Introducing Ben Hershlim [P] [G]

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Ministry of Immigration
IMMIGRATION APPLICATION

Application Received - 10 September 2023
Application Eligible for Petition - 25 September 2023
The Ministry of Immigration, using information provided in the application and after investigating to the best of its ability, is satisfied that this application is Bona Fide.

Applicant Name:
Ben Hershlim

Gender:
Male

Year of Birth:
1995

Location:
Shorewood, WI

Prospective Province:
Vuode

Have you been introduced to the Kingdom of Talossa by an existing citizen?
NO

Do you have any previous experience with, or membership in, any "micronations"?
NO

Is it okay if Talossan citizens contact you by e-mail?
NO

Is it okay if Talossan citizens contact you by telephone?
NO

About Myself:
I was born in Milwaukee and have lived here (the county at least) my whole life. I consider myself a kind of patriot of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Laurentia at large. I am perpetually fascinated by its complex history, various peoples, and natural environment. I am a student of freshwater science at UWM and I currently work at a grocery store. I would like to spend my professional life assisting with ecological research in the region, hopefully for the WDNR, but even another institution, organization, or firm. My favorite contemporary fiction authors include Michael Chabon, Jeff VanderMeer, and Liu Cixin. My favorite non-fiction writers include Steven Jay Gould and Karl Marx. My favorite musical genres include folk-punk, alternative rock, and free jazz.

Why I am Interested in Becoming a Talossan:
I have know about Talossa for several (~10-15) years. I cannot remember how exactly I first came across it. I would like to be a part of this rich and ever-developing project along with other potentially like-mind people. Micronationalism is very interesting to me, but I have never actually gotten involved despite wanting to do so. I am fortunate to live in the epicenter of such a relatively old and established micronations. I have played NationStates and CyberNations on-and-off for the past several years, but that isn't quite the same.

Where did you hear about the Kingdom of Talossa?
Random internet surfing

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

@Ben Hershlim Welcome to the Kingdom! Please see the New Citizens Guide and Qet Paßa for general information and an activities guide for Talossa.

[Bentxamì Puntmasleu]

@Ben Hershlim Welcome to the Kingdom! Please see the New Citizens Guide and Qet Paßa for general information and an activities guide for Talossa.

Thank you, I will do so.

[Bråneu Excelsio, UrN]

Azul es benvenescu, B. H.!
New citizens have been granted important roles in the kingdom recently and there's always a spot for enthusiastic people. I only knew friends playing NationStates, they never seemed to have fun but they loved it anyway haha, bless their hearts.

A thing I learned soon when arriving in the Kingdom was that the wiki was my friend. For example, you'll be assigned to the Province of Vuode, the first Province of the kingdom. https://wiki.talossa.com/Vuode

You can maybe do your own Wiki Page when you become a Citizen (:

Glad to have you here, hope you have lots of fun!

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

@Ben Hershlim As a fan of Jeff VanderMeer and Liu Cixin you may be interested in our Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Whiskey Society. To become a member all you need to do is join in the discussion.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Really good taste in literature! Gould and punctuated equilibrium are not in vogue anymore, but The Panda's Thumb is great.

On the other hand, I admit I don't get the hype about The Three Body Problem.

[Bentxamì Puntmasleu]

@Ben Hershlim As a fan of Jeff VanderMeer and Liu Cixin you may be interested in our Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Whiskey Society. To become a member all you need to do is join in the discussion.

Thanks! I think I will check that out.

[Bentxamì Puntmasleu]

I can't seem to find where or who on Wittenberg to ask about this but, upon becoming a citizen (with hope that I will), I would like to volunteer for the Bureau of Home Affairs of the Ministry of Culture (as established by Lexh.D.2.7.1.).

[Carlüs Éovart Vilaçafat]

I would say that you need to talk to me, the current MinCULT, however we are having an election soon, so you should send a message to the new MinCULT after the election is over.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

@Ben Hershlim I wanted to thank you for including a picture on your Witt profile. Hopefully this will spread as it really humanizes communication when you see a face.

[Bentxamì Puntmasleu]

I would say that you need to talk to me, the current MinCULT, however we are having an election soon, so you should send a message to the new MinCULT after the election is over.

Great! I will get in touch with you or your successor after the election.

On the topic of elections, I have a few questions:

1.) When is the next Ziu election? I see the Organic Law says that voting is held from the fifteenth of the month following the month of the previous Cosa's dissolution, to the first of the next month, and that the certification process lasts until the fifteenth of that month. You say that the next election will be held soon. Do you mean September 15?

2.) What is the rotation of provinces for Senats elections and which provinces will hold Senats elections next?

3.) Where and how are parties/candidates listed, voting conducted, and results announced?

4.) If I were to become a citizen after Balloting Day (the fifteenth) but before the Election Deadline (the first), would I be eligible to vote in that election? I not, I would be fine with that. I still have to acquire a better grasp on Talossan issues and the positions of parties anyway.

I realize that this information can probably be found somewhere in the statutes and records available on the wiki (I am looking through it now) but I thought I would ask here in the meantime.

Thank you.

[Carlüs Éovart Vilaçafat]

1. Yes the election begins tomorrow 15 SEP.

2. The province rotation can be found on the Wiki Senäts page here, but the three contested seats currently are Cézembre, Florencia, and Maricopa.

3. You can find a break down of how parties/candidates are announced etc. in the current Preparing for the 59th Cosa election thread.

4. This is a good question! But one I don't know the answer to. Perhaps one of my fellow Talossans that are better read on election law can enlighten us!

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Yes, you would be able to vote. Anyone who is a citizen may vote during the voting period. If you become a citizen before the voting period is over, then that would describe you.

Just to let you know, it is considered quite unethical for people to try to recruit prospective immigrants or convince them to vote for one particular party. So you will find that people are not going to be willing to discuss politics with you all that openly right now. That will change once you become a citizen.

[Bentxamì Puntmasleu]

Yes, you would be able to vote. Anyone who is a citizen may vote during the voting period. If you become a citizen before the voting period is over, then that would describe you.

Just to let you know, it is considered quite unethical for people to try to recruit prospective immigrants or convince them to vote for one particular party. So you will find that people are not going to be willing to discuss politics with you all that openly right now. That will change once you become a citizen.

I see. Thanks for the heads up.

[King Txec]

4. This is a good question! But one I don't know the answer to. Perhaps one of my fellow Talossans that are better read on election law can enlighten us!

Yes. If a citizen naturalizes during the election window, which runs from 15 September to 1 October, he or she would be eligible to vote.

[Iason Taiwos]

You mean there's other people out there who like free jazz? What's some of the artists you like?

[Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC]

[Iason Taiwos]

I remember reading Frank's autobiography, and he had this sad story of seeing Duke Ellington beg for money from a concert promoter after a show...Duke Ellington! I believe that chapter was titled "Jazz: the Music of Unemployment"

[Bentxamì Puntmasleu]

The musicians I listen too whose names I know are mostly the big names, like Ornette Coleman, Paul Motian, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden, Peter Brötzmann, Sun Ra. By far my favorite local radio station is called WMSE (it broadcasts out of the Cüféir Canton in Fiovă. On Tuesday morning, there is a show called Dr. Sushi's Free Jazz BBQ. A lot of what I listen to is from there. I also have some albums with the above-mentioned artists.

[Iason Taiwos]

The musicians I listen too whose names I know are mostly the big names, like Ornette Coleman, Paul Motian, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden, Peter Brötzmann, Sun Ra. By far my favorite local radio station is called WMSE (it broadcasts out of the Cüféir Canton in Fiovă. On Tuesday morning, there is a show called Dr. Sushi's Free Jazz BBQ. A lot of what I listen to is from there. I also have some albums with the above-mentioned artists.

All good stuff! (I was saddened to hear of Brötzmann passing away recently.) Years ago,Youngstown State University's radio station used to have a jazz show that came on pretty late at night. They tended to play more "normal" jazz (a lot of forties big band stuff), but they'd always take requests. So I'd call up and request some pretty avant-garde stuff...and they'd always play it! "That was the Glenn Miller Orchestra...next, we're going to play a listener request, here's a track by Cecil Taylor." So,they'd go from big band swing to some dense, atonal music that was like fifteen minutes long...