I, Jumbotron

I, Jumbotron

The final score was a dismally boring 14-2. Our hometown Oakland A’s were creamed by the storied Boston Red Sox in a sparsely attended game, in their ugly, concrete stadium. The game – late in the season for our non-playoff team – didn’t count for much....
On Patriotism, Protest, and Prayer

On Patriotism, Protest, and Prayer

Embed from Getty Images Colin Kaepernick sat, then took a knee. Megan Rapinoe and dozens of other athletes joined the protest, sparking a national conversation about appropriate behavior during the national anthem. But the athletes’ protests have also raised this...
What We Know — But Don’t Know That We Know

What We Know — But Don’t Know That We Know

Grammar is about the last topic I would expect to trend on Twitter. And yet, when Matthew Anderson, a BBC editor, tweeted a picture from Mark Forsyth’s book The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase, it received tens of thousands of likes and...
Embracing Our “Boring” VP Nominees

Embracing Our “Boring” VP Nominees

Embed from Getty Images Another day, another set of discouraging “presidential” headlines. Hillary is in the pocket of Wall Street! Trump is provoking gun owners against Hillary! Safe to say, this is an unconventional election year.  For the first time in our...
The Space I’m In

The Space I’m In

I take up a lot of space. I often feel I take up too much space. At times, I can overwhelm the eyes and ears of my best friends, dominating their doorways and babbling on with no plan or point. I word-vomit onto some unforeseen conclusion about the latest crisis or...
#HowToInsultEveryone

#HowToInsultEveryone

Embed from Getty Images The “internet” always craves something fresh to talk about it, and loves to talk about nothing more than itself. So the meme #HowToConfuseAMillennial was tailor-made for controversy. The meme started as a probably humorous jab against...
Fat Like Me

Fat Like Me

“Look how fat she is!” The loud whisper was intentional as the woman passed their table in the Chicago restaurant. “I bet she’ll order a large Diet Coke – they all do!” The girls giggle, drop their cash on the table and leave. My heart sinks. I look over at the...
A Saint for the Broken

A Saint for the Broken

I am not a saint. When I think of a “saint,” I think of someone holy, close to God. When I think of myself, I think of someone trying to be holy, someone somewhat close to God… But what is a saint? Maybe saints don’t always feel close to God. Perhaps they...
Lights, Camera, Ignatius!

Lights, Camera, Ignatius!

“The ‘how’ is not important, only the ‘why.’” Although the above line is actually a bit of movie dialogue from St. Dominic to St. Ignatius, it accurately summarizes my thoughts about the recently-released film Ignacio de Loyola. A production created by the Philippines...