Campaigners say the beards of Prince William and Prince Harry must peacefully co-exist.
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that it is still evaluating the beard Prince William unveiled in a video at the conclusion of the Olympic Games on Sunday.
It is running an advisory poll of supporters to take soundings on the whether Prince William’s beard is, so far, promoting a positive image of the hirsute in the public eye.
The campaigners have also warned against a possible Beard War between William and Harry which would certainly not reflect on the hirsute in a positive way.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, we are keeping Prince William’s beard under review. It is too early to say yet if it will have a positive wider impact on society.
Liz Truss’s account of being late for her Election Count on 5th July found to be at odds with the reality
On a Telegraph podcast on 30th July Liz Truss was asked why she was late to her Count on the morning of 5th July. She noted that she had been in McDonalds in Kings Lynn with her husband and daughter. Her daughter was eating hash browns but Truss had stuck to water as she didnt feel hungry at 5am. The 30 minute warning of the result being announced apparently didnt appear and then she was held up at a railway barrier.
The victorious Labour candidate Terry Jermy has now revealed to Labour List what was actually happening. Truss has told the Telegraph that she had delayed her appearance because of the presence of some ‘dubious’ BBC journalists
Jermy’s account notes
What most people don’t realise is that they actually finished counting at about 5am and they were sort of shuffling around with tables and papers whilst we were waiting for Liz Truss to make her way to the count,”
“It was only about 6.30am that she arrived anywhere near and so we were all sort of waiting around doing nothing and all the counting had finished for quite a long while,” he said, “When she got to the building, we were all given a sign as candidates to go on stage with the High Sheriff, but even then we were on stage for what felt like an eternity and she was still not appearing on the stage.”
2024 Beard, Shorts & Sandals are *the* male fashion trend of Summer
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the 2024 Official Beard, Shorts and Sandals Season has reached a peak with ideal weather conditions forecast for many areas this week.
Indications are that a beard, shorts and sandals is the male fashion trend of the Summer.
2024 Guidelines
1] Shorts should ideally be three-quarter length-‘culottes’ for the 2024 season. The length of shorts is particularly important as climate change may mean that unprotected legs get sunburnt. UV remains high even when the sun is absent
2] Footwear should be casual. There is a considerable range of sandal type footwear now available. Some leave parts of the feet and toes open to public view, while some do not. The BLF is not prescriptive about the matter.
3] Socks should usually not be worn. This policy was confirmed by a vote earlier in the summer.
3a] If the beard, shorts and sandals are to be displayed in relatively busier urban areas it is likely to be prudent to wear closed rather than open casual footwear and ankle socks, not visible to others may be worn.
4] There is no prescription or definition on what type of beard may be worn, or how this may match with the shorts and sandals. This is left up to the individual.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, the Beard, Socks and Sandals season has been a major influence on summer fashions in recent times and the 2024 season is beating previous records. We can celebrate peak season and flaunt the beards, shorts and sandals, but of course its important to stick to the official guidelines
Beard Campaigners issue urgent hot weather advice for the hirsute: avoid Karl Marx’s shaving error
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has issued emergency advice for the hirsute as parts of Britain face potentially the hottest days of the year so far.
Tips for protecting the Beard in hot weather
If the beard is above six inches in length moderate summer pruning may be in order. However this will only be needed if the hot weather continues
Where possible do not go out between 10am and 6pm and stay in a cool or air conditioned space, such as a library or pub.
If the beard starts to overheat immersing it in the freezer cabinet of the nearest supermarket will provide an instant remedy
Hand held fans may also be used to ventilate the beard
If the beard starts to dry out in the heat and follicles become brittle regular immersion in a glass of craft beer or lager will moisturise and nourish the beard
Do not use beard oils. In heat these may make the beard a sticky mess
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, as well as warmer temperatures the UV index will also be high. We urge the hirsute to avoid the error Marx made when he had his beard shaved in Algiers in late Spring 1882 only to find a few weeks later when in Paris that this led to his entirely unprotected face becoming sunburnt.
There’s a reason why you may have missed the start of the campaign for the new Tory leader. The Tories have only 121 MPs and despite calls from people with half a dozen followers on Twitter for Starmer to resign, the Tories are unlikely to be back in Office any time soon.
The six contenders faced a members husting in Cirencester at the weekend (Sunday Times 11th August) and most will it seems be touring England for the rest of the month talking to whatever local Tories they can find (its not clear whether Scotland and Wales will merit a visit, particularly as the latter has precisely zero Tory MPs).
All the candidates are of course right-wing and some are very right-wing, although with Braverman being unable to find enough support to stand outright fascism is probably ruled out, for the moment.
The Sunday Times reports there are 20 Tory MPs trying to work out who the most hard right candidate is, and there are 40 who are trying to work out who the most likely winner is so they can promote their own careers, such as they are.
As for the candidates Kemi Badenoch denied that Michael Gove is controlling her or putting ideas in her head. Mel Stride has sent an e-mail to Tory members urging them to join the revolution, not a word usually associated with grassroots Tories. Robert Jenrick is apparently well regarded, and has made himself the current front runner by betting on himself. However in a field of right-wingers he may be just a little too obviously fascistic. Complaints about him have been received at Tory HQ.
A complete political sideshow but not one without some interest. The Tories are after all meant to be the historic party of British capital.
August 1848: Chartists meet daily to plan an armed rising in central London
It’s a part of London’s radical history Keir Starmer probably does not want to know about. Frustrated by peaceful attempts to secure the vote, sections of London Chartism decided to try an armed rising instead.
Below are the details of where those planning the armed rising (due to take place on 16th August at Seven Dials) met during August.
We have the details because the meetings were infiltrated by what are now known as SpyCops. Most of the meetings were in coffee houses, reflecting perhaps the teetotal traditions of some Chartists, but also the reality that such places did not require a licence or official oversight.
It’s a still a couple of weeks off but the real story in Ambridge at the moment, featured occasionally on the Archers, is the rivalry between the reopening of the Stables and the annual Village Fete. They are currently scheduled to take place on the same day.
The reopening of the Stables is backed by dodgy businessman Justin Elliott and is very much a ruling Archer Dynasty affair. The fete by contrast represents the wider village particularly since Lynda Snell has relinquished control this year.
Alastair has had a drink with John
It’s still going on. This week John, Denise’s husband turned up at the vets. He almost broke the gate but settled for a whisky and a chat with Alastair. Unfortunately we will be hearing more.
George
Emma knows and now Will does too. Only the scriptwriters know where this is going
Employment Law
Alice plans a phased return to work at the Stables. Justin still wants to sack her. Lilian has reminded Justin that there is such a thing as employment law and the various processes that are required before sacking anyone. At this rate Alice will be joining a trade union.
National Sideburns Day. Noddy Holder voted Best Ever Rock’n’Roll Sideburns Wearer
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that with National Sideburns Day on Sunday August 11th it has run a snap poll to judge the best rock’n’roll sideburns ever.
In 2024 there is a focus on rock’n’roll sideburns
National Sideburns Day takes place every 11th August, and reflects the growing popularity of a range of facial hair styles.
National Sideburns Day was originally held to mark Bradley Wiggins Olympic victory in 2012
The campaigners say that sideburns, sometimes known as mutton chops, and named after US Civil War General Ambrose Burnside were often worn by Victorian politicians
Bradley Wiggins reinvented the post-1945 tradition of sideburns from Elvis Presley to Noddy Holder and the late Lemmy and Alvin Stardust, turned them into something no self-respecting hipster would be without
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, this year National Sideburns Day will underline the resilience of the style over centuries of changing facial hair fashions with a particular focus on rock’n’roll sideburns
In the annual poll Slade frontman Noddy Holder beat Lemmy from Motorhead while Joe Strummer and Elvis Presley came third and fourth. Some others narrowly missed a place on the poll including Ian Dury
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Best Sideburns ever poll 2024. A focus on musicians
When in Algiers in late April 1882 Marx decided to have his beard trimmed. He wrote to Engels about the experience on 28th April 1882. The photos mentioned are not extant. The well known picture of Marx with trimmed facial hair is not genuine, or shall we say, an artist’s impression
Apropos; because of the sun, I have done away with my prophet’s beard and my crowning glory but (in deference to my daughters) had myself photographed before offering up my hair on the altar of an Algerian barber. I shall receive the photographs next Sunday (30 April). Specimina will be sent to you from Marseilles. On inspection you will observe that, CONSIDERING the 8 whole weeks (during which I did not in fact have one day of complete repose) of painting with collodion (after the manner of Ludwig of Bavaria), j’ai fait encore bonne mine à mauvais jeu.
Collodion was an early form of photography, while Ludwig of Bavaria was someone thought to have good looks. Marx is making the point that despite not sleeping well for eight weeks he didn’t look too bad
Marx’s decision to shave his beard was very likely related to wider health issues which had led him to stay in Algiers and then Monte Carlo. By late June 1882 he was in Paris.
On 28th June 1882 Engels wrote to Bebel:
For the past 3 weeks or so Marx has been staying with his daughter at Argenteuil near Paris, is said to be looking very well, brown as a real ‘Moor’ (this being his nickname, as you know)
