Manolo says, Mr. Henry speaks the truth…
The question remains: why must chefs insist on overpowering the palate with contrasting and, too often, conflicting flavors? Why can’t they let ingredients speak for themselves?
…and includes provocative photographs of Padma Lakshmi!
Manolo shouts,
.
May you have the bestest year ever.
Manolo says,
The Manolo is hoping that your stocking was filled with exactly what your heart desired: beautiful shoes! And that you will be able to now model them for your closest friends and family.
Manolo says, let us slaughter the fatted calf and sing our glad hosannas, for our beloved Isidore Gallant has returned to the fold!
Manolo says, the Christmas season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with the Christmas Macarena!
Ayyyyy! Did the Manolo say “better”? Clearly he meant, “worser”.
Manolo says, ayyyyy! Super, extra-straight, manly-man Gerard Butler, shows that anything goes!.
Manolo says, this photo is from what is perhaps the most depressing/hilarious/alarming/hilarious/distressing/depressing website the Manolo has ever seen, People of Walmart.
The Manolo has always tried to avoid comedy which mocks the downtrodden and impoverished (see the Manolo’s review of Borat). Intelligent people who tell such jokes, even if the jokes are funny, give evidence of their meanness of spirit. For the Manolo, the best humor is that which mocks the high and the mighty, exposing their foibles to the humanizing power of laughter.
But what the Manolo sees here, at the People of Walmart is so distressing that he cannot look away. It is the cautionary tale writ large, the portent of societal destruction, and even as he laughs, he still finds it one of the most depressing websites he has ever visited.
And now, allow the Manolo to here further quote Yeats.
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Browse People of Walmart at your own peril.
Manolo says, who could have imagined that five years ago today, when the Manolo made his first post, that he would still be here, still attempting to bring the beauty of shoes to his many and diverse friends.
In 2004, when the Manolo began his shoeblogging odyssey, there were very few other fashion blogs to be found on the interweb, and now as the Manolo once had hoped, there are dozens of shoe blogs and thousands of fashion blogs from all sorts of people, blogging from all sorts of perspectives.
This is perhaps the most amazing thing of all, that fashion reportage and criticism has become thoroughly democratized, just as the Manolo had predicted it would many years ago.
Naturally, the Manolo is bursting with pride that he has played the small tiny part in the development of the fashion blogosphere, as it’s greatest appreciator of shoes, and ridiculous clown prince. Although, much of the credit for the success of the Manolo must go to those talented peoples who have elected to help the Manolo fill the Manolosphere with writing: Never teh Bride and Twistie at the Manolo for the Brides and Manolo for the Home, Raincoaster and Spirit Fingers at Ayyyy!, Isidore Gallant at Manolo for the Men, Mr. Henry at the Manolo’s Food Blog, Glinda at the Teeny Manolo, Plumcake and Francesca at the Manolo for the Big Girl and Diable and Diablesse at the Spanish language site, Manolo Moda. All of these peoples are beyond wonderful and deserve the Manolo’s undying gratitude.
The greatest measure of thanks, however, must be given to you, the wonderful, generous, kind, indulgent, intelligent readers who have made every bit of the Manolo’s success possible.
It would be impossible for the Manolo to repay the debt of gratitude he owes to you. You have literally changed his life for the better, and for that, and for the thousand other kindnesses, the Manolo thanks you. You are most certainly, and without the single doubt, super fantastic!
Manolo says, if you are not following Raincoaster over at Ayyyy! you are missing out on some of the best celebrity based humor on the interwebs.
