Hey Josh

You’re in my space!

A recent study shows that 48% of adults (a.k.a. your parents) currently have a Facebook or Myspace page. We all know that Facebook originally began as a social networking site strictly for high school and college students, but has slowly expanded to welcome users of all ages. This has obviously paid off (for them) as they’ve grown in popularity, but how has it affected you? Knowing that your parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and other adults in your life can view your page at any time, have you changed the things you’re willing to post? 

Essentially, your parents now have access to what you’re doing all the time, who you’re hanging out with it, and what you really did at that party last weekend (as proven by all those tagged photos). Assuming that your folks know how to use the internet and can figure out Facebook’s frustrating new redesign, they can check up on you constantly. Does that bother you? Does it alter the things you would normally say or do on FB or Myspace? Or do you think it’s a good thing that your parents, your friends’ parents, and/or your overbearing relatives can see what you’re up to? 

If a new social networking site launched that only allowed users who were in junior high, high school or college, would you prefer that? Do you think that teens should have a site to call their own without the protective eyes of their parents constantly watching? Tell us what you think below!

You’ll FLIP for This!

Next week, right here at ‘Hey Josh,’ we’re giving away a brand new Flip Camera to one lucky reader!! 

These cameras are AWESOME! They’re compact, easy to use, and they have a USB drive in the side so they plug right into your computer. No annoying wires. No difficult instruction book. No confusing software. You film. You import. You YouTube. You a superstar!

Here’s how it’s going to work: beginning next Monday, May 4th, we’re going to be posting a new clue EVERY DAY to the site. Check back each day to find the clue. At the end of the week, we’ll give you instructions of what to do with those clues. Winner gets the camera and the glory.

Student Review of Willow

Student Review of Willow by Julia Hoban

Review written by Kim

The first and only word that came to mind after reading this book was, “Whoa!”

Ok, you’re probably thinking I need to expand my vocabulary, but Willow is easily one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. 

I admit that when I first heard about this book from Josh Shipp and read the synopsis, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be reading a 342-page book about cutting. It’s a touchy subject and it wasn’t something I would normally read about, but my curiosity won out in the end.

Read more…

And the Winner is…

The dude who is going to be looking dapper this prom season is…Caleb!! Congratulations bro! Way to spill your heart and still manage to incorporate a goat into your poem. We here at ‘Hey Josh’ salute you and hope you have a rad time at Prom! Don’t forget to check out our Prom Tips before the big night. 

A special thanks to Virtual Prom and Men’s Wearhouse! Caleb, be sure to check out how the digital you will look in a sweet new tux (hopefully with cane & top hat). Congrats again! Here’s an encore of the award-winning poem:

Read more…

Hey Josh, I Wanna Break Up Before Prom

Promlem #5 from Steph:

“I’m supposed to go to prom with my boyfriend, but prom is still a month away and there’s no way the relationship is surviving until then. He’s clingy and feels like he constantly has to have his hand on my arm, back, etc. We can never just sit around and talk. He also doesn’t like that I coach a team of younger girls, but I live for those girls.

I don’t know how to end it without it getting ugly, even though in past break-ups I’ve been able to mediate things pretty well. If we break up, do I still go to prom with him? I’m at a complete loss at how to handle everything. In over my head doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Yo Steph,

Ditch this dude. You’re done with him anyway. Get it over with. It’s better for you and better for him. If you respect him at all, don’t force him to take you to prom, spend money on an expensive dinner when you’d rather be eating pizza anyway, and make him endure a horribly awkward prom evening ending with a goodnight hand-shake.

Wow…that was a massive run-on sentence.

Uh yeah, get rid of him and go to the prom with your friends or with a friend who also happens to stand to urinate.

In a tux, but on your side,

// josh

Go to Prom!! Win a Tuxedo!!

Hey Bro,

Prom is right around the corner and I know what you’re thinking: Do I really need to rent a tux? Can’t I just shake the cheetos dust off my jeans, shine my sneakers, and call it a day? Uhhh…no. You can’t.

Let me put it in a way you can understand: A tuxedo is to prom as Chuck Norris is to butt kicking. You can’t have one without the other. So you wanna win one? A tuxedo, not a Chuck Norris.

Read more…

Hey Josh, Prom Makes Me Want to Puke

Promlem #4 from Kaela:

“I hate dancing and I am uncomfortable with many aspects of school dances. I have issues with crowds, strobe lights, and did I mention crowds? Severe issues. Dances make me physically sick. In the weeks leading up to dances, I develop eating problems and give up on schoolwork (even getting detention on purpose).

If I am forced to go to a dance, I have a panic attack and spazz out, shaking and whimpering, which of course makes me look rather undignified. My friends don’t understand and they probably feel insulted when I refuse to dance with them. My boyfriend accepts my fear of dances but I still feel guilty.

Telling me ‘just go to the dance’ will not help unless you think throwing up in public is a good idea. And honestly? I don’t want to change. I just want to know how to help my friends accept and understand me.”
Read more…

Will You Go To the Prom With Me?

NEED TO ASK SOMEONE TO THE PROM?

Allow me, your virtual big brother…with hair that causes eye-patch syndrome.

Send them this link: http://www.heyjosh.com/prom

And I’ll take it from there.

You’re welcome.

// josh

09 Rad Prom Tips for ‘09

01. Hygiene is important. Perhaps on prom night more than ever. Take time to bathe.

02. Rent a limo. Can’t afford a limo? Borrow your parents car. Can’t talk them into loaning it to you? Clean your car out. Your date does not want taco bell wrappers stuck to her high heels.

03. Avoid the urge to dance in the center of a circle of prom-goers at all costs unless a) you are Justin Timberlake, b) you are blatantly trying to be funny, or c) you want your date to ignore you the rest of the night.

Read more…

Hey You, Is Prom Overrated?

Promlem #3 from James:

“I think prom is overrated. (Is that a good enough dilemma?) Yeah, I’m a teenager that thinks prom is overrated. Don’t see many of those, do you?”

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So, what do YOU think? Is prom overrated? Has it become a tradition that receives way too much hype? If you skipped the prom, do you think you’d regret it? Or is all the excitement there for a reason? Is it really a magical, wonderful night filled with sunshine and rainbows? We want to know what you think! Sound off below!