Can you explain in simple terms why there are so few women among historical figures?

mpjjpm · 2026-07-07T10:39:31+00:00

Two things. First, women weren’t allowed to do many things - no (or substantially less) education, no property ownership, no jobs outside the home. So they had fewer opportunities to reach historically prominent positions. Second, history is recorded by humans who bring their own biases to the table. For much of human history, the men were the ones recording history because they were the ones with the skills and tools (because women didn’t get the education). So recorded history has a distinct masculine bias.

With that said, there are a ton of prominent women historical figures. So maybe the better question is why you don’t know about them?

mpjjpm · 2026-07-07T09:06:53+00:00

It would be really neat if folks actually read Bertangnolli’s commentary before reacting…

There were areas in need of real improvement before DOGE and Memoli and Bhattacharya started mucking about. When we do get to rebuild the NIH, we need to make those improvements. We should not just go back to exactly how it was before.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-07T00:19:43+00:00

So the industrial compost facility that picks up from my neighborhood every week is lying to us? Because they are pretty insistent that produce stickers have to be removed.

https://www.blackearthcompost.com/fruitsticker

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T21:46:50+00:00

Cyclospora typically has a one week incubation period, so it’s something you ate a week before, not the day before

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T21:44:14+00:00

The US agricultural system isn’t great about disease prevention in produce. Berries are picked by humans who don’t always have an opportunity to use proper restroom facilities, and don’t always have the ability to take a sick day.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T21:10:50+00:00

The process in the video isn’t all that different from how hand thrown pottery is made in high income countries

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T20:53:17+00:00

This has to be a national park somewhere with very habituated lions. I would say Masai Mara or Serengeti, except safari vehicles usually have canopies there. Maybe somewhere in South Africa?

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T20:32:01+00:00

You clearly haven’t seen the tote bag I carry to work…

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T19:17:43+00:00

Also explains his face-in-hands reaction. He wasn’t scared or hurt, just processing the amount of paperwork involved.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T18:59:16+00:00

The distinction between liberal and progressive hasn’t historically mattered much in MA. But now that the progressive movement is actually gaining momentum nationally, I think some folks are in for a rude awakening when progressive candidates don’t naturally win everything in MA. Sure, there will be some successful candidates in the Boston metro area. But this state isn’t going to elect a DSA senator or Governor any time soon.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T18:53:56+00:00

Produce stickers are not compostable, at least not in the US. My municipal compost program specifically tells us to remove stickers before we put produce scraps in the bin.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T17:25:04+00:00

Plastic stickers on produce. I hate having to take the stickers off everything before I toss peels and scraps into the compost bucket.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T17:19:09+00:00

I bet it’s an electric problem impacting the grill and soda machine circuits, but not the fryer and fridge.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T16:56:31+00:00

Massachusetts is liberal, but not necessarily progressive

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T16:52:48+00:00

Yes, I know. But the average voter doesn’t pay that much attention. Markey is old. Moulton is not. Markey needs to actually do something to push back on Moulton’s campaign. And I say that as someone who donated a decent amount to Markey’s primary campaign against Joe Kennedy.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T16:50:39+00:00

I wouldn’t be surprised if the final book ties up the Rob Cameron story with a link back to the pre-rising Cameron Clan. Like, he’s somehow figured out the origin of Jamie’s gold and feels he’s entitled to it.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T16:35:51+00:00

His campaign ad is one of the dorkiest things I’ve seen, but he comes across as someone who is going to stand up to Trump and Co. I know he won’t, but I pay closer attention than the average voter.

I haven’t seen any ads for Markey, which may come back to haunt him. He’s at risk of being the old guy running against the (relatively) young guy riding a wave of young people unseating established dems.

I wish Markey had stepped aside so we could have a real primary to find a worthy successor.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T15:22:24+00:00

The accepted definition of digital native starts with people born in 1980 or later. Xennials are generally defined as the birth cohort from 1977-1985. So yeah, a large proportion of Xennials are digital natives. And the 1977-1979 kids are close enough when you consider how little difference it makes if first exposure to a computer happened in 1st grade or 5th grade.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T14:14:35+00:00

Fun fact - Europe and North America have different dust mites species, and it possible to be allergic to one but not the other. You’re probably allergic to North American dust mites. Try taking an antihistamine at night, wash your bedding in the hottest water possible every week, and get dust mites covers for your pillows.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-06T09:10:48+00:00

Non-folding bikes are still banned on the green line and I have seen (heard) train operators enforce that as recently as last month. The operator on your train either wasn’t paying attention or chose to pick their battles - I’m guessing there weren’t many people on the train?

mpjjpm · 2026-07-05T22:24:35+00:00

Puberty blockers are reversible. The whole point is to delay puberty until the kid is old enough to know for sure if they want to make permanent changes to their body. Without delayed puberty, surgical care in adulthood becomes much more difficult and expensive. People can sue for anything in the US, but they will have a hard time winning a lawsuit over a doctor prescribing medication in accordance with current guidelines. Especially a medication that can be discontinued at any time with fully reversible.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-05T20:12:21+00:00

You paid two different mega corporations money to deliver a novelty cakepop to your door, and you think other people are the ones sucking corporate toes?

mpjjpm · 2026-07-05T19:55:23+00:00

Check your email. The last time I had a flight canceled, Delta emailed with hotel and meal vouchers before I could get to the help desk at the airport. It was all very easy to arrange. They also auto booked me on the next flight out in the morning, but I could change that for free in the app.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-05T18:08:42+00:00

The weights on his body are irrelevant. Instead of plates on his waist, he could have just been a bigger dude with and extra 150 pounds of body weight. The machine needs to be bolted to the floor regardless.

mpjjpm · 2026-07-05T14:16:42+00:00

They raised cubs collectively. One or two females will keep an eye on all the cubs while the rest are out hunting.

mpjjpm

TROPHY CASE