TGUSA: City Saviors

To response to Americans' city travel lifestyle, the boys of Top Gear (the hit US show) are searching for the best car to take on the urban landscape. Rut goes for the Scion FR-S (Toyota 86) while Adam goes for the BMW i3 with range extender feature, and Tanner goes for the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk. The boys will find out which is the best city car around the streets of LA and the winner drives the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.

The first challenge goes to a game of car hide and seek and whoever they can last the longest wins. Adam won that challenge.

The next challenge involves driving through an abandoned spot to simulate city driving. Looks like Rut came first with his Toyobaru. Later on, the parking test and whoever the quickest to park wins. Tanner wins that challenge.

Now, the guys are in the final challenge, involving putting the goods inside the car and place it to the finish point. Whoever has the least damage of goods they're carrying wins. In here, Rut wins and he gets the chance to drive the Alfa 4C on a race across LA against Tanner on a HPC Revolution bike and The Stig...taking public transport.

On the race across LA, Adam and Rut made it first by surprise before Tanner gets here while The Stig went AWOL.

#BubbleGang - June 24, 2016

On the June 24, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Curfew gags

- Words of wisdom by Tata Lino

- Trash talking at the octagon!

- Mang Tañong thinks he's one of the Katipuneros.

- More poolside fun with the Pool Señorita gals!

- Making an excuse about the utang.

-  More news reversed in Opposite News!

The dirty little secret of car commercials

There is one dirty little secret about how car commercials are made and that dirty little secret is something involves CGI fakery.

Why CGI in every car commercials that goes "professional driver, closed course" and "do not attempt" this and that? That reason goes to the availability of vehicle and location. As uncovered by unknown sources, people involved in the making of car commercials with some "professional driver" and "do not attempt" on it resort to using bangers on the shooting, then edit it out to look like a brand new car when viewed on TV. Yep, that explains a lot.

The Blackbird

There's another dirty little secret to make car commercials with using the actual car. You see, a UK-based firm called The Mill introduced a clever-looking machine called the BLACKBIRD. Although they got that name from the SR-71 recon plane for some reasons, the BLACKBIRD is a shapeshifting vehicle that solves the problems of making a car commercial.

It is the world's first fully adjustable car rig that not only alter its chassis to match the precise length and width of almost any car but also its appearance. With CGI, the car rig can be altered to match a specific car and its electric motor can be recalibrated to emulate the driving characteristics of the subject car.

Here's a video that sums everything up:

Watching car commercials will never be the same again, even those "do not attempt" moments because the next time you see a car commercial with a car doing ridiculous stunts, better start asking how did that happen and the results would be very questionable because it would be either bangers or this.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/23/mill-blackbird-car-rig-video/

Let's Do The News! (June 24, 2016)

- The Abu Sayyaf Group released the Filipina hostage Thursday night in Sulu but retained its Norwegian captive to assert their 300-million peso ransom demand. The terrorist group released Marites Flor about 2000 hours local time and turned her over to an emissary. The victim was released under ASG's Mujer Yadah.

- The ongoing modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will give more attention on platforms that can be used to address the country's internal security threats, according to incoming AFP chief-of-staff Lt. General Ricardo Visaya.  Visaya said that the Duterte administration would like to start by upgrading equipment use for internal security operations so he will prioritize the acquisition of modern helicopters and fastcrafts with nightfighting capabilities. These new equipments will help on the ongoing battle against threats from terrorists and rebel forces.

- China claimed it has the support of at least 47 countries in its position on the South China Sea dispute against the Philippines. The Chinese Foreign Ministry told that a news network done a count on the countries supporting China, including Republic of Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and Cambodian ruling party People's Party.

- Following the shocking BREXIT victory, British Prime Minister David Cameron is stepping down from his post. In his resignation statement outside Downing Street, Cameron said he would attempt to "steady the ship" over the coming weeks and months but that "fresh leadership" was needed. He also said he had informed the Queen of his decision to remain in place for the short term and to then hand over to a new prime minister by the time of the Conservative conference in October. It will be up to the new PM to carry out negotiations with the EU and invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would give UK two years to negotiate its withdrawal.

- The US Supreme Court decision has stopped US President Barack Obama's executive action to reform the immigration decision. A 4-4 split decision on Thursday by the eight justices upheld a lower court injunction which blocked the plan last year. The recent ruling is a major blow to Obama's initiative to reform the immigration system.

- International media got a preview of the Olympic village for the 2016 Rio Olympics. The village, which is scheduled to open on the 24th of July, is about three kilometers west of the main Olympic park. It will be home to about 17,000 athletes and coaches from over 200 countries and regions. Paralympics athletes and officials will also stay in the village during the games.

- Honda teases the second-generation Freed minivan, due to launch this Autumn.

2017 Honda Freed teaser

- The same insanity you expect on the Osomatsu-san TV series is now on a stage play called Osomatsu-san on STAGE ~SIX MEN'S SHOW TIME~. It will run for seven showings at the Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka from the 29th of September to the 3rd of October, and then for twice the showings at the Zepp Blue Theater Roppongi in Tokyo from the 13th to the 23rd of October.

- Espada 1's J35J Draken from Ace Combat Zero The Belkan War is now a model kit courtesy of Hasegawa Hobby Kits. Available this 5th of July for 2800 JPY, fans of the Ace Combat franchise can build their own J35J piloted by Espada 1 as well as decals featuring Sapin Air Force, Espada team, Gelb team, and Silber team.

J35J Draken Ace Combat Espada

- Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston will star as Zordon in 2017's Power Rangers movie.

TTFN!!!

UK votes to LEAVE the EU

June 24, 2016, a day after people of the United Kingdom rushed to their nearest polling station to decide the fate of the nation in the European Union. Even though experts believed that it could be a close match between the REMAIN side and LEAVE side, it's official that 51.9% of the voters voted LEAVE while 48.1% of the voters voted REMAIN.

This result will change the course of the history as Great Britain will be remembered as the first European nation in the union to leave via referendum and as what UKIP leader Nigel Farage, one of the spearheaders of the LEAVE campaign, said, it will be remembered as "Independence Day".

Despite UK voted to leave the European Union, nothing changes immediately because as of now, UK is still being part of the EU for the time being until politicians worked out what to do next. Of course, with the world stunned on this historic referendum, the European Union is expected to hold emergency meetings in Brussels. The process for the UK to achieve independence from the EU is via Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which gives a two year period for terms of exit to be negotiated. With the timeframe given on Article 50, it is expected to have the United Kingdom achieve independence from the EU by 2018 once notice to leave is formally given but it is not known when will it occur.

The UK and the EU will now have to work out a new deal first on trade. If the UK doesn't want to leave the single market, it could have to pay towards the EU budget and still follows the EU's rules and regulations, allowing the free movement of people might be required. Status of British residents living in other EU countries and EU citizens living in the UK has to be worked out. If the UK leaves formally, most EU laws and regulations will need to be updated to UK law.

With the world stunned by the Brits' decision to achieve independence from the EU, how long before independence will be achieved? What will be the aftermath from this "Brexit" vote? How would world leaders react to such a historic move? Only time will tell...

Further details: http://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-36570120

My 10 best DCOMs aired

In honor of Adventures in Babysitting, the 100th Disney Channel Original Movie which stars Girl Meets World's Sabrina Carpenter and Descendants' Sofia Carson, it's time for me to jot down my ten best Disney Channel Original Movies out of the one hundred DCOMs aired on TV.

10) The Even Stevens Movie - This DCOM based on the hit Disney Channel TV series brings sibling rivalry to the ultimate level. Following the prank pulled at a graduation ceremony, the Stevens family are going on a vacation on a tropical island. Trouble is, this tropical vacation became a living nightmare for the Stevens, and this is where their wild side kicks in.

9) The Cheetah Girls - The Cheetah Girls is about four New York gals trying to overcome the odds to become the best girl group. Raven from That's So Raven stars alongside Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, and Sabrina Bryan, and true to the DCOM, it's all about the music and the grooves the girls can pull on the road to stardom. Thanks to The Cheetah Girls' success, it spawned additional two installments; The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World. Sadly, Raven's not present in the latter.

8) Kim Possible Movie: So The Drama - This DCOM is the turning point in Kim and Ron's crime fighting escapades. So what's the sitch? Prom night, Dr. Drakken's ultimate plot to rule the world, a handsome boy steals Kim's heart, and everything's getting desperate for the world's favorite crime-fighting spy. Apart from its dramatic storyline as well as witnessing Kim's costume upgrade, this DCOM features the song Could It Be sung by Christy Carlson Romano, the voice of KP.

7) Teen Beach Movie - Austin and Ally's Ross Lynch and The Fosters' Maia Mitchell became the stars of the summer-themed DCOM aired in 2013. It all started is a fun day at a beach until they got ended up in a turf war between bikers and surfers at a certain beach flick. It's up to the unlikely duo to alter the storyline and unite both sides, even themselves. This DCOM became a hit, a second installment came out a year later.

6) Lemonade Mouth - It all started with five high school students who are in detention formed together as the rock band called Lemonade Mouth. Their shot at fame isn't always an easy one because they have to tackle life's challenging problems, even for themselves. Dog with a Blog's Blake Michael and Good Luck Charlie's Bridgit Mendler starred in this DCOM.

5) Camp Rock - This is where Demi Lovato gets her break as one of the stars of the 2008 DCOM about a teenage girl who enters a summer camp for music lovers called Camp Rock until her encounter with a disgraced member of a famed boy band, played by the Jonas Brothers, turns her life around. Two years later, there's a sequel where the Camp Rockers are staging a battle against a rival camp in the Final Jam. Thanks to DCOM like this, the names Demi Lovato and the Jonas bros. became synonymous for fans everywhere.

4) Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure - Ashley Tisdale reprises her HSM role as Sharpay Evans in her spinoff DCOM about HSM's primadonna venturing to New York to become famous on a stage play or else she'll have to work at her dad's country club forever. However, life at the Big Apple isn't as fabulous as she wished for but her characteristics can surely turn this unfabulous situation around especially when she faces a fierce "dogfight" with a little boy, played by Bradley Steven Perry.

3) High School Musical - the DCOM of 2006 is the hit sensation for kids everywhere because of its memorable songs that made us have'em stuck in our heads as well as the love story of Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) and life of being a high school student at East High. If I had my favorite song in the famed franchise, it will be "We're All In This Together". Because of HSM's success, it spawned live concerts as well as sequels, not to mention the feature-length finale HSM Senior Year. Because it's HSM's 10th anniversary, a new HSM film is in the works and thousands of youngsters have auditioned to be part of the new generation of Wildcats.

2) Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension - This DCOM is the ultimate Phineas and Ferb experience for the fans of the hit TV show that was recently concluded last year. Upon discovering Agent P's secret identity, the 2nd Dimension Doof tries to take over two dimensions of the Tri-State Area with his army of Normbots and it's up to the gang to stop other dimension Doof from executing his evil plot. With surprises aside, rock guitarist Slash made his musical guest appearance at the end of the DCOM.

1) Descendants - Imagine the world when Disney characters have kids, it would be a blast to see it coming but for the kids of iconic Disney villains, they're rotten to the core. Descendants star Liv and Maddie's Dove Cameron as Maleficent's daughter Mal, Sofia Carson as the Evil Queen's daughter Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jafar's son Jay, and Jessie's Cameron Boyce as Cruella's son Carlos. Although this DCOM tastes like High School Musical (kudos to HSM's choreographer Kenny Ortega for the production numbers), this DCOM is a success and it's so successful, a sequel is in the works as well as Wicked World animated shorts, which tastes like Sofia the First.

The 100th DCOM Adventures In Babysitting airs tomorrow on Disney Channel but you can watch it right away on the Disney Channel app or on demand.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 25th ANNIVERSARY SELECTION

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
25th ANNIVERSARY SELECTION

Since its Mega Drive debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has became the official face of Sega for many generations to come and appeared in numerous installments in numerous consoles and smartphones, numerous TV cartoons, and special appearances in other forms. Whatever everything throws at him, the world's fastest hedgehog just keeps on running and spinning for more thrills for the past 25 years.

As part of honoring Sonic's 25th anniversary, a special best album featuring the best BGMs heard throughout the world of Sonic the Hedgehog is here and this two-disc compilation features the best of the best as heard through Sonic the Hedgehog's 25-year history. From Green Hill to Station Square. From Soleanna to across the globe, the best of Sonic's adventures are remembered in this two-disc compilation and as a bonus, there's a DVD featuring the openings and trailers from numerous Sonic installments.

TRACK LISTINGS:

DISC ONE:

• STH1 Green Hill Zone ～ Mega Drive version ～（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ）
• STH2 Special Stage ～ Mega Drive version ～（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ 2）
• STH3 Special Stage（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ3）
• S&K Sky Sanctuary Zone（ソニック＆ナックルズ）
• Palmtree Panic（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグCD）
• Can You Feel The Sunshine?（ソニックR）
• Mt. Red: a Symbol of Thrill（ソニックアドベンチャー）
• Join Us 4 Happy Time（ソニックアドベンチャー）
• It Doesn't Matter ver.2（ソニックアドベンチャー2）
• That's The Way I Like It（ソニックアドベンチャー2）
• Neo Green Hill（ソニックアドバンス）
• Sonic Heroes [Opening ver.]（ソニックヒーローズ）
• We Can（ソニックヒーローズ）
• Wave Ocean -The Inlet-（SONIC THE HEDGEHOG）
• Theme of Metal City（ソニックライダーズ）
• A New Venture（ソニック ラッシュ アドベンチャー）
• Windmill Isle - Day（ソニック ワールドアドベンチャー）
• Rooftop Run - Day（ソニック ワールドアドベンチャー）
• Reach For The Stars - Short ver.（ソニックカラーズ）
• Aquarium Park - Act1（ソニックカラーズ）
• Escape From The City - Cash Cash RMX（ソニック ジェネレーションズ 白の時空）
• Seaside Hill: Act2（ソニック ジェネレーションズ 白の時空）
• Windy Hill - Zone1（ソニック ロストワールド）
• Main Theme of Sonic Toon（ソニックトゥーン 太古の秘宝）
• Beyond The Speed Of...（ソニックランナーズ）

DISC TWO:

• STH1 Scrap Brain Zone ～ Mega Drive version ～（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ）
• STH2 Chemical Plant Zone ～ Mega Drive version ～（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ 2）
• STH3 Angel Island Act2（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ3）*
• S&K Death Egg Zone Act1（ソニック＆ナックルズ）*
• Introduction... featuring "Open Your Heart"（ソニックアドベンチャー）
• Skydeck A Go! Go!（ソニックアドベンチャー）
• Vengeance Is Mine（ソニックアドベンチャー2）
• For True Story（ソニックアドベンチャー2）
• Rail Canyon（ソニックヒーローズ）
• I Am... All Of Me [Opening ver.]（シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ）
• Westopolis（シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ）
• Theme of Sonic The Hedgehog -2006 E3 Version-（SONIC THE HEDGEHOG）
• Crisis City -The Flame-Skyscraper-Whirlwind-Tornado-（SONIC THE HEDGEHOG）
• Sonic Speed Riders（ソニックライダーズ）
• High And Broken（ソニックと秘密のリング）
• Un-gravitify（ソニックライダーズ シューティングスターストーリー）
• Werehog Battle Theme（ソニック ワールドアドベンチャー）
• Super Sonic vs. Perfect Dark Gaia（ソニック ワールドアドベンチャー）
• With Me（ソニックと暗黒の騎士）
• Free [Opening ver.]（ソニック フリーライダーズ）
• Planet Wisp - Act1（ソニックカラーズ）
• vs. Nega-Wisp Armor - Phase 2（ソニックカラーズ）
• Boss: Metal Sonic（ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ4 エピソードII）
• The Deadly Six Theme（ソニック ロストワールド）
• Theory Of Attack（ソニックランナーズ）*