Newark, New Jersey signs sister city agreement with a place that doesn't exist

[Shaul]

The City of Newark, New Jersey signed a sister city agreement with the United States of Kailasa. But there is no such country as Kailasa.

Newark Fooled in Sister City Scam - A Quick Search Could Have Prevented This

 

[Revoltingest]

I wonder if they'd be willing to sign an
agreement to partner up with Revoltistan?

 

[Shaul]

I wonder if they'd be willing to sign an
agreement to partner up with Revoltistan?

Would anyone in their right mind?

 

[Stevicus]

The City of Newark, New Jersey signed a sister city agreement with the United States of Kailasa. But there is no such country as Kailasa.

Newark Fooled in Sister City Scam - A Quick Search Could Have Prevented This

The article kept saying they should have done a Google search, several times, almost like this is some kind of advertisement for Google. (They probably could have gotten similar results from Duck Duck Go.)

But even then, I can't believe that they'd have to rely on an internet search anyway. Or that it would be that easy to become a sister city. What, does somebody just show up at city hall and say "I'm from another city and we want to be sister cities"? Setting aside doing an internet search as to whether or not the city exists, don't they have to do some checking to verify if someone has the credentials and authority to enter into such an arrangement? Do they just take someone's word for it, even if the place does exist?

 

[Stevicus]

I wonder if they'd be willing to sign an
agreement to partner up with Revoltistan?

You want to partner up with Newark?

 

[Valjean]

S

The article kept saying they should have done a Google search, several times, almost like this is some kind of advertisement for Google. (They probably could have gotten similar results from Duck Duck Go.)

But even then, I can't believe that they'd have to rely on an internet search anyway. Or that it would be that easy to become a sister city. What, does somebody just show up at city hall and say "I'm from another city and we want to be sister cities"? Setting aside doing an internet search as to whether or not the city exists, don't they have to do some checking to verify if someone has the credentials and authority to enter into such an arrangement? Do they just take someone's word for it, even if the place does exist?

O ye of little faith! Sign the agreement and the country shall be founded and the sister city raised!

Just consider the example of my city's minor league baseball team, appropriated right out of an episode of The Simpsons.

 

[Stevicus]

S

O ye of little faith! Sign the agreement and the country shall be founded and the sister city raised!

Just consider the example of my city's minor league baseball team, appropriated right out of an episode of The Simpsons.

My city has six sister cities:

Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
Guadalajara, Mexico
Mazatlán, Mexico
Pécs, Hungary
Puerto Peñasco, Mexico
County Roscommon, Ireland

I have no idea how any of these cities were chosen or how the process works.

Does this mean if I go to any of these cities and say "I'm from your sister city," do I get any special discounts?

 

[Viker]

Louisville's sister cities.

I checked and they all actually exist! They're real!

Montpellier, France
La Plata, Argentina
Adapazari, Turkey
Tamale, Ghana
Quito, Ecuador
Mainz, Germany
Jiu Jiang, China
Leeds, England
Perm, Russia (temporarily paused for some reason)

 

[Viker]

My city has six sister cities:

Ciudad Obregón, Mexico
Guadalajara, Mexico
Mazatlán, Mexico
Pécs, Hungary
Puerto Peñasco, Mexico
County Roscommon, Ireland

I have no idea how any of these cities were chosen or how the process works.

Does this mean if I go to any of these cities and say "I'm from your sister city," do I get any special discounts?

"Sister Cities of Louisville programming promotes peace through the respect we show, understanding we foster and cooperation we seek with our Sister Cities around the world - one individual, one community at a time.

At the local level, there are opportunities for personal development, new friendships, and new challenges to understand the world around us. On the municipal level, the exchange of experiences between cities leads to new ideas and unique solutions to problems. From the national vantage point, the "grassroots" contact allows people from all nations to learn from one another. This process benefits Louisville as well as members from other sister city communities around the world"

I guess this is sorta what it means.

 

[Shaul]

A lot of sister cities but no brother cities. Seems sexist.

 

[Viker]

A lot of sister cities but no brother cities. Seems sexist.

There's always Philadelphia.

 

[sayak83]

The City of Newark, New Jersey signed a sister city agreement with the United States of Kailasa. But there is no such country as Kailasa.

Newark Fooled in Sister City Scam - A Quick Search Could Have Prevented This

This Nithyananda guy is a scamster and rapist who fled from India to avoid arrest. He has created an exploitative cult filled with the gullible and other like minded scamsters who forge documents to fool people and other govts. Interpol has an international red corner notice to nab the guy. It's like Newark going into an agreement with a mafia boss!
Interpol Notice Against Nithyananda, Wanted In Rape, Abduction Cases

 

[ChristineM]

In Europe they are usually called twin towns.

I see it as wn excuse for town officials to get an all expenses paid trip to their twinned towns.

I guess visiting a non existent town can be fun.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The City of Newark, New Jersey signed a sister city agreement with the United States of Kailasa. But there is no such country as Kailasa.

Newark Fooled in Sister City Scam - A Quick Search Could Have Prevented This

There's this bridge in Brooklyn........

 

[Twilight Hue]

This Nithyananda guy is a scamster and rapist who fled from India to avoid arrest. He has created an exploitative cult filled with the gullible and other like minded scamsters who forge documents to fool people and other govts. Interpol has an international red corner notice to nab the guy. It's like Newark going into an agreement with a mafia boss!
Interpol Notice Against Nithyananda, Wanted In Rape, Abduction Cases

That guy has quite a hobby.

 

[sayak83]

In Europe they are usually called twin towns.

I see it as wn excuse for town officials to get an all expenses paid trip to their twinned towns.

I guess visiting a non existent town can be fun.

Yes indeed. If you can actually bill the govt for expenses made during that nonexistent trip.....
May be that is what happened

 

[Revoltingest]

Would anyone in their right mind?

Consider the advantages.
- Revoltistan exists...sort of.
- We don't conquer other countries.
- We prefer to not even visit other countries.
- Best national motto in the world...
"Damn the torpedoes! Full speed astern!"

 

[Revoltingest]

You want to partner up with Newark?

Depends what they're offering.
But I do pass thru it occasionally.
Maybe I'd get a free hot cocoa at Starbucks.
(There's is really good.)

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The article kept saying they should have done a Google search, several times, almost like this is some kind of advertisement for Google. (They probably could have gotten similar results from Duck Duck Go.)

It probably should have been "google search," but it seems hardly worth mentioning.

Actually, one would think that anyone serious about a potential sister city would have done a google search if only to demonstrate a respectful interest in one's newfound sibling.

 

[Shaul]

Consider the advantages.
- Revoltistan exists...sort of.
- We don't conquer other countries.
- We prefer to not even visit other countries.
- Best national motto in the world...
"Damn the torpedoes! Full speed astern!"

All well and fine, but there is that one speed bump....

haggis.