robin huber

Why, Apple? “Have you no sense of decency.”

Just got back last week from a 16-day port-hopping Viking tour of the China coast from Shenzhen/Hong Kong to Shanghai, then a land portion to Xi’an and Beijing. It was eye-opening and amazing. Never once felt uncomfortable. Happened to be in Tienamen Square for their 75th anniversary “Fourth of July” celebration (National Day). No parades, no VIP viewing stands, no military hardware, no choreographed cheering crowds, no fireworks—no formal celebrations whatsoever. Just flowers, flags, and crowds of people wandering around taking pictures of each other and having a good time. China is not North Korea. People I met spoke frankly and openly about their government’s failures and successes, including their hopes for U.S. style freedoms as a goal. People in Vietnam, where we visited a couple of years ago, were clearly very guarded in what they said, and told you why. Not so here. I have no illusions about the intentions of its government, but the Chinese people don’t either. They regard the Party as just another dynasty, with She Jinping sitting in as emperor.  And like all the others for thousands of years will untimely fall at the hands of dissatisfied ordinary people. They say the Party’s main job now is just staying in power. Only about 3% are Party member true believers, mostly those who work for the government. The rest of them love their country and what it has achieved economically. It’s no longer communist economically, but rather is an authoritarian government managing a capitalist economy. Even free health care, a cornerstone of socialism, is gone. Privatized, with all required to choose and buy a policy. Hell, we’re more “socialist” than they are in this regard. Time for Americans to reassess their preconceived notions about this place. I recommend you see for yourself rather than rely on second-hand information. All I’m saying is that I had  very dated ideas about much of what I saw and experienced. 

dewme said:

The lack of Apple Pay support at Home Depot was never an issue for me. It's the lack of staffing and difficulty getting help that is the main problem. Lowes is even worse. 

I'm 100% in favor of these stores adding Apple Pay support, especially if it frees them up to focus of what really matters - customer support. 

Ditto, but for me Ace became the place. They even give an additional 1% cash back when using ApplePay. When I asked an HD clerk when they were going to accept AP, she gave me a dirty look and said “Never!.” That was it for me. Only shop there for things I can’t get at Ace. 

dee_dee said:

I’m an Apple fan but Apple has definitely been caught using slave labour, and I’ve seen no evidence they have removed all slave labour from their supply chain.  Remember all the suicides at Foxconn too?  The conditions they work in are not great. 

Care to cite sources? Other than Truth Social that is. 

avidthinker said:

He should stick with what he knows best - couches and the pros/cons of the various upholstery options

Corduroy