ZZ Passion

Those with long beards are used to having strangers approach them and ask, "Are you ZZ Top?" (As if ZZ Top were a person and as if the strangers were being original.) Well, guess who Jack met recently? Yes, that's Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. Billy says strangers come up to him all the time and ask, "Are you Jack Passion?"

Movember 2006

Movember is a group in Canada that is raising awareness of men's health issues, money for Canada's largest cancer hospital, and moustaches during Movember (the eleventh month of the Julian calendar), 2006.

Our only problem with Movember is the requirement that participants be clean-shaven on Movember 1, but we support them anyway.

Please check out Movember's website at www.movember.ca.

BTUSA group trip to WBMC 2007

Plans for next year's BTUSA trip to England for the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Brighton are well underway. We will arrive in London on Sunday, August 26, spend four nights in Central London and then move on to Brighton on Thursday, August 30, where we will stay until September 3. The HUGE event takes place at the Brighton Centre on Saturday, September 1.

I was recently in Brighton. Brighton is England's quirky version of Venice Beach mixed with Coney Island but with real royal history thrown in. It is the perfect place for the WBMC.

The trip is open to everyone except boring people. The basic price is $1155 per person, double occupancy. There is also a super low-budget option for $556 per person. Prices do not include airfare. For full details drop me an email at this address: tahophil@inreach.com.

Hope you can make it!

Phil

Der König lebt wieder!

The King is back!

Readers of this blog will recall my report on the demise of the King of the Wild West Moustache Division, Günter Rosin. (Pronounced "Roe-zeen.") Günter had enjoyed a winning streak longer than anyone could remember but to everyone's shock was dethroned in Berlin, where he had to settle for second place.

It turns out my report on the King's demise was premature. Since Berlin, Günter has won every competition that has been held, including the European championships in Amberg.

Günter has told me the secret of his success, which I am not at liberty to disclose, but in my opionion the real reason for his success is no secret. Günter is an all-around cool guy who embodies perfection and style in every way. Moustache wearers worldwide should bow down to the King!

Get well soon, Terry!

Terry Pierson returned to the US on Tuesday, October 17. He is hospitalized near his family in Illinois. Everyone on Beard Team USA wishes Terry a speedy recovery.