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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

After Burn After Reading George Clooney Sports Moustache

The man, the myth, the legend, George Clooney has been spotted sporting a Moustache for an upcoming film roll according this Telegraph UK article.  Supposedly he is some crazy soldier who utilizes ancient Chinese mind techniques to deal with the enemy.  So kind of loosely based on my own life story...of a dream I had once.  The movie is titled Men that Stare at Goats.

Oddly enough as I write this entry and think about my last few I am beginning to understand my own underlying purpose behind this blog.  I think as I look at those around me that don't believe in Moustache March, I want them to see how cool it is to have a 'stache for a while.  I mean there is a dating site, Adam Corolla did it, now George Clooney?  I am confident enough in my own 'stache that it is not a personal defense but more of my own version of an infomercial. What more do you need.  It just makes sense.

Is Online Dating Safe for the Moustached?

During one of my quests for the new and interesting in the depths of the interwebs I happened to stumble upon something amazing.  There is a new dating site called Stache Passions, and I quote: 

A 100% free social networking & online dating site specifically for singles with a passion for the Stache.

Now by the grace of God I found my soul mate(girl willing to put up with my antics) so I don't require the services of such a site.  But it is encouraging that there is a place for the owner/seeker of the moustache to go to connect.  I have had single guys tell me in the past that they will pass on the 'stache to keep their options open.  I say if your significant other can't accept you with a 'stache, what's next?  Tucked in shirts and chick flicks?  You have to hold your ground and now you can find that special someone who is already down with it.

Note:  After looking at the site more, it looks like it is pretty young but hopefully it will grow.  It also appears that the site is part of a passions dating network but I am still impressed that this site exists!

'Stache Bash 2008

If you follow the Moustache Community at all, you are probably well aware that this month brings Stache Bash 2008 to the Lumiere Casino in St. Louis.  This event is put on by our good friends over at the American Mustache Institute.  I will not be able to make the trip this year but if you are in the neighborhood, or have an abundance of frequent flyer miles, you won't want to miss the event.  They are also currently taking votes for the Mustached American of the Year which will be announced at the event.  The event goes down 10/25 and has been themed as "It'll be a Hairy Halloween."  Tickets are $22 online and $25 at the door.  With the price of admission you get live music, open bar, a gaming coupon for the casino and plenty of prizes are up for grabs as well.  They expect to sell out the event with 1000 people which is pretty impressive. Although we like to put are energies into the month of March we are very grateful for the work done by AMI and will continue to support their endeavors in supporting the Moustache.

Dad's and Grad's Sale

I decided to do the first ever Dad's and Grad's sale this year on the Moustache March site.  You all have that dad or grad in your life that lives or loves the 'stache and what better way to show them you love them then by getting them a shirt(now $10) or bandana(now $2) from this year's Moustache March store?

There is another reason for the sale.  I have some shirts left and I can only wear so many of them.  Smalls and mediums especially don't seem to jive with my 'svelte' figure.

My wife also told me that I need to sell some more stuff if I want to get a real birthday present.  She did give me an early gift by letting me grow my moustache back for Moustache May.  She is so good to me.  But I am really hoping for a Wii Fit for my birthday so I can wear a medium shirt next year.

Adam Carolla w/ a Moustache

This was a sad week for many of us...Adam Carolla, even utilizing a unicycle and a moustache, could not impress America enough to stay on dancing with the stars. I was impressed by the performance although he does look quite stiff. Check the end of the video for a good view of the 'stache.