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Reminder: This site has moved

2010-08-20T00:14:00.002+10:00

Links to Ed Stephens Jr.'s current and recent columns are now available at EdStephensJr.com

See you there!

This site has moved!

2010-08-13T00:33:00.005+10:00

The weekly link to my Saipan Tribune column can now be found at: www.EdStephensJr.com . The archives are also there. Please update your links or bookmarks! Thanks.

Christmas shopping for Saipan techies

2008-12-05T00:03:00.002+10:00

This shopping season doesn't seem to offer a "must-have" gift for the techie on your list, a situation I lament in this week's column.

But here are a few things (tech-oriented or otherwise)that I reviewed in 2008:

1. Saving Memories. Feb. 29. This extolls the benefits of the new generation of small external hard drives. Many of us have moved our photo albums to our computers; those are memories worth saving....and backing up.

2. A great piece of gear. Aug. 15. The Cabela's Outback Computer Attache is my best product discovery of the year.

3. Saipan and Everywhere: Four essential books. Oct. 24. The title pretty much says it all. Any, or all, of these four books would be a nice gift for the thinker on your list.

Paradise is for learners

2008-11-28T00:55:00.004+10:00

"As the CNMI economy continues to transition to a totally government-based economy, anyone who wants to earn a living in the Commonwealth while remaining in the much-hated 'private sector' has got a tough challenge...but it's a doable challenge."

Here are links mentioned in today's column:

1. May 23 review of The Long Tail.

2. The A.P. story on Wyoming's Ten Sleep. (The title of this article is different than the one I mention in my column, but it's the same article.)

The Korean Juggernaut

2008-11-21T09:09:00.001+10:00

As 2008 is drawing to a close, I noticed that I haven't filled my quota of glaring typos. So here's a "baron peninsula " just to lend an air of genuine Stephens authenticity to this week's article. Enjoy hunting for that little gem! Accept no substitutes.

Financial wisdom from Mom

2008-11-14T00:37:00.000+10:00

"...Earned money trumps make-believe wealth in the long run. This wisdom will set the stage for the coming financial turmoil, which is just getting started. Some people in the Commonwealth get the point. Some never will."

True indeed. Catch today's column here.

Crazy Eddie's Saipan Love Brokerage

2008-11-07T06:43:00.003+10:00

"...I suggest that you list 'rich,' 'in poor health,' and 'heavy smoker' as the primary attributes you seek in a husband."

Catch the column here.

TEOTWAWKI syndrome

2008-10-31T00:40:00.000+10:00

The End Of The World As We Know It? Relax. The world is doing just fine. Don't let the winds of doom cloud your view of the opportunities out there, particularly in Asia.

Saipan and everywhere: Four essential books

2008-10-24T05:18:00.003+10:00

For those hardy captains of industry who read the Saipan Tribune, and who are contemplating the economic situation, here are four books I highly recommend and summarize in today's column:

1. Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, by Joseph A. Schumpeter.

2. The Road to Serfdom, by F.A. Hayek.

3. Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

4. The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, by Eric Hoffer.

World Wide Woes

2008-10-16T23:17:00.000+10:00

Need to build a great web site? You've come to the right place for inspiration...

...or maybe not!

Zany, mad-cap antics

2008-10-09T23:04:00.001+10:00

A quote from today's column:

"....Many (not all, but surprisingly many) of your counterparts in the Prozac Nation have ceded management of their own lives to any institution or demagogue who had a slick sales pitch. The Panic of 2008 is probably in its infancy; just wait until the masses figure out that their pensions are worth less than my old gym socks. Some odd notion in the states goes that if you collectivize something, then everybody gets more of it, since the pile is so big."

The household budget?

2008-10-03T04:01:00.004+10:00

Sick of all the pompous advice about "household budgets"? Join the club. Here's my take on the gig in today's Saipan Tribune.

The Tribune is also running an insightful piece by former Tribune publisher John DelRosario, Jr., who takes a look at the U.S. Wall Street Bailout bill here. Well said, JR!

All about Azipods

2008-09-25T23:33:00.003+10:00

Today, we contemplate the Azipod!

I warned you

2008-09-18T23:14:00.003+10:00

I've been warning Saipan Tribune readers for years that the U.S. financial bubble would eventually bring weirdness to markets.

Post script: A bailed-out bubble is still a bubble. The economic underpinnings of distorted capital allocation don't magically disappear. Joe Six-Pack is happy that stock prices have zoomed up at the end of the week, but he doesn't know who the rube is yet.

Utils and Utility

2008-09-11T23:54:00.001+10:00

Blackouts don't mean that we have to sit in the economic dark. Here's some wonkish economic stuff on "utils" and "utility."

Deputy Director of Notebooks

2008-09-05T00:05:00.004+10:00

Shopping for a notebook computer? You're not alone: Notebook sales are up 35% for the year. Here's my take on the gig.

Digitimes.com has interesting data on notebook market share here.

UPDATE:

Since I've got notebooks on the brain today, I just caught an article on CNNMoney.com about one new offering in the ultra-small, ultra cheap notebook computer sector--the Dell Mini 9, which has a 8.9 inch display, WiFi, a teeny capacity flash memory of 4gb to 16gb, and a teeny price of $350 (with Linux) or $400 (Windows XP).

This surely isn't a substitute for a full blown notebook computer, but as a "computer-like appliance" (or "sub-notebook") for road trips (it weighs under two pounds), it might be an interesting tool, or maybe toy, for some folks.

Dell's offering is coming on the heels of a similar little offering from Taiwan's Asus, the Eee PC. I checked one of these out in Asia when they were pretty new on the market. Although I'd love to shave four pounds from my travel kit, my enthusiasm was curbed when I actually used one of these things.

Leaping into lethargy

2008-08-28T23:58:00.000+10:00

Looking for some inspiration? Don't ask me for any. Especially in August, which always seems to be an 0ff-month.

Strategic moves, island issues

2008-08-23T04:59:00.003+10:00

Is is possible that military bucks might be on the way to the CNMI? Well, the ever-more-tense world situation, combined with Guam's lucritive stint in the stragetic limelight, does feed speculation, and even hope. But how would the CNMI government react? My forecast might surprise you.

Column?

2008-08-22T08:15:00.005+10:00

Thanks for the email regarding the absence of my usual Friday column from the Saipan Tribune Op-Ed page. It's probably just a technical SNAFU, given that I submitted later than I usually do.

Stay tuned to SaipanBlog.com, and I'll post an update.

UPDATE: It was just a SNAFU, and the column is carried in Saturday's edition.

A great piece of gear

2008-08-15T00:32:00.005+10:00

"Commonwealth Road Warriors, your travel-weary comrade has discovered a dandy piece of gear..."

And thus I introduce the Cabela's Outback Computer Attache, which I highly recommend.

Nukes in the 'hood

2008-08-08T00:04:00.000+10:00

The next nuclear arms race might be in Saipan's back yard.

Memory Circuits

2008-08-01T13:45:00.002+10:00

Some stuff is worth remembering. Some ain't. That's what I ponder in today's column.

Rue the darkness

2008-07-24T23:17:00.005+10:00

Date Tila Tequila? Sure. Privatize CUC? No--it will just further convolute its shameful trail of corruption.

So, what's the answer to the CNMI's power woes? Well, here's one idea, and, quite possibly, the only idea that can work--read all about it in Rue the Darkness.

You'll notice my call to action at the end of the column. You can, as always, contact me here.

Correction: In today's column, I mentioned an article I wrote "in 1988 or so." I meant to say "in 1998 or so," thus making an error of, ahem, an entire decade. One scary thing about middle age is that the decades really do start to run together. Yikes!

This week's news

2008-07-18T10:13:00.003+10:00

"He lived in a steamy, dilapidated trailer by a swamp. Roaches swarmed all over the place. He sat, shirtless, in the collapsed remnants of a cheap reclining armchair..."

Today's column is continued here.

1-2-3-4-R

2008-07-11T11:01:00.001+10:00

Today I share highlights of this year's tropical travels. Most of the places I saw were racing ahead economically. Meanwhile, Saipan remains stuck in "reverse." It's a heck of a contrast.

How to negotiate!

2008-07-04T14:06:00.003+10:00

Book stores are brimming with books on how to be a sharp negotiator. Here's my take on the gig in today's Saipan Tribune.

Emergency electrons

2008-06-26T23:02:00.000+10:00

Don't let Saipan's blackouts thwart your work routine. Notebook computer users can use inverters to convert their car's electricity to usable tech juice. Here's my latest look at the gig. This follows an earlier piece I did on March 2 last year.

The secret's out now: Blackouts are no excuse for missing a work deadline. You might want to hide this column from your boss.

WWII and a jazz singer too

2008-06-19T23:24:00.004+10:00

A WWII vet sent me an interesting video (At the Interface: The WWII Recollections of Donald M. Showers) that I review in today's Saipan Tribune.

The producer's web page is shoestringprod.org/interface.

We also take a glance at Miss Emily Anne, an up-and-coming jazz singer who's working the San Francisco club scene. You can catch some samples of her interesting sound at her site, myspace.com/missemilyannegigs.

Both of these stories dovetail perfectly with the Long Tail effect, as musicians, merchants, and others use the Internet to reach out to niche markets.

Random thoughts for CNMI grads

2008-06-12T23:21:00.000+10:00

Maybe Friday the 13th isn't an auspicious date to contemplate graduation stuff. Oh well, here we go anyway...

Little Worries, Big Worries

2008-06-06T00:09:00.000+10:00

As bad as the immediate effects of high gas prices are, the long-term consequences may be far more painful. Is it time to chuck the car and buy a donkey? Maybe, maybe not, but in any event, this week's column ponders the gig.

e-Book look

2008-05-30T00:13:00.003+10:00

Can e-books do for reading what the iPod did for listening? Find out here.

Short tale of The Long Tail

2008-05-23T00:23:00.003+10:00

"The Long Tail is an inspiring, thoughtful, and informative look at a phenomenon that we’re all involved with, but that we have a hard time getting real perspective on."

Click here for the rest of my review.

The sound of the Huey

2008-05-16T09:46:00.002+10:00

The sound of the Huey is today's article.

Hey, I'm always up for talking about helicopters: Here's some background on this great machine.

Thoughts over Asian coffee

2008-05-09T08:37:00.002+10:00

"These days, Saipan has so many talkers and bureaucrats, and so few doers, that’s it’s fun to be among some doers, even if I can’t even speak the language and need help ordering even a simple cup of coffee...."

Such is one thought over coffee while enjoying the buzz of business in Hong Kong this week.

Spring cleaning for e-mail

2008-05-02T20:09:00.002+10:00

E-mail: We need it, so we might as well include it in our Spring Cleaning.

Bug vs Windshield

2008-04-25T13:15:00.003+10:00

If' you've got any gray hairs, you might remember the band Dire Straits and their song The Bug. In the realm of oil prices, the Commonwealth is the bug, and there are a lot of economic windshields speeding right as us, ready to squish us financially. That's the topic of today's column...and it ain't a pretty picture.

Taiwan

2008-04-18T04:42:00.008+10:00

Although Taiwan and Saipan have long-standing economic ties, information for Taiwan-bound travelers is sparse. Here are a few observations from my first visit.

I don't usually wax enthusiastic about hotels, but this time around, I'll make an exception. Business travelers who want to stay in the airport (Taoyuan) area should be aware of Monarch Plaza hotel, it was quite a find and the staff helped make my trip a good experience.

Choices: Crunching numbers

2008-04-11T05:18:00.004+10:00

In the April 11 edition of the Saipan Tribune, we crunch some numbers to get a feel for the relationship between choices, tradeoffs, risk aversity, and rewards...and thus solve the riddle presented in last week's column.

Catching up: March 21, March 28, and April 4 column links

2008-04-10T13:34:00.002+10:00

The dust has settled from my travels, so I can catch up on some column links now.

April 4: "Choices in life"

"A career bromide as worn as the steps to the Nauru Building goes like so: Do what you like to do, young man, and then your work won’t seem like work, life will be happy and, fortuitously, the money will flow into your pockets..."

Here's a link to the April 4 column

March 28: "Zoris"

"There are two kinds of people on Saipan: Those who have adopted zoris as their primary footwear, and those who haven’t..."

Here's a link to the March 28 column

March 21: "The dollar and credit bombs: Told you so!"

"For many years, I have warned Saipan Tribune readers that the U.S. dollar, and the pile of toxic debt it is built on, will all collapse in an ugly heap.

And it’s happening. Right in front of our eyes. It’s the stuff of global headlines right now. There will be time, a lot of time, later, to analyze the impact on Saipan, but today let’s just ponder the general situation..."

Here's a link to the March 21 column

Admin note

2008-03-14T08:53:00.003+10:00

My upcoming travel schedule may prevent me from posting my weekly link on SaipanBlog.com, so you'll have to go directly to the Opinion page at the Saipan Tribune on Fridays to find my column.

Home-grown computer upgrade

2008-03-14T08:47:00.002+10:00

Trying to stretch those computer dollars in these tough economic times? Me, too.

I got brave and upgraded the hard drive in my favorite ThinkPad computer. If you're contemplating a similar project, here's how I did it, in 10 easy steps.

Somebody Else

2008-03-07T11:44:00.001+10:00

Who will save the Commonwealth? Somebody Else, of course.

Saving memories

2008-02-29T11:00:00.008+10:00

Don't want to lose those precious holiday pictures, home videos, and all your other data? Here's my occasional update on data storage technology, and, this time around, we look at the small-but-mighty 2.5 inch hard drives.

If you're looking for MEGAbyte, the store mentioned in my column, their site is here.

Ocean power and random napkins

2008-02-24T05:38:00.003+10:00

Make electricity from waves, tides, or currents? That's the topic for the Feb. 22 column...

A company called Verdant Power has some cool information and photos on their site; I took this photo from their site.

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto

2008-02-15T01:21:00.003+10:00

We take a respite from weighty topics today, and ponder the latest kink in an old chain: visions of robots that are human, all-too-human in today's Tribune.

Here is the referenced article.

Photo from the Drudge Report.

Time Mismanagement

2008-02-08T05:49:00.000+10:00

Maybe hard work will pay off in the future, but laziness pays off immediately.

Accepting Reality

2008-02-08T05:45:00.000+10:00

Here is my Feb. 1 column.

Chaos and happy hour

2008-01-25T06:48:00.000+10:00

"Today is one of those days when we have to put off happy hour for a few moments and dig into some real economics. I sure hate it when the outside world intrudes into my fun time. Ah, welcome to 2008, dear Commonwealth, which is already shaping up to be an economic humdinger..."

Here's the rest of the article...

Who holds the bag?

2008-01-18T08:35:00.000+10:00

It's time for some straight talk about the CNMI's economic situation, so here it is. No sugar-coating here!

As an aside, I'll mention that I may offer a presentation or two on the CNMI economic situation, to include the tourism situation, for members of the private sector who are interested in such things. I'm not long-winded, so any presentation would be brief, about 30 minutes. If you're interested in attending, let me know; we've got plenty of lead time, I'll probably shoot for sometime this summer.

The peso, the dollar, and everything

2008-01-12T09:58:00.000+10:00

As I've been saying for over a decade in the Tribune, the U.S. dollar is doomed. Here's my latest take on it. Seems like markets are, at long last, heeding reality.

E-mail purgatory

2008-01-06T10:46:00.000+10:00

Has e-mail gone from blessing to curse? It sure seems like it sometimes.

It's a good theme to start the new year off with, so catch "E-mail purgatory" in the January 4 Saipan Tribune.

The packaging avalanche

2007-12-28T06:39:00.000+10:00

In today's Saipan Tribune:

"The floor is littered with boxes, plastic blister packs, cardboard, greeting cards, ribbons, bubble wrap, tags, pins, bows, wrapping paper (my nemesis), polystyrene packing, plastic bags, and all the rest of it. I know I'm not the only one digging out from an avalanche of packaging and related garnishments..."

The Obsolete man

2007-12-21T00:23:00.000+10:00

Whenever I find a product I like it is immediately discontinued. It is a recipe for derangement and financial ruin, as explained in today's Saipan Tribune: The Obsolete Man.

Digicam shopping

2007-12-14T00:09:00.000+10:00

Digital cameras are going to be popular gifts (again), so, for aspiring Saipan Santas, I ponder the realm of camera shopping in today's Tribune.

A mighty useful information source is Steve's Digicams. On that site you'll find that the "conclusion" page for any given camera holds the most useful insights.

There's a lot to digest in that site, so here are three good pages to start off with:

6- to 7-megapixel cameras

8- to 10-megapixel cameras

Steve's Best Cameras list

On a related note, in the world of digicam batteries, PC World magazine reported getting as many as 664 shots out of one pair of "AA" sized Energizer E2 lithium batteries. And one writer for PC Magazine reported getting 2, 676 (yikes!) shots out of one pair. I'm sloppy about power management-- I spend more time looking at photos on my screen than I do actually taking pictures-- and yet my battery-draining behavior still yields at least 450 shots out of a pair. They're magic. (These are disposable batteries, and are NOT the same as the "lithium-ion" rechargeables. )

As I prepared this article, I happened to stumble across a favorite old camera model of mine, so I wound up buying...ahem... well...I bought 10 digicams; I'm cursed with the fact that every time I like something, it's discontinued, so I think I've developed a hoarder's mentality. Most people start New Year's off with a headache, but I'll start it off broke!

Photo: Steve's Digicams

Department of Santa Claus

2007-12-07T00:19:00.000+10:00

After creating a Department Of Santa Claus (DOSC), Saipan's bureaucrats issue their grand strategy, namely:

"Diversifying from reindeer-powered sleighs to eco-friendly wind-powered rocket ships, which will create a tremendous opportunity for diverse diversification within inter-cosmic free trade zones via public-private partnerships, education, and community participation."

Old St. Nick ain't amused.

Next year: Interesting Times

2007-11-30T00:03:00.000+10:00

"The CNMI is hopelessly addicted to the intrinsic contradiction that it can have a huge, bloated, all-pervasive patronage government, while at the same time having a healthy and productive private sector."

Indeed, as the Commonwealth economy continues to crash, it's business as usual for CNMI policy. Something's got to give. And something will--a rude awakening is in the cards for both the community and the business sector. Yes, interesting times are in store for 2008.

Enlightenment

2007-11-23T06:38:00.000+10:00

Wise man say: "It is better to light a flashlight than to curse the darkness."

While the CUC Grinch will keep delivering blackouts to the Commonwealth, aspiring Santas can use the opportunity to recognize a practical and affordable gift: The Mini Maglite. It's a must for Saipan, and the topic of today's column.

These nifty things are available locally. Joeten Ace Hardware in Susepe has them for $17.99.

And here's a link to the manufacturer's site, which includes a graphic for using the candle mode.

Also, here's some history behind the company and its founder, Anthony Maglica, who is a very inspiring entrepreneurial success story.

A kid's poster

2007-11-16T06:14:00.000+10:00

It's time to take a break from Saipan's economic death watch. Let's contemplate something more inspiring, and what could be more inspiring than flying?

Although I played hooky today by hiding out from Saipan's economic issues, editor Jayvee Vallejera drove right to the heart of the matter with an excellent overview of the regional economic context, available here.

Oily Business

2007-11-09T03:22:00.000+10:00

High gas prices got ya' down? Look on the bright side: The CNMI is now so heavily subsidized by the federal government that the usual worries about oil and productivity don't matter all that much anymore. Living on handouts...ain't life grand? Oily business indeed.

Dear Abi

2007-11-03T11:21:00.000+10:00

If Microsoft Word doesn't float your boat, take a look at AbiWord, a freebie, available at AbiSource.com.

Here's my take on AbiWord in the November 2 Saipan Tribune.

Crunching Credit

2007-10-25T23:02:00.000+10:00

Got credit? Many folks in Saipan don't. Now is the time to re-evaluate that situation, hence today's column, Crunching Credit.

The column lists two Web sites, which I'll link here for convenience:

www.MyFico.com
www.ClarkHoward.com

Oil? What's the password

2007-10-19T00:53:00.000+10:00

With gasoline at $3.529 in Saipan, and oil nearing $90 a barrel, it's time to take another look at oil prices.

And, what's helium got to do with this?

Click here and find out.

Casino a Go-Go

2007-10-12T01:17:00.000+10:00

Here's my take on the contentious casino issue.

Article Here