Ty Reads "Comedy Bang! Bang! The Podcast: The Book"

I just finished reading "Comedy Bang! Bang! The Podcast The Book". I have been looking forward to this book ever since Scott Aukerman started to mention it during the podcast months ago.

"CBB" is my favorite pod to listen to on a regular basis. It makes me laugh harder than any other comedy podcast out there. I've been listening to it since I first heard what a podcast was. Scott Aukerman is my personal favorite host of all time. He has surpassed Letterman for me, which I didn't think was possible. The characters and bits and all they do, it is perfection. That is what makes this book so great, it is all there. I am amazed at how they pulled this off. I didn't know what they were going to do, but they did it and it works on every level.

The book starts out with a bunch of forwards, and that gets you in the mindset of what the podcast is all about, but they put it in book form. It was a very nice touch. I was happy they went about it that way. From there on out it is a who's who of people who have appeared on the show as characters. They do have some celebrities do the forwards, but the meat of the book is the characters. We get pretty much every star character too. Dalton Wilcox does a few pages. Jeffrey Character Wheaties does a three or four page opus to his greatest creation, Jason Mantzoukas. Rudi North and Sprague The Whisperer have separate chapters. Italiano Jones is there. Memphis Kansas Breeze has a page. The Timekeeper is on this. Randy Snutz and Carissa, as well as Randy's crew pop up. Mary Holland has a page as her writing character she appears as on the show. Todd and Ho Ho the Elf pop up. PFT's characters are all over this book. Albert Roe, owner of Kissy's Grocery Store is in here. Lily Sullivan, who is so goddamn funny, has her fingerprints all over this book. Fourvel pops up intermittently and it is great. Everyone that a fan could want shows up in this book. I mean, even Will Hines gets multiple chapters, and he is one funny improvisor.

It is so great that they had the idea to do this and then someone came along and pushed them to make this book. I keep going back and reading stuff and I laugh and laugh all over again. Andy Daly has a whole thing with a multitude of people he has made up and turned it into a board game, which I will most likely play at some point. There were moments where I found myself laughing hysterically at what I was reading. There were other times where it was like a warm blanket when I would get reacquainted with a person I had forgotten about. They also dedicate multiple pages to Harris Wittles where they do "Harris' Foam Corner". That was nice and fitting. "Foam Corner" was one of my favorite things to ever appear on "CBB", and to see some of the stuff Harris Wittles was writing before he tragically passed away, that was very nice, and hilarious. I loved the lead up to "Foam Corner" as well.

This book is perfect. If you are a "CBB" fan it has everything you could want in a book about this fantastic show. I'd go as far to recommend it to fans of podcasts in general. It shows you what makes a show long lasting and great. Of course I recommend everyone read this book. It is wonderful. 

Ty

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

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Victor Webanyama Won the Draft Lottery

The San Antonio Spurs won the draft lottery last night and will most likely take French phenom Victor Webanyama in the upcoming draft.

I love this so much. The last two times the Spurs had the first pick they took David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Those are some lofty career goals, but if anyone can do it, it is Webanyama. This kid has all the tools to be a legit superstar. He is 7'5. He can handle and shoot. He is a good rebounder. He is an excellent shot blocker. He is a nightmare mismatch on defense. He is skinny, but not Chet Holmgren skinny. He has been crushing in France's highest pro league. He led his team in points, rebounds and blocks. He is an amazing basketball player, and now he is going to go into a situation that will give him all of the best tools to succeed.

This couldn't have gone any better for him. I didn't think the Spurs had a shot, but I am so stoked that they got the pick and that this kid will get to play under Greg Poppovich. With all that is going on in Memphis right now maybe the Spurs will become my second team to root for. My dad has always liked them, as have I, but I have never actively rooted for them. That may change.

The truth is that this is good for the league and for Webanyama. If he had ended up in Houston that would have stunted his growth. That team is full of ball hogs and they have no interest in winning right now. Even if they add Harden I still have little faith in them being a true contender. The Trailblazers would have been fun. Pairing him with Dame would be dope, but that could still happen. Maybe Dame will want to go and play for the Spurs and he could team up with Webanyama and Pop. That would be awesome. I'd love to see that actually. No disrespect to the Blazers, but the Spurs are a much better situation to be in as a young rookie. The Hornets are a mess and who knows what they would do with a talent like this. LaMelo Ball is great, but he is always hurt and kind of a ball and glory hog. If they bring back Miles Bridges I will be done with any rooting interest in that team. They would also put so much on Webanyama's plate and expect him to be the face of the franchise instantly. That may be the case in San Antonio, but, again, a much better run team. The Pistons tanked their way hardcore to the best odds, but they didn't deserve this pick. They had the number one pick a few years ago, and instead of working with him, they made him sit pretty much all season and made him waste a full year. They also openly discussed trading other young players before the draft lottery even happened. That is foul to those players. The Magic don't need Webanyama, they are building something different. The Pacers already have Myles Turner. The Wizards are in NBA purgatory and will be there for quite some time. The Jazz played too well to get close to the number 1 pick. And the Mavericks don't deserve anything of consequence after the way they ended this past season. That was some blatant nonsense they did. I wish they had to give this pick to the Knicks. They don't deserve to be anywhere near the top 10 picks. And while I'm sure all of these other teams in the top 10 could use, and want Webanyama, it is fitting that the Spurs have won the rights to draft him.

This is perfect for the future of the NBA. All of the people who would chastise the Spurs for being "boring" when Duncan was the face of the team will have to deal with another decade plus of very good, very balanced basketball. Webanyama is going to learn from the best and that is only fitting. His talents belong in an organization this well run with the best coach to ever coach in the NBA. I love this and cannot wait to watch him and the Spurs play next season. What an excellent draft lottery. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ja Morant Needs Some Help

While checking sports stories on the internet the other day I came across a Ja Morant video. Now, all of you know about the incident that happened earlier this season. He had a gun, flashed it on Instagram Live and was suspended. The Grizzlies stumbled from there. They finished the year with a whimper and they lost in six games to the Lakers in round 1. After the season Ja Morant gave an interview. During this interview he said that he was a distraction, that his actions hurt the team, that he was going to get help and get better. I believed him. I think a lot of us did. I figured he had learned his lesson and he was going to try as hard as he could to make some changes. He also missed out on nearly 40 million dollars by missing out on making an All NBA team, which his Instagram Live caused.

He clearly hasn't learned his lesson. The video that I saw on Instagram this time was him listening to music with some friends and he appeared to show a gun, yet again. He was dancing and singing along and got caught up in the moment and flashed a gun. It looked like the people he was with, and himself, realized what he was doing and tried to stop it right away. But the damage had been done. The picture had been captured and shared around the world. I saw it on Bleacher Report that afternoon. By the evening it was the headlining story on most sports networks, it was all over social media and it was a total mess. The whole thing had blown up so much that the Grizzlies suspended him indefinitely.

This has got to stop. There needs to be a lesson in all of this. Something has to change and the team, and the NBA, need to come down very hard on him. I don't care if it was a fake gun, some people are positing this as a theory which I don't believe at all. Fake or not, Ja needs to feel this suspension in his pockets and on the floor. I usually do not agree with anything Chandler Parsons says, but I do agree that Morant should be suspended for all of next season. That should be the least of his worries. Not only should he be suspended, there needs to be a heavy, heavy fine. I'd go with a good portion of his salary left unpaid during the suspension. The NBA also needs to look in on his inner circle of friends and see what the hell is going on with them. I do not want to see his dad at any more games. The league and the Grizzlies need to come down extremely hard on him. This cannot keep happening. It is clear that he meant none of what he said at his end of the season interview. He was just saying cliche things and hoping people would forget. That frustrates me so much. He also needs to get the hell off of Instagram. I know getting off all social media is not viable in this day and age, but he needs to have limits on what content he posts. He also needs to have a person control all of that. He also needs to rid himself of weapons. He clearly does not know how to use and store them. I do not like guns, and do not own any. One of the main reasons, they are too powerful and can hurt others very badly. The way Morant is out here brandishing his guns, that is so unsafe. He also needs therapy. He is clearly out here being a poser. He is not this person that he is portraying on social media. He is not a criminal. He is not some gun toting bad guy. He is a good kid making some terrible choices and hanging out with people who do not have his best interest at hand. He needs to fix a whole lot of things, but none of that will happen unless he realizes he has a problem.

I want him to get better. I want him to figure out what is going on mentally. I want him to surround himself with good people. But none of that will happen until he admits he has a problem and gets a proper punishment. The hammer needs to come down and he needs to get help. I hope he does. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Listens to Lil Yachty's "Let's Start Here"

I've always been on the fence when it comes to Lil Yachty. He will make stuff I really like, then he will make some stuff that is too mainstream. He has this ebb and flow deal with me. Sometimes it hits, other times it doesn't.

I have this deal with a lot of artists. I'm sure other people do too. But I have had lots of people I know, people whose opinion I respect, tell me I have to listen to his new record. I was putting it off for a while. I just didn't think I was ready for it. I also heard it wasn't a rap record, but more of a psychedelic record. I have an odd history with psychedelic music. But I had some time by myself Saturday. I took my daughter to a birthday party, my son was over at his grandparents house and my wife was going out with a friend. So I went on a run and decided to give the record a shot.

I love this album, everyone. I have already gone through the record fully two times. I started to listen to it again this morning on the way to take my kids to school. My son seemed to dig it. My daughter said it sounded weird, but it wasn't bad weird. This was another feather in its cap. The record is called "Let's Start Here". The cover is also wild and I love it. It has all these presumably business people with faces that look like they are melting. They also have these odd permanent smiles on their faces. It is fascinating to look at people. It was scary at first, but now I am all about it. And the songs, these are works of art. I truly did not know that Lil Yachty had this in him.

This record is nothing like he has ever done before. It is so out there and different. He took a big swing and boy did he connect. From start to finish this record hits on every level. The music on this album is dope too. There are big guitars playing some good stuff. It sounds like something from the 70's but modernized. The drums have this rock groove, but also it skews very hip hop. It has the tempo and groove of hip hop. There is bass all over this record and it is great. Some songs are straight psychedelic. Lil Yachty will do some old school singing on these songs and it rules. He crushes the vocals. It is very impressive. There are a few songs where he slips back into hip hop, and it works with the music in the background. He even does some stuff where he is just speaking over instruments and I love it. I'm fully in on this album. I have loved every second of it to this point. I have been telling friends about it. I'm going to tell my dad about it tomorrow, and he is my barometer for how well new music translates to older generations. He is also the one who introduced me to psychedelic music, so I am very interested in his thoughts. But I adore this album. I'm all in. I think it is one of the better records I have heard in a very long time.

My hat is off to Lil Yachty. He has done something highly impressive and innovative here. I am hoping to see him live here in Saint Louis in October because I want to see these songs performed live. I definitely recommend checking this album out. It is great. 

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: I, Bald Man

I am a bald man.

I think I have made that pretty clear on the website and on the podcast. I am not complaining about this either. At first it was frustrating. I used to have dreadlocks, and when I cut those off, I grew my hair out like all millennials used to do. But I noticed in my mid twenties that I was losing my hair. The anger subsided quick, and I just kind of dealt with it. What else could I do.

When my hair was first thinning out I tried to keep the cut short, to kind of blend it in. That worked for a while. I still have some hair in my wedding photos. Pretty soon after my wedding and honeymoon, I began to lose more and more hair. At this time I started to shave it with an electric shaver. My wife would cut it, or I would do it from time to time. I would forget a lot, and my hair would look rough. But when it got to that point, boom I turned on the shaver and took care of business. After some time, after my kids were born, my wife took over shaving my head. She would shave my head and trim my beard. It was a two for one type deal.

One night I decided that I wanted to see what it looked like when I used a razor. I'm not talking anything fancy, no straight razors or anything like that. I would use a BIC, or something similar. And it worked. My wife and I did not know what I would look like, if I would look any different, and I didn't. Shaving your head totally bald doesn't look much different from a close shave. The only real difference is you can see all the knicks and cuts in your head. You also need to use some kind of aftershave, or those cuts get even worse. This has become my new norm now. I shave my head, usually, once a week. I will go on a long run, and my cool down is a shower and shaving my head.

I come here today to tell you a tale of "horror" about waiting too long to shave your head. Keeping a schedule is key. You need to stay on it. You need to make sure that you do it the same day every week. It is just like shaving your face for work. If you miss a week, it will be a pain. That happened to me today. We are getting work done in our home, and we needed to be out by last Sunday, the 14th. I figured I would shave my head when we got to my folks house. No big deal. Well, the moving of objects out of the bedrooms in my home, and setting things out of the way so the workers wouldn't have to, took way more out of me than I thought it would. I was pretty exhausted when we got to my parents house. Add on the fact that my kids had to be cleaned, and my wife and I did too, things got out of hand quick. I got our clothes in the house, moved the stuff into our room in the basement, gave my daughter a bath and decided I was going to sit down before showering. When I finally got around to cleaning myself, I was too tired to shave my head. I just decided to do it the next day.

Well, the next day turned into an entire week. I just kept forgetting. What with my new living situation, getting my kids to and from school, stopping by the house to check on it daily, training for a marathon and trying to get some sleep, shaving my head became an afterthought, until today. I finally had time. My kids are on spring break, my parents were willing to watch them and I had a scheduled rest day. I just finished shaving my head, and it took over 30 minutes.

It hurt. I have cuts all over my head. I had to slop on the aftershave, and it hurts. The water was freezing cold by the end in the shower. When I first started to shave, the razor felt like it was cutting grass for the first time in two years. I would move the razor two to three inches on my head, and the razor would fill up with hair. I had to keep cleaning the hair out. It took forever to get one side of the top of my head barely shaved. I kept going over the same spot three and four times with little to no movement. I finally got through the top part of my head, and the back was untouched. Mind you, I kept going over the back with the razor, it was too full of hair to work. I kept at it, changing midway through for a less dull blade, and that helped, but man did it scratch my head up bad. I could see blood on the white razor. I knew it was bad, and when I finally, thankfully, got my head shaved properly, my teeth were chattering, and my head was on fire with all the razor cuts and burns. It was brutal, but I got it done, and I feel okay now.

I am writing this today to say, if you are a bald man like me and you have decided to shave your head, stay on schedule. I do not want anyone to have to deal with what I did today. It was all on me, I did not stay on course. But I will from now on. This was not fun, and it took way too much time. Stay on schedule. That is the lesson I am trying to pass on today.

Ty

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

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I Miss "MTV Unplugged"

Recently I have gotten into watching old clips of bands I like playing their songs acoustically. I have always liked acoustic music, and to hear a song that is normally done electrically acoustically has always been something I enjoy.

This new passion has sent me down a Spotify rabbit hole that I am totally here for. I am being reintroduced to music that I used to listen to and adore. I heard some stuff from Alice in Chains, a band I don't even like, Nirvana, Tracy Chapman and Lauryn Hill. I have gone back and rewatched Blind Melon and Jay Z do their acoustic stuff. Hell, another band I don't like, Linkin Park, has some dope acoustic stuff. This all led me back to "MTV's Unplugged".

"MTV's Unplugged" one of the better shows that has ever existed. I used to live for this show. I would scout the TV Guide or the channel to see when the next "Unplugged" was coming. This was the best it got, especially after Nirvana showed how great this could be.  This begs the question, why did they stop doing this show? I know that MTV does not show videos anymore. Hell, they don't even show music anymore. Neither does MTV 2 or VH1 or any other "music channel". All these channels are all about reality shows. That is where they get their viewers. There is not a moment when I turn on MTV now and Rob Drydek's goofy internet show is on. VH1 seems to only feature shows about artists or athletes' wives. I don't even know what MTV2 shows anymore. So why not bring back "Unplugged" now? I would have to imagine it would be a humongous hit. When they did Jay Z unplugged it was a massive hit. And they sold a ton of records. They could pounce on the streaming numbers and make vinyls out of these shows featuring some big time artists. Taylor Swift could make a killing doing her new record acoustically. She already has the chops and millions of people would tune in. There are plenty of popular country artists that my wife listens to, and she loves acoustic music, so why not get some of them to do it? I would watch the hell out of someone like The Black Keys or Kendrick Lamar doing an unplugged set. That would be rad. You could even bring some older other artists to do it. I would love to see Talking Heads, or David Byrne, do one of these shows. Get David Gilmour an acoustic and let him rock some Pink Floyd. Foo Fighters would be a massive get, and Dave Grohl already knows how to deal with the whole unplugged thing. Get someone like Tobe Nwigwe to go out there and perform. He would crush. The opportunities are endless. I bet they could also get a bunch of artists to do it for charities they support. That would be cool and helpful. There is no shortage of options to book people to do it. Add on the fact that retro stuff is back in now, people, especially people from my generation, would eat this up. I mentioned making vinyls of these performances, I know all three of my brothers would buy the vinyl of the bands they like doing unplugged shows. I would be interested in the art work involved. The production of the show would be even better now due to advancements in technology. I cannot find a reason not to pursue this.

Bring "Unplugged" back. It would crush and be one of the coolest things MTV has ever done. It would also force them to revert back to music. The timing is perfect. Make it happen. It would be rad. 

Ty

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

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The Factory is a Worthy New Music Venue in St. Louis

thefactorystl.com

I spoke about the Tenacious D show yesterday. Today I want to talk about the venue.

The show was in Chesterfield, a small suburb of Saint Louis. For those that live here, the venue is in the Valley, where all the flooding took place in the 90's. They have since built a ton of stuff out there to prevent flooding and to help commerce. When the pandemic started, they started to build even more out in that area because they still had some space. There is a walking mall out there, but since 2020 they have built this venue, a play place and a humongous golf spot. This was my first time at The Factory. Hell, I just started going back to shows within the past year. The venue also had nothing to do with my decision to go either, it was to see The D. I have to say, after a few days removed, I like this spot. I will be going back to see more shows here for sure.

The Factory has that new venue feel to it. Everything is clean. It all looks modern. The seating in the balcony is nice and comforting. I was in the general admission area, and that was cool. There was space to spread out and watch the show. The only downside to the floor was the fact that it is not slanted. My buddy who I went with pointed that out and he is right. The floor is completely flat. That is a good thing for standing for a few hours, but it can also get painful. My groin is sore from run training and it was no better after Monday night. My buddy has a knee issue and he said he was in pain afterward. Otherwise, the layout is solid. I like how spread out everything is. The next time I go I will be sitting in the balcony. I prefer sitting at shows now anyway, and when we walked around to check everything out, I was jealous of the people sitting up there. I wanted to be there. Next time hopefully.

As for the bar, I don't drink. My buddy had a drink, and it was expensive, but he said it was good. That helps for people who like to imbibe during a show. I did notice that they sell Liquid Death there, and you all know how I feel about that product. I will be purchasing some Liquid Death next time for sure. They have multiple flavors of sparkling water and mountain water. That is a good deal in my book.

The waiting area and where you walk in is pretty cool as well. There is ample seating. There are a nice amount of seats and tables. The stairs are easy to walk up and down and they have seperate aisles for going up and down. The concrete floor is easy to maneuver and walk through. The bar station was right next to the merch table. That is a smart move on their behalf if they came up with it. They have nice monitors that show everything that is upcoming. I dig that. All in all this is a solid music venue. I like how close to my home it is as well. I am also down with the space and the acts they have been able to secure.

The Factory is a good companion to The Pageant. I like The Pageant more, but The Factory has its points. It is pretty cool. Go see a show there if you live nearby and haven't gone yet. It is worth the time. 

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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Ty Watches Tenacious D Live

Last night I saw Tenacious D at The Factory here in Saint Louis. I'll do a proper review of the venue tomorrow. Today I want to talk about the show last night.

I have not seen The D live since 2002. Back then I saw them open for Weezer and it was pretty awesome. Last night they were the headliner and I am also older and more mature. This was a different experience. The opener was Steel Beans. This was an interesting and decent opener. Steel Beans is one dude who plays guitar, drums and sings. It was fascinating to see him do all this. But I felt like he had to be exhausted after his set. He played for 45 minutes, and it was solid. But some of his songs were a bit long. And he used a ton of distortion, which is smart on his part because it masks mistakes. But the use of distortion made it hard to hear him sing at times. All in all though he was a solid opener. I was never bored during his set. He did a good enough job.

Tenacious D came on stage after about a 30 minute intermission. Again, my expectations were high and different from 21 years before. They absolutely delivered. The set was fast and furious. They must have played something close to 20 songs. Jack Black is a true showman and he controlled the crowd and the stage for their entire 90 minute set. I am endlessly floored by Black. I was saying to my buddy after the show that he is a legit movie star who does music for fun, and he is extremely talented at it. His voice and playing is very good. He can hit some very high octaves. At one point he sang the beginning of "War Pigs" and it was amazing. He showed off his range on "Master Exploder". From song to song, all night long, he was on point. It was so enjoyable. Kyle Gass is the perfect sidekick to Black, and his guitar playing is exceptional. He is so proficient and technical, but he can also have fun with it. When he plays some of his wild solos on his acoustic guitar I am blown away. He is so good at his craft. He is also the perfect foil for all the bits The D do during their live shows. He plays off of Black so well. He performs like a true professional. I loved every second of their time together on stage. The backing band is truly wonderful. The lead guitar player shreds and has some pipes. He played the Devil during "Beelzeboss" and he hit a grand slam, both with his playing and singing. He is no Dave Grohl, but he is a damn good compliment. The bassist kept the rhythm going all night and when he got his chance to solo for the crowd, he was amazing. He was sliding up and down that bass and having the time of his life. It was dope. The drummer was pretty rad as well. He kept the tempo up and the band going strong. He also exploded during his solo. It reminded me of the playing in "Whiplash", except he was having fun playing. His solo was the best of the night in my opinion. He was pounding away on his kit. I was pleasantly surprised at all the love given to the crew throughout the night too.

This was a fun show through and through. It was also fantastic to hear all these songs again. It brought me back to my 20's when I really got into them. But I felt I appreciated it more last night. I got it all right away. I knew the words and was humming along. I was laughing at the jokes within the songs. To hear a song like "Double Team" as a 40 year old, it is so much more funny because I get every single joke within the song. It was great. The fact that The D is famous enough to headline a tour makes me very happy as an adult. I think it is rad that Jack Black and Kyle Gass still like doing this and are willing and able to tour. Neither of them have to do this, they want to do this. That much was apparent watching them perform last night.

I loved this show, the venue was cool, the band was great and I got to see an actual movie star in person. I had a blast. It was more than worth the price of admission and the exhaustion I have today. Good times. 

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.

Ty Drinks Cafe Du Monde Coffee

My folks went on a trip recently to celebrate their anniversary. They went to New Orleans because my mom has always wanted to visit there. They seemed to have a good time and, as they have done my whole life, they brought gifts back for everyone. My kids got some cool stuff and my wife and I got a gift bag of sorts. It had a few different items that we both enjoyed. One gift was a canister of coffee from Cafe Du Monde.

I know that place is known for their beignets, but my dad was big on the coffee. He would tell me about it when we talked to them while they were on the trip. This was a good sign. I decided to have a cup of this coffee the other day. We have a reusable Keurig cup, so I opened the can and put some coffee in the pod. It brewed, I made my foam and proceeded to drink it.

It was pretty damn delicious. I have had coffee like this before, but the chicory was not this pronounced. My dad and I go to all kinds of coffee shops as you all know. We have had all kinds of different coffee. We have had it iced, super hot, warm, sweet, charcoal infused, a latte with beet juice, we have tried a whole bunch of stuff. But this can of coffee from Cafe Du Monde is some of the best that I have had in my life. I usually switch up which coffee I use whenever I have coffee at home, which is almost daily. Lately though I have been solely using this chicory coffee. There is a woodiness that I have only gotten from this Cafe Du Monde canister. It has a wonderful taste. It may be an acquired taste, but I have acquired it and then some. The wood flavor gives the coffee this Earthiness. The taste, for me, is like the smell of being outside. It is like being in the woods on a trail run. I love the smell of the trees and the trail and the leaves. That is the feeling I get from drinking this coffee. It works so well for me. Yes, I do put flavored foam in it too. I still like my coffee to have some kind of sweetness to it. The foam I made this morning had cream, Splenda and vanilla extract. It was fantastic. But I could still taste the wood in the Cafe Du Monde coffee and it was glorious. I assumed the foam was going to take it away, but it did not at all. The flavor of the Cafe Du Monde coffee still lingered in all the best ways. The smell was there too. I thought the vanilla was going to take it away, but it did not at all. I was chopping some veggies for a salad and went for a drink. The first thing I noticed was the Earthiness smell. This translated immediately to the taste. And it was awesome.

I don't know if I will find another chicory coffee that is this good. I hope I do. I want to find the best coffee in the world. For right now though, this chicory coffee ranks right up there with the Sucker Punch Cold Brew I get at the Living Room, or the vanilla latte from Shaw's, or the hint of citrus coffee at Sump. Those are my three favorite local spots in Saint Louis. And those coffees are out of this world. The Cafe Du Monde original blend ranks right there now. It is a coffee I look forward to when I am at home. I will most likely order more when I run out. I am very thankful that my folks added this in mine and my wife's gift bag from their trip. This coffee is pretty fantastic. I think I may go have a cup right now. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches The Met Gala

I am not a fashionable person. I like to wear comfortable clothing whenever possible. I am a hooded sweatshirt and shorts type of guy. I almost always have a hat on, unless I have just shaved my head. My attire is simple and comfy.

During the week we had the Met Gala and I was blown away at some of these outfits I saw. I mean, it was wild people. I don't know how many of you check in on the Met Gala, or at least look at the clothing, but this was next level insane. I was talking to my folks about it and they had some takes as well. My mom loved looking at the clothing. She said she was checking out all of the outfits on the internet. She was telling me about her favorites and some of the wilder things she saw. My dad didn't really seem to care, but he knew about the whole deal. He knows what the Gala is and why they do it. As does my mom. But my dad's takes were not as interesting as my mom's. I get it. I am usually the same. But I paid more attention this year. I saw stuff online. I talked to my wife about it a bunch. I think I piqued her interest in fact.

I was astounded at what I saw and wanted everyone else to be interested. Doja Cat had makeup that made her look like an actual cat. She also had diamonds all over her dress. Not to be outdone, pretentious asshole Jared Leto was wearing an actual cat outfit. Head and all. He was dressed as a literal cat. It looked very uncomfortable and cumbersome. I didn't get his look at all. Lil Nas X looked like a futuristic spaceman. He had all kinds of diamonds covering his full body. He had a facemask that looked like it was encrusted in diamonds. I can't imagine that was fun to sit down in, but he was able to pull it off. You could barely see Rhianna. Her face was covered in some kind of white headdress. Cardi B had the biggest skirt I have ever seen. Pedro Pascal had some shorts on, which apparently drove the internet wild. The hairdos were nuts. Quinta Brunson, who I adore, had some big buns put in her hair. Paris Hilton's date had some wild comb over do. Janalle Monae had some wild braids, but she did look great. Some people looked "regular" for this event. Dua Lipa looked great. So did Margot Robbie. Lizzo crushed. Russell Westbrook was very mild mannered. Kendrick Lamar wore something that I would wear on an everyday basis.

Basically, this whole thing looks like it is an event covering opulence. I'm not one for opulence, but some people are I guess. I never cared about any of this stuff before, and I still don't very much, but this is the first time I actually looked into the whole deal. This is the first time I did some research and talked to some other people about it. It is fascinating but also not my cup of tea. But I had some things I wanted to tell you all about. I had never really delved into this stuff at all, but there are some wild things about this whole deal, but most of all it is the outfits.

This was a fun little wormhole I went down. Check it out if you are interested at all. It is interesting.

Ty

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

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Ty Watches the Trailer for "Dune Part 2"

Yesterday I watched the trailer for "Dune Part 2".

I'm pumped. I loved the first movie. Let me clarify, I loved the first new one that Denis Villenuve directed. I was fully on board from the jump. I like the book. I have seen the David Lynch directed "Dune" a few times. I find that watchable. And I am a Villenuve fan. I know RD doesn't like "Arrival", and I haven't seen that one yet, but I like the other Villenuve directed movies I've seen. So seeing "Part 2" was not a bridge I had to cross or conclusion I had to come to. I'm in. I want to see it on the opening weekend, preferably on opening day.

I know I talk a lot about not watching trailers, but that was out of the question here. I was going to watch the trailer as soon as the official first one came out. So I did. And it rips. I'm so on board with the direction they are going in with this second movie. I know some people complained that the first one was too slow, well "Part 2" looks to be mostly action. Zendaya and Chamelet are back and they are ready to fight. Paul, Chamelet, is with the fighters, led by Javier Bardem, and they look like they are on a singular mission. Paul also rides a sandworm in the trailer. He also is trying to find and save his mom. I'm so in for all of this. Zendaya looks like she is going to kick some ass. And her fans should be happy to know that she will be in this sequel a whole lot more. A bunch of her fans were upset she was barely in the first one. Well no need to worry anymore. She looks to be a co-star in this one. Josh Brolin is back and looks badass. There is a scene where some people are burning Oscar Issac's character's painting, he was the king of his province, and that seems to set people off. Stellan Skarsgaard is back and looking as gross as ever. He is also up and moving, so that should be interesting. Austin Butler looks totally odd and painted all white. Dave Bautista looks scary and badass. Florence Pugh is here and ready to go to war. I mean, how can you not want to see this movie?

I am so stoked. I read that the writers, I stand with the WGA by the way, and Vilenuve have said that this is going to be more of a war epic, which is awesome. I love a good war movie. My favorite "Star Wars" is "Rogue One". I like movies like "Saving Private Ryan", "Platoon", "Apocalypse Now" and "The Hurt Locker". I'm here for war movies. Add on the fact that this particular war movie is taking place in a science fiction world that the creators of "Dune" made up. That is just icing on the cake for me.

I watched the trailer a few times yesterday after the first watch. My kids watched it with me. I kept telling my wife about it. My family are all good sports because they indulge me. Now you all have to do the same. But I know there are some readers who are just as excited as me about this trailer and movie. I cannot wait and I hope to see a lot of you out there on opening day. I am pumped. 

Ty

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

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The Grizzlies Do Not Need Dillon Brooks

The Grizzlies supposedly told Dillon Brooks that he will not be back next season "under any circumstance". Who knows how true that statement is, but it is coming from Shams Charnia, who is a very reliable source, so I tend to believe it.

I am all on board with this move. He may have thought his talking during the first round of the playoffs was motivating the team, but it had the opposite effect. His talk crept into an already crumbling locker room and made all the other problems this team, my favorite team in the NBA, had going on all season. Adding Brooks' talking with Ja Morant's whole situation, injuries to Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams and a team that was fading at the end of the year spelled trouble for the team. But Brooks was doing this all season. He was constantly talking. He never stopped. He claimed to "poke bears" all year long and look where it got the Grizzlies. They were dispatched, fairly easily I might add, by the 7 seeded Lakers. The Lakers are a good team, but the Grizz were the 2 seed and they couldn't even get to a game seven at home. That is the most frustrating part.

I appreciate Ja coming out at the end of the season and talking about his personal problems affecting the team. That takes maturity and shows that he, hopefully, is getting some help. Clarke and Adams have to take time to recover. Adams should be back soon, but Clarke's injury is going to take some time. He tore an ACL. He is going to need a lot of rehab for that injury. That could bleed into next season. But Brooks never showed growth or maturity. The Grizzlies would win a game and he talked and talked and talked. But then they'd get beat and he wouldn't even speak to the media. I heard a podcast where someone explained how Brooks was trying out a new character for his future in the NBA and it never worked. This person said he was trying to be like Draymond Green, but without any of the accolades. I think that is a very apt comparison, except Green is a much, much better player than Brooks could ever dream to be.

When the news was released that the Grizz were moving on yesterday I felt a sense of relief. It made me feel even better after another story came out saying that the Grizz tried to re-sign him during the season, but he wouldn't sign. That means he thought he could hold out for more, to get a better deal. But now everyone has gotten to see that he is all bark and no bite. He added some solid defense to the team, but what else did he really do? He is a poor shooter. He was being left wide open constantly and he couldn't hit the ocean. He never seemed to find the open guy while running the floor or in their half court offense. Sure he would pass, but it wouldn't lead to much until other players touched the ball. There was no rebounding or anything else of substance. And while the defense was okay, he could not guard the star players. LeBron abused him whenever he wanted. He cannot stay in front of guys like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown or Steph Curry. He was no match. It was almost like star players would hunt for him on offense just to beat him.

Now that the Grizz are moving on there is a sense of relief for me as a fan, and I bet the team feels it as well. They can move on. Sure they won't get anything for him, but this could be addition by subtraction. They can replace him with a younger guy in the lineup. A player like David Roddy could fill that role. I'd love to see Kenny Lofton Jr because I am a big fan of his. They could go small and play three guards with Jaren Jackson Jr and Steven Adams when he comes back. They could possibly go out and find some solid veteran help. They have a good enough team to continue to win without Brooks. They may be able to find a player that fits their timeline a little better.

I don't know where Brooks will end up, but I know that he will not be on my favorite team anymore and that makes me feel better. I am happy they are cutting the cord and moving on. The time has come. This is a good move by the Grizzlies. Now let's just hope the Grizz continue to win. Time will tell.

Ty 

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty Watches "Grand Crew" Season Two Finale and You Should Too

Season two of "Grand Crew" wrapped up last Friday. I watched the last two episodes of the season last night. Let’s discuss.

I really enjoyed how they closed out the second season. All the characters were given good arcs this season, I liked where everyone ended up and I would like to watch more. I really hope this show gets picked up for a third season. I feel like it is finding its stride right now. The show got consistently better from the pilot to now. Each actor is really nailing it, they do a wonderful job giving this ensemble separate storylines and the actors make this show so much fun to watch. I have written about the show before and it truly is a really solid throwback to sitcoms from the 90's. There are a plethora of jokes. The writing is top notch. The camaraderie on set seems genuine. I was overly impressed by what I watched last night, and for this whole second season quite frankly. And if it was still the 90's, there wouldn't be any doubt that it would be coming back for a third season.

"Grand Crew" is so much better than a good amount of shows that had multiple seasons in the 90's. But I fear not enough people are watching this show. I also fear people are catching it too late to matter when it streams on Peacock. I fully understand that that is what these networks want, but "Grand Crew" has the ability to have a long run. It is already a better show, in my opinion, than shows like "Young Sheldon" or pretty much anything on CBS. I truly believe it is NBC's best show right now. It is so much better than any reality show or dating show or gameshow. It is only outdone by shows on FX or premium cable. And those shows have free rein.

What makes "Grand Crew" a cut above is the fact they are pulling off so many jokes on a major network. Sitcoms usually do not get all the stuff off that they want. "Grand Crew" is seemingly doing what they want and that rules. I also love that they are giving more, lesser known, comedy people a shot on the show. Jacquis Neal had a two episode run this season. Colton Dunn was excellent in his run. Ronnie Adrian has been one of the funniest people on the whole show. They are giving funny, younger, unheard actors a real shot, and these actors are proving to be more than up to the task. As for the main characters, each and everyone of them is exceptional. They add so much to each other. They seem to like working with one another. They can play off one another. They can make joke after joke that hits each and every time. This is a stellar ensemble who can do great things with more chances.

"Grand Crew" is an excellent show. It is a throwback yet original show in every sense of the words. I hope it gets another season. The show has shown it deserves it. Go watch this show right now on Peacock. It is awesome and you will love it. I know I sure do. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Cocaine Bear"

I finally watched "Cocaine Bear" this weekend and it was everything I wanted it to be. The movie was violent, funny, silly, ridiculous and cool to see. I did not expect to see the best movie I have ever watched. I also did not expect to see the worst movie. It is what it is.

I saw what some critics had to say about the movie, but with certain critics you do not tend to take them seriously when they are talking about a movie like "Cocaine Bear". The movie is "based on a true story". Yes, a bear did ingest cocaine in the forest in the 80's, but not much is known about how that certain bear acted after ingesting said cocaine. This movie tries to give us a glimpse into what could happen if a bear were to ingest cocaine and go on a rampage. Elizabeth Banks did an exceptional job directing this odd, B movie. She knew exactly what she wanted and she gave it to us. I could say the same for the writers. I have to imagine, when asked to write a script about a bear ingesting cocaine, you kind of know what you are getting into. This movie didn't do any cliche stuff. Sure, there were good guys and bad guys. There were monologues. There was gore. But it was all done in fun and jest. I do not think anyone involved was taking this movie seriously.

Having said all of that, the actors did a tremendous job with the material they were given. And this cast is stacked with some very, very good actors. Matthew Rhys is in the very first scene and doesn't say a thing. But you see that he is doing something wrong and he is the reason why the cocaine ends up in the forest. Keri Russell is rocking the 80's clothing and doing a very good job of playing a distressed mother worried about her daughter. Her daughter, played by Brooklyn Prince is precocious, but not in a bad way. I enjoyed her journey. Her friend, played by Christian Convery, is goofy and funny and looks to be having a blast. He also has some great line reads. Margo Martindale is crushing it again as she does in every role she takes. She is so good as the park ranger. Jesse Tyler Ferguson is barely noticeable, but he is hilarious and his death scene is gruesome. The three punks who terrorize the ranger and the park are excellently cast and nail the job. And then we have O'Shea Jackson, Alden Ehrenreich and Ray Liotta. They are the drug guys in the movie. I do not know that anyone plays a better gangster than Liotta, may he rest in peace. Jackson has proven time and again how good of an actor he is, and he is excellent here. And Ehrenreich is the funniest part of the whole thing. His backstory and relationship with Liotta, who plays his dad, was hilarious. Isiah Whitlock Jr is great at playing a cop, and when he reads the line, "an apex predator on a whole lot of cocaine", I was in tears laughing. And Ayoola Smart, who was new to me, did a good job of being a good person gone bad. And then we have the bear. I mean, you could tell it was CGI, but it didn't matter. I loved how they made it seem like the bear knew exactly what it was doing. It felt like the bear had a plan. I was in for the fact that the bear wanted to continue to eat as much cocaine as it could get its hands on. The same can be said for the bear's cubs. They found some too and couldn't get enough. And the kills in this movie were gruesome and gross and, at times, hilarious. The music and mood of this movie, it takes place in the 80's, was pretty spot on.

I couldn't be happier with my decision to watch this movie. It was so perfect for what they were trying to do. My hat is off to Elizabeth Banks because she did a hell of a job directing something this wild. I whole heartedly recommend this movie. I may watch it again this week. 

Ty

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

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Jimmy Butler is a Playoff God

As all the NBA fans who read my blog have seen, I picked the Bucks to win the title this season. I thought they were the best team. They have the best player in the league. They had all their guys back pretty much fully healthy. They were the overall number 1 seed. They had home court throughout the playoffs. They were getting a seemingly disinterested Heat team. It all seemed in their favor. They even have the experience.

It didn't work out for Milwaukee. Giannis got hurt in game 1, missed two games and was not the same when he came back. Khris Middleton didn't look like himself. Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez looked tired. The bench didn't help at all. And the Heat saw this and took advantage. They jumped all over the Bucks. They played swarming defense. They made shots. Guy who barely played all year came in and did their job. This "bad news bears" esque squad came out, did what they do best and destroyed the Bucks. It only took them five games. They jumped out and got a stranglehold as soon as they could. It was jarring, but also kind of fun to watch.

Sure, I like the Bucks, Giannis is one of my favorite players, but this Heat team is fun when they are on. Kyle Lowry looked great in this series. He looked like the old Lowry. Kevin Love was tremendous off the bench. He looks like the missing ingredient. Duncan Robinson was one of the guys who barely saw the floor during the regular season, but due to injury, he was thrust in and did his job very well. Gabe Vincent was awesome. Max Struss looked good again. Erik Spoelstra was using every trick he had. And it all worked.

Yet the real killer in this series, the guy who always shows up when the lights are brightest, one of the most underrated players of all time, was Jimmy Butler. His series was amazing. This is some of the best basketball I have ever had the pleasure to watch. Butler was incredible and he did it all for the Heat. In the last two games he had 56 points and 46 points. He had decent assist numbers. He was rebounding the ball at a very high level. He was getting to the free throw line a bunch. He was making threes. He was guarding every star the Bucks have. Hell, he was insisting on it. He was making some of the wildest shots I've ever seen. This was a masterful performance by a guy that never gets mentioned when people talk about the best players in the league at this time. No one ever brings up Jimmy Butler. He is a better player right now than guys like Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray, Ja Morant, Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Jaylen Brown and James Harden. He is also a far, far superior playoff player still playing not named LeBron James. Butler is the heart and soul of this team. And when he is on, they are one of the best teams in the league. To watch what I just watched from him, I'm in awe. He was not going to let this team get beat. As soon as the Heat got a series lead, he smelled blood. And that is when Butler is at his best. I go back to his 56 point game as a point of reference. The Bucks seemed to be in control that whole game. I turned it back on near the end and the Bucks were up 10. They answered every shot. They never let it get too close, until Jimmy Butler decided it was time to take over. He made two big threes. He was getting to his spots. He hit every free throw he shot in the fourth quarter. He made plays in defense. And the Heat kept chipping away until they took the lead and eventually won. That would have been enough to cement him as an all time playoff great. But then he came out in game five, a closeout situation for them, and scored 46, looking every bit as good as he did in the previous game. Again, I was in awe. I couldn't believe my eyes. Jimmy Butler is amazing. He needs more shine.

Butler may rub some people the wrong way, but that dude shows up best when it matters most. Look at all the teams that let him go because they didn't like his "attitude". They are not as good as they were with him. Even the 76ers. Butler needs his shine and I will gladly drive this bandwagon. I may not be a fan of the Heat, but I am a superfan of Jimmy Butler. What a performance. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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Ty's 2023 NFL Draft Not Mock Draft

The first round of the NFL draft is tonight. This afternoon I'm going to do my version of a draft preview. I'm going to give you five prospects I really like, five I'm not so high on, and like a fanboy, I'm going to give you my favorite Michigan player and the one I think will have the best NFL career. This is not a mock draft or anything like that. This is my preview, what I see and where I would pick these players, or not pick. I'll get to the Miami Heat tomorrow, I promise.

This class is stacked with QB prospects. They are up and down the board. I have seen so many QB's being mocked in round 1, especially in the top 10. I like most of them, except who I will name in my second half today, but CJ Stroud is the best. I think he has all the intangibles that one could want. He is big, has a great arm, can run and looks the part. I don't buy into any of these "questions" surrounding him right now. All the Wonderlic stuff, and the test taking stuff doesn't matter to me. I watched him play a lot of football the past two years, and as much as it hurts the Michigan fan in, this dude is legit. He is the QB I would want most of all.

On the defensive side of the ball I am enamored with Will Anderson Jr from Alabama. He is this year's Aidan Hutchinson. He is an instant wrecker in the backfield. He is the most pro ready prospect. He is so big and so fast and so dominant. He may, and should, be the front runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year before even stepping on the field.

Devon Witherspoon is as legit a corner prospect as I have seen in awhile. I didn't know much about him until Illinois played Michigan this year, but I came away impressed with what I saw. He was shut down. Michigan stopped throwing his way. He was on an island because of the blitzing nature of their defense, but he more than lived up to the task. If the Lions somehow get him, their defense is going to be elite. This kid is awesome and any team inside the top 10 would be lucky to have him on their team.

I fully believe that Jordan Addison is the best wideout in this draft. He put up numbers at Pitt and USC. He won the Biletnikoff two seasons ago. He was the number one option for Caleb Williams last season. He is fast and sure handed. He reminds me of Devonta Smith. This kid can ball.

Finally, Jalen Carter is going to wreck stuff in the NFL. He is humongous. It will take two dudes to block him in his rookie year. He was massive for Georgia last season. He kept that defense dominant. He dominated the SEC for two straight years. This kid can really play and he is the second best d lineman behind only Anderson Jr in this draft.

Now for the guys I'm not so high on.

I mentioned all the QB's, Will Levis is not that dude. He is wildly overrated. I remember reading about another Kentucky QB who was going to save the NFL. That QB was Tim Couch. I get those vibes from Levis big time. He also puts mayo in his coffee. Gross.

I am not sold on Jaxson Smith Njigba. He was awesome in college, but he missed a ton of time last year and it didn't look like he was missed all that much. He is also very undersized. He also didn't really show out in prime time games. I don't know what it is with him, but I get a feeling he will not be much of an NFL player.

Zay Flowers is too little and played in a crap conference. I know smaller guys are getting more of a shot at wideout, especially in the slot, but Flowers is so, so small. He is only six inches taller than my 11 year old son. He is fast, and has good hands, but how will he react when he is exploded on by a defensive back with a head of steam? I hope he learns how to catch and fall, but 5'9 is 5'9. I'd love to be proven wrong, like how Barry Sanders proved everyone wrong, but the NFL is different now. That is so small.

Michael Mayer is too slow. I would see him run routes and blow up college defenses. But that was college, against ACC teams. He will be getting covered by the best linebackers and safeties in the world. And they will cut him down at the knees the moment he catches the ball. He won't be able to stay on the field in the NFL.

And then we have Lukas Van Ness. I mean, how many other Iowa defensive ends are we going to trust? They have one decent college season, get overdrafted and then are out of the league. How is Van Ness any different? He is not Micah Parsons, he is not Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker. He doesn't have that motor. I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

Back to good talk. As for my Michigan guy I like, it is Ronnie Bell. Bell was a guy who recovered from a very public drop to win a game four years ago to have his best season. He came back from a torn ACL and was the most productive receiver on the team last season. He was the veteran voice they needed in that locker room. He was an excellent and reliable punt returner. He was also the consummate team player. He did what was asked when it was asked and never complained. He is a Michigan legend in my eyes and I think he is going to have a long and fruitful NFL career. Wherever he gets drafted, that team is going to love him. He will probably start on special teams and continually work his way up to be his team's best slot receiver. I fully believe that.

Enjoy the draft and good luck to all the kids that will be picked over these next four days.

Ty

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

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The Austin Powers Movies are Comedy Classics

I was listening to some people discuss "Austin Powers" earlier today and it got me thinking. I loved those movies. I even kind of liked the third movie a little bit. I was instantly in on the movies, the characters and goofiness of the whole thing. I was also a big time "SNL" fan back in the day, so to see Mike Myers doing a skit based movie was all I needed. I get that Austin Powers was never on "SNL" also, but it would have worked had it been done on the show.

Hearing the people discuss it on the podcast really got me thinking. They asked each other if they had shown the movies to their kids yet. They hadn't and that got me thinking if I would show it to my kids. I think I would. The jokes would fly over their heads, and they may not be as into it as I would hope, but I think they might have fun with it. My son would probably be a bit more on board with it. He likes goofier stuff, just like me.

But that is not the point of my blog today. I think, since it has been nearly 30 years since the first movie was released, that the "Austin Powers" trilogy might be a tad underrated. This was the first time I heard other people around my age talking about the movie in probably a decade. I snuck into the first movie because I was so hyped to see it. I went to the second one on opening day and took my dad and brother to see the third when it came out. I was fully in on this franchise. I loved everything they did and were doing at the time. I thought that those movies were going to stand the test of time. And they have for me. But I don't think that is the case for everyone else. I also do not think this movie gets the recognition it rightfully deserves. There have always been parody movies. "Airplane", "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "Spaceballs" were out before "Austin Powers" came out. And I adore those movies. I am a fan. But "Austin Powers" really hammered home my love for these parody movies. It was joke after joke after joke and they were all hitting. I still refer to "Austin Powers" when I have to back out of a tight space in my car. People are still saying his lines to this day. I think these movies are just as memorable as "Borat" as far as quoting lines. I can turn on a random podcast and hear people say one of Austin's lines and it will make me laugh. But no one ever seems to mention the movie, or the fact that a bunch of parody movies came after people saw the success of "Austin Powers". "Austin Powers" also introduced me to a bunch of stars. I never knew who Elizabeth Hurley was before the first one. Heather Graham was in my consciousness, but this is far and away my favorite performance from here in the second movie. Beyonce was big, but not as big as she is now when she starred in the third movie. And then we have the guest stars. People like Rob Lowe, Mimi Rogers, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Will Ferrell, Seth Green, Vern Troyer, Mindy Sterling, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Caine and Scott Aukermann just to name a few. That is quite the list if you ask me.

These movies work on every level. They are so good, so fun, so funny and perfect parody movies. They really opened my eyes to how good a true parody movie could be. I wish more people would recognize that these are some of the best comedies to ever be released. Go rewatch the movies and see for yourself. They are more than worth your time. 

Ty

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

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Aaron Rodgers is Finally Out of Green Bay

The Packers finally, mercifully, traded Aaron Rodgers. This was going to happen. We all knew it. Let’s discuss.

I wrote a few weeks back that the Packers should hold out for the best possible offer. But no matter what this was going down. I thought it may stretch into draft night, but that didn't happen. The Packers got a ton of picks, the Jets got the QB they wanted and kept a first round pick this year and everyone can wash their hands of this now. It happened, it is over, Jets fans are excited and Packers fans can move on.

As for the Jets, I think they may be a bit ahead of themselves right now. Rodgers is better than what they have, that is for sure. But he is 40. He is weird. He is a headcase. He thinks he runs the franchise he plays for. He complains about everything and everyone. It is never his fault, it is always on someone else. But he is still a solid QB, the Jets have a decent run game and their defense is elite. But they also play in the same division as the Dolphins and Bills. They are also in the same conference with the Chiefs, Bengals, Ravens and the aforementioned Bills. It is going to be tough. I am not even sure they are a playoff team. They will be better, but the fans may also get sick of Rodgers and his nonsense very, very fast. Also, I cannot wait for his dumbass to say something wild and watch the media in New York roast him. His response will be hilarious and interesting.

The Packers can finally go with Jordan Love. I have been saying they should do that for the past couple of years. I have been ready to move on for a while. I have been saying that I was ready for this team to see what they have with Love and figure out if they need to do something else or move on.

I am also happy to say to people that I am a Packers fan again. It felt dirty the past couple of years. When Rodgers showed his true colors I was turned off. He was being lionized by some in the media and that bummed me out too. I cannot stand Pat McAfee, and everytime Rodgers was on his show he would say something wild. And because I follow the Packers I would see headlines about it. I don't have to deal with that anymore. The Jets fans can have that. Look, it got bad enough with Rodgers the past couple of years that I contemplated rooting for a new team. I was thinking of going inter divisional and rooting for the Lions. I was also thinking about skipping out on the NFL all together until playoff time and just being even more focused on college football. I don't have to worry about that stuff anymore. I am oddly excited to see how they look with Jordan Love. I want to see if AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones become a more dynamic backfield. That rookie wideout they had last season who played really well, I like that he is still there. I could see them going with a wideout in the first round this year and building with youth. I'd love that. I also think they could get a QB in the later rounds this year to stash and learn. I also think that Green Bay is a desirable spot because of its history in the league.

This is the first time in a long time that I am pumped to watch the NFL and the Packers. I know, deep down, that they are going to be truly bad, but who cares. Every team goes through a phase like this. The Lions were very moribound. They look very good now. The Vikings won the division last year, but I could see a dip from them. And the Bears have been very bad, but they were a perennial playoff team just a few years ago, and I think they may be on the come up. It is now the Packers turn to have a down year. And who knows, maybe Love is legit and they stay relevant. That would be icing on the cake.

Anyway I'm glad it is over and we can all move on. Rodgers is a dummy and he is now the Jets problem. And Green Bay can really see what they have with Jordan Love. All the teams and fans win. Hooray. 

Ty

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

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Ty Plays "MLB The Show"

You all know I'm not the biggest video game player in the world. I like some of them, but I usually grow tired of them quickly and find myself goofing off on the game, or out and out not playing it at all. The only two video games that I currently play with any regularity are NBA 2k and Mario Kart. I will always love NCAA Football. That is the greatest video game ever in my opinion. And games like NBA Jam, NBA Street, early editions of Madden and Crash Bandicoot will always hold a place in my heart.

My son has gotten back into baseball as of late. His little league started, he has been not so afraid of the ball and he seems to be having fun. The other day he wanted to buy a baseball game but he didn't have enough money. Like any 11 year old, he got one of his grandparents to buy him the game as an "early 5th grade graduation" gift. That game is MLB The Show for the Nintendo Switch.

He instantly loved the game. He kept telling me to play the game. He had a friend over the other day, and that friend has no interest in sports, so he didn't want to play the game. My wife has zero interest and I can say the same for my daughter. But I finally relented. I decided I was ready to give it a try yesterday. I had some free time in the afternoon and loaded up the game.

I was shocked at how much I found myself enjoying the game. I do play it on the easiest level right now, so I can learn how to play. But what struck me was the smoothness of the gameplay. It is a little easier to hit and pitch. I can locate the ball where I want when I'm pitching. While hitting it is all about timing. The ball is going to be most likely over the plate, but you still have to time it properly and watch the ball. But having the sense that the pitch is going to be most likely over the plate, I am ready to swing. I love that.

During the pandemic I tried playing other baseball games. I got the new edition of RBI Baseball. That was next to impossible for me to hit. The pitches were fast and wild and just crazy. I tried older versions of games I used to like and they weren't the same. They were too easy or too tough. There was no in between. Then I just forgot about any baseball game really. I played one of my phone for a few months, but then I let that go because I was bored with it. But two games into MLB The Show I am in. I like this game. I like hitting and pitching equally. I am having fun figuring out who some of these new players are that my son is into. I barely know anything about the MLB anymore, and that is a bummer. I used to love baseball. It was the sport I played and followed the most. Then it got boring after I stopped playing. That meant the video games held no weight for me. But MLB The Show is different. It is cool. It is more fun. There is cooler stuff to do in the game. The whole creating a player feature is dope. I haven't gotten into that part yet, but my son has and he has shown me his player's progress. That is cool. Then I got to watch him play as his created player and the story surrounding the game was cool too.

I am in on this video game. It is changing my perception on baseball video games. I think, if they stay like this, they may make it in my limited video game rotation. MLB The Show is a very good, very fun sports video game. 

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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The League was Wrong to Suspend Draymond Green

The Warriors had a must win game last night and they did just that. They won the game. They won by a lot. And they made this series with the Kings look a whole lot different.

Things could've been much worse for the kings. Draymond Green was suspended for this game. I'm sure you all have seen or heard why he was suspended. He "stomped" on Domantas Sabonis, the league decided they needed to set an example and Green was the perfect person to do this with. He has a past. He has been suspended for big playoff games before. He is a noted agitator. Go ask Steven Adams or LeBron James. They will tell you exactly what you want to know about him. Green is a dirty player who makes no excuses for his dirty play. I am not a fan of his at all. One, he is a Michigan State grad. Two, he is a dickhead. Three, he has been uplifted by the perfect situation for his style of play and been surrounded by great players. But he has earned the right to be talked about as a hall of fame player. I think he belongs. I think he is a very important part of this Warriors dynasty. He is the modern unicorn and one of the best defensive players to ever play the game. He is also one of the smartest players to play the game. So the Warriors got lucky, they got the win with him out and they kept this series interesting. But I don't think he should have been suspended.

I think this was the wrong move by the NBA. I think they reacted too swiftly and didn't really think about all that went into the suspension. I think they saw the "stomp", they saw it was Draymond and they went from there. Hell, they said as much in their press release. But go back and watch the play. At first glance I thought Draymond was in the wrong and I believed he should have been ejected from that game. That would have been the best punishment the league could have given him and we all could have moved on from there. But when you go back and watch the play, Sabonis is clearly grabbing his leg. Draymond is trying to get back on defense, the Kings have been running the whole time so far, but his forward momentum was being impeded upon. Sabonis grabbed him and wouldn't let go. The "stomp" was a bit much, but put yourself in that situation. Sit back and think back to a rec game that you may have played in your lifetime. What would you do if someone was grabbing you? You'd find a way to get out of that hold I assume. I know I would wiggle my leg until I got free, and if that didn't work, I might resort to a "stomp". Again, what Draymond did to get free was dirty, and he was ejected, but how can you see this and not think that Sabonis had something to do with it? Sabonis is a dirty player himself. He throws elbows all the time. He whips the ball in people's faces and, as the Warriors stated, uses it as a weapon. He is always grabbing a kicking and trying to bait other guys into technical fouls. And it worked with Draymond the other night, but the suspension was uncalled for. Sabonis wasn't hurt. I know the team said he had "sternum contusions", but I don't buy that for a second. Draymond didn't "stomp" him that hard. And if they suspended Draymond why didn't they do anything to Sabonis? Why wasn't he suspended? Where is his fine? He didn't get a flagrant called on him. It is unfair.

The Warriors had every right to be upset. Draymond, again, a guy I personally do not enjoy, did not deserve this. Why make an example of him now? What good does that do? This was a bogus suspension and the NBA should be grateful it didn't mess up this fun series so far. Had the Warriors gone down 3-0 this would have a different tone today.

All in all the league needs to chill on this. The fact that Draymond got suspended for his "stomp", but neither Embiid nor Harden got suspended for what they did last night is a joke. This league, while great in most aspects, and is the best professional sports league by a wide margin, messed up here. They need to own up to this mistake and be better the next time. This was an unwarranted and unfair decision they ended up with. Luckily for them the Warriors won last night. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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