abby
@mlejnas.bsky.social
Good at books, terrible at the world.
I’m terribly behind on French politics & culture—your essay whets my appetite to read Carrère,
especially V13. Do you like him?
especially V13. Do you like him?
November 16, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I’m terribly behind on French politics & culture—your essay whets my appetite to read Carrère,
especially V13. Do you like him?
especially V13. Do you like him?
This is powerful stuff
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 AM
This is powerful stuff
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
indeed—reads like the 1st chapter of a book exposing/opposing threats to the French intellectual tradition you revere, threaded through with your own participation in it. I’d love to read that, as would others (esp in the States owing to our envy). You could take on BHL!
Kudos to you for not only finding time to write, but undertaking such a cogent, thorough analysis! You lay out all the pertinent facts so well. Must be why you’re a journalist :) Had no idea the College de France was repeating
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Kudos to you for not only finding time to write, but undertaking such a cogent, thorough analysis! You lay out all the pertinent facts so well. Must be why you’re a journalist :) Had no idea the College de France was repeating
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
Columbia’s mistakes. Do you expect this to culminate in a similar crisis?
Wow, that beats anything I’ve not only seen myself but heard of! Do you still have it?
November 13, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Wow, that beats anything I’ve not only seen myself but heard of! Do you still have it?
To vastly oversimplify, as the rural US has declined into obscurity, they’ve clung to notions of their culture (an invented tradition) exemplified by a pro-business, self-reliantly blustering “Heartland” Christianity opposed
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
November 13, 2025 at 10:16 AM
To vastly oversimplify, as the rural US has declined into obscurity, they’ve clung to notions of their culture (an invented tradition) exemplified by a pro-business, self-reliantly blustering “Heartland” Christianity opposed
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
to the urban poor & the professional class, equally on the make & the take.
Thank you, you’re very kind! Stupid people like Trump are all cartoonish types, aren’t they.
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Thank you, you’re very kind! Stupid people like Trump are all cartoonish types, aren’t they.
Hope you have excellent luck finding a first-rate apt! It’s hard work but must move quickly—a good time to look, I would think.
November 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Hope you have excellent luck finding a first-rate apt! It’s hard work but must move quickly—a good time to look, I would think.
That’s so cool! Very little left on the curb doesn’t find a new home, saved from the landfill, especially now that people post photos. People
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
That’s so cool! Very little left on the curb doesn’t find a new home, saved from the landfill, especially now that people post photos. People
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
find room, somehow, for enormous antique pieces.
Good points. I’m speaking more from personal experience than statistically, having watched the people I grew up with turn MAGA, as well as having taught in predominantly GOP areas. My husband teaches at an elite prep school, so we do see the self-serving politics of the rich.
November 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Good points. I’m speaking more from personal experience than statistically, having watched the people I grew up with turn MAGA, as well as having taught in predominantly GOP areas. My husband teaches at an elite prep school, so we do see the self-serving politics of the rich.
So well put, exactly my experience, too. Though less in NYC than elsewhere because we have so little room. Functionality over aesthetics, for now.
November 9, 2025 at 1:48 AM
So well put, exactly my experience, too. Though less in NYC than elsewhere because we have so little room. Functionality over aesthetics, for now.
Sounds like you may need a vacation! Don’t we all? :)
November 9, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Sounds like you may need a vacation! Don’t we all? :)
What a great story! My NYC welcome: After explaining to a clerk at a costume jeweler that all
of my jewelry had been stolen during my move, another customer rushed up to me and pressed a box into my hands. It was a dainty necklace.
of my jewelry had been stolen during my move, another customer rushed up to me and pressed a box into my hands. It was a dainty necklace.
November 9, 2025 at 1:43 AM
What a great story! My NYC welcome: After explaining to a clerk at a costume jeweler that all
of my jewelry had been stolen during my move, another customer rushed up to me and pressed a box into my hands. It was a dainty necklace.
of my jewelry had been stolen during my move, another customer rushed up to me and pressed a box into my hands. It was a dainty necklace.
Well, the working class is understandably more pessimistic and conservative than the professional class.
November 9, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Well, the working class is understandably more pessimistic and conservative than the professional class.
Yes, west of Broadway all the way to Inwood is quiet and lovely.
November 9, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Yes, west of Broadway all the way to Inwood is quiet and lovely.
The most diffident people I’ve come across here are my French neighbors across the hall. :)
November 8, 2025 at 6:11 AM
The most diffident people I’ve come across here are my French neighbors across the hall. :)
I’ve heard that the French can be quite insular, as can rural Americans. I’ve lived all over the US, and NYC is the friendliest & kindest, perhaps because nearly everyone is a fairly recent transplant; we’re all endeavoring to thrive in challenging circumstances. A very live and let live attitude.
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM
I’ve heard that the French can be quite insular, as can rural Americans. I’ve lived all over the US, and NYC is the friendliest & kindest, perhaps because nearly everyone is a fairly recent transplant; we’re all endeavoring to thrive in challenging circumstances. A very live and let live attitude.
I don’t know—perhaps their youth and class? I wish them great success! The US remains an optimistic, energetic country, at least on the East and West coasts.
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 AM
I don’t know—perhaps their youth and class? I wish them great success! The US remains an optimistic, energetic country, at least on the East and West coasts.
There are areas way uptown where you can rent a place for under $2500–where we’ll look after our 6-yr lease is up, subsidized by the school where my husband teaches. Rents have skyrocketed everywhere in the US because we haven’t built enough housing.
November 8, 2025 at 5:44 AM
There are areas way uptown where you can rent a place for under $2500–where we’ll look after our 6-yr lease is up, subsidized by the school where my husband teaches. Rents have skyrocketed everywhere in the US because we haven’t built enough housing.
Sorry, I have no idea what this attachment is or where it came from.
November 7, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Sorry, I have no idea what this attachment is or where it came from.
The area where you lived now starts at 4k for a basic market-rate 1-bedroom. M is savvy not to promise the impossible—he aims to pause rent increases for rent-stabilized units, which can be done but is likely to decrease vacancies. Need to build in a NIMBY, heavily-regulated environment.
m.is – einfaldar málið
M.is er vefur sem gerir orðabækur og upplýsingar um íslenska tungu aðgengilegri fyrir yngra fólk og fólk sem er að læra íslensku sem annað mál.
M.is
November 7, 2025 at 5:02 AM
The area where you lived now starts at 4k for a basic market-rate 1-bedroom. M is savvy not to promise the impossible—he aims to pause rent increases for rent-stabilized units, which can be done but is likely to decrease vacancies. Need to build in a NIMBY, heavily-regulated environment.
A confounding and complicated question, as you know. In this case, I think poor people who vote (older, have addresses) have NYCHA housing, Medicaid, & food assistance. They’re more concerned about crime in low-income housing than affordability. They’re not on social media and have heard of Cuomo.
November 7, 2025 at 4:46 AM
A confounding and complicated question, as you know. In this case, I think poor people who vote (older, have addresses) have NYCHA housing, Medicaid, & food assistance. They’re more concerned about crime in low-income housing than affordability. They’re not on social media and have heard of Cuomo.
And the food here is so unhealthy. At least New Yorkers walk, unlike the rest of the country.
November 7, 2025 at 4:36 AM
And the food here is so unhealthy. At least New Yorkers walk, unlike the rest of the country.
Interesting! Yes, Mamdani is a gifted politician who seeks out and establishes good rapport with a variety of people. His energy & optimism give us all hope despite formidable obstacles.
November 7, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Interesting! Yes, Mamdani is a gifted politician who seeks out and establishes good rapport with a variety of people. His energy & optimism give us all hope despite formidable obstacles.
:) The US BNGs are inspired by anti-waste and anti-consumerism, but in practice members use them to offload unwanted stuff, especially when moving. That said, I came to NYC with very little & have acquired most of what I need (plus a wonderful new wardrobe) from my group, as well as good friends.
November 7, 2025 at 4:26 AM
:) The US BNGs are inspired by anti-waste and anti-consumerism, but in practice members use them to offload unwanted stuff, especially when moving. That said, I came to NYC with very little & have acquired most of what I need (plus a wonderful new wardrobe) from my group, as well as good friends.