The Cable - November 2020

Our newsletter, The Cable, aims to build communications between our embassies. Please share this with your region-mates by posting a link on your RMB!

This month the seven millionth nation was created, we had some pretty dope polls, we spoke to the source of NS's favourite pancakes, and some regions went technicolor. And I heard something about vegans taking over NS. Wandering around, wanting to eat grains. Or maybe I misheard that.

But if you're just thinking, "I don't care about any of this. Why did I get a notification?", then this section is for you.

Honeydewistania spotted that the seven millionth nation was created this month. But which nation was it? Now, each nation has a database ID. By adding one million to the database ID of the six millionth nation (ID no. 2906891), it looked like the seven millionth may have been Lhrykrinsk. However, The BlAAtschApen observed that nations that had CTEd before IDs were introduced (years ago!) must get a new ID if they were refounded. That meant that the seven millionth nation would have a higher ID number, and won't be Lhrykrinsk after all.

On 17 October, New Zealanders went to the polls. There were no surprises when Jacinda Ardern was voted back in. However, it looks like there'll be surprise results for the referenda. Not all votes have been counted yet, but it looks like two thirds of Kiwis backed the euthanasia proposal, but fewer than half backed allowing recreational use of cannabis. I can't be blunt, but that's a killer outcome. More on the story in this BBC article.

Voters

Aleixandria, Ambesia, Armenasia, Athrania, Bella poarch, Bonnie Blue Republic, Borduria13, Cirrus Azale, Coca-cola sprite and fanta, Colin advance wars, Dourterk, Dr mario, El Spana, Esperantist mars, Freedomanica, Fruit smiles, Genoath, Grandia Sebastia, Greatholypandanation, Haelstien, Janiland, Jo hore, Kaiserville, Khwhp, Kor chemballa, Kor pantaal, Neo Splatoonia, New scotstan, Nordicavia, Northern fardelshufflestein, Opolarzarianduses, Pronunshaa, Raumi, Sail nation, Sermonisket, The Age of Utopia, The anime imperialists of japan, The reformation of qing dynasty, The winds upon the soil, Trumpy America, Vladilan, Voxija, Warren buffet, Wi sd ea d, Windchia, Zynthon

And the one we're all waiting for - will the Republicans Trump this election? Or have the Democrats just been Biden their time? Here in NS, we're expecting a Biden victory. Turnout is expected to be high, despite talk of voter suppression.

Voters

A380800, A380plus, Aleixandria, Ambesia, Animalss, Asiana airlines, Ballatim, Beldanibon, Brinckerhoff, Budapest city, Canguta 17-a, Canguta 17-dxd, Cangutaenab, Cangutaero airways, Cangutaero, Cathay paciic, China is a federation, Copyright fnr benachrichtigen, CUTE PANDASSSSSSSSSSSS, Darijuandentistan, Deacarsia, Dieboldsheim, Donestk, East Mospolinten, Explodeingtnt, Fortanis, Furballland, Gardens of New England, Godrevy, Golden impirial utopia, Graag brom, Homyland, Jidio, Kingrea, Lightford, Newts utopia, Opolarzarianduses, Pax constitution, Poliski, Reultan, Sandaoguo, Santa pierre, Sause dameen, Seven seas, T-26e4 super pershing, Thay yeu oi, The agreelands, The ecologist order, The gold mines, The reformation of qing dynasty, Ubekibekibekibekistanstan, United neutral lands, Voxija, Wi sd ea d, Zarnath 2

Gypsy Lands

Ambassadors Reception: You've an interesting factbook that says you had a nation in a Gypsy Lands region of old. With a little detective work, I found that the region lasted from January 2004 to September 2005. That's quite some time ago! What do you think the biggest change has been in the game since then?

Gypsy Lands: The biggest change in NS since 2004-5 is that the big old regions have died out and given way to multiple one-nation regions. The sheer number of players is amazing.

AR: If you could change one thing about the game, what would it be?

GL: I wouldn't change anything about the game. It has changed over the years anyway, and continues to evolve. I just go with the flow.

AR: Back in the day, the WFE of Gypsy Lands read:
"A region of Lakes, Mountains and natural beauty. Nations are free to roam and discover their own inner path, or to take part in community activities. This is a non-political region where each nation walks in peace, or is invited to move to another region. The Independence of each nation is respected and friends of member nations are always welcome."
How do you feel the culture of present day Gypsy Lands compares to the early region?

GL: The former Gypsy Lands had over a hundred nations. It was one of those big old regions. I don't even think there was such a thing as embassies back then. But they were good cooks and liked to feed the nations, so we try to carry on this tradition.

AR: Although NS is a political simulator, your region (like the old region) avoids talking about politics on the RMB. What inspired that decision?

GL: We definitely avoid political stances. There are so many other regions for that and I do believe that many of our members, including me, have puppets in regions where they can argue religion, politics, and everything else. We just want to relax and have a good time.

AR: It's been 15 years since the original Gypsy Lands CTEd. Have you played NS continuously since then?

GL: I have played NS continuously for more than 15 years, nearly from the beginning. I have met many of the old time players.

AR: You must have met a lot of interesting players. Is there anyone who stands out in your mind, and why?

GL: Yes, I have met a lot of interesting players. Some I have known for more than a decade. A couple of them do stand out as particularly interesting, but I can't reveal them because I doubt that they even know I have this region.

AR: What's been your favourite aspect of NS? What keeps you logging in?

GL: My favorite aspect of NS is the role-play. We're probably very different as RL people than what our nations’ display. We can remain anonymous, yet we share some very intimate details on occasion. Being a part of a region is like being in a club, but without the dues and the fund drives.

GL: We do have a lot of embassies, but I do not consider us "embassy collectors." I am the founder of another region, and embassy requests there have annoyed me. However, when I founded GL I decided to reach out to other regions on a diplomatic level, rather than just to "collect" them. Many founders have sought my advice. And sometimes I put my two cents in whether they ask for it or not. I take the privilege of having another region's embassy very seriously, as do all our members.

AR: If you were to share one piece of worldly wisdom, what would it be?

GL: One thing I would share with other players is that the game isn't too interesting unless things are happening. There are so many nations in regions all by themselves and that are locked down so no one can join. To each his own, I guess. But our region contains nations with such interesting ideas, such fascinating comments, and such intellect that I am constantly wanting to log in and see what's going on.

AR: Thanks for those insights. And thanks for the pancakes. And thanks for your time!

A few days ago, Tim-Opolis raised an issue in the Technical forum. Certain regions had their WFE color "leaking" onto the region page. It turned out that this was due to a bug with BBCode in dispatches. Nations from Democritus had discovered this by accident back in August, and raised it then, but their post was ignored. By the time Tim raised the issue, the bug was being exploited in a few regions. For example, Christmas used it to make all their text red, which, with the standard green hyperlinks, matched their region's usual seasonal colour scheme. Mods have since edited the "offending" dispatches, and taken the Christmas decorations down.

Read all about it!
- Labyrinthine Chronicle- October 2020
- Layem Times Issue 23
- The Monthly Tabloid | October Issue
- LaraCast Ep 2
- NationStates News October 13
- Layem Times Issue 21
- FWOTruth
- NS Today
- Daily Line

Get involved!
- Play Sands casino games
- Place a sports bet

The Diplomacy Awards celebrate the foreign dignitaries that interacted with our RMB in the past month, either by making posts, or clicking 'Like'.

Floored Award

We can't say it straighter - you're the greater orator. This month's premiers of praises per post are:

Style	Likes per Post	Nations
🖋	5.5	Genoath
🖊	4	Brinckerhoff, Hong kong umbrella movement, Sail nation
🖍	3.75	El Spana

Honourable mentions

Abbeyverne, Alexander the Magnus, Ambesia, Aredita, Artsotska, Aurelion alpha, Awell islands, Badjuristan, Ban jae-hwa, Bank of cerata, Barrow cove, Bavaria and austria, Beatitas, Boris Cult, Brinckerhoff, Confederates of america, Coradortodos, Demonos ministry of foreign affairs, Dorsla, Dr mario, Drawkland, Edin, El Spana, Ewan, Fortanis, Free city of eastern shuckleita, Frjalsfold, Frostland, Genoath, German roadblock, Grand duchess sophia von bozen-blutchen, Grandia Sebastia, Gray jedi knights, Greater northern pokemon reich, Green spirit, Greenkeep, Haelstien, Hagston, Herzgevenia, Hong kong umbrella movement, Imadocoasca, Imperial lands of sulfate, Indusse, Itsmemomo4, Jo hore, Joeanian republic, Jude s, Judicious, Juvena, Kastelan, Kor pantaal, Lower elindia, Mathuvan Union, Maxconian khal, Metropobia, Mirror world, Mistar boy, Molch, Naribobastan, Navarro-aragon, Neue deutsche kaukasier, No ooooo two, Nooooooooooooooo, North American Imperial State, Omnia ii, Palsada, Pedesko, Potato place founder, Ramalia shanatopian-turkish bulgaria, Raumi, Republic of eggs, Ritalma, Rwekazaland, Sail nation, Sail nation travellers, Sause dameen, Sett tanion, Seven seas, SFR Philippines, Sierra Grand, Sladski, Smidwest, Smiley Bob, Soonatae, Sysillia, Team lennox, Team triad, Thay yeu oi, The Age of Utopia, The antartic legion, The azov sea, The bank of nationstates, The ecologist order, The emirate of the emirate, The empire of capbai, The gothic ministry of foreign affairs, The Greenlandic North, The kingdom of lebanon, The nation of soohorang and bandabi, The new cordian empire, The NewsStand, The peoples caribbean union, The Plutonian Empire, The potatoez, The reformation of qing dynasty, The socialist republic of astrakhan, Turanian Utopia, Unlimited cleaning works, Valencea, Very totally free, Vietbang, Wolfranya, Wooloos, Wwe world, Xeosia later, Xinzostan, Yashou japan, Yeruvina, Zeritae, Zpuppet12, Zpuppet2

_{^{* Nations making multiple posts during the month are eligible for The Floored Award.}}

Adored Award

We think it is great to appreciate a state. This month's 'like' button bashers are:

Hearts	Like Count	Nations
❤	380	Colin advance wars
🧡	61	Boris Cult
💛	38	Abbeyverne

Honourable mentions

[nation][/nation], Ambesia, Austria is hungry, Ban jae-hwa, Bavaria and austria, Beatitas, Brinckerhoff, Candanadium, Cayenne minor, Cdi yu suzuki, Celestial wave, Demonos ministry of foreign affairs, Dominioan, Dr mario, Evil corporation, Ewan, Free city of eastern shuckleita, Freita, Frjalsfold, Frostland, Genoath, German roadblock, Grand duchess sophia von bozen-blutchen, Grandia Sebastia, Greater chafametain, Greater northern pokemon reich, Green spirit, Greenkeep, Grinch donnie dictatorship, Haelstien, Homyland, Hong kong umbrella movement, Imadocoasca, Indotai, Itsmemomo4, Jo hore, Judicious, Juvena, Khwhp, Kor pantaal, Kvann, Lower elindia, Mathuvan Union, Maxconian khal, Mistar boy, Molch, Naribobastan, North American Imperial State, North samraka, Nowhere islands, Omnia ii, Portugal macau, Ramalia shanatopian-turkish bulgaria, Raumi, Russian instigators, Sail nation, Sail nation travellers, Sause dameen, Sermonisket, Sett tanion, Seven seas, SFR Philippines, Sierra Grand, Sladski, Strunad, Team lennox, Thay yeu oi, The Age of Utopia, The azov sea, The ecologist order, The land of winther, The nation of soohorang and bandabi, The reformation of qing dynasty, The socialist republic of astrakhan, The State of Hejaz, Theberstan, Unlimited cleaning works, Vietbang, Wooloos, Wwe world, Xeosia later, Xinzostan, Yami yugi, Yashou japan, Zeritae

I've no idea how The gold mines failed to show up in this category. I use the API to download this data, and for some reason, they don't even get a mention.

Board Award

We get really psyched about those who were 'liked'. This month's most praised posters are:

Awards	Like Count	Nations
🥇	241	Colin advance wars
🥈	80	Russian instigators
🥉	58	The Age of Utopia

Honourable mentions

Abbeyverne, Alexander the Magnus, Ambesia, Aredita, Artsotska, Aurelion alpha, Awell islands, Badjuristan, Ban jae-hwa, Bank of cerata, Barrow cove, Bavaria and austria, Beatitas, Boris Cult, Brinckerhoff, Confederates of america, Coradortodos, Demonos ministry of foreign affairs, Dorsla, Dr mario, Drawkland, Edin, El Spana, Ewan, Fortanis, Free city of eastern shuckleita, Frjalsfold, Frostland, Genoath, German roadblock, Grand duchess sophia von bozen-blutchen, Grandia Sebastia, Gray jedi knights, Greater northern pokemon reich, Green spirit, Greenkeep, Haelstien, Hagston, Herzgevenia, Hong kong umbrella movement, Imadocoasca, Imperial lands of sulfate, Indusse, Itsmemomo4, Jo hore, Joeanian republic, Jude s, Judicious, Juvena, Kastelan, Kor pantaal, Lower elindia, Mathuvan Union, Maxconian khal, Metropobia, Mirror world, Mistar boy, Molch, Naribobastan, Navarro-aragon, Neue deutsche kaukasier, No ooooo two, Nooooooooooooooo, North American Imperial State, Omnia ii, Palsada, Pedesko, Potato place founder, Ramalia shanatopian-turkish bulgaria, Raumi, Republic of eggs, Ritalma, Rwekazaland, Sail nation, Sail nation travellers, Sause dameen, Sett tanion, Seven seas, SFR Philippines, Sierra Grand, Sladski, Smidwest, Smiley Bob, Soonatae, Sysillia, Team lennox, Team triad, Thay yeu oi, The antartic legion, The azov sea, The bank of nationstates, The ecologist order, The emirate of the emirate, The empire of capbai, The gold mines, The gothic ministry of foreign affairs, The Greenlandic North, The kingdom of lebanon, The nation of soohorang and bandabi, The new cordian empire, The NewsStand, The peoples caribbean union, The Plutonian Empire, The potatoez, The reformation of qing dynasty, The socialist republic of astrakhan, Turanian Utopia, Unlimited cleaning works, Valencea, Very totally free, Vietbang, Wolfranya, Wooloos, Wwe world, Xeosia later, Xinzostan, Yashou japan, Yeruvina, Zeritae, Zpuppet12, Zpuppet2

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Absolutly Terrible, Aredita, Awell islands, Awesomeland012345, Barrow cove, Coasta sol, Danubian hungarian republic, Doge Land, Dominant Oppressors, Doom soul, Dorchester and sussex, Dorsla, Drawkland, Eternal hallownest, Ethics committee of the scpf, Joeanian republic, Kemalia, Mathuvan Union, Maxconian khal, Nation, New good order, New hyannisport, Nouguinkelospianland, Of Altonianic Islands, Oneid, Ostrovskiy, Parakka, Random Country 453632, Really Big Bama Fan, Romagina, ScotlandSerenity, Skoda Drivers, Smiley Bob, Sultanate sultanate, T-26e4 super pershing, Team lennox, TexJeeps, The antartic legion, The gold mines, The industrial city, The martian nation, The new empire of bigboom, The peoples caribbean union, The reformation of qing dynasty, The republic ofTexas and northern Mexico, Uhay, William Beebe, Wolfranya, Zion-israel