Yes, but you can give grace to a 12 year old child who speaks Russian with an American accent minding his own business buying an inch cream cone. Prejudices exist, but so does a brain cell. Still, I have to give grace, this was ~2009

It’s been rough for both due to the tensions. I was supposed to be Lithuanian but ended up born in Russia. My brother is Lithuanian. He would fail classes just because he was Lithuanian in a Russian school (90s). My mom had to pretend to be best friends with the teacher so he could pass. He used to also get into a lot of fights to and from school.

We immigrated to the United States when I was 5, so luckily I didn’t get that treatment in Lithuania. Fortunately, I have good memories from my Lithuanian pre-school

Outside of the obvious war, Kaliningrad in certain conditions. If you have local friends there you trust, or you are fluent in Russian, you’ll have a great time. Its got a lot of nice history, some nice views, and its cheap. But if you’re an obvious tourist, they do not treat you kindly. I wore a tank top and shorts in the city on my way from Svetlagorst beach and got side eyes for my tattoos and attire. If you’re used to stereotypically polite service, it’s not as prevalent there in Russia. And if you try to be nice, you’re seen as a weirdo.

Lithuania is also hit or miss. Vilnius and Klaipeda are nice, but are NOT tourist friendly. I used to live there, but when I went back as a kid, my mom and I spoke English and Russian. They tried to overcharge our meal significantly but my mom knowing Lithuanian caught it. The people at the corner store also questioned why I only speak Russian, and hesitantly spoke with me. Plus people on the street would call out appearances if you look different. Really good fuckin pizza though

As an American (but an immigrant), who wants to go to Amsterdam, what can I do to be mindful and not annoying?

Desktop: ublock origin

Android: revanced

Android TV: SmartTubeNext

IOS: sideloadly + uYou+

If you have any active auto insurance policy, they will request proof of it at the counter. Some areas are more strict than others depending on risk. Airports are less likely to ask for insurance info. However, you do not NEED auto insurance to rent a car because the company carries minimum financial responsibility for each car. If you do not take the coverage that they offer, and you do not have an active auto insurance policy, then you will be fully liable for all damages to the rental car. Generally, if you’re domestic flying, they will send a legal team after you. If you are international, most rental car companies have Euro and Canadian branches to pursue damages.

Certain states are “no-fault” states. It doesn’t matter whose fault the accident was, the renter is responsible for damages to the car if the additional coverage is not purchased. Some companies or local areas may allow you to pursue the at-fault person, but only with a police report and insurance/contact information of the at-fault person. If at-fault party and cannot pay, you are still responsible.

They also can send people to collections

If the car company you’re renting from has out-of-state tags on their cars, they’re probably self-insured.

Most rental car companies in airports deny debit cards, you need a credit card to rent. Some get away with a debit card if they have a return flight out of the same airport, but local policies may vary.

I will forever and always take the coverage for a rental car, and factor in a $ 25-a-day charge for it. I’ve seen too many headaches and hearts broken to not pay the extra. The last thing you want when you’re traveling cross country with family is to deal with damages that were not caused by you to ruin your insurance/finances.

It depends on the state and rental company. In my rental days, we could not deny someone who did not have insurance a car. If they had a credit card and a license, they could rent up to a certain car type.

Every car carries minimum financial responsibility and is more than likely self-insured by the rental car company.

Source: former rental manager

Barbeque water

I asked my Perplexity AI and it was pretty fair:

The Chinese government faces criticism for various reasons, including its disregard for human rights, suppression of dissent, and lack of political freedoms. Reports highlight abuses such as restrictions on religious freedom, persecution of ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs and Tibetans, censorship of media and online content, forced labor practices, and erosion of autonomy in regions like Hong Kong. The government’s actions have led to negative perceptions globally and increased scrutiny from international actors who have imposed sanctions to address human rights violations. Despite China’s economic growth, concerns persist about the government’s authoritarian control, lack of transparency, and repression of fundamental freedoms[2][3][4].

Americans often associate China with its government’s policies, human rights issues, economy, and political system rather than its people or culture. Negative views towards China have intensified in recent years, with a majority expressing cold feelings towards the country[5].

Sources [1] What the West Gets Wrong About China https://hbr.org/2021/05/what-the-west-gets-wrong-about-china [2] China’s Disregard for Human Rights - United States Department of State https://2017-2021.state.gov/chinas-disregard-for-human-rights/ [3] World Report 2020: Rights Trends in China’s Global Threat to Human Rights https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/global [4] World Report 2022: Rights Trends in China https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/china-and-tibet [5] Most Americans Have ‘Cold’ Views of China. Here’s What They Think About China, In Their Own Words https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/06/30/most-americans-have-cold-views-of-china-heres-what-they-think-about-china-in-their-own-words/

By Perplexity at https://www.perplexity.ai/search/What-is-wrong-hDrC4QixT5enDDZxxZ2ODw

Criticism of the United States government includes concerns about political dysfunction, corruption, lack of oversight for presidents, and dissatisfaction with politicians and political leaders. Specific criticisms encompass issues such as partisan fighting, high campaign costs, and the influence of special interest groups and lobbyists. Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of credibility and trust in politicians, with many Americans highlighting greed, corruption, dishonesty, and self-serving agendas as major problems within the political system[1][2][3][4].

Americans have expressed frustration with the government’s performance, with dissatisfaction levels consistently high over the years. The public perceives a disconnect between political leaders and ordinary citizens, leading to a sense that the political system is broken and fails to represent the people effectively. These sentiments have been exacerbated by factors like polarization, distrust in government institutions, and a perceived inability to address pressing issues facing the nation[2][3][4].

Sources [1] Criticism of the United States government - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_United_States_government [2] Government Remains Americans’ Top Problem in 2022 https://news.gallup.com/poll/406739/government-remains-americans-top-problem-2022.aspx [3] American democracy is cracking. These forces help explain why. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/18/american-democracy-political-system-failures/ [4] 1. The biggest problems and greatest strengths of the U.S. political system https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/the-biggest-problems-and-greatest-strengths-of-the-u-s-political-system/ [5] Fixing What’s Wrong with U.S. Politics https://hbr.org/2012/03/fixing-whats-wrong-with-us-politics

By Perplexity at https://www.perplexity.ai/search/What-is-wrong-hDrC4QixT5enDDZxxZ2ODw

No, more money for a customized experience that will meet your needs for the next decade

That investment can last you longer than a consoles life span, especially if you can tweak windows and run lower settings or use Linux.

There’s people still gaming on 1080s