1939

The invasion of Poland, 1 (September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak Republic, and the Soviet Union, which marked the beginning of World War II. The invasion began on 1 September 1939 when Germany marched into Poland, preceded by the Danzig crisis and by the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, which was signed one week before and approved by the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union one day before the invasion. On 17 September the Soviet Union invaded as well, acting on a secret protocol of the pact, which assigned parts of Poland to them. The campaign ended on 6 October with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing the whole of Poland under the terms of the German–Soviet Frontier Treaty.

The aim of the invasion was to disestablish Poland as a sovereign country, with its citizens destined for extermination. German and Slovak forces invaded Poland from the north, south, and west the morning after the Gleiwitz incident. 

As the Wehrmacht advanced, Polish forces withdrew from their forward bases of operation close to the Germany–Poland border to more established defense lines to the east. After the mid-September Polish defeat in the Battle of the Bzura, the Germans gained an undisputed advantage. Polish forces then withdrew to the southeast where they prepared for a long defence of the Romanian Bridgehead and awaited expected support and relief from France and the United Kingdom.

On 3 September, based on their alliance agreements with Poland, the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany; in the end, their aid to Poland was very limited. France invaded a small part of Germany in the Saar Offensive, and the Polish army was effectively defeated even before the British Expeditionary Force could be transported to continental Europe.

On 17 September, the Soviet Red Army invaded Eastern Poland, the territory beyond the Curzon Line that fell into the Soviet "sphere of influence" according to the secret protocol of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact; this rendered the Polish plan of defence obsolete.^[20] Facing a second front, the Polish government concluded the defence of the Romanian Bridgehead was no longer feasible and ordered an emergency evacuation of all troops to neutral Romania.^[21] On 6 October, following the Polish defeat at the Battle of Kock, German and Soviet forces gained full control over Poland. The success of the invasion marked the end of the Second Polish Republic, though Poland never formally surrendered. Source-Wikipedia

Remembrance Day!

Tomorrow marks one of the darkest days in the history of Poland: the invasion by Nazi Germany. There is no need to relate the horror stories, even though two of my great-uncles were murdered in Auschwitz. I was too young to even know them or about them until I met their descendants on one of our many trips in Poland.

Poland is no longer the poor country you may think about. Sign up for a free 7-day account; skip the screens that offer a paid subscription and read this. It will surprise you.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/21/europe-future-looking-increasingly-polish

24/7

I have to admit I am getting a little burned out being a 24 /7 caregiver. I know I cannot stop and will not stop doing it because I have no option. One day seems just like another, sometimes boring, sometimes with way too many things to do or small problems to solve. I need a vacation from this, but I also realize that it is impossible. Even during my 3-hour breaks, my mind is still constantly on Joan. There is no relief.

Today, for about 5 minutes, she thought I was her mother. Looking straight at my face and my body structure, she still just saw her mother. It took me a little while to convince her of what I was and what I am to her. Those are hard moments for me. I know it's only going to get worse, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. I don't believe hate is a strong enough word to describe how I feel about this disease called dementia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

More than 113,000 Russian citizens crossed into Georgia via the Verkhny Lars checkpoint in a single week, driven by rumors of a new military mobilization. On Aug. 20 alone, over 20,000 people crossed the border.

 Armenia has also indicated it will welcome Russians fleeing the draft. The exodus follows reports of intensified Kremlin recruitment efforts and Ukrainian intelligence assessments predicting a 600,000-person mobilization wave across 2026 and 2027.

Armenia is also preparing for a potential influx of draft evaders. Alen Simonyan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, told TV Rain that Yerevan will not hinder those seeking to avoid being sent to the Ukrainian front.

The European countries bordering the Baltic Sea are now seeking to ramp up their security coordination due to increasing hybrid warfare activity in their territory.

On Friday, Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt gathered his colleagues from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Norway and Ireland in northern Germany to discuss the current threat perception in and around the Baltic Sea. Source-Kyiv Post

President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Ukraine to increase the frequency of its long-range drone strikes against Russia on Aug. 28, setting a goal of launching 1,000 drones a day.

Zelensky said in his daily evening address that Ukraine currently launches more than 300 long-range drones on average each day, but needs to significantly increase that number as Russia intensifies its aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities.

"The main priority is to strengthen our defense against jet-powered Shaheds and to step up the frequency of our deep strikes against Russia," Zelensky said. "The task is a thousand drones for long-range strikes against Russia every day. Right now, the average is over 300 of our long-range strikes, there must be more. We have a very specific goal, and we will achieve it." Source-Kyiv Independent

Sept. 1st.

Two significant observances occur on September 1 in Poland:

Anniversary of the Outbreak of World War II

September 1 marks the national day of remembrance for the start of World War II, which began on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland. Official memorial services, wreath-laying ceremonies, and the sounding of sirens are held at historical sites such as Westerplatte to honor the defenders and victims of the war.

First Day of the School Year

It is also the official start of the primary and secondary school year. Known as Rozpoczęcie Roku Szkolnego, students attend formal inaugural ceremonies at their schools to welcome the new academic term.

September 1 is a day of national observance and remembrance rather than an official statutory day off work.

A regret.

If you've been a reader of this blog, I'm sure you've noticed I'm not writing it daily like I used to. Joan occupies so much of my time that, before I can reach the midnight deadline each night, I just don't get to it in time. Because she's not as mobile as she used to be, we just don't travel to too many places or do anything outside of the house. I really miss traveling to different cities or towns or countries, but I think those days are over.

Today was a nice day, so I did take her again to our favorite cafe, where I discovered they are redoing the entrance from the castle into what used to be the stable area where the cafe is located. Now they're in the process of taking all the covering off the original red brick structure in the passageway. I don't know what they're going to do with it, except maybe clean it up and make the bricks look new again.

She had a nice conversation today via Zoom with her son and daughter. It lasted for about an hour, and her daughter did most of the talking. There isn't really much of a conversation going on between the two of them. I can't remember the last time she was able to talk with her adult grandson and granddaughter.

Perserverence.

All of my adult life, I have heard that one or two people don't make a difference. You can't tell that to my nephew Jeff and his wife Annemarie. They live in Griffith, Indiana.

Last week, a storm or tornado went through their town, causing severe damage to power lines, downing many trees, and leaving hundreds of people without electricity.

About one-third of the town remains without power, or roughly 5,500 customers, according to town leaders, who are urging NIPSCO to speed up restoration efforts.

Jeff and his wife decided that they were going to help the elderly and disabled people in their neighborhood. Their decision was to provide a hot meal for any elderly or disabled person who needed it. They had in mind to feed at least 50 residents, and they had a plan laid out for how they were going to be able to accomplish it. The idea was to ask for volunteers to make deliveries of the meals that they would prepare. They asked for volunteers to help them accomplish this, and when it was all over, they had fed 60 people. That's quite an accomplishment on their part and the volunteers'. So, one or two people can make a difference if they want to. I have to congratulate them both on their Community involvement and perseverance in carrying out their plan.

Good weather.

The sky was blue, small fluffy clouds floating by, and the Sun was shining brightly. With a temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit, I thought it was time to finally take Joan out of the apartment. The only destination I had in mind was Cafe Lokum, in the center of the city. It has become our favorite destination for coffee and ciasto. One of the reasons was that they only charge 11zlotys for a caffe latte. Most other cafes or sweet shops charge anywhere between 15 to 18 zlotys. Today we were in luck; they had our favorite ciasto, cinnamon buns. I ordered two of them, two caffe lattes, and the cost was only $11.

They have added some additional tables to the seating area, which makes it easier for me to get Joan in her wheelchair close to the table. We sat and talked for about one and a half hours before leaving.

Back at home, I decided tonight's dinner would be a tuna, quinoa, tomato salad. It was easy to prepare, and Joan liked it very much.

Earlier in the morning, I did the food shopping for the week. Cost-$51.

I finally figured out how to use the new recycling machines for Plastics and had four bags full of plastic bottles to insert into it. When I was all done, I received a ticket for 21 zltys, which I took to the information desk and exchanged for money. I've seen them in the store for a couple of months but never took the time to figure out how to use them. Now I know!

Complacency & Ukraine

The weather is heading toward winter. For the last three days, it has been in the high 60s, gray, and rainy. Not the best weather to take Joan outside, so we have been cooped up in our flat.

I pulled back from making daily posts to the different social media groups I'm in. There is as much complacency about taking any concrete action against the vile administration in them. Most are satisfied just clicking an icon if they like a post but not answering the call to action.  In the last presidential election, over 108 million Americans didn't even vote. If just 2% had voted for Harris, this world wouldn't be in as much turmoil as it is now with Donnie in charge of the U.S.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

 Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the state-owned Kombinat Kamensky plant in Russia's Rostov region overnight on Aug. 23-24, sparking a fire, Ukraine's General Staff reported. The facility produces solid rocket propellant for Uragan, Smerch and Tornado-S multiple rocket launcher systems, as well as other missile and air-launched weapons. The extent of the damage is being assessed. The strike follows an Aug. 22 attack on a Russian oil loading complex in Krasnodar Krai.

Fifteen people, including two children, were injured after a Russian drone crashed in Chernihiv, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

The European Union released €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) in military aid for Ukraine on Monday to strengthen its air defenses, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced ahead of talks between Ukraine and its allies. The funding will go toward air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars, as Russia carried out 376 missile strikes in July alone. The aid is part of a broader €90 billion EU loan package for Ukraine.

Conor Kennedy joined Ukraine’s International Legion in 2022, at the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, and is believed to have departed in October the same year after a brief stint. A Moscow court has accused him of mercenarism and placed him on its wanted list in August, with a seven- to 10-year sentence.

Velo Bank

Once again, I'm having trouble with the new Velo Bank website. The problem started last weekend. I had two bills to pay, and of course, I went to pay them online. I signed in to my bank account, placed the order to pay the bills, and when I clicked to confirm the transfer, it told me to go back to the homepage and start again. I did that three times. Each time, the result was the same: go back to the homepage. I was frustrated. And decided to go to the bank to see if Mariusz could straighten out this problem.

I was told Mariusz was on vacation and wouldn't be back for a week. I asked if there was another person who could speak to me in English so I could explain the problem, and the receptionist asked me to sit and wait. I did. I waited, and I waited, and I waited. After waiting 45 minutes. I was getting so pissed off that I decided to leave. Of course, I still wasn't able to make the payments.

One of the payments was for the bill of electricity for the last 2 months, and it was overdue. I called Renata, our landlady/friend, and told her about my problem paying the electricity bill. I told her I had taken out the money from the bank, and that I would drive to her house tomorrow to give it to her. Instead, she told me she would pay the bill and that I could give her the money next month when she comes to pick up the rent money. Okay, that one problem is solved, but the other still remains. This new bank has given me more problems than in all the years that I was with City Handlowy.

I also do banking with the former Santander Bank, now sold to the Erste Bank. Speaking with Renata again, she told me she has been with Santander also, now Erste, and that she has had no problems with their website. So I'm contemplating taking our money out of Velo Bank and using Erste. I will still leave our Social Security checks deposited to Velo Bank because I just had to go through the process of changing paperwork in the Federal Benefits Unit in the United States to get the deposit made in Velo. When the checks do come in, I will just transfer the money to the Erste Bank account.

Terrified!

On Friday, I had a blood test to check my PSA level. It is used to detect prostate cancer. 10 years ago, I had it, and it was treated with radiotherapy. Since then, I have had it checked every three months. The normal range is between 0 and 4. My last test result was 0.33, which is still very good.

Thinking it was time to check it again, I did it. Monday morning, I received the result. It was shocking. 4.4. I couldn't believe it had gotten so high in three months, so I looked at the date on the last one. Another shock. The date said September 12, 2025. I don't know why I missed those quarterly blood tests, but I did.

Panicked, I called to make an appointment with my private urologist, knowing it could be months before I would be able to see him. Thankfully, to my surprise, he had an opening the next day at 5:10.

We arrived on time. I went into his office, and he said it had been three years since my last visit. I explained that I had been keeping a close watch on my PSA until the last test last year. As a result of that mishap, I now had a PSA of 4.4. He examined me with sonograms in different places and told me not to worry; everything looked good. Also, that 4.4 was acceptable and to come back in 6 months.

I can't express the relief I felt. My only thought before was that I could not leave this planet before Joan. I have to be able to always take care of her.

U Przyjaciol

 Another day of gray skies, but at least the temperature was 72.

Joan hadn't been outside for three days, so at 1:15, I took her to Cafe Lokum. After parking the car and wheeling her there, I discovered it was closed.

We were close to Plac Wolnoscii, a place we haven't been to since last year, so I decided to take her for coffee at the place in front of the Plac. To our surprise, it had completely changed. Gone were the comfortable wicker tables and chairs and the couches they brought in two years ago. Before, about 40 people could be seated. Now, it is more like twenty. Worst of all, the old furniture was replaced with plastic, very uncomfortable chairs. This is not a place we will return to.

Cafe U Przyjaciol, nearby, was my final attempt for the day, and by that point, my options were running dangerously thin. What makes the place such a refuge is how entirely removed it feels from the noise and commotion of the city center. Even during peak hours, it remains surprisingly tranquil, offering a quiet, unhurried pace that is becoming harder to find.

I have brought Joan here on previous occasions, though the memory of those visits has slipped away, leaving the cafe as a completely new experience for her each time. From a practical standpoint, the location is ideal: accessible handicapped parking sits directly in front, saving us from a long or difficult walk. Once we settled in, Joan enjoyed a slice of rich chocolate cake with her coffee, while I opted for just a plain black coffee to keep things simple.

The location itself is discreet. Tucked away on a side street that no tourist map would ever highlight, the entrance requires walking through a passageway. That narrow corridor opens up into a hidden inner courtyard, completely sheltered from street traffic. Green plants line the patio, interspersed with a mix of vintage curiosities and artful objects that give the courtyard a distinctly bohemian character.

Inside, rather than standard open seating, every booth is individually framed by fabric hangings suspended from the ceiling. These partitions drape down to create private alcoves, offering a quiet, shielded space where you can sit comfortably and enjoy a long conversation without feeling exposed to the rest of the room.

Hot & Ukraine.

 It was too hot today to take Joan outside.

Renata came over in the evening to pick up the rent money and recommended we watch the SPY series on Netflix. We thought we would watch one episode to see if we liked it. It was based on a true story. We ended up watching all 6 episodes today for entertainment.

She also brought us homemade tomato soup, beef roulades, and lunch meat. For dinner, we had the soup. I was going to have the roulades and a salad, but after the soup, Joan said she had enough. 

Meanwhile in Ukraine,

Lithuania’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation has signed an agreement with the Ukrainian defense company DEMZ to establish a new ammunition plant. The project will include a new facility in the Prienai district and an existing site in Alytus. Construction is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026, with production meeting NATO standards expected by late 2027. The ammunition will initially supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with plans to export to allied nations.

A Russian drone struck a residential high-rise in Marhanets, killing a three-month-old baby and injuring 11 others.

Elon Musk is refusing to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite network to target Russian missile batteries inside Russian territory, urging Kyiv to negotiate a deal to end the war.

Good exercise day.

Joan had a good day of exercise with Paige today. She still has a long way to go before she is walking again, but there is a little progress. I will take that.

I spent my three-hour break at the Apteka, going for a blood test, shopping for frozen fruit at Auchan, and at our cell phone provider, Orange.

The woman at Orange said I didn't need a new SIM card; she would just enter a new PUK number, and that was all I needed. Luckily, no customer was waiting, and I was in and out in 10 minutes. The same thing happened at the Apteka.

Unfortunately, the blood test didn't happen. I was there 5 minutes after their 12:00 closing, so I will have to go back tomorrow. 

 At Auchan, I bought 2 bags of frozen strawberries, 1 bag each of mangoes and pineapple. Cost $8

Frustrating day.

Even with the sun being out in blue skies, it was a frustrating day. I woke up and found my cell phone battery was at its end, so I plugged it in to recharge. After about 20 minutes, it was recharged, but when I turned it on, it said I had to enter the PUK number of the SIM card and my personal PIN number. I entered both of them correctly, but the message came back as failed. I tried it again, and it failed again, saying I had eight more tries before the SIM card would be blocked. 

I tried a different SIM number with a new PIN. It failed. Seven more tries left before blockage. I decided to ask AI what to do to enter and be able to use the phone. It suggested taking out the SIM card, and that should make it possible to use the phone. Then it said I needed to go back to my service provider and tell them I needed a new SIM card. That kind of pacified me, but it also presented a different problem that occurred when I went to the clinic to get a prescription filled for a medication I take.

I knew last Monday that I would run out of the medication by Tuesday morning, so Sunday night I sent a message to the clinic that I needed a prescription refill. Monday morning, their reply was that I did not have that medication in my history. That was impossible! We have been using the same Clinic for the last 17 years, and my prescriptions have not changed since then. I called the clinic, and in my feeble Polish, I explained to them about my history, and they said they could not find it. I asked if they would check their computer once again, and, lo and behold, they found it.

I told them I needed five packages of it, but they said I needed to see the doctor first. So I made a reply to get an appointment, and they gave me an appointment for Wednesday at 2:15.

We arrived on time; I told the doctor my problem, and she wrote out the prescription. Now, from past experience, I should have checked what she wrote, but instead I just folded it up and put it in my pocket.

I stopped at the pharmacy, gave them my prescription, and when they brought it to the counter, there was a problem. I told the doctor, initially, that I needed five packages. The prescription was only for one package. A little pissed off, I went back to the clinic, told the problem to the receptionist and said I needed to speak to the doctor. She replied that it was impossible, and that she would send me the new prescription Via SMS later. That's where the real problem was. Because my phone didn't work, I could not receive the SMS.

My only recourse was to send an email to the clinic and tell them my phone didn't work, so please send the code I needed to my email address. That was at for p.m. I waited and waited, and finally at 7:00 p. M. The code was in my email.

So tomorrow, when Paige is here, I will first go to my service provider to get the new SIM card, and then go to the Apteka to pick up the extra four packages of Medicine. All of this consumed my morning and afternoon and did not leave me in good humor.

I also had to send emails to people telling them that my phone was non-functional and to contact me through email. I hope by tomorrow evening this will all be solved.

51

51 years together.

Pro-Ukrainian.

Demonstrators took to the streets across Poland to protest against violence and hostility toward Ukrainians, vowing to stand by the community amid rising anti-Ukrainian sentiment.  

The rallies were held on Sunday in 22 cities, including the capital Warsaw, the southern city of Krakow and the Baltic port city of Gdańsk. 

The nationwide action was organized by the Committee for the Defense of Democracy (KOD), a Polish civic movement, under the slogan “Don’t be indifferent.” 

Organizers said the demonstrations were intended as a response to increasingly frequent verbal and physical attacks against people targeted because of their origin, language or appearance. 

They also aimed to show solidarity with Ukrainians and other minorities facing violence and discrimination. 

KOD chairman Jakub Karyś said Ukrainians had become an important part of Polish society, adding that violence against them was unacceptable. 

Participants were handed stickers bearing the slogan “Don’t be indifferent,” which organizers encouraged them to place on shop doors, businesses and cars. 

KOD said the stickers were intended as a sign to Ukrainians that they could “count on help, feel safe and have support” in those places.

Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, providing military and humanitarian aid and hosting nearly one million people who fled the war. 

However, ties between the two nations have faced growing strains in recent months, particularly over their differing interpretations of World War II history. 

A major source of tension remains the Volhynia massacres, in which Ukrainian nationalists killed tens of thousands of ethnic Poles during World War II. 

Anti-Ukrainian sentiment has also risen, with Polish police receiving 180 reports of suspected hate crimes against Ukrainians in the first half of 2026, more than 30% higher than during the same period last year, according to a recent report.  

Sunday’s rallies were the latest in a series of public initiatives against anti-Ukrainian hostility.

Source-TVP World 

Our flat.

Our flat is part of a U-shaped block of flats. In Poland, this word, block, is not a measurement. It describes the type of building. The one we live in has 7 levels. The ground level is usually occupied by small offices like a doctor's office, a Beauty Salon, or even a Zaka(7-11 type store. So, what you call the first floor in the United States, here it is the 0 floor. Our flat is in the U portion of the building. 

Therefore, when I sit on our balcony, to the left and to the right I see the extended wings of the building. 

However, looking straight ahead on the balcony, I have a nice view of three large trees, grass on the ground, and in the third half on the right, there is another building blocking the rest of the view. This is kind of my refuge place during a normal day when I need a 5-minute break, and Joan is sitting in her chair or lying in bed asleep. For us, it is a very good location because it is only a 10-minute drive to visit Radek or other friends we have. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the town of Golina. We have underground parking, so that makes it easy for me to get Joan in and out of our car to the elevator. 

It's a two-bedroom flat, although one bedroom is used as my computer room, but it does have a couch in it that I utilize to sleep when Joan is making too much noise at night. It's not very often that it happens, but the second bedroom does come in handy.

Like the previous apartment we lived in for 14 years, this flat has windows on the north and south sides, so we do have the advantage of a crosswind when the temperatures go above 80 Fahrenheit. On those days, I close the windows facing south and close the drapes to keep out the sun. The north windows are always open.

Another advantage is that we have a major food store only two blocks away from our flat.

88 F

It was way too hot to take Joan outside today. We stayed inside after I returned from my 3-hour break and watched the musical "Rent" once again. Amazingly, they found so many talented people to play the different characters.

The rest of the day we were just "slugs". 

Meanwhile, in Ukraine.

Russian missiles are raining down on Kyiv while Ukraine is striking targets in Russia and on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. In recent days, refineries and logistics centres belonging to online retailer Wildberries have again come under attack and been set on fire by Ukrainian drones.

Russian authorities said debris from a Ukrainian drone damaged a Wildberries logistics warehouse in Russia's Tver region, with no casualties reported. The claims came after Moscow said it intercepted 605 drones overnight, while regional reports also described a fire near a refinery in Yaroslavl.

Russia is gaining ground in Ukraine while losing the soldiers, money, industrial capacity, and political leverage needed to win. During June 2026, Moscow captured roughly 30 km² (12 mi²) at the cost of approximately 39,500 casualties and nearly $19 billion in war spending and strike-related losses. John Mearsheimer predicts an “ugly Russian victory,” but map movement cannot erase Putin’s failure to force Ukraine into submission.

On July 27th, in a speech, Putin remarkably said, Ukrainians are merely part of the Russian people and therefore have no right to their own language or culture. This is precisely why Putin considers the very existence of Ukrainians – rather than Russians – as Ukraine’s largest national community to be “complete absurdity.”

 Source-Kyiv Post

A nice offer.

A little warmer today, 82 F, but good enough to take Joan outside. I had no place specific in mind, so we started with a sit ina small park in the center and ended it with a trip to Cafe Lokum.

I wasn't there for sweets, but they had a blueberry cake I knew Joan would enjoy. I ordered two Caffe Lattees and one piece of the cake. The cost was $11. I was right, Joan very much liked it.

Back at home in the elevator, a young woman entered with a beautiful white dog. I had seen her before, but it was the first time with Joan. Joan told her how pretty the dog was. She asked if we spoke Polish or English. I said both. 

Then, in English, she told us where she lived in the building, and that if we ever needed help with something, to please come and get her. Both Joan and I thought that was very nice of her to offer.

She was the second stranger to offer assistance. Our first was Pawel & Julia Dalecki. They bought a flat across town and moved earlier this year.

Several friends of ours have helped us in the past 5 years, but none of my "relatives" who live in or near Poznan have. 

Paige returns

After a week off because of our trip, Paige returned today to continue the exercises with Joan. They were both a little tired when they were over.

I finally had a Spanish lesson with Radek. We have moved on to using the advanced book. The first lesson was easy, just a rehash of Estar and Ser(to be).  

It is warming up again with a high temperature of 89 F.

Meanwhile, Ukraine.

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Washington has not finalized any deal allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, even as talks on co-production with Ukrainian and European partners continue. He said the immediate priority is speeding up air defense deliveries before winter.

Trump has wavered on Patriot production pledge

Trump first floated granting Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors during a meeting with Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.

“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots,” Trump said. “We’ll show them how to do it.”

The two leaders met again on Tuesday, July 28 in the Oval Office at the White House, a meeting Zelensky described as productive, fueling expectations that Washington would follow through on the licensing commitment.

However, speaking at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, July 31, Trump softened his earlier commitment.

“We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said, adding that countries receiving the technology “can someday turn on you.”

Source-Kyiv Post 

Opera Fountain

What a beautiful day! I just had to take Joan out to enjoy it. After two conversations between 11:00 and 1:00, I helped her put on a pair of shorts and her sandals, and helped her into her wheelchair. I thought this would be a good day to go and sit in front of the Opera House and enjoy watching the fountain and the people passing by. Of course, the most enjoyable side where the little children playing in the water underneath the water fountain.

We sat there for about one and a half hours watching them, looking at the row of beautiful, old trees and the sky completely free of clouds. The weather was absolutely perfect: 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since we were so close to Cafe Lokum, I pushed her in the chair to get us to a table in what was once the courtyard of the horse stables. I Can Only Imagine what it was like in the days when the Cobblestone floor was all grass or dirt, and the horses were behind the big doors in The Stables. I imagine in one of the libraries there must be pictures of it, but I haven't taken the time to search for that.

In the cafe, I ordered  Joan a coffee and a blueberry piece of cake with raspberry topping. She said it was excellent and she really enjoyed it.

I didn't have my camera with me, but I did take pictures with my cell phone. We really like the way the flowers are planted all around the border of the pool of water.

Ostromecko Palace.

 Yesterday, the heat was unbearable. I took Joan to the huge park, but it was so hot pushing her around that we didn't stay long. Instead, we visited the Ostromecko Palace.

Between 1759 and 1766, Paweł Michał Mostowski built the Old Palace (also known as the Mostowski Palace) on the foundations of the earlier single-story manor house.  The Ostromecko Palace and Park Complex is a historic estate situated just outside Bydgoszcz along the scenic valley of the Vistula River. The complex is unique because it features two distinct residences, the Old Palace and the New Palace, set within a 38-hectare historic park.

 In the 19th century, under Prussian rule, the estate passed into the hands of the German noble Schönborn family and, later, through marriage, into the hands of the Alvensleben family.

Between 1832 and 1848, Jakub Marcin von Schönborn commissioned a much larger, Neoclassical residence, the New Palace. Towards the late 19th century, the New Palace was expanded with Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque wings, adding a grand ballroom and a hunting lodge. Also, the grounds surrounding both palaces were expanded into a sprawling 38-hectare English-style landscape park.

 Unfortunately, there was no entrance for wheelchairs. I asked Joan if she would mind waiting in the shade while I went in to take pictures. She agreed.

I only looked at the New Palace. It had three floors, but I only visited two. I needed to get back to Joan.

There was an amazing collection of historical pianos dating back to 1978. It is one of the largest collections of antique pianos in Poland. There are over 70 pianos and related instruments.

There is also a collection of accordions produced at the Bydgoszcz Accordion Factory, which operated in the city between 1949 and 1973.

I just wish I could have spent more time there. 

Brzozki

Checking the weather before we left for Bydgoszcz, I knew Tuesday and Wednesday would be good, so I decided we would visit Brzozki on the way to Bydgoszcz instead of on the way back, when it would be way too hot to push Joan around.

We started early. 11:00 and took the A2 motorway east to connect with S5 going north. About an hour later we departed S5 at the Szubin exit. Driving on that road took us to Tur, where we found the road to Brzozki. It went right through a forest to an opening in Brzozki. 

For some reason, I imagined that all the Van Gogh-painted houses would be together. They were not, but the village is so small it wasn't hard to find most of the paintings. I parked the car, put Joan in her chair, and walked around to photograph painted houses.

I like that village. It is small and has a nice atmosphere.

When we finished, we went back to S5 and drove another 30 minutes into Bydgoszcz, where we were staying, the Park Hotel.

Our room was on the first floor and was set up for people with disabilities. The bathroom was especially large for maneuvering a wheelchair; the shower was a walk-in shower with an entrance barrier to overcome, and the toilet had safety handles on both sides. However, the seat itself was too high for Joan to put her feet on the ground. It was still nice.

I unpacked everything, and we had a little rest period. About 6:30, I asked the receptionist for a dinner place recommendation, and she suggested Manekin. It is right across the street from the entrance to Stary Rynek

For dinner, Joan chose pancakes with raspberry cream, whipped cream, and blueberries. My choice was a shrimp salad. 

After dinner, we walked across the bridge to the rynek and were delighted to see Cukernia & Restaurancja Sowa. We sat were you see the waitress in the doorway. Asecond surprise was that they also serve breakfast all day starting at 9 AM. We knew where we would be eating breakfast tomorrow. 

We were back in our room by 8:30 with nothing to do. I forgot to take my external drive with movies on it, and there were only the standard Polish channels on the large-screen TV. Useless for Joan.

Surprise-Brzozki

Tomorrow, we leave for Bydgoszcz, where we will stay for three days. Our friend from there, Alina, alerted me to a place worth visiting on our way back home. It is a small village of only 130 inhabitants, but it has gained much fame because of what they have done to 10 of the houses in the village.

 In the village of Brzózki, art literally surrounds us. This is all thanks to the Van Gogh paintings projected onto the facades of the buildings, which give the village a magical atmosphere. The residents are clearly delighted that it was selected as the “Miracle of Poland 2025” in the Kujavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.

 Located in the Noteć Valley, Brzózki defeated its rivals and was recognized by voters in the “Wonders of Poland” poll. Readers of *National Geographic Traveler* chose this small village as the most interesting place in the region, and tourists are flocking to see the Van Gogh-inspired murals. Village leader Piotr Kowalski tells us why it’s worth visiting this village.

This picturesque village, with a population of 130, boasts 10 large murals depicting Van Gogh's paintings from various periods of his career. Their creation is thanks to the engaged local community associated with the "Creative Birches" Society.

"We're bursting with pride. This is a great honor for a small village. We faced formidable opponents, but we succeeded. We're thrilled that our village has captivated people across Poland," Piotr Kowalski, the village head of Brzózki, told National Geographic. He added that he's received many congratulations from across the country.

Joan and I are more enthused about our trip now. Not that we weren't enthused before. 

Quiet & Ukraine

A quiet afternoon after two conversations this morning with Michal and Malgorzata.

I talked with Carmelo in Spain, and he told me the temperature was 39 C. That is way too hot for me.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine.

Russian forces utilized approximately 1,700 attack drones, more than 1,630 guided aerial bombs, and 95 missiles against Ukraine over the past week, with ballistic munitions accounting for more than half of the missile strikes. The most recent barrage involved 136 drones and eight missiles, targeting 10 regions. A residential drone strike in Kharkiv resulted in one fatality and nine injuries, while emergency services continued to extinguish a fire at a construction hypermarket in Kryvyi Rih.

A Polish-manufactured FlyEye reconnaissance drone was utilized by Ukraine’s 26th Separate Artillery Brigade to identify and destroy a Russian ammunition storage facility in the Bakhmut sector. The drone guided a HIMARS missile strike, resulting in a secondary detonation that destroyed the weapons stockpile and an adjacent artillery system. The 11-kilogram FlyEye, developed by Poland’s WB Group, has a 50-kilometer range. Source-Kyiv Post

Billy's & Jagodzianka

 We did something we haven't done in years: we went out for breakfast at Billy's restaurant in the Rynek.

The first American restaurant, Billy's, opened in 2009 in the Madison Shopping Center. It was the first creation. It now operates in five locations on the Tricity culinary map: 3 locations in Gdańsk, 1 in Sopot, and 1 in Poznań.

I checked their menu for breakfast, and Joan liked it. She was going to have three American pancakes served with maple syrup. Cost 39 PLN($10.25). My choice was a fluffy, three-egg omelet with bacon, cheese, and tomato. Sprinkled with chives. Cost 3PLN($9.50).

Unfortunately, I neglected to read that they only serve breakfast from 10:00-12:00. We arrived at 12:10, too late for breakfast. However, it has been such a long time since we were in the Rynek that we decided to have a cup of coffee and enjoy the scenery for a little while.

It was such a nice weather day, 75 F, we didn't want to go home, so we went to Cafe Lokum and had a caffe latte with Jagodzianki.

 It’s actually difficult to find the right name for them in English. They are either translated to ‘berries’ or ‘blueberries’, but berries appears to be too general! Basically, in Poland they are called ‘jagodzianki’. Jagody are much smaller than blueberries; they are darker and sweeter. They can be found in forests; they are not commonly grown for sale, unlike blueberries. But let’s call them blueberry buns with Jagodzianki.  

They were excellent and still warm from coming out of the oven. 

Not the healthiest breakfast to have, calorie-wise, but it rarely happens. I guess we're "still crazy after all these years". 

 

Epstein Files Justice Act 3.0

 If there is anyone interested in the new Epstein Files Justice Act 3.0, I hope you will attend this meeting and ask them to support it.  

The Illinois Freedom Alliance is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

 

Topic: Constitution Series: Attorney General Focus

Time: Jul 23, 2026 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87135056104?pwd=kotIQfLON6Z2D4M7PT2RZvwqO2Kd8p.1

Hate.

 A few days ago, in Owińska near Poznań, someone hung anti-Ukrainian banners. The police were informed of the incident. Two men were arrested in the case.

Anti-Ukrainian banners in Owińska

On one of the banners there was a crossed-out flag of Ukraine and a vulgar inscription. Others referred to the actions of the UPA or the Volhynia massacre.

The mayor of Czerwonak – Marcin Wojtkowiak, in which anti-Ukrainian banners hung, condemned these proceedings.

STATEMENT OF THE WOJT OF THE COMMUNICITY OF CHERWONAK

It begins with offensive words. Then come acts of violence. I wanted to write a serious statement condemning anti-Ukrainian banners that were also hung in our municipality, but I don't know if it makes sense in this form.

Instead, I'll write something from the heart.

I believe we are good as a community. We are good people. We found out about this during the annual WOSP campaign, during the flood relief, while we organized during the pandemic. And also during how we were helping our Ukrainian neighbors when the war broke out. Myself, like many of you, have adopted a Ukrainian family under my roof.

And my attitude towards people who suffer during war has not changed. If someone doesn't look at it in a moral way, it's always a pragmatic way - it's our job to support Ukraine as much as we can, so that the war doesn't have to take place in our country. Let it be at least a cold calculation. This will do enough. 

That's why I don't understand and strongly disagree with the urge we've been experiencing recently. With hate-filled banners, insulting Ukrainian children, with "social controls" of Ukrainian companies.

I disagree, although I also feel a bit helpless, with the avalanche of hateful comments that have also appeared on my profile, in public and in private. That was no stupidity. It was an evil that must be defended.

 

"But people of good will are more

And I am a firm believer in this,

That this world,

I will never die because of them". (Cz. Niemen)

 

I believe our world will not die thanks to you. Because there are more good people out there. Because of you, there are more of us.

Let's stick together. Let's not give in to evil. First we are humans, then we are nations.

More problems

 The problem still remains in Ukraine over firing the Defense Minister, Federov. IF you are interested in it, you can read about it here.  https://kyivindependent.com/analysis-why-ukrainians-feel-commander-in-chief-syrskyi-must-go-2.

Of course, it could have an impact on Poland also. I don't think many would disagree that Poland and Ukraine have a common enemy: Putin's Russia.

As for life here in Poznań on this gray, rainy day, after a two-hour meeting with friend Michal, I sat down next to Joan and continued watching the funny TV series, The Alien, on Netflix. It's entertaining.

About 3 PM, I cut up two chicken breasts to prepare them for tonight's dinner, a Cobb salad.

Bilateral relations between Poland and Ukraine have experienced a downturn following Kyiv’s decision to name an elite military unit after a World War II-era Ukrainian resistance movement, which Poland associates with the deaths of approximately 100,000 Polish civilians in Volhynia and eastern Galicia.

The diplomatic dispute resulted in Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest state honor.

Concurrently, researchers have identified a surge in anti-Ukrainian content online, warning that these political tensions are being amplified by Russian information operations aimed at destabilizing relations between the two countries.

Research cited by Rzeczpospolita tracked 94,000 anti-Ukrainian posts between April and July 2025 during Poland’s presidential election campaign, generating over 32 million views.

Sociologists suggest that the actual number of harassment incidents may be higher than official statistics indicate, as some victims remain hesitant to contact law enforcement.

Gasoline=7.29 PLN per liter

PLN = Polish money. For those of you complaining about the high cost of gasoline in the Divided States of America, thanks to the moron you elected as President, the cost of 1 liter of gasoline in Poland is 7.29 PLN. 1 gallon of gasoline is approximately equal to 3.785 liters. Unless the calculator is wrong, that is $7.29 per gallon. Kindly notify me once it reaches that amount.

Meanwhile, Ukraine/Poland.

A new Polish-made long-range strike drone capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 km (621 miles) away has completed tests near Kyiv and received positive feedback from Ukrainian operators, according to its manufacturer.

On June 15, defense technology company FlyFocus said its Striker unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was recently evaluated at a testing range outside the Ukrainian capital.

“The drone was tested at a training ground near Kyiv and received positive reviews from Ukrainian operators,” FlyFocus President Igor Skawiński and COO Albert Świerczyński said in an interview with Polish broadcaster Kanał Telewizyjny

 The system enters a rapidly expanding market driven by Ukraine’s extensive use of long-range drones against Russian military and energy infrastructure.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 140 kg (309 pounds), the drone can be equipped with either a piston engine or a jet engine. It can carry high-explosive fragmentation or thermobaric warheads weighing 40 kg (88 pounds) or 60 kg (132 pounds).

According to FlyFocus, the piston-powered version can strike targets at distances of up to 1,000 kilometers while cruising at speeds between 90-180 km per hour (56-112 miles per hour)

The jet-powered variant offers significantly higher speed, reaching up to 325 km per hour (202 miles per hour).

Doc. repeat

I took the antibiotic and probiotic for 5 days and have had no improvement in this persistent cough. It worried me, thinking it might lead to pneumonia. That would be the worst scenario. It would necessitate putting Joan in some facility while I would be hospitalized.

Last night, I scheduled an appointment with the same doctor for 13:00 (1 PM) today. We were on time and went right into her office. I told her I needed a different antibiotic because the one she gave me didn't help at all. She checked my lungs and temperature and prescribed Amosiklav as the new antibiotic. I'm to take it twice a day for 7 days. I hope this one works.

 Meanwhile, in Ukraine--Trouble.

President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new government without appointing a defense minister after the planned dismissal of reformist Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. As Ukrainians take to the streets, members of parliament resist backing a replacement, and thousands demand greater transparency and continued defense reforms, the political standoff has raised questions about whether Ukraine can avoid a deeper political crisis while fighting a full-scale war.

 

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has approved a new government, with a new cabinet of ministers headed by former Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky. However, the government was approved with one major caveat: it was incomplete. It lacked both a foreign minister and, most importantly, a defense minister. These two positions fall under the president of Ukraine’s constitutional quota, meaning the president must personally nominate them to parliament.

President Volodymyr Zelensky did not nominate anyone today. As a result, Ukraine now has a government without its most important minister.

Why does this matter?  

Why have people taken to the streets and what happens next?

Fedorov’s name is the one that matters

As of the afternoon of July 15, the reshuffle appeared straightforward. The plan was to replace Mykhailo Fedorov – the reform-minded minister who had launched transparent procurement, certification, and quality-control reforms at the Ministry of Defense, infuriating the military bureaucracy. Taking his place would be Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, who, while not a military officer himself, at least had experience leading a major ministry.

 Days earlier, rumors of Fedorov’s possible dismissal had already sparked widespread disappointment among Ukraine’s expert community.

The young minister had no obvious failures or major mistakes to his name. On the contrary, Ukraine had dramatically expanded drone procurement, introduced an electronic points system rewarding soldiers for destroying enemy targets, provided unprecedented support to dedicated drone units that were able to clear entire sections of the front, and shifted toward systematic deep-strike and medium-range strike campaigns that inflicted serious damage on Russian forces and helped Ukraine regain the initiative.

These developments gave Ukrainians hope after two difficult years and the harshest winter of the war – that military fortunes were finally beginning to turn in Ukraine’s favor once again.

The potential dismissal of the popular reformist minister felt like a bitter betrayal of that hope. But the longer events unfolded, the clearer it became that Fedorov’s energetic reform efforts within the entrenched ministry bureaucracy appeared to be the most likely reason for his removal.Source-Kyiv Post