Ty Watches "Shredder Orpheus"

Last night my buddy Kirk and I went to the Arkadin for Strange Brew night. Strange Brew night is a theme night where some weird, bottom of the bin type cult movies are shown. And when I saw "bottom of the bin", I mean hidden gems. These movies are delightfully weird and low budget and perfect for a spot like the Arkadin. Last night's selection was a skateboarding movie from 1990 called "Shredder Orpheus".

The host opened by telling us a few things about the movie, and then we were on our way. "Shredder Orpheus" was low budget, featured no big time stars, was clearly made amongst friends and it was gloriously ridiculous. I was pretty much all in from the jump. "Shredder Orpheus" takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where television runs society. We have the EBN, Euthanasia Broadcasting Network, who kind of runs the world now. They try to control all the viewers and they want everyone to become zombies basically. We also have the people who live in the Gray Zone. These are the gutter punks and people who tend to do their own thing. They don't conform to modern society and they're happy about it. This is where we meet Scratch, a young kid and a former soldier, the narrator of the movie. We see the movie through their eyes at the start. The world is bad. It is gross. There's nothing to really do besides skate and play music. Scratch and the young kid are pretty good on their boards. And Scratch is one hell of a percussion player. Scratch does play the "drums" on old oil drums, but it still sounds pretty solid.

After a little backstory, we finally get introduced to Orpheus. He is the frontman of his band, The Shredders. I do want to say, I really dug the music in this movie. The music was described online as punk, but I got much more of a prog/alternative rock vibe. The guitar was rad. The drums too. I wasn't too keen on the singing, but I couldn't really hear any lyrics anyway. But the music is besides the point. Orpheus is in love with a dancer named Eurydice, and they do eventually get married. At the party after the ceremony, Eurydice is killed by some bad dudes in all white makeup. Now, some of you may be thinking that this story sounds familiar, and you're right. This is the filmmakers take on the Greek Tragedy about Orpheus. I did not know this was the case until Kirk told me before the movie. I think they did an okay enough job telling this story too. Anyway, after Eurydice dies, the movie follows the Greek Tragedy pretty well, with its own twists. The skateboarding was pretty cool in the movie when they did show it. That was my biggest critique of the movie, I wanted more skateboarding. But, when skateboarding was onscreen, it was cool. I also thought the portrayals of the Greek figures were solid. Hades and Persphonne were so odd and so wild and I really enjoyed their crazy execution onscreen. The females who couldn't believe Orpheus didn't love them were terrifying and nuts. Cerberus was horrifying and I liked that he was an elevator attendant. Orpheus' parents were solid comic relief. The people who worked for the EBN really gave it their all. But, for me, Orpheus' manager was far and away the best. He was odd, funny, loud, boisterous and made the most sense of anyone speaking in the movie. It wasn't a total surprise to me when I looked him up and saw that he has been steadily working ever since this movie, appearing in a single episode of many procedurals.

Finally, when I really thought about it, when Kirk and I talked about it afterward, this was the exact type of movie I want to see when going to the Arkadin on Strange Brew night. The host was awesome. The crowd was perfect. The setting was ideal. And now I'm going to search out more and more movies of this ilk. I really enjoy these oddities and I'm stoked to have a friend and a place to go watch this stuff. And of course I recommend seeing "Shredder Orpheus" if you can get your hands on it, or if a cool indie theater near you shows it. It has to be seen to be believed. 

Ty

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

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What the Hell are the Knicks Doing?

Why, when the Knicks finally become a relevant team again, do they continue to do the same old nonsense. When I read that they had relieved Tom Thibodeau of his head coaching duties, I thought it was a misprint. It had to be a typo was the thought running through my brain.

Why would the Knicks let the head coach go that has given them the most success in 25 years? Without Thibs, they don't hire Rick Brunson and they don't acquire Jalen Brunson. Without Thibs, Mikail Bridges is still on the Nets, begging to be with the Knicks. Without Thibs, they don't pull the trigger and make the trade for Karl Anthony Towns last offseason. Without Thibs, the Knicks are not a perennial playoff contender. Without Thibs, the Knicks don't come close to sniffing the East Finals. I understand that a lot of other stuff led them to where they got this season, but the head coach was at the front of it all.

I cannot believe there were some legitimate sports writers applauding this move and saying it is a good thing for the sport. That is utterly absurd to me. I have had my issues with Tom Thibodeau in the past. I thought the Timberwolves were foolish to give him the role as GM as well as head coach when they hired him. I believe he plays his starters way too many minutes. I do think he takes every single regular season game too seriously. And I will go to my grave believing he was playing Derrick Rose way too much, and he sped up Rose's first bad knee injury. All of that is true, but so is the stuff I mentioned prior to that. And Thibs was the perfect fit in New York, especially with this roster and this coaching staff.

As for where they go from here, who knows. When I saw some early names being floated I laughed at some of them. Tom Izzo and John Calipari are college guys, and Calipari is only truly good at recruiting high school kids. His X's and O's coaching leaves a ton to be desired. Jay Wright seems way too comfortable on tv, and why would he want the headache of being the head man for the Knicks at this point in his life? Michael Malone, who I like, is pretty much a clone of Thibodeau, except he lets a few more of his bench players play. He is just as gruff and will fight even more with the front office. So who does this leave the Knicks left to search for? No one in a comfortable situation would leave to coach in New York. JB Bickerstaff has a good thing going in Detroit. Kenny Atkinson needs to prove he can win more than one playoff series with the Cavs. Steve Kerr may well retire whenever Steph leaves Golden State. Taylor Jenkins needs to take a less prestigious head job to get back on his feet. I just don't see already established head coaches jumping at this job.

I also have to mention the front office, most notably team owner James Dolan. Shouts out to RD for mentioning this to me earlier today. Who in the hell in their right mind would want to coach the Knicks while he still owns the team. He had to be the driving force in letting Tom Thibodeau go. I'm sure he made a bunch of excuses related to thinking Thibs didn't do a good job. Thibs did a great job. Like I said at the top, he made the Knicks relevant again for the first time since Carmelo Anthony was playing there.

I hate this new era with how cutthroat it is for coaches in the NBA. Guys, good guys who understand the game come and go so quickly now, and it is frustrating as hell. Unless the Knicks can get a younger version of Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson, they're going to take a major, major step back next year, and I bet they will miss Thibs so much more than they realize right now. This is crummy news and it is, dare I say, unfair to Tom Thibodeau. 

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 Listens to Ben Kweller's "Cover the Mirrors"

Ben Kweller released his latest album last Friday. I have been a fan of his since back when RD and I lived in a townhouse together. This was the early 2000's. He showed up on MTV2 one day, when they showed videos, and it blew me away. He played this power pop mixed with rock and even some folk that sang to me from the first moment I heard his voice. His band is great too, but there's something about Kweller's music that I really, really enjoy.

I have been listening and following his music ever since, even getting to see him live a few times, and he puts on a great live show. But, during the pandemic, he stopped making music for a bit. I had no idea what was going on. He went totally silent on social media and, in around 2023, the music just stopped. When I went and researched it a little more, I read some tragic news about him and his family. Their child was killed in an automobile accident. I cannot even fathom how upsetting and brutal that is for the surviving parents. It all made sense why he had stopped doing pretty much anything. I wouldn't have been shocked if he stopped right then and there. But he didn't. His new record, "Cover the Mirrors" is as tragic as it is awesome.

The record, from my three full listens to this point, is about dealing with the grief and anxiety and depression and everything that comes with losing a very close loved one. The record is heartbreaking. With each song it just seems to get sadder and sadder. But, in only a way that Ben Kweller can do, he finds ways to make some of the songs sound chipper and poppy. For example, "Optymistic" has a hard rocking vibe to the music. It's only when you listen to the lyrics you realize how sad the song truly is. "Oh Dorian" is about as heartbreaking as it gets, that was his kids' name, but it has this old school country/bluegrass vibe. It sounds like something he could have recorded on his wildly underrated "Changing Horses" album. But damn if that song doesn't choke me up every single time I hear it. Even a song like "Depression", which should tell you what exactly the song is about, has this groovy vibe throughout the whole song. And then we have the songs that are straight up sad through and through. "Going Insane" is a piano ballad that lets you know the vibe right off the bat, as it leads off the record. "Dollar Store" is tragic when you find out what he is saying in the song.

Look, this record is good because Ben Kweller is one of the best songwriters in the game right now. He knows how to write, how to put it to music and how to make it all sound so good in the final cut. He has always been one of the best writers out there. He also has a voice that works so well with how he writes and plays. But this record is truly, truly tragic. It is rough when you really break it down and read what each song is about. But I don't know what else you'd expect when you know how horrific his family's situation is at the moment. To Kweller's credit, he has gone on tour and been very open about everything. If anything, this record just solidifies how great of a musician Kweller is through and through. Yes, the record is sad, but I highly recommend it to everyone. Ben Kweller is one of the best. 

Ty

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

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Ty Predicts the NBA Finals

The NBA Finals start on Thursday, and this is the most excited I've been to watch in a while. In fact, the only thing that would make this any better for me is if the Grizzlies were playing, but we all know that isn't going to happen until they shore some stuff up in the front office and with that team. Let’s discuss.

I think what is so intriguing for me now is that we have two new teams. The Thunder have been building for this, and this seemed like the most likely outcome for their immediate future. But the Pacers have come from nowhere, and that rules. I knew they were doing little things here and there to make their team better, but I never imagined they would be playing for a title in 2025. I love that, and that is why I'll be rooting for them to win the series. With that, and showing you all my hand, I will be doing a preview and prediction today.

This Finals is going to be fun for the basketball nerd in me. I love all the intricacies and how these teams play the game. I like how both teams are willing and able to make adjustments on the fly. Both teams have had their opponents throw everything at them during each team's run and that means we will get unfiltered, beautiful basketball. Or at least I hope that is what will happen.

When I look at the Thunder, they don't seem to have a weakness. People could say the offense can be boring and get bogged down by SGA, but he is the MVP, and he has done nothing but get better and better every year he has been in the NBA. It seems like he knows all the tricks, has all the tools and is beloved by his teammates. Lu Dort is a fire hydrant of a person, an okay enough three point shooter, and maybe the best perimeter defender in the league. J-Dub has been up and down offensively, but he is rock solid on the defensive end. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein have been two of the best moves this front offense has ever made. They fit like gloves. Cason Wallace may not play much, but when he does, he makes it count. Chet Holmgren has been a fierce rim protector, and it looks like his shot is coming back. And this team goes 8 or 9, hell, maybe even 10 deep. That is so rare this deep into the playoffs, and it has shown that it helps. These dudes are always fresh.

The Pacers are not slouches though. Tyrese Haliburton has more than answered the bell. He has been magnetic to watch this whole run and he is fast becoming one of my favorite players. My son adores him as well. I love that he barely ever turns the ball over too. Myles Turner has been awesome. He deserves this more than anyone on this Pacers team. He has stuck with them through all the trade rumors and everything, and he has repaid them with a great playoff run. Pascal Siakim's defense is so important to this team, and his offense has been excellent. He is continuing to show how much of a star he is in this league. TJ McConnell is long in the tooth, but he is still a pest. Ben Mathurin has been kind of off during this run, but he is liable to go off at any time. Andrew Nembhard has been guarding the best guard on the other team pretty well, and he is making shots. The Pacers may not be as deep as the Thunder, but the guys that play run the offense to a hectic pace that is oddly beautiful, and the defense has done enough.

When I look at the teams side by side, it is tough for me not to pick the Thunder in every category. Their defense is loads better. Their offense, while not as frenetic and fun to watch, still puts up a ton of points. The coaching staff for the Thunder is overall better, even if Rick Carlisle is a better head coach than Mark Dagnault. As I mentioned at the top, I will be rooting for the Pacers. But, when I look at it with my basketball mind, it is hard for me not to pick the Thunder in a relative rout. This series reminds me a ton of the Pacers-Celtics East Finals from last season. The Pacers will make it look close, but in the end, the Thunder will win the Finals, and I see them doing it in five games. They have the better overall team. And SGA is going to add a Finals MVP to his regular season MVP too. 

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 Rehearsal" Season 2 Finale

I finished the second season of "The Rehearsal" on Wednesday. When I tell you that I had no idea where this season was going to go, or if it was going to even work, my head was spinning that Nathan Fielder and crew were able to pull it off, and pull it off so damn well.

For those that might not know, "The Rehearsal" is Fielder's show on HBO where he lets people rehearse real life situations. For example, in season 1 there was a guy that told his trivia team that he had a master's degree. The twist, he didn't. So, he got involved with Fielder and Fielder set up an entire bar, hired actors, had the trivia night all played out and let the guy "rehearse" how he would tell his friends and teammates. And it was glorious to watch. Season 1 then veered off into a whole other direction, which they pulled off as well, and I was instantly in love with this show.

This season Fielder's mission was to find out why so many pilots and co-pilots don't talk before or after, or sometimes even during flights. He also wanted to find a way to stop plane crashes, and his crux was that the pilot and co-pilot need to be more willing to talk about everything while flying. But, as with pretty much everything Fielder does, he took it as far as he could and rehearsed the hell out of it all. He created a fake singing show to see how co-pilots gave feedback. He spent the season premiere having a co-pilot and his girlfriend work things out that dealt with their long distance relationship. He spent an entire episode becoming Sully Sullenberger. And when I say becoming him, he started out as a child in one of the wildest things I've ever watched on tv. He was even able to set up a co-pilot with an actor who was genuinely interested in him. He even got them to try and act out a kiss. And Fielder even found out what a big deal this show is to the autistic community, in an episode that showed how giving and helpful Fielder can be. But it all came to a glorious head with the season finale.

Spoiler alert, although I know many people already know what he has done by now, Fielder flew an actual Boeing 737 with actors on board. And we, the viewers, got to watch it in real time. The season finale started with a black screen that read, "2 years earlier". This is where we see Fielder go through a bunch of training on his way to becoming a licensed 737 airplane pilot. He did all the work. He studied. He learned everything there was to learn about flying a big plane, just so he could have a co-pilot up in the air with him and they could talk about whatever was on their minds. To see all this work, to see Fielder go through this training, to watch him mess up but keep at it, it was amazing. I couldn't believe what I was watching. When he went to land that 737, and I knew deep down that they wouldn't have shown it if it went bad, I was nervous watching him do all of it. And he did it so well. He did all of that so well that he got another job. Along with being a comedian/tv guy, Fielder now flies around with other people in abandoned 737's and brings them to many different countries. He is so trusted now that he can fly on these big planes with only one other pilot and return or bring jumbo jets to many far off places. I find myself being so utterly impressed with what he was able to accomplish with this show.

No one out there right now is doing what Fielder does. There are plenty of talented people who put in work, but they don't go to the degree that Fielder does. He is legitimately putting his money where his mouth is, and that is truly awesome.

I don't know if they'll do another season of "The Rehearsal". I don't know if they could top what they just accomplished. But if they do, I will be right there to watch it bated breath. I really, really do love this show and the work that Nathan Fielder does. He is one of a kind and he is putting out some of the best possible tv we have at the time. "The Rehearsal" is a true masterpiece in my opinion, and Nathan Fielder is one of the best doing tv right now. 

Ty

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

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Ty Listens to Lola Young

Since my kids are on summer break now it is a little harder for me to listen to podcasts. I like to have the podcasts I listen to for myself. I usually listen while I am road running or driving in my car. But, with my kids in the car with me now, I just don't play them. They're exclusively being listened to on my runs now, and that's fine with me.

With the kids in the car, we are back to music, and that has its very own very special place in my heart. I love music. I always have and always will. Lately, Spotify is our streaming music platform of choice, I have been using the DJ function. I like this on Spotify because it takes me back to the days of listening to radio on a long car drive. The DJ also plays good stuff and gives me facts about my listening habits, which I find very interesting. Another feature on the DJ function that I enjoy, they will play stuff that it thinks I might like based on what I usually listen to. I'm sure other streaming platforms do the same, but I only know of Spotify because that's what I listen to. The hit rate with the DJ, for me, is probably about 70 percent. I usually like the stuff they recommend, but I also have kids who tend to skew some of my normal music. That's all well and good, but I'm not going to pick much John Williams music, he's a wonderful composer, when I'm driving around the neighborhood. Instrumental string music can get long and tired, for me, pretty quickly. But, one artist has been popping up on my DJ so much lately that I just decided I was going to check out their page.

The artist is Lola Young, and I'm kind of obsessed with what I have heard to this point. Young's voice is powerful. She can sing a bunch of different music it seems too. I have heard, to this point, a pop song, her voice in a rap song, some punk riffs and some straight forward rock. Her voice works with every single genre that I just listed. She gets in whatever the groove of the song is and totally nails the vocals. I like when she goes a little gruffer and raspy with her voice. That is when her music moves me the most when I listen. I also really enjoy the music in the background as she sings. There was one song earlier today that I heard that had a very cool piano riff that played throughout and it perfectly blended hip hop and rock, in a good way. This song was in no way akin to Limp Bizkit or Korn, any of that crummy 90's rap/rock. This was an actual good song that was rad to listen to as I was driving in my car. I also heard the punk stuff during what appeared to be a pop song, and then it took this turn that was unexpected, but pretty damn good. I looked her up just a bit and read that she does have some mental health stuff that has forced her to cancel shows. That bums me out, and I hope she is getting the help she needs because I want to hear more and more from her. I have been totally blown away by what I have heard to this point.

I am usually pretty tough on artists that I don't know anything about, but Lola Young has caught my attention and I will be listening to her a lot more in the near future. She rules, I love her voice and I cannot wait to dig deeper and deeper into her catalog. This was a great recommendation and you should check her out too. 

Ty

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

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I Watched "The Apple"

Over the weekend I was finally able to watch "The Apple".

As many readers of the site already know, RD is a fan of this movie. Well, maybe not a fan so much as just interested in this weird and wild idea of this movie. I had never watched it before, but believe me, RD has let me know more than my fair share of what this movie is all about, on and off the screen. He has let others know about it as well I have to assume. But, he rented out a theater for a party and the invited guests, yours truly included on that list, got to watch it on the big screen, and I have some takes to get out in the ether. RD started off by giving us all a little presentation prior to the start of the movie about the plot and its personal meeting to him. Then we were off.

First and foremost, "The Apple" is a bad movie. I think that is the agreed upon review by the masses. The movie is nonsense. The musical numbers are long and can get boring quickly. The acting is subpar at best. The writing, and even more so, the direction is truly, truly awful. For a movie who's runtime is less than 90 minutes, it felt like it was dragging for a good portion during the middle. It is kind of a slog. I just needed to get that out there. This is unequivocally a bad movie. But, I learned a few things during our screening. I think I get what RD sees in this movie that he was trying to show us.

RD went to school for theater. He has a background in stage work. He knows that world better than I ever could imagine knowing it. I now see why he has a certain affinity for this movie. The sheer audacity of the filmmakers is right up there on the screen. The dancing numbers, while long, are not too bad. Some of the songs in the movie are rad. But, in RD's eyes, it makes sense why he watches it for the direction and the set up and how they tell their story. I could hear him on Sunday talking to his buddy about the stuff on screen, and their conversation flew over my head.

I also get why this movie has achieved its cult status. I'm a humongous fan of the Tommy Wiseau movie "The Room". That has a fanbase that is so unique and rabid towards the terribleness of that movie. I can see the same thing with "The Apple". I have to imagine that musical theater kids have a weird love for this movie. I can see people recreating it or acting it out amongst friends. The vibrant colors and big set pieces are more than enough to gain a fanbase from theater kids in my opinion. So, when my kid asked me the other night "how was the movie?". That was difficult to answer at first. But then I thought about the stuff I'm writing today and I told him that I was glad to see it, but it was a bad movie. I told him I was happy to see this movie that his uncle had been telling me about for years. I finally understood, at least a little bit, why he views this movie the way he does.

So, while "The Apple" is bad through and through, I get why Rd likes it and I understand the cult status this movie has built up over the years. Watch it if you'd like. It sure is a spectacle to see. 

Want to hear more about “The Apple”. Listen to this podcast

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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Can The Thunder Be Beat?

After watching the Thunder-Timberwolves game last night, I don't think there is a team left that can compete with the Thunder. Let’s discuss.

The Thunder look like they might have a cakewalk through the finals no matter who the opponent ends up being. This is no disrespect to the Pacers, Knicks or Timberwolves. The Thunder look damn near unbeatable at the moment. They may have already had their toughest series, last round against the Nuggets. It took them seven games to dispose of Denver, but game seven of that series showed me pretty much all I needed to see. They had a rough first quarter in that game, and then they totally ran away with it. I believe they won that game by 30 plus points. And they have easily disposed of the Timberwolves in the first two games of the West Finals. I have been rooting for the Timberwolves ever since the Thunder cruised against my team in round one, the Grizzlies. I'm a big Anthony Edwards fan, Julius Randle has always had a fan in me and I like their head coach. But, there is little the T'Wolves can do because this Thunder team is deep, their defense is elite, they can score in a ton of ways and everything has led them to this moment.

The Thunder are relentless on both ends of the floor. I know people complain about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the fact that he may or may not "foul bait", but that is part of the modern game. If SGA can get to the line 10-12 times a game that is an extra 10-12 points per game for the team. That is smart basketball and every big time player does it in the league now. Until the refs decide to stop buying in, it is going to become more and more of an issue and every player will do it anyway. That is the current nature of the game.

SGA also happens to be awesome at basketball. He is the MVP after all. But it isn't just him. Lu Dort is a solid three point shooter, and one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He is like a tank trying to move, and he is constantly going for the steal. Alex Caruso is much of the same, and he can guard anyone, be they a point guard or a center. He guarded Nikola Jokic in game seven of the last round. Chet Holmgren is still skin and bones, but the dude can block shots and make threes when given the chance. Aaron Wiggins is replicating what his brother did for the Warriors during their Finals run in 2022. Cason Wallace is earning big time minutes on the best team in the league as a rookie. He is a hound on defense and he is making great decisions on offense. Isaiah Joe is liable to hit three or four threes a night on very limited minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein was a massive addition last offseason, and that move is paying dividends at the best possible time. Jalen Williams has been kind of up and down during this run offensively, but he has brought it every night on defense, and when he is on offensively, you may as well call it a night if you are their opponent. Teams usually trim their roster down during the playoffs to six or maybe seven guys. The Thunder are still playing damn near ten dudes every night, thus keeping the integral players healthy, rested and ready when they need them most.

I'm in awe of the way they're playing right now, and it is primarily their defense. The offense has done enough, but the defense is literally winning them games. They're constantly in passing lanes, they go for steals all the time, they get blocks at a consistent rate, they hamper what the other team wants to do and they frustrate them to no end. They are showing everyone that defense truly wins titles.

The series, and playoffs for that matter, are far from over. But, it damn near looks inevitable that the Thunder will win the first title in their short run as a franchise. This team has made all the right moves, drafted good fits and hired the right coaches. All of that should end up with them winning the chip in a few short weeks. 

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 Pacers are Crazy Good

I think the Pacers might be having a blessed season. I'm not all into that type of stuff, but after seeing what I saw last night, this team is having what one may refer to as a "miracle" run. Let’s discuss.

The Pacers have built a solid team over the years. They acquired Tyrese Haliburton in a trade. They drafted Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard. They got Obi Toppin as a throw-in in a trade. They saw something in Aaron Nesmith that the Celtics didn't see. They hired Rick Carlisle after Dallas let him go. They have made the right move in pretty much every single area. But, it really boils down to the sheer fact that they got a guy like Haliburton. He is such a good point guard and leader of this team. He rarely turns the ball over. He always has high assist numbers. When he is not scoring, he is still a threat due to his excellent vision. And when he is making shots, he is as lethal as anyone in the league. But, after what I saw, after that shot last night, after how they erupted in the fourth quarter, this team is different.

For people that may not know, or have seen, go look at the shot Haliburton hit to send the game to overtime. If someone had hit a shot like that in rec or pickup basketball, I would just have chuckled in disbelief. Hell, if that goes in in a high school game, the crowd would be astonished. Haliburton did this in a playoff game. Even more, he did it in the East Finals. But it wasn't just that shot that makes me believe in this team. They can shoot the three with the best of them. Nesmith really got the ball rolling last night, and when his teammates saw him hitting shots, they followed in suit. This is a team that is never, ever out of a game. They are so good at shooting the three. They take them open or covered. They have no conscience. And it's everyone on that team. From Haliburton to Turner, who is their center, can shoot the rock. And they seem to all like playing basketball together. They genuinely seem to like one another, and it shows on the floor. They have a calmness to them as well. They don't get scared. They don't ever feel out of the game. Their defense has even gotten a little better throughout the season. And watching what they have done this playoff run, and last year for that matter, has made me a believer.

The Pacers have crushed the Bucks two years in a row. They have, for all intents and purposes, ended the Bucks run with Giannis. Last year, in the East Finals, while they got swept, the people involved with the Celtics said they were the toughest team they played. This season, after disposing of the Bucks in five, they obliterated the number 1 seeded Cavs. Sure, some of the Cavs main guys were hurt, but I don't think it would have mattered in the long run. The Pacers came out and stomped on the Cavs' throat. They would not let them up for air. And that is my main reason why I think they have a true shot at the title. When the Pacers get up, they don't let up. They don't just want to beat their opponent, they want to crush them. Anytime a team starts to make a push, it seems like the Pacers will hit three or four big time shots in a row and stop any momentum their opponent has. This is what title contending teams need nowadays, a killer instinct. The Pacers have that in waves.

I don't know if any team left can beat the Thunder, but I think the Pacers have the most legit, and best shot. However it ends, this Pacers team is fun and I want to see more of them. 

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 "Love Death + Robots" Volume 4

I finished the fourth installment of "Love Death and Robots" yesterday. I was a little tepid going into the newest season due to some poor online reviews. But, I'm here to say, I really enjoyed this season. I felt like this season just continued what has made this show so cool and unique and unlike anything else on tv. I am a little surprised at the hate on the internet, but maybe I shouldn't be. People always want something to gripe about, and they use the internet as their soapbox to put their opinions that they should keep to themselves. That is unfortunately the world we live in today.

Anyway, I really liked this season. I finished it in two days because the episodes are so short and to the point. I found myself engaged in each episode. I really liked the whole marionette Red Hot Chili Peppers premiere. It was pretty cool to see a one song performance put into the world of "Love Death and Robots". I like that they went back to the miniature well with the second episode. I also liked the whole story of the alien invasion and how prone to guns and violence humans can be. "Spider Rose" was brutal and sweet. It made me want to get another pet too. I really appreciated how "400 Boys" was kind of a callback to "Attack the Block". They got some of the same people to do voices for the episode and the story was similar, except the aliens here were much different. And this episode was pretty damn violent. "The Other Large Thing" was funny and also showed how reliant we are on technology and robots. I also like that they got a few big names to do voices, and that the humans in this episode speak gibberish. It was a good look at how life could be if we get to this place. "Golgotha" was maybe the weakest episode for me, but I still found things I liked about it. I like that they did the animation and mixed it with real life people. They treaded water in both areas and they did a solid job in the end. I'm also a Rhys Darby fan, so anytime I get to see him onscreen is a good deal for me. "The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur" was rad. It was dark and bleak. It was bloody and gory. It had the best story for me all season. This might have been my favorite. "How Zeke Found Religion" was equally violent and dour as hell. It showed the true brutality of war, even if it was a hyperized version of the war. And while bleak, I found this one to be the best of the whole season. It wasn't my favorite, but it was the best. "Smart Appliances Stupid People" told us how some of the machines in our homes feel. This one had the most famous people doing voice work. It was my favorite animation. And it was funny as hell. I like when "Love Death and Robots" does a funny episode. While it is still dark, it is nice for them to take a break from all the bleakness. And "For He Can Creep" was so cool and so unlike other stuff on tv right now. I thought it was a fascinating look at how we rely on animals in our lives to take care of us. I also really enjoyed the animation here. It was old timey with some newer updated things.

All in all I thought they did a good job continuing how great of a show it is. I disagree with the online hate. I highly recommend this season and this show. It is good through and through. 

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 "Run Lola Run"

I recently joined Letterboxd. I like the app. It is good because I can search a bunch of different posts and find movies I want to see but haven't yet. My watchlist is full of movies that I have wanted to watch and other movies that haven't come out yet. The majority of the movies I want to watch are older ones that have passed me by. There are a ton of older movies that, now that I'm older, I want to see. I have never seen a Kirosawa movie. There are a ton of Scorcese movies I've never watched due to my dislike of the movies of his I have seen. There are movies my brothers have talked about for years that I have never gotten around to. I decided to rectify that last weekend. One movie that kept popping up was "Run Lola Run".

I have heard about this movie for years. I believe RD used to talk about it a lot back in the day. I have seen "The Simpsons" episode that is a full parody of the movie. I have seen other people parody it as well. I always knew that it was about a woman running and trying to beat some kind of clock. But I have never watched it from start to finish. That all changed last Friday.

From the first shot, I was all in. This movie is totally awesome. It is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long, long time. For those that may not know, "Run Lola Run" is told in three different parts. The first is through Lola's eyes, the second is through her boyfriend's eyes, Manni, and the third is, spoiler alert, if they both made the right decision in this messed up situation. I liked every single part of this movie. The actor who played Lola was magnificent. She is so good, she owns every single moment she is on screen and, from what I read, the amount of running she was doing and how fast she was going, was a herculean task. I read that she insisted on wearing the Doc Martens her character wore. I also read that she smoked two packs a day. It doesn't show. It was rad to see. I also liked Manni. He did great work with just his face. He acted the hell out of this role, and he didn't have to say too much. What I liked most about this movie was the fate of the "common people" that Lola and Manni would run into. Another thing I liked how the movie would do almost a Polaroid picture break, and then give us some more Polaroids of what happened to these people in each scenario. It was very interesting, and had to be a new technique at the time. I also liked how the movie would switch from animation to real life. It was cool to see, and again, it had to be one of the first movies to do this. I also thought that the throughline story was pretty great. We get to see three different outcomes, and each has their own way to show what could happen. The first two are tragic, and the third is oddly comforting.

If you have never seen "Run Lola Run" I cannot recommend it enough. I'm so happy that I finally saw it myself. 

Ty

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

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The Latest Episode of "Ear Hustle" is Must Listen

I am a fan of the podcast "Ear Hustle". For those that don't know, "Ear Hustle" is about prison life. The hosts talk to people in and out of the system. One of the hosts, Earlonne Woods, was formerly incarcerated, but is now out. There are a few other contributing members who have been released as well. The other host, Nigel Poor, spends her free time volunteering at San Quentin Prison and has done a ton of work with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. They like to tell stories about prison life from all different angles. The one thing they don't really do, and I fully understand why, is talk about the crimes that the subjects have committed. They don't like to talk about that stuff, they'd rather focus on how they live day to day in the prison system. But, what they did last week was a change of format, and the episode they did was pretty heartbreaking and I will remember it for a very, very long time.

The most recent episode focused on women who have been incarcerated because they killed people while driving drunk. The subjects in this episode all drove drunk and took the lives of people and are now spending time in the prison system. This was a tough listen, but it was also fascinating to listen to. I like listening because this show brings me inside a world I hope to never be in ever. But, in the case of this episode, these people also didn't plan on spending any time in jail. They went out to let off steam one night, they drove drunk, which a ton of people do everyday, but they made the ultimate mistake and ended up having the worst night of their life.

The first guest talked about not even knowing where they were when they woke up. Earlonne Woods told the listeners that when people are in jail, but have to go to a hospital, they have a different set of rules. People in jail that are in the hospital cannot get up and move as they please. Visitors need to be allowed in by the people guarding the door. They can't know what is happening right away if they weren't coherent about what happened that led them to this place. It sounds like a nightmare. So, to hear people talk about this experience, and how scary it sounds, it was eye opening. They also talked to people who called themselves "murderers", and that was tough to hear. Ultimately though, they did murder these people. They took their lives away by driving drunk. They also had these people talk about how they are perceived in prison by other hardened criminals. That was shocking too. The other criminals would tell them that they were in there because of a mistake. That is wild to me.

Listening to this episode was fascinating for me. I don't drink, but I do know people who do, people very close to me. They have me to drive, which bails them out. But, it sounds like these people they talked to didn't have that option, or they chose to take the risks and paid the ultimate price. I cannot recommend this episode enough. "Ear Hustle" is a great podcast on its own, but this episode has stood out, especially for me. Give it a listen if you have the time. 

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 Where Giannis Should Play Next

The Bucks have had two straight seasons full of injuries and unmet preseason expectations. Let’s discuss.

I thought, wrongly it now appears, that Dame and Giannis would make for a damn formidable duo. They have done that at times, but more often than not, they have been misused, poorly coached and, most often, injured. It hasn't worked out at all in Milwaukee. Jrue Holiday was a much more important piece, Khris Middleton never returned to form and the rest of the cast is old or a bad fit. Trading for Kyle Kuzma was also a very poor decision by this front office. This has not worked out. I was wrong.

So, for the first time in his career, it looks like Giannis may want out of Milwaukee. And I cannot blame him. A while back I wrote about how I'd love it if he stayed in Milwaukee for his whole career. I thought it would be cool for him to do it all in a small market. He has an MVP. He has a title. I'd pick him over any current player if I were starting a team today. I personally think he is the best current player in the NBA. He averages over 30 points per game. He gets 10 rebounds every game. And he is a wonderful defender. Giannis does it all, stays relatively quiet, he's confident, not cocky, his teammates seem to like him and he is a great, great basketball player. So, how everything has gone down since the Dame trade, maybe it is time for Giannis to be looking elsewhere to finish out his career. And I think there's one team where he could be a seamless and perfect fit.

I don't think that it's the Rockets. The Rockets can put together a nice package, but the fit in Houston with Giannis makes very little sense to me. The Rockets, for the most part, are young. Amen Thompson, Alpernen Sengun and Jalen Green are babies in NBA terms. So is Jabari Smith Jr. These are, and should be the core of this team going forward. They'd have to trade one, maybe two of those guys to get Giannis. That is a ton to part with from a team who was the two seed in the West this season. And, while they have picks to trade, with this team being good now, they're going to late first round picks. When/if the Bucks trade Giannis, they are going to have to try and recoup picks. They don't have many, and if they are going to do a rebuild, they need picks and they need those picks to be early/lottery picks. The Rockets are good now. Those picks won't be what the Bucks need/want.

I've heard both LA teams are in contention if Giannis asks out, but what do they have to truly offer the Bucks? The Clippers don't really have the young dudes the Bucks would want in a potential deal, and they don't have many picks either. The Lakers would have to part with their coveted 2027 and 2028 picks. They would also have to give up on Austin Reaves, who they love for some reason, and Dalton Knecht. No shade to Bronny James, but he doesn't command the trade market like Knecht. Outside those two guys, who are the Lakers willing/able to give up in a potential Giannis trade? Gabe Vincent is not the same player he was in the bubble. Rui Hachimura is wildly inconsistent. I don't think Reaves will do anything of note not playing with LeBron. It doesn't make sense for the Bucks to do a deal with the Lakers unless Luka or LeBron are in the trade.

The Knicks don't really need Giannis. This is no disrespect to Giannis. He will make any team he may go to instantly better. In the Knicks current case, they have a good team that makes sense. Everyone plays their role on this team and they play it really well. It all meshes and they don't need to rock the boat right now.

The team that makes the most sense, and if Giannis were to leave Milwaukee, I'd like to see him go to San Antonio. The Spurs could add Giannis to a lineup with DeAron Fox and Victor Webanyama. They wouldn't have to trade either of them. Giannis would speed up the Spurs timeline in an instant. He would give the new coach a much needed bump. Sure, the Spurs would have to give up the number 2 pick in the upcoming draft, maybe even the number 9 pick, and a player like Keldon Johnson or Devin Vassell. They may even have to throw in Jeremy Sochan. But, to get a guy like Giannis, and add him to a starting five that includes Wemby and Fox, holy hell does that make a formidable team. Wemby is already a top notch defender and his offense was beginning to blossom before he got hurt. Fox is fast and smart and a willing passer. Out of the three guys they may have to trade, let's say they get to keep Sochan. He adds a big ball handler and a ferocious rebounder. Or if they get to keep Vassell, they have a ready-made guard alongside Fox. They also may even get to keep Stephon Castle, who is coming off a Rookie of the Year win.

This makes too much sense if Giannis wants out of Milwaukee. The Spurs would shoot up the power rankings in an instant. And it keeps Giannis in a smallish market. If Giannis does eventually ask out, I hope he finds his way to San Antonio. That would be an ideal spot for him to finish out his NBA career, playing next to Wemby. That is a basketball match made in heaven. 

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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A Remembrance of Things Ed Hardy, Frosted Tips, and the Height of Reality Dating Shows

My wife and I have gone back and watched some of the older dating shows we devoured when we were first dating. Let’s discuss.

We started off with "Daisy of Love". That show was horrible, but endlessly watchable for the two of us. I found myself transporting back in time on this rewatch. We have also gone back and watched "Rock of Love" and "Flavor of Love". Those shows are a little better than "Daisy of Love", but they are still pretty awful. Bret Michaels had a moment in rock music. He was part of the whole hair band that played their version of metal music. Flavor Flav is the hype man for one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, Public Enemy. Flav was part of something important. Public Enemy is a major group. They're all timers. And while Chuck D has continued his fight against injustice, Flav decided he needed to go on a VH1 dating show, and eventually do some programs with Brigette Nielsen. Oh well. We have just started to watch "I Love Money", which features contestants from the majority of the dating shows that appeared in VH1. "I Love Money" is just as bad as "Daisy of Love". The contestants on the show are dumb and make horrendous decisions over and over again. I also think it's hilarious that they seem to think they invented alliances on game shows. The show is a total mess, but I cannot stop watching.

That's what leads me to my topic of the day. I don't necessarily miss these shows, and I'm stoked they have never tried to revamp any of them, but these shows captured a certain moment in time. These shows were on in the early-ish 2010's, and even though it doesn't seem that long ago, rewatching these shows have brought back so many memories. The amount of Ed Hardy on these shows is wild. I forgot how ugly and ridiculous those clothes were/are, but the people on these shows were wearing it in droves. You can't look at the screen for more than a second before you see a big tiger and that diamond encrusted Ed Hardy logo. It is hideous. There's frosted tips as far as the eye can see. Every single dude seemed to have frosted tips back then. They would put way too much gel in their hair, spike their hair and then you'd see the off color top of their head. It was a look. I never had it, but I know plenty of people who did. I do not think it looks good, but damned if a bunch of people on VH1 dating shows weren't rocking that look. The amount of muscle dudes was wild too. I get it that sometimes muscles can look nice, but when you overdo it, it looks very, very bad. It is clear a ton of these dudes were on steroids, and it is so easy to pick them out of the lineup. We also had far too many dudes with cauliflower ears. I know that MMA and other kinds of fighting were popular at the time, but damn, clean yourself up better after each fight. The ears looked so horrific and filled with bacteria.

The thing I have noticed the most is all the contestants just angling for their own show. This was before being on the internet was all you needed to be famous, so these people were pulling out all the stops. These shows are supposed to be "reality" shows, but everyone plays a part and has a character. There's always the mean one, the nerdy one, the athlete and so on and so forth. There's not one single person that is genuinely being themself. This is the height of really bad, really scripted reality tv. And yet I cannot pull myself away.

I will continue to watch and I will continue to judge. I'm just happy that the streaming devices of today give me the option to watch again. 

Ty

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

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It's Time for Us to All Forget About "The Liver King"

I have just recently watched "The Liver King" on Netflix. This is part of their docuseries Untold. I enjoy the whole Untold series. I like the in-depth look they take into the stories they are telling us. I knew nothing of this person, but I saw the picture of him on my screen, watched the preview and decided this was a topic I wanted to learn more about.

Apparently this so-called "Liver King" is some internet influencer. I guess he lives what he calls an "ancestral lifestyle". From what I could gather, this means eating raw meat, living off the land and lifting weights. I'm sure there's more to it than that, but that is what I took from the hour long documentary. Right from the start I despised this "Liver King". He talks like a snake oil salesman mixed with a wannabe motivational speaker and add on a bit of a used car salesman. That is what this dude reminds me of after watching the show. He talks about the land and getting off the phone and being with your family. But, in the very next scene or sentence he is filming something on his phone or telling the viewer a story about how he would spend twenty hours a day learning how to "be on film", and being away from his family. This dude is constantly filming on his phone. He is in a loop of always making content. He has, essentially, forced his family into this world of being content creators. He is always on his phone or one of his family members' phones. He loves being the center of attention. He wants fame. He wants the eyeballs on him at all times. This is not an "ancestral" way of living. He craves the spotlight and he makes no bones about it. He appears on podcasts and does his own content constantly. He also claimed to never take steroids, which is absolute nonsense.

Well, about halfway through all of this, as is with most of the internet famous nowadays, he gets exposed. He, of course, takes steroids. He packages his product in plastic containers. He consults with doctors about how to get steroids. He is not this "ancestral" being that he claims to be. It was almost cathartic for me to see this idiot get taken down a few pegs.

Therein lies my whole problem with the modern world and what accounts to "fame" these days. While this guy got exposed as the liar I knew he was from the jump, Netflix still gave him a platform. He still has "talent" agents. He still gets to tell his side of the story. You don't have to be talented to get famous anymore. All you have to do is spout off at the mouth and say some straight nonsense that some idiots will believe and follow. This guy is a multimillionaire and he fooled people all along the way. He is not "ancestral". He is not pure. He claims to have mental health and self esteem stuff, but that feels like a crutch from this liar and snake. He does crazy shit online and he gathered a following, which I'm sure he still has to this day. We need to stop putting people like this on a pedestal. He is a steroid abuser who lied to millions of people and made more money than most of us could ever dream about having. I dislike this dude very much for a myriad of reasons, but I'm also annoyed by big companies letting him tell a story. He needs to fade into oblivion and give the right people their proper platform.

I'm glad I watched, but I'm angered that even I am writing a piece about this "Liver King" because that still makes him mildly viable. Watch it if you want, but then forget about it immediately. That's my plan. 

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 Jayson Tatum's Injury

It looks like Jayson Tatum has a pretty serious injury. He got hurt near the end of the Celtics-Knicks game last night, and it did not look good. There have been no real reports or updates as of now, but I would venture to guess he tore his ACL.

This bums me out. By no means am I a Celtics fan. I have always rooted against them. I don't like them, most of their fans and their smug attitude. I always rooted for whoever was playing against them, and I still do. Go Knicks. But, I do like Jayson Tatum. He is from Saint Louis. He has an attitude that I like from a pro athlete. I feel like he is never seriously talked about as a top five player, and that's bogus to me. Tatum is most definitely a top five player, and there's only one, maybe two guys I'd take before him if I were starting a team today. He is an efficient offensive scorer. He can get to the rim and shoot the three. He is also a great free throw shooter. What separates him from other so called superstars, he is also a great defender. He cares about defense and he plays hard on that end of the floor. He goes 100 percent all the time and has not missed much time since he made his way to the NBA. Tatum is an underappreciated star, much like Tim Duncan. So this injury is really going to mess stuff up and I'm going to miss watching him play the game of basketball for what is most likely going to be more than a year. 

His injury bums me out for other reasons too. Tatum is a fun modern player for me to watch. He does play the game how most do now, putting up a ton of threes, but he also does some old school stuff too, and he does it well. He has a wonderful mid range game. He can get to the hoop. He is a solid dunker. He is a good passer who is seemingly always making the right decision. I mentioned his solid defense earlier. Tatum is so good and quiet about how good he is at basketball. He doesn't need to be boastful or on the internet talking about how great he is. He lets his game do the talking, and I really like that about him. He is also a good father. He has his son with him all the time and he is always doing stuff with him. I like how he promotes his kid and wants what is best for him. He seems like a natural fit as a dad, and being a dad myself, that is a relief to see from such a big time player. It is also clear that Tatum loves this game and is always trying to get better. I feel like he is always trying to find something to better his game. He wants to find a way to get an edge. That reminds me of the old school players who did what it took to become the best.

Tatum is not satisfied. He has a ring, but it is clear he wants more. He wants to get accolades too, but he wants to win above all else. That is refreshing to see in a young, modern superstar. Tatum loves the game and it shows. I like that from NBA players. Seeing this injury, and pondering the fallout, this stinks. He is too good a player and a person to be gone from the NBA for over a year. I wish this weren't the case, but here we are. Heal up and get better soon Jayson Tatum, the NBA needs you. 

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 Late Than Never on "Top Secret"

Last Friday I went to The Arkadin to see "Top Secret". I have always wanted to see this movie, but for a myriad of reasons, I let it slip my mind. I was listening to "Scott Hasn't Seen" recently and they did the movie. I don't remember which host, Scott Aukerman or Shaun Diston, hadn't seen it yet, but then I listened to the episode and it reminded me how much I wanted to see "Top Secret". And it helped that The Arkadin is doing a month long tribute to Val Kilmer and his many wonderful movies. I believe they are showing his "Batman" this week.

Anyway, as I settled into a full theater, I was very excited to watch the movie, and it did not disappoint. I really like "Naked Gun" and other spoof movies. They were showing episodes of "Police Squad" beforehand, and those were hilarious as well. I'm a spoof show/movie fan, so "Top Secret" is right up my alley. I was immediately struck at how old Val Kilmer was when he made this movie. "Top Secret" came out in 1984, so Kilmer was a baby, and looked the part. I believe this is one of his first starring roles, and you can see that he has that "it" factor that big Hollywood studios crave. He owned every single moment he was on screen. You cannot take your eyes off him. And he is on screen the vast majority of this movie. He is funny throughout the whole thing. He dances and sings like a damn angel. He has great chemistry with all of his co-stars, but especially the female lead. I especially loved the concert scene when he gets let out of jail to perform. This is a perfect send up of all the movies Elvis Presley movies from the 50's. They also added a Beatles element, with all the fans losing their minds, and it was hilarious. I was laughing very hard during this scene. I also loved that every time he played the guitar during the movie, he was always playing a G chord, but the music in the background was far more complex. But the thing that got me most was how funny Val Kilmer was, and he was ostensibly the straight man throughout the movie. The sheer fact that he was able to keep a straight face while delivering some of his wonderfully funny lines is amazing to me. Seeing him do this, and control the movie the way he did, hammered home the fact that I could never be an actor. But, after seeing Kilmer do work here, not too many people could pull off what he did in "Top Secret". It is no surprise that Kilmer went on to star in so many big time movies after this. This was his jumping off point and he totally nailed it. During the "Scott Hasn't Seen" episode they kept mentioning this same thing, but I needed to see it for myself, and I'm stoked that I did.

"Top Secret" is a very funny spoof movie, but Val Kilmer's performance puts this movie over the top for me. I have been thinking back to stuff I liked in the movie and just laughing to myself since Friday. I highly recommend checking out "Top Secret" if you haven't yet. Val Kilmer is incredible and the movie is a ton of fun. 

Ty

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

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Pineapple in Kool Aid is My New Go To Treat

I recently saw an Instagram reel that piqued my interest. My algorithm on Instagram is dogs and food. I get a ton of puppy videos and a lot of chef and cook videos. Lately a bunch of my "cooking" videos have been people like me just trying stuff with different food items. One such video I saw was a person putting packets of kool aid mix with pineapple spears. Lets discuss.

I love pineapple and I love kool aid. And when I say kool aid I'm talking about the old school kool aid with the kool aid man on the cover. This person was using pre sliced spears of pineapple in their own juice and then mixing the kool aid with it. I was so intrigued that I decided I was going to try this myself. But, instead of buying pre sliced spears, I bought two full pineapples and sliced them myself. As much as I love pineapple, pineapple in its own juices is far too sweet for me. I just can't get over how cloying it tastes. So, as I said, I bought my own. I read up on some other people who have been trying the same thing, or similar things, and they all said that you can use coconut water as a replacement for pineapple in its own juices. Some people, and this got me fired up, said that it makes it taste more tropical. I love, love, love tropical anything, so this was great for me.

So, this past Monday I got my groceries, two full pineapples included, and proceeded to do my own version of what I saw on Instagram. The pineapple was speared, I added it to the tupperware, added the coconut water to cover the spears and added the kool aid packet. After sealing the product, I shook it up to mix. Everyone said to let it sit for 24 hours, which I did. Then I got to try it. I was hyped for this part. So, when I pulled the spears out of the tupperware, and saw that the cherry kool aid pineapple was dark red, and the watermelon kool aid pineapple was a vibrant pink, I got even more pumped up.

Right off the bat, it was very tasty. I was very happy with what came from this mix. The cherry pineapple was tart and sweet and had this distinct sourness. There were some bites that I would characterize as too sour, but for the most part, it was solid. I loved the watermelon pineapple spears. The mix here was just right. It was sweet, but not too sweet. The color was great. The pineapple flavor came through, and when you got the watermelon flavor, that was the cherry on top. I was so happy with this flavor that I drank the coconut kool aid mix after the pineapple was gone, and that was great. I did try this with the cherry and it was too sour for me. My son loves the flavor, but it just wasn't for me.

With how this turned out, this is a recipe I will definitely return too. I want to try all kinds of different flavors. I think grape will work. I wonder how fruit punch or their tropical flavor will taste. I will have to try it with pineapple in the juice, as long as I can get it in a small can. I knew this was going to work, I just didn't know how well. So far it has been a hit rate, minus the sourness from the cherry. I recommend this if you enjoy pineapple. It adds a very good, very sweet flavor to my favorite fruit. I'm a fan. 

Ty

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

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Go Discover the Films of Quentin Dupieux

Ever since meeting my buddy he has told me about cool pop culture stuff that I have missed. From punk rock to tv shows to movies, he has given me some great recommendations. When our friendship first started over a decade ago we found common ground in movies.

Before we met I had seen the movie "Rubber". For those that may not know, the short version of the movie is, a tire becomes sentient and starts to take matters into its own hands. "Rubber" is insane, nonsensical, hilarious and I really liked it. I mentioned that I liked this movie early on in our friendship. Well, since then, my buddy has opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Quentin Dupieux.

Dupieux is a French filmmaker, but he isn't your typical filmmaker. His movies are nuts. They go in so many different directions. I never know what I'm going to get in when I turn one of his movies on, but I have found that they always keep my attention. I saw "Rubber" because I had heard about this movie with a sentient tire and John Malkovich was in the cast. That was all I needed. And, as I said, I really liked it. But I didn't think about it much afterward. I saw it, enjoyed it and moved on. I didn't go out of my way to learn much else about the movie or the people involved. But after talking about it with my friend, and then having many more conversations, I have watched more of Dupieux's stuff. I recently wrote about the movie "Deerskin". This was another one that was intense and weird and funny and I liked it.

We were recently talking about absurd comedy and he brought up another Dupieux movie, "Wrong". I watched it just the other day and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. I have a plan now to watch every Dupieux movie I can during the summer and into the next school year. I can't shake movies like "Wrong" or "Deerskin". I have thought much more about "Rubber" than ever before. I keep seeing other movies of his on my streaming channels of choice and cannot wait to dive in.

Why do I want to watch these movies that can be challenging and different you may be asking? Because Dupieux is doing something different. He is taking chances. He makes movies that you have to pay attention to because if you don't, you'll miss key elements. I like movies that make me think. I want to see something unique. I want to see something that is a fresh and cool new idea. We are so bogged down with remakes and superhero stuff now. That's what makes a movie like "Sinners" or "Everything Everywhere All at Once" or Quentin Dupieux movies so enticing for me. These movies aren't remakes. These aren't superhero retreads. These are new and fresh ideas. The movies go off in crazy directions and that is so awesome and a breath of fresh air. I like directors and writers that are willing to take it to the edge, and sometimes jump off that edge. It rules.

I cannot recommend Dupieux's work enough. You need to be prepared for what is ahead, and understand that what you're about to watch is not "normal". But if you do, you will be rewarded with some of the most original content you will ever watch. I'm forever grateful to my buddy for opening my eyes to this world. I hope I can return the favor to him in some way. Until then, I am stoked to talk more Quentin Dupieux movies with him. 

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.

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

X Millennial Man Classic: The Greatest American Band Debate: Outkast

In honor of Outkast rightfully being selected for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we present this article originally posted on September 30th, 2015.

For the Greatest American Band debate today, I'm nominating Outkast.

Outkast is probably my second favorite rap group, behind A Tribe Called Quest. For those of you out there complaining that two people don't make a group, two or more is the definition of a group. You need at least two people to form a group, and Outkast found two of the coolest, most innovative rappers and musicians. Outkast started in 1992 in Atlanta, Georgia. Andre 3000 and Big Boi met each other at a mall, and their connection was immediate. They both like the same kind of music, and had grown up in the same type of households. Little did they, or any of us for that matter, know that their music would cross generations, have tons of hits, win a shitload of awards and become classic. They were just two young dudes that liked to rap.

As I said before, they formed Outkast in 1992, but they didn't put out their first album until 1994. In 1994 they put out "Southernplayalisticaddilacmuzik". Say that three times fast. This is a phenomenal debut. The songs on this record allowed both Andre 3000 and Big Boi to shine. You could hear, early on, that they both had very unique, almost unheard of styles of rapping. Take a song like "Players Ball" off this album. In this song, you can hear Andre 3000's love for funk come through not only in his rapping, but also in the music put to the verses. "Players Ball" also gave us the hard, almost gangster style of rap from Big Boi. He had a much gruffer flow, but paired together with Andre 3000's smooth delivery, it was perfect. Another great song on this album is the self titled "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik". This song is an homage to funky, dirty rap music. The chorus is awesome and both members are outstanding rapping on this song. "Southernplayalisticadilacmuzik" is the gateway to how groovy, funky and nasty, in a good way, that Outkast would eventually become. The song "Hootie Hoo" off this record is Big Boi at his absolute best. This is a straight forward rap song, none of the funkiness is needed from Andre 3000, and Big Boi demolishes this song. I feel that Big Boi was at his absolute best on this album. That's not to take anything away from him on subsequent records, he's great all the way through, but he's best on "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik".

In 1996 Outkast released their second album, "ATLiens" to critical acclaim. The fans love this album too. One of their biggest hits is on this album, "Elevators (Me and You)". This song is absolutely incredible. Big Boi and Andre 3000 each do their own thing to perfection, and the chorus "me and you, your momma and your cousin too, rolling down the strip on fours, coming back with the Cadillac doors" is so cool and so memorable. This song was my jam in middle school. You also get "Jazzy Belles" and "Wheelz of Steel" on this record. "Jazzy Belles" is when Andre 3000 kind of took a step forward and became the "leader" of Outkast. This song is all him, written and mostly performed by only him and it's fantastic. "Wheelz of Steel" is more in Big Boi's wheelhouse. It's another straight ahead rap song that Big Boi crushed. You could see early on that each had their own style, but they knew how to blend together really well.

In 1998 we got, what I consider, to be the first truly great Outkast album, "Aquemini". The songs are great on this record, but I want to take a second to talk about the album artwork. This is one of the coolest covers to an album that I've ever seen. It's like they painted a picture of the two of them in the gaudiest, most ridiculous outfits, but only a band like Outkast could've pulled it off. Andre 3000 is shirtless, wearing a turban on his head, and Big Boi is literally dressed like a pimp, in a green three piece suit, top offed with a feather in his hat. Now the songs. On "Aquemini", we got the classic, "Rosa Parks". This song is so awesome. The video was cuckoo bananas, but the song is great and the chorus is wonderful. Say what you will about Outkast, those guys can write a catchy hook. You all know it, "ah nah, hush that fuss, everybody move to the back of the bus". It's so, so cool on so many levels. Rosa Parks was so offended by the language in this song that she sued Outkast, but they settled out of court because they explained to her that the song was an homage to her courage. We also got a song more in Big Boi's tone with "Skew It on the Bar B". It's another run of the mill rap song made ten thousand times better by Outkast. This song also has another great chorus. The song "Spottieopiedopealicious" off this record is where my love for Outkast became real to me. This is the funkiest rap song I've ever heard. It's got great, funky backing music and it's a story, not a song. This song showed me a completely new style of rap that I didn't think existed. I love this song and any time it comes on my iPod, I turn the radio up.

Outkast next album is the greatest album of their illustrious career. In 2000 they put out "Stankonia". This was my jam in high school. When this record came out, it was all I listened to on my way to and from school for almost a year straight. Every song on this record is a classic. We all know the hits, "So Fresh, So Clean", "B.O.B" and "Ms. Jackson". These songs are great. "So Fresh, So Clean" became the anthem for me and the entire football team. Another great chorus, that I still sing to this day, and both Big Boi and Andre 3000 do their thing on this track. The guy that sings the chorus sounds like a 21st century Barry White. This song is incredible. "B.O.B" is like a great rock song. There's heavy guitar and both members are rapping so fast, I had to look up what they were saying. This is a great song to listen to while working out, or if you need to be pumped up for something. "Ms. Jackson" may be Outkast's most recognizable single. Everybody knows the chorus and when Andre says, "wooooooo, I AM FOR REAL", everyone sings along with him. This song has their best chorus of any song they've ever written. While all three of these are classics, I really enjoy the first track on the album, "Gasoline". This is another rap song that has the heavy guitar and faster rapping on it. It's like a rock and roll song, but better because of the way Outkast performs it. "Stankonia" is on the Mount Rushmore of albums for me.

With rumors swirling after the release of "Stankonia" that the band was breaking up, they put out a double album in 2003 that allowed the two of them to put out solo records, but release it under the name Outkast. "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" was an excellent experiment by Outkast. I will admit, I've only listened to "Speakerboxxx", Big Boi's "solo" album, maybe three times all the way through. It isn't that good in my opinion, and I feel like Big Boi only did it as a favor to Andre 3000. But, "The Love Below" is an absolute masterpiece. Songs like "Prototype", "Vibrate", "Roses" and the mega hit, "Hey Ya" are classics. "Prototype" has Andre 3000 playing an electric guitar and singing a love song. "Vibrate" is an experimental hip hop song that I guarantee inspired Flying Lotus to do music. "Roses" is a collaboration with Andre and Big Boi. Very good chorus and very good vocals. The video for this song is cool too. And of course we got "Hey Ya" off this record. If you don't know this song, you've been living under a rock for the past decade. "The Love Below" proved to me and the rest of the world that Andre 3000 was the genius that Big Boi needed when Outkast started and that Andre 3000 is extremely talented.

After this record, each member went their own way. Big Boi acted a bit, but he has kept to himself for the most part. Andre 3000 is a bona fide star now. They did make another album, the soundtrack to their movie "Idlewild". This soundtrack is fine, but it's nothing compared to their previous work. The movie is okay as well, but not great. Outkast has won several grammys and many, many other awards. They each are able to do their own things now and do them successfully. They had a great run as a band and released some of the best rap music to date. For these and many other reasons, Outkast belongs in this conversation. I will be forever indebted to them for introducing me to funky rap music and "dirty south" rap music. I love Outkast and I hope the rumors of a reunion tour are true. They got back together in 2014 and performed some shows, but I want then to do a new album and tour the country. One can only hope.

Thanks Outkast, thank you for all the great music.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the othert host of the X Millennial Man podcast. He has many other rap artists to nominate, but is curious about your Greatest American Band. Join the debate, then follow Ty on twitter @tykulik.