Nope. 88-91 RUB/USD if you want to buy crypto (something like USDT), and 83 RUB/USD if you're buying something at Aliexpress (i.e., buying from China and paying in USD).
Well, I think it actually does make sense. Don't keep highly-virulent samples on your soil. But, obviously, any propaganda is propaganda. We can't prove or disprove it without any facts.
I am also highly unsure about the bit in the Western news outlets that Russians were tried to damage Zap Nuclear Plant two days ago. Our news outlets state that plant has been under control from Feb 28th (probably true). This incident was a try to destroy a training building (not in the restricted area) that contained some documentation or just to spook West. In my opinion, it's a complete bs. If you can control the largest nuclear power plant, you can control energy for half of Ukraine. Why damage it?
Having said that, I see a lot of bs from both sides. So, no fact is a fact unless proven.
On the streets here, almost everyone I hear supports everything in full. Probably, around 70% support this, and the other 30% are not sure/against it.
The local and nationwide TV states that they found 30 Pentagon-funded biowarfare labs in Ukraine, got all the docs, and are preparing some statements for the West.
Obviously, high-level propaganda flows from Russia and the West both. I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle.
And if you take a look at videos from Feb, people in the Eastern part of Ukraine don't mind the Russian army there, even wave and show high-fives. My highly incorrect calculations suggest that about 80% of people in Eastern Ukraine support Russia. In the middle part, that figure is maybe 30-40%, and in Western Ukraine near zero.
I have a niece in the middle part (near Cherkasy). It's okay there, and no battles are incoming. So, she doesn't understand what to expect, doesn't support all this clusterfug, but doesn't support the Ukrainian government either.
What a clickbait headline :-) I'm in Russia, and I confirm that major retail chains limited sugar and flour sales (as I witnessed today in some big chain supermarkets, you can buy no more than 2 pounds of sugar or no more than 20 pounds in another one, this figure vary), but that's due to many small stores are buying in large quantities and then resell for more money. It was somehow mitigated by not allowing more than a 10% margin from yesterday. If you're an owner of a small store and they catch you, you can get a hefty fine.
But I still got my Starbucks Nespresso capsules today for the same price I got 'em half a year ago, and there's no panic and not many people in supermarkets. Visa/Mastercard is working inside Russia as usual. We have our own financial messaging system. I think local banks are celebrating that they don't have to pay any fees to Visa/Mastercard anymore.
My personal qualm is with Paypal. I have a niece in Ukraine (she is a Ukrainian citizen and was born in Ukraine). Last week my only way to help her and her 2 daughters were to send money via Paypal (All transfers between Russia and Ukraine stopped working on March 1st. Her husband is stuck in Moscow and can't return for now). But now Paypal stopped working in Russia. And the funny thing is less than 1% of the population uses Paypal here. Many don't know a bit about it. Local payment systems like Qiwi and Юmoney are widespread and popular.
Nope. I can't stand their so-called "tracker software" when they're snooping what you're doing on your screen, etc. So, I started by asking my existing network for referrals. Later, I had some success with clients contacting me via LinkedIn, but referrals work much better, obviously.
You have the upper hand here over me if you're in the U.S. I bet many of your colleagues/past colleagues, maybe even your friends can provide potential referrals if you ask. I was experiencing troubles when I first started doing programming and consulting because English is not my native language (I can write, but I sometimes stutter and slow down when I speak.), and because I live in Russia and it's a major no-no for a client in half of the cases (stereotypes never die).
But I methodically grew my network, and things started to get much better.
Add consulting to the mix. Like planning apps, choosing an architecture, backend, etc.
Probably you do some of the above anyway, but rates for consultants are higher generally. I charge $100 to $200 an hour or $800 per day, and I haven't seen clients object much.
And as said earlier - get referrals. Many past clients will be glad to pass your name around, assuming you did a good job for them.
Interesting product, but the examples are weak. I expect AI to personalize landing pages for every visitor in the future. Still, right now, I don't trust it enough to touch my bottom line.
Salesmanship. You have to sell yourself and your ideas in many life situations anyway. Why not do it with a maximum impact? And it brings in money if you choose a marketing/advertising job path or start your own business.