The West PacificBoard

Search

Search

[+] Advanced...

Author:

Region:

Sort:

«12. . .10,97310,97410,97510,97610,97710,97810,979. . .12,15912,160»
LodgedFromMessages
The Snarky Solar Observer of Bhang Bhang Duc

Actually it’s Mike Batt and as well as Steeleye Span and Katie Melua he’s also responsible for the musical career of the Wombles.

The Crimson King of Westwind

Bhang Bhang Duc wrote:Actually it’s Mike Batt and as well as Steeleye Span and Katie Melua he’s also responsible for the musical career of the Wombles.

Quite right, and corrected. Thank you kindly! *tips hat*

The Snarky Solar Observer of Bhang Bhang Duc

Here’s one Batt produced with Steeleye.

Steeleye Span - London

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJl2wJKYxm4

There's your lords and ladies fine,
Riding in a coach and six,
Nothing to drink but claret wine,
Talking politicks.

London is a dainty place,
A great and gallant city!
All the streets are paved with gold,
And all the folks are witty.

There's your beaux with powder'd clothes,
Bedaub'd from head to chin,
Their pocket-holes adorned with gold,
But not one sou within.

There's your lords and ladies fine,
Riding in a coach and six,
Nothing to drink but claret wine,
Talking politicks.

There your English actor goes
With many a hungry belly;
While heaps of gold are forc'd, God wot,
On Signor Farinelli.

There's your lords and ladies fine,
Riding in a coach and six,
Nothing to drink but claret wine,
Talking politicks.

London is a dainty place,
A great and gallant city!
All the streets are paved with gold,
All the folks are witty.

There's your dames with dainty frames,
Skins as white as milk;
Dressed every day in garments gay,
Of satin and of silk.

London is a dainty place....



The Crimson King of Westwind

I see Mike Batt also worked with Maggie Reilly. Which leads me to Mike Oldfield.

"Blue Night" - Mike Oldfeild & Maggie Reilly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kT8I7i_TBM

To the whole room her eyes are numb
As she reads from a true love story
From the pages of a book her lover comes
Her heart bleeds it's a true love story

Misty shape in the window by her bed
Dreaming on what she's read
Hero takes her hand and leads her through
Who knows what this night will do

Only in the blue night he comes to her
Only in the blue night
That's when the whole night belongs to her
Only in the blue night

I see a dark face by the moon's glow
As she reads from a true love story
Beckoning hand scratching at the window
Her heart bleeds it's a true love story

Misty path and the night is endless
She could be a Queen or a desert princess
Hero takes her hand and leads her through
Who knows what this night will do

Only in the blue night he comes to her
Only in the blue night
That's when the whole night belongs to her
Only in the blue night

Only in the blue night, only in the blue night
Only in the blue night
That's when the whole night belongs to her
Only in the blue night

She wants to break free
From the cold light of reality
And then she drifts away
I hear her voice say - come away

Dark skin glistening by the silver light
This is the hero come tonight
And taking her hand he leads her through
Who knows what this night will do

Only in the blue night he comes to her
Only in the blue night
That's when the whole night belongs to her
Only in the blue night

Only in the blue night he comes to her
Only in the blue night
That's when the whole night belongs to her
Only in the blue night

Blue, blue night...
Only in the blue night...

The Snarky Solar Observer of Bhang Bhang Duc

I’d forgotten that one Westwind - mainly because the album it’s from, Earth Moving, is the one Oldfield album I don’t really like.



The Crimson King of Westwind

And Mike Oldfield brings us to my friend Barry Palmer who sang on Discovery with Maggie Reilly. One of these days Barry and I plan on a collaboration, which brings you back home to Westwind.

It's kind of like the Kevin Bacon game. (aka Six Degrees of Separation)

"Poison Arrows" - Mike Oldield & Barry Palmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxEAK_bxoJE

Silence in the air
Is anybody there
Searching every sound
Walking un quiet ground

[Chorus:]
Somebody's out to get you
Hiding in shadows - poison arrows
Somebody's out to break you
Hiding in narrows - poison arrows

When you gonna brake
Watching every move you make
And every thing you do
Evil eyes'll be on you

[Repeat Chorus]

Don't give in, don't come any closer, no sir
Keep running, coming in closer, closer
Don't give in don't come any closer, no sir
Keep running coming in closer no sir

What you gonna do
Time is running out on you
Anywhere you choose
Anyway you're gonna lose

[Repeat Chorus]



The Snarky Solar Observer of Bhang Bhang Duc

Last one from me tonight.

Mike Oldfield - Return To The Origin

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BzLG__pbCd0

Instrumental

Edit: just read my e-mail and the firm that I’ve done some project work for over the last year are offering me a part-time role. Not bad for an almost old age pensioner.

Cracking open the champagne tomorrow evening I think.

The Crimson King of Westwind

"Innocent" - Barry Palmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va7Xz-k8HUY

Pick up, pick up on anything,
your world is wild, but you fight to keep control.

Suffer, taking too much on board
determined to hoard, all the pain inside your soul.

But I know you and I understand
why you feel the way you feel.
There's a shadow hanging over you
but it's not your fault because

You're innocent, you're innocent you know
You're innocent, you're innocent I know
You're innocent, you're innocent you know
Innocent.

That's life, sometimes we make mistakes,
take a wrong turn, see our bridges burn behind.

Put it down, down to experience.
Don't turn around, there is nothing there to find.

'Cos I know you and I understand
why you feel the way you feel.
There's a shadow hanging over you
but it's not your fault because

You're innocent, you're innocent you know
You're innocent, you're innocent I know
You're innocent, you're innocent you know
Innocent.

Pick up, pick up where you left off
get back on track, you don't know until you've tried.

Don't give up, you won't always feel this way,
you're not alone, I am standing at your side.

'Cos I know you, so I understand
why you feel the way you feel.
There's a shadow hanging over you
but it's not your fault because

You're innocent, you're innocent you know
You're innocent, you're innocent I know
You're innocent, you're innocent you know
You're innocent, you're innocent I know
You're innocent, you're innocent you know
You're innocent, you're innocent I know
You're innocent, you're innocent you know
Innocent.

The ʎɯɹ∀ lɐᴉɹoʇᴉɹɹǝ┴ of Corbeil

What Goes Up...

What goes up must come down.
What must rise must fall...
And what goes on in your life
Is writing on the wall!
If all things must fall,
Why build a miracle at all?
If all things must pass,
Even a miracle won't last.
What goes up must come down.
What must stand alone?
And what goes on in your mind
Is turning into stone!
If all things must fall
Why build a miracle at all?
If all things must pass,
Even a pyramid won't last...

How can you be so sure?
How do you know what the end will endure?
How can you be so sure
That the wonders you've made in your life
Will be seen
By the millions who'll follow to visit the site
Of your dream?

What goes up must come down...
What goes 'round must come 'round...
What's been lost must be found...

The Eagle Will Rise Again

And I
Could easily fall from grace
Then another would take my place
For the chance to behold your face
And the days
Of my life are but grains of sand
As they fall from your open hand
At the call of the wind's command
Many words are spoken when there's nothing to say
They fall upon the ears of those who don't know the way
To read between the lines
That lead between the lines
That lead me to you
All that I ask you
Is show me how to follow you and I'll obey
Teach me how to reach you, I can't find my own way
Let me see the light
Let me be the light
As the sun
Turns slowly around the sky
'Til the shadow of night is high
The eagle will learn to fly
And the days
Of his life are but grains of sand
As they fall from your open hand
And vanish upon the land
Many words are spoken when there's nothing to say
They fall upon the ears of those who don't know the way
To read between the lines
By following the signs
That can lead to you
Show me how to follow you and I'll obey
Teach me how to reach you, I can't find my own way
Let me see the light
Let me be the light
And so
With no warning, no last goodbye
In the dawn of the morning sky
The eagle will rise again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI8NDA_-zOo

Primarii terran

Busy days.



Shackleduck

Harry Nilsson- Life Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S9_VBRzhok
Down... to the bottom...
Hello... is there anybody else here?
It's cold... and I'm so lonely...
Hello... is there anybody else here?

Hello... won't you throw me down a life line?
I'm so afraid of darkness
And down here, it's just like night time...

Bbllllllue-s, are all around me
Hello... will you please send down a life line...?

Down... and there isn't any hope for me
Unless this dream which seems so real
Is just a fantasy... Ooohhh..

The Impeccably Arranged Snark of The West Pacific Master Dispatch

The Western Post has released its April 2022 Issue, and it isn't April Fools! The edition features an article on the Carnaval of the Perfections, telegrams from the frontline, various updates, and more! Read it and don't forget to upvote:

Announcements!

  • The Sailing to 600 campaign has been completed, and we are now Soaring to 650! Please help strengthen our regional power and influence by endorsing Giovanniland and the Guardians!

  • The Western Endorsement Sovereign Trust has been founded! These hardworking nations with 150+ endorsements improve our regional security through actively exchanging endorsements. Start endorsing other nations today in order to join the WEST!

  • Congratulations to Min-su on becoming the latest Hall of Nations Member of the Month! Min-Su has contributed to the region in a variety of ways, including their beautiful artwork designs for roleplay and for the Carnaval of the Perfections. If you'd like to join the Hall and become a citizen, Linkclick here!

  • The West Pacific's Autism Acceptance Month starts today! We have joined the spirit of #RedInstead and prepared various activities together with other regions, so stay tuned to our message board for more details.

Card Club Update
By Giovanniland, Delegate and Card Czar of the West

Welcome to the March update about The West Pacific Card Club! In this month, we have the continuation of our regular Punday Monday prizes, as well as news about the Carnaval of the Perfections awards and a new contest.

In regards to Punday Mondays, the winners for each week of March are Roiko, The Holy Principality of Saint Mark & Typhania (shared win), The Holy Principality of Saint Mark once more, Shackleduck, and Westwind. The respective cards are The Talisman, Candensia, Qvait, YoriZ and Ral Ixshida.

Secondly, about the Carnaval of the Perfections awards, some of the Best in Show winners decided to claim their card prizes, for example Evil Mother that earned a copy of Ramaeus. That is all; thank you for reading and stay tuned for more Card Club updates in upcoming editions!

WAR Update
By Aluminum Oxynitride, Deputy Minister of World Assembly Recruitment

Congratulations to Giovanniland for reaching 600 endorsements! They are one of only a few TWP Delegates to have done so. Endorse Giovanniland today and help us Soar to 650! Gentle-nations, we do not stop until nightfall!

A big shout out goes to United Adaikes for finishing a new version of The Masses. This dispatch automatically updates the list of WA members in TWP shortly after major update on a daily basis. Please endorse responsibly.

Since you definitely just took a look at The Masses dispatch, I bet you’re wondering what the WEST is and how to join! The Western Endorsement Sovereign Trust is an elite group of nations that have and maintain between 150 and 250 endorsements. Want to join? Endorse other nations, most will certainly endorse you back and help you collect the 150 endorsements!

Our current members of WEST are: Fujai, Wickedly evil people, Hamburg Neo, Mediobogdum, Corbeil, Westwind, Berke khan, Bardon, Oliverary, Crazy Waters, Lodiberdade, Chaos realm of lavoria, Glorious Existence, Atheist States of Philippines, Archonina, Pandaland II, Mucht, Hongg Kong, and Sensorland. Don’t forget to endorse Giovanniland and the Guardians today!

Telegrams from the Frontline
By Fhaengshia with the help of our TWPAF Pirates

Ma,

Do you remember the time when I was about seven, you told me about fascists? Traveling the NS-verse, I see that there are still plenty of people and regions with the same ideology. Maybe I’ll be talking more about them in our correspondence.

Your son with the pirates from the West

#####

Ma,

I’ll make it a personal mission to cleanse regions that are proud to say that they are fascists. Why are they so open about it? Well, there is the Antifa for the larger and worse regions, but I think I’ve seen [REDACTED] smaller regions with the fascist tag. Are they insane? It makes me want to raid and pillage them.

Your pirate son

#####

Ma,

Tonight at [REDACTED], I’ll be leading two of my mates to less-known fascist regions. Regardless if they’re less known, as long as they are fascists, I will not hold back. If there is a chance to take the region away from them, I’ll do it.

Your Gunner son

By United Adaikes

#####

It was an ungodly hour. I could barely make heads or tails of what was right in front of me. Straight into the jungles of [REDACTED] minutes after waking from my berth on the ship [REDACTED]. I heard wildlife sounds for what adrenaline turned into forever from just a couple minutes, then finally I made my way into a clearing. Time report to the officers and set up camp, I saw a good supply of rum around [REDACTED], as good a spot to hang around as any. The local [REDACTED] sure beats hardtack, I can see myself getting comfy here.

Message came in about a new objective. Was gonna be a big one, [REDACTED] wanted all hands on deck. We had to sail all the way to [REDACTED] to meet up at the staging ground but there were a lot of familiar faces there, lots of friends. Everyone knew the target, and what a hellhole it was. Once we arrived there was a ton of clean-up work needed. Our numbers made it easy, but that didn’t magically fix up the joint, it really needs to be [REDACTED].

By Fhaengshia

There Is No Satire
By LaQuinn Tal'ent of Podium

The Western Post is deeply saddened to announce that, for this year's April edition, readers will be unable to find their usual piece of satire. In the last few months, though the team of 42 hyperintelligent Dolphins behind your monthly allowance of alternative facts has always strived diligently to deliver, the rapid rate at which the Reality column of our age-old competitor, 'The East Atlantican', has shamelessly stolen their hard work has proven too great to overcome without casualty. As many faithful readers are no doubt already aware, the recent ill-fated 'Great Poduminian Fish Heist' has left 35 of our discerning Delphinidaean writers imprisoned in a Poduminian penitentiary as they await trial, while our other staff have done their duty in pleading ignorance to investigators over the whereabouts of the remaining 7. "It's Not Like We Wanted To Filch Those Fish From That Faultless Financier, Or Anyfing," explained Dolphin twins Arthur and Dent, who spoke to our head office in alternating turns shortly after being booked, "But We Simply Feared Being Fired For Failing To Forward Enuff Fantastical Writing To Overcome Reality's Blantant Plagiarism, And Wanted A Backup Plan In Case We Were Fired."

The heist, which involved an elaborate sequence of convincing disguises, convenient timing, and an escape route through a nearby Dolphin sanctuary, would have gone off without a hitch, had the crew not had the misfortune of being tracked down via the acute sense of smell of a psychotic French Redhead; even the banana cannon (manned by a small crew of Monkeys) they had brought in as a backup wasn't enough to deter the olfactory omen in the end. So, while the rest of us at the Western Post totally, definitely don't plan a breakout for the brave 35 so illegally locked up, our usual readers will have to forgive us for the lack of satirical content in this month's edition. As tough as it is to accept, we are entirely, 100% serious about all this.

Puzzle Palooza
By So long

You can send solutions via telegram to So long. I will include the names of everyone who solved the crossword in next month's issue of The Western Post.

Down
1. It’s not ______, it’s me
2. This month
4. Casual way to say you will

Across
3. The opposite of the direction of clue #1
4. Something you may do with a gift
5. Court jesters
6. We Are ______ Ever Getting Back Together

6A 4D 4A 1D 3A
2D 5A!


2022 Carnaval of the Perfections: A Festive Retrospective
By Santos-dominius

In celebration of talented creations and arts all across NationStates, the West Pacific hosted the annual Carnaval of the Perfections this year from February 26th to March 6th. Participants from not only TWP but many other countries showcased their creative flair and aptitude in the four already-established categories (Music, Poetry, Writing and Arts) as well as a new category introduced this year—the Perfection of Film! As usual, there was an enormous quantity of high-quality submissions, which in turn fostered a culture of friendly competition wherein others who were less forthcoming shared their own creations with other attendees as well. In this article, let us take a look at this year’s Carnaval highlights.

The Perfection of Music: Scores Galore, Performances Dazzle

Just like the Perfections held in previous years, one of the main, undeniable highlights of this year’s Carnaval was the Music section. Performers extraordinaire Rabbitz, Erinor (Seraph) and Evil Mother (Icarus) all provided exceptional entertainment to attendees, with the former giving one of their celebrated cello performances, and the two latter singing to the celebrants’ delight and admiration. These live displays of musical talent showed that there is truly a diversity of abilities among our community.

And of course, who can forget the submissions themselves? In the Lyrics sub-category, Seraph hit the ball out of the park with three original songs with beautiful lyrics; in the Scores sub-category, United Adaikes’s great cover of a K-pop song was accompanied by fantastic compositions, including one from the Wizard Pianist. And in the Parody sub-category, Yunari’s song dedicated to Karma founder Altino proved to be an excellent parody of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gee.

The Perfection of Art: Celebrating Natural Beauty

In the Carnaval this year, the Perfection of Art was a popular category with some of the highest submission numbers in its sub-categories than other Perfections. Artistic attendees hit the ground running almost immediately after the Carnaval was opened, with many showcasing brilliant photography, artwork and digital designs. There was certainly stiff competition in both the photography and artwork sub-categories as stunning pictures and sketches flooded the channels, but the graphic design sub-category also received some love as well thanks to encouragement from Bran Astor, whose words heartened others enough to share their own graphics. These included things as simple as their own NationStates in-game flags to graphics produced for roleplay purposes.

One major overarching theme was observable among the vast majority of submissions to the Perfection of Art—natural beauty. The bounties of nature were captured in various different mediums during this Carnaval, ranging from zoomed-in photographs depicting plants and livestock to floral, bird and landscape sketches. A particularly well-received sketch celebrating natural beauty was Nakari’s awe-inspiring artwork displaying a cluster of willow trees beside a river stream. Using visually pleasing autumnal colours, the sketch quickly drew praise from enthusiastic fellow celebrants who reacted to it with “heart” emojis to show their approval. Similarly, Icarus’ bird drawings as well as my floral sketches also received praise, with Icarus and Nakari also depicting human subjects in their drawings (Nakari drew a DnD party). It’s hardly a stretch to say that the world around us was brilliantly celebrated in a multitude of ways in the Perfection of Art.

The Perfection of Writing: Tales of Beauty, Joy and Love

This year, writers and storytellers from across NationStates gathered in the Perfection of Writing to craft stunning narratives that tugged at our heart-strings. In the Essays sub-category, I contributed with a rambling discourse on self-confidence and how to live unburdened by social pressures. In the Handwriting sub-category, calligraphers-in-the-making Hertfordshire and Jammbo (H&J), Destructive Government Economic System (DGES), and even Davelands in an act of comedy, pitched in with displays of their splendid penmanship. As usual, the multi-talented Icarus contributed with his bubbly script, and I submitted my entry as well—a mix of cursive and regular writing.

The Short Story sub-category proved to be a popular one as well. While Xoriet made their mark with a beautiful story about the ever-changing magnificence of nature, River broke our hearts elegantly with an intimate, soulful tale of wistful longing. One unconventional story illustrated the dangers of eternal life from the perspective of Death itself, while another was a lovely chronicle of a little crab’s journey dedicated by Altino to Fuentana. Some of these stories made us sob, others made us smile; all of them were engaging in their own way.

The Perfection of Poetry: Creativity in Condensed Forms

Courtesy of a few helpful poetry workshops as well as great encouragement by the brilliant aforementioned Fuentana, this year’s celebrants applied themselves thoroughly in the Perfection of Poetry. In the Limericks sub-category, Fuentana’s excellent non-competitive starter—a dedication to Altino—was followed up by humorous contributions from Venico as well as Aramos and Aluminum Oxynitride. In the Haiku sub-category, Opluentia, H&J, DGES, Seraph, Sensorland and so many more wrote delightful pieces that sometimes even drew others to respond with haikus of their own.

And in the Free-verse sub-category, Seraph, Yunari, River, DGES and Nova flexed their creative muscles with impressive prose. Despite the relatively liberal and unrestricted structure of free verse, which may seem terrifying to those who prefer to create around a rigid poetic format, these poets blossomed and showed that poetry doesn’t always have to follow inflexible arrangements.

The Perfection of Film: Animated Artistry in Motion

Despite being a newly introduced category, the Perfection of Film nevertheless saw a few talented people submit entries that sparkled and shone as brightly as submissions from other categories. In the Video sub-category, Orioni 2 won with a creative video compiling roleplay news on a monthly basis for their region. In the Animation sub-category, Overthinkers, Icarus and our Delegate Giovanniland were among those who submitted pleasant entries—Overthinkers with a “Coup” GIF in reference to their TWP Armed Forces career, Icarus with an impossibly cute GIF of confetti raining on a crab, and Giovanniland with a variety of colourful animated flags. Icarus ultimately won the sub-category with the sheer cuteness of their animation.

A Summary of the Winners

Photography: Nagaraningrad
Graphic Design: Bran Astor
Sketches and Paintings: Budgie Snugglers
Best in Show for Art: Evil Mother

Limerick: Venico
Haiku: Erinor
Freeverse: Nova vandalia
Best in Show for Poetry: Erinor

Essay: Santos-dominius
Short Story: Xoriet
Handwriting: Destructive Government Economic System
Best in Show for Writing: Santos-dominius

Film: Orioni 2
Animation: Evil Mother
Best in Show for Film: Orioni 2

Lyrics: Erinor
Score: The orion star system
Parody: Yunari

A Final Look Back on Perfections 2022

As with previous Carnavals of the Perfections, this year was a runaway success. The varied categories provided opportunities for some of NationStates’ most talented artists, poets, writers, filmmakers, animators and other creators to display their excellence and powers of imagination. But this was not the sole reason Perfections was a smash this year: the fact that the talents of the aforementioned creative mavens inspired newcomers and ordinary celebrants to have a go at the arts themselves was what really drove participation to soaring heights.

Perfections organisers Bran Astor, Fuentana, Giovanniland and Overthinkers worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the Perfections ran smoothly this year, resident designer Min-su created wonderful awards that can all be seen in this forum post, and performers Rabbitz, Erinor and Evil Mother delivered wonderful presentations—their efforts must not go unacknowledged. Although, in the end, the record 123 festivalgoers are what truly make an event successful, especially those who submitted entries to any category, so I thank everyone for their contributions.

If you were here celebrating with us this time, I hope you enjoyed the Carnaval of the Perfections this year! And if you weren’t, then fear not—the next Carnaval of the Perfections will be held around this time next year!

Back to Top


Blue's Reviews: The Wolf and The Woodsman
By Blue bubble

If you know me, you will know that I have been to Norway this month. As much as I could do a review on Norway, I won’t. My reviews are for media—games, books, and TV, or things you can do yourself without heading to the arctic circle. However, I had a wonderful time and while I was flying home, I decided to read. I read a book called The Wolf and the Woodsman.

It was something I bought while in Norway, the label saying KR 199.00 (AKA 23.09 USD/17.52 GBP/21.02 EUR). I’ll place the Blurb here before I get into the review:

"A spirited outcast. A disgraced prince.
A world where monsters roam free.

In her forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power. So when soldiers from the Holy Order of Woodsmen arrive to claim a girl for their king's blood sacrifice, the villagers only have one person to offer up.

But when they are attacked en-route to the capital, and everyone but Évike and a lone Woodsman are slaughtered, they have no choice but to rely on each other. Except he's no ordinary Woodsman—he's the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány, whose father needs pagan magic to consolidate his power.

As they travel from the bitter northern tundra to the smog-choked capital, they form a tenuous pact that slowly turns their loathing turns to affection. But trust is easily betrayed, and as Évike discovers her own hidden magic, she and Gaspar must decide where their loyalties really lie . . ."

For a book quoted as ‘steeped in Hungarian history and Jewish mythology’, I got neither coming through strongly and in my face. I am unsure if that is due to me not being Jewish, or not being Hungarian, but I think that isn’t a terrible thing. I did, however, get the religious vibe tenfold.

This book wants to tell you a story, and you can follow along easily, but when it comes to the details of explaining the magic at play within this novel, I’d struggle. There is a focus on describing things but not really, and it leads to some moments where I felt like I had skipped a paragraph that wasn’t there. The main character, Évike, tells many stories and legends in the book itself, and those are easy to follow along. She tells them like the other characters do not know the story, and that should have been brought through with the author’s own writing.

I did actually enjoy this book though—It’s take on magic and religion is a lovely blend, and the story is something I enjoy. The world building deserves more than this book to explain it, and I feel like the story and world building would have been better fleshed out a little as a duology? However, this book is suited for those who like fantasy and enjoy something a little dark too—there are gory aspects thrown in which are a must-read for the plot. It is also an actual published 'enemies to lovers' piece, with all them matching tropes thrown in within the pages. I would only recommend it if you can get past the first few pages, as it isn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but if it is on sale, and you like the sound of it? Buy it.

Back to Top


A Report From The Stocks
By Fuentana, Poet Laureate of Haiku and Minister of Foreign Affairs

This column is dedicated to the inimitable, imperturbable, and infinitesimally evil Altino
Friend, Frenemy, and Friend.
I’m always ready to launch your TWP nation to new heights.

Every good ambassador finds a meaningful connection in another region, a home away from home. I have many homes. In The Pacific, I hug people I have never seen and will probably never see. In Lone Wolves United, I wait for my opportunity to pounce on conversation in their bar and live in regret after Xoriet fails to protect me from gifs I never wanted to see. I have also been known to visit the Lampshade Bar of The South Pacific, especially to hear Erinor sing. And when I am not hearing Seraph sing, I am waiting too late to grab a lampshade. As the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, I am currently buying a little cottage or a nice loft apartment in every region I can. But there is one home-away-from-home that remains dear to my heart: the Stocks of Karma. Despite the emergence of an increasingly acerbic rivalry with a certain Altino who has become the Hooting Menace to our crabs, this is one of a handful of spots where I feel safe and cared for—even if I get caught in a pickle.

What is it about The Stocks that reminds me of home? Well, in a word, it is about words. When I am away from keyboard, I think about words. I arrange them in complex sentences that maybe a dozen people will read someday, waxing poetic about the ground of being and the hermeneutics of hermeneutics, which is a fancier way of saying “the art and science of interpretation.” This may conjure up bad memories of figuring out what the Allegory of the Cave is all about—good! Philosophy is scary, and you should be scared. But the point is: NationStates is the one time during my routine when I can be playful with words, rather than deliberate and discerning and precise about crap a dozen people care about. What people do care about is wordplay, and lots of it.

Language games: the stocks, stadium seating, mani/pedi bar, or home.

There is not only an art of the pun, but a philosophy of the pun. While not every philosopher is a good artist, there are thankfully several philosophers who explore “how to do things with words,” and they can shed light on the significance of the pun. I could turn to Plato to discuss the form of the pun, or to Aristotle who not only sheds light on the character of virtue as it relates to wordplay: acts become practices which become habits which become virtues (or vices), so it is a matter of practicing to generate that character. Besides this, Aristotle has a whole fancy theory of poetry as the mimesis of action. In essence (a Platonic pun if there ever was one), wordplay is about mimesis. You say “cat,” and I will make sure every pun is purrfect, or at least a whisker off. You imitate the “root” word and draw up related words, concepts, or actions that imitate what is communicated by said word. The puntificator needs to be ready to pounce.

But to elevate the pun-game, one needs to understand the philosophy of language. There are several sources in the philosophy of language, and I will only focus on three—education ain’t free, folks, and moreover, most of you are probably scaredy cats of philosophy (see what I did there? As I said, be ready to pounce—or at least claw your way to pun proficiency). What one says has to do something. So where better to turn than to the author of How To Do Things With Words? Here is a simple primer of what LinkJ.L. Austin says about the force of speech-acts.

  • The Locutionary Act: This is a speech-act that is a meaningful utterance. It has referential value. Technically, this act has three different dimensions that I won’t bore you with (but you should look up rhetic act because philosophy is fun… or are you a scaredy cat?) The short version is: it does say something. It has content. Example: I will puntificate in Karma. The content is that I will engage in wordplay.

  • The Illocutionary Act: This is a speech-act that can be determined by its content and by its force. Return to I will puntificate in Karma and note that it is both a general statement with content, but also has the form of a promise or intent. I will someday appear in Karma again and drop a pun (or fifty), so watch out.

  • The Perlocutionary Act: This is about the effect of the speech-act, how it “does” something to the hearer. It is “the achieving of certain effects by saying something.” Knowing that I will puntificate in Karma, certain mods will feel alerted. Certain Karmans will gleefully join in. As for Altino, expect to hear a blood-curdling scream.

Take any given statement that someone utters in your region’s general chat. That is the locutionary act. You can add another speech act that is initially locutionary, but does more. Puns have illocutionary force in this regard, but they may also have perlocutionary force. You will know it by whether the Karma mods stock you, or whether Alti screams. Good puns do something. Bad puns also do something. Therefore, bad puns are in fact good puns—or can be. So if you are still trying to figure out cat puns, stay pawsitive. Stay pawsitive can have the force of all three acts.

This chart explains how to do things with words. It also shows how to not do things with a chart.

Yet there is more to the speech-act of wordplay. As LinkPaul Ricoeur has observed, language is inherently creative: from a single word to a sentence, or even to an entire narrative in its historical and/or “fictive” modes, narrative language creates meaning and “redescribes” reality. It is the concept of narrative identity that interests me most: we derive our identity, our sense of our being, from the stories that we tell. Those stories are naturally the product of linguistic, poetic, and artful discourse. Indeed, Ricoeur says, “Time becomes human to the extent that it is articulated through a narrative mode, and narrative attains its full meaning when it becomes a condition of temporal existence.”

I hope to narrate an identity as one badass MoFA, and to do that, I maintain a certain standing as Big Punisher in Karma. “I’m not a player, I just pun a lot.” The exchange of witty wordplay reinforces identity and refigures my experience of time. In truth, wordplay is about timeliness above all. Take any given topic as a locutionary act, and as a real pun MC I’ll make it ill-(locutionary) by making a quick response. If you say you are tired in a general chat, I will drop a pun about sleep, and I won’t give that topic a rest. Sleep talk conjures images of pillows, and I will cushion the perlocutionary force of the wordplay by blanketing the chat with puns. Change the topic to music and I will improvise or transpose new connections. It will be punstoppable. The world of wordplay is the only world I want to inhabit.

I would be remiss if I did not mention a certain LinkLudwig Wittgenstein, whose enigmatic philosophy of language was deeply influential in all of this language talk. The key thing to note for Wittgenstein is the concept of language games. The meaning of a word or sentence is dependent on the game that one is playing. A simple analogy that is not about language is this: until this year, one of the leagues of Major League Baseball had a designated hitter and another did not. The number of “downs” in American football versus Canadian football is different. Or perhaps more fundamentally for the NSVerse, think of the valences of “Raider/Defender.” It means something different depending on the game played.

Of course, Wittgenstein’s articulation of the language game was in reference to the problem of philosophical understanding: two different schools of thought may play entirely different games while philosophizing about “being,” about “nature,” about “natural law,” and so on. And one can read Wittgenstein in lots of ways. I’m simply playing on the concepts so that I can set up puns. In Karma, the language game of wordplay points to a broader language game about The Stocks. The meaning is, for most Karmans at least, negative: those who are stocked are wordplay criminals or people in trouble. Yet with the way I play the game, it is an honor—perhaps the greatest honor available to me. So whereas being “stocked” may have a negative connotation for most, it is the crowning achievement for me. This is why I always have puns in stock.

My life is all about words. What they mean. How to do things with them. How to turn the art of writing about the hermeneutics of performativity in a slightly postmodernistic deconstructive agonistic mode with special reference to insert-the-thinker-in-vogue-at-that-moment (probably still Derrida or Foucault) into something far more fun, more creative, and more devastating: wordplay. Thanks to NationStates there is one thing I know that I know about how to do things with words, and that is how to terrorize Altino (who was asking for it: she said I’m not evil enough), and how to delight others and—like the Night King of Game of Thrones—turn others around me into puntificating wights. How’s that for evil?

I will puntificate in Karma.

Like the Night King, I will raise up wordplay wights with… dewight.

Back to Top


Comic Alley

Snark Quest, Page Two: The Cage from the Mines by Zoran

Back to Top


Hall of Nations Update
By Wymondham, Speaker of the Hall of Nations

Regional Commendations & TWP Inquisition

The past month has seen a great deal of activity throughout the Hall of Nations. Darkesia’s regional commendation was improved and redrafted thrice based on excellent feedback from the likes of Papercuts and Skittles, Zoran and Aluminum Oxynitride before being passed unanimously on March 30th, with a total of 26 votes. Credit must be given to Blue bubble, Hertfordshire and Jammbo and Nagaraningrad for their excellent work in co-authoring the Regional Commendation, with each of them playing a key role in the researching and drafting process.

The nominee for the next Regional Commendation has been decided and will be announced on Monday, with an exciting new drafting format being used to ensure every Hall member can contribute fully to the proposal. In other news, we also had an Ask Me Anything event with the then-Guardian of the Hall of Nations, Blue bubble, from January 20th to February 9th! Blue was elected in January and served until late February as they were promoted to a full Guardian, with Nagaraningrad being appointed to fill the vacant position. Here are some highlights of the event:

Q: Favourite event/week/day that you talked about on the RMB as Regional Guide? Favourite article you've ever written for Blue's Reviews?Santos-dominius

I love doing Questions of the Now, and the pride focus during pride month.. that stuff made me cry a lot because I felt safe.

I'd say maybe my first one, the assemble with care game. Idk if anyone decided to play it but that game still is fun, even as a replay.

Q: What inspired you to come up with an idea for TWP to have a radio show? Are you excited to start your job as HoN Guardian?Zoran

I just wanted to continue what we did at Burning Marsupial. And it became a big idea

Yes! I've been dealing with some personal stuff today and yesterday (i mentioned such stuff in the lounge discord channel today) but onwards and upwards, we are gonna get going!

Q: Could you provide a quick recap of your time in TWP for those of us who haven't been actively playing for a while? (Very nice to meet you, Blue.)Sensorland

Nice to meet you too!

Last march I rejoined NS after I remembered answer issues when I was 14. I fell into TWP, and signed up, getting vaguely involved. My kinda breakthrough was the Radio, which I posted as a idea in April after the Burning Marsupial festival.

Through luck and circumstance, I got further involved, eventually being coorganiser of TITW [Today in the West], and then launching the radio with our Wym here. I also do the Blue's Reviews column of the Newspaper, and I've been writing articles since april I think?

Anyway, went for speaker in September, lost to our fab Zoran, and somehow managed to win Guardian this time round!

I hope this is a good enough summary!

Hall Member of the Month

Many congratulations to Min-su on becoming March’s Hall Member of the Month for their excellent work on the Carnaval of Perfections coin design and willingness to jump in and learn with the regional guides. The Hall Member of the Month receives a special role with a colour of their choice; so if you want a chance to win your own role in the future make sure to get involved in the various government departments and contribute to the next regional commendation.

Last but not least, this final part of the article is for those wondering how to participate in all that has been discussed in this update. Whether you want to be able to participate in TWP government, become the next Hall Member of the Month, or contribute to the next regional commendation, consider applying for the Hall of Nations on the offsite forums Linkhere. Make sure to read the instructions on the application, join our Discord server, maintain your HoN citizenship by making at least one forum post a month, and get involved in the region!

Back to Top

181
Thanks for reading! Tell us about your favorite part on our RMB and view our back issues here!
181
All your chocolate belongs to Darkesia
The Western Post Staff - Delegate: Giovanniland - Editors: Fuentana, Fujai - Staff: Aluminum Oxynitride, Blue bubble, Bran Astor, Fhaengshia, Gryphonian Alliance, Overthinkers, Podium, Santos-dominius, So long, Teralyon, United Adaikes, Wymondham, Zoran, and YOU
All your chocolate belongs to Darkesia
181
The Western Post is brought to you by The West Pacific Cultural Trust, The West Pacific News Group, and readers like you. Thank you.
181
spooky!


Read dispatch

The Grumpy Old Grinch of Mediobogdum

Westwind wrote:Now there's an April Fools joke I can enjoy. National Weather Service: "Big changes to our forecast pages! To avoid any confusion between °F and °C, we've converted all of our temperatures to Kelvin. Enjoy! Today's forecast, mostly cloudy and 275k" [/i]

As the son of a Meteorological Officer, I particularly enjoyed this joke! But, now for something completely different!

The Beatles with their I Saw Her Standing There
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkMtIn8KQc

Well, she was just seventeen
You know what I mean
And the way she looked was way beyond compare
So how could I dance with another (Ooh)
When I saw her standing there

Well she looked at me, and I, I could see
That before too long I'd fall in love with her
She wouldn't dance with another (Whooh)
When I saw her standing there

Well, my heart went "boom"
When I crossed that room
And I held her hand in mine

Whoah, we danced through the night
And we held each other tight
And before too long I fell in love with her
Now I'll never dance with another (Whooh)
When I saw her standing there

Well, my heart went "boom"
When I crossed that room
And I held her hand in mine

Whoah, we danced through the night
And we held each other tight
And before too long I fell in love with her
Now I'll never dance with another (Whooh)
Since I saw her standing there
Oh since I saw her standing there
Oh since I saw her standing there

The Grumpy Old Grinch of Mediobogdum

In the absence of another post... and different again...
Led Zeppelin and Stairway to Heaven

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhCPt6PZIU

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven
There's a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
You know
There's a feeling I get when I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who stand looking
That's you
And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter
Remember laughter?
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah...
And it makes me wonder
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now
It's just a spring clean for the May queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on
Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know
The piper's calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all is one and one is all, that's what it is
To be a rock and not to roll, oh yeah

The Grumpy Old Grinch of Mediobogdum

Westwind I had no idea that there was a musical version of The Hunting of The Snark! Thank you :)

In my younger days, I was somewhat engrossed in the tale and even memorized sections of the text. To refresh my grey matter I went to retrieve the book from my library and reminisced. The poem is a wonderful piece of poetical 'nonsense' that I have often quoted in small sections to my middle school students from who I got some very quizzical looks and questions about my sanity!

A more complete musical rendition of the musical from 1987, and recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London can be watched and listened to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKitp2gmRas



The Snarky Solar Observer of Bhang Bhang Duc

My favourite posts from the Trade Fair.

page=rmb/postid=47059789

And then when I pilfer some coffee beans from them:

page=rmb/postid=47059830

Post self-deleted by Biwaki.

Zardersalia

Is environment stat sensitive against economic thrival?

The Kingdom of Giovanniland

Biwaki wrote:Hello i guess. I was told that the west pacific was very strict with rules so i just went to see for myself :P

This isn't a playground in which you can test our rules.

Zardersalia wrote:Is environment stat sensitive against economic thrival?

Often they are opposites, but sometimes you can rise one without damaging the other.

Alles gynanti

Good afternoon! I really like this global trade fair. I got a couple of uranium lumps but everyone stole(?) it without even giving me a chance to understand what was happening haha

South ordesmaya

Finally, we were able to get rid of such a terrible influence as the death penalty!

The Kingdom of Giovanniland

Alles gynanti wrote:Good afternoon! I really like this global trade fair. I got a couple of uranium lumps but everyone stole(?) it without even giving me a chance to understand what was happening haha

Yeah, sometimes it happens when you're stacking goods, people notice, and start inspecting to seize all your remaining goods. Although you can also inspect others and seize their goods.

Willow Gate and Alles gynanti

Greater konshirverg

Hello.

The Kingdom of Giovanniland

Sorry, but that type of symbol in the flag isn't allowed.

Gunter55

South ordesmaya wrote:Finally, we were able to get rid of such a terrible influence as the death penalty!

I have no judiciary but death penalty :/

«12. . .10,97310,97410,97510,97610,97710,97810,979. . .12,15912,160»