[Jnadke]

Originally posted by srawls
Here's one I thought was common knowledge (amongst FIRSTers, that is), until several people stared at me blankly, and one wouldn't even believe me.

Did you know that Dean Kamen owns his own Island, and has seceded from the Union? (Island name is North Dumpling I think, or thereabouts. He even issued currency with the exchange rate of pi! At least he's got a sense of humour )

Stephen

In the mid-1980s, Kamen bought North Dumpling Island — three acres off Connecticut, uninhabited aside from Kamen himself.

He declared the island's independence (the declaration has no force of law), developed his own currency (the Dumpling) and signed a nonaggression pact with New Hampshire. He restored an old amphibious ship to serve the imaginary North Dumpling navy.

But when he proposed to build a windmill to generate electricity, officials on the mainland balked. The law requires a permit, they said.

When Kamen pointed out that the law also required that the state provide school bus service and trash collection for the island, authorities backed off.

"If you had your own island and you're 38 miles away from town, the idea that you would have to ask somebody permission to build a windmill is ridiculous," said Kamen.

http://www.daily-camera.com/business/a294909a.html

Yes, and 1 Dollar = Pi Dumplings