Microwave actually does baked potato really good, probably the best thing a microwave can do in comparison to regular cooking. Just remember to poke holes in it if you don't want a potato bomb going off in the microwave.
I was a free range kid. Left the house in the morning and never came home till dark and never ever let the parents find out what I done throughout the day.
Here we use a term called Job's Comforter. Someone who leaves you feeling rotten through intention of providing comfort. They are out there and make for interesting situations, sort of...
Its a strange logic but a true one. People tend to believe what they want to believe (guilty of that myself from time to time). Sometimes they do eventually come to see what really is but a lot will not change their minds even if you have 25 exhibits of direct unquestionable evidence proving the fact otherwise.
I learned not to judge people by where they are from. One of the great things about internet and social media is being able to talk to anyone anywhere. Meet fascinating people from all places, though you want to be at least aware that there are those who are not what they seem to be which happens.
First impressions matter but sometimes there is something totally different beneath. I met a fella one night at a party who initially I thought was a arrogant child but as the night went on, I come to see that he was actually just being really sarcastic and he done it so well, he got judged to be something that deep down, he wasn't. Some people you need a bit of time to really get to know them, occasionally you will meet people who you may never truly know. Its different from person to person.
Change is actually easy, we all can say tomorrow "I'm gonna be this type of person". We can keep it up for a few days maybe, then eventually slip up and go back to our old ways again. Real change takes willingness, openness, and dedication. Some can do it, some can't. I think stressed enough though, most will revert back to whats been programmed into them.
Background is important in lots of ways, least of which is it shaped the person into what you see before you. People can change and never be nothing they were ever again despite their background but some people don't. I would never initially judge anyone by their background, especially if they told me themselves who they were and where they came from. I do however keep the background in my mind, initially at least and will admittedly pay closer attention to certain things until I see the important things and go from there.
Tough but a good question pK, you need to post more often
Merc
Must be an American thing