Nebraska mayor implements shaving `ban'

[LincolnMcGrath]

The Associated Press
3/9/2004, 7:49 a.m. ET


LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — Beware showing any whiskers in Lexington these days.

Lexington Mayor John Fagot has implemented a "ban" on shaving for every man in town older than 21. Those caught clean-shaven without a shaving permit could face being dunked in a horse tank or other benign punishment.

The mayor implemented the lighthearted ban to get the town in the spirit of this summer's Plum Creek Days, a festival bearing the town's former name. One of the festival's traditional highlights is a beard-growing contest.

The not-so-consequential edict is in effect until July 5, the last day of the three-day festival.

http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/national-1/10788368429370.xml?aponline

[Wabbajack]

1. That's so stupid

NT

[DrDan]

2. what's wrong with it

it's a small town - in Nebraska

with everything else going on, it's good to see these folks ignoring politics and just having some fun

no harm to anyone

no CNN cameras

nothing for o'reilly or sean insanity to whine about

You've never done anything "stupid"? - just for the fun of it

[MrPrax]

4. "no CNN cameras"?

Not yet anyway...but I am sure this bit of 'fun' will show up on the national radar very soon...

Turkmenistan bans beards

A new law banning men from having unkempt hair has been passed in Turkmenistan.

The country's president Saparmurat Niyazov announced that long hair, beards and moustaches will no longer be allowed.

The law was reportedly passed on the grounds that hair gives outsiders the "wrong impression" of the country and is "unhygienic".

It also applies to foreigners and barbers are being set up at airports and border crossings to make sure the new ruling is adhered to.

The bizarre law is the latest in a list of strange regulations passed by MPs under pressure from Niyazov, who has been in power since 1985.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_876599.html

Maybe the Nebraska Mayor and the Turkmenistan Prez can have a debate on C-SPAN?
Topic: Facial Hair and Civic Pride

[mobuto]

8. Total difference

The debate over beards in Central Asia (with Turkmenistan outlawing them and the Taliban requiring them) has absolutely nothing to do with a silly publicity stunt by a small town mayor in Nebraska. In Nebraska this is an unenforced, harmless joke, whereas the Central Asian debate concerns religious freedom and the struggles between totalitarian Islamism and totalitarian Stalinism. This Niyazov may be the only world leader evil enough to challenge Kim Jong Il for top-billing.

[Wabbajack]

12. Fake laws

and fake courts make a mockery of our justice system.

But then again it makes a mockery of itself often enough.

[BiggJawn]

7. I agree.

My town celebrated it's Sesquicentennial last year, and they had a beard contest, too. Residents were supposed to buy a "shaving permit" if they didn't want to grow a beard, with procedes going to help pay for the celebration.

I didn't grow a beard, I didn't have a 'permit" and nobody tried to dunk me in a horse trough, either....
Damn good for them.

May have been fun back in the 30's and 40's, but now?

[maxsolomon]

3. beware the american taliban!

i knew some pretty hirsute dudes in high school. i don't think its fair to exempt those under 21.

[Voltaire99]

5. Well, they need something to do in Nebraska.

The corn has not grown any more interesting to watch this year.

[Oilwellian]

6. Well, at least the mayor won't

implement the punishment the Taliban had for those who shaved. :eyes:

[Zookeeper]

9. It sounds like the kind of thing...

that could encourage a sense of commaraderie or community, just by getting strangers to talk to each about something other than the weather.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

10. Well......it's a red state, what did you expect?

:eyes:

[DrDan]

11. absolutely it's a "red state"

ever been to Lincoln n game day!