I have a question for you 
!! Yes, you! If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re not some random reader but that you know who I am.
So you’ll probably know that I like to stay nicely clean-shaven. In fact, I’m quite scrupulous about it. Shaving must occur once a day, sometimes twice if I plan to go out in the evening. Before you say it, I do realize how unnecessarily compulsive that is – I don’t think anybody’s facial hair grows quite that fast! But then, understanding my obsessive nature, you’ll appreciate even more the sacrifice that I’m thinking of making.
Here’s the question: would you pay (and how much) to see me grow a moustache?
Movember is the month formerly known as November. During this month, men register with cleanly-shaven faces on Movember 1st, and then make a pact not to shave their mo’s for the rest of the month. The whole event is a fundraiser for prostate cancer research. To learn more about the awesomeness of Movember, or to join the rage yourself, visit The Official Movember Website.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer threat in men. In fact, one in seven men will get it sometime during their lifetime. Just think about that for a minute… I’m sure that you have at least seven close male friends. One of them is statistically bound to get prostate cancer.
The average life expectancy for men in Canada is five years younger than that for women. Part of the explanation for this, is a lack of awareness about the health issues that males face in particular. How much do you know about prostate cancer? How much does your father know? So the goal of Movember is not only to raise money, but to raise awareness in all people about the health issues that men face.
WordPress has this really cool new polling feature that I wanted to try out. Before committing to Movember, I wanted to get a sense of whether there would be people (i.e. YOU!) backing me up ! For those readers living far away, I’d do my best to include you with regular photo-updates here, and lots of information posted! Please respond honestly:
yay Jason! As much as I don’t like mustaches, I think it’s a neat ideat! Just don’t encourage Tim to join in…
Comment by Megan — October 28, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
haha… I don’t think Tim could grow a mustache even if he wanted to!!! hahaha!
Jason, as long as you don’t end up with a dirt-stash… oh wait, maybe it would be a good thing. That way I could take some awesome blackmailing pictures and use them in the future! haha
What is the $ exactly for? (creating more awareness?)
Comment by D — October 29, 2008 @ 12:54 am
Jason, could I give you money NOT to grow a mustache? I think it is a very worthy cause, but do you really need to get aweful mustaches invovled?
Comment by Sarah — October 29, 2008 @ 10:45 am
You should definitely grow the dirt ’stache, classy all the way
Also, you should definitely learn about statistics: 1 in 7 men get prostrate cancer does not mean that from every collection of 7 men 1 will get prostrate cancer. This is especially true with such a small sample size! Therefore, I object to ’statistically bound’. /rant
Comment by Tim — October 29, 2008 @ 11:09 am
@ Megan: Hmm
now there’s an idea … you interested Speedy 
??
@ D: The money raised goes to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. Their website is http://www.prostatecancer.ca if you want to learn more.
@ Sarah: You can do that too!! The opt-out fees are $1.50 per day remaining of Movember. So if you want to see me quit a week early, you’ve got to pay $10.50. If don’t wanna see any mustache at all, that’ll cost you $45.00. Course… I think I’ll raise more by staying in
, so I may not accept your offer.
@ Tim: Ya, you’re right about the manipulative defilement of stats. Sorry
! What that should have read is: “All else being equal, the expected value of how many of those seven men will get prostate cancer is one”. Better 
?
Comment by Jason Booy — October 29, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
Woot! Facial Hair!!! I gotta go talk to Sherrie… I’m not expecting to make much progress…
I think you are copping out though Jason. Go all the way and make a larger sacrifice by growing a full out beard. None of this mustache business. Also on level with a beard, a handle bar mustache would be epic. In any case I encourage you to take this more seriously than just a mustache. =D
Comment by Levi — October 30, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Ha ha
… well unfortunately there are explicit rules! This ain’t no sissy endeavor. You’re allowed to grow beard hair, but it must never, NEVER, connect with the moustache. I’m pondering the soul patch.
Comment by Jason Booy — October 30, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
Haha! You should do it! (the soul patch
)
Comment by Tara — October 31, 2008 @ 9:27 am