…Or Does Fear Work?
Friday, September 7th, 2007One opinion poll puts the ruling regime ahead. Another, conducted a day ot two later puts rivals PO ahead by a good 8 points.
One opinion poll puts the ruling regime ahead. Another, conducted a day ot two later puts rivals PO ahead by a good 8 points.
There’s an interesting short piece in this week’s Polityka, which I have started reading again on account of how they seem to know what the government/state prosecution office is going to do – and to whom – a week or two in advance of events. Because of a shortage of recruits to the intelligence services, […]
As you approach Kraków, or any other town in Poland, it becomes clear that when it comes to advertising billboards, anything goes. Confirmation of the abundant evidence of the outraged senses comes this week on the pages of Polityka, from the lips of one Jacek Maria Stokłosa: Several years ago all provisions concerning protection of […]
The atmosphere of oppression – for some, of course, it’s more tangible than any “atmosphere” – has given ruling regime PiS quite a boost in the opinion polls. PiS has gained 8 points and PO lost 6.
Supposing you, the prime minister of – oh, say, a central European country of around – for argument’s sake – 35 million people, wanted to smear someone – a former political ally, for example, who has started blabbing. And suppose this country is by now jaded with political scandals, what might you do? Also, you’ve […]
If there are more than the usual typos in today’s entry it’s because I am looking over my shoulder more than usual. Here’s waht I read in last week’s admirably well-informed Polityka (they correctly predicted that businessman Ryszard Krauze was in the sights of the authorities): In fact, a (probably) legal tap was put on […]
In an obscure, out of the way cinema, in an obscure, out of the way town, I stumbled across a comic gem the other day: a part-Polish production of a parody of David Lynch, complete with people dressed as animals moving slowly, people passing through borders into — into what? other worlds? the past? fiction? […]
Yesterday I had a perfectly average day — the details of which I will not bother you with — nicely rounded off with a refreshing ten hours kip. Is this “dignity under pressure”? Am I keeping my head while others all around are losing theirs? I ask because the signs in Polish are particularly — […]
Tuesday’s Gazeta Wyborcza has a review of two books. The subhead reads: “These two books are crying out to be read in tandem — both were written by Englishmen fascinated by the history of Russia. Can a resident of the British Isles penetrate the darkness of the Russian soul?” Funny how no one ever asks […]
PiS is showing party political broadcasts which boast about, among other things, “improved” security – at this point the TV screen shows some jet fighters, possibly the F16s PiS bought the other year. I’m sure it is entirely coincidental that Lockheed Martin has an advertisement in today’s Gazeta Wyborcza for the F16 Fighting Falcon. It’s […]