[everything-creative]

A great idea to connect the future with the past, seal your digital secrets with an old-school wax-sealing. The Top secret usb.

[bankuei]

Man.  I’m totally envisioning a Chinese sci-fi movie where the Emperor’s Orders are sealed USBs and you pull one out and everyone fucking kneels when it gets busted open…

[roachpatrol]

[tinsnip]

This is so fucking Barrayarran it hurts.

[pushthequorumbutton]

i realized thanks to bamboocounting that after last time i needed a “forward momentum” graphic (can you tell that was the one i spent the most time on)

Beta Colony

[jbluphin]

In my all-time favorite series (The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold), the protagonist’s mother hails from one of the first two colonized planets - Beta Colony - which is known as pretty much the most scientifically advanced (as well as sexually liberal) planet in the Nexus.

While there is a lot of world-building facts I could tell you about Beta Colony (these books are FULL of world-building), one of the interesting cultural norms of the planet is that everyone wears earrings to denote their … let’s call it relationship status … and that wearing a set of earrings that does NOT accurately relate your status is a bit of a taboo. Upon reaching a certain age, EVERYONE starts wearing these to show that you are now a consenting adult. And the twists and turns and types of earrings allow you to be incredibly specific - whether you are in a monogamous relationship, an open one, or are completely single; whether you are interested in dating and to what extent; the gender(s) you are interested in, if any; what type of relationship you might be looking for (casual, serious, non-sexual, whatever). Everything is displayed on your ear, so that there is no guesswork about what people are interested in, and they will back off if you aren’t.

I could go on about Beta Colony for a while longer, but I think that this, in particular, is a really nifty idea. Wouldn’t that be just lovely?

[pineapplesquid]

"I have noticed, Vorkosigan, watching you, that despite your demonstrated brilliance in some areas, you have also demonstrated some chronic weaknesses… But your most insidious chronic problem is in the area of… how shall I put this precisely… subordination. You argue too much." 

"No, I don’t," Miles began indigenantly, then shut his mouth.

[His first ever commanding officer] flashed a grin. “Quite. Plus your rather irritating habit of treating your superior officers as your, ah…” Cecil paused, apparently groping again for just the right word.

"Equals?" Miles hazarded.

"Cattle," Cecil corrected judiciously. "To be driven to your will. You’re a manipulator par excellence, Vorkosigan. I’ve been studying you for three years now, and your group dynamics are fascinating. Whether you were in charge or not, somehow it was always your idea that ended up getting carried out."

"Have I been… that disrespectful, sir?"

"On the contrary. Given your background, the marvel is that you conceal that, ah, little arrogant streak so well."

—The Vor Game, by Lois McMaster Bujold.

[whereyoustopthestory]

THIS IS A REAL ACTUAL THING ON THINKGEEK AND I WANT IT

[tinsnip]

Goddamned Cetagandans don’t know when to stop!

[bmouse]

OK, that’s it. I am officially over-the-moon-in-love with the Vorkosigan Saga. I’ve read “Shards of Honor” and “The Warrior’s Apprentice” over a 12 hour period and about a day after starting “Barrayar”, boom! that sucker was done.

I know I’m done for and will now spend god knows how long (probably a week) gnawing and gulping the rest of the series. The way I know is that I’ve started making like vid montages of the characters based on whatever song comes up on my Pandora. The swagerrific rap for example has ‘Miles being awesome’ all over it.

[tinsnip]

Okay okay okay–so who do you love and who do you hate and what’s your favourite part and everything, please, everything??

Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards.

Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign

[allfanmade]

This amazing fan Pinboard provides a visual interpretation of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Barrayar universe. (via Barrayar Dreaming)

But pain… seems to me an insufficient reason not to embrace life. Being dead is quite painless. Pain, like time, is going to come on regardless. Question is, what glorious moments can you win from life in addition to the pain?

Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayar (via nanoishuge)

[imperialgrunt]

“Ivan, one of these days somebody is going to pull out a weapon and plug you, and you’re going to die in bewilderment, crying, ‘What did I say? What did I say?’”

“What did I say?” asked Ivan indignantly.

-Miles Vorkosigan, The Warrior’s Apprentice.