Mia Murphy 🏳️⚧️
@miamurphy.com
Chief Policy Officer, Michigan Association of State Universities. Trustee, Library of Michigan. MSU 06 / UChicago CIR 07 / MSU HALE PhD 24. She/her, but I grew up with pockets. Former husband & current wife of a wife. Personal account, skeets are my own.
In conclusion, any of us with PhDs or policy jobs working on college affordability can basically treat this classic xkcd comic as gospel. Students & parents have no idea how much college will cost them, they're terrified, and our haggling over "price" vs "cost" is for journals and reports only (5/X)
![the xkcd comic Average Familiarity at https://xkcd.com/2501/
[Ponytail and Cueball are talking. Ponytail has her hand raised, palm up, towards Cueball.]
Ponytail: Silicate chemistry is second nature to us geochemists, so it's easy to forget that the average person probably only knows the formulas for olivine and one or two feldspars.
Cueball: And quartz, of course.
Ponytail: Of course.
[Caption below the panel]
Even when they're trying to compensate for it, experts in anything wildly overestimate the average person's familiarity with their field.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uzfi6wm4fzhfjf2f65muroot/bafkreieikmvuvpb3ip2hugpb3hlhdz2y6ydd5xourylww7iwcpimiqicv4@jpeg)
December 28, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In conclusion, any of us with PhDs or policy jobs working on college affordability can basically treat this classic xkcd comic as gospel. Students & parents have no idea how much college will cost them, they're terrified, and our haggling over "price" vs "cost" is for journals and reports only (5/X)
Finally have a picture of myself hung up in our house to go with all the pictures of old me (with a bonus cameo from @cantb.bsky.social)
December 28, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Finally have a picture of myself hung up in our house to go with all the pictures of old me (with a bonus cameo from @cantb.bsky.social)
Tonight I live on the edge too
December 27, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Tonight I live on the edge too
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
December 26, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
If I didn't know then what I do now, I absolutely would have opted to magically be a cis man (this isn't possible, don't try it without a magic macguffin)
Knowing what I know now, I would have transitioned years ago. It's amazing. If you're thinking about it, know that cis people don't consider it
Knowing what I know now, I would have transitioned years ago. It's amazing. If you're thinking about it, know that cis people don't consider it
December 26, 2025 at 4:02 AM
If I didn't know then what I do now, I absolutely would have opted to magically be a cis man (this isn't possible, don't try it without a magic macguffin)
Knowing what I know now, I would have transitioned years ago. It's amazing. If you're thinking about it, know that cis people don't consider it
Knowing what I know now, I would have transitioned years ago. It's amazing. If you're thinking about it, know that cis people don't consider it
A. Kiwis, they're hilarious
B. I don't think about extinct animals much. Maybe a dodo in keeping with how funny I find flightless birds
B. I don't think about extinct animals much. Maybe a dodo in keeping with how funny I find flightless birds
December 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
A. Kiwis, they're hilarious
B. I don't think about extinct animals much. Maybe a dodo in keeping with how funny I find flightless birds
B. I don't think about extinct animals much. Maybe a dodo in keeping with how funny I find flightless birds
Please, I'm a transbian - many of the hottest women I know had to do a stint as a guy for a while
December 26, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Please, I'm a transbian - many of the hottest women I know had to do a stint as a guy for a while
Probably my charming personality, my sparkling wit, my cute face, and my incredible modesty
December 26, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Probably my charming personality, my sparkling wit, my cute face, and my incredible modesty
No, not at all. I never would have met my wife if I was always a girl, and I wouldn't likely have all my dear trans and NB friends.
The real thought experiment that seems to shock people is how much I just wanted to bargain to be an actual cis guy when I realized I wasn't one.
The real thought experiment that seems to shock people is how much I just wanted to bargain to be an actual cis guy when I realized I wasn't one.
December 26, 2025 at 3:34 AM
No, not at all. I never would have met my wife if I was always a girl, and I wouldn't likely have all my dear trans and NB friends.
The real thought experiment that seems to shock people is how much I just wanted to bargain to be an actual cis guy when I realized I wasn't one.
The real thought experiment that seems to shock people is how much I just wanted to bargain to be an actual cis guy when I realized I wasn't one.
Practice, practice, practice. Get a microfiber makeup remover pad so you don't have to burn through micellar water. I'm middle age and in an office setting, so I tend to be subtle, but you'd be surprised what just a basic eyeliner, mascara and lip color can do.
December 26, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Practice, practice, practice. Get a microfiber makeup remover pad so you don't have to burn through micellar water. I'm middle age and in an office setting, so I tend to be subtle, but you'd be surprised what just a basic eyeliner, mascara and lip color can do.
You should try it and find out, because every day I've had since I came out is better than before 😉
Honestly, some combination of having sisterhood and just liking how I look. And dresses.
Honestly, some combination of having sisterhood and just liking how I look. And dresses.
December 26, 2025 at 3:20 AM
You should try it and find out, because every day I've had since I came out is better than before 😉
Honestly, some combination of having sisterhood and just liking how I look. And dresses.
Honestly, some combination of having sisterhood and just liking how I look. And dresses.
I don't know that I'm "after" transition necessarily. Not sure if this means things that are more fun now or good ways to celebrate.
If former, hanging out with other women, the beach, dark chocolate, living my daily life, and {redacted}
If former, hanging out with other women, the beach, dark chocolate, living my daily life, and {redacted}
December 26, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I don't know that I'm "after" transition necessarily. Not sure if this means things that are more fun now or good ways to celebrate.
If former, hanging out with other women, the beach, dark chocolate, living my daily life, and {redacted}
If former, hanging out with other women, the beach, dark chocolate, living my daily life, and {redacted}
Oh, I don't know. I've only ever lived here and Chicago. Money no object, it would be nice to be in a place that has the trifecta of swimmable water, sun, and civil rights. Mediterranean is the the dream. I've never really considered moving except for jobs before.
December 26, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Oh, I don't know. I've only ever lived here and Chicago. Money no object, it would be nice to be in a place that has the trifecta of swimmable water, sun, and civil rights. Mediterranean is the the dream. I've never really considered moving except for jobs before.
This is the result of years of reading Dave Barry books from the 80s as a weirdo teen, working on impressions, and reciting SNL sketches verbatim
December 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
This is the result of years of reading Dave Barry books from the 80s as a weirdo teen, working on impressions, and reciting SNL sketches verbatim
Probably directly stating what I want and need and holding my ground instead of just going along with the current.
I still haven't figured out how to use a curling iron.
I still haven't figured out how to use a curling iron.
December 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Probably directly stating what I want and need and holding my ground instead of just going along with the current.
I still haven't figured out how to use a curling iron.
I still haven't figured out how to use a curling iron.
I wash my face everyday in the shower with a cloth and gentle face cleanser. I shave most days if I'm leaving the house with a Norelco OneBlade, and apply moisturizer afterwards - one w/ spf if it's sunny
I epilate legs in the warm months and don't bother in winter. Same with shaving underarms.
I epilate legs in the warm months and don't bother in winter. Same with shaving underarms.
December 26, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I wash my face everyday in the shower with a cloth and gentle face cleanser. I shave most days if I'm leaving the house with a Norelco OneBlade, and apply moisturizer afterwards - one w/ spf if it's sunny
I epilate legs in the warm months and don't bother in winter. Same with shaving underarms.
I epilate legs in the warm months and don't bother in winter. Same with shaving underarms.
Honestly, that it's gone so well? I was very afraid of how it was going to go when I came out, but I am very lucky and well supported overall. I'm cuter than I had hoped and I don't get misgendered.
I'm sorry that others don't all have this experience, though. I know I'm an outlier
I'm sorry that others don't all have this experience, though. I know I'm an outlier
December 26, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Honestly, that it's gone so well? I was very afraid of how it was going to go when I came out, but I am very lucky and well supported overall. I'm cuter than I had hoped and I don't get misgendered.
I'm sorry that others don't all have this experience, though. I know I'm an outlier
I'm sorry that others don't all have this experience, though. I know I'm an outlier
I have my suspicions on who did this one, but I'd need more wine before I admit to anything on main. You're asking for the moon here
December 26, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I have my suspicions on who did this one, but I'd need more wine before I admit to anything on main. You're asking for the moon here
Lol @briesmith.xyz, love you too, you bitch
December 26, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Lol @briesmith.xyz, love you too, you bitch
Lol @mrbtx.bsky.social
I had some growing up but I didn't know what I was doing. I did like making Styrofoam terrain one time with my uncle's Warhammer tools, though
I had some growing up but I didn't know what I was doing. I did like making Styrofoam terrain one time with my uncle's Warhammer tools, though
December 26, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Lol @mrbtx.bsky.social
I had some growing up but I didn't know what I was doing. I did like making Styrofoam terrain one time with my uncle's Warhammer tools, though
I had some growing up but I didn't know what I was doing. I did like making Styrofoam terrain one time with my uncle's Warhammer tools, though
This was a solid runner up, and I'm realizing I enjoy red
December 24, 2025 at 11:27 PM
This was a solid runner up, and I'm realizing I enjoy red
Quote your favorite pic from 2025
December 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Quote your favorite pic from 2025