Saturday, May 13, 2017

Bubble Gang - May 12, 2017 #BGLiga

In the May 12, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Timeout gags

- Another Buhay Ng Bakla session.

- Time to face the facts, son.

- Mas Pinabonggang Sumbong Sumbong Kay Bonggang Bonggang Bongbong takes on people posting their stuff bought with other people's money, people engaging on hot issues for networking purposes, and people looking like dogs on their social media.



- The Jungle Belles are facing off against rich men!

- Someone's coming in Balitang Ina!



- Applying for a rice cooker

- A restaurant for bonding moments.

- Basa-basa pik!

FH3 Hot Wheels: Proud Pioneering Spirit

Because Hot Wheels was born in the year 1968, I've been tasked to find a Forza car that is on the same year Hot Wheels was founded by Mattel, and looks like I've met my match on my ongoing Hot Wheels adventure in Forza Horizon 3.



This here is the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, one of the most valuable and ultra rare classic cars in the world and about 18 units were made from 1967 to 1969. True to its name, this is the road-legal version of the legendary Tipo 33 race car and this is the first car to use butterfly doors, like the ones from the McLaren F1, the world's fastest car of the 90's. Little did you know that because the 33 Stradale is a handcrafted beauty, each of the units are tailored differently as hinted by the exterior design cues ranging from the headlamps, windscreen wipers, vents, and so on.

Tailor-made aside, the 33 Stradale features an aluminium body on aluminium tubular chassis and unlike the race-spec Tipo 33, the 2.0L V8 engine has no relation to the race-spec engine. In fact, it was lifted from the Alfa Montreal while mated to a six-speed Colotti transaxle gearbox, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 5.5 seconds and flatout in 260kph, quicker than your average German saloon of today.

Anyway, enough chitter-chatter because time to send this ultra-rare, million-dollar, collector car for a flight through Thrilltopia and introduce to the stunts the world of Hot Wheels has to offer. Hold on because it's going to be one heck of a bumpy ride.



Who knew that you can alter what stunt you want to face with courtesy of Stunt Swap feature? Anyway, the ultra-rare Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale finished the competition alive and speaking of which...



I just got word that somewhere in Thrilltopia, there's a legendary barn find hidden somewhere and according to my sources, it's located three miles off from the Festival site but be warned; it's heavily fortified with dinosaurs guarding the barn find so how can you get through the mystery treasure that was heavily guarded by such primal monstrosities? Only one way to find out...



Now let's see what legendary machine we'll be encountering this time...



What is this? Wait, I know! That's one of the pre-war Fords that emerged during the Great Depression of the 1930's. It's a Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe and what this is, is a template of a hot rod you can think of. But first, let's talk about this Five-Window Coupe. In the past, most Ford advertisements in the 1920's to 1930's targeted specifically for women but when they advertise this Five Window Coupe, they didn't specify the target gender. In fact, the topic they're targeting for the Ford De Luxe Five Window Coupe is specifically economy, a topic relevant during the dark days of the Herbert Hoover era of the USA.

Calling it a fuel-efficient car sounds ironic for a V8-powered Ford but the V8 engine that powers it uses no more fuel than a four-cylinder car, which sounds impressive during the Great Depression era but let's not get too much about this legendary Ford because let's talk about how a hot rod was made because like you and I, street rodding has been the creative force of car culture. It's all about men in sheds coming up with bright ideas to build something quite extraordinary and then show it off on the roads. Some might even race against other guy with a hot rod as well. Hot rods that are unique to the beholders have massively lowered bodies, chopped roofs, vivid colors, big engines, and some of the best bits too much to list on, resulting to a creative expression that makes people go crazy about one and even if the blokes who made one didn't have qualifications to design and engineer a car. How cool is that?



Because this Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe can be freely expressed into various kinds of street-rodding, I want to do my own kind of street-rodding with this legend and with the De Luxe Five-Window Coupe became what every hot rod should be, time to set ablaze through the twists and turns of Hot Wheels Thrilltopia with the legend that became the forefront of hot-rodding. Time to feel the heat with this one.



Man, nothing like a little piece of automotive history than trying out some iconic cars at the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia. From a street-legal version of a legendary racing car to a hot-rod, nothing comes close than enjoying some of the most historic cars in the extreme world of Hot Wheels and in here, it's all about Leading The Way.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Let's Do The News! (May 12, 2017)


- Former AFP Chief of Staff, now DENR Secretary, Roy Cimatu, made clear that there is no reason to fear that military men are being appointed as part of the Duterte administration. According to Cimatu, it's normal for the President to hire former military officials because of is desire to fully implement his programs in a more systematic and orderly way and he can fully utilize his expertise as a former official of the military and even as part of the local leader in Davao City.

- President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in Hong Kong early Friday morning as part of his two-day visit to meet with the Filipino community and then fly to Beijing for the Belt and Road Initiatives where Russian leader Vladimir Putin is present.

- PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa has issued an order for the investigation of the alleged "tanim-bala" accident in Pampanga.

- An eleven year-old Filipina was discovered to have an IQ exceeding Albert Einstein's. Mia Golosino, 11 years old, is the daughter of Jose and Twinkie Golosino. She used to stay in Malabon but now residing in Great Britain. Because of such discovery, her parents took her to a Mensa test and was discovered to have an IQ if 162, 22 more than the target level needed to be classified as a genius.

- Porsche produced 1,000,000 units of the 911 sportscar and the one millionth 911 was rolled off from the assembly line in Zuffenhausen, Germany.


- Stan Lee's Pow! Entertainment was recently acquired by the Hong Kong-based Camsing International.

- Bandai Namco announced that their latest Tales and Taiko no Tatsujin games are coming to the Nintendo Switch by March 2018.

- A reboot of Britain's most provocative TV drama in the 80's, Dynasty, is in the works.

TTFN!!!

New Toyota Pixis Epoch

After Daihatsu launched the all-new and more fuel-efficient, second-generation Mira e:S, Toyota decided to borrow the latest fuel-efficient Daihatsu for a while so they can sell it at their Toyota dealerships as the all-new Pixis Epoch.

2018 Toyota Pixis Epoch

For some people who can't afford Toyota's fuel-efficient offerings such as the Prius and its little brother, the Aqua, the Pixis Epoch kei-car got their backs because while it isn't as efficient as the two hybrids mentioned earlier, it is the most fuel-efficient petrol car offered at most Toyota dealerships across Japan with prices start from 907,200 up to 1,209,600 Japanese Yen plus on-road costs.

What you get in the all-new Pixis Epoch, like as shown from the second-generation Daihatsu Mira e;S, is a newly sharpened styling, refined interior for a more basic approach, new monocoque chassis, and a more fuel-efficient 660cc engine promising up to 35.2kmpl of fuel efficiency based on JC08 Mode standards.

In terms of safety, the Pixis Epoch comes with Smart Assist III, featuring the world's smallest stereo camera ever equipped on the production car, in addition to the false start restraining control function, Auto High Beam, corner sensors for parking purposes, SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control System, emergency stop signal, and Anti-Lock Brakes with Electronic Control Braking Force Distribution System.

Can you consider this to someone who can't afford a Prius or an Aqua but like a fuel-efficient Toyota that gives them more run for their money. Sure you can and the odds aren't bad for a fuel-efficient Toyota that is based on Daihatsu's latest, fuel-efficient, offering.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

New Subaru Pleo Plus

2018 Subaru Pleo Plus

After Daihatsu launched the all-new and more fuel-efficient, second-generation Mira e:S, Subaru decided to borrow the latest fuel-efficient Daihatsu for a while so they can sell it at their Subaru dealerships as the all-new Pleo Plus.

Priced at 896,400 Yen, the all-new Subaru Pleo Plus like what the latest Daihatsu Mira e:S showed us, not only features a more sharp exterior design and a more basic interior space for the average driver, but also an improved 660cc engine alongside its monocoque chassis combined with fuel efficient features such as Cold i-EGR, the late closing of intake valves for load reduction on compression, dual injectors, combustion control by cylinder, CVT Thermo controller, low viscosity CVT fluid, rear differential gear for 4WD models, resin parts, and many more, resulting to 35.2kmpl of fuel efficiency based on JC08 Mode standards.

Not only this is the most fuel-efficient car in the Subaru lineup, it's also the safest because of its Smart Assist III, featuring the world's smallest stereo camera ever equipped on the production car, in addition to the false start restraining control function, Auto High Beam, corner sensors for parking purposes, SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control System, emergency stop signal, and Anti-Lock Brakes with Electronic Control Braking Force Distribution System.

As told earlier, the new Pleo Plus starts at 896,400 Yen, the most affordable Subaru available in Japan, and also the most fuel-efficient as well. We know that this is based on the all-new Daihatsu Mira e:S but for those who are too lazy to go on the Daihatsu dealership or if their nearest dealership was a Subaru's look no further.

Photo: Subaru Corporation

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Let's Do The News! (May 11, 2017)


- Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre supports the request of so-called Pork Barrel Queen Janet Lim Napoles to be transferred to the NBI detention center due to death threats. Aguirre said that Napoles must be removed from her cell at the Bureau of Corrections since she is not a convicted prisoner.

- The Department of Health hopes that the Supreme Court will lift its Temporary Restraining Order issued against the distribution and acquisition of contraceptives in the country.

- Turkey has warned online encyclopedia Wikipedia, blocked by the Turkish government two weeks ago, over a content creating a perception that Turkey is supporting terrorist organizations, according to reports.

- Before he was fired by US President Donald Trump, FBI Director James Comey told lawmakers he sought more resources for his agency’s probe into possible collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia to sway the 2016 U.S. election, a congressional source said on Wednesday.

- A Russian judge said that the blogger who played Pokemon Go inside the church has found guilty of inciting religious hatred, according to reports.

- Honda's Fit hatchback and Grace compact sedan has been given a minor change and its set to be available in Japan this summer.



- BMW resurrects the 8-Series as the replacement for the 6-Series with a concept teased before its May 26 unveiling.



- Land Rover has produced over 600,000 units of the Range Rover Evoque since it was launched in 2011. To commemorate, they've launched a special Landmark model featuring a special Moraine Blue paint.



TTFN!!!

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Kinmirai Happy End

Kinmirai Happy End

The Aqours Next Step project continues with CYaRon's second single titled Kinmirai Happy End and this latest single begs us for more of Chika Takami, You Watanabe, and Ruby Kurosawa.

For the latest single by one of Aqours' sub-groups, you can expect two new songs that you can either listen to those or feel it in your School Idol Festival app game anytime soon such as the main song and their other new song titled 海岸通りで待ってるよ. If you are done listening to those two new songs from CYaRon, they've added a new drama part so you can listen what's next for CYaRon, probably a rare find they've encountered.

Don't forget, the Next Step project for Aqours continues with AZALEA and Guilty Kiss unveiling their second singles soon as well as the new duo/trio performances from your favorite Aqours heroes, leading up to Aqours' 2nd Love Live -THE HAPPY PARTY TRAIN TOUR- later in the summer and the second series of Love Live! Sunshine!! coming this fall. Another main reason to come back for more of Aqours!

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. 近未来ハッピーエンド
02. 海岸通りで待ってるよ
03. 近未来ハッピーエンド (Off Vocal)
04. 海岸通りで待ってるよ (Off Vocal)
05. レアな沼津をめしあがれ❤

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Moon Jae-in is South Korea's new leader


Liberal politician Moon Jae-in has won the presidential elections in South Korea, signalling the end of nearly a decade of conservative rule and bringing a more conciliatory approach toward North Korea.

Moon's victory will end months of political turmoil that led to the ousting of his former rival, conservative former president Park Geun-hye over an extensive corruption scandal, which a court upheld in March. Park became the first democratically elected leader in South Korea to be impeached from office, causing a snap election for her successor.

Moon vowed that he will restore the country badly bruised by the scandal during a midnight victory speech at a temporary stage set up in the main square in downtown Seoul.

With 80 percent of the votes counted at 1705 GMT, Moon was ahead with 40 percent, according to the National Election Commission. A conservative challenger, former prosecutor Hong Joon-pyo, was next with 25.5 percent followed by centrist candidate Ahn Cheol-soo with 21.4 percent.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (May 10, 2017)



- Member countries of the Human Rights Council appealed to the Philippines to allow UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country even though she didn't abide with the conditions presented by President Rodrigo Duterte.

- Authorities placed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on full alert after a security expert claims that last month's bombing at Quiapo might be test runs for the Islamic State.

- Controversial blogger Mocha Uson was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office. Long before she was appointed to this post, Uson has been appointed by the President as a board member of the MTRCB but only up to September of this year.

- US President Donald Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey following an investigation between Trump's associates and their ties to Russia.

- Next year's Grammy Awards will be heading to New York next year after over a decade in Los Angeles, according to the awards' organizers.

- The Gilas Pilipinas are being favored in the upcoming Southeast Asian Basketball Championship, which is set to start this week up to May 18.

- Volkswagen reportedly cancelled their plans for their 10-speed DSG.

- The official trailer for the upcoming Blade Runner 2049 film has arrived and here's what to expect in the follow-up to the original Blade Runner film.



TTFN!!!

FH3 Hot Wheels: The First Day of the Rest of your Life!

Welcome everyone to the Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels expansion pack, where your childhood fantasies became even more outrageous than ever with signature Hot Wheels stunts come to life in the Land Down Under. Horizon couldn't get even more exhilarating than this!



On your first arrival at the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, you are greeted by one of the most intimidating Hot Wheels car ever to come out from every kid's toy box, the Bone Shaker, and as you drive through your new Horizon Festival, the welcome tour includes not just the iconic Hot Wheels iconic orange tracks but also some signature Hot Wheels stuff such as Speed Boost, the loop-the-loop, the cobra coil, the fire ring, and for a bigger treat, a mechanical dinosaur to scare you off. This is exactly what is like to be in the world of Hot Wheels.



Don't get to awed by the idea of living in your childhood fantasy because you're going to need some concentration and timing to conquer whatever you may come across in Hot Wheels Thrilltopia. From the speed boosts to the loop-the-loop, you need to be fast enough to outsmart the competition because if you go slower than that, the difference between a win and a loss could narrow and opponents closing on you may slip out by surprise so be careful while you're out there. Oh, best not to look down if you have fear of heights.



For my first outing at the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, I am behind the wheel of the Rip Rod, an offroad buggy that shows that even the smallest of size can be the most intimidating, and now, I'm going off to introduce what to expect in the world of Hot Wheels.



That, ladies and gentlemen, is what you called "extreme racing" and just like in Blizzard Mountain, every time you win a race or complete a stunt/bucket list challenge, you'll earn medals. Earn enough medals to progress through the next batch of races and stunts to complete.



So, do you think you can work your way to the big finale they've lined up in Hot Wheels Thrilltopia? Well, time to get going because these medals don't earn by themselves and between you and me, this will be the most challenging adventure yet.

Good luck and drive fast!

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Second Generation Daihatsu Mira e:S

Daihatsu's most fuel efficient and most affordable kei car has been regenerated for its second generation and the all-new, more fuel-efficient, Mira e:S, promises to give drivers even more run for their money. Let's take a quick look on the latest generation of Daihatsu's most affordable, fuel-efficient kei-car ever sold in Japan.

2018 Daihatsu Mira e:S

When Daihatsu first launched the Mira e:S about six years ago, it was known to be the most fuel efficient car in the world until the Suzuki Alto came and the rivalry between the two fuel-efficient cars continued until the arrival of the latest-generation Suzuki Alto with its record-breaking 37kmpl fuel economy. Now, let's get to know about the brand new Mira e:S and by the looks of it, the exterior design has been sharpened to draw some inspiration from the D-Base Concept, resulting to a much better-looking low-cost car that can attract first-time buyers and can be a real head-turner on the streets of downtown Tokyo.

2018 Daihatsu Mira e:S

The inside looks pretty much the same as the previous Mira e:S and it still has that digital instrumental cluster from the last one, meaning that the interior is still beyond average for a compact car but average aside, it's surprisingly spacious and it has good legroom on the back, meaning it's nice to be accommodated with. The boot space isn't too shabby as well for a micro car and there are plenty of cubby holes to store your stuff, making it a practical car fit for family use or a trip round town with your pals.

2018 Daihatsu Mira e:S

Now let's talk about the performance side of the new Mira e:S and for this new model, it now features a "D Monocoque" body that is more rigid and 80kg less compared to the standard model. Because its now 80kg less than the old e:S and combined with its newly improved e:S Technology, you're looking at a 35.2kmpl of fuel efficiency based on JC08 Mode standards. That sounds like 1.8kmpl less than the Suzuki Alto but this is still the most fuel-efficient Daihatsu in the range and time to get to the juicy part of the new e:S Technology because if you dig deeper on the mechanical bits, you will see some interesting stuff that made this car fuel-efficient such as the Cold i-EGR, the late closing of intake valves for load reduction on compression, dual injectors, combustion control by cylinder, CVT Thermo controller, low viscosity CVT fluid, rear differential gear for 4WD models, resin parts, the list goes on and on and there's another contribution to the car's fuel efficiency and it's the aerodynamics because for the new model, it sustained three percent air resistance, making it the most aerodynamic kei car on the market.

The Daihatsu Mira e:S comes with other energy efficient ways and means such as LED lamps, eco power generator, an idle stop and go feature, and scroll-type air conditioner compressor.

2018 Daihatsu Mira e:S

What about safety? To keep up with today's traffic, the new Mira e:S comes with Smart Assist III, featuring the world's smallest stereo camera ever equipped on the production car. In addition to the sonar sensor, it enables braking not only for leading vehicles but also for pedestrians. When the stereo camera detects a lane while traveling at speeds at around 60kph or over, when it is about to deviate from the lane, it notifies the driver and urges the departure avoidance operation. Apart from that, it can also trigger the false start restraining control function at either forward or backward. Other features include Auto High Beam, corner sensors for parking purposes, SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control System, emergency stop signal, and Anti-Lock Brakes with Electronic Control Braking Force Distribution System.

Should you buy one? The new Daihatsu Mira e:S starts at 842,400 Yen including on-road costs and it's exempted from the car acquisition tax and automobile weight tax, making it a great value for money and its around five grand cheaper to buy than the Suzuki Alto. It really is a promising compact car that gives them more run for their money and it's now technologically advanced to deal with today's traffic conditions. Even though Daihatsu is now under Toyota's control, they're still on the roll for fuel-efficient small-cars on the market and for the Mira e:S, this is just the beginning.

Available colors: Sky Blue Metallic, Lemon Squash Crystal Metallic, Magenta Berry Mica Metallic, Splash Blue Metallic, Plum Brown Crystal Mica, Black Mica Metallic, Pearl White III, Bright Silver Metallic, and White.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Koreans vote for new leader


South Koreans started voting for their next leader, with the potential record turnout suggesting voters are eager to move on from the corruption scandal that brought down ousted president Park Geun-hye and shook the political and business elite.

Unless there is a major upset, Moon Jae-in will be elected president. Moon, who lost narrowly to Park in 2012, has criticised the two former conservative governments for failing to stop North Korea’s weapons development. He advocates a two-track policy of dialogue while maintaining pressure and sanctions to encourage change. Aside from calling for a moderate approach on the Korean Peninsula, he wants to reform chaebols (family-run conglomerates) and boost fiscal spending to create jobs.

Park is in jail, on trial, but denies any wrongdoing. She had decided not to cast a vote, according to reports.

The National Election Commission said voter turnout was at 59.9 percent by 1400 hours local time but it could reach the forecasted total voter turnout of over 80%, the highest since President Kim Dae-jung was elected 20 years ago, when 80.7 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (May 9, 2017)


- According to Atty. Nasser Abinal, the leader of the Sunni branch of Islam in the Philippines, Sunni Muslims are seen as enemies of fundamentalist and extremist Muslims as development of many areas in Mindanao is behind by a century compared to Metro Manila.

- Roy Cimatu, the new DENR Secretary, immediately took his oath of office in front of President Rodrigo Duterte during a Cabinet Meeting last May 8.

- Meanwhile, President Duterte named former House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. as special envoy for inter-cultural dialogue.

- The Taiwanese government will send a delegation to a UN health meeting even though they are not invited as it China that efforts to exclude it could lead to “irreversible” damage to ties. Self-ruled Taiwan wants to attend a May 22-31 annual meeting in Geneva of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, but it has accused Beijing of obstructing its efforts.

- Members of the Texas Major Cities Chiefs, consisting of the police chiefs in Dallas, Houston, Austin, Arlington, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, and the Texas Police Chiefs Association condemn the controversial Senate Bill 4, which was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott last weekend and involves racial profiling on Latinos.

- It is reported that Ferrari will launch their next hypercar within the next three to five years following the success of their sold-out LaFerrari hybrid hypercar.

- Top Gear presenter Chris Harris will be participating in two rounds of this year's Blancpain GT Series in a factory-run McLaren. His first outing is next weekend at Silverstone before heading to Spa-Francorchamps at the end of July for the 24 Hours of Spa.

- HBO confirmed that the eighth season of their hit TV series, Game Of Thrones will be their last when it comes out next year but there will be spin-offs.

- Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, gets renewed for a second series.

TTFN!!!

Monday, May 8, 2017

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Geico 500


Ah, Talladega Superspeedway, the battle arena for the Geico 500 at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series where many entered, some got eaten alive, and only a brave few managed to snag the checkered flag at the endgame.

In the first stage of the Geico 500 race, Brad Keselowski, despite the fender bender, nailed the 10-point stage win while in the second stage, it's Denny Hamlin scored his first stage win of the year.

Now, we get to the interesting part because on Lap 168, the "big one" erupts at 'Dega when Chase Elliot gets turned by AJ Allmendinger, setting off a massive wreckage as Chase rides the wall while AJ goes over on his lid and they would have to flip that car over to get AJ Allmendinger out. Thankfully, all of the drivers involved in this big mess were released from the infield care center.

After one catastrophic crash after another, an overtime occurred and after that, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., snagged his first Monster Energy Series win.

Next race is on Kansas for the GoBowling.com 400 this May 13th.

Let's Do The News! (May 8, 2017)


- The Manila Police District presents the suspect behind the April 28 Quiapo bombing that hurt 14 people. One of the key suspects, named Abel Macaraya, was presented by Police Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel. Macaraya is charged with multiple frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms.

- The Senate Minority is in favor of reviewing the secret voting system of confirming or rejecting the ad interim appointment of a Cabinet member. According to Senator Bam Aquino, the Commission of Appointments must examine and modify the current secret voting system.

- Different female groups assembled in front of the Senate, claiming that Senator Tito Sotto's apology over his controversial joke against DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo is not sincere. According to Amparo Miciano, Secretary General of Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan, they plan to file an ethics complaint against Sotto for his joke against the female community.

- US and Afghan officials confirmed that the leader of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan was slayed during a joint military operations. Officials from the Afghanistan government and US military headquarters in Kabul released a statement on Sunday. It said Abdul Hasib was killed in a raid on April 27th in the eastern province of Nangarhar near Pakistan.

- A memorial service for the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camps was held in Austria on Sunday. The camp was built by the Nazis during the Second World War. Jewish and Roma people and Soviet prisoners of war were incarcerated at Mauthausen. More than 100 thousand were killed there. About 7,000 people, including survivors, families, and representatives of various countries took part at Sunday's ceremony.

- Volkswagen will discontinue the Beetle and the Scirocco, according to reports.

- Sequel to Edge of Tomorrow sci-fi action film was been tentatively named "Live Die Repeat and Repeat".

- Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach will soon to make a showbiz comeback, according to trainer and mentor of beauty queens Jonas Gaffud.

TTFN!!!

Emmanuel Macron is named the next French President

Photo: AP

The second round of the French presidential elections pits two candidates vying for the seat to become the next French president. 

The former is the leader of the far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen, who plots to become the first female leader of this nation while dishing out her Donald Trump-style approach by closing borders, terminate the Schengen agreement, ban everything Islam, and the biggest of all is plotting a Frexit from the European Union, while the latter is the former economic minister for the Socialist Party, Emmanuel Macron, who formed his own movement called En Marche, which became the fastest-growing movement with over a hundred thousand members, and his plan to unleash a political revolution, something that the lefts and the rights never achieve to do so.

Yesterday, millions of French voted to decide the fate of their nation, and with the votes tallied, the winner to become the next French president is none other than the outsider named Emmanuel Macron. Macron garnered 66.1% of the votes, compared to the 33.9% of the votes Le Pen garnered.

Macron's win can be either a good news and a bad news because while some don't know the extent of his campaign promises because he is new to the politics, the European Union expressed relief, knowing that a win for Macron is a win for the EU. This will put a minor blow against populism that prompted the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, the Philippines that propelled Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs to the top, and the USA with Donald Trump, although the alleged Russian hack prompted some questions that left untold.

Forza Horizon 3: Toyobaru Revisited - Side 86

It's been half a decade since Toyota and Subaru introduced the world their compact front-engined, rear-wheel drive sports coupes sold under their respective names of Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ and as sportscars come and go by, rest assured that these affordable Asian sportscars never gone to waste even though they're not as fast as any European sportscars because what these cars are not just good-looking but also greater to drive which isn't so bad for a four-cylinder car to begin with if you're new into sportscars.

Because both the BRZ and the 86 both have the same boxer-4 engine, the same 200HP power output, the same FR layout, and with the rest goes on and on, it's hard to decide which one is the best so let's ditch the comparison and talk about how it feels to be behind the wheel of the Toyobaru coupes, starting with the 86.





This Toyota will be remembered as one of the all-time greats because it brings Toyota back to its sporty character that dates back to the legendary AE86 Sprinter Trueno that wows speedo boys elsewhere for being a drift-focused car, not to mention pop culture stardom because of Initial D.

With today's lineup of Toyotas too regular for their own good, the 86 isn't what you called "regular" because even though it's not powerful enough to outsmart the European sportscars, its superb handling capabilities is what made them get into the sportscar craze in the first place and the more they have fun with the 86, the more they will graduate to an even more powerful sportscar and that is just a crash course to those who are new to sportscars. Think of it like a stepping stone for the speedo boys, a rite of passage, a first impression if you may and if you had enough fun with the 86, you have a choice of either stay with this Toyota or go forward to another sportscar.

I think I could just stay with this for a little while because while the 86 is a speedo boys' car, I had a little tinkering job to do with it. Ready?









See what I did here? A little Rocket Bunny aero kit, some major improvements on the mechanical bits, and with the little decor you are mostly familiar with, this 86 is ready to impress the crowd with its untapped potential as a tuner's car. Now, here's a little thing about this car because it's important not to overdo with its performance because putting it too much power makes it darn undrivable even at the starting line but while it can be somewhat undriveable on the race, it makes up an ideal drift car to score some huge points in the drift zones if you are careful with it. In the meantime, I decided to tone it down a bit and make it more track-mannered because today, I called on some 86/BRZ enthusiasts for a little meeting all around this upside-down country and they wanted to see if this 86 is good enough to impress themselves.

Ready?





You may think it's mad to say that this is the best four-cylinder sportscar in the world but look at this way, the 86 has gone through different times and while it didn't produce the results that a sportscar should be, it will always be the starting point for anyone who is new to sportscars and if they are happy with it, they will have some tough decisions to make.

This is why I love enjoying the Toyota 86 because while it doesn't have the power and the speed to eclipse against the world's best sportscars, its fun factor will always play a key role in its driver involvement and this is all about bringing driving back for the drivers. It really is an all-time great for Toyota.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Doctor Who S10E04

Doctor Who S10E04

The fourth episode of the tenth season of BBC Doctor Who, titled "Knock Knock", sees The Doctor and Bill figuring out what was going on behind the old house she and her friends went into.

When Bill Potts and her friends rented an old house from a shady landlord, they thought they're having the best day of their lives when suddenly, behind the wooden walls, something strange occurred, and with the arrival of The Doctor, they are figuring out the mystery behind the old house while keeping Bill's friends safe in this death trap they went into.

There's one enjoyable thing about the recent episode and that's because the sound team made a binaural version of it, meaning if anyone watches it again with their headphones on, the realistic 3D sound is what made this week's episode as real as they were part of the show. That's a bonus but let's leave it at then because time to hear what they say in the recent DW Fan Show webcast featuring David Suchet and Mike Bartlett discussing today's DW episode.



NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW:


Forza Horizon 3: The Tailor of Panamera



For over half a decade, the Porsche Panamera has became a sacrilege for Porsche traditionalists because this is more of a saloon than what a Porsche should be and behind the ugly looking exterior design comes the beating heart of the Porsche DNA that makes it a four-door supercar that promises everyone to ditch their chauffeurs and drive anywhere they like in this Porsche saloon beyond the limit.



At long last, here comes the second-generation Porsche Panamera. To be found on the Porsche Car Pack of Forza Horizon 3, players got themselves the golden opportunity to try out the latest generation of Porsche's first ever saloon car that works like a luxury car and a sports car at the same pace. The Panamera you know has been refined, recharged, and reloaded for the new era.

For the second-generation Panamera, the exterior has been influenced by Porsche sports cars such as the 911 and the 718 while the interior has been heavily revamped with modern features such as touch panels in place of buttons. For the first time, an Executive long-wheelbase was offered featuring a much longer legroom on the back courtesy of its long wheelbase. The choice of engines include a 3.0L V6 (single or twin turbo), 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo, 4.0L V8 Diesel, and the E-Hybrid variant with the combination of a 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine and an electric motor. All models are mated with an 8-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (Double Clutch Gearbox).

Seen here is the Panamera Turbo, which is the most powerful in the range for now and when equipped with the Sport Chrono package, it produces 550PS of power and 770Nm. of torque. It can go 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds and onwards to 306kph. This is very fast for a luxury premium saloon and because it has permanent four-wheel drive system, it's not afraid to take on any weather condition forecasted on the telly. Hold on, since this car has four-wheel drive, you might think that this car is grippy as last time, am I right? Not so because with the adaptive air suspension with new three-chamber technology, including Porsche Active Suspension Management, the enhanced Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control Sport system including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and active roll stabilisation, as well as a new electromechanical steering system, the new Panamera is like a hectic schedule of a basketball player who plays on game day and then after that, arrives on time for the wedding while dressed in formal attire...only this time he forgot to change his shoes. It's like sports and business mashed up for an executive saloon with the the DNA of a Porsche sportscar.



I know that I didn't like the latest exterior design of the Porsche because it feels like it haven't changed a bit but what I like about in the Turbo variant is the variable rear wing that is very Iron Man-ish when you're speeding. Looks cool but it can get you into real trouble when on public roads but since this is Horizon and there's no one around here to stop you, you're free to look at that new Panamera sprouting its wings like a metallic superhero. Speaking of which, since the Panamera is an executive premium saloon and a high-performance sportscar all rolled into one, my brain just hatched an idea.







Catered by the tailor of Panama...sorta...I have given the brand new Panamera the impression of a queen. The "Perfect Queen" if you know what I'm saying, huh? Anyway, you may not know her but this lady here is Aikatsu Stars' newest character, Elza Forte of the Venus Ark. That's right and that suits both of their personalities rather well so with some improvements already taken care of, it's time for the Perfect Queen to impress the crowd against...the best of Germany.





And so Queen Elza stunned the crowd with her pride and prestige while my allowance after the first four races with the new Panamera will surely rise. Although that sounds too cheap for me but...hold on, what's that? Hmm? Ok... I've just received word that there's a new barn find hidden somewhere in the Outback. While I was racing with the Panamera, word from the mouth is the Barn Find is located near the airport grounds. Here is the shot...



With the location set, me and the Panamera set off for the latest treasure hunt...



Time to find out what kind of legendary machine we encountered today...



Why that's the legendary Porsche 356A Speedster, a 356 catered for the American market. Known as the entry-level open-top version of the said model with the low, raked windscreen that can be detached for track racing, bucket seats, and a minimal folding top, this rare Californian treat is powered by the same 1.6L petrol engine as the other 356s, producing 60HP of power and 81ft-lb of torque, while mated with a 4-speed manual gearbox, but it weighs 1,676lbs, which makes this legend very nimble on the corners.

Anyway, enough chit-chat, let's see how the 356A lives up to being a legendary Porsche that became a hit in Californian roads in the past. Roll the tape!



Man, what a day it was for me. I managed to tailored the Panamera like a "perfect queen" and then unearthened a legendary Porsche 356A Speedster from the outback. It's like The Royals meets the Deadliest Catch and I couldn't be thankful for this day without these Porsches. Speaking of which, looks like the "perfect queen" wants me to have another go and yet, here I am, taking her for a spin.

See you again, folks.