INTERNATIONAL WATERS—Here's a concept to pique your imagination: Suppose there were a bunch of entrepreneurs who wanted to set up a "living and office space in an elegantly designed modern tech environment" that would attract "top entrepreneurial and technology talent from all over the world ... where they can create companies and jobs, and develop disruptive[!] and innovative technologies"?
And what if that environment were located on a floating island or massive ship anchored opposite Silicon Valley's Half Moon Bay, outside the 12-mile "contiguous zone" where U.S. (and California) laws would not apply, but rather, a community which would be governed by "international commercial arbitration mechanisms based on the historical precedents set forth by lex mercatoria" (medieval Europe's "merchant law")?
Meet Blueseed, the brainchild of Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel and former Google engineer Patri Friedman, who envision their project as "a comfortable and inspiring environment enriched by international experiences and lifestyles," whose "first vessel" will be populated by about 1,500 inhabitants who can live, work and play on the floating manmade island—and who knows better about play than some members of the adult entertainment community?
Let's face it: Why couldn't adult content producers pony up the estimated $1,200 to $3,000 per month rent (all utilities included—most notably, "reliable, high-bandwidth Internet connectivity starting with a point-to-point 1Gbps microwave link with a satellite link backup") and set up studios aboard where they can produce condomless content to their hearts' content? And since, among the amenities that will be offered besides restaurants, bars, lounges, cafes, pubs, gyms, spas, saunas and shops are at least one "theater/stage"—and which adult industry veterans don't remember the live sex shows that used to be available at Times Square theaters in the '70s and early '80s?
After all, "Blueseed welcomes all talented individuals and companies, regardless of nationality, who could contribute positively to our culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and fruitful collaboration."
Indeed, the project already calls for "200 community support staff" to be onboard, which would include "legal and other service providers, mentors, wellness coaches, researchers and investors in residence etc."And we're guessing, given the apparently libertarian nature of the project, they wouldn't mind a few sex workers to help pass their off-hours. The site notes that the ship/island will be safe from hurricanes and earthquakes, and a much less interesting target for pirates than the multitude of "cargo ships... with little personnel and a lot of cargo already packaged for resale." Hell, they're saying you won't even get seasick! (And if you do, there'll be at least two ferries going to the mainland every day... and it's only a 20-minute helicopter ride to Palo Alto!)
Of course, some of us are old enough to remember the proposed "Republic of Minerva," which was to be a libertarian stronghold on an artificially-created island somewhere in the Pacific—but that was 1972, and the terraforming necessary to create the place was almost beyond that day's technology. Blueseed, on the other hand, is planned to be constructed by shipbuilders and engineers and floated out to its anchor point—but able to dock shoreside in case of emergencies.
The project is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014—so what could go wrong?
Well, probably plenty, although there certainly seems to be a lot of money behind this project—and let's face it: If AIDS Healthcare decides to follow through on its announced plans to "follow the adult industry" into every state where it wants to set up shop, Blueseed might be the best alternative that doesn't have us all moving to Europe!
Pictured: An artist's rendering of what Blueseed could look like when completed.
