What's Playing Now

I've been trying to get some more gaming in lately so I figured that I would keep track of what I'm working my through or for fighters trying to get back up to speed on.  Currently all of my time is being spent on the 360, but when time allows I'll definitely power up another console.  I just wrapped up AC: Brotherhood, I'm not sure I will jump right back into the AC universe with AC: Revelations though  (AC:IV is out, but as usual I'm in no hurry rush through the games).  I am pretty sure I'll resist the overwhelming urge to play through the Mass Effect trilogy again, Bioshock is a good contender though and I'll always find time for several fighters.  It's probably sort of odd to have a gaming goal, but I'm going to try keep a "modern" title, fighter(s), and retro game in rotation when I can.  Anyways, the current list below and I'm always open to suggestions or going a few rounds as well.

• Bioshock or Assassin's Creed: Revelations - 360
• SSFIVAE/UMvC3/3rd Strike - 360
• Phantasy Star II - 360

Three of a Kind

I'm still playing catch up from my blogging hiatus and something else that happened during that period was that we added my third Subaru to our stable.  Sadly Subaru #3 is not the Satin White Pearl BRZ Limited that I wanted, it's a 2013 Ice Silver Metallic Tribeca Limited.  With little one number three on the way the BRZ was never going to cut it.  Honestly, the Tribeca was not our first choice in the crowded crossover field.  We considered the Pilot, Highlander, Pathfinder, Explorer, and Tribeca.  the Highlander and Explorer were quickly dismissed; with a new Highlander on the way buying the old model didn't make sense and the Explorer just felt bad (the highlight of our test drive was the black headliner, that's not a good sign).  We wanted to like the Pilot and all of its practical boxiness, but the price for an EX-L 4WD was a little too steep.  We had decided that the new Mallfinder errr Pathfinder was the best choice, it has easy access to the third row seats for oldest child and another passenger while also providing a nice level of wife approved amenities.  However, when it came time to close the deal the dealership we were working with decide to play games, if any dealer does this I strongly advise anyone to walk away and that was what we did. We had test driven the Tribeca earlier and even had a decent offer, after a little searching we found an even better deal and that's how Subaru's little known and often unloved crossover found a space in our garage next to my Legacy GT.

Despite what the automotive press says about the Tribeca (I'm looking at you Edmunds), it is not horribly vehicle.  It definitely isn't perfect but what car is.  I find the time I've spent with our Tribeca to be a relatively pleasant experience.  Subaru's 3.6L flat six (EZ36D) produces enough power and torque to allow the Tribeca to get out of its own way with relative ease, with a surprisingly pleasant exhaust note.  I also find the handling to be better than all of the other crossovers we tried as well, likely due more to the 255 wide tires than lower center of gravity a boxer engine provides.  The Tribeca falls short in two glaring areas, mileage and third row space.  Even though it burns regular the Tribeca only gets about 20mpg on the highway and also has a smallish tank for its class.  In regards to the third row, it's really only fit for small children and people you don't like.  Though our little likes it back there and my 5'3" sister-in-law (that I like mind you) completed a 4+ hour road trip without issue or complaint sitting back there.  Our Tribeca is certainly a comfortable and capable family carrier and highway cruiser.  However, as an enthusiast I really want to do something to our new Subaru, but support for the slow selling Tribeca is slim to none.  That hasn't stopped me from looking though, I've already found a shop willing to tackle a custom axle or cat-back exhaust and 3.6 powered Subarus are tunable via Ecutek (though I really just want better mileage, but a little more power can't hurt).  The suspension is a lot trickier to tackle and honestly lighter wheels and stickier rubber may just be the way to go.

All of this is up in the air though, I already have a closest full of Legacy parts and an Impreza refresh project to tackle.  Also, with Subaru pulling the plug on the Tribeca after MY14 (and announcing an eventual return to the 7-seater market) it may be best to just leave the family truckster alone and replace it with what should be a more spacious and fuel efficient successor once it becomes available.  In the meanwhile though I'll just enjoy the time I spend with our new Subaru.

Easy As Pie

During my hiatus from blogging I did manage to get quite a bit of baking done.  Specifically I was on a pie baking streak.  During the summer I baked two peach pies and now wife is believer in what I swear is without a doubt the best summer pie one can ever enjoy.  Last month finally got around to making my first pumpkin pie.  It was alright, but I can think of better uses for a jar of Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter though.  However, for those that really enjoy pumpkin pie I would definitely say give it a go, the recipe is below:

PUMPKIN PIE

• 1 9–inch pie shell, unbaked (I make my own using this recipe)
• 3 extra large eggs
• 1 jar Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter
• 1½ cups heavy cream

Preheat oven to 450° F Beat eggs until blended then stir in Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter and cream. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° F and bake for an additional 40 minutes or until center is just set. (A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.) Serve at room temperature. Serves 8.

With Thanksgiving about 4-weeks away there will certainly be some more pies coming out of my oven.  I'm pretty sure there will be at least one sweet potato pie, but a nice apple pie could certainly work as well.

It's Been A While...

Well it has been a serious minute since I've made a new blog post, I don't even have a witty post title for this one.  After a very busy summer between work and family (finding out I'm going to be a dad again while also losing my own) it feels good to see things sort of slowing down again.  I've certainly been doing some baking and also making my way back into gaming and trying to keep up all things automotive.  I'm going to do my best to get things back up to speed posting wise through the remainder of fall and into winter, it should be an interesting time.

Game On: The One

Well May 21st has come and gone and Microsoft has revealed their next generation plans and it is called the Xbox One.  The presentation in my opinion, like Sony's, left quite a bit to be desired since other than Forza 5 it seemed a bit light on the games.  This presentation simply wasn't for the gamers, NFL tie ins, live action Halo television series, and Star Trek trailers?   Those things have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with gaming.  I'm not quite sure where to start with Kinect 2.0, I think it's great that it has been improved and I can even understand why it will be bundled with every system.  However, I find the fact that it is required for the system to operate annoying.  I'm relatively sure that not everyone wants to swipe and gesture their way through their menus.  Then there's the fact that Microsoft stated that it's always listening, I'm trying not be paranoid about that since it is supposedly only listening for "Xbox On" to power on the console.

On to the hardware, the specs of the Xbox One seem very similar to the PS4.  With a custom designed AMD x86 8-core APU, 8GB of RAM, and blu-ray drive it's really seems like Sony and Microsoft have been shopping at the same store.  There are some differences though, for one the PS4 is using faster RAM where as the Xbox One has  32MB ESRAM onboard its processor.  Time will tell which design is better though.  Thus far my only issue with the hardware is that the 500GB hard drive is not upgradeable, but game installs will be mandatory.  It seems a bit odd to me, how difficult would it have been to include a user upgradable hard drive?

The real elephant in the room though has nothing to do with hardware specs or non-gaming functionality, but the way that Microsoft has stated how used games will be handled on the Xbox One.  Apparently there will be fees involved, while don't purchase used games this also means games can't be borrowed  or loaned out (something I do).  That really sounds like a headache to me since the fees would still apply if you wanted to play the game.  Actually, putting this post together it makes me wonder what this will mean for GameFly?  Who really wants to pay to rent a game and then pay again to play it?  I plan on eventually owning all three next gen consoles, but from what I've seen so far I'll likely delay a Xbox One purchase.  However, with E3 just around the corner and Microsoft promising 15 Xbox One exclusives, 8 of which is are new IPs that very well could change.  If it doesn't though I thankfully still have a decent library of games to keep me busy for a while.

DITC Vol #2 - Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

I've been back in my crates again and with a Castle of Illusion HD remake announced for this Summer on XBLA, PSN, and the Wii U this seemed like a great choice for my Digging In The Crates series.  I popped this into my Genesis (yep it's still hooked up) and it's just as I remember it.  Castle of Illusion is solid 2D platforming goodness, it is almost difficult to believe that a game that's 23-years old still plays, looks, and sounds this good.  From bopping around the flip flopping toyland to exploring the library, Castle of Illusion is still a whole lot of fun and that's what gaming imho is all about.  Castle of Illusion is even an excellent game to introduce a new generation to gaming and the classics.  My little guy had a lot of fun with Castle of Illusion when he gave it a go.  I hope that the remake does the original some justice, if not though at least I still own the original.

There's No Place Like Home: Hanging Around

Nothing too exciting to add (though it has been a minute since I've made a new post), we received our window panel hardware from Crate & Barrel earlier this month.  So we have the window panels/drapes and now the hardware, but nothing is going up until we get some new paint on the walls.  I guess these things take time, but progress is progress.

Game On: 2D Old and New, the Next Gen, and a Classic

Despite a relatively slow period for gaming right now and me having more games than time; there have been quite a few gaming announcements that make the pic above particularly appropriate.  Let's take a look.

First up is some news I'm a little late on since it was announced at PAX East.  Capcom will be bringing both of their classic Dungeons & Dragons arcade side scrolling beat 'em ups to Xbox Live, PSN, and even the Wii U in one HD package Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara.  I'm pretty sure a lot of gamers missed these games so it's great to see them get a re-release.  I spent a bit of time in college playing both in the arcade and even own the Saturn import, needless to say I'll be grabbing this when it shows up this summer.

Next up a game obviously inspired by Capcom's classic D&D games is the Atlus published Vanillaware title, Dragon's Crown.  This looks to be more 2D goodness from the developers behind the excellent Odin Sphere and Muramasa.  If Vanillaware's previous titles are any indication this PS3 exclusive will be a winner, though as noted in Penny Arcade's latest comic some may find the art direction a little questionable.

Also of note is that Konami announced Metal Gear Solid Legacy, a very nice compilation of the MGS titles for people like me who missed a good part of this series.  There isn't much to say about this one, six excellent games in one convenient package is full of win.  Even with the PS4 on the way, I think solid exclusives like MGS Legacy and Dragon's Crown will keep the PS3 rotation for many gamers for a while longer.

Well this one isn't a game, but as a fan of Extra Credits I figured it's about time I passed this one on to my fellow gamers. Found on Penny Arcade TV, Extra Credits is web show covering various topics in gaming, some of my favorite episodes are the Games You Might Not Have Tried.  Games You Might Not Have Tried 5 is the 5th installment and with suggestions like Mark of the Ninja, The Unfinished Swan and Thomas Was Alone it's a good one.  Also, since I don't believe good games have expiration dates, links to the first four Games You Might Not Have Tried are below, enjoy:

• Games You Might Not Have Tried
• Games You Might Not Have Tried 2
• Games You Might Not Have Tried 3
• Games You Might Not Have Tried 4

For many this week Microsoft's announcement of the Next Xbox Announcement event on May 21 was the highlight this week.  I am certainly looking forward to it though I'm not quite sure what to expect, but if Microsoft shows some promising games (first and third party), explains how Live will work on the new system, and if the console will be always on or not.  Sony's PS4 press event was pretty average to me so Microsoft doesn't have to do much too much in my opinion to have a better event.  If it is as boring as Sony's, I guess E3 will be where all the good stuff will be shown.

On the topic of E3, it appears that Nintendo will not be holding a large press event this year, instead holding two smaller events.  One for the media and one for the distributors, without any new hardware to show this makes sense to me.  I'm thinking it's likely less expensive as well, with the kind of financial issues Nintendo has had as of late this is a good idea.  With the announcement of Earthbound for the Wii U Virtual Console Nintendo finally seems to be making sensible moves again.  I wonder if their E3 showing later this year will keep the ball rolling.

A Better Daily: New Shoes

It seems like forever since I placed my order with The Tire Rack on Feb 4th, but after a little more than 8-weeks my new wheels and tires were delivered last Tuesday.  Since the 5th gen Legacy has large wheel wells and flared fenders to fill I decided to go with a +1 fitment.  A set of Enkei GTC-01 wheels in 19x8 with a +45 offset will replace the stock wheels.  The GTC-01s are wrapped in Continental Extreme Contact DWs in 245/40-19, the widest tire you can fit on an 8" wheel.  Wider stickier tires and better looking wheels are always a plus, but what is even better is weight reduction.  The factory wheels and tires weighed in at 51.4lbs (25.4lbs/wheel and 26lbs/tire) per corner, the Enkei and Conti combo are 46lbs (22lbs/wheel and 24lbs/tire) per corner.  That's a 5.4lb per corner reduction of unsprung weight, not bad if you ask me.

Although winter has been over in the DMV for a little while now, I won't be putting the new wheels on until I get my suspension straight.  In my opinion, there just isn't much point in adding new wheels and tires while I'm stuck with the soft stock suspension.  After the Racecomp Engineering Bilsteins finally arrive, hopefully by June, I can take a look at getting these on the Legacy.  I guess Rome really wasn't built in a day.

There's No Place Like Home: Introduction

Well I'm starting another series, this one will be about making our new house a home and putting our personal touches on it as we continue settling into the DMV.  Having been in our new place almost a year now it is time to get rid of the builder grade white that is currently on the walls.  We have colors selected and have decided on window treatments as well.  There isn't much we're doing now other than prep and well that's never very interesting so I suppose that's about it for now.  The real fun starts in May.

NYIAS 2013: New and Notable

Well this is one is a bit late, about two weeks or so over due.  Nevertheless, I have to post some impressions of the NYIAS 2013 (even though I didn't make it to the show this year) as it is a major show and there were some very interesting cars shown.  Well onto my impressions:

Audi A3 Sedan

Like Mercedes with the CLA, Audi has stepped into the growing compact luxury sedan market.  With three initial engine choices (two gas and one diesel), available Quattro AWD and a hotter 300hp S3 showing up later I think Audi likely has a winner here.  Sadly a manual transmission will not be offered on any model and the versatile A3 Hatchback will return later as a plugin hybrid.  With the ILX, CLA, and now the A3 sedan, the compact luxury segment is becoming very interesting.

WRX Concept

Subaru showed a preview of the upcoming WRX sedan and it looks utterly fantastic.  Subaru stated a while back that the Impreza and WRX would become separate lines and this concept seems to confirm that. I suspect that there is no way the massive brakes, stylized mirrors, and aggressive body work will make past the concept.  I expect that the FA20 DIT will be powering the production version and that a 6-speed manual will be the transmission offered.

Cadillac CTS

With the new ATS matched up against the 3-Series, Cadillac is now able to focus the once middling CTS squarely on the 5-series.  With the 2014 CTS that is exactly what Cadillac will be doing.  I think the new CTS looks great, well at least from the front and side, I prefer the rear styling of the current model.  Styling aside, the real excitement will be coming from the available engines, specifically the new 420hp twin turbo charged 3.6L V6 in the Vsport trim.  With the ATS, XTS, and now the CTS it is really nice to see Cadillac step things up.

Jaguar XJR

Those in the market for rapid executive transport will have a new option.  The 2014 XJR adds serious performance to what in my opinion is already a very nice luxury sedan.  With a supercharged 5.0L V8, this big cat should be seriously quick while still providing outstanding levels of luxury.  Certainly an excellent alternative to the S63 AMG, S8, or Alpina B7.

 VW GTI

The MKVII GTI made its North American debut at the NYIAS this year.  Odds are good that the next gen GTI will build on its existing strengths and continue to be a very good mix of performance, refinement, handling, and versatility.  I'm hoping that VW will offer a GTD variant this time.

A Better Daily: One Year In

Well I've had my 2012 Legacy GT a little over a year now, so it's time I take a look at how my first year of turbocharged boxer all wheel driven ownership went.  As family transport I can't say I have real issues with the BM9 Legacy.  There's plenty of room in the back for both of my kids in their forward facing Recaros, without much fear of my wife or I getting kicked in the back.  Plus the trunk can hold our double stroller and about five bags of groceries or so, not bad for a mid-size sedan in my opinion.  Looking at the interior happenings where I spend all of my time in the car for the most part I'm relatively pleased.  The gauges are clear, the leather is decent quality, every dial/control that I may need to reach is easily accessible, and the stereo sounds better than any car I've owned (though I wouldn't say it's audiophile quality).  That being said there is certainly room for improvement; the front seats need more side bolstering, soft touch plastics and real aluminum would be very welcome, and that asinine economy gauge just needs to go (Subaru replaced this with a standard engine temp gauge on some MY13 cars).  The overall fit and finish inside and out isn't bad, I've learned to live faux aluminum but paint is the very definition of weak.  With only about 25,000-miles there are a few more chips than I care for.

On to performance and handling, in this regard I can't say that my Legacy has let me down.  It's quick and confident in both dry and wet conditions, even with some understeer while cornering there is still plenty of grip as well.  Bringing everything to a stop is also something the Legacy does well, though I'm not sure how fade resistant the stock brakes are.  Since my Legacy is still stock (something I'll be addressing and tracking as this series goes on) I'm not gong to focus too much areas of its performance that can be improved.  I will however mention my main gripe, mileage.  As an enthusiast mileage isn't usually high on my list, but averaging between 25-26mpg it is something I have noticed.  With fuel prices the way they are right now better mileage would definitely be appreciated.  Would I trade mileage for performance?  Honestly, probably not but I would be lying if I said it doesn't factor into my daily driving.   Besides, I keep telling myself the money saved over time by not hanging out in the fun gears can be used towards more parts or even something baking or gaming related.


2012 Legacy GT 1-Year Review TLDR:
+ Great acceleration
+ Good braking and handling
+ AWD grip
+ Excellent interior room

- Below average fuel mileage
- Hard plastics and faux carbon and aluminum
- Chip prone paint
- Under bolstered front seats

DITC Vol #1 - Street Fighter Alpha 3

As I've stated in some of my previous posts, I'm an avid gamer.  I have been gaming since about 1985 or so and actually started collecting games around 1989.  Well over 24-years one can collect quite a few games, 325 to be exact.  Like a DJ with lots of old vinyl, every once in a while I need to go Digging In The Crates (oh yeah, cool points for those that get the DITC reference) and take a classic title for a spin.  For the first installment of this series I'm taking a look at one of my favorite Capcom classics, Street Fighter Alpha 3.

I spent a lot of time playing fighting games in 2000 and although my local arcades didn't have Alpha 3 I logged many hours playing the game on my Dreamcast.  Well it's 2013 now and the question is has time been kind to Alpha 3?  Breaking out my trusty Agetec arcade stick and playing  Alpha 3 almost a decade later I have to say the game has aged very well.  Compared to AE 2012, Alpha 3 still feels tight and though it isn't as technical (though the three isms definitely add a bit of depth) it's still very enjoyable for fans of the genre.  Graphically the game does a look a little dated, but that certainly isn't an issue in my opinion.  The only real fault I can find with Alpha 3 is that there aren't any options for multi-player unless you can get some friends over to your place.  I was hoping that Alpha 3 would get a HD remake a la 3rd Strike or Super Turbo, but in light of the recent announcement from Capcom it looks like that won't happen.  Well as long as my Dreamcast keeps working I'll be able to get my Alpha 3 fix.

A Daily Read and DC Eats

I think it is always cool to share food findings as I come across them.  So I'm going to try to make more food recommendations as my blog goes on.

The first one isn't something edible, but rather another food blog that I enjoy following.  The Ingredient List is a blog I stumbled across during my time on the VWVortex forums.   The Ingredient List covers a different ingredient every weekday and it's good read.  Although I'm generally more into baking, upping one's food knowledge is always a plus.

My second suggestion is something decidedly more tangible and actually a recommendation I received.  I think for most the current cupcake trend may be wearing a bit thin.  However, if you ever find yourself in the Georgetown area of DC or even just near it Baked & Wired comes highly recommended.  Oddly enough we walked right by this local DC spot the first time we were in Georgetown and had no idea that it was so much better than the usual suspects also located nearby (Georgetown Cupcakes and Sprinkles).  Baked & Wired's cakecups as they call them are a bit more expensive than most, but also significantly larger and there are plenty of flavors to choose from.  We tried the strawberry, the flapjack (because bacon makes everything better), and grabbed some Unicorns & Rainbows for the kids.  Each cakecup was flavorful and moist, even the one we had left over the next day.  With even more interesting baked goods to try in addition to the cakecups I think Baked & Wired will certainly be a stop we make again.  I'll probably check out The Ingredient List while enjoying a cakecup and mocha.

The Madness of March

As most people know, productivity all around the nation has slowed to a crawl last week as many of us have turned our attention the NCAA Basketball tournament.  As an alum of Virginia Commonwealth University I've had a special interest in the tourney as VCU's program has improved and resulted in several invites to the big dance.  I was really hoping that after an excellent debut in the Atlantic 10 that VCU would be able to make a run like the unbelievable 2011 season.  Although Akron was easily dispatched in the first round the trip was ended in the second round by Michigan.  I didn't expect VCU to walk over Michigan, but I thought they would at least make some baskets as it's really difficult to win a game if you don't score.  Even though the road to the Sweet 16 didn't go through Michigan, VCU still had a great season and I have little doubt that the Rams will back next year.  Even without VCU the tourney is still as exciting as it usually is so I'll follow it until we have a champion, but I'm definitely going to cheer for the smaller programs that are still in the hunt.

A Better Daily: Introduction

As a car enthusiast I would love to have a track toy, say a 2ZZ swapped MR-2 Spyder with KW V3s and some RPF1s.  A ride with no compromises, dedicated to weekends at Summit Point or a local autocross.  However, having two little ones this won't be a reality for, well a while.  When the time came for me to find a new family friendly ride almost a year ago I really only had two main criteria, it had to be fun and my family had to fit.  My list was pretty short, I tried out all of the usual family sedan suspects but the Legacy GT was the only real contender out of that group.  I have wanted a Legacy GT since the BL9/4th gen, but with my daughter on the way it was just too small.  The BM9/5th gen addressed my space concerns and offered all of the performance on the previous generation.  This wasn't without compromise though, as it's very difficult to argue that the new 5th gen looks better than the car it replaced.  Other than the B8 A4 there wasn't a single offering from any other brand that offered space for the fam, a manual transmission, AWD, and turbocharged performance for similar money.  Though I would have thoroughly enjoyed Audi's excellent fit and finish plus the amenities, the BM9 offers better performance and ultimately more potential. 

Modifying my Legacy has always been part of the plan, but it wasn't until recently that I was able to get this ball rolling.  I only have a few goals in mind, to improve on the handling (it's a bit floaty stock) and some more go all while retaining all the aspects that make the Legacy a nice daily driver and great car for my family.  Being an all new platform I can't say there was much inspiration to draw from initially.  However, the JDM only Legacy GT tS was released and I found what I was looking for.  I started slowly with some aesthetic modifications, tinted the windows 40% and partially smoked tail lamps (I have some other small things planned as well).  Those things being done it was time to turn my attention to the suspension, specifically better rolling stock and firmer suspension components.  I've decided to go with a plus 1 wheel fitment, specifically a set of Enkei GTC-01s in 19x8 wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S-04s (245/40-19).  Thanks to Sonny at the Tire Rack for the going the extra mile with this special order.  Ruling out a set of KW coilovers, the next logical selection was a set of Swift springs.  These will provide a modest lowering while firming up the handling nicely.  Since the stock dampers aren't up the task, I have pre-ordered a set of Racecomp Engineering's Bilsteins for the BM9 Legacy GT.  These have been a work in progress for about two years so this is an exercise in patience.  After everything arrives (it seems like most of these parts are months away) it's time for a trip to IAG in Westminster where they will put everything together with some Whiteline swaybars (26mm front/24mm rear) and bushings, plus a STI flexible strut brace topping things off.  Well Rome wasn't built in a day, but it certainly feels good to be one the way.

Taking delivery last March

Challah Back

I completed my second attempt at challah today.  Thankfully other than needing to get this braiding down there weren't any technical issues this time around.  Since there was much less flour used for this loaf I think that it will be even better than the first one.  Notes for next time, I think that making two loaves is the way to go since one turns out to be so large.  Also, for my third go it may be time to try some add ins (I've heard good things about chocolate chunks).  One thing is for sure though, I know the fam is definitely looking forward to french toast for breakfast tomorrow.

U R Not E

Sony revealed one of the worst kept secrets in the gaming world at their event last Wednesday evening, the PS4.  As a gamer the announcement of any new console is something that I'm going to have to opine on.  Although I realize the current generation of consoles was getting a bit stale (especially the Wii), I really wasn't in any hurry to grab a new system.  In regards to the PS3, the system has taken quite a while to hit its stride if you will.  In my opinion this is due the 360 simply being the better console for multiplatform titles, a better online experience in Live, and a convincing number of solid exclusives.  The PS3 is far from being without its merits though.  Exclusives like the Uncharted trilogy, Ni No Kuni, God of War Collection, Little Big Planet 1 and 2, Heavy Rain, and some others make the system a must own for any serious gamer.  For the money PS Plus is incredibly novel since you get an interesting selection of "free" titles every month or so.  Additionally it is still one of the best bluray players available.  Oddly enough from what I've seen from Sony's presentation it doesn't seem like they have really built on many of these strengths, yet.  The PS4 hardware sounds very interesting though, x86 based hardware and a PC style architecture should definitely eliminate the issues developers had with the PS3.  The new Dual Shock 4 seems a bit underwhelming and honestly looks a bit odd to me.  I guess placing a touchpad in the middle of a controller is the answer to a question that was never asked.  On the positive side, even though you can't play PSX-PS3 discs on the system Sony is promising a streaming based solution which on the surface seems interesting.  I am also intrigued by being able to play PS4 titles on a Vita.  This definitely seems like a hail mary to save the floundering Vita, but I think it may be good one especially if Sony lowers the price of the system.

All that being said, nice hardware is not much good without good software.  After all, games are the reason gamers purchase any console.  Sony quite frankly did not show any games that I care about or even found interesting.  I am pretty meh on the FPS genre so a new Killzone fell flat on me and the other titles shown did not do much for me either.  Drive Club?  Where was a next gen Gran Tourismo?  I will admit though that the list of 3rd party devs on board is impressive, so I'm guessing Sony will show more software the 2013 E3.  Overall, I'm sure most will agree that it is nice to know another next gen offering will be available this year.  Other than no games that got my attention and a suspect controller I don't think Sony made any real mistakes in their PS4 press event.  I can't speak for every gamer, but I have a healthy backlog of games to work through across multiple platforms so I am relatively sure unless there is a serious must own title I will pass on the PS4 until next year.

Oh yeah, extra geek points to those who get the post title.

Can I Challah?

Well 2013 has been here for a little while now and like most people there are a few things I wanted to try in this new year.  One of my goals for this year pertains to one of my favorite hobbies, baking.  I can do cakes, pies, tartes, cookies, rolls, muffins, and all manners of bars from brownies, blondies, and etc.  This year I wanted to add some more advanced items to my baking repertoire, specifically croissants, turnovers, wheat bread, focaccia, palmiers, and challah.  As of yesterday evening, despite some slight technical difficulties, I made my first loaf of challah.  Like most recipes that I've made for the very first time it isn't perfect, I need to work on my braid work and I won't even talk about the butter.  However, the bread is cake like in texture and slightly sweet and that is what I remember most about the challah that I have tried before.  I will definitely be making more loaves of challah as my time and baking resource permit, trying to get this classic bread just right.  Oh yeah, even with my rookie level braid work this challah makes for some awesome french toast.

Challah French Toast

The AtoBers

I realized a while back that car enthusiasts are a bit different from regular car owners, or as they will be called from here out AtoBers.  This difference has sort of been sort of emphasized for me over the last couple months since for the first time I'm in a office with no fellow car enthusiasts, it is a bit odd to say the least.  AtoBers aren't concerned 0-60 times or power to weight ratios, they focus on making it from point A (home) to point B (the office, store, or etc).  AtoBers aren't likely to drop it down a gear or two just to hear a turbo spool or feel the acceleration, their focus is on reliability and mileage.  AtoBers don't care that Toyota no longer offers a Supra, MR2, or Celica; they are good just as long as Toyota keeps the Avalons, Camrys, and Corollas rolling off of the assembly lines.  AtoBers aren't interested in Saving the Manuals and they don't care that Inside Line was rolled into Edmunds.com.  There are no Cars & Coffee meets to attend early Saturday morning, no apexes to enjoy on an empty on or off ramp, or even just spending hours at a little place on the interwebs called The Car Lounge.

Although there is not what I would call a shortage of entertaining cars right now, it is a bit depressing to read that most teens/kids aren't even interested in driving now days.  I still remember drooling over the E36 M3 in my dad's Car and Driver magazine or my excitement when Subaru finally announced that the WRX would be available stateside.  I have two little ones now and I would be lying if I said that I didn't want my kids to feel the same way I do about cars.  My little guy can already identify several car models and I plan on teaching both of my children how to drive stick when the time comes.  With the decline of the manual transmission, rise of hybrid/electric cars, and self driving cars on the horizon it appears to me that I may be the last of a dying breed.  Honestly, I'm kind of saddened by it all. However, I'm going to go those meets, shows, races, cruises, and anything else I can do to make sure enthusiasts like me don't go quietly into the night.

NAIAS 2013: Motor City

With the 2013 NAIAS Detroit show coming to a close in about a week I figured I'd comment on the cars shown that I think were the highlights of the show.  Fortunately there wasn't too much unobtanium on display, well onto my impressions:

C7 Corvette

The next generation Corvette in my opinion was easily the most anticipated announcement of the Detroit show and GM didn't disappoint.  Both the Stingray and Z51 receive an aluminum chassis, a new direct injected 6.2L V8, and 7-speed Tremec manual.  The Z51 trim gets an improved suspension, bigger brakes, LSD, dry sump, and closer gear ratios.  Thankfully both cars benefit from a greatly improved interior.  I like the Z51, but with only 450hp I'm waiting to see what a ZR1 replacement will bring to the table.

2014 IS

The 2014 IS is another highly anticipated model that showed up at the Detroit show.  Toyota's offering for the ever important entry level sports sedan segment had to make a splash.  It's a little longer now and with the exception of a new hybrid variant the powertrain options remain for the most part unchanged, though the IS350 now gets the 8-speed from the previous gen IS-F.  Though the F-Sport models bring improved performance, it's difficult in my opinion to get past the very suspect looking front end.  The interior is also improved and in my opinion very impressive for the class.  If it were possible to get the normal front end on the IS350 F-Sport I think that would be an interesting alternative to the class leading BMW 335i.

2014 Q50

Despite the new name courtesy of a wonky new model naming scheme, the Q50 is the latest version of Nissan's 3-Series fighting Infiniti G Series sedans.  Like the 2014 IS it is new inside and out, no suspension revisions were mentioned and the VQ37 carries over from the previous generation.  However, a new hybrid model was announced.  I am unsure if there is a market for entry level sports sedans, but it seems the hybrid model does bring about 26 more horses to the table.  Although I think that Nissan did a much better job than Lexus in the design department and also believe it should remain more dynamic than the IS; I am disappointed that there isn't a new iteration of the venerable VQ series V6 making an appearance in the Q50.  I still think that the Q50 should be another viable 335i alternative.

2014 320i

It appears that BMW is finally providing a trim level below the 328i again.  Though the 335i and M3 are usually the models I would be interested in as an enthusiast, there is just something right about a RWD sedan with a direct injected small turbocharged four.  Being a Bimmer, I fully suspect that the 180hp and 200lb-ft of torque stated by BMW are pretty underrated.  I have no doubts that a cheaper 3-Series will be very popular with the crowd only looking for the propeller badge on the hood, but I am hoping that it takes off with other enthusiasts as well.  While the A4/S4 is still my pick for the class, the 320i expands it and that could be a good thing.

2014 E63 AMG

I'm not sure there is much to say about this one, pretty much every Benz wearing those three little letters is awesome.   However, I suppose that I should note that the entire E-Class has been revised for the 2014 model year, for those not interested in German super sedans.  Back to the E63 AMG though, base level power is now up to 550hp and if that's not enough the S-Model ups the fun to 570hp and both are now driven by all 4 wheels.  With even more power for the hand built twin turbocharged 5.5L V8 and AWD the 2014 E63 AMG is my super sedan selection, well until Audi brings the RS6 back to the states.  Lastly, if you require rapid family transport like I do, all 550-570hp that is available in the E63 AMG sedan can be had in Wagon form, definitely the way to go.

2014 RS7

The Audi A7 wasn't the original 4-door coupe, but it's a very interesting take on the concept.  Quattro, sub 4-second 0-60, and a twin turbocharged V8 plus Audi's industry leading fit and finish means that the RS7 definitely  matches up very well against its rival from Mercedes-Benz (CLS63 AMG).  Now if Audi would only offer take a page from Mercedes playbook and offer the RS6 and RS6 Avant in the U.S.

NSX Concept

Other than SH-AWD and a V6 mounted midship there isn't much known about the return of Honda's legendary all aluminum sports car.  The concept is a stunner, but I'm expecting great things from the production model should Honda really see this though.  On a side note, I hope the NSX arrives in time to give the Acura brand the shot in the arm it really needs.

Beans don't burn on the grill

Well this one is a little late since I intended to get it posted Wednesday evening.  Moving on though, I finally tried red beans and rice this week.  For various reasons I have generally avoided this dish and other foods with beans as a major player for many years.  However, after giving a friend's spin on the dish a try I can only come to the conclusion that I've been wrong for quite a while.  I'm honestly trying to figure why I never tried this warm and comforting dish earlier.  It's mildly spicy, quite flavorful, and I have difficulty believing that anything with andouille could possibly be bad.  Red beans and rice is definitely something I'm going to need to learn how to make, especially during these winter months.

The Remix

I wanted to post something longer and car related, but I think that can wait until the 2013 Detroit Auto Show formally starts tomorrow.  So I'm going to to talk about dessert. I mentioned in my previous post that we still had some balsamic strawberries left, well after a quick trip to the store we had some more Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean to go with them as well.  After using the incredibly useful blender attachment for our KitchenAid hand mixer, with a little almond milk and vanilla extract deliciousness ensued.  There's still some work to be done to get that ideal milkshake texture down, but flavor wise it's a winner.

Yup, all gone!

An Edible Fractal

Full disclosure, I'm much better at baking than regular cooking (it's even in the name of my blog).  However, every so often I get a dinner idea and give it go.  Last week or so I ran across a peculiar looking (and naturally occurring fractal) vegetable called romanesco broccoli.  After doing some reading it seemed like something we should give a try, so I gave it some thought and came up with a dinner plan (one hopefully Tina would really enjoy since she generally likes me giving dinner duty a go).  The results of my efforts are below, grilled rosemary lamb chops, romanesco broccoli, and some Alexia rosemary and garlic oven potatoes.

Grilled lamb and Alexia products are something we've paired up many time before so the focus was on the romanesco.  We used a very simple prep for since it's supposed to be like cauliflower or broccoli.  I found it to be interesting, more like cauliflower, not a bad thing, but with a slightly minty taste.  I would certainly recommend giving it a go.


 
I also had a dessert idea, something very simple but very enjoyable as well.  Balsamic strawberries with vanilla bean ice cream did the trick.  The best part is that we have some strawberries left, so this dessert or a variation on it (balsamic strawberry milkshake anyone?) will definitely show up again soon.

2012 Gaming and Me

I suppose this is a bit late, sort of like my current gaming habits.  Between family life, work, and our move I didn't have too much time for one of my favorite hobbies.  There were plenty of solid games released last year, but I spent a good chunk of time trying to recapture my college level mojo (which ain't happening) in Capcom's 2D fighter offerings, defending my brains and house in Plants vs Zombies, and working through some older series (Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect I'm looking at you).  However, I did manage to sneak in two of 2012's releases; Mass Effect 3 and Dust: An Elysian Tail.  Both titles are very story driven, but gameplay wise couldn't be anymore different.

 Dust is hand drawn Metroidvania bliss, it's incredibly difficult to believe the game is for the most part the work of a single individual.  The gameplay reminds me of Treasure's Saturn classic Guardian Heroes, a very good thing.  There combos to learn, new skills to unlock, items to upgrade, and side quests complete.  I finished Dust at 95% completion, it took me approximately 20+ hours and it was a joy for every single one.  If you have a 360 and enjoyed classics like Castlevania, Metroid, or 09's Shadow Complex; I highly suggest checking Dust: An Elysian Tail out.

Mass Effect 3 is the conclusion of BioWare's sci-fi RPG epic.  Though the complexity of the games have been streamlined from the original title the story is very much intact.  Building an alliance from across the galaxy to take back a Reaper controlled Earth and seeing how decisions you made in the first two games is very rewarding.  There are also plenty of moving moments and difficult decisions to be made as well.  The gameplay is largely similar to ME2, but w/o any vehicle based missions.  After putting in well over 100+ hours into all three games I have to say that even though there are some loose ends and questions left unanswered, I found the conclusion of Shepard's story largely rewarding.  BioWare says the next title in the Mass Effect series is already underway and should arrive between 2014 and 2015.  I'm certainly looking forward to it, but until it arrives I'll complete another full tour of all three ME games.  I believe the series is just that good.

Honorable mentions, also known as games I purchased in 2012 but didn't play:  Mark of the Ninja, The Last Story, and Xenoblade Chronicles.  I wish that I found the time for these three, but I'll definitely get through them this year.  Hopefully I'll be able to follow them up with Dishonored and Assassin's Creed III, two titles that slipped through my rotation last year.

Benches, Bedding, and Beyond

Yesterday at my urging (though Tina has wanted to do this for about a week) we made a family run to our local Bed, Bath, & Beyond.  I had forgotten how much I really enjoy that store and now that we're making our new house a home it's even better.  Between the window panels we went looking for and the wall art, plates, benches, bedding, and other assorted items that captured our attention we both had a great time picturing what would work for us in the house.  What's odd is that I also made a trip to Best Buy with every intention to pick up a PSN Plus card to renew my subscription, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  I guess it's funny how things change, I'm excited about decorating our home but spending $50 on something I likely won't use (my Live subscription is a totally different matter though lol)...well not so much.

River City Musings

For the longest time I was trying to get out of Richmond, something we finally got done in the Summer of 2012.  I guess sometimes you don't really appreciate things until you aren't regularly around them.  Though I have no intentions of moving my family back to the 804 as we're really enjoying NoVA, I have been feeling unusually Richmondy lately.  The solution?  I decided to grab somethings from the RVA News Store (pics below).  A little something for my cube at work, a VCU colored RVA sticker; and something a little cooler that any Richmonder could appreciate for my game room, a Richmond Hood Map.  Honestly, I never thought I'd miss RVA but these small things let me bring a little bit of the 804 to my new digs.



VCU RVA Sticker

RVA Hood Map

It all starts with the first post.

This blog is something that I've considered starting for a while now and after some peer pressure something I've finally done.  I think that the title ' Bake | Game | Drive' says it all.  Baking, gaming, and cars are the main topics I'll be posting about since that's what I'm into but I'd be lying if said nothing else (tech, music, politics, or miscellaneous ramblings/observations) could sneak it's way into a post.  Well enough of that I guess, here goes!