After consulting the requestor, I submit the following blazon:


- TLF

If the College leadership is open to my jumping the gun* a moment, I have an idea for S:reu da Miéletz. The caveat is that because his favorite color is maroon, it involves sanguine, a tincture which requires special permission to use as per our own Rules of Heraldry.

- TLF

*A Fellow argent salient over a musket proper

Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on April 16, 2024, 01:07:05 AM

Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, SMC EiP on April 15, 2024, 09:14:20 PMFun fact: You have to write something here to be able to post. Did you know that?

I don't know if you've seen but I was featured on Fora Talossa

I did! You did a good job, too.

Could be neat if I had enough to do a Culture page...

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on April 15, 2024, 09:20:47 PMJust read it.
This was a quite good issue with fair reporting, Mic'haglh, and I am glad LTN is back.

We take great pains to keep our news pieces and opinion pieces separate! You can get both, but not on the same page.

Fun fact: You have to write something here to be able to post. Did you know that?

QuoteWHEREAS the Sovereign Province of Benito has gone by two names throughout its existence; and

WHEREAS the previous name of "Mussolini" had multiple negative connotations and implications, and the name of "Benito" does little to dispel these in the context of its predecessor; and

WHEREAS the Sovereign Province is home to multiple scenic areas along the Manáweg; and

WHEREAS the Sovereign Province is nice enough to be named thrice (but really hopefully no more than that),

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Sovereign Province of Benito is hereby renamed the Free and Sovereign Province of Belacostă (meaning "beautiful riverbank") pending a referendum of the Province's citizenry, and that should this name be approved, all references to "Benito" in current provincial law shall be understood to refer to the same legal entity under its new name.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon approval of this referendum, the Government and Ziu are requested to give effect to this renaming at the federal level at their earliest convenience.

Uréu q'estadra så,
Mic'haglh Autófil MA
Sir Lüc da Schir MA

This bill, having passed the Assembly, now comes before the Senate. Voting will last for one week, until midnight Talossan Daylight Time, Sunday/Monday, April 21/22, 2024.

Alternatively, once all members have voted, or if at least four votes (representing a majority of the Senate) are cast either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, then voting will close at that time as per Article 10 of the Benitian Constitution.

As a Senator under the appointment of the Maestro, I cast my vote për.

Tagging Senators here for notification. @Sir Lüc @Iason Taiwos @Flip Molinar @Istefan Perþonest (Senator Carschaleir does not appear to have a Witt account)

Hearing no objection to this motion since its introduction over two weeks ago, should we regard it as having been given unanimous consent?

With seven votes now cast Për, the bill's passage is guaranteed and voting concludes under Article 10. The bill will be brought before the Benitian Senate.

Well in that case, as Arvitieir Prima I hereby open the voting on The Third Time's The Charm Act in the Assembly of Benito. Voting shall last seven days, closing at noon Talossan Daylight Time on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Alternatively, once all members have voted, or if at least six votes (representing a majority of the Assembly) are cast either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, then voting will close at that time as per Article 10 of the Benitian Constitution.

For my part, while the Arvitieir Prima does not get a vote ex officio, as I also hold one Assembly seat, I cast my vote për.

If I recall correctly, Miestra got hers in about two weeks from date of mailing, and that's a significantly longer trip than Germany.

I've updated the draft to include a royal/constabulary (?) veto, subject to the same conditions as the veto at the national level.

I've also updated the description of the Provincial Assembly to indicate that it's every citizen who claims a seat for the session. Otherwise we'd be needing to send out referenda more regularly, which sounds like something people may consider spam.

Quote from: Istefan Perþonest on April 11, 2024, 02:38:35 PMSo, off the top of my head:

1) The "automatically becomes law" provision is explicitly inOrganic, as it does not allow for a veto of legislation by the Cunstaval. "No Cunstavál shall proclaim any provincial constitution, nor shall any province pass a constitutional amendment, which  . . . grants to the Cunstavál royal powers less extensive than those granted to the King on the national level", and the King's royal powers include a veto.

2) See above on the lack of Cunstaval counter-signature for gubernatorial proclamations, compared to the same for Prime Dictates. (Also compare Fiovan executive orders requiring Cunstaval and Captain.)

That's a fair concern. Would a set time limit to veto be considered Organically-compliant? Otherwise the indefinite refusal of the King (and in our local case, the Cunstaval) to acknowledge the nation's existence would prevent anything from getting done.

I know the other big thing was reforming the province's legislative structure. I had some thoughts on this that I've put in a draft constitution here.

It largely follows the Fiovan governmental model (three-member executive with the citizenry as a popular assembly), while keeping a few clauses and sections from the current Benitian Constitution for continuity's sake. I did use the Belacostă name, simply for the sake of seeing how it looks on paper (and also because it seems to have a good chance of becoming official anyway). That highlighted Section in Article I is unchanged from its current form, but I figure we'll look at redesigning the flag once we fry the bigger fish. (Though I may have attached a few ideas. You know me, any excuse to make a flag...)

One thing I did wish to include is a clause ensuring that provinces that merge into this one (should our constitution be good enough for them without amendment) is that their chief executive gets a seat on the Provincial Council for the remainder of that term. This is to ensure that all citizens of the merged province have representation in their government. I think planning ahead for future reforms and creating a flexible constitution with them in mind will serve us well.

Quote from: Sir Lüc on April 08, 2024, 04:26:35 AMThat works just fine then -- I'll handle the mass mailing for the referendum myself.

On a different note, I'm now thinking we should get the voting done with sooner rather than later, since it's not like the pool of feedback-givers is getting markedly broader at this stage of the process.

I would agree. Is there...some sort of motion we need to make to move to a vote?

Quote from: Iason Taiwos on April 08, 2024, 02:01:13 PM

Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, SMC EiP on April 07, 2024, 08:14:21 PMApril 7 is Cjovani Day, which "honors a trailblazing example of Talossan subcultural development, the Cjovani Benitians, and serves as a day for Talossans to consider the potential for future subcultures in their own provinces".

While not a Cjovani myself, to my fellow Benitians who are, I hope today has been a particularlay good day for you in whatever you have been up to.

One of the hallmarks of Cjovani culture is the the viewing of Spaghetti Western films. Do any Talossans have a favorite Spaghetti Western film? If so, why?

I can't speak for the other Cjovani, but my April 7th wasn't very pleasant...was plagued by allergies all day! (And today too!)
My favorite Spaghetti western is "Once Upon a Time in the West". It's just such a beautifully done film. (Sergio Leone's best, in my opinion.)

Well I certainly hope you feel better soon!

I will admit most of my spaghetti western knowledge is second-hand -- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is the only "OG"-era film I've seen, the rest are more "informed by spaghetti westerns", so to speak (Tarantino, mostly). But boy howdy does Ennio Morricone know how to score a film.