What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 53

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

Popcorn in Bed reacts to An Officer and a Gentleman – Released in 1982, An Officer and a Gentleman is a romantic drama film with a militaristic flavor showing a young Richard Gere and Louise Gosset, Jr., in a very memorable role. Some parts of the movie were filmed on location here in my native Philippines. While I am not exactly a fan of the movie, I can say that it still has some shining moments as well as some memorable dramatic scenes. Recently, YouTuber Popcorn in Bed posted its reaction video of the movie, and I can say it is worth watching.

When hackers made ATMs release so much money – Recently, YouTuber fern published a new video explaining a certain financial crime that resulted in physical activities that was hard to imagine – automatic teller machines (ATMs) shooting out multiple bills of cash for thieves to collect. What happened, what can financial institutions do to prevent their system from getting hacked, and how the events turned out are explained in detail by fern.

Criterion Collection shows how to restore and remaster very old films – The Criterion Collection (AKA Criterion) is a company that specializes on licensing, restoring and releasing selected films that movie buffs, fans and new film enthusiasts could enjoy. I myself own the Criterion Blu-ray discs of The Blob (1958) and Gojira, and I can say that the company did a great job restoring the said films while adding stuff for collectors and fans to enjoy. When it comes to restoring decades-old films and making them presentable with quality in mind, Criterion really works hard and you can learn a lot from them by watching the videos below.

VKunia reacts to Man of Steel – Do you movie fans enjoy watching Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel? The 2013 Superman movie remains divisive among fans and superhero movie enthusiasts to this day. I’ve seen the movie many times from the local cinemas to my Blu-ray copy, and I can say it truly is a mixed bag when it comes to providing viewers fun and defining Superman in the 21st century. Still, there is a chance that the Man of Steel reaction video by YouTuber VKunia could spark your interest in the film as well as in Zack Snyder’s visceral vision of DC Comics superheroes. I encourage you to watch her reaction video below.

Commie Kamala Harris proves herself pathetic yet again during California wildfire briefing – By the time you are reading this, Donald Trump has officially returned as United States President. That being said, even during times of disaster, the defeated Commie Kamala Harris proved to be pathetic and worthless during the recent briefing about the wildfire in California. She is so pathetic and worthless, Harris proved she is not trustworthy. Imagine all the amounts of American taxpayers’ money that got wasted by Harris during her 4 years as US Vice President.

Battlezone revisited – Released by Atari in 1980, Battlezone was a groundbreaking game both visually and with game design. It gave gamers an immersive experience of driving a tank with 3D graphics, fun gameplay and a first-person view. If you wish to learn about the history of Battlezone, who the creators were and how were they able to produce the game, watch the video of gaming history expert PatmanQC.

Minty Comedic Arts and the 1980s – I really enjoy watching the videos of Minty Comedic Arts. His series of “10 things you didn’t know about…” videos on pop culture (mostly movies) is fun to watch and he often entertains with his delivery of trivia information. In recent times, he posted trivia videos about certain films from the 1980s – each one being memorable in their own ways – namely Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Breakfast Club, The Blue Brothers, Beverly Hills Cop and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Watch Minty’s videos now!

The failure of Segway remembered – Remember decades ago when the Segway was first launched and heavily featured through the media? Invented by Dean Kamen, the Segway was a 2-wheeled personal transporter which was released looking fantastic but ended up as a failure. The Segway also ended up looking very bad in media reports about accidents with it. To find out what led to the Segway’s debut and how it failed, watch the video below.

GoodBadFlicks examines five major flops – When it comes to movies that failed miserably, were those really terrible to watch or were they actually decent productions that failed to attract enough moviegoers? There are factors as to why movies fail. There are films that generated so much negative press, the moviegoers were convinced to avoid them. There are movies that were really badly made and there are others that got promoted or distributed very poorly. GoodBadFlicks recently post a video examining five major flops and it might convince you to watch The 13th Warrior, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, Titan A.E., The Chronicles of Riddick and Cutthroat Island.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 39

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

. Microsoft’s Project Milo  – When Microsoft introduced the Kinect motion-sensing device (then called Project Natal) during the 2009 edition of E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), they had Peter Molyneux introduce Project Milo which really intrigued viewers. Even though the video presentation of Project Milo was scripted, it showed its potential as an interactive software using Kinect on Xbox 360. There are lots of details behind the scenes as Project Milo really was a project developed by Lionhead Studios which worked in a limited fashion and ended up never getting released. Watch and learn from the video below.

. The story of The Hershey Company and its founder – Do you often eat chocolate bars of Hershey’s? The Hershey Company is gigantic with a global presence of products, billions of Dollars in annual revenue, the operation of Hershey’s Chocolate World and even a theme park of its own called Hersheypark. Hershey’s was started by its founder Milton S. Hershey who came from a really difficult life. You can learn more about the founder and how The Hershey Company came to be by watching the video below.

. The kids who hacked Xbox  – You do know that hacking is illegal and there is simply no excuse to do it. Believe it or not, Xbox got hacked by a group of very young gamers and they even got themselves an early build of the blockbuster game Gears of War 3. Not only that, the group also hacked many other gaming-related companies. Watch and learn from the video posted below.

. The Democrats are the problem for Americans – Apart from being a very corrupted political party, the Democrats are guilty of hypocrisy, lying, censorship, and distorting the facts to suit themselves. Now they have Communist Kamala Harris as their candidate for US President and that only means the party wants more of the same negative elements under Joe Biden to continue. This explanatory video shows exactly what went wrong under Biden and the Democrats, why the Democrats are not the party of common sense and why Kamala Harris is wrong for the nation’s future.

Donald Trump’s Never Quit video – The 2024 US Presidential election is about to happen. In recent times, the campaign of Donald Trump released the Never Quit video which is a lot more than just political advertising. It is a stark reminder of how much life in America turned for the worse under the Biden-Harris administration. Remember the tax cuts and other reforms Trump approved as US President which really made America stronger and greater? Watch the video below and share it to others. This is about making America great again.

. Minty Comedic Arts’ Innerspace video – I first saw the 1987 sci-fi adventure movie Innerspace on home video. Starring Dennis Quaid, Martin Short and Meg Ryan, it was an entertaining film that had a nice mix of adventure, comedy and spectacle. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts published a trivia video about it which is fun to watch.  

. You, Me and the Movies react to Night of the Creeps – Some of you might be aware that I enjoyed watching the 1986 mix-genre film Night of the Creeps. It was the directorial debut of Fred Dekker and it was clever blend of science fiction, horror, 1950s romance, 1980s teen comedy and detective storytelling. Recently You, Me and the Movies posted their video reaction which I find enjoyable.

. Beneath the Planet of the Apes examined and analyzed closely – Released in 1970, Beneath the Planet of the Apes was the sequel to the classic film Planet of the Apes. While it is easy to think that the sequel was made simply because the movie studio wanted to make more money by capitalizing on the success of the previous film, there was a lot of developments, twists and even intrigue that happened behind the scenes before filming even started. The two videos below from YouTuber Represent This should be seen and for those who have seen Beneath the Planet of the Apes, it will impact your perception about the movie’s quality and creative direction.

Before I end this post, I should say that the concept of humans evolving from apes is pure fantasy. The scientists and fantasy writers got it all wrong.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Known hacker arrested in Las Piñas City

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, local police officers arrested a man (who has an established history of hacking) for targeting foreigners online, according to a Philippine Star news report. The arrest happened in Barangay Talon Dos.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt the Philippine Star news report. Some parts in boldface…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that there could be more hackers or cyber criminals who could be living within your local community?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Local authorities arrest Ghanaian national suspected of masterminding ATM hacking ring

Have you been withdrawing money from certain ATMs (automatic teller machines) lately? Did you notice something wrong with the same accounts you withdrew money from? The Manila Bulletin reported that in recent times, personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) aided by the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) arrested a Ghanaian national on suspicion of masterminding a ring of hackers that targeted ATMs. The same news report showed some interesting details about the suspect.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested a (Ghanaian) national posing as a missionary but is suspected to be the mastermind of a West African syndicate hacking automated teller machines (ATMs).

Immigration intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said 34-year-old Victor Patrick was apprehended in a joint operation with the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) last Oct. 14 in a mall in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Manahan said the ISAFP reported that the alien was the principal suspect in hacking ATM machines installed by banks in Moonwalk, Paranaque City.

Manahan said Patrick arrived in the country last April 20, 2019 as tourist and later applied for a missionary visa using a Cebu-based company which turned out to be non-existing.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Patrick will be deported for obtaining an immigration document under false representation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Did you withdraw money from ATMs in Parañaque that the suspect allegedly hacked? If so, did you notice discrepancies on your account related to the withdrawals you made?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

A Look Back at Harbinger #3 (1992)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through the Harbinger monthly series.

In my previous retro review, Peter/Sting, Kris, Faith/Zephyr, Charlene/Flamingo and John/Torque not only found a place to stay in thanks to a really generous doctor, they went ahead infiltrating the top secret facility of the Harbinger foundation which also brought them face-to-face with the leader. At this stage, Sting and his team have established their purpose not just for survival but to achieve something they believe is right.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Harbinger , published in 1992 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jim Shooter and drawn by David Lapham.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins at 9:20 AM of July 6, 1991 inside the fine summer home of Dr. Heyward. As Sting tells his teammates that they have to move to catch a flight, Faith (wearing her superhero costume) flies through to find Kris and Torque. She finds the two of them seated next together with Kris having her two hands on Torque.

Meanwhile, Flamingo fixes her face as Sting talks to her. She rejects his declaration that she is a part of their team and reveals that Torque does not care about her. Flamingo considers herself as just another hosebag. Sting then tries to lift her up by telling her that she has to take care of herself and that she is part of their team.

Sting, Faith, Flamingo, Kris and Torque then leave for the airport in a brand new vehicle they just bought (having used the money they stole from Harbinger). Their vehicle flies off to the airport with Sting on the driver’s seat…

Quality

Sting, his teammates and newcomer Ax in the heat of action.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the story in this comic book got even wilder than I anticipated. The high intensity of wild turnout of events in issue do not even come close to what was told right here. At the same time, this particular story clearly showed this comic book series’ own place within the literary universe of Valiant Comics and anyone who read XO-Manowar comics of this particular era will instantly recognize the recurring creatures (opposition elements) from outer space.

As expected, the character development of the main characters progressed smoothly revealing some amusing character moments that I found interesting and other times amusing. As Sting continues to act with a sense of leadership as well as a false sense of maturity, you will get to see more of Kris providing him analytical and personal support.

The dialogue in this comic book was written to be more dynamic and this is highlighted in the scene in which Sting and his teammates discuss what to do with their new team objective, and what to do with the computer hacker Ax who has shown Harbinger potential. That being said, Jim Shooter carefully crafted the dialogue to reflect how American teenagers in the late 1980s and early 1990s expressed themselves.

When it comes to superhero spectacle, there is a lot to enjoy here. Action scenes and the use of special abilities or super powers were executed at a moderate pace yet they were intense to look at. Each of the main characters had his/her own share of the spotlight even as the spectacle moved.

Conclusion

Meet Ax, the guy who specializes on cracking and hacking.

Harbinger (1992) is a very engaging story to read which was balanced with a good amount of spectacle, nice character moments and the wildest turn of events so far in this particular comic book series. On face value, this comic book’s core concept (which involves a lot of science fiction elements) seemed over-the-top but Jim Shooter and David Lapham succeeded in telling a story that is believable and at the same time fun. It is also within this comic book that readers will get to see more of the Valiant Comics universe elements without the need of a crossover or a cameo appearance of an established Valiant hero. This is definitely the tale of Sting and his team that was simply taken into a much higher flight of fantasy. That being said, I am looking forward to the next issue.

Overall, Harbinger (1992) is highly recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/