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Showing posts from May, 2018

Politically incorrect insects

On a walk last week, one sunny, humid day in late May, I noticed the annual abundance of ladybird larvae underneath the trees in my neighbourhood.  I’ve always loved these little critters; after all, who doesn’t like an insectoid that looks like a dinosaur/alien hybrid made out of cooling lava, right? It got me wondering, though.  What should these ladybirdlets be called?  Girlybirds?  Ladychicks?  Girlychicks?  Yeah, I see it too.  Strangely, we use ladybird every day without thinking anything of it, but I actually spent most of that dog walk thinking about what a baby ladybird could be called and couldn’t come up with anything that was a fun play on words that didn’t sound hugely sexist. Now, to put something in perspective before I go any further.  I’m not a militant feminist who believes women should rule the world.  I believe that everyone should be treated equally and with respect.  Personally, I don’t care if someone is male, ...