No MySpace, Facebook at Mishawaka library
Director blames behavior of teenagers using Web sites.
– South Bend Tribune
You can no longer use MySpace, Facebook or other “social networking sites” at Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library.
Fights, lewd language and cars being blocked in the parking lot by teenagers are among the problems Director Dave Eisen said have plagued the downtown library lately.
He told library board members that adults have complained about not feeling safe at the library. Eisen and his staff believe the teenagers are there to use MySpace, Facebook and other social sites.
So he received permission from the library board to cut off social networking sites.
It might have worked, as there were few teenagers going to the computer room by 3:30 p.m. Friday, a half hour after it normally begins to fill up. There were few teenagers even coming in to the computer room at the library.
[snip]
This is just sad. Reading the story it’s clear that they had some serious behavior issues to address. It’s unfortunate that they believed that they had to limit access to vital online tools to do that.
Found via Tame The Web.
General
It’s no surprise that Houston is a good ol’ boys city. One more thing to prove it:
Houston straggling on female board representation
– Houston Business Journal
Houston companies still lag behind their national peers in appointing females to their board of directors, according to a report.
Only 40 percent of Houston’s top 100 companies have female director representation, compared to 91 percent of the boards at the S&P 500 companies, according to the report compiled by the Houston office of executive search firm Spencer Stuart.
Although there was one more woman on the boards of companies surveyed now versus 2006 — bringing the total to 51 — the percentage declined from 43 percent in 2006 due to a different mix of companies used for the survey.
[snip]
One other thing worth noting, also found through the survey:
Over the past 12 months, three more Houston-area companies instituted
mandatory retirement ages for directors, ranging in age from 62 to 75.
Fifteen of the 26 companies have director retirement ages of 70 or 72.
Oh, joy!
News
Zen Habits has a wonderful post entitled “20 Things I Wish I Had Known When Starting Out in Life” with great info that, approaching my 40th birthday (not this year, but soon) just makes sense to me. The short lit:
- How to control impulse spending.
- You gotta stay active.
- How to plan finances.
- Junk food will come back to bite you in the butt.
- Smoking is just dumb.
- Fund your retirement, son. And don’t withdraw it.
- All the stuff you’re doing that seems hard — it will be of use.
- Don’t buy that used van without checking it out closely.
- That guy you’re going to sell your car to? On a gentleman’s agreement? He’s not gonna pay you.
- Make time to pursue your passion, no matter how busy you are.
- All that stuff that’s stressing you out — it won’t matter in 5 years, let alone 15.
- The people you make friends with are so much more important than your job or the things you buy.
- All that time you spend watching TV is a huge, huge waste of time.
- Your kids are going to grow up way faster than you think. Don’t waste a minute.
- Forget the drama. Focus on being happy.
- Pay more attention to blogs when you first hear about them. They’re more than just journals.
- Speaking of which, keep a journal. Seriously. Your memory is extremely faulty.
- Tequila is seriously evil.
- Yes, you can do a marathon. Don’t put this goal off — it’s extremely rewarding.
- All these mistakes you’re going to make, despite this advice? They’re worth it.
General
First ‘Kid Lit Fest’ set March 8
Humble ISD event focuses on making reading fun
– Houston Chronicle2
The Humble school district will host the first Kid Lit Fest March 8, featuring nine children’s literature authors, activities, book signings and giveaways.
The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Atascocita High School, 13300 Will Clayton Parkway.
Admission is free.
[snip]
Footnotes
2 = article may expire in a few weeks.
News
First ‘Kid Lit Fest’ set March 8
Humble ISD event focuses on making reading fun
– Houston Chronicle2
The Humble school district will host the first Kid Lit Fest March 8, featuring nine children’s literature authors, activities, book signings and giveaways.
The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Atascocita High School, 13300 Will Clayton Parkway.
Admission is free.
[snip]
Footnotes
2 = article may expire in a few weeks.
News
In case you missed the trail rides, the news stories and Go Texan Day… it’s rodeo time in Houston, once again. Are you going?
Resources:
General
Not a Web item, I know, but I just had to share. These Texas teens have figured out a way to capitalize on other people’s laziness/busy-ness by holding garage sales for them. It’s a neat little business and the kind of ingenuity that’s making young entrepreneurs success online and off.
News
Early Harris County voting for primary turnout ‘unprecedented’
– Houston Chronicle2
More than 230,000 people cast ballots in Harris County during the last
11 days, capping an “unprecedented” early voting period for the
Republican and Democratic primaries.
[snip]
I’m hopeful that the turnout for the primaries is an indicator to the turnouts we can expect in the next few elections. Let’s hope that the national energy continues.
Footnotes
2 = article may expire in a few weeks.
News
Find out in a workshop given by the Small Business Development Center:
Small-business resources
– Houston Chronicle2
[snip]
Tuesday
Do You Have What It Takes to Start a Business? 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., UH SBDC, 2302 Fannin, Suite 200. Cost: no fee. Registration: www.sbdc.uh.edu.
Footnotes
2 = article may expire in a few weeks.
News
Houston’s own High Tech Texan, Michael Garfield, discusses how he became The High Tech Texan. It’s interesting, and a nice study in personal branding.
General
