Mo worries

It seems an age ago that the first sprigs of fluff started to appear on our faces... those heady days of Spring smoothness and Melbourne Cup stubble and creative blog entries. Ah, we must've been younger then. It's amazing what happens when you let nature take its course and makes you realise we haven't really evolved much from cavemen (OK, women have known this for a while but then I'm constantly told they are the smarter sex...)

Grunt. Of course, like grizzled itchy old men we are starting to resent the fresh face of pimply youth, but it cannot be denied that there is this extra air of authority and security that you get with a nose buddy, a feeling which is dangerously addictive. No longer do you care about the dodgy looks, the serial killer comparisons and the cornflakes stored for lunch. Instead, you are happy to shout out loud "I have a mo and I am proud".

So in the name of Mo Pride, we went off shouting from the Canberra rooftops, or hanging around some shiny sculpture at the National Gallery and getting told off by some twit for being unartistic to be more precise. For ‘we’ read Ben & Neil, given Mat had escaped to look scary round a golf course in woop woop and Jason took his light stubble off to Perth.

It’s like they suddenly get mo's and Canberra is no longer good enough for them! Still, we don't miss them... in fact, their cardboard cut outs are generally more entertaining and not too bad at pulling a few charts together.

So this is pretty much as hairy as it'll get, though you can still sponsor us into December :-) Please do, it'll make the pain of parting with our facial friends slightly more palatable. And we might send you some clippings as thanks. Now how can you resist?

*****STOP PRESS*****

BE THE ONE TO PUSH US OVER A GRAND! Our fundraising total currently stands at $925. Go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on go on .

Mo surrender

It seems the absence of Jason’s pathetic little wisp of hair has changed the dynamic amongst the three remaining Canberra mos. No longer do we have a runt of the litter against which to favourably compare our resplendent hairy brushes. Things are getting far more competitive, and with the end of Movember fast approaching it seems the race is on to be crowned alpha male, owner of the filthiest, grizzliest mo in Murray Crescent.

As with any event with the tiniest iota of competition, means and ways are being found to gain the upper hand. This week it became clear how Mat has been keeping a tight, well-groomed rein on his little facial feature and further explained how our big chunky textas were running out midway through strategic blue sky insight meetings.



You know how if you hang upside down from a door frame you’ll grow a bit taller? No? Try it tonight! Well, Ben took this severely flawed hypothesis, mixed it around in the cavernous space between his ears and applied this in an effort to ‘bulge out’ his mo (no comparisons with budgie smuggling techniques please!). Capital International Dentists Inc came up with some dentures and Bob’s your uncle (well, he’s my Dad actually, but who’s actually QA-ing this)…

Meanwhile, Neil, famed for his laid back, no-stress, happy-go-lucky mild mannered approach to life, is letting none of this competitive nonsense get to him. Safe in the knowledge that he is already part walrus, he’s been kicking back and letting his mo rest up and catch the breeze.

Remember people, we are not just doing this to look a bit gay and take voyeuristic pictures of one another around the office. The serious thing is men’s health is a real problem, mainly because we are too butch and hairy about it to go seek help. Take depression, which is a known high risk factor for suicide. From 1988 to 2002, the suicide rate was four times higher in men than women. It's vital that more people learn to recognise depression in men because depression is treatable and effective treatments are available. Please sponsor us by following the instructions on the top right of this page.

One mo flew from the cuckoo's nest

We are not alone! This week it has become increasingly apparent something a bit out of the ordinary is going on. Now and again an unexpected hairy slug appears on the horizon, supping a skinny latte in the orderly streets of the capital. For some, it’s all out look-at-me pornstar, for others, there is a reluctant wisp, or a bit of extra beardy stubble attempting to take away the blatantly obvious fact that you have a big fat slug on your face. For Canberra, this truly is anarchy.

So there are mos springing up across Australia and, rumours have it, in TNS offices across the lucky country. Maybe there is a mo near you right now, wafting gently in the summer breeze, catching biscuit crumbs as they fall. Go say hi to it, shake it by the hand and give it some loose change.


We are doing our part to spread the mo love across Australia, as Jason packs in his final laksa, spreads the wings and takes his bumfluff to the west coast, where he will prove inspiration to all manly men that they too can grow something far more substantial and butch than him. Bon voyage Jason, your mo will be missed!

But life goes on and we are clearly already over him…

Now the begging part (to quit the serious bit, click here): I think the only way we might be consoled is if you give us just a teensy weensy bit of your money. Not to line our own pockets but to further raise awareness and contribute to research and support into male health issues, such as testicular cancer, which has increased by a third over the past decade, as you can read below. Thank you if you have already given your support to any of our mo comrades across Australia, it is warmly appreciated. In the meantime, if you see a Jason Davis anywhere around the country, please give him some hair-gro and push him into the direction of the setting sun.

Balls

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 18-35 years. The number of men diagnosed with testicular cancer has grown by approximately 34% over the past decade, but the reason for this is not known. The good news is testicular cancer is highly curable when found early and treated promptly.

What is testicular cancer?
Cancer that develops in a testicle is called testicular cancer. Often, only one testicle is affected and testicular cancer is more commonly found in the right testicle than the left testicle. If left untreated it may spread throughout the body.

Who gets testicular cancer?
It mainly occurs in men aged 18 to 35, but can occur any time after the age of 15. Certain types of testicular cancer may occur in younger children or older men.

Risk of testicular cancer
Males who may be at risk of testicular cancer include: those with uncorrected, undescended testicles as an infant or young child; those with a family history of testicular cancer; those with an identical twin with testicular cancer; and those who have had certain viral infections such as mumps.

What are the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer may cause a variety of signs and symptoms, but may also have no symptoms.
Symptoms that men should watch for include:

- a small, painless lump in either testicle (the most common symptom);

- any enlargement of the testicle;

- a feeling of heaviness in the testicle or groin;

- a dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin;

- pain in the testicle or scrotum;

- a change in the way a testicle feels;

- enlargement or tenderness of male breasts or nipples;

- or blood in the semen.

All men between 18 and 35 should become familiar with the shape and feel of their testicles and perform regular self tests to detect abnormalities. If you suffer from any of the symptoms listed you should see your doctor. Find out more about testicular cancer at the[Association For International Cancer Research]

Awesome Foursome

It is a momentous time. Change is bristling through the air, as the first black resident takes its place on the upper lips of the common man. Liberty and freedom in action, razor blades downed, sweeping transition and the democratic right to look like a butch biker in leather chaps. Grow moustaches? Yes we can.

With all the events this week it’s been hard to focus on the important task of mo cultivation. In the US, the mo vote was split with MoCain gaining the furry nose buddies of the deep south baseball cap mooseshooter brigade and Mobama bringing home the hairy YMCA lads of San Francisco. Back home, there were some donkey rides in Melbourne bringing us a surprise winner whose name cannot be corrupted in any way whatsoever to resemble a moustache. Even the jockey was too young to shave. Disappointing.

Hidden amongst all this distraction has been the sprouting of stubble into something special, gathering speed and toughness as it takes over the faces of men across this wide brown land. If the Melbourne Cup gave us a bit of a surprise, this paled into statistical insignificance on Wednesday morning when our trifecta became an awesome foursome, a change we simply could not believe in. An inspirational, awe-inspiring, welcome mat!

So this is us, we are doing it and the client meetings are becoming increasingly prefaced by the disclaimer “I don’t usually look like this, it’s Movember” before trying to fleece them for money. We want to fleece you for money too, you’ve got the proof now give us your loot. None of your funds go to the production of this blog but it certainly helps inspire us, and it helps fund important research and support into male health issues. Just take a lookie at the instuctions on the top right or contact one of us if you are able to give us just a little of your hard earned cash. We will love you forever.

Now, I have a dream. Maybe one day, 40 years down the line, mo’s will become more accepted and, who knows, someone with a mo can make it to president of the world. It’s a dream, but why not? Sponsor us? Yes you can!