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Post by Bonobo on Mar 29, 2008 21:57:53 GMT 1
Let's us check it out for you, and we will vote. Here you are. I don`t know what this is all about. Can you check it out and see if it`s worth visiting? |
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 16, 2008 12:21:05 GMT 1
I will tell you about my surprises from the past.
1. In 1990, being a 3rd year student, I went to the US. The economic transformation had just started in Poland after the collapse of communism in 1989. I was leaving Poland which looked like a typical communist country then: everything was grey, drab, rusty, broken or stolen.
I came back from the US 1.5 year later. Before my come back, I had imagined those wonderful views I would see in Poland, the effect of capitalism working wonders in a post communist country. Glass and metal skyscrapers, renovated houses, repaired facilities.
How naive I was. The first drab building with broken windows was the arrival hall at Okęcie Airport in Warsaw. My dreams of rebuilt Poland were ruined. hahahahahaha They started coming true much later.
2. I used to go to camps a lot when I was young. It always perplexed me why our teachers at a camp told us to clean out teeth in the morning, but before breakfast. I already realised that food gets stuck onto teeth and causes dental problems, so it was obvious to me that brushing must take place after breakfast. Yet, we never went to bathrooms again.
It was a few years ago when I read an article used in one exercise during an English exam. Some girl was describing her youth experiences, she and her sister were ordered by their mother to clean teeth before breakfast at a hotel/guesthouse restaurant to make a good impression on other diners, especially those sitting next to the family. The tradition must have been pretty long, surely dated back to times long before the war.
When I compared it to my memories, it struck me how the tradition of making a good impression, obviously bourgeoisie, the class abominable to communists, was kept in communist Poland despite bolshevik efforts to erase them in order to introduce their class manners.
My mother also tried to keep it up, especially when she ordered us to brush teeth before going to a dentist. She had in mind our making a good impression on the dentist, and not making his work easier.
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Post by valpomike on Apr 16, 2008 17:14:21 GMT 1
But now, 2008, the changes show up, I think. What do you think on this? Poland is great and getting better each day.
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 16, 2008 18:34:02 GMT 1
But now, 2008, the changes show up, I think. What do you think on this? Poland is great and getting better each day. Poland has made an incredible progress. For example, we have almost caught up with our southern neighbours, the Czechs, who were twice better off in 1989, but today the differences are very small. Yet, we still have to do a lot to catch up with the West. Poland is about 30 years backward to Germany, Britain, France, etc. |
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Post by Bonobo on May 26, 2009 21:32:48 GMT 1
Today I had two surprises. They were so surprising I didn`t have time to take out the camera. First, on a long street in Krakow, withing a mile distance, I saw three seperate collisions with about 8 cars involved, 3 cars in two of them. I got really shocked- what`s the matter with drivers today? Luckily they were bumper-torn-off crashes, nothing serious. The other - walking in my area I saw about 20 Indian guys. First an Indian woman whom I thought to be a gypsy. Next a big group of about 10 of Indian men were apparently coming off work, they were saying good bye to each other. And a few individual free lancers, one with a shopping bag. I couldn`t guess why they were all there - eventually I associated their presence with the computer business software and systems company which is located not far from my place. They must rent flats in the area. Comarch - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comarch
Comarch is an international software house and systems integrator based in Kraków, Poland. Comarch provides services in areas such as Telecommunications, Finance and Banking, the Services Sector and to Public Administration. Its services include billing, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, IT security, IT architecture, management and outsourcing solutions, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and sales support, electronic communication and business intelligence.
Comarch was founded in 1993 by professor Janusz Filipiak, a tenured scientist on leave from AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. Since then the company has built an international network of subsidiaries. Today, the Comarch Group employs nearly 3000 employees worldwide with a steady yearly revenue stream of over $211 million. |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 15, 2009 22:25:21 GMT 1
I am really surprised. It is so easy.
4 years ago my bank set up an Internet account for me. I got cards with scratch numbers, passwords etc. But I didn`t use them, I prefered the traditional way, yes, sometimes I can be as conservative as J. Kaczyński. I have been also afraid of spy viruses and phishing artists or whatever they are called.
Until today. I paid a few bills, it is really funny. I think I am gonna use it more often.
How long is it since you started paying over the Net?
PS. This is not credit card account, just regular one. I have a credit card but don`t use it at all. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by jeanne on Jun 16, 2009 0:02:35 GMT 1
I am really surprised. It is so easy. 4 years ago my bank set up an Internet account for me. I got cards with scratch numbers, passwords etc. But I didn`t use them, I prefered the traditional way, yes, sometimes I can be as conservative as J. Kaczyński. I have been also afraid of spy viruses and phishing artists or whatever they are called. Until today. I paid a few bills, it is really funny. I think I am gonna use it more often. How long is it since you started paying over the Net? PS. This is not credit card account, just regular one. I have a credit card but don`t use it at all. ;D ;D ;D Mrs. Ultra-conservative speaking here...I don't do it and I don't plan to start.  |
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Post by tufta on Jun 16, 2009 18:10:05 GMT 1
Around 3 years I guess.
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 20, 2009 21:31:53 GMT 1
Two surprises. The first one from early 1990s. I just recalled how I was walking in the street near my former address and a guy approached me. He pointed to a car parking on the pavement and asked me in broken Polish or English (I don`t remember now) who the car belonged to. He wanted me to give him the address of the owner. I was really flabbergasted. Was he serious? Two dozen apartment blocks around, hundreds of cars parked all over and he wanted me to know the owner? I said I didn`t know. The guy probably didn`t believe me. I realised the cultural difference later on. He was from Romania, had asked me about the car of Romanian make, Dacia 1300.  He wanted to buy it and take to his country. Romania has always been poorer than Poland. The guy, judging by the standards of his own country, had been sure that I would have known the owner, just like he had known all scarce car owners in his neighbourhood in Romania. 2nd surprise. A few days ago I got to know a 19 yo female student who is going to take final exam next year. During a standard conversation in English, asked about her hobby, she said she loves going fishing, either with her father or alone. I was really surprised. |
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Post by jeanne on Sept 20, 2009 23:06:30 GMT 1
2nd surprise. A few days ago I got to know a 19 yo female student who is going to take final exam next year. During a standard conversation in English, asked about her hobby, she said she loves going fishing, either with her father or alone. I was really surprised. All three of my daughters grew up going fishing with my husband ... they all loved it and still do. |
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 21, 2009 20:05:37 GMT 1
2nd surprise. A few days ago I got to know a 19 yo female student who is going to take final exam next year. During a standard conversation in English, asked about her hobby, she said she loves going fishing, either with her father or alone. I was really surprised. All three of my daughters grew up going fishing with my husband ... they all loved it and still do. It is really an interesting matter. I started analysing it psychologically. That a father goes out fishing with his daughter, is it a form of compensation for a man who doesn`t have sons? And daughter. Does she go because she feels like obliged to compensate her father the lack of male offspring? Does she feel pressed in any way, psychologically? And she doesn`t like fishing but goes because it is one of few ways to spend time with her father and gain his love? What do you think? |
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 21, 2009 20:06:43 GMT 1
2nd surprise. A few days ago I got to know a 19 yo female student who is going to take final exam next year. During a standard conversation in English, asked about her hobby, she said she loves going fishing, either with her father or alone. I was really surprised. All three of my daughters grew up going fishing with my husband ... they all loved it and still do. 2nd surprise. A few days ago I got to know a 19 yo female student who is going to take final exam next year. During a standard conversation in English, asked about her hobby, she said she loves going fishing, either with her father or alone. I was really surprised. All three of my daughters grew up going fishing with my husband ... they all loved it and still do. It is really an interesting matter. I started analysing it psychologically. That a father goes out fishing with his daughter, is it a form of compensation for a man who doesn`t have sons? And daughter. Does she go because she feels like obliged to compensate her father the lack of male offspring? Does she feel pressed in any way, psychologically? And she doesn`t like fishing but goes because it is one of few ways to spend time with her father and gain his love? What do you think? |
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Post by jeanne on Sept 22, 2009 2:20:39 GMT 1
It is really an interesting matter. I started analysing it psychologically. That a father goes out fishing with his daughter, is it a form of compensation for a man who doesn`t have sons? And daughter. Does she go because she feels like obliged to compensate her father the lack of male offspring? Does she feel pressed in any way, psychologically? And she doesn`t like fishing but goes because it is one of few ways to spend time with her father and gain his love? What do you think? I think that it's just a nice, peaceful activity that father and child can share together and strengthen their bond, and that it doesn't matter if the child is male or female. It's an opportunity for the father to teach the child something in a non-stressful manner in a beautiful, natural setting. Really, Bonobo, aren't you being a tad sexist regarding this?  Why shouldn't girls enjoy fishing? I went fishing with my father when I was a child and I cherish those memories. |
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Post by Bonobo on Sept 23, 2009 20:12:23 GMT 1
Really, Bonobo, aren't you being a tad sexist regarding this? Why shouldn't girls enjoy fishing? I went fishing with my father when I was a child and I cherish those memories. I am not a sexist, just profoundly surprised. Wouldn`t you be surprised if you met such a person for the first time in your life at the age of around 40? It has nothing to do with sexism. ;D ;D ;D ;D E.g., how often do you meet teachers who dress up in former Soviet Army uniforms to work? And there was such a teacher in Poland. Would you be amazed? Yes. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by jeanne on Sept 23, 2009 21:04:49 GMT 1
Really, Bonobo, aren't you being a tad sexist regarding this? Why shouldn't girls enjoy fishing? I went fishing with my father when I was a child and I cherish those memories. I am not a sexist, just profoundly surprised. Wouldn`t you be surprised if you met such a person for the first time in your life at the age of around 40? It has nothing to do with sexism. ;D ;D ;D ;D I think you have lived a 'way too sheltered life! ;D Ummm...okaaay...that's a great analogy!!! (I don't usually resort to sarcasm, but in this case I must! ) |
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Post by tufta on Sept 24, 2009 16:59:43 GMT 1
Perhaps the problem would cease to be surprising when mothers taking their kids for fishing would be seen on the river banks as well ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 5, 2010 20:30:08 GMT 1
Ads and spam messages got a bit too irritating. Every day I patiently laboured on removing them from my two accounts.
I lost my patience and started looking for solutions. I found out it is possible to put the unwanted senders on The Black List, with the result of moving their messages directly to the trash bin.
Wow! It works!
People learn all their life.
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 14, 2011 12:41:08 GMT 1
Through private lessons I saw one father`s computer. It is an Apple, very funny. Everything is packed in the monitor, including DVD etc. The keyboard is small, the mouse has only one button.  Does anyone use this stuff? |
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Post by pjotr on Jun 14, 2011 23:57:53 GMT 1
I have an old Apple G4 with a 17" Sony monitor, and a 13" Macbook laptop with a 23" extra flatscreen desk monitor. I am fine with it, but I do not own the image you show here above. It is a nice computer, with a great efficient design. I love Apple, but am forced to use Windows PC's at my radio station for editing and deskwork there.
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 18, 2011 19:37:04 GMT 1
I have an old Apple G4 with a 17" Sony monitor, and a 13" Macbook laptop with a 23" extra flatscreen desk monitor. I am fine with it, but I do not own the image you show here above. It is a nice computer, with a great efficient design. I love Apple, but am forced to use Windows PC's at my radio station for editing and deskwork there. This is really interesting, Peter. I had known nothing about Apple computers before I saw one (well, except the Forest Gump film where Forest invested in Apple and gained a lot). Are they a real alternative to Windows PCs? |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 18, 2011 19:38:11 GMT 1
I never cease to be amazed at reading/hearing such news about marijuana plantations. Don`t these guys realise they will be tracked down sooner or later? They might go unnoticed in such countries as Canada, Australia or Russia, where population density is very low. But not in Poland.
Police have discovered the largest marijuana plantation on record in the southern province of Malopolska, seizing 800 plants worth 4 million zloty (1 million euro).
Police from the Central Investigation Bureau in Nowy Sacz as well as Poland’s Border Guard undertook the raid, with two men being taken into custody in connection with the illegal plantation and alleged drug dealing.
A total of 800 plants at varying stages of growth were hauled in by the authorities, amassing to around 79 kg. The estimated worth of the drugs is 4 million zloty.
The bust is part of ongoing efforts to close down a drugs ring in the country, with eight arrests, including the leader of the group, taking place in May.
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 9, 2016 12:14:23 GMT 1
It is unbelievable but a few days ago I learnt for the first time there exists certain marine mammal called false killer whale. It is even more surprising I hadn`t heard the name before because it is very unusual in Polish. See another thread. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_killer_whaleAnd I thought I knew all sea creatures as studying sea life has been my hobby for years. |
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 12, 2017 15:46:55 GMT 1
I had to check the meaning of soda bread which I came across in one of my textbooks. Funny name. I had never heard it before. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda_breadSoda bread (Irish: arán sóide, Scots: fardel, Serbian: česnica / чесница) is a variety of quick bread traditionally made in a variety of cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as "baking soda") is used as a leavening agent instead of the traditional yeast. The ingredients of traditional soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk. The buttermilk in the dough contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. Other ingredients can be added such as butter, egg, raisins, or nuts. An advantage of quick breads is their ability to be prepared quickly and reliably, without requiring the time-consuming skilled labor and temperature control needed for traditional yeast breads. |
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Post by jeanne on Mar 13, 2017 0:13:17 GMT 1
I had to check the meaning of soda bread which I came across in one of my textbooks. Funny name. I had never heard it before. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda_breadSoda bread (Irish: arán sóide, Scots: fardel, Serbian: česnica / чесница) is a variety of quick bread traditionally made in a variety of cuisines in which sodium bicarbonate (otherwise known as "baking soda") is used as a leavening agent instead of the traditional yeast. The ingredients of traditional soda bread are flour, bread soda, salt, and buttermilk. The buttermilk in the dough contains lactic acid, which reacts with the baking soda to form tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide. Other ingredients can be added such as butter, egg, raisins, or nuts. An advantage of quick breads is their ability to be prepared quickly and reliably, without requiring the time-consuming skilled labor and temperature control needed for traditional yeast breads. You could have asked me. I love making soda bread because I am not good at dealing with yeast... Where I live bakeries are full of Irish soda bread right now in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th. There are many Irish and those of Irish descent living in my state of Massachusetts! |
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uncltim
Just born
I oppose most nonsense.
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Post by uncltim on Mar 13, 2017 1:51:42 GMT 1
I really like soda bread for the texture and the dry sweetness that it has.
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 13, 2017 23:22:06 GMT 1
I really like soda bread for the texture and the dry sweetness that it has. I wonder if I were able to tell the difference with covered eyes.  You could have asked me. I love making soda bread because I am not good at dealing with yeast... Where I live bakeries are full of Irish soda bread right now in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th. There are many Irish and those of Irish descent living in my state of Massachusetts! I have known the name baking soda but the usage of it had been a bit vague to me until I read the above Wiki entry. |
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 13, 2017 23:26:10 GMT 1
Through private lessons I saw one father`s computer. It is an Apple, very funny. Everything is packed in the monitor, including DVD etc. The keyboard is small, the mouse has only one button. Does anyone use this stuff? Unfortunately, I won`t recommend this appliance. After a few months, I noticed the computer`s DVD drive doesn`t work and they had to connect an external driver. Problems with the service in Poland? |
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Post by jeanne on Mar 14, 2017 1:10:16 GMT 1
I really like soda bread for the texture and the dry sweetness that it has. I do too! But I don't like it when they put caraway seeds in Irish soda bread...for me it ruins the taste! I definitely prefer it without! |
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uncltim
Just born
I oppose most nonsense.
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Post by uncltim on Mar 14, 2017 3:00:03 GMT 1
It is unbelievable but a few days ago I learnt for the first time there exists certain marine mammal called false killer whale. It is even more surprising I hadn`t heard the name before because it is very unusual in Polish. See another thread. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_killer_whaleAnd I thought I knew all sea creatures as studying sea life has been my hobby for years. There are also Home pods and transient pods. Home pods stay local and eat fish where transients kill and eat other mammals. I spent some time in the Salish Sea and learned these things. I was with a polymath that wrote an article about octopus brain structure that I will post some time for you. It is really very interesting. |
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 14, 2017 21:23:19 GMT 1
It is unbelievable but a few days ago I learnt for the first time there exists certain marine mammal called false killer whale. It is even more surprising I hadn`t heard the name before because it is very unusual in Polish. See another thread. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_killer_whaleAnd I thought I knew all sea creatures as studying sea life has been my hobby for years. There are also Home pods and transient pods. Home pods stay local and eat fish where transients kill and eat other mammals. I spent some time in the Salish Sea and learned these things. Wow, very interesting info, indeed. www.orcanetwork.org/nathist/transients.html
Transient killer whale pods are generally comprised of an adult female and two or three of her offspring. Among the differences between residents and transients are that while resident orcas of both sexes stay within shouting distance of their mothers their entire lives, only first-born male transients maintain such intense fidelity to their mothers. Optimum pod size for transients is three, so whenever a third offspring is born, one of the siblings often leaves. The rule seems to be that the eldest son can stay, but all but one of the others may have to go.
Orcas have no predators and are capable of ingesting virtually any bite-sized living thing found in the ocean, but residents select only fish (mainly Chinook salmon) and squid to dine upon, while transients never touch a fish or squid, but prey exclusively on seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins, and other large whales. Orcas everywhere appear to specialize on certain prey. This way they divide up the available food in the marine ecosystem and avoid competition. Salmon, resident orcas' preferred delicacy, are widely dispersed, so residents are able to travel in large groups across wide expanses. Transients tend to move in their small groups silently, usually around seal haulouts. They silently stalk and outwit their wary food, zig-zaging in unpredictable patterns. The optimum number of orcas in a hunting party is three, since three can most easily detect and surround mammalian prey. |
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Why shouldn't girls enjoy fishing? I went fishing with my father when I was a child and I cherish those memories.
