Post by Isles of Nixon on Feb 17, 2012 22:54:16 GMT -5
Good evening and welcome to this week's edition of "Insider the Islanders' Studio." Tonight, we are joined by a great islander. We've known him as an emissary and he's the most recent addition to the Council of Nine. But his path to elective office has been a bit rocky, but well worth it. Please give a warm welcome to our region's most recent senator, Malecia.
IoN: What compelled you to join NationStates and XKI?
Malecia: I was a History/ Poli-Sci major in College. Which means that the only real place to go after graduating was back to school for an advanced degree. Anyway, I never lost interest in the two subjects, so I was Googling "games for Polic-Sci majors and that led me to NS. Then I got a TG from Ananke inviting me here. I really liked what I saw, so I joined this region the same day.
IoN: Within the first few months of joining the region you were the emissary to the EU and an intricate player in the immigration team battle and then you ran for the Senate. How was the campaigning experience different than the other tasks you undertook thus far in the region?
Malecia: I didn't really campaign the first time around. I was naive but I wanted to run because I felt as though I had good contributuions to make. In hindsight, campainging against Cerb was a great learning experience, and it was different in that I was unsuccessful, whereas I was on the winning team in Team Battle, and I was an Emissary almost from the start.
IoN: Did you think you were prepared to be Senator at that point in time?
Malecia: At the time, I felt I was. But the voters (thankfully) knew better. I don't think I would have done a good job had I won that first race.
IoN: You lost in your first bid for office and then one year later, for the exact same seat, you were back on the campaign trail. What was different the second time around?
Malecia: I had a better idea of how to manage my campaign, I had made more friends here, and I had a (hopefully positive) reputation as a good recruiter and RPer. And of course, the results were much closer than in my first race.
IoN: The region clearly gave you a better look the second time around – your thread for your first campaign had 74 views, but your second campaign had nearly 1,000 views and you came within 2 votes of winning - what could you attribute that to?
Malecia: I attribute that to campaigning, but most of all, support from the Islands Party. The first time, I ran as an Independent, which is fine if you've been here a while. But I was too new and the lack of party support, at least I think, cost me.
IoN: They say the third time’s the charm and in your case, they were right. You got elected in another close race – a winning margin of 1 vote in the runoff. What do you think was different this time around?
Malecia: Again, campaigning, a better reputation, and of course, support from the Islands Party. Also, Markanite was crucial in my effort, with great campaign advice. And I have to give props to Minna as well for helping me strategize.
IoN: Now that you’re a senator, how’s it been so far?
Malecia: It's been great! I love answering the PMs and addressing the concerns of the Islanders!
IoN: What’s on your agenda for the remaining two and a half months in your term?
Malecia: We're actually bouncing something around in the Council that will benefit the region, but I can't really say too much until we vote on it.
IoN: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a senator?
Malecia: I think the biggest challenge for the BCN Senator is making sure that everything significant is included in the report, and of course, making sure that you don't miss anything. We had three knights hit significant milestones in January, so as the BCN Senator, it's important to get that in, because TITO is so important to XKI. But, you want to make sure that you're not missing out on other things.
IoN: You’ve worn many different hats in the region – what role has been the most rewarding for you?
Malecia: Definitely being elected. That was a very intense campaign against a very astute and well respected opponent. So winning and being given the opportunity to serve by my fellow Islanders was very rewarding.
IoN: Any decision yet on whether or not you’ll run for a second term?
Malecia: As things stand now, I'm absolutely intent on running again. It's a privilege to serve and I would like to serve at least one or two more terms before stepping aside.
IoN: Now let’s peel back the first layer of skin on the onion and talk about the man behind Malecia: Where/when were you born?
Malecia: I was born in 1963 in Massachusetts.
IoN: Where do you live currently?
Malecia: Still in Massachusetts. I've been here my whole life, except for four years from 1982 through 1986 during which I served on active duty in the Marines.
IoN: Are you single, dating, married?
Malecia: Divorced since 1999. No kids. So these days, I'm dating a great woman with whom the sun rises and sets (for me anyway)!
IoN: What is your favorite place to visit?
Malecia: Washington, D.C. I am a bit corny in that regard. My late Grandma and late Uncle lived down in Northern VA in the 70s and I used to visit a lot. I love this country and I am proud of it, so I love the Smithsonian, the monuments, and of course, the Space Museum.
IoN: What is your ethnic background?
Malecia: My father's great grandparents all came from Ireland. My Mom's parents were both "right off the boat" from Sicily.
IoN: You’re stuck on a desert island (that’s not a member of our illustrious region) and can have one book, one DVD and one compact disc – what would they be?
Malecia: The book would be "And Die in the West." It's abook about the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, written by a professor from the University of Oklahoma anmed Paula Marks. She tells a very engrossing story of the events leading up to the fight and the aftermath. The DVD would probably be "Anatomy of a Murder." A great movie from before I was born that inspired me top go to law school.
IoN: Do you have any regrets about anything you’ve done, or perhaps haven’t done, in the past?
Malecia: Only that I waited until I was in my 40s to go to law school.
IoN: And with that, we turn to the final ten questions, borrowed from Bernard Pivot’s Bouillon de culture:
IoN: What is your favorite word?
Malecia: Family. Family is important to me.
IoN: What is your least favorite word?
Malecia: I can't really say.
IoN: What turns you on?
Malecia: My girl's waist long brown hair, her long lean body, and the way she talks about subjects that mean a lot to her.
IoN: What turns you off?
Malecia: People who try to bne something they aren't.
IoN: What sound or noise do you love?
Malecia: The sound of a jet flying very low and fast.
IoN: What sound or noise do you hate?
Malecia: The sound of politicians trying to foist their "family values" on the rest of us.
IoN: What is your favorite curse word?
Malecia: Being from Boston, it's of course the "F" word! Seriously, I don't have a favorite curse word.
IoN: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Malecia: Had I not been born colorblind, I most definitely would have been a Naval Aviator.
IoN: What profession would you not like to do?
Malecia: I worked in the Post Office for 15 years before I got my current job. So I can say unequivocally, I would never want to go back.
IoN: If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Malecia: You did your best with your life. Welcome...
And that concludes another week here "Inside the Islanders' Studio." I would like to thank this week's guest, Malecia, for being a good sport and I speak for every Islander when I say best of luck in your time in the Council of Nine.
IoN: What compelled you to join NationStates and XKI?
Malecia: I was a History/ Poli-Sci major in College. Which means that the only real place to go after graduating was back to school for an advanced degree. Anyway, I never lost interest in the two subjects, so I was Googling "games for Polic-Sci majors and that led me to NS. Then I got a TG from Ananke inviting me here. I really liked what I saw, so I joined this region the same day.
IoN: Within the first few months of joining the region you were the emissary to the EU and an intricate player in the immigration team battle and then you ran for the Senate. How was the campaigning experience different than the other tasks you undertook thus far in the region?
Malecia: I didn't really campaign the first time around. I was naive but I wanted to run because I felt as though I had good contributuions to make. In hindsight, campainging against Cerb was a great learning experience, and it was different in that I was unsuccessful, whereas I was on the winning team in Team Battle, and I was an Emissary almost from the start.
IoN: Did you think you were prepared to be Senator at that point in time?
Malecia: At the time, I felt I was. But the voters (thankfully) knew better. I don't think I would have done a good job had I won that first race.
IoN: You lost in your first bid for office and then one year later, for the exact same seat, you were back on the campaign trail. What was different the second time around?
Malecia: I had a better idea of how to manage my campaign, I had made more friends here, and I had a (hopefully positive) reputation as a good recruiter and RPer. And of course, the results were much closer than in my first race.
IoN: The region clearly gave you a better look the second time around – your thread for your first campaign had 74 views, but your second campaign had nearly 1,000 views and you came within 2 votes of winning - what could you attribute that to?
Malecia: I attribute that to campaigning, but most of all, support from the Islands Party. The first time, I ran as an Independent, which is fine if you've been here a while. But I was too new and the lack of party support, at least I think, cost me.
IoN: They say the third time’s the charm and in your case, they were right. You got elected in another close race – a winning margin of 1 vote in the runoff. What do you think was different this time around?
Malecia: Again, campaigning, a better reputation, and of course, support from the Islands Party. Also, Markanite was crucial in my effort, with great campaign advice. And I have to give props to Minna as well for helping me strategize.
IoN: Now that you’re a senator, how’s it been so far?
Malecia: It's been great! I love answering the PMs and addressing the concerns of the Islanders!
IoN: What’s on your agenda for the remaining two and a half months in your term?
Malecia: We're actually bouncing something around in the Council that will benefit the region, but I can't really say too much until we vote on it.
IoN: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a senator?
Malecia: I think the biggest challenge for the BCN Senator is making sure that everything significant is included in the report, and of course, making sure that you don't miss anything. We had three knights hit significant milestones in January, so as the BCN Senator, it's important to get that in, because TITO is so important to XKI. But, you want to make sure that you're not missing out on other things.
IoN: You’ve worn many different hats in the region – what role has been the most rewarding for you?
Malecia: Definitely being elected. That was a very intense campaign against a very astute and well respected opponent. So winning and being given the opportunity to serve by my fellow Islanders was very rewarding.
IoN: Any decision yet on whether or not you’ll run for a second term?
Malecia: As things stand now, I'm absolutely intent on running again. It's a privilege to serve and I would like to serve at least one or two more terms before stepping aside.
IoN: Now let’s peel back the first layer of skin on the onion and talk about the man behind Malecia: Where/when were you born?
Malecia: I was born in 1963 in Massachusetts.
IoN: Where do you live currently?
Malecia: Still in Massachusetts. I've been here my whole life, except for four years from 1982 through 1986 during which I served on active duty in the Marines.
IoN: Are you single, dating, married?
Malecia: Divorced since 1999. No kids. So these days, I'm dating a great woman with whom the sun rises and sets (for me anyway)!
IoN: What is your favorite place to visit?
Malecia: Washington, D.C. I am a bit corny in that regard. My late Grandma and late Uncle lived down in Northern VA in the 70s and I used to visit a lot. I love this country and I am proud of it, so I love the Smithsonian, the monuments, and of course, the Space Museum.
IoN: What is your ethnic background?
Malecia: My father's great grandparents all came from Ireland. My Mom's parents were both "right off the boat" from Sicily.
IoN: You’re stuck on a desert island (that’s not a member of our illustrious region) and can have one book, one DVD and one compact disc – what would they be?
Malecia: The book would be "And Die in the West." It's abook about the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, written by a professor from the University of Oklahoma anmed Paula Marks. She tells a very engrossing story of the events leading up to the fight and the aftermath. The DVD would probably be "Anatomy of a Murder." A great movie from before I was born that inspired me top go to law school.
IoN: Do you have any regrets about anything you’ve done, or perhaps haven’t done, in the past?
Malecia: Only that I waited until I was in my 40s to go to law school.
IoN: And with that, we turn to the final ten questions, borrowed from Bernard Pivot’s Bouillon de culture:
IoN: What is your favorite word?
Malecia: Family. Family is important to me.
IoN: What is your least favorite word?
Malecia: I can't really say.
IoN: What turns you on?
Malecia: My girl's waist long brown hair, her long lean body, and the way she talks about subjects that mean a lot to her.
IoN: What turns you off?
Malecia: People who try to bne something they aren't.
IoN: What sound or noise do you love?
Malecia: The sound of a jet flying very low and fast.
IoN: What sound or noise do you hate?
Malecia: The sound of politicians trying to foist their "family values" on the rest of us.
IoN: What is your favorite curse word?
Malecia: Being from Boston, it's of course the "F" word! Seriously, I don't have a favorite curse word.
IoN: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Malecia: Had I not been born colorblind, I most definitely would have been a Naval Aviator.
IoN: What profession would you not like to do?
Malecia: I worked in the Post Office for 15 years before I got my current job. So I can say unequivocally, I would never want to go back.
IoN: If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Malecia: You did your best with your life. Welcome...
And that concludes another week here "Inside the Islanders' Studio." I would like to thank this week's guest, Malecia, for being a good sport and I speak for every Islander when I say best of luck in your time in the Council of Nine.
