1. Colors: BuDS has traded in its bright color scheme for something more true to the Ratty aesthetic—a mix of whites, browns and greys. The real improvement, however, is a muted background of a color I can only describe as “Ratty plate beige.” With these visual changes, the BuDS website transports you into the colorless world of Brown dining.

2. An Emblem: The semicircular windows of the Sharpe Refectory have never looked so majestic as they do atop the words: Brown Dining Services. Moreover, now that we have an all-encompassing image to associate with our meal plan, perhaps BuDS can have a mascot in a window-outfit to greet us just like the bear does at soccer games…or not.

3. Things Are Easier to See: Just as Warhol’s inverted colors turned Campbell’s soup into a cultural statement, the BuDS site’s new color scheme has opened my eyes to all Brown dining has to offer. Did you know there are food options for flu-afflicted students? I did not, but it sure quells all the stress of being thrown into a SARS mask and then told you can’t allowed to leave your room for two days.

Take the time to check the new site. With the new look and improved layout (the site does seem more browser-friendly than before), you might actually learn a thing or two about dining at Brown…or you can just meet Chef John, that’s cool too.

Challah Baking
4-6pm
Brown/RISD Hillel kitchen

Sponsored by Challah for Hunger and the Jewish Cooking Club, this workshop is for a good cause (but everyone knows that cooks gotta eat, amiright?).

Janus Conversations: Interventionism vs. Isolationism — Various Strategies for American Foreign Policy
7-8pm
Kassar House, Foxboro Auditorium

It’s the Janus Fellows, Professor Rose McDermott, and free Nice Slice in a POLS bonanza of hegemonic proportions.

We got CV(P)S! It appears that CVS has posted huge profits for the final quarter of the year. The R.I.-native company attributed its growth to a new long term contract, reported the ProJo. As astute as that analysis may be, we know the real secret to the company’s success — strategic placement of the ping pong balls right next to the red party cups. No paddles needed. #weplaypongtoo #itscalledbeirut

Today’s agenda involves a grammar workshop that will be closely followed by shots. The school superintendent of Central Falls has come under pressure as a result of his department’s delayed notification that one of his teachers was providing alcohol to students. The 22-year-old Emma Wise apparently brought several of her high school students to a liquor store and proceeded to drink with them after a football game. Liquor?! The best my teacher ever did was shotgun some Natty Light with us after a journalism report-a-thon (or was that just organizational bonding?). But Emma, my dear, you’re not so Wise.

Swinging for the fences. In a story that actually made the front page of the ProJo, two women in Jamestown, R.I. won a court case that forces their neighbors to take down a fence they say was built out of “spite.” This kind of hard-hitting reporting really gives the conflict in Syria some perspective. Oh, ProJo…

Remember your favorite awkward pre-teen idol (or crush) Lizzie McGuire? You got inside her head, loved her bangs and her tie-dye threads. Maybe you walked her walk, maybe you talked her stutter talk, but you definitely turned up the volume on your internal monologue (complete with animated rendering of yourself).

Lizzie is no longer on the air, and Hilary is now married and expecting. The pre-teen bubble has burst, but we see you, Lizzie McGuire — in our awkward moments and academic crises, our #collegekidproblems seem to look a lot like your #middleskoolproblems.

A semester’s trajectory, using the Lizzie lexicon:

The late-night food binge. “As long as you like the people you’re with, [*Authors' Additions: your BAC is relatively well-endowed and you got a spicy with], ketchup on a plate’s really not that bad.” Neither is Jo’s, the Gate, or $1 Antonio’s.  (8:22-8:32)

Valentine’s Day & other weekend pity parties. Because some of us will be ridin’ solo this Valentine’s Day (and every other day) and Ryan Gosling is busy _(insert awesomeness here)_-ing, many of us will be engaging in a hobby we like to call delusion. At 18+, we may be legal, but these celebrity liaisons are probably still a pipe dream. Somehow, they’re more comforting than real live failures.  (0:31-0:36)

Hiding from the Bio20 cold call. If you know anything about BIOL 0200, it’s that Ken Miller’s guerilla TAs stack up Facebook pictures of the students enrolled in his Salomon 101-packed introductory bio class.  The pictures are later used in class as a way to encourage ensure attendance and instill fear/minor embarrassment in his students. Our opinion? Duck and hide, friends. Duck and hide.  (6:06-6:09 or 6:20, if you’re feeling ambitious)

Procrastination. How could we possibly study for an extra four hours a day? Seriously, it’s Monday Funday/Wednesday Whisko/Thirsty Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday Spats Karaoke! And, obviously, we need time for requisite TV-watching and nail-painting. Make more time for procrastination as the semester progresses.  (5:02-5:10)

Shout it from the roof(Banner)tops! Guess all of that studying paid off: A A A A A!  Or maybe it’s just grade inflation. Regardless, celebrate Brandi Chastain-style, or treat yourself to a rooftop adventure.  (3:30-3:37)

You rock, don’t change. Or maybe you don’t and you should. Either way, the College Hill departure is overflowing with overdrawn hugs and separation anxiety. Cue nostalgia trip.  (1:23-1:37)

Taubman Luncheon Speaker Series
12 pm
Taubman Center

Postdoctoral fellow Vladislav Kravtsov will present on ”International policy transfer and HIV/AIDS crisis in Russia and South Africa, 2000-2010.” The light lunch provided will hopefully balance out the heavy topic.

Eco Practicum
12 pm
Urban Environmental Lab, room 106

This information session for the summer environmental learning program Eco Practicum features, appropriately enough, carrots.

Heart of Harkness – Fondue
8 pm
Harkness House

Tech House has been on fire when it comes to free food events lately. First s’mores, now fondue? Mhmm.

Community Health DUG General Body Meeting
7–8 pm
Wilson 309

(Health-y?) Refreshments will be provided at this meeting of the Community Health DUG.

Socially Responsible Investment Fund
8:30 pm
Wilson 309

Wilson 309 is popping tonight! After the Community Health DUG meeting, stick around for the SRI Fund’s free pizza.

If you are in need of a GorillaGram for a friend, contact information is provided on the YouTube site. Your perfect Valentine’s Day gift? We think yes.

Former SNL star and current Minnesota junior senator Al Franken will be visiting Brown on Sunday, March 11th, to receive the Brown Democrats’ annual John F. Kennedy Jr. Award. According to an email announcing the event, Franken is recognized for being “such a staunch defender of  the environment, LGBT rights, and good government.” Though the time and location haven’t been settled yet, a speech is to be delivered by Senator Franken sometime during his visit. More details to come as the event draws nearer, but having a senator on campus is sure to be a huge draw, so expect (probably not quite) Krasinski-esque crowds.

Somehow, the video and the picture are the same guy.

Image via.

Five reasons Tuesdays are excellent, in order of increasing obscurity.

1.  Two-for-1 Tuesdays. We’ll also take this opportunity to point out that *liking* Geoff’s Facebook page gets you a 2-for-1 coupon you can use any day of the week. Tunaberry erry day!

2. Quesadillas at Jo’s.  Though Monday burritos might leave us conflicted…

3. $7 Movies at Providence Place Mall. This is a real deal when it comes to 3D movies, which also cost only $7 on Tuesdays (as opposed to a gazillion dollars normally). We had a great time at Beauty and the Beast, just saying.

4. Dollar Burger Night at Bar Louie, downtown. Crazy cheap.

5. Star Gazing. Ladd Observatory is open to the public on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm, if the weather permits. But in cloudy Providence, it somehow never does, which can make this Tuesday event very obscured indeed.

We are holding two info sessions, 8PM and 9PM TODAY, Tuesday, February 7, in the upstairs space of the Herald Office (195 Angell).

If you can’t make either of these times, there are more options:

• You can come to a Herald info session next week
• Find us at the activities fair in Leung Gallery on February 9
• Email us at blog@browndailyherald.com to get more information.