Ty Watches "Black Mirror: Plaything"

Episode four this season of"Black Mirror", "Plaything", features one hell of a performance from a pretty famous actor. This whole episode takes us back to "Bandersnatch". I know some people had issues with that movie, but I did not. I liked it quite a bit. I watched it a bunch of times and took the story in a ton of different directions. "Bandersnatch" was a choose your own adventure movie in the style of "Black Mirror".

"Plaything" takes place after the events in "Bandersnatch", but it only brings back a few people from the movie. Will Poulter is back and so is the guy who runs the video game company with him. Will Poulter shines in his minimal screen time. He is a good actor, he knows this role very well and he is a delight to watch. He also plays an insane person who is capable of horrific things. But, in "Plaything" he is making a new game that brings a lot more to the table than most games. Peter Capaldi is the actor that gives a virtuoso performance here. When the episode starts we see him going into a convenience store and kind of robbing it, but it seems like he wants to get caught. The police descend upon him and put him in cuffs. They then run his license and find out he is guilty of way more than just robbery. This is when the episode takes us back to the time after "Bandersnatch" and the new video game Poulter's character is making. We learn a lot about a young Capaldi here. He is a loner that tests videogames and writes about them for a prominent tech magazine. He has one buddy who gives him drugs, but that is about all he is good for. He is summoned to meet Poulter and test and then write about his new game. He steals the game and that's when things start to go nuts. All the while we cut back and forth between the past and the current version of Capaldi. He is magnetic in his performance. You feel for him even though he is not such a great person. The police and the psychiatrist are both doing their best to break him, but he is so singularly focused on his goal that he never stops doing what he thinks he needs to do. And he is simply awesome. I don't know much about Capaldi as an actor. I understand he was the Doctor during one of the many "Doctor Who" runs. Other than that, I would see him pop up in shows and movies, and while he was memorable, this performance in "Plaything" is one of a kind. He commands the attention of the viewer. He shines brighter than anyone else. The other actors are doing their best, and they are doing really good work. But, they are just not at Capaldi's level. He plays this unwell person perfectly. The faces he makes throughout the episode transform from pitiful to arrogant. He never lets go of his mission at hand. He has a job and he is going to fulfill his duty. I was truly in awe of him here. It makes me want to search out more of his stuff and compare it against this performance.

"Plaything" was a solid episode in a very solid season to this point, but it was another wonderful performance from a seasoned actor. When you watch this episode, pay attention to Capaldi's work. It's a masterclass. 

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 "Black Mirror: Hotel Reverie"

Continuing my recap of each "Black Mirror" episode this season, I'm here to talk about one episode that I think will be talked about for years to come, "Hotel Reverie".

Issa Rae stars as a modern movie star, Brandy, who is sick of playing the roles she keeps getting offered. She is either a love interest or the lead of some run of the mill indie drama. She is speaking with her agent one day and an offer that he seems to think is nothing big takes Rae's attention. Her agent is going through all the roles being offered and he tells her about an old classic being remade for the modern audience, but in a new way too. The movie is called "Hotel Reverie". And it stars Emma Corrin, who is playing Dorothy. There is a whole preamble when the episode starts that shows clips from the movie intercut with news stories about Dorothy's personal life. Dorothy had a tough life. Dorothy wasn't able to live the life they desired. Dorothy had to hide a ton of things. I should also mention that "Hotel Reverie" is owned by a dying studio that is looking for any type of project to get them some money. That is where Redream comes into place. Awkafina plays one of the, I think, leaders of this new company. What Redream does is make old movies with one new star and films them in real time. It is like a play come to life of an old classic. Brandy is obsessed with this movie and that is why she jumps at this role. Brandy also wants to play the co lead, who was a man back when they first made this movie. Awkwafina is all for this, so they give her the role. She gets sent an envelope with the script and her lines and everything. We also happen to see a USB fall to the ground that Brandy doesn't notice. So, when Brandy arrives on set, she is ready to go, but she doesn't fully understand what Redream is doing. She relents and agrees and is sent into this world that Redream has built. It is all artificially created people and they all seem to think they're real. Brandy is stunned, obviously, at first, but then she gets into acting mode and goes for it. Then things start to go a little haywire. Everything has to be perfect, but like most "Black Mirror" episodes, things aren't always what they seem. As this episode unfolds it becomes about so much more. The episode shows love and how it comes and goes and can be devastating. We get an idea of what AI could become if it were ever to gain sentience and feeling. We see an upstart company dealing with some harrowing issues all along the way by not coming up with their own ideas. And I loved it all. Issa Rae gives a wonderful performance. I believed her every step of the way. I felt for her. I wanted her to be happy. But Emma Corrin really shines here. They give us a performance for the ages. Playing the original Dorothy and the AI version, they give us two separate but equally incredible performances. There are some scenes that Corrin takes to another level that really shined through.

I still sit in my home and think about things from this episode daily. I was so enamored with "Hotel Reverie". I love the whole idea of Hollywood not being unique enough anymore. I love seeing love stories, good and bad. And when actors go for it and nail it, that is the cherry on top. "Hotel Reverie" is an achievement that I truly loved watching. 

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 "Black Mirror: Bete Noire"

The second episode in this new block from "Black Mirror" is called "Bete Noire". I have read some stuff online about this particular episode that I don't necessarily agree with all that much. Some people have said it is not one of their best and a low point for this season. So far I have loved the four episodes I've seen. So, to see some people denigrating this one felt a bit off base.

I really like the whole idea of "Black Mirror" doing an episode that takes place inside a new aged candy shop. I kept thinking of Willy Wonka, until the episode got into the meat of it all. I was all in on this chocolatier making up new and exciting treats. Then everything starts to go a bit awry when she sees an old classmate of hers. She never really liked this girl all that much. Well, maybe that's not it, she never really thought about this girl much.

The main character, Maria, played by Siena Kelly, was a popular kid in school and had a lot of friends. This seems to lead to others being made fun of by the "cool" kids. The "outsider" here is Verity, played by Rosy McEwen. She seems a little off from the jump. She is very forthcoming, but also awkward when she runs into Maria at her job. Verity is part of a focus group trying a new chocolate, and after the trial, she speaks with Maria in the restroom, an awkward place for a conversation. It is here when Verity drops a bunch of stuff on her. She moved on from her high school days, found herself and was applying for a job at the chocolate company. Maria didn't even think they had an opening. Maria relays all this info to her boyfriend, who is very nonchalant about everything, which is how I probably would react in this scenario. But it doesn't stop there between Maria and Verity. Verity always seems to be right about everything. People are constantly taking her side in every single debate or argument. It gets bad enough that Maria is asked to take a leave because her boss and coworkers think she is openly attacking Verity, with no proof of the acts she is claiming have occured.

This episode resonated with me because it is a clear case of gaslighting. Verity knows what she is doing and she goes at it hard. It is wild to see the tables turn on Maria. She goes from one of the top chocolatiers in the UK to yelling at everyone at her job. We come to find out more about the highschool days between the two of them and what Verity is really up to now. The scene that the two actors have in Verity's bedroom is wild and tense. I was nervous and I could feel my heart racing as I watched it all unfold. There are other actors that help this ctory move along, but make no mistake, this is all about the battle between Verity and Maria. I found myself so, so angry at Verity by the end. And I was fully on Maria's side about halfway through the episode. But, like only "Black Mirror" can do, I was questioning everything I thought by the end of the episode. That is what this show does best, and "Bete Noire" is another fine example.

I thought this episode was wonderful, and when everything came into focus, my mind was blown. McEwen and Kelly both give powerhouse performances and I'm intrigued to check out some of their other work. I'm glad I watched this one and didn't pay much attention to the critics on the internet. "Bete Noire" worked for me and I'm still thinking about stuff from it to this day. That is the mark of a good 45 minutes of tv for me. 

Ty

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

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The Fiscal Logic of Progressive Policy

We’re long overdue for a reframing of what it means to be "fiscally conservative." Somewhere along the way, that phrase became synonymous with slashing social programs, protecting wealth hoarding, and treating investment in people as wasteful. But if we take a step back from the political branding and just look at cost-benefit outcomes, it turns out many of the most effective, efficient, and economically sound ideas live firmly on the so-called left.

Preventative Economics

The classic adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," isn’t just good advice. It’s a financial model. When governments invest in basic social goods like healthcare, education, housing, and nutrition, they aren’t giving out handouts. They’re reducing future liabilities.

Medicare for All, for instance, would eliminate redundant administrative costs and middlemen, streamline negotiations on drug prices, and ensure earlier intervention in chronic illnesses before they spiral into expensive emergency care. Studies project it would save hundreds of billions per year (The Lancet, 2020).

Universal Pre-K, child nutrition, and early childhood development programs consistently show a return on investment of 4x to 16x. These benefits come in the form of increased lifetime earnings, reduced dependence on public assistance, and lower rates of crime and incarceration (Heckman Equation).

The numbers are there. The problem isn’t feasibility. It’s ideology.

The Cost of Neglect

We spend more on incarceration and policing than any other wealthy nation, and yet we see higher crime and recidivism. That’s not just a social failure. It’s an economic one.

It costs over $30,000 a year to incarcerate someone (Prison Policy Initiative). In many states, it’s much more. That’s far more than it would cost to house someone, offer mental health support, or provide job training.

We know what reduces crime:

• Stable housing
  
  

• Accessible healthcare
  
  

• Mental health support
  
  

• Education
  
  

• Opportunity
  
  

But we fund punishment while leaving prevention starved. This isn’t conservative. It’s reactionary and inefficient.

The Illusion of Fiscal Responsibility

Slashing food assistance, denying Medicaid expansion, and cutting education budgets are often sold as tough, adult decisions. But those cuts don’t save money. They just shift the cost downstream, often magnifying it.

A person without insurance doesn’t stop needing care. They just get it in the ER at 10x the cost (KFF). A hungry child doesn’t learn well, and later earns less, pays less in taxes, and is more likely to need assistance as an adult.

What we call "fiscal responsibility" is usually just performative cost-cutting, more about scoring political points than solving actual problems.

Reclaiming the Term

If we define fiscal conservatism by outcomes, by who actually saves money while improving social stability, then progressive policies lead the pack. The countries that have invested in universal healthcare, affordable housing, childcare, and education not only have better social outcomes. They spend less per capita doing it (OECD).

American voters have been conditioned to see collectivism as inherently inefficient, even as corporate welfare, tax breaks, and military overreach drain trillions (ITEP). Meanwhile, lobbyists and media conglomerates shape the narrative to equate anything that helps ordinary people with dangerous ideology.

We need to get smarter.

Conclusion

It’s time to stop asking what’s liberal or conservative and start asking what actually works. And more often than not, the policies dismissed as "too idealistic" are the ones with the strongest economic case. If we want a future that’s stable, affordable, and sustainable, we need to get over the fear of helping people and start investing in what makes us stronger.

Kirk Aug

Kirk is a writer, beekeeper and a fellow traveller on spaceship Earth. Follow Kirk on instagram @kirkaug

Ty Watches "Black Mirror: Common People"

The 7th season or series or whatever it is called "Black Mirror" was released on April 10th. I've already seen four of the six episodes. My wife asked me the other night if I wanted to finish it off. I did, but I also wanted to wait.

"Black Mirror" is, quite possibly, the best show on tv. I get excited when a new whatever gets announced. I read all about the casting and everything. I just want to know what I'm going to get into, and how much I'm going to like it. What I want to do for this newest release is write about each episode after seeing it. I already said I have already watched four, so I'm going to focus on one episode for the next few days, and when my wife and I watch the final two episodes, I'll come back and tell you all how I feel about those. So, for my blog today I'm going to focus on the first episode of the new whatever, "Common People".

This episode is reminiscent of early "Black Mirror". It starts out all nice and quaint. We see a couple celebrating their anniversary and seem to be having a good time. Chris O'Dowd and Rashinda Jones play the couple. I love this pairing. They seem to have great chemistry and play really well off one another. As I said, the two of them are in what seems like a solid relationship. But, they can't have kids. Jones' character also seems to have issues with headaches. One day, she plays a school teacher, and she collapses in class. It turns out she has a pretty invasive brain tumor. It doesn't seem like she is ever going to wake up from the coma she is in. Then Tracie Ellis Ross shows up. This is when the show goes back to its roots. Ellis Ross plays a salesperson who tells O'Dowd that she is part of a team that can save his wife's life, if he decides he wants to try an invasive and new surgery. I'm not going to spoil anything from there on out, but I am going to try and talk about it the best I can without spoiling anything. The surgery is basically a subscription type of deal. While watching, my wife made mention that Jones' brain was basically a cell phone now. The rules, the money, the issues that come with all of this, and how they tell the story, is what makes "Black Mirror" so excellent. At first I was totally on board with the surgery. I told my wife I'd do it, and if she was in a situation where this was possible for me, I'd want her to do it. But, as the episode kept unfolding, my desire for this kept waning. It got bad. All of the things that make having a cell phone annoying, Jones' character was living that reality. It was bleak. It made me sad. And with this company becoming more and more of a thing, it was called Redream in the show, it kept getting more and more expensive. And Ellis Ross was exceptional as the spokesperson of the company. She never raised her voice, she never got mad, she always kept her cool. It also turns out that she is a little more involved than what is led on at the beginning. But what makes this episode really work was O'Dowd and Jones' performances, along with Ellis Ross. As things get tougher, their lives get harder. O'Dowd resorts to doing things he may not want to do. Jones has to sleep pretty much all the time. And Eliis Ross keeps hitting them with more and more bills and new prices.

This episode was an excellent way to start this new series or season. It was a throwback and set the whole thing in motion. It made me want to see more, but my wife said she needed a break, which I also understood. An episode like "Common People" is what makes "Black Mirror" so great. The writers know the material and that shines through here. 

Ty

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

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Ty's NBA Playoff Preview

The NBA playoffs are right around the corner. The play-in starts this evening in fact. Today I'm going to give my playoff preview and picks. I'll also hand out my MVP for the Finals. This is my favorite time of the NBA season. The games are intense, the players are going full bore and the coaches, the ones who want to win, are giving it their all. With all that, I'm going to get into the preview.

I'll start with the "minor" league Eastern Conference preview. The play-in games here are going to add up to a whole lot of nothing in the long run, but the games should be fun.

The 7-8 game has the Magic facing the Hawks. I was so high on the Magic in the preseason, but they got bit by the injury bug big time. The Hawks made some moves, took the French kid first overall and still finished this season like they've finished most lately, underwhelming. Trae Young is very good on offense, but a zero on defense. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are both very good, but they cannot make an outside shot. The Magic are a phenomenal defensive team and the Hawks are a solid offensive team. Give me the Magic. They should have most of their team intact. They get the 7 seed. The 9-10 game is a total clash of styles. The Bulls play fast and loose, the Heat play slow and in control. I really have almost no interest in this game. The Heat aren't the same team anymore, and the Bulls are a shell of who they once were. I'm going with the Bulls here because they have been on a bit of a tear lately. So, the Hawks and the Bulls will play for the 8 seed. Give me the Bulls here in a minor upset. This will be a high scoring game, with little to no defense. And the youth of the Bulls will prevail. They grab the 8 seed.

The East first round matchups are, Cavs and Bulls, Celtics and Magic, Knicks and Pistons and Pacers and Bucks. No need to go in depth with the 1-8 and 2-7 matchups. The Cavs are going to boatrace the Bulls. I'd be stunned if the Bulls are even within a double figure deficit in any game. The Cavs will sweep. The Celtics have barely been talked about it seems this year. They're defending champs, they have effortlessly slid into the 2 seed and they have everyone back. I know Jaylen Brown may be more hurt than he is letting on, but this team is still loaded. The Magic won't be able to keep up. The Celtics will also sweep. The 3-6 matchup is going to be fun. It's old school ball with the Knicks playing the Pistons. The Pistons are back and that rules. I love it when they're relevant. The Knicks haven't been as solid as they were last season, but they are still the 3 seed and the favorites here. They have guys that have been here before and they know what it takes to win. They also have the three or four best players in the series. The Pistons are not going to back down, but every young team needs to have the feeling they're about to get in this series. I do think the Pistons will win a game or two and make it tough on the Knicks, but in the end the Knicks will win. Give me them in six games. The Bucks and Pacers are the best series of the first round in the East. The Bucks have the far and away best player in the series. Giannis has been on an absolute tear and he doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. It's the rest of the Bucks roster and Doc Rivers that scare me. Dame is hurt, Kuzma hasn't been the guy they hoped he would be, Taurean Prince is kind of blah. The Bucks are kind of in a  little turmoil. The Pacers play fast and easy and score in bunches. They're also a deeper team. Tyrese Haliburton has come back to his normal playing style. Pascal Siakim and Myles Turner are putting in work. And their bench is deep. I'd love for the Bucks to win, but Giannis needs help and it doesn't seem to be coming. I'll take the Pacers in seven games.

That means I have the Cavs facing the Pacers and the Celtics facing the Knicks. Again, no need to beat around the bush. The Cavs are better than the Pacers and they play defense. Donovan Mitchell is just waiting to go off too. And Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are just awesome on defense. The Cavs won't sweep, but they will win this series in five games. The Celtics should easily dispatch of the Knicks. The Celtics are deeper, they play better defense, they shoot better from three, they have a better coaching staff. And Tatum will be the best player in this series far and away. Give me the Celtics in six games.

So that leaves us with the Cavs and Celtics in the East Finals. We get the 1 and 2 seeds here. And this is where the party ends for the Cavs. They are going to fight and claw in this series. They will give the Celtics all they can handle. But in the end the Celtics are just a better, more experienced playoff team. I know it's hard to repeat, but this version of the Celtics is damn, damn good. The Celtics are the East representatives in the Finals.

Onto the big boys, the Western Conference playoffs.

The play-games for the West start tonight. The 7-8 features the Grizzlies and Warriors. I mean, I want the Grizz to win it, but they seem checked out. They haven't been very good lately, they have coaching turnover and they haven't been able to put it together recently. I don't have much faith in them. The Warriors are more primed and playing better. They might roll the Grizz tonight. The 9-10 game features remnants of the Kings and Mavs. I don't even know who will be available to play in this game tonight. The Mavs have a ton of injuries and the Kings are dealing with their own wreckage. I'll go with the Kings because I think the Mavs have truly given up on this season. As for who gets the 8 seed, give me the Grizz over the Kings. I know the Grizzlies have been struggling, but they are better than the Kings and should be able to easily grab the 8 seed.

That means the West first round matchups will be the Thunder and Grizzlies, Rockets and Warriors, Lakers and Timberwolves and Nuggets and Clippers. The Thunder will put the Grizzlies out of their misery. They won't make it painful, they will just end it. The Thunder have been the best team in the league all year and the Grizzlies will see that up close and personal. Thunder in a sweep. I'm excited about this Warriors-Rockets matchup. The Rockets are the new kids on the block, but they don't mind bullying people. They have youth, veterans and a stifling, long defense. The Warriors are still good, but they're so old, and getting beat by the Clippers to end the season was a bummer for them. This series should be closer than most expect, but the Rockets have the better, younger team. Steph Curry can only do so much, and he needs way more help than what this current roster construction has to offer. Give me the Rockets in seven. I don't know what to make of the Lakers-Timberwolves series. The Lakers have the two best players. They have a good roster. They seem to know what they're doing. The Timberwolves eked out this 6 seed, but they have kind of been on fire lately. They are younger and deeper. They have a better defense. And Anthony Edwards is not afraid of the spotlight. He thrives in it. The Lakers are going to get way more calls, and Rudy Gobert really struggles against Luka Doncic and LeBron James. I'm going to go with the Lakers in seven, but I'll be rooting hard for the Timberwolves the whole time. The 4-5 between the Nuggets and Clippers may be the best series of the entire playoffs. I love this matchup. The Nuggets have Jokic and Murray is back from injury. Michael Porter Jr is a 6'10 guy that can shoot. And Christian Braun is a legit defender. The Clippers have been playing great and, knock on wood, everyone has been healthy and playing at a high level. Kawhi Leonard looks like himself. James Harden has reverted back to his old ways of constantly getting to the line and getting a ton of assists. Norm Powell has become a legit number three on this team. Ivica Zubac has had a wonderful year. And Tyron Lue is coaching his ass off. The Clippers may be the third or second best team in the West. And that is why I'm picking them to win this brutal series in seven games.

So, that leaves me with the Thunder facing the Clippers and the Rockets playing the Lakers. The Clippers will probably be dog tired for this series and by this time, Shai Gilgeous Alexander may have accepted his much deserved MVP award. The Thunder are deep, nasty and can play offense with the best of them. The Clippers won't go down without a fight, but in the end the Thunder's youth and athleticism will be enough to take this series in six games. As for the Rockets and Lakers, I'd absolutely love to see the Rockets win. They're young and fun. They play both ends of the court at a high volume. They have a better head coach. This team seems primed to make a leap. But, the Lakers will get the calls they need. They will get every single advantage they ask for. And Dillon Brooks will do something stupid and blow it for them. I'm begrudgingly picking the Lakers to win in seven games, but I wouldn't be shocked if this series is fraught with awful calls and poor reffing that favors the Lakers throughout. And their prize will be facing the Thunder in the West Finals. The Thunder are going to exorcise some past issues here. I'd love to see them sweep the Lakers. While I don't think that will happen, I do think the Lakers will steal a game due to officials. But give me the Thunder in five games. They're having an excellent year and that will bear out in a Finals appearance.

That means I have the Thunder and Celtics in the Finals. Give me the Celtics to repeat. It hasn't been done in awhile and it seems like this is the right time for it to happen. While the Thunder are very good and match up well with the Celtics, the Celtics are better overall. They play better defense, shoot the three better and know what it takes to win on this stage. The Thunder's time is coming, just not this year. The Celtics will be your 2025 NBA champs. And give me Jayson Tatum to take home Finals MVP. He made a case last season, but he will leave no doubt this year. 

Ty

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

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"The Zach Lowe Show" is a Return to Form, Good and Bad

I have sung Zach Lowe's praises on this site before. I truly believe he is one of the best basketball writers working right now. He goes very in depth with his content. It's clear he does a ton of research and knows this game inside and out. I thought ESPN made a humongous mistake when they laid him off. One thing that went away was probably their best podcast, "The Lowe Post". I looked forward to multiple episodes a week. But after ESPN was done with him, he went silent. I assume this was by design. He probably wanted to get out of the light for a bit and spend time with his family. That makes total sense to me.

Maybe a month or two ago, he started to post stuff on Instagram and YouTube. I devoured this content. I wanted more and more. Then, as many of us figured, he was hired by The Ringer. This was always going to be the resolution in my mind. He and Bill Simmons, who is a dipshit, have been long time friends and they worked at Grantland and ESPN together. This was the next logical step for Lowe. Simmons has an empire and he can hire, and degrade, whomever he chooses. But let me say, I was stoked when he released a preview of his "new" podcast.

His new show is called "The Zach Lowe Show", I wish he kept the old name, and I put new in quotes because it is the same exact show with a new name. Lowe has already released three episodes, all this week, and I've listened to each one. As I said, it is the same damn thing. He gets big time writers and reporters in there, they go deep on basketball knowledge and they make bold statements left and right. The only difference, the swearing is no longer bleeped out. That is the only change. And boy oh boy did I miss his show. I was right back in the moment he exclaimed, "WELCOME TO...", and then said the title of the show. It was like he never left. He made very minimal statements about his time away, but besides that, it is business as usual. He's had Marc Stein, Kirk Goldsberry and other writer friends of his on so far. He has talked to beat writers in Denver to get news on all the craziness that's going on there right now. He has talked awards with his buddies. It's been great.

The one thing I had forgotten, and what used to drive me up the wall about his show, he will only sing praises when he speaks about Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. He has had three shows, and I swear to you all that he has said, "Nikola Jokic is the greatest basketball player on Earth" about 100 times already. He is so totally in the bag for Jokic. I wrote a piece awhile back that his love for Jokic was bordering on pornographic. And that has not changed one bit to this point. And then he had an episode yesterday that the first half was all about Luka Doncic playing his first game in Dallas since the trade. He and Stein made reference time and again to how "hurt" Doncic was. They kept talking about his emotions. They called his performance, in a non essential regular season game, "masterful". They made it out like he was some down on his luck random person in the universe. Luka Doncic gets to play a game for a living and make millions upon millions of dollars. He isn't some woebegone dude looking for a welding job. He is doing just fine in his life. And after all of that nonsense, they proceeded to just heap praise upon praise on him, meanwhile they dumped all over the Mavs GM. I get it, he made a poor trade, but let it go. And Lowe had the audacity to try and walk back all his comments on Harrison right after the trade by talking about his family. The reason he and his family are getting so attacked by the media is because of people like Zach Lowe. I get it, that is his job. But Lowe shouldn't be out here trying to play both ends of the fence. That isn't his job.

So, while I have missed the show and will continue to listen to it all the damn time, I do have to know that this love fest for these two white Eastern Europeans will never stop coming from Lowe as long as they play and he has a podcast. You have to take the bad with the good, and that's fine. 

Ty

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

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An Ode to Wraps

I have come to a place in my life where certain foods that I used to love can ruin my day now. This is all part of getting older is what everyone tells me. One such food that I cannot eat that much anymore is bread. I'm not gluten intolerant or anything like that. I feel bad for those that have celiac. That would be tough, but I know some people that do, and they have figured it out.

My issue with bread is that it makes me feel bloated. My stomach feels bad for hours after having a sandwich or eating a burger. I used to house bread as a kid. I would eat slices with cinnamon and sugar on it. I wouldn't even toast it at times. I would eat it straight. I also used to enjoy a nice bun with my burger, but that ship has kind of sailed. The bun feels superfluous, and I just want the meat, cheese and condiments to be honest. I think this is why Atkins worked so well for me. I don't miss bread as much anymore. Sandwiches are a different story though. I enjoy a good sandwich. I always have. I like the mix of bread, cheese, meat and condiments, just like a burger, but the bread is needed this time.

With this new issue, I had to find an alternative. I could always eat a burger lettuce wrapped, but that doesn't work with a sandwich for me. I have found in recent years though I really enjoy a wrap. I like how everything melds together and you get a little taste of all of the elements when eating a wrap. I have also always enjoyed burritos, so having a wrap was kind of an easy transition. Tortillas have never messed with my stomach also, which is nice for me when it comes to eating sandwiches. Just today I made a wrap and loved it. I had two low carb whole wheat tortillas left and I rolled with it. I got the tortillas, added some prosciutto, havarti, chimichurri, balsamic pickled onions and yellow mustard. I housed that wrap. It was so tasty. I had just finished a run so I was hungry too. After eating the wrap today I sat back and thought about the same items on a regular sandwich with some sourdough bread, which is my favorite bread for sandwiches. After a few minutes, I realized that I prefer the wrap version to the sourdough version. Again, the wrap gives you a taste of everything. Every bite was the same, which I prefer when it comes to eating meals with a bunch of different components. Also, I've always been a wheat guy, so the low carb wheat tortillas are very tasty. I like the additional flavor wheat adds, and with them being low carb, I don't feel bad about eating two of them.

I know that wraps can be a problem for some. My wife has always given me a hard time about my love for wraps. She says if I want a sandwich I should just eat a sandwich. But, if I can get all the joy of a sandwich in burrito form, I will pick that ten out of ten times. Wraps are great and I will stay on that hill as long as I live. Wraps for life. 

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 a the Denver Nuggets Firing the Coach and GM

I don't know what's in the water in the NBA. Something strange is going on and it feels like this is just the beginning of many more coaching moves to come. But, for the Denver Nuggets to let go of Mike Malone and GM Calvin Booth, that is downright wild.

I didn't see this coming at all. I was shocked by the Grizzlies letting Taylor Jenkins go, but for the Nuggets to do this now, it makes absolutely zero sense to me. The Nuggets won the title two years ago. They made the West Semifinals last year. They're currently in playoff contention right now. Sure, they may have to survive the play-in, but they have had to deal with a million injuries. And they have Nikola Jokic, who I am not a fan of, but the dude can play offense. He is a superior scorer. He is an excellent passer. The offense runs through him. They also have Jamal Murray. Yes, he is often injured as of late, but when he is on the floor he is the Robin the team needs. And they also have complimentary guys. Christian Braun is a solid defender. Michael Porter Jr is a good shooter. They may have something with Peyton Watson and some other young players they've drafted. The Nuggets are not a team in disarray. They definitely do not need a coaching change. What they need is to not bring on players like Deandre Jordan and Russell Westbrook. I adore Westbrook, but I was against this move from the moment it happened. And Jordan has no bounce and is not the defender he once was in the league.

Pinning this all on Malone and Booth seems odd to me. I guess that, according to some sports reporters, there was building tension in the locker room. I guess some players disagreed with his gameplans as of late. But come on man, this dude helped guide the team to a title two short years ago. That is a big, big deal. That is the only title in Nuggets history. Sure, Booth and company didn't retain certain players that were vital to the title team. Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were key guys in that run. But in all reality, they weren't going to be able to keep those guys when they had to pay Jokic, Porter Jr and Murray. Cuts have to be made in some spots, and with the solid drafting they've done in the late first round, letting those guys go was not that big a deal. And they have not been the same since leaving Denver.

I guess what surprises me most about all of this, Michael Malone is a very, very good basketball coach. He may be tough, but good players respond well to that for the most part. I don't think any other coach will get what Malone got from Jokic and Murray. They will just walk all over the next guy. I can tell I'm getting older because I'm defending Malone's way of coaching. I like tough love. I like when he openly calls out players because I know he does it in private too. I would love it if the Grizzlies kicked the tires on Malone as their next head coach.

I truly don't know where the Nuggets go from here. I heard they have some assistants they're high on, but five games and a, most likely, short playoff run is not enough to judge their coaching prowess. And I don't know what big name coach they'd try to get to come and coach this team, especially seeing how quickly they can be let go. I don't know if any coach is safe right now, outside of Joe Mazzula. It seems like guys are being let go left and right, no matter the amount of success they've achieved. This is weird all the way around. The timing, the name and the addition of the GM being let go too is just a lot to think about at the moment. I feel like the Nuggets are going to take a big, big step back in the next couple years. And Michael Malone is going to find another job very soon. 

Ty

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

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Ty Watches the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Final

The men's title game came and went last night. I missed the first half, I was out to dinner with my family. But I did make it home for the second half and my son and I dipped in and out.

When we turned it on Houston was in the lead. They actually built that lead up to ten points early in the second half. It looked like they could have run away with it. But that didn't happen. Houston went stone cold and got kind of stagnant. And Florida did what they have done all tourney long and clawed and scratched their way back to take a late lead. They eventually had a two point lead near the end of the game, but it was Houston's ball. It was shaping up to be an epic finish, but I should have thought differently after watching Houston slowly blow their lead. Houston didn't even get a shot off. They had over ten seconds to tie or take the lead, but they never put the ball anywhere close to the hoop. That's brutal, especially in a title game. And while I felt a little bad for Kelvin Sampson, he should have had his team ready to shoot the ball. They had to have the best possible play call at the time. But they didn't and it cost them.

Taking a big step back and looking at the game as a whole, it was indicative of what I have an issue with basketball at the current moment. This was a sloppy, sloppy game. Sure, I have to assume the players were tired, but this is the title game between two number 1 seeds. This should have been a far, far better game. Houston and Florida were both atop the rankings pretty much all season. They both have college basketball stars on their teams. Florida has a young savant as a head coach and Kelvin Sampson is one of the best to ever do it. But all of that did not matter on the court. Both teams shot poorly from the field. Florida shot 39 percent from the floor, Houston was even worse, at 34 percent. The three point shooting was even worse. Florida made 6 of 24 threes. That is good enough for 25 percent. Houston, they went 6 of 25, good enough for 24 percent. The two teams combined to shoot 12 of 49 from three, which comes out to 24 percent. The free throw shooting was askew as well. Florida made 17 of 21, which is solid. Houston went 9 of 14. That's not great, but still okay. But, Florida had more makes than Houston had attempts. When that happens I get annoyed. It showed a clear favoritism. And it wasn't like Houston was fouling to extend the game. I feel like officials are getting way too involved, and when they decide to favor one team, that takes a ton away from the game for me. The shooting was rough, the free throw shooting was messy and the lack of explosive plays, minus one early dunk, made for a very boring and dull game.

After the tourney was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, I craved it. When it came back in 2021, I remembered how much I missed it. And watching UConn run the sport for the past two years was kind of cool. But, the game last night was a reminder of what I dislike about current basketball. It took me back to when Duke was winning titles. I wasn't moved or impressed with hardly anything. I know that I have my personal issues with the game, but the poor shooting and insertion of the refs made this tough for most to watch I have to imagine. Oh well. I guess I have to hope that the NBA playoffs are better. Fingers crossed. 

Ty

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

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An Ode to a New Couch and Dishwasher

As we get older in life, things change. That goes without saying.

When I was little, small things made me happy. I would drink from a hose with glee. I loved riding my bike to friends' houses and playing sports all summer long. I enjoyed practices and games and just playing a ton. As I got a little older it was stuff like driving and tooling around town. I liked hanging at my house with my buddies. Going on dates and meeting new people was fun. I loved going to live shows and seeing musicians I liked playing songs I loved. I enjoyed bowling and playing rec basketball.

Then I met my wife and the fun stuff kept going. I was stoked to move in with her. I was terrified and then thrilled when I proposed and she said yes. Going on date nights to dinner and a movie was a delight. Having pets and disposable income was the best. Getting married ruled.

Then we had a kid and then a second one. That came with new and exciting things to do. Seeing your kid take their first steps and learn new things was awesome. I eventually got to do my dream job, being a stay at home dad. So, I expected this to continue. And in some ways it has. I love running. I still get to go to movies. I've become a coffee connoisseur. I love live comedy now. But, the biggest sign to me that I am going into a new phase of what I consider "fun", I have been loving buying appliances and furniture.

We got a new couch recently. My wife and I went couch shopping with the kids and it was a total blast. The kids and I were having the time of our lives sitting on so many different pieces of furniture. And when the workers came to set it up, I was giddy. I'm currently writing on said couch right now, and I was fortunate enough to take my first nap on it yesterday. It ruled and I'm still in post couch purchase glow.

Yesterday my wife and I purchased a new dishwasher. It is going to be installed tomorrow. I CANNOT wait. I'm serious. The idea of a brand new dishwasher is so exciting. I've had issues with our current dishwasher since we moved into this house. It's small, it is not very durable, the dishes don't always come out clean and the grips on the side slip off all the damn time. So, when my wife said it was time to get a new one, that was all I needed to hear. I shopped online for about two weeks before deciding to buy the one we bought. I did research. I read reviews and took measurements. I would pit certain brands against one another. And after making the purchase last night my wife looked at me and asked if I was excited. I couldn't contain my excitement. Of course I was excited. This is a big deal for me since I do the dishes pretty much everyday. And I fully understand how lucky I am that my family can do things like this. That is not lost on me. Believe me. But, this new phase of being happy about furniture and appliances and kitchen tools and the like, this is odd, but I'm here for it. I like this phase.

I hope this phase lasts for a good long time. I think this makes me so happy because it benefits everyone in my family, not just me. Whatever it may be, I love it and if this is a sign of aging, so be it. It's worth it. 

Ty

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

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Is Carmelo Anthony a Hall of Fame Player? (Yes He Is)

I was out for coffee with my dad the other day and we were chatting about everything as we normally do. The subject almost always switches to sports at some point, and we got on the topic of Carmelo Anthony during our conversation.

We were talking about the NBA and the upcoming playoffs, and I then mentioned that Anthony was going to be on the Hall of Fame ballot that is coming out soon. I, without hesitation, told my dad I thought it was a foregone conclusion that he was a first ballot Hall of Fame basketball player.

My dad didn't agree.

I asked him why and he mentioned a few things. He said he was never that great a defender, this is very true. He also said he never won a title, also true. He made mention that the Nuggets and Knicks never made it out of the second round of the playoffs when he was the number one option on offense, again true. And when he traveled from team to team to team late in his career, the unwillingness to take on a smaller role diminished his greatness in his eyes. Again, that is true as well.

I tend to agree with the points my dad made, but I do not agree with him that Carmelo Anthony is not a first ballot Hall of Fame player. Carmelo Anthony shot on the scene for me back when he was one of the first one and done college players. He went to Syracuse for a year, played under Jim Boeheim, learned a ton and willed that team to a title. That Kansas team they played was better on paper, but Anthony was the driving force behind that title and he was well received afterward. He ended up being the third pick, in the LeBron James draft, and made a real case for Rookie of the Year that season. I wasn't sure how well he would make the transition from college to the pros, but it was flawless. He entered the league and was instantly putting up big numbers. He surprised me, in a good way, and I became an even bigger fan of his after that first NBA season. He didn't slow down after that. He was a 10x all star. He made six all NBA teams. He was the 2013 scoring champ. And he was a part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team. He has three gold medals and one bronze. His ability to play a different style in the Olympics benefited him and his country. He was instant offense off the bench for Team USA later in his career. He ended his career with an average of 22 points per game. He made the Knicks relevant again in the mid 2010's. The Nuggets got better right away after they drafted him. He got to play with Allen Iverson, and it kind of worked. It was cool for me to see him on OKC's team late in his career, there to help Russell Westbrook. He kind of remade himself when he went to play for the Trailblazers. Carmelo Anthony had an art to his offensive gameplan. He was a three level scorer. He could hit the three, make a mid range and attack the basket at will when he wanted to. He made headbands cool. He put up numbers. He remained relevant the majority of his career. Sure, he doesn't have an MVP or a title ring, but there's going to be a ton of guys like that very soon that will be Hall of Fame caliber players.

I look at a player like Carmelo Anthony the same way I look at current players like Damian Lillard or Paul George. No one will question their appearance on a Hall of Fame ballot, so I will not do that with Carmelo either. He is a generational offensive talent, and that is what the NBA has become. Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James were the two that kind of started this version of basketball that we are all watching now. So, if anyone asks me, I definitely think Carmelo Anthony is a first ballot Hall of Fame player, and I am kind of shocked that others don't. To each their own I guess. 

Ty

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

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What's Next for a Troubled Grizzlies Team?

I think I'm ready to talk about the Grizzlies relieving Taylor Jenkins of his job.

This has been tough for me as a fan of the Grizzlies. I like Taylor Jenkins. He kept this team relevant the past couple years. Last year, when seemingly everyone was hurt, he did the best he could with the roster he was given. I fully understand that they never made it out of the second round during his time there, but this is Memphis we are talking about. I love this team, but they cannot lure big time free agents, and when they luck out in the draft, those guys usually do their best work after leaving Memphis. This season they are currently back in the playoff hunt, and if they can turn the tide from their recent play, they can make the playoffs relatively easily without playing in the play-in tournament. But I guess this wasn't enough for the powers that be to keep Jenkins on their payroll.

When the news flashed on my phone I thought it was a mistake. I couldn't believe that they actually let him go. With more stories coming out since the news was released it seems like this had a lot to do with the current players and their dislike for the system Jenkins has been running this year. Now, the one name that has continually come up has been Ja Morant's. I've heard all kinds of things about him this season. He may be traded, he's going to test free agency, he was the main player voicing concern over Jenkins new system and then he flashed a arm and finger gun at the Warriors bench during their last game.

This is everything I've wanted to avoid with my rooting interest in this team. Morant served his suspension for flashing guns, and I was hoping that was going to be it for him. I figured he was going to put that in the past. It seems to be rearing its ugly head yet again. Then we have Desmond Bane shoving Santi Aldama during a huddle in a timeout. Players are openly beefing with one another during a game on national tv. Brandon Clarke is hurt again and out for the rest of this season. Jaren Jackson Jr can't stop fouling players. They couldn't trade Luke Kennard. It just seems to be one problem after the next with this team. And they can't back up all the trash they were talking a few years ago about embracing the bad guy image and being the new up and coming team. They are kind of crumbling currently, and the notion to let go of their head coach makes even less sense. Jenkins could have righted the ship. He could have stopped the bleeding. He has continuity with these guys. But they ripped the bandaid and now they have to find someone else to coach a team that is kind of a mess right now. I hoped that letting Dillon Brooks go was going to be best for the team, but it has only made the Rockets better. The Grizzlies are floundering and a coaching change was the absolute last thing they needed right now.

I truly do not know what is next for this team but I'm worried about them. I like this team so much but they can't seem to get anything right at the moment. And this coaching decision is only going to make it even harder come playoff time for the Grizzlies. This has really bummed me out. I'm curious to see how it all unfolds from here. 

Ty

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

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Ty Predicts the 2025 Men's Final Four

The men's final four has all four number 1 seeds. This seems like it will be the norm for some years to come. The top teams have the most money, they can spend it in NIL and the transfer portal and any good player is going to want to play for one of these storied programs. We should all get used to it. With that being said, I'm going to make some more picks. The final four is this weekend and the title game is next Monday. The college basketball season will be over before we know it.

On one side of the bracket we have an all SEC matchup featuring Auburn and Florida. This game, for me, comes down to the health of Johni Broome. Broome is going to be a top finisher for player of the year. He kind of controls Auburn's offense and defense. He is the veteran leader that every team craves. But, he got hurt in their elite eight game. He left for a few minutes, and when he came back he didn't look the same. If he is in any way not close to 100 percent, Auburn has little to no chance. Florida can score and score in bunches. They're one of the best offenses in the country. They can score from every level. They are balanced and lethal. If Broome was all good I think I'd go with Auburn. But, due to the uncertainty with his injury and Florida's ability to score in bunches, give me Florida to advance to the title game.

On the other side of the bracket, props to my dad for this, the real championship game is being played between Duke and Houston. These two teams have been the best all year long. They have been consistently ranked inside the top 5, they were easy number 1 seed picks and they have cruised, minus Houston's last game, to the final four. Duke is legit. As much as it pains me to write it, they are the best team in the country and they should be the favorite to win it all. They have depth, veterans, young dudes that are legit and they play both ends of the floor. Duke has three starters, all freshmen, that will be picked in the top 10 of the draft. That type of talent is hard to come by and Duke is crushing it with those dudes right now. The presumptive number one pick Cooper Flagg struggled in their last game. That didn't matter, Duke beat Alabama by 20. The other guys stepped up when they needed to. Duke is good. But don't sleep on Houston. They're in the final four for a reason. They earned a number 1 seed. They have experienced dudes that know how to win. And they know how to play ferocious, frustrating defense. Houston is the men's college basketball version of the Bad Boys Pistons, except they aren't dirty about it. Houston can also score. Their offense isn't great, but the defense is. The defense is what got them here and could catapult them to the title game, if they were playing a different team. This Duke team is too good to be beaten. It annoys the hell out of me how good they are at basketball. I've never, ever liked Duke, and it hurts to say good things about them, but here we are. These dudes can hoop. Duke will beat Houston in what will be the best game of the tourney.

My title game is Florida and Duke. I mean, why dance around it, Duke is going to win the title and probably win it going away. If Florida tries to outscore them, Duke can match it and go beyond. If Florida wants to turn it into a defensive game, go for it. Duke will find a plethora of guys that can score enough to win. I'm going to be angry and annoyed because it seems inevitable that Duke is the men's champ, and Cooper Flagg will almost certainly get Most Outstanding Player. I hope I'm wrong, but fear I'm not. I'll be rooting for every other team in the final four, but I don't think it matters in the long run. 

Ty

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

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Better Never than Late on "Kraven the Hunter"

I tend to enjoy movies that focus on antiheroes. I like these for some reason. Maybe it is the origin of how they came to be antiheroes or villains. Maybe it is the fact that these movies are a little more adult. Maybe I just enjoy a downer of a story. Anyway, with the influx of so many superhero movies, I tend to veer towards the antihero stuff.

With this being said, I recently watched "Kraven the Hunter". I read all the bad reviews. I saw what people were saying. I saw how it came and went from the theaters in a matter of days. None of that stopped me. I decided I still wanted to see the movie. I also enjoy Aaron Taylor Johnson. He seems to be a solid actor and usually picks good roles. I thought of all of this and made the incorrect decision to watch this horrible movie.

That's the honest truth. The critics, my friends and the movie theaters were all right. This movie was very, very, very bad. I wish I had listened to everyone else on this one. From the start I should have known. This movie was so boring. The whole idea of going back to when they were kids did not work for me. It was cliche after cliche. I get it, your dad is a bad guy. He's a drug dealer. He did shady stuff to your mom. He is a villain. But they just kept hammering it home. That was the first hour of the movie. I actually found myself dozing off. That shouldn't be the case for an antihero/action movie. I should never "rest my eyes" during a movie like this. They also take their best actor, Taylor Johnson, off screen the whole time. This movie is slightly over two hours long, and the main character is not even in the first hour. We don't see "Kraven", we get Sergei, who is boring as hell. And when we do get Kraven, it isn't much more fun. Sure, there's a few okay enough fight scenes, but they didn't last that long. They had this great setup with Kraven's brother being kidnapped, but it looked like the same scene being used over and over again. Taylor Johnson couldn't keep an accent that he wanted to use throughout the movie. At times he was a New Yorker. At others, he was English. And I think I even heard a bit of an Australian voice in there. His brother's voice was American when he was an adult, but Russian when he was a kid. Russell Crowe kept the Russian accent throughout, but Russell Crowe is a reliable actor. The lady that played Calypso had an American accent the whole time, but she acted like she didn't want to be in this movie at all. You could tell she knew this was a pile of trash.

I think the thing that made me dislike this movie so much was the poor execution of what could have been a very cool story. This felt thrown together. It had a major pandemic feel to it. I should have suspected it was going to be bad due to the constant pushback of the release day. There were so many signs to this movie being bad but I ignored them all. I decided I had to watch and that was a bad choice on my end.

Don't watch this movie. It is bad. It's not fun bad either, it is just bad bad. Don't make the same mistake I did. Skip "Kraven the Hunter". You'll thank me later. 

Ty

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

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Better Late than Never on "Tenet"

After many years of wanting to see "Tenet", the time finally arrived this past Saturday. I've been taking my son to his uncle's house to watch what we consider good movies, and "Tenet" was the pick last week. I remember seeing the trailer prior to the pandemic. It helped that it was Christopher Nolan directing too, he is one of the best doing it right now. But, the pandemic happened, I wasn't willing to go to a theater, even if it was rented out, and then it kind of slipped my mind all together. It wasn't until our previous movie night that it was brought up and that stoked my interest once again.

We were all finally able to get together on Saturday, and as we sat down, I didn't really know what to expect, but I was excited. It also helped that we were told by the only person in the room to have seen the movie to not try and make it make sense. He let us know it was a movie about "vibes". He explained that if we let it wash over us, he thought we would enjoy it more. That was a great piece of advice. As the movie started, with the knowledge to just watch and enjoy, I found myself doing as such.

I liked the movie quite a bit. For all intents and purposes, "Tenet" is a spy thriller with beautiful people wearing nice clothes and doing kickass fight scenes. That was the best way to approach the whole movie. Sure, there is a story involved, and it helps to pay full attention, but if you look at it as a modern Bond movie, another bit of advice from our host, you can have a good time. John David Washington plays the lead role, he is credited as "Protagonist". He is wonderful in this movie. He looks sharp. He seems to be fully locked in and enjoying himself. He has some of the best fight scenes in the movie and he is our narrator all along the way. This felt like a big deal to him and it shows on screen. Robert Pattinson is in and out of the movie, but his role is way more important than his screen time lets on. He is integral, he is also sharply dressed, he gets to play aloof, but you know he has a lot going on. I become even more of a fan of his with each cool and unique role he takes in movies. The dude can act. Kenneth Branagh is the villain, and he is about as villainous as you can be. He is mean and egotistical and yells a ton. But it's this well seasoned, well renowned actor doing it, so the role is done better than most. Elizabeth Debicki is the "damsel in distress" in this movie, but she also gets to do some very cool stuff, and she gets to take out the worst of them all in a very satisfying manner. And we also get to see Himesh Patel, Michael Caine and Martin Donovan show up on screen for a scene or two, and they make the most of their time.

The casting is great. The set pieces are beautiful to look at in this movie. The action sequences are incredible and Nolan continues to prove that he does action better than almost any other director out there. The clothes and people are also insanely good looking. This is a cool, fun and interesting movie. I will recommend the whole idea of this being a vibes movie and watching it like it's an updated Bond movie without James Bond. I recommend this movie and I think you will find it pretty damn cool if you do 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.

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Ty Watches "Companion"

I mentioned on Wednesday how I've been catching up on movies lately. Another movie I wanted to talk about this week is "Companion". Let’s discuss.

I remember seeing a preview for this movie months ago and it blew me away. The preview was great too because it didn't reveal too much. All I saw was Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher sitting at a table and having a conversation. That was it. They didn't have any type of big reveals and they didn't show any other scenes or people. For all I knew, it was about a couple in trouble. The conversation the two were having seemed fraught. With all this in mind I knew I wanted to see this movie. In fact, my wife and I tried to see it on Valentines Day, but it was already out of the theaters by that point, which is another topic for another day that I have issues with at the moment. But, it was cheap to rent on Amazon last Saturday, it was my turn to pick a movie and I jumped at renting "Companion".

Right off the bat, this review will have minor spoilers. Also, I loved this movie. I was all in from the first moment until the very end. This movie is worth watching and worth talking about. The story of "Companion", in a Cliff's notes version, is about a couple that goes away for a weekend to a cabin to spend time with some friends. The couple in question is Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher. They are young and seem very much in love. Thatcher's character seems to be obsessed with Quaid's character. She does literally everything for him. From telling him what to do to carrying their bags, she is all in and willing to do whatever. She also has odd quirks that we notice off the jump. She likes to thank and talk to computer objects. There's an early scene when they are driving, the car is a self-driving car by the way, and when they arrive, she waits to get out until both her and Quaid have thanked the car. She never eats or drinks any food. She is quick with an answer to every question. When told to "go to sleep", she instantly stops talking and rests. It all seems a little strange. We come to realize pretty early on, after an accident at the house, that Thatcher is in fact a robot. She is a "companion" doll that people in this world can buy, program and set to be their partner. When this was revealed, it made me buy in even more. And then we have the aforementioned "incident" that changes the whole course of the movie. We see that Quaid isn't this perfect boyfriend. He's actually kind of a prick. My hat is off to Quaid for this performance. I didn't think he could play this type of character, but he nailed it. After the "incident", Thatcher  really shines. This is her movie. She is the driving force. And she is amazing. I can't wait to see more of her leading roles in upcoming movies. The friends are pretty great too. Lukas Gage and Harvey Guillen play another couple at the cabin. Guillen shines, playing what I have to imagine is a heightened version of himself. He is a star. Gage, who's character also has a secret, really shows his worth when his twist occurs. He was great. Rupert Friend is barely in the movie, but he is memorable. And Megan Suri does a whole lot that is integral to the plot and she was pretty awesome here.

I'm starting to realize that when it comes to the "horror" genre, these are the types of movies I like. This was more thriller than horror, and there were comedic elements that I really enjoyed. Those cut the tension. But, what it all boils down to was Thatcher's performance and she did a remarkable job carrying this movie. I was incredibly impressed with her performance. And, the movie is barely over 90 minutes long, which is perfect.

Seek out "Companion", it is pretty damn good. 

Ty

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

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The SeedSing 2025 MLB Preview

With today being the opening day of the 2025 MLB season, I know the Dodgers and Cubs did a 2 game series in Japan last week, I'm going to attempt to do a MLB preview and playoff predictions. Like I say every year, take this all with a very big grain of salt. I'm going to quickly go through the divisions, pick a winner of each and then do playoffs. I'll also do the big awards, MVP and Cy Young, from each league. I'll start with the AL.

Let's do the East first. The Yankees are coming off a World Series appearance and they return some key players. They did have some guys leave in free agency, some big guys, but they still have enough studs to make a run. The Orioles are fun and young and they mash the ball. I am curious to see if Jackson Holiday takes a leap. The Red Sox are in a purgatory of sorts. They have some good guys, some young guys and some dudes past their prime. They remind me of the Cardinals from last season. The Blue Jays have a very good lineup, but they need Vlad Guerreo Jr to re-sign. I don't want to see him in a Yankees or Dodgers uniform next season. And the Rays seem to always be a thorn in their opponents sides and they will be frisky. I'm going to go with the Orioles in this division. They can hit dingers, win games with pitching and the Yankees have too much to replace.

Next we have the Central division. The Tigers seem to be making some moves and trying to build on their late season success from last year. The Twins and Guardians both have some solid players and these guys can push their team to the top. The Royals seem to be building something for the near future, and they could surprise some this year. And then we have the White Sox. They're historically bad. They have no reason to win, nor will they win much at all. I'm going to go with the Tigers here. The moves they made shored up their lineup and they have some damn good pitchers.

Finally in the AL we have the West division. The Rangers and Astros are the teams to beat. The Rangers cooled off last season after winning the title the year before. But, it seems like they may have reloaded. The Astros are on the back end of this current run. They're old, but they may have enough in the tank for one more run. The Mariners are always preseason darlings, but that seems to never cash in for them. I hope things change for them and their fans. The Angels and Athletics have some dudes, but the Angels are constantly mediocre and the Athletics don't even have a home at the moment. Give me the Astros for one final run.

As for my AL playoff teams, the division winners I have are the Orioles, Tigers and Astros. As for the three wild card teams, give me the Yankees, Blue Jays and Guardians. As for the AL pennant winner, I'm going to run with the Orioles. I have a feeling about them this year.

To the NL. We will start in the East as well. This division is kind of stacked. The Mets spent big time money this offseason. They seem to be going all in on winning a title. The Braves get Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr back. They made the playoffs without them last season, and with them both back, the NL better watch out. The Phillies still have Bryce Harper and Trae Turner and are a legit threat to win the division. The Marlins and Nationals bring up the rear, but they both will be better than expected this year. This division is the hardest for me to pick, but I'm going with the Mets. You don't spend that kind of money to not make a real postseason run.

The Central tells a different story. My hometown team, the Cardinals, are going to be bad this year. They haven't done much in free agency or trades in a few years and that is catching up to them. They started to slip last year, and this year will be worse. The Cubs have some dudes and could make noise. They could make a run at the division. The Pirates have a great pitching prospect, but not much else. They have a bunch of young guys, so who knows what they will do. The Reds have Elly de la Cruz, and he will be fun to watch. They also have a solid pitcher in Hunter Greene. And the Brewers are defending division champs. They have the guys to keep that rolling. This division really comes down to two teams for me, the Cubs and Brewers, and I'm going to stick with the Brewers.

Finally we have the West. No other team truly matters in this division besides the Dodgers. The Dodgers have the talent, the money and the willingness to spend to win. They could win 110 plus games this season. The Padres could push, but they won't catch the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks had a surprise World Series run two years ago, but crashed back to Earth last year. The Giants are in a lull for them, having no stars, just solid players. And the Rockies have piss poor management that refuses to spend and refuses to let this team be any good at all lately. I think it's pretty obvious that I'm taking the Dodgers here, and they are going to run away with the division.

So, my division winners, the Mets, Brewers and Dodgers are all in the playoffs. My three wild card teams are the Braves, Phillies and Cubs. As for the NL pennant winner, I mean come on, it's the Dodgers. They may go undefeated in the playoffs.

That gives me a Dodgers-Orioles World Series. The Dodgers will repeat, and they will most likely sweep. They will put up incredible numbers all season long. As award winners, give me Vlad Guerreo Jr as the MVP in the AL and Mookie Betts as my NL MVP. My Cy Young winners will be Tarik Subal repeating in the AL and Spencer Strider in the NL.

Okay, there you have it, my best guess at the 2025 MLB season. Play ball everyone. 

Another view

Yes, the Dodgers are world beaters. They got better after dominating the World Series. They will win over 100 games. The Dodgers will not repeat as champs. So, who is it going to be. Lets give out division winners first.

AL East - Baltimore Orioles, best in a division where no one got much better.

AL Central - Kansas City Royals, the most up and comer of an up an comer division

AL West - Texas Rangers, they’re back baby.

AL Wild Cards - Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins

NL East - Philadelphia Phillies, one more run until the Mets and Braves take over

NL Central - Cincinnati Reds, Francona will make De La Cruz an MVP candidate

NL West - LA Dodgers, obviously

NL Wild Cards - Atlanta Braves, NY Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks

The ALCS will have Baltimore Orioles beating the Texas Rangers in an epic seven games series. The NLCS will feature the Philadelphia Phillies winning another thrilling seven game series over the LA Dodgers. After two awesome series, the Philadelphia Phillies will win the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles in a sweep. Also, the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins will each lose over 115 games.

Play Ball

RD

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

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Ty Watches "Saturday Night"

During last week and so far this week I have been catching up on some movies that I've been putting off. One such movie is "Saturday Night".

A good amount of people whose opinion I appreciate, told me to watch this movie. I used to watch "SNL" a ton back in the late 90's and early 2000's. I watched all the way through The Lonely Island's run, but then I kind of fell off. During that time I went back and watched older episodes. I decided I wanted to watch episodes from the 70's and 80's. I kind of fell in love with the earliest episodes during that time. I got way more into the minutiae of comedy at that time, so learning about some of the earliest writers rooms, reading and educating myself on people like Micahel O'Donoghue and Rosie Schuster was a total blast for me. So, when the people that recommended the movie told me it was about the first live airing of "SNL", that was all I needed to know to watch. Other stuff came up, but I was finally able to watch it all in one sitting yesterday. And I totally loved it.

I was all in on this movie from the first frame. I really enjoy movies that seem frenetic, especially when they take us back to a very important time in history. And let us not get it twisted, "SNL" changed the game when it comes to live sketch comedy. No other show in that genre would be here now if it weren't for "SNL". There would be no "Key and Peele", no "Chapelle Show", no "MadTV" without "SNL". This movie focused on the 90 minutes leading up to the first airing of the show. We got to see all the behind the scenes stuff. I really liked seeing how rough rehearsal could be. I liked watching the castmates cutting loose with one another. Seeing Lorne Michaels constantly on the move made for an intriguing story. Seeing old classic actors walking around trying to figure out what the show was going to be, and then dismissing it, that stuff moves me. I'm sure it is all made more grandiose for movies, but I don't really care. If a movie is well made, and "Saturday Night" most definitely is, I can overlook that stuff.

The casting here was amazing. I was shocked at how authentic they made it feel. Gabriel LaBelle, who I have never heard of, played Michaels. He was magnetic. He totally embodied everything that I have to imagine Michaels was going through that night. But he always stuck to his vision. The casting of the first cast was great too. Dylan O'Brien shined as Dan Akyroyd. He became him. Lamorne Morris brought brevity and hilarity to Garrett Morris. Ella Hunt brough the wit and constant upbeat attitude of Gilda Radner. Emily Fairn was so incredible as Larraine Newman. Her performance made me appreciate Newman's genius even more. Kim Matula embodied Jane Curtin and brought the feminist badass out in her. Matt Wood was quietly wonderful as John Belushi. And Cory Michael Smith brought out all of the asshole in Chevy Chase. Nicolaus Braun did double duty, nailing it as both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson. I do want to shout out two other performers as well. I mentioned my fandom for O'Donoghue and Schuster earlier. Well, Tommy Dewey was absolutely perfect as O'Donoghue and Rachel Sennott continues to build her resume higher and higher with each role. She's awesome as Schuster. And Cooper Hoffman is wonderful as a young Dick Ebersol.

It was clear from watching how important "SNL" is to Jason Reitman. He directed this movie beautifully. It showed on screen. I highly recommend this movie for fans of "SNL" and sketch comedy in general. To see the start of it all was pretty great. Go watch this movie. 

Ty

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

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Ty Re-Predicts the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament

Seeing that the men's NCAA basketball tournament now has its Sweet Sixteen, I want to revisit my preview and prediction from last Monday.

First things first, NIL is making this a blue blood type of tournament. I believe that every team left is from a power four conference. Yep, every team left is from the ACC, SEC, Big 12 or Big Ten. The SEC has the most, with seven teams, almost making up half the teams. The Big 10 has four teams, the Big 12 has four and the ACC has Duke. That's another thing, we also have perennial teams like Duke, Purdue, Kentucky, Houston and Arizona, among others. The lowest seeded team left is Arkansas, who is a 10, but they have John Calipari as their head coach and they recruited studs. They had a tougher regular season than most expected, but they're coming together at the right time. The next lowest seed is 6, BYU and Ole Miss. I mean, we don't even have Gonzaga anymore. It seems like the days of Fairleigh Dickinson, Grand Canyon, Akron and Florida Gulf Coast are toast. That bums me out a bit.

The fun of March Madness is the one or two "Cinderella" teams that make a push. I remember a few years back when Michigan faced Loyola Marymount for a final four berth. I was glad Michigan won that game to be clear. There was the Florida Atlantic run to the Final Four, coached then by now Michigan coach Dusty May. I watched Glen Mason make a deep run. Shaka Smart made his name as a coach taking VCU to the Final Four. With NIL and open transfer portal windows, the days of the low seed team making a run is seemingly goen. I made a big bet on Akron and Grand Canyon this tourney. Both were easily bounced in round one. My son and I were near certain that Liberty was going to beat Oregon. Oregon smashed them. My wife was the one who followed seeding and she is leading my son by two games and me by four in our brackets we filled out at home. For the time being, the blue bloods and major programs look like they will be leading the way.

As for my Final Four picks from last Monday, Iowa State is gone. Duke, Texas Tech and Houston are all still alive at least. My "Cinderella" picks, I already mentioned Akron. They got blown out. St. John's couldn't find the basket against Arkansas. UConn's bummer of a season ended during the first weekend and Liberty got smoked. I was hesitant to pick Purdue, and they cruised to the Sweet Sixteen. I mentioned the Arkansas-KU game, and while KU crapped the bed, Arkansas is riding high as previously mentioned. At least I was right about Clemson.

Where we sit now, I am going to do a re pick of the Final Four and championship game. Again. Duke is going to cruise to the Final Four from the East. The toughest matchup they may face is Bama, and they should beat them with ease. I'll also stick with my other two picks that are still alive, Texas Tech and Houston. Houston took on a hot Gonzaga team and won. Texas Tech has to face the red hot Arkansas Razorbacks next, and if they win that, I think they can beat either Florida or Maryland. Both those teams needed late game heroics to win their last game. So that leaves me with the South. I had Iowa State, but they are done. So that leaves us with Auburn, Michigan, Michigan State and Ole Miss. Man would I love Michigan to make a run to the Final Four, but I don't think it's going to happen. Auburn is loaded, deep and battle tested. As for MSU and Ole Miss, MSU knows how to play, play dirty and win ugly. They will beat Ole Miss. This leaves us with MSU and Auburn playing for the final spot. I'm going to go with MSU. I guess my disdain for them is not enough to pick against them this season.

My new Final Four is MSU, Duke, Texas Tech and Houston. As for the title game, give me MSU and Duke, and Duke coming away with an easy title victory. Ugh, that championship game for me would be as bad as the College Football National Title this year. Oh well, this is the current state of the game. The rich stay rich I suppose, as much as it bums me out. 

Ty

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

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