Look, we never want to hurt the economy, or any one company or another, make people lose jobs or support any kind of economic regression... but the fact of the matter is, there are certain companies that are at the forefront of beardicide and pognophobia... razors, single use or fancy ones with 8000 blades, trimmers, clippers, and other sinister tools of torture, destruction and death.
The companies that support or harbor these terroristic methods, it's no surprise that we have sworn to smoke them out of their holes back in 2008/2009, when B-a-B formed.
Well, beardos and stachemates, today, we are honored to let you know the tide of the war on beards is waning, it's taken a turn; a turn that will stand out as a key moment in time that you will tell your children that the wave finally broke, and rolled back.
Bloomberg reports that beardicide supporter and facial hair villain megacompany Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) has announced that everything from Brooklyn beardos, to Movember, the Red Sox WS win, and other facial hair friendly events and efforts has taken a deep cut into their grooming sales last quarter, Chief Financial Officer Jon Moeller said yesterday on an earnings call.
"P&G’s grooming business, which includes shaving cream, razor blades and deodorant, generated $2.12 billion in revenue during the quarter ended Dec. 31 and accounted for 9.5 percent of the company’s sales. Though the division’s sales rose 3 percent, excluding currency effects, John Faucher, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York, said in a Jan. 13 note that sales of non-disposable razors and blades fell 7.8 percent in the 12 weeks through Dec. 21. The reason: “Increased interest in facial hair.”
Congrats everyone, we should all be proud of our efforts, our commitment, resolve and determination to bring about this change. We thank you for teaching ogres like P&G to remember Ezekiel 25:17
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon you."
Kudos everyone. Remember this day. Onward and upward.
Can't we all just get along? Apparently not... But hey, getting beards, mustaches, and awareness of pogonophobia on the front page of the Wall Street Journal? Not a bad deal for the facial hair community, net net. Needless to say, one should never let a good crisis go to waste.
PROOF of #provingit
Anyway... Cattiness aside (cats have whiskers too, get it?) we do (and forever will) believe in the brotherhood of the facial hair community. We stand by the attempts, the commitments, the righteous and the hysterical... you can choose not to partake, you can choose to grow it out and grow it proud, you can even choose to shave *shudder*... just remember that we are one, what we do is good, we do more together, always.
Moustache month has nearly concluded. Over the past 28 days, we've been inspired to see so many Mo Bros rocking 'staches and even this woman (who suffers from hirsutism) sporting one for the awesome cause of men's cancer research.
Not surprisingly, SoundCloud - the world's leading social sound platform that rocks on an average work day - has absolutely grown it for Movember. Check out the amazing pics below of my colleagues who are raising funds:
From top down: Alexis, Tomás, Marco, Ed, Ele, Corey, Deepak, Jami
The Economy? Jobs? Foreign Policy? Healthcare? Energy Independence? No... Helping avoid beard or moustache-cide, especially during Movember.
Look, we're not going to baited into the political discussions of he said or what the other guy said, all we know is that David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, said Wednesday he will shave off his 40 y/o mustache on national television if Obama loses Minnesota, Michigan or Pennsylvania on Election Day.
Here's a clip of the testy proposal on Joe Scarborough, the host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”:
So... MN, MI, PA... the ball is in your court, or on your chin and upper lip that is. You know what to do... #proveit.
Well, Movember is over... and it's antics like these in office buildings and cubuicles all over the world that we will miss... while these aren't the most hairy of upper lips, this example made us smile.
Remember kiddies, Build-a-Beard, is a place where every month is Movember and every day is Bearduary.
This year, I decided to cover Movember's Gala Partés in San Francisco. The evening consisted of mo bros and mo sistas dressed up in their best Movember costume, showcasing their immaculate grooming and competing for a number of category titles including:
Best Mo in Character Miss Movember Man of Movember 2011.
In addition, San Francisco's own Moustache Harbor played the entire night showing off both their commitment to growing and musical talents.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Not because of the upcoming holiday season, but because Movember is right around the corner. (Remember our interview last year?) To kick-off the season of raising awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically cancer, Trulia.com has set a goal of $10K.
According to their blog post, "Last year 24 Trulia employees participated in the event and raised $2,486.34, but this year we’re aiming a lot higher and have a goal to raise $10,000 for the cause." And that's where you, dear reader, come in - you can join Trulia.com's team! Check out the team captain.
Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement raising over $7.5 million US in 2010 alone.
Start growing, supporting, donating and joining Movember efforts!
"I think both Digg & Twitter are very welcoming of facial hair. That is, unless, you stroke it longingly in meetings while staring at executives or colleagues."
We were all set on a preview story hitting just before South By Southwest Interactive - one that would showcase the potential strength of the tech beardos & mustache growers we were flying down to interview for the coveted "best beard or 'stache" of the event (side: if you're attending SXSWi, come find me if you have what it takes to compete). That is until Trammell sent us a DM confirming that he would gladly partake in an interview after he had a drink.
As such, we scratched our original post to take a moment to learn more about the magnificently bearded & bespectacled specimen known as Mark Trammell. After all, what better way to kick-off a tech facial hair series than to interview the beard who has worked at PayPal, Digg, Twitter and a brief stint as a Navy journalist (not joking). The bar has been set, gentlemen.
BaB: When did you start growing your beard? Trammell: 1998 - Shortly after my tenure with the United States Navy. I shaved it off in 2008 for Movember and immediately began to grow it back. Recently though, I cut about 50% of it off so my Twitter picture reflects the most up-to-date version (see above).
BaB: Being a committed beardo, how was it when you grew a mustache for the cause of Movember? If it was measured in tweets - "#creepy" - would have been trending.
BaB: Wouldn't the Fail Whale be less threatening with a mustache? Maybe a handlebar...? Well, there are a lot less fail whales these days; however, there might have been a point where the whale needed a disguise - a mustache would have been considered.
Bab: What's the design philosophy behind the beard? It's about letting go. Most people decide after a life changing (mostly negative) event to grow a beard. Yet, those same people decide to shave it soon after. I say - let it go. Allow the beard time to fill out, find the potential in the hairs, and then shape it accordingly to your style.
BaB: Would your beard provide an adequate nest for birds to Twitter in? This reminds me of The Family Guy episode where Peter grew a beard for a family of birds. I wouldn't kick the birds out. I'd always be welcoming.
BaB: Does your dating life suffer because of the beard? There is no data to support the contrary, but no [it suffers for other reasons], but not because of the beard.
BaB: Favorite bearded band or musician based solely on their facial hair? 1. Megafaun 2. Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit 3. Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips (*Listed in no particular order)
Also, Brian Wilson has a beard of awesomeness and I approve of the dye job. The dye adds to the intimidating factor and awesomeness. If he didn't have that beard, there would be so much awesomeness coming from him, it would be distrating to batters.
BaB: What's it like for you to not be sporting a beard? I'm a hermit without it.
BaB: What's the best thing about having a beard? For starters, I don't have to shave. Mostly though, I don't consider the alternative. I wouldn't leave my house without pants on, so I wouldn't leave without my beard.
BaB: Have you ever met Zach Galifianakis? No, but a bunch of middle aged, Soprano-looking gentlemen at a club in Vegas were once fully convinced that I was Zach.
BaB: Twitter has helped our blog uncover so many amazing stories & a lot of new relationships have sprung from us using your platform, such as our blog's friendship with Scott Hutchison. Small world. For "Tonight's Beard," I am San Diego's 'The Trammell'
We've been reporting on Movember over the past few months, but we're happy to announce that yesterday the charity closed out its 2010 fundraising efforts - bringing in a staggering $63 million dollars worldwide to help build both awareness and monetary support in fighting prostate cancer.
According to The Los Angeles Times:The preliminary numbers are in (there are still some matching funds that need to be counted, a Movember representative tells us), and the 64,438-strong American contingent of the global effort (up from 28,206 last year) raised $6,941,189 -- more than double last year's fundraising of $3.2 million and far beyond the organization's hoped-for $5 million. National bragging rights go to our Northern neighbors -- Canadians raised more than $20.5 million this Movember, just a whisker ahead of Australia (where the charity began in 2003) at $20.3 million. Worldwide, approximately 455,000 participants raised close to $63 million this year, compared to the 255,000 who raised $42 million in 2009.
That's right, readers! Today is "Have Sex With A Guy With A Mustache" Day. And although I am not reporting live from the bedroom (sadly my man only has scruffy sexiness not a full blown 'stache) I fully support any efforts to raise awareness for solid charity organizations. Over the years Asylum and numerous other media organizations and popular Websites - from reporters to editors to interns - have taken the Movember challenge (aka: growing a mustache for the month of November to raise awareness and funds for cancers that affect men).
During this time, women have encouraged (or endured) their partners growing 'staches for this awesome cause, but are often left feeling unsatisfied. Since the majority of women can't grow facial hair, and faking one only brings us mild amusement (wait, we're talking about mustaches here... focus).... Asylum, in cooperation with the American Mustache Institute, decided to declare Have Sex With a Guy With a Mustache Day on November 18th for women all across the world to actively participate in Movember efforts.
So go grab onto a handlebar! Still in shock? Confused? Too prude to comprehend?Too distracted speed dialing your mustache friends to meet up later? Emily McCombs explains:
Most readers are familiar with Movember this month, but there is a special two month mustache-a-thon known as Mustaches vs. Cancer where all money raised will go directly to the pediatric department at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Since 2008, just two short years, the hairy faces of Mustaches vs. Cancer have raised over $75,000 to directly benefit pediatric cancer care and research.
If you don't feel like growing a 'stache for this awesome cause, at least have a laugh browsing them, and find it in your heart to give a little. We were sold in supporting this organization once we read their "About" section, which states: "The idea behind Mustaches vs. Cancer is to have an event in which many people can participate with a minimal amount of commitment (a mustache in no way hinders your daily life, it can only enhance it)."
The free event is happening TONIGHT, Wednesday, 11/17 at 7:00 p.m./'stache pageant begins at 8:15 at Johnny Utah's and will feature mustache themed drinks, bull riding, and a live band.
Build-a-Beard spotted on the Twitterverse that social media & tech guru Aaron Strout , host of ZDNet's Quick'n'Dirty podcast, was participating in Movember.What is Movember? Come on now... it's been the buzz since 2004 (started in '99) and even supported by our favorite Rocky & Balls, but for those who have been living under a beard, it's the month formerly known as November - dedicated to growing a mustache for 30 days while raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer.
How big is it? Well, in 2009, global participation of Movember (Mo Bros and Mo Sistas participated) climbed to 255,755 - with over 1 million donors raising $42 million dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners!
Aaron has rocked a soul patch for well over 10 years - a public demonstration to his "commitment to staying youthful." Learn more about this Mr. Movember participant below & let's help inspire him to go handlebar or go home!
BaB: How did you hear about Movember? My friend, Todd Defren (principal at SHIFT) roped me in 2 years ago.
What inspired you to participate? It's a great cause and I felt like it was a way for me to use my social megaphone to give back to the community.
Do you think you'll rock the 'stache after or be inspired to keep growing? Last year, I couldn't wait to shave come 11/30. This year, I am considering keeping my mo for at least a week or two after.... I might even try and go handlebar.
Have you always had facial hair in partic the soul patch? I've had facial hair (soul patch OR goatee on & off for a good part of the last 10 years). Not anticipating changing that any time soon. ;)
What does the patch mean to you? I work in a space where many folks are younger than me. I also live in Austin, TX -- a city that has a very hip vibe. My soul patch is one way to show that "I get it" and can visibly demonstrate my commitment to staying youthful.
Do you feel Quick'nDirty would have even more listeners if they knew you were planning to grow it out? You know, that's a good question. I may think about making that announcement on today's show.
How does your wife/family feel about this dedication to the 'stache during November? She loves what Movember stands for and fully supports me...but as far as the 'stache is concerned, she (and my kids) are all more than ready to see me shave it off come December.
Are you doing a Team Mo or individual? Planning to be in the platinum club? I am running Austin's entry for the digital challenge. We're facing off against 20+ cities from across North America.
Anything we missed/care to share? Hopefully this year will be a stepping stone for Movember to make it an internationally recognized organization that's doing great things to create awareness around men's health issues.
Whether from our posts on various sites (Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter), or your own hairy YouTube searches, by now you had to have heard of Rocky and Balls, The Beard Song, or at least figured out how awesome a ukulele can really be… We’ve been on this particular ‘Beard Folk’ bandwagon since connecting the seminal song to the overdub of Beardo: The Movie (another favorite) and swooning over it ever since that very moment on… but the story gets even better.
Seemingly following the Build-A-Beard 'all inclusive' philosophy, Rocky and Balls didn’t just want to recognize beards among the facial fuzz elite; to prove their true devotion to loving all things hirsute the duo went above and beyond their calling to raise money for Movember with The Mo Song… at that point the halls of Build-A-Beard were buzzing, we knew we had to find these two fair neighbors to the east, get into their heads and see what other fuzzy things we can uncover.
To scoop an EXCLUSIVE interview, Build-A-Beard’s own El Beardo gladly flew across the Atlantic over the weekend to sit down with Sophie Madeleine and Hannah Rockcliffe and get to the bottom of everything we and our readers were dying to know. Below is the resulting unedited conversation, and is our gift to you on this Monday, hopefully the three of us can make it a brighter day/week for y'all... and maybe, just maybe... the duo will love us for more than our beard now. Hopefully...
B-A-B: First things first, how did you meet and how long have you been singing together? What about the name… where’d that come from?
Rocky:I was flat-share-hunting because I was moving to Bath to start an MA in Songwriting. And, as fate would allow, I unknowingly came across the house of another prospective Songwriting MA-er, Balls!!
Balls: Yes, we met through a flat-share website, and I actually had to pay a membership fee just so I could message her back! She was worth it though!
Rocky: I moved in and we became great pals indeed. That was September 2007 and we've been "Rocky and Balls" officially for about a year now. The name is from our surnames and nicknames pertaining to our surnames. Rockcliffe and Ball.
B-A-B: I'd say it was worth it for sure, and a happy belated anniversary ladies! One of the pillars of your repertoire is The Beard Song, which is absolutely amazing, how did the idea come about?
Rocky: We had to write a song together for a University assignment, so we were thinking of all of our commonalities, the list was: fajitas, being a student, cats, and then beards! So we rolled with the beards idea.
Balls: Yes, a few weeks before the assignment I had just started writing songs on ukulele, and Rocky really liked what I was doing and wanted to write a song for ukulele too! I seem to remember it was a lazy Sunday and I was in my pajamas throughout the entire process. 'Twas a good day!
B-A-B: You say that the song was made by Balls to cheer up Rocky... what was Rocky so sad about?
Rocky: I was moving home from University early due to the terribly sad passing of my uncle (which helped inspire us to support the charity Movember with a song about Mustaches in aid of Prostate cancer) so Balls recorded a video of our song and sent it to me to cheer me up. And it worked!
Balls: I was in the middle of recording my album. I was getting a bit tired of it, but then I came across the lyrics to "that song about beards" that I had written with Hannah a few months before. It made me laugh so much that I thought Hannah should hear it because I knew she was going through a tough time.
B-A-B: Do beards always cheer Rocky up? or is it Balls' uke playing that puts a smile on Rocky's face? We'd think a kazoo session can always help too...
Rocky:Laughs "just the sight of a beard can cure a frown!" springs to mind! When we get together there is usually a lot of cheeriness.
B-A-B: The Beard Song was used in the trailer of Beardo: The Movie... is that a big and furry honor? I’m sure you can get a private invite to the World Beard and Moustache Championships now (the theme of the movie), will you take up the offer if it comes?
Balls: A very big honor indeed! And if we ever receive in a invite to go to the championships we'd happily accept! (hint hint)
B-A-B: The Mo Song was a great charity initiative for Movember; was that your first charity work with the organization? How much did you raise?
Rocky: Yes, 2009 was our first bit of charity work using Rocky and Balls. We felt we wanted to raise some money and awareness the best way we knew how, and that was to write a song. We posted it on http://rockyandballs.bandcamp.com for download for the week leading up to the charity's event in London and managed to raise £350. We were so pleased to raise so much in such a short time and all the proceeds went straight to the charity.
Balls: Also, my Dad had the most amazing mustache for all of his adult life. He sadly died of cancer when I was in my teens, so when Rocky suggested the idea, I had every reason to agree to it!
B-A-B: Rocky, we have to admit, you look awesome with a stache…you donned not one, but two fake staches for The Christmas Song Song... why not during The Mo Song?
Rocky: The tache's were a present and unfortunately I didn't own the mo's til after we had finished the video for the Mo song!
(B-a-B: Rocky used it also for The Mo Song 'promo' as seen in middle picture)
B-A-B: What is each of your favorite beard or facial hair style? Please say corporate beardos…
Rocky: I enjoy a dense but neatly trimmed beard on a man.
Balls: I concur, very much so indeed. I just visited the BUILD-A-BEARD website in order to research "corporate beardos", because neither of us had ever heard that expression before. And I THINK that is exactly what Rocky just described, no?
B-A-B: You just made me the happiest beard blogger alive! Let me compose myself, take a cold shower and switch topics… In The Gay Song you make it a point to say that your gay fans' beards are “always neat,” do you find that the straight beardos don’t upkeep their beards as much?
Rocky:Laughs some don't…
Balls: All the bearded men that I know have very neat beards, regardless of their sexuality. But our gay friends are very well groomed in general, and we wanted to express that in lyrical form. Plus, we love beards, so of course we're going to mention them at every opportunity!
B-A-B: ...And finally, what's next for Rocky and Balls? Any more opportunities for facial hair recognition in any future songs?
Rocky: It's difficult living so far away from each other to come up with regular videos. Although, we are brainstorming a new song at the moment, but its subject is a closely guarded secret! What other types of facial hair can we write about!? Eyebrows perhaps?
Balls: We're also traveling to Italy at the beginning of April to do a show in our respective solo guises, and the organizers have requested some Rocky and Balls songs as an encore!
Look, we never want to hurt the economy, or any one company or another, make people lose jobs or support any kind of economic regression... but the fact of the matter is, there are certain companies that are at the forefront of beardicide and pognophobia... razors, single use or fancy ones with 8000 blades, trimmers, clippers, and other sinister tools of torture, destruction and death.
