Last Monday's Food City 500 race at the Bristol Motor Speedway shows that this race is a barrier-breaking experience for the best of NASCAR drivers, literally.
Reason why Monday because due to the rain occurred last Sunday, the Food City 500 race in Bristol has been delayed to Monday. Quite an inconvenience they got here, huh? But anyway, with the rain slowly disappearing with the hint of cloudy skies in Bristol, the race goes on as planned with shattering results.
There has been some wall-smackers and spin-outers as this race at Bristol is becoming as intense as the imminent summer. As Clint Bowyer might said "You'd think Jimmie would get tired of winning", and boy, he's wrong because behind all the spins and the through-the-wall collisions, the #48 nailed its second straight season win after fending off the likes of Bowyer, Truex Jr., and the others.
Anyway, the day after the race, there was a shocking announcement that the #88, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will be stepping down from the world of NASCAR after this season. As the son of the legendary NASCAR champion, Earnhardt Jr. scored 26 overall wins in his career, two Daytona 500 wins in 2004 and 2014, and two championship wins in 1998 and 1999.
Next race is on Richmond International Raceway on the 30th.
- Typhoon Dante has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the eastern part of Southern Luzon. According to PAGASA, the storm was last spotted 1,170km east of Virac, Catanduanes, sustaining wind strength of up to 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
- PNP Superintendent Ma. Cristina Nobleza remains under tactical interrogation. Reports told that the spokesperson for the Philippine National Police denied allegations that Nobleza is a deep penetration agent assigned to the Abu Sayyaf Group.
- The ASEAN member nations would adopt a much softer tone about the South China Sea issue on the upcoming summit happening this Saturday and exclude references to militarisation or island-building, according to a draft of the chairman’s statement.
- The People's Republic of China has launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier, which will join an existing one bought second-hand amid rising tensions over North Korea and worries about Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea. Reports told that the carrier is not expected to enter service until 2020.
- A South Korean court ruled that the ride-sharing app Uber illegally used private vehicles for commercial purposes, in the latest legal setback for the US firm in Asia's fourth biggest economy. Uber’s local unit has “admitted and repented” its illegal act and resolved the issue, a judge at Seoul Central District Court said in a ruling. The company was fined 10 million won.
- A Federal Court ruling blocked US President Donald Trump's attempt to punish the so-called sanctuary cities.
- Tennis superstar Serena Williams had no intention of sharing her pregnancy to the world last week but broke her silence when she accidentally uploaded the "20 weeks" photo of herself on social media.
- Descendants 2, the sequel to the hit 2015 Disney Channel Original Movie, will air this 21st of July!
- BMW adds a Touring variant of the range-topping M550d xDrive model, based on the new 5-Series.
- THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls' Kaede Takagaki, in her white swimsuit glory, joins Wave's DreamTech range of 1/8 scale figures. She's available to order starting at 12,800 Yen plus tax and delivery and arrives this September.
This is the Bentley Bentayga and yes, I know. It was from the Rockstar Energy Car Pack for Forza Horizon 3, I drove it last time on Blizzard Mountain, and I even decorated it with a touch of a princess from an idol school. So now why am I driving it again?
Well, there's one main reason why am I driving it again because I really liked it. I may not be used to driving an SUV made by the company behind the Continental GT but the more I drive the Bentayga, I'm starting to realize that there's more to this hunk of meat because despite being a luxury SUV built to cater against the Range Rover, the Bentayga really behaves like a sportscar and while I still have the Hime decor made by me, looks like everyone's going to upset about why a princess like her trashed the competition like it was nothing happened.
No matter how tough the opponents are, she's just minced them like marinated salisbury steak served on a fancy dinner plate at a five-star restaurant only reserved for VIPs, And if that wasn't enough, this classy SUV with the first-class comfort fit for a princess like her to take her on a ski holiday is not afraid to get her face dirty, especially when a strong cyclone hit Down Under. Yep, she really is that extraordinary for a Bentley...
She really is that good for a Bentley of that size and that Bentayga is no exception when it comes to surpass the competition with its style and performance that makes this Bentley extraordinary. Ahem, sorry about that, but that design I made for the car before is what made me fell in love with the Bentley Bentayga and for such a heavy luxo-barge, it still feels like a sportscar and it's not afraid to take on all comers.
So, the Bentayga really is like an invincible princess that stands the crowd, what's it like to take on against the one who is living the dream?
Yep, our old friend, the BMW M2. Hey, still got that Yume Nijino decor I made for that car since our first encounter! How was it then? Great? Anyway, we got two unrelated machines with two similarly themed designs and what we have here is a match between the princess and the dream. This can make a very interesting match.
For fair play, all of their upgrades have been stripped out and they can reclaim it after the match. With the upgrades stripped out and reverted back to normal, some arrangements have been made. Let's look at the stats; the Bentley Bentayga is powered by a 6.0L W12 engine producing 599HP of power and 663ft-lb of torque. It does 0-60mph in four seconds and onwards to 187 mph (301 km/h). The BMW M2 Coupe, meanwhile, is powered by a small 3.0L 6-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 365hp of power and 369ft-lb of torque. Despite producing very less than the Bentayga, has a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and electronically limited to 155mph, it's two thousand pounds lighter than the Bentley.
Okay, let's translate these numbers into lap times and see who can make it to the Surfers Paradise Festival Site first. A standard Bentayga set the target time of 2:35.989 and the goal for the M2? BEAT THE CLOCK.
Before setting off, there's just one major confession about this stunt; with that grace and demeanor the Bentayga showed, feels like the M2 couldn't stand up to this challenge but with such confidence and optimism, this Bimmer, along with the design themed after Yume, is ready to show everything it has and without further ado, the battle between the greats has begun and I got it on the tape.
The time? 2:31.418! About four seconds faster than the mighty Bentayga! This is the moment I've been searching for! It's like Yume defeated Hime for the school's best idol and yes, you get the point. Anyway, enough about that idol trash because this shows that this isn't about size and power when it comes to competition because when you dream big, you can accomplish everything!
Man, what a night it was! Seeing a M2 defeating the Bentayga is like David pinned down Goliath and for a sportscar that is smaller than any other M car from BMW, the M2 really has a lot of ideas to share with. So, what do you say? Ready for your first day tomorrow morning? I'm looking forward to see what's next with this little M car filled with hopes and dreams for us all. Have fun.
THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS LITTLE STARS! Kira! Mankai Smile
Have you guys had fun with the Cinderella Girls Gekijo anime shorts every Tuesday nights? If some of you did enjoy these animated shorts featuring your favorite Cinderella Girls, there's the official theme song for the Cinderella Girls Gekijo shorts that won't leave you...belittled.
The title of the Cinderella Girls Gekijo theme song is Kira! Mankai Smile and the Cinderella Girls performed this song are Uzuki Shimamura (CV: Ayaka Ohashi), Miho Kohinata (CV: Minami Tsuda), Mayu Sakuma (CV: Yui Makino), Momoka Sakurai (CV: Haruka Terui), and Anzu Futaba (CV: Hiromi Igarashi).
Not only the full version of the theme song was featured but also solo versions of the said song, each performed by the Cinderella Girls mentioned above and to top it all off, they even added a bonus track performed by Uzuki herself, just to keep your hopes up.
The Cinderella Girls Gekijo shorts air every Tuesday nights at 9:55 PM JST on Tokyo MX.
Joseph Yun, the US special representative for North Korean policy, said he does not believe the North is ready to engage the US, Japan, and South Korea toward denuclearization.
During a meeting with senior diplomats in Tokyo, Yun said they agreed to coordinate all diplomatic, military and economic actions regarding the North. He said they will continue to work closely together and with their international partners. Yun also states that China plays a very important role and that the US, Japan, and South Korea will keep working closely with the country.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump wants the United Nations Security Council to impose harsher sanctions against the Korean Peninsula. Speaking to the meeting, Trump told that the status quo in North Korea is unacceptable, and that it is a problem to finally be solved. He stressed that the UN Security Council must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions.
- The AFP has confirmed that four foreigners were killed in a clash against the Maute Terror Group in Lanao Del Sour. Three Indonesians and a Malaysian were killed in the clash and while their identities are being investigated the four slain foreigners were terrorists linked to the Islamic State.
- Meanwhile, another hostage was been beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu, according to the military. The remains of Sgt. Anni Siraji, were found in Barangay Tagbilis sa Upper Patikul last Sunday. He was abducted by the ASG last April 20.
- The Supreme Court withdrew the Temporary Restraining Order against the construction of Torre De Manila. During a session, a majority of the Supreme Court judges voted against the petition filed by the Knights of Rizal to tore down the "pambansang photobomber" because it allegedly ruins the sight-line of the Rizal monument in Luneta. However, with the decision to withdraw the TRO issued against the said building, there is no legal impediment prohibiting for the construction of Torre De Manila’s high rise condominium.
- Members of the Kadamay Group should pay for the housing units in Pandi, Bulacan, intended for military and police personnel, according to a lawmaker.
- Former PBA basketball star Paul Alvarez was arrested for the third time after his live-in partner in Baguio City accused him of alleged domestic violence.
- Taiwan faces a more complicated task this year in seeking to attend the UN health agency meeting than it has in the past, according to a senior official as the self-ruled island braces for another setback with China.
- Reports told US President Donald Trump told his aides to include a major corporate tax reduction in a bill to be announced on Wednesday. Trump wants the tax to be cut from the current 35 percent to 15 percent. Last week, Trump said he was planning a big announcement on tax reform.
- Mitsubishi Motors opens its Bekasi plant in Indonesia and their new facility will build their best-seller USV and a new seven-seat MPV.
- Watch a clip where the Hyundai Santa Fe conquered Antarctica.
- Another IDOLM@STER Million Live idol has been figurized, this time it's Megumi Tokoro courtesy of Phat! Available to order starting at 13,000 Japanese Yen plus tax and delivery and arrives this December.
- Former Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan returns to screenwriting and directing "The Party's Just Beginning", due 2018.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with US President Donald Trump via phone conversation that all sides will exercise restraint over North Korea.
According to the Chinese state-run media, Xi told Trump that China firmly opposes any action that runs counter to UN Security Council resolutions. He was referring for another possible nuclear test or missile launch.
It is also reported that the North Korea nuclear issue can be resolved if all sides bear the responsibilities they are supposed to bear and come together.
North Korea marks the 85th anniversary of the founding of its military on Tuesday, so there are shadow of a doubts that a possible launch or test might occur during that day.
