The Independent State of Caledon

Yes!



Watch for the issue of the Caledon Herald to come out - you'll see appointments to the Academy, the Transportation Ministry, and others!

Selections were largely driven by the "Hey, I wanna do that and look, I already did" method.

Contact Ms India Ingersoll if you don't see the newsracks out quite yet - everyone is rushing to build the country.



I can't believe the energy in the community. Sim #4 not even terraformed yet, and I'm being asked when the country will be grow further. The skies were filled with the most amazing conveyances...

Point the first: I was not aware of the Cigar ships, and am fascinated to see that we both use a shrouded prop, albeit in a different location. My attempt was to extrapolate from pre-1870 submersibles. Below the waterline, for instance, there are saddle buoyancy tanks, which are my incredibly cheap and devious way of not providing forward diving planes.

Point the second: By virtue of your alacrity in making the appellative suggestion, I would be honored were you to suggest a final name for the XS-1, especially given that I simply generated the current instances through an advanced mental technique of my own design which I refer to as "puddle of consciousness" thinking.

Being the final (one would hope) point: Given that the term "submersible monitor" is cumbersome at best, I would like to suggest that we call these vessels "tanks", as what they most resemble is a tank for the storage of fluids.

Thank you most kindly for the honour, it has also occured to me, that some peoples might see something sinister in the appearence of your " Tanks " and other heavily armed air and sea vehicles.

20 or more vehicles appearing off their shores might spread undue alarm.

As a Caledonian sympathizer, I know this is just mere self expression, and just for diplomatic purposes.

I would suggest some diplomatic names such as "Peacemaker", " Diplomatic Imperative ",
" Judgement Day ", " Gentle Persuader ", " Resistance is futile ", " Logical Augument " or "We told you, but you didn't listen".

I feel this may smooth over any unfortunate misunderstanding.

Thought I should update this; updates in Bold Italic.


Background

Caledon is a small, expansionist Monarchy, supported by an aristocracy of landed gentry.

Members of the Aristocracy assume the role of Steward for a short period of time if they wish (half a month), in the order in which they held land in Caledon. There is no king.

Stewards may have real power, which is granted to those who have a *demonstrated* record of responsible, stable behaviour. Initially, such power consists of access to the Region / Estate controls for the entire country.

Kamilah Hauptmann is our current Steward. She has Estate Control and the ability to restart sims, ban griefers from the entire nation, &c.

Technology is approximately that of the 19th Century, though some astonishing breakthroughs have provided for incredible wonders.

Ground vehicles, airships, and even a device known as a 'telehub' are made possible through the power of exotic material properties and the wonders of Steam Technology.



Geography

- Location: The Far Western Sea

- Area: 327680.0000000000000 square meters (so far, expanding rapidly)

- Maritime Claims: 14 surrounding void sims (so far, expanding rapidly)

- Climate: Temperate Coastal

- Terrain: Low land dotted with streams and ponds; some highlands

- Elevation Extremes: Sea level (21m) to approximately 30m; it varies a bit

- Natural Resources: 75,000 prims; the creativity of citizens

- Land Use: Mixed Residential/Commercial (village style) and occasional Industrial

- Natural Hazards: Rolling Updates, Client Upgrades, Asset Server Crashes



People

- Population: 100 or so Landed Gentry, with friends & lovers: 300-ish

- Age Structure: varies from young twenties to "old enough to know better"

- Population Growth Rate: about a sim-full a month so far, maybe 50-75/mo

- Sex ratio: This is Second Life - it changes by the minute

- Fertility Rate: Really, really, really high it seems; I dare not enquire further

- Ethnic Groups: humans, fairly strong Furry presence, a rare few Goreans

- Religions: Christians, Wiccans, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics, more.

- Languages: English, Tagalog, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, American



Government

- Country Name: Independent State of Caledon

- Government Type: Monarchy

- Capital: Merely the residence of the Steward (think: 10 Downing Street)

- Legal System: Steward following sim rules (or sim owner on appeal)

- Diplomatic Representation: Steward, or Steward-appointed Ambassador

- Flag Description: Black/Red/Green tartan with gold bars; state name
( http://westtrade.250free.com/caledonflag512x384.jpg )


Economy

- Imports: clothing, architecture, furniture, vehicles, ships, scripting professionals

- Exports: clothing, architecture, furniture, vehicles, ships, scripting professionals

- Expenditures: 5 sims worth of tier, and growing

- Reserves: months of tier in reserve

- Currency: $L, though land rates vary based upon the more stable USD



Communications

- Internet: 100%

- Media: a national newspaper, the Caledon Herald. See newsracks.



Transportation

- Trolley: Caledon Trolley, about 400m of track

- Rail: Caledon National Rail, in planning stages; about .5km of track

- Roadways: roughly 2 km of roadways

- Ports and Terminals: Port Caledon

- Merchant Marine: 2 foreign-made tall ships (Jesrad's): Venture and L'Espadon



Military

- none. We may have a few bobbies with ban powers if we get griefers



Transnational Issues

- International Disputes: We are currently at peace with all, as far as known.
(unless Newfie starts up again!)

- Ambassadorships: Phedre Aquitaine, to Port Neualtenburg.

- Other Ambassadorships in the works.

- Refugees: Many, from all over the grid. We are a nation of immigrants.