Dry Idea No. 3

The drought keeps getting worse, but the ideas aren't getting better.

Last week, the city of Raleigh got permission to start sucking the muddy water at the bottom of Falls Lake to use as an emergency supply.

Previously, Dome suggested sponsoring a water-reduction contest at work and subsidizing efficient washing machines. Today, we're making a more personal suggestion.

Fellas: Grow a drought beard.

Shaving is a waste of water, especially if you leave the tap running or you shave in the shower. Electric shavers save water, but they're also expensive and don't give you the satisfaction of making a public sacrifice visible to all.

And not that you would take sartorial suggestions from Dome, but the beard is back.

First, the "strike beard" took off in California among unemployed talk-show hosts. Then beards started showing up on Dome's colleagues. And the hairy look has been in among gay men long enough that it can be properly co-opted.

Don't just take our word for it. The N&O's in-house fashionista, Samantha Thompson Smith, backs the beard too.