Jaguar XJ tuning by Startech

2012 Startech Jaguar XJ

Startech, the sister company of Brabus, modifies the Jaguar XJ but that only applies on appearance instead of performance. In here, it comes with 21-inch rims, aero kits, choice of leather and Alcantara seats, stainless-steel trapezoid exhausts, available internet connectivity, and much more. 

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/startech-adds-style-but-no-speed-to.html

Google Chrome meets Hatsune Miku!

Hatsune Miku Google Chrome theme

Now if you remember that there was a Hatsune Miku theme for your Google Chrome browser which you can download it and use it while surfing on the new using Google Chrome. Pretty cool, huh? Now Google Japan is showcasing a clip about Hatsune Miku and Google Chrome. This clip is all about inspiration and gosh, it even features a song from Hatsune Miku's Los Angeles concert.

Once again, this virtual idol quickly growing her popularity just like what happened in a North American Toyota commercial a couple of months ago.

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-12-15/google-chrome-japanese-ad-with-hatsune-miku-streamed

Gran Turismo 5 announces 2nd DLC Pack and Update 2.02

Nissan GT-R N24 Schulze Motorsport

There's some good news for GT5 players everywhere! Sony just announced that next week, GT5 update 2.02 and the game's 2nd DLC Pack will come! So what's new on the Update 2.02? Players can now change rims on their Standard Tier cars, GT Auto car maintenance affects Performance Points, "max. number of participants" regulations at the My Lounge, improved racing sound, and of course, be the first to try out the 2013 Toyota 86!

2013 Toyota 86

In case you haven't heard of it, this is the production version of the FT-86 Concept as seen on the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. This is Toyota's first FR sports car in collaboration with Subaru and it was already made a world premiere at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. The new 86 (Hachi-Roku) is powered by a 2.0L D-4S Boxer Engine that produces 200PS of power and 205Nm of torque. It doesn't come out until the first quarter of 2012 but GT5 secures exclusive rights to this car because Gran Turismo 5 and Toyota Motor Corporation had become hand-in-hand and this car is now synonymous to this game.

The 2013 Toyota 86 is coming exclusively on Gran Turismo 5's Update 2.02! Be the first to try it! (And yes, The Stig is welcomed to try it at the Top Gear Test Track!)

For Gran Turismo 5's 2nd DLC, customers are pleased to pay 3.99 US Dollars to obtain four cool rides such as the 2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition, 2011 Mini Cooper S, 2010 Volkswagen Golf R, and 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R!

Yes, this is going to be the best Christmas gift ever, even The Stig likes it!

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/12/14/gran-turismo-5-new-dlc-and-update-2-02-coming-next-week/

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: About all these Hakusensha titles...

Well, when I say "Heaven and Hell" it feels like my new segment is somewhat inspired from the Clarkson DVD titled Clarkson: Heaven and Hell. Guess I am motivated about this whole "Heaven and Hell" part and if I found one that is considered Heaven, I accept it but if I found it to be Hell, just forget it and wreck it. Mostly those should be "tortured to death" soon, just like what happened at the Clarkson Heaven and Hell DVD. For my pilot entry, let's find out what's so good (or bad) about manga titles made by Hakusensha, which were later adapted into anime, drama, and others.

Those titles like Ouran High School Host Club, Gakuen Alice, Fruits Basket, Maid-Sama, La Corda D'Oro, Special A, Skip Beat, and Vampire Knight. They're very famous among teenage readers today. Yes, those titles were exactly are titles made by Hakusensha. So why the heck that most titles made by Hakusensha were exactly too popular? I'm not sure though, and besides, I don't read manga titles published by Hakusensha, even when they were translated in English.

These days, most youngsters love watching anime that features ninjas, pirates, robots, and so on. Now, why would some prefer love stories? For me, anime love stories, especially most were based on a Hakusensha-made manga was just rubbish, and I do mean rubbish. What was the point if you have a liking over a female protagonist in the name of Haruhi Fujioka or Tohru Honda or Misaki Ayuzawa, it was like what the heck was that? Imagine if I pick up that Maid-Sama manga I have last Christmas and what am I going to do? Simple, I would get a meat cleaver and chop the whole manga angrily and saying:

THAT IS FOR BIG...THE BIGGEST LOAD OF UNIMAGINATIVE JUNK EVER... THIS IS JUST A WHITE GOOD...THIS IS JUST WRITTEN WITH NO SOUL...NO FLAIR...NO PASSION...LIKE A FRIDGE IN A WASHING MACHINE AND THIS...IS FOR EVERY TIME I CAUGHT A MANGA LIKE YOU...

Never getting bored about this.

What I don't like about all these manga titles made by Hakusensha is that you get a sense they were made not by one author who wanted to make a good manga but by a corporation who wanted to make good money. Pretty soon, those love story manga titles made by Hakusensha will be soon be tortured to death.

Merchandising-wise of course, there is not even a single one that made figures based on characters from animes that were based on mangas made from Hakusensha. Yeah, you won't probably see PVC figures of characters like Haruhi Fujioka, Misaki Ayuzawa, Tohru Honda or Kahoko Hino. While male characters from those I've mentioned were too popular, why they're not made into figures just so the women can enjoy it while doing their homework at their desks? Are there PVC figures of the boys from Furuba, Maid-Sama, Vampire Knight, or Ouran? Definitely no. Figmas and Nendoroids of those? Not a chance. Despite most are highly successful, what they actually lack is merchandising. and the lack of figures based on Hakusensha-made characters. What they're good up is just only cosplay materials.

One thing in question is the Usa-chan plush. You see in most anime conventions, if you want to cosplay as Honey-sempai, it wouldn't be complete without a pink bunny named "Usa-Chan". Sadly, there's a problem. There's no store in Japan that would sell an official Usa-Chan plush. Even when you check at sites like Amazon.co.jp, Amiami, or Hobby Link Japan, they don't really have an Usa-Chan plush. Seems that they are getting forced to make their own Usa-Chan but it can be somewhat inaccurate and they can't replicate the real Usa-chan. How disappointing...

That's why I don't like those titles made by Hakusensha because of the lack of merchandising, and also the lack of figures. If they took my advice, maybe that most companies will be offered to create figures based on characters appeared on Hakusensha titles such as Ouran, Maid-Sama, Vampire Knight, Furuba, and other Hakusensha-made titles most girls loved. If that happened in the future, most girls would love it. Who knows, there will be Nendoroid versions of their favorite Ouran boys such as Suoh, Kyoya-sempai, Mori-senpai, Honey-senpai, and the twins named Hikaru and Kaoru. In the meantime, NO. That idea won't be happened.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading.

Porsche 991 tuning by TechArt

TechArt Porsche 911 Carrera (991)

Now, we don't feature tuning cars on this blog, but today, we are. For the first time in 991 history, TechArt modifies the Porsche 911 Carrera (Type 991) for the first time but however, no performance upgrades occurred. Just refinements on the exterior and interior.

Source: http://www.netcarshow.com/techart/2012-porsche_911_carrera/

TechArt offers first individualization options for the new Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S. In addition to the wide-ranging program for the interior refinement like the TechArt full leather interior or the sport steering wheel variations, the TechArt forged light alloy wheels in sizes of 20- and 21-inch ensure a unique individualization for the new Porsche 911.

Craftsmanship in the interior

In the interior of the 911 the TechArt 3-spokes sport steering wheel provides pure individualization: finest materials, perfect ergonomics and handcrafted in the TechArt manufactory. Furthermore the TechArt paddle shifters ensure a precise control as well as a quick shifting - for a maximum of driving pleasure and motorsport feeling on-track and on-road driving.

Moreover numerous other individualization options for the 911-interior give the car the unique character of its driver. From the full leather interior with a decorative stitching in custom colour or in a sporty diamond design to tasteful styling packages in carbon fibre or an individual colour combination, TechArt sets no limits to the customer's wishes. Additional highlights are decorative accents in finest leather or alcantara.

Exterior refinement for the Porsche 911

TechArt customers are looking forward to the upcoming spring to satisfy their desire of driving pleasure and driving dynamics. With the beginning of the warmer times of the year TechArt offers its customers the classic and elegant five-spoke TechArt Formula light alloy wheel in 20- and 21-inch size for the 991. Its flowing shape incorporates large spaces between the spokes and gives a finishing touch to the car. This results not only in a clear view of the braking system, with painted callipers in custom colour as an option, but also in effective heat dispersal. Furthermore the TechArt Formula III forged light alloy wheel with five dynamically shaped twin-spokes is available at spring in the same sizes. A weight advantage of up to 15 % compared to a light alloy wheel results in a reduction of the rotating and unsprung mass and increased driving dynamics of the Porsche 911.

In combination to the unique wheel design, the TechArt sport tailpipes made of polished stainless steel with a dual oval tube or a round tube as well as exterior trim parts in carbon fibre or custom colour let the new 911 be an unmistakable individual piece.

SUDA 51'S SDATCHER -INSPIRED by SNATCHER-

SUDA 51's SDATCHER
Inspired by SNATCHER

Inspired from the classic video game, SNATCHER, SDATCHER is an audio drama in partnership with Kojima Productions, creators of Metal Gear, and Goichi Suda, the creator behind the No More Heroes series. Now you may probably already heard it during Kojima Productions' official web radio, HIDERADIO.

Sadly, only six episodes were featured and yes, this drama CD includes not just all of it but it features the final episode, soon to be aired on HIDERADIO. It features a power cast of Akio Otsuka (Snake from Metal Gear series) as Jean-Jack Gibson, Hochu Otsuka (Galvez/Zadornov from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Cristian Gainsbourg, Tetsuya Yanagihara from America Zarigani as Steevo, Tomokazu Sugita (Kaz from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Dominic Blackhead, Yumi Kikuchi as Lisa Nielsen, and much more.

Yes, the first Disc features all seven episodes of SDATCHER audio drama and the second disc is the soundtrack featuring original music score by Akira Yamaoka. A must have for those who caught up with SDATCHER from Kojima Productions' HIDERADIO and this is a wonderful collaboration between Hideo Kojima and SUDA51.

Track Listings:

DISC ONE:
01 ACT1 OPENING
02 ACT1
03 ACT2 OPENING
04 ACT2
05 ACT3 OPENING
06 ACT3
07 ACT4 OPENING
08 ACT4
09 ACT5 OPENING
10 ACT5
11 ACT6 OPENING
12 ACT6
13 ACT7 OPENING
14 ACT7
15 END CREDITS

DISC TWO:
01 Undercover
02 Sdatcher (Main Titles)
03 Counterfeit
04 A Man And The World
05 Rug Hunt
06 Trap
07 Old Friend
08 Zero Contact
09 Bioroid
10 Negotiate
11 Suspicious Vessel
12 Head Shot
13 Bodies
14 Drowse
15 Red Eyes
16 Ultraviolet
17 Cargo Owner
18 Top Of The Tower
19 Undead Souls
20 Gibson
21 Chris Knows
22 Creeping Silence (Ver.51)
23 Diner Warsaw
24 Farewell
25 End Titles

British Parliament takes on BBC for Clarkson!

Jeremy Clarkson

Another day, another anti-Clarkson related report that made them saying that they want too poo in their hands and throw it on Jeremy Clarkson. Get it? It's like he's blaming for outrageous reasons that made this Top Gear veteran a "public nuisance".

A report from most British presses saying that members of the UK Parliament calling the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) to fire Jeremy Clarkson because of his comments against union workers when he was guested on "One Show". Luckily, Mark Thompson, director general of BBC, defended Clarkson because "he is one of UK's chief cultural exports".

No matter how many times the public wants Clarkson gone, he will stand up and he's always immortal. No one can defeat, not even a several Jeremy Clarksons came from Clarkson Island! Get it? Clarkson Island, it was a sketch from Harry and Paul. Don't know? It was the comedy where the Filipinos got offended because of the Filipina maid featured in Harry and Paul.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/uk-parliament-comes-down-on-bbc-over-jeremy-clarkson/