Girl Scout Cookies For Sale

Emma, the newest member of Daisy Troop 2511, starts selling Grils Scout cookies today!  She's only been a member for a little over a week, but she's already (almost uncontrolably) excited to share the sweet, sweet treats with our friends and neighbors.

So if you're hankering for a Samoa, would like to Do-Si-Do, or just Tagalong we would Thank-You-Berry-Munch if you gave us a call and bought your cookies from Emma (cause you know your gonna buy some anyway.)

If you click the "Call Me" button below, you'll be connected to my voicemail box through your home or cell phone.  You can also contact Emma by E-mail at princessemma@familyingram.net

Netflix says Wiiiiiiii!

I was reading the twitter feed for Xbox Live's Major Nelson and learned that Netflix, the popular mail order DVD rental and broadband streaming service, will be available soon on the Nintendo Wii.  This came to me as quite a shock and pleasant suprise.  I have been enjoying Netflix's streaming service since it launched on the Xbox 15 months ago.  Then Xbox was the only gaming console to support the service, later Sony's PS3 adopted the netflix brand.  I only know two people who own a PS3, but I know at least a dozen with a Wii, so I am excited for them considering many of them pointed out the netflix feature as one that especially leaned them toward other consoles.

On the "shock" side of the announcement, I was amazed that the little Wii, which blocked playback of standard video DVDs, was not only offering the streaming video service, but had the capability to do so.  There are some caveats however.  A broadband connection is required, no HD video will be available and you will need to load a disc (a sort of Netflix game disc) to watch movies in your queue.  No on-board software.

The required boradband connection is not a suprise.  That bandwidth is needed to stream video regardless of whether you're using Netflix's own set-top streaming unit or a gaming console.  It's also expected that HD video will not be an option since the Wii does not output in an HD enviornment nor is the processor capeable of decoding a signal that complex.  I don't own a Wii but my understanding is that the storage space available would not be heafty enough to keep the software necessary to run the Netflix streaming on the console, which is a reasonalbe assumption as to why Wii users will need to pop in a Netflix disc to use the service. 

For those who are already satisfied with the video and graphics abilites of the Wii, I can imagine they would be equally happy with the quiality of the movies and TV shows coming down the pipe with this service.  I can't get over the fact that the console that was devoted to gaming and wasn't going to mulit-task is trying to multi-task.  You can't play a DVD with the Wii, but you need to play a disc to stream video.  Ahh the irony.  According the the New York Times article which apparently broke this story, the netflix adapatation is sparking speculation that an HD Wii is in the offing.  I will be interested to see if a new console will bring more features than just a 720p (or higher) output upgrade.  When you've got the most popular gaming console, the world is at your feet really.

I'm stoked for my friends who enjoy thier Wii's and would likely enjoy streaming video on them as well.   I wish I could convert them to Xbox, I think they would find netflix, gaming and a number of other services more satisfying and brilliant in HD.  For now, chalk one up for gamers in America and behold the wide acceptance of video gaming in our society.  

I Used To Hate This Time Of Year

I guess I still do really, but this has been the most pleasant January I've seen in half a decade or more. Typically this time of year is full of slushy grey roadside snow, fog filled days with sub zero temperatures. All the gloom of winter occurs in January and February with no holiday cheer and festive lights to convice us its really great to "let it snow." 

But this year has been quite different.  The temperature is still cold, yes, but the sun has been shining, we've been more inversion free and I feel less like we're slowly sliding into a pit of snow and salt. I haven't used the snow plow for a couple weeks and the driveway has cleansed it's self of it's icy buildup.  Yesterday I went for a walk at lunchtime in short sleeves!  Seriously, If winter weather were like this regularly I could call off my campaign for the forced evacuation of Utah for three months every December.

You Skiers and Boarders: I think I'm starting to understand you too. In the past I questioned the sanity of allowing gravity to pull you down an icy hill for fun. I always understood the rush, now I see that downhilling can be just as much about escaping the cloud cover and enjoying a day outdoors. I wonder if I can find a way to survive the doldrums of winter that doesn't involve re-breaking my back? (I solicit your suggestions.)

We still have a ways to go till the seasons change in earnest, of course.   In the mean time however we have football playoffs, a Supper Bowl and even Olympic Games to keep us going till the thaw. If the weather continues to cooperate, this might turn out to be the best winter ever!

Fringe Benefits

If you've got to work at night, you may as well enjoy being the first to glide across a vacant parking lot.