The Watchfires of TPL-1 is a gargantuan, environmentally stunning nation, remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, enslaved workforce, and public floggings. The compassionate, hard-working, devout population of 20.322 billion TPL-1ians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Administration, and Law & Order. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 51.8%.

The thriving TPL-1ian economy, worth a remarkable 1,781 trillion $$s a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Trout Farming, Information Technology, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is 87,651 $$s, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 267,757 per year while the poor average 22,239, a ratio of 12.0 to 1.

Grade school teachers mark homework with red "CITATION NEEDED" stamps, citizens live in superstitious fear of the mysterious glowing clouds that float over TPL-1, the silencing of dissent speaks volumes about the quality of TPL-1ian democracy, and teachers prefer to give 'Maybe, Maybe Not' tests when dealing with sensitive subjects. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. TPL-1's national animal is the swordfish, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

TPL-1 is ranked 44,430^th in the world and 1^st in The Promised Land for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 163.41 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.