the game:
in an attempt to continually outdo ourselves, we have embarked on a "mountain man" competition to commemorate our virility. additionally, we seek to honor the glory of that which has swallowed lesser men whole: chuck norris' fabled beard.

the rules:
shave the facial area clean on april 8th, 2007 (for easter!). do not shave again for six weeks and compare beards. call it reverse lent (or just "tnel"). may the best man win.

the inspiration:
once upon a time, a similar competition was undertaken by equally foolish grad students.

the competitors:

EDB. certainly disadvantaged by his light mop, whatever he gives up in beard-growing ability, he compensates with the stare of a stone-cold murderer.	MAM. he of the legendary "haven't shaved in over 3.5 years" look. newly shorn, he is looking to reclaim his place among the bearded aristocracy.	VU. don't let the boyish appearance fool you - his ethnic background as half-indian, half-mexican makes him an absolute terror in a beard-growing competition.
PJ. a relatively untested challenger. though youthful, he aims to prove his mettle against his more experienced beard-growing peers.	JKT. though descended from proud lineage, his aversion to shaving has left him at a severe disadvantage. his only goal is to not be a "disappointment to the family." appears to be all about business.	CCLC2. a last-second entry into the challenge. evidence foreshadows that his face will be fertile ground for follicles. his rural roots strike fear into city-grown beards.
BAB. a man of intense focus and concentration. has been known to slay his competition using an unconventional mix of a wild beard and utter disdain for law and order.	GAR. his curly, flowing locks are a testament to his ability to grow hair. the smile is pure deception - he has been known to lull competitors into a false sense of security before he reveals his true (hairy) face.	DHS. often has the tools for every occasion; certainly, growing hair is not a job too big. known to be exquisitely gentle to his face during shaving, his conniving smirk provides insight into the ruthlessness he will employ in this monumental battle.

the updates:

week one: laying the groundwork...
week two: let the dishevelment begin!
week three: separating the men from the werewolves.
week four: you wouldn't want to mess with this crew.
week five: the competition is finished!
to end it all: a facial hair creativity competition!


final reflections:
'twas a long and arduous competition. not really, actually. we all had lots of fun with this, admiring and critiquing various beard growth. the general consensus is that chris won, but i think that there's more to it than that: in the end of the day, after such valiant efforts from everyone, we're all winners. we all appreciate getting over the hump, when what begins as weak, awkward, and patchy stubble graduates to the world of full beardness, emerging like a lotus flower in full bloom for all the world to admire. that, and i think more of us now are willing and *excited* to flaunt our new beard growth talents. awesome. that's what it's all about anyway, right?