Ricochet members, here’s a treat especially for you, courtesy of James Lileks: A special edition of James’ legendary radio show  (and later, a podcast) The Diner.  Not a member? No worries — you can join right now and be listening to this audio goodness in mere moments.

A note of introduction from James himself:

Christmas music ranges from the glorious to the banal to the utterly unlistenable, and since at least two of those adjectives apply to the Diner podcasts, it only seems right to return to the storied roadside cafe and see what’s on the jukebox. There’s no script – something that should seem obvious straight way  – and a minimum of plot. Enjoy!

(Diner art by Tom Dolan, who drew it for a story I had in the newspaper back in 1986. The Diner itself goes back to 1982 in fictional form, and was a radio show from 1997-1999, and a weekly podcast from 2006-2008. )

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There are 22 comments.

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  1. Profile Photo Inactive
    @WhiskeySam

    It’s a Festivus miracle!  Huzzah!

    • #1
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    @Bluenoser

    I know it’s cliche, but, I think I could enjoy listening to James Lileks read the phone book.  I hope this the start of a regular solo podcast for Mr. Lileks here at Ricochet.

    • #2
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    @

    A treat, thanks all! 

    • #3
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    @AmbulanceDriver

    Thank you, James

    • #4
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    @DuaneOyen

    Thanks, I needed that.

    Last Christmas I went back and listened to all the old Diner Christmas shows, plus Mark Steyn’s Christmas shows.  All too good for broadcast radio.

    • #5
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    @CivilSense

    Thank you, James! Your Christmas Eve Diners have been a tradition for me for many years. Merry Christmas and thanks again.

    • #6
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    @TJR

    As much as I would like to listen to this at the computer, I actually joined Ricochet so I could listen to podcasts while feeding cows in my tractor, and it appears that the direct link to the MP3 file is not working. I find this annoying. It is possible that I am doing something wrong, but I am at a loss as to what that might be. I click on the direct link to the mp3 file, and nothing happens. Oh well, I guess it will be AM radio for me and the cows tomorrow. Merry Christmas to anyone that may read this. Edited to add, I found the podcast feed, my fault entirely. Thanks for the content.

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    @Vectorman
    • #8
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    @Douglas

    Gracias for this podcast. Liked it a lot. Oh, and I sure wouldn’t mind if the Diner became a regular Ricochet podcast. Because you have so little to do and all *ducks*. Seriously, a Lileks solo podcast of some kind would surely be interesting.

    • #9
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    @
    TJR: As much as I would like to listen to this at the computer, I actually joined Ricochet so I could listen to podcasts while feeding cows in my tractor, and it appears that the direct link to the MP3 file is not working. I find this annoying. It is possible that I am doing something wrong, but I am at a loss as to what that might be. I click on the direct link to the mp3 file, and nothing happens. Oh well, I guess it will be AM radio for me and the cows tomorrow. Merry Christmas to anyone that may read this. Edited to add, I found the podcast feed, my fault entirely. Thanks for the content. · 18 minutes ago

    Edited 14 minutes ago

    TJR — Depending on the speed of your connection, it may take a minute or two to start streaming. But it does work.  I’ve tested it on numerous browsers and devices. 

    • #10
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    @KatieO

    Rolling down old highway 23 right now! I’d post a pic from the road…but can’t get it done with the iPhone. Merry Christmas all, and thanks James.

    • #11
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    @

    Thanks, James!  The Peppermint-Spearmint Burger (I added some relish) was delish…I needed this today; Merry Christmas!

    • #12
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    @BillWaldron

    Visits to the Diner may be more infrequent these days, but are always wonderful.  This was a top-5 episode.

    Merry Christmas, James.

    • #13
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    @LarryKoler

    Thanks, James. Excellent as always at putting me into another world of humor and nostalgia. 

    What I love more than anything about your Diner episodes is to have them available on my Zune (I hate Apple) and listening to your wonderfully rich voice while my wife and I travel. That is perfection. I have probably listened to all of the Diner episodes now and have all of them perpetually on my Zune so that I can introduce others to them.

    Merry Christmas! God bless you for giving us so much fun and insight over the last few years with the Ricochet podcast.

    • #14
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    @jameslileks

    Thanks to all for listening! If I may beg additional indulgence, you may enjoy this:

    It’s A Wonderful Christmas Carol.

    Click on the TV screen, and follow Mr. Potter as he’s visited by three ghosts. It’s something I did a few years ago, and revived with new graphics I did tonight.  

    • #15
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    @SooperMexican

    Very much enjoyed this, thank you and Merry Christmas!!

    • #16
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    @Nobody

    James, could you put together a guide to fascist and neo-fascist architecture in Minnesota?

    Could you start with the Hennepin County Government Center?

    • #17
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    @ParisParamus

    Love the mood of The Diner. I always wonder the extent to which the theme music, which strike me as massively melancholy, was melancholy or not when that music wasn’t 7? years old. Just one of those things I always wonder about…

    • #18
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    @DanielHalbach

    That was fun, James. Thank you.  Merry Christmas.

    • #19
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    @GernAgonistes

    Not to be whiny, but I couldn’t find the link to download the podcast and listen to it on a pod-device.  Do you folks see it?  Is it my non-Apple device that s restricting me?

    • #20
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    @FrederickKey

    “Icky the Icicle”? I’ll get you for that, Lileks. Like Edmond Dantès, I shall wait as long as I must. But the crime of getting “Icky the Icicle” stuck in my head shall not go unavenged.

    • #21
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    @

    Last line of the post — the one that says “direct link to mp3 file.”

    • #22
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