Greg Lester
@lstr.bsky.social
Dad. Communications consultant/science writer guy. America's leading lawn gnome critic. Likes: bikes, science, camping, travel, frugality. Dislikes: lawn gnomes without eyes, quick declines into fascism.
Pictured, Tonka as a young man
Pictured, Tonka as a young man
Today, my 82-year-old mother texted me what I think is her first emoji.
It was 🤪, which earns bonus points for difficulty.
It was 🤪, which earns bonus points for difficulty.
December 5, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Today, my 82-year-old mother texted me what I think is her first emoji.
It was 🤪, which earns bonus points for difficulty.
It was 🤪, which earns bonus points for difficulty.
This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use, wonderful old Building and Loan is illegal to build in many American cities.
December 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
This kind of smart, walkable, mixed-use, wonderful old Building and Loan is illegal to build in many American cities.
"Psst...Pete hit a deer and was too drunk to notice that it was still embedded in his grill. Hungry?"
December 4, 2025 at 5:36 PM
"Psst...Pete hit a deer and was too drunk to notice that it was still embedded in his grill. Hungry?"
OK, hear me out, #Bikesky
The Rebel Endor Trooper Helmet could make for a good bike helmet. If I understand correctly, they were made from a WWII under-helmet head sock thingy (with ear protection) and a patka ballistic helmet (the donut bit).
The Rebel Endor Trooper Helmet could make for a good bike helmet. If I understand correctly, they were made from a WWII under-helmet head sock thingy (with ear protection) and a patka ballistic helmet (the donut bit).
December 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM
OK, hear me out, #Bikesky
The Rebel Endor Trooper Helmet could make for a good bike helmet. If I understand correctly, they were made from a WWII under-helmet head sock thingy (with ear protection) and a patka ballistic helmet (the donut bit).
The Rebel Endor Trooper Helmet could make for a good bike helmet. If I understand correctly, they were made from a WWII under-helmet head sock thingy (with ear protection) and a patka ballistic helmet (the donut bit).
Reposted by Greg Lester
To be very clear, Kennedy's team is messing with a vaccine which has led to a 99 percent drop in the incidence of hepatitis B, which kills, early and painfully, 25 percent of the people who get it as children. lnk.thebulwark.com/3Xt957M
RFK’s Anti-Vax Team Readies Its Next Moves
“Their game is, let’s really destabilize trust in the vaccine, and make people really anxious about it.”
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
To be very clear, Kennedy's team is messing with a vaccine which has led to a 99 percent drop in the incidence of hepatitis B, which kills, early and painfully, 25 percent of the people who get it as children. lnk.thebulwark.com/3Xt957M
Again, I will ask, is there any outlet keeping a running tally of all the various war crimes, grifts, actionable abuses of power, and other bits of administrative malfeasance?
It seems more than just a bit, especially when you fold in all the corrupt, unethical, and wasteful acts of Cabinet crooks.
It seems more than just a bit, especially when you fold in all the corrupt, unethical, and wasteful acts of Cabinet crooks.
1. Jared Kushner's trip to Moscow yesterday was not just unethical; it was illegal.
You cannot accept tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments and simultaneously conduct high-level diplomacy for the federal government.
It says it right in the Constitution.
You cannot accept tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments and simultaneously conduct high-level diplomacy for the federal government.
It says it right in the Constitution.
Kushner’s Moscow mission wasn’t just corrupt. It was unconstitutional.
Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, has been traveling the world to participate in high-stakes foreign policy negotiations on behalf of the president.
popular.info
December 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Again, I will ask, is there any outlet keeping a running tally of all the various war crimes, grifts, actionable abuses of power, and other bits of administrative malfeasance?
It seems more than just a bit, especially when you fold in all the corrupt, unethical, and wasteful acts of Cabinet crooks.
It seems more than just a bit, especially when you fold in all the corrupt, unethical, and wasteful acts of Cabinet crooks.
Our man, Tonka, turns 13 this year, and he's noticeably slowed over the last few months. All of his similarly aged friends have gone, except one.
My feed is full of posts about expired pets, and it is killing me.
My feed is full of posts about expired pets, and it is killing me.
December 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Our man, Tonka, turns 13 this year, and he's noticeably slowed over the last few months. All of his similarly aged friends have gone, except one.
My feed is full of posts about expired pets, and it is killing me.
My feed is full of posts about expired pets, and it is killing me.
Ah, the party of freedom demands a dress code.
When they get back to offering civilized service to steerage class on airplanes, AND when they stop making me take off my belt and shoes when checking in, I might consider ditching the crocs and sweats on the flight.
When they get back to offering civilized service to steerage class on airplanes, AND when they stop making me take off my belt and shoes when checking in, I might consider ditching the crocs and sweats on the flight.
Duffy: "We've asked Americans to bring their better selves, to bring the civility back to travel. To say please and thank you ... maybe not wear pajamas or slippers on the airplane."
December 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Ah, the party of freedom demands a dress code.
When they get back to offering civilized service to steerage class on airplanes, AND when they stop making me take off my belt and shoes when checking in, I might consider ditching the crocs and sweats on the flight.
When they get back to offering civilized service to steerage class on airplanes, AND when they stop making me take off my belt and shoes when checking in, I might consider ditching the crocs and sweats on the flight.
Something so tritely vile that Lovecraft used it as shorthand for the murderous evil of a U-boat captain in a short story published 100 years ago (Sept 1925, Weird Tales).
We are being led by corrupt, cartoonish villains and their incompetent lackeys.
We are being led by corrupt, cartoonish villains and their incompetent lackeys.
December 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Something so tritely vile that Lovecraft used it as shorthand for the murderous evil of a U-boat captain in a short story published 100 years ago (Sept 1925, Weird Tales).
We are being led by corrupt, cartoonish villains and their incompetent lackeys.
We are being led by corrupt, cartoonish villains and their incompetent lackeys.
I'm very much against cruelty to robots, which probably has more to do with growing up on Star Wars more than any ethics about emerging sentience or a Pascal's wager-style bet on the chance robots take over.
Still, I'm with all the bikers willing to kick 'em out of the bike lane.
Still, I'm with all the bikers willing to kick 'em out of the bike lane.
DoorDash Plans to Send Autonomous Robots into Bike Lanes.
momentummag.com/doordash-pla...
momentummag.com/doordash-pla...
DoorDash Plans to Send Autonomous Robots into Bike Lanes | Momentum Mag | Momentum Mag
DoorDash has begun rolling out Dot, its new autonomous delivery robot — a sleek, all-electric bot that can hit speeds of up to 20mph.
momentummag.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I'm very much against cruelty to robots, which probably has more to do with growing up on Star Wars more than any ethics about emerging sentience or a Pascal's wager-style bet on the chance robots take over.
Still, I'm with all the bikers willing to kick 'em out of the bike lane.
Still, I'm with all the bikers willing to kick 'em out of the bike lane.
So, is nobody using "Vote Early, Vote Aftyn"?
You might as well, and it will take the wind out of the inevitable false Republican claims of voter fraud.
You might as well, and it will take the wind out of the inevitable false Republican claims of voter fraud.
TN-07!
Election Day is tomorrow 12/2!
GOTV for Aftyn Behn.
Aftyn is running for you. She wants to help alleviate the economic suffering for every day working folks. If you’re getting crushed under the weight of the high food & housing costs, make a change & vote Blue!
#ResistanceUnited #Pinks
Election Day is tomorrow 12/2!
GOTV for Aftyn Behn.
Aftyn is running for you. She wants to help alleviate the economic suffering for every day working folks. If you’re getting crushed under the weight of the high food & housing costs, make a change & vote Blue!
#ResistanceUnited #Pinks
December 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
So, is nobody using "Vote Early, Vote Aftyn"?
You might as well, and it will take the wind out of the inevitable false Republican claims of voter fraud.
You might as well, and it will take the wind out of the inevitable false Republican claims of voter fraud.
A dog remembers
His mothers tongue
The threat of a raised hand
Which crossing guards have treats
The squeak of an old toy
Smells of friends long gone
His mothers tongue
The threat of a raised hand
Which crossing guards have treats
The squeak of an old toy
Smells of friends long gone
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 AM
A dog remembers
His mothers tongue
The threat of a raised hand
Which crossing guards have treats
The squeak of an old toy
Smells of friends long gone
His mothers tongue
The threat of a raised hand
Which crossing guards have treats
The squeak of an old toy
Smells of friends long gone
Franklin was correct in that they are fierce, majestic birds, and this is a triumph. Also, they're totally jerks and you should stay far away from these little dinosaurs.
We nearly lost wild turkeys--but now they're thriving. Here's their story: 🧪 🌎 www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis...
Wild Turkeys Went from Almost Gone to Millions Strong
Wild turkeys once nearly disappeared, but today they’re thriving.
www.scientificamerican.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Franklin was correct in that they are fierce, majestic birds, and this is a triumph. Also, they're totally jerks and you should stay far away from these little dinosaurs.
Just a reminder that our current model for a green utopia is contingent on several dark dystopias being developed elsewhere.
Poisonous falls from the sky over the town of Ogijo, near Lagos, Nigeria. It coats kitchen floors, vegetable gardens, churchyards and schoolyards.
The toxic soot billows from crude factories that recycle lead for American companies.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The toxic soot billows from crude factories that recycle lead for American companies.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Recycling Lead for U.S. Car Batteries Is Poisoning People
We documented the toxic fallout of a green technology.
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Just a reminder that our current model for a green utopia is contingent on several dark dystopias being developed elsewhere.
This is worth your time. Also, your concern if not outright anger.
These MAHA arsonists destroyed our way to control disease and fund medical research. Imperfect, perhaps, but we attracted global talent.
It is being replaced by a scheme supported by legions of grifters, nuts, and fraudsters.
These MAHA arsonists destroyed our way to control disease and fund medical research. Imperfect, perhaps, but we attracted global talent.
It is being replaced by a scheme supported by legions of grifters, nuts, and fraudsters.
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
This is worth your time. Also, your concern if not outright anger.
These MAHA arsonists destroyed our way to control disease and fund medical research. Imperfect, perhaps, but we attracted global talent.
It is being replaced by a scheme supported by legions of grifters, nuts, and fraudsters.
These MAHA arsonists destroyed our way to control disease and fund medical research. Imperfect, perhaps, but we attracted global talent.
It is being replaced by a scheme supported by legions of grifters, nuts, and fraudsters.
Some light reading for your morning coffee. Faust and Rasmussen take down Battacharya line by line.
Enjoy, weep for what we have become, or both!
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
Enjoy, weep for what we have become, or both!
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
A rebuttal to NIH leadership's screed against pandemic preparedness.
Dr. Angela Rasmussen joins Inside Medicine for a tag-team response to a poorly reasoned essay by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and his deputy, Dr. Matthew Memoli.
insidemedicine.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Some light reading for your morning coffee. Faust and Rasmussen take down Battacharya line by line.
Enjoy, weep for what we have become, or both!
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
Enjoy, weep for what we have become, or both!
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/a-rebuttal...
NIH funding isn't just a spigot you can turn on or off.
In research, labs close, programs end, & student leave the sciences.
For clinical trials, it isn't "not paying Big Pharma." Small, site-led trials end, innovation halts, and patients can't access potentially life-saving protocols.
In research, labs close, programs end, & student leave the sciences.
For clinical trials, it isn't "not paying Big Pharma." Small, site-led trials end, innovation halts, and patients can't access potentially life-saving protocols.
Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health
www.scientificamerican.com/article/halt...
Sickle cell disease, sleep disorders and lung cancer & much more
A dive into the list of NIH's 383 shelved clinical trials, obtained by Scientific American
www.scientificamerican.com/article/halt...
Sickle cell disease, sleep disorders and lung cancer & much more
A dive into the list of NIH's 383 shelved clinical trials, obtained by Scientific American
Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health
The National Institutes of Health has canceled funding for at least 383 clinical trials in the last year, affecting some 74,000 participants
www.scientificamerican.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:23 PM
NIH funding isn't just a spigot you can turn on or off.
In research, labs close, programs end, & student leave the sciences.
For clinical trials, it isn't "not paying Big Pharma." Small, site-led trials end, innovation halts, and patients can't access potentially life-saving protocols.
In research, labs close, programs end, & student leave the sciences.
For clinical trials, it isn't "not paying Big Pharma." Small, site-led trials end, innovation halts, and patients can't access potentially life-saving protocols.
Rebecca Watson is a goddamn delight who brooks no nonsense.
Mainstream news covered the Jeffrey Epstein emails related to ppl like Trump. Today, I want to take a look at Epstein's correspondence with prominent atheist and physicist Lawrence Krauss, who asked the pedophile's advice on responding to accusations of sexual assault skepchick.org/2025/11/so-i...
So I’m in the Epstein Files
Transcript: Look. I know that on this channel, I often criticize prominent people for actions that I find detestable: accepting dark money and failing to disclose it, producing propaganda for Big O…
skepchick.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Rebecca Watson is a goddamn delight who brooks no nonsense.
Reposted by Greg Lester
RFK Jr had committed to Bill Cassidy, as a condition to win his vote, that he would keep website language.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 AM
RFK Jr had committed to Bill Cassidy, as a condition to win his vote, that he would keep website language.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Hi, Pennsylvanian here. To be fair, it was either him or Dr. Oz, so I think we did the best with what we had.
Still, hard to believe this schmuck has only been in office two years.
Still, hard to believe this schmuck has only been in office two years.
A former Fetterman advisor texted me: “I think what comes across is the reality of who he is, which is a petulant child who never became a man and is always the victim of his own narrative—even though he’s never had a real job and lives off his dad’s money. It's all pretty sad and pathetic."
John Fetterman's Memoir Is As Low-Effort As His Senate Tenure | Defector
John Fetterman’s just-released memoir, Unfettered, argues that he’s turned a corner and has everything under control. Fetterman was a “stubborn asshole” (his words), he was clinically depressed, he wa...
defector.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Hi, Pennsylvanian here. To be fair, it was either him or Dr. Oz, so I think we did the best with what we had.
Still, hard to believe this schmuck has only been in office two years.
Still, hard to believe this schmuck has only been in office two years.
So, my Scout troop is doing its annual Town Square cleanup, which is nice. We're also collecting food for the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, which is important.
Each week, long lines form at JFC to collect & distribute food to hungry families in the 'burbs, as well as NE & NW Philly.
Please help
Each week, long lines form at JFC to collect & distribute food to hungry families in the 'burbs, as well as NE & NW Philly.
Please help
November 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
So, my Scout troop is doing its annual Town Square cleanup, which is nice. We're also collecting food for the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, which is important.
Each week, long lines form at JFC to collect & distribute food to hungry families in the 'burbs, as well as NE & NW Philly.
Please help
Each week, long lines form at JFC to collect & distribute food to hungry families in the 'burbs, as well as NE & NW Philly.
Please help
It took me a second, but Hassett reminds me of Michael Emerson doing one of his insufferably smug villain characters like Ben Linus from Lost or Leland from Evil.
No offense intended to Mr. Emerson, he's really good at making me want to hate him. Acting!
No offense intended to Mr. Emerson, he's really good at making me want to hate him. Acting!
KARL: The president claims that Thanksgiving costs are down 25%. Does he know that's not true?
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
November 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
It took me a second, but Hassett reminds me of Michael Emerson doing one of his insufferably smug villain characters like Ben Linus from Lost or Leland from Evil.
No offense intended to Mr. Emerson, he's really good at making me want to hate him. Acting!
No offense intended to Mr. Emerson, he's really good at making me want to hate him. Acting!
Reposted by Greg Lester
Now is the time to prepare to not set your house on fire this Thanksgiving.
November 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Now is the time to prepare to not set your house on fire this Thanksgiving.
So, the cat is apparently a mouser, but not the killing kind. So this guy was relocated to the park by the train station. Banished
November 15, 2025 at 10:25 PM
So, the cat is apparently a mouser, but not the killing kind. So this guy was relocated to the park by the train station. Banished
Let me put this out there to my fellow rudderless middle-aged humans: this is where we need your expertise.
Stop the endless doomscrolling and set up neighborhood repair clinics or bike co-ops.
It will keep you out of trouble and focused on improving other people's lives. We call it a purpose.
Stop the endless doomscrolling and set up neighborhood repair clinics or bike co-ops.
It will keep you out of trouble and focused on improving other people's lives. We call it a purpose.
The rise and rise of the Repair Cafe: insideclimatenews.org/news/1111202...
A Growing Number of ‘Repair Cafes’ Are Popping Up Around the World to Curb Consumer Waste - Inside Climate News
Local communities are hosting events where people can bring in their broken goods for repairs—free of charge.
insideclimatenews.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Let me put this out there to my fellow rudderless middle-aged humans: this is where we need your expertise.
Stop the endless doomscrolling and set up neighborhood repair clinics or bike co-ops.
It will keep you out of trouble and focused on improving other people's lives. We call it a purpose.
Stop the endless doomscrolling and set up neighborhood repair clinics or bike co-ops.
It will keep you out of trouble and focused on improving other people's lives. We call it a purpose.