Good Bye Hollywood Video, Hello Netflix

As we were checking out a DVD at Hollywood tonight, my daughter Arianna proudly announced to the cashier "This is the last time we're getting a movie here! Now they come in the mail!" He responded with a smile "Netflix?" "Yeah." I said somewhat sheepishly, "Thanks for spilling the beans Arianna."

So this week marks the last time I'll step inside a Hollywood Video store to rent a DVD. I've been a loyal customer for many years. A while back I even used their web site to help select movies...then overnight they changed the web site making it worthless for all but purchasing DVDs.

I'm a very satisfied Tivo customer. It's made watching television an enjoyable experience. We can see the programs we want whenever we want and fast forward through commercials.

Recently, Netflix teamed up with Tivo...and it became an option to view Netflix videos streaming through the internet directly on our TV or computer without even needing the DVD. This opens up about 12,000 movies (currently) for instant viewing.

Netflix had a free membership offer for a couple of weeks and so I gave it a try. Now...I'm a satisfied customer. Here are some of the advantages of Netflix that drew me in:

• Netflix has an awesome web site that makes it easy to find movies I like. It will even suggest movies that are similar to those I like. This experience is so much better than randomly wandering the aisles in a video store and reading the back of DVD boxes. 
• Netflix keeps a list of movies I want to see for me...even if they're not out on video yet. 
• I can have DVDs out for as long as I want. 
• DVDs and streaming come directly to my home without driving out to a video store to waste my time. This is a great advantage in Minnesota during the winter when you want to stay home to stay warm. 
• Netflix tracks movies I've already seen so I don't need to waste time going over old movies. 
• Netflix comes for about the same price as a video store subscription. 
• If I want to purchased used DVDs, I can do this easily through Amazon.com 
• Netflix shows viewer ratings of films. 

Give it a try. It may save you time, money, and give you better service. The old video stores are on their way out.

Take a Wii Sports Resort Vacation

Wii Sports Resort is quite possibly, the best Wii game ever. Even if the Wii only had Wii Sports (the original game that comes with the Wii) and the newer Wii Sports Resort, it would be worth the price. Sports Resort is full of fun games that are challenging, engaging, and fun! It's great for a party or creating a party any day. Being from Minnesota during winter, it's also great that Sports Resort is set on an island with palm trees and ocean! During the wake boarding competition, I'm tempted to turn on a fan and have someone spray water into my face for added realism.

Sports Resort requires the use of the new Wii MotionPlus controllers...an extension module for the original Wii controllers that adds motion sensitivity so games can be played with more accuracy. For example, MotionPlus makes it possible to play ping pong which requires smaller actions when before the new controllers, when you could only play tennis with larger swings.

My favorite game is Sword Play. You can play against an opponent and try to knock them off the platform (Duel) or attempt to beat them in a timed slicing match (Speed Slice). In the Showdown play game you go against tons of sword fighters and attempt to knock them all down as you travel through interesting environments on the island.

Here are some tips for Sword Play: Hit your opponent from the top if their sword is straight up and down. Otherwise, wait for them to move their sword so they are unprotected on a side for a moment and strike! Use quick hit motions to to knock one person into another. Don't forget you can block using the B button. If your opponent strikes and you block them successfully, they will be vulnerable for a few seconds so you can hit them more easily. The beauty of this game (especially for kids or kids at heart) is that it is fun but essentially non-violent. People you hit do not die or bleed, they just fall over and disappear. Even people you might accidently (or intentionally) knock off the suspension bridge get rescued from their fall by little hot air balloons.

Take a fun vacation to Wuhu island with your friends and family right in the comfort of your own home and get the added bonus of burning some calories at the same time.

Check out the official Sports Resort site.