The Region - Game Moderator Issues

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 16, 2004 - Columbia, Southeast

Sex in the Senate
(Routers) Nym, DC
Rumor indicates that a former intern will be filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against a Senator on Monday, but sources conflict on which Senator will be implicated in what may be the most salacious scandal since the Lewinsky affair.

Axle of Evil is Oiled
(Routers) Tehran, Iran
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh announced today a new trade deal that would supply North Korea with thirty million barrels of oil per year for the next five years. This reprresents the sum total of curent oil imports made by North Korea today, but it remains to be seen if this represents a decision by the Pyongyang government to depend upon Iranian oil for its imports or to increase the usage of petroleum which was scaled back after deliveries of subsidized fuel oil under the Agreed Framework ended in November 2002, after the disclosure of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

New Security Measures Locking Up Some Ports
{Routers) Boston, MA
Michael Leone, head of the Massachusetts Port Authority and the American Association of Port Authorities indicated at a press conference today that the new security regulations tha went into effect on 1 July were causing localized probems at some ports due to inadequate staffing.  "Most ports are still handling cargo ina timely manner despite the new security checks," he said, "but several of our busiest ports, especially Long Beach, Jacksonville, and Boston are suffering from delays of over a day due to inadequate staffing.  Just-in-time inventory management requires predicatable shipping times.  Most shippers factored in some extra time for the first few days of the new security operations, but the persistent delays at a few ports are impairing the efficiency of our economy."

Vanna Takes a Spin
{Routers) Miami, FL
The National Hurricanne Center announced the formation of Tropical Storm Vanna off the Cape Verde Islands.  According to a spokesman, while it is unusual for a storm to form so far to the east this earkly in the season, it isn't unheard of.  It is expected to be at least a week before Vanna could first threaten land somewhere in the Lesser Antilles, but already the tourist islands of the Caribbean are bracing for the economic impact that even a threatened strm can cause them.

Mexican-Saudi Diplomatic Row Straightened
(Routers) Mexico City, Mexico
A senior Pemex official had caused a few undiplomatic words to be exchanged following remarks he had made at a oil industry conference last month.  He was overgeard saying that he hoped that the Saudi troubles would continue as it was making it easier for Pemex to staff new oil production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico with experienced personel because some workers in the Saudi fields were seeking jobs elsewhere.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

They are freely available for use with the forum.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Well, I did want to emphasize the fantasy with this story which is why I didn't use an 'A' name.  I could have used the real name list for this year but I didn't want to risk any confusion with the real storms.  Considering the real-life names that I used in the second and third stories, I think I'm blurring the line between reality and fantasy enough as it is.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 18, 2004 - Columbia, Southeast
Gary gets in the way of San Jose
(Routers} Manama, Bahrain
A US Navy spokesman reports that a collision occured between USS Gary (FFG 51) and the USNS San Jose (T-AFS 3) during an underway replenishment exercise in the Persian Gulf.  No injuries have been reported but both ships are heading to Manama for minor repairs.

Vanna Continues to Spin
(Routers) Miami, FL
Vanna has been upgraded to a Category I hurricane as it churns westward in the middle Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center is projecting that it could reach the Lesser Antilles as soon as Sunday depending upon the course and speed this storm takes.

Second Edition corrected minor spelling mistake

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I wish to thank Secretary Ford for responding quickly in the Live from the Pentagon thread and I have posted several letters to Secretary Ford in response from various persons.  Anybody who can mange to get complaints from both labor and management can't be all wrong.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 19, 2004 - Columbia, Southeast

A Kennedy of Course
(Routers) San Francisco, CA
Lawyers for one Amatullah Hanifa bint Muminah filed this morning a sexual harrasment lawsuit against Senator Kennedy this morning.  The plaintiff's lawyers said to assembled reporters that they would be holding a press conference on Thursday to inform the public in detail of their client's charges of what the senator did to his former intern.  “She and her family wish a period of privacy before meeting the press,” said an unidentified lawyer as he left the courthouse where the papers had just been filed.

North Korea Skips Six Pack
(Routers) Pyongyang, North Korea
Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun announced that his government had no plans to attend the next scheduled round of the six-nation talks.  "We see no reason to go to yet another session of these failed talks and listen to more Yankee bombast.  However, we invite representatives of the Moscow, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, and Taipei governments to come to Pyongyang next week for a true regional six-party talk to discuss issues of mutual interest without the interference of American imperialists.”  Minister Paek decined to answer questions after handing out his prepared statement.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 20, 2004

Chinese Announce Moon Goal
(Routers) Beijing, China
Wang Yongzhi of the Chinese Ministry of Space announced plans to send two men to the moon by 2012.  "On this thirty-fifth anniversary of the landing of Apollo 11, we have decided to announce our plans to land taikonauts on the moon before the fortieth aniversary of the last time man set foot on the moon.  Now that we have begun the Long March to the Stars, we shall not falter as others have."  An accelerated launch schedule for China's second manned space flight, Shenzhou 6, for March 2005 was also announced, and was earlier than previous reports which suggested a fall 2005 launch date.

VIP Party and Protest
(Routers) Charlotte Amalie, VI
A protest march disturbed the normal tropical tranquility of the Virgin Islands.  The march, organized by the Virgin Islands People's Party to protest the recent actions of Secretary of Defense Ford, was even more energized by news of Senator Harry's proposed Caribbean Statehood Act.  "It's bad enough that we're treated as third-class citizens by the bureaucrats in Nym, but now it's proposed that we be lumped together with the Puerto Ricans?  We demand that we be consulted before any change in our status!"  Despite the heated rhetoric, the protest was peaceful.

Korean Talks to Proceed
(Routers) Seoul, South Korea
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-moon indicated that he would be travelling to Pyongyang next week to attend the talks proposed by the North Korean government yesterday.  "It would be remiss for us to dismiss beforehand any chance of solving the current situation," said the minister.

Vanna Alarms French
(Routers) Paris, France
Meteo France issued its equivalent of a Hurricane Watch for Guadeloupe amd Martinique indicating that there was chance that the islands could be struck within 72 hours by Hurricane Vanna, which has now been upgraded to a Category II storm by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Well, Vanna isn't heading that way, but just for you ILV,

The Columbia Rewind
July 20, 2004

Storm Winds Blow in Gulf and Caribbean
(Routers) Miami, FL
The National Hurricane Center announced the formation of Tropical Depression #3.14 in the Gulf of Mexico and issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the Texas and Louisiana coasts.  Hurricane Vanna was upgraded to a Category III storm but is expected to calm back down to Category II overnight.  The NHC has not issued any watches for Vanna, but the projected 72-hour path indicates that she will likely be approaching the Virgin Islands on Friday.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Columbia Rewind
July 21, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Yorick Will Shake Piers
(Routers}Galveston, TX
   Tropical Depression  #3.14 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Yorick this morning and even now its top winds of 60 mph are roiling the waters of Galveston Bay he is coming ashore.  Said one local resident.  "I'm just glad it's happening now and not later during football season.  I'd really hate to have to watch my son play Riverdale High in such weather."

China Seeks To Add Two Seats To Korean Table
(Routers) Beijing, China
   Speculation about whether China would agree to the North Korean proposal for regional talks that included Taiwanese participation was altered into another form by an offical statement released by the Foreign Ministry today:
"The People's Repubic of China has no objection to the inclusion of Taiwan at these talks, as long as our other two Special Adminstartive Regions are includes as welll, Hong Kong, and Macao.  Either all of our S.A.R.'s should be invited or none of them."
   Now speculation is whether the Taiwanese government, which has been seeking greater participation on the international stage, will be willing to accept the implicit Chinese demand for Taiwan to recogize Beijimg's claim to a superior position in their relationship.

Vanna Not To Meet With Virgins
(Routers) Miami, FL
The National Hurricane Center has issued Tropical Storm Watches for  the US Virgin Islands and northeastern Puerto Rico.  Hurricane Vanna is a Category II hurricane which is expected to just brush the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico with her fringe as it passes to the north.  Tropical Strorm and Hurricane Watches and Warnings have also been issued by other governments in the Leeward Islands.  The strongest winds currently reported are 25 mph winds with 45 mph gusts on the island of Barbuda.  HUrricane Vanna's current position is 58.3W 18.5N.

Gary Left High And Dry
(Routers} Manama, Bahrain
A strike by shipyard workers here has left the frigate USS Gary stranded in drydock.  The Gary had come here for inspection and repair after colliding with the USNS late last week.  According the captain of the ship, "The frustrating part is that the inspection showed that the repairs made at sea were sufficient to last us until we can return home.  Now our crew will have to wait until this strike gets settled, so we're stuck here."  Navy officials indicate that the Gary will likely be decomissioned and mothballed upon returning home rather than being subjected to extensive repairs. The Navy has been phasing out the use of older single-mission ships such as the Gary and the other Perry-class frigates in favor of multi-mission ships such as the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.  A number of Perry-class frigates have already been either decommisioned or transferred to other navies.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Ernest, could you add a story about residents of PR reacting to the statehood act?

I could, but I feel that the Puerto Ricans are probably considering this pretty much to be yet another Puerto Rican Statehood bill with not much chance of passage.  If it ever gets to Gustaf's desk for him to sign, I have several story ideas ready, but to be frank, there's nothing in the bill that would generate a story from Puerto Rico unless it was at least close to being passed.. It got unfavorable press from the Virgin Islands because the original bill lumped them in with Puerto Rico which was a novel idea and one which they would be extremly against, but I am not certain how they would react to being part of the Southeastern region.

How was it originally decided which states would be part of which regions?  That might affect how they would respond, but I wasn't  here when the regions were formed.

As for Navassa Island, since no one lives there, there hasn't been much press coverage there.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Hey Ernest, will you be covering this weekend's special Senate election for Senator Beet's old seat?

Except where election rhetoric crosses into something that interacts with a current plotline, no.  Simply reporting the election coverage straight wouldn't be worth the effort for me, and as GM, I don't think I should be putting a slant on campaign coverage just because.  However, if people do something in a campaign that interacts with the existing plots, it could get mentioned and reacted to.  I haven't seen anything yet that would be worthy of such a mention in my opinion.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Not quite.  There have been four referenda on the status of Puerto Rico, in 1952, 1967, 1993, and 1998.  The '52 vote did not include statehood as an option.  The '93 and '98 votes were close with the commonwealth option only winning by a narrow plurality. In '98, H.R. 856 (United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act) did pass the House by a very narrow margin but that bill died in a Senate commitee.  Had the '98 referendum voted for statehood, the 106th Congress probably would have considered the issue again.  As it is, until the PNP regains power in Puerto Rico, I can't see Puerto Rico holding another plebscite or Congress reconsidering the option. They hold elections this November as well, but I have no idea how the election will go there.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 23, 2004

Kennedy Accusations
(Routers) San Francisco, CA
In a Routers exclusive, Amatullah Hanifa bint Muminah, was interviewd by our reporter.
R - When did this happen?
A - We were working late one night in mid-May preparing for the upcoming debate on the Civil Unions Act.
R - How did it begin?
A - He asked a very strange question, "Do you what is is Amatullah?"   I thought he was just tired and speaking rhetorically, so I ignored his question, thinking that he would rephrase it as something meaningful it he hadn't.  Instead he merely smiled and stetched and then told me to go home as it was getting late.
R -  That hardly seems like harassment.
A - It wasn't until the next night that I realized what he had meant when he told me as we were leaving the office, "You know, you bring out the Jimmy Carter in me and cause me to lust in my heart."  He then offered me a ride, but I declined.  After then, I made certain that I wasn't the one working late for him until I could find another job.

Yorick Rains Drown Texas
(Routers) Waco, TX
Heavy rains are causing floods as the remnants of Tropical Storm Yorick pour themselves out over central Texas. The National Weather Service office in Waco has issued flood watches along the Trinity River and flash flood watches over most over central Texas.  Rains have been especially heavy in the Crawford area with over a foot of rain recorded there in the past 24 hours.

Vanna On Carribbean Cruise
(Routers) Miami, FL
Hurricane Vanna is back to category III status on the Saffir-Simpson scale as she churns the waters north of San Juan.  Heavy Surf advisories are in place for the entire north coast of Puerto Rico.  Her current location is 68.2W 21.9N heading to the WNW at 5 mph.  Hurricane Watches have been issued for this slow moving storm in the Turks and Caicos and the eastern Bahamas.  As for whether Vanna will affect the mainland, a spokeman said, its too soon to tell.  "Depending upon when Vanna picks up speed, she could miss the coast entirely or hit anywhere between the Florida Keys to Cape Cod.  All we can do is suggest that people make prudent preparations to evacuate the coast if Vanna comes near, but there is no need to evacuate yet."
  Officials in the Florida Keys and the Outer Banks are keeping an extremely close eye on this storm due to the long lead times needed for evacuations there.

Government Offices Looted In Antigua
(Routers) Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda
Thieves took advantage of the distraction provided by the tropical storm winds of Hurricane Vanna as it passed this Caribbean nation to loot the offices of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment as well as several minor ministries such as the Ministry of Transportation located in the same building. Said a ministry spokesman, "A number of documents were destroyed, as the theives looked for loot, but fortunately we keep backups of all ministry documents off the island in case of damage due to a hurricane, but this isn't the cause of damage we expected.  Still, it will be several weeks before the backups can be put in place, so we ask everone to be patient until the process of recovering the backups is completed."

Taiwan To Purchase Israeli Missiles
(Routers) Taipei, Taiwan
Defense Minister Tang Yiau-ming announced that his country will be purchasing eight batteries of the Israeli Arrow anti-missile missile and has placed an option on the purchase of sixteen more.   "Considering the current situation, and the decision of the United States to postpone deployment of its own system, we decided to undertake prudent measures for the safety of the island of Taiwan."  It is expected that reaction in Beijing to this announcement will not be positive.

Russia Decides On A Low Key Approach To Korean Talks
(Routers) Moscow, Russia
A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman indicated that while Russia would not be sending a delegation to Pyongyang next week for the talks proposed by the North Koreans, their ambassdor would attend.  "Given the lack of any prepared agenda, it would appear that these talks are not  intended forserious negotiations. Still, we shall listen with interest if proposals to end the current impasse on the Korean peninsula are presented.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 25, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Cancer is Vanna's Sign
(Routers) Hurrican Vanna continues to move slowly to the northwest remaining at Category III on the Saffir Simpson scale. She is located at 70.1W 23.5N right on the Tropic of Cancer, northeast of Grand Turk.  Tropical storm force winds are blowing across the Turks and Caicos and several islands in the eastern Bahamas.  Toopical storm warnings are in force for the Turks and Caicos Islandsand the Bahamas south of the Tropic of Cancer, a hurricane watch for the Bahamas north of the Tropic of Cancer and a tropical storm watch for the Florida coast from Fort Myers to Jacksonville, including the Florida Keys.  "We currently expect  Vanna to continue to move slowly accelerating slowly and to take a more northerly course," said an NHC spokesman, "but it is possible that she could charge for the Florida coast,  in which case we would expect tropical storm force winds in thirty-six to forty-eight hours in the watch zone if that did occur.  With a Category III storm that shows little sign of weakening, we feel that it is better to err on the side of caution as she is likely to strengthen if she increases speed.  The most likely track has her passing by the Florida coast, but with tropical storm force winds probable from Cape Canaveral north by the middle of the week."

Gary All Cooped Up
(Routers) Manama, Bahrain
The strike at a Bahrani shipyard continues to leave the USS Gary all fixed up, but with no way to go.  A Navy spokesman said that the Bahrainis indicated that the talks between the strike leader and management are cordial but headed nowhere fast.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 26, 2004

Shipping Line To Be Sold
(Routers) Hamburg, Germany
Sources indicate that the sale of the Hamburg-Arabia Line to Lebanese businessman Ali Spenda Moni will be announced this morning.  The line had been losing money of late and Mr. Moni has offered to turn his minority interest into an acquisition.  The Hamburg-Arabia Line is a cargo line operating 28 container ships, 12 oil tankers and 8 LNG carriers operating under flags of convienence, so the sale is not expected to encounter any difficulty.  Mr. Moni has minority interests in several other European shipping lines and direct ownership of 2 LNG carriers already.  The Hamburg-America Line had been having difficulty attracting finacing because most of its tankers are single hulled, which are being phased out of service early due to regulations requiring the usage of double hulled tankers so as to reduce the likelihood and severity of oil spills.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The first public mention of Ali Spenda Moni.  Since for the purposes of my scenario, it worked equally well for him to be a dupe or intimately involved in what happened, I left it undecided.  If a future GM wishes to use him, they may and could choose either possibility.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 27, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Hurricane Vanna Spins
(Routers) Miami, FL
Hurrican Vanna is a Category IV storm.  Current location is 75.3W 29.1N, 350 miles SSE of Cape Fear, North Carolina, headining to the NNW at 12mph.  The National Hurricane Center projects that this dangerous storm will take a more northerly course as the day continues.  A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the coast between Cape Fear, North Carolina and Ocean City, Maryland, inclisuding the lower Chesapeake Bay.  A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued between Cape Romaine, South Carolina and Cape Fear, a Hurricane Watch from Ocean City, Maryland to Toms River, New Jersey, and a Tropicak Storm watch for the upper Chesapeake Bay.

Gary Freed by Captain
(Routers) Manama, Bahrain
The captain of the USS Gary ordered his crew to operate the dry dock his ship was in so as to enable the ship to leave.  A mortar attcak yeterday had left two sailors seriously injured who are now at Ramstein AFB in Germany receiving treatment .

Fact or Fiction?
(Routers) Los Angeles, CA
A spokesman for FBC (Forum Broadcasting Company) indicated that  Amatullah Hanifa bint Muminah had pitched the idea for a TV movie about a sexually agressive Seantor with a working title of "Ungoverned Passions" to them four years ago before she even went to work for Senator Kennedy.  The similarities between the claims made by the former intern to the script she submitted four years ago are said to be considerable.

Defense Secretary to go on Junket
(Routers) Nym, DC
Defense Secretary Ford is expected to be leaving soon to meet with various governments in East Africa for various talks.  A detailed itineraray has not been announced.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 28, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Vanna Skirts Carolina Coast
(Routers) Miami, FL
Hurricane Vanna picked up forward speed but lost wind speed yesterday.  Vanna is now a Category II storm  located 100 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, heading to the NNE at 15 mph.  A tropical storm warning is in place from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Toms River, New Jersey.  A tropical storm watch has been issued from Toms River, New Jersey to Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Vanna is not expected to make landfall now, but tropical storm winds and heavy waves will affect the coast as she passes by.

Coast Giard Barely Rescues Seven Castaways
(Routers) Charleston, FL
A crew of two and five passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard after a three hour cruise turned into a three day ordeal.  A Coast Guard spokesman said that normally they would have been rescued sooner, but the cutter that normally patrols the area that their tiny ship went down is temporarilly assigned to Jacksonville.  The ship had lost its radio, so they were unable to alert the Coast Guard to their plight.  If not for the courage of the fearless crew the passengers would have been lost.  One crewman remarked that they had expected smooth sailing.

Korean Talks Delayed
(Routers) Pyongyang, North Korea
An North Korean Foreign Ministry Spokesman indicated that the talks Pyongyang had hoped to hold had been delayed by a disagreement over the status of the Taiwanese delegation to the talks.  Some observers wonder if the inclusion of Taiwan in the invitations sent out by Pyongyang might have been intended to have this very effect.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 29, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Bye Bye Vanna
(Routers) Miami. FL
Hurricane Vanna is now a category I storm located 250 miles south of Martha's Vinyard  and heading to the ENE at 20 mph.  No hurricane or tropical storm watches or warning are in effect for Vanna, but heavy surf advisories are in effect from Cape May, New Jersey to Cape Cod Massachisetts.

Seven Rescued Castaways Being Questioned
(Routers) Charleston, SC
The seven persons rescued at sea yesterday are being questioned by Customs Service agents on suspicion of drug trafficking.  Said a spokesman, "Quite frankly, we can't imagine any other reason they would have been so idiotic as to head out to sea with a hurricane out there.  They were found with a large quantity of cash, which also leads us to think that something illicit was going on."

Al-Qaeda Leader Caught in Trinidad
(Routers) Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Minister of National Security Matrin Joseph anounced today that they had caught Abdul bin Muminah al-Qados, a mid level Pakistani leader of Al Qaeda as he tried to leave the island Monday for Antigua.  This Caribbean country has a considerable Soith Asian community, a legacy of its days as a British colony.  When asked if they would be turning al-Qados over to the United States, Minister Joseph indicated that they would consider an extradition request from the United States once they were finished with al-Qados.

Hamburg-Arabia Line Gets North Korean Contract
(Routers) Pyongyang, North Korea
Minster of Foreign Trade Yim Kyong-man announced that a contract to transport oil from Iran had been awarded to the Hamburg-Arabia Line.  This contract is of particular benefit to the company as it is likely to ensure that the line's older single-hull tankers will remain in service until their manditory retirement in under a decade because of IMO regulations.  Many countries and companies already prefer double-hulled tankers due to the lesser risk of oil spills that double-hulled tankers have.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
July 30, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Egyptian Minister Calls US Reckless
(Routers) Cairo, Egypt
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher indicated after talks with US Defense Secretary John Ford his displeasure over US policy towards Sudan.  "Secretary Ford seems to think the US can solve this situation like a John Wayne western.  However, things aren't  quite a lawless range in Darfur just yet and I have confidence that a diplomatic resolution to the situation there can be found, one which provides the Sudanese government the resources it needs to root out the Janjaweed bandits and restore order in Darfur.

Gasoline Prices Rise On News of Refinery Fire
(Routers) Oranjestad, Aruba
The Valero oil refinery went up in flames this Thursday afternoonwith four confired dead at more thatn thirty personel reported missing.  The Valero refinery processes around a quarter million barrels per day with much of its outout being sent to the US.  Gasoline futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange spiked up twenty cents per gallon on the news but were down to only up 12.8 cents per gallon by the end of the day as later reports indicate that the refinery is not a total loss.  Said a Valero spokesman "It appears at this point that only one of our two production lines suffered significant damage.  We should be able to get the other back in service within a week at the most.  The loss of life was most unfortinate, but luckily the whole industry, ourselves included has learned the need for good fire suppression systems from past disaters such as the 1947 Texas City fire.

Puerto Rican Governor Unhappy Over Carribbean Act
(Routers) San Juan, PR
Governor Sila Calderon (PPD) called on the Atlasian Senate to reject the Caribbean Statehood Act and for President Gustaf to veto it if they should pass it.  "This bill is slap in the face of the People of Puerto Rico.  Three times those in favor of statehood have lost referendums and now the pro-Statehood forces appear to seek to win the debate by the simple expedient of not asking the People of Puerto Rico whether they desire statehood or not."
Pedro Rosello, head of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP) echoed the governor's comments.  "While we favor statehood, we would prefer a referendum so that the legitmacy of our accession to the Union would be unquestioned.  We also see no need to include the Virgin Islands in our great State.  While we wish the Virgin Islands no ill will, they simply are not part of Puerto Rico."

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Well, I do that for two reasons.  One is the comic effect, but the other is to reduce the risk that some idiot might think these are real news stories.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
August 1, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Spirited Late Night Debate At UN Over Sudan Ends Suddenly
(Routers) New York, NY
A spirited debate over what to do in the Darfur region ended with a Cinderella like abruptness as minight struck. As per schedule, with the chimes of midnight, the presidency of the Security Council switched from Romania to the Russian Federation and the Russian ambassador ordered further debate on Darfur tabled until a majority of ambassadors indicated a desire to resume the discussion.

Agents Raid Multiple Mansions Of Minnow Millionaire
(Routers) Aspen, CO
Snow wasn't the powder being looked for here or in Thurston Howell's other estates as DEA agents executed multiple search warrants against the supected drug kingpin.  "He didn't seem the type," said one neighbor, "but the government wouldn't be doing thins without a good reason, would they?"  Sources indicate that well over $100,000,000 dollars in assets could be seized once the evidence being sought is found.  Suspiscions were raised after Mr. Howell and his wife were rescued at sea after a suspected smuggling trip went bad because of Hurricane Vanna.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
August 2, 2004 - Columbia, SC

Explosion On Mexican Oil Rig
(Routers) Vera Cruz, Mexico
The Montezuma 5 platform in the Bay of Campeche has suffered from an explosion that has caused much destruction and loss of life.  Mexican Coast Guard vessels and helicopters are rushing to the area to try to contain spilling oil and hundreds of oil workes are feared dead.  It is feared that the damage will be worse than the 1979 Ixtoc 1 plarform disaster  Oil and gasoline prices have spiked upwards on the news of this second disaster in the Caribbean oil industry in under a week.  Oil has topped $50 a barrel and unleaded gasoline $2 a gallon on the New York Mercantile Exchange.  Said a spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, "Having two such problems close together is very bad luck, but prices should soon return to normal once supples from outside the Caribbean are arranged for.  Gasoline prices which had spiked upward on news of the oil refinery fire in Aruba had basically returned to what they were before the fire when today's news was heard.  Gasoline prices will be most affected in the Gulf states and the Caribbean, but prices should soon return to normal as market forces reallocate the available supplies."

Sudanese Responses To US Pressure
(Routers) Nairobi, Kenya
Altho not explicitly indicating that are being done in response to US pressure, reports from Sudan indicate that the government is undertaking several activities in response.  Aid agencies report that there are fewer government troops in the Darfur region, altho the janjaweed irregulars appear to be continuing their attacks with the same ferocity as before.  The Sudanese government has recalled its ambassador to Eritrea for consultations.  Also, several Sudanese Ministers have decded that right now would be a good time to depart for various trips abroad.

Puerto Rican Calls For Statehood
(Routers) San Juan, PR
Pedro Rosello, head of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP), called for the Atlasian Senate to pass a revised statehood act.  "The form of the act, it that it ignored the rights of the Peopel of Puerto Rico, is what we objected to, not the idea of statehood.  All sides recognize that the current situation cannot last and we believe that the best way to preserve and enhance the rights of Puerto Ricans is for Puerto Rico to add the star of ots flag to that of the United States."

7th Divison Begins Reactivation as an Active Duty Unit
Little Rock, AR
The 1st Brigade of the 7th Division was today formally reactived in ceremonies held with at the headquarters of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Arkansas National Guard).  The 1st Brigade of the 7th Division will be using the equipment formerly used by the 39th Infantry Brigade.  Speculation as to where the 7th Division will be based has not been answered and several communites are hoping that the 7th or the 24th Divisions will be based there so as to spare the local bases from being eliminated in future base realignments.  It is expected that several governors will be making calls on Nym in the next week to secure the economic benefits of hosting an Army division for their own region.

Israel Visited By Taiwanese Foreign Minister
(Routers) Jerusalem
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Mark Chen received a warm reception here today.  It can be a lonely job being a Taiwanese Foreign Minister as the disputes between Beijing and Taipei cause many countries to keep diplomatic relations with Taiwan low key.  Cooperation between Isreal and Taiwan has increased lately and there has been talk lately of Taiwan opening an embassy in Jerusalem which would raise all sorts of diplomatic hackles in both China and the Arab world if that were to happen.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

... urging politicians in Nyman to pass laws and scientists ...

How do politicians pass scientists?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Region
August 4, 2004 - Columbia SC

Al Qaeda Suspect Released
(Routers) Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
A spokesman for the Ministry of National Security indicated that Abdul bin Muminah al-Qados, a suspected Al Qaeda operative had been released yesterday.  According to the spokesman, the government determined that it had no further interest in holding him and no other government had expressed interest.

Security Council To Take Up Sudan Again
(Routers) New York, NY
Andrei Denisov, the recently appointed Russian ambassador to the UN, serving this month as President of the Security Council under that body's rotating presidency, indicated that the Council would meet this afternoon to consider a French proposed resolution to send peacekeepers into Darfur under a joint French-Nigerian command. Given recent trips abroad by Sudanese officials to Paris and Abuja, it is thought that the proposal may have the approval of the Khartoum government.

PUSHOFF Protests Proposed Fort Franks
(Routers) Scottsdale
PUSHOFF (Phoenix United with Scottsdale to Honorably Oppose Fort Franks) organizer Prescott McDowell said at a rally at the State Capitol today, "It is ludicrous for the Defense Department to acquire new land for an Army base near Scottsdale when there are plenty of closed or underutilized bases in Arizona."

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Depends on how much space you want.  Camp Florence southeast of Mesa is a 40 sq. mi. National Guard base and the 1300 sq. mi. Yuma Proving Ground north of Yuma are existing Arizona Army facilitiies that could accomodate a division, altho Camp Florence would be a bit cramped.