Spotlight on:

“Patience and Persistence”

The Kingdom of Zaken is a gargantuan, socially progressive nation, ruled by Mikhail with a fair hand, and renowned for its complete absence of social welfare. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, intelligent population of 10.022 billion hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

There is no government in the normal sense of the word; however, a small group of community-minded individuals juggles the competing demands of Education, the Environment, and Law & Order. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zaken City. Income tax is unheard of. The private sector is almost wholly made up of enterprising fourteen-year-old boys selling lemonade on the sidewalk, although the government is looking at stamping this out.

Prime real estate is devoted to wind farms and solar energy generators, the people elect the Supreme Court justices directly, voting is compulsory, and citizens are enjoying a recent large cut in taxes. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is relatively low, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zaken's national animal is the satyr, and its currency is the draco.

Zaken is ranked 1st in the region and 2,328th in the world for Largest Furniture Restoration Industry.