Spotlight on:

“And Then There Was Silence”

The Grand Chorus of Berethond is a massive, economically powerful nation, ruled by The Conductor with an iron fist, and notable for its anti-smoking policies. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 1.678 billion are rabid consumers, partly through choice and partly because the government tells them to and dissenters tend to vanish from their homes at night.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded, corrupt, pro-business individuals devotes most of its attentions to Defence, with areas such as Social Welfare and Social Equality receiving almost no funds by comparison. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Emaline. Income tax is unheard of. A powerhouse of a private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, followed by Information Technology and Uranium Mining.

Murderers frequently escape punishment by claiming they were protecting their honour, the nanny industry has had a boom after maternity leave was recently banned, the psych wards are overflowing with transsexuals, and it's a common sight to see angry commuters with grenade launchers mounted on their vehicles. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force. Berethond's national animal is the polar bear, which is also the nation's favorite main course, its national religion is Musicology, and its currency is the bearian dollar.

Berethond is ranked 2nd in the region and 1,446th in the world for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry.