View from Benacia/Issue 53: Arminy To Join Shireroth

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2005/01/issue-53-arminy-to-join-shireroth.html at 01/22/05.

On Wednesday, Scott Alexander announced to the nation that Shireroth would soon have a new member, in the form of the Arminian Ricch, a Germanic-themed micronation formed from former micronations Cranda, Northworthy, Slobovia, and Hurmu.

The deal under which Arminy agreed to join Shireroth was hammered out in secret talks between the Arminians and Scott and Sir Iain. Scott proposed the treaty that is the cornerstone of the agreement to the Landsraad on Wednesday; it provides for the acceptance of Arminy as a Duchy with Johanns V as Duke, the immediate naturalization of the Arminians as Shirerithian citizens, and the process by which the treaty may be terminated and Arminy returned to independence if need be.

Although enthusiasm for the acceptance of the Arminians as Shirerithians is generally high, there have been some issues of qualification in the Landsraad, as to whether or not the proper procedure for new Duchies is being followed. Nevertheless, the treaty is currently running at Y-14 to N-0.

Nominations for Ombudsman Begin

Kaiser Mors opened the first phase of choosing the Imperial Ombudsman with the nomination round this Wednesday. All citizens are able to nominate one candidate and to second/third/whatever another.

Candidates must be nominated and then seconded in order to qualify for voting later on. Candidates must be citizens of Shireroth who are neither a minor, nor the Kaiser, nor under any continuing punishment by the judicial apparatus of the Imperial Government. By the current reckoning, both Harvey of Shirekeep and Rakesh of Amarr have both qualified for candidacy in the voting round, although nominations will be accepted through the 26th.

In a related story, the Kaiser has also posted a list of those eligible to participate in the voting round, although suggestions for changes are currently welcome.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that the very name of the office may eventually be changed. Despite the great debate over the name of the office, few were satisfied with any one answer and the Kaiser chose Imperial Ombudsman partially because of its appropriate meaning, partially for its Swedish roots, and partially to defuse a campaign by Ric in favor of the name. But it is a compromise that satisfies few, and calls were soon apparent for another name. A jestful comment by the Kaiser that he could use the Benacian name Tancalar ("Listener") for the post was actually quite well recieved, and there remains the possibility that the first official impact of the Benacian language will be felt through the rechristening of the office.

FNORD!!!

The choosing of its many buttloads of award categories now complete, the People's FNORD Awards 2005 is now accepting nominations. Shireroth, it may well be said, made a strong showing, appearing in a number of categories this year. These are the following:

Most Active Nation Most Culturally Developed Micronation Most Elaborate Government (the "Feudal Imperial Republican Erikocracy") Most Efficient Government ("do what I tell you, when I tell you to do it")

Shirerithian citizens and institutions have also made a number of appearances in nominations:

-David Beckford and Scott Alexander for Most Traveled Micronationalist -Scott Alexander for the Award for Excessive Cynicism -Shyriath Bukolos for Best Avatar -ShireCon 2004(?) for Best Communication Medium -Erik Metzler and Shyriath Bukolos for the Odlum Award for Overall Achievement -Scott Alexander ("Unaimed Arrow") for the Peter Little Award for Literature -The View From Benacia for Best Newsblog -The Mango and Shireroth's Coat of Arms for Most Creative National Symbol -Bill3000 (evangelizing of Soloralism) for Refusing to Give Up in the Face of Failure -Erik Metzler (Treaty of Shirekeep) for Norton Prize for Peace (perhaps jointly with Alan Grieve and Tim Dunkin) -Scott Alexander and Sr Iain for Least Arrogant Micronationalist -Ric Lyon for Most Underappreciated Micronationalist

(Note: The View has attempted to list all nominations it could find; any exclusions were not purposeful and we apologize in advance.)

We urge all Shirerithians who have nominees they'd like to see considered should place them in the correct category threads. For those who have already contributed, especially those who have worked to hard to provide shameless plugs on behalf of Shireroth and its citizens, thank you very much! May Mors spare you.