Re: Con-other

Mark J. Reed wrote:
>
> The subject of con-currencies came up on the
> other thread, and made me wonder what other
> concultural artifacts people have created?

When I was about twelve, I set up the micronation
of the Uteg Republic. Over the next few years, I
designed several flags (I kept changing them when
I discovered that my lastest design was very close
to the flag of a real nation.) which I sewed together
(3'x5') and flew from a makeshift flagpole in my
parents' yard. The neighbors must have thought
we were nuts.

I also designed several series of paper currency
which I carefully drew out by hand (the unit was
the favler). I even made a few coins by melting
down some old plumbing lead and pressing zodiac
wax seals into small molten lumps.

Now that I'm fifty-three, I still have the micronation.
I still fly the flag in my backyard in good weather.
(It's fairly well hidden from public view, so no one
has asked me about it.)

I have quite a collection of letterpress printing
equipment, and I've printed up a series of postage
stamps for the Uteg Republic (using Esperanto
since I'm still not finished designing the Uteg
language). I used gummed paper and an old
machine for making pinhole perforations.

Someday I'll print up currency, but I haven't yet
come up with a design I like.

--Ph. D.