Microsoft will be signing up Malayalam movie star Mammootty as one of the brand ambassadors for the Computer Literacy programme that is to be organized soon in Kerala, a Southern Indian State well known for its pro-free software policies.
Read, Sign and Share the letter at http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Open_Letter_To_Mammooty
Also digg the story http://digg.com/microsoft/Mammooty_don_t_join_hands_with_Microsoft
Vote the story http://www.fsdaily.com/Community/Open_Letter_To_Mammooty
On Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 5:09 PM, Praveen A pravi.a@gmail.com wrote:
Microsoft will be signing up Malayalam movie star Mammootty as one of the brand ambassadors for the Computer Literacy programme that is to be organized soon in Kerala, a Southern Indian State well known for its pro-free software policies.
Read, Sign and Share the letter at http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Open_Letter_To_Mammooty
Also digg the story http://digg.com/microsoft/Mammooty_don_t_join_hands_with_Microsoft
Vote the story http://www.fsdaily.com/Community/Open_Letter_To_Mammooty
If I weren't working right now, I would be ROTF LMAO. Mammooty doesn't care about your 'higher ideals'. To paraphrase Watto from Star Wars: Episode I, mind tricks don't work on him, onnaly monney.
E-literacy is quite different from cola. Organize mass protests, it would be easier in Kerala. It might work.
2008/4/19 Nishit Dave stargazer.dave@gmail.com:
If I weren't working right now, I would be ROTF LMAO. Mammooty doesn't care about your 'higher ideals'. To paraphrase Watto from Star Wars: Episode I, mind tricks don't work on him, onnaly monney.
For us, every bit is an opportunity to talk about Free Software. This time you have Mammootty's name with it and that is a name every common man associates himself with. It is more about talking about Free Software.
E-literacy is quite different from cola. Organize mass protests, it would be easier in Kerala. It might work.
I always find it strange when people say. You should not do this, but do this, irrespective of what you do.
When you go down the street and light a candle it is not India. When you rally people and organizations around an awareness campaign, you say do something else.
Instead of telling us what to do, it would be better if you can show us what to do by taking a lead. No one organize mass protests in Mumbai?
Praveen A wrote:
2008/4/19 Nishit Dave stargazer.dave@gmail.com:
If I weren't working right now, I would be ROTF LMAO. Mammooty doesn't care about your 'higher ideals'. To paraphrase Watto from Star Wars: Episode I, mind tricks don't work on him, onnaly monney.
For us, every bit is an opportunity to talk about Free Software. This time you have Mammootty's name with it and that is a name every common man associates himself with. It is more about talking about Free Software.
I inquired with my news paper vendor and he charges Rs. 150/- for distributing one sheet of paper to 1000 local readers. This should be the same or similar for other areas too, so it is an inexpensive advertising channel that each one of us can use to propagate the message of Software Freedom. Avoid dropping names so that there are no legal issues involved.
On 19-Apr-08, at 10:07 PM, Rony wrote:
I inquired with my news paper vendor and he charges Rs. 150/- for distributing one sheet of paper to 1000 local readers. This should be the same or similar for other areas too, so it is an inexpensive advertising channel that each one of us can use to propagate the message of Software Freedom. Avoid dropping names so that there are no legal issues involved.
hey, good idea. Lets design a sexy one page leaflet and start a campaign. And no one can accuse us of being 'non-indian', my daughter has been washing her hair with shampoo sachets attached to the local paper for the last month. As you are the expert in designing leaflets and brochures, I suggest you start the content on the wiki and others can chip in.
Kenneth Gonsalves wrote:
On 19-Apr-08, at 10:07 PM, Rony wrote:
I inquired with my news paper vendor and he charges Rs. 150/- for distributing one sheet of paper to 1000 local readers. This should be the same or similar for other areas too, so it is an inexpensive advertising channel that each one of us can use to propagate the message of Software Freedom. Avoid dropping names so that there are no legal issues involved.
hey, good idea. Lets design a sexy one page leaflet and start a campaign. And no one can accuse us of being 'non-indian', my daughter has been washing her hair with shampoo sachets attached to the local paper for the last month. As you are the expert in designing leaflets and brochures, I suggest you start the content on the wiki and others can chip in.
How about the content on Digital Democracy. It does not take names and gives day to day examples so non-technical people can relate to it. Links can be added to guide people towards Libre software.
On 19-Apr-08, at 10:30 PM, Rony wrote:
How about the content on Digital Democracy. It does not take names and gives day to day examples so non-technical people can relate to it. Links can be added to guide people towards Libre software.
write it - put some cool cartoons on it and put it on the wiki. We will edit it (and have a long and enjoyable flame war as to whether OOXML should be rejected on practical grounds or on idealogical grounds) and then we can make a pdf that can be printed and distributed by desi channels
On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 10:24 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves lawgon@au-kbc.org wrote:
hey, good idea. Lets design a sexy one page leaflet and start a campaign. And no one can accuse us of being 'non-indian', my daughter has been washing her hair with shampoo sachets attached to the local paper for the last month. As you are the expert in designing leaflets and brochures, I suggest you start the content on the wiki and others can chip in.
It's already there, we had something similar before...
http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure_Alternate http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure_Quick_Guide http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Slogans_for_the_Brochure
On 19-Apr-08, at 11:41 PM, Siddhesh Poyarekar wrote:
On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 10:24 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves <lawgon@au- kbc.org> wrote:
hey, good idea. Lets design a sexy one page leaflet and start a campaign. And no one can accuse us of being 'non-indian', my daughter has been washing her hair with shampoo sachets attached to the local paper for the last month. As you are the expert in designing leaflets and brochures, I suggest you start the content on the wiki and others can chip in.
It's already there, we had something similar before...
http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure_Alternate http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure_Quick_Guide http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Slogans_for_the_Brochure
that is for linux - we need one for odf.
On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 11:53 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves lawgon@au-kbc.org wrote:
that is for linux - we need one for odf.
ah... missed that point. Probably because I thought Mamooty is promoting Microsoft products as a whole and since we'd be campaigning against it, the campaign would automatically be for Free software.
Either ways, I guess we need a awareness campaign for ODF as well. I casually asked some of my colleagues about the current ODF vs OOXML campaign and I was met with blank faces. I'm sure this must be true in most medium to large consulting firms.
Siddhesh Poyarekar wrote:
On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 11:53 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves lawgon@au-kbc.org wrote:
that is for linux - we need one for odf.
ah... missed that point. Probably because I thought Mamooty is promoting Microsoft products as a whole and since we'd be campaigning against it, the campaign would automatically be for Free software.
What I have found from my conversations with various people is that they know no concept of Software Freedom and therefore they look at Libre software simply as a regular competitive software and start making comparisons of its working and compatibility with existing closed software. Since closed softwares thrive on vendor lock-in using closed data formats, there will never be a direct 100% replacement for those locked-in softwares. Therefore it is important to stress on the fact that Libre software is a different environment just like a Mac is to Windows. One software environment will never have 100% compatibility or replacement with another environment environment. Therefore when choosing the software environment, it is necessary to understand why it is a better choice above others even though the migration process may be a bit painful. For Libre software, this can happen only if there is a proper understanding of Software Freedom.
On 20-Apr-08, at 9:26 AM, Siddhesh Poyarekar wrote:
On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 11:53 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves <lawgon@au- kbc.org> wrote:
that is for linux - we need one for odf.
ah... missed that point. Probably because I thought Mamooty is promoting Microsoft products as a whole and since we'd be campaigning against it, the campaign would automatically be for Free software.
frankly there are so many open letters pouring in nowadays that I am totally confused as to which particular point is being emphasised. It is also getting harder and harder to distinguish genuine open letters and spam. But I am sure that mamooty's spam folder will be getting a lot more custom.
On Sun, Apr 20, 2008 at 1:12 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves lawgon@au-kbc.org wrote:
frankly there are so many open letters pouring in nowadays that I am totally confused as to which particular point is being emphasised. It is also getting harder and harder to distinguish genuine open letters and spam. But I am sure that mamooty's spam folder will be getting a lot more custom.
Can anyone comment on the desirability of making Mammooty's arch rival or his favourite heroine a poster(person) for Linux?
Please do not comment on efficacy, as the efficacy of the current course of action is also questionable.
2008/4/20 Kenneth Gonsalves lawgon@au-kbc.org:
frankly there are so many open letters pouring in nowadays that I am totally confused as to which particular point is being emphasised. It is also getting harder and harder to distinguish genuine open letters and spam. But I am sure that mamooty's spam folder will be getting a lot more custom.
Mammootty's office has reponded to the open letter.
This is in response to the fire ignited by free software lovers of the state against Mammootty's alleged association with Microsoft for the Computer Literacy Programme for computer illiterates of Kerala.
In this regard Mammootty would like to make it clear that Mammootty is in no way a part of the project. Mammootty has in no way associated with Microsoft nor held any discussions with them. Mammootty Fans and Welfare Association & Microsoft are envisaging the Project. As a person Mammootty is against any kind of monopoly in any area.
http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/Open_Letter_To_Mammootty#Mammootty.27s_Response
Cheers Praveen
Siddhesh Poyarekar wrote:
On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 10:24 PM, Kenneth Gonsalves lawgon@au-kbc.org wrote:
hey, good idea. Lets design a sexy one page leaflet and start a campaign. And no one can accuse us of being 'non-indian', my daughter has been washing her hair with shampoo sachets attached to the local paper for the last month. As you are the expert in designing leaflets and brochures, I suggest you start the content on the wiki and others can chip in.
It's already there, we had something similar before...
http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure_Alternate http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Linux_Brochure_Quick_Guide http://db.glug-bom.org/wiki/index.php/Slogans_for_the_Brochure
The first link has a lot of updates since the last time I saw it. :-)
On 19-Apr-08, at 5:37 PM, Rony gnulinuxist@gmail.com wrote:
Praveen A wrote:
2008/4/19 Nishit Dave stargazer.dave@gmail.com:
If I weren't working right now, I would be ROTF LMAO. Mammooty doesn't care about your 'higher ideals'. To paraphrase Watto from Star Wars: Episode I, mind tricks don't work on him, onnaly monney.
For us, every bit is an opportunity to talk about Free Software. This time you have Mammootty's name with it and that is a name every common man associates himself with. It is more about talking about Free Software.
I inquired with my news paper vendor and he charges Rs. 150/- for distributing one sheet of paper to 1000 local readers. This should be the same or similar for other areas too, so it is an inexpensive advertising channel that each one of us can use to propagate the message of Software Freedom. Avoid dropping names so that there are no legal issues involved.
Anyplace online where propaganda material fit for phamphlets can be downloaded. Has this kind of delivery been ever attempted before?
Sharninder wrote:
On 19-Apr-08, at 5:37 PM, Rony gnulinuxist@gmail.com wrote:
Praveen A wrote:
2008/4/19 Nishit Dave stargazer.dave@gmail.com:
If I weren't working right now, I would be ROTF LMAO. Mammooty doesn't care about your 'higher ideals'. To paraphrase Watto from Star Wars: Episode I, mind tricks don't work on him, onnaly monney.
For us, every bit is an opportunity to talk about Free Software. This time you have Mammootty's name with it and that is a name every common man associates himself with. It is more about talking about Free Software.
I inquired with my news paper vendor and he charges Rs. 150/- for distributing one sheet of paper to 1000 local readers. This should be the same or similar for other areas too, so it is an inexpensive advertising channel that each one of us can use to propagate the message of Software Freedom. Avoid dropping names so that there are no legal issues involved.
Anyplace online where propaganda material fit for phamphlets can be downloaded. Has this kind of delivery been ever attempted before?
I don't know about previous attempts but as long as we don't take names and concentrate only on creating awareness about software freedom, then that is enough. At least we don't have to depend on newspaper editors for printing our thoughts. Other advt. channels are too expensive.
-
Kenneth Gonsalves -
Nishit Dave -
Praveen A -
Rony -
Sharninder -
Siddhesh Poyarekar