The Libertarian – November 2020

Cover by irving524
No.ArticleSectionAuthor
0Team Leader IntroductionSpecial :MariaMint:
1From Enlisting to NowInterviewK1e24
2Lord of the Harvest InformativeTheTriads
3Thanksgiving – A Modern Festival?Specialcoolchick1313
4Autumn is Upon UsReviewdisco99x
5The Roller Coaster HighCreativeK1e24
6Aiming HighInterviewchiari.cord
7How to Harvest a SunflowerInformativeTheTriads
8Office Spotlight – OMPSpecialYodar
9HarvestingCreativecoolchick1313
10A USDF ExclusiveInterviewTheTraids
11Green Bean CasseroleRecipeYodar
12Falling… A USDF EditionExclusivecoolchick1313 & chiari.cord
13Society – A Growing GenerationExclusivecoolchick1313
14OktoberfestHistorical Informativedinsky

Team Leader Introduction

By :MariaMint:

Cover by ardnalexa

I eagerly present to you; the November issue of The Libertarian! Tons of our OPA members have been working extremely hard this past month to produce the longest Libertarian yet to date for all of USDF to enjoy. This month’s theme will be Growth!

What is growth?

Growth can be defined in a bountiful of different ways. Everyone and everything on our planet experiences growth in one way or another, each one tailored uniquely to its individual self. Growth is not always instant, and it may not always be the easiest of tasks. We can grow as human beings physically and mentally, as well as growth as people within society. The choices we make everyday lead us down different avenues of growth.  The average English Oak Tree takes around a century to fully grow, whereas the average human stops growing at around age sixteen; very different but similar in so many ways.

We bring you this issue of The Libertarian to highlight the different ways that growth can be perceived. From the origin of Harvest to USDF’s plans for the season, we’ll be jumping headfirst into the pile of leaves on the ground and delving into how the harvest season can relate back to how we grow as people. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it, and we’re wishing you all a Happy November within USDF!


From Enlisted to Now

By K1e24

800Cover by midgetbella

As the name suggests, I’m going to be interviewing personnel on how they themselves have grown in USDF!

So, I asked the question: “How have you grown since joining USDF?”
And with that, I have some responses to go over.

CWO2 PiersonP:

Ever since rejoining USDF for real earlier this year, I’ve made so many new friends. Personally, my social, communication, and grammar skills have all grown. I’ve learned how to interact with others in a truly deep manner that allows me to get important points across. I’ve also learned how to hold myself in a professional manner, something that I have struggled with in the past. Overall, USDF has benefited me in so many ways, and it’s helped me grow into a strong young person.

MIDN4 Kerfuffle:

USDF has given me some management experience which has presented me with new management challenges that I’ve not experienced in real life. I think it has helped me to become more encouraging and empathetic.

Col Spoliation:

When I joined USDF, I was still in the beginning stages of who I wanted to be as a person. I was always the kind of person that kept to myself, and I was naïve to a lot of things happening around me. During my journey, I met amazing people along the way that have been either the best people I’ve ever met and I’m still friends with to this day, people that have taught me lessons I needed to learn, and people who have shown me mistakes to always look out for. Throughout my journey, I joined several offices and performed to the best of my abilities which enabled me to open my eyes and become more alert towards the world around me whilst also being able to open up and utilize what I learned in real-life situations. I believe that throughout my time in USDF, the experiences that I had in-game were enough to improve upon myself in real life, and I will be forever grateful for how much it has influenced me into the person I am today. 

SMSgt – Lockheart,:

As ridiculous as it sounds, considering this is just a game, USDF has helped me grow as a person in ways that I did not expect. One big way I have grown since joining USDF is by just finding ways to stay motivated when feeling down. Sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated within USDF, to complete your workload and to reach SoW every week, but it is kind of an important lesson because soon I am going to be spending the rest of my life working, and there will be moments where I don’t want to work, but I need to in order to build a life.

Ex-CWO5 AresK2:

Honestly, I think that USDF has taught me a lot of different stuff, but the most important qualities I have developed throughout my time here are discipline and responsibility. Participating in different projects and producing high-quality results within certain deadlines, definitely made me more responsible for my actions and the way I manage my time. On the other hand, maintaining a professional profile in HQ and all the USDF platforms had a huge role in making me a more mature and disciplined individual.

RDML :Black_PantheR:

I believe that USDF has been a leadership development page in the book of my story. I was in college when I started playing Habbo and joined USDF. I gradually proceeded in the ranks and that gave me more duties and opportunities for leadership. Early on as a BHNCO, I got to lead the NCOs of a branch which was a whole new experience for me. In real life, I had some leadership experience but this was something else. You don’t know these people that much and you only have seen them in a game so everyone has a different story you need to listen to and help mitigate any issues in. 

As you spend more and more time at USDF your communication, leadership, time management, and GDrive/BBCode skills improve. I did not use GDrive or Google sheets coding much in college but needed to use it a lot at a later stage which proved to be very easy now that I already had the experience. I was always approachable to the people, but now I am confident in my leadership abilities and guidance. I have grown a lot and experienced almost all the scenarios that people face right now. I will encourage everyone to gun for leadership experiences, which you can acquire from duties other than being in command as well. Take on duties from your command to lead a project/task and see how that helps you!

Some interesting responses indeed, now I know you can think of something that you have improved and grown upon in USDF, just as the above people have. We’ve all experienced it, from the SecDef all the way down the ranks. There is at least one thing we can touch on and go… “That came from my time in USDF”. I for sure have gained a lot of leadership experience in USDF. This has helped me so much in real life for certain roles.


Artwork by midgetbella

Lord of the Harvest

By TheTraids

Cover by ardnaxela

In the early days, the tradition of harvest usually begins on the 1st of August yearly, which is the start of the harvest season. A “Lord of the Harvest” would be appointed by the society before the harvesting process begins in order to organize farmers and negotiate wages. At the end of the harvest season, a celebration called ‘Harvest Supper’ or a big meal will be hosted on Michaelmas day. In these festivals, loaves of bread that were produced by farmers directly from their harvests are packed to be sent to local churches. These breads were then used as the communion bread during their special masses for the sole purpose of thanking God for the harvest obtained.

In addition to the above, the British tradition of harvest festivals originated in 1843 at a Morwenstow Church in Cornwall when a reverend, Robert Hawker made a special thanksgiving for the local churchgoers who assisted in harvesting. The existence of Victorian, Dutch and German hymns also contributed to Hawker’s harvest festival idea. Hawker’s idea to decorate churches with food that was created through harvest, was a definite success as it became an annual custom for the Harvest Festival services celebrated in Britain today.

Therefore, it can be observed that the pagan tradition of harvest has been adapted to Thanksgiving Day, a celebration that is today practiced by various countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. One obvious fact about any traditions of harvest is that the celebration has no distinctive relations to any religions or religious beliefs. This is because the act of celebrating harvest or anything that relates to the earth shows a pagan connection. In the old days, the word “pagan” and its usage can be clarified in the sense where it was a word misused to disparage any other religions than Christianity. Hence, all the earth-based celebrations or beliefs were not acknowledged by churches with their sole purpose of spreading Christianity as the one true religion. Despite this fact, Thanksgiving Day is now one of the busiest and highly anticipated event every year.

In the modern day of Thanksgiving, every family would gather around, have a big feast and enjoy the presence of one another. A Thanksgiving meal would usually consist of turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie, cranberries and bread stuffing. Moreover, Thanksgiving Day is also an annual national holiday for Canada and the United States. In the 19th century, a writer named Sarah Hale had campaigned to make Thanksgiving official in the United States. In 1863, she received President Abraham Lincoln’s support to turn it into a national day. As for Canada, Thanksgiving was established by their parliament in 1879. Unlike both of these countries, the United Kingdom does not provide any national holiday for Thanksgiving. In Britain, harvest festivals are usually held on the 22nd or 23rd September. The society would also bring in food produced from their garden and distribute it among those who needed it, such as the poor and senior citizens of their local communities. 

Moreover, the original pagan tradition of harvest has been adapted to fit the modern day harvest festival of ‘Sukkot’ or the “Feast of Ingathering/Tabernacles” that is celebrated by the Jewish religion. The Sukkot is usually celebrated at the end of the year after Rosh Hoshanah, one of the great annual festivals celebrated.

In East and Southeast Asia, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is also one of the most famous harvest festivals celebrated in the world. The history of this festival dated back 3000 years when the moon was worshipped by China emperors due to bountiful harvests. During this festival, lanterns with various sizes and shapes are all displayed to show good luck and prosperity. Those who celebrate also traditionally consume mooncakes, a type of sweet-bean or lotus-seed pastry during the festival. 

Mehrgān is also a type of festival that revolves around the tradition of harvest. It is commonly celebrated in Iran to celebrate Mithra (or Mehr), a judicial figure. In ancient times, taxes were collected from various parts of the Persian Empire and served to the king as gifts so he may host a big celebration.

Last but not least, the Lughnasadh is a traditional harvest festival in Ireland that is still celebrated today to mark the start of the harvest season in August. An example of a lughnasadh festival is the Puck Fair, a 3-day festival which contains traditional music, puppet shows, face painting and varieties of food.

To conclude, the pagan tradition of harvest has definitely come a long way to fit into our modern society. Nevertheless, these harvest festivals also remind us to count our blessings and appreciate all food and celebrations we get. We always have to bear in mind that 795 million people are still undernourished worldwide according to the United Nations.


Thanksgiving – A Modern Festival?

By coolchick1313

Cover by !Logan!!

What is Thanksgiving? 

Thanksgiving is a national holiday commonly associated with America and Canada. The holiday represents the Harvest, and celebrates the“blessings” of the past year. It usually includes consumption of Turkey, potatoes and cranberries with scrumptious Pumpkin Pie for dessert. It is held on the 4th Thursday of November, Which 2020 is the 26th of November, later than previous years in the United States, but earlier for Canada being October 12th 2020. The 2nd Monday of October. 

The day is special and about giving thanks towards those around you and the nation, and celebrate the years ahead. Some examples you can be thankful for is, the life you lead, the air you breathe and the food you receive. 

History of Thanksgiving?

The history of Thanksgiving starts from 1612, where 51 settlers from England and 90 Indians, who settled in the New England area at Plymouth Rock had arrived a year earlier by boat the “Mayflower” The first winter of that year had killed half of the settlers due to the conditions and lack of resources. The settlers thought they should be thankful for that year’s harvest in a 3 day long festival, in the Autumn to prepare for the long winter ahead. The settlers likely held a hunt to gather food for the Festival, eating with the Natives of the region, to gather foods such as Turkey and Venison. As well as the gathering of Pumpkin and dried fruits, much like the modern day Thanksgiving meal, but we cannot be certain of this.

Fun fact: The boat was originally headed for Virginia but forced to land at Plymouth rock, due to the shortage of Beer. 

How is it celebrated across the world?

The celebration is mainly held in America and Canada, but other countries such as the United Kingdom have their own version, called  the “Harvest Festival” which is not a national holiday. Other similar Holidays of different names are observed globally in places such as Germany and Japan.

The traditional meal eaten at thanksgiving is upkeeping with the meal eaten by the settlers in 1612, but has changed to cater for modern taste buds, as outlined the Venison is replaced by Turkey usually. 

There are many other Countries that observe the Thanksgiving parade such as Brazil, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia and Puerto Rico. The dates of their Thanksgiving holidays and traditions depend on a Country by Country basis, but they are all held between usually EarlyOctober and Late November.

The tradition involves bringing large extended families together in one place, to be thankful for not only the Harvest but it has adapted to the Modern day to 

Will it be celebrated differently this year?

Due to the current Crisis, Thanksgiving may be celebrated very differently this year, in most cases it is not possible to Celebrate as we have in previous years. The Modern era has many advantages which includes technology, so we can still keep our own traditional thanksgiving from a distance, using apps and programs such as Zoom and Facetime.


Autumn is Upon Us

By disco99x

Cover by irving524

Autumn is upon us. As the days get shorter and the nights grow longer, the temperature drops and the leaves crunch underfoot, Autumn marks the transition from Summer to Winter. Ancient Greek mythologies explain the change of the seasons, specifically the myth of the Abduction of Persephone by Hades. According to the ancient Greeks, Spring and Summer signify the six months where Persephone returned from the Underworld. Her mother made the earth bloom and grow after her absence. When Persephone left the company of the gods and returned to the Underworld, her mother Demeter’s loss was expressed in the barrenness of Autumn and Winter. 

Whilst the dark days and drop in temperature cause melancholy for some, others thrive in the winter months. Autumn is the home of hot drinks, hearty food and community holidays. The infamous pumpkin spiced latte makes its much anticipated debut, whilst others enjoy hot chocolate, coffee or tea. There are many scrumptious meals to be eaten too, from casseroles to roast dinners to soup. Not only this, but the cool, refreshing air allows for snuggly jumpers and thick socks. We are all impartial to a cosy movie night-in with candles, fairy lights, a hot drink, snack of your choice and a favourite Netflix film.

Possibly the most exciting thing about Autumn, however, is the holidays and celebrations it brings us all around the world. Halloween is widely celebrated; Bonfire Night in the UK and the Great New Moon festival marks the Cherokee New Year. Iran holds Mehregan, Mexico celebrates dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Germany hosts an Oktoberfest, and lastly, Diwali, the Hindu festival of the lights.

There is so much to look forward to as Autumn creeps up on us this coming year, and whilst recent developments force us to stay wary of social interaction, we as a community will find ways to celebrate all the holidays mentioned above and more. Covid-19 cannot dampen our winter spirit! Let the cold weather commence!


Artwork by midgetbella

The Roller Coaster High

By: K1e24

Cover by _StarLord_

Dear Audio Diary, 

It’s me, Kiera, I wonder if you ever get bored of hearing my awful life. Who knows… 

It’s 9pm…it’s only really just my day starting for today or at least the enjoyable bit. 

Yet again work has been a drag, the boss understaffed us again. What’s new there. Then they had a go at us because we were behind? I wonder if they are all there at times… 

They’re meant to be giving me it easy, especially after last month’s attack. Less said about that. The better. 

Yet one thing good did happen. I got paid. 

A week passes until the next entry, 

Dear Audio Diary, 

It’s been a hell of a week. Lots of overtime. Been worked off of my feet. It’s been fun though, our boss got sacked so their replacement has had us catching up on what we should have been doing… 

Fun… 

Now, what’s better than a new boss! You know how I always wanted the position, I got it! The new boss is me. It’s been fun; I had a few things to break the ice but overall everyone enjoyed not being so stressed! Plus I’m getting more pay and not falling behind on bills. 

Overall a more positive week!


Aiming High

By: chiari.cord

Cover by: chiari.cord

How do we succeed in life? How do we grow as a person, or how do we develop something? It’s very simple. The answer is goals. Whether it’s for a project, for your health, or even in USDF, goals are the only way to know that you are moving forwards. For this interview, I had the opportunity to talk with some of our members and ask them about their accomplished and future goals.

“What goals have you achieved this year, and what are your goals for the near future?”

  • LTJG -Mythology?:

“My main goals this year were to return to the OJSIG and get into OCS after I served a fair amount of time in OJFD command. I really wanted to get into OCS to become an officer, and once accepted into the OJSIG, I was able to develop more of my strengths and learn new things that would eventually help me in developing into the best worker I can be for the office and with everything I do. I definitely wanted to aim for a command position within OJSIG and I got that too a few months ago! I’m in no rush to complete other goals I have set for myself, but I’d like to keep going up the chain of command within my office by eventually obtaining an AD position within. Other than getting an AD position, I’d like to complete my SODC and SOAB in a good manner, so I can become a senior officer later on!”

  • CWO3 Willow1010:

“I guess it would be that I achieved a course and is in the process of achieving another and in the near future I would like to advance in my career with the courses I have done. Also, it would be that I have reached the highest rank I have ever been at and my next goal would be to try and get to officer.“

  • CWO2 lROGEl:

“To be honest I never achieved anything yet in USDF since I’m kinda new, I don’t have my service stripes yet but my goals for the near future is to land a position in an office. I am submitting EOIs, and I would really want one to land in a position to better help and contribute to USDF.”

  • CMDCM ThomasBogs:

“So the goals I’ve achieved this year have been moving out of my parents’ place and getting into therapy. Even though I still struggle with my mental health I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I’m working to be better everyday, which I’m very happy about. It’s nice to finally not be just a pit of depression and anxiety (at least, not all the time now! :P). Some of my goals in the near future are to get into my university of choice, because I’m in my last year of high school and applying in November, to bake a good apple pie for Canadian Thanksgiving, and finally: to do my best and really excel as HNCO NETC and make sure the Navy NCOs in the OJFD feel supported and fulfilled :)”

  • MSgt Yodar:

“My main goal, to become a member of OPA Command. I have achieved several goals this year: became a member of OPA, became a member of Air Force Council, joined Admin division in the council, got recognized as NCO of the Week, learnt how to DJ (and built up my music collection dramatically) and got myself involved with several projects.”

  • SSgt hotjhoannaa:

“I am a person who prefers to set very small goals, because too big goals can easily make me lose motivation. I joined the USDF quite recently and the first real goal I had was to join the OPA, which I have now succeeded in doing! My next goal will be to pass FEAT {L}”

As we can see, there’s a wide variety of goals. Take a moment of your day to think: which are yours? How can you complete them? Remember to aim high, and don’t stop until you get what you want!


How to Harvest a Sunflower

By: TheTriads

Cover by: !Logan!!

In this how to article, we will explain to you what to look for to know that sunflowers are at their optimal point for harvesting and how to also harvest them, enjoy!

How to know when a sunflower is ready to be harvested:

The first thing you would want to look for is a drooping sunflower head. However, if a sunflower still has yellow petals and a flower structure in its centre, the sunflower is not at its optimal point yet. Therefore, one of the signs to tell that sunflower is ready to be harvested is by observing the back of the sunflower. The back has to be slightly yellowish and brownish to indicate that the sunflower has started to dry up. 

Secondly, the yellow petals on the front also have to be brownish to indicate they have died. Thirdly, you must also be able to see that one or a few seeds of the sunflower has fallen out to indicate looseness. This would mean that the seeds are plumped, juicy and ready to be plucked out from the base of the sunflower. Last but not least, the sunflower seeds will also need to have black and white striping on them to indicate ripeness as compared to the seeds of an immature sunflower which do not show any signs of black striping.

How to harvest a sunflower:

Once you have identified the signs mentioned above, take a sharp knife and cut the head of the sunflower. Cut about 6 inches below the flower head for the ease of holding the head of the sunflower. The next thing you can do is to get the seeds out from the sunflower head and start the drying process. All the dried old flower structure can be easily scraped out with your thumb, knife or a fork but be sure to prepare something beneath to contain the seeds. A great method is also to break the sunflower in pieces so that the seeds can be easily extracted. 

As you get all the flower remnants out, you will also notice that the seeds will also fall out. However, a detailed plucking of seeds is also advised to prevent any presence of worms.There are then two methods of how you can prepare these sunflower seeds which are either by consuming them raw or by brining. It is a personal preference as some believe that the nutrients in the seeds are preserved when not brined and roasted. For brining, use a coarse salt and water solution and soak them for 24 hours. The brining process will disinfect anything that may be in the seeds such as unwanted bacteria, mold and also kill any worms lingering in the seeds.

The next thing to do is lay and spread the seeds under the sun to dry. After the seeds are dried, you can roast the seeds by baking them for 25-30 minutes at 325 degrees on a baking sheet. Frequent stirring of the seeds is also recommended to avoid them from being burnt. Last but not least, you can also add some spices, salt or olive oil to make your sunflower seeds more interesting. From the above, that is how easy it is to identify whether a sunflower is ready to be harvested and how to undergo the simple harvesting process. 

Thank you for reading my “How to” article, I hope you enjoyed it!


Office Spotlight – OMP

By: Yodar

Cover by: .diplodocae.

This month, we are going to take a deep look into OMP and why it is an important office for USDF.  First of all, OMP are the caretakers of PTS as they take the data that is posted onto MPTS, makes sure it is accurate, and uploads it to PTS to make it easier for sentries & other organizations to be able to look up the personnel’s history. But for someone with military/agency experience, they have a different method to join USDF and skip the enlisted ranks. They simply approach the transfer desk, and one of the OMP Specialists simply asks them some questions to for a quick screening and then takes them into their transfer HQ in order to interview them and if they get accepted, they will become a selectee, and have to meet certain criterias to become a full member of USDF.  OMP also collects data about USDF overall for an entire month and releases the information in their monthly report to USDF about diversity, how many personnel are in each office, resignations, HQ numbers, etc.  This in-depth report helps the senior command understand what is going on with USDF and helps them plan their next move to make USDF a great place to work at.
We have taken some time to sit down with a few members of OMP, and asked them for their thoughts on their office and their duties:

CWO5 Merilon, HRO.

OMP is a really great office. I was in OMP before back in April 2020, as both RM and HNCO! It was one of my best experiences I’ve had in USDF so far. Everyone seems like a family and we’re closer with the command team then before which is highly appreciated and they should keep that up of course. My office duties are also fun to do. Examples of my office duties are updating the MPTS, doing transfers, manning the transfer desk in HQ, taking HQ pop stats, monthly statistics and way more! It’s honestly perfect but we could use some more duties in my opinion, this is because OMP is a big office and growing.

CWO4 UHaileyroseU, PO.

OMP is a lovely office! Everyone there is so nice and approachable, especially command! They’re mostly active and talk to the regular members which is really nice to see they’re so approachable. As for the duties, at first they can be really challenging especially coming from an office like OJFD I struggled to adapt to OMP, but once I kept doing them and slowly got used to them it is now fairly easy to do most duties granted I haven’t been here for too long and am still learning things everyday. Overall I really love OMP and glad I made the decision to switch offices.

OMP is one of the many offices that contributes to what makes USDF great! The command team ensures that you are properly equipped with the necessary tools to grow and thrive, and looks after their members. We are looking forward to seeing what OMP has in store for us!


Harvesting

By: coolchick1313

Cover by: disco99x

In the morning mist of the October autumn air on the farmland, on the fields of bright green, yellow and red leaves scattered around, I can smell the air is turning colder. The livestock are out eating the grass, content with their future, blissfully unaware of the change in the season, and the crops have grown towering as high as the Eiffel Tower. It’s harvest time.

I wake up at 5am every morning to milk my cows, gather the eggs from the chickens and feed the pigs but this morning I know it is different, this is the morning we gather the Harvest, ready for the long cold winter ahead. I hope it will go well, nervous and anxious from the previous night. 

The tractor rattles and roars as it powers up ready to begin the day, travelling down the farm to each of the free range pens. We are covered from the bottom of my feet to the tops of my knees in mud, the rain from the previous night had engulfed the English farm fields with sparkles in the moonlight puddles, but the day must go on. 

My crops, towering above me, were ready to Harvest. The corn yellow as the sun and the grass green with water droplets falling off the ends from the rain. My combine harvester allows me to tower over the crops and gather them with ease, they are ready to be sent off. The rest of the crops are not quite ready, so I sprinkle my soil fertiliser, using my tractor, around to feed the plants, something we do every week or so. 

The air is brightening up as the sun rises in the distance, the farm is loud with noises of happy animals, such as cows, chickens and pigs. The straw around crackling under my feet, as I head into the barn to gather more straw for the animals, creating their beds for the day ahead.  The wellies I am wearing sparkle in the sunlight, and it is time for my day to begin.


Artwork by Jennywren2010

A USDF Exclusive

By: TheTriads

Cover by: _StarLord_

For November’s Libertarian Project, I managed to reach out to a few members of NSC, OSD and JSD for a USDF Exclusive Interview. Many of you are probably wondering which direction is USDF heading towards this coming fall season and what can our personnel and the public expect? 

Below are some of the responses from them!

National Security Council (NSC)

DepSecDef, xStarlight11

I feel USDF’s direction this year is heading towards new innovations and additions to our HQ. We’re constantly implementing new fun things, the ability to remove wired on a whim and we intend to form an official agreement with Habbo Staff to permit USDF to host Habbo wide campaigns. They have been reluctant at first, however we will be attempting to persuade them.

CJCS, FADM Watch4Me

Unfortunately our direction is clouded with Habbo 2020’s progress, however, There are many things that are clear though. We remain Habbo’s number 1 military simulation, our population is the largest for militaries, our members are the best, and we continue to make strides and overcome adversity consistently. The thing that remains the most consistent is our leadership and their love for their subordinates. We love our team and we want the best for them. We also continue to develop new roles and new people as positions open. We are looking for different ways to get people involved and develop them into fine leaders and we will continue to do so past 2020. Overall, we will continue to press forward, steadfast with our resolve to make sure that we are the most successful military out there, for here and now and into the future.

Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)

USD P, princess81818:

In my opinion this autumn is going to be very interesting. Within my policy you can expect a lot in terms of increasing USDFs profile not only on the agency floor but all of Habbo. Within Policy we’re looking at ways to focus our attention and increase the number of events hosted. Not just USDF events, but events perhaps even open to our allies and Habbo. With Habbo2020 coming there is a lot of uncertainty so we want to ensure USDFs name is out there and people continue to log on and have fun. There are a number of agencies out there and we’re always looking for new allies and friends so we can continue our diplomatic relations and explore new avenues. I think Autumn 2020 is going to be very promising for the policy portfolio, USDF and Habbo despite what Habbo2020 will look like. We’re working on a lot of projects to increase events and the enjoyment this community provides to so many people :D.

USD P&R, PearIyn:

I will say that both the OMP and OJAG will continue to work towards maintaining the best state of USDF. OMP will keep carrying USDF in terms of transferring in selectees and administrative matters, while OJAG will continue ensuring that all members feel safe and comfortable because we regulate all punishments. I do not take credit for any of this, and I’m saying it wholly on behalf of both offices’ hard work. Without the members of OMP and OJAG – as well as all other offices -, we wouldn’t have such a stable structure. If you ask me which direction USDF is heading towards, the answer would only be up, as we always have been.

CNO,  RDML :Black_PantheR:

As the CNO my primary aim is to always make sure that I have my entire branch engaged in activities with us. You lose interest in people when you stop making it fun for them. I have been constantly working with my team to develop new plans and events for the Navy and USDF as a whole. Without going into much detail and breaking OPSEC I can say that USDF as a whole and the Navy itself are planning a lot of things for you guys coming festive season! There will be guaranteed fun and engagement from everybody! We just hosted our Open Forum Event as well, which is scheduled to be held once more next month so be on the lookout for that as well. #event-announcements will be your buddy in November and December, trust me. 😉

Joint Staff Directorate (JSD)

DSP&C, CDR WarmClimate

As DSP&C, I oversee a very small office. There’s four members in total, including myself. While we’re small, we pack a big punch when it comes to how our military is structured. Over the last couple months, OSP&C has been actively reorganizing all regulations, training, and procedures (RTPs) to make them more cohesive and easier to read. We’re also working with other senior command officers in an attempt to deregulate as much as we can. I’m sure a lot of you noticed some of the changes made to what personnel and civilians can do while in HQ. These are just subtle ways we’re continuously evaluating our processes to see where we can add a bit more fun into the picture and we plan to continue this moving forward. And who knows, you might even see additional staff members joining OSP&C as we also search for ways to meet specific needs of our personnel. Stay tuned for more!

DPA, COL Aneha

For OPA, we have always produced projects for USDF such as events and visual content in the form of the Libertarian. In the past two months, our OPA team and the Events Committee have been working hard to provide weekly events, so that there is always something fun to look forward to. We have been trialling new event ideas by reproducing some of our favourite childhood games such as PACMAN, Cluedo and Snakes and Ladders. It is our hope to keep bringing something new and fresh to the table whilst connecting with people and providing a fun and interactive space to make friends, bonds and build up our community. 

As for our newest PA Chain, we aim to produce some cool things such as promotional videos soon. We are going to be focusing more on USDF’s social media presence such as YouTube, Twitter and Twitch as a form of communication and engagement with our members, other organizations and the public. Right now, things are still in the initial planning stages, but we’ll be pushing for some fun things to be released soon! 

As for OPAs contributions to the direction of USDF, we’re focused on the motivation and entertainment side of work and fun to help provide personnel with that balance. More games are being hosted in HQ daily, competitions for room designs and builds are active and we’re currently in the planning stage of a new radio project that will be utilised for more than just music, so stay tuned! OPA is as interactive as you make it with a truck load of potential. It is really dependent on how much our members contribute to projects and build up their skills, so we’re always looking for talented people. If you want to be involved and build on your skills, come join OPA!

DISA, RADM er:c

The direction USDF is heading into is a stronger stance against IW (Illegal Warfare) and increasing relations with foreign entities. We have already added 11 barred individuals to the Condemnation of IW Treaty as they are actively involved in IW. Additionally we are seeking more foreign organizations to join our treaty and stand with us against the heinous acts of these individuals. Our position has been, and always will be to condemn these actions and ensure it’s as far away as possible from our USDF personnel. USDF along with our allies that have signed the treaty are always on the lookout for any individual/organization to work together and put a stop to it. The direction is to ensure our personnel can roam the Agencies floor and interact with it’s players safely and positively. Our personnel can expect an increase in alliances/positive relations with foreign organizations. OISA is also ramping up the amount of joint events we hold with our allies to sustain an enjoyable connection.


Green Bean Casserole

By: Yodar

Cover by: disco99x

Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 40 min
Serves:  6 people
Calories: 145 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper (1/4 teaspoon, if you want a kick)
  • 4 cups cooked, cut green beans (if using frozen, cook and drain) OR
    2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) any style of canned green beans, drained
  • 1 1/3 cups French Fried Onions

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C/Gas Mark 4
  2. In your 1 1/2-quart casserole or glass baking dish, combine Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, milk, and black pepper.
  3. When combined, stir in your green beans and 2/3 cup of French Fried Onions.
  4. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes until hot.
  5. Carefully take out the dish and stir the mixture to ensure the beans are coated.
  6. Spread the remaining 2/3 cup of French Fried Onion on top or along the border of the dish.
  7. Place the dish back in the oven, and bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.
  8. Take out the dish, let it cool for a few minutes, and enjoy!


Notes

  • To feed a crowd, double the recipe and prepare in a 13×9-inch baking dish. Use an entire 6-ounce container of Crispy Fried Onions, reserving 1 1/3 cup for the topping. Increase cooking time to 40 minutes or until heated through.
  • For Cheese Lovers: Stir in 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese with the soup. Sprinkle with an additional 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese when adding the remaining onions.
  • To add a festive touch: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped red pepper with the soup.
  • To add crunch:  Add 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds to the onion topping.
  • For bacon lovers:  Add 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, to the bean mixture.
  • Try this Italian version with pancetta and rosemary:  Cook 4 ounces pancetta, diced, in a skillet over medium heat until almost crisp.  Add 1/4 cup chopped onion and 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves to the skillet and cook until onion is tender.  Add the pancetta mixture to the soup mixture in Step 2.  In Step 6, sprinkle the remaining French fried onions with 1 tablespoon grated Pecorino Romano cheese, then bake as directed in Step 7.

Event Article 2

By coolchick1313 & chiari.cord

Cover by: ardnalexa

Fall is celebrated in many different ways. All around the world, there are lots of traditions that take place in order to honour this new season. These go from Thanksgiving, to the Festival of Lights, and Bonfire Night! Of course, USDF does not fall behind. To celebrate fall, USDF has a wide variety of Events and fun activities planned from OPA and the Events Committee.

Especially for Halloween, we have Mazes and a Halloween Pageant that will help USDF have a fun environment. On top of this, there were many events held, such as a recent Spooky Ball in the Haunted forest. Within HQ, USDF is now decorated with Pumpkins and spider webs to celebrate the Halloween period, don’t be scared by the ghosts and ghouls when you enter! Just enjoy your time, trick or treating and spending it with your friends.

Talking about scary events, Habbo 2020 is a topic that scares many people within USDF. NSC wants to assure you about the plans for this new edition, and the community will only grow and not fall. We will be finding alternatives for whistle, mannequins, bots, tents, stickies, and want to ensure you do not give up on USDF. For although we are going to “fall” in favour over the game, a lot of new possibilities await. 

Fall is a special time of year that celebrates growth and as the season changes, so as the nights draw in and you get cosy by the fire, think about what it means to grow in yourself, as the weather changes so should you, think about what is important to you. And just as we celebrate all the changes in the weather, we should also acknowledge our personal growth, be happy with everything that we accomplish to make us grow and evolve from the person we used to be.


Society – A Growing Generation

By: coolchick1313

Cover by: .diplodocae.

Society since the 1920’s has undergone a series of changes, such as a War and allowing equal rights for all, including Women and the LGBT+ Community which was once illegal. The equal rights and the steering away from a patriarchal society is what has driven us to grow as a Society, and allow for equality and Diversity throughout the modernising world. Within the Technology age, has boomed and grown in the past 10-20 years, which 100 years ago was merely a dream and did not exist. As Cultures, beliefs and people grow and learn, customs and beliefs change over time as well as the growth of finances. On top of this the growing and ageing population is creating a burden on society, as medical and technology advances and we struggle to keep up! We are keeping more and more alive, we have even added Annual holidays that did not exist 100 years ago such as mothers day, and our education system has made tremendous advances as many struggled to read and write 100 years ago, or never learnt. The way we invest in our society’s population in the 21st Century is great, and I’m sure we are setting the stone for future generations to grow and develop our successes and learn from our failures.

A patriarchal society

There is a common assumption that 100 years ago we lived in a patriarchal society, which means men go out to work and women do domestic tasks, which may have been true 100 years ago, but as Society grows, so do we as individuals. This is just a generic view, and just scratching the surface of what it means to be a patriarchal society but as Society grows, we are becoming more and more equal with each other, and it begs the question of Society becoming too accepting, and where do we draw the line.

Modernising Technology

If we look at one aspect of the growth of Society, Technology would be a huge part, this would be a dream to those living in the 1920’s and up to now, the first desktop computer in the 1960’s, was not developed and certainly would have not been as widely available as it is in the Modern day, if you were lucky enough to have a computer in the 1960’s it would have set you back upwards of $4000, about $36,000 in today’s currency in 2020. Keeping on the note of 2020, there is in the Modern era, 50 billion smart devices currently active and working, and developing countries are even catching up to this rapid growth of Technologies, with the development of Artificial intelligence and mobile phones globally. 

What are the effects of a growing Society

There are many impacts to rapid growth of Society, especially with the growth so quickly and sudden, there are many areas that can’t keep up with the ever changing and development of for example Artificial intelligence and technology companies having to charge extortionate prices for their devices as you can have a huge data in your pocket nowadays, while in the 1940’s the first computer filled a warehouse, and was complicated to run. There however are many benefits to having a growth within Society, including the acceptance and development of LGBT+ communities and the improvement of technologies and media coverage so everything is at your fingertips, and you are able to enjoy the luxuries our ancestors fought for.


Historical

By: Dinsky

Cover by: midgetbella

Fall is a season for many celebrations and traditions. One such tradition is Oktoberfest. The folk festival runs from mid or late September to the first Sunday of October, spanning from 16 to 18 days long. Held in Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volkfest, or beer festival and travelling funfair. The celebration draws more than six million people to Munich every year. During the festival, patrons drink Oktoberfest beer and enjoy a wide variety of rides and games, as well as tons of traditional food.

The first Oktoberfest began on October 12, 1810, and lasted for five days, ending with a horse race held in an area called Theresienwiese, or Therese’s Meadow. The festival celebrated the marriage of Prince Ludwig I to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The race took place again the following year, but this time it was combined with an agricultural fair. In 1818, carnival booths and booths serving food and drinks were established, and the festival became an annual event in 1819. The food booths eventually turned into large beer halls by the 20th century in order to make room for more guests and musicians. The horse race stopped being a part of Oktoberfest in 1960, but the agricultural fair is still held every four years. There was also a parade in 1810 that was made annually since 1850. In the parade, eight thousand people dressed in traditional costumes walk from the Maximilianeum through Munich to the Oktoberfest grounds, led by the Münchner Kindl, or Munich Child. Since 1950, the festival opens at noon with a 12-gun salute, followed by the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest by the Munich Mayor.

Since 2005, Oktoberfest has been celebrated with orchestras playing quiet brass music like traditional folk music until 6:00 pm. After that, more popular music can be played and the festivities get increasingly more loud. In it’s over 200-year lifespan, there have been 25 years in which Oktoberfest was not held, including this year. For the 200-year anniversary, a horse race with historical costumes took place on opening day, and a historical Oktoberfest began one day earlier than usual. Specially brewed beer, horse races, and a museum tent was also provided to closer reflect the origins of the festival.

There are even annual LGBT events throughout the Oktoberfest period that are referred to as the Rosa Wisen or Gay Oktoberfest. The main event that takes place on the first sunday is sometimes called Gay Sunday. It is the second biggest LGBT event to take place, with Gay Sunday alone attracting over 8,000 participants.

Oktoberfest is a great tradition that brings millions of people together to celebrate Bavarian culture. 


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Credits

EDITORS:MariaMint:
ardnalexa
WRITERS:MariaMint:
chiari.cord
coolchick1313
dinksy
disco99x
K1e24
TheTriads
Yodar
DESIGNERSirving524 (Cover)
Aneha (Layout)
ARTISTS_StarLord_
.diplodocus.
!Logan!!
ardnalexa
chiari.cord
disco99x
Irving524
jennywren2010
midgetbella

Thank you for reading the Libertarian!
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