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A Lesson on Men's Fashion

So I'm at work and "multi-tasking". The new issue of GQ just came out with Christian Bale on the cover. I can't wait to get it!

I was browzing the webpage and this is what I've learned about men's fashion today:
http://men.style.com/gq/fashion/styleguy/pants/923

Suits
--Normally men don't wear more than four buttons on a cuff. Most bespoke-suit wearers leave their sleeve buttons unbuttoned, just because they can.

--One can't really take an old suit to the tailor and ask him to take in the pant legs so they’re slimmer. Slimming down pleated pants might even look silly. New clothes make a man look more prosperous and thus attract money.

--Both two- and three-button suits are completely acceptable for men of all ages. Sometimes the three-button suit, particularly the high-closing version, is perceived as more fashion-forward, which it was a few years ago. But in fact, real fashion hounds seem headed back to the two-button, because the three-button has become almost universal
--

"A suppressed waist is a British cut where the jacket hugs the body around the waist, as opposed to the American “trad” sack suit, which falls straight down from the armpit to the hem. My tailor, John Pearse, tells me that the closer-fitting English style is the result of the mother country’s lack of central heating. Whatever caused it, it’s a cool, contemporary way to dress."

--A man looks silly in a jacket that’s too small. Change makers, not sizes. Shop around for a jacket that gives the ideal shoulders and armholes. Look for a more English cut.
--Suits and sport coats are built around the shoulders, and this structure is essential to the fit of the garment. The problem is the overhang of the shoulder and how the sleeves are set in. When buying suits, always go for the shoulder you like. It’s the most important part of the jacket. If the shoulders are too big, it's the wrong brand.
Shirts
--

I moved to London for work about a year ago and quickly noticed that nearly everyone in my office wears French-cuff shirts. I’ve since bought all new dress shirts, almost all with French cuffs. But when I travel back to the United States, primarily to New York and Boston, I sometimes get looks when I’m wearing cuff links, as if I’m trying to be some sort of English dandy

The Brits put more effort and imagination into getting dressed. Perhaps they are more sure of themselves and more confident of their sexuality. Or maybe it’s simply the tradition of dressing like a gentleman.

--Tailors can't fix a collar. It throws the placket off-center.
Weird:

Men's necks get bigger as they get older, and if you live long enough you'll wear those shirts again. It's a fact of life and doesn't have anything to do with weight gain. I wear a full size bigger than I did in college, and I'm basically the same weight. I think carrying your head around is like lifting weights or something.

Grooming

Q: I’m applying to medical school and hoping to get an interview in the next few weeks. I have well-groomed shoulder-length hair. Should I cut it shorter for my interviews?

A: Anything that adds to the impression that you’re serious should be considered—including wearing a suit and tie and getting a shave and a haircut. Many years ago, I landed an editor’s job with Playboy after having interviewed with a neat haircut, but then didn’t shave or cut my hair for the next year. Once you’re in the door, you’re in the door.

--It's ok for straight men to get highlights.
--Men should apply a sunscreen/ moisturizer before work and use a cleanser and some kind of antiaging stuff before bed. Women have all these expensive antiaging products and looks about ten years younger than they are, why not for men?

The following is HILARIOUS

I’m a sophomore in college, and many of my frat brothers have started completely shaving their pubic areas. They say it makes sex better, and some are even contemplating waxing! I’ve trimmed down there a few times, but I feel that since I’ve waited all this time just to get hair and be a man, why would I want someone putting hot wax on Big Ed and the boys? Comments?

A: I found this letter in the “Are they kidding?” pile, and I do hope you’re attempting a leg pull. Do you zany kids belong to Iota Eta Pi? I could see the swim team going hair-free all over for hydrodynamic purposes, but this new form of frat initiation is incomprehensible. Is waxing replacing the traditional paddling ritual? It seems far too Greek and far too geek to this observer. Body baldness, to me, represents a kind of pedophile or chemo aesthetic. It is decidedly unmanly. What’s next? Cub Scout uniforms? Adult Pampers? My only waxing experience was at the hands of a stolid, muscular woman with a Slavic accent who held no charm for me but was thoroughly experienced in quick, efficient, and minimally painful but certainly not painless waxing. The idea of amateurs of either gender brutally uprooting one’s pubes, possibly under the influence of Boddingtons Pub Ale, strikes me as totally unthinkable.

Pants

What’s your take on black jeans? I’ve seen a lot of rock stars, like Billie Joe from Green Day, wearing them, and I think they look cool. My wife says I’m too old to be dressing like a punk rocker (I’m 39). What do you think?

A: I’m wearing slim-cut black jeans right now, from a store in New York called Supreme, and I’m looking good. I’m not wearing safety pins, leopard skin, or a dog collar. Just a plain white shirt. I can’t think of any reason why black jeans are any more inappropriate for adults than blue jeans. Tell your wife that Iggy Pop will be 60 on April 21. He can wear whatever he wants, and so can you.

-- The concept of long-sleeve shirts and short pants = geeky,

--a jacket can be worn with shorts, and if it doesn’t look right, it probably means your shorts are too short.

Another funny answer:

Q: This problem is driving me nuts! For some reason, I keep getting holes (the fabric wearing thin/out) in the non-visible part of the crotch area in my slacks and jeans. I would like to say it’s because of my package, but I’m being realistic here. Help! I’m spending a small fortune at my dry cleaner getting my pants patched up.

A: Dude, I believe it may well be your parcel. Or an enthusiasm for tight pants. If you have big, muscular legs, they can rub together, stressing the fabric. (Fat legs have the same effect, but I’m being positive here.) I think wear and tear is just part of the cost of doing business, unless you want to change your style and wear looser pants or more heavy-duty fabrics.

Q: A female coworker said I was wrong to wear a solid navy undershirt beneath my white oxford. I defended myself but really have no clue if I am right.

A: It seems like I’m always getting letters from guys who have been scolded on style matters by female coworkers. I wonder how these women would react if a male coworker told them that their skirts were too short or their panty lines were showing. Somehow, I don’t think it would fly. Guys, stand up for your equal style rights. That said, she’s sort of right. I have long worn colored T-shirts under collared shirts. Maybe I invented it. But I wouldn’t wear a colored T-shirt under a dress shirt if it showed through. A blue tee might look good under a red shirt, say, or pink under green, but navy under white…well, I wouldn’t do it. If you’re wearing white, stick with white.

Tucking the undershirt into the drawers is the quintessence of dorkiness. Some men do have a big recurring shirttail problem, and usually it is caused by (a) their trousers being too low in the rise or (b) their stomachs being too big for their britches. Some men obsess over this and go so far as to buy a paramilitary product known as shirt garters. Wearing shirt garters is beyond dorkiness—it’s totally highway-patrol anal.

i'm pathetic, i know

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Never an easy week

Though QA lab is cancelled this week, I still have all my other labs. Which is fine, I guess.

I got my cell bio exam back: 76. I am happy with that grade. Others around me got lower and some obviously got higher than me. But I'm happy.

This weekend I watched The Prestige and Layer Cake at home. My cousin had a dinner party in her house for the first time. Went to that and saw Stephen and Lee and the crew. It was refreshing to be home. I had to rush back to campus, however, to be here for my one on one.

I put myself on duty a lot this week in order to get work done.

I'm trying to isolate myself from people but I'm finding it hard to do because people never leave me alone.

So friday I spent with Tina and Catie. We ate cheese, veggie chips, tortillas with salsa and drank wonderful red wine. Layer Cake was on in the background but none of us paid attention unless daniel craig was naked in some way.

We spent the night hamking fun and criticizing Tina's not so wonderful boyfriend.

I saw Isabella and we watched Layer Cake again. SHe liked the movie and thought it was excellent. Isn't saying much because she loves every movie. Had pizza at the Pereira house which is a dream because I love that stuff. Looked at Christmas and Rio pictures.

It's sad, there's a really hot picture of Daniel but he's standing next to his mother and sister. I feel wrong drooling when they are also in the frame.

So that is that. I am locking myself in the library and doing cell and QA and physics and everything else I have to do while Lab time is cancelled.

This weekend: nothing exciting. I'm not spending any money this weekend. At all. I need to save it for when I go out with Ani and when isabella sleeps over. I wanna go to Ginza in Chinatown.

My friends wanna go Sake Bombing....I don't wanna have Isabella along for Sake Bombing. No. Not a good example.

All right, back to class.

Thus ends ths update off my exciting life.

exploring NYTIMES

"Pressing Allies, President Warns of Afghan Battle"


My reactions to today's TIMEs article about the Afgahn battle issue, thing.

"The speech [to the American Enterprise Institute] renewed criticism from Democrats that had the United States no been tied down in Iraq, the situation in Afgahnistan would not have turned dire. At the same time, some Republican lawmakers said Mr. Bush's new strategy would not do enough to tamp down the Afghan drug trade. Outside experts criticized the president for painting too rosy a picture."

I read in a past issue of TIMEmagazine about the president's plans to make a better exit from his time in office by making some progress. I guess this is a step in that direction? I could be wrong. He's not popular with either party and that makes me happy. As a politician, however, it's his job to paint rosy pictures. He's not there to tell the 'truth'. We went into Iraq to find WMD's, remember?
This passage confuses me because it talks about two different things: the democrats are talking about Iraq and Afghanistan, the Repubs. about the "war on drugs".

More troops? Yeah but I thought we wanted more troops to mainly finish the job in Iraq...and that's fine and dandy and I think we should just finish the job and get out.

Alegedly: "These excalating attacks were part of a Taliban offensive that made 2006 the most violent year in Afghanistan since the liberation of the country." Mr. Bush said the question now was whether to "just kind of let this young democracy wither and fade away" or to step up the fight."

All right, this makes me think a few things. Firstly, every statistic is biased and especially something that comes from him. I'm not saying there isn't any violence in Afghanistan anymore but I'll have to see for myself if it's really true that it's been the most violent year. Secondly, that is the motive, aside from keeping tabs on terrorist cells in Afghan. for taking care of this fledgling democracy. There has to be more to the story that I don't quite know here.

"Mr. Bush...called on congress to provide $11.8 billion more to pay for operations in afghanistan over the next two years."
--increase size of Afghan army from 32,000-70,000
--build new roads, better ties with Pakistan
"We underfinanced, undermanned, and under-resourced the war in Afghanistan for the last four years." hhhmmm could it be that there's some major party going on in another middle eastern country?

Progress in Afghan.
--democratically elected government with a parliament 91 women members, and 5 million ppl in school.
Basically: Bush seeks more troops from NATO allies.


what do I think about all this? confusion at first because I don't think I know as much as I should about the situation. My statement holds: take on one thing at a time. Finish what you started before moving on.

"Democratic Leader Gambles that Weekend Detention Could End Senate's Squabbling on Iraq"

Standout passage(s): "republican leaders have asked to vote on a resolution of support for the troops and the full financing of the war effort. They have accused some Democrats of pursuing a strategy to cut war financing gradually...Allowing a vote on war financing, Republicans said, would show that Democrats are just as divided."

"Ms Pelosi sadi the House resoltuion, which is expected to pass with bipartisan support, repsresented thef irst Congressional message of disapproval over the war."

President asked for $100billion for his various wars (Iraq and Afgahn).

Again, tackle one thing first/concentrate on it rather than try to do too many things at once. I'm not saying ignore Afgahn. I'm just saying...improve one situation, please!

other news that is more happy and not political and mind boggling:
More to come later. I have to go take an exam.

Sophomore year is not fun

These are the things on my mind right now:

Lack of Money
Yeah, this is a broken record for many people. Damned medical bills. I have a few things that can help me alleaviate this problem. Like not go out until like mid march.

Academics:
oh dear. this is the hardest part to write about. I'm, I feel, drowning. But this is the way it goes in college and I've chosen a hard major.
Everytime I think that I'm on top of things, I find out that I am not. I'm taking measures to change this. I'm not going to be a returning RA because it takes up too much time, I'm re-assessing Medical school and thinking about getting my masters, I'm doing more hard core individual studying and doing things that work for me.

I get to see my parents this weekend! It's been at least three weeks since I've seen the inside of my house. I'm finding ways to have fun with my friends that don't involve spending money because I sure as hell can't go out every weekend to eat sushi.

I'm quitting starbucks'. Instead I go swimming on the weekends with my friends and go to the gym with Kat in the morning
I'm organizing more Movie Nights with the "crew". Instead of going out, I'm holding sleepovers.

Daniel returns in 135 days time and I'm all right. I cried last night when I thought about what it will feel like to have him back and smell his Brazilian goodness. I'm also PMSing but I don't deny that I have emotions.

I'm so happy that daniel found time to talk to me online on SKYPE because there's nothing like hearing his voice. I was sad to hear he was sick.

How am I overall? Stable. I'm on track with studying for physics. I'm proud of that. I won't deny that I'm nervous as hell because I hate that subject and it's gonna be hard. But there's only so much that I can do. What I really want to think about is this summer: what will I do to spend my time? How will I make the most money possible for the impending junior year?

Lots of think about, all the time. I must go and continue being a good girl and study for my Friday's exam.