Hey Josh

And the next American Idol is….

You tell me. Who do you think is going to take the crown this year? Will it be….

…Adam and his punk rockin’ man-liner get-up…

…Or Kris and his, uh, normal-looking dudeness

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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!

Pimp my bag finalists: Bribe Your Friends

Hey You,

Allow me to introduce you to the six finalists of the Hey Josh PIMP MY BAG contest brought to you by the attractive folks at TEAMWORK BAGS. Each finalist submitted a picture of their current pathetic attempt at a bag and an explanation as to why they deserve a pimped out Teamwork Bag.

Here’s how it works: You, the great readers of Hey Josh, get to vote for your favorite finalist. The Top 3 Vote-getters receive the glory of a new bag. Voting lasts until next Monday. Vote now. Bribe your friends. Bribe America.

Behold the finalists:

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Student Movie Review: WATCHMEN

By Jessica Ruhl
The Nebraska Film Critic

Alright here is what i thought of Watchmen…

First off, I didn’t get into the movie at all. In the beginning, it didn’t capture me as an audience member whatsoever. I went into the theatre not knowing anything about this comic novel, and although I love comics, this was definitely was not one of the  greatest movies.

Secondly, there was WAY too much nudity and too much sex in it! I understand that it was a “R” rated movie but honestly it was too much for me. I have been to one or more “R” rated movies and that was borderline nasty. I also know that Dr.Manhattan was supposed to be “revealing”  but they could’ve shown just the waist up for most of it and then once in a while showed a full body shot.

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Google Earth 3D Buildings

It’s weird to think about, but it wasn’t too long ago that people actually had to drag a gigantic, overweight, clunky atlas out when they wanted to plan a long trip. My parents make it sound like they were the navigators for Christopher Columbus’ maiden voyage to the new world when they describe the experience. “You and your online maps. Hogwash. When we wanted to go somewhere, we had to chart it, with only Rand-McNally’s atlas and the stars as our guide.”

Yes, they actually said “Hogwash.”

In any case, with the advent of navigational software and cell-phone technology, it’s possible to hold the entire world in your hand. And check this out:

Google Earth’s latest update textures the world’s cities with photo-realistic 3D buildings. It’s really cool—you can fly between the skyscrapers of New York City or Chicago like Superman (too bad Metropolis is only in the comic-books). It’s a free download, and if you don’t have Google Earth already, you should get it. It’s an amazing tool, and excellent for frittering time away and learning stuff at the same time.

A Brand New ‘Idol’

American Idol is back with a brand new season and lots of new surprises! The two-hour season premiere aired last night with the first set of auditions. As always, Idol didn’t disappoint. There was a lot of talent, a lot of tears, and more than a few train wrecks. Here’s what’s in store for this season of Idol…

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Bartering the Lazy American Way

You are so over the Jonas Brothers.  Only having the even numbers of the Harry Potter series keeps you awake at night with its incompletion.  You’re wondering why you didn’t get Taylor Swift’s new album for Christmas.  Swaptree.com offers hope.

With your ‘rents’ permission (I know, I know…), check out swaptree.com and set up an account.  Here’s how it works:  You put together a list of all the books, DVDs, video games, and CDs that you have, but no longer want.  Then you put together a list of what you really, really want in those categories.  It’s like a year-round Christmas list.  Swaptree will let you know who wants what you have and has what you want.

Then, next time you’re dragged along for errands, ask your professional driver to stop by the post office to drop off your trades in the mail.  Each item shipped media rate will cost you roughly $2.23, so grab those pennies from the bottom of your locker.  Your new but lightly used items will be arriving at your doorstep in no time. Let the ol’ time-y trading begin!

Cassette Tape Tote

I know real cassette tapes are, like, ancient artifacts, but vintage is so “now”, yes? Notice how the handles resemble the unraveling tape. For a relatively cheap 15 bucks, you can impress your friends with your retro-cool factor on full display.

Sick of that lame-o book bag your mom picked up WalMart? Upgrade yourself by swapping that thing out for this. It’s plenty roomy and durable enough to handle all your books, homework, laptop, notes to your friends about the cutie you’ve been eyeing in the hallway…you get the drift.

Available for $15 by clicking here right about….NOW!

Just When You Thought Cells Phones Couldn’t Possibly Get Any Cooler

The LG GD910 is one of the first 3G watch phones, with the ability to support wireless data connectivity. It even has a secondary video camera for video calls. Oh, and that’s not all folks! User input can be accomplished through this fresh lil joint’s touch screen. Sweet!

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The Odd Thing About These Socks…

As clothing trends go, I’ve seen worse than the current fad of wearing two mismatched socks. Heck… I do that half the time simply out of laziness, and Sal Mineo famously did it in Rebel Without A Cause, the best teen movie ever, as a symbol of his inner conflict. But here’s the deal… can’t you do this without actually going out and buying mismatched socks? I mean… stay with me here… these things are sold in packs of three, as if to prove to you that the “odd socks” thing is intentional, and not just a screw up on a tough Monday at the sock factory. We get that. But really, can’t you just grab two pairs of socks randomly from your drawer and (here’s the magic part) simply swap the socks? Presto-chango, al-a-kazaam. No money spent, cool trend followed. Tell me I didn’t just blow your mind a little bit.

Try Go Green Tube to Get Your Daily Vid Fix

Tired of the same old videos of  “Leave Brittany Alone!” diatribes, giggling babies, and cats flushing toilets? Are you into the green scene? Then GoGreenTube may be just for you.

From Leo Dicaprio’s global warming warning to product reviews, like SIGG bottles and Fair Trade Soccer Balls, GoGreenTube has the eco streamer covered.

Their mission is “to create a green focused hub of such activity, educating the world on how to live a greener, healthier, fun life, in a way that’s lighter on the planet.” Sweet!

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Twisting Our Native Tongue

Engrish is misused English. It usually happens when Japanese designers and advertisers try to use English on their products to “look cool” and end up writing really funny (and often shockingly inappropriate) things on T-shirts, store fronts, and packaging. The best part is that Japanese consumers often buy and use such products without ever realizing that anything’s amiss.

For example, the pastor of a small church on Ie Jima often wore a T-shirt covered in nonsensical English phrases laced with profanity. (No one had the heart to tell him what it said — he’d received the shirt as a Father’s Day present and it was one of his favorites.)

Here in the U.S., Engrish.com has been the go-to spot for butchered English hilarity. Just to give you a taste…

Scour the internet and let us know the most ridiculous Engrish phrase you found!

Olly olly oxen what?

The battleground.

There is a weekly game of Urban Capture the Flag hosted in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan during the summer. Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Urban Gaming League, this variation of capture the flag uses the downtown area as the battleground. Players can use parking garages as scouting points, alleyways as bottlenecks and plazas as the staging area for reinforcements and strategy sessions. Cell phone use is heavily encouraged, both for communicating and coordinating plans and also for recon—text message only if you’re “running silent” (code speak for stealthily infiltrating the enemy’s territory in an effort to gain information about flag location, enemy positions and movements, etc). Grand Rapids is only one of many cities where sports like this are becoming increasingly popular.

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I’m Tired of Cancer, AIDS, World Hunger…You Name it!

Here’s a question:

How do you save the world, look like a celeb, and still have enough cash for next Saturday’s party outfit? Try this on for size: pick up an “I’m Tired” bracelet from www.imtiredonline.com.

These hot lil’ numbers are making their way around Hollywood circles with sayings like “I’m Tired of Cancer”, “I’m Tired of Global Warming”, and “I’m Tired of Animal Cruelty” among others. Think of it as a metal version of the Lance Armstrong “LiveStrong” bracelet.

Be a do-gooder like Jenny McCarthy, Kim Kardashian, Christina Milian, Shannon Elizabeth and Lance Bass, who have all been spotted with these fashionable, eco-friendly bracelets.

For every $10 bracelet you purchase, the website donates $5 (that’s half!) to the charity of your choice.

What are you tired of? AIDS? World Hunger? Child Abuse? Autism? Heart Disease? Something else? You pick, they pay. Easy as that.

Absolutely Tee-riffic

Cool, funny t-shirts: uniform of champions. Want to find totally awesome t-shirts that are also totally cheap? Look no further than Threadless.com where you can find the good, the random and the completely hilarious. Great t-shirts at great prices like…

The Good:

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Crystal Rocks!

How’s this for an extra curricular activity?  Crystal Audigier (daughter of legendary designer for Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier) started her own clothing line, Crystal Rock, at fifteen!  And before you go thinking she’s just using her daddy’s name, Crystal designs and sketches the whole collection and picks all the fabrics.  (Eco-friendly of course.)  She still goes to class at Beverly Hills High and has a flagship store in LA!  Overachiever much?  Check out her haute fabulousness here: www.shopcrystalrock.com.

So what do you guys think?  Is it good to start on your career while you’re in still high school?  Or is it better to focus on class and being a teenager?  Also, for any of you skilled sewers and design mavens out there looking to start your own line someday, send us pictures of your creations.  We want to share your creativity on the site!  (And if you send us samples we have a very handsome model named Josh who will be happy to pose for the site in your hottest looks…)

BTW, bonus points if you can name who this model is and what TV show made her a STAH.

Girl Gamers are on the Move

Attention all chicas with a joystick, all femme Wii aficionados and X-Boxin’ babes: you are not alone!

You may have felt alone with all the ads targeting guys in the gaming world. And why wouldn’t you? Up until now, game marketing gurus have written you off, opting for the shooting-racing-sporting-blood-and-guts fest games because they thought that only boys like to have some fun gaming. Sure, some girls might like to get in on the action/adventure/gorefest train, but not many.  Or so they thought!

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Are You a Nerdfighter?

Are you a Nerdfighter? What is your favorite passage from Papertowns? Did you want participate in this years Project for Awesome?

If your answer to any of those questions was “huh?” then you are in luck. You are about to uncover one of the most awesome group of people on the internet. John Green, author of Papertowns, and his brother Hank are the Vlogbrothers and together with a close group of fans they are taking over youtube. Last year these two decided that they were going to only communicate through youtube videos. What resulted was an great community of nerdfighters.

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