The suits at Apple read this forum?
Well, in <u>that</u> case...
Dear Apple Canada:
As a Canadian subsidiary of an American corporation, you are bound by amendments made in 1996 to Canada's Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (FEMA) to ignore any attempts of the U.S. government to influence Apple Canada's potential trade with Cuba. Violation of FEMA is punishable by fine and really bad karma.
Since Canadian law requires you to not rule out trade with Cuba, I am therefore offering my services as your Man in Havana. Shouldn't a Revolutionary country have a Revolutionary computer? Sadly, Cubans have been lured to the dark side, and have embraced Billy's dreadful OS.
I have, on many occasions, suggested that the eventual normalization of Cuba-U.S. relations will be disastrous, as Cuba will have a huge installed base of Windows systems for which they will be required to obtain licenses, at no small cost for this developing country.
There <u>are</u> Macintosh users in Cuba! In my travels I have seen a PowerMac G4 (digital video editing system), a Beige G3 (graphics design studio), a PowerBook 1400cs (used by an American pro-Revolution journalist to "break the information blockade" and counter U.S. bias), a Mac IIci (on a shelf in a techncian's shop in Holguin - he had no idea what it was) and a Mac SE/30 (being used by a band for MIDI).
There was even a mysterious Italian who called himself "Captain Mac," though efforts to locate this seaworthy fellow have gone for naught...
Regardless, it would be my pleasure to introduce the next-generation of Cuban computer enthusiasts and government officials at MIC (Ministry of Informatics and Computing) the wonders of the Macintosh. May I suggest supplying me with a 17" PowerBook Al as a demonstration model?
The only downside to the larger PB is the fact that it will not be useable in-flight, as Air Cubana has no "First Class" (it <u>is</u> a socialist society, after all). Thus, if you could also spare a 12" PowerBook for those times when I'll be aboard a Cuban jet, or travelling in an official Lada, my efforts would be facilitated greatly.
Lastly, let me point out one additional benefit of trading Macintoshes with Cuba (I think a one-to-one exchange for Cuban rum (box) would be appropriate): As a socialist society, the state's development strategy is to "leave no one behind", i.e., everyone must have the same quality of life, access to education, resources, housing, etc. Think of it! A Mac in every home! That could mean an additional 12-million Macintoshes.
Your ever-faithful evangelist,
[email protected]