Welcome back! You’re getting some hot and fresh links this morning.
Vacation kicks off today and all I can say is hell yeah. It’s been desperately needed the past few weeks. I’ve downloaded a bunch of short Chinese dramas for the plane. I usually stock up on videos and books, but then I just fall asleep.
Are you a plane sleeper? The white noise just puts me right out.
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Word on the street is that Celia Lake will be offering a series bundle sale for her 50th birthday from September 19-23. There will be 50% off from her store. (Link most likely won’t be live until the 19th.)
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Enjoy some llamas and their handlers in costumes. Do you have a favorite?
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This link was sent in by frequent commenter and previous podcast guest FashionablyEvil. Apparently being a buff centaur is what women look for most in a partner.
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Enjoy this lovely rendition of “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” by Celine Dion at The Barbershop Harmony Society’s quartet semifinals.
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A last-minute addition from Sarah:
Marilyn Hagerty, the writer of the famous Olive Garden review for the Grand Forks, North Dakota location went very viral, has died at age 99. Cheers to a long life, and condolences to her family.
Her Olive Garden review went very viral and was mocked endlessly, though Hagerty was defended by Anthony Bourdain himself (I hope they’re having a really big drink together) who later published a book of her reviews.
If you can’t find a copy of the review, a Redditor has posted it.
As a reviewer, in my opinion, this is art. Not only did people mistake it for inane or simple, but they missed the entire point: she barely says 10 words about the food.
She mentions what’s present in the salad, how many breadsticks she received (2), and says the entree was “warm and comforting on a cold day,” and describes the portion as “generous.” But she doesn’t say whether the food was good; she describes temperature and amount. She then goes on to describe the decor, the clothing of the staff, the seating near the entrance, and the readability of the menu.
Many people will argue with me that Pittsburgh, where I am from, is not in the midwest. That is true; it’s in a mid-Atlantic state. But the culture of Pittsburgh is quite Midwestern, and this review is truly my personal pinnacle of “Midwestern Nice.” This was a scathing review without saying a negative word. She might as well have called that chicken Alfredo “interesting.”
That review is art. I am deeply fortunate to have been alive to witness this review, and to have lived at the same time as the woman who wrote it. Cheers, Mrs. Hagerty. I hope the food is perfect, wherever you go.
-SW
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Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
Have a great trip!
Wasn’t that review years ago? Yet I remember the review, and laughing hard when I read it. I don’t know which was funnier – the review itself or the published reactions to review.
I attended the llama and alpaca costume in person along with approximately 4,000 other people and truly the whole experience is something to behold. Should you find yourself at the Minnesota State Fair on the correct day it shouldn’t be missed. Grab a milkshake at the UMN student run dairy stand on the way in.