Check out this article from Yahoo:
You know you're just a worthless, unemployed, lazy bum!
This issue has concerned me for a long, long time. I knew all about the unemployed being discriminated against, because like so many of you, I was and still am one of them. I recall having gone to an interview at a music start-up about a year after being laid off from Apple, and you know what the arrogant yuppie twit of an interviewer said?!
"Ah I see, you were laid off just when the market crashed in 2008. Interesting!"
Wow, I'm glad my life crashing down around me made such a neat little case study for him. He's lucky he wasn't in a dark corner with me when he made that fucking smug observation...
For one thing, it's not as though this was some new revelation. I knew I'd been laid off at the worst time imaginable, and so did Apple. I know I'm not being paranoid when I say I was well aware they had it in for me. Life is not easy in the corporate world if you're not a saucy little corporate whore, and announce that you never will be, not for all the bonuses and perks in the world. But I do know that brown-nosing comes very easy to some. I worked with more than I can count. The stench got pretty bad, believe you me. The ones I knew at Apple were clearly reporting to my superiors that I was in no way alright with being Crapple's 'Permatemp bitch.' So that's likely what happened there. I hope they are enjoying the 'eau de poo' wafting 'round the office. They likely don't even notice any more. But then, that's pure unadulterated Evil for you...
For those of you who are, you know, NORMAL and not begging of someone's acceptance every damn second of the day, or willing to sell your first-born to your boss, just know that this time, it truly is not your fault. I wish there were a way to reach out to you other than this blog. For now, all I can do for the truly down-and-out is give a few measly dollars to a soup kitchen every now and then. It is specific to my neighborhood but hey, as they say, you gotta start locally.
Don't even worry if you've had to resort to doing something considered 'criminal' or socially unacceptable to survive. Do you think corporations have ever gone by the letter of the law? This is no time to apologize for wanting to LIVE! I know, in the jobs you've all held before, you generally had to ask your boss permission to even breathe, let alone have the audacity to inquire after a promotion. I've been there, believe me. You used to believe that if you elected a well-heeled and well-spoken man as President, that he'd look after your rights. He wouldn't let any entity, corporate or otherwise, step all over you and your family. But it turns out you were wrong about that too, because after you elected him and during the worst recession you can remember, it seems that every damn time you turned around, he was attending yet another fancy luncheon with the Chamber of Commerce. Sadly, we are all starting to come around to the brutal reality that there is no 'benevolent leader,' and we must at once survive this disgraceful betrayal together and map out a future in which ourselves and our loved ones not only survive, but thrive.
Just promise me something. Even if you are not actively engaged in some sort of anti-corporate or other activism, please take care of yourself and your loved ones, no matter what. Reach out to your friends who find themselves out of work as a result of this insane, inequitable, corporate cock sucking circus of a culture. It will indeed make you a better human being for having done so. Lie for them, if you have to, so they can keep that roof over their heads. Even if it means you have to pretend you worked with them in the past. You know, you've probably lied many times for your employer, an entity that after all, does not in any way possess the realness or intrinsic value of a human life. It's likely the lie was even bigger if you worked or work in sales or marketing.
I guess what I'm asking is that the remaining decent people left turn the tables on the establishment once and for all, which may seem like an overwhelming request. But I don't think it's impossible. Even a few well-meaning individuals can bring about tremendous change. Fight for what is real, and you will see illusory power structures fall, as mighty and grand an illusion as they may seem to be. Liars and cowards are actually pretty easy to defeat, once you get the hang of it. This is your time, and mine. We may be temporarily miserable, but we'll survive and we'll make sure the corporate lie is exposed once and for all, and for all to see.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Oh, the sheer misery of Crapple :( Will it never end?!
Look what they're doing now. I used to think that although I was treated like shit when I worked at their headquarters, that maybe, just maybe at least the retail workers were getting a fair deal, but alas, I was dead wrong:
Apple retail worker woes
Apple retail worker woes
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Why fighting the corporate beast may just be the most difficult thing you could possibly do right now (and why you still must do it)
Ah, corporate culture, the beast we go to bed, eat and shower with every morning. That lowly thing we engage in communion with because by now it is so intricately woven into our lives, we don’t know where we begin and where it ends. Go to any blog questioning, for example the corruption of tech companies, and try as you might to be just as critical, you feel you cannot because you are typing your messages of protest in a machine sold to you at a considerable markup by one of these companies. You feel like the most primordial slime, the ultimate hypocrite. Alright, perhaps that was a bit dramatic! But you get my point. Though you do your damndest to be an ethical consumer, corporate products are simply too tied in with your very survival for you to ever mount a successful opposition. Or is that really so?
I actually have suffered greatly as a result of my own personal protest against a high tech behemoth (which you know by now is Apple) that almost seemed to go out of its way to abuse my rights as an employee. I had been misclassified as self-employed and worked for them full time for three years without benefits. I am hardly the only one hit by this awful ‘Permatemping’ phenomenon, and it is indeed a rather long story. But the end result was that because I had my say-so regarding some very basic labor rights, they laid me off; sent me packing and did not even allow me to retrieve my things from my desk. I was notified on a Sunday, and the following Monday, my personal effects were shipped to me via FedEx, mostly broken. A nerve was definitely hit there, but I paid the price. And there was a real arrogance on their part, to think that a ‘little person’ like me would just go away like a tiny kitten with its tail between its legs and have nothing further to say, or that an ‘average’ person would not have the chutzpah or the resources to fight their considerable empire and influence.
Now I have a relative who works for them under the same exact conditions. She is just as angry, but somehow has maintained her composure, perhaps out of fear she could not find another gig in this piss poor economy. Should I have done the same? Because I spoke out, I am still living like a madwoman in a rent-controlled shoebox, in a poor neighborhood. But if I had sucked up, could I have looked myself in the mirror in the morning? There is literal whoring of the body and then there is whoring of one’s very soul and convictions. The latter is the smelliest and most infernal beast by far. So I made a decision to take what little dignity I had left, and run with it. And here I am, just another poor person, but at least keeping my principles inviolate, aside from owning the machine I am now typing this entry on.
Corporations have had us in bed with them for quite a while now. They have taken that old adage, ‘Know Your Friends Well, Know Your Enemies Better’ and twisted it around so that now we are the enemy being preyed upon, while offered all kinds of ‘new and improved’ products to lure us further into the maw of the beast. This false friend knows us so very well, from our deepest lusts and cravings, to our most unspeakable fears. It puts these up to us as though in a mirror and reflects them back in the most irresistible forms, in whatever flavor or shape we desire.
Are we simply our own worst enemy? If that is the real issue at hand, this beast can indeed be slayed, but only with considerable sacrifice and detachment from our former ways. Rise up and fight it, before it morphs into a different form altogether, as it inevitably will without intervention, stealth and awareness on our part. This new master has a subtlety of mind that we must also cultivate, if we truly intend to fight the good fight. Power knows exactly what it is and how to maintain and perpetuate itself. We must also learn the same skill if we are to keep it from infiltrating our lives and undermining everything we stand for as human beings.
I actually have suffered greatly as a result of my own personal protest against a high tech behemoth (which you know by now is Apple) that almost seemed to go out of its way to abuse my rights as an employee. I had been misclassified as self-employed and worked for them full time for three years without benefits. I am hardly the only one hit by this awful ‘Permatemping’ phenomenon, and it is indeed a rather long story. But the end result was that because I had my say-so regarding some very basic labor rights, they laid me off; sent me packing and did not even allow me to retrieve my things from my desk. I was notified on a Sunday, and the following Monday, my personal effects were shipped to me via FedEx, mostly broken. A nerve was definitely hit there, but I paid the price. And there was a real arrogance on their part, to think that a ‘little person’ like me would just go away like a tiny kitten with its tail between its legs and have nothing further to say, or that an ‘average’ person would not have the chutzpah or the resources to fight their considerable empire and influence.
Now I have a relative who works for them under the same exact conditions. She is just as angry, but somehow has maintained her composure, perhaps out of fear she could not find another gig in this piss poor economy. Should I have done the same? Because I spoke out, I am still living like a madwoman in a rent-controlled shoebox, in a poor neighborhood. But if I had sucked up, could I have looked myself in the mirror in the morning? There is literal whoring of the body and then there is whoring of one’s very soul and convictions. The latter is the smelliest and most infernal beast by far. So I made a decision to take what little dignity I had left, and run with it. And here I am, just another poor person, but at least keeping my principles inviolate, aside from owning the machine I am now typing this entry on.
Corporations have had us in bed with them for quite a while now. They have taken that old adage, ‘Know Your Friends Well, Know Your Enemies Better’ and twisted it around so that now we are the enemy being preyed upon, while offered all kinds of ‘new and improved’ products to lure us further into the maw of the beast. This false friend knows us so very well, from our deepest lusts and cravings, to our most unspeakable fears. It puts these up to us as though in a mirror and reflects them back in the most irresistible forms, in whatever flavor or shape we desire.
Are we simply our own worst enemy? If that is the real issue at hand, this beast can indeed be slayed, but only with considerable sacrifice and detachment from our former ways. Rise up and fight it, before it morphs into a different form altogether, as it inevitably will without intervention, stealth and awareness on our part. This new master has a subtlety of mind that we must also cultivate, if we truly intend to fight the good fight. Power knows exactly what it is and how to maintain and perpetuate itself. We must also learn the same skill if we are to keep it from infiltrating our lives and undermining everything we stand for as human beings.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Beware the Apple Police!
This comes as absolutely NO surprise to me, but if it is to you, check it out:
Apple's iron fist revealed...
Apple's iron fist revealed...
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Apple, Inc. Tax Evader
Looks like Apple is not paying its fair share of taxes, which is hardly surprising. And it also appears that I am not the only one pissed off regarding the Permatemp issue...
Why Should Apple Pay Taxes? It's So Cool, Dude!
Why Should Apple Pay Taxes? It's So Cool, Dude!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Do You Know How the Demand for Your Toys Is Met?
My college friend in Ireland sent me a thought-provoking article today on the terrible toll the Western demand for tech gadgets is taking on Chinese workers. I have been concerned about this for a while, and can't believe that next to nothing is being done about it. The story about one worker in the industrial dormitories having to write a confession letter for just using a hair dryer is heartbreaking. We need to be aware of this and also understand that it could easily be us. Corporations don't care who they are abusing, so long as it is convenient and cost effective for them:
Unimaginable worker abuse
The Real Cost of Those 'Shiny Gadgets'
Unimaginable worker abuse
The Real Cost of Those 'Shiny Gadgets'
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Pedestrians Prohibited
This is the sign I saw down in San Bruno, just before my goofy interview with the self-involved yuppies of YouTube. Are there any two words that better describe life in the good ole US of A? I was trying to walk off a case of nerves and jitters about a half hour before my interrogation, and also scouting out the area a bit. I suppose this part of the Bay Area would indeed be perfect for those commuting in their angry, boxy cars. There is an impersonal ‘shopping plaza’ located right near the offices of YouTube. I walked a circle all around it, skirting the edges of the highway. The sidewalk narrowed at some point, to a dead end, where the ‘Pedestrians Prohibited’ sign was ominously planted. In other words, “get out of the way, you miserable little worm, or you will be run over by the almighty automobile, and you will have deserved it!” I shrugged my shoulders and walked the other way, towards the awful fumes emanating from the sad little eateries dotting the plaza. I think Americans should name these plazas ‘auto marts.’ They do in Italy, actually. They were called ‘Autogrill’ and were pretty impressive structures, towering high and mighty above the freeway, as if the Italians were saying ‘good food rules here, not cars!’ I absolutely looked forward to the tasty grilled panini they sold at these establishments. Ah, those were the days...
Having been back in the US for a good eleven years now, I am still not used to having to be so wary on my walks around the city. Of course, like any good pedestrian, I wait for the lights before crossing. That goes without saying. I know drivers must be frustrated in my hood, ‘The Loin’ as it’s affectionately called. The bums just venture out onto the street as if it were their very own living room. I imagine that would indeed be nerve-wracking. But more often than not, some red-faced driver is there, boiling at the collar because I don’t ‘sprint’ to the finish at the other side of the crosswalk. Actually, if someone is in constant 'rage' mode, would that not be a major cause of heart disease?! I walk at exactly the average human speed of 3.2 miles per hour, thanks very much. And that is the speed at which I will cross the street – no faster and no slower. So the driver can just go ahead and have his or her meltdown. We’ve all got places to go.
Is it naïve to hope that one day, pedestrian traffic and auto traffic will be completely separate, not interacting whatsoever? It sure would bring me tremendous peace of mind and ease of spirit. If drivers want to be on a constant power trip, they can race each other! Yee haw! That’s the Murkan spirit! Have your road rage. I will keep walking. It’s such a natural and normal activity, and if I understand correctly, it took our species quite a while to even evolve into a standing position so we could grab those sweet fruits in the trees and walk while we hold hands. Nice imagery, no?
This weekend my sister will pick me up in her car, so we can drive somewhere to take a walk. We might even do another historical walking tour! How about that? She now has a very efficient, modestly sized VW and takes the attitude that many Europeans do, that it is merely a way to get from point A to point B. She once had a Saturn, which ended up dented as a result of a run-in with an insane, drunk elderly woman in Daly City. Then she went on to purchase a Scion, in which she experienced a near fatal accident as a result of its notoriously piss-poor brake system. Can anyone say ‘class action lawsuit?’ Oh yeah, I forgot, the Supreme Court is right at this very moment trying to remove our rights to sue in a class action. Silly me! Why would I think the rights of citizens would ever be defended? At any rate, my sister is happy with this car. But never at any time does she use it as an excuse for her feet to never touch ground. She puts it in its right place, as we all should with material things. She certainly doesn’t worship it. I think that’s the healthy way to be. So here’s to overall good health, better muscle tone, clearer minds and better immune systems. All brought to you courtesy of that most simple of bipedal activities…. Walking!
Having been back in the US for a good eleven years now, I am still not used to having to be so wary on my walks around the city. Of course, like any good pedestrian, I wait for the lights before crossing. That goes without saying. I know drivers must be frustrated in my hood, ‘The Loin’ as it’s affectionately called. The bums just venture out onto the street as if it were their very own living room. I imagine that would indeed be nerve-wracking. But more often than not, some red-faced driver is there, boiling at the collar because I don’t ‘sprint’ to the finish at the other side of the crosswalk. Actually, if someone is in constant 'rage' mode, would that not be a major cause of heart disease?! I walk at exactly the average human speed of 3.2 miles per hour, thanks very much. And that is the speed at which I will cross the street – no faster and no slower. So the driver can just go ahead and have his or her meltdown. We’ve all got places to go.
Is it naïve to hope that one day, pedestrian traffic and auto traffic will be completely separate, not interacting whatsoever? It sure would bring me tremendous peace of mind and ease of spirit. If drivers want to be on a constant power trip, they can race each other! Yee haw! That’s the Murkan spirit! Have your road rage. I will keep walking. It’s such a natural and normal activity, and if I understand correctly, it took our species quite a while to even evolve into a standing position so we could grab those sweet fruits in the trees and walk while we hold hands. Nice imagery, no?
This weekend my sister will pick me up in her car, so we can drive somewhere to take a walk. We might even do another historical walking tour! How about that? She now has a very efficient, modestly sized VW and takes the attitude that many Europeans do, that it is merely a way to get from point A to point B. She once had a Saturn, which ended up dented as a result of a run-in with an insane, drunk elderly woman in Daly City. Then she went on to purchase a Scion, in which she experienced a near fatal accident as a result of its notoriously piss-poor brake system. Can anyone say ‘class action lawsuit?’ Oh yeah, I forgot, the Supreme Court is right at this very moment trying to remove our rights to sue in a class action. Silly me! Why would I think the rights of citizens would ever be defended? At any rate, my sister is happy with this car. But never at any time does she use it as an excuse for her feet to never touch ground. She puts it in its right place, as we all should with material things. She certainly doesn’t worship it. I think that’s the healthy way to be. So here’s to overall good health, better muscle tone, clearer minds and better immune systems. All brought to you courtesy of that most simple of bipedal activities…. Walking!
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