Let’s play a fun game, shall we? Ten bucks says you don’t recognize this woman:

SO.MUCH.BETTER.

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File this under “way cool.” For the first time, scientists have filmed the HIV virus spreading from an infected cell to a healthy one. Watch and wonder:

Researchers found that the virus is transferred from infected cells to healthy ones in a previously unknown way.

It is hoped that the discovery will help researchers create a vaccine to combat the virus, which has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people.

The study was made possible after experts created a molecular clone of infectious HIV and inserted a protein into its genetic code which glows green when exposed to blue light.

This allowed scientists to see the cells on digital video, and capture the way HIV-infected T-cells interact with uninfected ones.

They noted that when an infected cell came into contact with a healthy one, a bridge was created between them, called a virological synapse.

Researchers were then able to observe the fluorescent green viral particles moving towards the synapse and into the healthy cell.

The US study has broken new ground by revealing that it is the synapse through which the viral proteins are gathered and moved into uninfected cells.

The team, comprising scientists from UC Davis university in California, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, believe that this knowledge could help create new treatments for HIV and Aids.

One can only hope this will lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/5058131/Scientists-film-HIV-spreading-for-first-time.html

Striking back cutouts on a dress from SteveJ & YoniP

As you may have gathered from the links I’ve posted in the past, Revolve is one of my favorite online clothing retailers.  Revolve can always be relied on to have some interesting alternatives when you need, say, a trench coat or a pencil skirt, and they run very solid sales on a regular basis.  Their options for ordering and searching for clothes are also way better than ShopBop’s if you’re looking for, say, a casual jacket in blue.

I have not, however, done a lot of shopping on Forward, Revolve’s relatively recent expansion focusing on “emerging designers and progressive collections.”  A lot of the stuff on Forward is, well, a little too forward for me.  I have to admit, though, they have some terrific lines (Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, anyone?) and it’s a great place to broaden my fashion horizons.

My most recent discovery is SteveJ & YoniP, currently being highlighted on Forward.  As with a lot of what’s on Forward, there’s a good bit of the collection that’s a little too out there for my tastes, but they have some fun pieces with daring cuts that are definitely out of the common way.  Even if you can’t quite picture yourself wearing them, they’re kind of fun to check out.  Some favorites after the jump. read more »

OK, I admit it: I’m B&T.

The GW bridge. Kind of pretty at night, no?

Just to be clear, I’m not of the invade-Murray-Hill-and-Meatpacking-District-every-Saturday/hair-gel-and-orange-”tan” Bridge & Tunnel variety (but wouldn’t a blog written by someone like that be fun?).  Still, I can’t deny the fact that I have two options on my way home: cross the Hudson via a bridge (the GW) or a tunnel (either the Lincoln or the Holland).

I live in glamorous New Jersey for a number of reasons (budget, desire for space, it seemed like a good idea after too much time inhaling the fumes around exit 13A).  And, truthfully, I’ve grown fond of my adopted state.  In particular, my area: Hudson County.

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My thought for the day?

Death.

The level of drunkenness I achieve while Emma is in town is really not to be compared to any ordinary night out. The thing is, I’m capable of resisting crappy drinks. If Emma is around? Emma is an oenophile. And a foodie. And a sake connoisseur. The alcohol flows when Emma is in town, but it is no ordinary alcohol. Invariably, it is some of the finest alcohol available. And in New York? That’s some damn good stuff.

I succumbed. We started at Blue Ribbon Sushi with two spectacular bottles of sake (the Mu daiginjo, a solid choice, and then the Divine Droplets, which is pricey but one of the finest sakes I’ve ever tried) and a lunch/dinner meal. I was sober enough at the beginning of this meal to tell you that Blue Ribbon merits the reputation. It’s not cheap but it’s a great, great meal, with some of the best o-toro I’ve ever had. We also tried out the ankimo, salmon “collar” (who can resist the mystery cut? not us!), and a variety of lovely sushi and sashimi. Terrific meal, and a perfect place to hit during the off-period when we had the opportunity.

It being Emma, we then… went to Balthazar for fortifying gin fizzes (excellent, cucumber-laden, will be great for summer, taunted Monique that she was not present via text), then on to the Soho Bloomingdale’s to do a power-shop for jeans. I’ve recently mentioned my new devotion to Paige. Emma, who actually has some booty, looked spectacular in a pair of Joe’s jeans, and bought those and a pair of great dark J-Brand jeans that wouldn’t have worked nearly as well on me.

Again, it being Emma, we got a round of Bellinis on their way back to the airport. Yeah. I’m going to lie down and die now. Don’t expect anything much out of me tomorrow, folks. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be out of commission. And yet? I’m still incredibly sorry she’s gone.

Fly safe, Emma!

I am all for any sort of exploitation flick, so long as the director’s tongue is planted firmly in his/her cheek.  Throw in some dry British humor, and I’ll willing suspend any belief necessary in order to enjoy said flick.

So it should come as no surprise to anyone that I’m kind of excited to see Lesbian Vampire Killers.  It’s clearly a sexist little tale designed to offend, well, everyone (women, lesbians, non-wimpy British guys).  But it clearly doesn’t take itself seriously, and I appreciate that in a ridiculously brainless horror movie.

The trailer:

Pray for me, folks.  I am almost out of spending money for the month and Emma is returning to the city unexpectedly for a second whirlwind visit.  You may recall that I posted about the extensive (and expensive) plans for her 20-hour visit a few weeks ago, but didn’t follow up.  Here’s why.  Her husband, who is normally an eating, drinking, and traveling machine, was overcome by the jetlag of all the hours on the plane, some sake, and two massively powerful double green tea martinis at the Four Seasons while Emma was getting her hair cut, and virtually passed out at the table at Caviar Russe.  (No worries, Betsy, Emma, and I kindly finished off his chef’s sampling of caviar spoons.  As Betsy said, friends don’t let friends waste caviar.)  It did put a damper on the plans for kaiseki at Sugiyama, though — I ended up with a couple of drinks at the Flatiron Lounge and a plate of scrambled eggs instead.  After a terrific breakfast-into-lunch meal at Balthazar the next day (strategy: arrive at 11 when they’re serving breakfast and stay until 1, after they start serving lunch) featuring eggs in puff pastry, smoked salmon, and some terrific steak tartare, they were gone.  My bank account heaved a sigh of relief at having gotten off relatively easy.

I spoke too soon.  They’re back.  Having been to New Orleans, DC, Baltimore, and the Dominican Republic since their last visit (life is hard), I’d like to think they’re going to be too mellowed out to help me spend the entire remaining contents of my bank account this afternoon, but, well… we’ll see.

Cross your fingers.  Emma wants to shop.

And when do I manage to think squeaky clean?  Yeah, mostly when I’m contemplating cleansers. Beauty articles tend to focus on the serious long-term stuff like serums and sunblock, and for good reason.  A decade from now, you’re going to care a lot more about your Vitamin C serum and how much SPF you used than whether your facial moisturizer was too heavy one summer.  At the same time, though, there are few parts of your beauty regimen that really make as much immediate difference in the way your skin behaves as how and when you wash your face.

This, unfortunately, is a lesson that I had to learn over and over again during my acne-prone years: wash your face before bed, Kai.  No, I mean it.   Get your lazy ass up and wash your face NOW.  Having finally realized the power of the simple cleanser, though, I have been converted.  Never again shall I go to bed without freshening up first.  To that end, here are a few of my favorite cleansers:

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My best buddies: Tweezers

The hair removal process I subject myself to before going out:

1. Shaving (the usual suspects: legs, bikini lini, underarms)
2. Depilatory-ing (upper lip)
3. Plucking (eyebrows and the stray upper lip hair that Nair missed)
4. Trimming (my eyebrows, you perv)

Really?  I know I have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome; it means I’m hairy.  Also, most likely infertile, but that’s not something that’s likely to be an issue in my life) and all, but that’s a bit extreme for a random night out, no?

Really, this is just hilarious.  I’m so happy that I’m not the only one tempted to sometimes break out into song and dance in the world’s most inappropriate places.

Pharrell in a Paris McDonald’s: