Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Hennessey Performance tweaks C7 Corvette to have 600hp

Hennessey HPE600 Corvette
To be fair, me and the brand new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray don't usually get along very well ever since Sony and Polyphony Digital have exclusive rights for this car as well as being the cover car for the upcoming Gran Turismo 6 video game on the PS3. Question: WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? Answer: Because it's a Gran Turismo-only car and I don't want video games, especially Forza Motorsport 5, to feature the latest itineration. Like I always warned over the months; the C7 Corvette remains a Gran Turismo-only car.

Now, Hennessey Performance, a Texas-based tuner and creator of the speed-breaking Venom GT which caused too much hype on the motoring community, gets their hands down and dirty to bring the C7 Corvette the boost it desires and the V8 that powers it now churns over 600HP of power courtesy of tuning parts and packages that costs $10,950.

Report: Top Gear

Vilma Santos-Recto, IHAW NA!

November 5, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment continues the one-on-one talk with Vilma Santos-Recto as the star for all seasons bares all.

Meanwhile, we find out what would a Sosyal and a Di Sosyal do such as blushing, on a rainy day, and begging for allowance

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: DEAR TOP GEAR UK, PLEASE DESTROY THE C7 CORVETTE!

C7 Corvette from a Top Gear USA episode


Dear Top Gear UK,

My name is Leopaul del Rosario and I have been a huge Top Gear fan since I first watch your show. I became addicted to the show because this is the first time a show about cars and carnage really suits my personality very well. I just have one proposal for the chaps (namely Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May) and this is an urgent one that needs to be enclosed; PLEASE DESTROY THE C7 CORVETTE!

The reason why I really do hate this brand new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is simple, it's not because the design looks revolting as well as its performance, it's the car that caused me painful backstories. You all heard the news that Top Gear is no longer included in the upcoming PS3 game, Gran Turismo 6, and since because Microsoft has exclusivity for Top Gear content to be shown at the upcoming XBOX One launch game, Forza Motorsport 5, I am willing to buy myself both the XBOX ONE and FM5 because of Top Gear. I've been dealing with a lot of morons saying "no, Forza 5 should not feature the C7 Corvette because it's a Gran Turismo-exclusive car" but those men or should I say speedo boys don't care what I just said. They think that the C7 Corvette should be featured in the upcoming FM5 but I kept warning about the possible onslaught because if FM5 once featured the brand new 2014 Corvette Stingray, not only I'll consider this a "theft" but also "unfair competition" because they stole the car that was exclusive to Gran Turismo.

Since Top Gear is no longer included in GT6 because of the exclusivity from Forza 5, it's time this game deserve a payback. GT6 has no Top Gear, Forza 5 should not feature the C7 Corvette. That's all. Just saying.

And that's why I want you boys to turn the brand new C7 Corvette into endangered species, the same thing what you did to caravans in the past to present. I don't care about you boys test driving it but what I want you boys is treat it the same thing you guys did on caravans. Exploding those C7 Corvettes also work because I want the whole world to be free of those monstrosity that caused me irrational fears. As a matter of fact, The Stig really hates this car because if that tamed racing driver encounter one of those, he wants to blow this car up to the air. It's no wonder this "Gran Tursmo-exclusive" machine likes blowing raspberries in the face of Top Gear.

Do me a favor Top Gear UK, please get rid of the C7 Corvette and tell Forza Motorsport 5 that they should better not feature that Vette because like I always said, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is, as always, exclusive to the world of Gran Turismo.

Thank you and have a great day.

Sincerely,
Leopaul del Rosario
Top Gear fanatic since the dawn of time

Ashamed that GT6 revoked Top Gear, here’s my reponse…
That really sums it up

Top Gear meets Family Guy

Peter Griffin reads Top Gear magazine

Peter Griffin, everyone's favorite idiot father and star of Family Guy, revealed to be a huge Top Gear fan and on the December 2013 issue of Top Gear Magazine, on sale this week, there's a segment where Top Gear magazine interviews Peter Griffin himself. Yes, really!

With Peter Griffin got himself the Top Gear magazine spotlight he deserves, what's next? Make a Top Gear cutaway gag on Family Guy? Or make the Family Guy intro a bit Top Gear-ish for the fun of it?

Let's Do The News! (November 5, 2013)

James: Now, the news and let's start with something bizarre and if I say "bizarre", we mean, of course, just west of weird because somewhere in Japan, there is a new app known by the game called "Punishment Punch Girl".

Richard: Punishment what?

James: It's that iPhone game sold in Japan where in the game, there was a masked teenage girl armed with punching gloves in a mission to rid the train of perverts. It's kinda weird because in this weird game, you'll be facing numerous kinds of perverts for you to punch against such as...ahem...some nerd in a school swimsuit...

(audience laughing)

James: Some idiot hugging his dakimakura...which is also weird...

(audience laughing)

Richard: Some guy in a dakimakura? Does it considered pervert-worthy for a man who was busy hugging a hugging pillow and then he's the enemy? Sounds weird and if I mean weird, men with hugging pillows contain cute anime females, beware.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Yeah, that game really made me sick when I see someone plays this bizarre game from Japan. Imagine if this was us getting punched by a masked schoolgirl?

(audience laughing)

Richard: Still, could be worse. Fat men get punched to death by some teenage girl wearing a mask.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Anyway, here's a sample of the most bizarre-looking game from Japan that really sums it up...



Jeremy: That is horrible. I can't believe such game like this does exist.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Now, Toyota will be showcasing concept versions of next-generation Toyota minivans called the Noah and the Voxy. Here it is...

2013 Toyota Noah Concept

2013 Toyota Voxy Concept
Jeremy: Just what I thought. Two new minivans waiting to be smuggled by the prying ASEAN eyes. ASEAN people, these days...

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, what I heard about that this is the preview for the third-generation Toyota Voxy and Noah minivans, which will be on sale next year, and some say, it will be powered by a 2.0L petrol and...wait for it...a 1.8L hybrid powerplant. Another hybrid?

James: Wow, no wonder hybrids made JDM dead or maybe hybrid is the new JDM?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: That depends but in truth, because of the hybrids, CVTs, and the 180kph speedos all over Japanese cars, it's clear that JDM IS DEAD. Men, these things would stop you making an a** of yourself.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Now, there's something even worse than this because...you know what those threat letters saying that X-DAY refers to the last day of the school festival held at Sophia University?

Richard: Hold it paps. Is it the Sophia with the PH rather than the F?

Jeremy: It's the Sophia with the PH in the middle, Richard.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, there are some articles regarding heightened security on the last day of Sophia University's school festival in regards to the whole Kuroko no Basket threats which has been going around since last year. Since the second season is currently on air in Japan, there has been more threats circulating around the areas and companies involved and linked to KuroBas. Here's the video which really sums it up...



James: A criminal known as the Mysterious Person of 801 Faces...Do you think this is nothing more of a lifeless individual who hates Kuroko no Basket because of some themes that never satisfy his or her cravings?

Jeremy: Even worse. This criminal once told "he decided to kill Kuroko" and relax, this is more of a tortured metaphor done by Mysterious Person of 801 Faces. Anyway, here's a top tip: if you don't want to be fallen victim to The Mysterious Person of 801 Faces, forget KuroBas! Pretend that you never know this anime in the first place!

(audience laughing)

Richard: Yeah and you know what's more freaky? If anyone cosplayed as one of their favorite KuroBas characters, they will become prey from the prying eyes of Mysterious Person of 801 Faces.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Now, with Top Gear no longer included on Gran Turismo 6, we still in the rage about this game as well as why would they'll go for this rather than the Forza Motorsport 5 for the XBOX ONE, blah blah blah...We hate it. We also hate the cover car, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and as Top Gear purists, rise to the challenge. Word from the mouth is that because the C7 Corvette, which remains disliked by Top Gear, still has Gran Turismo exclusivity, Chevrolet will be displaying the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Gran Turismo concept for this year's SEMA Show. Here it is...

Photo courtesy of Corvette Facebook page

Jeremy: So, dig or diss? As Top Gear purists, we diss and because it's Gran Turismo-exclusive, SERIOUSLY UNCOOL.

(audience laughing)

James: Indeed and there's no way Forza Motorsport 5, with Top Gear content, should feature it because 1) It's a GRAN TURISMO EXCLUSIVE, 2) IT'S A GRAN TURISMO EXCLUSIVE, and 3) IT'S A GRAN TURISMO EXCLUSIVE!!!

(audience laughing)

Richard: Should we blow this up with explosives when we see one of these dreaded C7 Corvettes?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: That's a great idea! TOP GEAR HATES C7 CORVETTE! We don't need this rubbish C7 Corvette anyway now that it's a Gran Turismo-exclusive. Gosh, I'm having an emotional workout.

James: Me too...

Richard: So do I.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, that is the end of the news...

Vilma Santos-Recto, IHAW NA!

The star for all seasons, once played an extra in the movie EKSTRA, famed for being Darna in the past decades, a well-respected governor, everything about her made her special. It was Vilma Santos-Recto and she was the guest of the day on the November 4, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment! However, that was just Part One. Catch her up on Part Two later on the show.

Meanwhile, there are some creepy MISCONCEPTIONS circulating in our daily lives in MALING AKALA such as getting scared, frizzies, voodoo doll, unusual wailing, crawling like Sadako, screaming, and swag.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Let's Do The News! (November 4, 2013)

The big news today...

Lexus RC to debut at Tokyo Motor Show

2015 Lexus RC
If the coupe version of the BMW 3-Series is called 4-Series, then the A5 is for the A4, now Lexus is upping the ante as they will use the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show as its basis for the world premiere of their new coupe version of the IS called the RC. RC? Kinda sounds like RC Cola to me but still, it's worth a silly name to call for this IS-based sports coupe that will arrive next year.

Report: http://lexusenthusiast.com/2013/11/04/lexus-rc-sports-coupe-to-debut-at-tokyo-motor-show/

A truce from the spy game?

After tensions between the US and the Germany over the spy scandal as forewarned by the Edward Snowden revelations, Germany and United States consider signing a no-spy agreement to end the bilateral spying of citizens and the government.

Report: http://f24.my/16Yat0f

Bee and PuppyCat Kickstarter update

With 10 days left, about 9,685 backers pledged $467,284 over the 600K target for the Bee and PuppyCat Kickstarter project. It's never too late to back this project while you still can! Come on! Do you best to soar Bee and PuppyCat to greater heights!

Hong Kong lawmakers threaten to withdraw visa-free access for Filipinos

Here we go, a group of lawmakers from Hong Kong approved the condition where Filipinos visiting Hong Kong require a Visa before entry. That sounds harsh, don't you think or maybe it's just one of a few responses over the Luneta hostage drama since August 2010.

Report: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/74110/video--hong-kong-legislators-threaten-to-withdraw-visa-free-access-for-filipinos

Magnum Mk5

Magnum Mk5

This is Canada's answer to the BAC Mono as seen from Top Gear 20. It's called the Magnum Mk5 and this Canadian open-wheel racer features a 250bhp l4 engine mounted in the middle and mated with a 6-speed sequential gearbox. With 545kg of weight, expect a more powerful power-to-weight ratio than any supercars known to man. This or the Mono? Or the Atom? Or the XBOW?


TTFN!!!

Cars GT6 Should Put (Volume 16)

In a galaxy far far away, just off our backyard, lies Leopaul's Blog; boldly pushing the boundaries of car culture because there's some CARS GT6 SHOULD PUT.



Cars like...

1) LEXUS #38 ZENT CERUMO SC430

2013 sees the last run for those old SC430 racers on the Super GT and this #38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 is hailed as the 2013 Super GT500 champion in the overall rankings. Quite a sendoff for Lexus Racing though and I hope this season's winner deserves a spot on GT6.


2) Honda #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT

Since the CR-Z is not another hybrid for the boring people, no wonder it has a spot in the Super GT world and for this year, the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT enters the history books as the first ever hybrid racer to to win the Super GT season. So, by any means necessary, because it won the GT300 class overall, care to give this racer the GT6 treatment it deserves?



3) BMW M135i '13

It may not be a hot hatch in its own right but with its 3.0L turbo engine that produces 320PS of power, it's the most powerful BMW hatchback ever made but sadly less than the new king of hot hatches, the A45 AMG. Because the M135i is known to be the last rear-wheel drive hatch in its existence, this is already well-known to be one of the most fun to drive hatches on the market today. I just hope this car gets a spot in GT6 so we can drift this Bimmer hatch for the fun of it.



4) Audi RS6 Avant '13

In the last GT5, the RS6 they featured was the old C6 RS6 Avant but for the new GT6, I want to see the latest version of the RS6 Avant based on the C7-spec Audi A6 Avant. Who says station wagons can't get even more feistier than this?




5) Nissan March NISMO S '13

It's been quite a while since Nissan gave us a near-hot March 12SR hatchback which is based on the K12 March but for the K13 facelift, there is now a NISMO model and for the better, there's a hot NISMO S in the open. The driver-focused March NISMO S model which comes with a HR15DE engine specially tuned for this model, producing 116PS of power and 156Nm of torque, while mated with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Let's hope this hot March gets its spot on GT6 and see if the new model stacks up against the old 12SR.

The results please? So, if Polyphony's still on the rethinking process whether these cars I've mentioned will be featured on Gran Turismo 6, whether in game or as a DLC, you can't say that I didn't had a bit to do with that.

Take that to Kaz Yamauchi!

Super GT 2013 Finale

The final round of this season's Super GT was held at Twin Ring Motegi Road Course and in the season finale, they have emerged victorious but only one was hailed a true victor. In a cloudy weather that doesn't stop the racers vying to the top, the first to finish was the #6 ENEOS SUSTINA SC430 driven by Kazuya Oshima and Yuji Kunimoto for the GT500 Class while the #11 GAINER DIXCEL SLS driven by Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Bjorn Wirdheim placed 1st in the GT300 class.

Overall, the Super GT500 champion for this season is the #38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 driven by Yuji Tachikawa and Kohei Hirate with the overall total score of 69 points while the Super GT300 champion for this season, and the first hybrid to make it in the history books, is the #16 MUGEN CR-Z GT driven by Hideki Mutoh and Yuhki Nakayama with the overall total score of 85 points.

This concludes the Super GT 2013 season. Here's the digest video that really sums it up:



So, this season sees a fond farewell to the old Lexus SC430 Super GT racers as they will be replaced by a new Lexus Super GT race cars based on the yet-to-be-revealed sportscar. Not just that, this season sees a fond farewell to the HSV-010 race cars as well because they'll be replaced by those NSX-based racers.

F1 2013 Abu Dhabi GP

F1 2013


We thought that Sebastian Vettel deserves some time off now that he's an F1 2013 World Champion but for him, there's no exception to the rule for him because even though he's a world champion in this season, he still manages to score another win at Abu Dhabi despite Mark Webber's pole position. That leaves Vettel in first place win while Webber's placed 2nd and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg placed 3rd.

Sadly, Kimi Raikkonen was placed DNF because of the damage from his Lotus F1 car's right-front suspension.


Semi-finals will be in the US this November 17 so stay tuned as this season nears its climax.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Let's Do The News! (November 3, 2013)

James: And now the news and continuing on the update on the whole Bee and PuppyCat Kickstarter...how many days left before the deadline?

Richard: Let's see...about 11 Days Left.

James: Okay. And how many backers pledged?

Richard: 9400 backers pledged $453,646 out of the 600K dollar goal.

(ooohh)

James: So, with eleven days left, about 9,400 backers pledged $453,646 and with that rate of progress, I think that they won't make it in time.

(audience laughing)

James: Yeah. With that rate of progress...I guess we're feeling sorry about Ms. Natasha Allegri's dream go to waste so our best bet that with just a few weeks away, please back this project while you still can. The web address is http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frederator/bee-and-puppycat-the-series and any contrinution is more than welcome to bring Bee and PuppyCat propelled to further heights so do please, back this project. Thank You.

Jeremy: Anyway, while you guys talked about Asa Butterfield, who was Ender in Ender's Game by the way, and his fond of anime, does he really compare Ender to Evangelion's Shinji? Kinda impressed about how similar these two chaps were but hey, when it comes to inspiration, feel free to go East and West in search of inspiration. Get it?

James: Yeah and some say...you are taking the credit of comparing Sofia the First to Cardcaptor Sakura.

Jeremy: Oh...(laughing)...wait what?!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: No I didn't. It's that squirt next to you who did this stuff...

(audience laughing)

Richard: Yeah and regarding my former favorite magical girl versus my new favorite princess-in-training...

Jeremy: (ahem) Well, it's all in their magical amulets.

Richard: Exactly. I had to say that both Sakura and Sofia are very cute and they both have magical amulets in their possession. There are differences you know, while Sakura's magical amulet turns into a staff made to capture the Clow Cards...Sofia's magical amulet lets her talk to animals and in rare circumstances...summon classic Disney Princesses and let me explain...


  • In the Once Upon A Princess TV movie, which is the first for Sofia the First, when everyone fall asleep by a spell, her amulet summoned Cinderella.
  • Then, in the "Two to Tangu" episode where Sofia and her stepsister Amber finding their way to Tangu Peak, and when the magic carpet they rode caused too much troubles for the princesses, Sofia's magical amulet summoned Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and teachers her how to "tame the wild carpet"
  • In "The Amulet and The Anthem" episode when her amulet put a curse on her because of her bragging about singing for the anthem, her amulet summoned Belle from Beauty and the Beast and there's a moral lesson: The only thing you can undo the curse is you.
Richard: Now, with just a few weeks before the new TV special titled "The Floating Palace", we might be able to witness Sofia's newly found power as a mermaid and best of all, Ariel from The Little Mermaid makes a special appearance! If that wasn't enough...ahem...

Sofia the First: Holiday in Enchancia

Jeremy: What's that?

Richard: Word from the Lord is that there's going to be a Christmas special coming very very soon and judging by this book I saw at the bookstore or perhaps a nearest Disney store, that Christmas special will have Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty on it.

James: We still have The Floating Palace first before this so...wait till further announcements, okay?

Richard: Well, okay...

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: (sigh) Can't believe there's another mass murder in the USA and this time, there's a report saying that a TSA agent was killed in Los Angeles airport shooting. Suspect is named Paul Anthony Ciancia, a 23-year-old male living in LA, and he was detained by the cops. Some say, this suspect was carrying conspiracy papers expressing anti-government views and that drama really shocked us or so they thought.

James: I can't believe there's never been so much mass murder going around here. There was the Colorado theater shooting during The Dark Knight Rises, then there's the Sandy Hook Elementary, Washington Navy Yard, argh! How come the government never respond to this or maybe because they didn't had the balls over gun control laws?

(audience laughing)

Richard: Whoa, that's too much sensitive info right now and hush now, the NSA are eavesdropping onto our conversations.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Guys...enough about that and people, stop laughing. We're in a serious matter, I think because based on all those shootings happened throughout the USA, that begs a question. Should the USA take stringent action over gun control? What do you guys think?

(audience murmuring)

Jeremy: Well, it maybe everyone's opinion but it's worth passing over you. Anyway, it's November and we're just a few days away from Christmas and a few weeks away from the big Doctor Who 50th special, what do you guys think? Is the whole world ready to say happy 50th birthday to Doctor Who?

James: Worldwide?

Jeremy: Yes, the whole world will witness the 50th anniversary because no matter the time zone and no matter which country you are in, you are more than welcome to witness The Day of The Doctor. So, are you ready?

(audience shouting YES, then cheers and applause)

Richard: Me too! Wanna watch that!

Jeremy: Okay, looking forward to the special and oh! Richard! Bad news!

Richard: What is it?

Jeremy: You know that it's just days to go before we say cheerio to CeCe and Rocky.

Richard: Who?

James: CeCe and Rocky. Played by Bella Thorne and Zendaya. They're the stars of Disney's Shake It Up. Shake It Up reaches its climax on November 10.

Richard: Oh...After three seasons, CeCe and Rocky living the dream as pro dancers of a variety show and getting through all sorts of troubles and now...the climax? Aw man...I love that show especially those girls. Anyway, what to expect on the series finale?

Jeremy: Well, on the series finale...let's say that CeCe gets amnesia after a freak accident during a fashion show and what to expect more? Find out on the Shake It Up finale this November 10th and wave goodbye to Bella Thorne and Zendaya...for good.

(awwww)

Richard: Kinda sad though...Saying goodbye to Bella and Zendaya is kinda hard to accept but if the series finale of Shake It Up is worth the trending topic by most teens who love Disney shows, count me in. I'm willing to watch it up.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: You're looking disappointed but determined for that and hey! I know what will cheer you up...

Richard: What is it?



(audience laughing)

Richard: Oh great. That's what I need. Another pointless sketch video as seen on YouTube...and hey! How come this muffin sound like Catbug?!

(audience laughing)

Richard: Catbug as a muffin?! Catbug as a muffin?!! WHAT'S THAT?!!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Oh dear. Looks like he got freaked out more than Mabel's childhood puppet. Who was it again?

James: Bear-o.

Jeremy: Bear-o! Right. (laughing)

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Speaking of which, that really is the end of the news.

Ender's Game

If by any best-seller book turned into a movie adaption, we all gave it a love-hate attitude towards adaptations but mostly we all do the love part because most of the storyline from the book were rendered accurately...sort of. There's now another bestseller novel according to the New York Times that received the movie treatment but what?

Ender's Game

That's what this is. The #1 New York Times bestseller written by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game, is truly one of the most breakthrough films of 2013 and apart from being just another book turned movie, there are some things I can't describe about how superb this sci-fi movie is.

In the future, aliens invaded the earth and the fate of humanity rests into the hands of a young genius named Ender Wiggin (played by Asa Butterfield). Who is he? He maybe young but he's brilliant, ruthless, and cunning. Recruited by the world government for military training, his childhood begins at Battle School and he's worthy to be the genius among geniuses but is he ready? Ender may be trained through simulations but is the pressure and his loneliness really show his weaknesses?

This movie tries to answer most of the questions lurking around the titular character and most importantly, how can a young boy risks everything to save the planet from alien attacks. As viewers and readers alike, we want to make sure that the storyline for this movie is truly biased on the movie version but for Ender's Game, this movie tries to match its wits with the mixture of bewildering special effects, epic storyline, and the potential it deserves but sometimes most of the elements hasn't been done yet, perhaps this can do better than that.

However, there's one catch on the movie and have you spotted one? Oh, you're right. There was this futuristic Audi driven by veteran actor Harrison Ford in the film and I can't believe that Audi's done it again when it comes to create space-age concepts for movie purposes since iRobot. Now what was that? Oh yeah, the fleet shuttle quattro.

Anyway, enough about that, let's move on to the boy who played Ender because there are some interesting fun facts about Butterfield himself and the only thing more interesting is that he once explained to the Japanese press that Ender Wiggin really feels like Evangelion's Shinji Ikari. Who would have thought that this actor showed his strong fond to Evangelion and why he compares Ender to Shinji. They're both brilliant, ruthless, and cunning.

Yes, Ender's Game is pretty much like Evangelion in a different kind of perspective except this isn't some kind of...well, you know...it's a space movie worth risking for a young lad to win the war against aliens. It's a brilliant movie for the sci-fi geeks but no matter the circumstances, this movie is worth the watching for the fans but sometimes, if this movie gets too much, it spoils your fun. It maybe a good film to watch this Autumn but as a keen fan, best to stick to the book for a while.