Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Arrives On Our Digital Doorstop

When we were young, we actually had to sit at home and wait for the mailman to deliver the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue—that, or trudge fifty miles in the snow to get a copy.

Now, of course, the Swimsuit Issue just magically appears on the internet, transporting dozens of swimsuit-clad model, NBA dancers, and tennis stars into our homes or offices at the touch of a button; a plethora of photos and video (video!) all there to sooth away our winter blues.

Kids today don't know how easy they have it.

We had heard that the beautiful Bar Refaeli had been selected to grace the cover of the print version of the issue (which, yes, still exists)—though, immersed as we are in the digital edition, that's an all but meaningless honor. The "cover" of the digital edition (we call it a splash page in internet land) features a rotating cast of beauties, a different girl greeting you depending on the time of day.

But really—at the end of the day, does any of that matter? What we're all longing for is the sweet, sweet glimpse of beautiful girls in teeny bikinis: and no matter what format the Swimsuit Issue comes in, you can guarantee that yes, they will provide.

· 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)