Maybe Angelina will run: Brad Pitt is laughing off the idea he should run for mayor of New Orleans. Pitt told NBC’s Today Show today that he has seen the “Brad Pitt for Mayor” T-shirts that many New Orleans residents have been sporting for at least two months. But when asked if he has considered running, Pitt says, “I don’t have a chance.” Pitt is right—at least as far as the next mayoral election is concerned. He and partner Angelina Jolie bought a home in 2007. To be eligible, mayoral candidates must have been residents of New Orleans for at least five years before the date of the election. The mayoral primary is Feb. 6.
Less power: Retail sales of electricity are projected to decline by 2.7% across the U.S. this year, because of the recession. The Energy Information Administration, the Department of Energy’s statistical agency, projected the decrease because of a 10% drop-off in industrial sales. The EIA expects a slight upturn in 2010, with electricity consumption going up by 0.8% in 2010. Electricity prices are expected to go up 4.2% in 2009 and 2.6% in 2010.
