Kalistani Major History

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Jafarnejad rallies Seleyan support for Kaliburg in response to devastating earthquake
2 May 4892



ALDEGAR: After a major earthquake hit the Kalistani capital earlier this year, Aldegarian President Shahram Jafarnejad has joined with regional partners through the Seleyan Intergovernmental Council to facilitate a wide range of support to the city of Kaliburg and the surrounding regions. While the immediate search and rescue efforts have mostly concluded, the region was devastated by the impact of the earthquake and has been mostly evacuated in the past eight weeks.

In addition to disaster relief aid supplied by national governments, Aldegar joins Valruzia and Yingdala as the primary suppliers of both machinery and manpower in order to support the removal of large amounts of debris from Kaliburg. The aim of the international effort is to enable Kalistan's national government to focus primarily on supporting those forced to leave them homes and livelihoods in the capital.

The earthquake at the beginning of March was the most powerful to hit a Seleyan country in some time and the most significant humanitarian crisis since the formation of the Seleyan Intergovernmental Council. Jafarnejad offered his condolences to the affected families in the immediate aftermath. In the past fortnight he has been in close contact with both the Kalistani government and other member states to ensure that the organisation offered a proper response and supported the efforts of the domestic government as far as possible.

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Kaliburg slowly recovers;  International Aid pours in
Priority is homes, but National Assembly restored and elections are held on schedule
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 9, 4893


The National Assembly in Downtown Kaliburg completed repairs in time for General Election

Nearly a year after a devastating Earthquake leveled huge sections of the Capital city of Kaliburg, the Republic reports that they are on track with recovery, have restored vital services and infrastructure to most parts of the city, and have restored public buildings.  The National Assembly, which was severely damaged in the Quake has been restored and is now in operation once more, allowing the Government of Kalistan to meet once more in the capital.  The International Airport has been reopened for commercial passenger traffic, and facilities at Port Davon are 65 percent operational, said National Service Program Restoration Team spokeswoman Dani Allen.

"We have split our work into two segments," explained Allen.  "By far the majority of the assets have been dedicated to cleaning out the demolition in the neighborhoods of Imperial City, Zappa City, and Ellysia.  By the time we had a handle on the fires and the damage last spring, we realized that we had grossly underestimated the damage to structures in those neighborhoods.  It was then that we put out the call for heavy machinery and building materials from our friends in the international community rather than traditional forms of crisis relief, like money and food.  And we would like to thank both the member nations of the Seleyan Intergovernmental Council, who came through for us in a big way thanks to lobbying and organization from Aldegar, but also our comrades in Keymon, Lodamun for additional medical personnel and financial assistance, Liore, Endralon, Dolgava, and all other countries who quickly heeded our call for help in our time in need.  When the time comes for us to repay the kindness, the Republic will not forget the kindness shown our people by our fellows in the nations of the world."

In the city of 7 million, more than 50,000 single homes were damaged to the point of uninhabitability.  An additional 10,000 apartment units needed to be demolished because of the earthquake, leaving an estimated 250,000 Citizens homeless in the Republic.  Application for temporary housing skyrocketed after the quake, but the issue was not as critical as planners anticipated directly after the earth quake.  "We lost a lot of dwellings," said Allen.  "But the public sector was lucky in that about 75 percent of the displaced were able to find temporary housing with friends and family, or had second homes outside the city.  In the end, we were able to supply trailer homes for families, housing another 35,000 individuals, and for the young and able, who have found temporary housing with the National Service Program, the Bivouac sites, maintained by the Militias south of Igloo have provided a secure and warm community for the more than 20,000 individuals commuting into the cities to work on recovery alongside the NSP."

Most major demolition in the city limits was completed by late August last year, and then rebuilding in the neighborhoods began.  "We wanted to ensure that the neighborhoods with the lowest median incomes were the priorities of our efforts," said Allen.  "At first, the choice to focus on the poorest neighborhoods was somewhat controversial, but when we explained that those who were the lowest incomes tended to have fewer resources, and that the local economy relied on our workers being at work to provide services for the other people in the Capital, the mood softened significantly.  It also helped to explain to the people that the decision had already been made, and would continue on regardless of public sentiment, and if wealthy people wanted to jump to the front of the line, they could pay to rebuild their own house at any time."


NSP construction prioritizes vertical development when across the Northern neighborhoods

When it was possible property owners were asked whether they intended to move back into single family homes, or if they would consider four and five story condominium complexes instead of houses.  "As we were planning our rebuilding efforts, some of the younger comrades argued strongly for vertical development in these neighborhoods," explained Allen.  "Their argument was we should not just be rebuilding homes for people, but also the communities.  We would need to build not only someone's residence, but also their neighborhood stores, and shops, and services.  This discussion led us to ask residents about trading the single family home for two and three bedroom condominiums.  In the space where we used to house six families, we would not house twelve, and move their neighborhood services closer to them, to encourage foot traffic and to open up green spaces."  In initial surveys, among those intending to return home, something like 78 percent of individuals who had lost homes said they would prefer to live in a vertically developed space, rather than return to the block after block of rowhousing which was built after the Ananto War in the 4100s.

"It will allow us to economize both services and infrastructure, as well," said Allen.  "Most of the residents said they looked forward to not having a car anymore and utilizing public mass transportation, and having more green spaces in neighborhoods."  By far the most enthusiastic adopters were in the densely populated Zappa City neighborhood, followed by Ellysia.  Residents in Imperial City were less warm on the idea, with only 45% of residents preferring to move out of single family homes. "We can still do some vertical development in Imperial City, and open some new parks, and the residents seemed to be more interested in this."  As for Davon, residents there have, for the most part decided to rebuild their neighborhoods using private contractors.  "The people of Davon were emphatic that they did not want their homes, which tend to be larger and more expensive, and include land, to be rebuilt by the NSP.  That's fine, I suppose:  We are happy to redirect those resources to rebuilding in other neighborhoods."

The Republic, resilient as ever continued rebuilding at a feverish pace, and around the clock in all weather, through the entire winter.  "It was rainy and cold," said Allen, "but our members and the working parties which we are overseeing are resilient and they are happy to be out there helping their neighbors, and in many cases their own families.  We are looking forward to this summer, when our production schedule will double, and we will have four shifts a day, operating around the clock, a real assembly line process, for sure.  With our current schedule, we will have all four shifts in some phase of the home building process across the city.  By the end of this summer, using prefabricated techniques, as well as the additional manpower machinery lent us by our neighbors, and our own assets, we expect that all single family homes that we will be constructing in Zappa City will be completed, something close to 6500 single family homes.  We will then turn the Zappa City teams to building the condo complexes.  The home construction in Imperial City will take a bit longer, probably into October, but on the other hand, Ellysia should be completed in May."

As the physical landscape of Kaliburg is repaired, the emotional and political landscape still bear scars.  Following the positive identification of the remains of the former Premier Marguerite Beloit, the Socialist Party named an interim Premier, Harold Phipps-Bennots.  Phipps was a senior deputy from Gendaris, who was known before election as a corn farmer in Odufaray.  His premiership was meant to be a caretaker premiership, while the Party scrambled to replace the influential and hardworking late Premier of the Republic.  The Interim premier handled his job effectively, ensuring that reconstruction was the top priority of the Government, and proposing two pieces of legislation, one outlawing forced marriage, and the second nominating Gaduridos for Seat C in the WC.  But in November, President of the Republic Carrangus announced his retirement from office, citing health concerns, and Party officials decided to put Phipps forward as the SP's candidate for the Presidency.  Phipps was easily elected against the new SDP candidate, and moved to the Head of State's Office earlier this month.  Meanwhile, the SP's new leader, George Jackson, the 24 year old Deputy from Yoshimi Suldanor, was acclaimed by the National Assembly, and he picked up for Phipps in the Newly reopened National Assembly.

Kalistan is recovering well, but will be rebuilding for years.  Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the people of Kalistan, and the aid and assistance of our overseas friends, we have taken huge steps toward being back 100%, and we will redouble our efforts until there are no more people without homes, parks, services and reliable infrastructure.  It may take longer for our Republic to recover what was lost and some of us have lost far more than can ever be replaced by the NSP's work crews.  For those people, we would also like you to know that the Republic will not forget you either.  Our Republic's rebuilding may not help you forget, but it will help you continue to live on and may help your wounds heal after time.

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Second International Mind Sports Championships attracts international attention
26 July 4893

Participants from throughout the world are concluding their time in Aldegaria following the second International Mind Sports Championships (IMSC) event held over the past three weeks. In comparison to the first event held almost two decades ago, the latest edition included far more international athletes and a higher calibre of competition in most of the events as a result. Although the Aldegarian team dominated the points table, this did not reflect the standard of competition overall, in which international participants outperformed Aldegarians routinely.

Building on the format of the inaugural event, the organisers added a host of new games for athletes to compete in. Alongside the two most popular events (chess and go), three new abstract strategy games were contested (backgammon, shogi and xiangqi) in addition to the ancient Aldegarian game shatranj, an early version of international chess that has become popular as a variant in the country over the past century. The most popular addition to the competition was the game Wordplay, contested in the Luthorian language.

In all eight countries competed at the tournament from four different continents. The official national standings were calculated by allocating three points for a gold medal, two for a silver and one for a bronze. As the vast majority of competing athletes were Aldegarian, there were several sports in which they were the only ones to compete (notably including both formats of the memory and mental calculation events). In the two leading events contested, Aldegar was limited to a third place finish in the blitz chess and all other medal spots went to international athletes.



Kalistan's Caroline Vespa took the coveted first place in the go competition by beating Utemban team captain Palden Nepali in the final. Both the classical and blitz chess formats were dominated by the rivalry between Endralon's Máléfalvy János Miklós and Selucia's Phaedromus Capito. Each took a gold medal in one format and made the top three in the other. Despite only being included for the first time at the event, the Wordplay event attracted much attention. Two separate time formats were played and Kalistan emerged victorious in both.

In the traditional tile games there was fierce competition between a number of countries. Dundorf picked up their only first place finish in mahjong and placed second in the dominoes event, won by Utembo. The card games were dominated by the Alorian team coached by Stefani Müller. Team captain Michael Fischer won all three poker formats beating out a number of tough competitors and ensuring that Aloria finished second in the national points table (number of gold medals was used as a tiebreak due to the equal points scored by Aloria and Dundorf).

Organisation of the tournament was a joint effort between the Aldegarian government, the Global Association of Sports Organisations and the Endralonian Lievenian Trade Group, who have been responsible for organising some of the largest sports and entertainment events in the world. The partnership was a result of the recent decision by the Aldegarian government to liberalise trade relations with Endralon, a move which also allowed Endralonian firm Divatvállalat to design and produce Aldegar's official team uniforms for the tournament.

Public interest in the Championships within Aldegar far eclipsed the first edition of the event. Representatives from both the International Chess Association and the International Go Association have reported increased engagement with the respective sports throughout the world but particularly in participant countries. In recent years both games have accumulated widespread online followings in which top-level players will livestream themselves playing games while interacting with audience members. Shahram Jafarnejad, a moderately successful bridge player at one time, hailed the event as "a great showcase of top-class international minds".

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News Briefs:
Idris Olofuote tops the Charts, Caroline Vespa brings home Go Championship
Kaliburg Recovery on schedule to be completed by June
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 26, 4894


Caroline Vespa (3d) plays a preliminary match at the International Mind Sports Championship

As Kaliburg continues its recovery of the devestating earthquake of March 7, 4892, the rest of Kalistan continues to move forward. Kalistan sent a team to compete in the Intenational Mind Sports Championship, where the Kalistani team took fifth overall. Led by Eveari Go Club Captain Caroline Vespa (3d), The Kalistani team participated in Go, which Vespa took first place in, as well as Wordplay, which Sulari teen Jose Stuart won, and Mahjong. Kalistan's competitors were all Juniors and Seniors in High School, and said that the trip to Aldegar to participate in the international games was a highlight of their young lives. Said Jenna Cuthbert, a participant in the Mahjong tournament, "I think it was about the most fun I ever had. It certainly is a different experience when you are representing your country, compared to when you are just playing for fun. Also, seeing the country of Aldegar was very exciting, and I think I would like to go back to visit sometime. I made some new friends while I was there."

Vespa's win has drawn new attention to the International Go Association, which is an association that Kalistan is a founding member of. "Clearly, at 3 Dan A, I am not like the best player in Kalistan," said Vespa, "But when the call went out for someone to represent Kalistan at the IMSC, I jumped at the chance. We had a little tournament in my club, and I won, beating even a 4 Dan, and it was such a thrill to be able to compete against such awesome players from around the world!" Membership with the Kalistani branch of the Association has increased by 56% since Vespa won the title. Kalistan is very proud of our contestants.


Wally van Paul and Idris Olofuote hit Number One with their "screwed up" Single "On God"

Since the Benefit for the Capital, life has changed for Kaliburg rapper Idris Olofuote. It is safe to say that as his song with Sulari MC Wally van Paul called "On God" hits number one on Kaliburg charts, he is no longer underground. The song, which is the second single from his ARC debut Dopalism features van Paul, who raps brings some complex multisyllabic rhyme schemes, and van Paul especially uses a specific slang from the "Screwed up" subgenre which is popular in underground clubs in and around Yoshimi particularly. "Finna need a dictionary to clock my verse," said van Paul.

Olofuote, whose career blew up following the Benefit concert that he organized and helped direct, has generally enjoyed his success to date. "You know, though," he said, "Hitting number One with Wally, that's trill right there." Olofuote is also believed to be a show in for next month's FOMAT nominating contest. "At this point, I think Idris can put anything out," said KRTVN Radio 2's Programming Manager Don de Joya, "and people will go for it. But I gotta tell you, this song that he's about to drop and which I think will probably just blow away the competition in the FOMAT contest, really is pretty dope. He's a good MC anyway, but I think what he's got in store just takes it to the HNL."

Check out Olofuote's new single, "On God," with Wally van Paul, Kalistan's new Number 1 song here

Finally, The Capital is entering the last phase of rebuilding. With a scheduled finishing date of June 10, of this year, more than 90 percent of those who were displaced by the earthquake have been able to return home. NSP program Spokeswoman, Dani Allen, who has begun to limit her updates to major landmarks from her once a month briefing schedule, has announced that all work should be completed by the expected completion date.

"We've completed major construction throughout the neighborhoods, and there are a few more apartment complexes that we are finishing now, in the Zappa City area, primarily. Zappa has been known for multi-family units, and our efforts to rebuilds required extensive engineering to prepare to make them quake resistant. So, it took a bit longer, of course than the Condo complexes and the single family homes. But we are nearing completion, and by June of this year, will have the final 4000 units across Zappa and Ellysia built and ready for re-occupancy. Additionally, we have been able to award those individuals who were previously without homes new homes of their own preferred style as a way to thank them for volunteering when the Republic needed their help most. They have been granted deeds for the property they now live in, and own their own homes outright. It is the Republic's way of showing our appreciation for their hard work and effort on behalf of others in the Capital."

As the Capital finishes the last stretch in its long road to a return to normalcy, the Republic thanks the members of the NSP, and once more thanks the International Community for its willingness to aid Kalistan and help us rebuild.

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Kalistan selects Idris Olofuote for FOMAT
Music represents switch in direction for Republic
Kaliburg, Kalistan
March 1, 4894


MC Goldie and Idris Olofuote, partners both in life and on the Mic, will represent the Republic at FOMAT XII

The Biggest MC in Kalistan is Kaliburg's Idris Olofuote.  And he will now go on to represent Kalistan at FOMAT XII, the largest music competition in the world. to be held in Valois Lourenne.

"Well, let's be honest," said KRTVN Radio 1 DJ and Contest organizer Dionne Dread, "I mean, we ran the whole double elimination brackets and everything, but half the callers for the other 15 nominees kept calling in and voting for Olofuote when other people's song's were playing.  One song, a hard rock tune from Vrassa's Chant, actually got zero countable votes, because everyone that called in during Chant's round voted for Olofuote.  He almost completely shut out the loser bracket's champion.  I'm kind of embarrassed for them, to be honest."

Idris Olofuote has rocketed to national reknown following his organization of the Benefit for the Capital raised more than 75 million K in the weeks following the recent earthquake.  Since the concert, the foundation he has set up has raised an additional K136 Million, without a flagship concert attached to it.  "Olofuote made sure that he gave every cent over to the various committees which were set up with the National Government to handle the money," said NSP spokesperson Dani Allen.  "His bookeeeping is meticulous and perfectly transparent, it really makes our job a lot easier, and for all his work, he did not take a dime himself, instead agreeing to record an album with ARC and using his advance and then his sales as his own salary."

Olofuote's generosity and talent were rewarded by grateful Republican citizens who overwhelmingly demanded that his new track "Try Yeshua/The PlayList" with his musical Partner and spouse Goldie, who is also from Lolla, represent the Kalistani Music Scene.  Olofuote, for his part, was uncharacteristically at a loss of words.  "The people making me the face of Kalistan?  I mean, me?  I am a son of immigrants from Ntoto.  My folks they were broke as f--k, speaking only Ebako, and like zero Vrassan when they got here.  And the people in Lolla took them in, made them feel welcome, gave my dad a job...  My family owes so much to this country, and so it is a total honor to represent this nation's Great Music Heritage in FOMAT XII."

The song, which is a brand new track, and not a single from his recent album "Dopalism" is considered a hard core hip hop track, and as such represents a dramatic departure from Kalistan's entries in the past.  "It is closest, I suppose to the neo-soul of D'Ante and the Revolution," said Dread, "in terms of Kalistani FOMAT submissions.  But it really doesn't sound like anything the Republic has submitted in the past, including our hits and our misses."  Olofuote's track is played both with guitars and drums, as well as a Keyboard and a bass generating 808 drum machine, which is designed to highlight the bassline.  "To rattle your trunk!" said Olofuote.  The set will include some elaborate choreography in a semi circular stage which is designed by MC Goldie, who also designs the understated costuming.

"Its quite minimalist, certainly not pop," said Dread.  "But during that contest, we basically had that song on repat in th studio, and these rockers were even snapping their necks to that music.  It's hype.  It's that kind of music that makes you want to just rock out listening to it..."

Idris Olofuote IS Kalistan's FOMAT XII Entry.  And his song is dope.  Here's "Try Yeshua/The Playlist," by Idris Olofuote with MC Goldie and Ibrahim al Jabari

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Chaparra Visits the Republic
Records Single with Hip Hop Band B-Boy Three
Sulari, Suldanor
January 4895


Chapara Joins up with Kalistani Hip Hop group B-Boy Three to record New KME album for LTD

Returning once more to the Republic, Gaduri legend Chaparra has teamed up with the Sulari Hip Hop trio B-Boy Three to record a new Album for LTD Records called "Mujer Como Yo." The Record, which is due out in February contains a multi-lingual melange of Gaduri inspired beats and rhythms, and both Egelian and Vrassan language songs.

"This was really my first time recording in Luthori," said Chaparra. "I speak the language well, but I think it is a new challenge for me to sing it, given my long career in Egelian, and I am pretty happy that Luke and the others of the B-Boys gave Egelian a chance too." Rapping in Egelian was more of a challenge for the members of the B-Boy Three. "The way our rhyme schemes go normally, sort of lends itself more to the Vrassan," said Luke Terrance, who is the group's leader. "I gotta give a lot of props to Chaparra, of course, she's such a professional and she was very patient with us as we had to do a bunch of takes between our verses, while she just banged her's out like it wasn't even a challenge."

The album mixes hip hop and rap with a more Gaduri sound that almost moves it out of the KME subgenre. "Luckily, we brought in a lot of featured artists like La Mas Mala, who was totally down to do work with Chaparra, and we had this band as a backup group called Los Banditos, who played on a lot of our tracks," said Terrance. "I think in general, its a nice little mingling of music, which is a lot of fun, and even then, its somewhat different from what we normally do. I don't think too many people will be in the club poppin and lockin to this music, but on the other hand, it might introduce us to a whole new crowd too, who like the KME and loves to dance."

The album's lead single, "Mujer Como Yo", is a RF track, which the B-Boy Three rap in both Vrassan and Egelian, and which Chaparra composed while also singing in both languages. "It's about... well, its about these guys who just are... well... really into Gaduri Women," said Chaparra. "It was kind of a joke, and it turns out that Apple (Edwards, of the B-Boy Three) is totally into Gaduri women, so it was kind of making fun of him a little bit. At the outset, it seems to be a sexy song, but really its all solos chistes sobre El Manzanito." Chaparra also directed the video for the lead single. "They gave me kind of a freedom with video directing up here in Kalistan," she said. "There's a way we do things in Gaduridos, but they do things a bit more freely and are a bit more permissive with their videos here, and the guys were pretty down with it all."

This record is the first record that Chaparra has recorded in Kalistan, but of course, she and her music have a tremendous fan base in the Republic, and her joining the B-Boy Three will certainly propel their career forward. "For now, lets just say we had a lot of fun recording the record and making the videos," said Chaparra. "I mean, its not classical, its not hard core, or anything like that. It's good for their fans and for mine, and was something that I could do now that I really don't have to work and can do what I want to do." For B-Boy Three's part, they were more than happy. "Yeah, we met her at FOMAT a long time ago, before any of this and we were like 'Chaparra, you don't know us, but if you ever want to do a record, call us up. We'll be there anytime, any place.' She kind of laughed and then four years later, well, here we are, you know?"

The Record will be released on LTD Records, and the new video can be seen here.

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RSMoK begins Naval Drills
Rising international Tensions prompts preparedness Exercises
Dulnerstaad Naval Warfare Center, Ananto
August 5, 4895


Militia begins practicing Interdiction and Boarding operations with Regular Navy

The Revolutionary Socialist Militia of Kalistan's Naval Fleet began a week long series of exercises off the coast of Ananto today. The purpose of the exercises was to practice preparedness and tactics in response to rising tensions in other Parts of the world.

"We never know when imperialists in our neighborhood decide that they need to intervene in someone else's business," said Militia Marine Corporal D'Ante Smith. "As anyone who knows our Republic's history can verify, it has happened many times before and most certainly will once again." The Militia itself asserted that no particular or specific threat prompted these exercises.

"No, in fact, we've just noticed a rising degree of tension," said Militia Marine Lieutenant Florence Kurosawa, "especially with some countries in the world opening death camps and so forth, and the response to those things that certain liberal internationalists have leveled. In our experience, by and large the most persistent and pernicious threat to Kalistan has been from these supposed liberal internationalist nations, who act far more like fascists in their insistence that they should be entitled to tell other nations how to conduct their affairs, than even our own home grown fascists which occasionally spring up in Kalistan. Our way or the highway, they say, and there is no alternative, so whenever we see large blocs or significant actors among the liberal internationalist camp get their dander up about something that has nothing to do with Kalistan, that often signifies an adjacent and entirely unrelated period of tension for the Republic."

The Lieutenant said the drills for this week are commensurate with the Militia Naval Force's traditional roles. "We have always served as auxiliaries to the Regular Force," said Lt. Kurosawa. "Our traditional mission has been to interdict shipping in the Strait and in the seas adjacent to the Republic, and if need be, to seize contraband shipping in Kalistan's National Waters. We often employ several tactics to accomplish this, but since the Militia's reactivation in the 70s, we have been adopting a more forward leaning posture to add to our traditional tactical doctrine, including the use of surface launched submarines to deter the largest and most serious threats, to help offset the advantage in firepower that most of our adversaries bring to bear here in the Strait."

The exercises, which will involve different scenarios that the militia may find themselves in during a conflict situation, will include simulated torpedo runs, interdiction, stop and search operations, and seizure operations. Both the Kalistani Regular Navy as well as four commercial vessels of various sizes will participate to give the militia Marines some opportunity to practice against different kinds of targets. "Part of our role in a conflict situation," said Lt. Kurosawa, "is interdiction and seizure. But since our guys know how to drive LAFAs and the torpedo patrol craft, they don't often see what it takes to operate a full sized naval vessel or a super container ship. Driving one of those ships is much different, you can imagine from piloting a patrol craft. So part of the aim here is to familiarize our Marines with the sorts of things that is required to bring a captured prize back into port, both at sea and in port itself where there are a whole slew of necessary steps if your aim is to safely dock a massive commercial ship."

Additionally, crews will also get some training for survival at sea. "Something most people don't know," said Kurosawa, "With a bucket, a small cup and some plastic wrapping, you can make a water desalination system that can desalinate a cup of drinking water from sea water each hour during the day. It's almost no work and it can be the difference between life and death at sea. And we have these little survival kits that our Marines will be trained to survive without food and fresh water at sea for 24 hours. We're gonna show them that it is not only possible to survive if you are adrift in the Straits for an extended period of time, but it is also possible to do pretty well, and to keep strength and focus up on either repairing the craft or making it to safety."

The Drills are expected to last a week, and depending on the performance of the Marines in these exercises, may extend into next week as well.

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Major Ska Tour scheduled for August
Suldanor's Red Tone to open for The Gang
Dana, Suldanor
July 12, 4896


Red Tone, from Dana Suldanor, joins Hutori SkaPunk Veterans The Gang on Fall Tour

ARC has announced a that the Gang, who were at one point a Hutori Ska Band who placed well in FOMAT, but have since relocated to Kalistan will be embarking on a new Tour of the Republic. The Tour, called "Kali Skankin 4896" will play 25 shows across the Republic, and will finish up in Sulari on October 28 of this year.

"We've really wanted to do a full fledged tour for a long time," said Gang Frontman Kevin Budnig. "I mean, we've played all these shows, We have a standing invitation to do concerts across the Republic. But we figure since we're sort of kind of these utility players in the Kalistani Music scene now, we should do a tour." The Gang first arrived in Kalistan more than 6 years ago and immediately played the old Spellerman show. Soon after, they were playing the Benefit for the Capital. They have played major stages, and have generally enjoyed their time in the Republic. "The fans are fantastic, of course," said Budnig. "I mean, the best fans in the whole world. And we aren't doing anything except living the dream."

Joining the Gang on the Kali Skankin Tour this fall will be the Dana Ska band Red Tone. Red Tone is a largely unknown local band who have been together for just a couple years. Fronted by singer Monica Pella, the seven piece band has a brass trio attached, along with guitars and drums. "We are real excited to go on the road with the Gang," said Pella. "It's a real honor to be included on the tour, and gives us an opportunity to get some wider exposure and maybe sell some copies of our EP too." The Gang, for their part seemed just as excited to have Red Tone on the bill. "They do ska right," said Budnig. "They keep that traditional ska sound, but they also have some fuzzy guitars, and Pella is such a delight to listen to. Her voice and the precision of that brass will take that band far I think! They're our replacements." he said with a smile.

Tickets for the tour have already gone on sale, and the Kaliburg shows in late September have already sold out. "Amazing!" said Budnig "Four shows sold out on the first day, that is a first for us." ARC will also be making a Double live album of the show scheduled for September 12, where the tour is expected to draw record crowds to the Yoshimi Arena. "Red Tone on Disc A, Gang on the Disc B." said Budnig. "That will be a collector's album, for sure. Two tone: Red Tone's record will be Red, and of course our LP will be Royal Blue."

Below is Red Tone's first Single, "I Can't Let You Go" performed live at Dana Fest earlier this spring.

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Socialist Government aims to Adjust Spending priorities
"A Major readjustment of Government spending is in order," says Finance Minister
Kaliburg, Ananto
August 1, 4896


Finance Minister Dianna Delgado declares new priorities for Government Spending

The Republican Government took steps to alter the way the Money is budgeted in the Republic today. "For the first time, we have developed a budget based on percentages of revenue, rather than coming in with a rounded number."

The process, said the Finance Minister, involved a careful evaluation of expenditures with a goal of outcomes. "The Government is moving to performance based budgeting, where Ministries are required to a budget as a percentage of total revenues for this first round. We will hold budgets level, taking in account increased prices and approving new programs on a case by case basis. Within 5 years, we will conduct a new audit of the performance on the set of plans which were used to justify initial numbers, with a special emphasis on program completion and citizen satisfaction," said the Minister. "For example, we have increased subsidies to Food production in accord with the request for new vertical permaculture experimentation programs we are launching in Odufaray. Within 5 years the Ministry is expected to conduct an audit of the programs, in that case, it would be criteria like additional acrage planted, bushels produced and people fed. Those programs which malfunction can be suspended by Ministries when a malfunction is completed, but this also needs to be reflected in the post audit budgeting."

Phase 2 of the shift from Program based to performance based budgeting will follow the first audit, and will reflect both a sober evaluation of the goals and outcomes in Phase 1, as well as an evaluation of the needs of successful programs. "We will also take a look at some good programs which failed for reasons other than poor conception. Occasionally, We expect implementation to be an issue, and we will extend these programs for another phase to allow administrators to make adjustments and bring the programs in line with expectations and program goals." The goal is to create an opportunity to provide more services for more people in the Republic, and save money to the tax payer.

"In Phase 1," said Finance Minister Delgado, "We have increased the military budget to reflect the increased costs of operating a full time regular military, as well as social services, Ag and Infrastructure. Smaller programs took a hit. Our Head of State's Budget was decreased slightly due to budget requests from the President of the Republic's office. " But levels were set based on a percentage of the Total Revenues collected by the Republic, which have been remarkably stable over the years. "We cut the surplus from 56.5 percent to 49 percent of revenues, but the ultimate goal is to cut the surplus as well from the supply side, lowering taxes, and aiming for about a 15-20 percent of revenues, without cutting services."

The new spending bill is expected to pass easily and performance based budgeting will go into effect upon passage.


Republican Budget Proposal

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Second leg of "Skankin Kali" picks up Vrassan band Interrogators
Tour rolls on for 26 more dates
Port Swedes, Vrassa
February 19, 4897


Vrassa City Ska band The Interrogators join the Spring leg of the Skankin Kali Tour

The Fans demanded it, and the Bands agreed: Skankin Kali, an incredibly tour featuring Red Tone opening for The Gang has added 26 shows to their tour schedule this Spring. The Tour, sponsored and promoted by ARC records, has also added a new and upcoming act to share the bill: The Interogators, a two tone and skapunk outfit from Vrassa City will be joining the tour, during the Spring Leg.

"Really, its kinda like a second tour," said Red Tone's Monica Pella. "We thought we were done, and then fans were coming up to us after the show, when we were just out in the crowd and listening to The Gang, and they were like 'Oh, uh... My brother wanted to come see the show, but he's in the NSP right now training, so like he can't get to the show...' And I was like 'Look guys we gotta do something about this... So many people wanted to check us out, but sell out shows kinda keep a lot of people from coming in and just having a great time! What can we do, f--kin... ARC. What can you do?' I was talkin to [The Gang's lead singer] Budnig, and he was like 'Yeah, we'll work, they get us shows, and we're there.' and Red Tone was like 'We're there too.'"

In the end, ARC was happy to add 26 additional dates, with larger venues booked for show in places where multiple shows had been sold out. "This last tour was mostly clubs, though some Arenas like at Yoshimi," said Pella. "Now its all these major venues in like every city across the Republic. And like this will be the Interrogators' First tour too. Like these Big shows. But like we met Amy [Interrogator Amy, the lead singer of the Interrogators] when we were playing up in Vrassa and she was like hella cool with us and we hung out and they were just these fun beer drinking ska kids, doing it in their own scene and their shows had like 50 people at them, and so we checked them out and then introduced them to... uh who was that dude... Frank from A&R who listened to their demo... It was cool and he was like 'Put them on the damn tour.' So they opened for us in Port Swedes when we played up there, first time they were ever on stage like that and the got the crowd bouncing!"

The Gang, as always were amenable to continue the tour. "I mean, we are still writing new songs and trying out some new stuff," said Kevin Budnig of the Gang, "but people like our hits, so as long as we are able to get these kids jumping up and down and pogoing around, and getting paid for that? Who wouldn't want to just do this forever." When asked if he wasn't getting bored playing the band's old hits, he answered matter of factly, "Well, I mean, all these guys know every word to our songs. They give it all when we ask them to sing, so if they can do it, night after night, that sort of energizes us too." The Gang is not worried about being relegated to the Nostalgia circuit though. Their new Album, "Death And Taxes" was a major seller in the third quarter, fueled largely by concert exposure. "We sold a lot of records at the shows, but like all these kids... (Hahaha, listen to me, I, like, so totally sound like Monica now...) all these fans went out and bought their friends copies too... It was wild," said Budnig.

The concert will carry on through the Republic, revisiting a lot of the same ground. The Addition of the Interrogators has inspired both Red Zone and the Gang to come up with a new Set list that includes more straight up Ska and less skapunk, to keep the aesthetic similar to the Interrogators. "We look at it like we are all hella supporting each other on this tour," said Pella. "We got the Rookies with the Interrogators, The Replacements who's Red Tone, and the Elder Statesmen of Kalistani Ska right now, The Gang. That arrangement basically means that we share the limelight and all the ups and downs of the tour." Interrogator Amy agreed: "These guys are so sweet, they took my band right in. Our first night we went out drinking and bonded like a family, and argued a little about politics..." (Interrogator Amy describes herself as a devoted liberal, and definitely not a socialist), "and basically really got to know each other, our style, our influences that kind of stuff. They just took us under their wing and me and Mon call each other 'Big Sister' and 'Little Sister'. It's really cute."

The first date for the Spring leg of the Skankin Kali tour is set for Vrassa City Metroplex on March 3, and the show will run until June 10, where it will finish up just before Sulari Subsplash, where The Gang and Red Tone will both play sets.

Here's "Next to Me", from the Skankin Kali Tour's newest members, The Interrogators