[nylug-talk] [Fwd: [nylug-announce] DRM ACTION: Share Your Wow Moments with BadVista.org In NYC]

[Ron Guerin]

This takes place tomorrow, contact them right away to be involved.

- Ron

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: DRM ACTION: Share Your Wow Moments with BadVista.org In NYC
Date: 	Thu, 25 Jan 2007 02:11:18 -0500
From: 	John Teddy <masterjediyoda at gmail.com>

This is a Defective By Design campaign(not a protest) I'll be going on
on Monday(Jan 29th) to Times Square at 11am to let Steve Ballmer know I
don't like him taking away society's freedoms with digital restrictions
management(DRM). And I don't like his anti-competitive practices that
harm the market and stifle innovation. The last Defective By Design
campaign I went with a couple LILUG people, I look forward to seeing
NYLUGers there if they are interested.

Regards,
John Teddy ( "sid" on irc.freenode.net <http://irc.freenode.net> )

P.S. I have 9 bright yellow hazardous material suits with helmets and
your group is welcome to use them, tell anyone to contact me on irc if
they want me to bring a suit for them.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: *Gregory Heller ( DefectiveByDesign.org )*
<gregory at defectivebydesign.org <mailto:gregory at defectivebydesign.org>>
Date: Jan 24, 2007 8:06 PM
Subject: DRM ACTION: Share Your Wow Momenta with BadVista.org In NYC
To: John  Teddy < MasterJediYoda at gmail.com
<mailto:MasterJediYoda at gmail.com>>

DefectiveByDesign.org
DRM ACTION ALERT

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear John,

DefectiveBydesign.org and BadVista.org are organizing events to coincide
with Microsoft's launch of the Vista Operating System in *New York City
on Monday, January 29th at 11am and 2pm* in Times Square and further
east near Grand Central Station.

Join us as we share some "Wow moments," with Bill Gates and other
invited guests. Let us know that you can make it by emailing info
*/__AT__/* badvista.org <http://badvista.org> Include your name,
email address, and phone number, so we can keep you up-to-date -- if
you already have an FSF account with this info in it, then just let us
know your username.

*Be sure to forward this message to friends and bring them along too.*

If can't make it to New York City, there will be other actions for
you to take part in to show your support on January 29th and 30th.
We'll be sending out more details tomorrow, but if you already know
you want in, send your name, city, email, and phone number to
*info at badvista.org* <mailto:info at badvista.org>* *or just send us
your FSF User name.


*The Backstory*

In an open letter to computer users, Bill Gates asked everyone to
share their "wow moments":

  As we prepare to launch Windows Vista...I'd like to invite you to
  share your wow moments with us. While you explore this Web site to
  learn more about Windows Vista, please help us celebrate the dawn of
  a new era by taking a few moments to share some of the wow moments
  you've already experienced.

BadVista.org would like to take Mr. Gates up on his open invitation.
But since the Web site Microsoft set up to collect the "wow moments"
doesn't work with free software browsers, we decided to deliver our
message in person.

Conveniently, Microsoft is hosting a high-profile launch event in
Times Square in New York City on Monday, January 29th, featuring a
keynote by Steve Ballmer. That's not too far away from us, so we
thought we'd show up and share.

Turns out, they don't want to hear your "wow" moment unless you are
important and have an invitation. BadVista.org organizer, John
Sullivan asked for one, but we were refused:

  Dear Mr. Sullivan,

  Thank you very much for your e-mail and for your interest in the
  Launch Celebration. Unfortunately, because of the limited capacity,
  additional invitations are not being offered.

So, we won't be inside the event. But we'll be there. *We need you
to be there too* -- and it's OK if you don't have an invitation.
*Come join us in sharing a "wow moment": the realization that Vista
imposes restrictions we simply won't accept on freedoms we value.*


In Solidarity,

Gregory, Peter, Henri and John