jameslileks.substack.com

@AlaskanRock Return the manly tap, if you would, and wish him my best

@Lileks You're welcome. It was Tim Blair made me listen. He sends you a manly shoulder tap of affection.

Lest you despair of younger generations, I just gave a two dollar bill to a cashier who was under 25; she took it without blinking, and handed back the proper change

@AlaskanRock Thanks! (Belatedly)

@Lileks Mate, you're a genius. Toe tapping fun Dwight Yoakam would doff his big hat to. 😉

Easter card from Whitney Darrow Jr. to Peg Lynch, radio & TV star. It’s a reference to one of her plots. Her daughter was kind enough to give this to me. An original Darrow!

THIS👇

First showing of the house. 40 minute notice. Total panic. Feels like getting a call from your folks when you’re college and they’re in town downstairs in the dorm lobby and you have to hide the bong

I’m not saying that selling a house is particularly stressful but my jeans fit right out of the dryer now

If we get the amount of snow, we’re supposed to get tonight, trying to snowblow it tomorrow with my small machine will be like force feeding a watermelon to a hummingbird

No Escape from Girl Scout Cookies, by @Lileks open.substack.com/pub/jameslilek…

@vincempls @Komrad_Iron The source of that Hall of Tribes pic is from a website about the place in its last days: lileks.com/mpls/modern/th…

@Komrad_Iron Yes thanks for helping me recall that. What I didn't remember til now is just how big it was, there were 25 meeting rooms!

Ah the iconic Thunderbird Motel and Convention Center, cultural beacon of Bloomington Minnesota from 1962-2005, complete with the "Totem Pole" Dining Room for your finest Totempole Specials.

The Joys of Home Plumbing, by @Lileks open.substack.com/pub/jameslilek…

@vincempls The Hennepin entrance has a revolving door that once connected Grand Central Station to the Commodore hotel. Added in 1979.

Built in 1885, the Lumber Exchange is the first skyscraper in Minneapolis. It burned in 1891 and was rebuilt even larger as the city took the world stage in lumber production. It remains the oldest building of 12 or more floors still standing outside of New York City.

“Hey, this robot is in virtual boiler room hell! Cool”

Just had a call with an AI assistant to schedule an appointment. The programmers felt compelled to add the faint background sound of other AI assistants talking to other people, which is an extra layer of unreality.

Now they're ruining Reese's? Well . . . , by @Lileks open.substack.com/pub/jameslilek…

I want to know precisely when everyone stops saying “yeah” and started saying “yeah yeah yeah” very quickly

Called @1800GOTJUNK for an estimate and got a self-described AI assistant to take all of my information. Reasonably convincing, impressive tech, utterly offputting. Entire company brand now seems creepy.

2025 was awful, and it caught me by surprise. 2026 will be worse, but at least I have the pleasure of knowing that in advance! Forewarned, forewarned, etc. Happy new year, all.

How I Googled Myself into the Emergency Room, by @Lileks open.substack.com/pub/jameslilek…