Not sure if I’m the only programmer who does this, but I often use my facial hair as a visual indicator of how long I’ve been working on a project. I typically employ this technique on short projects with a lot to accomplish and little time to do it in. For example, yesterday I finished a project that was originally scheduled for about 3 full weeks. After week one we figured out that the deadline was 2 days before we thought, so we lost 2 days off the last 2 weeks, which is a fairly substantial portion of time on such a small timeframe (and don’t forget to add in labor day weekend festivities). So the shaving stopped (showering continued on a sporadic basis). Honestly, when you’re in a time crunch there simply aren’t enough seconds in the day to shave. And I like being able to look in the mirror and have a visual representation of the work I’ve been doing. An added benefit is the refreshing feeling that comes after work is done and the scruff is removed. Ahhhh, vacation time…
P.S. Yes, that’s just under two weeks of hair growth, my facial hair is pathetic, I can’t grow a real beard. You can stop making fun of me now.
P.P.S. I swear I’m going to get back to Flex related posts soon. There’s gonna be a bunch of flexlib updates coming. w00t
[UPDATE] Tink and Ben Stucki posted WAY better examples than my own. I had to share. If you’ve got anything better post a link in the comments.


















Entries (RSS)
September 6th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
dude, you are a total tripper.
September 6th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Any way you cut it, you’re a handsome handsome man, McCune.
I generally use my facial hair as an indicator of extreme lazyness.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:08 am
After the worst project ever
http://www.tink.ws/DSC00018.JPG
September 7th, 2007 at 6:16 am
The woman normally gets after me before too long… if I was single, every project would end up like Aragorn
September 7th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I guess Tink’s got me beat, but I still schooled you.
http://www.benstucki.net/blog/images/843205816_3435f16272.jpg
September 7th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Very funny. I’m with Tony on the laziness thing. I don’t always shave even when I have time too. Like right now for instance. I could be shaving, instead I’m posting about shaving on a blog. It’s easier for me to recline in my chair, laptop on lap, read some blogs, type some words…than to go shower and shave.
*rubs facial hair*
*smells armpits*
It’s Friday night, though, the girlfriend will look negatively at me if I don’t shave or shower before we hit the town tonight.
September 7th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Heh heh heh. Doug’s two weeks of growth is my four days.
I don’t think I’d be willing to go for the length Tink or Ben have in their pics, though. I keep a goatee half the time (then I shave it on a whim, get tired of bare skin, and grow it again, ad infinitum. I’m indecisive!), but full beards get itchy after a few weeks.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
@Tink and Ben - AMAZING!
September 9th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I dont know where to tell you this but i think there is some type of loop/code error on this site. it just locks up my browser for some reason. i also tried it on 3 different computers and they all did the same. Tried IE and firefox
September 10th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Just think of the beard you could grow building something similar to this in Adobe AIR?
http://www.ajaxwindows.com
I bet you it’d be much faster…
September 18th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Reminds me of the playoff beard in hockey except no Stanley Cup to lift at the end.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 am
[…] Facial Hair as a Measure of Code Progress Ever get so into your project you forget to…uh…shave? http://dougmccune.com/blog/2007/09/06/facial-hair-as-a-measure-of-coding-progress/ […]
September 24th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Funy funy funy
June 27th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
[…] I just stumbled on a post that I just had to contribute mine photos. Here they are… […]
June 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I have to show you my own.
http://www.cvladan.com/misc/2008/06/27/in-response-to-facial-hair-as-a-measure-of-coding-progress/