beards

Searching for meaning in former French president’s stubble

A libel suit related to a trademarked beard recently prevented a prominent Russian mathematician from travelling abroad for a conference. Mikhail Verbitsky was sued years ago by a man named I.V. Pugach after Verbitsky ridiculed Pugach’s claim to have exclusive rights to a particular facial hair design. On his blog, Verbitsky lambasted Pugach for trying to have the bearded Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho’s books taken off the shelves in Russia.

Elsewhere, colleague Geddes disses the playoff beard on the grounds that “Not shaving: anyone can do it,” and goes on to wax nostalgic about moustaches.