Let's Do The News! (February 17, 2015)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Onto the Ukraine Crisis, the government forces and the pro-Russian rebels have failed to begin pulling out heavy weaponry from the front line, despite a Monday deadline. They've been given two days after the latest ceasefire came into effect to start the pullout but the Ukrainian government said they will not pull back until the fighting is over.

- Onto the Greek debt crisis, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said that they are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to reach agreement over its bailout after the failed talks with EU finance ministers.

- Thousands of Danes have marched through Copenhagen to mourn the death of the two victims killed from separate deadly attacks over the weekend at a free-speech event and a synagogue.

- Japan announced a new set of counterterrorism measures, including an additional 15.5 million dollars to combat terrorism in Middle Eastern and African countries.

- According to military officials, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters occupied at least two barangays in the town of Pikit, North Cotabato, forcing thousands of civilians to evacuate.

- The KAI-Lockheed team are the sole bidder for South Korea's KF-X fighter jet program because while the first round of the bidding, held last 9th of February, failed due to lack of bidders, they've submitted a proposal by the deadline according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The second round of bidding will close on the 24th and if there's no competitor in the bidding, KAI-Lockheed will gain access to the 8.6 trillion won project for developing an F-16-based aircraft over the next eight years, replacing the aging F-4 Phantom IIs and F-5 Tiger IIs from their fleet.

- Citroen no more for the 2016 DS5 minor change because the latest facelift sees a departure from the Citroen name and the signature chevron grille because it's a clear sign that DS is now a separate brand from Citroen. It's set for this year's Geneva Motor Show debut next month.

2016 DS 5

- Naomi Wakabayashi, the voiceover behind THE iDOLM@STER's Ritsuko Akizuki, gave birth to a baby girl and she's going to take a break from her career to take care of child but promises she will return.

- Former Laguna governor Jeorge E.R Estregan announced that he'll be producing an upcoming biopic in tribute to the slain 44 Special Action Force units called SAF Special Action Force: Para sa Diyos, Para sa Bayan, Para sa Tao. This biopic showcases the bravery of the 44 SAF units up until their bloody death from the Mamasapano clash last January.

- Fashion brand Bench released an official statement over their controversial billboard promoting homosexuality and denies order to blur portion of the photo. The billboard in question features Vince Uy and Nino Gaddi holding hands with the tagline "LOVE ALL KINDS OF LOVE"

TTFN!!!

Top Gear S22E04

Top Gear S22E04

Finally, the fourth episode of this season of Top Gear is all focused on cars and that's about it as James May tries out the brand new Mercedes-AMG GT round the track. When handed to The Stig, it lapped round the Top Gear track in 1:17.5.

Then, Jeremy Clarkson tries out a handful of two Bimmers, the new M3 round the track and the new i8 PHEV sportscar on a trip to Whitby, where he will make a decisive choice between these two...and he ended up choosing the i8 anyway.

Focus stars Margot Robbie and Will Smith are the Stars In The Reasonably Priced Car and looks like Margot had beaten Will Smith at the lapboard because while he set a lap time of 1:47.2, Margot did it in 1:47.1

Lastly, Richard Hammond tries to say goodbye to the legendary Land Rover Defender by driving one on top of the dam just like as happened on the classic advert. Despite having the extra equipment and the intense feels, he failed because that's what the producers told when he was nearing the finish point.

Let's Do The News! (February 16, 2015)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Egyptian forces have bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, hours after the video showing the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned the IS as "inhuman criminal killers" and they had the right to respond against these militants.

- Danish policemen accused two men of helping the suspected gunman, named Omar El-Hussein, who murdered two people in separate attacks in Copenhagen. The said gunman was fatally shot by police after he attacked a free speech debate and a synagogue, killing the film director and a synagogue guard while injured five people.

- The US Federal Aviation Administration releases draft rules for flying unmanned drones for commercial uses. Under the rules announced on Sunday, drones weighing 25kg or less would be able to fly up to 150m above the ground at speeds up to 160kph. It also prohibits drones from approaching airports, travel routes of conventional aircraft, and highly populated areas. The FAA will finalize the rules within the next two years after public opinions and revising the draft based on them.

- US First Lady Michelle Obama, is scheduled to visit Japan this March. This is her first visit as the wife of the current US president will participate in a symposium on educational support for women in developing countries.

- Terror threats in Germany prompted the police in the northern German city Braunschweig to cancel the city's Carnival parade, less than 90 minutes before the festival was to begin, sadden most spectators and citizens. The information is from a reliable national defense source and they urged all participants not to go to the festival site.

- The surgical operation for Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong's prostate cancer was a success and he is expected to fully recover, according to officials. This is his second fight with cancer for the 63-year-old Singaporean Premier who has also undergone chemotherapy for lymphoma in 1993 and is now in remission.

- According to Senator Ralph Recto, the Bangsamoro Basic Law needs to be revised, stating that it was "littered with policy landmines which must be defused". He also said that this law must be cured from its perceived constitutional defects following the Mamasapano killings last month.

- Watch Scuderia Ferrari's new recruit Sebastian Vettel taking a spin on Ferrari's FXX K hybrid racer round the Fiorano test track.

- The latest Jay Leno's Garage webcast puts the spotlight on the mythical Oldsmobile Cutlass Banshee driven by James Garner.



TTFN!!!

Six Nations 2015 - Round 2

Looks like the WRU from Wales are starting to bounce back after their loss in the first round of this season's Six Nations rugby after their close-shave win against Scotland at the score of 23-26, in favor of the Welsh. As a matter of fact, it was the try from player Jonathan Davies during the second half that impressed the Welsh rugby team and their great execution of this match handed them a clear win against the Scots.

Highlights:



Meanwhile, the England Rugby defeated Italy's FIR at the score of 47-17 and the IRFU won the match against France's FFR at the score of 18-11.

So far, the England Rugby and the IRFU scored two wins on this season while the FFR and the WRU scored just one win and FFR and Scotland never won any.

The next match starts at February 28, 2015, with Scotland taking on the FIR, FFR vs. the WRU, and on the next day, that is March 1, 2015, the IRFU vs. the England Rugby.

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015 film)

One of the world's bestselling novels of all time is now made into a motion picture that is enveloped with lusty fetishes and well, pretty much it. It's no wonder why an erotic novel like Fifty Shades of Grey became a cult following even though this is the first chapter of the Fifty Shades trilogy but when moviegoers going to spend with their Valentines dates watching, this movie will make every man's girlfriend dumping for and worth bedwetting for after watching the whole film from start to finish.

Starring Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle, Eloise Mumford, and Victor Rasuk, the first chapter of the Fifty Shades trilogy sees a young literature student Anastasia Steele on an assignment to interview businessman Christian Grey until their fateful encounter between Ana and Grey changed their lives forever and their deepest, darkest temptations between them began to unravel.

True to its erotic theme just like from the novel written by E.L James, Fifty Shades of Grey really blows the viewers' minds with its endless fetishes as well as the suspense it delivers but it still doesn't have the charm to impress the viewers just yet because it doesn't have the fizz and the zing that most romantic dramas offer but it doesn't even matter for the testosterone-worthy viewers.

Hey, if whoever finished watching this movie, looks like someone's on a bedwetting experience, remembering the erotic moments between Ana and Mr. Grey and this romantic poison really is lust-worthy and intoxicating. It really is stimulating enough to beat you unconsciously and uncontrollably if you can't get enough. After all, this is only the beginning.

My rating: 3.7 out of 5 (4.5 when you wet yourself to bed after watching this film)

Nissan Fuga Y51 -2015 facelift-

2015 Nissan Fuga

The second-generation Nissan Fuga has now been facelifted for the 2015 model year and just as what happened on the latest-generation Skyline, this latest facelift now wears a new exterior design as well as the use of Infiniti badges for no reason and that's pretty much it. Believe it or not, this facelifted Nissan Fuga was sold globally as the Infiniti Q70, the new name for the Infiniti M a few moments ago following Infiniti's new naming structure that began with the Q50, which is the V37 Skyline saloon.

Perhaps now, you will no longer call it a Nissan or an Infiniti Q70 if you're in Japan right now. It's now just Fuga for the meantime because even with the Infiniti badges slapped on it, it's too significant for Nissan to ditch the Fuga nameplate anyhow.

2015 Nissan Fuga

2015 Nissan Fuga interior

Anyway, the facelifted Fuga draws its inspiration from its little brother, the V37 Skyline, judging from its exterior design. One look and you will notice that it's like its little brother accidentally took the blue pill. On the inside, there's nothing new about it. You still have a well-crafted wooden trim, an optional VIP package that features a rear-seat entertainment system, Fine Vision gauges, a 7-inch full-color vehicle information display, CARWINGS navigation system, a BOSE Surround Sound System, and pretty much about it. Yep. Nothing's new about the insides.

2015 Nissan Fuga

Engine choices remained the same. You can still choose between the entry-level 2.5L V6, 3.7L V6, and the top-of-the-line 3.5L V6 hybrid. All of these engines are mated with the 7-speed automatic gearbox while 3.7L variants get an optional Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.

New for the 2015 minor change is an array of safety systems available such as Predictive Forward Collision Warning system, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Pedal, Around View Monitor, Backup Collision Intervention, and Forward Emergency Braking. These tech features really made the new Fuga more aware of its surroundings regardless of any direction it's on.

The new Fuga starts at 4,104,000 up to 6,874,869 Japanese Yen.

Available colors: Premium Brown, Dark Metal Grey, Brilliant Silver, Crystal White Pearl, Dark Blue, Garnet Black, Super Black.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Forza Horizon 2: VANQUISHing Horizon Again

Ah yes. The Aston Martin Vanquish, the flagship grand tourer from the Aston Martin range. Although it doesn't have the capability to lash out its firepower against the mightiest sportscars in the world, it has one of the most dramatic looks for a grand tourer of this calibur. It truly represents the brand's motto of POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL in the right places and here in Forza Horizon 2, I can have as much fun as I want in the Vanquish and still keeps me happy even though this car is just a few years old.



When this car showed up on the original Horizon, I have fallen in love with it. It looks harmonious but when in races, it starting to unravel its true potential as a grand tourer and that won my heart over since I've been asking for this car for moments when Aston Martin launched the new Vanquish last 2012 to replace the DBS.

Now that we're in Europe, the Aston Martin Vanquish starting to feel like home because its potential as a grand tourer can't be contained. Sure, you can take one out for a race but enjoying this car on free roam is much more knowing to the Vanquish. It likes to take some time out after its long grueling races against its rival GT cars but when the opportunity rises, the Vanquish is ready for almost everything. A formidable car to start at but behind the scenes, it's magnificent to drive from sunrise to sunset.

With four races left for me before the finale, I decided that it's the Aston's time to shine for the championship I've signed up, which is held at Saint-Martin, but first...



FLASH MAKEOVER! I've gave the Vanquish its "BEAUTY" credentials it deserved. To be honest, it's been recycled from what I did on my Ford Fiesta ST. The Gardevoir and Mega Gardevoir design from Pokemon XY, I've changed its colors to replicate their..."shiny" appearance. Oh come on! You know what a "shiny" Pokemon is, right? A Pokemon of a different color! Anyway, because it matches the theme of "POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL" from the Vanquish and after taking some extensive improvements on the performance, it's time to set off for a road trip.



And now, its racing action!





Good job. You really are Aston Martin's ultimate GT after all and all that beautiful designs I've made really motivated you to winning this championship. Now, let's go home.



The Aston Martin Vanquish finally accomplished its own 60 minutes of fame but with three championships left before the finally, my journey's almost at an end but what will I accomplish on the last three before the big sendoff? Find out soon as the journey continues!