Let's Do The News! (January 1, 2018)

- The number of people hurt from fireworks has been sharply reduced following President Duterte's executive order restricting the use of firecrackers to community zones was implemented for the first time over the weekend. From Dec. 21, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018, the Department of Health recorded 191 firecracker injuries, a "substantial" decrease from the previous year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

- Today is the start of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and an official from the Malacanang Palace believes that the advantages of the tax reform law outweigh the impact of higher consumer prices, stressing that additional revenues would go back to the public in the form of social services and jobs.

- The Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada, has moved their penguins inside the facility due to extremely cold weather. Zoo curator Malu Celli said the king penguins have been brought in from their outdoor enclosure on several days during Calgary's latest cold snap.

- The annual Toronto Polar Bear Dip event was cancelled due to thick ice in the Toronto Harbour. The event, which takes place each year at Sunnyside Beach, was cancelled because the group won’t be able to get 600 people in and out of the lake safely with the current icy conditions.

- Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal will make his comeback from injury in Melbourne's Tie Break Tens tournament this month against Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka.

- In case you missed it, Polyphony Digital announced that online services for the Gran Turismo 6 PS3 game will end on the 28th of March, 2018.

- In case you missed the finale, it was announced that Love Live! Sunshine!! will spawn a movie adaptation.

- Last weekend's Comiket has attracted 550,000 attendes across three days.

- Konami revives the Busou Shinki franchise in collaboration with Kadokawa and Kotobukiya.

TTFN!!!

Driving Music Vol. 84

Happy New Year, everybody! So, how's your holiday break been progressing? Looks like most of them are going home after spending their Christmas vacation going places and before setting off on your journey home after that long holiday break, why not jam your car audio with some set of driving music to make the journey home as smooth as a prairie, even in a middle of a Edsa traffic jam.

1) Uptown Girl by Billy Joel - from a Suzuki Spacia commercial

2) The World's Made Up Of This & That (Fatboy Slim Mix) by Deeds Plus Thoughts - from a Honda HR-V commercial

3) A World Away by Kurt Elling - from a Honda Inspire commercial

4) Wicked Game by Ursine Vulpine Featuring Annaca - from a US Alfa Romeo "Wicked Game" commercial

5) Yeah Yeah Yeah by Jax Jones - from a European Suzuki Vitara commercial

6) What You Do by James Gillespie - from a European Ford Fiesta commercial

7) Howl by Jake Houlsby - from a European Ford Fiesta commercial

8) I'm In Love With You by Kate Paxton - from Kia's The New Ray commercial

9) The Chant (Iquo Isang) by Ibibio Sound Machine - from the Seat Arona commercial

10) Crossing by CHEMISTRY - from a Toyota Allion/Premio commercial

Driving Music from Leopaul's Blog is the segment where solves every car enthusiasts' questions about the title of the song of car commercials...with the risk of MATCHED THIRD PARTY CONTENT on their status. It's your jam. Drive to the Music You Love.

Remembering 2017: Top 10 movies

We are here, the final part of this yearender and in this final part, it's time for me to jot down the best ten films that made impact in the box office records of 2017.

Whether if its some superhero, a killer clown, fast cars, sci-fi thrillers any movie in 2017 has been one heck of a ride for the cinemagoers and each film has a story to tell, no matter how good or bad the plot twist might be. Like I said, let's list down the top ten films of 2017.

1) Star Wars: The Last Jedi - The middle installment of The Force Awakens saga really is insane from start to finish as this film brings Star Wars to a whole new direction as Rey's encounter with the legendary Luke Skywalker changes everything while the Resistance is struggling to survive the onslaught from the First Order. This film is more of a fitting tribute to the late Carrie Fisher, who played General Leia in the film.

2) Blade Runner 2049 - 35 years ago, the original Blade Runner film that starred Harrison Ford in it was forever known as the original Matrix when it came out in theaters and set the template for the future-set cyberpunk genre even pop-culture critics appreciated how the original went. This long awaited sequel pushes the limits to this genre with precise storytelling those who watched the original will surely love.

3) Thor Ragnarok - The third installment of Marvel's Thor films straight from the Marvel Superheroes universe sees our favorite God of Thunder caught in the deadly game orchestrated by Hela, who attacked the Kingdom of Asgard, and this is the film where we get to see Thor and Hulk together in this film, reminiscent of what happened at Civil War when Captain America and Iron Man caught in a duel.

4) The Fate of the Furious - Car enthusiasts gone nuts on the eight installment of The Fast and the Furious saga as Dom (played by Vin Diesel) got entangled in the world of terrorism and his crew were summoned by a federal agent for one major mission; to bring down Dom to justice. This is the film where the Dodge Demon comes to life as well as the other insane machinery in this film.

5) Pokemon The Movie: I Choose You! - The 20th Pokemon film brings the moviegoers back to where it all began as the bond between Satoshi (Ash) and Pikachu are demonstrated in this heartwarming movie where they got a glimpse of the mythical Pokemon Marshadow in the film that retells the beginning of the hero's journey with his Pikachu.

6) Cars 3 - This family-friendly alternative to F8 sees Lightning McQueen trying to get his morale back following the rise of a young upstart named Jackson Storm. With the help of Cruz Ramirez, McQueen set off to a crossroad of a lifetime to regain his will to race again.

7) Coco - Disney-Pixar's take on a Hispanic tradition is one of the most heart-warming family movies they've ever witnessed. It's about a young boy named Miguel who wants to be just like a famed musician named Ernesto de la Cruz even though his family prohibits music for ages. Searching for his true potential, Miguel ended up on the Land of the Dead and in his supernatural journey, he encounters a trickster named Hector and they set off in an adventure of a lifetime to uncover his family's hidden past.

8) Despicable Me 3 - Everyone bracing their inner minion have rejoiced over the recent installment of the Despicable Me films and in this film, Gru got kicked out from the Anti-Villainy League after a certain misfit. Gru is now broke and he has to evict from his evil lair he called home along with the girls and the minions. With no one to turn to, Gru unexpectedly encounters his long-lost twin brother named Dru. Oh, brother. Thanks to him, Gru is back to one thing he does best, being an evil supervillain plotting for world domination, but to do that, they'll have to overcome their differences and team up to take down a rival supervillain named Balthazar (played by South Park creator Trey Parker), a child star from the 1980's.

9) Trip Ubusan - The Lolas of Kalyeserye got their shot of being movie stars in a horror comedy film where the Lolas team up with different strangers to survive the zombie apocalypse. Despite its corny humor, this film does have a heart because family values, friendship, and teamwork is demonstrated in this film

10) Ang Larawan - Based on a play by the critically-acclaimed Nick Joaquin, this internationally-acclaimed film stars Paulo Avelino, Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro. It was set in Intramuros before the Second World War and it's about sisters who took in a border to augment their household’s income after their artist father was no longer able to produce artworks. This film won the 2017 MMFF for best picture.

And that's it for the top ten movies of 2017.

Man, what a wild ride this year was. It was a year of torment, pain, suffering, terror, and everything else the world has ever witness but like someone said, they said when the door closes, another one opens. As the door opens to 2018, let us be prepared for whatever Murphy's Law will come across us as we are facing this year head-on with a brave heart, open minds, and positivity that will one day, overcome every obstacle while pursuing our dreams and goals.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

6th Gen Ford Mustang (2018 minor change) and Acura RLX (2018 minor change)

Facelifts, in automotive terms, a facelift is considered an improvement to a current generation model with some upgraded looks, features, and more. While some facelifted vehicles look as nice as a polite neighborhood, there are some facelifted cars that others said they have completely spoiled the once good looks and in this unscripted article, time to jot down with the not so prettiest facelifted vehicles on the market today, beginning with the Ford Mustang.

2018 Ford Mustang

2018 Ford Mustang Convertible

When Ford launched the sixth generation Mustang, the world rejoiced because for the first time, everybody in the world gets one because of its modern muscle car looks, modern interior, a choice of engines, and a new independent suspension that now behaves like a proper sportscar should. Now, with the 2018MY minor change, looks like the folks completely done it by spoiling the once good looks of the car and when they first showed it to the world, some would say it's disgusting, they prefer the pre-facelifted one better, and it is sad-looking. Yes, I keep hearing what they said about the recent minor change, even trying to convince that they borrow Darth Vader's looks won't cut it because like they said, it's sad looking. Although unimpressed by how it looks, the 2018MY Mustang still has that one horrifying feature and it's those rear indicators that when flickered, the indicators are sequentially flashing and that is as horrible as a butt crack. No one would want to see the back of the Mustang on the road because this is the last time they'll ever see one showing its butt on public. places.

On the inside, the Mustang now dons a digital instrumental panel with a customizable gauge layout that makes it as unique as personalizing your own tumblr page. Nifty, you see.

Under the hood, the Mustang now only offers a choice of a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and a newly improved 5.0L V8 engine that now churns out 460 HP of power and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, which is not bad, but get this; in addition to the 6-speed MT, both models are mated with an optional 10-speed gearbox like the one that you've experienced on the Ford F-150 Raptor and that sounds like overkill for a Mustang to possess a double-digit gear that thinks it can behave like a Fast and Furious gearbox but still you can never have too many gears for this. Also, the handling is now even better than ever thanks to the MagneRide Damping System inherited from the Ford Performance lineup.

Oh, and did I mention that the 2018MY Mustang now comes with a wide array of safety tech such as Pre-Collision Assist with pedestrian detection, distance alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and Driver Alert System. Now that's a creepy way to put it in a sportscar like that.

The 2018MY Mustang starts at 25,585 US Dollars (Php 1.3M) and it comes in coupe and cabriolet. Let's admit it that despite its ugly looks, they never spoil most of the party pieces that made the Mustang great, even the V8 engine that now comes with added grunt.

Come on, if you all think the 2018MY Mustang is all ugly, perhaps take a look at an even more ugly offering, this time from Acura.

2018 Acura RLX

Like the Ford Mustang, the recent minor change of the Acura RLX did spoiled the once good looks by giving it a massive hexagonal grille that plagued the MDX and the TLX and that grille is as big as Diego's lips at least. If the grille wasn't the least of your problems, those who had trypophobia should better look away from the lamps now because the Jewel Eye headlamps still had the expression that it's got too many holes a person who has trypophobia feels like his skin is crawling. Ugly indeed that is but on the inside, there are just minimal changes around here such as the steering wheel.

Still, for a premium luxury sedan, it's rather not bad to get accommodated with because it kind of reminds you of the Audi A6 in so little ways and if you're trying to brave the RLX's ugly styling that scares away people with trypophobia, it's like a walk in the park.

The RLX's drivetrain has been slightly improved like for instance, the one with the 310HP V6 engine Precision All Wheel Steer is now mated with a 10-speed gearbox like you get in the Ford Mustang and it's okay because this is a premium saloon, it won't count being an overkill to possess so much gears. Then, the flagship Sport Hybrid variant featuring the 3.5L i-VTEC V6 direct-injected engine mated with three electric motors has been recalibrated for better dynamics.

Yes, the Sport Hybrid variant with its SH-AWD draws inspiration from the NSX hybrid supercar that we all like but even with some minor touches, it still feels like it shares nothing in common with it but it is very good to drive in all sorts of road conditions even in the wet and with the good parts such as the 7-speed DCT and torque vectoring, this RLX would still eat the A6 in a country club while wearing pajamas.

Also, the 2018MY RLX still comes with the AcuraWatch suite of safety tech such as Collision Mitigation Braking System with automatic emergency braking, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Road Departure Mitigation.

The 2018MY RLX starts at 54,900 US Dollars (Php 2.732M) and while it continues to be lamented by many because of such ugly looks, it still ticks all the best spots a premium saloon offered and in the case of the hybrid variant, it's not half bad at all apart from the recalibrated SH-AWD.

So, the moral of this unscripted article? Well, despite the latest versions of the Mustang and the RLX are a tad ugly to look at, they still work their magic to cater every customers' desires and I think there's a bit of something we can all learn here.

Photo: Ford, Acura

Honda N-ONE - 2018 minor change

Honda's chic kei car, the N-ONE, is now on its 2018 model year and it has gained a facelift to make sure the stylish member of the N cars remains as stylish as it was first launched four years ago. So, what's new with the 2018MY N-ONE?

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

2018 Honda N-ONE

With this new minor change, the new N-ONE now comes with four unique styles to choose from starting from the simple N-ONE variant which features a simple design and interior that is basic indeed for an entry-level model, then followed by the N-ONE Select featuring a retro-inspired exterior design and a wooden trim on the interior, the Premium with a stylish front face and a dark interior that matches its premium styling, and the sporty RS model featuring a racy exterior design and an interior a budding car enthusiast would get started with.

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

2018 Honda N-ONE interior

All new N-ONE models now come with 2 charging USB jacks to charge your favorite mobile devices, UV-proof windows, and sound insulation on the front windscreen, making this kei car more convenient than ever. As always, the 660cc engine remains untouched and it returns a fuel efficiency from 25.8km/L for turbocharged models up to 28.4km/L for non-turbo models, which is still fuel efficient as the customers hoped for, although it still won't cut its rivals from Daihatsu and Suzuki. As for handling, it still as above average as before and when you prompt for the Lowdown variant, it's even more livelier in the bends which dealing with a possible consequence of thudding while going over the speed humps, which is either a blessing and a curse.

If you go for a safety package, the N-ONE will provide some safety features such as City Braking Active System, side seat air bag system for front seat, and side curtain air bag system. Couple this package with the Emergency Stop Signal and Hill start assist function, the result is a much safer car that is a certified Safety Support Car S Basic.

The 2018MY N-One starts at 1,200,960 Japanese Yen (Php 533,000), which remains a fair value for kei car standards. So, which N-ONE will you pick?

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

McLaren 570S Spider and New Alpine A110

Time to move on to the McLaren 570S because back when McLaren unveiled their baby McLaren, they wanted to make a decent rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Audi R8, and the Lamborghini Huracan, and despite being the younger brother in the range, the 570S feels like every other McLaren I knew and you can keep driving this car as long as you want until you figure out its inner strength hidden beneath its carbon fiber body. Now, let's open the top on this newest addition.

2018 McLaren 570S Spider

This is the new 570S Spider and while it features all of the best bits and bobs from its hardtop equivalent, it even comes with a folding roof that allows drivers to close or open even in a middle of cruising speeds. Those who are familiar with its hardtop equivalents as well as its other variants such as the lesser 540C and the comfort-focused 570GT are quick to realize that while most of the baby McLarens under the Sport Series banner may not match the grunt of its bigger brothers, they all work perfectly well like what every exotic should be but what about the new open-top version?

First and foremost, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine from its hardtop equivalent that produces 570PS of power output but a word of warning however is that because this is the open-top version, you might expect this to be somewhat heavier than its hardtop version due to added rigidity and it is, only 46kg added on it so the performance will be slightly affected by it and as a result, 315km/h (196mph) of top speed, which is slightly slower than its hardtop equivalent.

Despite the added weight, the 570S Spider still behaves pretty much like its hardtop equivalent because its carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis won't give in to the added rigidity provided by its weather-resistant roof and other parts of it and as a result, it still handles like a dream and you can really go nuts with everytime while having the roof open to enjoy the better sound quality of its V8 engine, which is as silent as Hacksaw Ridge. It's surprisingly high-tech indeed, which is fine by McLaren standards but in the case of the less-knowledgeable driver, it can get a bit twitchy until he switches the default settings, wondering what might have been.

The 570S Spider is a wonderful open-top supercar to drive but what upsets you is the pricing as this car starts at £164,750 (Php 11.124M) but when you read through the list of optional extras, it's going to be as expensive as a Rolls Royce Phantom and it will be a total waste if you crash it by accident.

So, the pricing can really upset a man from buying this open-top McLaren but it can upset him more because of the added extras, really then the 570S Spider is a whack so if you're not in a mood for a supercar like this and prefer something a bit more casual, perhaps you'd be interested with this...

2018 Alpine A110

Yes, this is the legend reborn, this is the all-new Alpine A110 and like you and me, we are getting jealous to drive the revival of the legendary machine that made headlines in the world of rallying. With the styling that draws inspiration from the legend itself, the A110 is all about blending tradition with innovation and it comes with a wide array of features that will bring pleasure to the drivers.

Unlike the 570S, the A110 wasn't an intimidating car to drive especially what's under the hood is a newly-made 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces a maximum power output of 252hp and maximum torque of 320Nm. Because it weights about as similar as a Ford Fiesta, you'd get a power-to-weight ratio of 233hp:tonne, meaning this can do 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds, courtesy of its 7-speed DCT.

Because of being light, the A110 feels just right to drive in the corners and with its incredible aerodynamics, you can refer to the way it handles as trying to finish the Mijuku Dreamer song in EXPERT setting with a full combo. Also, you can take it to the city streets and it feels very civilized indeed. It's perfect for track days, it's perfect for grand touring, it's everything what a revived legend it should be.

However, there's a major problem ot the new A110; the cost. This car starts at 55,000 Euros (Php 3.3M) and you can't have one because it's already sold out. Don't worry though because by next year, more new A110 variants are coming at you so it's going to be a long wait before you get your hands on the new A110 you've always dreaming for. Sad face indeed.

So, what now? Well, since you can't get your hands on a new A110 until next year, it's best to make do with the 570S without the optional extras that will upset your briefcases full of money because between you and me, these cars are a challenge for the bravest because these cars are like songs in EXPERT or TECHNICAL setting with some random stuf to tap on because you will never know what kind of tricks these machines possess so watch out when you're behind the wheel of these beauties.

Photo: McLaren, Alpine Cars

Remembering 2017: The best 10 anime

The year 2017 marks the centennial anniversary of the Japanese animation, or anime, and otakus around the world have celebrated this centennial year by doing everything what otakus love apart from watching anime shows on TV or online via streaming.

Anyway, while fans are celebrating 100 years of anime in style, there has been a massive strain of anime shows, new and returning, ever witnessed through the year. Whether if its action, slice of life, music, fantasy, whatever that is, good or bad, it was quite an experience to witness some new and returning anime shows in celebration of the Japanese animation's centennial year.

Thanks to this list as provided by AnimeNewsNetwork, the world's best source for anime news (sort of because they put video games on it, which is irrelevant and Japanese people don't like that because anime is anime), here are the ten best anime shows as witnessed by many;

1) My Hero Academia season 2 - The continuing adventures of Deku and his classmates in UA as they deal with everyday school life trying to be superheroes while dealing with threats from the dreaded League of Villains, trying to attack UA.

2) Made in Abyss - This adventurous anime series centers on an orphan girl named Rico and her robot friend as they explore through the depths into The Abyss

3) Attack on Titan Season 2 - The wrath of the titans continue on the second series of the blockbuster action anime as the Scouting Legion deal with the betrayal spilled across their ongoing operations to defend a village against the wrath of the titans. It was thrilling and packs suspense from start to finish and with the show returning for another round, looks like there are some questions left to be answer post-season.

4) The Ancient Magus' Bride - One of the most anticipated fall anime shows, this fantasy anime based on a popular novel centers on a young girl named Chise and a sorcerer named Elias as they travel through different worlds while discovering the secrets of magic.

5) KONOSUBA 2 - The continuing adventures of Kazuma Sato and the self-proclaimed goddess Aqua as they engulf in a series of misfits one after another

6) Land of the Lustrous - This anime series inspired from a cult classic manga is about 28 Gems battle against the Lunarians who attack them regularly to abduct them and become their trophy

7) Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid - Based on a manga series, an office worker named Miss Kobayashi lives a boring life until she saved a female dragon in distress named Tohru and in return, Miss Kobayashi became the dragon's maid and got caught in hilarious misfits one after another.

8) Little Witch Academia - Another Academia anime show for those who aren't fans of My Hero Academia. Crafted by Studio Trigger and a product of Anime Mirai's Young Animator Training Project, this 25-episode series centers on a girl named Akko who tries her hard to learn witchcraft. Those who witnessed the early stages via OVA finally got what they deserved as the TV series proven to be quite a charm and that's not bad for the rookies in charge of this show.

9) Recovery of an MMO Junkie - This hilarious rom-com TV show is about Morioka Moriko who finds solace in an online game as a man named Hayashi until an unexpected love triangle, one from the virtual world and the other in real life, turned the life of an MMO junke upside down

10) March comes in like a lion - This touching anime series is about Rei Kiriyama, a shogi player who tries to overcome his painful past until three sisters changed his life slowly.

URL: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/survey/756/result

And that's it for the best of anime of 2017. Join me later for one last bit before saying goodbye in 2017!