Virtual Stakeout | August 2010

Virtual Stakeout
Newsletter for and by Life Detectives

Inside: Introducing the Life Detectives

Volume 1, Issue 1

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Virtual Stakeout | August 2010

Virtual Stakeout

August 2010

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Virtual Stakeout | August 2010

Contents

Technology .........................................................................................................4
Could cities force bloggers to pay a licensing fee? ........................................4
Outreach..............................................................................................................5
Introducing the Life Detectives ......................................................................5

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Virtual Stakeout | August 2010

Technology

Could cities force bloggers to pay a licensing fee?

I came across this article in the Spokesman-Review by chance this afternoon while I
was doing other research. According to the website and its source the Philadelphia
Citypaper, city residents who maintain blogs as a hobby have been ordered by the city
to pay $300 for a "business privilege license."

I'll confess that I don't know what a business privilege license is, but one thing I do know
is that this is setting a very dangerous precedent for anybody who uses the Internet to
express themselves or communicate with others. This includes bloggers, and
webmasters.

For the city, this is obviously a way to make a little money off the whole "blogging
craze." For Philadelphia residents, this strikes a serious blow against their ability to
express themselves over the Internet.

So, I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about this. Have you been asked by your
community to pay money to maintain a blog or website?

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Virtual Stakeout | August 2010

Outreach

Introducing the Life Detectives

I am a life detective. No, I don't have a Law degree, and I'm not an expert at helping
people get a life. My resources consist of myself, my computer and the Internet. I'm also
eager to help others find the information they need to solve their biggest problems in
life.

I've started a blog at http://activeprotocol.wordpress.com where I've started to catalog

all of the interesting information that I find when I'm browsing the Internet or following
my stream on Twitter. I've also created fan pages on Facebook where I will be
encouraging users to post any questions they might have. I don't have all of the
answers, but fortunately I can use the Internet to quickly find someone who does. And,
I'm learning right alongside the person that I'm trying to help!

It's not like I'm knew at researching on the Internet. I've actually been using the Internet
since 1994 when I first laid eyes on MOSAIC on the second floor of Central Michigan
University's Park Library. By 1995, I was maintaining my very first homepage (titled
"Jon's World") and by 1998 I was building some of my first professionally designed
websites for clients. I"ve been in the web development field ever since, and currently
work for EduGuide in Lansing as a User Experience and Quality Assurance technician.

I'm looking for individuals who are as passionate as I am about helping people who
might be interested in joining my growing network of Life Detectives. While experience
with computers and the Internet might be helpful, neither is required before you can
become a Life Detective. All you simply need is basic communication skills and access
to a computer. I can even help you with the rest if you haven't spent a lot of time on the
Internet.

Being a life detective doesn't just mean posting on the blog. I also need graphic
designers, editors, researchers, and podcasters. None of that needs to be fancy either.
If you are satisfied by the way your voice sounds after its been recorded, or if you've
had some success doodling pictures on the computer--welcome aboard!

So, please fan the Facebook page (if you're viewing this on Facebook) or post a
comment (Facebook or the blog), or send email to 32bpwr3@gmail.com and I'll help
you get started.

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