I agree, 90% of those not in the postal field or blind don't even know that 
option exists. I know no one I know does. They're often shocked to see it on 
magazines or audio books here.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 2:44 AM
Subject: Re: Old keyer available


> 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
>>>>
>>>
>