Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Not Quite Ready Bunch

Welcome today to day three of my 2024 preseason NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 24 I have the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders did some good things this offseason. They hired Antonio Pierce. He was the best choice and the players may have revolted if they didn't hire him. They also moved on from Jimmy Garropolo, which was the best thing they could have done for their locker room. He is not the answer at QB. They needed a change. But, I'm not so sure that Aiden O'Connell and Gardner Minshew are the answer. O'Connell had moments last season, but he is no more than a backup game manager. Minshew is the poor man's Ryan Fitzpatrick. He brings some fun to the team, but wins don't usually follow. They had to move Josh Jacobs, he was unhappy, but they replaced him with a mash unit. Zamir White is unproven and Alexander Mattison is old and washed. Davante Adams is a top flight wideout. He is a boss. It is unfortunate that he has to play with these mediocre QB's. They don't have much else at that position. They drafted Brock Bowers, who looks like he could be great, but he is going to run into a rookie wall, and he is coming off an injury last season. The o line is unremarkable. The defense is good, and this is where Pierce shines as a head coach. Maxx Crosby is dope. He is an upper echelon pass rusher. Christian Wilkins found a place that fits. The linebacking unit is solid, as is the secondary. This is where the Raiders win games, on defense. I don't know how many wins that will be due to poor QB play and a mediocre run game. And Davante Adams may ask for a trade in the middle of the season. The Raiders made good choices this offseason, and they need to continue that trend for another season. Then they can make some noise. As for now, eight wins seems like the best to hope for based solely on their defense.

At number 23 I have the Minnesota Vikings. I may have put them lower if I knew about JJ McCarhty's injury sooner. Losing him for the year is a blow. I didn't expect him to help them win much, but he was a better option at QB than Nick Mullens or Sam Darnold. They are stuck with those dudes now, for better or worse. They signed Aaron Jones this offseason. That is a fine move, but after watching Jones the past two years, a player I adore, he gets injured far too much. He is good when he plays, but that gets smaller every season. Justin Jefferson is probably the best wideout in the game. He is fast, runs excellent routes, has great hands and just got paid. He is going to put up numbers regardless of who is playing QB. It is just unfortunate that he hasn't gotten to play with an elite QB yet. He is like this era's Andre Johnson, only better. TJ Hockenson is a quality tight end, and the o line does enough. The Vikings defense is not so great. I look at these dudes on their depth chart, and it is some washed dudes, Harrison Smith, a Michigan guy who frustrated me to no end, Josh Mettulus and a bunch of guys I've never heard of. The Vikings used to win with defense, but that is not the case anymore. The Vikings are going to struggle mightily this season, and McCarthy being done for the year does not help. I'd say five wins at most now after seeing the injury news.

At number 22 I have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You may see this and think it is too low. They resigned Baker Mayfield and seem to have it all figured out now you'd tell me. I don't buy this hype around Mayfield. I didn't like him in college, I was not a fan of him being taken first overall and I have watched him bounce from team to team. I don't trust that he has figured it all out. Rachaad White is counting on himself, and I like that confidence from him. I could see him having a solid year. Mike Evans is a good wideout who just got paid as well. He is about as consistent as they get in the NFL right now. You know he will produce. And Chris Godwin is a fine second receiver. And the o line is good enough. The defense, which is what propelled them to a Super Bowl in 2020, has taken a step back. Antoine Winfield Jr is still a good secondary player. And Lavonte David is a tackling machine. But outside of them, they don't have much. Vita Vea is old. Logan Hall is not a true threat off the edge. The linebackers, outside of David, aren't top notch. And the secondary has only Winfield Jr to count on. This is a team that thinks it has an answer at QB and probably thinks they are better than they actually are. I'd say nine wins is the tops for them, with seven being a more likely outcome. Baker Mayfield has to prove he isn't washed to me.

At number 21 I have the Los Angeles Chargers. Or maybe I should just refer to them as Michigan West now. They got the big fish this offseason when they hired Jim Harbaugh. The dude wins everywhere he goes. He has a proven track record and he brought a bunch of familiar coaches along with him. He has instilled his system with his staff and it will eventually pay off. Justin Herbert is a good QB. He gets treated as if he is great, but he hasn't earned that just yet. But, he is going to get to great soon. It is coming. Getting JK Dobbins to back up Gus Edwards is a solid, and heady move. If Dobbins can play half the season, he and Edwards will make for an interesting backfield. Harbaugh did let some solid vet receivers walk, namely Keenan Allen. That was odd to me. They drafted some dudes, Ladd McConkey and Cornelius Johnson, and they should be productive, in time. They also took a flyer on DJ Chark, who is a burner. The o line is okay, and they will build and get better in time. That is Harbaugh's thing. The defense is old, old, old. Joey Bosa, who is a dickhead, and Khalil Mack, while very good players, are on the back half of their careers. Derwin James is still going to hit dudes, but he may be a step slower this year. Asante Samuel Jr looks like he can take a leap. And maybe Denzel Perryman will find the fountain of youth. Jesse Minter plays a solid and sophisticated style of defense. Once these guys get clicking, they could be tough to beat. But the defense needs an inflection of youth. The Chargers will be much higher on this list as soon as next year. As for this season, they may struggle to hit nine wins, but seven or eight is not out of the question.

That does it for day three. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

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

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Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Better Luck Next Year Bunch

Welcome to day two of my 2024 NFL countdown.

At number 28 I have the Denver Broncos. They are one year behind what should have been the start of a rebuild last year. They reached real hard, in my opinion, for Bo Nix in the draft, and it looks like he will be starting this year. I don't know how that will look, but he is older so maybe he won't hit a rookie wall. I'm also certain he will, but maybe I'll be wrong. They don't have the best backup options either. Zack Wilson is a bust and Jarret Stidham should only ever be an emergency QB. Javonte Williams is a fine running back, but he will get overused. He is all they have on that side of the ball. Jerry Jeudy is gone and all they have to show for it is Courtland Sutton. The other wideouts are not that good, and Sutton is, at best, a third option at receiver. The o line is middle of the road on their best days. The defense is young and inexperienced. They will do their best to keep this team in games, but it won't be enough. The defense and Williams is about all the fans have to be hopeful for, and they will be counted on for way more than they can provide. I have a very bad feeling about Bo Nix, and the fact that Jerry Jeudy couldn't wait to be gone is a bad sign. I think that maybe Sean Payton is too old school to win in the NFL at a high level again. He is building this team in his image, but this is not the early 2010's. He has to adjust or the Broncos will be left behind in a hurry. I'd say 6-8 wins is their best possible outcome. They will most likely miss the playoffs by a wide margin for another season.

At number 27 I have the New York Giants. This team is a mess. They chose Daniel Jones over Saquon Barkley. I get that running backs are more expendable these days, but Barkley is a once in a generation guy. Daniel Jones is one of the worst starting QB's in the league. He used one playoff win, a game that wouldn't have been won without Barkley, and turned it into a big payday. He is over, done, finito. Daniel Jones will be cut or traded by next season. They replaced Barkley with Devin Singleltary. That is akin to going from wagyu steak to on sale ground beef. No disrespect to Singletary, but he is nowhere close to Barkley's level. Malik Nabers was a good pick, but he already looks frustrated playing with Jones. He gets open, but the ball never seems to find him. Wan'Dale Robinson needs to pop now or it will never happen. The o line is fine, but they don't have a back like Barkley to block for anymore, and that has to be frustrating. The defense went out and got Brian Burns, which was a tremendous trade for them. He and Kayvon Thibodeaux form an excellent pass rush. And the secondary is really solid at every position. The Giants defense could make a jump from good to great this season. But, they will be on the field way too much because Daniel Jones is not the type of guy that instills fear in an opponent's defense. This offense is going to be anemic. They picked the wrong dude to sign long term and their wins will suffer due to that. I'd say eight wins is the best outcome, and that is only if the defense becomes absolutely elite. They need to be otherworldly for that to happen.

At number 26 I have the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are coming. I like what they have put together. The only problem is the youth. This team is inexperienced. But, this team is also athletic. I love the Jayden Daniels pick. He was one of my top prospects going into the last draft. He may be a little thin, but he will put on muscle, and if he can keep that speed, watch out. He has a good arm, can throw into tight spaces and he can extend plays. He has all the tools to be awesome. Brian Robinson Jr is a very capable running back. He can grind out yards and make catches out of the backfield. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson make for a nice receiving duo. They have gotten better each season, and now that they have a competent QB, they could put up big time numbers. The o line is fine. They do enough. The defense is going young as well. They traded their two best pass rushers for picks. I wasn't crazy about it at the time, but I get it. They do have Clelin Ferrel and Johnathan Allen on the d line. They are okay enough. I, of course, love the Mike Sainristil pick. I think he is going to have a very long and very productive career. Jeremy Chinn is solid. Bobby Wagner is a heavy hitter. Benjamin St-Juste is a decent coverage guy. And maybe this is when Dante Fowler Jr figures it all out. The Commanders, much like the Cardinals, are coming, they are just a year or two away. All they need is for these guys to get real game reps, and that should make them a playoff caliber team in 2026 or 27. As for this year, seven wins seems to be the ceiling.

At number 25 I have the New Orleans Saints. This is a pivotal year for this franchise. Derek Carr is not the answer at QB. He is too small, too slow and cannot make the big time throws. This is another case of one good game making people think he was going to catapult into stardom. Both the team and the player need to move on from each other. Alvin Kamara can still do some cool things, but he is old and he wants out. I don't blame him. He has been anything and everything this offense has asked him to be, and they still don't give him all the credit he is due. I'd want out if I were him as well. Chris Olave deserves better. He could be an elite wideout with better QB play. Rashid Shaheed is the burner of all burners, but the QB's miss him too much when he is open. Juwan Johnson is an okay tight end, but they could find better on the open market. The o line is good, they just have a mediocre QB to block for. The defense is old. Cam Jordan was once great. He's still good, but he is double teamed constantly. Marshon Lattimore crushed in his rookie year, but he took a step back last season. I love Tyrann Mathieu, but he was past his prime two years ago. Demario Davis is fine at linebacker, but not as the anchor of a defense. This team needs to make changes, mainly in the back half of their secondary, their QB and head coach. They need a new mind and a new look. Until then, eight wins may be the best to hope for out of this team.

That is it for today. Come back for the next four teams tomorrow. 

Ty

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

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Ty Ranks the 2024 NFL Teams: The Going Nowhere Bunch

Football is right around the corner. We are almost there. Luckily we had the Olympics to bide our time for a bit, I'm not much of a baseball fan anymore, but it has been pretty boring, for me, for all of the summer in regards to sports. But, college football starts in a little over two weeks, and the NFL is right after that. With that being said, I am going to do one of my favorite series of blogs. I'm going to spend the next two weeks counting down the NFL teams from worst to best, and then do a very big college football preview. I'll do four teams a day in the NFL, starting with my bottom four teams today. Let us tarry no further, it is time for the countdown.

Coming in at the very bottom of the NFL this year, at number 32 I have the New England Patriots. The Patriots have been on the decline for the past couple years, and now they are in full rebuild. They do not have much of any veteran talent and a bunch of unproven rookies. I was a big fan of the Jerrod Mayo hiring, but he is going to need a good amount of patience before this team looks decent. I hope he gets the time, but you never know. They have a few rookies to pick from at QB. They took Drake Maye number 3 overall, and got a steal with Joe Milton in the sixth round. I have been a Joe Milton fan since his days at Michigan, so I want to see him succeed. I don't know that he will play right away, but if Maye struggles, they have a perfectly good young guy to turn to. Rhamondre Stevenson is a solid back, but they will overuse him and he will probably get hurt. The o line is shaky. Hunter Henry is cooked. The receivers, outside of rookie Ja'Lynn Polk, are old and unproven. The defense is full of holes outside of Matthew Judon, who will probably get traded, and Jabrill Peppers, who is a fine journeyman. The rest of the defense is unknown, unproven and will most likely get lit up game after game. I don't think the Patriots will get beat every Sunday, but they will most Sundays. They are due another high pick in the 2025 draft. If you want a record prediction, I'd say 3-14.

At number 31 I have the Carolina Panthers. They got their QB number one overall last season, but Bryce Young really struggled. He didn't have much time, but when he did, he didn't do anything with it. He really struggled, but I do believe that he can bounce back. If not, he may not be in Carolina much longer. Chuba Hubbard looked like he may be decent last season, but he fizzled out fast. I don't know that I'd want to count on him as my starting running back. Adam Thielen had a solid year, but didn't get much help. I wonder if Diontae Johnson and Johnathan Mingo will add anything. I don't think so, especially since their former teams let them walk. They have no tight ends to speak of. And their o line is horrendous. They were one of the biggest reasons Young struggled so much. He had zero time at all. The defense is alright, but not that great. And they look a little old too. I have been a big fan of Jadaveon Clowney's entire career, but he is washed and doesn't stick anywhere that long anymore. A'Shawn Robinson hasn't really popped. The secondary is very blah. I just don't see any scenario where this team is any better this year than they were last year. The Panthers need Bryce Young to bounce back in a big way, but they also need help everywhere else. They may win, at most, five games this season.

At number 30 I have the Tennessee Titans. They went into full rebuild moment this offseason when they let Derrick Henry walk. It was best for both sides, but it was certain at that point that they were going to start over. Will Levis doesn't seem to have it. He looks more often bad than good. He looks scared at times out there. And he is not the best deep thrower. Tony Pollard had a moment in fantasy football, but he looks washed, which is a real bummer. I like Pollard, but he may be out of the league in a year. Deandre Hopkins is hurt and will miss time, which is not great because he is their best pass catcher. They signed Calvin Ridley, who is insanely fast and nothing else, and Tyler Boyd who is also fast, but under sized and hasn't produced much. The o line is very mediocre. The defense is very mediocre, except for L'Jarius Sneed. He is awesome. He is one of the best secondary players in the NFL. But he doesn't have a ton of help. Jeffrey Simmons is washed. Kenneth Murray hasn't been a world wrecker. Jamal Adams has become a journeyman. It is hard to find anyone, outside of Sneed, that really shines on defense. The Titans needed to rebuild, and they took the correct steps this past offseason. I'd say five wins is their ceiling.

My final team for the day, at number 29 I have the Arizona Cardinals. Now, the Cardinals are only this low because I think they just need one more year of a rebuild before they are formidable. Kyler Murray appears to be healthy again. I hope he is taking this offseason seriously because he is an absolute blast to watch when he is playing lights out on the field. He has a hell of an arm and is very tough to bring down in the open field. The dude can fly. I love the Marvin Harrison Jr pick. He was the best, most can't miss prospect in the draft. He is fast, tall, strong, runs great routes and is tough as hell. He is going to have a long, successful career. They need a better run game. James Connor is a great story, but he is on the bad side of his career. And they are not deep at that position on the bench. The problem, outside Harrison Jr and Murray, the Cardinals don't have any true threats, and the line is just middling. Those two need more help on that side of the ball. The defense has guys, but they haven't been as stingy as they could be. Budda Baker is awesome. I hope he stays. Sean Murphy-Bunting is a solid corner. They have some dudes on the d line that can get some sort of a pass rush. The linebackers are okay. But no one really shines in any area, except for Baker. The Cardinals are coming, but they are still a year or two away from truly competing. I'd say five wins, with seven being a possibility if the offense finds some more weapons to put on the field.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four. 

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 USA vs Serbia Men's Olympic Basketball

I was able to catch one hell of an ending in the men's Olympic semifinal yesterday between Serbia and the US. I was doing other things when the game started, but I would check my phone periodically, looking for the score. Serbia was in total control of that game, from what I saw. through the first three quarters. I saw that Serbia was leading by 16 at one point, and they took an 11 point lead into halftime. I wasn't too nervous because I figured the US would turn it on in the third quarter and roll to an easy victory. I forgot to check the score for a good 10-15 minutes, and boy was I stunned when I saw Serbia had a 13 point lead going into the fourth quarter. I figured the US was cooked and they would be playing for bronze. I finished the recording I had with RD, and when signing off he told me that the US cut the lead to five. This was when I decided I had to turn it on. I told my son to come watch the game with me. He likes the Olympics and he loves basketball, so he was more than happy to watch the end of the game with me.

When we turned it on the lead was four in favor of Serbia 76-72. But it looked like the US had turned the lightswitch on on both ends of the floor. I saw Embiid get a paint touch, on soft ass Nikola Jokic, and he made an easy turnaround jumper to cut it to two. The US then suffocated Serbia, got a rebound and LeBron drove to the rim with no issues. Not one Serbian player tried to step in front of him. He cruised to the hoop to tie it up. Serbia got a couple free throws, but then it was Steph time. He came off a screen, had as wide open a look as he may ever get and he rimmed in a three. The US didn't look back. Serbia had a few chances to tie it, but the US tightened up and hit some clutch jumpers and clutch free throws. The US won 95-91 and will face France in the Gold medal game tomorrow afternoon.

I will admit that I was frustrated watching the end of the game. I'm a child of the 90's, I think Jordan is the GOAT and I am of the firm belief that the 92 Dream Team is the best assembly of basketball talent the world has ever seen. I did lean over to my son and say, "the Dream Team would've been up by 30 at this point". I was heated, I like this collection of current players and I expected a total blowout. That is not the case anymore. The talent has evened way more than back in 92. I need to check myself and calm down when making big statements like that. The US did what they had to do and they won. Steph was absolutely incredible on the offensive end. I think he ended up with 36 points. LeBron was the leader he has been throughout his entire career. He ended with 16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. He is the only Olympian to record multiple triple doubles in Olympics play. He is truly astonishing to watch play the game of basketball. Embiid finally showed up and showed out. He is so much better at basketball than Nikola Jokic, and he showed as much yesterday. I don't care what the Zach Lowe's and stats nerds say, based on pure eye test, Embiid is a better defender, a better shooter, he cares more and he loves the game. What more could you want from a basketball player? Kevin Durant continued his wonderful run off the bench for Team USA. He has been a mid range killer in these games and he continued that trend yesterday. He had this beautiful moment where he flashed open for an elbow jumper and hit nothing but net to put the US up by four late in the fourth. He has been the guy that can get you a bucket when you most need it in these Olympics. Devin Booker did his job spacing the floor and bringing the ball up. Jrue Holiday, when he locked in, played incredible defense. Anthony Davis played his part in less minutes than he is used to. I mean, it has been so cool watching these superstars let go of egos and play the game as a team. They are doing what is best for everyone on the squad, not just themselves.

I do want to give Bogdan Bogdanovic a shout out. He was the only Serbian I saw yesterday that looked like he wanted to win. I feel like the rest of that team took on Jokic's ho hum attitude. Not Bogdanovic. He was out to win yesterday. He stayed attacking. He wanted the victory more than any of his other teammates. He was the best Serbian on the floor by a million miles. I've grown so tired and so bored of all the love that Jokic gets, so it was refreshing to see a different Serbian going all out yesterday. But it still wasn't enough.

The US survived and advanced. They have a very tough gold medal match coming up against the host country. France is big, they protect the rim and they have the fans and refs in their favor. I hope the US comes out with some fire in their bellies and puts away France early. If not they are in for another battle. But the US really showed some pride and grit and it was damn exciting to watch yesterday. I can't wait for the Gold medal game now. 

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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The NCAA is a Joke

The NCAA finally laid the proverbial "hammer" on former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Obviously I'm close to this story and I have been following it since it broke last season. But, the "hammer" that was levied on Harbaugh stems from his improper recruiting during the COVID dead period in 2020-21. Let’s discuss.

If you don't remember what Harbaugh did, let me take you through his horrid crimes according to the NCAA. He bought a recruit and his family a burger. He did some other minimal things that any other college football coach would do. In fact, most college football coaches would take it further than Harbaugh and his former staffers took this whole thing. We live in a new era of recruiting. With NIL and the fact that recruits can make millions before even stepping on a college campus, it is the wild west now. There are no morals or "doing it the right way". Every division college football team is trying to find a leg up on the opposition. If you can match what a top recruit is looking for, you better go a little higher to get that kid to commit. And if they eventually sign a letter of intent, who's to say they won't transfer if they aren't getting the playing time they think they deserve. This is the nature of the beast. You have to either adapt or get left behind. This is going to be an almost certain death knell for the NCAA, but while they are still in business, they are damn determined to make an example out of Harbaugh. And maybe they did with this ruling.

Harbaugh has a four year show clause if he returns to college, and if he does, he is suspended for one year, that is if he returns within the four year suspension. The whole problem here, Jim Harbaugh is an NFL coach now with no eyes to return to college. He did all that he could possibly do while at Michigan. He revived that program. They were not great when he took over. Now, they are the defending National Champs. No one will be able to take that from them. They won each and every game they played last season, en route to a 21 point win in the title game.

While coaches like Bret Bielima and James Franklin and, most notably, Ryan Day may want more punishment, this seems to be truly it for Michigan and Harbaugh. I don't think anything is going to come from the nonsensical sign stealing "scandal" from last year. A bunch of teams had the opportunity to prove that Michigan was only good because of one low level staffer, and they couldn't. Ryan Day had every single advantage one coach could want coming into the Michigan game last year, and Sherrone Moore and Michigan still beat his ass. Day is the biggest whiner of this whole thing. Well, him and the NCAA.

Back to the NCAA for a minute. For the NCAA to lay this punishment down on a guy that doesn't even coach in college anymore is the most farcical thing that has come out of this whole story. Harbaugh is gone from college. He is not coming back. He has bigger fish to fry. But I think the NCAA is puffing their chest out and saying that they really crushed Harbaugh. That is hilarious. Harbaugh's attorney said it best. This is like a kid in college who gets suspended by his high school for not signing the yearbook on their way out. The NCAA is the jaded lover here, and Harbaugh doesn't even think about them anymore. Whatever Harbaugh may or may not have done while at Michigan, I love that he is not backing down and not admitting to anything.

All of these other fanbases acting holier than thou right now, it would be very interesting to me to see some of their skeletons come out. I'd love to see how some of these programs are acting behind closed doors. Under Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee was literally handing kids money, prior to NIL, in McDonald's bags. How on Earth did Alabama always have the top classes in the country every recruiting cycle? I'm sure it wasn't all above board. Georgia had some players involved in horrific car wrecks that may or may not have involved alcohol, but ESPN never goes hard on that. Nope, ESPN thinks buying a meal and having a low level staffer watch games to be the biggest cheat in NCAA football history. I think what it all really boils down to is the fact that Harbaugh was one of the first coaches to actively talk about paying players. He wants the players to have more freedom and more chances to make money off themselves while they can. He would scream it from the rafters. He wasn't about himself while coaching at Michigan. Just look at any post game interview from last season, he would have his players speak for themselves. Harbaugh was a thorn in the side of the NCAA, they got mad, Ryan Day cried, the Big 10 leveled dumb ass suspensions and Michigan and Harbaugh still came out on top. ESPN can say what they want, but they look foolish. Fans of other Big 10 teams that think they run clean programs, look in the mirror. And the NCAA, well, you will be nonexistent before this punishment for Harbaugh is even done.

This is a joke and for anyone to think this is a black mark on Harbaugh or Michigan, this sanction or punishment or whatever made me laugh out loud when it was levied yesterday. This is a joke and not nearly as bad as some other may think. 

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 "Deadpool and Wolverine"

Over the weekend we saw "Deadpool and Wolverine". Now, I'm going to stay spoiler free, so this may be one of my shorter blogs to date. Let’s discuss.

This movie needs to be seen to see all the easter eggs and possible spoilers if you miss it in the theaters. The cameos are more than worth the price of admission, plus they add a bunch to the overall story. That being said, I have grown a little weary of superhero movies. I'm over the extended universe. I don't like the multiple universes stuff. None of these heros have to go away anymore. Writers can just say that their version of the hero or heroes is alive in a different universe. It has been overplayed. And this movie kind of does that for a minute, until they totally make fun of the whole idea. This was a big point in this movie's favor. I've also grown tired of most superhero movies being one of two genres, either trying to be hard comedy or hard drama. They try to make stuff over the top funny or depressingly bleak. "Deadpool and Wolverine" goes full comedy. They are having a damn good time. They have a few moments of drama here and there, but they are always undercut with something hilarious. This was another factor that had me enjoying this movie.

Another point, for me, most of the new movies that come out are anywhere from two and a half hours to three plus hours. We get long, drawn out movies that seem to take forever. I love both new "Dune" movies, but those movies are very, very long. Hell, most superhero movies are super long now. The new "Flash" movie that came out a year ago is damn near two and a half hours long. The newer "Batman" movie is a few minutes under three hours. It has gotten out of hand. It feels like the people involved are just trying to jam as much into a movie as they can, and if it eclipses three hours, so be it. "Deadpool and Wolverine" is just a hair over two hours, and that includes opening and closing credits and post credit scenes. The movie kept my attention. I knew I wouldn't have to sit in the theater for too long. I knew I would most likely not have to use the restroom during the screening. I knew it was going to be fast and quick and full of jokes and that is what I want from my superhero movies. They nailed it with the length here.

This movie is also incredibly bloody and violent. I leaned over to my wife at one point and told her that it was the most blood I have ever seen on screen to this point in my life. This is a very gruesome movie that is not to be taken lightly.

Finally for me as a viewer, I'm a sucker for anything Wolverine, and this new version is my favorite. Wolverine is brash and rude. He is a drunk. He is mean and violent. He wants to destroy anyone he deems to be in his way. That is exactly what we get from Hugh Jackman in this movie. He is free to curse and crush, and that is exactly what he does in this movie and I'm here for it all. Give me this Wolverine every single time.

"Deadpool and Wolverine" is a true must see. I'm so glad my wife convinced me to go and assured me it would be different from other superhero movies. She was right and I wholeheartedly recommend checking it out. It is awesome.  

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 Boys" Season 4

The other night my wife and I finished season 4 of "The Boys". This is a show my wife and I started during the pandemic. RD suggested it to us in fact. We loved it from the start. This show is violent and fast and intriguing and funny and fascinating to watch. To take on superheroes in this fashion, making some of them very, very bad people, is a great hook. It does things other shows don't even think about doing. Some of the stuff they have gotten away with, it is amazing that they are even able to show it to the public.

I was stoked for season 4 after season 3 ended so upsetting. We start off pretty much where we left off, but this season proceeded to be one of the most depressing seasons of television I've ever watched. I had to remind myself multiple times that this show is not real. None of this is based on a true story. Some of the things that are being done on the show cannot possibly happen in real life. That is how damn sad this fourth season of the show is.

"The Boys" takes on what is happening in the real world right now. You have the alt right versus the progressive left. We see the rich superheroes, and their friends and supporters, as the alt right. They say things this season that have been said to me about being a liberal. I squirmed at times hearing Homelander or Firecracker talk to people who don't side with them. I would have to take a good long break after some episodes because they perfectly portrayed the alt right as I see them. The progressive left is highlighted by the titular Boys. They are all back and they are fighting the alt right. They have also added Starlight. She and Hughie are a couple and they are fighting together. Starlight is the face because she is a superhero. She is the leader of the left. She gets scoured by the alt right. It was all too real to watch. Again, seeing the way she was treated all season made me sick because it felt so real. The way the right in this show does their news, leaks their news, has their rallies, it all looks like Fox News and what the alt right follows and listens to nowadays. The progressives are left to hide and fight with whatever little means they can find. Some want to run, others are willing to die for what they believe in. All of this is way, way too real. It is a nearly perfect parallel to what is happening right now. And not one side can change the other side's mind.

It is shocking how realistic this show about lab created superheroes was this entire season. I would sigh and think how poignant it is in today's political climate. I love this show, but this season was such a downer. I was depressed after every single episode. It made me sad. Seeing how these characters have grown or changed this season was shockingly upsetting. I would find myself ruminating on episodes days after watching them. After watching the finale I sat in my bed and was terrified at the outcome, because something similar could really, truly happen in America.

I will always and forever recommend "The Boys", but this season is a tough watch. This season will make you feel all sorts of ways. I'm curious to see how they close it all out in their fifth and final season, coming sometime soon I believe. I'll watch for sure. But season 4 is a season I will most likely never watch again. It really bummed me out. 

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 'House of the Dragon" Season 2 Finale

"House of the Dragon" closed out the second season last night. Let’s discuss.

I have been on board all season with this show. If you go back and read a past blog of mine, I wrote how I was waiting with such anticipation for the big battle they've been building towards all season long. I hoped it was coming. It felt like it was coming. They had a scene in an earlier episode that was akin to foreplay, in which we saw the bad side of battle and saw what the dragons are capable of doing. All of this had me so pumped to what I assumed was going to be one of the most epic battle scenes in television history. As my wife and I sat down to watch, we were both on the edge of our seats. With each passing minute we both felt that we were getting closer and closer to this tremendous battle. The armies were finished forming. People on both sides pledged their allegiance. We had big dinners the night before. We saw some dragons flying. We even got a glimpse into the future, with White Walkers and Danerys mind you, and it felt like it was time.

Sorry for the spoilers by the way.

After the meetup between Rhaeynera and Allicient, I figured it was going to be just a matter of time. I looked down at my watch and realized that we had less than ten minutes left in the finale. I figured, well, this is going to be a quick war scene. Maybe they would come in with a bang, have some epic stuff happen, close with a big kill, and then it would be on to the next two years before season 3.

That, unfortunately, didn't happen. After the meeting between the two queens, we see all the people that have some kind of importance traveling. The armies are on the move with their flags. The dragons are circling around waiting to get shit done. The king is being quietly moved to his new home. Some people are showing the prince regent that they don't trust his move. Allicient's dad is still in jail. One of Rhaeynera's step kids has found her dragon. The new riders are being fit with armor. It is a bunch of slow shots of people traveling to fight a war. And it went black while watching all of this.

I sat there confused. I, along with almost every other viewer, had been waiting for a war. This is what the whole season has been building to. This is what it is supposed to all come down to to close out the second season. We were supposed to see war. But we saw, as we have all season, people prepping for battle, people getting themselves lathered up for a fight. I am of the belief that tv shows owe us nothing, and I'm still at the point today. But come on dude. The fans have waited all season long for a war. At least on "Game of Thrones" we would get a bunch of battles during the season. That show was always building towards the biggest battle, but we got something like an appetizer from time to time. We saw fights, we saw bloodshed, we saw people dealing with their own reckoning. "House of the Dragon" season 2 was a tease. We got none of that. We saw people prepping for eight straight episodes. I still think this show is amazing, and it kept my attention. But, throw us a bone. Give us a taste. Let us see one of the main things we come to see when we watch this show.

I'll still definitely watch season 3, but this finale left an unappetizing taste in my mouth. There was a ton of pomp, but no circumstance. I was bummed, and now we have to wait for 2 more years to hopefully see this battle. That is a drag. 

Ty

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

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Thoughts on Food Network's Celebrity Chefs

I have mentioned on the site and the podcast before that we watch a bunch of cooking shows in my house. We all love different aspects of the shows. My son likes the competition stuff. My daughter likes the baking shows. My wife and I both like to get ideas for dishes and other stuff to try and make at home. We all get something out of them, and that is what keeps us coming back for more.

We have been watching a good amount of "Beat Bobby Flay" most recently. My son loves this show and it is his turn to pick what we watch while we eat dinner. I know, we shouldn't have our television on while we eat, but we like it, so we keep it on. Last night we were watching an episode and Ted Allen was one of the guests picking someone to try and beat Flay. As we were watching, I said to my wife that there are only two Food Network personalities that I truly enjoy. One is Ted Allen, and the other is the incomparable Ina Garten. Ina Garten is a national treasure and I will not take it when people say anything bad about her. She is the best.

Anyway, this one statement started a conversation with my wife and I. After I said who I like, she went on and talked about some people she enjoys on Food Network. She mentioned Ina as well, but she also had some surprises for me. She likes Bobby Flay. I was stunned. I do not like him. He seems a little too smug and arrogant. And his shows are all about showing up other chefs. He challenges them to make dishes that they have worked on for years and years, and says he can make them better. He also tried to show up Morimoto, and that was a bridge too far for me. I find him to be a dickhead, but my wife and son both like him. To each their own I suppose. She mentioned some other names, but none of them held the same weight with me as Flay.

I then started to think of other chefs that Food Network highlights, and I found myself not really liking any of them, other than Ted Allen and Ina. Anne Burrell is too mean and too loud. I would not like to work with her or for her. Scott Conant is a fake ass wannabe Italian. He is from Maine. He has the feel of being born into money and he is very off putting. Rachel Ray isn't a real chef. Michael Symon is kind of okay, but can also be very loud and very annoying. Guy Fieri started this whole "rock star chef" trend that I truly loathe. He also hangs out with shady people. Alex Guarnaschelli is mean and vindictive and conniving. Geoffrey Zakarian seems like the type of dude who would constantly correct you at a party while he complains about the caviar he is eating. Jeff Muaro doesn't seem to have any real it factor and he tries way, way too hard. Katie Lee is dull. Duff Goldman isn’t as fun as he thinks he is. And Ree Drummond's family has said some problematic stuff in the past on her own show. I just find it really hard to root for these other people on that channel. Food Network has also shifted into highlighting these chefs that I don't care for by making every damn show a competition show.

If I want dish ideas I have to watch the Cooking Channel or look online for them. Food Network doesn't do that enough anymore. They are too busy giving an asshole like Bobby Flay seemingly ten different tv shows in the past year, each one trying to make him the star. I will still tune in to watch Ina, and if Ted Allen is a guest host on something, I'll check it out. Otherwise, these other chefs are not my cup of tea. 

Ty

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

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Ty Listens to "Bando Stone & the New World"

Supposedly Childish Gambino, Donald Glover, released his final album. The record is called "Bando Stone & the New World". It has been out for over a week now, but I have finally fully listened to it through its entirety twice now. I wanted to give it some time before writing a review. Let’s discuss.

On first listen I was let down a bit. My problem is I compare all of his records to "Awaken, My Love". That is unfair to him as an artist, and unfair to me as a listener. That album is one of a kind. It is, in the music industry, a masterpiece. For me it is one of the best records to ever come out. I shouldn't compare his other work to that record. I did it with "Atavista" recently too. While I like "Atavista", it doesn't hit me like "Awaken, My Love" hits me. So, instead of writing a first reaction review of "Bando Stone", I decided to give it another full listen.

On this second go round I found myself enjoying it a bit more. I found some of the songs more fitting to what I like to vibe to when I listen to music. "Lithonia" is a true hit. That song has a great hook, Glover crushes his vocals and it is an upbeat sounding tune. "Steps Beach" is a nice and mellow reprieve from the other songs on the album. It has a nice guitar groove as well. "Yoshinoya" is one of his better straight forward rap songs. It reminds me a ton of the stuff on "Because the Internet". That album is dope, and "Yoshinoya" would fit in quite nicely, although I'm stoked it is on "Bando Stone". I really like the lyrics to "Dadvocate". The beat on the song is what brought me in the first time. But the second listen I focused more on the lyrics, and they made me like the song even more. And I really adore the closer, "A Place Where Love Goes". It feels like a finale to not only the record, but to Glover's musical career.

These tracks make this record very solid. But, there are some songs that are just not for me. I am not a fan of "No Excuses". I like that he is giving his often collaborator Ludwig Goransson some credit, but the song is just a meandering mess for me. It is ambient sounds with Glover sometimes singing a verse here and there. I want more lyrically from Glover. The album opener, "Hearts Were Meant to Fly", has its moments, but it falls just a little flat to my ears. "Happy Survival" features a band I really like, Khruangbin, but it feels more like one of their tunes featuring Glover. I want it to be the other way around when listening to his music. As for some of the other features on the record, I'm too old now to know who some of these artists even are. My son knows who they are, but I'm at a loss. I don't know who Chloe or Yeat or Foushee is. I should remedy this, and maybe I will, but for now they are anomalies.

All in all this record is hit or miss, but the hits are really staying with me. The songs I really enjoy will be staying with me for a long, long time. Songs like "Lithonia" and "Yoshinoya" will be getting a ton of spins when I decide to listen to Childish Gambino. I definitely recommend checking the record out. Glover really goes for it. He tries a bunch of different genres all within seventeen songs and one hour of music. And if this is truly it for him as Childish Gambino, he has given us plenty of great music to listen to for the rest of our lives. Glover is a true genius and I will check out all of his further ventures. 

Ty

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

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Adventures with Spam

For years and years I have always looked the other way whenever I was offered Spam. I refused to try it. I was put off because it is meat that comes from a can. Worse, when it is released from said can, it comes out in a perfect block shape. I just didn't want that in my life. It seemed like I would get sick from it.

I was doing all the cliche things to avoid Spam. I didn't want it near me. I was like this with bologna for the longest time as well, until I tried some bologna at a nice bbq restaurant. That bologna was amazing and it opened my eyes to a whole new world of what I could do with that lunchmeat. The BBQ place smoked it. I have since air fried and pan fried it. I like to cut it into pieces and use it in my eggs. I have even tried just a plain sandwich, and it was excellent. And recently I have seen more and more people using Spam on the myriad of cooking shows I enjoy. I first saw it on "Man Vs Food" when Adam Richman went to Hawaii, and they used it in Moco Loco. It looked delicious. Then other people would use it in breakfast dishes. I also saw people using it in fried rice dishes. I saw people smoking it and pan frying it, just like I had with bologna. When RD and I lived together with a roommate, our roommate made us a breakfast casserole with Spam in it, and I loved that dish, although I wouldn't admit it back then. And when we were on vacation last week I chatted with my wife and brother about how I was becoming more and more interested in using Spam at home.

So, when I went grocery shopping this week, I bought some Spam. I didn't know how I was going to use it, or what I would use it in, but I knew I wanted to try it for myself. The first day after I bought it, I fried a few pieces in a dry rub and some butter. I did not need the butter, in hindsight, but I didn't know what I was doing at the time. After frying the Spam, I fried a few eggs and placed those on top of the Spam with some cheese. I put a little sriracha on top and sat down to eat it. It was great. The Spam added a salty ham-like flavor to the breakfast dish. The end of the Spam had a nice crispy edge on it, and I got a bacon sense when eating that part. I was hooked. Yesterday I wanted a sandwich, so I decided to fry the pieces again. This time I used the same dry BBQ rub, but I also added some garlic and herb seasoning and some Japanese BBQ sauce to cook it in. I let it sit in the pan a little longer too. I dismissed the butter and let the Spam do the work. After I finished frying the pieces, I put them on some sourdough bread with white cheddar and pickled onions. I then cooked the sandwich in the juices of the Spam. It was my take on Spam grilled cheese. This was my favorite dish I have made to this point with the Spam. It was excellent as a grilled cheese, and adding the Spam gives it a meatiness and saltiness that I crave with a lunch item. The Japanese BBQ sauce added a very nice sweetness as well. I'll be doing this again for sure. Today I decided to just simply fry the pieces and eat them like that with some cheese on top and pickled onions on the side. This was tasty as well. I got the full effect of Spam, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. When I ate it with some of the pickled onions, they added a great tartness to the meat.

I refuse to read what the ingredients are in Spam, but I now know that I am a true fan. I have enjoyed the hell out of these dishes I've made so far. I don't fully get why Spam is soft, but it lends itself very well to seasoning. It reminds me a lot of tofu. Tofu takes on whatever seasoning is used when cooking it. Spam is the same way. When I used dry rub, it tasted like that. When I used Japanese BBQ sauce that was the flavor that came through most. And pan frying it with no seasoning, when I ate it with cheese or pickled onions, that was the dominant flavor. It needs seasoning, and we have plenty in our house.

I will be buying Spam on a more regular basis now and trying many different methods of cooking it. I'm a fan. I'm glad I finally caved and tried it out. 

Ty

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

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Why Do You Care That Robert Downey Jr is Back in the MCU?

It was recently announced that The Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr will be returning to the MCU. The Russo's are going to direct some of the new movies and RDJ is going to be playing Dr Doom. Let’s discuss.

I saw this news, thought to myself that it was a cool and smart idea and then kind of forgot about it. That was until the internet exploded with people appearing to be very upset with this news. I guess, because RDJ played Ironman, this new role of his will mess with the lore of the entire MCU. This rip in the space time continuum of these superhero movies has upset nerds and non nerds alike. They are mad and they are letting the world know how mad they are.

Again, I saw the news and kind of left it where it was. I don't go too hard on news like this. It doesn't affect my day to day, so why should I care? RDJ is a very good, very accomplished actor and the Russo Brothers have made some of the better superhero movies. On paper, this all seems like a solid idea and the best shot to make better movies and make the "Fantastic Four" finally work on screen. They are putting a lot behind this movie. They got RDJ, they cast good, solid actors in the four lead roles and they have good writers attached. That is good considering how bad the last couple of iterations of these movies turned out to be. But, to the super fans, they are up in arms.

When I think about it, I don't really care because this is all make believe. Superheroes and supervillains do not exist. This is all a fantasy world. None of this affects our day to day lives. We have way, way bigger fish to fry than who plays who in a make believe world. We live in a time, where no matter what, some group of people are going to be mad about something. We all have far too much access on the internet, and we all feel like we have to put it out there. I'm doing it right now. But my gripe is with the people acting like this news has ruined their day, or in some cases, their lives. We have far too many Comic Book Guys living among us now, and they are letting their opinion be known. They want to fuss and complain about every little thing that doesn't fit what they want out of these movies. The people who whine are the same people, sorry RD, that complain about "Star Wars". Again, I go to "The Simpsons" when airing my grievances. When Comic Book Guy complained about Poochie, Bart asked him a great question. That question, "what do they owe you after giving you years of great tv and free entertainment", or something like that. That is the exact question I want to ask everyone that is so up in arms about RDJ playing Dr Doom. Who cares? He is an actor. His job is to make the unreal come to life, and RDJ is damn good at doing just that. He seems like a great fit to play this role. I'm kind of interested to see what he does with a villain role as opposed to being a hero. I want to see his take on being the bad guy. And I could care less if it messes with the MCU time frame, or whatever. They have already messed everything up with multiple universes and bringing the dead back to life. No one was this upset when the supposed deceased Avengers returned in "Infinity War", at least I think that was the movie where they came back. No one seemed to care when Dr Strange messed with all the stuff that happened to Scarlet Witch. We all just accepted it as the MCU reality. But, for some reason this news has made the masses very mad.

Get over it. It doesn't affect us at all. Try to control the things you can control. Don't let a movie casting disrupt your whole day. Just look forward to what they are going to do with the movie and go watch it when it comes out in theaters. Then form an opinion. That is going to be my plan moving forward. 

Ty

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

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Catch Connor O'Malley on His Stand Up Tour

Before going out of town last week I went to see Connor O'Malley at Helium here in Saint Louis. Let’s discuss.

I like Connor O'Malley. I was first introduced to him via the tv show "Detroiters". He was only in one episode, but for me it was a very memorable scene. He and Tim Robinson just yell at each other for a few minutes. From that moment on I was a fan. I then saw other stuff he was involved with. He was in the entirety of "Joe Pera Talks With You", and he was great. He would pop up on a few series on Netflix. He has a great, and very odd Instagram presence. He is second to none on "I Think You Should Leave". All of his appearances on these shows kept me in hysterics. But I had never really dug too deep into his standup or his YouTube page. I'd see snippets on Instagram and other websites, but I never sat down and watched him do his own thing. I went into the show still pretty blind too. I wanted to be surprised by what I saw.

And boy was it one of the best comedy shows I have ever been witness to in my life. This was truly a one of a kind standup show. Connor O'Malley isn't a joke a minute guy. He isn't really even a storyteller comic. He is more absurd. He goes on tangents and rants that seemingly come from nowhere. He would, at times, be very quiet and then he'd get very loud. All of the time though, I found myself cracking up. He did a bit about going to a skatepark, which was gold. He had people come onstage to do a performance, which he wrote, that crushed. He wore a ridiculous t-shirt that made me laugh and laugh and laugh. He used his ability to mess with the internet to fit his comedy stylings to a T. But where he really excelled, where he won me over right away, was his navigation through the quiet parts of his set. When it would get silent he would make a noise to put us back in the moment. He could make a face that got us all involved and laughing. He would scoff at one of the few crowd members that were speaking when they shouldn't have been speaking. He owned the moment where most comics just try to get to the next premise. He was in his element in these times. I found that rather impressive. I was curious as to how much I'd be laughing during the whole show. I didn't know if it would be a slow burn or if it would be laughing at the mundane. I found myself, and the whole crowd for that matter, laughing during the whole hour long set. I had an idea that this was going to be a good show, but I was blown away by how much I enjoyed myself, and I don't think I should be so surprised. I told my wife when I got home it was one of the best and most unique standup shows I've ever been to. I told my family on vacation all about the show. I found myself having the time of my life watching Connor O'Malley do his style of standup as a headliner.

I highly recommend going to see him if he is coming to your town. It is well worth your time. Now I am going to check out his YouTube stuff to see how funny that is. I can't wait. 

Ty

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

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Politics Week: AMERICA: F*** YEAH!

Ty is on a court ordered vacation this week, so RD is taking over the writing duties. Due to the incredible time, we live in, RD is going to cover politics every day. The views expressed in these articles are the same as the website owners since it is RD that owns the website.

All compliments and complaints can be sent to rkulik@publicforumproductions.com

Have you heard the song “America: Fuck Yeah”? It was in the underrated film “Team America: World Police”. If you have or have not heard the song, takes some time and listen to it.

That song rocks. It should be our new National Anthem.

I just wanted to give some love to the most patriotic god damn song every made.

America is the fucking best.

RD

RD is the creator and Head Editor of SeedSing and the host of The X Millennial Man Podcast

Support SeedSing and The X Millennial Man on patreon.

Politics Week: Trump and Project 2025 are Wrong for America

Ty is on a court ordered vacation this week, so RD is taking over the writing duties. Due to the incredible time, we live in, RD is going to cover politics every day. The views expressed in these articles are the same as the website owners since it is RD that owns the website.

All compliments and complaints can be sent to rkulik@publicforumproductions.com

The Donald Trump for President team has a plan. I know that seems obvious, every person who runs for President has a plan. In 2016 the Trump team did not have a plan, and that is why his administration was a chaotic mess and the country was incredibly ill prepared for the pandemic. Not having a plan in 2016 was bad for America. Trump’s plan for another possible term as President, Project 2025, is catastrophic.

Project 2025 is a list of policy proposals, and the plan to implement them, that came out of the right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation. Project 2025 is part of the Heritage Foundation’s “Mandate for Leadership” series that started in 1981. Project 2025 is their most aggressive plan ever and it will remake every corner of American society. Project 2025 is the New Deal of the far-right republican party.

Outside of the regular proposals Heritage always has in their “Mandates for Leadership”, policies like lower taxes on the rich, less government regulations, and stronger police, Project 2025 is adding new proposals to create an authoritarian, anti-woman, and anti-immigrant America. The 900+ page document, which I have read, is very specific in how the think tank will implement these policies. In the case of access to abortion and women’s’ health, Project 2025 wants to eliminate long standing medical practices and start to prosecute women and doctors. In the case of immigration, Project 2025 wants to indiscriminately tear apart families and force deportation even if the immigrant has a legitimate claim for political asylum. Project 2025 does not want the Congress or court system to get in the way of these radical proposals. Project 2025 expands the authority of the Executive Branch that the checks and balances of the past will have no place. If the President wants to do it, it is done.

One of the proposals in Project 2025 that is not getting as much attention is the plan to ban and criminalize all pornography. The proposal would punish anyone who has pornography, close or levy heavy fines on anyone who distributes it, such as internet providers, and lay down heavy jail sentences for anyone who creates pornography. What is hidden in this proposal is what is defined as pornography. Along with the traditional ideas of what pornography is, Project 2025 is expanding this definition to anything that incudes sexuality and gender identity. Under Project 2025, if someone was to publicly say they are gay or trans, the US Government could punish and jail that person. If a teacher is trying to help a transgender child who is in an unsafe home, that teacher would be severely punished. If a doctor gives medical care to a transgender person, that doctor will be jailed. Project 2025 does not want to ban pornography; Project 2025 wants to ban other sexual and gender identities.

Recently the public has been hearing more about Project 2025, and the proposal is not popular. Trump himself has been claiming that he knows nothing about it, yet it is written by many of his advisors who worked in the Whitehouse when Trump was President. Also, the Republican VP candidate JD Vance has publicly praised the ideas in Project 2025. Also, also the Trump team has put together their own plan for a second term called Agenda 47 which reads like a far-right wing third grader wrote Project 2025. Agenda 47 is almost the same, it just has more words like “deep state” and “fake news” littered throughout. Project 2025 and Agenda 47 identical policy twins.

The 2024 election is fast approaching, and voters are starting to do their research. The Democratic Party has rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris and the agenda of the party is starting to take shape. On the republican side we know their agenda, it is Project 2025. Trump may lie and say he does not know and/or support Project 2025, but a second Trump term would bring on the policies and plans mapped out in the 900+ page Heritage Foundation dream. The US does not need to move backward, we are better than hate and ugliness of Project 2025. It must be rejected. Trump and Project 2025 are bad for America.

RD

RD is the creator and Head Editor of SeedSing and the host of The X Millennial Man Podcast

Support SeedSing and The X Millennial Man on patreon.

Politics Week: The Republican Party is Not Conservative

Ty is on a court ordered vacation this week, so RD is taking over the writing duties. Due to the incredible time, we live in, RD is going to cover politics every day. The views expressed in these articles are the same as the website owners since it is RD that owns the website.

All compliments and complaints can be sent to rkulik@publicforumproductions.com

Politics is a game of lies. Promises are made and not kept, deals are made and then broken, truths are revealed and then found to be false. That is politics. In this game of lies there is one so big in today’s political arena that we all see yet no one cares to discuss. What is the grand lie in plain sight? The great political falsehood of 2024 is that the current Republican Party is conservative.

One could argue, successfully, that the GOP used to be conservative. I would say that the party has a few conservative philosophical pillars, but it is not 100% pure. Lower taxes, austerity measures, less business regulation, resistance to letting government initiate social changes, these are all principals the Republican Party can claim in its past. This is not the Republican Party of Donald Trump and the ghouls who wrote Project 2025.

This new Republican Party wants an absolute authoritarian ruler at the top. Whatever the President says is the law. They want a leader like the Pope of the Catholic Church. They want the entire government to center on this leader. The modern GOP doesn’t want less government interference, they want unlimited government interference from one office. This ultimate leader can, and will, set the social, economic, and foreign policy agenda as they see fit. This idea of an all-powerful executive branch is nowhere near what the true conservative philosophers believe. As a matter of fact, true conservatism would reject this idea.

Project 2025 wants the government to have total control over everything. They want the press to be only loyal to their ideas. They want businesses to do as they are told. They want the people to live as vassals to the lords and ladies of the Whitehouse. Project 2025 rejects conservatism more than the Democratic Socialists in the Democratic Party. Project 2025 is the New Deal of the anti-conservative Republican Party.

Trump and his Project 2025 gang will still claim to be conservative. They will tout the rolling back of government regulations and tax cuts as proof of their conservative bona fides. These are lies. Once implemented, Project 2025 would allow the executive branch to set new regulations on businesses. These regulations would have to do with access to abortion, hiring of protected classes, and the duty to pollute. The tax cuts will continue to only benefit the corporations and richest Americans. The rest of us will pay for any economic calamity. Trump and his lackeys at Project 2025 will say they are the conservative choice. That is a lie.

As we get ready for the 2024 election season, think about what you hear. No one trusts politics because we knowing lying is like breathing air. While you continue to dismiss the everyday talk, do not get fooled by the things that we are told is certain. Donald Trump’s and Project 2025 Republican Party is not conservative. Do not be fooled again.

RD

RD is the creator and Head Editor of SeedSing and the host of The X Millennial Man Podcast

Support SeedSing and The X Millennial Man on patreon.

Politics Week: Kamala Harris is The Democrats Best Chance

Ty is on a court ordered vacation this week, so RD is taking over the writing duties. Due to the incredible time, we live in, RD is going to cover politics every day. The views expressed in these articles are the same as the website owners since it is RD that owns the website.

All compliments and complaints can be sent to rkulik@publicforumproductions.com

As I write these words Vice President Kamala Harris has unofficially secured enough Democratic Party delegates to be the official nominee for President in 2024. The so-called mini primary was a little noise and no real chaos. It took the Vice President just over 48 hours to rally and unite the Democrats.

 Thank goodness.

I know that the GOP and legacy media wanted uncertainty when President Joe Biden announced he would not run for reelection. Politico and others kept floating the Joe Manchin phantom candidacy. RFK jr decided to weigh in. None of the dissention came to the surface. The President endorsed Harris immediately and then most of the party fell in line. Kamala Harris will be the Democratic Party nominee for President and will take on Trump and his Project 2025 social club this fall.

 Thank goodness.

At this time in the election calendar, and at this point in history, Kamala Harris is the best candidate to take down Trump and his Project 2025 goons this November. Harris herself said it on Monday when she highlighted her career as a prosecutor and dealing with sexual predators, con men, and frauds, men like Trump. The team that Biden gives Harris, on the campaign and in the Whitehouse, is tested and they have already beaten Trump before. Also, Kamala Harris is not 81 and does not flub words or sentences very often. The Harris for President campaign is only a few days old, and it is already using its momentum to disrupt the shaky Republican effort.

We are still a few weeks away from the Democratic Party’s National Convention in Chicago, and things may change. Much to the chagrin of The New York Times, I do not think we will see any party disarray. Vice President Harris is not only united the party, but she has also energized it. A record-breaking day in fundraising and strong public appearances, coupled with Trump’s online temper tantrums, has changed the narrative of the 2024 Presidential election. Kamala Harris has been the spark the Democratic Party has needed since the halcyon days of Barrack Obama. Hope lives again.

I understand that we are still in the “honeymoon” period of the Kamala Harris Presidential campaign, but I feel like the moment has gotten better. It is not just President Biden’s act of patriotism that has brought on a brighter day, it is an excited and vibrant Harris for President campaign. Everything we have seen the last few days should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind. Kamala Harris is the Democrats best chance to win in November.

Thank goodness.

RD

RD is the creator and Head Editor of SeedSing and the host of The X Millennial Man Podcast

Support SeedSing and The X Millennial Man on patreon.

Politics Week: President Biden Did The Right Thing

Ty is on a court ordered vacation this week, so RD is taking over the writing duties. Due to the incredible time, we live in, RD is going to cover politics every day. The views expressed in these articles are the same as the website owners since it is RD that owns the website.

All compliments and complaints can be sent to rkulik@publicforumproductions.com

In case you have not heard, President Joe Biden has said he will not continue his campaign to be reelected President of the United States. He intends to finish his term, but he is moving aside so a new Democrat can take on Donald Trump and his Project 2025 acolytes. I have some thoughts.

Joe Biden has been a good President in my opinion. I am not pleased with a lot of what his administration has done, and not done, but I do think in the last few years and the political climate we live in, Biden has done a better-than-expected job. If policy was the determining factor in voting for a candidate, Joe Biden would clearly be the front runner. Yet being a good President is not the main factor in the 2024 election. Age is, and President Biden really shows his age. That has been a problem since day one and it was put on full display the last few weeks. Biden showing his age gave Trump and his Project 2025 minions the opening they needed. When Biden stepped aside from the race, the Republicans lost their only advantage.

Should age have been the reason President Biden stepped aside. Yes, it should be. At the age of 81, Joe Biden was going to be the oldest person to ever run for President. In my state of Ohio, you cannot be a judge past the age of 70. I do not think anyone past seventy should be in the most stressful job in the world. Now that Biden took the age issue away, the Republicans are left with a 78-year-old Trump as their nominee. Again, way too old. I also know many may not know this, but Biden would mix up names and words a lot. Trump rambles like a conspiracy crazed lunatic. The man has observable cognitive decline. Now the age question surrounds the GOP nominee, and the country can decide if they want an old, crazed lunatic to be back in the Whitehouse, or do we want a capable non brain rotted person. I think the answer is obvious. The republicans have an age problem on their ticket. Everyone should know that.

I personally believe that Biden would have beaten Trump, and his Project 2025 supporters, in November. I think most of the United States do not want a competent Trump administration that would become more authoritarian and anti-immigrant and woman. Even though I still think Biden would have won, I still thinking stepping aside was the right move. The question is not who can win in November, the question is who can lead the next four years. It is obvious that if Trump wins the Whitehouse he will go back to golfing and grifting while autocrats like JD Vance and Project 2025 will start to strip people’s rights away. The Democratic Party can now tell the people that their nominee will be set for the next four years, and our democracy will be in good hands. Biden did the right thing by allowing the Democrats to chart a path for four years and beyond.

I admire President Biden for doing the right thing for his country. Whatever people may think of Joe Biden and his political career, history will look at this moment and reward him in its writing. I gave just a few reasons I think the President did the right thing, there are many more, and I wish him well the rest of his term. It is a new beginning thanks to President Joe Biden. It is now our turn to take advantage of this gift and to put Trump and Project 2025 on top of the dustheap of history.

RD

RD is the creator and Head Editor of SeedSing and the host of The X Millennial Man Podcast

Support SeedSing and The X Millennial Man on patreon.

Ty Plays EA Sports College Football 25

I bought the standard version of "College Football 25", so that meant that today was the day I have been waiting for for 11 years. Let’s discuss.

I'm not a video game guy. I have told everyone I know, including readers of this site and listeners of the podcast that very thing. Growing up I was the youngest of four, so I did not get to play our Nintendo very often. My friends, when I was younger, we all wanted to play the actual sport. We played video games here and there, but it always ended with us replaying the game in real life outdoors. So, the fact that I have been this amped for a video game to come out should speak volumes to how long this wait has felt for me. I have been watching all the people play the game online that ordered it early, and it only made me more excited. I got up this morning and had some things to take care of, so I downloaded it while I was out. I was hoping to get started on it before noon, but I had to wait until 1pm. Again, that was all well and good. I was thinking about the game, but I hadn't played it just yet. So, around 1pm I fired up the PlayStation and immediately turned the game on.

I played half an exhibition to get used to the controls and then it was on to Dynasty Mode. This is what I love most about this game. I get to control everything that Michigan does on and off the football field. So, I got that going, and it is ongoing as we speak, and I could not be happier.

This, for me, is the greatest video game that has ever been created. The gameplay is smooth and easy. It is akin to "Madden", but the playbooks are much larger and the game is much faster. You also get all the pomp and circumstance that comes with the college football atmosphere. From the fight songs to the crowd chants, it is all there. The uniforms look just like the teams. They have alternates for the teams that use those. The players' names are front and center. This is new, and it is rad. In older versions of this game they couldn't use players' names. The names were the position and the number, i.e. QB #16. Now, when I fired up my dynasty with Michigan, I saw names I knew, on both offense and defense. There was no HB #7, it read D.Edwards, for Donovan Edwards. My elite corner was not DB #2, it was W. Johnson, for Will Johnson. That, for me, is the coolest new aspect. They have the main college football announcers. We have Rece Davis, David Pollack and Jesse Palmer calling the games. They have teams' entrances down pat. Michigan comes out for every home game and they smack that banner. That is here in the game. When I played Washington earlier, they had their husky dog run on the field. I'm sure Clemson touches the rock and Oklahoma has their Schooner. 

This game truly feels like it has it all for all college football fans. The game play is smooth like I said, but also realistic. I know I keep mentioning Michigan, but that is the team I play with. And they have it spot on. Alex Orji is fast, but inaccurate. Will Johnson is elite and the computer barely throws his way. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant eat up o lineman. Donovan Edwards is fast, but goes down easy. Jaishawn Barnham is a heavy hitter. It feels like I am controlling a real football game. I feel like a coach. I am up here in my home playing this game and motioning for first downs or telling the opposing team I held them on third and it is now fourth down. I'm a 41 year old father of two. That is crazy.

"NCAA Football 25" is everything I hoped it would be. This is the exact game I wanted and I couldn't be happier. It is back although it almost feels like it was never gone. I'm ecstatic. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play some more. What an incredible game. Well done EA Sports. 

Ty

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

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Russell Westbrook Playing in Denver is Not a Good Idea

Russell Westbrook's time in LA has come to an end. About an hour ago he was traded to the Jazz, where he will be waived and he will eventually sign with the Nuggets. This was his endgame all along. He said a few weeks back that he wanted to go play in Denver. He knew he was done with the Clippers, he still wants to play and he wants to go to the Nuggets. He is getting his wish. But, I don't know if it is going to be as fun and entertaining as he may hope.

I adore Russell Westbrook. He is one of my all time favorite players. I have gone to bat for him on this very website. I banged the drum loud and hard for him to win his MVP the season he won it. A lot of people didn't think he was the rightful MVP, but I did. He did remarkable things and kept the Thunder relevant after Kevin Durant left for the Warriors. And I liked him before. I was a Thunder fan for a while. While rooting for them, KD was my guy, but Russ was a very close second. I loved the enthusiasm and energy he played with. He was going 100 percent at all times. It didn't matter if he was playing a random game in the middle of the season or a high intensity playoff game, he was always going full bore. He attacked the rim, he made good passes, he is one of the best rebounding guards ever and he talked a great game. I was all in. And even when he left, for Houston and both LA teams, I would still tune in to watch him play. Hell, I watched his lone season in Washington. He still seemed to have something to contribute. And while I saw his rough first round playoff performance last season, I was still rooting hard. But, you can see that his game is just not what it used to be.

Westbrook doesn't hit the elbow/free throw line jumper like he used to. He has never been a good 3 point shooter and it has only fallen off more. He isn't a starter anymore. He has become a role player that you never know what you are going to get from him on any given night. He is older and can't do the things he used to be able to do. That is the end game for all of us. As we get older we can't do those things as well anymore. And when it happens to pro athletes, it is very clear. Russ has been on this path for a few years now. You could see it with the Clips. And as more of their guys got hurt, and Russ was asked to do more, he just couldn't bring it all together.

Going to Denver is not going to be good for Westbrook. Some, Zach Lowe, like to say that Nikola Jokic is the "best player in the world". I disagree. He doesn't play a lick of defense. And he is apathetic. I think those two things are going to frustrate Russ, which will frustrate Jokic. Jamal Murray has never really been able to stay fully healthy his whole career. If he is the point guard, like he has been, Russ is going to be his backup, and when Murray gets hurt, that will thrust Westbrook into a bigger role he is not suitable for anymore. He and Reggie Jackson have already played together and it did not end well. Jackson couldn't wait to get out of OKC after a few years playing with Russ. That was a dumb move on Jackson's behalf I thought at the time, and still think is true. Michael Porter Jr is a zero on defense and follows some weird conspiracy theories. These are some of the core dudes that Russ is going to have to learn to play and practice with everyday. Russ is older now too. He should be ring chasing, which maybe that is what he is trying to do. But this fit in Denver is odd. The other spots made sense. In Houston he got to play with CP3. In Washington he played with a young Bradley Beal. In regards to both LA teams, that is his hometown. This move to Denver, for me, makes zero sense. I don't think he fits in with the team. He is almost assured to be a bench guy, but I don't know where the meaningful minutes are going to come and how he is going to really contribute. I don't want to see his career end like a bunch of these guys, where he just fades into obscurity and becomes a "oh yeah, I remember him" type of guy. But that is what I fear may happen in Denver.

All this being said, I am still going to be rooting for him because he is an important basketball player in my fandom and I want the best for him. I just don't like this fit at all. 

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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