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Why does every article waste my time with a backstory?

What did the hotel have to do with the restaurant?

Just start with the workings of the restaurant. I don't care about you and your wife's travel plans.

This is a slice of life story, inconsequential and only interesting because it provides the supplemental details (including the technical insight into the state machine); there's no point complaining about those things you don't care about.

Also, you're complaining about two short sentences. Just to put things into perspective.

No, the supplemental details of the hotel are not what makes the story interesting

Not all writers apply the "Chekhov's gun" principle.

Inconsequential details can be fun in stories but they're not always appreciated, especially not in non-fiction.

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