In Praise of James Lileks
Rob Long ·
Sep 10, 2010 at 6:18pm
I've been a Lileks fan for nine years -- almost exactly, because I found him, as a lot of us did, in the wake of 9/11, when I'd sit at my computer and click and click and click late into the night, trying to read something that made sense to me, that made me feel better -- or at least made me feel worse in a more meaningful way, if that makes any sense.
His blog was like a lighthouse. He wrote about his family, his day, what he loved about America, what he didn't love so much about America. And then I found The Diner, and his books, and I was hooked. Having him co-host the podcast is a giant thrill for me.
Treat yourself: start listening to The Diner.
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Jul '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Bazzinga! Lileks is a unique talent. Kind of a cross between a renaissance man and a geek. My first website upon coming home from work every day is The Bleat. And no man has lived who has not breathed deep of the nectar that is The Gallery of Regretable Food.
Not bad for flyover country, doncha know?
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
FYI...I remember listening to The Diner in its original AM Radio version while a single dad, driving my kids around on weekend chores. It was unlike anything I had ever heard.
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
I'm sorry, but did Lileks matriculate at an Ivy League University?
Rhodes Scholar?
Does he pontificate from an aerie within New York or Los Angeles?
No?
I thought not.
Then his opinions cannot possibly be of interest.
Minneapolis you say? Minneapolis?
Oh, that's rich....
May '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Yooniversity of Minnesota, my own almamama.
I actually quit subscribing to the StarTribune when they, in a brief moment of madness a couple of years ago, killed his "Back fence: column (they learned quickly why people read their paper and reinstated it later).
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Duane Oyen: Yooniversity of Minnesota, my own almamama.
I actually quit subscribing to the StarTribune when they, in a brief moment of madness a couple of years ago, killed his "Back fence: column (they learned quickly why people read their paper and reinstated it later). · Sep 10 at 7:01pm
Oh, my.
And what do those people study at the "University of Minnesota"?
Animal husbandry?
It's all very well....we do, I suppose, need people who've learned how to repair farm machinery or birth a goat.
But honestly, one doesn't turn for opinion on important matters to, um, tractor mechanics.
May '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
As my close friends are almost universally disinterested in the political stuff I read daily, I love sending links to Lileks humor. We've shared many a laugh over captions added to hokey old comics, recipes, and advertisements. And, the extent to which I identify with his "here's what I'm thinking today" columns only confirms what a weird twenty-something I am.
What's your angle here, Rob -- did you back over James's toe or something? :)
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Jason Hart:
What's your angle here, Rob -- did you back over James's toe or something? :) · Sep 10 at 7:30pm
Lileks has certain photographic images of Rob in an inebriated state at the Minnesota State Fair, cavorting with ewes, in postures that Rob's detractors might claim, with a tidge of Photoshopping, are indecent.
All perfectly innocent, of course, as Rob's love of animals is well-known. But Lileks seems to be in a bit of a cash squeeze and a lively bidding war has emerged between the National Enquirer and TMZ.
Lileks is notorious for this sort of blackmail, having previously extorted a sizable sum from Chris Christie in exchange for hidden-camera images of the Governor trying on a Spanx man-girdle in the fitting room at Macy's in Paramus, New Jersey.
A Yale man, of course, would never stoop to such calumny, but there are, sadly, no honor codes at the "University of Minnesota".
May '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Lileks is indeed a treasure. But you're pretty good yourself, Rob.
Jun '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Minnesota is a great place to be James Lileks, professional commentator and semi-professional anthropologist of discarded American culture. You have a handful of beautiful warm months to do "field research," and a handful of brutally cold months to stay home reading, and pondering your recent discoveries.
Aug '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
I just discovered the Celery + Gravity = Art section at the Institute of Official Cheer. I haven't laughed so hard in months. I had tears leaking out of my eyes and my husband constantly popping over to my computer to see what all the noise was about.
Thanks, James Lileks!
Aug '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
A real gem, like Iowahahk. Thanks.
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Aw, thanks! You're all too kind. Proud to have you as readers.
(Rob: the photos will be sent via FedEx. Watch for a thick packet.)
May '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Kenneth
And what do those people study at the "University of Minnesota"?
Animal husbandry?
It's all very well....we do, I suppose, need people who've learned how to repair farm machinery or birth a goat.
But honestly, one doesn't turn for opinion on important matters to, um, tractor mechanics. · Sep 10 at 7:05pm
Yep, lots of us doltish animal husbands (just ask my bride) and tractor mechanics! I turned down the Yale recruiter when I was in HS.
I myself work more these days on pancreatic islet transplants and graft v. host disease. But we do have a lot of plant breeders and a Department of Meat Science. All about steaks......
Jul '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Duane Oyen
Kenneth
And what do those people study at the "University of Minnesota"?
Animal husbandry?
It's all very well....we do, I suppose, need people who've learned how to repair farm machinery or birth a goat.
But honestly, one doesn't turn for opinion on important matters to, um, tractor mechanics. · Sep 10 at 7:05pm
Yep, lots of us doltish animal husbands (just ask my bride) and tractor mechanics! I turned down the Yale recruiter when I was in HS.
I myself work more these days on pancreatic islet transplants and graft v. host disease. But we do have a lot of plant breeders and a Department of Meat Science. All about steaks...... · Sep 11 at 5:40pm
The Department of Meat Science?
You win.
Just think how much better off we'd be if Barack Obama had matriculated at the Department of Meat Science than at Harvard Law.
Be vigilant: if an attempt is made to change the name to the Department of Animal Protein, you'll know pointy-heads are burrowing, burrowing away....
Sep '10
Re: In Praise of James Lileks
Lileks' Bleat is the only destination I've stuck with over (at least) the last 12 years. Kinda my go-to daily newspaper.
By the way, watch out for Joe Ohio.