TOP STORY: TSSS ELECTED TO THE LOCAL COUNCIL
Kris Kringle

Government Island - The Solar System Scope has won the vacant seat at the Local Council, following a nine-day campaign focused on increasing activity on the Regional Message Board and making the Council a more prominent branch of government. He won 18-4 against Re-Open Nominations, while The International Knights attained 3 votes but withdrew midway through the voting period. A citizen for more than a year, The Solar System Scope once ran for Minister of Foreign Affairs, but otherwise has not been involved in government. He is better known for his passion for astronomy and his contributions on the Regional Message Board and the Hall of Spam.

The Solar System Scope is currently discussing with the Ministry of Regional Affairs the organisation of a festival in July. Yesterday he briefly spoke with the Southern Journal and expressed his thrill over having the opportunity to serve the region. He described the election as unchallenging but highlighted the importance of giving residents reasons to post: I had once asked a nation in TSP why he did not post on the RMB and responded that it was not stimulating enough. So, we should stimulate it [with] discussions about interesting topics, games like TriviaSP".

With its membership complete, the Local Council has the challenge to establish itself as a prominent branch of government and bridge the gap between the gameside and forum communities. So far it has failed to gain much visibility or relatability from residents. With a recent amendment to the Election Act allowing non-citizens to run for the Council, some hope that there will be greater incentive to participate. It is unclear how that amendment will interact with the Bill of Rights, which reserves elected positions to citizens.

North and South go Nautical
Kris Kringle

Celebration Pavilion - Throughout the last couple of days the Ministry of Regional Affairs has hosted the North Pacific in a festival called The Nautical Pacific. Its purpose is to foster closer relations between the North and South, whos alliance was established in June 2012 and was recently strengthened by the ratification of an enhanced treaty called the Aurora Alliance. This festival has included a poetry and prose competition, caption contests, a Mafia/Werewolf mix and a roleplayed North-South Pacific Film Festival, courtesy of former delegate Brutland and Norden.

While the festival is scheduled to finish today, it was been well received by citizens and its activities, namely the Film Festival, will extend at least until July 2. Relations with the North Pacific have been rekindled in recent months, with the ratification of the enhanced treaty and military cooperation, such as the joint occupation of Atlantic, once the base of the Atlantic Central Command. Minister of Regional Affairs Feirmont told this newspaper that he was glad for the success of the festival and highlighted the importance of fun and games as a way of strengthening relations with allies.

Summer for the Special Forces
Kris Kringle

Today Minister of the Army ProfessorHenn nominated Resentine Kingdom as General, citing his skills at military gameplay and his extensive experience, despite being a relative newcomer to the region. Resentine Kingdom explained his previous experience and cited his role in the liberation of Lazarus. He proposed lending a more positive tone to raids by linking them with region building opportunities, proposing that any raid help natives organise themselves, rather than be aimed at destroying or wreaking havoc in the region. In terms of improvements to the Special Forces, he reiterated the need for greater publicity and communication with the South Pacific, but defended the progress that has been made under the leadership of ProfessorHenn.

A slight controversy had surrounded the Special Forces last week, when defenders at the #jump channel refused to provide assistance in a planned liberation. Soldier Siberian Districts posted logs that showed Ranavia and Benevolent Thomas chastising him for the SPSF involvement in the raid of The Eternal Realm and subsequently asking him to leave the channel. Various citizens criticised this but expressed little surprise at the treatment Siberian Districts received, with some pointing to the unreasonable character of some defenders. Subsequent discussion was taken to the private forum of the Special Forces.

In spite of the above, it has been quite a good season for the military. Should he be confirmed, Resentine Kingdom would conform the first full General Corps in more than two years, closing a vital gap in the chain of command. Minister ProfessorHenn also garnered some publicity for the Special Forces when he spoked with Sopo in EBC Radio, answering questions on the progress during his term and speaking of his plans for the incoming election. Similarly, Rejected Radio briefly discussed the Special Forces in its June broadcast, which featured Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandaoguo. This newspaper consulted ProfessorHenn on his performance and the development of the military; he commented: "I may be controversial, but I get shit done".

Getting TSP Drunk
A discussion between Feirmont, Kris Kringle and ProfessorHenn

This is the transcript of a discussion hosted by this newspaper on recent activity in the Assembly and whether it is indicative of any larger trend in the region, namely greater interest in roleplaying at the expense of government, or if it simply is a seasonal phenomenon.

Kris Kringle: Welcome Feirmont and ProfessorHenn: to this short discussion. Today I just want to talk a bit about the state of the Assembly and what should be done to increase activity on it, if at all. What do you think, is the Assembly going through a bad moment, or is it just natural that nothing needs to be legislated on at this particular point in time?

ProfessorHenn: Well, Kris, it's that time of the year. Everyone's out on vacation, going to the movies, working at the movies.

Feirmont: Look at the activity in the past. The time the Assembly was the most active in the last few months was from some form of scandal, or too many elections If the Assembly is quiet now, it may be a good thing; maybe we're at the point that there isn't much to amend or add. Or, as ProfessorHenn said; it's just that low activity time of year.

Kris Kringle: We do have some pending discussions. Personally I think people stopped feeling interested in legislating, and the drama that came with it. I do think activity will rebound at some point in the near future.

ProfessorHenn: My Charter Amendment should help.

Kris Kringle: Yes, I was just getting to that. Your amendment raises an interesting point, actually. Maybe fully translating the Charter isn't such a good idea, but do we want to adopt a themed-approach to our government? Like Lazarus, Balder or Osiris, for instance. Is it a good idea to have themed-names for our positions, or to explore a bit more the tropical theme?

Feirmont: It would certainly be more 'fun'.

ProfessorHenn: Indeed. That was what I was originally going for. Renamed positions and documents. Then, I got lazy.

Feirmont: Would it be also crazy: If we had a term theme instead of a general theme chosen by the newly elected Del/VD.

Kris Kringle: How so?

Feirmont: Example: Del A has a Fruit theme, Head Banana, Vice Apple, etc.... Election comes around, Del B changes the theme to pirates. Instead of a general theme we adopt and keep as a permanent.

Kris Kringle: Oh. Sounds a bit similar to what they have in Spiritus.

Feirmont: That's exactly what I was thinking of.

Kris Kringle: The downside would be a difficulty in having a consistent culture, maybe. But Henn's proposal, the growing activity of Bantam Harbour, and now the idea to RP raid reports does make it seem like TSP is moving away from being a traditional gameplay region and more towards a roleplaying one. I do like that. It helps is focus on what we are good at.

ProfessorHenn: Yeah. You know what I keep thinking? That I'm responsible for this change to Roleplay. Before I declared war on Qvait there was no SSU, there was little RPing, the SCO was on the backburner. Then, I began doing a lot of questionable stuff.

Feirmont: I have a question, if you will. Do you think TSP's turn to being more RP is the reason why there hasn't been much interest in government positions recently? Example: CoA Election: 1 + RON; Justice election: 1 + RON; LC Elections: 1 + RON. The LC election was 2 + RON, but then a candidate dropped out.

Kris Kringle: It may be, but I'm not sure that necessarily has to be the case. Keep in mind that RP has gained more activity, but not necessarily at the expense of government.

ProfessorHenn: Indeed. Election time brings about activity.

Kris Kringle: I like tsu, but we do need to admit that his second term has been rather quiet, so that may have contributed to the lack of interest and candidates.

ProfessorHenn: Indeed.

Feirmont: The entire government has been quiet this term, that's true. I can see how it could have contributed a bit.

Kris Kringle: Alright, let's wrap up. Inactivity in the Assembly. Is it a seasonal thing or a larger trend?

ProfessorHenn: Seasonal.

Feirmont: I'm going to go with seasonal.

Kris Kringle: Should we try to address it, even if it's seasonal, or should we instead focus on those things that remain active throughout the year (RP)?

ProfessorHenn: I'd say RP for now. It's the best way for newcomers to get involved without their actions having a lasting effect on politics.

Feirmont: We can try to address it; at least give it a small shot to the heart, so to speak.

ProfessorHenn: And it provides experience with the forums and knowledge of how to get around. Give it a little bit of vodka, eh?

Kris Kringle: In conclusion, get TSP drunk?

Feirmont: Still has my vote as best description of TSP

Kris Kringle: Sounds good to me. Thanks a lot guys!