What MLK Day Means to Me

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, I want to talk about his importance to me, and his influence on me.

Last year I talked about how we could really use someone like him in our lives right now. I still firmly believe that, but with a new administration coming in, one that will listen to people, that will hold people accountable, one that is diverse, I think MLK would have been somewhat pleased with where we will stand on January 20th. I'm sure he would want more changes, we all do, but the people who will be entrenched in their jobs soon enough are a diverse group, more diverse than ever in fact. But back to my point for today. MLK was a big, big influence on me. I, like most others, did not learn of him until elementary school, but my learning did not stop there. I have studied the man. I watched all his speeches. I have seen movies and documentaries on him. I have been to Memphis, been to the Civil Rights Museum and have seen where his life was tragically cut short. MLK was not someone I learned about and then forgot. He has stayed with me. More importantly though, his message has stayed with me.

My parents instilled it in me, I tell my kids everyday to not judge a person by how they look, I try to teach the kids I coach things MLK said and did. He is a part of my life, by choice. I know his I Have a Dream speech is the most famous, but it is for a reason. When he says that he "has a dream that his four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character", it still moves me. It still resonates with me. It is how I live my life. I do not judge anyone before I get to know them personally, if it gets there. I will not move to one side of the street or another because of the person that is coming towards me. My inflection and tone of my voice does not change no matter who I am talking to. I find it crass and ignorant to do "impressions" of other people from other races. All this, and so much more, where instilled by MLK, and my folks. My parents grew up in the 60's. They were there for MLK's speeches, peaceful protests and his unfortunate assassination. I feel like, much as he had an impact on me, he had one on both of my parents. They raised not only me to be the type of person I am today, but my three other brothers also. We are all very accepting, loving people. We never just judge someone and move on. We give the benefit of the doubt more times than not. I think a big part of that is because of my folks, and how they experienced MLK's life. Heck, if it weren't for both of them, I would not have been able to go to the Civil Rights Museum, or the hotel where he was killed. They had me do that because they knew it would be a great thing for me, and also a way for them to remember the oppression and the past. I am forever grateful to my parents for teaching me young, and continuing to do it even today, in my late 30's.

This year though, and really the past four years, have made me want to be as much like MLK as I can be. The past four years have been a total mess. This country has become scary racist. There are a lot of people that do and say bad things that are in positions of power. I decided this year, well in November of 2020, to get involved. I phone banked for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I participated in Black Lives Matter marches, and have done as much as I can for that movement. I am giving my time to talk to people, be it via email or phone, about how important it is, especially right now, to understand this movement, and where it is coming from. I don't know that I would be doing all these things without my parents, or maybe even more importantly, the lessons I have learned from Dr. King. He has helped to shape my activism, my want to help others and my belief that we should not judge people by how they look.

Dr. King was a great man who was taken from us far too soon. He did so much, and could have done so much more. I am forever grateful for him, and his message and the way he fought peacefully for what he believed in. Happy MLK Day everyone. This is as important a holiday as we have in America. Cherish this day.

Ty

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

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Strange Tales from the Pandemic: Weight Gain Edition

My topic today is a little out of the ordinary, but I want to talk about it. So the pandemic is in month, I don't know, nine, and I want to talk about how it has affected my diet.

I am pretty sure I told everyone that reads my blog, I lost about 100 pounds total five years ago. The weight has fluctuated both ways, but where I am today, I weigh about 270 pounds. That means I have kept off around 70 total, which I think is solid. But during the pandemic, my weight has just been totally stagnant, and I don't get it. I run more now than I did before, but I do eat a little worse. When I was really on my diet, Atkins, I was pretty militant about my carb intake. That went by the wayside when I started running half marathons. I was burning so many calories at races and runs, my body actually needed carbs. I needed that little extra energy to get through the run. This was when I discovered Tailwinds, and that stuff is magical. It is a powder drink substance that I put in my hydration pack and drink during longer runs. One packet has 50 carbs in it, and I drink it all. When I really watched carbs, I only had 40 a day. So, one packet of Tailwinds was more than I had in years. But it was working. It was helping me push through the harder parts of longer runs and I liked it. I started to let myself eat more carbs, still staying under 100 a day, and I was still losing weight.

Then the pandemic hit, and it all just stopped. Not my running, not my intake of carbs, but my weight loss. I cannot gain any weight, or lose any weight. Since March of this year I have been 270 pounds. Sometimes I'm 270.5 or 270.3, but never under 270. I don't get it. I do eat more carb loaded meals. I let myself indulge in pasta sometimes, I'll have tacos on occasion, I'll eat pizza and I will have real ice cream. I have also really taken to oatmeal because it really is a superfood. And besides the oats and milk, everything else is either low carb or sugar free. But to counteract the food, I run five days a week. I do no less than three miles either. I push myself when I run too. I ran a sub 25 minute 5k, which is really good for me the other day. I go longer distances. I let myself get lost on runs through neighborhoods. I burn tons of calories. But when I weigh myself, boom, 270 no matter what.

It is kind of infuriating. I don't know what to do, or why this is happening. My only theory is the pandemic, and how the mental aspect has affected my diet. I need to get back to doing super low, to no carb diet, but the mere existence of sugary and starchy foods has been too good to pass up. And when I get stressed, eating is my comfort. I know that is bad, but it is true. When the pandemic first started, it was ice cream almost every night. With the election it was cereal and milk. With the post election stuff, it has been pasta and bread and pizza. But I try to justify it by going out and running four or five miles. I guess I do need to rededicate myself to Atkins, but with the virus raging even more, all I think about to calm my nerves is what food I will eat for the day, or what I will have for dessert. It has done a number on my body too, but it isn't noticeable. It is more of the gross way, with upset stomachs and going to bed super full and bloated.

I hope that I can find a way to push myself to go back to a lower carb diet, but with more race cancellations, and the possibility of my kids going back to virtual learning soon, I doubt it will happen. I don't know, I guess I just wanted to vent today. Anyway, time for a run to counteract the pasta I will be having for dinner.

Ty

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

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An Update on In Person School During the Pandemic

I realized that I haven't done a school blog in a bit, and I wanted to touch base with where we are currently.

My kids are still in school the moment I write this. That is subject to change at any moment. Things have been relatively smooth up until about a week ago. There were no cases in my daughter's school, and my son's school has had only three cases, all of which were traced and the kids and staff involved have all quarantined. But, like the rest of the US right now, cases are rising and rising fast. We received multiple emails from our kids' schools to "be prepared at any moment to have virtual learning for upwards of two to three weeks". With the rise in cases, that means that the staff at both schools has dwindled. I expected this to happen, and right around Thanksgiving was my target date. I have talked to friends via text that have kids roughly the same age, and they all said the same thing. But, for the time being, my kids are still learning in person, and for them, it has been pretty great.

Both my kids are smart, they know what they should at their ages and the learning aspect was only a slight part of why we sent them back to in person learning. The main reason we decided to send both of them back was for the socialization, and that has been amazing for them. Before, when we were doing virtual learning, which was so much better this time around, my kids would throw weird, non important fits. My son would get mad that his sister got candy and he didn't, and he would meltdown. When I would tell my daughter that she couldn't watch TV anymore for the day, she would throw a major fit, similar to what she did as an infant. It was getting to the point where they truly craved, and needed, interaction with kids their age. That part has worked tremendously. My kids are happier, more fulfilled and tired when they get home from school now. They talk glowingly of seeing their friends and teachers. My son has a pod type situation, and his best friends are in his pod. When he goes to his gifted class in school, it is the same people. He now gets to see his current best friend everyday. And it isn't like he wasn't seeing him before, they would chat on a kids messenger thing we have, and play Fortnite together, but now they get to see each other Monday-Friday, and they love it. My daughter absolutely adores her teacher, and she too has a little group of friends, there are only eight kids in her class, that she now gets to see for three hours a day, Monday-Thursday. She is most excited to tell me about who she played with everyday at school, and what her teacher did for her, more than anything else. They have both almost completely reverted back to their normal selves. They do have to, and I make damn well sure, wear their masks. Both my kids have been prepped for this, and they understand why it is so necessary if they want to continue in person learning.

As far as the schools go, they have done a great job enforcing mask rules and making sure the kids understand the importance of hygiene and cleanliness. It has been far smoother than I thought it would be to be totally honest. I thought cases were going to skyrocket within the first two weeks. They didn't, and they still haven't. But there is still the unsettling problem of rising cases in the US that we are now dealing with. I check my email far more often now because I want my kids to be ready for virtual learning again, and I have to explain to them that it will, hopefully, only be temporary. My son doesn't like it, but he gets it. My daughter though, it makes her very sad that she may have to miss school for a few weeks. I fear that, if the numbers continue on the path they are currently on, they may cut her program, and my son won't go back until after the new year. It is really all on the table at this point. For the time being we are continuing to reinforce why masks are important, and the necessity to stay in a "bubble" and to be as careful as possible because in person learning has been so successful for their socialization.

We will see what happens next, I'm sure we will have to go virtual soon, maybe only for a little bit. But, for right now, I commend the school district, the staff and the higher ups for the tremendous job they have done to keep our numbers relatively low compared to other places.

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 the Transition from Online to In School Learning

In keeping up with how the school year is going in Saint Louis, today my son returned to in person learning. My daughter went back two weeks ago, to pre k, and my son returned to his third grade classroom today.

It has been seven months since he was in an actual classroom. He went to summer camp, but that was all outdoors, and masked. He played two baseball games before his season was postponed, then ultimately canceled. He has started to play flag football at a local sports spot, also masked. But today is the first day since March that he will be around more than two of his friends. His classroom is full, a little too full if you ask me, of kids his age. He is in one of the three rooms that has in person learning, filled with about 18 kids and one teacher. Now, they are masked, they are being taught the correct way to wash hands, they have assigned seats and assigned lunch time, as well as recess, and they have to follow every safety protocol. I will say, while the state of Missouri hasn't been doing great with curbing COVID, the city and county of Saint Louis have actually done a good job. The state is up 20 percent, but the city and county are down 7 percent. We have mask mandates and the mass majority of people are following the simple rules without throwing a fit. That is why my son and daughter are able to return to their classrooms. The people in charge out here, Democrats, have listened to doctors and scientists, and we have done a solid job of slowing the spread. I do understand that at any moment both kids could be home due to an outbreak. But for the time being, they are in class because we listened to the right people, didn't turn it political and are doing the right things.

I will say that it wasn't euphoric or joyful like I had thought it would be when I dropped my son off this morning. I had been saying that I wanted my kids back in school when it was safe. I mentioned during the summer that I hoped they would be able to start in late August as they intended to. Even when they announced they would be online for the first quarter, I still had hope that they would be able to attend in person earlier than expected. I had all these ideals, that if it were safe, they would both be in school, and that it would be great. I am happy for the kids because they are getting some much needed socialization, quality teaching and a safe place to play, but I miss them. I miss my daughter for those three hours she is in school. I am really, really missing my son too. As I write this, while he was learning virtually, he would usually come and hang out and do his writing assignments while I write my blog. He isn't here right now, and that is weird for me. When I dropped him off, the car was too quiet. Lunch was just me, my wife and daughter. I missed my son being there with us to say some random nonsense that always makes us laugh. Miles is fun to be around, and I guess it took a global pandemic, and school being closed for four months to in person learning, for me to appreciate that about him. I've always known he was fun to be around, and have relished this time we have gotten to spend together, but now that he is back in school, I miss it, and him.

I am happy for him though. Miles is a social butterfly, and he has taken this pandemic hard. We went a few months without seeing anyone. It was just the four of us. Then we added my folks and my wife's mom. Then we added my wife's step mom, brother and dad. And then we let him see two friends. That was it. For seven months, my son, who just wants to talk and play and be around people, only got to see, outside of me, his mom and sister, eight total people. He was excited, but also nervous this morning too. I am sure that the moment he walked into class, and realized that it was similar to last year, with obvious new safety protocols in place, he was fine. I am sure he is happy to be around the friends he has made the past four years in his school. I know he is having fun being able to see his teacher in person, and not on a screen. And I say again, I know that this can be taken away at any moment, and he knows this too. But, for the time being, he is happy, my wife and I feel like he is in the second safest place he can be, our home being first, and he is getting some much needed socialization that he has been craving for seven months now. I hope it works out, and I hope it stays safe. That is up to us, to the school and to the administrators, but they have shown tenfold that they are listening to the right people and doing the right, smart and safe thing.

I miss my son, but I am happy for him. Now lets see what happens from here. 

Ty

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

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The Differing Perspectives of a Five and Seventy Year Old

Today is my father’s birthday, you’ve all heard him on the podcast way back when we first started, and yesterday was my daughter’s birthday. They both hit what I deem to be “milestone” birthdays. Let’s talk about it.

My dad is now 70. That’s a good amount of time. He’s seen a lot. He was in the Navy, he’s traveled everywhere, he worked at Boeing, he’s done so many things. He’s also the person I aspire to be. I look up to my dad. I always have, and I always will. He’s the best, hands down. He is my idol. He is my role model. My daughter turned 5. That may not seem like a “milestone” birthday, but to me it is. She will be a kindergartner next year. She will have a full school day. I’ve been with her her whole life. I was deep into being a stay at home dad when she was born, and I still claim that as my current job, because that’s what I am. And with the pandemic, the time I spend with her had tripled. We are basically best friends at this point. I see her more than anyone else in my home, including my wife and son. But next year, hopefully, she will be in school full time, as will my son, and my wife will be back to work in an office in some capacity. The house will be empty, and that will be odd for me. It will also be a big adjustment for her. But she’s, in her own words, “tiny but mighty”. She’s a tough little cookie, and there’s no doubt that she’ll handle being in school full time much better than I will, at least at first.

Anyway, since these two people are so important to me, and are at milestone ages, I wanted to try a little experiment with them. I decided to ask them both the same five questions to see what they said, or how they answered it. I knew the answers would be very different, but that was the fun of this whole thing. I wanted answers from someone who’s been around for awhile, and from someone who’s still very, very young. The questions are, on the surface level, simple. I needed to make them that way so my 5 year old’s head didn’t explode. But the answers were as different, and telling, as I hoped. So let’s get to these questions.

Number one was easy, but again, the answers were pretty much what I expected. I asked them each their favorite movie. My dad picked “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. This makes so much sense. In 1977, he was 27, and science fiction was a fairly new premise. He loves science fiction, the cast is amazing and the movie is a classic. He likes this movie so much he visited some places where it was filmed. My daughter picked the “My Little Pony Movie”. Of course. She loves the brightness, the music, she knows the characters and she adores the songs. I know the soundtrack because we listen to it so much. After she answered she asked if we could watch it again, and I am sure we will this weekend. These answers were great.

Question two, favorite tv show. With my dad I didn’t really know where he would go, and quite frankly, I was stunned. He picked “SNL”. But after thinking about it, it makes sense. This is another show that premiered when he was in his 20’s, it was new and different and funny and satirical. It all makes sense after you get to know my dad. And I know for a fact that he still watches “SNL” to this day. My daughter picked “Ryan’s World”, much to my chagrin. But she does adore this show. The kid just opens toys and goofs around with his folks, but it gets her undivided attention. I think that is a lot of what her generation looks for. There needs to be toys and fast cuts and lots of colors and kid jokes. That’s exactly what this show is. It’s a YouTube show that is now a worldwide phenomenon. That’s how her generation consumes pop culture. So it makes sense.

Question three, favorite thing about school. My dad said the teachers that actually cared. He told me it might not make sense, but I totally get it. There are some teachers who really don’t care. Some just do the job and go on to the next class. But the ones that care, they get remembered forever. I have teachers like this. And to know my dad does too is oddly comforting to me. It means that I’m not alone, that I am more like my dad than I already thought. It also shows that, when you get far enough removed from school, the teachers you remember are the ones that cared, that loved the job and that stood out. His answer was pretty cool to me. My daughter’s favorite thing, she’s in her last year of pre k, snack time. Again, it shows her age, the age difference and what is important when you are a kid compared to an adult. Snack time for her is great. She gets a break, she gets some food and she gets to goof with her little friends. I’m sure that will change over time, but to get this answer from her, compared to my dad’s answer, is a perfect correlation between the ages, and the lives they’ve lived to this point.

Question four was my “deep” one. I asked them both the one thing they’d change in the world if they could. My dad said he’d want to abolish the electoral college. I couldn’t agree with him more. With what happened in 2016, the very real threat of it happening again next month, and where we are as a country, the electoral college needs to go. It’s an archaic way of giving some very unqualified people a very powerful job. If we really are a democracy, the popular vote should be what matters. The governments job is to serve the people, so it should be up to the people who gets these high profile government jobs. I totally get this coming from my dad. My daughter said, in no certain words, she wishes she could love her mom more. Both my kids are mommas kids. They love their mom. I’m the hard ass disciplinarian, and she’s the nice one. I say no, and she says yes more. She’s also so much better equipped at doing the girly stuff I’m not proficient at yet. I can’t braid hair or paint nails. I’m learning, but I’m not nearly as good as mom according to my daughter. I do love this answer though because it’s so sweet and innocent and cute. It’s pretty perfect.

The final question, outside of family, what’s the one thing you love. My dad said friendships. I asked him to explain. He said that the friends he still has, the new ones and the ones that have stuck for a long time, it’s because they’ve always supported him. They’ve been there for good and bad. They’ve been there to help him in hard times and been there to cheer him on for the good times. Again, this makes sense with his age. He’s been through a lot, and the friends that have stuck it out with him are true friends. People come and go, but the ones that stay, they’re important. My daughter’s answer, her birthday. Total prisoner of the moment, but she’s a 5 year old, and she just had a birthday and got gifts. That was her second answer when I asks her why her birthday, the gifts, in particular, her spa kit. And isn’t they just totally what you’d expect from a 5 year old? Of course her birthday is the best. Not only does she get new toys and things, she is doted on more than normal. She’s the star of the show, and she loves that. I thought this was a neat little experience, and I think it shows a big difference in kids versus adults.

This was fun, and something I will continue to explore. Anyway, happiest of birthdays to my dad and my daughter. I love you both and I’m so excited for more birthdays to come.

Ty

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

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An Update on The Adventure of Online Learning During the Pandemic

It has been one month since virtual learning has started here in Saint Louis. I said I wanted to pop in periodically to let you all know how things were going on in my neck of the woods. I figured a month was a good amount of time to get a real, true look at how things are going.

Concerning stay at home online learning, there have definitely been ups and definitely been downs. This is also very, very exhausting. I am finding myself falling asleep on the couch about once or twice a week from about 4pm to 5pm. Just a little nod off, but I don't ever, ever nap unless I am over exhausted or sick. This is definitely exhaustion. And it is not that this is physically demanding, helping my kids out with their virtual school, but it is mentally draining, and sure, it can be physical too. We use recess to walk the dogs, or run around out back before it gets too cold, or shoot baskets. We try to cram in as much as we can during my son's one hour window that consists of recess and lunch.

My daughter is actually returning to in-person learning on Wednesday the 30th, and that was a whole other level of stress trying to figure out what to do. The school district we are in is doing a phase in return. They are having pre-k, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade all returning on the 30th. And while the kindergarteners and first and second graders have a choice of returning to in person, pre k does not. We had to decide, in a week, if we wanted our daughter to go back to her four days a week, or just skip a whole year of school. After much thought, communication with her teacher, and finding out there were only six kids in her class, we decided to let her return to in person. She will be masked, as will the other students, staff and anyone else in the building. Her teacher has also informed us that the first week of school will be all about washing hands and sanitizing and social distancing, and we really like her, and trust her. It will be quite the adjustment, but we came to a decision, and we will see what happens. I have also been drilling into her head the importance of masks and hand washing and all of that. She is over prepared, which is good.

My son is still home. He started third grade this year, so he has to wait. He's upset, but he understands. He is pretty optimistic that he will be going back at the end of next month, and if we keep doing well in the county, I'd say he will be back to in person learning too. But I am starting to notice that he is getting a combination of bored and stir crazy. He is a smart kid, but he doesn't want to challenge himself. He will do the necessary work, he usually gets solid to good grades and he likes when he is on Zoom. He likes seeing his friends and he likes to have work. It keeps him busy. But lately his morning Zoom meetings have been ending early. The schedule says that he has math from 8:45-10:00am. I know that doesn't mean he will be on Zoom the whole time, but the other day, at 9am, he told me he was done already. I did not believe him. I triple checked his work, made him take a quiz a second time, and all that only took about 15 minutes. He was totally done, everything was correct, and he still had over 40 minutes before his next meeting. I did not like this, and neither did he. He retreated to his room and read for about 20 minutes, but then he joined my daughter and I for her story time Zoom. He kept complaining that he was bored and needed work to do, so I told him to go ahead in his math workbook. He said he couldn't, so he just hung out until it was time for his meeting.

This was the one thing, outside of technical problems, that I was worried about happening. As I said, my son is very smart, but he will not do extra work if he doesn't feel like it. Basically, if it isn't a video game, my son will not put in the extra effort. But I don't fault him. He is eight. What eight year old wants to do extra work in school if they don't have to? I know I didn't. This has been the hardest and most exhausting part, trying to keep him engaged. We are finding new ways to occupy his extra free time, and with my daughter going back it should be easier to fully focus on him and his work. But still, he has a ton of free time, and I wasn't expecting that. I am sure his teacher, and other teachers as well, weren't expecting this either. 8:45 to 3:30 is a long day to be on a computer, even with the built in time away from his screen. But I did not expect this much free time. The mornings go faster because I have both kids to deal with, but the afternoons are tough.

I do still applaud our district for doing what they have done, and continue to do. The whole district had a big time Zoom meltdown this morning, but they were back online by 10. That is impressive. But this is much more exhausting than I thought. I am a very attentive father, at least I like to think I am, but there are times where I feel lost, and helpless trying to find things for both kids, but mainly my son, to do. The virtual learning is okay, I still support the decision, but my kid needs more work to do. I know that is up to me, and I will come up with something. But, I do want the Zoom's to last longer and I would like my kid to be able to move ahead if he feels he can and needs to.

All in all this is fine, I am still opining for the days when he was in a building, but this is okay. I am just emotionally, mentally and physically tired, and we still have a month to go. 

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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Things Are Not Good Right Now

I don't know what to do anymore.

You think it may not get worse, that something positive may happen, that things may turn a corner, but we, the United States that is, just continue to take steps backwards. We are drowning in so many different ways as a country. COVID has become not only one of the deadliest viruses in the world, but somehow political. People fight over simple tasks, simple asks and suggestions by scientists and doctors, such as social distancing, staying home if sick, not gathering in big crowds and wearing a mask. These are easy and effective, and seemingly, at least at the moment, the only way to slow down the spread of this virus. But what may be even worse, scratch that, is worse, is the systemic, never ending racism and murder by police that seems to happen daily now in America.

I knew that Breonna Taylor wouldn't get just due. She lost her life over nothing more than the color of her skin. She should still be with us today. So should Philado Castille, Tamir Rice, George Floyd and so many, many more. But the police, and the current majority of the "government" are allowing these people to be murdered with no consequence. I was crushed yesterday when I saw that only one of the three police officers, all white middle aged men, was indicted for their actions. What made this news even worse, he was only charged, essentially, with property damage. No charges for entering without a warrant, for attacking a defenseless person and for murder of a defenseless person. I was crushed, but not surprised, and that is the problem. I had a sliver of hope that some kind of justice would be served, but of course, since 2016, nothing happened to an over eager, egotistical, power and gun hungry police officer who got away with murdering another black person.

This is happening way, way, way too much, and the fact that nothing is being done is horrifying. It is wrong. It is racist. It is systemic. There needs to be change. Something big needs to happen. And I know that some will say, "you cannot blame a few bad apples". Well, it seems like the mass majority of police officers are the "bad apples" that people are referring to. There are far less "good apples". I am a 37 year old white man that lives in the suburbs of Saint Louis, but I get the jitters now more than ever when I am on a night time jog with my dog. When we walk by the police, when my kids and I go for my daily walk, I make them walk briskly. It has become a point where I am more afraid of what a police officer may do to me or my kids. I don't feel protected by them anymore, especially when I have on a BLM shirt or a RTJ shirt or a shirt with a basketball player on it. They have the opposite effect now. I don't trust the police. And as I said, I am a 37 year old white suburban dad. I cannot even imagine how any person of color deals with the police, or talking about the police to their kids. It has to be awful.

These conversations shouldn't be needed, but they are now more than ever. The police have become the villain, except this is real life. It is no wonder that athletes and people of power that are African American, or just not white, are speaking out. People will listen to them. Kids will listen to LeBron James when he speaks about police brutality in post game interviews. And I love that James, and so many other athletes are doing this now, when it is more important than ever. But we still need to change so many things. The US is a total dumpster fire. I am not proud to be an American. I am embarrassed and disgusted to be an American. This is all so messed up, and I want to leave you today with this, please, please, please vote. Vote like your life, and the future of our country depends on it, because it does. We can get people into power who will enforce change. We need to get the monsters in office out now, because if we don't, our future is dire, at least for four more years. I can't deal with that, and I would like to think that most normal, smart people feel the same way. There are far, far too many problems plaguing our country, but we can change that. Vote, defund the police and let's find some kind of justice for, not only Breonna Taylor, but every other person of color that has been shot and killed, or shot and hurt, or beaten and brutally hurt by racist police.

The time is now. Let's make changes. Vote. 

Ty

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

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We Need New Leadership

It would feel odd if I didn't finish out this week with some kind of political and social piece. I will get back to the more pop culture stuff next week, but this week has been a historic one. I talked about the boycott, I talked about the shooting of another unarmed black man and I have talked about how this seems to be a moment, or at least the beginning of a moment, in the US.

There is something, hopefully, happening right now. People are fed up. People are sick and tired. People want change. Everyone wants equal rights. The time has come for an uprising, and a removal of racist assholes in positions of power. There has been so much civil unrest since the goblin that resides in the White House took office almost four years ago. It has all been bad. He has emboldened racists and fascists and, quite frankly, mentally unstable people. We are in the midst of a seemingly never ending pandemic. People have seemed to just push that aside. We have unemployment rates as bad as they have ever been. There are so many more problems where we sit today than there were five years ago on the exact same day. The US is a mess. The country is divided. Things are just awful. There are days I do not want to get out of bed because I am fearful for what the day will hold. My kids are currently learning virtually. This is all messed up.

We need to change. We need to get out and vote these monsters out of power. We need to be proactive and tell these monsters that enough is enough. Look, Joe Biden wasn't my first choice either. I am a dyed in the wool Democrat. I will always vote blue. But I was on the Beto train at first, then I jumped on the Warren train and then I was all in for Bernie. They didn't get the nomination, and I know that frustrates a lot of people who don't follow one particular political party. And, as I said, Biden wasn't even in my top five of choices. But then he picked Kamala Harris as his running mate, and I have watched him and her speak, and I am ready to run through the wall to vote for them. Change takes time. The country is going to be a two party system no matter what we do at the moment. So, I implore people to vote for Biden and Harris, even if they weren't your tenth choice. As my wife said the other day, "this is truly an election where we pick the lesser of two evils". I couldn't agree more. Go out and vote to get Biden and Harris in the White House. They will, at the very least, level things out. And during their time in office, the people who want there to be more than two political parties, go out and pound the pavement and do all you can to make this more than a two party system. But now, or in November at least, we need to do the right thing. We need Biden and Harris to win. We need them in the office.

I cannot imagine how much worse the next four years could be if the people currently in office stay there. They have shown no signs that they believe in science, that they care about anyone other than themselves, that they care about people that don't look like them, that they have a soul, it is all very, very frightening. I am truly scared what the US will look like if we get four more years of this nonsense. I don't know that it will ever be the same, but Biden and Harris have shown that they listen to scientists. They have talked about mandating masks throughout the country. They both clearly have empathy and souls and are willing to talk and, more importantly, listen to people of other races. We need to go out in record numbers and vote these monsters out. We need to show them that they cannot, will not, steal another election from the people. I'm sick of them acting like the CoronaVirus is gone. I'm sick of them claiming that people are safe. We are as far from safe as we have ever been, at least in my lifetime. And I'm sick of all the other lies and hatred and rhetoric and fear mongering that these scumbags have perpetuated over these last four years.

It is time to lead. Let's keep with this momentum. Let's continue to stick with one another and demand change. Let's get all the criminals out of the White House that are there right now. Please, I implore and beg you, vote in November. And if you are on the fence, or upset that it wasn't your pick, just take a look at where we are as a country right now and think about if you want four more years of this. Your vote is your vote, I just hope it is used for the right reasons this time. Please, please let's make some changes. 

Ty

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

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Thank You for Not Sticking to Sports

Yesterday was a day that will go down in the history books. I talked about Jacob Blake, the systemic racism in the police department in the US, the hate speech being spewed on the internet and that there was talk of a possible boycott in the NBA playoffs.

Well, the boycott happened. The Bucks refused to come out of the locker room prior to the start of their game 5 matchup with the Magic. The Magic were on the floor warming up, but when they realized what was happening, they left the court and joined the boycott. Three O'Clock came and went, and the Bucks decided it was in their best interest to take a stand. The Magic joined them. Then the Rockets and Thunder decided to boycott their game later in the day, with the Trailblazers and Lakers ready to follow. Before the Lakers and Trailblazers could officially boycott their game, the NBA canceled the rest of the night's slate.

This is historic. Something like this hasn't happened since Bill Russell was playing in the league, and that protest was during a preseason game. The fact that these players, these young men, had the fortitude and the wherewithal to do what they did is simply amazing. I was never more proud to be an NBA fan than I was last night when the boycott started. I was so thrilled that the players were taking a stand against racism, I loved that it was the Bucks since Blake was shot in Wisconsin and I am so pleased that every other player stood with them in this historic moment. There were no dissenters. This was an all for one type thing. And to see everyone come together was so moving and so very important. Then to see Kenny Smith walk off set in solidarity, to see all the tweets from stars and role players, to see Jim Jackson and Chris Webber speak so eloquently and passionately, to see Rachel Nichols, Jay Williams, Marc Spears and Kendrick Perkins all touch on why this is so important, I was stunned in the best way possible.

This was exactly what needed to happen. Just like Chris Webber said, "if not now, during a pandemic, then when". It is awesome. To see young millionaires, mostly African Americans, stand up for what they so rightfully deserve is so moving. Everybody should be treated equally. We all should have the same rights. We shouldn't judge people by the color of their skin. Unfortunately though, we still have monstrous people, especially in the police department, who don't see the world that way. They think they are better and more deserving. They think they have some sort of power that they certainly do not. They are emboldened by the monster that currently resides in the White House. This is a problem, and the NBA, and please do not let me forget the WNBA, what they did was truly astounding and powerful, wearing the shirts with Blake's name on it, and seven red dots on the back for the shots, that was amazing. To see them stand up for what they believe in, to stand together, to say screw it, we want equal rights, the rights afforded to everyone else, it was incredible. I told my son about all of this this morning. I explained to him why there was no basketball last night, and why this was a good thing. I told him that when he is older, he will read about this in history books. This story will be told for generations. My wife compared it to our generation learning about the 60's and 70's. This boycott, the BLM movement, the protests, this is all akin to Kent State and Watergate. This is a shift. This is a moment. And after the NBA boycotted, and the WNBA boycotted, the Brewers decided to not play their game, then a young tennis star decided to not play her match, then a bunch of football teams canceled practices yesterday and today to hold meetings about systemic racism.

We need more of this. We need more pro athletes standing up to their owners and to the "government". I can go protest all I want and make petitions to defund the police, but I won't get a sniff. I am a regular suburban dad. But people like LeBron James and Giannis Antentekoumpo, Chris Paul, Christian Yelich, any famous football player, they can get to their owners, who can get to people in charge and get in their ears. And while I know that finishing the season was on the verge last night, even going as far as the Clippers and Lakers voting to end the season then and there, the NBA did decide to finish. I don't fully know how I feel about that yet, but I do think they can still use this platform to continue to get messages out there to people who need to hear it. But this is historic. This is important. This is something that will go down in history. This is going to be remembered and talked about forever.

Again, I have always loved the NBA, and I always will, but last night that went to a whole other level. I am so impressed and so on board with whatever they decide to do, and I will follow them wherever they go. Hopefully this means a change is starting to happen. Hopefully, this starts a real movement. 

Ty

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

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His Name is Jacob Blake

Another black man was shot, multiple times, by white police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin a few days ago. His name is Jacob Blake, and as I write this, he is in a hospital on life support. Blake was simply walking into his car when the white officers opened fire on him. They shot him in the back seven times. This is madness.

This has to stop. The police need to be defunded. The police need most of their power stripped away from them. The powers that be need to stop normalizing this, and this needs to be addressed. This is a serious problem in our country. There is systemic racism that is being hyper perpetuated by white police officers. The "government" has shown zero progress in making changes, in showing sympathy and trying to understand why this is happening more and more lately. The "government" and the "president" are racists, fascists and they don't care about people that aren't directly involved with them. It's disturbing that this continues to happen and that there is no end in sight. We need to make changes. We need people that actually care and we need people that will do their best to end this.

I also saw a story that some NBA players are contemplating a boycott to the start of the playoffs until something, anything, happens to the white police officers that are constantly gunning down unarmed and innocent black people. They, along with a good portion of the rest of the country, want these murderers, these monsters to be reprimanded and dealt with like the horrible people they are. I agree with the players who are thinking about doing this. They are seeing this all too often, they are young black men, mostly, that have children. They look at other people who have been brutally murdered, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Philando Castille, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and now possibly Jacob Blake, and they are thinking, enough is enough. They are also trying to send a real message. I have talked about how well the NBA restart has gone, and how it is amazing that the players are using their media availability to talk about systemic racism and what they think needs to change. Chris Paul, after OKC had a great comeback win, was doing his on court after the game interview, and all he talked about was Blake and trying to implore people to go out and vote. That is amazing. Paul George, LeBron James and many others have talked endlessly about Breonna Taylor. Donovan Mitchell hopped on Twitter and gave an impassioned tweet about all the awfulness. And last night after the Clippers win, Doc Rivers gave one of the most moving speeches I have ever heard from anyone anywhere ever in my life. It was incredible. But still, black people are being killed for no reason by white police officers. This is still happening. And when I read some of the comments under the article about a possible boycott, it made me sick to my stomach how awful and rude and ignorant and mean and stupid and spiteful and hateful random idiots on the internet can get. It is truly a disgusting place, the comment section on any website. This stuff that was being written by some of the biggest monsters in the world, who hide behind screen names by the way, is truly horrifying.

Enough is enough. Changes need to happen. And if a boycott to an NBA playoff game, or series, is the catalyst, I say great. We need to wake up and stop the systemic racism in this country. We need better people in positions of power and we need to heal as a country and stop killing innocent black people. This is too much, and I fear it will only get worse. BLACK LIVES MATTER. 

Ed note: Since this was written, the NBA has announced that all games are being postponed on Wednesday.

Ty

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

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The First Day of Online School in the Age of COVID-19

Today was my kids first day of "School". I put it in quotes because they were both at home during what would have been a day at an actual building. I have written about my feelings on the upcoming school year, and since that time, things have changed.

Before I go into this, I still am hopeful that at some point this year it will be safe enough for my kids to be in class in person with their friends and teachers because they very much need the socialization, but I understand why our school district, and many others, have opted to do fully virtual to start the year. We have had far, far too many CoronaVirus outbreaks when people get together in big settings and do not follow the proper safety protocols. Hell, look at what has happened in Georgia, and all around college campuses right now. This virus is still raging, and when we don't respect it, it seems to come at us harder. So, while about a month ago I wanted my kids to be in school full time, I get why this change was made. It is the safe, and smart thing to do at the current moment.

And, for the most part, the day went okay. There were hiccups, and that was expected. My daughter's first Zoom of the day for preschool, her screen completely froze. We couldn't get back on, and after about a ten minute delay, we had to use my phone for the rest of her meetings. It doesn't seem like a huge deal, but my phone is small, it has cracks in it and it isn't as fast as the computer. But we made it work, and most likely will have to do the same the rest of the week until we get her computer back up to speed. My son also experienced some delays in Zoom meetings, and other parents said their kids dealt with the same. He missed the first ten minutes of his Strings class today, but he was able to catch up pretty quickly, he is a smart little dude.

Outside the technical stuff, the only other real "problem" I had with the kids was boredom. My son wanted to go ahead in his workbook, but the teachers have enforced a strict no reading ahead policy, which we will abide by. My daughter had three different Zoom's, and in between each one, her and I would do the lesson, but we would finish it within twenty minutes. That left us with another forty minutes of doing the same thing over and over again. She got quite frustrated a few times at me. But again, this was to be expected.

I do want to shout out how well the rest of the day went though. Both kids logged on at 8:30am, and they had work to do until their day was done. My daughter had her meetings and lessons, and she was, for the most part, engaged in the material for her three hours. My son's first Zoom was over an hour long, and he looked exhausted afterward. I asked why, and he said because there was a lot of information. That is what I was hoping for with this virtual learning experience. He also had meetings, or assignments or recess, walking the dogs, and other basics all the way up until about 3pm. He was busy all day, and that is a good thing for him.

When both of their days were over the consensus was, it was good, but weird. They both said they want to go back to their classroom. My son misses his friends and my daughter adores her preschool teacher, and she misses her. But, they both had enough work to fill the day, they were both in the safest place they could be at the time, they're both tired, they both dressed as if they were going to a school building. We made it as close to school as we could, my wife and I that is. So, while I still want the kids to be able to go back to a brick and mortar building, to be with kids their age, to learn from people who are trained in teaching kids their age, this first day went fairly well. We have nine more weeks before the school district reassess their plan, and while I think they won't be going back until after the new year, maybe in the second semester, this first day was fine. Let's just hope it stays this way. The teachers and the district need to keep this momentum until they are able to do the job the way it is intended. But for now, my hat is off.

A good, but stressful, first day of school here in Saint Louis. But above all, a safe first day of school. 

Ty

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

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The Covidiots are Now Attacking a College Football QB

Earlier today an incoming freshman QB at Georgia State said he is sitting out the 2020 season due to a heart issue he has from his recovery from Covid 19. Well, he didn't particularly say that the heart issue was from Covid, but he just recovered from CoronaVirus, he has a heart thing, heart issues have been linked to this disease, so I put two and two together basically. But, he isn't the top QB recruit in the country, he isn't even the starter, but he is a QB who is opting out in a conference that is going forward with a fall season.

This may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Other, bigger named players have opted out, guys that will be first round NFL picks, but none of them have been a QB, and definitely not a QB from a conference that is playing, and not a player from the South. But, he has a heart thing, Georgia is getting crushed right now with new cases, high schools have had to be shut down after being opened and it seems like the responsible thing for him to do. When I saw the news I thought it was a reasonable decision and thought he may be the first QB, but he definitely won't be the last. I then decided to read the story as to why he chose to opt out, and it said all the stuff I just listed above essentially.

Then, for some unknowing, and stupid reason, decided to check out the comment section on the story. I was wrong to do this, and I highly recommend no one else does. It was rough. Well, not at first. At first most people were saying that they hoped the kid would get better, they said he was making the right choice, they supported him, his team supported him, it was all good for about twelve-fifteen comments. Then the insipidness started. Then the fights started. Then the attacks started, and man was it rough. People crushed this kid, his school, other people's political beliefs, it was bad. Then we had the people calling this pandemic a "hoax". We had the people who kept spouting off the phrase, "it's just like the flu". Others said, "he is a young, athletic kid, he should just play, he's already recovered from the virus". It was bad and hurtful and dangerous and stupid. This kid made a choice, he is an adult and he is doing what he thinks is best for his future. Why do others feel the need to attack him? Why call him names? Why bad mouth him and his choice? That is unfair to him and his family. The commentators online are hiding behind screen names and trashing a kid they have never met. That is no good. The trashing of the school is so childish and pointless too. I don't watch Georgia State games, but I also don't watch Georgia or Alabama or Missouri or Texas or a myriad of other teams play. Does that give me the right to bad mouth those schools? Absolutely not. And I don't. I only watch Big 10 games unless the game is a very important one, like last year's CFP title game. So while some may not think GSU is any good, they have fans who are probably bummed this kid is sitting out this year. Your team isn't the only team that matters. There are over 120 D-1 schools, all of which have alumni and fans. It is scary that it has become a political thing mostly though. This disease doesn't care where you fall in your political beliefs, just like any other virus or disease. And this one is particularly dangerous because we know so little about it still. So for "fans" to talk politics in an article about this kid opting out for the year, they need to get a hold of themselves and calm the hell down. He made his choice, there is nothing political about it, and people should be ashamed of themselves for trying to skew it that way. I hope this kid gets better, I hope he can fully recover and play football again, if that is what he wants to do and I wish people weren't so god damn hurtful on the internet.

Look, the world is crazy enough, we don't need anymore psychopaths yelling at a teenager with a heart issue for taking a year of football off. We should be applauding his very adult decision. 

Ty

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

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Letting Sports Stars Talk About Social Issues is Why We Need Sports Right Now

Of all the professional sports leagues in the US that have restarted, started a shortened season, or at least have some kind of plan, the NBA seems to be doing it the very best. The NHL isn't too far behind, but they don't start until August. MLB started yesterday, pro soccer has started in some spots, golf is going on and the NBA is supposed to restart in six days.

So far the bubble seems to be working. I know it has only been about two, maybe three weeks, but the guys there seem to be having fun, they are making the best of it, they are following the rules and they are trying like hell to play. They also had zero positive Covid tests during their last run, which is the best they could have hoped for. It may not, it most likely won't stay this clean, but for right now, this has all been very good news.

I also saw something else on Wednesday, when the scrimmages started, that made me even more on board, and happy with what they are doing in Orlando. During the post game interviews, which they are conducting very properly, all of the players are taking their time to focus on social issues. They will answer one question about the game just played, or about basketball in general, and then they will completely turn their attention to social issues. Paul George answered one question and followed it up by saying he only wanted to talk about Breonna Taylor and the officers who are still not arrested for her murder. He spent the rest of his time strictly talking about it. LeBron did the same after the Lakers first scrimmage yesterday, and he didn't wait. He immediately went into it, calling out the officers, talking about being a black person in America today and saying some very important, very poignant things. Tobias Harris did it too on the 76ers first media day. He simply, and politely stated that he will only talk about Breonna Taylor. I loved it. He made sure to let the media know that was all he would speak on. It was perfect. Now it seems like most players are doing the same, or something similar. I saw videos of Alex Caruso, Jeremi Grant, CJ McCollum, Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon, among many many others taking this same stance. They would only talk about social issues currently going on in the world today, and it is a perfect way to get the word out to millions upon millions of people.

There isn't much else to do right now, and with CoronaVirus numbers skyrocketing pretty much everywhere, people are aching to watch sports, and lots of them are aching to watch basketball, just like me. LeBron was correct when he said that he didn't think playing in Orlando in the bubble would stop him from talking about changes that needed to be made. I hate to say this, but Kyrie Irving was wrong. I don't hate to say that actually, he was wrong, and LeBron was right, as usual. You can play basketball and you can help change things. These guys have billions of fans all over the world who are accessible to them via their phones. So, for them to take their media time to only talk about racial inequality, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, defunding the police and so on, that will reach so many, many people, and it may help change their minds.

I think this is great, I think the NBA is doing a tremendous job of letting their players speak and I think doing this while the whole world is watching is going to be remembered for a very, very long time. This is wonderful. A spark in a very rough year so far. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the best damn basketball writer on all the internets.

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Kids Need to Go Back to School

If we all just wore one of these, we would not need to have this debate

I am going to go a little controversial, at least to some, with my piece today. I have written about the importance of wearing masks, why we should all be quarantining properly, or if you do go out, taking the proper precautions, all that I do when dealing with all things involving the CoronaVirus. One thing I have split on, well I don't know if I've split, I have heard all kinds of thoughts on this topic, the topi c is kids should go back to school in a few weeks.

I want my kids in school, in their classroom, in the fall. Both my son and daughter are set to start school on August 24th, and if I had my way, they would be in their classroom, with new protocols, and getting the proper instruction and socialization that an eight year old and four year old needs and craves. Here in West County in Saint Louis, remote learning was an absolute disaster. There were so many missed meetings, Zoom barely ever worked, my son would be done with his "class work" in under an hour, my daughter, for the most part, couldn't converse or even hear what her preschool teacher was trying to teach the kids. It simply didn't work. I don't fully blame this on the Rockwood School District. No one was prepared for the pandemic. We could have been, but the powers that be decided it was simply just going to go away. Well, it didn't, and my kids have been home since early March. That is two months of school washed away. Their summer, so far, has been quite boring too. My son was so stoked when we decided to let him go to day camp, it is outdoors and masks are required. He has also started baseball practice, with social distancing, and he has been smiling ear to ear since these little things have happened. He gets to hang out with kids his age, see friends, it has been a very pleasant surprise. My daughter hasn't been so lucky. She is only four so she doesn't have a core group of friends yet. She hasn't been back to her dance classes because they don't require masks, and that makes my wife and I uncomfortable. She has had to spend all her time with me pretty much, especially since my son has been going back to camp. And she doesn't come to the store with me, no need to expose her to that, and we have only gone to a few places because it has been so damn hot here in Saint Louis. She has asked me countless times if she can go back to school when the virus is over. I have to tell her that the virus is here to stay, but I always say, hopefully, that yes she can go back to school in the fall. She misses it dearly, as do I, and my son too. He may be happy at camp and baseball, but he even told me that he misses his friends, teachers and classroom.

There were some rumors flying around for a minute that schools out here wouldn't reopen until there is a vaccine. That could be years. I don't want my son to be twelve years old, and have to start the third grade, or my daughter be eight and just starting kindergarten. The fact that we still don't know here what is going to happen is frustrating and it makes me angry. The fact that some teachers have come and said that they are scared, or need more time, I get the scariness, this is a very, very bad virus, but the time, you've had since March to get ready for this upcoming school year. The timing is an excuse I will not accept. I usually side with teachers, but to complain about that, get the hell out of here. I have also seen some complain about having to teach social distancing after months away, get over that too. That is part of your job. You get paid to do that.

Anyway, why I want my kids in school the most is the socialization. My kids are social butterflies. They like to be friends, and talk with any and everyone. My son will talk to the checker at a grocery store. My daughter will yell talk to people in cars when they pass us and say hi while we are walking the dogs. They are starving for the social aspect that school brings. They want it, and quite frankly, need it. I also think there is a way that schools can make this work. First off, teachers need to be properly trained, and that can be done using proper PPE and social distancing. Also, local governments need to stop giving money to what they deem essential businesses, like bars and nightclubs, and send it on over to public schools. The fact that bars are open in Saint Louis, and we still have no clue about school, that baffles and upsets me at the same time. It seems that the government is focusing more on the food industry than education. That's messed up. What makes it even worse, we won't know a thing about school until late in this month. The powers that be are having some big meeting on the 20th, and then they will eventually give us the decision. So, bars and restaurants and gyms can all stay open, but schools have to wait. What a crock.

I was sent a survey, as was my wife and every other parent with a kid in the Rockwood School District, and it was overwhelming how many people are willing to send their kids back to school, including me. They asked if we would send our kids back without a vaccine, and nearly seventy-five percent of parents said yes. The survey then asked how we would feel about a hybrid model, something like three days at school and two at home, and nearly eighty-five percent said yes, they'd do that if necessary. Like I said, it has been overwhelmingly trending towards parents wanting their kids in classrooms in the fall. And I don't think this has to do with laziness, or wanting to get back to "normal". I don't have the proper education to teach. I didn't get my degree in that. And my kids both know that. They have told me how I'm not a good teacher, and they are absolutely right. I'm not equipped to teach them because I am not a teacher, as far as stuff like math and science and history goes. And this whole thing isn't me bashing people that home school, or are planning on doing it now. Not at all. More power to you. It is not for me though. I don't have the patience, I don't have the education and I want my kids to see their friends and be exposed to different lifestyles. That is what I liked most about my time in school was meeting, and befriending so many different people. I sent my kids to public school for that very same reason.

So while I know that we live in a pandemic, that it is not even close to being over, and that some may be scared, I do want my kids back in their school come August. With proper training, and safety protocol, it can be done. I just think, if a bar, Ihop and the gym is open, schools can open, and be much smarter about it. And I know that I am not alone. My fingers are crossed that come August my kids will get to go back to school proper. 

Ty

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

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Wear a Damn Mask

After seeing CoronaVirus numbers soaring, and now the UK banning American travelers for the time being, I just want to clearly, and plainly and loudly say, WEAR A GODDAMN MASK PEOPLE! It's as simple a request as one can make.

Look, we don't know a whole lot about this virus right now. There are so many variables that scientists haven't been able to put their finger on. We don't know if you can get it more than once, we don't know if it is seasonal or just going to ravage us for the rest of 2020, we don't know too much right now. But, we do know that wearing a mask while in public, and practicing social distancing, that is our best chance to not get the virus, or if you have it and don't know, wearing masks makes it far less likely to spread the disease. If we all wore masks in public places, we could get to a point where we have this under some kind of control, or at least have more time to figure more things out.

The fact that there are people here in America making fake exempt cards, or whining and crying about being asked to wear one in stores, or making much to do when a restaurant asks you to wear one, or calling people "sheep" that do wear one just proves how entitled and childish and selfish and stupid some people can be in the US. It is a piece of cloth that can save you and anyone you may come in contact with, and it takes 2 seconds to put it on. It is the simplest thing to do, and the most effective thing right now. I simply do not get these people that are so upset about having to wear one. I don't understand people who think it does nothing. I don't get people that seem to think it makes it harder for them to breath. None of the complaints about masks make a lick of sense to me. It's easy, it's effective, you can make your own, you can buy disposable packs, there are so many options for this one thing that can help us return to some kind of normalcy. If we all wore masks in public, and were socially distancing, we could finally flatten the curve and figure stuff out. But because we have so many spoiled rotten brats, our numbers are skyrocketing. We have so many more cases than any other country. We have dumbass people gathering in bars and restaurants and just simply trying to act like this virus is gone, and that is only making it worse. When we were on lockdown for three months, and the numbers were actually going down, all that hard work was for naught because of selfish people. As soon as things reopened to the public, people rushed out without their masks and gathered in large groups without distancing. Just look at the beaches over Memorial Day weekend. They were stacked with a bunch of idiots who just figured the pandemic was over. And since states have reopened, it has only gotten worse. I see far too many people out at restaurants and clubs. It is upsetting. I have also talked with people since my son started baseball practice again, and have heard things like, "I'm glad this is done because I am not a mask guy", or " that was wild, but now it's all over". Those statements are so wrong on so many levels.

This is not over. We are still at the beginning. Not a mask guy, get the hell out of here. How selfish are you? How much of a dick are you? I love things like movie theaters, sporting events, hanging out with my entire extended family, my kids going to school, running races and playing basketball. Since March, the only thing I have done is run virtual races, and I have started to see my parents again. Both are done with masks, and with a ton of pre visit or pre run protocol. But, if we all wore masks, and stopped crying like children, we may get to a point where some of this stuff can start happening in 2021 or 2022. If we all wore masks, I would have no problem going to a theater. I would enjoy the hell out of a Michigan football game if I knew that masks were required to get into the stadium. I took my kids to a local science museum that recently opened back up and it was great because we all wore masks, and no one griped about it. It was the safest I have felt outside my home since early March. And my 4 year old and 8 year old had no problem wearing a mask. They are children, but they understood and didn't bitch and moan and throw a tantrum like I have seen so many adults do since it became the rule in public.

It's such a simple thing to do. If we all wore masks, if we all practiced social distancing, we could, possibly, get to some kind of a new normal. So, I say at the end like I did at the beginning, loudly I might add, WEAR A MASK, IT CAN SAVE LIVES. 

Ty

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

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Drew Brees is a Stupidhead

I know "RTJ 4" came out early, and I am still going to dedicate all of next week to the record. Believe me, I have listened to the whole thing multiple times already, and the early release will only give me more time to be more eloquent when I write about it all next week. I'm still doing that. For the remainder of this week though, I have a few things I want to write about.

Today I will focus my energy on Drew Brees and his insensitive, stupid, misinformed and racist statement he made on some show I have never even heard of yesterday. He has already apologized, but it was one of the most cliched apologies I have ever read. It felt like it was pre written years ago by someone that works for him in case he said something as dumb as he did yesterday. I don't buy his apology, and I think, when he made his statement about "standing for the flag" yesterday, that is what is truly in his heart. That is what he believes. The apology is to try and save face. He doesn't mean it, he just doesn't want anyone mad at him anymore. To that I say, too late. I have seen a few people come to his defense, and bring up freedom of speech. To those people I say, read a book and actually look at what guys like Colin Kaepernick and others when doing when they knelt during the anthem. Find out why they were actually doing that. Read what they were peacefully protesting by kneeling. They are more American than Drew Brees could ever dream of being, or any other racist that sits on their couch and yells at them for "disrespecting the flag".

Brees' statement, for those of you that still don't know, or are simply avoiding it, was basically spitting in the face of players who peacefully protested police brutality. The protests have nothing to do with the flag, with America, with disrespect, with wars, none of that. Kaepernick started kneeling because of police brutality aimed at minorities. He knelt because he saw what we all see everyday. A lot of police officers profile minorities, without even doing a check first, and that was what the players were protesting. They weren't protesting the anthem. They weren't saying the hate America, although I don't really like it right now. They were, and still are, protesting police brutality. So for Brees to make a blanket statement like he did yesterday, he clearly hasn't done his research, and he said what I feel like he truly believes. He didn't do his homework, he just popped off at the mouth.

And boy oh boy did the heat come pretty much immediately after it was shown on multiple websites. We have just witnessed the police murder a man in cold blood. In fact, police have been doing this forever. Kaepernick's protest started in 2016. So, after the Brees interview was released, star athletes everywhere chimed in, as I hoped they would. LeBron James instantly called him out, stating, "is it still a surprise, not anymore". That is one of the truest statements that was made yesterday. Teammates of his, Michael Thomas and Malcolm Jenkins and Emmaunel Sanders came out and called him out on his racist statement. Richard Sherman chimed in with some very thought provoking statements. Stephen Jackson and Ed Reed put out two great, two not safe for work, videos that I have watched multiple times. Hell, even Aaron Rodgers came out and said something. After Rodgers statement, CJ McCollum came out and tweeted, "we need more Aaron Rodgers and less Drew Brees". He is right. Since then many, many other athletes have come out and spoken their minds. Players are talking about all the respect they have lost for him, how phony his whole "brotherhood" stuff is, how he doesn't really, truly care about anyone but himself. I completely agree with them. His statement was so selfish and so self fulfilling. He doesn't care about Michael Thomas or Alvin Kamara or any skill player that is a minority on his team. They have made him millions of dollars, but his statement yesterday alone proves he doesn't care about them personally at all. He looks at them like owners of football teams do. They are property to him, and if they kneel to protest police brutality, he doesn't even want to give them the time of day. He doesn't care. And the apology does nothing to change my mind at all.

Drew Brees is a scumbag and he showed me, and all of the world yesterday his true colors. I didn't cheer for or against the Saints before yesterday, but now I will be cheering very hard against Drew Brees. He is as misinformed as any other person out there that has never done a lick of research into why players were/are peacefully protesting. He is a racist and I will only see that in him now. He can apologize all he wants, my mind is made up. As Ed Reed said, he is a "sucka". That's facts. 

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 the Protests

I know what I said Monday, about sticking to pop culture stuff, but as I watched the news, looked at social media and just thought about the state of the world last night, I feel like I need to address what is going on.

I want to try and formulate how bad this is, why is it this bad, did we have to get to this state and how much it bothers me to see systemic racism in 2020. Black people in America are being killed for no other reason than the color of their skin. That was painful to write. We now are seeing it almost everyday. And it has only gotten worse to date. We have Ahmaud Arbery who was shot while simply jogging. There was a black gentleman in Kentucky I believe who was murdered over the weekend and left on the street for upwards of eight hours. There was George Floyd who was audibly telling the horrific and murderous police officer that he "couldn't breath". And there are countless others, almost too many to count, which is so shameful, that have lost their life for being black.

I don't know how, or if, it will ever change. Saying all this, I get the protests. I want to be out there so bad protesting, fighting for injustice, but I have a wife and two little kids. I am going to fight this the best way I know how, but unfortunately for me, that is from a computer or on a podcast. I was raised, am raising my kids and trying to help anyone else out there to not see people for the color of their skin. I was told to get to know someone first before I judge them. It was ingrained in me to meet someone, talk to them, ask questions and really, truly get to know them. I do the same with my kids. So does my wife. I have never crossed to the other side of the street because I saw a person of color coming towards me. I have never been afraid to go to places that are considered "dangerous" by others because I know I'll be okay. I have never simply decided to not befriend a person because they didn't grow up like I did. It's just not in my DNA. And, as you all know, I am a 37 year old white male that grew up middle class. I have never wanted for, longed for or wished I had stuff. I grew up privileged to a degree. I have been harassed by local police. I have been pulled over while driving with some of my African American friends in the car. I had long hair and Bob Marley stickers on my car as a teenager, so I was followed many times by police. Still, I have no idea what was really going through my friends heads when we were pulled over. I don't know how scared they were. I don't know if they felt they had to be ready to defend themselves. I look back at that time in my life and think, were my actions making them more fearful than they could have been. I was brutally honest with the police when I was pulled over. I would ask why they were doing this, what they were looking for, why they were harassing me. I never once thought, maybe I shouldn't do this, you know, for the sake and safety of my friends. I guess that is what it is like to be a white kid in the Midwest. I had no fear. But, maybe my friends did. That is a feeling I don't think I ever knew, and I hope my kids don't.

With all that being said, I want my kids to know that, even though they are growing up the same way I did, they need to feel empathy and sympathy for friends of theirs that are not white. I want them to respect and understand why they may be afraid of other white people or cops or people who are supposed to be "in charge". The biggest shame of it all right now is how the "government" is handling this whole situation. That coward that currently resides in the White House is sitting in a bunker and having his people fire rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters. What a punk he is. This is really showing his true colors. And for those of you that see this, think it is okay and still support him, kindly go screw yourself and please don't talk to me ever about politics. I don't agree with you, I never will and I don't respect you. That bogus photo op he did at that church was one of the slimiest and most devious things I have ever seen. Joe Biden is out there visiting people, talking to people, letting it be known that he wants to listen, and that obese scumbag that resides in the White House is hiding out. He is a racist, a fascist and a coward. I simply cannot believe it has come to this with that monster. I am appalled.

As for the protests, as I said before, I stand with the protesters. I want them to let their voice be heard. I want them to be out there yelling from the hilltops to be respected, to be heard, to be allowed to speak. They deserve that right. As for the looting, I am not a looter. I don't get the appeal of breaking and taking stuff. But I understand the anger. I get that some are so upset and down trodden that they figure this is the best way to get someones attention. I think the punk ass surfers, and white people with masks doing it are wrong. They just want free stuff. But the people that are actually affected by this systemic racism, I get it. As for the police, I have never trusted them. I have never really respected them. Like I said, I was a target because of the way I looked as a teen, and that has sat with me ever since then. I also brought a good amount of my inner city friends out to the county all the time, and that made the police act even more suspicious of me and my buddies. I know not all police are bad, but it seems to be that a good majority of them are not that good. That they have had some weird vendetta since they were a kid, and now that they have weapons and some "authority", they are letting it get to their head. Everyone is talking about the looters and protesters being "one bad apple", the same can be said about the police, expect it is more like 50 percent are bad apples.

I wished as a kid that racism was going to be a thing of the past when I became an adult. Unfortunately it only seems to be getting worse and I truly don't know if it will ever go away, if we will ever live in a world where everyone is treated equal. We live in a very, very dark timeline right now, and it is very unfortunate for all of us that the "powers that be" are only stoking the flames. I hope we all do the right thing, the grown up thing, and vote for change come November. That is the only hope I have right now for the future of this country. If we get another four years of this, we could be in a very awful downward spiral, even worse than what is going on currently. Let's all go out and prove that we don't like this, that we don't accept this, that we want change. Let's all do that come November. In the end, Black Lives Matter. 

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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Black Lives Matter

The Covidiots of Missouri

I was going to write about my movie quarantine date night with my wife today, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Why you ask?

I, much like the rest of the country, saw that a bunch of people, far, far too many in fact, decided it was okay to take this Memorial Day weekend and decide to go to their local beach or pool. This happened in the state I live in. I got messages and emails from friends who live elsewhere now asking me what the hell was going on. I had to explain to them, which I feel like it isn't my duty, that I was not there, and that the Lake of the Ozarks is actually about a three hour drive from where I live. I had to defend myself. I had to let them know that I am still taking all the precautions, even as stay at home orders are being slowly lifted in Saint Louis. The only thing we have added to our okay list is seeing grandparents at their house or ours. We all temperature check and make sure it is all clear before we go. And when I go to the store, the one time a week I do, I happily wear my mask, and wash my hands the moment I get home. I am still living the quarantine life, with one new addition. So, to see people all over the country, and mainly in my home state, being so reckless and careless and selfish and rude and stupid and ridiculous, it boils my blood.

Look, I love going out, it is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy live music, live comedy shows, the movies, restaurants, all of that stuff. Hell, I even like going to the mall just to check out new shoes, or see if the sporting goods store has new stuff. But I haven't done any of that because there is no need to. I also don't want to put myself, or others, at risk. The fact that these selfish people couldn't spend one holiday weekend at home blows my mind. Public pools aren't that fun when there isn't a pandemic. They are filled with germs. Add on the fact that we currently are living with a pandemic makes this that much scarier. I mean, the people who went to beaches and public pools this weekend, I would be shocked if upwards of 90 percent of them don't get Covid-19. They are practically begging for it by their actions this past weekend. Our health people in Missouri even came out and told them that there is no vaccine, and if you don't practice social distancing, and wear a mask, you are most likely going to get sick. Our people in charge came out yesterday and told anyone that was in a public pool, or didn't practice proper current protocol to self quarantine for fourteen days. I would hope they will do that, but seeing how they acted this weekend, I'm sure they won't, and that will just cause this to last that much longer.

One such person in the Ozarks was interviewed, and when asked why they attending the pool party, they said, "it probably wasn't a good idea, but there is no law when you are drinking that Claw". Screw that person, and anyone else that thinks that way. Just because we want this to be over doesn't mean it is over. Just because you can now go to restaurants and malls doesn't mean this is over. Just because certain states are reopening gyms and public pools doesn't mean you can't get sick. The coronavirus is here, probably for a long, long time, if not forever, and idiots like the people that flocked beaches and public pools are only going to make getting back to some kind of normalcy that much harder.

I want my kids to go to school in the fall, I want to watch football with or without fans, I want my son to play some version of his little league baseball season, I want my daughter to return to her tumbling and dance class. But, when people act the way they did this past weekend, it makes it that much harder for me to feel safe doing all the things I did before we were told to self quarantine. The actions of certain people this past weekend sicken me, and the people complaining about having to wear a mask in public, and I have definitely heard other people say this as well, they are going to really hate a coffin. Take proper precaution please. Wear a mask in public please. Wash and sanitize your hands please. Do what we are being told by scientists and doctors to do right now. Because if we don't, this will just go on and on and on and on, and we will really struggle even more than we are now to get back to some kind of normal life.

I hope the weekend of partying was worth for these people because they are about to get very, very sick in the coming days. Shame on you for doing this, and I hope they know how disgusting most of the world thinks they are now. It's such a pity that so many people are so god damn selfish. 

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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Best of 2019: Best of Everything Else

Super writer/critic extraordinaire Ty has already covered the best albums, the best movies, the best television shows, the best podcasts, and the best sports moments of 2019. Today I am going to give the rest of the stuff of 2019 some love. We will cover books, tech, video games, and a few other corners of society not given the top five/ten treatment by our publications. Let’s get started.

Best Video Game of 2019

Untitled Goose Game is the game we needed in our lives at this very moment in history. It appeals to young and old alike, and for very different reasons. I talked with a nine year old about the game, and then spun the game as an allegory for President Trump.

As for the game itself? You are a goose, and you are here to terrify a small village. You get from place to place by solving puzzles that involve your goose stealing things, scaring kids, and causing general mayhem.

It is awesome.

Best Movie Trailer for a Movie Released in 2019

This should have been the first trailer for Joker, but then Cats came along. A movie trailer needs to be memorable, and oh boy was the Cats trailer memorable for all the wrong reasons. The movie looked horrifying and stupid at the same time. I spent most of my time watching and rewatching the trailer asking myslef why would such an such actor be in this thing. My answers never came. Cats shows us that the best of us need to be told every now and then. The trailer was our first warning.

Best Movie trailer for a Movie Released after 2019

In 2019, the DC movie Universe started to catch up with Marvel. Aquaman came out in late 2018, but was the top movie in the early months of 2019. Shazam was a modest hit, and well like by the critics and the audience. Joker was a megahit and the most talked about movie of the year. Then around Thanksgiving we were given our first look at Wonder Woman 1984. The setting was spot on, the music was incredible, and the movie itself looks amazing. June 5th, 2020 cannot get here soon enough.

Best Book of 2019

Great new books come out every year. What is truly the best is usually left up to a person’s personal preference. Many times the best book we read in a given year came out in a previous year. The best book for 2019, or the most important to read book, is George Orwell’s 1948 novel 1984.

In 1948, George Orwell understood the dangers of screaming fake news and blind loyalty to a government that has an agenda counter to the benefit of the people they serve. In 2019 we live in 1984’s world, and we do not care. It could never happen to us is what we said when we first read Orwell’s dystopic story. In 2019 we need to read 1984 to acknowledge the fact we live in this society.

Best Tech of 2019

It is hard to judge new technology until we have seen it in action for a year or more. All the big tech sites with praise anything Apple, and then quietly say how bad the tech was years later, see the Apple Pencil and Macbook keyboard.

Apple is not alone in the blind praises bestowed by the tech media on the companies and personalities the writers so desperately want to have access to. That is why the Tesla Cybertruck is the best tech of the year.

The cybertruck look stupid, it will be grotesquely overpriced, and it will be bested by a real car company in the not so distant future, but the Cybertruck will be considered the first heavy duty pickup to normalize the idea of an all electric truck for the masses. In the not so distant future when Tesla is gone, the tech media will continue to remind us that the Cybertruck was “first”. They will not be totally wrong.

Best Written Thing on the Internet

In 2019 the website Deadspin.com entered a death spiral. The owners decided to lay down the law on the creators, and the creators revolted. The end of one of the most important internet sites had dawned. Before the true endgame, former editor Megan Greenwell wrote an insightful and scathing piece about the current state of internet journalism. We live in a world where traditional journalism, i.e. newspapers, radio, and televsion, has been sacrificed on the alter of capitalism. The internet was where real journalism was still breathing it’s survival breaths. Then the corporate raiders came for the internet. Clicks, likes, and trash were valued more than the talents of creators. Megan Greenwell saw this, was fired, and then left the last parting shot. Forget about all the “traditional” media think pieces on the world around us. Megan Greenwell gave us a true look into the future we are moving towards. Read her words and be wary.

Best Visual Thing on the Internet

The Peloton is stupid. Exercise is good, but the cult like, false view of wealth, that the Peloton sells is poisonous. The company/cult’s newest ad reflects the toxic image the overpriced spin bike is selling.

Enter a hero. Ryan Reynold’s owns a gin called Aviator and he sought out the woman in the Peloton ad. Together they made the greatest ad of the year. Who knew that gin was more progressive, and respectful, than an exercise device. Now we know.

These are just a few of the things I saw in 2019 that made an impact. While companies like Peloton and any trust fund idiot that owns a website tried to push society backwards, we had heroes like Megan Greenwell, Ryan Reynolds, and an untitled goose to give us the catharsis we need. In 2019 we were also gifted with the reminder of what was warned in 1948, and we were able to observe pop culture’s hubris with Cats. All in all there were scares and hope in the year 2019 of the common era.

Bring on the 20’s.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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