I see US friends getting excited about each new president and it reminds me of people in an abusive relationship. "Oh this time's different. I really think he's changed." And then the beating continues.

I've lived in China, on and off, since Jiang Zimin. I have friends from Xinjiang, and pretty much any other province you could name. I don't know anyone that loves Xi Jinping.

In a weird way, you kinda nailed it. Just feels more free there.

Thailand is worth a look. Not a day goes by that locals don't put a smile on my face for how polite and lovely they are. They still have respect here.

Amazing. Da Lat, Vietnam.

I'm in China. I just set a friend who owns a bar up with an ecash wallet. When I've had a few more beers there, I'll set her up with a lightning wallet. A lot of people here want in, just don't know how. Was considering taking a bag of cash over to Hong Kong for them. Loved this episode.

He was a sex trafficker who sold exclusively to himself?

Great business model.

Trying to give a friend in China ecash as a kind of gateway into BTC. Wish this existed for China.

There are also BTC ATMs. That's what I'm planning to do with my excess CNY.

Chinese women are cute, and can catch and cook chickens all day long.

China

Yunnan

Greetings from Zomia!

Thought I'd finally say hello.

#introductions

#zomia

Haha. Touché.

I actually used to teach permaculture courses, and design and implement projects. I got a little disillusioned in the Malthusian roots of it after studying Austrian economics, and in particular, though not actually Austrian school, Julian Simon. I definitely respect people wanting and building individual sovereignty, yourself included.

True. I'm actually in Yunnan now. Gorgeous place.

I've been living in many different parts of Zomia for about 20 years now. I've read James C. Scott and I think there's a slight romanticism in his work.

Zomia, I think, extends into southern central Chinese provinces like Hunan, birthplace of Chairman Mao, albeit in surrounding mountainous regions. I've been in Miao villages there that are seriously hard to get to. Rammed earth houses that are falling apart. Kilns no longer used. Terraces planted out to timber trees because it's cheaper for them to just buy rice. They just want their children to go to university.

In many parts of Laos and northern Thailand, you very rarely see police. There are village chiefs. They like to settle things on their own. And it works. But still, not so many young people.

If going 'off grid' means you're not connected to the division of labour that markets facilitate, then, best of luck.

Zhong Nan Hai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM6sS2RGiIY

😂😂😂

I can still log in