Rachelle's Reading List, Thursday, January 20th, 2011

by Rachelle Hruska · January 20, 2011

Today, I find out why women don't want to look like Marilyn Monroe anymore, why first name twitter handles like @Adam are clutch, and where Calvin Klein ate breakfast this morning. The Obamas are hot and so is the Standard's Talent Coordinator... but no one compares to Paul the Octopus, may he rest in peace. Let's go...

1. Last night, the White House hosted a state dinner in honor of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the U.S. Michelle looked STUNNING. Beyond. They make the best first couple ever IMHO. Check out more photos here. [WaPo]

[Photo via Spiers]

Check out the guest list for the dinner here: [WaPo]

2. This is the best gift list I've ever seen! Did you know that every year the White House is required to release a list of all gifts bestowed upon the President by foreign dignitaries. It came out today! [state.gov]

3. Also, this is funny. Sasha Obama went on a field trip on Wednesday Morning. To her own house! Leaving many of us to wonder if her parents had to sign a permission slip [Tinsely]

4. Women don't wanna look like Marilyn Monroe. Curvaceous actress Christina Hendricks has a predicament when getting dresses to fit her. And, it shows "just how dramatically the ideal body type has shifted in the past 45 years." [Boston.com]

5. Another profile of another blogger hit the web this week. This time it's on AJ Daulerio, the man behind Deadspin. Technology kills. [GQ via SK]

6. "Why Does Roger Ailes Hate America." Well, for one, he thinks his Blackberry is too small for him, makes him feel less manly. [Esquire]

7. The mysterious disappearing o.b. tampons. I never used o.b. but I did realize that they are totally unavailable. And, being the only non-applicator option, this is a big deal. Women that love the brand are in such dire need that they are buying them on eBay for up to $76 a tri-pack. Loyalist are taking to blogs and Twitter! [NYDN]

8. MTV to tone down (an already watered down version of!) 'Skins' to avoid Child Pornography infractions.[NYT]

9. Check out these wooden laptop cases. Pretty slick [Thatkindofwoman]

10. In weird news today: apparently the sun rose two days early in Greenland (Arctic Circle). Residents here have been without any sunlight for a good chunk of the winter, and traditionally they'd expect to see their "first sunrise" on Jan. 13th. This year, the sun rose on the 11th. No one knows the implications this is going to have on the rest of us. WTF? [LiveScience]

11. Today, Google commemorates the first - and only- inaugural address delivered by John F. Kennedy, exactly 50 years ago. [InOtherNews]

12. An extreme way to not leave Manhattan. This is pretty good. [YoungManhattanite]

13. Ever wonder who the lucky ducks were that scored Twitter handlers like @Adam or @Megan? Check out how Adam got @Adam and became really cool online. [WSJ]

14. Now at Starbucks: buy a latte by waving your phone. Well, it's certainly about time someone did this. Shoppers no longer need their credit cards to make purchases at Starbucks. [Bits]

15. Speaking of coffee, today is national coffee break day! [Dunkin'Donuts] But is it too early to start drinking ice coffee in nyc? (yes say experts) [@benleventhal]

16. The NY Times does a big review of the universal remotes available right now. The problem? None of them are that good. [NYT]

17. Camelitary. Talk about a site you will NEVER see in the states. Paramilitary soldiers lined up near the India Gate war memorial in new Delhi Wednesday during rehearsals for Republic Day celebrations. [InOtherNews]

18. How 25 tons of bombs made an Afghan Town disappear. Check out Tarok Kolache, er, what's left of it. [Gawker]

19. Lady Gaga opens Paris Fashion Week with zombies in plastic bags at the Thierry Mugler men's show. [latimes]

20. The amazing Michele Lamy bathed in light while being interviewed at Rick Owens's men's show for Fall/Winter 2011. I love her!!! [Business of Fashion]

21. The Standard's Talent Coordinator is also a striking tall blond with incredible music knowledge (go figure). [StandardCulture]

22. Do you have $80,000 to blow this weekend in the city? Here's how you should spend your dough. [Refinery29]

23. Calvin Klein was spotted eating breakfast today at Cafe Cluny. [WWD]

24. The downtown "digerati" are still up to mixing and mingling and other neat stuff. Then they are documenting all of the fun via text on something called BNTER. [NYM]

25. Remember the psychic octopus Paul? (Chiara?) Paul correctly predicted the World Cup match winners. He was honored today at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany with this monument. Paul died :( in October. [Gawker]