Crosstown traffic

Is it going to take a fatality for the Department of Public Safety to man intersections during power outages?

Sure, there's usually an officer at the Microl Intersection-- since Judge Govendo specifically mentioned it in his month-old letter.

In fact, there were "at least five" police vehicles there when three vehicles played bumper car a few blocks away in Susupe, according to the Saipan Tribune. This tidbit was amplified by a comment to the Marianas Variety article: "What they did not tell you in the story, there where 8 cops with their cars sitting at the Microl intersection chewing beatle nut and watching one cop directing traffic while this accident happened at the "Naru" intersection. So much for short supply of personel."

Sure, there are traffic rules at intersections we (should) know during outages. That's fine for unexpected outages that don't last long. A judge shouldn't have to shame DPS into protecting public safety at all controlled intersections when we know the power will be out for hours.

And how absurd is it?

I've been having a hard time writing about Saipan lately.

It's just that things have gotten so absurd that it isn't funny. Except that it is. I can picture some late-night comedian saying "it's so ridiculous that...."

The Governor proclaims a State of Emergency because the Power Plant may blow up.

The U.S. Congress adds a special 'CNMI only' labor category because the local government says existing rules will Osterize our economy-- and the Governor wants to sue because no other U.S. jurisdiction has to put up with these onerous requirements.

The closed-door meeting to push for his suit has to be postponed because of a power outage.

The public is brought into the discussion when the Governor posts his talking points on You Tube.

My son asks me if it's true that the (new) Public Utility Commission is to blame for our power problems as the Governor claims.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has more liabilities than assets but the Legislature wants to require a minimum bid for privatization.

Questionable hiring practices have plagued CUC, but the Legislature wants to ensure jobs are "protected" during privatization.

There's no money in the budget for retirement contributions but the Retirement Fund is being asked to risk its dwindling reserves investing in CUC.

The government is bloated (also see retirement contributions) but is trying to argue that there just aren't enough local workers to staff private businesses.

CUC keeps promising to train local workers this time if they just get another extension to hire contract workers.

The Northern Marianas College's director for institutional advancement moves over to shaky private Emmanuel College.

That's just off the top of my head. Now, what did I miss?

CUC crime spree

It's just silly superstition I guess, but I didn't want to mention crimes caused by power outages until they happened. Beware sympathetic magic; don't tempt fate.

I'm sure it's not a first, but the Marianas Variety is reporting an assault in San Vicente Monday.

Evidently it started as shoplifting during an *unscheduled* power outage, but the owner's son chased five teenagers into the street. (Yeah, that's not a wise move, but I've done similar things in the heat of the moment, only to realize 'lawdy, I'm outnumbered'.)

He was conked on the head with a beer bottle-- let's not talk about that teenage issue here.

You can't blame the Department of Public Safety for this one. How can they protect all of the stores and houses without lights, especially when they don't know where and how long the outages will be?

Security cameras aren't much good unless you've got backup power. Let's just hope burglars using darkness as cover snatch CUC-kill items.

We could also hope the Variety keeps after DPS for follow-up on this case. It doesn't sound too hard.

The kids are all right

Just to balance the yin with the yang, I'll give teenagers and CNMI Space.com a plug. An online Variety ad caught my eye yesterday so I checked it out.

It's not my crowd, but Charlie Atalig has a good idea. I hope it works for him. Lessee, somebody... aha Walt Goodridge wrote about it. I've peeked when my son and niece played on Myspace and it can get a little creepy.

As a parent, I'd be happier with them using this place in virtual space. MMMuuahh...the kiss of death.

A couple of things even caught my interest, like the videos and the joke I'll never tell. If you can't figure that out, think about why Jesse Jackson can use the "n" word but it's not okay for me.

iSLaNdErS isn't bad either. It could be cut by half to tighten it up or reduced to a 'ten reasons' list, but that's just personal preference.

Power failure

Tomorrow's Saipan Tribune says Commonwealth Utilities Corporation outages have damaged five compressors in the new prison's air conditioners.

Score one for common sense. From the story:

Department of Corrections Commissioner Lino Tenorio disclosed that three air-conditioning compressors broke down in the past three months due to power fluctuations.

Tenorio said another compressor broke down last month, while the fifth one happened just two days ago.

Somebody there is not a one-trial learner. Whenever there is an outage I immediately shut off all air-cons and coolers. I know from experience that there will be surges and massive fluctuations when the power comes back. It's best to wait ten or fifteen minutes until the load settles in. If it's 4 am, so be it, I go to the businesses.

I lost a compressor. Once, because I was lazy that day. If it happened five times I'd fire myself.

But the prison's units are still in the warranty period, you might say. Maybe they're covered, if we're lucky, but it's not the manufacturer's fault.