Ypulse Essentials: PBR Crowdsources New Owners, America 101, iPod Touch Scores As Stocking Stuffer

PBR fans unite (PSFK reports: “two ad agencies are testing the limits of brand loyalty by trying to crowdsource $300 million in funds to buy Pabst Brewing Co” through the site buyabeercompany.com. Intriguing. Also Bacardi continues to support the ‘We Don’t Serve Teens’ campaign across multimedia platforms, with an added emphasis on the reality that “most teens who drink, obtain alcohol from older friends, family members, or at parties, or take it from their home without parental knowledge”)

- Girl gamers revisited (Jezebel offers some fresh insights towards girls and gaming in response to a dated TED talk from Purple Moon founder Brenda Laurel. Plus more buzz around the R-rated red band trailer for “Kick Ass” featuring controversial tween ninja Hit-Girl) (IGN)

- Filmmaker discovered on YouTube (giving hope to aspiring directors everywhere, an early thirtysomething ad exec from Uruguay scores a major movie deal after posting his short alien invasion film) (New York Daily News)

- EDs don’t take a holiday (I wish this was posted earlier in the month, but this essay from RED author Meike Schleiff on handing teens and twentysomethings with eating disorders over winter break is a must read. Thanks Melissa!) (Huffington Post)

- America 101 (USC offers foreign students a free, non-credited course in American culture and common slang to help ease the transition. Also a new law in Ohio requires schools to teach dating violence prevention) (Los Angeles Times) (WFMJ)

- iPod Touch scores as stocking stuffer (with a huge surge in Christmas Day downloads thanks to the tween crowd and their parents. Also Ford follows in-car WiFi with the offer of factory-installed HD Radio and iTunes tagging capabilities in some 2011 models) (PC World) (Engadget)

- ‘3 Ways for Disney to Rock Marvel’ (a second wave of speculation now that Marvel shareholders are set to approve the deal this Thursday) (Motley Fool)

- Christmas tree surfing (SoCal teens invent a new seasonal pastime involving discarded trees and cars. Yes, there’s already been one injury reported) (Los Angeles Weekly)

- Xeko and Elf Island join forces for good (the eco-toy company and virtual world team up to help tweens connect with nonprofits that deal with real world issues. Thanks KooDooz!)