May 7, 2007
This Shall Not Go Unpunished
I don't have too many heroes. This fact would be a function of my overweening ego, and pride. I tend to worship myself. Especially in the shower, when I can properly adore my gravity-challenged, yet compelling form.
But I do worship James Lileks. His mastery of wordage leaves me feeling like a little naked imp. With Girth Vader attached, of course, but still a little naked imp.
Therefore I was stunned, boltgun stunned, to find his column has been cancelled by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, so that he might scribe local news stories.
Fucking Ada, Intrepids. Thats like asking Orson Welles to film the Vincent Price Sears Artworks ouvre.
Taint done, anyway.
Lileks is a national treasure. Unlike that bloated Lake Pleasebegone asshole who has suckled unto himself a national treasure of his oneself limned with gold paving stones of tax dollars.
I remonstrate. Most demonstratively. And, better, James has provided the contacts for the Star-Trib's ombudsman. Or, to be less sexist, their Readers' Rep. Kate Parry. Email her early and often.
Lileks, of course, will find gainful employment elsewhere. Not the issue. He's too damned good to find hisself adrift. But he'd been on board with these idyuts since, like, 1980, or 1979. And loved his work, his city, his place. Just fucking shameful stuff.
Please send Kate a missive. Pimp my man. James Lileks doesn't need my help, but he is a brilliant writer, and I feel he's being abused for his gimlet eye, his take on the world as we know it. I expect this kind of shit in Havana. Not here.
Come down to Tampa and we can go grouper fishing. That always clears my rattled mind.
Posted by: Don Jr. at May 8, 2007 7:02 AMLileks is mildly amusing when he sticks to pop culture topics like his "Gallery of Regrettable Food". But when he decided post 9/11 that he could become a pundit he jumped the shark badly. The Star-Tribune's doing him a favor by even keeping him around.
Posted by: Len at May 8, 2007 7:39 AMI'm a furriner, and would need five minutes to even find Minneapolis on a map, but Lileks has always been like a neighbour who lives down the road and drops by for a chat every now and then and gives me a wonderful peek through the window into everyday life in the USA.
"Spectacularly stupid" is one of the kinder comments I have heard about the Star Tribune decision.
Email sent, politely phrased. but it was very difficult not to use the words ". . . . . . dragged off and shot" much beloved of Acidman.
Posted by: Pedro the Ignorant at May 8, 2007 11:12 AMOh, double-fuck yourself, Len. What a maroon.
Posted by: Bane at May 8, 2007 11:34 AMDon't be naive. He obviously made some advertising clients uncomfortable and had to go. It happens every day.
Posted by: rankin' rob at May 8, 2007 12:37 PM"Overweening." What a great word.
It contains the root structures "over," from the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic über, meaning "on top of," and "ween," from the Frat-Boy dialect, meaning "dick." So I guess you're on top of ol' Girth Vader.
Posted by: Elisson at May 8, 2007 12:44 PMYo Moron: What Bane said, but do it twice more. Idiot.
Posted by: ~Jack~ at May 8, 2007 4:58 PMThis would be like the Urinal and Constipation firing Lewis Grizzard (when he was still alive). As dumb as those fuckers are they were smart enough to recognize a national treasure. Those folks at the Star-Trib are real booger eatin' moh-rons!
Posted by: Denny at May 9, 2007 10:51 PM