Hurlshort

There is a big difference between developing a title for the pc and console at the same time, and developing them one after another. You need two teams to do the former, and one to do the latter.

Budweiser owns Shock Top, so they are pretty much full of it when they try to go after the craft beer stuff. They are just bummed that they are bad at it.

I'd say shield management was a big part of the X-Wing and Tie Fighter gameplay, and I'm not sure why they don't just do that. Having to choose where to focus your power would seem like it would add a decent tactical element.

I took the wife and kids to see Minions. I spent the first 30 minutes or so in shock about the fact that cost me $55. The movie had a few good chuckles, and was thankfully right at 90 minutes. Not a bad kids movie.

I'm pretty sure the ability to play after the game ends is just Bethesda's response to the stupid ending in Fallout 3. Sure, you might have a super mutant buddy who could finish up the storyline without dying of radiation, but it's your destiny to die!

I picked up Shadows of Mordor for my PS4 since my laptop is out for repairs. It's pretty fun. Super bleek though. Why were humans living in Mordor again? I get the real estate market can be rough, but that is just a bad neighborhood.

You have to give Wesley credit for knowing he is a terrible actor, and sticking to playing only himself for the rest of his career.

Yeah, my trooper is at 45 and the storyline really stalled out. I guess there isn't much reason to finish. I have a Jedi Knight near 60 and that storyline was fun.

Yeah, this is just going to blend in with all the other games about gangsters in the deep south during the 70's. Nothing unique at all! It will blend perfectly in the field of mediocre GTA knock-offs. Previous games worked by being story-driven, semi-realistic and milking the Mafia pop-cultural image. This game breaks 2 of those pillars already and it had only a couple videos released. The only 'pillar' that you can see them moving away from is the realism angle. Given that it got fairly boring to drive around at 25 MPH in their beautiful world in Mafia II, I don't see that as a big loss. The game still captures a unique time period and brings it to life, so I'd say they are right on track for another solid entry. They've always shared similarities to GTA, that isn't new.

Now that's just sad. Despite all it's problems Mafia series used to have somewhat unique identity. Yeah, this is just going to blend in with all the other games about gangsters in the deep south during the 70's. Nothing unique at all!

Agreed. These women dont seem to be aware of hot flashes.

PoE loaded super fast for me.

It's fairly amazing that it has taken this long for WoW to start to see a regular decline.

I have visited the Escondido Stone Brewery, but I do need to make a more thorough beer trip down there sometime. Thankfully I get a fair amount of the San Diego breweries up in Northern California, whereas we really only get the big ones from Oregon.

Why does quality research look so much like the ravings you might find in a padded cell somewhere?

I'd hardly say that Lance Armstrong or Barry Bonds, pretty much two of the biggest names in their sports, have continued on their merry way. Although I think it is pretty farcical when the government tries to go after them for this stuff.

So the heart failure is a result of over training and not drug use? That's an interesting opinion. I do see a big difference between performance enhancing drugs and drugs that help with rehabilitation. But again, I have big concerns over creating a culture that embraces the short term gain over long term health.

Also, on my way home we stopped at a place called the Bier Stein in Eugene. I had a Ninkasi beer called IPA Sandwich and it tasted like I was eating a piece of rye bread. It was a very unique flavor. I just finished my Ex Novo IIPA and I'm already starting to panic over the fact I only have one bomber left.

Well I can't speak with tons of authority to Texas, but if you come across the Russian Imperial Raspberry Stout from 10 Barrel Brewing, you need to buy as many as you can. Rogue also sells a Double Chocolate Stout that you may be able to find: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/132/60694/

Couple more pics from Rogue Farms:

6. Base Camp Brewing Company - This is an amazing building that plays into the mountain theme really well. I think it would be rated higher for most folks, but I have trouble dealing with carbonation, and they specialize in these aluminum bottles. While I've heard this is a great way to maintain taste, for me the carbonation causes stomach issues. Still, I'd go back, they also had some cool food trucks but we did not eat anything. 7. Deschutes Public House - Look, I love Deschutes. It is my 'go to' drinking beer from the grocery store. But if you are going to experience Deschutes, you need to visit the main brewery in Bend, Oregon. The restaurant in Portland is neat, with some good food, but it isn't the same. I really appreciate that the waiter pointed us to 10 Barrels from here, and I bought a great shirt. 8. McMenamins Grand Lodge - We had some family staying here, so we stopped in for a dinner with them. It was not bad, but they tend to have alot of fruitier beers, and I'm not a fan. They are all over Oregon, but it is a pretty standard pub type deal. Nothing special.

3. 10 Barrel Brewing - Somehow I didn't get a picture of my impressive taster tray, but this brewery had a Belgian Strong and a Raspberry Stout that were off the charts. 4. Laurelwood Brewery - This place has a bunch of kid play areas that made life so easy while we were tasting. The Red Elephant IRA was amazing, a perfect blend of amber and Imperial hoppiness. The food was pretty tasty as well. 5. Hopworks Urban Brewery - This is like a more updated version of Laurelwood, including the great kids play areas. I'd say the food is a bit better, but the IPA's weren't quite as good. The highlight was a Carrot Ale that was surprisingly flavorful.

I did not go on a cross country trek this summer, so no big RV thread. But I did spend about a week in Portland trying as many breweries as I could. Here is my rankings of the 8 I visited: 1. Rogue Farms - This is an hour outside of Portland, and it is well worth the drive. Rogue is unique in that they grow a tremendous amount of their own ingredients. There are 42 acres of hop varieties, hazelnut trees, and even bees and pumpkins on this property. I visited the Farm a few years ago on a whim and there was not much happening, but they've expanded their hours and give tours on weekends. We started out trying some beer, then we got to walk around and look at all the buildings they use to process the hops. It was awesome, and I took an oath and joined Rogue Nation. I bought a lot of bombers. They had some food trucks, but we brought a picnic and made a day out of it. They had all sorts of great games to play, and it was a wonderful day out. 2. Ex Novo Brewery - This is a non-profit that has only been open a year, but they brew some amazing stuff. I am drinking their double IPA as we speak. They also had a great food selection, and the best beer and cheese pairing I've ever taken part in.

Nah. As I watch every wrestler from my childhood die an early death, I'm pretty sure that these drugs are bad for you. I'm not going to tar and feather a professional athlete who does them to get an edge, they are adults, they make a choice, they can get in big trouble if they get caught but they can also make a lot of money. That works fine for me. But is it political to try and create a sports culture that keeps young athletes from doing long term damage to their health? If you embrace performance enhancing drugs in sports, you are basically giving the green light to every young athlete to juice. That is a terrible idea.

I am heading home tomorrow after a week in Portland. I got around to about 10 different breweries, it was pretty amazing. I am now a member of Rogue Nation and spent way too much on their beer.