Rallying Point: Liberty Island - Refugees from Kidatopia, report!

[Velociryx]

Ludd, no. Flubber's initial post to that effect was that the island we're fleeing to is deserted.

No local inhabitants.

-=Vel=-

[Agathon]

As soon as the casino is up and running, you're cordially invited to join us, Ag!

An island taken over by foreigners that becomes a gambler's and whoremonger's paradise? Sounds familiar.

I'll come on my yacht: it's called the "Granma". I'll even bring friends.

[General Ludd]

If you will be dealing with fresh water the same way as the native islanders have (like you said), I guess you will be joining them in non-existence soon enough.

[Velociryx]

It's a S. Pacific island...of course it's ideal as a tourist stopover. 'sides that, once we're set up, you'll be chomping at the bit for a break from Kidatopia...

-=Vel=-

EDIT to Ludd: Islanders are dealing with the issue right now....we simply gotta learn how they are, and emulate the ones that are doing it with success. Plus, during the rainy season, we can easily set up cisterns to collect rainwater, and use simple rock and sand filtration systems. Depending on the time of year we arrive, we may even be able to get that done before the first rainy season we're there.

[Agathon]

Why are you guys talking all this talk anyway?

You need to test your ideas in a simulation.

Why don't you start up a game of "Tropico" to test out your theories. I'll bet that within five years, with your program, you'll have a crime ridden island with daily guerilla attacks.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

yeah you're right, i had forgotten about that. those islanders were pretty smart. theres one problem tho

For my part, upon sale of the house here and liquidating the assets,

you cant sell the house and you have no assets cuz its all commie.

[Agathon]

NB: The secret to success is to discover which citizens disagree with you, and send your soldiers out to machine gun them in the street.

[Velociryx]

LoA: I'll sell before the revolution starts...like Flubber's plan...and barring that, my truck's paid for, and I can pull my money out of the bank to gather resources.

Ag, don't have a copy of tropico, but if it's a deep enough sim, that's not a bad idea...

-=Vel=-

EDIT: minus the part about the machine guns...

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Agathon
NB: The secret to success is to discover which citizens disagree with you, and send your soldiers out to machine gun them in the street.

But unfortunetly you can never eliminate all opposition this way. Even if you go through great lengths to keep the murders/jailings secret, or to 're-educate' your opponents instead, someone will always switch to an ideal if there are no members of it left.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

im bringing.

water
food
sleepingbag
money stolen from the party
toothpaste, toothbrush
sunscreen
small shovel
tarp
hemp cord
brushhook
machete
matches
copy of US constitution
econ books
dog
dogfood

a true refugee

if whaleboy hadnt left i bet this would be a good project for him to keep him healthy.

[Velociryx]

The Great Escape, Day Two

From the diary of Kahuna Nominee Velociryx:

Someone, I don't remember who, and I suppose it does not matter, brought six cases of whiskey to the island, and last night, a wild party ensued. Celebration for escaping the Kidatopia, I suppose, and I joined in that celebration.

Much work to be done, but for tonight, at least, a celebration.

Of course, all that drinking led to the island's first problem, and that would involve the bladder and bowels. For the time being, two small stands of trees got hurriedly designated as the "powder rooms," however, it underscores one problem that needs to get fixed up post-haste. Can't have everybody running amok on the island p*ssing all over everything.

Fortunately, the Geodesics have compost toilets built into them....all we gotta do is get a couple of them built tomorrow, and that problem should be solved.

No crime, by the way, and no incidents of violence.

I think that's for a few reasons though. One is fear. The unknown. Everybody's too scared (me included) at this point to do anything that will put the survival of the group at risk, and nobody wants to be an outcast among outcasts, so even while drinking, everybody was on good behavior.

Another is relief. Arse-busting work or no, it's better here than it is...out there.

And yet another is excitement. We have a shot here, if we can all keep our wits about us, and that's a good thing.

That's a very good thing.

***

Dawn broke with Kidicious Prime rousting us up from our stupor over the bullhorn.

More taunts and jeers from he and his officers sitting just offshore, but that's to be expected. They don't like what we represent, and are hovering just offshore to see if we fail. I would expect no less, and I intend to disappoint them.

On to business then.

I gathered up some of the island in the morning hours, and assisted them in the construction of one of the geodesic dome structures. This will be used as the base headquarters/Quartermaster's hut for the time being. Now that they know HOW to assemble one, I left them to it, and a group, led by Mara, one of the lovely Gypsy Harem, set about selecting sites for setting up the rest. Advantage - the compost toilet is now in operation, and all afternoon, there was a line to use it....go figure.

Having done that, I turned my attention to the matter of a shovel.

The tools that were supposed to arrive with me have not shown yet. I do not know if this is because the boat was intercepted and sunk en route, or if they maybe just decided not to risk it.

Nonetheless, I need a shovel, and that's the next order of business.

Ludd, our chief Agro specialist, took over the Quartermaster's hut and straightaway began organising and separating our seeds, and drafted a few volunteers to haul our equipment inside...a thankless task that will, by itself, take the better part of the day.

Q took stock of our computer supplies, and began setting the three laptops up in the Quartermaster's tent, and cataloging what cd's we have with us.

Someone had the foresight to bring along a portable stereo and some music, so we had tunes to jam to while we worked, and it was a happy sound that accompanied all the sweating and grunting going on.

Flubber spent the day with a group of volunteers showing them the ropes of the fishing trade, and from what I understand, we'll have meat tonight. Not sure how much, but anything's better than what we got now.

The whole place is just bursting with activity today though, and that is a promising sign.

LoA caught up with me about two thirds into the construction of the first Geodesic, and was grinning ear to ear as he displayed a socket set and other assorted contraband tools. That wily sucker pulled it off....excellent! He was anxious to see if he could put one of the windmills together, and I showed him the way...that should keep him and his volunteer staff busy for a while.

In the meantime, DF spent the morning hours on the horn, trying to figure out where the rest of our supplies were. Can't seem to raise Tubes, and we're all worried about him....things are scary over in Kidatopia right now....

And solo caught up with me a bit later in the afternoon with a half dozen homemade spears, so he and I set out on a little hunting expedition.

Sans tools, I needed a shovel, and thought I knew a way we could get one.

Catching a tortoise on land was the easy part. It seems they enjoy coming up to the beach and sunning themselves.

Killing one wasn't all that hard either, but man are those guys HEAVY!

After we did one in with our spears, it took us the better part of three hours to lug him back to the camp, where we got some assitance scooping all the meat out for later.

The main thing I was after was the shell.

That, and a long stick with a notch cut in it would at least allow me to scoop sand in an organized fashion until we could get a real shovel.

Once we got the shell off, actually making the shovel only took about two hours, but sheesh...what an ordeal. By the time I finally had some semblence of a working shovel in-hand, it was too late in the afternoon to do much with it, and I was too tired to even think about using it, so I flopped onto the sand to rest.

Flubber and his crew got back less than an hour later, and reported the day's catch.

There's meat enough for all tonight.

Go team!

No politicking got done, however...so we still don't have seconds for either of our nominees, nor have a set timetable on when the election will actually occur, though I suspect that it'll be not long after we get seconds for the nominees and see if any additional folks will get nominated.

Still, I'd call it a solid day's progress.

Six Geodesics assembled means not much privacy, but everybody can sleep inside. Two of the huts were up early enough in the day that the outer skin picked up sufficient charge that we got lights on, the supplies are organized, and one windmill is assembled, but not yet running. Library is networked in its corner of the Quartermaster's hut, and nobody got hurt today, so Mrs. Flubber had an easy first day on the job. Thankfully.

Only two small freshwater streams on the island, by the way. Enough to get us by for the immediacy if we're careful, but tomorow, I'll get Q to have a look-see in our library and see what he can come up with in terms of finding a way to get the salt OUT of the seawater. Maybe we can drink that. If not...it'll quickly become a case of "water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink" Fortunately, we got lots of empty whisky bottles to store water in from the streams, so we don't have to keep making trips.

Mini-Flub provided the evening's entertainment, and shortly after dinner, everybody began peeling off to various Geodesics to catch a few winks. DF made sure he wound up in the hut with the Gypsy Harem gals...can't say I blame him there.

As for me....I think it'll be a night out under the stars, and rest for these weary eyes.

Tomorrow, Solo's got plans to head out and start surveying the island. Would have dearly loved to gotten that accomplished before we landed, but...too much chaos and not enough time...so here we are.

We'll get there though....

We'll get there.

-=Vel=-

[Lawrence of Arabia]

whats a geodesic? is it like a prefab hut or something?

[Velociryx]

[Lawrence of Arabia]

its like a steel igloo - how did we manage that?

[Agathon]

OK - so we'll test out the Libertarian island using "Tropico".

I take on the character of a self made man, who has come to power on the island. Free markets shall reign!!

There will be no state subsidies and only economically solvent buildings (industries, rental apartments) will be built. All priority will be given to improving the economy and expanding industry to enable me to issue the "tax cut" edict, since it is evil for the state to leech off of citizens. That means, no churches or hospitals, since people should be responsible for their own healthcare. It also means no edicts prohibiting alcohol or contraception.

Here is Tropico at Year Zero of the capitalist revolution (1950). Not much to look at, but those shacks are inhabited by people who thirst for economic and social liberty. The economy is dominated by corn farmers. I shall build more profitable industries.

Pic 1.