The Midgard Chronicle

[Niles Caulder]

The Midgard Chronicle[/size][/font]

Est. 1651
"For by art is created that great LEVIATHAN called a COMMONWEALTH...."




A property of Caulder Consultancies since 2004

[Niles Caulder]

Contents[/u]
News     (Below)
Opinion
[/b]

Editorial Staff[/b]

Editor-In-Chief: Niles Caulder
Managing Editor: Nation
Editors-at-Large: Jens, Akno21

Positions Available to Qualified Applicants
Email: nilescaulder@yahoo.com

Production Consultation provided by ilikeverin
Technical Consultation provided by JFK

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[/font]

[Niles Caulder]

Letter From the Editor-in-Chief
24 August, 2004[/size]

Thank you for reading The Midgard Chronicle!
We hope it suits your needs for thorough and professional coverage of Fantasy Politics.

If you are new to Fantasy Elections, please read this thread.
It will give you a better idea of what’s going on around here, and how it works.

This thread is a journalistic narrative of the fantasy world in which registered voters and office holders interact, but it’s not the whole story.  MUCH has come before this publication, and much will escape the grasp of our overworked staff as it goes along.  (But don’t think there’s no journalistic competition around!)  This is just hopefully a good first step into your day of civic activity.  This paper has an institutional advantage of housing the GM’s instant access to creating public media events, so much of what’s in here will be the springboard of what’s occupying your fellow politicians’ attention and motivating their behavior.

What’s a GM?  The Game Moderator is the sap who gets stuck with dreaming up and representing the fantasy world to these Fantasy Politics.  (Yes, I have a girlfriend and a life off the internet.)  No one made any promises about quality control…but we do our best to live up to the Forum’s needs and the Forum Moderator’s expectations.

But the fun of this is the story that YOU make.  Want to change the world?  There’s nothing to it.  You can run for office.  You can try to angle your way into an appointed government post.  You can legislate and judicate.  You can just be an issue activist who tries to get things done.  (Want to be a member of the fourth branch of government?  Be a journalist!  Maybe The Chronicle is hiring….)  You’re the GM of your own fantasy citizen, your words…and your vote.

Welcome to the United Forum of Atlasia![/font]

[Niles Caulder]

The Midgard Chronicle is currently hiring for these positions:

Staff Editors

• Coordinate and Report on preapproved stories of your own interest
• Exceedingly high standards of professionalism and objectivity
• Daily forum presence and activity not required
  
  
  Please submit inquiries, letters of interest, story ideas, and submissions to nilescaulder@yahoo.com
  
  [/font][/size]
  

[Niles Caulder]

Down to the Wire!
High Court Decides Winner of Dist. 2A -- Runoff in Dist.4B

by Sir Ex-Governor Ilikeverin, Esq.
 
Election shockers abounded this weekend, as several races were won by unexpected candidates, while others were won by razor thin margins that were expected to be blowouts.  One of the Senatorial elections, for the District 2A seat, was to be decided in the Supreme Court, which hinged on a ruling of the fate of a vote cast by NixonNow (also known as 57Opinions).
 
District 1B
District 1B was won by Handzus26 (IP-PA), in an arguably
preventable situation.  Keystone Phil (R-PA), was the first to be eliminated by Preferential Voting, as a result of a tiebreaker.  It was widely thought that his voters would preference .Andrew (UAC-NY), second, giving .Andrew the win.  Unfortunately for him, none of his voters chose a second preference, giving Handzus the win over what probably would have been a preferable candidate for the Republicans.
 
District 2A
This district's election was in flux, as there was no clear winner between candidates Akno21 (D-MD), and RReagan4EVER (R-OH).  The controversy stems from voter NixonNow (I-NJ), who voted for 'RReagan117', who does not exist.
However, the vote was counted as a vote for RReagan4EVER by Secretary of Forum Affairs Fritz, as it was widely believed that NixonNow intended to vote for RReagan4Ever.  However, NixonNow's ballot clearly states a vote for 'RReagan117', hence the Supreme Court's need to rule in this case.

Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that the ballot was improperly cast, giving Akno21 the win.  This decision was partially based on testimony by Fritz's testimony that he has reasessed the situation, and has found that NixonNow's vote should not count.

District 2B
District 2B also had interesting results, with candidate Migrendel (UL-MA) eventually receiving the nod.  In the first round, candidate Bono (R-NH) received 5 votes, while candidates Umengus (D-VT) and Migrendel received 3 votes.  However, the candidate who would be eliminated could only be decided by second place votes, which Migrendel had more of.  Umengus's votes were transferred to Migrendel, giving Migrendel the win, 6-5.
 
District 3B
District 3B was widely considered to be the 'dirtiest' race, with people on both sides trading barbs.  The actual voting, however, was straightforward, with candidate Texasgurl (D-WI) receiving 7 votes and candidate Demrepdan (IP-IL) receiving 6 votes.

District 4B
District 4B had two disputed votes, and will eventually be settled by a runoff.  One of the disputed votes was cast by Kodratos (R-NC), who edited his post.  As our readers should know, post editing was a problem in the June elections.

However, Ernest (I-SC) did not cast his ballot with Harry as his first preference, leading to a tie over all, and a tie in the tiebreaker.  Josh22 (R-NC) and Harry (IP-MS) will compete in a runoff soon to determine the victor.

District 5B
This race was closer than it looked, but still not much of a contest.
Senator StevenNick (R-WA) received 6 votes in the first round, followed by 4 votes for PlatypeanArchcow (UL-CA) and 3 for Mr. Hobbes (UAC-CA).
However, all of the Mr. Hobbes put StevenNick as their #2 spot, causing the final tall to be StevenNick 9, PlateypeanArchcow 4.  Said Mr. Hobbes of the election: 'I'm simply glad that the democratic system is the one that we live under today in Atlasia, and I would never have it any other way.'

Pacific Region
The Gubernatorial Election was not very close in this case, as Wildcard (UAC-CA) received 8 votes and Freedomburns (UL-CA) received 4 votes, while in the Lieutenant Gubernatorial election had Mr. King (UAC-CA) receiving 9 votes, and Lewis Trondheim (UL-HI) receiving 3 votes.
 
Propositions 1 ('The Controller Elimination Act'), 2 ('The Petition Clarification Act'), 3 ('The Preferential Voting Act'), and 5 ('The Welcome Montana Act') passed, while Proposition 4 ('The Capitol of the Pacific') established the capitol of the Pacific Region to be San Francisco.

Southeastern Region
Htmldon (UAC-TN) won this election fairly easily, by a margin of 7-4 over Reaganfan (R-TX).  An interesting bit in this race is that Reaganfan's home state of Texas was transferred from the Midwest to the Southeast in the middle of the election cycle, causing some confusion.

Midwest Region
In what was most arguably the largest upset in this election cycle, Historian PBrunsel (R-IA) defeated incumbent Governor ilikeverin (IP-MN) 4-2.  To make it more shocking, PBrunsel won with a write-in campaign, leading to one of the first write-in victories in Atlasia.

However, perhaps luckily for the Governor, his two propositions, the Midwest Capitol Act and the Preferential Voting Amendment passed unopposed by a margin of 6-0.

[Niles Caulder]

Explosion at Nation's Fuel Reserve

by Spike Speigel[/b]

At least one explosion has rocked the "Big Hill" Strategic Petroleum Reserve near Beumont, TX late this morning.  No casualties have been confirmed.  The facility is under lockdown procedures. The extent of damage is publically unknown, but enormous black clouds of smoke can be seen from miles away.  Elements of the Jefferson County Fire Deparment arrived at the scene, followed by the Texas Rangers who have assumed jurisdiction over the scene.

The cause of the explosion is still unkown.  The Texas Rangers have no public comment, but private sources have informed The Chronicle that no federal authorities have yet made contact on site.  Authorities refuse to speculate whether this explosion was some sort of accident, malfunction, or a deliberate attack--and if so, by whom.

"Big Hill" is one of four "SPR"s in Texas and Louisianna that store the nation's refined oil reserves.  These reserves are kept by the federal goverment to protect against supply shortage emergencies.

The Midgard Chronicle will continue coverage of this story as more details come in.

[Niles Caulder]

Oil Prices Skyrocket on News of Explosion[/size]
DoD, National Guard React to Emergency[/size]

by Jett Black[/b]

The price of oil has risen to $69/barrel this afternoon on news of the explosion at the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve in South Texas.  As details of the explosion are still sketchy, the effect this explosion has on the nation's ability to defend itself from foreign supply manipulation is uncertain, but a total loss of the installation would represent an approximate 30% reducution in reserve supplies.

On fears of the worst, stocks have plummeted in afternoon trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at lows not seen in years:  7170.93 and few signs of stabilizing.  Conversly, the price of gold has shot up to just shy of $600/ ounce.

Market Analyst Peter Foreyes commented for The Chronicle, "The already near-back-breaking price of oil before this news was a daily ulcer for even the optimists on Wall Street, but after this the price of a gallon of gasoline potentially rising another dollar/gallon if not more has overwhelming odds of stunning the economy back into a recession--and who knows what else after that.
The spectre of terrorist attack hangs over the market as well, causing all the more psychological pressure on investment behavior.  Depending on the news that comes out, we may have closed with an all out panic by the end of the day."

Panic has already ensued in the nation's gasoline retail market, with prices reprotedly rising in some parts of the country to as much as $6/gallon.

Reminiscent of the Spanish elections of 2004, a well organized and executed terrorist attack on a small scale, arguably causing the defeat of the incumbant party supporting the U.S. in Iraq in the week's elections, many fear this is such a similar tactic to dramatically thwart U.S. interests with a small but devastatingly effective strike--and once again on U.S. soil.

The Chronicle has learned that at least two Coast Guard cutters have been activated and are being positioned in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is taking charge of the explosion site.  Southeast Governor htmldon has announced mobilization of the National Guard moments ago.

There has of yet been no comment by the White House.

[Niles Caulder]

PRESIDENT RESIGNS!
JFK ASCENDS TO OVAL OFFICE

[/b]
by Faye Valentine[/b]

In a shock that will reverberate through Atlasian History, Gustaf has resigned the office of the Presidency.  The nation reeled at the news, but the government quickly took action to transfer the powers of office to President Pro Tempore of the Senate, JFK.

Former President Gustaf gave no explanation of this decision, but promised that one would come in the days ahead.

Meanwhile, reminiscent of Harry Truman's tentative and humble words assuming the office nearly 60 years before, JFK spoke briefly upon returning to the country from a junket in Mexico.

JFK became the new president according to the constitutional provision of ascension in the absence of a Vice President.

In minutes following, Governor .Andrew of the Northeast Region mysteriously resigned his office, but was shortly thereafter declared the pick as Vice President by President JFK.

President JFK leaves behind a vacancy in the Senate for seat 5A, which Secretary of Forum Affairs Fritz has already begun the process of filling via a special election to be held Memorial Day weekend.  At the time of this copy, the candidates declared running for the seat are the Pacific's recently elected Lieutennant Governor King and Gabu.

Attourney General Mr Fresh has also tendered his resignation, which has apparantly been in the works for some time.

The Gustaf administration has apparantly collapsed in a time of internal national upheaval and disaster.  Whomever the administrations opponants and nation's enemies were, foreign or domestic, they certainly could not have predicted this response by the Atlasian political system.

The JFK Administration has already begun motion on public fronts, one of which is enacting the Stickies, Posts, and Polls Reduction Act, and his Vice President has initiated an open dialogue with community leaders regarding the quality of the governmental system in this time of upheaval.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve Crisis is still only hours underway, and the world now holds its breath wondering how fast the incoming Administration can respond to it.

[Niles Caulder]

New Movements Spawned at Rapid Pace in Tense Political Atmosphere

By Hermit[/b]

Editors Note:
The Midgard Chronicle offers this previously unpublished article for possible context of recent events.

With the midterms all over but for the runoffs and lawsuits, a tense political atmosphere hangs over Altasia. This election has been a realigning one, and bad feelings and bruised egos linger. Prominent Altasians have all announced their departures from the forums.

And that's not the only shake-up: New movements and groups are flickering in and out of existence on an almost daily basis. Justin's Atlas Alliance, with it's slogan "Unite the Right", lasted a matter of days. Another single-member party, the ILP, was officially disolved by Al, who immediately began sounding out interest for a new, "Centre-Left/Populist/Anti-Establishment" party before joining the United Left.

Former candidate Mr. Hobbes comptemplated forming a new party as well, asking the forums what their opinion would be on a Whig Party.

Not to mention the growning Libertarian party, which has yet to field a candidate.

But parties aren't the only new entities grabbing the spotlight: Ernest has formed a non-partisan group called "The Federalist League", comprised of Altasians angry at the federal government enroaching on the regions' rights, citing such recent examples as Texas' addition to the Southeast.

A less mainstream group, the Anti-UAC Association, was created by former candidate Bono, who was angry at not being endorsed by the party. When asked for comment, UAC member KEmperor stated "[Bono] entered the race AFTER we made our endorcement...it had nothing to do with [him] and everything to do with Justin." Bono soon disbanded the group in the face of public outcry.

With a VP space empty, runoffs still running, and bad feelings seething, what is the future of Altasia's current political structure? "I don't think we have enough active members to sustain any more parties than we already have," said Senator Akno21. We'll see what happens, but either way, it appears that the results of this election will echo far into the future.

[© tweed]

Ilikeverin just bought me, the tammany times.

You guys now own it.

[ilikeverin]

And it shall be absorbed into the paper

Somehow...

[Niles Caulder]

LOL My Mg.Ed. sure does keep busy.  Making business deals on behalf of the paper...I wonder what they are!  Guess I'll read about it in the news....

The Tammany Times was part of the inspiration behind The Chronicle, Boss.  I gave serious thought to exploring its chances of ressurection given its legacy here at the Forum...but in the end I decided the tone I was going for was more global and analytical than the flavorful sectarian character of the Tammany allusion.

I don't know if this very short book is still in print, but if you [indefinate] spot it, be sure to grab it:  "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall."  I'm sure George Washington Plunkitt's escapades are chronicled in other tomes, too.  Insightful reading, and a reminder of Tip O'Neil's all-important axiom: "All politics is local."

[Edit: and when I say 'grab it,' I mean grab it and pay for it, too.]

[Niles Caulder]

Harry Quietly Re-Elected in Underwhelming Run-Off

by Vincent Voloju[/b]

In a run-off race decided by barely half of the voters of the previous weekend's tie, Harry led Josh22 decisively by the close of polls Sunday Night 6-3, and thus survived a difficult re-election.

Secretary of Forum Affairs Fritz publically speculated that the lack of voter turnout may have been due to lack of visibility of the voting booth to voters.  Sources in the private contractor's operation, Caulder Consultancies*, administering the vote until Sunday afternoon inform The Chronicle that they took measures to keep the Booth on the First Page of the Fantasy Election Folder throughout the weekend.

The news of this election match was obliterated by the governmental crises of recent days.  Nevertheless, Senator Harry of District Seat 4B is now the acting President Pro Tempore, and already immersed in the deafening buzz of furious governmental activity in these times of change.  Having succeeded in his attempt to represent District 4 in the next term, he is a serious, leading contendor for the post of PPT permenantly once that session of the Senate begins.

[ The Midgard Chronicle apologizes for the delay of this update.]

*Caulder Consultancies is the parent company of The Midgard Chronicle

[King]

Harry Quietly Re-Elected in Underwhelming Run-Off

by Vincent Voloju[/b]

In a run-off race decided by barely half of the voters of the previous weekend's tie, Harry led Josh22 decisively by the close of polls Sunday Night 6-3, and thus survived a difficult re-election.

Secretary of Forum Affairs Fritz publically speculated that the lack of voter turnout may have been due to lack of visibility of the voting booth to voters.  Sources in the private contractor's operation, Caulder Consultancies*, administering the vote until Sunday afternoon inform The Chronicle that they took measures to keep the Booth on the First Page of the Fantasy Election Folder throughout the weekend.

The news of this election match was obliterated by the governmental crises of recent days.  Nevertheless, Senator Harry of District Seat 4B is now the acting President Pro Tempore, and already immersed in the deafening buzz of furious governmental activity in these times of change.  Having succeeding in his attempt to represent District 4 in the next term, he is a serious leading contendor for the post once that session of the Senate begins.

[ The Midgard Chronicle apologizes for the delay of this update.]

*Caulder Consultancies is the parent company of The Midgard Chronicle

¡Viva Harry!

[Niles Caulder]

Ernest to be Confirmed as Attorney General[/size][/b]

by Julia Vicious[/b]

The Midgard Chronicle has just learned that Ernest's nomination for Attorney General has received the requisite five votes needed to confirm, and it is just a matter of time before the decision is formalized.

Ernest, former GM, founder of the nationally acclaimed newspaper The Region, and recent founding member of the regional rights advocacy group The Federalist League, brings to the office one of the foremost legal minds in Atlasia.

President JFK has stated that Ernest's acceptance of the office was 'conditional,' later indicating that Federalist League operations and Attorney General duties would not be interfering with each other.

Speaking after his nomination was declared, Ernest said, "Let me first thank President Kennedy for his nomination.  I shall try my best to serve the people of Atlasia.  It is possible that I may at times seem to be contradicting myself as both Attorney General and as a major proponent of the Federalist League.  As Attorney General I shall deal with the law as it is, while the Federalist League has hopes [of] what the law will become.  I assure the public that shall try to as best I can to keep the two seperate."

[Niles Caulder]

[whispers to staff:]

Gee, wouldn't it be great if there were stories here on:

Senate Seat 5A's special election race?
The congealing race for the Republican Presidential Nomination?
Senator Nation's Retirement Announcement?
League of King's Debate Series Announcement?
Wild, Rampant, Random Speculation on President Kennedy's comments on the Explosion in Texas?

Well fear not...we're not fast...but we're still good!  Check this thread soon!

*AHEM!*

(please email your poor, overworked E-i-C with some good summaries!)

[Reignman]

The news on Capitol Hill
by Reignman



Special election for President Pro Tempore!

Last Sunday, Senator Harry (AFIP) from District 4, and acting President Pro Tempore, announced that a new President Pro Tempore needs to be selected in a special election.  Within hours, Senators StatesRights (SR-D4), Harry (AFIP-D4), and StevenNick99 (R-5) all announced they would run for PPT in a special election.  Lt. Governor King (UAC) of the Western Region chuckled when he heard of the news.  "StatesRights vs. Harry vs. StevenNick...now its a battle..."



A raise in the voting age?

Last week, Senator Nation (UAC-NY) from District 1 floated the idea of raising the voting age from 18 posts, but did not specify how high the voting age should go.  While some Congresspersons were quick to support this idea, Senator hughento (ARIP) strongly disagreed.

"18 is good. it ties into the real system, is low enough to keep people interested, and high enough to prevent total trolls from registering and nmot contributing. Because we purge the voting lists, I feel that it works out," he said last Saturday.

I asked Senator Nation if he could explain his thoughts on this issue in more detail.

"It's simple, really. My problem is mainly with people who come in quickly, (it's easy to get 18 posts), and then vote for a candidate in their party, then never show up again. People argue that it's like that in real life too. Yes, but this isn't real life --- this is fantasy elections. Another concern of mine is mostly people who only show up at the forum to vote -- and never for anything else."

Senator Nation has received only fourteen replies to this idea to date.



Cuba Bill defeated

Senator hughento's Cuba Bill died last week in accordance with the Senatorial Procedure Resolution.  Despite much controversy and heated discussion, there were only 5 votes on the bill--2 yeas and 3 neas.  Perhaps the bill was too controversial for some of the Senators to vote on.  The bill called for:

1. Resuming diplomatic ties with Cuba

2. Looking at ways to deal with the refugee problem

3. Exploring the possibility of allowing minimal trade with Cuba

[Niles Caulder]

New Administration Takes Charge of Crisis

[/size]
by Ed Patruvski, IV[/b]

Following the whirlwind of rotating seats in the highest offices of Atlasian Government, the new JFK Administration has taken a firm step to contain the situation regarding the explosion at the "Big Hill" Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Southeast Texas.

The FBI has been dispatched by the new Attorney General Ernest to all four SPR sites in the country, presumably to investigate the potential of further sabotage.

The White House has announced that the new President shall make some comments on the situation soon; whether that will take place tonight or tomorrow is uncertain.

In what has surely been one of the darkest days in Atlasian History, with the future of the world's principle economy in doubt and its strategic position with regard to near-term energy policy in question, the added political shockwaves of the resignation of President Gustaf has placed the hopes of the nation in the hands of a political leader no one expected.  His first full day in office may be his most challenging; he will wake up to a stock market on the brink of suspended trading, a dollar that has fallen dramatically to foreign currencies overnight, an investment community that has retreated to the shelter of precious metals raising their prices to all-time highs, and a frightened nation lined up at the gas stations with the spectre of terrorism foremost on their minds.

Sources within the FBI privately inform The Midgard Chronicle that preliminary indications are the damage to the facility is not total, but will not comment further--even off the record.

[ilikeverin]

Apologies... I was at my cabin

[Niles Caulder]

Apologies... I was at my cabin

It's good career advise to invite your boss to your cabin!  
(Booze and women are all the more advisable entertaining enhancements, now that I think about it.)

Ah, Verin...by the time I'm through with your training, you'll be unmathced executive material!

[King]

Whats the Atlas news this evening Niles?

[Niles Caulder]

President Addresses Worried Nation
Climate of Fear Hangs Over Morning Markets

by Corporate Stooge[/b]

In his first press conference as President, John F. Kennedy spoke to inform the nation of the situation at the Big Hill SPR site in Southeast Texas, and how the administration intends to address it.

The president reported that the explosion is believed to have been caused by an explosive device, and that three others were discovered at the site and apparantly relocated and disarmed at an undisclosed location.

The saboteurs are still unkown, but an investigation is underway that "will not rest until we find them," said the President.

The President refused to speculate if this was a terrorist act, and indicated it was too early to draw conclusions to the nature or motives of the saboteurs.

The President mentioned legislation his administration was drafting in order to lower the price of oil--but so far specifics have not been ascertained.

The President also mentioned that his administration intends to increase the capacity of petroleum production infrastructure as a result of this crisis.

The morning markets reacted mixed to the President's comments, seemingly grateful for the demonstration of the government's intention to address the challenges ahead--yet certainly ambivelent about the as-of-yet nebulous solutions being proposed.  Oil is holding steady at $63/barrel, gold is trading at $540/ounce, and the DJI has stopped skidding off the cliff for now, holding at 7500.

The panic has yet to abate in the nation's gasoline sector, as prices double and triple the average before the explosion continue to manifest in many parts of the country.  Controversy over retail gouging is well underway.

World governments and financial institutions have yet to find their own bearings after the political earthquakes of the previous day in the world's sole superpower.  Public comments from foreign governments are as of yet unsubstantiative, with few exceptions.

Palastinian Chairman Yassar Arafat has decried the attack upon the Atlasian installation, and disavowed any connection of any assailant upon the U.S. to the Palastinian nation or its cause.

The United Kingdom has quickly passed a resolution in the House of Commons in support of the Atlasian people and its government.  Although there has been no public comment, private sources tell The Chronicle that the Prime Mininster has had private conversations with President Kennedy and "offered his full support through these rough waters ahead, whatever they may hold."

[Niles Caulder]

The Midgard Chronicle
Quote of the Day

" ...realizing what the physicians tell us of hectic fever, that in its beginning it is easy to cure, but hard to recognize; whereas, after a time, not having been detected and treated at the first, it becomes easy to recognize but impossible to cure.

And so it is with State affairs."

--Niccolo Machiavelli

[/i][/font]

[Niles Caulder]

The Midgard Chronicle[/i] is hiring!

The election cycle is heating up, and we need a full staff to cover campaign doings to meet the needs of our readers.

Articles expected twice weekly.

Report first; editorialize later.

Promotion opportunities based on merit!

Freelance work not meeting these requirements is accepted, and if utilized will be appropriately credited.

Send all inquiries and submissions to nilescaulder@yahoo.com

[Niles Caulder]

Details of SPR Sabotage Remain Murky

by Woodward Roberts[/b]

While the national panic continues to grip Atlasia, the trickle of details about the true nature of the attack at the 'Big Hill' Strategic Petroleum Reserve remains slow.  As accident has been ruled out, the country's mind turns toward terrorism, despite the government's refusal to publically speculate.

The Midgard Chronicle has learned from law enforcement personnel on the scene refusing to go on the record that the transfer of oversight operations from the Midwest region to the Southeast region may have been a contributing factor in the lapse of security.

Sources also tell the Chronicle that an investigation of installation security personnel, as well as Department of Energy figures is underway.