Thursday, July 6, 2017

Let's Do The News! (July 6, 2017)



- A Lanao Del Sur official reacts on the recent deployment in Marawi City of two Mandaluyong Police accused of abusing a resident they arrested due to a violation of a city ordinance. The official said the deployment of PO1 Julius Tandog and Chito Enriquez in their city is a big insult to the military and police who paid an ultimate sacrifice for defending peace in the area.

- Members of the Metro Manila Development Authority admits to having problems in apprehending motorists as they start implementing the revised Anti Distracted Driving Act.

- The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is monitoring a low pressure area inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The LPA was last spotted 625km northeast of Basco, Batanes, and it has little chance to affect any part of the country.

- At least 10 people were missing and 400,000 were forced to evacuate from their homes after ecord rains battered southwestern Japan for a second day on Thursday, sending rivers surging over their banks, according to reports. Parts of Fukuoka prefecture on the southwestern island of Kyushu were hit by 774 mm (30.5 inches) of rain in nine hours on Wednesday, about 2.2 times the amount of rain that falls in a normal July.

- The United States is prepared to discuss with Russia for their joint efforts to stabilize Syria, including no-fly zones, according to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. He added the US wanted to discuss with Russia the use of on-the-ground ceasefire observers and the coordinated delivery of humanitarian aid to Syrians.

- UNESCO removed Australia's Great Barrier Reef from their "in danger" list.

- Government supporters burst into Venezuelan opposition-controlled congress on Wednesday, attacking and besieging lawmakers in the latest flare-up of violence during a political crisis. The melee was another worrying flashpoint in a traumatic last three months for the South American OPEC nation, shaken by opposition protests against socialist president Nicolas Maduro.

- Swiss watch maker, Omega, unveiled a special edition Seamaster Diver 300M "Commander's Watch" in honor of Agent 007 James Bond's "commander" rank, as mentioned in the 007 movie franchise.



- Ford made a special one-off F-150 Raptor themed after the F-22 Raptor, the premiere stealth fighter of the US Air Force. It is set to be auctioned by the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh show to benefit the agency's youth education programs.


- Mercedes-Benz teases the production version of their first-ever X-Class Pickup truck before its July 18 world premiere.



TTFN!!!

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Coke Zero 400

In the midst of the Independence Day weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR series returned to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola event, where drivers got more than just readying the fireworks and the grill for a weekend to remember.


Sparks aside, this race scored multiple wreckage than any other race in this series. One in lap 70 when Kyle Busch goes around in front of three or four of their cars, another one in 80 when Kevin Harvick spins around, and in lap 153 when Kyle Larson's wall collision got his car airborne and a massive collision comes in.

After one disaster after another in this exciting race event that is more than just fireworks in the Independence Day weekend, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins the race.

Next race is on Kentucky on the 8th of July.

Forza Horizon 3: Best of American muscle classics

While most Americans spend their independence readying the fireworks and the grill, I do my own way to celebrate American independence by driving out the best of American muscle classics in Forza Horizon 3.



Sure, there are lots of iconic muscle names in automotive history but I've gone for the names that once a muscle, stays as a muscle in modern times in alphabetical order; Camaro, Challenger, Charger, and Mustang.





Once as the underdog when it first emerged in the battle of the muscle cars dominated by the Ford Mustang, the Camaro tries to show what General Motors is capable of in this kind of civil war but whereas the Mustang reigned supreme as well as the Charger and the Challenger, the Camaro failed to do so and I understand that. Despite the Camaro's failure that led to its 2002 demise, the Camaro's coming back fighting as demonstrated by being Bumblebee in the Transformers movies and thanks to its newfound popularity, the Camaro won the hearts of many generations. Fame aside, let's not forget about how the unpopular first-generation Camaro came here which is like an ugly duckling turned into a swan with magnificent results and if it weren't for this, there wouldn't be a Bumblebee in the Transformers films.





The Challenger was once served as an alternative to the Charger and while the Charger was proven to be an icon apart from being General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard TV show, the Challenger wants to follow its brother's footsteps by getting its shot of fame in Vanishing Point but sadly, it wasn't as popular as its Charger brother. Although today's Charger is a four-door saloon, the Challenger managed to come back as a modern day alternative to Mustangs and Camaros and just as we thought the Challenger is becoming the muscle car that never was in today's times, it managed to find its triumphant return to the road with the most powerful V8 car in the world as well as the first-ever 4WD muscle car ever produced. While the Challenger has a lot of tricks on its sleeves, the original is the car we should be thankful for because if it weren't for its presence, we wouldn't got the most powerful V8 car today.





The original Dodge Charger R/T holds no explanation because as I said before, the Duke boys drove one in the Dukes of Hazzard TV series as the General Lee, named after a Confederate soldier (which explains a lot from the highly controversial Confederate flag on the roof of the car). Although the Confederate flag remains one of the most controversial objects in history because of such background, a General Lee without it is like living like a complete poser. That's why fans want to keep it that way and I understand that. General Lee aside, this iconic Charger has been one of the forefront of The Fast and the Furious films and if I was Vin Diesel, I believe that the classic Charger remains a favorite. Sure, today's four-door Chargers also dominate the F&F films but credit goes to the Charger that is not only approved by the Dukes of Hazzard but also Dom from the Fast & Furious movies.





Lastly, the Mustang, and while Mustangs became one of the most iconic movie cars of all time since Steve McQueen drove one in Bullitt, the best of the first-generation Mustang goes to the Boss 302 because of its motorsport pedigree that traces back to its Trans-Am Racing and by surprise, the Australian Touring Cars. Pedigree aside, the Boss 302 remains one of the most respected Mustangs in the golden age of muscle cars and also of the most collectible Mustangs for the high-rollers with a restored Boss fetched a $530,000 price tag a decade ago.

These American classic muscles, they do more than just fireworks and grilles but also showing proof that America is great when it comes to flexing their big V8 muscles against the world. Sure, the whole world love to spit them up when they see one but when times change, they will see that cars like these are becoming the posters of the world superpower and soon, they will all bow down to their greatness. That all sounds scary but that's America to you, the land of the most powerful V8s in the world, and to celebrate American independence, time to get these muscle car icons the salute they truly deserved and this will be much more fun to see than fireworks and grilles.




Thank you America for the fast cars through the years!

Let's Do The News! (July 5, 2017)


The Land Transportation Office is set to start implementing the Anti-Distracted Driving Act tomorrow. LTO executive Director for Law enforcement Unit, Francis Almora, said government agencies will use high quality CCTV cameras to monitor drivers violating ADDA.

- President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Php3.767 trillion proposed 2018 national budget that will be asked by Congress during the President’s second State of the Nation Address. Next year’s fund is higher by 12.4 percent, contrary to last year’s Php3.35 Trillion.

- One of the three suspects in the massacre in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan was found dead. Some say, before being killed, Rolando Pacino aka Inggo was tortured. Pacino’s body was found under a tree in Palmera Drive, Phase 7 Brgy. Sto. Cristo around 0630 Tuesday.

Philippine National Police Chief Dir.Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa is set to recommend the extension of the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao. According to him, the extension of the martial law President Duterte implemented months ago will speed up the rehabilitation in the said region.

- A northeastern Chinese hospital has invited medical experts from the United States and Germany to help treat Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo for cancer, according to the local government.

- Numerous people were struck by gunfire in Chicago, some of them fatally, during the traditionally violent Fourth of July weekend. From Friday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon, about 60 people were shot with eight of them kille, according to reports.

- Renault's Espace MPV range is now available with the new Energy TCe 225 EDC engine sourced from the new Alpine A110.


- Swedish car company Volvo is set to electrify its entire vehicle lineup within the next two years.

- Korean superstars Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo will be married this October.

TTFN!!!

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North fired missile ahead of G20 summit



North Korea launched a ballistic missile from its western region into the sea of its east coast on Tuesday, according to South Korean military, ahead of a summit of leaders from the G20 in Germany later this week.

The missile flew for about 40 minutes and may have landed into Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, the Japanese government said, adding that it had strongly protested what was a clear violation of UN resolutions.

The missile was launched around 0040 GMT from an airfield in Panghyon, about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of the North’s capital, Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.

The recent launch is the last since the Korean Peninsula fired numerous cruise missiles in early June and comes ahead of the leaders of the US, China, Japan, and South Korea expected to discuss efforts to rein in the North's nuclear and missile test at the G20 summit on the 7th and 8th of July. It also comes ahead of July 4 Independence Day celebrations in the United States. North Korea has previously fired missiles around this U.S. holiday.

Earlier, North Korea was a key topic in phone calls between U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of China and Japan. Leaders of both Asian countries reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. South Korean leader Moon Jae-in called a national security council meeting for 0230 GMT after being informed on the missile launch.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (July 4, 2017)



- The Department of Education condemns the killing of a newly promoted official in Zamboanga Del Sur. School Division Superintendent Marcom Borongan was shot dead at the Teacher’s Center, San Jose Heights in Pagadian City amid the thanksgiving and turnover ceremony on Monday night.

- The Department of National Defense chief, Delfin Lorenzana, confirmed that Abu Sayyaf and known ISIS leader in Asia Isnilon Hapilon and Maute Group Leader Abdullah are still in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur believed to be hiding in one of the Mosques in the city.

- Protesters staged a rally coinciding with the celebration of the US Independence Day on July 4, 2017 in Manila. Groups Bayan and Gabriela marched through the US Embassy in Kalaw.

- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie brushed off criticism recently after he was caught taking a break from dealing with a government shutdown to lounge on a state beach that was closed to the public during the July Fourth holiday weekend.

- Nine people are reportedly killed and dozens suffered burn injuries when a boiler exploded at a garment factory in Bangladesh, according to fire officials. The incident occurred late on Monday on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, they said.

- BMW previewed their upcoming i8 Roadster with a special clip.



- Shooting for the Fantastic Beasts sequel film has begun with new plot details released.

- A certain netizen asks the MTRCB to review a certain Gandang Gabi Vice episode where presenter Vice Ganda accidentally touches a man part of guest star McCoy de Leon.

- Paula Fairfield, Game of Thrones sound designer, confirms that there will be longer episode in the 7th and 8th (the final) season of the hit HBO TV series. She said during an event in Nashville, TN.

TTFN!!!

Monday, July 3, 2017

Let's Do The News! (July 3, 2017)



- Following last weekend's controversial Brisbane fight, Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn both willing to go fighting each other again sometime. Some say, the rematch is expected to scheduled this December at the same time as the recess of the Senate.

- President Rodrigo Duterte challenged the Communist Party of the Philippines to cease fighting against the government and continue the peace talks. Duterte promised that he is willing to declare total ceasefire if the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army is also prepared to announce a ceasefire.

- Amid anti-G20 protests, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said leaders will have to focus on sustainable and inclusive economic growth rather than their own prosperity. In her weekly podcast, Merkel said this year’s G20 summit will delve into issues championed by protesters such as distribution of wealth and consumption of resources.

- An Amtrak train with over 250 people aboard derailed near Puget Sound in Washington state, injuring several passengers, although no one was believed to have been seriously hurt, according to officials.

- The United States lifted the ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the US, saying that Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.

- Nissan showcased another teaser for their next-generation Leaf EV.



- Honda teases an upcoming facelift for the StepWGN where a hybrid variant will be added.



- Tesla's Model S saloon and Model X crossover gained several performance upgrades courtesy of new software and hardware rollouts.

- This year's Anime Expo launched to overwhelming crowds on its first day on Saturday, so much so that attendees found themselves gridlocked in multi-hour wait lines to get through the security to enter the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation published a statement to acknowledge the situation which can be READ HERE.

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: The new Corsa VXR

If you are enjoying the all-new Vauxhall Corsa VXR, which is part of the Forza Horizon 3 Playseat Car Pack, you are noticing that why they made an ultra-powerful hot hatch in the first place that will beat supercars in the race to the nearest parking lot and because of its compact sizing, squeezing through the turns that supercars are having a hard time to deal with is not too shabby and the VXR always saves the day.



So, the Vauxhall Corsa VXR, what is it then? This ultra-powerful hot-hatch sets a new standard for small and fast hatchbacks and because it's powered by a 1.6L turbocharged engine producing 205PS of power and 245Nm of torque while mated to a manual gearbox, it does 0-60mph in six and a half seconds and a top speed of 143mph, faster than the previous model it replaces. Aside from this performance, the Corsa VXR comes with Frequency Selective Damping, developed by Koni, to maintain body control during high speeds and ride quality during low speeds while delivering an even more responsive steering. With the Performance Package, it comes with a Drexler LSD, larger-diameter Brembo front brake discs, 18-inch alloys, and a recalibrated FSD damper settings.



Despite being small in size, its dynamics should not be underestimated and for the case of the Corsa VXR, you'll never know what sort of tricks will this hatchback pull off and because being a hot hatch, you can have the same kind of thrill that you experienced from a supercar while delivering accessible dynamics fit for all kinds of drivers. If you were either experienced or inexperienced, driving a hot hatch like this one is like a good starting point to understand the twists and turns the Land Down Under has to offer and for a car with such accessible dynamics, you don't have to prove a thing to show how much of a driver you really are.

Because of such dynamics that made me impressed by the VXR, let's see how much of a hot hatch the Corsa VXR is and to do that, let's drive this car somewhere to the Outback to challenge against those tater tots and tiaras in waiting but first...







Ladies and gentlemen, Ako Saotome...isn't here today. That's just a design I made just for this and for a tater tot of this size, that just suits it rather well in a game where the Corsa VXR takes on the likes of Clios, Fiestas, and 500s. Well, the one with the 500 Abarth is what bugged me the most because when the Corsa VXR takes on the most hardcore 500 of all, the Abarth 695, things get even more dirtier than dumpster diving in the rain, but seeing this as an opportunity to demonstrate the Corsa VXR's dynamics, time to get the ball running and see what happens.





That was a close call but it's proof that the Corsa VXR is one of the most enjoyable hot hatch to drive to date and with such dynamics courtesy of the Performance Package provided and this car as well as some added charms I done to this little tyke, I think I may have found my favorite hot hatch to drive over and over again...or is it? I'm not sure but let's keep driving the VXR before I passed out from boredom as long as this special something I made for this keeps me company. Until then, the journey continues...

Forza Horizon 3: The Porsche 944

I'm sure most of you spent the whole weekend getting this car from a Forzathon event but this here is the Porsche 944 Turbo, the one that turned into an ambulance in an earlier Top Gear episode and bolted with a rocket launcher in Clarkson Thriller.



So, what's it all about the 944? Well, for starters, it can be easily mistaken for a 924 but unlike the 924, which uses an engine sourced from a VW van, this 944 is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged petrol engine producing 247HP of power and 258ft-lb of torque, gunning from 0 to 60mph in around five seconds and a top speed of around 150mph, sorta. Despite the issues with the turbo engine due to its turbo lag, the 944 is one of the best handling Porsches ever made thanks to its positioning of the gearbox to the rear for better weight distribution and because of such weight distribution, it just feels to easy to drive this Porsche from beginning to end and you don't have to worry about a thing.

Now that I got it from my last-minute escapades on this weekend's Forzathon, how about giving the Porsche 944 a moment of fame by driving around Yarra Valley with this thing while being gunned by other 944 drivers around here? Sounds crazy but this is the 944's way of showing off its German muscles in the Land Down Under.



Well, I guess that's it then. This is the last time they'll put a Porsche on a Forzathon event and I do mean it unless some last-minute plans changed their minds. With all the Forzathon Porsche cars complete, what's your favorite Forzathon Porsche car so far during your road trip Down Under?

Sunday, July 2, 2017

29th Annual Pacific Northwest Historics

It's Independence Day weekend and everyone in Pacific Northwest are spending the summer heat going to Pacific Raceways in Kent to see some vintage car racing action for the annual Pacific Northwest Historics held from the 30th of June to the 2nd of July, 2017.

This year's event celebrates over five decades of Trans-Am Racing and the guest of this year is none other than Sir Peter Brock. Note to Australians, this is not the Brockie you're looking for. Sir Peter Brock is a car designed who used to work with General Motors and behind his iconic automotive works including the C2 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Now that's history lesson to you and I.

Take a look at some of the best of this year's event.



More pics:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskZ7DKNv

Video log:

Doctor Who Season 10 Finale

"The Doctor Falls" is the most explosive way to end the tenth season of Doctor Who with some uneasy alliances, fate, and twists this finale delivers and while this episode signals the end of this season, it's the penultimate journey in the Steven Moffat-era of this show as well as the Peter Capaldi years. Quite a show, isn't it?

Doctor Who Season 10 Finale

To recap, The Doctor made some uneasy alliances with Missy and The Master in order to defeat an incoming horde of Cybermen manufactured in this very ship they set foot while Bill Potts can't accept the fate that she became one of the Cybermen. Desperate for answers, The Doctor tries to figure out who she is until the explosive attack on Cybermen begins.

Here's the kicker of this tale; The Master killed Missy, The Doctor blows the horde of Cybermen, a Cyberman killed The Doctor, and an ultimate sacrifice made to end this war once and for all. Explosive, isn't it? No, the real kicker is that episode has the proof the viewers need about Bill Potts' "lesbian" status. After the fall and when Bill came out from the shell of the Cyberman, she was reunited by The Pilot, in the form of her friend named Heather, and get this, they kissed, proof that Bill Potts is a lesbian. In return, The Pilot granted Bill the power to become human again and together, the two had the happy ending they deserved but not for The Doctor.

The finale ends when The Doctor is about to regenerate until a sudden encounter of a mysterious person who is none other than...The First Doctor?! What's the first one doing here? Looks like we have to wait until Christmas Day to find out why but in the meantime, one last DW Fan Show webcast before Christmas?



Doctor Who returns for the 2017 Christmas Special this Christmas Day and this will be the final journey for the Peter Capaldi years as well as the Steven Moffat era of this show. Watch for it and see how the 12th Doctor's journey ends.

Horn defeats Pacquiao in controversial Brisbane battle


This is the first time the world champion, Manny Pacquiao, started a fight not in a North American venue but somewhere in the Asia-Pacific, specifically at an outdoor stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, where he faced off against a rising homegrown star and Olympian Jeff "The Hornet" Horn.

This match became a bloodbath for both of the fighters and with both sides took the fall, it became one of the most decisive matches ever witnessed in boxing history and after 12 rounds, these fighters keep on fighting 'till the very end, even with some serious injuries on their heads as well as some internal bleeding occurred, well, mostly for Pacquiao.

In an unexpected turn of events, despite Pacquiao dominated the scoreboards, the winner of the unanimous decision goes to Australia's Jeff Horn. Following Jeff Horn's controversial win, looks like the whole public went on an outcry saying that Horn "robbed" the match from Pacquiao while some call it the boxing equivalent of last year's US Presidential Elections...minus the hacking part. Sorry.

Controversial aside, these fighters did a really good job wowing the crowd with their relentless punches to the very end and even though Pacman lost, he did a really good job proving that age never slowed him down in the sport he really loves and he's comfortable about this...result.