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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jimmy Wales (Jimbo) was kind enough to invite me to
the wikipedia list as a way to contribute, and gain feedback for one of my
current projects. The project is called The California Open Source Textbook
Project (COSTP) <A
href="http://www.opensourcetext.org">www.opensourcetext.org</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The idea is to utilize open source and innovative
content licensing (via Creative Commons <A
href="http://www.creativecommons.org">www.creativecommons.org</A> ) to help
California realize a initial significant savings, and eventual complete
elimination of its $400M+ (and rising) annual debt for K-12
textbooks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This project has been lobbied to the Governor's
office, the State Senate and Assembly, the California Teacher's Assn.,
several foundations, and many others. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Most of those who have had benefit of hearing about
COSTP in detail are impressed with the possibilities. It will take a combination
of political will, and a pilot that proves the concept (not necessarily in that
order) to make this work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We would like to get a pilot going, and what I'm
currently thinking about doing - in the absence of funds - is starting something
up via the Connexions Project at Rice University <A
href="http://cnx.rice.edu/">http://cnx.rice.edu/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I will be adding more information, in the way of
updates, and a more complete project business model to the site
soon.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All feedback is welcome. I understand this is a
forum set up to share ideas, and am delighted to share what little I
know about this area.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks again,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sanford</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sanford Forte, Founder and
Director<BR>California Open Source Textbook Project<BR>Palo Alto, CA<BR><A
href="http://www.opensourcetext.org">www.opensourcetext.org</A><BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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