Have any of you signed up for EA Access? The idea is that you pay $5/month (or $30/year) from your Xbox One and you get access to a library of EA games. The game list changes, but right now it includes stuff like Plants vs. Zombies, Battlefield 4, Need for Speed Rivals, Madden NFL 25, and more. They don’t seem to include the very latest games, but there’s usually a couple interesting ones in the mix.
I’m very excited that digital delivery of games has finally come to consoles and this is just one of the exciting opportunities I expect will be offered.
With all the drainage that we installed in the yard this year, I’ve been wondering how much less water ends up in our yard. Subjectively, it seems like it must be a lot because our yard is usable in the winter now as opposed to the mudhole we used to have. But what’s the actual number?
The season is over and Austin reigns supreme! Congratulations! This final week was a lackluster performance from our entire league as we set the lowest total score of the season. Neither Jim or Austin ponied up for the pool so Tim and I battled it out for third place and the money. I use the term “battle” loosely. Tim won the money as I had three players combine for less than one total point. Yay.
Off the top of your head, who do you think has more revenue in a year: Wal-Mart or Amazon? Tyla and I chatted about this while doing our Christmas shopping and we both thought it had to be Amazon. Wrong. In 2013, Wal-Mart had $469 billion in revenue compared to Amazon’s $74 billion. And looking at the charts, they both appear to be growing at about the same rate so it’s not like Amazon is on pace to catch them any time soon.
As I 
On the baseball field, we used to say that “he’s so bad he couldn’t catch a cold.” Oh so funny, I know, but what about when the weather turns cold? Do you remember hearing that you should dress warm so you don’t catch a cold?
The Seahawks squared off this week against the Santa Clara 49ers who were coming off their incredibly embarrassing defeat by the Raiders. You knew the 49ers were going to be angry and they looked really good for the first half. I thought the Seahawks might be in trouble. Both Gore and Hyde were running through a Seattle defense that looked like Swiss cheese. Luckily for the Seahawks, they both got injured. Six sacks of Kaepernick didn’t hurt either (though Wilson was also sacked five times.) Couple the Seahawks win with a Packers loss and we might be watching playoff games from Century Link.
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I spent the first eight years at this company with the title of “Software Development Engineer in Test.” A few months back, there was a company-wide change and now there’s no such thing as someone who specializes in testing. We’re all “Software Engineers” and we’re all expected to both develop and test the product in our normal daily work. There are pros and cons to each method, but I think the switch is going to be a good move and aligns us with the current industry trends. The idea is that you’re responsible for your feature from the time it’s planned, while it’s being written, as it’s being readied for shipping, and while the customer is using it (telemetry, etc.) You own it and you don’t get to hand it off to anyone to be your safety net.
Merry Christmas!
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.