> I prefer being clean shaven.

I would if it wasn't so much daily humdrum effort, & I didn't have such a faty  face. . .

> After three days I have a 5 o'clock shadow.

If I could go two days apart for sgaving, I'd keep clean-shaven, too.

> The boss relaxed the rules a couple of years ago and allowed employees to
> have beards.  I think that looks awful for security people who are seen by
> the public.  Call me old-fashioned.

I'm with you; Iu guess we're both old-fashioned; sanme for bus drivers.  I like to sees a crisp uniform & clean shaven, & no damned earphones listening to the  hockey game on their pocket radio -- you need to be johnny-on-the-spot when  someone has a question, &/or you're calling out transfer points (not that most  bother any more)

Yup, the tuinmes they are a-changing! *sigh*

I try to roll with them, but it's harder for some than others.

I have preferences, but so what? We all do. . 

If the majority are against a change, it tends to change back or to some thing  else entirely.

We even had a 12% sales tax canceled a few years ago, through well-rganised  public momentum!

> And don't get me started on the ones with piercings, rings in their ears,
> tattoos and the rest.  Some look like security should be keeping an eye on
> them.

Yup, I hate when someone has a tongue piercing & they're Sylvester the Cat  spit-lisping all over my food or coffee!

I know what the tongue piercing denotes, & no thank you, I'm good. I don't  allow hardware near Russel. (Russel the Love Muscle)

>> I have one of those one-handed electric ball shavers for my skull
> I have never understood why some men shave their heads and grow a beard.

To each their own; I get a horridly itvvhy scalp & my last dermatologist  recommemnded I keep it bare & allow UV to cook it as much as possible --i.e.  don't wear a hat, even on cloudy days.

As I said, my beard hides my fat pallid cheeks.

> No idea where new barbers are trained.  Probably some overprice
> hoity-toity beauty school.

Was chatting up a cutie near the vocational college; she was a foreign student  here taking hairdressing & learning English -- she paid $20K/year tuition just  for the hairdressing course, & found free ESL English clases, to save money for paying for supplies & living money!

> I may get into trouble for this.
> Several summers ago (before I retired the first time) this guy was on
> campus saying he visiting from San Francisco and asked if there was a barber
> shop near by.
> There were two across from campus and I pointed them out saying "The one
> on 16th St is black and the one around the corner on 4th Ave is white".
> (That is their main clientele).
> He gave me a strange look and said ok and I went on my way.
> I chuckled to myself for an hour wondering what kind of story he would
> tell the folks back in SF.   LOL

Not your problem--nmp trouble to worry abnout getting into; just walk away; you spoke naturally without prejudice or agenda. It was up to him to ask for  clarification, like "how does it matter what colour they are?"

I go out of my way to not give offense, but I do not accept responsibility just because some people choose to TAKE offense.  

I'm sorry you misunderstood me; & I'm sorry you're the type to assumne the  worst about someone.  Have a nice day. . . . somewhere else!

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5