NationStates Issues **SPOILER ALERT**

[Tinhampton]

Issue #271 was edited by Lenyo, Fris and Sedge.

[Drasnia]

Great job, Drasnia! We are going to be keeping you pretty busy in the next few months, as the editing team is now bigger and more active than it has ever been. Thanks for taking on this difficult task!

Completely agreed. Thanks for keeping the issue list tidy for the NS community, Drasnia

Thanks guys

[Maljaratas]

Just a note, but the last option of 638 still has Maljaratas instead of @@NAME@@ in the code.
647.3 still has Flowers instead of @@CURRENCY@@

Correction: Oogaboogaland was excised from issue 617.

EDIT: And good job with the spoiler thread

[Drasnia]

Just a note, but the last option of 638 still has Maljaratas instead of @@NAME@@ in the code.
647.3 still has Flowers instead of @@CURRENCY@@

Correction: Oogaboogaland was excised from issue 617.

EDIT: And good job with the spoiler thread

I will fix it the next time I update with the new batch of issues. Thanks for the report

[Maljaratas]

Just a note, but the last option of 638 still has Maljaratas instead of @@NAME@@ in the code.
647.3 still has Flowers instead of @@CURRENCY@@


EDIT: And good job with the spoiler thread

I will fix it the next time I update with the new batch of issues. Thanks for the report

You are welcome.

[Trotterdam]

#668 How To Examine Your Testees

The Issue

At the International Conference of Education, head-teachers and education ministers generally have a drink or ten and get a chance to meet their peers from across the world. The conference happens to be in @@NAME@@ this year and having nothing better to do one night, you decide to attend a mixer. As it happens, the topic of conversation is Standardised Testing...

The Debate

1. Dàguó Education Director Hoo Yu Wan Hia, apparently misunderstanding the nature of the social-mixer, has set up a projector upon a platter of hors d'oeuvres and is currently word-for-word reading off PowerPoint slides. "In Dàguó, standardised tests assess student performance throughout education. Centile-scoring streams the students, gives accurate comparison, and identifies the cream of the crop for industry roles. Next slide, please. This is the foundation of economic success, and also why Dàguó children are so much better at maths and science than the lazy and undisciplined children of your nations. You should adopt the Dàguó system. Any questions?"

2. "Constant testing teaches children only how to pass tests," interjects Antti Markkanen, a progressive head teacher from the socialistic nation of Skandilund, carefully putting down his drink. "Obsession with competition only makes children equate success with dominance. Use carrot and stick methods, and you just get an ass. Pun intended. When children compete, most are taught only that they are losers. Abandon testing, and teach love of knowledge!"

3. "So on the one hand we got rote-learning clones, and on the other, liberal hippies!" spits cowboy-hat wearing Jonnie Wain, interrupting his poker game to literally and metaphorically put his cards on the table. "In the United Federation we got a saying: 'Hey Guvmint! Butt out!'. Let each school be its own business, deciding its own way with no centralized tyranny. Let parents vote with their wallets, and either pick the school they want, or pick no school at all. I was raised on my uncle's farm; I just learned me how to herd steers from the back of a horse. That's real life education!"

4. "Couldn't we be a bit more moderate, try and take something of all three options?" wonders your Education Minister, trying to escape from the trio of foreign educators closing in on her. "Maybe there's a @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ way, with compulsory exam assessments, but not a national test, but a choice of examination boards competing on the free market. And maybe you could have some state schools with part private funding, and some private schools with state regulation, and some structured home schooling involving some time in communal classrooms. That sounds good, doesn't it? Maybe? Possibly?"

Issue by: Candlewhisper Archive
Edited by: Candlewhisper Archive

I don't think any of these names are random.

[Drasnia]

I think you're right.

EDIT Yup, they're all hard-coded.

[Trotterdam]

“Look, we want to keep tabs on our population, but do we really need to deal with all this outrage?” muses Lucy Fir, a promising junior delegate from the Ministry of Creative Solutions. “Why not secretly implant the microchips while people are still in the birthing vats? Sure, people won’t be able to shop with a chip that they don’t know is there, but in terms of national security and crime prevention, secret surveillance is far more effective than open monitoring.”

The last option seems to be only available for nations with vat-grown citizens.

Funny (and convenient!) that the first person to post it just happened to already qualify for that one

Turns out #666's last option isn't so exclusive:

4. "Look, we want to keep tabs on our population, but do we really need to deal with all this outrage?" muses Lucy Fir, a promising junior delegate from the Ministry of Creative Solutions. "Why not secretly implant the microchips in newborn babies during routine postnatal checks and in adults during dental work? Sure, people won't be able to shop with a chip that they don't know is there, but in terms of national security and crime prevention, secret surveillance is far more effective than open monitoring."

This is option 4, so the vat version Drayxaso posted is probably option 5.

Also, the names are @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ Tenhorn, @@RANDOMFIRSTNAME@@ Apollyon, Jonty Apostle, and Lucy Fir. (The last two are completely nonrandom. Think "John the Apostle" and "Lucifer".)

I too forgot to check author and editor, since I forgot that they weren't already reported.

The last option seems to be only available for nations with vat-grown citizens. I don't know if there's other options.

(Which means you should have been able to tell there was another option... There should have been a gap in the source code numbering.)

[Tinhampton]

I too forgot to check author and editor, since I forgot that they weren't already reported.

Written by Minoa (I know), edited by CWA (I think).

[Australian rePublic]

The Canberra Times
VOL. 32 NO. 666CITY FINAL
MONDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2017
A Microchip On Your Shoulder

The Issue

Contactless payment, internet banking and robust consumer credit mechanisms are already making shopping easier than any time in history. However, a technology think tank is proposing that you could stimulate the economy by going one step further, with universal subcutaneous microchips linked to a national Australian Identity Database.

The Debate

Samuel Tenhorn, head of the think tank, is enthusiastic. “No need for wallets or purses any more: just walk out with the goods, and your credit account is updated! Also, you could link medical data, GPS-tracking, biometrics data... the benefits are legion! I mean, we’re not talking a barcode under your left eye or anything mad like that, just an unobtrusive digital implant, anywhere on the body. Oh brave new world, that has such gadgets in it!”

Accept

“We must reject the Australian Identity Database!” raves Alexei Apollyon, leader of the Australian Republic Resistance Against the Identity Database (AR-RAID) campaign group. “In the name of ‘national security’, law-abiding citizens will end up being forced to lose their privacy. The right to use cash and hard currency is vital to protecting our rights to avoid taxat... uh... to avoid Orwellian monitoring!”

Accept

“That’s not enough!” screams conspiracy theorist Jonty Apostle, adjusting his tinfoil hat to keep radio waves out of his brain. “Do you know how many databases there are out there gathering intelligence on us all? Credit reports, search engine histories, e-mail archives, medical records, criminal records, driving licences... All these little revelations, and you still think it’s crazy when I say that we’re always being watched? Steven Jot, give people back their freedom! Ban government and corporations from tracking our data in any way!”

Accept

“Look, we want to keep tabs on our population, but do we really need to deal with all this outrage?” muses Lucy Fir, a promising junior delegate from the Ministry of Creative Solutions. “Why not secretly implant the microchips in newborn babies during routine postnatal checks and in adults during dental work? Sure, people won’t be able to shop with a chip that they don’t know is there, but in terms of national security and crime prevention, secret surveillance is far more effective than open monitoring.”

Accept

Dismiss This Issue

Issue by The State of Minoa
Edited by Candlewhisper Archive

[Drasnia]

Thanks for the confirmation Aussie.

[Drayxaso]

Skandilund

Ooh, is that a new NPC nation I sense?

The last option seems to be only available for nations with vat-grown citizens. I don't know if there's other options.

(Which means you should have been able to tell there was another option... There should have been a gap in the source code numbering.)

Source code? What is this witchcraft?

[The United Providences of Perland]

Damn it AR I wanted to post 666.

[Drayxaso]

Damn it AR I wanted to post 666.

Technically I did it first.

[Noahs Second Country]

Damn it AR I wanted to post 666.

:/ Same...

[Minoa]

I too forgot to check author and editor, since I forgot that they weren't already reported.

Written by Minoa (I know), edited by CWA (I think).

Indeed I did. I can confirm that I have recorded the variable text, although I don't know when such capability was first introduced, whether it was with or after the introduction of conditional options.

[Trotterdam]

The variable text is conditional options, just with contradictory conditions that will never be true at the same time.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

The variable text is conditional options, just with contradictory conditions that will never be true at the same time.

Yep, you're correct. Using option validities to present alternate versions is my small contribution to the editorial toolbox. There's other tricks that I think we may be able to attempt in future, but will surprise you with them when the time comes.

[Luna Amore]

The variable text is conditional options, just with contradictory conditions that will never be true at the same time.

Yep, you're correct. Using option validities to present alternate versions is my small contribution to the editorial toolbox. There's other tricks that I think we may be able to attempt in future, but will surprise you with them when the time comes.

We've actually been doing option validities variations for nearly 3 years. I think it came about because of Sanc's chain although I don't think he used it in the chain.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Yep, you're correct. Using option validities to present alternate versions is my small contribution to the editorial toolbox. There's other tricks that I think we may be able to attempt in future, but will surprise you with them when the time comes.

We've actually been doing option validities variations for nearly 3 years. I think it came about because of Sanc's chain although I don't think he used it in the chain.

Really, how interesting!

Looking through the code, I can see they do indeed go back to 2014...

Hmm, will have to see if I can innovate in some other way then...

[Luna Amore]

We've actually been doing option validities variations for nearly 3 years. I think it came about because of Sanc's chain although I don't think he used it in the chain.

Really, how interesting!

Looking through the code, I can see they do indeed go back to 2014...

Hmm, will have to see if I can innovate in some other way then...

Says the guy that has multiple large scale code renovations going on.

I have no doubt you'll innovate multiple times over.

[Drasnia]

Really, how interesting!

Looking through the code, I can see they do indeed go back to 2014...

Hmm, will have to see if I can innovate in some other way then...

Says the guy that has multiple large scale code renovations going on.

I have no doubt you'll innovate multiple times over.

I'm going to have to warn you guys for thread-jacking

(jk)

[Candlewhisper Archive]

If I was a mod, I'd lay the smackdown on myself right now, but that's one achievement badge I've yet to attain.

Nevertheless, I'll be quiet now.

[Drasnia]

If I was a mod, I'd lay the smackdown on myself right now, but that's one achievement badge I've yet to attain.

Nevertheless, I'll be quiet now.

It's times like these where I wonder if we should get an official unofficial chat server (either IRC or Discord).

[Tinhampton]

If I was a mod, I'd lay the smackdown on myself right now, but that's one achievement badge I've yet to attain.

Nevertheless, I'll be quiet now.

It's times like these where I wonder if we should get an official unofficial chat server (either IRC or Discord).

If we must do that, how about reviving the old #IssuesLair IRC chat that was semi-popular in the summer of 2012 and never seen again?