Let's Do The News! (September 6, 2012)

Ideally, it is now time to do the news and as you may wandering that we got this Top Gear Studio-style garage here on Car Town except for every single detail....

On the right, there's the old garage while on the left,
that's a TG-style studio

I know, it was my idea to make my own TG-style studio at Car Town but this is a bit more rubbish. Ambitious but rubbish but sadly, our two idiots are away for some reasons and I am had it with this fast-talking, nonsense-worthy, Vice Advice maneuver because nobody understands. Instead, I had brought along some guests...Better not explain why are they doing here...

Ritsuko Akizuki

Cockney Nan from The Catherine Tate Show

(wow)

Uh...hello there Nan....

Hello Ms. Ritsuko. (Cockney Nan laughing)

(audience laughing)

Huh? What's so funny about me?

Uh...nothing...nothing...

So, what brought me here?

Those two idiots are away for some important things to do but since you're here, do you have something to discuss?

 

Yes! The news! (Cockney Nan laughing)

(audience laughing)

I'll start off with this, ma'am. This one here is the new variant for the Porsche 911 (991). It's called the Carrera 4 or Carrera 4S and of course, it may look the same as the 991 Porsche 911 but they're rigged with 4WD while retaining the engine to the wrong place. Well, it's still a German sports car with its engine rigged on its buttocks. (imitates Cockney Nan laughing)

Scoop: http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/2013-porsche-911-carrera-4-all-wheel-drive-models-debut/2012/08/27/dd816940-f014-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html

(audience laughing)

The new 911 Carrera 4 models

Seriously Nan, are you sure that most 911 models have their engines on their backs?

Exactly. They were nothing but a bunch of arse-engine lunatics. I don't really care what the hell are those Volkswagen Beetles in running shoes. (clears throat)

Yeah, you maybe right. They were beetles in running shoes but how about this one, Nan?

2013 Volkswagen Golf

What's this, glasses girl?

It's the new, seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf. It was the first ever Volkswagen Golf to be outfitted with the Volkswagen Group's new MQB platform.

MQB platform? What the hell is MQB?

Nan, MQB is the acronym for...um...ah....I don't know what that is but some say, it's modular transverse matrix in German. The engine is transversely mounted and flexible enough to allow individual models to have a variety of wheelbase, track, and external dimensions.

Oh...so that's what this MQB stuff is....(pbbbt)

(audience laughing)

Oh and for the Golf Mk7, they have two brand-new generations of engines, most come with the idling stop system and battery regeneration. They had the 1.2-litre TSI 84HP (85PS) petrol unit returning 4.9 lt/100 km (48mpg US or 57.6mpg UK and 113 g/km), and a 1.4-litre TSI 138HP (140PS) unit with Active Cylinder Technology, which can deactivate two of the cylinders, and achieves up to 4.8 lt/100 km (49mpg US or 58.9mpg UK and 112 g/km).

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/2013-volkswagen-golf-new-official.html

I don't care what in the world is this new Golf...This new one kinda looked like an enlarged Polo, which like the new A3 is somewhat an enlarged A1. (yawn)

Uh...okay Nan. How about these?

2014 Peugeot 208 GTi

2013/2014 Peugeot 208 XY

Now, those who came from Geneva since March may remember about the 208 XY and GTi concepts but on the Paris Motor Show this year, here come the production versions of the 208 XY and 208 GTi.

Eh....what?

Nan, the 208 XY is all about being stylish and with the addition of the exclusive Purple Night metallic color, the 208 XY will come with five new colors. There are several personalization options on the inside ranging from a full leather treatment to aluminum trims for the dashboard, center console, and door handles.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-peugeot-208-xy-with-premium-touches.html

On the 208 GTi, it comes with the THP 200 engine from the RCZ which says to be more powerful than the 175HP 207 RC/GTi. Also, the steering system and suspension were tweaked for agile handling.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/peugeot-reveals-all-new-208-gti-hot.html

Hmph....I don't really really care about the XY and the GTi. They were all sickened me like hell. (Cockney Nan laughing)

(audience laughing)

Still bothered, Nan? Okay then, how about this?

Facelifted Ford Fiesta?

Ford Europe unveiled the facelifted Fiesta complete with Aston Martin-style front face that is now part of Ford's design philosophy and get this...it now comes with the 1.0L EcoBoost engine which won the 2012 International Engine of the Year award for best-in-class fuel economy. 

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/official-ford-fiesta-facelift-gets-10.html

Surely Ritsu, who gives a damn about a facelifted Fiesta? An Aston Martin-like front on the Fiesta? Oh come on....

(audience laughing)

Okay...how about this, Nan? A 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, to be premiered at the 2012 Paris Motor Show this month...

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-2014-mitsubishi-outlander-plug-in.html

Pwe!

(audience laughing)

Uh....9th Generation Honda Accord teased in Russia via sketches....

9th generation Honda Accord teaser sketch

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/honda-previews-russian-and-possibly.html

Who care?

(audience laughing)

Uh....um...uh....

A BIT OF FAFF LATER...

uh...how about this Nan? Let's see...2013 Ford Escape got recalled for the third time due to fire risk?

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/05/2013-ford-escape-recalled-for-third-time-again-for-fire-risk/

OH WHY DON'T YOU F**K OFF?!

(audience laughing)

Nan? Nan?

I'm outta here! You made me bored! I'm going back home!

(audience laughing)

Anyway, because it's only me, Ritchan, now to pick up some leftovers. Can't believe Nan got mad on me and she left. Okay, then, Honda Cars set up a teaser for the 2013 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid. Here are some of a few teasers I've encountered.

2013 Honda CR-Z teaser

2013 Honda CR-Z teaser

2013 Honda CR-Z teaser

Huh, didn't see there was now a Sport Plus button on it but anyway, Honda Cars will unveil the 2013 CR-Z this September 27. I repeat, September 27, 2012.

Scoop: http://www.carview.co.jp/news/4/172226/

In other news, it's two worlds collide when GRAND-AM Road Racing and American Le Mans Series are merging together as one and this landmark sports-car organization will reveal at the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona. This is becoming one of the most significant development in the history of sports-car racing and under this merger, the following entities will combine with GRAND-AM: the American Le Mans Series; the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions ALMS events; the Road Atlanta race track facility in Braselton, Ga.; the Chateau Elan Hotel and Conference Center in Sebring, Fla.; and Sebring International Raceway, via a reassignment of the lease agreement with the Sebring Airport Authority to operate the raceway. The GRAND AM and ALMS will continue to operate separately next year before their joint custody in 2014.

Scoop: http://www.nascar.com/news/120905/grand-am-american-le-mans-merger/

Right, shifting myself into DOCTORDONNA mode because...this should be as quick as hell right now. Anyway, are you a big fan of the manga titled Gakuen Alice (Alice Academy)? Someone out there know about Alice Academy because this was a manga that was published by Tachibana Higuchi in Hana to Yume in 2002 and the 19th issue of the magazine recently on sale since September 4, 2012 marked the series' 10th year. Alice Academy did have a 26-episode anime from 2004 to 2005. I know, some of you watched that. Anyway, the author of Alice Academy, that is Tachibana Higuchi, said on her official Twitter account that she was working on the concept for the first part of the final chapter. Although she didn't say when it will be published but...oh dear. Alice Academy's coming to an end...Someone out there isn't pleased....

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-05/gakuen-alice-manga-last-chapter-being-prepared

Now, although I'm not utterly familiar about Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III but I heard that he's plagiarize certain parts from someone else's blog regarding the dark secrets of the RH Bill before. This time, I heard that Tito Sotto's done it again by translating Robert F. Kennedy's speech in Tagalog. 

Tito Sotto tagalizes Robert F. Kennedy's speech

Scoop: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/did-sotto-copy-again-.html

Did Tito Sotto done it again? I don't know but we'll have to find out soon...Anyway, on that bombshell, that's the news! Thank you for having me doing this! (laughing)

My souffle for September - the DS4

Doesn't look more souffle to me

This is the souffle of the Forza Motorsport 4's September Pennzoil Car Pack, well not exactly a souffle to us unless you remember the souffle girl last weekend's. This is the Citroen DS4 and some people say that this is somewhat the French alternative...to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

I was really bothered about this but the one that FM4 featured here comes with the THP 200 engine, the one that the Peugeot RCZ have and believe it or not, this one's not as good as the Alfa Giulietta when I tried. Sure, the Giulietta is all about the finesse and the touch of class but for this one...plenty of style but no cider. The steering's a bit heavy, it's a bit harsh, and as observed, feels like I overcooked my favorite souffle for the souffle girl. 

A mountain to climb for...

That gave me an interesting idea. Instead of comparing this to the Giuletta because as I'm sure I know, the Giulietta will easily slit the DS4's throat in terms of speed and handling, I would rather compare this one to the Citroen from the past.

Citroen C4 VTS

This one is the old Citroen C4 VTS. The one that was used as Sebastien Loeb's rally car from the past until it was replaced by the DS3. When the second generation C4 came, the Coupe was discontinued and furthermore, Citroen has stated that the DS4 is not intended as a successor to the Citroen C4 Coupe.

First up, the drag race. Remember the DS4 comes with the RCZ's THP 200 engine which produces more power than the old C4 VTS. However, it's heavier than the C4 VTS. Top speed for the new DS4 with the THP 200 engine is 235kph while for the old C4 VTS can go about 227kph. Let's see if we can translate science into speed with a quarter mile drag race...

So, the DS4 has done that but now, let's translate science into track times at the Top Gear Test Track and I need a driver and I have one. Some say he believes that Christmas is a load of @#$%....and he is...




The Citroen C4 VTS did it in 1:36.668 while the Citroen DS4 THP 200 did it in 1:35.495 so to be honest, it did better than the old C4 VTS but sadly though, I am not happy with the burnt souffle with some eggs to exterminate. I mean, imagine if I put an egg to the passenger seat of the DS4, you know that this would be a childish science experiment to analyze its handling and grip. The only way that the egg's going to be EGG-STIR-MINUTE-d is when you handle it too hard or some rough oversteer.

In short, I didn't like the DS4 because of its heavy steering but as a decent alternative to the old C4 VTS, you'll know that this works quite well.

DS4's Rage

Aston Martin prematurely kills the Virage to make room for DB9 successor

Aston Martin Virage

Whoa there, it may be out last year but Aston Martin prematurely killed the Virage coupe and Volante to make room for the DB9's replacement. Now who would have thought of that but whatever, some say that the replacement for the DB9 will sport One-77 designs as seen on the new Vanquish. Seems like that the Aston Virage is going to be a rare collector's item in the near future.

Scoop: http://paultan.org/2012/09/04/aston-martin-virage-to-be-replaced-by-new-db9/

Welcome Back: 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage

The best Bond car is always the one that started it all. It remains one of the all time Bond car greats; the Aston Martin DB5.

Alpine escape

This car is famed for being the first ever James Bond car when it was first appeared in the Bond movie, Goldfinger. The DB naming was named in honor of David Brown, the head of Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972.

The DB5 served as the replacement for the DB4 and unlike the DB4, the all-aluminium 6-cylinder engine was enlarged from 3.7 L to 4.0 L as well as adding three SU carburetors, generating 282 bhp (210 kW) of power and a top speed of 145 mph (233 km/h). It was mated with a ZF five-speed transmission (except for some of the very first DB5s).

This car was produced from 1963 to 1965, with a total of 1,023 produced (123 convertible DB5s were produced). There was a shooting brake DB5 made by independent coachbuilder, Harold Radford, via modifiying 11 or 12 DB5 coupes.

This car was featured in Top Gear Season 6 Episode 5 and it was driven by Jeremy Clarkson alongside the immaculate Jaguar E-Type. In the drag race portion, both the DB5 and the E-Type were lost to a Honda sedan. When handed to The Stig, the DB5 did it in 1:46.0.

Anime Saimoe Tournament 2012 update (September 3, 2012)

I really forgot about this. There were results for the 2ch Forum's 2012 Anime Saimoe Tournament Round 1. I'm very very sorry that I forgot about this. Anyway, time to pick up where it started....

Sources have the results with some vote counts and frankly it's a bit embarrassing...Remember, those highlighted in bold are the winners advancing to the next round.

Group A (8/14)
Saki Miyanaga - Saki Achiga-hen (episode of side-A) - 294
Maho Misawa - Ro-kyu-bu! - 278
Nanako Dojima - Persona 4 the Animation - 55
Himari Takakura - Mawaru Penguindrum - 41

Mahiru Inami - WORKING!! - 236
Fan Rinin - Infinite Stratos - 179
Miya Tachibana - Amagami SS+ - 177

Reika Aoki - Smile PreCure! - 254
Cecilia Alcott - Infinite Stratos - 222
Raika Oda - Papa no Iu Koto Wo Kikinasai - 107

Group A (8/15)
Kobato Hasegawa - Haganai - 249
Kiyomi Sakura -  Squid Girl  - 135
Riko Yasufuku - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 96

Illyasviel Von Einzbern (Illya) - Fate/Zero - 239
Yoshinoya - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 120
Mako Tsuiki - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 113

Yuno Gasai - Mirai Nikki - 201
Saki Mizukoshi - Natsu-iro Kiseki - 190
Crea Dolosera - Aquarion Evol - 79

Group A (8/16)
Yuki Kataoka - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 291
Rika Shiguma - Haganai - 136
Tiffania Westwood - Familiar of Zero F - 87

Koromo Amae - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 274
Lynette Bishop - Strike Witches - 180
Charlotte E. Yeager - Strike Witches - 65

Nako Oshimizu - Hanasaku Iroha - 224
Maria Takayama - Haganai - 172
Mero Furuya - Sankarea - 106

Group A (8/17)
Miki Hoshii - The IDOLM@STER - 323
Tomoka Minato - Ro-kyu-bu! - 299
Aoi Ogiyama - Ro-kyu-bu! - 46

Remon Yamano - Ano Natsu de Matteru - 266
Masamune Usami - Mayo Chiki! - 217
Miyuki Tsubakino - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 140

Haruka L. Morishima - Amagami SS+ - 273
Asia Argento - High School DxD - 200
Ghutatan - Haiyore! - 126

Group B (8/18)
Yuka Hanaki - Natsu-iro Kiseki - 189
Shino Amakusa - Seitokai Yakuindomo - 162
Tomo Asama - Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere - 127

Kanade Suzutsuki - Mayo Chiki! 215
Isumi Saginomiya - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven is a Place on Earth - 196
Hanyuu - When They Cry - 108

Akari Akaza - Yuruyuri - 325
Izumi Segawa - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven is a Place on Earth - 146
Taeko Hiramatsu - Kore wa Zombie desu ka? - 75

Group B 8/19
Mei Misaki - Another - 324
Ayano Sugiura - Yuruyuri - 260
Rias Gremory - High School DxD - 73

Iori Minase - The IDOLM@STER - 288
Mio Naganohara - Nichijo - 171
Komaki Jindai - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 159

Toki Onjouji - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 417
Airi Sena - Mashiro-iro Symphony - 192
Tsumiki Miniwa - Acchi Kocchi - 74

Group B 8/20
Yozora Mikazuki - Haganai - 259
Chihaya Ayase - Chihayafuru - 255
Nazuna - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 151

Azusa Nakano - K-ON! - 293
Sakurako Omuro - Yuruyuri - 256
Yuno - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 167

Shinobu Oshino - Nisemonogatari - 288
Shirayuki Hotogi - Hidan no Aria - 220
Ayame Shaga - Ben-To - 150

Group B (8/21)
Run - A-Channel - 190
Ritsu Tainaka - K-ON! - 185
Ami Kawashima - Toradora! - 121

Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke - Strike Witches - 222
Ichika Takatsuki - Ano Natsu de Matteru - 140
Mako Someya - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 94

Chris Yukine - Senki Zessho Symphogear - 203
Nori - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 151
Sae - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 68

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-08-22/2ch-forum-saimoe-tournament-2012-round-1/groups-a-b

Group C (8/23)
Shizuno Takakamo - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 409
Kyoko Toshino - Yuruyuri - 366
Rise Matsumoto - Yuruyuri - 44

Ringo Oginome - Mawaru Penguindrum - 293
Kaoru Hanawa - Tamayura - 261
Professor - Nichijo - 159

Kanon Nakagawa - The World God only Knows - 297
Fuu Sawatari - Tamayura - 260
Norie Okazaki - Tamayura - 104

Group C (8/24)
Hisa Takei - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 285
Sae Nakata - Amagami SS+ - 218
Yuuka Morigaki - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 75

Eila Ilmatar Juutilanen - Strike Witches movie - 267
Kokoro Akechi - Detective Opera Milky Holmes - 186
Hare Menjo - Guilty Crown - 102

Ui Hirasawa - K-ON! movie -264
Sen Yarizui - Ben-to - 251
Suruga Kanbaru - Nisemonogatari - 71

Group C (8/25)

Cthugha - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san - 239
Chinatsu Yoshikawa - Yuruyuri - 180
Francesca Lucchini - Strike Witches - 142


Yune - Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
Erica Hartmann - Strike Witches (movie) - 220
Sonya - Kill Me Baby - 133


Astarotte Ygvar - Astarotte's Toy! - 306
Awai Ōhoshi - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 132
Mami Futami - The IDOLM@STER - 125

Group C (8/26)

Yayoi Kise - Smile Pretty Cure! - 303
Ai Haibara - Detective Conan - 115
Gruier Serenity - Bodacious Space Pirates - 96


Maon Sakurada - Tamayura - Hitotose - 260
Maria - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 195
Laura Bodewig - Infinite Stratos Encore: Koi ni Kogareru Rokujūsō - 76


Sherlock Shellingford - Detective Opera Milky Holmes franchise - 197
Asuha Tōhara - Astarotte's Toy! EX - 190
Mayuri Shiina - Steins;Gate - 148

Group D (8/27)

Houki Shinonono - Infinite Stratos - 202
Rinko Tamaki - Natsu-iro Kiseki - 189
Harue Akado - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 95


Yasuna Oribe - Kill Me Baby - 235
Gertrud Barkhorn - Strike Witches (movie) - 171
Sakurako Gibbard - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 97


Sana Inui - Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers - 211
Tamao Kurei - Nyarko-san: Another Crawling Chaos - 173
Hibino Shiba - Kamisama Dolls - 84

Group D (8/28)

Kurisu Makise - Steins;Gate - 439
Mihoko Fukuji - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 364
Ayumi Tokita - Squid Girl - 70


Chihaya Kisaragi - The IDOLM@STER - 349
Hibiki Tachibana - Senki Zesshō Symphogear - 249
Koneko Tōjō - High School DxD - 188


Louise de la Valliere - Familiar of Zero F - 406
Kei Arakawa - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 319
Alice - Heaven's Memo Pad - 130

Group D (8/29)

Hajime Kunihiro - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 266
Suzu Hagimura - Seitokai Yakuindomo - 236
Henriette Mystere - Detective Opera Milky Holmes franchise - 125


Makoto Kikuchi - The IDOLM@STER - 250
Karuta Roromiya - Inu X Boku Secret Service - 241
Fear - C3 - 140


Madoka Kyōno - Lagrange - The Flower of Rin-ne - 328
Teru Miyanaga - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 291
Tomoki Sawamura - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 28

Group D (8/30)

Nagi Sanzenin - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 365
Hiroe Atago - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 165
Utao Kuga - Kamisama Dolls - 131


Hinata Hakamada - Ro-Kyu-Bu! - 332
Unused Character - Kill Me Baby! - 187
Perinne H. Clostermann - Strike Witches (movie) - 130


Saber - Fate/Zero/Carnival Phantasm - 262
Tōka Ryūmonbuchi - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 236
Agiri Goshiki - Kill Me Baby - 160

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-09-02/2ch-forum-saimoe-tournament-2012-round-1/groups-c-d

Check back for more!

Formula One 2012 Belgian GP update...

Oh, I almost forgot. The Formula 1 2012 Belgian GP happened at Spa-Francorchamps. On that event, we saw a horrible carnage between Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Romain Grosjean. Despite that carnage happened, Jenson Button stands tall to the very end.

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Button wins after first-corner carnage at Spa 02 Sep 2012
      
Jenson Button salvaged McLaren’s day after an explosive start to the Belgian race saw team mate Lewis Hamilton eliminated along with championship points leader Fernando Alonso, Sauber’s Sergio Perez and Lotus’s Romain Grosjean.

After debris from their collision was cleared away, and the safety car went back in, Button owned the race and sped home to a 13.6s victory - his first at Spa - over Sebastian Vettel who drove with great commitment and a clever strategy to take a supremely valuable second for Red Bull. 

Behind them, car problems kept Lotus’s Kimi Raikkkonen from launching his expected challenge, but the Finn also took home valuable points on a day when Alonso’s lead suddenly began to look vulnerable. His team mate Grosjean was subsequently handed a one-race ban and a 50,000 Euro fine for triggering the first-corner mayhem. 

Nico Hulkenberg drove a beautiful race for Force India and was always in the hunt for good points. He battled and beat Raikkonen and Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher in the early stages to run second, but ultimately had to settle for an honourable fourth.

Felipe Massa salvaged a little for Ferrari (after Alonso’s exit) with a hard-fought fifth ahead of Red Bull’s Mark Webber, while Schumacher faded to seventh after a late tyre stop and the loss of sixth gear on his Mercedes.

Jean-Eric Vergne came through from a fantastic race-long battle with Toro Rosso team mate Daniel Ricciardo, Paul di Resta in the second Force India, and Bruno Senna, who also had to make a late tyre stop after looking a likely points contender for a long time.

Sauber’s promising race fell apart at the start when Kamui Kobayashi’s car showed signs of overheating on the grid and was then hit by the flying Hamilton and Alonso; he recovered, but could not better a hugely disappointing 13th. Vitaly Petrov was Caterham’s leader in 14th after Heikki Kovalainen, who was initially 10th after the first-corner melee, spun once and later spun again to finish 17th.

Between the green cars, the Marussia drivers staged a hard battle in the team’s 50th race. Eventually Timo Glock hunted down team mate Charles Pic, to finish 15.5s ahead. Pedro de la Rosa was the final finisher after HRT team mate Narain Karthikeyan’s span off backwards into the tyre wall late in the race.

Besides Grosjean, Hamilton, Alonso and Perez, the other non-finisher was Pastor Maldonado who damaged his Williams in a brush with Glock on the restart on Lap five. The Venezuelan was handed a five-place grid penalty by the stewards for the next race in Monza for that incident, and received another five-place grid penalty for Italy for jumping the start.

The FIA also investigated two pit-lane incidents. The first came when Caterham unsafely released Kovalainen and he struck an incoming Karthikeyan, and the second when Webber just managed to avoid an incoming Massa after Red Bull appeared to let him go prematurely. They took no further action against Red Bull but fined Caterham 10,000 Euros for their misdemeanor.

The stewards also investigated an incident on the 19th lap when Schumacher, on the left-hand side of the road as Vettel dived inside him at the Bus Stop chicane, then cut across the Red Bull’s bows as the older German headed for the pits. They decided to take no further action. 

In the championship stakes, Alonso still leads with 164 points, but Vettel is now second on 140 from Webber on 132 and Raikkonen on 131. Hamilton is fifth with 117, while Button’s first victory at Spa leaves him sixth on 101.

For the teams, Red Bull continues to lead with 272 to McLaren’s 218, Lotus’s 207 and Ferrari’s 199.

Scoop: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/9/13739.html

So, can such suspense like this occurred on Italy this September 9? See you there!

Let's Do The News! (September 3, 2012)

And now the news and hey, I guess everyone's in a good mood today. Seems that most of them have witnessed Episode 1 of the Doctor Who Series 7 titled Asylum of the Daleks. That was a fun ride and we had a lot of leftovers to serve for next week's Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

You had a lot of leftovers?

Just small. Some Jammie dodgers and the custard....

(audience laughing)

Hey, guess this episode is not just limited to just Daleks but also some souffle and eggs.

Souffle and eggs?

(laughing)

Oh dear...Seems that you're taking a shot at that souffle girl...(laughing)

No, I'm not...

Really? Wanna guess who's that actress being that souffle girl?

Who?

Jenna Louise-Coleman

That was Jenna Louise-Coleman! She made a very special appearance on that episode. Oh, and if you we're tantalizing over Ms. Jenna Louise-Coleman, don't worry. She'll be back on the 2012 Christmas Special but now, she's going to be a new partner for The Doctor. Guess we'll be serving souffles by the time she returned for Christmas....gosh that girl made me blushed...

(audience laughing)

Ahem...don't be silly. You want eggs?

What?

Eggs....eggs....eggs...

Eggs?

Eggs...eggs....term...i....nate!

Exterminate?

(uh-oh)

Hey, enough all of that eggs and souffle jokes right now...Something bothers me that because Daleks think that hatred is beautiful...what's the recipe for hatred?

Subtract love, add hate...and some eggs, and stir.

(audience laughing)

Uh...that's not gone well. Save the souffle recipe for Ms. Jenna Louise Coleman this Christmas, okay?

Okay...

Because, let's move on to the unexpected.

Yes, we heard about BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT's scaling down of operations and as we heard now....THEY'RE DISCONTINUING THEIR HOME VIDEO, MANGA, AND NOVEL SALES.

(awww)

Sorry if we saw you spitting your coffee at your desks but this is the real deal. Here's the letter from BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT sent to the retailers;


"I am writing to inform you that Bandai Entertainment Inc in discontinuing its home video publishing and distribution business effective March 1, 2013. 

As we methodically wind down the business, the last day that Bandai will be accepting any purchase orders is November 15, 2012, with our last shipments occurring on November 30th, 2012.

On Behalf of Bandai Entertainment Inc, I want to express our gratitude for the opportunity we've had to do business with your company, and I think you in advance for your understanding and assistance during this period." 

Scoop: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/08/31-1/bandai-entertainment-to-end-catalog-home-video-sales-in-november

So, if you're on the hunt for some Bandai Entertainment DVDs then do it now because the final day that they will be accepting orders will be on November 15. Any titles you want to buy before the deadline?

Uh...I should be getting those Galaxy Angel DVDs....I guess this is now becoming a forgotten title. Ever since Broccoli Books closed down its business in late 2008 or early 2009, I do kinda miss those. Even Millefeulle Sakuraba...(sniff)

(awww)

Yeah, anyway Capt. Slow, no time for drama because let's move on to even more interesting....and for a big treat...

What?

It seems that BBC's Sherlock TV program, the one that stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the modern Sherlock Holmes, gets a manga from Kadokawa's Young Ace this October 2012 and it will be made possibly by someone named Jay.

Heh? Even Sherlock's popularity reached Japan? BBC's Sherlock gets a manga? Touche, Mr. Steven Moffat.

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-01/bbc-tv-sherlock-re-imagining-gets-japanese-manga

I was shocked to read that news and it seems that the modern Sherlock Holmes is getting a bit a trending topic. The Japanese are now making a manga based on BBC's Sherlock? Uh-oh...

I know. It's a bit of an uh-oh but there's even more to this Sherlock malarkey. When Robert Downey Jr. became Sherlock Holmes in the movies and Benedict Cumberbatch became Sherlock Holmes on British televisions...

Not to mention Sherlock Shellingford from the Milky Holmes anime....that counts...

(laughing)

... there's another Sherlock Holmes in the ring but this time...it's AMERICAN...A new show on CBS titled Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu from the Charlie's Angels movies as Joan Watson, which is like Dr. Watson, only female.

Scoop: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/05/watch-the-trailer-for-elementary-2012s-third-sherlock-holmes-franchise/

I was getting a bit confused about the whole Sherlock Holmes fame but now it spreads America-wide with the upcoming Fall TV show called Elementary? The Sherlock for Americans?

(audience laughing)

Anyway, enough about the Sherlock madness and move on to even more because...

A maid cafe owner in Osaka got arrested for employing underaged girls, 14-year-old girls to be axact.

(huh?)

14-year-old teenage girls working in maid cafes? That's illegal you know. There was a rule that it's prohibited to employ a child under 15 years of age but what do you expect here? Some 14 year old junior high school girls working at the maid cafe? Uh-oh...This is somewhat child labor here....

Yeah. This guy's going to be pissed off for the case of child labor. Speaking of which, what was that maid cafe in Osaka where the owner got arrested for child labor?

Maidream

Scoop: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/09/01-1/maid-cafe-owner-arrested-for-employing-14-year-old-girls

And what are they serving?

Let's see, um...some 4000 yen omelet rice, some 5000 yen cake set, some very expensive foods and services on this made cafe with underaged maids. Glad I'm not there...

(audience laughing)

Okay...moving on...There was this German pharmaceutical company, which is known to be one of the last remaining five research-oriented pharmaceutical companies with headquarters in Germany, apologized to the public for birth defects in...well you guessed it...five decades! Five decades? That was too late for a German pharmaceutical named Grunenthal to apologize to those Thalidomide victims.

Uh...what's Thalidomide?

It's sedative drug introduced in the late 1950s that was used to treat morning sickness and aid sleep. That medicine lead them to side effects but the most seriously, birth defects. Ending up with babies with no arms or limbs or any body parts that render them disabled.

Scoop: http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981604994

Sadly though, it's too late for Grunenthal to apologize to the affected. I mean come on...50 years? That's a very very long time! You know if that occurred, I should better apologize quickly, not waiting for 50 years to apologize. Come on Grunenthal. You should better be packing your bags now because you're facing the wrath of the angry mob....Those who were called the Thalidomide victims perhaps.

(audience laughing)

This really is a bombshell we really like to end it but before we end...I got terrible queries saying what was the commercial song on the 2013 Toyota Auris NOT AUTHORITY commercial, the one with the transgender model on it. Wanna know what's the song? Here...


曲　名：オリジナル曲
作曲家：大沢 伸一（おおさわ しんいち）

Source: http://toyota.jp/auris/tvcf/index.html

Yeah, you guys really were close. I'm afraid it's an original song used on the commercial! Sorry!

Conundrum solved, right?

And....on that bombshell, that's the news! Let's go make some souffles! For the souffle girl! he he he he

Save that recipe for Christmas...