Entertainment

By Cammi Henao, 15, reporting from Chicago, on how to get in on the secrets every Sunday

Every Sunday, even if I have absolutely nothing planned, I've got something to look forward to. What is it? PostSecret

I am a big fan of things that involve people from all over—especially when it is people from all over sharing experiences and secrets. PostSecret, created by Frank Warren, is a community art project in which people mail their secrets on a postcard. The secrets range from truly heartbreaking ("During previews, I still look to the seat next to me. Even though it's been 10 years. I'm worried I'll never find somebody who fits me as well as you did.") to thoughtful ("Your last mortal thought will be 'why did I take so many days just like today for granted?'") to incredibly sweet ("I am...with someone who is so good for me. He feels like home.").

There is a new batch of secrets posted every Sunday, so every Sunday I sit and read. Some of them make you want to cry for hours, some are funny, and there are many that you can connect with. There are, as far as I know, four PostSecret books out, all of which I own, treasure and love. It's amazing the stories that a few sentences can tell. These are secrets people could have kept for years, just bursting to get out, or simply days, something that they wish to share with the world. The PostSecret community is truly remarkable. I encourage you to check out the site today, this Sunday and every Sunday, and send in your own secret! —Cammi Henao

By Jordyn Turney, 19, reporting from Alpine, California, on small, small speakers with big, big sound.

I'm not exactly a connoisseur of sound and speakers. I'm not even sure if speaker connoisseurs exist. But here's what I do know: I like to listen to my music on loud when I'm cooking, cleaning, or home alone. And sometimes I want my sister to be able to hear what's on my iPod without having to share the flimsy little ear buds. Also, I like to carry my music with me, not have it banished to my bedroom as if it's in time out.

So iHome's rechargeable mini speakers (tiny, cute, and deceptively powerful) are basically the best things ever for me. I was dubious at first, because there's not much worse than hoping to blast some Alan Jackson and finding out you've got more static than twang.

But these things are amazing. They charge via USB port, connect to the headphone jack of whatever music player you're using, and PRODUCE SOUND. There's enough volume that I can have the speakers in my room upstairs and the music is clearly audible downstairs. Of course, since they're so small, I could also just hook them up downstairs. But that's missing the point of their power entirely.

The speakers (red, black, or silver) can be bought on Amazon for about $45 and are definitely more than what you expect them to be—so much more that my dad wanted to steal mine as soon as he heard them. — Jordyn Turney

Get the full set of RED Hearts posts-in Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, and News.

ByZulay Regalado, 20, reporting from Miami, and Jessica Goodman, 19, reporting from Los Angeles, on gripping new books that solve various mysteries—of murder and high school hallways.

Whatever the so-called reality TV shows and movies set in high school hallways present, the truth is that the dramas most teenage girls go through consist of the occasional backstab or heartbreak.

The Diamonds, by Ted Michael, does an excellent job of covering these small-scale (but big-pain) everyday issues. It's a gem of a coming of age story when so many books about high school students just seem so naïve and shallow.

One of the themes in the book that really stuck with me was trust. The characters learn, through every conversation and every event, who's really on their side. Marni Valentine, for example, used to be a part of Bennington High School's coolest crowd, known, of course, as the Diamonds. Then she got involved with her best friend Clarissa's boyfriend, Anderson—and went from most popular to most loathed in a matter of seconds.

But pieces of the puzzle slowly come together, and Marni's ex-best friend was never innocent. Without giving away too much of the story, it's a lesson that teaches you to watch your back, keep your eyes on the prize, and be careful of who you choose to confide in.

I think any girl in high school should pick up this book, and I also recommend it for college freshmen and sophomores like myself—because it reminds you how far you've come since the days when only popularity was a priority. —Jessica Goodman

******

As a child, I lived for the thrill of the unknown in a book—sitting under the covers with my hurricane flashlight, eyes glued to the text. Now I still crave the books that can keep me up and guessing. And Catherine Cooney's If the Witness Lied did its job.

There's a dark family (and dark modern media) story at its heart: The Fountain siblings are orphans, and speculation swirls around the circumstances of their parents' deaths. The private tragedy has brought much unwanted public attention upon the family, causing the siblings to part ways to deal with their individual pain.

Unfortunately for them, their Aunt Cheryl believes the way to get through the grief is to share it with the world: She's in talks with a television producer to film a reality docudrama on the family.

The siblings reunite to try and stop Aunt Cheryl from exploiting them—and portraying their baby brother as a killer. They also make some interesting realizations along the way that change their perception of the truth as they've known it. So, in addition to brewing some really enjoyable suspense and a slightly deranged aunt, this book is about overcoming issues within ourselves and coming together for a better purpose. And what better purpose is there than protecting those you love?

It's an ideal read, and though I've traded in my flashlight for a standard lamp, the electric air of mystery remains. — Zulay Regalado

By Amy Goldwasser, RED's editor, reporting from New York City on an excellent new-but-old-school sci-fi film

I usually leave these RED Hearts to the book's authors. But it's summer, work is slow, and I'm over the, um, moon about this one and can't resist spreading the word on earth.

Moon is an amazing new sci-fi film that could just as well be an old sci-fi film—and I mean that in the best way. In the tradition of the space greats, like Silent Running, Outland, and the original Alien, Moon relies on human psychological drama over surround-sound explosions for its thrills; cool miniature modeling over computer-generated animation for its lunar craft; and the chilling evil of a not-too-distant corporation over gooey aliens as its baddies.

I don't want to give any of the plot away here, and it's easily done. So I'm just going to tell you it's about identity and what it means to be human—and that it's not boring for a moment, even though you're looking at only one actor on the dark side of the moon the whole time, however great Sam Rockwell is. (Kevin Spacey is technically his co-star, but he's unseen as the voice behind a robot named Gerty.)

I went to a screening where the director, Duncan Jones, did a Q+A afterwards. He's young and smart and thoughtful—plus, cute and British and David Bowie's son, though he won't tell you that—and relying on word of mouth to help spread the word about his low-budget (that's $5 million in studio terms) masterpiece.

So, please: go see it when it opens near you, tell your friends, and let's hope that this is the future of sci-fi. —Amy Goldwasser

By Carey Dunne, 19, reporting from New York City on must-see 90s TV

Twin Peaks is David Lynch’s suspenseful 1990s TV drama that follows Special Agent Dale Cooper’s investigation of homecoming queen Laura Palmer’s murder. A neighbor gave me the first season on DVD while cleaning out his dorm room, and by the time I’d watched the Log Lady's introduction to the first episode, I was already a fanatic. CBS.com has every episode available for free. If you like murder mysteries with supernatural elements (visits from giants, clairvoyant logs), then Twin Peaks will be your next favorite thing.

Agent Cooper (played by Kyle MacLachlan) discovers clues in dreams about dancing dwarves, has an ESP-like ability to read people’s body language, and will win your heart with his knife skills and slicked hair. “Who killed Laura Palmer?” is the question that drives the plot, but there are countless subplots – will Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle) kiss the shut-in who raises orchids and has a copy of Laura Palmer's diary? Will Agent Cooper rescue Audrey from working undercover at One-Eyed Jack’s, the suspicious bordello? Who is the terrifying gray-haired man who keeps appearing in visions?

Set in the Pacific Northwest, with beautiful music by Angelo Badalementi, Twin Peaks is eerie, funny, and addictive. One friend I recommended it to found it "too freakin’ weird,” but most others become obsessed. — Carey Dunne

By Jordyn Turney, 19, reporting from Alpine, CA, on indie rock going western

As far as music goes, I have fairly eclectic tastes. I like indie (Loquat, Rogue Wave, and Rilo Kiley) and top forty (Coldplay and Leona Lewis). I love country, but I also have a penchant for the songs in musicals. I listen to Lenka and Lady Gaga on the same playlist.

And now I've found more music to love. Through the wonder that is Facebook and old friends, I've discovered an indie-rock band, Alaska and Me, whose songs I've had on repeat the entire morning. I'm also slightly geeking out over them because they also hail from my small Arizona hometown of Show Low, which made me instantly curious to hear what sort of music they'd put together. As soon as I found out, I was more or less hooked.

Their second EP, I Will Die in the West, features six songs, and all of them, from the slow Last of the Breed to the plucky Electric Cowboy, are repeat-worthy. The sound and lyrics are decidedly western, as favorite topics of lead singer Tyler Cos are cowboys and a lost era. I know it seems odd to say that rock music sounds western, but trust me, this does.

After I bought I Will Die in the West, I went fairly insane looking for their first EP, Actors, which isn't on iTunes. Eventually I found it on discrevolt.com.

Sadly, literally minutes before I was going to send this post off, I checked the band's blog and found out that they broke up just days ago. The music they produced in their three short years together is wonderful though, and if you're interested in bands with the sort of sound perfect to play in the background of your life, you'll definitely want to check out the now-departed Alaska and Me.

By Cammi Henao, 15, reporting from Chicago on getting secrets off her chest

I stumbled across The Little Red Heart Project while attempting to avoid my biology homework, and I fell in love with the entire idea. If you want to get involved in the project, it's fairly simple: find some cardboard, cut it out in the shape of a heart, paint or Sharpie it red, write your secret and the URL on the back, and leave it somewhere. ANYWHERE. Anywhere someone might stumble across it: the bus, the train, in between packs of M&M's at the 7-11, on a tire swing, in random mailboxes. It's all about writing to someone you don't know (or do know if they happen to come across it) and leaving a piece of your heart behind.

The handwritten messages are usually secrets—that you may have, that a friend may have, or a general secret you believe everyone has. One of my favorites in the photo gallery on their site is "I don't have much, but it's great!" I've been making and carrying around my little red hearts, and whenever I feel the need to leave one somewhere, I do. The liberation I have felt can't compare. It's like I've left that secret behind, and that's it, I'm done with it. If you really want to know (and you're in the Chicago area), look around Lincoln Park : Borders, 7-11s, and the Armitage brown line all hold my secrets.
— Cammi Henao

By Olive Panter, 18, reporting from Brooklyn, New York, on the excellent new AIDS-fighting album Dark Was the Night

Dark Was The Night is the newest and incredibly awesome compilation CD from the Red Hot Organization, an AIDS non-profit I had the pleasure of working for during the better half of a year before college. Curated by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of indie darlings The National, this compilation is a must-have for anyone who is at all in touch with music—or cares about the fight against AIDS.

From a wail and syncopated bass drum-fueled collaboration between David Byrne and the Dirty Projectors to an earnest but arresting call to arms from Iron and Wine, this record is filled with gems, as Red Hot is tops when it comes to creating records that, while reflecting a moment in musical history, are ultimately timeless.

In an age where almost everyone downloads illegally (and yeah, I definitely fall into that category), if you're going to buy one record this year, make it DWTN. Upwards of 30 songs for under 20 bucks is worth it. Plus, just think (and this comes from a pretty cynical Brooklynite), you may be changing the world. — Olive Panter

By Sarah Schelde, 16, reporting from Waterlivet,, New York, on why mental_floss-ing every day is a healthy habit

In today's big world of little time, we seem to love to pick up things as quickly as possible. From faster texting on full QWERTY keyboards to shorter blog posts from everywhere (ala Twitter). And what's faster than trivia and facts boiled down to amusing yet informative morsels? Try mental_floss, the wonderful magazine and website "Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix" (in their words).

Full of fun, smarty-pants lists—body parts you didn't think had a name, 5 New Alternative Meats—instant expertise on cool topics ("What's the Difference: Quasar vs. Pulsar") and blogs on everything from sequin art to the history of ice, this bimonthly is for anyone, left-brained, right-brained, or scatterbrained. And if you want to test that noggin out, try one of the fabulously quirky and informative Lunchtime Quizzes (you may only think you're a "Love, Actually" expert) that take less time than the line in the cafeteria. Now that's what I call quick thinking. — Sarah Schelde

By Rebecca Murray, 20, reporting from Saint Augustine, Florida, on a show who's ending you just can't guess

Television shows, even the generally good ones, can be filled with characters that are predictable. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy is dating someone else and after a lot of trials and tribulations they seem to get together. (Like in Grey's Anatomy you can guess nearly every time what Meredith is going to say next.) Girl is usually either smart and pretty and underestimates her own looks—or the tall, knowingly gorgeous one who feels that no one can see past her exterior.

So I started looking for more original TV. I had my first success with the Big Bang Theory, and I found myself downloading as many episodes from iTunes as I could. I don't normally say this, but watching this show is worth being broke.

The show centers on Leonard and his roommate Sheldon—extremely intelligent scientists and full-time geeks—and their new neighbor Penny, a waitress in the cheesecake factory. As you can imagine, there's a love interest. Leonard tries his hardest to impress Penny, but most of the time fails because of unwanted help from his completely OCD and very finicky roommate.

The banter is original, all the characters (including the mostly normal Penny) are lovable, and I usually find myself laughing at Sheldon's very scientific approach to women and romance: "At least now you can retrieve the black box from the twisted smoldering wreckage that was once your fantasy of dating her and analyze the data so that you don't crash into geek mountain again." This Big Bang's a great way to, if not collide with, get that fun occasional bump with your inner nerd. —Rebecca Murray

By Saskia Boggs, 19, reporting from Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Liverpool's hottest player, Steven Gerrard

Are you tired of all the David Beckham hype? How the sport has become watching what he and Posh are wearing, more Fashion Week front row than football? Consider switching teams to Steven Gerrard, captian of Liverpool soccer (or, technically, football). He's hot, he's talented, and he's British—what's not to like?

I myself am not British, and I didn't even care about the sport until a friend of mine introduced me to Gerrard and the Liverpool Football Club with some video interviews on YouTube. After seeing what he looked like and hearing his voice, I was hooked on following Stevie and his career. One of Liverpool's top scorers, he came from their youth league and has played pro for them for ten years. He's been offered up to £100,000 a week (that's almost $150,000 where we say "soccer") to join other teams—which, unlike Beckham, he rejected. I like that loyalty. His talent is still on the rise, and Liverpool is currently hot in the running for both the England Premier and European Champion Leagues.

So, yeah, through Gerrard, I've become a football fan, too. To anyone who enjoys the sport—or just hot British men—I recommend doing the same. You won't regret it. —Saskia Boggs

By Claudia Berger, 16, reporting from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on a riveting old White House show's new relevance

With the inauguration of President Barack Obama less than a month ago (can you believe it?), more teens are becoming interested and active in politics. The West Wing—a TV series from the time when the country last had a Democrat in power—is a great look behind the scenes of the Oval Office and the everyday life of the president and those who work with him. With show consultants like Dee Dee Myers, President Clinton's former press secretary, we know that the situations are either based in reality or could presumably happen.

For true Obama enthusiasts, here is a little tip: Keep an eye on the character of Matt Santos, who just might remind you of someone in the news of late. And the entire presidential campaign in the show’s last season (which was shot in 2006) eerily mirrors this past one. Plus, the TV White House’s Bartlet administration was the first after a string of Republicans. Any of this ringing a bell? For anybody interested in politics, how the nation is run, or any form of public speaking, the West Wing is a must see. Plus, with cuties like Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, and Bradley Whitford you can't really go wrong.

By Lindsay Sellers, 20, reporting from New York, NY, on a book that travels

In preparation for a few international flights, a friend recently recommended the book The Time Traveler's Wife. I packed it and wasn't sure if I'd get to reading it, but as I sat in the terminal, six hours to kill, alone, with no trashy American magazines at my disposal, teleportation sounded tempting. The book promised a romantically compelling plot, and was more than 500 pages—-definitely long enough to last through my layover. I was sold.

The main characters, Henry and Claire, proved to be engaging, and the almost saccharine plot was tempered by a few truly racy moments—-I almost felt the need to shield the text from the children and elderly seated around me. But I was thrown off by some huge gaps in logic: as if time-travel wasn't hard enough to swallow in a novel that takes place in modern-day Chicago, the rules about it did not always add up. And would any woman commit her life to a man who might literally vanish? Before I read this book, the cynic in me would have said no. But now with Valentine's Day on the horizon, I'm not so sure. Logic be damned--maybe anything is possible! — Lindsay Sellers

By Jordyn Turney, 19, reporting from Alpine, CA, on her love for the original Agent 99 on the 1960s TV classic Get Smart

I have a long list of fictional characters I adore, right near the top of which is Get Smart's 99.

Not the Anne Hathaway, 21st-century version who knew she was hot stuff and thought she was just so much better than Max, but the original Barbara Feldon 1960s version, the former model secret agent who was so obviously in love with her partner-in-crime.

She's kind of the ultimate girl role model. For starters, she's awesome. She's beautiful, but not like she's been airbrushed to death. She's trained to fight on the side of good and can throw a punch like nobody's business. She's smart--fluent in multiple languages and an expert when it comes to things like shadowing (important for spies, not so much for the rest of us).

But beyond her extreme level of awesome, there's another reason I love this fictional character: because she's real. Or rather, because even though she's smart and pretty and seriously kick-butt, she's still capable of being just as immature and jealous as any of us when it comes to matters of the heart. Like mimicking the annoying squealy voice of her romantic rival, or looking very much like she wants to sink into the floor when she sees another girl (a pretty blonde with a job title much more feminine than her own) kiss the guy she loves.

OK, so maybe being jealous and a bit petty isn't something to aspire to. But it is human--and in the world of fictional characters who are personal heroes, that's always a good thing. And let's face it, when you're the only single girl, surrounded by happy couples, it's nice to know that even in the land of television not everyone is annoyingly happy and paired-up. — Jordyn Turney

Watch a tribute to 99 video (Barbara Feldon is singing!), and order the original DVDs here.

By Maya-Catherine Popa, 19, reporting from New York, NY, on a riveting new book about early Americans that's no AP US History text

What's cool in the New Year? Perspective.

Sitting through AP US History can be a trying experience. After a decade of books, plays, and field trips devoted to learning about the puritans, one begins to wish our country's history had gone a little differently. And, as our prince of political change ushers us forward, Obama pillowcases will not be enough to encourage an understanding of this country's development.

Luckily for us there is the trademark wit of Sarah Vowell, whose latest book, The Wordy Shipmates, isn't your high school history textbook. Vowell explores the eccentric, feisty characters who founded the colonies from a fresh perspective—that is, by debunking the myth that the puritans were boring dressers who considered prayer the only pastime.

Puritans have pamphlet feuds. They have sex. They establish Harvard because Anne Hutchison puts the men to shame in the courtroom. They are literate, righteous, and boy have they got tempers.

Most important, we could all use a refresher course in the ideals that early American leaders, like John Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, relentlessly held. Remember when vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin (remember her?) insisted she and John McCain believed in "that shining city on a hill, as President Reagan so beautifully said?" Reagan, Kennedy, and countless other politicians have quoted Winthrop's speech, "A Model of Christian Charity." Only Palin seems to have missed the saying's origin. I'm tempted to send her this book. — Maya Popa