CHISHIKI NEWS: 10/07/2087 - European Federation to Adopt Metric Time

EUROPEAN FEDERATION TO ADOPT METRIC TIME

10 - July - 2087

Continuing a long-standing process of standardisation, the Parliament of the European Federation (EF) has today ratified the uptake of metric time across the 64-member union. The measure, signed into law by EF Prime Minister Jacqueline Santini at 06:52:80 (15:40pm), is planned to be rolled out over the course of the next four years. Under the scheme, measure of the time of day is to be divided into ten hours, each with 100 minutes, made up of 100 seconds.

Santini, whose Federalist Party have been one of the keenest supporters of the new policy, greeted the change enthusiastically. 'Computing and commercial time measurement has long been carried out in a metric scale with atomic timing, and the division into 24 hours has itself merely been an arbitrary convention of history.'

While commonly referred to as 'metric' time, the measurement of a day into periods of ten should more accurately known as 'decimal' time. Internationally the EF's policy has gained little traction, in some cases outright criticism, with some leaders condemning the changes as 'unnatural'. The Oceania Cooperative's government was less emotive, issuing a statement that though the change was 'one demanded by the European voter, which we will respect as a democratic institution', they made clear that the OC has no plans to adopt any similar measures.

CHISHIKI NEWS: 10/09/2086 - Election Season

CAN "BRAINWASHED" MAN SECURE FOURTH COUNCIL SEAT FOR COSMOPOLITAN PARTY?

10 - September - 2086

As the biannual elections approach within the independent city-state of Newton, challengers from across the political spectrum have begun the charm offensive that invariably accompanies such events. Though smaller parties and independents are optimistic about their chances of securing a seat on the city's governing council, the biggest battle is between the Cosmopolitan party, currently holding four of the twenty seats, and the Metropolitan party with three. If Metro can secure another seat, they will be able to deadlock a number of the Cosmopolitans' more controversial labor-export measures. The cosmopolitans are not discouraged, and have announced that Andrew Deane, lawyer and human-rights advocate, to stand for the fourth seat.

Cosmopolitan Party candidate Andrew Deane

Plagued by recent accusations of corruption, the party have chosen a candidate who, at first glance, might raise concerns for the average voter. Mr Deane has been surgically implanted with a neural-governor, a piece of technology normally associated with those recently released from prison as part of anti-civil behaviour treatment. The device is often used to correct a particular aspect of an individual's actions, such as violent tendencies, but in Deane's case is configured to prevent him from lying. More bizarrely, its installation was voluntary.

"I believe that it ought to be the right of every voter to be able to trust those that they've elected into power," Mr Deane explained. "It is also necessary that the man on the street should see the technology available to us as not a tool with which we are 'lobotomising the undesirable', but as an aid to socially beneficial behaviour." He has expressed a desire to see this kind of technology normalised, and more widely taken up. Having undertaken the installation of the extensive synaptic wiring required, the Cosmopolitan party claims to be able to have the "only 100% trustworthy" politician.

"He is incapable of lying - to anyone. Like, literally cannot," said a spokesman for the campaign. "Any attempt to do so leads to a surge of tremendous pain, like a migraine." On his campaign tour throughout the city, on the nets, and even within the Trance, the candidate has been put to the test, fielding questions on any topic from potential voters. While the response has been fairly positive so far, some critics are unable to put concerns to rest.

Metropolitan candidate Elektra Crosse has raised her own doubts. "It's a gimmick," she argues. "He'll be run by the same secretive board behind all of the Cosmopolitans' representatives. Sure, he may not be able to lie, but he also can't lie about what he doesn't know. They just won't explain their plans to the men on the ground anymore." Others have expressed skepticism - "how du we kno its even real? wherez the certifikate" asked Smashgasm54, a question that may need to be settled before the Cosmopolitans can rest assured of electoral success.

OVERVIEW - Dr Max Lao

<Santiago> I hear Central's adding a new rookie to the roster. S-E says they've had a history of disciplinary nuke-ups – even found a rap sheet for them!

<Malu> That's alright. Give 'em to Regis, with any luck one of the two will quit.

// ** CEL HRR ACTION REPORT - 14-Oct-2086 **//

// ** Classified Partition: Blue-Special **//

Centralized Government – Staff Reassignment Evaluation

2192840/LAO-MAX-DR

D.O.B.: 25/11/2049

...Academic record <ATTACHED>

...Service record <ATTACHED>

...Anti-civil activity record <FOUND IN SE/68>

Candidate has applied to be moved from current operation category [CORPSMAN/2C] to new operational status with Centralized Government, remaining within CEL as active network. This is candidate's [FIRST] official request for reallocation.

//Operational History://

Subject first began work within CEL at 2C Grade following MSc graduation <June-2084>, assigned to low-intensity field operations within S-E Network. Lao has achieved consistently high results in standardised testing (see attachment), and has always stated an ambition to move into investigative work as a specialised case officer (SCO), though her line manager within the S-E Network has filed a number of disciplinary complaints regarding her conduct in public confidence tasks. She has been described as “impatient”, seeking to carry on cases far beyond the remit of a 2C corpsman, believing her own talents to be “wasted” on patrol duty. Whether justified or not, her line manager feels that this demonstrates an inability to work within CEL's command structure.

Nonetheless, based upon subject's academic background, testing history and city sentiment alignment, Central determined it a worthwhile investment to sponsor further training for subject, who recently received their PhD (Techno-organic systems interfacing) from the Newton Academy of Sciences.

// Addendum // - Objection from <D.Walker>

<Walker> Is Central aware of Lao's anti-civil history outside of CEL? This was essentially the reason that we didn't take her on as an SCO in the past.

<CENTRAL> Your objection is noted, Dr Walker. Based on reports from the incident filed by [REDACTED], it is apparent that her own anti-civil activity (3^rd degree unauthorised network breach, civic utilities disruption, petty larceny) was itself aimed at a group posing a more considerable threat to the average welfare of the city. This, combined with her subliminal testing index, provides sufficient data to allay doubts that her loyalty lies anywhere but to the city of Newton. There is sufficient probability (88.5% +/-) that allowing her to engage in work with more experienced CEL Case Officers will enable her talents to be put to better use.

Status:

UPGRADE TO SCO: CONFIRMED