5 votes in with 2 days to go.

These are the standings so far (with some hints):

1. - 31 points - Only 1 top-3 vote
2. - 26 points - Got points from all 5 voters so far
3. - 24 points - Not in the top 20 last year
4. - 22 points - Highest standard deviation
5. - 21 points - Eliminated in Round 2 last year
6. - 21 points - Artist has a song in the hall of fame
7. - 20 points - Second highest standard deviation
8. - 19 points - Two 1 point votes
9. - 19 points - Highest to get no top-3 votes
10. - 18 points - Has been in top 20 more than 3 times before
11 - 18 points - Nominated before 2020
12 - 17 points - First place in the semifinal
13. - 15 points - 5th place in the semifinal
14. - 13 points - Lowest to get 12 points
14. - 6 points - Top 5 last year!

Stage 8  »  Puçol  ›  Xeraco

Fuller update later but the main news, Pogacar's retirement, is already out anyway.

REX wins the stage thanks to Pedersen finally getting a result on the board (2nd behind non-TCAT Coquard at his first grand tour stage victory at 34). Brennan only managed 10th due to poor positioning; De Jong got 15th. The final of many crashes took out Groves and De Schuyteneer.

Standings after stage 8:

Pos	±		Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)		Cézembre Caçeirs dals Mailintzarăs (BDC)	3578	+144
2nd	(=)		Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	3192	+159
3rd	(=)		The Manilows (MAN)	2957	+124
4th	(=)		Cyclohexane (CHX)	2795	+62
5th	(=)		Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	2654	+76
6th	(=)		Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	2635	+79
7th	(=)		Naziun Cjovani (CJO)	2513	+141
8th	(=)		Maritiimi-Maxhestic Mençeis (MMM)	2472	+198
9th	(+1)		Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	2118	+245
10th	(-1)		Dirnalaiset Mortescu (DED)	1923	+24
11th	(=)		Els Talossaes Rexhital (REX)	1836	+277

I am also trying to get Crement to allow me use of his recipe for okonamiyaki. It's either that or butter mochi. If I am lucky perhaps both.

Quote from: Glüc on August 29, 2026, 04:30:39 AMThere hasn't been much election debate going on so far. Although admittedly I probably missed some of it due to not paying attention. I've read the mailers, but I think party leaders questioning each other about what and how they intend to do things (or for example how they would approach the next government formation) might be more informative.

This is one of those "can't win for losing" situations. In previous elections people have complained that Talossans are too mean and personal and combative. We were told explicitly that in the last election, the URL's sharp critiques of Progressive politics lost us the election. So this election we've made a special effort to pivot to constructive "this is what WE'LL do" stuff rather than bashing the Progs. And that's the wrong rock too, apparently :D

An actual leader's debate was scheduled, but didn't happen for whatever reason. But the constructive answer to Glüc's question is that the URL have emphasized government formation, in the sense that we keep going on and on about team government, and criticized the incumbent's tendency to "one man band" forms of organization.

Can I also notice that there is a real problem implicit in Glüc's comment about "Miestră and AD" cooperating. The leader and Seneschal candidate of the URL is Mic'haglh Autófil. The extent to which Mic'haglh is not seen as a separate entity to myself is regrettable, and something we've been trying to counteract, but it seems that that can't happen until I leave Talossa altogether :D

On behalf of the people of Norway, I express my gratitude for your solidarity and comfort.

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on August 29, 2026, 07:54:13 AMwe do better with higher turnout.

Turnout has indeed been low so far. Only 4 votes yet on the Talossan Music Top 20 Final. Lets hope the final days see another burst of voters.

I still intend to do a TMT20 broadcast in the voice channel on discord on election night, if there's enough people around who are interested.

This is crazy.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on August 27, 2026, 09:45:23 PMI was saddened to see news of the passing of Dolly Parton (and Tim Curry) for that matter. I was, however, horrified by news of the natural disaster in Nepal. I have said before and will say as many times as possible that Talossa can do good in the world (even if it is by small acts) which helps people as a demonstration of our national character. And hopefully serve as inspiration for other small nations. The BHAID could and should be used as a vehicle for organizing donations to charities supporting people in Nepal.

We need to stop suffocating the BHAID for partisan purposes and make good use of a longstanding organization. I suspect Dolly would really like that.

Taking a quick moment to thank @King Txec for his statement on the tragedy unfolding in Nepal and Tibet. And for urging action through the BHAID concerning Talossan assistance. I look forward to donating to any appeal that arises from the current consulations between the Seneschal and his PermSec for Humanitarian Aid and International Development.

Quote from: Breneir Tzaracomprada on August 25, 2026, 09:08:51 PMMadam President, I wanted to let a bit of time pass before enquiring. Just over two weeks now and no fellows have actioned my application. I wanted to check in as to the procedure should no other fellow take it up? Even if you are not an expert on my subject (which I don't think any of the other fellows are either) would you hazard an attempt at an appraisal?

Hi @Tierçéu Rôibeardescù

Madam President you have done a great job breathing new energy into the Society. Would you please let me know the status of my application?

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on August 29, 2026, 12:28:59 PM

Quote from: Tric'hard Lenxheir on August 29, 2026, 12:07:03 PM

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on August 29, 2026, 10:46:52 AM

Quote from: Glüc on August 29, 2026, 04:30:39 AMIt might be actually good for Talossa to have both of them in government for a term. If Miestra and AD formed a party together I'd vote for that I think.

<soapbox>If this isn't an argument against party-based voting and in favour of direct candidate-based voting, I don't know what is.</soapbox>

The party based voting is actually an individual based vote. Everyone knows who basically runs each party and they are voting for that person to lead his/her party in the direction they feel is correct.

What I mean is, in the current system there is no option to vote for both AD and Miestra if you like them both. You are given a limited set of choices instead, and forced to choose between those and only those. It stifles cross-partisan dialog and supports hackery.

I agree with Marcel that the current voting system could be improved. I wish that we could increase elements of direct democracy and reduce the control of political parties with more independent politicians though.