Re: [ILUG-BOM] article on rediff: linux for visually impaired

hi siddesh, since you asked this question here is what happened. the Electronic Corporation of Tamilnadu have taken accessibility and computer education of the visually handicap people seriously. and since they only use and implement what they call as open source and we as free software, I was the natural choice for them ones nagarjun told them about my serious work on that aspect. they had to declare this project formally started and so called for a press conference for creating that awareness for the rest of the state. I was to brief the press which I did. I started my breafing with reference to the free software foundation and all the while talked about the free as in freedom aspect. I told them that while cost is one of the issue given the current economic state of most handicap people, what is more important is that the software is developed by the community and that I too came into this to help the community. I also took them a bit off topic from accessibility and told them what kind of a freedom struggle we are fighting and why we are doing so. then there were questions as usual. at the end of the conference I got a number of phone calls and I as per my experience with the press did confirm the facts. but the end result is very bad and I completely agree with vihan as I said time and time again. but instead of debaiting and raising fingers we need to understand that now some other way of making the press understand must be developed. jsut the other day nagarjun who totally understood what happened, suggested me a nice idea and I am putting this on the glug so that every one uses it. just tell the press that the headline will be "cost of proprietory software is x Rs. and cost of free software is willingness to share ". this is what we call realy creative eford. but this only comes from a person who tries to analise what must have happened so can give proper solution. raising fingers at the wrong person never brings out the solutions. any ways we will find out more such ways and I am very sorry for all the glugers whos band width got waisted on this topic. afterall it is a mistake of a dedicated free software person not any one isn't it? any ways, if some thing was ment to be arrogantly personal against me, it is ok forget that, and I really don't want any other free software friend to continue talking in favour of me or any one because that might lead to more rood emails (at least no more from my side since nagarjun sorted it out.) so if at all this thread has to continue, let it go in the direction of how such blunders from the press can be controled, because no matter how uch u tell the press, they still have a "free as in free of charge " mind set and we all must unite and find out wonderful ways like what nagarjun suggested me the other day. more such ideas are welcome. regards, Krishnaknat.