View from Benacia/Issue 93: New York, New York (or DC)

This imported article was originally posted at http://viewfrombenacia.blogspot.com/2005/08/issue-93-new-york-new-york-or-dc.html at 08/09/05.

Schemes continue to be schemed for an East Coast ShireCon sometime this autumn. These real-life national conventions have, in the past, been wildly successful (as micronational ventures go), with Shirerithians meeting each other in meatspace both on the U.S. West Coast and in Europe. But the poor, neglected East Coast Shirerithians have been largely abandoned in the cold until recently, when Kaiser Los III turned his benevolent gaze in that direction.

The decision as to where the summit will be located has focused in on two locations. One is Washington, D.C., which has the advantage of being more centrally located and being near Rakesh Ackbar and, a bit further away, Shyriath Bukolos. On the other hand, New York has been touted as "more northerly", which we here at the View have confirmed with reasonable certainty, and offers the additional prospect of badgering the U.N. into noticing us (although they ARE kinda busy with that whole oil-for-food thing). Cast your vote in the opinion poll!

Meanwhile, the Kaiser also announced the composition of the Imperial Advisory Council for his reign. The Council now consists of Nick the Yardistani (aka Gryphon Avocatio), Fax Celestis (aka Shasta Rana Wanderlust and other logins), and Gryphon the Pure (aka... well, look, you know who I mean). He also reconfirmed Shyriath Bukolos as Steward, and as the previous Kaiser did, allowed him access to the Advisory Council's forum.

The Landsraad also did some musing today over the role of abstain votes in the Landsraad. The original proposal by Ozarka Monto suggested officially counting votes of Abstain as Nays; an alternative proposal by Gryphon the Pure suggests requiring a plurality rather than a majority of votes in favor to pass legislation.