EDITORIAL

Ladonia, everlasting. Our country has had its freedom for more than four and a half year. And the number of our citizen is around 4.600. There has been some complains about the content of the Herald. Do we have to much lightweight stuff? If you have an opinion about this or if you would like to have something published, don't hesitate to contact me.

We have a rather calm period waiting for the next trial to come up. I think we will have to wait for this for still a couple of months. The court is slow and we don't complain about that.

STORM DISASTER - WOTAN 2

On the 30th of January a heavy storm was blowing in Ladonia. This time of the year is the main holiday in Ladonia celebrating winter's greates depth. And this day was the Evening of WGD. The level of the water was extremely high. Wotan's Tower was still riding the enormous waves in the afternoon. But around 15.00 on this Sunday it became to much. There is an eye-witness to this disaster, Hans Kjellman, Lord of Nails and Invisible Light.

He reports:

"I came along highway 1 and saw Wotan's tower surrounded by heavy waves. It stood like a lighthouse in storm, a tremendous site. I didn't know that this was the last time I saw (this version of) the tower. When finding my way through the upper part of the construction I heard a strange sound from the sea. When I looked I saw the tower shaking, beginning to lean, then lifted by the waves, and, slowly falling. It was then drifting towards the upper part of the shore all the time giving remarkable noises. When I had come down to the shore I found that it was almost impossible to reach anything as the level of water was very high. Also Arx was standing in water. The remanants of Wotan was spread over a surprisingly large area. I was also worried about the Tower of the Winds but I could soon observe that it was only moving lightly in the worst gusts.

Wotan's Tower before the storm.  © Hans Kjellman

This was the only time I have been alone here and I wonder if destiny has chosen me to witness this event.

I also wonder if this disaster has something to do with my computer. It has returned to 1980 and it seems that at least parts of Nimis are trying to do the same. It is hardly a millennium bug as Wotan is not programmed in Fortran or Cobol but of course in Wwal (Wide wood area language)."

What happened then? Well, Wotan 2 were begun on February 1st. It is by now quite a piece.

EXPERT COMMENT ON THE DISASTER OF WOTAN - GEOLOGY AND CLIMATE

The Ministry of Increasingly More Philosophical Fisheries:

The dramatic destruction of The Tower of Wotan is quite wonderful as it was built to be destroyed by nature to start with. It had to be spectacular, and it occurred. That's just as should be; there were witnesses as well. Excellent. When the current minister of philosophical fisheries undertook his first investigative diving expeditions off the sites of Nimis and associated later constructions, it was obvious how the smooth sandy bottom, the mighty boulders close to shore and the everlasting rocks where Nimis was first even thought of, were the products of Holocene and thus only about 10,000 years old if that.

Before she - Holocene - struck, all was different. The mountain (well, pardon me for using the word; climb her northern face and you may find excuses for using it in a neighbouring landscape devoid of anything higher than a cesspool - except of course Strovels backar and Soder & Hallandsasen which do not count) was more impressive ('Los Montes son Malos') The mountain was there before; higher and rougher. The plains may have been there before, but they were different. Denmark - take nationalistic notice - probably did not exist; silly little sandbar with associated peatbogs. Not much more notable now, at least not from a distance. How then can we mourn a loss of monuments to the elements which just a short while ago had created a completely different landscape. And which will create yet another one, and en route over centuries will always destro what is left at water's edge?

We offer two suggestions:

1. The current solar cycle is reaching its maximum this year and should die out in six years. There will be a global cooling then; meaning that the temperature globally will decline a little. That may mean a moderation of storms.
2. On the other hand, the maniacal greenhouse maffia may be right; Ladonia may be inundated undet 10 feet of water from the current descent to the Nimis site. That is only likely to cause more severe storms. Any sensible voter will vote for alternative (a). Good for you, but this is not about voting. All the stuctures at water's edge will be destroyed; thus their value is in present only as tangibles and perhaps in eternity for other reasons. Our counsel to the Executive Branch of Government is to consider the importance of the spiritual value of the Ladonian heritage, rather than its landmarks. On a scientific note, we counsel the rebuilding of our National Monument, especially The Tower of Wotan, for the mighty storms will abate after the current solar maximum subsides. We applaud the rebuilders and we encourage them!

A POEM BY CUSTODIAN JOHAN ANDERSSON

Finally and concluding the disaster we have a poem by our custodian Johan Andersson, who is a professional writer:

Wotan's soul
a hollow whistle
falls and split
Mother Eartf
kind of blow-job

reumatics
and a
drunken storm
a moment of relieve
for a guardian soul

a hollow whistle
another twist
in the collecting drama
landscape  seascape
and the holy mama

Soon will rise its
unclear map
again
and lean with a hangover
O Sigh    Wotan
forgiven as always

Fear no appeal!

Immortal
is hidden
the map is unclear

collected soul
drunken vision
let me in
take my eye and let it sink
deep
the truth is hidden

THE HAIDER CASE

The situation in Austria with the controversial leader Joerg Haider was discussed in the Ladonia cabinet. A proposal from the state secretary to bring Haider into the cabinet was not accepted. The idea was to neutralize the talkative leader. It is also a question about democracy. Is voting of the people a reliable opinion?

The situation was analyzed by minister Lojtnant:

"Sadly, it seems that a substantial proportion of the Austrian people allowed to vote in what we have to believe to be a democratic state - whatever one may think of an Anschluss nation 62 years after the fact - found that Mr. Haider was worthy of their vote. I don't believe Ladonia should lower herself into this debate at all.

The voters of Austria knew what they voted for before they voted; a situation perhaps not prevalent in Mr. Kohl's Germany while the Chancellor was secretly enriching himself at the expense of democratic supporters through several successful elections. Nobody knew what he and his French Connection were up to while they tried to unite Europe for presumably lucrative purposes for their two democracies and all other nations involved; yet they were voted into office without disclosing the entirety of their agendas. Are we to take sides here?

The rules of democracy seem to preclude it. Confusion of actual law with perceived morality may appear inviting, but impossible to defend. Mr. Kohl might be found guilty in a court of law, perhaps he should. In the informal court of morality he has already been found guilty. Mr. Haidar can hardly be found guilty in a court of law. If he is found guilty in a court of morality, why, then, so is the population of Austria.

We then simply find that a nation and its elected leaders may be guilty of trespass of an unwritten law of morality without being bound to adhere to any court rulings. A leader of a nation, on the other hand, may be found guilty in a court of law if trespassing laws to mislead his electorate and thus be convicted, without casting further aspersions on the unsuspecting electorate. Will Kohl be prosecuted? Probably not.

We must then wonder - who is undemocratic; Kohl or Haidar? Which is undemocratic, Germany or Austria? And who is guilty of any trespass before the law? The court of morality? And who is anyone to throw the first stone in the name of either? Legally, it can be established. Morally, it is next to impossible.

Nay, let us stay out of this fray, for the more we stir up the dirt, the more she smells. Ladonia cannot be responsible to set up a court of morality for the world; we are destined to lead by example. Perhaps Ladonia should be bold enough to appoint Haider, Kohl and Mitterand honorary Ministers? They should all have amusing stories to tell; all on the Altar of Rhetoric."

Countess Madeleine made this summary:

"Your are innocent until proven guilty. Then judge and condemn not before. The aforementioned is a fair way to deal with individuals. How we could apply it to nations perhaps takes more thought. Personally I would ignore the whole thing. Punishing Austria will only win them friends encouraging a wider spread of the movement. Let Austria take care of its own internal politics."

C-J Charpentier, minister of HD-motorbikes, made a comparison with swedish politics:

Bullshit! As long as the official Sweden is accepting China and its leaders, Joerg Haider is but a small gust of wind, sorry to say!

And Countess Kickie von Hankell, minister of the guardian angels made it clear:

"NO-ABSOLUTELY NO TO HAIDER IN LADONIAN CABINETT!"

Minister John Parman has this view:

"First of all, there are a lot of people who should not become minister in Ladonia, the "chancellor" of Austria is not one of them. While it is clear that the socialists are losing their grip in Europe, it is no reason to show them the door. People in Austria, I guess, are tired of heavy tax on everything, there is even, I have read even about a tax on social clubs that meet to discuss tax issues. We should not endorse Haider, but in that same sense, we should not endorse any ruling party in Europe, being a friend is a dangerous occupation. I instead think we should hunt out the people who want democratized and united eurpoe and shun the isolationists and nazis who use race-baiting and intimidation to get their way. It is time for Europe's youth to put down the banners of Hitler and Himmler, and take up the flag of Pan-European unity."

ON TIME

Fredrik Larsson, minister of art, has a few words to say about time:

Regarding former published material in Herald on the timeline-matter. We have had a lengthy discussion in the ministry about timelines and in this have ideas about the Christian timeline been somewhat in my mind for a while now. And I think we Ladonians should set a good example by using the right terminology while referring to Christian timeline.

We all, and media, are very much generally talking about year 2000 as the first year in the new millenium. And sometimes one hear song referring to millenium two and so forth. I have myself done this mistake and just have to point out a few small things in all this! First and first. Year 2000 is NOT the first year in a new millenium. And it is definately not the first year of second millenium. It is the last year of the second millenium.

Next year, 2001, is actually when we change and go into a new millenium - The third millenium. Thatīs plain fact and I would be soooo happy if the world finally got itīs mind around this.

People "defend" their saying in this by talking about "Year Zero". And that is very interesting, but not very intelligent... I can demonstrate this very easily. Count for yourself to three, for instance. Have you done it? Good. How many numbers did you use? Three right? One, two, three... Noone starts by counting "zero, one two, three". So then 2000 canīt be the first year in a new millenium but the last. So this coming new years eve all people should have a REALLY great big milleniumparty!

FREE E-MAIL

The Ministry of Communications has established a free e-mail service for all Ladonians. It is compleatly free, and has many features. I hope that will can sign up. The adress to the free-e-mail site is http://ladonia.mail.everyone.net

Sincerely
Michael DeLuca
Minister of Communications

CAR SHOW

Matthew Sinclair, minister of transportation, will represent Ladonia in the great car show:

In February of 2000, Chicago, IL will hold one of the world's largest automotive shows at the McCormick Place. I, the Minister of Transportation, will be attending and would like a Ladonian delegation to accompany me. If you'd like more information on the auto show, visit their website at www.chicagoautoshow.com.

WAAAALLLLL!

Minister Matthew T. Sinclair, MLP
The Ministry of Transportation/First Chamber of the Parliament

MARQUIS JAMES OF HARTMANBURG

Marquis James informs us:

"This month never ends with suprizes. "HARTMANBURG ESTATE" is now a poem with an ISBN#. This establishes Ladonia to the world in Hardcover.

Ballads of Our Lives ISBN 1-58235-128-7

The Hartmanburg Estate

Marquis James von Hartman, MLP, Minister of Future Science has suggested and got a part of Ladonia named as Hartmanburg. Aprox. 56.3 N - 12.9 E

It is a part of west Ladonia up to the Swedish border. From: Ladonia Herald Issue 28, August 1999.

The Hartmanburg Estate is a rocky part close to the entrance to Nimis. It is filled with heavy rocks and stones. There is a very huge rock that is the ROCK OF THE NOBILITY. From Hartmanburg which is about 100 m x 30 m you can overlook parts of Nimis and the sea.

A land so wild and free. Upon masterful natural and man made sculpture as far as the eye can see. In Ladonia forever ye shall be.

Marquis James von Hartman

Copyright Đ2000 James Hartman

ADVENTUROUS ARTISTS

Petr Kazil has a very interesting website on adventurous artist.

Petr tells us:

"My website is located at: www.euronet.nl/users/kazil The list of "Adventurous Urban Artists" is located here: www.euronet.nl/users/kazil/advart00.html

If you know more artists that should be included in the list, then your information will be very welcome. I will also include marginal or local artists.

Many greetings,
Petr Kazil - Urban adventure in Rotterdam"

ANNOUNCEMENT

State Graphic Vera Porad Falk, the Wholly mother, has brought the world a new citizen:

VIKTOR, 9th of February
kl 17.52 at Huddinge Sjukhus.
Viktor weighed 4 170 g and is 52 cm long.

He was born with a gesture of victory, holding his arms over his head.