Kalistan

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ODEN concludes major Pharmaceutical deals with 3M and Keymon
Kalistan to produce millions of doses of popular therapeutics for the world
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 8, 4776


ODEN-K Warehouse in Kaliburg prepares for mass shipments overseas

The pharmaceutical industry, under the direction of ODEN-K, has been working overtime to fill invoices submitted by the Cartel in the last few months. The reason for the dramatically increased demand: two newly inked deals, one with one of the largest private corporate drug sellers in the world, the 3M corporation, and one with the Government of Keymon, who is looking to supply their country with treatments for ailments of all types.

All drugs produced in Kalistan fall under planning and quality regimes set by ODEN, but in the dual shipments, no illicit drugs will be supplied. "The buyers were quite clear on this matter," said ODEN director Lucas Warhol. "They did not want illicit pharmacology or controlled substances of any kind. So we had production focused on pharmaceuticals for treatment of disease and the symptoms associated with those ailments."

Kalistan does not permit medication to be patented, and the methods and formulas for pharmaceuticals are widely published, both in academic journals and online, for the world to use. "So far," said Warhol, "the only obstacles to mass production of pharmaceuticals is will and capital. But luckily, Kalistan, which has long been the leader in production of drugs of all kinds, has an abundance of both. We therefore naturally benefit from the willingness of others to buy drugs from us rather than produce them themselves."

ODEN-K will sell millions of doses of popular and specialized pharmaceuticals and therapeutics to 3M and Keymon at the ODEN market rate, which is substantially less than for-profit drug manufacturers who compete with ODEN can provide the drugs. "We not only benefit from scale," explained Warhol, "But we also have an excellent reputation and most importantly for purchasers, we have low overhead which does not include a need to pay dividends to our stock holders. This is the benefit of a socialized drug industry: The people of the world benefit, and so do our drug makers."

ODEN estimates that in its storehouse in Davon, Kaliburg, Ananto, it has more than enough supply and production capacity to meet the demand of ten orders as large as these two purchasers, "but these are our two largest purchasers in several decades. That means, we will need to spin up production to replace what is sold." On this news, pharmaceutical manufacturing stocks rose sharply in the Kalsie after a fairly lackluster last couple years.

[Doc]

Springfield Odufaray to host Leviathans of Metal Concert
Heavy and Alternative metal to be featured in three Day Concert Event
Springfield, Odufaray
February 18, 4776


Sludge Metal supergroup Hail the Leaf to headline Heavy Metal Festival

Kalistan's music has gone dark, and metal heads feel it is finally time for a festival of their own. Hence, promoters in Odufaray have banded together to organize the "Leviathans of Metal" Festival to be held at the Springfield Colosseum in Springfield Odufaray, between August 20th and 22nd of this year. Built on the model of the old GanJams, the three day event will feature lots of music and activities for concert goers. Events on side stages will feature burlesque performances, and promoters have contracted to have a 10 lane air conditioned bowling alley built on the site of the concert.

"We just want to have the opportunity to jam loud enough for the whole Republic to hear the show," said scheduled headliners Hail The Leaf's lead singer Donald Ambrose. "If the whole Republic can't hear us from the Jam, maybe they can come out to the show and jam with us!"


Hell in a Handbag, Grunge Night show closers, are set for national breakout

Like the GanJams of old, each night will feature a different style of music. On Night One, Grunge Metal will be featured with Night closers Hell in a Handbag scheduled to go on stage at 10:30. The day will feature mostly grunge and alternative metal, and will likely attract the most people. Hell in an Handbag's bassist, Maria Pepper said "Well, I mean, we've been gigging around the mainland for like 6 years, and it seems like finally the tastes of the critics have shifted in our direction. We're gonna burn this stage to the ground!" Hell in a Handbag will be releasing their first record on KMI in early August: the release was just recently pushed back a month to coincide with the Concert schedule. Also featured on Night 1 will be Kaliburg alternative metal bands "Junky Villa" and "Criminal Set" from Port Swedes Vrassa.

Night 2 will feature Progressive Metal and will be headlined by Gendaris band "Speak of the Deaf." Speak of the Deaf are known locally for their extremely precise and non-standard timing, as well as their political themes. Lead singer Edward Grimes recently described the band in the following manner: "You give people with OCD a whole bunch of aderall, and lock them in a room while you and the drummer go out and get drunk. Then come back, sing some poetry stuff over their music, and then wake up the next morning and listen to the masterpiece. I am just the dude who stands in front. These guys are nuts." Math rockers Crimson will also be featured on Day 2, and the day promises to be a tour de force of virtuosity.


Speak of the Deaf, the Progressive Metal Band from Gendaris, will headline Night 2

Night 3 will feature heavy metal and sludge, which is a variant of heavy metal that is slower and sloppier than regular heavy metal. Sludge metal icons "Hail the Leaf" will close the show on Night 3. Hail the Leaf has been making a national name for themselves recently. "We are really surprised by the success of our band," said Ambrose. "Like I get that people tend to go more for the poppier stuff, but one thing I have really been surprised about has been the makeup of our crowds. Like originally we had so many girls at our shows that dudes would come to the shows because that's where all the girls are on Friday Nights. We really make an effort to include the ladies, and you know if they want to get in the pit and mix it up, throw some elbows, clock some brother in the face with a spiked wristband, hey, that's what its all about." When asked what he thinks unites the "tribes" as he says it, Ambrose answered immediately: "The Weed. No doubt about it." Other bands scheduled to play Day 3 are Tempura, Dopefiend out of Neveras, and all-female Vagicrux. "It's a GREAT lineup," said Ambrose.

Republican Studios will be on hand to film the show. "We didn't put this together for a movie," said Ambrose. "I mean if they want to film it, whatever, but we want people to come to the show, not sit in a theater and watch it." Other smaller bands are more enthusiastic about the film crew's presence. Hell in a Handbag was among the most vocal supporters of the filming of the concert. "F--- those dudes!" said bassist Pepper, of Hail the Leaf's objections. "I want to see my face like two stories tall in an IMAX!" She said her band intends to be extra outrageous during their set, in hopes of monopolizing the film stock.

ODEN-K is not an official sponsor of the festival, but a spokesperson from the cartel said they will have a tent on the grounds. "We missed the Hall of fame show," said the official. "We gotta go where the people are!" Alcohol sales will be limited at the show, by request of most of the bands. "Booze, you know, just leads to fights and people getting attacked," said Pepper. "I mean, drink and have a good time, but if you're gonna be moshing, like try to be clean for a few minutes..." Grimes echoed the sentiment. "We all got our things, of course, but like, man, why even come to the show if you're gonna spend all your time puking in the portajohns? You know?" None of the bands seemed to have anything negative to say about unlimited marijuana sales on the grounds. "I mean, how do you think I get this voice? You think I wake up like this?" asked Ambrose rhetorically.

Tickets for the festival go on sale in May. A three day pass will cost concert goers 45 KRB, while Day passes for Days 1 and 2 will be 40 KRB each. As is traditional, Day 3 is free. More than 40,000 passes are expected to sell, and demand for passes is already high.

[Rogue]

Deltaria and allies hold ASDE exercises in Ananto Strait

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Defense Ministry discusses results of Deltarian Wargames in Strait
"We have some work to do," said Defense Minister
Kaliburg, Ananto
July 28, 4776


Defense Minister Honorario Sanchez addresses Republican readiness

Kalistan recently hosted the Deltarian navy's combat readiness exercise in the Ananto Strait codenamed "Ananto Strait Defensive Exercises" or ASDE. This exercise was the first of its kind in the Ananto Straits and featured naval forces from Deltaria, Malivia and Kalistan. To the exercises, Kalistan contributed several surface vessels, including two newly completed destroyers, and multiple frigates and corvettes built in coordination with Lourenne at the National Ship yards. Kalistani submarine forces did not participate in the exercise. Militia Navy also did not participate.

While the coordinated exercises yielded a major simulated kit for the Kalistani navy on a Deltarian carrier, the Defense Minister Honorario Sanchez acknowledged that Kalistan's defensive capabilities in the Strait during the exercise leave much to be desired. "Yes, we have some work to do. Given that Kalistan considers the Strait to be of primary strategic importance to Kalistan, it is incumbent upon our tactical forces to be able to mount a sufficient defense of this area. We were operating at a disadvantage, of course, due to the distance of the exercises from our rather impressive shore defensive capabilities. But this is not to say that a fairly important weakness has once more been highlighted for our naval doctrine: We are building a fortress in our land territories, but remain handicapped when the goal is to stop large forces from approaching the coast. Preventing that will limit the casualties on land and the destruction to national and private property."

The Defense Minister, in his evaluation has signaled a shifting of the submarine forces into the Strait to fill in some of the gaps in Kalistani defenses. "Our air might not be able to effectively counter the quick launch capabilities of an approaching carrier group in the blue water of the Strait, but the advantage of patrolling submarine cannot be denied." The Minister effectively quashed any hint of increasing the size of the navy, with the possible exception of the building of more submarines to take up posts on the Northern and Southern Limits. "We can do a lot with radar now. We have several early warning aircraft which maintain a watch over the Ocean for any threats, and are currently deploying a string of passive sonar buoys on the limits which should provide us with ample early warning, and allow us to deploy forces where they are needed. but building more destroyers is not the answer to the problem. Especially when we have more pressing national concerns: the resources would be wasted in the light of our diplomatic successes abroad."

The Defense Minister concluded his remarks by thanking the Delatrians for the opportunity to test out Kalistan's naval doctrine in the Strait. "We learned a lot. And were happy to meet our counterparts in Port Swedes after the exercise."

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[Doc]

Kalistani Sunsplash scheduled for March
Yoshimi Arena Named as site of Festival
Sulari, Suldanor
December 1, 4776


Posters go up for Kalistani Sunsplash Festival

On the heels of the very successful Leviathans of Metal festival in Springfield Odufaray last August, promoters have organized their next foray into the Kalistani Festival scene. Kalistani Sunsplash has been organized as a sort of Greeting of Spring festival and will be held in Yoshimi, Suldanor between March 27 and 28 of 4777.

Concert organizer Res Trent Young, 23, of Sulari, said he was inspired by the Leviathans of Metal concert. "Yes, I was at the show. Gotta support the scene. And I was like 'next we do a reggae show!' and (Young's girlfriend) Winnie was all about it. So me and the band got together and decided to contact some solid promoters, and Sunsplash was reborn."

Young, a fervent believer in the Rasezanai faith said his concert will be partially dedicated to the glory of Jah and Ras I Zana, Ezana Yakub. "As Jacob says, man, sing the praises of the Most High! We are raising our voices and singing." But even Young admits that the largest motivation is more earthly. "Well, man, I am just a fan of reggae, and I think it needs to regain its place in Kalistani society and the world."

Young was asked how many bands will play. "We are still finalizing the lineup, for sure. But like every reggae and ska band in Kalistan that I can think of has signed up. We got um, Roots Gang, like Humberto 5 from Ananto. Uh... Who else... Shaka Spear from here in Suldanor. We got a bunch of dub artists too, like The Chemist is supposed to do a set here and Eddie "Scratch" Terrance will play. We got a full lineup." Young lamented the lack of interest from bands from other countries. "We reached out to bands from some other countries, but basically got "no" from a lot of them, and no response from others. We were going to make this an international festival, but whatever. Kalistan has more than enough talent to fill up the bill."

The show will be sponsored by ODEN who will supply all ganja, for Rasezanai adherents. "Even those who are just rasezanai at the festival," said ODEN spokeswoman Michelle Fredrick, with a wink. "Basically all weed will be free for the show." Fredrick explained that ODEN has been slowly moving back into diversification and they finally got the greenlight to sponsor this show. "20 thousand pot smokers, ODEN... it just seems like it makes a lot of sense," said Fredrick. Young, for his part was very happy with the sponsorship. "We're really lucky that they came on board. When ODEN signed up, the concert went from like 2000 people in the park to 20,000 people in Yoshimi. Jah BLESS!"

Tickets for Kalistani Sunsplash go on sale in early January. The show starts at sundown on the 27th, and Young expects that musicians will still be jamming until well after the sun rises the next morning. "Passes for the show are like 36 KRB, and that's for like 15 bands. Totally worth it!" Young stated that 10% of the total net would go to helping wounded sea turtles, and he will be running a booth for donations to sea turtles with his girlfriend Winnie.

[Aquinas]

Esinsindu reggae musicians embark on "Freedom Tour" of Terra to raise awareness of racism in Malivia

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ODEN-K to sell Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies to Davostan
Solidifies Kalistan's place as top seller of Pharma
Kaliburg, Ananto
June 18, 4781


ODEN owned container ship sets sail for Davostan

Recently, the Organization of Drug Exporting Nations in Kalistan was contacted by the Occupation Commission in Davostan with a concern to find a new supply for therapeutic pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to help the nation recover from the devastating conflict which has wracked the nation. ODEN was contacted due to their exceedingly excellent reputation as a supplier of 3M corporation.

"We have received a 5 year exclusive contact from the Occupation authority in Davostan," said ODEN Director Edward Gragner. "Our container ship has been filled with surplus pharmaceuticals and paraphernalia, and will set sail for the port at Kivonia within the week." Granger stressed that ODEN does not usually take drugs offshore. "The ODEN ship has been registered with the Republic and currently sails under a Kalistani flag, and when we dock in Kivonia, the ship will serve as a floating warehouse."

The first order from ODEN consists of various pharmaceuticals, including NSAIDs, antibiotics, and blood thinners. "We also included several tons of sterile bandages, gauze, and antiseptics." The shipment also includes pharmaceutical grade narcotics for pain alleviation. "We know, of course, that narcotics can be seen as controlled, and we fully expect that the Davostan authority will appropriately control the more addictive substances, and use them only in cases where they are indicated for treatment."

The Director said he expects quarterly shipments of goods and supplies to travel from Kalistan to Davostan for the duration of the agreement. The announcement continued the bouyancy of Kalistani Pharma Stocks in the Kalsie.

[Doc]

Independent Record Producers to Take on KMI
New Cooperative to offer better royalties, more creative control to artists
Sulari, Suldanor
November 20, 4781


Main base of new Artists Recording Cooperative (ARC) in Sulari

For centuries, KMI has been the primary producer of records in Kalistan. Their studio model has carefully guided the careers of the main Kalistani music makers since the founding of the Record Company in the 4400s. And in the process, investors in the privately owned and tremendously successful record company have grown incredibly rich, largely by producing music at scale and sticking rigidly to the very tight "Schedule of Royalties and Licensing" that artists who sign with the producer agree to.

However, for the first time, KMI has a serious competitor. Dozens of independent producers, which are actually responsible for the majority of music made in the Republic, have banded together to form the Artists' Recording Cooperative. "When you sign a major deal," said producer and ARC co-founder Don Bernstein, "you basically give up a lot of freedom over your content, and you certainly trade earnings potential for a steady check. This model worked when Kalistan was building its record industry, but its time for a different model."

The ARC model is simple: ARC acts as distribution for a flat, unit-based fee. Rather than paying advances which KMI is well known for, and which ties the artist to the label, ARC aims to rent out studio space. ARC aims to open a record pressing facility, and provide server space for streaming that artists can pay for from their earnings. "At the end of the day, it leaves the choice of earnings up to the artist themselves," says Bernstein.

Along with the cutting of ties in the ARC model, comes relinquishment of creative control for the producer. "Since we are primarily a distributor, we think the artists themselves ought to control the quality of their music, their image, whatever. We are middlemen in the process of getting an artist's vision in front of as many people as possible. And I think this model will be very lucrative for us, because we also cut overhead to the bone." Bernstein said that the collective, with studios across the Republic, will allow artists to fine tune their sound to their own specifications, and allow even big artists to produce records that sound independent, if this is the aesthetic they seek.

Most alternative and independent artists in the Republic hailed the creation of the cooperative. "We couldn't get a deal with KMI if we tried," said punk band "Bomb The President"'s frontman Alex Donk. "We never met their image, our music wasn't quite to their standards, and more importantly, they never felt they could make money off us. But ARC wil give us a chance to be heard by a wider audience, and that sounds like something that we can get behind." But some were not so enthusiastic about the prospects of the fragmenting of the music industry. "This will lead in the decrease in quality in Kalistani music," said rock and roll journalist Dennis Gadea. "If these independents get together and start competing with KMI, we will see a dramatic decrease in the royalties paid to the most popular artists here in Kalistan. It might even be the death of the Kalistani record industry."

Bernstein defending the decision to band together: "In uniting all the main independent labels, we are ensuring that there is a company big enough to offer a serious alternative to KMI. We are working for the Artists, the producers, and the fans. We will give more options, including for foreign bands who want to come to Kalistan and record, but have been shut out of the factory system under a KMI virtual monopoly. I see that as a win for Kalistani music."

ARC's main offices are located in Sulari. They plan on listing publicly in the Spring.

[Doc]

Kalistan to join FOMAT contest
Alternative Band Spotted Polkadots to represent the Republic in Festival
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 27, 4781


Kaliburg Alternative Rock band Spotted Polkadots, last Spring at The Wizards' Draught

The KRTVN Channel 2 recently sponsored a bracketed contest for viewers to call in and select Kalistan's entry to the FOMAT contest in Deltaria this coming year. Competition was fierce, but ultimately the winners were Kaliburg Indie Rock band the Spotted Polkadots, who will be flown to the Deltarian city of Branovice to participate in the quintannual Festival of Musical Arts in Terra contest. There they will compete against multiple contestants and represent the Kalistani Music Industry.

Singer Johnson Weiss stated "Hah, well, I suppose the people have spoken? I honestly think that there were any number of better bands that could have been sent, so we will go there and play our music and try to rock the house." Drummer Megan Stripe added, "It will be fun."

The duo plays hard rock generally, but their music is considered minimalist and quite fundamentalist. "No Frills" was the name of their first song. The Spotted Polkadots have recently gained fame in Kalistan as the vanguard of a new rock movement in Kalistan which draws its inspiration but not its aesthetic from the Punk scene in Kalistan. "We got tired of these highly produced, slick sounding studio projects," said Weiss. "After all, how many times can they make the same song where the singer sounds like he has a lot of constipation and sings about how his dad abandoned him?" "Yeah," added Stripe. "That stuff is lame."

The Spotted Polkadots said they intend to perform music from their records "Pachyderm" and "Blasty Dammit". Links to their entries are below:


"You Ain't Home No More"

and


"Go To Hell Blues"

Finally, here is live footage from their recent appearance at the Maple Club in Jah Vrassa from June.



Kalistan is with The Spotted Polkadots as they go to represent Kalistan in Deltaria.