Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on April 21, 2022, 06:23:25 AM

Quote from: Ián Tamorán S.H. on April 21, 2022, 05:45:57 AM
Let us celebrate our bringing together, for bringing together is harder than splitting apart.  And more worthwhile.

Bravo and well said!

I would also combine that with introspection on all sides.  Unfortunately not until the Judgement when all shall be laid bare will some battles be resolved.

Reunision saw almost the entire community of the 2004-2012 Republic of Talossa return or emigrate to the Kingdom of Talossa.  I still count this as one of the greatest miracles of Talossan history.

Those of you who were not around do not understand the depth of feeling on both sides of the Vuode Wall, particularly 'down south'.  This depth of feeling and the intense dynamics of personalities, political sensibilities, and what-not in both Kingdom and Republic helped prolong the existence of the Republic of Talossa by far longer than it should have been allowed to be a going concern, imho.

But I am in the minority on that, and always will be.  Make no mistake: on both sides of the Vuode Wall, the 2011-2012 process to bring about Reunision was brought about not because of altruistic considerations on either side. 

Both Kingdom and Republic was stagnant, and the Republic was positively dying.  Both needed the energy and drive the other could bring, and for the communities of Republic and Kingdom, the entrance of both into the commonality of community was a true shot-in-the-arm.  This was why Reunision was allowed to occur and why, I believe, the King and other key political forces allowed it to go ahead.

The political consequences of Reunision for the Kingdom are outside the scope of this discussion, but this I will say: Talossan politics may be vitriolic at times, but they are as healthy as they have ever been.  We have a true 'two-movement' system, and coalition politics seems destined to be our way of political life for years to come. 

When we made our return on the ominous day of 20 April 2012, I honestly thought something would have happened to cause another - and final - mass exodus of the macronationally-liberal side of the Kingdom community.  So far, this has not happened, and I think many people are to be thanked for the political and pragmatic restraint which made this possible.  Another Talossan miracle in a nation the existence of which is itself a continuing miracle.

There is one group of people who had the most to lose from Reunision, and they are represented in the person of C. Carlüs Xheraltescu: those Republic citizens who had never known anything Talossan but the Republic and who had never been citizens of the Kingdom until Reunision with its Kingdom-citizenship-dates-records aspect.

We in the Republic (including yours truly) were united in including these citizens in the discussion.  This is why as Republic PM, I recused myself from the negotiations and let Carlüs, the DPM at the time, take my seat at the table.  Had Carlüs balked, he could have brought down Reunision by himself, and I think he knew that.  He and all those stakeholders he represented in the negotiations had more than a little courage and faith to come along on the journey we took on 20 April 2012.  Talossa owes them its eternal gratitude (not hinting at honours, John).

Talossa also owes John Woolley a debt of gratitude.  We in the Republic gave the Kingdom many hoops to jump through, and at one point, the negotiations came to within a planck-space of imploding for good.  John was very gracious on that point, and he certainly has my eternal thanks regarding that.

As for the eight years the Talossan Cold War lasted, those who helped make it longer than it should have been know who they are.  I've dished on this matter at length before.

But incredibly, and again, no-one has bolted in mass-exodus.  The Kingdom has held it together and has evolved.  Ben Madison's bedroom kingdom of old survives into the present.  May God allow it to survive into the age to come.

Dare Something Worthy.

Gödefrïeu Válcadác'h
one of the Founding Parents of the Republic of Talossa
20 April 2022

Dad and I are (presumably) closing on a lease tomorrow at a new place.  Our current crib is about to be sold by our landlord who, it must be said, could not have been a better person to deal with over the years.  Preparing for a move to our new place (presumed) plus the busiest Holy Week and Easter week I've had in the last ten years have put Talossa out of my mind.

Talossa will remain out of my mind until the first of next month.  I'll put up appropriate verbiage re Reunision later tonight.

GV

Quote from: Eiric S. Bornatfiglheu on April 17, 2022, 04:30:06 PM
*quickly changes hats*

At this time, I would like to nominate myself to continue as Mençei.

I am glad to throw my support behind ESB being Mencei for another term. - GV

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on April 13, 2022, 07:24:42 PM
It's printed on the front page of most of KR1's books: 2963 N. Prospect Ave

Miestra beat me to it.  :-) 

When Ben tried to return in summer 2019, he told me he was still in touch with the home's present owners, who received the news of the house being the center of a sovereign country well.  I had no reason to not believe him.

Sorry I didn't get that info to you earlier.  I was wondering as to how 'private' that bit of information still needed to be.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on April 10, 2022, 03:35:49 PM
I am delighted to see the TSFFWS is back.

Relatedly, to celebrate, I had a Bulleit Bourbon while watching the latest episodes of Star Trek: Picard and Halo on Paramount Plus.

What do you think of 'Picard'?  Is it worth getting Paramount Plus just to watch that?

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on April 08, 2022, 12:22:08 PM
May I suggest that we could keep it even simpler than that? There used to be a provision that allowed the cabinet to declare the seneschal was absent or not doing his duties. Why not simply add that provision back in and let the Cosa do an election again? That would allow for democratic input in the form of our legislature, prevents an unnecessary general election, and permit any qualified candidate to take the role if they have the confidence of the legislature. It also means we don't have to invent another procedure, but can use the existing one, which is good for a whole bunch of reasons.

Good idea.  In case the Cosa cannot convene for some reason, an interim PMship would be in order imho with the following line of succession in case the PM and DPM are both run over by that Ukranian wheelbarrel carrying Russian ammunition:

1. PM's party leader (if still around and was not PM or DPM)
2. Tuischach
3. Mencei (though possibly with restrictions to keep an imperial PMship from forming)
4. Senior Justice (with same restrictions)

Or...

The Party or coalition of the PM submits to the Tuischach at the start of term a succession list with the Opposition submitting their own list to follow the PM's party or coalition.  This combined list (or separate lists for PM's party and Opposition) is voted seperately from that of the PM, though concurrently with the PM.

The finding of holes, loopholes, and what-not never ends.  The Republic of Talossa ca. 2006 had to completely re-write at least a quarter of its Constitution.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on April 07, 2022, 03:41:31 PM

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on April 06, 2022, 03:19:25 PM

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on April 06, 2022, 03:01:33 PM

@GV, who went to Talossafest 2003, might also be able to help

@GV, any help you can provide would be most appreciated.
I am hoping to get some good content for the new media project.

@GV ?

Give me twenty-four hours to get you one address at the least: Vuode Palace.  What is your email?

Quote from: Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM on April 05, 2022, 07:58:35 AM

The Scribery of Abbavilla
----------------------------------------------------

Today, the Scribe of Abbavilla, Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM announces the following appointment:

@Baron Alexandreu Davinescu shall assume the position of Deputy Scribe of Abbavilla.

The Deputy Scribe shall assist the Scribe in maintaining the register of statutes, Prime Dictates, and referenda, as well as maintaining necessary updates in the Organic Law and El. Lexhatx.

----------------------------------------------------

   

Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă   Scribe of Abbavilla

Alexandreu and I have not always seen eye to eye on Talossan matters.  I will, however and gladly, defend to the death his enthusiasm and love for Talossa as well as his ability to hopefully be Deputy Scribe working alongside Txec for years to come.  They will be a great team. - GV

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on April 02, 2022, 10:07:07 PM

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on April 02, 2022, 10:06:01 PM
You know, that would be an excellent idea. You will no doubt understand that I'm distracted at the moment. But I would like to suggest that @GV, the other most active Reviensadeir, would be the ideal person to take charge of such commemorations - also seeing as it's the 10th anniversary of the Free Province of Fiovă.

@GV ?

I think a videoconference-party is in order.  Reunision took place 20 April 2012.  I am free that evening and can put the Zoom call together. 

If the 'cool kids' are using a different videoconferencing system, I can work with that, too.

Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil on March 17, 2022, 08:19:10 PM
Since the table doesn't really let you bring the images to full resolution, I have them extracted from the table here:

   

I make no comments on the designs themselve say to say the execution of those designs is stunning.  However much traction these designs ultimately get, do not let any obstacles stop you from continuing work.  This stuff is truly beautiful.

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on February 12, 2022, 01:51:07 PM
These are modified arms of the comte de Toulouse (Gules a cross clechy pommety and voided or).  Their blazon would be... Gules a cross clechy and pommety or, filled vert, I'd suppose.  They are a longtime symbol of Occitania and former Toulouse domains.  Robert Ben Madison cannot conceivably be the lineal heir to last comte de Toulouse, so he wouldn't be entitled to bear their symbol by right; are these different enough to pass muster as new arms?

Inquiring minds want to know.  Thank you, AD, for this.

Wow, I forgot more than I know.  I stand corrected AD, re the Zuaves, but stand firm in the roots of the Talossan divide and our role in it.  Both yours...and mine.  :-)

Upon coming to Talossa, you took to John's narrative as a duck takes to water.  This issue is still unresolved and is still at the very heart of why I think Miestra has had a beef with you for so long.  :-)

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 22, 2022, 06:18:49 PM

• We will issue ID cards for everyone.  Have a piece of Talossa to hold in your hands  -- and maybe even to show off to friends and family who might be interested!

...snipped, but only for brevity's sake

I'll own my part of last term yet again: in classic GV fashion, as Minister of Culture, I was not nearly as communicative to Cabinet about being more utterly burned out with Talossa than I thought I actually was.

As Minister of Defence, once I was informed - by you no less - the Zuaves genuinely didn't need much help at all from Defence, I let it go at that and didn't worry over it any more.

As for Minister of Culture, I was good until about July when I completely fell off the rails.  This is when I should have resigned from Culture, though I was right to keep Defence.

Betrayed.  Stolen.  Kept.

AD, I've always appreciated your enthusiasm for Talossa.  Since you first came to us ca. 2006(!), you have not, I think, ceased to be active in at least some way.  I still look to El Lex, as imperfect as some might rightly say it was, as your greatest achievement in Talossa - taking the bull by the horns to get done a project that JJ himself should have thought about doing back in the 1990s, though to be fair to JJ, he was still the greatest administrator Talossa ever had until MPF came along.

The reason why we rail at you so much, Alexander, is because we see you as nothing more than a mouthpiece for a mostly-absentee monarch who has since 2007 refused to engage with the liberal wing of Talossan society on any basis more than a cursory professional level, his generous handling of Reunision notwithstanding, but even that is seen in some quarters is not being so much as altruistic, but done simply because the Kingdom was incredibly stagnant at that time. 

And guess what?  It was the same reason why the Republic-other-than-GV said 'yes' to Reunision.  It was getting to the point we were considering outright dissolution.  Rightly, the Kingdom had won the 'war' of the internet.

AD, you have always seemed to me to be an intelligent person.  You have read my diatribes of the past where I raged about King John.  You know the reasons why we didn't come back in 2005-2007, a terrible mistake in retrospect, but the Republic had good reasons to stay away.  After all, your mantra of 'Betrayed.  Stolen.  Kept.' fanned the flames of animosity towards us and actually kept us from returning the domains to the whole of the Talossan nation.

Imagine what might have happened had you not decided to follow your correct perception of the pathway to power in Talossa being being the avatar of Talossan Woollerianism.  You might have been the midwife of a 2008-ish Reunision or earlier.  We might have even had the opportunity to vote John in as King in March 2007.

And Talossa would have been far stronger.

To be fair, I well remember the broad strokes of your 2008 attempt at getting a Republic Wittenberg account.  You were rebuffed, and I still regret my small part in that.  I should have stood up for you.

And to be fair, I cannot and do not put this all at your doorstep.  The present king had to power to repair Talossa in one Wittenberg post, yet he refused to do so - a power you've never quite had through no fault of your own.  The quirks in our constitution prevent hasty wholesale change in giant scales, but as the country has found out, a few people are all it takes to be a mountain of obstruction.

In my opinion, you did the job as Regent you were supposed to.  The fact you were enobled for doing the job you should have done is not a travesty, but certain is a minor scandal.  You never should have been made a Baron, but you rightly received the appreciation of a grateful nation.

And I should never have been given Për la Naziun.  My work with the archives was epic (it really was), but did it truly save the country?  The PM at the time recommended me for a knightly order that had been defunct for many years.  I was not raised to that order, and I seriously considered outright refusing the honour altogether, as I felt not being made Order of the Flag was a spiteful move by the monarch - at least it sure looked that way.

I really do think John Woolley has always disliked all of us 'down south'.  I really do.  We don't need to be his best-buddy, but he never truly respected us.  I hope I'm wrong on all of this, by the way.

You and I in Talossa are getting old.  The day is coming when the country won't give a rat's a$% about the war for the soul of Talossa that has been raging since 1 June 2004.  I only ask the people of this country to remember the mistakes that were made - some worse than others - Ben's worst of all - and learn from them.

VOTEZ FREEDEMS - and show up GV and GET F&#(* INVOLVED!!

GV

[/list]

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on March 23, 2022, 05:56:43 PM
Thanks very much for your enthusiasm, although I must say that anyone who finds financial administration "fascinating" is somewhat suspect :D [snipped]

As do I.  :-)

If we could have cloned Isteban a thousand times over, he could have been Burgermeister forever.