Brutland and Norden News Feed

[Brutland and Norden]

OOC: This thread contains news bits from Brutland and Norden. You can react, reply, or drop any comments. If you want to do something drastic, or you simply want to, you can TG me.

This is a continuation of this thread from jolt.

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Welcome to the Brutland and Norden News Feed, brought to you by the Nord-Brutlandese Expatriates Association. Here we bring you some of the latest developments in Brutland and Norden.

We would like to thank Nord-Brutlandese Dubbing Service for helping us translate the news items.

The news items are primarily from three sources:


Based in the capital Vilòstresa (Kingsville), L'Unnone (The Union) is a trusted source of news items. It is by far the most unbiased newspaper in the country.


La Brutelliense (The Brutlander/ The Brute) is a newspaper based in Brutland City, Brutland. It has a primarily conservative slant, a viewpoint that corresponds with the attitude of the stereotypical Brute, hence its tagline: "The voice of Brutland".


Norden's La Diernalo is the opposite of its Brute counterpart. It has a liberal bent, and firmly believes that its "truth is mighty and will prevail".

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News Items:
The Archives

[Brutland and Norden]

Brutland and Norden Establishes Cyber Army

December 04, 2009
by Melissa di Calamandrana
KINGSVILLE – the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden yesterday passed a law establishing the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Cyber Army (Sibràrme Reala Nordèbrutelliense, SaRNb) as another branch of the Royal Military Forces of Brutland and Norden (Militare Reala di Norden e Marchòbrutellia, MRNMb). MRNMb currently has four branches: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Space Force.

The law, co-authored by MPs Kyle Tyler Lancellotti (PP: Torranica - Esolu di Pecadi - Cattero di Perucce, Brutland) and Tobias Lupacchino (PP: Campodania, Norden), elevates the Cybersecurity Division of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Army into a new defense arm of the military. The SaRNb will be organized much like the other branches of the military, but with adaptations to the unique battlefield that is the cyberspace.

“This is important, as cybersecurity of the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden might be threatened by external, hostile forces,” quipped Mr. Lupacchino. “This is all the more important as we continue to modernize, computerize, and connect Brutland and Norden to the Internet. Our online elections, for instance, has to be safeguarded. So does our Internet infrastructure.”

The newly-passed law mandates the SaRNb to protect Brutland and Norden’s internet infrastructure, identify and neutralize possible threats to the security of the government’s databases, coordinate with the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Police to track down and hunt cybercriminals, among others.

While there was a wide swath of public opinion in favor of the legislation, some of the more libertarian members of Parliament were somewhat unsettled with the bill. MP Anastasia Serratello [PP: Brutellia Sordostennía, Brutland] voiced her concerns in the parliamentary debate last week. Among her concerns was internet neutrality and possible censorship of the internet; also she expressed her fear of the SaRNb becoming an “internet police”. Mr. Lupacchino and Mr. Lancelotti tried to allay Ms. Serratello and others’ concerns, but as an assurance, the General Court passed an amendment by Ms. Serratello and MP Bryce Ryan Knott [PP: Marchòcchiese Esta, Brutland] prohibiting the SaRNb from engaging in such activities.

With a consensus present at the lower chamber, the General Court passed the amended bill 149-0, with MP Tornessa di Carmolli [PC: Quartelo di Trabbajetto, Norden] abstaining. The House of Lords passed the bill by acclamation yesterday. It starts to take effect immediately, but Defense Minister Kail Brecchio [PP: Vilòrmosa - Calabruzzi Nordosta, Brutland] estimates that it would take about two weeks for the SaRNB to be fully functional, and two years for it to recruit and train soldiers for the SaRNb.

[Brutland and Norden]

Entertainment Section
"Our Home"

by Terrenco Bastianello
December 16, 2009
ORLANDO, Brutland – “Buonvene te nòi ousse felicha!” (“Welcome to our happy house*!”) That was the greeting on the banner at one of the booths at yesterday’s Brutland Comic Convention at Fontana di Padania, grant of Padania, where the comic book version of the popular Nord-Brutlandese webcomic L’Uomo (“Our Home”) was launched. Those familiar with the webcomic knew exactly what the banner meant.

Author Malcolm Casanova was present at the fair to autograph and present his book to fans and buyers. When asked about the reception of his comic, the twenty-five year old half-Brute from Torranica answered, “Great. I didn’t think I would be here, much less make a living out of our happy house.”

L’Uomo started as a webcomic (http://www.malcolmcasanova.co.nem/luomo) as a side project by the web site designer and computer programmer. Conceived, written, and drawn by Casanova, L’Uomo paints a comedic, sometimes satiric, interpretation on current and historical events in Brutland and Norden, in which Brutland, Norden, and the Union Territories are represented by a family of characters.

The series feature Bruno, the brave, headstrong, and lovable father, representing the province of Brutland. Bruno is married to Nora (Norden), a levelheaded and smart woman plagued by episodes of split personality. The relationship, though happy at present, was formerly plagued by endless quarrels and fights, alluding to the turbulent history between the two countries before the Union.

Bruno and Nora have a dozen (adopted) children, alluding to the twelve Union Territories. The eldest is Barbara (Union Island), who, like her mother, has a split personality. She feels like the natural leader of the group, a position she thought she earned by being close to her father. Ellen (Santelleria) is the second child, is the complete opposite of Barbara: she is an obedient silent child, hellbent on doing the right thing. Next come the military triplets: the army soldier Stanislao (Stampione), the navy sailor Camilo (Campedusa), and the air force pilot Bruno the Third (Brugnatella). The three, like their father, are obstinate and disagree on what they should do, but when they do something together they usually succeed. Their most frequent adversary is the openly gay and militant Tommaso (Tonzivibbia), who wants to be called Tamara. Tommaso is frequently joined by the Odin-worshipping metal-loving Pietro (Piscierettu), who is often the target of ridicule by his brothers due to his beliefs.

The twins Linda (Liparegna) and Lisa (Librugnie), while being essentially copies of each other, constantly bicker. Linda is rebellious and incites her siblings to disobey their parents, especially their father, who pins the blame on Lisa, since the two are essentially alike and Linda likes to impersonate Lisa. Beatrice (Berríalva) has a split personality and is schizophrenic, to boot. She frequently cries when her parents quarrel and turns catatonic when she sees her siblings fight. Fiorello (Fiorgamino) is the “token nerd” in the bunch, but while he has almost no self-esteem, his astronomy-obsessed brother Bricco (Santobricco), the youngest child, looks up to him and thinks of him highly. Sometimes complicating the already complicated matters are Nora’s parents Norma (Normark) and Danilo (Dennland). Norma is very weary and suspicious of Bruno, sometimes openly fights him; while Danilo is frequently caught in between the conflicts. All of the characters originally were called by the places they represent, but Casanova decided to give them human names in the book.

When asked who his favorite in the bunch is, the author answered, “Fiorello, he rocks.” Casanova also hinted that a second edition of the book is in the works, which could possibly involving other countries aside from Brutland and Norden. Several foreign countries have already made cameo appearances in the webcomic version: the racecar driver Luciano (Van Luxemburg), the pilot Rocco (Ruccola), their neighbor Cheryl (Tsrill), the cool guy Cody (Cookesland), the couple Candy and Marco (Candelaria And Marquez), the gym owner Inazio (Imbrinium), the elder Vittorio (ViZion), and the city councilor Kenny (Omigodtheykilledkenny).

Casanova described the reception yesterday was “awesome” and “inspiring”, reflecting on the traffic his booth received. “People can relate to the concept,” said Simone Marinello, 19, of Palagonia, “and we get to learn many things too, even obscure events in our history.”

“The information it presents is factual,” notes historian Pancrazio Rossello, 40, of Padanica, also a fan of the comic. “It’s a great way to learn Nord-Brutlandese history. Casanova admitted consulting his older brother, a historian teaching at the Royal University of Brutland – Trazio, for his work. “It’s not really meant to be a historical comic, it’s meant to be a funny comic, but I just don’t want people to get bad information.”

Asked further about second edition of the comic, Casanova said, “Not sure yet. Don’t count on it. But with this kind of reception, it can be inspiring to continue.”

L’Uomo is currently available online at Astria Publishing (http://www.astria.co.nem) and on the author’s website (http://www.malcolmcasanova.co.nem). The Brute Comic Convention runs until December 17, 2009, 9AM-9PM @ the Settro Convegno Fiumòquianda, Fontana di Padania, grant of Padania, Brutland.

*happy house – in Brutland, this is a euphemism for a psychiatric institution/mental hospital.

[Brutland and Norden]

Island Legalizes Prostitution

April 1, 2010
by Gennaro Cantalamessa
DISACRAZIONE, Brutland – The Grant Council of Esolu di Pecadi (“Isles of Sins”) yesterday approved proposal of the towns of the island of Desirie (“Lust”) to allow prostitution in the island.

“This is no April Fools' joke,” said Giorgio Belosi, the mayor of the town of Disacrazione (“Distraction”). “We are legalizing prostitution here.”

The grant council of Esolu di Pecadi voted 8-7 for the proposal. “This would bring income to the community, help the prostitutes be safer by instituting safeguards and regulations. It would just legitimize what is happening in the island,” explained Faria Pallone, a councilor from the town of Descarottaglia (“Destruction”) in the island of Grave (“Anger”). “Plus, the name of the island could be taken advantage of.”

Councilor Pierro Specchio just laughs out loud. “If we’d live by the name of our islands, my island would be giving free food,” Specchio said, who hails from the island of Lamone (“Gluttony”). “We’re the laughingstock of Brutland and Norden because of our place names. Now this? More laughter, I should say.”

“They say that [prostitution] has been around for thousands of years, why not legalize it? It’s a ridiculous argument,” said councilor Simona Riccio of Colpre di Pecadi (“Blows of Sins”). “Perhaps councilor Pallone would want to legalize murder too. After all, murder has been around for thousands of years too. And it’s fitting for her island of Anger.”

The controversial proposal had already polarized the grant, even the inhabitants of Lust themselves. “It’d make our work safer,” said a prostitute from the town of Dispara (“Despair”), who declined to be named. “Finally we don’t need to hide from the light of the day… All we want is the freedom to chose our profession and do it decently without harassment. We don’t hurt people. We don’t steal. We are living a decent life.”

“I don’t like that idea,” said Marco, a teenage son of a former prostitute from the village of Suffrale (“Suffering”). “I’m a product of prostitution and I do not know my father. But what I do know is that legalizing it would harm us. People would soon come here looking for brothels and girls to make them happy for a bunch of livros. Soon many would sell their bodies, more people would come in, and so on.”

Many persons voiced out their concern. “This would be the only place in Brutland that would allow prostitution,” said Premier Luanna Staiola of Brutland. “But I would not allow this thing in my province.”

“Brutland’s laws do not say anything about prostitution,” said Brutish MP Lorenzo Deretti. “We can draft laws. This [ordinance] will get challenged in the courts.”

Roman Catholic Bishop Marco Tolmefini of Trazio, which has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the islands, said in a pastoral letter, “Legalizing prostitution is legalizing the desecration of the human body and condoning the commodification of people.”

Women’s groups also sounded a similar tack. “Legalizing prostitution is like saying that women are commodities that can be bought,” said Tamara La Licaro, the grant chairwoman of the Brutland Women’s League, a group that organized a demonstration in the grant capital of Santimalo (“Saint of Evil”). “We reject this idea and demand that women be given the respect and the opportunities they so deserve.”

“Why all of this outrage?” Grant president Oratio d’Algravi exclaimed before the demonstration. “Don’t you know there are male prostitutes too?”

“D’Algravi doesn’t get it,” said La Licaro. “Women do make up a disproportionate percentage of prostitutes in his islands and in the country.”

Already women’s groups, the Roman Catholic Bishopric of Trazio, and several Esolu di Pecadi civic organizations challenged the ordinance in a suit filed in the Courts of the Province for the Southeastern District in the city of Trazio.

[Brutland and Norden]

OOC: Back-dated story.

Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank to Redesign the Livro

February 15, 2010
by Sara Fisichella
KINGSVILLE - the Nord-Brutlandese livro, the currency of the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden, is getting a major redesign, the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank (Banco Reala Nordèbrutelliense, BRNb) has confirmed.

"The livro will be redesigned," said BRNb Chief Cashier Adam Castresana, "in order to solve some problems with our present set of currency. We also need to modernize our currency." Castresana asserted that only the banknotes will be redesigned, not the coinage.

An earlier plan to redesign the currency was submitted by the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank in 2008 to the government of Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella. However, the Cortanella government, especially Treasury Minister Lúanna Gardefini, viewed the proposal as another unnecessary cost. But with the discovery of some counterfeit 100-livro notes in Norden in January 2009 (the first such case in Brutland and Norden) and the use of the livro in foreign transactions led the government to adopt the program in July 2009.

New Banknotes by July
A July 2010 deadline was set by the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank for the change in currency. This was due to the fact that the Series VII, which bears the image of King Adam IV, is due to be demonetized by July 2010. Approximately £5.4 billion worth of Series VII banknotes remain in circulation, according to the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank. Discontinued series remain legal tender for up to four years, but are still redeemable with the BRNb for up to seven years. The redesign as timed to coincide with this date.

The BRNb typically redesigns banknotes every time the monarch is replaced, in order to update the image on the currency. Prepared plates and plans are usually underway even before a monarch's reign ends, but with the sudden death of King Adam IV in June 2006, a new series, Series VIII, was hurriedly introduced by September 2006, in order to update the currency with the image of the current monarch, King Kyle II. Series VIII was virtually identical to Series VII except for the image of the monarch.

Should the BRNb issue a new set of banknotes in July, the Series VIII banknotes bearing the image of King Kyle II would still be legal tender until July 2014 and will be redeemable with the new livros until July 2017.

New Features
BRNb's Castresana said that the currency replacement will represent a major overhaul of the Nord-Brutlandese currency. The new livro will be made of polymer, not paper. While it may have a different feel than the usual paper banknotes, Castresana is confident that "us Nord-Brutlandese will get used to it." He also stressed that polymer banknotes are less flammable, more durable, and are recyclable. They also be much, much harder to counterfeit. The BRNb had issued a commemorative 2000-livro polymer banknote last September 2009, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the marriage of King Adam III of Brutland and Queen Adrienne of Norden, the personal union that led to the creation of the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden.

Anti-counterfeiting features will be enhanced and more will be added to the new set of banknotes. "This is to deter potential counterfeiters," says Castresana. Many of the features that will be introduced was developed by the Nord-Brutlandese company Baadsgaard & Lambert. While there had been no large counterfeiting operations of the Nord-Brutlandese livro to date, the events in January 2009 proved that Brutland and Norden's currency was vulnerable to criminal elements. In addition, its high value and its position as a representative currency makes it particularly attractive. With Brutland and Norden opening up, foreign criminals might use this vulnerability to wreck Nord-Brutlandese currency and economy.

But one thing will not change much. "Color," Castresana confirmed. The colors of the various banknotes are so entrenched in a Nord-Brutlandese's mind that the BRNb will not change the colors of the banknotes. "Changing it will cause confusion," he said. Thus, the colors blue, yellow, green, orange, gray, red, cyan, violet, and multicolor will remain for the £1, £5, £10, £20, £50, £100, £200, £500, and £1000 banknotes, respectively.

Abolish the High Notes?
An oft-circulated rumor that the larger-denominated banknotes, the £200, the £500, and the £1000 notes would not be produced anymore, was addressed by Castresana at yesterday's press conference. "We're not sure, yet," he said of the rumor, "but there is a possibility. The high-denomination notes can be a target for counterfeiters and money launderers." According to our research, the £1000 note is one of the most valuable single banknote in the world, worth about $1600. But it may not sit well with many a Nord-Brutlandese, who like high-denomination banknotes.

"We'll know by July," Castresana said. "This redesign will change the look - and feel - of the Nord-Brutlandese livro."

[Brutland and Norden]

New Livros Released Today

July 3, 2010
by Sara Fisichella
KINGSVILLE - the newly redesigned Series IX Nord-Brutlandese livro, the currency of the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden, was released today into general circulation by the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank (Banco Reala Nordèbrutelliense, BRNb) through public and private banks all over the country.

The release was simultaneous in all grants and provinces following a July 2 bank holiday in order to provide a one-day window for the delivery of the new banknotes to banks all over the country. Citizens can now exchange their old paper banknotes into the new polymer banknotes in all banks in Brutland and Norden. Most vending machines, automated teller machines, and currency counters had also been reconfigured to adapt to the change.

"Smooth Turnover"
The BRNb reported that £12.5 billion worth of old livros had been exchanged to the new livros so far. While there was no rush to exchange banknotes, some Nord-Brutlandese went to banks early in order to get their hands on the new, more modern currency. "It's... different," Sabino Pellegrino, an office worker from Providenza, remarked about the new banknotes. Pellegrino went to the bank early before work to exchange his old King Adam IV livros. "It doesn't feel like money. But I guess we Nord-Brutlandese will get used to these plastic money. I hear these polymer banknotes are more secure... and definitely you cannot reproduce this in a paper copier. "

"I like it," said Carolina di Gasperina, a bank teller at the Banco di Monteleone. "Vivid colors, sophisticated design and security features, and it feels clean. Dirt and smell sticks to paper banknotes, sometimes you loath to touch them. And it'll be much easier to look out for fakes."

There were only a few isolated incidents concerning the new banknotes. In the town of Palombara di Tiberio, province of Brutland, some local stores refused to accept the new banknotes. Some shopkeepers believed the new banknotes were toy money. The matter as immediately cleared by the municipal mayor and the BRNb representative for the grant of Cantabrica. In the grant of Mordogudoro, province of Norden, people were unable to get the new banknotes after the barge that was supposed to bring the new banknotes to the islands was stranded in the Scilian port of Agriacca.

Exchange Early
The Chief Cashier of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank, Adam Castresana, encouraged citizens to exchange their livros early and make the transition immediately. The BRNb had shortened the grace period with which the paper banknotes can still be used and exchanged. The BRNb gave the Nord-Brutlandese three months to exchange their livros in the country's banks. The paper Series VIII banknotes, bearing the image of King Kyle II, will remain legal tender only for one more year, up to July 2011 (instead of the usual four years); and can be exchanged at face value (at BRNb branches only) only for two more years, up to July 2012 (instead of the usual seven years). The Series VII notes, bearing the image of King Adam IV, will cease to be legal tender this month, and can be exchanged at face value for only one more year, up to July 2011 (instead of up to July 2013).

Security Features of the Nord-Brutlandese Livro
(from the Royal Bank of Brutland and Norden)

BRNB's Castresana said that the Bank wanted Brutland and Norden to shift immediately to the polymer banknotes and cease the use of the paper banknotes, which was more liable to counterfeiting. While there were some cases of counterfeiting, it was never much of a problem. Nevertheless, the BRNb recognized the vulnerability of the Nord-Brutlandese livro and immediately made plans to remedy it, hence the issuance of a new series of banknotes.

And although the high-denomination banknotes (£200, £500, £1000) will remain legal tender and will be circulated, the Bank will be reducing the amount that they will print, primarily to fight money laundering. The £1000 livro banknote, roughly equivalent to $1600, is one of the highest-valued banknotes in the world.

The New Series IX Banknotes
The redesign was proposed by the BRNb and was approved by the Cortanella government in 2009, primarily to strengthen the security features of Nord-Brutlandese currency. It was also to update the images on the currency.

The new banknotes of the Nord-Brutlandese livro are made of a plastic polymer called biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP), developed at the Nord-Brutlandese company Baadsgaard & Lambert (B&L). B&L was also responsible for the other security features, which included a transparent plastic window, holograms, color-shifting and thermochromatic inks, intaglio printing, and for higher denominations, RFIDs to track down the currencies and reveal counterfeits.

The banknotes bear the image of His Majesty King Kyle II and various castles around Brutland and Norden. The colors remained the same for all denominations in order to prevent confusion with the colors the Nord-Brutlandese had been accustomed to.

Gallery: Nord-Brutlandese livro Series IX
£1: Colored blue, Mount Bianco on the Reverse


£5: Colored yellow, Royal Palace on the Reverse


£10: Colored green, General Court on the Reverse
The view of the General Court featured changed from the interior courtyard to the south side of the Court.


£20: Colored orange, Stroppiana Lighthouse on the Reverse


£50: Colored gray, Nordville Castle on the Reverse


£100: Colored red, Montecrestese Castle on the Reverse


£200: Colored cyan, Dennville Castle on the Reverse


£500: Colored violet, Brutland City Castle on the Reverse
The Castle of Brutes (City of Padanica) as replaced by the Brutland City Castle.


£1000: Multicolored, Pannondrian Castle on the Reverse

[Brutland and Norden]

(from the English Bulletin of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Medical Association)

BDL approves new antibiotic

by Angèlo Cottanello, MD
November 29, 2010
KINGSVILLE – The Nord-Brutlandese Bureau of Food and Drugs (Biure per Limentu e Drogu, BLD) announced its approval of the newest, and arguably one of the more potent, antibiotics that can now be used in the treatment of bacterial infections. The new drug, with the non-proprietary name of bricidine, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against a wide array of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and anaerobic organisms.¹

Development
Bricidine was jointly developed by the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Apothecary (Pothecario Reala Nordèbrutelliense), the Royal University of Brutland and Norden, and the private company Medici Apothecary (Pothecario de Medici). The Royal Nord-Brutlandese Apothecary is a crown corporation involved in the research of orphan drugs. “Antibiotic resistance is one of the more worrying but neglected problems in our fight against illnesses,” said Dr. Antonello di Calamandrana, the director of the company. “Multidrug resistant infections, caused by so-called “superbugs” like MRSA, MRSE, VRSA, and ESBL organisms are rare but serious and devastating. It has become more common with the more widespread use of antibiotics, but when it occurs, sometimes we run out of pharmacologic armamentarium to combat these.”

One example is the widely reported recent case in Nord-Brutlandese medical literature last year. A 56-year old man diagnosed with acute myelogenous lymphoma went down with a fatal case of bacterial meningitis at the Saint Bryce’s Hospital in Santobricco. The meningitis was refractory to treatment even with the administered broad-spectrum antibiotics available. The bacterial culture revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistant to all of the antibiotics, including powerful ones as piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin, carbapenems, daptomycin, linezolid, ceftobiprole, teicoplanin, vancomycin, tigecycline, chloramphenicol, aztreonam, quinupristin/dalfopristin, and even colistin and polymyxin. The case prompted a shutdown and a general disinfection of the hospital.^2,3

Despite the seriousness of the problem, the development of new antibiotics has been largely neglected by the pharmaceutical companies, perhaps due to the perceived unprofitability of the project. “Antibiotic development, or drug development for that matter, entails the investment of millions of livros,” said Dr. di Calamandrana. “Antibiotics for severe multidrug resistant cases will not be much in demand, hence the lack of interest in antibiotic development. We at the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Apothecary thusly took up the challenge.”

Working with the Royal Institutes of Health in Castagnole (a component of the Royal University of Brutland and Norden – Kingsville), the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Apothecary assembled a team, headed by the late Dr. Eugenio Bocchigliero. The team scrutinized over a million substances as candidates for new antibiotics. But the team did not need to look further than the forests of Norden. Team member Dr. Kyle Laidley suggested looking into the components of the sap of the bloodtree (Arborodor sanguinum), whose sap, called red myrrh, used in folk medicine as an astringent and antimicrobial. One of it active components, arborodorine B, was found to be most effective against bacteria. “Bricidine is a semisynthetic compound, essentially modified arborodorine B,” explained Dr. Laidley. “It was one of our nineteen candidate compounds.”

Efficacy
Bricidine was found to be most effective of the nineteen compounds, showing activity against gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria. In a subsequent research, it was shown to be effective in vitro against multidrug resistant strains of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Stenotrophomonas, Salmonella, Clostridium, and Bacteroides.⁴

“Bricidine is in an entirely new class of antibiotics,” explained Dr. Laidley. “That’s why there’s little cross-reactivity between it and other antibiotics; and most bacteria are bricidine-naïve – that is, they haven’t been exposed to it yet so as to develop resistance.”

In addition, the pharmacodynamics of bricidine offers it seven different mechanisms of action. According to a research by Dr. Laidley and Dr. Erica di Panfenuzzi, bricidine works by inhibiting protein synthesis by binding to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and by mimicking bacterial tryptophanyl-tRNA; prevents bacterial cell wall and membrane synthesis by inhibiting glycopeptide polymerization by inhibiting incorporation of N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), and by a different mechanism, isoprene units to the membrane; and inducing DNA damage in bacteria by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase III; and by blocking bacterial folate synthesis by inhibiting dihydropteroate synthetase. Bacterial resistance is also minimized as bricidine enters the bacterial cell via three mechanisms: through the newly-discovered inducible bricidine transporter, by destabilizing bacterial cell membranes, and surprisingly, through the family of ABC transporters, which is responsible for some of the mechanisms of bacterial antibiotic resistance⁵.

“It’s a super-antibiotic,” remarks Dr. Laidley. “It will be difficult for any bacteria to produce resistance due to the many mechanisms of action and many ways by which bricidine can enter the cell. It has to resist the multiple assaults of bricidine on its various cellular functions.”

Approval
Bricidine passed Phase I and II trials, but its Phase III trials came very much early. Hearing about the research on arborodorine B, several petitions were sent to Dr. Bocchigliero’s team for mercy use of bricidine. As such, Phase III trials came quickly, which showed bricidine to be effective in vivo against multidrug resistant organisms.

It did not take long before the Nord-Brutlandese Bureau of Food and Drugs to issue its approval of the drug, now adding a new regulatory classification: a droghe limitecca spezial (specially restricted drug), which limits its use to that approved by guidelines to be set by the Ministry of Health.¹ “This is to prevent the development of bacterial resistance to bricidine,” explained Dr. Vanessa Cantalamessa of the BLD. “We are optimistic about this new antibiotic.”

Manufacturing
The private company Medici Apothecary partnered with the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Apothecary to develop a cost-efficient way of manufacturing the drug. The Royal Patent Office of Brutland and Norden granted the seven-year chemical patent to the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Apothecary and the thirty-year process patent to the Medici Apothecary. Bricidine was formulated to have an oral and an intravenous form, but the oral form will be restricted to gastrointestinal infections, as bricidine is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. The antibiotic will be sold under the trade name Bacidine, and will be available in hospital pharmacies by March 2011.

References
1. Biure per Limentu e Drogu, Finisterre Reala Nordèbrutelliense di Loggie. Apporve di Droghe Nuova: Bricidine. Gazeto Reala di la Rinnosso Unnona di Norden e Marchòbrutellia. 2010 Nov 28;Sez B:27 (col. 2).
2. Brigagliano C, Carentano L, di Santobricco B, Bollandini L, Ghirardesca A, Zambrone GD, Bacalli SR, Benedetto V, Santaòlalla E. Meningitide bacteria resistellía te droghi moltipla in a pazzento con limfómo míeloginosa acuta: a breltesse sgresa. J Assoc Real Nordebrut Med. 2009 Oct; 309(10): 50-53.
3. Lumbago R, Cottanello A. Infezie di "Superbug" causece sare di la Spedalo di Santobricco. Bollettino di la Associazione Reala Nordèbrutelliense. 2009 Sep 7; 159(37): 2-5.
4. Bocchigliero E, Laidley K, Pettoranello K, Colvard C, Jurney T, di Nicoletano R, Frascati U, Grettamanzi L, Manzano T, di Ponteranica C, d'Epirense R, Junqueiro J, Bolighero J. Patreni soscettiva per C#1509 di bacteria resistellía te droghi moltipla. J Nordebrut Microbiol. 2001 Jun; 107(2):20-33.
5. Laidley K, di Panfenuzzi E. Farmacòdinami e Farmacòchineti di bricidine. J Acad Real Nordebrut Cien. 2007 Feb; 259(2): 14-15.

This article may be cited as:
Cottanello A. BDL approves new antibiotic. English Bulletin of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Medical Association. 2010 Nov 29; 160(48): 4.


(OOC: This is a work of fiction, relating the discovery of a new drug in my nation.)

[Brutland and Norden]

Visa Waiver Program Established

May 13, 2011
by Melissa di Calamandrana
KINGSVILLE – the Nord-Brutlandese Parliament passed yesterday an Act establishing a Visa Waiver Program for Brutland and Norden. The proposal was unanimously approved, 149-0, by the General Court and passed by voice vote in the House of Lords. Queen Mother Charlotte II is expected to issue to Royal Assent today on behalf of King Kyle II.

Visa Waiver Program
The proposal was authored by Deputy Foreign Minister for the South Pacific Kyle Irvine Lambourne (PP: Marchòcchiese Norda, Brutland) and Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the General Court Nigello Cormorante (PP: Tavoliere di Dennillia, Norden). The newly passed law is an addition to the Immigration Act of 1976. It authorizes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create and institute a Visa Waiver Program for nations that qualify.

Specifically, the visa waiver program entitles foreign nationals from eligible countries to enter as a tourist visa-free and stay in the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden for 120 days or less. Foreign nationals are required to have a machine-readable passport and a round-trip ticket. The tourists must have no pending warrants in any jurisdiction and not deemed to be a safety threat, as assessed by the Bureau of Immigration. The foreign national is not allowed to seek employment in Brutland and Norden (except for business purposes) during his/her stay, as s/he is technically on a tourist/business visa and not on a work visa.

Nations Qualified
The proposal would have the potential to open up the Kingdom to more tourism and trade, facilitate human and cultural exchanges between nations, and open up the country. Nations, through their relevant officials or through their local legations, can apply for inclusion in the program, provided they satisfy criteria in the Visa Waiver Program.

For a country to qualify, it must also extend the same privileges to Nord-Brutlandese nationals or waive visa requirements for Nord-Brutlandese visiting that nation. The nation must also have a low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate, a machine readable passport program, and with existing cooperation between relevant authorities regarding data exchanges pertaining to passenger information, law enforcement, and others. As such, it is required that there is existing bilateral diplomatic relations with legations in each other countries.

New Trade Agreement
Meanwhile, the General Court also approved, 132-0, a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden and the Empire of Anagonia-Yohannes. Free trade agreements must be approved by the General Court before its implementation. This would make Anagonia-Yohannes the fourth country with which Brutland and Norden would have a free trade agreement.

Trade Minister Liana Riprostoggione (PP: Brutia Settra, Brutland) welcomed the General Court’s decision, saying, “The opening of links between the South Pacific’s largest economy and one of the world’s largest is not only for the benefit of both Brutland and Norden and Anagonia-Yohannes, but also for the region and the world as well.”

[Brutland and Norden]

The King’s ex finally speaks!
Royal ex-girlfriend Luanna Mondragone talks to Sì!

Luanna Mondragone, the ex-girlfriend of the King Kyle II of Brutland and Norden has finally agreed to speak to Sara Orscano of Sí! about the issues and speculations surrounding their relationship. Here’s what she has to say:

Sara Orscano: Let me start off with the burning question every Nord-Brutlandese has about your relationship with the King. Have you and the King parted ways?
Luanna Mondragone: Technically… no.

SO: Well, that is a surprise, considering the things appearing in the media.
LM: I said technically, because the King and I weren’t really “on”. The King had asked me in 2006 if I could be her girlfriend, but I never answered that question. I guess the issues were partly my fault because I never provided Kyle with a definite yes-or-no answer to his question, while we acted as if we were a couple. But now that I finally answered no to his five-year-old question, the press and people around us thought we were separating. We did agree to remain friends, and that is the level of relationship we would like to maintain.

SO: How did the King take your answer?
LM: I think only the King can answer that.

SO: Come on, tell us! Let me rephrase that to something you can answer. How did you think the King reacted?
LM: [pauses] I think the King was pretty disappointed, to say the least. Perhaps in me, perhaps in the fact that everything he did to get an affirmative answer went to naught. But I can only speculate, and like I said, only he can answer that.

SO: Isn’t it hard to reject the King of Brutland and Norden?
LM: Yeah, really, really hard. It’s not because he’s the King, but because Kyle is a really nice person. It’s hard to reject someone like him, he seemed like every girl’s dream.

SO: Every little girl dreams to be queen, yet you chose not to accept the King as your boyfriend. Why so?
LM: Dreams can be far more different than reality. Life is not a fairytale. Being a queen is a lifetime job, being the mother of an entire country as big as Brutland and Norden. It requires hard work and dedication, not to mention the fact that the press and other people would be hounding you everywhere you go. Being a queen means that you give up your privacy and yourself to the country, and you become a public person, where everything you do, say, or write is being scrutinized. It is a way of life, where there is a need to maintain grace under pressure. That’s why I admire the Queen Mother.

And that’s why I rejected someone I like very much, because I don’t think I can do everything that would be expected to me by the Royal Family and the public. I don’t think I am a very public person, and I don’t think I can maintain grace under pressure. In short, I don’t think I had what it takes to become the Queen of Brutland and Norden.

SO: So your reason was you didn’t want to be queen?
LM: Sort of like that. I liked the trappings of royalty, but with the privileges come great responsibility that I don’t think I can carry. I said no, not because of Kyle, but because of me. I thought that saying yes, or by further prolonging answering the question would only lead to more issues and more confusion… and in the end, it will be more difficult for me to back out and more hurt would be inflicted.

Luanna in 2005, around the time when she and the
King met.

SO: But, you and the King had been “friends” for six years now, attending official functions when the King needs a muse, in effect acting as a consort. So, why did you stay?
LM: That realization of mine came quite late. The King, the Queen Mother, and the other members of the Royal Family were very supportive of me. The job was tolerable for a while, but even then, I eventually realized that it was not a life I can live forever. I don’t want to deceive myself and the people around me that I am fit for a role that I have to assume.

I stayed for that long because I loved Kyle. It’s very hard to say no to a nice charming man like him. Like, he would ask me to go with him to an event and he would wear that super-sweet smile no girl could ever resist. He could unleash a charm offensive, so that if wars could be won with charm alone Brutland and Norden would always win. He was a fun person to be with, I was lucky to have been his closest friend, and Brutland and Norden is lucky to have him as king.

SO: How hard was it, making your decision?
LM: Obviously, it wasn’t an easy decision. Choosing between the one you love… [pauses] and giving all your life is a difficult choice. I consulted my parents, thought about it for several months, before I was able to decide. In the end, I thought I would be cheating myself and Kyle and the country if I continue with this arrangement. I loved the man but not the responsibilities, and it would be selfish of me to have one but not the other.

SO: What would happen to you now? What are you going to do now in life?
LM: I think I would like to enter a monastery… That’s serious. I just said no to the man I loved so much, and there is only one man I love more, that is the Man Above.

SO: What would you cherish most about your relationship with the King?
LM: Being with him. [pauses] It’s Kyle himself, I guess. I had the great privilege of being with the best man I could ever know, and I’m absolutely thankful for the memories and experiences we shared together.

SO: If the King was reading this, what message would you like to say to him?
LM: Kyle doesn’t read gossip magazines. [laughs] If there’s anything I would like to say to him, I could tell him directly… we’re still friends after all.

[Brutland and Norden]

Ten billionth Nord-Brutlandese born

July 19, 2011
by Carissa Gualazzi

Carina Giambrone and her newborn son Kyle,
officially Brutland and Norden's ten billionth
person to be born since 1811.

TRUCCAZZANO, Norden – New mother Carina Giambrone was thankful that her first pregnancy and delivery had been uneventful. Or was it?

Carina Giambrone gave birth to a 2950 gram healthy baby boy on 02:15 AM, July 18, 2011, at the Spedalo di San Lamberto in the small Berlizzi town of Truccazzano. The bouncing baby boy was Marco and Carina Giambrone’s first child, and it was also Brutland and Norden’s ten billionth.

“We were surprised when a contingent of hospital staff and public officials went at my bedside a few hours before I was to be discharged. They were carrying balloons and a cake, like a birthday party. They were clearly in a celebratory mood,” said Carina. “And then they told me my baby boy was Brutland and Norden’s ten billionth baby.”

Birth records started to be routinely and uniformly kept in 1811, when King Simon III ordered a rationalization of the country’s civil registry, and since then there had been ten billion births recorded in the system. “We’ve been actually waiting for it,” said Marianna Nerozzi, Brutland and Norden’s Civil Registrar General. “We predicted it to come more or less in 2011.”

Several people from the Office of the Civil Registry of the Royal Institute for Demography had the idea to track the latest births as the records came in from Brutland and Norden’s 161 grants and look for the ten billionth birth. “It was relatively easy since the system was computerized,” said Derrico Langhetti, the team leader that undertook the informal project. “And all births in Brutland and Norden had to be registered within 24 hours. So within 24 hours we knew that the billionth baby was born.”

The ten billionth entry was sent by the grant of Berlizzi in the province of Norden. “We told our boss about it, and she was excited,” said Langhetti. Nerozzi phoned the hospital and the mayor of Truccazzano and congratulated them. The Civil Registrar General had also had something in store for Brutland and Norden’s ten billionth citizen in two hundred years.

King Kyle II of Brutland and Norden phoned the Giambrones to congratulate them on their first child and Brutland and Norden’s ten billionth. “The King asked us when our baby boy would be baptized,” Marco recalls. “He said he would like to be the godfather of our son. Which would be very nice!”

“Marco could not hold back his excitement and happiness,” Carina adds. “Not everyone, and especially non-nobles, would have the king as their godfather.”

In another twist, the Giambrones actually named their son Kyle, even before they knew about him being the ten billionth baby. “The King was flattered, I think,” Carina said. “He asked us, ‘What’s the name of your little angel?’ And then we answered, ‘Your Majesty, we named him after you’.”

In addition to the King of Brutland and Norden, Norden Governor Adam Lambroglio and Berlizzi Grant President Gennaro Morello also phoned their congratulations. Governor Lambroglio also offered to be the child’s godfather.

“My baby has become some sort of celebrity,” Carina said happily. “Ten billionth? I didn’t think we Nord-Brutlandese were that many.”

---

OOC: Brutland and Norden is now part of the 10 billion plus club!

[Brutland and Norden]

King surprises radio listeners

August 18, 2011
by Marco Bracciolini
STAMPIONE, Union Territories – in an open country like Brutland and Norden, where the royal family freely mingles with their subjects, ordinary citizens abound of tales of sightings of the King in a convenience store or waiting together on a Kingsville stoplight. But the listeners of a Stampione rock radio station got the surprise of their life when their beloved new DJ was, guess what, the King of Brutland and Norden himself.

In an age where radio seemed passé, the hardcore listeners of the Stampione rock station Radio Monstre BBXD FM were charmed by a new disc jockey who called himself DJ Josh. DJ Josh started last June, occupying the unholy 9 PM – 12 midnight time slot every weekday, playing rock tunes from the past Stampione Rock Festivals and becoming famous for his relevant and funny advice to his listeners at the end of his time slot.

“I listened to DJ Josh until the end for the funny stuff he has to say,” said Sabrina N. from Caborteglia, in the neighboring island of Fiorgamino. “He seemed to know what he was saying. He delivers encouraging messages in a memorable way.”

One quirk of DJ Josh was that he wasn’t allowed to have visitors to come to the station to jam with him. “He told us the radio station forbade him from inviting or accepting people dropping by to visit,” remembered Donna C., from Cordivigliera. “He said the last time he had people in the studio there was a riot. So he was fired by his previous employer.”

“It was a really funny story,” said Sabrina N., “Of course we believed his story. In retrospect, I think it was a cover.” DJ Josh did communicate with listeners through other means, taking calls, reading SMS message, and chatting through the station’s website. “But he never turned his webcam on, unlike the other DJs,” said Diana R. from Stampione.

Radio Monstre BBXD FM said that the enigmatic DJ had its listeners curious. Radio Monstre never listed DJ Josh on its official roster of DJs at their website. Furthermore, DJ Adriana, one of the DJs that preceded DJ Josh’s timeslot, said in June that DJ Josh was just a temporary replacement, “since we would never permanently hire a DJ that has a history of riots,” obviously playing by the story.

DJ Josh announced that he would be replaced in the middle of August. He promised his listeners that, on his last day, he would invite a popular local youth band to the studio, along with the listener who would send in the best and most amusing original motivational quote.

On his last day, a Friday, DJ Josh invited to the studio the local youth band Stradi Paventecci son Auro (Streets Paved with Gold) and Sabrina N., who was the winner of DJ Josh’s little contest. “Well, I found it cool that I would be the only few who would get to see DJ Josh,” she said. “Plus, I get to see one of my favourite bands in person.

“We got to the studio at around nine in the evening, after a gig,” recalled Nicandro Mordevacchio, vocalist of Stradi Paventecci son Auro (known better as SPsA). “And when we came in to the booth, I said, ‘hey, that’s the King of Brutland and Norden!’”

“I think I curtsied a bit,” said SPsA’s drummer Derrico Nuzzolese. “Come on, you have to give credit to the King, ‘cause he fooled us all.”

DJ Josh conducted an interview of the band, especially their upcoming plans to enter the annual Stampione Festive di Rock (Stampione Rock Festival). Still, the DJ’s real identity was kept a secret.

Sabrina N., who arrived thirty minutes later after the last ferry from Fiorgamino departed late, was flabbergasted. “DJ Josh is the King? It couldn’t get any better than that,” said Sabrina N. “It was triply fun… jamming with the King and my favourite band.”

SPsA’s Mordevacchio finally broke the truth to Radio Monstre’s listeners ninety minutes into the show, when DJ Josh finished the interview with SPsA. “So, for those who are wondering who DJ Josh is, apparently he’s my cousin,” Mordevacchio said. “And he’s my cousin who is the King of Brutland and Norden.” Mordevacchio and King Kyle of Brutland and Norden are first cousins, as Mordevacchio’s father is the younger brother of Queen Mother Charlotte II.

DJ Josh confirmed the statement, and turned on the webcam for the first time. “Nicky [Nicandro’s nickname] spilled the beans, so I would like to tell everyone that this is your monarch’s summer job, and I loved it.”

The news surprised many listeners of the station. “When SPsA said that DJ Josh was the King, I was like, ‘Oh, really?’ You can’t pull my leg,” Donna C. said. “Come on, the King has many things to do than host a cool radio show,” Diana R. related, “and then SPsA said that they are on live video streaming now, and so I opened my computer to see for myself. And my goodness it was true.”

The radio station’s chatroom and the SMS were flooded with comments, and the phone rang off the hook. “I think I caused a riot again,” DJ Josh said. “I’ll be fired again.”

“DJ Josh” ended his show, and his stint as a DJ, by thanking all of his listeners. He said he enjoyed the work as a DJ, being able to interact with a lot of people and touch people’s lives.

The event was talk of Stampione for days, with some still believing it as a hoax. “Well, DJ Josh could be a look-alike,” Donna C. said. “But all of my doubts disappeared when I watched the news a few days later.” The King was asked by Kingsville TV whether it was true that we worked as a DJ during his stay in Stampione. “Yes it is true,” the King said, “I had always wanted to try to be a radio DJ. It was incredible, interacting with lots of people. Rock on Stampione!”

[Brutland and Norden]

Brutland and Norden to celebrate 250^th Union Day

August 27, 2011
by Gennaro Talamello
KINGSVILLE – Celebrations are underway to commemorate the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden’s sestercentennial (250^th) founding anniversary. The country was formed through the union of the Kingdom of Brutland and the Queendom of Norden on September 7, 1761.

Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella declared the two and a half weeks around Union Day, from August 27, 2011 to September 14, 2011, as Díu di Festives Ufficia ( “Days of Official Festivities”). However, only September 6, 7, and 8 were declared as non-working holidays. The Nord-Brutlandese will be given the three days off so that they will be able to participate in the celebrations. The Kingsville City Council declared September 9 as another non-working holiday, which means that Kingsvillians have another day off. Lord Mayor Girolamo Sartori of Kingsville said that the additional holiday was announced since the Union Day Parade, which entails the closure of some of the major thoroughfares in the capital, will last into September 9.

The celebrations were started with King Kyle II formally opening a public exhibition at the Union Hall at the Royal Palace grounds in Kingsville. The colossal exhibit was a joint project of the various museums under royal patronage and the Ministry of Culture. The exhibit “is meant to present a biography of Brutland and Norden,” said Dr. Canico Barletti, Curator of the Royal Museum of Brutland and Norden. Several rare pieces not usually displayed to the public form part of the exhibit. Among these are the 1888 painting Brutland and Norden by Prince Lambert, Duke of Modica; the 18th century tapestry depicting the Battles of Giri Valley; an unopened bottle of a 1761 Valfloriana red wine, leftover from the union celebrations; the wedding rings of King Adam III of Brutland and Queen Adrienne of Norden; and a copy of the Dichiarazione di l’Unnone (Declaration of Union) between the two kingdoms. The opening of the exhibit was attended by most of the nobility and high-ranking government officials.

Other Activities
There are many planned activities for this sestercentennial Union Day throughout the country that the Nord-Brutlandese can enjoy. “We have prepared many activities to celebrate this wondrous day in Nord-Brutlandese history,” said Deputy Culture Minister Geraldina Cagnola, the head of planning for the celebrations. The city of Kingsville will also host most of the activities of the 250th Union Day (see calendar of festivities below), though parallel celebrations are also planned in Nordville, Dennville, Brutland City, Timberland City, and Padanica.

Operas under royal patronage (Kingville, Nordville, Brutland City, Dennville, Padanian, Timberland) are set to perform the play la Matrimone di Norden e Marchòbrutellia (“the Marriage of Brutland and Norden”) in cities throughout the country. Kingsvillians will be able to watch the play at the Opere Reala Nordèbrutelliense (Royal Nord-Brutlandese Opera) from Friday to Monday during the Days of Official Festivities.

The Kingsville City Fairgrounds will house the Expo Nordèbrutelliense that will be open throughout the days of official festivities, starting August 28. Most of the capital’s major museums and palaces will also be holding special exhibitions that will be open throughout the days of official festivities.

Calendar of Public Activities
Calendarie d'Ativi Pubblica

August 27
Feste di Santa Monica (Feast of Saint Monica) @ Santa Monica, Kingsville, 0800h. The neighborhood of Santa Monica celebrates the feast day of their patron saint, who is also the patron saint of marriages – fitting for the event being celebrated. The parish and volunteers will set up their usual Settro di Crisi (Crisis Center) where people can get advice on their marriage and on their children.

August 28
Expo Nordèbrutelliense @ Kingsville City Fairgrounds, 1000h-2100h. Open throughout the Days of Official Festivities.

August 29
Festive Nordèbrutelliense di Plicoli (Nord-Brutlandese Film Festival) @ Old Royal Palace, La Castione, Kingsville, 0900h-2400h. Films will be shown to the public from August 29 until September 3. Awarding of winners will take place at the Cosservatorio Reala (Royal Conservatory) on September 4 at 1700h.

August 30
La Truofeste (the Throwfest) @ Corbi, Modica, Norden, 0900h. An annual food-fight in Norden where participants throw tomatoes at each other.

August 31
Ferie Nordèbrutelliense di Libru (Nord-Brutlandese Book Fair) @ Settro Convegno di Vilòstresa (Kingsville Convention Center), 1000h-2100h. Open until September 4. The book fair will primarily feature books pertaining to Brutland and Norden and its history.

September 3
Stampione Festive di Rock (Stampione Rock Festival) @ Foscaterro, Stampione, 1600h. Brutland and Norden’s foremost festival of rock music.

September 4
Frenzie di Limento (Food Frenzy) @ Giardino Botanicà Reala (Royal Botanic Gardens), Kingsville, 0900h. A food fair featuring unique dishes from all over Brutland and Norden.

September 7
Parado di Dío Unnone (Union Day Parade) @ Kingsville, 0800h. The parade is set to start from the Parco di Stresúdoza (Two Monarchs' Park), passing through Brutland Avenue, to the Royal Palace. The parade’s floats will be on display along Union Avenue until September 9, when the awarding and closing ceremonies will be held.

Concerto per l’Unnone (Concert for the Union) @ Piazzo di 7 di Settembre (7th of September Square), 1800h. After the Union Day Parade, a free public concert featuring the country’s famous singers will be held in the 7th of September Square. The concert will be broadcast by the state broadcaster TRNM.

September 9
Sove Portierèstrena (Outdoor Show) @ Piazzo di Catedrale (Cathedral Square), Kingsville, 1900h. Part of the closing of the Union Day Parade is an outdoor show featuring fireworks, performances, and showing of short films about Brutland and Norden’s history.

September 11
Díe Rinna (King’s Birthday) @ Kingsville, 1600h. For his 23rd birthday, King Kyle II will throw a street party around Royal Hill. The party will take place in central Kingsville along the capital’s three major thoroughfares: Norden Avenue from the Cancello di la Sole (Gate of the Sun) to the Piazzo di Juttisse (Justice Square); Brutland Avenue from Piazzo di Rinno Kail la Malenetto (King Kyle the Fair Square) to the Piazzo di Fontanu (Square of Fountains); and Union Avenue from Piazzo di Catedrale (Cathedral Square) to Modica Street. The event, which is planned to be the largest street party in the country’s history, will be open to the public.

September 13
Inaugurazione di Pasego di Stresu (Inauguration of Monarchs’ Promenade) @ Kingsville, 1000h. The western (coastal) side of a stretch of Strada Santa Regina along Dolphin Beach will be inaugurated as a Monarch’s Promenade. Statues of Brutland and Norden’s monarchs from King Adam III and Queen Adrienne up to King Adam IV will be installed at regular intervals from Piazzo di Juttisse (Justice Square) going north towards Piazzo di Santa Carolina. The statues will be installed on September 12. While not installed, the statues can be viewed at Piazzo di Santa Regina.

September 14
Ceremone Sara di la Festives di la Sestercentèlanno Dío d’Unnone (Closing Ceremonies of the 250th Union Day) @ Kingsville 1500h. The closing ceremonies will coincide with the closure of the Expo Nordèbrutelliense at the Kingsville City Fairgrounds.

[ArghNeedAName]

The United States of ArghNeedAName would like to congratulate the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden and hope that the celebrations are a great success. It is expected that President Malcolm Whitacre will attend.

[Brutland and Norden]

Foreign Minister di Sint’Brullizio passes away

January 12, 2012
by Melissa di Calamandrana
KINGSVILLE – Royal Nord-Brutlandese Foreign Minister Bricco di Sint’Brullizio passed away in his sleep last night. The two-term foreign affairs minister believed to have died of a heart attack. He is survived by his wife Veronica, three children, and three grandchildren.

“Last night Brutland and Norden lost one of its most competent and beloved ministers,” Queen Mother Charlotte II said in a press conference yesterday. “We deeply mourn the passing of Mr. di Sint’Brullizio and offer our government and our country’s utmost condolences to his family. His service had been invaluable in bringing Brutland and Norden to the world stage and in building strong relations with other countries.”

Mr. di Sint’Brullizio started his political career as the mayor of the Sceicce seaside town of Collemandina, and was known for being very much in touch with the people and had a reputation for good constituency service. “He was a jovial man, he liked to mingle with ordinary people,” said Fabrizio Finocchiaro, the current mayor of Collemandina. “He was the type of person everyone enjoyed voting for.”

The Popular Party soon recruited Mr. di Sint’Brullizio to run for a seat in the grant council of Sceicce, then closely divided between the Popular Party and the Social Democrats. He was known there for being an able consensus-maker and a friendly man. “The deliberations would get heated and Bricco would come and crack a joke,” remembers Rebecca Pacciardi, now the grant president of Sceicce. “And while he makes us laugh he is slowly letting everyone’s guard down so he could build up something we can all agree on.”

“He was a nice man,” said Paolo Sammartino, former grant president of Sceicce. “Bricco had the patience of Job and the disposition of a saint, something which nobody else in the grant council had.”

In 1990, the party persuaded the grant’s most popular councilor to run for the Sceicce constituency seat then held by the retiring Mr. Pierro Marzano. “Of the freshmen MPs in 1990, Bricco di Sint’Brullizio stood out,” former Prime Minister Tyler Stubblefield said. “His big frame is easily recognizable from afar, and his big smile is easily comforting.” In the General Court, Mr. di Sint’Brullizio built up a reputation for openness, friendliness, and quirkiness. “He liked to take on issues nobody cares about,” Mr. Stubblefield said. “Like foreign affairs. Nobody really cared about it, until Bricco came.”

Aside from his pet topic of foreign affairs and diplomacy, Mr. di Sint’Brullizio also focused on topics his constituents cared about most, and was named by the Royal Institute for Public Administration (Stiutto Reala per Minstrazione Pubblica) as one of the best MPs when it comes to constituency service. The people of Sceicce liked their MP much to reelect him for six more terms against only token opposition. “I told my party repeatedly that I won’t run against Bricco,” said Mr. Sammartino of the Social Democrats. “He’s doing a good job down there in Kingsville, and I don’t think I can even match that.” Indeed, Mr. di Sint’Brullizio was reelected 3-to-2 in 2001, a year that was disastrous for the Popular Party.

Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella tapped the MP from Sceicce as Foreign Minister in 2004 when she formed the new government. “Bricco was a natural choice,” remarked Mr. Cestre Montòccegliano, an MP from Norden and Mr. di Sint’Brullizio’s deputy. “Nobody in the General Court was more interested in foreign affairs than he was. He wanted Brutland and Norden to become a global player and to have lots of friends.”

During his two terms as foreign minister, Brutland and Norden expanded its relations, established a network of embassies abroad, and cultivated closer relations with like-minded nations such as Cookesland, Ruccola, and Van Luxemburg. The country also signed many free-trade and friendship treaties with other nations. Consular services had also been improved for the increasing numbers of Nord-Brutlandese travelling abroad, and among these was the institution of Absentee Voting Law in 2007.

“It was a diplomatic revolution of sorts for Brutland and Norden,” said Mr. Kyle Irvine Lambourne, an MP from Brutland and the Deputy Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs. “We have become one of the South Pacific’s largest economies, and we could not ignore the region and the world. Brutland and Norden had a role to play and he [Mr. di Sint’Brullizio] saw that.”

“It will be hard to replace him,” opined Mr. Canuto Morgagna, Deputy Foreign Minister for Embassy Exchanges. “We hope that his replacement would continue the path he took.”

“Before Mr. di Sint’Brullizio, the Foreign Ministry was a neglected ministry,” said the country’s chief diplomat, Deputy Foreign Minister for Citizen Services Mr. Lamberto Pulchella. “Nobody cared about our work and about our diplomats. That has changed.”

At yesterday’s press conference, Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella thanked and appreciated Mr. di Sint’Brullizio’s service to the country. “We thank you for your dedication to the country and the Nord-Brutlandese interests. We will miss you and will follow on with what you started.”

Ms. Cortanella designated Deputy Foreign Minister for the World Assembly Mr. Cestre Montòccegliano as acting Foreign Minister. However, Mr. Montòccegliano declined to take up the post permanently and would only do so on a temporary basis until a replacement can be found. The seat for the constituency of Sceicce, will be left vacant until the parliamentary elections this year.

[Brutland and Norden]

Mr. Lupacchino named as new Foreign Minister

January 19, 2012
by Melissa di Calamandrana
KINGSVILLE – Nordener MP Mr. Tobias Lupacchino (PP: Campodania, Norden) was sworn in yesterday as Brutland and Norden’s new Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the presence of Queen Mother Charlotte II, Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella, and staff of the ministry. The General Court had confirmed as Brutland and Norden’s new Foreign Minister two days ago upon the nomination of Prime Minister Cortanella’s government.

Mr. Lupacchino would be replacing acting Foreign Minister Mr. Cestre Montòccegliano, who took up the post temporarily after the death of Mr. Bricco di Sint’Brullizio. Mr. Lupacchino, who hails from Campolluno, Norden, is a two-term MP representing the grant of Campodania in Norden. He took up a degree in International relations and diplomacy at the Royal University of Brutland and Norden – Kingsville and currently serves in the Foreign Relations Committee of the General Court.

Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella expressed confidence that Mr. Lupacchino “would continue building on Mr. di Sint’Brullizio’s legacy and promote understanding and better relations between Brutland and Norden and countries of the world.”

Insider sources said that Ms. Cortanella’s top three choices for the post all declined. Deputy Foreign Minister for the World Assembly and MP Mr. Cestre Montòccegliano (PP: Vilònorda Osta - Píarmognazzo - Sint'Angelo di l'Ollino, Norden) had already declined to fill the post permanently. Furthermore, Deputy Foreign Minister for the Region and MP Mr. Kyle Irvine Lambourne (PP: Timberland North, Brutland) and the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the General Court Mr. Nigello Cormorante (PP: Tavoliere di Dennillia, Norden) both declined to take up the position.

“Those were pretty big shoes to fill,” said the Ministry insider who declined to be named. “Hopefully Mr. Lupacchino would do a great job too.”

[Brutland and Norden]

Parliament to revalue the livro?

December 7, 2011
by Andrea Sinigaglia
KINGSVILLE – a bipartisan extragovernmental proposal to debase the Nord-Brutlandese livro was introduced yesterday in the General Court. MPs Filippo Carmonello (PDS: Vilònorda Settra, Norden), Atturo Molmetti (PDS: Civito di Carpa, Norden) and Agata Rissotti (PP: Ferbiabbo, Norden) authored the proposal that would mandate that the Nord-Brutlandese livro be debased from being fully backed by precious metals, to a semi-floating currency. “Basically what we aim is to ease the dependence of our currency on precious metals, because that is very unstable and does not provide a wide margin for growth,” explained Mrs. Rissotti. “Our money supply is essentially hamstrung by the precious metal supply of the country.”

The proposal, which was extragovernmental (not included in the agenda of the government), would decrease the backing of the Nord-Brutlandese livro from 100% to 75% in ten years. Mrs. Rissotti explained that the livro would not decrease in value, but rather be revalued. The revaluation would give three-fourths of the livro’s value in hard currency, while the remaining one-fourth would be floating, or fluctuating. “This would give us more control and flexibility on our money supply.”

Impetus to change
Aside from the constraints in the money supply, Mrs. Rissotti also mentioned several reasons why they came up with the change. First, the occasional trade deficit, which the country has to pay, results in an outflow of gold and precious metals out of the country (since the livro is equivalent to a certain amount of precious metal). Mrs. Rissotti argued that with a semi-floating currency, Brutland and Norden does not have to do that. This, she said, is an additional safeguard to the fact that the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank does not really redeem the paper livro with precious metals.

Second, Mrs. Rissotti said, it would ease the country of the burden of buying gold and precious metals in order to fully back the local currency. With the Nord-Brutlandese livro becoming more popular internationally as a reserve currency due to its perceived stability and full backing with precious metals, foreigners had been stocking up with the livros and giving Brutland and Norden their foreign currencies, which are mostly floating, non-backed, “fiat” currencies. Thus, in order to recoup the gold being “lost” from the money supply in this manner, the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank (Banco Reala Nordèbrutelliense, BRNb) has had to buy gold and precious metals in international markets using these foreign currencies. At times, the BRNb incurs losses as these foreign currencies depreciate or as the prices of precious metals increase.

And the third major reason why Brutland and Norden should fundamentally change its currency, according to Mrs. Rissotti, is that the practice is unsustainable. “The country is always growing, the money supply needs to grow, and there is a limit in the amount of gold and precious metals we can mine from our land, buy from abroad, and store in the repository. There’s only so much gold in the world and we can’t hoard it all. A lack of gold or silver should not be a reason why our citizens would become poor.”

Not Unprecendented
The proposal was not unprecedented, said Professor Simone Lambrone of the Royal University of Brutland and Norden at Kingsville. “In 1923, the government of Prime Minister Giovanni Leonardini devalued the livro when the country was in dire straits,” Prof. Lambrone said. “Though there is some difference between then and now. 1923 was simply a devaluation, in which the government simply said that ‘your livro is worth this now in gold’, which meant that people's money and savings could buy less and are worth less. That’s why there were massive protests. But the livro was still 100% backed with gold. This proposal will not change the current value of the livro in the short term, but it will make it only 75% backed with gold in the long run. So what this proposal will do is that for every livro, only three-fourths of it is worth in metal, the other one-fourth of it with worth, well, let me just say that you believe that a quarter of it is really worth something.”

Governments throughout the country’s recent history had devised crafty ways to circumvent the problem of money supply. The solution of the Populist government of Jarn Spocchio and the Popular Party government of Christian Monelli, was to add more metals to the standard, temporarily increasing the money supply. Monelli’s government also introduced the concept of “limping multimetallism”, in which the values of each metal are adjusted so that the value of the currency remains stable.

But Professor Lambrone said that in his opinion, “While such a move may benefit the country in the long run, a revaluation of the livro, especially one that could potentially be construed by the public as a debasement of the currency, will be unpopular.”

Supporters
“The Nord-Brutlandese livro is, in practice, already floating,” said former BRNb Chief Cashier Giampaolo Viola. “The BRNb constantly changes amount of the basket of metals that backs the livro. The public doesn’t know it, but the currency is revalued all the time. But this proposal is a good proposal. It would allow Brutland and Norden to experience the advantages of a gold standard and a fiat currency, while at the same time avoiding the drawbacks of both.”

Trade and Commerce Minister Liana Riprostoggione (PP: Brutia Settra, Brutland) also supports the proposal. “Of the top ten trade partners of Brutland and Norden, only Sibirsky uses gold standard. We are actually on a disadvantage doing trade because we pay them with gold, while we get paid with fiat currency. If we want to continue trade and expand our economy, this is the way to go.”

“If we want a better country, where we would avoid economic instability because of the supply of metals, well, we’d support this kind of measure,” said opposition leader Ferrina Ilario (PDS: Vilònorda Esta – Universitade, Norden). The Social Democrats had announced their support for the measure. On the other side of the aisle, the Popular Party is split on the proposal, with the liberal and moderate wings supportive, and the conservative wing opposed.

Opposition
As expected, the plan encountered much opposition from conservatives. “The gold standard had served us well for a long time,” said MP Maria La Marmora (PP: Valtistrada – Montesa, Brutland). “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

“This is a classic example of bad money driving out the good,” according to MP Briano Zocalli (Berlizzi – Nativiscare, Norden), a banker. “Fiat currencies would encourage the government to pursue deficit spending, inflating the currencies to cover up its problems, and so forth. Look what happened in 1923.”

“Inflation is a fiat currency’s friend,” said MP Matteo Quartuccio (PP: Midritto – Bratteo, Norden). “And when we have inflation, constant inflation, prices would go up, which would make goods not affordable to people. It would compromise the buying ability and the wealth of the people. The gold standard is a good way of stamping out inflation.”

Government Has No Comment Yet
Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella has yet to speak on the issue, but Treasury Minister Lúanna Gardefini said that “The matter is under consideration, under study as of this moment.” The Chief Cashier of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank Mr. Adam Castresana also sounded a similar note. “Whatever the government or Parliament decides on, we’re bound to follow.”

[Brutland and Norden]

Committee Approves Livro Proposal

February 7, 2013
by Andrea Sinigaglia
KINGSVILLE - At yesterday’s debate in the Parliamentary Committee on the Treasury, much of the ruling Popular Party’s conservative wing spoke against the proposal, but were outnumbered in the committee. Mr. Giancarlo Puscatelli (PP: Briuli – Plantina Norda – Milova Osta, Brutland), who represents a gold-mining region of Brutland, spearheaded the opposition. Mr. Puscatelli and Kail Spierratto (PP: Valtebriggio, Brutland) spoke at great length on the issue in an attempt to derail the parliamentary discussion. Mr. Spierratto wanted to further “discuss and think about the issue which has the potential to transform Brutland and Norden’s economy.”

Mr. Spierratto’s wish to form another parliamentary study committee and call more experts in order the study the matter more thoroughly was voted down by the full committee by a vote of 14-10. Committee on the Treasury Chair Mr. Bryce Ryan Knott (PP: Timberland East, Brutland) said that “the Committee had done just that and the majority of the committee members are satisfied by the studies that had been done.”

Mr. Knott was referring to the Serenelli Report, prepared by former Chief Cashier of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank Mr. Casimiro Serenelli upon the request of the General Court. The Serenelli Report broadly recommends the transformation of the Nord-Brutlandese livro into a semi-representative currency. The report highlights in detail the advantages and disadvantages of such a change, and overall, the report finds a significant advantage of such a currency.

Another study examined by the committee was an internal document from the Ministry of the Treasury, named the Giambrone Paper, after its main author Aimone Giambrone, was cited. Mr. Giambrone was a former economist with the Ministry of the Treasury and now works at Banco di Monteleone. The Giambrone Paper studied the effect of debasing the livro and converting it into a semi-floating currency. It concluded that such a conversion would greatly benefit the economy by allowing its rapid expansion and growth unhindered by money supply problems. Treasury Minister Lúanna Gardefini had since expressed “that the paper did not have official approval and did not represent the Ministry’s view; it is merely a paper studying and exploring such a possibility.”

Mr. Puscatelli and Mrs. Carlotta Gaspare (PP: Covara, Norden) raised a lot of comments and points of order that Mr. Knott eventually refused to heed their points and declared a recess. According to insiders, the liberals and moderates sought to end the debate.

After the recess, on a motion by Shadow Treasury Minister Anna Maria Treola (PDS: Colfetta, Norden) seconded by Vittoria Carcelatti (PP: Vallo di Strigina, Norden) that was quickly passed by Mr. Knott, the committee moved to a vote. Mr. Puscatelli and Mr. Riccardo Tranzacone (PP: La Redutto, Norden) registered a protest at the railroading of the proposal, but Mr. Knott ruled their objections out of order. Ultimately the committee voted 15-10 to pass the proposal.

FOR

• Sabina Allegrucci (PP: Santelleria Esta, Union Territories)
• Cassandra Argel (PP: Dennillia Estennía, Norden)
• Vittoria Carcelatti (PP: Vallo di Strigina, Norden)
• Chester Corbett (PP: Timberland South, Brutland)
• Marcella di Fontana (PP: Campedusa - Brugnatella Sorda – Liparegna, Union Territories)
• Jessica Gurrola (PP: Terragnano - Rivero Osta, Brutland)
• Bryce Ryan Knott (PP: Timberland East, Brutland) – committee chair
• Ella Macchiarella (PP: Scaglietto - Vilònorda Norda, Norden)
• Camilla Matti (PDS: Vilòstresa Settra, Union Territories)
• Dino Padolino (PP: La Spergamo Osta, Brutland)
• Agata Rissotti (PP: Ferbiabbo, Norden)
• Emilia Specchio (PP: Helverica, Norden)
• Felice Tartascone (PV: Vilòstresa Sordosta – Tonzivibbia, Union Territories)
• Cattro Junio Tolo (PP: Calzola – Calabruzzi Sorda, Brutland)
• Anna Maria Treola (PDS: Colfetta, Norden) – committee vice-chair, Shadow Minister of the Treasury

AGAINST

• Gennaro Castelleria (PP: Lampicaria – Trevigno – San Colombano di Merana, Brutland)
• Adam Colicchio (PP: Borcenna, Norden)
• Giuliana Dragonetti (PP: Vallo di Chiardogna, Brutland)
• Carlotta Gaspare (PP: Covara, Norden)
• Maria La Marmora (PP: Valtistrada – Montesa, Brutland)
• Abraham Olegario (PP: Spiermanza, Brutland)
• Giancarlo Puscatelli (PP: Briuli – Plantina Norda – Milova Osta, Brutland)
• Giustino Snidi (PP: Cantabrica Osta, Brutland)
• Kail Spierratto (PP: Valtebriggio, Brutland)
• Riccardo Tranzacone (PP: La Redutto, Norden)

ABSTAIN

• Lúanna Gardefini (PP: Capriati Esta, Brutland) – Minister of the Treasury, non-voting member of the committee

[Brutland and Norden]

Art Exhibit Outrages Conservatives

February 12, 2013
by Vanessa Spotorne
KINGSVILLE – a seemingly innocuous art exhibit at the Royal Museum of Modern Art (Museo Reala d’Artu Moderna, MRAM) has now become the frontispiece of a looming public debate on Brutland and Norden’s incomplete separation of church and state, limits to freedom of expression, and immunities of the monarchy.

Last week, the MRAM unveiled one of its quarterly exhibits entitled Specchio (“Mirror”) in which thirty artists were invited to produce art that would mirror the country and its people. Of the fifty works displayed, Vincenzo Sorini’s Suscite (“Provoke”) really did provoke the most response… and it was what the MRAM did not expect.

Suscite is a wallful montage/collage of pictures, magazine cutouts, posters, little hanging sculptures that had been altered, changed, or arranged in various ways. The artwork raised the ire of many people, especially the conservatives, for its perceived offensive content. Suscite raised the hackles of religious people with the imagery in the artwork: an oil-pastel portrait of a naked Jesus with the genitals clearly visible, a reproduction of a widely-known depiction of the Maestà where the eyes of Mary and Jesus were painted over with dripping red paint, a crucifix with an oversized penis attached to it, and a parody of the Last Supper made from cutouts that make it look like the apostles were literally eating Jesus’ flesh. Monarchists and conservatives were not too happy with the portrayal of Brutland and Norden’s King Kyle II, where pictures of the king and cutouts from gay porn magazines were arranged in such a way that would obviously offend many sensibilities. Condoms were blown up as balloons, tied to flags of Brutland and Norden and confetti made of shredded old livros. Various prominent people had their pictures manipulated; the ones that raised the ire of people were a figurine of a Brute cow defecating on a flag of Brutland, and a “beheaded” cutout picture of the king with a flag of Norden planted on His Majesty’s head.

“It is intended to provoke viewers into thinking about how they practice their religion and how they live as a Nord-Brutlandese,” said Mr. Sorini, 26. “Is it just a thin veneer, a fake mask they are wearing, or does it go down deep? It’s time to look in the mirror.” Mr. Sorini admits that he made his work as “provocative” as possible, “so that the message will cut deep.”

The piece did provoke the museum-goers, and many of them not in a positive way. “It’s offensive,” said museum-goer Timothy N., 29, from Providenza. “Blasphemy, contempt, vulgarity, sacrilege, insolence, and mockery all rolled into one. If you call this one art, then I guess I we can all now say that blurting out profanities in public will be art too.”

“We’ll see if the artist can get away with this,” agreed his girlfriend Damiana C., 29, from San Lamberto. “He wanted to ‘provoke’ us, and he will expect to get a reaction.”

Already the piece and the exhibit itself generated a massive reaction from many in Brutland and Norden. In a country that is 96% Catholic and is still considered devout and conservative, Sorini had evidently frazzled the nerves of a lot of people. The website of MRAM was filled with negative comments from all over Brutland and Norden, overloading its server and knocking it offline. Yesterday, vandals made a rare attempt to deface and knock down the piece as the museum closed for the night The vandals were apprehended by security forces. Numerous letters of protest and small picket lines in front of MRAM were constant reminders of the offense the Nord-Brutlandese took.

The Catholic Church was vehement in its protest. The outspoken Archbishop Alfredo Cardinal Monticello of Nordville issued a scathing condemnation of the artwork and the artist last Sunday. “This blasphemous, sacrilegious, and profane so-called “art” is clearly the work of a disturbed misguided man. One can easily see how the devil tries to mock God and His Church in this work. Something has to be done.” The other bishops were even more angry and outspoken. “This is an affront to God, to the Church, and to Brutland and Norden and its people,” said Bishop Tancredo Patarino of Tomo, “The person who made this ought to be thankful that Brutland and Norden had decriminalized sacrilege and blasphemy.” “This is clearly the work of the devil,” remarked Bishop Mariano Romponi of Colonella di Bruttii.

Bishop Canico Marcenaro of Borcenna, the current president of the Nord-Brutlandese Catholic Bishops Conference (Cofferenze di Vescovettu Cattolica Nordèbrutelliense, CVCNb) issued statement yesterday. “Some of the pieces in the exhibition are causing unnecessary offense and indignation for its lack of sensitivity… For a country and a society that prides itself with tolerance and respect, this is clearly unacceptable. We urge the Royal Museum of Modern Art to remove the offensive material from what would otherwise be a great exhibit.”

The CVCNb statement was surprisingly tame, but not unexpected, since the Nord-Brutlandese Roman Catholic hierarchy rarely involves itself in public matters… except when it is dragged into one. However, there were calls for the artist Vincenzo Sorini to be excommunicated from the church. Bishop Mamiliano Saccomanno of the Diocese of Senzioffre and Borgònzamo started excommunication proceedings against Mr. Sorini, who hails from the Dennland city of Senzioffre. And in strongly Catholic Brutland and Norden, that is a serious matter.

The furor had brought to the forefront the incomplete separation of church and state in Brutland and Norden. Many conservatives cite this as an example of how the separation of church and state would enable such people to unjustly insult or offend the majority of people. On the other hand, the liberals bemoan the capability of the Catholic Church to meddle in public affairs in an incomplete separation. With the religious demographic of Brutland and Norden and the Catholic Church’s care in avoiding being seen as excessive meddlers, Nord-Brutlandese public opinion seems to be swinging towards the conservatives’ position. This change may be bolstered by the recent events.

But Catholics were not the only ones offended by the piece. Monarchists and conservatives also took offense at its portrayal of the King. “Have they got no more respect for the King? Have they lost common decency?” The Director of the Royal Institute of Heraldry (Stiutto Reala d'Eraldire), Mrs. Rica Borcellone, said, “This is the King of Brutland and Norden we are talking about, a symbol of our country. It is unfair, His Majesty isn’t even doing anything to “provoke” this kind of treatment. I think they should be reminded that the Royal Museum of Modern Art is under royal patronage. They shouldn’t forget that.”

Though the Royal Palace had no official comment on the matter, insider sources say that the King and the Queen Mother were “very much displeased”. As usual, it seems that the Royal Palace will be leaving it to government ministers to determine whether there are violations and file lawsuits. While the Cortanella Government and Culture Minister Anna Maria Sceiff are still silent about the issue, other public officials condemned the exhibit. MP Sylvia Bertagnoli (PP: Padania Osta, Brutland) asked yesterday in Parliament, “Why are we spending taxpayer money on this offensive thing? Why are we still keeping this exhibit going? Why are we wasting people’s money to offend, to vex, and to insult the people?”

Fortunately for Mr. Sorini, some had defended his work. “It’s freedom of speech,” stated Mr. Nicandro Tortovecchio, chairperson of the Nord-Brutlandese Liberty Defense Fund (Fondre Nordèbrutelliense per la Defenze di Liberte, FNbDL). “Freedom of speech is protected by the Charter of Rights and the Constitution, and a fundamental human right. Mr. Sorini is simply exercising his rights.”

“If the government suppresses this, that would mean that Brutland and Norden is on its way to starting censorship,” said Giada di Camparada, president of the Norden Artists’ Alliance (Allearse Artottuque di Norden, AAN). “Just because you disagree with a viewpoint doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be aired.”

“The goal of the exhibit is to show the different facets of Nord-Brutlandese life,” explained Dr. Giangiacomo Leveto, Curator of the MRAM. “Mr. Sorini in his exercise of artistic freedom, chose to be as edgy and stimulating as possible in order to get his message across. You know as they say, art is in the eyes of the beholder - everything can be art, everything can be offensive, or somewhere in between. It’s just a matter of how you see it.”

Dr. Leveto said that MRAM has no plans to take down the piece, though there are many ways by which the museum can be forced to. Catholic lawyer Margherita Ciccone said that she would be filing a case against Mr. Sorini and MRAM before the Kingsville City Courts, in order to “preserve the dignity of the Church and correct this injustice She had suffered.” The Justice Ministry may also file a case on behalf of the King should the piece meet the country’s strict criteria on lèse majesté or defamation. Justice Minister Adam Fiambretti (PP: Borgòrinna di Dennillia, Norden) had said that the matter is “being studied by our lawyers.” Alternatively, Culture Minister Anna Maria Sceiff may simply order the piece removed, or MRAM temporarily closed. A drastic alternative is to have King Kyle II personally order the artwork’s removal, as the MRAM is under royal patronage and is technically subordinate to, and is supported by, the King. Most people believe that the last option is unlikely, given the Nord-Brutlandese monarchy’s tradition of not meddling with public governance, even when the issue at hand concerns them.

This brouhaha also raises issues pertaining to the limits of freedom of speech. Brutland and Norden’s lèse majesté law is extremely weak; monarchists and conservatives say that the current law is ineffective in protecting the dignity of the King of Brutland and Norden. In 2007, several magazines published a compilation of almost-nude paparazzi photos of the then-teenage monarch, but no charges were filed. Nord-Brutlandese tabloids are also filled with rumors and gossip not only about the King, but about other people as well.

“I think it’s high time that Brutland and Norden should tighten its lèse majesté laws,” said MP Joshua Morcone (PP: Civito di Padanica, Brutland), “The dignity of the monarchy has been so highly abused, it’s a wonder how Brutland and Norden maintains such a high regard for its monarchs.”

“Freedom of speech is not absolute. Freedom of speech ends when the rights of others begin,” opined MP Giuliana Dragonetti (PP: Vallo di Chiardogna, Brutland). “The exercise of rights should not infringe on that of others. Where we draw the line, that’s where the question is.”

[Brutland and Norden]

Parliament Amends Rape Law
Brutland and Norden to Recognize Male Rape

March 3, 2013
by Dorothea Spinetti
KINGSVILLE – the Nord-Brutlandese General Court yesterday passed the proposal CG 13-205, a cross-party proposal authored by MPs Tobias Brutarigo (PP: Plantina Sorda – Ravino, Brutland), Angela Petrucco (PP: Tambione, Norden), and Roma Spellanzano (PDS: Viado Repubblica, Norden). The House of Lords is expected to pass the legislation and King Kyle II to give royal assent once the legislation is out of Parliament.

CG 13-025 amends the Public Act 1975-103, Act Pertaining to Violations of Chastity, more commonly known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1975, in order to make it gender neutral. “It’s high time that our laws recognize that males can be raped too,” said Ms. Spellanzano. “Let’s shed off all of our machismo and start to recognize that males aren’t as sex-crazed as we put them to be. Males can be violated, hurt, or be victims in sexual violence… especially young males, boys.”

The Royal Nord-Brutlandese Police do not have accurate statistics when it comes to male rape, as forced sexual acts committed against males are unrecognized by law. “We cannot investigate or prosecute those complaints as rape. Inevitably the only actionable case that could be prosecuted would be immoral acts or child abuse if a minor is involved,” said Norden Police Chief Thorizio Carcellatti. “Those would carry lighter sentences than if rape is involved.”

The case of B.B., a former temp worker of the Nordville City Government, was one of the many unrecognized incidents of male rape. According to B.B., he was forced to engage with various sexual acts with his female supervisor, who threatened him with dismissal as his position was not permanent. “I felt dirty,” B.B. said. “It was like being caught between a rock and a hard place. I have a wife and young daughter to support, and yet submitting to what my supervisor wanted seemed a betrayal of them… either way, me and my family lose.” B.B.’s wife left him after finding out about the “affair”, while his supervisor had him dismissed. Some of his friends and co-workers had found him to be “less of a man” because he was ashamed of what happened. Ironically, the supervisor brought forth charges against B.B. for rape. Subsequent investigation by the Nordville City Government and Nordville Police found out the opposite, that the supervisor was forcing B.B. to have sexual relations with her. “The police and the king’s counsel told me, ‘I’m sorry, but there are no charges that could be filed.’ Apparently what happened to me was not a crime… it was a crime only when it happens to women, but not to men.”

K.P., a former private in the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Army, had the same experience as B.B. This has led to his dishonourable discharge from the Army, though no charges had been filed against K.P. or his female commanding officer. “It was degrading,” K.P. said. “She made me do things that I would never do… some stuff was just too much for me to take. It was abusive to my person, my identity, my masculinity. But I could not speak, nor resist due to fear, and the fact that there was nothing to protect me.”

Perpetrators of male rape are not just females. A large proportion of male rapes are perpetrated by males. Previously covered as a crime against chastity and morality, most of these cases had been rendered inactionable with the decriminalization of sodomy. “That is one big loophole in our law,” said Ms. Spellanzano. “We have to remedy it.”

High school student C.D. from Fiano was a victim of his football coach. “He forced me to… serve him and his desires,” C.D. said, who was fifteen years old at the time of the incident. “He threatened to take off the team should I refuse.” C.D.’s mother learned of the abuse and reported the coach to the school authorities and the police. “That beast molested my son and took away his innocence,” C.D.’s mother remarked. “That beast should rot in prison… but he didn’t. He got off lightly.”

C.D.’s abuser was only charged with child abuse, as Brutland and Norden’s statutory rape limit of sixteen years old only applies to girls. There was no statutory rape limit for boys. Charging the molester with sodomy was also impossible due to the repeal of the anti-sodomy provisions of the Criminal Code of Brutland and Norden in 1994. And the Code’s qualifying clauses for the crimes of abduction, seduction, and rape were gender-specific to only girls being victims. “Child endangerment and immoral acts,” C.D. recalled. “That’s what he was charged of, and that’s what my lawyers had managed to dig up and use to get him jailed. But he will be free in a decade. If I had been a female, he’d be locked up for the rest of his life.”

Several other cases have been brought forth to police stations and King’s Counsel’s offices, but none had been successful. Most meted out only probations or short sentences to sexual offenders who victimized males. In October 2012, the Royal Supreme Court of Brutland and Norden declined to interpret the Anti-Rape Law of 1975 as applying to males also. According to the close decision in R. vs. Gualazzi, “The law is clear and unambiguous in that Public Act 1975-103, applies to female victims of rape and other sexual offenses. The law left no room for interpretation, nor ambiguity for us to seize upon in order to render justice. While this law may be unjust and unequal, it is outside the ambit of this court to legislate in order to remedy or change unjust and unequal laws. That responsibility lies in the legislature.”

“This law was passed precisely to remedy the problem pointed by the Supreme Court,” said Justice Minister Adam Fiambretti, who also recommended and co-sponsored the bill. “Finally there would be equal protection to every Nord-Brutlandese with regards to sexual offenses.”

[Brutland and Norden]

Brutland and Norden to Lead the South Pacific

March 4, 2013
by Camilla Callandra
TSP Regional Headquarters – the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden has been temporarily appointed as the Delegate of the Region of the South Pacific, replacing Milograd.

Capt. Kyle Irvine L. Lambourne, NRNMb, MP, the Permanent Representative of His Nord-Brutlandese Majesty to the Region of the South Pacific, accepted the interim appointment on behalf of the country. Capt. Lambourne’s main job will be to safeguard the region and effect a smooth transition to the next delegate.

“No doubt, it will be challenging,” said Capt. Lambourne. “But I believe that the unity of the countries of the South Pacific will prevail over any external threats to the region.”

Foreign Minister Tobias Lupacchino had already sent additional diplomats and staff to the Nord-Brutlandese Mission to the South Pacific to help the legation cope with the additional workload. Flying to the TSP Headquarters will be former Ambassadors Cristina di Castanelli and Fiorina La Condamina. In addition, the Nord-Brutlandese government authorized the deployment of two military units to the TSP Regional Headquarters to physically secure the area and prevent any attack on the headquarters. The 24th “Volpe” Brigade of the 2nd Airborne Division of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Army and the 100th Squadron of the Auxiliary Fleet of the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Navy had left Campònava Naval Base in Kingsville yesterday afternoon bound for the TSP Regional Headquarters.

Several nations had already expressed interest in joining the race to the delegacy. “We encourage our fellow South Pacificans to participate in one of the liveliest regional democracy anywhere in the multiverse,” said Ms. Di Castanelli, who was tasked to facilitate the regional elections.

Aside from within the region, Brutland and Norden had also assumed the responsibility of representing the region in the World Assembly. The Nord-Brutlandese Foreign Ministry also had sent additional staff back to the Mission to the World Assembly in order for the country and the region to be represented effectively in this global forum.

[Brutland and Norden]

Prince Bryce Opens Chess Tournament

March 5, 2013
by Giosuè di Niclara
DENNVILLE – Prince Bryce, Duke of Brugnatella, formally opened the 14th Nord-Brutlandese Junior Chess Olympiad at the Dennville Convention Center yesterday. This Olympiad, separated into boys and girls sections, gathered 10 teams each of under-18 chess players that won their respective provincial competitions. Included in the Boys’ Tournament are teams from Kingsville, Santelleria (Union Territories), Borcenna, Nordville, Trefini, Valle di Giri (Norden), Marchòcchiese, Padania, Brutia, and Pannondrio (Brutland). Competing in the Girls’ Tournament are teams from Kingsville, Brugnatella (Union Territories), Nordville, Borcenna, Fonzo, Lecarocchiavalle (Norden), Padania, Brutia, Trascara, and Calabruzzi (Brutland).

First Game
The Prince opened the Chess Olympiad by playing the inaugural game with sixteen-year-old Russell Lightfoot, on the fourth board of the Marchòcchiese Boys Team. Surprisingly, Prince Bryce, playing as White, defeated Lightfoot after 42 moves. The Prince adapted the Panov-Botvinnik Attack to their Caro-Kann Advance Variation game, a little-used line that has not been extensively analyzed. The game culminated with a pawn steamroller that trapped Lightfoot’s king in the center. Lightfoot resigned after 42 moves as mate was threatened.

The boy was a gracious player, smiling as he had his picture taken with the Prince. “The Prince is a strong player,” Lightfoot said, “a very worthy opponent.”

Boys’ Tournament
The first round of the round-robin tournament was also held on the same day. The Pannondrian boys’ team dominated the scoreboard early, handily defeating the Nordville boys’ team 4-0. Grandmaster Colombano Brizola, on the first board of the Pannondrian team, delivered a humiliating defeat to Alessandro Ingoglia of the Nordville team. In what was the first rounds’ shortest game, Brizola delivered a sneaky checkmate to Ingoglia after 22 moves of Budapest Defense.

The Padanian team emerged the second with 3.5 points, winning all of their games against the Valle di Giri team except that in the second board, where Lamberto Vittorini drew Bricco Miranda after 56 moves of Scandinavian Defense.

Girl’s Tournament
The Trascara and Borcenna Girls’ Teams both tied for first place with 3 points after the first round. The Trascara team scored 3-1 against the Kingsville team by winning all of their games except on the third board, where Annamaria Piccolomini of Kingsville defeated Adriana Porscale of Trascara. The fourth board of the Trascara-Kingsville match was notable because Carissa Lanthieri of the Trascara team used Durkin’s Attack (1. Na3), an irregular opening that caught her opponent off guard. Using a seemingly nonsensical first move, it put all preparations and opening studies to naught, letting Lanthieri show off her tactics and skills in unusual positions.

Games Tomorrow
The second and third rounds of the Olympiad will be held tomorrow, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

[Brutland and Norden]

“Our Country is not ‘Brutland and Norden’”

KINGSVILLE – in an extraordinary act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden, the Nord-Brutlandese General Court declared that “our country is not ‘Brutland and Norden’.”

The Brutland and Norden Act, as the passed legislation is to be known once given royal assent, states that the country known in its native name as la Rinnosso Unnona di Norden e Marchòbrutellia, is not officially translated as “the United Kingdom of Brutland and Norden”.

“If you translate the official name of this country quite literally, it is ‘the United Kingdom of Norden and Brutland,” explained Dr. Federica Cagiano-Stigliola, Director of the Stiutte Reala per l‘Avanze di la Lingúe Nordèbrutelliense (SRALN, Royal Institute for the Advancement of the Nord-Brutlandese Language), the country’s language regulator. “Even the name of the language follows that Norden comes first before Brutland: Nordèbrutelliense or Nord-Brutlandese. In English, the country’s name has been mistaken for centuries as Brutland and Norden.”

According to Dr. Cagiano-Stigliola, the name "Brutland and Norden" had been fixed in the English literature, primarily because the first contacts with the British happened with Brutland. In the eyes of the British, Brutland loomed larger than Norden, because the former was militarily successful, economically more powerful, and very stable.

However, the common usage of the name will be hard to erase in the wider world. “We cannot dictate how the world calls us,” said Professor Lachlan Bryceson of the English-speaking University of Timberland. “Just ask Germany.”

This ambiguity has been harnessed by the government in order to solve one of the most complex problems in Nord-Brutlandese politics – the issue of the country’s relationship with the World Assembly and international organizations. “An outlandish issue requires an outlandish solution,” said the author of the bill.

The Brutland and Norden Act declares that the only official short form of the country is “Norden e Marchòbrutellia” and is unofficially translatable to “Norden and Brutland”. However, it acknowledges the wide usage of “Brutland and Norden” throughout the world, and maintains that that epithet can refer to the country as a whole – but not legally. Instead, “Brutland and Norden” will now exist, as a legal fiction. It will be an entity (an associated state) occupying several rooms in the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These rooms include the Ministry’s bureaux that handle the country’s affairs in the World Assembly, including voting in resolutions and statistical reporting the international organizations. “It means that the country can still vote in World Assembly Resolutions without these stupid resolutions being applicable to the entire country,” the bill’s author said. “But it will still mean that the statistic “Brutland and Norden” reports to the World Assembly are from our country (“Norden e Marchòbrutellia”). As such most of the things on the country’s page in the World Assembly still refers to us, just as most people think it would be. It would solve our problem of how to get away from the claws of the World Assembly, while at the same time avoid all the troubles that can arise from changing the country's name.”

The House of Lords and the King is expected to approve and to give assent, respectively, on the bill within the next few days.

[Brutland and Norden]

Social Democrats Supports Livro Proposal
Livro Issue Divides Government

February 11, 2013
by Andrea Sinigaglia
KINGSVILLE – the proposal to revalue the nation’s currency had divided the government and the ruling party. Both members of Parliament and Cabinet members are taking opposite sides with regards to the proposal to debase the Nord-Brutlandese livro, which has the potential to become a hot-button issue in the coming elections. Proponents say that converting the livro into a semi-representative currency will stimulate economic growth, relieve the Royal Nord-Brutlandese Bank of disposing of fiat currencies in order to buy gold, and equalize trade since many of the nation’s trading partners use fiat currencies. Opponents say that debasing the livro would expose the Nord-Brutlandese to the negative effects of inflation, manipulatory monetary policies, and hurt miners in Brutland and Norden.

While the Popular Party is split in two regarding the issue, the Social Democratic Party (PDS) of Brutland and Norden formally supported the revaluation side in a press conference yesterday. Party Leader Ms. Ferrina Ilario said that “The Social Democratic Party of Brutland and Norden wholeheartedly supports the revaluation of the Nord-Brutlandese livro. We believe such a measure is necessary to sustain economic growth, give more flexibility to the government for managing the economy, and is necessary for progress.”

The decision is still to be ratified in the upcoming party congress next month, “where we hope it will be included in the Party Platform,” said Ms. Ilario.

The decision is not surprising as most of the Social Democratic MPs are in favour of the measure. All but one of the PDS MPs in the General Court openly favors the revaluation of the Nord-Brutlandese livro. However, political analysts say that such a show of support for revaluation can hurt their chances in several marginal districts in eastern Norden, where mining is one of the main industries. “Revaluation has been construed as detrimental to the mining industry,” said political science Professor Lorena Contini of the Royal University of Brutland and Norden at Kingsville. “In Norden, many of the miners and much of the mining districts are heavily unionized, which would tilt them to vote for the PDS. That’s why despite the conservative, rural character of eastern Norden, in many places, the PDS would have a relatively decent chance of winning seats. But the miners there have taken revaluation as a threat to their livelihoods. So instead of being competitive, these districts may instead vote strongly for the other candidate who is anti-revaluation.”

Indeed, many of the Popular Party deputies from eastern Norden had taken anti-revaluation stances. Carlotta Gaspare (PP: Covara, Norden) and Marco Rignello (PP: Norremaque Estennía, Norden) had taken strong public positions against revaluation. Most of the region’s MPs, including Francesca Santoíanni (PP: Platina-Doro, Norden), Briano Zocalli (PP: Berlizzi-Nativiscare, Norden), and Carlo Mondragone (PP: Terrallo-Storrefine, Norden), are drifting to an anti-revaluation position, given the many marginal areas within their constituencies.

Such stances will be vital in the upcoming elections, and it remains to be seen whether the PDS’ support of revaluation will handicap them, or will turn out to be not a liability after all.

[Brutland and Norden]

General Court ends debate on Livro Revaluation Proposal

February 15, 2013
by Andrea Sinigaglia
KINGSVILLE – the General Court, in a vote of 73-70, last night ended the debate on the proposal pertaining to the revaluation of the national currency. The extra-governmental proposal, introduced by MPs Filippo Carmonello (PDS: Vilònorda Settra, Norden) , Atturo Molmetti (PDS: Civito di Carpa, Norden) and Agata Rissotti (PP: Ferbiabbo, Norden), aims to convert the Nord-Brutlandese livro into a semi-representative currency.

Half of the Popular Party (PP) MPs voted against ending the debate, symptomatic of the ruling party's division over the issue. All of the Social Democrats, the two Greens, and the lone Communist in the Parliament voted to end the debate. Six MPs abstained, including Treasury Minister Lúanna Gardefini and Defense Minister Kail Brecchio. Prime Minister Marianna Cortanella was absent during the vote.

The usually sedate General Court debates had become heated during the past few days, with a large swathe of MPs from the conservative and moderate wings of the ruling Popular Party opposing the legislation. Count Giustino Tassilone of Piccu, Presider of the General Court, had to call for recess in several instances as debates in the lower chamber of Parliament were turning vitriolic during the past few days.

Opponents of the legislation argue that the proposal is tantamount to a devaluation of the national currency and would undermine the basis of the Nord-Brutlandese economy. The legislation’s opponents, led by the MPs Brocco Cuttiglione (PP: Padania Norda, Brutland) and Carlo Mondragone (PP: Terrallo-Storrefine, Norden), decried the railroading of the legislation. They had already protested the ‘uncharacteristic speediness’ in which the legislation ‘sailed out of the committee without careful thought’. Some of the opponents, such as Mr. Giancarlo Puscatelli (PP: Briuli – Plantina Norda – Milova Osta, Brutland), theorized that ‘outside interests are behind this legislation’.

Proponents of the legislation complained of the obstructionist tactics being employed by those against the proposal. Mrs. Rissotti said that the majority is supportive of the proposal and it ought to advance like most proposals would have. Mr. Carmonello of the Social Democrats, whose party is supportive of the proposal, said that ‘the obstructionists are opposing the majority and cross-party opinion’. The livro proposal is officially supported by the Social Demcorats, the Greens, and the Communists.

The ruling Popular Party is divided on the issue, with the liberal wing supporting the proposal, and the conservative wing opposed. The moderate faction within the party, represented by the “Norden moderates”, is mostly against the proposal, although some voted to end the debate yesterday.

The Cabinet is set to meet today in order to discuss a stance on the proposal, which is scheduled to be voted on Wednesday.

[Brutland and Norden]

Anti-revaluation MPs appeal to the King

February 16, 2013
by Andrea Sinigaglia
KINGSVILLE – two of the parliamentary leaders of the debate against livro revaluation, Mr. Carlo Mondragone (PP: Terrallo-Storrefine, Norden) and Mr. Brocco Cuttiglione (PP: Padania Norda, Brutland), delivered a petition to His Majesty King Kyle II during a personal audience at the Royal Palace yesterday afternoon. The petition, signed by sixty-four anti-revaluation MPs, urges the King to use his reserve powers “to prevent debasement of the Nord-Brutlandese livro and maintain monetary stability and fiscal responsibility of the country.”

According to the Royal Palace Press office, the King had “no immediate comment, but will be studying the matter further.”

Mr. Mondragone said afterwards that “We hope that His Majesty would consider our proposal favourably and maintain the livro and the country on the standard implemented by his great predecessor, His Majesty King Kyle I.”

Pro-revaluation MPs and critics chastised the anti-revaluation camp. “Atrociously audacious,” Deputy Prime Minister Sean Montògliore quipped, “What they are doing is unprecedented. Dragging the monarchy into what is essentially a political question? What they did is stupid.”

Mr. Mondragone later countered Mr. Montògliore’s statement in an interview with TRNM Novu di Notte. “It’s not unprecedented. In 1924, King Chester II even threatened the government of Giovanni Leonardini with dismissal if they did not bring back the livro back to standard and reverse the debasement that they did. Now that we are in the same situation, I don’t see why such measures are unthinkable.”

Unofficial insider sources state that the King is lukewarm to an idea of revaluation, though as usual, His Majesty refrains from commenting and influencing politicians. According to an insider from the Prime Minister’s Office, should King Kyle II intervene, it would most likely be on the anti-revaluation side. “That is why we are constantly advising His Majesty to refrain from acting on such silly petitions,” said the insider, who declined to be named.

Professor Lorena Contini of the Royal University of Brutland and Norden at Kingsville believes that royal intervention is unlikely. “It would cause a political crisis,” Prof. Contini said. “And ever since the institution of the constitutional monarchy in 1900, Nord-Brutlandese monarchs had been historically averse to dabbling in political questions. The reason why King Chester II chose to act in 1924 was because the country was descending into unrest and chaos because of the debasement of the livro. King Chester II believed that he was acting in accordance to the wishes of the people and against a greedy, oppressive government. That was why his actions were praised as wise decision, instead of being denigrated as causing a political crisis. Should this evolve into a situation similar to 1924, we could see the king doing something. Otherwise, expect silence from the His Majesty.”