Month: March 2008

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.

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:

1. How to control impulse spending.
2. You gotta stay active.
3. How to plan finances.
4. Junk food will come back to bite you in the butt.
5. Smoking is just dumb.
6. Fund your retirement, son. And don’t withdraw it.
7. All the stuff you’re doing that seems hard — it will be of use.
8. Don’t buy that used van without checking it out closely.
9. That guy you’re going to sell your car to? On a gentleman’s agreement? He’s not gonna pay you.
10. Make time to pursue your passion, no matter how busy you are.
11. All that stuff that’s stressing you out — it won’t matter in 5 years, let alone 15.
12.  The people you make friends with are so much more important than your job or the things you buy.
13. All that time you spend watching TV is a huge, huge waste of time.
14. Your kids are going to grow up way faster than you think. Don’t waste a minute.
15. Forget the drama. Focus on being happy.
16. Pay more attention to blogs when you first hear about them. They’re more than just journals.
17. Speaking of which, keep a journal. Seriously. Your memory is extremely faulty.
18. Tequila is seriously evil.
19. Yes, you can do a marathon. Don’t put this goal off — it’s extremely rewarding.
20. All these mistakes you’re going to make, despite this advice? They’re worth it.