Way OT: Sparty at Sea
There's a lot to unpack in this Freep piece about a "seasteading" Michigander. I'd suggest watching at least the first thirty seconds of the YouTube video. The soundtrack alone might make your morning.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/04/18/seastead-chad-elwartowski-thailand-bitcoin/3506184002/
D'oh (link). Thanks.
Party on, Sparty. A tsunami rolled through there not too many years ago.
April 19th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
A tsunami would not be a huge deal that far away from the shore, a typhoon on the other hand...
He'll like the 'no rules in our little sovereign bubble' until some pirates come along and demonstrate just how dangerous that can be.
April 19th, 2019 at 12:30 PM ^
Walter Sobchak upvotes this comment.
Yeah really. I miss the old days when just traveling betwee towns was super dangerous because the lack of governance in the countryside meant there were bandits roving all over.
I'm pulling for Thailand.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...............Thanks for making me spit coffee all over my keyboard you dick!
Did you look at the picture of the 'home'? That's no home!! It's nothing more than a crow's nest sitting on top of a bobber! No way anyone will be able to live in something like that.
I'll admit, when I first saw the headline yesterday, I was thinking of some huge platform holding a real house, satellite dish, pool area (you cannot jump into the open ocean and swim without getting eaten by a Mako or Oceanic White Tip), solar panels and windmill, and some form of potable water generation utility. There is just no way you can live on that temporary shelter - you'd kill yourself after a couple of months!
Yeah-- if the Thai government wants to really punish him, they'll let him stay in that moronic contraption until "Thai Prison" sounds like an upgrade.
Wow, that was a terrible but remarkably entertaining commercial! I am very relieved that man does not represent my alma mater.
Where does all their trash go? Right in the ocean, of course. Which wouldn't make it much different from most of Asia's trash, but it still pisses me off.
Also, what if you have a medical emergency? You're fucked. Not even going to touch on how stupid his FDA comment was. What happens when a storm causes significant waves and wind? These people are absolute morons.
The dumbass may have wanted to make sure he was clear of Thailand's territorial waters before declaring his freedom. (Just because he is about 12 nm from Phuket, does not mean he is over 12 nm from all of Thailands islands.) Also, it is not clear if he is hazarding a shipping lane or not.
He'll need a maritime attorney.
As far as the concept is concerned - ok, where does his food come from (he can make water), and where does his waste go? Where do they harbor in really bad weather? Get medical attention? Repair damage, corrosion and weathering? Get their internet?
My advice on the subject. Spend the $150K on a blue water sailboat, and live free most of your time, while also having the ability to move when you need or want to. (ala S/V Delos on YouTube)
April 19th, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
He probably gets food, water, fuel and batteries by taking his boat into territorial waters in Tailand, and docking, and leaving, without reporting to boot.
They saw he has a tai citizen with him and was trying to start a movement, knew that people are stupid, and if they allowed thus, that many people would die within the year and the international community would blame Tai authorities.
Also, how entirely predictable that this state grad earned his wealth through one of the largest scams of the last 20 years. (Btc).
April 19th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
That was my first thought, were is Sparty pooping? Into our oceans? Great idea shithead! He better be recycling it and eating it.
How creepy is that? Shacking up with a Sparty?? SMH
It's dangerous to burn anything on a ship... How'd they get permission to do the couches?
You all raise some very practical concerns, but what's to protect these folks from the Smokers? But seriously, why is that people revert to the very worst of the 1980's apocalyptic movies as their inspiration for the future?
I think he picked the site based on the island named. Phuket. The job, the rat race, the Spartans harboring rapists and molesters. Phuket.
If that little tin can home with bad neighbors was all I could get for my money, I’m glad I never invested in Bitcoin.
April 19th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
Hope he and his partner don't procreate. Not good for the gene pool
April 19th, 2019 at 10:10 AM ^
My guess is that he and his GF screwed a bunch of people out of money with cryptocurrency and he is trying to hide out. Hope the Indonesians torpedo his hermit love nest.
April 19th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
I wonder what maritime law says about the rights of a floating lovenest in shipping lanes. I would surmise many seasteaders will end up in Davy Jones' locker.
What would RCMB do? I don't care!
April 19th, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
What a dumbass. #spartanswill
April 19th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
First cyclone that comes through, he'll be appealing to the UN for international assistance, and then expect the world's "unfree taxpaying drones" (i.e. all of us) to bail-out him and his pre-teen bride.
April 19th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
We are free! we have no rules! we pay no taxes!
Until a storm comes along... or pirates... or they need medical care.. or dental care (FFS she's got braces on her teeth)... or they run out of sparkling wine...
April 19th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
Not all, certainly, but most people like this end up being free-riders, sucking off the system while refusing to give back and proclaiming their independence from the "modern world."
I just re-watched the Ted Kaczinsky drama on Netflix, "Manhunt." Great program. Ted tried hard to truly go it alone. But he still loved going to the local library. He'd also ask mom and his brother for cash from time to time, when rabbits and organic veggies didn't cut it anymore.
April 19th, 2019 at 12:25 PM ^
"Who lives in a tin can on top of the sea?
Spartan Bob! And his wife!
Has an endless toilet for poop and for pee?
Spartan Bob! And his wife!
Who's nautical nonsense enraged the whole Thai navy?
Spartan Bob! And his wife!
Hoping and praying for no tsunami?
Spartan Bob! And his wife!"
I don’t have enough points yet to post a new thread but given that seasteading is an OT topic, this seems like an appropriate place to post this breaking news non-sequitar about Pete Davidson comparing his new digs in the Basement to ‘The Ohio State University’. I propose for all time forward we refer to the ‘Shoe as The Basement. It just seems apropos.
Here’s the link for a laugh:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/entertainment/pete-davidson-mom-basement.amp
The SSGN USS Michigan can end this silliness.
UPDATE: The Thai Navy has apparently chased them away. They were somehow notified in advance - or otherwise learned about the coming raid - and fled. Also, they could potentially face the DEATH PENALTY if apprehended.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/19/asia/thai-sea-home-us-bitcoin-trader-scli-intl/index.html
I mean, I think the death penalty is pretty steep here, but can you imagine having to explain this on death row to the other inmates?
"Um, well, no, I didn't murder or rape anyone, or import tons of drugs. I built a shitty cabin 13 miles off the coast and, well, now I'm going to die for it." Hahahahahaha...
April 20th, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
So many questions, lol.
How did they escape, on that shitty little boat of theirs? And how long did they manage to stay there? Also, how much did he make off btc, like real money?
