I'll be off back home for Christmas from the 16th 'til about a week after New Year. I'll maybe say hello to those on the NationStates IRC channels since mIRC doesn't appear to work on the university's connections.
Tum te tum... that's all.
10 December 2006
26 November 2006
Murder On the NationStates Express
Modshort #13
A new Modshort! This time starring Tsaraine. Enjoy!
Also, while I'm typing away I might as well relate one side of a telephone conversation from my university life to illustrate why you should never let one of your flatmates get to said phone before you when you know your mother is about to call:
"Hello, this is the foot fetish line, would you like me to suck your feet or lick your toes?"
My mum thought she'd got the wrong number, bless her.
A new Modshort! This time starring Tsaraine. Enjoy!
Also, while I'm typing away I might as well relate one side of a telephone conversation from my university life to illustrate why you should never let one of your flatmates get to said phone before you when you know your mother is about to call:
"Hello, this is the foot fetish line, would you like me to suck your feet or lick your toes?"
My mum thought she'd got the wrong number, bless her.
09 November 2006
Resignation
After a long time considering things, I have decided it is time for me to retire from my post as moderator of NationStates, to stop playing altogether and let Sirocco go to the great region in the sky. It's been a wonderful three years, and I don't regret a bit of it, but the gaps that were filled by NationStates have now been filled by other things. I'd like to thank Max and the mods for all the things they've made possible for me during my time supporting the site. I'm satisfied that I've helped the game develop: I created code that allows nations to measure their unemployment rates and I helped get the site up to two hundred issues when there was once only thirty-one. I think that's pretty cool. Shame I can't put it on my CV.
I'll still be happy to help those wanting advice on writing issues, but I will no longer be helping with moderation requests. My e-mail address will remain the same.
It may be the end of my time as a NationStater but it needn't be the end of this blog. I think I might update it occasionally... write more Modshorts... whatever springs to mind.
Oh, and NationStates will be an incredible four years old on the twelfth of November. Just thought I'd mention that.
I'll still be happy to help those wanting advice on writing issues, but I will no longer be helping with moderation requests. My e-mail address will remain the same.
It may be the end of my time as a NationStater but it needn't be the end of this blog. I think I might update it occasionally... write more Modshorts... whatever springs to mind.
Oh, and NationStates will be an incredible four years old on the twelfth of November. Just thought I'd mention that.
23 October 2006
Ho Ho Ho
Haven't got anything to add really, but I just had to mention something funny:
One of my flatmates, and I swear to God this is true, once attended an educational centre called Newbie School. I AM NOT KIDDING. THAT IS EVEN HOW IT IS SPELLED. She doesn't quite understand why I find this unendingly hilarious, but there you go. I can think of some who might benefit from a little training there. Stop them from flinging their n00kz where they don't belong...
One of my flatmates, and I swear to God this is true, once attended an educational centre called Newbie School. I AM NOT KIDDING. THAT IS EVEN HOW IT IS SPELLED. She doesn't quite understand why I find this unendingly hilarious, but there you go. I can think of some who might benefit from a little training there. Stop them from flinging their n00kz where they don't belong...
08 October 2006
Life Continues
Hello! I'm still alive. Just been having a grand old time adjusting to life in the university. I can at least assure you all that I will be continuing as a NationStates mod but most likely I will only be dealing with issue editing from now on. Since I've moved to Aberdeen I feel different. Life's different. Things have changed, for the better I feel, but some things have gone. NationStates no longer holds such a strong interest for me anymore, and I don't have the time or, if I'm going to be frank, the inclination to carry out the full scope of modly duties. From now on, I will probably just be an issue editor and not a proper moderator. It's a break, but one that I feel is necessary. If this state of affairs can't continue then I will most likely retire, but I don't think that'll happen.
Anyway:
Aberdeen has been great. I've made loads of new friends, and I'm really enjoying my courses though I am having a few misgivings over my music course. I was the only one in the class to get all the lecturer's questions on music theory correct, and the only one to know that 3/8 time is a simple time signature and not a compound one. Not a good sign. I've obviously overestimated how difficult this was going to be, but ach well. There're grand pianos!
Funny story: I was watching a DVD with two girls in my room when my dad phoned. As I was talking to him, one of the girls said very loudly 'COME BACK TO BEEEEEEEED!' and the other said 'YES, COME BACK TO BOTH OF US!'
It took a wee bit of convincing to assure my dad I was being a hard-working and sensible student.
One of our cats, Pippin, died today from some kind of poison (or so we believe). It is very sad.
I don't have any news about NationStates in particular, but I have it on good authority that Jolt's been 'rather wonky' recently. I don't know what the problem is but hopefully it'll be solved soon.
Anyway:
Aberdeen has been great. I've made loads of new friends, and I'm really enjoying my courses though I am having a few misgivings over my music course. I was the only one in the class to get all the lecturer's questions on music theory correct, and the only one to know that 3/8 time is a simple time signature and not a compound one. Not a good sign. I've obviously overestimated how difficult this was going to be, but ach well. There're grand pianos!
Funny story: I was watching a DVD with two girls in my room when my dad phoned. As I was talking to him, one of the girls said very loudly 'COME BACK TO BEEEEEEEED!' and the other said 'YES, COME BACK TO BOTH OF US!'
It took a wee bit of convincing to assure my dad I was being a hard-working and sensible student.
One of our cats, Pippin, died today from some kind of poison (or so we believe). It is very sad.
I don't have any news about NationStates in particular, but I have it on good authority that Jolt's been 'rather wonky' recently. I don't know what the problem is but hopefully it'll be solved soon.
13 September 2006
An Absence
On Saturday I shall be moving to Aberdeen to start my four-year course at the university there. I don't know what internet access will be like there or if I'll be able to feasibly continue moderating. Unlikely, I hope, but there is a possibility that I may have to retire from modding if university life proves to be too full of things to do. I'll probably not be around very much at all over the next few weeks while I settle in and get to grips with this. Having lived in a village all my life I'm not sure what to expect living in a big city like Aberdeen (I know it's not really a big city but I'm drawing from experience). I hope to put some articles up so you can all tell how I'm getting on and any rich buggers reading this will feel moved enough by my plight to send me loadsa money. I've always been optimistic.
In NationStates news, I have to congratulate Katganistan and Frisbeeteria on their promotion to the positions of Senior Game Moderator which they would have got yonks ago if anyone had remembered I'm sure. The position doesn't carry any extra responsibility - it's simply a mark of respect for the hard work these two have done to keep NationStates running. Well done, Kat and Fris!
There's a poll running in the Moderation forum on whether to have a new MaxChat or not. Check it out and have your say.
Courtesy of Rhaomi, we have discovered a weird chat-room type thing called Gabbly that can be applied to any website. Most intriguing. Here's one for you to click for the blog:
http://gabbly.com/siroccothemod.blogspot.com/
Here's a Max Barry one as well for your convenience.
In NationStates news, I have to congratulate Katganistan and Frisbeeteria on their promotion to the positions of Senior Game Moderator which they would have got yonks ago if anyone had remembered I'm sure. The position doesn't carry any extra responsibility - it's simply a mark of respect for the hard work these two have done to keep NationStates running. Well done, Kat and Fris!
There's a poll running in the Moderation forum on whether to have a new MaxChat or not. Check it out and have your say.
Courtesy of Rhaomi, we have discovered a weird chat-room type thing called Gabbly that can be applied to any website. Most intriguing. Here's one for you to click for the blog:
http://gabbly.com/siroccothemod.blogspot.com/
Here's a Max Barry one as well for your convenience.
11 September 2006
Why My Hair Is Greasy Today
Not much in the way of NationStates news right now, so I'll relate the tale of why today my hair is greasy (as you may have surmised from the title).
First things first, I have to explain to you all that I HATE WASPS. I really can't stand them. I hate the way they buzz around you for what seems like an ice age while you stand statue-still, not daring to breathe, lest the little bugger take this as an insult and sting you I've never been stung by a wasp, so who knows? I may be fatally allergic to the things, and I don't want to find out. I get recurring nightmares about wasps trying to crawl into my ears, and I have vivid dreams. Very vivid. It was only recently that I discovered people often don't hear or smell or taste anything in their dreams. Apparently some don't even dream in colour. But that's besides the point, because I HATE WASPS. I remember some lady once remarking how a body-building friend of hers who boxed and wasn't scared of anything ran away screaming like a little girl when wasps came near. Well guess what, lady, but you can't engage wasps in fisticuffs! Because they bloody well STING you! There's no winning against such creatures of unending malice.
Anyway, my story:
I was having a bath last night, ready for a nice relaxing soak, and perhaps another chapter of my novel. I was washing my hair (I have lots of hair. It's quite afro-esque.) when I noticed something crawling on the ceiling. It looked quite big but I was not unduly alarmed. I thought it was an earwig of some sort. But then I heard THAT BUZZING and saw another flying around. There were two wasps in the bathroom. My chances of having a quiet slumber in the tub were destroyed. I couldn't keep my eyes off them. Whenever one of them flew, I'd instinctively retreat further into the water. Possibly I was hoping they would not notice my vulnerable naked body and connive to sting me.
I then noticed another wasp on the curtain above me. Watching. Biding its time. THREE wasps. This was not good. I was getting understandably nervous by now. I'm not one of those who will cheerfully swat at wasps with a rolled up newspaper. I am not one of those who will with wanton good cheer and ludic gaiety tease a tiger or see how close I can stand to a rabid rottweiler on a chain. The only time in recent memory I have of killing a wasp was when I accidentally trod on one while bare-footed. Strangely enough, I didn't get stung, but that's not the point. Once again I have let me distract myself. Where was I? Ah yes.
I was, at this moment, contemplating my escape from this room of wasps when the most appallingly terrible thing happened - the wasp on the curtain fell into the bath with a little plop.
The world. Stopped.
I could not have rocketed out of that tub faster had the wasp been some kind of pirhana that survives by eating penises. I let out an almighty gurgling scream, the shampoo in my hair, quite forgotten, and splashed just about a half of the water onto the floor. When I was up, I noticed even MORE wasps were in the room. I shot out of the room, bollock-naked, tripped, and slammed face-first onto the landing.
And that's where my mum found me.
After that, memories are vague, but there was absolutely no chance I was going back into that iniquitious den of waspy terror so I think I slept the rest of the night as my hair slowly congealed into its present oily morass. My story complete, I shall now adjourn to finish my bath and clean my hair.
After a VERY thorough inspection.
First things first, I have to explain to you all that I HATE WASPS. I really can't stand them. I hate the way they buzz around you for what seems like an ice age while you stand statue-still, not daring to breathe, lest the little bugger take this as an insult and sting you I've never been stung by a wasp, so who knows? I may be fatally allergic to the things, and I don't want to find out. I get recurring nightmares about wasps trying to crawl into my ears, and I have vivid dreams. Very vivid. It was only recently that I discovered people often don't hear or smell or taste anything in their dreams. Apparently some don't even dream in colour. But that's besides the point, because I HATE WASPS. I remember some lady once remarking how a body-building friend of hers who boxed and wasn't scared of anything ran away screaming like a little girl when wasps came near. Well guess what, lady, but you can't engage wasps in fisticuffs! Because they bloody well STING you! There's no winning against such creatures of unending malice.
Anyway, my story:
I was having a bath last night, ready for a nice relaxing soak, and perhaps another chapter of my novel. I was washing my hair (I have lots of hair. It's quite afro-esque.) when I noticed something crawling on the ceiling. It looked quite big but I was not unduly alarmed. I thought it was an earwig of some sort. But then I heard THAT BUZZING and saw another flying around. There were two wasps in the bathroom. My chances of having a quiet slumber in the tub were destroyed. I couldn't keep my eyes off them. Whenever one of them flew, I'd instinctively retreat further into the water. Possibly I was hoping they would not notice my vulnerable naked body and connive to sting me.
I then noticed another wasp on the curtain above me. Watching. Biding its time. THREE wasps. This was not good. I was getting understandably nervous by now. I'm not one of those who will cheerfully swat at wasps with a rolled up newspaper. I am not one of those who will with wanton good cheer and ludic gaiety tease a tiger or see how close I can stand to a rabid rottweiler on a chain. The only time in recent memory I have of killing a wasp was when I accidentally trod on one while bare-footed. Strangely enough, I didn't get stung, but that's not the point. Once again I have let me distract myself. Where was I? Ah yes.
I was, at this moment, contemplating my escape from this room of wasps when the most appallingly terrible thing happened - the wasp on the curtain fell into the bath with a little plop.
The world. Stopped.
I could not have rocketed out of that tub faster had the wasp been some kind of pirhana that survives by eating penises. I let out an almighty gurgling scream, the shampoo in my hair, quite forgotten, and splashed just about a half of the water onto the floor. When I was up, I noticed even MORE wasps were in the room. I shot out of the room, bollock-naked, tripped, and slammed face-first onto the landing.
And that's where my mum found me.
After that, memories are vague, but there was absolutely no chance I was going back into that iniquitious den of waspy terror so I think I slept the rest of the night as my hair slowly congealed into its present oily morass. My story complete, I shall now adjourn to finish my bath and clean my hair.
After a VERY thorough inspection.
06 September 2006
Issue #200 Is In The Game
Yep, we finally made it. NationStates now has 200 issues. If I have to stop being a mod when I move to Aberdeen at least I can rest easy knowing I got NationStates to this level. It's been a while coming... I can still remember back in the day when we only had 31 to keep us busy.
I'd like to thank Scolopendra and GMC Military Arms who helped me craft some of the options in this issue, and I'm crediting them as co-editors of this one. An extra-special thanks to Sal who, despite being very busy, went out of his way to write some code and make this issue just that bit more special.
Enjoy!
I'd like to thank Scolopendra and GMC Military Arms who helped me craft some of the options in this issue, and I'm crediting them as co-editors of this one. An extra-special thanks to Sal who, despite being very busy, went out of his way to write some code and make this issue just that bit more special.
Enjoy!
Tactical Grace Retires
Tactical Grace became a mod just a few hours after I did so I like to think in a whimisical kind of way that we're like 'mod-brothers'. It's the end of an era, certainly, as TG has been quite resolute that this time he isn't coming back. Good luck, TG!
Here's [violet]'s announcement thread on the retirement.
In other news, we've got another Game Mod Olympics. Big applause to the efforts of Frisbeeteria, Katganistan, and Euroslavia! They do a hell of the share of the workload. I'd help, but everytime I check the tasklist it's empty. Damn you, workaholics!
There's a cool thread by Witchcliff in the United Nations forum to check out too.
Oh, and an ultra-cool NationStates webcomic by Toopoxia. It's about time we had one of these, although there aren't enough flightless hippos for my liking.
Here's [violet]'s announcement thread on the retirement.
In other news, we've got another Game Mod Olympics. Big applause to the efforts of Frisbeeteria, Katganistan, and Euroslavia! They do a hell of the share of the workload. I'd help, but everytime I check the tasklist it's empty. Damn you, workaholics!
There's a cool thread by Witchcliff in the United Nations forum to check out too.
Oh, and an ultra-cool NationStates webcomic by Toopoxia. It's about time we had one of these, although there aren't enough flightless hippos for my liking.
04 September 2006
HotRodia
We have a new forum mod! HotRodia will do wonders, I'm sure. He was picked for his outstanding level-headedness and professionalism when provoked and his clear understanding of the forum rules.
Welcome aboard!
In other news:
The Siroc & Newsted Saga has started up again after a very lengthy hiatus. Our heroes are still where we left them - fleeing a cat monster in the region of Venus. Poor sods.
Just a note to all - the 200th issue may show up as being #201 but because of some faulty duplicated issues being taken out of circulation a while back it WILL be the game's big two-zero-zero.
Ciao!
Welcome aboard!
In other news:
The Siroc & Newsted Saga has started up again after a very lengthy hiatus. Our heroes are still where we left them - fleeing a cat monster in the region of Venus. Poor sods.
Just a note to all - the 200th issue may show up as being #201 but because of some faulty duplicated issues being taken out of circulation a while back it WILL be the game's big two-zero-zero.
Ciao!
31 August 2006
Of Old And New
In a fit of pique I searched for myself on Google and discovered this ancient thread. Reading it now is like some kind of incredible ego-booster. I'd better watch out or my head might come off and float away. Looking at other things, it's still weird to have people I've never heard of talking about issues I've edited, articles I've posted in this blog (which I can't say I ever get any evidence of having a very wide following), and decisions I've made. Only interesting to me, of course, but it does give a small window into NationStates history. If anyone knows of interesting threads and RPs from long ago then e-mail me and I'll stick 'em up.
In other news, I've just about completed the game's two hundredth issue. I want to make it a bit special though, so I've talked to Sal, and he's going to speak to the boss, about introducing something... interesting to this particular one. I hope everyone likes it. I won't know whether the snazzy thing I'm adding will be approved until later though. Keep your eyes out.
In other news, I've just about completed the game's two hundredth issue. I want to make it a bit special though, so I've talked to Sal, and he's going to speak to the boss, about introducing something... interesting to this particular one. I hope everyone likes it. I won't know whether the snazzy thing I'm adding will be approved until later though. Keep your eyes out.
27 August 2006
The Spaghetti Incident
Modshort #12!
This short is based on a conversation held between the mods some time ago. Too cool to waste. Here it is, but I recommend watching the short first. Remember to watch it on fast. The lettering got buggered up for some reason but I'm sure you can live with that.
Katganistan: I'm explaining how to make spaghetti sauce in #nationstates_general
K: ;)
Sirocco: Oh dear.
S: This may be before your time, Kat, but we all remember...
S: THE SPAGHETTI INCIDENT.
K: Does this have to do with the flying spaghetti monster and his noodly appendages?
S: Yes.
K: Pray tell, I never got the full story.
Pythagosaurus: Pastafarian
S: One day the NS Generalites decided to make some spaghetti.
S: They all agreed that spaghetti be made.
S: Spaghetti, they considered, is a good thing.
S: But they could not agree HOW such a venture should be undertaken.
S: Should it be tomatoey or cheesy? Or a blend of both that is equal?
S: Should there be parmesan?
S: The debates raged for months, and many mods lost their lives trying to calm the stormy wrangling that issued forth from that most controversial of forums.
K: OMG NOES!
S: But then... one rogue Generalite went and made spaghetti all by himself. A dangerous thing to do. You will mind that this was before these modern ideas of 'too many cooks spoil the broth'.
S: It was disastrous.
S: The Generalite, Pastafarian, as Pythagosaurus reminded us, had created a monster.
S: It swooped down on all and sunder, strangling those in its path with its long noodlous strands of death.
K: Sounds like only one solution....
S: For a long time the forum was nothing but a dark red cave of tomato sauce, oregano and the lingering smell of parmesan which made everyone thoroughly ill.
K: eat it before it eats you!
S: That's exactly right!
S: The call went up and all Italian food aficionados were summoned to bring their forks and inauspiciously spartan white shirts.
K: hehehe
S: Many lost their lives, and the graves still cover a lot of the old General forum archives, but eventually the creature was destroyed.
K: MMMMmmmmm!
K: ;)
S: And so ended the tale of the Spaghetti Incident.
* Sirocco bows.
K: delicious.
K: :)
This short is based on a conversation held between the mods some time ago. Too cool to waste. Here it is, but I recommend watching the short first. Remember to watch it on fast. The lettering got buggered up for some reason but I'm sure you can live with that.
Katganistan: I'm explaining how to make spaghetti sauce in #nationstates_general
K: ;)
Sirocco: Oh dear.
S: This may be before your time, Kat, but we all remember...
S: THE SPAGHETTI INCIDENT.
K: Does this have to do with the flying spaghetti monster and his noodly appendages?
S: Yes.
K: Pray tell, I never got the full story.
Pythagosaurus: Pastafarian
S: One day the NS Generalites decided to make some spaghetti.
S: They all agreed that spaghetti be made.
S: Spaghetti, they considered, is a good thing.
S: But they could not agree HOW such a venture should be undertaken.
S: Should it be tomatoey or cheesy? Or a blend of both that is equal?
S: Should there be parmesan?
S: The debates raged for months, and many mods lost their lives trying to calm the stormy wrangling that issued forth from that most controversial of forums.
K: OMG NOES!
S: But then... one rogue Generalite went and made spaghetti all by himself. A dangerous thing to do. You will mind that this was before these modern ideas of 'too many cooks spoil the broth'.
S: It was disastrous.
S: The Generalite, Pastafarian, as Pythagosaurus reminded us, had created a monster.
S: It swooped down on all and sunder, strangling those in its path with its long noodlous strands of death.
K: Sounds like only one solution....
S: For a long time the forum was nothing but a dark red cave of tomato sauce, oregano and the lingering smell of parmesan which made everyone thoroughly ill.
K: eat it before it eats you!
S: That's exactly right!
S: The call went up and all Italian food aficionados were summoned to bring their forks and inauspiciously spartan white shirts.
K: hehehe
S: Many lost their lives, and the graves still cover a lot of the old General forum archives, but eventually the creature was destroyed.
K: MMMMmmmmm!
K: ;)
S: And so ended the tale of the Spaghetti Incident.
* Sirocco bows.
K: delicious.
K: :)
25 August 2006
Issue #199 Is In The Game
A nice chunky five-optioner. Not really much else I want to say at this point. Enjoy!
Economic Legends Of NationStates
I was having a browse through the forums today when I came across this cool thread by the nation 'Knights of Zion' who decided to interview some of the nations who consistently best the UN rankings. Good read!
In other news, I've been pretty busy preparing for university so I haven't been able to do much, but the next new issue is very nearly completed.
In other news, I've been pretty busy preparing for university so I haven't been able to do much, but the next new issue is very nearly completed.
22 August 2006
NationStates On The Small Screen
Well... YouTube, anyway. That site where people upload their own home-made films and such for worldwide perusal, you know? I was just browsing it when I wondered what would happen if I searched for everyone's favourite browser-based game.
The results are scary, hilarious, bizarre, or just downright odd. Feel free to apply all labels liberally where you wish. Here's some examples:
Allanean Propaganda.
ACCEL recruitment video.
Recruitment ad for the Meritocratic Legions.
I'm not sure what this is...
Ad for the Empire of Great Britain and Ireland.
Alpha Omega recruitment video.
I then searched for Max Barry and got two results where we see him talking on one of his book tours.
He appears to be standing on the equator:
Max Barry Vid 1
Max Barry Vid 2
The results are scary, hilarious, bizarre, or just downright odd. Feel free to apply all labels liberally where you wish. Here's some examples:
Allanean Propaganda.
ACCEL recruitment video.
Recruitment ad for the Meritocratic Legions.
I'm not sure what this is...
Ad for the Empire of Great Britain and Ireland.
Alpha Omega recruitment video.
I then searched for Max Barry and got two results where we see him talking on one of his book tours.
He appears to be standing on the equator:
Max Barry Vid 1
Max Barry Vid 2
13 August 2006
Results!
I got my school results a few days ago, the fruit of exhaustive studying for exams. Here they are:
Advanced Higher Music: A
Advanced Higher Maths: D
Higher Classical Studies: A
Higher Geography: B
Not bad, I reckon. Shame about the maths result. Half of me expected to do better, but the other two thirds knew I had no chance. I'll be going to Aberdeen, the granite city, in due time. If any Aberdonians are reading this do get in touch - it'd be cool to have some friends waiting for me there. It'd be my first time meeting other NationStaters too.
I'm working on a new issue. As of now it has five options. Should be pretty interesting.
Advanced Higher Music: A
Advanced Higher Maths: D
Higher Classical Studies: A
Higher Geography: B
Not bad, I reckon. Shame about the maths result. Half of me expected to do better, but the other two thirds knew I had no chance. I'll be going to Aberdeen, the granite city, in due time. If any Aberdonians are reading this do get in touch - it'd be cool to have some friends waiting for me there. It'd be my first time meeting other NationStaters too.
I'm working on a new issue. As of now it has five options. Should be pretty interesting.
05 August 2006
Inbox Of Iniquity
I was reading Max's latest post today, and it got me thinking about the kind of stuff that plagues my inbox. Now I haven't written any books, but I have edited lots of issues and since a link to my nation is provided with each one, many people have happily sent me telegrams on a whole variety of subjects which can be summarised by these queries:
How do you become a moderator?
What is a moderator?
I have been playing for a long time and believe that I would be a good moderator... [etc.]
There are some other things occasionally though. Max Barry notes that he gets fawning e-mails and I get them too sometimes but the majority of those commenting on my issues would not really be happy with anything less than my immediate and brutal suicide.
It kinda makes me feel a little like a Max Barry in minature. He gets e-mails from people wanting to marry his characters and I get telegrams from people who want to murder mine for being so ill-informed/biased/disagreeing/etc. with their own point of view. I would, however, personally be rather suspicious of anyone who wanted to marry a NationStates issue disputant. Weird. But in many ways I'm not like Max. While he may welcome correspondence with an avuncular sense of gaiety I find it most tiresome. Especially when most of the questions I'm being asked could be resolved by a look over the FAQ. Of the others, and the numerous ones that just say 'hi' or 'wassup?' I despair. So many people wanting to correspond with me may at first seem quite gratifying but it makes my brain shrivel in fear and hide in some dank corner of my skull. Crouching behind the top of the spinal column it screeches 'please, no! I can't bear it! TOO MANY!'
Perhaps I'm exaggerating. But I'm building up with residual guilt from ignoring so many telegrams I just don't have time to answer. I'm always willing to help with writing issues and such, but my heart sinks when it sees something like 'You're the only moderator I know so I was wondering...'
Ach well. It appears even quasi-fame has its downfall.
How do you become a moderator?
What is a moderator?
I have been playing for a long time and believe that I would be a good moderator... [etc.]
There are some other things occasionally though. Max Barry notes that he gets fawning e-mails and I get them too sometimes but the majority of those commenting on my issues would not really be happy with anything less than my immediate and brutal suicide.
It kinda makes me feel a little like a Max Barry in minature. He gets e-mails from people wanting to marry his characters and I get telegrams from people who want to murder mine for being so ill-informed/biased/disagreeing/etc. with their own point of view. I would, however, personally be rather suspicious of anyone who wanted to marry a NationStates issue disputant. Weird. But in many ways I'm not like Max. While he may welcome correspondence with an avuncular sense of gaiety I find it most tiresome. Especially when most of the questions I'm being asked could be resolved by a look over the FAQ. Of the others, and the numerous ones that just say 'hi' or 'wassup?' I despair. So many people wanting to correspond with me may at first seem quite gratifying but it makes my brain shrivel in fear and hide in some dank corner of my skull. Crouching behind the top of the spinal column it screeches 'please, no! I can't bear it! TOO MANY!'
Perhaps I'm exaggerating. But I'm building up with residual guilt from ignoring so many telegrams I just don't have time to answer. I'm always willing to help with writing issues and such, but my heart sinks when it sees something like 'You're the only moderator I know so I was wondering...'
Ach well. It appears even quasi-fame has its downfall.
02 August 2006
Back From Greece
I have returned!
The place I went to wasn't Corfu as it turned out but another Greek island called Zakynthos, famous for its turtle nesting grounds.
My first impression of the place was that it was hot. Very hot. Incredibly hot, even. In Scotland, any temperatures above, I dunno, 16 degrees Celsius are thought of as warm, and anything above 20 as uncommonly hot. Temperatures in Greece were in the forties! I have never known such things. England and Belgium were bad enough, I thought, but it was nothing in comparison to Greece. Even at night-time it was as warm as any of Scotland's hottest days. I couldn't help but be very off-put by this. Just like the sinister way the weather never changed... I probably drank enough lemonade to destroy whole orchards. And the sweat! I've never really sweated except when exercising and eating curries, but here I was flowing like a spring just when walking up the street. I felt quite marinated by the end of the holiday.
But I'm back now and do hope to get right stuck into editing issues again as soon as possible.
Efharisto!
The place I went to wasn't Corfu as it turned out but another Greek island called Zakynthos, famous for its turtle nesting grounds.
My first impression of the place was that it was hot. Very hot. Incredibly hot, even. In Scotland, any temperatures above, I dunno, 16 degrees Celsius are thought of as warm, and anything above 20 as uncommonly hot. Temperatures in Greece were in the forties! I have never known such things. England and Belgium were bad enough, I thought, but it was nothing in comparison to Greece. Even at night-time it was as warm as any of Scotland's hottest days. I couldn't help but be very off-put by this. Just like the sinister way the weather never changed... I probably drank enough lemonade to destroy whole orchards. And the sweat! I've never really sweated except when exercising and eating curries, but here I was flowing like a spring just when walking up the street. I felt quite marinated by the end of the holiday.
But I'm back now and do hope to get right stuck into editing issues again as soon as possible.
Efharisto!
15 July 2006
Gone To Greece
I'll be away for two weeks. I don't really expect to have internet access so I won't be around until August.
If any other NationStaters are visiting Corfu during this period and want to meet me, I sayeth to you: good luck!
Don't let NationStates die while I'm away.
If any other NationStaters are visiting Corfu during this period and want to meet me, I sayeth to you: good luck!
Don't let NationStates die while I'm away.
05 July 2006
Another United Nations Forum
Take a look here.
A fine place for all those interested in improving the NationStates world through vociferous debate and bouts of sulking. Just like in real politics.
A fine place for all those interested in improving the NationStates world through vociferous debate and bouts of sulking. Just like in real politics.
29 June 2006
Issue #198 Is In The Game
Haven't really got much to say that the title doesn't already convey. Enjoy!
The Due Process
Modshort #11
It's been a while since the last instalment, so I'm glad to announce this latest addition to the Modshort series: The Due Process. Remember to put it on 'fast'.
It's been a while since the last instalment, so I'm glad to announce this latest addition to the Modshort series: The Due Process. Remember to put it on 'fast'.
23 June 2006
Issue #197 Is In The Game
Hooray! It's been a while since I've had the time to put a new issue into the game. I imagine some people will wonder about the title and my only explanation is that GMC Military Arms wanted me to use it as a reference to some bizarre film in the works. Distinctly odd.
In other news, this is my 200th blog article. Yeah.
In other news, this is my 200th blog article. Yeah.
22 June 2006
Unemployment Rates
At last, the other UN ranking has cropped up - the world's highest unemployment rates. The feature I wrote so long ago was a way to measure your nation's unemployment rates and finally it has come to fruition. The only thing left to do is provide a note on the spotlight pages for day-to-day comparison. I think it's pretty neat. Many thanks to SalusaSecondus, Pythagosaurus and Max for their help in implementing this feature.
We've also passed another record - the mods have now read and resolved over 60000 tasks. Not a small number by any means.
New issues will be on the way soon.
We've also passed another record - the mods have now read and resolved over 60000 tasks. Not a small number by any means.
New issues will be on the way soon.
21 June 2006
Round Up
OK, I've not been able to post for a fair while because the computer got replaced and the internet connection was faulty. So what's been going on?
Well, for a start, one of our most beloved and eccentric moderators, Cogitation, has decided to step down to forum moderator due to other concerns that severely reduce his NationStates time.
My region, Lancre, has passed the 50-nation barrier. We're all pretty chuffed about that.
I won a trophy for a short story I wrote. It's really quite spiffy.
I can now continue to work on issue editing. It has seemed to me like the world is conspiring against me to delay my progress in this area. First the exams, then my computer... and now the World Cup is diminishing my spare time like anything! It's a shame, but I will try.
Well, for a start, one of our most beloved and eccentric moderators, Cogitation, has decided to step down to forum moderator due to other concerns that severely reduce his NationStates time.
My region, Lancre, has passed the 50-nation barrier. We're all pretty chuffed about that.
I won a trophy for a short story I wrote. It's really quite spiffy.
I can now continue to work on issue editing. It has seemed to me like the world is conspiring against me to delay my progress in this area. First the exams, then my computer... and now the World Cup is diminishing my spare time like anything! It's a shame, but I will try.
06 June 2006
Slowly And Gloriously
Well... maybe not gloriously. But it is a brilliant Patrick Byrne album. My computer is progressing at a snail's pace right now and it takes just about an ice age for me to do anything with it so bear with me over the next few days (or, God forbid, week).
I was working on a very promising new issue recently until I accidentally deleted it. I'm going to get an admin to restore it for me as soon as possible. I am working on others, but I'm being very much discouraged by my computer's performance.
One of the new UN rankings appeared, hurrah! The Largest Public Transport Department was an obvious hole that needed filling. The other new UN ranking is linked to the new feature I wrote aeons ago. We're going to introduce an extension to the spotlight page to incorporate it as well, but that can wait. Keep your eyes peeled! The UN ranking could turn up any day.
It's a Demon Day today but I'm not bothered. Tsaraine, alas, is having his eternal soul tormented by kittens from the river Styx. Poor chap.
That's it for now. I might include a new Modshort for the next article.
I was working on a very promising new issue recently until I accidentally deleted it. I'm going to get an admin to restore it for me as soon as possible. I am working on others, but I'm being very much discouraged by my computer's performance.
One of the new UN rankings appeared, hurrah! The Largest Public Transport Department was an obvious hole that needed filling. The other new UN ranking is linked to the new feature I wrote aeons ago. We're going to introduce an extension to the spotlight page to incorporate it as well, but that can wait. Keep your eyes peeled! The UN ranking could turn up any day.
It's a Demon Day today but I'm not bothered. Tsaraine, alas, is having his eternal soul tormented by kittens from the river Styx. Poor chap.
That's it for now. I might include a new Modshort for the next article.
31 May 2006
The Return
I'm back! Exams are over! This means I can devote some of my spare time to editing issues instead of endlessly revising the cultivation of wet rice and geopolitical factors affecting commercial arable farming... so, yeah. I hope to get some good ones in soon.
12 May 2006
Exams
I've been very busy revising for a bunch of exams I'm going to be sitting, so that's why you've heard so little from me recently. Expect to hear almost nothing until about June. My poor brain has got enough things to handle.
30 April 2006
The Man Behind The Hippo
Yeah, I uncovered a picture of myself. You can have fun guessing which one is me here:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=480239
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=480239
25 April 2006
Still Kicking
That's right, I haven't succumbed to the Bird Flu or anything (the quarantine's been lifted by the way - not that I ever actually noticed one while it was there, but who cares?). I've just been incredibly busy with my studies. If anything interesting pops up I'll tell you, but until then: watch this space.
Oh, and the new Doctor Who series is great!
Oh, and the new Doctor Who series is great!
17 April 2006
Two New UN Rankings - Take Two
You may remember way back that I had submitted two new UN rankings to the admins for inclusion in the game. Well, they've lain forgotten for quite a while now, but at last they're in. There's no saying when we'll see one of them (each UN ranking is selected randomly, you see), but be on the look out. One of them's based on a whole new feature I wrote into the game ages back. Maybe it will be expanded on later.
15 April 2006
Sirocco Turns Three
Sirocco is three years old! The actual birthday date was yesterday, but I completely forgot. So... um... yeah. Yay me!
14 April 2006
More Mod Olympics
The Mod Olympics
Hey hey! Gold medal for me! Congratulations to Fris, Kat, and Euro who all (especially Fris) need less spare time.
In other news, there's a lot of interesting threads to read about players' reactions to the new Influence system. Here's some of them:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=477177
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=477314
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=477401
Still a lot of questions about the Influence rankings, and I don't know how many times we can emphasise this but we're not going to tell you. We never said anything about the civil rights, economy, and political freedoms categories (and, having just looked at the list in the Gameplay forum, I can see the players have still got them a bit wrong) so why would we tell you about these ones? They'll be burrowed into the subconscious eventually I'm sure.
Hey hey! Gold medal for me! Congratulations to Fris, Kat, and Euro who all (especially Fris) need less spare time.
In other news, there's a lot of interesting threads to read about players' reactions to the new Influence system. Here's some of them:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=477177
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=477314
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=477401
Still a lot of questions about the Influence rankings, and I don't know how many times we can emphasise this but we're not going to tell you. We never said anything about the civil rights, economy, and political freedoms categories (and, having just looked at the list in the Gameplay forum, I can see the players have still got them a bit wrong) so why would we tell you about these ones? They'll be burrowed into the subconscious eventually I'm sure.
12 April 2006
New Regional Power Labels Required
Regional Power labels indicate how powerful your region is compared to others in the world. Right now they are:
Extremely High
Very High
High
Moderate
Low
Backwater
Now, we want them to be more interesting. In our discussions we came up with many possibilities, but they all got vetoed apart from 'Backwater'.
What we want is for you (the players) to suggest some terms that we could use. There are a few criteria that the terms must meet. Backwater met all three.
Ideally each should imply that:
(a) they're referring to a geographic area
(b) they're describing its power/influence, not its size
(c) its members aren't necessarily allied
This is very difficult and we know we may never come up with anything satisfactory, but it's worth a shot. Any suggestions can be e-mailed to me using the link in the sidebar or by sending them to siroccothemod@gmail.com
Or you can just write them as comments! Good luck!
Extremely High
Very High
High
Moderate
Low
Backwater
Now, we want them to be more interesting. In our discussions we came up with many possibilities, but they all got vetoed apart from 'Backwater'.
What we want is for you (the players) to suggest some terms that we could use. There are a few criteria that the terms must meet. Backwater met all three.
Ideally each should imply that:
(a) they're referring to a geographic area
(b) they're describing its power/influence, not its size
(c) its members aren't necessarily allied
This is very difficult and we know we may never come up with anything satisfactory, but it's worth a shot. Any suggestions can be e-mailed to me using the link in the sidebar or by sending them to siroccothemod@gmail.com
Or you can just write them as comments! Good luck!
Under The Influence
First impressions of Influence seem to be pretty approving, though everyone was bewildered by the Influence rankings and it's been amusing to see how much they've got wrong about which way round they go. The sheer number of people comparing their ranking with others and boasting about it brings many analogies to mind. But they were wrong, because they were forgetting that your influence ranking only shows how powerful you are compared to others in your region. The regional power labels show how much power your region has compared to all the other regions in the world.
I've started a thread to discuss Regional Influence Rankings here.
But the most amusing thing of all I think was the consternation in the delgates of the feeder regions who believed that the End Had Come. The delegate of the Pacific (Blackadder Goes Forth) in particular went insane with nation-ejecting, believing that the peasants were coming for his head. I heard of paranoid meetings between the feeder delegates all saying "What are we going to do?!" I couldn't help but get a mental image of a clique of old and worried dictators all standing in a circle and wringing their hats. What was ironic about this was that given their circumstances they're probably the most powerful players in the whole game! I guess it only goes to show that those with power really do cling on to it more.
For all those who really do think the new system has sucked all the fun out of the invasion game, remember that there are still the six Warzone regions which follow the old rules. Warzone Sandbox is one of them.
I've started a thread to discuss Regional Influence Rankings here.
But the most amusing thing of all I think was the consternation in the delgates of the feeder regions who believed that the End Had Come. The delegate of the Pacific (Blackadder Goes Forth) in particular went insane with nation-ejecting, believing that the peasants were coming for his head. I heard of paranoid meetings between the feeder delegates all saying "What are we going to do?!" I couldn't help but get a mental image of a clique of old and worried dictators all standing in a circle and wringing their hats. What was ironic about this was that given their circumstances they're probably the most powerful players in the whole game! I guess it only goes to show that those with power really do cling on to it more.
For all those who really do think the new system has sucked all the fun out of the invasion game, remember that there are still the six Warzone regions which follow the old rules. Warzone Sandbox is one of them.
11 April 2006
NationStates v1.9: Regional Influence
Ladies and gentlemen, Influence is in the building. After a long, long wait we have grabbed our greatest grievances by the short and curlies and destroyed them utterly with one deft stroke. Region griefing, at least as we've known it previously, is no more. The strangely abstract concept of natives is finito. Ejecting to refound is no longer a crime but a remarkable achievement. And all because of that lovely nine-letter word... Influence. With a capital I. But what is it? Well, just see our explanatory page and you should get the lowdown, but what does it mean in the broad sense?
Well, now we have region crashing properly coded into the game which means no worrying about rules apart from the rather obvious one of only having one UN nation. When NS was first written by Max Barry he'd never suspected that people would gang up together and steal regions from others. He liked it, but obviously we had to make it fair or people would get discouraged from playing because of, for want of a better word, arseholes. So we ended up with a lot of complicated, precise and, sad to say it, makeshift rules to make things fair to all the players. It never really worked terribly well so something had to be done. And now it is. We now have Regional Influence, a co-operative creation between mods, admins, and players. This has actually got roots going as far as a year back and I'm thrilled that it's all finished now. It was exciting to be a part of, even if my contribution was rather small.
Your influence dictates just how powerful your nation is, and thus how easily it can be kicked from a region, or how many nations it can kick should it be delegate. Your influence grows depending on how long you've been in a region and on how many UN endorsements you have. Non-UN nations only have influence based on how long they've been in a region. It costs the UN delegate some of his/her influence to take particular actions like passwording the region or changing the world factbook entry. So, the more powerful your nation is, the more sway you have within a region.
The bit that I was involved in was the user interface - how should we tell nations what their influence level is? I helped create that, along with the regional power labels (which show how powerful a region is compared to the others).
Your influence label shows how much power you have in your region. So you may have the same label as someone in another region, but you might actually have less power (or more) than them. You'd have to look at the other nations in your region to compare yourself accurately.
The practical implications of this new system are I feel, to be explored by you, and not me. So go! Explore! Experiment! Have fun, and enjoy NationStates v1.9 - it's been a while coming.
Well, now we have region crashing properly coded into the game which means no worrying about rules apart from the rather obvious one of only having one UN nation. When NS was first written by Max Barry he'd never suspected that people would gang up together and steal regions from others. He liked it, but obviously we had to make it fair or people would get discouraged from playing because of, for want of a better word, arseholes. So we ended up with a lot of complicated, precise and, sad to say it, makeshift rules to make things fair to all the players. It never really worked terribly well so something had to be done. And now it is. We now have Regional Influence, a co-operative creation between mods, admins, and players. This has actually got roots going as far as a year back and I'm thrilled that it's all finished now. It was exciting to be a part of, even if my contribution was rather small.
Your influence dictates just how powerful your nation is, and thus how easily it can be kicked from a region, or how many nations it can kick should it be delegate. Your influence grows depending on how long you've been in a region and on how many UN endorsements you have. Non-UN nations only have influence based on how long they've been in a region. It costs the UN delegate some of his/her influence to take particular actions like passwording the region or changing the world factbook entry. So, the more powerful your nation is, the more sway you have within a region.
The bit that I was involved in was the user interface - how should we tell nations what their influence level is? I helped create that, along with the regional power labels (which show how powerful a region is compared to the others).
Your influence label shows how much power you have in your region. So you may have the same label as someone in another region, but you might actually have less power (or more) than them. You'd have to look at the other nations in your region to compare yourself accurately.
The practical implications of this new system are I feel, to be explored by you, and not me. So go! Explore! Experiment! Have fun, and enjoy NationStates v1.9 - it's been a while coming.
09 April 2006
They Should Have Asked Sirocco
Modshort #10
The latest episode of the Modshort series, starring everyone's favourite NationStates moderator. Enjoy!
The latest episode of the Modshort series, starring everyone's favourite NationStates moderator. Enjoy!
It Approaches
So, what's the update on these big changes that are coming? Well, first of all I can tell you that the release date has become a little uncertain. It might be tomorrow (unlikely), it might be Monday, it might be later this week. Still some revision and fine-tuning to be done. Tests to be run, smoking chemistry sets examined, server hamsters fed, code tweaked... and, well, you know. All that jazz. However, the main aim of this whole enterprise remains unchanged: we want to breathe new life into the invasion/defence game whilst remaining fair to all players. We think we're very close to that, but it would be folly to say it's perfect. We want to minimise any possible problems, and hopefully fix them later. Not that these changes will just affect that aspect of NationStates though. It's going to affect regional politics, management, and interregional politics too. Hopefully for the better, but from what I've seen I can't see how it could be considered worse.
Now I KNOW that people will not like it when it come. If there's anything to be learnt from observing people it's that they hate change, or are at least continually surprised by it. Breathe easy! It may take some time to adjust but I can guarantee you'll all be trying to squeeze every last drop out of it by the end and having great fun formulating new tactics, new procedures, new ways of diplomacy... oh yes. It's going to be a hell of an adventure.
So don't get your knickers in a twist if nothing's happened by Monday - we're working on it!
In other news, Reppy's considering doing some more Bastard Moderator From Hell stories in the near future and I've decided to refer to regions with only one nation in them as 'hermitlands' because the alternative is such a mouthful.
And as a conclusion to this article I'm going to give you a tantalising wee glimpse into one of the many things we've been doing to bring this whole 'NationStates v1.9' thingy about. It won't help at all, but I'd be fascinated by your theories as to what it could mean.
Part of the changes that I've been mostly involved in required us to look up the old forum postcount titles. Intrigued? Good! Bye bye for now!
Now I KNOW that people will not like it when it come. If there's anything to be learnt from observing people it's that they hate change, or are at least continually surprised by it. Breathe easy! It may take some time to adjust but I can guarantee you'll all be trying to squeeze every last drop out of it by the end and having great fun formulating new tactics, new procedures, new ways of diplomacy... oh yes. It's going to be a hell of an adventure.
So don't get your knickers in a twist if nothing's happened by Monday - we're working on it!
In other news, Reppy's considering doing some more Bastard Moderator From Hell stories in the near future and I've decided to refer to regions with only one nation in them as 'hermitlands' because the alternative is such a mouthful.
And as a conclusion to this article I'm going to give you a tantalising wee glimpse into one of the many things we've been doing to bring this whole 'NationStates v1.9' thingy about. It won't help at all, but I'd be fascinated by your theories as to what it could mean.
Part of the changes that I've been mostly involved in required us to look up the old forum postcount titles. Intrigued? Good! Bye bye for now!
07 April 2006
Issue #196 Is In The Game
Yep! I finally had some spare time do get a little editing done and this titillating wee gem is the result. I hope you enjoy it.
Oh, and we're expecting to implement the new changes to the site on either Sunday or Monday. There will be a news post and a thorough explanation of what the changes are and what they do.
Oh, and we're expecting to implement the new changes to the site on either Sunday or Monday. There will be a news post and a thorough explanation of what the changes are and what they do.
05 April 2006
Big Changes
I feel that NationStates is nearing towards the end of its status as v1.8; there have been so many big changes it would be impossible to list them here (I'm lazy, see), but they're going to pale in comparison to what we've got in the oven at the moment. Oh, yes. I'm under strict orders not to give too much away, but I can assure you that it will change regional politics and invasions forever. You'll be bound to find out more very soon - it's all finishing touches now.
Watch this space.
And I've had more than four thousand visitors to my blog over the last year. I'm very gratified, and I hope I can continue to be NationStates' primary news source. You look elsewhere - and this includes the NS News page - and you'll see them give up on regular updates fairly quickly. I'm a sticker and hope to be so for a long time yet.
In other news, bird flu got discovered in a swan a few miles from where I live. So if I mysteriously stop blogging be sure to go outside, locate the nearest flock of birds and shake your fist and them dramatically screaming 'WHY! WHY!' and sobbing hysterically. Alternately, you can e-mail me to ask why I'm not posting anything. It's your call.
Watch this space.
And I've had more than four thousand visitors to my blog over the last year. I'm very gratified, and I hope I can continue to be NationStates' primary news source. You look elsewhere - and this includes the NS News page - and you'll see them give up on regular updates fairly quickly. I'm a sticker and hope to be so for a long time yet.
In other news, bird flu got discovered in a swan a few miles from where I live. So if I mysteriously stop blogging be sure to go outside, locate the nearest flock of birds and shake your fist and them dramatically screaming 'WHY! WHY!' and sobbing hysterically. Alternately, you can e-mail me to ask why I'm not posting anything. It's your call.
03 April 2006
New UN Proposal Categories
Anyway, the new UN proprosal categories were implemented about three weeks ago and I never heard about it (which really annoyed me when I discovered this). So, without further ado, let me introduce the two new UN proposal categories and their sub-categories:
This comprehensive explanation was written by Frisbeeteria:
This comprehensive explanation was written by Frisbeeteria:
Advancement of Industry
A resolution to develop industry around the world.
This is a wide-ranging pro-business Category that more accurately reflects the power of corporations in Jennifer Government. Don't know why Max didn't give us more like this when he created the game. Guess he's an old softy.
Area of Effect
First choice is Environmental Deregulation. Rather than devoting the whole proposal category to reverse the effects of "Environment', we've chosen a middle ground of 'all business'.
Second, Labor Deregulation. This one is going to benefit corporations at the expense of the worker. Surprise!
Third, Protective Tariffs. This opposes international 'Free Trade' by adding protectionism for national industry.
Fourth, Tort Reform. Removes legal barriers from anti-corporate litigation, reducing government interference in business. Guess who takes the hit when industry wins?
Education and Creativity
A resolution to promote funding and the development of education and the arts.
Area of Effect
Artistic is just what you'd expect - government funding for the Arts. No more trying to sneak it in under human rights.
Educational - finally something for all you "Free Education" lovers. Of course, nothing is truly free, as you'll quickly discover.
Cultural Heritage is another of those lovely amorphous categories that lets you do those wonderful meaningless things the RL UN loves so much. For a small fee, of course.
Free Press allows the ultimate expression of your new-found educational and creative rights. Be careful what you wish for, though ...
02 April 2006
Zero Bug Fixed
Crisis over. All nations have been restored to their former (if maybe slightly diminished) glory by SalusaSecondus. Some nations may find they can't dismiss their first issue. If that happens, ask a mod to sort it out and we'll fix it.
Thanks, Sal!
Thanks, Sal!
Zero Bug
Ah, damn, NS has got the zero bug which deletes your nation if you try to log in. So, if for some reason you decided to look at my blog before going to NationStates, be warned: don't log in.
All those who HAVE got deleted nations will have them restored as soon as this whole ugly mess is sorted out by the unfortunately absent administrators. They'll be restored to when they were last saved on our back-up files so don't be alarmed by lower populations or issues becoming un-legislated.
I've sent e-mails to our admins, but until they get up, rub their eyes, and blink incomprehendingly at their computer monitors, all we can do is wait.
All those who HAVE got deleted nations will have them restored as soon as this whole ugly mess is sorted out by the unfortunately absent administrators. They'll be restored to when they were last saved on our back-up files so don't be alarmed by lower populations or issues becoming un-legislated.
I've sent e-mails to our admins, but until they get up, rub their eyes, and blink incomprehendingly at their computer monitors, all we can do is wait.
The Day After
We decided the whole NationDates thing just wouldn't work. NSers are obviously not ready for love. Ach well. I'll have a bunch of amusing complaints and comments we got from that very interesting day ready for your perusal in the near future.
In other news, I got my blood donor card yesterday which was great 'cos I've always been interested to see what my blood type is. I'm B+. This means that if anyone tells me to 'Be positive!' I can say 'How did you know?'
The winner of the thirteenth Lancre Cup was announced yesterday also. Determined Cows is our grand winner.
In other news, I got my blood donor card yesterday which was great 'cos I've always been interested to see what my blood type is. I'm B+. This means that if anyone tells me to 'Be positive!' I can say 'How did you know?'
The winner of the thirteenth Lancre Cup was announced yesterday also. Determined Cows is our grand winner.
01 April 2006
NationDates
As you will almost certainly have noticed, we've decided to change the game a bit. Frankly, NationStates was getting a bit expensive so we've incorporated the ideals of matching services for all those lonely for love. Right now it's just being tested, but soon we'll be charging for its use so enjoy it free while you can!
Here's what Sal said earlier:
NationDates has worked well so far in our beta testing, perhaps even TOO well:
Anyway, using the unique NationDates formula (which is influenced by a survey you fill in), it appears that GNY Embassy is my true love... see you later!
Here's what Sal said earlier:
In an effort to keep from going broke and needing to take down the game, we've decided to change the game to NationDates. It's the same game that you know and love, except now we're moving into social networking and hoping to help you meet someone that you know and love.
The data that we've collected from your issues and play style place us in a unique position to accurately match you up with a fellow player and not need to worry about political incompatibility. We are working on effective ways to monetize NationDates in the near future.
We hope that you like this new direction.
SalusaSecondus
NationDates, Chief Minister of Hookups
NationDates has worked well so far in our beta testing, perhaps even TOO well:
I met [violet] on NationDates and we've gotten together and have been bringing beautiful things to life ever since.- SalusaSecondus
Anyway, using the unique NationDates formula (which is influenced by a survey you fill in), it appears that GNY Embassy is my true love... see you later!
28 March 2006
Featured Region
We have a new feature to add to the game, thanks to the combined efforts of SalusaSecondus and Pythagosaurus, our ebullient administrators.
So, what exactly is this feature? Well, go to the World page and you'll see it. It's been a fair while since that page has had any changes to it. I think the last one was adding a region search engine. Anyway, at the top of the page you'll see that a region has been selected and is on display to everyone who cares to look, along with its world factbook entry.
The honour of being the first featured region belongs to The Land of the Sewers. Taking a look at this dark and smelly place you'll probably wonder why it was chosen at all. Well, I'll tell you.
How the featured region is chosen.
The region is selected at random once a day, just like the UN rankings, from regions that fit a few criteria:
1. The region must have five nations or more.
2. The region must have no password.
3. The region must not be a class region.
That's it! I hope you all enjoy this exciting new feature. And I can promise you that we'll have quite a number of new features ready for unveiling very soon.
So, what exactly is this feature? Well, go to the World page and you'll see it. It's been a fair while since that page has had any changes to it. I think the last one was adding a region search engine. Anyway, at the top of the page you'll see that a region has been selected and is on display to everyone who cares to look, along with its world factbook entry.
The honour of being the first featured region belongs to The Land of the Sewers. Taking a look at this dark and smelly place you'll probably wonder why it was chosen at all. Well, I'll tell you.
How the featured region is chosen.
The region is selected at random once a day, just like the UN rankings, from regions that fit a few criteria:
1. The region must have five nations or more.
2. The region must have no password.
3. The region must not be a class region.
That's it! I hope you all enjoy this exciting new feature. And I can promise you that we'll have quite a number of new features ready for unveiling very soon.
27 March 2006
The Sword In The Troll
Modshort #9
This time starring the lovely Reploid Productions. Watch out, she's sharp.
Works best on 'fast'.
This time starring the lovely Reploid Productions. Watch out, she's sharp.
Works best on 'fast'.
22 March 2006
Of Universities And Vindaloo
I've been busy with universities again. This time visiting Glasgow University, where they have two (TWO!) organs the size of houses. All the time they led me through the various chthonic depths of the music department where twittery students would flit from side to side in the darkness like excited shadows I would cry because there were so many keyboards, pianos, organs, and harpsichords and I wasn't going to get to play any of them! The windows had bars on them which makes me wonder just how stringent rehearsal schedules are. Hmm.
Anyway, today I'm goin' on a trip to Edinburgh to give an audition and explain just why the site of an actual grand piano makes my eyes glaze and dribble to slowly slide down my chin - and it's generally because of the crappitude (it's not a real word but I reckon it should be) of the one I own right now. It goes out of tune should you so much as breathe on it, some keys stop working if you press them twice, some don't work at all with the sustaining pedal depressed, the lower register is as clear as mud, and, to top it all off, it just sounds horrible. Absolutely dreadful.
I'm afraid I don't have any interesting NationStates news today, though I have worked out how to put a link to my e-mail address in the sidebar, so if you want any help writing an issue, or coming up with ideas, or to tell me an idea, or if you just have any questions you'd like to ask me, then drop me a line.
In compensation for my lack of exciting news, I'll tell you a moderately amusing story instead:
Last Friday I went to an Bangladeshi/Indian restaurant in St Andrews with my parents to celebrate my return from Aberdeen. I announced that I would take a brief sojourn to the commode and would return shortly. I said I'd like a vegetable madras. But, unbeknownst to me, my father had sneakily ordered me a vindaloo. And I got the surprise of my life when I discovered how hot it was (it wasn't so hot that it stopped me from eating - I've built up a large tolerance over the years). I enjoyed it a lot, and I would have had another one had the events of the following day not transpired.
The next morning I was at work running a bookshop (which is my part-time job), happily cleaning books, and shelving others, when suddenly I... FELT something odd in my belly. Now, things might have not gone so badly had the bookshop's toilet been any good, but it wasn't. That toilet is one of the most shoddily constructed loos I have ever seen, and damn near the dirtiest. So, at utmost speed, I ran out of the shop, locked it behind me, and legged it to the public toilets which were thankfully just across the road. I think I was in there for about ten minutes, but it seemed more like ten ice ages had passed when I felt I was ready to vacate the cubicle. The cubicles (which looked more like cells) had no locks, and the paper was so thin as to be non-existent. What's more, everytime there was a breeze outside the door would fling itself open leaving me desperately clawing the air to pull it back somehow (there were, of course, no handles).
I arrived back at the shop and for a while I thought I was fine but then I got that certain feeling again...
Being canny, I decided to invade the hairdresser's salon-type thing next door. I explained my situation and gratefully got led to the toilet - which was right next to the salon. I think the fates kind of conspired against me that day, because there can have been NO WAY that the attractive, and curvaceous hairdressers, not to mention their customers, could have not heard the loud and unnatural noises that emanated from the door behind which I was holding my head in my hands and wishing it would all just stop. Those noises definitely did not happen when I was enjoying the relative privacy of the almost-but-not-quite-abandoned public toilets.
What a day. I had to close the shop early and leg it homewards so I could be positive I wouldn't find myself stuck without a place to go (literally).
The moral? I think it's obvious. Only ever have a vindaloo when you are sure there will be plenty of lavatories in close proximity the next day.
Oh, and it may be hot going in, but it's even worse going out.
Anyway, today I'm goin' on a trip to Edinburgh to give an audition and explain just why the site of an actual grand piano makes my eyes glaze and dribble to slowly slide down my chin - and it's generally because of the crappitude (it's not a real word but I reckon it should be) of the one I own right now. It goes out of tune should you so much as breathe on it, some keys stop working if you press them twice, some don't work at all with the sustaining pedal depressed, the lower register is as clear as mud, and, to top it all off, it just sounds horrible. Absolutely dreadful.
I'm afraid I don't have any interesting NationStates news today, though I have worked out how to put a link to my e-mail address in the sidebar, so if you want any help writing an issue, or coming up with ideas, or to tell me an idea, or if you just have any questions you'd like to ask me, then drop me a line.
In compensation for my lack of exciting news, I'll tell you a moderately amusing story instead:
Last Friday I went to an Bangladeshi/Indian restaurant in St Andrews with my parents to celebrate my return from Aberdeen. I announced that I would take a brief sojourn to the commode and would return shortly. I said I'd like a vegetable madras. But, unbeknownst to me, my father had sneakily ordered me a vindaloo. And I got the surprise of my life when I discovered how hot it was (it wasn't so hot that it stopped me from eating - I've built up a large tolerance over the years). I enjoyed it a lot, and I would have had another one had the events of the following day not transpired.
The next morning I was at work running a bookshop (which is my part-time job), happily cleaning books, and shelving others, when suddenly I... FELT something odd in my belly. Now, things might have not gone so badly had the bookshop's toilet been any good, but it wasn't. That toilet is one of the most shoddily constructed loos I have ever seen, and damn near the dirtiest. So, at utmost speed, I ran out of the shop, locked it behind me, and legged it to the public toilets which were thankfully just across the road. I think I was in there for about ten minutes, but it seemed more like ten ice ages had passed when I felt I was ready to vacate the cubicle. The cubicles (which looked more like cells) had no locks, and the paper was so thin as to be non-existent. What's more, everytime there was a breeze outside the door would fling itself open leaving me desperately clawing the air to pull it back somehow (there were, of course, no handles).
I arrived back at the shop and for a while I thought I was fine but then I got that certain feeling again...
Being canny, I decided to invade the hairdresser's salon-type thing next door. I explained my situation and gratefully got led to the toilet - which was right next to the salon. I think the fates kind of conspired against me that day, because there can have been NO WAY that the attractive, and curvaceous hairdressers, not to mention their customers, could have not heard the loud and unnatural noises that emanated from the door behind which I was holding my head in my hands and wishing it would all just stop. Those noises definitely did not happen when I was enjoying the relative privacy of the almost-but-not-quite-abandoned public toilets.
What a day. I had to close the shop early and leg it homewards so I could be positive I wouldn't find myself stuck without a place to go (literally).
The moral? I think it's obvious. Only ever have a vindaloo when you are sure there will be plenty of lavatories in close proximity the next day.
Oh, and it may be hot going in, but it's even worse going out.
18 March 2006
Flightless Hippo Sightings
Yes, here's a round-up of all those flightless hippos that have cropped up all over the internet. It really is very mysterious. I thought having a purple hippo with wings was totally original but it seems that many others have had similar bursts of inspiration.
But before you report anything you must be sure - is what I saw a flightless hippo? Well, here's the three rules of thumb that you can use to identify its authenticity.
1. Is it a hippo?
2. Is it purple? Remember that colours that might be purple don't really count.
3. Does it have wings? Remember that they have to be 'feathery' wings. Aeroplane ones don't count.
If you have answered yes to all the above questions, then it is pretty likely that what you have spotted is indeed a flightless hippo. My advice is to now run before it sees you and tries to eat you.
You can also look at my flag to see the original.
Anyway. Flightless hippo sightings:
A flightless hippo with big blue eyes and spikes.
www.flyingpurplehippo.com - this one is pretty mysterious. I'm not that sure what the site's about.
A very cheery looking flightless hippo
Also, it appears there are flightless hippos on a computer game called 'Age of Mythology'. Quite why is beyond me.
But before you report anything you must be sure - is what I saw a flightless hippo? Well, here's the three rules of thumb that you can use to identify its authenticity.
1. Is it a hippo?
2. Is it purple? Remember that colours that might be purple don't really count.
3. Does it have wings? Remember that they have to be 'feathery' wings. Aeroplane ones don't count.
If you have answered yes to all the above questions, then it is pretty likely that what you have spotted is indeed a flightless hippo. My advice is to now run before it sees you and tries to eat you.
You can also look at my flag to see the original.
Anyway. Flightless hippo sightings:
A flightless hippo with big blue eyes and spikes.
www.flyingpurplehippo.com - this one is pretty mysterious. I'm not that sure what the site's about.
A very cheery looking flightless hippo
Also, it appears there are flightless hippos on a computer game called 'Age of Mythology'. Quite why is beyond me.
12 March 2006
The Lancre Herald
This probably won't be of interest to most of you, but some of they guys in my region have decided to start up a little blog about what's a-happenin' in our corner of the NS world. Should be a real hoot!
You can read it here at http://lancrenews.blogspot.com/
You can read it here at http://lancrenews.blogspot.com/
08 March 2006
Aberdeen
I had a great time in Aberdeen checking out the university there. It's a beautiful place and I'm sure I would fit right in. They've been teaching there for over five hundred years so I imagine they know what attracts students.
I applied for an 'English Language and Literature with Music' four-year course and now that I've properly seen what it consists of I'm desperate to just get all A's on the subjects I'm currently taking.
I will have to choose a third course for my first year at university and I'm a little stuck as to what to choose. I noted the Language and Linguistics course and challenged the stall keeper to guess where I was from by judging my accent. I'm from Fife, but she guessed South England. It's 'cos my dad's English I suppose.
I asked the Philosophy stall keepers why I should take their course - philosophically speaking - and I was told that it would open my mind to an incredible range of thought provocation of which I would never previously have been able to conceive. All very well and good, but I've never been much of a thinker.
I was asked by a lady if I was interested in Gender Studies to which I replied that it was 'for girls'. She didn't think it was funny.
I trotted over to the Natural Philosophy stall and, never having heard of it, asked what it was. The keeper didn't actually seem to really be sure, and as far as I could make out it was a mixture of physics and philosophy for those who like to think big without having to be inconvenienced by such trivialities as mathematics or practical application. I was beginning to get a little suspicious by the time I'd read the rather ambiguous leaflets and asked precisely what it was that Natural Philosophy had that neither the Physics nor the Philosophy courses did. All I got was ums and aahs so I swiftly moved on.
The music stall was by far my favourite because there was a harpsichord next to it and for someone like me who has never even seen one before it was an amazing thrill to actually get to play it. It made such a beautiful sound so I wish I had one now.
I mentioned NationStates to the keeper of the Politics and International Politics stall. he seemed interested in a polite sort of way.
There were lots of other stalls as well but I didn't find them very interesting apart from the Celtic studies one. I've always wanted to learn Gaelic so maybe this is my chance! For the sake of foreign readers, I'll enlighten you to the fact that Gaelic is primarily only spoken in the more northern regions of Scotland and the Hebrides, which are over a hundred miles from where I live (central Scotland).
One of the interesting things about Aberdeen was that it was so damn snowy. It rarely snows down south where I am so I was fairly in awe of the way the entire scenery was blanketed in brilliant white. It was very beautiful. The only problem was that the pavements were as slippy as Hell, and my shoes don't have any grip anymore. I was sliding and skidding my way across the city for hours and I was very proud of not having fallen over once. That was right up until the end of the day when just as I was going up to the path of the Bed and Breakfast I was staying at (all hotels having filled up since the mis-booking mentioned in the previous article) and slipped, falling with a mighty crump right into six-inch snow.
I guess it only goes to show.
NationStates-wise, some of you may already know that we have taken on two new forum mods, Erastide and Tactical Grace. Tactical Grace resigned as game mod a long time ago due to time-keeping problems, but he's back now and with a vengeance! Look out, NationStates! As for, Erastide, well... we'll see won't we? I have every confidence that she'll be a sterling moderator.
I applied for an 'English Language and Literature with Music' four-year course and now that I've properly seen what it consists of I'm desperate to just get all A's on the subjects I'm currently taking.
I will have to choose a third course for my first year at university and I'm a little stuck as to what to choose. I noted the Language and Linguistics course and challenged the stall keeper to guess where I was from by judging my accent. I'm from Fife, but she guessed South England. It's 'cos my dad's English I suppose.
I asked the Philosophy stall keepers why I should take their course - philosophically speaking - and I was told that it would open my mind to an incredible range of thought provocation of which I would never previously have been able to conceive. All very well and good, but I've never been much of a thinker.
I was asked by a lady if I was interested in Gender Studies to which I replied that it was 'for girls'. She didn't think it was funny.
I trotted over to the Natural Philosophy stall and, never having heard of it, asked what it was. The keeper didn't actually seem to really be sure, and as far as I could make out it was a mixture of physics and philosophy for those who like to think big without having to be inconvenienced by such trivialities as mathematics or practical application. I was beginning to get a little suspicious by the time I'd read the rather ambiguous leaflets and asked precisely what it was that Natural Philosophy had that neither the Physics nor the Philosophy courses did. All I got was ums and aahs so I swiftly moved on.
The music stall was by far my favourite because there was a harpsichord next to it and for someone like me who has never even seen one before it was an amazing thrill to actually get to play it. It made such a beautiful sound so I wish I had one now.
I mentioned NationStates to the keeper of the Politics and International Politics stall. he seemed interested in a polite sort of way.
There were lots of other stalls as well but I didn't find them very interesting apart from the Celtic studies one. I've always wanted to learn Gaelic so maybe this is my chance! For the sake of foreign readers, I'll enlighten you to the fact that Gaelic is primarily only spoken in the more northern regions of Scotland and the Hebrides, which are over a hundred miles from where I live (central Scotland).
One of the interesting things about Aberdeen was that it was so damn snowy. It rarely snows down south where I am so I was fairly in awe of the way the entire scenery was blanketed in brilliant white. It was very beautiful. The only problem was that the pavements were as slippy as Hell, and my shoes don't have any grip anymore. I was sliding and skidding my way across the city for hours and I was very proud of not having fallen over once. That was right up until the end of the day when just as I was going up to the path of the Bed and Breakfast I was staying at (all hotels having filled up since the mis-booking mentioned in the previous article) and slipped, falling with a mighty crump right into six-inch snow.
I guess it only goes to show.
NationStates-wise, some of you may already know that we have taken on two new forum mods, Erastide and Tactical Grace. Tactical Grace resigned as game mod a long time ago due to time-keeping problems, but he's back now and with a vengeance! Look out, NationStates! As for, Erastide, well... we'll see won't we? I have every confidence that she'll be a sterling moderator.
07 March 2006
On The Road To Aberdeen
I'm off to Aberdeen for a day to inspect a university. If I'm lucky there won't be so much snow that the whole building's collapsed. Try not to break any rules while I'm away!
I'd have been away for a few days but, alas, there was a misbooking and I have effectively wasted £60. Damn it.
I know fine that some interesting things will happen while I'm away and I'll bring you all the great updates when I'm back.
Ciao!
I'd have been away for a few days but, alas, there was a misbooking and I have effectively wasted £60. Damn it.
I know fine that some interesting things will happen while I'm away and I'll bring you all the great updates when I'm back.
Ciao!
05 March 2006
NSTracker
Another very cool website devoted to the various statistics thrown up by NationStates. Created by Fostonia.
Check it out!
Check it out!
02 March 2006
Screwy Updates
A few of you will have noticed that things are a bit odd around NationStates right now. Populations aren't growing, issues aren't legislating, and citizens all over the world are perplexed as to why their taps aren't working. Well, I can tell you now that you needn't panic, it's just that the updates have gone a little haywire and will be fixed very soon.
In other news, there's been some major steps towards codifying invasions into the game. I can't say anything now, but I might be able to later.
Ciao!
In other news, there's been some major steps towards codifying invasions into the game. I can't say anything now, but I might be able to later.
Ciao!
01 March 2006
Forums Down
Ach, it's such a shame. Brings back sad memories of long ago. Nevermind, here's a NationStates Quiz I discovered. Have fun!
25 February 2006
Where In The World...
You may have noticed that there's a map in my blog's sidebar. It's a kind of counter that shows where the regular visitors of my blog hail from in the world. It's pretty cool to see just how widespread my readership is. I noticed it in a blog called Binnsy's Hovel and, since I'm a bit of a magpie when it concerns odd gimmicky things like these, I got myself one.
You can get one for your blog/website too at www.clustrmaps.com
You can get one for your blog/website too at www.clustrmaps.com
24 February 2006
Colourful Ideas
I'm happy to say that our admins have finished some new features for NationStates, and I have been given permission to share some of them with you. Others, as Pythagosaurus said, "are things the players shouldn't be told about". I can't say when these new additions will be coded into the game, because it hasn't been decided yet. If it has, then only SalusaSecondus knows when.
The features:
Colourful Words
This code will allow players to use colours and text decoration in RMB posts and telegrams.
Special Password Release
This code prevent regions with no founder or delegate from having a password.
New UN Rankings
I've already mentioned these in a previous post.
Very exciting for everyone I'm sure. There's also some news regarding the codifying of the invasion rules which is proceeding at a good pace, but boy is it complicated. There's more brackets and numbers than I've ever cared to see in one place at one time. I even saw a square root in there somewhere. Cheers to Sal and Pyth for giving this their best efforts though! This is a very important project of ours, if not the most important.
The features:
Colourful Words
This code will allow players to use colours and text decoration in RMB posts and telegrams.
Special Password Release
This code prevent regions with no founder or delegate from having a password.
New UN Rankings
I've already mentioned these in a previous post.
Very exciting for everyone I'm sure. There's also some news regarding the codifying of the invasion rules which is proceeding at a good pace, but boy is it complicated. There's more brackets and numbers than I've ever cared to see in one place at one time. I even saw a square root in there somewhere. Cheers to Sal and Pyth for giving this their best efforts though! This is a very important project of ours, if not the most important.
23 February 2006
NationStates Census
I've been rather ill this last week or so, so I've not been able to blog much. Anyway. News round-up:
I got the new batch of issues, stretching from the 31st of May right up to the 13th of February 2006. One of those naughty admins installed the new issues batch without telling me (I'm certain it was Sal). It'll take a while to plough through them, but I'm a patient man. Oh, yes.
By the look of Max Barry's latest blog, he's gone to Heaven early. The fact that he's still alive can only be considered a boon. Coincidentally there has been much discussion over NationStates' future if Max Barry did suddenly expire. How incredibly morbid.
Note that intriguing part of the blog where Max says that some progress is underway in regards to the much-awaited NationStates 2...
There's proposals for a new 'feature region' feature which has garnered quite a bit of interest from our admins. We may even use it!
SalusaSecondus has generated some interesting NationStates statistics (such as the total world population) that you may like to look at:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=470125
Here's some other interesting stats of his about regions:
A few useful stats about regions (as of early this month):
Total Regions: 14375
Average Size: 8.2
Min: 1
First Quartile: 1
Median Size: 2.5
Third Quartile: 5.5
Max: 7300
Or, more specifically:
Size: Count
1: 5656
2: 2495
3: 1480
4: 953
5: 701
6: 529
7: 366
8: 294
9: 234
10-19: 975
20+: 625
My region, Lancre, has about 40 nations. I feel quite privileged to have their support when so many regions fail to get more than one member!
I got the new batch of issues, stretching from the 31st of May right up to the 13th of February 2006. One of those naughty admins installed the new issues batch without telling me (I'm certain it was Sal). It'll take a while to plough through them, but I'm a patient man. Oh, yes.
By the look of Max Barry's latest blog, he's gone to Heaven early. The fact that he's still alive can only be considered a boon. Coincidentally there has been much discussion over NationStates' future if Max Barry did suddenly expire. How incredibly morbid.
Note that intriguing part of the blog where Max says that some progress is underway in regards to the much-awaited NationStates 2...
There's proposals for a new 'feature region' feature which has garnered quite a bit of interest from our admins. We may even use it!
SalusaSecondus has generated some interesting NationStates statistics (such as the total world population) that you may like to look at:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=470125
Here's some other interesting stats of his about regions:
A few useful stats about regions (as of early this month):
Total Regions: 14375
Average Size: 8.2
Min: 1
First Quartile: 1
Median Size: 2.5
Third Quartile: 5.5
Max: 7300
Or, more specifically:
Size: Count
1: 5656
2: 2495
3: 1480
4: 953
5: 701
6: 529
7: 366
8: 294
9: 234
10-19: 975
20+: 625
My region, Lancre, has about 40 nations. I feel quite privileged to have their support when so many regions fail to get more than one member!
12 February 2006
Issue #195 Is In The Game
Yep. And this is a special one: written by SalusaSecondus himself! But don't get too excited - it's not an Easter Egg. Just a regular one. Just five more issues 'til the big 200. Fantasticus.
10 February 2006
Tanks A Lot!
Modshort #8
This time starring our very own GMC Military Arms.
In other news, I'd like to highlight an interesting NS-related website which lists the ten most populous regions in NationStates, among other things. Fascinatin' read, and well done to Safalra for creating it.
www.safalra.com/special/nationstates/regions
This time starring our very own GMC Military Arms.
In other news, I'd like to highlight an interesting NS-related website which lists the ten most populous regions in NationStates, among other things. Fascinatin' read, and well done to Safalra for creating it.
www.safalra.com/special/nationstates/regions
08 February 2006
Of Thousands And Snazz
The number of Getting Help page requests passed fifty thousand on the 1st of February this year. That's fifty thousand since we got our first task on the 8th of May, 2003. Pretty snazzy.
Oh, and my blog's visitor-count has topped 3000. That's also pretty snazzy.
The new UN proposal categories have been changed a bit to make them even better, which is also of a most snazzy nature.
Oh, and I just put a new issue into the game. Snazziness reigns on high!
Oh, and my blog's visitor-count has topped 3000. That's also pretty snazzy.
The new UN proposal categories have been changed a bit to make them even better, which is also of a most snazzy nature.
Oh, and I just put a new issue into the game. Snazziness reigns on high!
07 February 2006
I've Got Company
Yep, I've got the book, which is pretty snazzy 'cos it's not out in Britain yet. How did this happen? Well, let me take you on a little adventure...
... To my sitting room. Where it all begins. Oh, yes. I discover, much to my surprise, that there is a package for me. I am further surprised when I find that it's addressed to 'Sirocco'. Who could know my secret crime-fighting alter-ego? Then realisation dawns, as I recall the boss mentioning this around Christmas time. I open the package (bearing not only its Australian stamps which only add to the experience, but the scrawl of a Mrs Jennifer Barry in the sender's signature box. Maybe I can sell it on eBay. But then maybe that'd be a wee bit irresponsible 'cos it has my address on it, and Max's address on the back too. Ach well.) and out plops my own copy of Company! Fantasticus! My dad's a second-hand book seller, so it's in my blood to be really pleased about having a signed first edition. The inscription reads thus: 'For the tireless Sirocco - Thanks for keeping NationStates ticking over. You do an awesome job! Max Barry'. I can now partially understand why people get his name wrong so often. His signature really does look like 'Max Berry'.
Anyway, I shall enjoy reading it, and I'm not going to give away anything on this 'ere blog. If you wanna know what happens, buy the book!
... To my sitting room. Where it all begins. Oh, yes. I discover, much to my surprise, that there is a package for me. I am further surprised when I find that it's addressed to 'Sirocco'. Who could know my secret crime-fighting alter-ego? Then realisation dawns, as I recall the boss mentioning this around Christmas time. I open the package (bearing not only its Australian stamps which only add to the experience, but the scrawl of a Mrs Jennifer Barry in the sender's signature box. Maybe I can sell it on eBay. But then maybe that'd be a wee bit irresponsible 'cos it has my address on it, and Max's address on the back too. Ach well.) and out plops my own copy of Company! Fantasticus! My dad's a second-hand book seller, so it's in my blood to be really pleased about having a signed first edition. The inscription reads thus: 'For the tireless Sirocco - Thanks for keeping NationStates ticking over. You do an awesome job! Max Barry'. I can now partially understand why people get his name wrong so often. His signature really does look like 'Max Berry'.
Anyway, I shall enjoy reading it, and I'm not going to give away anything on this 'ere blog. If you wanna know what happens, buy the book!
05 February 2006
Six Billions
Recently, Sirocco passed the much-respected (-feared?) figure of 6000000000 citizens. They're breeding like rabbits, it's crazy. But anyway, some catch-up on the local gossip:
First of all, I'm glad to say that we (the mods) have all been contributing towards ideas for new UN proposal categories so that you can all change the world in new and wonderful ways. I've edited them down to the necessities, and so far everyone seems pretty happy with them. I just need a nod from one of the admins, and enough of their spare time for them to put 'em in. Unless we come up with more ideas or someone raises an objection. We're very democratic, and as a result we quarrel a lot, but I guess it can't be helped.
I've also had enough spare time to begin editing a new issue. Once I've edited it and the one after it we can finally go onto a new batch.
First of all, I'm glad to say that we (the mods) have all been contributing towards ideas for new UN proposal categories so that you can all change the world in new and wonderful ways. I've edited them down to the necessities, and so far everyone seems pretty happy with them. I just need a nod from one of the admins, and enough of their spare time for them to put 'em in. Unless we come up with more ideas or someone raises an objection. We're very democratic, and as a result we quarrel a lot, but I guess it can't be helped.
I've also had enough spare time to begin editing a new issue. Once I've edited it and the one after it we can finally go onto a new batch.
More Cartography
Another bunch of computer programs to aid you in your search for the perfect map for your nation, courtesy of Tsaraine:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=466970
The previous article on map-making can be found here.
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=466970
The previous article on map-making can be found here.
31 January 2006
Bastard Mod From Hell 3
Yes! Reploid Productions' saga has returned to enlighten us of those dastardly alter egos that seek to make your virtual existence a virtual hell. I may add my own little contribution later. For now, you can read what's already been written here.
27 January 2006
Two New UN Rankings
Yes, that's right! And one of them is that new feature I was promising all that time ago when I had created some new code for the game. You'll be able to tell what it is when it shows up. With this new UN ranking you can measure a whole new aspect of your nation and look at issues you've so casually answered previously in a different light. That's if you care anyway. Which you probably don't. But the thought's there! The other UN ranking is one I've been lobbying for for a while so I'm glad it's in at last.
This is an exciting new time for NationStates and I'd like to thank Pythagosaurus and SalusaSecondus for adding these UN rankings for me (and for coming up with the description for one of them). I don't know exactly when we'll be seeing them, since the order the UN rankings come in is random and I don't actually know whether Sal's got round to installing them. But you'll know 'em when you see 'em.
Oh, and check out the RSS feed in the sidebar! I'm not sure how it works exactly, but I'm assured it means that people can subscribe to my blog. If you understand it, please enjoy it. Many thanks to Rejistania for explaining how to install it to me.
This is an exciting new time for NationStates and I'd like to thank Pythagosaurus and SalusaSecondus for adding these UN rankings for me (and for coming up with the description for one of them). I don't know exactly when we'll be seeing them, since the order the UN rankings come in is random and I don't actually know whether Sal's got round to installing them. But you'll know 'em when you see 'em.
Oh, and check out the RSS feed in the sidebar! I'm not sure how it works exactly, but I'm assured it means that people can subscribe to my blog. If you understand it, please enjoy it. Many thanks to Rejistania for explaining how to install it to me.
26 January 2006
Invasion Rules Revision
All the mods (and admins o' course) have started work on trying to set up a better way of managing invasions, i.e. making sure that it's the game that stops griefing and not us. So expect to see some big changes on the invading/defending/watching-the-battle-at-your borders-with-a-big-box-of-popcorn front in the future, and a totally radical new way of playing the game through such 'wars'. There'll be some substantial changes to regional management too, which should be interesting.
Nothing's been decided yet, so don't think there's been any rule changes. You can still get deleted for kicking out everyone in the region (if you're a delegate), so mind you keep on the right side of things. So far we have come up with a number of intriguing, and, haha, secret ideas which I may expand on later if we decide to go with them. I'll tell you more when I can!
Nothing's been decided yet, so don't think there's been any rule changes. You can still get deleted for kicking out everyone in the region (if you're a delegate), so mind you keep on the right side of things. So far we have come up with a number of intriguing, and, haha, secret ideas which I may expand on later if we decide to go with them. I'll tell you more when I can!
19 January 2006
16 January 2006
New Features
Yes, NationStates has gained two new features courtesy of our admins SalusaSecondus and Pythagosaurus. The new feature that comes with all the issue updates I did long ago has not been installed yet. The new features we do have are thus:
Dossier In Sidebar
Now you can access your dossier no matter where you are looking on the site! EXCELLENT! I don't actually have any nations in my dossier, but I can appreciate how useful it is to others. This addition was written by SalusaSecondus.
Improved Nation And Region Search
Ever had trouble remembering the exact name of a nation who promised to lend you nuclear warheads? Had trouble locating a certain region that you were invited to join? Well, now you've got something other than your memory to give you a hand. If you don't put the exact name of a nation or region, the system will present you with a plethora of possible locations with similar names. This brilliant and oft-requested feature was written by Pythagosaurus.
Dossier In Sidebar
Now you can access your dossier no matter where you are looking on the site! EXCELLENT! I don't actually have any nations in my dossier, but I can appreciate how useful it is to others. This addition was written by SalusaSecondus.
Improved Nation And Region Search
Ever had trouble remembering the exact name of a nation who promised to lend you nuclear warheads? Had trouble locating a certain region that you were invited to join? Well, now you've got something other than your memory to give you a hand. If you don't put the exact name of a nation or region, the system will present you with a plethora of possible locations with similar names. This brilliant and oft-requested feature was written by Pythagosaurus.
15 January 2006
Misplaced
Modshort #7
This time starring that crazy rascal Euroslavia in this high-budget new episode in the Modshort series. Enjoy, and don't worry: I won't answer a single loose end.
In other news, there's a hilarious thread by Dishonorable Scum to read in the NationStates forum. Check it out!
This time starring that crazy rascal Euroslavia in this high-budget new episode in the Modshort series. Enjoy, and don't worry: I won't answer a single loose end.
In other news, there's a hilarious thread by Dishonorable Scum to read in the NationStates forum. Check it out!
14 January 2006
06 January 2006
Lancre Cup XIV
It's that time of the month again- well, no, not that time of the month. It's the time of the month when the nations of Lancre grudgingly search through their populace for their true champions of football, a sport of two halves. Or three thirds sometimes, like last month. It happens, it happens.
Check it out by clicking this very big hypertext!
Check it out by clicking this very big hypertext!
05 January 2006
Birthday Boy
It was my birthday yesterday, and, on the whole, I reckon it was one of the better ones. Just me, a few friends, a lot of food and drink, and some movies to watch. Nothing better than taking the piss out of a film we were too distracted to understand (The Prophecy).
I'll tell you all my age now, I think. Before, I felt it would probably skew people's opinions of me and the other mods agreed. But I don't think it matters anymore.
I'm 18 years, and one day old. I started modding at the tender age of 15, which makes me the youngest moderator operating at the moment. If I recall, Yavin, who is retired now, was about 13 and didn't get a lot of good feedback about it so I decided to keep it quiet. I'm old enough to vote, drink, and do, ooh, lots of things now. Should be great fun. See y'all later!
I'll tell you all my age now, I think. Before, I felt it would probably skew people's opinions of me and the other mods agreed. But I don't think it matters anymore.
I'm 18 years, and one day old. I started modding at the tender age of 15, which makes me the youngest moderator operating at the moment. If I recall, Yavin, who is retired now, was about 13 and didn't get a lot of good feedback about it so I decided to keep it quiet. I'm old enough to vote, drink, and do, ooh, lots of things now. Should be great fun. See y'all later!
01 January 2006
Hello, 2006
Happy New Year! May all your new year resolutions stick. And your UN ones if you are so inclined. I only ever tried writing a UN proposal once and it failed dismally. Can't remember what it was about now, which is probably fortunate. But I digress. I hope 2006 is a good year for you all. Have fun.
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