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>Are you familiar with the phenomenon of something that is so cheesy, dorky or horrendous that it is cool? There is probably some game show word that defines this but I don’t know what it is so I’ll just list examples. I’m talking about kung fu flicks where the lips don’t even come close to matching the words. Comic books. McLovin’ from SuperBad. Bon Jovi. Pimps. Just about any fashion trend from the ’70s. Iron Chef (the original). Tuxedos with ruffles. Members only jackets. Jumpsuits. White high tops. Elvis shades. Cowboy boots. OK – maybe I’ve wandered beyond cool per se - but hilarious, which is even better…
>My vote for the word that truly defines the sensation described above should be “mustache.” At the risk of offending my uncle, a Jigsaw board member, several Jigsaw employees and probably a whole bunch of other people, mustaches are for the most part squarely in at least one of the three categories--cheesy, dorky or horrendous. And 100% of the time they are awesome-- maybe not Magnum PI awesome, but awesome.
>Sports culture (to which I am addicted) has been recently been inundated with so many great mustaches. The sound guy from the NBA finals supposedly distracted the Lakers. That greasy haired ‘roid lizard from the Yankees had all of the Bronx Boneheads wearing fakes. Michael Phelps showed up in Beijing looking like Wyatt Earp (in a rubber beanie). The Croatian water polo team all grew little mustaches to honor their coach- in Speedos they look like the tryout line for a gay porn shoot. In baseball, you no longer have to be a relief pitcher from Louisiana to grow out what you can under your nose and truly look fantastic.
>Anyway, I got to thinking last week that it was time that I grew a mustache. I’ve done it a bunch of times before, as you can see in the surrounding pictures of me with the Kentucky Waterfall, the Trailer Park Dad and the Burt Reynolds on Wall Street. I do it for the same reason every time--because I know that it makes me look so truly horrifying that you can’t help but look and laugh. Except if you’re my wife, who just wants to shoot me…
>Now that Garth’s World has a considerable audience, I am calling out for those that feel as I do to join Garth’s Mustache Posse. Starting today, I am challenging everyone I know- friends, Jigsaw employees, Jigsaw members, readers of Garth’s World, women, anyone--to grow out their facial hair until the end of the month. I already am sporting a ridiculous beard which I plan to shave down into at least 3 other mustache forms by the end of the month. I will document this process on the blog, and would like you all to send in a (digital) picture of all your outrageous mustaches.
>If you are a Jigsaw member, I will credit your account with 125 points for emailing in a digital picture of you with a mustache to Community@jigsaw.com. (If you aren’t a Jigsaw member then sign up, it’s free for chrissake.) To the top facial hair mini sculpture I will award 1500 points in their account and showcase their picture on my blog. And hold you my in mind and heart as the personification of mustache: one that which is so tacky that they are cool.
