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Post by Sevastáin Pinátsch on May 8, 2014 19:07:44 GMT -6
Welcome back to Late Night with Sevastáin Pinátsch, Atatürk's greatest cultural export since… since… well, there's always a first, isn't there? We've been off the air for some time. Atatürk, I mean. Culturally. Politically. Geographically. I poke myself in the morning to double-check that I still exist. Fortunately, the nationette as a whole remains as interesting as ever. Talossa's been a political pressure cooker recently thanks to one man. When he formed a new political party in March we all knew things would be interesting, but I think it was only this week that we really started to appreciate how much happier we were being bored. Now Carlüs and his new party have been büsy hammering oüt a Mission Statement, a 50-Word Sümmary, a logo and a constitütion, büt it was their name that gave them the most headache. Lady and gentlemen, I give to yoü… the Top 10 Rejected Names for the Liberty Congress 10. Liberty First (“Absolütely trüe. Büt then they decided to make it their slogan instead.”)
9. Liberty Mütüal (“'Soünds more collaborative!' some said. 'Soünds like an insürance company!' others argüed. Büt then, a voice of reason [name withheld] said: Yes, we're a party, büt also insürance, against fire, flood, hail damage, hoards of locüsts, water turning into blood, death of the firstborn and other disasters and plagües that might befall the people should they elect some other party.' Büt in the end, they made that one a slogan, too. Watch for it next campaign.”)
8. New Kids on the Block (“Apparently some boy band still toürs ünder that name.”)
7. Carlüs Crüe (“A shame they dropped this one. A motley group of members indeed.”)
6. Jacket and Tie Reqüired (“Actüally, their ünofficial dress code. Check their website if you don't believe me. They've got the Looks That Kill.”)
5. The Sew/Knit Syndicate (“Read their constitütion. It's dandy.”)
4. Carlüs's Hoüse of Pancakes and Democratic Reform (“Lüre them with the pancakes, then give them what they really hünger for.”)
3. Mister Tea (“No really. Read their constitütion.”)
2. That other party yoü coüld possibly, maybe, theoretically be elected leader of if yoü'll please, please jüst join today. And the number one Rejected Name for the Liberty Congress... Charles in Charge (“Blocked by CBS Television. 'It was oür name first,' lawyers say.”)
We'll be right back… after after I fümigate this ümlaüt infestation.
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Post by Magniloqueu Épiqeu da Lhiun on May 9, 2014 5:45:46 GMT -6
No really, what’s wrong with your Umlauts?
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Óïn Ursüm
Posts: 1,032
Talossan Since: 3-10-2009
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Post by Óïn Ursüm on May 9, 2014 6:18:37 GMT -6
No really, what’s wrong with your Umlauts? I assumed that it's part of the satire: Carlüs's name has an umlaut in it?
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Post by Sevastáin Pinátsch on May 9, 2014 6:54:38 GMT -6
No really, what’s wrong with your Umlauts? I assumed that it's part of the satire: Carlüs's name has an umlaut in it? Bingo. =)
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Post by C. Carlüs Xheraltescù on May 9, 2014 8:31:11 GMT -6
Carlüs's Hoüse of Pancakes and Democratic Reform... I think it's probably my dream to own a cafe with that name when I retire.
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Post by Sevastáin Pinátsch on May 10, 2014 10:11:33 GMT -6
[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE]
Welcome back—for those of you who came back. I'm told we've received the requisite two viewers already, so I could really just sign off and go home, but I'd rob you of the chance to witness some wanton destruction... plus our special guest. I won't say who it is, but I've already given a clue tonight.
Reactions to last week's live report from the field was mixed, which is to say that no-one called us to complain about it, while the remainder of viewers didn't call to praise it. I'm taking that as tacit permission to dispatch Intern Dave back into the urban wilderness to squash another variety of objects. No, not with an 80 ton hydraulic press again. That's so last week. This week I'm thinking steamroller. I hope you enjoy.
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Post by Sevastáin Pinátsch on May 10, 2014 10:50:54 GMT -6
Lady and Gentlemen, tonight's guest is someone you're probably well familiar with. You couldn't ignore him if you wanted to, he just wouldn't allow it. I think that's just as well because whether you agree with him or not, he challenges the way we think. Without debate, our beliefs would go unsupported.
Won't you please put your dukes together for C. Carlüs Xheraltescù? Carlüs! C'mon out!
[APPLAUSE]
Make yourself comfortable. It's great to have you join us...
> Thank you for having me; I haven't done an interview in a while now, so forgive me if I'm out of practice!
I can't imagine you not doing well on the spot. Even in the relatively brief time I've had here I've had opportunity to see you belt out strong replies to ongoing discussion on Witt in near-real time.
You quoted Douglas Adams in your speech of resignation from the ZRT. It made me think of a passage in So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish where Ford and Arthur are discussing a democracy where lizards rule over people. The people hate the lizards, but it never occurs to them to not vote for them, or to run against them. As the leader of the LibCon, I'd like to know how you distinguish your party from the lizards currently in power. Why do we need another party?
> The Liberal Congress has managed to tap into a pretty radical pool of folks from all over the existing political spectrum it seems. We appeal to people who think government should be more laissez-faire than the Defencists, more radical and ambitious than the Moderates, less conservative than RUMP, and more concerned with maximising the various liberties of the Talossan people than all of them. That's how we differ from the current political class, and that's why we need a new party.
How are the current liberal-leaning choices not liberal enough?
> In Talossa 'liberal' can mean different things to different people, and I feel like one of the great things about some of the limitations to what Talossan can presently be is that it means that terms like 'liberal' can be applied to Talossans who want radical reform as well as those who want to concentrate on increasing accountability, or reducing the size of government, and that it still makes sense for them to band together. Classical liberals, liberal democrats, market liberals, social liberals, liberal feminists... Whereas outside of Talossa you might have a difficult time getting these groups to agree, in Talossa there are common goals.
I see. Now the LibCon constitution states that the party's purpose is to fight for and defend the liberties of it citizens and provinces. What liberties do you feel are the most encroached upon, or most at risk?
> These days, things like financial barriers to standing in elections, nationalisation of projects, immigration policy that demands too much from individuals - having to supply ID and whatnot - these are things that are problematic. I tried twice to repeal a really illiberal law which allows for these things called Military Governors in provinces, which aren't accountable at all and have a disproportionate amount of power when they're declared. Sadly, despite being a little bit more successful the second time, it still didn't get through the Ziu.
The lighthearted Adams quote at the end of your resignation speech captures a tendency of yours that I admire: the capacity to be very serious and direct one moment but very light and cordial the next.
> Well, I'm glad someone finds me to be light-hearted occasionally. I think I do come across as a little too serious sometimes, but I'm really not all that bad. I enjoy a pint in the local pub and a good laugh at myself as much as the next guy, and a sensible discussion about the merits of constitutional reform somewhat more than the next guy.
I'm quite sincere! Another example was a discussion we had about territorial expansion and territorial waters, where admittedly I had no interest in expansion and just wanted to get a feel for you. A third example was your willingness to allow some of that humour to creep into the LibCon Constitution. What comedies do you enjoy in books or on telly?
> I'm a big fan of a show called The Thick of It in the UK which is political satire really. It combines comedy with politics, and so is basically perfect for people like me. When it comes to reading, one of my favourite authors is Terry Pratchett. There's not enough room on my shelves for the number of Discworld books I own...
What activities do you partake in which might surprise people who are only familiar with your more serious, tenacious side?
> I often go for picnics, to the theatre, or on hikes for a couple of days. I'm a Scout leader as well, so I still do a lot of camping. I've tried my hand at a number of different sports: I used to do climbing before my knees decided that it wasn't good for me, fencing until I was told I would have to pay for the equipment, and basketball because I've always been considered rather tall. The only one I've really stuck at was snail racing, though it's not really the season for it at the moment.
I'd never have guessed snail racing.
Speaking of Discworld and fantasy in general, some describe our nationette as nothing more than a politico-cultural role-playing game. Would you agree with that premise? What are we doing in Talossa, in your opinion?
> Some people are attracted to Talossa because they're interested in politics, and others because they're interested in the language, the history or the other cultural peculiarities of our nation. If they consider that to be a roleplaying game, then they've probably got the wrong end of the stick. I'm nobody else but myself in Talossa; we all have roles to play in Talossa, but it's no game. Granted, it's a lot less serious than the macronational world, but the time I've poured into Talossa is very real. There are real life people that I can talk to about Talossan politics, which is what appealed to me in the first place - they don't tell me what their character did or will do, they tell me what they did or are going to do.
How does meeting someone in real life colour your perception of them as a Talossan? I understand you recently met Ián Anglatzarâ and have been a friend of Óïn Ursüm for years. Is it always a positive thing to have that personal contact?
> Well, with Ián I felt like I knew what to expect already. I got the impression from his posts on Wittenberg that I'd get on pretty well with him in person, and I did. He's a funny guy with whom conversation is a pleasure, and I really hope I get to meet up again one day. I'm not really sure how meeting him has coloured my perception of him; I think that to an extent it makes understanding the tone of Wittenberg posts easier. The same goes for Óïn; I've been friends with him since before we came to Talossa, and interactions are made far easier if you've met them in person - you've got a better idea as to what they might find funny or what might cross the line.
Does it make virtual interaction more real, or can it rob subsequent interaction of some of the intrigue?
> Without a doubt, it makes the whole thing more real. You can sit in a pub and talk Talossan politics over a pint, as Ián and I did, and it's not a one-sided conversation where you have to explain to puzzled faces that we have our own language or whatever. It makes you feel part of a really big community, and it feels pretty good.
You originally joined the Republic of Talossa while Óïn joined the Kingdom. Given your friendship, what steered you in different directions? What prompted you later to be the Republic government's representative on the Reunision Committee?
> We were both involved in a micronation prior to Talossa, and so through one of those forums where micronationalists gather to talk to each other I got in touch with Dieter who convinced me to join the Talossan Republic. I never really thought about why Óïn went to the Kingdom instead of the Republic, but I do vaguely remember trying (in vain) to get him to defect. It was quite funny having a friend on the other side of the Vuode Wall, as it were, and refreshing when the two states of the Talossan nation became one.
Final question: I ask this of everyone who seems to have good roots here. What keeps you interested in Talossa when life outside has so many competing priorities?
> That's a very good question. I think I probably still do it out of habit; there are good times and bad times in Talossa, and there are times that make me despair and wonder why I keep going. I'm part of this community now, though, and it's very difficult to uproot oneself from a societal culture that you've grown accustomed to over the years. I've got friends here, I have a laugh here, and I'm able to use up my surplus of political geekery here as well - what more could I ask for, I suppose?
We're the better for it. Lady and Gentlemen: Carlüs Xheraltescù! Thanks for visiting with us, Carlüs.
[APPLAUSE]
Goodnight, Talossa! Let's do this again sometime!
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