Good things about the energy crisis?

Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio deserves some props if he's indeed the one who got 12 mile CNMI control of submerged lands into proposed offshore drilling legislation. Sigh. It was in the Saipan Tribune and Marianas Variety yesterday but I can't find a link. Maybe that's because they both just reprinted his press release. The resrep link seems to be broken. Update: here we go, their website was intractable, but I found it on the net

According to the press release, Congressman Don Young of Alaska included the provision in H.R. 6108. I particularly liked its headline: "CNMI could benefit from energy crisis".

I have some problems with that, but not where the Commonwealth is concerned. Because of looming energy problems Japan and France decided to push nuclear power years ago; Germany is going solar. At this late date, when it hit the fan again, some geniuses think offshore drilling will help us a few years 'down the road'.

On the bright side, even if the bill doesn't pass, Young has shown the ability to slip pet provisions into other bills after they have passed.

On the road again

Our flirtation with 55 mph speed limits didn't take, but it appears gas price increases save lives. Who knew?

Calorie counting

Closer to home, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has forced many people to give up the '24 hour rice cooker'. You know, keeping it going 'in case anybody gets hungry'. That's a good thing nutritionally too; the gloppy over-refined stuff that's preferred here is hardly a healthy snack.

Between CUC and rice price increases (thanks for the ethanol subsidies, Congress) we've been eating more of the three T's: tapioca, taro and 'taters. Yum.

That's very timely, with that conference on lifestyle diseases just wrapping up.

Hmm, I wonder if restaurants should list the calories of menu items like New York City? (They just banned trans-fat, too.)