"Exhibit A: take a look at any picture of any great cartographer. What do you see? Beards and moustaches. Ptolemy? Check. Mercator? Check. Blaeu? Check. Arno Peters? No beard, no 'tache. Check."

- from Strange Maps 542 - Untamed Wilds to Whiskers End: Travels in Beardland

Today was all about some respectable pruning of the crackling virility hedge. I hadn't planned on posting today, but then I reviewed the donation combat of the evening and morning, which played out like a tight old-school eBay auction bidding war. Jeff's prediction somehow came true, despite the fact that I didn't think I would muster enough support to pass him. Then, vastly generous people made that happen, and at midnight I found myself riding high at the head of the pack. Come sunrise, I was blown away to see that Pete had marshaled a final massive burst that made us surpass our goal.

Men, that was a great showing. Donators, that was brilliant generosity, and we all owe you copious thanks. And while Bob has named me the winner for being at the top at the end of yesterday, really, we all won, and that's the important thing.

In just a few days... the Cmar Beard Awards cometh.

Descriptor of the day: trimmed and shocked