Minimum input for maximum output: this is a maxim that I believe, if embraced by the human race as a whole, would make the world a quieter, more relaxed place to reside. In the spirit of this, today's post is a two birds, one stone affair. After all, why write two posts, when you can say all you need to in one.

So, bird one; I just had to mention these amazing poster designs. They are by Neel Williams, a New York designer and an admirer of 'gentlemanly things' = 'beer, scotch and things like that' apparently!

I really love the playful nature of these posters. They were put together for this years World Beard and Moustache Championships (a competition I had the pleasure of attending back in 2007 when held in Brighton). The chosen style really evokes the slightly old fashioned, vaudeville-esque feel that surrounds the event. I do believe that the beard-arm wrestling poster would look jolly fine on the wall above my mantlepiece. (See early iterations of the designs here).

Bird number two is a heads up to the blog that I discovered these wonderful posters on. It is called 'Beard Revue' and is put together by a chap called Michael Buchino who describes it as a "web logbook committed to the review, commentary & discussion for the beard enthusiast". So basically, if you are a beard fancier this blog is for you, with beard head wear, the 'Facial Hair Handbook', acrylic beard paintings and an appraisal of Sylvester Stallone's beard all covered in the last week or so.

I have long been a purveyor of fine facial hair. To sport a beard is to have joined a society of the hirsute. Exchanging a fraternal glance with another beard wearer is a life affirming thing.

This once exclusive club has now been opened up to all by Magma with their Beard Cap. It is a woolly balaclava that gives the wearer the privilege of modeling a fine plumage on their very own boat.

Choose from the straight moustache with short beard (above) or the handlebar moustache with long beard, both styles available in blonde or brown. Purchase from Magma.

Great combination of beards and birds going on here. Kind of puts me in mind of the sort of creature Roald Dahl would have created; two parts hilarious, one part horrifying!

You can see more of Marc Johns work at his site, his blog and on Flickr. You can buy a print of Beard Bird here.

Jon Dyer once said "growing a beard is one of the simplest, zero-effort, macho things you can do". So the question begging to be asked is why don't more men sport them?

God only knows is the answer! There are a lot of things wrong with the world, and a lack of beards is just one of them.

Mr Dyer has taken it upon himself to address this problem to some extent though, by vowing to grow every type of beard from the chart above! At the time of writing he has managed 25 out of the 34 listed, an incredible feat you will no doubt agree.

Please, if you have a soul, get in touch with Jon and support him in his bid to achieve all 34 styles.

25 down; the facial hair types Jon Dyer has grown so far: A La Souvarov, The Anchor, Balbo, Chin Puff, Copstash Standard, Ducktail, El Insecto, Federation Standard, French Fork, Friendly Mutton Chops, Fu Manchu, Goatee, Handlebar, Hollywoodian, Hulihee, The Klingon, Old Dutch, The Pencil, Petit Goatee, Rap Industry Standard, Short Boxed Beard, Soul Patch, Toothbrush, Van Dyke and The Zappa.

I am a fancier of the beard. An admirer of the moustache. A lover of the hirsute. Through this blog I wish to celebrate and share the greatest examples of facial hair that I encounter or recall.

My first subject is American singer and songwriter Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Oldham has performed country tinged folk music through a career that has spanned sixteen albums in as many years under a variety of monikers.

In this picture, taken from the cover of the 'Master and Everyone' album (twenty-five minutes of melancholy folk and well worth adding to your record collection), Oldham apppears to be sporting a Garibaldi*.

I'm sure that we can all agree that Mr Oldham wears his beard off with aplomb. His is an assured demonstration of a truly handsome beard and he is thoroughly deserving of being the first focus of 'The Pursuit Of Hirsute'.

*The World Beard & Moustache Championship category guide (the credentials of which are not to be quibbled with) defines the Garibaldi as 'Broad, full and round. Length not to exceed 20cm. Moustache integrated. Aids not allowed'.