Let's Do The News! (October 7, 2015)

- Japanese PM Shinzo Abe reshuffled his Cabinet members by retaining 9 existing ministers while adding 9 new and 1 returning minister. There are three women in Abe's new Cabinet.

- US President Barack Obama is seeking approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade deal from the Republican-controlled Congress.

- A group claiming to be Islamic State militants says it has carried out numerous suicide bombings in Yemen, killing 22 people.

- Japanese Self Defense Forces have observed a joint military drill conducted by American and Philippine forces somewhere near the South China Sea as the PRC is increasing its military presence.

- Senators mourned the passing of former Senator Joker Arroyo, who died from complications after undergoing heart surgery in the US on the 5th of October.

- COMELEC will extend office hours for voters' registrations beginning October 17, giving them plenty of time to register and validate their biometrics record for the May 2016 elections.

- Microsoft unveiled their first-ever Windows 10 smartphones as it launched numerous new gadgets to keep the mobile market competition heating up, starting with the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL as well as the HoloLens VR headset, Surface Pro 4 tablet, Surface Book, and the Band 2 biometrics wristband.

- The Logitech G Car Pack on Forza Motorsport 6 has arrived featuring the extreme Caparo T1, three classic racing machines, a Rebellion Racing R-One, a Cadillac XTS Limo, and a Volvo 123GT. Yours for $7 or free with Car Pass. There's also a content update featuring numerous bug fixes as well as a free 2015 Infiniti Q60 Concept DLC.

- New Top Gear host Chris Evans says that his show in charge doesn't need a three-presenter format.

- A lightweight BMW M4 GTS has been revealed ahead of its Tokyo Motor Show premiere with improved 3.0L 6-cylinder turbo engine generating 493bhp of power, water-injection system, 62kg of weight loss, and aerodynamic upgrades. Only 155 units will be made.

- The MTRCB summons execs from ABS-CBN's It's Showtime regarding the "Nasaan Ka, Mr. Pastillas" portion regarding gender sensitivity concerns.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 6: A Lambo Huracan on a Rainy Day Nurburgring

In my previous post, I've pitted both the Lamborghini Huracan and the McLaren 650S round the Top Gear Test Track and to my amazement, despite the power gap, the Huracan managed to beat the 650S by a second. Now, it's time to drive the Huracan once again to find out its hidden potential and to do that I went to Nurburgring on a rainy day. Yes. Rainy Day on a Nurburgring.



As I'm sure you know, you want me to take on the Nurburgring just to prove how good the Huracan was but because I can only record up to five minutes of hot laps, lapping the Nordschleife is very impossible to record on one go. In the meantime, I'd use the Grand Prix Circuit instead. Because it's raining outside, I'd expect this would be a wet lap and it's going to be slippery when wet. I know the Huracan comes with four-wheel drive but because it's a midship supercar, I might find doubts that it may slip up like how rear wheel drive cars behave on a wet track. Anyway, time to find out just how good this Huracan is on a wet lap at the Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit.



As I tried the Huracan on a wet lap at the Nurburgring GP Circuit, I felt like I was very intimidated by the weather at first but for this car, it doesn't feel like it's the kind of car that accepts defeat with honor and dignity. It sees the rainy weather as a challenge and takes a piece of it. It felt like it can turn the tide of any race, depending on the weather, at the hands of a skilled driver. Even though this is still a usable car even when wet, it's still a Lambo and you can expect some thrills while riding it on a wet lap.

Yes. Even though this is a midship-4WD supercar, you can drive this one on a wet lap and there's absolutely nothing to worry about driving a hundred-thousand dollar Lambo on one of the most demanding racetracks on a rainy day. All it takes is some skill and determination to keep this car focused and balanced while handling on wet conditions.

Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteiru Kai?

Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteiru Kai?

Welcome everyone to Love Live! Sunshine!! The second generation of Love Live! School Idol Project where a brand new school idol unit picks up where the successful and now legendary μ's left off. Say hello to Aqours, an idol unit comprising of nine Uranohoshi High students, each with their hopes and dreams and how each other bond together as one to become the newest idol group everyone will love in the same way they loved μ's since the Love Live School Idol Project began five years ago.

The name Aqours is a portmanteau for the two words "Aqua" and "Ours" but amazingly, the name truly rhymes with "aqua" in it, matching the theme for this new generation of Love Live. It was also one of the suggested names for the new school idol group that won the idol-naming poll from a certain anime magazine months ago, with 4,644 votes garnered.

Now, let's meet the members that will soon to be your favorites;

• Chika Takami (CV: Anju Inami) - The leader of Aqours and the youngest of the three sisters. She's a second year student and her family runs an inn. She's a fan of μ's.
• Riko Sakurauchi (CV: Rikako Aida) - Formerly from Tokyo, she now resides to Uchiura. A second year student who loves to draw and likes to stay indoors.
• Kanan Matsuura (CV: Nanaka Suwa) - A senior student who runs a diving shop with her grandmother on a nearby island.
• Dia Kurosawa (CV: Arisa Komiya) - A senior student and president of Uranohoshi High's student council.
• You Watanabe (CV: Shuka Saito) - A second year student and an excellent diver fit for a swim club.
• Yoshiko Tsushima (CV: Aika Kobayashi) - A first year student who considered to be unlucky. She prefers to be called Yohanne instead of her real name. She dislikes mikan fruits
• Hanamaru Kunikida (CV: Kanako Takatsuki) - A first year student and a daughter of a family of shrine keepers. Although she's a member of a local choir, she loves to read and gets dizzy easily.
• Mari Ohara (CV: Aina Suzuki) - A half-Japanese senior student who is a daughter of an Italian-American father who had his hands full with the hotel businesses. She likes to do things at her own pace.
• Ruby Kurosawa (CV: Ai Furihata) - A first year student and a good friend of Hanamaru. She maybe prone to crying but she's good at sewing.

Well, now you know them, it's time to get to know the first song of the newest generation of Love Livers. Their debut single, Kimi no Kokoro wa Kagayaiteiru Kai?, features a much aquatic theme for Aqours and it comes with not one, not two, but three songs which is a first for Aqours. It even comes with bonus tracks where the members of Aqours are introduced. Of course, keeping up with the Love Live tradition that has been from μ's for the past five years, there's a DVD or Blu-Ray added and inside, there's a music video of Aqours' first song for you to enjoy.

Welcome to the new generation of Love Live!

Let's Do The News! (October 6, 2015)

- Following the broad agreement on the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement yesterday, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says that the trade deal will enrich the livelihoods of Japanese people. He states that this is the beginning of a new century for the Asia-Pacific region and added that Japan and the US will take the lead among countries that share such values.

- An internet radio station run by the Islamic State militants has claimed responsible for the murder of the 66 year-old Japanese male in Northern Bangladesh last week.

- Multiple car bombings in Iraq killed over 50 people on Monday. Reports believed to be the work of IS militants targeting Shias.

- Justice Secretary Leila De Lima confirms her senatorial bid for the May 2016 elections. Meanwhile, Senator Bongbong Marcos announced his vice presidential bid for the elections by himself.

- Once again, dangerous minorities regarding firearms has happened in the US, this time in Tennessee where an 11-year-old boy killed an 8-year-old girl after an argument over puppies.

- A figFIX figure of a half-damaged Mutsu from KanColle was unveiled by Good Smile Company. She'll be available for you for 5,370 Yen plus tax when she's out this February.

- The brand new Cadillac XT5 crossover was unveiled before its Dubai debut next month.

- The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board or MTRCB celebrates their 30th anniversary by launching their commemorative book titled Empowering The Filipino Family.

- Boxing superstar and Sarangani representative Manny Pacquiao announces senatorial bid for the May 2016 elections. Why not? Because he can.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (October 5, 2015)

- The final ceiling panel from the damaged reactor building of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been finally removed, which is part of their efforts to take out consumed nuclear fuel from the building. Workers used a remote controlled crane to lift the panel, measuring 42 meters by 7 meters, from the no. 1 reactor building.

- North Korea is inviting foreign guests to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Workers' Party of Korea on the 10th of October. Reports told that the People's Republic of China will send a leading Communist Party member to North Korea to attend the ceremony.

- Islamic State militants destroyed a Roman-era Arch of Triumph in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to sources, the ISIL blown up the arch, which was built between the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Ever since the militants captured Palmyra, most historical sites are wiped out in one fell swoop.

- Seventeen people are reportedly died in a heavy rainfall in Monaco.

- The Philippine government is committed to pursue their tireless efforts to secure its enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law as soon as possible according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita Quintos Deles despite serious concerns from stakeholders over the delay in the passage of the BBL.

- Camarines Sur representative Leni Robredo is officially running as Vice President for the May 2016 elections and teaming up with presidential candidate Mar Roxas.

- William C. Campbell, Satoshi Omura, and Youyou Tu were among the top scientists who won this year's Nobel Prize award for physiology or medicine. Campbell and Omura developed a new drug against infections caused by roundworm parasites while Tu discovered a therapy against malaria.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, Alden Richards is now working as one of Lola Nidora's Rogelios and he's very impressed with his new job. Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza was very impressed with her new gig as one of the Dabarkads until on the very moment, Lola Nidora issued a duel against Yaya Dub in a game of Rock, Paper, and Scissors. If Lola wins, she'll have to decide who will go in a random barangay much as they do every day...and yep. Lola Nidora won. So, which of these two will be going to the next barangay soon? Find out tomorrow for more.

- The world premiere of the Felix Manalo biopic movie broke two Guinness World Records for Largest Attendance For A Film Screening and Largest Attendance For A Film Premiere. The world premiere occurred at the Philippine Arena last Sunday with 42,624 attendees watched the film.

- The official music video of Sam Smith's Writing's On The Wall, the opening theme song for the upcoming 007: SPECTRE film, has arrived!

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 6: Let's Compare! Huracan and the 650S

Both the Huracan and the 650S are what you called prize-fighting rivals when pitted side by side and judging by the way it behaves on the tracks of Forza Motorsport 6, you will always be the judge of that. So, how does these two compare in the same way the Clarkson and Hammond compare these two while in Italy during The Perfect Road Trip 2?

First, let's talk about the 650S. Even though it has bits and bobs from the old 12C, McLaren states that this new car is not the replacement to the 12C, even though production has ended due to the 650S's high demand. Unlike the 12C, the 650S is a quick car and its 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine generates 641HP of power and 500lb-ft of torque, mated to a ‎7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It will do 0-100kph in under three seconds and top speed of over 333kph.

When you talk about supercars and hypercars, the 650S possesses hypercar speeds and like 12C, it's very high-tech and surprisingly reasonable to drive thanks to its clever aerodynamics, meaning that this car can go faster and harder for longer.

Onto the Huracan, while the 650S is a better car full stop, the Huracan can still beat it because when you dissect their innards, you will notice how their tubs are made of. The 650S has carbon fiber, which is great but when you ding it, you'll need another car. In the Huracan, however, its tub has a blend of carbon fiber and aluminum, making it more durable from wear and tear.

Under the bonnet lies an improved version of the same 5.2L V10 from the Gallardo predecessor but its uprooted to 610PS of power while mated with the same 7-speed DSG from the Audi R8 V10 Plus, which is by no means one of the best shifting gearboxes ever existed. Believe it or not, the Huracan is a different kind of animal or animals. It can be a hare (fast but fluffy), a cheetah, or a tiger (really angry) but it doesn't behave like an elephant. There are times that the Huracan behaves like a sportscar rather than a supercar and that is a compliment because even though it's as wild as a tiger, it's still a civilized car that can be used on a day to day basis.

Now that these two sorted out, let's find out which one is best it a quick lap round the Top Gear Track. You may remember that in the video, Clarkson and Hammond had a race to a one-room hotel in Bologna and in the end, Clarkson arrived first. So, to prove that the 650S is better than the Huracan, I decided to give a little experiment to see if the 650S is quicker than the Huracan not just on the streets of Bologna but also here on the track.


And now, I had the results and this is terribly disappointing. The 650S managed to do 1:18.419 while the Huracan done 1:17.767, therefore the Huracan is the quickest and second of all, curse you Richard Hammond.

So, the Huracan is the quickest of them two even though it has less power than the 650S but probably thanks to its clever four-wheel drive system that clings through the corners like a hanger with a three-piece formal wear. It's no surprising that despite everything I tried on this latest experiment, it's quite clear that both the Lamborghini Huracan and the McLaren 650S really dish out everything they got not just on the streets but also on the racetracks. Here in Forza Motorsport 6, you'll be the judge of that.

Doctor Who S09E03

This is just another two-parter of this season of Doctor Who, only this time, The Doctor and Clara are on an underwater base in the 22nd century, investigating what's going on with the ghosts lurking around the base and what do these ghosts want. In that episode, The Doctor's sonic shades are back and looks like it's getting to be much as cooler as the 10th's gadget that looks like 3D glasses.

Anyway, expect a risky conclusion for next week because we may never know what's the worst thing could happen to The Doctor's life.