Doctor Who 2015 Christmas special

The Husbands of River Song

The recently returned River Song, played by Alex Kingston, sparked excitement and shivers in the 2015 Christmas special episode of BBC's Doctor Who, titled The Husbands of River Song. This episode maybe all about the hunt for the diamond inside King Hydroflax's head but this episode triggers chains of events involving who is The Doctor and who is River Song. It was one heck of a ride until it reached the climax of this episode where everything Whovians are wondering about have been revealed. From the singing towers of Darillium to the part where The Doctor gave River Song a sonic screwdriver as a Christmas present for her (which explains a lot to some veteran Whovians), all the truth between these two has left us quite a shock to the very end.

Well, I guess that's all the time and space left in the world of Doctor Who. The story's finished but The Doctor will return in the foreseeable future. Until then, happy holidays.

BMW X1 F48 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

2016 BMW X1

As the crossover craze keeps on lingering since the dawn of civilization, BMW's range of crossovers are never far behind when it comes to update their lineup in various ways to keep them prepared for the competition ahead. One of it is the X1, now on its newly regenerated form, and while this crossover looks nearly identical to the previous model, what lies underneath is worth a tale to tell.

For this new generation, it now utilizes the UKL1 platform used on the sacrilegious BMW 2 Series Active Tourer/Gran Tourer, resulting to a front-wheel drive crossover that some Bimmer enthusiasts wouldn't agree on but because this is just a crossover, who cares about it. What this car is is like an oversized Mini Countryman but with some refined dynamics and a bigger space for five people and stuff at the back, so it's good but question is, does its front-wheel drivetrain worth it being a commoner's Bimmer? To show you the idea of what would the front-wheel drive BMW X1 feel like, you have to take a look at its chief rival for some inspiration and I found one...

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

This ain't your auntie's GLK because the GLK is dead and in replacement, the brand new Mercedes GLC-Class is born. Of course, the GLC is basically front wheel drive at first (only in a base model, that is) and when you experience it first hand, driving one of these is broadly similar to the new X1. However, when you gave these two crossovers a four-wheel drive setup, no weather will keep these two feeling moody, not even on a wet asphalt or at a sandy beach but dynamics can get a bit moody because of the mild driving feel that will impact its fun and usability. In other words, too much grip.

Although a little moody to drive, the four-wheel drive in the new X1 and the GLC really fits its cruising status as a family getaway vehicle, suitable on your next getaway to a faraway place or at the beach or at grandma's house. Anyway, let's not keep it too long because time to check out under the hood.

Sure, both the X1 and the GLC have different petrol and diesel engines available but let's narrow to something powerful and something economical. In the new X1, the most powerful version is the xDrive25i with its 2.0L Valvetronic turbo engine producing 231PS of power and 350Nm of torque, going from 0-100kph in 6.5 seconds and onwards to 235kph. The most economical in the range (and not always the wisest) is the sDrive18d with its 2.0L turbodiesel engine that promises fuel consumption of 4.1L/100km and CO2 emissions of less than 109g/km. Onto the GLC, the most powerful is the GLC 250 4MATIC with its 2.0L turbo engine producing 211PS of power and 350Nm of torque. 0-100kph takes 7.3 seconds and onwards to 222kph. Economical in the range? For now, it's the GLC 220 d 4MATC with its 2.1L diesel engine that promises combined fuel consumption of 5.0l/100km and CO2 emissions of less than 129g/km/

In comparison, looks like the new X1 bags it but the battle goes on for the GLC because pretty soon, it will unveil a more powerful AMG version as well as a more economical PHEV variant next year.

2016 BMW X1

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

In terms of pricing, these two German luxury crossovers are giving customers the stiff neck because the new X1 starts at 29,950 Euros while the new GLC starts at 44,506 Euros, meaning the X1 is a lot cheaper to own than the GLC but the question is, why would you want to have one? At either way, in its front-wheel drive state, both of these crossovers aren't what you call good but with four-wheel drive implemented, these crossovers synched to their lifestyles. Whether if its in tarmac, gravel, or snow, you would knew nothing would go wrong with them until its moody dynamics get the better of you. Try both and you decide.

#BGPalusotNiSanta

On the December 25, 2015 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Flight delay gags

- Santa's got different excuses to make...

- This bar messed up with the wrong guy...

- Dos takes on TSUGI O CHORVA!

- The Biyenan Kong Mamaw is back and this time, she's messing up the bedtime.

- Expectation Vs. Reality situations

- This family loves to eat at the dinner table improperly...

- A game show with explanations as answers.

- A scientist showcased the modern ways of old-school stuff

Let's Do The News (December 25, 2015)

- The Malacanang Palace expressed hope that Filipinos' optimism will prevail during the Christmas season and the year ahead. According to the recent Social Weather Station survay, 72% of Filipinos expect happy Christmas, the highest in 12 years.

- According to COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista, Senator Grace Poe should be allowed to run in the May 2016 presidential elections. The COMELEC Chairman expressed his dissenting opinion over the two resolutions of the full session of the poll body have the First and Second Divisions disqualify Poe.

- People from around the globe gathered at a Christmas mass in the Palestinian West Bank city of Bethlehem for annual festivities, including a midnight mass held at the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus Christ was born and it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors prayed for peace amid months of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

- Russia's new space center, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, is expected to be finished early next year and the first rocket launch is scheduled to begin at the end of April. The Russian government began construction in the Amur Region since 2011.

- 14 people died in a rare series of winter tornadoes in the United States. Harsh weather conditions have spawned 24 tornadoes in seven states, including Illinois, since Wednesday.

- Last November's Paris attacks sees a surge in young people volunteering to join the military, according to France's defense ministry. By early December, about 170,000 inquires about enrollment have reached, 50,000 more than last year.

- Daihatsu will display specially-made Copen concepts for the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon from the 15th to the 17th of January, 2016. Concepts include a hardtop coupe concept and a three door hatchback concept. Apart from that, specially tuned Cast range will be featured as well.

- Warner Bros. Pictures unveiled their first teaser trailer for the upcoming new animated film Storks. CHECK IT OUT.

- All entries for the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival are now showing in theaters across the Philippines. Entries include love stories such as My Bebe Love, #WalangForever, and All You Need Is Love, horror movies such as Haunted Mansion, and Buy Now, Die Later, the action flick Nilalang, crime drama Honor Thy Father, and the cop buddy flick Beauty and the Bestie.

TTFN!!!

Ferrari 488 GTB vs. McLaren 570S

Meet the two new prime specimens in the supercar league; first up, there's Ferrari's brand new replacement to the already perfect 458 Italia, the 488 GTB. Then, in the McLaren side, the much accessible but soon to be a classic 570S. With two new cars already arrived at the hearts of many car enthusiasts, everyone's going to be extra jealous, wishing they want to have a go in one of these.

2016 McLaren 570S

2016 Ferrari 488 GTB

First, let's take a look at the Ferrari 488 GTB, the latest replacement to the 458 Italia. At first glance, it looks nearly identical to the old 458 but with the LaFerrari-inspired nose, you can't really tell the difference between them. On the inside, it remains the same old Ferrari lunacy because there are buttons hidden in the back of the steering wheel, which makes the driver harder to memorize where the windscreen wipers or the headlights or any other stuff are. 

The inside job wasn't the least of the problem here because under the hood lies a newly developed 4.0L Twin Turbo V8 engine and before you can say sacrilege, this powertrain makes the 488 the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the legendary F40, which means it's got form. When you get the car running, you will notice how weak the exhaust note is unlike the sound from the 458. Despite all the turbocharging involved that resulted to its 670PS of power output (more than what you get from the Lamborghini Huracan and the McLaren 650S), you will still notice a faint hearing of the exhaust notes. Sounds good but there's no hint of snarling like most supercars do.

While you're still moaning about the noise of the 488's V8 twin turbo engine makes, you should know that with all that power and the Formula One-inspired 7-speed double clutch gearbox, the new 488 goes from 0-100kph in less than three seconds and onwards to over 330kph. This is a definite point why Ferrari still is the king of the supercar realm and whoever tries to dethrone it, will dethrone its rivals in retaliation.

With all that retaliation against McLaren's 650S and Lamborghini's Huracan, its Formula One-inspired dynamics really employed in the 488, delivering a racecar-like feel when used on the track and as a result, this is probably one of the best V8-powered Ferraris to drive if you're not complaining how weak the new V8's noise is.

Now what about McLaren's new baby supercar, the 570S? Well, this is the baby McLaren everyone's talking about and it slots below the 650S in the lineup. It still has McLaren's 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine but it produces a titular 570PS of power and 600Nm of torque. It will do 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds and onwards to 328kph, two less than the 488, but let's remember that the 570S weighs 57kg less than the 488,

When you pit these two in a drag race, you will see that it's going to be a close one between the McLaren and the Ferrari. And if by close one, I mean of course, an exciting one presumably.

What about dynamics? Well, with all the race-inspired tech that embraced most McLarens for decades, the 570S is no-brainer. It sure loves to slice through corners like a sharp scalpel with surgical precision and when it comes to fun, well, it's not half bad to have one a go. It maybe not as sharp as its big brother, the 650S, but for a baby McLaren, the 570S loves to rise from the challenges set by the track gods. Despite looking shoddy in terms of design, the 570S is a serious performer on the road and on the track. With all that tech implied, this feels like it's set from the futuristic world.

So, do you have a choice between those two? Well, for a recap, both the 488 and the 570S are well honed on the track thanks to its motorsports roots implied but because decisions can be as complicated as your social status quo, it's up to the drivers to decide which one is the best but under Ferrari's right, best to aware that the 488 holds no substitutes because Ferrari knows there's no turning back now when it comes to retaliate against the supercar oppositions.

Omoide Ijou ni Naritakute

Omoide Ijou ni Naritakute

After players managed to master Printemps' WAO-WAO Powerful Day in Love Live! School Idol Festival app game from EASY to HARD, looks like our Lovelivers are up to a new challenge because the latest single from lily white, titled Omoide Ijou ni Naritakute, has arrived not just at the School Idol Festival game but in stores now. Be prepared on this one though, Lovelivers...

The latest single features two songs, 思い出以上になりたくて and 春情ロマンティック, as heard on the School Idol Festival game and for a limited time only, there's a serial code that can unlock a Super Rare μ's idol for use in the School Idol Festival game.

TRACK LISTINGS:

1)思い出以上になりたくて

2)春情ロマンティック

3)思い出以上になりたくて(Off Vocal)

4)春情ロマンティック(Off Vocal)

Suzuki Alto Works (HA36S)

Last March, Suzuki brought back the magic of a hot kei hatch in the form of the Alto Turbo RS. It was a fun kei car to drive but with the lack of a more enjoyable manual gearbox, the new Alto Turbo RS doesn't feel like the Works of yesteryears...until now...

2016 Suzuki Alto Works

Yes, the legendary Suzuki Alto Works is finally back and this time, this is the real deal. It's the rebirth of a hot kei car that shows that no matter how small the power output this car is, the new Alto Works shows its strengths in the handling department, and with a sport-tuned suspension and shock absorbers courtesy of KYB, this hot kei hatch is a well-proven track toy in its own right and because this is so good to handle, even rookies can master it during a track day. Sounds like Suzuki has finally brought back the legend in its modern form.

2016 Suzuki Alto Works interior

The interior of the new Works is more like the normal Alto but it's been peppered in a much darker shade to see how sleek and sporty the interior is. It even comes with a specially-made speedometer as well as RECARO seats, which is unheard of for sporty kei cars. Even though this is a hot hatch, it's got room in the back and is practical as well thanks to being a four-door hot kei sedan with seating for four. You would imagine taking one on a joyride at the mall or at the nightclub or whatever points of interest you come up with but don't get too jumpy just yet, folks.

2016 Suzuki Alto Works

The engine, like the Turbo RS, is a turbocharged R06A petrol engine complete with the breakthrough Suzuki Green Technology for fuel-efficiency measures. This engine produces 64PS of power and 100Nm of torque. That's the highest torque ever recorded in kei car history and this car knows a few tricks in its sleeves. Having learned their lesson with the mild but tangy Turbo RS, the new Alto Works is fitted with a 5-speed manual gearbox, which means it's back! Of course, there's an optional 5AGS gearbox available if you wouldn't mind one but either way, you'd be salivating this hot kei car right now.

In terms of fuel consumption, well, thanks to the SUZUKI GREEN Technology, the new Alto Works is expected to have a fuel consumption of 23kmpl for manual models and 23.6kmpl for the 5AGS models.

Although this is a much more enjoyable hot hatch to drive on a track day, the new Alto Works still has some safety equipment as any other car in the world would have such as the Radar Brake Support that stops automatically when 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.

2016 Suzuki Alto Works

Should you buy one? The new Alto Works starts from 1,509,840 to 1,639,440 Japanese Yen, which is more costly than the mild but tangy Turbo RS, but no matter how expensive this hot Alto is, it's a great thing the legendary Works is back and looks like it would give the big hot hatches a run for its money if this kei car knows what it is doing on a track day. Besides, you can afford one of these if you can't afford to buy a European hot hatch for a change.

Available colors: Steel Silver Metallic, Pearl White, Pure Red, and Bluish Black Pearl 3.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation