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Walk It Don't Drive It II
2008-10-23 01:48:00
The CNMI Energy Office dropped off our Walk It Don't Drive It goodies this morning. Walk It Don't Drive It is a day where government offices and businesses use alternative forms of transportation to get to work. I walked. Others carpooled.Anyway...One of the goodies is a "Conserve Energy" tote back, or as I prefer to call it, Oreo's new mode of transportation!It also makes for a good naughty dog basket.

Vote YES to wearing orange
2008-10-22 09:25:00
The Saipan Tribune currently has an online poll asking the question, "Do you plan to wear an orange shirt anytime this week?"Please visit the Saipan Tribune website and vote YES. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the poll. The current tally is 31 YES and 28 NO.******It would have been nice if the Saipan Tribune explained why people are wearing orange this week.
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Connaughton gets another mwaar
2008-10-22 03:45:00
Cinta gave James Conaughton another "mwaar" at the Friends of the Monument meeting yesterday.I noticed that it was orange.Connaughton asked if he was allowed to put a cloth over his head when he wore it back in Washington, DC. Cinta said it would be alright to wear it on top of a baseball cap.

Photos of Friends
2008-10-21 08:17:00
There were over 300 people in support of the monument at the White House Public Workshop. Cinta Kaipat was there along with many of her family members.Former RC&D Coordinator Ken Kramer (he quit after his boss told him he couldn't work on the monument issue anymore) and Representative Andrew Salas support the monument.We all know that Jane Mack is a big supporter, but did you know that Senator Tom "Kiyu" Villagomez likes the monument idea? At least I think he does, I sent him a bunch of information and he said it looked good.The award winning environmental non-profit group Friends of the Mariana Islands was there with many members. They all support the monument and have written letters in support to President Bush.The Cabrera family supports the monument. Their members composed an entire focus group.Greg Cruz, the President of Taotao Tano, was there with his wife and daughter. Greg supports the monument.Students from Hopwood Junior High School were there. They all support...
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First Pictures and Reactions
2008-10-20 23:38:00
Group Hug: Cinta Kaipat, Big Herms Villagomez, Angelo Villagomez, John Joyner, Laurie Peterka, and Sylvan Igisomar after the White House Workshop. More photos in the next post.Aya Matsomoto from Pacific Eagle was the first person to post pictures from the White House Public Workshop last night. I'm still at home so it will be a few hours before I get my photos up.Lil Hammerhead had posts on the 5502 signatures gathered from the Friends of the Monument and on the meeting with the Legislature yesterday afternoon.Jane Mack also wrote about her experiences at the public meeting on her blog.
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360 on 10/20
2008-10-20 16:46:00
More to come tomorrow with all types of pictures and such.About 360 people showed up for the White House public workshop on the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. About 2/3 to 3/4 of the people were wearing orange t-shirts. Those 300 t-shirts were quite a sight.Thank you to everyone who came out in support tonight.

Chillin' at the Legislature
2008-10-20 04:22:00
The meeting of James Connaughton and the other federal officials with the Commowealth House and Senate is well into its second hour. The meeting started at 11 AM and the federal officials don't have another meeting until 2 PM. I think they're going to be here right up until that next meeting.Connaughton started the meeting off by explaining the reason for his visit, then he talked a bit about the geology and biology of the area, and then opened up the floor for questions and comments.I think I'd get in trouble if I repeated some of the things that were said by the elected officials.I'll just leave it at that.Edit:At 12:15 the federal group was going to leave, but Senate President Pete P. Reyes promised Mr. Connaughton that he'd get him a sandwich if he'd stay longer.It is now 12:35.No sandwich yet.Another Edit:It is now 12:52.No sandwich.Edit:It is now 1:27.Taya sandwich. I'm starving.Edit: 1:45 PM. Still no sandwich. I feel for those federal guys.I just got comments fro...
More About: Legislature

Students write to Bush
2008-10-20 01:43:00
In the last few weeks I have led a discussion with over 1000 high school and junior high school students on the islands of Saipan and Tinian. The discussion is on the pros and cons of the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. I try to get the kids to identify the good and the bad and then I urge them to talk to their friends, family and teachers before forming their own opinion. At every presentation I told the kids that their homework was to write a letter to President Bush commenting on the proposed monument.Over 500 of them turned in letters. They have all been turned over to the staff at American Memorial Park as official comment on the proposed monument.Kimberley Vaillancourt, a science teacher at Hopwood Junior High School, took some of her students to American Memorial Park last Friday afternoon to turn over their letters.They watched Ranger Nancy individually stamp in each letter as an official comment submitted to the federal government. It was a neat littl...
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W.O.W. - Wear Orange Week
2008-10-19 22:46:00
This is it, folks, time to don those orange t-shirts and hit the streets. Please wear orange all week, especially today.If you've read a hard copy of either the local newspaper, then you've seen the Friends of the Monument signature advertisement with over 2500 names of people who signed their petition. At two O'clock today the Friends will announce just how many signatures they've collected. Here is a picture I took of the pile of papers back on October 12...only thing is they've collected 1200 signatures since this photo was taken. The current pile is even bigger than this.
More About: Orange , Week , Wear

Welcome to Saipan
2008-10-19 13:59:00
Scores of supporters of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument descended upon the Hyatt Regency to welcome James Connaughton, Lyle Laverty and Sean Morton to Saipan . Led by Ike Cabrera, Cinta Kaipat, Ed Salas, Dave Sablan, Chailang Palacios, Agnes McPhetres, and many others, over 65 supporters stood on the curb to welcome the federal officials to our island home.As the Department of Public Safety neared the group of orange clad supporters, it slowed to a stop and James Connaughton stepped out and shook hands with every single person out there to greet him.When I shook his hand he said, "Hello, I'm Jim Connaughton and I work with President Bush."I simply replied, "Welcome to Saipan."It took a lot of hard work from a lot of hard working individuals to get to where we are today. Thank you, everybody....and don't forget to wear orange all week!...especially today!

PRESS ADVISORY
2008-10-19 04:00:00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Ignacio V. Cabrera 234-2665, marianamonument@gmail.comThe Friends of the Monument will announce the number of signatures they collected for their support the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument petition at a press conference in the Mariana Trench Monument Office in Garapan on Monday, October 20, 2008 at 2:00 PM.******On Thursday night we ran in Commonwealth Senator Luis Crisostimo at Hawaiian Bar. I told him how many signatures the Friends of the Monument had collected. If I saw Mr. Crisostimo today, I 'd have to tell him a new, higher number.Even though the Friends have stopped collecting signatures, people are still turning them in. Cinta Kaipat turned over several signature packets from the Carolinian community last night and yesterday afternoon Agnes McPhetres picked up several packets from Hannah Borja over on Tinian. Tami Hunter dropped off some signatures on Friday and Andrew Salas and Ike Cabrera still have packets floating around.
More About: Press

What is John Gourley thinking?
2008-10-19 02:13:00
Leave your best "What is John Gourley thinking" caption in the comments. I'm not going to make this part of my Caption Contest series, but I still promise to give the winner...nothing.
More About: Thinking

Angelo & Edz
2008-10-17 11:39:00
I need to shave.If you are reading this and you are looking for something to do tonight, come down to Godfather's to celebrate Harry Blalock's 58th birthday!
More About: Angelo

Oreo the Great Escaping Dog
2008-10-16 05:49:00
Oreo escaped again this morning.But I think it only lasted about 2 minutes. We were working in the office when one of the volunteers pointed out, "Hey Bro, your dog is outside the door."And there he was. Patiently waiting to be let back in.I think after last week's Oreo Kenobi's Excellent Adventure, Oreo has learned to appreciate the comforts of air conditioning and a full bowl of dog food.I don't think we'll see him escaping again any time soon.
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Feedback
2008-10-09 05:18:00
Via email:Angelo, Just wanted to thank you again for stopping by my classroom this past Monday and speaking with my students. The topic has apparently sparked interest in a lot of them...some of them came back to school today with some interesting comments from home. I will continue the conversation with them throughout the next few weeks until it's time for those petitions to be turned in. I, for the most part, am in support of the project although with reservations; those reservations stemming purely from a need to get even more information to be clear on the issue. I will definitely look through the reports and booklets you handed out to us, but I wanted to give you a heads up because I have a feeling I'll be sending you a bunch of e-mails these next few weeks. Students might ask questions I don't know the answers to, and that's when I'll ask you for the info. Couple of things...Is there a website with the CNMI Constitution available? Also, do you have any copies of forma...
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Oreo is safe!
2008-10-09 03:39:00
I haven't seen him yet, but Oreo Kenobi is safely back at the Mariana Trench office. Somebody called me today to let me know that they had found him running around in the middle of the street and that he was safe and sound at his house.Thanks to everyone who helped me find him. Thanks to everyone who posted about him on their blogs. Thank you also to the newspapers for printing his picture in the newspaper.I haven't seen him yet because I've been making presentations all morning, so I'll give a fuller update when I hear the whole story.
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Oreo Update
2008-10-08 08:04:00
Oreo is still lost.His picture is up on several blogs, I blasted out his picture to my email contacts, and all the kids at Garapan Elementary School know to look out for him.Hopefully tomorrow he'll be in the newspaper.I think he'll be OK. He loves people and he'll go up to strangers. As long as he doesn't get hit by a car...or eaten...I'm confident I'll get him back.
More About: Update , Oreo

Lost Dog - Oreo Kenobi Villagomez
2008-10-07 11:14:00
Oreo escaped. He was last seen in the China Town/Garapan area Tuesday night at 6 PM. Help! Please call Angelo at 285-6462 if you find him or see him.Oreo is a small white dog with some black fur. He answers to "Oreo" and is wearing a brown leather collar with silver metal studs.Please repost this on your blog.
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Jean-Michel Cousteau on the Monument
2008-10-06 16:20:00
The Saipan Tribune carried an editorial from Jean -Michel Cousteau today.'A natural treasure worth protecting'By JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAUSpecial to the Saipan TribuneLast year over four million people visited the Grand Canyon and it is widely regarded as one of the world’s natural treasures. But as the people of the Northern Marianas know, however, not all of nature’s treasures lie above the waves. The unique geological and ecological marvels found in the water surrounding the Mariana Trench makes this area one of the world’s most precious marine environments.President George W. Bush, following in the footsteps of noted conservationist Theodore Roosevelt, recently proposed protecting these invaluable treasures found in the waters of the U.S.-held Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands once and for all.The question is still open as to what prohibitions will be established in the area against fishing, drilling and mining. It is also uncertain whether the area will be designat...
More About: Monument

Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere on SNL
2008-10-05 14:35:00
At least if McCain/Palin win this year, we'll have four years of great SNL skits to look forward to. Tina Fey rocks Sarah Palin...doggonit.
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Olson's Emptied Oceans
2008-10-05 05:29:00
This is why thousands of people in the Marianas support the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. We've seen the changes. It is not just the Saipan Lagoon that is suffering; it is the entire ocean.
More About: Oceans

Bruce Bateman: Marketing Manager
2008-10-03 10:32:00
Bruce Bateman is the new marketing manager for MVA. May the Good Lord guide him in his new role as the CNMI's tourism chief. At least we have someone in that job that supports increasing the size of the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument.
More About: Marketing , Manager , Bruce

The Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere
2008-10-03 03:25:00
My dog, Oreo, could have said more than Sarah Palin did in tonight's debate.Some quotes from the Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere:"Nucular""John McCain has already tapped me.""I want to give a shout-out."On McCain: "He is the man we need to leave...um...lead."

Godfathers
2008-10-02 15:41:00
The birthday party is going to be at Godfathers on Saturday night. See you there.

Come Watch Sarah Palin Choke
2008-10-02 03:02:00
The Democratic Party of Garapan will be hosting a Vice Presidential Debate Party tomorrow morning at Tribes in Garapan.  The debate starts at 11:00 AM.  Drinks and food from Shirley's will be available for purchase.See you there!
More About: Watch , Sarah , Choke

Our Next Attorney General
2008-10-01 09:45:00
The public has spoken and 34.6% of the public wants Janet King to be our next Attorney General .Congrats, Janet! Biba!I'm sure the local government will take my Internet poll into account when picking their nominee.Coming in at a close second with 19.2% of the vote was Meaghan Hassel-shearer, with Joe Taijeron and Tony Atalig tied for third with 11.5% each.
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Barack 'n Roll, Baby!
2008-09-30 03:11:00
My absentee ballot came in the mail today. I dutifully filled it out, casting my vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and sent it back in. This is the second time I have cast a vote for Barack Obama.
More About: Baby , Roll

Best Headline Ever?
2008-09-29 05:29:00
One of the headlines from CNN reads:McCain retracts Palin's Pakistan commentsWASHINGTON (CNN)— Sen. John McCain retracted Sarah Palin's stance on Pakistan Sunday morning, after the Alaska governor appeared to back Sen. Barack Obama's support for unilateral strikes inside Pakistan against terrorists.How funny is that?  I can't wait for the Vice Presidential debate.  It will play on Friday morning local Chamorro Standard Time.  The party at Tribe's for the first Presidential Debate was fun.  About 15 people showed up, even a handful of McCain supporters.Stay tuned for more information.
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Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on SNL
2008-09-29 00:28:00
Youtube doesn't have the whole video. It only has mashups from the media and from people who think they're funny. I've got the first video where she appears with Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton posted above. The video where she does an interview with Amy Poehler as Katie Couric is posted below.Enjoy.
More About: Tina Fey , Tina , Sarah

Bringin' Sexy Back - Photo Booth Style
2008-09-28 09:54:00
Will the wonders of Photo Booth never cease? Oh man, I am just getting started....and I guess there goes any hope of ever running for political office anywhere.
More About: Style , Sexy , Back , Photo Booth