Obama at ND — Or, Everyone Is Wrong

Joining the fray late, but better (I hope) than never, and probably nowhere near the end of this tortuous, torturous, obscene debate, I feel, if only to keep promises that I have made, that I need to say something about the matter of President Obama’s presenting the commencement address at my alma mater and receiving [...]

Coming This Weekend

I know that, as seems always to be the case, I’ve been dreadfully remiss in the upkeep of this humble online bastion of Nathanism, and for this I apologize. I’m sure I’ve been busy or something. Anyhow, I just relieved myself of a serious academic burden, and intend to write a few things this weekend. [...]

South Bend is a Peculiarly Lovable City

James Matthew Wilson offers a beautiful elegy here, at Front Porch Republic

On Charlie Weis and Financial Mismanagement

Mike Coffey, at NDNation, has a must-read:
Some people are in that position, however. I’m now looking beyond the Empty Suit and wondering who else’s imprimatur was on Weis’ golden handcuffs. I find it very hard to believe [Kevin] White, who couldn’t manage something as innocuous as a press breakfast without tripping all over his tongue, [...]

The Catholic Capitulation: Blame the Leadership, Part I

A few weeks ago, I conversed online with a friend from Notre Dame, a devout, knowledgeable Catholic (undeniably better than I), who is married and the young mother of two adorable children, whom she and her husband intend to raise, and already raise, in the Faith and traditions of the Holy Mother Church, when she [...]

Notre Dame – Stanford, why the Irish had better be floored with anger (as I am)

Stanford offensive lineman Chris Marinelli:

I grew up with a bunch of Irish and Italian Catholic people back home. And all the Irish Catholic people, all they talk about is Notre Dame this, Notre Dame that. And they’ve never even been there, ya know. So I hate those guys, I hate that school.

Methinks that John’s right [...]

Most important game of the season (to me)

The Notre Dame-Purdue rivalry pales compared to, say, Michigan, USC, Navy, or numerous other rivalries. Nonetheless, for me, this is the game. My father has his degree from a Purdue branch, my brother is, presently, a Purdue ex-pat, and many of my closest friends from high school earned their bachelor’s degrees at the cow-college known [...]

A jarring dose of reality. Or: Why we need to end this senseless war

Before I tell my tale, I’ll offer full disclosure. When the aisle-crossing War Party first began to beat its drums, I straddled the fence, so to speak, unsure of my thoughts on the matter — neglecting questions Constitutional; countering claims that the war wasn’t really in our interest by, naïvely, averring that, having empowered Saddam [...]

The scent of the mint on a warm September night is reassuring. It’s sexy.

I posted the following on my Xanga page at two fifty-nine a.m. on the twelfth of September, back in 2005. So long ago! I had headed home for the day — or maybe only for a couple of hours –, and on my way back to Notre Dame, thoughts emerged in my head, as I [...]

Gotta love the Irish! Candygram.

First, they saved civilization.
And now, they have saved a game for the Cubs (Ignore his clearly Slavic last name.) This is one land Shark (Cleverest species of them all!) I’d welcome at my door.
I’m only a dolphin, ma’am.