Second-Generation Toyota Mark X - 2017 Minor Change

The second-generation Toyota Mark X has been around for about seven years since it came out in the autumn of 2009 and while it tries to carry out the predecessor's will to pick up where the legendary Mark II saloon left off by being a cheaper take on the German saloons. In truth, it never tries to take the cut to please the high-ranking salarymen going to the office. With word of mouth that the Mark X couldn't last to live until the end of the decade, Toyota tries to improve the Mark X a little further with this latest minor change.

2017 Toyota Mark X

Theoretically, this will be the last time Toyota will improve the second-generation Mark X and some say the second-generation will be the last for Toyota's Mark X. Whatever that is, the 2017 update features a much more aggressive exterior design to keep this saloon even more appealing through the very end of its lifespan. From its aggressive front view, the bi-beam LED headlamps, redesigned taillights, and new wheel designs, the new look is about as aggressive and as eccentric as its relative saloon, the Toyota Crown.

2017 Toyota Mark X interior

The interior looks vaguely similar to its previous versions but in terms of interior color choices, there's a new choice of two-color combinations available on the brand-new 250RDS/350RDS variants. With a choice of "Black X Red" and "Black X White" interior colors, the new two-color combinations really give a sporty appeal to a luxury sports saloon made for those who talk business all the time.

2017 Toyota Mark X

2017 Toyota Mark X

What's under the hood still remains the choice of 2.5L V6 and 3.5L V6 (this time it's exclusive to the RDS variant) engine, both are mated with a 6-speed gearbox. The top-of-the-line 3.5L V6 engine produces 318PS of power output while the 2.5L V6 engine delivers fuel efficiency of a measly 11.8km/L. Sounds like schlock by modern standards but apart from the choice of engines, the 2017 Mark X features reworked dynamics to make it handle better than the previous model, slightly of course. For a slight improvement on the handling, this 2017 minor change is trying to give it some fighting chance against the opposition if it has the guts to do it.

Lastly, the 2017 Toyota Mark X now comes with Toyota Safety Sense P consisting of high-tech millimeter-wave radar which detects pedestrians and vehicles alike, Radar Cruise Control which detects preceding vehicles and determines their speed, and some other safety tech in store for this one.

The 2017 Toyota Mark X starts from 2,656,800 to 3,850,200 Japanese Yen, which is pricier compared to the last facelift but when word of mouth comes that it won't last a decade or so, best to buy one right now before anyone else can because if it's right on the money, it will be last time we'll see the Mark X on the roads.

Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black, Precious Black Peal, Dark Red Mica Metallic, and True Blue Mica Metallic.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (November 22, 2016)

- The former driver of Senator Leila de Lima, Ronnie Dayan, was arrested in La Union on Tuesday. Police said Dayan was arrested in Urbiztondo, San Juan town in La Union in cooperation with the CIDG and the provincial police office. Initial reports said Dayan hid in the hinterlands of San Gabriel town in La Union prior to his arrest. He was currently sent to the PNP HQ in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

- In the aftermath of the sudden burial of Ferdinand E. Marcos, further education about the infamous Martial Law and its threats to democracy is being pushed on both public and private schools. According to an Ifugao lawmaker, there is a relentless campaign to convince the Filipino people to "move on" and close the chapter of the Marcoses while admitting that he and his colleagues joined in signing a resolution of late Rep. Salvador Escudero five years ago to let the former strongman be buried at the LNMB.

- Meanwhile, former President Fidel V. Ramos debunked claims that Ilocos Sur Representative Imee Marcos was just a little girl during the Martial Law period. Ramos said he can attest to the real age to the late dictator's daughter.

- A 7.4 magnitude quake struck Fukushima early Tuesday morning at 0559 hours local time. Tsunami warnings were also issued immediately in Fukushima and Miyagi, where the coastal areas were evacuated but later lifted. So far, no reports of casualties have been reported.

- The International Olympic Committee has stripped seven athletes of medals from the 2012 London Olympics after they tested positive in a reanalysis of their doping samples. Yulia Zaripova from Russia was stripped of the gold medal she won in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase while the remaining athletes are 2 Russians who got silver medals in weightlifting, as well as four bronze medal winners from Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia.

- US President-Elect Donald Trump announce his intention to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement on his first day of taking office. He posted a video message about his top policy priorities for the first 100 days of his presidency on the website of his transition team, part of his principle of putting America first and stressed creating more jobs at home.

- NextEV uncovered their NIO EP9 electric supercar at an event in London. This electric supercar can produce 1360HP of power from four electric motors while mated with four gearboxes, capable of going 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds and onwards to 200mph. It has a potential to lap the Nurburgring in 7:05.12.

NextEV NIO EP9

- Bandai to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Digimon franchise next year since their toy line that inspired the TV show and other merchandising rights began in 1997.

- Two new figFix figures from LoveLive are now available for pre-orders! First, there's Kotori Minami in her cheergirl outfit and then there's Eli Ayase in her cheergirl outfit. Both are priced at 5,370 Yen plus tax and will be delivered this June. 

figFix Kotor Minami
Cheergirl ver.

figFix Eli Ayase
Cheergirl ver.

- Singer-comedian Blakdyak was found dead in his house in Dapitan Street, Sampaloc, Manila last night. He was 46 years old. According to reports, his body was found with a plastic wrapped in his head.

TTFN!!!

Audi A4 (B9) allroad

Now, let's talk sport utility wagons. Sure, they maybe classified as crossovers just as what compact hatchback-based ones did, but in reality, they're really station wagons with some added claddings on the outside as well as added ground clearance to make it look tough and rugged but in general, they're just part of their daily routine. Even luxury car companies got mixed into them to sell sport utility wagons to those who believe that a normal station wagon just isn't enough to satisfy their everyday lifestyles.

2017 Audi A4 allroad

One such example of how luxury car companies selling such kind of wagons designated as crossovers is this; the brand new Audi A4 allroad. First and foremost, this is basically an Audi A4 B9 Avant, only this time with some added cladding to look tough and rugged as well as the added ground clearance to make it sound adventurous when taken on the great outdoors. With prices start at 41,700 Euros, that's about over ten grand more than its Avant equivalent but that doesn't stop them from having one of these in their garage right now. Although costly to own than the Avant, it's priced for those who couldn't afford the A6 allroad.

2017 Audi A4 allroad interior

For a tougher side of the A4 Avant, the new A4 allroad with its clever stuff lurking underneath its rugged looks really makes it very capable to handle almost any kind of road conditions as long as the mud isn't problematic enough to get the others stuck on the road and the frozen roads isn't slippery enough to turn them into figure skaters. On normal roads, it behaves like a saloon; comfortable but a little less exciting to soothe your brows all the way home, but when taken to a leisurely ride on the great outdoors, it's all business as usual even when it has unfinished business to deal with.

2017 Audi A4 allroad

There are numerous versions available on the new Audi A4 allroad but the most powerful version is obviously the one with the 3.0L TDi engine with the 8-speed gearbox, a first for the A4 allroad. It produces 272PS of power and 600Nm of torque. It can go from 0-100kph in 5.5 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph. Sounds quick for a crossover but it can be somewhat idiotic and irrelevant for a car that has a sweet spot lying in deceit for the kids in the back. Speaking of the sweet spot, rest assured that it wasn't meant to be a family car because if you have three kids and readying the child seats, you might ruin someone's "sweet spot" for the heck of it. Although this five seater wasn't meant to be used for family trips, the A4 allroad is a fitting for the outdoorsman going into the woods and with that spacing on the back, it fits most of the leisurely stuff an outdoorsman would go for such as hiking, biking, fishing, camping, or even hunting wild animals. Whichever floats their kayak, the A4 allroad is a luxury crossover wagon fit for almost anything through the ends of the earth.

Tempting? Well, if you got some extra cash and if you believe that the A4 Avant wasn't enough, best to buy one right now before anyone else would because crossovers are all the rage right now.

Photo: Audi AG

The Cute Wall (Volume Sixteen)

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



(applause)

Whoa, can't believe that despite all odds, we manage to come back alive just for this! Thank goodness for that. Speaking of which...

Some idiots told me that the stars of Yuri!!! On Ice were cute?

Who?

Yuri!!! On Ice

Yuri!!! On Ice. It's about a Japanese figure skater named Yuri Katsuki, whose life changed forever when a veteran Russian skater Victor Nikiforov became his coach and...um...well, long story short but everyone in the world got hooked on this breakout sports anime show with (ahem) some "boys love" stuff aboard.

Boys Love?!

Uh-huh. Boys Love because that certain love affair between them motivated the Japanese Yuri to overcome all odds to become one of the world's best skaters. At least this is anime stuff but anyone can be like Yuri Katsuki unless if they have a love affair like Victor that can motivate them to success. Sigh, that's what I get from watch the first half of the show myself.

(audience laughing)

So, what are you going to do with it? Evaluate it?

Before the girls mulling about calling this show "cute"...

Someone got you ahead first...

Wha...?

(audience laughing)

SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE!!! One for Yuri Katsuki, one for Victor Nikiforov. Hope you idiots love yaoi stuff...

(audience laughing, then applause)

What else?!

Remember the time when we put The 7D's Dopey, Happy and Bashful on the Cute Wall? We haven't put the remaining here so, what's your take on the remaining dwarves?

Let's see....hmmmm...

 

Oh, I know! Grumpy's SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE and that's okay because this is who he is, Doc and Sleepy's NOT CUTE, and Sneezy's...ummm...CUTE!

(audience laughing)

Oh, I see. That's how you judge how cute are they by how they act. I like you style. Touché. Speaking of which...is it cold outside?

Yeah, it's freezing in here. Did somebody opened the door?!

(murmuring)

What about the AC?!

(murmuring)

I don't think it's the aircon or the door or the windows...

What is it?

Lily Shirogane

It's her! Lily Shirogane from Aikatsu Stars!

So that's how the cold front is flowing on this set! So, she looks new to us and by her attitude, she looks as cold as the polar vortex.

(audience laughing)

Cold as a polar vortex that hit New York?!

Of course she is and by looking at her, she doesn't look as cute as the other Aikatsu Stars characters. In fact, she looks somewhat familiar to me...

Oh come on...

(audience laughing)

Hey, haven't I see you before?!

(audience laughing)

36 MINUTES LATER...

So, how's Lily?

She looks emotionless and cold when I asked her and since she's the Aikatsu Stars character who doesn't feel anything, let's put her to NOT CUTE and they'll be none the wiser.

(audience laughing)

Well, there's a new trio in Pripara right now. It's called NON SUGAR and the members are Non Manaka, Chiri Tsukikawa, and Pepper Taiyou.

Chiri Tsukikawa

Non Manaka

Pepper Taiyou

Speaking of Pepper...

(ahhhh!!!)

Oh no! I think Pepper bit someone. Someone get her off! Hurry!!!

36 MINUTES LATER....

That Pepper, because she came from the Sapanna and raised by lions, she always like to eat those "managers" for lunch, even their own. Hmmm, if anyone wants to get their butts become Pepper's lunch, raise your hands.

(audience laughing, some raise hands)

Wait, looks like someone wants to be Pepper's lunch, huh?

(audience laughing)

You want to be Pepper's lunch? Anyone? Guess what, your butts are safe because I'll put Pepper on the NOT CUTE spot so no one's going to be eaten alive.

(audience laughing)

Chiri? Oh bother. She was just an innocent little girl until her life at Pripara changed her into a serious idol drawing her fountain fan, thinking she's in charge and seriousness is not a cute factor for me so it's a SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE for Chiri. Sorry, ma'am. You have to do better.

What about Non? Isn't she the one behind TRIANGLE?

Yes. Non already did her stint as TRIANGLE's Junon, Pinon, and Kanon, just to draw attention to her sister Laala. Being TRIANGLE is just part of her plan and with Non Manaka finally out in the open, she's ready to be just like her sister by being...Non. With Non Sugar formed, this is one big step to Non to surpass against her sister and we are expecting sibling rivalry here. Ooohhh...

(Ooohhh)

What's your take?

Let's put her to CUTE where it safe.

(audience laughing, then applause)

Oh, boy. Hey, now that Pokemon Sun and Moon is out, have you enjoyed the anime?

Yeah, sure. You?

Superb. In fact, the latest chapter in Pokemon sees Ash and Pikachu goes to school while venturing through the hidden secrets of Alola Region while making new friends and enemies. As I read from the portfolio, Ash is joined by new characters such as (ahem)...

Pokemon cosplayers, pay attention because this is what you're going to be if you're ready for next year's conventions.

Lillie, Mallow, Lana, Kiawe, and Sophocles.

Understand?!

(murmuring)

Well, hope they'll be dressing as those appeared in the show because if I see anyone dressed as those from the games just like what happened since Black and White and XY, I'm gonna...

Whoa there... Anyway, the Pokemon on the new show, what's your thoughts?

You know the Grass-type starter Rowlet? Yep, when the starters are first introduced alongside the Fire-type Litten and the Water-type Popplio, most like Rowlet because it has close resemblance to (ahem) Love Live's Kotori Minami.

(audience laughing)

The Koto-birb, huh? No wonder they took a liking to that one.

I know, but Rowlet's popularity didn't last long when their first evolved forms; Dartrix, Torracat, and Brionne, are announced and as far as I know, most like Brionne because...(ahem)

(♪アイドル活動！)

Aikatsu reference, huh? Because "idol" Pokemon. Ha ha ha ha ha, get it?!

"Idol" Pokemon indeed. And with the final evolved forms; Decidueye, Incineroar, and Primarina, are out, it's everybody's guess right now which one is best. If we focused on Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio for now, I know what to do with those.

Okay, so what?

They're all placed to the CUTE spot. All three of them!

Alola Starters in Pokemon Sun and Moon

(applause)

Yes, these three are the stars of the show, what about the other stars of the new show, huh?

Togedemaru

Togedemaru is the roly-poly Pokemon who joins alongside Sophocles. Because this is Alola, every region deserves a cute electric-type Pokemon and this Togedemaru takes the cake. I mean look at this Togedemaru...

Like a big ball of fluff...and spikes.

(audience laughing)

I know. I watched how Togedemaru can do but no matter what, Togedemaru's in the CUTE spot. Welcome to the club.

Rockruff

Rockruff. Oh bother. This cute little doggy resides with Alola's Prof. Kukui and by the looks of it, it reminded me of Clarence's best friend...from the show Clarence.

(audience laughing)

Like Clarence's best friend, huh?!

Yep, and that's a CUTE for Rockruff.

Bounsweet

What about Bounsweet? The Pokemon tagging alongside Mallow?

Don't ask because I already know where to put Bounsweet. In the CUTE spot. No hard feelings?

Yeah, no hard feelings.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, enough for that now. Speaking of which, I heard you had a new obsession to that new cartoon show related to you.

Did you mean "The Loud House"?!

The Loud House

Yeah. The Loud House! It's about a boy named Lincoln living in a household of 10 sisters. TEN SISTERS! That's a recipe for mayhem!

I know, right? When these girls rumble each other, it's like the Play Rough attack from Pokemon.

(audience laughing)

Girls like to play rough, right?! (Laughing)

(audience laughing)

Get it?!

Yeah! So, those ten sisters messing with Lincoln's life. These are...

Lori, the oldest of the siblings and the boss. Leni, the second-oldest, the ditsiest, and the sweetest sister. Luna, the rocker. Luan, the family clown who loves to make jokes. Lynn, the athlete. Lucy, the poetic emo sister who likes to be in the dark. Lola, the glamorous twin of Lana, who is the grease monkey. Lisa, the little girl genius. And finally, Lily, the baby poopmaker.

(glug, glug, glug)

What are you doing?

I have a little secret. Look at Luna Loud. She reminded me of Aikatsu's Kaede Ichinose with a brown hair color. As for Luan, she reminded me of THE IDOLM@STER's Mami Futami and I know a good joke for her. Hey, are you my Mami?!

(rim shot)

Ha ha ha ha ha! Get it?!

(audience laughing)

Lynn Loud?! She looks like Mac from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.

(audience laughing)

As for Lisa, heh. Meddling kids. She reminded me of Wilma from the Scooby-Doo shows. Ha ha...

(audience laughing)

Anyway, enough for that now. Can you decide where the Loud kids positioned at? Hurry up before they'll use "Play Rough" on each other, even us!

Okay. (glug, glug, glug) Lori's SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE. Leni's CUTE, Luna's CUTE, Luan's NAKAKAGIGIL (or should I say, NAKAKA-GIGGLE), Lynn's NOT CUTE, Lincoln's CUTE, Lucy's SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE but she's not bothering it anyway, Lola's SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE, Lana's NOT CUTE, Lisa's CUTE but she knows that this segment we're doing is idiotic and irrelevant anyway, and Lily's CUTE.

Whoa! Lola's SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE?!!! Don't you know what happens when we called Lola SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE?!

(I'm telling dad!)

Uh-oh... Speaking of which...

(Poo-Poo!)

What's that smell?

Lily's diapers!

(audience screaming in panic)

TOXIC GAS! Everybody out!!! Run!!!

(screaming continues)

(Poo-Poo!)

TIME FOR THE RECAP!

SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE:

Raichu

Whisper

Minion

Nico Yazawa

Takane Shijou

Azusa Miura

Makoto Kikuchi

Anzu Futaba

Croagunk

Touma Amagase

Shota Mitarai

Hokuto Ijuin

Teru Tendo

Kaoru Sakuraba

Tsubasa Kashikawa

Kyouji Takajou

Minori Watanabe

Kyosuke Aoi

Yusuke Aoi

Shiki Iseya

Haruna Wakazato

Hayato Akiyama

Jun Fuyumi

Natsuki Sakaki

Rui Maita

Chio Hazama

Jiro Yamashita

Treecko

Jill Valentine

Rebecca Chambers

Claire Redfield

Ada Wong

Ashley Graham

Sheva Alomar

Helena Harper

Sherry Birkin

Moira Burton

Natalia Korda

Osomatsu

Karamatsu

Choromatsu

Ichimatsu

Jyuushimatsu

Todomatsu

Miyabi Fujiwara

Risa Shirakaba

Rin Kurosawa

Mia Fey

Rayfa Padma Khura'in

Buttercup

Yoshiko Tsushima

Sion Todo

Aroma Kurosu

Gaaruru

Hibiki Shikyoin

Ako Saotome

*Yuri Katsuki

*Victor Nikiforov

*Grumpy

*Chiri Tsukikawa

*Lori Loud

*Lucy Loud

*Lola Loud

NOT CUTE:

Dopey

Kwazii

Minion

Amethyst

Rin Hoshizora

Hibiki Ganaha

Minami Nitta

Ranko Kanzaki

Miku Maekawa

Kion

Fuli

Beshte

Bunga

Ono

Pierre

Scraggy

Bulbasaur

Squirtle

Cyndaquil

Turtwig

Sumire Hikami

Juri Kurebayashi

Nono Daichi

Hime Shiratori

Tsubasa Kisaragi

Yuzu Nikaido

Yozora Kasumi

Maya Fey

Pearl Fey

Ema Skye

Trucy Wright

Kay Faraday

Athena Cykes

Blossom

Mirai Kasuga

Shizuka Mogami

Tsubasa Ibuki

Shiho Kitazawa

Umi Kousaka

Julia

Megumi Tokoro

Yuriko Nanao

Serika Hakozaki

Anna Mochizuki

Kana Yabuki

Nao Yokoyama

Riko Sakurauchi

Dia Kurosawa

Mikan Shiratama

Junon

Kanon

Pinon

Mahiru Kasumi

*Doc

*Sleepy

*Lily Shirogane

*Pepper Taiyou

*Lynn Loud

*Lana Loud

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

Miki Hoshii

Yukiho Hagiwara

Iori Minase

Ritsuko Akizuki

Anastasia

Kanako Mimura

Chieri Ogata

Miria Akagi

Rika Jougasaki

Kirari Moroboshi

Riina Tada

Rin Shibuya

Mio Honda

Komasan

Komajiro

Grizz

Panda

Ice Bear

Clefairy

Jigglypuff

Chansey

Eevee

Tepig

Snivy

Chikorita

Charmander

Totodile

Torchic

Mudkip

Chimchar

Hinaki Shinjo

Madoka Amahana

Kokone Kurisu

Nina Dojima

Yume Njino

Rola Sakuraba

Laala Manaka

Bubbles

You Watanabe

Kanan Matsuura

Ruby Kurosawa

Hanamaru Kunikida

Mari Ohara

Sophy Hojo

Dorothy West

Reona West

Falulu

Fuwari Midorikaze

Koharu Nanakura

*Sneezy

*Non Manaka

*Rowlet

*Litten

*Popplio

*Togedemaru

*Rockruff

*Bounsweet

*Lincoln Loud

*Leni Loud

*Luna Loud

*Lisa Loud

*Lily Loud

NAKAKAGIGIL!!!:

Pikachu

BMO

Bijou

Poof

George

Happy

Chespin

Doc McStuffins

Mabel Pines

Sofia

Cottonee

Minion

Oshawott

Star Butterfly

Honoka Kousaka

Kotori Minami

Haruka Amami

Yayoi Takatsuki

Chihaya Kisaragi

Ami Futami

Mami Futami

Uzuki Shimamura

Noibat

Togepi

Squishy

Ichigo Hoshimiya

Aoi Kiriya

Ran Shibuki

Akari Ozora

Braixen

Chika Takami

Mirei Minami

*Luan Loud

Let's Do The News! (November 21, 2016)

- In last weekend's APEC Summit, President Rodrigo Duterte's comments on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the strongman he admired for, considers themselves as fast friends as they are willing to boost ties between the two countries.

- Vice-President Leni Robredo feared that she received a text message regarding the recount of votes, just to have Bongbong Marcos steal her position by next year, amid the sudden burial of Ferdinand E. Marcos.

- Meanwhile, following last week's burial that shocked the nation, a group of petitioners comprised of Martial Law victims and former detainees filed a contempt of court petition against the heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense.

- Chinese leader Xi Jinping open to Duterte's plan to turn the Scarborough Shoal into a marine sanctuary, according to reports.

- The World Anti-Doping Agency's Foundation Board has approved a set of recommendations to combat doping. Delegates from governments and the Olympic world took part in a meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, discussing institutional reforms requested by the International Olympic Committee in the wake of the alleged doping scandal in Russia,

- German Chancellor Angela Merkel will run for her fourth term in next year's elections despite criticisms.

- Eight children were killed in Syria when shelling hit their school in the western part of Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 200 people were killed in Aleppo and areas around the city over the past 6 days, including 36 children.

- The top eight movies that will be competing in next month's Metro Manila Film Festival are; Ang Babae se Septic Tank 2 #ForeverIsNotEnough, Sunday Beauty Queen, Vince & Kath & James, Kabisera, Oro (Gold), Saving Sally, Die Beautiful, and Seklusyon.

TTFN!!!

Jubilee of Mercy: Closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica

November 20, 2016 - The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, the King and Lord of the Universe, the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy has finally came to an end with the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica, signalling the end of the extraordinary celebration honoring God's Mercy for humanity.

When the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy began last year, the Catholic Church honors the true meaning of mercy to their devotees and pilgrims through numerous events held throughout the course of the year such as the Jubilee for those Engaged in Pilgrimage Work, Missionaries of Mercy, Jubilee of the Roman Curia, 24 Hours for the Lord, the Prayer Vigil to Dry the Tears, the World Youth Day, the Marian Jubilee and so on, all for the name of God's Mercy for all.

Pope Francis honors the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy and as The Pope closed the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, he urged his devotees that even though the jubilee has came to an end, The Pope believes that we will remain open to reconciliation as "God has no memory of sin." At the end of the mass, he gave away his signed letters to the Catholic missionaries from a multitude of countries.

And here the curtain falls to this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. However, that those not mean the true vision of God's everlasting mercy will end as well as long as there are stories of this extraordinary jubilee will be remembered for future generations to come.

Further reading:

• http://www.romereports.com/2016/11/18/pope-francis-to-end-jubilee-year-by-closing-the-holy-doors-at-st-peter-s
• http://www.wnem.com/story/33754208/pope-shuts-holy-door-but-urges-stay-open-to-reconciliation
• https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/11/20/closing-year-mercy-francis-says-god-no-memory-sin/

Even as the jubilee ends, let's remember once and for all that we shall always "Be Merciful Like The Father."

Jubilee of Mercy logo

Stars of 2016 LA Auto Show

Mazda RT24-P Race Car

The annual Los Angeles Auto Show is happening now until the 27th of November at the Los Angeles Convention Center and there has been a slew of new and exciting models on display, including world premieres and concepts as well. So, which of the cars are making the headlines at this year's show?

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet

2017 Audi Q5

2018 Cadillac CT6 PHEV

2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ

2018 Ford EcoSport

2017 Jeep Compass

2017 Lamborghini Huracan RWD Spyder

2017 Land Rover Discovery

2017 Mazda CX-5

2018 Mercedes-AMG E63

2017 Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet

2018 MINI Countryman

2017 Porsche 911 RSR

2017 Rezvani Beast Alpha

2016 Hyundai Ioniq Autonomous Concept

2016 Jaguar i-PACE Concept

2017 Mazda RT24-P Race Car

2016 Subaru VIZIV-7 Concept

...and more.

Further reading:

• http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/17/2016-la-auto-show-recap/
• http://www.carscoops.com/2016/11/2016-la-auto-show-your-to-z-guide-to.html