Growing up and devouring a sci-fi author's books but despising his politics seems to be a rite of passage. For me it was Heinlein. He wrote the most exciting galaxy spanning science fiction of anyone, but it is often infused with the most disturbing far right political rants, vile sexism and even the occasional…

... and as a transgender activist I am deeply embarrassed over it. Yes, that word should be excised, and those who use it chastised — but she APOLOGIZED. She stopped using the word. This is when we declare victory and go for milkshakes; we don't redouble our efforts!

@SissyVanDyke2: Your "best friends" aren't people you'd want to have dinner with?! Wow that's depressing.

The article says "Ms. Hou defeated another Chinese player, Ruan Lufei, in the final of the Women’s World Chess Championship."

Maybe its because chess players have small penises. And since women don't have penises...we can't have small penises...and thus can't play chess.

Similar to the issue with math and girls, I think some of it is that girls aren't as pushed/encouraged by parents and teachers. But knowing some very mathematically precocious girls, I think the studies that suggest that girls shy away from something they perceive as socially stigmatizing is also major factor, at…