Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on August 30, 2026, 07:11:15 PMthe Chancery must have the final call.

When it comes to the question of infrastructure for Wittenberg, yes -- but that's intended to give the Chancery a free hand when it comes to implementing the technology.  I think when we talk about how to present ourselves to the world in terms of how we prioritize Wittenberg or other vehicles, though, that's the sort of major policy decision that belongs in the hands of the elected government.

It's also important to note that it would be outright foolish to treat this as anything other than an opportunity for collaboration.  The Secretary of State is in charge of our systems, and that means that Sir Luc has a tremendous amount of insight into best practices, possible problems, and what works best.  I think that it's wrong to just ask him to figure out how we should present our face to the world in all of its complexity, but it would be just as wrong to try to boss him around with demands.

Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on August 30, 2026, 07:11:15 PM

QuoteBy the way, I told Mic'haglh this but he may not have seen my message: the video he shared in your last mailer was marked private, so I don't think anyone can watch it.

I did see your message; while the video in question did already have multiple views (suggesting that the link was working), I have moved it to Unlisted to be safe.

Oh, good!  Private videos are still available to anyone you send them to by email, so it's possible that you sent it to others for vetting or something first, and that's why it already had multiple views.  But I thought you might want a heads-up that there was a problem and that most people would be unable to view it.

Up two ranks for the Posse. I like where this is headed.

Quote from: Istefan Perþonest on August 30, 2026, 04:59:41 PMBut I do expect it is likely that as long as you're a vocal participant in politics, whatever party you're aligned with will tend to be seen as your party.

+1

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on August 30, 2026, 04:25:38 PM(Although I will say that I do not think it's appropriate for the Chancery to be the deciding agency on what the future of our message board or website should look like -- they should be consulted, but we're a democracy, and the elected government should set policy).

Even if the Royal Civil Service were subordinated to the Government in the way the Seneschal prefers, the Secretary of State reports to the presiding officers of the houses of the Ziu, not the Government.

Speaking of the Ziu, our legislature has granted oversight of Wittenberg to the Secretary of State by law. Ziu sessions since then have not seen fit to revoke this oversight. There is of course nothing wrong with the Secretary of State consulting with the Government or the presiding officers, especially when considering an undertaking the size of Wittenberg overhaul. I have no doubt that the current Secretary of State will continue to do his duties in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. But both on the principle of maintaining the Civil Service's independence, and trusting in the judgment and integrity of its officers, the Chancery must have the final call.

QuoteBy the way, I told Mic'haglh this but he may not have seen my message: the video he shared in your last mailer was marked private, so I don't think anyone can watch it.

I did see your message; while the video in question did already have multiple views (suggesting that the link was working), I have moved it to Unlisted to be safe.

Quote from: Istefan Perþonest on August 30, 2026, 04:59:41 PMEven macronational politics have a tendency to get personalized around forceful or charismatic figures

I'll pass the feedback on to @Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be that he has to be more forceful and charismatic :D

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on August 30, 2026, 04:25:38 PMI highlighted one of them: getting rid of the Senäts as we know it, in order to make it an advisory body

The thing is anyone can go look at the Democracy Agenda (point 5, in particular) and realise that you've headlined an exaggerated scare story. Even if it were a mathematical possibility for us to get the necessary numbers for such major OrgLaw surgery in this election. Which it isn't.

I remember someone telling me that we lost the last election because voters were turned off by what they saw as overheated exaggerations about our opponents' programme :D

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC on August 29, 2026, 04:25:38 PMThe 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

Now, that's a little exaggerated. I mean, there are several Talossans who are out of politics and still in Talossa. Maybe a handful more than just technically!

But I do expect it is likely that as long as you're a vocal participant in politics, whatever party you're aligned with will tend to be seen as your party. I'll note that historically it never really mattered who was ex officio leader of the Progressive Conservatives or the RUMP, either. Even macronational politics have a tendency to get personalized around forceful or charismatic figures; Talossa doesn't have the mass to counteract that much.

You guys have espoused a number of goals, and almost all of them are about changing the laws.  I highlighted one of them: getting rid of the Senäts as we know it, in order to make it an advisory body that can delay legislation or request revisions from the Cosa.  I highlighted that one in our last mailer because I think it'd be a serious mistake and that voters hate the idea.  But there's others: shrinking the Cosa down more, creating a new bureau for worldbuilding, making more micronational connections, changing the laws about the CRL, supporting the Democracy Act, and asking the Chancery what changes should be made to Wittenberg. 

I don't even disagree with some of these.  (Although I will say that I do not think it's appropriate for the Chancery to be the deciding agency on what the future of our message board or website should look like -- they should be consulted, but we're a democracy, and the elected government should set policy).  But five out of seven of them are about changing the laws.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a focus on legislation, especially since it's almost always been your own passion, Miestra.  And there's nothing wrong with having those as goals... changing the law was one of our own premiere goals in the last election!  You should own it and be proud, in my opinion.

By the way, I told Mic'haglh this but he may not have seen my message: the video he shared in your last mailer was marked private, so I don't think anyone can watch it.

Stage 9  »  La Vila Joiosa/Villajoyosa  ›  Alto de Aitana. Costa Blanca
It was a weird day as the race to win the vuelta basically started anew, after Pogacar abandoned and Mas took over the red jersey. Instantly we went from one possible winner to at least six. And we immediately got a mountain stage with an uphill finish to test out the new contenders.

There was more bad news along the way as Groves (PTM) abandoned the race after his crash yesterday and Torres (MMM) also abandoned for reasons I don't know. Terrible news for the Menceis as Torres was basically the only rider they had left with any sort of standing in GC. After a very similar strategy got them the win last edition, the Menceis may well end up last this time.

Before we got to the final we started with a breakaway, which included Zana (CFA), Sivakov (MMM), Vermaerke (MMM), Camprubi (CHX), Paret-Peintre (CHX), Armirail (REX/CJO) and Calzoni (BDC). For a while it look like some of them might have a chance at a stagewin, but they were all caught on the final climb and from then it was up to the GC contenders.

New red jersey wearer Mas (REX/VFL/BDC/MAN) proved why he now gets to wear the red jersey with Pogacar gone by winning the stage, followed immediately by Onley (CHX/BDC/PTM/DED). Roglic (VFL/CJO/PTM) followed not far behind. Gall (CJO) came in fourth, followed by Christian Rodriguez (REX/VFL/DED), Skjelmose (GHS/CFA) and Widar (GHS/BDC). Carapaz (GHS/REX) disappointed again by coming 9th, but the biggest disappointment was Kuss (REX/CJO/PTM), who finished 11th, 1 minute 44 seconds behind Mas and dropped 3 places in GC. Also in the top 20: Omrzel (BDC/PTM) 15th, Zana 17th and Sivakov 20th.

The win by Mas and strong performances by Onley, Widar and Omrzel meant that BdC win the stage and further extend their lead. After the Pogacar dropout, there was a good chance today Naziun Cjovani would emerge as the favourites heading into week 2, with a full team including 3 of the new GC top 4, but that didn't happen yet. Instead the Kuss loss in GC meant they lost ground to BdC in both the stage and potential end-of-tour points. Els Talossaes Rexhital did manage to leave last place behind, handing over the red lantern to Dirnalaiset Mortescu, appropriately enough.

Standings after stage 9:

Pos	±		Team	Pts Ove	Pts Today
1st	(=)		Cézembre Caçeirs dals Mailintzarăs (BDC)	4233	+655
2nd	(=)		Gordon Hiatus Support Team (GHS)	3527	+335
3rd	(+2)		Velociposse Florencia (VFL)	3249	+595
4th	(-1)		The Manilows (MAN)	3248	+291
5th	(+1)		Port Maxhestic AC (PTM)	3141	+506
6th	(-2)		Cyclohexane (CHX)	3077	+282
7th	(=)		Naziun Cjovani (CJO)	2995	+482
8th	(=)		Maritiimi-Maxhestic Mençeis (MMM)	2538	+66
9th	(+2)		Els Talossaes Rexhital (REX)	2417	+581
10th	(-1)		Cézembre Fieschā (CFA)	2292	+174
11th	(-1)		Dirnalaiset Mortescu (DED)	2265	+342

New General Classification top 15:
1. Mas (REX/VFL/BDC/MAN)
2. Roglic (VFL/CJO/PTM) +1'18"
3. Gall (CJO) +1'39"
4. Onley (CHX/BDC/PTM/DED) +2'20"
5. Carapaz (GHS/REX) +3'26"
6. Skjelmose (GHS/CFA) +3'55"
7. Kuss (REX/CJO/PTM) + 4'09"

10. Omrzel (BDC/PTM) +8'05"

12. Widar (GHS/BDC) + 9'34"
13. Christian Rodriguez (REX/VFL/DED) + 9'42"
14. Martin (CFA) +12'58"

Tomorrow: the first rest day. After a tumultuous week (and stage 8 in particular) the remaining riders may well need it.

(For those who haven't done so yet, a good opportunity to vote on the General Election and the Talossan Music Top 20.)

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on August 30, 2026, 09:24:06 AMOur party is overwhelmingly focused on building things and offering new programs, and the URL is focused on changing laws.

And that would be why you headlined your last mailer with a constitutional scare story?* No doubt because "building things and offering new programs" doesn't excite your core vote (whom I think Glüc characterized accurately).

Honestly, I'm disappointed that the tone got dragged down so close to the finish line.