Happy Fourth of July

At the start of the new year I decided I was going to be more optimistic. All the doom and gloom was not good for me. I wanted to believe we were in a better place, and in some areas I feel that is true.

It is nice not knowing what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are up to every second of everyday. That is how a president and vice president should act. The last "president" was a total disaster and you couldn't go a moment without him popping off at the mouth. It also seems like we are on the back part, maybe even the end, of the pandemic. I was just on vacation and it felt normal. I go to restaurants with little to no anxiety anymore. I see friends and family with regularity. It is beginning to feel like pre-pandemic in the world now. Everytime I get a cold I don't instantly think it is COVID. I'm back at races, taking my kids to school and my wife is still kicking butt at work, she is also in the office more. So things are good most of the time.

Yet there are some states in this country, some places, where on this Independence Day, America still feels very divided. We still have governors who are archaic in their thinking. They don't want rights for LGBTQ+ people. They are anti transgender. They are trying to gerrymander districts. They want more power for corrupted cops. They are discriminatory jerks who think the 50's were the golden era. They were not. America was ass backwards in the 50's. We don't need a return to that time. That was the worst. So places like Florida and Texas, with their abhorrent governors, are wrong. They are trying to take their states back to the worst time in this country. They don't care about anyone besides people who look and act like them. That is wrong on every single level. They should not be celebrated on Independence Day. They don't care about freedom, especially if it doesn't look and act like them. They should be dragged through the mud. They should be shown the errors of their way. They are not better than anyone else. We are all equal and should be treated as such. So for these monsters that keep trying to revert back to a horrible time in our history, I don't wish them a happy fourth. They don't care about freedom. They clearly don't care about independence. They are out there for their own interests and that is wrong. It is also anti American. America is a melting pot. We should welcome people from other cultures, races and backgrounds with open arms. No one should be left out. That is the true meaning of independence.

So while you are out there lighting your fireworks and eating your hotdogs, take a second and thank all the immigrants, LGBTQ+, different races and cultures today. They are who makes this country truly great. They are who we should be celebrating on independence day. Happy fourth to everyone.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Secret Santa is the Best Way to Give a Gift This Holiday Season

My family celebrates Christmas. In years past we always got gifts for everyone. I would buy my mom and dad something plus my three brothers. When dogs and nieces and nephews entered the fray it was the same. The gifts never felt personal though. I have always tried to make gifts personal, but as my family got bigger and bigger it got tougher. I was resorting to getting gift cards and CD's for everyone. It was simple and easiest. And believe me I understand how inconsequential gift giving can be. That is not the reason for the season, but that is how we have always done it in my family. Then I met my wife and her family did the same. It was all about giving and receiving gifts for the holidays.

As we got older, and it became tougher and tougher to get multiple gifts, we shifted to the Secret Santa route. I fully believe this is the best way to give out gifts. It is about as personal as you can get this time of year. My family did something different this year, a saran wrapped ball and it was a total blast. But my wife's family stuck with the Secret Santa idea.

I was fully bought in on my person. I got a newer family member as well. My wife's cousin got married this year and I got her husband for Secret Santa. I have met him a few times, but I have only gotten to know him better the past couple months. I have spent a little more time with him and had a few conversations. That helped immensely. But what was an even bigger help was communicating with his wife. She and I texted back and forth since Thanksgiving, when I drew his name out of a hat. She gave plenty of wonderful advice and avenues with which to follow on my gift finding adventures. This helped and it made my searching all the more personal. I found out what he likes and was able to get specific gifts that suited his likes and wants. I was able to find obscure things that were in his wheelhouse. It was way more fun shopping for these gifts than just buying a few gift cards or giving out cash. That is so lazy to me. This was like a competition and I was determined to win. But it wasn't just me. My wife got her aunt a very specific gift that was just for her aunt and it was perfect.

The gifts were great. My wife's uncle got a back scratcher attached to a shoehorn, plus an enormous book about champagne. This may sound odd, it was odd to me at the time, but her uncle was stoked. He was so very happy. I was gifted a very specific University of Michigan football ornament and a wonderful Michigan fleece. I was floored when I opened it. It was so great and so perfect for what I like. The gift exchange was great last night. Everyone was so very happy with what they were given. We were all cheering and oohing and aahing while others opened gifts. This approach, this attention to detail, makes for a much more fun experience. We all did our homework. We all took time. We all found specific things for the specific person we drew out of the hat. It was the same for my family whenever we do Secret Santa. Instead of lazy, last second ideas, we all gave out cool stuff. I got a mini Super Nintendo one year. I got my brother a Teddy Roosevelt painting. My other brothers have gotten each other obscure and hard to find records. It is dope.

So if you spend the holidays giving gifts, and you have a bigger family. I definitely recommend going the Secret Santa route, especially if the kids are grown ups. It is the best way to give and receive gifts in my opinion. Happy Holidays everyone.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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A Normal Halloween for Once

Last night we took my daughter trick or treating with a friend and my son went out with his friends. Both my son and daughter have done trick or treating prior to this with a group of people, but it was always family.

Then 2020 happened. My daughter was five and my son was eight. The past two Halloween's have been very downsized. We did a family thing in 2020. We had the kids go from room to room in our home and had them tell jokes to get candy. We did as much as we could to give them as "normal" a Halloween as we could. 2021 was not much different. We let the kids trick or treat, but it was just within our neighborhood. They did go to other houses, but they were masked, as were we, and we only hit, maybe, a dozen houses before calling it.

This year was different though. My wife and I recently got our Omicron boosters. Our kids got them last week. My folks have theirs, although we did not see them last night. Most of our school family friends have their boosters. What I am trying to say is, this is probably the most normal Halloween my kids have had in their short lives. My son might remember some Halloween's pre COVID, but I bet he will remember this one for a long, long time. We let him go out with friends last night. He went with a big group of kids he goes to school with. He got to do his own thing. He went to a friend's house, all the other boys met there and they went out on the town on their own. When I picked him up he was thrilled and exhausted. He kept talking about his great night and would end each story with how tired he was. He was in one of the best moods of his life to this point. He was on cloud nine. My wife and I took our seven year old to a friend's house and we stayed to hang out with the parents. The parents are friends of ours and our kids are as close as it gets. So we went over there after dropping my son off. We had pizza together. My wife made a fun drink for the adults, minus me, to have. The kids helped hand out candy before we took them all over the neighborhood. They hit a ton of houses. I usually take Monday off of running, and I did yesterday, but I was still well over 12,000 steps for the day. These girls had us going everywhere. And we saw so many kids out and about. Some were with folks, others were with friends and some were just doing their thing. It was wonderful to see. I fully understand that we are still fully in this pandemic. The winter is probably going to be rough. But last night was like a breath of fresh air for me. It was so cool to see kids out and about. It is made easier since Halloween is generally an outside holiday. You trick or treat outside. Haunted houses are outside. Theme park Fright Fests are outdoors. It is much easier and safer to be outside. I was just happy that my kids got to do Halloween right. It made me happy. It felt like old times last night doing things I used to do pre COVID.

Again, I fully understand we are not out of this, we may never be, but things seem to be returning, or finding some kind of new normal. I was almost as happy as my son last night. Almost. Halloween was a real success last night. The first real successful holiday since COVID came along. I hope we can ride this momentum for some time now because it makes me happy.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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A Look Back on 2021

Here we sit about twelve hours from a new year. 2021 was good and bad. Well, more bad than good, but that seems to be the way of the world right now. But I do have a slight glimmer of hope going into the new year. I think we have the ability to, if we all chip in, change the course of things that are going on right now. I'm more upbeat about 2022 than I was about 2021. But do not get me wrong, 2021 gave us some great things. Let’s discuss.

First and foremost, we were finally given a vaccine for COVID. I know it may not be perfect, it is a two to three shot system, but hey, this gives us a chance to return to "normal". I got vaccinated in March of 2021. I got my first shot at the beginning of the month, my second near the end, and got my booster in November. I know Omicron is a different animal, but my family and I have done what the doctors and the science have told us to do. My wife is boosted as well. My kids were able to get their shots in November of this year. I don't want Omicron to take away all hope from people. For those of us that got vaxxed and boosted, that is a big time deal. Science rules.

I was also able to see family and friends safely this year. After a year of not being able to do that, I was ecstatic when I, and the people I was seeing, felt comfortable enough to gather. I did not realize how much I missed that in 2020. My kids were able to return to school and sports. I know that right now there are things that may halt that, but I also know that, because of science, it will not be canceled. My daughter loves soccer. And my son is obsessed with basketball. It has been great to be able to coach again too. I did not realize how much I missed that.

My running has reached a whole new level in 2021. I run all the time now. As you all know, I ran my first full marathon this year, and it was a trail marathon. I almost hit 1500 miles running this year, just about 20 miles short.

My family was able to travel this summer. I am not the biggest fan of Gulf shores, but I had an absolute blast one year after having to postpone. The beach was rad and the running was hot and interesting.

My wife just keeps on going higher and higher at her job. She works a lot, but she also makes time for me and the kids. She is so excellent at what she does, and 2021 has more than proved that to me and everyone else.

I went to two weddings this year. I was masked, as was my family. But it was fun to be at such a joyous occasion in 2021. It was nice to be around smiling and happy people.

My brother, RD, got to go back to the theater for movies. He loves that. My other brother Seth, he got to go back to live shows. And my oldest brother, Ross, and his wife have taken their daughter, my niece, on actual real college visits for next year. All these things, and a lot more, have me kind of hopeful in 2022.

Even vaccinated people I know that have gotten COVID, they are better within three-five days, and none of them have had to be admitted to the hospital. I have also chosen to just not acknowledge anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers. I still wear my mask, I am obviously pro vaccine, so I am not going to waste my time with people that do not trust or believe in science. If they ask me why I trust it so much, I will tell them, but I am done trying to change their minds. It is like talking to a brick wall.

I am also done talking politics. I am as liberal and democratic as anyone can get. But I am sick and tired of being called out by crazy right wing nut jobs and people that do not vote for either major party. They are not going to change my mind and I am not going to change theirs. It is too much of a headache. I think that is what I'm going to do in 2022, that will be my resolution. I asked my family about resolutions, and I got a bunch of stock answers. For me, I'm going to go into 2022 with an open mind and I'm going to keep my mouth closed. I've been doing that for the past few months, and it has worked.

Long posting short, I feel better and my anxiety has gone down. So, and I'll say it again, I'm hopeful going into 2022. It is going to be a tough couple of months to start out, but if we can get through this, if we can start listening to scientists and doctors, I see things getting better, hopefully, by early spring. That is my resolution, my plan for 2022, being hopeful. Happy New Year everyone. Have fun and be safe tonight.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The Joys of Family and Gifts this Holiday Season

With the world seemingly on fire endlessly, I'm going to focus on upbeat and happy topics on my blog. I will do reviews and stuff like always, but I want my blogs to be a relief from all the horribleness that is going on in our world. It is even happening in sports. I can't escape when I read about the sports I love. I am still plugged in, I know what is going on and I follow science and doctors. I am doing all I can to stop this never ending pandemic. I implore others to do the same. Okay, got that off my chest.

What I want to talk about today is the joy my kids had on their faces when they opened their presents this morning. My family does two Christmas's each year. We have an early one with the four of us, and we travel to a house with my extended family for the actual day. We do celebrate Xmas, but not in a traditional way. We do not go to church, we do not watch many Xmas movies, my wife loves Xmas music, but the rest of us are kind of blah on it and it is only required of my extended family to be together on Xmas eve and Xmas morning. My extended family is also fully vaxxed, including the youngest kids, and all of us that are eligible have boosters. I feel pretty safe doing that. But when my family, the four of us and our dog, celebrate, we do it the day before the trip, which is today, the 22nd. We get up, I went for a run at seven and was home by nine, and we open presents and do our stockings. For my wife and I it is all about what we deem essential gifts. I got her a bunch of bath stuff. She likes to pamper herself, she likes to do steamy showers and baths. She is all about that spa life, especially if she can do it in our home. She got me a couple of books I wanted, a pair of running shorts and a new hooded sweatshirt. It was perfect.

Then it was the kids turn to open their gifts. This is where we get the most excited. We love seeing them in this first round of gift opening. And I know it sounds like I am being a material asshole, but the gifts are a humongous deal for my kids. They are nine and six. That is the prime age for gifts. My son has been champing at the bit for his first round of gifts. My daughter lit up when I started to bring them out of our bedroom to the living room. It was the first of many happy faces this morning. We let my daughter go first and with every gift she would exclaim, "I love this!" or "I was hoping I would get this!". It was wonderful. She is so polite and says all the right things when she gets a gift. I adore that quality. She is a good little kid. She got super fired up when she opened her new Play Doh set. This was the biggest smile from her. She absolutely lit up. She was as excited as I have seen her in a long time. Seeing that smile made me so happy. It made me realize that this is why we go out and get these things and wrap them. It is totally worth it. My son was so hype to open his gifts. He was the last one to go this morning, by his own choice. We got him a good amount of basketball gear. He is super into basketball right now, and we ran with this. He got new basketball socks. I know, socks for a kid? Well, he was stoked. He also got a new headband, which he has yet to take off. A family friend got him a new, good leather basketball, which he has been dribbling around the house all day. But the big gift for him was his new LeBron James Lakers jersey. My wife and I worked hard to find this jersey. And seeing the smile and joy on his face when he opened it up made it all worth it. It was fantastic. Seeing him grin from ear to ear was so sweet. Seeing him wear the jersey as I type this warms my heart. It makes me think back to when I was a kid and my folks would buy me the jersey that I asked for that year. It brought me back to that time that I find myself missing. I know it is not good to live vicariously through your kids, but I do not think that is what I'm doing. I am just remembering the joy I had as a kid, and now seeing it through my kids eyes. And it is the best. I love seeing them light up and smile all day long. It is one of the best things about being a parent. And it also makes me realize how lucky I am to be able to do these things for my kids.

I struck gold with my family. I highly recommend watching the joy in your kids eyes when they open their gifts this holiday season. I know some of my Jewish friends have already talked about the joy they saw with their kids opening Hanukkah gifts. It is so wholesome and one of the best things in the world. I am forever grateful that I get to see my kids do this.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Happy Thanksgiving

As I do every Thanksgiving, today I am going to give my own personal thanks. This year has been something. It is nowhere near as crazy as 2020 was, but 2021 has definitely had its moments. I will save science and doctors for the end because that is what I am the most grateful for this year.

As I say every year, I am thankful for my wife and kids. While my kids drive me nuts, I love them very much and they have had quite the year. My daughter started kindergarten. My son is in fourth grade. They are both excellent students and have made a plethora of new and old friends since returning to in person learning. My wife continues to be the best person in the whole world. She is kicking ass at work, she is still putting up with my nonsense and she just gets better and better every day. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm thankful that my mom and dad are still here and still healthy. We had a scare with my mom at the start of the year, but she is fully healthy again, and she continues to crush life. My dad and I have gotten even closer since he retired and our coffee days are my favorite day of the week. My in-laws still continue to be very supportive and completely wonderful.

It has been oddly nice to see full stadiums this fall in college football and the NFL. I am not going to go to any games, but it has been oddly comforting to have the return of fans. It does add to the watching experience from my home. I am thankful that I get to coach a semi-normal basketball season this year. My son is super into hoops, and he is on two teams and we started practice two weeks ago, and so far so good. I am also extremely thankful for running and the community involved. Running has changed my life. I did my first marathon this year. Running is the absolute best.

What I am most thankful for, what I alluded to at the beginning, I am thankful most for doctors and science. We have a COVID vaccine now. I have gotten my two shots and my booster. So has my wife. So has pretty much everyone I spend any extended time around. And my kids got their first dose over two weeks ago. In fact, they get their second dose next Tuesday. I cannot wait. The things I mentioned above, the full stadiums, gathering with more than ten people, playing and coaching basketball, none of that, and so much more, would not be available without the countless hours that scientists and doctors put into creating the vaccine. Of course we have people that are making the vaccine political, but I have chosen to not listen to those individuals, and to get them out of my life. It has made me a much happier person.

When you gather with your family this year, when you sit around the table and think back to last year and not being able to get together, please think of all the people much smarter than me, and a lot of you, that made this possible. Without all the doctors, scientists, Moderna, Johnson and Johnsons, Pfizer, and so many more people and companies, we would all still be socially distancing and not being able to gather as families. We can now because they all did something historic and life changing. So thank you doctors and scientists. You have all made me the most thankful I have been in quite some time.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Don't eat too much food.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Moms Rule

Mother’s Day is Sunday. I have a mom, and a wife, with whom I have two kids with. I also have a fantastic mother in law.

Moms are great. Moms rule. Moms are comforting. Moms help you when you get hurt. Moms run the world. Dads are great too, but there is nothing quite like your mom. Moms just ease all the tension you may have in this world. It’s no different for me. I may be my father’s son, but I go to my mom with most of my problems or short comings. If I have a bad panic attack, I talk to my mom and then my therapist. She knows how to talk me down, how to comfort me. She knows how to help me breath and pull through the worst of it. She’s also made sure I have been level headed in everything I have done and still do. Be it sports, politics, family stuff, marriage stuff, kids stuff, she keeps me in line and keeps me focused. She was the stay at home parent when I was a kid, so obviously I followed in her foot steps. Both my parents were there for everything, but my mom cleaned the cuts and scrapes, made my lunches, got me ready for school, taught me the importance of doing my chores. These are things I am now trying to instill in my kids. I learned all this from her. She was the one who told me I should propose to my wife. I knew I was going to marry her, I just needed that nudge that my mom provided. She has helped me with house stuff, bills, basically stuff that all adults have to get accustomed to. She has lead the way for all of my life.

My mother in law is also the world’s best mother in law. She’s taught me how to use tools, to do repairs and projects around my home, how to garden, how to deal when her daughter when we get in a dumb argument. She rules. I know the cliché about in laws, but I have none of that with any in laws, but especially none with my mother in law. I feel very close to her.

Then we have my wife. She is the best partner I could have ever dreamed for. She’s strong, smart, funny, loving, loyal and the best provider. She’s all that and so much more as a partner and a mom. She works her butt off everyday, then comes home and pores herself into our kids days. She’s a great relief, and when she walks through the door, all of us light up. We are so happy to see her. She makes all of our days instantly better. This past year, while very hard, has been great having her work from home. I love going downstairs to do laundry and see her. We get to have nice little conversations daily. I adore our lunch dates. It’s been wonderful. The kids have loved it too. She comes to every game our kids have. She supports my daily running habit. She cheers me on. She makes me feel better when I’m sick or when I’m just having a bad day. She is the best. She loves me and she loves being a mom. I love her, and I know the sun sets and rises with her in our kids eyes. She is the absolute best person ever. It’s over, she won, and I’m thrilled, and so so so lucky that she chose me to spend her life with, and give me two awesome kids.

I love all three of you ladies. So don’t forget your mom or wife or in law this Sunday. Show them love, show them how important they are and heap the much deserved praise they have earned. Happy Mother’s Day to every mom out there. Enjoy your day. Then continue to go out there and kick ass like you all do.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Happy Festivus

Today is Festivus, and that means I have some grievances to air.

I could do the cliché thing and just say all of 2020. And while this has been a rough year, some good has come out of it. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election. The NBA bubble was a massive success, no matter what the ratings may have said. I have gotten to spend way more time with my wife and kids, which rules. And I’ve re learned some old math while helping my kids when they were learning virtually. I’ve also run more than 1,000 miles this year and pushed myself running more than I ever imagined. But, there’s still some grievances. And there always will be.

Let’s begin.

I haven’t seen a live music show since February. It was great, Tyler, the Creator, and if that’s the last live show I ever see, I’m okay with that. It’s fine. But I like live music. It’s fun and shows me how good the band actually is at playing their music. I miss that.

Michigan football was an utter disaster. They shouldn’t have played in the first place. But they did and they stunk. They’re beginning to clean house, which I expected. And more changes are on the horizon. I’m also sick and tired or rooting for a middling, mediocre Big Ten team. I want the old Michigan back. I want the team that, even when they weren’t as talented, they still battled, they still played hard.

I’m annoyed at all the new streaming services. Netflix and Hulu are all well and good, but there’s more and more, and it’s not as cheap as promised. We got Disney+, and that’s another expense. I’m sure we will get Peacock and Vudu and whatever in the hell else we may need. But it’s going to be as expensive as cable, if not more. Cutting cable was supposed to be the cheaper alternative, but it’s looking more and more like it’s going to cost more than people imagined.

I’m bummed I can’t play basketball. This is purely by choice, but I feel like it’s the smart and safe choice. I still miss it though. I miss the pickup games and competitive nature and just the game in general. I love watching it, but I’d much rather play. I’m not going to until we are almost all vaccinated too. But I’m still upset that the people I play with continue to play during the pandemic. Hopefully I can be back soon with them though.

Finally, and I know I said I love all the extra family time I’m getting, I do miss my downtime. I used to get three hours everyday, well Monday-Thursday, that were just me and my dog. I loved and adored that time. I’d get things done. I’d go on long runs without having to do something or be somewhere. I’d clean the house uninterrupted. I’d take my time at the store. I’d sit down and have my coffee and eggs without being bombarded. It was rad. I know I’ll get that back someday, but damn it, I really miss it.

That wraps up my airing or grievances for 2020. Now on to feats of strength. I challenge RD first. Bring it.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 17 "American Psycho"

ed note: This article originally premiered on December 17th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a great movie associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be extra awesome. Enjoy.

Day 17: “American Psycho”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16

The holiday season feels like a competition. We want to one up our friends and family with better gifts. We want to impress our neighbors with superior outdoor decorations. We want to be the most stylish, and the most recognizable, at our office holiday parties. The competition of the holiday season is not only annoying, it is also dehumanizing. It is not a shock that some of us have fantasies about murder and mayhem on all of those around us when the competition hits a little to close to our own neurosis.

At the Sundance Film festival in 2000 writer director Mary Harron premiered her film adaptation of the novel “American Psycho”. The film was a hit and featured future Oscar winners Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, and in a star making role, Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman. “American Psycho” revived interest in author Brett Easton Ellis’s work, and became one of the definitive films of the early 21st century.

Early in the film, Patrick Bateman is at a Christmas party with a fiancé he does not love, work friends he loathes, and massive insecurity about his place in the world. Drugs and alcohol are no help. The banality of 1980’s pop music is helping him get by a little bit, but Bateman needs more. He needs to destroy what feeds his insecurity. At the Christmas party, Bateman convinces Jared Leto’s Paul Allen to have dinner. The dinner is a disaster, and the evening ends with Bateman murdering Allen with a shiny ax while the dulcet tones of Huey Lewis and the News tell us all that it is hip to be square.

The weeks following Christmas find Bateman destroying anyone he sees as artificial. The false commercialism of the holidays have broken the young Wall Street worker. In the end, Bateman’s own artificial nature saves him from any punishment. He is free to wreck havoc on the poor yuppies of Manhattan next Christmas time.

The commercialism of Christmas is dehumanizing. We do not want the latest, expensive, gift, but we must participate. We really do not care about the fashionable holiday getaway, but we still make sure to book the trip. The fanciest business card from one of our office mate drones, who cares? You better damn well believe though that we are going to one up Brad from marketing. If we can not do better this holiday season, we may just go insane. In our insanity it is important to remember that ATM’s do not eat cats.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Sometimes we go crazy during the holiday’s we discover something dark from Christmases past. The gang knows this all too well in “A Very Sunny Christmas”.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 15 "The Christmas Shoes"

ed note: This article was originally published on December 15th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 15: “The Christmas Shoes”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14

Yes the movie I choose for day fifteen is a little film called “The Christmas Shoes”. First things first, I have never seen this movie, but I wanted you the audience to be aware of it’s existence. I put it on here for two reasons, the star and the song.

“The Christmas Shoes” premiered in 2002 and Rob Lowe, aka one Ty’s favorite actors, was the star. I do not know why. Rob Lowe has always seemed to make pretty good career choices. To star in a movie based off a terrible christian book and song, that seems noteworthy. Maybe Lowe, like us all, has his own guilty pleasures. Starring in this maudlin, convoluted, story is his I guess. God speed Rob.

The other reason I think you should all be aware of “The Christmas Shoes” is because of the epic take down Patton Oswalt does on the god awful song. (Here is a great animation with Oswalt’s epic piece.) It may not be a movie, but that under eight minute YouTube clip is probably more worth your time than the two hour made for tv movie.

My gift to you this season is to make you aware that Rob Lowe starred in a made for tv movie based on one of the worst Christmas songs ever. Now you know, and that is half the holiday battle.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Do you know what can be festive and tacky at the same time? Christmas lights. Thank goodness there is a joyous song about all the lights we see during the season.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 10 "Lethal Weapon"

ed note: This article originally premiered on December 10th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a great movie associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be extra awesome. Enjoy.

Day 10: “Lethal Weapon”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9

The Holiday season is not easy for everyone. While everyone else is festive and happy, we may have some personal pain that eggnog and candy canes cannot wash away. We may be mourning the loss of a loved one, or concerned about the unknown whereabouts of a grown child who has lost their way. The prospect of a new partner to work with may make us feel stressed. Even worse the new partner may be battling some personal demons that makes them reckless during the holidays. Sometimes we are just to old to deal with any of this during Christmas, or any time of the year.

In March of 1987 the iconic film ‘Lethal Weapon” was released in the United States. It went on to become a smash hit, spawn multiple sequels, and even get the reboot treatment with a television series. It was the first film from influential writer Shane Black. Legendary director Richard Donner came in to direct. It secured Mel Gibson as a movie superstar. “Lethal Weapon” was destined for great success.

Where there is debate about “Lethal Weapon” is if the first film is actually a holiday film. It takes place around Christmas, but the themes of “Lethal Weapon” is what makes it a violent, darkly comic holiday treat. The story of Riggs being lost in his grief, and being taken over by his depression, we see and read stories about that every December. The growth of a friendship between two very different souls is not that different than spirit of the season bringing joy. In the end of the movie Riggs gives Murtaugh a hollow point bullet, the one Riggs was going to use to kill himself, and says Merry Christmas. Also for good measure, Darlene Love plays Danny Glover’s wife in the movie. If the appearance of the person who sang David Letterman’s favorite Christmas tune doesn’t scream holidays, I do not know what does.

It is hard to forget about the pain that surrounds people during the holiday season. We become more charitable and forgiving in December because of the holiday spirit. We want to help those who need the help. “Lethal Weapon” has these themes in the DNA of a classic plot. If you need reminding of the magic of the holidays, and you need a great action flick with one of the greatest Gary Busey characters ever, gather the family to watch “Lethal Weapon” while you usher in this season of celebration. You will not be sorry.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. For another updated take on a classic Christmas story, check out the Doctor Who episode that makes their own revisions to Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol”.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 8 "He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special"

ed note: This article was originally published on December 8th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 8: “He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7

There are times when we may find ourselves in a place that does not have the same traditions and customs that our own home celebrates. We may go to a new part of the world that our western way of life has not been the primary influence. First thing to know, do not be rude. We can introduce our customs and traditions, but we must respect the ways of the indigenous people’s. We may learn some new traditions to bring home, and we may impart part of our way of life to make a positive impact on their day to day dealings. These lessons of understanding and sharing are not just important to Earth, but to all the planets we may accidentally visit that are spread out among the universe.

On December 25th 1985, the “He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special” aired once on American televisions, and was then released as a VHS so families could enjoy the movie every holiday season. The story centered around two Earth kids who were accidentally transported to the planet Eternia and they just want to get home for Christmas. The wizard Orko initially accompanies the kids, and he learns all about this holiday called Christmas. Orko is on board with this great day, and he wants all his Eternia friends to get in on the action.

Since this a He-Man She-Ra joint venture, the audience is treated with the double dose of villainy that is Skeletor and Hordak. The two bad guys want to please their great evil master by bringing the earth kids to him (or to it, Horde-Prime may have a masculine voice but is just a big colorful cloud, I do not think cloud’s have genders. I could be wrong.). Unfortunately Hordak and Skeletor do not like each other, and refuse to work together. Through some sort of shenanigans, Skeletor ends up with the two earth kids in his custody and he is going to bring them to Horde Prime.

The moments with Skeletor and the earth children is what makes the “He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special” an instant classic. The kids teach Skeletor all about Christmas, and the evil ghoul seems all in. He asks if their are fights and exploding presents, the kids say no there are only nice things that people want at Christmas time. The problem is that Skeletor likes fights and exploding presents, oh and he is definitely not nice. See the magnificent scene for yourself.

Thanks to a well timed attack from a snow beast, and a dog that keeps licking Skeletor’s fleshless face, the once evil scourge of Eternia seems to be infected by the Christmas spirit. He saves the kids from the snow beast, saves them later on from Hordak and Horde Prime, and doesn’t beat the hell out of He-Man and She-Ra when they have a laugh at Skeletor’s Scrooge like change of heart. The Earth tradition of Christmas saved everyone on Eternia the inconvenience of a Skeletor scheme on this one day of the year. God bless us everyone.

The best of our traditions that get passed down generation to generation usually have great kindness at their heart. Eternia may not have had Christmas before a couple of Earth kids got caught up with the careless Orko, but the ideas of generosity, togetherness, and being nice had a great effect on the planet’s number one Grinch. For good measure the earth kids also got to take home a tradition from Eternia. Man at Arms gifted them some run of mill rocket belts. Befriend Skeletor and get a couple of rocket belts, it is going to be hard to top that Christmas.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. If the earth is destroyed in a nuclear war, will Christmas still exist? Weird Al Yankovic seems to think it will.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 4 "Batman Returns"

ed note: This article originally premiered on December 4th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a great movie associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be extra awesome. Enjoy.

Day 4: “Batman Returns”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

The holiday season is filled with beautiful scenery and insane people. There is something magical about the look of fresh snow on late December night, but our boss at work may just kill us. The twinkle of the lights bring a feeling of festive joy, but we also know that some hideous looking forgotten son may arise from the sewer and try to take over the city. The sounds of children singing Christmas carols warms our heart, but a batman is out there having a sensual fight with a catwoman trying to keep the streets a bit more safe for the Christmas season. It is a weird time of the year.

In the summer of 1992 director Tim Burton and actor Michael Keaton delivered the promised sequel to their smash hit movie “Batman”. This time around Michelle Pfieffer and Danny DeVito joined Keaton’s Batman as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman and Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin respectively. Christopher Walken even joined the action as the villainous Max Schreck, a wild haired character created just for this film. The movie split some critics with many for and against the movie pointing to the surreal atmosphere Tim Burton brought to his vision of Gotham City. The snow was a blueish gray, the lights twinkled against the large impressive Gothic buildings, and the film takes place during the holiday season. ‘Batman Returns” would be the last Burton/Keaton outing for the Dark Knight. The weirdness of the this particular summer blockbuster was not acceptable by the major Hollywood studios of the early 1990’s.

What “Batman Returns” has in strangeness, it pays the audience back with a great story for the holidays. Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle are insane, lonely, people. They find each other under a mistletoe in the midst of a struggle. The magic of the holidays takes over. Grotesque, and abandoned, Oswald Cobblepot comes back to a city who is willing to embrace the monster. The holiday spirit asks us to see the good in people. An army of penguins equipped with rocket launchers almost destroys a city, the first born son of every household is nearly kidnapped, but through the chaos and destruction Bruce Wayne and Alfred the Butler know to wish each other a Merry Christmas in the end. The holidays are too strong to let super villains, industrialists, and Catwomen bring it all crashing down. Batman knows this.

Every great holiday movie does not need to be steeped in the mythical figures of the North Pole, we can have a holiday lesson with the mythical figures of our comic books. Tim Burton saw the serene strangeness of the holidays, and he used it to tell a Christmas tale using the Batman. Chaos, quietness, destruction, and togetherness all have a place in every person’s holiday season. Embrace the gifts, and discard the negative. Batman and Catwoman learned this lesson in “Batman Returns”. Let us all bask in their victory.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Hanukkah is different year to year. Tragedy does not care for respecting the holidays, but people do. See one of the best Christmas stories ever told by one of the best television shows ever. Check out “Death Takes a Holiday from “M*A*S*H”.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Happy Thanksgiving

As weird as it seems, and some pictures floating on the internet may deceive you, today is Thanksgiving. It truly feels like another random Thursday, but it really is Thanksgiving. We are currently, as we should, staying at home and not hanging out with anyone not in our "bubble". The pictures I referred to, from O'Hare in Chicago, are dangerous, and that is not what people should be doing today.

Anyway, even though it feels weird, and 2020 has been rough, there are some things I am thankful for, and I come to you today, as I do every Thanksgiving, to let you know such things. I like to keep these short and sweet.

Number one, I am thankful for the new administration that will take over the US government in January. The people went out, and mailed in legal ballots, and overwhelmingly voted for Biden and Harris to be the next President and Vice President. I know the current monster in the White House is trying to do anything he can to stop it, but it is not going to work. The will of the voters have shown how much people want him and his cronies out. So I am thankful for the voters, for the people that are ready to move on and that we will have an administration that is for the people, the people that voted for them. We will have people in power that will listen to scientists and doctors and that is a comforting feeling for me. I am very thankful for the new administration coming in January.

I am thankful for the NBA bubble. When the season stopped I didn't know what to expect. The people in charge in the NBA took three months to figure it out, they had a great plan and it worked to perfection. No one got COVID, the games were good and the Lakers were the much deserving champs.

I am thankful that my kids have had the ability to go back to in person learning. They are both smart, and they both did great with virtual learning, but they needed the socialization that in person learning provides. Hopefully they get to continue this for the foreseeable future, wearing their masks of course.

I am also thankful for masks. They are life saving, you can get personalized ones, they are comfortable and they are easy to wear when in public.

I am thankful for running. When I get down in the dumps, I can still run. When I want to exercise, I run. When I want to burn off pizza or cheeseburgers, I run. I am so thankful that I have been able to run during the pandemic.

I am thankful for my friends. It has been extra hard that we cannot see each other, but we have found ways to stay in contact. Be it a phone call or a facetime, we have made it work.

Most of all, I am thankful for my family. My mom and dad have been wonderful help during the pandemic. They are in our bubble, and without them, I may have gone crazy. I can say the exact same about my mother in law. She has taught me so much about house upkeep during this time, and I am so grateful for that. But I am most thankful for my wife and kids. My wife has had to put up with my anxiety bursts and anger and frustration during the pandemic. She knows what to say, how to say it and how to make me feel better. She is the absolute best person in the world. And my kids, they keep me busy, keep my mind off the rough stuff in the world right now and are an absolute joy to be with. We may butt heads, as all parents and kids do, but at the end of the day, they are great to be with anytime, more so right now.

While 2020 has been hard, I do have these things that I am thankful for, and I could not live without. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Stay safe.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Happy Holidays

We here at SeedSing want to send out our warmest wish of Happy Holidays to all of our readers and listeners.

Does the term Happy Holidays bother you? Well then we wish the most Happy of Holidays of all time. The season fills our hearts with love for our triggered friends as much as our reasonable friends.

The Writers of SeedSing

Time to Air a Few Festivus Grievances

Today is the only day I’ll be writing this week. We have the holidays coming up, and I am going to be super, super busy. My kids are on break from school, my wife is off work and we have what seems like a million places to go for the rest of the week starting at 11am tomorrow morning. Also, if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, bloggers deserve vacation as well. So, with it being Festivus today, I figure I will leave you all with my airing of grievances. I said on a recent pod that I’m usually pretty upbeat around the holidays, and this year is no different. But there is always something to complain about. I think we prove that on the pod pretty frequently.

My first grievance should be obvious to all, it’s the “government”. Yes, I’m stoked that incompetent asshole got impeached, but that’s not enough. He needs to be removed from office. The powers that be need to realize this. He is incapable of performing his job, he’s a hothead, a crook, a phony, a narcissist, a racist, a homophobic and xenophobic ghoul. He’s a monster. He is the worst person I can think of. He attacks people of color, women and children on a daily basis. He is a scourge on society, and we need ourselves rid of him and his cohorts. He is an awful, ill fit person. He is a criminal, without intelligence. He makes the US a joke. We are laughed at on a daily basis by other countries.

Second, the “presidents” followers are beyond moronic at this point. What else does he have to do, or not do, for you dumb dumbs to realize how truly terrible he is? For people to still defend him, I just don’t get it. He’s a monster, like I said, and anyway who still supports him, don’t talk to me, don’t try to be my friend, don’t explain why, I’m done with you all. I simply cannot deal with his supporters anymore.

Third, on some lighter notes, I am disappointed, yet again, in Michigan football. I think I’ve said pretty much all I can about that team this past season, and yet I still need to say, one more time, I’m so very disappointed in how they performed all year. I’m bummed that I haven’t gotten to see Zion Williamson play a real NBA game yet. He has the potential to be great, but he may end up being more Sam Bowie than Charles Barkley. College basketball has been a mess due to injury, top prospects going overseas to play professionally, which is very smart, players leaving after a few games to focus on the draft and all the number one ranked teams going down immediately after getting that number one ranking. The NFL is becoming harder and harder to enjoy because of the things they prioritize. There are far too many women and children abusers allowed to play. I’m sick of these abusers only missing a game here and there, then instantly being reinstated. This is a league that has blackballed a guy for peacefully protesting police violence. He never hit anyone, yelled at anyone, threatened anyone, but he isn’t allowed in the league and Richie Incognito is. It’s not fair. Roger Goodell is a sellout and a shill. Screw him and all his cronies.

Finally, I’m sick and tired of the weather here in Saint Louis constantly changing. A week ago we got 8 inches of snow. The day I write this, it’s 60 degrees outside. In fact, it’s going to 66 degrees on Xmas day. Oof magoof. Please, morons, tell me why you think climate change is a myth. It should never, ever be this warm in the Midwest this time of year. It’s not normal.

Okay, I feel much better now that I’ve aired my grievances. If only RD was at my house right now, I could own him in some feats of strength. Maybe it’s time my son and I do feats of strength together. Okay, I’ll be back in a week with a good amount of fresh topics. Enjoy whichever holiday you all celebrate, and be safe.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 15 "The Christmas Shoes"

ed note: This article was originally published on December 15th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 15: “The Christmas Shoes”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14

Yes the movie I choose for day fifteen is a little film called “The Christmas Shoes”. First things first, I have never seen this movie, but I wanted you the audience to be aware of it’s existence. I put it on here for two reasons, the star and the song.

“The Christmas Shoes” premiered in 2002 and Rob Lowe, aka one Ty’s favorite actors, was the star. I do not know why. Rob Lowe has always seemed to make pretty good career choices. To star in a movie based off a terrible christian book and song, that seems noteworthy. Maybe Lowe, like us all, has his own guilty pleasures. Starring in this maudlin, convoluted, story is his I guess. God speed Rob.

The other reason I think you should all be aware of “The Christmas Shoes” is because of the epic take down Patton Oswalt does on the god awful song. (Here is a great animation with Oswalt’s epic piece.) It may not be a movie, but that under eight minute YouTube clip is probably more worth your time than the two hour made for tv movie.

My gift to you this season is to make you aware that Rob Lowe starred in a made for tv movie based on one of the worst Christmas songs ever. Now you know, and that is half the holiday battle.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Do you know what can be festive and tacky at the same time? Christmas lights. Thank goodness there is a joyous song about all the lights we see during the season.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 11 "Scrooged"

ed note: This article was originally published on December 11th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 11: “Scrooged”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10

For day 11 of our Advent Calendar of holiday movies, I want to talk about one of my favorites, "Scrooged". To me, this is the best telling of the famous holiday story.

For those that may not know, "Scrooged" is an "updated" version of Dickens famous "A Christmas Carol". But, in "Scrooged" we get the absolutely wonderful, in one of his best roles, Bill Murray in the main role. He is a TV exec, and all he cares about is money and his show. He could care less if people have to work on the holiday because to him, it is all abut the bottom line. When the lady in his life, the excellent Karen Allen, has had enough, she leaves him. This sends him into a tailspin where, he doesn't care who he hurts, and how badly he hurts them. He is on a mission to make everyone else feel as miserable as he does. And while it sounds like Murray is mean, and he is, he plays the role so funny that is almost hard to root against him. When I watch it, I kind of feel a bit for him. He is a miserable person, and his best way to cope with bad news is to make the people around him just as miserable. He even makes his cheery assistant, the great Alfre Woodard, angry enough to yell at him and be mean to him. By the way, Woodard, at the time, was an unknown to me, and she is so awesome in this movie. In fact, I have compared every role I have seen her in since this movie, and this is her best performance for me.

Anyway, after a night of yelling at everyone, and some heavy drinking, we get the "Christmas Carol" treatment. Murray is met by three ghosts throughout the night that show him what his life would have been like had he picked certain paths. He meets up with David Johansen early in the movie, some of you may know him as the lead singer of New York Dolls, or as Buster Poindexter, and he is the Ghost of Christmas Past. These scenes, while important, are kind of sad. We see why Murray acts the way he does. But, we also see that he could have not been this way had he made some different choices as a kid. We also see how different he could have been if the adults in his life where a bit more present. As I said, it is kind of sad, but Murray and Johansen make it funnier than it should be. They make it good. Johansen is great in this role too. I didn't know he could act until I watched him in "Scrooged". He was awesome.

Besides Murray, Carol Kane, as the Ghost of Christmas Past, is tremendous. She is so perfectly cast in this role. She has that sweet voice, sweet to me, and dresses so Disney-ish and seemingly nice. But she is anything but nice. Anytime Murray mouths off to her, she hits him with her wand, and she hits him hard. This gag is used a bunch and it works every single time. When she is not hitting him, she is showing him how the future will work if he continues to act like he currently is. No one wants to be around him. Allen wants nothing to do with him. His former co workers are much happier when he isn't around anymore. It is a real slap in the face, or whack with a wand if you will, to Murray.

The “Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the same old black hooded grim reaper looking thing, but this one is full of tv’s. It is quite surreal.

After seeing all this, just like in every other "Christmas Carol" movie or book, Murray cleans up his act. But the way he does it in "Scrooged" is so much hipper, funnier and cooler than in any other version. Murray continues to act like a jerk, but it is all a façade. He is truly changing his ways. He is messing with people, but he has truly turned a leaf. He gives things to the home that Allen volunteers in. He gives Woodard the day off, but not before giving her a raise and a hug. He convinces Bobcat Goldthwait, who is so good in this movie, to not hurt anyone after all. He even stands up to people who continue to act like he does after he sees these three ghosts.

"Scrooged" is one of the best holiday movies. As I said at the top, I consider it the best version of this famous story. Murray totally drives this movie, but the supporting actors, mainly Carol Kane, do just as much heavy lifting. I watch this movie every year when I wrap presents, and I have grown to like it more and more every year. "Scrooged" is a classic, and it is one of Murray's best. In fact I think I want to go watch it right now. See ya.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. For a new take on the Santa Clause tale, check out the incredible “Twilight Zone” Episode “Night of the Meek”.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 8 "He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special"

ed note: This article was originally published on December 8th, 2018

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 8: “He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7

There are times when we may find ourselves in a place that does not have the same traditions and customs that our homes celebrate. We may go to a new part of the world that our western way of life has not been the primary influence. First thing to know, do not be rude. We can introduce our customs and traditions, but we must respect the ways of the indigenous people’s. We may learn some new traditions to bring home, and we may impart part of our way of life to make a positive impact on their day to day dealings. These lessons of understanding and sharing are not just important to Earth, but to all the planets we may accidentally visit that are spread out among the universe.

On December 25th 1985, the “He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special” aired once on American televisions, and was then released as a VHS so families could enjoy the movie every holiday season. The story centered around two Earth kids who were accidentally transported to the planet Eternia and they just want to get home for Christmas. The wizard Orko initially accompanies the kids, and he learns all about this holiday called Christmas. Orko is on board with this great day, and he wants all his Eternia friends to get in on the action.

Since this a He-Man She-Ra joint venture, the audience is treated with the double dose of villainy that is Skeletor and Hordak. The two bad guys want to please their great evil master by bringing the earth kids to him (or to it, Horde-Prime may have a masculine voice but is just a big colorful cloud, I do not think cloud’s have genders. I could be wrong.). Unfortunately Hordak and Skeletor do not like each other, and refuse to work together. Through some sort of shenanigans, Skeletor ends up with the two earth kids in his custody and he is going to bring them to Horde Prime.

The moments with Skeletor and the earth children is what makes the “He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special” an instant classic. The kids teach Skeletor all about Christmas, and the evil ghoul seems all in. He asks if their are fights and exploding presents, the kids say no there are only nice things that people want at Christmas time. The problem is that Skeletor likes fights and exploding presents, oh and he is definitely not nice. See the magnificent scene for yourself.

Thanks to a well timed attack from a snow beast, and a dog that keeps licking Skeletor’s fleshless face, the once evil scourge of Eternia seems to be infected by the Christmas spirit. He saves the kids from the snow beast, saves them later on from Hordak and Horde Prime, and doesn’t beat the hell out of He-Man and She-Ra when they have a laugh at Skeletor’s Scrooge like change of heart. The Earth tradition of Christmas saved everyone on Eternia the inconvenience of a Skeletor scheme on this one day of the year. God bless us everyone.

The best of our traditions that get passed down generation to generation usually have great kindness at their heart. Eternia may not have had Christmas before a couple of Earth kids got caught up with the careless Orko, but the ideas of generosity, togetherness, and being nice had a great effect on the planet’s number one Grinch. For good measure the earth kids also got to take home a tradition from Eternia. Man at Arms gifted them some run of mill rocket belts. Befriend Skeletor and get a couple of rocket belts, it is going to be hard to top that Christmas.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. If the earth is destroyed in a nuclear war, will Christmas still exist? Weird Al Yankovic seems to think it will.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing Classic: The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 3 "Love Actually"

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we are looking back at the great holiday music, movies, television episodes, and food of this great season. Enjoy

Day 2: “Love Actually”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2

The holiday season is filled with a bunch of different characters. There is the old man who finally discovers the true meaning of Christmas. The little boy who makes a grand gesture and starts his ascent into manhood. The long married couple whose passion is gone and needs the holidays to reignite the flame. The creepy guy pining for his best friend’s girl. The hot, and easy, American girls looking to give a few British blokes a good time.And last but not least, the Prime Minister of Great Britain looking for a holiday office romance with a staffer.

In 2003 Richard Curtis, known to some as a writer for the television show “Black Adder”, unleashed the film “Love Actually” onto the world. The movie was a mega hit and has become a holiday staple since it’s release. The movie follows a bunch of different stories about varying stages of love, and it all takes place around Christmas time in Britain. The mood is downright magical. For anyone that has seen “Love Actually”, there is no denying the schmaltzy Christmas feel of the film.

A movie like “Love Actually” will always have it’s fans, but it also has quite a few detractors. Personal note - I saw “Love Actually” during it’s original run. I thought it was enjoyable enough, but I also thought it was forgettable. I was wrong. The anti-”Love Actually” crowd has drawn me in, but I have not seen the movie since 2003. That is my bad. If you want to bag on something, make sure you watch it so you have a little credibility. Plus, I still think Bill Nighy was awesome in the movie.

Speaking of Bill Nighy, the cast of “Love Actually” is one of the most impressive casts of any film made the last 50 years. It is the “Avengers: Infinity War” of classy British thespians, with a few yanks thrown in for good measure. Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightly, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Billy Bob Thorton, Rowan Atkinson, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Shannon Elizabeth, Denise Richards, and even writer/director Richard Curtis gets a place in his cast. That is one hell of a cast for a movie that seems like it belongs on the Hallmark Channel during the Christmas season.

That is the most impressive thing about the staying power of “Love Actually”, it is the most Hallmark Christmas movie ever. People flock to watch cheesy movies during the holidays because we all want to believe that the season brings magic into our lives. ‘Love Actually” is the king of the Christmasy schmalty films that seem dumb on paper, but make us feel like Scrooge on the morning of December 25th after he has his pleasant psychotic break due to hallucinations. “ Love Actually” is probably the most Christmasy movie ever made that does not involve mutated reindeer, Grinches, or Santa’s. “Love Actually” gets what we want to see on our screens for Christmas.

Good, bad, cheesy, heartwarming. None of this matters. “Love Actually” can claim all of those adjectives, but it will still be loved by many this holiday season. Movies like “Love Actually” are meant to force the happiness and warmness of the holiday season onto our darkened souls. Say what you want, but “Love Actually” does really believe that Christmas is all around, no matter how ridiculous it may look and sound.

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Hanukkah is different year to year. Need some more Christmas cheese, with a much less impressive cast? Go check out the classic “Saved By the Bell” two part story Home for Christmas.

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