Let's Do The News! (August 18, 2014)

Things we learned so far...

- Tensions in Ferguson, Missouri continue as protesters began throwing molotov cocktails at the cops, forcing them to counterattack with tear gas and rubber bullets. It happened when protesters running through a police command center and refused to stop.

- Comedian Jobert Austria is currently in hot water right now after his failed "suicide attempt" last weekend. He was going to jump through the fifth floor of the Sogo hotel Quezon Avenue branch, reports told, because of the "death threat" he received.

- Over the weekend, ace trainers from various parts of the world have been gathered at Washington D.C. to take on the PokeMon World Championships and for this year, with Pokemon XY as the highlight, ace trainers are battling their way to the top until the winner is named. The winners at this year's PokeMon World Championships are;

PokeMon World Championships 2014

In the Trading Card Game battles:

• Andrew Estrada on the Masters Division thanks to his Genesect EX and Virizion EX cards that propelled him to the top.
• USA's Trent Orndoff on the Senior Division with his Trevenant and Accelgor cards.
• Japan's Haruto Kobayashi at the Junior Division thanks to his Team Plasma deck that crowned him the victor.

In the Video Game battles:

• Se Jun Park from South Korea on the Masters Division and the Pokemon that made him crowned the victor are Pachirisu, Gothitelle, Gardevoir, Gyarados (with the Gyaradosite armed in order to become Mega Gyarados), Talonflame, and Garchomp.
• Nikolai Zielinski on the Senior Division thanks to his battle-hardened arsenal of Pokemons ranging from Gyarados, Zapdos, Hydreigon, Garchomp, and the Venusaur equipped with the Venusaurite for Mega Evolution purposes.
• Japan's Kota Yamamoto on the Junior Division. With Gardevoir, Zapdos, Hydreigon, Garchomp, Aegislash, and Kangaskhan in his fray, he truly bagged this title with honor.

- The Malacañang Palace officials confirmed that the final draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law will not be submitted today as documentations continue to prepare before submission.

- And now, highlights from their Mexico visit during the Doctor Who World Tour with Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman. The Mexican fans are nuts as they can't wait to be greeted by the 12th Doctor.

- VAULT THAT BORDERLINE! The 4th DLC catalog for the PS3-exclusive THE iDOLM@STER ONE FOR ALL has finally announced and it's set for its August 26th release. For this catalog, you can expect a brand new scenario divided into three sets. Each set costs 1,667 Yen (plus tax) but if you want them all, you'll have to pay 4,612 Yen (plus tax) to get the whole EX Episode 1 set featuring 12 character-specific songs for you to take on. Also, Anzu Futaba from Cinderella Girls will be making a special appearance.

Costumes aside, you can expect new additions like the new Summer Grace One Piece, Shiny Rock Star, Meteorite Shower, and Windy Cherries. The Forever Star and Prima Concerto costumes from iM@S 2 are returned and for the first time on the Playstation3, Punkish Gothic is now added on the list of iM@S OFA DLC costumes!

Also, new songs are featured on this catalog such as the brand new Vault That Borderline! as well as 私たちはずっと…でしょう？, 私はアイドル♡, and I Want.

Vault That Borderline!

- US President Barack Obama states that US air strikes on Iraqi troops' effort to recapture the nation's largest dam were done to protect the US interests in that Middle Eastern country.

- Moments after their live TV engagement, showbiz couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes announced that they have their wedding set at the end of 2014.

TTFN!!!

Wow Mali! - August 17, 2014

Highlights on the August 17, 2014 episode of Wow Mali Lakas Ng Tama!

- KAPKAP NI KAP - Hold it right there sir, we're doing a cavity search...sort of...

- PAA-NO NA? - Yikes! Am I going to pedicure...the undead?!

- BAHAY NI BIG BRO - Housemates! Welcome to my house! If you want to win, you will have to do as I say or else you're evicted.

- A group of idiots called CALAMITY FUN are taking on a cheesy situation as they find out who gets the cheese...but instead, all they've touched were nothing but mousetraps! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

- EMOTE CONTROL: THE BOYS OF THE PHILIPPINES - On this episode's EMOTE CONTROL, celeb Shalala is tricking someone into auditioning to a new talent search show.

The Cute Wall (Volume Two)

Now, the moment of truth is time because it's now time to do...THE CUTE WALL!



Yes, indeed. THE CUTE WALL. The wall where every cartoon character can be rated by how cute they are regardless of how my security blanket hardly explain while getting bitten by my lips...doing gibberish sounds. Speaking of which, who dares calling the boys from Free cute? Sorry, but they're not cute because they're just too darn cool and we don't deal with cool ones, fangirls, so...DEAL WITH IT.

You want a cute character? I'll give you one and while my lips are biting my security blanket, one cute character just popped in my head! Who's that cute character?! But before that, I have some loose ends to deal with. Ah, yes. Let's put characters that were in my HOW CUTE IS YOUR CHARACTER segment last year and I decided to put Adventure Time's BMO, Gravity Falls' Mabel Pines (ewww...why did I have to add her?), Hamtaro's Bijou, and The Fairly Oddparents' Poof to the NAKAKAGIGIL spot because between you and me...they're have their highest level of cuteness so...welcome to the exclusive club of cute characters! (laughing hysterically)

Also, I decided to put Mokona, Catbug, and Final Fantasy's Mog to the CUTE spot. I have to let them in the running for now so anyway, who's that cute character that popped in my head? Oh wait! I'll give you a clue...

"GRRR! Dine-saw!"

Peppa's little brother George

Yes! It's George! From Peppa Pig! Who would ever forget Peppa's cute little brother? Reason for his cuteness is his...well...crying because this is the only tone you'll hear when George's crying...

That's right. This is the only tone of crying you'll hear from Peppa's little brother but George's crying made me laugh because...let's admit it that his crying is HILARIOUS! No offense but because George's crying is so funny, someone made a techno remix out of it. (laughing)

So George, Peppa's little brother, you're going to...the NAKAKAGIGIL spot and oh...here's your Mr. Dinosaur. (imitates George) GRRR! Dine-saw!

Anyway, as I placed George to the Nakakagigil spot, another cute character popped into my head and it's...

Happy

Happy from The 7D? But why? Why do we have to consider Happy cute? Wait! Something's amiss...Probably because of his smile. His smile is so cute, I want to gigil him if he smile again. I also want to tickle his tummy or his beard because he's cute, I admit. Sorry Dopey, but Happy's too cute to be the cutest of The 7D so that's...a Nakakagigil spot reserved for him! (laughing)

Dopey

Speaking of Dopey, however, I'm afraid you'll be the first in the NOT CUTE spot. (laughing) So sorry because Dopey's the only one who's always whistling. No offense but Dopey's not cute.

Bashful

Oh wait! I forgot about Bashful! I also remember that Bashful's also cute but what made me puzzling is his looks. If you see Bashful by only his hat rather than his face, is that a frowny face? Nope...that's just his nose resembled of a frowny mouth. (laughing) Very comedic, huh? But still, if Bashful's cute...where should I put him? Nope. He's not in the SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE spot. He's not in the NAKAKAGIGIL spot neither. However, Bashful's going to be...in the CUTE position. Enough said.

Chespin

Ack! Who's that PokeMon?! Oh wait! I remember this one! It's from PokeMon XY! One of the starters! Chespin! Now I'm starting to think Chespin's a suitable cute character because of that cheeky smile of that little critter.

Chespin (Japanese-speaking people called this Harimaron) is one of the Kalos region starters for those who are playing Pokemon X or Pokemon Y for the very first time. Chespin's number 650. Chespin's a Spiny Nut Pokemon. The Kalos Pokedex states that Chespin's quills on its head are soft but when it flexes them, the points are sharp enough to pierce a rock.

In the anime series, Chespin joins alongside one of Ash's latest companions, Clemont, unknowingly the Lumiose Gym Leader, but I should better get going with this segment.

Reason to call Chespin cute because of its irresistible smile. I know, I already said that but when Chespin smiles with its mouth wide open, its true cuteness has the same equivalent as...let's say...Phineas from Phineas and Ferb!

A cute Chespin is a happy Chespin and for that, you get to sit next to Pikachu in the NAKAKAGIGIL spot! Woo-hoo!

Oh! Almost out of time! Guess that wraps up this edition of THE CUTE WALL! See you next time!

Time for the recap!

SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE:

Raichu

NOT CUTE:

*Dopey

CUTE:

Pichu

Plusle

Minun

Pachirisu

Emolga

Dedenne

*Mokona

*Mog

*Catbug

*Bashful

NAKAKAGIGIL!!!:

Pikachu

*BMO

*Bijou

*Poof

*Mabel Pines

*George

*Happy

*Chespin

Let's Do The News! (August 17, 2014)

Things we learned so far...

- Over 800 Overseas Filipino Workers from Libya have returned to the Philippines.

- Senator Antonio Trillanes believes that it would be better if they placed retired Major General Jovito Palparan, the fugitive responsible for the kidnapping of female students, to the detention cell.

- A Filipino indie film, titled Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon, has won the top prize at Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

- NEVS, a Chinese-owned Swedish company responsible for reviving Saab, faces bankruptcy. Darn. They've recently revived Saab last year but now this?!

- Although it may look like the legendary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe but don't be fooled. What you're looking at is called the Renovo Coupe, the faux Daytona Coupe labeled as America's first all-electric supercar. The electric motor produces 500HP power and over 1000ft-lb of torque, It will do 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of a measly 120mph. It was reportedly priced at half a million dollars and for exclusivity, limited production will commence next year. It's recently displayed at this year's Pebble Beach Concours.

Renovo Coupe

- The Dodge Challenger will be making a return to Trans-Am racing.

Dodge Challenger SRT Trans Am

- Slowbro will have its own Mega Evolution on the upcoming PokeMon ORAS 3DS game.

- And now...highlights from their New York visit during the Doctor Who World Tour.

- At this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, McLaren unveiled the P1 GTR concept car that previews a track-focused version of the hybrid hypercar.

McLaren P1 GTR Concept

TTFN!!!

#BubbleGangDabog

On the August 15, 2014 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Dabog gags

- This client at the courthouse truly has some animal instincts!

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on...the most disgusting links!

- A couple has some counseling with the PAG-IBIG HOTLINE!

- Daddy's a true gentleman. Face it...

- Bubble Gang does Maxi-Peel by spoofing this commercial as MASKI-PEEL! Bagong Ganda, Bagong Pag-Asa.

- Mr. Matapobre investigates why is someone's not using a coaster and caused a spill on his expensive table.

- More wise words from the very wise Tata Lino!

- A mano-mano interview with Jan Manual on STARPOK!

- The jig is up, Mr. Nice Guy! Bad news is...you're going to jail!

Let's Do The News! (August 15, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- Pope Francis' visit to South Korea will conduct a special mass for the "peace and reconciliation" of the two Koreas, the North Korea and the South Korea.

- The PokeMon ORAS unveils continues as for the first time, a Unova Pokemon gets the Mega Evolution treatment. We're talking about Audino, of course!

Mega Audino

- A Philippine lawmaker wants further investigation on the smuggling of luxury cars in Mindanao. Based on the report, over P150 million worth of luxury cars passed through the ports of Cagayan de Oro and sub-ports of Misamis Oriental and Ozamis City before transported to Manila.

- A tragedy struck at Greenhills as a car dropped from the third-level of the parking area after a driver suffered a heart attack, wrecking two vehicles parked on the ground.

- There's going to be a update coming soon on the PS3-exclusive Ace Combat Infinity Free-2-Play flight shooting game and for that, a scheduled maintenance will happen next week. Could it be the Round Table update as teased after clearing the Avalon mission? Also, before the service maintenance, it's your last chance to take on the Moby Dick Pursuit special raid missions!

- It is revealed that the late Robin Williams had suffered Parkinson's disease.

- Check out highlights from their Sydney tour of the Doctor Who World Tour! Aussies love Doctor Who!



TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 5: Skyline Eau Rouge

Last time, I tried out the Infiniti Q50S on Forza Motorsport 5 and while the Infiniti Q50 is a localized version of the Nissan Skyline V37 but with the 3.7L V6 VVEL engine in it, it still handles like a sportscar. The secret weapon to handle the Q50 with precision and accuracy lies to its Direct Adaptive Steering and I believed to be much more effective than those less-communicative power steering cars. It sure is fun to have one but I wish this Skyline to be more Skyline than this Skyline but luckily, they're ahead of me.

What lies beneath the shadows is called the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge, it's a concept car based on the Q50 that I just drove earlier but this is a preview of the high-performance model that delivers a serious threat to the Europeans.

 

It looks like the Q50 but because this is a high-performance take on the said saloon, it incorporates Formula One inspiration to its aerodynamics, perhaps no wonder it was heavily inspired by Sebastian Vettel's championship-winning F1 car. Eau Rouge is named after a vicious corner from Spa-Francorchamps, the venue for the Belgian Grand Prix and because the elevation's very vicious even for a skilled veteran, perhaps no wonder why they decided to call it the Eau Rouge for this car.

This car was revealed at the 2014 NAIAS but only the outside view because what lies under the bonnet, it's everyone's guess. No one really knows what powered the Eau Rouge even though it claims to possess over 500HP of power right until to the 2014 Geneva Motor Show where it was revealed that it was powered by the same VR38DETT engine from the Nissan R35 GT-R. Just what I thought, the Skyline just can't get even more Skyline-er.

 

The 3.8L V6 Twin Turbo engine on the "Skyline Eau Rouge" develops over 560HP of power and 442lb-ft of torque while connected to a seven-speed double clutch gearbox. It can do 0-60mph in less than four seconds and a top speed of almost 180mph. Plus, it comes with Infiniti's Intelligent AWD that takes great care of power and traction while adapting to the changing road conditions. It automatically sends up to 50% of the power to the front for better traction while the rear wheels gain most of the power for better road performance when four-wheel drive is not necessary.

The result of this Intelligent AWD complete with its signature Direct Adaptive Steering is a car that not only stands out in the corners, it licks it like ice cream, and even when you place this to the Top Gear Test Track, the Q50 bravely survives without warning.

 

The Nissan GT-R is once fabled as the car that can humiliate the best of the West but I reckoned that because the Q50 Eau Rouge is the V37 Skyline with the heart and soul of the Nissan GT-R, I have a theory that it will do the same against its Western opposition and I tried it. Not only the Eau Rouge can deliver a serious threat to the executive saloons but high-powered cars of it class can get smacked by it...well, some of it, really.



Time now for a real challenge and to find out just how good is the Eau Rouge is, it's time to pack some bags and move out from the Top Gear Track because the Q50 Eau Rouge takes on Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.



So, with the track featuring the namesake corner, can the Q50 Eau Rouge brave through the perils of Spa? I tried it round the track and my response is a big proud yes. The Q50 Eau Rouge is a brave saloon that braves through one of the toughest racetracks in Grand Prix history. Legend has it that there are some racing drivers that are not brave enough to survive Eau Rouge at the start but it's worth the thrill...



Spa-Francorchamps is a racetrack where ace drivers from all parts of the world gathered at this grand stage where they put all of their driving skills to the test. There are no affiliations or ranks that can hinder them as the only main rule in this racetrack is to survive.

Not only Formula One has their Belgian GP set here but also the WEC where racing drivers have to survive 24 hours racing endlessly on this track until the winner and the survivor is named. There are numerous motorsports held here but I can't tell what are those because of time constraints.

If you were looking for a racetrack that is surely the equivalent of The Round Table, sadly, this isn't it because there are so many expert-level racetracks that can suit their qualifications but since Spa-Francorchamps is so expert-level, you may consider this your Round Table for you and the other knights of the Round Table.



But still, the Q50 Eau Rouge found its own reason to battle on the track like this because the Q50 Eau Rouge was born to be more of a lethal weapon on the road and track if Nissan's Carlos Ghosn gives the green light for this.



So, conclusion time. The Q50 Eau Rouge really is a GT-R in a Skyline suit even though this is a V37 Skyline with the engine from the R35 GT-R but thanks to this engine as well as its F1-inspired aerodynamics and the Intelligent AWD, the Q50 Eau Rouge really triggers a serious threat to the Europeans. Sadly because this is a concept car, the Q50 Eau Rouge is not for sale and it's not street legal like most concept cars do...well, some of it.

Despite being a concept, the feedback is extremely high because if this GT-R-injected Skyline V37 approves for production, I would be longing to have one in my whole life.

Let's Do The News! (August 14, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- BE AFRAID EUROPEANS: Dodge has unveiled the world's most powerful 4-door saloon ever made called the Charger SRT Hellcat. It's based on the facelifted 2015 Dodge Charger but now, it comes with the same 707HP supercharged V8 engine from the Challenger Hellcat. Top speed; 204MPH!

2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

- Two versions of the Toyota FT-1 Concept are unveiled during the McCall's Motorworks Revival. There's the FT-1 Graphite Concept and the latest member of the Vision GT range, the FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo. Both of these will be available next month on Gran Turismo 6 via an update.

- The water supply of the Philippines is threatened to be on low supply by next year.

- Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao contested rumors about his retirement, stating that he will not retire from boxing.

- Yesterday, an MRT3 train got derailed at the Taft Avenue station at the corner of Edsa and Taft Avenue in Pasay City, injuring 38 people. The lawmakers want further investigation on what caused the MRT crash.

 

- As Shark Week still biting our enthusiasm all week long, Dog With A Blog actress G. Hannelius showcases us how to paint Shark Week nails in the brand new G. Nails segment on SweetyHigh's SweetBeatTV!



- Fox's Animation Domination High Def streaming one of their latest shorts called DOG ENVY. Check it out! (STOP: The following link you're visiting contains content not suitable for young audiences. Strong Parental Guidance is advised.)

- A massive shelling hit several neighborhoods around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, east Ukraine, where government forces continue to batter against the rebel troops.

- The DPWH are putting the rush on their Magallanes Interchange repair by enhancing the constructor's equipment and manpower resources all day to speed up activities. They're aiming to complete it by Sunday.

- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: There was a tragedy struck between racing drivers Tony Stewart of NASCAR and Kevin Ward Jr. in a middle of a sprint car race in Canandaigua Motorsports Park. It held on a slippery dirt oval and in that venue, Ward being thrown under the massive rear wheel of Stewarts car and then tossed. Ward was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The said incident that killed Ward Jr.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 5: It's the V37 Skyline!*

*Well, sort of. It may look like the latest V37 Nissan Skyline sedan but when you open its hood, instead, you will be greeted by a 3.7L V6 VVEL engine carried from its previous model instead of...well, you know...so clearly that looks like a Nissan Skyline but doesn't feel like one because what this is is the export version of the V37 Skyline, the Infiniti Q50.



Despite the difference, this is the first I have ever got my shot to drive the latest premium midsize saloon from Nissan's Infiniti division now that it was recently added to the Forza 5 car list via this month's content update. It's been an honor to get behind the wheel of the V37 Skyline even though it has a completely different engine and made for export markets, especially North America.



So, what's all about the Q50? You know? The Americanized or globalized or localized, whatever you may call it, version of the V37 Nissan Skyline?

Revealed at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, the Q50 is the successor to the V36 Skyline-based G37 saloon and it's the first to incorporate Infiniti's new naming scheme where saloon models bear the Q letter while sport utilities bear the QX letters.

Went on sale in America in the second half of 2013, the Q50 is available in 3.7L V6 petrol and 3.5L V6 hybrid powerplants. It comes with the world's firsts such as Direct Adaptive Steering which delivers precise handling and quickly communicates road surface feedback to the driver and the Predictive Forward Collision Warning that detects possible collisions ahead and triggers and alert to the driver with a visual warning and audible buzzer.

The Infiniti Q50 is sold in Japan as the Nissan Skyline V37 but Japan-spec models come with the 3.5L V6 hybrid and the Mercedes-Benz-derived 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine.



Having spent five minutes driving this premium midsize saloon, I can surely say that the world's first Direct Adaptive Steering on the Q50S really handles like it should unlike those power steering that you expect in most cars like the Lexus GS. It's as precise as locking-on the target and thanks to the Direct Adaptive Steering, this Q50S could be one of the best handling cars I have ever driven on FM5 and when I put this sports saloon on the Top Gear Track and faced in corners like Chicago, Hammerhead, Follow-Through, and Gambon, the Q50 precisely glides through the corners with clinical precision with some minor mistakes when not focused. It's okay though because this Q50 is so easy to drive even at the hands of a rookie.



I know that the 3.7L V6 engine may have 328HP of power for the Q50S but with such handling mojos rigged to it, the Q50 will keep me longing for days and not only that, you can drift one of these, which of course, why would you want to?



So, what can I say about this car? Well, it may not be the V37 Skyline I was hoped for but I am very humbled to drive the latest version and its strength lies to its handling capabilities thanks to its Direct Adaptive Steering. Luxury never felt so liberating...

Super GT 2014 - Fuji

The 5th round of this year's Super GT season takes the racers back to the once prestigious Fuji Speedway and despite the drizzling conditions, the racers never stop racing until the winner is named. At the Super GT500 category, it was the #18 Weider Modulo NSX CONCEPT-GT that hailed this round's winner while at the Super GT300 category, the winner goes to the #61 Subaru BRZ R&D Sport.

HIGHLIGHTS:



Report: http://supergt.net/news/single/1135

The next race is on Suzuka Circuit at the 31st of August.

Let's Do The News! (August 13, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- The Audi R8 V10 Spyder and the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse are added on the latest Real Racing 3 update, available on the App Store and Google Play. In addition, there's a limited-time Speedrush TV Challenge where in seven days, you have to complete goals to win the Audi R8 V10 Spyder.

- Forza Motorsport 5 announced this month's content update with the addition of six new cars ranging from the Infiniti Q50S, Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept, 2015 Ford Mustang GT, the Vauxhall Astra Tech Line (Top Gear's latest reasonably priced car), and two world's firsts; the Renault Spark SRT_01E from the upcoming FIA Formula E Championship and for the first time in racing game history, a Rolls-Royce has entered the fray via the all-new Wraith.

Infiniti Q50S on Forza Motorsport 5

- Starting today up to August 19, 2014; there's a barrage of limited-time Special Challenges coming your way on Ace Combat Infinity for the Playstation3 console. There are numerous rewards such as credits, sortie fuel, research reports, and much more. You can stand a chance to win a special skin for the Typhoon inspired from The Belkan War's Rot squadron plus emblems such as Albireo, Beast, Cocoon, and Lancer. Seize this opportunity to the skies!

- Mazda is currently working on their diesel-electric hybrid which is due on 2016.

- The all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 has earned the Top Safety Pick+ according to the IIHS.

2015 Chrysler 200

- Meanwhile in Sydney, Australia, the Aussie whovians can't get enough of the arrival of the 12th Doctor, Peter Capaldi. Of course, Australia was the next nation The Doctor and Clara arrived as part of the Doctor Who World Tour.

- It is reported that depression caused Robin Williams to commit suicide. This tragic depression that caused the comedian's death happened when his CBS comedy series, The Crazy Ones, was cancelled after just one season.

- Seven Chinese fishermen were rescued after a fishing vessel submerged off Tawi-Tawi province in Mindanao.

- Is Senator Jinggoy Estrada running for Vice President in the 2016 election? Despite being detained, his opinions are open.

TTFN!!!