Recent content from James Lileks
Lileks: Putting up the lights early is not always a bright idea
News story: A man in Tampa, Fla., hired some pros to put up his Christmas lights on Nov. 6. His homeowners association fined him $1,000…
Lileks: Wait for new stove heats up excitement
It was quite a special day last Wednesday. A sense of tingly, happy anticipation.Almost like Christmas!It was the day our new stove was scheduled to…
Lileks: The Little Package That Couldn't
Ten dollars, and we'll tell you why you can't get your box.
Lileks: New words of the year aren't words — unless you speak acronym
The dictionary just got a bit fatter by adding a slew of words (that aren't really words).
Lileks: An intentional act of meat-candy intermingling
Wisconsin makes a regrettable advance in meat science.
Lileks: Will the Mall of America's new 'failure museum' be a success?
More than 150 exhibits, each an example of a product that cannonballed into the pool and belly-flopped, hard.
Lileks: We forget how bad most TV used to be
Is the fall TV season still a big deal? There are still networks, so there has to be a fall season with exciting new shows.…
Why the Twin Cities should save some ugly buildings from the wrecking ball
Beautiful buildings tend to be the ones that are preserved. Here's why we should save some ugly structures.
Lileks: Things that go beep in the night, and day
Whenever I leave town, a smoke alarm dies, and my wife has to find the one that's making the noise. This time she couldn't. She…
Lileks: This one weird trick will save your coffeemaker
"Do I smell something burning, or is it the COVID?"We're told that olfactory anomalies are a side effect of COVID, but isn't that loss of…
Lileks: Farmer's Almanac says winter will be ... cold – with some snow
There's really no need for predictions. We know what winter will be like.
Lileks: Planning a trip right now is lots of fun
Are you planning a trip to the U.K.? Probably not. I mention the following only so you can tell yourself, "Well, thank heavens I'm staying…
Lileks: New foods? Sure, but for the rest of the fair, we appreciate the old stuff
Anything less than 10 years old is considered recent.
Lileks: Why we still read – and need – Dagwood
If you want to alienate people, talk about religion or politics. If you want to have a nice conversation, talk about breakfast cereal and newspaper…
How to tell your dog you're going back to the office
If you're concerned about how your pet will take it when you return to the office, talk to your pet. Here's a sample conversation.
Lileks: DirecTV was not AT&T; but it was; also AT&T; is now DirecTV
Why you needn't bother switching streaming services.
Minneapolis' 701 Building has kept its slightly kooky, 1980s charm
A popped-collar building is tucked in Minneapolis' buttoned-down skyline.
Lileks: Is it ethical to force people to hear your music?
OK, I need you to tell me if I was wrong.(Note: I was not. I have never been so right.)Last week we took a trip…
Lileks: When your pants always fit, something's gotta be wrong
It's now possible to find pants that always fit. And offer no judgment.
Lileks: Mouse-proofing, 'Tom & Jerry' style, without the hatpin in the rear
The dog's kibble has a nice palette, no doubt chosen to flatter the sensibilities of the human who buy it. Brown, beige, tan — those…
Skyscrapers rule downtowns, but we need smaller buildings, too
Two- and three-story buildings create character and a more human scale.
Lileks: Down with door-to-door dinner disturbers
I should have a "no solicitors" sign, but one of my friends is a British lawyer, and I'd hate for him to drop by, see…
LILEKS: Why real stores are better than online, pt. 2,239
I bought a new computer mouse the other day. Ruined it the same day. I blame the pandemic.Problem: My wife's mouse for her work laptop…
Lileks: No, I will not fall for your seasonal limited edition potato chips
Lays giveth and Lays taketh away.
A long-gone 1950s plaza in downtown Minneapolis boasted waterfalls and a visiting president
First, the space was turned into an ice rink, and then, in 1956, to celebrate Minneapolis' first 100 years, it was redone as Centennial Park.
What office workers can expect when they return to downtown Minneapolis
If you're heading back to your office in downtown Minneapolis, expect more than you hoped, less than you feared
Lileks: New TV tech lets you skip commercials? What a world!
It's always annoying to get ads on the streaming channels. Aren't I paying you for this already?You are, but not enough. You have the PEON…
What Minneapolitans in the 1920s thought the Twin Cities would be like in 1980
Folks pictured helipads and the Borough of St. Paul.
Lileks: Can't grill without a password
Never tell a guy that you're in the market for a new grill, because he will tell you about his baby."I've got the Char-Beast 9000…
Lileks: Buying pet insurance? Better hope there's no revolution
Your dog is sick. It's heartbreaking. You think:"If only they could tell us what's wrong!" True, but if we're redesigning the whole dog experience, let's…
Lileks: Finally! They banned Pokémon cards
Clickbait intro: Target has pulled Pokémon cards from the shelves, and the reason might surprise you!You might think, "It's because Pokémon is over?" Hah. Pokémon…
Lileks: Are you alienated by the thought that UFOs are real?
Scoffers stick to the common responses.
Dogs can now dine on everything from bison to turkey and blueberries; ours likes dry food just fine
Dog foods are now available in a dizzying array of raw, fresh, even subscription services. Our dog loves plain old kibble.
Lileks: Back to the '70s? Ayyyy, sit on it
I cannot stress this enough: Everyone looked ridiculous, except for Farrah Fawcett.
Lileks: An early fair? It's against the laws of nature
I want to go to the fair.I don't want to go to the fair."Fascinating," you say in a bored tone; "do let us know how…
Starting as early as 1919, Minneapolis planners had big ideas for city
Since 1919, Minneapolis Planning Commission has looked to the future.
Lileks: It's OK to deploy and deplore the return of the scooters
Another back-to-normal moment — we can worry about scooters again.
Lileks: Wikipedia wants me to do what?
I use Wikipedia a lot, and now and then they ask me for money. Now and then I give them money."What?" you say. "You fool!…
Your dog might become internet-famous, with a bit of luck and crooked ears
Whether it's because of sweet behavior or a crooked smile, dogs can gain millions of followers.
Lileks: No one should ever lose the remote
It seems to be the purpose of the media these days to make you unhappy about living in an age of miracles, so let me…
In 1957, city leaders thought Minneapolis would be a futuristic city by 1967
In 1957, city leaders and planners laid out a vision for Minneapolis in 1967. How much of it came true?
Lileks: Look at your phone so it can tell you not to look at your phone
Now there's an app to keep us from looking dumb.
Lileks: Do you relish the thought of a ketchup shortage?
A story from theHill.com revealed the ways people are dealing with the ketchup shortage. They're paying a premium price to buy fast-food ketchup packets…
Lileks: How to let everyone know you're jabbed
After deciding on a vaccine, we have to pick a way to announce it.
Lileks: Do all husbands have a genetic shopping deficiency?
Guests were due in an hour for brunch. My wife was doing kitchen things. You know, sautéing, reducing, clarifying, crisping, probably broasting, whatever that is.…
Lileks: Will we ever get over our pandemic cleaning fetish?
The pandemic has taught us to assume the worst.
Lileks: Remember restaurants? A refresher course
Washington Post headline: "Help, I've gone feral! After a year away from restaurants, I need a refresher course."Oh, come on. It's like riding a bike.…
Northstar Center, once building of the future, is emblem of Minneapolis' past
At the time it was built, the Northstar Center embodied the hope of urban vitality.
Lileks: Time for the tree-reapers again
You hate to see it: The green band of paint around a tree trunk. You cycle quickly through the stages of grief: No! Looks fine…
The dashed dreams of the Sheridan Hotel in 1920s downtown Minneapolis
Marquette Avenue and S. 11th Street. They dreamed big in the '20s, but their visions exceeded the depth of their pocketbooks. The envisioned Sheridan was…
Lileks: Winning the extended-warranty game
The Amazon reviews were almost unanimous: One star. Total junk. Don't buy.Naturally, I clicked "Add to my cart." And then I clicked the one button…