• Can't have the wifi and hotspot on and the same time
• Can't record calls
• Can't make homepage icons small
• Can't remove the default keyboard
• Worse apps

All of these arguments try to argue that implementing meritocracy perfectly is impossible.

But ask yourself, what is the alternative? A system in which the most capable person isn't in charge? Should we go back to bloodlines, or popularity contests, or maybe use a lottery?

I agree it's very difficult to determine merit, and even more difficult to stop power struggles from messing with the evaluation, or with the implementation. But I would still prefer a system that at least tries to be meritocratic and comes up short, to a system that has given up entirely on the concept.

I'll try to answer some of your questions, as best as I understand it:

Who determines merit, ability, and position?

Ideally, a group of peers would vote for someone within the group, who is the most capable, with outside supervision to prevent abuses.

Popularity contests in determining merit

Popularity shouldn't factor into it. Only ability. (and there's no doubt Depp is the better actor :P )

Are Athletes or Artists more worthy

Each one is worthy within the scope of their domain of expertise, in which they have demonstrated merit.

Power corrupts

Always true in every system. That's why we need checks and balances.

Save the entire planet, then start kicking cats. Still a hero?

If kicking cats is wrong, it should be against the law, and no one should be above the law. All other things being equal, whoever has the most capacity to save the planet should be the one to do it.

How long does a merit last?

For as long as you can demonstrate it. If someone better comes along, they should take your place.

Brilliant mathematicians get rewarded with what?

More mathematical problems. And ideally, also lots of money and babes.

At the end of the day, it's a cultural problem. Meritocracy can only work if there's a critical mass of people who believe in it, understand it, and enforce it socially. The same can be said of democracy, capitalism, and basically any other social order.

There is a polish on their platforms that is best in class

As someone who was an Android user and tried switching to an iPhone, I see lots of weird bugs and behaviors I never had with Android. Sure, the OS is slightly better, and rarely crashes, but everything else is a little bit worse.

Literally every Google app is better than Apple's. Be it Google maps, keyboard, mail, calendar, etc. But because they aren't made for iPhone, there's all kinds of little bugs, mostly visual/UI related.

And then there's all these nonsensical decisions that make my life harder. Hotspot can't run with wifi on, you can't record your calls (very useful when talking to banks, government, etc.), can't even arrange the icons in "home" screen to fixed locations or make them smaller.

I finally figured out that when Apple fans talk about polish, they just mean it looks pretty and feels high-end. Which, sure, I can concede that. But that's not what I actually care about.

Anyway, rant over, sorry to take it out on you!

So I guess you're still using it?

It's too early to know what was the cause of the intelligence failure. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was because Iran introduced new technology and protocols, that went unnoticed below the usual chatter.

Israel Defense Forces say women and children have been taken hostage.

Odd phrasing. Hamas confirmed it, and there are videos and photos proving it to be the case.

There is something a bit contradictory in saying that there is a level above us that we are not aware of, but by taking drugs we can become aware of it. If it's a separate layer than ours, how can we move towards it while remaining ourselves? And why can't we go lower, and become aware of the consciousness of our organs or cells?

The way I see it, our consciousness is like a hot air balloon, always floating upwards, but our brain (specifically the ego) tethers it to the here and now, so that we can survive in the physical world. What psychedelic drugs do is loosen the rope, weaken the ego, and let us float higher. If you get high enough, you experience "ego death", which in this metaphor just means that you can't see the ground anymore.

(in contrast, some drugs, like cocaine, make the ego even stronger)

It's all pretty much from the same ridiculous kung-fu movie, as far as I could tell. There's even some similarity in the plot.

I think it holds up, especially if you watch the original movie it was based on.

Kung Pao is one of the dumbest and most underrated comedies. It's not exactly sci-fi, but it does have aliens and intelligent cows.

I watched it over ten times, and I don't regret a second.

So you're saying the walls of an old microwave might do the trick

It's funny that I have to explain it, but just share any information that makes you look like a very average person, without anything that might make you stand out.

Obviously, you have to give them some information, to adhere to "don't stand out".

Don't give the government any more information than you have to.

Don't stand out.

Be smart about the laws you break.

If you do all that and your fear of government is greater than the fear of a car accident, then you're not being rational.