Internet Sausage Links

It’s been a while since I’ve come up with one of these link sharing posts. I don’t know if it’s a more conscious attempt to not be online or it’s just the story-fatigue that happens when every day is a constant reminder that shit happens and we humans keep finding ways and means to put pearls on a pig. To be honest with you, I think it’s both, but what else is new? If I shared links on all the op-eds floating around about how we’re all sick of being plugged into the matrix, I would never stop copy-pasting hyperlinks.

ANYWAY.

Speaking of pigs, remember when the New Yorker came out with a story about the guy who pretended he was dying and that his relatives were dead so he could milk all the sympathy to get ahead career-wise? No? It’s a riveting read, and now the book he came up with is up for an award because some people will reward success, no matter the means of obtaining it… – Jezebel

…unlike New Zealand, who refused to acknowledge the gringo who went loco and shot up a mosque in Christchurch by name to deny him the notoriety these crazies obviously crave, a move I totally agree with. I also agree with (and admire) how the country’s leadership did more than provide thoughts and prayers. They flexed legislative muscle to nip similar possible future scenarios in the bud, the way we wish some countries would hurry up and do already – Huffpost

Speaking of (s)nipping, did you know vasectomy cakes are a thing? I didn’t either, but if we’re going to reward something with cake, this makes more sense. Getting your tubes snipped is presumably more agonizing than having a lab tech run a sonic gun over your distended belly in the quest to reveal gender – Today

Ugh. I have never been happier I’m no longer with Fido than I am right now – there’s a lot of things to love about Canada, but our three major telecom companies are not one of them. They do not deserve any cake whatsoever – Mobile Syrup

Ending this with an upbeat cake, or at least, cake-adjacent note, Toronto is to have a new cookie dough parlour downtown this summer. At least we get something to be happy about for a few minutes, before all the pesky reminders that raw cookie dough can be unsafe kick in – Narcity

 

Internet Sausage Links

Internet Sausage Links

I’ve had it with people indifferent to the way they smell and how it affects other people. I can’t count the number of times I’ve come home with a blazing headache from either too much Axe or too much BO, so good on American Airlines for having the balls to do this – Washington Post

Speaking of stinky, I’m buying these. You’d think people on my side of the world could afford regular showers with soap and water but apparently not, and winter just brings out the worst offenders ever. Come to think of it, summer does too, so maybe I’ll bulk buy these things or something – Amazon

Still on the subject of stinky, Toronto Hydro cut power to the building directly across from us because winter in the True North is hazardous to everything. A pipe burst and flooded their electrical control room, leaving all the residents of a 33-story high-rise without heat, water and light for the past few days.  We checked last night and the lights are on again, but still. Yikes – Global News

In even more stinky news, the Bryan Singer expose is the ripest kind of ripe. On so many levels. If you didn’t already hate him for sticking his fingers into the X-Men reboot and ruining Matthew Vaughn’s vision for the X-Men franchise, this read should do the trick – The Atlantic

I worship at the altar of carbs. Yes, you are absolutely right, I need to stop. Still, this is one of the most blasphemous things you could ever do to a delicious dish of pasta, all in the name of of celebrating a stupid gender reveal party. Yeah stinky is really driving this particular post – New York Post

Internet Sausage Links

Internet Sausage Links

I keep thinking we’ve reached peak insanity, and every day proves I truly have no idea how crazy humans can get. This sounds like a rip-off from the Naruto Shippuden arc where the baddie decides the only way to bring peace on earth is to control everyone by creating a moon he can utilize as an extension of his hypnotic eye jutsu, clearly a ridiculously overwrought fantasy. Enter China, giving that arc a run for its money – Esquire

Hate to be that person, but this guy was kiiiiinda asking for it. Green screen, anyone? – HuffPo

This guy was not – The Globe and Mail

Nope. Nope. Nope. – Buzzfeed

All this really needs is Scott and Tessa doing one of their smoking hot ice dance routines while we gape and marvel at their technical expertise as well as the almost perfect rectangular iceberg – Gizmodo

Being too cheap for cable, I really only get to see The Voice whenever I get to see it. I would advise you not to do this unless you have the rest of your day to spare, because watching Adam and Blake get their competitive bromance on amidst a backdrop of talented singers in one of the best reality TV shows out there is deeply addictive. Kelly Clarkson and J Hud bring their status as Idol alums to bear with some major chemistry this season, which makes it even more fun to watch and if – like me – you love reading TV recaps and watching the mentioned clips, I can’t guarantee you’ll ever emerge from this particular k-hole intact – Rolling Stone

Internet Sausage Links

Internet Sausage Links

If I had a penny for every Facebook status reminding me to wake up because September has ended, I would have enough to buy something at Tim’s. But coffee never works on me, so I use sugar instead. Which is awful.

You know what else is awful? The concept of free bleeding. I would’ve been perfectly happy not knowing what free bleeding is, but I am cursed with the need to know. This week, my pursuit of knowledge is a curse. Free bleeding is when women take going with the flow to an extreme in the name of freedom and the environment. In a nutshell, it’s voluntarily going without tampons, pads, period cups or liners because hygiene and basic human courtesy, like common sense, is on its way out the door – Vice

Another word I learned this week is “scumbro,” which is wonderfully self-explanatory. It’s the perfect term to describe the fashion sensibilities of Justin Bieber and Pete Davidson et al., who are running around in the most ridiculous outfits while remaining inexplicably attractive to women. I say inexplicable because as a nineties child, my idea of attractive is a healthy, corn-fed boybander with squeaky clean hair, non-skinny jeans and clothes that follow a complimentary colour scheme. To my eye, these kids look like everything they own is filched from the local thrift shop, rarely (if ever) bathe, and get dressed blindfolded in the dark. Except they’re mad rich, so the whole thing is purposefully not on purpose, the guy version of the no make-up make-up look. Behold, the rise of the scumbro – Vanity Fair

Apropos of nothing, here’s an interesting take on the Japanese psyche as influenced by the fallout of WWII, anime and the rise of technology. An oldie (2016) but a goodie – The Verge

Why do all my links start with a V today? Let’s go with a C, for children, who are cute, but are also the worst  – CTV

Speaking of C’s, my favourite Chris in the pantheon of Hollywood Chrises said goodbye to Captain America, setting off an avalanche of crying gifs as the internet weeps for its loss. Please, there’s three other Chrises left in the game, with one of them set to do a particularly revealing scene this November on Netflix (to Karen’s utter glee), so we’re all gonna be juuuuust fine. That said, he made for a splendiferous Cap, and the Captain America movies have always been among my MCU faves. You will be missed, Chris Evans.

 

Internet Sausage Links

Internet Sausage Links

Yes, this is obviously a marketing ploy to get all of us to watch their movie when it comes out, but a little part of me still died inside at the thought of Keanu Reeves possibly being married to Winona Ryder all this time and not knowing it. The little part that always thought Keanu would be available for an impromptu Destination Wedding – EW

I read the words “new series,” “Romanoffs,” and “Matt Weiner,” then got all excited thinking we’d have a new, detail-obsessed historical TV show about the Russian imperial family. Instead, I got… this. If it doesn’t involve grandiose staircases in the Winter Palace, impossibly ridiculous jewelry and the Tsar of all the Russias, I’m out – Pajiba

Oh hell to the no – Mashable

It’s still considered an ad, you corporate double-speaking bastards – TechCrunch

Someone called the Crazy Rich Asians movie “A+ lifestyle porn,” and I couldn’t agree more. Jimmy Carter’s story since exiting the White House is the polar opposite. He may not have been the best, most beloved US president, but reading about his retirement and the life he’s lived since exiting the White House is like a punch to the gut in the midst of all the political and social posturing of this current climate – The Washington Post

Internet Sausage Links

Welp, a couple of these are REALLY late, but if you know me and you know my motto, you know it doesn’t matter! Actually it does, because this 24/7 news cycle we’re living in means news from two weeks ago is beyond stale and progressing into mouldering but who cares?

Billionaire? Yes. Self-made? Please.  – High Snobiety

From golden dwarf in Game of Thrones to  giant dwarf in Avengers: Infinity War to actual dwarf in Rumpelstiltskin, The Dinklage leans in and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Thank baby Jesus for people who work hard for their money – Variety

Speaking of giving thanks and working hard, if you just heard the screaming of a jillion gays, it’s because Lady Gaga’s Vegas residency begins in December – EW

Why yes, a sudden deluge can result in flash floods that feature raw sewage. We’re lucky we live just a little bit uphill from all this – The Weather Network 

Why yes, Rafael Nadal is in town for the Rogers Cup  – ATP World Tour 

Ink, for people with commitment issues like me (why yes, I just might) – CP24

Speaking of issues, my other big one is trust. Remember when it took me forever to get into the Uber ride-sharing thing? Here’s an interesting take (and semi-long read) on the sharing economy, trust, and loneliness – GQ

Internet Sausage Links

Watermelon Ice Cream.png
@MilkcowCanada, via Instagram

Japan, a country that has gifted us with the truly grotesque and the truly inspired, has also produced a perfect example of the unholy union of grotesque and inspired: watermelon ice cream sandwiches. South Korean ice cream chain Milkcow has taken the idea and run with it. Now that they’re in town, I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, the kind that precedes the realization that I’m about to join another hour-long queue just to have one of these, even though part of me thinks it’s a horrible idea and harbinger of the apocalypse. Why do I have to be so damn susceptible to attractive packaging? – Blog TO

Speaking of grotesque and inspired (but really more grotesque and sad) this story of a mother giving her son her blessing with the aid of a bullet is somehow tragic, darkly comic and proof that you don’t mess with old people, because they’ve run out of fucks to give  – CNN

Those poor kids. This is why I confine my spelunking to the insides of my refrigerator – CTV News

Speaking of spelunking, take a deep dive into the life and times of one Johnny Depp. It’s a long read and mostly interesting journey into the unpredictable unknown, and unlike exploring a Thai cave in the middle of monsoon season, it’s an adventure you’re likely to survive. Yes, I would like to apologize to the trapped boys in the Thai cave for the completely tone deaf jumble of words I just wrote – Rolling Stone

I was there for the match, I was there for the book, and now I’m there for its in-depth documentary, released in honour of the 10-year (it’s been 10 years?) anniversary of the match and the 150th anniversary of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, home of venerable Wimbledon. Someday Wimbledon, someday… for now,  Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal and the Greatest Match Ever Played is $10.99 on iTunes, with a few bonus extras – Sports Illustrated