Man-made islands are gaining traction as "start-up countries," essentially libertarian paradises that operate in the same free-wheeling government loopholes as cruise ships. It's not the first time the idea has been floated, but Patri Friedman, a Google software engineer, is the first to raise $1.2 million in seed money to get it all going. Here's hoping it looks like either a (a) giant lily pad or (b) villain's lair. [Bloomberg; previously]
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