🍭 Why is it that everything that brings me joy is bad for me?! 🍟

IF EATING JUNK FOOD IS WRONG I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT!

Happy National Junk Food Day! Finally, a holiday I can get behind. Of course the eggheads of the world want us all to know that sugar causes cancer, but so does everything else, so please let me just have this!

Some of you might also write in to tell me that this is a manufactured holiday to prop up the evil corporate overlords at Frito-Lay or McDonald's. I'm sure you're right, but again, please just let me have this! There are plenty of independent purveyors of junk food, too, so if supporting them brings you joy, why not do that in celebration of all things junk food?

This is how I wanna roll through the junk food aisle.

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Before we get to this week's amusing links and our respective shame piles of cookies and chips, let's honor a few July 21st birthdays!

• Happy birthday to actor, comedian, and all-around legend Robin Williams, born today in 1951! This Golden Globe, Emmy, and Grammy award winner is known for his work in dozens of films over the years, from silly comedies like Mrs Doubtfire to affecting dramas like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society to thrillers like One Hour Photo. With such a storied career it's hard to even choose a favorite.

• Happy birthday to famed American author Ernest Hemingway, born today in 1899. Although Hemingway insisted on boring us with The Old Man and the Sea, I suppose his affection for cats and Bloody Marys makes up for it.

• Happy birthday to actor and comedian Don Knotts, born today in 1924! This five-time Emmy winner is best known for appearing in classic sitcoms including The Andy Griffith Show and Three's Company.

It was also on this day in 1925 that John Scopes was found guilty for teaching evolution in Dayton, TN., and was fined $100.

Alright, you've waited long enough — let's get to some fun links!

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1. How to make your sandwiches even better

Just in time for junk food day, this YouTuber explains to us why subs from the deli are so much tastier than the ones we make at home. He provides all his best tips on how to make your sandwiches like a pro.

2. Trash panda pool party!

You know who approves of eating trash with abandon? These adorable raccoons! They also enjoy pool parties with abandon. We should all endeavor to be more like these jolly little trash pandas.

3. NYC pop up dance darty!

Need to work that junk food off? Draw some inspiration from this flash dance part that happened in NYC. Get junky with it and then get jiggy with it!

4. Fractured fairytales with José Rodolfo Loaiza Ontiveros!

This Mexican artist puts a modern spin on classic Disney images. Whether he's introducing The Little Mermaid to The Creature From The Black Lagoon or pairing off Disney princes for same-sex smooches, you're sure to get a chuckle out of Ontiveros' work.

5. Darkly funny comics via War and Peas

From jokes about the challenges of dating a vampire to creeping out death itself, this collection of comics by Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz is sure to to add some amusement to your day.

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OK! Hopefully these little diversions helped to brighten your day! We'll be back here in your inbox on Friday an epic new podcast episode, more fun birthdays, holidays, and historical facts! Until then...

Peace, love, and junk food,

Meredith