Entertainment: Brooklyn Nine-Nine - 3 Good Reasons to Start Watching it Now

To those who have no idea what this show is, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is Fox's newest gig when it comes to creating a comedy show. This series features a band of detectives and their newly appointed super uptight captain who happens to be gay and the result is one hell of a fast-paced, comedy joyride. Recently, the series were nominated and won both Best Actor in a Comedy Series (Andy Samberg) and Best Television Series for Comedy in the 2014 Golden Globe Awards. And if you are still not convinced to watch it by the statement I just said above, here are 3 good reasons to really start watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

3. The Men Behind the Force


For those of you who are not in the know, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is actually powered by two very talented creators which have been very successful in their chosen field, Dan Goor and Michael Schur. Schur is also the creator of another comedy series Parks and Recreation and he is also responsible for writer over 100 episodes of the hit comedy skit Saturday Night Live. Goor created some punchlines for a number of famous names like Carson Daly, Jon Stewart and Conan O'Brien. Together they make what probably is the funniest cop show on earth today in the name of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

2. It's A Cop Series




Quick, what is the most common type of television series in the US that have logged in multiple seasons? Answer - cop series. Law & Order, NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, The Mentalist, Castle, Dexter are just examples of the few. Why? Because cop series have a plethora of plots and twists to choose from (judging from the number of criminals that are inside prison right now) and they can just add some cool details to make it fit the series. And since BNN is a cop series, they can just add some cool cop stories to their already successful office antics and field adventures.

1. The Cast


Brooklyn Nine-Nine's cast, as per Jake Peralta's (Andy Samberg) description of his precinct "family" during their Thanksgiving episode, includes 2 black dads (Andy Braugher as Captain Ray Holt & Terry Crews as Sgt. Terry Jeffords), 2 Latina sisters (Melissa Fumero as Detective Amy Santiago & Stephanie Beatriz), 2 white brothers (Joe Lo Truglio as Detective Charles Boyle & Dirk Blocker as Detective Hitchcock), Gina (Chelsea Peretti) and the giant baby (Joel McKinnon Miller as Scully). Together they run the most hilarious police precinct in Brooklyn ever.

Tech: 5 Important Things to Look out for When Getting a New Smartphone

So the new year has come and you find yourself asking this question: should I get myself a new phone this year? And if so, what are the things that I should be looking out for when I am out to get a new one? In theory, these things are pretty simple to answer. But because of the wide range of different handsets available in the market today, you may find yourself in a bit of a dilemma just because there's so many smartphones to choose from. Gone are the days of just choosing between a few phone makers (Nokia, Sony, Samsung) because right now, phone manufacturers from all over the globe are starting to get worldwide recognition such as the ones from China and India. So without further adieu, here are just some of the important factors to consider when choosing a new smartphone.

5. RAM

Pictured: RAM.

For those who are not familiar with the term, RAM stands for Random Access Memory. This is simply where your phone's recent activity data are stored, because one way or another, your may need to access an app or an activity and go back to a certain point without ever having to start all over again. This is probably one of the most important component of any smartphone, more important than the number of cores it has or the type of processor the phone is being ran on. The bigger your phone's RAM is, the faster is the response you will get from the apps you would want to access with minimal problems such as lagging. Nowadays smartphone's RAM vary from as low as 256MB to as large as 2GB.

4. SCREEN

Sometime between the mid 2000's phone manufacturers had the idea of bulking up phones to make them more functional instead of going with the "small and compact" trend. This has proven to be a good point. From then on smartphones have gone from the usual 3 inches screen to 5 inches and even up to 7 inches hybrids called "phablets", the offspring of a smartphone and a tablet. Screen resolutions also have changed drastically from the usual LCD screen to TFT, IPS, AMOLED giving high resolution and definition for these phones making them a good fit for watching movies and other videos anytime, anywhere. Screen strength also improved with the emergence of the Gorilla and Dragontail glass which have been proven to be tough and effective especially for those smartphones that are made for gaming on the go.

3. Storage

Though majority of the smartphones nowadays opt for having an option for SD card external storage, there are still smartphones that do not have these feature and instead opting to go for an internal memory storage right off the bat. This fact is true for smartphones such as the ever famous iPhone, the Motorola Moto X, Asus Google Nexus 7 and other high end phones. Phones with internal storage vary from 16-32GB of data storage, depending on the model while those phones that accepts external memory allows a 32GB SD card to be inserted for data storage.

2. Battery Life

Smartphone's Achilles

No matter how fast or responsive a smartphone may be, it will always have a downside. And that downside is the phone's battery life. Because smartphones handle more tasks such as opening and closing apps, connecting to the internet, making calls, video/music playback and maintaining screen resolution, smartphone batteries usually get drained very easily, even those that promise a longer battery life. However, there are a lot of options that you can choose to prolong battery life such as having a powerbank, bringing a portable charger, and other battery saving apps available in the market or better yet, manually close unused apps in your phone.

1. Price

Pictured: Relatively Similar Smartphones with Different Price Range

This factor of course is the main hurdle in the sale of smartphones nowadays. Because of the kind of technology that has been placed on these gadgets, manufacturers (especially the famous ones) do not hold back on the pricing of their products. This is where small time manufacturers such as the ones from China and India come into play. These manufacturers can build smartphones with relatively similar features with the high end phones while putting a little emphasis on little details such as durability (some units are built from ordinary plastic), sound quality (loudspeaker and headphone mismatch) and screen size/resolution/quality. RAM size is also a determining factor when it comes to price but you can always choose to go for a phone with minimal RAM size (512MB-1GB) and still save a little dime.

So there you go folks. Those are just some of the little things that you have to check out when it comes to getting a new smartphone. Though sometimes you may not get the best of both worlds (e.g. high RAM but weak battery life or good sound quality but poor video resolution), it is ideal to go for something that will surely get the job that you want done without sacrificing most of the factors mentioned above. How about you guys? Are there more factors that I missed that you think might be important for those who are about to get their new phones? Don't be afraid to comment below and of course share it with your friends. Good luck!

Moto: Choosing the Right Motorcycle for You

So you finally decided that you wanted a motorcycle for yourself. Maybe you wanted to make a career change for the new year or you just wanted to break free from your boring life or you have just finally made up your mind about whether or not you should get a bike or not; and you decided to go for it.

With this in mind, you are still faced with a dilemma of what kind of bike you should get for yourself. Luckily, in the motorcycle world, there can be a lot of choices that you could go for. So without further adieu, here are some of the different kinds of motorcycles and the most common ones that anyone can choose from for their first bike ever.

Scooters

Yamaha Mio Soul i

.

Contrary to the old scooters of the 80's and the 90's scooters nowadays are high powered and can reach high speeds with minimal effort. This can be a good vehicle for people who live and work within a city. This is also a good beginner bike for whose who are still trying to learn and know what it feels like to drive a two wheeled vehicle on the streets. Scooters have no gear shifting mechanism, which means that both of your feet can lay comfortably flat on to the floorboard area the whole time, with the brake levers conveniently placed on both sides of the handlebar. With good seats, comfortable riding position and an engine that will not embarrass, the scooter is a good choice for a motorcycle nowadays.

Standard Motorcycles

Honda CB 500F

This is the most common type of motorcycle that you normally see on the streets, hence the name. Standard motorcycles are recognized by the upright riding position that you will not normally see on other types of motorcycles. Standard bikes, unlike scooters have a gear shifting mechanism which can be operated by pulling the clutch lever which can be found on the left side of the handlebar while stepping or pulling the gear shifter which can be found on the left side of the motorcycle as well. A standard motorcycle's braking system can be found on the right side of the bike, the front brake lever can be found on the right side of the handlebar while the the rear brake lever can be operated using the right foot.

Cruisers

Honda Goldwing

Cruiser motorcycles can easily be recognized by their relatively low and slightly reclined seating position. Some of the common types of cruiser motorcycles are those made by Harley Davidson, Indian and even Japanese brands such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. Because of the comfortable riding position of these bikes, they are usually used by people for long rides and some like the Honda Goldwing shown above, have compartments that can be used to hold different kinds of things during a trip while providing a comfortable position for the passenger as well, they are also called touring bikes because of this feature.

Sport Bikes

Honda CBR 1000 RR

Sport bikes or super bikes, to my own opinion, are the main reason why a lot of people want to go out and get a motorcycle. And why not? These beautiful machines are crafted for speed and looks. But people should understand that this is not really a good motorcycle to start riding on especially if you are still a newbie when it comes to motorcycles, as these bikes can really go at high speeds and controlling it can be a bit difficult if you are still new to motorcycles. But if you already have experienced riding these types of bikes before and you have the funds for it (it can get a little bit pricey), then these thing of beauty can be all yours. Since sport bikes are specialized to go at high speeds and quick cornering, its foot pegs are raised a little higher and are placed backwards and the fairings are built for aerodynamics.

Dual Sport Bikes

Honda CRF 250 L

Dual sport motorcycles, as the name suggests, are the type of motorcycles that can either be used on and/or off road. Just like the Honda CRF 250 L shown above, these bikes are built to withstand different kinds of abuse and can go through any kind of terrain. May it be concrete, sand, mud, etc., you can be sure that a dual sport motorcycle can go through it all.

Underbones

Yamaha Sniper

Underbones, may it be manual or semi-automatic, are motorcycles with a specialized step through frame and are famous in various parts of Asia. In fact, the most produced motor vehicle in the world is an underbone, the ever famous Honda Super Cub. Like the scooter, underbones have gone through a lot of changes through time, especially when it comes to speed. These bikes are good for commuting since its lightweight and has a sleek design fit for city driving.

So there you are folks, some of the different kinds of motorcycles that you can choose from. Just remember to use safety gears such as helmets, jacket and pads before riding and to drive safely and moderately to avoid accidents. How about you guys? Do you have anything to add when it comes to choosing the best motorcycle? Don't be shy to comment below and ride safe!

Yearender: 5 Things That Happened in 2013

Well everyone. Another year has come and gone. And just like that, 2014 is just a few hours to go. With that in mind, let us look back at 2013 and the things that happened despite a few bumps and tragedies that have gone for this year.

5. 3D Printed Body Parts


Despite not being the top news story for the year when it comes to the world of 3D printing (they had more headlines relating to the 3D printed gun), this has been a major breakthrough for the medical industry. Now patients who have lost body parts can now get to have body parts out of a 3D printed without having to fear tissue rejection which has been a huge problem for transplant patients all these years. And 2013 has been a great witness for that feat.

4. Pope Francis



With the resignation of the former head of the largest religious group in the world came the emergence of a new pope in the name of Jorge Mario Bergoglio who is widely known today as Pope Francis. Being the first Jesuit pope and the first pope to ever do and say a lot of radical things, he is now gaining popularity for a lot of his good deeds as a pope and his views on things which has haunted the religious sector for a lot of years.

3. Prince George of Cambridge



The year 2013 also became witness for the birth of England's next heir. This may not be big news for most of the people outside of the Kingdom but this can actually change the course of the world in the years to come. And of course a birth of a child is always a happy thought. Look at that cute little thing and tell me "adorable" isn't the perfect word.

2. Tragedies, Calamities and Natural Disasters



For a large number of people, 2013 has also been a year of a lot of tragedies and calamities that have ravaged a lot of countries. In April, an old factory in Bangladesh collapsed leaving over a thousand people dead and two thousand more injured. The United States was once again a target of a terrorist attack when two brothers bombed the annual Boston Marathon, fortunately only 3 people were killed but leaving a few more injured. Speaking of attacks, a mall in Nairobi, Kenya was attacked by a group of militants leaving 62 civilians dead and 150 injured. Also later in the year my own country the Philippines was struck with two natural disasters namely the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and then Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda - the strongest typhoon to ever hit any country leaving more than 6,000 thousand people dead and missing. These calamities and attacks have been devastating for the people affected, but the resilience of the people and their will to move on has proven to be very effective.

1. Deaths of Celebrities and Prominent Figures

Nelson Mandela

Paul Walker

James Gandolfini

Death is inevitable. Even celebrities and prominent figures are not immune to it. A few of the famous people who passed away this year was the former South African president Nelson Mandela who died at the age of 95. 2013 also witnessed the passing of James Gandolfini, an American actor known for his role as Tony Soprano in the series The Sopranos. Another actor who passed away this year was Paul Walker who was widely known for his role as Brian O'Conner in the movie series Fast and Furious which was on the process of shooting for the 7th installment when Walker and his friend Roger Rodas crashed the Porsche Carrera GT they were driving after a night of partying for a cause.

But despite all of the crazy things that happened in 2013, those who have survived it, well let us just look ahead and hope that 2014 will be a better year than the last. And one more thing, let us just let bygones be bygones, forgive one another let 2014 bring its storm as we will surely weather it. What about you? Do you have some good memories to share for the last year? Don't forget to comment below and share! Cheers mates! Happy New Year! 

Entertainment: Rurouni Kenshin 2 The Great Kyoto Arc Official Trailer HD 2014 - A Review

To all anime fans especially those who really followed the adventures of our dearest reverse edge sword yielding friend Kenshin Himura from the animated series Samurai X, and to those who have witnessed the wonderful live action adaptation, this is really the sequel to watch for. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the unofficial review of the trailer for one of 2014's sure blockbuster hit Rurouni Kenshin 2: The Great Kyoto Arc.

The trailer starts off with Kenshin ducking and making a run for it above an old Japanese building (I'm just emphasizing the "old" part since this is supposed to be set on an old Japanese era.). And it is then followed by a couple of scenes where you can see the Great Battousai the Manslayer kicking several butts while still following his "Thou Shalt Not Kill" rule, meaning he hits them in strategic areas in the body to render them unconscious or at least unable to fight back temporarily. But nonetheless, it's still awesome! And once again, we will get to see Kenshin in live action doing what he does best.

Going back to the title: The Great Kyoto Arc, this would only mean one thing to those who have watched the animated series: Shishio Makoto, one of the series' villain, will probably be in the movie. And he actually is! He is shown in the later part of the trailer just as Kenshin is drawing his sword. Another hint this trailer has given Samurai X fans a giggle is the fact that Shishio's gang Juppongatana will probably be in the movie with him, as it would be meaningless to not include them since they are Shishio's most trusted company which will pose a great threat to Kenshin and his friends.

Verdict: With this trailer I would probably rate it 8/10, simply cause I did not understand a single Japanese word from the trailer. They could have just placed tiny subtitles for the non Japanese fans but from my point of view, the trailer simply tells it all. It would have been nice to also see a glimpse of Kenshin's friends but I guess they decided to let us enjoy their company while watching the movie itself. But yes, this is a great thing to be looking forward to in 2014! How about you guys? Are you as excited as I am for this coming of this What do you think? Do not be shy to like, comment and share this review with your friends. Cheers everyone and happy new year!

Entertainment: Arrow Season 2 Episode 9 "Three Ghosts" Review

DISCLAIMER: As exciting as this episode of DC and CW's episode might be, I will try my very best to write as few spoilers as possible, because I know it would be useless to write a review of this episode without ever having to give out some details about this very interesting episode for all comic book and Green Arrow fans alike.

This week fans of Arrow just bear witness to a jaw dropping, heart pumping and very revealing episode of DC's very own television series Arrow. Though the series has been going on for 2 seasons now, let me just clarify that this episode is very much worth writing a review for, simply because of the wonderful things that transpired during its 43 minutes airing time.

One of the good points in this episode of Arrow is the showcasing of not only one major DC character, but other minor characters as well (as we have witnessed in their previous episodes). Featured in this episode is the reappearance of none other than Barry Allen, who will later be famously known as The Flash, protector of Central City. And have been reported to have its very own series as a spin-off of Arrow. Another character that we can see during this episode is the villain Cyrus Gold, a villain imbued with superhuman strength and is under the command of Brother Blood, which in turn is under the command of a more powerful individual who will probably give Oliver Queen and his gang some real problems in the future. This individual is actually revealed in this episode but for the sake of those who still haven't watched it yet, I will not do so.

In this episode Oliver Queen comes face to face with people from his past, hence the title "Three Ghosts". These "ghosts" actually helped Oliver in realizing his real purpose of donning the hood while dealing with some minor problems of his own. This is also the first time some people from the island are actually seen on the "present" setting of Arrow. This is also the episode where Oliver Queen dumps his green eye dye to the Green Arrow mask we all know and love. And whose idea was it for him to change the mask? Watch it.

This one.

Verdict:

With all the exciting twists and turns this episode has shown, I personally would rate this episode 9/10, with a very little room for improvement. Since the beginning of this series CW and Arrow has really stepped it up with every episode, and they have actually stepped up big time for this one. For those who haven't seen Arrow or those who have held back due to recent letdowns in comic based television series, this actually is a show worth viewing.

Entertainment: Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Review

Backed by a few countdown posts and videos in various social media sites, Marvel finally showed the entire world the much awaited trailer for the second installment of the reboot of our friendly neighborhood Spider-man. The Amazing Spider-Man 2, will feature the return of Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spiderman as well as Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and other similar characters from the first Amazing Spider-Man movie.

For starters, upon watching the early part of the trailer, we can hear Andrew Garfield/Peter Parker say "The more people I try to save, the more enemies I will make". And villains are never out of stock in this movie judging by its trailer. Here we see the emergence of Peter Parker's best friend Harry Osborn played by none other than Dane DeHaan from movies like Kill Your Darlings and Chronicle. But aside from the up and coming Green Goblin, the trailer actually gives us a sneak peek of a couple of villains that will be shown in the movie and possibly in the third installment (if hopefully there will be one).

One notable villain in this movie (or perhaps the main one) is Jamie Foxx's Electro which has been big villain in the Spider-Man world especially in the video games. Another one will be Paul Giamatti's Rhino which will surely be a pain in the rear for our favorite web-slinger. Add Green Goblin to that and a couple more villain suits that can be seen throughout the trailer and boom! You got yourself a very Amazing Spider-Man trailer indeed.

Verdict:
Judging from the 7.6 million views in YouTube, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will surely attract millions of watchers and Spider-Man fanatics worldwide, including me. And if I were to ask, I'm beginning to like Andrew Garfield more as Spider-Man than Toby Maguire (though he held his own in the movies though so, respect). I just hope the movie will be as awesome as its trailer, or even better. And moreover, I hope and really pray that it will somehow tie up to the ongoing Avengers story line as well. What do you think guys? Tell me what you feel and comment below!