Saturday, June 11, 2016

Let's Do The News! (June 11, 2016)


- Incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo strongly condemns the death penalty and hero’s burial for the late president Ferdinand Marcos, despite her different beliefs with president-elect Rodrigo Duterte in the mentioned sensitive issue. However, Taguiwalo stressed that the mentioned situation is inadequate to be the reason for her not to perform well on her tasks.

The Eastern Police District finished conducting its inspection on most schools in Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong and San Juan, to ensure that students will safely go back to school on Monday. 

- The UEFA Euro 2016 tournament has opened in France under tight security. The tournament, held every 4 years, is one of Europe's largest sports events. Teams from 24 European countries are participating. The opening match between France and Romania occured on Friday at the stadium targeted in the terrorist attacks in Paris last November.

Keiko Fujimori has conceded defeat to former prime minister Pedro Kuczynski at the Peruvian presidential elections.

- In Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers at the score of 108-97.

- Pikachu may have lost the title of being "the best Pokemon all things considered" to Greninja, but that doesn't stop Pikachu from throwing its annual Pikachu Outbreak, happening from the 7th to the 14th of August at Yokohama Minato Mirai. Because of Pokemon's 20th anniversary, expect this to be the biggest!


TTFN!!!

Warcraft (2016 film)

The world's most successful MMORPG millions played throughout its lifetime has finally landed on the big screen and thanks to its success as a game players around the world hooked for, the movie adaptation of Warcraft is going to be one of the must-watch films for the summer. So, what is it then, this Warcraft movie?

Warcraft

Known in some parts in the world as Warcraft: The Beginning, this movie stars Dominic Cooper, Ben Foster, Travis Fimmel, and many others. It was directed by Duncan Jones and written by Charles Leavitt. This movie features an original storyline heavily inspired from the World of Warcraft games.

It's about the world called Azeroth, where mythical beasts called the Orcs fled from their devastated homeworld and their plot was to capture as many humans to power their portal so the entire Orc race can enter the once peaceful world of Azeroth. Unknown to the menacing plot, a reluctant Orc named Durotan formed an alliance with brave human warriors, including Lothar, and with only a handful of heroes been chosen by fate, they are the only ones to bring back peace to Azeroth.

Because this purely an original storyline, some say the movie feels like it doesn't have any connections to the World of Warcraft games. Of course, you've been soaked all day, all night, to venture through the World of Warcraft, especially the expansion, but with this film, there's nothing so special about the storyline offered unlike any other video games turned into movies you've seen in the past. However, the more you keep watching this film, the more you're getting empowered by the bravery the heroes you saw in the film, knowing that one day, you are going to be like one of the good guys destined to save the world. Of course, you might wind up cosplaying as one of the characters in the movie, which is rather flattering for WoW fans too many.

Warcraft (The Beginning) maybe one of the best films to watch this summer but with all that original storyline pooling in, this film has a lot to learn from the fans who got hooked playing with the Warcraft games for so many years. Despite that, at least the fans of the World of Warcraft got what they deserved; a fantasy movie with a mouthful of magic fit enough for video game fans who came on the theaters, explaining about what's what about this film.

My rating: 3.8 out of 5

#BGIndependentGags

On the June 10, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Independent gags

- The restaurant chatter's getting out of place

- Hugot lines for back to school!

-Anotnietta meets Ryan Eigenmann!

- Weird stuff happening near the store after hours.



- More poolside drama in Pool Senorita!

- Time for add some serious acting.

- Basa-Basa Pik!

Friday, June 10, 2016

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: N. Korean plant makes kimchi under Kim's loving care


North Korea is producing kimchi at a new plant "built under the loving care" of leader Kim Jong-Un, who praised this as one of the world's five health foods, state media said Friday.

Kim made his remarks while inspecting the sprawling Ryugyong Pickle Factory, built to supply Pyongyang residents with the traditional dish year-round, the KCNA said.

The plant is capable of producing 4,200 tons a year of the piquant, pungent, and fermented vegetable - a side dish which accompanies every rice meal for Koreans.

The North Korean leader said the factory would set the standard for the Korean Peninsula's industrial production of kimchi and called for the construction of a modern kimchi factory in every province modelled on the Ryugyong plant.

At last month's historic Workers' Party Congress, Kim Jong Un stressed he would push through with his signature policy of Byungjin - building up the North's nuclear arsenal and developing the economy at the same time.

Over the past month, Kim has focused his inspection trips on facilities related to the people's daily livelihood including a new soap factory, a salt plant, a hospital, and a factory producing sports goods.

Let's Do The News! (June 10, 2016)


- Incoming Foreign Affairs Secretary Jun Yasay said the Duterte Administration vows to strengthen the nation's foreign relations after the United Nations condemned President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's stand on media killings. Earlier, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon opposed Duterte's comments on the extra judicial killings involving the media.

- Mt. Bulusan ins Sorsogon province spewed a 2km ash column around 1135 hours local time. PHIVOLCS said that the eruption was "phreatic" which produced a grayish ash plume that drifted to the west side of the volcano. 113 quakes were reported around Mt. Bulusan.

- Debris found washed ashore in Madagascar by a man who previously found a piece of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be examined by investigations to see if it, too, came from the missing plane. An American adventurer, named Blaine Gibson, who was searching for the missing MH370 over the past year, contacted the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to report he had found debris in Madagascar, according to reports.

- Britain holds a National Service of Thanksgiving in honor of Queen Elizabeth on Friday, starting the weekend of events to celebrate Her Majesty's 90th birthday. The church service as London's St. Paul's Cathedral, attended by numerous dignitaries including other members of the royal family and Prime Minister David Cameron, will be a double celebration for the queen with Prince Philip, marking his 95th birthday.

- A Muslim funeral for Muhammad Ali drew thousands of admirers to the boxer's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Around 14,000 people, attended the jenazah, Arabic for funeral, where he was repeatedly feted as "the people's champion".

- Apple's App Store will be given a major overhaul for the first time. Details about the App Store's overhaul will be revealed next week at the Worldwide Developer Conference.

- Singer Ed Sheeran is facing a $20 million lawsuit alleging he used another song as the basis for his hit song "Photograph". The suit accusing him of copyright infringement was filed Wednesday by Martin Harrington and Tom Leonard, composers of the song Amazing, which was recorded and released by Matt Cardie,winner of the 2010 season of The X Factor.

- Disney Channel's new original animated series, Elena of Avalor, is set to premiere on the 22nd of July. The series' theme song will be performed by Latin Grammy Award winner Gaby Moreno, who is set to make a special guest appearance in the new series.


- Learn more about the new Ecto-1 for next month's Ghostbusters comedy movie with this BTS clip.



TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 6: Ford's Return to Le Mans

FM6 players who recently got a special code this week got themselves the chance to try out Ford's comeback to this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and yes, the Ford GT Le Mans racecar, which is based on the all-new 2017 Ford GT, the cover car of Forza Motorsport 6, is now at the hands of gamers in preparation for this year's Le Mans.


Before taking this car for a spin, time for a quick explanation, shall we?

Five decades have passed since the legendary Ford GT40 dominated Le Mans and with the launch of the all-new 2017 Ford GT, Ford announced that they will return to endurance racing with this.

For 2016, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing used two Ford GT racecars at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship while the other two competed at the FIA World Endurance Championship. Now, all four Ford GT machines will be competing at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Ford GT Le Mans racecar feature numerous innovations Ford believes will noy only make it competitive in the LM GTE Pro class but also provide benefets to each vehicle in the Ford range such as state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced lightweight composites, and the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that powers it.


It's been an honor to have Ford back to the world of endurance racing with the all-new Ford GT and judging by the way it behaves, the Ford GT Le Mans racecar is not a bad car to drive on the track. So, how does it compare to the normal 2017 Ford GT? For starters, the EcoBoost V6 engine produces a hundred less horsepower than the normal one but because of its racing modifications done to this car, its generous handling compensates its lack of power from the original, making it a a well-balanced racing machine for all levels of racing.

Be it less, more, or maximum, whatever level you're on, you are more than welcome to drive Ford's comeback machine in the world of endurance racing, no matter the results. Although this is still the new Ford GT you've been eager to have one since its inception, the Ford GT Le Mans racecar is for those who demand the ultimate performance in this new age supercar while savoring Ford's legendary motorsports pedigree.


I was been honored to try out this Ford GT Le Mans racecar through the Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe in a special Rivals event made specifically for this car. Hey, since Le Mans draws near, the opportunity to try out this machine before the real deal kicks in really gives us the taste of what Ford's Le Mans return is in store. I can't hardly wait to see what is like...





It's amazing that despite being less powerful than the normal Ford GT, its racing modifications made extensively for endurance racing shows that it's not as challenging as it looks and I have high hopes that this car can edge out against the likes of Ferrari and Chevrolet, as long as these cars shouldn't encounter problems the drivers face as the race gets harder and harder, I believe.

Well, let's wish Ford's return to Le Mans the best of luck because with its ancestor's legendary win five decades ago, this car deserves to craft one in the history books.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Honda bids CR-Z farewell with final special edition


Launched in 2010, Honda's CR-Z should have been known as proper hybrid sportscar for the discerning enthusiasts because of being the first hybrid car to be mated with a manual gearbox. Such uniqueness led the CR-Z won its Japan Car of the Year on the year when it was launched.

Six years from now and here we are, Honda annouced that production of the CR-Z hybrid hatchback has come to an end but they're not leaving out without a sendoff because the final edition, called the CR-Z Final Label, has launched.

Priced at 2,800,000 Japanes Yen, the Final Label CR-Z features special equipment including front seats that has the words "CR-Z Final Label" on it, specially-designed 17-inch wheels, and a special "CR-Z Final Label" plate mounted below the gear lever, among many other extras.

Still comes with the same 1.5L hybrid powerplant and its available transmissions include a 6-speed manual or a CVT.

What a way to say goodbye to Honda's rather unique hybrid hatchback that was quite a ride for some speedo boys.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: The Supreme People's Assembly meeting


North Korea will hold a meeting of its Supreme People's Assembly on the 29th of June to carry out follow-up measures to last May's Workers' Party Congress.

The Supreme People's Assembly is the highest branch of state power in North Korea that establishes basic principles for domestic and foreign policies. The meeting is expected to carry out additional personnel reshuffles and lay out plans of North Korea's nuclear and economic policies.

There's speculation North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will change his current title as first Chairman of the National Defense Committee. Kim was declared Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea during the congress.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (June 9, 2016)


- Despite losing his presidential bid, outgoing Philippine vice president Jejomar Binay is not turning back on politics just yet. Instead, Binay plans to strengthen his political party, the United Nationalist Alliance, especially that a lot of its local candidates have won in the recent elections.

- Senator Tito Sotto released the initial list of Committee chairmanship in the Senate for the 17th Congress. Sotto said that Senator Gringo Honasan will be holding the Senate Committee on Defense, while Ping Lacson will head the Public Order, Senator Nancy Binay will be the Tourism Committee chairperson, among many others.

- The military and police have added reinforcements as they run against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu as the terrorists continue to hold other hostages. The government is doing everything to make sure that it will be able to save the hostages of the ASG amid the deadline given by the terrorist organization on June 13, Monday.

- Vote counting on the Peruvian Presidential elections is still ongoing. The race between former Prime Minister Pedro Kuczynski and Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, is too tight to call. Latest tallies show Kuczynski leads with 50.11 percent of the votes while Fujimori wins 49.89 percent of the votes.

- Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova was suspended by the International Tennis Federation for two years for violating anti-doping rules. Sharapova says she will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.

- In Game 3 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavaliers scored their first win of the match after defeating Golden State Warriors at the score of 120-90.

- Ryeowook from the K-POP boy band Super Junior said he will postpone his supposed military enlistment on June 14 due to overseas schedules and sudden changes to the management of the team.

- The Ford Fusion midsize saloon added a new Sport variant, packed with 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine producing a class-leading 325HP of power and 380lb-ft of torque, mated with a 6-speed automatic.

2017 Ford Fusion Sport

- Last month, Suzuki Motor Corporation admitted that the company lied about fuel consumption data for some of its vehicles, especially recently released ones. Now, it was announced that chairman Osamu Suzuki will not become CEO and executive vice president Osamu Honda resigned from his post at the next shareholder meeting, due on the 29th.

- Let's face it, the "brand new" Top Gear with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc on it isn't as good as the Clarkson, Hammond, and May years. Right now, the former TG trio, who are hosts of the upcoming Amazon original series, The Grand Tour, are passing time by uploading a video of Jeremy Clarkson having problems assembling a box, which caused positive comments more than the "brand new" TG.



TTFN!!!

Fiat Tipo

Fiat was known for making affordable cars aside from the iconic 500 through the years such as the Siena, Bravo, Linea, Seicento, Cinquecento (not to be confused with the 500), Stilo, and Albea. Yes, they're all affordable but they don't give much of the "aha factor" as you take it for a spin. Now, there's a new low-cost Fiat called the Tipo that promises to be not just to be affordable but enjoyable for first-time buyers. Does it really live up to its promises?

2017 Fiat Tipo

Sourced from Turkey and available only in the EMEA region, Fiat's brand new Tipo is just another kind of commoner's car that you can expect to see one on the road and then another one a few seconds later. Reason why you can expect to see one after another is because the Fiat Tipo starts at 14,500 Euros for the saloon, 15,900 for the hatchback, and 17,300 for the station wagon, making it one of the most reasonably priced cars available in Italy. So, what do you get with that kind of pricing?

2017 Fiat Tipo
2017 Fiat Tipo 5-Door
2017 Fiat Tipo Station Wagon

First, let's take a glimpse on the exterior design. At first glance, the Tipo's striking design makes it look like you mistook it for a Dodge Dart but this ain't your commoner's Dodge at home. It's just a Fiat that doesn't feel as exciting as the other cars. Design-wise, the Tipo features a best-in-class aerodynamic, to ensure low fuel consumption and pretty much about it. There's nothing to excite about how it looks, even if it switch body styles, well, save it for the station wagon anyway, for which the side view kinda reminds me of a mashup between a BMW 3-Series and a Hyundai i40...in my mind.

2017 Fiat Tipo interior

Although nothing exciting about the interior design, the Tipo has everything you can expect in most cars. There's the steering wheel, a radio, an aircon, seats, radio, everything that a car should have. In terms of comfort, it's not half bad but it feels like a cabbie when you at least expect it or your dad's car that fetches you to school or a ride back home. Although not what you called luxurious, the Tipo's trunk has enough room to store your grocery shopping or if you go for the station wagon variant, that a lot of room to fill in aside from groceries and garage sale loots.

Anyway, what to see under the hood? Being an economy-class car rather than business-class, the Tipo offers three engine types such as a 1.4L petrol, 1.3L MultiJet diesel, and a 1.6L MultiJet diesel engine, which is the most powerful in this lineup with 120PS of power. All engines are mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

What about handling? Well, with turning radius of 11 meters, getting through roundabouts wasn't a pain in the arm because of its reliable suspension layout that Fiat claims, it's not so bad to drive at city centers or at subdivisions but don't get too excited because deep down, you know it can get too dreary to drive one, event at traffic.

So, thoughts about the new Tipo? Overall, the pricing is surprisingly what you called value for money and it drives rather well for an economy-class car. However, being an economy-class car, the Tipo is not exciting to drive at and the engines doesn't give you the oomph it deserves. To conclude, the Tipo is the ideal first-timer's car to start with. Although it lacks some character, this car is plain accessible to drive.

Photo: Fiat

Gyakuten Saiban 6

All rise again, ladies and gentlemen. Capcom's hit courtroom game has hit its 15th anniversary this year and to commemorate this occasion, the brand new chapter of the Gyakuten Saiban (Ace Attorney) series has arrived. Take that!

Gyakuten Saiban 6

Gyakuten Saiban 6 (Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice) may be more than just a present for the franchise's 15th anniversary but this is by no means one of the most dramatic installments of Capcom's hit franchise. When I say dramatic, yes because some returning faces are appearing as well as new ones in this dramatic new storyline, which has been the hallmark of the franchise.

Returning faces, you say? Yes, apart from main characters such as Ryuichi Naruhodo (Phoenix Wright), Housuke Odoroki (Apollo Justice), and Kokone Kitsuki (Athena Cykes), and villains such as Reiji Mitsurugi (Miles Edgeworth) and Jun Yugami (Simon Blackquill), we can expect long-awaited return of supporting favorites such as Akane Houzuki (Ema Skye) and hers truly, Mayoi Ayasato (Maya Fey). Aside from returning favorites, there are new cast that will spice this new story up, including a priestess named Rayfa Padma Khura'in.

The story begins with Naruhodo venturing on the Khura'in Kingdom, the origin of the Kurain Channeling Technique that Mayoi tried to master. Naruhodo discovers that trials in Khura'in are different than his home country and instead of evidence or arguments, trials and verdicts are judged by visions conjured by seance trials by Rayfa, the Royal Priestess. Thanks to those bizarre trials, lawyers are no longer necessary and defendants are useless. As Ryuichi Naruhodo is known for turning things around during countless trials and tribulations, can he turn the seance trials around in the same way he did back home? Meanwhile, way back home, Housuke Odoroki tries to defend the honor of the law agency he and his mentor, Naruhodo, they've worked hard for, no matter the odds.

True to the franchise, storyline is the main topic of this game and how your decisions as a defense attorney will affect the outcome based on the evidences you've gathered and the testimonies you've heard. Taking advantage of the new 3D fingerprint identification that Akane (Ema) provided to you, seeing through lies in Odoroki's eyes, Psyche-lock that requires crucial evidence to unlock the truth, and the new multi-angle camera, gathering evidences shouldn't be a slouch for gamers but it's important not to rush in the investigation process. You need to search through the whole corners of the place to collect more evidence needed to uncover the killings.

And then the trial part is what makes this game as interesting as the previous installments. Again, you should never rush in this one because you have to review everything what the characters said before presenting the evidences and go "objection" over and over until the tension builds up. Remember, one small mistake will be devastating, leaving the trial to a complete disaster, so be careful. 

When tension builds up in the trial, you will be engaged to more ways to deal with the witnesses. As Ryuichi Naruhodo, you will be able to cooperate with Rayfa with her Divination Seance, which reveals the final moments of the victims before their brutal murder, allowing you to find the contradictions and discrepancies on this case. As Housuke Odoroki, you can cooperate with Kokone's Mood Matrix, as seen in the previous installment, to detect unexpected feelings the witnesses faced. There's so much stuff you can do to uncover the truth to put the masterminds behind bars and save the innocent who are accused for the cases.

Gyakuten Saiban 6, like the others, features new and thrilling episodes in this game. From Naruhodo's Khura'in arrival gone wrong, the magic show where Minuki (Trucy) was on it ended in disaster,  to the unfateful reunion between Naruhodo and Mayoi, and it all leads up to the biggest plot twist in this game; the one where the master and his nugget will face each other in the courtroom and that faceoff was none other than...well, can't tell who are those two but keep playing this game to find out.

HOLD IT! There are DLC contents coming in this game such as three extra costumes for Naruhodo, Odoroki, and Kokone and a new episode. In this special costume pack; Ryuichi Naruhodo wears a funky oriental-style shirt while Odoroki wears a school uniform and Kokone's in a maid outfit. It will be free to download until the 29th of June. On the 30th of June, a special episode will be available for free until the 20th of July. In this special episode; a character who appears in both Gyakuten Saiban (Ace Attorney) and Gyakuten Kenji (Ace Attorney Investigations) games is about to get married...and its initials start with the letter M. Could it be Naruhodo's arch-nemesis Reiji Mitsurugi (Miles Edgeworth)? Still, could be worse. With Masashi Yahari (Larry Butz) making his comeback, Naruhodo's wisecracking pal warned him about...time travel and the runaway bride who leapt through time. How would our favorite Ace Attorney crack this bizarre mystery?

So, there you have it. With new and returning faces, a fresh new batch of stories to uncover the truth, and new ways to collect crucial evidences, Gyakuten Saiban 6 takes a lot of patience for players to play this much-anticipated installment and delve deeper into the game's unique storyline that sets them apart from other murder mystery games, perhaps this is just one of the main reason why everybody loves the Gyakuten Saiban franchise not just the whole courtroom drama but the emotions it delivered.

Court is adjourned!

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Let's Do The News! (June 8, 2016)


- President-elect Rodrigo Duterte told the United Nations rapporteur to "go home and get some sleep" following the statement accusing him of "inciting violence" after he made his controversial remarks on media killings. Duterte was criticized by media groups after saying that some of the slain journalists had received bribes or were involved in shady deals.

- Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the government's news bureau needs efficient internet connection to function well as a response to the Commission on Audit's report that the Palace's News Information Bureau's bills last year are excessive.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines will be joining the nations as the Philippines celebrate the 118th anniversary of the nation's independence on the 12th of June, this coming Sunday. The AFP will conduct programs in recognition of the Filipino heroes, and remind the soldiers of their commitment to defend the freedom of the Filipinos.

- Hillary Clinton declares victory in the Democratic Presidential Primary, naming as the first major-party female nominee. The former Secretary of State declared victory after an uphill fight against Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.

- British Prime Minister David Cameron and UKIP chief Nigel Farage have each made their cases on the imminent Brexit ahead of the EU referendum on the 23rd. At a TV debate on Tuesday, Cameron, who supported UK's remain to the EU, noted that immigrants from EU member countries have contributed to the British economy. Farage, who supported Brexit, said with rising population, Britain is now forced to build new housing just to deal with immigrants.

- The organizers of the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympics have again stressed that the Zika virus will slightly hamper the games. The members of the organizing committee held a news conference for foreign media on Tuesday. Joao Grangeiro, the committee's chief medical officer, said the incidence of the mosquito that transmits the virus is extremely low in August and September.

- In honor of the upcoming 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2016 #66 Ford GT Le Mans Race Car will be coming in Forza Motorsport 6 as a free download. This week, Turn 10 will roll out download codes for those who played this game. Apart from this car, the Forza Racing Championship was announced, debuting later this summer. This championship welcomes players of all levels to hone skills as they compete for glory and real-world prizes.



- The second-generation Porsche Panamera has been teased with a brand new rear view.


- Camille Hirro, 2016's Philippine representative for Miss Global, is revealed that she was a "ghost writer"

- Eight years have passed since the death of famed action star Rudy Fernandez and his widow, actress Lorna Tolentino marked that very moment.

TTFN!!!

TGUSA: Postal


The boys of Top Gear (The hit US Show) are finding out which is the best alternative for the aged postal vehicle the USPS had been used for decades. Rut goes for the Honda Element, Adam goes for the Lincoln Town Car hearse, and Tanner goes for the Mitsubishi 3000GT (GTO).

The first challenge involves how fast can they pickup mail from the mailboxes without causing much federal offense. In this challenge, its a three-way tie, resulting to an obstacle race to declare the winner, and it's a no contest after trouble's brewing the gang.

The next one is how to handle deliveries while surviving simulated weather conditions. On this challenge, Rut wins.

While the gang are busy upgrading their vehicles, Tanner tries out the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and challenges against a cyclist on the streets of Long Beach, California. After that, the cyclist defeated the muscle car.

Later, the gang are back with their improved cars (except for one) at an abandoned suburbs and take on the final challenge involving mail deliveries while taking on The Stig in the LLV.  The man who got as close at Stig's time is Rut, meaning the Honda Element is the best delivery vehicle substitute.

Strawberry Trapper

Uranohoshi Girls High School's idol unit, Aqours, from Love Live! Sunshine!!, the second generation of the Love Live franchise, is divided into three sub-groups in tradition of what the legendary μ's did with Printemps, lily white, and BiBi. First, there's CYaRon! comprising of Chika Takami, You Watanabe, and Ruby Kurosawa. Then, there's Azalea comprising of Kanan Matsuura, Dia Kurosawa, and Hanamaru Kunikida, And finally, Guilty Kiss comprising of Riko Sakurauchi, Yoshiko Tsushima, and Mari Ohara.

Strawberry Trapper 

With the launch of Guilty Kiss' first single, Strawberry Trapper, the first wave of Aqours' sub-group CD releases is well and truly complete for now, and on this single, what can you say? It's like BiBi all over again, only this time we are welcomed with two brand news songs coming straight from Guilty Kiss comprising of Riko Sakurauchi, Yoshiko Tsushima, and Mari Ohara. Apart from the two songs offered, there is an audio drama part where we can expect more from this trio.

So, with CYaRon, AZALEA, and Guilty Kiss presented their own singles, which of the Aqours sub-units you like the most? Try them all and decide.

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. Strawberry Trapper
02. Guilty Night, Guilty Kiss!
03. Strawberry Trapper (Off Vocal)
04. Guilty Night, Guilty Kiss! (Off Vocal)
05. 遊覧船でどこまでも❤

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

20 Years of Pokemon: The best Pokemon all things considered is...

Since two months ago, to honor the Pokemon franchise's 20th anniversary, Pokemon fans across Japan decide who is the best Pokemon all things considered the whole time by taking on a one-of-a-kind Pokemon Sousenkyo 720. In that very event, fans voted who is the best Pokemon and the winning Pokemon will be offered for those who attended the crowning ceremony. After a month of tallying the votes, the public decided and as announced on a special crowning ceremony earlier...

This then is the best Pokemon all things considered the whole time...

Ash-Greninja

Not exactly what it looks like in this shot but you get the idea. To repeat, the best Pokemon all things considered the whole time...is none other than Greninja, the Ninja Pokemon.

Yes, the world got shocked on this result but why this Water-and-Dark-type Pokemon is named as the best Pokemon all things considered the whole time, dethroning mythical Pokemons like Mew and Arceus, and all-time favorites like Charizard and Pikachu?

Some say, it's the Protean ability that made this Pokemon a game-changer in rating battles, online competitions, and world championships. Some say, it's the looks that appeal most Pokemon fans, even women. Some say, its unique power to become Ash-Greninja in Pokemon The Series XYZ made this Pokemon a stand-out. All we know is, such fascinating traits made Greninja the best Pokemon all things considered the whole time.

The list of top 10 Pokemon from the Pokemon Sousenkyo 720 (based on vote tallies)
1) Greninja
2) Arceus
3) Mew
4) Pikachu
5) Sylveon
6) Charizard
7) Genesect
8) Rayquaza
9) Meloetta
10) Zygarde

So, there you have it. If someone asked you who is the best Pokemon all things considered after twenty years, there's your answer. The Water-and-Dark type Ninja Pokemon that crowned as the winner of the Pokemon Sousenkyo 720 and now under the hands of guests who made it at the crowning ceremony.

I have no idea there will come a day some Pokemon will dethrone everyone's favorite Pikachu in the title of world's best Pokemon.

Photo: Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, Shopro, JR Kikaku

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: THAAD negotiations made progress



The Pentagon says South Korea and the United States have made considerable progress in the possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system or THAAD to the South. According to reports, the two nations are already discussing possible deployment sites in South Korea.

In a CNN interview, South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo said the THAAD deployment gives allies a chance to counter threats from North Korea.

Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will visit Moscow next week for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei LAvrov on North Korea's nuclear weapons program and other issues. It will be Yun's first visit to Russia since he took office in early 2013 and the first such visit by a South Korean foreign minister in five years.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says North Korea could have restarted reprocessing spent nuclear fuel to make plutonium for nuclear weapons.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano says satellite evidence shows North Korea has likely resumed activities at its Yongbyon plant. He went on to urge North Korea to cooperate with the IAEA and fully comply with their international obligations.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (June 7, 2016)


- The incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte mulls a tax on junk food and an additional levy on gasoline and other oil products. In a television interview, incoming finance secretary Carlos Dominguez III said he would like to impose a tax on food products that are "obesity-and-disease-causing" including junk food and the tax imposition should stop people from consuming unhealthy foods.

- Meanwhile, Duterte said he would no longer grant interviews to reporters until his term ends to avoid criticisms and wrong statements following his comments on journalist killings.

- PAGASA said the southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to linger and bring rains over most parts of the country on Tuesday. In its advisory, Luzon will be most affected by the monsoon, with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms likely.

- As Muslims began observing the holy month of Ramadan, governments from across the globe are on heightened alert, after the Islamic State urged its followers to carry out attacks during the period. Some opposition forces in Syria asked the United Nations to urge the government of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to half attacks during Ramadan.

- Ukrainian security officials have detained a French man on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks to coincide with the Euro 2016 soccer championship. The Security Service of Ukraine announced on Monday that the man was arrested late last month at a checkpoint on the border with Poland, seizing automatic rifles, over 5,000 bullets and rpgs. Investigators say he was planning attacks for around the Euro 2016, which is set to start on the 10th of June in France. They say his targets included French government office buildings and a mosque.

- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was reportedly gained enough delegates to win the presidential nomination at the Democratic Party convention next month. Ahead of an upcoming "Super Tuesday" Democratic presidential primaries, reports told that Clinton secured 2,383 delegates, more than enough to score the nomination. Clinton's the first female politician to win a presidential nomination of a major US party and she's going to have an uphill battle against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

- Tropical Storm Colin gained speed over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday as it headed toward northwest of Florida, causing thunderstorms and flooding while the state's governor activated the National Guard ahead of its landfall. The storm is about 35 miles from Florida as of 8:00 PM easter time and it barrelled toward land at 23mph, faster than it moved earlier in the day, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

- The latest online polls in Britain show the "Brexit" campaign has a slight lead ahead of the June 23rd referendum. The similar results of polls taken last week by ICM and YouGov were released on Monday. The YouGov poll showed that 45% would support Brexit while 41% would opt to stay. On Monday, former London mayor Boris Johnson, the advocate of Brexit, said the risks of remaining in EU are becoming more obvious. UK PM David Cameron, meanwhile, warned that leaving the EU would be catastrophic in its economy.

- The Renault Twingo received the range-topping GT variant packed with 110HP of horsepower from its 900cc 3-cylinder engine. It will debut at this month's Goodwood Festival of Speed.

2017 Renault Twingo GT

- The all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate was unveiled, packed with the same technological and performance features as the saloon model as well as a E43 AMG 4Matic variant with 9-speed gearbox.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E43 AMG Estate
- CHECK THIS OUT: As the audition for the upcoming South Korean drama adaptation of THE IDOLM@STER is still underway, 19 finalists split into two teams, A Team and B Team, and tasked to do original music videos. Here's the result;


TTFN!!!

Top Gear S23E02


Top Gear S23E02

In the second episode of "brand new" Top Gear, we see Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, and Eddie Jordan venture through South Africa for a triple crossover test between the Jaguar F-Pace, Porsche Macan, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Amid the misery from three special guests, the three face series of tests, both on and off-road, to find out which crossover is the best...and some cheating in store.

Before that, Chris Evans is at the Top Gear Track to try out the McLaren 675LT supercar, even with Jenson Button's help. With Stig behind the wheel, it set a 1:13.7 lap time round the track, the fastest car to lap the Top Gear Test Track.

Then, this episode's Stars in a Rallycross Car, Damian Lewis set a 1:53.9 lap time and Sharleen Spiteri did it in 2:01.4.

Third-generation Toyota Estima (2017 Minor Change)

The third-generation Toyota Estima (known in some parts in the world as the Previa) has been around for ten years when it first debuted in 2006 and despite its age, Toyota gave minor changes twice; one by late 2008 and another one by 2012. For 2016, the ten year-old, third-generation, Estima has been given its third minor change and fingers crossed this would be the last because a new version is coming in the future and seems that Toyota's trying to go out with...a pop.

2017 Toyota Estima
The 2017 Estima has been given a new keen look on its aged exterior design, judging from its new trapezoidal look on its new bumper broadly similar to the Corolla Axio/Fielder and the Sienta, Bi-beam LED lamps, slimmer front grille, revised sides, and the revised rear design. Keeping this van fresh after ten years sounds challenging but today's Estima really know how to pull this off.

2017 Toyota Estima interior
2017 Toyota Estima interior

Apart from the exterior, modest changes also occur on the inside, as hinted by a revised dashboard, revised steering wheel, new climate control, and a more comfortable cabin as you can expect in most Japanese minivans used not just for the family but for the wealthy and the influential as well. Of course, the Estima can be offered in either a seven-seater (with luxurious second row seats) and a more family-friendly eight-seater. Whichever the seating variation you're on, this minivan never forgets its practicality and convenience that would benefit drivers and passengers alike.

2017 Toyota Estima

On the petrol version, only the 2,4L 2AZ-FE 4-cylinder engine was offered and when mated with a Super CVT-i, fuel consumption is expected to be at around 11.4km/L under JC08 Mode standards. The hybrid model still has the 2.4L 2AZ-FXE engine with two electric motors equipped on both wheels (making it four-wheel drive, of course) and couple that with the CVT, fuel economy is expected to be 18km/L. Hmmm, looks like they're not exaggerating over this one. As for handling, the 2017 Estima features a reworked chassis to make it handle better than the previous facelift.

The 2017 Estima is now safer than ever thanks to the addition of Toyota Safety Sense C, comprising of Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and the Automatic High Beam function.

Should you buy one? The 2017 Estima starts from 3,473,000 to 4,987,000 Japanese Yen (around 1,490,000 to 2,140,000 Philippine Pesos), which sounds like a lot compared to Toyota's flagship minivans, the Alphard and the Vellfire. The third-generation Estima may be ten years old since its 2006 debut but this latest revision puts some keen look to its aged design and let's hope this would be a decent send-off to this generation.


Available Colors: Black x Red Mica Metallic, Black x Dark Cherry Mica Metallic, Black x Ice Titanium Mica Metallic, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Ice Titanium Mica Metallic, Black, Sparkling Black Pearl Crystal Shine, Red Mica Metallic, and Dark Cherry Mica Metallic.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Monday, June 6, 2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Two years ago, Michael Bay brought us a live action reboot of a popular cartoon show, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and despite its grotesque appearance, that cannot stop the turtles by showing off their buttkicking moves and their corny jokes some called it funny. Now, the turtles are back for another hilarious thrill ride that will still blow our shells away for more.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
Out of the Shadows

Called Out of the Shadows, this second installment promises more action than the previous film with wild results you can expect from Leo, Mikey, Ralph, and Donnie, and the others. In addition to returning baddies such as The Shredder, Out of the Shadows features the movie appearance of mutant villains as seen from the TV series such as Rocksteady and Bebop. This is going to be one heck of a showdown that deserves to be called a thriller with a hint of sarcasm our favorite shell-shocked heroes can expect.

Just like the first film, appearances can be somewhat as discorded as the Transformers movies that Bay directed because their looks really hurt our childhood memories but if you didn't bother about their appearances, this sequel has everything you can expect on an action flick; stunts, martial arts, alien invasion, and some corny jokes the turtles can come up with. Sure, we got tickled by the turtles' comic dialogue and for this sequel, we never know what kind of jokes or puns our heroes come up for this time but jokes aside, it's so darn hilarious to watch.

Although it's as messy as the last one, TMNT2 balances the thrills of the action movie with the humor of a comedy flick, resulting to one heck of a superhero flick you can watch for the summer movie season. Although too bland to call it a superhero flick, it's not half bad to watch this flick even if you're not a fan of the series.

My rating: 3.4 out of 5.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S.Korea to keep pressuring N.Korea


South Korean President Park Geun-hye says her country will maintain strong sanctions and pressure on North Korea until it chooses to denuclearize itself. Park delivered her speech at a memorial event for soldiers who died in the Korean War held at a national cemetery in Seoul on Monday.

She said that at last month's ruling Workers' Party congress, North Korea called itself a nuclear power. She said that the country also flatly rejected international calls for denuclearization or for it not to conduct any more nuclear tests.

The president said her country's government will cooperate with the international community to maintain sanctions and pressure on the North until it opts for denuclearization and restarts dialogue.

After last month's congress, North Korea made a failed attempt to fire a ballistic missile. It also expressed readiness to discuss ways to unify the two Koreas.

Source: NHK World

Let's Do The News! (June 6, 2016)


- President-elect Rodrigo Duterte allocated a one billion peso reward for whoever could arrest drug lords, dead or alive. Duterte said the amount will be used in eliminating 200 drug lords in the Philippines, each has a five million peso bounty on the head, two million up from its previous three million.

- The Sandiganbayan denied the petition of detained Senator Bong Revilla for a furlough so that he can attend the remaining Senate sessions. Based on the decision of the Anti-graft court first division, the court already denied the same motion filed by the Senator last year, and clarified that anyone who's currently in jail cannot practice his profession.

- In preparation for the School Year 2016-2017 in the Philippines to kick off in the 13th of June, the Department of Education receives over 8.4 million pesos worth of donations such as donated boats in case of flooding, bicycles, solar-powered lamps, and school supplies. DepEd's Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide program that aims to bring teachers, parents, and community members to prepare schools for the start of classes this month.

- The vote counting continues in the Peruvian presidential elections, where Former Prime Minister Pedro Kuczynski and Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former leader Alberto Fujimori, are in a tight race. Electoral authorities say with 51.7 percent of the votes counted, Kuczynski has won 50.59 percent of the ballots while Fujimori garnered 49.41%.

- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stressed that individual issues should not hamper ties between China and the United States. He was apparently referring to the South China Sea row. Xi was speaking at the first day of the two nations' Strategic and Economic Dialogue on Monday in Beijing.

- Some pro-democracy students in Hong Kong have stayed away from the annual commemoration of the Tiananmen Square incident, due to the rift among activists. About 125,000 people took part in the vigil on Saturday night at a a park in central Hong Kong, about 10,000 less than last year.

- In Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors scored two wins after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers at the score of 110-77.

- Bumblebee returns on the upcoming Transformers: The Last Knight film as a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.

Bumblebee in Transformers: The Last Knight

- Young actor James Reid reacted about Nadine Lustre landing to the top spot in the partial and unofficial tally of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women of 2016.

- Former Sexbomb girl Rochelle Pangilinan reacts to an old tweet from Eat Bulaga phenom Maine "Yaya Dub" Mendoza. Maine's tweet dated back six years ago and it mocks about an old TV drama called Daisy Siete, which stars the SexBomb Dancers.

TTFN!!!

FM6 Porsche Expansion: Our Return

The 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans is almost upon us (and I hope they got security on this racing event because of...well, you know), and before we get ready for this summer's endurance event, it might be best to look back at last year's winner at Le Mans, which is by no means a surprise for racing fans many since its return two years ago.



Yes, the arrival of the #19 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid on Forza Motorsport 6's Porsche Expansion pack, available now, is a surprise feat for players just to get to know more about this particular LMP1 Porsche that dominated last year's Le Mans against Audi's dominant R18 e-tron quattro. So, what's it all about?

Since 2014, Porsche returns to Le Mans with their first ever 919 Hybrid, an LMP1 prototype made to compete at the FIA World Endurance Championship. For the 2015, the 919 was been heavily revised with new body parts, allowing it to weigh 870kg (calculated without driver or fuel). With the new upgrades, the 919's subclass has been promoted from 6MJ to 8MJ.

Like the 2014-spec, the 919 features a 2.0L fuel-injected V4 engine with li-ion battery for energy recovery in mid-mounted longitudinal configuration. The hybrid powerplant is capable of producing 900HP of power output and 1,100lb-ft of torque, while mated with a 7-speed hydraulically-activated sequential gearbox with rear-lock differential. It features a bodywork blend of carbon fiber and aluminium as well as independent multi-link pushrod suspension.

At the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, the #19 Porsche Team 919 Hybrid, driven by Earl Bamber, Nico Hulkenberg, and Nick Tandy, emerged as the winner, dethroning Audi's reigning R18 e-tron quattro by a margin. At the 2015 FIA WEC season, thanks to the performance done by the #17, #18, and #19 919 machines, the team emerged as the constructors' champion of the 2015 season.



If you were like one of the many notable drivers behind the wheel of Porsche's Le Mans-winning machine even those who are involved in Formula One such as Mark Webber or Nico Hulkenberg, then you're very pleased about getting the chance to drive the 919 round the track, especially when you're polishing up your driving skills at your next e-sports event involving LMP1 machines like this in the game.

As you get behind the wheel of last year's champion, you will experience that driving this LMP1 prototype can be somewhat tricky at first but with enough practice, the 919 will be a capable LMP1 prototype that can take on whatever it stands on its way, especially Audi's R18 e-tron. Most of the players who spent countless days perfecting their racing techniques with the 919 Hybrid will realize just how great the LMP1's potential is, especially taking on the e-sports world or getting ready for the real Le Mans race this summer.

Speaking of potential, let's try compare the 919 Hybrid against other LMP1 competitors. There's the Audi R18 e-tron quattro that was an unbeatable force at Le Mans until the 919 beat it last year, and then, there's the TS030 HYBRID, the one that won the 2014 WEC season.



This should be a fun experiment to conduct and with Le Mans is upon us, now's the better time to do it, putting Le Man's finest to the test and see if the 919 has a possibility to score another win at this year's Le Mans.



And now, the results...

919 - 3:43.654
R18 - 3:44.604
TS040 - 3:44.895



So, in theory, the 919 Hybrid from Porsche may have a better chance to score another win at this year's Le Mans but with everything changed for the 2016 season, looks like there's a slight chance that Audi's new and improved R18 may strike a revenge hit against Porsche or should Porsche defend its honor with its slightly revised 919 Hybrid. Whatever what will expect for this season, it would be difficult to place your bets whether if Porsche defend its Le Mans honor or will Audi plots vengeance against Porsche this season...or rather there could be a third option coming up but oh well.

It feels good to be part of the Porsche 919 Hybrid experience at Forza Motorsport 6's Porsche Expansion, available now. If you haven't got your hands with this expansion, now's the time to do it and if you have it, you can experience Porsche's Le Mans-winning machine at the comfort of the living room. It maybe tricky to drive at the beginning but it can be the ideal LMP1 prototype to drive in this game that can adapt through various situations on track. Hope this isn't the last time fans will meet up with the 919 Hybrid.