The Too-Well-Hidden Bunker of Podium is a titanic, cultured nation, ruled by Michael Talberg with an even hand, and renowned for its otherworldly petting zoo, national health service, and pith helmet sales. The compassionate, cheerful population of 16.548 billion Poduminians enjoy extensive civil freedoms, particularly in social issues, while business tends to be more regulated.

The relatively small government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Eighburn. The average income tax rate is 26.5%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Poduminian economy, worth a remarkable 3,493 trillion points a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector is led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is an amazing 211,083 points, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Windows in Eighburn don't have much of a view, it is said that the captain goes down with the ship but ecological protection goes up, chipped paint can see a building condemned, and foreign invaders are putting Poduminian lab rats out of a job. Crime, especially youth-related, is pervasive, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Podium's national animal is the sergal, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Podium is ranked 6,420^th in the world and 108^th in the West Pacific for Longest Average Lifespans, with 92.4 years.