JenCo.

So, I’m going to say what everyone else is thinking: Oscar de la Renta BROUGHT IT. The past BILLION seasons, he’s abandoned his classic style and opted for basic, but well-structured pieces. This season, however, he paired his flawless fits with some pizzaz. My favorite? This piece:

It’s fun, sexy, flattering, and has just enough of my new favorite color: highlighter yellow.

Let’s talk Monique L’hullier. I was nervous when her first few pieces looked a little too Jessica McClintock-prom-2011 (bows, sateen, careful pumps). Then, she let loose these babies:

Ok, the first one is a little prom-y, but I love the large knit fishnets and ballet heels. The red rosette dress is dreamy and fierce at the same time. I’m crossing my fingers to see someone wear this at the Acadamy Awards tomorrow (Oliva Wilde, don’t let me down!).

I wouldn’t feel right making a fashion post without mentioning my love, Marchesa.

Never one to hold back on the accouterments, Marchesa makes his model look like she’s walking on a cloud. And the under-lit runway? Perfect touch.

ihurtiaminfashion:

[Photo: N/A]

Gabriel Dawe has created some of the most incredible art I’ve ever seen.  His “sculptures” (he calls them “installations”) are so surreal. It’s like you’ve walked into a Dali painting of a rainbow.

For more info, check it out on Design*Sponge here.

Holy peanut butter sandwich, guys! The Bert Show just re-tweeted me.

Bert loves me. He’s going to quit his job and come sit by my bed every morning and talk to me.

Check it out, folks:

Errybody and they mama is talking about Britney Spears’ new “Hold It Against Me” music video. They love it.

They’re crazy.

For the first 1/2 of the video, she looks like a bride cake topper inside of a spaceship. Then, after somebody splatter paints her, she magically splits into two people and starts being the living bejesus out of herself (that last part makes the whole thing worth watching). I’m wondering if this is a stunt like Ke$ha pulled at her NYE performance in Times Square, where BritBrit is just trying to get the entire country to watch her go ape shit.

I’m holding that video against her.

I wrote an article for our upcoming student newsletter about the latest updates in federal funding for science. Since you guys are so cool, I thought I’d share it:

If there’s anything BCDBers love as much as science, it’s the opportunity for a little friendly competition. No matter how mundane or unlikely the subject matter, we can turn pretty much anything into a contest.

It’s no surprise, then, that when the 2011 State of the Union address rolled around in January, you could find a group of us huddled in the glow of C-SPAN for a rousing game of Presidential Bingo. In this renovated rendition of the retirement home favorite, each square on the Bingo card encloses a popular buzz word, and if the speaker says the word in his address, the square gets marked.

 President Obama nailed some predictable trends throughout the night: “values,” “America,” and “freedom” were quickly checked off; surprisingly, “Iraq,” “foreign aid,” and “military” remained untouched through the dozens of rounds of applause.  Things got interesting, though, when he outlined his goals for America’s future. Cards with words like “science” and “technology” turned out to be big winners. 

In a manner reminiscent of a high-school football coach, the President smacked America’s padded behind (metaphorically, sigh) and told us “the future is ours to win”. And his game plan was simple: Research and innovation.

After pointing out some great giants of American innovation (Google and Facebook, naturally), Obama continued, “[t]wo years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven’t seen since the height of the Space Race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal.” Last week, that budget arrived, and although it announced a hold on overall discretionary spending, funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are set to increase. With this boost, the 2011 NIH budget jumps to $32 billion, up $735 million from 2010.  This comes in the wake of stagnant NIH budgets from 2003-2008 and moderate increases since 2008 (keep in mind, there’s an estimated 5-6% inflation rate for biomedical research each year). 

                Mr. President isn’t just handing over the cash, though. He is calling for the NIH to “initiate 30 new drug trials in 2011, and double the number of novel compounds in Phase 1-3 clinical trials by 2016,” according to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget.  Whether the increases in drug trials and biomedical research will set up America to claim victory over the world (space-race style), one thing is clear: it’s time for us to put down our bingo cards and pick up our pipettes.

I’m loving this series from photog Irina Werning. It makes me want to re-live some classics from the family albums. There’s a great one where I’m eating chocolate ice cream (or at least making a valiant attempt) and I don’t think a single ounce of it got in my mouth. I could go for reproducing that one.

The NYTimes has made a virtual Jeopardy game, pitting you against IBM’s supercomputer Watson. Check it out here.

Also, check out how I beat the pants off of a supercomputer (giggity):

Inman Park Restaurant Week participants have been announced. There’s 11 different restos doing a prix fixe 3 course dinner.

$15:

Fritti
Pure Taqueria
The Albert
North Highland Pub

Wisteria
Parish Food & Goods
Fritti
Park’s Edge
Rathbun’s
Sauced
Sotto Sotto

$35

Kevin Rathburn Steak

I’d really like to use this opportunity to eat myself stupid at Wisteria, Sauced, or Sotto Sotto. I’d also dig returning to Fritti for some killer apps and pizza.

Ransacked ostrich nostril.

Pet peeves:

1. When people play games on Smart Phones in social situations.

2. Whistling.

3. When people don’t look you in the eye when they talk to you.

4. Leaving doors slightly ajar.

5. Long toenails.

Of course, I’m leaving out my #1 peeve (which is probably more of a phobia): feet.

Talk about a greenhouse. This is the picture of tranquility (assuming you have a wonderful gardener to take care of all of that annoying plant care bologna). All you need now is one of those bird noise making machines. All the benefits of the outdoors…none of the bugs (or burrs or bears or bees).

“Losing My Religion” from Glee’s “Grilled Cheesus”

Check it.

Paige from Paiges of Style recently posted a tutorial on Valentines Day advent calendars. I think she’s right on about V-Day not being about the dinner or chocolate or gifts (while those are all really lovely and I certainly won’t say no…), but rather about appreciating and celebrating the love that two people share for one another. Her calendar is absolutely precious and has just given me a little bit of VD inspiration :)

I’ve been jonesin’ for a dino hoodie for a while now. Now that I’m not going away for the weekend, perhaps I’ll go down to Michaels and buy some supplies, whip out my sewing machine, and get to work.