The Mayors of Ellis Valley - Year of the Monkey stamps are here!

[__A 792]

Congratulations Ellis Valley! Hope your athletes enjoyed their time in Atarashima!

[vivapanda 422]

Congratulations! We met a couple of times in the games (you won most of them ). I hope to play against you at the next games again!

[SimCoug 5,977]

Good haul on the hardware

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail:

Hi, Schulmanator. I don't know, the mayors are all worried about all sorts of things - some of which you know and some of which will be revealed in season 5. Plus they are working on completing the 200 Census.

Hi, MTT9. We're very proud of them, and working hard to plan for the next Simlympics.

Hi, TekindusT. I wonder if I just got a little bit lucky, or maybe I managed to do a good job with the PAS.

Hi, mystic_destiny. The athletes had a wonderful time competing and celebrating in your amazing city.

Hi, vivapanda. Yes, I think we played you more than any other competitor - at least you won in one of them.

Hi, SimCoug. Thanks!

____________________________________________________________________________________

The census is ongoing, and I know it is taking some time to get to season 5, so today is a bit of a tease...

It's the season 5 banner.

Happy Halloween!

Next: the census continues

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Webs? That might attract Queensferry!

[simlink 1,098]

Hmmm, interesting. Something interesting, no doubt.

[SimCoug 5,977]

Tangled webs, I'm guessing.

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail:

Hi, Schulmanator. I hope not! Anyway Queensferry seems to have their hands full with the invasion.

Hi, sim_link. I am sure the SimCitizens of Ellis Valley will come up with something interesting for season 5.

Hi, SimCoug. Tangles? In this CJ? I dunno, I was hoping for lots of straight lines in the plot for a change...
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Season 5: Prologue 0.1

The last time we saw Edna, she was feeling rather despondent about her situation in Ellington:
 

 

Edna's worst fears are confirmed when she finds a note from Jean on her desk.

"I hope you enjoyed your spa, dear. I've taken Maud for a few days' break away from all this stress. I'm sure you can handle things while she's away."


Edna slumps into her chair. Now she will have to try and find Maud as well as take care of running the city.

Not for the first time she wishes she had never upset the mayor of her old home town and the mayor of Eloff.

If only she could go back to the past... it feels like the only place that's safe any more.

Fortunately, Edna is not one to wallow in self-pity for long. After a little bit of feeling sorry for herself, she realizes she will have to start doing what Jean suggested, and take over running the city.

No place better to start than Maud's messy desk. Although 'messy' isn't quite the right description. It just looks messy to the untrained eye, what with all the little notes Maud makes to herself. And of course many of the notes make no sense, particularly the ones about city infrastructure that doesn't even exist. Edna starts to sift through the notes and begins to have her initial suspicions confirmed - Maud must really be insane.

Edna lifts a folder off the desk, and when she sees the papers underneath it she feels her blood run cold...



Maud's scribbled note says: coalition loses seats, but stays in power.

Election 210? That's 10 years from now. Coalition? There are no political parties in Ellis Valley - the Mayors run everything.

Edna's heart is racing now. Just thinking the word 'democracy' makes Edna feel like someone is watching her, like someone can hear her forbidden thoughts.

Coud Maud have been secretly pro-democracy? If the other mayors know about that then Maud is dead... or worse.

Next: back to the census

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Worse than dead? Not a good prospect indeed!

[MTT9 188]

Oh boy!!! So it begins... So many questions...

[SimCoug 5,977]

Sims can't handle the democracy (in my best Jack Nicholson impression)

[simlink 1,098]

This ought to be interesting... look forward to seeing where this leads.

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail:

Hi, Schulmanator. Yes, there are worse things than being dead.

Hi, MTT9. Yes, it begins... I had hoped to be finished with the census by now so that I could launch season 5, but since it was election day in the US I decided to start and then go back to the census this week. Will your questions be answered, or will you be left with even more questions? If you've been a fan of the first four seasons, you already know the answer to that one!

Hi, SimCoug. Love it! Certainly, the mayors of Ellis Valley ascribe to your quote. I wonder what Maud's notes could mean?

Hi, sim_link. You know that it will lead you over the hill, around the bend and loop de loop, guaranteed.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The usual way of presenting the census was taking me far too long, and I want to get season 5 moving, so here is the complete census for the cities of Ellis Valley in graphic form. Enjoy.

Graphic 1: Land area. The towns and cities of Ellis Valley are shown with cities' names abbreviated using their post code letters.

The number of cities featured in seasons 1 through 4 is 37. There are 2 national park areas.

There are 2 large tiles (no change from season 3).

There are 15 medium tiles (+2).

There are 20 small tiles (+3).

Graphic 2: Residential. Eloff has the largest number of residents (102,271); Westonia has the smallest number (176).

Number of Valley-wide residents has grown from 340,870 (season 3) to 357,243 (season 4), or +4.8%.

Graphic 3: Commercial. Eloff has the most jobs (36,648); Flaherty has the least (40).

Valley-wide the number of commercial jobs has increased by 10.1% this season, from 102,206 to 112,549.

Graphic 4: Industrial. Ellington has the most industrial jobs (10,688) and Selanned the least (0).

There was a 4.1% increase in industrial jobs (from 44,190 to 46,019).

Next: the season 4 post census update.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

That's a clever way of doing it. I like it. When I do my census again I may steal this idea.

[MTT9 188]

...I want to get season 5 moving...

That's what i was looking foward to hear! Loved the graphs and the statics.

And by the way, i know many more questions are on there way

[SimCoug 5,977]

That's a great visual representation of the census!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail:

Hi, Schulmanator. Thanks - and by all means, steal away.

Hi, MTT9. Yes, many more questions... but hopefully a few answers as well.

Hi, SimCoug. Thanks - it took me a while to figure out how to do it with circles. Glad I made the effort as I like how it turned out.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Season 4 - post census

This CJ wouldn't be what it is without you, the viewer.

Season 4 lasted almost 2 years, and included in the season 4 post census are posts after:

- the last part of the season 3 finale

- season 4 (prolohue, 36 episodes)

- 10k posts/4th birthday

- season 4 contest

- the interlude (14 parts)

- the trixielite elements periodic table (3 parts)

- the season 4 census (10 parts)

- the XVII Simlympiad (5 updates)

- the season 5 banner intro and prologue

Most popular posts were:

Periodic table 1 (28)

Periodic table 2 (10)

Post 10k ( 8 )

Interlude 7 (7)

Episode 4.03 (7)

Each episode was titled after a film. The most popular (4.03) was Memento. The least popular (no replies) was 4.15 (Scream 2).

Here are the top ten posters for season 4 - a great mix of old and new friends:

And the top ten posters for the CJ - Schulmanator extended his huge lead, and only one new entry - congrats, sim_link:

Next: season 5, episode 1.

[MTT9 188]

Will have to work hard right from the beginning to get to the top...

[Schulmanator 5,815]

A lot of familiar names on the overall list. Like my list, many are familiar names I have not seen in a while and hope to see again.

[simlink 1,098]

Congratulations on a sucessful season. I was surprised to see myself up that high - especially making it to the overall list. But hey, you've got a good thing going so it's worth commenting on and continuing to watch. Look forward to season 5!

As for long-gone names, I've noticed that when reviewing Windemere the other day, interesting to see how who comments changes even in just a year.

Edit: Kind of fitting. 17 posts overall/this season, this is post my post #1700.

[Benedict 3,119]

Hi, MTT9. Looking forward to having you follow the season, and your character.

Hi, Schulmanator. I miss some of the people who used to frequent ST, but it's great that there are a lot of new great members each year.

Hi, sim_link. Thanks, I appreciate your level of support.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Normal programming has been interrupted to report that new propaganda has been sighted in Port Sinclair....

Click to investigate:


Normal programming will be resumed as soon as possible....

[vivapanda 422]

Interesting graphs!

[MTT9 188]

Port Sinclair reminds me of a couple of movies... i'm gonna get some popcorn

[SimCoug 5,977]

Hey, I'm on the list. But as always, Schulmanator is top dog (or cat, rather).

By the way, I like the updated avatar.

[Benedict 3,119]

Replies:

Hi, vivapanda. I try to make up for the limitations with vanilla SC with my added graphics. Glad you like them.

Hi, MTT9. My good friend Darmok used to eat popcorn while reading the episodes - you're in good company.

Hi, SimCoug. Yes, Schully often seems to be on top when it comes to the CJ business. Glad you liked the black and white avatar - it was in honor of my latest Port Sin update.

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Well, 'tis the season.... for Christmas postcards from Ellis Valley!

All you have to do is ask, and one will be delivered to your CJ.

Here are the stamps to choose from - with 1st and 2nd class stamps, E for extra postage, and I for international. Oddly enough, at this time of year EllisMail works superfast, so you'll hardly notice the difference in speed of delivery.

[MTT9 188]

What if i have no CJ? Can i reserve an International one to be delivered in a couple months?

[Benedict 3,119]

What if i have no CJ? Can i reserve an International one to be delivered in a couple months?

I can always post it here, or I can PM it to you. Up to you.

[Schulmanator 5,815]

We'll need an international one for Schulmania.

I will hover by the mailbox in anticipation.

[wwetom1 831]

First class of course for Stone Creek!

There will be a lot of mail boxes for me to check through

[vivapanda 422]

The Royals of Heimen have always been fond of christmas cards!

I love all of your stamps, very creative, I think an international one will do just fine.