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MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY MINISTERS MEETING
MAYAN EMPIRE
Third month of the sixth year of the current reign.
Present:
His Serene Majesty
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Astrology
Minister of Finance
Minister of Justice
Minister of Public Works
Minister of Religion
Absent:
Minister of Defense (with the Army fighting the Aztecs, Deputy Minister present)
It was reported to the Council by the Minister of Astrology following consultation with the Ministry of Public Works that the central pyramid which is used jointly by the Ministry of Astrology and the Ministry of Religion has a flaw. Attempts by the Ministry of Astrology to compute future calendars beyond those already on hand using the references in the pyramid uncovered the pyramid was not constructed to the specification which were issued to the Contractor by the Ministry of Public Works.
It was reported to the Council by the Minister of Public Works that following the above disclosure to his department, members of his staff made a detailed examination of the pyramid and reported that the base of the pyramid is 2 raftis too small. As each level is ascended, the difference between the specified area and the actual area is increased. At the top level, the area is 12 raftis too small. In addition, the east face of the pyramid which the specifications called to face directly at the rising sun on the spring solstice is in fact 2 degrees out of alignment. This has made all of the star and planet references on the pyramid incorrect. These differences in the specified design and the actual construction were reported to the Ministry of Justice for legal action.
The Minister of Justice reported to the Council that following the above disclosures to his department, attempts were made to arrest the Contractor. The Legal Code is quite specific in these cases. The penalty for violating Public Works specifications on a public contract is ritual disembowelment. Following investigation, it was discovered the Contractor was no longer within the Empire’s jurisdiction. It is believed he is currently working as a home renovator in Toronto.
A discussion ensued between the Ministers on the best way to deal with this problem.
The Minister of Astrology stated that unless the flaws were repaired, the computation of any future calendars would be useless. Those calendars using the previous pyramid were acceptable, but as the previous pyramid had been dismantled, there was no longer an accurate reference.
The Minister of Public Works stated that the flaws in the existing pyramid were such that repair was impossible. A new pyramid would have to be constructed.
The Minister of Religion stated that as the flaws in the new pyramid only affected calendar calculations and other functions of the Ministry of Astrology, his Ministry could continue to use the existing pyramid until such time as a new one was constructed.
The Minister of Agriculture stated that an accurate calendar was essential since farmers needed to know when to plant their crops. He foresaw no immediate problem as the calendars on hand were sufficient to cover this situation for the time being.
The Minister of Finance stated that because of the current war, the Treasury was experiencing a shortfall of funds. He suggested that a major victory could solve this problem as the sale of slaves and spoils could be used to build a new pyramid.
The Deputy Minister of Defense stated that he had received a message from the Minister just before the start of the meeting that a major battle had been concluded which resulted in a defeat. The Army was in retreat and would try to reform.
His Serene Majesty decided that as the Empire still had 1,500 years of valid calendars on hand and as the flaws in the current pyramid did not detract from its use by the Ministry of Religion, the matter of constructing a new pyramid would be delayed until the Ministry of Finance could fund such a project. The calendar projects of the Ministry of Astrology would have to be suspended until such time as a new pyramid was built.
Meeting adjourned.
For those of you who may not be aware, this is a joke.
MAYAN EMPIRE
Third month of the sixth year of the current reign.
Present:
His Serene Majesty
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Astrology
Minister of Finance
Minister of Justice
Minister of Public Works
Minister of Religion
Absent:
Minister of Defense (with the Army fighting the Aztecs, Deputy Minister present)
It was reported to the Council by the Minister of Astrology following consultation with the Ministry of Public Works that the central pyramid which is used jointly by the Ministry of Astrology and the Ministry of Religion has a flaw. Attempts by the Ministry of Astrology to compute future calendars beyond those already on hand using the references in the pyramid uncovered the pyramid was not constructed to the specification which were issued to the Contractor by the Ministry of Public Works.
It was reported to the Council by the Minister of Public Works that following the above disclosure to his department, members of his staff made a detailed examination of the pyramid and reported that the base of the pyramid is 2 raftis too small. As each level is ascended, the difference between the specified area and the actual area is increased. At the top level, the area is 12 raftis too small. In addition, the east face of the pyramid which the specifications called to face directly at the rising sun on the spring solstice is in fact 2 degrees out of alignment. This has made all of the star and planet references on the pyramid incorrect. These differences in the specified design and the actual construction were reported to the Ministry of Justice for legal action.
The Minister of Justice reported to the Council that following the above disclosures to his department, attempts were made to arrest the Contractor. The Legal Code is quite specific in these cases. The penalty for violating Public Works specifications on a public contract is ritual disembowelment. Following investigation, it was discovered the Contractor was no longer within the Empire’s jurisdiction. It is believed he is currently working as a home renovator in Toronto.
A discussion ensued between the Ministers on the best way to deal with this problem.
The Minister of Astrology stated that unless the flaws were repaired, the computation of any future calendars would be useless. Those calendars using the previous pyramid were acceptable, but as the previous pyramid had been dismantled, there was no longer an accurate reference.
The Minister of Public Works stated that the flaws in the existing pyramid were such that repair was impossible. A new pyramid would have to be constructed.
The Minister of Religion stated that as the flaws in the new pyramid only affected calendar calculations and other functions of the Ministry of Astrology, his Ministry could continue to use the existing pyramid until such time as a new one was constructed.
The Minister of Agriculture stated that an accurate calendar was essential since farmers needed to know when to plant their crops. He foresaw no immediate problem as the calendars on hand were sufficient to cover this situation for the time being.
The Minister of Finance stated that because of the current war, the Treasury was experiencing a shortfall of funds. He suggested that a major victory could solve this problem as the sale of slaves and spoils could be used to build a new pyramid.
The Deputy Minister of Defense stated that he had received a message from the Minister just before the start of the meeting that a major battle had been concluded which resulted in a defeat. The Army was in retreat and would try to reform.
His Serene Majesty decided that as the Empire still had 1,500 years of valid calendars on hand and as the flaws in the current pyramid did not detract from its use by the Ministry of Religion, the matter of constructing a new pyramid would be delayed until the Ministry of Finance could fund such a project. The calendar projects of the Ministry of Astrology would have to be suspended until such time as a new pyramid was built.
Meeting adjourned.
For those of you who may not be aware, this is a joke.
