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Blackmail Series: The Little Mermaid
2007-08-10 13:34:00
I am starting a new feature of this blog. I am going to post pictures of the other Saipan bloggers. I am going to call it the Blackmail Series . The blogger can pay to have the picture removed. The price will be posted below each picture.This first post is a picture of Brad , aka Beach Boy in Paradise. $250Stay tuned for pictures of Harry Blalock ballroom dancing!
More About: Lack , Litt

My take on last night's soccer game
2007-08-07 22:26:00
1) Take one basket:2) Insert Ass:3) Hand to Angelo.We lost 4-0 to Wild Bill's and I injured my right leg in the last minute of the game.
More About: Soccer , Game

So far the election reporting sucks
2007-08-07 21:44:00
Yesterday the Marianas Variety reported that:The commission have received a total of 64 petitions ? 38 for the 18 seats of the House of Representatives; nine for three Senate Seats; and five for the Board of Education.Um, excuse me?38+9+5=52Not 64.Where did they come up with 64? Where are the other 12? Did they forget to mention the people running for the 9 municipal council seats?Even better, in their article, which had absolutely no slant towards the Republican Party (titled: "GOP show of force at election office"),they only list 36 of the supposed 38 candidates running for House. Where are the other two? What did they do to get blacklisted? Also, one of the candidates on that incomplete list doesn't have their party affiliation listed. Another one doesn?t have their precinct listed. WTF? Do you proofread?It got better today.After yesterday's half page article gushing over the newly reunited Republican Party, The Marianas Variety reported today that Paul Manglona and Victor Hoc...
More About: Election , Sucks

Most Popular Blog Ever?
2007-08-07 14:46:00
Do a google search for "Most Popular Blog Ever." Type it in and hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.Suck on that one, Harry.
More About: Pula

We now know who's talking
2007-08-07 05:38:00
From KUAM News:The Subcommittee on Insular Affairs has released the names of those who will testify at its upcoming field hearing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on House Resolution 30-79. The measure extends United States immigration laws and provides the CNMI with a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.The hearing will be held in Saipan next Wednesday. Those who are being allowed to testify are:Panel I===========The Honorable David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the InteriorPanel II===========The Honorable Benigno Fitial, Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana IslandsThe Honorable Oscar M. Babauta, Speaker of the CNMI House of RepresentativesThe Honorable Pete A. Tenorio, Resident Representative of the CNMIThe Honorable Pete P. Reyes, Vice President of the Senate of the CNMIThe Honorable Carlos Camacho, Former Governor of the CNMIPanel III===========Ms. Tina SablanMr. Gregorio Cruz, Presi...
More About: Talking

East Obyan Latte Site
2007-08-07 02:28:00
So who told the NMC students about the East Obyan Latte Site ? I've walked by it a dozen times and I had no idea it was there.Even if I had stumbled upon it, I probably would have thought that they were just a bunch of rocks. I imagine that this is one reason why there are so few latte stone houses left in the Marianas. Even if the Japanese or Americans had cared enough about the cultural symbol of the Marianas to protect them, were they even educated enough to recognize them? I doubt it.Luckily we have the people at Historic Preservation Office to help us recognize historical sites. They are there should we have any questions. They might not know all the answers, but they are at least there to give us some insight.I hate to have to admit this, but even after we finished clearing the historical site, it still kind of looked like a bunch of rocks in a clearing. (hangs head in shame).HPO has a grant to design and build information signs for some of the historical spots around the isla...

Warning: Government Shutdown Expected
2007-08-06 22:27:00
The deadline to file for candidacy in November's election was yesterday.Some items from the news that stand out to me:The Covenant Party (a Republican party break away) is only fielding 6 candidates. WTF?Tina Sablan, after months of saying that she had no interest in running, is runningJack Angello, the guy that makes half the island misspell my name, is running. He's the only haole...well, full haole anyways. We've got a few hapahaoles.There are only four women running...and they are all running in precinct 1. What's up with that?There are no Jedi candidates this year.I am going to offer any political candidate the opportunity to be interviewed by me for a post on this blog. It will be worth your time. This blog has between 300-500 unique readers per day, making it the third largest and most popular written media in the CNMI, after only the Saipan Tribune and the Marianas Variety.Most of the questions will be serious and a few will be silly. Questions I want to ask every...
More About: Politics , Government , Election , Warning , Shut

Damage Report, Damage Report!!!
2007-08-06 11:53:00
Wendy Doramal has published her CNMI Labor and Human Rights Status Report . It is only 25 pages long. Download it, read it, and let me know what you think.
More About: Damage

Carnival of the Blue III
2007-08-06 06:54:00
My previous post was included in Carnival of the Blue III, hosted on Rick MacPherson's blog Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice, and Sunsets. Carnival of the Blue is a roundup of a month's worth of the best ocean blogging on the Internet.The Saipan Blog will host Carnival of the Blue IV on September 3. I am currently looking for contributors. Please publish your post and email me the link at angelovillagomez at g mail dot com. Once I publish the carnival, all you have to do in return is to add a link to it in a post on your blog. It is a great way to build traffic and connect with other bloggers interested in ocean issues.

Nudi Blogging from the Depths of Harry's Hair Deprived Cranium
2007-08-06 02:51:00
You could also call this a Tribute to Harry's World, Saipan's recently crowned Best Blog...or you could call it a last minute attempt to slap something together for August's Carnival of the Blue, hosted by Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice, and Sunsets.The ancient Chamorros, the people who populated the Marianas in the days before the Spanish invasion, relied on their natural resources to feed their families. With a few exceptions, like lusongs made in the Northern Islands, everything they needed to survive on a day to day basis was right here on the island or just offshore.This is not true today. We rely on fossil fuels to power just about everything and most of our food comes from somewhere else. There are also so many people living on Saipan these days that to feed all them with resources extracted locally would lead to an ecosystem collapse.There is no way that we could return to an economic system dependant on our natural resources...or could we?On June 5th, 2007, a date which will...
More About: Blogging , Hair , Blogg , The D , Depth

A New Discovery
2007-08-05 01:15:00
I had no idea there was more than one latte stone (sounds like an Irish guy saying laddy, not the coffee drink) site at Obyan Beach. It is right next to the small path that divers use to get to the entry point on the East part of the beach. I must have walked by it a hundred times.Even if I had decided to walk through that part of the jungle, I probably (OK definately) wouldn't have recongized these big rocks as latte stones.A group of Northern Marianas College students taking a Northern Marianas History class came up with the idea to restore the East Obyan Latte Site. They coordinated with Beautify CNMI and the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) to make it happen. HPO got the proper permits from the Division of Fish & Wildlife and led the restoration.The students filmed the day's activities and are planning to put together a small documentary of the site and the restoration. They asked all of us a few questions. We were all asked, "what are latte stones, how were they used, and w...
More About: Soccer , Discovery , Saipan , New Discovery , Discover

The Saipan Blogger concedes to that talkative bald guyf
2007-08-03 12:46:00
Harry won. Out of 10 best blogger candidates, he won 40% of the vote.He's earned a mandate. His blog rules.Congrats, Harry.So how are those midget pirates doing?
More About: Blogger , Saipan , Logger , Blogg

Enough!
2007-08-03 09:44:00
A little over a year ago, four Filipina ladies came into my office in Garapan to offer up their volunteer labor to help us plant trees. They were led by Marites Castillo and they belonged to a group called Multisectoral Overseas Worker Movement (MOVER).We were more than happy to have them help and that weekend we planted 7 Flame Trees along Beach Road. The weekend after that we planted 11 more. Every single weekend since then we have worked together to plant trees, clean beaches, and so on and so on.For their untiring service, I had them nominated for an USDA Earth Team Award.As many of you know, they won.In between nominating them and awarding them with the plaque, the active members of MOVER, the volunteers that I saw week in and week out, decided to disolve the group called MOVER, which was limited to Filipino membership, and create a new group that allowed anyone interested in volunteering to join, regardless of race (sorry, that was a long sentence).They called the group Friend...

Harry Blalock: Under Investigation
2007-08-02 22:23:00
Recent information has surfaced that may cast doubt on the validity of Harry Blalock's run for Saipan 's Best Blog.This blog has already unearthed hard proof that Harry Blalock runs an Identity Theft Ring in the CNMI where he preys on old ladies, retards, and midget pirates.That investigation only scratched the surface of Harry Blalock's evil, hair deprived scalp.Not content with stealing their life savings, their credit cards, and their ship, Blalock went on to steal their dignity.He is now under investigation by Wendy Doromal and Allen Staymen for possible abuses of midget pirate labor.Have you ever bought fish on the side of the road? Did you know that you are supporting Harry Blalock's midget pirate fishing monopoly?After illegally obtaining their pirate ships, Harry Blalock uses midget pirate labor to extract tuna from the seas around the CNMI, killing as many dolphins and turtles as he can along the way. He uses hermit crab hearts as bait.The midget pirate fishermen complai...
More About: Investigation , Lock , Under

Announcing the Micronesia Challenge Photo Contest
2007-08-02 01:08:00
Micronesia Challenge Photo Contest In 2006, Governor Benigno Fitial joined the leaders of Palau, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to sign the Declaration of Commitment to the Micronesia Challenge. He pledged that the CNMI would work "to effectively conserve 30% of our near shore resources and 20% of our forest resources by 2020."A CNMI Outreach & Education Committee is charged with publicly promoting the goals and activities of the Micronesia Challenge. Composed of representatives from government, environmental non-profits, and other members of the community, the Committee is seeking photographs to use in outreach materials. In order to obtain as wide a variety of high quality photos as possible about the CNMI, the Committee hereby announces the ?Micronesia Challenge Photo Contest ?. Rules: ?Photos must relate to the Micronesia Challenge and must be taken within the CNMI. ?Photos can be professional or amateur. The content of the ph...
More About: Micronesia

You are invited!
2007-08-01 00:05:00
There will be a potluck BBQ at the CPA Airport field tonight during and following Guns n Roses expected trouncing of the Pika Raiders in the NMIFA Coed League. Like most Saturday nights, Brad "I run like the chick from Terminator 3" Ruszala will provide the flame, you just need to bring the sausage. The game starts at 5:15 There is also a Student Action for a Viable Environment (SAVE) meeting tonight at Java Joes at 7 PM. SAVE is the youth chapter of Beautify CNMI. Right now most of the students are in middle school and high school, but we want to grow to include elementary school and college students. Interested? Erica Cochrane, one of the founders of Mariana Island Nature Alliance (MINA), will give a presentation on African Rainforest Conservation at DEQ at 11:30. DEQ is in Gualo Rai, across the street from Subway. The presentation is in the large conference room; just ask the receptionist where to go.
More About: Soccer

The Comeback Kid?
2007-07-30 22:56:00
Sometimes the reach of the Internet is amazing. Check out the locations that have cast a vote in the Best Saipan Blog poll:I know who voted for us in Mongolia and Costa Rica. How about the other places? Who are you people?...and Vote for The Saipan Blog!******Taotao Tano President Greg Cruz is going to testify at the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee hearing next month. He is asking people to write testimonies to be included with his. You can read the Taotao Tano blog for more details.I've written here and here that I like 95% of what Taotao Tano wants to do. They see themselves as a grassroots advocacy group for the mostly powerless indigenous people. They are very good at identifying many of the ills of our society, like addiction and high utility bills, but they are blaming the wrong people for causing them.Contract workers did not cause our problems; the people who created the system that brought them here did. The sooner they realize that the plight of the contract ...
More About: Comeback

Dang it!
2007-07-30 14:00:00
Some people shouldn't drive in the rain.I was following behind a car when the driver slammed on the brakes. I couldn't stop and ended up swerving off the road into Herman Guererro's farm.I'm fine. The car is fine. I'm just $55 poorer.Rob Shultz was there to take pictures. He's posted more on his family's blog. Thanks, Rob.
More About: Random

Just Another Weekend
2007-07-30 01:16:00
Alright, enough with the polls and negative attack ads. Let's get this blog back to being a blog about life in Saipan.(I'll add pictures when I upload them from my camera)Saturday morning Mariana Island Nature Alliance hosted a cleanup of Mina Drive in As Matuis. MINA alternates between cleaning up Mina Drive and Wing Beach on the third Saturday of each month. There was no one to lead the cleanup last Saturday, so we held it this Saturday instead.The road is pretty clean now. We only picked up about two garbage bags full of aluminum cans, juice boxes, and food wrappers. We spent most of the time hacking away at the sword grass choking out the da'ok trees we planted several months ago. We'll have to keep doing that until the trees are taller than the grass, which I swear can grow 10 feet tall.After the cleanup I had breakfast with Aya and Honda at Cafe at the Park. I had fried rice and more coffee than any human should consume in one sitting.EJ had a soccer game later that after...
More About: Soccer , Weekend , Flame Trees

Next Governor Poll by the Writers
2007-07-29 03:53:00
This Vizu poll thing is started to take over our blogs. While it is fun, it is getting to be a bit much (this coming from the guy who posted three attack blogs yesterday).Middle Road added another poll yesterday, this time asking the question, "Who should and could be the next Governor of the CNMI?" The choices are as follows:Opinion Poll s & Market ResearchBreathe easy, Career Politicians of the CNMI; I can't run until I'm 35.Just a few thoughts:I guess they left off Ben Fitial because he is already governor, therefore he can't be the next governor.What about Tim Villagomez? Why no love for my primo? I've also heard rumors that Pedro P. Tenorio and Joe Ayuyu are likely candidates. Comments on the Middle Road blog also mention Tina Sablan, the package guy at the Post Office, Jimmy Buffet, and Holani Smith as potential candidates.Whatev.I think every person with political ambitions on this island wants to be Governor. And I think that almost everybody on this island has politica...
More About: Politics , Writers , Saipan

Any Given Sunday
2007-07-28 23:24:00
Time to go plant a few more Flame Trees .Since the rainy season started this year, Beautify CNMI has planted 77 Flame Trees. We should hit 100 in a few hours. We've already filled in a few of the blank spots on Beach Road and lined a few streets in Koblerville. Today we are going to line one of the streets in Dandan.In a year these trees will be as tall as a person and in about three they'll be 15 feet tall and blooming. I can't wait.In case you hadn't noticed, the Beautify CNMI people give up every single one of their weekends to improve this island. We're waiting for you to come join us.
More About: Sunday

David Khorram: Speculum in one hand, a hot poker in the other
2007-07-28 05:53:00
FACT:David Khorram has imported over 50,000 BB guns into the CNMI over the last 10 years.FACT:David Khorram owns the factory that supplies the CNMI with fireworks.FACT:David Khorram never went to medical school. He learned his trade extracting cow eyeballs for science classes.Vote for The Saipan Blog - Saipan, CNMI's most popular blog since ever since!Paid for by Friends of The Saipan BlogI'm Angelo Villagomez and I approved this ad4 out of 5 Saipan Cliff Jumpers support The Saipan Blog for Saipan's Best Blog!(This post is meant to be satirical. David is the best eye doctor the CNMI has ever seen. He deserves no less than second place in this poll.)
More About: Poker , Hand , The Other

Who is the REAL voice behind the microphone?
2007-07-28 05:19:00
This is Harry Blalock.He'd like you to think that he is a mild mannered talk show host who likes to go diving on the weekend and watch his cats go in and out of their cat doors.You would be a fool to believe that.The REAL Harry Blalock doesn't even like cats...unless he's eating them or using their innards to hunt hermit crabs.Harry would like you to believe that he is only a male model, making money on the side posing for Post Office posters.You would be a fool to believe that, too.The REAL Harry Blalock runs an Identity Theft ring in the CNMI...He preys on old ladies, retards, and midget pirates.Harry Blalock must be stopped!Do not vote Harry's World for Saipan 's Best Blog.Harry Blalock:Bad HairWorse BlogVote for The Saipan Blog - Saipan, CNMI's most popular blog since ever since!Paid for by Friends of The Saipan BlogI'm Angelo Villagomez and I approved this ad17 out of 19 COED Soccer Players support The Saipan Blog for Saipan's Best Blog (the other two are Brad and David ...
More About: Voice , Microphone , Real , VOIC

On removing you from my links
2007-07-28 04:34:00
Check your stats.I am the number one referrer to Marianas Eye (268 hits), Saipan and other random hypercritical thoughts (526 hits), and The CNMI Blog (638 hits),I am the number two referrer to Harry's World (133).Land of the Ayuyu, Saipan Saipanuvian Speaks, Middle Road, and Because I Said So! do not have eXTReMe Tracking on their blogs, but I bet I give them a good number of referrals.And for some reason Saipan's Beach Boy Blog has never registered a blog referral from me. I don't know why, but still, sorry, Brad.So.Since a good portion of my competition's traffic originates from me, I think that silencing the competion is a good idea.Is a media blackout ethical? All's fair in Love, War, and Saipan's Best Blog Contest!When the campaign is over you'll get your links back (in the sidebar)
More About: Links , Ving

Do you trust this man?
2007-07-28 03:02:00
Jeff Turbitt has turned his back on the values that make America American. He is anti-Family, anti-Freedom, and he looks French.Jeff Turbitt's blogging ability is as nonexistent as the hair on his head...and he smells like chicken nuggets.Vote for The Saipan Blog - Saipan, CNMI's most popular blog since ever since!Paid for by Friends of The Saipan BlogI'm Angelo Villagomez and I approved this ad9 out of 10 Fotten Gaga Girls support The Saipan Blog for Saipan's Best Blog!(While this post is satirical in nature, Jeff is much worse than a bad blogger; He is a Yankees fan. He deserves last place.)
More About: Trust , Rust

Saipan's Best Blog is The Saipan Blog
2007-07-27 03:42:00
Following in the success of my Saipan 's Sexiest Male and Female Blog ger polls, Jeff Turbitt has created a poll for Saipan's Best Blog.I want to win this one.Opinion Poll s & Market ResearchIf you would like to put this poll on your blog, simply copy and paste this code into your template:Opinion Polls & Market Research

MVA Five Year Strategic Plan for Tourism
2007-07-26 23:33:00
I don't have time to write about this, but here is the video (in two parts) that was shown at the Semi-annual Marianas Visitors Authority meeting two weeks ago:I've got a lot of comments; I'll probably get to them later this weekend. Feel free to leave comments...and look for the video of me heading the ball in the first Saipan vs. Guam game...and the Beautify CNMI pictures.OK.I will make one comment.Instead of MVA's new branding slogan "Play, Enjoy, Relax," I prefer "Smoke, Shag, Snorkle." Of course, that is only if Smokin' Matty G can figure out a way to trump Federal law and legalize marijuana.Or who knows? Maybe Play, Enjoy, Relax works. What do you think?
More About: Youtube , Tourism , Plan , Strategic , Year

Friends, coming and going
2007-07-26 11:56:00
Yesterday afternoon the CNMI said hello to Andrew and Suz, Rota's newest residents. They were on Saipan for about three hours yesterday. They only had enough time to go on a quick Axe Murderer Tour with Harry and me and to drink a few beers under the Flame Trees near the airport.Welcome to the CNMI, Andrew and Suz!The CNMI is also about to say goodbye to Evan (he's the dirtiest and sweatiest guy in this picture). Evan's been playing soccer with us for about a month, playing in three of our Coed Soccer games. He'll be off to medical school in a few weeks.Thanks for visiting, Evan!
More About: Friends , Ming , Going

Go to Club V tonight
2007-07-26 01:46:00
Tonight, Thursday, July 26, 2007, the DII Radio Program along with Budweiser, PTI, and Club V (at Saipan Grand) are teaming up to bring you the DII Retro Flash Birthday Bash.It's an evening of 80s old school!Doors open at 9 p.m., $5.00 gets you in and includes a free Bud beer and a dollar will be donated to PAWS.There is also $1,000.00 in cash and prizes.Make sure you wear you best 80s outfit for the contest.So, get dressed, show up, have a good time, and feel good about it because you are helping PAWS!
More About: Tonight , Toni

Saipan's Sexiest Male Blogger Revealed
2007-07-25 12:23:00
After 248 votes, here are the results for Saipan 's Sexiest Male Blogg er :1. Brad Ruszala - 29.8%2. David Khorrma - 21.8%3. Jeff Turbitt - 19.8%4. Angelo Villagomez - 15.7%5. Harry Blalock - 14.9%6. Gus Kaipat - 8.1%7. Bruce Bateman - 5.6%8. Walt Goodridge - 4.8%Brad needs this more than us.Brad gets nothing. Now he has to take Boni, her husband, and all of their kids out on a date.
More About: Logger