How Billionaires Drop Out
“Heard of this guy Peter Thiel?” Spence says.
“Nope,” says Admin.
“Founder of Pay Pal – “
“There’s a euphemistic kind of name – could have come straight out of The Loved One – “
“And an early investor in Facebook,” Spence continues. “He’s backing something called the Seasteading Institute – “
“That name’s a groaner – “
“The goal of which is to create new floating libertarian sovereign nations in international waters. Oil-rig type platforms, outside the reach of all existing rules.”
“I’ll go pack.”
Tags: Evelyn Waugh, Peter Thiel, Seasteading
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 8:32 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8:41 am on August 17th, 2011
Hi Chet, Spence and Admin, I have been watching images of those reconstructed oil rigs. The plans are quite expansive.
Some how I don’t think I have enough money to drop out!
THANK YOU STAFF! Now I just have to hope that he doesn’t have work that day (not good) or has an early day where he can go later!
A mukluk minutes . . . how long it takes to get your mukluks (type of boot) on?
8:53 am on August 17th, 2011
All I can say is, I’m glad I’m not a billionaire. And, Admin, you would not like living on a floating libertarian nation in international waters. I’d get seasick and you’d have no place to play tennis. And what about Chet and all other four-leggeds…..
Good morning all.
8:58 am on August 17th, 2011
The cookbook was under “spam” on the Dishlickers site so I moved it to “inbox.” It is absolutely wonderful! Love the pictures. (Thank you Liz! and Melanie and Barb!) I’ve downloaded it (or do I mean uploaded it?) and will send it to SharedBooks and order a hardcover copy. I’ll post the price here but I can’t do it until later today. Have to go to campus for lunch with my department chair and secretary.
Hi Melanie!
9:00 am on August 17th, 2011
I wear mukluks in the winter. They go on in no time. My dad makes me wear them to protect my feet, not from the cold, but from all the chemicals used to melt the ice and snow. I hated them the first time I wore them. Now I accept them as a fact of winter life. Of course they were well broken in the first time I wore them; they’re Blou’s hand-me-downs.
9:12 am on August 17th, 2011
No reconstructed oil rigs for us Howlers. How and what would we hunt for dog’s sake?
Not to mention…who is going to protect us from those billionaires if there is no government (isn’t that what the government is for?)
9:12 am on August 17th, 2011
Oh! and Good Morning to all!
9:43 am on August 17th, 2011
Don’t think we will be signing up for it either, even if we were billionaires. Good morning everyone.
Barb had a job interview at a local bank yesterday, but doesn’t think it will go anywhere. They asked her what her future plans were with her home. She had to tell the truth and say that it was for sale. Sure they knew anyway, because that is an unusual interview question, and it is a small town. She did say it had been for sale for a long time, and properties like this are not moving, but still…
9:44 am on August 17th, 2011
Billionairs!…They must all be in the same book club and just finished reading Atlas Shrugged…heh!… All uv ‘em are far too good for the likes of the rest of us. We, the ones who struggle each day for that one bite of a Zinger….sniff!
9:58 am on August 17th, 2011
YSAS is doing stand in work today.
From the mission statement of Seasteading, To further the establishment and growth of permanent, autonomous ocean communities, enabling innovation with new political and social systems.
Hmmm, is it just me or does the movies “Waterworld” come to mind?
Let’s see each place would have their own governmental system, what ever they decide it should be. Since they would be autonomous they wouldn’t have to call on any “21st century” governments for help like a hurricane, or pirates or well anything.
So where do you see anywhere on this photo (a rendering of their projects) for food, or any thing else besides having a good time. And from the picture, it appears the people would come from a large city into a city they can really micromanage, full of people who are just like them.
Wonder where they would hide the help?
10:00 am on August 17th, 2011
Water!…One good hurricane should do the trick…heh!
10:01 am on August 17th, 2011
I’m here for a quick minute then gone all morning. Speaking of which, have a good one everybody!
As you heard, Trigger was up to his old tricks again last night. He not only absconded with another meal but managed to get out a quick message on the ipaw. Something about classes starting soon? He claims to have signed up 2 students already.
This billionaire drop out stuff has my brain in a twirl. I’m still trying to figure out how Bella & Natasha ended up with Basil & Sage’s avatar. I hope someone has a plausible explanation! Is the avatar thief back?
BBL
10:10 am on August 17th, 2011
Well, we don’t think those billionaires would want any nasty, dirty canines messing up that pretty (tiny) grass plot. But they are going to need cats for sure….there is always a need for mousers. They ought to be able to feed us well when we tell them to Go Fish.
10:20 am on August 17th, 2011
I think they should have lots and lots of Kats! In fact, since they probably will have rats, oh, what a mukluk, Mattie’s barking . . .
whispering (Tigger, Hey Pal, it’s Franklin. Mattie got Melanie off the computer. You have got the moves, dog! We’re coming to your class and see if we can pick up any tips. I, of course (blushing on his nose), don’t have to even raise my paws to the counter, but the rest of them want information on stealth counter surfing, and distraction methods. Whoops here she comes . . . Franklin out.
We could actually release some rats off a boat under the city??? Sounds good to me.
10:30 am on August 17th, 2011
That was supposed to be “wait a mukluk” Jeez Louise.
And what’s all that other stuff . . .
FRANKLIN!! My Computer, MINE!
10:49 am on August 17th, 2011
Wondering if anyone wants to avail themselves of my Kat expertise in counter-surfing. I find it pretty easy to do. Also, table-surfing, desk-surfing…etc.
11:01 am on August 17th, 2011
Hey there Buddy. I would like to have some counter surfing advice. Alice is up there all the time, but I have a little problem with heights. (I am too big to launch up high) Let’s get together and see what I can learn.
11:09 am on August 17th, 2011
Funny video from the Daily Show. John Hodgman doing a segment on Book Stores. Chet, be sure to share this with Spencer and Admin:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/17/the-daily-show-bookstore_n_929123.html
11:11 am on August 17th, 2011
A phoney floating island looks like a horrible way to live. That is not what I would do with my money if I were a billionare.
A Husky Rescue and a remote cabin in a meadow in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado would be my choice.
11:12 am on August 17th, 2011
Abbie, I can’t jump either. I pretty much climb…using any available means. Then go horizontal from there. I find I can get anywhere I want that way.
11:21 am on August 17th, 2011
Buddy I am with you. I have tried and tried to get Staff to leave a chair up against the counters but NOOOooooOOOOoooOOOoo. She will not.
Hiss
11:22 am on August 17th, 2011
We are traveling back to Minneapolis today so BBL.
11:22 am on August 17th, 2011
psst, Franklin, Glad you can join us in Trigger’s class. Maybe Trigger can help Rio overcome his low to the ground problem and then help me figure out how to get MY stuffed huskies down from the shelf.
11:26 am on August 17th, 2011
Good morning all! Earlier this week I noticed that the trees were beginning to turn yellow. Yesterday I saw that a few leaves were beginning to fall. Mid-August and it is autumn in the far north.
I would feel claustrophobic and isolated on a small island.
11:40 am on August 17th, 2011
Island!… No man is an Island….heh!… Get ready for stories about drunken billionaires falling off their island and eaten by the sharks….sniff!
11:42 am on August 17th, 2011
Staff!… This means that my friend will be shipping The Spanish Fan out to you this Saturday….snort!… Please clear your driveway in Minnesota of all Marauding Goats….grunt!
11:45 am on August 17th, 2011
Riö! Billionaires falling off their “island” sharks . . . Sounds like a movie to me!
11:52 am on August 17th, 2011
Oh good.
Another chance at an auction prize.
This time we will not fail.
Signed,
The Marauding Goats
12:03 pm on August 17th, 2011
Heh!heh!…They are so easily fooled…sniff!
12:21 pm on August 17th, 2011
Good morning.
But…but…rules are made to be broken. If there are no rules…well…where’s the fun in that? I’m out.
New Roof! We are supposed to be getting a new roof today. The weather is not cooperating so no banging has commenced.
More rummage gathering today. Working in the shop. I’m the low tech gal with rags and a broom. He’s the high tech guy with an air compressor blasting the living daylights out of everything.
TMLG: Your pants are on fire!
12:26 pm on August 17th, 2011
Trigger: Many of the Kennel are expert surfers of dog houses and some like Tenzing, Belle Starr, Elim and Johnny have spent their share of time atop the counter or kitchen table. I would like to enroll Pancho in the beginner class; as the tallest dog in the kennel he doesn’t jump from a standing position onto his dog house like the rest. He climbs one paw in front of the other until he is on the top. It’s entertaining for the rest of us to watch, but I fear it is a sore spot for him.
Dawson: AJ finished to roof on the handler cabin last night—and a good thing too as it raining Royals and Herbs today.
Off to work.
12:33 pm on August 17th, 2011
Didn’t anyone watch that John Hodgman video?
Mom asked us to pose this question to the Plunderers: what type of vaccuum cleaner do you use (and does it work well on wood floors with lots and lots of tumbleweeds) ?
12:37 pm on August 17th, 2011
I hope you are not on another plane, again, Bella. Just a normal drive to work would probably be nice.
Glad the roof got done. When we had our roof done around 5 years ago, Dan said, “Well, we won’t have to worry about that for fifty years!” Hmmm. That would put him at 127 years old. We’ll have to give him a really big birthday party!
Bella, words of wisdom from YSAS . . . “Just be yourself.”
Time to vacuum the pool!
12:40 pm on August 17th, 2011
First OleyHowlers question, then Pool. . .
Take that back. Dan vacuumed the rugs and has put the vacuum somewhere. I’ll let you know when I find it.
The floors on the other hand. We have a canister vacuum from The Vermont Store”. It is wonderful. The only time we had trouble with it, they sent us a new vacuum.
I’m going to do the pool now, and worry about the upright later.
12:53 pm on August 17th, 2011
Hi everyone!
Mama is FINALLY up and after numerous cups of coffee, is actually starting to make sense.
It has been so frustrating being able to read some of the blog sometimes, but not being able to post. Really makes you understand how much we take for granted, having easy internet access whenever we want, when there are parts of the country that still have dial up only, no WiFi and really poor cell coverage. Ok, the scenery was lovely, the green chile was delicious, and the friendships priceless. But no internet??? Ouch!
Rebecca – raining Royals and Herbs – love it!
Trigger – we would love to take your course, but what is a counter?? All we can see from down here is the underside of some flat surface….
1:02 pm on August 17th, 2011
Thanks for the info, Melanie. We only have wood floors, so no need for anything that cleans carpet. We are looking at the Vermont Store canister. Looks good, except for the disposable bags. Don’t you go thru bags A LOT with all the Neuf hair? We’ve been getting used to those hepa filter ones that you just empty the canister and put it back. Prior to that we had a Rainbow for like 25 years. We loved that. But they are so darn expensive nowadays.
2:50 pm on August 17th, 2011
OleyHowlers: Zoë says, “I hate trying to clean out the filters because it’s too difficult with all this long hair!” So we like the disposable. Not sure what “a lot” is, not sure how often we change the bag. It’s not every or even every other time.
T&G: I bet you are glad your mama is awake. And I bet she is glad you guys can’t jump on the bed!
3:09 pm on August 17th, 2011
Well we certainly can get up there and we made sure that they stayed in bed all night. We kept jumping up to check. And it was fun to sneer down on those dam dawgs. THEY had to sleep in their own beds. Ha ha ha
3:39 pm on August 17th, 2011
Welcome back C.Harris…We missed you and hope all went well in KY.
Welcome back Royal’s mum and dad and we hope your dad is feeling better.
3:45 pm on August 17th, 2011
Royals Mum: Did you see the pic of Watching Eyes that we posted?
3:52 pm on August 17th, 2011
I like Rio’s comment about one hurricane doing the trick for the billionaires’ islands.
Howlers: I have carpet rather than wood floors. My vacuum cleaner is a Eureka upright.
4:04 pm on August 17th, 2011
C.Harris: The leaves aren’t changing yet but yesterday Mister saw 2 cranes heading North. He said he was mad he didn’t have his camera because they were very low.
I printed off the Cookbook! I only looked at a couple pages because I’m supposed to be keeping my nose to the grindstone. Oh it is very cool to see all your names under the recipes. I can’t wait to take a closer look. You (guys, women, dogs, cats) are awesome!
4:08 pm on August 17th, 2011
So now our movie has the “Billionaire Island” have a hurricane and there are sharks involved!
C.Harris: Did you do the lasik thing done on your eyes? Inquiring eyes want to know.
Dawson: You are sure one busy person!
Oh, you don’t need this OH but our carpet vacuum is an industrial Oreck.
4:12 pm on August 17th, 2011
Love it when I know what I’m going to say and then read everyone else’s and then what I was going to say goes completely out of my mind!
Mr. RedBone Hound Sir, Thank you for your way to freeze peaches. Considering the method, I think it was fine to say what you did.
I have frozen one pint of peaches, given away a bunch of fresh and today . . . climbed a step ladder and got the rest of those things! Way up there, yup, next Spring I’m pruning the peach trees.
Anyhoo, I’ve got a whole mess to freeze, but since I vacuumed the pool and then climbed, I’m not doing it tonight!
I saved 8 of the prettiest ripest sun kissed red peaches for us just to eat. I’m having one now and it is wonderful!
4:19 pm on August 17th, 2011
Basil and Sage – Don’t be having a conniption about your avatar – conniping takes too much energy anyway. Because the blog was not working properly, the stuff stored in memory, like your email address that identifies the avatar, was either hosed or the retrieval from memory was hosed. That put the wrong email address into your post, and into Natasha’s too. It was just a software problem.
4:29 pm on August 17th, 2011
That cookbook is a true Work of Art. Thanks to all who put that together. We love it. Buddy & T.C. too!
4:30 pm on August 17th, 2011
“Hosed”?? Interesting.
Melanie: I wish I had a fresh-picked peach….
4:37 pm on August 17th, 2011
Hosed!…Isn’t that what they did to Shrek?…snort!
5:08 pm on August 17th, 2011
I’m thingfvdcsxazfdxsaZcxz, euuuuuu, Franklin slimed the keyboard. Wait. . . .nhgfvxz cc cx≈XZX
That’s better. Okay what I was saying was, hosing and internet makes me think of that politician who thought that the internet was a connection of very long tubes.
5:10 pm on August 17th, 2011
I ordered the cookbook through SharedBooks and it was more expensive that I thought it would be. $48.75 for an 8-1/2 x 11 hardcover with full color inside.
5:20 pm on August 17th, 2011
Cookbook!…yeep!…My friend will never go for that…sniff!dammit!
5:39 pm on August 17th, 2011
Someone here thinks the world is going to hell in a hand basket! (where on earth do these expressions come from?) Many crazy ideas out there, the Billionaire’s Island being only one of them.
Oh, oh. Mom’s shutting down the computer because she’s leaving for the airport.
Will have to catch up on the blog later.
Bye for now.
6:01 pm on August 17th, 2011
Hosed! That was what Mom told me when she explained how the problem happened. I thought it was some high tech term.
6:31 pm on August 17th, 2011
We spent about 10 minutes trying to watch the video that Oley suggested. Finally at the end it said to watch it was had to install Flash something or other. Never did get to see it. Sorry.
7:30 pm on August 17th, 2011
Masquers, that expression is one where there isn’t much on it’s origin.
Supposedly American in the 1940’s but maybe from the 1700’s or from people being guillotined and their heads caught in a basket. Since they were being punished (one hopes they were guilty) and going to hell.
That’s it for me. TTNF
7:32 pm on August 17th, 2011
I am writing out a shopping list right now just to try out some of the fantastic recipes in “Dishlickers” Wow Liz F. I am truly awed by the professional layout, photos etc. It is beyond anything I could have imagined. You, B., Barb, Melanie and all the contributers are the best. Plunderers for President and Prime Minister!
7:39 pm on August 17th, 2011
Also I just looked at Blurb and the cost for a softcover 4 color version of the book would be $34.95. They have a 5% discount price if you order 5 or more of the same type so it is another option which will further reduce the price. The books I have made with them are fantastic so that might be an option for those interested.
8:04 pm on August 17th, 2011
Paging Dr. Meshka: Is your patient still doing well?
8:04 pm on August 17th, 2011
Cookbook!…. This would be a very nice Christmas present for my friend ….snort! …Debbie, if you and Wookie are going to order books, will you put in an order for me too?….sniff!… I will ask for a double or triple advance on my treat allowance to pay for my share of expenses and she will never suspect a thing…heh!
8:14 pm on August 17th, 2011
Absolutely Rio. We won’t tell your friend a thing about it and you can ‘dog-ear’ the pages of the recipes you went her to make!
8:23 pm on August 17th, 2011
Debbie, We will take one also. Can they be shipped direct?
8:23 pm on August 17th, 2011
If you want to see “more money than sense”, google “Dubai architecture. Absolutely unbelieveable!
8:27 pm on August 17th, 2011
We are going to go grill a steak and then watch Ameerka. Barb didn’t realize at first that is supposed to be America. Duh!
The woman from Palastine is sup[posed to relocate to a rural town in Illinois, so that should make it even more interesting. Later
8:30 pm on August 17th, 2011
Thanks Debbie. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes myself, if i can find the more exotic ingredients!
8:40 pm on August 17th, 2011
Sorry we spelled the name of the movie incorrectly- it is Amreeka. Will give you a report later or tomorrow morning. TTFN
8:44 pm on August 17th, 2011
Rude!…Barb didn’t ask very nicely she just assumes Debbie will do it all for her…grunt!…In my book that is pretty snobby and a tad bossy…huffle!
8:58 pm on August 17th, 2011
Walk!… Damn-it-all! She wants to walk tonight…gruffle!…It’s still hot out and I don’t want to go….sniff!
9:20 pm on August 17th, 2011
Good night all.
9:27 pm on August 17th, 2011
Awwww Rio: It’s really very sweet of you to spend your treat money on your friend. I was looking at a picture of her case noodles. They sure look yummy.
9:34 pm on August 17th, 2011
Melanie: yes, I had LASIK surgery on my eyes and immediately stopped wearing glasses. The first 3 hours post-surgery was difficult but after that things have gone well. My eyes are still adjusting and I’ve noticed that when I’m tired, my vision gets a wee blurry and sometimes when I’m on the computer I have to enlarge the text. I was seeing halos around lights but I think that might be improving.
First day of school tomorrow! Usually that means I wake up every hour all night long. LOL
I need to catch up on the blog and find out how to get a cookbook.
9:52 pm on August 17th, 2011
Rio, You are going to have a big surprise when you get back from your walk! The Rockies are ahead by 11 runs!!
10:15 pm on August 17th, 2011
Bella: My new full-time job is keeping me hopping so I didn’t see your post til now. Shiek is doing well, thanks to my helpful ministrations. (is that a word?) I’m still hoping I get to hose him, but so far, no luck.
10:17 pm on August 17th, 2011
Debbie, will that cookbook be spiral-bound? If so, we’d like to have one too, if you can order another. Our mommy will be so happy … it would make a fantastic Birthday present.
10:28 pm on August 17th, 2011
Charris!…the Cookbook is out on the yahoo.com at the dishlickers email account….snort!… If you need the password please get it through the SDD from someone you know….heh!… Please, nobody put the password out here again or all the silly lurkers will be getting a cookbook for nuthing…wheeze!cough! …I’m pooped and de-pooped!!…heh!
10:28 pm on August 17th, 2011
O no. Mom says we must shut down the computer and come to bed. She wants to watch Property Brothers while she falls asleep.
10:34 pm on August 17th, 2011
Rockies!…..Woooooo!…. The Fishies are drowning!….snort!…. 11 ta Zip Rockies!…heh!…I can’t remember if I have ever saw this score before…sniff!
10:36 pm on August 17th, 2011
WhooooHooooo!
I got a little package. I got my patches!
I’m the first to get my patches!?
Ooooh!
Now I have to find an iron.
Take that you marauding good-for-nothing goats!
DebbieLM: I sure would like a spiral bound Plunderer’s cookbook. Is that what you are ordering?
10:47 pm on August 17th, 2011
Debbie!… Now I fear I have gotten you in a cookbook pickle!….grunt!… I didn’t mean for everyone else to jump in on my request…sniff!
Unbelievable!….Dawson got her patches second….snort!….Spencer and company got theirs first. The Goats must be spread too thin…heh!… They have to cover a good part of the country to intercept these patches….chorkel!
11:00 pm on August 17th, 2011
Rio: See what you have started?
DebbieLM: You won’t break my heart if you don’t want to do it. I’m supposed to be on a budget anyways and cookbooks are not on my need desperately list. I can color my own. I guess.
11:08 pm on August 17th, 2011
It is raining here…at least that is what mom tells me that wet stuff dripping down from the sky is.
We are turning in. The Rockies will win, but I am sorry Cook didn’t get that shutout.
Good Night All
11:11 pm on August 17th, 2011
Skateboard!….That famous bulldawg who rides a skateboard is at the Rockies game tonight…heh!snort!….That guys is amazing. He is an expert at riding that thing around…snort!….I wish I could meet that guy.
11:15 pm on August 17th, 2011
Hi gang!
The day has just gotten away from us…so much to do when you get home from vacation.
First – MollyPop – thanks for the explanation of the mysterious avatar hijacking. Basil and Sage can sleep better now knowing that it was all the fault of a certain Baker.
Howlers – so glad you like the Watching Eyes. That one is truly one of a kind. Mama thought she knew a lot – ummm – that is quite a bit, about clay, until she tackled that piece. That one taught her volumes about the drying capabilities of stoneware clay. When she showed it to her new teacher, he was very surprised that she was able to do what she wanted with it. Soemtimes when you don’t know something is impossible to do, you do it by sheer dumb luck.
Macy – ain’t that Dubai thing ridiculous?!? Leave it to a male dominated culture….
Dawson – you outwitted those bad goats! Hooray!
Debbie – you may have created a monster by mentioning that cookbook thingie. If by chance you decide to be a “clearing house” for cookbook orders, could you add our name to the list?
Siber – Mama told us that she was so happy to have met you and your Mom. She said you are gorgeous, and your Mom is the kind of person she would like to hang out with.
Rio – are you twirling? Rockies, patches and cookbooks all at once!
11:15 pm on August 17th, 2011
Goodnight tail waggers.
11:24 pm on August 17th, 2011
Hi guys. I checked with mom and she is willing to order the cookbooks for those who requested it. However, a couple of Plunderers asked if they are spiral bound and they are not. It’s a soft cover 4 color version, with what I would describe as a regular binding, so if that is not what you want, then we need to know one way or another. One of the books she ordered previously from them was a very special book of photos of moi that I gave to dad as a Father’s Day present last year, so we have had good experience with them before. Wookie
11:43 pm on August 17th, 2011
Twirling!….I’m twirling!…snort!… I’m skipping, I’m skipping!…heh!….All the way up the stairs to my warm soft bed…snorkel!… I will be twirling, twirling all the way down into my bed…snuffle!sneeze!
11:57 pm on August 17th, 2011
Wookie – what a thoughtful Fathers’ Day present. Bet your Dad just loved it!
We would kind of like to have our cookbook spiral bound. Maybe we will just go to Staples and get it done that way. Or did we see spiral bound in someone else’s comments? We are so confused.
Maybe we should follow Dawson, Rio and Siber’s example and call it a night.
Good night all.