Dear Jackass,

When you make a request and the information you provide is incorrect, don't bitch me out for setting up the accounts with the incorrect information.

Die,
shrift

One of my cousins was born in Ireland, to American parents. Her father was in medical school in Cork at the time. She had dual citizenship until she was 18, but then gave up the Irish citizenship. (As far as I know, it never gave her any benefits other than winning an Irish Baby beauty contest in Boston when she was about 2.)

I like "die" as a closing salutation. It's direct and declarative.

ION, I dig Dr. Nina Jablonski and her polymath ways. This point she makes was also interesting.

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Q. In a nutshell, what has your research shown about why humans have varying skin colors?

A. That it’s not about race — it’s about sun and about how close our ancestors lived to the Equator. Skin color is what regulates our body’s reaction to the sun and its rays. Dark skin evolved to protect the body from excessive sun rays. Light skin evolved when people migrated away from the Equator and needed to make vitamin D in their skin. To do that, they had to lose pigment. Repeatedly over history, many people moved dark to light and light to dark. That shows that color is not a permanent trait.

************

I didn't realize lighter skin evolved to produce more Vitamin D.

AFAIK, the US government doesn't recognize dual citizenships, but it only really becomes an issue if you join the army or the foreign service (in which case you have to give up your nonAm passport).

I'd say the travels benefits alone have been worth it. Not only shorter lines throughout Europe (though that has been nice), but there are things you might not think of, like, when I went to Brazil, US citizens needed a $90 visa, French citizens didn't even need a visa.

My grandfather was Canadian. Does that get me anything? I doubt it.

I admit to owning a red crushed velour dress. It's sexy. I can't fit into it, but I'm not giving it up.

AFAIK, the US government doesn't recognize dual citizenships

According to the state department:

The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause.

[link]

I *think* there's more to it than that, because of a rule change issued last year specifying that U.S. citizens must travel using a U.S. passport regardless of any other they might carry. Which is at least an implicit recognition. But beyond that, I got nothin'.

ETA: And in comes Hil with an actual answer.

US Dual Citizenship:

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship.

The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists

That sounds suspiciously reality-based. Are they sure they're talking about the U.S. government?