Dan Li, Ph.D.
@dan-li-o.bsky.social
When I didn’t think I was one of the “girls,” I was winning in the boys’ game. It all started to change right when I fell in love with a boy. But there was no girls’ game, except for marrying a rich man.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
25 | Men are distractions, at best.
Father of your children, at worst.
open.substack.com
April 18, 2026 at 1:07 PM
When I didn’t think I was one of the “girls,” I was winning in the boys’ game. It all started to change right when I fell in love with a boy. But there was no girls’ game, except for marrying a rich man.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
https://nothingbut30.substack.com/p/22-my-one-day-as-an-internet-celebrity
April 4, 2026 at 3:56 AM
https://nothingbut30.substack.com/p/22-my-one-day-as-an-internet-celebrity
At least some people need to hear this: you don't have depression; you just deserve to be in a better situation.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
21 | I Don't Have Depression; Neither Do You.
Giving it a name and a pill is not a solution.
open.substack.com
April 3, 2026 at 1:54 AM
At least some people need to hear this: you don't have depression; you just deserve to be in a better situation.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
Taking a pill is much easier than fixing life problems, e.g., getting a divorce, a new job, moving elsewhere. But "easy" doesn't mean "right."
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/21-i-dont-...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/21-i-dont-...
21 | I Don't Have Depression; Neither Do You.
Giving it a name and a pill is not a solution.
nothingbut30.substack.com
April 1, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Taking a pill is much easier than fixing life problems, e.g., getting a divorce, a new job, moving elsewhere. But "easy" doesn't mean "right."
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/21-i-dont-...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/21-i-dont-...
The Fates is the best playwright. She creates tragedies from happiness. She seduces lovers to build the most tender trap -- before they could realize -- so that one can ruin the other, slowly, and in the name of "love."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
20 | Tender Trap
Do not go gentle into that tender trap...
open.substack.com
March 22, 2026 at 4:58 AM
The Fates is the best playwright. She creates tragedies from happiness. She seduces lovers to build the most tender trap -- before they could realize -- so that one can ruin the other, slowly, and in the name of "love."
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
We often assume that intimacy guarantees understanding—that sharing a roof, a bed, a life should make perspectives converge. What a fantasy.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
18 | Only a Mother Knows
On Standpoint, Care, and the Limits of Understanding
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:31 AM
We often assume that intimacy guarantees understanding—that sharing a roof, a bed, a life should make perspectives converge. What a fantasy.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
The first night home from the hospital, I moved slowly toward the toilet, my vulva aching with every step. As I bent my knees, urine surged out without warning, splashing over the seat and pooling across the tile. I froze, and then slowly sat on the toilet seat.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
18 | Only a Mother Knows
On Standpoint, Care, and the Limits of Understanding
open.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:18 AM
The first night home from the hospital, I moved slowly toward the toilet, my vulva aching with every step. As I bent my knees, urine surged out without warning, splashing over the seat and pooling across the tile. I froze, and then slowly sat on the toilet seat.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
We need mothers in workplaces, because--new essay--Only a Mother Knows: on standpoint, care, and limits of knowledge and understanding.
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/18-only-a-...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/18-only-a-...
18 | Only a Mother Knows
On Standpoint, Care, and the Limits of Understanding
nothingbut30.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:05 AM
We need mothers in workplaces, because--new essay--Only a Mother Knows: on standpoint, care, and limits of knowledge and understanding.
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/18-only-a-...
nothingbut30.substack.com/p/18-only-a-...
Daughter: Everybody loves everybody in this family!
Ryan: I'll teach you how to write that in predicate logic when you turn 7.
Me: For all x... Do?
Ryan: We don't use the do operator here.
Me: Except for between Dad and Mom?
Ryan:
Ryan: I'll teach you how to write that in predicate logic when you turn 7.
Me: For all x... Do?
Ryan: We don't use the do operator here.
Me: Except for between Dad and Mom?
Ryan:
a man in a suit and tie is holding a cup of coffee and says `` pfft '' .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is holding a cup of coffee and says `` pfft '' .
media.tenor.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Daughter: Everybody loves everybody in this family!
Ryan: I'll teach you how to write that in predicate logic when you turn 7.
Me: For all x... Do?
Ryan: We don't use the do operator here.
Me: Except for between Dad and Mom?
Ryan:
Ryan: I'll teach you how to write that in predicate logic when you turn 7.
Me: For all x... Do?
Ryan: We don't use the do operator here.
Me: Except for between Dad and Mom?
Ryan:
17 | Not a Very Good Mom
From a professor to a "not very good" stay-at-home mom
open.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:50 AM
Each choice I made to give up my own opportunities so that we can keep together as a family was obvious at the time, but inch by inch, they took away my career, identity, and the worst of all: confidence.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
17 | Not a Very Good Mom
From a professor to a "not very good" stay-at-home mom
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Each choice I made to give up my own opportunities so that we can keep together as a family was obvious at the time, but inch by inch, they took away my career, identity, and the worst of all: confidence.
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
When my toddler said I'm not a very good mom...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
17 | Not a Very Good Mom
From a professor to a "not very good" stay-at-home mom
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:14 PM
When my toddler said I'm not a very good mom...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
open.substack.com/pub/nothingb...
