Day 6: 6 Days to Acquire a 5 O'Clock Shadow

Remember to donate here:   http://mobro.co/stevedasgupta

Hello readers. Do you know why I continually highlight my stache in these pictures of me at my most disheveled? It's because I trust you. I trust my readers. My feelings for my blog readers can best described by this song:

Important Video You Need to Watch

Pay attention to the lyrics. They will change your life.

ANYHOW... Yesterday I was participating in what every God fearing American does while watching the election. Playing the "Ballot Cam" drinking game. The rules were simple (and created by an innovative Iranian man in a moment of pure genius). Whenever the CNN Ballot Cam came up (see Exhibit 1), you were required to drink from your All American PBR (Sidenote: For all you MBA folks, check out my very official "case write-up" on PBR from 2010: PBR Post: American Revival)

Exhibit 1

The Ballot Cam game was very fun. I would say it is most like the Big Lebowski drinking game where you drink every time the Dude has a White Russian.

Anyway, in between rounds of Ballot Cam, my inquisitive CFA Level II German friend said to me:  

"Steve. Does it matter if I donate $1.00 thirty times, or $30.00 once?" 

I said: "No man. I think it's the same thing."

Friend: "But doesn't VISA charge a transaction fee every time I donate?"

Me: "Let me get back to you..."

Okay. So, I researched this. I'm not 100% sure if this is the correct answer, but I feel pretty confident that VISA assesses a flat percentage fee regardless of the transaction cost. 

(See VISA Section from the following link: Credit Card Processing Fees -The fees seems to not exceed 1-2% total per transaction. Because its per transaction, you CAN donate $1 to me 30 times, and it will be the same donation as receiving $30 once, assuming undiscounted cash flows)

Anyway. After my friend asked me this, I said: "Why does this matter anyhow?!," to which he replied: "I just want you to see how much I like (ed: or dislike) each post."

What friends I have! Don't worry about the transaction fees- just cough up the donations!

Finally, one last comment on the election before I call this post done- Did anybody else see this? This was a screenshot from the Washington Post on my iPad around 12:20 AM today. Perhaps they could use an Editor?

Day 5: WTF WHY IS IT WINTER SUDDENLY

Remember to donate here:   http://mobro.co/stevedasgupta

Service Announcement:  Did you guys watch that Ted Talk with the creator of Movember? He's Australian. Anyway, now even Qantas is participating in Movember.

Regularly Scheduled Broadcast:

Well hello winter. I could have sworn it was 70 degrees out only a couple weeks ago. Now, the air is a carbonite*-like cold. 

But just in time, my mustache is springing into action to protect me. And I have to say, so far so good- the region between my upper lip and nose was quite comfy this morning as I waited in the 30 degree weather to vote. I tell you what- if my 'stache keeps doing such an awesome job at protecting me from the cold, I might just keep it forever! And why not?! I mean, it's turning out that 'staches are actually quite cross functional. As Jack, one of my many important donors thus far wrote me: "Keep up the good fight, that soup won't strain itself!" Soup strainer- what a novel idea! 

In today's picturesque update, you may notice I'm wearing a hat. Because I have vicious writer's block, I will tell you why I'm wearing a hat. Ever since becoming a student again, I've been quite budget conscious. As such, I moved into a totally dilapidated house, and took the attic room. Originally, I was in a tiny box of a room, but then the "Attic Room" opened up. It was an amazing day: I jumped on the opportunity to take it. That day, I told my girlfriend: "Liz! OMGI'MMOVINGINTOTHEATTICIT'SGOINGTOBESOAWESOME!"

Well... the attic isn't hooked up to the rest of the house's heat, which I am pretty sure runs on whale blubber or some other antiquated system from the 1600's. So because I am cut off from warmth, my room is equipped with two baseboard heaters, and a space heater. But since they haven't been on all day, my room is currently frigid. And THUS, I am wearing a hat.

The attic also has a lot of odd geometry going on. It's quite ideal for slamming your head into things in the dark. Which I do frequently. Which... you may or may not think explains a lot about me.

*I am operating under the assumption that carbonite is essentially like liquid nitrogen- that is, it's very cold and that is how it froze Han.

Day 4: My Mustache Reports California Has Gone for Obama

Remember to donate here:   http://mobro.co/stevedasgupta

First and foremost, thank you to the donors thus far! The Georgetown team is currently ranked #1 out of all the MBA schools participating in Movember fundraising!

It's Election Season. And I'm in DC. That means even my mustache is getting into the hype. In fact, even though it's the night before the election, my mustache is reporting with 100% accuracy that California has gone for Obama and Texas has gone for Romney. I didn't even know mustaches had predictive powers but apparently mine does. So I have that going for me. So who's going to win tomorrow?! I know (b/c of my mustache) but I won't ruin the surprise. But because this is a Presidential Election, let's take a look at the most badass Presidential mustache ever:

Pure unfiltered awesome. Teddy's mustache says the following:

"I am distinguished."

"I am a ladies' man."

and most importantly...

"Don't fuck with me."

... which I believe are the three things that all men want their mustache to communicate.

Okay. before we get to my mustache, I stumbled upon this today, courtesy of Imgur (http://imgur.com/gallery/QOs0H), and I had to share- What do you guys think of this guy's mustache? It's pure... um... class...isn't it?

Moving on, here is Day 4:

I'd like to point out that I don't believe my head actually has the strange egg-shape shown in this picture. Unfortunately, such is the result when you self-shoot with your phone from an unflattering angle.

Day 3: Momentum Building

Remember to donate here:   http://mobro.co/stevedasgupta

It's Day 3, and momentum is building. Not any momentum. Mustache momentum. I know mustache momentum is building because my girlfriend tells me it is. She says powerful motivating things like:

"Babe... are you really doing this?"

But because females are almost always indecipherable in their riddle-esque ways, allow me to translate this statement into what she really means- which is:

"Steve, you look phenomenal. With your approximately 3.5 day mustache you look rugged, manly, and amazing, and you are making a difference."

These comments are a reminder to me that YES, I certainly AM doing this! I am growing a mustache and my mustache will raise money to change the world.

Day 2: More Projections and Modeling

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It's Election Season. That means that projections and modeling are everywhere. So, let's continue to look at the possibilities of what I might look like with a dirtmustache.  Again, I've used technology to my advantage. Here is the output from my "Mustache Predictor Program BETA":

 Algorithms predict this outcome with 79% certainty:

How accurate is this picture?

Very.  I mean... let's just go through a quick checklist to judge accuracy:

Hair?  4/5 accuracy- My hair is also black and unruly.
'Stache? 4/5 accuracy- My 'stache will probably look this awesome after 30 days.  But then again, I've never grown one out for 30 days so it will ultimately be a surprise!
Skin Tone? 4/5 accuracy- I too am a tannishbrown shade. 

Anyway, that's just a projection... The ACTUAL status of how I look comes from last night:

Behold!  Zombie Steve!  

Last night there was the hippest and perhaps only Zombie Bridesmaid themed party ever, so I was a Zombie Wedding Attendee.  Anyway, there's no use in zooming in any closer b/c stache growth is still very sparse.  BUT, I assure you, progress is being made.  

Tomorrow I will provide an up close picture. It will be magnified to the level of magnification provided by those crazy mirrors that women use to inspect each individual pore on their faces.

Day 1: Movember

Administrative Announcements:

Remember to donate here:   http://mobro.co/stevedasgupta
And also, you should watch the video here for an inspirational (and funny) speech by Movember's creator:
http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/movember-founder-adam-garone-on-changing-the-face-of-mens-health

Groundbreaking Original Content and Facial Hair Update:

Today is November 2nd. Logic would suggest that I should designate this as "Day 2" but in a moment of pure confusion, I unfortunately started my numbering with Day 0.  So, 1 it is.

I really don't have much to report today. The first full 24 hours of growth since a clean shave have passed without incident.  

Okay.  Without further adieu, here is how I look after one day. Some of you may be thinking:  "Dude, you look rough today... like... seriously."  And, to be frank, I feel rough. Because I was drinking last night. And it was the type of drinking where beer, red wine, and frozen margarita all   were involved.  And in that type of drinking, you really feel rough for about 24 hours after you stop. So now that we have that out of the way, in the mustache department, there is nothing really to write home about. I counted the individual hair follicles that are rocking out in the mustache region and have come up with... 

and let's see...  divide the six, carry the one, borrow...  

I count 7 hairs thus far. 

Watch out Burt Reynolds. 

Day 0: Movember in the hizouse

Hi there. It's been a while. Recently, it's been brought to my attention that I have few redeeming qualities other than being humorous in my online presence. Well hey. That's fine with me- I'm going to exploit this strategic advantage like a motherfucker and use it to rake in some major Movember donations! WHO'S WITH ME?!

Wait...  you don't know what Movember is?

Well, it's this:  http://us.movember.com/about/

So... Yeah, I'm doing it. Because cancer sucks. 

So here's what's going to happen.  For each day during Movember, I promise to blog. And hopefully you will donate to the cause because you feel like I've mildly entertained you AND BECAUSE THIS IS A GOOD CAUSE! Don't be scared! Every dollar helps!  

Go here to throw cash money my way:  http://mobro.co/stevedasgupta

Using some super advanced computer technology that you cannot possibly comprehend, I have created a digital projection of what I might look like at Day 30.

Okay, I better get the broomstick out. You know, to keep the ladies back.