The Conch Republic

Though I was aware of its existence, I wasn't aware of the history behind the Conch Republic, also known as Key West, Florida. In 1982 the government set up a bunch of search outposts looking for narcotics for people driving to or from Key West. Well, as a symbolic move, Key West seceded from the United States and declared itself the Conch Republic. It declared war on the US after doing so, then surrendered one minute later. After surrendering, they quickly applied for approximately one billion dollars of foreign aid.

Among other things, yesterday I also learned that there is an official wizard of New Zealand. I guess they took the whole Lord of the Rings thing a little too far.