What? Moustache March?

I constantly get questions about what Moustache March is, why we do it, etc. Well in the past I wrote a F.A.Q on the website that you can find here. But I thought I would write a little more here to help people understand.

The question I probably get most often is, "how can I get involved?" What a loaded question! One thing that we are trying to do this year is have our site be the spot where you can find all the different groups that are doing activities during the month. I hear all the time about different events happening and am hoping to connect people up to honor the 'stache.

Which brings me to my next thing, honoring the 'stache. That is our most important mission. There are a lot of groups out there that think you need to be clean shaven at the beginning of March, but my problem with that is that I would only have a moustache for the last few days of the month. So I started in October so that I would have a showing that would truly honor all that is the moustache.

The other big dilemma is the Moustache vs. Mustache debate. When we started we didn't even think about it, we went with the moustache spelling because it is more traditional and the World Beard and Moustache Championships spell it that way. There is a great site at www.mustachemarch.com, the only problem is I haven't heard anything from them since 2005 and it seems that they have given up, sad. I do support both spellings because it just makes sense.

So after my rambling here is a summary of what we want you to do to get involved:

• Grow a moustache, duh!
• Go to www.moustachemarch.com look around get motivated and get involved
• Take pictures, make videos, make music and get it online. Send it to us and make it fun. Whether it's you by yourself in front of a mirror or 100 moustaches taking on the white house just do it.
• Network! Get people involved, get involved with events, motivate people, entertain people.
• Go to www.moustachestore.com and buy some stuff!
• While at the store become a lifetime member and show your support.
• Join the mailing list on the site so you know what is going on.

Bacon and Moustaches go Hand in Hand

I came across a blog post from the good people at Skulls and Bacon a while back showing the American Sign Language symbol for bacon. As you can see the symbol bares a striking resemblance to the equally majestic moustache. It might just be the angle of the video but I would like to believe that two things that are so delicious should be similar.

The similarities continue... Quite a while back a former coworker and myself came up with the idea of Silent Bacon, I swooped up the domain and started a blog to show my love for bacon. I haven't put as much time into the blog as I like but at least it is there!

And it gets weirder, our buddies over at the American Mustache Institute started a social networking site for the bacon fans our there called the Bacon Institute.

There is just to much coincidence between all of this, I think I will have to make sure that I sign my wife a little more often for some bacon this March.

Beards are so in Right Now

So my wife in her endless conquest to know all things celebrity came across an interesting article on people magazine discussing the facial hair trends of several leading men in Hollywood. It seems that big beards are in right now. I am a little bummed that I didn't make the list but I guess I am off of the radar a little bit.

I can only hope that, like me, they are all just getting ready for Moustache March. Interestingly enough many of the guys mentioned have also had some sweet moustaches lately in movie rolls.

The Unusuals

So I have to apologize that I have been using this blog as a personal soap box lately (not really). I do not want to neglect the Moustache and it's importance in today's society. I have not watched ABC's show The Unusuals but after seeing this video mix over at Funny or Die, I might just have to check it out. Could be some good summer TV watching and it seems as though they might be giving some due respect to the moustache.

World Beard and Moustache Championships

I forgot that the World Beard and Moustache Championships are going on this weekend in Anchorage, AL. Apparently you can join up with a bunch of people and watch a live stream - (WBMC live > http://ustre.am/1sbk)

Some of these guys have out of this world facial hair. They are an inspiration to me and and my weak commitment to the moustache.

Hot Dogs and Moustaches

There is nothing quite as American as hot dogs and moustaches. Some of you might say this time of year, what about baseball? To which I say baseball is boring, especially in portland with no Major League team. Any ways back to the point. I am quite a fan of hot dogs. The problem is I do not have much of a broad experience with them. I relish (see what I did there?) my monthly visits to Costco for the amazing buck fifty dog and soda. It is extra good when I remember to grab a thing of Saurkraut from the counter. Other than that I am pretty much limited to sporting events and family BBQs.

So by now you are probably thinking if he has no experience why is he talking about this? Well to point you in the right direction. Mr. Bryan Free has a little blog aptly named Hotdog is my co pilot. He doesn't only write about hot dogs but has started a Weiner in Review series (I decided to not use weiner in my post title for obvious reasons). The rest of his blog is pretty amusing too except one post discussing some IT issue with networks and stuff, a little of topic my friend.

So any ways, short story long, hot dogs are american like moustaches, read bryan's blog, enjoy.

I'm Famous!

I am a little late on getting this news to you but I have just been bogged down with my fortune and fame. I am so bogged down I am just posting what I sent out to all the members of the Moustache March Mailing List. What's that you say? You're not on the mailing list? Well get on it now. Any ways on to the good stuff:

Yesterday I was on the local news for the American Cancer Society event. "Out and About" with Drew Carney did several segments for the 5-7am news. They actually posted most of the video here. You will also notice they used my mermaid picture for the link to the article here.

My true moment of glory, along with my dog's, didn't make the website cut, so I posted a poor video of my TV copy on youtube here.

I am really excited to attend the celebration event tonight with the ACS crew. Should be good times and hopefully I can score some sweet prizes and get my 'stache shaved by a proffessional barber!

Sorry for all the heres here...

Taking in the Arts

For those of you in the know, you will realize this is a picture of me next to a poster from the hottest thing from Broadway, Wicked. Each March I like to take in some theater, last year it was an adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Several months ago my wife was proactive and secured us some seats for Wicked's limited engagement in Portland. I think all of the shows have since sold out.

Now for those of you that have no clue what I am talking about, Wicked is the story of Oz from the Wicked Witch of the West's perspective. Now this is a musical, but I happen to be fond of the genre, yes I enjoyed Evita. It actually is a pretty fun story and a pretty entertaining show. Makes you take a good look at the perspectives you have in your own life.

So for all of you that think my March is only filled with beer, babes, bars and 'staches, maybe this will show you that there can be, and is more to Moustache March.

Ken - By Request Only

Now this guy is the type of inspiration I use each year for Moustache March. Ken's By Request Only album, released in 1976, has been recently been listed on the worst album covers of all time via several sites and email Fwds (I received a variation of this today, with the subject "I thought you would like this").

Now the great thing about this is the fact that in 1976 this album made perfect sense. My parents have several variations of the "cross fade" picture and that suit was hot stuff. More importantly his hair, sideburns and moustache were hot. Now I wish I had a head of hair like Ken's because I would shoot for his exact look. Needless to say I am stuck with a much thinner head of hair, but the moustache, that is why I grow one every March, so that I can honor a better time, when an album cover like this one makes sense.

SNL is Great Again

I was just sitting here this evening watching last week's episode of SNL with host Tracey Morgan thinking about how SNL has been pretty funny this season. Towards the end they played one of my new favorites, the Gas Right Strips (Hulu Link) commercial. It is a classic that takes me back to such greats as Dissing Your Dog or Oops I Crapped My Pants.

Now I don't know that I am ready to say that this is the best cast ever but there are some greats and some great variety as well. The popularity of Andy Samberg's digital shorts has helped a lot as well as Kristen Wiig keep it real, real funny that is, for the ladies.

Any ways this a pretty random post but it allowed me to put up a great picture of Fred Armisen with a Moustache. And if you are anything like Yetep and refuse(/don't have a DVR) to watch SNL and don't think Hulu is very cool maybe, just maybe, you will check it out and realize that there is some good humor to be had...

Mmmm...California

Where the beer flows like wine and the women flock like the salmon of the Capistrano, or something like that. I got the chance to take my Moustache down to Southern California this past week. It was a pleasant change from the cold, dreary Portland weather. We actually were out in Indio east of Palm Springs. It was nice, hot and dry. There was a pool near that had a lazy river in it. If you are not familiar with a lazy river it is basically a short man made river that goes in a circle so you sit on your raft and never have to walk back to the start.

The trip also gave me a chance to try out my new Pentax Optio W60 waterproof digital camera. I was pretty impressed with the results. I have some pics over at Flickr and a video on Youtube. This is the same camera I used down at the Dixie but this was it's first trip under water.

Besides insane amounts of time at the pool, I did manage to do a few other things, most importantly a rare visit to In N Out, so good, went for the 4x4 animal style!

I did see some pretty strong Moustaches while down there but didn't get much of a chance to promote the cause although I did sell a couple shirts and can cozies! Any ways, now I am back in Portland, quickly losing my tan, and being hailed on as I walked my dog this afternoon...

Hndlbars Moustache Wax Review

I was contacted in late February about a new Moustache Wax in the game, Hndlebars Moustache Wax. They like what we are doing for the Moustache at MoustacheMarch.com and sent over a sample of their product. I just got to the point this week where I needed some Moustache management and decided to give it a go. It comes in two containers, a classic tin or the chapstick style travel tube.

The instructions included said that it was best to 'warm' the wax first either in your pocket or in some warm water. When I opened the product I realized this is a very good suggestion since it is a pretty firm wax. So I warmed up the tin and gave it a go. So far so good. Due to it's very firm consistency it is ready to go the long haul. It works into the Moustache well and with a good brushing I was ready to go.

I had just trimmed my 'stache and got several comments on how nice it looked, mostly due to the fact that the Hndlbars kept my wild 'stache under control all day. Hndlbars is made on the east coast and definitely has a hard east coast feel to it. The wax that I used last year was a small town west coast wax and was definitely a lot softer.

On their site they have some links to some great handlebar clubs, etc. so it is definitely worth a visit!

They have some good March-madness deals going on in their online store so I suggest you head on over and pick some up!

Check back later in the month when I get a true Handlebar going and can give this wax a true test.

Moustache March Stimulus Package

So it is no secret the economy is not real strong at the moment. In my opinion, it all boils down to everyone being greedy and making poor money decisions. Now I am not exempt from this (see last post), but I am doing my part to help. I am hearing about some "Stimulus Package" that I don't think I will get a penny of. While the government is paying out insane amounts of money to people that make insane amounts of money and have given insane amounts of money to people that couldn't payback those insane amounts of money, I have a plan...

See in the past for Moustache March we have had shirts and said shirts were sometimes $12, sometimes even $15. But desperate times call for desperate measures. So I decided to make sure this year that didn't lack in amazingness, but did lack in cost. Yeah that's right, when is the last time you only had to pay $8 for a new and exciting tshirt? And better yet, when is the last time you could get a new, albeit last year's design, shirt for only $6?

So while we suffer through these tough times, I thought I would do a little something to let you splurge on a tight budget. So head on over to the MoustacheMarch.com official store and pick up a shirt or two and some other reasonably priced good stuff.

Side note, when I was discussing this blog post with my wife she asked why this wasn't a bailout plan for us...well to be honest I didn't think that was the right thing to do...I mean I have made a habit of pooring too much money into Moustache March over the last several years and, if I know anything, now is not a time for change.

Snuggies are Practical, no Really

So at this point I am pretty sure everyone (because even I have with my strong distaste for commercials and my strong addiction to my DVR) has seen the long commercials advertising the newest in a long line of As Seen on TV products, the Snuggie™. It is a ridiculous commercial showing the advantages of their product over your run of the mill blanket.

Now some of you are saying, yeah that product sucks, I watched the Snuggie™ Parody on Youtube and it's so true...Well I am here to tell you, you are wrong. See my wife suffers from overcolditis a common affliction for wives, girlfriends and chicks in general. So I thought what a great product for her but I need to interject with my theory on As Seen on TV products:

So as many people know I have a slight addiction to infomercials, especially the GT Express 101. The products just look so amazing and they keep lowering the prices and throw in an extra one to sweeten the deal. But then I get online and go to the website thinking how could I go wrong, that is until I see the shipping and handling. They usually want to charge like 10 times as much as the product is worth and then me being a cheapskate when it comes to S&H, has second thoughts, and realizes that I don't need this product.

So any ways back to the Snuggie™, so I had pretty much written off this product even with the buy one, get one free and the amazing automatic book light. They wanted almost $16 for S&H doubling the price. But then a gift from heaven. Costco online decides to make it all happen. They offered me 2 Snuggies, 2 booklights all for $14.95 and here is the hot spot, no shipping!

Needless to say, I ordered immediately and 4-7 business days later I have a package in my hot little hands. I quickly walked over to my wife, we work together, who was conversing with a few coworkers and presented her with the gift, she opened it and laughed with fear. See just the day before she had shown me an article in Time magazine discussing the success of the Snuggie, they have sold a crap ton of these things.

But after all this we got it home and guess what, it is a great little product that makes sense. So yes I am telling you, I am a man's man with a manly moustache that owns a Snuggie™ and not afraid to say it. I scored bonus points with my wife (she wouldn't tell any one that) and we will save hundreds on our heating bill while still being able to blog or eat popcorn. Now I just need to find my Clapper and I will be set.

Green Red or Blue Coffee Cozy

Do you get sick and tired of fidgeting with those skinny little cardboard cozies you get with your coffee? Do you wish there was an easier more efficient, more environmentaly friendly way to keep your coffee warm and keep your hands from burning?

Well Moustache March has the solution for you! Our all new red or blue can cozies are the best thing for your coffee/latte/mocha/other drinks I can't even pronounce. One of our own fans who drinks more Dutch Bros than you could shake a stick at came up with this great solution.

Now you too can keep your drinks 72% warmer*, 43% longer* and keep your hands 84% cooler* all while looking 100 cooler* and saving 20 acres* of koala inhabited rain forest per year. All while supporting the best month of the year and the best facial hair ever, year round.

Now available at the Moustache March Store for only 5 bucks!

*All percentages and numbers are 100% made up

Finally March 1st is Here

March 31st, 2008 seems like forever ago. It has been a long year and not necessarily an easy one for most. But that is why I am glad March 1st is finally here. The time when men around the world unite and enjoy all that is Moustache!

On the site, moustachemarch.com, we have a whole new look and new theme for the new year. Our own Mike coined the phrase "When Moustaches are Outlawed, Only Outlaws will have Moustaches," which we decided to develop our year around.

I hope for your own sake that you will join us in this time of global uncertainty and honor something that is certain, the amazingness of Moustaches.

'Stachetastic

So, Sir David Baehler, one of our faithfuls and an uber MacFanBoy like myself pointed out something truly amazing to me. The guys at Sortuva Company (priceless name by the way!) have developed in my opinion the best iPhone/Touch App yet. 'Stachetastic takes any picture and allows you to add over 15 different facial enhancements to it, most of which are sweet moustaches that I could never grow myself.


I decided what better picture to use as an example than my 'single tear' picture from April 1 last year(My wife is lucky I didn't have a better portrait of her on my phone...)

Link to 'Stachetastic in iTunes...

Joaquin Phoenix Rapping for Facial Hair February

Just in case you are not aware, Joaquin Phoenix has retired from acting to pursue his music career. Now I am a big fan of his acting but I am a much bigger fan of his new beard. He must have gotten wind of Moustache March and be going strong for Facial Hair February.

Here is a link to a TMZ clip on Youtube w/ a sample of his rapping and a glimpse at his beard.

Movember

Well as you know I am pretty big fan of the month of March being dedicated to the Moustache but I just had to share Movember with you all.  I had heard of it before but have a friend participating this year.  I visited the website and was blown away by the involvement.  From what I can tell they have raised millions of dollars for Prostate Cancer Research and have a ton of participants around the world.  It looks like DC Shoes and Playboy are pretty big sponsors.

Their participation and goodwill puts us to shame but I think we kind of win in the whole actually respecting and honoring the Moustache aspect.

Check it out, make a donation to one of our own Kurtis.  

Moustache For President

Now those who know me know that I am not one for much on the political front.  While I am quite grateful for the freedoms we do have in this country I think our political system is flawed.  Any ways...as you go out to cast your vote for president, remember, though you might not have heard of him, there is a third choice...

Bob Barr, the presidential candidate for the Libertarian party.  One of the most amazing things is the fact that he has a moustache, which just screams, "I am ready to lead this country with confidence."  I have done some research on the Libertarian party and while I don't agree with everything they believe I am definitely down for smaller government!

Any ways, even if you don't vote for the Moustached Candidate, do get out there and vote.  The only way we might ever see change is for people to voice their opinions.