call-me-rucy

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"do you want women competing against trans athletes" yes? I also want women competing against male athletes. and competing alongside them. because segregating sports by gender is extremely shitty actually?

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Sorry to be that person, but "girl math" doesn't mean "girls are bad at math". It's a way of saying "how many women use math irl"

Like "If I get hit with armor, it doesn't count because my health remains the same"

Or "I returned $30 and spent $5, that's a net positive, so I basically got this for free"

Not that girls literally don't understand math and don't get that things cost money. It's a simplification of thought processes and analysis, actually implying high-level thinking, not "girls are so bad at math we don't even try"

I know, it's not that serious, but taken out of context it sounds worse than it is.

ohhhhhhhh my god you cannot make“teehee girls just use a different kind of math around shopping to justify buying more stuff cause they’re girls using girl math” into a feminist statement it IS an actual problem to ascribe not only gender (woman) but childishness (girl) to poor financial literacy and say that the kind of math girls do is actually exclusively related to the domestic sphere when we talk about shopping or buying food or presents or little treats. Do you fucking hear yourself

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🎉 GAME CHANGER SEASON 7🎉

📅 Premieres April 7th on @dropoutdottv

🎶 Some things never change...

10 episodes. No Game Samers.

The only way to begin is by beginning, so on April 7th - let's begin.

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Layclaire week: Day 1 - Stay / Change

switching up their usual wardrobes

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I haven't read Borders of Infinity yet. The edition numbers them Cetaganda 5, Ethan of Athos 6, Borders of Infinity 7, Brothers in Arms 8, Mirror Dance 9 and Memory 10. When I asked around, people told me this was a good order, so that's how I'm doing it :D

On position 11 there will be me begging the library for more, apparently, because if that's where it gets intense I will want to continue reading so badly!!

Cetaganda ch. 16

Benin is coming again! Yay!

"What? Why? He can't be arresting me from here, diplomatic immunity. Assassination? Execution? Isn't it a little late for that?"

This dialogue is a perfect summary of all the plots in this saga.

I have grown reaaaaaally fond of Ivan with this book.

Ah, right, Mia Maz! She and Vorob'yev still have to get together.

OH THEY DID. THEY GOT ENGAGED ALREADY. Good for them!

Benin is straight up kidnapping Miles.

NOT THE ORDER OF MERIT. NOT A CETAGANDAN CONDECORATION. I MEAN BENIN IS RIGHT HE DESERVES IT BUT. WHERE IS HE GOING TO KEEP THAT.

"More like, hide it in the bottom of the deepest drawer I own"

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!

She floated closer, and raised one fine hand to touch his left cheek. It was the first time they had touched. But if she asked, Does it hurt?, he swore he'd bite her.

I know there is life after Cetaganda but this parragraph makes me want to drop everything and go search Miles/Rian fics in AO3.

...there are exactly 18 words of Miles/Rian in AO3. I've had worse.

Anyways, we were saying, there is life after Cetaganda.

SHE GIVES HIM A LOCK OF HAIR. EVEN IF HAUT WOMEN NEVER CUT THEIR HAIR. BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HAVE MEANING.

HOW CAN SHE FORGET, MILES, IF FOR ALL HER LIFE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A STRAND OF HAIR SHORTER THAN THE REST. ALL HER LIFE.

AND THERE SHE IS!! EMPRESS OF CETAGANDA!!! WHOAAAAAA

Her first genetic duty would be to cook up her own Imperial prince son.

Ah. Right. I had forgotten about that part. My girl. I hope she can be happy.

THE PRESENTS GO INTO THE PYRE?!?!?

Ah. That explains "Dorca's sword. One of them anyway".

They're leaving alreadyy... Noo.....

He's really getting all promotions and prizes as punishments, huh. I said it in TVG, "At this rate Miles is going to get demoted to Emperor somehow."

"You going to wear that? I dare you." "No. Not unless I have a need to be really obnoxious sometime."

I wish I see that day.

"We're not done with each other yet, Giaja and I."

Yes! Yes!! Keep them coming!!! More Vorkosigan books!!!

AND WE'RE DONE!!!!

(I have a lot of thoughts about the medal, I will probably do another post about this book still. Like. CETAGANDA. If Barrayarans did not cremate their dead I would hear Piotr Vorkosigan rolling over in his grave. And the fact that Miles can't show it. Again. LKSAFNKJSDHL)

[call-me-rucy]

Oh, ooops. After reading the wiki I see that I seem to have misunderstood the death rites. I thought the death offerings, where people offered locks of hair and such, were burned with the body, but it's a different thing entirely and they are burned on their own.

You know, this makes the graveyard in Vorkosigan Surleau make a lot more sense. I thought it was all cenotaphs!

Next on the Vorkosigan list is "Ethan of Athos", but I might read something else in between. It makes me very sad that the more books I read the less are left unread.

Cetaganda ch. 16

Benin is coming again! Yay!

"What? Why? He can't be arresting me from here, diplomatic immunity. Assassination? Execution? Isn't it a little late for that?"

This dialogue is a perfect summary of all the plots in this saga.

I have grown reaaaaaally fond of Ivan with this book.

Ah, right, Mia Maz! She and Vorob'yev still have to get together.

OH THEY DID. THEY GOT ENGAGED ALREADY. Good for them!

Benin is straight up kidnapping Miles.

NOT THE ORDER OF MERIT. NOT A CETAGANDAN CONDECORATION. I MEAN BENIN IS RIGHT HE DESERVES IT BUT. WHERE IS HE GOING TO KEEP THAT.

"More like, hide it in the bottom of the deepest drawer I own"

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!

She floated closer, and raised one fine hand to touch his left cheek. It was the first time they had touched. But if she asked, Does it hurt?, he swore he'd bite her.

I know there is life after Cetaganda but this parragraph makes me want to drop everything and go search Miles/Rian fics in AO3.

...there are exactly 18 words of Miles/Rian in AO3. I've had worse.

Anyways, we were saying, there is life after Cetaganda.

SHE GIVES HIM A LOCK OF HAIR. EVEN IF HAUT WOMEN NEVER CUT THEIR HAIR. BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HAVE MEANING.

HOW CAN SHE FORGET, MILES, IF FOR ALL HER LIFE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A STRAND OF HAIR SHORTER THAN THE REST. ALL HER LIFE.

AND THERE SHE IS!! EMPRESS OF CETAGANDA!!! WHOAAAAAA

Her first genetic duty would be to cook up her own Imperial prince son.

Ah. Right. I had forgotten about that part. My girl. I hope she can be happy.

THE PRESENTS GO INTO THE PYRE?!?!?

Ah. That explains "Dorca's sword. One of them anyway".

They're leaving alreadyy... Noo.....

He's really getting all promotions and prizes as punishments, huh. I said it in TVG, "At this rate Miles is going to get demoted to Emperor somehow."

"You going to wear that? I dare you." "No. Not unless I have a need to be really obnoxious sometime."

I wish I see that day.

"We're not done with each other yet, Giaja and I."

Yes! Yes!! Keep them coming!!! More Vorkosigan books!!!

AND WE'RE DONE!!!!

(I have a lot of thoughts about the medal, I will probably do another post about this book still. Like. CETAGANDA. If Barrayarans did not cremate their dead I would hear Piotr Vorkosigan rolling over in his grave. And the fact that Miles can't show it. Again. LKSAFNKJSDHL)

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ha t

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Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

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Luke dreams of being a gentleman

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another puzzle solved ! 🧩

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THE LOVUME MIXER HAS FROSHEL TOO

[call-me-rucy]

Cetaganda ch. 16

Benin is coming again! Yay!

"What? Why? He can't be arresting me from here, diplomatic immunity. Assassination? Execution? Isn't it a little late for that?"

This dialogue is a perfect summary of all the plots in this saga.

I have grown reaaaaaally fond of Ivan with this book.

Ah, right, Mia Maz! She and Vorob'yev still have to get together.

OH THEY DID. THEY GOT ENGAGED ALREADY. Good for them!

Benin is straight up kidnapping Miles.

NOT THE ORDER OF MERIT. NOT A CETAGANDAN CONDECORATION. I MEAN BENIN IS RIGHT HE DESERVES IT BUT. WHERE IS HE GOING TO KEEP THAT.

"More like, hide it in the bottom of the deepest drawer I own"

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!

She floated closer, and raised one fine hand to touch his left cheek. It was the first time they had touched. But if she asked, Does it hurt?, he swore he'd bite her.

I know there is life after Cetaganda but this parragraph makes me want to drop everything and go search Miles/Rian fics in AO3.

...there are exactly 18 words of Miles/Rian in AO3. I've had worse.

Anyways, we were saying, there is life after Cetaganda.

SHE GIVES HIM A LOCK OF HAIR. EVEN IF HAUT WOMEN NEVER CUT THEIR HAIR. BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT CAN HAVE MEANING.

HOW CAN SHE FORGET, MILES, IF FOR ALL HER LIFE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A STRAND OF HAIR SHORTER THAN THE REST. ALL HER LIFE.

AND THERE SHE IS!! EMPRESS OF CETAGANDA!!! WHOAAAAAA

Her first genetic duty would be to cook up her own Imperial prince son.

Ah. Right. I had forgotten about that part. My girl. I hope she can be happy.

THE PRESENTS GO INTO THE PYRE?!?!?

Ah. That explains "Dorca's sword. One of them anyway".

They're leaving alreadyy... Noo.....

He's really getting all promotions and prizes as punishments, huh. I said it in TVG, "At this rate Miles is going to get demoted to Emperor somehow."

"You going to wear that? I dare you." "No. Not unless I have a need to be really obnoxious sometime."

I wish I see that day.

"We're not done with each other yet, Giaja and I."

Yes! Yes!! Keep them coming!!! More Vorkosigan books!!!

AND WE'RE DONE!!!!

(I have a lot of thoughts about the medal, I will probably do another post about this book still. Like. CETAGANDA. If Barrayarans did not cremate their dead I would hear Piotr Vorkosigan rolling over in his grave. And the fact that Miles can't show it. Again. LKSAFNKJSDHL)

[call-me-rucy]

It’s that time where I think about that one character from a game that came out 16 years ago again

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just wanted to share the National Down Syndrome Society’s message for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day (21st March) 💛💙

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rare Zac Oyama monologue

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ok vorkosigan saga people, does anyone with more brain cells than me have things to say about the linguistic and cultural situation on barrayar? current points which i have (with the caveat that i’ve only read up to a civil campaign) are:

barrayar’s initial settlers were primarily speakers of english, greek, russian, and french

the greek speakers seem to be a minority linguistically (it’s referred to as “a minority dialect” in the vor game) and probably culturally (see ivan’s reference to the “greekie hicks” in a civil campaign)

the main characters of the series seem to be native english-speakers: aral and cordelia had no language barrier in shards of honor (and i assume the language which barrayar and beta have in common in english rather than russian), and in komarr miles refers to a “polyglot” mix of “English, mathematics, and engineering”. as far as i can tell, there also don’t seem to be language barriers between any other main characters.

however, high vor/counts and their heirs seem to be expected to have a grasp of all four of barrayar’s languages, although possibly not a good one. miles displays an understanding of greek in the vor game (although his accent is allegedly poor), one of the apparent virtues of rené vorbretten (as recounted in a civil campaign) is that he speaks four languages, and the debate over whether gregor’s wedding vows should be repeated in all four languages (also in a civil campaign) implies that he’s competent in all of them.

are there any barrayaran characters that we explicitly know to be (native) speakers of a language other than english? (also, i’ve had it in my head that ivan and alys might speak french between themselves, mostly on the strength of the fact that ivan refers to her as ‘mamere’, which i don’t think any other character uses for their mother. but then i searched the kindle editions of all the miles books up to a civil campaign, and it turns out that ivan only uses it once, in mirror dance? i’d thought it was more common than that, but that’s probably the product of either fanfiction or my linguist brain’s wishful thinking.)

[call-me-rucy]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! That post about the languages is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for! This is why I do liveblogs, thank you.

Yasss, so we confirm the English even in Cetaganda. Very interesting!

I was aware of the longer day of Barrayar, indeed it is mentioned in TVG or in Barrayar... Im sure someone mentions hour 25.

About the year, maybe the months have less days? So less days can amount to the same number of hours as a regular month. You'd have to have uh... 26/27-day months, and then you can get a 12 month year of the same length, roughly.

I've seen the goodreads! But I'm hesitant to ever send a question, as I have a literal lifetime of answers there and at dendarii.com (I was born in btwn Komarr and A Civil Campaign) to check first if I don't want to bore the poor woman with something she has already answered many times. I'll probably send a thank you message once I'm done with the books I can get though. That might take long but it's my current plan.

Also, the vorkosigan fans here have been very welcoming and open to answering my questions, and that's something I like a lot, I wouldn't change it <3

Thanks a lot for everything :D

Cetaganda ch. 13

Extreme apologies for the lack of updates recently. Since the last post I have: moved, started a new job, spent like 27h going places in various trains and buses, done my last exam.

In these chaotic times there's nothing I'd like more than a little certainty, so I turn to Miles and his chaos instead.

We were with the plan to retrieve the gene banks (thanks, Ivan!)

Staying at the ambassy just in case someone out there tries to assassinate him is reasonable. Too reasonable. Can't wait to see how he's forced out. Rian?

Miles hoped that Lord X was very, very sorry he had decided on Barrayar. And I'm going to make you regret it that much more, asshole.

Oh Miles I have missed you.

I hope the Key is indeed in a cipher lab so I get to see what a futuristic cipher lab looks in the Vorkosiverse, and compare with labs in real life.

I wonder to what degree Miles' excuse, desiring ship duty, is still true. Like, rn he's at the best position for him, answering only to Illyan and Gregor is where he fits best, I'd say, and he must know this, but 20 years of hopes don't disappear easily. And also that line earlier "Hi, I'm a war hero but I can't tell you why, it's classified". Ship duty are were the public heroes are.

Miles pointed to the ceiling with his thumb. Maybe they're listening to us. Ivan's lips formed two words. Fuck them.

I love the idea of Illyan being a sort of god to ImpSect that lives in the ceiling of all rooms, but I love more the idea of very-human Illyan receiving the recordings of Miles and Ivan's rooms days after the fact and having to listen to them while Miles is right in front of him like "Yeah me and my coz possibly avoided a fourth Cetagandan war. On our own. Neat, right? :3"

Forced outdoors by social events! Wow this is the most terrible thing lol

Maz and Vorob'yev are so getting together.

Yeah, what do they want Ivan for. Is this a case of "No, the Fullmetal Alchemist is the short one"?

NOT KIDNAPPING!! I mean, it's narratively fullfilling and all that because Ivan has been complaining all book about being in danger and specifically Miles getting him in danger BUT NOT IVAN!!! My boy!!

Rian!! Things are moving!!! Aaaaaaah!!

(I'm wondering now what languages are spoken in Cetaganda. Like, Miles has been able to go up and effectively communicate with everyone, including Ba which would have no reason to know languages other than those spoken in the Celestial Garden. And I'm assuming he does so in English? I know that the alphabet in Barrayar is Cyrillic but I feel like it would've come up if they spoke Russian? The recruit at the beginning of TVG destined to languages implies that there is not a magic-translate-it-all-gadget invented just yet, so I'm just finding it interesting that the Cetagandans would speak also precisely the same language. And I don't think there has even been a Cetagandan accent mentioned? As opposed of the Betan accent which does exist. This is all a literary tool for making the writers life easier, like making all days day-lengthy-ish and all years year-lengthy-ish, which is something I totally respect btw, but I find that idea of going to an international interplanetary event and be inmmediately understood by everyone to be very anglophone-y)

(Rucy, it's been three weeks, and now you're going on tangents while plot is happening?!)

(Shhh, I haven't thought about Vorkosiverse in too long, I have to make up for it.)

This isn't Emperor Gregor's Birthday Party, dammit.

AHAHAHAHAH POOR GREGOR

RIAN HAS CAPTURED THE KIDNAPPER BUBBLE! Oh I love competent women as well.

Ivan is alive! Yay! Omg using the "not yet" leitmotif on "Ivan is not dead" is genius. Wish I wrote this good.

ETERNAL PLAN A: LETTING MILES TALK IS DOING WONDERS!!! OH I LOVE THIS!! And its not even his usual "Ill convince you", he's stalling for an old woman to go get help/a weapon. This is amazing. I love this book.

(It was, in fact, a case of "No, the Fullmetal Alchemist is the short one".)

Idk how to tell you this, my boy, but Rian is not likely "Empress of Cetaganda until tomorrow". She's probably "Empress of Cetaganda from tomorrow on" as well.

So, Kety still has the bank. And the Key. And he's on notice. -Damn. What idiot came up with the idea of the banks…? Ah, yes…

Give my other poor boy a break, Miles, he's having a very tough day.

Please, not dead yet. I love a good leitmotif.

WE'RE GOING INNNNNN!!!!