The Cute Wall (Volume Seven)

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



Yeah! And since we're a few days left before Love Live! The School Idol Movie hits Japanese theaters, it's the turn of the μ's to find out which of the members stack up on this wall.

(applause)

Love Live!? Do you mean Love Live!? As in Love Live! School Idol Project? An anime show everyone's talking about since K-ON!?

Yes it is but I tell you what, Love Live is what happens when K-ON meets iM@S and it's all about girls forming an idol unit to save a school from imminent closure.

Do you watch it?

Maybe...

(audience laughing)

You?

Nope. I'm still a P.

(audience laughing)

P? What P?

Producers. One of the Producers. Nope, not the one you know, the iDOLM@STER kind of Producers.

Oh.

Which means...you're somewhat a Loveliver!

Sorta a Loveliver but I'm almost becoming one since I spent several hours playing...

...I know. That School Idol Festival game you're playing on your iPhone.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, no time for arguments. Let's start with...

Honoka Kousaka

Honkers!

Yes. Little man. That's Honoka Kousaka. The teenage girl who started...um...what kind of a person decided to use a Greek alphabet as a name of an school idol group? Anyway, Honoka started this idol group in the hopes of saving her school from closure but hey, everyone get the idea. So, thoughts?

(audience murmuring)

Hey. Honoka's got the heart and the soul to keep her and her colleagues going to the top but like all good idol units, they've been through harsh difficulties to get their names known to the world. Sure, this situation is like...um...

Shhh...Look, there's going to be dangers that some people are Ps or Livers. Otherwise, we might cause conflict between two fan powers.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, why I love about Honoka is not just her looks, it's her personality that makes Honoka...well, Honoka.

(audience laughing)

Oh, and she said something while you're playing that favorite game on your iPhone.

What?

She said...(mimicking Honoka, speaking Japanese)

Hmmm?

I don't know what she said but she says that she doesn't like a McLaren P1.

(audience laughing hysterically)

Get it? She said the P1 is yucky.

(audience laughing hysterically)

Yucky? Does she really mean it?

Sorta...

(audience laughing)

So, where will you put her?

I know where will I put her and because being the pride of...um...

μ's.

Thank you.  Anyway, I'll put her in the NAKAKAGIGIL position.

(audience laughing, then applause)

Brilliant! That's all I can say...

Okay, so who's next?

Kotori Minami

Kotori Minami?

Yes she is. Yes she is.

Um...is she the one with a strangely childish voice?

(audience laughing)

Uh-huh and aside from her very childish voice, her appearance and her personality is why I'm delightful to say that if you're running a contest of who's the cutest female anime character, she would probably win it but because this is the CUTE WALL, the rules are different. We dig deeper to the character's core to find out which spot a cute character will land.

Dig deeper?! How would you manage to dig deep through every cute character's core?

My security blanket does the judgment.

(audience laughing)

Also, my blanket knows that because of her childish looks and her personality fit for her own rights, I decided to have Kotori join with Honoka's. In short, NAKAKAGIGIL.

(audience laughing)

You can rest easy now, Kotori. You're now one of them.

Very good. So, who's next? Oh wait! I know who's next! Umi!

Umi Sonoda

Umm...Who is she?

That's Umi Sonoda. She's one of the μ's. I was hoping if you like this character.

I'm sorry but she kinda reminds me of...well, Chihaya Kisaragi or one of the PreCure characters.

(audience laughing)

Hmm?

If some people mistaken Umi for Chihaya, it's a disaster.

Maybe because both of them have blue hairs? Hey, at least her chest's bigger than Chihaya's.

(audience laughing)

Forget chest sizes you blithering idiot! What I want to know is how cute is Umi! Please!

Ok! Ok! But here's a problem about Umi. I have a sneaking suspicion that she has once rejected in a show that supposed to be hers.

What show?

Team Umizoomi!

(audience laughing)

Get it? Team Umizoomi because there's her name in it. Ha ha...

(audience laughing)

Anyway, I think Umi is still fairly attractive among fans and I can't believe there are some grown men willing to wet their pants at their sleep, thinking about her.

(audience laughing)

Have you?

Nope.

(audience laughing)

But you know what, I'll just put Umi in the CUTE spot because there's something lacking about her cuteness.

I'll agree with that. CUTE it is!

Eli Ayase

Who's this?

It's Eli Ayase. Elichika to you.

Ah yes. Elichika.

Believe it or not, according to her bio, she's slight Russian, and you know what that means?

Uh...What is it?

We have a commie spy in the anime show!

(audience laughing)

Hmm? But she looks conservative to be a commie. She's a soft-spoken girl. That can't be right.

Speaking of her Russian ancestry, there's one bit of problem here because there was also a Russian in the world of idol animes. 

Who is it?

Anastasia.

Anastasia? From iM@S Cinderella Girls? Named after one of Cinderella's evil stepsisters?!

Yes. And since Eli's slight Russian and Anya-chan's half Russian, I think we're onto something here.

Those Communist idols! Ha ha!

(audience laughing)

Anyway, enough commie jokes for now. Let's decide where should we put Elichika in the CUTE WALL.

Okay but there's a problem. At first, I might put her on the NOT CUTE position but because of being the silent type of gal, I'd suggest I'll put her in CUTE, just in case.

(ooohhh)

Ooohhh! Good shot, pal. Good shot. CUTE for Elichika, then.

Rin Hoshizora

Check it out. That's Rin Hoshizora.

Rin Hoshizora? Isn't that the girl who loves to eat ramen?

Yes, she is. Yes, she is.

But...isn't that like...um...hmmm...

Yes. She loves ramen as much as iM@S' Takane Shijou but at least she's not as creepy as Takane's. You know what, if these two face each other in a ramen-eating contest of some sorts, these two might end up in a draw.

Oh, I see.

No. It's Takane's because she's mad when it comes to eating ramen noodles. She's also as mad as a jackal when it comes to eating any noodles she can see fit.

(audience laughing)

Wrong. Rin can eat most than her because of her love of ramen.

Hey! Hey! Don't get too cocky for now. I guess this is how fans from two different sides argue about their favorite characters, eh?

Ooh! You're right!

Anyway, thoughts about Rin?

She looks boring to me. She's not as cute as her fellow ginger-haired pal, Honoka Kousaka, but sadly for me, I'll put her in NOT CUTE.

(awwww)

Sorry, Rin-chan. You have to see that.

Looks like Rin-chan's very disappointed for now. He he he...So, who do you got next?

Hanayo Koizumi

Hanayo Koizumi.

Hanayo Koizumi?

Yes.

Hmm...She's the shy type, isn't she?

Of course she is. And her voice is strangely squeaky voiced.

(audience laughing)

Ooh! We got ourselves a squeaky voiced teen here!

(audience laughing)

Enough now. Mind if you cut that mocking for a while because if we do that, we might scare her and we might not have a chance to put her on the CUTE WALL.

Oh, okay. Sorry, everyone. Anyway, have you dig deeper about her?

Well, yeah. Oh and there's a fun thing about her because her favorite is nothing but plain white rice.

Just rice? She eats nothing but plain white rice?

Yep.

What a unique little fella. I like her style and her behavior. You know what, let's put her in CUTE just in case.

Okay. If you say so.

(sniff) (sniff) What's that smell? Is that raspberry I'm smelling?

Nope. You're smelling at her...

Maki Nishikino

Whoa! Who's that?

That's Maki Nishikino.

Maki...Nishikino? Wow! What a fancy and exotic name for a girl.

Yes, she is. And according to her bio, her parents run a large, successful hospital.

Hold on...Isn't like iDOLM@STER's Iori Minase, whose family had their hands full with their conglomerate? So, they're like...ahem...The Rich Man's Daughter.

More like, the Rich Men's Daughters.

(audience laughing)

Whatever, they're both rich man's daughters. But there's more to like about Maki Nishikino. It's her sassiness.

So...she's a sassy girl?

Mostly a sassy girl but she's one tough gal. She can really jab you like...um...who's that radio caster alongside Andy Verde from the radio show called Short Time?

(audience murmuring)

Kisses Jabson it is. All that Maki does to you is like kissing and jabbing. Speaking of which, have you saw the trailer for the School Idol Movie?

Yep. I mean, who in the world is Maki kissing at during the trailer of the film?

Well, there are some possibilities. Could it be her parents? Her...BF. Or...someone else.

(audience laughing)

You'll find out who's Maki kissing at when the film is out, okay?

(audience murmuring)

But in the meantime, where should we put Maki Nishikino, our favorite kind of Rich Man's Daughter?

I know where. Cause she looks tough for a tough gal, let's put her to CUTE anyway. There's so much to like about Maki Nishikino herself.

(audience laughing)

Nico Yazawa

Nico-Nico-Ni! It's Nico Yazawa!

Nico Yazawa?!

Oh yes. What's wrong? Something's wrong with her?

I'm sorry but...come to think about it, Nico's more like the facsimile of K-On's Azusa Nakano. If you compare these two, you will know that they're almost exactly the same.

Hmm?!

Think about this, when the producers trying to come up with Nico Yazawa, they can't think of what character that suits her so do you know what they do in the making of her? They grabbed one of K-On's and then made one.

(audience laughing)

Because Nico's more like a Azusa Nakano lookalike, I'm afraid I'll have to put her in SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE indefinitely.

You can't be serious.

(audience laughing)

I am serious. Sorry, Nico. Your Nico-Nico-Ni don't work here.

(audience laughing)

So, we're all down to one last member, right? Oh no...

What's wrong?

Our worst nightmare.

Hmmm?

Nozomi Tojo

Oh...It's Nozomi Tojo. She's the gal who sounded like an old lady.

(audience laughing)

No. Gets worse.

Worse?

Washi-washi...

Washing machine?

(audience laughing)

Does she mean she's going to put you in the washing machine?

Not washing machine you dimwit. It's washi-washi! Don't you know what washi-washi means?

I don't know what washi-washi is but all I know is...hmmm?! What the? No! Stop! (laughing) Cut it out! Make it stop! Help!

Yep. That's what washi-washi is. That's how you get to know about Nozomi Tojo. Well, since she's more of a "lady luck", I wonder how lucky is Nozomi when she faces the CUTE WALL. Thoughts?

(audience murmuring)

Well, in the hopes of not getting washi-washi again, let's put her in...to be safe...the CUTE spot. You are lucky, Nozomi. You are lucky.

Time for the recap!

SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE:

Raichu

Whisper

Minion

*Nico Yazawa

NOT CUTE:

Dopey

Kwazii

Minion

Amethyst

*Rin Hoshizora

CUTE:

Pichu

Plusle

Minun

Pachirisu

Emolga

Dedenne

Mokona

Mog

Catbug

Bashful

Froakie

Fennekin

Harukasan

Stuffy

Tunip the Vegimal

Minccino

Piplup

Sylveon

Queen Delightful

Axew

Jibanyan

Minion

Serena's Pancham

*Umi Sonoda

*Eli Ayase

*Hanayo Koizumi

*Maki Nishikino

*Nozomi Tojo

NAKAKAGIGIL!!!:

Pikachu

BMO

Bijou

Poof

George

Happy

Chespin

Doc McStuffins

Mabel Pines

Sofia

Cottonee

Minion

Oshawott

Star Butterfly

*Honoka Kousaka

*Kotori Minami

Let's Do The News! (June 3, 2015)

- In a surprising move, just days after being re-elected, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced that he will step down from his position in the midst of the football governing body's corruption scandal. He has been given a standing ovation by some of his staff as he returned to its Zurich HQ a day after his surprise announcement.

- According to US sources, over 10,000 Islamic State militants have been killed since a global coalition began in Iraq and Syria.

- During his Japan visit, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III met up with Japan's Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Aquino is visiting Japan for 4 days from Tuesday and he is the first state guest from the Philippines for over a decade.

- South Korean authorities have isolated over 1360 people to try to prevent the spread of MERS coronavirus.

- Former House of Representative Senior Majority Leader Janette L. Garin is named as the new secretary of the Department of Health.

- Believe it or not, the official Instagram account of teen actress Nadine Lustre was deleted after some netizens reported her as an impostor. Now, supporters are using the hashtag #BRINGBACKNADZLUSTREONIG to request IG to reactivate the teen actress' IG account.

- OUT NOW: The Duracell Car Pack on Forza Horizon 2 features six new machines including the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and the infamous Vauxhall Lotus Carlton. It's now available for $5.

- The SRT Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo has been fully revealed in three different specs and it's coming on Gran Turismo 6 this summer!

- Aston Martin created seven bespoke Vanquish models under the "One of Seven" banner and comes with a unique carbon-fiber exterior.

- The second-generation BMW X1 has been unveiled and it's now more roomier than the previous model thanks to its front-wheel drive layout (a big revelation) as well as more height and more tech.

2016 BMW X1

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (June 2, 2015)

- Five people died and hundreds are missing after a ship carrying over 450 people submerged upside down in a wide stretch of the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province. The boat reportedly did not send out an SOS signal before sinking and state media states that divers tapping the hull could heard survivors trapped inside.

- The first two South Koreans diagnosed with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome were reportedly dead. The first was a 58-year-old woman who had visited the Middle East and contact with the original case, and then a 71-year-old male.

- US President Barack Obama warns that land reclamation projects in the South China Sea are unproductive, stating that the US warns the People's Republic of China to stop using aggressive actions in the region.

- Philippine President Benigno Aquino III orders investigation to prosecute officials in Valenzuela City involved in the Kentex factory fire. He said that the city's local government officials shouldn't issued permits allowing the operation of the factory due to violations of both labor and fire safety standards.

- Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed an Executive Order to implement the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy, a program to provide fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to jumpstart the revitalization of the nation's automotive industry, improve its competitiveness and turn the Philippines into a hub for car manufacturing.

- Bruce Jenner no more. He is now a transgender woman who goes under the name Caitlyn Jenner and sparked a major phenomenon among netizens as this recently revealed transgender woman scored one million followers on Twitter in 4 hours and 3 minutes, a new world record.

- Top Gear's Reasonably Priced Car, the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, has now been regenerated. It's now shorter, lower, and lighter than the previous model. It's now more tech-savvy than ever thanks to OnStar, Google Maps, Skype, WhatsApp, and Apple CarPlay.

2016 Vauxhall Astra

- BMW will unveil the new-generation 7-Series flagship premium saloon on the 10th of June.

 

- Microsoft announced that start offering their new Windows 10 software to PC and tablet users for free at the end of July.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (June 1, 2015)

- The first day of the School Year 2015-2016 in the Philippines has begun with a sunny to partly cloudy weather with possible afternoon or evening rains according to PAGASA.

- According to top sources, the Angat Dam is feared of sustaining heavy damage if a powerful earthquake struck the capital due to is proximity with the West Valley Fault.

- Some evacuees from the Kuchinoerabu Island, where the Mount Shindake volcano erupted last Friday, are making daring visits to their homes for two hours as authorities watch carefully for another possible eruption.

- Moments after the Senate failed to reach a deal, the US anti-terror provisions that allow security services to bulk collect phone data have expired. The key provisions of the Patriot Act have expired at midnight local time but a vote on the Freedom Act, which imposes greater controls on phone data collection, will not take place until the mid-week of June.

- Former Central Intelligence Agency David Petraeus said that only military and political approach can help stop conflicts caused by the Islamic State militants in Iraq.

- British reports told that Sepp Blatter, the recently re-elected president of the world's soccer governing body, FIFA, will be questioned by Swiss prosecutors as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the voting to award future World Cup matches. Russia won the hosting bid for the 2018 World Cup while Qatar won the hosting bid for the 2022 World Cup.

- SRT teases a Tomahawk Vision Gran Turismo concept that is coming soon to the PS3-exclusive Gran Turismo 6 video game.

- Angelia Gabrena Ong is named Miss Philippines Earth 2015.

- Celebs Nyoy Volante, Jay-R, Melai Cantiveros, and Edgar Allan Guzman are named as Final Four of ABS-CBN's TV program, Your Face Sounds Familiar.

- Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors was diagnosed with concussion and suffering major pains after getting kneed in the head by Houston Rockets' Trevor Ariza. Doctors told he will not return to practice until he recovers and it's bad news for the Warriors as they prepare for the NBA Finals.

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 2: Clio RS EDC, One More Time

When the Renault Clio RS 200 EDC arrived on Forza Horizon 2 via a Mobil 1 Car Pack in October, I was very happy to try out the latest version of Renault's compact hot hatch, which is based on the current-generation Clio (Lutecia in the Japan Market). Despite its stupid double-clutch gearbox that plagued most hot hatch loyalists alike, it's still a great car to master because of its easy-to-handle dynamics. Because I've enjoyed so much about this hot Clio, I decided to try it again only this time with some added twist.





Trying to comply with 220 Trophy standards, I tried to improve my Clio to meet its standards enough to behave like the latest Clio RS 220 Trophy, which is a hardcore, more powerful version of the Clio RS 200 EDC.

Apart from meeting its Trophy standards, and I'm still in the middle of serving up presents for THE iDOLM@STER's 10th birthday, the Clio RS EDC is now under the wraps of the Futami sisters, Ami and Mami. On one side, there's Ami, and on the other side, that's Mami. There's your challenge, producers of the world because in my mind, the Futami sisters wanted to be in a hot hatch and this one's make the cut. This is much more fun to drive than listening to the ESTi remix of Go My Way. Trust me. I made this wrap to win back drivers-can-be-producers from getting migrated to be Lovelivers. Ugh, why did I say that?!

Anyway, I chose Sisteron as the venue for the championship where my improved Clio is taking on but first, a road trip from Nice to Sisteron.



And now, some highlights of the battle of the Hot Hatches in Sisteron where my Clio's taking on...



The Clio has won the Sisteron Hot Hatch championship and it's all because of its healthy balance of performance and aerodynamics, as well as my Ami Mami wrap I made for the Clio, which can really win the day.



There are so much paths to cross here on Forza Horizon 2, even familiar paths than can be revisited at any time. So, as my Clio ticks itself, my work is never done. My journey still continues...

#BGViralVideo

On the May 29, 2015 episode of Bubble Gang...

- A boy's viral video that makes his family gone weary!

- Talik sa kotse gags

- More advice from Tata Lino.

- Men are plotting a getaway from the mental correction but how?

- Brace yourselves. Kumander Lazaro is here.

- Istambay, Istambay sa Looban, Dumating sa Tambayan si Roldan, Dala ay Maliit na Lalagyan, Ang Kwento dito natin...SIMULAN?!

- An interview with an actor unaffected from rehabs.

- More lait from Lala Ytera!

- An encounter with an ermitanyo...

Chevrolet Trax (US Spec) vs. Ford Edge (2nd Gen)

2015 Chevrolet Trax

Everyone knows that this is the Chevrolet Trax, a compact crossover that's been around for two years ago when it went on sale in South Korea and then selected parts of the world. So, the main question was, why am I now talking about the Trax again? Well, there's one main reason for it following Chevrolet's decision to withdraw from the European market for good, the folks from GM wanted to sell the Trax to another nation with some added exposure and that nation is the USA. Why the USA? Because of the abundance of crossovers in the Land of the Free, Chevrolet decided to do what they haven't done in the first place but don't we have the Buick Encore for that matter?

The thing is though the Trax is now available in the US at a very reasonable 20,120 US Dollars, which is five grand more than its Buick Encore cousin and that makes it great value for money but is it any good?

2015 Chevrolet Trax interior

For starters, the Trax is available only with a 1.4L ECOTEC turbo engine which produces 138HP of power and 148lb-ft of torque, which is fine for a big city car full stop, and if you opt for a 4WD variant, the Trax is normally in front wheel drive but half of the power goes to the back for dire emergencies. It's fine to drive if you faced some "slippery when wet" situations but for adventures, it's not quite making the grade for itself because this is just another tall hatchback made for the city and not for the outdoorsy type of people who want to go wild at the wilderness.

On the inside, it looks vague, but because this is a can-do-all machine for the young urban professionals who spend most of the time doing stuff with their smart gadgets, there's so much stuff to do. It has more storage compartments than its Japanese rivals such as the Nissan Juke, the Subaru XV, and the Mitsubishi ASX, and if you go for top-spec models, you can have a sat-nav with SIRI- EYES FREE and if you have a very terrible data plan from your carrier, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, so people with gadgets can find some thrills by scrolling through status updates from Facebook and Twitter. Yes, this is as thrilling as your grandma flickering through random channels until it hit the stressful part like a rollercoaster ride.

It also has good boot space and a variety of seating configurations that can suit any situation people can see fit. It even comes with a fold-flat front passenger seat which allows you to store longer stuff than any crossover like logs or chaise longue or a body bag with something in it.

2015 Chevrolet Trax

The Trax is a handy capable car for city dwellers but if you're looking for some thrills, perhaps you've come to the wrong place because I know that the 1.4L turbo engine sounds so nippy and peppy but it doesn't have the oomph to get you through all sorts.

2015 Ford Edge

If you're looking for oomph in the metropolis should try out the Ford Edge but this is the all-new model. It's been regenerated and it's now ready to take on the world that its predecessor couldn't do.

Under the bonnet, you can get either a 2.0L EcoBoost engine, a 3.5L V6 engine, or for the Sport version, a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine developing 315HP of power and 350lb-ft of torque. Whichever engine you choose, you can opt for either a front-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive.

In the past, the Ford Edge has been a rubbish car to drive and it feels as dated as a Zune mp3 player that no longer exists. For the new model, the Edge has been slightly improved from the ground up. It comes with a new suspension system that not only handles like a sportscar but is comfortable enough to cushion impacts like in the case of small potholes or bumps.

Technology-wise, the new Edge comes with a plethora of features that will keep the driver interested for more such as a 180-degree camera at the front, Blind Spot Information System, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park out assist that helps the driver steer out of a tight space, and side parking sensors that can warn the driver of incoming objects at all sides.

2015 Ford Edge interior

There are some issues with the new model such as the image that feels like it came from its previous model, the electric power steering that is somewhat an oddball for the driver and might understeer in some circumstances, the sat-nav is still the hopeless Microsoft-derived SYNC with MyFord Touch, and the pricing that starts at around 28,100 Dollars, which is a lot more than the Trax.

2015 Ford Edge

Let's not forget that despite the odds, both the Edge and the Trax are crossovers built for city dwellers. They're both American, they're both five-seaters, they're both offered with an available four-wheel drive, and they're capable in almost any situation they see fit. The Trax is all about pound-for-pound value for money while the Edge is all about the oomph drivers deserve but deciding on both of these crossovers is a nervous choice because only fate can decide which one will you deserve and in the end, the jury's out for you to accept.

Let's Do The News! (May 28, 2015)

- Following the arrest of FIFA officials in Switzerland over corruption charges, sponsors warn about reviewing ties over their arrest and the football's governing body is due to open its annual congress.

- Malaysian authorities are investigating 12 policemen suspected of involvement in human-trafficking camps found in the northern part of the nation. Four of them had been arrested since early last year during various police investigations.

- The US and the Philippines are going to seek a peaceful solution regarding tensions in the Spratly Islands at the South China Sea. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter met up with his Filipino counterpart Voltaire Gazmin in Hawaii and they agreed to demand an immediate halt to reclamation of reefs around the said island.

- As of now, senators are divided on the constitutionality of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Yesterday, 12 senators supported the view of the Senate Constitutional Amendments Committee chaired by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago that the proposed BBL is unconstitutional.

- The metrowide earthquake drill, set by the Metro Manila Development Authority, will occur at the end of July, 2015.

- Lamborghini finally greenlits production of their SUV derived from the Urus Concept on the next three years.

- See how the Koenigsegg One:1 megacar attacks Suzuka Circuit.

- The mother of teen actress Kathryn Bernardo got enraged over her daughter's bashers who edited photos to come up with fake nude photos of the Kapamilya star. Meanwhile, words of encouragements and support from fans of Kathryn are flooding through social media regarding the said issue.

- Check out this latest trailer for the upcoming Mad Max video game highlighting the game's original story.



TTFN!!!

FH2 Storm Island: The Gauntlet

To race further events in Forza Horizon 2's Storm Island, you must first clear a much difficult challenge called the GAUNTLET. In Gauntlet races, you'll be racing on point-to-point races at nighttime with some hurricanes blowing you away. These events are challenging but you must place first in the car provided in the event and not only you'll advance to the next tier of events in Storm Island, you can sometimes keep the car with no charge.



In the first Gauntlet race, you'll be driving a Robby Gordon Stadium Super Truck and like I said, you must place first in the car provided in the event to proceed to the next tier. The Stadium Super Truck is the perfect offroad machine suitable enough to adapt through Storm Island's rough terrain but if you're looking for speed, it might disappoint you as its 3-speed gearbox will only lead you to top speeds of over 110mph unless major improvements have been done to the player. Despite the sluggish performance, its offroad capability will surely destroy every opponent in Storm Island if you have the guts to master it.

Now, it's time to find out how good the Super Truck is as I'm taking on my first Gauntlet race.



I survived my first Gauntlet race. I finally advanced to the next tier and I got to keep this Stadium Super Truck at no charge! Woo-hoo! With my next tier ready for action, the journey to the the Island Finale continues.

μ's Best Album Best Live! Collection II

μ's Best Album Best Live! Collection II

With just a few days left before the most eagerly awaited School Idol Movie hits Japanese theaters and soon globally, the 5th anniversary celebration of Love Live! School Idol Project is coming at full swing but for those who are still new to the Loveliver craze have no reason to worry about because while the first best album covers more on their pre-anime songs, the second best album from the Love Live series covers mostly the songs during or post-anime as well as from games like the School Idol Festival app game and last year's School Idol Paradise PSVita game.

It's a three disc compilation (which costs 3996 JPY) and this is more than enough for newcomers and veterans alike to experience the fun that our ever-favorite μ's has to offer,

Those who pre-ordered a limited edition may receive a special box which includes not just the 3-disc compilation but also a special towel, a special earphone jack accessory, and an alpaca pass case.

TRACK LISTINGS:

Disc One:

01 僕らは今のなかで
02 WILD STARS
03 きっと青春が聞こえる
04 輝夜の城で踊りたい
05 ススメ→トゥモロウ
06 START:DASH!!
07 これからのSomeday
08 Wonder zone
09 No brand girls
10 START:DASH!!
11 微熱からMystery
12 キミのくせに!
13 Cutie Panther
14 夏、終わらないで。
15 Pure girls project
16 UNBALANCED LOVE

Disc Two:

01 Music S.T.A.R.T!!

02 LOVELESS WORLD

03 タカラモノズ

04 Paradise Live

05 それは僕たちの奇跡

06 だってだって噫無情

07 どんなときもずっと

08 COLORFUL VOICE

09 ユメノトビラ

10 SENTIMENTAL StepS

11 Love wing bell

12 Dancing stars on me!

13 KiRa-KiRa Sensation!

14 Happy maker!

15 Shangri-La Shower

16 るてしキスキしてる

Disc Three:

01 永遠フレンズ

02 小夜啼鳥恋詩

03 秋のあなたの空遠く

04 ふたりハピネス

05 冬がくれた予感

06 Trouble Busters

07 僕らは今のなかで (LittleMore-Rock Mix)

08 No brand girls (GRP-Explosion Mix)

09 START:DASH!! (Bitter-Sweet Mix)

10 Wonderful Rush (Hevey-Rush Mix)

11 Music S.T.A.R.T!! (SKA-Feel Mix)

12 Pure girls project (Super-Mondo Mix)

13 Cutie Panther (Metal-Panther Mix)

14 微熱からMystery (TeKe-TeKe ELEKI Mix)

Let's Do The News! (May 27, 2015)

- Six football officials from FIFA have been arrested at a hotel in Zurich, Switzerland, for corruption charges. Suspects include the FIFA vice-president have been detained pending extraction to the US and it involves alleged bribes worth about $100 million over two decades.

- According to reports, Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip committed serious human rights abuses including abductions, torture, and extra-judicial killings of Palestinian civilians in last year. Most of them were accused of collaborating with Israel.

- The People's Republic of China are going to construct lighthouses on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and these lighthouses will be 50 meters tall, and visible for 40 kilometers, according to reports.

- Over 1,100 people died in the Indian heat wave as the nation is facing their hottest season this year with temperatures rose to 46.4 degrees Celsius in the capital New Delhi.

- The Land Transportation Office has suspended the controversial "no plate, no travel" policy after a series of hearings conducted at the Senate.

- A few moments ago, there was a photo of a baby tied in a dog leash went viral and sparked massive fury from the netizens. Facebook user, Ayra Dela Cruz, was the one who snapped a pic of her baby being tied in a neck like a dog while eating in a plastic crate and said it was intentionally a joke but this is no laughing matter because to them, it's child abuse.

- Japanese company, Epson, plans to create the largest factory in the Philippines instead of China and they will create over 7,500 jobs.

- Filipinos can now enjoy binge-watching shows or movies with the new iflix, which lets users watch movies and TV shows at any time and it can stream up to five devices. For first-time users, there is a free 30-day trial where they can enjoy binge-watching at no charge!

- Honda is preparing a specially-prepped CR-Z at next month's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and this one's armed with Electric SH-AWD with Precision All-Wheel Steer. Yes, there's an electric CR-Z ready for Pikes Peak next month!

TTFN!!!

Jaguar XE

In the dawn of the new millennium, Jaguar wanted to create a saloon to rival against the C-Class, the A4, and the 3-Series, with the X-Type, but sadly the X-Type never made the cut because of its Ford-derived chassis, front-wheel drive, and its lackluster character, making it the reason why they would never compete in a class like this but now, Jaguar decided to have another go in this segment with their latest vehicle, the XE.

2016 Jaguar XE

Here it is and by the looks of it, it looks more stylish and tasteful as its big brothers, the XF and the XJ, but you might imagine that the XE is going to have the similar recipe for disaster as the X-Type but no. That's because the new XE comes with a lightweight aluminum monocoque that makes it lighter and more stiffer than any other saloons from Germany. It is the first to use JLR's brand new platform which we are looking forward to their future lineup of cars, all in the name of cost-effective measures. Combine with a new platform, space-age aluminum bodywork, and its rear-wheel drive and what you get is a saloon that likes to lay a finger against Germany's finest.

The XE is the most important car in the Jaguar range because it is the first to introduce the new "Ingenium" engine range suitable for the XE to deliver a healthy balance of performance and efficiency. There's a 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel engine with two different configurations; the first that can achieve 75MPG on the combined cycle and the latter is the more powerful one with 180PS of power. Apart from the Ingenium range, you can get a 2.0L turbo petrol engine or the more powerful 3.0L Supercharged V6 engine derived from the F-Type.

2016 Jaguar XE

The 3.0L V6 supercharged engine, available on the S variant produces 340PS of power and 450Nm of torque. 0-60mph takes about 4.9 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 155mph. This version is mated with an improved 8-speed automatic gearbox which sounds like a much but if you want to have a more enjoyable drive should go for the lesser models, basically the one with the Ingenium engines in it because of its newly-developed 6-speed manual gearbox which shifts greatly and accurately without the drama.

Now, let's talk about handling and this is where the XE starts to come unraveled because for the first time in the Jaguar, an electric power steering is implemented and when you engage to its sportiest setting, you'll be having a hard time giving this car a good thrashing but when you get things right, the XE feels more accessible and planted to the road like sliding through jellied eels. Think about this, when you try to draw a string on your bow, you are trying to break the silence and things get a little more surprising as you come across the right path.

2016 Jaguar XE interior

The XE really gets on the right path unlike the X-Type from the last decade and while this is still essentially a good car to drive, despite the implementation of its electric power steering, which became a thrill-killing curse to all cars of today, and it feels more civilized on the road. On the inside, it has everything what a good saloon car should do when he's done with his office affairs and it's nicer to live with.

2016 Jaguar XE

The new XE starts at around 29,775 Pounds and that costs a lot than its German competitors but if there's one thing to like about the XE that is on par against its German rivals, it's not about the style and the performance. It's about the importance of being an all-important Jag on the lineup and by proving that this is the future for Jaguar, it's been sealed and we can expect great things to come from the XE and the rest of the Jaguar lineup.

Available colors: Ebony Black Solid, Polaris White Solid, Ammonite Grey Metallic, Bluefire Metallic, British Racing Green Metallic, Dark Sapphire Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Italian Racing Red Metallic, Odyssey Red Metallic, Osmium Blue Metallic, Quartzite Metallic, Rhodium Silver Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, Black Cherry Premium, Celestial Black Premium, Ingot Premium, Storm Grey Metallic, and Tempest Grey Premium.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover Limited