The Tangential

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Ten Things to Do While You’re Being a Conscientious Objector to the Super Bowl

Super Bowl Protest

Watch every Philip Seymour Hoffman movie that’s streaming on Netflix (that’s Mary and MaxA Late QuartetThe Talented Mr. RipleyHard EightSalinger, and Leap of Faith).

Go to a coffeeshop, listen to the Pixies, and write a short story about a twentysomething New Yorker who feels alienated from mass culture. Submit it to an alt lit zine.

Go for a jog, and high-five everyone you pass, saying, “Fuck football!”

Share a link to a Sports Illustrated story about a former pro football player who no longer recognizes his trophy wife.

Compute exactly how much it would cost to make a giant plate of nachos with cheese, jalapeños, and taco meat; put that money towards the purchase of a breeding pair of guinea pigs from the Heifer Project.

Go grocery shopping, and banter with the cashier. “Must be nice to have that insane rush over with, huh?”

Watch Nature: The Funkiest Monkeys on PBS.

Go to afternoon Mass at your local church, and enjoy the self-congratulatory sermon about how there are Higher Powers than the commissioner of the National Football League.

Live-tweet America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Stand outside a sports bar and yell, “Goodbye, Columbus! Goodbye, Columbus!”

Jay Gabler


Photo by Matt Shobe (Creative Commons)

One response to “Ten Things to Do While You’re Being a Conscientious Objector to the Super Bowl”

  1. Stephanie Fox Avatar
    Stephanie Fox

    Strange that you should list “Watch every Philip Seymour Hoffman movie that’s streaming on Netflix (that’s Mary and Max, A Late Quartet, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Hard Eight, Salinger, and Leap of Faith).” I just heard on NPR (which is my CO activity) that he died today. I think that makes your suggestion even more appropriate.

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