What does everyone think of this as an obverse side? It's not as colorful as S:reu Txechescu's, to be sure, but it's intended to be pretty legible and I totally didn't spend way too long tinkering on the gradient transparency for the flag to get it just right, I swear

Since the table doesn't really let you bring the images to full resolution, I have them extracted from the table here:

Following some of my vexillological shenanigans in the merger thread, and with more discussion, especially on the topic of Benito-Florencia "reunision", I figured I'd have another round of flags put out. These first three are intended for the retained cantons of the proposed province.




I also wanted to bring your attention to the Finnish practice of the "household pennant". Basically, Finns fly very long, narrow flags, either versions of the national flag or of regional flags, at their homes. Generally, this is done to relate that the home's occupants are present; think of it as an everyman's version of the White House flying the American flag when the President is present, or Buckingham Palace flying the Royal Banner when the monarch is in.

While an interested tradition in its own right, I notice that the pennant for Lapland is in fact a green-red bicolor (even if the exact shades or not identical, they're quite close). In other words, if we wished to make this a Talossan thing -- which feels fitting given our nation's very name and motto are taken directly from the Finnish language -- then the adopted Talossaware necessary is already very easily available simply by googling "Lappi isännänviiri".

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 17, 2022, 06:06:55 PM
- snip -

I could probably do an occasional political cartoon, though as a fair warning it might be in the form of a countryball comic on occasion -- or, since I don't know what anyone else looks like, a...heraldryball (?) if I need to portray a specific individual.

Quote from: Caleb Frenibuerg on March 17, 2022, 04:20:26 PM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 17, 2022, 06:58:24 AM
I love the "Talossa's Newest Citizen" thing, and I hope that can be carried forward in the future.  Good show on @Mic'haglh Autófil for inventing that.

Caleb, typically we're a "make your own fun" kind of place, where you can seek out to get involved in anything particular you're interested in.  Unfortunately, there's not a lot happening these days.  There used to be multiple media outlets (newspapers, podcasts, websites), active initiatives (like the Zuavs), clubs or activities (like the Three Word Story or the Talossan Science Fiction & Whiskey Society), or translation efforts (like the Berber of Seville).  But for a variety of reasons that can't be blamed on any one person in particular, almost all of these things are defunct at this point.  That's actually been a central problem for a while: there's nothing happening, so people aren't interested, so nothing happens.

However, in really just the last couple of weeks some folks like Breneir and Mic'haglh have worked hard to start creating some new ideas and projects.  So if you're interested in cooking or media work you should ask Breneir what he needs help with (he's almost done with a cookbook and planning a media thing), and if you're interested in fantasy sports you should join Mic'haglh's Talossan Football plans.

Beyond that, you can start your own thing on whatever topic that interests you.  Or if you have energy and are just generally looking to be helpful, there's definitely some things that need to get done that I can point you to and that anyone can do.

I've recently resigned my job, so have a lot more spare time than I did. Point away!

A little close to home here, haha (I was ah "informed of my involuntary resignation" in February)

It does lend itself to more time for hobbies though, lol

Quote from: Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM on March 17, 2022, 07:12:17 AM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 17, 2022, 06:58:24 AM
Talossan Science Fiction & Whiskey Society

I'd quite forgotten about this. Not only do I love a good whiskey, but I'm kinda a published SciFi novelist. If and when I find some time, this might get revived!

You and I have one of these in common!  ;D

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 16, 2022, 08:56:29 PM

Quote from: Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM on March 16, 2022, 08:55:04 PM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 16, 2022, 08:44:50 PM

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on January 16, 2022, 01:43:49 PM

QuoteThe Zuavs rewards activity with pomp and ceremony.  The whole program is already set up.

Cabinet has discussed this. Initiative now lies with the new Minister of Defence.

It's been months.  Is anything going to happen with this?

I guess you missed the recent activity in the Zouavs. Weird, since you commented on it.

The, uh, one new citizen who actively sought out to join, requesting specifically, and has since not received any sort of recognition or promotion for their numerous efforts?

No.  Um.  I noticed.

In the interest of lightening the mood just a hair, I will admit that my first instinct when reading this was to give a Ned Flanders-esque greeting, but then I realized I wouldn't know how to do it properly (i.e. in Talossan).

A-ziddli-zul, voiçirìnos!
- Néovart Flemphäts

I have no regrets.

Quote from: Danihel Txechescu on March 16, 2022, 06:11:55 PM
If I may, I'd like to suggest S:reu Autófil have a go at the design and have it improved before the project is finalized.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on March 16, 2022, 07:41:31 PM
S:reu Autofil is quite talented. I am looking forward to seeing what he ends up cooking up.

I would be honored to help provide input. Thank you both. ;D

I would consider doing something for this, but I don't really know anything about S:reu Eiffler. (Or is it Mr. Eiffler, aka S:reu Verbotten? I'm not sure which was his Talossan name.)

Hard to design a tribute to someone you know nothing about...

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 16, 2022, 07:51:44 AM
Sometimes in this circumstance, altering the line of partition can be helpful.  Right now it's a simple chevron vert and argent, but it could be engrailed, embattled, or wavy.  The change looks fine to me, but just suggesting another route to take with your previous submission if the potential armiger liked it more.

-NRH

This is a good point, and not something I usually think about, if I'm honest.

After a brief consultation with the applicant, I would submit the following alterations:


Using a division of the field instead of an ordinary is intended to avoid the issues of confusion with the arms of Baron Hooligan, Sir Davinescu, and S:reu Plätschisch. I will admit that the gold was intended to also help differentiate, and so I may have undone that differentiation by moving back to argent, but I feel like it provides better contrast, especially given the charges.

- OAF

Quote from: Ian Plätschisch on March 15, 2022, 10:13:28 PM
Excuse my interjection, and not to be a party pooper, but the gold chevron on the green background may be reminding you of my arms. The charges are also in the same three positions.

Quote from: Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM on March 15, 2022, 10:44:57 PM

Quote from: Ian Plätschisch on March 15, 2022, 10:13:28 PM
Excuse my interjection, and not to be a party pooper, but the gold chevron on the green background may be reminding you of my arms. The charges are also in the same three positions.

Right! I knew I had seen a very similar CoA. I'd suggest this particular version might need to be changed so as not to closely resemble Ian's.

-REH

Makes sense. We may want to add S:reu Plätschisch' arms to the wiki then, too -- that's what I'm using to double-check things, unless there's a link to Burk's somewhere.

Quote from: Caleb Frenibuerg on March 15, 2022, 11:17:24 PM
I apologize for any inconveniences made.

No apologies necessary! This is...probably a common occurrence in colleges of arms around the world, I wager.

- OAF

In which case, rampant is normally omitted from blazons as the sort of "default" attitude for animal charges like lions, no?

Quote from: Dr. Txec Róibeard dal Nordselvă, Esq., O.SPM, SMM on March 15, 2022, 04:40:02 PM
The arms may be too similar visually to a few other CoA's. The upraised hand on green, while gold, could possibly not pass muster of the SKA.

-REH

I was more attempting to avoid confusion with the arms of either Baron Hooligan or Sir Davinescu, which is why gold was used for the chevron. Were there other CoA's you had in mind?

- OAF

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 15, 2022, 03:16:10 PM
Maybe I should lean on my friends to join the country, then, so I'll have someone to drink / bet with.

QuoteBut people bet on sports all the time where I live, so I'm not really sure why it's different. Maybe it's just region to region?

It may have something to do with the fact that one, Talossans come from all over, and gambling in one place may be less acceptable than gambling in others; and two, usually using communication infrastructure (like the internet) is seen as a bit more obvious of an infraction than, say, an informal betting pool with friends or coworkers (which are fun and I miss them).

Those would be my two big reasons for being hesitant, anyway.