Bryce canyon is superior for a day trip. Grand Canyon isn’t really that beautiful unless you can hike or ride down into it.

While many (if not most) countries have national parks, the policies surrounding them are different. A simple thing like camping is often restricted in European parks, mixed land use is allowed so you are more removed from pure non human nature. As a result, the experience of visiting one may be vastly different - depending on what you are doing. American national parks are exceptional not because they are the only country that has them - which isnt true as you pointed out, they are exceptional because of the governing policies surrounding them.

I’d surely visit one, before I left, because the experience isnt going to be the same in any other.

Perhaps I’m illiterate, but I saw nothing in their comment suggesting that the US is the only country with National Parks.

I don’t think they even implied that they’re better than any other National Parks.

They said it was our best idea… I don’t think that implies we were first, just that it was a good idea for us to do it.

Yet

This is true, however you can still be targeted for extra checks by both customs and immigration if they have a reason to suspect you, even when departing the US. Both CBP and ICE have access to departing passenger lists.

For example you are required to declare larger sums of cash being carried out of the country (over $10k). You are supposed to go to customs and fill out a form, but many people do not know this, often legal immigrant workers taking cash back to their home countries. CBP uses dogs trained to smell cash and patrols departure lounges in airports, and if they pick you out, you can be searched, and any undeclared cash will simply be seized if found.

It’s easy to imagine with the current administration they could start targeting people based on social media posts or some kind of previously compiled political profile or “enemies” list or whatever, if they aren’t already.

I think that’s a myth. I’ve had the best BBQ in Houston and it’s the same as a BBQ joint here in Calgary.

You might need a brick oven though (or at the very least, a pizza oven) if you want that pizza to compare to the good shit you can get pretty much anywhere in the Northeast US.

Yup I do good (to our family’s taste anyway) pizza in about 40 minutes from scratch to eating with just:

• flour
• water
• yeast
• sugar (I pre feed the least in hot water for 5 minutes)
• salt
• olive oil
• homemade crust spices (salt, garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, etc )
• maranara or pizza sauce (might be harder to find a good one abroad, not sure)
• cheeses (or not for my wife)
• basil leaves in season (we grow enough in mid summer, but buy it occasionally otherwise)

Finding the cheese and toppings might be harder, but it’s often just frozen broccoli, bell peppers, onions and roni.

Again, depending on where in the world you are, you may not have the equipment nor access to ingredients necessary to make these properly. You might be able to approximate, but it won’t be as good, which is the entire point of my comment.

American pizza requires a pizza oven or regular oven with a steel/stone (or dish for Detroit-style pizza), specific types of cheese, and depending on your preference, specific toppings; these may not be available abroad. In some countries, ovens are not considered standard kitchen equipment; good luck making decent pizza on the stovetop.

Similarly, really good BBQ requires special equipment that even most American homes don’t have, and requires a good deal of outdoor space (otherwise you risk smoking out yourself/your neighbors).

Mexican food is more flexible in terms of equipment, but ingredients may be hard to source (especially spices).

For ice cream you might struggle to find the right add-in ingredients depending on what flavor you’re trying to make, but again, the biggest issue is equipment. You can make ice cream at home without an ice cream maker, but it seems like more hassle than it’s worth and still requires some equipment and decent freezer space (fwiw I’ve never done it before; maybe it’s easier than it sounds).

To freeze your credit means that you (or anyone inpersonating you) can do anything that requires your credit. Cant make large purchase, take out loans, etc. Its a good way to protect yourself from identity theft.

To unfreeze it, you need to go through a process with the credit union before you can use it again. Its generally a good practice to freeze your credit always if you can plan ahead for large financial purchase

I am WAY too lazy to type everything out, but there’s 4 credit bureaus that effect/control your credit score. Setting a freeze prevents anyone from checking that score in the process of, say, opening a credit card, buying a car or home, and more.

https://literature.cafe/post/17385059

In Germany it’s even worse. There it depends on the state you obtained your US license in, since Germany has agreements with some states but not all…

Wow, I did not expect that. Is it more with or without agreements?

I’ve been happy most of the time. It’s not for everyone, but I’m a decade in and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

yeah I wonder why

Years? Maybe for for all of them to fold but I wouldn’t be shocked for several to start shuttering this year

It’s not a cost issue, she’s a DEI hire.

You tell that to a tweaker with a van.

You finally did it, you melted it, you maniacs!

It’s such a beautiful poem too.

Brings a tear to my eye when I read it, but unfortunately not for the reasons Emma Lazarus may have hoped for when she penned it 😢

The Museum of African-American history is already on the chopping block for having content that does not paint the US in a good light.

I wish I was fucking joking about that. The proper way to be remembered well is by doing good things, not by having orange hitler demand that the history of bad things be erased.

Both the gulags and the front look nice this time of year.