Sunday, May 13, 2018

FIA WTCR 2018 - Race of Germany

Before this year's Nurburgring 24 Hour endurance race series occurred, signalling the start of the loudest race weekend of the year, the FIA WTCR used the legendary venue for their Race of Germany, pitting racers to a test of courage throughout the twists and turns of the Green Hell.


It was a frightening venue but the bravest of the touring car drivers risked everything they got to survive and win this unforgiving venue before the ultimate endurance race began for the brave and the bold. In the first race of the event, YMR's Yvan Muller defeated teammate Thed Bjork for a 1-2 finish, while on the second race, Esteban Guerrieri, who drives a #86 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic Type R TCR, emerged to first place after taken down reverse-grid DHL pole position starter and Nordschleife rookie Pepe Oriola. In the last race, finally, Thed Björk nicked his first win of this year.

With the Race of Germany completed, thus the start of the loudest race weekend of the year, but the FIA WTCR will continue at Zandvoort for the Race of the Netherlands from the 19th to the 21st of May.

Forza Motorsport 7: Civic Type R vs. Road Atlanta

A few moments ago, I tried out the brand new Honda Civic Type R on Forza Motorsport 7 via a free DLC following this month's update and I was so impressed that not only it's faster than the old model it replaces, but I managed to beat the real world lap time set by The Stig round the Top Gear Track. No tricks, no tuneups. Just honest-to-stock specs and I did it quicker than The Stig. Anyway, as you are wondering what the FK8 and I are on about, this is what we're on about, here, at Road Atlanta.



Why Road Atlanta? It's plain simple. To promote the new FK8 Civic Type R, Honda and Forza Motorsport 7 team up for a little real life vs. digital challenge called R vs. R.  As Soichiro Honda once said, "If Honda does not race, there is no Honda." In that mixed reality race between real and virtual, Honda enlisted IndyCar driver Graham Rahal and pro gamer Peter Jeakins (a.k.a. TheSlapTrain) to see which one is the best. Rahal's at Road Atlanta driving the Type R in real life while TheSlapTrain's at Turn 10 studios, driving the similar one in the virtual side. I can't tell which because that car hasn't been in Forza 7 yet so what Civic was he driving virtually? Theoretically, the old FK2, I suppose, but never mind about that. At the end, the pro driver has beaten the pro gamer at a rate of .871 seconds, 1:46.664 vs. 1:47.535.



Now that the FK8 Civic Type R is finally at Forza Motorsport 7 to all the players like you and me, it's time for me to do something in return by beating the real world lap time set by Rahal himself. So, how does an idiot like me playing with the controller have what it takes to match the time set in the real world by a pro driver? Before you say everything else, I just want to tell you that everything's stock just like how I did before setting every car for a lap. No tuneup tricks whatsoever, in case you're wondering.

Anyway, with all set, it's time to see if I have the R to take down both Rs. Roll the tape.



After a lap round Road Atlanta, I did it in...1:44.293. Unofficially but over two seconds faster than the real-world lap time set by Graham Rahal! How's that for a Herculean objective?



Having managed to beat The Stig's lap time and Graham Rahal's, I can happily conclude that the FK8 Civic Type R really is the best Civic Type R ever made. It may not be the king of hot hatches but it's certainly the best front-wheel drive sportscar I have ever driven and with this one, everybody wins. Now that I got it all sorted out, I prepped up a little surprise for everyone to see...





You know what this calls for? A Poppin' Party time! Get it?

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Torchwood: Believe

After a decade of parting ways, the original Torchwood cast are reunited for their very special installment of Big Finish Productions' Torchwood audio drama CD range and this special installment brings back memories to Torchwood fans new and old about how the original five members tag along each other right until the inevitable as demonstrated from the TV series' season two finale.

Torchwood: Believe

This is Torchwood: Believe and this special installment brings back the original cast with John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Naoko Mori as Toshiko Sato, Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones, and Burn Gorman as Dr. Owen Harper. Talk about a reunion in the making after a decade of separation from the TV series, eh? Brings back memories.

Anyway, the Torchwood Cardiff team are on a race-against-time scenario as a fanatical cult claimed that mankind has evolved to reach through the stars above and working against the clock, the team must uncover the truth behind The Church of the Outsiders' self-proclaimed prophecy and put a stop to it once and for all.

Listening them all together is like reliving the golden days of how the original Torchwood cast get along each other through good times and bad times and Believe is a tour de force in all of the untold missions unearthed from the ruins of the Torchwood archives by blending every classic Torchwood moment like clockwork with all the action, suspense, thrills, and a few laughs in between, making it a must have for those who can't get enough of Torchwood or those who are welcomed to Torchwood for the first time. Following the success of its Torchwood special releases like Outbreak, Believe is one of the great reasons why we are fans of Torchwood and this helluva reunion of the main characters really made us wish we want to be with them for the rest of our lives.

Lamborghini Urus

Once upon a time, about three decades ago, Lamborghini shook the world by creating their first ever SUV dubbed the LM 002 and while purists call it a treason to Lamborghini's sports car heritage, its macho looks and offroad capability earned the nickname of "Lambo Rambo" because Sylvester Stallone has one. Fast forward to today and looks like Lamborghini's back in the SUV race with this...

2019 Lamborghini Urus
2019 Lamborghini Urus interior
Welcome to the Lamborghini Urus and to think that the car company, famed for their mad exotics and scissor doors, picked a ridiculously funny name for their SUV, the Urus is all business in the era of strongmen leaders and upscale SUVs dominating the world like wildfire. As a crossover that eluded the might of the establishment-based SUVs of today, the Urus promises to be as sporty as a sports car while promising utilitarian traits fit for their next trip to the country club and the ideal dynamics of what a vehicle should be.

Starting on the design, Lamborghini did a really good job turning a concept car into a real one, which is great, but more annoyingly, it still resembled one of the Pikmin enemies that look like a ladybug with chicken legs and that's so horrid in person. Still, this is the Lamborghini way and they are proud of making their cars intimidating on the road and track as for the interior; it's something Boss Madam wouldn't mind of. With rear seats present like its spiritual predecessor, the LM002, as well as some interior detailing straight outta sci-fi stuff, not to mention some space for your country club stuff, rest assured that little Boss Madam wouldn't get enough with the Urus' luxury car comforts, especially at the hands of a driver who is too nuts to drive this one after work.

While the Urus is pretty much impressive inside while downright horrid on the outside, the performance will get you really noticed because while Lamborghini promised us that the Urus will behave like a Huracan in the modern world but what's underneath isn't a Lambo at all and since it's owned by Audi, the Urus is basically an Audi Q7 underneath and the engine that powers it is a sacrilege to traditionalists because the V engine bears a single digit number rather than two in the form of eight. It's a 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine shot from the Porsche Cayenne but modified to produce 650PS of power and 850Nm of torque. Mated to an 8-speed AT, the Urus does 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds and flat-out, it will do 305kph, meaning at this speed, this 650PS Lamborghini SUV is enough to destroy the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. You know, the one with the Hellcat engine on it? Maybe you get the facts right that the Urus will eat the Trackhawk like tiny little Pikmins at nightfall.

The SUV may have Lamborghini speed to eat the Trackhawk but what about dynamics? Ah, but Lamborghini's really prepared for the worst with the Urus because as an SUV, it wants to tackle all kinds of roads, be it tarmac, gravel, or snow, like its super cousins such as the Bentley Bentayga and the Porsche Cayenne, and with similar Lamborghini setups provided, the Urus comes prepared with offroad modes from its ANIMA called NEVE , TERRA, and SABBIA. With modes like these, the Urus has a fitting take of being multirole at any road conditions, which is great for your Sunday driving pleasure, and to make it more exciting on the road and track, its four-wheel drive system has been given torque vectoring and rear-wheel steering, not to mention carbon ceramic brakes for dramatic stopping power without all the drama.

It may be not as sharp as an Aventador or a Huracan but for a sports utility vehicle, the Urus truly keeps its "sport" promise and you can really feel your senses tingling.

Yes, you might say that because the Lamborghini Urus is not a proper Lamborghini because it's basically an Audi Q7 underneath but while it's the least of the problems or the 168,852 Euro price tag, the biggest problem every Lamborghini fan should face is this; SAFETY & ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS. The Urus is the first Lamborghini to feature Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and while these safety features sound so wonderful on normal roads, they completely ruined the Lamborghini appeal that has been on the grip for speedo boys everywhere and it's starting to feel a bit sane right now.

Summing this car up, the Urus appeals speedo boys with its interior good enough for Boss Madam, the Trackhawk-killer performance, and the dynamics that are way beyond SUV standards but what it doesn't appeal to is its design derived from one of the Pikmin enemies, the pricing, and the ADAS that scared every single speedo boy in the world, not to mention the fact that it's not a real Lamborghini.

The Urus may not be a real Lamborghini underneath but in an era of strongmen leaders and modern SUVs, this could be the one we've been waiting for and such performance like this can make us very jealous. Very very jealous. Come on world, we want to get our hands on the Urus someday.

Photo: Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

Torchwood: The Last Beacon

Unearthed from the ruins of the Torchwood archives, this latest installment of the long line of the Torchwood drama CDs provided by Big Finish Productions is a first of its kind because in an unexpected matter, one of the cast members took the liberty to pen this installment's storyline for the fans to listen to.

Torchwood: The Last Beacon

Titled The Last Beacon, Gareth David-Lloyd, who plays Ianto Jones in the Torchwood series, has been given free rein to write this installment's storyline where he and Burn Gorman, who plays Dr. Owen Harper, are starred in this untold mission where they race against time to get through the Welsh mountains to shut down a mysterious beacon that summons a legendary alien race threatening Earth, only to found out that this mission became a camping trip for our tea boy.

The tea boy's been the favorite character in Torchwood since the very beginning and with Gareth David-Lloyd penned this very storyline, listeners can really hear the very progress he has done to deliver this latest untold mission the master stroke it delivers, showing the world what the untold glory days of Torchwood are made of or capable of. Blending horror, thriller, and a little bit of sense of humor in classic Torchwood tradition, there's no arguing this installment fits perfect to your Torchwood collection, whether if you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the Doctor Who spinoff.

Look forward for more in the Torchwood collection soon from Big Finish Productions!

Bubble Gang - May 11, 2018

On the May 11, 2018 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Beast mode gags

- Angry wife words

- Understanding your candidates before voting...



- The emotional director

- A different kind of tan lines

- Mas Pinabonggang Sumbong Sumbong Kay Bonggang Bongbong takes on people turning strangers into photographers when they see one, people in a relationship celebrating weeksary, and groups like to say they're not interested to drinks.

- Balitang Ina Special Edition!

- The depressed man with the broken innards

- Mom's lantern

- Resist temptation, please

- Basa-basa pik!

Friday, May 11, 2018

My 2 Mommies

What happens if you have been given opportunity to become the mother of a certain child, even if you're not expected to be? As a Mother's Day offering, Regal Entertainment presents them "My 2 Mommies", a different kind of comedy-drama about two different people accepting the inevitable task to become the mother of a certain child.

My 2 Mommies

Starring Eat Bulaga presenter Paolo Ballesteros, actress Solenn Heussaff, and Diamond Star Maricel Soriano,with Joem Bascon, Dianne Medina and Marcus Cabais,  this film is about a man who becomes a stepdad to a certain kid but because of his homosexual antics, he's not fit to be a stepdad but instead, bracing his feminine side while maintaining bonds with his new stepson.

Although this film is downright crazy and oddball it may be, this film does have a heart and showcases the true meaning of parenthood, no matter who you really are, and it really is worth something to watch in the eve of Mother's Day. It maybe absurd to watch if you're not sort of interested in homosexual people portrayed in this film but by bringing together some of the most colorful yet suggestive themes to this film, which is decent for comedy-drama standards, My 2 Mommies is worth the catch to watch and there's a lot less to argue about it, whether you like it or not.

My rating: 3.2 out of 5