The Republic of Ulm 243 is a massive, safe nation, remarkable for its otherworldly petting zoo, parental licensing program, and stringent health and safety legislation. The devout population of 1.597 billion Ulm 243ians are highly moralistic and fiercely conservative, in the sense that they tend to believe most things should be outlawed. People who have good jobs and work quietly at them are lauded; others are viewed with suspicion.

The medium-sized, corrupt government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Industry. The average income tax rate is 67.2%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Ulm 243ian economy, worth 183 trillion Ducats a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Tourism. Black market activity is frequent. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 114,924 Ducats, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.4 times as much as the poorest.

'Mountain Doobie' is widely regarded as the nation's favourite drink, citizens cannot change their light bulbs without approval from an international committee, six-year-old children playing dress-up are viewed with suspicion, and Leader's perky ego is the talk of the town. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a very well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ulm 243's national animal is the Bear, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ulm 243 is ranked 226,024^th in the world and 171^st in Swabian autonomous region for Highest Drug Use, scoring 75.78 on the Pineapple Fondness Rating.