Comments on: How to register a car in Poland — the hard way

By: markj

markj — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:41:32 +0000

Terps#44 – Regarding my writing, I owe Dan a lot. Firstly, along with Bogusia, my wife, more than anyone, Dan encourages me. He also imlpements most of the art work, sometimes with great irritation at the work load that my ideas cause him. Further, he plays the role of my editor – doing the final review and edits.

In the case of this essay, I probably would not have written it if he did not push me. I was telling Dan the story, and he immediately encouraged me to write an essay on it.

Thank you very much, indeed, for comparing my writing to Dan’s. As a part-time hobbyist, it is quite a compliment to be compared to the master.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:36:50 +0000

btw, Mark, recipes are sometimes shared on this blog. Do you happen to have a good one for pierogies?

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:34:36 +0000

Your description of the Chicken Kiev made me very hungry, Mark. At least you got some good food out of the ordeal.

By: markj

markj — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:26:39 +0000

All – I suppose most of you have already tuned out of this thread. But if anyone is still reading – first I would like to thank all of you who posted kind words and encouragement for me. I really appreciate the feedback.

J.M. White – I am especially touched by your thoughtfulness about staying on track. At the same time, I think that in a special way, how the thread evolved makes sense and I enjoyed the humanist atmosphere, because in fact the flavor of my essay. It was a story about a never ending chain of screw-ups – starting with mine; and yet, it was a never ending chain of people extending good will to a stranger.

Of all the stories on this thread – the one I will remember most, and certainly share is the one about the hillbilly at the cook-out, who told his family in the city they got it all wrong when they sh&# in the house and cook outside. Priceless!

By: Terps

Terps — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:03:30 +0000

I will forever be confused about why the folks on this blog abhor government beurocracy as depicted in this story and then support the control by government over more and more of our lives. There is a disconnect.
Great story,mark. You write almost as well as Dan…and that is high praise.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:24:01 +0000

It is a great story.

By: Dan Casey

Dan Casey — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:50:24 +0000

Dave Hicks,

I like Mark’s story a lot, and I wanted to make sure folks who may have skipped it during the week (it’s a long story) had a chance to read the whole thing. That’s all.

By: Dave Hicks

Dave Hicks — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:27:43 +0000

What is this? Déjà vu all over again. Why?

By: J.M. White

J.M. White — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:09:52 +0000

Bureaucracy was the topic, gdad. Entertainment was the point, I suppose.

I’m not saying the convo should stop; I’m just trying to throw some props back to MarkJ for inspiring it. That’s all.

John W. is right. We don’t do well at staying on topic, even when we’re provided with a daily OPEN thread. I didn’t really imply that anyone was complaining in this case. I just didn’t want to feel so responsible for the derailment without making an apology to him.

By: John Wilburn

John Wilburn — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:47:15 +0000

J.M. White,
The fourth highest ranking thread of all time was originally about teachers, but it was gun rights that pushed it to 414 comments. This blog is definitely NOT known for staying on topic.

Great Mark J column, though!