Believe it or not: This man built a country because he was bored

Some people picked up baking during lockdown, but Randy Williams? He built an entire country. Welcome to the Republic of Slowjamastan, an 11-acre desert “nation” in California where Crocs are illegal, reply-all emails are banned (finally), and speeding is totally fine… if tacos are involved. Surprisingly, over 25,000 people have signed up to be citizens. Because why not?From radio host to desert sultanAfter nearly completing his mission to visit every UN-recognised country, Randy decided to make one instead when the pandemic hit. “If I can’t visit another country, why not create one?” he said, as reported by BBC. He bought a dusty plot for $19,500 (approx ₹18 lakh), set up a desk, and nation-building began. His friend Mark Corona wasn’t convinced: “Where will this country convene? At your house?” Today, the place has passports, currency, border control, a national anthem, and even a broken submarine named SS Badassin—plus a police force and EMTs, because clearly, every nation needs “defence.”Laws, laughs & a fanbaseCountry rules are equally wild: Crocs banned, national animal—raccoon, and citizenship? Free. Want a title? Pay up and “You’re a Member of Parliament,” Williams joked. But there’s a deeper idea behind the madness. “I don’t have to tell you how divisive everything is. Slowjamastan is the escape from all of that… we forbid discussion of any politics at all,” he told BBC. And it’s growing fast. Next year, it will host MicroCon 2027, bringing together 43+ self-proclaimed nations to debate everything from sovereignty to coat of arms. Today, it has citizens from 120 countries. As the Sultan puts it: “Slowjamastan doesn’t belong to me, it really belongs to everyone.”