Beards.

Beards are strange creations, aren't they? Some men can pull them off superbly, others can't. Some men need them to look older than a teenager, others don't. Some men grow them because their loved ones likes it, others wouldn't even dare.
This is the same with celebrities as with non-celebrities.

For instance,
Gerard Butler can pull off a beard (just not that ridiculous pointed one from '300')
He doesn't need it to look older.He looks better though with stubble.

Just type his name in google and look for yourself...he can suit anything...apart from,

(Sorry Gerry...but a pointy beard?)

Brad Pitt cannot pull of a beard.
He doesn't need it to look older, he looks about 60 when he has one.
He looks better without any facial hair.

Brad cannot pull off this look.

But he can pull off short beards, stubble, clean shaven, even goatees (as long as they are short.)

Joaquin Phoenix cannot pull of a beard...at all.It's not a good look, at all.
He also looks better without any facial hair.

(Yes to Joaquin here.................................................just not here. Just stick to the clean shaven look.)

My celebrity winner?

Who can sport every type of beard or just not have one and still look good?

HUGH JACKMAN.

He looks good without one....

He looks good with stubble...

and he suits...well, everything else!

(Above in Australia...a more natural beard. But flattering to his face shape)

(And in Wolverine...a shaped beard, not commonly worn by many. But yet, he can pull it off.)

Hugh isn't the only guy who can do this:

Notable mentions:

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Reynolds

Jake Gyllenhaal

Gerard Butler (give him credit, no one can pull off a pointy beard)

Stick to clean mentions:

Matt Damon

Tobey Maguire

Daniel Radcliffe

George Clooney (slight stubble only is allowed...just no longer!)

To conclude?

I prefer stubble. Stubble is easier to pull off - and if kept well, can make a guy look appropriately aged. Not too young, but not too old. Loads of celebs can pull this off - they are clearly on the same wavelength as me. For the record, this is my opinion. Some people love big bushy beards...but they're just not my thing particularly.

I'm done now.

Personal Space

I was thinking about this at work the other day. I was in the coffee break area observing the other workers, just looking at how close they were sat next to each other. You can see whether the two people:

a. Know of each other
b. Have spoken a couple of times, and know their names, but nothing more.
c. Are strangers to each other
d. Are friends (and this section could be sub-divided further...but that's too much hassle!)

You can tell by how much space there is between them.

Imagine - a bench, with one guy sat there.

Another guy comes over...where does he sit? On the complete other side of the bench. They're strangers - they don't know each other, they don't have any need to talk to each other.

A second guy comes over...where does he sit? About 3-4 feet away, not on the other side of the bench, but not right next to the person. Clearly, they know of each other - they may recognise each other facially...but not sitting close enough for any conversation to begin.

A third guy comes over...where does he sit? The bench is getting a little bit more crowded now, but still enough room to decide. He sits about 2 feet away. They know each other's names, they might be on the same team, they may have had the odd conversation here or there - not at length, but they do know each others basics pretty well.

The last guy turns up, and the bench is quite full. If he falls in sections A or B...he will not take up that space next to the original man. He will begin a new bench. If he falls in sections C or D, then he will fill it. If in section C, he will awkwardly walk over to the gap and sit there...and thinks to himself that he is clearly breaching the original person's personal space...but thankfully, they do know each other, so it's ok. If he's in section D, no problem - he can sit next to his friend without a care in the world. He sits next to his friend, he doesn't care who is sat on his other side, nor should he. He's not feeling awkward. Then the original man gets up to go back to work, and immediately the last man feels very awkward. They are both strangers to each other, and yet sitting as close to each other as good friends would be. One of them will get up...to cover up to getting up, they'll go and get another drink or pick up the paper, and stay.

It's quite funny to watch. Next time you see a bench...see the awkwardness. But it doesn't work on undergrounds, because they have dividers between the seats. This doesn't count. The bench must be a normal, non divided, bench. Enjoy observing!

Mystery Bloggers

I love getting replies to my blogs, it gives me a brief ego-boost and my little heart leaps a little as my mind says "Yes! Someone appreciates my blogs!".

Then I click on read comments, or words to that effect...and I find this strange comment written in, I can only guess, Chinese. No translation. I'm always fairly confused by them. Who are these people who are, hopefully, reading my blog? Why would they comment in their mother tongue when clearly they can see I am only fluent in English. I have made no claims to have gone to China, have Chinese relatives or speak the faintest bit of Chinese. I have made claims that I enjoy playing Perudo, which originated in Peru...so where are all the Peruvians not commenting on my blog, hey? Or the Romanians? I understand a very very minimal amount of Romanian...which is more I can say for Chinese.

Sometimes I'll receive a translation with my message, but the messages tend to be more like what I'd find in a fortune cookie. It's a free fortune cookie...although, they have no relevance to anything.

If you can explain the origins of these mystery bloggers, please let me know.