Island Hopping

Now that fuel has returned to sane price levels, it's time to relish the fact that the Commonwealth offers some of the world's best flying. Aircraft partnerships are common ways for people to share expenses, and scooting between Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam in a small airplane is certainly a viable endeavor. (Pagan, on the other hand, is a bit more demanding, but it's sure a lot of fun.)

This column will run Saturday.

(Photo: Yours truly at Pagan Island)

Brutal brevity

Patronage jobs aren't an option for Saipan's Filipino workforce. For those sending resumes to the U.S. market, this week's column highlights differences between Philippine and American resume protocol.

Christmas shopping for Saipan techies

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

"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

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

"...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

"...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

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.

World Wide Woes

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

...or maybe not!

Zany, mad-cap antics

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."