Regent Opens Foundation Books
Martel Auditors Debunk Charges of Fraud
Her detractors, led by Senator Barbara Fox-Taylor and Dr. Adam Shelzie, brought in the well respected accounting firm of Verblishnik, Verblishnik, Verblishnik et Cie, who after a grueling 48 hour session announced that the only irregularity they could find was that donations to the fund were not enough to cover costs, and that the Regent was paying the difference "out of her own pocket".
"I retract any accusatory statements I may have made", commented Fox-Taylor. "I was acting on bad information. Miss Ling-Raleigh has my complete apology".
Responding to the announcement by V3C, Ling-Raleigh gave the following statement:
"The foundation's goals and rules have always been a matter of public record. In response to accusations of financial impropriety, I have even opened the foundation's books to public scrutiny. But anyone who administers a private foundation and has to make funding decisions is deceiving themselves and the public if they claim to be making those decisions out of anything other than their own personal interest."
Living Section
Club Zambezi Introduces New Entrée
When diners come to eat at Club Zambezi, they expects to be overwhelmed with unique and extraordinary meals, And head chef François Petain rarely disappoints. It has been said of Monsieur Petain that he could make a gourmet dish from bilge scrapings. He recently proved his culinary talent when challenged by Corina Ling-Raleigh to create a "unique dish for her guest, Behrel dom Camréal and herself".
The result was nothing if not pure, classic Petain-wild game cooked and presented in a delectable and astonishing manner. The result: Rat François au flambé.
Petain describes the dish:
"Use 1 to 2 large fresh rats per person. Up Port rats are to be preferred due to their large size and excellent marbling thanks to plentiful food. The rats are cleaned and marinated in a light red wine with bouquet garni for a few hours. They are lightly braised in butter, then placed in a medium hot oven for about 30 minutes. The pan is then deglazed with alambic brandy, capers and crushed miragu berries are added, and the mixture allowed to reduce by half. The rats are removed from the oven, then stuffed with my own rat liver paté. A simple demi-glacé is made from the reduction and applied to the rats, which are served on a bed of blanched deneb cabbage."
As a final Petain touch, miragu berries are placed as eyes, the paws dressed and the dish served en flambé. Sampling this dish, your author can only say C'est Magnifique!
Club Zambezi is located on level2/green. Moderate to expensive prices. Reservations are recommended.
Alien 'Chess' Gains Local Players
What began as a bizarre alien ritual practiced in Aguilon Park has now become the game for erstwhile chess players. It is an ancient game called J'la, from an equally ancient planet located far away in the rim. It's origins are as mysterious as it practitioners, sophonts from the planet Epsilon Birabates, who call themselves Sengi.
J'la, in the language of the Sengi simply means "the game" and to the uninitiated it is deceptively simple. A specific number of variegated stones are arranged in patterns by each player. Each subsequent pattern must retain the essential elements of the proceeding while adding new elements.
The most basic form of the game is Ki J'la (little game), which uses 101 tiles of simple patterns. Many non-Sengi players of this form are to be found in the Japanese gardens, near the rock garden where the Sengi nobles play Shthrath J'la (Game of life), which can involve as many as 6011 tiles of subtle patterns and gradations. Shthrath J'la is said to be so subtle, that years of play are required just to understand the moves and see the patterns.
In traditional play, a turn continues until the player yield or completes his pattern. During that time J'ka La, "the game is all". The player may not eat, drink or sleep. It is as much a test of endurance as intellect. Games lasting days and even weeks are not uncommon.
In contrast, Ki J'la can be played in a few hours, and the basics of the game can be taught in about 15 minutes. As players gain more experience, they will become aware of the more subtle aspects of the game, and when they have mastered Ki J'la they can proceed to the next of the "seven steps of mastery" until at last they understand and can play the "game of life".
Sophonts interested in learning J'la can obtain a set of Ki J'la tiles and instructions from several locations including Curmudgeon's (authentic traditional sets), The Hookah House and the Snob Shop. For more information, contact the newly formed Regina J'la Society at info@jla.org.