- We imagine Twihards of all ages will be flocking to Target stores nationwide on February 10th (when the retailer hosts a special DVD release party for the latest film in the franchise, “Breaking Dawn: Part 1.” Besides getting to buy the DVD the second it hits shelves, fans will see the world premiere of a scene from the final film, “Breaking Dawn: Part 2,” in stores that night. And if you’re starting to get sad that the movies are coming to an end, fear not. Nothing is official yet, but rumor has it that there may be more to the series… After all, vampires have long lives) (Entertainment Weekly) (E! Online)

- Understanding how teens communicate is at the core of marketing to them (and recent research from Ericsson ConsumerLab reveals valuable information for brands and marketers alike. From teens’ preferred method of communication — which is hanging out in person above interacting via mobile devices or online — to how technology plays into their dating lives, here are seven fun facts you don’t want to miss. Speaking of engaging Millennials, ComScore data show that Gen Y doesn’t respond to TV ads as well as older audiences, but they remember them longer. However, young audiences are more responsive to interactive media such as a program or website, which isn’t surprising since they get to be more involved) (PR Daily) (AdAge)

- The online music space is poppin’ (according to this infographic. Listeners streamed nearly 65 billion songs in 2011, watched more than 16 billion videos, and connected with artists on Facebook more than 3 billion times. That’s a lot of love for music! Speaking of attention-grabbing music videos, we enjoyed seeing Matthew McConaughey reprise his role as Wooderson from “Dazed & Confused” in this Butch Walker video) (ReadWriteWeb) (Popdust)

- We, along with most of the Web, can’t keep quiet whenever more ‘Hunger Games’ content is released (and this time is no exception; just look at the latest and last poster for the film showing off a fierce Katniss aiming her bow and arrow! And if that doesn’t catch your eye, there’s also a new promo picture of Katniss and Peeta in their opening ceremony costumes. Luckily we don’t have much longer to wait) (Celebuzz) (Collider)

- There’s no stopping Android! (The latest earnings reveal that 250 million Android devices have been activated so far, and 11 billion apps have been downloaded. With this much growth, we must admit that we’re impressed) (TechCrunch)

- The topic of Millennials in the workplace is everywhere these days (but given that in four years Millennials will make up about half of employees worldwide, there’s a lot to discuss. While young hires and older employees often encounter generational gaps, many of the stereotypes — such as Millennials’ reliance on and obsession with technology —  are over-exaggerated. And as Business Insider explains, entering the workforce during the recession has also impacted how Millennials view their jobs. They’re less loyal to a single company and want answers and access immediately, but they value hard work, enjoy being part of a team, and believe that luck plays into success) (Forbes)

- Action sports fans, rejoice! (YouTube has just launched several channels focusing on everything from skateboarding to urban mountain biking, surfing, skiing, snowboarding, and BMX. We bet Millennial action sports fans will be excited about these four new shows, which feature popular athletes Tony Hawk, Ryan Sheckler, and Jamie Thomas) (SocialTimes)

- Instead of our usual Friday fun, here’s an inspirational story/video we couldn’t pass up sharing… (Samantha Garvey, a smart and motivated teen, has achieved huge academic accomplishments including being a semi-finalist in the annual Intel Science Talent Search, all the while facing the challenge of being homeless. Yet Samantha maintains a positive attitude and has always made education a priority. She’s one Millennial you’ll want to keep watching!) (YouTube)

Every time ‘Hunger Games’ content hits the Web, the Internet goes into a frenzy

- Redbox makes a bold move by increasing the price of its DVD rentals (effective next month. The cost of renting a DVD will only increase by 20 cents to $1.20 a day, but it’s the principle that’s bound to annoy consumers, especially after all the chaos lately with renting and streaming services — cough cough Netflix cough cough. Speaking of which, Redbox also plans to launch a streaming service by the end of the year but we wonder just how many streaming services consumers need…) (Yahoo) (Deadline)

- Millennials may be cutting the cord (but young kids sure aren’t with their parents providing cable TV. Almost half of five to eight-year-olds have TVs in their rooms, but even more surprising is that a third of infants between 6 months and 2 years have a TV in their bedroom! However, we’ve found college-aged Millennials are less reliant on cable and more in favor of streaming on their own schedules) (WSJ)

- DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss in Boots’ hits theaters this weekend (and we expect it will be the coolest cat at the box office, raking in the top ticket sales. But that’s not all for the “Shrek” spin-off; there’s also the “Puss in Boots” iStoryTime book app, which includes activities, as well as images and audio from the film. In other kids’ movie news, Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb” film is expected to become a huge hit now that the writer of “Toy Story 3” has signed on to create the script and Mandeville Films will produce it. Between the popular TV series and upcoming movie, we bet the “Phineas and Ferb” franchise will grow tremendously in the next few years) (Reuters) (Kidscreen) (LA Times)

- After the success of Disney’s mobile game ‘Where’s My Water?, the Adventures of Swampy’ (the alligator protagonist is getting its own Web series! This marks a major change for Disney as the character was introduced on mobile devices and now is heading to online entertainment. We wonder if this is something Disney will continue to do in the future rather than the traditional approach of first showing a character on the big screen. In other Web series news, Alloy Entertainment is launching yet another online show, this time with a slightly older feel. “Dating Rules” will follow a 29-year-old girl who receives texts from herself 10 years in the future providing her with dating advice. We think this is a cute concept Millennials will enjoy!) (Hollywood Reporter) (Entertainment Weekly)

- What could be better than Justin Bieber’s ‘Under the Mistletoe’ album (which comes out next week? Bieber’s new Facebook app that lets fans upload a photo and get an imposed picture of them with Bieber under the mistletoe! Talk about a smart marketing move to create even more Beliebers) (Popdust)

- And finally for a little Friday fun…(we’ve been laughing over the Tumblr Halloween or Williamsburg which proves that you can wear costumes all year round! But if scary isn’t your thing, how about cute? Ok ridiculously cute comparisons of Ryan Gossling and a puppy. Which one is more adorable?)

- Arby’s is the latest fast food chain to make its kids meals (healthier by making apple slices with yogurt dip the default side instead of fries, though parents can request fries or a fountain drink if they prefer. Will all these minor tweaks really make for healthier kids with better eating habits? We have our doubts) (MediaPost)

- Emotional Bag Check is a new check-in site (for people with problems. Users check in anonymously with their problems, and other users help them out by suggesting songs to cheer them up. What do they recommend most often? Tunes from Taylor Swift and the cast of “Glee,” which reflects the site’s relatively young audience. Speaking of the healing power of music, The Ryan Seacrest Foundation is launching “The Voice” in pediatric hospitals in Atlanta and Philadelphia to let young patients explore radio, tv, and other media to enhance their quality of life in hospitals and aid in the healing process. Students at local colleges can get involved in this effort and in turn can gain broadcasting experience) (PSFK) (Derek Baird)

- Movie goers who want to see a Sony film in 3D (might have to start bringing their own glasses, as the studio will end its program to provide the glasses to theaters. Theater owners will likely fill the gap, but this doesn’t bode well for the future of the medium. In a recent Ypulse study, we learned that only 18% of students say a movie being offered in 3D makes it more enticing to see in theaters) (Hollywood Reporter)

- Apple and Twitter have gotten together (to make it even easier to share photos via the social media site. Apple has added a “Tweet” button to iPhone users’ options when they tap a photo they’ve taken with their phone. Whither the “Post to Facebook” button?) (Fast Company)

- Students love apps that can help them out (and the latest offering from Encyclopedia Britannica can certainly do that, packing the full 17-volumes into a smartphone. But it might only be “serious students” who shell out the app’s subscription price when Wikipedia offers more articles, though with less stringent review) (All Things D)

- Props to Staples, ‘Pretty Little Liars,’ and DoSomething (that combined forces to mobilize an army of teen and kid volunteers to raise more than $800,000 for school supplies to pack in backpacks for students in need) (JSYK)

- ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Twilight,’ Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez were among the top winners (at the Teen Choice Awards last night. Many of the other usual suspects took home surfboards in this celebration of teen pop culture, including our favorite Web star Rebecca Black! She’s really having “her moment” since she also performed at Katy Perry’s concert this weekend) (MSN) (Entertainment Weekly)

- How would you like to eat a Bieber Sundae? (For the launch of Justin’s “Someday” perfume in London, Harrods created a special dessert inspired by his fragrance. The $32 dish includes wild berry and vanilla ice cream, fresh pear, lavender sprinkles, and edible glitter. This is slightly ridiculous — okay, totally ridiculous! — but at least it’s for a good cause; all the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish foundation and some serious Beliebers would definitely order this! In other Bieber news, students can learn about Justin and Taylor Swift in the classroom thanks to “Fame” comic books and the accompanying lesson plans. Bluewater Productions and The Graphic Classroom teamed up to create educational material that is bound to engage students) (NY Daily News) (JSYK)

- Video game consoles are quickly becoming one of the most popular devices (for viewing online video. Although computers are still the top medium, Leichtman Research Group reports that almost a quarter of households stream via a video game console and 30% use a connected device. Speaking of gaming, Sony invested $20 million in game development, which means we can expect even more from the PlayStation Network in the coming years…and hopefully some better security features!) (eMarketer) (Kidscreen)

- Move over ‘Jersey Shore!’ (MTV is creating a new show about clubbing, which sounds even crazier than the wild antics of our favorite fist pumpers. This potential new program called “Culture Club” will be about partying in NYC. Would you watch it?) (Observer)

- Best Buy is tapping into a younger audience (by placing their kiosks/appliance vending machines on college campuses and at Disney theme parks. Most of the current kiosks are located at airports or train stations, but since young adults are so media savvy, this expansion makes perfect sense) (PSFK)

- We’re loving the ‘Saved By The Bell’ interactive YouTube game (where you can direct your favorite characters’ adventures at Bayside High, The Max, and their other hangouts!) (Time)

- Learning is a CINCH (thanks to McGraw-Hill’s cloud-based curriculum for K-12 students. The all-digital textbook, appropriately called CINCH, includes course materials, eBooks, presentations, animation clips, and more. PBS, WGBH and 31 other PBS member stations launched PBS LearningMedia (pbslearningmedia.org), a free online digital platform for teachers, students, and families. The program features a public media library with PBS programming and information from other educational groups, giving users access to more than 14,000+ instructional resources. LeapFrog is also leaping further into the digital realm with the creation of the LeapFrog tablet computer for kids. The device, aimed at four to nine-year-olds, includes educational games, an eBook reader, and apps) (Yahoo) (Cynopsis) (NY Times, reg required)

- Google seeks Internet domination (with the creation of Google+, a social network that lets people share photos, links, and status updates, as well as video chat and send group text messages. It’s like Facebook, but for smaller groups rather than all your virtual “friends.” Google also launched What Do You Love (wdyl.com), a program that searches 20 different Google services including Google Translate, Trends, YouTube, maps, and more. Just type in a term and press the heart button (aka search) and Google sifts through all of its sites. We heart it) (NY Times, reg required) (Digital Trends)

- Neiman Marcus is holding a Facebook styling contest (for the launch of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s collection. From now until July 18, fashion fanatics are encouraged to create virtual outfits on Neiman Marcus’ Facebook page. Users can tag friends and create Mad Libs-like style captions for their outfits. The best virtual stylist will win a meeting with Zoe and a Neiman Marcus gift card) (Mashable)

- Parents may want to limit their children’s TV viewing (since studies prove that watching violent TV programs during the day causes increased sleep problems for kids ages three to five. Watching TV after 7 p.m. also correlates with sleep problems, regardless of the type of programming. And not surprisingly — children with TV sets in their rooms are more likely to have sleeping problems) (MSNBC)

- Kids can have more sports content (now that FunGoPlay, an online sports world that encourages real-world play, and Sports Illustrated have teamed up. The partnership will give FunGoPlay users access to SI Kids videos, editorial information, and contests) (Kidscreen)

- Google is headed for total Internet domination (with the creation of its newest feature: Games at Google. The company is searching for a Product Manager to head the operation, and judging by Google’s track record, its games are sure to be a hit. In other online gaming news, Discovery and Hasbro are launching a kids virtual community called Club Hub, which will live on their site Hubworld.com. Club Hub lets kids solve puzzles, play games, and vote in polls about The Hub’s programing. They can also earn Club Bucks to win virtual rewards) (MSNBC) (Kidscreen)

- MTV Music Group’s site Posted (is a place where fans can get information about their favorite artists. Each month the site features one artist from MTV, VH1 and CMT. But given the participatory culture and digital age we live in, MTV is now letting fans be more involved through its Posted Fan Club. Users can upload photos and videos, participate in live chats with artists, and watch video premieres. The platform will be available on mobile apps, making it even more accessible) (Mashable)

- Teens are attached to their phones (which is why they watch more mobile videos and respond to more mobile ads than any other age group. They talk on the phone the least though…not that we’re surprised. Interestingly enough, teens aren’t the highest online video viewers, but they remember video ads better than any other age group) (MediaPost)

- Jackson Rathbone of “Twilight” and Aimee Teegarden of “Friday Night Lights” are starring in a Warner Brothers web series (called ‘Aim High,’ which will premiere on Facebook on August 1^st. Rathbone will play a high schooler by day and a U.S. spy by night. He says his character is like the modern teen who balances a lot of activities. We wouldn’t say being a secret spy is like today’s typical teen, but whatever you say Jackson…) (Examiner)

- What’s the best time of day to share information on social networks? (It differs for Twitter and Facebook, but according to an infographic from KISSmetrics, the prime tweeting time is 5PM ET and the best hour to post on Facebook is noon. Speaking of social media, “liking” a brand on Facebook produces strong results. Data from Hitwise reveals that each “like” on Facebook brings 20 new visitors to a site. This in turn leads to sales, so start increasing your Facebook presence asap!) (SocialTimes) (Adweek)

- Designer children’s fashion is popping up everywhere (as major labels including Gucci, Versace and Lanvin launch high-priced kid’s lines. But why spend so much on clothes if kids will quickly outgrow them? That’s the thinking behind Plum, a rental baby clothing company considered “the Netlflix of baby clothes”) (The Boston Globe) (PSFK)

- College is a waste of time (according to Dale Stephens, one of the first recipients of a Thiel Fellowship, 20 of which are given to promising entrepreneurs under age 20 with the stipulation that they are not allowed to enroll in college for the next two years. That’s fine by Stephens who thinks college is more about “competition rather than collaboration, regurgitation rather than learning”) (CNN)

- ‘Glee”s Jane Lynch will host (the 2011 Emmys, and is ready to break out her best dance moves…and tracksuit) (UPI)

- Forbes blogger Susannah Breslin hears from a lot of young journalists (seeking advice about how to get started, but most are guys. So she’s created a contest to give one lucky, talented young woman — between the ages of 18-25 — the chance to get her start writing a guest post for her Pink Slipped column) (Forbes)

- The annual Scripps National Spelling Bee was held last night (and turned into a marathon of perfect spelling, while also reminding viewers that super smart kids can also have a pretty good sense of humor) (Salon, day pass required)

- Check out Joe Jonas’s first single (from his solo album. We don’t think it’s exactly gonna be the breakout hit of the summer. What’s your take?) (Billboard)

- Finally, for a little Friday fun, Harry Potter fans, calling themselves Potterheads, (took over Twitter today proclaiming their love for all things Potter having grown up along with the boy wizard. Lord Voldemort and Professor Snape couldn’t help but chime in. Speaking of wildly popular YA series, a literature professor had to explain his purchase of the Twilight Saga books: his students demand he read the series before calling it the lowest form of writing) (GalleyCat)

- Amazon is establishing (its own imprint after losing out on signing Amanda Hocking. Montlake Romance will publish, well, romance novels, starting with “The Other Guy’s Bride” by Connie Brockway. This is just the start for Amazon, which aims to publish more titles in other genres) (WSJ, reg required)

- Alec is ‘an inconvenient kid’ (latching on to environmental activism when he saw “An Inconvenient Truth.” He’s educated his peers about environmental issues, organized marches, and now he’s suing the government for failing to protect the Earth for future generations) (Double X)

- Sesame Street meets Wall Street (as the PBS show gains PNC bank as a sponsor. The two will also team up to teach kids about money — which initially sounds like a good thing until we thought about every child in America getting their financial education from a bailed out bank) (Salon, day pass required)

- The PTC continues its attack (on MTV in the pages of CNN’s website, berating the network for glorifying “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant.” Yeah, they must have missed all the scenes with the moms dealing with fussy babies spitting up and needing [yet another] diaper change. Meanwhile, a teen who pretended to be pregnant for a school project — and documenting the rumors and changes in her friends’ attitudes — plans to write a book about her experience. MTV’s next potential hit, “Teen Wolf,” debuts in a month, but you can check out some behind-the-scenes footage that is already drawing comparisons to “Vampire Diaries”) (GalleyCat) (Entertainment Weekly)

- ‘Teen Mom’ and ‘Twilight’ (are making their mark on baby names. Yep, we can be “Team Jacob” or “Team Edward” for years to come) (BuzzFeed)

- Justin Bieber takes a stand (against bullying in Australia, meeting up with Casey, a boy bullied for most of his life. Justin shared his own story of being bullied…not for being a chubby kid like Casey, but for being too good at sports. Um, right, so many of us have that problem…) (Gawker)

- Facebook continues to make headlines (with its new Deals offerings. Yeah, the site looks like a knockoff of Groupon or Living Social, but it comes with one thing those sites don’t have — Facebook Groups and an audience inclined to sharing about their lives, including their purchases. In other social net news, your Friendster account — if you still have one — will be wiped out on May 31 as the site attempts to transform itself into a new entertainment destination) (Fast Company) (Ars Technica) (ReadWriteWeb)

- Technology 4 A Better World (is a campaign rewarding teens who come up with innovative ways to use technology to solve social problems. 50 teams will be supplied with the technology they need to implement their plans to improve the world, thanks to Best Buy)

- As BBM instant messaging (gains in popularity — particularly with youth overseas — texting is declining) (Engadget)

- Lindsay Lohan gives her first post-sentencing interview to Jay Leno tonight (saying she’s learned from her mistakes and, with focus, will be able to “achieve what she wants to achieve.” Sounds like someone has the rehab lingo down pat! But seriously, she sounds pretty mature) (USA Today)

- ‘Jersey Shore’ actually sounds smart (when put in 19th century costumes and spoken by the Broadway actors of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance Of Being Earnest.” Weekly Reader is presenting a modernized version of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” taking on cyber bullying. It’s being “acted out” by high schoolers on Facebook over the next two days) (PopWatch) (Mashable)

- And for your viral video fix (check out “Double Dream Feet,” the much anticipated sequel to “Double Dream Hands”!) (BuzzFeed)

In this installment, Julia points out some of the more entertaining entries of Reasoning With Vampires, a blog about the horrendous writing found in the Twilight Saga series.

Remember you can communicate directly with any member of the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board by emailing them at youthadvisoryboard at ypulse.com…or just leave a comment below.

Web Wonder Vs. Time Waster: Reasoning With Vampires

Sum it up
Many teenagers are quick to dismiss Twilight as ridiculous and judge Stephenie Meyer’s writing ability without actually bothering to read the books. Dana, the author of the tumblr “Reasoning With Vampires,” was one of them — she admits she had an opinion about the books before she’d read them. But once she had, she was so shocked by Meyer’s lack of writing ability, that she decided to read the entire series and post her commentary and corrections to expose Meyer as what many Twilight haters claim: a terrible writer. The blog quotes various passages from Twilight and dissects the grammatical errors, misuse of punctuation and vocabulary, character flaws, and nonsensical narrative, as well as Bella and Edward’s “psychologically unhealthy relationship.”
Highlights include strange sentences like “But I couldn’t find my lips,” countless instances of comma abuse, misused vocabulary, confusing and poorly written paragraphs, and even a timeline of the entire book.  Dana’s sarcastic and amusing commentary and tags make the blog even more entertaining.

Where you found it?
I noticed the link on my friend’s Facebook page.

How much time have you spent on it?
I’ve spent 5-10 minutes a day for about two weeks.

Web Wonder or Time Waster?
This is definitely a web wonder. Although Dana may seem harsh at first, her opinion certainly seems well warranted after reading a couple pages of posts. Her comments and edits are not only amusing, but educational. The blog makes it almost impossible for anyone to defend Meyer’s writing, or her clearly incompetent editor. Reasoning With Vampires proves that “Stephenie Meyer has written big, unintentionally destructive, curiously strong, retarded apes of books.”

About Julia
Julia is a freshman in high school in Claremont California. A self proclaimed Otaku (anime obsessive person) she strives to complete her immersion into the world of Japanese pop culture. In between school and homework she watches the latest Japanese anime on the internet, reads manga, plays video games, and practices Japanese. Though she is not a fabulous writer by nature, Julia does enjoy writing fan fiction related to said interests and occasionally immersing herself in online role-play sessions. In addition, she loves mashing up anime and game clips into anime music videos which she posts on YouTube, participating in her school’s debate team in novice LD, and of course reading. Julia is incredibly excited to be on the Youth Advisory Board, and able to express her opinions, which she has plenty of.