"Fargo" Created a Television Masterpiece

Last week's episode of "Fargo" was something incredible. I was in awe watching that hour of television.

"Fargo" is one of the better shows on tv. I loved the movie, and when a tv show was announced, I was skeptical. But then the show came out and it is even better than I could have imagined. I liked season four, and that one gets some hate online. I thought it was good. But this most recent season has been a return to form if you will. They went back to the basics, probably brought back some original writers, and they have made something special. And, as said before, last week's episode was a triumph.

The episode in question we got to see Dot's, Juno Temple, backstory. We have been given little hints here and there about why she is doing what she is doing, and how she may have gained some of her vast knowledge. But nothing was ever really definitive. We got that last week. The episode sees Dot going on a mission to find someone to help her. She needs to let the world know that her ex-husband is a bad, bad person. We see her driving a bunch and nearly falling asleep at the wheel multiple times. She eventually ends up at a diner where she can eat and rest. This is where the episode goes from good to great. When Dot is done eating she finds her way to a community of abused women working and living together. This is where she finds Linda, the woman she has been looking for for help. But, before Linda will leave with her, she wants Dot to tell her story. She wants Dot to connect with the other women in the shelter. When Dot first gets to the commune, she sees a show featuring puppets. The show is harrowing. It is tough to watch. It is also heartbreaking. Dot takes this in and passes out. It is probably from no sleep, but maybe the truth in the story also knocks her out. We then see her journey making her own doll. When she finally tells her story, it is more depressing and tough and uncomfortable than the initial story we saw. Dot tells of a time when she was 15 and ran away from home. She was on her own and this lady Linda takes her in. We find out Linda is married to the bad guy that Dot is after, played by Jon Hamm. We see Hamm's character abusing and taking advantage of Dot. He abuses her sexually and physically. He takes advantage of her. He forces marriage upon her. All the while Dot is using dolls to tell this harrowing and rough story. The way they used these dolls was amazing. I couldn't take my eyes off screen. We see these dolls, but eventually they become real to me. I spoke with my mom, who worked in a battered women and children shelter, and she let me know this is a real therapy that is used. That makes this episode even better. After the story, Dot gets Linda to go with her and they are on their way to get Hamm. But, it turns out this was all a dream while she was waiting for her food. It was a "Wizard of Oz" scenario.

The episode ends on a very bleak note, and I have not yet watched the newest episode yet. But this episode was incredible and one of the best written pieces of content that has come out in a long, long time. I highly recommend watching this show, and being amazed at the brevity and genius behind Dot's story. It is a wonderful and incredibly well done piece of television. 

Ty

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

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Better Never than Late on "The Dial of Destiny"

Over the weekend my wife and I watched the newest "Indiana Jones" movie. I believe the subtitle is, "The Dial of Destiny". I say I believe because we did not manage to finish the movie.

This is a long, long movie. The runtime, I looked it up, is 2 hours and 37 minutes. That is far, far too long for a movie like this. I do have to say, I have only seen two previous "Indiana Jones" movies prior to this, one of which is "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". That movie is a pile of garbage. It is nonsensical, poorly written, the actors seem to have mailed it in and it is just plain bad. The other "Indiana Jones" movie I saw prior to this is "Temple of Doom", and I was young and do not remember much. I have heard people say it is good, but I honestly could not tell you my feelings on it. I have zero recollection. So going into "Dial of Destiny", I had no real expectations. We turned it on and we watched almost all of it.

RD talked to me about the movie on the podcast recently, and I remembered him saying that the action scenes were too long. I scoffed at this. I didn't think an action sequence could be overlong. Well, "Dial of Density" proved RD right and me wrong. The action pieces in this movie are big and expensive looking, but man oh man are they far, far too long. I was watching and thinking, a la Milhouse, "when are they going to get to the fireworks factory". The sequences go on and on and on and on. They seemingly have no end in sight. They would take a slight break to reset the scene, but then it would start up and go on and on again. The opening scene of the movie is an action piece on a train. It should be exciting and fun, but the fact that it goes on for nearly eight minutes is absurd. I didn't realize they could overstuff action like they did. And the deaging digital technique they used on Harrison Ford looked odd. It looked as if the head on the body was going to fall off. He eats food in one scene and it just looks odd. I couldn't make heads or tails of what I was seeing.

I also should mention that I had no idea that this movie was taking place in the 60's. I assumed, wrongly, that this movie was in the present time. This is my ignorance due to only seeing two movies, but it confused me nonetheless. I didn't understand Indy talking about his kid dying in the war. I didn't know what war he was referencing. They showed protesters, but I didn't know what they were protesting. I was confused.

The story was convoluted as well. His old partner's daughter comes into play. She is a grifter who ends up helping Indy, alongside her kid friend. There is time travel. No one acts surprised about said time travel, except for Mads Mikkelsen, who is way miscast here. He is a bad dude too, so I have zero feelings for his grief anyway. When we checked to see how much time was left, which was twenty minutes, we decided to call it there. They were in the past era, Indy and Phoebe Waller Bridge had no real freakouts about where they were, the bad guys had died in a plane crash and I fully didn't care how the movie ended. My wife said, "I'm sure it all works out for all of them", and I'm certain she is right.

I like Harrison Ford. I enjoy his acting. "Blade Runner" may be the best movie ever made, and Ford's acting is awesome. But "Dial of Destiny" is a miss. This movie was too long, too boring and took too long to get the point. I know I won't end up finishing it either. 

Ty

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

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Why is There A Giant Pop Tart All Over the College Football Bowl Scene

During the college football bowl season, outside of the playoff, the bowl games are kind of useless. We have opt outs, the transfer portal opens before the games start, coaches take new job, players graduate, there are so many outside distractions, it makes these games nearly unwatchable.

Oklahoma played without Dillon Gabriel last night. Miami was down to their third string QB, who redshirted this season. Tulane had four or five key guys sit or transfer. Notre Dame is down to a third string QB today. Florida State had upwards of 20 players transfer or opt out. You see what I mean? But, what these bowl games tend to do well is market themselves. I know who wins the Duke's Mayo Bowl every year now because the coach gets doused in mayonnaise, which is gross. The Pinstripe Bowl really goes hard into the Yankees and playing at Yankee stadium angle. It seems to be the same thing with the bowl game at Fenway. The Sun Bowl has a big sun, with a smile on its face, as its mascot. A good amount of these games, or the sponsors of these games that is, have mascots. It is all in good fun. I get it. But the mascot that I am already done with, and ready for it to be retired is the pop tart from whatever bowl game Pop Tarts is the sponsor of this year.

Anytime I went to check scores of the games last night, that damn mascot was there. Anytime I read a story, that damn mascot was featured. Hell, even when I checked on stuff from the games today, the Pop Tarts mascot was front and center. I like pop tarts. I do think they are a viable, quick breakfast option. I know they don't offer much in the way of nutrition, but they taste good. They give you the boost you need to start the day. But putting actual pop tarts in the trophy, what the hell is that nonsense? Why do that? Is the whole team, of damn near 100 players, supposed to share two pop tarts? I know these are pointless questions, and I'm sure that the Pop Tart company gave the players and coaches some nice swag. But still, to make this a whole ass story, come on. I read today that the mascot was made of real Pop Tarts. That is nuts. That is stupid. That is gross. And again, who is supposed to eat this thing? I would guess the winning team is supposed to consume the mascot, but why? Also, I have to imagine the person inside the costume is sweaty and gross. I bet they have a protective layer on, hopefully covering up the pop tart, but still, sweat can leak through. I wear wicking undershirts when I run in the winter to keep me warm and protect the sweat from making me chafe. But guess what, it still finds its way through the layers. I still get sweat on my outer most layer. I would think that the same thing is happening within the mascot suit and the edible part of the mascot suit. That is vile. Also, a pop tart seems like the last thing an athlete would want to eat after playing a four hour football game. I don't know.

I know this is a stupid complaint, but it is a complaint nonetheless, and I have a platform to gripe about these half baked ideas. I get that you have to keep your bowl games, outside the New Years six and the CFP, but this is a bridge too far for me. 

Ty

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

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The NBA Has Never Seen a Team as Bad as These Pistons

When the Philadelphia 76ers were in their "process era", I thought they were the worst professional sports franchise. They played with no fire, they weren't competitive and it felt like they knew they had little to no chance when they entered a basketball arena against another professional basketball team. There was no direction. They had no plan other than trying to get the first overall pick. It was frustrating to watch. Having said all of that, I think the 2023 version of the Detroit Pistons may be a worse basketball team.

The Pistons have, on paper, talented basketball players. They have Monty Williams, who I fully believe is a very good basketball coach. They have veterans and young guys that, again on paper, should compliment each other. But it just isn't working. They started the year 2-1. I saw a little bit of their first game and thought they had enough to win 30-32 games this year. I thought they had something to build on for next season after, most likely, securing another lottery pick in 2024. Well, they have now been beaten 27 straight times. That is an NBA record. They are, without a doubt, the worst basketball team in the NBA.

I do not think any college team could beat a professional team, but I would be lying if I didn't say that my son and I have both talked about some college teams, Purdue and Arizona mainly, that could make it closer than it should be. I have also thought that G League Ignite or one of the better G League teams may be able to actually beat them. That is absurd, but the Pistons are so inept, so lost, so bad that it is not out of the question.

When I look at their roster, and see some of the talent, this baffles me. I am a big Cade Cunningham fan. I fully believe he is going to be a solid NBA starter on a good team. He can score in bunches. But he doesn't play any defense. He also looks bored and disinterested at times on the floor. And he is always hurt. Jaden Ivey is a very skilled guard. He is fast, can get to the hoop and can create shots. But he can be too fast sometimes. He also took a big step back and was benched earlier this year. Jalen Duren is awesome. He is going to be dominant when he gets more time and more experience. But he is young and he is often injured. Ausar Thompson looks like a very decent lottery pick. He is going to need time, but he more than passes the eye test. But he cannot hit the broad side of a barn right now. Bojan Bogdanovic is too old, missing too many shots and looks like he wants to be gone. James Wiseman, who I loved in his draft, is a bust. There, I said it. Isaiah Stewart is too prone to fouling. Killian Hayes needs a change of scenery and a bench role. Marvin Bagley is another bust. Marcus Sasser should be starting, but isn't for some unknown reason. Alec Burks and Joe Harris are beyond washed up. Kevin Knox is their third true bust. At the top of the roster, with the young guys, they have talent but it is not translating at the moment. And they need it to be figured out ASAP.

2-28 is just a horrendous record. It is so bad that you cannot even laugh at it. I feel sorry for the players. I feel sorry for Monty Williams. But they are doing this to themselves. They are 28th out of 30 teams scoring in the NBA. They are 20th in rebounding. They are 26th in opponents points per game. Those are all horrendously awful team stats. And the schedule doesn't get any easier. They have Boston tonight, Toronto after that, then Houston. It may be a long while before they win again. Their best bet right now is January 10th when they face the Spurs, who have double the amount of wins that the Pistons have.

Something's gotta give because they should not be this bad. But boy oh boy are the Detroit Pistons really, really bad. 

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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Adventures with My New Aero Press

During the holiday season my wife and I were gifted an aero press.

For people who may not know what that is, it is a mini coffee maker. We both like our coffee. Be it hot or cold, we each have some every day. I prefer my Chemex over every other method, but I am not opposed to trying different methods of brewing coffee. I really like to try many different ways. I like to see how different it tastes. I like to go through the process.

I am a relatively new coffee drinker, ever since my son was born, so trying all these things is fun for me at the moment. So when we got this aero press, I had no clue what it was. My wife told me she had heard of them, but she was confused as well. I was out at lunch with my folks and my brother and sister in law and my sister in law was telling my dad and I about some of her coworkers that use an aero press. This was the push I needed to try this thing out. It is also snowing here in the STL today, so all the more reason for a warm drink in the afternoon.

The aero press couldn't have been easier to use. All you have to do is fill a beaker like thing with coffee, tamp it down over a good mug, add water and use the press to push the coffee through a mini filter. It took me all of 5 minutes to make a cup. And that cup was one of the better cups of coffee I have had in a long time. Ever since I got my Chemex I'm really into no grounds in my coffee. It is a small comfort for me, and a champagne problem, believe me, I know. But no grounds is the way to go. Chemex accomplishes that. But this aero press may do it even better. This was, quite possibly, the smoothest cup of coffee I've ever had. I tried it with no additions, and while very, very strong, it was so smooth. It went down easier than I thought. When I added a little cream and sweetner, I could still taste the coffee very well. That is a feather in its cap. My wife got me a coffee of the month subscription for our anniversary, and the coffee for December is from Rwanda. It says it has hints of rose, dark chocolate and mint. I could taste all of that even with the added flavors. When I tasted the coffee before editing it, those flavors sang even more. I was highly impressed how well the flavor came through. I adore my Chemex, but the aero press makes the coffee taste even better. I was stunned.

I am a Chemex coffee drinker, and that will not change. I can do some cool stuff with the Chemex. I make my tonic, fresh orange juice and coffee strictly with that kitchen accessory. But for hot cups of coffee, I think the aero press will become my go to. I was floored by how easy and how damn tasty the coffee turned out. I don't know what I was expecting, but this exceeded any I may have had coming into making this first cup.

I definitely recommend getting an aero press if you are any level coffee drinker. It will make you one of the best cups you've had to date. 

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 “Wonka”

Before the holidays my daughter and I went to see the movie "Wonka". She is a big, big fan of the original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". She has stated many times that it is her favorite movie. She also loves the Roald Dahl book. She has read it on her own, and we have read it together. She has not seen the Tim Burton version, but I don't like that one, so it is not like we are pushing it on her. But, when she went to see the Taylor Swift concert movie she saw a preview for "Wonka" and mentioned it to me. We also took her and a friend a while back to see the movie "Elemental" and we saw another preview for "Wonka". That time she was much more emphatic about seeing the movie. So when the strike ended and they released the movie, she asked me to take her on opening day. I was more than happy to oblige.

I got us tickets and we made our way on the 15th. I really had little idea about the plot, but I love the original movie myself and the book, so I was ready to give it a chance. I do enjoy Timothee Chamalet as well, so it was not a hard sell.

I have to say, I found myself really enjoying this movie. It was light and breezy. The songs were fun and catchy. The acting was well delivered and well done. The direction had this warm feeling to it. I liked everyone in the movie, even the bad guys. My daughter was smiling with delight while we watched. When Hugh Grant showed up as the main Oompa Loompa, my daughter looked over at me and exclaimed, "dad! The Oompa Loompas are in the movie!". She was on cloud 9.

I have read and heard a few things negative about Chamalet's singing in the movie. I thought he did a fine job. I also read that people don't like the fact that they made the character of Willy Wonka into a nice, likeable person. This is a prequel. This is a fictional story. This is how Wonka got his factory and how he rose to fame. This is before all the stuff that involves running a business got into Wonka's mind and soul. He is just a kid in this movie. I find it kind of odd that some random people on the planet will find anything to complain about, even a milquetoast, on purpose, movie like "Wonka".

After seeing the movie and reading some facts about it on IMDB, I found out the people that made it are the people behind the "Paddington" movies. That makes too much sense. While the "Paddington" movies are better, "Wonka" has the same groove and familiar feel that those movies bring. These movies make you feel warm and cozy inside. You leave the theater in a good mood. You want to do things to make the world a better place. The movies also let you feel your feelings. I teared up at "Wonka". I sobbed at "Paddington". I also find myself laughing at certain points, being a little scared and a little anxious, all in a good way.

I really loved this movie. I definitely recommend seeing it, especially if you have little kids. 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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Best of 2023 - Sports

Finishing my week of best of lists, today I have my personal top 5 sports moments. Sports are a big deal to me. I love sports. I have played and been involved in sports for as long as I can remember. I love college football, basketball and playing and coaching my son in baseball. I'm all in as a runner now as well. Sports are important to me and I'm happy about that.

At number 5 I have Courtney Duwalter's excellent trail running season in 2023. She did some amazing things in some of the toughest trail races in the world this year. She set records, crushed goals and continues to be an inspiration. This year she won Western States, a 100 mile trail race. Then, to outdo herself, she won Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc. She also won Hardrock 100 earlier in the year. She set records in these races. She was also voted trail runner of the year. She did some of the most amazing things in trail running that I have ever witnessed from afar. And she did it with a smile on her face. Duwalter is the best trail runner in the world and she is only entering her prime. I'm excited to see so much more from her in the future.

At number 4 I have the Miami Heat's improbable run to the 2023 NBA Finals. They entered the playoffs as a play in team. They got beat by the Hawks in the 7-8 matchup. The Bulls, who were bad last year, held a late lead in the final play in matchup, only for the Heat to make a push and secure the 8 seed. They then proceeded to crush the 1 seed Buck, 4-1. They beat the Knicks in six games, but Jimmy Butler missed two of those games. They then went up 3-0 on the Celtics, only for the Celtics to tie the series. The Heat ended up running away with game 7, which was in Boston, to go to the Finals as an 8 seed that barely made the playoffs. The Nuggets beat them handily, but that run they had was very special. Jimmy Butler proved his worth in the playoffs. Bam Adebayo proved how good of a defender and low post player he can be. Duncan Robinson found his form. Caleb Martin played so well that he has forced himself into a starting role. And Erik Spoelstra showed us all why he is one of the greatest coaches to ever do it. I've never been a fan of the Heat, but I've never disliked them either. And this run was a total blast to watch as a fan of the NBA.

At 3 I have the Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl. This game was pretty amazing. It started on a cool note too, with the Kelce Brothers playing each other, having two black starting QB's and an all black officiating crew. The game more than lived up to the hype too. These were the two best teams in the 2022 season, so it was fitting that they met in the championship game. Mahomes and Hurts went back and forth. Each team would go on efficient and fun scoring drives. The defenses made plays when they needed to. The refs did get involved a bit too much, but I was able to push past that since the on field competition was so elite. I had a blast watching the game and it was made so much better by how competitive and exciting it ended up being.

At 2 I have Michigan football winning the Big 10 for a third straight season. This was the first time in this run that I had high hopes and expectations from this football team. They lived up to them. I was skeptical of the schedule, but when they played the good teams, they beat them pretty handily. The Penn State final score was much closer than the actual game. They were up two scores early on Ohio State, and even when they came back and tied Michigan, I was never really worried. They then easily dispatched Iowa in the Big 10 title game. Add on all the off field "drama", this team showed maturity and an ability to close out the outside noise. The early season suspension of Jim Harbaugh was dumb, but not as dumb as the whole sign stealing thing. That was ridiculous, every team does it and these coaches that act like they don't, they are lying to us all. To see Michigan shut it all out, win games with relative ease all season long and end the regular season number 1, that was pretty dope for me as a fan. I'm excited, and nervous, for the playoff now.

Finishing my top sports moments, at number 1 I have the growth my son has made as a football player, particularly on the offensive line. My son has been playing tackle football for two years now. I was incredibly nervous when he started to play, and although I am still a ball of nerves when he plays, he is very, very into football, and he is getting pretty damn good at it too. He switched from d line to o line this season, and he has become a changed player. He had plays this year where he would maul a d lineman on the opposing team and I didn't believe it was my kid. He is a goofy, fun loving, sweet kid. But when he was on that football field, at certain moments, he was a blocking machine. He would pancake a player and then move on to another defender to block. He would get excited when he, or anyone on the o line, would make a block that would spring a big run. It is cool to see him play a sport he loves and to excel at said sport. He even missed time this year with a bruised collarbone, and his coaches would tell me how much they could use him as soon as he was cleared to play. And when he was cleared to return, he was inserted back into his starting o line spot.

That does it for my best ofs. I really enjoy writing these every year. They're a blast. Thank you for indulging me. 

Ty

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

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Best of 2023 - Podcasts

Podcasts have been a pretty big part of my life for the past decade. I started to listen to them when I was still a lab tech. I found them to be as soothing and funny as some talk radio that I listened to. I even co host a podcast with RD now. I love them and listen to many different pods and I enjoy my time with them. They are one of my main sources of entertainment. So coming up with a top 5 list was easy and hard. It was easy because there were tons to choose from, but that also made it tougher than my other lists. With all that being said, podcasts are here to stay and I'm here for it.

At number 5 I have my introduction to "Normal Gossip" on a road trip this last summer. I have not returned to it since, but that podcast during that road trip made the eight hour drive fly by. For people who don't know this podcast, it is about random little gossip tales from all over the world. The stories are trite and pointless, but that is what makes it so good for a road trip. I would find myself taking sides and trying to come up with little stories I would tell to the hosts. I became so involved in these stories. I would talk to my wife about her feelings. Even our son started to get involved in the conversations. It was a great way to pass time while sitting in a car and seeing nothing but cornfields for miles and miles. I may revisit this podcast in the future, my wife still listens. But I do know that when we go on a road trip this summer, I will recommend that we listen to more of "Normal Gossip". It is the best kind of comfort food.

At number 4 I have "Expo Expose". This was a five part podcast mini series hosted by Jacob Wysocki and Matt Apodaca in which they went to expos and talked about them. They went to a reptile expo, they went to a gun expo, they went to an anime expo and each listen was incredibly intriguing. I have never been to an expo, it has never been on my radar. But after listening to Wysocki and Apodaca talk about them, maybe I will end up at one some day. I found myself really getting into the shows and regurgitating what I heard to my wife. I was enamored with the people they interviewed, be it attendant or worker. I liked hearing the vendors talk about the goods they were selling. I enjoyed the way Wysocki and Apodaca would break down each visit at the end of each episode. This was a podcast I gave a chance to and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed the podcast and think more and more people should check it out. It was fascinating.

At number 3 I have "Bombing with Eric Andre". I'm an Eric Andre fan, so the fact that he has a pod where he talks to other comedians about bombing, I'm all in. The shows are great too. Andre has a friend on and they talk about a time they bombed, seeing a bomb and the most wasted they've ever been on stage. The conversations end up going in many different directions, but that makes it even better. To give this show more credit, each episode is 30 minutes or less. That is a great amount of time for a show like this. I feel like this podcast started due to the writers and actors strike, so I don't know how much longer it will be around. I hope it stays around for a while because I'm enjoying the hell out of it.

At 2 I have the "First Wives Club" episode of "Scott Hasn't Seen". "Scott Hasn't Seen" is a podcast I listen to every Friday right when it comes out. I love this show. For this particular episode, Scott and Sprague, the ever awesome Shaun Diston, invited Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider, the hosts of "Bitch Sesh", on. They, from what Sprauge and themselves told us, adore this movie. So does Sprague. I remember seeing this movie and not really liking it, but I thought maybe I just didn't get it. But Aukerman was saying things about this movie that I agreed wholeheartedly with.  He also loathed this movie, as did I. But Schneider, Wilson and Sprague kept pushing back harder and harder. They really went in on Aukerman. They let him have it and I found myself cracking up at all the tongue in cheek fighting that was happening. This ranks right up there with the "How Did This Get Made" episode of "Drop Dead Fred", also featuring Casey Wilson. This episode of "Scott Hasn't Seen" may be the best to date, and that is saying something.

Finally, at number 1 I have "Foosballz". This is a new podcast from The Flagrant Ones network. I am a patron and love The Flagrant Ones network. They make some of the best, most hilarious podcasts. So the fact that they now have a fantasy sports podcast hosted by three comedy writers, one of which is the absolutely hilarious Carl Tart, makes me very happy. I look forward to this show more than any other show I currently listen to. I cannot wait to hear the hilarity, but also the knowledge these dudes bring. They know their stuff. They also happen to be incredibly funny on top of all of that. While they focus mainly on football, they do dip their toes into fantasy basketball, which I also play. And I love when they go on basketball tangents. I also love when they go on tangents not related to sports. I know it is going to make me laugh. This podcast is really, really good. It is for sports and comedy fans, both of which I love. I'm all in on "Foosballz" and it is the best new podcast of 2023.

Come back tomorrow for my top sports moments of 2023. 

Ty

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

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Best of 2023 - Television

Today I come to you all with my top 5 tv shows of 2023. I have to admit that there is a good amount of high quality, well regarded tv I have not yet finished this year. I have yet to see shows like "Loki", "Andor", "Ghosts" and "Big Mouth" yet. I'm sure there are a bunch of other shows that I have missed too. But I have seen some good stuff this year and today I want to give you all a peek at how I view television.

At 5 I have the third and final season of "The Other Two". This show is criminally underrated and should not have been cancelled. It is one of the best written and funniest shows on tv. Helen York and Drew Tarver play their characters to perfection. Molly Shannon is an absolute delight, and she got to really stretch in this final season. Ken Marino was great. The young actor playing the famous brother grew up and had a nice story arc about the ills of fame and social media. I have not seen a show that is this meta and funny and perfectly of the time. The whole musical episode was amazing. When York's character quits her job and no one can see her, brilliant. The whole thing with Tarver's method acting boyfriend, chef's kiss. "The Other Two" is destined to become a cult classic. This show is going to do major work on streaming. It will find its audience and I feel like people will talk about it like I do about "Happy Endings" now. "The Other Two" is a show worth checking out.

At 4 I have season three of "The Righteous Gemstones". McBride and company keep finding ways to make dark humor the best humor to watch on tv. This season was incredible too. We got Walton Goggins back as Uncle Baby Billy. Be it his game show idea or him wearing a big clam shell and singing at the pool, he is amazing in this role. We got the struggle of Goodman trying to leave the church to McBride. We also got some backstory from those two, which was nice to see. We got Kelvin, Adam Devine, finally showing his love for Keef. It may have taken the whole season, but damn it paid off. But the best of the best was Edi Patterson as Judy. We learned a whole lot about her this season and Patterson was masterful at pulling all this off. From her tour to the stuff with her husband BJ, Tim Blatz, it all worked to perfection. I cannot wait for season four to come out.

At 3 I have "Jury Duty". I don't know how they were able to pull off such an elaborate prank revolved around jurors, but they did and it was a joy to watch unfold. This show took a real chance. Anything could have derailed the show at any second, but they were able to maneuver around any way of the "hero" finding out what was going on the whole time, until the end. James Marsden played an asshole version of himself, and it worked. A guy made chairpants, and it worked. Another guy and girl did a thing called "soaking", and it worked. A lawyer had one of the worst presentations I've ever seen, and it worked. They were able to pull off this wild prank, all the while not making our "hero" look like an idiot. If anything, he held it together better than any of us would have and I was stoked to see it all get revealed to him and for him to take home a cash prize. I hope they leave this show at one season because it is perfect.

At  2 I have season two of "The Bear". I didn't think they could top season one, and they didn't, but they made a great companion piece to one of the best shows on tv. This season gave us episodes that focused on the individuals that work together at the restaurant. Edibiri's character took us on a food tour of Chicago. Richie had to get knocked down before rising to the top. Fak had to do his magical repairs. Abbi Elliot's character got the job as the marketer for the restaurant and is having a baby. We even got the episode that showed Jeremy Allen White's character family at their worst. That episode has amazing cameos as well. "The Bear" continues to shine as the best show about food on tv. It is better than any cooking show or cooking based competition show. The food looks delicious, the acting is top notch and the direction is a thing of beauty. "The Bear" rules. But it is not my top show of the year.

At number 1 I have "The Last of Us". This show is a work of art. It is brutal. It is realistic. It is dreadful. It is violent. It is relentless. And I couldn't take my eyes off the screen when we watched. This show is truly one of a kind. Pedro Pascal is perfectly cast. Bella Ramsey is just as good and a perfect counterpoint. The Nick Offerman episode is, quite possibly, the best written, directed and acted episode in the history of television. Melanie Lynskey is a bad, bad lady in her episode. The episode with the deaf boy and his brother gives us hope, only to smack it out of our faces in the end. And as mad as I was at Joel for lying to Ellie in the season finale, it made me even more excited to see them deal with it in season two. "Last of Us" is an achievement unlike any other on television. They took this weird video game and made one of the best tv shows to ever exist. I am so pumped for season two.

That is it for tv. Come back tomorrow for my top podcasts of 2023. 

Ty

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

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Best of 2023 - Music

Today I have my top 5 music/rediscovering albums and moments of 2023. Music has always been a big deal in my life. Unfortunately I have not heard much new music the past couple years. I find myself going back to stuff I used to listen to, or finding older music that was popular a few years ago. I am not hip anymore. I'm 41 now. I don't know all the cool new artists out there at the moment. Maybe things will change as my kids get older. But right now, my music taste is not current. Keep that in mind as you read my list.

At number 5 I have Lil Dicky announcing his new record. I am a fan of his music. But even more so, I am a fan of his wonderful show "Dave" on FX. And this most recent season focused on him touring his new music. He also did a bunch of stuff in season two that referenced this upcoming record. The album is entitled "Penith". I can remember howling when he was doing publication for this record in season two. But he played some of the music in the show, and I found myself vibing out. He also did an entire episode this past season where he did a song with Rachel McAdams. It was a great episode, it centered around a fashion ball, and the song is dope. He also had some autotune stuff he did with Brad Pitt that I am curious to see if that made the record. He also had a great video for a song about his childhood crush. I am stoked. I feel like he hasn't put out new music in quite some time and I am more than ready to listen when the record comes out in January.

At number 4 I have my personal reintroduction to the band MGMT. I listened to them when they first came out, but after a bit I found them to be a bit pretentious and kind of forgot about them. Then I started to play a game on my phone called Beatstar and they had a song of theirs featured on the game, "Electric Feel". I would play the song on the game and find myself bobbing my head while playing. I was playing it one day and I looked at my wife and said, "this song slaps". Then I went to Spotify and started to listen to the record with "Electric Feel". I then went back to the beginning and found myself enjoying pretty much all of their work. They make pretty darn good music. They have a pretty cool sound. They make music to dance to. It is all pretty great and I'm glad that I stopped being a music snob with MGMT's discography. It has been nice to reacquaint myself with some pretty sweet, poppy and dancy music.

At number 3 I have my discovery of the band LSD. LSD is a three piece super group consisting of Sia, Diplo and Labrinth. The music is rad too. This is another band that Beatstar introduced me to. And I'm here for it. The music blends a bunch of genres. They have pop, electronic, hip hop and dance music vibes. The songs are catchy and fun to sing along to. They only put out one record, that I know of, and that record is one of my new favorites to listen to a lot in my car and home. I like the version of Sia this record has brought out. I enjoy Diplo's production here. And I love that I get to hear an artist new to me, Labrinth, who is great at his craft. LSD is one of my better personal discoveries lately and I'm glad they are in my music life now.

At number 2 I have Killer Mike's solo record, "Michael". This record is everything I hoped it would be. Killer Mike crushes verse after verse on this album. His guest list is second to none. He brought back a whole bunch of Atlanta rappers and let them shine here. But above all, Killer Mike further cemented his place as one of the best rappers in the game, now and possibly of all time. I knew going into listening that I was going to like this album, I just didn't know how much. Well, I love it and have been listening to it a bunch since this summer. Killer Mike is amazing and continues to do amazing work.

At number 1 I have Lil Yachty's "Let's Start Here". This album came out of nowhere for me. I have never listened to Lil Yachty priors to this record. He was never on my radar. And when people who's musical taste I trust would talk up this record, I laughed it off. Lil Yachty is a party rapper in my eyes. But "Let's Start Here" is an achievement. Lil Yachty did something completely out of his comfort zone, making a psychedelic record, and this is one of the best records I have heard in quite some time. It is wild and insane and wonderful. The songs range anywhere from eight to three minutes. Lil Yachty does hip hop verses, rock verses, R&B choruses and psychedelic stuff all over this album. The instrumentation is incredible. Whoever he got to play the instruments, he knocked it out of the whole entire park. This record is endlessly listenable and awesome. I have been blown away with every listen. Lil Yachty took a chance and hammered it. This album is amazing and you should listen to it immediately if you have not yet. It is worth your time.

That is it for my top 5 albums/musical moments of 2023. Come back tomorrow for my top 5 tv shows of the year. 

Ty

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

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Best of 2023 - Movies

This week I'll be doing my "Best Of" lists. As I do every year, I will do my personal top 5 picks in movies, music, television, podcasts and sports. I enjoy doing these. I like to go back and see other people's lists and see if I agree or disagree. It's also a good way to reflect on the year in pop culture for me, and to see what I have missed and need to catch up on over the next few months. I'm going to start with my top 5 movies of 2023.

Before I get into my list it needs to be said that I have not yet seen "Oppenheimer", "Poor Things", "The Holdovers" and many other movies I am excited to see. I have two young kids involved in many after school activities, so getting to the movies is a tough one for me. Just keep that in mind.

Coming in at number 5 for me in 2023 is "Cocaine Bear". This movie has a senseless and, for lack of a better word, stupid plot. A wild bear ingests some cocaine that has fallen out of a plane and goes on a rampage. And I loved every second of this movie. I was howling at some of the things I saw. This movie is hilarious. It is also incredibly gory. This movie has some of the most gruesome kills that I have ever seen in a movie. The actors are clearly having a good time, led by Kerri Russell who is magnetic. The story, as I said, is so dumb, but the writers and actors took it all in stride and really made something entertaining, funny, gory and an absolute blast. I did watch it on Peacock, but I kind of wished I got out to the theater to see it. This deserves to be seen on a big screen. "Cocaine Bear" is one of the funnest movies that came out all year.

At number 4 I have "M3GAN". Here we have another gruesome and gory movie. What does that say about me? That is for another day I guess. "M3GAN" is "Robocop" for a new generation. The doll of M3GAN is meant to be a comfort to a girl who loses her folks to a car accident at the beginning of the movie. M3GAN is not that. She is a murderous doll who will stop at nothing to protect this young girl. At times I sided with the doll. Other times, the things she did were horrendous. But the movie kept my attention. The dance that the doll does coming out of an elevator has become very viral and very big in pop culture. Allison Williams continues to prove time and again how good of an actor she can be with proper material. The young girl that plays Williams' niece does a great job. But this movie is all about the idea of AI becoming more destructive than good and how we try to come to grips with all of that. I was astounded that a movie like this could make me think of things like AI and all the good and bad it could bring. "M3GAN" is a total blast and I have watched it way more than once since it came to streaming.

At number 3 I have "John Wick: Chapter 4". These movies continue to get bigger, more and more violent, more and more outrageous and longer and longer. And I am totally here for it. "JW4" is an achievement in non-stop action in a nearly 3 hour movie. There are so many beautifully violent choreographed action scenes that come at you relentlessly. This movie is long, the longest in the series to date, but it never drags. There is always something to keep your attention. They find ways to keep the story moving from one movie to the next. I cannot imagine they are going to stop anytime soon because these movies keep adding characters and keep having John Wick stick around. Keanu Reeves is doing some of the best work of his career with this character. It is a perfect fit for him. I cannot wait for the next chapter to come out and see where they go from here. "John Wick" is the best action series that has come out in a long time. I hope they keep making these and they keep making each one longer and longer.

At number 2 I have "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse". I don't know how they do it, but these are the coolest looking movies I have ever watched. I feel like it is watching a comic book come to life. The way they weave in multiverses is the best way to do it. You need to be animated for all of this to make any kind of sense, and the writers here are at the top of their game. The way they have introduced us to multiple Miles Morales' is an achievement unto itself. I don't even care that the movie ends on a major cliffhanger. That just means I get to see another one of these exceptional movies. I do have superhero fatigue, but not with the "Spider Verse" movies. These movies tell the best, and most intriguing superhero stories. Give me more and more of these, just like "John Wick".

Finally, at number 1 I have "Barbie". There is no better movie that came out this year. "Barbie" is an instant classic. To take a toy and make a movie this profound and intriguing, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach are true geniuses. Gerwig's idea for this movie was perfect and no one else could have done what she did with this movie. She made a movie about Barbie that is going to go down in history as an all time classic. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling need to be considered for Oscars. So does America Ferrera. To give these famous Barbies and Kens faces, like Issa Rae and Simu Liu, was such a wonderful idea. My wife and I took our kids to see it and they both seemed to have a good time. I have not stopped humming "I'm Just Ken" since I saw this movie this summer. I will think about random scenes daily and laugh or contemplate my life. Margot Robbie gave a masterclass in making this plastic doll come to life. I had super high expectations before seeing this movie and it well surpassed any of those with flying colors. "Barbie" is an achievement unlike any other on this, or anyone else's best of 2023 list. It was always going to be "Barbie" for me, I just had to see it and see it on a big screen. It is now streaming, so if you haven't seen it yet, rectify that and watch it instantly. You will be blown away.

Those are my top 5 movies of 2023. Come back tomorrow for my top 5 albums/music I discovered, or rediscovered this year. 

Ty

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

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I'm Tired of Draymond Green's Behavior

Draymond Green was suspended indefinitely by the NBA yesterday. This is his third suspension already this season. The Warriors have played 23 games total. That is far, far too much for someone who is very vital to the roster.

Green clearly has some kind of problem. As a basketball player, he was once great. He was the perfect foil for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Green never wanted to be a scorer. He was more than happy to bring the ball up and set up plays for the shooters. He was a wonderful rebounder. He was/may still be, one of the best defenders the game has ever seen. He was also put into the perfect basketball ecosystem for a player of his caliber and ability.

Draymond Green has a real, legit shot to be a hall of fame player. But his recent attitude and actions are going to become what he is known for by most basketball fans and the media that covers the sport. People will bring up his greatness, but it will be a button on all of the suspensions, flagrant fouls and fights that he has started out of nowhere. Green has a reputation. He has had this reputation since college. Green is a hardass, old school, no nonsense type of player. And when the Warriors were winning titles left and right, that worked for them. They needed his trash talking to go along with his prowess on the floor. Now, he looks like a dinosaur. He looks like the guys on tv that reminisce about the good old days. He had to have been a fan of the Bad Boy Pistons and the Rasheed Wallace Pistons. I liked the Wallace Pistons but despised the Bad Boy Pistons. They were dirty. The Rasheed Wallace version was dirty too, but they were quieter about it. Green is not quiet about it. He started all this off by shit talking Paul Pierce at the end of his career. It was brash and foolish to do that, but Green didn't care. Then, when the Warriors started to win, that was when Green would kick players in the dick and balls. I did defend him when he got suspended in the finals, but I was wrong to do so in hindsight. He kicked these players on purpose. He came up hard and strong on Steven Adams. He 100 percent kicked LeBron in the dick. He let his emotions boil over in very crucial times and only thought of himself. It is ridiculous looking back on it, seeing how blatant it was.

Green seemed to get better stopped doing that crazy stuff, but he then started a podcast where it seemed like his goal was to burn bridges left and right. I feel like that was the only reason he even started a podcast. He wanted to put some vitriol out in the world and he had a platform. He also did this strictly for himself. The podcast is self aggrandizing. Then we have the incident with Jordan Poole last season. He punched Poole in the face during practice when Poole was clearly just shit talking. This is what everyone who has ever played basketball does all the time. Basketball players shit talk. But, I guess when a younger guy goes off on Draymond, who considers himself a speaker of old school NBA, he considers it disrespectful. But instead of trying to talk to Poole like an adult, he punches. He starts fights. He never really apologizes.

Recent behavior should have been an obvious sign that something is seriously wrong with Green. And now we have the choking of Rudy Gobert and this slap of Jusuf Nurkic. Gobert may have been a little too handsy and going a little too hard on him, but he didn't deserve to be headlocked. Nurkic did nothing that warranted a slap. That was uncalled for. That was unnecessary. That was childish. That was wrong. And he is being rightfully suspended for an undisclosed time.

Draymond Green is watching his career go down the drain and he is not handling it well at all. I'm curious to see how he reacts when his suspension is lifted, but if the past is any indication, he won't learn a thing. That is a shame because Green is a true unicorn of a player, but he will most likely not be remembered as such. He will most likely be remembered as an ill tempered star that was put in a perfect situation to succeed, and that is a drag. I hope he finds help and solace, but I am not going to be holding my breath. 

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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R.I.P. Andre Braugher

Andre Braugher passed away at 61 last night. This has hit me rather hard, harder than I expected in fact. I did not know much about Braugher previous to him playing Captain Raymond Holt on "Brooklyn 99". I had seen the movie "Get on the Bus". I know he was on "Homicide". I know he was a steady working actor. But "Brooklyn 99" was my introduction to him and he was incredible on that show.

Captain Ray Holt is an iconic television character. Andre Braugher took this role, ran with it and helped to create one of the most memorable characters in comedic television history. Captain Ray Holt was robotic and amazing at his job. He viewed the world with a cold eye, but he did have a softer side. Holt would say and act robotic, but he would also praise the people he loved on the show. He put his people through tests, and when they came out the other side, he was even happier for them. He took on Jake Peralta, Andy Samberg's character, and helped to mold him into the person he became on the show. He helped Amy and Gina. He entrusted Terry more often than not. He loved the debate and vigor with which Detective Wunch would fight him. Holt was a do it all, genuinely excellent person. I feel like this was just a glorification of Andre Braugher as a person. I feel like the people involved with "Brooklyn 99" were so thrilled to get Braugher on the show that they would just write the character however Braugher wanted him to be written. Braugher seemed to be the consummate professional. Everyone on "Brooklyn 99" seemed to adore him. I think they all loved when they would get to do scenes with him. I also like to imagine that they would love to hang out with Braugher and his family outside the show.

I have never heard anyone say a bad word about Braugher. When the news came out last night there were tremendous amounts of people in shock. All the social media stuff was heaping praise on Braugher. People seemed to be very affected by this news. Braugher had a wife and three kids. I cannot imagine the pain they are going through at this moment. All the love he got from his peers, I have to imagine it was ten times more at home. I have to imagine his wife and children adored him like no one else could. This has to be tragic for them. And he was only 61. That is way, way too young. That is far too young to take Braugher away from his family and friends. I read that he had a brief illness. I don't know what the illness was, but it must have been pretty awful to take Braugher's life. And I don't know how long he fought it because, as I stated before, the illness was described as "brief". This is akin to Chadwick Boseman passing away for me. I am as shocked by this news as I was by Boseman's news. But in Boseman's case, the people around him knew he was sick, and they were able to keep it quiet. With Braugher it feels like he got sick and just passed with no warning.

This is a tragedy. I am super bummed by this. I didn't want to believe the news when I read it last night, but it appears to be true. What a tragic loss for his fans, but more importantly, his family. Rest In Peace Andre Braugher. You were taken away much too young and you are going to be missed. 

Ty

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

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Better Never than Late on "The Star Wars Holiday Special"

Just yesterday I saw “The Star Wars Holiday Special”. This has been a curiosity of mine for quite some time. I’ve heard about its awfulness from many different sources. I’ve heard about it from RD himself. It became a white whale for a bit due to it being tough to find. The people involved dislike it. The fans dislike it. The critics dislike it. George Lucas tried to bury this thing. This was something I wanted to see but never really thought I would have a chance. But now it’s relatively easy to find. RD sent me a copy from YouTube. The quality may not be great, but it’s watchable. I had little to no issues. But, having now seen it, I kind of wish I could go back to the time before I saw this piece of trash.

Look, I’ve been a lot better on this site lately. I am trying to stay away from being negative. But this special is truly vile. It may be the worst piece of content I’ve ever seen. I was getting visibly annoyed during the 90 minute watch. My wife asked why I was mad. My son kept calling up to me from our downstairs saying, “what’s going on up there?”. My daughter, luckily for her, didn’t see my attitude during my “Star Wars” special watch. But when I say this thing is bad, I mean it’s truly, exceptionally terrible.

The special has no through line. They try to use “Life Day”, a supposed Wookie holiday, as the impetus for this special, but it’s sparse and not really touched on until the very end. This is a sketch special, but not in a good way. RD had me watch Paul Lynde’s Halloween special in October, and while nonsensical, Halloween was up front. Life Day is a non starter here. But, we do meet Chewbacca’s family. Apparently he has a wife and kid and his dad lives with them. We never see them in visual content anymore, but they are the stars here. We also get two song breaks. One is from Diane Carroll in a very odd, mastubatory fantasy from Chewbacca’s dad. It’s very weird. The other is a Jefferson Starship song, which is kind of cool, but it’s after their “White Rabbit” heyday. There’s no more Grace Slick, which is a drag. We do get the stars, Mark Hammill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, C-3PO and R2D2 are all here and all phoning it in. Bea Arthur shows up. Her sketch is dreadful and there a seemingly endless song and dance number. Harvey Korman is in three different sketches, all progressively worse. Art Carney gives his all, but the written dialogue is awful. There’s dumbass Imperial Guards. They have a voiceover from James Earl Jones, but we don’t get any new Darth Vader stuff. It’s just a scene ripped from the movie. The stars are there physically, but definitely not mentally. There’s an odd dance/circus number that Chewbacca’s son watches. They try to shoehorn bad jokes. They have an oddly placed cartoon, which I guess true fans like, but it just confused me. I don’t know. I guess I just don’t get it.

This special is unequivocally bad. I don’t think there’s a person who genuinely likes this. If someone says they do they’re lying to you and themselves. This special made me mad because they have this great source material, yet they somehow managed to make it excruciatingly boring and pointless. I loathed this. I do not recommend anyone watch this. It’s not even bad fun. You can’t even make fun of how bad it is because it’s so terrible. There’s nothing redeemable or fun about this. I truly believe this is one of, if not the, worst piece of content that’s ever been put out there. I’d rather watch knee surgery than watch this special ever again. “The Star Wars Holiday Special” is in the Hall of Fame of bad visual content. It may be the MVP.

Ty

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

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Let's Talk about Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He doesn't have to leave the city he has been in for the past six years. He can still do pretty much everything he did with the Angels. He won't be able to pitch this upcoming season, but he can still hit. He makes the Dodgers the unequivocal favorites heading into next season. And he is making an ungodly amount of money over the next 10 years.

For people who don't know yet, Ohtani's deal with the Dodgers is 10 years, 700 million dollars. He will make close to a billion dollars just on this contract. I assume he will get to the billions with endorsement deals. But he gets all this money for being an exceptionally talented baseball player. That is wild and cool as hell. When I was a kid this amount of money would have made me angry. I got all bent out of shape when Alex Rodriguez signed his humongous deal with the Rangers. But as I have gotten older, I'm way more into players getting whatever they can, as much as they can, while they can. Ohtani is a once in a generation player. He is doing things on a baseball field that we have not seen since the early 1900's. The fact that he can be a DH one day and pitch the next, that is unbelievable to me. Add on the fact that he does both at the highest level, and dominates at them, I mean, Ohtani should take as much money as he possibly can. A team like the Dodgers can afford a contract like this. The MLB has no salary cap, but they have to be able to pay the players based on how much they can sell tickets, food and merchandise, among many other things. The Dodgers may be the best equipped for a deal like this. There are going to be so many Ohtani jerseys and hats and bobbleheads and anything else they can put his face and name on at their home games next season. Hell, they will be at opponents games as well. I would bet all the money I have that I will see as many Ohtani jerseys as Paul Goldschmidt jerseys at a Cardinals-Dodgers game next season. The same could be said at most other stadiums. Paying him the money on this deal will be no problem for the Dodgers.

As for Ohtani, I applaud him. It would have been cool if he had gone to Toronto or Seattle. I would have been stoked if he came to Saint Louis. He was already in LA, but the Dodgers give him a much better shot at a World Series appearance. The Angels weren't going to get him there. They haven't been able to even crack the playoffs. They have two other worldly players in Ohtani and Mike Trout, yet they could never get to the important part of the year. Ohtani will be almost assured a playoff spot now. You put him in that rotation with Clayton Kershaw, ooh that is tough. Then you add him to that lineup with Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Mookie Betts, my oh my will that be a potent, homerun crushing trio. The Dodgers are going for it, clearly. Ohtani is getting paid, clearly. This is a win for all parties involved. I think we all knew Ohtani was going to go to a big market. I accepted that early on. I think the Dodgers have had their eye on him since last season began and they thought he might be available. Both parties got what they wanted in the end, and that is a good thing.

I will still be in and out of MLB games next season. But if I do tune in, I think I will watch as many Dodgers games that Ohtani plays in, and I will love it. This is a homerun of a deal for everyone. 

Ty

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

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Ty Predicts the 2023 Heisman Trophy

The Heisman trophy will be awarded to the best college football player tomorrow night. The finalists are Marvin Harrison Jr, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr and Jayden Daniels. All four of these players are worthy of being finalists. Honestly, I do not know who I would replace our add on the list. I'd love to see a Michigan player there, but no one of them was individually outstanding. They are a collection of good players. I thought Jalen Milroe might get an invite after his last two games, but it was a little too late in the game for that. I even tried to pry some defensive players who were otherworldly, but that was nonexistent this season.

So, as this award has almost always been, there are four offensive players, three of which are QB's. I want to make a case for each of them and then pick a winner. I'll start with Bo Nix.

Look, the dude is 26 years old and he should be able to feast on some of the Pac 12 defenses out there. He did that and much more. Nix put up incredible numbers. He threw for over 4,000 yards. He had 40 passing touchdowns to only three interceptions. He ran for 200 plus yards and six more TD's. The dude crushed it. He never really struggled in any games, but he could not beat Washington. That is his achilles heel. He would have a great year, but when he had to produce a big win, it just never happened for him. He is more than deserving of his invite to NYC, but I do not think he will be leaving with the trophy. There will be no repeat of Chris Weinke for Nix tomorrow night.

Michael Penix Jr looked like the front runner to me about seven or eight weeks into the season. He was absolutely obliterating every team he played against. He was putting up wild numbers too. Penix Jr finished the season with over 4,000 passing yards as well. He threw for 33 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. He rushed for negative yards, but he did score three more TD's on the ground. The best thing Penix Jr did this year was win every single game on the schedule. Penix Jr led the Huskies to an undefeated season and the number two spot in the CFP. He also played great against ranked opponents. He threw for 319 in the Pac 12 title game against Oregon. He had 332 against a ranked Utah team. He went for 256 against USC. Penix Jr played best when the lights were brightest. That is a big testament to his ability. But, due the tiniest little slip at the end of the season, I do not see him bringing the trophy home either.

Then we have Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison Jr is the best player in college football. Full stop. That does not mean he will bring home the Heisman. But, he is, by far, the most feared and most dominant offensive player in the game. I like to act like he didn't perform well against Michigan. That is false. He had five catches for 118 yards and a score. Michigan won, so it is easier for me to swallow his excellent performance. Harrison, not unlike his fellow finalists, put up crazy stats. He had 67 catches for over 1,200 yards and 14 scores. In only 12 games. That is mind boggling. That is nearly six catches a game. That is 100 yards a game. That is over one touchdown a game. As a receiver. That hasn't been done since Randy Moss, and Harrison Jr plays in the Big 10. Looking back at some of the games he had this year, it is amazing his stat line. I mentioned the Michigan game. He also torched Michigan State with seven catches for 149 yards and 2 TD's. He had eleven catches for 162 yards and a score against Penn State. He had six catches for 123 yards and two scores against Wisconsin. The guy produces big time being the focal point of the defense. His stats are incredible, but I think he is going to finish a distant second tomorrow night.

That leaves us with Jayden Daniels, the most electric QB in college football in 2023. Daniels was the do it all guy for a solid LSU team. While I loathe Brian Kelly, he did put Daniels in a great position every week to showcase his incredible talent. Daniels threw for over 3,800 yards. He added 40 TD passes to only four interceptions. He ran the ball 135 times for over 1,100 yards and 10 scores. He torched Texas A&M for 235 passing yards and four TD passes. He also ran 11 times for 120 yards in that game. When LSU beat Florida, Daniels threw for 372 yards and three scores. He added, and this is not a misprint, 234 yards rushing on 12 carries and two more scores. When Alabama beat LSU, Daniels still impressed with 219 passing yards and two TD passes. He also ran for 163 and a score. Against Mizzou, one of the better SEC defenses, Daniels passed for 259 yards, threw three TD's and added 130 rushing yards and another score. I could go on and on with his insane video game stats, but I figured showing how well he played against the better teams on his schedule is proof enough of his wonderful season. And I fully believe he is more than deserving of the Heisman this year. The other players have had a great season as well, but not compared to Daniels. He is on a whole other level.

That is my pick, and I would be stunned if he didn't win the Heisman tomorrow night. Jayden Daniels should bring home the award in an easy victory. 

Ty

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

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Go Out and Get Yourself a Pomegranate

I watch a lot of cooking videos, most of them on Instagram. The videos I watch have made me want to cook more and more, and I have made quite a few recipes that I have seen on Instagram. Because of my love of cooking videos another type of video that shows up in my algorithm pertaining to food is people cutting fruit. It is mesmerizing. I watch the fruit cutting videos when I'm winding down for the day. They calm me before sleep. These videos have made me try a few of the ideas out in the real world as well. One such video that caught my attention was a person cutting a pomegranate.

I fully understand that I can go to the store and buy pre cut fruit, but did you all know it is far cheaper to buy the whole fruit and cut it yourself? I'm sure a lot of you already did know this, but it has been a relatively new found thing in my life. So now I pretty much exclusievly buy whole fruit and cut it at home. Thus making these videos all the more relevant in my life. So this pomegranate one was quite intriguing.

I bought a whole pomegranate and cut it up at home. It was a mess, but it did the job and I had a bunch of pomegranate seeds to snack on for a few days. And I have to tell you all, this is one of my new favorite snacks. Fruits and veggies cut up have become a new thing in my home since we have had kids. We try our hardest to give them quality snacks, and fruits are a good entry way to other, better for you snack foods. So when we had this pomegranate, everyone was a little confused. But then we all tried them and loved them. I love how it is a burst of flavor. Those little seeds pack a punch, a tasty punch at that. And there are so many of them in one single pomegranate. I almost filled a small tupperware. The flavor is awesome. A pomegranate is like a cherry mixed with fruit punch and adds the smallest bit of sour. With each bite I want to eat more and more of them. At first I would grab a few with my fingers. But after a while I was eating the seeds by the spoonful. I couldn't get enough of them. I would come home from a run and eat some of the seeds as a snack afterward. It was great. My son would come home from basketball practice and want some. My daughter would eat them after karate and my wife chose them after some of her bike rides. The seeds were a great way to trick my kids into thinking they were having sweets. The sweetness from the seeds is right up there with some candy, but the pomegranate is a little better for them, and my wife and I. We eat grapes and cantaloupe and apples in my house. My son and I love pineapple. My wife enjoys a good banana. But pomegranate seeds have made their way into our rotation now. I will usually get two at the store just to have some extra in a tupperware.

I understand that I am late to the pomegranate game, but I'm fully in it now and I couldn't be happier about it. Pomegranates rule. 

Ty

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

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An Ode to Trail Running

After my son's orthodontist appointment this morning I took him to school and went to a trailhead to do my longish run of the week. I go every Wednesday to a trail and run anywhere from 5-8 miles. It is my time to get away for the week and just relax. I'm usually gone for an hour or two and it is one of the best things about my week.

I do all kinds of running. My two main interests, as with most people, are trails and road running. I like road running because I am faster on the road. I get better times. I usually do better on races that are on the road. I recently just ran my fastest half marathon at a road race. Road running is good for timing.

My true love in the running world is trail running. I go back to when I did my first half with my buddy Kirk. We both had very different responses. He loved it, and pretty much loved any kind of running. I was miserable and told him, during the race, that I was going to focus on trail running. Now, to give Kirk some credit, he has fully embraced trail running and he is very good at it. I love it for a myriad of reasons though, and a lot of those came to mind this morning.

Trail running is better because it is technical. You have roots and rocks on good portions, depending on which trail you pick. You have to really pay attention. I took my eyes off the trail for a few minutes today and almost busted my ass. I have busted it many times before, but it has never been a deterrent.

I also love the quietness and solitude. I always wear headphones when I run on the road. I hardly ever wear them when I trail run. I like to listen to nature. There are animal sounds at every turn. I like to hear my shoes press on the rocks and the paths created. I like to know where I'm going. I want to be cognizant of every little detail. It is relaxing. That is another thing, trail running is very relaxing for me. I can go out there and just get lost and not have a care in the world. I kind of just let the trail guide me. I go where feels best at that moment and that is cathartic for me. I can go out to a trail for hours and have the time of my life. It is one of the best things for me. It is also excellent therapy. I can go and cram out any anxiety or anger. I can go out and have a nice talk with myself, or if Kirk is joining me, we can have a good chat together where we sometimes just vent to one another about whatever we feel needs to be vented about. It is very good for my talk therapy.

Above all though, trail running makes me really feel like I have accomplished something for the day. I can run anywhere from four miles to a full marathon, which the only one I've done was on a trail, and be very tired. Today I did six miles, but climbed a big hill and my thighs and calves are currently feeling it. In opposition, I ran five and a half miles yesterday on the road, and while I was tired, I was still able to do all the normal things I would do any other day. But today, the idea of relaxing on the couch until it is time to get my kids sounds like the best thing I could do because of the excellent workout I got on the trails.

Trail running is the best and I am going to do it until I cannot walk anymore. 

Ty

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

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Better Late than Never on "Force Majeure"

Last week I saw the 2014 movie "Force Majeure". I have wanted to see this movie for quite awhile, and it was on cable so I finally rectified it and sat down and watched from start to finish.

I enjoyed this movie a lot. I thought it moved very well, it was a good story, the actors did a wonderful job and it was one of the funnier movies I've ever seen. I waited too long to see it, but I did and I enjoyed it. But that is not all that I wanted to say about this movie.

The story of the movie, for those that do not know, is about a family on a ski trip in the Alps and it looks as if an avalanche is going to swallow them all at breakfast. But, the avalanche stopped and did no damage at all. But that is not the whole story. When it looked like it was going to be disastrous the husband of the family ran off and left his wife and kids to fend for themselves. The movie then deals with the aftermath of his decision. And that has been on my mind ever since I finished the movie.

I really liked the way they handled this whole scenario. The husband made a cowardly decision. He ran off and only protected himself. He cared about his well being over everyone else's. I would like to think that if I were in this situation that I would act differently. I would love to say that I took action and protected my family. But I do not know what I would do. I have, luckily, never been in a situation like this one, or something equivalent. What I liked about the way they broached the whole thing was seeing it from different people's perspectives. The husband is trying to play it off. He claims he didn't run. But when pushed, and shown proof that he did, he claims he was going off to help others. While that is all well and good, he should watch out for his family first. That makes the most sense to me. The husband did a cowardly thing, resists that he was wrong, but does eventually get to make it up to everyone. The way the actor handles some of the situations in the movie make it hilarious as well. There is a scene where he starts to cry uncontrollably and it is cringe at first, then hilarious, then sad. They manage to show three different reactions in a five minute scene. It's masterful. The wife, you can tell, is furious. She is upset with his decision. She wants him to own up to what he has done. She has clearly lost a little respect for her husband. She tries to dull it with wine, but that makes her open up about her frustration even more. The actor playing the wife was amazing. I felt her pain and grief a bunch. I also sympathized with her when the husband tried to gaslight her into saying he was actually helping. It is another wonderful performance. The friends who show up, an older man and his 20 year old girlfriend, show us two other sides to the entire event. They also have some of the best, and funniest, moments in the movie. The whole scene at the hotel elevator was wonderful. When the guy goes skiing with the husband, that is some hilarious way to try and show male bravado on screen. When the man and his girlfriend are up all night arguing over nonsense, it is funny and relatable.

"Force Majeure" is a very well made movie. It is dark, funny, dramatic and very well made. I really enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend seeing it yourself. It will make you question how you would react if you were in a similar situation, and that makes it that much better. Check this movie out. 

Ty

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

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Florida State Got Robbed

The College Football Playoff is all set. Michigan is the 1 seed, Washington 2, Texas 3 and Alabama 4.

I do think all four teams had some good reasons for being picked. Michigan won every game and the Big 10. Washington won every game and the Pac 12. Texas won 12 games, won the Big 12 and beat Bama. They did get beat by Oklahoma, who is very good, but that was early and they more than made up for it. And Bama ended Georgia's 29 game win streak, lost to Texas early on in the season, but won every other game. So, do I think these teams are deserving of a playoff spot? Yes. But, do I think the committee got it right? Absolutely not.

This has been a topic of much debate since the four playoff teams were announced yesterday. People have had takes either way, supporting the decision or disagreeing with the decision. I wanted to sit on my thoughts for a day before I made up my mind. And I absolutely believe that Florida State was snubbed big time. This may be the biggest snub in the history of college football bowl games. That may sound like a bit much, but to the players, coaches and that university, this is a big deal. Florida State won the ACC. They won it going away in fact. They beat three top 25 teams. They beat LSU, who will most likely have the Heisman winner this weekend, in a humongous prime time matchup this season. The main thing that FSU did this season though, they won every game. Texas did not win every game. Alabama did not win every game. But FSU did. They had their schedule set, they played the teams on that schedule and when those games were over, FSU was the winner of each and every one of them. That is their job as a power 5 football team. That has been the unwritten rule of the college football playoff committee. They have said time and time again that if you play in a power 5 conference, win the conference title game, and win every other game on your schedule, that should be more than enough to get you in the playoff. But for some reason this season the committee decided to change things up.

Now, I fully understand, as does the committee, that the playoff is a television event. They want to get as many viewers as possible. And putting Michigan up against Alabama is going to bring a ton of viewers. But it is not like FSU is some also ran. They are blue bloods themselves. They have won multiple national titles. They have had multiple first round picks. They have a storied history. So to pass over them for Alabama, that shows the bias that the committee and ESPN, where all the playoff games will be broadcast, have. This is clearly ESPN and the committee cowtailing to the SEC and Bama. They want them in these games to get the talking heads and fans all riled up. During the SEC title game they kept showing a placard on the screen saying that the winner of the SEC title game has never missed the CFP. No one on ESPN, CBS, Fox or NBA were talking up FSU at all Saturday night, even as they were winning the ACC title game. And when ESPN premiered the final playoff game reveal and rankings, of course most of their talking heads were saying this was the correct choice, to leave FSU out in favor of Bama. Rece Davis, a Bama grad, loved it. Kirk Herbstreit, who I like, said weeks ago that if FSU finished undefeated, they'd be a shoe in. He immediately disregarded that statement and praised the committee for their choice. Paul Finebaum basically said he could care less about FSU and that Bama deserved the spot. He hosts a show on ESPN's SEC network. The only analyst that seemed to be bothered by this was Booger McFarland. He made some real good points I thought too. If anyone that is a college football fan is on the fence about this choice, go watch what McFarland had to say yesterday. It was the best argument for FSU being in the playoff that I saw. But after yesterday it is more apparent than ever that this committee and ESPN could care less about what occurs on the field. They are going to bend over backwards to get a team from the SEC in this field if there is the slightest possibility.

I do not like FSU, not one bit, but they were snubbed, and snubbed hard by the CFP committee yesterday. This is not what is supposed to happen when you win every game and win your conference as a power 5. This is clearly a move motivated by viewers, not players. 

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.