Kalistani Major History

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Kalistani Hip Hop Fans roundly reject D-Rap trend
Ancient but very unpopular rap style draws immediately and violent backlash
Kaliburg, Ananto
April 20, 5058


D-Rapper Lil Duce assaulted at concert in Kaliburg

Called "the worst kind of rap" by fans and critics alike, D-Rap has reared its regressive head in the Republic once more. Over the last three years, as popular attention was turned toward Suldanor and pop punk, across the capital, in underground clubs, a terrible mixture of talentless rappers and mouth numbing drugs was brewing. The result was the return of D-Rap, a regressive form of rap with its origins in New Endralon, that first found fame online among unsigned rap artists who first utilized both easily available pro-tool suites on laptops and the rise of internet streaming services to pass their "mixtapes" around among their friends. Gradually the rap form made its way to Kalistan, where it became popular among underground car modification enthusiasts named "clowns" who used to play the music while racing their heavily modified cars on the streets of Kaliburg late at night.

D-Rap was largely forgotten as a music form, much to nobody's surprise, because its musicians were more suicidal than even Grit in its smacked up heyday. Kalistani D-Rap artists died more frequently from drug overdose, and at a much earlier age, than any other demographic in the entire Republic, and very soon, the unimaginative rap flows, which focused on triplets rapped over half time beats to give the illusion of fast rap, slurred unintelligible gibberish words, and rainbow hair and face tattoos died a natural and entirely predictable death. D-Rappers either died or retired, and by the end of the mania, there was no active D-Rapper older than the age of 24. It goes without saying that D-Rap popularity was, in its first phase, inversely proportional to the size of Socialist support in society.

Today, D-Rap has regained some of its popularity in very small underground clubs with very selective clientele in the Capital. Over the last couple years, D-Rap artists have returned to Kalistani streaming services. Most Hip Hop artists want absolutely nothing to do with them. And much of the derision has turned violent. Hip Hop legend Skinny J was arrested four years ago for assault when three famous D-Rappers Mad James, Lil Giant and Lil Bastard climbed on stage during one of J's concerts and demanded the attention of the crowd. "They were trying to say something," said Skinny J in a statement following his arrest, "but nobody could understand them, they were so f-d up and just mumbling about p--sy and sh-t like that. So when I decided to get my mic back from that dude Lil Bastard, he pushed me... Now, like, I have like 175 pounds and about a foot and a half on this guy, so I shoved him and knocked him into the stacks, and well one of them fell on him and he got hurt pretty bad. The other two attacked me, and I had to lay them out too."

As a matter of fact, most D-Rap shows are marred by violence. "Either they are shooting each other," said Precinct Commander Carole Xavier, "or more commonly, their shows are raided by both punks and hip hop fans who become so disruptive that the show has to end early." Such a disturbance happened at a Lil Duce show last Friday, where Lil Duce was onstage, and the entire crowd was composed of hip hop fans, skinheads, and mohawked punks. "Like, whydayeenpayfahahtikit is like f--kindumbdedazz bruh, nahumsayin?" said Lil Duce after the show. Duce's manager Dax Crookston asked Duce to consider cancelling the show, given the obvious hostility of the crowd, but Lil Duce decided to go on with the show.

After being loudly booed and hit several times with flying beer bottles before the first "song" ended, Duce decided that he was going to try crowd surfing. As he jumped off stage, the crowd caught his leg and proceeded to lift him up, tossing him high into the air and crashing his head into the discoball that was hanging from the ceiling. They caught him before he hit the ground again and stood him up before two particularly heavy guys, one hip hop fan and one punk proceeded to assault him. Crookston immediately called the metropolitan police, who rushed in, saving Duce's life and dispersing the crowd. Fourteen arrests were made, though it was unclear whether the actual assailants were caught.

Duce suffered two broken teeth and three broken ribs from the incident, which is growing far more common, as D-Rap tries to break out of the underground. One concert goer who witnessed the Duce assault said "Yeah, not on my watch BRUHHHHH. Take a hint you rainbow haired face tattoo freaks: Your sh-t is GARBAGE!"

Clearly there is a very violent reaction to any hints of the return of D-Rap to Kalistan.

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President Delgado addresses Crowd at Kaliburg Republican University
Regals in story of success, admonition to work for Republic
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 1, 5058


President Delgado takes questions from sold out audience at Carleton Hall, on Campus of Republican University

The President of the Republic spoke last night before an assembled crowd of 3500 in a standing-room only auditorium on the campus of Kaliburg Republican University, in Capital Hill last night. The show, which featured many anecdotes of the President's long and impressive life, also featured an impassioned admonition for students to enter national service. Tickets were available in blocks: The vast majority of the tickets went to students, and were funded through the Student Activity Fee, while about 25% of the tickets were reserved for the community at large on a first come first serve, one ticket per attendee basis. The program was a benefit for the renovation of the National Speedway in Lolla, to rebuild the dirt track around the outside of the Demolition Derby Arena following a dramatic six car crash that destroyed a 1400 foot section of the track three months ago.

"It has been said that in a past life, I was myself," said President Delgado, to much laughter and applause. "But I have long held that National Service requires many life times: the work is never done. It always requires a new generation to keep up the work of the previous generations to ensure that the institutions of our Republic do not rust and decay. Our history is littered with epochs where that was the case and each and every time it takes a monumental society wide dedication to restore the Republic to its baseline form."

The President encouraged students to get involved. "Do not wait until your Republic decays before you. If you do not have plans following graduation, feel free to re-enlist in the NSP. Or take your skills and your smarts to one of the National Industries. Or, if you are so inclined, start your own business. Anyway you do it, always keep your eye on not only what you will gain for yourself, but the good you will do our Republic."

Between exhortations toward national service, the President shared stories about mountain climbing, sailing, and travelling the world. "While I have certainly lived a truly remarkable life," said Delgado, "I could not have done it without the benefits I have enjoyed as a citizen of this Republic. Like you, I did my time in the NSP: I worked in various agricultural operations here in Ananto and in Odufaray during my time in. And then when my service was complete, I left the NSP and proceeded to claim my birthright as a citizen of this Republic. This nation made sure that if I failed, I would not starve, the way they do in capitalist nations. Because of the solid floor of the Basic income and the various social rights we all possess, I was not afraid to innovate and risk: I knew no matter what new innovations I tried, I would not ever live a hard life. There is a certain freedom in certainty, I can say."

The President spent nearly half the evening taking questions from the audience. The questions ranged from "Did you really parallel park a train in Vrassa?" ("no: that is not actually possible.") to "What classes would you recommend a student who wants to understand the world best take?" (philosophy and physics) to "Is there a First Lady?" ("Why should I limit myself to just one?") to "Why would the Government vote to ban smoking for minors?" ("They did not ban smoking for minors; the effects of that law was to ban sales of cigarettes and tobacco to minors, not the use of tobacco among minors, and while that law passed over strong objection by the Socialist Party on civil liberties grounds, it is based in concern for the health of the youth, who are particularly susceptible to addiction of nicotine, and whose lungs are particularly susceptible to lifelong damage due to cigarette smoke.")

Overall the President's speech and answers to questions were very entertaining and quite informative and the crowd left both entertained and enlightened. Most reported that they felt that the President was a very likable man, and only one person The Republic spoke with said that he did not enjoy the evening. "That Metzist bastard needs to retire," said Orlando Flowers, the solitary negative critic, who described himself as "apolitical" but also added that he objects to the entire National Service Program. "It was like a commercial for Communism," said Flowers. "I do not believe that the government should exist. Only Corporations. Capitalism forever."

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The Republic Sits Down with President Delgado
Socialist talks government reorganization, agricultural progress
Kaliburg, Ananto
October 8, 5062


President of the Republic Robert Delgado gives brief interview over cigars and drinks

Named one of the classiest and most interesting heads of state in Terra, President of the Republic Robert Delgado-Bennots sat down with The Republic's Maya Jones-Broward for a brief one on one interview at the Presidential Apartment in Downtown Kaliburg. Topics discussed in the interview were the Socialist's recent unity Government bill, their upcoming revision of the tax code and the budget, agricultural progress on the Mainland and a renewed push to modernize the Navy.

M(aya) J(ones-Broward): Thank you for your time, Comrade President.

(President of the Republic) R(obert) D(elgado-Bennots): It is my pleasure. Naturally, however, we must focus on business.

MJ: Yes, unfortunately.

RD: Of course. For the time being, at least.

MJ: The Socialist Government of Kalistan recently moved two somewhat controversial bills in the Assembly which essentially make Kalistan a one Party Government and return the 1 Ruble tax bracket. What are the Party's motivations behind these two pieces of legislation.

RD: We are currently without a Premier, as the National Conservatives have disbanded, and the Folksparty is also on the verge of disbanding. They have not shown up for a vote in perhaps two years. Consequently, the Socialists are the only active Party right now with any seats. It is our intention to therefore establish a caretaker government who will immediately call for new elections and then I will ask the Assembly to create a new government out of the Parties which have seats. As for the tax bill, it merely raises about 3 billion new Rubles, adding less than 1 fifth of a percent to revenues, but allows all Kalistani citizens an opportunity to buy in to the Republic. The principle that all shall contribute what they can to the Republic is a very near and dear principle of Kalistani Socialism and is one we have always stood for.

MJ: It is said that you intend to conduct constitutional reform in the near future.

RD: Yes, the Party will move to restore the traditional term length of six years, and re-establish the Presidential Prerogative and the Separation of Powers, which we have informally kept during Socialist Administration.

MJ: These policies will be very unpopular among the minor Parties.

RD: It is true, but these are Kalistan's traditions which have long brought stability and good government to our Republic.

MJ: Moving on, do you aim at changing the budget?

RD: Once the tax bill has passed, I have asked the Acting Premier to draft a new budget which reflects our increased obligations in Agriculture and Infrastructure, as well as start a military modernization program in the Republic. The one contribution of the Folksparty to our Republic was to encourage an ongoing commitment to investment in the Mainland Districts, and it is our aim to continue to see this through. Additionally, we have been approached by the Government of Deltaria about the sale of decommissioned naval equipment, which would enhance our security in the Strait and allow us to further guarantee an enhanced security of the Northern Anantonese Ocean.

MJ: Will that come with security commitments to Deltaria?

RD: I imagine it will improve our relationship with that government, but I do not think it will mean alignment. Kalistan has always gone its own way in foreign policy, and has striven to stay out of international conflicts. What the great powers do or do not do is of little concern to the Republic, unless of course they decide to start sailing through our National Waters, of course.

MJ: Kalistan has never had a navy capable of mounting an effective blockage of the Straits. Without a massive overhaul of the Navy, this will likely remain the case.

RD: This is true, but since you know your history, you are aware that we do not have to mount a full defense; we simply need to make it more costly for navies to go into the Strait than to go around on the Lourenne side of Ananto. Then the only nations who decide to challenge us in the Strait are the pigheaded, and the dogmatic adherents to the fiction of international law. And most of them are not capable of seriously pushing that nonsense in Kalistani National Waters. The Republic always prefers peace: Modern destroyers will help us ensure that peace is maintained, and that it is too costly for the navies of the world to stupidly and petulantly sail through our National Waters. Besides: the Kalistani Strait has been claimed as National Territory for thousands of years. The world has, for the most part recognized that claim and have helped us maintain peace in the Northern Anantonese by not instigating conflict over the Strait. We don't really need to relitigate it.

MJ: I believe this is all the time we have for today, Comrade President.

RD: That is a real shame. I was about to play some records, and pour myself another drink.

MJ: All the more reason to end this interview Comrade. Tape Recorder off?

RD: Tape Recorder off. That is a good plan.

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Kaliburg Punk Scene takes a decidedly non-Pop turn
Critics are already calling Speed crossover variant "Thrasher Metal"
Kaliburg, Ananto
September 18, 5063


Kaliburg Punk Scene, exemplified by the band Alternica adopts denim, long hair as a reaction to poppunk

The bloom is off the poppunk movement of last decade, which reached its zenith at the most recent GanJam in Yoshimi. Dana-affiliated bands have moved on to making more adult oriented records as their audiences begin to enter middle age. Meanwhile, the punk movement, which many proper music critics had hoped would be driven back underground, is slowly re-emerging with a much more gritty sound.

This riff-driven, punk inflected form of hard rock takes elements of metal, hardcore punk, and to some degree protest music, and blends them into a new sound, which is currently being called "speed" by those who play it, but which is derided in the press as "thrasher metal". Most notorious "thrashers" who use the sound are the strongly anti-war speed band Alternica, who formed in Suldanor, but relocated to Kaliburg as they began playing shows, because they preferred the harder edged Kaliburg scene, the Port Swedes speed act Pneumonia, and their brother act Liberal Fascists of Deth, which actually has two members of Pneumonia in it, as well as Kaliburg's MegaDoom and Sulari's speed skatepunk Thrashers. All major speed bands now call Kaliburg their base of operations, regardless of where they began.

"The thing about Speed," said Dave Crewes, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Alternica, "is that its basically skatepunk just sped up and played with metal tuning. Its like metal you can mosh to, which we know our fans really dig, can you feel me?" In fact, Speed is the new sound in Kaliburg clubs, and dance floors are often raucous affairs where people of all size and disposition slam dance and run into and bounce off of one another. The most common dance move, especially performed by long haired fans of Thrasher Punk is the "headbang" which resembles long haired young men and women banging their heads into an invisible table repeatedly, while their hair follows a split second. It is not uncommon for moshers to end up bloody in the pits of some of these shows.

While most of the content takes a strong ly anti-authoritarian tilt which tends to align politically with the Socialist Party of Kalistan, the topics of songs vary from a criticism of organized religion--a feature of Thrasher's lyrics, for example-- to Alternica's very strongly and explicitly anti-war message. Pneumonia sings primarily about social unity, and stopping those who seek to promote divisions in society, reserving most of their recent fire for the increasingly right wing Kalistani Party, while Liberal Fascists of Deth mock political correctness and social custom that requires individuals to censor themselves. "MegaDoom is apocalyptic," said lead singer Colm Ross. "We really are waiting for it all to just burn down, and things are about to get a lot worse if these nutjobs that are currently in government remain there."

To gage the popularity of Speed, the band Alternica recently signed with KMI to a three record deal. "They said, if we don't hit by the end of three records," said Crewes in August, "then we're free to record with another label. But if we do hit, there's room at this table for all the Speed bands. We're bringing everyone."

With the rise of this harder, more metal infused music in Kalistan, the days of poppunk seem in the past, and another chapter of popular Kalistani Music is opened.

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Kaliburg Thrasher Band Alternica releases Deth to All
Debut album launches at 155 on Album Charts
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 1, 5063


Deth to All is first major Thrasher record to be released by KMI

Making a major move into metal, KMI released the debut album from newly signed Speed band Alternica, titled Deth to All to modest sales. The album landed at #155 on the KRTVN Hard Rock Chart, and 175 on the Hot 200.

"We expected maybe 10,000 sales," said KMI spokesman Vic Bernal. "So we were surprised by the numbers we did. Alternica is not exactly a mainstream band, so 37,000 albums sold across the Republic, even after our fairly extensive marketing campaign exceeded our expectations."

Dave Crewes of Alternica said, "We're getting ready to tour across the Republic. We've built a pretty loyal following in Sulari, Kaliburg, Eveari and Vrassa City. So it will be nice to head back out and see our fans. I suspect we are getting bigger: we used to play these dingy basement venues that held like 45 people. Now we're in theaters that seat 300. If you do the math, that's pretty good." Crewes was referring to the upcoming Speed Demons' tour with recently added labelmates Thrashers, who have adopted the pejorative term as their band name. "We'll be on the road for 25 shows. And then after that, its back to the studio." Thrasher, for their part, expect to record their first album after the tour.

It is expected that all the Speed punk bands that are cropping up will slowly make their way onto KMI labels. With Last Chance still working with Poppunk acts, LTD Records recording exclusively in Egellion, VDR is more of a regional label releasing Vrassan music for largely Vrassan audiences, and ARC still going strong as the primary alternative album in the Republic, KMI has long served as the main pop and easy listening label. But with a new A&R team taking a chance on Thrash metal, KMI aims to get ahead of a major trend in music.

"We think fans are ready for a harder edge in music," said Bernal. "The over performing debut of Deth To All is a bit of data in favor of that hypothesis. We'll continue to support Alternica of course, and we'll slowly bring in more Speed bands over the coming months. Luckily, this music is just far enough outside the mainstream that the market can't be saturated, and close enough to the major trends in recent music as to not be a niche. Its a sweet spot that KMI can really make use of."

The first single from Deth To All is the punk track "Dim the Lights" which you can listen to here.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=863fYC-Mb_Q]

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Please see below for a collection of snippets from various news articles regarding recent affairs in Kalistan.

Hope for Kalistan

March 5063

In a stunning result Hope Charity has become the new President of Kalistan after receiving over 59% of the vote in the First Round of the Kalistan Presidential elections. Although the first time that the Kalistani Party had put forward a Presidential candidate, the new President has a background in politics as a former member of the Liberal Democratic Party. Given sparse opinion polling the result shocked much of the media who had expected the long term dominant Socialist Party to retain its majority in the National Assembly and for President Robert Delgado-Bennots to win a third term.



The new President Hope Charity

The Kalistani Party (KP) has confused some political academics who have struggled to define the party. It is clear that at the National Assembly election the KP swept up the anti-Socialist Party vote, although it is uncertain if this was an endorsement of the KP, or a rejection of the incumbent government. However, KP politicians are more clearly of a pro-small government, pro-capitalism political bent. Prominent supporters include those who wish to reform agriculture and free up Kalistan's fishing industry. Another prominent strain of supporters is those of a religious background who seek greater religious freedom in the country. The Socialist Party have been quick to seize upon the fact that a number of prominent KP figures are relatively recent migrants from Baltusia, including the new President whose parents migrated to Kalistan before she was born.

Inexperienced government takes over

July 5063

The Kalistani Party (KP) have passed a new cabinet. With a narrow majority in the National assembly the KP effectively have full control of legislative power until the next set of elections planned for March 5067. However, critics of the new government have pointed out that this is the most inexperienced government to come to power in Kalistan in generation. A member of the opposition Socialist Party was flabbergasted that the new Foreign Minister Karen Baker did not have a detailed understanding of the 4881 crisis between Kalistan and Baltusia. However, President Charity has been keen to get progress a new government in order to support the implementation of the KP agenda.

Foreign Minister announces shift towards engagement with Kalistans neighbours

August 5063

The Foreign Minister unveiled in a press conference today that Kalistan would look to "develop closer ties with its regional neighbours"

Historically previous Kalistani governments have worked hard to develop strategic relations with distant neighbours, but we wish to work to deepen relations with our near-neighbours in northern Seleyah and across the straits in Keris. By working to solve regional issues we can build a more stable near abroad for Kalistan.

Opposition members were unimpressed with the contents of the speech and raised concerns that such activity risked alienating historic partners. Some members of the opposition question the patriotism of the Kalistani Party and have taken to calling the KP the "Baltusian Party of Kalistan" given the heritage of some key politicians within the KP, including President Charity, whose parents were born in Baltusia.

Brett Gullivan launches Kalistani Football Championship

October 5063

Billionaire industrialist Brett Gullivan has launched a series of franchises for the Kalistani Football Championship. Kalistani Football has remained a largely amateur sport, but Gullivan is hoping a professional league will be a big money earner and generate signficiant TV revenues. The government is currently voting to make Kalistani Football the national sport, although this has drawn intense opposition from the opposition party who claim the sport is nothing but copy of sports from neighbouring countries.



College Kalistan Football is popular at Kalistani Universities

Brett Gullivan aims, but the autumn of 5064, to have established a professional football team in each of Kalistan's major cities and to start the inaugural Championship. This paper is unsure of how popular such a sporting proposal will actually be, but with government support and some business interest this journalist is going to get the beer ready and work out which team to support.

Fartlover Party disbands

December 5063

Quiz masters across Terra will have a new set of questions to ask in pub quiz's following the demise of Kalistan's "joke" party, the interestingly named Fartlovers Party. The party, formed in May 5062, managed to pass the electoral registration processes and spectacularly won 26 seats in elections to the national legislature in March 5063. However following a lack of activity (including failing to take seats in the National assembly), the Electoral Commission has decided to de-register the Fartlovers Party and suspend its elected members. Over to the political scientists for working out where the party' electorate will move to.

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Thrasher Releases Debut Album Burn Everything
Defiantly anti-Religious album terrifies moralists across the Republic
Sulari, Suldanor
April 7, 5064


Thrasher, the Speed Punk band from Sulari, after a session of C&C last fall

Notorious tabletop Roleplayers and demonic anti-Religious speedpunks Thrasher, for whom almost an entire genre is labeled, released their debut album this week. Fans went to stores and bought copies like hotcakes, while some moralist and parent groups called for the State to take a stronger stand on what they deemed to be "Offensive Lyrics".

"We have a Hosian Government in Kalistan," said Karen Andrews, who leads the hastily organized Parents Against Gratuity and Neophilia (or PAGN for short). "We expect our government to step in an force these demon worshippers to cease their corrosive influence on the good and clean morality of our society Our children should not have to listen to foul mouthed lyrics where they mock God, where they call religion 'ridiculous', where they play loud guitars and fast drums and where they get up to who knows what demonic rituals when they play their Catacombs and Cathulus games or whatever satanailic nonsense they play on the weekends. Our children need to hear ONLY the word of God, as taught by his ordained preachers, and nothing else. These evil men are SOCIALISTS!"

For the record PAGN represents more than 50 families, all of whom belong to ultra-Hosian churches in the Republic. All major Brethrenist Meetings in Kalistan, representing more than 86 Million Kalistanis, has distanced themselves from what they call "hate mongering and thoughpolicing" by the PAGN.


Thrasher's debut album, Burn Everything, on KMI, features art inspired by popular RPG Catacombs and Cathulus

Over sporadic protest, primarily in conservative Vrassa, KMI released Thrasher's Burn Everything, which is primarily a record of blistering guitar riffs, bombastic drums, and monster bass lines. Singer and bassist Thomas Menendez, from Sulari, sings songs often in the guise of a Satanalic alter-ego, describing soul reaving, evil and mockery of God and religion in general. "Well, to be honest," said Menendez, "I am a devout and practicing Aurorian, But my religious beliefs are my own, and I don't speak for anyone, or try to convert anyone. My beliefs aren't reflected in Thrasher's Music. Nor should they be: A special pit in Hell is reserved for those who force their religious views down other people's throats, or use their public position to legislate their morality into law." When asked about the obvious contradiction between the things he sings about and his professed adherence to religion, he says, "Hey, its rock and roll. Like if you are too stupid to know the difference between reality and the stupid sh-t they say in rock and roll songs, you really do deserve, like, demon possession, you know, because like being that stupid means you are already in a hell of sorts."

The controversial record, following on the heels of KMI's release of Alternica's Deth To All shot into the top 100 on the KRTVN's album charts. "We were like 'we hit 99 fellas!'" said Lead guitarist, the bestudded Cary Koenig. "so we decided to play some C&C and smoke some weed and celebrate." Koenig spoke about the importance of the popular roleplaying game to the band, "Like everything we know about Satanail we learned playing C&C. We've played together since we were kids. But then one day we were like, 'Bro, if we keep sitting in here playing this game, we're never gonna get any women.' so we made a band, and decided that whatever what going on, we were gonna do it harder, faster, louder, more brutally, more energetically. When we debuted at 99 it was like rolling a Nat 20!"

The four years of brutal shows in and around Sulari at first but more recently in the Kaliburg proving ground have now paid off as the second major Speed band begins its assent up the Hard Rock charts in Kalistan. The first single from the record and crowd favorite from live shows, the thrash Medley "Metal Typhoon/Face the Thrasher" is already playing on hard rock radio across the Republic.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI7ElD61o68]

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Is Kalistan Ready for Football? New Survey says "Yes... but..."
Independent academic study shows there is support for Pro Football in the Republic
Kaliburg, Ananto
May 17, 5064


Increasing support for Kalistani Football may serve to buttress changes in National Sport

The details of a new study were released today that showed growing support in the Republic for the development of a professional Football league. The study, conducted over the last three months, by the Department of Sociology and the McGuirk Center for Sociology of Sport located at Kaliburg Republican University in Capital Hill Kaliburg, interviewed more than 4700 respondents across the Republic. The margin of error in the study is less than 1%, given the large sample size.

""We found that in all five Districts, there was fairly tepid support for professional football, at first," said Dr. Melinda Yates, who authored the study and recently published its results in the Journal of Athletics and Kinesthetics. "Most respondents were concerned about disparities of compensation between owners and players, which seems to be an anecdotal issue for more than 60 percent of those who answered the survey." When surveyors proposed some methods to ensure equity between owners and players, support for a professional league increased from about 46 percent favorable to more than 80 percent favorable. "In fact, when we discussed measures like a salary cap for owners to bring their compensation on line with the players of the franchises, we saw a dramatic increase in support, especially among Socialists, who expressed the most concern about owners who do not actually take any of the injuries or spend any time on the field nonetheless being allowed to skim profits."

Other matters of concern were efforts by any potential league to be in all five districts. "Fans do not want to have to travel very far to see a game, but since the current national sport, Demolition Derby happens mainly at arenas in Kaliburg and Sulari, while only small and scrappy dirttracks exist throughout much of the rest of the Republic, fans want to ensure there is a franchise close enough for them to actually attend the games. Some say it will increase support and social cohesion, and a general sense of commonality in society if there is something binding the countryside with the cities."

Fans also noted that they would be interested in international competition. One fan even noted "It would be good for some healthy competition between us and our neighbors. Since they refuse to do anything with the Demolition Derby, I mean, why not football?"

These results show that there is fairly widespread interest in a Republican Football league, with the important caveat of equity between owners and players. Ticket prices, access to venues, medical care, and capitalist activities around the games generally did not register very high among the list of concerns for respondents.

Finally, when asked if there would be support for changing the National Sport from the Demolition Derby, about 51% of respondents answered they would like it to be changed, while 31 percent were emphatically against the change, and another 20 percent were ambivalent but generally favorable when pressed for an answer. This shows the strongest support for the Government's policy to date, and forecloses any Socialist opposition to the change. The Socialist Party, for its part have already begun softening on the issue, and have announced publicly that as long as the Kalistani League retains its fierce independence and National Identity from other nations, it will withdraw its opposition. Socialist transportation magnate Jeff Bennots has publicly expressed interest in becomming a junior partner in any Football league that is developed in the Republic.

Given expressed support for the new Sport, The Republic now awaits the next moves from organizers.

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The Kalistani Football League gets the green light!

July 5064

It’s official! After some concerns that not enough bids would be put forward, billionaire and sports enthusiast Brett Gullivan has confirmed that the twentieth and final franchise has been set up to complete the rosta for the inaugural Kalistani Football Championship. Each District has been allocated four slots in the 20 team Championship, with the four largest cities in each District each hosting a team. With the season looking to begin in September, Brett Gullivan had only signed up 18 teams, but at the last minute both Luxon in Ananto and Yoshimi in Suldanor put together packages that were endorsed by the sports governing body and have been accepted for the 64/65 season.



Chyou Tsui and Tom Ableson put together the successful franchise package for the new Luxon Football Team.

Teams for profit?

The franchises are not what you might expect. Brett Gullivan outlined in his original plan that 35% of each team will be owned by the fans (20%), local government (10%) and players and staff (5%) thus complying with legislation that one-third of corporate boards must consist of employees. The remaining 65% will be open to investors, including private individuals, private businesses and state-owned firms. Brett Gullivan is an enthusiastic believer that local industries, whether private or state owned, should be encouraged to support civic projects, and he believes it is entirely appropriate that KALNAPECO and KALMILINCO have invested in teams. Of these investors, no one can own more than 25% of a single club, hence it will be impossible for a single individual to outright own a team and a diverse range of ownership has been actively encouraged.

Local government involvement

In 5052 the Kalistani government passed the States Sports Club Act which allowed for the government to fund sports clubs. Under the provisions of this legislation, the Kalistani Football Championship has worked with local government to ensure that sports stadiums for the franchises will be built on land owned by local governments, funding for construction will be split between local government and private business and a system of profit sharing will exist to ensure that local government benefits from any profits, with ticket sales eventually recouping government investment. This will also encourage investment in local infrastructure, including roads, housing and other facilities such as leisure centres and restaurants.



Although for the 64/65 seasons existing pitches associated with universities will largely be used, it is anticipated that by 5070 the sports league will have a fully functioning sets of stadiums, with current designs ranging from 35,000 to up to 80,000 seats with the capital team Kaliburg putting in the most ambitious bid.

Fan power

Under the complicated ownership models, each franchise will have a supporters groups open to all fans that will take a collective 20% ownership stake in individual teams. These shares, bought for a nominal membership, will entitle fans to vote on key decisions and will also ensure that fans are involved in profit sharing. The aim is to engage fans and combined with local government part ownership of stadiums will help to cement the relationship between teams and their local communities.



Players are already getting involved with youth teams

Is it also planned that professional athletes will engage with local communities, supporting sports in local schools and charity work with disadvantaged communities. Brett Gullivan is a firm believer that “athletes can be great role models encouraging a healthy mind and body” and has always been keenly supportive of charity work through the Republic.

Championship Governing Body

Brett Gullivan will be the first President of the governing body. Each franchise will have one member on the governing body, each District will also have a member representing amateur football leagues and there will also be a board member representing College Football, for a total membership of 27 members. The governing board will decide future policy for the league, including discussions still to take place on transfers of players between teams and ceilings on wages to ensure that no single club can dominate the league through paying higher wages.

The Draft

Finally, to encourage competitiveness between teams, prior to the start of each season new talent emerging from amateur football leagues will be subject to a draft that will evenly split new players between the different franchises.



Advertisement for the televised draft.

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McTimothys surge Kalistani Country Music sales

August 5064

The McTimothy’s have surprised music aficionados by reaching Number One with their Album “Take me home to West Vrassa”, a collection of original and covered Kalistani Country songs. The surge in sales has surprised many music critics, who’re more used to Kalistani Thrasher music. However, an increasing prominence for the Kalistani Country Music scene, coinciding with the expansion of private media, including radio and television, has increased sales across the board for a variety of fans.



The McTimothys at home on the ranch in rural West Vrassa.

The McTimothys, brothers and sisters, represent a much more wholesome band than what observers of the Kalistani music scene will be used to. It appears that conservative religious types are an underestimated segment of the music market.

Kalistani Country Music

Not so well known outside of Kalistan, Kalistan Country Music is a genre of music common in more rural areas of Kalistan, originating from church and folk music. It varies throughout the country, with coastal areas songs more akin to traditional sea shanties, while mountainous areas employ acoustic stringed instruments. The music usually consists of simple ballads and tunes, but over the years a variety of genres and sub-cultures have emerged, including “urban” country music. Interestingly country music is associated with the mainland and has made little impact on the island of Ananto. Likely because of this and the cultural role played by the capital Kaliburg, country music has rarely been exported and internationally is significantly less well known than other music styles such as Kalistani Thrasher music.

Amongst fashionable Kalistani’s trend setters, Country Music is often seen as “cringe” music, but the strong records sales of the McTimothy’s have shown that the music has selling power outside of traditional rural locales. It also coincides with a rising tide of conservatism and increased religious freedom in the country. It is a reminder that Kalistani is full of many different cultures with different tastes, including in music.