Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am retiring this blog. I don't know for how long. It was fun while it lasted. Unfortunately, science doesn't teach itself, and it's time I get serious with my work.

With regards,

CC

The Other Side.

What do I do when I'm not on fashion blogs/forums or looking for the latest steal on eBay?

Faculty of 1000 Biology
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Nature
Cell
Science
Public Library of Science

Likes: cell biology, virology, biochemistry, molecular physiology, pathology

Dislikes: developmental biology, computational biology (mostly because I hate math and can't understand all those silly symbols and formulas)

Samsonite Black Label 'Along' Weekender.

Source: Samsonite

Everything from the woven leather handles to the detachable shirt bag (bottom zippered compartment) is perfection on this Samsonite Black Label Resort collection travel bag. The perpendicular and parallel patterning compartmentalizes each section and makes this bag easy to "absorb" visually. There's a hidden water bottle holder and a detachable shoulder strap (not shown) as well as interior pockets for all your travel needs.

I might actually visit their store next time I visit San Francisco.

Samsonite Black Label 'Along' weekender available at Samsonite for $1100.

John Varvatos Black Leather Briefcase.

Source: BlueBee

Hmmm...I just feel like they could have done something a little more with the slots, perhaps not as extravagantly as this croc-trimmed carryall but with at least some sort of distinguishing mark. Much like Britney's stint in rehab and Live 8, the good idea was not taken far enough to result in anything.

John Varvatos black leather briefcase available at BlueBee for $895.

Bally Orange Leather Carryall.

Source: Bally

Like green, orange is not used too often on leather pieces. (Louis Vuitton's Castillian Red and Mandarin Epi leather come to mind, as well as the Prada orange saffiano leather.) Spring and summer are all about colors, but red can be overpowering, and yellow is sometimes too bright and cheery; it stands to reason that the combination of the two would yield a pleasant balance of warmth and heat. The hardware, of course, should be gold-toned, as is the case on this Bally carryall.

Available at Bally boutiques.

Secondary Domain Name.

If typing www.carryingcontraption.com proves to be too much of a hassle, fear not, for typing www.manbagblog.com will get you to the same place.

I just saved you 9 keystrokes.

Canali Leather Hardsided Briefcase.

Source: eBay [Seller ID: rustycity]

If you're looking for a quality hardsided briefcase, try your luck at this eBay auction. The condition is new with the tag still attached, and there's no reserve price.

Any tax lawyers out there?

Canali leather hardsided briefcase available at eBay. [Current bid $101]

David Beckham's Jas MB Carryall.

Source: Just Jared

A commenter mentioned yesterday that Jas MB is one of his London favorites. Here's an old photo I found of David Beckham carrying a Jas MB bag. He kind of looks like he could be a Sinn Féin assassin.

Ally Capellino Wesley Bag.

Source: Ally Capellino

I don't remember the last time I saw a myrtle leather bag. (It might appear greyish on some screens.) Green isn't one of my favorite colors, but accessories have a tendency to expand my palette preference. Previously the only green I liked was lime green ostrich leather, so this bag might change that.

Ally Capellino 'Wesley' messenger bag available at Ally Capellino for £294.

White Pride vs. Black Pride, Latino Pride, Asian Pride, or Indigenous Pride.

We've come a long way.

I don't know about the rest of the world, but racism is still flourishing in the U.S. One common sentiment I hear/read is, "If Black/Latino/Asian/etc people can have pride, why can't White people?"

Pride for racial minorities in America means enduring prejudice, living through racially-motivated violence, and overcoming social roadblocks. On the other hand, those touting White Pride generally espouse White supremacy, which is completely different from having pride in your ethnic heritage whether it be Irish, Norwegian, Russian, or British.

Get the difference? Pride = Good. Supremacy = Bad.

That's not to say only Caucasians are capable of racism; hate and ignorance are colorblind. Unfortunately, tolerance is active, and hate is passive - it's so much easier to hate than to cultivate understanding.

Therefore, as a small step toward human harmony, I will do my darndest to not utter racial jokes. They may seem harmless but so did thalidomide.

(Don't mistake me for a vegan hippie. I'm quite conservative on most issues.)

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This is a non-fashion-related post intended to diversify the content of the site.

Balenciaga Leather Sneakers.

Source: Balenciaga

Remember the Pierre Hardy Colorama sneakers that enthralled me with all their bright colors?

Well, I like the above Balenciaga more. The black outlines and the deeper shades of red, green, and blue give it a pop art look, as opposed to a hodgepodge of random colors reminiscent of the 80's that apparently no one wants back.

Were I a sneaker aficionado/collector, I wouldn't think two seconds before giving the boutique a call. (Or maybe Jeffrey carries it.)

Gucci Leather Backpack.

Source: Bergdorf Goodman

This bag is weird and not in the "Wow, what avant-garde design" way...more in the "It resembles a pile of feces" sort of way.

Gucci leather backpack available at Bergdorf Goodman for $2365.

Got An Illness? Research It!

Doctors are humans, too, and despite their years of medical training and expertise, they can't know everything. CNN's 'Empowered Patient' has an article on how to search online for medical conditions and treatments.

From the article:

1. Use search engines that screen out the garbage for you
2. Find smart bloggers with your disease
3. Invest 30 minutes in the pubmed.gov tutorial
4. Click on information about annual meetings
5. When in doubt about a Web site, click on "about us"

I would also add Google Scholar to that list. It's more user-friendly than PubMed when it comes to digging up primary literature. Also, if you use Wikipedia, make sure you verify the information with the cited source.

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This is a non-fashion-related post intended to diversify the content of the site.

Dior Homme Perforated Canvas Messenger Bag.

Source: Saks

Flavored with a vintage touch but not so much that it looks like a $3 Goodwill find, Dior Homme gives us a little gem of a messenger bag that's not covered in logo (or made of metallic leather). The red/blue leather tab, though having no function on its own, wears like a decorative ribbon, and the canvas gives it a lightweight feel appropriate for an everyday casual bag.

Dior Homme perforated canvas messenger bag available at Saks for $1015.

Fendi Drawstring Hem T Shirt.

Source: Eluxury

For fat people like me who have a BMI of 21.1 (ugh, it's in the "Normal" range), these loose-fitting t-shirts are a blessing.

I tried going on a diet, but as I quickly found out, one cannot survive on vitamin pills and bell peppers alone. That's why I added a can of Ensure to my daily regimen.

Fendi drawstring t shirt available at Eluxury for $215.