Random Picture Thread

incredible...
this is like straight out of a C Cussler novel.
escaping the boundaries of justice...
brilliant or mad?

 

If built I bet it just becomes a fancy ***** house where anything goes.

http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/archives/0705boathouse.asp

 

If built, its' life span will be like any steel/reinforced concrete structure exposed to constant salt water, 30-50 years max, then it will need replacement because it will be beyond economical repair. There is no land or anything solid here, just a floating city, too big to be hauled out for maintenance and repair.
What happens when the infrastructure starts to leak and sink in a community of incredibly self-centered people whose entire philosophy is based on personal greed and lack of cooperative enterprise?
Darwinism at work.

 

Disposable wealth if you will.
With a life span parrallel to that of the creator.
(reminds me of space junk)

 

Ferro Cement seems to be pretty long lived.....NorskeShell say 50-70 years for their Troll platform....and the ferro ships in the Powell River breakwater are still afloat after 65+ years.......epoxy coating may raise that lifespan somewhat.....

 

Now how about Kevlar cement or Carbon fiber cement? That would remove the iron oxide problem and the things might last for centuries...
That's a scary thought.

 

I do not think those 're-inforcing' materials will bond to concrete and being flexible and with a different co-efficient of linear thermal expansion even further from consideration... but an interesting thought process...

 

Build the sections as huge pre-stressed sections with the non-rusting ropes pulled up extremely tight by hydraulic jacks like freeways are made, and any re-bar needed form out of a reinforced plastic with all the molded nubs just like steel.
We have some floating highway bridges around here and the monster sections seem to last 40 years or so with coated steel reinforcement.
I suppose if the Isles of Nobility were modular somehow, sections could be built right on the island to replace those that needed it, and would probably be an ongoing industry.
But what is the economy? Like Somalia? No police unless you pay insurance? No fire department unless you pay? That one I doubt as a fire endangers the whole island, so at least there's a commie, excuse me community, fire department that they pay taxes for right?

 

seems like a great idea, the economy would be easy, so many people would want to be involved I think if implemented it might just force a change in some of the more established areas. I give it a two thumbs up.

 

The structures shown are not floating about in deep water, but sitting on piers.

How many spots can one find to set on a continental shelf which will not have sovereign control?

I don't like it one bit- damn hippies.

 

I still don't understand how the economy of this would work. Islands are historically poor, due to no resources. Spending billions making artificial islands that have nothing but ongoing expenses doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Trading pieces of paper back and forth is not an economy. Producing things is, and no way is this a cheaper place to produce things.
Though I guess we could put all the bankers there and they could steal from each other.

 

'Though I guess we could put all the bankers there and they could steal from each other.;...now you are talking turkey......it would be a shame if it all sank with them eh....

 

I don't think they are on pilings, but floating like deep water oil rigs, so can be 200 miles out and beyond the "economic zone".

 

they'd set it up like Monaco or something, my bet is it would work out just fine. Something also tells me the banking laws would be "adjusted" to avoid the dishonesty in such a small comunity

 

Once all the money is concentrated there, it would be easy to invade, like looting a jewelry shop.