The Whisker Wars

The Whisker Wars is a seven episode reality series produced and narrated by award-winning producer Thom Beers. 

The series follows a devoted group of whisker warriors as they travel the country competing for top bearding honors in preparation for the World Championship Competition in Trondhjem, Norway. Historically, Germany has long dominated the field but now there is an upstart squad on the horizon - Beard Team USA. In an effort to solidify their standing, more than 80 local U.S. chapters are coming together to form the ultimate American bearding team. Self-appointed Captain of Beard Team USA, Phil Olsen will lead them in their attempt to stage an upset and bring home the World title. 

However, Phil's quest quickly shifts from building the team to holding it together as his motives come into question and tensions flare between his star players. 

Bridge

Dragan Dabic aka Radovan Karadzic

Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadzic has been charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) with:

• Five counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute – extermination, murder, persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds, persecutions, inhumane acts (forcible transfer));
• Three counts of violations of the laws of war (Article 3 of the Statute – murder, unlawfully inflicting terror upon civilians, taking hostages);
• One count of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions (Article 2 of the Statute – willful killing).
• Unlawful transfer of civilians because of religious or national identity.

His impressive beard and disguise as a naturopath kept him out of the hands of the International Court of The Hague for years.  

A Shaver's Guide to facial Hair Styles

Jack Passion

Passion’ is the story of Jack Passion, a man who has defied social convention and become an ambassador for the sport of competitive beard growing. Through good times and bad, he has pushed on to become the two time world beard champion. He shares this inspirational story with us and guides us through his world in a 7 minute narrative doc. He considers what his world has become due to his beard and contemplates the thought of a world without, much like that of the story of Samson and Delilah, he too faces the conflict of losing all he has become with just the cut of his hair. 

Burke Kenny

A 26-year-old Olympia, Wash., man took first place in the 2011 World Beard and Mustache Championships "full beard with styled mustache" category, officials say.

Burke Kenny's win in Trondheim, Norway, was the second time he took first place in the same category, The Olympian in Olympia, Wash., reported. He first won the "full beard with styled mustache" category in England four years ago, where he also became the youngest international facial-hair champion.

"I don't take it extremely seriously," Kenny told The Olympian. "I like to be an honorable gentleman and present myself honorably."

Kenny began growing his winning beard and mustache combo when he was about 20 while attending Evergreen State College; his biggest facial hair influence is his father.

"My dad is definitely my No. 1 inspiration," Kenny said. "He's had a mustache for 30 years."

Kenny is one of six Beard Team USA members to take home gold medals from this year's championship, four of whom are from Washington state.

The gold medalist says he uses his facial hair to promote understand and acceptance for big beard wears.

"I encourage men to grow quality facial hair, if they can," Kenny said. "And wear it humbly."

Firefighter Gilles Florent

A French firefighter's lawsuit against his department alleges he was targeted for discrimination because of his beard and long hair in a ponytail.

Gilles Florent, 50, said most of his colleagues in Montemilar, in the Drome region, have very short hair or shaved heads, but there is no official policy regarding hair length or facial hair, Radio France Internationale reported Monday.

Florent, a 35-year veteran, said bosses no longer allow him to go on calls, train other firefighters or take part in the yearly calendar photo shoot.

"There is no longer anything left for me in a profession that has been my passion since I was a young boy," he told daily newspaper Aujourd'hui en France.

Col. Olivier Bolzinger, head of the Drome fire service, said Florent's appearance since 2010 has caused problems.

"As an officer, he ought to set an example and a 2-month-old beard and long hair are not well looked upon," he said. "Firefighters have a certain image and ethical code to uphold."

However, other fire officials said Florent's appearance is not a problem and the penalties imposed on him were a result of his refusal to move to other stations in the department.

Osama bin Laden (1)

A Washington state man who pledged not to shave his beard until Osama bin Laden was brought to justice said he was overjoyed to shave upon hearing of his death.

Gary Weddle, 50, of East Wenatchee, said he stopped shaving after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and pledged not to cut his beard until bin Laden was captured or proven dead, Capital Press reported Tuesday.

"I spent my first five minutes crying and then I couldn't get it off fast enough," Weddle said of hearing the news of the terrorist leader's death Sunday night.

Weddle's wife, Donita, said she was similarly overjoyed to see her husband shave his beard.

"I wanted him to get rid of it, but it was his vow," Donita said. "I respected his passion and keeping a vow. I was willing to look past the beard because I love him.

"He looks 10 years younger," she said. "It's a very happy moment for us. It's a very happy moment for the whole nation."

Disney Beard Ban Lifted (to a quarter of an inch...)

Disney Co. ended its nearly 60-year ban on beards for employees at its Florida and California theme parks last February.

Male employees at Walt Disney World and Disneyland are now able to grow beards and sport them in public, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Wednesday.

However, the company said facial hair will be restricted to no more than a quarter of an inch in length, be fully gown in and "must create an overall neat, polished and professional look."

"Disney Look guides are periodically reviewed, given the unique environment of our theme parks and resorts," Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said. "While we're careful to maintain our heritage and the integrity of our brand, a recent review of our guidelines led to a decision that an update was appropriate at this time."

US Army Rabbi

Army Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Goldstein, a Jewish rabbi, and Brooklyn, N.Y., native has served the military since 1977. He often gets curious looks because he wears a beard, in accordance with his Jewish faith, while in uniform. 

Pogonophobia

The fear of beards is known as Pogonophobia, and it can occur for many reasons. Some people fear beards because they feel hair on the face is unclean. Others are put off by the rugged look that beards give to men. Whatever the reason, this phobia can strike any gender or age group. 

Symptoms of fear of beards include revulsion, an ability to be around people who wear full beards, and issues with hygiene. Those with Pogonophobia may shun bearded people in the belief that they are unclean. They may also be put off by the religious beliefs that cause some men to adopt full beards and moustaches. 

Some people with this phobia report panic attack symptoms when they are exposed to beards. They will feel nauseous, lightheaded, and phsyically ill around people who sport beards.

Treatment for this phobia should include education about the reasons why men wear beards. Treatment may also include psychotherapy and anti-depressants. Sometimes, talking to a qualified mental health therapist can get at the root of the phobia and help to eradicate it.

Reverse Beard

Showcase

What is a beard (1)?

The hair that is growing on someone's cheeks, chin, neck and above the upper lip and not taken away with shaving, is called a beard. Usually beards are just growing for men after they passed puberty.

In some times and some cultures men with beards have been ascribed with a lot of attributes like wisdom, knowledge or sexual virility, in other times and cultures beards have been associated with tramps or vagabonds.

Cat

Ayatollah Khomeini

Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

Rabbi Yaakov Israel

Rabbi Yaakov Israel – “The Steipler”

Walt Whitman

Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of the free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his collection of poetry Leaves of Grass, which was seen as obscene for its overt sexuality. 

1891

Hair India; A Guide to the Bizarre Beards and Magnificent Moustaches of Hindustan

I'd love to have a copy of this book, but alas, after the first print run of 1000, it's sold out and -so far- not reprinted again.

I'll have to satisfy myself with reading the ultra positive reviews on the web from the lucky view that were in time ordering...

Rubeus Hagrid

Hagrid is the gamekeeper and keeper of the Keys at Hogwarts; in the fall of 1993 he also became the Care of Magical Creatures Teacher. The source of his name comes from an old English word, meaning bad in the sense of: "if you were hagirid", you had a bad night. Hagrid bein a big drinker, he has a lot of bad nights...

Fidel Castro is the illegitimate son of a successful Creole sugar plantation owner. Born in Cuba, 1926, he grew into a rebellious boy and at the age of thirteen helped organize a strike of sugar workers on his father's plantation. 
The young Fidel went to a Jesuit boarding school. Despite his strong dislike of the school, he showed that he was extremely intelligent (and good at sports; winning the 1944 prize as Cuba's best all-round school athlete).
These days Mr Castro is one of the longest reining dictators in the world, although power is officially handed over to his brother Raoul.

Fidel Castro is, of course, also well known for his liking of berets.

Jack Rubin

Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin (born 10 March, 1963) is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records.

Montevideo, 2009

Charles Darwin

Darwin was a British scientist who laid the foundations of the theory of evolution and transformed the way we think about the natural world.

Well, "we" meaning "us", apart from the odd American creationist.  

Jim Morrison

From the Beards&Booze Blog:

Jim Morrison was the lead singer of The Doors as well as an avid drug enthusiast, but most importantly the man could grow a beard!! And my word, what says rock and individualism more than a great effin beard! I’m sure if Jim Morrison wrote a song about his beard the chorus might as well should have read, “this is my beard, my only friend, my beard” I mean folks I have to ask you, don’t you love his beard madly? I know Jim Morrison surely did. Jim Morrison while highly recognized for his superb music, rock n’ roll life style, and untimely death, but his beard very under appreciated. Jim Morrison was a true legend of rock who grew a great beard and for that Jim Morrison, we salute you! 

Dan Haggerty

The actor best known as Dan Haggerty started his career as a Malibu hippie, working as a stunt man and animal trainer who also appeared in bit parts in beach party movies and biker flicks. He also worked on the motorcycles used in “Easy Rider.” But his real fame came when he was cast in the 1974 low budget indie film, “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.” 

The "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams" (1977) star is the only person to have his star removed from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was actually meant to honor another actor, the late Don Haggerty, and the committee made an error in spelling. Eventually Dan received a legitimate star, now located in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. 

Tattoo Beard

Once a symbol of nonconformity in the conservative political landscape, the tattoo has now become the exact opposite – total conformity posing as nonconformity. Pretending they’re all total individuals that nobody understands, but they all somehow manage to look, sound, and act the same. 

But then, there are still those older men who got tattoos back when they actually meant something, but they are a dying breed. The men who were getting inked back in the day are forced to watch, horrified, as an entire generation of neo-yuppies singlehandedly steals one of their generational symbols and perverts it beyond all recognition. (Or is that too strong..?) 

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. 

Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man, a man of "unquenchable curiosity" and "feverishly inventive imagination". He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. According to art historian Helen Gardner, the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent and "his mind and personality seem to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote".  

French Louis

Leopold Haupois, aka French Louis, a true face in the image of God, born in France on 23 February 1853 and died in Wellington, NZ on the 3rd of October 1940. Lived the last decades of his life as a fisherman in Makara, caregiver to many cats and teacher of French to the Governor General's wife.

The God's Face

So God created man in his own image, in his own image God created man...

With a beard, that is...