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I came across an article that I deeply resonated with while looking at the RSS feed for Merlin Mann's 43 Folders site. Some of Merlin's best points included the brilliance of the Gillette Mach 3 razor, the importance of using a shaving brush, and the love-hate relationship a man has with shaving.

I've been using the Mach 3 razor since switching from an electric razor. My experience with electronic razors (what I used until age 24) has been very poor: they've given me a crappy, uneven shave, and probably contributed to my acne as a teenager. However, changing to a safety razor wasn't easy. I had to learn to shave with the grain (in my case, from top to bottom), use lots of water, and not be fanatical about getting every bit of facial hair gone (over-doing it can lead to cuts and irritation).

At present I have my shaving routine down to a science. And the Mach 3 does an excellent job, though the $9/month spent on replacement blades seems excessive considering the simplicity of their construction. But that explains why Warren Buffett has long been an investor in Gillette - so long as they don't do anything stupid, Gillette will continue to make money hand-over-fist from men and women who continue to replace their razor blades and supplies.

But I do loathe shaving. It's the part of my morning routine that I hate the most. It's time-consuming, requires close attention at a time when I'm just waking up, and is extremely repetitive. Maybe I should grow a beard. Hmmm...