The Colony of Parkside is a huge, socially progressive nation, notable for its irreverence towards religion. The hard-working, democratic population of 853 million Parksideans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The tiny, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Education, Welfare, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 7.1%.

The Parksidean economy, worth 46.8 trillion aurums a year, is driven almost entirely by the private sector, which is broadly diversified and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Trout Farming, and Soda Sales. Average income is 54,885 aurums, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.7 times as much as the poorest.

Tourists from around the world come to visit the country's famous rainforests, the latest Harry Potter book is a bestseller, hypochondriacs demand treatment for genetic disorders they don't have, and corporations donate huge sums of money to favored politicians. Crime is moderate, with the police force struggling against a lack of funding and a high mortality rate. Parkside's national animal is the buffalo.

Parkside is ranked 180,684^th in the world and 1^st in Parkside for Most Scientifically Advanced, scoring 62.85 on the Kurzweil Singularity Index.