the Bambino milk bar on Krucza his body language and general demeanor suggested some form of schizophrenia (not quite the word I want but close enough, something diagnosable by the appropriate specialist)
He plays to an audience.
All politicians play to audiences... K-M isn't a populist because as Kashub1410 says, populism = advocating for things many or most people want. Calling them a mob becasue you disagree is a child's rhetorical trick....) I don't agree with all majority opinions (far from it) but appealing to them is part of politics in a democracy.
Hardly anyone in Poland wants what K-M is selling (monarch? subjugation by russia? no voting rights for women?) he's a fringe figure who strikes most people as being mentally ill - the one time I saw him in person at the Bambino milk bar on Krucza his body language and general demeanor suggested some form of schizophrenia (not quite the word I want but close enough, something diagnosable by the appropriate specialist)
mafketis
13 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
I think at one time a monarchy would have been good for Poland which badly needed a figure in situ who stood above political divisions.... (JPII was the closest but he was not physically present in the country enough). It's too late now but it could have made the late 1990s and early 2000s a lot more civil.
I think the monarchy was very good for Spain after Franco (and the King's taking a stand against the 1981 coup attempt gave the monarchy legitimacy for a few decades which he ultimately p[ssed away)
the monarchy and the way it links past, present and future in one apolitical and unambitious person
I think at one time a monarchy would have been good for Poland which badly needed a figure in situ who stood above political divisions.... (JPII was the closest but he was not physically present in the country enough). It's too late now but it could have made the late 1990s and early 2000s a lot more civil.
I think the monarchy was very good for Spain after Franco (and the King's taking a stand against the 1981 coup attempt gave the monarchy legitimacy for a few decades which he ultimately p[ssed away)
mafketis
13 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
There were certainly lots of flaws with colonialism but the countries that still blame that for their problems decades later.... have problems that are deeper than having been colonized at one point.
Their empire wasn't all bad
There were certainly lots of flaws with colonialism but the countries that still blame that for their problems decades later.... have problems that are deeper than having been colonized at one point.
mafketis
7 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
PiS is pretty openly trying to subordinate the judicial branch to the governing party.... would you be happy after PiS loses if the winning party does exactly as they are doing?
You know nothing about Polish system
PiS is pretty openly trying to subordinate the judicial branch to the governing party.... would you be happy after PiS loses if the winning party does exactly as they are doing?
mafketis
7 Sep 2022
Off-Topic / Random Sports News [887]
And he was totally right!
Or maybe.... the players asked to not be associated with their flags... did you consider that?
Russians tennis players are not disengaged from the war enough to have flags next to their names at US Open
And he was totally right!
Or maybe.... the players asked to not be associated with their flags... did you consider that?
mafketis
6 Sep 2022
Off-Topic / Random Sports News [887]
grumpy wumpy!
let these nice pug dogs cheer you up!
twitter.com/pug_lovers23/status/1567168085492387850
You are full of crap
grumpy wumpy!
let these nice pug dogs cheer you up!
twitter.com/pug_lovers23/status/1567168085492387850
mafketis
6 Sep 2022
Off-Topic / Random Sports News [887]
If they're not speaking out whenever possible, that means they basically approve. Over 400,000 russians left the country after february 24.... what's stopping professional athletes from following suit?
How is that remotely relevant to the case of professional tennis players from russia in the year 2022?
Write a single paragraph (don't forget your thesis statement!) that explains the relevance and then I'll answer.
"Know" =/= "basically approve".
If they're not speaking out whenever possible, that means they basically approve. Over 400,000 russians left the country after february 24.... what's stopping professional athletes from following suit?
How did you "disengage" from Iraq?
How is that remotely relevant to the case of professional tennis players from russia in the year 2022?
Write a single paragraph (don't forget your thesis statement!) that explains the relevance and then I'll answer.
mafketis
6 Sep 2022
Off-Topic / Random Sports News [887]
If they still maintain citizenship... they know about the war and basically approve.
russian players have had plenty of time to disengage from their crummy and inferior country of origin... if they haven't then they deserve to be treated like sh]t...
want respect? stop being russian!
remaining russian? no respect!
who mat actually disagree with Putin and the war.
If they still maintain citizenship... they know about the war and basically approve.
russian players have had plenty of time to disengage from their crummy and inferior country of origin... if they haven't then they deserve to be treated like sh]t...
want respect? stop being russian!
remaining russian? no respect!
mafketis
6 Sep 2022
Off-Topic / Random Sports News [887]
Who was invited? Did the US Open send an engraved invitation? Or did the player in question reqest entry? If the second there's not reason to give free publicity to his crappy, inferior country and its inferior flag....
if you agreed with this:
Who was invited? Did the US Open send an engraved invitation? Or did the player in question reqest entry? If the second there's not reason to give free publicity to his crappy, inferior country and its inferior flag....
mafketis
6 Sep 2022
Off-Topic / Random Sports News [887]
you're right... russian players should have been excluded.... there's no pressing need for russian athletes to make large amounts of money while they're government is killing civilians in Ukraine....
russia out of all grand slame events! and russia out of the olympics and all olympic sports!
nice to see we agree about something!
player is a Russian. Then, no flag
you're right... russian players should have been excluded.... there's no pressing need for russian athletes to make large amounts of money while they're government is killing civilians in Ukraine....
russia out of all grand slame events! and russia out of the olympics and all olympic sports!
nice to see we agree about something!
mafketis
4 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
Shocking I know! Wanna know something even more shocking? Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Joseph Ratzinger and Karol Wojtyła apparently are/were members of a church in Rome!
Why? Are you a gangster?
WHAT?
Shocking I know! Wanna know something even more shocking? Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Joseph Ratzinger and Karol Wojtyła apparently are/were members of a church in Rome!
"gangsters". It hurts my feelings
Why? Are you a gangster?
mafketis
4 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
Yes, political parties in democracies play political games... what precisely is your point? Are you endeavoring to make crushingly obvious arguments? What's next your breathless discovery that water in its liquid form is wet? That large predatory mammals of the Ursidae family defecate in forested areas?
commenting on my very serious post about Poland?
Yes, political parties in democracies play political games... what precisely is your point? Are you endeavoring to make crushingly obvious arguments? What's next your breathless discovery that water in its liquid form is wet? That large predatory mammals of the Ursidae family defecate in forested areas?
mafketis
4 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
More signs that you should move to your beloved russia as soon as possible! What are you waiting for?
..A democratic government playing mind games
More signs that you should move to your beloved russia as soon as possible! What are you waiting for?
mafketis
4 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
Kaczynski knows this, the whole issue is an attempt to distract people's attention from the many ongoing policy failures of PiS....
Is there any legal way to enforce those claims today? No.
Kaczynski knows this, the whole issue is an attempt to distract people's attention from the many ongoing policy failures of PiS....
mafketis
4 Sep 2022
News / Is Poland restoring its influence from Baltic to Balkan, with consent of Russia and USA ? [22]
Sleazy American political operative... (part pol-am, part french-canadian)... I think he said something nice about serbia once and ever since crow has a major b0ner for him...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corey_Lewandowski
Who the hell is Corey?
Sleazy American political operative... (part pol-am, part french-canadian)... I think he said something nice about serbia once and ever since crow has a major b0ner for him...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corey_Lewandowski
mafketis
1 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
No... it's really not and Kaczyński knows that.
It's about getting you riled up at Germany and ignoring PiS incompetence and misrule...
Money is coming in one way or the other,
No... it's really not and Kaczyński knows that.
it's about gesture!
It's about getting you riled up at Germany and ignoring PiS incompetence and misrule...
mafketis
1 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
Or "smokescreen".... PiS hasn't exactly been covering itself in glory lately so time to distract the base with an oldie but a goodie...
my prediction: this will go nowhere (but only after lowering Poland's international prestige...)
In PR terminology, it's called "throwing a dead cat".
Or "smokescreen".... PiS hasn't exactly been covering itself in glory lately so time to distract the base with an oldie but a goodie...
my prediction: this will go nowhere (but only after lowering Poland's international prestige...)
mafketis
1 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
you're russian... you don't care about the laws of reason...
bonus the difference between russian and Ukrainian mothers...
youtube.com/watch?v=AYYgM-21zzg
but this defies the laws of reason.
you're russian... you don't care about the laws of reason...
bonus the difference between russian and Ukrainian mothers...
youtube.com/watch?v=AYYgM-21zzg
mafketis
1 Sep 2022
News / Poland to officially demand $1.32 trillion WW2 reparations from Germany [457]
What strikes me about this.. is the sheer political incompetence.
PiS is screwing up and people want leadership on important issues (Odra, energy, inflation...) and all PiS can think of is to try to strong arm another country so they can be in charge of handouts....
It stinks of desperation and intellectual and political bankruptcy....
Is it my imagination or is the electorate getting as sick of PiS as they were of PO in 2015? Cause if they're not, they should be...
What strikes me about this.. is the sheer political incompetence.
PiS is screwing up and people want leadership on important issues (Odra, energy, inflation...) and all PiS can think of is to try to strong arm another country so they can be in charge of handouts....
It stinks of desperation and intellectual and political bankruptcy....
Is it my imagination or is the electorate getting as sick of PiS as they were of PO in 2015? Cause if they're not, they should be...