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Frederick Fullerton's avatar

Too much emphasis on sports in the US. Too many nauseating commercials to suffer to justify watching. Read a book, write a book, climb a mountain, anything but glued to the tube,

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mark's avatar

I'd add: sing a song, write a song, play an instrument, walk a dog, chat(you know, old school, face-to-face) with your neighbor, knit a sweater, cook a meal, fly a kite, make origami, go fishing, plant/tend a garden...

Cheers, Frederick!

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Frederick Fullerton's avatar

Your reply encompasses more than mine. Perhaps I should have been more succinct and written something pithy, such as: Choose creativity instead of consumption.

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mark's avatar

Good one, yes!

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rawrtigerlily's avatar

I didn't watch either, except what few clips ended up being reposted in circles I travel.

Football is a pretty gross, but probably accurate metaphor for life in America and you didn't even talk about the repetitive brain injuries!

All in all, it's bread and circuses. It's hard to beat the irony of someone paying upwards of $7 million for those "He Gets Us" Jesus ads, while the same Evangelicals behind it are spending even more of their money to enshrine their patriarchal, misogynist, deeply bigoted, Christo-Fascist agenda into law over the rest of us.

Supply side Jesus is a false idol, and it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven... so I guess they better hurry up and buy some more Super Bowl ads. :P

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Summer Koester's avatar

Ha! 💯

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bluePNWcats's avatar

Great essay, Summer! ☺️ I'm not as fond of the whole game of football just because of the toxic culture that seems to permeate it and become amplified by it. I try not to begrudge others their entertainment but it just seems so savage and the injuries the players are afflicted with are gruesome and downplayed way too much by most people. I'm looking forward to reading more of your writing. ☺️

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Summer Koester's avatar

Thank you 💙 🐱 🐱

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Christopher Creglow's avatar

Holy shit Summer!! I read this; laughed, cried and made me wanna dislocate some shoulders!! The whole Superbowl spectacle just sums up America (more; what’s wrong with it) in just about every possible way. I thought the Killa-T-Girl Datie (or whatever he calls himself) outburst at the trophy award was sadly perfect: be the loudest, biggest, chest thumping, hipster beard wearing, rock anthem slinging, disembowling, warrior monster dick….and you’ll get the chick!! Hello America!! 💪🤘

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Summer Koester's avatar

You hilariously summed up so well so many of our thoughts! Which reminds me, I need to YouTube his speech!

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Papadas's avatar

spot on! a stellar writing… & thanks.

truly th super bowl is the cultural barometer of america.

(i have not watched a super bowl in over twenty years…)

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Summer Koester's avatar

Wow! And thank you! “The super bowl is the cultural barometer of America.” Well put.

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Andrew's avatar

Interesting piece.

Off topic: I truly don't get the love for Swift. At all.

On topic: listen to the Dead Kennedys' 'Jock-O-Rama', a perfect- and perfectly funny - summation of the American attitude to sports and how that carries over into society as a whole (though if you're into Swift you may not like it)

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Summer Koester's avatar

I love Dead Kennedys! Will Listen now. And for the record, I love Taylor Swift, and I love what she’s doing for people by offering free accessible therapy, uniting & empowering girls etc, but I dont choose to listen to her songs 😂 not enough bass! Too much treble, breathy vocals, pop sound etc.

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Nessa's avatar

Yes it is my dream: taylor swift to fall in love with a climate scientist. Heavenly dream.

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Summer Koester's avatar

Seriously 🥰 🌈

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Sue Oliphant's avatar

Just love the last two pieces. Keep up the excellent work

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Summer Koester's avatar

Thanks so much, Sue! 💕

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Holly Starley's avatar

Great post. I mean, that there is always only win or lose is such an important message, right!? Bwa ha ha. My condolences for the sickies. Hope you all feel better soon!

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Summer Koester's avatar

I HATE that binary

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Holly Starley's avatar

It’s the worst!

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Summer Koester's avatar

Thank you!!! 💗

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JD's avatar

Yes, write a book. That’s what I’m pondering.

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Summer Koester's avatar

Do it!

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Lisa McDonald's avatar

I’ve never watched a game and didn’t see this one but I’m from Australia and Aussie Rules Football is everything here (don’t watch it either!). The players are hero worshipped and can do what they like because they’re walking gods. I guess it’s like a modern version of gladiators, humans love to watch blood spill!

Hope you’re recovering well - I love the Spanish blessings - my son usually sneezes 6 or seven times in a row - a lot of blessings! 🤧✨✨✨

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Summer Koester's avatar

Haha! Yep, a lot of blessings! Interesting its a same sort of culture down there in Oz….

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mahesh pherwani's avatar

Thank you for the write up.

Football, any football, isn't my cup of tea.

The McFly scene reminds me of Mississippi Burning :

https://youtube.com/watch?v=a2XTXHKcUPY&si=RybGgNcPQur7fT_v

Not much has changed, despite these past sixty or so, enlightened years 😱

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Summer Koester's avatar

Off that scene and that whole movie is brutal and true. Not too long ago that was 💯 out in the open. Now its just gone a little more underground and to dark corners of the interwebs. Bigotry, racism, ruling by fist. Might makes right. Blech. What more to expect from a country founded on violence?

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Summer Koester's avatar

Meant to say oof not off

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mark's avatar

*Raises hand*👋🏽

It's waaaay above ground. Just check out the Orange Comb-Over Clown's rallies and all the phuck-wits in the Republican party who champion, as another commenter here called it, the "christo-fascist" agenda. It's💯 out in the open...

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Summer Koester's avatar

I’m afraid you’re right, Mark. It’s terrifying. Up here in Alaska I’m in a bubble. But yes, what you say is true. 😞

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

Thanks for the football rant (I agree), the lionesses photo, and the 3-sneeze custom in Spanish, which I once knew but had forgotten. Time to reclaim it!

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Summer Koester's avatar

Yes! Esp this time of year, ha! 🤧

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anne richardson's avatar

i am not a "sports" person...the way our culture "mainlines them" (is that the correct term?) like a drug. so no superbowl for me. but i got a good chuckle out of "OK, so if football is sacrosanct, then the Super Bowl is the Eucharist." good one Summer. hope you and your family are on the mend soon. sending hugs.

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Summer Koester's avatar

Ha! 🙏 gracias!

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Peter Johnson's avatar

I'm from Buffalo and a Bills fan. I've had night sweats and have been in therapy and on heavy meds for 40 years because of the Bills. I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials and the pleasure of childishly believing the Bills may just be there next year.

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Summer Koester's avatar

Sounds to me, like the Bills owe you one! Go Bills!

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Punditman's avatar

I'm from over the border, and to switch the chat to my preferred blood sport, I'm a long suffering Leafs fan. So I feel your pain, Bills fan. In fact there's overlap between fan bases "eh"? Setting aside your Buff Sabres of course.

P.S. due to the climate apocalypse outdoor shinny hockey and skating has been cancelled until the next ice age.

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Summer Koester's avatar

Nooooooooo!!!!! in Southeast Alaska. We haven’t had our lake slash nature’s skating rink freeze over once this winter!

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Punditman's avatar

That just ain't right! Hmmm, what's this new "climate normal" doing to our psyches? With the seasons themselves under siege, one can only imagine.

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Elizabeth Mitchell's avatar

Yes, yes, yes! And that polar bear photo is just So Soft.

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