Friday, August 22, 2008

The Caption Hunt: American Chopper - The McCuff Build

Show Viewing Date: 8-22-2008
Show Title: American Chopper: The McCuff Build
Network:
DiscoveryHD
Reviewed By: MIke Wilkerson - 2GuysTalking

Intro:

I've been a fan of American Chopper since the beginning of the show many moons ago. It's not because I was so interested in being witness to the continual arguing, banter, screaming and destructive atmosphere that's created by the always-popular-to-talk-about Father and Son team of Paul Sr. and Pauly, it's because the final product created are - simply put, works of art and truly one of a kind. The creativity, the attractive nature of all of the final bikes, and the spirit of "making someone no one else can" not surprisingly is endearing to me. The McCuff Industries approached Orange County Choppers for this build to help make them yet another one-of-a-kind custom chopper to help launch their product, and I'm proud to detail it in this edition of The 2GuysTalking Caption Hunt of American Chopper: The McCuff Build.

Click here to read the rest of this great 2GuysTalking "Caption Hunt" Entry...

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Bonded by Blood

From: Mike Wilkerson - SavageScience.Com Staff Writer:

Blood - the word encapsulates a great many things. Whether it's the horror of Hollywood's most recent pseudo-blockbuster money-raker, the volunteer spirit of people that donate it willingly, or the people that it spurts from in rings of all kinds around the world, Blood is not only the result of impacts, it has a truly intrinsic impact in all manner of societies.

Blood, by definition, is the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of human beings and other vertebrates. That's a terribly cold definition for something that holds so much power for so many realms of life. We've just been treated to a variety of the 3600 hours of Beijing Olympic television coverage and each of those athletes are pushing a huge amount of blood through their vascular systems in search of Olympic Gold. Remember though that when it's found, the volume of blood increases millions-of-fold as the respective athlete and the hearts of their country soar as they hear the tones of their national anthem - powerful indeed.

Mixed Martial Arts is no different. Whether it's the metal-guitar-laced commercials of the next UFC Fight NightAffliction card riddled with bad-intentioned nature, or the thunderclap of a leathered-glove striking the sweet spot of a soon to be downed opponent, blood is something that makes our minds race. It trickles, falls, spurts and gushes in every ring, octagon, hexagon and cage worldwide and we revel in it. But why? The reasons for being able to potentially satisfy a supervisor, an audience, a group of people, audiences and society in general is one of those quests that will continue forever. But what gives “blood” the power so few other things have?

Is it the color of blood? Red not only drives a bull's rampage, but a human's emotional fuel as well. There's a reason that insurance companies charge higher insurance rates for a red vehicle than say, a white one. It's not because the car looks so great when it resembles a shiny apple in the morning sun, it's because the police will pay more attention to your red vehicle, regardless of its make, speed or intention. Studies have shown that referees overseeing sporting events have generally noticed the players in red more, which - depending on the sport can be a good or a bad thing. In Taekwondo for example, you want to be seen as the aggressor, the one that makes the stunning moves, the one that has the eye of the referee. In basketball, however, perhaps the only time you want to be seen is when shoving an orange globe down the netted gullet of a backboard – but desire for immunity to a referee's eye when using an opposing team's defender as a landing point for a cloaked but pointed elbow. If you were trying to lull your MMA opponent into a false sense of security, wouldn't you wear a white, black, or blue set of shorts? Anything that DIDN'T include the color red in an effort to not "enrage" them? How many MMA competitors HAVE and regularly use red shorts or pants? Are they subscribing to the “anything but blood red” theory or just trying to show off some sculpted thighs or “prodigious pepperoni power”?

Have you ever noticed that many of the foods, accessories, advertisements and logos of internationally-recognized restaurants, consumable products and their competitors often have red mixed into them? The next time you hit your favorite restaurant, take a minute to survey the room, the server, the menu and see if you don't notice "red" creeping in all around you - causing you to want to "engage" - again not unlike what's supposed to happen in MMA.

If for some reason you're unable to account for the totally psychological effect of blood, or even the color red, the undeniable affect it has on an audience is unbridled. Still an unconvinced reader? Pay attention during your next favorite-flavor of MMA event, and watch the mat - you'll notice that often times even before the first event of the evening has begun, there's already liberally-applied "splashes of blood" on it already, that look to be part of the actual mat art!. You'll also see a cacophony of close-ups on fighters that have cuts, gashes, tears or bloody bulges, or those that have caused them and have blood draping their chest and face like a second crimson skin of battle heraldry.

When it all comes down to it, it's what makes the human body as a machine "run". It carries the needed nutrients that the world-class athletes participating in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts require to draw first "blood". It makes us wince; it causes many to turn their head, but an even larger and growing amount of people to lean forward, open their eyes even wider, scrunch their nose and embrace the marvel and pugilistic pageantry that is Mixed Martial Arts.

Give it a shot. Open your eyes briefly for an evening of television in your home this week and watch the appearance of the color "red", blood, or the perhaps the display of splashing of red liquid in advertisements of all kinds. You’ll notice the prevalence of crimson and you, too, will be able to revel in the power that "blood" red holds.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Show Viewing Date: 8-2-2008
Show Title: Cast Away - Starring Tom Hanks
Network: TNTHD
Reviewed By: Mike Wilkerson - 2GuysTalking.Com

Intro:

As I arrive back from a very short but satisfying rare mid-year vacation, I find myself drawn to watching and taking in the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks, directed by Robert Zemeckis and noteably scored by Alan Silvestri. Those of you that have seen this film know "what happens" but I'd like to issue a quick spoiler warning to those of you that haven't yet seen the film. It's an outstanding film and my Caption Hunt Review of the movie "Cast Away" will destroy any surprise at all.

Opinion Review:

In this feature, Tom Hanks plays "Chuck" an A personality do-it-all guy that works for FedEx training people and solving solutions all over the world. Helen Hunt plays "Kelly" his soul mate who is a hungry doctorate student that loves Chuck, loves her life, and loves the way that Chuck makes her feel. All of that comes literally crashing as Chuck's ride home airflight slams into the south pacific where he is "cast away" into the deep blue in nothing but his frumpy sweater, socks, and a yellow life raft. Chuck is awakened the next day by the burst of his life raft as it strikes the rocky shore of a unique but still non-descript island that will serve as Chuck's home - for the next 5 years.

Click here to read the rest of this great Caption Hunt Review of "Cast Away"...