GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LAW

 Effective April 20, 2024, the Good Cause Eviction Law provides tenants in unregulated housing with enhanced protections. Landlord must now demonstrate "good cause" to evict a tenant, refuse rent renewal, or impose excessive rent increases. A rent increase exceeding 8.82% is considered unreasonable unless the landlord can justify it in court.

Common example of "good cause" for eviction include non-payment of rent, violation of a substantial term of a lease, creating a nuisance, or substantial damage to the property. It is important to note that the law applies to tenants in unregulated rental housing who lived in their unit at least 30 days, but there are exemptions for certain situations, such as owner occupied building with a few units.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York Attorney, admitted to practice law in 1993. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250), or preferably by e-mail at: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

THE RENT LAWS OF 2019 - AMENDMENT TO LANDLORD & TENANT LAW IN NEW YORK

Last summer governor Andrew Cuomo has signed the new package of landlord and tenant laws and regulations, significantly improving the situation of residential tenants in the state of New York, and more importantly, in New York City. Collection of new laws and regulations is known under the name of the Statewide Housing Security and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, or by a short name of the Rent Laws of 2019.

The 2019 Rent Laws lengthens the process of eviction (known as holdover proceedings) as well as recovery of owed rent (known as nonpayment proceedings).

Regarding nonpayment proceedings, instead of 3 or 5 day notice of nonpayment of rent, now landlord has to serve on tenant (by a process server) 14 day notice of nonpayment, warning tenant that in case of nonpayment of the owed rent within the 14 day period, landlord would file a summary nonpayment proceeding with appropriate landlord and tenant court. Besides, prior to service of 14 day notice of nonpayment, landlord has to mail to tenant, by certified mail, a letter advising the tenant about his or her failure to pay the rent for a period of at least 5 day or longer. The rules are unclear whether the notice of failure to pay the rent for 5 or more days should be mailed to tenant prior or after the service of  14 day notice of nonpayment. Like before, in case of tenant's failure to pay the owed rent within 14 days, landlord then has to file nonpayment petition with the clerk of appropriate landlord and tenant court, and then has to serve it by a process server on tenant. However, tenant's time to answer the nonpayment petition has now been lengthened from 5 to 10 days. Also, in case of marshal's eviction notices being served upon tenant, the latter has now a longer period of time to make yet another application to landlord and tenant court to demand stopping of the eviction, provided the tenant has a reasonable basis for the application.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney writing on the law and other community important topics. You can reach him at (212) 634-4250, or through e-mail: jwandrzejewski@gmail.com or janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

TO FIX ITS LAGGING EDUCATION, THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT POLAND'S SUCCESFUL FORMULA

Poland remains a success story not only with its economy, but even more so, with its educational system, which in the past decade has moved sharply forward from the rear of international pack, and beats now the U.S. on most performance measures. Poland's success has not only been noticed by international educational organizations, but also by American newspapers, i.e. by USA Today, which took a close look last August at Polish education's reform. Apparently, Poland has now the fourth-highest number of higher education students in Europe, only behind the U.K., Germany and France. In reading, Poland is ahead of the U.K., Germany or France, and far ahead of the U.S.. Poland surpassed the U.S. even in math, by placing 19th on a survey by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) whereas the U.S. was ranked at 27th place, well below average.
Pursuant to last year's Pearson's Global Education Index,  the U.S. is ranked in 14th place globally in cognitive skills and educational attainment, whereas Poland, which surpassed the U.S., leaped to 10th place in the world. Following are the top 10 countries in the Pearson's ranking: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland and Poland (Germany, Denmark and Russia are ahead of the U.S., too).
Poland's curriculum is mostly based on the effects of the education - not just what the students know but what they can do, and how they can use their knowledge practically. Poland started the revamping of its educational system only in 1998, approximately 10 years after the fall of communism, when the country already was flying in the aftermath of market reforms, and deregulation and privatization made Poland's economy one of Europe's fastest growing. But Poland's schools in that period of revamping of its economy still continued to rely on old course materials, with education putting emphasis on producing technicians and vocational workers for heavy industries. Miroslaw Handke, then Minister of Education, got a green light, and with remarkable speed, in a year, academia in Poland was unrecognizable. Poland switched its educational system to a new form of general education that resisted specialization. A year later, in 2000, Poland began leap to the international league tables. By 2012, the last time OECD conducted its survey, Poland was one of the best teaching countries in the world. In fact, its the only one to have gone from below average in the charts, to above average, with its GDP ranking only 46th globally. On key indicators - math, science and reading, it came from behind to rank well ahead of the United States. How did Poland manage to do so? Well, under the revamped system, primary school lasts six years, followed by three years of a new comprehensive lower secondary school, before a decision is made on whether to send a student to vocational training. Knowledge - reading, writing, arithmetic - is valued above technical skill. Foreign language, especially English - became a key component. In 2000 only 1 percent of kids received four hours or more of language classes. By 2006 that figure jumped to 76 percent.
Notwithstanding the success in education, Poland spends only around $5,000 per student annually from primary to tertiary education, but outperforms the United States, which spends three times more than Poland on education of one student. Of course, a part of the educational success is based in the socialist past, when Poland's education system went through its first wide and deep modernization.
The economy in Poland continues to be strong. In fact, Poland was the only European country which did not succumb to 2009 recession (in fact, it registered, as the only country in Europe, a 1.6% growth in 2009). January, 2015 indicators show a booming economy, with over 8 percent growth. However, Poland still remains a low payer for teachers, approximately $650 per month, compared with the national average of all workers of $945 per month (of course, one has to remember that education, healthcare and the rest of social safety net are still provided in Poland free of charge). Obviously, Poland will have to upgrade the salaries of their teachers rather sooner than later. There are also some unexpected sides to the educational success of Poland, i.e. Poland's rapid development of foreign language training has a negative side effect. Many Poles are leaving home to gain skills abroad. While it generally helps the technology sector, if they return, many of them never do, preferring to stay in the U.K., Norway, Germany, Netherlands, France or Austria, where they can count on higher wages. But despite the negative effect of losing so many of creative and energetic young people to economies of Western Europe, Poland's educational system is an example to the whole world, and a stellar proof that its not just the money that makes good students.

Janusz Andrzejewski, a New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or jwandrzejewski@gmail.com

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY...

Your eyes, my mysterious and beautiful, are quite haunting.
But mileage, between the two of us, spectacularly daunting.
Perhaps, my dear, we can at least converse right now a bit,
To simply decide who at the other shall spring a sudden hit.

And those mesmerizing and green eyes are truly riveting.
Prolonged looking at you is to me a constant bloodletting.
The thought of seeing you dancing is always spellbinding.
Not having you here with me is to craziness mind driving.

I love your ever present blackness, it reminds me a little bit
Of some dark things, when still young, I lackadaisically did.
I'm kind of, well, enamored, by your every daylight docility,
Even though, I am always scared of your emotional fragility.

J. Andre Jeski,
New York City, November 7, 2014

Warning: Unauthorized use of this material, without consent of the author, constitutes a violation of the author's copyrights and might trigger a legal action.

BLOW TO ZIONISM: YOUNG ISRAELIS EMIGRATE TO BERLIN, OF ALL PLACES IN THE WORLD

Even The New York Times could not stay away this time from reporting on the strange phenomena of emigration of talented young Israelis to Berlin. Of all the places in the world, the capital of Germany appears to be a favorite destination city of the young professional and artistic elite of Israel. Apparently, Berlin's cosmopolitan flair, vibrant arts scene and advanced public transportation are huge draws to the young Israelis, faced with higher and higher costs of living in Israel and no prospects for decent middle class life. In many circles in Tel Aviv the fact of young Israelis happily emigrating to Berlin, the place in which Adolf Hitler designed the final solution of Jews, is met with horror and considered the ultimate failure of Zionism. The Israeli hipsters in Tel Aviv sport now T-shirts with inscriptions: "I love Berlin" or "I also want to go to Germany". While Berlin's Israeli community grows in numbers, in Israel grows the demand for teachers of German language... Strange times, indeed!

Janusz Andrzejewski, New York City based attorney, writes on legal and other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250), or, through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

TO THE SIMPLISTIC AMERICAN AND BRITISH MEDIA: POLAND IS NOT A PART OF EASTERN EUROPE

Reading the American or British newspapers or listening to their audio or visual media, one gets very often aggravated by constant description of Poland as an Eastern European nation. Frankly speaking, I'm tired of the media's ignorance, simplifications, shoddy journalism, sloppiness and constant inability to liberate themselves from the shackles of convenient stereotypes.
Even Wikipedia knows better, as describing Poland it properly says: "a country in Central Europe". The truth is Anglo-Saxon media description of present day Poland as an Eastern European nation is groundless and unjustified geographically, politically and culturally.
1) Geographically, Poland lies in the center of Europe and therefore it is a Central European country. If one draws the line between Portugal's Atlantic Coast on the western border of Europe, and the Ural Mountains on the eastern border of Europe, with the line between the northern tip of Scandinavia on the northern border of Europe and the southern tip of Sicily on the southern border of Europe, those lines will cross each other near Lodz in Poland. Therefore, the precise center of Europe is located near Lodz in Poland, which is at the same time the center of Poland, and consequently, Poland lies in Central Europe. Prior to World War II, when Poland was reaching much further to the east as it consisted of major parts of Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania, whereas some of the western territories of present day Poland were in Germany, describing Poland as being part of Eastern Europe was almost justified. Not at present though, I must repeat, as Poland is undoubtedly a Central European country.
2) Politically, Poland is in the Western Europe nowadays. Of course, during the Soviet domination of Poland after World War II (domination caused by the sell-out of Poland to Stalin by F.D.R., with weak resistance from Churchill, at Yalta Conference - an unprecedented betrayal of their biggest ally which came up with the 4th biggest allied military forces and military contribution, notwithstanding being occupied by Germany), Poland was politically part of Eastern Europe, however, it is no longer the case as Poland recovered its democratic system structures in 1989, became part of NATO in 1999 and a member of EU in 2004.
3) Culturally, Poland is part of the West for more than a thousand years as it accepted Latin Alphabet and Christianity, in the form of Roman-Catholic religion, in 966. Since then, all its literature, arts and culture otherwise is that of a western nation.
Perhaps it is the time for the managers of the western media to change your manuals of style and usage, with respect to Poland's location, or its description in political, cultural or geographical terms, since your education system is incapable to break out of the stereotypes formed during the cold war and your writers are still ignorant of basic facts concerning one of the big nations of Europe.

Janusz Andrzejewski, a New York City based attorney, writes on the legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250),  or through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

CELTIC GLASGOW HIDING BEHIND UEFA'S SHOCKING DISREGARD OF THE SPIRIT OF FAIR PLAY

Poland's football (or soccer, if you prefer) seems to be on the rise. Except for one or two clubs of 16- teams Polish Ekstraklasa, all the clubs play nowadays in either new or renovated stadiums, the money supply is slowly rising, and the Polish footballers are regaining the spotlight they used to enjoy in 1970-s and 1980-s, when Poland's national team twice came 3rd in World Cups (1974 and 1982) and players like Lato, Deyna, Lubanski, Gadocha, Tomaszewski or Zibi Boniek were world-wide renowned stars. The new generation is graced by Robert Lewandowski, Jakub "Kuba" Blaszczykowski, Lukasz Piszczek, Wojciech Szczesny or Artur Boruc. This year Legia Warsaw, the former club of Kazimierz Deyna, the playmaker of 1974 national team of Poland, who was selected as no 3 player of 1974 World Cup (just behind Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer) confirmed the improvement of Polish soccer by destroying Celtic Glasgow in 3rd qualifying round of Champions League by aggregate score of 6:1 (4:1 in Poland, and 2:0 in Scotland), despite wasting two penalty shots and many more occasions. But soon it turned out that not everything is so rosy in the real world and that sun shines at different angles for rich men, and poor men. Before Legia Warsaw players stopped celebrating the fully deserved double victory and qualification to the Champions League playoffs - the final round of qualifications to lucrative group stage of UEFA Champions League - there came a news that Legia might have fielded for the last four minutes of the away game in Scotland, when their win and qualification were already assured, a player who might have been ineligible to play due to earlier suspension. However, Legia Warsaw released in Poland a statement that there should not be a problem of ineligibility of the player, Bartosz Bereszynski, who was suspended for three matches because of a red card from previous season. They were under impression that the player served the suspension fully by abstaining from three matches of Champions League in this very campaign (two matches against St. Patrick of Ireland, in 2nd qualifying round of Champions League, and first match against Celtic in Warsaw, Poland). However, Legia Warsaw forgot about an old and obscure rule requiring that the name of the player serving suspension be placed on match statements, filed with UEFA after each game. The chairman of Legia Warsaw, with all necessary documentation flew on Thursday to Nyon, Switzerland, to the headquarters of UEFA disciplinary body, to prove that Bartosz Bereszynski was Legia Warsaw player throughout those three qualifying games in which he did not play, as he was serving the 3-match suspension, and to prove that the omission of his name on the match statements was just a clerical error. However, Mr. Mioduski wasn't allowed to see the UEFA's disciplinary body whereas Celtic Glasgow was pressing quietly through their allies behind the closed door for walkover decision in the match played in Scotland. When Mr. Mioduski finally saw the UEFA people, the decision of a 3:0 walkover in the match played in Scotland was already made. It is interesting to note that the rate of payments for tv transmission of Celtic Glasgow matches are much higher than for those paid for Legia Warsaw matches, and that UEFA stands to make much more money from the Celtic matches in Champions League group stage than from those of Legia. What is also interesting is that UEFA public announcement did not even mention the fact that Bartosz Bereszynski in fact served the suspension (except for reporting irregularity on the match statements sent to UEFA), instead UEFA just reported to the public that Legia Warsaw fielded ineligible player in the match played in Scotland (Celtic Glasgow v. Legia Warsaw 0:2) and because of that the result was nullified and Celtic was awarded a 3:0 result by walkover. So, not only Legia wasn't allowed to explain anything before the decision was reached,  but also the UEFA statement implies to ignorant readers that Legia Warsaw cheated by fielding ineligible player which is far from the truth. The UEFA announcement does not only fail to mention that player de facto served his full suspension, except for match statements irregularity, it also does not mention that he was fielded for inconsequential 4 minutes, when the result and Legia's qualification was already assured on the pitch. I understand that if one sticks to the letter of the law, UEFA might be right. However, since the offence was unintentional, miniscule and had no bearing on the result on the pitch, the strict adherence to the letter of the law by UEFA was a highway robbery perpetrated on Legia club and players. Also, the same UEFA in 2011, in similar situation, when Debrecen of Hungary fielded for 4 minutes not registered player in match against champion of Bulgaria, UEFA did not disqualify Debrecen - stating that the offence was inconsequential - for obvious reason: Debrecen opponent was from lowly Bulgaria, enjoying almost the same lowly status as the Hungarians. To Legia Warsaw UEFA could not apply the spirit of the law as it did toward Debrecen, as Legia's opponent was the famous Celtic Glasgow, from rich U.K., with people from U.K. sitting on various UEFA committees, and with bigger television rights piece of pie from the lucrative U.K. market. So, the reason for double standard is quite clear. Legia Warsaw will of course appeal as soon as UEFA issues its facts and findings in support of the decision, however, the participation of Celtic in the final qualification round to Champions League will go on, and it will jeopardize Legia's chances on appeal. Therefore, chairman of Legia, Mr. Mioduski, attempted to contact Celtic people by telephone to discuss the Celtic's position, but Celtic didn't answer any communication from Legia. Mr. Mioduski decided then to publish an open letter to Celtic, reminding them the fair play traditions of famous Celtic Glasgow, and asking for a meeting to work out a joint statement to UEFA. Predictably, Celtic people refused any meeting and hide themselves behind the UEFA decision. What's more, they have audacity to claim that they are furious at Legia and otherwise disappointed! It appears that official UEFA delegate for the match in Scotland saw Bereszynski's name on the match statement prior to the match, and did not voice his objections until the match was over. I reckon he must have winked to Celtic officials to assure them that everything will end up well for the Bhoys, notwithstanding the result on the pitch. From the little irregularity on the paper, notwithstanding the resounding success of Legia on the pitch (without using the questionably ineligible player), the latter, although growing and with modern new stadium, is still a poor club comparing to the famous Celtic. The more acute will be their loss of approximately $30,000,000.00 should they have qualified to the group stage, whereas Celtic might undeservedly reap the same $30,000,000 amount thanks to shady dealings by UEFA and people supporting Celtic in UEFA committees. The decision by UEFA is so shocking, that even the New York Times jumped on Legia Warsaw wagon, expressing the outrage the decision caused all over Europe, and even across the big pond, in the United States. So much for transparency and fair play concepts, so vociferously espoused by British media when it suits their purposes and interests. I wonder why those U.K. defenders of those high concepts are not crying foul now? They were much louder when they screamed: do not go to Euro 2012 if you do not want to come back in a coffin! So much for equality. After all, double standards do not disappear from this world. Its the eternal rich men, poor men!  

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other community important subjects. You can contact him by telephone (212-634-4250),  or, by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

THE OLD MAN FROM TEL AVIV, PART 2

He resumed his story again, still standing against the window, with his back toward me behind the conference table.
"You know, all my life I heard this phrase in at least couple of languages: do not ever burn the bridges down behind you. Like a mantra, various phony and not phony advisers, in my professional as well as in personal life, were either whispering or shouting this phrase to my ears, as if its content carried some taboo-like messages, passed on verbally from generation to generation of faithful followers. But guess what, I did burn the bridges down and now, at the end of my life I do feel cleaner and better, which does not mean I'm free of dirt... My life acquired some structure and compass; I do not have to deal with false well-wishers and self-interested associates, attempting to build around me their net of connections, entrapments, hidden doors and tunnels in the sphere of my social circles; I have shaken off of my back the little helpers ready to push me further down the road of consumerism and cheep materialistic distractions. After having gotten rid of them, I wasn't distracted any longer by their voices tempting me with a great future lying ahead of us, with fulfillment of goals which never were mine, with betterment of supposedly our station in life, which was on the crossroads of railroad tracks none of which led to desired by my inner life places and destinations."
He stopped for a moment, still looking into the New York night behind the windows of the conference room. (To be continued or, perhaps not?)

The above story is a creation of fiction, not based on any real life story or set of facts, and any resemblance to anybody's life or any resemblance of any character in the story to any real person(s) is accidental.

WARNING: Unauthorized use of the above material, without consent of the author, is a violation of author's copyrights and will trigger a legal action. 

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics. You may contact him by telephone (212-634-4250) or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

DON'T MISS THE SHOW FOR A DOG DAY AFTERNOON: A TRADE UNION TO STAGE A PEACEFUL OCCUPATION OF GIBRALTAR

It is quite funny, if not shocking, that in the politically correct 21st century various states still cling to their foreign territories, having no connection whatsoever to their main masses of land. The most notorious seem to be two pieces of land still being held by Great Britain: the Falklands, islands off the coast of Argentina (known better in Spanish as Malvinas),  and Gibraltar, strategic rock at the entry from Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, at the base of Iberian Peninsula. Both these territories remain a bone of disagreement between, respectively, Great Britain and Argentina, and Great Britain and Spain. Both Argentina and Spain have placed the retaking, or taking over of these territories, pursuant to the Brits, high on the list of their foreign policies, and the subject of Malvinas and Gibraltar is quite hot in the media. Gibraltar is again in the news today, this time in a funny way, which hopefully should not produce major tensions between Spain and Great Britain, otherwise allies in NATO and members od the European Union. Pursuant to the U.K. newspaper, the Telegraph, a leftist Spanish trade union called Andalusian Workers Union (SAT), which has 20,000 members, announced plans to occupy  the most famous rock in the world on August 29, 2014. SAT is known for its Robin Hood style activities like supermarkets raid for the poor to collect food and school supplies for the poverty-stricken families or "expropriation" of a disused luxury hotel. The SAT spokesman Diego Canamero announced plans to reclaim Gibraltar not for Spain, but as he stated, "for the people of Andalusia". Mr. Canamero stated that SAT "wants to reinstate Gibraltar's Andalusian sovereignty, dismantle the British military base and protect small scale fishing in those waters". When asked about the plans to "carry the invasion of Gibraltar, Mr. Canamero resolutely answered: "We haven't decided yet, we are aware that there's a large security presence at the border but we'll find a way round it". The Telegraph reminds about the history of Gibraltar, and that it has been ceded by Spain to Britain under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and since then it has been a thorn in relations between these two countries. Apparently, since the start of 2013 there were approximately 600 incidents of encroachments of Spanish vessels on territorial waters of Gibraltar. Eventually, both allies - who incidentally never showed much love towards each other - should resolve the matter between themselves, however, a great number of people will sit on the fence comes August 29, awaiting with curiosity how SAT will carry on its Robin Hood-style invasion against the British tax heaven and the famous fortress of Gibraltar.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, who writes on legal and other community important subjects. You may contact him by telephone (212-634-4250) or, by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com 

PROPAGANDA WAR ONLINE SUFFOCATES FREE DISCUSSION

For a long time I have been a reader, or sometimes a participant,  of various online discussion forums, such as Guardian, Telegraph, CNN, El Pais, and sometimes Le Figaro or Le Monde. Recently, however, it appears that majority of those forums are now battlefields of propaganda war between Kremlin and CIA trolls. From what I can see, the Kremlin trolls appear to be winning the propaganda war. They are quite knowledgeable, sophisticated, persistent and tenacious. Sometimes I have a feeling they never sleep. What is almost frightening, the trolls provide their own threads in online discussions which are often being followed by idealistic yet unsophisticated westerners who cannot differentiate between a troll or a bone fide reader, and are quite lost among the sophisticated army of Russian trolls. Initially, it was difficult to tell whether it has been a spontaneous rush of various Russian bloggers to legitimate discussions of the red hot contested issues, caused by the events in Kiev, during Yanukovich's last days in power, and then, by the Crimea and the rebellion in South-Eastern Ukraine. Recently though, after MH17 tragedy, it has become quite clear that the Russian trolls never sleep, are organized as they attack in groups and appear to have some training regarding how to steer and/or hijack the discussion forums of the most prestigious western newspapers. It is no longer a pleasure to be involved in the discussions, when it becomes quite clear that they are being hijacked by the professionals with their own agenda. As far as I can tell, upon even a cursory review of various online newspapers and blogs, another propaganda war is being fought between Jews and the Muslims regarding Israeli invasion on Gaza. Its a tough world out there, online, when one no longer can enjoy a stimulating intellectual discussion or an exchange of ideas, instead one has to constantly be on the lookout for various trolls or various shades of online propaganda warriors, looking to slaughter intellectually innocent and not so sophisticated surfers, or to hijack any meaningful geopolitical discussion.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other community important topics. You may contact him by telephone (212-634-4250)or, by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com 

WHAT IS THE AIM OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY LEADERS?

There is many people all over the world who are plainly pissed at the way things are! And it seems to me I am slowly but unavoidably becoming one of them. Some of you might say: "Papi, come on, you're just getting old!" Or, one of you might say to the other: "He definitely ain't getting laid as much as he would like to, if at all!" Surely, these comments might be true, but somehow I feel and know the problem lies elsewhere. For a long time I have those thoughts, harbored certainly by many people all over the world. Thoughts of not everything being well with the way the empty yet loud models of pop culture being pushed through mass media and entertainment outlets under the false claims that it is what the people really want. I myself never wanted it, and I do not know many people who ever themselves enjoyed it or demanded. How then those controlling and managing the mass media and entertainment industry know that what they sell to us is what the people at large really want? Is it a question of determining of what the audience want or what it should want in opinion of the owners and managers of the entertainment and mass media business? Because if it is not what we want, but what we should want, in perception of those who commandeer the entertainment and mass media industries, then it seems that the entertainment and mass media are manipulating us and our needs, tastes, dreams and desires to accept the product which they want to sell to us, and which has nothing to do with our tastes and needs. And if this is so, then manipulation of our needs, tastes, dreams and desires becomes suspect at best. Why do they want us, the little people, to accept product like untamed violence, or violent, deviant and pervert depiction of love and sex, or movies so senseless as Transformers, etc., or various stupid and empty reality shows, or role models like Kardashians and other celebrities of a similar kind? Why this kind of entertainment is provided to us when clearly it attacks what is good in us, in society, and we can all sincerely say that our inner selves do not need or desire this kind of product for any purpose whatsoever. As far as I am offended often by senseless or rigid political correctness, at least I can say that it serves to some degree some community higher aims, when it protects people from bigotry, ostracisms, isolation, etc. But what aim serves the entertainment which the controllers and managers of that industry attempt to sell us? Even though we do not need it as it does not please us? Did they ever apologize to the victims of mass shootings in Columbine High School, Aurora Movie Theater, Newtown School, Virginia Tech Massacre, etc.? Did they even try to reexamine how to handle violence in movies? Do they still think that showing love scenes in movies is more dangerous than untamed violence? Do I need to see all those vampire movies? Surely, not. Then, please do illuminate me, what is the aim of your entertainment?

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics. You may contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250  or through his e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP: SHOULD ARGENTINA BEAT GERMANY, MESSI WOULD SURPASS MARADONA AND PELE

We cannot measure the talent, level of technical skills and individual accolades achieved by the footballers such as Maradona, Pele and Messi. We can try instead to compare the achievements of the teams in which they played, the strengths of the teams against whom they were competing and the quality of the supporting players in their own teams, as well as our stars' impact on their own teams, through decisive plays and goals, through creative vision exhibited. The highest amount of trophies with national team won Pele with Brazil. Yet Pele played in such strong national team of Brazil that one cannot say that he was indispensable to Brazil to win the championship. During the 1958 tournament, when Brazil won the first title, 17 year old Pele wasn't even the Brazil's best player. He had around the best player of the World Cup 1958: Didi, as well as such greats as Vava, Garrincha, Altafini, Zagallo, Nilton Santos and Djalma Santos. In World Cup 1962 Pele was injured, in a second group match against Czechoslovakia, and didn't play further, instead he had to watch Garrincha, the best player of World Cup 1962, to lead Brazil to their second world title. Again, in World Cup 1970 played in Mexico, Brazil was so full of talented players, that one cannot say that it was Pele whose impact was indispensable to the Brazilian third world title. Having around such players as Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino, Gerson, Clodoaldo, Carlos Alberto, Brito, Piazza, or Everaldo did not put much pressure on Pele. His task was easy and he did not have to deal with major stress accompanying for example Maradona, or Messi and Neymar in their world cup campaigns. The proof is in that famous Carlos Alberto's goal (after a series of moves and passes between seven Brazilian players) of the final match of World Cup 1970, stamping the Brazil's win over Italy. Pele did not have to dribble through whole defenses of opponents like Maradona did in World Cup 1986 in Mexico (against England, then Belgium). Otherwise, Pele's Brazil did not have as strong opponents as Argentina did in World Cup 1986, which they won, and World Cup 1990, which they lost to Germany on a hugely controversial penalty. Also, Maradona did not have such support as Pele always had. With their clubs, Pele won Libertadores Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, yet again he had stars in his Santos team. Maradona was not so successful with his clubs, yet he had more competition as he left for Europe, after playing in Argentina for a weak club Argentinos Juniors and then for a year at Boca Juniors. Maradona's two years at Barcelona, Spain were not successful either as he only won Copa del Rey, but one has to say that he was injured for long spells of time. Only with Napoli in Serie A he was relatively successful by winning Serie A in 1987 and 1990 and being twice Serie A runner up, and adding to collection UEFA Cup. He managed to do it all in the time when Serie A was at its peak and was the strongest league in the world, and AC Milan was the best team in the world, and Inter and Juventus were not far behind. Maradona on a weekly basis had to play against Van Basten, Gullit, Rijkard, Baresi, Maldini, Donadoni, Matthaus, Klinsmann, Bhreme, Zico, Platini, Cabrini, Rush, Laudrup, Roberto Baggio, Schillaci, It seems that Maradona played in a much tougher environment than Pele, who never was brave enough to take on a challenge of playing in European best leagues, against better defenses of European teams, more sophisticated tactically, and better athletically than those in Pele's native Brazil. Consequently, Maradona until now was the greatest player, with Pele behind, followed by Johan Cruyff , Garrincha and Zinedine Zidane. And here comes Lionel Messi, the player with the ball glued to his feet while running at highest speeds (Pele and Maradona were slow in comparison to Messi and in their dribbling they relied mostly on control of the ball and body moves ) , shattering goal-scoring records, who achieved in club football everything - neither Maradona, Pele nor Zidane can compare to his achievements with their clubs. Only Alfredo di Stefano, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer achieved so much (or perhaps more) with their club teams. Of course, Messi is not finished yet. In World Cup 2006 Argentina was so rich in talent (that it should have won the title except for that tactical mistake of Pekerman who took his playmaker Juan Ramon Riquelme  off the pitch while leading 2:0, allowing Germany to make a comeback and to advance to semifinals) that there was no place for 19-year-old Messi, in World Cup 2010, Messi was quite good, but Argentina was handicapped by the worst coach in history, Diego Maradona himself, and Argentina again was knocked out in quarterfinals by Germany. Now, after club season when Messi was trapped by recurring injuries, he does not run so much with the ball, he is much more economical in his game, plays deeper as the real playmaker of the old times, yet when he is needed, he delivers. He led Argentina unbeaten in qualifications to this world cup. Now, in Brazil, his goals against Bosnia and Iran were decisive, his two goals against Nigeria had a calming effect on the team. The tough game against Switzerland, was iturned around by the Swiss, who strongly knocked at Argentina's goal, yet little Messi made decisive play and assisting pass to Di Maria, who managed to kill the game. In the match against Belgium, the plays around Messi became more and more physical, yet Messi was brilliant in tight spaces, holding the ball, liberating himself at times from swarming around him Belgians, and playing precise 40 yard passes. Decisive was his play, after which Argentinians scored the winning goal: Messi, in Belgian half, in the the middle of the pitch, was swarmed by several Belgians, when he spun away from two defenders and clipped a pass to Di Maria, who quickly passed further to Higuain, and the latter turned and volleyed beautifully home. One of the several passes of brilliance. In the semifinal match against Holland, the team playing with seven defensive players, Messi seemed to be contained (his father said after the match that his legs were stiff and he cannot run anymore). Yet he made a brilliant play in tight space in the right corner area, when he spun away from the Dutch defenders and send beautiful pass across the penalty area to free Maxi Rodriguez who should have converted, yet he ended up with a tame shot, which bounced from the ground, allowing Cillessen to calmly stop it. It was the moment when the decisive goal, resulting from Messi's flash of brilliance, should have been scored. Instead, the game went to penalties, where Messi calmly gave the lead to Argentina, after the first Dutch penalty was saved by Romero. Little Messi delivered again, on dead legs this time. If the Argentinian physiotherapists can somehow prepare those legs for one more match, if those legs can give Argentina another decisive play against the toughest opponent any team in history had to play in a world cup final, little Messi would surpass Diego Maradona as the greatest player in the history of this sport. But make no mistake, their opponent is the favorite of the final, no matter how much sentimental and sympathetic I am to Argentina's and Messi's campaign, nobody in the history of the World Cup had ever had to play such a formidable opponent as Argentina has in Germany, in such a great for Germany time, when they enjoy mental as well as physical advantage coupled with a better schedule of matches, giving them an additional day for recovery before the final. This German team is brilliant tactically, full of players with high individual skills, majority with great physical parameters. These German young men, who before played together for Germany teams under the age of 21, 19 and 17, are guided for a long period of time by the same coach, Joachim Low. In addition, this Mannschaft seemed to have recovered the old German "never die attitude" and the ability to win when it goes tough. If Argentina can somehow turn around the tables, and beat the Germans, Messi indeed would become the greatest of them all. Not that he is not the greatest in my eyes already. Good luck, little genius.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics, as well as on the subject of sport. You may contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP 2014: FOOTBALL ROLLERCOASTER IN ENGLISH MEDIAS

The English media, as well as English football fans, had a rollercoaster kind of a summer this year. Prior to each of the last several World Cups, to which they qualified (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010), English media and fans loudly and widely claimed there was nobody in the world their golden boys could not beat, so they were proclaiming themselves the world champions (in waiting) and waited impatiently for the start of each of the upcoming tournaments. In 1998 their was no "hand of God" around but the English were "cheated out" again by those canny Argentinians who dared to dismiss their golden boy of the pitch, in 2002 it was that "lucky goal" by Ronaldinho and Seaman taking a momentary nap, in 2006, that winking man from Canary Islands "they taught how to play" got their "great" Rooney off , and title was gone, and in 2010 lack of goal line technology in the 1:4 loss to Germany (I wonder how loudly they complained about the lack of same technology in 1966, when, at the score standing at 1:1, Soviet referee decided to give the proud and fair sons of Albion a helping hand, and created a goal which wasn't, as the ball never crossed the goal line).
Having learned from their previous humiliations, this time around during the 2013/2014 Premier League season nobody dared to repeat any of the "glorious predictions" of the recent world cups. But, as soon as the season was wrapped up, the hope for glory was back. Why not, Liverpool had such young, bright and already "accomplished" players as Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, Southampton showed off Lallana and Luke Shaw, Manchester United Jones, Smalling, Cleverly, Arsenal Ox-Chameberlain and perennial great hope, Theo Walcott. Just add to this "galaxy of interstellar talent" the "best goalkeeper" in the world in form of young and tall Joe Hart, and "all-time great" Wayne Rooney, known in various places of a certain island as "White Pele". The camp and friendlies started and English "pundits" started to ponder aloud "Sturridge" great chances for sneaking the World Cup 2014 golden boot. Soon, the multiple voices were heard supporting the unheralded young starlets to spring a nice surprise, then, after Sturridge came up with a decent goal in a friendly, the concept of "bright young talent commandeered from the back by the old master Steven Gerrard, taking the world by surprise", was circulated quickly in the headlines. Then, the show took another turn, and everybody pondered Rooney and the position on the pitch he should be gracing the world around with. Eventually, it was the time to play ball, and the English team performances we can cover with silence, accept to note the following: Italy v. England, the first fall down, but soon the train was on the way up, as Urugway was to play the unfit Luis Suarez, who happens to be the most hated man in England, for daring to be the best player in the Premier League, in addition to several cultural and anthropological deficiencies. But, oh my God, Suarez scored twice, and it was a major down - not only he humiliated his detractors, but also kicked out England from the World Cup and finished their glory dreams, the football coming home mantra, etc. Came the third round of group stage matches and very good things for England started to occur, England drew with Costa Rica, a real accomplishment, but the best news came from the Urugway v. Italy match: Luis Suarez has struck again! No, strike it from the record, he has BITTEN again! O thank you God, thank you God, thank you Almighty! The old Eng(er)land was merry again! Oh, how joyous can life be? English media, pundits, fans and population at large was together again (forget the bleak Scots and their independence murmurs). Punish him! Ban Him! Eject him! Remove him from football! Guilty of all accusations, including of the fall (or demise) of British Empire! Be done with the savage! Hospitalize him! Institutionalize him! So much venom coming from quite a merry England. At this juncture nobody remembered about another humiliation of English football. Nobody was willing to finally admit that the English were in the league of Montenegrans, Swedes, the Poles, Norwegians, Hungarians rather than Germans, Dutch, Spaniards, French, or Belgians. So, the World Cup 2014 went on and the English spirits were much higher now, but soon somber moods prevailed, the black clouds were seen again over the horizon, the great armada of harbingers of oncoming evil were brought by the mixed winds from south-west, across the ocean: Germany and Argentina were still around... Oh, why do we have to be punished so heavily? The two most hated in Eng(er)land teams with a chance for glory? But there were still traces of hope left in the pundits voice...Perhaps Brazil would improve, perhaps Van Gaal - in couple of weeks to be OUR MAGICIAN - will vanquish the Argentines and their claims to glory? Glory to Argentina? But it might enhance their claims to Malvinas (what? what did you call it?). Unfortunately, it was time for another turn down on the rollercoaster as Brazil collapsed in front of methodical Germany, and Van Gaal misplaced somewhere his magic wand, and despite help received from the brothers behind the Canal La Manche (again, what did you call it?) he couldn't find it back. Ah well, so we have to watch in the World Cup final the two most hated teams? But, there is good news in it, at least one of them will lose! And let's pray for Messi disappearing from the match, so we wouldn't have to swallow and digest another great from Argentina, not after the Maradona's miracles, hands of God, etc. After all, we do not want to raise on pedestal short footballers... In merry ol' England we prefer the big lads, like Cristiano. That he has no vision and cannot dribble? Who cares, he is big, and he is ours, we schooled him properly in the solid ways of English football. He can jump to all our high and long balls. That he "winked" us out of the glory at the World Cup 2006? We are a forgiving and civilized nation. Bygone is bygone. Messi can't jump to our high balls... Besides, we refuse to put the dwarfs on the pedestal of our sport! Never! That we are politically incorrect? No, not true, we always are! Except, when it pertains to our football. After all, we have invented it, we made the rules and we decide who can be great or not. Yes, Brazilians stole the football from us, but look at them, they were punished severely just recently. It's a lesson to the whole world, hands away of our football. And this World Cup was a success -  we did not have to be humiliated by Germany again, we can come back to our island with the heads held high this time. In several weeks we will be best in the world again, thank you Almighty for the Premier League! And we don't have to suffer Luis Suarez's skills again... We will press FIFA and UEFA to ban him from all matches to be played by Barcelona on English pitches. After all, we invented football and deserve some lenience.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics. You may contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP 2014: WHY DID I DISMISS BRAZIL FROM THE LIST OF LEGITIMATE CONTENDERS?

Now, after the new calamity entered Brazilian football folklore, after the collapse which befell the Brazilians at Bello Horizonte, it's time to explain why from the first moments of this World Cup I dismissed Brazilian chances, using expression "disjointed team". It all started before the final of the Club World Cup match between FC Barcelona and Santos, won by Barcelona comfortably 4:0. Prior to that game, Brazilian press, pundits, and many more, were expecting Santos victory and Neymar's first big win on the world stage. What followed was the total humiliation of Neymar and Santos, who reminded me of boys playing against intelligent, professional team, guided by brilliant coach. I saw football as played by the great technically and tactically Barcelona against gifted technically individual players of Santos, totally falling apart in midfield and in defense. Messi scored twice and look like a wise man in comparison to Neymar. From the first match of this tournament I could see how a team like Croatia was able to start taking apart the Brazilians, yet soon the referee and the linesman interjected themselves into the game, Neymar scored twice, and Brazilians were able to win 3:1. Out of four defensive players, only one Thiago Silva could defend, whereas Dani Alves, David Luiz and Marcelo, cared about nothing but about glory awaiting them at the opponents goal, so they roam forward most of the times, whereas nobody from the midfield tries to secure their vacant defensive positions. One can understand one, sometimes even two defenders joining the attack, but three of them? The midfield usually consisted of two or three defensive holding players. However, when those holding players were taking care of defensive duties in midfield, there were only Neymar and Hulk on the flanks, left responsible for creating the game. In most of the other disciplined teams that would have been fine but not in this Brazilian team. Both Neymar and Hulk, are players on a mission for personal glory. Also, Neymar is young and doesn't know better, even though he spent one seaon in La Liga. Instead of trying to do some playmaking and create occasions from flanks for the poor centre-forward, Fred, they most of the time cut in from the flanks toward the middle and attempted to score themselves. Because of this egotistical play, playmaking did not exist in this Brazilian team, whereas the centre-forward has been left most of the time isolated among the opposing defenders. Neymar from time to time was successful, thanks to his unpredictability, yet it was not enough. More good would have been done by him, or by Hulk, if they created spaces with dribbling on flanks and then by passing the ball to Fred, or Oscar, playing a bit behind him. Also, Scolari seeing that Neymar and Hulk play immature egotistical football, should have instead played a proper playmaker, like Hernanes, or Willian more often, yet he did not. I blame Scolari for not being able to force Neymar and Hulk to play for the team, and for not stepping in and introducing creative and team-minding Hernanes and Willian. The only good tactically match the Brazilians played against Colombia, when they used three holding players, who constantly abused James Rodriguez. But again, none of the three looked good in playmaking department, however, Brazilians were lucky as they were able to convert two dead ball plays; the first was the Thiago Silva goal after a corner kick, and the second goal, directly from the free kick by David Luiz. Had the second Colombian goal stood, Brazil would have gotten beaten by the Colombians because their luck on the dead ball plays ran out. How they could dream about beating the brilliant technically, astute tactically but also methodical (as in the old times) German team was beyond my comprehension. I knew and predicted Brazil losing, particularly without Thiago Silva to organize the last four line. I thought Brazilian loss even by two or three goals was possible, but 1:7? After 0:3, it wasn't funny any longer, the whole world had to participate in ritual slaughtering of sacrificial lambs. Brazilian footballing philosophy needs some fresh ideas. Brazil has to wake up and comprehend the fact that all the classy European teams dream to have Brazil on their way in any World Cup, for two reasons: first, because playing against Brazil for footballers all over world is like being touched by God and his glory; second, because it is so easy to beat the Brazilians as they are like children in the fog - they follow their instincts and inner fears instead the tactical templates of their coach. When the players don't have any template of responsive behavior coded into their brain, they immediately are about to fall apart when the fear strikes ... like Brazilian national team in Bello Horizonte did. And that is how Maracanazo was replaced in football folklore with Mineirazo.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP 2014: HOLLAND WITHOUT WEAPONS TO PENETRATE ARGENTINIAN DEFENSE

Now that disjointed Brazil (which had no right to make it out of the group, without help of the referees), is out of the way, we can enjoy proper football. And indeed, the Argentina v. Netherlands semifinal, even though without fireworks, was a proper match of football. Cagey, but full of tension. One could see that these were teams with pedigree, and that any error could be costly. Luis Van Gaal, played again with seven defensive players (De Vrij, Vlaar and Martins Indi as last three defenders and Kuyt, Wijnaldum, de Jong and Blind in front of them), and with two forwards in Robben and Van Persie, linked by Sneijder. The Dutch succeeded in stifling Argentina's midfield, particularly Messi, who was not given any space to roam freely, although he tried for an hour at least, and in flashes, as if trying to conserve his energy. Yet the Dutch were incapable of exerting any damage to Argentina, as Robben had no support whatsoever from Van Persie, who appeared to be out, of sort. Robben did what he could, but Argentina's defense, consisting of Zabaleta, DeMichelis, Garay and Rojo, with two holding players in midfield (Mascherano and Biglia) was up to the task and the Dutch ultimately failed to penetrate it. Argentina played well organized defense, with the best of the defensive players being Mascherano, yet they were unable to break the defensive set up of Van Gaal. After the half-time break, when Martins Indi had to be taken of the pitch, mostly due to his yellow card, Janmat was let on the pitch. However, he took the spot on the right whereas Kuyt moved to left, and Blind was moved to the back three line to take Martins Indi place. in 62nd minutes, Van Gaal was forced to withdraw not fit De Jong and Jordy Clasie took his place. The Dutch dominated the second half, with enterprising Kuyt and Janmaat, but Robben had to attempt to break the Argentinians on his own, seeing that Van Persie was not up to the task, yet the Argentinians were quick in blocking Dutch passes or shots. I believe in the whole match the Dutch had three shots on target whereas Argentina five. Eventually, Huntelaar substituted in 96th minute ineffective and perhaps not fully fit Van Persie. That substitution was important as it was the third and last one allowed for the Dutch and they could not use Tim Krul later on during the penalties. In the overtime, Argentina evened the match out in terms of possession and Palacios found himself one on one with Cillessen yet the Dutch goalkeeper easily stopped the Argentinian's header. Unfortunately for the Dutch, Cillessen is not Tim Krul. This time around it was the Argentinian goalkeeper, Sergio Romero (Luis Van Gaal himself taught him how to defend penalties during their time together at AZ Akmaar), who became the hero, stopping Vlaar and Sneijder from scoring, whereas the Argentinians, starting with Messi, were perfect from the spot. Luis Van Gaal lost his touch, and Argentina made it for the 5th time to the final, in which the German Manschaft awaits them for the third time. They are even, having won one a piece. Even though Messi this time did not do anything brilliant except for that run through Dutch players near the area of right corner, when he passed to not covered by anybody Rodriguez, whose shot was stopped by Cillessen, he still was the obvious leader of this Argentinian team; offensively, he didn't get much support, but in defense this Argentina was yesterday solid, with Mascherano, the holding player, playing almost a perfect game. I have a feeling, the final will not be such a cagey affair, although the Germans would have much more respect for this Argentina than they had for the Brazil. My sentimental favorite Argentina (for the reasons elaborated on in my previous articles), made it to the final after all! Notwithstanding all those bad things said by the English pundits, media and fans about supposedly weak Argentinian defense and Leo Messi being inferior to Cristiano Ronaldo. I'm having my modest laugh at their expense, again...

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU MOVE TO WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN

North Side of Williamsburg, Brooklyn continues with its construction boom. How can I not know it, when I have to suffer the construction noises from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.? In fact, the construction site across from me starts to torture us even at 6 in the morning and extends often its week of work to Saturdays, what appears to violate the NYC regulations. Recently it looks like also the South Side is coming to life. Nothing wrong with it, you might say...Indeed, Williamsburg has already lost its raw, industrial character, so appealing to artists of early 1990-s, and has become now the hipsters' paradise. It seems that there is no space left for new waterholes yet with every new stroll through my neighborhood I still can uncover a new café, a restaurant or a bar which wasn't there a month ago. The bulk of recent constructions are housing projects, majority of them targeting middle or upper middle class folks. However, recently a plan has been filed for a 36-floor commercial Tower to be built at the site of now defunct Domino Sugar Factory, just north of Williamsburg Bridge, on the bank of East River, containing also 392 housing units. Soon, additional towers are planned to be built at the Domino refinery site, creating eventually a three million square feet of commercial and residential space, some for lower income inhabitants. In the meantime, until the last Sunday, the industrial space of the Domino Sugar Factory has been used by Kara Walker for her installation called "A Subtlety", a huge sculpture and a massive "sugar coated homage" to African-American women and to the slave laborers who built the 19th century sugar trade, as described by the New York Times. The installation, which opened in May and closed last Sunday, brought approximately 100,000 people to the old Domino refinery, among them mayor de Blasio with family, Jodi Foster, Julianne Moore and other notable celebrities. Now, the exhibit is gone, and soon, the old buildings will be gone as well, giving space to the new commercial and residential complex. In the meantime, the inhabitants of Williamsburg have to suffer the construction noises on daily basis, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and often much longer. Slowly, I am losing my patience and... hearing. Even though I never dealt as an attorney with the construction noise perhaps it is the time look over those NYC construction noise regulations?

Janusz Andrzejewski, is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP 2014: FRANCE V. GERMANY IN REPEAT OF THE CLASSICS OF THE PAST

This World Cup has been so exciting that I did not even notice that only 8 matches separate us from its conclusion. Tomorrow two quarterfinals are to be played, the first one between  France and Germany, and in the second the hosts Brazil are taking on Colombia. On Saturday Argentina led by the great Leo Messi will meet Belgium and the Netherlands will attempt to finish off the modest Costa Rica in the last of the quarterfinals. Here is my prediction for France v. Germany:
Who does not remember the 1982 and 1986 semifinals between these teams, so deeply embedded in the World Cup mystic? Incidentally, the Germans were eventually victorious in both of them, notwithstanding the great French midfield quartet led by Michel Platini. Nowadays, the characteristics of these two teams are quite altered: while Germany have now more creative players who seem to have lost some of that German never die attitude, the French, who in the past relied on gallic flair, now have acquired more power and solidity in defense and midfield. Although Germany seem to have riches of talent, experienced in big tournaments coach and the pedigree, France, as coached astutely by Didier Deschamps, who won the World Cup as a player in 1998, are a well balanced team. The defense, as I mentioned already, seems to be quite solid this time around. Goalkeeper Lloris is good on the line, however, he is more awkward when he comes out to high balls, notwithstanding some improvement in this area. Deschamps until now played three of his centre-halfs: Varance, Sakho and Koscielny. It appears that Varane and Koscielny will be paired against the Germans. Both are quite mobile and position themselves quite well, even though Varane is very young for a defender and relatively inexperienced, despite for playing for Real Madrid. Debuchy and Evra, playing as full-backs, are both experienced and solid enough notwithstanding Patrice Evra's decrease in mobility and erratic performance in the last season of English Premier League. In midfield France are so well balanced that I believe no team in this tournament can claim to be better. In two holding positions in midfield Deschamps utilizes Pogba and Matuidi, both powerful players, striking the ball very fiercely, yet at the same time able to creatively pass the ball into spaces in opponents penalty area. In front of them operate Cabaye, technical playmaker, employing sublime passes as well as long balls, and able to shoot from outside of the penalty area. On flanks Deschamps has technical wizard Valbuena and young Griezmann who usually cuts in from the left wing to score often. Griezman plays only when Deschamps utilizes one forward (Benzema), when the coach decides to employ two forwards, Benzema takes Griezman position on the left, whereas Giroud roams in the penalty area as the main forward.
The Germans in Neuer have the best goalkeeper in the world, however, he too often likes to leave the goal line, even the penalty area... The defense is a bit less solid than the French one, particularly if Hummels is absent. Should Hummels be fit, Joachim Low will play Mertesacker and Hummels in the middle, and Boateng and Howedes as full-backs. Both full-backs play usually as centre-hals in Bundesliga, and are quite awkward in going forward. If Hummels is unfit, Mustafi should play as right full-back whereas Boateng would join Mertesacker in the middle of defense. In midfield, it must be again Lahm with Schweinsteiger and Kroos. Each of them is capable of holding the ball as well as playmaking. As the offensive players, it probably will be again Ozil and Goetze on flanks, with Muller roaming in between the way he sees fit. There would be a lot of interchange of positions between theses three. Both teams appear to be quite even but Germans have better and larger bench, with Podolski, Schurle and old fox Klose ready to pounce on the French. The Germans should advance, but in no way I would be surprised if the French did.

Janusz Andrzejewski is New York City based attorney writing on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212)  634-4250 or through his e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

BAD DAY FOR GREAT BRITAIN AND ITS ECONOMY

Judging by the successful nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker to head the European Commission, David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Great Britain has chosen the wrong battle. The European Union states voted 26-2 to appoint the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg to be the next president of the European Commission. It appears that instead of obtaining concession from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr. Cameron has brought Great Britain closer to secession from the European Union. Unfortunately for Mr. Cameron and the United Kingdom, the secession would cost the latter approximately 3 million jobs. David Cameron forced a vote in an attempt to block the selection of Jean-Claude Juncker, seen as a backer of closer political union, which U.K. vehemently opposes. But EU states voted 26-2 to appoint Mr. Juncker to the presidency. Apparently, Mr. Cameron's strategy had "totally failed" and he has been "comprehensively and humiliatingly" outvoted, as per the words of Labour leader, Ed Miliband. Only Great Britain and Hungary voted against the appointment. Another victory for Angela Merkel and the concept of closer political union in EU, another defeat for David Cameron and his model of loose ties binding the members of EU. I have to admit that in light of the United States disengaging itself more and more from the European matters as it switches its attentions to Pacific Ocean countries and starts to deal with growing China economic power, there is not much choice for the Europeans but to bring to a closer union its member states even if those states would cede some of their sovereignty to the EU. In fact, in light of Russia's recent actions and the United States looking toward the Pacific, the European Union should create their own rapid units of military forces to counteract growing might and appetites of Putin's Russia. To me, born in Poland, the country which experienced so much suffering and destruction from both Russia and Germany commencing with the partitions of Poland in the second half of 18th century, through 19th century uprisings and World Wars of the 20th century, until the victory over the communism brought by the Solidarity movement, there is no other way but to embrace a closer EU. The U.K. has a choice, it can always go its own way.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City attorney writing on legal and other important community topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

ENGLISH MEDIA AND FANS HAD A GOOD WORLD CUP 2014 - LUIS SUAREZ HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY PUNISHED FOR THE GLORY TAKEN AWAY FROM THE FALLEN EMPIRE

The whirlwinds blowing around Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan football player (or soccer player, if you are an American), do not seem to decrease in power. English football commentators, journalists, pundits and fans at large are satisfied with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's ruling which imposed on the 27-year-old a ban of nine international matches as well as the four-month ban from all football and, in addition, a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs. One might imagine that Luis Suarez will lose much more in advertising deals which would be either terminated or not renewed. Yet, there are present many voices protesting, if not the idea of punishment levied against the player, than its severity. Even the victim of Suarez's latest biting attack, Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, has been offended by the severity of the punishment and making the player a celebrity pariah. As an attorney, I do not have a problem with disciplining Luis Suarez, although I have major problems with the severity of the punishment which would be unconstitutional, in my opinion, in the American legal system for it appears that various properties and/or rights were taken speedily away from Luis Suarez, without providing him with sufficient opportunity to be heard. The biting incident has brought a lot of sadness around the world, yet it seems that in England it resulted only with joy and satisfaction, judging by review of English press, comments to digital newspapers articles and blogs. Even though English national team has been eliminated from the World Cup in the first round (the group stage), without being able to win any match for the first time in history, the English football journalists, commentators and pundits, as well as the football fans, are quite happy and satisfied: Luis Suarez, a brilliant footballer and England national team's tormentor on the football pitch, has been punished not only for biting an Italian football player but, in English national psyche, for all their miseries including for daring to eliminate England from the World Cup, for ending another dream of World Cup glory for the Anglo-Saxon football empire, for 48 years of barren football years and mediocrity of England's national team, for having the temerity of being the best player in English Premier League, for being the top scorer in the Premier League, for his long known desire to abandon the riches of English Premier league for the Spanish football giants FC Barcelona or Real Madrid, for speaking Spanish, the language of hated former Spanish Empire and hated nowadays Argentines, crouching around, in English psyche, and awaiting for the best moment to pounce on the Falklands, which, oh my, they dare to call Malvinas, for the thorn of Scottish independence movement and the referendum, for Jean-Claude Juncker's presidency of the European Commission and for the European Union's existence, daring to silence, with cacophony of its everyday bureaucracy, the not so roaring lions of yesteryear British Empire.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York based attorney, writing on legal and other important community subjects. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP 2014: LESS BORING BUT STILL MEDIOCRE ENGLAND

Despite many problems with the preparations of World Cup 2014 in Brasil, the sporting event itself has been so far a success. Not only the amount of goals scored has been so far the highest since 1958 World Cup in Sweden, but the level of play has been quite good, to say the least. Moreover, until today, there were only two draws out of twenty-three matches played, and only the match between Japan and Greece did not bring any goals. Prior to the outset of this World Cup, as every football aficionado (I detest the term soccer so I use European English word: football), I chose my eight favorites, among which I could see the future champion: Argentina, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, France, Colombia and Belgium. So far, only Spain disappointed, bowing out of the tournament after two games played. It appears that after eight years of constant successes and three consecutive major titles, the Spanish national team lost its hunger; I believe Spain will quickly regroup and will be among the contenders for Euro 2016 trophy. Out of the remaining teams, my sentimental favorite is Argentina (although I am hugely impressed so far by France, Colombia, Netherlands and Germany), for two reasons: firstly, I would like to see Lionel Messi to crown his outstanding career with the Rimet Cup and secondly, Argentina needs badly some consolation in their current economic situation, complicated by the recent ruling of the United States Supreme Court which took side of the vultures hedge funds in their fight with Argentina's government, stemming from the past monetary crisis and unresolved bond issues, what might cause bankruptcy of the whole country. In my opinion Leo Messi is the greatest player who ever played football, but for the sake of detractors who list Pele and Maradona as the greatest footballers ever, because among other achievements they managed to win the World Cup, Argentina's successful World Cup 2014 campaign would finally shut up all the detractors, mostly English journalists and football fans, denying Messi's greatness. Regarding England, they fared precisely as I have predicted by losing consecutive games against Italy and Uruguay, and just today they were kicked out from this world cup by Costa Rica's win over Italy. I do not know what it would take for the English to realize that they are average footballers, just like Ukrainians, the Poles, Norwegians or Swedes. England happened to be a host of the World Cup in 1966,  and as a host nation happened to win that World Cup 48 years ago, thanks to the referees' help (in quarterfinals against Argentina and then, in the final, against West Germany - when Soviet referee awarded England with a goal that never was, as the ball did not cross the goal line). It beats me how can the English ahead of every world cup ( to which they qualified) herald to the world that this time they are about to win it when their footballers have such limited technical skills that they are unable to stitch several passes together and have problems with basic control of the ball? It is the highest time for the English to learn from the Dutch, Germans, Spaniards, or Belgians how to properly teach the kids basics of technical skills. The English footballing philosophy is to take big and athletic boys and to make them into footballers (tackle, run and shoot), whereas all over the world the policy is to find skillful technically boys and only then those talented are being developed further technically, athletically and tactically. The English support their pretenses with claim that their Premier League is the most competitive league in the world yet they conveniently omit to mention that in the top 7 Premier League teams an English player is a rarity (Manchester City, the current Premier League champion, fields only an English goalkeeper in its starting 11); take out the foreigners from premiership teams and you are left with nothing but mediocrity. Apparently, England had everything they needed to win this world cup: 72 person entourage including psychiatrists, nutritionists, turf specialists, industrial fans, heat chambers and individually tailored recovery drinks. I wonder about the valiant but poor boys from Costa Rica, do you think they had a shrink in their entourage? England, its the time to finish your personal recriminations, leave alone your coach as he is the best and the most experienced you have, stop to blame Steven Gerard and start your basic work with the kids, by copycatting the Dutch or the German models. Then, perhaps in 16 years from now, you can dream again about wining the World Cup or Euro. Good Luck!

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community subjects. You can contact him by telephone at (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com