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dear mr president and prime minister of poland!im from ukraine,staying in poland for 4 years.i want to express my admiration and gratitute to you,leaders Poland,for politics you provide!your country and your people are really democratic!listening to programmes in ukrainian on polish radio i feel comfortable here!THANK YOU FOR THIS!GOD BLESS YOU!
We live in a media driven society where democratic politics have been suborned to what the mass media including the free internet choose to show and publicise and, in reaction, to political street populism. This is despite the fact that in mature democracies it is the ballot box that decides who will run a country, city or region for the following 4 or 5 years, not a group of street demonstrators, peaceful or otherwise.
So mass street protest, despite pulling a large meda audience, in fact is grossly unrepresentative of an electorate as a whole. For example, Warsaw has nearly 1.5 million registered voters. Of that number, at the most recent Presidential elections (2010) just over 300,000 voted for Mr J. Kaczynski and in the National General Elections (2011) 200,000 (375,000 voted for Tusk).
Therefore, a countrywide bussed-in turnout at last Saturday's Warsaw street demonstration of 50,000 or even 100,000 or more is a weak showing, the more so when one adds the official membership of nearly 700,000 of the Solidarity trade union. Is it all not just a "storm in a teacup"?
What is worrying is the way the leading politicians get so easily diverted into populist street politics and pandering to various special interest groups instead of focussing on running a country properly, efficiently making necessary changes and systematically implementing reforms. Both government and opposition leaders should focus on the latter instead of being diverted into media circus hype. Any and every government needs a well organised, professional and well prepared opposition. That has been lacking in Poland which has resulted in the government coalition drifting and lacking focus as its opponents spend more time in-fighting than constructively opposing the government.
"Jarosław Kaczyński had appeared to be losing his mettle. Eschewing economic debate while Poland averted the global financial crisis, he instead obsessed with the death of his twin brother, the last president, in the Smolensk air crash. Mr Kaczyński has suggested it was not an accident, but surveys show only about a quarter of Poles ever subscribed to the assassination theory."
This is an outrageous and deeply biased statement that proves the media bias and full censorship with respect to the irregularities of investigation of the Smolensk crash.
According to Forsal.pl bribery is a major factor ("Poles bribe often and willingly") in Poland's low score in rating the quality of medical services among 20 selected European countries. Poland's dismal 17th rating places it well behind France, the UK, even Slovakia and Hungary, just ahead of Latvia, Serbia.
Leading countries: The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, etc.
European generosity for Poland's economy is impressive. For the period of 2007-2013, Brussels granted Poland almost 68 billion euros that can be spent by 2015. The largest program is the EU's Programme for Infrastructure and Environment, with a budget of around 28 billion euros for financing construction of roads and highways.
PS. Don't forget to send a 'Thank You' card to Berlin and Paris !
Last Saturday's Warsaw demo march was a little weird: It included the right wing Solidarity trade union which mostly represents workers in the State sector (membership about the same as the left wing OPZZ trade union and only 7% of the total Polish workforce)and subordinated to J.Kaczynski and his Law and Justice Party. There was also the xenophobic nationalist ultra catholic Rydzyk media supporters group led by their "businessman in a priest's robe".And of course members/supporters of Kaczynski himself.
Question is: who was the main leader? Kaczynski or Rydzyk or Solidarity's Duda? For a country of 38 million people the numbers present seemed to be small, the more so given the total votes cast in Warsaw at the last elections for Kaczynski. So what is going on? Was it a serious demo (a constitutional right in every democracy)or just a PR exercise to get media attention 3 years before the next election? Or was it an attempt to force extra-parliamentary change, effectively to introduce "political street anarchy"? Monday's announcement by Kaczynski of an extra-parliamentary prime ministerial candidate (puppet) seems to indicate that Kaczynski wants to go the anarchic route as he is clearly unable to win power through the normal democratic process. Or does he?
Another question that needs to be answered is why were no RC Church hierarchs present? After all they have actively and visibly supported Kaczynski and his party in the past. Church low clergy were present, but other than Rydzyk, were virtually invisible. Is there a change in Church policy? If so is it on the Vaticans instructions or a local decision?
Clearly social frustration does exist, the more so that the Tusk government seems to lack pro-active leadership policies. The electorate want stability, jobs and decent reasonably efficient government and state services. Anybody doing business in Poland (myself included) knows just how difficult it is dealing with the State bureacracy and how much room there is for improvement to reach the average levels of the EU let alone the efficiency of Finland or, for that matter, the UK!
The "silent majority" which has given Tusk voting support in the past in fear of a return of Kaczynski is becoming frustrated at the perceived lack of of decisive leadership. People's memories are short. Will Poles at the next election (2015) remember what happened under Kaczynski's rule in 2005-2007 or will they vote for a change simply because of frustration with Tusk and his PO party? I wonder!
And what horrible things happened under Kaczynski rule and in which way they were worse than what is happening today?
I additionally wonder who are funding it.
Those nosey Polish-Americans again? Lots of them are Bar Confederates or Casimir Pulaskis.
Jasiek, are you a conspiracy theorist? In recent years people from all over Poland (in addition to marches in their local towns) have been congregating in Warsaw to participate in mass demonstrations (we know because they carry on banners the names of the places they come from). It has to be stressed that these demonstrations, despite all sorts of quite unfounded insinuations ("ultra Catholic" "xenophobic nationalist") are peaceful, civilized family affairs. But it should also be notes that each demonstration is larger than the one before.
And you suggest that all this funded by "nosey Polish-Americans"? It's a bit like saying that St Patrick's Day festivities are funded by an IRA mafia.
You could also ask how a penniless monk could found first a radio station, then a TV broadcasting organisation, a geothermal plant, a private university and all these ventures are prospering? I'll give you a clue, it's not thanks to any support from the current government. Perhaps Father Rydzyk should be made minister of finance, economy or infrastructure in an increasingly badly needed non-partisan technocratic government?
Rule by an extreme right wing government verging on the neo-fascist (some of its members even demanded DNA testing all Poles for proof of their so-called "Polishness"!)and widespread abuse of remand powers, including selective use of communist secret police files on anyone who opposed the party-in-power. This included subordination of the judiciary to the executive very much on the old communist principles of "guilty till proven innocent" and "give us the indiviual and we will find (in time) a suitable paragraph (of the law code)". Principles of habeas corpus were grossly abused.
Poles, like most people, do not actually like extremism or authoritarianism in any form. Consequently the overthrow of Kaczynski and his party in the 2007 election and his defeats in all subsequent elections. Moderation in all things and thereby controlling the middle ground is the name of the game in democratic politics, be it in the USA, Poland, Germany, France or any normal democracy.
Rydzyk in late communist times disappeared west for a few years to reappear in a West German media network which was transmitting xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda which caused the German authorities to forcibly shut it down on the basis of a clear and systematic breach of the German Constitution which specifically bans neo-Fascist activities.
Rydzyk subsequently returned to Poland to found his media group. Where did he get his funding from? The Church authorities or some foreign source? Afterall, as you say he was supposed to be a "penniless monk". It is known that he at least for some years rented transmission power from the Belarus authorities, their radio transmission plants including towers being under their State security apparatus control (either GRU or KGB).It would not be in the least surprising if it eventually turns out that he was funded by Moscow: it would be a classic "disinformation" strategem on their part, which Moscow (or Minsk) has used in the past!
He managed to get his flock to make donations on a large scale, including over 100 million zloty to save the shipyard for Solidarity in Gdansk, which monies were never handed over to the union.
In a normal country all charities and foundations have to operate within the law, presenting their annual accounts for public scrutiny in order to be able to obtain tax benefits. Rydzyk's numerous business activities have never paid any taxes despite not presenting the necessary externally auditted financial documents (which is the reason why he was refused a multiplex licence). When will he be brought to order by the Church authorities? Hierarchical changes will no doubt take place as his supporters retire and are replaced from Rome. However, the latter (at least in Italy) is regularly involved in one financial scandal after another involving money laundering on behalf of the Mafia and South American drug cartels,which is why the Vatican Bank is still on a black list.
Of course the Catholic Church has had its fair share of financial scandals, paedophilia, homosexuality, incest, murder whatever, but so has the USA, the UK and Sweden, only even more so, especially as far as abortions, euthanasia and the sale of arms to warring tribes are concerned. But would that make Russia, any of the Islamic states, China or North Korea any better? Of course not! So what are we talking about? A typical boring conversation with someone who has a Catholic Church fixation.
What I object to in your case are the blatant lies, obvious untruths, quite unsubstantiated and unprovable "facts". For instance, you once claimed that Law and Justice voted for creating the national health fund (NFZ), on what grounds? You claim the same party is for DNA testing, where did you read about that? I mean even Gazeta Wyborcza can't publish such nonsense, because even in this post-communist country there are, at the end of a very long day, libel laws - something as an anonymous poster you need not fear. And the same goes for Father Rydzyk. It was Amber Gold, not Lux Veritatis (the fund financially run by very competent Lidia Kochanowicz on behalf of Father Rydzyk's successful ventures), that by some "miracle" managed to exist for several years without actually paying taxes. If Lux Veritatis had failed to pay taxes in this exceedingly bureaucratic and administratively hostile country, it'd be an open and shut case. That old save-the-shipyards fund raising chestnut has also been dropped by the aggressive media at least if only on account of the simple fact that the Solidarity trade union supported Father Rydzyk's protest march. Where's the logic? Or are you saying that a trade union, not the government is responsible for the collapse of Polish shipyards? Well, I suppose as an anonymous poster, like blackfeather canada, you can say anything.
OK after reading this I thought: What?! PIS is a far right party? Then I remembered:) There was certain small party called League of Polish Families, almost forgot about this bunch. A "side dish", which was eaten alive by PIS and long forgotten since. But they couldn't be so bad – why? – because their then leader Roman Giertych works as an lawyer and is defending son of our Prime Minister. You certainly don't want to suggest that our dear leader could hire fascist for such important task?
Abuses of power? Like for example jailing celebrities at 6 a. m. and creating "sinister atmosphere"? Subordination of judges and courts? Under Tusk they don't have to be suborned. They know what to do without anybody telling them. Any such enumeration of PiS crimes can be balanced with much longer list of sinister errors and shortcomings of PO.
However I am really curious about one of your accusations. Which politician proposed this? Google search with "testy genetyczne na polskość" doesn't show anything relevant to this discussion.
Anything left of Gazeta Wyborcza clique is "extreme right wing to you". You are proving it over and over again in your posts.
Meant: Anything RIGHT of Gazeta Wyborcza clique is "extreme right wing to you". You are proving it over and over again in your posts.
Sincere apologies for this mistake!
For your information K.T.:
A law constraining the freedom of assembly, one of the fundamental constitutional freedoms, has been recently adopted in POland:
Is that one of the 'structural reforms' of Mr. Tusk you mentioned? ;-)
I find no problem in effect:
Rather, the existing set of laws have been haphazardly organised, which an administration could possibly have abused. Also, Poland will have to have the European Commission assess the bill anyway, and if the Commission finds it too questionable it will order Poland to reconsider.
'Thus far, Law and Justice's fresh energy has done little to close the popularity gap with the government, which continues to lead in the polls.'
Ehem... about 75% of Poles are unhappy with Mr. Tusk's government:
the support for Law and Justice amounts to 28% and is at the same level as the support for the Civic Platform
Kind regards
That is fairly healthy. There are three forms of political radicalism - socialism, populism, which you usually call conservatism, and libertarianism - against moderatism, which actually is true conservatism. The linked survey suggests that each of the four could hold its fair share in equilibrium. If politics is on such a suble and precarious balance that requires moderates to always remain on guard, that is the healthy situation for a democracy.
Dear K.T.,
I am really sorry, but for as a serious newspaper as 'The Economist' your article is annoyingly superficial and partial. The state if democracy in Poland makes me anxious. Some facts? Here you are: firstly the Smolensk catastrophy. The Russian enquiry was conducted very fast and blowsy. The mixed bodies in the cofins is the proof. It is not secure, there were only two errors. The Poles were not allowed to open the cofins after their transport from Russia 2010. And to the catastrophy itself: The pilots were said while landing by the control tower in Smolensk, they were 'on the course and on the track'. Well, they wasn't... The plane's wrack has not been given back to Poland yet (after more than two years!), which makes it impossible to examine it. The black boxes has not been heard by Polish prosecutors. The boxes are in Moscow as well.
Why are so fond of Mr. Tusk? Only somebody, who has not been to Poland recently can pretend, everything is all right. Try to ask the Polish police for help (I did), try to go to the hospital, try to be unemployed in Poland - then you will see, what I mean. The police refused to start an enquiry on my destroyed, maintaining I destroyed myself! (Sic!) An unemployed person can consider to be lucky, if he or she gets 125€ (!) unemployment benefit.
And the state of the democracy? Why a liberal government forbids broadcasting a critical television? What sort of liberalism is that? And what about the judge in Gdansk (Milewski), who where recorded by a journalist, as he offered to discuss the verdict in the trail, in which Mr. Tusk's son is involved with Mr. Tusk himself? What about 2 mio. telephone talks, overheard last year in Poland by the police. (The facts 'The Economist' reported.)
In the protest in Warsaw took part 200 000 and not 50 000 people. (You could at least mention the discrepancy...) And to Mr. Rostowski - he was sociology professor in London (not economics) and if he is a 'formidable rhetorician' - is a problem your personal taste.
Kind regards
"so why are poles so economically backwars"
Sorry to dissapoint you, but Poles are not economically backward, only your mentality is. There is no other country in Europe that has done as much as we have in the last 30 years, yet your mentality prevents you from moving your visionism forward. A good cure for your "im too proud to think others are more clever than me" would be to travel around the world and see some things before commenting on them. Oh, and secondly, please, the relationship between Poland and Germany is the best it has ever been. We are not stupid enough to let another anglocrat ruin that.
Dear K.T.,
I'm afraid you're excelling in an old craft of manipulating facts. Your paper is almost exclusively done of such a fabric, which may be easily gobbled by naive Westerners unaware of the Eastern
reality. First, you're taking your readers by utter dummies trying them to swallow your expression of faith into what is called "consensus theory of truth". Ah, don't you really catch it? So hear yourself about the Smolensk air crash:
he instead obsessed with the death of his twin brother, the last president, in the Smolensk air crash. Mr Kaczyński has suggested it was not an accident, but surveys show only about a quarter of Poles ever subscribed to the assassination theory.
Does this mean that 75% of Poles are absolutely right about saying this was not an accident? Sorry, there's a great amount of evidence that the whole enquiry on the crash done both by the Russian commission and the Polish State Prosecutor are stuffed with contradictions and lies. Third parties' enquiry based on the same dataset (copies of tapes from the black box) done by international experts who reconstructed the last minutes of the presidential airplane flight shows that the copies of tapes forwarded by the Russians were falsified and the Russian reconstruction contradicts the laws of physics, including material resistance.
The remainder of your paper is of the same fabric, trying to prove how badly behaving and anti-European are these folks who protested in Poland for not only the honour but also for the vital interests of the Polish nation.
With regard to your understanding what truth is, I can only tell an old French expression:
"Mangez de la m...e, les millions de mouches ne peuvent pas avoir tort". And I leave you with this.
Who were those "international experts"? You know, two ot three persons, who did not have acesss to the data.
Pity you
"Now that the country's traditionally good growth is slowing"
Ok, but the EU, EZ are both in recession. Hungary and the Czech Republic are now in recession too, with Slovakia growing only due to a few foreign investments into its car manufacturing, i.e. the laws of small numbers. Many economists are predicting a German recession too. Amongst this Poland looks pretty cool, with its "slowing growth." Foreign investments are still flowing in, at an even greater pace than before.
But the true issue in terms of economic slowdown is: what can be done to prevent this, or is there anything that can be done to prevent this? The answer to this lies in what some call "buffers." Does a country, for example Poland, have "buffers" that it could use to "absorb" these "shocks." Well, if you look at countries like the USA, with its currency union with China and its absurd monetary policy, it cannot do much. But Poland has buffers which it can use, for example:
* Interest Rates. Interest rates in Poland are currently 4.75%. This is very high compared to the near 0% rates in the US. A reduction of the interest rates would increase amongst others consumption thus increasing growth.
* Floating currency. Poland still has a free currency which will simply drop in times of economic hardship thus increasing the countrys competativness and hence growth.
* Relatively low public debt which meand the country will not need to tighten its budget as much as others.
* Attractivness to Foreign investors. The country seems to be attracting ever more investors. Examples are countless. The economic stability and resiliance compared to for example the Czech R. and Hungary means we should absorb ever more investments.
* The Next EU budget, 2014-2020. Current budget is near expiry, most investments are comming to an end hence there is a contraction in partiularly the construction industry. When the new budget comes in, Poland could be getting as much as 80 BLN euro. This will definately increase activity and drive growth.
* Economic activity with our neighbours to the EAST, is booming, with exports up in double digits.
* Huge potential for deregulation and an improvment to business environment.
* Government spending as a % of GDP has fallen from 50% in 1989 to about 21% in 2012. Low level of inefficient state influence over the economy gives us an edge over many others.
These are just some of the buffers I can think of now. But there are many more. If you contrast this with other countries, we should certainly keep our heads above waters.
Yesterday, a conservative thinker was sacked from the Czech PM adviser position for blaming Czech president Klaus to be a wannabe conservative because he behaves like a socialist cry-baby putting himself into a position of victim and blaming state / society.
In this context, I wonder if any conservative thinker in Poland told the "conservative" demonstrators the same? True conservatives live fairly autonomous lives within their farm, family and church micro-context and their dependence on state is minimal (in case of ultra-conservative societies like Amish, they are totally independent).
That's why it's hardly imaginable for them to put so much importance to state matters and gather for demands from state - this is supposed to be domain of socialists and people in liberal societies where state is the key part of their lives (a kind of "extended family").
Tomas, great point. Obviously we don't have conservative leaders, deep enough to be listened to by 'conservative' demonstrators under the flag of Father Rydzyk.
Besides - how to not love the Czechs with their way of president assasination trial with a toy gun - was it David Černy?
Hi Forlana, the attack was performed by a young leftist with an airsoft pistol - president Klaus was hit with several plastic bullets. The attacker didn't intend to assassinate anybody but to draw media attention to the fact that Czech politicians act against needs of common people. He argued that common ways like throwing tomatoes would not have been a strong enough impulse. That's why he was disappointed that attention devoted was strong indeed but it focused on quality of the presidential security rather than his statement... This is typical for the Czech society that generally lacks conservative values and thus many people indeed associate their hopes and frustrations with the quality of state governance - bad governance can cause the "bad mood" in the whole society...
As for David Černý - as you know, he is an artist, that's why I guess that if he planned a similar assassination, he would use a paintball rifle with paint bullets to dye president pink ;-))
Because religeous conservatives are not political conservatives but political radicals.
Poland acquired one-third of Germany's total area after WWII, including some of her richest provinces. So why are the Poles still so economically backward? What went wrong?
Well perhaps (with one or two exceptions) not all that rich, but nonetheless a very valid question. The answer is 6 years of war, 44 years of communism, and, with perhaps 2 or 3 years of governments genuinely concerned about the country, the post-communist period best described as 23 years of post-communistic thievery. Had it been otherwise, we could have achieved at least as much a Bavaria.
As far as thievery is concerned, the current government is by far the ruthlessly worst (selling the states assets at ridiculously low prices to fill their private pockets). It is therefore symptomatic that such a dreadful government should be so uncritically supported by magazines such as The Economist. It strongly suggests that the Locarno/Munich/Tehran/Yalta/Potsdam mentality is just part of a constant West European motif.
It started with French attempts to reduce the industrial strength of Germany in the Versailles Treaty, by separating the German populations in Silesia from industrial centers that had been German lands for centuries, and repopulating them with Poles.
The unintended consequence of which, as we all know,was the later popularity of the the Nazi movement in the East. I see a replay about to begin through the introduction of the Euro, not through resurgent German Nazism, but through the economic destruction that the eurobots are visiting on Europe to save their "euro" project.
"...by separating the German populations in Silesia from industrial centers that had been German lands for centuries, and repopulating them with Poles"
You have just described the consequences of a series of decisions in the late 1940s following Nazis' surrender. It had nothing to do with Versailles, but a lot to do with Potsdam, and later with the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact and with COMECON's central planning. That was and remains the cause of what some called 'de-industrialisation'.
No, I have described what happened as a consequence of French policy long before the 1940s at Versailles, which as we all know helped to sow the seeds of Nazism, such as through the creation of the Danzig corridor, designed to weaken Germany. This is common knowledge.
There was a certain Neville Chamberlain present at the Versailles negotiations trying to prevent French insistence on incorporating old German settlements, valuable for their industries, into Poland, which he called "insane provocation". Many embittered Germans moved westwards as a result.
Chamberlain was proven to be right, which probably helps to explain his later appeasement policy towards Hitler regarding Sudetenland, a similar case in which the French had succeeded in incorporating a German population into another state, spreading the already poisoned relations between 'Teuton and Slav'. Versailles was the massive miscalculation that embittered Germany as a whole against both West and East.
Stalin, as we also know, pushed Poland in its entirety westwards immediately after WW2 adding to the outright expulsion of Germans from places like Breslau/Wroclaw etc. I doubt that we have heard the last of this unfortunate story.
Given a choice, I am sure the British of 1919 wanted to wash their hands of eastern European affairs, which (to go completely off topic) again they should have done regarding the EC and western Europe later, except that they could not use French insistence as an excuse over the 1972 Treaty as they had in Versailles, as the French had rightly done everything possible to keep the British out of the EC, recognizing the truth of British incompatibility with the "project". Prime Minister Heath, as you probably know, even had to lie to gain support from the lukewarm British electorate by not mentioning the EC's ultimate aim of political union, selling it as an opportunity to join a larger single market than EFTA.
Why not give the stollen land back to the Germans as compensation for the mass murder of two million and the expulsion of the remaining 8 million German inhabitants in 1945? Danzig, Breslau, Stettin were all flourishing German cities, and once they are inhabited by Germans again, they will prosper. Then Germany could perhaps afford to give Poland within her legitimate ethnic boundaries of 1939 the same kind of welfare assitance that Germany is now giving to the Eurozone. Maybe this is the lesson to be learned: stealing other peoples' land does not always work to your benefit, in the long run.
I have wondered my self why poland has dones less well than former east germany. The answer of course is partly because east germany has had such resouces from former west germany including first the exchange of currency then many transfers.
Being part of germany 40 years before end of the cold war possibly does not translate in to sigificant advanatages over other former soviet states in its self.
Before the war, Poland was no less capable of flourishing than Germany, for instance, when the Nazis took over Gdańsk, we built Gdynia. Then the Germans started a war and what they didn't steal, they destroyed. We owe the Germans nothing, and you're hardly likely to give us back what you're destroyed and the millions murdered. Missed a good opportunity to remain silent.
This discussion started with a comment that "...Poland acquired one-third of Germany's total area after WWII" , thus your apparent interest in discussing Vesailles and its consequences is rather streching the limits of the topic. We could just as well go back another century or more and debate the consequences of the division of Poland between the Imperial Prussia, Austria and Tsarist Russia. I would rather focus on the consequences of territorial and population changes from 1945 to this date.
OK, Poland gives the Germans back the "stolen" lands (i.e. lands acquired due to decision of USA, Britain and Soviet Union, who facilitated this "stealing"). But before that the Germans should pay damages for destroying most of the Polish economy between 1939 and 1945 and pay the families of all Poles they killed in this period (25% of population) a compensation for the loss of income, say an equivalent of 30 years in the workforce. And of course interests on the top of that.
When you do your figures it may turn out that the Germans are better off leaving things stand as they are.
Incidentally, if you keep pushing with these type of arguments: the Poles have stolen this, the Germans destroyed that, the French traded something else, you will end up with citizens of Rome suing the British government for the unpaid rent for the Great London and the British suing the Italians for destruction caused the Roman Legions.
And the cherished dream of all lefties: a United Socialist States of Europe will go down the drain even faster.
"I would rather focus on the consequences of territorial and population changes from 1945 to this date."
Fine - but the ill-feeling over German/Polish territory that goes back a lot further than 1945 will not just go away. After all they are immediate neighbours with all the daily reminders of an earlier status quo strewing the landscape.
I would add that this phony union known as the "EU" does not paper over these differences at all, but generally exacerbates them by drawing more attention to them because of its remoteness and lack of democratic support.
Everything done to Europe in the name of the "EU" is in effect not unlike yet another in a series of treaties imposed from the outside with no local support.
"And the cherished dream of all lefties: a United Socialist States of Europe will go down the drain even faster."
Yes, and for other reasons. All the "EU" has achieved is the deterioration of international relations in Europe. Its coercion of an unnatural union has made Europe an ugly place to travel in. I am all for open borders and free trade, but my memory does not deceive me: I remember clearly from having to travel the western part of the continent intensively for business in all compass directions in the 70s and 80s, that there were healthier, more enlightened neighbourly relations in those days. This started to wobble in the early 90s, from "The Maastricht Treaty" onwards as I remember when these power mad clowns in Brussels started to overreach themselves, and people became increasingly resentful of each other.
As I wrote to Didomyk "everything done to Europe in the name of the "EU" is in effect not unlike yet another in a series of treaties imposed from the outside with no local support". Thus, the "EU" has opened the unhealed scabs of national resentments very efficiently and virulently, since the people know they have no control over it.
Btw, your name suggests an eastern European origin (which of course does not mean that you are a citizen of any ex-Warsaw Pact state): I appreciate that in the East, the perception of the development of the EC/EU is bound to be different, but you can appreciate how it has affected the evolving perceptions in the west of the continent, which is after all where the majority of the main protagonists of this idiocy reside.
Your point about ill-feelings over territorial changes in Europe is valid and it is not limited to what you called German/Polish territory. To quote but a few examples, there are strong ill-feelings about Kaliningrad (Koenigsberg) as well as about parts of Finland's territory taken by the Russians. There are Poles who cannot live without making claims to the territory of Western Ukraine and there are Hungarians who dream about re-gaining lands lost after collapse of the Austro-Hungarian imperial state. All these claims and counterclaims have little, if anything, to do with "this phony union known as the "EU" (your term), a union that certainly has had the effect of minimising mutual claims and potential confrontations. The EU remains 'work in process' that is unlikely to be abandoned.
Yes, I have noticed changes in my travel in Europe, too. That may be a skewed vision of an infrequent visitor (I have not lived in Europe for nearly 30 years) but Paris for example seems to be poorer and dirtier anytime I see it.
Coming back to EU. Continental Europe has been driven by top down treaties for some time: Treaty of Westphalia, which ended religious wars occurred sometime in XVII century. And then there was a Treaty of Vienna, Treaty of Versailles, Treaty of Yalta.... These days I believe Treaty of Lisbon rules the roost.
All this just shows the European political classes tendency to regulate things without any input from their serfs (they call them citizens). It always ends with another war and/or revolution and.... another treaty.
Alright let's talk history. Your original point, about why Poles weren't able to capitalize on the land of the former German provinces as the Germans had lies in many more details than simply because it was a centralized economic system, although it did have much to do with it. Immediately after WW2, when the first Poles arrived in Silesia from the East, they were often treated no different than the Germans by the Soviets. Which means the Soviets had first choice on plunder. Many Polish families arrived to find empty houses, no livestock, empty factories, with all the machinery, valuables, and even nearly anything metal transported by the Soviets out of Silesia and sent towards the USSR. The Soviet soldiers had a saying to the Poles: "You get the land, we get the treasure." So there is the first problem why the land couldn't effectively be exploited. Another important point was farming. Most Polish settlers came from former Polish Galicia (now Ukraine) where some of the richest soil in Europe can be found, aka "Black Gold". Silesian soil is much less fertile and requires completely different farming techniques. Multiply this problem by not having any equipment to use as it was taken by the Soviets. The Poles which were forced off their land in the East, were only allowed to bring 15kg of valuables with themselves although they were the victims of not only Soviet but Nazi attrocities and yet they were treated as the "Taeters" as Germans would say. I live in Wroclaw, Silesia. This regions history is much more complex than simply German or Polish or Bohemian or Austian, etc....it is Silesian first!
You have made some valid comments about the resettlement conditions facing newly arriving families on former German lands, be it in Silesia or anywhere else. You are particularly correct in pointing out the Soviet practice of dismantling almost any German fixed assets, industrial or household, to take it back as 'war reparations' or just as personal looting by local army commanders. This was done on a major scale in industrial areas of Silesia where the loss of machinery, rail equipment, power generation, etc.must have made the post-war adaptation more difficult.
That said, the real question is this: the responsibility for managing the resetlement into the 're-gained lands' ('ziemie odzyskane') was Poland's alone. You cannot blame the Brits or the Americans, you can blame the Soviets for looting, but you must acknowledge that organising long term economic and social life on the 'ziemie odzyskane' was Poland's responsibility. And it was not just a matter of ensuring food supply, but equally important ensuring hospital care, schools for children's, etc. Thus the real issue in reetrospect is how well, or how badly, have the Polish authorities managed their tasks compared to very similar tasks facing the Germans under strict Soviet army occupation. That army took over not only all available housing, but full control of transport, communications, policing, etc. Let's also keep in mind that the Germans had to absorb millions of refugees who were mostly women, children and old men, for all able-bodied men were either dead or in POW camps. So, have the Polish communists done a fair job in meeting the challenges of post-war resettlements ? History is the judge.
Hello, the "nazis" did not "take over" "Gdansk," they received the Free City of Danzig, whose population was 98% German, back into Germany.What you call Gdansk did not exist until 1945, after the German population of Danzig --some 500,000 people-- had been killed, or forcibly expelled. These are basic facts and its important to get them strait.
I think you're mistaking "basic facts' with bollocks. "Take over" does not necessarily mean by force or illegally. Of course not, the Nazis won the local elections in 1933, and that's what I meant. Your 98% figure is not even a "fact" in official Nazi census figures (which for obvious reasons were very biased). I mean why else would they need to set up Stutthof concentration camp? Been there, seen the gas chamber? And let's look at those wonderful German Nazis presidents of the Free City's senate in the 1930s. The first one fled west (to America) the next year, sensibly, to renounce Nazism. The other two showed more resolve - Gauleiters Arthur Greiser and Albert Forster (both rightly hanged after the war for unspeakable crimes against Jews and Poles). What other distinguished pre-war Danzigers do we know? Ah yes, Dr Rudolf Spanner, the one who experimented with the production of human soap. Read Zofia Nałkowska's Medaliony? Yes, under such people the free city really flourished and the Great Synagogue burned - in May 1939. And in 1945, even the before the Red Army came (and did what they did with great but by then quite expected brutality) the German army was hanging other Germans on the lampposts of Wrzeszcz (Langfuhr) - I know this from an eyewitness, who was a Pole. You really did bring it on yourselves. In 1920 German dockers stopped desperately needed shipments of arms, when Poland was about to be overrun by a huge Bolshevik offensive. Yes, back then you'd have welcomed the Red army horde (and it really was a horde) in Paris and Berlin, were it not for the likes of Piłsudski and those "incompetent" Poles who next went and built Gdynia. That in 1945 so many fled, others were expelled, but many more emigrated in the late 1970s is not going to jerk any tears among those who had experienced the horrors and barbarity of preceding years, or anyone who today knows much more history than you (and does not have an SS uniform in his closet, like Gunter Grass).
The provinces were indeed the richest before and during much of the War, but after they were either destroyed in battles or had their social capital confiscated by the allied forces - mostly by the Soviets - they were no more than barren lands. It is those wide plains and ruins that was handed to Poland after the War, and the Polish citizens, who had been deported from the east and newly settled there, had to reconstruct social capital from almost zero level.
I said the Polish citizens above because the Poles are of various ethnic origins and Poland has long been a community of nations even though their descendants have come to speak Polish. It was a commonwealth of nations and the united nations or united states. From another viewpoint Poland was a true ethnic melting-pot. Perhaps you don't know that lots of descendants of German immigrants are among the most ardent Polish patriots. For instance, the Poles love Emilia Plater and Jan Wedel.
Even President Komorowski is of Lithuanian ancestry and PM Tusk Kashubian. Only is it that people - German, Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Jewish, etc. - were suffering some ethnic-centrist fever in the 20th centuries.
You wrote: "Only is it that people - German, Polish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Jewish, etc. - were suffering some ethnic-centrist fever in the 20th centuries."
Clarification please: a) which part of the 20th century are you talking about ?
b) what exactly is meant by 'ethnic-centrist fever' ?
Of course, Poles are always inoncent, and 2 million murdered Germans mean nothing. No one has been put on trial for these murders, so they didn't happen. Germany's Eastern provinces now are "polish," so of course, they have always been Polish. Go on living in your dream world.
It would be great if Kaczynski came back. After Hungary, Poland follows, and eventually Eastern Europe will be democratic. Hopefully after that Europe will start waking up too!
Kaczynski has recently abandoned the "Orban's Hungarian model" (shown to be a failure) and is now looking to copy islamist Turkey!What next? Iran as a model state?
Your democracy is not democracy but populism actually.
This information is biased and contains several errors Mr. Rostowski
is not `former economics professor' but rather former `economics lecturer'.
Whether he is formidable rhetorician is of course debatable but for sure
it is not primary merit of any Finance Minister.
And finaly will be glad if the author of the above propaganda will
enlist `unpopular structural reforms' as our PM is proud (in his own words) of not doing any reforms in order not to hurt the voters...
Poland like benighted Hungary will fall on its traditional prejudices and deep-rooted antisemitism like much of the rest of Europe . Beneath the EU inspired veneer of tolerance is a land troubled by its past and anxious about its future.
What has anti-semitism to do with problems described in this article?
No worry, Plitplov put polak and ungri to do good works !!
I am not an orthodox, but I truly love our PRIMEminister.
His choice of words, his steady speeches, his temperance, his humility makes his the most prominent Polish politician.
I am proud of Mr. Tusk
I would like to have such a father, friend, companion
Thank you.
No wonder, he is so desparately needed abroad.
Mr Tusk makes our country more reliable, stable and Christian.
kocham pana, panie Tusku :)
:-) Exactly
Wow ' reliable, stable and Christian'. What a nauseating comment !
That is so Polish !!!
So typical way of commenting - blunt, charm free.
That is so Polish !!!
So typical way of commenting - blunt, charm free.
why is it nauseating? Because the word Christian was mentioned? Poland like most European nations is a Christian nation! Surprise! I recognize and respect this although I am a devout Atheist! And so should you no matter what your belief is!
łubudubu, łubudubu, Niech nam żyje prezes klubu!
(woobooboo,woobooboo,Long live club president!)
Dear Author,
I have followed the _head_ hyperlink in:
>Though Poland should keep its head above water<
It informs that "pleasure boat on a trip to watch holiday fireworks collided with a ferry and sank off Hong Kong".
I am often very impressed by TE authors' capabilities to make or strenghten the point they are making in a, so to say, parallel and surprising way. But aren't you a bit too pesimistic this time?
Be careful. The crew of that HK pleasure boat has been arrested !
These protests are caused by deteriorating economic situation in Poland compounded by incompetence of its political class. They created a very expensive bureaucratic structure which limits free initiative and provides jobs only for insiders. Many of them are friends and relatives of the communist elite that run the country till 1989. They bribe population with borrowed money and subsidies from EU. Credit has been easy in the last 10 years or so they could do it with impunity. There are also money re-emitted by Poles working abroad.
Now these sources of finance are drying up and trouble is brewing. As they appear unable to reform (Tusk's government has been in power for 6 years and no serious economic reform was attempted) they have to find a scapegoat to put a blame on. Kaczynski is a perfect fit. He is a Catholic, anti-gay, all attributes the EU socialists hate so much. The trouble is that there is no alternative. Nothing will change if a socialist Kaczynski replaces a Euro socialist Tusk.
But this a dilemma faced not only by Poland but by the rest of Europe, too.
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Carlos Beltran joins 300/300 club
First switch-hitter with 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran stole his 300th career base on Friday night to become the first switch-hitter in major league history to reach 300 home runs and 300 steals.
The Cardinals ended up losing to the visiting Kansas City Royals 3-2.
Beltran is only the eighth member of the 300/300 Club, joining Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds, Andre Dawson, Steve Finley, Willie Mays, Alex Rodriguez and Reggie Sanders.
"I just have to thank God for the opportunity of being able to play this game for a long time," Beltran told MLB.com. "All the glory is for him. I've been fortunate to be able to play this game for long, and today, it's great. It would have been great if we would have won."
Beltran went 2-for-4 in the defeat.
Second base was pulled off the Busch Stadium field after the game and given to Beltran in the Cardinals' clubhouse. Team sources told MLB.com that Beltran might send his used spikes from the game to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Beltran began his major league career with the Royals.
"It is crazy, but at the same time, things happen for a reason," he said. "So I can say it was good to play them today, even though we lost. For me, personally, I started my career as a Royal, I spent 6 1/2 years there, so I have good memories there in Kansas City."
Beltran, 35, leads the National League with 19 home runs and has seven stolen bases this season.

subset: commoncrawl


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Top Definition
A golf term used to describe a shot hit out of bounds where there are houses. (Presumably containing milfs whose wealthy husbands are working to pay for the house on the golf course.)
"Looks like you hit a milf-rattler Dude, that shot definitely hit a house."
di kromar5
27 luglio 2006


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Top Definition
Obese, resilient, lethargic, and often self-righteous women who work in an office environment that make daily life annoying for all they encounter. Office cows are generally very chatty and love to gossip with fellow bovine. They are commonly found in workplaces with cubicles, or long counters with multiple serving lines such as the DMV. No matter what one's goal is when trying to resolve an issue with an office cow, the insolent heifer will obfuscate things to the point of insanity.
The receptionist in the movie "Office Space" who repeatedly answers the phone saying "Corporate accounts this is Lanina speaking... just a moment" is a PRIME example of an office cow. So are the despicable gluttons found at the DMV who always contest your knowledge despite how thoroughly you've researched any given material simply because they've spent half their miserable lives behind that counter and, I quote "have been doing this since before you were born"... And you still can't get it right you ignorant slob!!!!
by dreamsindigital
October 20, 2010


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About the Designer
Michele de Lucchi
After the criticisms and the confirmations, the exaltation of design, and the conclusion of Memphis, Michele De Lucchi founded Produzione Privata, taking up the urge for change that was in the air at the turn of the '90s. Aware of the gap that had been created between design and production, he set out to rediscover the role of the architect as an intellectual who conceives and fulfills his projects with a more responsible approach to the quality and beauty of things. What had started as a small-scale craft-oriented production of experimental projects traced by his pencil very soon proved to be an opportunity to make objects using technologies on the margins of industrial production, but treated within the logic of series.
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Artemide Castore Calice Suspension
Additional Documents
Weights & Dimensions
Fixture Type: Mini pendant | Style: Contemporary |
Shade Material: Glass | Finish: White |
Bulb Type: Incandescent | Number of Lights: 1 |
Country of Manufacture: China |
UL Listed: Yes |
About the Manufacturer
The Artemide light has never been solely a function of seeing, or an opportunity for formal experimentation with lamps as objects. For more than forty years, Artemide has aimed to propose light as a companion to people, as a source of physical pleasure and mental comfort. Artemide has done so, with different work groups, searching through the whole design process, starting with a declaration of values - The human light.Beyond the definition, the human light is intelligent light. A light that knows it has to relate to people, accompanying them in their daily activities. That is why Artemide's attention today is concentrated on the concept of the context of life, understood as a specific microenvironment in which an event occurs where one or more persons are the protagonist, every context of life can be associated with different light contexts, or the different atmospheres of light characterized by the activities that, at various moments of the day, have us as protagonists, starting from these contexts and the lighting conditions that characterize them, Artemide proposes products capable of meeting people's multiple needs and offering the light performance characteristics most suited to each moment of life, it is light that is flexible and adaptable, which produces the optimum visual precision, and consumes the minimum environmental resources, it is Artemide light.
The Artemide group, founded by Ernesto Gismondi in 1959, today operates throughout the world, with 16 subsidiaries and affiliated companies, and 35 exclusive distributors. They have production centers in Italy, France, Germany, the USA, Hungary and the Czech Republic. In a policy aimed at satisfying all lighting needs, the Artemide group has recently acquired companies that reinforce its position as a world leader and further diversifies the offerings. For contexts of life, Artemide offers not only lamps for moments of relaxation at home, but also large sophisticated installations for lighting public and private professional activities.
Technological and productive expertise is achieved through research and development centers, with the product planning and engineering section, laboratories for technical conformity and self-certification tests, and production units equipped with avant-garde processes. A production structure that can offer expertise in the processing of traditional materials such as glass, as well as the capacity for innovation with recently introduced materials such as titanium. Lighting performance characteristics extend from a light with atmosphere, variable, colored, to the most precise of lights for community environments. The vast range of options reflects the commitment of the whole organization to provide a product guaranteed by the Artemide brand, throughout the world, with an image that is strong and consistant - That of a leader in the lighting industry.
Rezek is a USA company of the Artemide group, with product development and manufacturing facilities in Culver City, California. Founded by designer Ron Rezek in 1978, the Rezek company has gained strong recognition and appreciation among the architectural and interior design community for the distinctly creative design and quality construction of its American made lighting products for residential and commercial applications.
Oy Light, a newly formed lighting company based in Milan, Italy, is distributed in the USA by Artemide. The company was founded by Carlo Forcolini, Nedo Guisti, and Giancarlo Fassina, all with many years of experience in lighting product design, development, and manufacturing. The company's initial limited collection features the stunning Galileo table and floor series.
Artemide Castore Calice Suspension
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1/22/11 – Day Four of Phillies Phantasy Camp – Awards Banquet
Earlier in the day, we had been told there would be a shuttle available to take us to the Phantasy Camp Awards Banquet. At the time, I found that funny, as the banquet was located right across the street at the Clearwater Beach Sheraton Sand Key hotel ballroom. Who would take a bus for a 30 second ride? At 7 o'clock, guess who was singing a different, gravelly-voiced, Tom Waits-esque tune? I think I was first in line to board the bus. Before dinner, there was a cocktail hour for everyone to mingle, share their stories, and with heavy hearts, start the process of saying our "goodbyes" (or "hello's" for the first time… better late than never). The Legends funneled in to the room, and everyone clamored to get any last minute pictures and/or autographs from their favorite players. Personally, I was not interested in getting autographs or photographs taken with the Legends for myself. Living in Manhattan, I see celebrities quite frequently, so the idea of an autograph to me has no connection to the person. I'd rather have the memory of a conversation, or a funny or interesting story about the person, which is exactly what I got at this Camp. No photograph or autograph could make up for that. Also, every Camper received an autographed baseball with all the Legends, so there was no need to stop the ex-Phillies for their John Hancock's… 'wipes hands'… that was easy. However, I did ask family and friends before I left if they had any requests for autographs. I had been procrastinating all Camp, so I needed to go down the list and get this done. I made my way round the cocktail hour (and later after dinner) and got all the specified signatures. Along with my notes from this Camp, my Moleskine book is now filled with these autographs. If I ever become wildly famous from this blog, I'm selfishly keeping this book and selling it on eBay. A couple thousand dollars sounds like a good opening bid, right? The partition walls on the one side of the room slid open to reveal the large ballroom where we would be dining. Each table was adorned with a Phillies jersey, customized with every team name. After sitting down, putting in our dinner and drink order, etc., Scott Palmer approached the podium at the front of the room to start out the banquet. He started out by asking for a moment of silence for Dallas Green, the Green family, and everyone effected by the tragic shooting that occurred in Tucson, AZ only two weeks before. It was a wonderful gesture and very touching. Then it was time for the awards. The Legend coaches were called up to award the MVP for their respective team. Our MVP was a no-brainer. In fact, Pete Wichterman was also deservedly deep in the running for the Camp-wide Cy Young Award. He lost out to Tony Carfagno of the Red Barons, who had now won the award three years in a row. If there is any proud, on-the-field moment I can take home with me, it's the fact I got a solid line drive single off of Tony in our first game. After a few more awards and the presentation of the World Series Trophy to the champion Red Barons, then came the highlights of the night. These were the awards that could not be quantified with statistics. They were the awards that embodied the spirit of the Camp and what it all was truly about. I had a sense of pride, as I had formed relationships with most of the folks who won these and other awards during the evening… ——————– My friend Gene Mattioni won the team MVP Award for his squad, the Sky Chiefs. I was absolutely thrilled for him. This was the cherry on top for him. In speaking with him and his wife Marie on a consistent basis for the last couple months, since Orientation, they both were living for this experience. Gene went to a trainer, lost 20 pounds and became the Rock of Gibraltar at second base for the Sky Chiefs. His vim, vigor and child-like excitement was infectious. Every time I would run in to him during the course of a day, he would come over and give me a big hug. With the biggest smile, he would ask me every single time, "are you having fun?!" Not only did he ask me this out of genuine interest, but in a "can you believe this is actually happening to us?!" way. It was so charming. Marie was right there with him. She couldn't have been more thrilled to see her husband like this. As she so eloquently told me in an earlier email, this gift to him, she thought, was just that… a gift. But she came to realize it was an "investment". I still can't get that out of my mind. I went over to their table after dinner to congratulate Gene on his award. I can't even describe the look on his face. It was priceless. He told me he was so excited to show this off to his lawyer buddies back home. I could see him now regaling them in tales of Camp with enthusiasm of a young child. That's what this Camp is all about. ——————– Hank Wagner approached me and introduced himself on the first day of Camp. He told me he was the father-in-law of an old schoolmate of mine, Christian. I had reconnected with Christian on Facebook, and in response to one of my posts about Phantasy Camp, he informed me that his father-in-law and two brother-in-laws would also be participating. Even better, he and his wife would be joining them to watch them in their games. Hank let me know that they were there and brought me over to introduce me to his two sons, Tim and Dan. For the rest of the Camp, whenever I saw them, they would come over, ask how I was doing, etc. Just a lovely family. Older brother Tim was chosen as the MVP for his team, the Mud Hens, while his dad, Hank, won the "Charlie Hustle Award". As most baseball fans know "Charlie Hustle" was the name given to the former Phillie, Pete Rose. He was a hard-nosed player who left everything on the field. He set the tone and got the ball rolling each and every game. This award would be given to that one Camper who exemplified that attitude. In an earlier game, my friend Sam Daley had slid in to second base, covered by Hank. Unfortunately, there was a nasty and accidental collision that made Hank look like he was run over by a truck; a nasty forehead gash and the shiner to end all shiners. Yet, Hank did not miss a beat. Most men would have probably taken themselves out for a game or two, but Hank kept plugging away, game after game. The funny thing was, Sam was hoping to win the award when he entered Camp, as Pete Rose was his favorite player's growing up. Instead, he directly contributed to Hank winning it instead. Sam emulated Pete's hustle all right, however, Hank played the unwanted and unexpected role of Ray Fosse. But what really touched me was that all three of the Wagner men got to play on the same team together. And at one point, Tim took the mound while his father assumed his place behind the plate. A son pitching to his father at a fantasy camp of their favorite team, surrounded by former Major Leaguers… it still giv ——————– The most touching moment of the night came when a fellow Driller was awarded with the "Tug McGraw Inspiration Award". Duke McLaughlin had told us during the Camp the story about how he got to come down to Clearwater. He had been saving up for years to attend Phantasy Camp, but every time he would come close to his goal, those funds would be reallocated to help out one of his 10 children or someone close to him. For his 70th birthday, his children decided to surprise this selfless widower. They pulled together their money and purchased a Phantasy Camp experience for their loving father. Scott Palmer told Duke's story with such compassion and heart. He explained how Duke exemplified the spirit of the award named after the much-beloved Phillie pitcher. Duke gave up on his dream of Phantasy Camp many times for the good of his family and friends. He always put himself second. His family lovingly repaid him by granting his wish. With two of his sons in attendance, it was very hard to keep the eyes from not watering up. Again, I thought of my father. He was exactly the same type of man as Duke. Family came first. His dreams would not go fulfilled unless his loved ones were happy. And like the Wagner's, hearing Duke's story and seeing his dream come true? That's what this Camp is all about. ——————– As usual, the night ended at the hotel bar. Everyone was there, taking in their last evening in baseball heaven. Gene and Marie were there at the end of the bar. Gene, still with his award, was enjoying a celebratory scotch… my man. I spoke with brothers Mike and Jack Lynch, who had looked forward to sharing this experience together. I also came across Joe Gibley, who I had met the first night of Camp (and another winner this night… winner of the "Andy Seminick Award" for catching every inning of every game). "So?… what did I tell you? Greatest time of your life, right?" Joe, you couldn't have been more correct. ——————– Off to bed. Tomorrow is the day all us Campers have been waiting for.
es me the chills thinking about it. I was so happy that these men got the incredible opportunity to live out this dream. Not surprisingly, it also made me emotional. I would have loved the chance to be an infield or outfield tandem with my dad. I don't think anything would have made me happier than sharing the field, in the Florida sun, with Papa Tom. But it brought me so much pleasure that these outstanding guys got that chance to live out these once-in-a-lifetime moments. That's what this Camp is all about.
2 Comments
What fun it has been to "binge" read these posts today. I have always wanted to go to phantasy camp. I'm almost the same age you are, so my formative years of baseball in Philadelphia are pretty much the same. All the Legends at camp now a days are the guys I grew up watching every night and waking up early to read the sports page about every morning. I can't even imagine how insanely awesome it would be to go to camp, and your account of it so far has been amazing! And to know that there was a woman who went this year as a player gives me some hope ha ha. Now if I could just win the lottery……
Thanks for sharing your stories!!
Thank you very much!


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Colorfin Art Spongesby Sofft
These artist quality Micropore technology sponges are designed for use with Pan Pastels, water-based colors, polymer clay, or ceramics. Just load the sponge with color and gently apply to the surface. Vary the pressure to change the effect or use the edges for lines or details. They are reusable and may be cleaned with soap and water.
They are sold in a variety of shapes with multiple sponges in each pack. The Mixed Bar pack includes one each of four bar shapes.
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If you have any questions or concerns regarding the procedures and requirements for exporting animals, animal products, or to obtain a zoosanitary certificate for an animal product, you should contact the VS Field Office covering the area from where the product will be exported (or the area in which your office is located).
Animal Products to Croatia
Croatia became a member of the European Union (EU) on July 1, 2013. The EU has harmonized import requirements for certain animal origin product. For harmonized certificates, please refer to the general information file for the European Union. Exporters must have their importers confirm with the appropriate Ministry of Animal Health that Croatia will accept product on the appropriate EU certificate prior to shipment.


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Computer Usage Policies
Information on computer and internet use, internet safety, user agreement form, and the internet filtering policy.
Acceptable Computer & Internet Use Policy
The Wellington Public Library, in fulfillment of its mission, will provide resources and services to meet the informational needs of the community. We are committed to meeting the needs of the people we serve by providing information access within the means of the library and the limitations of policy and law. In response to patron demand for information access through technology, the library offers to the public free Internet access. The Wellington Public Library provides this service equally to all library users. Internet access is intended for research, educational, and recreational purposes. Parents or guardians are responsible for the Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children under the age of 18. The Library Board of Trustees has given library staff authority and responsibility to insure the equitable, responsible and efficient use of the Internet resources.
Any user who knowingly violates any of the following policies will lose their computer privileges for a length of time to be determined by the library director.
Internet Safety
The library is concerned for the safety and security of the users of online information. The library has no control over the content of the Internet and cannot be held responsible for what the user sees when using the Internet. Restriction of a minor's access to the Internet beyond what is required by this policy is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
A user will not use a library computer to:
- Access or display information that is obscene as defined by Colorado law (18-7-101 (2), C.R.S. 18 U.S.C. sec. 2246 (2) and (3), and 18 U.S.C. sec. 2256 (8))
- Participate in e-mail, chat rooms, or instant messages that use information that is obscene as defined by Colorado law (sited above)
- Disclose, use, or disseminate personal information that could threaten or create a vulnerability for a minor, for any other person, or for the library
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any data, computer, or network
Use Guidelines
- Users of the library's Internet connection may be required to have a valid Wellington Public Library card or picture identification.
- Users are encouraged to call ahead to reserve computer time. You must sign in at the start of your computer session. Each session is limited to 30 minutes but if no one is waiting, a second thirty-minute session may be requested. Those who have finished one 30-minute session may be asked to vacate the computer within 5 minutes if another patron is waiting to use a computer. No more than two persons may sit at one computer at a time.
- Users wishing to use e-mail must establish their own accounts with one of the free e-mail providers, and may use the library's computers to access their e-mail account. The library's computers may not be used to send threatening, obscene, abusive or harassing messages, or for illegal purposes.
- Users may not enter chat rooms or use chat/electronic mail and other forms of non-chat electronic communications for purposes inappropriate in a public library setting.
- The Internet computers cannot be used to access, transmit, upload or download, or distribute material that is pornographic, defamatory, sexually explicit, obscene, or harmful to a minor.
- Files and bookmarks may not be saved to the hard drive, but can be saved to the patron's floppy disk or CD. Although reasonable precautions are taken, the library does not guarantee the hard drives to be virus free. The library assumes no liability for virus infections if patrons save files to their own disks or CDs.
- Reasonable care of the computers by the user is expected. Misuse of computers will result in loss of computer privileges. Report any computer malfunctions to the library staff.
- Library staff may assist the user in accessing the Internet, but cannot provide in-depth assistance and/or training. The same pertains to personal computer use including word processing.
- There is no charge for internet/computer use; however, the charge is $.10 for each printed page and must be paid at the time of printing.
- The preceding policy must be read and a policy acceptance form signed by patrons before beginning computer/Internet use. Any user under the age of 18 must also have a parent/guardian sign the policy acceptance form. Proof of age must be shown upon request. Users who violate this policy may be denied use of the library's computers.
Library staff may make exceptions to these requirements in order to accommodate disabled users, or in other special needs situations.
I have read and understand the computer/internet policy and the filtering policy. I agree to abide by these terms at all times while using computers at Wellington Public Library. I agree that failure to comply with any of these terms will result in termination of computer privileges.
Printed name of User_________________________________________
Signature of User____________________________________________
Signature of parent or guardian_________________________________
In fulfillment of the Wellington Public Library's mission, the library is committed to meeting the information needs of the patrons we serve by providing information access through technology. This access will be provided within the means of the library and within the limitations of policy and law.
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as amended, is a federal law (PL #106-554) that is intended to protect children from access to harmful material without compromising reasonable adult use of Internet services in public libraries. The Colorado legislature, in the 2004 legislative session, in response to the CIPA, adopted House Bill – 1004, providing for Internet protection in public libraries. The state and federal acts provide that a public library is required to adopt and implement a policy of internet safety for minors, including the operation of a technology protection measure for each computer operated by the public library that allows for access to the Internet by a minor. In accordance with state statute, the Wellington Library Board has installed technology protection measures on all computers that are accessible to minors.
Pursuant to C.R.S. §24-90-604, a non-minor, being a person who has attained the age of 17 years, may request that the library staff disable technology protection measures. If an adult requests the technology protection measures be disabled and thereafter uses a public library computer for the purpose of viewing non-scientific or non-medical sexually explicit site, library staff shall make a decision whether the material is pornographic or objectionable within the library and may request that use of the computer be discontinued by that adult.
A minor may request that technology protections be temporarily disabled in the event that the technology protection measure wrongly blocks or filters Internet access to a specific site with informational value. The minor's parents or guardian shall provide library staff with a properly executed Internet use agreement in a form approved by the Library Board before the staff will disable such technology protection and shall provide assurances that such disabled use of the computer is for legitimate research purposes.
Be aware that computer filters can be unreliable and at times sites with legitimate or educational value can be blocked. The unreliability of filters occasionally allows access to sites that are illegal, obscene or sexually explicit, as defined by applicable law. Further, applicable statutes contain exceptions that technology protection measures may not block scientific or medically accurate information regarding sexual assault, sexual abuse, incest, sexually transmitted disease or reproductive health.
Parents and legal guardians, and not the library staff, are responsible for monitoring their children's use of the Internet and the information accessed by minors.


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It's an urban blizzard tradition as hallowed as Seamless and weather tweets: Each and every time a snowstorm rolls in, singles flock to dating sites to find a "blizzard buddy."
Could a stuffed animal be our next, big civil rights activist?Universal released the first trailer for Ted 2 on Thursday, in which America's most - or is least - loved teddy bear must right for his rights so that he and his new...
Stanley Tucci and wife Felicity Blunt have welcomed their first child together,
As its title suggests, ABC's new comedy Fresh Off the Boat, about a Taiwanese family who...
With the state of Delaware again facing a major gap between spending and revenue, Gov. Jack Markell on Thursday proposed a Fiscal Year 2016 state spending plan he called "a very difficult budget."
Rachael Taylor is the latest name to be added to the cast of Netflix's
We can call off television after tonight. All of it. The entire medium. I say this because no future broadcast will ever be able to eclipse the visual ambrosia that is Marshawn Lynch and Rob Gronkowski palling around and making Viagra jokes on...
Fish Mooney has been run out of Gotham City, but there's at least one person who probably isn't happy about that.On last week's
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Showing 1-16 of 16 items found in Places to Stay
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Wabash Valley Wine Trail
The Wabash Valley Wine Trail is made up of five wineries located in the southeastern part of the state. Visitors to this area can enjoy the scenic Wabash River Valley, historic towns, and quaint bed and breakfasts.
Travelers Inn
Located on East Main in Olney, this motel offers comfortable rooms for travelers. Sportsmen take note, electrical hookups for boaters are available and other needs for sportsmen.
The McClure Guesthouse
Ideal venue for your; Overnight Accommodations, Bridal & Baby Showers, Business Luncheons and Dinners, Family Events, Anniversaries, Birthday Parties, Intimate Weddings. An 1872 Restored Italianate Victorian Home Located in the Heart of Downtown Olney, Illinois During the extensive restoration project the finest materials were used and extensive research was conducted to return this home to its original grandeur. You will marvel at the exquisite detail that has been put into this project.
Shady Timbers Lodge
Nestled ½ mile back in the woods, this lodge features all the comforts for individuals wishing to get away for the weekend.
Schuetz Rentals
Schuetz Rentals provides a service to the business traveler with Corporate Apartments, Houses and efficiency apartments for the traveler. All are fully furnished with weekly and monthly rates available. Call for more information.
Quail Creek Country Club and Resort
This 18-hole facility is a former PGA Tour site. Quail Creek also features a resort with 34 beautiful room options for golfers and non-golfers. The 19th Hole offers casual and fine dining.
Point Comfort
Lake house vacation rental home; one large bedroom with kitchen, laundry room, patio room with spectacular view of the lake, family room with dining table, deck, screened porch, fireplaces, one acre of land on beautiful Vernor Lake, and walking distance to Richland County Country Club. Relax and fish from the dock on this quiet lake side retreat.
Holiday Motel
Handicapped Accessible, Non Smoking Rooms, Credit Cards, indoor pool and restaurant inside.
Fox Creek Outfitters
A lodge that accommodates hunters with semi-guided and non-guided hunting tours.
Country View Inn & Suites
Brand new hotel located on the west side of Robinson, IL with 65 rooms available. Indoor pool, fitness center, meeting room, business center, full complimentary breakfast, and many more amenities. Located at 100 Abraham Lincoln Rd.
Cloud 9 Bed and Breakfast
A Mediterrean exterior bed and breakfast complex with library, sun room, sitting room and other amenities.
Best Western Robinson Inn
Luxurious rooms, meeting rooms and many other amenities await travelers. Handicap rooms, fitness center, pet friendly.
Arvin Motel
Conveniently located on IL 33 in Robinson, with well-kept rooms featuring wall-mounted flat screen television. Very reasonable room rates. Handicap accessible facility.
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Basic Work Glove
Anything but basic, our version is designed with a DriClime® bi-component wicking liner and falcon grip.
- Feature List
- DriClime® Bi-Component Wicking Lining
- Falcon Grip
- Main Materials
- Leather 0.6 - 0.8mm
- Lining Material
- DriClime® 3-Dimentional Wicking Lining
- Weight
- Lg. 0lbs 5.2oz (147.4g)
What is it?
DriClime® mesh is a bi-component denier gradient dimensional knit made of two different denier yarns. Using extremely fine deniers this knit is extremely light with superior wicking performance.
How does it work?
The larger outer yarns are a special filament yarn with an open capillary structure, which pulls the moisture away from the skin to the backside of the mesh where it spreads to increase evaporation. The dimensional structure of the knit combined with the smaller denier yarns on the backside of the mesh increase the surface area allowing for greater moisture holding capacity.
What are the benefits of this technology?
This technology increases the interior comfort of the garment by enabling the wearer to feel less clammy and more comfortable over a wide range of temperatures and conditions. The mesh prevents condensation from collecting on the skin no matter what the level of activity due to its 3 dimensional structure. The dimensional knit structure also helps by spreading the moisture over a larger surface area maximizing the efficiency of the evaporate process. This technology solves the problem of condensation and internal comfort that even the most breathable of fabrics have problems with during high intensity activities.
Performance Specifications
Content: 78% Polyester, 22% Nylon
Total Weight: 32 g/m2
Wash & Care
Why do we encourage proper care of our clothing and gear?
Because you have invested in (or are thinking about investing in) one of the most technically advanced pieces of apparel or equipment you'll ever own and we want to make sure you have the information you need to protect and care for your purchase. Proper care assures you will optimize the performance of your Marmot product and maximize its service-life.
Handwear Care
- Hand wash only
- Hang to dry
- Do not bleach
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean
- Do not tumble dry


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I'm considering switching my AMD card for a NVidia GTX 660 (EVGA in fact). That appear s to be quite a new series or cards, I was wondering if anyone has experience of this model under Linux and how it performed / how stable it was?
I've read that the NVidia binaries support it, but you'll understand that I would like to hear from users who are actually running one as I have spend most of the last year without any functioning driver for my AMD card and still significantly sub optimal Linux performance.
What are current views/experience wrt nVidia GTX 660 and nvidia proprietary binary driver (or similar priced nVidia graphic hardware with proprietary binary driver) ?
I note on some of the GNU/Linux forums, users are struggling with the nVidia GTX 660 driver, complaining of significant tearing when using the nvidia binary/proprietary graphic driver with this card. There are various proposed fixes but not all fixes appear to work for all - and even when the fix mostly works, users still complain of a ~30% performance hit (and its unclear to me how serious is a ~30% performance hit give the competing nvidia hardware with the proprietary GNU/Linux driver).
Do any of the forum members have any current views on this, or on similar priced nvidia graphic cards ?
I ask because I am close to purchasing a new desktop PC and I want to select a graphic card. My budget is around the cost of the GTX 650 or GTX 660. Initially the GTX 660 read to be the ideal fit for my budget, until I started reading the complaints of tearing. Still, the GTX 660 still tempts me.
The GTX 760 pushes that budget of mine a bit too much and is likely over kill for my requirements, BUT if it has significantly superior graphic driver support (ie no tearing nor other hiccups) I would consider it. The lower performance GTX 650 is also a viable consideration. But on those two cards (GTX 650 and GTX 760) I have also read of users complain of tearing.
My use is mainly play back of high definition (HD) video and also video editing of high definition (HD) videos. I like to have special desktop effects (under KDE) enabled where feasible without too much of performance hit. I do a LOT of rendering. I don't play video games (other than chess which has no demanding video requirements). I will likely purchase socket 1150 motherboard with Intel Core i7 4770k CPU and ample RAM.
Thank you in advance for anyone who takes the time to provide me input/suggestions.
Both 600 and 700 generations of nvidia gpu-s have tearing on linux (except some lower end 600's if i remember correctly). Other than that nvidia proprietary driverts work fine. Good news is, tearing can be solved and is mostly dependant on which compositor you are using.
I've done alot of experimentaion with my gtx 770 and I've found "compton" compositor to work best. The downside is compton has no "hot corners" funcionality. So if you don't need that then you just need to learn how to implement it in your distro of choice (not hard). Other than that, compiz on ubuntu can be made tear free by adding triple buffering in xorg config, elementary luna compositor is good by adding CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling to the file: /etc/environment (probably works with gnome compositor also, although I'm not sure about that).
P.S. Tearing is X servers fault, so if you don't want to experiment with all that stuff you can wait 6 months - 1 year for distros to implement wayland which should solve much problems including tearing.
Ah yes, forgot about kwin, new kwin is also tear free by changing to opengl compositing in settings.
For your use case, I don't think the discrete GPU will give any benefit at all over the integrated HD 4600 in the Haswell i7 you mentioned. It should be fast enough for anything but serious gaming. You can always buy the gtx 660 later if you deem it necessary.
Thanks ... I think that a good suggestion (to use the integrated Intel-Core-i7-4770/motherboard HD 4600 graphics).
I'll also make certain the PC I purchase has a good sized power supply, so to be able support a GTX 660 in the future , if I so decide to add such a 2nd graphic device.


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Description:36.4GB Ultra3 10K LVD Hot-Swap for NetServer Low Profile 1 Drive Part# D9419A
Overview:Hewlett-Packard drives undergo an intense qualification process that eliminates data integrity problems firmware and O/S incompatibilities and other causes of data corruption or premature failure.??Hewlett-Packard hard drives are specifically designed and tested for flawless operation in your Hewlett-Packard equipment. By using a Hewlett-Packard hard drive with your Hewlett-Packard server or workstation you prevent incompatibilities that can rob your system of performance or cause you to lose valuable data. Specifications: CategoryNetServer HardDrive Sub-Category10K GenerationUltra3 Part NumberD9419A Products ID142214 DesignationEnterprise Capacity36.4 GB InterfaceSCSI EnclosureInternal HDD Form Factor3.5" x 1/3H (Low Profile) Spindle Speed10000 RPM External Data Transfer Rate160 MBps Seek Time4.9 ms Buffer Size4 MB Average Latency3 ms Interface (Detailed)SCSI Ultra160 (16-bit) PlatformPC