IntenseDebate - vegetalss4

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Going Post... · 0 replies · +4 points

I always assumed that Gilt knew what he choose, because it fits so well with what Gilt always meant by "freedom" i.e. the freedom to suffer at the hands of those more powerful than you.
Consider how in the first scene we see him when he and the other Grand Trunk members where meeting with Vetinari. He claims that their customers choose to use their service of their own free will, but when it is pointed out that they have no real alternatives except for not sending messages at all he doesn't deny it. Instead he straight up agrees that yes that is the choice they have, use his exploitative and overpriced system or have no system at all.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Going Post... · 0 replies · +7 points

I'm pretty sure you are thinking of the sequel by Deng Xiaoping.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Going Post... · 0 replies · +3 points

Future Discworld spoilers:
Jryy, Ze Chzc gnyxf nobhg gur lrnef chzcvat va n ubyr yvxr vg jnf whfg n guvat gung unccrarq, naq gur tbyrzf qb rkcerff pbashfvba jura syrfu-crbcyr nfx vs vg jnf ubeevoyr.
Ubjrire guvf jnf rkcyvpvgyl gur fbeg bs gnfx gung cebibxrf n tbyrz gb znyvpvbhf pbzcyvrapr, juvpu vf gur pybfrfg gurl pbzr gb bcra eroryyvba, juvyr gnfxf fhpu nf orvat zrffratref qb abg. Pyrneyl gur tbyrzf qb unir n cersrerapr rira vs gurve frys vzntr qbrfa'g nyybj gurz gb rkcerff vg.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'Going Post... · 1 reply · +6 points

That is not a correct claim. There's a whole bunch of common equations that uses π rather than 2π.
If we abandoned Pi in favor of Tau we would get a bunch of formulas using Tau/2.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'A Hat Full... · 0 replies · +3 points

Gung vf ragveryl cbffvoyr, ohg ernyyl gur ceboyrz gurer'f zber jvgu gur ynpx bs haqrefgnaqvat naq rzcngul Znepvn jbhyq trg, engure guna jvgu Znex trggvat vg.

Qbrfa'g zrna vg vfa'g cevivyrtr bs pbhefr, ohg jbegu xrrcvat va zvaq abarguryrff.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Re-Reads 'Monstro... · 1 reply · +15 points

You are completely correct that Heinrich don't have the clear cut right to the throne, just a claim in a situation where it's entirely unclear which claimant is the "right" one, and the biggest army nearby, which means he's the most likely candidate to win. (at least if Polly and Mal don't find a way to stop him).

I do think it's worth remembering that the war that's going on for most of the book, isn't a succesion war that started because Heinrich wants the throne.
The river shifted, some land became on the different side of the border, including both the Clacks towers and at least one city. Strappi mentions that the Zlobenians have attacked it, but the recruits point out that the Borogravians attacked it first.
The war during most of the book not being mainly about Heinrich's attempt to conquer Borogravia, can also clearly be seen by the fact that when Borogravia surrenders, and lose the war he doesn't become the new Duke immediately. If this war was declared over his claim to the Borogravian throne, then he would have gotten to rule when Borogravia surrendered,

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Re-Reads 'Monstro... · 0 replies · +14 points

The idea is that you are actually putting your hand on the blade itself, either on a blunt bit near the guard (which were made blunt specifically for that purpose), or with a thick glove, and taking advantage of swords being sharp, bot as sharp as modern knives often are.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Re-Reads 'Monstro... · 4 replies · +46 points

Flashsides: Maladict(a) is having flashbacks to Vietnam. No they weren't in Vietnam, nor was any other soldiers here, but they are having flashbacks to it anyway.
This is why they talk about Charlie tracking them (a slang term for the Viet Con), and why the squad hears an actual helicopter at one point.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Re-Reads 'Monstro... · 9 replies · +38 points

"Another question: Why do y’all think Maladicta made a big deal out of identifying both Lofty and Shufti as women? Re-reading this, I wonder if she wanted to push suspicion off of herself by directing Polly’s attention elsewhere. "

I recognize that I am wearing my shipping goggles for a moment but I like to think that they* would like to subtly and safely check what Polly's reaction was to the idea that two women could be a romantic couple.

*I am unsure as to whether I subscribe to the theory that Maladict is either a transman lacking the words to describe himself to himself, or gender-queer rather than a woman in disguise, so gender-neutral they it is.

5 years ago @ Mark Reads - Mark Reads 'A Hat Full... · 4 replies · +13 points

Note: I haven't read A Hat Full of Sky before so what I am about to say might well be revealed to be completely wrong.
Is "took credit" really the right words? It seemed to me more like he got credit pushed on him, what with his panicked insistence to Tiffany that he hadn't lied, and IIRC that they wouldn't listen.
Being somewhat guilty is still natural, but it really didn't seem to be his fault to me.

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