So much of human experience comes down to drawing lines. Where you can go, what you can bring, who gets to stay.
This week, we're exploring ways that people push back against the lines β painting their houses black, founding countries of borderline legal status, or just letting kids play freely in their own yards.
Last call: our experiment with lower bundle prices (20% off) wraps up at the end of August. After that, weβre at the mercy of Accountant Steve.
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And don't forget: your chance to win $50 is down below π
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Congrats to Sara, our latest survey winner!
"My favorite place in the world is my summer home in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Living on a lake, kayaking in pristine waters, watching the aurora borealis, and being in a place that is so dark at night the Milky Way is a river of stars. Live where you would want to vacation!"
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- Notting Hill residents are painting their famously colorful houses black as a defence mechanism against influencer hordes.
- New EU rules guarantee free hand luggage β and more.
- Spain is offering tech workers up to β¬15K to relocate to the rural Ambroz Valley.
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The Free Republic of Verdis sits in a small forest sandwiched between Croatia and Serbia - land left in legal limbo by a border dispute. Jackson discovered this "terra nullius" loophole at 14, declared independence at 15, and now has 400 official citizens from 15,000 applications.
Croatian authorities were decidedly Not Stoked. They detained Jackson in October 2023, deported him, and banned him for life. He now runs a "government in exile" from Belgrade, insisting he'll step down and call elections if Verdis gains recognition.
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Here's what kids actually want, instead of more screen time: permission to leave the house.
A poll asked 500 children to choose their favourite way to spend time with friends. The winner wasn't organised activities or online socialising - it was unstructured play. In other words, kids want an old-fashioned childhood.
The problem? Most aren't allowed in public without adults. Fewer than half of 8- and 9-year-olds have walked down a grocery store aisle alone. Meanwhile, 75% regularly play Roblox, roaming virtual worlds far more freely than real ones.
Kids aren't necessarily addicted to screens - they're starved for spaces where they can make choices without adults hovering.
Let 'em roam! |
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An Indonesian governor wants to hand Komodo Island "back to the dragons" β by evicting 2,000 people who've lived there for generations and turning it into an exclusive $1,000-per-person destination.
Islanders cite an ancient myth: a princess gave birth to twins, one human, one Komodo dragon. "We would be better off dying than leaving this place," one says. Scientists who've studied the park for decades agree: the real threat isn't locals or tourists, but the (to be fair, quite intuitive) assumption that humans and 10-foot venomous lizards can't share space peacefully. |
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Whether you're 14 and dreaming of founding a country, or 40 and ready to relocate to rural Spain: Minaal gear will help. Answer two quick questions for a chance to win $50 store credit.
Enter here π
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As always: let us know what you liked, what you'd like to see more of, your favourite dragon, that sorta thing.
J, D, & the Minaal team
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Made with β€οΈ all over the π by the Minaal crew.
2025 MINAAL / PRIVACY
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