The Friday Link for 8/29/25

It's the end of summer, so that means only one thing...it's the Grand Finale! Of the Jelle's Marble League 2025!

You might remember how Jelle's Marble League got a lot of attention as pretty much the only sport going on for a while during the pandemic. And yes, it's just marbles, but as I wrote back then in a Friday Link, I'll be danged if I didn't start rooting for them with some intensity.  

It's been enjoyable to see some of the teams' turnover.  You wondered if certain types of marbles were able to do better in these competitions because of how they are made, but there has been a consistent turnover of teams.  I've been a big fan of the Oceanics, a perennial basement dweller in these competitions for a while, but now they are one of the better teams.

As a matter of fact, the Oceanics are currently in 2nd place going into the finale of the Marble League 2025, trailing only the Kobalts, another team resurrected from failure over the years.  Will the Kobalts win the whole thing?  Will the Oceanics stage a comeback? Will one of the other teams rise and pull off the upset?  

The only way to find out is to watch the finale.  Plus, they do have an intense closing ceremony too! 

Also tonight, with Last Week Tonight on hiatus for the Labor Day break, they did put out a web exclusive on one of my favorite topics over the last five years, Mike Lindell.

They look not at Lindell and his plethora of lawsuits against him, but rather at Mike Lindell's store, which features products that make the state fair exhibition booths seem like the World's Fair. Most of this stuff is bad, but Oliver does highlight some of the more egregious entries. 

Finally tonight, speaking of the State Fair, I just had my second day at the Minnesota State Fair, and of the new foods I ate, here is a rundown:

Somali Street Fries - one of the best things I've ever had at the State Fair

Carmel Apple Lollipop ice cream - VERY tasty, and sweet, but the perfect amount of sweet

Tater  Kegs - Basically a big tater tot.  Not bad, but they kind of fell apart with the sour-scream dipping sauce.

For more on the State Fair foods, Dāv Kaufman Eats the World paid a visit and had some positives and negatives to talk about. 

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

Make sure you stay up to date on your vaccinations! I got my flu shot at the Fair!