As One Dragon Safely Returns, Will Another Arise?

BATAVIA - A tender for interplanetary transport has been issued by the Kingdom of Batavia as the real world's first commercial space mission was nearing its end (and has since successfully returned to Earth). While SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean yesterday, thus demonstrating the potential of relatively affordable private space travel (at least compared to state space travel), some of the micronational world's foremost experts on virtual interplanetary travel were brainstorming potential solutions to a tender that is happily unencumbered by any constraints as to the limits of technology and the availability of funding created out of thin air (let alone the vacuum of space).

The Natopians have led the sessions having had previous relevant experience, and suggestions so far include using modular Imperial Class carrier ships, possibly assisted by orbital shuttles and space elevators. It may be worth noting that Natopia itself is currently a protectorate of the Union of Elwynn, Amokolia and Hurmu, which in turn includes the territory of Tirlar, the last remaining remnant of the sites of the gateways to the other four legendary elemental worlds of Tylmarinn, Eochar, Relgann and Meiridos.

We would suggest embarking on unquantifiable expeditions to rediscover these long-unvisited planets, which would not only be interplanetary expeditions, but interdimensional expeditions, as all five of our worlds occupy different nodes of reality in the same space. No spaceships required, but there might still be dragons...

FNORD! Again

2009 was a year of changes and consolidation. It saw the end of Babkha, a micronation that served as a pillar of our sector since before the MCS even existed. It saw the end of the hated MicroHub, which for all of its flaws served as a continuation of the MNN tradition and one of our last links to the larger micronational world. It saw the organization of large chunks of the world into the Small Commonwealth and its Small Economy, which have escaped the pitfalls of so many other organizations by expecting less.

And thus commenced the 2009 FNORD Awards earlier this evening, hosted by its eponymous and erstwhile founder, Scott of Hyperborea.

The awards, held, as ever, in honour of Emperor Norton Day and inspired by Molossia's original Norton Awards, were judged this year by Bjorn Ironfist of Stormark, Ryan Caruso of Shireroth, Emperor Edgard of Alexandria, and Guido Zambelis of Lovely.

A traditional mix of categories has been continued, with the winners of each as follows:

• Most Promising New Micronation: Victoria
• Award for Graphic Arts: Victoria
• Award for Leadership: Chris Mules (Antica)
• Jeremy Bellamy Award for Literature: Ben Kern ( Rauðbjörn's Saga, Stormark)
• Bill Dusch Award for Cultural Development: Aryeztur Mejorkhor (Wiki of Aryez)
• Joshua Coales Award for Best New Idea: The Small Commonwealth
• Tony Au Award for Economics: The Small Commonwealth
• Iain Jacobson Award for Journalism: Max Edwards (Litovsker Tagblatt, Ashkenatza)
  
• Liam conToketi Award for Most Promising Micronationalist: Andrew Allot (Elwynn, Shireroth)
• Shane Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Nathan Shepard (Natopia)

The winners, will, for the first time, receive real medals instead of virtual ones, courtesy of Dr. Spangle.

Natopia to Celebrate Cowmas

LINDSTROM, NATOPIA - The Dozan Bovic Church will be officially celebrating Cowmas for the first time this year, on December 22nd.

Last year it was unofficially observed to mark the restoration of the county of Smjorkr in Shireroth, a place where Dozan Bovinism successfully sought refuge during the period known as the Natopian Dark Ages. 

At Cowmas, the faithful are expected to offer a sacrifical dairy product to the Butter Spirit, with a glass of milk generally being  favoured. His Holiness, Nathan, Pentheros of the Dozan Bovic Church, said:

"Cowmas is a time to celebrate our faith through the darkness. We celebrate this by stringing lights upon our houses and candles in our windows, to let our faith shine through the dark as those brave Natopian refuges let their faith shine through the Dark Ages. "

"I, Nathan" - An Interview with Nathan of Natopia

I, Nathan, am one of the three original founders of the Bovic Empire of Natopia. Introducing Natopia In August 2002, my friends and I were bored during a new student orientation for high school, and we doodled an imaginary city on the back of a hand-out. The city floated on clouds and had advanced aerospace technology. It also had a unique fascist totalitarian eugenics regime that executed "undesirables", and presidential succession was achieved officially through assassination. However the more micronation-like Natopia was set up in September. I did this because I had a lot of time on my hands and I really enjoyed playing SimCity. Natopia was first all off-line. Classmates were given ranks and titles and even formed rival nations. The World Domination Society (WDS) and Emilyland were Natopia's first enemies, but the WDS eventually became an ally in our war against gravity. Natopia was a novelty that was a bit of fun for imaginative freshmen. The first Natopia Day, August 23, 2003, was even celebrated with a real life party with upwards of 15 people attending to celebrate Natopia. The Inspirations The idea for Natopia came from many different places. Mostly from classes in school that I'm taking. Early inspirations included the American government for the original Republic during freshman year civics class. The Holy Roman Empire was a basis for the first incarnation of the Sovereign Natopian Empire during a medieval history class. Athlon was first based on a Crusader State culture, but then evolved into a Greek themed culture after I took a Greek art class in college. The new Bovic religion taking root in Hazelwood is based on voodoo after curating an exhibit on Haitian voodoo. Natopia has had so many constitutions we can hardly be called a stable nation! Each new one changed when I had a new whim to fulfill. It has been rewritten so many times - many different parts came together to form what we have now. A fun, yet important part of Natopia is The Ministry of Silly Walks. It was created when Natopia adopted an economy. Due to the technology, the government held all the money and distributed it out via salaries. Not all citizens held government jobs, so to get the money to the people, I set up the Ministry as a type of welfare system. Basically free money and a little bit of cultural development. Another part of fun part of Natopia is the Natopian Institute for the Promotion of Primate Literature, or NIPPL. It is the "citizens only" discussion forum. Matt Ziff came up with the idea of a Natopian institution to research the "infinite monkey theorem." However, another citizen, Tom Mills, devised the scandalously appropriate acronym. The Butter Cow The Butter Cow religion came about from the Natopia Day tradition to have a party "in real life." After the parties declined in popularity, and due to the nearness of dates, I took some friends to the Springfield Illinois State Fair and they always have a Butter Cow sculpture. Because it was an "official" Natopia Day outing, the Butter Cow was adopted as a mascot for Natopia in the same way Malarbor is the mascot for Shireroth. Butter Cow continued as a news mascot until, because of a constitutional crisis, Natopia collapsed. Athlon seceded from Natopia and adopted the Butter Cow as a divinity to bridge the cultural gap and declare itself the successor to Natopia. When Natopia was reformed and annexed Athlon back, the Butter Cow religion came to the forefront of Natopia and was organized into a Catholic-style hierarchy as the Dozan Bovic Church. With myself as leader of both the church and Natopia, soon I fused the church with the state, which violated the many years of official Natopian secularization. Citizens New citizens of Natopia appeared somewhat sporadically. I never really "got" people to join - perhaps one of the problems with long term activity. People just sort of trickled in - some from other nations, others from out of nowhere (of course those people just could have been using fake names). I've made it a personal policy to not kick anyone out of Natopia, but there have been some I've wanted to. Development Natopia progressed most quickly in the very early days with Tasneem, Ryan and myself. Since Tasneem and Ryan were my friends in real life but lived too far away to hang out with, Natopia became our primary forum of communication and thus an explosion of Natopian culture. The Free Juice and Bagels Party and the legislative Frenzy are legacies of this time. Natopia was never really a success per se. I don't really know, it was just kind of a general plateau of existing. I always remember that every time Natopia slows down to a crawl, within a month activity always picks up. If it didn't we wouldn't have been here for seven years. Dark Ages and the Restoration After Natopia slowed, restoring it was really a no-brainer. It had been a part of my life for so long and I was still involved in micronations, so there was no reason to not restore it. Allowing it to collapse and have Athlon and South Mehlville secede provided a very interesting historical element, however, and Natopian history fully embraces the collapse, calling it the Dark Ages, which I think adds a sense of realism to the nation. Diplomacy and Culture When Natopia was first settling into the Micras sector, I wanted Natopia very diplomatically involved. However as time went on I had less time to keep up with other nations, and the nations that Natopia was closely involved with closed up shop. Our dealings with the MCS have always been favorable. In the past, we have had many comments by other nations, and I need to say that I fully endorse being called not serious but awesome. I allowed Natopian culture to grow naturally, instead of imposing a "cookie cutter culture" on it such as German, Roman, English, etc. When the population was mainly teenagers, the culture developed into that "immature" track. We have one of the most unique cultures out there and I would rather have Natopia's awesome unseriousness over way too serious with a lot of activity. Favorite Things I really enjoyed some special parts of Natopia. My favorite Natopia was Tasneem. She was one of the very first to join in high school and stayed for several years. During some of the slower times when I considered ending Natopia or annexing it to another nation, she always kept me on track and kept Natopia independent. It was a sad day when she left - she brought many good times to Natopia. Tasneem is now happily married and graduating from Michigan State this upcoming spring. My favorite time was the one successful Summer Arts Festival we had. We had participants from several nations and filled the Library with some really nice works of art and literature, something I have always fancied being one of Natopia's strong points. A lot of Natopia’s own citizens have work submitted to the library through this day including Monkey Wrench, a one-act play by a former citizen, Zechariahs Azilin (Z). Abdication and a New Emperor Recently, the throne of Natopia was abdicated and my friend Konrad V Z (kvz) has taken over. He was crowned on October 10th, 2009. Why would I give up my throne of seven years strong? Simple answer: no time any more because of grad school. By abdicating and showing that I am willing to let someone else shape and guide Natopia, perhaps it will encourage immigration. Natopia is, after all, named after me. It might not encourage people to join and think they can implement their own ideas. Konrad was chosen as my successor because he has acted as my Regent for many years and has been an extremely loyal and dependable citizen. He has been active and involved in Natopia long enough that I trust him with something I have spent nearly one third of my life on. And Finally Natopia will go forward, as it always does. With a change in leadership and the return of valued old citizens, I have high expectations for it, and I hope that soon Natopia can blossom into the active and powerful nation it deserves to be. - Nathan of Natopia was interviewed by Sir Matthew, Baron of Hazelwood and Minister of Silly Walks

State of the Nation: Natopia in April

Shireroth's DiploCorps report that Natopia is having trouble retaining all of those recent new citizens.

In other news, the Natopians are downsizing their government, developing the imperial space programme and Bovic religion, and sensibly excluding themselves from recwars.

State of the Nation: Natopia in February

Shireroth's DiploCorps report that Natopia's imperial wedding finally went ahead, followed by the ubiquitous honeymoon.

In other news Natopia expanded in two areas, most noticeably by inheriting Holzborg in controversial circumstances.

State of the Nation: Natopia in January

Shireroth's DiploCorps report that Natopia continues to have a "flood of new citizens", while plans for the marriage of the Emperor have run into a few problems.

In other news, Natopia's laws have been enshrined in a new Bovic Code.

The Olympic Report

Last Friday (September 17th), the Micronational Olympics 2004, an event co-organized by Shireroth and Mahina, were closed by the posting of Scott Siskind's final speech. This was a bit of surprise, since some people knew that an Olympic event was under discussion and only a select few knew where and when it was held, or even that it was held in the first place.

In his speech, Scott spoke about the unifying power of sports in general and the Olympics in particular. The event had brought some nations (that we otherwise might never have heard about, such as Natopia and Mahina) closer to the micronational community, even if the major part of this community was absent from the Olympics.

The primary goal of the Olympics is not politics, though, but sport. The original plans contained both physical sports and mind sports - the first everyone could hold in their own backyards (if it they were large enough for a 3,000m parcours), the mind games such as Reversi and Chess were to be held online. Since there are no results shown for these, it is doubtful these events ever took place. The physical sports (frisbee throwing, tennisball throwing, 3000m running and 100m running) did take place, and according to the true Olympic spirit no-one cheated on the times or misjudged the distances. The non-running events were a clear victory for the Natopians, who also had the largest number of participants. Further details of the results can be found in the preceding article.

The lack of publicity surrounding this event is a pity, even more so since it was good opportunity for micronationalists to get some physical exercise instead of sitting in front of a computer all day. Apparently one journal was intended to be the official news publisher for the Games, but in the end this never materialised, while the Olympic Committee forum in Shireroth gave the impression that the Games just fizzled out. Let us hope, though, that this event will continue in the future, because it is an excellent initiative.

Natopia Sweeps the Boards at the Olympics

Following a marathon effort by our correspondents, we are pleased to report on the results of the 2004 Intermicronational Olympic Games. The Games were held jointly by Mahina and Shireroth (from August 13th to 29th), with Mahina doing the website, Shireroth the forum, and everyone else the games. Unfortunately everyone was waiting for someone else to do the publicity, mostly because there was supposed to be an official olympic newspaper, but for some reason (or several), this failed to materialize, but everyone was to polite or busy with other stuff to mention this or do something about it, which is why we're the first ones to actually write anything about what happened.

There were five "offline" (physical) events at the Games this year, namely Discus (with Frisbee), Shot Put (with Tennis Ball), the 100 Metre Run, the 3,000 Metre Run, and the Long Jump. There were also five "online" (mind) events: Yahoo Reversi, Yahoo Checkers, Yahoo Chess, Monopoly and Risk. However, we assume that most of these did not take place, as the official results have only been published for four of the "offline" events, and we can't tell you when, exactly, these events took place, as no dates and times for them have been published.

But all this should not detract from the fact the micronational world's best atheletes did take part in physical events, and did very well in them, although of course some did better than others. The official results are as follows:

Discus (with Frizbee)
Her Honor Sherry Lochhaas (Natopia) - 84 feet (Gold)
His Supremacy Aaron Pavletich (Natopia) - 75 feet (Silver)
His Sovereign Excellency Nathan Shepard (Natopia) - 56 feet (Bronze)
His Excellency President Kevin Baugh (Molossia) - 52 feet
His Royal Majesty Bryan (Mahina) - 51 feet
His Honor Craig Billmeyer (Natopia) - 33 feet

Shot Put (with Tennis Ball)
His Supremacy Aaron Pavletich (Natopia) - 123 feet (Gold)
His Honor Craig Billmeyer (Natopia) - 98 feet (Silver)
Her Honor Sherry Lochhaas (Natopia) - 83 feet (Bronze)
His Sovereign Excellency Nathan Shepard (Natopia) - 82 feet
His Royal Majesty Bryan (Mahina) - 71 feet, 6 inches
His Royal Majesty Samuel (Navland) - 70 feet, 2 inches
His Excellency President Kevin Baugh (Molossia) - 56 feet

100m Run
Brandon Baker (Navland) - 13.79 seconds (Gold)
His Royal Majesty Samuel (Navland) - 15.11 seconds (Silver)
His Royal Majesty Bryan (Mahina) - 21.23 seconds (Bronze)

3000m Run
President Radu Chinan (Gabilonia) - 16 min 18 sec (Gold)
His Royal Majesty Bryan (Mahina) - 20 min 14 sec (Silver)

The final medal tally was as follows:
Natopia - 6 (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)
Navland - 2 (1 Gold, 1 Silver)
Mahina - 2 (1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Gabilonia - 1 (1 Gold)