| MySpace makes deal with states to protect young users
The social networking Web site MySpace will work with officials from 49 states and the District of Columbia to implement new measures to shield young users from sexual predators, authorities announced Monday.
The Web site has agreed to implement design and policy changes to protect users from harmful images and contact from adults, according to a statement from state Attorney General Bill McCollum. Some new policies include creating a closed section reserved for high school users under 18 and creating a registry in which parents can submit their child's e-mail address to prevent children from signing in or registering a profile.
MySpace will also work with the attorneys general to develop an Internet Safety Technical Task Force to develop an identity authentication system.
PS2 Makes You Study, Sort Of
We've all heard the basic story of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 before: An unsuspecting orphan is pulled from the comfort of his boring life into an adventure that will eventually lead to saving the world from a vast source of evil. Been there, done that. But Persona 3, released on Aug. 14 for the PlayStation 2, is far from a run-of-the-mill PS2 role-playing game, and not just because of the techno and rap that make up its soundtrack. Despite the cliché story (albeit with a modern twist), the gameplay mechanics are so quirky and innovative that one can't help but overlook Persona 3's many similarities to every other RPG ever. Persona 3's originality stems from the fact that it doesn't fit comfortably into just one genre. Half of the game is composed of traditional dungeon-crawling RPG fare, but the other half is a high school simulation, complete with gossipy girls, extracurricular activities, dating, and tests.
Les Savy Fav: indiedom's best-kept secret
A visit to Les Savy Fav's Web site reveals this proud motto: "Missing out on cashing in for over a decade." It's been the Brooklyn-based band's curse–or blessing–to be slightly ahead of the curve without ever quite benefiting from it. "We're not really a career band," acknowledges bassist Syd Butler, reached in Washington, D.C., where he and his family are visiting his mom for Thanksgiving weekend. "We never signed to a major label, we never took advantage of the Brooklyn hype or whatever the trend was. We just kept putting along, like the Little Engine That Could. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Liars, they're amazing bands, but signing to a major label wasn't something Les Savy Fav was interested in." Known for singer Tim Harrington's unpredictable live shenanigans–kissing audience members, dangling from the rafters–as much as for clever art-rock records like The Cat and the Cobra, Les Savy Fav has been one of indiedom's best-kept secrets for over 10 years.
Mystic Studio opens in Denison
The newest art studio in Denison, Mystic Studios, at 110 S. Houston Ave., is a gallery an art lover can browse in all day and still not see everything.Mystic Studio was established in 2000, in the Houston area with the purpose of promoting the artistic work of studio owner Joni Beamish. She started her career as a studio potter in 1998 and gradually moved into her own diverse style. Beamish said the tremendous amount of support given to the artists in the Denison area is one of the main reasons for bringing her fresh and new experience to the Denison art scene. "I am here mainly because there is a lot of support for artists here. I feel this area is going to be the next McKinney, and I wanted to get here before the rush," said Beamish. "In order to be able to afford it you need to buy now. In McKinney, the buildings are like $1 to $1.5 million.
Maps inspire design, home decor
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Whether you are fascinated by the Old World or prefer a modern look, there's a map for your home.It's easy to find antique-inspired sepia maps of the world that are full of mountain ranges and place names and look as if they belong in your grandfather's study. But there are also more glamorous maps, streamlined of all topography and made of clear acrylic that seems to float when hung on the wall. Fully illuminated maps look like high-def televisions, techy enough to make a gadget geek swoon.But all maps share this: They transport us back in time to the places we have traveled, as well as to the places we dream of going. Maps represent who we are, making them good conversation pieces in the home, says Larry Compeau, associate professor of marketing at Clarkson University in New York and executive officer of the Society for Consumer Psychology.Maps also can signify who we wish we were."Those who haven't really traveled, who have a map displayed, want to convey that they're knowledge-seeking, intelligent people," Compeau says.
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