End of Mustache March

Mustache March is officially over. Voting is still going on but I no longer have a mustache! Yes!!! I will say that when I first shaved it off, I looked weird to myself. I felt like the skin above my upper lip looked fat and puffy. Who knows why? I also spent the day pressing down hairs that were no longer there (in the spirit of the competition I did not trim my mustache so hairs could just reach my mouth if they were not directed away).

Regrettably I was not able to attend the fun event on the final Friday for pictures with both classes. My Tiger team really needed to meet with our company before spring break and that Friday was the only opportunity. Either way the event was awesome, we raised over $1,300 for charity, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

Here is the link to the Donations page (you can still donate!) as well as the pictures of all of the finalist. Please go to this site to view all of our funny faces and then vote for you favorite (survey at the top).

Here are my pictures looking like a true Philadelphia fan. If only I were holding the batteries I was about to throw at the opposing team’s players (see Fan Support to learn about the passion and the unwillingness to show class of Philadelphia fans).

Acceptance Packets

Acceptance packets went out to prospective students today. Good luck to everyone and if you did not get in, try again next year.

Beware the Mustaches of March

As I mentioned in a previous post, March is time for another LFM tradition. The tradition is called Mustache March.



The rules laid out by the Mustache March Committee are simple:

February 13th: All LFM Mustache March contestants must report for inspection with a clean shaven face.

March 2nd: Facial hair must be trimmed into an acceptable mustache pattern. Inspection and pictures for documentation are conducted in the LFM office at lunch time. As defined by the governing board of this competition: A mustache is defined as an island of hair that is at least 3cm (root to root) from the nearest body of facial hair. A mustache is an island (no goatees).



March 14th: Judging will occur at 11:30 in E40-315 and yes, pictures will be taken! Each class will select a chosen representative for each category listed below, and then all LFMs present will vote. Awards will be given for the following categories:

• Best of Show - The name basically sums it up. This award is reserved for the most spectacular specimen produced over the course of the month.


• Most Disturbing - When you look at this mustache, goosebumps will appear in places you didn’t know you had follicles. If you saw a layman on the street with this mustache, you’d warn other peoples’ children about this man.


• Most Fitting - Sometimes the stars align and a man becomes something… more, with a mustache. This award is given to the mustache that makes a man greater than the sum of his otherwise wholly inadequate parts.


• Dirtlip Award - The little follicles that couldn’t.

The competition is for charity as outlined below by the Mustache March Committee:

In these tough times, the students of the Leaders for Manufacturing program at MIT would like to lend a helping hand to those in need (through the Red Sox foundation) in the best way we know how…..by growing ridiculous mustaches and wearing them through the month of march!!! Take a look at our ridiculous faces!

LFM Mustache March Pictures

Yes, we will be walking around in public with these things all month!! Please show your pity for us looking like this while at the same time helping a great charity by following the link below.

Red Sox Foundation

And better yet, the growth has just started! We will be taking more pictures on March 13, and picking a group of finalists in various mustache categories including:

Best overall
Most fitting
Most disturbing
Best dirtlip

All those who donate to the cause will have the opportunity to vote in the final contest. Thank you for supporting our beautiful facial follicles!!

My Dreary Perspective

Now that the competition and rules are clear to everyone, it is time to lament. I have never considered myself a very attractive man…but I’m no “Ron Howard’s brother” either.

While Ron isn't exactly a dream boat, I think its easy to tell that his brother is the one on the left

With my terrible attempt at a mustache, I pass Ron Howard’s brother on the unattractive scale. When I’m around the LFM office I don’t feel too bad because I am surrounded by other terrible looking individuals.

/a>

There is a certain safety in surrounding yourself with other unattractive people. Like how every group of hot girls you ever knew had THAT one friend who looked like these guys from the movie Sorority Boys. This ugly friend was kept around to make the hot girls look even hotter, tell the hot girls how good they look, and to say she wishes she looked like them. P.S. If you think your group of friends did not have one of those people...you're THAT person

It is when I have to venture out to the rest of campus that my self esteem drops to sub-zero levels. I’ve found that the key to walking around with a mustache is to just avoid eye contact with all people…then you don’t have to feel them judging you…or see them laughing at you. :- ) Rockin’ this ’stache, I find myself very interested in the walls of the halls…it keeps my face hidden as I pass people.

My face, you cannot see it

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

Last night the two LFM hockey teams faced off for a second time (not typical, but the hockey scheduler made it happen). Luckily for the X class, the 09’s superstar Pete was not there. That left the X class with the opportunity of a lifetime…and we capitalized. Lead by Brendon Bielat’s two powerful goals, we won by a score of 2-1. Like last time, it was all in good fun and a group of people went out for drinks afterwards. I was way behind on homework so I could not go out this time, but I’m glad we got a chance for a rematch and I’m really glad Pete was not there.

Themed Parties and Facial Hair

This past Friday we had another themed LFM party. This one was a European theme in honor of two visiting Finnish students who worked with two LFM students on a project. While the party participation was high, the theme participation was lower than normal. I think most people thought about what modern day Europeans wear (which is quite similar to what Americans wear) so they could not think of any good outfits. But European is a very broad category…you could be a medieval knight, a peasant from the dark ages, a fancy dress from the Victorian age, an 1800s sailor or solider, etc. My wife and I went a little more stereotypical (should be read: offensive to an entire nation). I turned a woman’s skirt from the Garmet District (a thrift store/costume shop in Cambridge) into a Scottish Kilt and my wife went as a French person. When I get more pictures from other people I will add them.

You may also notice the reddish brown dirt on my face. LFM has another tradition called Mustache March. The basic premise of the contest is for everyone to grow a mustache over a four week period, starting from a clean shaven face. The first two weeks you don’t have to have your hair cut into a mustache (hence my beard). The last two weeks you must have a mustache. When you think about it, most people do NOT look good with a mustache.

As mentioned before on this blog, Tom Sellek's mustache is NOT included in the list of poor looking mustaches