Rotten Apple

Yes, BAD Apple.

Apple has been criticized for monitoring customer location with hidden software processes (see links here & here). Now we know governments also routinely monitor millions of mobile phones through cell tower access and cell emulators, sometimes with intimate industrial involvement (link). How regularly is Apple® technology harnessed for repression, or used by the secret security services to protect us? This giant business skirts the issue; robust user privacy remains elusive.

Apple (the sweet megacorporation) is also elusive. Founded in 1976, they're a "squat brand" -- taking a common dictionary word from our general history, hijacking & trademarking a shortcut regular word -- telling us, in essence "Fuck you - now move around me!"

Pretty baubles of Apple technology are sold around the world. They're a big employer. Of course as part of society, Apple must operate legally. The Irish Apple has been in the news recently: where the megacorporation has a small relatively clean footprint. But huge worldwide profits reportedly siphon to Ireland, where Apple® somehow pays very little tax.

They kidnap / steal their name from the commons, and worm their way from contributing fair tax payments. We peons pay the funding Apple somehow avoids. Golden apple? One bad apple spoils ALL.


ROTTEN  APPLE®

Makaꞌala Hawaiians

Native Hawaiian people have been marginalized in their own nation since 1893 -- backed by the U.S. military, intruders stole Hawaiian lands and systematically forced local people to believe our lāhui is dead.

Peaceful coexistence is achievable; but violence and war are also possible. Forces repressing Hawaiians grow more strident & incautious. They've drunk their own Hawaiian Punch, and believe Hawaiian disagreements and our wonderful sense of "chill" & shaka typify a disorganized, passive and disinterested people.

Now we've new tools for peaceful organization, and new abilities to identify dangerous parasites.

Building Native Hawaiian self-government is a tough process: most of us openly operate in occupied territory, maintaining our globally-famous ALOHA.

Newcomers to Hawai'i often come to feel a gap -- where they don't belong. Sadly, that's a place of pain where Hawaiians have been beaten-down, uprooted & supplanted; when inclusiveness is abused as weakness. There is great untouched beauty throughout Hawai'i, and space to share: but you've taken & occupied our living room. Visitors becoming neighbors is welcome -- just do not trample your Babylon shoes on the toes and bones of my Tutu & family.  Please migrate elsewhere if you will not respect our elders and predecessors with courtesy! 

We must be alert & watchful (maka'ala) for imported weasels & destructive rats. Being watchful is easier with internet communication tools, but we must develop expertise to counteract professional agitators such as Andrew Walden - Hawaii Free Press, a troublemaker actively seeking to erase indigenous rights and edit-out Hawaiians from our islands. He pushes into our Hawaiian kitchen and invites the world to our table as if it were his own. Cheeky con artist!

Native Hawaiian people do not celebrate the violence, treachery and illegality that introduced American occupation and theft of our native lands. Many people came to Hawai'i under protection of the occupying power. Most are peaceful and (in my private opinion) most are welcome. Outspoken opponents of local culture and our Native Hawaiian inheritance threaten peaceful life - and put everybody at risk.

It is hard work to maintain PEACE

Fools are playing at the volcano's edge.

Pity Korea?

In some ways the energy and dynamism of Korea is refreshing, especially when compared to the rigidities of Japan. Surely we see more emotionalism in Korea ... though often not positive.

But Korea's deep-seated chauvinism consistently cripples the nation; it's hung-up on a pattern of one step forward, one step back.

The political world, major businesses, and universities are slow-moving, inward looking, and overly protective of privilege. Extreme competitiveness of Korean society focused on 스펙 (paper achievements) generates an entrenched corruption. Youth is stifled.

Cookie-cutter production has led to a frustrated people: each wanting to distinguish themselves, but without strong speciality, feeling lost in the herd. Frankly, I believe it is great that Koreans are discussing these problems: although (we are) slaves & beasts-of-burden, Awareness is Strength.

Remember the Korean Air assault by "nut rage" heiress Cho Hyun-ah? (조현아, link) -- Korea's oligarchy on both sides of the DMZ struts around with impunity, privileged & untouchable. Few top-level non-Koreans understand the nation, and such people are best rewarded for keeping quiet.

Korea, a divided land with great unrealized potential, will waste further decades due to uninspired leadership & bad management imposing hell on the citizenry --헬조선.  The stifling "Hell Joseon" reaches downward through the military, the rigid & corrupt domestically-entrenched universities, the oligarch-controlled business world, and deeply into family life. Sad...  especially because the Korean people have such great energy & potential.
The positive dimension: PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS.

Stealing Brazil

Recent legal maneuvers in Brazil deposed President Dilma Rousseff. Her valiant efforts to battle corruption and develop social inclusion have been cast aside by corrupt Brazilian legislators & judges, whose stated reason to impeach the President, (budget manipulation, pedaladas fiscais), was very distant from personal theft or corruption. More background is available here, and here (link).

US President Obama's government has not supported democracy in Brazil; but Yanqui's done plenty of high-level spying. Did the USA take opportunity to strongly back Rousseff's progressive government? No Way. Just the opposite -- as in Honduras, it's likely the imperialist hijacking of resources will now intensify, ignoring environmental concerns. Worse, we may see the growth of death squads as in Honduras and Egypt, with support that stretches back to Washington DC for extrajudicial violence. Tragic.