M.I. interviews Sinn Fèin's Ireland

[Girlsandboys]

Please contribute questions you'd like to ask Sinn to this thread...(as the M.I. states; fake real, absurd or banal.) Thanks!

Sinn,

1. Who are your favorite musicians, composers or songwriters besides Van Halen, why?
2. Please tell us a bit about your own musical experience...
3. How would you define nation state's megalomania?
4. IF tacos weren't our regional currency what do you think should be as alternatives?
5. AoN has voted approvingly to hold xki political debates there, what do you suggest as eventual topics?
6. What is it about the Taco Island Jail incarceration that inspires you to reoffend?
7.What other (if any) NS regions do you occasionally visit and why?
8.Beyond Immigration what else do you consider revitilising for the region?
9.What RL countries have you visited and what are your impressions of them?
10. What are your favorite television programs?
11.If a pub ran out of beer or ale, what would you order instead if someone else is paying?
12. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
13.Do you play any other computer games?
14. How did you discover NS?
15.What do you want to be when you grow up?

[The States of Eridani]

1. Which islander do you think best embodies the spirit of the Mad Islander?

2. If you had to be in a Swedish pop group, what would it be called, and how many synthesizers would you have in it?

[Girlsandboys]

What will be the topic of your next poem?
What's more important, government or silliness, why?
How is being Irish different than being British- ethnically and culturally?

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

Alrighty, I'll get down to answering this shortly. Can't wait.

[MinnaCaroline]

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
2. Do you watch TV?
3. If the answer to Question 2 is yes what is your favorite TV Show?
4. Cofee or Tea? Why?

[Lockerican Corps]

What's your favorite musical key?
Any plans for when you're out of school?
What's your best action as the IMM Minister Daemon?
What's your favorite 10KI experience?

[Extraordinary Jugglers]

What, in your opinion, is the meaning of life?
Do you play sports?
Who do you think is the most influential person alive?
Would you prefer caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee?

[Deutsch-Suedwestafrika]

Who are you?

What do you want?

What would you do if you suddenly inherited great wealth?

If civilization as you knew it suddenly collapsed, do you consider yourself capable of surviving and protecting yourself and your loved ones?

Do you think humans are inherently good? or evil? or neither?

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

Ok. Let's crack on. You have no idea how much this is stoking the old ego ;D

In response to Gambi's questions:

1.) My favourite musicians/composers/songwriters are numerous. Beyond my love of 80's metal, i am actually a fairly eclectic person. I love Mozart (His Requiem!), Beethoven (His concertos, and symphonies 5,7 and 3), Miles Davis, John Martyn (A great Scottish blues/folk player), Pink Floyd, and there's an arabesque/Jazz crossover album by Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble that is just great. Also, who could forget Free, George Gershwin, and Sting....i could go on forever.

2.) My own musical experience... well, i play in a band called 'Third Degree', and we have some stuff up on myspace (www.myspace.com/the3rddegree). I love writing and recording. I play a mixture of 80's imitation metal, Progressive Rock, Folk, Blues, Jazz, and i love to adapt classical pieces into guitar format. I play the guitar, bass, and drums/piano a tiny bit. I can sing passably well. I go to concerts as often as i can, but my location means that few really big bands come near me. I saw the Australian Pink Floyd on Tuesday. They ROCKED!! ;D

3.) This is an interesting one. I think i often fall into this category. I love the idea of my own nation's importance. Back in the day (circa 2004) i was really keen on making my name in this world, but now i'm more concerned with making this region a damned fine place, and securing my own glittering reputation as a bastion of myriad wonderful things. Perhaps my own megalomaniacal tendencies were what drew me to answering dozens of questions about myself ;D I'm just a good old narcissist.

4.) An alternative currency -at least if i'd picked- would be the milk bottle cap. Don't ask me why...

5.) Eventual debate topics should mostly focus on 10KI or Nationstates. I'd like to see one soon about the logical development and expansion of the AoN. It's an amazing accomplishment and i think it needs a bigger role. I'd also like to see debates on citizenship, the role of 10KI in the international NS community amongst other things. Also 1 or 2 'fun' debates. You can use your imagination.

6.) I don't re-offend on purpose...it just seems to happen, but the company is wonderful! ;D

7.) I don't really visit other regions any more. When i was an evil Invader Delegate i used to plonk my puppets in The DEN, The Rebel States of Heleth, Ireland, Eire Nua, The Desolated Lands etc.... most of these regions are gone now. (Shows the longevity of raiding isn't so great!)

8.) IMM is my first and foremost love/hate. I am obsessed by it, but i don't yet -thankfully- see it as a means to its own end. I think more nations are always important, but once we have them it is important to have a good infrastructure (the AoN, and private sector employment) in which they can immerse themselves. I also consider a multi party system, and fierce debates/elections revitalising. Taco island isn't the only place to have fun. I want to see the introduction of the 'snipers guild' and more out of region activities.

9.) I have been to America (only Florida, so not a real impression), Russia (cold, and cheap vodka), Egypt (Amazing!), Italy (i was young...can't remember), France (lovely place, good food), Germany (Ruthlessly logical), Holland (very flat), Belgium (it was drizzly), Spain (Hot, good food, nice girls, but too many cigarettes), Scotland (nice mountains), Wales (boring), Ireland (amazing! ) and England (I live there...)

10.) My favourite TV is Scrubs, Derren Brown, Futurama, The Apprentice, Skins, The Simpsons, The News, Mitchell and Webb, erm...some other stuff.

11.) Without beer or ale, i'd have guinness. If not that, then i'd have Cider, or port, or red wine.

12.) I have 1 brother who is 20. He is in his 2nd year at Oxford University. He is doing Egyptology, and Biblical Hebrew. He wants to be a film post production visual effects man, or join the RAF... silly boy.

13.) I used to play more computer games, but this is it now.

14.) I discovered NS through my brother. I first started playing when i was 13, so that's nearly 5 years ago. Back in 2002 i think... I rejoined with my current nation in April 2004.

15.) I either want to work in a recording studio, or in the EU/UN somewhere.
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In response to Eri's questions:

1.) Though he's CTEd, i'd have to say Klington. He was a crazy old chap...never knew what page he was on... or TSNA, also CTE'd... he had a vendetta against NATO. However, out of the currently existing nations, i'd say maybe DSWA. He has a slightly wacky streak. Also Gambi, who is the only one who writes in it...

2.) Hmm...swedish pop eh? Well, it would be called 'Swedenborg' and we would sing the kind of rubbish that only ever wins on the 'eurovision song contest'. We'd have around 4 synthesizers...nothing too far out
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In response to Gambi's further questions:

1.) The topic of my next poem (which i wrote yesterday actually) was the inherent contradiction of feeling your head and heart are constantly trying to get each other, and the fact that even analysing this is part of the whole problem: Wider context =Women; they screw you up!

2.) I prefer government. Yes, i'm boring like that. I get a kick out of legislation, great speeches, and fighting the good fight. Kind of like a long string of 'Rocky moments'. Silliness is fine, i enjoy it, but it's not as deeply fulfilling.

3.) Well, Ethnically, there is little difference. Little noticeable at least. Culturally, the Irish are more easy going, more friendly, more musical, and historically more interesting. Embodied in the irish is both a love of peace and happiness, and an imposed rage and hatred. Quite contradictory, but entirely fascinating. Britishness embodies to me the worst of what it is to be white, conservative, and imperial. Anyone who claims to be proud to be English i distrust. This is obviously unfair to many people who are both wonderful people and patriotic, but i have too many negative associations with what it means to be British.
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In response to Min:

1.) If i could live anywhere i would have 2 homes. 1 In Ireland, for sentimental reasons, and 1 in a very deserty country. I love heat. Probably in the middle east. That's in a politics free world though.

2.) Yes, i do watch TV. Mostly i watch an hour or so a day: a bit of news at 10pm, kids TV before school as nothing else is on, and then maybe an hour or so in the evening. I don't watch as much as i used to.

3.) Favourite show at the moment is Scrubs. Self referential, and still sharp after 6 series.

4.) Coffee. Tea is too bland. I like a good latté.
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In response to Locke:

1.) My favourite musical key is probably D major. Good for D->C->G chord progressions, and segues nicely into E min.
2.) After school, i intend to go to uni at Warwick. Exams start in under 2 weeks, so that won't be long now.
3.) My best action has to be the running and participation in the AII Team Battle. Whilst our JII was successful, it was kick started because i hadn't been doing my job properly in the first place. In the AII, it was successful because i loved what i did, and i wanted to find the best way of getting our population up. I'm just lucky we have such good recruiters.
4.) My favourite 10KI experience. That's truly difficult. Maybe founding the UPP with Alf and Elgarve in 2005, and contesting our first election. Everything was so new and fresh. Exciting times! Other good experiences i had with Bahamamamma in 2006, and right now in the midst of the IMM fervor we've got at the moment. Exciting stuff.
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In response to Jugglers:

1.) Good one...The meaning of life is to live. It's not to spend your time pondering its meaning. God will tell us that when we meet him, until then, experience stuff. Enjoy having emotions, enjoy other people, enjoy your own company. Be creative, be adventurous. Surely we exist in order to make the most of existence?

2.) Well, i used to play a lot more. I play badminton occasionally, Tennis when it's Summer, ping-pong, and i run. I used to do Dance, Gymnastics, Rugby, and hockey as well.

3.) The most influential living person has got to be Mandela. If he says something you're going to listen. Although perhaps some radical islamist clerics are more influential, and not for the better... Bush has had his wings clipped, and Blair will be gone by June 27th.
Maybe a rock star? Music is a universal language and gets through to all people.

4.) Never tried de-caff. I like normal coffee though.
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In response to DSWA:

1.) I am Sinn. This is a pseudonym, but it may as well be my real name. I've grown up for over 3 years as such, and it is as much a part of me as anything else. What you see is what you get. It's not a mask. I am 17 years old. I'll be 18 in 19 days. I live in the South of England where i have all my life. I have a good family, lots of good friends, and a damned good education. I am a lucky person, though i do tend to focus on myself a lot. I think too much and that doesn't help living.

2.) I want happiness and recognition, although i believe the recognition part is just a manifestation of happiness for some people. If money will allow me to be happy then i want that, although i have the suspicion that a fairly large family, a nice wife, and a challenging job are what i'm really after. I don't want celebrity fame, but i do want to be recognised by many for having achieved, and for doing good things for the world.

3.) If i suddenly inherited great wealth i would give half of it to charity immediately. I would put the other half in the bank, leave it for a year, then live off the interest. I would give the rest to my family, and invest it in good causes and stuff for myself. I would want to stay active and feed my interests and passions.

4.) Not really. I'd like to think so, but we can't be sure for certain until it happens. I would certainly do my best for them. If that's enough or not is another matter. If it came down to killing someone else for the protection of those i loved i don't know. Could i live with it afterwards? I don't know either...

5.) Nice question. Humans are animals. Animals are neither. We developed sentience which makes us quite distinct from animals though. We are able to perceive ourselves. We still have basic animalism within us, but it is society which has -for the sake of society's functioning- imposed a frame work of morality onto us. This isn't a bad thing. It allows us to act in kind ways, but it also means that acts which for an animal would be neither evil or benign, are for us seen as evil. Every action we take is selfish, but that's not the same as evil. I think man as the capacity for great compassion. Mary Wollstonecraft once wrote, 'No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness'. This is probably a best fit.
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Wow! What an essay! If you have any other questions, do make them known! Thank you all so much for the interest.

Sinn.

[Girlsandboys]

Thank you for your wonderful responses!!!Has filled in some gaps in my Sinn complete picture! Was particularly touched by D major chord progression...lately have been composing some tunes with A major using a lot of D major, myself...rather obsessively...( when composing with Italian drummer boyfriend expressing his alter ego on guitar and base) I must use DO RE MI FA SOL LA SI DO terminology to communicate...LA-RE-MI-SIm-MI, DO#-FA#-RE-MI..etc etc set to 70's surferesque tv show jingle rythms. Was quite impressed by your travels too. You'll have to update with Italian island excursions to qualify as a hedonist though.( note:Elba, Ponza,Giglio,Ventunenne, Procida, Ischia, Sardegna, Eolie, Lampadusa, Sicilia....)

Did/does your bro operate a nation(s)? What's your earliest happy memory?

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

He doesn't any more. Hasn't done for many years.

Earliest happy memory would probably be...i honestly don't know. Sometimes you can confuse early memories with things you've subsequently seen on home video. An early memory -that falls into the above catagory- would be when i was about 18 months or 2 years old, i was crawling around on our living-room floor and my brother (who was about 4) was making a catamaran out of duplo blocks with my dad. I wanted to join in (naturally) but they'd used all the blocks up! I started to get into a sulk and started crying, so Peter gave me two bricks and said "here you go, look, it's a boat." And i took it from him and threw it across the room, shouting, "It's not a boat; it's Daddy!" ;D

I have no idea why i'd say that, but i was so angry that i couldn't think of a good word to finish the sentence. Fun stuff. That was probably 1991.

[MinnaCaroline]

How many gas stations do you think they have in Los Angeles?

[Deutsch-Suedwestafrika]

How many emotionally-crippled people do you think there are in Los Angeles?

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

umm, over 2,000 and over 1 million

[Extraordinary Jugglers]

Do you believe in fate?
What are you best at?
What is your favorite color?
Who do you think should be the Taco Island Jail warden?

[Sinn Féin's Ireland]

Last four i think.

Do you believe in fate?
No, not really, but i do have faith. I think faith can help you direct your life. Fate is sometimes an easy way out of culpability.

What are you best at? I am quite a good drawer and guitar player, but mostly i get the impression i can make people laugh, and that can only be a good thing.

What is your favorite color? Green. Not too dark, not too light, but darker than lighter.

Who do you think should be the Taco Island Jail warden? Well, Cieria would've been a good choice, but unfortunately for her, she's gone, sooo, that leaves it to one of our other female 10KIers. I think it's a female job.. Perhaps Minn, but she's shortly becoming a senator. Tambalai? If she's more active...
Otherwise, we'll have to open it up to all the other genders