THE IDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS BRILLI@NT WING 02 Hikari no destination

The second installment of the BRILLI@NT WING CD range, inspired by the new THE IDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS browser game, introduces us to the first of the 283 Production groups you will meet in the game. Say hello to illumination STARS.

THE IDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS
BRILLI@NT WING 02 Hikari no destination

illumination STARS are the center girls of SHINY COLORS, the face of 283 Production, comprising of Mano Sakuragi (CV: Hitomi Sekine), Meguru Hachimiya (CV: Mayu Mineda), and Hiori Kazano (CV: Reina Kondo).

This installment introduces us to illumination STARS with two new songs as well as a drama part so that fans will get to know more about them better. There's even their version of the Shiny Colors theme song, Spread the Wings!! as well.

So, with the fans of THE IDOLM@STER franchise who are new to Shiny Colors welcomed illumination STARS with open arms, which group will be next? Find out soon and be sure to keep playing THE IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors for more of them!

TRACK LISTINGS:

01 ヒカリのdestination

02 虹になれ

03 Spread the Wings!! (イルミネーションスターズ Ver.)

04 スペシャルオーディオドラマ「イルミネーションスターズ・イン・ストア」

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Pompeo arrives in Pyongyang

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the North Korean capital on Friday as Washington looks to come home with a roadmap for the regime's nuclear disarmament.

Pompeo tweeted on Thursday that he is looking forward to continuing their work "toward the final, verified denuclearization" of North Korea," as agreed to by Chairman Kim (Jong-un)."

Pompeo is scheduled to be in Pyongyang for around a day-and-a-half, most of which time will be spent in meetings with North Korean officials, including with the North Korean leader. The key issues will include securing a declaration of all of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, a verification regime for dismantlement and a timeline for denuclearization.

His delegation, according to ABC News, includes State Department. According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Pompeo, upon his arrival at Yokota Air Base, said he looks forward to North Korea's complete denucleariztion and that he hopes to fill in the details of the agreements reached at the June 12th Singapore summit.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (July 6, 2018)

- Preisdential peace adviser Jesus G. Dureza said he is optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte will sign the Bangsamoro Basic Law as early as the 23rd of July. Both houses of Congress are set to hold bicameral sessions from July 9 to 13 to come up with a unified version of the BBL based on the respective substitute bills approved in the Lower House and Senate.

- The habagat would bring scattered rain showers in some parts of the Philippines, according to PAGASA. In its forecast, the state weather bureau said Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the provinces of Palawan and Mindoro will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms caused by the southeast monsoon.

- A ranking police officer disclosed that the assassinated Tanauan mayor Antonio Halili had already known that somebody was planning to kill him even before the unfateful flag-raising ceremony on Monday at the city hall where he was shot. Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, regional director of Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A), said the problem is that Halili failed to direct his close-in security aides to conduct stricter security measures that would have prevented the incident.

-  Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has resigned after months of ethic controversies.

- As Syrian government forces press on with a furious offensive against rebel-held areas in the country’s south, Israel is quietly acknowledging that President Bashar Assad’s forces will soon be on its doorstep, laying down red lines for postwar relations with the Syrian leader.

- An unconscious couple in Wiltshire were exposed to the same nerve gas that poisoned a former Russian spy.

- Boeing will take control of the commercial business of Embraer from Brazil. The announcement follows months of talks to allay concerns of the Brazilian government, which had veto power over the transaction and initially resisted ceding control to the US company.

- Three-time Supercars champion Craig Lowndes announced that he will retire from his full-time racing career at the end of the 2018 season. He will continue as co-driver for future endurance races. Lowndes is known for raking 652 Supercars starts, 106 wins, six Bathurst wins, three championship wins, and five Sandown 500 wins.

- A prototype of the upcoming Toyota GR Supra will showcase at this month's Goodwood Festival of Speed. In addition, the GR Supra will be heading to NASCAR Xfinity Series next year.

Prototype of the next Supra

Toyota Supra NASCAR Stock Car

- Mercedes-Benz showcases teaser sketches of the next GLE-Class's interior, set for Paris premiere.

Teaser sketch for the next GLE interior

- A live-action Gundam film is in the works.

- The 3D CG anime adaptation of Ultraman will be heading to Netflix this Spring 2019 worldwide.

TTFN!!!

Fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny range

For almost five decades, the Suzuki Jimny has been the small but terrible Suzuki that loves to play rough through the harshest conditions on the face of the planet. Although small in size, its offroad capabilities are something that they shouldn't underestimate and with the arrival of the all-new, fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny range, the prince of offroaders is back with a more tougher stance but more technologically advanced to get through places no one has gone before.

2019 Suzuki Jimny

2019 Suzuki Jimny Sierra

The old, third-generation Jimny has been around for over two decades, and with the advent of the all-new, fourth-generation model, the new Jimny is the last honest compact offroader that shows the world that size doesn't really matter when it comes to taking on the rugged and adventurous landscapes not even today's crossovers can pull it off. Like the previous model, it comes in two distinct models; the smaller Jimny with a 660cc engine on it and the wider and bigger Jimny Sierra with the 1.5L petrol engine on it. Whichever Jimny you choose, you'll be greeted by its G-Wagen-esque looks that show its machoness even though it's dwarf-sized. It's everything you want to know about the one and only compact go-getter that gets through all sorts of no places not even your little crossover couldn't manage.

2019 Suzuki Jimny Sierra interior

2019 Suzuki Jimny interior

Inside, it's still pretty much as old-school as all of the previous Jimny generations since the first one, and because being a three-door offroader, the front seats can be adjusted to gain access to the rather squishy rear room, which is typical for an offroader like this. The seats are water-resistant as well.

The boot space may be small but it has room for the snacks needed for your camping trips and because the Jimny is designed to be an adventurous SUV for the outdoorsmen, the rear seats can be folded down for more space, giving you plenty of reasons to jam some stuff before setting off through the great outdoors. Score one for your weekend drives.

2019 Suzuki Jimny Sierra

2019 Suzuki Jimny

The smaller Jimny's R06A 660cc turbocharged petrol engine produces 64PS of power and 96Nm of torque. It can be mated with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed AT. For fuel economy figures, the one with the manual gearbox can get up to 16.2km/L, based on the new WLTC Mode standards. As for the Jimny Sierra, the K15B 1.5L petrol engine produces 102PS of power and 130Nm of torque. Like the smaller Jimny, it can be fitted with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed AT. You should know that the manual variant of the Sierra promises 15kmpl based on WLTC Mode standards as the crow flies.

Both the Jimny and the Jimny Sierra come with a ladder frame on their chassis as well as its three-link rigid axle suspension, ensuring the Jimny is more stable and more rugged while tackling the rough terrains at ease. The part-time 4WD system is a standard issue for all models and with the transfer lever, drivers can switch through three different modes such as running on rear wheels or engaging a low-range four-wheel drive in case of rough terrain coming through. Other features include a steering damper, brake LSD traction control, hill hold control, and hill descent control, giving the Jimny much-needed feedback drivers are looking forward to.

2019 Suzuki Jimny

2019 Suzuki Jimny Sierra

Although the new Jimny feels like old-school offroader drivers are looking forward to, the new model doesn't ignore the age of safety tech and that is why, it implements the Suzuki Safety Support driving assist tech and with that, the Jimny range gets driving aids such as sign recognition function, lane departure warning, front car departure notice, high beam assist, dual sensor brake support, false launch suppression function, and more. Coupling these aids with ESP, emergency stop signal, six airbags, TECT body, and other safety features and the result is a ruggedly dependable offroader that is durable and safe enough to get through all sorts of messes whether on or off the road.

The new Jimny starts at 1,458,000 Yen (around $14,600) while the Sierra starts at 1,760,400 Yen (around $18,000), which is still less expensive to own than the Jeep Wrangler JL you saw in a fancy dealership and despite being small in size, the Jimny remains a favorite offroader to get through all sorts of terrains no modern SUV has ever crossed before. On days like these, it's good to know that even with the new look, it still embodies the Jimny heritage, and if you're bored with Suzuki's crossover offerings, consider the new Jimny your antidote. All the more reasons you can get your greasy hands on.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Two Koreas played friendly basketball matches

South and North Korean basketball players played two friendly matches in Pyongyang's Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon as part of the ongoing sports diplomacy between the two Koreas.

Many senior officials watched the first inter-Korean basketball match in 15 years and North Korea's sports minister Kim Il-guk, expressed hope the two Koreas could do more in their sports exchanges in the future.

Despite some speculation, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un --who's known for his love for basketball-- didn't attend Wednesday's games and Thursday's game as well, since he was performing on-site checks on the infrastructure and facilities.

Meanwhile, the next round of North Korea's denuclearization talks with the US is scheduled later next week as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Pyongyang for the third time on Friday.

Expected to arrive in Pyongyang on Friday, local time, Pompeo is to stay overnight in North Korea for the first time, before leaving for Japan on Saturday.

During his two-day stay, Pompeo is expected to meet Kim Jong-un and possibly vice chairman of the Workers' Party's Central Committee Kim Yong-chol, to discuss how to implement the June 12th Joint Statement signed by the leaders of North Korea and the US, which includes Pyongyang's denuclearization.

With US media reports recently showing skepticism over North Korea's sincerity in giving up its nuclear program, many are saying that Pompeo is going to have a come back with some concrete plans for the nuclear disarmament.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (July 5, 2018)

- Newly appointed Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon has vowed to address the spate of killings of government prosecutors. Fadullon gave the assurance after being appointed to the post last June 30 from his predecessor, now Makati City Prosecutor Jorge Catalan Jr.

- Senator Panfilo Lacson said resolving the killing of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili is a big challenge to the Duterte administration as it appears to be “stage-managed.” Lacson said the family of Mayor Halili suspects that the government had a hand in the killing as President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements against the slain local chief executive did not help assuage their concerns.

- Singapore's Competition and Consumer Commission said the merger of Grab and Uber had substantially lessened competition in the ride-hailing business in the city-state and proposed to impose financial penalties on the two parties.

- Steep US tariffs on tens of billions in Chinese goods are due to take effect at midnight Thursday, pushing the possibility of an all-out trade war between the United States and China. China already has announced it will respond in kind on the same schedule as the United States while President Donald Trump has countered with a threat to double down by progressively ratcheting US penalties up to a total of $450 billion in goods — which would represent the lion’s share of all of China’s exports to the United States.

- Mexico's president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's party could face a $10 million fine for violations of campaign finance rules, the national electoral institute said on Wednesday following the group’s wide-reaching election victory.

- US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Queen Elizabeth next week, becoming the 12th US President that the monarch has met during her 66 years on the throne, the longest in British history.

- Volvo unveiled their new M brand that focuses on mobility, providing better on-demand access to their range via smartphone.

- Following a shift in leadership at McLaren Racing, Eric Boullier, who served as the team's Racing Director, has resigned from his position.

- The classic basketball anime show, Slam Dunk, has spawned a smartphone game...in China.

- Actress Vanessa Kirby joins the cast of the untitled Fast and Furious spinoff film that stars Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw.

- Chris Goulding of the Australian Boomers team recalled about last Monday's brawl between them and the Gilas Pilipinas. It was Goulding who had borne the brunt of the Philippine team's wrath during the melee. Roger Pogoy's hard foul on the Australian guard sparked the incident, as Boomer forward Daniel Kickert retaliated by elbowing the Gilas guard.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 7: 'Merica, baby.

While the rest of America enjoyed some of their patriotic tribute with some grills and fireworks, I had something even better than those and that means, I'm heading to that one place in Texas where speed talks. I'm talking about Circuit of the Americas in Austin and I've summon three of the best muscle cars ever assembled to do more than just fireworks.







As you can see, I've summoned some of our old friends from the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Here's the Dodge Demon...as seen from The Fate of the Furious. Then, there's the Ford Mustang GT350, and finally, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, one of the most capable track-focused muscle cars ever to be assembled from off the coast. As you can see, these three told me something that these muscle cars wanted to flex their muscles and see which one stands tall. Since this is America, best to be riding cowboy and find out.







Although this Demon came out from The Fate of the Furious, this is still the same Dodge Challenger Demon that rocked the world of sportscars with its supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine that blows away 840 all-American horsepower and a straight-line performance that upsets almost all of the expensive European exotics. I once tried that out a few moments ago since the game's launch and by a shock result, the less-powerful but track-honed and now-extinct Dodge Viper ACR punched the Demon like an elbow blow, a sheer sign that a hyper muscle car with drag tires wasn't fit for track duty, although the man from Cafe Leblanc showed us how it's down.

The Camaro ZL1 may not match the Demon's terrifying straight-line performance but because of its track-honed capabilities after years of Nurburgring sessions, it has transformed into a leaner and sharper muscle car that combines big power from its Corvette Z06-derived supercharged 6.2L V8 engine and unbiased dynamics only the free and the brave can salivate through its rather dynamic character. Its NASCAR derivative maybe making headlines through the months but rest assured that the ZL1's dynamics won't go unnoticed for a car that looks good on the straights and the curves.

The GT350R maybe the least powerful of the three, probably because of its naturally aspirated 5.2L V8 engine that produces 526HP of power, but because it's the lightest of the three and the most track-focused of them all, it doesn't really matter how fast this car can go. What matters the most that the GT350 tries to make driving great again for the drivers. There goes that dinner table conversation.

With that conversation over, time to see which of these muscle cars is the best round the Austin Grand Prix venue and with that, time to grab some beer and nachos because it's time to roll the tape.



After many laps of making grills and fireworks with these three ultra-powerful muscle cars, here are the results;

ZL1 - 2:33.968
GT350R - 2:37.078
F8 Demon - 2:41.758



The muscle car wars between Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet; with cars like the Mustang, Camaro, and the Challenger, Detroit's big three had been baffling each other since the beginning of the era. The Mustang has been the living legend in the muscle car craze that shows the world that they are still the king of muscle cars, although there's still time to wait until their biggest trump card will be unleashed, giving the rivals more time to rethink their strategies. The Camaro has been the second-rate copycat to the Mustang but with its unsung success through the years and movie star appeals, more and more people would consider the Camaro as their next muscle car for the weekends because they think they're cooler than the Mustang. The Challenger has been aged through the years and despite getting a little less attention from the crowd, this muscle car became the ultimate equalizer by showing things the opposition never had. The Demon is the finest example of what the Dodge Challenger does and the opposition really quaking their feet when they notice its rule-breaking performance that challenges the world above and beyond.

The Americans are so glad that through good times and bad times, cars like these still exists and even as this kind of era is about to pave way to zero emission and self-driving age, rest assure that the fun factor of these legends will never go in vain. That is the American way and these cars are what made America the home of the loudest and most powerful cut-price machines in the world.