perhaps.
However, as long as we are acting and behaving in response to what we 
believe are others perceptions, it only reenforces and promotes those very 
perceptions.
Don't rock the boat, and you might be allowed to stay on right?
That is giving the power and control to others to decide how you will behave 
and what decisions you will make.
I don't want the people in control to take something away from me, so I'll 
keep my head down and follow their rules to the letter so they don't notice 
me.
So you think that this free matter for the blind service is perceived by 
others as just another hand out, or that it is some how not deserved?
I suspect, as you say, it serves such a small minority that no one, short of 
the postal workers, some blindness related organizations, and only a portion 
of blind people even know it exists.
it's not about bending the rules for the sake of it, it's about not becoming 
subject to the perceptions and beliefs of others merely to keep a service 
that is disability specific.
I'd rather give something up, than be thought of as having less power than 
the next person.

anyway this could go on for a long time and we'll probably not agree in the 
end on these root issues.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: Old keyer available


> Colin,
>
> One reason that driving rules are bent with impunity is that nobody wants 
> to
> lose the privilege of driving.  Free matter, on the other hand, affects a
> very small minority, and one that most people aren't particularly 
> concerned
> about, especially if that minority is perceived as getting a deal they
> really don't deserve.  Your example of the 24-channel mixer would probably
> not stand up well in court even though it seems perfectly reasonable to 
> you.
> That's where the phrase "jailhouse lawyers" comes into play; they're 
> people
> who are convinced they have an airtight legal case, but they're still 
> behind
> bars.
>
> Steve
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 14:30
> Subject: Re: Old keyer available
>
>
>> good stuff, that's what I was after.
>> I expect canada post has similar, if not precisely the same rules and 
>> regs
>> governing free matter for the blind materials.
>>
>> I must say though, having a drivers license and driving is also a
>> privallage, and people abuse the rules of the road without even thinking
>> and
>> it is tolerated and accepted for the most part.
>> While it's always safe to abide by the rules and regs of a particular
>> process, sometimes those rules and regs can be bent as they say without
>> anyone getting upset or it becoming a serious problem.
>> The spirit of the law is to allow blind persons, and organizations who
>> assist the blind specifically, who are considered to be members of 
>> society
>> with less access to financial resources compared to other members of
>> society, to send important blind specific items from one place to 
>> another.
>> obviously your not going to send stuff that isn't well within that
>> definition.
>> However, if you are sending something, from one blind person, to another,
>> and it does meet requirements of being specifically blind friendly,
>> accessible, or access related in some way, then I think it's ok to use 
>> the
>> service, and not be thought to be abusing it.
>> Remember, the rules and regs were created a rather long time ago when
>> braille paper materials, and perhaps large print materials, and cassettes
>> or
>> records were about the height of accessible material.  Now, we have allot
>> of
>> digital material, and the devices used to replay that digital material.
>> Along with allot of different equipment that can be said to be used to
>> create accessible material in a digital format.
>> I could potentially say a 24 channel mixer, microphones, and computer
>> would
>> be a set of devices used to create recordings for the blind, and with
>> blind
>> specific content.
>> That would fall within the regs, even though those items were not
>> specifically designed and manufactured for "the blind".
>> anyway, sending something through free matter that doesn't precisely meet
>> the regulations isn't going to find you in court or jail by any stretch 
>> of
>> the imagination.
>> the worst that might happen is they'll return the posted item.
>>
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Ronald E. Milliman" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 9:39 AM
>> Subject: Re: Old keyer available
>>
>>
>>>A keyer is absolutely not eligible to be mailed as "Free Matter for the
>>> Blind."  It is not made specifically for a blind person and does not fit
>>> within either the letter or spirit of the postal regulations. Knowingly
>>> misusing the "Free Matter for the Blind," privilege is both unethical 
>>> and
>>> illegal.
>>>
>>> As the President of the South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind, I
>>> have
>>> studied the postal regulations quite closely and even conferred with the
>>> postal authorities to be sure I understood the regulations before we 
>>> used
>>> the "Free Matter for the Blind" stamped on our mailings and shipments
>>> going
>>> to our members, mailing materials to doctors' offices, etc.  Believe it
>>> or
>>> not, the postal inspectors will and do inspect some mailings and
>>> shipments
>>> to be sure they are not in violation of the postal regulations.  No, 
>>> they
>>> do not inspect everything that is sent as "Free Matter for the Blind,"
>>> but
>>> they will check anything that looks even a little suspicious.
>>>
>>> To use the "Free Matter for the Blind" mailing privilege, your item must
>>> be
>>> specifically for a legally blind person or persons and includes Braille
>>> and
>>> large print matter and devices designed for the specific use of blind
>>> people.  A Victor Reader Stream can be sent as "Free Matter for the
>>> Blind,"
>>> but an Olympus DS-50, which has speech built into it, cannot be sent as
>>> "Free Matter for the Blind" because the Olympus DS-50 was not designed
>>> specifically for the blind; though, it can certainly be used by the
>>> blind.
>>> In like manner, all of the Apple products, e.g. iPhone Apple TV, etc.
>>> cannot be shipped as "Free Matter for the Blind," even though they all
>>> have
>>> Voiceover built into them and can be used by a blind person.
>>>
>>> Ron M.
>>>
>>>
>>> Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, retired Professor Western Kentucky University
>>>
>>> Chair, American Council of the Blind Public Relations Committee
>>> Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) Committee
>>>
>>