Colin Charles Agenda

I don’t know if what the EpiCentre folk told me is true (about sustained sales of RM5 million/month for 3 months), but Apple has created the Apple Store (Malaysia).

I consider this a positive first step. For me now, I will not have to order engraved iPod’s through the Singapore Apple Store – I’ll do it right here in Malaysia (after all shipping in 1-2 days, is OK). In fact, I can’t imagine why I would order too much from physical Apple stores like EpiCentre or Machines anymore – unless I wanted to take advantage of their 12 months 0% interest-free credit card plans (Maybank, HSBC, American Express, Citibank, and probably a few more participate in this).

I said it before, and I’ll say it again – its a positive first step. Why? There’s a good chance, that they’re setting this up for the magical iPhone to come into the market. And in no time, we might see an iTunes Music Store. We might have crippled access, with no music/TV/movies, but its always a progression.

Not needing any Apple products yet (latest purchase: pink iPod Nano; latest gift arrival: new iPod Touch – thanks Sun), I am however still tempted to buy something from their online store. Why?

1. There’s a limited edition t-shirt up for grabs before November 24
2. Supporting their online initiative, to show that there’s a market for this sort of thing, and they should bring in more (like the iTunes Music Store, et al)

It seems there’s only one remaining iPod Classic, with a nice big disk (120GB). The last Classic I had, had a 30GB disk (and couldn’t store my complete music collection). Maybe this is what I need? Its sub-RM1,000, so an easy purchase to make ;)

They even have an education store, which is supposed to normally provide discounts, but from my cursory inspection, seems to suggest otherwise.

What are you waiting for? Go buy your Apple gear already.

Last week I found out about the Open Source Economy Conference 2008 held in Putrajaya, Malaysia on the 19th of November 2008. Its co-organised by Sun and the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC). Its also the “launch” of MySQL in Malaysia.

I only mention this because I’m speaking – check the agenda out. Don’t hesitate to register now.

I once wrote a plea to Apple about giving Malaysians access to the iTunes music store as well as selling the iPhone’s in Malaysia.

I stepped into one of the Apple Premium Authorised Resellers the other day, and spoke to someone who seemed knowledgeable about these things. I mean, I purchased my MacBook Air in Machines. I purchased an external DVD drive for it from the EpiCentre store, more recently.

The shocker? RM5 million in sales, sustained, for at least three months, before Apple would consider even opening an official Apple store in Malaysia.

Is this hard to reach? I find it hard to believe that this isn’t already reached. I take buying Mac hardware for granted. My latest iPod purchase however wasn’t in the market – I ordered it from the Singapore online store (I wanted it engraved).

If I want it engraved, I can only imagine that a lot more Malaysians want it too. Of course, I also imagined Malaysians spending more than RM5 million on Apple hardware per month.

Anyone know if this is an Apple requirement?

Truly fitting image about the ISA, in the wake of recent happenings. Feel free to use the image, its CC-BY-NC-SA.

(for those international readers, Kamunting is where the ISA detainees are held [sat view]. This photo however, was taken in the middle of Kuala Lumpur)

Passion/Poppy, you failure of epic proportions.

Poppy is downstairs, Passion is upstairs. Today, is Thursday, traditionally lady’s night everywhere, right? Passion is closed, Poppy is virtually empty. This alone should have alarm bells ringing in your head. But my experience there, takes the cake.

Firstly, it took a grand total of 35 minutes to find our bottle of stashed Chivas. In the end, they admitted to not being able to find the bottle (they admitted that someone has stolen it), they gave us someone else’s bottle, scratched out their details and put my name on it. We noticed that there was less alcohol than what the custody card stated, and they gave us a couple of free glasses of drinks to boot.

Service, for an empty night club, SUCKED. Getting the lethargic wait staff to do anything, was mostly a waste of time.

So after all this waiting, guess what? They refused entry for a friend of mine. He so happens to have tried to come in via the main entrance (I just walked in from the side entrance, post valet parking). The excuse? Its ladies night and men have to pay.

I call a waiter over (the same guy that fumbled for 35 minutes to get me a bottle that wasn’t mine) to talk to the staff at the door. There are about four of them. Two beefy guys, and one spectacled fool who kept on insisting that they had procedure to follow. This after the waiter saying a bottle was inside.

I start to speak. I inform them that there is no one in the night club and there is really no reason why anyone should pay. Spectacled fool, insists its procedure and there’s a cover charge. I honestly feel like going in, taking my bottle out, and smashing it on his face.

But, some sense comes over them… Because one of the beefy guys decides that we mean business. My friend, and the three girls that accompanied him, come in with no hassle now. I say, rather loudly, “You did the right thing, or else…” The bespectacled guy isn’t impressed.

We finish the bottle as soon as we can, and this marks my vow to never go there again if I can avoid it. In fact, you should never go there again, if you can avoid it too. They are apparently only popular on Friday and Saturday nights, anyway. I recommend them to close, if possible.

If you need to go somewhere, in that area, might I highly recommend Thai Club (two floors of entertainment – upstairs is heavily air-conditioned, and serves a younger crowd), or even Rum Jungle. I know, I know, I considered Rum Jungle harmful before, but that was before they were opposite Poppy. They’ve now moved to the side, and are so much more sensible. Rum Jungle and Thai Club also have got good bands… Passion/Poppy? Just a DJ. Want eye candy? Definitely skip Passion/Poppy. Besides, only Passion/Poppy have a “dress code” even – Rum Jungle have learned from their ways, and I can walk in in shorts, t-shirt, and sandals (okay, Crocs nowadays).

While waiting on a bunch of compiles I kicked off, I couldn’t help but laugh, when Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said:

“Why should Gore and the former US Vice-President give judgment of evaluation of a country; does he not know the meaning for the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and the UN Charter – respect for the internal affairs of a country”.

I love the Universal Declaration of Human Rights document. Its so well formed, I’ve used it in training classes as a sample document back in the day when I used to actively give OpenOffice.org training to businesses, government, and schools. Anyway, why did I laugh? (emphasis, and excerpts are mine)

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Looks like the Malaysian politicians should go back and read the declaration (heck, they’re getting more web savvy, Wikipedia has an interesting page on human rights too). They may learn a thing or two, before shooting their mouths off the next time..