We're still waiting for penalties between Colombia and Switzerland, but that won't actually affect the score for this round, which is as follows:

Points scored in Round of 32
Lüc 18
Glüc 12
Braneu 12
AD 6
þerxh 12
Danihel 15
Breneir 15

Overall score so far:
Lüc 79
Glüc 73
Braneu 71
AD 58
þerxh 73
Danihel 76
Breneir 74

This round turned out to be pretty decisive. At least for AD, who has no predicted semifinalists left, so 58 will actually be his final score. Because of the way the teams interact however it is also no longer possible for myself, Braneu or þerxh to win. It really comes down now to whether Spain makes it to the final, in which case Danihels Opta-based prediction wins. In almost every other case Lüc wins, except there is one particular scenario where the winner is a tie.'

Outlook (all rounds):
min-max
Lüc 79-128
Glüc 73-109
Braneu 71-94
AD 58
þerxh 73-104
Danihel 76-125
Breneir 74-97

Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on Today at 01:51:53 AMMGMT - The Youth

More are to follow

MGMT - Love Always Remains

MGMT - Boogie Down

1. Iron Maiden - Children of the Damned
Iron Maiden really know how to write an outro.

2. Cocteau Twins - Fifty-fifty Clown
Cocteau Twins are my new favourite thing to listen to this year. Mesmerizing.

3. Talk Talk - Such a Shame
Kinda wanted to nominate Time It's Time because that one really moves me, but I've tried nominating Talk Talk before, unsuccesfully,  and I'm not sure y'all are ready for 8 (somewhat repetitive) minutes of Talk Talk. Instead I went with a song that might have broader appeal (because it's so energetic and catchy).

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on June 02, 2026, 11:48:38 AMMy prediction is that we're going to see that change over the next month again.  We'll see: either I'll be right and we'll do a lot better, or I'm going to be eating a lot of crow as my hypothesis falls flat!  Copy this down and remember it, to hold me accountable, folks!

Like clockwork: when we resumed promotion, we saw results.  It was a little nerve-wracking to make that prediction, since a lot could have gone wrong that wasn't related to our experiment.  But it worked!

Within a few weeks, we acquired two wonderful new immigrants, and there are more in the pipeline.  My computer is broken, so my ability to make new videos is suspended, but we'll do other forms of promotion.  The efforts seem to be very amply rewarded: not too much work is required to generate substantial benefits for the country.

I know that a lot of this stuff is new.  This is the first time in our country's history that we have kept track of things like this, and this is the first time we've had a sustained promotional plan that we applied in this way.  As we proceed, I think we'll get better and better results.  Building up a multimedia library of videos means that we can generate promotional short-form video clips, so I'm going to try to record some more speeches with zippy bits that can be clipped out without a lot of effort.  His Majesty has promised me some footage, also, and maybe we can get some from other reputable Talossans.

The future is looking very bright, my friends.



For period: 1 June 2026 to 1 July 2026
----
Incomplete: 3
No Wittenberg: 10
No post: 0
In progress: 10
No petition: 0
Successful: 2
Total applications: 25

'Incomplete' refers to those applications which were not filled out correctly or completely, and which were returned with an explanation. 'No Wittenberg' refers to those applications which were complete, but in which the applicant did not go on to make an account on Wittenberg. 'No post' refers to those applications from the period in which the prospective never made a post and so the process has been terminated.  'In progress' refers to those applications from the period which were complete and in which the applicant is still being considered. 'No petition' refers to those applications which were complete and considered, but for which no petition was received. 'Successful' refers to naturalizations completed.

MGMT - The Youth
More are to follow

Quote from: Iason Taiwos on July 03, 2026, 10:54:17 AMI can see that Kubb is somewhat similar, but seems more challenging than what I came up with.
I "invented" this dumb game when I was laid off from my job. I was at home alone, bored, was messing with some fishing tackle. I happened to have a cat box that looked like this:

https://ibb.co/Y7gxs7Fq

Out of boredom, I tied one of my lead fishing sinkers to a bit of nylon rope I had, and decided to try and throw it into the holes in the cat box. Maybe it seemed more fun and challenging than it actually was because I was bored, but anyhow, I quickly made up some rules for it. I took the cat box and sink line to an Easter family gathering, and coaxed some family members to try it. The grandkids seemed to have fun. But that was the one and only time the game was ever played. I left the cat box outside, and it started to rot, so I threw it out. But anyway, here are the rules:

The rules of Lencularh/Lancerat
https://ibb.co/MkFNqFBD
Lancerat is a game created by Iason Taiwos in 2010. The object of the game is for players to score points by tossing a line with a weight on the end into a cylindrical shaped box with three holes in it.
Game rules (first revision, April 2010)
In all games of Lancerat, whether played by individuals or teams, a coin toss decides who plays first. A coin toss also determines who plays first in a tie breaker game
Players, standing behind the tossline, have five turns of three tosses to score as many points as possible. In team play, players alternate on each turn. The player or team with the highest score after five turns wins. In case of a tie, a tie breaker round is played.
THE TOSSLINE - Players must toss the plomb from behind the tossline. In basic Lancerat, the tossline is measured 16 ft from the front face of the sinkbox. In the process of tossing, a players arms and/or upper torso may cross the tossline, but their feet must remain behind it. Stepping across the tossline is an illegal move, and any points scored in such a toss are not counted. In Tournament Lancerat, the tossline is measured 20 ft from the front face of the sinkbox.
THE PLOMB AND SINKLINE - The plomb must weigh no more than 5 oz. It may be attached to the sinkline in any fashion the player chooses, provided it is secure and will not fly off during a toss. The sinkline should be an ⅛" polypropylene cord. It may be of any length suitable to the player, provided it is long enough to go into the sinkbox from the tossline.
TIE BREAKING - Should a tie breaking round end in yet another tie, players can simply play another round, or play a tournament round. Here, the tossline is moved back to 20 ft from the front face of the sinkbox. Tournament rounds are played just like a game of basic Lancerat, except that players are allowed only one toss per turn. The first player to score three points in a tiebreaker round wins the game.
ILLEGAL TOSSES - A toss is considered illegal or incomplete if: 1, the players feet crosses the sinkline. 2, an insecure plomb goes flying off the sinkline during the course of a toss. 3, the player loses hold of the sinkline during a toss. Any points scored in an illegal toss are not counted.
LANCERAT 23 - 23 is played the same as basic Lancerat, with two exceptions. 1st, the goal of the game is to score exactly 23 points. The player who scores 23, or closest to 23 without going over, wins the game. Any player scoring over 23 is automatically out of the game. 2nd, players are allowed only one toss per turn.
TOURNAMENT LANCERAT - Tournament Lancerat is played the same as basic Lancerat, except that the distance from the front face of the sinkbox to the tossline is 20 ft. When teams play in a tournament, team members alternate at every turn. In a tie breaker round, players are allowed only one toss per turn, and the first player or team to score three points wins.
JUNIOR LANCERAT - For junior players, the tossline is 12 ft from the front face of the sinkbox. The rules are otherwise the same as basic Lancerat.

I am really enamored with this and I might build a set to play.

Quote from: þerxh Sant-Enogat on July 05, 2026, 10:04:57 AMI am a bit older, so my list is : France (obviously), UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Monaco, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Russia (only Saint Petersburg), Czech republic, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Marocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, United States (only NYC, Chicago, Houston, Dallas), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We should go on family trip to South Korea in August.

Holy smokes, wow!

Where in Korea will you be going?

Quote from: Glüc on Yesterday at 06:24:35 AMSidenote: corruption in football isn't a new, but the way FIFA is currently rigging the tournament in favour of the US at the request of orange dictator guy is really quite something else.

Yes... a lot of even people I normally like are saying stuff like, "FIFA is always corrupt."  But that kind of callow cynicism is always the problem with American politics!  We must demand better!

Deodato - Also sprach Zarathustra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJKsp9_L24Q&t=20s

Now I am aware that this design philosophy in itself limits, as all schools can use the same concepts and elements as others; a philosophical text on religious practices can include empirical evidence, yet be about a constructivist topic within a rationalist foundational framework. I feel, however, that dealing with each subject's base/foundation framework of said knowledge means that we as a society hold to our mandate of "The function of the Royal Society is to conduct and promote research and academic study in all areas of human endeavour."