Unlike many – perhaps most – of my friends, your intrepid blogger is not much of a video game player. It wasn’t always so.

There was a time when I played video games often on my PC. And a time before that when I enjoyed the pleasure of a Nintendo Entertainment System. I would even rent games with friends for the weekend, and we would stay up all night trying to beat a game before it had to be returned.

Before the NES, I owned an Intellivision.

But prior to the Nintendo, there were two things I really wanted:

A Commodore 64, and before that an Atari.

And now they’re back.

There’s an Atari Flashback Console, which can play about 70 games and looks like the vintage machine that I so wanted.

Perhaps even more impressive is the Commodore 64x. Not just a vintage throwback to allow people like me to revisit their childhood, this is a proper and powerful computer in a retro Commodore 64 disguise.

With a proper Commodore 64 emulator, of course.

While reading through this riveting search for the American launch date of Super Mario Brothers, my mind was bent around a single thought:

Why?

Why is the exact launch date something so important to us? Why do we value knowing the exact date upon which an iconic product became available to us? It appears that this should mean something profound about marketing’s dominance of our culture, that a marketing event – the launch date – should seem important at all. But I find no profound statements escaping my fingers, tapping on the keys, and appearing here on the Big Bad Blog. Just questions.

Why would an intelligent person – the author of the article – consider this research a good use of their time?

Why would they consider it a “sad” fact that the date cannot be determined with 100% accuracy?

And why do I agree with them?

Photo by Julien Mauve. Found at Smashing Picture
Webcomic is Nerf NOW!!

Photo is Ed Hardy & Splash One, by Thomas.
Webcomic is Left-handed toons..

Here we are, a week into November. And your faithful blogger has yet to shave — as promised a week ago, I am participating in that great practice known as Movember, to raise money and awareness to fight cancer.

Which means that I am growing a mustache.

In what style?, you might ask.
Any style you want, would come the answer.

Indeed, if you hate cancer and/or would like to suggest to me a mustache style, just follow these easy steps:

1. Visit my Movember page.
2. Donate some money
3. Leave a comment, indicating the style of mustache you would like to see.

The third step is, of course, optional. It is not necessary to vote.

On November 25th, I will style my bountiful facial hair into the nearest approximation of said style as possible. And wear it proudly until November 30th.

Currently in the lead is the American Standard:

If you would like to save me from looking like a porn star for a week, or have something even more embarrassing in mind, make a donation and be heard.

In the meantime, I leave you with two images — the first shows my hair growth, so far. The second, a past mustache, to give you an idea of exactly how capable I am of being a mustachioed gentleman.

Mario image found at Fubiz.Net, originating at Moustaches Make a Difference.
The photo of the American Standard is taken from Cracked.com, who clearly took it from a pornographic film set.
Other photos are of, and by, Mr. Topp.