Saladia
From Chakuwiki
| Hemispheres: | Northern Hemisphere |
| Continent: | Avalon |
| Capital city: | Saladia |
| Official language: | English [[{{{6}}}]] |
Saladia is a city-country on the western coast of Avalon. Saladia is inhabited by people who are dedicated to enforcing the health of others.
- When Debbie McCormick-Crocker sat down in 1996 to write a short work of fiction skewering food and health activists, she had no idea that "The Last Potato Chip" would inspire an entire city. A few years later, Saladia was born.
- A great deal of planning went into the daily routine and physical layout of the city. All buildings are a minimum of one mile apart; vehicles are not permitted (although there are several community bicycles for emergency transportation). Residents are expected to walk or jog everywhere - for their own good, of course.
- A typical day in Saladia begins with the mandatory two-mile walk. Citizens report to the community center, where microchipped identity cards record weight and other medical information. Walking paths are monitored by cameras to discourage those who would consider using shortcuts. Another weigh-in follows the walk.
- Identity cards are used at the grocery stores keep citizens from overeating (yielding to temptation will cause the following message to appear: "Purchase denied. It might cause you to exceed the daily calorie count we have assigned to you.").
- Children are an important part of Saladia. Schools issue weekly detailed questionnaires which center around food eaten, excercise completed, and even fantasies about forbidden foods. The young ones are rewarded for turning in family members who try to conceal unhealthful victuals. Obedient students are credited with preventing the planned Ritz Cracker Rebellion of 2002.
- The city of Saladia is not a particularly attractive place. Unadorned, high-tech jogging trails cover most of the city, and huge LED signs (stationed every 1/4 mile along the trails) display the jogger's weight as he/she passes by. Most businesses are related to exercise and healthy eating.
- Home decor is somewhat cheery, though; a few stores carry pillows with clever sayings ("Can't Pinch An Inch!' or 'It's 10 p.m. Do you know what your children are eating?"). Items with a tape-measure theme are quite popular.
- There are no libraries or theaters, since Saladians believe these places contribute to the sedentary lifestyle. Music stores carry huge quantities of Sweatin' to the Oldies and other classic CDs. Restaurants? None. People might want to consume food in a restaurant, for Heaven's sake.
- Some crime exists in Saladia, of course. Several weeks ago, a shady character by the name of Shady Guy was apprehended in the park and charged with selling photographs of candy wrappers. Justice was swift.
