There’s far away and then there’s farfetched

There’s far away and then there’s farfetched. We’ve got an offbeat story for each.

Far away

Four British women were chosen from 4,000 applicants vying for the 2022-23 postmaster general team from November to March on Antarctica’s Goudier Island. In addition to postal duties, the job description includes managing the gift and museum shops, sharing one bedroom with no running water and gathering scientific data on the 1000 Gentoo penguins that inhabit the island. No internet either.

Antarctica’s perks? Participants claim it’s the sublime wonder of it all. Described to be like nowhere else in the world, the environment’s vast pristine nature makes it all worthwhile. There’s more to this story.

Farfetched

Randy “R Dub” Williams, a well-known San Diego late-night DJ had visited all 193 member states of the United Nations. So he decided to create a new country–a micronation located on an 11.07-acre plot of arid land off route 78 in California. In December 2021 Williams broadcast the country’s secession from the United States from his open-air government office in Dublandia, the Republic of Slowjamastan’s capital.

Latest update? Slowjamastan has 500 registered citizens, its own currency (the duble), flag and national animal—a racoon. Visitors can check out Independence Square, take selfies in front of the welcome sign, and most importantly, have bragging rights that they “were there.” There’s much more to this story.