The 2GuysTalking: DEXTER Podcast

A Review of Season 6, Episode 2- Once Upon a Time

Two episodes in, and it’s story time not only on DEXTER on Showtime, but on the 2GuysTalking DEXTER Podcast! Once upon a time - hey isn’t that the title of the episode?

Once upon a time there was a serial killer, named DEXTER. Dexter and his police friends lived in a Miami Dade County Police department, where DEXTER would spend his daytime hours, finding and detailing clues as to who killed people. During the night time, DEXTER would spend his evening hours - killing people - and making sure that no one would ever find the bodies.

It’s a quick, short and sweet story, particularly so for those who are Deb fans during this episode - episode 2 of DEXTER. Will everyone live happily ever after? Will the Big Bad Wolf blow more houses down? It’s time, for the second episode of Season 6 Review of DEXTER on Showtime, via the 2GuysTalking DEXTER Podcast, recorded live inside of 2GuysTalking East Studios, LIVE, in historic St. Charles, Missouri!

Listen to this Episode of the DEXTER Podcast
Subscribe to the DEXTER Podcast via iTunes
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The Fangbanger Podcast from 2GuysTalking
A Review of True Blood - Season 4, Episode 12 - “When I Die”

It’s the TRUE DEATH - of Season 4 of HBO’s Vampire + Werewolf + Werepanther + Witch + Cliffhanger + Did-that-just-happen television series, True Blood! What was the shocking ending everyone was talking about? Did he return of figures from long gone provide satisfaction? Has True Blood seen it’s worst season? What can we expect in Season 5? All of those answers and so much more await you in this season-ender, opinion-ridden review from 2GuysTalking! It’s The 2GuysTalking Fangbanger Podcast’s Review of Season 4, Episode 12, “And When I Die”! Tell us what you think!

Visit The Fangbanger Podcast Website!

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Click here to listen to our review of Season 4, Episode 12: “And When I Die…”

The Fangbanger Podcast from 2GuysTalking
A Review of True Blood - Season 4, Episode 5 “Me & The Devil”

Click Above to Listen to THIS Episode of the True Blood Podcast Review from The Fangbanger Podcast via 2GuysTalking

David is reporting LIVE via teleconference from New Orleans!The show isn’t even filmed in Louisiana! Ha! 4 outstanding episodes are in the can - a third of a new season of True Blood has cycled through the arteries and heads straight back to the heart of storytelling as they prepare to strike veins! This week: Murdered Parents, Hair that defies belief, rotting flesh that would make Walking Dead thirsty with envy, and hey! Marshmallows are Crocodile nectar! Whoohooo! It’s all reviewed, delightfully, with blood and love this week by 2GuysTalking on The Fangbanger Podcast on The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network!

Click Above to Listen to  Our Review of Season 4 Episode 5!

– Send us YOUR Feedback and we’ll use it on the show next week!

– View this week’s “True Blood: Transfusion” - A live-capture, video-only fan feedback and news segment from Fangbanger Podcast hosts David Carite & Mike Wilkerson!

Tell us what you think and we’ll use your comments on the show!
Click Above to Listen to  Our Review of Season 4 Episode 5!

– Send us YOUR Feedback and we’ll use it on the show next week!

– View this week’s “True Blood: Transfusion” - A live-capture, video-only fan feedback and news segment from Fangbanger Podcast hosts David Carite & Mike Wilkerson!

Tell us what you think and we’ll use your comments on the show!

The last week has been a true whirlwind of activity at 2GuysTalking Headquarters, specifically in our East recording studio in historic downtown St. Charles, MO. We’ve been putting on the finishing touches to our on-going episode review of “True Blood” via The Fangbanger Podcast - Appreciating All Thangs with Fangs and well - tonight is the night!

This evening, HBO will launch the 4th season of True Blood, showcasing the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse and her undead company of characters. Will YOU be watching? I will be, during a grand, 2-hour launch that promises to provide surprises, blood and more for sure! Wait let me guess:

You’ve never seen an episode of True Blood, right?

No problem! Be sure to check out The Fangbanger Podcast’s “True Blood 101″ providing you with all of the vital details on the story, the characters and the fanbase that has taken this novel-inspired series to a completely different level in just three short seasons.

Listen to The True Blood 101 from 2GuysTalking here, and be sure to join The Fangbanger Podcast on Facebook! We’ll be updating that area with regular news, views and fandom just like we have with our previous television fan-interaction efforts and hope that you’ll tune in regularly! We’ll be recording The Fangbanger Podcast’s follow of True Blood every Monday at lunchtime via 2GuysTalking TV! Then plan to have a new podcast that same evening to get your creative (blood) juices flowing! We’ll also be recording our Fan Input and news review via “The Transfusion” - our online, video only episodes that again take our interaction with you to an all new level.

It’s all new, and it’s ONLY from 2GuysTalking.

The True Blood 101 from The Fangbanger Podcast - 2GuysTalking
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2GuysTalking TV - Watch us work and our entire video archive!
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This last weekend, we had yet another comic book film come to the silver screen. “THOR”, made a significant impact (hammer and all) with a stunning $65.7mil addition to the already hearty (dare I say, “Mighty?”) $177mil box office take overseas. There can be NO denying: Comic Book movies and their fen are a SUPER force to be dealt with.

Recently, a fellow blogger friend of mine (Kip Lewis) provided me with a link to a website that provides you with (insert superhero music.wav) a complete listing of the DC Comics that came out on your birthday month! How cool is that? Just when I thought I didn’t need to be collecting hard-cover, paper comics anymore, they keep dragging me back in!

The name of the website is Mike’s Amazing World of DC Comics and offers you a true wallpaper creator that I’ve never seen before. Simply click on the appropriate year, the appropriate month and (insert another cool superhero sound.wav)! Faster than the God of Thunder can crack open a can of whoop-ass on his brother Loki, up come the covers of a variety of comics that (April, 1070) create a mosaic of even more things to collect and stow away!

What comics came up when you put in YOUR birthday? Which of the items show is your favorite? Do you know what it’ll cost to get the comics that pop-up? Tell us about it below in the comments section and tell us what YOU think of Mike’s Amazing World of DC Comics!

Look for more details and a complete Perspective Review of THOR, coming from 2GuysTalking later this month! We’d love to hear what YOU thought of that movie, and encourage you to check out all of our comic book movie reviews that will be populating our Nostalgia Engine Project this month!

Good morning! I’ve compiled my notes and links that I mentioned inside of the first of many regular reviews I had with The McCarthy & Friends Show this morning. My thanks again to Kevin McCarthy and Fred Zielonk and I look forward to educating the public in regard to the truly smart television that IS out there! You just have to know where to look!

– The Westplex Online:

– McCarthy and Friends Online:

94.1FM via The WestPlex: 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM — Mike’s Segment Begins at 8:30am!

McCarthy and Friends: Fun, Intelligent, Informative, Entertaining and a little “different!” News talk for the Westplex with a sense of humor to start your day. Check out my new television/entertainment segment at 8:30am every Monday morning!

– The 24Podcast from 2GuysTalking:

– The DEXTER Podcast from 2GuysTalking:

– DEXTER from Showtime:

– Chicago Code (from The Shield Creator):

– IMDB Listing for Jennifer Beals:

– IMDB Listing for Jeessica Biel: (Sorry!):

– The 2GuysTalking Perspective Review of X-Men (2000):

– Kitchen Nightmares:

– American Idol:

– The Travel Planner Podcast with Kevin and Sue McCarthy:

– Details About The Birds:

– Fringe - Renewed - Survived the Friday Night Slot of Death:

– The Thin Man Series:

Still have questions about anything that we’d talked about? Make sure to tell me and we’ll get answers for you now! Cheers!

Strife. Conflict. The undeniable draw of gaping mouths, with raised voices emanating from them. A family torn in at least two parts. The recorded story that describes the day-to-day passings…

Sigh.

I’ve been a fan of American Chopper since the inception of the show. While in the beginning the father/son screaming matches may have played a small role in getting me to watch the program, the fact of the matter is that I enjoy the design and creation process of motorcycles. Taking something from little more than a pile of steel pipes, hoses, cardboard templates and an idea, and fashioning something way more than just a “motorcycle” has always appealed to me. It’s the same general vision and feel as all of the Foose-inspired television specials that gets my blood running and fires the creative juice pumps a full.

Sadly, what American Chopper has now become, is not only a focus on the ranting and idiocy of the decline of the father/sons relationship at least several times during each episode, they’ve now reached a new, boneriffic level.

The most recent episode of American Chopper provided you “introspcection” on the crew that are “front and center filming and editing the episodes as the drama unfolds.’

Huh?

So now we’re going to dedicate time to learning what the people filming the most insignificant parts of the series are thinking while they’re filming it?

I’m living in a cuckoo clock.

The fact is that there are two camps, both of which feature genius-level motorcycle fabrication teams that make gorgeous, themed motorcycles. For the love of all that is The Discovery Channel - can we PLEASE see them in action? If I wanted familial strife and pressure, I would walk into my fathers home office toss a chair or two, tell him what an idiot he is and then - not so amazingly - I’d see the same thing that is slung as I watch this program currently.

Click here to read the rest of this entry via Bloggers Bug…

The current DC Animated Universe began many years ago with 1992 Batman and then Superman:  The Animated Series.  The Superman line then continued into Justice League which became Justice League Unlimited.  Also during this time came Batman Beyond and Static.  A few of the direct-to-video animated videos are also seemingly part of this animated universe.   (We also saw four other series that didn’t quite fit in within the same world as the others, but which we in their own way very successful and liked; Teen Titans, The Batman, Legion of Super-heroes, and finally Brave and the Bold which harkened back to the 60s Batman.)

Late last fall we saw the preview of the latest addition to the DC Animated (TV) Universe; Young Justice.  The show records the adventures of the side-kicks.  You might think that’s the Teen Titans, but not this time around. 

Now, to explain this, I need to jump into comic book history.

The comic book Young Justice began in 1988 under the pen of Peter David when he took all the existing side-kicks and such and created Young Justice.  Again, maybe you are thinking, wait, aren’t the side-kicks supposed to the Teen Titans?  Well, at this time in history, the Teen Titans had become the Titans and they were all 20somethings.  Young Justice is basically the third generation. 

The comic book team started with Robin–not Dick Grayson but Tim Drake; Superboy, Wonder Girl, Impulse, Secret and Arrowette.  They were placed under the guidance of Red Tornado and they did operate out of the old Justice League Cave.  New members were added like “Lil Lobo” and Empress.

The series continued for several years when suddenly I guess DC decided they wanted to have a new Teen Titans title and some of the members came out of Young Justice.  Geoff Jones was the writer of this new series, and Impulse became Kid Flash, but it wasn’t Wally West, but Bart Allen.

So, the name Young Justice went away, until this latest animated series.  I have to admit, I think they just borrowed the name because they didn’t want to call this new series the Teen Titans since they already did that recently.

But this isn’t the comic book version, exactly.  This team is a mix and match of old (I mean early 1970s) Teen Titans comic and Peter David’s Young Justice.  From the original Teen Titans they have brought in the Dick Grayson Robin and Wally West, the original Kid Flash.  (Oh, on a slight note, Wally was an adult and called the Flash throughout the entire Justice League series, but now he’s back as a teen.)

From Young Justice comes Superboy, though he has a slightly different origin and a very different personality.  From a more modern Teen Titans, comes Miss Martian, who also seems to have a different personality.  And finally we have the new Aqualad.  His name comes from the original Teen Titans, but he is a completely new character.  (He’s also the team lead.)

A final character, Artemis has yet to appear, but she is sort of a mix and match character too.  She visually reminds me of Arrowette from Young Justice, but she is actually one of Wonder Woman’s Amazons.  In fact, she once replaced Diana as Wonder Woman for a while.  In the comics, she is not a teenager.

As of writing this review, three or four episodes have shown, depending on how you count them.  The two part pilot, where Superboy is found by Kid Flash, Robin and Aqualad and the team is founded.  “Welcome to Happy Harbor” which introduces us to Miss Martian.  The third episode is “Drop Zone” where the team cuts its teeth and picks a leader.

“The Pilot” was strong.  We are introduced to the three mentioned above as each one along with their mentor takes down an ice-based villain, like Mr. Freeze.  Through some teen-age rebellion, those three go off on a secret mission, find and rescue Superboy.  Then, much to the consternation of the adult Justice League, they decide to be a team.

The adults relent under certain conditions; YJ is going to be a covert action team for the Batman.  They do the sneaking, and the JL takes care of the big stuff.  Red Tornado is appointed as their “guardian.” 

The story is well-written, the dialogue is fun and the animation is closer to the style of the Justice League than to the Teen Titans series, but the animation has its own unique flair.  As a viewer, it made me seriously look forward to the next episode.  (Of course I had to wait two months until the next episode aired.)

In “Welcome to Happy Harbor” Miss Martian is fleshed out.  To be honest, I didn’t actually like this episode or her.  She came across as if she was an alien girl who learned how human girls act by watch 1950s TV.  (The funny thing is, that might be true.)  They also fought a new villain called Mr. Twister and yeah, he was about as lame as his name.  They only thing that “saves” the episode is that we find out that there is more to this villain than meets the eye.

The third storyline “Drop Zone” is where the team cuts its teeth as Batman’s covert action group.  Sent to spy out an island that is known for the production of a drug called Venom, the team soon finds itself mixed up with Bane and an organization known as Kobra.  (No, not the Cobra from G.I. Joe;  DC had this Kobra long before G.I. Joe.)    Without a leader, the team is directionless and on the run.

Even though we’d expect Robin to take the lead (and so does he), this DIck Grayson is only 13 years old and doesn’t have the experience to lead the group.  The team settles on Aqualad who has been the voice of reason so far.  Under his leadership, they pull together and make an impressive showing.  This episode made up for the last one.

This story was definitely a step back in the right direction;  Miss Martian is far less obnoxious; Superboy is mellowing and the team is starting to make its mark. 

These three storylines basically have set up the team; the first put them together, the second added the girl and the third one set up the leader.   Also, they set up the primary villains; some agents of the “Light,” whatever that is.  Oh, and unlike the Teen Titans or the Justice League, so far the teens are not referring to themselves as Young Justice.  So far, there is no in-story name for the team.

Overall I say that if the quality continues, this show will continue to prove that DC continues to put out the best super-hero animated action.

Greetings, from 2GuysTalking HQ, everyone!

In April of this year, I’d started a new project, boldly presented here - Bloggers Bug. It is a no-holds-barred center for promotion, thoughts, opinions and activities of all kinds and it’s helped to fuel a completely new audience for The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network. Along with that it’s helped bolster a series of 20 or so new bloggers and helped to get 10s of thousands of eyes per week on events, podcasts, agenda items and thoughts from people the world over.

As we arrive at New Year’s Eve, 2010, I want to thank all of the writers here at Bloggers Bug, that help me to prove that information is power AND that even though the information might not “interest everyone” there is total fact in that where one set of eyes gathers and shares, other eyes from all efforts see more in general. That’s the power of blogging, that’s the power of incentive and constant writing and the engine that continues to drive Bloggers Bug. It was a small idea, with huge scope, and we’ve achieved almost all of the goals that I wanted to see happen by year’s end. Thank you all.

My most recent announcement allows me to share even more great information about The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network. In an outstanding partnership with The Sacks Group, 2GuysTalking has opened up it’s first commercial studio outlet, inside The Sacks Group’s downtown St. Charles location. It is a center for commercial voiceover creation, for podcast creation and editing and now provides us another great, full-range studio with a glorious eastern-reach to help provide solutions to our St. Louis customers. Recently, we had our first new program record it’s first episode there and the equipment, personnel, and plan worked without a hitch.

Mark Bland, a radio personality and owner of his own music company, record the first of many episodes of “The Q” - an online talk show featuring entertainment discussion, interviews of all kinds and - well whatever Mark comes up with to focus on. Recently, he and Michelle McCue from WeAreMovieGeeks.Com focused on the upcoming television and movie awards season that made for an excellent first offering of “The Q” and baptized The 2GuysTalking East Studio in exciting newfound electricity.

Make sure to check out the links and information below and make sure you send YOUR feedback about The Q to Mark. You know how YOU feel about input (both good and bad) and I know he will take everything offered to heart and use it to create even more excitement each Wednesday via The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network.

The Q - Hosted by Mark Bland - 12-22-2010
Listen to this Free MP3 Now!
It’s Pre-Academy/Golden Globes Awards Movie Discussion Time!
Don’t miss the raw, behind-the-scenes live recording during the LAUNCH of “The Q” with host Mark Bland as he welcomes Michelle McCue from WeAreMovieGeeks.Com as they talk about the most recent movies, entertainment awards and more!

Click Here to Watch The “Behind-The-Scenes” Raw Recording of this episode at The 2GuysTalking East Studio in St. Charles, MO, via 2GuysTalking TV!”
Tell The Q what you think and we’ll use your comments on the show!

Again, my thanks to all of our members and readers here at Bloggers Bug and I cannot wait to initiate the NEW goals for 2011! Stay tuned and get ready to again, be BIT by the Bloggers Bug!

Black Friday has come and gone.

How did you fare?

I thank the stars that I’ve never been prone to get into the family truckster, with wife and children in tow during the wee hours of Friday after sleeping off some of the Tryptophan from our Thanksgiving feast.

What I have found however is that I’m very often going to take advantage of some outstanding deals that will be arriving in your Email boxes via newsletters and featured on the front of websites for “Cyber Monday” - another in the line of “shopping opportunities that make you grab Mr. Wallet and drool with anticipation. In an effort to help ensure I myself am being something other than a key-klacking shopping dumbass, and to educate my friends and readers, I’ve come up with the “Essential Guide to Safe Cyber Monday Shopping!” Read on below for questions and I’m eager to know what YOU think about them.

– Do you really need what you’re buying? I’ve been fortunate enough to get bit by the “priority bug” early in life and whatever I’m planning to purchase in almost all cases gets a good once-over in the way of “need”. When I have so many different projects that could use time and attention, much less outright equipment to help pull them off, it’s easier for me to understand whatever I’m looking at through my virtual window as a “must have” or not. Most people don’t have this skill in their personal toolbox so it’s one of the most important parts of ANY kind of shopping really. Food, tech, cars - anything really. Think twice before succumbing to the spector of “oh, gotta’ have this!” It will help you not only have more money, better credit AND “less stuff” but also provide you with better familial relationships. This bullet point brought to you by Gloria Wilkerson - Queen of the Wilkerson Treasure Chest.

– Take Time to Hunt for Best Pricing: I’ve become almost more fond of “the hunt” for special prucing than the actual buying at this point (because of the bullet point above, frankly). There are so many websites that help you “hunt” not only for the best product for you but the best PRICE. A website that has become my go-to for shopping in general used to be called “Froogle” - a fractal product search service of Google. Apparently someone complained about it’s connotation and now it’s called “Google Product Search.” Regardless of it’s moniker, it is an outstanding launch point for the hunt of just about anything on the internet that you’re interested in purchasing. Whether you’ve got the SKU of the item, just it’s name or model number of even vauge search criteria, you’ll find not only the item you’re looking for but things akin to that item. Best yet, you’ll be able to organize the product search based on price - from lowest to highest for example. The most important thing to remember here is that you truly lose NOTHING when you take more time to search - except for perhaps the “WANT” that’s driving you to purchase whatever you’re looking for anyway. Either way, you’ll either find what you need at the best price via hundreds of research points on the Internet, of you’ll lose interest in purchasing what you “wanted” to begin with. In both directions - you win! I’ve saved 20-45% on purchasing things this way, and have been able to take advantage of free warranties, free shipping, piggy-backed purchases that cost nothing extra and more. Try out YOUR favorite product/what you’re searching for now and see for yourself!

– Find Out What Other People Think of Sites You Might Buy from Online: There’s a reason that ALL of us have those internal shopping “red flags” when buying either in person or online. Listen to them. If you’re not sure of a company’s “reputation” online, look them up on Google - “reviews of __insert store/service name__” and read librerally. In many cases, you’ll find answers from someone about something they’ve purchased from the company. It’ll sway you one way or another. If you see more good than bad - that’s fine, but see how MANY bad there are. Knowing a general “vision” of what the company offers to all of it’s customer base is key to ensuring that you get what you’re paying for, but more importantly, that you get what you’re going to be satisfied with. Third party sites also exist for research for this kind of thing. Try BizRate.Com or Epinions.Com to see what’s said about almost any company online. I almost always try to give a company “a call” if they make the red flags go off. If you wan’t reach them, shop elsewhere and feel safe in the knowledge that you gave them a shot. Again, LISTEN to the rattling of the little red flags in your life. They’re there for a reason.

– Make Sure to Update your Browser Software: We’re not going to turn this into a “which browser is better” moment, but remember: You are only as safe as the software accessing the Internet in regard to shopping. If you haven’t recently updated your computer system to the most recent browser version, now is the time. Often it’s as easy as going to the “Help” section inside of your browser’s main menu, and clicking on “Check for Updates”. That’s it. You’ll be run through a small process of getting the most recent updates and if you’ve been regularly, you may not even notice what happens to get you caught up. Worst case, it’ll take a few minutes which gives you even more opportunity to search, to find another great deal OR - perhaps rethink if you even need this new pieces of tech that will sit in a bag or on your workstation collecting dust. Either way, you get an updated browser, and you add in more time to search/find better deals.

– Search for The Padlock: So you’ve got your browser updated - DANDY! Now it’s time to make sure that the avenue that you’re shopping is “secure.” Again, depending on the browser you’re using to search, when you get to the “key places” to put into details, you should see something that resembles a “padlock” (often at the lower RIGHT hand corner of your browser window) that helps to verify that the page you’re viewing/interacting with IS secure. If you don’t see one, time to shop elsewhere. Identity theft is real, prevalent and is only getting larger so taking a few seconds to ensure that you’re on the right path to purchasing and not losing your shirt, money and potential deal online is key to having a positive experience while shopping on the Internet.

– Account Password Required? Be Smart! Many shopping websites online require you to “make an account.” Think of it this way: When you go to the bank, to open an account, it’s a time investment to get it done, right? Well do it RIGHT here as well. Invest the time to make sure that all of the information you need put in is THERE. NO WEBSITE should ask or “require” your Social Security Number to have an account and folks - the passwords that you select to attach to your account are as important to the keys to your home. Take the time to make a password that ISN’T your, a family member or pets name. Make sure there is at least one capital letter, and one number that appears between words that can be found in a dictionary. Samples: momentitoplease - while unique, is NOT a good password. Momentito2010Please is going to give you infinitely more value and keep your account information and details safe. Are you scared to use larger, more exotic passwords? Let the fear disappear by using a Password Manager like “Roboform” that asks YOU for one password that unlocks and gives you access to ALL OTHER passwords used during your online experience. It’s incredibly inexpensive and has changed the way I use online information. It’s available also for smartphones and all manner of  technology. Check it out and tell them that 2GuysTalking sent you! Bottom line is if you were building a fence to ensure people couldn’t get into your home, you WOULDN’T make one out of that 8-in high rabbgit fence. YOU’d be pouring concrete foundations, stacking in the oak panels and one-way glass to makre sure you get to see who’s coming your way. Take the same care and effort online to make sure that the bad guys SEE the effort you’ve put into your fence and move along to the next potential victim.

– Use a Credit Card When You Can: Many people are now shying away from credit card usage (a big bonus frankly - I wish I had stopping using Credit Cards long ago), but the bottom line is that using one when shopping online is a BIG bonus. Many protections are built in (not ones that you have to pay extra to take advantage of, by the way) the deal you have with credit card companies to help limit your liability in the case of identity theft, or if the company that you’re purchasing from is nefarious. Make sure you call your credit card company (during the week, and during regular business hours to help get the most satisfying customer service experience, in my opinion) and ask them outright about the protections they afford. Tell them that you don’t have all day and need the nuts and bolts of the agreement and guess what? They’ll tell you what it is.

– Don’t have a Credit Card? Use a Separate Account to Limit Exposure/Loss: Alright, so you’ve been able to avoid the hideousness of using Credit Cards. Good for you! But now you need to make an online purchase. Since you don’t have a Credit Card, you still need to acquire a debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo on it. If you’re able, try to do this by securing a NEW account that you only use for online purchases. This allows you another layer of protection but also RESPONSBILITY. You’ll need to actually transfer purchase amounts of cash into the account. This allows you to track your efforts, your habits but also HOW MUCH MONEY you’re spending. It also provides you a LOT of insolation for purchasing because if someone tries to steal thousands of dollars out of an account that only has a couple of hundred dollars in it - too bad for them. It’s win-win for you and is actually the way that most transactions should go.

– Print Copies of Your Final Order Page: “Do you have your receipt?” aren’t just the first words asked by trained sales staff, they are ensuring that you’re a real, paid customer that needs assistance and not someone trying to rip them off. To help avoid any problems with “the order you had”, make sure that you print off the last page of any order that you’ve made online. That way, you have a paper “receipt” of what you’ve done in addition to any documentation from your credit card company/bank to help verify your purchase. This will turn that “this might work out for you” situation when shopping online into a “where is my stuff - here is what I paid for” situation which is what everyone wants.

Do you have one I missed? Something that you observe that helps to keep you safe or perhaps keeps some of the benjamins in your bank account? Let me know in the comments section below and we’ll add it in!

Speaking engagements are something of a specialty for 2GuysTalking. Whether it’s talking about the most recent television show, a great or not so great feature film - or perhaps a seminar on New Media - how Twitter, and Facebook, podcasts and more can help change the way you do and communicate with the businesses around you. No matter what the topic one thing that changes the game is lighting the fire around people to jump in with both feet. To seize the life that is around them and ride for all its worth. To essentially - TAKE IT! And that’s what happens during THIS episode, TAKE IT, as we welcome episode director Romeo Tirone during this episode review during the 2GuysTalking: Dexter Podcast!

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Click here to subscribe to The DEXTER Podcast on iTunes!

Click here to send us feedback about this episode!

Where  were you in 1985?

More pointedly, where were you when you first learned that a silver hopped-up Delorean, could simply travel 88 miles per hour and take you back to a designated time in history or - in the future?

I’ve just completed the edit and dress of an episode of my 2GuysTalking Cohosts Tony Lovasco recorded more than a year ago now - which we release here, in the future. We go back, to “Back to the Future” on the day it arrived in theaters now 25 long years ago, stand back and revel at a true “gem.”

Read on below and click any of the links to enjoy what is sure to be one of my favorite revisits to cinema that to this day burns a Delorean-created dual fire trail through my memory to - a larger and larger growing smile.

My thanks to Tony Lovasco, to Robert Zemeckis, and a staff of actors and “Under the Hood” people, that made me believe history and the future could be revisited to make me laugh so many years ago.

The 2GuysTalking Podcast
Goes Back to… Back to the Future!  25 Years Later!
It arrived in theaters 25 years ago?!? The 2GuysTalking Podcast goes back to Back to the Future (1985) to commemorate one of the best feature films ever created. Do YOU remember when Back to the Future arrived to blaze a Delorean-created trail of fire? Tell us what YOU think and enjoy this great visit BACK to Back to the Future!

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Click Here to Subscribe to The 2GuysTalking Podcast Series via iTunes!
Click Here to Visit the 2GuysTalking Vault - Our Archive Online!

The last 60 days have not only yielded some great feature film podcast, not only some riveting DVD review podcasts, but the opportunity to view seasons 1-4 of DEXTER - an outstandingly-written program on Showtime - at the behest of both 24 Podcaster Tony Lovasco and Toy Story Podcaster Brad Hogenmiller. Well, my wife and I finished 4 entire seasons of DEXTER to arrive at the launch of season 5 this last Sunday.

Shortly thereafter, Brad Hogenmiller and I recorded both a “DEXTER 101″ reference podcast asking people “Why Aren’t You Watching This Show?” and the first of at least 12 weekly episodes of DEXTER as season 5 launched. What that means for YOU, the listener, is that there will now be more outstanding, weekly podcasting available from 2GuysTalking!

Read on below for the links to these two great shows and please do spread the word about this great new program! Don’t forget to tell us what you think! It’s what we built our network on and we look forward to the feedback that has made 2GuysTalking one of the best, most original content points available on the Internet. We thank you!

Looking forward to even more interactions in the latter part of 2010…

Mike Wilkerson - The 2GuysTalking: DEXTER Podcast

The 2GuysTalking: DEXTER Podcast Online:
http://2guystalking.com/dexterpodcast.html

The 2GuysTalking: DEXTER Podcast Review of Season 5, Episode 1 - MY BAD
http://www.2guystalkingvault.com/downloads/shows/2guystalking/2gt-dexter-podcast-dexter-5-1-my-bad.mp3

The 2GuysTalking: DEXTER Podcast Special Report:
DEXTER 101 - Why Aren’t You Watching This Show?
http://www.2guystalkingvault.com/downloads/shows/2guystalking/2gt-dexter-podcast-dexter-101.mp3

Soundtracks - Film Scores - The people that are responsible for creating great entertainment.

There have been many-an-episode of The 2GuysTalking Podcast that have focused on “sound.” Even more that have focused on soundtrack, but relatively few have brought forth a true architect of the cinematic music realm

I am proud to announce the most recent “Under the Hood” Interviews with IRON MAN 2, PREDATORS and PASSION OF THE CHRIST soundtrack composer John Debney.

John was gracious to offer me the time to interview him where we learn more about “he brings it” to the proverbial cinematic table.

From the true nature of big bangs, overdone special audio effects to future projects, John gives us the details about being one of Hollywood’s most sought-after composers of feature film music.

Share this interview with fellow movie geeks and be sure to t\ell me what YOU think about it!

I’ve been a cartoonist - well - since I can remember sitting in front of a piece of paper. Over the years, there are few movies that fuel me - that light the inspirational idea fires that carry an afternoon, a concept or effort and Toy Story is truly one of them. In fact, ALL of the Toy Story films, from the first (1995), the Toy Story franchise has illuminated many a night and tonite was no exception!

I had the pleasure of welcoming in a fellow Digital Footprint specialist, Brad Hogenmiller, who spent an hour with me talking about this classic visit to the realm of animated toys that truly changed the game in regard to animated films. Read on below for more details and please be sure to tell us what YOU think not only of this classic first offering, but of the second two. We’ll be reviewing Toy Story 2 & 3 over the next two weeks and we’ll be using YOUR comments inside of our podcast reviews!

The 2GuysTalking
TOY STORY (1995) Perspective Review
2GuysTalking has been incredibly fortunate to feature reviews for a growing number of summer feature films for 2010. Toy Story 3 has been out for a month now and it’s time for 2GuysTalking to take on a series of films that truly has changed the feature film landscape forever. We take on the first of three  Perspective Reviews as we take on TOY STORY (1995)! Digital Dude Extraordinaire Brad Hogenmiller visits the 2GuysTalking Studio to talk about a movie that he saw when he was - 13! Ha! Be sure to tell us what YOU think of this classic and prepare for two more reviews as well! It’s all classic, it’s all fun and it’s all from 2GuysTalking…

Since 2006, my favorite SyFy original show has to be Eureka. The story revolves around a US Marshal who finds himself the Sheriff of a scientific think-tank town called, you guessed it, Eureka.

The show plays very loose with the rules of science. Time is broken and reshaped. AI life is born, and about the only science-fiction element that hasn’t shown up is a real alien. The threats which are often the product of expermements that go out of control come every week and they are often deadly but solvable within an hour.

The fun of show is that Jack, the Sheriff, is probably the dumbest person in town. Everyone in town holds Doctorates of some kind, even the town chef.   His daughter and the rest of her classmates are so smart, they make him look ignorant. And usually that difference in intelligence leads to the answers.   He has a very blunt, way of looking at problems by stripping  away all the jargon and simply just looking at things and suggesting things his smarter friends would never think of.  And usually that’s the answer.  Then he often puts his body in danger to save the day.

But the science experiments and disasters is only part of the fun. The show has its share of humor, unrequited love, sadness, joy and change with the illusion of change.  All these elements work together into the most pleasurable of shows.

This year is turning out to be no exception. The new season began on July 9th with “Founder’s Day.” Four of the main characters–Jack, Allyson–the boss and Jack’s unrequited love, Henry, Jack’s best friend along with the bumbling Fargo found themselves transported back in time 40 years to the founding of town.

Trapped, the four need to find their way back and as usual, Henry figures out the way.  (Henry, the town mayor and mechanic is the genius among geniuses and he’s usually the one that puts Jack’s ideas to work.  Though today, he didn’t need that help.) 

The four return home, but not alone and not without consequences.  As I said before, the show has seen time broken and reshaped and that has happened here.  In each of their lives things have changed, some might be good, some are bad but they are definitely surprising.  But the biggest surprise of all is that they accidentally brought someone back with them.

The rest of the season seems to be building upon these changes.

In a way, I can see why they did it. It shakes things up. We undoubtedly have not seen all the changes and that’s where things can be really risky. If they change too many things that people like, it could cost them viewers. On the other hand,  it could make them more fascinating.  In any case, it should be an interesting ride especially since there will always be the question of whether the changes will remain or be restored at the end of the season, or some mixtureof both.

For the most part Eureka has walked the line between the episode by episode storyline and the over arching season long storyline. I hope they continue that trend because i have seen too many shows lose the good solid single episode stories for the sake of the season long storyline. The former is as important, as the later; maybe even more important.

If they do, I’m really looking forward to the latest season of Eureka.

There are simply too few movies that continue to impress after 20+ years. Thankfully, the number of films is long which makes for outstanding podcast review ammo. We are currently on the cusp of the reboot of a cinema legend from the PREDATOR universe, “PREDATORS”, directed by Robert Rodriguez later this week. Will it measure up? Will it too become as classic as this 23 year-old classic?

Be sure to take the time to take in this most recent offering from 2GuysTalking, The PREDATOR Perspective Review. 2GuysTalking’s own Mike Wilkerson, along with a new guest host, David Carite, provide you with a look at a movie that still holds up and showcases true expert film making craftsmanship. Also remember to provide 2GuysTalking with YOUR favorite PREDATOR quote, which will be put into the hopper to put you in the running for $50 cash! 2GuysTalking will be drawing and announcing the winner inside of the “PREDATORS” Review in mid July.

The 2GuysTalking
PREDATOR Perspective Review
Don’t miss out on our “PREDATOR” Perspective Review, giving you the 2GuysTalking Treatment of a great sci-fi/action classic!! It’s all in prelude to the franchise reboot, “PREDATORS” coming up the first week of July! 2GuysTalking welcomes a new guest host, David Carite in this revisit to classic, engaging cinema. Be sure to use our contact form to tell us YOUR “Favorite Predator Quote” and be entered into a drawing for a chance at $50 - CASH MONEY! It’s all classic, it’s all fun and you’re invited to join us as we revisit one of the greatest creature features of all time from 2GuysTalking!

One of the greatest benefits I’ve had over my podcasting career, is the chance to make new friends - in many cases almost extended family members for a guy that just simply doesn’t have much family. Two years ago we had the honor of having a guest host join us for our JJ Abrahms STAR TREK Review - Paul Spataro. Paul’s brother, Michael was taken way too soon by Pancreatic Cancer and Paul and his family are able to participate in a gallant, righteous charity walk each year that I am honored to help promote.

This year, 2010, the walking effort powers forth again and YOU, and any donation you can conjure, will help make the difference in the lives of people afflicted with as well as those who have not yet had the sad experience of dealing with Pancreatic Cancer. I am honored to provide banner art and inserted podcast ads to this years “Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk”, in particular to support Team Spataro - an extended group of people that honor a man I wish I’d have had the chance to have in my family.

The passion, drive and effort that Paul and his family conjure every year is one of the many relationships that fuels me - drives me to be better than I have been to help their effort and potentially help someone out there not have to endure the terribly fast fate of dealing with Pancreatic Cancer.

Please visit the TEAM SPATARO Webpage, and make a donation. No number is too small and it all helps make a dent in the fight against a growing and ultra-deadly disease that claims to many, and is a true family-wrecking ball.

Again, my thanks to Paul and his family who are genuine beacons of goodwill, education and faith that make my days pass - YOU ROCK.

The Team Spataro Webpage - Donate Now!

The 2GuysTalking STAR TREK 2009 Podcast Review

The Complete 2GuysTalking Archive of Podcasts

I’m pleased to announce another great lunchtime-based effort that is the best way to spend a rainy, hot day, with colleagues and oodles of great information about another of the many New Media Tools that you should be incorporating into your New Media Toolbelt!

I’ll have the honor of leading another great “Lunch & Learn” for the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce today!

Click here to read the rest via the Bloggers Bug now!

I just received an invited to participate in a weekly television program called “Legally Speaking” - a talk show hosted by local defense attorney, Don Wolff. We’ll be focusing on Social Media where I’ll be carrying the viewpoints of the people I’ve instructed, spoken to and represented in my New Media and Digital Footprint presentations.

Very exciting!

The episode will be taped live the evening of June 14th, 2010 - from the Saint Louis University School of Law and it will be a time to remember! If you’re interested in being a live audience member, be sure to click the link to HEC-TV below. Let’s fill their audience chamber with people that really do care and pay attention to the privacy settings inside of the various application you use on a daily basis!

Many thanks to Kent Martin from The Small Business Communications Podcast for the dial through for this opportunity. It is greatly appreciated and will surely be a great deal of fun!

Make sure you check out HEC-TV as well as the excerpts from previous shows to get the feel for what’s to come! Enjoy!

The Small Business Communications Podcast
A Transcripted Podcast from 2GuysTalking
Episode 3 - Great Storytelling…
Click Here to Listen to This FREE MP3 File Now!
Visit The Small Business Communications Podcast Website Now!

(Small Business Communications Podcast Intro begins: typewriter feeding in paper is heard. The typewriter’s guide arm slaps into place. Typing begins as the music begins to fade in…) Small businesses are one vital component of the American economy that manage to weather any financial storm. They are the foundation of what makes opportunities for millions each and every day. My name is Kent Martin. I’ve seen just about every kind of business model there is over the years. Some are strong, others have endured and some - well - if there weren’t bad ones we couldn’t understand how great the good ones are, right? So join me as I share perspectives, theories and outright facts about how businesses both large and small communicate and how YOU can strengthen and improve your company communications during the 2GuysTalking Small Business Communications Podcast.  (Typewriter bell dings)
Once upon a time … that’s how almost every fairy tale begins. And let’s face it, who among us doesn’t enjoy a good story told well? Just about everybody enjoys storytelling. And if you’re a small business owner trying to break through the clutter in today’s media traffic jam, that’s good news.

Because you don’t have to be overwhelmed by all the choices available today online, broadcasting, social media, print name it. It may seem that the ways to communicate are complex and endless, and your task is overwhelming.
In reality, what matters is what you want to tell your audience. And how you do that is through telling a good story.
Consider some of the more memorable stories you’ve ever heard about a company or an organization. Colonel Sanders had been selling his famous fried chicken to patrons of his restaurant for years before launching his franchise empire at the age of 65. What about the secret recipe for Coca-Cola? The inventor who created Post-It notes while working for 3-M and didn’t know what to do with an adhesive that wasn’t terribly strong until he noticed how useful it was in helping keep markers in hymnals at his church.

Your business may not have as compelling a story as these but keep your eyes and ears open for the possibility. Talk about your business with friends. See what catches their interest, their curiosity.
Look at your company. What is it about your business that separates it from the pack? What is it that makes you most proud and makes you want to tell everyone else? Is it a product? Is it how you serve your customers? Is it a reputation for quality you’ve built over the years?

Now think about a story you can tell about your work. Or how you can talk about your work in a story. How might you tell someone you just met at a meeting, a party or even the coffee shop about your work? What comes to mind first about your business?

From this storytelling could come a message, a message that can become a cornerstone in your PR efforts. Remember, you want to create a strategy to boost business by helping customers and prospects know your company better than your competitors.

Maybe your service is first and foremost in your business. Think of a way to tell others why service is so important. Look at UPS and how it competes with Federal Express. Its marketing slogan is short and sweet: What can brown do for you? What it does is tell customers UPS is devoted to serving them. That’s a story that’s easy to tell.

Think about telling stories, too, when talking with your employees. Have your PR department identify stories among your own workers that demonstrate the principles behind your company. Instead of telling your staff what to do and what not to do, tell them stories about their colleagues that achieve the same goal. Your internal communications initiatives are so much more effective when you begin by saying, “Once upon a time  “ instead of “Now hear this“

Again, this is what makes effective communications: Telling your story in such a way that your audience wants to hear more and most importantly, remembers what you’ve told them.

We’ll look at other ways of telling great stories in our next episode. For the 2GuysTalking Podcast Network, I’m Kent Martin.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to The 2GuysTalking Small Business Communications Podcast. We’re eager to hear what you think and looking forward to interacting with you. Be sure to follow our Twitter feed and Fan us on Facebook. The links to do this are all available on our website at SmallBizComm.Com. Thanks for listening to this episode of The 2GuysTalking Small Business Communications Podcast and until next time - keep telling your story. (Music fades, typewriter bell dings)

Hour 22 - I Am The Black Knight

So many television shows are on their last proverbial legs. We ask YOU - are any of them on as strong as the legs of 24 provided THIS episode? What an outstanding selection for 24 and Tony and I had what was easily one of the best episode reviews - ever - for one of the best episodes - ever. One question remains: How on EARTH can they top this episode in the last two hours next week? Our “ALL FAN INPUT” show is around the corner so remember to  tell us what YOU thought so we can use it on-air!

Check it all out now!

The 24Podcast Reviews…
Hour 21 - Let Me Introduce You To My Little Friend(s)
Tony and I have been wondering when the bridle would be removed from everyone’s favorite former counter terrorist agent, and it looks like the answer is going to be with only three hours left in the entire run of the television program. What would have been a complete Jesus-Eye technofest episode, turned into what is likely to be one of the most striking episodes of Season 8. Did we love it? was it good enough? There’s only one way to find out! Click any of the links provided below and remember to tell us what YOU thought so we can use it in our “ALL FAN INPUT” episode, just a short 3 hours away!

Listen to the 2GuysTalking: “24-in-60+!”
A quick and humorous recamp of this episode of 24:

Listen to the 24 Podcast:
Complete discussion of this hour of the hit Fox show, “24″.

Check our entire listing of Season 8 Reviews now!

My apologies for my absence. I’ve been plagued by writer’s block. I am just glad that, hopefully, the writer’s block left me.—ESBaker

What an episode. Today it’s Friday, three days have passed since I saw this LOST episode for the first time (I have rewatched it at least 6 times), and my jaw is still on the floor.

First of all, let me get some things off my mind. One of my jobs when I was a Freshmen in college was that of a dental assistant. Because of that former career, I look at people’s teeth a lot. So, it baffles my mind that Jack, who is supposedly the son of a successful spinal surgeon (which means he comes from money) has crooked teeth. As the son of a wealthy doctor, Jack would have had braces in his mouth by age 12 or 13.

Another bone of contention is Bernard. As a dentist, he too, should not have crooked teeth. Dentists don’t have crooked teeth. LOL. Of course, all of this is minor compared with Jack’s major breach of doctor’s behavior in this particular episode.

So unto my observations, Jack has not changed in the sideways world. He is still fixing things and adamant about it. He wants to fix John. He wants John to walk. But John does not want to go through the surgery. We will find out later why, but frankly, I don’t buy it.

When John refuses to go through the surgery that Jack is offering, he goes to Bernard (John’s dentist, or at least the dentist who did some emergency oral surgery on John when he had the accident that made him paraplegic 3 years earlier) for further information about the accident. It struck me strange that Bernard was in the same airplane that John was in (Oceanic 815), yet John didn’t recognize him or acknowledge that he was on the plane. Really weird.

Another weird thing is the way Bernard behaves in this episode. He seems to know about the both worlds (sideways and island). He gives Jack hints and weird smiles. I wish that LOST had gone deeper into the character build ups. Maybe one day a book will be written with more depth to it. (Dream on!)

Flocke is an evil bastard. But I think that in order to accomplish what he wants to do, which is to free himself of the island, he has to be an evil bastard. Although LOST is always giving us conflicting answers, I think that we we were finally given a major answer: Flocke can’t free himself without killing all the candidates. Island law mandates that he not kill the candidates. So, he has to find a loophole. He has to make it that the candidates kill each other. However, the candidates cannot commit suicide, but they can kill each other. The candidates cannot be forced into any situation they don’t want to be in. They have to want to be in that situation. This was the old rule that Ben told Jack way back in Season 3 when Ben needed his tumor on his back removed.

Jack was adamant that he wanted to stay on the island. If he were to stay on the island, Flocke would not be free. So Flocke manipulated the situation in such a way that Jack willingly went inside the submarine. Flocke switched backpacks on John, giving him the backpack rigged with a bomb that would not explode, but would give the impression that it would. It was up to the candidates to make the bomb detonate, and Sawyer, being the man without faith, pulled the wire that would make the bomb detonate. For once, Jack knew what he was talking about. He was being the good shepherd, but Sawyer would not listen. I don’t think Flocke took into consideration that Sayid was not totally evil. Sayid sacrificed himself for the good of the group. It was he who took the brunt of the bomb. He thus redeemed himself. I wonder what will happen to him in the sideways world now that he is gone off the island.

Something interesting that I read and have noticed myself is that the intervals between night and day on the island are short. The group gets caught by Widmore’s group at daytime and by the time they get to the Hydra station from the beach (a feat that was accomplished within minutes during Season 3), now took either a lot of hours or time flew by really fast. I wonder what the time increase is all about.

LOST has got to stop making me cry so much. Jin and Sun’s Titanic death was heart wrenching. I know that they are surviving in the sideways world, but still their island death was simply awful. I cried and cried when I saw that their hands unlocked. And then watching Hurley cry on the beach was not helpful either. Jack and Kate cried on and off during all the episodes, but not Hurley. Hurley was hurting. And man, so was I. This episode was hard to watch, and I think the roller coaster just started going.

All pictures were screencapped by spicedogs and are available here.