Aston Martin prematurely kills the Virage to make room for DB9 successor

Aston Martin Virage

Whoa there, it may be out last year but Aston Martin prematurely killed the Virage coupe and Volante to make room for the DB9's replacement. Now who would have thought of that but whatever, some say that the replacement for the DB9 will sport One-77 designs as seen on the new Vanquish. Seems like that the Aston Virage is going to be a rare collector's item in the near future.

Scoop: http://paultan.org/2012/09/04/aston-martin-virage-to-be-replaced-by-new-db9/

Welcome Back: 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage

The best Bond car is always the one that started it all. It remains one of the all time Bond car greats; the Aston Martin DB5.

Alpine escape

This car is famed for being the first ever James Bond car when it was first appeared in the Bond movie, Goldfinger. The DB naming was named in honor of David Brown, the head of Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972.

The DB5 served as the replacement for the DB4 and unlike the DB4, the all-aluminium 6-cylinder engine was enlarged from 3.7 L to 4.0 L as well as adding three SU carburetors, generating 282 bhp (210 kW) of power and a top speed of 145 mph (233 km/h). It was mated with a ZF five-speed transmission (except for some of the very first DB5s).

This car was produced from 1963 to 1965, with a total of 1,023 produced (123 convertible DB5s were produced). There was a shooting brake DB5 made by independent coachbuilder, Harold Radford, via modifiying 11 or 12 DB5 coupes.

This car was featured in Top Gear Season 6 Episode 5 and it was driven by Jeremy Clarkson alongside the immaculate Jaguar E-Type. In the drag race portion, both the DB5 and the E-Type were lost to a Honda sedan. When handed to The Stig, the DB5 did it in 1:46.0.

Anime Saimoe Tournament 2012 update (September 3, 2012)

I really forgot about this. There were results for the 2ch Forum's 2012 Anime Saimoe Tournament Round 1. I'm very very sorry that I forgot about this. Anyway, time to pick up where it started....

Sources have the results with some vote counts and frankly it's a bit embarrassing...Remember, those highlighted in bold are the winners advancing to the next round.

Group A (8/14)
Saki Miyanaga - Saki Achiga-hen (episode of side-A) - 294
Maho Misawa - Ro-kyu-bu! - 278
Nanako Dojima - Persona 4 the Animation - 55
Himari Takakura - Mawaru Penguindrum - 41

Mahiru Inami - WORKING!! - 236
Fan Rinin - Infinite Stratos - 179
Miya Tachibana - Amagami SS+ - 177

Reika Aoki - Smile PreCure! - 254
Cecilia Alcott - Infinite Stratos - 222
Raika Oda - Papa no Iu Koto Wo Kikinasai - 107

Group A (8/15)
Kobato Hasegawa - Haganai - 249
Kiyomi Sakura -  Squid Girl  - 135
Riko Yasufuku - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 96

Illyasviel Von Einzbern (Illya) - Fate/Zero - 239
Yoshinoya - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 120
Mako Tsuiki - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 113

Yuno Gasai - Mirai Nikki - 201
Saki Mizukoshi - Natsu-iro Kiseki - 190
Crea Dolosera - Aquarion Evol - 79

Group A (8/16)
Yuki Kataoka - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 291
Rika Shiguma - Haganai - 136
Tiffania Westwood - Familiar of Zero F - 87

Koromo Amae - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 274
Lynette Bishop - Strike Witches - 180
Charlotte E. Yeager - Strike Witches - 65

Nako Oshimizu - Hanasaku Iroha - 224
Maria Takayama - Haganai - 172
Mero Furuya - Sankarea - 106

Group A (8/17)
Miki Hoshii - The IDOLM@STER - 323
Tomoka Minato - Ro-kyu-bu! - 299
Aoi Ogiyama - Ro-kyu-bu! - 46

Remon Yamano - Ano Natsu de Matteru - 266
Masamune Usami - Mayo Chiki! - 217
Miyuki Tsubakino - Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A - 140

Haruka L. Morishima - Amagami SS+ - 273
Asia Argento - High School DxD - 200
Ghutatan - Haiyore! - 126

Group B (8/18)
Yuka Hanaki - Natsu-iro Kiseki - 189
Shino Amakusa - Seitokai Yakuindomo - 162
Tomo Asama - Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere - 127

Kanade Suzutsuki - Mayo Chiki! 215
Isumi Saginomiya - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven is a Place on Earth - 196
Hanyuu - When They Cry - 108

Akari Akaza - Yuruyuri - 325
Izumi Segawa - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven is a Place on Earth - 146
Taeko Hiramatsu - Kore wa Zombie desu ka? - 75

Group B 8/19
Mei Misaki - Another - 324
Ayano Sugiura - Yuruyuri - 260
Rias Gremory - High School DxD - 73

Iori Minase - The IDOLM@STER - 288
Mio Naganohara - Nichijo - 171
Komaki Jindai - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 159

Toki Onjouji - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 417
Airi Sena - Mashiro-iro Symphony - 192
Tsumiki Miniwa - Acchi Kocchi - 74

Group B 8/20
Yozora Mikazuki - Haganai - 259
Chihaya Ayase - Chihayafuru - 255
Nazuna - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 151

Azusa Nakano - K-ON! - 293
Sakurako Omuro - Yuruyuri - 256
Yuno - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 167

Shinobu Oshino - Nisemonogatari - 288
Shirayuki Hotogi - Hidan no Aria - 220
Ayame Shaga - Ben-To - 150

Group B (8/21)
Run - A-Channel - 190
Ritsu Tainaka - K-ON! - 185
Ami Kawashima - Toradora! - 121

Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke - Strike Witches - 222
Ichika Takatsuki - Ano Natsu de Matteru - 140
Mako Someya - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 94

Chris Yukine - Senki Zessho Symphogear - 203
Nori - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 151
Sae - Hidamari Sketch x SP - 68

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-08-22/2ch-forum-saimoe-tournament-2012-round-1/groups-a-b

Group C (8/23)
Shizuno Takakamo - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 409
Kyoko Toshino - Yuruyuri - 366
Rise Matsumoto - Yuruyuri - 44

Ringo Oginome - Mawaru Penguindrum - 293
Kaoru Hanawa - Tamayura - 261
Professor - Nichijo - 159

Kanon Nakagawa - The World God only Knows - 297
Fuu Sawatari - Tamayura - 260
Norie Okazaki - Tamayura - 104

Group C (8/24)
Hisa Takei - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 285
Sae Nakata - Amagami SS+ - 218
Yuuka Morigaki - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 75

Eila Ilmatar Juutilanen - Strike Witches movie - 267
Kokoro Akechi - Detective Opera Milky Holmes - 186
Hare Menjo - Guilty Crown - 102

Ui Hirasawa - K-ON! movie -264
Sen Yarizui - Ben-to - 251
Suruga Kanbaru - Nisemonogatari - 71

Group C (8/25)

Cthugha - Haiyore! Nyaruko-san - 239
Chinatsu Yoshikawa - Yuruyuri - 180
Francesca Lucchini - Strike Witches - 142


Yune - Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
Erica Hartmann - Strike Witches (movie) - 220
Sonya - Kill Me Baby - 133


Astarotte Ygvar - Astarotte's Toy! - 306
Awai Ōhoshi - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 132
Mami Futami - The IDOLM@STER - 125

Group C (8/26)

Yayoi Kise - Smile Pretty Cure! - 303
Ai Haibara - Detective Conan - 115
Gruier Serenity - Bodacious Space Pirates - 96


Maon Sakurada - Tamayura - Hitotose - 260
Maria - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 195
Laura Bodewig - Infinite Stratos Encore: Koi ni Kogareru Rokujūsō - 76


Sherlock Shellingford - Detective Opera Milky Holmes franchise - 197
Asuha Tōhara - Astarotte's Toy! EX - 190
Mayuri Shiina - Steins;Gate - 148

Group D (8/27)

Houki Shinonono - Infinite Stratos - 202
Rinko Tamaki - Natsu-iro Kiseki - 189
Harue Akado - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 95


Yasuna Oribe - Kill Me Baby - 235
Gertrud Barkhorn - Strike Witches (movie) - 171
Sakurako Gibbard - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 97


Sana Inui - Mashiro-Iro Symphony - The color of lovers - 211
Tamao Kurei - Nyarko-san: Another Crawling Chaos - 173
Hibino Shiba - Kamisama Dolls - 84

Group D (8/28)

Kurisu Makise - Steins;Gate - 439
Mihoko Fukuji - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 364
Ayumi Tokita - Squid Girl - 70


Chihaya Kisaragi - The IDOLM@STER - 349
Hibiki Tachibana - Senki Zesshō Symphogear - 249
Koneko Tōjō - High School DxD - 188


Louise de la Valliere - Familiar of Zero F - 406
Kei Arakawa - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 319
Alice - Heaven's Memo Pad - 130

Group D (8/29)

Hajime Kunihiro - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 266
Suzu Hagimura - Seitokai Yakuindomo - 236
Henriette Mystere - Detective Opera Milky Holmes franchise - 125


Makoto Kikuchi - The IDOLM@STER - 250
Karuta Roromiya - Inu X Boku Secret Service - 241
Fear - C3 - 140


Madoka Kyōno - Lagrange - The Flower of Rin-ne - 328
Teru Miyanaga - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 291
Tomoki Sawamura - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 28

Group D (8/30)

Nagi Sanzenin - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 365
Hiroe Atago - Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth - 165
Utao Kuga - Kamisama Dolls - 131


Hinata Hakamada - Ro-Kyu-Bu! - 332
Unused Character - Kill Me Baby! - 187
Perinne H. Clostermann - Strike Witches (movie) - 130


Saber - Fate/Zero/Carnival Phantasm - 262
Tōka Ryūmonbuchi - Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A - 236
Agiri Goshiki - Kill Me Baby - 160

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-09-02/2ch-forum-saimoe-tournament-2012-round-1/groups-c-d

Check back for more!

Formula One 2012 Belgian GP update...

Oh, I almost forgot. The Formula 1 2012 Belgian GP happened at Spa-Francorchamps. On that event, we saw a horrible carnage between Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Romain Grosjean. Despite that carnage happened, Jenson Button stands tall to the very end.

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Button wins after first-corner carnage at Spa 02 Sep 2012
      
Jenson Button salvaged McLaren’s day after an explosive start to the Belgian race saw team mate Lewis Hamilton eliminated along with championship points leader Fernando Alonso, Sauber’s Sergio Perez and Lotus’s Romain Grosjean.

After debris from their collision was cleared away, and the safety car went back in, Button owned the race and sped home to a 13.6s victory - his first at Spa - over Sebastian Vettel who drove with great commitment and a clever strategy to take a supremely valuable second for Red Bull. 

Behind them, car problems kept Lotus’s Kimi Raikkkonen from launching his expected challenge, but the Finn also took home valuable points on a day when Alonso’s lead suddenly began to look vulnerable. His team mate Grosjean was subsequently handed a one-race ban and a 50,000 Euro fine for triggering the first-corner mayhem. 

Nico Hulkenberg drove a beautiful race for Force India and was always in the hunt for good points. He battled and beat Raikkonen and Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher in the early stages to run second, but ultimately had to settle for an honourable fourth.

Felipe Massa salvaged a little for Ferrari (after Alonso’s exit) with a hard-fought fifth ahead of Red Bull’s Mark Webber, while Schumacher faded to seventh after a late tyre stop and the loss of sixth gear on his Mercedes.

Jean-Eric Vergne came through from a fantastic race-long battle with Toro Rosso team mate Daniel Ricciardo, Paul di Resta in the second Force India, and Bruno Senna, who also had to make a late tyre stop after looking a likely points contender for a long time.

Sauber’s promising race fell apart at the start when Kamui Kobayashi’s car showed signs of overheating on the grid and was then hit by the flying Hamilton and Alonso; he recovered, but could not better a hugely disappointing 13th. Vitaly Petrov was Caterham’s leader in 14th after Heikki Kovalainen, who was initially 10th after the first-corner melee, spun once and later spun again to finish 17th.

Between the green cars, the Marussia drivers staged a hard battle in the team’s 50th race. Eventually Timo Glock hunted down team mate Charles Pic, to finish 15.5s ahead. Pedro de la Rosa was the final finisher after HRT team mate Narain Karthikeyan’s span off backwards into the tyre wall late in the race.

Besides Grosjean, Hamilton, Alonso and Perez, the other non-finisher was Pastor Maldonado who damaged his Williams in a brush with Glock on the restart on Lap five. The Venezuelan was handed a five-place grid penalty by the stewards for the next race in Monza for that incident, and received another five-place grid penalty for Italy for jumping the start.

The FIA also investigated two pit-lane incidents. The first came when Caterham unsafely released Kovalainen and he struck an incoming Karthikeyan, and the second when Webber just managed to avoid an incoming Massa after Red Bull appeared to let him go prematurely. They took no further action against Red Bull but fined Caterham 10,000 Euros for their misdemeanor.

The stewards also investigated an incident on the 19th lap when Schumacher, on the left-hand side of the road as Vettel dived inside him at the Bus Stop chicane, then cut across the Red Bull’s bows as the older German headed for the pits. They decided to take no further action. 

In the championship stakes, Alonso still leads with 164 points, but Vettel is now second on 140 from Webber on 132 and Raikkonen on 131. Hamilton is fifth with 117, while Button’s first victory at Spa leaves him sixth on 101.

For the teams, Red Bull continues to lead with 272 to McLaren’s 218, Lotus’s 207 and Ferrari’s 199.

Scoop: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/9/13739.html

So, can such suspense like this occurred on Italy this September 9? See you there!

Let's Do The News! (September 3, 2012)

And now the news and hey, I guess everyone's in a good mood today. Seems that most of them have witnessed Episode 1 of the Doctor Who Series 7 titled Asylum of the Daleks. That was a fun ride and we had a lot of leftovers to serve for next week's Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

You had a lot of leftovers?

Just small. Some Jammie dodgers and the custard....

(audience laughing)

Hey, guess this episode is not just limited to just Daleks but also some souffle and eggs.

Souffle and eggs?

(laughing)

Oh dear...Seems that you're taking a shot at that souffle girl...(laughing)

No, I'm not...

Really? Wanna guess who's that actress being that souffle girl?

Who?

Jenna Louise-Coleman

That was Jenna Louise-Coleman! She made a very special appearance on that episode. Oh, and if you we're tantalizing over Ms. Jenna Louise-Coleman, don't worry. She'll be back on the 2012 Christmas Special but now, she's going to be a new partner for The Doctor. Guess we'll be serving souffles by the time she returned for Christmas....gosh that girl made me blushed...

(audience laughing)

Ahem...don't be silly. You want eggs?

What?

Eggs....eggs....eggs...

Eggs?

Eggs...eggs....term...i....nate!

Exterminate?

(uh-oh)

Hey, enough all of that eggs and souffle jokes right now...Something bothers me that because Daleks think that hatred is beautiful...what's the recipe for hatred?

Subtract love, add hate...and some eggs, and stir.

(audience laughing)

Uh...that's not gone well. Save the souffle recipe for Ms. Jenna Louise Coleman this Christmas, okay?

Okay...

Because, let's move on to the unexpected.

Yes, we heard about BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT's scaling down of operations and as we heard now....THEY'RE DISCONTINUING THEIR HOME VIDEO, MANGA, AND NOVEL SALES.

(awww)

Sorry if we saw you spitting your coffee at your desks but this is the real deal. Here's the letter from BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT sent to the retailers;


"I am writing to inform you that Bandai Entertainment Inc in discontinuing its home video publishing and distribution business effective March 1, 2013. 

As we methodically wind down the business, the last day that Bandai will be accepting any purchase orders is November 15, 2012, with our last shipments occurring on November 30th, 2012.

On Behalf of Bandai Entertainment Inc, I want to express our gratitude for the opportunity we've had to do business with your company, and I think you in advance for your understanding and assistance during this period." 

Scoop: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/08/31-1/bandai-entertainment-to-end-catalog-home-video-sales-in-november

So, if you're on the hunt for some Bandai Entertainment DVDs then do it now because the final day that they will be accepting orders will be on November 15. Any titles you want to buy before the deadline?

Uh...I should be getting those Galaxy Angel DVDs....I guess this is now becoming a forgotten title. Ever since Broccoli Books closed down its business in late 2008 or early 2009, I do kinda miss those. Even Millefeulle Sakuraba...(sniff)

(awww)

Yeah, anyway Capt. Slow, no time for drama because let's move on to even more interesting....and for a big treat...

What?

It seems that BBC's Sherlock TV program, the one that stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the modern Sherlock Holmes, gets a manga from Kadokawa's Young Ace this October 2012 and it will be made possibly by someone named Jay.

Heh? Even Sherlock's popularity reached Japan? BBC's Sherlock gets a manga? Touche, Mr. Steven Moffat.

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-01/bbc-tv-sherlock-re-imagining-gets-japanese-manga

I was shocked to read that news and it seems that the modern Sherlock Holmes is getting a bit a trending topic. The Japanese are now making a manga based on BBC's Sherlock? Uh-oh...

I know. It's a bit of an uh-oh but there's even more to this Sherlock malarkey. When Robert Downey Jr. became Sherlock Holmes in the movies and Benedict Cumberbatch became Sherlock Holmes on British televisions...

Not to mention Sherlock Shellingford from the Milky Holmes anime....that counts...

(laughing)

... there's another Sherlock Holmes in the ring but this time...it's AMERICAN...A new show on CBS titled Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes and Lucy Liu from the Charlie's Angels movies as Joan Watson, which is like Dr. Watson, only female.

Scoop: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/05/watch-the-trailer-for-elementary-2012s-third-sherlock-holmes-franchise/

I was getting a bit confused about the whole Sherlock Holmes fame but now it spreads America-wide with the upcoming Fall TV show called Elementary? The Sherlock for Americans?

(audience laughing)

Anyway, enough about the Sherlock madness and move on to even more because...

A maid cafe owner in Osaka got arrested for employing underaged girls, 14-year-old girls to be axact.

(huh?)

14-year-old teenage girls working in maid cafes? That's illegal you know. There was a rule that it's prohibited to employ a child under 15 years of age but what do you expect here? Some 14 year old junior high school girls working at the maid cafe? Uh-oh...This is somewhat child labor here....

Yeah. This guy's going to be pissed off for the case of child labor. Speaking of which, what was that maid cafe in Osaka where the owner got arrested for child labor?

Maidream

Scoop: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/09/01-1/maid-cafe-owner-arrested-for-employing-14-year-old-girls

And what are they serving?

Let's see, um...some 4000 yen omelet rice, some 5000 yen cake set, some very expensive foods and services on this made cafe with underaged maids. Glad I'm not there...

(audience laughing)

Okay...moving on...There was this German pharmaceutical company, which is known to be one of the last remaining five research-oriented pharmaceutical companies with headquarters in Germany, apologized to the public for birth defects in...well you guessed it...five decades! Five decades? That was too late for a German pharmaceutical named Grunenthal to apologize to those Thalidomide victims.

Uh...what's Thalidomide?

It's sedative drug introduced in the late 1950s that was used to treat morning sickness and aid sleep. That medicine lead them to side effects but the most seriously, birth defects. Ending up with babies with no arms or limbs or any body parts that render them disabled.

Scoop: http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981604994

Sadly though, it's too late for Grunenthal to apologize to the affected. I mean come on...50 years? That's a very very long time! You know if that occurred, I should better apologize quickly, not waiting for 50 years to apologize. Come on Grunenthal. You should better be packing your bags now because you're facing the wrath of the angry mob....Those who were called the Thalidomide victims perhaps.

(audience laughing)

This really is a bombshell we really like to end it but before we end...I got terrible queries saying what was the commercial song on the 2013 Toyota Auris NOT AUTHORITY commercial, the one with the transgender model on it. Wanna know what's the song? Here...


曲　名：オリジナル曲
作曲家：大沢 伸一（おおさわ しんいち）

Source: http://toyota.jp/auris/tvcf/index.html

Yeah, you guys really were close. I'm afraid it's an original song used on the commercial! Sorry!

Conundrum solved, right?

And....on that bombshell, that's the news! Let's go make some souffles! For the souffle girl! he he he he

Save that recipe for Christmas...

Outtakes: Nissan Note E12 is the replacement for the Nissan Tiida. Period.

2013 Nissan Note

OUTTAKE:

Hello guys. I was really pleased about the launch of the all new 2013 Nissan Note which comes with a fuel efficient and supercharged HR12DDR DIG-S engine which has a fuel economy of 25.2km/L on the JC08 cycle. An eco car with a supercharged engine is quite interesting for the everyday drivers.

I got a lot of annoying Tiida-related queries on this website and let me tell you this once and NEVER again so sit down and I'll say it. Ahem.

The second-generation Nissan Note...is the replacement of the Nissan Tiida. The new Note replaces the outgoing Tiida hatchback. That's it.

Now, as you may thought that I was kidding about the all new Nissan Note E12 replacing the Nissan Tiida, no I'm not. I am not kidding. It's true. The new Note replaces the Tiida/Versa/Latio hatchback.

When we saw the second-generation Tiida in China last year, we were stilling waiting if Nissan Motor Corporation will sell the new Tiida in Japan but sadly, Nissan confirmed that the new Tiida will no longer be available in Japan. Production of the Tiida at its Oppama plant in Japan stopped in June 2012 and furthermore, the Tiida was killed, ending its eight-year tenure as the global compact car that is compact meets luxury.

Source? Here: http://car-research.jp/nissan/tiida-7.html

Here's the excerpt from that site:

新型ティーダの日本発売は無し、カタログ落ちへ

2代目ティーダが昨年2011年春の上海モーターショーで公開され、既に中国では一般発売されている。今年2012年9月頃とされてきた日本仕様の発売を楽しみにしているユーザーも多かった思うが、残念ながらこれは中止となりそうだ。

これまで、次期ティーダの日本発売については、2012年秋でほぼ決まりと考えられ、日産では5ナンバー化の検討もされていた。しかし、これらはすべてキャンセル。結局、日本ではティーダは発売されないことになった。

In translation, Nissan killed the Tiida and furthermore, the all new Nissan Note E12 is the confirmed Tiida replacement, which is a bit redundant.

We furthermore appreciated with this further understanding and do apologize for Nissan's announcement. If the new Nissan Note is a bit redundant as the Tiida it replaces, feel free to comment below. Thank you.

OUTTAKE END

Be Careful with my Tiyan

On the September 2, 2012 episode of Goin Bulilit...

- Some corny jokes on I'm Corny

- Gags involving bigger families

- Tirik ng kandlia

- A statue asks....Tanong ko lang...

- Goin Bulilit music video of Isang Sulyap

- kariton gags

- Goin Bulilit does Be Careful with my Heart in...BE CAREFUL WITH MY TIYAN.

- Somebody's eating the chicken at the table...Who could that be? It's the kids!

- Flip Top Battle between the plastic bag vs. the paper bag! But wait! The Reusable bag crashes the party!

Vauxhall Astra J VXR

2013 Vauxhall Astra VXR

2013 Vauxhall Astra VXR

*The Opel Astra J OPC is sold in Great Britain as the Vauxhall Astra J VXR

When you compare the all new Vauxhall Astra VXR against the Renault Megane RS 265 and the Volkswagen Golf VI GTi, it really is like Ms. Iceland vs. Ms. Munich Beer Festival vs. Ms. I had all the pies. Both these cars have 2.0L engines and turbocharged but the all new  Vauxhall Astra VXR  is far from equal because it produces 280PS of power. That's 15 more than the Renaultsport Megane 265 and that's 70 more than the Golf VI GTi. Which means, this hot chick's not only obliterate against these two, it demolishes them in the straights.

Not only the new  Vauxhall Astra VXR  is faster, it's also good looking, it's agile, and it makes the best noise as well. And unlike any other hot hatchbacks in the market today, it's not that desperately impractical. First of all, the pricing of the new VXR starts at 34,250 Euros, pricier than the Golf GTi and the Megane RS 265. Also, because of the low roof line, I'm afraid that there's no way we can't fit our garden essentials or a tall angel statues at the back. So then, not quite good to use it as an everyday car but then there was the chaos theory/.

It maybe a compact but it's still a hardcore continental crusher. Putting all that power to its front wheels is all biggie but it sure knows how to dougie. Come on car, teach me how to dougie. Come on! Speaking of which, can it do torque steering? I don't know but best to find out by yourself. If this new Astra VXR's gone as insane as that boss character from that Crash Bandicoot video game, you're out for some serious trouble and this new VXR's no car. It's mad. There are tons of optional features available for the all new  Vauxhall Astra VXR  but I'm afraid that they're not options....they're traps. A traptastic hot hatch indeed....

Opel Astra J OPC

2013 Opel Astra GTC

When you compare the all new Opel Astra OPC against the Renault Megane RS 265 and the Volkswagen Golf VI GTi, it really is like Ms. Iceland vs. Ms. Munich Beer Festival vs. Ms. I had all the pies. Both these cars have 2.0L engines and turbocharged but the all new Opel Astra J OPC is far from equal because it produces 280PS of power. That's 15 more than the Renaultsport Megane 265 and that's 70 more than the Golf VI GTi. Which means, this hot chick's not only obliterate against these two, it demolishes them in the straights.

2013 Opel Astra OPC interior

Not only the new Astra OPC is faster, it's also good looking, it's agile, and it makes the best noise as well. And unlike any other hot hatchbacks in the market today, it's not that desperately impractical. First of all, the pricing of the new OPC starts at 34,250 Euros, pricier than the Golf GTi and the Megane RS 265. Also, because of the low roof line, I'm afraid that there's no way we can't fit our garden essentials or a tall angel statues at the back. So then, not quite good to use it as an everyday car but then there was the chaos theory/.

It maybe a compact but it's still a hardcore continental crusher. Putting all that power to its front wheels is all biggie but it sure knows how to dougie. Come on car, teach me how to dougie. Come on! Speaking of which, can it do torque steering? I don't know but best to find out by yourself. If this new Astra OPC's gone as insane as that boss character from that Crash Bandicoot video game, you're out for some serious trouble and this new OPC's no car. It's mad. There are tons of optional features available for the all new Opel Astra OPC but I'm afraid that they're not options....they're traps. A traptastic hot hatch indeed....

Behind the scenes clip of Doctor Who S07E01

Of souffles and eggs, we loved the opener of Doctor Who Series 7 titled Asylum of the Daleks. To build all the hype of that episode, BBC put a behind-the scenes clip on the making of Asylum of the Daleks and see how the Daleks are made on the set. Is it more fun?

That was a great opening salvo!

Series 7 of BBC's Doctor Who kicked off with Asylum of the Daleks. It was a great ride...except that now there's a new opening sequence which will carry on to the next...

It also gives us a glimpse of Jenna Louise Coleman as well. See you soon Ms. Jenna Louise Coleman!

Now if only we want to make some souffle for the after hours...

Next week...dinosaurs! On a spaceship!

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Since when did I became...a DW Fan?

Doctor Who Series 5 DVD

Doctor Who was a British science fiction program that was aired since 1963 and then went off the air in 1989. Don't worry, I didn't know that either....

I'd never heard of Doctor Who. Nor its the actors who portrayed as the venerable Doctor.

I'd always assumed that the Brits can make a sci-fi series that is too popular for adults many. Who wouldn't? But then, in 2005, some guy named Russell Davies got bored for doing absolutely nothing on his free time and do you guess what he did on his time? He brought Doctor Who back, starting from Christopher Eccleston who served as the 9th generation Doctor when the series returned in the Spring of 2005 along with some actress named Billie Piper as his companion, Rose Tyler.

I'm no fan of the classic Who because this is somewhat what your parents used to watch when they were kids but the modern Who is all fantastic and cool and suitable for all ages. Kids love to watch the modern Who, even teens, or parents who got fed of seeing the classic Who.

First glance, when I watched the first series, take note the one when it got back in 2005, I sometimes didn't like Mr. Eccleston's performance but with all of his eccentric ways, his rage, fun, anything, that got me. In episodes like the one when London's been invaded by the Slitheen, that's when The Doctor and Rose showed their true instincts. I have seen it all that this Who is all about the battle of wits. Its the Time Lord's intelligence that will change the fate of the world. Of course, for being the last of the powerful Time Lords, he's your ideal knight in shining armor uh...save that to someone else...Don't mind asking why.

When Christopher Eccleston left the show after the first season ended, where he got turned into David Tennant, this is when it gets interesting. David, for being the shouty type of Doctor, really helped this show's popularity soared into new heights. And if I said shouty, I saw him when he guested on Top Gear Season 10 finale. "SPEED UP!" David Tennant yelled. Heh....not bad for the Scottish-born actor who popularized Doctor Who with his shouty humorous attitude. As I watched all of Mr. Tennant's adventures, I started to adore his attitude. Even when Ms. Freema Agyeman took role as Martha, who served as his companion for Series 3, and then comedian Catherine Tate from The Catherine Tate Show, who was Donna Noble from the 2006 Christmas Special up until she became a full-fledged partner on Series 4, which brought back Billie and Freema and some of his good guys, Doctor Who became a chemistry of laughter, appeal, and surprisingly the emotion that we felt.

Travel through time, fend off against enemies such as the Daleks, the Cybermen, and many others, and saving the universe, that's how The Doctor's been good at but sometimes though, with great power comes great responsibility. The rules of time are fluid, some actions have dire consequences, and some tragedies cannot be reversed. Such examples came from The Fires of Pompeii episode and the 2009 Autumn Special titled The Waters Of Mars. He maybe prevented catastrophe from time paradoxes but sometimes, there is NO ROOM FOR MANEUVER. Some events are fixed and cannot be changed. That made me sad...

Thanks to Mr. David Tennant's contribution, Doctor Who spawned several merchandising rights such as a toy replica of his Sonic Screwdriver, some Doctor Who books to keep them interested, and that's it. Also, it even spawned spin-offs....(sigh) I felt pity about The Sarah Jane Adventures. Even though a good Doctor Who spinoff targeted for the kids in Britain and starred famed Doctor Who actress Elisabeth Sladen as journalist Sarah Jane Smith, I'd never knew that it only spawned five seasons. To put it this way, Season 5 was the last of The Sarah Jane Adventures before Elisabeth Sladen died in 2011. Right before her passing, she even wrote an autobiography, which I really want to read about her achievements as being Sarah Jane Smith from the classic Who right to her last words before her death. Classic and modern Whovians alike can still remember Sarah Jane as one of the all time companion greats.

Aside from Sarah Jane, who can forget a time agent became Torchwood operative, Captain Jack Harkness (played by John Barrowman)? Torchwood is more than just a rated-SPG spinoff of Doctor Who. When I said rated-SPG, it does. Think of CSI meets The X-Files but sadly, I didn't like that show but I'll give it a chance to see one. Count on it. Even they we're branded as spin-offs, they're still a product of Doctor Who's popularity.

When the year 2010 stroke, it was the year Whovians bid goodbye to David Tennant and others, even the man who revived the series, whose name was Russell Davies. Why? Because, this is the year Doctor Who became the coolest and positioned as one of the BBC's flagship programs...thanks to actor Matt Smith and the newly appointed showrunner who was famous for modernizing Sherlock, Steven Moffat.

Matt Smith's now the 11th generation Doctor Who and even though it was the fifth series, it feels like a completely new Doctor Who rather than just a continuation. With good guys such as Amy Pond and Rory Williams, this show is getting cooler than the past Doctor Who seasons. Thanks to Mr. Steven Moffat and Matt Smith, the whole humans became fez-wearing, bowtie-wearing, jammie dodger-eating, Whovians because why? He's unique....VERY VERY unique. Aside from the Eleventh's coolness, merchandising rights are now expanded and luckily, we'd expected a toy version of the TARDIS, especially the Eleventh's Sonic Screwdriver! I once had a TARDIS toy and the Eleventh's sonic screwdriver in my room and you wouldn't guess how my transformation came intro fruition. When I watched the whole of Mr. Matt Smith's adventures, he revolutionized everything! Bowties are cool, fezzes are cool, stetsons are cool, glasses are cool, and bunk beds are cool! Wait, bunk beds are cool? We used to have one of those and I broke one. Sorry....

This show became a global phenomenon and even when classic programs revamped into new ones fail within a minute, Doctor Who is doing very well. So well...it even spawned a video game its very own exhibition in Porth Teigr, Cardiff, Wales!

I am so glad I became one of them...a fez-wearing, bowtie-wearing, jammie dodger-eating, fish custard-eating, bunk bed-sleeping, Whovian. That's my NEW TO WHO story. Because I'm new to Who. Allons-y!

Thanks for reading and as always...NEVER APPLY LOGIC TO WHO...