Your Nation's Fact of the Week

[Xeloncaresia]

Pasideon is known as the “Global City” not only because it is a major financial and economic centre around the world, but because of the demographics of the people. Though the chief nationality origin is Xeloncaresian, over 3/8 of the population were born outside of Xeloncaresia, and there are populations from 196 different countries and thousands of languages are spoken.

[Soleos]

Berlin is an island due to rising sea levels. The Technocracy did atrocious things to halt further damage, and massive reconstruction projects came afterwards, but the Earth's landmass has decreased greatly. Berlin doesn't have a beach resort, however.

[Zhouran]

Zhouran is known for being a canine country mainly due to the cultural importance of grey wolves and dogs, but also because the country is home to large unique subspecies of grey wolves as well as various large dog breeds. Zhouran also has the world's largest dog population, placing it ahead of the United States.

[Shikonjima]

The current ruling house of Shikonjima is the Yamura Family, starting with Prince (later King) Kazuo Yamura (1836-1853) and going all the way through the era of the Shogunate until today (Princess Kyouko; since 2011). Prior to that, the Tamori Family has been in power, starting with Prince Shintarou (1679-1716) and ending with Princess Nanako (1805-1836).
This is a result of the era of the Clan's Rule (~1500-1679), where five Clans (namely Yamura, Tamori, Hanada, Gonda, and Sageshima), who ruled over different Shikonjimanese territories. From the long-lasting Clan Wars, the Tamori Clan went out as a winner.

[Bretannica]

Following the end of the British Civil War and the establishment of the British Reconstruction and Reconciliation Authority in 2024, Boris Johnson and other prominent Brexiteers were declared persona non grata and had their British citizenship rescinded. The personal wealth of Boris Johnson and “his lot” were frozen and later repurposed for use by the BRRA’s agencies in providing food, clothing and shelter for the civil war’s civilian victims.

Mr Johnson amongst many others remain unappreciated and are forbidden from setting foot on the country’s soil.

[Sebourg]

There are no prisons in the Principality. Criminals are sent to France or Italy to serve their sentences.

[Hatsunia]

Software doesn't have 30-day trials, but 39-day trials.

[Neu Nederland]

A Colonial War is a war between the colonies of two independent nations over territorial or trade disputes that does not involve the colonies' metropolitan overlords.

[Zhouran]

While most folk-metal acts are in Europe, the early 2000s saw the birth of the folk-metal scene in Zhouran, which is the largest folk-metal scene in Asia. Zhouranese Metal, also referred to as Zhouranese-Style Metal and Z-Style Metal, entered the Zhouranese mainstream musical scene in the early 1980s. Folk metal in Zhouran basically combines Z-Style Metal with elements of Zhouranese traditional music by adding the usage of Zhouranese traditional instruments as well as akesangliutuhe overtone-singing techniques, while the themes of the lyrics commonly focus on Zhouranese culture & heritage with emphasis on traditions, the Spiritual Mandate (folk religion of the Zhouranese Kangyuli people), history, tales, legends, mythology, and nature.

Within the Zhouranese folk-metal scene are small fringe sections consisting of Kangyuli Supremacists and mystic-occultist Superhardliners, with a much-stronger focus on combining Kangyuli-supremacy and Zhouranese occultism with Z-Style Dark Metal & Death Metal and elements of Zhouranese traditional music. Kangyuli-supremacist and superhardline folk-metal musicians see music as "a practical socio-cultural extension of the political and spiritual warfare for the revolutionary enlightened defense of Kangyuli Zhouranese ethno-cultural identity against the cancers of internationalist corporate consumerist materialism". Many Zhouranese metal bands including folk-metal groups strongly oppose and even condemn the ethnic-supremacist and superhardline folk-metal circles, although many listeners are indifferent or appreciate the music without supporting the supremacist beliefs of such musicians.

[Voxija]

Most cities in Voxija have a street named Ider Street. Ider Street in Genitxea is the most famous of all the Ider Streets, because it's the one with all the museums.

[Fatatatutti]

Alphonse Flughafen is a small municipal airport several hundred miles from Fat City on Fatatatutti's North Shore. It is not known for certain how it got its name or whether Alphonse has ever flown there.

[Kwaj]

It is quite common to serve house guests a slice of uncooked SPAM upon their arrival. This is considered a high honor. The tradition started in the dark days of Kwaj just after the nuclear war ended, when radiation levels were quite high. Local foodstuffs were not safe to eat and the people survived on pallets of canned meats parachuted in by donor nations (it was far too radioactive for ships to dock or planes to land). In more prosperous homes, actual tins left over from this time are proudly displayed on fireplace mantels, eerily glowing with residual radioactivity.

[Lillorainen]

There is a city called Bad Wanne (translating as Wanne-Spa, named after the Wanne River, but also sounding like German Badewanne, 'bathtub') in the State of Rigesöer. It has 36,000 inhabitants and belongs to the district of Pattenhoop (license plate code: PAT). It is connected with the railroad system by the InterRegioRail Sandscheid-Preetz, and with the road system by the nearby Highway A1.
Further funny names of places in Lillorainen include Freudenberg ('mountain of joy'), Ladenburg ('Shop-Castle', actually named after the Ladau River), Lollerup (meaning unknown, but sounds funny to some people), Quantenburg (loved by both physicians and pedicurist due to the double meaning of the first part of the name), Quierscheid (loved by queers), Fronweiler ('Happy Hamlet!'), Süstenich (sounding like 'you-don't-see' and indeed refers to two very small villages), and many more.

[Subhurbia]

Each division’s civilizations have their own distinct architecture, including the Central Division.

[Gandoor]

Herbert Gary Productions was the first successful animation studio in the Democratic Republic and was often considered to be Gandoor's equivalent to Warner Bros. Cartoons, as both primarily focused on animated shorts rather than feature length productions.

The studio was founded in 1923 by Herbert Gary, who was already well-known for being responsible for The Cat and the Tramp, the first theatrically released cartoon in Gandoorese history in 1919, and released over 500 short films from the company's founding until the 1960s.

Herbert Gary passed away in 1965 at the age of 71. Following his passing, the studio announced that the studio would be renamed to HG Productions, although any shorts that Gary had involvement in would still be released under the Herbert Gary Productions banner.

In 1972, the studio premiered their first original made-for-TV production, The Herman J. Mouser Show, featuring studio mascot Herman J. Mouser. While a success at first, the series was ultimately cancelled in 1975 after airing 50 episodes due to the growing popularity of Japanese animation with more serialized and 'serious' stories compared to the comedy stylings of HG Productions.

During the mid to late 1970s, HG Productions attempted to copy the success of anime in Gandoor by producing shows with a more serious bent than their previous works, although none of the series produced during this time period would last for more than 20 episodes, although a few have become cult classics in later decades.

In 1988, HG Productions was purchased by Miyamoto Productions, who ultimately absorbed the studio completely in 2000, although Miyamoto Productions continues to use both the Herbert Gary Productions and HG Productions brand names for works featuring characters originally created by the studio.

[Blanjiland]

During the latter stages of the Great Blanji-Swadenian War, on several occasions the entire Blanji Army went on strike, with some attempts of mutiny following the terrible pay and apocalyptic living conditions. After the largest contractor of the era nearly went under due to half of its agents unionizing, the Blanji Government intervened and enforced the unionists’ demand. The incident nearly bankrupted the entire defense industry, and a large number of PMCs cancelled their agreements with the Blanji Government. This forced Blanjiland’s hand in signing the ceasefire on 25, February 1919.

[Aikoland]

Emperor Auguste II is the most recent monarch to refuse to grant royal assent to a law passed by the legislature. In 1812, he refused to grant assent to the law passed, under duress, by the United Assembly dissolving the Empire of Aikoland and integrating it into the French Empire.

Auguste II's refusal to grant assent resulted in Napoleon's forces invading Aikoland later that same year, his deposing, and Aikoland being divided into three departments of the French Empire.

[Zhouran]

.

[Neu Nederland]

While the Netherlands is, economically speaking, a powerful country in the Continental Europe, it only provides 9% of the Empire's trade power. The luxury resources of the East Indies and the coal-rich territories of New Gelre (New Netherland) provide, respectively, 22% and 37% of its total trade.

[Xeloncaresia]

Each provincial district has their own city light colours.

[The Provincial Union of the Pacific]

You can still be arrested and potentially executed for 'blinking the wrong way'.
Not like blinking incorrectly, but rather blinking in a way that isn't 'natural'

[Shikonjima]

From 1681 on, Shikonjima started to colonize territories, particularly on the Continent of Janilaima, but also on territories now ruled by Mairani and Polynesian States. From 1903 to 1988, Shikonjima was a Shogunate and considered an Empire. The Ruler's title was then changed to "Prince/Princess" again.
While the total number of colonies is fairly high, here be only the most important ones:

• Kelaina (in Shikonjimanese: Teraina). The tropical paradise was in Shikonjimanese hands from 1743 to 1976. It hosts one of the larger Shikonjimanese communities outside of Shikonjima (estimated 800,000 people including mixed-ethnicity) and, as a part of the United Confederacy, still maintains good relationships with the Principality. The total population was 3.9 million by 1976.
• Parts of Ainalaui (in Shikonjimanese: Ainarao). Located next to Kelaina, also part of the U.C., and another tropical paradise. The first Shikonjimanese settlement was established in 1699, the last one got dissolved in 1978. Another 650,000 Shikonjimanese live here.
• Pamuristan. The northern part of what's the Sultanate of Mairandra today (Shikonjima does not recognize its claim on Ahjada) was a shared colony between Shikonjima and Shamsiyya from 1795 to 1910, when Shamsiyya sold its outposts to the Shogunate, and gained independence in 1929, only to be annexed by Mairandra, which still has a hostile stance towards the Principality due to its aggression in the Colonial War. There is no significant number of Shikonjimanese there anymore - most have left for the Mainland or another colony, or even left Shikonjimanese soil entirely.
• The Sharulsi Khanate. Not a colony in a strict sense, but part of the Empire from 1867 to 1984. The Khanate, located on the Continent of Janilaima, was a separate Fief from 1867 to 1933, became a Crownland Territory and remained one until 1949 and was ruled by the Shikonjimanese Emperor in a personal union (Khan of Sharuls being his additional title) from 1949 to 1984. The formal independence was gained with the Emperor's approval - thus, the relationships are still fairly good, especially since the 1991 Treaty of Friendship. According to the 2010 Census, 1.2 million Shikonjimanese still live in the Sharulsi Khanate.
• Nogoonia. A less friendly neighbor of the Sharulsi Khanate, having been in Shikonjimanese hands from 1681 to 1966, after which Shikonjimanese troops lost the war on Nogoonian resistance. The relationships have been rather frosty, yet are improving nowadays, and the 400,000 Shikonjimanese expats enjoy a good standard of living in the Federation of Nogoonia.
• Nho Quoc (in Shikonjimanese: Nyoukuoka). Another 'Place at the Sun', part of the Empire from 1735 to 1988. Nho Quoc gained independence through a war, but maintains reasonable relationships with the modern Principality. The number of expats is estimated to be 375,000.
• Kongani. The Kongani-Archipelago is a small group of islands between Kashira and Shamsiyya, which used to be part of the Shikonjimanese Empire from 1723 to 1979. It was an important outpost making sure, that Shikonjimanese vessels will always be able to pass and/or refuel there without having to go through foreign borders, on their way to Kelaina and Ainalaui. Since its independence, the status under international law is not clear. Both Shamsiyya and Kashira have put their claims onto this strategically important territory.
• Ferinan. Ferinan was one of the most important colonies of Shikonjima. From 1694 to 1972, Shikonjimanese nobility sought new territories to govern, a result of the 17th century Clan Wars. The final goal - to integrate Ferinan into Shikonjimanese core lands - failed, but parts of the island federation are still ruled by Shikonjimanese nobility with the former fiefs as sovereign states, thus can be called an Associate of Shikonjima. Aside from that, 1,765,000 Shikonjimanese still live there, most of them in the Duchies of Akizuki, Kongou, Taihou, Mutsu, Nagato, and Mikuma.
• East Semporna. From 1687 to 1969, the country which would now constitute Democratic Semporna was colonized by Shikonjima in parts, with trade outposts being run in the east, and massive amounts of resources being extracted, especially in the 20th century. The western part belonged to the Incorporated States of Chaamerland, whose aims were quite similar. Aside from a small border outpost near Limasungai, both realms were separated by a buffer zone that remained independent, as Neutral-Semporna. The Chaamerlandic part gained independence in 1963, after a short decolonization war; similar with the Shikonjimanese part. Nowadays, both countries have good ties with each other, despite the history and vast ideological differences.

[Lillorainen]

One of the most famous Lillorainian novel series of the current age and the action/drama genre is Svea Herning. The series was invented by Adrian Goar Stetternich in 1986, who wrote the first five novels. Since 1989, numerous well-known Lillorainian authors (Britta Dorn, Henrik Sandholm, Ron Lindweiler and many more) have contributed to the series. In late 2019, Lucius van Hengelen, a Private Investigator mostly writing autobiographic and semi-autobiographic detective novels, published his debut. In 2020, Gina Radulescu, an author and journalist from the Republic of Stella Dorata, contributed to the series as the first foreign author.
Audio plays based on the series have been released since 1993; in 1996, the first movie was released. A TV series (Svea being played by Gesine Stuhrscheid) has been running since 2013.

Synopsis.
Svea Herning, a woman in her late 20s, is an agent working for the MND (Militärnachrichtendienst), the Military Intelligence Agency of the Federation of Lillorainen. She lives on an estate on the North Shore of Elverholm, which belongs to a businessman letting her live there for doing her a favor. The majordomus used to be an MND Agent himself, but is now a retiree, and while he is less fond of Svea, whom he refers to 'a naïve young girl who clearly overestimates her abilities' (despite using her services and also assisting her every now and then), he has no chance but to tolerate it. Svea is rarely at home, anyways, since she regularly needs to go on various missions of espionage and counter-intelligence everywhere within Lillorainen, but also abroad - her bosses are very convinced of her abilities, even though some of the missions are classified as 'barely impossible' - especially if they involve Ralf Gretzig's terrorist actions.

Important Characters.

• Svea Herning. Svea Herning was in her early-to-mid 20s in the beginning of the series and has now reached her late 20s. She is blonde and green-eyed and was born a fictitious village named Hinrichshagen-Weisswasser at the South Shore. She has started her career with the police and the special forces, until the MND detects her abilities. In the first novel, Todesfalle (1986 novel, 1996 movie, 2013 TV episode), she saves Richard Breitscheid, a wealthy businessman from Pontrath, after he got kidnapped by terrorists, after which he lets her state in Richies Bude ('Richie's Shack'), an ironic name for his enormous estate. Her hobbies are horseriding, target shooting, beach volleyball, and car racing. Her favorite beer brand is Lirscheider Spezial - however, no matter how much she drinks of it, she doesn't let her friends know about her occupation and claims, that she's doing "Business 'n' Stuff", without specifying as to what it looks like ("It would just bore you anyway!"). In early novels, she owns a MJR-83MP Machine Pistol; it later ones, an MJR-102 Rifle.
• Richard "Richie" Breitscheid is a businessman in his late 40s, active in the banking sector. In the first novel, he is kidnapped by terrorists and survives only thanks to Svea, whom he lets live in his 'shack' - a mansion at the North Shore (the location is not specified; movies and TV shows were shot in Luntrop near Nienhagen, where the MND also has a HQ; cars carry the license plate code EP for Eppenrath, which would fit as well), directly at the beach, on an estate of 3 square kilometers of size, including several pools, expensive cars, and a horse stable. Unofficially, Svea also ensures the estate's security - although Richie is rarely at home. In Diamantenfieber (2001 novel, 2019 TV episode), he is said to have moved to Lahaina in Ainalaui (United Confederacy of The Moana Nui Islands), to establish an estate in the Tropes.
• "Agent Q" is Svea's boss at the MND. He is described as a man in his early 40s, but aside from being a chainsmoker and coffee addict, there is not much one could get about him. In most novels, Svea has to go through a complicated security process in order to get into his office and receive her new mission, but especially in newer novels, he also has Svea's phone number, with her having to say a certain phrase as a code word.
• Justus Thorvald von Heddenhoven-Weydt, who dislikes his pet name "Heddy" a lot, is a man beyond 70 years of age and housekeeper in the 'Shack'. He was a mercenary in various wars, particularly in the Shikonjimanese Colonial Wars, and later also in the Lillorainian Civil War, during which he went to the intelligence agency of the State of Vedjading, a predecessor service of the MND. He is of noble descent, and, according to his own claims, related to various Royals from all over the world. He speaks High German without any remote trace of a dialect (unusual in Lillorainen) and insists in a posh, almost poetic language. He doesn't particularly like Svea, mostly due to her young age and the 'party-queen mentality' he accuses her of, but he is always reliable and helpful.
• Julia & Vanessa Voerbeck are twin sisters and Svea's friends - namely, one of these who are not aware of her being an MND Agent. While they never give up asking her for details on her occupation, they do know, that they will never know it. They like drinking fruit cocktails instead of beer and are regularly seen together with different lads. Julia is a bar lady, Vanessa works at the reception of a hotel.
• Ralf Gretzig is the Mastermind behind many of Svea's missions. He is in his early 30s, and, according to his own statement, has been "the youngest criminal mastermind in history!" - which might or might not be true, as he was known to the MND when he was just 14. He is the head of a large terrorist networks, whose name often changes throughout the series, and he always only closely escapes from being caught by the MND, in particular Svea. Despite being Svea's arch-enemy, he does respect her, and in several novels, he tries to convince her to join his side. Despite being as evil as someone can imagine, he is always well-dressed and acts like a gentleman.
• Miriam Keller is another archrival of Svea's - despite being on the good side. She works for the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and is very convinced of her own abilities when it comes to counter-terrorist operations. The brunette, brown-eyed woman around 40 despises the MND and usually acts on her own. Thanks to Svea, this doesn't lead to major catastrophes, although these can only be avoided closely.

Other Characters.

• Akamu Manoa is in his mid-thirties and an agent of the Mālama, the secret service of the UCMNI. Svea meets the Polynesian in Austausch unter Tropenbäumen (1987 novel, 1999 movie, 2013 TV episode) for the first time, on an information exchange mission in Inilani, and quickly learns to value him as a good colleague to work with, although the mission gets sabotaged. He reappears several times, especially when Lillorainen and the U.C. are on joint missions.
• Tatjana Rees is a brunette, green-eyed BKA officer working under Miriam Keller, who is only a few years older than her. She often informs Svea, if Keller plans one of her solo actions, without letting her boss know.
• Finnegan Ionadh of the Tribe of Kildare and Caoimhe Teachtaire of the Tribe of Monaghan are Agents from the Free Lands of The Selkie. They appear at the 'Shack' in Begegnung an fernen Ufern (1998 novel, 2015 TV episode), bringing information to von Heddenhoven. Since then, they appear every now and then, mostly not in person, but in mentions by von Heddenhoven and Svea. Finnegan has black hair and green eyes, Caoimhe has red hair and blue eyes.
• Muunokhoi Lon is a man from Fenchuikuo around von Heddenhoven's age. They met in Fenchuikuo during the Colonial Wars, where Lon, originally an agent of the Oukeikyoku, the secret police of Shikonjima, switches sides and sabotages a joint mission of the Oukeikyoku and MND. As von Heddenhoven stayed loyal to the mission and sabotages Lon's actions, it is assumed, that Lon wishes to take revenge. He appears in Begegnung an fernen Ufern, where he gets arrested after a spectacular chase (Svea and Finnegan in a car, Caoimhe on horseback), but manages to escape from the (fictional) prison island of Höjö. He is said to live on a tropical island in Carlotina. He has two sons, Erdene and Oyuun, as well as a daughter, Narantuyaa, who, at various occasions later, are soon to run a terrorist organization in Fenchuikuo on their father's behalf.
• Arnold Wilmerding is an eccentric millionaire and an acquaintance of Richie's, operating a large equestrian farm in the mountainous areas of the State of Vedjading. In Die graue Palisade (1989 novel, 1997 movie, 2018 TV episode), Svea gets to know him, as she and van Heddenhoven are asked by Richie to transport two of his horses to the farm, and realizes, that the 'equestrian farm' is more than that, but actually a huge, walled and well-guarded farmland with a number of fields for food production. Wilmerding, a rich investor, who believes in the failure and upcoming collapse of the prevailing monetary system, and therefore human society, has decided to turn the farm into some kind of fortified farmstead, making it possible for him, his family, and his employees to live in full autarky. As von Heddenhoven and Svea wish to leave again, military blocks the street and ask them to return, as a curfew was put under the people due to a 'national disaster'. As they do, they notice, that all communication on the farm is shut down. As suddenly, the farm gets besieged by armed men, it gets clear, that the incident was faked by a criminal organization that is after Wilmerding's fortune, which is said to be on the farm in form of gold, a plot some employees are even involved in, which Svea finds out during a successful escape attempt. Wilmerding, his wife Birthe, and his adult children Anselm and Lotte reappear numerous times later.

[Zhouran]

Since late 1861, Zhouran has a gun culture that is influenced by the nation's passionate and intense warrior culture, which was created in 7 BC during the birth of the Silin Dynasty, as well as the long tradition of militarism in the nation and the long-standing practice of keeping weapons at home in order to be armed, well-trained and prepared. Firearms are owned for purposes including self-defense, hunting, sport, collecting, and military purposes. Sport-shooting and hunting are popular activities for both gun-owners and non-gun-owners in Zhouran.

Thanks to this strong gun culture that is deep-rooted into the Zhouranese warrior culture, there are about 97.5 guns per 100 residents in Zhouran as of 2020. As a result, the country has one of the highest civilian gun ownership in the world, only second to that of the US. However, in the US, an overwhelming majority of civilian-owned firearms are unregistered firearms and are mainly civilian-oriented in nature. In comparison, every single civilian-owned firearms in Zhouran are fully-registered and are military-grade semi-automatic and fully-automatic firearms, the same firearms used by the Zhouranese People's Army and National Patriotic Guards. An estimate of approximately 278,343,000 firearms are in legal civilian possession in Zhouran, as a result the country has the world's second-highest number of firearms in civilian hands. Meanwhile the Zhouranese People's Army owns an estimate of around 106,500,000 firearms, the largest military-owned stockpile of firearms in the world. The massive number of firearms in Zhouran contributes to the stereotypical image of the hyper-militaristic warmongering barbaric Zhouranese.

With the country having a powerful highly-experienced battle-hardened military that is numerically large and technologically advanced, backed by a massive well-equipped paramilitary force that is capable of rivaling foreign militaries despite being a militia, Zhouran is considered to be the world's most heavily-militarized nation. This extremely-high level of militarization in Zhouran is all due to being a several-millennia-old stratocratic civilization with a highly-impassioned warrior culture and fervid martial-ethos. Around 96% of people in the nation are willing to fight and go to war for their country, the highest out of any nation. Thanks to the martial identity of the Kangyuli Zhouranese, civilian gun-owners in the country own military-grade firearms ranging from something as small as the Type 81 .357 Magnum revolver or Type 85 9×19mm pistol to a Type 01-100 7.62×39mm assault rifle or Type 95-100 5.45×39mm assault rifle and all the way to something as big as weapons such as the Type 89-100 12.7×108mm heavy machine gun or Type 85-200 14.5×114mm heavy machine gun. Any weapon that has a caliber above heavy machine gun caliber is considered a cannon and since cannons fire explosive shells and not bullets, those are regarded as explosives and therefore banned for civilian ownership.

Unlike the civilian gun-owners of other nations including the US, any Zhouranese civilian gun-owners that are not serving or have already served in either the ZPA or NPG are also skilled in professionally-handling military-grade firearms. Shooting ranges are very common across the country, with many of the firearms instructors serving or having served in the ZPA or NPG. Not only that, Zhouranese National Military Sports Associations are found in many towns and cities across the nation, teaching essential combat techniques and offering military training by providing a 73-day long course that teaches citizens over the age of 15 combat techniques and weapons training. As a result, Zhouranese civilian gun-owners are considered to be the most skilled compared to foreign counterparts, and this also includes civilian gun-owners in Zhouran who have not yet served in the ZPA or NPG but still own firearms.

A military analyst from the National Institute of Military Science in Ouyang once jokingly said to Senior Marshal Kang Yingyong: "Sir, while civilian gun-owners in the US are too busy flexing their plastic AR-15s or firing their MAC-10s at innocent bystanders, our civilian gun-owners here are too busy preparing for any potential world war that might never even happen in our lifetime", to which Kang replied "don't be surprised when every single tree inside an impenetrable fortress grows weapons instead of fruits".

[Great Nortend]

The Level Crossing Prescriptions Act, 35 Edmund IX, is a Statute of Parliament which prescribes that all level crossings of a public highway and a railway line must be adequately protected. It requires that visible gates bearing red lamps and red halt signs be erected which entirely close off the railway from the highway when trains are passing, and that can be manoeuvred such that the highway is closed off from the railway when highway traffic demands access. The level crossing additionally must be supervised during times of operation by a competent officer of the railway, and protected by railway signals under the control of said officer. It is this statute which results in the situation presently, where every single level crossing is supervised by a paid signalman or crossing keeper, who must manually open and close the railway gates to allow the passage of trains and highway traffic.