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leslteng.bsky.social
@leslteng.bsky.social
please use the Oxford comma
There is no greater demonstration of the failures of modern capitalism than the proliferation and success of Blank Street Coffee. What do you mean people are choosing this place for coffee and matcha when so many better options exist within walking distance!?
June 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
SCOTUS did not end birthright citizenship. It limited lower courts’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions. This difference is important; Trump WILL keep trying to end birthright citizenship, and the efforts will not be taken seriously if ppl think it’s already gone based on hyperbolic headlines.
June 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM
as someone who has had short hair of varying length since ~2007, I love a bob but question the idea of a “summer bob.” Summer is the time to grow your hair out specifically so you can tie it up during heat waves without having to blow-dry your hair.
June 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
waking up at a normal time is in its own way disorienting, because “normal time” feels so late compared to the ungodly hours I woke up at while recovering from jet lag
June 22, 2025 at 4:12 PM
returning from vacation is odd because you’re filled with so many complex thoughts and emotions (about travel, home, routine, life), and yet your brain is too tired and jumbled to put those feelings into cohesive words
June 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Nothing like seeing a French woman with a chic pixie cut at the coffee shop this morning to make me want to chop my hair off, again.
May 23, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Living in modern times is fascinating, because I generally love the technology/internet and modern conveniences and the ability to access information quickly, but I hate living amongst AI slop, deranged takes, and grotesquely misinformed voters.
May 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
every time I follow a new team/sport, I regret it. even if they win, I regret it.
May 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM
being informed is great, but so is not being depressed about the state of the world when you read your morning newsletters
May 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM
One doesn’t need to be catholic to enjoy the history and pomp and mystery of the conclave and the Catholic Church. One just simply needs to have studied medieval Europe and Christianity and written a thesis on Thomas Becket.
May 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Iced matcha latte. Cardamom bun. Independent coffee shop. Long walk. Soaking in sun and pollen. An NYC Saturday well spent.
May 3, 2025 at 11:33 PM
being a theater kid must be so fun (context: was blown away by “Sunset BLVD” last night)
April 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Those who would give up a functioning democracy for delusional promises of economic prosperity (that aren’t supported by the candidate’s own words), deserve no sympathy for loss of economic prosperity

- Ben Franklin, basically
April 8, 2025 at 9:13 PM
What’s the point of universities amassing billions of dollars in endowment or biglaw firms touting their brilliant attorneys if they won’t deploy their resources to fight EO’s and executive branch scare tactics?
April 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
current administration and policies notwithstanding, DC can be pretty cool
March 23, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The world is terrifying, and every news alert is concerning (understatement). But I’m someone with opinions, so I called my congresspeople. I’m also a millennial who loves looking at dogs, so I saw these cute westies on a walk and felt better for a brief moment.
March 20, 2025 at 11:45 PM
1. I chose to play #WithLoveMeghan rather than that absurd joint session of congress, and it was beautiful and delightful escapism.
2. Not even 24 hours after watching him make pasta and cake with Meghan, I saw Daniel Martin while on my way to pick up a lunch salad
March 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
AY has never seen Atonement or read its Wiki page, so he’s been reading the book with no idea of what’s going to happen. Currently ~15 pages away from the end, thinking Robbie and Cecilia got their happy ending. Can’t wait to see what happens when he finishes those 15 pages.
March 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Thrilled to announce that after 500 e-pages in the book *about LBJ in the senate*, LBJ has finally made his appearance in the senate. That’s the beauty of Robert Caro.
February 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
some London shots
📍Palace of Westminster, Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Courts of Justice
February 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Chili on the stove. Wings in the oven. Beer in fridge. Coat firmly stored in the closet, because thank goodness I’m hosting a Super Bowl party rather than traveling to one on a Sunday night with snowy slush on the NYC streets.
February 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Not all opinions are created equal. Not all views deserve to be treated with respect. Not all disagreements must be treated with dignity.
January 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
When comparing our lived realities to dystopian literature, people cite 1984/“Big Brother.” But the part we should really be focusing on is people in power manufacturing crises.
January 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Another 2025 wish is for people to decouple “tradwife” from “woman enjoying cooking.” The tradwife ideology is so much more insidious than baking bread. Just because a woman enjoys doing things in the kitchen does not make her a tradwife. And definitely don’t put that label on Meghan Markle
January 3, 2025 at 11:37 PM
There are many hopes I have for 2025, and one is that good writing with uncommon words is not discounted as AI. It takes effort, learning, and intention to write well and to use wide-ranging vocabulary. Being able to express thoughts/emotions/dreams through words is true great humanity.
January 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM