A General Beard Thread

[Guildedagain]

I thought you said a general's beard thread ;]

"the title of Biggest Beard in the C*v*l W@r goes to brigadier general Albert Jenkins, whose chest-length long beard gave him a Beard:Face ratio of 2.86 to 1 -- a beard nearly three times larger than his face."

I wasn't sure about my beard at first, but then it grew on me.

 

[Nuuska]

... a Beard:Face ratio of 2.86 to 1 -- a beard nearly three times larger than his face."

Hello

I see that in US some of you use the same mathematically wrong expression as too many finns do.

The beard in your example is NOT nearly three times larger - it is nearly three times AS LARGE - or nearly two times larger.

 

[fronobulax]

Hello

I see that in US some of you use the same mathematically wrong expression as too many finns do.

The beard in your example is NOT nearly three times larger - it is nearly three times AS LARGE - or nearly two times larger.

I'm not following your "mathematically wrong" but it could be an English thing.

If I actually wanted someone to take my words and turn them into a math problem I'd say something like "the length of the beard is greater than the length of the face by a factor of about 2.86". My natural inclination is to avoid the word larger or "as large" because there are idiomatic usages that are not quite right.

"If the number of items you have is less than ten then you may use this checkout line" often gets incorrectly expressed using "less" or "fewer".

 

[spoox]

"If the number of items you have is less than ten then you may use this checkout line" often gets incorrectly expressed using "less" or "fewer".

The use of "less" instead of "fewer" for number had always bugged my wife and I. People would stare blankly at us when we would try to explain the difference between the amount of something and the number of things. Now all I hear is "the amount of people" used instead of the "number of people".
This should be the only time "less" should be used with people:

FEWER PEOPLE BUY THIS PRODUCT NOW THAT IT CONTAINS LESS PEOPLE.

As to the facial hair thing--as soon as I got out of high school I grew a mustache. Kept it for 10 years, then got tired of it and was clean shaven
until winter of 2008 when I briefly grew a beard. Never could grow sideburns, and the beard was always very sparse on the sides, so I had a Vandyke
for several years until I got tired of that and had a Fu Manchu and Imperial--sort of Ming the Merciless look. Finally shaved the Imperial, my mustache
was at last the way I considered perfect but after the 13th. person told me I looked just like David Crosby (one guy said Steven Stills?!!) I'd had enough
and have been clean shaven since.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Last time I grew a beard was 2019. My wife initially suggested it, but changed her mind fairly soon after. I persisted and ended up with a fine beard. When I did decide to get rid of it, I decided to raise a little money for charity and did a sponsored shave. Naturally, I let it grow to a good length first!

At Glastonbury, June 2019

Also Glastonbury, on BBC TV

30th November 2019. I took part in a charity cycle ride on this day and actually had ice forming in my beard!! After the ride, I had my charity shave.


......... and it's gone!

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, that is quite the transformation!

 

[Guildedagain]

Hello

I see that in US some of you use the same mathematically wrong expression as too many finns do.

The beard in your example is NOT nearly three times larger - it is nearly three times AS LARGE - or nearly two times larger.

Agreed that seemed wrong to me.

I hadn't looked in the mirror in a while and me beard gruesome more than expected, early fall, I reckon. Ahead of the curve as usual, who knew neglect was planning ;]

 

[Opsimath]

I'm not following your "mathematically wrong" but it could be an English thing.

If I actually wanted someone to take my words and turn them into a math problem I'd say something like "the length of the beard is greater than the length of the face by a factor of about 2.86". My natural inclination is to avoid the word larger or "as large" because there are idiomatic usages that are not quite right.

"If the number of items you have is less than ten then you may use this checkout line" often gets incorrectly expressed using "less" or "fewer".

What I find in the express checkout line is that <10 = X, and X=whatever is in the shopping cart even if that number is >10. Must be the new math.

 

[adorshki]

What I find in the express checkout line is that <10 = X, and X=whatever is in the shopping cart even if that number is >10. Must be the new math.

Damn. All these years I thought you needed at least 10 items to use express lines.

 

[JohnW63]

They know what 10 is but when they are given a choice between 10 items or something named less, and since they don't know anyone named less, they opted for neither and put their money nobody actually confronting them about it at all. I think they are the same folks who decide they don't want that frozen or refrigerated item and sticking it on the bread isle between the hamburger buns and the sourdough loaves. I found 3 items abandoned on the soda isle in three different empty slots one day.

 

[Opsimath]

They know what 10 is but when they are given a choice between 10 items or something named less, and since they don't know anyone named less, they opted for neither and put their money nobody actually confronting them about it at all. I think they are the same folks who decide they don't want that frozen or refrigerated item and sticking it on the bread isle between the hamburger buns and the sourdough loaves. I found 3 items abandoned on the soda isle in three different empty slots one day.

At least they weren't half eaten, although I don't think I've seen that since the use of multiple security cameras, but I recall finding opened packages with partial contents missing stuffed here or there in the grocery store shelves.

I heard of a customer in a, let's say, well known discount store who while standing in the checkout line ate half a cake and then when he/she got to checkout wanted a 50% discount on the cake because half of it was gone. I don't know if that really happened or was just one of those made up stories that get circulated.

 

[adorshki]

At least they weren't half eaten, although I don't think I've seen that since the use of multiple security cameras, but I recall finding opened packages with partial contents missing stuffed here or there in the grocery store shelves.

I've taken to following likely suspects around the store and when I catch them in the act, publicly shaming them with loud abusive language to call attention to their denigration of societal mores.

I feel better afterwards, especially when other shoppers applaud.

I heard of a customer in a, let's say, well known discount store who while standing in the checkout line ate half a cake and then when he/she got to checkout wanted a 50% discount on the cake because half of it was gone. I don't know if that really happened or was just one of those made up stories that get circulated.

If it was on the internet it's likely true.

I learned a neat trick: I buy some disposable blades and shaving cream, and ask 'em if I can use the restroom.

I shave (badly), then return the stuff due to dis-satisfaction with the quality.

 

[Opsimath]

I've taken to following likely suspects around the store and when I catch them in the act, publicly shaming them with loud abusive language to call attention to their denigration of societal mores.

I feel better afterwards, especially when other shoppers applaud.


If it was on the internet it's likely true.

I learned a neat trick: I buy some disposable blades and shaving cream, and ask 'em if I can use the restroom.

I shave (badly), then return the stuff due to dis-satisfaction with the quality.

Sounds like you know how to work the system.

 

[adorshki]

Sounds like you know how to work the system.

Either you work the system or it works you.

 

[walrus]

Interesting veer! No comments about hiding grocery items in a beard and walking out?

walrus

 

[Opsimath]

Interesting veer! No comments about hiding grocery items in a beard and walking out?

walrus

It has probably been done.

 

[Brucebubs]

Long time goatee man but I grew sick of shaving about a year ago and went full ... but keep it short with a fantastic Wahl cordless beard trimmer.

 

[walrus]

I'm asking for this from Santa:

https://books.google.com/books/about/One_Thousand_Beards.html?id=7pdN3PnqOwMC

walrus