October 31, 2011
There’s this photo of me going around the Internet — if you’re actually reading this at the Big Bad Blog, you can see it in couple of places on your screen. If you’re using one of those new-fangled RSS readers, you have still likely seen it before. Because, for the last eleven months, I have used it as my profile picture, everywhere on the Internet.
It looks a little like this:
This photo was taken at the end of November last year, showing off my participation in what is known as Movember.
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
-Movember
Last year, I solicited a rather … modest volume of donations. I blame this on two main factors:
- Late entry
- Poor marketing
This year, there are no such excuses. It is the evening of October 31st — six minutes until midnight, where I am, as I write — and I have just shaved. This is my newly photographed face:
As all Movember-bros are wont to do, I will be growing my facial hair over the coming weeks, and am seeking your donations to support my mustache and fight cancer.
That’s a win-win situation, if ever there was one …
But wait. There’s more.
There’s more?
Yes, there’s more.
Unique, perhaps, amongst Movember Bros, I will be letting you, dear readers, choose my mustache.
After you donate, you will be prompted to leave a comment — please tell me what style of mustache you would like in the comments, and, on November 25th I will:
- Style my mustache in the manner that has raised the most money.
- Attend the Movember Gala in London wearing said styled mustache.
So long as the winning mustache is not in the style of one Charlie Chaplin, I will also:
- Post a photo of myself, right here on the Internet, with the winning mustache.
- Wear said mustache style until the 30th of November.
A few caveats:
- A mustache connected to sideburns is a beard; such votes are disqualified.
- A mustache connected to chin hair is a goatee; such votes are disqualified.
- In the event that votes are unclear, or attempt to use a voting system other than First Past The Post, Mr. Topp has the freedom to interpret the vote in any way he chooses.
How to vote
- Visit my Movember page, and donate.
- After donating, you will be asked to leave a comment – tell me the style you would like me to wear.
- Vote early and vote often — your choice will be counted once for every £1 you have donated.
Mustaches, away!
Last image is The Ballet of Mustache, and can be bought as a print at Etsy.
First two are of my face. You can buy them as prints, as well, just let me know. Weirdo.
