Kalistan

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Thomas Jones steps into the Noise side of Art
Live Album Trans-Seleyan Railroad called " Artistic Masterpiece"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 6, 5712


Thomas Jones' Trans-Seleyan Railroad experiments with sound, noise, and progressive songcraft

Thomas Jones, the art rock flag bearer for the 5700s has moved on from his sassy space alien glam rock personna. His first three records were characterized by this sort of rhinestone studded heavily theatricized image which culminated in 5710's hard rock classic Modern Art. In 5711, he released a studio album which showed an adoption to a more R&B based-influenced sound as he moved beyond arena style crowd pleasing, is thematically esoteric fist pounders into a more danceable direction. The album, Kaliburg by Night featured a modest hit, the funk adjacent, saxophone drenched self titled "Kaliburg by Night" which hit the Top 10 on the Singles chart, and the follow up single featuring a liquid funk riff "Celebrity 5711" that gained modest radio traction but barely cracked the Top 40, but the album itself only scraped the lower reaches of the Radio 1 Hot 100 Albums chart.

But Jones is an artist that defies easy categorization, and so in late November, when a new album which aimed to build on the direction of Kaliburg By Night was announced by Jones' reps, fans, radio and the music press didn't know what to expect. Could it have been the second disc of a rumored Double LP? Was it a return to a more orthodox art rock sound which fans longed for after the drug fueled Kaliburg by Night? Was it an LP of purely experimental music that was extremely inaccessable to even his long time fans and fans of the genre?

The answer is no: none of those were correct. Instead, what dropped on the night of December 1st was a full Live LP which featured only new music. The album was recorded over three nights at a series of secret concerts held in Kaliburg from October 8th to October 10th last year, and represents some of Jones' most progressive music to date. The music is largely influenced by noise alternative, electronic, funk and disco and the themes he sings about are mostly about travel, much of it esoteric or mental. The album title and lead off single themselves reflect this theme: Trans-Seleyan Railroad.

"We wanted to do a progressive album," said Jones. "We just got done with KBN [Kaliburg By Night] and that music was certainly something, in fact, I don't actually remember recording a lot of it because of the all the drugs we had around all the time. But while we were doing this kind of more dance oriented music, we were also writing this really far out stuff, there were a lot of occult references throughout, and we wanted to include electronica in there too. At the foundation, though, it is still quite fundamentalist. Riffs, jams, and familiar styles that people can attach to and find something there. But people are encouraged to listen to it like a trip, with the world flying by, station to station, with a new experience at each stop, while cities and farms and people and houses and land flies by."

The lead off single, "Trans-Seleyan Railroad" talks about a decadent Kalistani Noble trapped in a foreign state who only wants to get home. It sets the tone for the rest of the record and "... represents his journey north from Southern Seleya," said Jones. The song opens with as pure and uncut noise alternative: a fully synthesized steam locomotive effect created by a highly gated, phased, delayed chord played on the keyboard which is held as Keyboardist Marcellus Amblin cranks up the phaser and delays, while guitarist Brad White produces a chaotic melange of sounds with his lead guitar. It then becomes a funk jam with operatic vocals provided by Jones. It then shifts into a mathrock jam that, about mid song, jarringly shifted to a full out disco barnburner. "We had a 15 piece band for this record," said Jones. "Many of these guys played for me on the KNB sessions. We sort of knew what we were doing working together and didn't have to reintroduce ourselves again for the live shows. From that, we got to create a Noise-Art record."

The rest of the record is a similar collage of styles, sounds, and experiments. "This is definitely the most progressive music I've ever made, and definitely the loudest" said Jones. "Each of the songs are themselves little three movement concertos, informed by classical music, using modern styles and instrumentation. I could see orchestras doing this stuff, but they'd probably have to slow some of this stuff down. Basically its classical music that you can dance to. It really was a lot of fun to put it together. I am so grateful to have this opportunity."

Jones said at some point he may do a concert movie where he and his backing band perform the entire album live and film it. "Capturing that energy again will be kind of tough," said Jones. "5711 was a hard year for real, and I think I may need to clean up my act a little, because some of those sessions, not for this record, but for Kaliburg By Night, I don't even remember, I was so dusted. I was eating horribly. I was down to like 87 pounds: I make a reference in the song 'Trans-Seleyan Railroad' to the Thin White Count... That was me when we were done recording Kaliburg by Night. I got hospitalized one night before we went to start recording the concerts, and they said I had kidney damage and had a minor heart attack. So I think its time to get off the drugs and see what we can do with a clearer head." He also confirmed that for the video for "Trans Seleyan Railroad," the entire band was "... all pretty dusted to the gills. I'm surprised those concerts went as well as they did."

The critics however didn't seem to care. Lead writer for Kalistani Rawk Monthly Christine Reynolds called Trans-Seleyan Railroad an "artistic masterpiece." In the initial review, which earned the record 5 stars of 5, she praised his experimentation: "This record is the new exemplar of the Art Rock genre in Kalistan. By far the most interesting record released this year, it is not for the casual listener, but then again it is accessible that even with a modest primer on Mr. Jones' style, say on the very accessible Modern Art, even the new Jones fan can easily find the groove and vibe on the entire trip. This is the kind of music [Art Rock pioneer] Anne Jean introduced us all to, and this was the heights she strove for and only occasionally also reached. But Jones is definitely the apex monster of the Art Rock scene."

Check out Trans-Seleyan Railroad, Thomas Jones' first live album, released on KMI, and start your journey right here with the title track and first single from the album.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnEc91KRKrc]
The first single and video, "Trans-Seleyan Railroad", by Thomas Jones, recorded in Kaliburg in late October

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Empress Carolina II Ananto makes Call for Conservation
New Englian Oil Field represents "historic opportunity" says Empress
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 25, 5712


Her Imperial Majesty remains committed to Kalistan's Conservationist Legacy

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto's weekly radio address, which is listened to by more than 3.5 million Kalistani nationals at home and abroad ever Sunday morning, focused on the bid Kalistan, via KALNAPECO placed in New Englia, Dovani for concessions in its Rossfadda Oil Field. Her Imperial Majesty tried to head off rising concerns among Nationalists who call the bid a "boondoggle" and a waste of public and private investment funds, while others suggest Kalistan's participation in the process might raise tensions with Egelian and Lodamese allies. Here is the text of her address.

We wish you all a good First Day from Kaliburg.

Today, we focus our thoughts and words on the promotion of the concept of environmental stewardship. As a member of the Brethrenist Faith, one of our Testimonies encourages us to think of this world as something that it is a moral obligation to take care of. We do not own the planet, we do not own the resources of the planet. We are merely blessed with the opportunity to use this planet for our own sustenance for a short time. But this fact also incurs upon us a moral obligation to protect this planet for those who will come after us, as those before us did for us.

Our ancestor, Empress Mary Ananto helped our nation rebuild much of its forests--Many of those first trees that Kalistanis planted under her direction are nearing 100 feet tall now, and in another 80 years, will appear as if they had always been there. These trees will outlive us all as they did the generations that planted them. This was a gift she and her people gave to us, which provides us a sustainable source of not only building material and paper, but also recreation, rejuvenation and refreshment. They also turn the northern tier of our nation into a giant carbon sink to pull carbon out of the atmosphere and to slow global warming. We have a moral duty to pass this gift down to our descendants. Previous generations worked to rebuild our reef environment and reintroduce aquatic species, both of fish and mammals who now visit us annually, providing us with a much healthier sea surrounding our nation, endless educational and recreational opportunities, and sustainable fish stocks to feed our people. This was hard work that generations did to repair the damage of overcutting our forests, of overfishing our waters, and of centuries of petroleum production in the Strait and in the Anantonese Ocean.

Only by ending that production could we begin to even think about repairing the damage to our seas, to help our natural areas heal, and to ensure ourselves a sustainable, if slightly less productive, economy that focuses on need, rather than profit. In doing so, we preserve our environment and shepherd our resources for future generations, so they also enjoy the benefits of a patrimony that they inherited, as we have. Kalistan will never adopt polluting technology like nuclear power, and we have successfully weaned ourselves off petroleum and carbon-based energy supplies. Today, we rely on solar, wind, geothermal, tidal and other sorts of technologies to power our cities, to create our fuels and plastics, and to ensure our nation enjoys clean air, water and land.

Which is why we have directed our Chancellor to bid for control of the Rossfadda Oil fields in New Englia. Currently, according to Englian reports, there are 1.9 billion barrels of crude oil in the ground in that one deposit., and they are currently removing the oil at a rate of 250,000 barrels a day. At current prices, that makes the oil on the retail market worth between $145 and $180 Billion Imperial Pesos. We have directed our Chancellor to offer to buy the entire lake of oil in the form of a concession over the next 100 years, up to $1.5 billion Imperial Pesos a year due annually, to the Government of New Englia. This would be a regular transfer from a permanent Englian Oil Trust set up between our two capitals, specifically to manage the petroleum reserve for a century. The purpose of this fund would be to cap and close the reserve permanently to exploitation and take those 1.9 billion barrels off the open market forever, preventing their usage, combustion and eventual pollution of our atmosphere. This represents a significantly profitable offer for the Petroenglia Corporation who will realize its largest gains up front and will avoid its losses later as refining and ongoing maintenance costs dramatically increase the cost of production and significantly cut into later realized profits.

With the money provided by this Trust, Kalistan gains reduction in global petrocarbon emissions, cleaner water, cleaner air, and more sustainable dwelling on this planet. Should we win this bid, we intend to close this oil off to the rest of the world, to not exploit it or sell it, and to not allow anyone else to either. Our profits are not counted in pesos and cents, but in clean streams, healthy lungs, and human lives saved. We would encourage New Englia to utilize this money to develop new, alternative energy supplies, and we would certainly be willing to work with them to provide our own technology, as it is appropriate, across their entire energy sector to give them an alternative to destroying our environment and hurting people in nations on the other side of the globe. That would be up to them. But this would be a gift we could give to our people, and it is worth it to us to protect the lives and the health of our own people by taking even just this oil field completely offline forever.

It is a rare opportunity for an oil state to not develop oil dependency, but to wean itself completely off petroleum once and for all. We put money into our priorities: Those who wish to create a concession in New Englia for the purpose of exploiting the oil which will be refined and sold on the open market to be burned in factories and in automobiles have their priorities, but our priorities rise from our Brethrenist conviction. We are all stewards of a planet we merely inhabit for a short time only. We have a responsibility not to hand our children and grandchildren a filthy planet. We encourage the New Englian Government to take our offer seriously. This is an historic opportunity to take something that pollutes and starts wars and turn it into something that can provide New Englia a sustainable and more importantly clean environment for the lives of those who will make the decision today and their great grandchildren who will inherit their nation. We can help. We want to help.

Finally, we would like to say a word and offer a moment of silence for our dear friend Lady Urszula Pawlik, the late President of the Republic of Valruzia. We did not always see eye to eye on esoteric political topics-- she was a staunch republican until the moment of her death. But she was a beautiful person, she was very kind and very generous to our Family and to ourselves. She hosted us when we were in Valruzia and encouraged us, and yes even mentored us when we were but a young student studying abroad for our first time. We were fortunate to spend time with her one last time when we visited Valruzia recently for the Olympic games, and in fact, we were lucky to get to live on the same planet as Lady Pawlik. Our thoughts go to her family and her People, who lost a great leader and a wonderful, brilliant and caring human being. She will be greatly missed in Kalistan and in our Household. A moment of silence is requested for her memory.

...

Thank you Friends, Citizens and those listening in foreign lands. We wish you peace.

@TheRepublic

[GreekIdiot]

Amudim
Tel Bira to pursue formation of non-alignment treaty after Kalistani "disappointment"; YBI opens investigation into unauthorised Kalistani investments
April 5712
https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-3-post-12...l#pid12123

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Kaplan Takes Down Amudim in Nightly Interview
"Tel Bira does not speak for all Yeudis", says AYIC director
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 3, 5712


Robert Kaplan appears on Kaliburg Tonight to address Tel Biran smears

"Tel Bira can say what it wants, and it usually does," said Robert Kaplan, director of the Anantonese Yeudi Interests' Committee on popular Channel 1 News nightly Kaliburg Tonight. "They have a warped view of the world where they still control all Yeudi minds, which does not comport with reality. But Tel Bira does not speak for all Yeudis." Kaplan took exception to the mischaracterization of Kalistan's positions by Tel Biran and Schlomberg bureaucrats, printed in Schlomberg Chronicle late last month. "Kalistan has repeatedly tried to keep Tel Bira, and in fact, Amudim as a whole, onside, but the alliance of Amudim with MATO has fundamentally further ruptured any possibility of good relations between Kalistan and the Northern Majatran States, and has further alienated Kalistani Yeudis from those living in the homeland."

Kaplan said Tel Bira can maintain the facade that it is not the financial center of northern Majatra and therefore the related MATO alliance if it wishes. "We have no way of knowing except their word, which is not valued very highly on this side of the world at any rate," said Kaplan. He said that he believes the more important outstanding issue still remains on the table. "We are still waiting for a report which shows the complicity of former Beiteynu in the crimes of the Kundrati Legion last century to be issued, a report that was merely hinted at close to a decade ago. Until that nation admits its part in the development of weaponry that was used to murder tens of thousands of sleeping Kalistanis and its coddling of the Legionary regime as they embarked on their genocidal self immolation arc, Kalistan and Amudim will likely never be friendly at all, let alone cooperative."

Kaplan cited a 5689 report where the notorious Amudim-based Sato corporation pressured Tel Bira to refused to declassify a report which outlined Beiteynese participation and direction of the Kundrati Missile program which was eventually directed against Kalistan. "Apparently, they are so independent that Tel Bira to this date remains in complete compliance with the requests of the Missile Defense Industry on the issue of suppressing evidence of Beiteynese complicity, even though Tel Bira said subsequently that they have evidence of cooperation." said Kaplan

Kaplan said he had no position on Tel Bira's membership in NAM. "I'm not in the Foreign Ministry, so I won't speak about that. Tel Bira staying in NAM or leaving it is their own choice. If they wish to be associated with a movement in principle which declares that non-alignment is better than bowing to an foreign imperialist geopolitical master, I would imagine that they would be better off for it. And I realize that Tel Bira is at least nominally 'independent' of Amudim and as such is not a member of MATO itself, but let's not split hairs here, because Tel Biran economic liberalism is wide open to Amudim's benefit. That's not the real issue though. The real issue is that Amudim still bears responsibility for enabling the Legion, their atrocities, and specifically their atrocious chemical weapons attacks on Kaliburg, Port Swedes and Eshar which killed thousand of Yeudis in Kalistan. They have Yeudi blood on their hands."

According to Kaplan, Beiteynu, who now calls itself Amudim, covered up for the Legion: "They lied publicly on behalf of the Kundrati Legion, and they discredited Kalistan when we pointed out the historical fact of Legionary atrocities. Back then Tel Bira played an important role in the affairs of Beiteynu: They aren't exempt from the guilt just because they are nominally independent now, though still closely linked to Amudim. And now they and all of Amudim, are still refusing to take any responsibility for their actions, let alone take any steps to make it right with our people. The whole nation bears that responsibility, and if Tel Bira ever had the slightest interest in remaining friendly with Kalistan, they would have already told the world the all that they know but still supress, in explicit spite of Yishelem's criminal objections."

Kaplan also responded to Shlomberg's claims that Vamaj is a "Yeudi-backed global supply network" designed to exploit petroleum and sell it world wide. "First of all, not all Yeudis world wide support Vamaj," he said. "Let me be clear: This is not a company by Yeudis for Yeudis. It is a Homelands operation which large global oil players happen to participate in. Luthori for example has a seat at the table. Nadiya still has a seat at the table. But it primarily benefits Yeudi interests in former Beiteynu. It certainly does not enrich Yeudis globally. And to claim otherwise is simply ridiculous."

Clearly, Kaplan said, Amudim and MATO are behind the Luthorian bid for New Englian Oil exploitation. "They like polluting the earth. What can I say? But all of this is a sideshow. What we need from Amudim, and from all those city states there is a mea culpa and an apology for the murder of Kalistanis including Kalistani Yeudis, on the night of August 11th 5612. That anniversary is coming up for Kalistan. It was as devastating to our nation as the Bargas Chenpo was for Xsampa, and for many of the same reasons. Beiteynu was behind BOTH events. And we have been waiting for one hundred years for that nation to admit its role in those attacks, as well as its part in elevating the Legion and in giving other nations cover to continue to trade with it in violation of sanctions which led to a significant war and devastation in Artania for decades. Those event are at the feet of Beiteynu and no amount of renaming your country will help wash that nation clean of its crimes. Only actual sincere, and good faith apology will allow healing to begin. Until then, Amudim and everyone associated with it will simply be poison to Kalistani Yeudis."

Kaplan said he will join Her Imperial Majesty for a memorial ceremony this August as Kalistan marks the 100 year anniversary of the murder of more than 40,000 Kalistanis while they slept with Beiteynese designed and supplied ballistic missiles. "And mending of fences between our two states MUST begin in Amudim, and it must begin with a formal apology," said Kaplan. "They are monsters for not doing this before now."

@TheRepublic

[GreekIdiot]

Amudim
"Isn't Kalistan to blame for the attack?"; Yishelem joins cacophony after Kalistani-Yeudi AYIC "downplays" impact of Bargas Chempo
https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-3-post-12...l#pid12140

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KALNAPECO CEO explains energy company's interest in Englian Bid
"KPO has not been an oil company for more than 200 years," she says
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 25, 5712


CEO Donna Witmer discusses KPN's participation in the Englian Bid before shareholders

"I'm not sure where Amudim got its information," said CEO Donna Whitmer, "but KPO has not been an oil company for more than 200 years. The energy supply of Kalistan was placed under KPO following the collapse of KALENCON, and we've maintained it all this time, but Kalistan does not produce petroleum and we haven't for a very long time."

Whitmer made the statements while discussing why KPO would none the less participate in the New Englian bid. "KPO, known to the most of the world as KALNAPECO is a legacy brand, but we are still a public-private partnership that focuses on energy creation and distribution, and naturally the Englian Rossfadda oil formation would be something we would certainly be interested in. But to answer the question specifically, we are interested in it because Her Imperial Majesty's Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, who is the Ministry which holds controlling interest in KPO, has ordered us to be. As a public-private owned corporation with 51% of our corporation owned by the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, we do what the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan tells us to do when they tell us to do something. It's not very difficult to comprehend and it is not at all some big secret. We exist to serve the interest of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan first last and always: if our investors happen to make money out of the deal, which they do, that's a fringe benefit."

Whitmer said this does give Kalistan the opportunity, however to speak about what it means to have a strong national sector. "I think the assumption that Amudim makes, which I do not think is all that far off the mark, if you only consider liberal capitalist states, is that the only motivation investors have is to make money for themselves. This might be so in a nation that has no sense of national identity or common purpose, where individualism is pursued to the exclusion of all other goals, or in places where they would sacrifice the entire nation for the benefit of one ultra rich person. But this assumption does not hold in nations where there is a strong sense of communal interest, as we have in Kalistan. Here people invest in things primarily out of a sense of duty. It is hard to be an investor in Kalistan, and you certainly do not get rich by doing it, because Kalistan requires that investments actually do stuff, employ people, create things and pay workers, rather than sit idle and move around to make money from money. But our national spirit in this nation dictates that even individual investments should have some social good to them. We don't invest in evil things just because they make us money as individuals, and we certainly don't invest in things that hurt our neighbors just so we can enrich ourselves: We're not liberal capitalists, after all. That's what they do. Every single day, with ever single cent they invest. We aren't degenerates like that."

Whitmer said the framing of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto was important. "Even if our bid in New Englia fails, and it likely will given the private cartel of the capitalist interest aligned against it, we would like to be part of something much more important than simple, basic, really just selfish profit making in Kalistan. Our motivation is literally to be better than... well, then that. To provide better lives for our people, to provide different opportunities than ones which are dictated by the central planners who run the markets we are all supposed to be punished in. Kalistan is a different country. We hope New Englia will also take the opportunity to take our money, to use it to choose a different path than economic imperialism and capitalist exploitation that accepting some of the other bids will guarantee them. We hope they will see this as an opportunity to look to the future, to take the next step in human evolution and ween themselves off of petrocarbons, rather than contentedly wallowing in the sludge of the past, now discredited model of filthy, carbon based, and most importantly transitory and non-sustainable energy production."

Whitmer said Kalistanis invest in it because it is a visionary offering. "Kalistanis may be conservative in a lot of ways, but we are one of the few nations in the world to have taken the steps to divest in oil and figure out alternatives. If we conservatives can do it, surely others can as well. The only thing missing is the will. But those who will drag our nation down for doing that, and make no mistake about it, judging us for failure to satisfy capitalist assumptions about correct economic incentives is an attempt to drag us back down into the muck that we have escaped from, those people lack the will to even challenge their capitalists, to ever dream of a different, better way. We have adopted one model of that better way-surely there are many. But we are light years ahead of those who only measure their profits in terms of money, and not in terms of lives. KPO stands for the future. That's why we want to support Her Imperial Majesty's bid. That's why other Kalistanis will too, even if we never see a cent of that money back, we will know it every time we breathe in and enjoy cleaner air than we would have if some greasy exploitative economic imperialist power pretending to be a liberal nation paid for the right to pollute it."

@TheRepublic

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Kalistani Chancellor speaks about Nationalism
"Seleyan then Anantonese Affairs, then everyone else," says Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 4, 5712


Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn at her home in Downtown Kaliburg

The Kalistani Republic was granted an interview with the often combative and fiery Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn, who has been in office for just over a year and has returned Kalistan to the forefront of International discussions on a number of points. Lady Alvarez, a direct descendant of Duke Mark Ananto, and therefore of Empress Nicolette The Great, is herself the Countess of Lucid and grew up in the ancestral home of Lady Margaret Alvarez-Ellison. She is more Gaduri than Suldanoran, her grandparents returning to Lucid after more than four generations, where they settled before she was born. She speaks Egelian as her first language, but primarily speaks now with a Suldanoran dialect, with a bit of a rasp to her voice that is caused by a chronic cough due to asthma, which she has suffered from since she was a child.

But the Chancellor also considers herself the heir of Lady Erica Donahue, the ousted former Orthodox Chancellor who was removed from office before the turn of the century due to her nationalist ideology running afoul of Her Imperial Majesty's foreign policy. Lady Alvarez would consider herself a hard Orthodox member of the Institutional Party, and has adopted a very forward leaning attitude which has upset many in Kalistan and abroad but which has not, interestingly enough, drawn much comment or critique from Her Imperial Majesty. It is well known that there is friction between the two, but many put it down to a clash of personalities. Because whatever Lady Alvarez thinks of Her Imperial Majesty's policies, she is first and foremost a conservative, an Orthodox Institutionalist and a loyal subject, as she will declare to anyone who asks, and some who do not ask.

"I know we do not use factional terms any longer within the Party," she said, "but it cannot be denied, that the Orthodox position, to which I happen to subscribe, has won that contest of ideas. And so this becomes the mandate of our Party. People were very angry at the loss of Gaduridos. We needed someone to blame. We could blame chance, we could blame powers that are completely beyond our control, but many of us chose to blame the Empress. And while she had a hand in the matter, most certainly: the policies which required our nation to separate from the homeland of my ancestors came from her own hand, we can not say she is entirely at fault, because it was inevitable. The seeds were sewn the moment Gaduridos joined the Empire to begin with. Anyone with half a brain knew it was never going to last. We should have seen the writing on the wall and let them go when Lodamun left, then we wouldn't have wasted all those decades and decades of development trying to keep afloat a nation that was trying to sink and resented our help from the start. It's very bittersweet."

Fact is, she said that those Gaduris who supported the Empire are already here. "I think I can say that Kalistan was never as popular in Gaduridos as Gaduridos was in Kalistan, but no matter, its not an issue now. Our focus, my focus, is on Kalistan itself. The Empire gave my family so much, and now our job is to give back. I do so by serving the People in the name of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto. It is my one and only calling in life, just as my predecessor Lady Erica Donahue did before me." When asked if her and Lady Erica are friends, Ladt Alvarez said, "Well, of course... I aim to carry forward her legacy in office. She was one of the greats. Unapologetic, confident, so smart, growing up, she was my hero. I talk to her as much as I can."

And to the Empress? "Well, as much as I am required," she said with a laugh. "Her Imperial Majesty and I have come to a place, I think over this year where we can see eye to eye. We have many disagreements, but maybe six months ago, she invited me to eat dinner with her and her husband and her children. We ate as fellow Brethrenists, and I think that helped us get over some things, because we share the same faith and the same beliefs about things. Maybe not government, all the time. I don't mean ever. I mean we can still disagree, and sometimes we very much do. But we also have a lot in common between us, and I hope a ground for mutual respect. At any rate though, she is the Sovereign and I as the Chancellor, I serve at her pleasure, so that's what that is."

Asked about how her legislative priorities have been moved this first year in office, the Chancellor was fairly positive. "I think we got most of our first year agenda through. I really wanted to be further on delinking Kalistan from Majatran and Artanian economies, but things have been going slow there. I think Her Imperial Majesty wants to stay in some of the Yeudi stuff that we are involved with, despite Tel Bira's rather petulant withdrawal from the Non-Aligned pact, which more or less confirmed our beliefs on where Tel-Bira and Amudim stand on MATO. They can deny their association, but leaving the NAM so they can make a new NAM for non-Kalistani Nations pretty much makes our point for us. Tel Bira has not formally joined the collective security agreement over there, but they may as well: their brethren in Amudim have. We do, however, plan to remain within the Bankaut system, which is based in Tel Bira. Her Imperial Majesty happens to believe that to be an excellent system, and we do as she fiats. Other things I have wanted to do have either been accomplished, like reforming the Party, making a formal bid for the New Englian oil formation, reforming the rules around foreign investments both abroad, and starting to get the ball rolling on them here, and seeing to it that we are expanding on our own domestic production to deal with any jitters we had around adoption of the Peso. I'd give us a solid B."

Lady Alvarez reiterated that the overall strategy remained regional. "It's Seleyan, then Anantonese Affairs, and then everyone else," said Lady Alvarez. "We are first and foremost always going to be concerned about Kalistan first. We come first no matter what. Lodamun, Valruzian , and even Baltusia cooperation come a very close second. Then we can be concerned about what is happening in Egelion, NEKK, Gaduridos, Vorona, Seko, maybe Lourenne... And everyone else is after that.”

On the Englian bid for the Rossfadda oil formation bid process: “Her Imperial Majesty is not expecting to really win the Englian concession. Our bid is competitive, but something tells us that there is more than just the money figure at play there, especially with the enthusiasm that Luthori has for the bid and the support it is getting from Majatran and even Nadiyan interests. Egelion is out there all alone, though it does have a strong global reach, and of course Bianjie is also a great candidate and makes a great argument. Something tells me that the Englians would prefer to use their oil to buy an ally, which Kalistan will never be given New Englia's distance from our nation, by tying the eventual bid winner to New Englia's fate as a nation. So we will most likely be keeping our money. But on the positive side then, we can certainly use that money to build Kalistan: Most of it came from divestment in Gaduridos and in Kundrati anyway so we kind of need to spend it somewhere. May as well spend it on projects that will benefit us here, in a concrete way. It would certainly behoove us to invest that money at home: Englia's loss becomes our gain in this sense."

When asked for parting words, the Chancellor was stoic: "There are somethings we cannot control. We cannot control what others think of us, no matter what that is. We cannot actually even reliably influence those opinions of us. The only thing Kalistan can do is be the fine nation we are. We can pursue policies that allow us to hold our head up high, to be justified in our beliefs and in our actions. And we let others take those as they will. Because at the end of the day, we are the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, and Carolina Ananto is our Empress, and really, this is all that matters. It's all that should matter to every Kalistani, both at home and abroad. The days of trying to please others are over. I may say take Kalistan as it is, and most will opt to leave it. This is their loss then. But we do have people who are willing to take us as we are and work with us: Maybe they gain something from it, maybe not. But we will never change, we will never stop being who we are. Kalistan has been this way for going on 5000 years now, the center of the world. Surely it would be ridiculous to ask us to see ourselves any differently. And for those foreign nations who disagree, clearly you are not led by Kalistani Nationalists. And for that I feel sorry for you."

Then the normally stone faced Chancellor smiled, "Claro, sólo estoy bromeando. Sobre todos cosas." she said with a wink.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistan automakers begin largescale EV push
"Infrastructure is a limiting factor" says MotorVrassa CEO
Addisjah, Duchy of Vrassa
June 30, 5712


Sedans under production at MotorVrassa Plant in Addisjah

Already major names in EV production, both of the two major automotive producers in Kalistan, Kalistani Motor Company (MoCo) and MotorVrassa have stepped up electric vehicle production, looking to take lead in international markets. Both Plants have already increased orders for new vehicles in the next five years with the aim of increasing Kalistani exports.

"Kalistan has somewhat limited exports of electric vehicles," said MV Chief Officer Hannah Glenn, who oversees the Addisjah operations. "The main limiting factor we see internationally is that nations are so married to internal combustion engines that switching to an electric vehicle infrastructure is often cost prohibitive. But we are seeing more and more nations creating infrastructure for electric vehicles, and we are seeing demand increasing for Electric Vehicles globally."

MoCo, who had to shut its Gaduri operations earlier in the decade due to forced divestment in the Gaduri economy, has announced plans to build a new plant near Kaliburg. Meanwhile, MV has recently opened another line in Addisjah, hiring more than 2500 new workers last year alone to increase production by nearly 40%. The worker owned company also announced that it is considering opening a Dana plant if international sales are robust. "Both MV and MoCo do have connections throughout Seleya and Western Dovani," said Glenn. "We also export to Dolgava and Hutori, though in significantly lower volume than we do to closer areas. However, as you can imagine, more than 85% of our production is for local markets." MoCo reports similar numbers.

One reason MV says they wish to open a new plant is so they can begin building hybrids for foreign purchase. "We in Kalistan seem to believe that if you build it, a market will develop to accommodate the products. But if you have a mismatch of technology with the petroleum based infrastructure, where there are not public charging stations, you can sell a million cars but nobody can charge them. A hybrid is perhaps a good compromise, because it still utilizes gasoline, but the gas engines are assisted by electric engines that can be used to enhance gas mileage. In this sense, we are still helping drivers use less gasoline, but not denying them the opportunity to buy our cars." MV market research demonstrates large unmet demand for hybrid vehicles.

As MV prepares to expand to hybrids, MoCo says their thrust will be to export infrastructure for EVs abroad. MoCo's Director of International Sales Henry Minimoto says the company said that MoCo has opened ten new dealerships across Seleya and Dovani thus far this year. "The point of the dealerships is, of course to sell cars," said Minimoto. "But each dealership we open locally, whether it be through direct investment or working with local partners in a franchising relationship, will also contain the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles, so that as people buy our automobiles, they can also charge them, at least within several hundred miles of the dealership. It is also our hope that our local partners will accept assistance to begin building EV infrastructure."

MoCo says that Kalistan is in an excellent position to outcompete foreign suppliers in the region. "We can produce and ship at volume," said Minimoto. "We still have one of the world's leading shipping industries our of Port Elga, with plenty of excess capacity. And Kalistani corporations, even private ones like MoCo and MotorVrassa tend to offer a lower price point than foreign manufacturers, due to heavy anti-market policies from our National Government." Minimoto said it is not too unbelievable that Kalistan could make a move to expand its automobile market to capture a larger share of the Kerisian Market too.

"Nothing is outside of the realm of possibility," said Minimoto. Wherever Kalistan begins exporting its automobiles, increases in Kalistan automotive exports are certainly the future for Kalistani automotive manufacturers.

@TheRepublic

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Public Memorial held at National Mall
"A Century of Grieving" said Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 11, 5712


Chancellor of the Empire Alvarez-McLinn remembers Attacks of August 11, 5612

"Today we complete a Century of Grieving," said Chancellor of the Empire Melanie Alvarez-McLinn. "Early in the morning of August 11th, 5612, one hundred years ago today, Kaliburg, Port Swedes, and Eshar were attacked and severely damaged. The attacks were accomplished with a poisonous a mix of chlorine, mustard gas, and white phosphorous, and were designed to burn homes and buildings, and murder our people as they slept. They were conducted by the murderous Legionary regime from Kundrati, with the knowledge and direct support of Likatonia, and with the aid, assistance and enablement of the nations who supplied Kundrati with war materiel, technological assistance, and other forms of support in contravention of international sanctions.

"More than a half dozen nations bear the responsibility of the death and destruction of that night," the Chancellor continued. "Kalistani history books remember the nations that enabled Kundrati in their murderous attacks, and every school child can tell you who they are. As a result of that homicidal policy, much of the area we now stand in was completely uninhabitable for years. And most importantly, more than 40,000 Kalistani Nationals, men, women, children, the elderly, workers... their lives were extinguished as a result of those attacks. That night left a scar upon our nation which has never really healed properly. We are gathered here, at this, our own memorial to the National Disaster, to remember. Perhaps this is the year we move on, but I do not think those who refuse to accept any responsibility for their part will allow us to do so."

All businesses, schools, and public offices were closed today for the Day of National Memorial, which commemorated the tragedy of the unprovoked attacks aimed at the civilians of a sleeping nation. More than 250,000 Kalistanis flooded the National Mall in Kaliburg, and similar crowds were reported in Port Swedes and Eshar. Kaliburg was hit hardest, and the damage to the city was most extensive there: the gas attack, blown by winds led to making significant portions of Imperial Hill and South Kalistan uninhabitable, while fires raged out of control for days across the Downtown areas. "All reports suggest that it was hell for those who lived here."

The Royal Family themselves, who lived at that time at Wilson House in the eastern Wilson Hill neighborhood, were forced to flee from their home when it became poisoned. Mary Ananto regularly said her first memories were of being forced out of her home and escaping to Gaduridos before moving back to Kalistan to Cliff House, which is the Imperial Residence and personal offices to this day. When the emergency ended, Kalistan went to war against Likatonia, and ended up repaying them for their support of the real perpetrators of the attacks, the Kundrati Legion, using Beiteynese missile and possibly also chemical technology with a vicious war, where Kalistanis ignored laws of war and committed war crimes. "While I do not personally condone war crimes, the unprovoked and incontinent attacks against our population centers give me a reason to understand it nonetheless," said the Chancellor in her speech.

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto and His Highness, Prince Elliot Rosenfeld arrive at Kaliburg Memorial

Kalistani public figures from Government, society and the arts all attended the memorial. Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto, along with His Highness, the Prince Consort Elliot Rosenfeld and the three Minor Princelings, attended along with Her Highness, Princess of the Empire Nicolette Ananto-Collins. Also in attendance were Lady Alice Bjorksdattir, who, along with her husband and children were special guests of Her Imperial Majesty. Current members of House Ananto were also present, as did Lady Marisol Paz Alvarez-Navarro. His Excellency Grand Duke Miguel Alvarez-Winters attended the Memorial in Eshar in Her Imperial Majesty's Name. No foreign dignitaries were present for the memorial.

The Capital Memorial Service lasted for more than an hour with speeches about national service, Kalistani history and calls for peace in the world. The Clerk of the Kaliburg Annual Meeting closed the service with 10 minutes of silence after instructing those who were in the audience who were not members of the Brethrenist Faith about Brethrenist practice. The silence was too much for many, and weeping and sorrow was heard toward the end of the silent period. Thankfully for some, the Clerk broke the silence after 10 minutes with a simple "Thank You Friends." After which time people silently began to return home to continue their memorial with family and friends. Similar programs were followed in both Port Swedes and Eshar.

The Empress has ordered that all public establishments shall be closed the entire week, and the Flag will be lowered to half mast in memory of Kalistan's lost ancestors until August 20, which was the date that the last fires in Kaliburg were brought under control in 5612.

@TheRepublic

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Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn inducted into Order of Grey Smoke
Prestigious Secret Society meets at National Theater in Kaliburg
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 20 5712


Empress Carolina II Ananto and Chancellor of the Empire Melanie Alvarez-McLinn at Fall Order Event

Meeting at their temporary home in the National Theater, the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke inducted Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn, Countess of Lucid, this week. Lady Alvarez was named Lady Companion in the Order, and was fully initiated into the secret rites of the most prestigious and elite chivalric order in Terra. The National Theater has become the unofficial site for Order Conclaves following the demolition of Ananto Estate following the Eveari Earthquake.

"Oh, I'm really over the moon," said Lady Alvarez. "Being included into this society really means something for my family. Not only does it allow me to do my job more effectively, but it is also an acknowledgement of my role in this society and in the functioning of the Empire." When asked why she thought that she had to be the Chancellor for more than a year before she was inducted into the ranks of the Order, Lady Alvarez was candid. "Well, Her Imperial Majesty and I didn't really get along all that well. She wasn't going to induct me as long as she had doubts that I wasn't going to support her agenda. I think I'm off probation now. She's still a capital B, but she is the Empress, and I suppose it takes one to know one. I'm really just happy to be here."

Despite making their membership lists and regalia requirements public, very little is known about what happens when the doors of the Conclave close. Nobody has ever divulged the secrets from within the Conclave, but what is known is that there are very specific architecture within the conclave room, along with set pieces, the purpose of which can only be imagined, along with costumes. For much of this, the National Theater stands as an adequate temporary home for the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke, but a new Hall is being built in Eveari on the Ananto Estate specifically for Order functions.

"Look, its nothing like you are thinking," said Lady Alvarez. "I've heard rumors of all kinds about what happens in there. I heard that the Grand Mistress performs a ceremony sans ropas. I've heard there were strange dances. I've heard there was drug use, or occult things. I can't confirm or deny anything, but I was actually rather surprised at what I saw to be completely honest. It was very unexpected. The induction ceremony was very unexpected, let me assure you. But everyone in there has gone through it themselves, and its unforgettable."

Outside the conclave, the Chancellor said, "is where the business is done. I don't mean order business. We take care of that inside. I mean the networks are made, handshakes are made, we meet influential people, etc. It's a whole other world up here, society wise than it is in Lucid, and I feel like joining this Order will put me a handshake away from people who control things, perhaps behind the scenes right alongside with those who control things in the open. An invitation to an Order event, like being an invited guest, is like an invitation to step into a whole new world."

The Press often covers the events, both before and after the conclave, and they usually involve social hour, where said handshakes and introductions are made, and then a dinner which follows the conclave. This meeting, the members and their guests enjoyed a dinner of lamb shanks, braised in red wine, orzo pasta, finely sliced and roasted buttered carrots, and a garden salad. The entertainment for the evening was provided by Mr. Thomas Jones, who has recently begun working on his follow up album to Trans-Seleyan Railroad, which he released late last year. Jones played much of his music with acoustic instruments and a string quartet backing him up, and he demonstrated his versatility, toning even his brashest, campiest music down so it almost sounded like chamber music.

The Chancellor sat with Her Imperial Majesty and His Highness, the Prince Consort, as well as Lady Alice Bjorksdattir and her husband and Lady Christina Ananto-McKinley and her husband at the Head Table. Others in attendance were Lady Erica Donahue, who Lady Alvarez spent much of her time with, Sir Thomas Harney, and Lady Marisol Paz Alvarez-Navarro. There were dozens of others from the world of finance, industry, art, fashion and Kaliburg high society, all trying to meet people who can introduce them to more important people. "I had no idea these things were so well attended," said Lady Alvarez-McLinn. "During Social Hour, I didn't have a second where someone was not trying to talk to me, to get some favor or some policy, or some introduction. I suppose these events are about access, and unless you have the Protocol around you, its kind of a feeding frenzy. Then the bell rings, and it all stops and we go inside and they stay outside and talk to themselves." She shrugged, "I suppose this beats lobbying that I hear they have to put up with in liberal nations. At least in Kalistan, you can't pay for access. You just have to know some body and they can introduce you to somebody else."

Overall, Lady Alvarez says the whole thing is really kind of silly. "I mean, we wear velvet robes and sashes," she said as she showed her heavy purple velvet robe off. "Mine is trimmed with ermine fur. Why? Because the Empress is the only one who gets to wear Black Bear fur on hers. Why? Who knows? She wears a red tartan sash, I wear an orange and white Checkered sash. Why? Because I'm from Kalistan. I mean, you learn the real reasons when you join the Order, but I can't tell you those reasons, because what is a secret society without secrets? But outside the Conclave room, these are just silly outfits, and this meeting is just an opportunity for the elites to get together and make deals and eat braised lamb, I guess. The rest of the world doesn't know or really even care that this is here, but I can assure you, the real power in this part of the world is in that Conclave Room when they close those doors. If you want to do anything around here, you have to either be one of those folks, or know those folks."

The New Order Hall is expected to be completed next year, and the first Order Day in the new Hall is scheduled for May 5714. Meanwhile, the National Theater will continue to serve as the Ancient Order of Grey Smoke's temporary home.

@LaModa