Thursday, September 19, 2013

Let's Do The News! (September 19, 2013)

Mimes blocked your path? Here are some moments that you had missed.

- Just before this week's Tokyo Game Show 2013, Microsoft announced that the XBOX One will be released in Japan next year. Not sure when but let's recap; in November 22, X1 will be available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States for $499. The Playstation4, on the other hand, will launch in the United States and Canada on November 15, in Europe and Latin America on November 29, and in Japan on February 22, 2014 for hundred dollars less.

- Iran, once a sinister country for their nuclear regime, is also one of a few places where people love to surf. Get this, an Irish woman, named Easkey Britton, is the first ever woman to surf through Iranian tidal waves.



- Some reports regarding the Washington Navy Yard mass killings described that the man responsible for the bloodbath, 34-year-old Aaron Alexis as "obsessed with violent video games" and played them for "hours on end". Fox News interviewed University of Missouri associate professor of psychology Bruce Bartholomew who said, "More than any other media, these video games encourage active participation in violence. From a psychological perspective, video games are excellent teaching tools because they reward players for engaging in certain types of behavior. Unfortunately, in many popular video games, the behavior is violence." Wall Street Journal reported that one of Alexis' pals said he undergone marathon sessions of FPS while The Telegraph reported that he played Call of Duty and Biohazard (Resident Evil) for up to 16 hours and friends believed it could have pushed him towards becoming a killer.

- Today is the day Apple's new iOS7 went public and this latest operating system for Apple is available only to 5th generation iPod touch, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad with Retina Display, iPad Mini, as well as new models like the 5S and the 5C. So, what do you guys think of the new design? Refreshing or revolting?

- It's been less than a year when Frederator Studios' CARTOON HANGOVER went online but by the statistics, here's what Frederator Studios' CARTOON HANGOVER crunched up by the numbers;

170,000,000 minutes viewed +24%
1,000,000 subscribers +16%
60,000,000 video views +28%
14,000,000 unique visitors +27%

Providing web cartoons like Bravest Warriors, Rocket Dog, Bee & Puppycat, Superf*ckers, and others, it seems that CARTOON HANGOVER is off for a promising start with a long list of supporters everywhere for a thing that is Too ____ For TV. Well done, Frederator, another milestone passed.

- Moving on to the Zamboanga Stand-off, as recently there were two soldiers and an official were killed in a middle of a stand-off between the MNLF rebels against the military forces. The clearing operation from the military troops continues as expected.

- Here's a very sad story somewhere in Tokyo, Japan, which is the venue for the 2020 Olympics. There was once a senior Japanese man in the name of Kohei Jinno who was onced moved out from his Tokyo home ahead of the 1964 Olympics to make way for construction of the main stadium. Now, he has to move again because the public housing complex where he and his wife live, close to the stadium and the site of his former home -- currently a parking lot -- is slated to be destroyed as part of construction of a new stadium for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The New Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport, if my memory serves me correctly, the Range Rover Sport is a premiership footballer's favorite SUV but sadly, even though it's a Range Rover, it isn't a real Range Rover because in the past, what's underneath is just components from the Land Rover Discovery, so this is nothing more of a faux Range Rooney rather than a real one. Sadly though, it feels a bit more of a commoners' car rather than a rough-and-tumbling beast that loves to play with Mother Nature, before this one consign to the history books, good news! There's a new model coming up!

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

This is the all new Range Rover Sport. It costs about over 20,000 less than the normal Range Rover, and on paper, the new model is now the most dynamic and the most sportiest in the Range Rover lineup. It maybe a new model but with it stay true to its promises by its name? Remember; RANGE ROVER SPORT. The words "RANGE ROVER" determines its true off-road potential while the "SPORT" determines its...well, sportiness. Does it stay true to its promises? Well, don't get to hasty because let's start with the basics.

Like its normal Range Rooney, the Range Rover Sport now sports an all-aluminum chassis, which benefitted 400kg of weight loss. That seems to be rather impressive, indeed, to have its 400kg weight lost but still, good job for those working behind the scenes. In terms of engine choices, you can have either a 3.0-litre LR-TDV6 diesel that accelerates from 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds, a 3.0-litre LR-SDV6 diesel engine that accelerates from 0 -60mph in 6.8 seconds, and for the more hardcore enthusiasts, a 5.0-litre LR-V8 supercharged petrol engine that accelerates from 0-60mph in 5.0 seconds. Well, that was unexpected, there were two diesel engines and one supercharged Jaguar engine available for the RR Sport but there's more to it than that because this car has been through a lot of challenges. In Pikes Peak, the Range Rover Sport set the record for the fastest ascent in a production SUV, which is good then but that's just the tip of an iceberg because the with the Range Rover Sport, it promises to conquer the deeper, higher, and colder challenges thanks to its cunning performance figures that really stand out against its rivals.

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Like the Range Rover, the new Sport comes with the new generation Terrain Response which adapts the vehicle’s settings to suit the terrain automatically. It's becoming one of the most intelligent offroaders ever made and it's pretty much the same as the normal Range Rover that our Springer Spaniel drove against a self-driving military truck and won against it. Ooh, yes. That new Terrain Response really is worth the smart and oh, there's even that part where it detects the water level as well, which is great if you're trying to monitor the RR Sport's progress in the water levels. For offroading, the new Sport really is worth bearing the Range Rover name.

So, what about the Sport name? Does the new model still bears the Sport in the Sport Utility Vehicle name? Well, you remember the part where The Stig drove this and see if its faster against the Mini JCW GP in a time attack. Even though it's just an SUV made for offroad purposes, the new Range Rover Sport can also be a perfect track-day car and judging from its dynamic performance, when you set this one on DYNAMIC MODE, it feels like it wants to give a Porsche Cayenne a run from its money. It feels like blowing a lovely bunch of watermelons with TNT or blowing up sacks of flour with naphthalene. Ding dong.

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport interior

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport interior

Like the Range Rover, the Sport still features tons of luxury equipment and for an added treat, there is now a third-row seating at the back, which means the new model became the first-ever Land Rover model to come with third-row seating which allows you to seat two kids at the back and yes...expect the whole "ARE WE THERE YET?" questionnaire which annoys most parents all the time. Good thing you can shut them up with a fair bit of entertainment but sadly, entertainment stuff goes to the 2nd row seating.

But still, no matter the outcome, the new Range Rover Sport is becoming a British equivalent of the uber-ugly Porsche Cayenne and even though it's becoming a performance-oriented super SUV, it still hangs on to the promises. It has the right to bear the name Range Rover Sport.

The SE model (available from January 2014) will costs about 51,550 GBP up to 74,995 GBP for the Autobiography Dynamic, with additional costs from options and accessories.

Available Colors: Fuji White, Indus Silver, Ipanema Sand, Scotia Grey, Nara Bronze, Corris Grey, Firenze Red, Aintree Green, Loire Blue, Santorini Black, Luxor, Causeway Grey, Chile, Mariana Black, Barossa, Havana, and Barolo Black.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Top Gear USA S04E03

TGUSA S04E03

On the third episode of American Top Gear, Season 4, we learn more about the basics of rallying. Tanner Foust, being adept in this sport, invited Adam and Rut for some rallying 101 but there's a twist; they have 24 hours for these two to prepare against Tanner.

While school smarts doesn't seem to work, Adam and Rut get some rallying 101 with one of Tanner Foust's most formidable rivals. While these two are busy in their training, Tanner introduced us to the all-new Mini Paceman, which is essentially a three-door version of the Countryman, and then undergo a different kind of challenge to see if this has the same rally heritage as the original Mini. In the end, the Paceman finished 5th place in the podium.

Meanwhile, Adam and Rut are being chased by Bucky in a 2-lap race without being overtaken. Sadly, it's been turned into one heck of a do-or-die match and in the end, Bucky defeated these two. Since Adam and Rut never been used to rally, they come up with a plan...

The next day, at Hell's Canyon, it's now turned into a rally car vs. road car vs. powerboat-ish thingy as Tanner's in a Subaru rally car while Rut's in the brand-new Aston Martin Vanquish, and Adam's in a 1400hp powerboat with a jet engine from a helicopter.

In the end, the 1400hp powerboat, with Adam in it, took first, Tanner with the Scooby rally car came second, and Rut with the Vanquish, despite a crack in the windshield near the finish, came last. It's an odd of  1 in 2 shots.

SYRIA UPRISING: Syrians treated in Israeli hospitals


Despite that both Syria and Israel are officially at war, there are some wounded Syrians have been treated in Israeli hospitals. Since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011 Israeli policy has remained neutral, at least publicly.

Story: FRANCE24

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: N.Korea seeks unconditional resumption of talks


North Korea's top nuclear negotiator seeks unconditional resumption of the stalled six-party talks on the country's nuclear program. First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan addressed some officials from the 6 parties and researchers at a symposium in Beijing. A Chinese Foreign Ministry think tank organized the forum for the first time in 2 years.

Story: NHK WORLD

Jobert Supladito, IHAW NA!

On the September 18, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment, Tito Bhoy interviews one of the most prolific showbiz analysts, Jobert Supaldito. Tito Jobert used to be seen on The Buzz but despite that, he's been busy tackling scandals, intrigues, and mysteries in the world of showbizness.

Meanwhile, there's more funny pics in ETO NA POST; such as ways of cooling your laptop, cooling your car, fried chicken with a fighting stance, mop on a windshield, and bring your own...grabbing thingy on a train.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

L.A. Tenorio, IHAW NA!

L.A. Tenorio is the guest of the day on the September 17, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment. Although he's the point guard of PBA's Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team, he's one of the members of the Philippines' GILAS basketball team, the runner-up team from the FIBA Asia Cup which their win against South Korea sends the Philippines to next year's FIBA World Cup in Spain. Yes, really. Good luck to them...

Doctor Who Series 7 Original Television Soundtrack

Doctor Who Series 7 Original Television Soundtrack

Over the course of the seventh season of BBC Doctor Who, we've seen The Eleventh Doctor facing off against the Parliament of the Daleks, brave through the Dalek Asylum, ride along a triceratops with Rory and his dad, Brian, face off against the Gunslinger in the wild wild west, the Slow Invasion, the Weeping Angels in New York, the wi-fi connections, Akhaten, facing off against the Ice Warrior in a Russian submarine, a haunted house, the center of the TARDIS, Sweetville, Cybermen and the Fields of Trenzalore. It was the season that we bid goodbye to Amy Pond and Rory Williams and with the introduction of The Impossible Girl, Clara Oswin Oswald, the world of Doctor Who is going to be a big one for The Doctor and his latest partner.

Here it is, just before the 50th special begins, the soundtrack that covers through the course of the seventh season has arrived. We've asked for this, we've wished for this, now it's here for us to listen the masterful background music curated by Murray Gold and performed by The BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Ben Foster. This two-disc CD features all of the songs featured from the seventh series with the exception of the 2011 and 2012 Christmas Special (due this fall). It covers from Asylum of the Daleks to The Angels Take Manhattan, from The Bells of Saint John to The Name of The Doctor, this grand total of 74 tracks (37 tracks each) in a two-disc packaging brings Whovians a feast of a lifetime to reminisce back the greatest moments of Doctor Who Series 7 in a background music kind of way. If this is really the soundtrack we want for our DW OST collection, then this is really as it.

TRACK LISTING:

DISC ONE:
 - They Are Everywhere
 - Save Us
 - Dalek Parliament
 - Oswin Oswald
 - Towards the Asylum
 - A Probe In the Snow
 - Amy and Rory Together
 - The Terrible Truth
 - Dinosaurs On a Spaceship / Pterodactyls
 - Brian
 - Take a Ride On Tricey
 - Make Peace
 - Welcome to Mercy
 - Out West
 - Gunslingers
 - The Salvation of Kahler Jex
 - Our Little Town’s Prosecutor
 - Cubes
 - While We Waited
 - Brian’s Log
 - New York New York
 - I Am You
 - Melody Malone
 - Little Angels
 - My Husband’s Home
 - Hide the Damage
 - Almost the End
 - Together or Not At All - The Song of Amy and Rory
 - Goodbye Pond
 - Cumbria 1207
 - Monking About
 - Spoonheads
 - Clara?
 - A Turbulent Flight
 - Bah Bah Biker
 - Up the Shard
 - I Might Change My Mind

DISC TWO:
 - The Leaf
 - Something Awesome
 - Market Day
 - Merry Gejelh
 - God of Akhaten
 - The Speeder
 - Never Wake
 - The Long Song
 - Infinite Potential
 - Always You, Never a Replacement
 - Cold War
 - Skaldak
 - I Am a Ghost
 - A Machine That Makes Machines
 - Crimson Horror
 - Sweetville
 - Thomas Thomas
 - Hedgewick's World
 - Tiberian Spiral Galaxy
 - Upgrade In Progress
 - The Dream of Cyberia
 - What a Brain
 - Can’t Win
 - Your Orders Come from Me
 - Other Good News
 - The Impossible Girl
 - Cyber Army
 - The Emperor’s Wife
 - Some Wednesday
 - To Save the Doctor
 - A Letter to Clara
 - What Is His Name?
 - A Secret He Will Take to His Grave
 - Trenzalore
 - I Am Information
 - Pain Everlasting
 - Remember Me

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: UN accuses N.Korea of human rights violations


Systematic and gross human rights violations are taking place in North Korea. Based on the interim report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, it seems that the United Nations accuses North Korea over the human rights violation. The committee conducted interviews last month with families of Japanese and South Koreans abducted by North Korea as well as defectors from the country.

Story: NHK WORLD

SYRIA UPRISING: 40% of Syrian children drop out of school


According to the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF, the Syria uprising forced 40% of the Syrian children drop out of school. The conflict has damaged about 4000 elementary and junior high schools and around 2 million children aged between 6 to 15 cannot continue their education. Most of these Syrian children believed to have fled the country or evacuated to safer places.

Source: NHK WORLD


Let's Do The News! (September 18, 2013)

Richard: Anyway, the news and while on the subject of GTAV right now since it's already out now worldwide, I heard that those fans are struggling to get one right now and oh! There's a report saying there was one chap who got attacked and got his game stolen near the supermarket. No kidding! It's true!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: So you're saying is that there was once a chap in London who was attacked after he left a store in north London just an hour and twenty minutes after the notoriously violent video game went on sale? Wow, no wonder the most notoriously violent video game we know as Grand Theft Auto V is so notoriously violent, there are idiots wanted to steal one of those for their liking.

James: Yeah, that's a game worth stealing and guess we're in a middle of PSA here about GTAV because here's a tip, be careful when you're buying a game on a release date because there are crooks everyone who are going...well, knock you unconscious with, what the reports say, a brick, get stabbed, and have all of your belongings as well as your newly bought game stripped out for good. Ouch...

Jeremy: Yeah, that's gotta hurt indeed. Take our advice if you don't want to be wind off like this poor chap who lost his eagerly awaited GTAV game.

Richard: So, uh...are you willing to buy one?

James: Well, no.

Richard: Oh...what about you?

Jeremy: Only if it's a little bit convincing.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Oh, anyway, there's some more grueling news indeed because...you know the Navy Yard shootings happened in Washington DC? Well, that's quite unexpected for such a...what?

(audience murmuring)

Jeremy: Thanks for explaining about that. Anyway, back to the whole Navy Yard shooting spree, I wonder what motivates this maniac into killing people in the Navy Yard?

Richard: I dunno but hey, the story behind the culprit who got gunned down by the cops has something to do with a little backstory.

Jeremy: Backstory? Don't laugh people. Don't laugh, please. We're in a middle of a very serious concern. I' mean what's more serious than the brutal killings happened in the past year? You know, the Virginia Tech shooting, than last year's Dark Knight Rises brutal killings at some theater in Colorado, and also last year's Sandy Hook killings. Anyone remembered those? Hope so because you know those "NEVER FORGET" stuff mentioned?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: I SAID NO LAUGHING! THIS IS SERIOUS! OKAY?!

James: Sheesh, don't get all tension for this. Anyway, backstories. Few weeks before the rampage at the Navy Yard, he heard voices and said that there were people sending vibrations through the ceiling to keep him from sleeping from his room somewhere in Marriott hotel. Guess there are some psychological issues for this guy here.

Jeremy: By psychological, any details.

James: The cops reported that he was being followed and worried that the people were going to hurt him.

Jeremy: I'm sorry, what? There were people going to hurt him?

James: (nods head)

Jeremy: Ah...no wonder such psychological issues prompted him to kill 12 innocent people at the Navy Yard. Which reminds me, who are those people who were killed by the mass shooter?

James: Well, due to security concerns, I can't tell the names. I'm sorry.

Jeremy: Oh...

Richard: Oh wait! Some reports said that guns are not to blame for what it's known to be the 5th mass shooting in 2013 in America. Some say...it's video games.

Jeremy: I'm sorry, what?

Richard: Some say it's video games, which are clearly killing people every day in mass shootings. And yes, there goes the whole gun and video game debates, just like in Connecticut regarding the whole regulations and restrictions yada yada yada...

 Jeremy: So, who's to blame in all those mass shootings? Video games or real guns? Well, it may be a strong debate worth arguing about but since the jury's still out, feel free to debate on those because we may never know which is to blame.

Richard: Speaking of which, bad news regarding this because there's a message from Disney regarding the whole Doc McStuffins Mobile Clinic tour. Here's the memo from Disney to everyone, would you like me to read what it says?

Jeremy: Well, go on then. What's it saying?

Richard: It says...(ahem):

"Due to the ongoing police investigation in the Washington DC Navy Yard area, the Disney Junior "Doc McStuffins' Doc Mobile" visit scheduled for Tuesday 9/17 has been cancelled. We regret the disappointment this causes our young guests and their parents. We hope to reschedule in the future and will update you as soon as possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the senseless events that occurred today."

Richard: That's a message for parents everywhere who are living in Washington right now regarding this whole incident. Like as they said, they're apologizing for their inconvenience.

Jeremy: Thank you very much for saying that. Now, moving on to the new Datsun brand because now, they've launched the second model of the new Datsun lineup somewhere in Indonesia. Here it is...

Datsun GO+
Datsun Go+

James: What was that?

Richard: No freaking way! That's way too hideous!

Jeremy: I don't know what that car is but apparently it's an MPV based on the first ever Datsun model which started life as a Nissan March/Micra K13. It's got a 1.2L petrol engine mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Well, that pretty much sums it up then.

Richard: Yeah, there's no need to explain that because that thing's too hideous to look at!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Tickle's Teaser, ladies and gents because...Daihatsu teases next-generation Tanto and here's some of the teasers just for the warmup before early October reveal...

2014 Daihatsu Tanto teaser

2014 Daihatsu Tanto teaser

2014 Daihatsu Tanto teaser
James: Well, I had to say, it's a good job they've retained the Tanto's trademark pillarless door on the passenger side though but question is...do you think it will have the Radar Support system like what the Daihatsu Move had as well as the improved e:S technology in it?

Jeremy: Yes.

James: Do you think it's going to be more fuel efficient than the Suzuki Spacia, its main rival for the 2014 Tanto?

Jeremy: That, we're going to find out next month. Fingers crossed because it will still spark the whole Suzuki vs. Daihatsu debacle. Can't believe this year that Suzuki launched newer models this year like the facelifted Swift, the new Spacia, the Spacia Custom, the MR Wagon Wit, the all new Carry truck...what's next for Suzuki?

(audience laughing)

James: Beats me...we don't know what's next for this.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Thank you very much. He he he...Anyway, that is the end of the news, folks!

Grand Theft Auto V

GTA V (PS3)

GTA V (XBOX 360)

The latest installment of the boredom-killing, crime committing, high-praising, highly-criticized, Grand Theft Auto series gets an ingenious spin as the brand new Grand Theft Auto V takes hardcore players to the fictitious world of Los Santos, the city where Grand Theft Auto was to Los Angeles in real life.  Anyway, enough analogy for now, what's like to play GTAV? Well, time to get the job done folks because here in the grueling world of Los Santos, you are in the role of one of three main protagonists in this game and the best thing is, you can switch each one for your liking. Each character has their own unique abilities and how you use it is all up to you.

Michael is a retired bank robber and living comfortably in an unofficial sort of witness protection program. He gets what he wants but he's still miserable. Franklin is a former gangster looking for real opportunities as a repo man for an Armenian car dealership. Whoever can't make the payments, it's Franklin's responsibility to "repo" them. And lastly, Trevor is a drug user and a former colleague of Michael's. This guy's had a lot of anger issues to deal with. All three had different stories but what they had in common is...they're all in this together in a town full of fame and fortune.

Like most GTA games, you start with the easiest stuff but as it progresses, missions are getting tougher and tougher and you'll gonna need a lot of firepower and some armory to clear through the missions with ease but don't take it too seriously, you'll gonna need some cash and some wits to obtain weaponry in both the free roam and in missions. It's tough surviving the bloodbath and no matter how determined you are, it's still the same old, same old until you finished the mission.

In keeping up with the hard work, each character has its own unique abilities. As Michael, you can slow down time during gun battles for precise targeting of enemies, while Franklin has better driving ability, allowing you to get through corners and swerve through built up areas without a scratch, and Trevor take less damage from enemies and can perform a much deadly melee attack on his enemies. Play to their strengths and you're fine.

Amazingly though, in the tradition of hijacking forms of transportation, GTAV offers more rides to hijack than ever. From family cars, taxis, cop cars, sportscars, scooters, motorcycles, whatever you name it, stealing those never felt so exhilarating but that's just the tip of the iceberg because in here; it's by land, by air, and by sea. Not only just the cars and bikes you're hijacking but it's the boats and aircraft you might be hijacking and with numerous choices, the world of Los Santos and Blaine County has so many opportunities to offer.

If you're not in the middle of missions or butchering some cops and robbers, there are so many lifestyles GTAV has to offer. You can go shopping, yoga, golf, tennis, triathlon, scuba diving, jetski, and anything else that will really kills your boredom. Ah yes, living the life like a boss, that's the way to do it!

Also, if you want to kill some time even further, there's even GRAND THEFT AUTO ONLINE offered on this game and you can join the fun with other players worldwide as you can enjoy numerous lifestyles in Los Santos, aside from the butchering, the killing, the shooting, and whatever you want.

There's no doubt about it, the latest installment from the demented minds of Rockstar Games really pulled it off very quickly and Grand Theft Auto V is off for a very promising start. The best game in ages is now made even better and even more addicting than ever. Even more addicting than drugs, I think. If you got bored doing nothing, then this is the game to have because with such new mechanics, GTAV will surely make you occupied for hours. Amusing? Oh yeah...

LIMITED EDITION:

There are limited editions offered. The special edition offers not just the game but there goes the steelbook casing, a blueprint map of Los Santos, special ability boost, stunt plane trials, bonus outfits, tattoos, and additional weapons. The Collector's Edition, on the other hand, has all of the stuff from the special edition with the addition of GTAV security deposit bag with logo key, a New Era 9FIFTY Snapback Cap, customizable characters for GTA Online, and unique vehicles and garage property.