Next, we have the news that those wonderful elected officials in Washington (D.C., that is) are planning to reverse years of common sense and allow, nay, recommend that banks acquire race and religious data on people applying for loans, credit, et cetera. Uh, say what? Apparently, the justification is that this will allow auditing (read: facilitate lawsuits) for cases where people of alternate religious or racial status (read: anyone other than those damnable white christians who keep messing things up for everyone else) are denied loans, credit, et cetera. Apparently a situation where your race is known, then, is better than a situation where the application process is completely agnostic on the issue. Yes, this makes so much sense. Since the process will apparently be voluntary (at least, at first it will be, like all good beaurocracy; you have to get the proles used to it before you mandate it) I recommend that it be used, if implemented, to fight for the rights of C'thulhu-worshipping Martians everywhere! Yes, it's time to make that dreaded 'Other' category with the fill-in-the-blank MEAN something, by god! And just think of the fun lawsuits we can have.
Finger-Lickin'-Goodmobile: Yes, it's that time of the year again, when the leaves are turning, the grass is drying up and dying, small animals are falling from the trees, and scientists are trotting out new bio-fuels. Apparently they've come up with a new one, called 'Bio-Diesel' that, no lie, has 'used french fry grease' as a primary ingredient. It's cheap, it's efficient, it's environmentally friendly, and the exhaust smells like, and I stress I'm not making this up, fried chicken. Perhaps now, at long last, when your dog chases that big-ass truck trundling down the road, you'll at least know WHY. Mm-mm. Finger-lickin' good.
In other news, Apple Computer ran around like a chicken with its' head cut off, due to orders from On High that all standing computer orders be changed. Apparently, due to production problems, all in-production G4 systems were to be dropped by 50 MHz, with no price reduction (well, DRAM _is_ getting expensive). Including ones already ordered. Oops. Due to large numbers of people remarking, loudly, "The HELL, you say!" and "'oo likes a sailor, then?!" Apple reversed themselves and promised to fill all existing orders with precisely what was ordered, instead of being weasels. Which just proves, I guess, that Apple's management is just as capable of being bastards as any other computer company, but their market is still small enough that they quail from the thought of pissing off EVERYONE. Unlike Microsoft, whose response to public outcry is "Sit 'n spin, buddy. Sit 'n spin."
And, lastly, a noted lunatic, er, physicist has today disproved the existance of time, noting that, instead, the universe is based on a complex multi-dimensional wossname. Fans noted that this means that, at last, Douglas Adams' hypothesis that "Time is an illusion, lunch-time doubly so" has been proven. Speculation that Mr. Adams may, as the person to first suggest this theory, be nominated for a Nobel Prize, has yet to be substantiated.
Filler, filler, filler, filler, filler, filler, filler, filler.
Goku continues powering up the Spirit Bomb, while the three Johnny Bench impersonators wonder why he hasn't used it yet. Answer - he doesn't think he's gathered enough power yet. Frieza wonders what he's on about, but Goku just keeps powerin' up. We get more footage of power being drawn from all living things around, etc, etc. (When the anime club showed a DBZ movie in which Goku used the Spirit Bomb, this was the point where the audience started making extremely snide remarks - "Meanwhile, on the Nature Channel..." "We are the woooooorld..." "Meanwhile, in another movie entirely...")
Next up, Bulma is lecturing the Ginyu-frog about how bad-ass Goku is, and we get tons of flashbacks to Goku and Krillan training as kids (yes, Goku and the runt are childhood friends), plus more recent flashbacks to Goku whupping up on Tien at one of the fighting tournaments that characterized the first Dragonball series, Goku whupping up on Nappa, Goku whupping up on just about everyone... Bulma tells the Ginyu-frog to go tell his lizard buddy (Frieza) to g'wan and leave before Goku gets really mad.
Meanwhile, in the Next Dimension, the Ginyu Force pose once more, and mistake Our Dead Heroes stares of astonishment for stares of horror. [Tien: "These guys are IDIOTS."] The Ginyu Force claims King Kaiou's little planet in the Next Dimension for their own, but first, remembering the advice of their Cap'n, they test their powers to make sure that everything still works. Much property damage ensues. King Kaiou wanders out of a continuity glitch (okay, he was THERE when they ARRIVED. Have even the story editors been lulled to sleep by this filler episode?) to wonder what the heck's going on, and tells the Ginyu Force that with their inferior powers, they should just leave before they get hurt. He then pauses, sensing Goku's preparation to use the Spirit Bomb.
Goku continues trying to buy time to build up more power in the Spirit Bomb, but Frieza finally gets bored and starts beating on him. The fact that Goku can't help snickering doesn't help Frieza's mood. Goku just keeps trying to build up the Spirit Bomb, not even really trying to defend himself against Frieza. Piccolo decides it's time to step in, and has Gohan and Krillan transfer some of their power to him. Frieza continues to whup on Goku, and finally notices the Spirit Bomb, but, unable to sense its power, dismisses it as a distraction tactic. But he prepares to kill Goku anyway. Piccolo steps in at the last moment, burning all of the power he just built up to get in one good boot to the head on Frieza, tossing the lizard into the next county. Goku continues building up the Spirit Bomb, but Frieza is starting to get REALLY honked off.
In the Next Dimension, King Kaiou comments a bit on this, but the Ginyu Force are starting to get surly, so he sics his students on them. Oh, yeah, this is real good. "Hah! You, with your weak powers, cannot defeat me... er, you're not running? Get them, my students!"
Next episode: Actual fighting? Please?
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