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| Julia Ioffe, classless prog harpie |
SCUMBAG NEWSIE
The News media’s war against President Trump, which most Americans ignore, reached a new low:
Julia Ioffe, a now-ex Politico writer is set to join The Atlantic – after Ioffe tweeted regarding Ivanka Trump: “Either Trump is f—ing his daughter or he’s shirking nepotism laws. Which is worse?”
Politico swiftly cut ties with Ioffe, who subsequently deleted the tweet and apologized for the “crass joke.”
It’s interesting that it’s the same corrupt elite media who accuses President Trump of being “classless”.
One of the sacred cows of the news business is the daily White House press briefing. Being tapped to be the White House Correspondent from any of the corrupt media outlets is seen as an honor. However it may well be that when networks put out patently fake news, that they find their press credentials pulled. Seating order in the White House briefing room is another sacred cow…and it’s going to change. (haha)
BY WAY OF FOLLOW-UP
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
The other two developments are related to the CPEC. The first significant public action by General Bajwa, after his appointment and promotion, was his visit to Quetta, Baluchistan.
Quetta, Pakistan is the capital of Baluchistan Province, where a simmering Baluchi separatist movement has had a practice of targeting infrastructure projects. It has been the base of the Taliban’s leadership council since 2001. It also is a key node in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and one of the more insecure nodes because of the blend of insurgents, terrorists and drug and smuggling enterprises that operate in, from or through Quetta. A vulnerable leg of the CPEC passes through Baluchistan and terminates at the port of Gwadar.“We are fully cognizant of the challenges to security of CPEC and Gwadar port.” Dawn reported that challenges to Pakistan’s maritime security have traditionally come from India. But Chinese involvement in Gwadar port and the launch of CPEC has complicated the security environment. India sees Gwadar as a foothold for China in the Arabian Sea and as a counter-strategy to threats at Malacca. Therefore, India is alleged to have stepped up its activities in the broader region surrounding Gwadar to undermine the project.”
The common thread in the developments relating to the CPEC and the Port of Gwadar is the closer identification of Pakistani security interests with Chinese security interests. In cooperating with China in the construction of CPEC and Gwadar port, Pakistan has compromised its sovereign control of its own national security. It must protect the huge Chinese investment in CPEC and must listen to Chinese advice as to what is best for Pakistan. What is best for Pakistan from now on is increasingly dictated by what is best for China. That is a new strategic condition that must govern Indian policy towards Pakistan.
THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
Comey allegedly told Trump that there was only one U.S. intelligence official who was convinced the Russians were behind the hacked emails, and that was CIA Director John Brennan. Comey also added, “And Brennan takes his marching orders from President Obama.”
If Obama stopped suddenly, Brennan would be neck deep in Barack’s ass. Naturally the corrupt elite media doesn’t report that. They have a different agenda, suggesting over and over that President Trump is in Russia’s pocket.
WWM UPDATE
According to sources who were briefed on conversations that FBI Director James Comey had with President-elect Donald Trump, Comey told Trump that there was no credible evidence to suggest that the Russian government played any part in the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, or the hacked emails of the Democratic National Committee and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Townhall reported late Wednesday that during the same phone conversation, Comey told Trump that National Intelligence Director James Clapper agreed with the FBI’s stance that there was no evidence to suggest Russian influence in the election.
Comey allegedly told Trump that there was only one U.S. intelligence official who was convinced the Russians were behind the hacked emails, and that was CIA Director John Brennan. Comey also added, “And Brennan takes his marching orders from President Obama.”
If Obama stopped suddenly, Brennan would be neck deep in Barack’s ass. Naturally the corrupt elite media doesn’t report that. They have a different agenda, suggesting over and over that President Trump is in Russia’s pocket.
WWM UPDATE
The architect delivered preliminary plans for the White Wolf Mine residence/shack. I wanted to ask him whether he actually looked at my drawings which were more than gentle suggestions on my part. But I’m working with him on refining the plan. Part of the problem with the mindset in the remote area there is that people build weekend get-away cabins. There is a difference between where you are going to spend the weekend and where you are going to live. I told him that I prefer an open concept with space. He understands that but almost doubled the “space” from my drawings/scratchings. Double the space is double the price. As the design moves forward, the price tag naturally increases and managing that makes me sound cheap, but building a hovel (to code) isn’t cheap. I would prefer to pay cash for the place and not have any sort of mortgage/building loan. Since President Trump took office, my business expanded exponentially (Thanks Donald) but there will come a time when I want to become a gentleman of leisure, not a slave to a bank.
I bet The Atlantic just gave that foul-minded young lady an office with windows for that remark.
How much foreign aid are we giving Pakistan? In 2011 it was $3.5 billion but has been decreasing… under $1 billion this year? We need to cut them off entirely and start viewing them as an entity that is hostile to our interests.
Good luck with the architect and the code enforcement people. I had to go through that when we remodeled the house a few years ago. It took eleven months of construction and paperwork. But, in the long run, you'll love it.
I'm planning on 12 months of construction and paperwork. If it's completed sooner, so much the better. However I want it done right, so I shall be patient. I'm going to sell the current house and move to Scottsdale, AZ in the interim.
As far as Pakistan, I think that you're on the money. They've been punking us for a long time. China can take their turn.
Fire your architect immediately. It's clear he has an agenda which differs from yours. This difference will be a constant drag on your project and your finances: he wants to build a palace in his image, you tried to convey a more hovel-type approach.
It sounds like the guy (all architects are guys, BTW) has a tin ear. Either that, or he gets paid by the square foot. Ditch that arrangement and get him on a fixed price. Better yet, fire him and get somebody who will listen to you the first time.
Unrelated note: if there is any profession I hate more than lawyers, it's architects. Or engineers. All of them are cowards, and covering their ass just in case is way more important than getting your concerns squared away.
The architect and I are engaged in some changes even as I type. It remains to be seen whether we have a meeting of the minds or not. I'm not displeased with the whole thing, but he definitely has a tin ear.
I had hoped to keep the construction budget between $550K and $600K, but it's going to end up in the $700K range by the time I'm done. While it's not the end of the world, it's the sort of slippage that I anticipated LATER rather than in the design phase. Which means it could slip to $750K without much effort.
In Liberalism it's OK to be classless. In fact it's expected.
Architects are famous for designing houses the clients can't afford. I don't have any idea how your guy is being paid…. but
I would never hire one again, unless it was a fee simple arrangement. Paying on a percentage is just an invitation for him to jack the cost. And there is a 99 % probability you are very "different" than most of his clients.
The main thing I have aganst them is most seem to see their craft as an art form, where they are in competition for an award – they want to build showplaces, whereas a home is a workplace. Yeah, it should look nice, but not at the expense of function.
When it comes to classlessness, they never disappoint.
Raven, the first architect (from Flagstaff) was an artist. He wouldn't design a house for a price tag under about $1.5 million. He went early. The present guy wants to do the right thing and the fee isn't a problem. He's not jacking up his fee, which is a simple number.
I've changed design requirements from my first impressions based on personal choices rather than recommendations based on fireproofing and other things that simply make sense when you live in a near to 'riparian' forest with a lot of trees. The undergrowth could be a problem if it was allowed to flourish, but it's ok now and I'll keep it under control. I may even plant a tree here and there for aesthetics, though encouraging a 'youngster' may be sufficient.
He sent me the ground floor plans. I suspect that he's struggling with the basement and my requirements, which include a large garage shop area in addition to a walk-out basement guest area, but he's being paid to do it. My first blush was a 3 car garage on the main level and a 3 car garage on the basement level, which would be used primarily as my shop and for storage of ATV's, motorcycles and toys. I'd rather put it all under one roof rather than building out-buildings, which end up being more money because they'd need to match the house.
If he doesn't work out I'll find somebody else. However, that means driving back and forth to AZ to do interviews. I'd rather avoid lengthening out the project by X months due to starting over – but better to start over than get something that I don't want.
You had already admitted that is how things work out; stick building starts with a budget of $500K, and winds up after all is said and done in the seven-figures. And you yourself are the one who jacked everything up: you didn't figure on the 2nd zone air conditioning, since you figured 40% less square footage on the drawing board. You didn't figure on oak baseboard trim, you figured pine was fine. You didn't figure on heated asphalt driveway, you figured gravel was fine (I think we already covered your driveway concerns in an early post). You didn't figure on X, you figured X/2 was fine.
I think you can see that I could go on. And on and on. And you will, too. It's like the GEICO commercials; it's what you do.
My suggestion: fire the architect, and get one that will toe the line. Your line. And look for that tin ear up front. Just sayin'….
NOTE: One of the complications in building design has to do with building on bedrock. I've spoken with the builder about getting an excavator out to the site before we finalize any plans so we'll know if/how much blasting we will need to do in order to complete the build. We may need to adjust plans based on rock issues. It's a more complex build than a build on soft, flat ground. There is a 25% slope where the hovel is going in.
The budget can grow a bit. Since the Trump election my business has skyrocketed and as long as people throw money at me, I don't mind diverting it toward the project.
I did plan on 2nd zone A/C and other issues, but there will be many other things that will come along that I didn't plan on and I have to suck it up. Getting those plans right the first time is something that has to happen by hook or by crook. We'll see how the architect responds to this do-over before throwing him to the white wolves.
2nd zone AC: just an example. Maybe I should have said you only planned on one machine gun turret, and wound up with four, and only planned on using an M-60 in the turret, and wound up using 50-calibers in all four.
Yes, watch that weasily architect like a hawk as he comes to realize that you are not biting on his blueprint inflation. If he squawks even a little bit, give him the ol' heave ho.
Glad business is improving. Mine is too, although I would not call it skyrocketing yet!
One thing about outbuilding, at least where I live, they count up the "impervious surfaces" (roofs, driveways, etc) and have a square foot limit per site- which does make it desirable to have two stories.
There is, of course, really no such thing as "enough" shop space.
Yep, The Atlantic can plan on NEVER being in the WH Press Room as long as Trump is in the White House. Good luck on reining in the architect… Don't envy you that. 25% slope is going to be 'interesting' to put it mildly.
A couple of lessons learned in the way back days. If possible, hire the physically closest architect to your property, assuming he is qualified.
Building on bedrock drastically reduced the size needed for foundation footers if you can work around local codes. Of course, septic systems and drain fields can get complicated.
I think that we have the septic situation handled. I could go into details, but I think that it's handled. But you're right, the rock complicates it and makes it much more expensive.
The architect is as local as I can get to the project and he's a younger guy who is on his way up and wants to impress and build his reputation. He has done other projects in conjunction with my general contractor and the price is reasonable.
When the general contractor asked what I had in mind for a shop, I said, "have you seen the inside of a Costco?" Naturally I can't do that. The whole area is 'impervious surface rock' with a thin coating of topsoil. It's also on a slope so runoff wouldn't be changed much by building structure. There is also enough land to build larger than I am if I want to. It's going to end up being somewhere in the 3,000-4,000 square foot range. Main floor has a great room, a den, master bed/bath/closet, kitchen, utility room. Basement is a garage and guest area. I like open space so it will have that element. Elevated deck on the main level, walk-out deck/view from the basement.
If I built up on the ridge, the slope is near 0, but there are ponderosas there that I want to use to mask the structure, so am putting this up on the slope partially for view and also for privacy. I own the hillside down and partially up the other side of the canyon. Seasonal creek at the bottom that drains to a nice stream a quarter mile away. Pictures: arizjones.blogspot.com/2010/08/west-clear-creek-wilderness-az.html
Good call, Fredd. But 50s might be good, too.
Here's 3 Para at their Compound:
youtube.com/watch?v=M0Wu-qZZ0Wc
Classless. And then there's Michelle.
I hope none of the MSM ever gets a seat for any of the press briefings. I think he should continue as he has done, with maybe a monthly or quarterly talk with America similar to what Ronald Regan did.
Glad that someone's work has picked up. I hope it will swell all over the country. The oldest boy in NC is job hunting. I hope he widens his horizons a little. I'm sure he would find something then.
Be safe and God bless.
When it comes to pucker factor on the battlefield, nothing beats artillery. Having been on the receiving end of both friendly fire and enemy fire, I'm very lucky to be alive.
I wonder if we will ever find out whether or not she was born male?
My work is peculiar and fits in a niche, but it has most definitely improved by leaps and bounds.
Good luck to your son.
Glad to hear your business is doing well.
I worked for an architect while the Cowman was finishing his degree. They are a strange breed. Learned a lot from him, it was eye opening to see how big some of the egos and $'s grew as the drawings progressed.
You will be able to hold to your requirements I'm sure, because they ARE going to suggest all kinds of crap that really only pads the build…
I know how I want it. There may be a few things that I haven't thought of, but most of it is quite simple, really.
Thank you.
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