Ypulse Essentials: Soulja Boy Sneakers, 'Secret Life' Debut, Gen Y's Political Slant

Soulja Boy sneakers (the rap star struck a multi-year deal with Yums shoes to create a graffiti-themed line of sneakers) (Billboard)

- 'The' debuts tonight (The L.A. Times, reg. required, isn't impressed. Plus, Hollywood Reporter touches on the recent rise in teen pregnancy TV shows with "Secret Life" and NBC's "The Baby Borrowers")

- It's not Facebook (it's Facecard -- a new pre-paid cash card targeted to Millennials) (MarketingVOX)

- Survey looks at Gen Y politics (results show that while 48% affiliate with Democrats, 71% believe Democratic administration would be best to lead the country) (United Press International)

- Rock Band 2 is coming soon (Harmonix officially announced part two to the popular game, promising better instruments, a new soundtrack and an online community) (Yahoo!)

- Heidi Montag hopes to release Christian album ("The Hills" star, who is "kind of non-denominational Baptist," wants to record a Christian cd because "I always felt this crazy connection to God") (MSNBC)

- The CA handsfree law goes into effect today (no talking without a handsfree device for 18 and up, and no talking, period, for anyone under 18. And the mobile market is finally reaching a saturation point with teens. Plus, Kiwibox goes mobile, allowing 1.8 million teen users to socialize on-the-go) (Sacramento Bee) (Media Post) (News Blaze)

- Start doing those thumb exercises... (in preparation for the LG Texting Championship)

- Tattle-tale cars (a device is in development that will update parents via text when their teen driver speeds, forgets his seatbelt, blasts music, or crams in too many passengers) (Star Tribune)

- Superpoke teams up with VH1 (you will soon be able to "SuperPoke" VH1 reality show references on Facebook and MySpace) (News.com)

- Alanis Morissette's karaoke contest (record your own version of her new songs on MySpace Karaoke, then win tickets to Alanis's concert if you are hand-selected by the singer. Plus bands to 'Rock The Vote' on MySpace) (News.com)

- Vanessa Hudgen's new tune (the Disney actress follows in the footsteps of Miley, releasing a song and music vid. Plus, Disney Records finds huge success with WALL-E soundtrack) (Entertainment Weekly) (IGN)

- Hasbro games (to hit the big screen) (WSJ)

- Does this make me look fat? (new research on girls and body image) (Journal of Youth & Adolescence, subscription required)

P.S. Just in case you missed our press release on the official launch of Ypulse Books, it's online here...

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