Let's Do The News! (February 28, 2017)

- Former Senator Bongbong Marcos turned down the interest to lead the Department of Interior and Local Government despite speculations that he is replacing Secretary Mike Sueno. President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed the matter during his appearance, saying he spoke with Marcos wherein the former Senator confirmed that he's not interested with the position.

- President Duterte warned that the controversial Oplan Tohkang may be revived as he admitted that he is ready for the resumption of the administration's controversial operation against illegal drugs. Duterte expressed that there are indications that illegal drugs peddling has been increased since Tohkang was suspended in the past month.

- The House majority clarifies that the controversial death penalty bill only covers drug-related cases. Representative Rey Umali, Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, confirmed that plunder, treason, and rape cases were removed from the Death Penalty bill, and only illegal drug-related cases will be covered.

- The senators from the Liberal Party were stripped of their committee chairmanships and relegated to the minority bloc yesterday in a dizzying turn of events that lawmakers belonging to the once powerful party warned could weaken the independence of the Senate. Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilingan, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros lost their chairmanships and other Senate posts.

- President Duterte is supporting the Office of the Solicitor General in its move to recommend the acquittal of alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles on her serious illegal detention case. Duterte yesterday echoed the Solgen's argument that circumstances have shown that PDAF whistleblower Benhur Luy, who was allegedly detained by Napoles in a retreat house, was not restrained at all.

- US President Donald Trump to propose greater defense spending in his first budget plan for fiscal year 2018.

- SpaceX will launch a spacecraft carrying two paying tourists around the moon late next year. Announced on Monday, it will first begin flying crew to the International Space Station on board a new spacecraft possibly between April through June next year.

- Peugeot will showcase their Instinct Concept at the Geneva Motor Show this March, featuring autonomous technology showcasing the future of mobility.

Peugeot Instinct Concept

- The Hyundai Sonata minor change has been teased through official sketches.

- A must have for Cinderella Girls collectors! It's the Shiki Ichinose Mystic Elixir version figure that is going to be an ultra-valuable figure for big spenders elsewhere! It's now available to order starting at 15,555 Yen plus tax and arrives this November!

Shiki Ichinose Mystic Elixir ver.

TTFN!!!

Six Nations 2017: Round 3

The Welsh Rugby Union suffered a major blow to their career after their humiliating loss against Scotland at the score of 29-13. While this is a major loss for the Welsh, it's a turning point for the Scots as this win is their first for over a decade. As demonstrated by Tim Visser's second-half try, Scotland ended their decade-long drought in RBS 6 Nations history.

Under cover of the Welsh's bitter defeat. the IRFU defeated the FFR at the score of 19-9 while the England Rugby won the match against the FIR Italia at the score of 36-15.

The next match is on the 10th of March as Wales takes on Ireland, Italy takes on France, and Scotland takes on England.

Winners of the 2017 Academy Awards

This year's Academy Awards may have been filled with some controversies, confusions, and the suspense in each and every corner they might come across the moment the winner is introduced but with anticipation is in hindsight, it's no wonder some people are tuning in to see if their favorite will make it to the honor roll, especially big-time films such as Rogue One, La La Land, Moonlight, and many others.

So, in case you missed all the drama, the suspense, and all of what happened in the 89th Academy Awards, here are the list of this year's winners...

Best Picture: Moonlight

Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

Animated Feature: Zootopia

Cinematography: La La Land

Costume Design: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Direction: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Documentary Feature: O.J.: Made in America

Documentary Short: The White Helmets

Film Editing: Hacksaw Ridge

Foreign Language Film: The Salesman

Makeup and Hairstyling: Suicide Squad

Music (Original Score): La La Land

Music (Original Song): City of Stars from La La Land

Production Design: La La Land

Short Film (Animated): Piper

Short Film (Live Action): Sing

Sound Editing; Arrival

Sound Mixing: Hacksaw Ridge

Visual Effects: The Jungle Book

Writing (Adapted): Moonlight

Writing (Original): Manchester by the Sea

La La Land

Moonlight may have stole La La Land for Best Picture due to some setbacks but this film scored six awards than any other film in the list, although Amazon's original movie, Manchester by the Sea proved even an underdog movie came from a streaming service CAN make it to the top, meaning that in the world of Oscars, everything is possible.

Congratulations to all of the Oscar winners!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Malaysia may use dental profiling to identify Kim

Sourced from NHK World:

Malaysia's heath minister has suggested that tools other than DNA testing could be used in getting a final identification of a body thought to be that of the half-brother of North Korea's leader.

Kim Jong Nam was killed on February 13th after being attacked by two women in Kuala Lumpur's airport. Malaysian police say a VX nerve agent was wiped on his face. The police chief has said no DNA samples from the victim's relatives have been supplied.

On Sunday, Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam told reporters that if a next of kin fails to show up, his ministry could use dental profiling as well as comparing the victim to photographs to look for identification marks such as moles.

The Malaysian government intends to hand over the body to the victim's family after confirming his identity.

Last week, North Korea's Ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, insisted that the victim was not Kim Jong Nam, and demanded a joint investigation into the murder.

Let's Do The News! (February 27, 2017)

- For the second time this month, most jeepney drivers all over the Philippines staged a nationwide transport strike against the government's PUV modernization program. The members of transport groups PISTON, Stop and Go Coalition, and No to Jeepney Phase-out Coalition are expected to gather at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to kick off today's nationwide transport strike. Numerous passengers left stranded and some classes are suspended following the strike.

- Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa personally visited Senator Leila De Lima in her detention cell at the PNP Custodial Center. The visit happened on the first night of De Lima at the detention cell, according to him.

- The House of Representatives is all set for the voting on the controversial Death Penalty Bill this coming Tuesday. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas said they will approve in the second reading of the House Bill 4727 or the Death penalty Reimposition Bill.

- US President Donald Trump's choice for secretary of the Navy has withdrawn from consideration for the post. It's the second time that a nominee to lead one of the US armed services has withdrawn, citing government conflict-of-interest rules. Trump announced on Saturday his intention to nominate Philip Bilden, a former executive of an investment company, as Secretary of the Navy, a post that reports to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

- The United States has called on Russia to observe a 2015 ceasefire agreement in eastern Ukraine. The State Department said in a statement the US is closely monitoring the growing violence there and pro-Russian separatists' continuing failure to honor the truce.

- The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 gets even more potent than ever with the new 1LE trim, featuring improved aerodynamics, adjustable suspension, and other track-honed upgrades.

- Actor Bill Paxton passed away at the age of 61. Paxton appeared in films sucjh as Apollo 13, Twister, The Terminator, Predator 2, Aliens, and Titanic.

TTFN!!!

Things we learned from Aqours First Love Live concert

Last weekend, the school idol group as seen on the Love Live Sunshine!! series, Aqours (pronounced as aqua), thrown their very first Love Live concert at the Yokohama Arena and then livestreamed in select cinemas not just in Japan but the rest of the world.

It was the best Love Live concert ever, so said by anyone who witnessed Aqours' first major concert, and if anyone made it on the final day are in for a mega treat because some major announcements have been officially made to make the Lovelivers happy.

Part of Aqours' Next Step Project, there's going to be a brand new CD coming soon." and then some newer ones from sub-units CYaRon, AZALEA, and Guilty Kiss, this time with the addition of new duo/trio collection CDs to keep the ante up.

If you thought they're done after their First Love Live concert, you're dead wrong because there's going to be another Aqours concert coming this summer. Known as the HAPPY PARTY TRAIN tour, they will be at the Nippon Gaishi Hall on the 5th to 6th to August, World Memorial Hall on the 19th to 20th of August, and the Seibu Prince Dome on the 29th to 30th of September.

Best of all, the TV series will return this Autumn! Enough said.

So, are you excited for more Aqours?

Bubble Gang - February 24, 2017 #BGMeetUp

In the February 24, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Meet-up gags

- Pareng Roger tries to save someone trapped on fire.

- Doing the good cop, bad-cop approach during the interrogation

- Reunion of the fakers



- The old couple at the park trying hard to remember things.

- Auditioning for a role that doesn't really exist.

- New vocabulary words are examined.

- More news for moms in Balitang Ina!

- The convenience store problem

- Basa-basa pik! 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Trump expresses anger over N. Korea

US President Donald Trump says that his government is very angry at what the Korean Peninsula has done, and is critical of the country's missile and nuclear development.

Asked whether a meeting with the North's leader Kim Jong Un is a possibility, President Trump replied he wouldn't say no, but that may be too late.

Trump said the US government appreciates China's move to halt coal imports from North Korea. He added that China has tremendous control over the North, and it could solve the security challenge posed by the country very easily if it wanted to.

As for cooperation with Japan and South Korea, Trump said accelerating a missile defense system for the allies is one of many things that can be done, and that there are talks of a lot more than that.

Source: NHK World

Let's Do The News! (February 24, 2017)

- Senator Leila de Lima surrendered herself to arresting authorities following the issuance of an arrest warrant against her by a Muntinlupa Court. From her Senate office in Room 502, she was escorted to the agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group led by Chief Superintendent Roel Obusan.

- Following de Lima's arrest, Vice President Leni Robredo decried what she called a "political harassment" by the administration. In a statement, Robredo said that De Lima's arrest was part of a political agenda and not a result of an "independent, unbiased" legal process.

- Former PNP chief Alan Purisima yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and usurpation of official functions in connection with his alleged involvement in the Mamasapano incident. Purisima maintained his innocence during his arrangement at the Sandiganbayan.

- Prosecutors have indicted a suspect in last July's mass murder of mentally disabled people at a care facility in eastern Japan. Satoshi Uematsu was indicted for the murders of 19 people and the attempted murders of 24 others at a facility in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

- US President Donald Trump has criticized the nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia as one-sided and signaled his willingness to expand his nation's nuclear arsenal. He called the New START "a one-sided deal." The nuclear arms reduction treaty ended seven years ago. He said the United States falls behind on nuclear weapon capability and he said if any country wants to make nukes, he make sure that the US will be at the top of the pack.

- Ford unleashed the Competition Series variant of the Ford GT supercar. While the EcoBoost V6 engine remains the same, it now weighs 3,054lbs.

Ford GT Competition Series

- The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid is the most powerful Panamera ever made and its set to debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show. This PHEV variant is powered by a combination of a 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo, electric motor, and a li-ion battery, producing a total power output of 680HP of power

2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S e-hybrid

- The skater-turned coach Victor Nikiforov from the hit anime series Yuri!!! on Ice joins the Nendoroid lineup. He's available to order tarting at 4,167 Yen plus tax and will be delivered this August.

Nendoroid Victor Nikiforov

- For Love Live Sunshine fans, a figma of Kanan Matsuura has arrived! It's available to order starting at 5,833 yen plus tax and will be delivered this September.

figma Kanan Matsuura

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (February 23, 2017)

- The Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court branch 204 under the sala of Judge Juanita Guerrero has issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Leila De Lima regarding her case in connection with her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

- Three Indian soldiers and a woman were killed when militants ambushed a patrol in South Kashmir early on Thursday, part of an upsurge of violence that has hit the restive northern region as it emerges from winter.

- The Surigao Airport has resume its operations on Thursday. The airport had to close due to the damage brought by the Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake.

- The Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat announced today that DFA-OVS and COMELEC-OFOV have signed tripartite memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the continuing registration/certification of qualified overseas Filipinos, that resumed on 01 December 2016 and will end on 30 September 2018, for purposes of the 2019 elections.

- The US administration of Donald Trump has withdrawn federal guidance allowing transgender students to use bathrooms of their choice at public schools. The Trump administration announced its repeal on Wednesday. Conservative states including Texas had filed lawsuits demanding the reversal of the guidelines.

- Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn will step down from his position effective this 1st of April. He will still be in charge with the Renault-Nissan Alliance as well as Mitsubishi, however.

- Mercedes-Benz teases an all-new E-Class Cabriolet set for Geneva Motor Show debut.

- Dia Kurosawa joins the Love Live Sunshine DreamTech scale figure lineup. This latest addition is available to order starting at 14,800 yen plus tax and arrives this August.

TTFN!!!

These are the best anime songs in history

February is known by some as the "Month of Anime" but the year 2017 marks the centennial anniversary of Japanese animation or so they say. Last weekend, there was a special programming aired on NHK highlighting the best 100 anime songs in history and, as they said, these are the best 100 anime songs in history, be it opening, closing, or insert, whatever maybe as long as they came from anime shows as seen on TV.

Here are the best 30 out of the 100 anime songs in history and you might be amazed which franchise scored big-time.

1. "SNOW HALATION" (LOVE LIVE!)
2. "BOKUTACHI WA HITOTSU NO HIKARI (LOVE LIVE! THE SCHOOL IDOL MOVIE)
3. "ORION WO NAZORU" (TIGER & BUNNY)
4. "History Maker" (Yuri!!! on Ice)
5. "Butter-fly" (Digimon Adventure)
6. "only my railgun" (A Certain Scientific Railgun)
7. "Platinum" (Cardcaptor Sakura)
8. "Cruel Angel's Thesis" (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
9. "Sugar Song and Bitter Step" (Blood Blockade Battlefront)
10. "TRAGEDY" (The File of Young Kindaichi Returns) 
11. "Connect" (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
12. "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari" (Bakemonogatari)
13. "Maji Love 1000%" (Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love 1000%)
14. "M@STERPIECE" (THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE: Kagayaki no Mukōgawa e!)
15. "Guren no Yumiya" (Attack on Titan)
16. "Space Battleship Yamato" (Space Battleship Yamato)
17. "Hare Hare Yukai" (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
18. "God knows…" (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
19. "Lion" (Macross F)
20. "Daydream Cafe" (Is the order a rabbit?)
21. "Sore wa Bokutachi no Kiseki" (Love Live!) 
22. "Mezase Pokémon Master" (Pokémon)
23. "Aishiteru Banzai!" (Love Live!)
24. "Angelic Angel" (Love Live! The School Idol Movie)
25. "SUNNY DAY SONG" (Love Live! The School Idol Movie)
26. "CHANGE THE WORLD" (Inuyasha)
27. "ETERNAL BLAZE" (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's)
28. "Get Wild" (City Hunter)
29. "Zero Ichi Kiseki" (And you thought there is never a girl online?)
30. "Catch You Catch Me" (Cardcaptor Sakura)

μ's Final Love Live

Image: Project Love Live!

Amazingly, the Love Live franchise scored the most songs in the rankings than any other anime shows. From the now legendary μ's to the rising Aqours in Love Live Sunshine, whose first Love Live concert is happening this weekend, it's no wonder that it became one of the most successful anime franchises in history when it comes to anime songs.

Let's Do The News! (February 22, 2017)

- The Senate is set to reopen the investigation of the alleged existence of the Davao Death Squad following the revelations of retired SPO3 Arturo Lascanas last Monday. The committee headed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson will possibly resume its hearing next week after 10 Senators voted in favor of the said probe.

- President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the 31st EDSA People Power Anniversary on the 25th of February, 2017. According to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Duterte's absence in the event is due to his commitment in the relaunching of the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro in Davao City on Friday.

- There's a possibility that another power hike of up to 92 centavos per kWh will be imposed starting this March. The Energy Regulatory Commission approved the request of MERALCO of a power rate hike as a result of the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya plant.

- The US Department of Homeland Security announced new immigration polices to implement the executive order signed by President Donald Trump last month. The directives released on Tuesday include the hiring of 15,000 border patrol and immigration enforcement agents and the expansion of facilities to accommodate illegal immigrants on the border with Mexico.

- Six years have passed since the deadly Christchurch quake in New Zealand and citizens are remembering the victims of the deadly quake that killed 185 people. About 3,500 people took part in a ceremony on a riverbank in central Christchurch. A memorial wall has been built there, etched with the names of those who died.

- At least 74 bodies have been washed ashore in Libya. A local humanitarian group suspects that a boat carrying migrants capsized. The Libyan Red Crescent released photos of its workers collecting the bodies in the city of Zawiya on Monday.

- Land Rover teases a new addition to the Range Rover family. Called the Range Rover Velar, this Jaguar F-PACE-based crossover coupe will be premiered in Geneva Motor Show in March.

RR Velar teaser

- Toyota collaborates with Shell for the creation of hydrogen-fuelling stations.

- Akeno Misaki from the High School Fleet anime series gets her own figma! The star of last spring's anime series is now available to order starting at 6,296 Yen plus tax and delivers this July.

figma Akeno Misaki

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: A rare stablemate...

Twas the night is still young, I got a super rare prize car at a one-day-only Forzathon event here in Forza Horizon 3 and it's a very fast Ferrari track toy known as the 599XX, a potent track-only version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

So, the Ferrari 599XX, what's it all about? It was characterized by the "High-Performance Dynamic Concept" which was designed to get the maximum performance by managing the combination of its mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. Don't know what that is but what I heard is that this car has extensive use of carbon-fiber materials and the uprated V12 engine produces over seven hundred horses at 9,000rpm. It lapped around the Nurburgring in 6:58.16 and this was announced during its unveiling making it the fastest track car to lap around the Ring until it was beaten by the Pagani Zonda R.

Okay, enough explanation about this car because it's time to take a spin in one of the raciest Ferrari track toys ever made and what I did here is what idiots would say it's totally legit.

See? Totally legit! No foolin' around! He he he...What a whack job to do with a rare machine that I won from a one-day-only event but still, the night is still young, and let's do things while we're at it.

Let's Do The News! (February 21, 2017)

- The allegations of retiring police officer Arthur Lascanas should trigger a United Nations investigation over President Rodrigo Duterte's ongoing brutal war on drugs. According to the Human Rights Watch, Lascanas' allegation heightened the urgent need for an independent probe into the deaths of over seven thousand individuals in the drug war.

- The Commission of Higher Education announced that it will issue a moratorium on field trips and educational tours following the accident in Tanay, Rizal, that killed 15 students. Commissioner Prospero de Vera earlier called for the suspension of the school trips while investigation into a bus crash is ongoing. The suspension will cover all field trips and educational tours in all colleges and universities until the investigation is completed.

- The Department of Justice ordered the Bureau of Immigration to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order against three suspects in the 'rent-tangay' scam that has victimized car owners from all over the country. In a memorandum, DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ordered Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente to put Ana Pamplona Borlon, Lea Constantino Rosales and Rafaela Anunciacion under an ILBO.

- US President Donald Trump named Army Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster as his new national security adviser. McMaster replaces Michael Flynn, who resigned on Monday last week following reports that he misled Vice President Mike Pence over his discussions on sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the US.

- Demonstrators took to the streets in cities across the United State to condemn President Trump on the President's Day holiday on Monday. It is exactly one month has passed since Trump took office.

- UN agencies are calling for an urgent boost in international aid to South Sudan after declaring a famine in parts of the East African nation. The World Food Program and two other UN agencies said in their joint statement that 4.9 million people were in urgent need of food.

- A light plane has crashed into a shopping mall in the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. Authorities in Victoria State say none of the five people onboard are likely to have survived. The plane crashed soon after taking off from an airport in Essendon on Tuesday morning. The shopping mall, located next to the airport, had not yet opened for the day. Local media say the aircraft crashed into a storage area and that no one on the ground was injured.

- Chevrolet's new Camaro ZL1 sportscar reached a top speed of 202.3mph, faster than the Corvette C7 Z06's 198mph but slower than the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat's 204mph top speed.

- Aston Martin revealed Red Bull editions of the Vantage lineup, inspired by the Red Bull Racing F1 team.

- Shooting for the Avengers: Infinity War films are underway with a featurette showing Iron Man's Robert Downey Jr., Spider-Man Homecoming's Tom Holland, and Guardians of the Galaxy's Chris Pratt.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Malaysia and N. Korea on the verge of diplomatic row

The North Korean ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol continued his criticism against the Malaysian government over the murder case of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Kang accused the Malaysian authorities of threatening the family of the North Korean citizen with guns, and also beating up the man's teenage son when they raided his Kuala Lumpur condominium. This comes after Malaysia recalled its ambassador to North Korea, as well as Kang himself being summoned to Wisma Putra on Monday morning.

Despite his accusations, Kang also called for a joint investigation into the death of Jong-nam. He added that if Malaysia agreed with the proposal, the Korean Peninsula will send a delegation of lawyers to assist.

Source: The Star

Let's Do The News! (February 20, 2017)

- 14 people are confirmed dead after a bus loaded with college students on their way to a trip, suffered an accident early Monday morning in Tanay, Rizal. Reports told that 13 students and the driver of the Panda Coach Bus with plate number TXS-325 have died from the said accident.

- Retired SPO3 Arturo Lascanas admitted that he led his own brothers to their deaths due to his trust and loyalty to President Rodrigo Duterte. According to the confessed member of the Davao Death Squad, he reported that his brothers were involved in illegal drugs, which lead to their deaths.

- Indonesian Islamist groups on Monday called on the government to suspend the Christian governor of the capital city and for the courts to convict him of blasphemy, demands they will protest against outside parliament on Tuesday. Islamist groups have held two big rallies since November against the governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is on trial for insulting the Koran, and in the midst of an election in which he hopes to win a second term.

- James Mattis, US defense secretary, told that the US military is not in Iraq "to seize anybody's oil", distancing himself from remarks by President Donald Trump before arriving on an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Monday. On his first trip to Iraq as Pentagon chief, Mattis is hoping to get a first-hand assessment of the war effort as U.S.-backed Iraqi forces launch a new push to evict Islamic State militants from their remaining stronghold in the city of Mosul.

- The New Zealand court ruled on Monday that Kim Dotcom, the founder of the infamous Megaupload site, could be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to his website, which was shutdown five years ago following an FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion. The Auckland High Court upheld the decision by a lower court in 2015 on 13 counts, including allegations of conspiracy to commit racketeering, copyright infringement, money laundering and wire fraud, although it described that decision as “flawed” in several areas.

- After Saturday's aborted launch, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has been successfully launched to space, carrying a cargo for the International Space Station. The launch was made from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The touchdown is part of SpaceX's strategy of returning rockets to earth so they can be reused rather than jettisoning them in the ocean after a single launch.

- The Cinderella Girls Gekijo TV anime shorts will be airing this 4th of April.

- The writers behind the movies Moonlight and Arrival won top Writers Guild of America awards, boosting their hopes of scoring biggest honors at the upcoming Academy Awards.

- See Top Gear's Rory Reid driving the Ariel Nomad through the muddy Welsh roads.

TTFN!!!

Mini Countryman (F60)

Once the Mini I am not very interested to have one not just for its hunk of sizing and the fact that Mini is becoming one with the crossover craze but for some backstories I only know about, the Countryman has underwent a full model change and it's now the biggest Mini ever offered, quite an irony demonstrated here, but as the name suggests, it was still made for the countrymen who want to treat this one rough, something reminiscent of the legendary Mini Moke of the last century. So, let's investigate the new model to see what's what.

2017 Mini Countryman

This is the brand new Mini Countryman, ladies and gents. And while it looks slightly similar to the old Countryman, it's now the biggest Mini ever offered, much to the dismay of Mini fans everywhere, especially me. With prices start at 26,500 Euros plus delivery, it's slightly more expensive than the Off-road look version of the Fiat 500X, its main rival. This could become a clear choice between the lesser of two evils here because while they're essentially larger than their originators, what matters most is the features at their disposal and I can expect that the new Countryman, being city car/crossover for the posh yuppies, delivers more stuff than the 500X.

2017 Mini Countryman

2017 Mini Countryman interior

Carrying more stuff aside, because this is the biggest Mini ever offered, the new Countryman is now slightly longer and wider compared to the previous model, so there's going to be some space in the inside, am I right? That added dimensions really put personal space to its advantage but the downside is that when you're driving it on tight spots in places like Italy or the one in Northern France, it's going to be quite a challenge to get it back on the road while getting stuck in the maze like a guinea pig. While it still has the dashboard of today's Minis, there's still some time to toy around with the connectivity features while you're at it before heading off to your points of interests.

What's under the hood, the new Mini Countryman offers a choice of petrol, diesel, and an all new PHEV variant called the Cooper S E. Starting with the normal Countryman variants, the most powerful is the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder petrol engine from the Cooper S variant, producing 192PS of power and 281Nm of torque. The most efficient, as always, the PHEV variant called the Cooper SE. Thanks to its combination of the three-cylinder turbocharged engine, the electric motor, and the 7.6kWh li-ion battery, it promises a fuel consumption of 2.1L/100km and 49g/km of CO2 emissions while the electric range can be up to 40km. All models can be mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed Steptronic but the Cooper SE is fitted exclusively with a 6-speed automatic.

2018 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

If you're a speedo boy, the Countryman you might have been interested in, probably, is the high-performance variant called the MINI JCW Countryman. Like all of today's JCWs, it's powered by a 2.0L petrol engine generating 231PS of power and 320Nm of torque as well as race-derived dynamics. Just like the JCW Clubman, the JCW Countryman comes with the ALL4 control system, which adapts to the road with the ideal blend of power distribution between the front and rear wheels. With either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed Steptronic, it does 0-100kph in six and a half seconds and onwards to 234kph, which sounds quick for a crossover of that size. It can be yours for just 38,800 Euros so come on, don't be shy having a Countryman that goes like a rocket while it can go anywhere, well just about.

2017 Mini Countryman

So, what can I say about the new MINI Countryman, well this is still the MINI I'm not particularly interested with, it's still a mini SUV for those who think compact crossovers like the Fiat 500X, the Jeep Renegade, or the Mercedes-Benz GLA aren't that kind of type, although the GLA can make this one well-ridiculed just about anywhere. While this is very big for a Mini, the Countryman is all about the rough stuff it can do just to keep its MINIMALISM in check and while its sizing just can't squeeze through the tight gaps, its roomy creature comforts really surprises the customers as are the tech that flooded through it, although unsure what it is. You can thank BMW for the Countryman's full model change but for now, I have some moping up to do about those backstories.

Photo: MINI

Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale

Anime otakus who can't get enough of their futuristic role-playing adventures of teenagers Kirito and Asuna in the Sword Art Online franchise are in for a big treat because the first ever SAO movie brings a new experience to the futuristic adventure saga and continues to pick up the pieces to further deepen the cybernetic tale of lies, conspiracies, friendship, betrayal, and truths our heroes will get through. Welcome to Ordinal Scale.

Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale

Set in the year 2026, two years after the events of the anime series, Kirito, Asuna, and friends entered to a whole new kind of game, and a whole new kind of trap they've never faced. The game is called Ordinal Scale, and it's an augmented reality MMO game that became popular among players. However, with the imminent threat rising through the depths of this MMO game, there's a risk that it's going to repeat the tragic SAO incident the youngsters have faced and how will Kirito and the gang step up against this new kind of threat and survive? This is a new kind of survival game they're taking on and the differences between real and virtual have been blurred once again.

Although the movie looks slightly different compared to the past two anime series, Ordinal Scale delivers a mixture of returning and new characters, including the arrival of potential new favorite SAO character, Yuna, an augmented reality idol. Seems that this film's getting somewhere and while the film features an all-original storyline, it really picks up the anime franchise's pieces in a new and spectacular way and as what the fans hoped for, this is by no means the best SAO experience ever and you can't really blame for its greatness this film offered.

Packed with suspense, thrills, and a little bit of humor in store, Ordinal Scale is a surprising anime film veterans and newbies can enjoy and it can really show how much anime this movie can offer and this is going to be the talk of the town moviegoers and anime otakus will be talking about after seeing this film. Talk what you want about this film, no matter how good and bad it gets, but rest assured that this is why anime otakus can't get enough of this hit franchise.

My rating: 3.7 out of 5

FIA Formula E 2016-2017: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the venue for the third round of the FIA Formula E 2016-2017 season and in the latest EPrix of this season,

Renault e.dams' Sebastien Buemi made history as the first ever Formula E driver to win three races in the row. It was his ninth win in his Formula E career and 12th for the team. Although his pole position got slipped by ABT-Audi's Lucas Di Grassi and TECHEETAH's Jean-Eric Vergne, Buemi fought his way to victory and he did.

Highlights:

So now, after the Buenos Aires EPrix, Buemi's in 1st place overall with 75 points. Di Grassi is 29 points behind and Nico Prost's in 3rd place overall with 36 points.

The next race is on Mexico on April Fools Day. That's April 1st to you, race fans.

Forza Horizon 3 - Grandma's out in the bag

Look's like Grandma's finally out in the bag today because the legendary Lola T70 in Penske Sunoco colors has arrived and I managed to score one in this weekend's Forzathon event. It wasn't complicated to win one of those this weekend only, right?



As the successor to the 1965 Lola T70, the T70 MKIIIB was designed by Eric Broadley during his four-decade tenure at Lola. Powering the T70 is a 5.0L Traco Chevrolet V8 with wet sump lubrication while mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Did you know that this car used as the basis of the legendary Gulf Porsche 917 for the 1970 racing flick Le Mans that starred Bullitt's Steve McQueen? Quite a kicker, isn't it? And that's not all, some of the T70s were dressed like a Ferrari 512 in the film as well. Now, how didn't they saw it coming that the ones used in the Le Mans flick wasn't really the real ones but rather Lola machines dressed as either a Ferrari or a Porsche?

Well, quite a secret I didn't know about but since I managed to keep this weekend's Forzathon prize car, it's time for a celebratory drive!



See? Granny knows best, especially when it comes to racing against rivals on and off the road!

Bubble Gang - February 17, 2017 #BubbleGangJSProm

In the February 17, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- JS Prom gags

- Conscience gets the better of you being viral

- A gay-bust operation

- Istambay, Istambay Sa Looban, Istoryang Nangyari Sa Looban, Sumama Ang Mga Kalooban, Dahil Mga Tao'y...NILOOBAN?!

- Another Buhay Ng Bakla session

- Life in a no-cellphone policy

- A friendly conversation at a restaurant goes ugly

- Meet a new kind of law enforcement on the beach.

- Basa-basa pik!

Forza Horizon 3 - Type ARRGH

As the world brace themselves for the next Civic Type R, let's take a little gander on the FK2 Civic Type R, which is now part of Forza Horizon 3's Playseat Car Pack, and see what to learn so much from the hot hatch inspired by the Euro-spec ninth-generation Civic Type R. I know, it's a little late on schedule to feature this hot Civic here in this game but better late than never, am I right?



Ah, the speedo boy's best friend on the road. The Civic Type R. The FK2 Civic Type R is the first ever Honda sportscar to use a turbocharged VTEC engine, which brings "VTEC just kicked in, yo!" to a whole new meaning. The first-ever K20C 2.0L VTEC Turbo engine produces a massive 310PS of power output and 400Nm of torque, while mated exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Performance aside, Honda draws inspiration from its touring car championship success to create the Civic Type R and by utilizing all of its track-honed characteristics, it's no wonder that its lapped the Nurburgring in 07:51.42, the fastest lap time for front-wheel drive cars until it was smashed by a hotter VW GTi.

You don't need to ask but the FK2 Civic Type R is the only ninth-generation Civic sold in the Japanese market when it was launched in late 2015 and limited to 750 units, each costing 4,280,000 Japanese Yen, which isn't too pricey for a hot hatch imported from Great Britain.



Although its too little, too late to show up on the after hours, I am very pleased to try out the FK2 Civic Type R as long as I like before the arrival of the next model based on the tenth-generation Civic Hatchback. In fact, the next model will have so much to learn from the previous FK2 that I'm driving right now in the Land Down Under. Sampling the FK2 Type R's VTEC Turbo sounds more like it came from the current WRX STi and you can really feel just how potent this turbocharged engine is at any speed at any place.

While the FK2 Civic Type R is proven to be a potent track weapon, I find that its handling is very much mild and menacing. Go too fast and you're in for some catastrophic understeer as this car is too grippy on the corners. No matter how hard you turn the steering wheel on, it just grips and grips and grips and while this is very easy to drive for beginners, it doesn't feel as enjoyable as its chief rival, the Ford Focus RS.

I've tried different kinds of hot hatchbacks in this game for a long time and let me tell you, I've never been in a hot hatch which is very unique and very challenging in every plausible way and looks like the next Type R will be a struggle to shook off the problems the previous FK2 Civic Type R had. Perhaps they should rework on the handling to make it more enjoyable for a front-wheel drive hot hatchback but I think that's enough for that chit chat because now that I've seen everything about the FK2 Civic Type R, time to call in the makeup department to do something special for the outgoing model.







I've been planning to do this up to the moment this Type R arrived and here it is, all dressed in its Ruby Kurosawa-inspired look. Looks like I'm going to give the FK2 Civic Type R a proper sendoff by calling the best of Honda Type R models ever assembled and looks like this is the part where I'll get my trusty filming equipment ready to roll.



And now, the party is on!



This has got to be the best sendoff party ever done for the FK2 Civic Type R and while it got confused upon getting to know its opponents even when they don the red H badge on their faces, the FK2 Civic Type R showed its confidence to kick its VTEC Turbo engine to the top of the pops and shines its way towards victory!





The Civic Type R has been a speedo boys' favorite since the EK9 but for the FK2 model, it doesn't get the same aesthetics as the original. In fact, it slowly loses it charm now that it's becoming more European rather than being a Japanese sportscar that has won the hearts of many speedo boys from around the globe but all hope is not lost as Honda is back at the drawing board to perfect the next Type R the world awaits and when it does, it's going to be worth the one we promised.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Japan, US, S.Korea discuss N.Korean missile launch

Japanese, US, and South Korean foreign ministers issued a joint statement on North Korea's ballistic missile launch on Sunday. They pledged closer cooperation and strongly demanded that Pyongyang refrain from provocative acts.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se met in Bonn, Germany, on Thursday. They met for the first time since Donald Trump took office at the White House.

The 3 countries strongly urged North Korea to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions that ban nuclear and missile development. They agreed to step up cooperation on security issues involving the North. They also discussed the murder in Malaysia of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Source: NHK World

Let's Do The News! (February 17, 2017)

- The BRP Tarlac, the largest ship of the Philippine Navy, is on standby in case of humanitarian and disaster relief operations for the victims of the Surigao Quake last weekend. However, the Philippine Navy said that for now, there's no need for the newest vessel of the Navy as they have four ships deployed, conducting mercy missions after the 6.7 magnitude quake last Sunday.

- The Department of Justice formally pressed charges against Senator Leila de Lima on her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. The DOJ filed three criminal cases against De Lima at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court early afternoon. Cases include sale, trade and protection of the illegal drug trade inside the NBP; based on the accusations of some high-profile inmates against De Lima during the Senate hearings on the said matter.

- The National Bureau of Investigation is reluctant to give up on the Jee Ick Joo murder case. According to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III, the NBI has an important lead regarding the said case. Due to this, the agency won’t stop its investigation.

- US President Donald Trump held his first solo news conference since taking office. He stressed that the management of his administration is going smoothly, while continuing to criticize the media.

- Despite President Trump not sticking to the "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says the United States will support that kind of solution as it would be an error for anyone to say that the United States does not support the two-state solution.

- As the nuclear ban treaty negotiations draw near, preparations at the United Nations has begun. Last December, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to start negotiations on the treaty in March. At the first preparatory meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, Costa Rican disarmament envoy Elayne Whyte was elected as the chair of the talks. Whyte said she hopes the participants will engage in a productive dialogue to obtain acceptable results.

- Ferrari launched the most powerful V12 Super GT ever made, the 812 Superfast. Helmed as the successor to the F12berlinetta, the 812 Superfast's V12 engine produces 800PS of power, making it the most powerful V12 engine ever made, albeit the last in the history. It became the first Ferrari to adopt Electric Power Steering as well.

2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast

- GENCO and Happy Elements announced that they are postponing the anime adaptation of the Ensemble Stars app game. The anime was originally planned for this year's released but the staff said the anime is now postponed due to "various circumstances."

- Activision announced that the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy game, which is a reboot of the first three Crash Bandicoot games, on the PS4 will be out this June 30. Whoa!

TTFN!!!