Let's Do The News! (December 23, 2014)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Some internet services in North Korea have been partially back online after an almost unprecedented internet outage occurred despite the recent cyberattack against the US. No comments have been made from the Pyongyang authorities.

- The US justice department will review the case of the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, named Dontre Hamilton, by a white police officer since April in Milwaukee. It was made after a local prosecutor said he would not charge against the officer, who claimed that he acted in self-defence when confronted in a park by the said black man.

- In preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis in the Philippines, the nation's president Benigno Aquino III declared that January 15 to 19 will be a non-working holiday, giving Filipinos more time to witness the arrival of the Pope in this nation.

- Two victims who died from the Sydney Cafe Siege were remembered at private memorial services, a weeks after a gunman took them hostage. Tori Johnson, the manager of this cafe where the hostage drama occurred, and Katrina Dawson, a 38-year-old lawyer, were the victims who killed in the siege along the with the hostage taker in it.

- 10 years have passed since the cataclysmic Asian Tsunami that killed over 220,000 people across 14 countries as far apart as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Somalia but experts warn that the painful memory of this tragic event is fading away as residents from the affected areas had disaster preparedness on their minds as well as authorities taking advantage of their early warning systems.

- MMDA traffic constable, Sonny Acosta, who was dragged by a maroon Isuzu AUV, died around 2:30PM due to cardiac arrest, according to reports. Last week, Acosta flagged down an Isuzu for being in the lane designated for provincial buses in Cubao, Quezon City. When he asked the driver, whose name is Mark Ian Libunao, his driver's license, the driver rolled up his window and got away while the enforcer's hand was stuck in the car's window. His colleagues found him bloody on the ground.

- The McLaren Special Operations division built a one-off P1 hybrid hypercar with the legendary Gulf oil livery on the outside just for the businessman named Miles Nadal. His one-off P1 he ordered from the MSO were heavily inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR racecar with the same racing colors.

Gulf-liveried McLaren P1

- Dog With A Blog actress G Hannelius is now 16 years old and this Sweetyhigh article takes you behind-the-scenes of her 16th birthday party with some fabulous 50's theme on it.

- Leonardo from the 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live-action movie spawned himself a figure courtesy of Good Smile Company. Arriving this June, this figure based on the leader of the TMNT is priced at 14,815 Japanese Yen or $129.99 plus tax.

Good Smile Company Leonardo figure

TTFN!!!

Honda N BOX Slash

2015 Honda N BOX Slash

The brand-new Honda N BOX Slash is what happens when the folks from Honda tried to shorten the roofline of their Honda N BOX tall kei car via a chopped roof, give it secret rear doors to the passenger side, and provide a unique interior position where the rear is higher than the driver's side. What's it all about the new N BOX Slash is everyone's guess but this new kind of abomination wants further explanations about why such a thing exists on Japanese roads.

At first, it looks like a normal N BOX but this awkward looking side profile gives it a more of a "box coupe" look because the roof has been lowered by 100mm compared to the normal N-BOX, narrowing down the roofline and elevating the window line toward the rear. It's like when the Deuce munched too much sushi filled with spicy wasabi in it but this car's no Deuce. It's a kei car with a rather unquestionable design that confuses the bypassers thinking what in the world is this abomination doing on the streets of Tokyo on a cloudy afternoon.

2015 Honda N BOX Slash interior

2015 Honda N BOX Slash interior

The inside looks identical to the normal N BOX but the Slash model features a low and wide cabin space and the reason why the rear seats are higher than the front seats is because of the fuel tank mounted in the center of the car's backbone. With such unique position, someone at the back can see your head from up there.

Customers can personalize their interiors with five unique styles such as the Bright Rod Style, the Street Rod Style, the California Diner Style, the Hawaii Glide Style, and the Tennessee Session style.

The N BOX Slash features a brand new Sound Mapping System (8 speakers + 1 subwoofer) that turns the interior into a mobile club and despite being in a kei car with a small space, this new kind of sound system brings out its best sound quality on any driving music you're listening and the awesome news is that it comes with the wireless charging device which you can charge your phones without the help of that troublesome USB connectors that you often lost it either at home or in the car.

2015 Honda N BOX Slash

The N BOX Slash still comes with the same 660cc engine (in normal and turbo) and the CVT gearbox as the normal N BOX but it has been recalibrated for this model to provide better acceleration and the fuel economy of 25.8kmpl (in JC08 Mode) at the same time. It's not what you called fast but it feels more decent and nippy for a city car in this magnitude, although the steering is a bit heavy because of its power steering included on the N Box Slash even though it can be turned on or off at a flick of a switch but that's least of our problems because there's a newly-developed Electric Parking Brake that uses a button rather than the traditional handbrake which allows the driver to apply the parking brake without fail at the touch of a button.

In the name of safety, it's been loaded with lots of it such as the Emergency Stop Signal, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist system, and then there's the available Safety Package which includes the City-Brake Active system, side curtain airbag system and front passenger’s i-side airbag system,

The new N BOX Slash starts at 1,380,000 Japanese Yen ($14,000) and it's available in 18 colors, including two-tone color variations accompanying the body and the roof. So, what to like about the N Box Slash? It's unique seating position where the rear is higher than the front, its sound system with the wireless charger, and its sizing just right for a city car. What I don't like is the sloping roofline that kinda spoils the look of this bizarre N BOX, its new Electric Parking Brake, and its Power Steering that feels a bit heavy.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Let's Do The News! (December 22, 2014)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Moncef Marzouki refused defeat upon the exit polls from the Tunisian elections suggested that Beji Caid Essebsi had won. He called Essebsi's victory "undemocratic" but the 88-year-old man who won the elections has been celebrating with supporters as he vows to bring back strength and stability to the nation.

- Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a 28-year-old black male behind the brutal killings of two NYPD officers, told the public to "watch what I'm going to do" before the attack. He shot them down while they were sitting in their police car before running into a nearby subway station and reportedly committed suicide. Some reports say that he posted messages on social media saying that he would kill those cops in retaliation for the death of Eric Garner, a black man who was killed by cops.

- Following with the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures that led to the cancellation of The Interview movie, US President Barack Obama mulls putting North Korea back in the list of nations sponsoring terrorism. He doesn't consider it an "act of war" but rather an act of cyber vandalism. In 1988, the US Government placed North Korea in the list of terrorist-sponsored nations but removed it in 1994 following some advancement in nuclear talks.

- One of Japan's top government spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, told reporters that the country is collaborating with the US Government on the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment.

- The Tokyo Haneda Airport recorded a total of 70 million people passed through the airport since the beginning of 2014, 1.5 million more from last year.

- In preparation of the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival parade, the MMDA starts rerouting of traffic as some roads along Roxas Boulevard in Manila would be closed to traffic during the parade. They said that the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from P. Ocampo to TM Kalaw would be closed to traffic starting 1 p.m. Tuesday and motorists who are using the northbound lane of the Roxas Blvd. should turn right at P. Ocampo Street while reaching their destination. Those who are using the westbound lane of Quirino Avenue going to Roxas Blvd. should turn left to Adriatico Street, turn right at P. Ocampo Street, and turn left at FB Harrison Street to reach their destination.

- Asphalt 8: Airborne was recently updated with Version 1.7.2 and for this Winter Update, expect new arrivals of new cars from almost unknown origins and when I said almost-unknown origins, these cars were thought to be not existed in the real world but they are. Those cars are the 9FF GT9 VMAX, Arrinera Hussarya, Felino cB7, Ferrari 308 GTS, Acura NSX 2005, Lucra L148, Renault DeZir, Rimac Concept_One, Spada Codatronica TSS, Tramontana XTR, and the VW W12. Apart from those new cars, there's a brand new SECTOR 8 location and this is going to be one of the craziest locations you can race on A8. Also, this update introduces the token system where players can earn tokens to unlock exclusive cars, refill fuel, or buy boosters. Lastly, because having a MAX-tuned car isn't enough, there's PRO KITS where you can buy PRO BOXES which randomly includes cards require to purchase a Pro Kit to upgrade your car a little further. Some are common but a few can be either RARE or LEGENDARY!

- In case you missed it, Episode 4 of the Bee and Puppycat web series is now streaming and it picks up where the last episode left off. This is the midseason finale but expect more episodes coming this 2015! The fun doesn't stop here, you know.



- IT'S THE NEW CADILLAC CTS-V! General Motors unveiled their most powerful Cadillac yet as the new CTS-V is powered by a more powerful 6.2L supercharged V8 engine with direct injection and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation). Producing over 640HP of power, this new model is more powerful than the Mercedes-AMG E63 and the BMW M5! It even comes with the Performance Data Recorder which lets drivers record videos while driving!

2016 Cadillac CTS-V

- Arriving this May 2015 for 9,074 Yen (plus tax), here comes a 1/8 scale PVC figure of The iDOLM@STER's Miki Hoshii wearing her yutaka, brought to you courtesy of Good Smile Company.

Miki Hoshii Yukata Ver.

TTFN!!!

Suzuki Alto - Eighth Generation (HA36S)

2015 Suzuki Alto

There's a new king of fuel-efficient petrol cars arrived in Japan and it comes from a Japanese car company that helms as the king of fuel-efficient cars. Many have rivaled it but this car company's still fighting back and in Japan, they're winning in the fuel-efficient stakes. Yes, we're talking about Suzuki and what you're looking at, ladies and gentlemen, is the brand new, eighth-generation, Suzuki Alto. Yes. Suzuki has been kept using the Alto name for some time now since 1979 and for this 8th-generation model, looks like Suzuki's on a different approach when it comes to making this car from scratch.

2015 Suzuki Alto

2015 Suzuki Alto interior

Starting first with the design and for this new model, they've gone for a more retro-approach which dates back from the 1980's. That's sounds fine but for me, the new look is a bit tad old-fashioned for a new model but that's the way budget-friendly city cars look. Cheaper prices with cheaper designs that car enthusiasts wouldn't want one in their dream garage except for Gran Turismo fanatics because it's a kei car and kei cars live well in the Gran Turismo virtual environment.

The same thing goes for the interior because just like the outside, it looks cheap and plasticky but it has the basic necessities that a car needs such as an aircon, a radio, an instrumental panel, and seating for four people. The new model's height maybe lower than the previous model but you can expect more space for your legs because the wheelbase is now 60mm more so, good job.

2015 Suzuki Alto

Now, here goes the most important stuff about the brand new Alto: it's performance. The new model inherits Suzuki's revolutionary S-ENE-CHARGE from the recently-facelifted Wagon R, its big brother. If you need a quick recap, S-ENE-CHARGE is a system that assists the engine's acceleration with a motor by adopting the Integrated Starter Generator and a Li-ion battery that specifically made for this system. Coupled that with the R06A engine and the CVT gearbox and the result is a record-breaking fuel-economy of 37.0kmpl based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards. This fuel-economy is by no means the new Alto is the most fuel-efficient petrol-powered vehicle in the world today. There's no way other car makers can match that kind of fuel consumption.

This is only the beginning because the new Alto is offered in different variants, apart from its most fuel-efficient model ever made, including the one with the 5-speed manual gearbox and the one with a brand-new 5-speed Auto Gear Shift (ASG), a new type of gearbox that combines merits of both manual and automatic transmission.

It is equipped with an electro-hydraulic actuator that automatically operates clutch and gearshift and by integrating these two, ASG is made to provide unity on the operating device, resulting to an excellent fuel efficiency of 29.6kmpl, easy driving, and fun driving. Yes. Fun. Shifting gears is fun for this kind of city car.

Although, I'm not going to pretend that this is a boring car made for old people with no sense of fun but for a city car, it's not so bad. I mean, with the turning radius of 4.2 meters, this car is very easy to park and slip through the bends. It's that good but for a cheap car, it's not what you called comfortable because judging from its cheap seats and its cheap performance, it feels like I couldn't sleep in here. It feels like I'm sleeping on a rusty chair on my classroom during recess.

Even though it's a cheap car, the new Alto is not far behind when it comes to safety and for this model, it comes with the Radar Brake Support that stops automatically when detected an object nearby, a false start suppression system that prevents collision when the driver hits the pedal and gearbox by mistake when a car crawls, and an Emergency Stop Signal to warn drivers at the back.

Time to conclude with with a little thing called "Evaluation Time" and if I had to evaluate it, the new Alto excels in the rear space due to its added wheelbase, its record-breaking fuel-efficient that can't be beat by its rivals, and with prices start at 847,800 Yen (around $8,500), it's a value for money. What the Alto flunks is its design, its comfort, its measly performance, and the interior that is as cheap as a check-in at a dirty motel. No matter though because with this new model, its fuel-efficiency is unquestionable on the city streets and if any carmaker makes a car higher than any Suzuki model, they will still counterattack it despite their limited resources.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Anime and Christmas REALLY don't mix

In this special Heaven and Hell post for the Christmas 2014 specials in my blog, it's time for me to tackle why anime and Christmas REALLY don't mix and this is intended for those hostiles on my radar thinking that some anime had Christmas specials, which in reality, is almost never because anime is just SO focused on the storyline rather than doing specials stuff like Valentines, Halloween, Christmas, or any other holiday you know. Those holidays in the calendar REALLY don't mix in the anime world and that's the end of it.

In the past, Christmas is nothing more of a family tradition and a religious occasion but nowadays, modern men treated Christmas as a commercial festival rather than the usual stuff. Yes, there are some people do religious stuff in Christmas. That's why we have simbang gabi for the Filipino families who care about that big man in the sky rather than Santa Claus and then some other stuff to treat Christmas as a religious occasion but the holiday season for the modern family is about "shut up and take my money" when it comes to buy stuff just for the heck of gift-giving purposes and little kids want to believe if Father Christmas is real and risk everything to spot that bearded man in red. Well, you get the idea but Christmas in Japan...only works in the real world and not in anime purposes because people behind any anime you know just don't have the time to inject some holiday spirit to their anime shows.

Whoever those hostiles around me imagining of an "anime christmas" is the kind of person who doesn't believe in the showrunners' beliefs because showrunners behind the anime don't like to put that kind of festive stuff and focus on what's left on the anime's episode listings. Any episode that runs for 11 or 26 or whatever how many episodes are in it doesn't include anything Christmas-related and your chances of spotting an anime christmas special are just plain slim. I'm not saying that anime fans had no chances of spotting Christmas-episodes of their favorite anime shows but finding one is ranged from "few" to "almost never".

Yes. There are a few anime shows spawned Christmas episodes but I'm not going to list it because those hostiles are giving me the beeps as crazy as a missile alert from a fighter's radar. However, I will say that if you got to luck to find one Christmas-related anime episode, congratulations. You really proven me wrong that Anime and Christmas DID mix but only just. So go ahead, I'd challenge you to find one anime Christmas episode and if you found one, go watch it, and tell me what's that anime Christmas episode you'd just watch. I'm just challenging you how good you guys really are because...what kind of a hostile searcher who searches for something-something-something-index Christmas or something-something-something-maid-something Christmas or something-something-something-well you get the idea but you know what? I had just one thing. THEY DON'T REALLY EXIST! Want a bet? Those To Aru series don't have a Christmas special, Love Live doesn't have a Christmas special (sort of), Attack on Titan doesn't have a Christmas special, there's no such thing as a Naruto Christmas special, on and on and on and on and that's it. You get me now? Good.

Anyway, that's enough for now, but mark my words. Anime and Christmas REALLY don't mix but there are a lucky few that got the cut for the holidays. Thank you and see you again.

メリークリスマス!

Forza Horizon 2: The 6-5-0

It's time for me to pass the torch to a new car because there's a NAPA Chassis Car Pack on Forza Horizon 2 on sale now and the highlight of this month's car pack is McLaren's latest sportscar, the 650S.



Sure, some people believe that the 650S is nothing more than a minor change model to the 12C but there's more to it than that because McLaren states that it's not a direct replacement to the old 12C even though McLaren stopped selling one due to the 650S' success since its announcement. By engineering the 650S, the folks are drawing inspiration from the now-legendary P1 hypercar and some of the P1's tech have landed on the 650S as well as its face. Yes. The face because the 650S is what happens when a 12C wears the P1's face just like that action movie with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage in it.



It still has the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the 12C but as the name suggests, almost 650PS of power output has been produced and that's more than what the 12C had. That's more than what the Lamborghini Huracan also had and looks like there's going to be a dogfight battle between these two in our hands here. Handling-wise, the 650S can pull some crazy moves on the road despite being heavier than the 12C, and drivers need to have better concentration to master this machine. I shall now demonstrate it on its Monthly Rivals event made specifically for this car.



Wow. This car is as crazy as cooking with Rambo while terrorizing the audience. Handling this car is like stuntmen doing hula-hoop for a change but it's a lot more dynamic to handle than the 12C or the Huracan because this is a rear-wheel drive car made for the highly-skilled drivers who are as brave as...well...a brave bird.



And while taking a break from racing against feistier opposition, the 650S tries to look at its best when it comes to show off its feisty silhouette. That really is one heck of a head-turner for those who wish to have one of these and when this car come face-to-face with the more-powerful P1, looks can be deceiving because...it's like looking a reflection through the mirror.

The 650S is a sportscar that glimpse through the mirror of the P1's soul and while it's not quite as battle-ready as the P1, the 650S is well prepared to take on just about everything the opposition may throw at it.

I think I should need more time learning how to master the 650S' crazy handling capabilities. Otherwise, I would get thrown into the wind for no reason, no matter how hard I tried.

CHRISTMAS 2014 - Best movies to watch for Christmas

Nothing beats having a Christmas break by watching a Christmas movie regardless of any genre you're choosing. Whether if it's action, comedy, drama, kids, or whatever, those Christmas-themed movies are sure to warm the movie buffs at home during their Christmas vacation. If you've been given a choice, it's time for me to suggest the best Christmas movies to watch during your Christmas break.

1) How The Grinch Stole Christmas - I'd recommend the one which stars comedian Jim Carrey in it. In this hilarious adaptation from a Dr. Seuss classic, Jim Carrey plays the titular role of everyone's favorite grump who tries to ruin Christmas in Whoville.

2) Home Alone - There's been numerous installments of this film but the first one is always the best one. This all-time classic is about a kid named Kevin who is left home-alone by his family when suddenly, a duo of burglars are trying to steal something from Kevin's house. It's up to Kevin to defend his house from the bad guys before his family returns home. The trap parts in the movie are usually an all-time favorite for those who've seen that classic movie several times.

3) The Santa Clause - The Santa Clause trilogy of films feature Tim Allen (the guy who voiced Buzz from the Toy Story movies) as the titular character who saves Christmas.  The first film is about a divorced dad who steps into the role as Santa Claus while the second film sees Santa find his new love interest or else he'll never be a Santa Claus ever and the third film sees Santa Claus come face to face with his arch-enemy, Jack Frost.

4) elf - This hilarious Christmas movie stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, who was raised by elves when he crawled through Santa's bag of toys when he was a baby. Now, he seeks his true self when he lands to New York City.

5) A Christmas Carol - I'd recommend the Disney version which stars Jim Carrey as Scrooge. Every year, Ebeneezer Scrooge is getting meaner and meaner until his day of reckoning is nigh. He encounters three ghosts who will witness his past, present, and his grim future, and he has to change his ways before his grim future came true. This is a life-changing film for those who are feeling a bit bah humbug on the holidays.

6) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - The Christmas installment of the National Lampoon franchise sees the Griswold family taking on a Christmas holiday with disastrous and hilarious results.

7) Jingle All The Way - Action star Arnold Schwarzenegger shows his fun side in this hilarious action comedy where he, as the businessman, is fighting against a horde of Santas just to get his son a Turbo Man toy.

8) Fred Claus - Vince Vaughn stars as the unexpected brother of Santa Claus who is the total opposite of him in this hilarious and heart-warming comedy film that is surely sprinkle you some laughs for the holidays.

9) Tokyo Godfathers - Japanese animated film about three estranged people encountered an abandoned baby in the trash during Christmas Eve and set off on an adventure of a lifetime where they have to correct their past wrongdoings.

10) A Nightmare Before Christmas - This all-time animated classic made by the eccentric Tim Burton is about Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who is on a quest to save Christmas until he took an unexpected turn that caused the little kids suffering nightmares. Although the animation's a bit odd, the soundtrack and the musical sounds very good for an all-time Disney classic.

11) Miracle on 34th Street - This legendary holiday movie is all about believing in Santa, even if the main character is a mall santa under the name of Kris Kringle. I know this movie is all black-and-white because it came from 1940's but this legendary holiday movie still asks the age-old question: Do you believe in Santa Claus?

12) Die Hard 2: Die Harder - It's a little odd why we put this film on the list but this is sure fire enough to add some testosterone to your Christmas movie-viewing pleasure. It's the Christmas season when a ragtag group of terrorists attacked an international airport and it's up to John McClane (Bruce Willis) to stop this threat before putting innocent lives in jeopardy.

...there are so many Christmas-themed movies to list but the rest is all up to you so while you're still relaxing during the Christmas break, enjoy watching some Christmas-themed movies that suit your preference. Enjoy the holiday break!

#BGXmasDecorAward

On the December 19, 2014 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Xmas Decor Award gags

- Istambay, Istambay sa looban, Ang pasko ay sumapit na naman, Ang problema lang sa karolingan, Laging nauuwi sa...BATUHAN!

- Desiree the Binatilya and his pals are ready for their gift-giving until...

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on..."works at"!

- Bubble Gang does Mcdonald's Chicken McDo by spoofing this commercial as CHICKEN WCDO!

- Mr. Matapobre says..."Walang mayamang kuripot."

- Bubble Gang's P.A.R.D are back with their new song HUG.

- More wise words from Tata Lino!

a) Masarap magpainit pag nilalamig ka at siyempre masarap din pag kumain ng bibingka.

b) Single ka ba? Single ka naman. Sa single ka na lumapit. Hindi ka namang parol, wag kang sabit ng sabit.

c) Hindi kailangan ng balabal ng taong garapal. Bale wala lang lamig sa balat niyang makapal.

d) Ang madaling makuha, madaling matapon. Di porke binigyan ka ng queso de bola ay bibigyan mo ng hamon.

- Brod Pete's back to answer everyone's questions in ANG BAGONG DATING DOON INTERNATIONAL!

a) A PM from someone asked for more wrong terms and there's more on it because TAG PRICE and CHANGE COSTUME are wrong terms. They're reversed and it's confusing. Also wrong are some reversed words like HUNTING LOCATION and SONG HITS.

b) Antonio Aquitania asks if there's a writing on certain events. From a lyric of a certain John Lennon song, "So this is Christmas, for weak and for strong, for rich and the poor once, the world is so wrong, and so happy Christmas, for black and for white, for yellow and the red ones, let's stop all the fights."

Toyota reveals GRMN-tuned Mark X saloon

2015 Toyota Mark X GRMN

After being previewed from the Tokyo Auto Salon several months ago, Toyota finally unleashed the Mark X GRMN, which is a premium midsize saloon tuned by the folks from Gazoo Racing and isn't that the maddest sports saloon ever made?

This Japan-exclusive hi-po version of the Mark X is strictly limited to 100 units and orders for the Mark X GRMN will commence this March 1st, 2015, starting at just 5.4 million Japanese Yen (or around $55,000).

This car uses the 350S model as its base but the GRMN version features a sportier bodykit, a carbon fiber roof, a driver-focused interior, and joy of joys, a 6-speed manual gearbox that was mated to its 3.5L V6 engine. It also features a sport-tuned suspension system, 19-inch BBS wheels, improved brakes, quad exhaust, and some braces to stiffen it up.

As mentioned before, orders are open this March 1st, 2015, and it's in Toyopet showrooms across Japan this June for 5,400,000 Japanese Yen. It's going to make its special appearance at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon with NAPAC on the 9th to the 11th of January, 2015.

Source: http://autoc-one.jp/news/2009780/
URL: http://grmn.gazooracing.com/Mark_X/

Let's Do The News! (December 19, 2014)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Air strikes from a US-led coalition have killed 3 senior members of ISIS in Iraq. This was announced by a high-ranking US military officer and this latest killings deliver a massive damage to the Islamic aggressors' planning, command, and control.

- US President Barack Obama announced that the nation's government will not be imposing new sanctions against Russia for now while signing the Ukraine Freedom Support Act into law.

- Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona is officially resigned from his position, according to the latest announcement from the Malacanang.

- In preparation for Christmas and New Year in the Philippines, all service firearms of all policemen from all over the country will be taped shut as the Philippine National Police aims for a gun-free revelry to prevent cases of indiscriminate firing, starting this Monday.

- During the Youth Summit 2014 held at Quezon City, President Benigno Aquino III warned against a popular app game "Clash of Clans" and the habit of taking a selfie, calling them a distraction that the Filipino youth should be wary of.

- Dutch supercar maker Spyker has officially been declared bankrupt after efforts of restructuring its finances and getting back on track were failed. According to the press release, the funding it was banking on "did unfortunately no reach the company in time" and the boss of Spyker, Victor R. Muller said that they will bring back Spyker as soon as practically possible.

- Part of celebrating the launch of Pocket Monsters Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS range, a cafe called Shibuya Parco is having a special Pokemon Cafe next month until the end of February. Customers can enjoy an original menu inspired by the world of Pokemon and its characters. There's a whole range of Pokemon goodies on sale during the event and yes, customers can get a special Pikachu for use in ORAS as well.

- Yes. Doctor Who returns for its 9th season this late 2015 and the title of the first episode of the ninth season will be titled The Magician's Apprentice.

- Also, the first teaser trailer for the upcoming 3rd season of BBC America's Orphan Black hits the web and it's coming this April 18th next year.



- WATCH OUT! Marika Tachibana from the Nisekoi anime gets her own Nendoroid from Good Smile Company! She's available this May starting at just ¥3,889 (Before Tax).

Nendoroid Marika Tachibana

TTFN!!!

Gran Turismo 6: Chaparral 2X vs. Infiniti Concept

Two new Vision GT cars have arrived in the latest GT6 update. One represents the future of Inspired Performance while the other revives a legendary marque that Gran Turismo fans truly remembered for its bizarre aerodynamics. The Infiniti Concept VGT and the Chevrolet-Chaparral 2X VGT are now here and here's your chance to try out these two new machines only on GT6.



Let's talk about the Chevrolet-Chaparral 2X first and this Vision GT could be our new favorite because for the first time, this concept racer features a unique powertrain that no racecar in the history has ever done before. Don't be surprised but this racecar's powered by laser pulse shock waves generated by an advanced propulsion system made by Chevrolet. That's right. This car's laser power...and it's diabolical indeed. The laser pulse shock wave generates an equivalent of 905HP of power and because it weighs 405kg, its power-to-weight ratio is on its explosive levels. Yes. Calculate that and that power-to-weight ratio is an exploding 2011 horsepower-per-tonne. WOW! No such car can get that kind of ratio! Not even the Bugatti Veyron!

Apart from its unique powertrain, it comes with a very unique cockpit where the driver has to lie down like a flying squirrel to operate it. That driving position looks awkward but when it's already in motion, this driving position for a future racing machine is worth thrilling. It's like you're on a free-fall from the sky, except you're going horizontally.

The bodywork is made up by its "layup schedule" which lets the whole structure to act alongside with its suspension and its super-ridged propulsion structure ensures optimal thrust parabola to the laser pulse cone. With the combination of the multi-vane adjustability and the lower Thrust Vectoring panel, the Chaparral 2X provides a greater downforce that fits on any track.

It's the hallmark of Jim Hall's legacy of motorsport innovation that was carried from his past creations such as the 2D and the 2J.



Now, let's talk about the Infiniti Concept VGT. You see, a group of a well-talented and creative men behind the project have been gathered at the Infiniti Design Beijing studio to design this one-of-a-kind Infiniti machine that carries out the luxury marque's Inspired Performance tagline. With its beautiful silhouette and its monstrous performance, this one-of-a-kind Infiniti dream machine liberates every driver to experience the full freedom of driving on the open world. The folks from Beijing worked really hard to bring this fantasy machine into virtual reality at their own hands and they did. Needless to say, this car is surprisingly Asian because this GT machine is packed with the "motorsport passion of Asia".

This car is rear-wheel drive and it's powered by a 4.5L V8 engine, which is the kind of engine Nissan no longer makes, and it's connected with an electric motor and a battery. Which means that the Infiniti Concept VGT is a hybrid sportscar with the combined power output of 535HP while mated with a 6-speed gearbox. Because it weighs 1680kg, the power-to-weight ratio is over 335 horsepower-per-tonne. That's more than what the TVR T350C gets. Not only that, its weight distribution is well-balanced enough to have this car do drifting on the corners just for fun.

With me being one of the many GT6 players who acquired both of these machines via Seasonal Events, I think it's time for me to compare these two and to do that, I went to Suzuka Circuit with the 2014 update in it, Yep. The revised one with the same layout as before.




First up is the Infiniti Concept Vision Gran Turismo. Because of its balanced weight distribution, this car feels so well-balanced on its mobility and it's very stable as well, although a little too much might cause some oversteer, suffering its lap time record until you can counter it. Still, this is a lot fun to drive than any other European VGT concepts I tried over a few months. There's no need to fighting over to get it through the bends and it feels so...easy to drive even for a rookie.



Now, for the Chevrolet-Chaparral 2X. The sound of the laser generating is like fireworks on New Year's Day or some popcorn popping when you get the hammer down but despite its popping-like sound from the laser, it's probably hard to handle when going too fast, giving it a tendency to understeer. Even this car is a concept machine, its mobility and stability are on the same level as a NASCAR, so if you're a rookie, this racing machine is not recommended but if you're a highly skilled driver, it's just fine. The trick is not to overdo it aggressively when cornering because this is highly difficult to corner when going too fast.

After driving these two, here are the results:

Infiniti Concept VGT - 2:09.378
Chevrolet-Chaparral 2X - 1:39.758



Yes. This Chevrolet-Chaparral 2X is almost half a minute quicker than the Infiniti Concept VGT but it doesn't matter. Those records didn't matter to these anyway but what matters most is that these machines truly demonstrate the future of driving in different but exciting ways. The Infiniti Concept VGT ventures to the future of the brand's Inspired Performance tagline while the Chevrolet-Chaparral 2X puts a new twist to the legendary motorsport marque with three unique features; its powertrain, its driving position, and its aerodynamics.

Hope you'll look forward to driving both of these new VGT machines only on GT6!

List of movies against North Korea?

Screencap from NHK

You might already heard the news about Sony Pictures cancelled the theatrical premiere of the action comedy The Interview because of North Korean hackers threatening to terrorize movie theaters showing that film. This movie is about two interviewers tasked by the CIA to hunt down the North Korean leader but oh come on, it's only a parody. Why would they cancel such a movie like this because of the nation that fuels the fruit of their deep-rooted hatred to humanity.

You know, this canned movie isn't the only one targeting against North Korea. There are other films taking a stab from the said nation and I can remember some films with North Korea in it.

• 007: Die Another Day - This 2002 Bond movie is Pierce Brosnan's final film for his James Bond role before his role was passed to current actor Daniel Craig four years later. In the beginning of the movie, James Bond took down a North Korean base before he got captured by the troops.
• Team America World Police - This underappreciated marionette comedy movie made by the mastermind behind the South Park TV series is about a group of heroes fighting against terrorism led by the Film Actors Guild...and also North Korea's Kim Jong-Il.
• Red Dawn (2012 version) - The 2012 version of the classic war movie stars Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Isabel Lucas, Josh Peck, Adrianne Palicki, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It's about a group of resistance known as the Wolverines trying to take down North Korean troops that took over the USA. Yes. North Koreans because the original 1984 version featured Russian troops during the days of the Cold War.
• Olympus Has Fallen - Last year's action flick is about a disgraced Secret Service operative, played by Gerard Butler, who's on the mission to save the White House hostages, including the US president, from a North Korean terrorist, played by Rick Yune (the same guy who played as the Bond villain, Zao, from 007: Die Another Day), before they'll initiate a nuclear attack on the US soil.

...there are a few action movies featured anything North Korea-related but the rest is up to you. Whatever the reason why the North Korean hacking caused Sony to cancel the theatrical release of The Interview is definitely worth a dent to the First Amendment or the freedom of free speech. For now, you movie buffs just rest up for now.