Saturday, September 23, 2017

Bubble Gang - September 22, 2017 #BGBulabogSaBubong

In the September 22, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Bulabog Sa Bubong gags

- Shop 'till you shop some more...



- Mas Pinabonggang Sumbong Sumbong Kay Bonggang Bongbong takes on teenagers making proposal gimmicks, people begging for likes and shares on Facebook to get what they want, and people posting their gimmicks every night but treats on them.



- This man is making protests his business opportunity



- Today's Balitang Ina topic is self-defense

- Bea Bangenge and Toto are talking about a raid at an apartment.

- Today's Patikim ni Kim recipe is Sarsiadong Tilapia, cooked by a special guest!

- A monkey will have a life-changing moment in its life.

- Basa-basa-pik!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Pokken Tournament DX

The ultimate Pokken Tournament experience has finally arrived on the Nintendo Switch as Pokken Tournament DX brings the Pokemon battle wherever you go while introducing you to new and exciting additions that will keep this family-friendly fighting game even more exciting than before.

Pokken Tournament DX

Pokken Tournament DX adds the same goodness from the original version with some added extras that will make you and your friends back for more. In addition to online multiplayer battles and story-focused Ferrum League, and avatar personalization, this game features Team Battle where each round, both players choose one of the three chosen Pokemon to battle with. At the end of the round, the HP and Synergy gauge of the winning Pokemon gets carried over to the next one and the team that defeats all three of the opponent's Pokemon first wins the match. Sounds technical but enjoyable. In addition, Pokken DX features Daily Challenges where you can complete specific tasks to earn skill points to boost your favorite Pokemon's stats.

With a wide array of playable Pokemon to choose from such as Pikachu, Lucario, Charizard, Machamp, Gengar, Gardevoir, Suicune, Sceptile, Blaziken, Weavile, Pikachu Libre, Chandelure, Mewtwo, Shadow Mewtwo, Braixen, and Garchomp, DX introduces five new playable Pokemon such as Darkrai, Scizor, Croagunk, Empoleon, and as a bonus, Decidueye from Pokemon Sun and Moon, bringing a total of 21 playable Pokemon to fight alongside with. In addition to the playable Pokemon, players can select a set of support Pokemon to create a divisive strategy to turn the tide of the battle. Speaking of which, care to recreate some anime moments using the some of the playable Pokemons in the roster? Yes, please.

Like the original, Pokken Tournament DX is a family-friendly fighting game everyone can play with, even your ate or kuya, can join the battle. And because this is Nintendo Switch, you can take the battle everywhere you like, giving you the freedom to play this game wherever you like. From your neighbor's house, frat parties, after-school, office breaks, tailgating parties, every moment is a Pokemon battle and with Pokken Tournament DX, the world is your arena and everyone can join the Pokemon battle if they like.

It really is the ultimate Pokken experience by a long shot, where the only piece missing is you and your pals. Gotta Get Ready For The Next Battle one last time!

FH3 Hot Wheels: Shattered Blue Skies

Open-wheelers, these kind of machines that pushes the very limits of your driving fantasies and with nothing to hold you back except the sound of the engine howling, open-wheelers are made for one thing; overall thrills, and in the case of Forza Horizon 3's Hot Wheels expansion, there is no exception to the rule.



What I have here is a selection of open-wheelers that became a favorite among Forza fans everywhere since the birth of the XBOX One and its capabilities allowed the Forza producers to inject open-wheelers in the franchise. Come to think of it, these open-wheelers made for road and track use are like guerillas running amok half-naked and bearing nothing more than just guns and ammunition, they posses the same level of madness as Rambo. Don't underestimate this little fries because when they come face to face against the fat cats, it's a David and Goliath affair to remember because these open-wheelers are teaching them the painful lesson of handling over performance, whatever lies ahead. Okay, so let's get cracking with this one...





The real beauty of the Caterham is not about the Lotus Seven-inspired looks but it's the racing pedigree and the track-day performance that upsets even the mightiest of exotics elsewhere. Even in this Superlight R500 spec, this Caterham is all about showing open-wheeler fanatics what this car is made of. Of course, you can exercise your options by swapping out with different kinds of engine specs while tinkering its handling capabilities, which results to a dynamic and dangerous experience for those not familiar with it. The truth is, the Caterham is a welcoming feast for the more serious drivers elsewhere.







The Donkervoort D8 maybe known as the Dutchman's Caterham but it's more than being that. With the Audi-sourced 2.5L TFSi 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed gearbox, carbon fiber kevlar body, and track-honed dynamics, the Donkervoort is a different kind of track car for people who think they're not interested in British-made track toys like the Caterham but like a crazy open-wheeler that can ignite their senses.





What about the BAC Mono, I presume? This lightweight, ultra high performance, sportscar is infused with the latest racing technology. With its aggressive styling reminiscent of an Evangelion robot,  2.5L four-cylinder Cosworth engine producing 305HP, Formula 3-inspired Hewland 6-speed sequential gearbox, and pushrod suspension, among many other features, the Mono is all about a purist's open-wheeler that lets its drivers to experience what a thrill the Mono is to be. It's no wonder it lapped round the Top Gear Track quicker than the V8 Atom but who cares about it, I love driving this Mono through astronomical heights if it kills me.





For those who want speed any anything else, there's the king of open-wheeler sportscars, the V8-powered Ariel Atom. Using the same recipe as the infamous, face-ripping Atom, it was injected with a specially-developed V8 engine producing around 500HP of power and because of its less than a ton of weight, the result is a crazy thousand horsepower per tonne power-to-weight ratio, which is twice as powerful as a Bugatti Veyron, and still ripping your pretty face to shreds.



With open-wheelers like these, pushing them to the very limit can be very thrilling and challenging and even in Hot Wheels Thrilltopia, there's so much more than breaking their limits on the ground because when it comes to reaching their stratospheric dreams, driving open-wheelers in Thrilltopia might just be your best day ever because while it sounds so crazy, it's worth the shot of driving these pesky little rodents on the track and show the big boys who's in charge of this playpen. These cars may be small but they truly are the terrible beings you shouldn't underestimate with and with a little practice, these little track toys might just slay some exotics for breakfast, lunch, and tea, even elevenses.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: US and S. Korea agree to bolster military deployment



South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump agreed to expand the deployment of US strategic assets to South Korea and surrounding areas.

During their summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, they underscored the need to maintain deterrence against North Korea. To this end, they agreed to boost their joint defense capabilities. The two leaders strongly condemned North Korea's latest threats.

President Trump, meanwhile, announced new unilateral sanctions against the Korean Peninsula to boost his country's ability to crack down on individuals and firms suspected of doing businesses with the North. Immediately following the bilateral summit, Moon and Trump were joined by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a three-way summit over lunch.

The three leaders saw on the need for strong countermeasures against North Korea and promised to corner the regime with the strongest possible sanctions and pressure.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa told a press briefing that the three leaders noted North Korea's nuclear and missile development posed a grave threat to peace in Northeast Asia and the world.

Meanwhile in North Korea, leader Kim Jong-Un vowed to take the "highest-level" countermeasures following US President Donald Trump's threat to "totally destroy" the Korean Peninsula. According to the KCNA, Kim denounced Trump for making "eccentric words" at the UN General Assembly and according to the top diplomat, the North plans to launch the most powerful hydrogen bomb test across the Pacific in its possible "highest-level" actions against the United States.

Tensions have risen amid North Korea's continued threats following their sixth nuclear test on September 3rd.

Source: Arirang News

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



- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a complaint against Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson at the Office of the Ombudsman. Trillanes earlier threatened to sue Uson, along with broadcast journalist Erwin Tulfo and CNN Philippines contributor Ben Tesiorna for libel after releasing allegedly false information about his purported foreign bank accounts.

- A member of the Aegis Juris fraternity has reached out to the Department of Justice to shed light on the case of Horacio Castillo III, according to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

- The Department of Justice junked rape and attempted rape complaints against actor Vhong Navarro due to lack of probable cause. In a 24-page Review Resolution made public today, the DOJ junked the two counts of rape filed by commercial model Deniece Cornejo who worked as a double in Navarro’s TV show.

- Spain makes new arrest  in the recent investigation of last month's attacks in Barcelona. According to the Interior Ministry, a man has been arrested for alleged links to the extremist cell in the attacks in Barcelona and a nearby town.

- Philippine boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. vows he will be better than before on his featherweight return against Mexico's Ruben Hernandez at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday.

- Volvo unveiled the new XC40 compact crossover, utilizing the company's Compact Modular Architecture, powered by a wide range of Drive-E engines, and the first offered in "Care by Volvo" service.

2018 Volvo XC40

- Suzuki will display the next-generation Spacia kei minivan (in concept guise) and Hustler-based XBEE kei crossover in next month's Tokyo Motor Show as well as their e-SURVIVOR concept and a specially-prepped Carry truck for the show.

- Nissan's Infiniti will launch a standalone electric model in 2019, according to reports. It will be previewed in concept form at next year's NAIAS.

- Malaysian carmaker Proton has left the Iranian market and dissolves its dormant subsidiary.

- Watch a diesel-powered Land Rover Discovery towing a 110-tonne road train.


TTFN!!!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: What's like living during the Marcos era?

The year 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Martial Law to the rest of the nation, which is known to be one of the darkest times in the history of the Philippines, where free speech has been heavily suppressed by the strong arm of the Marcos dictatorship. I know, I wasn't born at that time but my mom and dad witnessed the carnage brought by the martial rule not just across Metro Manila but the rest of the nation. I maybe history-conscious but imagine if me and my siblings portrayed either mom's and dad's during the martial rule in the 70's, I wonder what is like to live during the Marcos era. Like a family hiding in a basement during an event of a Category 5 hurricane struck the neighborhood, telling stories to each other, this is a homespun opportunity to look what is like living in the Philippines under the martial rule in my perspective.

Ferdinand E. Marcos

My dad is about 16 years old while my mom is about 14 years old when President Marcos declared the whole Philippines under Martial Rule. I believe that my parents were high school students back then so to think like them, I need to choose who I should be at that time. I could be either my dad or my Tito Endo, who is a brother of my mom's. Like my time, it's a "one boy, three girls, wouldn't trade it for the world" scenario , although it is unclear what are they doing in their teen years in an event of a martial rule in the Philippines. Portraying either my dad or my Tito Endo, getting to know life in a Martial Law era would be easy as pie as I'm trying to personalize how are things doing for them at that time with the way me and my siblings are doing in today's time. It all sounds timey-wimey for me but this should be a good way to learn the past.

They're both high school students but they went through separate ways because my dad use to live at a quiet village somewhere in Nueva Ecija whereas my mom and her family live somewhere in the Metro Manila because I am not sure where did they live very long time ago but you get the point. There were no shopping malls like SM at that time, no foreign films (kinda), no foreign shows airing on Philippine TV, no cable, communication's limited to sending a letter at the post office, everything about the 70's is all there. So, what am I doing during the martial rule era in the Philippines? Well, since I'm a high school student at that time, I tend to get picky with my classmates even during classes where a selection of subjects include English, Filipino, Sibika, GMRC, HELE or THE, Science, MAPEH, and Math, although unsure what subjects did offer at that time being apart from Science, Math, English, and Filipino. During recess and lunch hours, I tend to eat my mom's home cooking somewhere in the cafeteria, and when dismissal time, well, it's hard to guess how did I go home during the 70's but let's just say, I fetch a ride with a jeepney using my allowance my mother gave me. When I got home, all did is finishing my homework, listening to the transistor, watching TV, and then go to bed. Typical day, eh?

A transistor is what everyone called a radio in today's times but what am I listening on the transistor during the 70's? Well, there weren't any shouty DJs at that time being, it's just well-civilized radio presenters presenting some smooth music, including disco because the 70's is the age of the disco. Apart from listening to those smooth music, I tend to listen to some news, knowing what will Marcos' next move during the martial rule as well as the world affairs. If listening to news and music with the transistor isn't enough, what shows do I watch on TV during that time? Well, since this is the 70's, the only channels they had during the Martial Law era were GMA, BBC2, KBS News, iBC 13, you name the rest. There were no foreign shows aired at that time until the 80's and the only shows I can only watch are some sitcoms, some news, some variety shows, you get the point. If we exist in that era, the coolest shows aired on Philippine TV during the martial rule were Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino, Big Ike's Happening, Odyssey 2, and Penthouse Seven, among many others.

Many people who lived in the Martial Law era know the name Joe Quirino because he was the Boy Abunda of that time and his talk variety show is showcasing the country's brightest celebrities every night and that show has been the pinnacle of every Filipino talk shows from the past and the present. As for shows like Odyssey 2 on the Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation, which was the ABS-CBN of that time, and GMA's Penthouse Seven, these two disco shows are a way to pass the nights with some dances from the best celebrities of the decade. There are many shows aired in the Martial Law era that can be described as good in every tangible way but as any 70's kids can tell, it's hard to describe how did they manage to survive such a harsh decade.

Movies. What movies shown in theaters during the Martial Law era in the Philippines? In most countries, they're showing even the most successful foreign films such as Star Wars, Jaws, Halloween, The French Connection, all of the Bond films during the Roger Moore years, the list goes on and on, but in Philippine cinemas, theoretically, they only show local films at that time like for instance an action flick by Joseph Estrada where he was being chased by the Japanese yakuzas, and there was a bold movie that I can't believe they exist in that era. Still, because Filipinos are not familiar with foreign films during the Martial Law era, those who are brave enough to weave from heavily guarded areas and angry protesters managed to go watch a movie and because home video wasn't invented yet, those who want to watch the film again need to spend their money again to watch it again.

What about cars? Although the 70's is all about the change of cars due to the world energy crisis, there has been some cool cars in the decade, which the Philippines never had because apart from the jeepneys, the roads are constantly littered with trucks, Mitsubishis, Toyotas, Ford Escorts, trucks, even AUVs that has been the workhorses of every Filipinos.

Is there anything in the Martial Law era that made us interesting? Well, sadly, I don't have time for that but still, living in the Philippines during the Martial Law era of the Marcos regime is very scary indeed because with all that brutal killings, jailings, violent protests, everything that made it the darkest turn in Philippine history and history did repeat itself as today's Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Martial Law last May in the Mindanao region due to the ongoing clash against the Maute Group, which are sympathizers of the Islamic State militants.

Whatever happened 45 years ago is something Filipinos will never forget, even those who survived the carnage from the Marcos regime. And whatever my parents are doing to survive the decade of violence remains a mystery for now because I never existed at that time as well as my siblings but I had fun imagining what is like to be in their shoes. Learning from the past makes us prepare for the future. With history and current affairs, we truly understand why we all live in a world gone mad and it's important that we are the ones who can entrust the future to the next generation, whatever it may be.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Seoul announced $8M of humanitarian aid to Pyongyang



The South Korean government approved the eight million dollar in aid to North Korea through UN agencies. According to Seoul's unification ministry today, the government decided at at a meeting to support infants and pregnant women in North Korea, citing a serious humanitarian crisis facing them.

The move came amid concerns that Seoul's aid may compromise international efforts to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile programs. Seoul stressed that the issue of extending aid to North Korea should be handled regardless of political considerations.

Source: Arirang News

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



- The University of Santo Tomas marks a day of mourning and prayer for victims of senseless killings, which has suspended work and classes to give the university time for its observance. The declaration also coincides with the 45th anniversary of martial law.

- A Palace official said that demands and grievances are better expressed through proper channels as it continues to verify reports of a new insurgent group in Marawi City, known themselves as the Meranaw Victims Movement.

- It's business as usual for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and banks in a non-working day for government offices declared by President Duterte.

- At least 216 people died when a powerful 7.1 earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday, including 21 children crushed beneath an elementary school that was reduced to a rubble. It struck two hours after the country held a quake drill as it does every year on the anniversary of the 1985 quake that killed at least 10,000 people.

- The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has been opened for signing. To date, about 50 UN member states, including the Philippines, signed the treaty (with more on the way) while only three ratified the treaty (including the Holy See), less than the 47 needed to enter force.

- Lamborghini Squadra Corse unveiled the new Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO, which made its world debut at an exclusive event in Sant'Agata Bolognese and announces its new partnership with the famous Swiss luxury watchmaker Roger Dubuis.



- McLaren unveiled their entry to the Vision Gran Turismo range coming soon to GT Sport.



- In case you missed the special livestream at the Bushimo booth at this week's Tokyo Game Show, they've announced a brand new Lovelive! School Idol Festival All-Stars app game coming next year, featuring a brand-new take to the app game Lovelivers love while featuring members from μ's, Aqours, and now the recently-unveiled Perfect Dream Project idols starring Ayumu Uehara, Kasumi Nakasu, Shizuku Osaka, Karin Asaka, Ai Miyashita, Kanata Konoe, Setsuna Yuki, Emma Verde, and Rina Tennoji.



TTFN!!!

PROJECT CARS 2

The first PROJECT CARS game first launched globally in 2015 and then in Japan a year later changes the way gamers think about racing simulations. As a racing game made by gamers for gamers, PROJECT CARS is known to offer the most racetracks in any racing game and by using science, the cars offered in-game behaves just like reality, giving them a clear reason why it became an award-wining phenomenon as the fruit of Bandai Namco and Slightly Mad Studios' labor. With the original PROJECT CARS's success, the highly-anticipated sequel has arrived and it wants to give this year's racing games a run for their money.

PROJECT CARS 2

PROJECT CARS 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the award-winning real racing simulation made by the folks from Bandai Namco Entertainment and Slightly Mad Studios and this game promises to be even more real than the last game with the largest roster of racetracks offered in a racing game, a wide selection of cars to master, and new ways to enjoy this game.

Before getting your hands on this latest masterpiece, let's get to know about the key factors of PC2. One such factor is the LiveTrack 3.0, which gives most (but not all) racetracks a more realistic approach. From dynamic time and weather changes, not to mention seasonal changes, driving on your favorite track just got even more realistic than ever, meaning extreme mastery through different conditions is a must because when the roads get slippery or dark, it's important that you need to pay close attention not just to the car you're driving and the track you're on but also on the ongoing conditions you might face.

Because PC2 has the most racetracks than any other racing simulator games known to many, you can expect new additions to the monstrous track roster including COTA, Fuji Speedway, Daytona International Raceway, Knockhill, including the Mercedes-Benz Driving Events Ice Track as well. From tarmac, gravel, snow, technical, oval, kart track, every racetrack adapts to the ever-changing condition due to LiveTrack 3.0, giving players more reason to hone their driving skills while aiming to become the top racers.

As tracks became the real heroes of the PROJECT CARS 2, we must never forget a wide variety of cars to master; be it road cars, open wheelers, LMPs, rally cars, touring cars, any kind of cars you might come across. In addition to the star cars of the game such as McLaren's brand new 720S, PROJECT CARS 2 introduces the best of cars from Porsche and Ferrari, making this game even more interesting than the last one. Hey, since there's the Algarve racetrack, how about recreating that Grand Tour episode using the P1, the 918, and the LaFerrari?

Back to the important bits, PROJECT CARS 2 features a revised Career Mode where players can master different regions of motorsports and because motorsport is the main focus of the game, you can't just keep the cars on your own, only your racing progress is your progression and in Career Mode, you can progress your career your way by taking on six tiers of motorsports from beginner-friendly ones to the more established ones that will challenge the very limits of your career.

Before the race, you are introduces to the new Race Engineer feature where you can fine tune your machine under the engineer's recommendations or tweak it by themselves. You can alter its gear changes, suspension, brakes, LSDs, any mechanical bits to your liking and depending on your setup, the difference between a win and a defeat lies in one car's configuration so you have to be smart to deal with fine-tuning your machines before heading on the track.

And finally, the more important bit, broadcast and eSports and for PC2, they manages to tick them off just right and not only these features would benefit every organizer hosting their own PC2 races on a shed but also the more established eSports outlets. As for online gaming, it features a license system that pairs drivers not just by their skill but by their behavior as well, truly separating the men from the boys while experiencing what real racing is all about.

Although not one of the best racing games to try out for this year, PROJECT CARS 2 is by any means the most ultra-realistic racing game to try this fall and with LiveTrack 3.0, ith the largest roster of racetracks offered in a racing game, a wide selection of cars to master, and new ways to enjoy this game, there's a key reason why you shouldn't ignore a racing game that holds a special place not just for racing game fans but for Bandai Namco fans everywhere and here's hoping that their collaboration will keep on going until they gave up the ghost.

THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! M@STER SPARKLE 02

THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE!
M@STER SPARKLE 02

Continuing on the celebration of the release of THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! Theater Days app game, the second installment of the M@STER SPARKLE CD lineup inspired from the app game has arrived and that makes two out of the eight planned releases on the range.

For this second installment, the idol highlights are Matsuri Tokugawa (CV: Ayaka Suwa), Subaru Nagayoshi (CV: Yuka Saito), Tsubasa Ibuki (CV: Machico), Shiho Kitazawa (CV: Sora Amamiya), and Kaori Sakuramori (CV: Arisa Kori), each performing a brand new song you can expect on this range as well as on the app game later on.

For limited quantities, there's even a serial code that will grant you a chance to be part of a special mini-event happening this November.

Like it was told, there are a total of eight M@STER SPARKLE installments and now that two are out expect more to come in this range but in the meantime, feel free to listen to these new songs in the first installment of this new range and be sure to download THE IDOLM@STER Million Live Theater Days on the App Store or Google Play. Contains in-app purchases.

TRACK LISTINGS:

01 プリンセス・アラモード
02 HOME RUN SONG♪
03 ロケットスター☆
04 CAT CROSSING
05 ハミングバード

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korean leader stresses peaceful resolution



South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his country will work to set an example of economic democracy for the rest of the world. The remarks came as he accepted the Global Citizen Award becoming one of the three winners of the annual award.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, issued the strongest warning yet to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at his debut at the 72nd UN General Assembly that opened on Tuesday. Trump said North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles are a threat to the entire world. He said that, if necessary, the US would "totally destroy" North Korea to defend itself and its allies.

He went on to emphasize the importance of UN member nations working together to isolate the Kim Jong-un regime. President Trump also thanked members of the UN Security Council, including China and Russia, for their votes in favor of the toughest ever UN resolution on Pyongyang for its most recent nuclear test.

Following Trump's speech, the South Korean presidential office issued a statement, saying it is evident that the new administration sees the North Korean issue as top priority as Trump's remarks confirm that the strongest possible sanctions are the only way to make North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons.

President Moon is expected to focus on North Korea and call for global cooperation to denounce and rein in threats from the Korean Peninsula.

Source: Arirang News

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



- President Rodrigo Duterte said he would participate the September 21 protests as he declares September 21st as National Day of Protest amid the 45th anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law across the nation during the Marcos regime.

- Singapore's DBS Bank has cleared Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's allegations of accumulating 193,000 of unspecified currency. Trillanes went to the DBS branch in Singapore’s Alexandra Road bringing with him a printout of the alleged account number registered under his father’s name.

- MNLF Founding Chairman Nur Misuari posted bail for charges of graft and malversation through falsification of public documents by the Anti-Graft Court.

- Actor Richard Yap mourns with family of the slain law student Horacio Castillo III of the University of Santo Tomas due to a hazing incident. According to the actor, he personally knew Castillo through his daughter. Yap described Castillo to be a “kind and hardworking student.”

- Migrants rescued in the Mediterranean last week said they had been lucky to dodge increased sea and police patrols along the Western coast of Libya that have dramatically reduced arrivals in Italy since July.

- Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is "out of danger" in South African hospital after being airlifted from Harare at the weekend following the sudden onset of severe vomiting, according to sources.

- Mitsubishi Motors will showcase their e-EVOLUTION CONCEPT at next month's Tokyo Motor Show.

- Ford Motor Company announced their strategic partnership with India's Mahindra for electrification and product development.

- ANUBIS Zone of the Enders returns to the PS4 and Steam on the Spring of 2018 with 4K HDR and new VR feature where players can play the entire game in VR.



- Bandai Namco announces THE IDOLM@STER STELLA STAGE coming to the PS4 this December 21st, 2017.



TTFN!!!

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Toyota's GR SPORT lineup

Toyota Motor Corporation introduces the all new GR sports lineup of cars tweaked courtesy of GAZOO Racing. Renaming their sporty lineup from G's to GR, the new sports lineup consists of three hierarchies ranging from the GR Sport line of custom cars, the GR line of moderately tuned cars, and GRMN-tuned cars.

First, let's take a look at the first batch of Toyota GAZOO Racing's GR Sport line of cars, which are basically customized versions of your everyday Toyotas such as the Vitz, the all-new Prius PHV, the Harrier, the Mark X, and the twin vans Noah and Voxy.

2018 Toyota Vitz GR Sport
2018 Toyota Vitz GR Sport interior
The Vitz GR Sport will be based on variants, petrol or hybrid, with the 1.5L engine on it. Starting at 2,087,640 Yen for petrol and 2,329,560 for the hybrid, the GR Sport variant not only comes with special aerodynamic design and special interior, it comes with the improved welding spot of the body as well as a sport tuned suspension. for the GR variant, it comes with Sachs low-down suspension and with the CVT, it was sportly tuned to engage a 10-speed manual mode on it. It comes with the limited slip differential to give a hot hatch feeling on a normal Vitz.

2018 Toyota Prius PHV GR Sport
2018 Toyota Prius PHV GR Sport interior

Using the recently-launched Prius PHV as the base, the GR Sport variant, starting at 3,711,960 Yen, features a low-down suspension and reinforced brace to the under floor, not to mention special Gazoo Racing cosmetic treatments inside and out to add some sportiness on this eco car.

2018 Toyota Harrier GR Sport
2018 Toyota Harrier GR Sport interior
Based on the recently facelifted Harrier crossover, the GR Sport variant is available only for variants with a 2.0L petrol engine, NA or turbo, and apart from the sporty treatment on the exterior and the interior, the number of spot welds have increased on the body as well as a reinforced brace to the under floor, not to mention the use of sport-tuned suspension. Prices start at 3,398,760 Yen.

2018 Toyota Mark X GR Sport
2018 Toyota Mark X GR Sport interior

The GR Sport variant of the recently facelifted Mark X saloon is available to order starting at 3,809,160 Yen and based on the 250S and 350RDS variants, it comes with added spot welds on the body, reinforced brace to the under floor, and sport-tuned suspension.

2018 Toyota Noah GR Sport
2018 Toyota Noah GR Sport interior
2018 Toyota Voxy GR Sport
2018 Toyota Voxy GR Sport interior

Adding sportiness to the recently facelifted Noah and Voxy minivans, the GR Sport variants, starting at 3,257,280 Yen, uses only the normal 2.0L FF variants and apart from the cosmetic treatments to make minivans look great on the roads, it comes with sport-tuned suspension and reinforced brace to the under floor.

Later in the winter, the Prius α hybrid MPV and the recently facelifted Aqua hybrid compact will receive the GR Sport treatment using the same stuff mentioned above. The Toyota 86 will receive a GR variant later in the end of the year as well with improved dynamics, Sachs suspension and Torsen-type LSD. Later in the spring, the Vitz will gain a more powerful 3-door GRMN variant with a supercharged 1.8L petrol engine producing 212PS of power.

Enjoy with these new Toyota Gazoo Racing lineup of cars at your nearest Toyota dealerships across Japan!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Moon vows to find fundamental solution to N. Korea



South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for coordinated efforts by the international community to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, stressing the need to implement UN sanctions against the Korean Peninsula to bring them back on the negotiating table.

In his arrival in New York for the UN General Assembly, President Moon also vowed to seek ways to fundamentally resolve the issue and pledged his country's leading role to deal with issues such as climate change.

On Thursday, President Moon will deliver a keynote speech at the UN General Assembly urging international cooperation to further isolate North Korea. Moon will then have a luncheon with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump to discuss how to deal with ongoing threats from North Korea.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hinted at a possible military option on North Korea that would spare South Korea from grave risk. While Mattis confirmed that he discuss the issue of redeploying tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean PEninsula, when he sat down with his South Korean counterpart last month.

The Pentagon chief also said the US did not shoot down the ballistic missile that North Korea fired over Japan last week, as the allies did not consider it a direct threat to their national security.

Later, a Japanese newspaper reported that the European Union plans to cut the transfer limit to 6,000 US Dollars per person. The move is aimed at sharply reducing the amount of money North Korean workers can send back to the regime.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (September 19, 2017)



- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is expected to travel to Singapore to prove his innocence with regards to President Rodrigo Duterte's accusation of his supposed offshore wealth.

- Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada admits that he is dismayed with Commission on Human Rights head Chito Gascon after never receiving a visit from the commissioner to assess his condition after being detained for three years. According to Estrada, he is account to President Duterte's accusation that Gascon is a loyal follower of the Liberal Party.

- The Manila Police District medico-legal confirmed that the cause of death of 22-year-old Horacio Tomas Castillo III of the University of Santo Tomas was due to severe hazing. Based on autopsy, the law student died due to a massive heart attack possibly brought by his injuries.

- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency filed charges against former BOC commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and 11 others before the Department of Justice. The complaint stemmed from the Php 6.4 billion worth of crystal meth that was smuggled from China last May.

- British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson is accused of "backseat driving" Brexit on Sunday after setting out his own vision of his nation.

- Iran threatens to destroy Israel "with lightning speed" hot on the heels of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with US President Donald Trump. An Iranian military officer currently acting as the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran army issued a menacing statement that they will destroy Israel within the next 25 years.

- Jerusalem will host next year's Giro d'Italia, one of the cycling's three grand tours, before continuing with stages between Haifa and Tel Aviv and Beersheba and Eilat. This will be the first time one of cycling's three historic grand tours will break ground beyond Europe and will be the most prestigious sporting event happened in the Zionist state.

- The newly formed Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance unveiled their Alliance 2022 6-year plan which includes double of annual synergies to 10 billion euros at the end of the plan, with over nine million vehicles to share four common platforms which will cover 75% of overall sales.

- BMW will use a new flexible platform for all cays by 2020 onwards.

- Mazda will unveil their new rotary concept car at October's Tokyo Motor Show.

- In case you missed it, Josef Newgarden wins this season of IndyCar at Sonoma Raceway.
 

TTFN!!!

Monday, September 18, 2017

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Opening session of the 2017 UN General Assembly



The UN General Assembly is to begin on Monday after its opening was officially declared last week. Leaders and diplomats from 193 member nations will be gathered to discuss fundamental issues and tackle political and humanitarian challenges worldwide.

The highlight of the Assembly will be the six-day discussion session set to begin this on Tuesday. Big subjects worldwide are up for discussion but threats from Pyongyang will be the top of their list. This year, the spotlight will be on newly elected leaders such as South Korea's Moon Jae-in, France's Emmanuel Macron, and United States' Donald Trump.

President Moon was set to embark on a five-day trip to New York on Monday to attend the UN General Assembly and hold talks with other leaders to deal with the ongoing threats from North Korea following their sixth nuclear test on September 3rd and numerous missile firings.

The presidential office said earlier that President Moon will hold a luncheon and summit with the leaders of the United States and Japan in New York on the 21st. In his speech at the UN General Assembly later this week, President Moon is expected to call for international efforts to further isolate North Korea. Later, the South Korean leader is expected to hold talks with other global leaders.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (September 18, 2017)



- Former BOC commissioner Nicanor Faeldon has officially filed an ethics complaint against Senator Panfilo Lacson. Faeldon was temporarily released from his detention room at the Senate to submit his complaint before the Senate ethics committee, Chaired by Senator Tito Sotto III.

- A low pressure area triggers rain showers in some parts of the Philippines. According to PAGASA, as of 5 a.m. Sunday, the LPA was tracked 930 kilometers east of Alabat, Quezon.

- About 200 NAPOLCOM officers may be ousted due to alleged cheating in their entrance examination. According to Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao, after a thorough review of the policemen papers, it was found out that the officers had the exact same right and wrong answers in their exam sheets.

- Typhoon Talim has struck Japan with damaging winds, flooding rain, and an inundating storm surge as it reached the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane during the second last week and made landfall in southern Kyushu yesterday.

- Qatar is set to purchase 24 units of the Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Great Britain's BAE Systems.

- Singapore will keep on hosting Formula 1 races until the year 2021.

- A big wave of Takata airbag recalls struck China with 4.86 affected vehicles from VW and partners and 2.5 million from General Motors and its joint ventures.

- Yo-Kai Watch Busters 2 will be out on the Nintendo 3DS on the 7th of December with two versions; Sword and Magnum. The new game will see your favorite Yo-Kais go treasure hunting through uncharted areas.



- At last weekend's ClariS concert at Pacifico Yokohama, the pop duo finally unmasked their true identities in front of a live audience during the encore.

- Your first look at the film All the Money in the World, starring House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey as the oil tycoon who refused to pay the ransom when his grandson was kidnapped in 1973. It hits theaters this December.



TTFN!!!

F1 2017 - Singapore GP

When night falls in Singapore, the Formula One race kicks in and for the 2017 season, it's the Singaporean GP gone mad when the tables have turned at Marina Bay, tipping the favor for the victor who wants reclaim its title.


Of course, thanks to the three-way crash between the two Ferrari drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the start of the race that destroyed their hopes of crushing the race leader, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton drove through the wet Marina Bay like there's nothing to hold him back and won the race while Daniel Ricciardo's placed 2nd place and Valtteri Bottas in 3rd.

Thanks to Vettel caught to a three-way catastrophe, the Hamilton's lead is now 28 points ahead, 263 vs. 235.

Next race is at Malaysia on the 1st of October.

Top Gear America - Time Capsule

The season finale of the first-ever Top Gear America on BBC America is all about remembering your first love with your first car.


Bill Fichtner remembers the moment with his 1966 Buick Special, Antron Brown with his Honda CT70 bike, and Tom "Wookie" Ford with the Series IIA Land Rover.

Looking into old cars, Tom checks out the best of AMG with the wideout Benz C126 coupe and later with the AMG 500TE estate.

Then, Bill and Tom are sampling the retro taste of electricity with the VW Splitty and Ferrari 308, both modified to run on electric motors. But since focus goes to the EV-upgraded Ferrari, they let The Stig drive both the normal, petrol-powered Ferrari 308 against the modified 308 with electric motors on. After lapping two identical Ferraris round the track, the normal 308 did it in 1:26.19 while the Electric GT did it in 1:16.43. It's a shocking revelation to see that an electric powered car can eat its normal equivalent on the track.

Magician Penn Jillette is the last guest of the season and he did it in 1:34.25.

Because this is the season finale, Wookie crashes through the Top Gear Test Track in the UK to dig more on AMGs and then tries out their latest offering, the Mercedes-AMG GT R and the GT C Roadster.

Man, what a ride it was for the first-ever Top Gear America. Going on a Baja with the buggy, doing stunts, camping, going drag racing, recreating the first NASCAR race in history, offroading, the list goes on and on, not to mention driving some of the best cars and inviting America's best celebrities. This newly-revived American version of Top Gear is everything you need to pass the time before the real Top Gear returns soon.

Well, now that the first season's wrapped up, we're back for the waiting game until its rival motoring show popped up in the autumn and we are in a tough battle before the original shows up. Until then, thanks for watching Top Gear America and see you next trip!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Tales of the Turtles 400

Fall season really is football season in America but in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup, the high-speed brawl is so much more than just offensive tackles and touchdowns as Chicagoland Speedway has turned into an all-out battlefield for the special Tales of the Turtles 400, sponsored by Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.


A race for everyone they can sink their pizzas into their mouth, it's either "Go Big or Go Home" for the best NASCAR drivers ever assembled to Chicagoland and see who makes it on top or fall from the smokescreen. From every troublesome moments like Kyle Busch's pit road penalty, a spinout for Jamie McMurray before the final stage, early trouble for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Erik Jones spins off at turn 4, it was one heck of a mess out there.

Out of all the messy things happened throughout the race, Martin Truex Jr. wins the race and as a bonus, since this is a race sponsored by the Nickelodeon hit TV show, he gets slimed in Victory Lane. Pays to be the two-time winner of the first race of the NASCAR Playoffs of this year.

Next race is at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the ISM Connect 300 on the 24th.


At the 2017 Renton City Comic Con

Every autumn in a quiet Washingtonian city of Renton, a small but surprising comic book convention called the Renton City Comic Con or RenCon come roaring through the streets of Renton, celebrating the best of TV, comics, anime, cosplay. technology and other forms of media.

For 2017, nothing's been more star-studded than this year's RenCon that runs from the 16th to the 17th of September. Those who made it to the venue got the opportunity to meet up with the likes of The Flash's Michelle Harrison, who talks about working with the hit TV series based on the DC Comics superhero and what's in store for the next season, the cast of SYFY's hit TV series, Z-Nation, talking about working with Washingtonians during the filming of the next season airing next week and how to survive the zombie pandemic, the original cast of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers reminiscing about their on-screen moments , and more.

Those leisure-focused people who are here for the convention but not here for the special guests never rushed to look at the sights and sounds of this year's convention which caused an uproar on the streets of Renton, even late at night.

Check out my pics from this weekend's event:



More pics:
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