In Kentia Hall, the Fast and the Furious celebrated the release of the blockbuster movie release on DVD. Generating over $150 million dollars at the box office, the DVD is packed with hours of additional footage.

This show allows you to get up close and a hands on view of the newest models on the market. You can sit, feel, and ask questions about all your favorite automobiles...and even the ones you can't afford. Concept vehicles are always a showstealer as their futuristic styling will leave your mouth hanging.

Apt. 107 Car of the Show: Nissan 350Z

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December 19th was the first day that Final Fantasy X hit U.S. shores on a limited release. However, I'd only manage to get my paws on this piece of gaming heaven 2 days later.

Sob story aside, I have to say that this is one of the greatest games in the Final Fantasy Series...no, one of the greatest games EVER. Final Fantasy X sets the benchmark for what an RPG game should be.

First off, I'll break it down for you.

Gameplay <5/5>

Squaresoft did away with the old active time battle system and replaced it with the conditional time battle system. In this system, time only passes if you choose a command. You also have the ability to know when you will attack or your opponent will attack, thanks to the help of a turn-chart on the top-left hand corner.

The task of leveling up is no longer traditional anymore. It has been replaced by something called the "Sphere Grid". The Sphere Grid looks like something out of a Parker Brothers game board, but it gives you the ability to control how your characters develop. Simply put, you have complete control of how your characters become stronger.

Story <4/5>

Well, the story is good, but its major flaw is that the story is TOO linear. Here's a brief rundown. Tidus, a blitzball player from Zanarkand, gets washed up on the isle of Besaid, where he meets Yuna, a summoner. Yuna is a summoner who is going to destroy a monster terrorizing her land. Tidus joins in and the adventure continues on from there. There are a few plot twists, but like I said before, the story is too linear. You start at Besaid Island and you end up fighting the monster in the end.

Graphics <5/5>

My jaw hit the floor when I saw the graphics. The FMV's are on par with Squaresoft's "Final Fantasy" movie. The gamers’ environment looks so real and everything is in 3-d. No more pre-rendered backgrounds. The characters are also very life-like. Square paid very close attention to the facial expressions of the characters, and you can tell how they are feeling just by looking at them. Simply amazing.

Sound <5/5>

YAAAYYY!! Voice Acting!!! The voices that go with the characters fit them so well. My favorite voice actor has to be Tara Strong, who does the voice of "Rikku". She makes a cute girl cuter! Game sounds are well done and having surround sound makes it all better.

Overall <4.6/5>

This title certainly lives up to the name, and it is definitely worth a purchase. Go out and buy it!

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Buy Altezza Tail Lamps here!!!

Aftermarket taillights are one of the most common exterior mods us ricers bolt on our car. Getting pulled over for them is one of our most common obstacles. Yeah, we all know sometimes, there'll be a police officer who doesn't know legal from illegal. For example, my friend was pulled over for his Euro/Altezza taillights because the cop thought they were "clear taillights." But then, sometimes you just don't know what's really illegal about your taillights, despite the DOT SAE stamps on the box.

Altezza/Euro taillights:

One of the most common things people are pulled over for Euro taillights is their blinker. Is it amber (yellow-orange)? or is it blue, white, pink or whatever? Generally, in most states, the rear signal light should be either amber or red. So use an amber bulb for the blinker. Although red is a legal color, there is no SAE approved red bulb so it may controversial.

Do your lights come with the rear-side reflectors? Some APC Honda Civic Altezzas lights come with the extra reflector on the side of the lamp. Many people do not prefer this style, but this assures you that those taillights are legal. One of the few reasons why you are pulled over is because you are missing a side reflector. If your taillights do not come with a side reflector, just stick a red one on the side of your rear bumper. A red marker may be more preferable for its higher visibility at night.

Does your stop lamp glow red, and glow bright enough? DOT SAE approved stamp does assure that the stop lamps aren't as dim as the taillights and that the lights aren't pink with no brakes and pinkish white with brakes. The pink effect is more common on clear taillights.

Clear taillights:

A few of the problems on clear taillights were already discussed with Altezza's such as side markers, colored blinker bulbs, and the pink brake light effect. Over all, the fact that red bulbs aren't SAE approved, therefore clear taillights are 100% illegal. Rumors such as “cops think it’s distracting and you have to show red lenses” are all made up by people who didn't really know why they were pulled over. Of course it would help if the officer explained that, rather than pulling the same people over who honestly think they were in the clear.

Other taillights:

Any taillights that are flat on the back of the trunk must have a red side rear reflect or marker. If you have Skyline type or painted/tinted taillights that do not reflect from the side, then those are also illegal.

People should realize why their taillights are illegal and not justify what they hear from others as the law. So in essence, remember that red bulbs are illegal; side reflectors are necessary, and signal lamps must be amber. For any specific detail, contact your local state law offices.

For a complete explanation of lighting legalities visit: Motor Vehicle Lighting Standards

Buy Altezza Tail Lamps here!!!

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Like a "classic Hollywood fairytale" this small-town girl from LA is movin' on up to the big city. Shannyn Sossamon, has co-starred alongside Heath Ledger in the movie hit "A Knight's Tale" However, she claims she didn't become a star overnight.

Born in Hawaii but raised in Reno, Nevada, Sossamon moved to Los Angeles at the age of seventeen to pursue her career as a dancer. "I've lived (in Los Angeles) for five years, I'm a dancer, I've done lots of commercials, I read all the magazines, I've observed all the people in the business." This is the way her story went: "I was helping my friend DJ a party (Gweneth Paltrow's wedding), (The casting director) just saw me and she called me the next day, we had a little meeting, it was no big deal." Six months later she landed the role of Jocelyn in the movie "A Knight's Tale".

Her original calling as a dancer and DJ didn't deteriorate. She spins records at local bars and lounges, and acts in commercials. Such commercials included one for GAP jeans as one of three DJs. She describes her current career choice as, "the most awesome job ever, you work for one day then just sit back and collect the residuals."

After her first movie experience she went on to pursue auditions for movies and television shows. Sossamon's next role stars her alongside Josh Hartnet in the 2002 film "40 Days and 40 Nights." Moreover, look out for her next film as well entitled "The Rules of Attraction".

(quotes provided by interviewer Smriti Mundhra)

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Angela Proudfoot, age 26, seems to be an average young woman, but does anybody out there know who she really is? I think so! Angela Proudfoot is proud to be labeled "THE FASTEST AND QUICKEST FEMALE IMPORT DRIVER ON THE EAST COAST". She still holds that title till this day. Her first sanctioned race was in OCT '99. She has accomplished a lot in 2000. She won 1st place at the NIRA fall nationals on Oct 8, 2000; 1st place at the import survival series 3 on Aug 26, 2000; one of the 5 fastest driver awards from girlie girl racing in 2000; also won the hottest tuned auto and hottest female ride awards at HIN (Hot Import Nights) in July 2001.

She is the proud owner and driver of a 1998 pro drag Honda civic EX.

Engine B18C1 Engine
JE Pistons
Crower Rods
Turbonetics ceramic ball-bearing turbo
Turbonetics Racegate wastegate
Spearco liquid to air intercooler
Custom Rev Hard exhaust manifold
Venom intake manifold
Venom injectors
Sx Fuel Pump
STR cam gears
Pro Drive spool
Clutchmasters Twin Disk clutch
Fluidyne radiator

Performance: 546 hp @ 9200 rpm Electronics

MSD 7AL-2 ignition
Felpro Speedpro fuel management
Apexi boost gauge
Apexi pressure gauge
Apexi temperature gauge
Apexi EGT gauge
Apexi tachometer
Moroso switch panel
HKS EVC boost controller

Body, Chassis, Interior 12 point chromoly roll cage
Custom aluminum dash
MB Products fiberglass front end and trunk
Fiberglass doors and filled sunroof
Design of decals by Pigeonholedesign
Decals applied by Speedesign
Sparco Evo seat
Sparco steering wheel
Tanabe suspension
Bogart Pro 2000 wheels
Hoosier slicks
Custom wheelie bars

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With a little taste, Mainstream Productions and LanCube brought its first CounterStrike tournament to the Showoff Classic (with really huge cash prizes might I add), making it the first car show/gaming tournament in one. Check out www.LANCube.com for further details and information.

As for the rides, there was plenty of new eye candy to look at along with some whack-ass looking rides (a primered grey 92-95 Prelude, and an Integra with no Exhaust), but I’m going to pretend that I didn’t see them. It’s ok. They get an A for effort.

Thanks to all the teams and everyone who took time out of their Christmas break to come out and support the show, enjoy the rides, and check out our booth. So happy new years to all and remember you heard it here, Apartment107.com, where anything goes.

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There is so much confusion today over what a clear coat paint finish actually is. Well, let's define it, answer some questions about it, and offer you a free car care prescription personalized for your car so you know how to take care of it!

What is a clear coat paint?
Today, over 90% of all factory finishes are clear coated. A clear coat finish is one component in a multi-layer paint system…comprised of a primer, a base coat (the actual color of your car), and a clear coat. Although a clear coat does protect the base color coat due to UV screeners, it is very sensitive to scratches and swirl marks because it is a clear (duh!).

Case in point…years ago, before clear coats were around, scratches and swirls weren't as evident…why? Well, when you would get a scratch or swirl on the car, it would scuff the same color as the car making it less visible. Nowadays, when you get a scratch or swirl it shows up white. It's a hideous thing to see a dark colored car with all those swirls and imperfections. You can get these imperfections from so many things…car washes, inferior drying rags or towels, abrasive polishes and waxes, using steel wool to wipe down the car…you get my drift.

Can a clear coat oxidize?
The most important thing to remember about your clear coat is that it is actually paint…just like your color coat, except without any pigment. Therefore it can oxidize just like a normal color coat would…it's just not as obvious. That is, before it's too late.

Oxidation was an obvious problem ten years ago (before clear coats) because you quickly saw the color coat begin to fade. We have all seen those old red colored cars turn orange and pink right? However, now that the outer layer is usually clear, oxidation is less obvious because we can't see it happening, yet it's still occurring. The sun begins to dry out the top layers of the clear coat and natural oils are lost. If these oils aren't replaced, the paint oxidizes and the surface gradually becomes duller and duller. Over a period of time, oxidation etches its way into your clear coat paint layer and exposes the base coat directly to UV rays. Once the clear coat protection is gone, the car usually requires costly repainting. (i.e., not the greatest way to impress the chickees.)

Do I have clear coat paint?
An easy way to tell whether you have clear coat paint is to look at your applicator pad when applying a surface prep or wax. If you see the color of your car on your applicator, you do not have a clear coat. If you're still confused, call our Customer Care Center at 1-800-347-5700, and talk with a surface care specialist. (They will also give you a free poster of our Meguiar's Ford Focus race car upon request.) If you're still confused, visit your local psycho ward.

The best way to find out how to take care of your finish is to go to www.teammeguiars.com and click on the "Rx." This free prescription will recommend the correct products to use and how often based on certain variables like where you live, what kind of car you drive, color of car, etc.

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Male Winner:

Female Winner:

Winners will receive The Fast and the Furious DVD and the Soundtrack.

Visit the Official website for the The Fast and the Furious

Thank you to all the contestants and look out for our next contest!!!

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Many of you may know her from her role as Queen Amidala in Star Wars Episode I, but Natalie Portman is more then just an intergalactic super babe. This 20-year old actress is also an intelligent young woman who attends an Ivy League college (Harvard) along with juggling her acting career.

Natalie Portman was born on June 9, 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel where she lived for a short time. After moving to the states, she lived in Maryland until the age of 3, bounced over to Connecticut by 7, then finally established a permanent residence in Long Island, New York by age 11. A modeling agent for Revlon discovered Natalie when she was 11 in a pizza parlor. Originally she was to model for the agency, but she had bigger goals in mind. She was eventually introduced to a few acting agents, and her career fell nicely into place. Since then Ms. Portman has starred in movies such as: The Professional (1994), Heat (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Anywhere But Here (1999), and Where the Heart Is (2000).

Ms. Portman has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the industry such as Woody Allen, Susan Sarandon, George Lucas, Jack Nicholson, Michael Mann, and Ashley Judd...she's accomplished all this before she's even old enough to buy booze. Ms. Portman is described as one of the rising starlets in Hollywood due to her maturity, grace, and Audrey Hepburn like looks. So the next time you watch Episode I (or the next 2 Star Wars prequels for that matter), remember Natalie Portman was a big name in Hollywood way before she made the Star Wars flicks.

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Somewhere a sixth grader is piloting a lone starfighter against a massive and deadly adversary. A college student skips a kegger to snowboard down a sheer mountain slope. And a single mom, after putting her kids to bed, hops on a turbo-powered jet ski. Lifestyles of the rich and famous?…No, just a day in the life of an average video gamer. Ever since Pong, video games have provided the perfect escape capsule. Now, with the latest advances in console, technology, there are more reasons than ever to get your game on.

We are living through a mini golden age in terms of gaming. Over the past year, the videogame market (including PC and online games) has soared to an estimated $11.4 billion. In the past months, two new consoles have arrived on the scene: Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's GameCube, each triggering a new wave of original games with more sophisticated graphics and game play than ever before. And the current king of the consoles; the year-old Sony Playstation 2, has hit its stride recently with a host of new titles.

So which system deserves your hard-earned Benjamins? Each has its strengths: The Xbox ($299), aimed at serious gamers (teenagers and up), takes the lead in terms of features. It has the most impressive graphics, comes complete with a hard drive and Ethernet port, and it's also DVD-capable (though Microsoft charges a sneaky extra $30 for the remote required to play movies). Sony, whose PS2 ($299) also plays DVDs, has announced plans to match the Xbox's extra features, fueling the theory that each company is using its games device as an online-ready Trojan horse to infiltrate our living rooms (and our wallets). The GameCube however, is first and foremost a games device, with a more kid-friendly lineup of titles - including spanking-new versions of many Nintendo classics. It may not have the home entertainment extras (although a modem will be available next year), but it comes in a smaller, more elegant package - and with a more modest price tag ($199). Nintendo fanatics will also be able to use their $99 Game Boy Advance as an extra GameCube controller.

So while it looks as if the biggest game of them all - the console war - is just getting started, the eventual victor is already clear: It's you!

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