I was inspired by Luis at BlogD back in late 2004 to make a go at five years of non-stop blogging.  He ended up going to just a bit over 2,000 days, but I stuck to the original plan of five years as my goal.  No clue why that number seemed so magical, but it just did.

Quite often I questioned my dedication to this site, but when I started doing professional blogging back in July 2007, it was helped me land my first jobs.  Despite my having been a magazine writer back in the mid-1990’s, some of the sites didn’t care and wanted to see that I could blog.  Though I had no professional examples, they were pleased to see I had been blogging for nearly two and a half years at that point, and they felt that showed my tenacity.  I re-pledged to see this through at that point.

Now, does this mean I plan to stop?  Nope.  I see no reason to stop now, especially since 2009 was my best year ever for traffic, and this year is currently up 54.15% over the same time period as last year.  The numbers aren’t the only reason I do this blog, nor even close to being the main reason, but it is nice to see some people at least read what I spend so much time putting together.

How long will I continue to do this?  Your guess is as good as mine.  I don’t think I’m going to set any more timed goals for myself, but I don’t see myself stopping any time soon either.  Between all the sites I work on, I currently produce in excess of 50 posts a week, so producing a minimum of seven a week for this site is no big deal.

What would I like to do with the site next?  Well, honestly, I think it took a heck of a long time to find my voice, and I’m till developing it.  I think I’m finding it more each day, but it still a bit scattered, just like the name of my podcast suggests.

So, if there was ever a time for all of my regular readers to stand up and give me some thoughts on this site, now is the time.  What types of posts have you been enjoying?  What would you like to see more of?  What would you like to see less of?

Beyond that, thank you for spending the past five years with me as some of you have, and here is to seeing how long I can keep this ball rolling!

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Five Years Of Blogging

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Foursquare has been the big buzz word lately in location-based games.  By checking-in at locations you visit, you unlock badges and get to see who else is at the same location as you.  Some businesses have already arranged promotions with Foursquare, but the biggest name yet becomes active today, and that would be the coffee mega-chain, Starbucks.

Starting today, after you check-in at five separate Starbucks, you will unlock the “Barista” badge.  For right now that is the only perk to the promotion, but there are some definite hints of more coming down the road according to The New York Times.  “This allows us to do things that are not just coupons,” said Chris Bruzzo, vice president for brand, content and online at Starbucks said. “You can expect us to be experimenting in this space,” he concluded.

Some of the possible future promotions mentioned include things such as invitations to special events, photo sharing or online reputation scores.

The problem we see with this particular promotions it the requirement to visit five locations.  This puts this badge firmly in the arena of badges that can only be unlocked by those in major cities.  For instance, there is one Starbucks in a 90-mile radius of the StarterTech offices.  Doesn’t appear any of us will be unlocking this one.

While this particular badge isn’t the exciting, it’s what it possibly foretells that is most interesting.  What other possible big name brands may sign up with the location service?

Article originally published by StarterTech.com

Starbucks And Foursquare Team Up For A New Promotion

- … I have another dog. More info on it later.

- The Oscars had some interesting things going on with the winners.

- Some thoughts on the Mississippi prom case. (updated thoughts since I recorded this)

Here’s a link to the MP3 for those who wish to download it, subscribe to Scattercast via iTunes.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

Scattercast Episode 86: Prom Isn’t All That Great Anyway

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You know what says “successful web app” like nothing else?  When said app announces that it will be limiting the access of attendees of conferences such as SXSW based on the IP address they are accessing the site from.  They are now saying this will be applying it to large corporations.

Are you kidding me?

We then talk about the recent fascination with location inside of applications and phones.  Is it really this important to share your location at all times?

Enjoy the show!

(Links by Steven for some of the stories we discuss in this episode)

Twitter to SXSW: You’re Using Our Product Too Much. – New Comm Biz
Revenge of the Cable Guys – BusinessWeek

Press the big green button to listen in!

Post from: SeanPAune.com

The Braindead Techcast Ep. 22: Location, location, location … eh who cares

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Back in Feb., Itawamba Agricultural High School (site is down at the time of this writing) sent out a memo to students (PDF link) in regards to the impending prom to be held on April 2nd.  In the memo it stated that dates must be of the opposite sex, and that girls were to only wear dresses.

Enter Constance McMillen.

Ms. McMillen is an 18-year-old senior at the school who identifies as lesbian, and is currently dating a sophomore girl at the school.  She had petitioned the school to allow her to attend with her girlfriend and that she be allowed to wear a tuxedo.  According to an audio interview with KGO AM 810, she was informed that the policy was put in place because it was cheaper for best friends to buy tickets as a couple than as singles.  She told them that it discriminated against her and her girlfriend from attending, but the school informed her that they feared the couple would make other students feel uncomfortable if they were there.

At this point McMillen went up the chain-of-command through the vice-principal, principal and school board to get permission before she called the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The ACLU routinely handles cases of homosexual discrimination at proms, fielding as many as five to ten such cases each school year.  The ACLU contacted the school and told them they would be filing a lawsuit if the bans were not lifted as both were unconstitutional under freedom of speech.

The Itawamba School District decided the more prudent course of action was to cancel the prom all together.  In a statement released to the press (PDF link), the school district said, “Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year.”  Neither McMillen nor the ACLU are mentioned in the press release as reasons for the cancellation.  The statement went on to state, “It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors.  However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students.”

As is to be expected, Ms. McMillen is now having problems at school with her fellow students.  Some people she used to be friendly with are now avoiding her, and according to the Associated Press, one girl went so far as to say to her, “Thanks for ruining my senior year.”

On the subject of the suggestion of a private prom, due to the private nature of the event no one will be able to force them to admit Ms. McMillen and her date.  While there has certainly been no comment that this may be a end run around the ACLU issue, many people are comment that is how it is coming across.

The ACLU has now filed a suit against the school district saying that the school has indeed violated Ms. McMillen’s freedom of expression, and it is also seeking an injunction that will force the school to host the prom as originally scheduled and allow Ms. McMillen to attend with her date and in the attire of her choice.

I have to ponder what is going on with our schools again.  As if the Lower Merion School District potentially violating the rights of its students with the webcam spying situation, no matter how you may feel about Ms. McMillen’s particular situation, a publicly funded school saying in an official memo that same-sex couples could not attend an official school function is beyond the pale in the United States.  At no time are publicly funded schools supposed to discriminate against its students in any form.  If they were truly trying to stop friends from getting a discounted rate, that is one thing, but the second Ms. McMillen stepped forward and asked about her situation, they should have said, “Oops, our bad, sorry” and repealed it, but to know of the situation and then ignore it?  Then, yes, you discriminated and did indeed violate the law.  Enjoy your lawsuit.

Post from: SeanPAune.com

High School Cancels Prom Over Lesbian Date Request

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