Off-road motorcycles – the rallies

Before you could think that off-road bikes may look similar, but they don’t. It’s the same case in types of competition, so I will focus on my favourite type - The extreme enduro and cross-country.

Red Bull Romaniacs
Probably the toughest rally in the World is Red Bull Romaniacs. The Tournament is six days long and it takes place in Sibiu, in the heart of Transylvania (Romania). It starts in the city with the original prologue which includes very interesting obstacles (like tires, trees and jumps) and the spectators love it – especially when someone falls down J Next five days include very hard terrain which is almost impassable (only few competitors can do it) , so finish line is very good achievement. The best drivers from around the world take part in this rally and if they can they always come back next year, which proves that it’s very addictive.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PurCZCxbR8w

Erzbergrodeo
Very popular rally (1500 riders can take part in it, but 5 hours after opening the list it was full), maybea little bit less extreme than Romaniacs. It starts in Eisenerz (Austria). The main event is called Hare Scramble. It’s simply a massive hill to ride on. One mistake can be fatal and very painful. The master of this competition is the Pole Tadeusz ‘Taddy’ Blazusiak. He managed to win it four times in the row, which for one person is unbelievable and it’s an absolute record.
This clip says it all:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OjAR9FH9Ew

Dakar Rally
Originally it started in 1979. The starting point was in Paris and the finish line was in Dakar (Senegal). It is a very long off-road endurance race. Nowadays the route passes through the South America. It’s hard to say if it’s still the same rally like before, but people take part in it and it’s a very big media event. Now it has more varied types of terrain in one stage which can include an open desert, dunes, rocky-mountain roads, mud and so on. It’s quite popular in Poland because a lot of Polish drivers participate in it and we have a strong team sponsored by Orlen. The most popular driver is Krzysztof Holowczyc, who drives BMW X5. The future star, Kuba Przygonski had an accident two weeks before its beginning and he injured his wrist. Because of it he couldn’t take part in 2011 edition of The Dakar.
See the route of this year Dakar:

http://www.dakar.com/2011/DAK/img/parcours.gif
Questions:
Why do people take part in extreme enduro competitions?
Do you find it interesting? Why/why not?

Motorcycles — dangerous love

Everyone knows what the conditions of polish roads are. Basically the roads are full of holes like Swiss cheese. It’s hard to find a highway in the map, but it’s very easy to see speed cameras. To sum up, it’s easier to find the Loch Ness Monster than a smooth asphalt road in our country. If there is one, it’s always jammed, especially in the big cities like Warsaw. Every day commuting to work can by a real nightmare – even worse when you live in suburbs. Of course you can say that there are a lot of bus lanes, and it’s not so bad. The facts are different. Warsaw is the second most jammed city in Europe (Wroclaw is third)!

You may ask, what is the solution? The best way would be teleportation, but it’s impossible (as far as I know). In winter we don’t have too much choice. Public transport or car is the only way, but it’s different in the rest of the year. Finally we have got motorcycles/scooters. It’s very efficient and there is no faster way to get to work or school. Many people choose motorbikes to reduce wasted time spend in cars waiting to get through traffic jams. It simply reduces this time by half!



http://expresskaszubski.pl/pictures/2009-06/wypadek-babigol-duze.jpg

As in a real life, things aren’t so simple. It’s probably less safer than a car. In the accidents there is no metal structure or airbags to save motorcyclists. Only save equipment is a helmet and some protectors used in clothes. Thanks to that they are saver and drive more focused. You probably think that speed is the cause of deadly accidents, but it’s not entirely true. The main cause of accidents are other rode users’ mistakes like changing the line without looking into the mirrors or starting driving just in front of a motorbike. Of course bikers aren’t angels. They drive a little bit faster and close to the cars in traffic jams.

The real image of a motorcyclist is not the same than the society thinks. I can bet that people who are not familiar with the subject think that but it is a bad example. This rider is a black sheep and a complete idiot:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XihQeZpwqpE&feature=related

So why do people drive motorcycles if it’s so dangerous and not always pleasant?

It’s really hard to answer or describe it. When you try it you just fall in love. I don’t want to add a philosophy but it gives unusual sense of pleasure and a bit more freedom and a lot of satisfaction. Some say that a five minutes ride on a motorbike can be more exiting than anything else through the whole life.



http://gigaimg.com/images/93408663860429778719.jpg

Questions

What do you thing about this type of transport on Polish roads?

What characteristics should a real motorcyclist have?

Discrimination at work

We are dealing with the discrimination in the workplace in many companies - particularly as it relates to women, aspiring to management positions, ethnic minorities. Discrimination often pushes people into the arms of the informal economy. Discriminated people have the worst jobs, work without social security benefits, training, sometimes even without cash, without access to loans and opportunities to purchase land.

Definition of discrimination: Discrimination is a distinction, exclusion or preference made on the basis of race, sex, religion, political beliefs, ethnic or social origin, sexual orientation, etc.. which leads to reducing or preventing the right to employment, and reduce right to equal treatment on entry into work or in the workplace.

Long time ago I heard an interesting story about a woman who was discriminated. It took place in USA. In company X were working only white people. One day boss decided to hire another employee but this time it was a black woman. It was just a case. Usually the boss employed only white people because he didn't like black. He was a racialist. Since beginning she was persecuted. The Boss had very bad relations with her. After a few weeks the boss wanted do dismiss her. But she really wanted to work there. She had to work to support her family. The Boss didn't have any reasons to dismiss her. Law in this case protects an employee. So he decided to do everything to discourage her to work. He was giving her a lot of work, ordering her to stay in work after work-hours. She was demeaned. She was always criticized. But despite all these humiliations she was determined to work there. Until he started to be aggressive towards her. One day, unable to endure the treatment she decided to sue the boss accusing him of discrimination. The court appointed a special commission to analyze this case. After a few days it turned out it was not the first such case. The Boss was charged with discrimination and at first he had to pay the black woman a lot of money (150’000 US dollars) for the harm and second he had to go to prison for one year. Law in this case won! And the black woman was rewarded for all her harms.

Have you ever been a victim of discrimination?

What will you do in case of being discriminated?

Have you heard any other interesting stories about discrimination?

Today I would like to discuss a euthanasia problem. Last week I read an article that tells the story of Terri Schiavo, the American woman who had been in the persistent vegetative state for 15 years. A full cardiac arrest had caused a large damage to her brain. After many years of fight between Terri’s parents and husband and many lawsuits, the Schiavo's feeding tube was eventually disconnected on March 18, 2005. She died thirteen day later from hunger. Although every tests and experimental treatments run by Terri's doctors had showed that her condition was totally hopeless, her parents maintained they had some kind of psychical and eye contact with their daughter and wanted to keep her alive. Terri's husband wasn't strong enough to fight for her any longer. He was the one who wanted his wife to be left without medical support of life. After her death, an autopsy was carried out and it presented a massive brain damage and probably irreversible lack of neurons in her brain cortex . That would prove that any contact with Terri was impossible. Anyway, the Terri Schiavo case has become an excuse to discussion about a euthanasia that divided American public opinion and involved many politicians. I think it's very hard to clearly define where is the line between life and death in such cases. I also read that death from hunger and dehydratation is very painful, but there is no evidence that artificial supported people do not feel pain caused by their condition all the time. In spite of all doubt, some recent facts give a new look at the problem of euthanasia. The recent studies show that brains of people in coma are still active and the tests of new medications give a chance to “wake them up” in the future. There are a few cases of people woken up and brought back to life in the world. There might be more similar cases, but the most important thing is that medicine gives hope now. That makes me think over Terri's case again. Did Terri's husband really have the right to demand death for his wife when her parents saw the sign of consciousness in her eyes? What if scientists really find a way to reverse that terrible condition of coma? What would I do in such a situation? I'm inviting you to watch the short trailer of “The Terri Schiavo Story” and to discuss the subject.

Film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cki55BM42kw

Photo: actorjeanne.hostiko.com

Source: Wikipedia

Does TV fool people?

That is a question which I want to explore. First I will write what I mean by fooling people. Watching TV the viewer is bombarded with pointless reality shows, TV games like “which suitcase you choose”, never ending serials with no true plot or films like “Hit tygodnia” which are some stupid action movies. Strangely TV shows can be addictive  - even ones where there  is nothing going on like “M jak miłość” or The Bold and the Beautiful. There’s almost nothing worth turning TV on. It seems like watching TV has no other purpose than killing time, but that is not all of the story. I don't want to start with how long people are doing it day by day.



http://leisureguy.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/tv.jpg?w=470

In my opinion the worst thing is the manipulation. In the news I can hardly see reliable information – often it is one side story with the moral or the opinion in the end. For me it is like TV wants people to think what they want them to. In TV shows the world is often an idealized place. For example, in the show called Friends the main characters seem to have nothing to do, have almost no responsibilities. They only go to work (some event don't do that) and spend time together in the coffee-house or at home?

Aren’t they the best friends in the world? Maybe after the show you want to be a part of it (even for a few seconds) or have friends like them? Another great example what I mean is a serial called “Entourage”.  Basically, it’s about a few young folks with too much money (truly, one has money but everybody uses it) to spend. In every episode they drive very expensive cars, have great clothes, live in a big house and have awesome time at parties...

Isn't it sweet?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740vPo5-FqM&feature=related

The viewer while watching it may for a moment feel good, want to be a part of it. Then comes the moment of truth. The Person realizes (maybe subconsciously) that they are not like them, they don’t have a superb car, money, or a big house like one in the show.  And all of the sudden – bam, there is cure for that mood. An advert showing how that or another product can bring you closer to the happy feeling, the one that brings  hope that you can be like them, living that dream. It makes you want to  have the staff shown in ads.

Great example is the live changing phone advert:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8tWLEsLpxs&feature=related

Questions:
How you feel about the subject?
Do you feel manipulated by the TV?

What more about disaster in Smolensk?

Recently the Russians have presented the final report of the crash of Smolensk. They wrote in it that all fault is because of the mistake of Polish pilots. They also pointed out the presence of third persons in the cockpit, the expected negative reaction to President Lech Kaczynski, pilot error or the presence of alcohol in the blood of their superior, General Andrew Błasik. Do you agree with these opinions?

http://rozneartykuly.waw.pl/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/katastrofa-w-Smole%C5%84sku.jpg

Why didn’t they see their own fault? Why weren’t they well prepared to receive Polish guests? Their report is very unclear. There are a lot of unexplained facts. Perhaps we will never get to know what the true reason of disaster was.

Maybe the Russian side doesn't want to admit that they made a mistake during the Polish President's landing process? Maybe they want to hide something? We know only the things which Russians allowed us to know. Many things are still hidden.

I really want to discover all reasons of this disaster because it is important to fight for the truth! We can't be deceived. We have the right to know it even if it wasn't a disaster. And I think that our government should do everything to discover the real case of this accident.

What is your opinion? Are you satisfied with the report? Do you think that it was like the Russians said?

How we perceive successes of Polish sportsmen?

Today I was watching ski jumping cup and I am wondering what a great influence media have on popularizing any kind of sport. In 2000, when Adam Małysz won his first World Cup, few people were interested in ski jumping. After that, more and more Polish people started to watch ski jumping cups on TV. Małysz won many more competitions and became one of the best ski jumpers in the world. When we realized how amazing he is, ski jumping had already become our national specialty. Everybody knew Małysz’s last results, everybody watched his jumping and standing on the podium on TV every evening. We knew all his rivals and characteristics of all ski jumps of World Cup. Adam Małysz brought us the biggest victory in sport that we had been waiting for so many years, and we loved him. Some time passed, and Małysz’s results started to get worse. Of course, they were great anyway, but we were expecting him to win every single year. People really forgot, that being on the top doesn’t mean being always the first one. The “worse” Małysz`s results were, the less interesting ski jumping became. Nevertheless, today Adam Małysz is still considered as one of the best ski jumpers and his form is improving again. We shouldn’t lose our faith in people who bring us such a great feelings so soon.

Were you watching ski jumping competitions when Adam Małysz was winning first prizes? Were you watching when he wasn’t winning? Why?

Do you think Małysz’s success will encourage young people to try themselves in sport like ski jumping? Would ski jumping become more popular sport for a long time or is this a short trend?

Source:

www.wikipedia.pl

photo: http://pl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plik:Harrachov-2001-Adam_Ma%C5%82ysz.jpg&filetimestamp=20070323185301

TopModel

A new TV show called Top Model finished a few weeks ago. 13 girls participated in this program. They struggled for the grand prize - contract with Max Factor, a photo shoot for the cover of "Glamour" and an international contract with modeling agency.

In jury of Top Model we saw a model- Joanna Krupa, a photographer - Marcin Tyszka, a fashion designer - David Wolinski, a journalist Piotrowska Karolina Korwin and a special guest.

Every week they decided which girl must leave the show. Basis for their decision were the photo sessions. Each girl did everything to stay in program as long as possible but everything depended on how they posed for pictures. The Girl who was the worst had to leave the show.

http://m.onet.pl/_m/4554396028cae37547bfd2bb69c82745,14,1.jpg

What about candidates? Have you seen those girls? They were young, probably it was their first contact with modeling but there were exceptions. Do you think they were rather beautiful or rather ugly?

What can you say about the finalists? We know that Paulina Papierska won. But do you agree with this opinion? As we know Papierska even doesn't know English so it will be rather a big problem to start working abroad as a model. I found in the internet that Paulina doesn't fit to the new role. She is poor, she is not as good as jury thought.

Below I give you a links to American version of TopModel and Polish one. You can compare.

http://www.cwtv.com/shows/americas-next-top-model

http://modelki.plejada.pl/

I would like to know your opinion about the girls in this program. Do you think that really the best girl won? Maybe you think that another girl should win? Write your opinion and we will discuss it.