The Republic of Cantilena is a colossal, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by President with an even hand, and remarkable for its free-roaming dinosaurs, compulsory military service, and stringent health and safety legislation. The quiet, industrious population of 5.027 billion Cantilenans 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 Healthcare, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Melody. The average income tax rate is 33.7%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Cantilenan economy, worth 480 trillion Cants a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Tourism, and Arms Manufacturing. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 95,496 Cants, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

No one believes anything until it has been strenuously tested and peer-reviewed, most pop videos prominently feature the Cantilenan flag, it is quite common for bar patrons to discuss Wittgenstein over cordials and games of backgammon, and giggling teens are asked to put their mouths on rubber dolls. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Cantilena's national animal is the Lion, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Secular.

Cantilena is ranked 107,117^th in the world and 433^rd in Europe for Largest Gambling Industry, scoring 1,536.09 on the Kelly Criterion Productivity Index.