[GetReady] BadVista.org Action: Share your WOW Moments with us in NYC on Monday

[BadVista.org Campaign News]

Join BadVista.org in New York City for two actions to coincide with the
Microsoft Vista launch on Monday, January 29th at 11am and 2pm. They will take
place near Times Square and near Grand Central.

Let us know that you can make it by emailing info at 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 (http://fsf.org/register_form) with this info in
it, then just let us know your username.

Be sure to forward this post to friends and bring them along.

If you 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, but if you already know you want in, send your name, city,
email, and phone number (or your FSF user name) to info at badvista.org.

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 two-part high-profile launch event near
Grand Central and 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. We 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
to -- 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.


-- 
John Sullivan
Program Administrator        | Phone: (617)542-5942 x23    
51 Franklin Street, 5th Fl.  | Fax:   (617)542-2652	
Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA    | GPG:   AE8600B6