#BubbleGang - July 10, 2015

On the July 10, 2015 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Face it, the internet knows the truth. The internet really knows the evidences.

- Cellphone load gags

- Istambay, Istambay sa Looban, Tungkol sa Swerte at Kamalasan, Ang Topic ng Kwento ay Kantahan, Tutok na Para Inyong...MALAMAN!

- Soaperman and Batnaman face off against a supervillain!

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on...disappointed posts!

- More advice giving from Tata Lino!

- This guy gets bullied by everyone!

- Too much to list for the old couple in the hopes of not forgetting it.

- Breaking up is a lot harder to explain to your bae.

- The Adventures of Redford Jr. and Babaless in...Wanted: Helper

Wanted: Helper

- Tsugi o Churva!

Let's Do The News! (July 10, 2015)

- The new Greek proposals on securing a vital third bailout described by the Eurogroup as "thorough" and according to Eurogroup leader Jeroen Dijsselbloem, a "major decision" could now be made at a eurozone finance meeting on Saturday. These new proposals could help ease the Greek debt crisis and prevent Greece from leaving the Eurozone.

- Five airports in Indonesia had been closed, including those in Bali, because of Mount Raung in East Java has been erupted with volcanic ash into the air for nearly a week, disrupting aircraft visibility.

- The Department of National Defense's plans on acquiring a shore-based missile system for the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been part of AFP's modernization program but both sides have agreed not to prioritize it but instead, the Philippine Army realigned its defense budget on buying more equipment for the soldiers.

- Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao held a prayer session in an Indonesian prison with a Filipina on death row for drug trafficking, named Mary Jane Veloso, who was reprieved last April and allowed officials to ask the Indonesian leader Joko Widodo to give her evidence in an investigation into the network accused of recruiting her.

- Ford Motor Company announced that production of the Focus sedan and hatchback as well as its C-MAX hybrid MPV equivalent in the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI, will cease after fiscal year 2018.

- In honor of its 76th year, DZRH, the first radio station in the Philippines, will hold its Makabagoing Bayanihan medical mission on the 11th of July from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM in key parts of Metro Manila.

- The first look on the upcoming Doctor Who Series 9 is on and expect bigger thrills for the 12th Doctor's return. Time to put on your shades, ladies and gents, because it's explosive in every angle! The 9th series of Doctor Who airs on BBC One this 19th of September.

TTFN!!!

A visit to the new Round 1 Southcenter branch

Now, there's something new opened at the west side of the Westfield South Center and what this is is an amusement center that most longtime visitors been longing for so long now and now, it's here and it's the one they've been waiting for; an amusement corner located in the west side of the Westfield South Center.

This is the South Center branch of Round 1 USA, the US subsidiary of Japan's bowling and amusement chain Round 1, and this is my first time entering this newly opened branch. If you parked near JCPenney or Seafood City, you'll gonna have to walk through the long way to find this branch located at the west side of the Westfield South Center. Since this is newly opened, some improvements have been made to keep the guests happy but first...

The opening times are different to what Westfield South Center's does because this branch opens everyday from 10:00 to 02:00. That's 10:00AM to 2:00 AM if you set it on the 12-hour format. By midnight, they don't allow minors under the age of 20 unless accompanied by a parent or a guardian. That's the rule, but anyway, let's go inside because I am dying to find out what's in store for South Center's Round 1.

This is unlike any other amusement chain I've ever been and there's a huge selection of arcade games in store for the visitors. There are shooting games, rhythm games, they even have prize stands where they can get some prizes, if they're lucky.

In typical Round 1 fashion, there's even a bowling alley for those who love to play bowling with their mates.

There's some karaoke rooms where friends and family can enjoy singing to their favorite songs of their choosing.

I remember thinking back when I'm beating Time Crisis 4, I once said that a mad game maker like Bandai Namco couldn't make games like these anymore but I was wrong because there is such thing as Time Crisis 5 at all. It's the first Time Crisis game that runs on Unreal Engine, same as Tekken 7, and while it retains the same Time Crisis formula, it features the brand new Double Pedal System where you can go left or right to shoot down covering enemies or cover from enemy fire. Welcome everyone to the most exhilarating installment of the Time Crisis series. I really want to play this latest installment but not now. I'll try it later on a later date.

As I ventured through the arcade stands in the new Round 1 South Center branch, I have found the cherry of the cake. It's Taiko no Tatsujin but this is the old Taiko no Tatsujin 14 I've encountered on Round 1. While it maybe as outdated as my iPod Touch, it sounds like it could be a gem.

The reason why it sounds like it could be a gem because this particular Taiko no Tatsujin not only offers a selection of anime theme songs, J-POP hits, and original songs, but also video game songs. What tickles my fancy that this Taiko no Tatsujin game had songs from, you've guessed it, THE IDOLM@STER, but aside from that, it has two Ridge Racer songs, and there's a song heard from ACE COMBAT JOINT ASSAULT called "In The Zone".

Playing Taiko no Tatsujin is so intense! You have to be so super-focused when it comes to playing this game before your hands get tired from all the drum-beating. I guess this is somewhat what life is for my certain buddy behind the sticks. Yes, I had a buddy from Arizona who loves IDOLM@STER, and she really enjoyed playing this game only when the song she chose was IDOLM@STER-related. I'm not on the same level as hers but I am really learning how to play that Taiko no Tatsujin game and play until my arms got tired...or one of my hands got a blister anyway. This is just fantastic.

So, producers of the Northwest, you have finally met your match. Looks like you've finally found a place to enjoy and what no better way to enjoy your P life than playing Taiko no Tatsujin while enjoying the songs from THE IDOLM@STER series. Useful bit of science, though.

I love going back to Round 1 but what I love most about going to Round 1 is playing that damn fantastic Taiko no Tatsujin game or if I had time, I can visit my family to take some time out from their daily lives. I can invite them to some karaoke sessions or bowling sessions but the one thing I don't want from them is using my Club Card's remaining tokens on some UFO catchers containing hard-to-get objects such as plushies.

Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva

2016 Opel Karl

2016 Vauxhall Viva

The latest city cars in General Motors' European division, the Opel Karl and its British equivalent, the Vauxhall Viva, are more than just serving as a replacement for the old Agila city car but these new city cars will satisfy first-time drivers who got themselves a driver's license in the first place and start finding their first car to work with at very reasonable prices.

Sure, they maybe targeted for European audiences in mind but what makes us as bizarre as the curly haired man who talks about aliens from a certain show is these cars are both built in South Korea and they're based on the next Chevy Spark, which sadly, it won't be coming to the European mainland for good due to Chevrolet's withdrawal from the European market. Perhaps no wonder why GM Europe decided to use the Karl and the Viva as the supplement for the Chevy Spark's European demise much in the same case when their next-generation Astra will supplant where the Chevy Cruze left off. Of course, the next Cruze will not be coming to Europe at all.

2016 Vauxhall Viva interior

2016 Opel Karl interior

So, what's it all about these new city cars made for European first-timers in mind? For starters, the design may not be bad for a city car but it looks as cheap as its introductory price of 9,500 Euros (7,995 Pounds in the UK). On the inside, that's a total contrast to its cheap exterior looks because if you gone for the top-spec models, you get a nifty sat-nav system but whatever you do, don't even bother bringing your CDs because in the Viva, you can't find a CD player. It's just USB and Bluetooth connectivity made to play your digital files and this is just another one of the cruel ways why there are some cars of the future don't bother putting CD players and instead gone for the limp-wristed USB and Bluetooth connectivity because it's more convenient. It's a shocking grim vision that within the next two years, all new cars will not have CD players at all.

Anyway, while we wist away over its audio system that has no meaning of equality over music mediums, the Karl/Viva feels like a normal car for that size and with seating up to five people, it's a great car if you want to have a day out with your mates. The spacing's not so bad but it still needs room for improvement though because being a car made for first-timers, it needs to adapt situations where typical first-timers tend to go through such as garage sales, shopping malls, groceries, and so on.

2016 Opel Karl

2016 Vauxhall Viva

Since this is built to be a city car in the first place, the Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva has to be like one and it has a one-litre ECOFLEX engine with up to 75HP of power and 99g/km of CO2 emissions mated with a 5-speed gearbox. That doesn't feel as quick by today's standards but it feels so nippy and lively for a small car and when you engage it to CITY MODE, the Karl/Viva feels so easy to handle as carrying a tote bag on your way to school. Although not sporty, it's somewhat a bit fun to drive and very civilized as well. Safety wise, the Karl/Viva has a lot of safety features for a small car like the rear park assist technology, hill-start assist, lane-departure, cruise control, speed limiter, and more. This is a great car to start with if you're new into the driving scene.

So, what's to like about the Karl/Viva? Its price, its mobility, its small car performance, and it's a great car to start with. What's not to like about these cars are its sat-nav system because it doesn't have a CD player, its cheap looks, its small boot that needs refining, and there are some things that needs a little work to keep the Karl/Viva competitive with the rivals.

Photo: General Motors Europe

Let's Do The News! (July 9, 2015)

- Greece has until the end of Thursday to present new proposals to the European Union to secure a third bailout from creditors and prevent a possible exit from the eurozone.

- According to the United Nations, over four million people escaped from Syria to avoid the conflict in their country.

- Typhoon Chan-Hom (known as Falcon in the Philippines) is moving northwest toward Okinawa, Japan, and as of Thursday night, it was 230km south of Naha, the southwestern prefecture's capital.

- The Japanese Lower House has passed a bill that bans the flight of unmanned drones over key facilities and would regulate the flight of drones as well as manned vehicles such as paragliders and hang-gliders.

- Investigations shown that the capsized M/B Kim Nirvana vessel in Ormoc, Leyte, which killed 62 passengers, was deemed misloaded and not overloaded.

- As moviegoers prepare for the 2016 reboot of the Ghostbusters films featuring an all-female lead cast, the director of the upcoming reboot has featured the new Ecto-1 made for the film.

- Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty gets his own Nendoroid version from Good Smile Company. Available this November for 4,630 Yen (plus tax), MGS fans can take home this protagonist and arm him with weapons. You can even hide him on a cardboard box as well!

- Actor Jao Mapa returns to his showbiz career, saying that he's back in showbiz for good.

- Toto Villareal, the chairman of the MTRCB, reiterates tall order against the executives for the Pinoy Big Brother 737 show to ensure child protection in TV content.

TTFN!!!

Toyota Pixis Mega

2016 Toyota Pixis Mega

2016 Toyota Pixis Mega interior

This is the latest entry to Toyota's Pixis kei car range, the Pixis Mega, and if that reminds you of any, this is essentially a Toyota version of Daihatsu's tallest kei car offered on the market, the Wake.

Just like the Daihatsu Wake it's based from, the Pixis Mega is a tall kei car built for leisure activity in mind. It offers several options, which fits their lifestyle, in the form of a two-stage adjustable deck board with fixed hooks, utility hook, luggage compartment floor hook, and many others. Because this is the tallest of Toyota's Pixis kei-car range, the Pixis Mega is a lot roomier than any other kei car offered.

Under the bonnet, the Pixis Mega comes with a very fuel-efficient 660cc KF engine, which delivers 25.4km/L of fuel economy. The steering is rack and pinion, has MacPherson struts on the front, torsion beam at the back (for FWD models because 4WD models come with three-link), it still work as a city car and you can have as much fun as you want. For safety purposes, it's loaded with Smart Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, and TRC. In case of what's what, Smart Assist comes with low-speed range collision avoidance support brake function, false start suppression control function, and preceding vehicle start notification function.

Prices start at 1,350,000 to 1,873,800 Yen and it's available at most Toyota dealerships across Japan.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (July 8, 2015)

- Back to the Greek debt crisis, the EU has been given Greece until Thursday to present new proposals to secure a deal with the creditors and has called a full EU summit for Sunday.

- US President Barack Obama held historic talks with Vietnam's Communist Party leader, Nguyen Phu Trong, at the White House. This is the first time the two nations held talks ever since their relationships normalized 20 years ago after the Vietnam War.

- The deadline for the Iran nuclear talks has been extended until Friday after they faild to reach an agreement in their Vienna meeting.

- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is facing graft allegations by the judicial authorities after the Wall Street Journal reported that about 700 million dollars had been transferred from the fund to Najib's bank accounts ahead of a general election two years ago.

- Typhoon Falcon has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility last night and is seen to enhance the "habagat". Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides over Mindoro, Palawan, Zambales, and Bataan, while Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera, and Western Visayas are expected to experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. It is expected to leave the PAR by Thursday night or Friday morning.

- The BAC Mono has been given a power boost for the 2016 model year thanks to its new 2.5L Mountune engine that produces 25 more horsepower than the 2.3L Cosworth engine. The power-to-weight ratio is now 526bhp-per-tonne! Mamma mia!

- Two months after the megafight that defeated Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was stripped off his WBO belt he won from Pacquiao when he failed to pay the $200,000 sanction fee required by the organization. This means that the belt is now belonged to Timothy Bradley, who defeated Jessie Vargas last month for the interim championship.

- Prepare for the return of THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS with a new trailer!

- Julia Louise Buencamino, the daughter of Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino and one of the co-stars of ABS-CBN's religious morning TV drama show Oh My G!, commits suicide by hanging from the ceiling by their household help last night. In the show, Julia played the role of Aimee, the bestie of the show's heroine, Sophie Cepeda, played by Janella Salvador.

- A billboard featuring TV presenter and comedian Vice Ganda was taken down in Cebu City for being "sexually suggestive". These billboards were promoting his concert titled "Gandang Ganda Sa Sarili sa Cebu (Eh Di Wow)", held at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel this Thursday, July 9th.

TTFN!!!