Setting trends one yay or nay at a time.

TheYayorNay.com is a place where democracy meets popular culture. We not only try to make sure that you know about everything that is socially and culturally relevant in a timely manner, we also give you a forum to let us know whether you agree on our opinions about a certain band/movie/trend/thingy. We’re never the final word on anything-you are.

The YayorNay.com helps taste-takers become taste-makers-we’re setting trends here, people! You don’t need a state-issued registration card or ID to cast your vote, just a valid email address and a quick registration on the site. Once you’ve done that, you can sound off on any and everything that you see on our pages. We’ll give you our opinions, ask what you think, then you vote with those opposable digits that keep us at the top of the food chain. If a simple yay or nay doesn’t satisfy you, always feel free to let us know more in the comments section.

Have fun, don’t drink and drive, and whatever you do-don’t hold back!

Our team:

Meet the team from YayorNay. You may not like our faces, you may not like what we have to say, but we’re glad that you’re here, either way:

Jen Shoemaker, Founder and Innovator: Jen had been dreaming about starting a blog about all things that engulf pop culture for quite sometime. In late 2010, literally in a dream, she came up with the concept of letting the people decide what they like or dislike about new trends by yaying or naying. She looks forward to the growth of the site and helping to be a part of setting new trends. Be sure to follow her personal adventures on Twitter.

Laurie Lyons, Editor-in-Chief: Though her degree labels her as an expert in American Studies, her life-long passion for the written word make her obsessed with journalism, as evidenced by her many blogs. As perverted as it may sound, friends describe her personality as ‘an inch deep and a mile wide,’ due to her ever-expanding range of interests. Turn ons include: quick-witted word play, pugs, excellent female comedians, and the Oxford comma. She tweets, she blogs about Austin, she socially geo-locates. Check her out at all of those places.

Rachael Levitt, Managing Editor, is, at times, uncouth. A vision-quest shaman, dance party starter, old-timey rabble-rouser, and occasional troublemaker, she writes to fight social injustice, ridicule jerks, promote originality, and sustain her burrito addiction. Stalk her obsessively HERE and HERE.

Andre Revilla is currently studying at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. He is double majoring in Psychology and Political science, but spends most of his time blogging, watching movies, photographing, and listening to great music. His strong suits are discussing the ever dwindling fate of mankind, talking your ear off about the degradation of cinema in his generation, and all things technology oriented.

Writing since she was 8, Ashlee Henry, an Austin public relations and marketing coordinator, graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in Mass Communications. Aside from writing for theyayornay.com, Ashlee also gives helpful advice on her blog and raves about the hot spots to eat and play around Austin on her Twitter. When not working or writing, Ashlee is big on travel, adventure sports, and is a fashion enthusiast.

After receiving a degree in Marketing from Texas State University, Byron Austin moved to Austin. Coupling his love for writing with his twisted sense of humor and cynical views, he started contributing to other blog sites before starting his own. Byron is a lover of music, sneakers, and shopping. His random thoughts can be found if you follow him on Twitter or by visiting his blog.

Chad Happens does odd and funny things like writing this as his bio: ;) .

Conrad John is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Economics and Government and is new to Team Yay or Nay. A native of Dallas, Texas, Conrad is passionate about his city, specifically with its notorious sports teams, and he’ll most definitely let you know about it. However, don’t let the sports driven mind of Conrad fool you; this young man has much to say about many things and will be quick to put his two cents in on any given topic. Your agility owes his agility 20 bucks. Let’s just say you’ve been warne

Darren Griffin moved to Austin, Texas in 2003 and begin tapping into his creative spirit through fashion design and writing. His first venture was as Co-Owner of A-Movement Design’s (2003-2006), then moved on to Kirin Clothing Company where he currently acts as Director of Operations and Chief Manager. Having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2009, Darren continues to pursue his dream of creating prominent fashion for the masses and extending his scope through creative writing. Check him out on Twitter and the Facebook.

Want to know why they call DJ Hella Yella the Yella Hulk? Just ask the Southern Entertainment Awards and the Austin Chronicle who both voted him as 2010′s Club DJ of the Year, and now Austin American Statesman readers have voted him the #1 DJ in Austin! Since getting his start in 2004, DJ Hella Yella has released over 60 mixtapes, including projects with Travis Porter, Dorrough and R&B Star, Mya. His Wiz Khalifa mixtape gained much success, with over 20,000+ downloads in just one day! If DJ Hella Yella looks familiar, you’ve probably seen him on tour with Platinum selling artist Dorrough, BET’s 106 & park or The Deal, Platinum Weddings, MTV’s Room Raiders, in Ozone Magazine or on stage at many SXSW showcases, in numerous music videos and most recently as a finalist in Complex Magazine and Mc Donald’s annual National DJ Flavor Battle.

Full time television promo producer, part time celebrity stalker, FancyPantsATX is the queen of Austin celebrity sightings and is known as the human equivalent of celebrity Shazam. She also claims to reign on a pedestal of awesomeness. Check out her blog for Austin celebrity sightings and be sure to follow her on Twitter.

Michael Andrew has been known by many as a style maven in NYC, helping others express themselves sartorially for the last two years. He matriculated through college at Clark Atlanta University before finishing at Texas State University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. But the Austinite’s true passion is the poetry of body language, the stanzas of silhouettes, prose in positioning, culminating in the connection that creates unforgettable chapters in the book of love. Through his website LiaisonsforLovers.com he offers the audience the opportunity to enhance and cultivate there love making linguistics. As the sex contributor, Michael’s focus is on sexuality in pop culture. He promises a pleasurable time.

Michael Bridgett is a fledgling screenwriter with a penchant for music, gaming, comics, romance, and pop culture nonsense. He spends his days creating various and intricate ways to cause mischief both online and in real life. He’s adorable, charming, and everyone loves him; especially elderly ladies. They always offer him a refreshing soda pop after he helps with their groceries. Michael writes a romance column for Examiner.com that is filled with all sorts of great advice and observations that will give you some net perspective if not get you laid.

Melissa Siele: Reflective writing is my passion and I am thrilled I’m able to put my thoughts somewhere other than my Microsoft Word. I consider myself a pretty private person, but if I can help inspire one person through exposing my perspectives, then it makes feeling naked all worth it. I’m a very passionate person and very passionate about life and bettering myself through life lessons. A continual process. Like so many of us. I LOVE Music. I’m a hopeless romantic and a dreamer at heart. Music allows me to take my mind wherever it desires and fill me with continuous hopes and dreams. Music for me is the one medicine next to laughter that heals my soul. Through my own struggles with Acne in my early 20′s I found my career. I’ve been a skincare Aesthetician for 7 years and love to aid others that suffer from the same issue, as well as educating women on anti-aging. I’m a strong believer in Eminence Organic products and look forward to sharing my knowledge with everyone. When I’m not working, writing, or listening to music. I enjoy voice lessons, reading books and hanging out with my family.

Born on Mount Olympus, Philip Kirsner (known back then as Adonis) has seen many things in his time on this Earth. It is said that once, as a particularly rowdy child, Philip beat Hercules in a game of rugby. Women were so captivated by his beauty and chiseled abs that they couldn’t help but sit on the sidelines and cheer him on. This is how cheerleaders were invented.

Sam “Heights” Garay is a music producer, engineer, and graphic designer out of Austin, Texas. When he’s not writing about the latest news and pop culture items for The Yay or Nay, you can catch him working with the premiere producer organization DynamicProducer.com. Learn more about him and follow his crazy antics via Twitter.

Sherita Ben is a pop culture savvy student currently studying Media Production with a concentration on Film. Horror nerd, “hot mess” reality show fanatic,  and avid cheese enthusiast, she inspires to someday become a published novelist and write, produce and direct her own horror films.

Stephania Biondo recently graduated in 2010 from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Radio, Television and Film and minors in English Literature and Art History. After many years of midnight premieres, late night movie marathons and constant involvement in many of Austin’s film events, studying film was a natural choice. She had never lived in a town for more than three years and traveled to places such as Mexico and Italy, but once she moved to Austin, the multi-cultural adventurer felt like she finally found a place to call home. Especially after going to her first live concert ever. Now with a collection of tickets so big that she practically uses as wallpaper in her room, she has become a live show connoisseur. If you want to get to the front of a stage, take a memento home, or get tips on how to survive your first big music festival, look no further for she is the master. Other hobbies and interests include fashion (gotta stock up on that Italian Vogue!), museums, traveling, quirky reads, multi-colored nails, thrift stores, dive bars, and swimming. It’s in her nature also to rant and discuss on current pop culture news, so she’s got to let it out somehow. Cue TheYayorNay.com, a website with an array of topics that can hold her fix and let her express herself. She now proudly serves as the team’s assistant with the primary responsibility of upkeeping TheYayorNay.com’s Social Media department.  She loves a challenge of wit and debate, so if you take her on just be prepared and go ahead and order another beer, because it’s on! Check her out on Facebook.