People’s Republic of Kalifornia
I’ve had an education on the CALEXIT (pay attention Old NFO). As I mentioned, I sold the CA house to people who wanted to live near the newly constructed giant mosque-down-the-street. The plan was to move to AZ, rent in the Phoenix Valley while Emilie went to college in AZ and then move to the White Wolf Mine in the mountains when it was finished.
Without belaboring the issue, I learned that there were five ‘fugitives’ from California trying to rent every house that came on the market in AZ. It’s insane. Apparently the sales market is equally nuts. Rentals are on the market for one day and people bid up the price. I offered to pay $3.3K+ per month on a house not worth that and to pay the whole year up front. Even that wasn’t sufficient. So I’ll rent in SoCal near the kids until the house is done and Emilie can stay in CA near her friends.
California has become a species of toxic environment for conservatives as the lunatic fringe, backed by the corrupt, elite, nasty, filthy, lying mainstream media cheers them on. As a result, people are leaving pre-California secession in droves. I just never thought that it was as pervasive as it is in AZ. It’s 115 degrees in the Phoenix valley and people are stacked up to be here just to get out of CA.
The White Wolf Mine project, though nowhere near ready, makes more and more sense.
Russia
The Russians blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning North Korea for the missile launch because it described it as an intercontinental ballistic missile. Russian intelligence assessed it was an intermediate range ballistic missile, not an intercontinental ballistic missile, so Russian refused to agree to the US-drafted statement.
The Russians and Chinese are protecting North Korea diplomatically. They are exploiting the missile launch to limit US options.
India/China
The standoff between Indian and Chinese border troops in the China-India-Bhutan tri-border area continues. The Chinese claim that Indian soldiers continue to trespass on Chinese territory.
Bhutan said the Chinese are building a road on a plateau that belongs to Bhutan and requested Indian help. The Indians said they are acting as the protector of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
India and China have reinforced their positions and tension is high, but no clashes have occurred. Border troops on both sides generally do not carry guns to prevent escalation to exchanges of gunfire.
The G20 summit in Hamburg would seem to be a convenient venue for a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Modi to resolve the standoff. However, the Chinese rejected an Indian proposal for such a meeting because “the atmosphere was not right”.
At the daily press session on 6 July, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said there will be no talks until India withdraws its forces from the “Chinese” plateau. To China – the world belongs to China. It’s how they roll.
The standoff began on 16 June when Chinese border troops and construction teams began road construction on the Doklam plateau. That action prompted Bhutan to protest to China and to ask for Indian assistance.
The area of the standoff is strategically important and highly sensitive. It lies just north of a territorial choke point known as the chicken’s neck. Loss of Indian control of this area would cut overland access to all of northeastern India.
Indian strategists consider an increased national security threat any improvement to China’s capability to rapidly reinforce the tri-border area, such as by building a road.
India’s China experts also see this dispute as part of a pattern of Chinese behavior. They accuse Chinese forces of quietly slicing off and converting small pieces of disputed territory along the border to provide tactical advantages for Chinese forces at the start of a war. They judge this to be the land version of Chinese military behavior in the South China Sea.
The Chinese will not back down because their leaders have determined the area to be Chinese sovereign territory. The Indians said they are looking for a solution, not a compromise. They also have indicated no willingness to back down.
Kurdistan
On 6 July, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), said that there is no turning back on a bid to achieve an independent Kurdish state.
Barzani said in an interview he expected the referendum on independence, tentatively set for 25 September, to result in a strong vote for independence. He hoped to negotiate a peaceful separation with the authorities in Baghdad and neighboring countries.
In June, Barzani assured a universally disbelieving international community that the referendum was part of a political strategy to strengthen the KRG’s leverage in negotiations with Baghdad over land and oil rights and political issues. His explanation was not convincing.
If it comes down to a fight, the US will back the Kurds.
The White Wolf Mine project = Fortress of Solitude? Press on sir, press on.
Wife and I escaped Kalifornia in November of 2015, now live near our kids in the DFW area. While I do envy your rural setting, we are at least at the bottom of a Cul-de-sac off a dead end street. Be it ever so humble, we paid cash and own it outright. In Texas, by God. Texicans have always been fierce supporters of property rights. Even John Steinbeck wrote about it. "Trespass" and "suicide" were once considered synonymous.
Have you considered Flagstaff? Airline service, couple of hours from WWM, and decent schools. Cooler, too.
Tresspass and Suicide are still synonymous in my world.
Kalifornia was nice once. Back when it was California.
The rental market in Flagstaff in summer is impossible. Same with Payson. People rent for the summer there, and who can blame them? Flagstaff is about an hour's drive from the WWM.
The WWM project finally has a preliminary budget that is defensible. But it's straining the budget. I have new clients in the wings, which is a good thing. I met with one before I left CA. The moron sent me an e-mail and said, "why don't you send me your points of contact for the project since you're busy"… thief. I replied, "thanks for your interest, but no". He responded apologetically. Game player. I have better options.
Comrade Lambert,
Greetings from Florida, reliably Republican for 40 years, sorta.
If the Richard Craniums in DC had a strategy for victory in Iraq (and Afghanistan) the Kurds would have ben in an independent Kurdish state 10 years ago or so. But Failure to plan is planning to fail and the 5P's took over.
Torn on the Kurds.
If only the PRK hadn't been killing us in the 70's.
They were Soviet communists then. They're still collectivists but I understand why they are and it's survival mode. The only people who can give them a fair shake is the USA – so they love us.
Things have changed with the Trump Presidency. I like the trend.
I was afraid the Chinese couldn't be trusted. Not the first time the Russians have gone against the U.S.
It is looking more and more like war. Sad.
I hope the Kurds get their country. They have worked hard for it.
Thank you for the updates, LL.
How's about you pick up a used fifth-wheel or single-wide trailer and park it on your WFM property? Instant shelter and you can turn it into a bunk house later.
Wandering Neurons
They all have their agendas. We have ours. Hopefully Trump, author of the "Art of the Deal" will negotiate so it's all win-win-(lose for the Norks).
It would work fine for me. Actually I'm fine with a nice waterproof military style squad tent. I have a daughter in college and thus it must be the Phoenix Valley or So Cal. I want to get her properly launched and she doesn't want to be in a rented apartment, apart from family.
Thanks for the update!
Hang in there, LL!
We got the "Yard Beautification Program" finished today, and I must say, with all the fresh exterior paint the house looks pretty nice.
Onbly room left to do is the Radio Room, and that's about 1/2 cleaned out. Should be finished by Sunday night.
The "Deep Cleaning" specialist is coming Monday morning, and will be finished by Tuesday.
The photographer will be here Wednesday, proper light and weather permitting, and the house goes on the market Thursday.
Our realtor is confident the house will sell in 14 days, with escrow taking 20~25 days.
Looks like we'll be outta here by the middle of August!
Wow, I didn't realize it had gotten 'that' stupid out there. Duly noted, and sorry you're getting screwed in the deal.
Good luck with "escape from Kalifornia." Here in Texas there's a lot of unannounced horsemen, I'm not sure what that's about.
Not really "screwed". I'm just going to have to stay in CA for another year or so until the house project is complete. I'll make it work – turn lemons into lemonade, chin up, and all that BS.
That was an ominous development.
With armor you could recreate the Poles vs Wermacht scenario…
Maybe something like this: atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-rifles/1960-ferret-armored-scout-car-fv701-mk-2-3-detail.html?Itemid=0
I'm actually thinking that a Ferret would be PERFECT for the WWM project. It sends the message: "I'm formal but I want to party".
Sigh. I'll be here for another year – 9 to 10 months best case scenario.
Nah, those GP Mediums are tough to rig up AC. Pot belly stoves fueled by diesel will be fine in the winter, but they turn into Easy Bake ovens at temps over 80.
Get a travel trailer, with some bump outs. 30 amp service will do just fine with a single AC unit. You can pick up used 30' trailers not over 5 years old for a song ($10-12K). Or at least that's the going price up here where they make them, in Amish country in northern Indiana.
When you're done and ready to move into the finished hovel, put it back on the market, and if it doesn't sell, bulldoze it. You'll be money ahead in any event.
I was just thinking about what Fredd said. A travel trailer might be cheaper than renting for an apartment for a year. Or a motor home. Many of those come with washer and dryer.
I realize your new hovel will have plenty of bedrooms, but the trailer or motor home could be used for company.
Sorry. Just thinking out loud, haha.
Did you boobietrap your old house?
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