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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 24 Review

Episode 24, "Resurrected Comrades! The Handsome Warrior Zarbon’s Devilish Transformation", or "Vegeta Gets A Beatdown"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: While training on the trip to Namek, Goku is contacted by King Kai, who informs him that Piccolo, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, and Chaozu have arrived to train on his planet. Goku informs King Kai about a more powerful presence on Namek than Vegeta, and King Kai confirms it’s Freeza. He warns Goku to stay away from Freeza. On Namek, Vegeta encounters Zarbon, and they engage in combat. At first, it looks like Vegeta has the advantage, but Zarbon transforms into a more monsterous form and brutalizes him. After this, Zarbon flies off, while Vegeta passes out from his injuries. read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 23 Review

Episode 23, "Vegeta’s Secret Maneuvering! The Namekians are Tragically Attacked", or "Wow, Namekians Are Boring."

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Gohan and Kuririn confirm that Vegeta has indeed come to Namek, and are nearly discovered by them. Gohan and Kuririn arrive back at the cave where they left Bulma, where she tells them that Goku is on his way to Namek. Vegeta terrorizes a village, demanding its Dragon Ball. He kills the villagers and takes their Dragon Ball. After hiding the Dragon Ball underwater, he goes off looking for more, while Zarbon is set by Freeza to do the same. read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 22 Review

Episode 22, "Dodoria in Terrifying Hot Pursuit! Vegeta Learns the Truth", or "Fly, Fatty, Fly!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Dodoria murders the Namekians who came to assist the village, and kills one of the children. This prompts Gohan to attack him, giving away his and Kuririn’s presence. The two of them quickly escape with the remaining child, with Dodoria in pursuit. Kuririn manages to stymie the big henchman using the Taiyouken, distracting him long enough for them to hide. Before Dodoria can catch up, he’s waylaid by Vegeta, who intends to kill him. Dodoria begs for mercy, promising to tell him about his home planet. He reveals that the story about meteors destroying it is a fake one, and that Freeza was the one who destroyed the planet, fearing Saiyans in great numbers. Vegeta kills Dodoria anyway. read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 21 Review

Episode 21, "Protect the Dragon Balls! The Namekian Offensive"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Recovered from his injuries thanks to a senzu bean, Goku goes to the Capsule Corporation, where Dr. Briefs has prepared a spaceship to take him to Namek. He takes off for space. While in flight, Goku uses a feature of the ship which allows him to train under several times Earth’s gravity. On Namek, Gohan and Kuririn spy on Freeza and his henchmen as they menace a village for its Dragon Ball. The village elder, Mori, is uncooperative, so Freeza threatens the children. Some high-powered Namekians come to rescue the village, and Dodoria takes the task of taking care of them. Mori destroys all of Freeza’s henchmen’s scouters so they can’t find the other villages, which enrages Dodoria. read more

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Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 23 Review

Episode 23, "Incoming! Mechanical Beast Baron Ashura"



*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The scientists at Photon Power Lab complete Sayaka’s new robot, Venus A. In the surrounding excitement, Kouji gets closer to Sayaka. Dr. Hell’s forces attack Japan’s military and the Mazinger Corp are busy. The Lab puts up a forcefield bubble. Boss and his cronies paint his own robot, the Boss Borot. The Mazinger Corp are confronted by Ashura’s robot. Kouji, Shiro, and Kabuto visit Juuzo’s grave, where a hologram of Dr. Hell appears to offer a chance at settling everything with a fight between the Mazinger and Ashura’s robot. Sayaka attacks in the Venus A, but it does no damage to Ashura’s machine, and she is subdued. Boss, his group, and Shiro want Kouji to accept the duel, despite it going against Tsubasa’s plans, but he promises Sayaka he’ll stick to whatever Tsubasa has in mind. However, the morning after spending time with her, Kouji heads off to the duel in the Mazinger. read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 19 Review

Episode 19, "A Formidable New Enemy! Emperor of the Universe, Freeza" or, "Everybody Freaks The Fuck Out"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: As Gohan, Kuririn, and Bulma travel to Namek on Kami’s spaceship, Vegeta’s pod arrives on a planet owned by his boss, Freeza, and is treated for his injuries in a heal tank. After recovering, Vegeta is informed by Kiwi, a henchmen of Freeza, that Freeza is on his way to Namek for the Dragon Balls, which he heard about over Vegeta’s scouter. Eager to beat Freeza to them, Vegeta takes off, with Kiwi in pursuit. Arriving on Namek, Gohan, Kuririn, and Bulma find the atmosphere suitable, and Bulma detects Dragon Balls using her radar. Vegeta arrives on Namek, as does Kiwi. Meanwhile, Freeza and his henchmen, Zarbon and Dodoria, are at a Namekian village. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 26 Review

Episode 26, "Reunion"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: While unsuccessfully trying to battle Envy, Edward comes to a realization, and halts the fight with the promise of returning himself, Envy, and Ling back to the real world. Back at Central, Scar and Mei follow Alphonse and Gluttony in underground passages. Edward decides to do a human transmutation on himself to open the real Doors of Truth, and use Envy’s Philosopher’s Stone to send everyone back. He also reveals his realization that whoever made the homunculi used Xerxes’ people to transmute a Philosopher’s Stone centuries before. In Central HQ, Bradley relates to Roy the story of his childhood and becoming Wrath. Back in the darkness, Edward activates an alchemy array and goes through the Gate, finding himself face-to-face with Alphonse’s withering body. As the gate reopens to pull him out, he promises to return some day. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 25 Review

Episode 25, "The Door of Darkness"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward and Ling wander around the inside of Gluttony, looking for an exit. After hearing her story, Scar helps Mei look for Xaio Mei. Envy appears before Ed and Ling, explaining that they are inside a fake version of the Gate/Doors of Truth, and there is no way to escape. Envy reveals that he was the one who started the Ishbal war by disguising himself as a soldier and shooting a child, prompting Edward’s rage. After being hit, Envy transforms into a giant monster, his true form. Back at Central HQ, Bradley explains that he could never have a weakness that Roy could exploit, and has Roy’s subordinates reassigned, with Riza under him directly. Alphonse convinces Gluttony to take him to his creator, who, to his surprise, is in Central City. read more

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Willis Sears Tower vs. John Hancock Center: Which Attraction Reigns Supreme?


(click on most of the images in this article to view their larger cousins)

Much to my surprise, Chicago is quite the awesome city, rivaling NYC in many ways. I first visited it for work a few months back and decided to take a short vacation and explore the downtown area. There’s a lot to see and do, more so than my meager four days allowed for. My first time out there I did most of the touristy things, including a visit to two of Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks, the John Hancock Center and the Sears Tower. Err, Willis Tower as it’s now called. Both offer some of the best views of the city, looking down. After visiting each skyscraper the question arose, is it worth visiting both? If not, which one is the preferred stop? read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 24 Review

Episode 24, "Inside the Belly"

 *****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Gluttony goes on a rampage, trying to devour Roy into his eye Gate. Roy manages to escape with Riza in a car, taking Ran Fan with her, while Ed, Al, and Ling stay behind to fight. Envy arrives to retrieve Gluttony, but a new fight begins, and Gluttony accidently swallows Ed, Ling, and Envy. Roy attempts to enlist the help of General Raven at Central HQ, but it’s revealed that he and a number of high military officers are in on the homunculi’s plans, and the Fuhrer appears before him. read more

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