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Sometimes while traveling through Buzznet, you'll happen upon a member who you want to communicate with in private.  You'd prefer not to leave a public note on that person's Main Page or an open comment on their photos, journals or videos.

Sending a private e-mail is as simple as putting your cursor on the top right-hand corner of any Buzznet member's page (see below) and clicking "send message."

 

A mail window will open (example below).  Type in your subject heading in the space provided, and type your message in the Message box.

Click SEND, and your message is on the way -- privately, but not anonymously.

At any time, you can visit your Inbox to check messages, sent messages, compose messages, and access your privacy settings for messages:

The action menu on the left side gives you access to composing messages, blocking users, and adjusting your privacy settings.

Clicking on "Compose" will bring you to this screen:

You can send private messages to any Buzznet member, whether they are in your friends list or not. But be careful not to abuse the "send message" function.  Buzznet gives every member the option to block private messages.

Click on "Block Senders" to restrict someone from sending you a message:

To block private messages, sign in to Buzznet and select Settings from the right-hand column.  When Settings opens, scroll down and click the Privacy bullet point under Account Info.  You will be presented a Privacy Settings window (see below).



Privacy Settings gives you easy options to control who can view your profile, comment on your content or contact you in any way.

Buzznet members have the ability to be as protected as they see fit.

Your Profile Photo is the image that will identify you when you post a comment under other members' content, drop notes to your friends and participate in forums.  Your Profile Photo will also be the picture in the top left corner of your main page.

In short, the Profile Photo is the face of your Buzznet identity.

It's only natural that members occasionally update their Profile Photos.

To change your Profile Photo, first log in to Buzznet.  Click Settings at the top of your page's right-hand column.  When Settings opens, scroll down the new column and click the Profile Photo bullet point under Your Profile.

An Edit Profile Photos window (shown below) will open.

To change your Profile Photo, you must first have uploaded the photo you want as your Profile Photo to your computer, or downloaded the image from the Internet.

Once you have the image you want on your computer, click the Browse... tab next to the Change Photo: slot. 

A File Upload window (shown below) will open, giving a list of the photos on your computer.  Highlight your desired image and hit the OPEN prompt.  The Upload window will close, and your image's file name will appear in the Change Photo: slot.

This is important: The photo MUST BE A .JPG file. This is the only format we accept for profile images.

Next, change the caption -- if necessary -- and hit SAVE. 

Congratulations.  You now have a new Profile Photo. However, if you want this to be the main image shown, you MUST choose it as the "Default" photo:

Once you've chosen this option, hit save!

You can also make any photo you've uploaded your default profile image at any time by pulling down the "Options" menu under the photo:

Choose "Add as Profile Image."

The vast majority of Buzznet members post creative and fun content that is entirely within the bounds of decency, but occasionally an image will cross the line.

Staff Administrators do moderate Buzznet to remove obscene, offensive or hateful material.

But more media is posted every day than can be immediately filtered by our on-site Administrators.  That's why Buzznet is proud that its members are effectively self-governing.

If you happen upon a picture that you believe has no place on Buzznet, click the button marked Options that is just below every picture on the site.  A short drop-down menu will open (shown below).

Click the Option REPORT AS OBSCENE. 

The image will be flagged as offensive, and site administrators will review it.

Please be patient if the image isn't immediately removed or placed in a private or 18-and-over gallery.

The identities of members who report obscene material are kept confidential.

If you'd like to report a forum as obscene, you can click the button [Report] in the upper right corner to send a message to the admins for review.



Please provide a reason why you're reporting the topic.

Be assured that Buzznet's staff is committed to maintaining a creative, encouraging and open environment for our members. If you'd like to report a user for any reason, feel free to send an email to our support staff: support@buzznet.com

Buzznet is dedicated to enabling our members to build online communities around shared media.  We want people to come together in a spirit of enthusiasm and empathy around common interests and experiences. 

We also want our members to maintain a high degree of safety while participating in the many Buzznet communities.  To that end, a set of tools has been built into Buzznet to protect our members’ privacy.

Please review this guide.  Following the simple steps outlined will help ensure your physical safety and that your sensitive personal information does not fall into the wrong hands on Buzznet and elsewhere on the Internet.

Keeping Your Photos Private

One favorite Buzznet activity is to make photo galleries and fill them with pictures of your friends and pets, your family, vacations, your favorite bands and celebrities.  However, unless specified, these galleries are viewable to anyone with Internet access.

Whenever you create a new gallery, you have the option to make it private by choosing a private password. 

Everyone should know how to make a gallery private.  You should also realize what kinds of pictures should be kept in private galleries (see the section below on appropriate material). 

To designate a gallery private, first sign into Buzznet and go to your home page: 

• Open the PHOTOS section of your profile.  Your galleries are listed down the right-hand side of your PHOTOS page.  Scroll down to the gallery you want to make private.  Click “edit” under the name of that gallery.
  
• A Create/Manage Galleries window (shown below) will open.
  
• Type a private password into the indicated slot.
  
• Type in the friends who will be allowed to view this gallery, with their user names separated by commas.  For convenience, you may pick the friends from the drop-down -SELECT- menu to the right of the "Friends Who Can View This Gallery" box. 
  
• If you want to restrict the gallery so it can be viewed only by you, set a password, and don’t add any user names to Friends Who Can View This Gallery. 
• Click SAVE.

If you have pictures in public view that you want to make private, sign into Buzznet and go to your home page.  Go to the task bar down the right-hand side of your profile page.  Next to Upload Photo, select the Manage link.

You can also access this from your Dashboard. Click on Dashboard >>> My Stuff >>> Photos >>> Manage Photos

  A BULK EDIT PHOTOS page will open.  Thumbnails of all your posted photos will display in rows of six.  A small box is placed under each thumbnail.  Click and place a mark in the box beneath any photo that you want moved to private access.

At the bottom of the BULK EDIT PHOTOS page is a drop-down menu titled --Action for selected images-- (shown above).  Click on the drop down.

Under PERMISSIONS, highlight SET PERMISSIONS TO PRIVATE (see below).  Click GO, and your selected photos will be removed from public view.

Appropriate Content

Buzznet encourages members to be creative, daring and prolific in posting all manner of photos, videos and journals.

However, some content is NOT appropriate and will be removed by the Buzznet team. 

• Any content with adult, sexual themes should be kept private, if posted at all. 
• Any content that shows minors in front of their schools or home addresses or adjacent to markers that would indicate their whereabouts will be removed immediately. 
• Any racially or religiously insulting content will be removed.  Buzznet members who post hate media will be barred from the site.
• Any illegal activity such as drug use, underage drinking or pornography is prohibited.

If you find offensive or dangerous content on the site, bring it to the attention of Buzznet's content team. 

• If you find a picture you feel is inappropriate, click OPTIONS... at the bottom of the photo.  From the OPTIONS drop-down menu (shown below), select REPORT AS OBSCENE.  A message will be sent to the Buzznet team, and the image will be reviewed.
•               
  
• The REPORT AS OBSCENE button was created so members can alert Buzznet to potentially harmful content.  Please do not use it for any other purpose. 
• If you find a particular member's profile and content particularly objectionable, e-mail the user name to support@buzznet.com.

Harassment

Member interaction is a huge part of Buzznet's attraction and value.  However, occasionally members don't get along.  If a playful disagreement crosses over to harassment, take steps to protect yourself: 

• You can BLOCK any member who is bothering you. Blocking a member prevents them from adding buzz to your content, sending you messages, commenting on your photos, or dropping you a note.  It will also prevent them from adding you as a friend. 
• There are a few ways to get to the Blocked Users menu. In both versions of your Tool Bar, you can find it under Settings:
  
•  
• You can also access this from your Dashboard. It's found under "My Crowd":
• 
• Both options bring you to the following page:
• 
  
• Add the user name of the member you want blocked.  Press save. To remove someone from your Blocked List, simply click next to their name and press "Save List."
• 
• You can also ignore users, which will take them out of all activity feeds and the content stream in your sidebar. This DOES NOT block a user from your page.
• Click "Go To Ignored Friends" in the upper right, enter their name, and press "Save List."
  
• If someone is posting pictures of you without your consent, or slandering you on a member page, send an e-mail containing links to the objectionable posts to support@buzznet.com.  Buzznet will address the problem. 
• If someone threatens your physical safety, contact the police.
• If you are a minor and a person sends you obscene content of a sexual nature,  whether it is in the form of language, photos or other media, contact the police.

Basic Internet Safety Guidelines

In recent years, pedophiles and other opportunistic criminals have trolled the Internet looking for easy targets. To raise awareness among the young members of our community, Buzznet has put together basic Internet safety tips.  Everyone should play safe.  It is especially important to read and follow these guidelines if you are a minor, or if you have a child with access to the Internet.

 
• Never reveal personal information to someone you meet on the Internet -- your address, phone number, banking or credit card information, all should be kept confidential.
• Be particularly careful not to give away identifying details in personal messages, or in any online profile. 
• Never post pictures that reveal your home, work or school address. 
• Never post pictures where school or sports uniforms are visible -- these can be clues to track you down. 
• Do not reveal your schedule -- it makes it easy for predators to anticipate where you will be. 
  
• If you ever decide to meet an Internet friend in person, bring an adult -- preferably one of your parents -- and meet in a public place.
  
• Always make sure that at least one other responsible person knows who you are going to meet and where you will be.  Provide as much information as possible about the person you are going to meet.  Check in at set times with your friend so they know everything is all right. 
• Never meet an Internet friend in person until you have spoken with this person on the phone and determined that they are the gender and age they claim to be.
• Always stick to the plans you made.  Avoid last minute changes in activities or location.
• Always bring a charged cell phone and use your own transportation.   Never get into a car with a person you do not know.

Tags are single words and short phrases that are added at the bottom of a journal, photo or video post, as shown below.

These key words define the subject matter of the post and will automatically publish that post on the Tag Pages created for each of the tags.

Tags also provide direct links to the Tag Page for each specific key word or phrase.

For instance, clicking on any tag labeled Pete Wentz will open the Pete Wentz Tag Page, where every piece of media ever uploaded to Buzznet and tagged Pete Wentz is collected.

To add tags to your own posts, simply go to the Add Tags slot (see below) next to the SAVE button. 

Type in the key words that apply to your post.  Make sure to separate each tag word or term with a comma, as shown below.

Make sure you "tag" your posts accurately.

Adding tags to your posts includes your content in collections to be viewed by like-minded Buzznet members. In fact, not only can you search tags, but all tag pages have a similar URL to them:

http://buzznet.com/tags/[ENTER TAG TERM HERE]

Literally, add any tag term after the final forward slash to bring up that tag's community page. Examples:

http://buzznet.com/tags/afi - AFI Tag Page
http://buzznet.com/tags/photography - Photography Page
http://www.buzznet.com/tags/lolcats - LolCats Page

As well as letting users tag their new posts, Buzznet also gives members the option of adding tags to content that was previously posted, even content posted by other people.

Every piece of media uploaded to Buzznet has an ADD TAGS button at the bottom of the post.  Have you viewed another member's post and feel that the post needs one more tag? Then click ADD TAGS.  A drop-down form will open (as shown).

Type in the key words that you think should be associated with the subject, making sure to separate terms with commas. Then click ADD. 

Your new tag terms will be added to the post, and the post will become part of the corresponding tag pages.

We also give users the option to restrict who can add tags to your post. You can open tag adding to the whole community, to just your friends list, or allow only yourself to add them. To change these settings, go to My Settings in the Dashboard:

Pull down the dropdown menu next to "Who Can Add Tags to My Posts" and choose the best option:

If you do decide to open tag adding to other people, you can also remove any tags added to your content in multiple ways. The easiest way is to click the little red "x" next to the tag when you're viewing your content:

Or here:

Additionally, if you choose "EDIT" under any piece of content, you can remove tags by checking them under "Advanced Settings" and clicking save.

Scott Weiland can't stop making headlines: From his upcoming solo album to his departure from Velvet Revolver to his reunion with Stone Temple Pilots, he's had a busy year. Well, Weiland's 2008 has just gotten a lot more miserable. Read more.

INDIO, California – With a name like The Cinematic Orchestra, it comes as little surprise that the British jazz/electronic collective bides a lot of its time scoring tunes for film. About a decade ago, the band was courted to perform as part of a salute to late director Stanley Kubrick at the Director's Guild Awards, and shortly after that, was tapped to score a vintage silent film – and then play it in concert in conjunction with a screening of the movie.

Well, now The Cinematic Orchestra – who were formed by Jason Swinscoe in the '90s and are signed to reputed indie label Ninja Tune – have a new project up their sleeves, and it's a far cry from Kubrick: The band has been recruited to score the wildlife-friendly "The Crimson Wing," the first flick from Disney Nature, a new subdivision of the mega-company.

Swinscoe caught up with Buzznet at Coachella on Saturday to talk about making music for flamingos, shed some light on The Cinematic Orchestra's next album and get psyched before Prince's headlining set later in the day.


[Click on the image to watch the full video interview.]

Buzznet: Tell us about playing Coachella. Is it an exciting opportunity for you?

Jason Swinscoe: Yeah. A quick look at the main area ... it's not a polo club [referring to the venue's name, Empire Polo Field], [but] it's pretty well laid-out, well-organized, and it should be a lot of fun, yeah.

Buzznet: What reputation have you heard that Coachella has?

Swinscoe: I had some friends play here last year with Damon Albarn. I'm just here watching ... L.A. stars just hanging out, Sean Penn – I think he's doing something here. [Prior to My Morning Jacket's set on Sunday, the actor/director announced a new volunteer/biodiesel initiative. -Ed.] It seems very hip, [a] very cool festival.

Buzznet: Is the set you do at Coachella different than your usual one?

Swinscoe: Yeah, it'll be a lot shorter. We're doing just under an hour. We're just going to pull out some of the highlights. It'll be kinda, like, bang-bang-bang, festival-style. Half-vocal, half-instrumental, break it up a beat. Two vocalists, a female and a male.

Through the years, doing different festivals, depending on the kind of festival it is and depending on the time slot you get – day or evening ... it's a really short amount of time, you have to try to get your point across. If the audience is really up for it, [then try to] really share that moment. It can be a lot of fun and it can, at times, be very daunting, depending on the setting. It's fun.

Buzznet: What has the band been up to?

Swinscoe: Well, we're – actually, we're taking a break by doing these shows – we're in the middle of doing a soundtrack for a Disney film coming out at the end of this year or beginning of next year. We're pretty intensely working on that, and that's kind of taking [up] all of Cinematic's time.

Buzznet: What's the film?

Swinscoe: It's called "The Crimson Wing." It's going to be the first film on a new subdivision of Disney called Disney Nature. Kind of half-wildlife, half-fiction. There's a narrative, there's a story line, characters ... it's very interesting.

Buzznet: Is it your first time doing something like that?

It's the first time on such a theatrical scale. ... After Coachella, we've got a KCRW [Southern California NPR affiliate] show and then "Jimmy Kimmel," and then back to finish the film.

Buzznet: Are you watching scenes from the film and getting inspired by them?

Swinscoe: It all started end of last summer. I met the directors, [was] taken out to Tanzania, where it's being shot, I went to [the film shoot's] location, saw some of their rushes, and they were sending rushes back to New York. I was vibing off them in terms of if I had the right pieces ... it was all a very collaborative process very early on, and they're just locking in the picture in the next few weeks. It's been a long process, a lot of writing. Things have changed and redeveloped and have been thrown out and brought back in. It's not a very normal process for a film score. It's been interesting, finding different ways to approach that whole other world. It's tight.

Buzznet: And how does it compare to what we normally might expect from you guys?

Swinscoe: It's still very cinematic, but cinema has a much wider, broader emotions and tempos. Happy and sad to contemplative and everything in between, depending on the shape of the picture. And it'll be orchestrated as well – we're going to be working with a 50-piece orchestra, and just kind of widen our palettes. It's great for that – helping expand out the ideas of The Cinematic Orchestra.

Buzznet: Anything else coming down the pipeline?

Swinscoe: After the film it would be ... probably do some production work for a local guy in Brooklyn – he's playing with us tonight, he's the male vocalist – and probably the next Cinematic record. We're hoping for next year. Busy.

Buzznet: Is there anyone you're especially excited to see?

Swinscoe: Just the main stage, the last three slots. Should be awesome.

Buzznet: Are you a big Portishead fan?

Swinscoe: Portishead have been an awfully big inspiration since way back. I've yet to hear the new record ... I'm hoping for good things for them. ... They're one of the classic trip-hop bands. Really resonated. ... I've never seen Prince live, so it'll be amazing to see Prince.

–Adam Deroy

INDIO, California — Coachella continued into day three on Sunday with more of what the weekend has been about, a few high points sprinkled in with a lot of disappointment. (Check out recaps of Friday and Saturday as well.) Read more...

Miley Cyrus is all apologies for the scandalous pics of her that have been floating around online recently and the ones that will be in the coming days, weeks and, likely, months. Read the rest of the story.

INDIO, California — The most anticipated name at this year's Coachella took the stage late Saturday and then minutes later disappeared. It's been that kind of a weekend. Check out full day two coverage.

INDIO, California — Coachella 2008 is perhaps best summarized by the phone calls I fielded while making my annual drive to Palm Springs this sunny spring weekend.

Random friend: "Hey dude, what's up?"

Me: "Just driving to Coachella."

Random friend: "Is that this weekend? Who's playing again?"

Yes, it's quite possible this is the year Coachella became forgettable. Once the country's premiere festival, it is now struggling to keep up with Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and the like, mainly in the bookings.

Radiohead, for example, are playing every festival but Coachella. Instead, we get Jack Johnson.

In fact, this is the first time in seven consecutive years of covering Coachella that I chose to miss a main-stage headliner, instead opting for Fatboy Slim in the Sahara Tent. In hindsight, I could have caught both, since Fatboy took the stage nearly 30 minutes late. Who knew it took so long to plug in a laptop?

It's also the first time my cell phone worked all weekend, the first time I could get between the main stage and the Outdoor Theater without having to weave in and out of crowds, and the first time the talk of the day was the next night's headliner.

If there's any story here besides a disappointing line-up and subsequent low ticket sales, it is Saturday's late-edition headliner, Prince. At least three bands covered him Friday — Architecture in Helsinki, Les Savy Fav and Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip — while his name came up often backstage.

"I took a picture of my drums on the drum riser onstage because it said 'Prince' on it," Rogue Wave drummer Pat Spurgeon said. "I was geeking out."

Spurgeon was less geeked about the band's 1:30 time slot, which with heavy traffic early in the day — thanks to a single-lane entry point — meant a sparse crowd.

In fact, not until the Raconteurs' 7:30 p.m. set did the main-stage have a decent audience. After the amazing crowd for the Pixies' reunion a few years ago, Kim Deal must have been disappointed in the lackluster crowd the Breeders drew, even if she seemed to be having a blast.

There were a few highlights. Datarock was a blast and Les Savy Fav proved himself to be one crazy rocker, but most of the shows came with a "but."

The Raconteurs rocked, but it wasn't the White Stripes. Serj Tankian was interesting, but it wasn't System of a Down. Fatboy Slim got the party started, but his late entrance ruined the fun. Fittingly, a giant clock appeared on the screen behind him when he started.

The National sounded good, but their set was boring. Dan Deacon did his thing, but on the floor rather than the stage, so no one could see him. And Spank Rock's DJs had something going, but Spank himself was sick and never showed.

It was that kind of day at Coachella. The first time I can remember someone calling in sick. I can't say that I don't wish I'd done the same.

-Adam DeRoy

The Buzznet crew is chatting up the hottest artists and is armed head-to-toe with cameras for photo coverage, so be sure to keep checking back for regular Coachella updates.

(Check out our cornucopia of Coachella coverage right here, and don't forget to upload your own content to the Coachella group page.)

Don't miss these fresh Coachella galleries:


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Fatboy Slim: Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings:
Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[The Verve: Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[The Raconteurs: Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]

Look at pics of Saturday's lineup:


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]

And if you're planning to go Sunday, here's what's in store:


[Click on the image to see the gallery.]

Last but not least, don't miss videos of The Raconteurs and Sharon Jones.

Amy Winehouse has been arrested for suspicion of assault, TMZ.com reported on Friday morning. She is reportedly being held at a police station in London for questioning. Find out more ...

This week's SoundScan report is full of movers and shakers. An old star returned to reclaim her throne, while a controversial young star made a bold move into the top 3. A Buzznet favorite continued its struggles, while an underground sensation made waves with a strong debut.

"I feel happy not being famous at all," Robyn told Buzznet during a recent phone chat. Well, she might want to learn to like it – after all, it could be argued that the Swedish pop singer is this year's biggest international-crossover success story so far. Details.