Cadillac CTS Coupe

Since 2002, Cadillac launched the CTS to replace the Opel-sourced Catera sports sedan, and then in 2007, the CTS gained a full model change incorporating Cadillac's new design language from concepts to production cars. Last year, the CTS gained a new member, which is the CTS Sport Wagon targeted for those who had it with their European tourers. Today, a new sporty addition to the CTS range, from the sedan, the high-performance V, and the Sports Wagon, appeared that makes it a first of its kind since the Eldorado was eliminated a few years back.

Surprisingly, the new CTS Coupe is surely a prize fighter for Cadillac after General Motors reborn from last year's bankruptcy due to the Lehman Shock (a formal term for the world economic crisis), that is when General Motors is now focusing on the four surviving brands, Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. Now for the main aspect of the coupe version of the CTS, the design remains stale from the concept version as seen from the 2008 North American International Auto Show, except for the interior, which is somewhat out with the ordinary and in with the extraordinary. Judging from Cadillac's design philosophy, the CTS Coupe matches an aggressive stance and a keen sense of style, providing this luxury sports car an unmatchable finesse and judgmental personality that is truly a target among men with high I.Q.

Under the hood, the CTS Coupe is powered with the standard 3.6L LLT V6 engine that delivers a sportscar-class power of 304 horsepower with the torque output of 273 lb-ft. It also comes with the optional AWD drive train so you can experience more fun to drive anytime. To add fun to it, the new CTS Coupe comes with the sport suspension tuned for the punishing Nurburgring Nordschleife, to bring out the CTS Coupe's full potential in cornering tight spots, including mountain passes. What disappoints the CTS Coupe is the standard 6-speed automatic transmission, which makes this coupe somewhat sluggish to move further. However, for the Performance variant, an optional 6-speed manual transmission is available for those who are seeking some fun to drive experience. What makes the CTS Coupe special is the standard StabiliTrak for a safer feeling while cornering. No one says this CTS Coupe is not the kind of Cadillac you have expected from its European enemies.

The CTS-V Coupe


In addition to the CTS Coupe is the ultimate white-knuckle ride that is surely a huge threat to the Audi RS5 is the new CTS-V Coupe. The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is a field-upgrade version of the Cadillac CTS Coupe, and the V marque attached to this Cadillac coupe is the "V for victory" in the eyes of a true American car enthusiast. With the supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, Recaro seats, high-performance exhaust pipes, Nurburgring-tuned suspension, Brembo disk brakes, and a choice of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, your I.Q. will sure be dropped from one to nothing if you are willing to be thrown to the excitement done by the new CTS-V Coupe. Despite the performance, I can assume that the CTS-V Coupe will not stand up against the newly launched Subaru WRX STi 4-door because of the Nurburgring lap time, but these two sports cars can become decent rivals in the eyes of a sports car aficionado.

My thoughts about the CTS Coupe:
There are so many reasons how this new CTS Coupe is now ready for action, it is because it will target the likes of the BMW 3-Series Coupe and the MB E-Class Coupe, it will bring out its striking beauty among Cadillac fanatics, and it with numerous options, this car would shine on the highway. If Top Gear Philippines place this car on the "Price This Car" segment, I would price it 5 million pesos for the base coupe and 8.5 Million for the CTS-V Coupe. The results can be obvious and in my honest opinions, both the CTS Coupe and the CTS-V Coupe are targeted by most celebrities, politicians, basketball players, and the rich kids trying to step up among the rest.

What to do with the useless "Wang-wangs"

Since we are now living in the age of "P-noy", the Philippines are now free of the noisy "wang-wangs" (we call them for sirens used by cops). The question remains in the eyes of a Pinoy with brain is, what can you do with all these useless wang-wangs or sirens to be specific?

Just ask Pooh from Banana Split. On the sketch called "Iba't ibang gamit ng isang gamit na walang gamit" (Several uses for useless things), Pooh, as Dr. RRR, shows us the many uses of the wang-wang now vanquished under the rule of the new Philippine President.

1) Can be used as a moving lights on parties, such as nightclubs, dance clubs, etc.

2) As a night lamp on the bedroom

3) As a buzzer on game shows

4) And also as an alarm clock for waking up

Guess this siren now removed on Philippine roads can have so many uses. ROFL

Misspelling Gee returns!

Another Friday night, another Bubble Gang episode.

With gags having parents telling their kids where did they get such a large money, massage, girls and gays fight in all-out hip-hop war, hunter vs. hunter, debating on...um...TV should never air such debates, another "Sabi-Sabi" episode, more IyoTube entertainment with our favorite Moymoy Palaboy and Roadfill, and that episode marks the return of the hilarious spelling quiz part called, the MISSPELLING GEE!

Think you know words? If Ogie Alcasid hosting this kind of spelling bee sketch, and have two students played by Maureen Larrazabal and Michael V, better start chuckling! The easiest words often misspell a lot by those two! ROFL...

And hey, on that IyoTube segment, that song you heard, was a remixed version of Charice's song titled Pyramid. Sounds enjoyable and fun with Moymoy Palaboy lip-syncing around Bubble Gang.

On Saturday, GMA will air a new kind of sitcom about a family of superheroes who are trying their best to hide their truth from the neighbors. It's called Kaya Ng Powers, and airs after 24 Oras Weekend.

Volkswagen Sharan II

While most of the European families readying themselves for their long summer getaway, it is not surprising that the brand behind the Beetles, Golfs, and Polos has just launched the second-generation Sharan just in time to prepare themselves for their long getaway.

Launched at the Geneva Motor Show since March and sales start this August, the new VW Sharan is mainly the target of small-sized minivans such as the second-generation Opel Meriva, Honda Freed, and the new Honda Freed Spike. With its trademark Volkswagen design, spacious seating arrangements, and good for seven people, especially the kids, this VW-made minivan is the main choice for the European families, even when the previous model made a milestone of having more than 600,000 Sharans sold worldwide.

Under the hood, the new Sharan covers 2 available engines such as the 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Technology engine, and the 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Engine. Both of these engines combine the aesthetics of being clean, powerful, and fuel-efficient engines, and henceforth the new Volkswagen Sharan dubbed as the perfect European eco-car for the masses. In addition, there are two available transmissions available for the new Sharan such as the 6-speed manual transmission and the 6-speed DSG.

The new Sharan's EasyFold seating system with EasyEntry function allows passengers to gain access to the third row seats without hassles. It can be folded for various seating arrangements available for multiple uses. These arrangements look perfect to bring more stuff around the average European family before beginning their big European summer break.

My thoughts about the Sharan:
While it may not seem to be a fun-to-drive minivan, this best-seller is now evolved to be a fuel-efficient eco-car targeted for European families readying themselves for summer break, from camping trips, wild adventures, tailgate parties, entrapment operations, or just for fun. Its downsize was the pricing because the Sharan's introductory price of 28,875 Euros is somewhat higher than the new Opel Meriva's introductory price of 15,900 Euros. However, the base 1.4L variant of the new Sharan's power output is 150PS, is higher than 100PS power output of the new Meriva's base 1.4L variant, which brings the new Sharan closer to its performance core. In my highest expectations, when Volkswagen returns to the Philippines, the new Sharan would be a hard-to-get among high-class Philippine people, especially the celebrities, because the pricing would reach to a Mercedes-Benz level.

Something's odd....

Every time when I switched the TV on to watch Hole In The Wall Season 2 on GMA, it shuffles me to some question why Ogie Alcasid often keeps his Kim Min-Yung role while Michael V switching roles week by week from Bianca, Min-Yung's die-hard fan, from week one, then he became as Kim Min-Yung's mom from week 2, and for this week, um, I think he dressed like Kim Min-Yung, only different, I wonder....

And if someone realized that did Bubble Gang made some sketch involved in fan service, hmmm, if you rewind your minds back at the May 21 episode (there was a Jejemon sketch) and if you saw the "Clothes Out" sketch, I think this is fan service.

Also, did you stay all afternoon long to see Banana Split Daily Servings? There is a mini-drama with the title so gross, you'll end up laughing and crying. It's titled "Ang Babaeng Hindi Maitaas Ang Kili-kili" (The girl who can't raise her underarm) and it makes me laugh and cry on Banana Split's mini-drama involving on the heroine named Josephina (Nina Jose) who struggles to fit in as the girl who can't raise her underarm. At first, we find out that whoever saw her shining underarm will end up being out of control, or even killing themselves, later, that shining part on her underarm was a monster inside Josephina vowing revenge on the death of Josephina's father who was killed by the cops, including her childhood friend Tonyo (Zanjoe Marudo), also, she was targeted by the enemies who can't show their bellies. Now, it seems that the underarm that made everyone idiots became a miracle. Whoever swallows the sweat of Josephina's underarm will cure themselves. Hmmm... scary but funny at first, and miraculous at later.

Oh well, an apple a day "melf me all da way" ROFL.

A very special font....

Last I heard, there was a very special font designed from the likes of popular K-On character Mio Akiyama.

It's called the "Mio Font" and here's the link:

http://www.flopdesign.com/font2/mio.html

To download this special Mio Font, scroll down and click the yellow square to download it. Whatever floats your boat....

Crissy's back! YAY!

That night's episode of Banana Split marks the return of our favorite Banana Split-gagged version of Kris Aquino, Crissy (played by Angelica Panginiban) in Banana Split's NNNN (Ntertainment News Na Naman)! Wow, seems we missed her, um you guessed it, her back, and now she's really back. She's really really really back.. With Crissy back to mess some with Bhoy (Jayson Gainza's take on Boy Abunda) and some showbiz news, Banana Split's NNNN is complete.

After NNNN, there's some Egyptian Fashion Show jokes where there's some part where, um, I don't know how to say it, but it's darn funny. Later on, some crazy tips from Melai from M3: Melai Mo Magwork, some dances, and another Mutanglawin episode where we learn about magic lamps and genies.

Think you can outsmart the third wish with another wishes? Think so!

Busou Shinki or Loveplus?

Cuteness is in the eye of a Japanese otaku. In the hands of the troops from Konami, the words "Buso Shinki" and "Loveplus" seems to be differ depending on which Konami fan decide on those two. Could an otaku choose a "take-everywhere virtual girlfriend" or figures with movable parts most Konami fans love especially the PSP game where they show who's Busou Shinki is the boss?

CASE ONE:

Konami's not all things Metal Gear, DDR, Silent Hill, and Castlevania. These troops also specialize in all things "moe" and cute, especially animes with their own Konami-branded games, goods, and others.

About Busou Shinki, these were the figures that were cute and customizable. It uses MMS (Multi Movable System) to move the figure's parts freely as the customer wishes to do with it. It debuted since fall 2006 with the introduction of the very first two Busou Shinki figures, Arnval and Strarf, following with different Busou Shinki variants in the following years.

The Busou Shinki shock in Japan is not just the success of these figures, but also online (http://www.shinki-net.konami.jp/) and now on the PSP video game Busou Shinki Battle Masters. From the net to the PSP game, most Busou Shinki enthusiasts in Japan can customize their Busou Shinki the way they want, and pit them to battles. Reputation is the key in the eyes of the Busou Shinki owner and his/her Busou Shinki, and the only way to gain reputation is to win battles. If they win battles, the Busou Shinki will gain experience based on their performance. A key reminder is its respect, if his/her Busou Shinki wins more, it will respect more on the owner. Talk about a part-dating sim, part fighting-game....

CASE 2:

Since its debut from fall 2009, Loveplus is a real-time dating sim game that pits lonely male Japanese players to choose either Manaka Takane, Rinko Kobayakawa, or Nene Anegasaki. What the player do to the selected virtual girlfriend is spend time together any way a player wants.

Since the Loveplus shock that made this game successful in Japan, the R&D of Konami decided to give Loveplus some minor changes and the Loveplus's facelift, called Loveplus Plus, debuted just in time for the long Japanese summer vacation.

Fast fact: Some Japanese guy tied a knot with the choses Loveplus gal, Nene. Read the scoop: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10404956-71.html

My Comment: Seems the Konami name is not just a "Militaires Sans Frontieres", the R&D of Konami also specializes in all things "moe" and cute, especially the wide success of either the Busou Shinki figures and the Loveplus game. Hope I can find one of those in selected Comic Alley stores...

Kia K5 to be featured in IRIS Spin-off

Back in late 2009, with IRIS making a huge success thanks to actor Lee Byung-hun and others, Taewon Entertainment made tie-ups with Kia Motors for the vehicles shown in this Korean action drama, including the K7 premium sedan.

Coming late 2010, Taewon Entertainment is planning a spin-off from the successful IRIS action drama, titled Athena.

Read the article:

http://www.dongdrama.com/action-spy-korean-drama-athena-releases-teaser-poster.html

And also according to the Korean car enthusiast site, Megaauto, the Kia K5 will be making an appearance in this IRIS spin-off drama.

Last they heard, they've seen the K5 during the Athena shooting, as far as I know. It seems to be a cold principle, but the K5 is a hard-hitting blockbuster car, defeating the Hyundai Sonata as the top-selling car of this category.

Thumbs up to Taewon Entertainment and good luck for this project, and thumbs up for Kia Motors for making the K5 successful.

Trick DS -Kakushigami no Sumu Yakata-

With the success from the 2000 mystery J-drama series and movies especially the latest Rei Noryoku Sha Battle Royal movie, Konami (famous for its flagship titles such as Metal Gear, DDR, Silent Hill, and Akumajo No Dracula, otherwise known as Castlevania) has decided to bring the mystery drama straight to Nintendo DS, as a direct alternative to PSP's Misshitsu No Sacrifice.

This Trick game made exclusively for the DS is far more to be a mixture of visual novel that covers the new adventures of talented magician Naoko Yamada and eccentric professor Jiro Ueda and as a searching game to look for items and puzzles that proceed you to different aspects.

It might seem rough to do it but this game is much more like the PSP game called Misshitsu No Sacrifice, but the storyline is original, showing not only characters from the TV drama but in-game characters as well. I think this game is rather more primitive than other games that were visual novels at first but its a puzzle-solving game that requires the player's mind to solve puzzles for a very long time.

My point: The TV drama seems to be OK in the eyes of a J-dorama addict but fans are going to be frustrated when they're playing this DS game. It's worth attempting...

Zettai Karen Children -Aitazosei! Ubawareta Mirai?-

Zettai Karen Children -Aitazosei! Ubawareta Mirai?-

Made for DVD and Blu-Ray sequel of the ever-popular 2008 anime, Zettai Karen Children focuses on the new mission of the now-grown The Children, now on their junior high school days. Their latest mission is to find out who's responsible on the attack of B.A.B.E.L. and take this culprit once and for all. Unknowingly, the key person, Koichi Minamoto was held responsible for the attack but he's not involved on the attack. He was possessed by an evil power from the villain called the Phantom Daughter. Dubbed herself as the "queen", the true "queen" is none other than Kaoru Akashi, and only she can stop the Phantom Daughter. Things are getting complicated for the Children because also on the OVA, their first encounter with the three girls from BABEL's rival organization, PANDRA.

The OVA of Zettai Karen Children might seem to be okay because our crime fighting trio are all grown up. Seems that Kaoru Akashi is now more look a lot like that red-haired girl from Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou, Aoi Nogami hasn't changed a lot from her 10-year-old to her teenage look, and Shiho Sannomiya now looks a lot like Peace Walker's Paz Ortega Andrade, if you know what I meant. However, the storyline seems to be quite an original, sometimes suitable for the otaku's personal taste, some are not. Fanservice? Rarely, but almost, because of the swimming pool scene and the shower scene.

Despite the original storyline, this OVA is still a Zettai Karen Children favorite even when our favorite crimefighting trio are now grown to be teenagers. Still, it's enjoyable.

CAST:

Aya Hirano (Haruhi Suzumiya from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) as Kaoru Akashi

Ryoko Shiraishi (Hayate Ayasaki from Hayate the Combat Butler) as Aoi Nogami

Haruka Tomatsu (Lala from To LOVE-Ru) as Shiho Sannomiya

Yuichi Nakamura as Koichi Minamoto

Koji Yusa as Kyosuke Hyobu

Kisho Taniyama (Stiyl Magnus from To Aru Majutsu no Index) as Syuji Sakaki

Marina Inoue (Yoko from Gurren Lagann) as the Phantom Daughter

..and others.

Based on: A manga serialized from Shogakukan's Shonen Sunday

STAFF:

Original Score: Kotaro Nakagawa

Director: Keiichiro Kawaguchi

Screenplay: Shinichi Inotsume

Chraracter Design: Takahiro Kagami

Animation Work: SynergySP

DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: July 16, 2010

Distribution: Geneon Universal Entertainment

Happy Birthday Mr. Manny Pangilingan!

Last night's episode of Lokomoko U celebrates the birthday of Mr. Manny Pangilingan! I don't know who is he but it sure is interesting.

It's not just him, but the granny of knock-knock jokes throws some more knock-knock jokes from the Talentadong Family sketch. Guess we could do birthdays without cakes, just candles. ROFL

Another ROFL-prone madness from that night's episode is another complaint on Case To Case, where a woman was complained by, you guessed it, a doctor who was used to be one of the tagay-payos. Why baby blue and baby pink colors were used? No need to ask but this sketch is more prone to ROFL.

Also more prone to ROFL is Round 3 of Pinoy Brainless, the Lokomoko U-gagged version of Pinoy Henyo.

What do you think?