Times of fragmentation call for a legible sense of order.
We’re pleased to introduce the 02025 issue of Pace Layers, Long Now’s annual print journal of long-term thinking. It explores the ancient past and distant future of the present moment.
A preview of what's inside ->
If anyone can teach us about the real-world consequences of cancel culture, it's @lydialaurenson.bsky.social
For the season finale of The Ick, her essay brings down the house: www.emilybynight.com/p/how-i-got-...
what happens with the radical left kicks you out for being too radical?
on The Ick: Kit reflects on fighting for sex worker rights in New Orleans, and the Marxists who turned their backs on her www.emilybynight.com/p/the-left-g...
ty!!
coming out today about having an eating disorder, and how this was related to/ caused by?/ exacerbated by my "tummy issues" aka IBS
"hot girls have tummy issues" is a funny meme, sure...but when you learn that 90% of women with IBS also have an eating disorder the meme seems morbidly twisted
what happens when a sidewalk fortune teller performs ego death on stage during an improv occult play?
one of the greatest disaster stories of our time!
New on The Ick: a story from @joetforhire.com that smashes the gas and doesn't let up
www.emilybynight.com/p/the-idiots...
lucky
Why do you hate the word "moist"? why do wet sounds like teeth-sucking, slurping, and swallowing evoke a sense of disgust and rage?
@jakee.bsky.social explains in dazzling detail on The Ick...
emilybynight.substack.com/p/the-moist-...
I lived at an anarchist commune for 3 years and learned a lot about “going viral”. Here's a story in three plagues.
Read my new piece in The Ick:
open.substack.com/pub/emilybyn...
It's hard not to agree with that one
Everyone knows laziness is unattractive.... but why is rolling dice off a table unsexy? running into a screen door?
@etirabys.bsky.social has such a fun and interesting explanation
Read it here -> www.emilybynight.com/p/is-the-ick...
2. Distance from a masculine archetype icks
- femininity or neoteny (e.g. wearing lip balm, eating sippy yogurt)
- physical fragility (e.g. standing naked waiting for the shower to get hot, blowing on food to cool it down)
3. Shirking work icks
(e.g.tried to fob off preparing food he wanted to eat)
Is "the ick" real? @etirabys.bsky.social investigated and found that women's icks fall into 3 main categories:
1. Raw fitness icks
- manual dexterity, tool use (e.g. rolling dice off table, running into screen door)
- cognitive inability (e.g. bad at spelling)
thanks, I created a midjourney model - I'm generating and graphic designing it myself
Why do men's feelings about motherhood often feel so idealistic and rigid? Why do they thought police the image of motherhood? what's going on? are men ok?
Season 4 of The Ick kicks off today with an absolute banger from
@eurydicelives.blogsky.venki.dev -> www.emilybynight.com/p/men-want-t...
my non-gardener friends never ask about my bone meal or NKP ratio - like do you even care about me
I would love it!
ty joe! so inspired by the concept country work fr (also do you want to write for this issue???)
Plus a PRINT magazine and reading event at the end of the season. this is truly my dream come true. tune iinnnnnnn substack.com/home/post/p-...
Thrilled to announce Season 4 of The Ick, featuring writing from @eurydicelives.blogsky.venki.dev, @jakee.bsky.social, @lydialaurenson.bsky.social, @ninatummyache.bsky.social, @deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com.deepfates.com + more surprise guests TBA!
or if you can't, you could contribute to the fundraiser? ily tysm mtyc.co/r7e1kf
ps you should come to the show 💋💋😎😎
starting a burlesque career in my late 30s, you can just do things
Hiiiii 🥰
do you put your elbows on the table, heathen? www.emilybynight.com/p/why-no-elb...
It's easier and harder than you think to give a good compliment to a stranger. Don't make it weird. Here's some advice, with help from @iwsfutcmd.bsky.social www.emilybynight.com/p/how-to-com...
Compliments you should NOT give to strangers:
- An obvious, striking feature ❌ "You're so tall"
- Transactional ❌ "I love your eyes, can I have your number?"
- Assumptions about age/gender ❌ "Wow, you look great for your age.”
- Body size ❌ "You're so pretty for [body size/shape]"
Compliments you should give to strangers:
Specific ✅ “Your tie and vest are so well-coordinated.”
Related to taste/style ✅ “That book is my favorite—great choice.”
No strings attached ✅ "You have such a warm smile!" said as you pass walking the opposite direction
