Ty Ranks the 2023 NFL Teams: Flat Faygo Chocolate Cream Soda Division

The next ten days of my blog are going to be football related. I want to let the readers know going ahead. We have both the NFL and NCAA seasons right around the corner, and you all know how much I enjoy football, especially college football. I love doing these blogs also. They are some of my favorites. For the next eight days I will rank the NFL teams from 32-1, then I'll do my postseason and awards predictions on day nine. Day ten is dedicated to college football, and I will do my massive preview and predictions then. Gear up everyone, football is near. This blog will have to suffice until then.

Okay, coming in at dead last in my preseason ranking, at number 32 I have the Arizona Cardinals. This team was a playoff team just a few short years ago. But look at where they are now. Kyler Murray is coming off a pretty devastating injury and looked disillusioned before he got hurt. Deandre Hopkins has been replaced by the undersized Rondale Moore. The o line is not the best. James Conner's prime came and went a while ago. I could say the same for Zach Ertz. The defense is very thin, and their best player, Budda Baker, will most likely be on a different team before this season ends. The Cardinals stink. They will not win many games, and they may be the best bet to get the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.

At 31 I have the Houston Texans. I very much like the CJ Stroud and Will Anderson pick. I'm all in on both of them. I know Stroud looked rough in his preseason debut, but the dude can play. He will figure it out. And Will Anderson can wreck backfields right away. He was a beast in college, he has the determination to blow up and I think he will be an upper tier edge rusher sooner rather than later. Outside those guys, it is not great. Nico Collins is an okay receiver, but not a number one guy yet. I don't even know who Dameon Pierce is, but he is the projected running back starter. Robert Woods is cashed as an upper level wideout. The o line is meh. They overpaid for Dalton Schultz. The defense, outside Anderson Jr, is either too young and not ready, or a bunch of no names. Derek Stingley is good, but he may get traded. Sheldon Rankins had a moment, but who knows if that will happen again. I like that they picked Henry To'oTo'o, but he isn't a starter yet. The Texans are still rebuilding. They made some solid picks this past draft, but that won't pay off right away. They need time. But don't expect a quick rebuild.

At number 30 I have the Las Vegas Raiders. I have very little hope for this team. They have made some wild offseason decisions. Some would call their offseason head scratching. I would be part of that some. I also think Josh McDaniles is way in over his head and thinks he is a better coach than he really is. To not give Josh Jacobs an extension is dumb. He is one of the better backs in the league, he was their leader on offense and he will not play for them again. That is my prediction. He is going to be traded very soon. They replaced Derek Carr, who is wildly overrated, with Jimmy Garroppolo. I mean, Garoppolo is either hurt or, at best, a game manager. That won't mesh with no Josh Jacobs. Davante Adams deserves better than this. I know he wanted out of Green Bay, but him having to play for this team feels cruel. He's too good to be wasted on this team. The o line is good, but they will have an entire new backfield to block for that will not be as good as it was a season ago. The defense is good, but they will be wasted as well. They will have to win games, and they are not equipped for that much responsibility. Marcus Peters is awesome. So is Maxx Crosby. Chandler Jones still has moments, but the defense will be tasked with too much and it will show by the middle of the year. The Raiders should be better, but due to the front office and coaching staff, they are going to find it tough to be competitive.

The final team for the day, at number 29 I have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They're going to try Baker Mayfield now. We have already seen how that story goes. They let Leonard Fournette walk and replaced him with Rachaad White. Who is that? Mike Evans is in a similar situation to Davante Adams. His talent is wasted here. Chris Godwin deserves better. The o line deserves better. They have no QB and run game. Scoring will be tough. The defense is nowhere near what they were when they won the Super Bowl in 2020. Everyone who is still on the team from then is older. Devin White is still good, but not the player he was in 2020. Antoine Winfield Jr is one of the better safeties in the league, but not a marquee guy anymore. Shaquil Barrett has the goods, but he has not been consistent yet. Lavonte Davis is dope, but he lacks consistency as well. Vita Vea is more known for shotgunning Gatorade than anything else at this point in his career. This team is a far cry from its Super Bowl championship, and I have zero faith in Baker Mayfield being a good starter ever in the NFL. The Bucs are going to have a tough season.

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

Ty

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

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Tales of the Friendly Lizards

I returned from my vacation around 5pm last night. It was a great trip. I got tons of relaxing time, I got to run whenever I wanted, I swam in the ocean, I ate a ton of sushi, had one of the best steaks I've ever eaten and was surrounded by wonderful company. I even said to myself at one point during the trip how lucky I am to be in a situation where this kind of thing is available to a person like me. I am a very, very lucky person. I fully get that. There was one specific thing that I wanted to point out from this vacation, and it is kind of out there.

Each morning after getting dressed and sun screened, and then heading down to the cafe to get a pastry and coffee, I'd see iguanas or lizards or some kind of small dinosaur looking animal. I'd also see them on my way to the beach from the pool. And when I'd walk to the gym. I'd see them when walking back with my fellow travelers to our room. We would see them on our way to dinner. I was scared at first, but after a while I was fascinated with these animals. They were coexisting with us like there was no threat or problem at all. They never scurried away. I only rarely saw them take on the color of the palm trees and other brush near the walkways. They would just kind of stand there, give you a look and either stay or slowly walk into the brush next to the beach or the sidewalk. It was wild. I started to talk to them on my way to places. They would get a lot of "good morning" or "hey there big guy" or "oh, you are blending in with your surroundings now". The fear quickly dissipated and we were all just hanging out together. One day one of these lizards was hanging out at a lunch spot by the relaxing pool. No one was worried. We were all chatting like nothing weird was going on. One day I got up from my lawn chair to get in the pool and one of the bigger lizards crawled from underneath my chair to another shaded spot. I didn't jump or make a face, I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture. One day I saw a big lizard with a smaller lizard and I made up a whole story for them like they were a mom and child on an adventure. I snapped a few pictures of these lizards, but my best was of one of these dudes just hanging on a bridge walkway to the main pool. I got the full thing in the photo, it let me get close enough to snap the photo, and almost as if it was sensing that I was done, it looked at me and jumped off. I fully believe that this lizard is so used to getting pictures taken that it knows when a person is starting the shoot, and when they are done. I was astonished at how well they blended in and how easily we all got used to these animals. Seeing an animal like this back at home would terrify me. But in Mexico, at the beach, hanging at a pool and just relaxing, these animals were part of the experience. And it ruled.

I am so on board for stuff like this. I wish we were more welcoming in the states so animals like this could coexist without all of us living in fear. If you find yourself heading to Mexico anytime soon, look out for these awesome lizards. They will quickly become your friend. Trust me. 

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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Think Getting Your Kids to School is Tough? Watch the Documentary "On the Way to School" to See What Some Kids Go Through for an Education

This is the week parents start sending their kids back to school. My kid starts on Thursday. My kid also goes to school nearly 20 miles from our home. I have to get up a bit earlier, so does he, and we have to spend 30-40 minutes each way so he can get a world class education. My story is not unique, many parents alter their lives to make sure their kids are in good schools. My story, along with many American parents, is an inconvenience.

Back in 2013 a French documentary called “On the Way to School” was released. The movie is just over an hour long, yet it has occupied a good chunk of my mind over the last decade. The documentary follows four kids in different countries and what they do to just get an education. It is a fascinating and inspiring film.

The movie starts with a young Kenyan child who lives in a hut in the desert. He and his brother have to take a two hour journey every day across the desert to go to school. On their journey they have to be careful to not run into any wildlife like lions and elephants. The two boys make the same journey back at the end of the day. They do this every single day. Along the way they need to stop to fill containers with fresh water and carry them on the journey. The oldest boy is 11 years old. The boys never complain and feel grateful that they have an opportunity to get an education.

The next child we are introduced to a Moroccan girl named Zahira. She along with a few friends take a four hour journey, through mountains and on foot, at the beginning of each week to reach their school. The girls stay for the week and make the journey home when school is done for the week. The only really complaining comes when one of the girls forgets to wear proper footwear for a trek through the mountains.

Our third child is an 11 year old Argentinian boy named Carlos. He and his sister have to cross the Patagonia by horseback to get to school. The journey takes almost two hours each way. This will be the last year of school for Carlos before he decides to go away to a school he will live at or if he gets a job.

The final child is an Indian boy named Samuel. Samuel is in a wheelchair and goes to school with his two brothers helping him. The trip takes over an hour and the terrain are sand, water, and city streets. Again, Samuel is in a wheelchair and during their documented trip a tire gets wrecked, and the boys need to get it repaired. Their spirit is never broken, and Samuel tells the documentary crew that he is going to school so he can one day be a doctor and help kids like him.

The stories of these four journeys are intercut with each other. There are subtitles so you do not have to be native in any language to understand and watch. Each kid shows a quiet determination and an interest in bettering their lives through education. Although each of these children live in very low-income households, they movie never wants you to pity these kids. The journey these kids take, some of them each day, is more inspiring than it is depressing. “On the Way to School” is an incredible film.

This week when we are all dreading the changes in our lives as school starts, I know I will try to temper myself pity by thinking of what I saw in “On the Way to School” The movie can be found on most streaming services for purchase and it is on some services for free with ads shown during the movie. When your kids complain about the bus, car, or walk to school, have them watch “On the Way to School”. They may still complain, but maybe they will have a little better perspective.

RD

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

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

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

SeedSing Classic: The Definitive Top 10 Little Debbie's Snacks

This article originally premiered on June 7th 2019

Growing up in the 1980’s and 90’s meant that your house probable had a few different boxes of Little Debbie treats. We would get one after playing outside, have a box handy when we played games with our friends, and definitely had one in our school lunches as our nutritionally mandated dessert. My lunches always consisted of a sandwich with mustard and one piece of Carl Budding ham, a baggie of chips, some form of fruit, a Mendota Springs, and a Little Debbie. That overtly sweet snack cake was the highlight of my entire school day.

Today I am feeling a bit nostalgic and thought it was high time we gave a definitive ranking of what are the ten best Little Debbie treats from my youth. I know there are some new treats in the collection of Little Debbies, but I did not have those in my lunches. If it came out after 1993, I did not eat it. Also there will be no “rolled” cakes on here. The rolled cakes suck, as do the Banana Twins and any marshmallow pie. Take my advice and skip those boxes.

Remember this is the definitive list. We have performed super science to get the correct rankings. Don’t agree? Come at us.

10. Pecan Pie

The mini pecan pie in the tiny aluminum tin is hard to find these days, but it does still exist. Many people hate this extremely sweet and sticky creation. Those people are wrong. The pecan pie has it’s problems (the sticky and sweet parts) but it was always a treat to gulp down a whole round pie in two or three bites. Just make sure you have some Mendota Springs to wash all that sweetness down.

9. PB Crunch

The PB Crunch was like a lower grade peanut butter Twix. Cookie, peanut butter and chocolate, plus the Twix like shape could confuse anyone’s eyes. While the peanut butter Twix is super deliciousness, the PB Crunch had a little blandness. Yet, peanut butter and chocolate can never be a total disaster.

8. Caramel Cookie Bar

Another Twix clone but switch the peanut butter for caramel. Also the shape was flat and not long and slender like the PB Crunch. The caramel was mildly gooey, and could mess up your nice Izod shirt with the popped collar, but was still a decent end to a balanced meal.

7. Cosmic Brownies

Many people are more familiar with the Walnut version of Little Debbie brownies, but if you got the candy sprinkled top of the cosmic variation, you were in luck. The brownie itself is another love it or hate concoction. It was more of a fudge like consistency and a fairly mild chocolate taste. Add the thick frosting (usually half the damn thing) and the colorful candies, the Cosmic Brownie was a faux chocolate delight.

6. Fudge Rounds

Here is where you start getting into some of all time great Little Debbie treats. The Fudge Round had a great cake top and bottom, and an awesome low grade chocolate mousse in the middle. All parts of the Fudge Round tasted amazing, it just usually suffered from not enough of the middle part. Many times that filling only covered half the cake sandwich. Little Debbie needs to do better.

5. Zebra Cakes

The two square cakes that come in the plastic package have many different versions. There are fancy, chocolate, and a variety of seasonal offerings. The OG Zebra Cake has them all beat. You can actually taste the chocolate and vanilla together. When you sit and peel the cake apart, outstanding. Pulling pieces of frosting off and unwrapping the cake was like a zen ritual to get you through the rest of the school day.

4. Oatmeal Creme Pie

I am not that big of a fan of oatmeal as my cereal or my cookie, yet the Oatmeal Creme Pie is all kinds of awesome. The grittiness of the top and bottom cookie combined with the ample amount of creme in the center is a tactile and taste sensation your tongue will thank you for.

3. Cherry Cordial

For some reason the Cheery Cordial seems to be a seasonal offering (Valentines Day I think?). That is not right because this is hands down a culinary masterpiece. You have another cake sandwich with a creme like filling. This time it is a cherry filling, vanilla type cake, and the entire thing is encased in a chocolate shell. The edges always have a little more crunch than the center, and it is glorious. This needs to be a year round thing.

2. Nutty Buddy

Peanut butter and chocolate are almost perfect. Add a couple layers of wafer cookies, and Little Debbie achieved near perfection. The Nutty Buddy is better than most candy bars, that is how good this thing is. It is another one of Little Debbie’s offerings that ask you to take the treat apart. Peeling layer after layer of cookie, peanut butter, and chocolate is the near perfect end to any meal. There is almost no equal to this delight.

1. Star Crunch

The Star Crunch not only equals the Nutty Buddy, it surpasses it. The caramel is not overly gooey, the cookie is the perfect balance of crunchy and chewy, the crisp rice adds an extra pop to every bite, and the chocolate brings the whole package together in one of mankind’s finest creations. The Star Crunch is a perfect dessert for any occasion. There is no snack cake/treat equal to the Star Crunch. It is quite simply the greatest Little Debbie ever made.

There it is, the definitive rankings of the ten best Little Debbie treats of my school days. You can not go wrong with any of these ten delights. One’s day is made all the better when devouring these creations. Now it is time for us all to go out and revisit some of the sweetness of our youth. I may just go and house an entire box of Star Crunch’s when I’m done writing here.

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.

There is a Right Way to Eat Cincinnati Chili

I live in Cincinnati Ohio, but I am not from here. One of the first things people had me try when I arrived in the Queen City was the city’s local chili. We went to the closest Skyline, and I ordered a couple of small cheese coneys.

I was not a fan.

As the years have gone on, I have given Skyline, and less often Goldstar, a chance. Many people, my wife included, have said I will get used to it. I have not.

Cincinnati chili has become kind of a joke outside of Ohio. Some people call it prison food, others have objected to its weird flavor profile. The fans of Cincinnati chili say it is misunderstood and say you cannot think of traditional chili when you eat. I have tried and tried but I can never get on the Cincinnati Chili bandwagon. Today I did have a dish made with the strange stuff and decided I have finally found the one good way to eat Cincinnati Chili.

My son and I bought a small package of Skyline dip this afternoon. It is a very simple dish of cream cheese with Cincinnati chili layered on top and a large amount of mild cheddar cheese on top of that. I got out some ruffled potato chips and took a dip. This is the way Cincinnati Chili was meant to be served. Something in the cream cheese and mild cheddar compliments the flavors of the chili so well. Add in the salty chips and this dip is a top tier party dip. The only unfortunate thing is when you buy the prepackaged dip and cook it, the cream cheese and chili meld into a gray looking nightmare goop. Once the cheddar is added the goop is hidden and the tasting can begin. I am not kidding; it is an incredible tasting dip.

I know there are many people out there that still think the best way to serve Cincinnati chili is to throw it straight in the trash. I do not totally disagree with that sentiment. I do encourage the haters to try some of this dip next time you pass a Cincinnati chili parlor. I think you will be pleasantly surprised that something so awful on its own, or over spaghetti, can be so divine.

RD

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

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

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

Ohio Rejects Fascism, For Now

Last night Ohio had an election. There were no other elections anywhere in the US on this day and the voters of Ohio had only one thing to vote on. Residents of the Buckeye State, like myself, had to vote to preserve democracy here. The patriots won, and the fascist lost. They lost bad.

Issue One was a garbage law written up by a bunch of gerrymandered state reps and coordinated by our MAGA wanna be Secretary of State Frank LaRose. The law would have raised the threshold to amend the state constitution. Currently Ohio only needs a 50% plus one vote to pass a constitutional amendment. It has been like that for over 100 years. Issue one would also require all of Ohio’s 88 counties be represented on the petition. Right now, the law says 44 counties must be represented. Issue one also took way the time period to fix ballots with not enough valid signatures. All of these important changes to our democratic process were put to a vote in early August, a time that is notorious for low voter turnout.

Why was Issue One but forward? When the US Supreme Court decided to nuke Roe v Wade, Ohio republicans were quick to pass some of the worst laws aimed at women’s health. The other side, doctors, women, compassionate patriots, saw the success of pro abortion/women’s health electoral efforts in states like Kansas, Michigan, and Kentucky, and they teamed up to protect women’s rights in the constitution. Their group easily gathered the necessary signatures and were all set to go to the voters this November. The Ohio GOP know that the pro women’s health amendment will pass, so they came up with some new anti-democratic scheme to subvert the November vote. The state legislature waited until the last minute to place their plan on an August election and planned on low voter turnout to undermine the pro women’s health group. They thought they were being so clever.

Issue One failed, it failed big time. What the Ohio GOP never figured out is that with the need to communicate to voters on only one issue, the opposition could coalesce around a common message. Democracy was on the ballot. The GOP is trying to rig the game to make Ohio less democratic. Turnout hit records in the urban counties. The rural counties did not see huge surges in yes votes. Secretary LaRose and the state GOP lost, and it was not close. This November the citizens of Ohio will get to vote to protect women’s health with a new constitutional amendment.

The Ohio republican party is not done trying to undermine freedom. They will be back. The GOP controls everything in state government. Whenever their power is threatened, they change the rules. When voters speak, the Ohio GOP looks for ways to silence them. Secretary LaRose said this is the first battle in a longer war. He is right. Ohio and democracy may have won the opening battle, but we need to be prepared for the GOP’s next anti-democratic scheme. It is coming sooner than we think.

All that being said, this victory feels good. Democracy 1 - Ohio Fascists 0

RD

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

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

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

If “Barbie” Offends You Then You’re an Idiot

Last weekend my wife and I saw the new “Barbie” movie. It was great and weeks after the movie opened the theater was almost sold out. When we left there was a line waiting to get into the next showing. I am not here to review the movie today, go out and see it for yourself. What I am here to do today is to call out all the snowflake man babies who are screaming about how “Barbie” is a man hating screed. I am here to call out the idiots.

 Notorious white male victimhood screecher Ben Shapiro famously started the anti-“Barbie” misogyny with his nearly hour long temper tantrum after paying to see the very successful film. He cried about the word patriarchy. He whined about the pro women messages in the film. He even went out and bought a bunch of Barbies and proceeded to light them on fire. Ben Shapiro is a soft skinned loser, but he is not alone.

 In the weeks since “Barbie” has premiered other white male crybabies decided to get on the unsuccessful anti-“Barbie” bandwagon. Professional idiot Elon Musk used his failing platform to whine, Fox News has dedicated numerous hours crying, and television town idiot Bill Maher has decided to offer his dumb opinions. These brainless wonders have fed their blind followers their latest crybaby crusade.nIt is the only thing they can offer society. How very sad for them.

 What is it about “Barbie” that has these morons up in arms? The movie is fun, subversive, and entertaining as hell. Do they hate the fact a woman directed the successful film? (Yes) Do they hate the fact that Margot Robbie is outstanding in the lead role? (Yes) Do they see themselves being made fun of in the guise of the Kens? (Yes) I think the thing these lonely loser men really hate about “Barbie” is that the movie acknowledges and celebrates all different kinds of women and highlights the modern struggles of mothers. The white male crybabies hate “Barbie” because it shines a bright light on why these men are doomed for extinction in the very near future.

 The thing I have enjoyed the most during our era of “Barbie”, outside of the actual movie itself, is that once again the white male crybabies are being proven wrong again. Every time society produces a piece of art that exposes and threatens their fragilty, these men all cry out in unison, and they are always wrong. “Barbie” is their latest made up culture war, and they are losing, badly. The Shapiros, Musks, and Mahers are a disappearing breed. Their schtick is annoying and tiring. Here’s hoping that “Barbie” is the meteor that makes their breed extinct.

 Also, go see “Barbie”. It is awesome.

RD

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

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

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

Better Never Than Late on "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania"

I'm about to go on another vacation, but this one will be a full, real vacation for me. I am going to Mexico, to an adults only resort, with my wife. That means no writing from Tuesday to Friday. But I did want to leave you all with one more movie review before flying off for a week. I'm sure RD will do stuff, I told him to put up some of my older stuff if he wanted to, but I wanted to do one more before taking some time away.

Over the weekend we did date night and it was my wife's turn to pick the movie. She is very much into Marvel and superhero movies, so she picked "Ant-Man: Quantamania". She was trying to decide between a few, and this one was next in order for how we have watched the MCU movies. I had heard some reviews for this prior to watching. Some were okay, some were not so okay. I figured it was going to be good because I am a big Paul Rudd fan, and the first "Ant-Man" movie was shockingly great. Hell, I even enjoyed the sequel.

Unfortunately this one did not meet my expectations. I was pretty bummed out with this viewing. I expected so much more, but the movie did not fully deliver, at least for me. The movie was almost devoid of the humor that the first one put out there so expertly. The second one even had humorous elements. But this one, outside of MODOK, was not very funny. I felt like they totally underused Paul Rudd's excellent comedic timing. Michael Pena and TI were not even in the movie. The villain was completely humorous. His family was not funny at all. This movie took itself way, way too seriously. Except MODOK. I actually enjoyed MODOK the most in this movie. He was the only one who seemed to realize they were making a multiverse movie within the Ant-Man world. All of these superhero movies are wild, but Ant-Man may be the oddest of them all. MODOK got it, no one else did though. Paul Rudd seemed like he had very little to do in this movie that he is supposed to be the star of. He had moments, he got to show his skills, but it was few and far between. His acting missed the mark. Wasp was barely used as well. She didn't do much and wasn't asked to do much. Bill Murray showed up for one scene. It was fine, but there could have been more. Michael Douglass and Michelle Pfieffer had bigger parts, especially Pfieffer, but they seemed aloof. Pfieffer seemed more like the main character, but she held little weight. They did use Ant-Man's daughter more in this movie, but it felt like a not as good "Hawkeye" passing of the torch. The "Hawkeye" tv series did a much better job going from Jeremey Renner to Hailee Steinfeld than this movie did with Rudd and the actor playing his daughter. It felt rushed.

Then we have Johnathan Majors as Kang. For as great as he was in "Loki", he was chewing scenery far too much here. I think he was undercut by his own horrific offscreen allegations that came out after this movie, but his performance would have been too much even if that never came out. He was too big and over acting. It felt like every scene was a monologue and Majors was trying to show how great of an actor he can be. It did not fit in this movie for me. At all.

I will say, the scenery was cool. I liked the way it looked. But the acting, the dialogue, the story, it was a miss for me. I found myself bored and annoyed at the same time. I wanted this movie to be as fun as other Marvel movies I truly like. That never happened. I think the whole idea of multiverses is already over done and overplayed. It is too much. There are too many things they can simply bring back just by saying they were in a different universe. That was what they did with MODOK. It felt cheap.

Oh well, they cannot all be winners for me I guess. But "Quantamania" really missed the mark in my opinion. I'd recommend skipping it, unless you're a completionist. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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

The College Landscape Is A Changing

News broke this afternoon that Oregon and Washington were going to have a vote and, most likely, will end up joining the Big 10. This comes a year after USC and UCLA both agreed to join the Big 10. The details are not set in stone yet, but by 2024 or 2025, the Big 10 will have, at the very least, 18 teams. That is almost double 10 teams as the name implies, so maybe the conference will change names. I hope they do.

Oregon, UCLA, Washington and USC are not the only Pac 12 teams leaving the conference. Colorado is leaving for the Big 12. Arizona seems next for the Big 12. Arizona State is talking to the Big 12. Utah is leaning that way as well. The Pac 12 as we know it in college football is pretty much done for. It is going to be weird to write a preseason preview for that conference in a few weeks because it will most likely be the last one I do for them.

Looking at all this with a much bigger lens, college football is rapidly changing, and it would not shock me if there are two major conferences within the next five to seven years. I fully believe by 2030 college football will no longer be involved with the NCAA, and there will be two major conferences, the SEC and the Big 10. This is just the start. Oklahoma and Texas are leaving the Big 12 after this year for the SEC. Colorado and Utah will never be able to take their places even though I like the direction both programs are going. Schools like Missouri, Texas A&M and Nebraska left the Big 12 years ago. Those are football schools. Two are SEC teams and one is in the Big 10. I read that Florida State was considering leaving the ACC. I wouldn't be shocked if Clemson was that far behind. Mid Major teams, a team like Cincinnati, just joined the Big 12, but they are a Big 10 team at heart. Pitt, Boston College, Virginia Tech and NC State give me Big 10 vibes. Then schools like UNC, Louisville, FSU, they give me SEC vibes. The rest of the teams could just fill in. The Big 12, even with some additions, is ripe for the picking. Kansas State and KU are midwest Big 10 teams. West Virginia likes to air it out, that has SEC written all over it. TCU could go to either conference and be a threat. Iowa State has flirted with the Big 10 before. Baylor and Texas Tech could easily join Texas in the SEC. Same for Oklahoma State. With what is left of the Pac 12, Oregon State and Stanford have a Big 10 feel. Washington State and Arizona State could go to either conference. Cal feels like a Big 10 team. The possibilities are endless. The only problem is the mid major teams and the independent teams. Notre Dame will be fine. They should already be a Big 10 team. Boise State could slide into the SEC. But there are other teams that are more up and down. What does Memphis do? They are in the South, but they would get roasted by the upper tier SEC teams. Tulane is playing well now, but they would also be a bottom feeder in the SEC. Central Florida is up and down, but they cannot recruit with Miami, FSU and Florida. Temple plays a bruising Big 10 style of football, but how would they fare with the cream of the crop in that conference? There are so many more mid-major schools that will be looking for a home and I just do not know how they would all fit. Maybe these schools start a third conference that plays almost like a bracket buster style schedule. That would be kind of cool.

All in all, college football is changing. I used to loathe the idea of super conferences, but now it is pretty much an inevitability. This is going to happen and it is going to happen much sooner than we all expect. I do know it is all about the money, and there are things that have to be worked out on a massive scale but it is coming. Get ready for it. I do fully believe the conferences will have to change names, but that is an easy fix further down the line. Big things are happening in college football, and as a tremendous fan of the sport, I am pretty psyched to see where it goes 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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Go Out and Try the New Churro Kit Kat

Yesterday while running errands my kids and I decided to treat ourselves to a snack. Since we were at a store I let them get candy. I figured I would indulge as well. I do not eat candy as much as I used to, so anytime I get it, it is a nice little treat. I don't go all out anymore either. No king size bars all that often, no Skittles or Starburst, no full packs of licorice. It is usually a small bag of some kind of gummy candy or a regular sized candy bar. Yesterday I went the candy bar route.

I have always enjoyed a KitKat. They feel almost healthy. I know they aren't, but let me hold on to that feeling. Don't judge me. I am the biggest fan of the original milk chocolate and wafer ones. But I do like to try some of the other flavors they've been cooking in their labs. I love the dark chocolate and mint one they have now. I also really like the plain dark chocolate. The dark chocolate and strawberry is a rare miss for me though. I'll eat it, but it would most likely be my last choice. I really want to try the ones from Japan that I've heard about. They have some interesting, and delicious sounding flavors. The white chocolate Kit Kat is fine, but it is too reminiscent of the white chocolate peanut butter cup. Those feel unnecessary. They perfected it with milk chocolate. The thins are good, but dangerous. I could plow through a whole bag without a second thought. Yesterday at Five Below they had a flavor I had not seen yet, so I kind of knew right away that was going to be my treat for the day. The flavor was churro.

I love a good churro. I still kick myself that I didn't get one while in Disney World last year. I hear they are dynamite there, but I opted for Dole Whip instead. I have had plenty of churros in my day. And when they are done well, you can taste it. The churro Kit Kat really nailed it here. I felt like I was having an actual churro with a chocolate coating. It was sugary and had cinnamon and the chocolate tasted like the icing you can dip them in if offered. I devoured this candy bar and I kept thinking about it the rest of the day. I felt like Homer when he ate that Yodel on "The Simpsons". It was so good that I do wish I was eating it right now. I think this is the best Kit Kat has to offer with their seasonal flavors. This one is much better than the white chocolate and dark and strawberry ones. This one exceeds the plain dark chocolate. The churro flavor's only real competition is the dark and mint, but I like the churro better. It gives me everything I love about a churro but in KitKat form. The dark and mint is still very, very good, but it doesn't fulfill, for me, what a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie does. It comes close, but it isn't there yet. The churro is there already.

I hope they keep this new flavor around. I would love to indulge in this more than once. Go out and try one. They are very good. I assure you.

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Twisted Metal"

After returning from vacation I decided that I am going to get caught up on some tv that I want to see. The first show I am going to watch is "Twisted Metal". I have watched the first three episodes before writing this. Let’s discuss.

I heard about the show from a bunch of different podcasts that I listened to. Shaun Diston mentioned it on a few of his shows, Ify Nwadiwe mentioned it on an appearance of "CBB" and Mike Mitchell was tooting its horn, before the writers and actors strike, on "Doughboys". I was primed to watch the show. I even tried while on vacation, but it was a hard sell for my family. So I waited and started yesterday.

This show is wild. It is at times funny, gory, violent and heartfelt. This show is really trying to have it all, and for me, so far it's working. I'm all in. I am very invested so far. I like the story. I guess it is based on a video game that I have heard of but never played. I didn't even know what the game was about until I read about the show. The short story is that a catastrophic event happened in 2002 that messed up all the computers in the world. Cities blocked themselves off and let the criminals run wild in the open. There are delivery drivers, called milkmen, that bring stuff to the walled off cities, but on the way they encounter some undesirable bad guys and girls. Anthony Mackie plays the main milkman in the show. He is hilarious. I really enjoy the comedy he brings to this role. He is funny, motor mouthed and always finding some way to use his charm to get out of trouble. Stephanie Beatriz plays a loner who loses her brother and is now on a quest to avenge him and live in peace. Thomas Haden Church is a bad cop who is out to hurt anyone he deems is "breaking the law". He is a very, very bad guy. Neve Campbell is the leader of New San Francisco, and she has some kind of ulterior motives with Mackie's character. Mike Mitchell and Tahj Vaughans are two guys who are about to get eaten, but are busted out by the nefarious police officers and are recruited to become officers themselves. One is into it, the other, not so much.

The best part of the show so far for me has been Sweet Tooth, the evil clown that runs Las Vegas. Sweet Tooth is also played by two people. Will Arnett does his voice, and this is such a perfect move for him. He has such a cool and distinguishable voice, and getting to play an insane clown suits him well. Pro wrestler Samoa Joe plays the person behind the clown mask, and that is a match made in tv perfection. He is a big dude, his body looks like it would survive an apocalyptic event and he can kick some ass. I'm usually terrified of clowns, and this one is very frightening, but the way they are having this character come to life is so funny that I can get past my fear.

I have been enjoying what I have seen so far. I am not going to binge it because I want to take it in slowly. I think I will do a few episodes a day, when I have the time to watch, so I can really let it sink in. I definitely recommend the show. For people like me, who do not know the video game, it is kind of perfect. I'd be curious what the players of the game think, but I'm in. I like it. I will be watching it all. I suggest you do the same. 

Ty

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

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R.I.P. Paul Reubens

Yesterday Paul Reubens passed away at 70 years old. Apparently he had cancer for six years and was able to keep that out of the news. This sucks.

People may know Paul Reubens better as Pee Wee Herman. I was a very, very big Pee Wee Herman fan as a kid and even into adulthood. I was obsessed though with "Pee Wee's Playhouse" as a kid. That was my jam. There were three things I was super into as a kid, one was baseball, two were dinosaurs and three was Pee Wee. This show grabbed me tight and I never wanted it to let me go. I would watch with tons of intrigue at each new episode. I devoured it. It was the best, and one of the funniest and unique shows I had ever watched. I think it was my intro to alternative comedy without knowing what alternative comedy at the time. Pee Wee was different. He spoke with a wild voice, which I instantly connected with. He had weird friends on his show, namely a chair. The skits and bits were different from what I saw on what was considered other kids' shows. They were funnier and a little more out there. They let Pee Wee take chances and I was fully in with every chance he took. "Pee Wee's Playhouse" did it and did it better than anyone else could. I adored this show.

I then went and watched "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" when it came out in theaters. I'm sure my folks took me and I loved every bit of that movie. But, it also scared me. When he got in the truck with Large Marge, that was terrifying when I was younger. I revisited the movie as a teen and then in my 20's, and I got it. But as a kid, that frightened me. But the movie also stayed with me almost as much as the tv show. I was all in on Pee Wee.

Then as I got a bit older I kind of forgot about him. The show ended, he didn't make any big movies and I kind of moved on. He then got arrested for being nude in public. He was at an adult theater and did what I assume most people do in adult theaters. But since he had a big name, the news blew this whole story out of proportion. I didn't care what he did on his own time as a grown adult. That stuff never mattered to me. So when people tried to make this a bigger deal than it actually was, I shut them out and went back and watched his show and movie even more. He then showed up in the movie "Blow". I don't like that movie all that much, but seeing him do something completely different, my respect for him only grew. He was very good in that movie and his performance stayed with me. I then saw him in "30 Rock", and his role in that was amazing. It felt like an even odder version of Pee Wee. He got to really go for the comedy and he totally nailed it. I love his one episode in that fantastic series. He also ended up making another Pee Wee movie, which is very solid. He was also on shows like "CBB", both the tv show and podcast, and it was always nice when I would see him pop up on a show I was watching. He was also always funny. I think about him being on "CBB The TV Show" during a Halloween episode and him making me laugh very, very hard. Pee Wee was such a great character that he created.

From what I have read since I learned of his passing is that Paul Reubens was a very good person. He helped those around him. He made strangers and friends alike laugh at a moment's notice. He cared for the people in his life, be it family or friends. He seemed like a genuinely good person who had a very big and full heart.

This really bums me out that he passed. I know he was sick, but he was still young. Seventy years old is not that old. And the fact that he had cancer, seemingly bad cancer, and was able to hide it from the general public, that is brutal. This has hit me as hard as Chadwick Boseman's passing. I didn't know either was sick, and when I learned of their passing, it made me very sad. Pee Wee was a vital figure in my life even though I never met or knew him. He introduced me to a different style of comedy and helped shape my taste in it today.

Rest In Peace Paul Reubens. You are very, very missed. 

Ty

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

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Family Reunions are the Best Kinds of Vacation

Today I am returning home from a week long trip. I’ve filled you all in on some of the stuff I did last week. The trip was excellent. I’m very glad we did this. There’s always going to be stress when road tripping with two young-ish kids. All in all they were good, the ride was smooth and the company was nice.

The whole idea for this trip was a family reunion. My dad brought up the idea of a reunion about a year ago and he started planning as soon as we said we were all in. The family reunion was quiet and perfect. That’s exactly what I hoped for from this reunion. We did it at my aunt’s house as opposed to renting out a space or gazebo like structure. I feel that’s the best way to go when doing something like this. We all showed up when we could and hung out with each other, switching groups seamlessly. That’s the sign of close familial relationships to me. I could be talking to a cousin one second and easily switch to an aunt or uncle the next with no problem.

The food was also very good. We had lunch catered with some dynamite chicken. The aunt that hosted had one of the best charcuterie boards I’ve ever had the privilege to eat. It was really good. Seriously. The cheese and meat were out of this world. And the grapes were some of the juiciest I’ve ever had. The food was another feather in the cap of this gathering.

Even the rain didn’t stop the fun. It rained, rained hard for a good few hours. During it we spent some time under tents outside, and when it got to be a bit too much, we went inside and hung out. After the rain stopped, me, a cousin around my age and some of the younger kids played wiffle ball. It was dope.

The best thing about this reunion, what I will hold closest to me for the rest of my life, was seeing everyone again. I haven’t seen some of my cousins and aunts and uncles since my wedding. COVID also knocked any chance of us getting together for a few years as well. Being with everyone, conversing with everyone, meeting my cousin’s significant others, seeing how happy my folks were to be seeing everyone again, getting to introduce my wife properly to my family members, that’s what made this reunion so special. It was so easy to fall right into conversation and talk about what we did as kids. I spent a good chunk of the afternoon listening to one of my uncles tell me stories from his childhood. Those ruled by the way. I got one on one time with my aunt that I’m closest with and that made me so happy to converse with her as an adult. This is the way to do a family reunion. It was a pleasure to travel to see everyone. This was so very important and memorable. I’m beyond happy that it all came together and worked out so well. This was a wonderful reason to go on a trip.

Much love to the family members I saw. I cannot wait to see you all again soon.

Ty

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

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame is Worth the Trip

My dad took my son and I to the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton yesterday. This has always been on my list of places to visit. I never actually thought I’d get to go because I had never planned on visiting Canton, but this trip to Buffalo presented the opportunity so we took it.

I’m glad we did. For football fans the hall of fame is a sight to behold. There’s two stories in the building. The second story is the best. That’s where they have the busts of the players in the hall. Waking through there and seeing so many greats was inspiring. They go through each class and each player, coach, owner or announcer that’s in the hall got to pick what they wanted their busts to look like. It was pretty neat to see what they chose. Seeing guys like Jim Thorpe, Vince Lombardi and Night Train Lane’s bust was awesome. They look like these guys. Walking down the hall and seeing more modern players, players I watched, that was something else. Deion Sanders had his trademark smile. Warren Sapp and Randy Miss has their braids. Ed Reed, who had my favorite bust, had his beard and afro. Edgerrin James had the dreads. Barry Sanders had his stoic look. Charles Woodson, my favorite player, had his goatee. Troy Polamalu had his flowing locks. I could go on and on. It was great.

The busts were the best, but the rest was cool to. When walking in you see the newest members and all their donated memorabilia. That was cool. There was a bunch of interactive stuff. My son got to measure his legs and hands with some hall of gamers. He got to wear old shoulder pads and a helmet. He tried on a game worn Joe Burrow helmet. He was even able to mess around with Madden on the Xbox. The lower level had all the info and a Jim Thorpe statue. This was where my dad and I got to see stuff we wanted to know about. This was the area for the parents I suspect. They also had an area for HBCU player and coaches which was nice. It was good to see a former player like Steve McNair get some shine. Hell, even the gift shop was rad. They had very cool throwback jerseys, even though they were incredibly overpriced. And the signed helmets were very cool to see all the signatures.

I really enjoyed my time at the NFL Hall of Fame yesterday. I’m glad we went. I’m even happier my son got to see it. He’s a big football fan and he was in his element. I recommend this for all football fans. It’s a very good museum to check out.

Ty

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

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The National Museum of the Air Force is a Must Visit

While in Dayton yesterday we visited the National Museum of the Air Force. My dad wanted to go there. He served in the Navy. I figured it would be a solid visit to see some decent planes. It was so much better than that.

This place was very, very cool. When you walk in there’s two big warehouses filled with planes and exhibits and a cafe and a gift shop. On one side they have the early days of planes. This was cool, but also kind of terrifying to see. I mean, the geniuses behind the invention were also a little crazy. I mean, they were trying to take these very archaic things into the air to see how far they could fly them. My dad showed me how they used to turn, with what were essentially foot pedals. That’s wild. Seeing the wheels being the only support for landing, that’s nuts. Looking at some of the models of old planes, my dad pointed out that some of them looked like old bathtubs. I wouldn’t put that past them. It looked like they used whatever they had on hand. Props to them for being that brave though.

The other end of the museum was dedicated to war planes and Air Force One. This spot was very immersive. You could walk on these planes. We got to see the inside of a good amount of them. We got a nice inside look at the difference soldiers and the government has on their planes. This was my dad’s forte too. He was explaining all this stuff to us she I loved it. I don’t know much about all this because I never really looked into it. He knows it all and was more than willing to fill us in. There was some neat Berlin Wall stuff we got to see. They had actual pieces of the wall there. There were some VR things my son jumped in on. He loved it. Even the gift shop was cool. The outside had some big planes we saw as we walked back to the car.

I didn’t know what to expect going to this museum. Coming out of it, I really enjoyed my time there. We spent close to three hours checking everything out. It was pretty cool to see and learn about this stuff. All this coming from a person who’s not that into planes. I recommend this spot for sure if you’re ever in Dayton. It’s free and incredible.

Ty

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

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Pepsi is Not OK

I’m coming in a little hot with my topic today.

Just a warning for everyone.

I’m currently on a road trip with my folks and my kids. My wife will be joining us in two days. We are heading to Buffalo for a family reunion. Me, my folks and my kids are taking our time. We had our first overnight stop in Dayton, Ohio. We are heading to Canton as I write this. My dad will hit about 500 miles driving after today. We have spent most of the trip in the state of Ohio. As you all well know I’m a Michigan guy. Ohio does have cool stuff, which I’ll touch on in the next few days, but Michigan is cooler. Hell, Saint Louis is cooler. But what I’ve really noticed, what’s really grabbed by attention, the state of Ohio is a Pepsi state.

I stopped drinking soda a few months ago, but prior to that I was a Coke guy. I grew up in a house where 2 liters of Diet Coke were prevalent. When I met my wife she was a Diet Coke person. She introduced me to chocolate Diet Coke’s, which are phenomenal. My brother’s still have Coke products. My extended family is a Coke family. I basically live my soda drinking life making fun of Pepsi. The old standby joke that everyone uses is, “is Pepsi okay?”, asking as if they’re apologizing. My answer was always to opt for water. Pepsi is too sweet. The diet versions are too chemical tasting. They removed their best soda, Sierra Mist, for Starry. Mountain Dew is basically a bottle of liquid sugar. Pepsi products, for me, just don’t add up. So it’s been odd to go places and only see Pepsi products the past couple days. The restaurants are Pepsi only. We went to a museum that had bottled drinks, all of which were Pepsi branded drinks. My kids have been confused as to why they have had Starry or Mug Root beer. They’ve mostly had water, but the few times they’ve had soda, it’s been those and they haven’t finished a single one. I don’t get why a place would only serve Pepsi. I’d gather that most people prefer Coke to Pepsi. I’d love to see a poll for the whole country asking that very question.

I guess Ohio figures Pepsi is just fine. I disagree.

Ty

Editor’s note: I currently live in Ohio and have been here for almost two decades. I am also a Coke person except in certain cases which I will address.

Coke is easy to find here in Southwest Ohio. One of the biggest employers in the Cincinnati region is Coca Cola. I pass the giant office every work day. The Reds stadium is Coke, I am unsure of Paycor Field and their soda selection.

As for everything Coke being better than Pepsi, I have a different opinion. Every other soda option is better in the Pepsi family. Mountain Dew is light years ahead of Mello Yellow. Mugs Root Beer crushes Barq’s, and I have not had Starry, but the only thing good about Sprite is that it mixes well with whiskey.

My counterpoint is that Central Ohio may swim in the terribleness of Pepsi, but us good folks here on the Ohio River know that Coke rules. That is Coke rules and all other Coca Cola products are not ok when Mount Dew, Mugs, and other Pepsi products are available.

RD

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

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Better Late Than Never on "Class Action Park"

I finally watched a documentary I’ve been putting off for a bit this weekend. The movie was “Class Action Park”. Let’s discuss.

This documentary tells the story of a water/speed park in New Jersey called Action Park. The whole deal with Action Park was that it was a thrill ride park where you made your own rules essentially. The water slides were dangerous, but to the kids it was fun. The speedway, with the go karts and such, were not very well regulated, but could not go fast. The workers were teenagers who kind of had free rein to do what they pleased and were never really told to enforce any park rules. And the owner of the park, well he was a real piece of work.

What I appreciated about the interviews for the movie is they focused mainly on the former workers. They had some notable people, Chris Gethard and Alison Becker, who had some great stories about their misadventures at the park. They were very insightful about the park and what it meant to them as teenagers getting to go to this wild theme park. But to hear the workers stories, that was the best way to do this movie. Hearing them talk about how dangerous everything was was insightful. Listening to them explain having to be “guina pigs” for some slides and rides was downright terrifying. To see them go back to that time in their lives and the look of horror they sometimes had in their eyes and faces, working there and doing that job really left a lasting impression in their lives.

The scariest part was the owner and “creator” of Action Park. He was a crook. He only cared about money. His workers may have liked him, but I cannot imagine they respected him at all. He also never paid out in a lawsuit. Kids were killed due to his negligence, and instead of showing remorse, he made excuses to their families and barely ever paid a dime. They did a very sad story about a 19 year old who died due to injuries from one of the rides and this owner came off as a real scum bag. I felt so very bad for the family and cheered with them when this awful man passed away.

I’m glad I finally watched this movie. I really enjoyed it. It was funny, a good flashback to the 80’s, reminded me of water parks I used to go to and it had some real journalism stuff bear the end. I definitely recommend watching “Class Action Park”. It’s solid.

Ty

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

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Running Backs Deserve to Get Paid

Last week the Giants failed to sign Saquon Barkley to a long term deal and the Raiders did the same with their running back, Josh Jacobs. Tony Pollard wasn't given a long term deal, Melvin Gordon just signed a one year contract, Rashaad Penny got a one year deal coming off a broken leg, Jamaal Williams is on another new team yet again and  players like Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook remained unsigned.

This is not a good look for this position, once one of the more important positions in all of football. I watch Michigan, obviously, and they have two very good running backs. But I fear for them when/if they make it to the NFL. When guys like Barkley and Jacobs can go unsigned, and you read an anonymous GM saying "I'd rather draft a rookie running back and let them walk after their rookie contract than give them big money", that spells trouble. The fact that the people who run these teams, who have final say on contracts, are just willing to let them walk, that is a scary proposition for this position.

I think running backs are crucial to football. They open up the passing game. They can help to chew clock. They get tough yardage when needed. Most can catch the ball out of the backfield. But the higher ups within NFL teams are willing to move on after five short years. That is wild. When Ezekial Elliot was drafted by the Cowboys he was the answer. Behind that o line, he was going to be great. And he was for a few years, got paid and was just cut this offseason. He is only in his late 20's. Dalvin Cook, who is oft injured, was critical to the Vikings winning that division last season. He would rip off big runs more often than any other NFL running back. He might be the most explosive running back in the NFL. The Vikings cut him this offseason and he is still looking for a team. Leonard Fournette was integral to the Buccaneers winning the 2020 Super Bowl. Now he cannot find a team to give him a meager deal. Jamaal Williams was close to a touchdown record for running backs last season and the Lions responded by drafting a running back in the top 15 and telling Williams thanks for everything and good luck.

It is nuts the way running backs are treated in the NFL. Every other position player's salary has gone up. From QB, to receiver to tight ends to o line, they are all getting paid more money than ever. Even d lineman are getting massive deals. But running backs are kind of kicked aside and pushed away for a younger player that can get beat up and the cycle continues. It is vicious. Aaron Jones was an all pro with the Packers. They drafted AJ Dillon to thank Jones for all his success. Damien Harris was the Patriots dude after Tom Brady left. I don't know if he is in the league anymore. Tony Pollard slid right into Elliot's place and the Cowboys didn't miss a beat. He can't get a deal. Saquon Barkley has been everything the Giants wanted when they drafted him fourth overall, and we all know what happened with him. Josh Jacobs is the best offensive player on the Raiders, but Josh McDaniels thinks he is some kind of passing guru and he has no qualms over letting Jacobs sit out and leave.

This is an unfair era for this crucial position. Running backs are being forgotten, and that stinks. I miss the days of Barry Sanders, LaDanian Tomlinson and Christian Okoye. That was when the NFL was best. The NFL is far, far away from that right now, and it bums me out. Pay these guys. They have earned it. 

Ty

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

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Gene Wilder is the One True Willy Wonka

My daughter read and watched the original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" to close out first grade last school year. Let’s discuss.

She was instantly in. She loves the story. She would tell me all about it everyday after school. I love the book and the original movie, so this info was not new to me but I loved hearing her talk about something I have a special place for in my heart. We have been watching "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" a bunch this summer. We watched it at home, we watched it on vacation and we are watching it right now as I type this. She cannot get enough. I have been loving the rewatches. I'm fully back in. We have also tried to watch "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", with Johnny Depp, but that one hasn't stayed with us as much. It is not as good, in my opinion, and my daughter said she thinks it is creepy. We all have watched the trailer for the new movie coming out starring Timothee Chamalete as Willy Wonka. It looks good, and I will see it, but there is something that makes it, again, for me, carry as much weight as "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". I think I finally know why, I think I cracked it.

Gene Wilder is the only actor that I can see playing Willy Wonka. He does it the best. He is closest to what I envisioned of the character when I first read the book. He has a perfect way of portraying this odd chocolate factory owner. He is childish, but still has adult tendencies. He is an excellent singer and dancer. He plays the pratfalls and fakeouts better than most carnival actors could dream. He never truly raises his voice, until it is absolutely needed. He plays this carefree adult with some dark knowledge of what his factory beholds. The quietness with which he plays Wonka at the start is almost menacing. You can see in his eyes that he may have ulterior motives with the kids who act bratty, spoiled, better than Charlie. He also puts Charlie to task. He questions him as much as the other children. You can tell he has it out for the grownups who have allowed their kids to act with such poor behavior. I talked to a buddy of mine about this role and he said that it feels like Wilder's version of Wonka is a kid who had a tough childhood. I fully agree and the tour of the factory is his way of getting back at kids who may have wronged him when he was young. That is dark, but that is the story of this first movie. As Wonka Wilder hits a homerun at every turn. He is not as creepy as Depp. He is just creepy enough. He is older than Chamalete, and when I pictured this character as a kid, he was an older adult. Wilder was one of the better actors to ever grace our screens, and when he took on this role, it feels like he took it very seriously, and that was the only way to go about this role. He had fun, but also understood the assignment. He may have better roles, "Young Frankenstein" and "Blazing Saddles" come to mind for me. But his performance as Willy Wonka is as good as it gets. This may be his defining role of all time. I can't envision anyone doing what he did as well as he did.

Gene Wilder is the only true Willy Wonka in my eyes. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches "Muscles and Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators"

Yesterday I finished the Netflix mini series , "Muscles and Mayhem". This five episode series is about the rise and fall of the excellent gameshow, "American Gladiators".

I loved this show as a kid. RD and I have mentioned the show many times on the podcast. I was hooked. I would watch every morning in the summer before heading out to hang with my friends. I craved this show. I loved the competition, the personalities and watching the wild and crazy games they created. "Muscles and Mayhem" goes very in depth about all of this, and so, so much more.

The series starts out introducing the viewer to the very early days of this show and just how out there this idea was. There were injuries, long set changes, crowds getting bored waiting, gladiators coming and going, all kinds of issues. But when they brought on the right people, the show thrived. The behind the scenes stories of the people behind the show, that was fascinating. There were some certified weirdos who made "American Gladiators" one of the top shows on TV in the early 90's. There were a bunch of smart people who knew what they were doing as well.

The show, as expected, spent most of its time talking to the former gladiators. This was very eye opening. This was something I'm glad 40 year old me watched. They talked sex, drugs, alcohol, steroids, HGH, sexuality, it was all there and all done very well I thought. I like hearing all the real stories from the real people behind it all. It is always good to get their side because they lived it. The way they went into steroid use was fascinating and very eye opening. I mean, we all knew they were using steroids, but to hear how they got them, how they hid it, how the network and sponsors dealt with it, that is the stuff I like when I watch docu series like these. I also liked to hear about the dating, or attempts to date, that each gladiator had with one another. I enjoyed seeing what they did when they tried to venture out from the world of "American Gladiators". It was great to see some of the original people fight for what they thought was rightfully theirs when it came to merchandising and the like. It was great to hear how the gladiators were raised, where they came from and how they ended up on that show. I liked seeing some of the gladiators I forgot about and remembering them for some of the wild stuff they did. I totally forgot about the live tour they went on. To see that come to fruition, and to see the behind the scenes stuff on the bus, that was some of the better content this whole series had. It was nice to meet some of the competitors and to hear their stories of how they ended up on the show and what it was like while there. I was also very pleased to see what they are all up to now, both competitors and gladiators.

This series felt like it was made for someone like me. I am very happy my dad told me about this and showed me some of the show when I was hanging out with him the other day. I cannot recommend this series enough, especially for people who watched this show when they were younger. It is an excellent watch. 

Ty

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

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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