Video game reviews: Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3) – Part 1

Virtua Tennis returns with their third installment in the series. It returns with enhanced graphics, some would say photo realistic graphics. The players’ movements are also very good, showing perfectly the different styles of the players in real life, and successfully representing them in the game. The computers AI have also been improved to make it that harder to be the number one seed in the world.

In Career mode, you make your own player, male or female, how ever you like it. You get to choose everything from their stances to the way they hit the ball. You take on the worlds best players in your quest to be the best. Your starting rank is 300 and you play though tournaments to be the best. Federer, Nadal, Roddick, these are just a few of the big name in your way or that number one seed that every player wants. Depending on what training you do the most your player will develop his or her own style, big server, all rounder, serve and volley, power strokes, fast player, it is entirely up to you what you want your players style to be and reflect it in their training. But be sure not to over do it and get plenty of rest, or you might get an injury.

In Career mode you get to choose where to plant your home anywhere on the globe and this is where you can access your equipment and emails. You also go through intense training to develop your player through different training, Footwork, Groundstrokes, Volleying and Serving. There is also a tennis academy that sets out different tasks for you to do, the more you complete the better you player gets, and you may even move to up the next level. When training your stamina levels will drop until you have an energy drink, and you don’t lose any time, a rest at home where you lose a week, or a vacation where you lose 3 weeks but come back refreshed, these things will stop you from getting injuries and losing even more time. You also go through competitions including singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Also you get to compete in the four grandslams. Throughout the career you receive emails from your trainer, from other players asking if you would like a practice match.

The only downfall that I can think of with Virtua Tennis 3 is that the lob shot is useless, it simply does not lob anything but the net. Except from that this game is one of those games that, when you start, you just do not want to get off it. It is a must buy, for tennis fanatics or otherwise. Through all of this I rate this game 9/10, great game.

Drink recipes: Old fashioned – Part 5

As the name suggests, Old Fashioned’ cocktail is considered to be one of the oldest types of cocktail. This is a classical cocktail drink which served in old-fashioned cocktail glasses, which are about 1-2 ounce bigger than the rock glasses.

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon whiskey (made from rye and corn). Scotch whiskey can also be used in place of bourbon whiskey.

2 dashes of angostura bitters

One table-spoon of sugar syrup

Method of preparation

Mix the above ingredients in a classical cocktail glass with help of a bar spoon. Serve chilled after garnishing with a lemon wedge or a cherry or orange slice. Most people suggest not to top off this classical cocktail with soda water and to use cherry as a garnish only. It can be a mistake to add cherry inside the cocktail. Some people do add orange juice too to this cocktail which gives a very different type of flavour.

How popular card games have stood the test of time

Popular card games seem to have withstood the ultimate test,and we all know that the ultimate test is the test of time.Why is it that in this high-tech society,where we have a vast multitude of games to choose from(like the X-box,and War of the Worlds),do people still play with a silly old deck of cards?

Perhaps it is because one simple deck of cards holds endless possibilities.There are so many different games that can be played with a deck.Maybe it’s because we can place bets in a game of cards.Maybe it’s the delightful noise the cards make while we shuffle them.Or, maybe it’s because it brings us closer to our friends and family ,when we are able to sit around a circle and play a familiar game.We can eat and drink while we play.Laugh and cut up.

Cards come in different colors and sizes that we can choose from.There are different kinds of cards for different kinds of card games.Some cards have pictures on them.Anything from race cars to naked ladies can be purchased.there are different styles of cards for different games. the cards for poker,and the cards for playing bride are different.

Some people can read your future in a deck of cards.another great thing that we love about cards is they have accessories with them.Everything from chips to elegant glass cases.They are very versatile.

Cards are something most people own a deck of .They are very affordable,costing only a dollar or two.The professional card players throw the deck away after using it several times.Mine are all dog eared and flexible,but they play just the same.

Correctional facilities have cards on their store commissary sheets for the inmates to order.Some facilities have taken them off their store sheets,because as much as cards bring some people closer,they seem to invoke anger and hostility in others.Death has been a result of many a documented game of cards.

Poker,Blackjack,Gin Rummy,Go Fish,Bridge,the list is endless of the games that can be played with a simple deck of cards!The hated 52 card pick-up is not a favorite of mine.Anyway I guess cards are a lot like roaches.you probably have one in your house somewhere, and they are not going away any time soon.They are tough.And when the electricity goes out, we can still light a candle,sit around with our friends and family,and play a good old fashioned game of cards.

Drink recipes: Kir royale – Part 1

The Kir Royale is a delicious yet simple cocktail to make. This drink can add an elegant feel to any occasion with only a small effort. The recipe can be changed to suit the tastes of even the most picky guests

You will need:

a fluted wine glass

creme de cassis-blackcurrant liquer

champagne or white wine

fruit for garnish such as a twist of lemon, cherry, blackberries, or raspberries

To make the cocktail, simply add one shot of the creme de cassis to the wine glass and very gently top with the white wine. If you are using champagne instead of white wine, only pour a half glass of the champagne. Let all of the bubbles settle and then continue to fill the glass. Add the garnish of your choice and you are ready to serve!

There are also several variations of this drink you can make by altering the wine choice.

Cardinal-made with red wine instead of the white

Royal-made with champagne

Imperial- made with champagne and raspberry liquer instead of the creme de cassis

Yet another way to make this cocktail is by adding fresh strawberries directly to the glass. First, you will need to slice the fresh strawberries and add to a large mixing bowl. Add about a tablespoon of sugar and mix together. You can vary the amount of sugar to taste. Let the mixture sit of about ten minutes, stirring occasionally. After the time is up, add two strawberry halves to the wine flute, top with the creme de cassis, and slowly pour the white wine over the mixture. Garnish with another strawberry slice and serve

Drink recipes: John Collins

The John Collins is one of the delicious classic drinks that’s a go-to for a lot of people. You can always depend on it being delicious, fresh, and tangy. It may seem complicated to some, but the John Collins is a very easy-to-make cocktail that everyone will love, whether you’re having dinner for two or throwing a huge cocktail party. Different juices can be used for a fun twist on the recipe. Here’s how to make it:

You’ll need:

1 oz lemon juice (can be substituted with lime, cranberry, or just about any other juice you want)

2 oz Bourbon

3 oz club soda

1 slice orange

1 maraschino cherry

1 tsp superfine sugar

In a shaker half-filled with ice, combine the Bourbon, juice, and sugar. Shake well for 30 seconds. Strain into the classic Collins glass almost filled with ice. Add the club soda and stir well. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry and serve and enjoy!

Signs that you need a break from gaming – Part 4

While there are many signs you need to take a break from gaming, these ten are some of the more extreme. Some of them I have experienced; while others are just thoughts or pipe dreams.

Sign one: Thanksgiving dinner must be eaten on the living room floor, because it was more important to keep the RISK game set up. While I have not held up thanksgiving dinner for a game, there was a week when we did have to eat at the coffee table so that we could finish a game of RISK.

Sign two: You complain at work about your carpal tunnel syndrome; however, you ignore your aching arm to kill another Zombie while playing the video game Resident Evil. This one has happened to me. I complained that I wrist was hurting. For a week, I did not type. Finding out later that I was still in pain. During the period of time, I was playing a game on my cell phone. At the end of the week, I did not improve. It was only then that I figured out what was going on and took a break.

Sign three: You ask for one, official Jedi reproduction Light Saber with light and sound action; ending up with two. That is not the main issues. The real issue is that you cannot decide if you want to keep the red or green one, you decide to keep both because your favorite character is ambidextrous. I do own two Light Sabers, enough said.

Sign four: When going on a gamers escape weekend, you can only take two of your friends because the rest of the space in your car is taken up by basic gamers’ supplies. This has not happened to me, but I would need enough space to take two magazine boxes.

Sign Five: Every game night, Dominos calls and asks if they should send over the usual. Dominos never calls, but we have had the same driver deliver several weekends in a row.

Sign Six: If every game night you drink a case of Coke and are perplexed as to why you cannot sleep when all of your friends have gone home. The real issue being, you repeat this process every weekend. There was few days one summer when I was very young, where we stayed up three days in a row consuming several cases of Coke. Twenty years later I now have acid reflux. Is there a connection?

Sign Seven: When you’re forced to evacuate, because of a forest fire, you take four boxes of game books, leaving the newborns diaper bag on the front porch. While I would never do this, I would have to take my Gamma World and Twilight 2000 collections with me; and maybe my Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition.

Sign eight: You have mistakenly worn your, Society for Creative Anachronism peasant garments to the office. I am not a member of SCA, but I have always wanted to join.

Sign nine: You own 25 pounds of dice, 22 mechanical pencils of various colors and sizes, 15 reams of graph-paper, and full of Hot Pockets. I only have five pounds of dice, I can barely keep one mechanical pencil away from the kids, I only own 3 reams of graph-paper (I will blame the kids again), as far as the Hot Pockets, I have not eaten one for years. (Acid Reflux)

Sign ten: The only way you will sell one of the games, that you never play, is if you are trying to make room for a new one that was just purchased and there is no more room for another shelf. I have had to sell a Video Game and DVD because I did not have any wall space left. As far as a RPG book, I just buy another box.

Thanks for reading I hope that you enjoyed.

Board game reviews: Risk

The classic board game Risk feeds our need as human beings to fight to the death and conquer the world. Those seemingly innocent little plastic pieces turn into our regiments of destruction as we march all over the globe, forging our path to world domination. OK, perhaps that is a bit over-dramatic, but this is a war game and the goal IS global domination. Here are a few things to know about Risk.

Boys will be boys

I’m not saying that girls can’t or don’t play Risk. However, I have yet to meet one, and when I played Risk growing up, it was just with the fellas. I was a bit of a geek in high school so I spent many a late night on the weekends with my buddies, drinking root beer, and playing Risk. It was an innocent way for us to wage war on each other without any blood, guts, or international hatred. Just good clean fun.

The basics

Risk takes the world and breaks it up into countries, and pieces of countries. Each player is allotted a certain number of “armies” to start. The players take turn spreading their pieces around the board while trying to gain a placement advantage or fortify a defensive position. Depending on how many players are involved, a neutral player may be added to fill out the countries.

We are at war

The game commences with players invaded adjoining countries. Battles are fought by rolling dice, with the higher die winning the conflict. Battles end with the invader either conquering the country or deciding to stop the conflict due to unacceptable casualties. Players who win battles also get cards which they can eventually turn into more armies as the game progresses. The game ends when one player conquers the world.

Review

I enjoyed Risk thoroughly as a kid, but I have to admit it does have somewhat of a limited appeal in terms of age group and gender. As previously mentioned, it is the type of game which draws boys much more than girls. Also, the strategy of the game probably won’t be grasped until somewhere in the 10-year-old to 12-year-old range, which limits the application to larger families. Still, it is a fun game of strategy, measured risk (no pun intended), and chance that can be a very fun father-to-son or brother-to-brother competition.

Drink recipes: French 75 – Part 3

New York’s Stork Club was the epitome of glamour as it catered to the rich and famous from the fields of show business, sports, politics and the underworld. The Stork Club also made the cocktail “French 75″ popular.

The French 75 was named after a piece of French World War I Artillery that helped to stabilize the gun which resulted in a higher rate of accuracy. It is hardly surprising then, that this drink would know how to pack a punch. With a combination of Champagne and gin I wouldn’t recommend over indulging.

There are two options as to how to make a French 75 as below:

French 75 (One option)

4 parts gin

1 tbsp sugar syrup

2 parts fresh lemon juice

Champagne

Combine all the ingredients except the Champagne in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled highball glass. Fill with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

French 75 (second option)

2 parts gin

1 packet sugar

juice of half a lemon

Champagne

Pour the cognac and lemon juice into a glass and top with Champagne (although not right to the top), add sugar. After the sugar has stopped fizzing up, top the glass up with more Champagne.

No one is quite certain who first concocted the cocktail, but it was definitely a hit with American servicemen before being made popular by the New York glamour crowd. The Bar Hemmingway at the Ritz Paris actually serves a version which they name the Ritz 75. The Ritz 75 adds mandarin juice to the mix for an added tang.

Another version of the French 75, featured in the New York Bartender’s Guide, uses cognac instead of gin

NY Bartender’s Guide French 75

4 parts cognac

1 tbsp sugar syrup

2 parts fresh lemon juice

Champagne

Combine all the ingredients, except the champagne, in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into a chilled highball glass. Top with cold Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

Enjoy the cocktail, but watch out for the gun exploding in your head the next morning. Painkillers are definitely recommended as you discover that the French 75 is not a close ally after all.

Drink recipes: Tequila sunrise – Part 6

The Tequila Sunrise is a cocktail which can me made in two different ways. The original version of the cocktail contains tequila, Crme de Cassis, lime juice and club soda. The more popular blend contains tequila, orange juice and grenadine syrup. It is called a Tequila Sunrise because after it has been poured into the glass the colours look just like that – a sunrise.

It is a very refreshing cocktail and its light citrus taste disguises the alcohol. It looks very pretty in the glass and has become on the most popular cocktails around. There is even a song by The Eagles named after it as well as a film starring Mel Gibson

Gene Sulit came to work for The Arizona Biltmore in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The Arizona Biltmore is a resort which many then and now consider to be Arizona’s “Grand Dame” and is a paradise for the rich and famous.

Gene had a number of positions in food and beverage at The Arizona Biltmore and gave almost 35 years of outstanding service. Those who remember him said bartending was his main passion as it gave him the chance to meet and mingle with guests from the resort as well as the opportunity to invent original concoctions.

Gene first made The Tequila Sunrise for a loyal, long-time guest of the resort who told him that he loved tequila but would like a refreshing drink which he could enjoy by the pool and asked Gene to surprise him. He did this by mixing tequila, soda, Crme de Cassis and fresh lime juice.

Biltmore Original

Ingredients:

1 oz Premium Tequila

oz Crme de Cassis

Fresh Lime

Soda Water

Method:

Fill glass with cracked ice and add the tequila, Crme de Cassis and a squeeze of lime juice

Fill with the soda water and garnish with 3 fresh lime wheels

Other Version

Ingredients:

4.5 cl (3 parts) Tequila

9.0 cl (6 parts) Orange Juice

1.5 cl (1 part) Grenadine Syrup

Method:

Place ice in a highball glass.

Pour the tequila and orange juice into the glass

Add the grenadine. This will sink to the bottom. Do not stir

Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry

There are different variations of this cocktail:

Tequila Sunset – replace the grenadine with blackberry brandy

Vodka Sunrise – use vodka instead of tequila

Astronaut Sunrise – Use Tang in place of the orange juice

Diet Version – replace the grenadine with cranberry juice

The perfect springtime cocktails – Part 1

Sangria is by far my favorite!

First I’ll start with a little history of my favorite drink before I get to the good part the Recipe!

Sangria has been a popular drink in Europe for hundreds of years. The basic recipe consists of Spanish wine, Rioja, and fruits. In some Europeon countries they use claret or Bordeaux. It occurs during maybe 1800s. The Sangria make its first appearance in America in 1964 at the World’s Fair in New York. The Sangria began to spread in America.

Today to this day, there are many different recipes. Fruits mainly are oranges, apples, and lemons. It does not necessary restricts to the ingredient or red wine and fruits. Some people add rum, brandy, or even vodka to the Sangria.

When you see the Sangria with the words following, Sangria Blanco , it means that Sangria is making from white wine. As you know your basic Spanish, blanco means white. Sangria Blanco maybe will align with fruits that such as kiwis, peaches, or mangos.

Really, there is no rule on how to make Sangria. The rough guideline of Sangria making is wine and fruits mixture. To refine your recipe, you may use another alcohol, fruit juice, soda water, sparking water, and/or even use sugar.

This is my favorite version of this great drink

My friends all request my recipe for parties. It only takes about 15 minutes to prepare.

2 oranges

3 Apples

2 bottles of Spanish red wine

half cup of Dark Rum

half cup of orange Liqueur ( Grand Marnier is awesome)

So I start out chopping the apples into really small pieces. They absorb the liqueur and its a lot of fun to munch on!

Slice the oranges any way you prefer. 1/8 slices or as slivers.( I prefer slivers)

Pour your wine in a really large pitcher ( clear is preferred, looks pretty)

Then Add your fruit.

I pour in the dark rum and orange liqueur. I stir it and let it set at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.

The orange liquor gives the sweetness. That way you don’t need to add any sugar.

(Hint) .. Don’t go too cheap on the red wine. You can get a decent Spanish wine for around 6 dollars a bottle.

Also a nice idea is to serve Tapas. There appetizers served bite sized. When I went to Madrid thats all I ate tapas and Sangria.

Here is a fun recipes for one example of a Tapas

1 sheet of pork ribs, about 1 1/2 lb

6 tablespoon sweet oloroso sherry

1 tablespoon tomato pure (paste)

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoon seasoned plain (all-purpose) flour

Coarse sea Salt

Preparation

Separate the ribs, then, using a meat cleaver or heavy knife, cut each rib in half widthways to make about 30 pieces.

Mix the sherry, tomato pure, soy sauce, Tabasco, and sugar in a bowl. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

Put the seasoned flour in a strong plastic bag, then add the ribs and toss to coat.

Dip each rib in the sauce. Cook on a hot barbecue or under a hot grill (broiler) for 30-40 minutes, turning occasionally until cooked and a little charred.

Sprinkle with salt and serve.

Enjoy the Party!

Enjoy your Party!

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