Kalistani Major History

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MoCo Weighs opening new factory in Jahmaica
Sulari produces enough for domestic market, but exports will require increased production capacity
Addisjah, Vrassa
September 30, 5352


Civil Engineers visiting site to survey for a possible new Vrassa plant for Kalistani Motor Company

Executives at Kalistani Motor Company (KMC) began exploring the possibility of building a second plant in Vrassa. The 900 year old car manufacturer, which currently has a 63% market share in Kalistan due to their affordable, easy to maintain, and durable electric automobiles, said the exploration was spurred by moves to encourage automobile development and manufacturing in nearby Lodamun. "MoCo has a solid place in the Kalistani car market," said MoCo CEO Nathan Knowles. "The MoCo is nearly ubiquitous in every town and city: We have a long history of creating cars aimed to stay on the road for as long as possible. With the Anantonese Automobile Company, and the foreign imports we get mainly from Lourenne, the Kalistani Market is fairly saturated. So, why create a new plant? Well, perhaps other nations may want to buy MoCo Parts to use in their own cars, or whole MoCos. As we slowly integrate into a larger Northern Seleyan Market, this is an opportunity for the venerable car company to branch out to new markets."

Recent informal surveys of citizens in other Northern Seleyan Countries shows that there is little taste for MoCos. Some note their conceptual weirdness. "Too strange," said many survey respondents. "They don't make a lot of sense, like when you look at what a car is. The MoCo doesn't have things where we would expect them." MoCo for their part has attempted for centuries to answer critiques about design, citing the increased ergonomic design, safety and fuel efficiency of their vehicles, but foreign consumers just aren't going for it. "You sort of feel like you are driving a golf cart around," said some respondents. "Too quiet," say other surveys.

Knowles just shrugs. "Of all the years that we have seen these surveys returned, almost none of the comments have been 'MoCos break down all the time,' or 'too expensive to maintain', or even 'I have to fix this car too often.' They usually complain about the color scheme, or the location of the steering 'wheel',"--MoCo's often have devices that feel more like video game joysticks than steering wheels, due to the electronic steering mechanism that do not require foreful physical manipulation for precision in driving--"... and almost all the complaints are from people who do not actually drive MoCos. We think that perhaps the lack of exposure to cars that you do not have to rebuy every 3-5 years because something serious goes out drives much of the negative critique. And that's not even including foreign oil companies who drag our cars because they don't make any money off EVs and hydrogen fuel cell automobiles."

While acknowledging that foreign consumer tastes often differ from the products MoCo creates, Knowles was optimistic. "We do think thaat MoCo can create parts, or even whole engines that can be sold to automobile corporations over the border. We recently became aware that Lodamun is trying to restart their automobile Industry. MoCo can be in a good place to help, by selling parts close to the margin, and helping them offset the costs of having to restart the industry from the ground up. The upside for MoCo and for Kalistan will be that it will represent a new market for MoCo, allowing us to grow as a company despite the saturation in Kalistan, and it will represent increased trade ties with Kalistan. For Pryor Industries in Lodamun, it will represent a source of excellent quality, inexpensive materials that could really give their company an early boost and help it make it through their first few years. Ideally, MoCos would find a new home in Lodamun after all is said and done, but even so, if Pryor and other new startups in the Lodamun Market decide to keep buying from MoCo, KMC will always have a presence in Lodamun."

A new factory would cost MoCo upwards of K3.5 Billion which itself would be an opportunity for new Investment in the company. "We are obviously still in the early phases of planning," said Knowles, "but we have begun looking at sites around Addisjah and Port Swedes, both of which have easy access to transnational infrastructure, as well as a workforce that would be suitable for employment at either a parts plant or a full auto plant. There is definitely interest on our Board for expanding facilities to Vrassa, and we think there is a high probability that any capital campaign will be successful within the Republic, whether any deals with Lodamun are in the offing or not."

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National Assembly actually proposes Legislation
Aims at bringing National Economic Actors more in line with Socialism
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 12, 5353


National Assembly shows signs of Life as Deputies take to the Floor for Omnibus

The National Assembly of the past few decades has been less about fireworks and highstakes log rolling, and more about serving as office space for a Party which is less about politics and more about administration. Under One Party Rule, it is quite usual for the members of the Governing Party to simply gavel in and gavel out, the "deliberative body" serving more to ratify decisions made by the Cabinet and the Premier of the Republic than to hammer out the policy preferences of competing visions for the Republic. "It's not like we do not have input," said Brian Mickleson, Socialist Deputy from Nevaras City. "The Premier's decisions are always the result of intensive committee work, which all Deputies do all the time during our working hours. But generally, we share the same vision for the Republic, as socialists, and work to enact the large policies of our Republican Government. Its rare we even need to vote, but will vote on matters where there is significant internal dissention, whenever those matters arise."

Given the standard process of Socialists focusing on enacting the Policy of the Government and performing hearings, receiving information, and conducting oversight in small committees, which make their recommendations to the Government, rather than spending a lot of time debating it on the floor of the National Assembly, actual pieces of legislation are rare. "There's not always a lot that needs changing," says Mickleson. "The policies we have in place tend to work over the long haul, but occasionally, we conduct a review and then its a free for all." Such a free for all produces the kind of legislation we have seen come forward over the last week, where the Premier has posted a bill that aims at changing several statutory provisions of Kalistani Law, some in major ways to bring Kalistan's law more in line with the Socialist Party's actual practices.

"The Rectification Act's provisions aim to correct some provisions in the law," says Mickleson, "such as getting rid of the limitations on gambling, or increasing workers' power and share of profits in the private sector or reducing corporate taxes to almost nothing to offset those additional costs that profit sharing will incur. We also have the elimination of homeschooling, as well as the near prohibition of ODEN's advertising abilities in domestic markets, simply to keep medical decisions between individuals and their doctors. The goal is to align Kalistan's institutions with the way things are done in the Government. And once this bill passes, which it will, it is likely we will go back into one party mode."

The impetus for the Rectification Act, said Mickleson was the rise of the georgesmith Party, which consists of one Deputy, George Smith, from Vrassa, who ran as an independent, and actually gained enough votes in the recent election to get himself elected to the National Assembly, ousting long time Deputy Hanna Klein from Port Swedes. "Knowing how randomly people in Kalistan vote," said Mickleson, "Comrade Smith only has to vote on a couple things and campaign, and he could very easily turn the 451,000 at large votes that he got into a national movement capable to electing himself and 60 of his friends. So we figured that we had better go on record, force some hard votes from Mr. Smith, and make him establish positions that he has to defend. And if the people like his positions better than ours in that sense, they will reward his movement with seats in the National Assembly, and we will return to the floor of the Assembly under regular order, rather than focusing all our time and effort on constituent and stakeholder service."

The challenges of single party government always daunt nations which endure it. When a country becomes a single party state, often through no fault of its own, people tend to forget that someone keeps the roads paved, and keeps the military paid, and continues to promote economic development and technological progress while they are out doing as they will living their life. "Voters tend to punish established Parties during One Party rule," said Mickleson. "This has been our experience. So our task then is to go out and remind people who has been doing all this stuff that nobody else wants to do--or else it would get done-- and let them know that indeed the Government hasn't just been on autopilot, but the laws that people appreciate are being daily administered by people with experience and vision and dedication to our society. We aren't sure what Mr. Smith stands for except that he hasn't yet voted on a bill. So it is likely a matter of time that he just wanted to see what our government is all about and may not stick around. Either way, these changes needed to be made, so, he is welcomed to vote on the bill as a seated member of the National Assembly of Deputies."

The Rectification Act is expected to pass with out much opposition, if any at all. All Socialist Deputies have already turned in their votes "for" guaranteeing its successful passage. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Smith has really gone to Kaliburg to make a change or not. If so, he may indeed attract more voters. If not, the bill will pass 78-0-1 anyway. But the Kalistani Legislative Calendar remains empty following the Rectification Act.

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The Trek Corps release debut album "Bass Theory" on LCR
Major marketing push scheduled to support Album
Dana, Suldanor
April 12, 5353


Critically Acclaimed "Bass Theory" will be supported by world tour over next two months

Last Chance Records celebrated the relocation of their corporate offices to Dana Suldanor with the release of a much anticipated debut album from Addisjah hip hop trio The Trek Corps. "Bass Theory" has attracted wide interest and critical acclaim across the Republic, [video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P800UWoE9xs?si=hywmEjacM70DCGSw]and its lead single, "World Tour" released three months ago is still in heavy rotation on Radio 1, Radio 2, and M7[/url]. The follow up single "Situation" is already both a major hit, and also features the work of other northern Hip Hop artists associated with the broader Hip Hop collective known The Squadron (K Dawg Inc, Mark Deuce and Trevor Trev, whose featured verses are viewed as the hardest and most skilled delivery on that record.)

The Trek Corps gained a reputation for bringing hardcore hip hop that tackles social issues like drug abuse, exploitation in the Independent Club scenes, and life in the lower income neighborhoods in Vrassa with a sense of humor and lightness that celebrates life and looks to the future. Qasim-T, the Corps' leader and primary producer explained the group's optimistic approach. "Well, we could spend our time being pissed off about everything, or we could use our music to bring awareness to the kind of sh-t we see everyday and try to get people to pay attention. Socialism in Kalistan has done lots of good things, especially when you compare it to places like overseas where people are put in pens and made into prostitutes by the State. But it can do better. It should do better. I can tell people about that, or I can tell them how sh-tty my life was. Both are true for me, but nobody gives a f--k about my life."

The Corps' music features heavy hard hitting bass, layered samples that call back to various jazz traditions, and live instrumentation that earns plaudits for its innovative production and cleanness of sound. "We try to talk about lots of stuff in the songs," said MC FlipMode, who writes lyrics with Qasim-T. "I like to boast in my lyrics, Qasim will sometimes talk about his Ahmadi faith, he's a little more humble." "A little..." echoed the Corps' DJ Mahmoud, laughing. "That brother needs to chill out sometimes..." The camaraderie of this trio comes from their shared connection to Lodamun from where they all moved as children. "We have known each other for years," said Qasim. "We met each other in school--we were the Lodamese kids, and me and Mahmoud were also Ahmadi, and while we didn't have any problem with this, it was a good basis for a friendship. And all three of us knew early on that we wanted to make music. Hip hop just makes sense."

The three friends formed The Trek Corps six years and made a name for themselves in hip hop clubs throughout Vrassa and Suldanor. "Over in Kaliburg, its something else," said FlipMode. "I mean, they're more laid back over there. Vrassa always comes harder than Ananto anyway, just cause life is harder on this side of the Strait. And I think that fans are looking for that. We don't have a lot of the funk elements they are working on there. Ours is more jazz and bass based music. I think it is a harder edged style." The Corps was approached by LCR who was looking to follow up their relatively successful proof of concept release by Spliff, who released a record and then ended up going on hiatus following a successful Republican Tour. "We have major money backing this record," said Qasim. "I mean, we took an advance, sure, but we've already recouped, and there is some real demand for Hip Hop in this Republic. LCR took the chance, and this thing is going places."

Hip hip is indeed taking off. Besides The Trek Corps, now Dana-based LCR has signed The Squadron from Vrassa City, and are working on developing other acts from the Port Swedes Area. "We have met so many other artists so far," said Mahmoud. "Its amazing how this scene is finally starting to come into light, and get some airplay. And people are buying the records. That means I don't have to work for the City any more. You don't even know what that means." Indeed, all three members of The Trek Corps have been able to quit their day jobs, and are now doing music full time. "This is what we love to do," said Qasim. "It's like a passion. To make music to celebrate life, in all its facets, whether its hanging out with our brothers and sisters at a summer party, or playing basketball in the park, or having rap battles with other MCs. Life is great, and we get the opportunity to live it."

When asked if Qasim-T, FlipMode or Mahmoud were planning to relocate to Suldanor now that their record is doing so well, they were emphatic. "No," said Qasim, echoed by the other members. "I have family in Lodamun who I see all the time. We have the maglev train and it wouldn't be hard to get back here from some place like Sulari or Dana, but my home is here. My friends and family are here. Addisjah is my home base. I'm gonna stick around and use my fame to help improve the city, to make it the place I rap about and make music about. I don't need to go anywhere else." FlipMode and Mahmoud agreed.

"But we are going somewhere though," added FlipMode. "We're headed out on a world tour, goin each and every place with a mic in my hand!" (These are lyrics from their single "World Tour") FlipMode is correct: The Trek Corps will be the first LCR artists to travel to 22 different cities over the next two months, playing Lodamun, Likatonia, Kiezenia, Hutori, Luthori, Nsanlosa, Liore, Lourrenne, Seko and Gaduridos and wrapping up with several dates in Kalistan. "Hip Hop Ambassadors," said Qasim. "That's kinda scary." "But exciting," added FlipMode with a huge grin.

As The Trek Corps celebrate their successful debut and plan their tour, take a list to their second single, "Situation" from their debut album "Bass Theory" featuring K Dawg Inc, Mark Deuce and Trevor Trev from The Squadron, released on LCR.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6TLWqn82J4]

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Militia returns to Kalistan
Extended mission in Nsanlosa is reported "Completed"
Port Swedes, Vrassa
August 17, 5354


Members of the RSMoK return to Kalistan after regular deployments for the last 14 years

The Revolutionary Socialist Militia of Kalistan, affiliated with the Socialist Party of Kalistan has returned to the Republic after nearly a decade and a half of regular deployments. "The Socialist Party has determined that our military mission in the Eastern Dovani Nation is completed," said Militia Spokesman and Commandante of the 12th Column of Ananto Irregulars, Lt. Col Bradley Spears. "Working with the Nsanlosa over these last 14 years has been a fantastic opportunity for our men, and our militia returns honed to a fine edge."

While the Militia did not see combat in any of Nsanlosa's periodic political crises, including the most recent one which ended in a military coup against the Government which had invited Kalistani Partisans to Nsanlosa, the Militia did assist the Government during the crisis by securing rear areas to free up Army forces sent forward to address advancing conservative insurgency forces. In addition, Kalistani Militia units were present in the capital when the Badessa Government was overthrown by the Army, and a provisional Government was established. "We were not actively supporting the Army at the time of the Coup," said Lt Col Spears. "Nor did we dissuade them from doing what they were going to do. In short, Kalistani Partisans played no role whatsoever in the coup of last December, but we offered our friends in the Nsanian Regular Army support in assisting them with police patrols as they worked to restore calm in the capital and immediately surrounding areas."

Following the restoration of peace at the end of the war, leaders of the Militia were recalled to Kalistan for consultation with the internal Party Leadership. "The Party made it clear that the Government of Kalistan wanted to take no position on the Coup as a matter of official policy, and informed us that the Militia was to be recalled as soon as political matters in Nsanlosa were settled." Kalistani Irregulars therefore remained in country until the new constitution was signed a month ago, and have therefore been cycling out. The return of all Militia forces is expected to be complete by September 1 of this year.

Partisans report that they are happy to be back in country. "Our deployments, even though they were only 2 years long, were rough," said Militia Corporal Thomas Delgado. "But I'm happy to be back in Kalistan, where I can understand what's happening on TV and smoke a joint when I want." The new Dovani Campaign Ribbon has been authorized by the National Assembly for all Militia members who served in Nsanlosa, making it the first Campaign Ribbon authorized by the National Assembly for specifically Irregular service.

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Hip Hop Uber Alles
De La Paz releases their debut with Major Assist from Qasim-T
Addisjah, Vrassa
October 7, 5354


Hip Hop trio De La Paz brings definite Peace and Love vibe to Hip Hop

The dominance of Hip Hop in Kalistani music at the moment continues with another major debut from another Northern Vrassa trio, this one named De La Paz. Following the massively successful international tour of fellow labelmates The Trek Corps, LCR is continuing to introduce Kalistan to new groups. "It seems that LCR has hit on a formula for pop success," said Amanda St. Francis, music writer covering the emerging North Vrassan Scene. "While there are several bands still in the works, De La Paz, who has been closely associated with The Trek Corps and the whole Addisjah scene jumped to the front of the pack, scoring both an excellent record deal that ensures they will maintain creative control and get the lions' share of the royalties for their album, and a major assist from Qasim T of the Trek Corps, whose vocals are featured on their first single "It's Saturday."

De La Paz definitely draws heavily on what is being called the Addisjah sound: bass driven, jazz influenced, sample heavy and deeply layered music, which often veers into progressive territory, but still remains accessible enough to draw large audiences. De La Paz's lyrics talk about sometimes light topics like self expression and living a fun live, but it also often touches on hard topics, like domestic abuse, teenaged pregnancy and drug death which is more common in the Vrassan border town than elsewhere in the Republic. "There is gravity in our music," said lead MC Peace G, "but we ain't gonna let it drag us down. We're doing our best to talk about good stuff, you know, things that make us happy. Things that make us laugh. Because otherwise, that stuff will drive us into our grave."

The other two members of the band, The Maestro, who is DJ for the group and Yogi Dave, definitely join Peace G's preference for uplifting tunes. "I mean, what's so wrong about singing about peace, love and understanding?" asked Yogi Dave. "Some of the dudes we grew up around might think that's kind of corny. But the way I see it, we need more peace in this world, and De La Paz is going to do what it can to bring some." The Maestro added "Yeah, music has the power to bridge large gaps in understanding between people, and as we see like wars and death and it seems like governments are helping these warmongers kill their own people, I remember, these people have it rough too, and so we're make music for them, not just people who already have peace like we do in Kalistan."

De La Paz also feel its important to bring attention to the situation in Addisjah. "Well, we're kind of forgotten up here, it feels like sometimes," said Peace G. "I mean the city needs some renewal. There is a lot of crime up here, most of it because Addisjah is kind of a no man's land where like people from all over northern Seleya come in here. As sh-t starts falling apart in places like Valruzia, we get criminal elements here who sort of prey on people. Well, those dudes are from our neighborhoods and they're not kind to people. But they also make things hard for the people who live in Addisjah too, and meanwhile, our buildings are starting to fall apart too. So yeah, we gotta shine a light and let people know that this is a big deal and we ain't getting no help from Vrassa on this." Many of their songs are about decaying neighborhoods, and the effects the collapsing infrastructure has on the society who lives in these neighborhoods.

But there is always a word of hope in De La Paz' music. "I mean, we say it all the time: Sometimes it just takes a beautiful day and a party in the Park to take your mind off the fact that your ceiling leaks like 3 months a year straight," said Peace G. "Something as nice as a pretty woman or good looking brother can take your mind off things. We want to sing about that too: its music for the people." Qasim T echoed the sentiment. "We always love hanging out with these guys because they have such an optimistic attitude, even they come from some of the hardest neighborhoods in Addisjah, for real. Black Market drug dealers compete with black market prostitutes for space under street lamps in Maes' neighborhood and they all have guns that pop off all hours of the day. I ain't joking. Yet they are all 'Peace' this and 'Friend' that: I think these dudes take their Brethernism seriously which is their thing and that's cool."

De La Paz is scheduled to play M7 next month ahead of a three week Republican tour to promote the record. But it is already climbing the Radio 1 Charts. The album "Scene 1" has already entered the Top 10 on the Album chart, and the first single "It's Saturday" is scraping the Top 20 on the Hot 100 singles chart in only its second week. Qasim T also co-produced the track, and is rapidly building his name as a major Kalistani Hip Hop producer.

Check out "It's Saturday" by De La Paz, from their LCR debut "Scene 1" and then check out De La Paz in concert this fall. The video, a disco inspired progressive inflected Hip Hop track, features Qasim T from The Trek Corps, vocalist Monica Guttierez who sings the hook, and Mark Deuce from The Squadron. The song and the album certainly represents a step forward for Hip Hop in Kalistan.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S5lTgyfT2c]

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Nsanian Pop&B sensation Wako visits Kaliburg on World Tour
Concert in Captial draws 50,000+ to Kaliburg National Stadum
Kaliburg, Ananto
October 1, 5355


Wako, the pop sensation from Nsanlosa, visits Kaliburg and sells out National Stadium

The Nsanian pop artist Wako visited Kaliburg as part of his world tour last week. Booked into the Kaliburg National Stadium in Capital Hill, Wako treated the sold out crowd of more than 50,000 with his blend of pop and R&B, that occasionally veers into disco. The enthusiasm of the crowd for the Nsanian popstar shows that there certainly is an enduring market for Pop in the Alternative and Hip Hop drenched Kalistani Music scene. The concert was simulcast on the M7, through arrangement with Wako's Label Jinda Records, to an estimated audience of 9.5 million across the Republic and into parts of Lodamun and Baltusia who receive KRTVN.

Wako treated the crowd to a full set of his songs, including songs from his newest and widest selling album worldwide to date "Tomorrow" including the Single "Take" as well as fan favorites like the song "When I'm With You" which brought the audience to a roar. The crowd sang along with Wako through and hour and ten minutes of high energy Pop&B and then cheered for two encores, which the Nsanian artist graciously provided by playing deep cuts from his earlier records. The Music

Kalistanis tend to welcome foreign musicians when they tour Kalistan--Musicians from other nations visiting the Republic is seen as a validation of the vibrant music scene in the Country, and tours and residencies are always supported by domestic artists, whatever genre the band happens to be playing in. "I was so excited to see the show in the Stadium," said Mike DeBello, of Kaliburg. "It was a bit difficult to get tickets: they sold out in less than an hour after going on sale. But luckily we [DeBello and three of his friends] won ours on the Radio. I had to guess five Wako songs with like a few notes. The last one which was 'Tomorrow' I had to guess with just four notes. But yeah, I did it. And we has a blast!" The fact that tickets were bought up quickly not only spoke to the immense popularity of Wako within Kalistan, but also made it clear that Kalistan audiences have a cosmopolitan palate. Few acts in Kalistan are doing Pop&B at the moment, but the combined novelty of the genre and the fact that it is being brought to Kalistan by an Dovani superstar made this concert one of the most viewed concerts in Kalistani History outside of concert movies and FOMAT events.

Though Wako only played one night in the Republic, it was an electric evening, and was thoroughly enjoyed by music fans across the Republic. Following the concert spent the evening partying in Kaliburg, before heading back to Dovani for his next set of shows. Kalistan is the only Seleyan Nation to get a visit from Wako, but it is clear that if he and his entourage ever wanted to return, they would certainly be welcomed by Kalistanis. Check out two highlights from the Concert Footage from Wako's Concert at the Kaliburg National Stadium, courtesy of M7 and Jinda Records of Nsanlosa.

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Kalistani Regular Force Announces formation of Nordic Corps at Lhasa MWTC, Neveras
Regiment of Regular Special Forces to be drawn from Infantry, focus on deep reconnaissance
Lhasa, Neveras
October 19, 5356


Elements of The Central Regulars conducting Cold Weather Training at Lhasa MWTC

The Minister of Defense, Col Heather Y. Bradley, stated today that the Republic has settled on finalized plans to create a special forces unit for the Kalistani Regular Force. The unit, known as the Nordic Corps, will primarily operate in mountainous terrain around the Republic and will be invitation only, drawn exclusively from the enlisted Ranks. The Nordic Corps will be based at Lhasa Mountain Warfare Training Center, in Lhasa Neveras, which is an expeditionary base currently, and not permanently staffed or occupied. This unit will replace the now defunct Airborne reconnaissance units which the Republic demobilized at the start of the Imperial Period.

"The National Security of Kalistan dictates that the Regular Forces have an all terrain reconnaissance unit capable of operating proficiently throughout the entire Republic," said Col. Bradley. "To this end, The National Assembly has authorized the Defense Ministry to found a new Unit under the Command Structure of Army Central, permanently based in Lhasa at the MWTC, who will not only utilize the training area around the Center, including Nevaras Peak, the highest Mountain in the Kalistan's Suldanor Mountains along the border with Baltusia, but also the entire Glacier Creek as it flows through the Center, as its rear area. HQ Nordic Corps will be stationed on Mainside and a new permanent personnel BEQ and BOQ as well as new permanent facilities will be built on base to house two battalion's worth of Regular Soldiers. The Nordic Corps will form the nucleus of a new Special Forces Program in Kalistan, replacing the defunct Airborne units which Kalistan has not mobilized in several hundred years, and will primarily be responsible for deep reconnaissance, observation, and vanguard actions in support of Regular Maneuver."

The newly formed Nordic Corps will consist of a light regiment strength (about 1800 soldiers) and will carry out missions involving all manner of reconnaissance, including serving as boarding forces attached to the Regular Navy. "Our efforts will focus on deep reconnaissance to serve as eyes well forward of any main body troop maneuver," said Bradley. "To perform these multi-facetted and demanding roles for the Regular Force, the Nordic Corps must be able to operate in all weather, over all terrain. They must be capable and competent to operate in small units, and they must be skilled in Operational Security to the highest level. They must be fearless fighters who will not hesitate to do all that is necessary to accomplish their mission.

"The Nordic Corps must also be highly trained elite soldiers capable of enduring grueling forced marches on little food or water deep into hostile territory and must show a high degree of inventiveness and skill in living off the land, so to speak, well away from any population centers for long periods of time. They must be expert swimmers, and preferable top scorers in the biennial physical fitness tests that all Regulars undergo. In addition, they must be careerists: No Regular below the rank of E4 will be invited to join, and all field officers will be commissioned from within the ranks. The rear Regiment HQ will be staffed by Officers and NCOs who would otherwise be qualified for the program. Nordic Corps will be considered a hardship assignment--family men and women will not be invited to join."

The re-creation of an elite Special Forces Unit was done to allow the Regular Force to rely less on the Militia for Reconnaissance service. "The dependency that the Regular Force had on the Militia was tested during the period where the Militia didn't exist," admitted Bradley. "A lot of our units had to learn quickly how to do recon, and luckily, we did not have any major conflicts that required any sort of special operations. The formation of the Nordic Corps will allow the Regulars to do our own recon, as well as support the Regular Navy in their interdiction operations at Sea, and free up the Militia to lean further into to its traditional role as an irregular auxiliary force."

Bradley added that she expects the Corps to be fully stood up within 6 months. "We have been preliminarily invited to Lourenne to participate in their Altitude Exercises, and the General Staff is excited to participate," said Bradley. "As a matter of fact, the first elements we invite, and begin training should be ready to participate within two months: Since every unit cycles through Lhasa eventually, we will first invite those who have been here recently. The process will involve a formal recommendation, a trial two week period of intensive training, followed by a formal invitation of the top performers, and reassignment and rebilletting. We currently have Quonset huts on Mainside which serve as expeditionary barracks, as well as field bivouac areas. While we are standing up the Nordic Corps, and building new permanent barracks, a larger commissary, a more complete medical facility, and other amenities on Mainside, new joins will billet in existing facilities."

The Colonel said she expects the unit to split once it is fully formed, with one battalion remaining in Lhasa as a cold weather force, while the other battalion relocating to Ananto to be stationed at Fort Henry Allen in Dahriel, Bozo River Combined Air Ground Training Center at Bozo River, or some other base to be constructed in the Green Mountains. "To be determined," said Bradley. "We are still in the planning stages for a possible deployment, but we know we want to have a warmer weather center as well as the more often than not cold climate at Lhasa. Ananto is the likely spot for that, where ever the base happens to be."

For now, the monitors are reviewing officer records, and will be selecting an expeditionary company to relocate to Lhasa within two weeks. By Late December, the first enlisted men should be arriving at the base to begin selection.

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Noise Alternative returns to the Airwaves
New Blues Punk band Jon Becker Sonic Overload releases loudest rock album in a decade
Kaliburg, Ananto
April 7, 5359


JBSO, the Noise Alternative trio from Luxon, debuts at Number 10 on the weekly Album Poll

Fans of Noise Alternative, the mix between alternative and art rock that was the main trend in Kalistani Music a quarter of a century ago, were thrilled that the genre has returned to the Kalistani Album charts with the debut of the self described "blues punk" trio known to locals as the Overload. More correctly, the band, Jon Becker Sonic Overload taps deeply into blues rock traditions, and may just be the most purely rock and roll act to appear in the Kalistani Rock scene in decades.

"Well, I mean, its basically blues rock played with loud guitars and loud drums," said the band's eponymous leader Jon Becker, who plays rhythm guitar and sings. "We ain't doing anything but playing straight, dirty gritty fundamentalist rock and roll. It's the Overload baby!" This was the first mention that Becker made to his band's name in the interview, but it certainly wouldn't be the last. As a matter of fact, Becker makes it a point to mention "rock and roll" or "The Sonic Overload" at least once in nearly every song on the bands self titled debut--itself an apropos title for one of the most self referential bands in Kalistani rock and roll today.

"I don't get this Noise Alternative moniker" said lead guitarist/bassist (such as it is) Ari Berkholtz. "We try to just keep it simple and straight forward, balls out. This ain't alternative- its what rock is supposed to sound like." Drummer Terrence Samson agrees: "If a band isn't breaking five or six heads a night he ain't playing hard enough." In fact, Samson is famous not only for breaking drum heads, but playing on broken heads and cymbals. "I mean, I have a snare, a floor tom and a bass drum, a crash and a hi hat. If I had any more in my kit, things might get a little expensive."

That sort of loud music has taken a back seat to drum loops, samples, and hip hop lyrics on Kalistani radio and music television in recent years. Audiences were impressed with the progressiveness of hip hop production led by the Addisjah movement and promoted world wide by LCR. But in recent years, as hip hop became closer to pop, and more R&B influences were making their way into hip hop, lovers of innovative music styles began returning to rock venues, and pushing rock and alternative acts to be loud again. Becker started as a front man for the band Elephant at the beginning of this move back to alternative. Elephant was an art electronic band that toured clubs and medium sized venues in Kaliburg, Sulari and Port Swedes. But Becker wasn't happy: As he reports it, he had a revelation one day while listening to a Baltusian blues act that was visiting Yoshimi one evening.

"It hit me, like a bolt of lightning," said Becker. "It was an uh and epiphany for me. Like we're talking about going back to basics. Stripping all that nonsense out, clearing away all the extra stuff. And just playing Rock and Roll." Becker immediately quit Elephant, breaking the band up and hired Berkholtz and Samson, who had been playing as session and pickup players for local Kaliburg bands to form The Jon Becker Sonic Overload. They experimented with different sounds, and self produced the Flavor EP, which was blues rock with art rock, hip hop and noise influences. Becker and Co. released a single from that EP called "Whale" in 5356. Lacking label support and Republic-wide distribution, the EP and the single failed to chart.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIgz9HvsVjA]
"Whale", from JBSO's debut Flavor EP

When the Flavor EP failed, the Sonic Overload stripped even more elements out of their sound and came to a simple, and fundamentalist hard rock sound. Turning up the amplifiers and keeping the avant garde feel of their earlier explorations led them to gain attention from older fans who were still hanging on to Noise Alternative as well as KMI who was in the market for a new rock band to compete with LCR on M7 and Radio 1. Becker was signed following a show in downtown Lolla that ended up inciting a riot that was blamed on Becker himself. Following the show, Becker was arrested and held in jail overnight before he was sentenced with inciting public disturbance and was ordered to pay restitution for damages that his band had caused. Becker was given 10 days to make full restitution, and the Sonic Overload held a benefit concert on the Mall for 9500 people, with a free will donation which allowed Becker to pay the club owner for the damage done to his establishment. The Sonic Overload was also signed by KMI that day.

The band immediately went into the studio and the self titled album was completed in less than a week. "We play simple songs," said Berkholtz. "They are pretty easy to record. Plus we've been playing them for like ever." The band brought in session keyboardist Michelle Hanlan, who also played a Theremin on the record. "It don't take long to record like 14 4-minute songs." The record mastered and pressed in another week, and KMI almost didn't have any time to do any promotion for the record.

"No worries," said Samson. "Becker is so self promotional that at every single show, during every single break, he would do a little commercial for the record. It got to be kind of a joke." KMI booked the band on M&'s popular afternoon show, "Pop Today" where the band played two songs from the new album, "Kickin Rock in the Junk Tonight" where Becker mentions "Rock" "Rock and Roll" "Rave On" or "The Sonic Overload" 18 times in 2 minutes and 53 seconds, and the first single from the new album "Something is Wrong", which is a blistering barnburner of a sing talk song that might represent the hardest rock on the entire album, and is actually the song that incited the aforementioned riot (though Becker did not encourage fans to "tear this f--kin place down and worship the Devil" on M7 the way he did in Lolla.)

All this attention led to a debut at Number 10 on the Album chart, the highest chart position for a noise alternative album in more than a decade. The Sonic Overload hasn't been able to displace hip hop on the charts yet, and album sales have plateaued, so it is likely that without a major push by the label, this record will likely stall out in the mid teens before beginning a decline, but there appears to be no limit to the energy of Becker and the Sonic Overload. So this will likely not be their last, or even loudest album.

Check out the debut single from the S/T from Jon Becker Sonic Overload, "Something is Wrong", now out on KMI.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VcXre-u9hQ]

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Urban blight in Port Swedes reaches dangerous levels
Republican Government to consider urban renewal for Northern Vrassa City, major Mainland cities
Port Swedes, Vrassa
Februrary 7, 5360


Slums like the notorious Emperor Street Neighborhood in Port Swedes may become target for renewal

While the Republican Government has been focused on infrastructure, such as the inauguration of construction on the Ananto-Republican Maglev Train or military construction and procurement, many of mainland Kalistan's cities have been visited by blight. A recent city structure released by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, which is in charge of administering the Republic's housing stock, has found that a troubling 18.3% of the housing stock in mainland Kalistan's major cities are officially "blighted". By the Ministry's own definition, blighted means that the neighborhood has more than 15% of single family dwellings either uninhabitable due to neglect or dilapidation, and less than one grocery/food bank, bank, or major employer such as a factory per 10,000 residents. The combination of dilapidation and food insecurity is indicative of higher than normal levels of poverty, and signal lack of other important social services like police and fire coverage, updated infrastructure, schools, hospitals, clean water, food security, entertainment and jobs in these neighborhoods. There have also been declines in population in the towns that have scored higher than the national average for blight.

The worst blight in the Republic was found in Northern Vrassa, specifically the major northern city of Port Swedes and the border town of Addisjah. Blight was less in rural areas of Vrassa and Odufaray, but it was also prevalent in Nevaras City, Eshar, Sulari and Yoshimi. Ananto was, for the most part spared from much of the blight that is more prevalent on the Mainland. Many factors are blamed for the blight, especially in border towns like Addisjah, Port Swedes and Yoshimi. "These border towns suffer from severe neglect because they are usually ports of entry for foreigners and refugees," said social data expert Miguel Ynez. "This doesn't mean that the refugees and foreign nationals themselves are responsible for the blight directly. They simply come here and do not often bring a lot of resources with them. Then they settle in these border towns, and the increased population, with increased demands on the infrastructure, while the tax base over all of the city decreases causes these cities to have to triage and save neighborhoods where they can, while appearing to neglect neighborhoods which are often in the worst condition."

District Governors have been speaking with a louder voice to the National Assembly in recent years, demanding a larger budget for District and City efforts to combat blight in their cities. "We have been calling on the Republican Government to pay as much attention to our cities as they do to the Railroad, which has yet to really provide a benefit for most of the cities in the Mainland," said Margaret Sondheim, who is president of the Republican Governor's Association, which is a loose working group of chief executives of the Districts. "To date, they have turned a deaf ear to our suggestions. While we ask for money to bulldoze blighted neighborhoods, move refugees and settlers on to some other place in the Republic more capable of taking them in, and increase police and prison funding, the Socialists give us money, lots and lots of money, for schools and hospitals. They tell us to build 'green houses', and are happy to hand us check after check to do that, but we are telling them that what the Districts need is the ability to kick out all these people who are putting major strains on our budgets but don't contribute anything to the tax system."

Tomas Beltram, spokesman for the Ministry of Heath and Social Services and a member of the Socialist Party, said Sondheim's solution to the problem is not so simple. "She and the District Governors would have us all believe that the solution is just to close our borders, kick out foreigners, and dig a big pit in the middle of Ananto to throw all the criminals in and then cover them up with the dirt and forget they are there. That may solve some short term issues, but the long term issues remain: When there are no jobs in a place, no stores, no ways that people can help maintain their cities and neighborhoods, the blight will stay unless you depopulate an entire town. The National Government is looking for ways to actually resolve the root causes of the poverty, crime and neglect in these neighborhoods, not just move the problem onto someone else's doorstep."

Given the unitary nature of Kalistan's Government, where nearly all decisions of any consequence come directly from Kaliburg, the solution will also have to come from there. Beltram noted that the Government is currently working on a program to demolish large areas of blight, buildings that are dilapidated or neglected to the point where they are uninhabitable, and replacing them with inexpensive row housing that can be offered to people on an income based scale. "Step one is to put our neighborhoods back on a paying basis. Empty homes do not generate any taxes, and yet they cost money to cover with water, fire and police. Empty homes and businesses are breeding grounds for criminal activity, violence, and the black market, especially in drugs, which we are seeing more and more people buying from ODEN, cutting with various chemicals to change delivery method and potency and then selling them to people at a significant discount. These dangerous and unregulated chemicals aren't any more addictive, but they are cheaper and they are more dangerous, not only for the users, but for the people who live in neighborhoods where this sort of activity is taking place-- the increase in crime around drug rackets that we are beginning to see in some of our more dangerous cities is astounding. And that's on top of the other forms of violent crime we are seeing."

Step 2 involves helping cities rebuilding their crumbling infrastructure. "The Republic has put a lot of money into transportation infrastructure in the last fifty years," said Beltram. "Now its time we fix our water delivery systems, our sewers, our hospitals, our schools, our roads and our communications infrastructure. We want to give people some pride in their neighborhood." To perform such a huge task, the National Government is considering a temporary revamping of the National Service Program to allow those who are in the Republic temporarily, or who are having a difficult time finding a living, but are either recent or pending Kalistani Nationals, or those who have no intention of remaining longer than the duration of the conflicts in their own nations, to join the NSP, to earn money and gain experience. "We have an NSP the size we need to bottleneck the labor market, to keep Kalistan's population fully employed, and to train new workers as they enter the work force. But they have been behind on these infrastructure projects for sometimes decades. And meanwhile, these neighborhoods who need help sink further and further into dilapidation. If we bring in some of the recent arrivals, and allow them to contribute to the Republic, it is possible that we can not only train workers for city management and civil engineering that they can use when they return home, but maybe we can target these teams to aid cities and Districts in catching up."

Step 3 involves a long term commitment to sustainability, with the aim of lessening the burden on already strained resources. "Some of these cities, like Sulari, are massive in terms of geography," explained Beltram. "Extending services from the city center becomes more geometrically expensive with each algebraic increase in size. For example: we know that one mile away from the main water plant will cost x rubles, two miles will cost 2x total, but 3x, because we also have to pay for and maintain the first x. And three miles away will not cost 4x, but 6x, because we also have to pay for and maintain the first two miles. And so on. It is killing these cities' budgets as these towns grow horizontally. But horizontal growth is not the way to do it. A vertically planned city is far more efficient in terms of city services, because if you can fit the whole of the population from the 2 mile radius into a one mile radius, you change your geometrically increasing expense into an algebraically increasing cost, thus freeing up funds for other things, and protecting city budgets into the future, while still accommodating even dramatically expanding populations."

Addressing blight with these sorts of renewal plans has already met with significant resistance from District Governments. But Beltram brushed that opposition aside. "Well, they can be a partner in our efforts, or they can try to stand in the way. But the solutions they have offered as a body are both shortsighted and they also feel punitive to this Government, and to the Socialist Party. You don't solve crime by putting people in jail. Laws do not deter crime. If that was the case, we would have no crime. No, you do it by giving people alternatives, by giving them a sense of pride in their neighborhoods, by giving them something to fight for and to work for. We in the National Assembly have the money, we have the tools, and we have the political imagination to try something different than what other countries try to solve similar crimes. Our goal is to give the people a stake in their communities, by creating green spaces, community gardens, and city beautification, starting with demolishing these vacant buildings and denying crime a place to breed. Time will tell whether we were right. But I believe that the Blight Study underlined a problem we knew was brewing for a long time that has suddenly exploded into a crisis in Kalistani cities. Its time to act now before it gets worse, not just push the problem away."

The National Government has scheduled demolition of vacant and abandoned buildings in Addisjah to begin in June of this year.