Our Favorite Salt & Pepper Squatter

Cousin Eddy's antics from National Lampoon's "Vacation" or (my personal favorite) "Christmas Vacation," runs more parallel to Randy Quaid's personal life than previously suspected.  Just as Eddy was a fun loving, mooching, self-absorbed, and often times "mistaken" character, Quaid is not far behind.   

A salt & pepper bearded Randy Quaid (we love it!) and his wife, Evi, were arrested this past weekend - with a $10,000 bail - after they were found living in a guest house on a million-dollar property Quaid once owned. 

The couple was booked for investigation of felony residential burglary and misdemeanor entering a building without consent.

The Quaids were released on bail early Sunday.

Guilty or not, we support Randy's rockin' beard!  

ATL's Best Local Celebrity: THE BEARD of Kevin Gillespie

It's been brought to BaB's attention by the fabulous Dr. Zachary (PhD in scruff & duck fat) that Kevin Gillespie's beard won Atlanta's "Best Local Celebrity" by Creative Loafing Magazine. Forget that Kevin is a James Beard finalist, and not to mention a favorite on Top Chef, it's his red, flaming facial hair (and his eerily similarity to Yukon Cornelius) that has the country in total awe of him.

Oh and impart to his nearly 8,000 Facebook fans, which is exactly why I called the good Doctor (co-founder of Fans of Kevin Gillespie's Beard on Facebook) to ask him his thoughts on this tremendous accomplishment. 

Here's our exclusive interview:

Bab: What does this award mean to you?
Scruffmaster:  It means a lot to me, but it means a lot more for all of us.  It means a lot for freedom.  If anyone had beaten Kevin's Beard, it would have been explicit proof that the terrorists had won, that God doesn't exist, and that Good never triumphs over Evil.

How do you feel that your FB fan page helped to propel Kevin into the national spotlight?
The Facebook page "Fans of Kevin Gillespie's Beard" certainly helped propel Kevin into the spotlight, but you're looking at it all wrong.  We simply provided the conduit for the message of the Beard.  Truth be told, the Beard is what propelled Kevin Gillespie into the zeitgeist.

Do you think Kevin should compete in a beard tournament?
Kevin owes it to his Beard to physically bring it before the eyes of a wider audience, so yes!

Has Kevin contacted you directly to say thanks for the beard support?  Have you even touched his beard?
I spoke with Kevin briefly at the Party for the Fans of Kevin Gillespie's Beard at the W Hotel.  As for touching his beard: are you completely insane?  Didn't you see what happened to the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark when they opened the Ark of the Covenant?  Everyone at the party was (gratefully and reverently) averting their eyes.

Anything you'd like to add, Dr. Z?
A parting message: Kevin's Beard loves you and wants you to be happy.  Even more so, it wants you to be bearded.  Grow, grow, grow! 

3rd Annual Coney Island BMC Wrap Up

As you know by now (given the myriad of live postings and up to the minute results updates), El Beardo went to the 3rd Annual Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition... presented by the lovely Joanna Firneno and the curly Donny Vomit.

Unfortunately, because my suit was at the cleaners, my suspenders lost and the briefcase back in my father in-law's possession... I was unable, or unwilling, to compete my Championship Corporate Beard. Regardless what follows is a complete recounting -- to the best of my ability, given the copious amounts of beer that surrounded the event -- of the festivities, the beardos, the staches, and overall hairy awesomeness that last night's party down on the shore came to be... and what an event it was!

What really warmed our heart was the 'show must go on' perspective of the organizers, competitors and judges... there were ample hiccups (4 total competitors for natural mustache? no problem, we'll make do), issues regarding facial hair standards (OH: "well that's what happens when your categories have no concrete standards, they are learning as they go...") and so on... but not to be fazed, Donny and his motley crew of characters (which also included Cowboy and World Champion Trick Roper, Chris McDaniel; Jennifer Miller, The Lady with a Beard; and sword swallower Heather Holliday).

All in all, I really enjoyed the raw debauchery of said competition... it was a welcome break from the many rules, standards, and guidelines that we've heard and seen in other competitions, even the mostly freewheeling National's in Bend earlier this summer. However, the natural category winners were B-a-B friends from National's and Magnificent Specimens (i.e. returning champ Myk O'Connor), which  wholeheartedly  vindicated the results and gave full credence to the event in our books.

All in all, a great job done by all... especially the styles mustache category entrants... clearly, and by far, the most fully loaded category with nearly 15 contestants in the first round alone... the Hipster stache movement was and is alive and well by the beach in Brooklyn. So, without further ado... the select awesome photos from last night are below, other can be found in the Hairy Pics tab for your hair enjoyment.

Also check out the Competition's fan page on Facebook, goodies galore.

The Crowds, Setting and Judges

   

    

   

Natural Mustache Finalists

Natural Beard Finalists

Sideburns Finalists

Styled Mustache Finalists

Styled Beard Finalists

Fake Female Beard Finalists

THE WINNERS! (and judges)

Fistful of Beards

This past weekend I watched King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters that highlights Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell, along with other diehard video gamers, as they compete to break World Records on classic arcade games.  

Billy Mitchell caught my eye due to his obvious beard.  Not his laughable stance.  His beard.  Not his narcissistic and patronizing attitude highlighted in the documentary, but his beard. 

On that note, dear readers, keep your facial hair growing, but always remember to trim the ego.  (Queue: Rainbow)
 

 

Coney Island, Here We Come!

In association with Coney Island USA, Donny Vomit presents the 3rd Annual Coney Island Beard & Moustache Competition taking place on Saturday, September 11th, with pre-show/registration from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. and judging/show to follow.  Tickets are $15 at the door.

It's a celebration of facial hair - all lengths and orientations, artistic stylings, and unkempt scruff - highlighting our local favorite beardos and 'stache supporters.  Contestants have the opportunity to enter their furry faces in the following follicle categories:

• Best Moustache styled
• Best Moustache Natural
• Best Beard Style
• Best Beard Natural
• Best Fake (or real!!) Female
• Best in Show
• The coveted Worst in Show

Jennifer Miller, the lady with the beard, will also be in attendance cheering on the contestants and scratching her own facial fuzz.  In past interviews, Jennifer has been quoted as saying: 

"You’ve got Hair Club for Men: they all want it! It goes all the way back to Samson and his big mane of power. That’s why men don’t want women to have too much of it in too many places. So, here I am, a gal with a beard, prancing around the streets of New York.”

Rock on, Jennifer.  BaB realizes that September 11th is a tough date for our precious city, but this competition full of shock, awe, pride, and amusement, might be a much-needed distraction that offers some sort of relief for how heavy the city feels on that day.

Consider going - and growing.  

U.S. Open - $7.75 Isn't Worth A Shave

Embrace the beard.  

That's the cry of R. A. Dickey of the Mets in response to Tina Taps, the U.S. Open’s director of ball persons (yes, you a) read that correctly b) this job exists) when she told him that in order to be a ball boy for Nikolay Davydenko’s misses, he would need to shave.  

According to The New York Times, Dickey was asked if he would be willing to shave for the opportunity to crouch by a net, sweat, and field balls.  As of now, he is unsure.    

“I would prefer that they embrace me with beard.  Especially for $7.75 an hour.”

BaB agrees.  $7.75 per hour vs. a month (or two) of real dedication and manhood does not add up.  Plus, if R.A. shaves and his record (9-5) with the Mets begins to deteriorate, Major League Baseball might have some choice words for the U.S. Open.

When Taps (Director of Ball Persons) was informed that Dickey loves his beard, thankfully, she stated that she would not rule out the possibility of a "one-time whisker waiver."

We will hold our breath and hope that R.A. keeps his bearded awesomeness growing. Oh and U.S. Open, go beard or go home.  

A Q for the Ladies....

Riddle me this: If your significant other got down on one knee, revealed this new style of facial hair, and asked you to marry him... would you say 'YES'?    

Don't Ask, Don't Shave

The U.S. Special Forces, aka Green Berets, are a special operations force of the U.S. Army tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue and counter-terrorism.  The first two emphasize language, cultural, and training skills in working with foreign troops.  

So it comes as sad news to BaB, that after almost a decade of growing long beards to emphasize deep respect for Afghanistan's bearded culture, many of our elite have been ordered to shave their beards.  Seems veteran ops are complaining that they are not taken seriously by local leaders due to their facial fuzz, and they need these pillars of the community to trust them in order to gain intelligence into another bearded force - the Taliban.  

Those in charge have stated clearly that they want "a professional looking" soldier in the field.  Do those sporting beards really have the stigma of being uncouth amateurs incapable of serving our country?  Wouldn't the beard also offer some sort of natural camouflage to our troops, as I'd assume it is pretty easy to tell who the American is when all, but two guys have beards? 

Commanders report that beards are "sending the wrong message" to the communities overseas, but that said, special ops living in or near villages can keep their beards, "but are encouraged to adopt the traditional Afghan pokol cap instead of a billed cap."

*sigh*

What do you think?  Should special ops be forced to shave?  Does it send the wrong message?  Ever have a personal experience at work where you were asked to run to a razor?  Professionalism questioned?  

Will Ferrell's 2010 Wish List

Dreams can come true.  Well... sometimes.  

Wired's The Future that Never Happened discusses the technology that never quite caught on.  In the August issue, Will Ferrell takes a moment to add an edible fake beard (that tastes great not terrible) to his wish list of items that someone needs to invent.  

To quote Will:  "How many time have I thought to myself - Boy I wish I could eat my fake beard."  

Summer Ending Doesn't Mean Shaving

We were happy to see that The New York Post wrote about beards this morning, but it's lame they focused on "the vacation beard."  Beards are not solely meant for escape purposes - it's about the reality of commitment.  It's about letting go of societal pressures - ignoring your nagging girlfriend, meeting the stares of your judging colleagues, scratching your beard in front of your boss - and being proud of the time and dedication it took to grow it out.  

Quote The Post: "Nothing boasts I just got back from a sweet trip quite like the vacation beard. It’s bold. It’s triumphant.  And undeniably a bit bad-ass."

We agree, but remember that beards are bad-ass all year round.  A vacation beardo is not scoring any points with us unless you keep it.  If you grow some nice scruff, but shortly thereafter run to the razor, you join the ranks of Jon Stewart (who shaved 3 days later referencing his family as the main reason for falling onto the blade), Conan O'Brien, Zach Galifianakis*, Brad Pitt, Jayson Werth, Iker Casillas, and Jon Hamm.  

*Zach, on a personal note, I will always love you and appreciate you growing it back. Call me.  

When Duty Calls...

Sometimes, as reporters of all things hirsute, we need to cover a topic that might make most of our readers blush (or take for instance, this co-founder).  I wouldn't consider myself a prude, but as I stumbled upon Heckler Spray this morning, perhaps I should rethink that.  Heckler reported that a woman (I am hesitant to call her a singer/songwriter at this point) by the name of Majela Zeze Diamond has written a song about having sex with bearded men - and writes explicitly about the joys it brings to her... shall we say... erogenous zones. 

This Internet "star" has been quoted as saying, "Men are good for money, sex and vagina,"  but her recent “I love having sex with bearded men” video is why we're covering her today. 

A word to those sitting at work - this video, lyrically, is NSFW. 

"No Bitch Ever Wore a Beard" -- Jack Passion

Well, if I may say so myself... this interview is Jack at his absolute finest. Vintage Passion. And it's exactly why he is who he is; an inspiration to us all, bearded or not.

I want each and every one of you to heed his words and advice day in day out... Not because he's the beardliest man in the world, not just because he's a published author of the bible of facial hair, and not because he was the MC at the first ever National Beard and Moustache Championships... but rather because he's 100% right, 1000% just, and 5000% inspiring.

Jack has undoubtedly transcended his prize-winning beard... which is no small feat, since it keeps growing and growing. As such Jack keeps proving it and proving it... and that's why we here at Build-a-Beard.com love him so. I miss you already Jack, this weekend came and went too soon, too fast. Until next time my bearded friend... and it better be under a year.

Jack in his element (pic by Michael Buchino)

The Judges of BeardStacheNats

Man, the gloriously hairy weekend in Bend seems further and further away... I'm saddened by the fact that I have to wait another year to see all the awesome people that i met and mingled with at the first ever National Beard and Moustache Championships... at least putting out these posts in piecemeal is making me relive the experience, over and over this whole week.

   

As such, I wanted to do a post on the judges that were the shot makers on June 5th, the people with the hardest job in the room... the ones that had to look through hundreds of competitors in 4 categories and narrow them down meticulously into the top 3 winners of each set. I would not want to have their job, but if Phil Olsen is reading this, I am available for judging next year!

Either way, they deserve their own recognition and thus this post... of course, I somehow managed to miss interviewing Captain Harry Lewis (aka Capt Big Dad of the FV Incentive crab boat, made famous on Deadliest Catch) though you can clearly see me walking and talking with him, here, via LA Times). As well as my new best friend Burke Kenny (former world champion in the full beard styled moustache category, and a member of As the Devil Dances), plus the local essay winner Laura Beverungen... if y'all are reading, drop us a line for a well deserved Q&A!

First off, Miss Oregon 2009 CC Barber --  Who's a small town girl with big city dreams. She graduated from Scappoose High School as a varsity athlete with an Honors Diploma in 2005. As a native Oregonian and a nursing student in her final semester at Samuel Merritt University, CC Barber, is a caring and driven young woman with a heart of gold... I asked her abuot beards and world peace.

Then comes Sirwan Singh -- he's the Guinness World Record holder for the world's longest beard... he really needs no other introduction... I had some fun with him and his translator talking about the god given gift of facial hair.

What would a bearding event be without a ton of beer? And what would beer be without a brewer... in comes Jason Buehler -- a brewer from the Shamrock Brewery in Pueblo, Colorado. In his plea to be a judge, Jason demonstrated proper beer drinking technique (3 gulps), and a nice set of chops. I asked him about, what else, beer and bearding.

Finally, perhaps our favorite judge (and one of only two to tell me I did a good job, thanks CC for the other nod), Seth Klein -- Seth's plea was perhaps the most significant... you see, Seth is a scholar on Joe Palmer and a his video was a treatise on bearded rights. Here's my quick interview with Seth on that very topic.

And since I did bring up Phil Olsen, the self appointed captain of Beard Team USA... here's a follow up with the man behind the whole shindig, while not a judge his hands were full (perhaps fuller) than anyone else last weekend. I talked to him about America's role in the world of bearding...

Michael Buchino of Beard Revue Speaks!

I promised that I would dive into HD vlogging, so... here's one of the videos that were made this weekend by yours truly at the first ever National Beard and Moustache Championships in Bend, Oregon... Please forgive the unsteady hand (one of the many reasons I don't shave) and the up-close and personal style...

I've been a fan of Michael Buchino, and his blog Beard Revue, at least since meeting him at the B3 (B-a-B founders, Mr. Buchino, and Bearduary founders) conference in February... Not that it's an excuse of the shaking/zoom issues but continuing the swagger of our first meeting in NYC, the beer was also flowing at Les Schwab Amphitheater pretty heavily by this point in the competition (Freestyle, my, category was last)... so be glad I got something coherent.

I guess, given the above set up it's clear Michael is a man that definitely needs an introduction... but in reality... if you are reading our blog, you really should know who he is and read his as well... we walk in his footsteps.

The Winners of The National Beard and Mustache Championships!

Well, clearly i was robbed...

Seriously though, this experience of mine today has been nothing short of amazing. There was a Guinness record broken, some great beer, B-a-B fans left and right... and so so much more.

I'm on my way to the after-party but wanted to make sure to write up this quick post and show you all the winners of all the categories in today's inaugural National Beard and Mustache Championships. So that you too can join B-a-B in congratulating them for their hairy feat… this is something to look up to, admire, envy, and perhaps upchuck from (some guys can really do use some manscaping).

Either way, join me in congratulating the top 3 of each category… more about my weekend in Bend later...

Grooming 101, via Toot Joslin

So, I’m here and my envy is at about a 12 on a scale of 1-10... sure i've seen some massive beards and beardos in my tenure at B-a-B but the effect of seeing them in person delivers a knockout punch to my already fragile psyche.

That being said, everyone has been the nicest people ever, and welcoming at that. The town is great, the people are better, the beards are longer, and the mustaches are curlier.

To kick off the June 5th festivities, I joined a bunch of hairy folks for a much needed Beard styling seminar by the one and only partial beard champ himself, Toot Joslin at the Bond Street Barber Shop in downtown Bend.

Below are three videos that resulted from this enlightening session (apologies that it's indeed HD quality, so it'll take a while to load...). The first is a brief look at Toot, his personal and facial hair history… plus some focus on the products he uses. That is followed by a full styling video and finally a brief Q&A.

I gotta tell you all… one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever observed… now to just grow out my burns to match Toot’s awesomeness.

Bend Bound (Ch. 1)

So, the day I depart for National Beard and Moustache Championships is coming near (as in tomorrow)... and frankly the emotions are running wild in the offices of B-a-B. I've been bouncing off the walls pulling on my chin frantically, while Riss was away on her top secret beard scouting mission to Ireland.

Then arrived the "Competitor Badge" (it's a badge right? where's the plastic sleeve? i'm gonna laminate it...) and i immediately felt at ease. Besides, whom am I if not the #proveit king?!

Facing my fate in the face, I've been honing my furry skills and aiming for the stars since Magnificent Specimens when I realized I absolutely must come to Bend, Oregon. This corporate beardo is ready to accept the challenge, take a weekend multi-stop air travel and turn it into gold via one nugget of awesomeness... Saturday, June 5th.

On Saturday June 5th I will join quite possibly a Guinness World Record number of beardos, at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting days of my life... my expectations are realistic and thus low. But with my support crowd behind me (I'm bringing a few of my own, to tip the scales) I'm sure to come away with more than just another day's worth of beard growth.

Before heading out wanted to give a quick shout out to Jon Rice, The South Florida Man with high hopes and mad exhale moves; From Beard to There own Brian Quein; and Mr. America's Beard himself, John Benedict... get in touch I wanna talk beards and stuff, mostly talk beards though.

And speaking of talking beards, I look forward to reconnecting and swilling some beer with our good friend Michael Buchino of BeardRevue. A great man to know and grow chin manes with... And a fine example of a good thickness corporate beard, if I may say so myself.

So, as you can see the plan's pretty set and mimics any other corporate business east coast/west coast/east coast in 48 hours trek... only quite a bit hairier... Mine is a Corporate Beard, I'm competing in the freestyle category... what are you going as? Are you going? Wana meet up? Send us emails, ping us @buildabeard, message us on B-a-B... or stalk away, it's a small town anyway... I'm staying at the Phoenix Inn along with Mr. Jack Passion and many many many other great beardos...

THE SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 5TH
(I'll try to make all of this)

10 a.m. – Beard styling seminar by Toot Joslin. Bond Street Barber Shop, 841 NW Bond St., Bend.
12 noon – Press conference at the Oxford Hotel, 10 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Everyone welcome.
1 p.m. – Doors open at Les Schwab Amphitheater. Contestants should meet at the Oxford Hotel for procession to the Les Schwab Amphitheater.
1:50 p.m. – All contestants assemble at the back of the amphitheater for grand entrance.

2 p.m. – Round 1: Welcome and Elimination
Grand entrance of the competitors, welcoming remarks, introduction of the judges, and first round of judging. Les Schwab Amphitheater.

– Moustache judging
– Partial beard judging
– Full beard judging
– Freestyle judging
– Bearded family portrait
– Entertainment by El Loco

7 pm – Round 2: Finals
Final judging and presentation of awards.

8:30 pm – Live music with El Loco. Night glow balloon launch.