Kalistan

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National Theater Season opens in Kaliburg
6 Month season to include new Dramas, a classic and a Farce
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 14th, 5718


His Highness, the Minor Crown Prince, accompanies classmate, Ms. Jenny Marshall Opening Night. Ms. Marshall debuted last month in Kaliburg

Kalistan's National Theater inaugurated its 5718 Season last week with the opener of a much anticipated drama by noted Kalistani dramatist Henry Wright called 14,000 Miles. It is the epic tale of a peaceful and sympathetic new husband kidnapped off Ananto, and sold as a slave in ancient Luthori where he is brutally mistreated by the savages that dwell in those environs. He eventually outsmarts his dimwitted but unnecessarily violent captors and escapes. He then makes his way home, through numerous trials and detours only to find a cruel surprise waiting for him when if finally makes it back to Luxon. "The play is one of the most expensive spectacles to grace the stage of the National Theater," said theater critic Montel Robinson. "The production cost K$46 million, including significant renovation of the stage to allow for water scenes to be depicted with some realism. It was an auteur's vision and backers of the play saw the dream, and invested big time." In its first week the play grossed more than K$4.2 million Imperial Pesos, and is on track to be one of the most successful plays in National Theater history.

The National Theater Association, the foundation that maintains both the National Theater and the Imperial Operahouse in Sulari, and contributes to production costs, estimates that due to heavy philanthropy over the last ten years, it can now offer residencies once again. Much of the philanthropy was quietly led by House Ananto who restored a commitment to the National Theater and the Imperial Opera in Sulari originally begun by Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis, wife and Consort of Emperor Fredrick III Ananto, and mother of the later Empress Mary. The Commitment lapsed during the Regency, as a controversy on the Board over misallocation of money led to a number of regular contributors suspending their donations. Following Board reorganization in 5708, donations returned, and the Foundation is now considered healthy enough to offer two five year residencies to help patronize playwrights and composers who seek to beautify Kalistani stages.

The Season this year consists of the aforementioned 14,000 Miles, as well as a fun whodoneit called Mrs. Watson, a slice of life theater verite production known as Followings, an updated classic Kalopian Drama called The Two Sisters, a Musical called Summer Camp, and a new Farce called The Artanian Client. The plays were selected by National Theater Association jury review with a goal of showcasing diversity in topic, appealing to wide audiences, and exhibiting excellence in writing.

Her Imperial Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Prince Consort attend season opener at National Theater

"I'm really looking forward to The Artanian Client," said critic Anantonia Oswald. "I've had the opportunity to sit in on rehearsals and have read the synopsis and it really looks like a ridiculous, hilarious new play from Britt Engles. She is one of the leaders of the new school of Kalistani comedy and the way she weaves stories together in unexpected ways through a series of completely unrelated accidents is both very creative and extremely entertaining. I expect this will be similar."

The Program will feature a new Premier each month throughout the season, with Three shows on weekends (Friday Night, Saturday Matinee, and Saturday evening) and a Tuesday evening performance. During the rest of the week, theater goers will be invited to attend Black Box Theater that features one acts, revues and skits by independent writers and directors that involve both members of the main troupe, as well as actors in the Little Theater. Black Box will be held Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and then the Little Theater, which will feature performances of past productions will be held Sunday Matinee and Sunday Evening. Each re-run will perform for a month during the entire season. Though Friday, Saturday and Tuesday Evening ticket prices can get into the Thousands of Pesos for box seating, and hundred for General Seating and are therefore quite cost prohibitive for commoners, Saturday Matinee of the Main Production, all Black Box Theater productions and the Little Theater performances will be priced at K$6 a ticket to encourage attendance by everyone. "It is well known that the Empress likes both Black Box and Little Theater productions, and will certainly attend several of them," said Robinson.

The Theater schedule will overlap in October and November with the Opera and Orchestra Schedule, which runs over the winter in Sulari, but audiences tend to be different for each. "Plus, in October and November, you can easily catch a production in Kaliburg Friday night, then fly to Sulari for a Saturday night performance," said Oswald. "That's a lot of live performance, but there are some who's entire social circle is within the Theater scene. If you are a member of Formal Society, you are almost expected to be in attendance every time the Empress attends, and if she happens to be at the National Theater on Friday and the Opera House on Saturday, plenty of members of both Kaliburg and Sulari Society will try to make both performances as well, because in Society, its who you are seen with that affects your standing." Both Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina II Ananto (along with His Highness, the Prince Consort Elliot Rosenfeld) and His Highness the Minor Crown Prince William-Malcolm Isaac Ananto-Rosenfeld (who was accompanied by Kaliburg Debutante Ms. Jenny Marshall, who made her Debut last month) were in attendance for the Season Opener, and occupied the Royal Theater Box. It was also well attended by the Peerage and much of Kaliburg Formal Society.

This season promises to be the most exciting season in a very long time, and will have something for everyone.

@LaModa

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Kalistan offers cautious encouragement for Gaduridos
Election of Stable Government "bodes well" for relations, says Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 26, 5718


Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn address developments in Gaduridos

Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn, well known for her arch nationalist positions and her early opposition to the dismemberment of the Empire, spoke to the National Assembly yesterday on developments in Gaduridos. "We clearly do not wish to appear to be putting our finger on any scales in regard to Gaduridos," said the Chancellor. "But I have to say, the election of the moderate Benjamin de la Cruz to lead his Party into the General Elections is one positive step that gives Her Imperial Majesty some hope of a rapprochement between Kalistan and Gaduridos."

The Chancellor said she had to measure her words about Gaduridos in a public forum. "I had to give Her Imperial Majesty assurances that I would not say anything to derail any of the efforts that she may or may not be making to begin to repair the rift of bad feelings and mistrust that currently exists between our two nations. My last aim is to undermine the efforts of my cousin, Lady Marisol Paz as she leads behind the scenes talks with the current Gaduri caretaker government as they prepare for their General Elections. So I will simply say that Her Imperial Majesty's Government is prepared to support any policy initiative that serves Her Imperial Majesty's goals of establishing a new formal relationship with the Southern Nation after a decade of non-contact between our two nations."

The Chancellor said Her Imperial Majesty found the discussion of monarchy in Gaduridos to be encouraging. "Gaduridos has been a monarchy for more than a century, but have opted to never appoint a king. The Viceroy served, functionally as the head of state, but when the Empire was formally abolished, that authority, like the rest of the Government, went into receivership. Her Imperial Majesty wishes to express encouragement around the words of Mr. De la Cruz, concerning the necessity of a monarch to take the throne of Gaduridos, and cautions against the siren song of Republicanism and liberalism."

Like the Gaduris, the Chancellor did not discuss Bentasur in her speech. She merely alluded to it in an oblique fashion: "Kalistan wishes to work on all outstanding issues between our two nations so that we may start fresh with nothing in our past standing in the way. The time is critical at this moment for relations between our two nations, and Kalistan has to step carefully if it wants to have any relationship at all with Gaduridos. So Her Imperial Majesty is being careful to establish a solid foundation of trust and cooperative spirit, a foundation solid enough to get to some of these other issues from a place of trust rather than mistrust."

The wait and see approach expressed in the Chancellor's speech is at odds with her long history of very incendiary comments regarding the end of the Anantonese Empire. Before becoming Chancellor, she was on the record saying that if if were up to her, Gaduridos would be invaded, forcibly occupied and directly governed from the Imperial Seat. She was miles away from that position this week, when she seemed to tepidly endorse Her Imperial Majesty's policy preferences rather than her own. "As I said, we will do all we can to support Her Imperial Majesty's efforts down there in... the Sovereign Kingdom of Gaduridos... Her Imperial Majesty has decreed it and so it simply is what it is, whatever I or anyone feels personally about the question. Our only job is to implement her fiat. So we shall."

She took a moment specifically to address Gaduri audiences in her speech. "A las facciones nacionalistas de la política de Gaduri, deseo enviarles mis saludos. Me gustaría invitar personalmente a sus representantes a participar en todas las discusiones con los kalistaníes. Es posible que no coincidamos en muchos aspectos, pero estoy seguro de que ustedes, al igual que yo, solo desean lo mejor para nuestras naciones. Este es un sentimiento compartido por los nacionalistas de toda Terra. Y, ciertamente, aunque podamos encontrarnos en lados opuestos respecto a muchas cuestiones, esto no significa que los beneficios derivados de las negociaciones sean mutuamente excluyentes o de suma cero. Ustedes conocen a Lady Álvarez. Puede que ya no considere a Gaduridos su hogar, pero les aseguro que su corazón permanece allí, con ustedes: el pueblo al que conoció durante toda su vida. Ella actuará con la mayor equidad posible al defender los intereses de su propia nación, sin dejar de tener en cuenta los intereses de Gaduridos. Si ella no es capaz de desempeñar ese papel, entonces no hay nadie que pueda hacerlo. Son bienvenidos a colaborar en este proceso con el fin de lograr el mejor resultado posible para su nación; un resultado que evite el conflicto y los encamine hacia una recuperación rápida y total. Esperamos que, en esta ocasión, cuenten con Kalistan como socio. Este es el sincero deseo de Su Majestad Imperial."

The Chancellor's speech was roundly endorsed by various sectors in Kalistani society, including the business and investment community, who expressed their support by a moderate uptick in the KalSiE, notching the index up 3.2 points week over week. Futures in the Observers Market also reflected growing security in Gaduridos, with the morning open at +424, down from +564.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistani Regular Force unveils Top Secret Cyberwarfare division
Electronic warfare added to Fortress Kalistan Doctrine
Port Swedes, Duchy of Vrassa
June 12, 5718


Operators of the Kalistani Regular Force run simulations targeting critical infrastructure of opponents at Port Swedes

When Kalistan abandoned its advanced multirole jet program, which was well over budget even before getting out of development, earlier in this century, the money that had been allocated toward building the new multi-role jet platform was quietly moved to a new division in the Kalistani Regular Service. News about the program, run jointly between the Regular Force and the IBSI dealt with cyberwarfare, and specifically targeting of enemy infrastructure and command and control, as a part of the Fortress Kalistan doctrine. Now new information is being released from Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Defense about the program in response to inquiries from Institutional Deputies in the National Assembly.

Lt. Yael Greene, who took questions from reporters about the program, said, "This program is not a secret that the Regular Force has hid. We haven't put a massive spotlight on it, but of course the IBSI and the Defense Ministry have briefed the National Assembly several times on the program. I think what is different now is that Institutional members want it advertised that we have these capabilities because they know that secret deterrent capabilities don't deter if nobody knows about them."

The partially classified program, operationally known as "TECWA", is based in the Kalistani Regular Force and is under control of the Intel Division. But it also works with IBSI in several sections. "We cannot say a lot about what TECWA does," said Lt. Greene, "but just as an overview, the system is designed to take over control of foreign civilian infrastructure and turn it to the service of the Kalistani Defensive effort. The system's doctrine is that civilians should not escape the pains of war that they support domestically. Kalistan planes, ships and artillery may not be able to reach them in their homes, but there are other means of bringing the wars home. Perhaps with enough targeted interruption of daily life, war support abroad can be undermined, and democratic pressures in foreign countries can be brought to bear in service of Kalistan's war effort." She did not provide details about the reach of TECWA or the scope of its capabilities. "I can say the potential of severe damage to key and vital civilian infrastructure is high."

TECWA's secondary mission is interruption of command and control of invading forces. "Naturally, in a theater of war in and around Kalistan, command and control for modern militaries revolves almost exclusively around electronics communication systems. TECWA is designed to bring AI and Machine Learning techniques to crack crypto algorithms, and to hijack communications between commanders and their forces on the ground. If the transmissions travel through the air, they can be intercepted. And even 256 Bit end to end encryption that rely on pseudo random signal hopping techniques still follow algorithms. Modern computer processing abilities offer Kalistan the capacity to crack this encryption, to jam it and to sabotage it like never before. This gives Kalistani Regulars and Partisans the opportunity to exploit the features of modern warfare doctrine to our own advantage, to make wars more costly for invaders, without necessarily increasing costs for Kalistan, as our operations will always be purely defensive." Other capabilities involve manipulating of targeting to reduce accuracy of GPS guided weaponry.

Lt. Greene was very keen to warn reporters to not impute capabilities to the program that it might not have. "Look, if we haven't said it, we either can't, or shouldn't. But don't assume that this program is the end of all war. Every thing has workarounds, everything has variables you can't account for ahead of the fact. This program simply aims at levelling the playing field between Kalistan and our more militarily beefy potential adversaries." She also made it clear that Kalistan will always remain at a significant disadvantage against more militarily developed nations. "Electronic and Cyber warfare are functions of asymmetry. We wouldn't need it if we could bring overwhelming force to any battle like some nations easily can. But our doctrine involves closure, isolation and destruction. It is based off of irregular and unconventional tactics, and you have to ask yourself, what would hurt an enemy more? Loss of a few hundred soldiers in a grossly uneven battle on the front in Kalistan, or the meltdown of a nuclear power plant back home? We haven't had a chance to find out, thankfully, but we are preparing it anyway."

While the Spokeswoman would not give additional details about TECWA, some analysts have speculated that TECWA may be using dormant malware as one possible vector of leverage. "Don't speculate," said Lt. Greene. "You will simultaneously over and underestimate Kalistani capability abroad. It's just enough to know it exists." She referred other questions to IBSI, "but they will likely be less willing than Her Imperial Majesty's Defense Minister to talk about it." The line for TECWA, buried in the Defense Ministry's annual budget under "Electronic Counter Security" received more than K$3 Billion last year.

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Murder Inc. releases Answer to Art
"Thrash is back on the menu" says lead singer Maz Quiñones
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
July 14, 5718


Murder Inc, the Sulari-based Thrash band, demands volume on the Radio

Thrash is now, and always really has been a niche genre in Kalistani recorded music, but a new band hailing from Sulari wants to be a part of it. The band, Murder Inc. led by lead singer Maz Quiñones, would like it to be known that he thinks Art Rock is terrible. "It's really... I don't even know how to say it. No disrespect to Mr. Jones, but that kind of music just don't appeal to people who... I'll just say its really Capital oriented, not hood oriented, if you know what I mean?"

He explained that Thrash is more the music of the working class. "I mean, you know I'm a working class guy. My band is a working class band. My guitarist drives a SPT bus on a route every day. So you know, we aren't the kind of guys who the Arty types are making music for. We're the kind of kind of guys who come home every day dead tired, and just want a beer and to stop having everyone f--k with us, you know?" He said Murder Inc. was formed to give the members an outlet for their energy. "You know, sometimes when life is hard, you gotta find something to occupy your time and your mind or your life can go to a bad place. Drugs, crime, whatever: the Devil finds work for idle hands. If you put a guitar or a microphone or a set of sticks in those hands they ain't idle anymore. And suddenly, Thrash is back on the menu."

In thrash, Quiñones says you find a lot of influences naturally within the Sulari music scene. "You got metal, you got punk, you got hip hop gangsta attitude. It's uncompromising, and its raw. Thrash is just speed, aggression and volume, and that is what we need to hear more of on our radio. I want music on the radio to sound like this again." Asked if this is a direct reaction to the trends in Kalistani music, Quiñones pulled no punches. "Man, I don't think anyone even gets Art Rock, and I really honestly don't think anyone even likes pop and R&B. They just buy that stuff because the commercials on KRTVN tell them to. You listen to radio 1 these days and its just a bunch of whiny dudes complaining about their stupid feelings. Like who even cares about all that. This is what our music sounds like, this is where Kalistani music comes from. This is the roots. We got lost somewhere along the way."

The first released track off the new LCR release The Family Business is a cover of the anthemic Thrasher classic "The Hour of Reprisal" from 5064, and Sulari Underground thrash band Mocking God's 5066 "Do you Wanna Die?" The thrash and speed metal medley is an homage to louder sounds and has been met by generally positive reviews by critics and fans alike. Critic Mike Wick said "At last, something I have to turn down when I drive by a police station again. I've been waiting a long time for this," while music listener Veronica Newton of Dana said "Yeah, we like to play this band after the restaurant closes and we are prepping and cleaning for the night. Finish your work, smoke some herb and blast Murder Inc. For sure brah..."

The style, however is still pretty niche: It debuted well below the Hot 100 Albums chart, and "The Hour of Reprisal/Do You Wanna Die?" has not made it into regular rotation on KRTVN. But that says more about the charts which is clogged with better selling, more mainstream, and therefore more moderate fare than the quietest song on this 14 track, 23 minute long speedfest of an album can ever manage. "I mean, this is something we can do that's creative," said Quiñones. "It's really for us, to be honest. I'm really happy that fans like it, and we are playing 7, 8 hundred person shows around Sulari and Dana, but at the end of the day, I don't imagine I'll be quitting my day job anytime soon. We're lucky that LCR covered the cost of the record because they believe in us. But we work cheap: they'll recoup if they sell like three hundred units."

You can can check out Murder Inc.'s new medley "The Hour of Reprisal/Do you Wanna Die?" from their debut album The Family Business right here, and if Thrash is your jam, do the band a favor and pick up a copy of their album at your local record outlet.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPHJLB1ZeAc]
Classic Sulari Thrash Medley "Hour of Reprisal/Do you Wanna Die?" by Sulari based Thrash Metal band Murder Inc.

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Editorial: Chancellor Needs to Press Empress on Gaduridos, Athosia
"Kalistan was robbed" say a majority of Nationalists
Lucid City, Duchy of Suldanor
October 12, 5718


Chancellor of the Empire Melanie Alvarez-McLinn should stand up for Kalistani Interests in Athosia and Gaduridos

Editorial
Chancellor needs to Press Empress on Gaduridos and Athosia

Recently a poll was taken by Kalistan's Paper of Record, The Kalistani Republic which showed that 36% of Kalistanis believe that Her Imperial Majesty should seek to re-establish control over a resurgent Gaduridos, who recently finally got around to holding elections after 55 years of caretaker government that allowed the nation to turn from one of the most rapidly developing nations in Northern Seleya into a financial blackhole that became an albatross around the neck of Her Imperial Majesty. The Gaduris returned the PSSG to power, but it is hard to see the elections as anything other than a slap in the face to the beneficent Imperial Government in Kaliburg, who put hundreds of billions of Pesos worth of investment into the nation over more than a century and a half, only to squander it away by a half century of nonfeasance.

The departure of Kalistani imperial authority and investment from Gaduridos was a response by the Gaduris' unwillingness to allow Kaliburg to have any say in Gaduri affairs, whether it came to helping them develop their economy along national and regional lines, or even doing the barest minimum to help their government continue to operate in any sort of meaningful way. Kalistan finally washed its hands of the disaster that Gaduridos had become rather than letting the nation drag Kalistan into the depths 9 years ago, and it seems that they are finally, just now, figuring out that Kalistan won't be there to bail them out anymore.

But Nationalists in particular have not forgotten the bitterness over the Divorce. Of the 36% who say Kalistan needs to go back to Gaduridos and reclaim what it was forced to relinquish now that they appear to be functioning once again, more than 85% of those who are nationalists support that position. Among them is ostensibly the arch Nationalist Countess of Lucid and Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn. As recently as 5716, she was publicly declaring a rock solid commitment to the Bentasur exclave at the southern tip of Duchy Manzamal, and called for a more general recommitment to Gaduridos as a whole. "That country and Kalistani rightly should be united, and it was a mistake for our Predecessor to force through the Divorce at that time, knowing what damage it would do to our Empire and to the lives of those we left behind in Gaduridos," she said to the Lucid Nationalist Club.

Despite her outspoken support for both reintegration of Gaduridos into the Empire, and her very strident (and current) support for annexation of Athosia, by force if necessary, Lady Alvarez-McLinn has been for the most part a disappointment on both issues so far. Nationalists report that they thought that they had a fighter in Lady Alvarez-McLinn. "Well, when she was appointed in 5711, we thought we would be in Athosia by early 5712," said nationalist Deputy Nina Cerventes who represents Yoshimi in the National Assembly. "And yet here we are, seven years later, no closer to taking back what belongs to us, either in Baltusia or in Gaduridos, and the Chancellor still continues to talk with no action. The people, her supporters are getting impatient."

That sentiment is expressed faction-wide across Kalistan. When Lady Alvarez-McLinn was appointed, she had the support of more than 90 percent of those who identified as Nationalist in Kalistan. It was widely believed, including by this Journal, that she would press the Empress on matters of vital national interest, including restoring the proper and correct relationship between the Imperial Seat and the Kingdom of Gaduridos which has existed long before anyone alive today was ever born. Her failure to move national orientation toward a more reintegrationist policy is citied as her largest failures so far as Chancellor. And as a result, her support among Nationalists has seriously eroded, to just 46%, her first time being underwater with her own faction.

"Nationalists are mad," said Martin Caballo-Blanco, of the Sulari Nationalist Club. "Kalistan was robbed of Gaduridos, not because of anything we did, but because Gaduridos just sat on their hands until we started bleeding capital just to keep them afloat. It was a really pernicious policy of obstinate non-compliance that secured their Independence, and it should never have happened. But we trusted the Chancellor to go in there and rectify it, and she hasn't once contradicted Imperial Policy on the question one time. I get it- She prefers her job as Chancellor to just staying in Lucid as Countess. But we wanted her to be a fighter for the Nationalist Cause and really, she just hasn't done much at all for it. And its a real disappointment."

Lady Alvarez-McLinn has generally avoided comment on the disappointment of the Nationalists. Recently however, she has been more vocal, though remaining fairly oblique. "They're upset, hmmm? Well, what is the National Interest? Is it something that a Nationalist Club, even my own, tells me it is, or is it whatever the Empress says it is? I tend to think that loyalty to the Empress comes first, last and always. By extension then, my loyalty is to my nation. I may want her to go about things a different way sometimes, but if I did what some of these people want, and 'stood up' to Her Imperial Majesty, that would be sedition. So, to these people out in the population who are complaining that I am not doing enough of this or that, I say that I am doing exactly what I am expected to do by the only person whose opinion on the matter even counts."

But, the question is not black and white, either full annexation as some of the more ardent Nationalists want, or doing nothing and just letting Gaduridos drift off to center-left lala land. Lady Alvarez-McLinn possesses enough legislative power to determine how Her Imperial Majesty's fiat is implemented. Unless the Empress says explicitly "Don't intervene in Gaduridos," The Chancellor has the ability to promote re-engagement at least with that nation. We aren't suggesting that she adopt Kalistan's traditionally paternalistic attitude toward Gaduridos--unfortunately for Nationalists in Kalistan, that ship has probably sailed. But we can still try to find a way to continue to have a role in Gaduridos that respects our long established friendship and Kalistan's long history as a main player in Gaduri affairs and economics. To not even try simply surrenders that country to foreign influences, who sought, before the Empire, to make Gaduridos part of their hateful and threatening foreign spheres of influence, and who continued in that effort even after Gaduridos had joined the Empire.

If we are not allowed to annex or directly government Athosia or Gaduridos, it should be the primary mission of Her Imperial Majesty's Government to make it impossible for those outside of Seleya to do that either. We would obviously prefer that Gaduridos return to its status as a Constituent Nation in a reformed Anantonese Empire. But outside of that, its Seleya for Selayans ONLY. Not Kerisians, not Dovanians, not Majatrans and definitely not Artanians. If Gaduridos is going to be independent, then let them be independent. If they are going to reject our suzerainty as it absolutely appears they will, let them accept it from nobody. Put in rational choice language, an independent and self reliant Gaduridos is not the optimal outcome, but it is an efficient outcome for Kalistan, and if we cannot control the nation outright, the Chancellor needs to press the Empress to adopt a much more active role in guaranteeing the independence and neutrality of that state. Anything less than that, especially letting outside interests set up shop in Gaduridos, would pose a threat to Kalistan.

Our Chancellor may dismiss the concerns of her erstwhile supporters. She can--She has the Empress' confidence and continues to govern so long as she pleases the Empress. Who knows, maybe the Red Empress supports the election of the Social Democrats in Gaduridos. That's entirely possible. But our Chancellor should not forget her principles. These are principles that all correct thinking Kalistanis hold: That Athosia is ours, that the Divorce was a mistake, and that Kalistani National Interests are far more important than anyone else's national interests unless those interests happen to coincide with our own. These are the bedrock foundational tenets of Kalistani Nationalism, and ones we, including the Chancellor of the Empire, must be reminded of from time to time.

If the Chancellor is not going to act independently, she needs to press the Empress on both Athosia and Gaduridos. The Chancellor is very persuasive (as her personal life and her insatiable consumption of both male and female companions demonstrates, though we will leave the lurid tabloid details out of this journal), and it is certain that she can work out an angle that will allow Her Imperial Majesty to remain committed to her own centrist, philosophy based approach to administration, while still working toward these goals which are paramount to our National Interests. And now is the time, before the Gaduri government has time to consolidate as a Kalistani hating administration, but now with an active legislature that seems to be committed to moving away from Kalistan rather than toward it.

The Chancellor is not beyond redemption on this item, and we know she reads this magazine. And the Empress is not unreasonable or stubborn. She responds to reason and can be persuaded by good argument to do things that turn out to be good for our Nation, though they may appear to us at the time to be mistakes or misjudgments. Unlike most other nations, Kalistan is blessed with good government and a very conservative temperament. We are certain that now is the time to make this push, even if it must come with a velvet glove, to get Her Imperial Majesty to remember that she is an Empress, and a Dread Empress at that. All law springs from her breath, and all justice springs from her conceptualization. The Chancellor is her primary advisor, and on her own, in the absence of an explicit prohibition or command, is given latitude to do what is right for the Empire and for Her Imperial Majesty's people.

We can only hope she uses that prerogative to achieve justice for Kalistan.

@TheNational

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Kalistan mulls visit to Gaduridos
"Kalistan not approached by Gaduris on Trade," says Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 18, 5719


Chancellor of the Empire Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn discusses Gaduri Coronation

"Look, I'm a professional. We trade with Xsampa too, and they are Communists," said Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Melanie Alvarez-McLinn while discussing developments in Gaduridos this week. "I'm not gonna go shoot my mouth off here about Gaduridos. My feelings on the question are well documented, so can we please talk about something productive?" The Chancellor met with Reporters in her outer office at the National Capital and was asked about Gaduridos' recent efforts to become a "trade hub" in Seleya.

"Before I talk about Gaduridos, though," she started, "I want to say that Her Imperial Majesty, her Family and several members of her Government, attended the Marriage of His Highness, King William XVI of Hutori to Lady Diane Acheson, now Her Highness Queen Diane of Hutori. A great time was had by all, and many congratulations to them. The Empress is in Residence currently in Athosia and will be there until Mid March. Now, remind me of your question again?"

The question about continued trade between Kalistan and Gaduridos was reasked at this point. "We haven't been asked at all: Gaduridos has not approached us at all about trade, or for any special trade agreements or anything" said the Chancellor, "so we assume it is status quo ex ante. When Kalistan pulled its capital out of that country about 10 years ago, against my better judgement, we didn't stop trading with that nation. Kalistan had billions invested there, but Gaduridos was a main supplier of a lot of primary sector inputs to Kalistan, as well as a lot of luxuries. We purchased a lot of food from the nation, for example. Coffee, textiles, steel, we purchased much of Gaduridos' export stock at preferential rates, as a matter of fact, rates that most other nations could not compete with, due to our imperial relationship. The consequence of the split is the end of those preferential rates and a somewhat decreased trade volume over all, due to lack of capital, not because we embargoed Gaduridos. And to my knowledge, they haven't embargoed us either. So most of those links remain. And they will continue to remain while Her Imperial Majesty's Government and the new Social Democratic Government figure out just what is our relationship."

The Chancellor said that Gaduridos remains Kalistan's second largest trading partner. "We had a century and a half of interlinked and complimentary trade," said the Chancellor. "I mean, let's be realistic here: That's the nature of imperialism. That's a hard fact. Over the last half century especially, Kalistani investment went to support those projects in Gaduridos that benefited Kalistan first. I'm not trying to put a pretty face on imperialism. It is what it is. We didn't work to promote self sufficiency or independence in Gaduridos. That was never the goal. The benefit we got from it is that we could supply the things we needed. If Gaduridos happened to benefit too, and they did, that was not the purpose. But those links didn't just disappear. Gaduridos didn't just go broke overnight. They have, in the last 10 years or so, adapted to their new reality as, I think, a reluctantly independent nation should be expected to. And through it all, they haven't stopped selling us things or buying stuff from us: We were the primary buyers of their goods for a century and a half. And we still are."

The Chancellor especially addressed Gaduridos' desire to put much of its future on a reinvigorated PeGad. "I know Kalistan is in no position to say how a sovereign nation decides to develop. When Kalistan offered New Englia the opportunity to develop without oil, their government quite frankly resented the very idea that they should take money to NOT do something. And the rest of the world laughed. Kalistan subsequently lost the bid, because of she shortsightedness and selfishness of other nations, especially those who burn oil for no reason at all except that it is there. Gaduridos intends to turn their gross polluting petroleum industry back on now, and Kalistan sits at the end of an ocean current that starts just outside of their petroleum fields. An oil disaster there becomes a disaster for Kalsitan, despite everything we will do to prevent it, and so, unlike New Englia, who's pollution of the environment is more of a philosophical matter for Kalistan, the Gaduri efforts to develop their nation through renewed oil exploitation will directly affect us, if something should happen. If nothing else, this is something that both of our nations must build a regime around, because everything Gaduridos does with regard to oil exploitation has the potential to hurt Kalistan, and Kalistan doesn't stand to share in the benefits of Gaduri oil exploitation at all. It is something Her Imperial Majesty feels very strongly about."

Asked about the Empress' opinion of the new Gaduri King recently appointed by the Gaduri Government, the Chancellor simply said, "She wishes him well. She does not known him. Lady Marisol Paz Alvarez-Navarro, in her capacity as the last Viceroy of Gaduridos, met him years ago before fleeing Gaduridos. She reports that he is a philanthropist, and an honest and level headed person, not likely to be swayed by radical ideas to one side or the other, and said she believes him to be a strong nationalist. If her summary remains correct, it is likely that Kalistan and Gaduridos will indeed have a lot more in common than may be apparent right now, and it is incumbent on both nations to quiet their respective hotheads, and allow a new, healthy relationship between out two nations to develop organically, based on foundations of National Interest for our respective nations, and respect of one sovereign nation to another."

Asked whether the Empress will attend the Coronation of the new King in May, the Chancellor answered, "She's leaning toward yes. Her Imperial Majesty believes now is the time for a reset between Kalistan and Gaduridos. She expects a cool reception, but it would be rude if she did not attend and at least make an effort to introduce herself. And it would also undermine our regional interests by ceding the field to non-Seleyan actors who will likely see an independent Gaduridos as an opportunity to place an outpost into our region, something we know foreigners have long sought. We do not want foreigners in this region, and Her Imperial Majesty will likely express this if she speaks with the new Gaduri King."

The Chancellor was asked if she intends to attend the Coronation as well, and he answer was clear. "As a Brethrenist, I will not lie to you. No. I will not attend. I can not, in good conscience attend this ceremony when I do not think Gaduridos should be independent. In fact, my personal belief on the matter is at odds with Her Imperial Majesty's and my attendance will doom any chance Her Imperial Majesty has of making any sort of positive impression on the King. My cousin, Lady Marisol Paz Alvarez-Navarro will attend in my place: She is, perhaps, less interested in seeing Gaduridos turned into a plantation than I am-- She lived in Gaduridos most of her life, after all, and was the Viceroy there so she is far more sympathetic to the needs and dreams of her people than I would be. We'll leave it at that."

The Chancellor was asked if she intends to block any agreements made between Kalistan and Gaduridos, she laughed. "No. There is no way. If Her Imperial Majesty fiats it, that's what we do. I'll turn in the needed votes for her, even if I have to swallow my objections and be the deciding vote. She knows what is best for this Empire, just as she did for Gaduridos when it was with us. I would be a hypocrite if I thought otherwise."

Finally, the Chancellor was asked how the draw down at Luncasi is going. "It is still on schedule to be completed by October of this year. Only a company of Marines remain there, to finish remodeling the barracks to the Kizenian government's specs. We're expecting a formal hand over on September 30." Asked if Her Imperial Majesty is intending to return Bentasur, the Chancellor asked rhetorically, "Are you kidding me? The answer I will give here, and I think I can say that this is the position of the Empress: We'll trade it for annexation of Athosia. If Gaduridos can get that for us, We'll consider returning the Exclave." She then ended the press conference.

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

Observers Market sees faith in Gaduridos rise ahead of Coronation
Baltusia remains "Seleya's Riskiest Bet"
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
April 15, 5719


By Friday Close, line in Sulari on Gaduridos at lowest in 7 months

On August 1, 5718, 12-Month Contracts on Gaduridos were sitting right around where they had been since the opening of the Sulari Observers Market. The opening bids were for K$0.24, which ends up being about a 3/1 odds on improvement. The price of the contracts fluctuated slowly around that number, sometimes falling closer to K$ .20, sometimes going up to around K$ .27, but never very much higher.

But a string of trade news, as well as the approaching coronation of a new King in Gaduridos has essentially dropped the floor out of Gaduridos in the Observers market, and as of close of business today, with just three and half months left on the 12 month contracts, today's closing bid sits at just just over K$.55 cents, which cut the prospective earnings of the early buyers in more than half and triggering a fairly volatile last quarter on the contract as earlier buyers scramble to salvage what money they can, while new, more risk averse investors begin to come into Gaduri paper. Three month contracts are opening even higher for buyers, with the first contracts selling for 48 cents at the beginning of April, and rising to 59 cents by today's Close in the Observers Market.

Benito Gomez, who considers himself to be a major speculator in the market, was one of the early buyers. "Well, I bought in at 28 cents, which certainly wasn't the craziest price, but it was a good amount of profit that I am used to. I bought about K$7,500 at 28 cents. Had it stayed at 28 cents, I would have made about 19 grand profit on that little bet. When it got over 45 cents, I decided to sell out, because I couldn't watch it go over 50 cents... As a result, I still made about 9 grand, but lost the extra 10."

The Observers Market allows buying and selling of contracts before the end of the term. "The buying and selling is where the profit happens, because these guys are betting that the price per contract will go up or down. If it goes down, they will watch their profits go way up when the contracts finally settle, assuming their money is on the right side of the question," said analyst Marcia Walters, of the Sulari brokerage Krieger&Balzer. "Ideally, the real gamblers in the market want to buy in when the contract is very low, because every contracts settles for a peso, so if I pay 24 cents for some of these contracts like some of these guys, and it settles at a peso, that is 76 cents profit on each 24 cents I paid. If the final price is 18 cents, and the question is resolved your way, you end up with a LOT more money than when you started. If it settles the other way, of course, well, your money was on the wrong side and it gets split up among those who guessed right."

The Gaduri line in the observers market is seen as a feature of both increasing faith in Gaduridos' stabilization with increasing trade agreements with foreign countries, as well as administrative and budgetary reforms that are largely driving confidence among Kalistani speculators. "We usually see contract prices above 50 cents as we enter the realm of risk aversion," said Walters. "Speculators who buy in above 50 cents were people who are willing to sacrifice some of the profit guaranteed by picks at lower contract bids for a lot more assurances. You see more larger and institutional investors buying in as the bids get closer to 1 Peso, because while they may not be making a ton on each individual contract, they make their money by mitigating risk and volume. Which tends to signal to other more conservative speculators that the time is now right to get in. So you will see lots of volume as more and more and more news comes out that shows a place like Gaduridos tends to be stabilizing."

This is also borne out in the Observers Market, where Gaduridos this week had the second highest amount of money in the 12 Month Contract in all of Seleya, with close to 700 thousand Imperial Pesos worth of purchases alone, putting it just behind the risk averse institutional favorite in Kalistan. That number shows significant institutional leverage in the market, and tends to squeeze out all the retail investors and all but the bravest retail investors, most of whom are betting on the other side of the question. "We've seen large movements of money away from quieter corners of the globe into Gaduridos over the past 4 months especially," said Walters. "Our firm is predicting that the 12 month contract will close on July 31 above 78 cents. For those who bet on Gaduridos, that will mean a money line of about -355, which is traditional Kalistan/Xsampa/Luthori territory, certainly not Gaduridos' familiar haunts well into the Plus territory."

According to Walters, this means that, despite the lack of a formal, or even a very warm relationship between Kalistan and their formal Imperial partner, Kalistani speculators are quite bullish on the prospects for Gaduridos' stability in the upcoming month. New 12 month contracts will be issued in early May, just before the coronation, and the Futures Market is already at -112 that they open at 50 cents or above. Meanwhile, Seleya's riskiest bet, Baltusia, which closed this evening at +410, and which has largely been abandoned by institutional speculators, is at -400 that the next 3 month contract opens below .20 cents. "It would take a miracle for Baltusia to get out of the +400s," said Walters. If you want to lose your money, bet Yes on Baltusia."

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

Empress safely returns from Gaduridos
"We made an effort," said Her Imperial Majesty
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 16, 5719


Her Imperial Majesty is joined by the Chancellor of the Empire for Informal Audience

"Well, it could have been worse," said Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto, as she sat down with The Republic for an interview during an Informal Audience at the Imperial Seat in Kaliburg. The Empress and several members of her Government attended the Coronation of the new Gaduri King, Victor de Valorico in Ciudad Gaduri earlier this month where she was met with protests and controversy. The Audience with Her Imperial Majesty was attended by the Chancellor of the Empire, as per protocol. "We found the King to be exactly as Lady Alvarez-Navarro had said. He was honest and polite. It is a trait we can respect. But at least we were not attacked by the mob while we were there. That is the silver lining."

The Empress explained that the new Gaduri king welcomed her to the coronation, in spite of the relatively widespread protests that the Kalistani delegation witnessed throughout the nation. "We were not able to remain long," said the Empress. "We were informed shortly after the reception began following the coronation ceremony that there was a security issue, and it was suggested that it might be better if we begin making our way to the airport. We regret that we were not able to say Goodbye to the new King, or really to speak with him at length about anything. We had intended to meet with the Brethrenist Community in Vintalli. That visit will regrettably be postponed indefinitely."

The Empress said she could understand why people might be upset with her presence. "It was a humbling experience, to be completely honest," she said. "In Kalistan, we have not experienced that sort of disorder for a very long time. But Gaduridos remains committed to democracy despite the fact that they now have a king. And while we would be mortified if Kalistanis treated visitors of any rank in that fashion, we also understand that democracies expect, and even encourage exuberant shows of emotion from their citizens. It is practically required of them during elections, and it is stoked throughout the rest of the year by the sort of political entrepreneurs that simply do not exist in Kalistan. Plus, we have a long history, and went through a very bitter split, one which granted Gaduridos their complete independence, and they are apparently still very resentful about that independence. We were not able to stop and speak with any of the protestors, regrettably, to discover their grievances. It was not advised because our security felt attempting to speak with the crowd would simply inflame them to insensibility."

Asked if she plans to return to Gaduridos anytime soon, the Empress responded that it is unlikely. "We began our career wanting to travel the world, to meet different people, to learn new languages. We are nearly 46 years old now, and have learned that most of the things we want can be found here--We do not have to travel far and wide to find the happiness of home and hearth. Our husband and our children are here. Travelling to Gaduridos without the Consort was miserable even though we were only in country for a few hours for the official ceremony. No, a return trip to Gaduridos is not in the cards anytime soon for us."

We asked Her Imperial Majesty if she intended to name an ambassador to Gaduridos. "We are not there yet. We went to Gaduridos to introduce ourselves to our next door neighbor, as neighbors should. We believe our demonstration of good faith was acknowledged by the King, who is really the only person in Gaduridos whose opinion of us matters at this particular moment. But the King will likely be far too busy in the near future to return the visit--There were numerous heads of state at his coronation which all required his immediate attention, and he was surrounded by office seekers and people begging for his favor and attention. Kalistan will not compete with that. It is quite beneath us. If the King of Gaduridos wishes communication with Kalistan, he certainly knows where to find us and would be more than welcomed here. If we ever have the opportunity to sit down and speak with one another without distractions, we may come to a point where an exchange of ambassadors is possible. At the moment, we would be concerned that the Ambassador's residence in Ciudad Gaduri would be attacked by a mob."

Asked to summarize the visit, the Empress simply smiled. "We made an effort. We fear that we wasted our Foreign Minister and our Trade Minister's time in bringing them along, but we also feel that the people were perhaps most upset with ourself while our Ministers were not even acknowledged. Lady Marisol Paz was surprisingly warmly welcomed by a number of local elites around the King. She is Gaduri after all and knows most of them from her time as Viceroy. We were grateful that she was with us, and she was only called a traitor by a handful of commoners once. But over all, it was what we expected, not what we had hoped for."

Asked if Bentasur was discussed, the Empress simply responded, "There's nothing to discuss. Rioting democrats notwithstanding. But to answer your question, there was simply no time. We were regrettably in and out of Gaduridos far too quickly to have an intelligible conversation with anyone on any topic, let alone resolve anything substantial."

Before the end of our audience, we asked the Empress if the rumors of the appointment of a new Defense Minister were correct. "Yes. Last month, we accepted the request by our former Minister of Defense, the long serving Captain Jane Smith to retire. She wishes to return to Suldanor and become a coffee grower on a plot of land she has secured in Western Dana County. We wish her good luck in her agricultural endeavors. She will be replaced by Militia Lt. Colonel Calvin Velasco, who was previously the Head of Instruction for unconventional deployment, improvised munitions and anti-personnel tactics at Fort Harrison Regular Officer Academy. He also served as Operations Liaison between Regular Army Central and partisan units in Odufaray and Neveras. He is committed to rigorous and strenuous training regime and we look forward to his efforts to improve recruit training for the regulars to bring our regular forces more inline with the unconventional forces deployed throughout the Empire."

We also asked her about Luncasi. "The Naval Logistics Center in Luncasi will be transferred back to the Luncasi Free City's Government this September 30th, on schedule. As previously mentioned in the press, we have one company who remains on the base to finish up the transfer. At that point, the Kalistani Regular Navy will be just another paying customer there, like every other nation. The port will be in the hands of the Free City. Our commercial ties through the Civilian port will not be affected."

As we closed, we asked the Chancellor if she had anything to add to the Empress' recounting of the visit to Gaduridos. "No comment. Thank you for coming to this informal audience. The Seward will show you out when you are ready." The Empress, with a smile, thanked us for our interview and wished us well with the story, and then she and the Chancellor disappeared into the ante chamber.

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

Kalistan renews efforts at affordability in Housing
Homelessness is inexcusable, says Michael Johnson
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 12, 5719


New multi-unit complexes like these in Ellysia and Chancellory/ Imperial City, are going up in Kalistan's cities as National Government recommits to Housing

Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Michael Johnson, officially launched the national initiative to wipe out homelessness across the Empire. "Currently, it is estimated that more than 148,000 individuals nationwide are not permanently housed," said Johnson. "Those numbers are based on a running average of the National Point in Time Counts which take place twice a year, one in the Summer and one in the Winter. Of those about a third of them are families, more than one half are men, and 40% of them are employed. Of the main drivers of homelessness, cost is a factor, because despite public housing efforts that control about 80 percent of the housing stock in the nation, Local housing authorities often follow local property values when setting prices, and some places, like Kaliburg and Sulari have grown incredibly expensive to live in. Non economic related issues include mental illness and drug addiction. But the real driver is lack of units. We really haven't been building over the years and our population has kind of outgrown the housing supply. This contributes to price and scarcity then so that even those working can't find a place."

The Minister said that homelessness was an issue that the Empire has long struggled with. "We aren't going to be glib about it like some other nations and claim that homelessness is a choice," said the Minister. "Homelessness is rarely a choice. Of the 148,000 members of our society who are experiencing homelessness, roughly one third of those are completely unsheltered. These are the ones we tend to see, many of them we do not see. But there are also 100,000 individuals, including 17,000 children, who have some shelter: Maybe they stay at their friends or relatives' houses, maybe they camp under bridges, maybe they live in some sort of temporary living space with no security, not facilities, and no heat. Homelessness in this land of abundance is inexcusable. And we have the power do do something about this."

Minister Johnson said he has secured a fiat from Her Imperial Majesty to begin working on addressing this problem. "Our estimates are that we could build 50,000 new units for just under K$20 billion Imperial," said the Chancellor. "These wouldn't be tenements. But they also wouldn't be single family homes either. The idea is to reverse the more than a century old policy of trying to discourage concentrations in our cities by building large multi family units. These would be public housing units, and would be explicitly lower income dwellings, and rather than renting at the local market rate, they would be capped at 10% of an individual's income. In a sense, these will be a pilot program to begin taking dwellings off the market rate scale and making a safe, warm, and clean dwelling a human right. If it works for the homes provided in this program, we will gradually extend the housing price cap for all rents in the nation."

Kalistan's small, but vocal liberal minority immediately pounced on the proposal, decrying it as creeping socialism. "We had hoped for an income tax reduction this year," said Brad Sonder of the Kaliburg Small Business Association. "They already treat dividend payments and earnings on stock sales as income, while in other countries businessmen and women, the real job creators, pay preferential rates to encourage investment. But this will forestall cuts in our tax rates this year, and for the next ten years, and like every other year, the business community is going to have to get in line while the poor and the working classes get their handouts, again." Others called on the national government to privatize housing. "It has been showing time after time that privatization improves service and reduces prices," said Kevin Sparks, a Sulari Construction firm foreman. "Any time the Government gets involved, it tips the market away from private operators. A 10% price cap will kill those owners who would like to rent their property out, and require the ability to charge market rate to recoup on their investment."

The Minister dismissed this type of criticism. "Some will call it socialism, but that is to suggest that Her Imperial Majesty, in attempting to meet the basic needs of her people, is a socialist. But its not socialism to ensure that people have a warm safe place that they can call their own. We have demonstrated that even under the current system rents are 20-30% lower for the same square footage in a similar market environment in a country where housing is run for profit by private landlords. Even at the so called "market rate"; because the Housing authority isn't attempting to wring profit from the people. If market rate pricing is beating up Kalistanis who just want a warm, safe place to live in Kalistan, imagine how bad homelessness would be in a place where landlords spent their time devising new ways to suck the blood of their tenants."

Minister Johnson said the project, which is expected to sail through the National Assembly, now that it has the Empress' fiat behind it, will begin selecting sites for new construction as early as next Spring. "We are also going to grandfather in several new constructions that are expected to be finished this fall, including the new Commons in Imperial City, where are beginning to reclaim that land for the City now after more than a century of it being vacant, and in Ellysia in northwest Port Davon. We are also going to buying out developers in Sulari and Eshar who have already gotten a start on their projects. We want to build 5000 units a year for the next ten years in all major cities, near public services and transportation infrastructure, and expect to start moving families first into these new multi-family buildings as early as this fall in Kaliburg, and next summer in Sulari."

The Minister was very optimistic about this project: "The goal is to give our Empress a fully housed nation. Shelter and security are two of the most basic of all human needs, and capping the rent at 10% of their income ensures that their achievement of this need is not based on their ability to pay through the nose for it. It will help families and individuals who are struggling to have a breather and get on their feet again, it will give them some individual dignity, and it will remove a blight and a significant source of crime of necessity from our cities. I have long promoted housing first as the correct strategy for so many of the social woes that plague our cities, that plague all cities. It's my hope, and I think Her Imperial Majesty's that this model can serve as an example to other nations with similar difficulties who are undergoing similar social issues."

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

Voronan Reggae Artist releases Debut Album in Kalistan
The Immigrant's Tale mixes Roots Reggae and Dancehall toasts
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 4, 5719


Jacob Neville, known to audiences as Dah Rolla is in regular rotation on KRTVN Radio 4

A self described "Acolyte of Marijuana," reggae/dancehall artist Dah Rolla is no slouch. Born Jacob Neville, he moved to Kalistan from his home in Westbrook Vorona to Dahriel, Grand Duchy of Ananto. He quickly found work in Dah County's cannabis operations, where he specialized in cloning and germination while working at the the South Trichrome #4 Operations. He was promoted several times and became manager of germination within 5 years.

But Neville's real love was reggae. The music genre that enjoys a general popularity throughout the region was in abundance in in Dahriel's record stores and on the radio. "Yes, it was quite exciting to be able to turn on the radio, you know, burn a spliff and just sit back to enjoy music I grew up listening to back home," said Neville. Within a year of his arrival in Dahriel, he had met a local club DJ, Collin "Duppiekiller" Jones, and began to toast over various riddims that Duppiekilla had on dubplates. When Jones inherited some money, he and Neville decided to start an independent studio to help promote the independent reggae, ska, and dancehall scene in Dahriel.

Dah was always a part of Neville's life. "Well, the ODEN guys like to throw in ounces and QPs with the paychecks, you know. You get it for free so you don't kife it, you know... Dah is the highest grade ganja there is, world renowned, you know, but they make so much of it, they can just give it away. I never seen such a thing in my entire life." When he wasn't working on Trichrome River, usually during the weekends and during the hottest summer months, when there was no work or during the winter when it was raining all the time, he was back in Dahriel, working with Duppiekiller, performing together in Dahriel's underground reggae scene.

"We would do some roots stuff, sure, but Duppiekiller and I were just learning the craft back in those days," said Neville, now going by his stage name Dah Rolla. "We weren't what you might call traditional musicians, you know... But he's a hell of a producer, and he could do stuff with those classic riddims which made them sound both very familiar to fans and also new and fresh. It was pretty exciting." Dah Rolla eventually got to do a small tour on the mainland when the Dana Tradska group The Hightones were in Dahriel and stopped in and heard him. "We did five shows in Suldanor and Gaduridos with The Hightones, and it was a lot of fun. Building the name, of course."

Dah Rolla speaks, and coincidentally performs, with a heavy Voronan patois. "I've had people come to me and ask me if its fake," he said. "I say no man, I actually am from Vorona, I actually grew up talking Luthorian. It's not the same as the Vrassan they speak in Ananto, and to be honest, I think its cool, because it sets me apart here in Kalistan. There are not a lot of Voronans who make music in Kalistan, which, I get it, we have our own thing back home, but if you love music and you love to smoke herb and you love beautiful women and surfing, Ananto is what you would think of as heaven, you know..."

By earlier in the year, Dah Rolla had saved enough money from his work to actually record an album. "My mate produced the album, but I wanted to try it with live musicians, so I hired contract players, and we recorded at Duppiekiller's studio. And because I worked at Trichrome, my boss there knew a guy at KMI who put us in touch with another guy who signed us to a one record distribution deal. If it does well, we'll record in Kaliburg, but right now, we're still indie, and KMI is pressing and distributing and we get songwriting and publishing royalties. It works out well. Their first run was maybe 10K. We'll see how the LP does."

Dah Rolla said he wanted to make music for the rest of the world. "You know, in Kalistan they sort of take it for granted, you know, that weed is legal, but in most countries its highly criminalized. Here you can walk down the block and buy it from the weed grocer you know... You call up and the ODEN man drops it off to your house. But there's a lot of places where it isn't like that. So my goal was to promote the herb on this record, global, you know."

Many of the songs reference marijuana, and Dah Rolla says he knows Kalistani audiences will be into it. "One in three adults in this country smoke reefer regularly," he said. "And the other two lie. Haha... But for Kalistanis, the upside is the vibes. This record is no hardcore reggae record. I would say it's more dancehall than anything, but the best thing about working with studio musicians rather than just a soundsystem is that you actually get a lot of melody, so it approaches, maybe roundaboutwise, to a more roots influenced sound, more traditional reggae. It was a lot of fun. There's a lot of energy in dancehall, but the artistry of straight reggae, the positive upliftment, its really a good feeling."

And for the rest of the world, Dah Rolla wants to evangelize ODEN cannabis. "This is really the high test ganja. But I hope people of the world, even in place where they kind of have to hide what they do, hear the music and think, I need to make a trip to Dahriel and check it out for myself, you know. I'd like some more Voronans to come here and check it out. I want Luthori to blaze Dah. Last year Trichrome 4 put out some amazing strains, all natural upcountry, organic rat bat nourishment, grown in the high Ananto sun, strengthened by the fresh Seleyan breezes. Roll a spliff of this herb and you get red. I want the whole world to know what we have here. It's literally the promised land."

The first single, "Blaze it Freely," from Dah Rolla's debut independent album is now in regular rotation on KRTVN Radio 4, and it will debut next week on the Radio 4 Reggae/Ska/Dub Poll somewhere in the mid-20s. "For an independent record, that is pretty good," said Dah Rolla. "If we end up on the Radio 1 Chart, I might have to think about maybe doing music full time. Its a dream of the Immigrant. Come to a place like Ananto and make your living as a musician. What a country!"

You can check out Dub Rolla's "Blaze it Freely" right here, produced by Duppiekiller, on his debut Dancehall and Reggae LP release The Immigrant's Tale, distributed through KMI.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDYQ0kqrrrg]
"Blaze it Freely" is about the ultra liberal drug laws in Kalistan and Ananto