Paul Soglin, Madison, WI

Nice stache, Paul! Mr. Soglin is running for mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. Paul was also mayor of Madison from 1973-79, then again from 1989-97. He ran for a third time in 2003 and was narrowly defeated by current incumbent Dave Cieslewicz -- who, let it be said, does not have a mustache. The two men are in a sort of rematch in the current mayoral race for which elections will be held on April 5, 2011.

Wow, if Stacheforge has its facts straight, that mustache has been hanging out for a long time. If mustaches are back in style, they are back from last time they were in style, in the 1970s, when Paul was in college, which apparently is when that caterpillar first climbed onto Paul's lip. Although many of his peers chickened out and shaved when the style passed, Mr. Soglin dedicated his face to that bad boy. Soglin's 'stache shares something in common with Soglin's suits: although each evolved with the vagaries of fashion, each are a lasting part of Paul Soglin's look. His mustache became wider at times, and more trim at times. When some salt was dropped into the salt-and-pepper color, Paul proudly wore it like a champion, like a silverback gorilla -- although, ironically, silverback gorillas do not grow mustaches.

Mr. Soglin has been well known in Madison as an activist since his college days, and is well respected for improving the city during his stints as mayor. In the opinion of Stacheforge, however, none of that is as important as the constancy and respect that Soglin's mustache brings to the city of Madison. As we wait for the April election to see whether the people of Madison elect Soglin mayor, Stacheforge endorses that mustache as candidate for awesomeness.

Otto Von Kenzie, Portland, Maine

Nice stache, (ahem) Otto! In the cold, wet winters they have up in Maine, sometimes a man needs help with the medical condition commonly known as "shivery lip". Like many real men, Otto treats that illness with a medicine commonly known as "a totally sweet mustache". He describes it as a "delta" shaped mustache, but we here at Stacheforge simply describe it as fantastic.

Mustaches Don't Lie

Our friends over at the Gallery of Regrets has another mustache tattoo to share. It's not as awesome as the previous one, but it's still sweet.

Mustache Mugs

Artist Peter Ibruegger has some pretty sweet coffee mugs. Stacheforge likes them all, but especially appreciates the one in the lower right of this photo.

Newport Breaks Mustache Contest Record

The city of Newport, NH recently set a world record for most participants in a mustache contest. Congratulations, Newport! That's class. The contest itself was won by New London resident Steve Lucas. Nice stache, Lucas!

Joe Frazier, Kenai, AK

Nice 'stache, Joe! That there is the kind of mustache grown to keep Joe's thin-blooded upper lip warm during those cold, Alaskan winters. Even when the nighttime lasts for months at a time, Joe's sweet mouth ornament is sure to bring some sunshine to the land.

Rumor has it that Joe once killed a wolf in the woods using only his bare hands, but he won't say whether or not this lipfur is actually a snip from that wolf's hide. Also not confirmed is whether or not the wolf pictured in the background is that same wolf.

Rumor also has it that Joe's mustache can act as a flotation device on the local Kenai river. Rumor also has it that Joe can spread the wings of his mustache like the majestic bald eagle and soar over the treetops. Rumor also has it that Joe's mustache is the only thing in the universe that can defeat Chuck Norris in a kickfight.

Bring. Back. The. 'Stache.

I’ll say it– I’m a fan of the mustache. Sadly, we saw the ‘stache fall largely by the wayside over the past few decades as pretty boys seemed fixated on primping, grooming, moisturizing, metrosexualizing, etc. in a vain and sissy attempt to one-up the ladies in the looks department. Let the ladies be pretty. Let the men be men. I say — Bring. Back. The. ‘Stache.