Many of you old timers remember Louis. It was reported by his ham radio buddies that his radio went silent last night (Thursday) at 9 PM. RIP Louis.

Furnished 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment. Lower level of house in Jaramillo Arriba. 20 minute walk to town. Private patio and shared garden area. Washer and dryer shared with upper tenant. Totally fenced with secure under-cover parking. Electricity, wifi, and cable tv included. Must love dogs.

Available November 16. $500/month plus deposit.

Contact Leslie: peeverleslie@yahoo.com

What if you purchased a ticket several months ago when they went on sale the first time?

This is the kind of thing ACODECO is good at. Drive into David as if you were going to Park Cervantes, the central park. There will be a large church on your left. You want to turn right at the first possible street. The first street past the church is one way going the wrong direction so go to the 2nd street and turn right. ACODECO is on the right side of that street about in the middle of the block.

There were at least 4 sets of golf clubs at last weekend's venta de patio at the Handicap Foundation. I doubt they sold them. I can check if you want or you can stop in and talk (in Spanish) to Migdalia who is the paid employee there every day.

If you are a citizen of the British empire, Canada, or the U.S., you need to come to the BCP theater this morning (Tuesday) at 10:30 to meet your local representatives while you are living in Panama.

We will introduce Hank Landis and Bonnie Williams, the two new U.S. wardens, Tricia Daugherty, the British Consular Agent, and  from the Canadian Embassy in Panama: Consul and First Secretary Mika Kosaki Oldham,  Ambassador Anna-Karine Asselin, and Consular Officer, Ms. Debora De Herrera. These folks will speak about what their respective embassies can and cannot do for their citizens, how and when to contact them, their citizen registries maintained by the embassies, and other pertinent topics raised by the audience. The Canadian Ambassador will bring passport renewal forms. A must attend program for all U.S., Canadian and British citizens.

A proposed new consumer protection law. Reprinted from Newsroom Panama:

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A LAW  that would  make Panama’s retailers, rather than manufacturers, responsible for repairs carried out on products under warranties has been proposed.

If it makes its way onto the books it will  bring Panama closer to jurisdictions from which expats originate.

The bill has been proposed by PRD Deputy Samir Gozaine.

“It is unfair that a client has to be referred to a manufacturer,” Gozaine said. “This goes against the spirit of consumer protections.”

The deputy said that the law would make it easier for customers to ensure that warranties are followed.

I agree with Keith. I believe the Jewish discussion was finally deleted by the NING moderators.

Danielle

Many of us were not banned from NING for bad behavior. Some of us were banned simply because we were friends with Bud and Marcelyn

Roger

After 13 plus years living here it's been my experience that Panamanians are very uncomplaining and just accept bad products and bad service as a way of life. I remember I had a gringa friend married to a Panamanian and she ordered a custom bed made for her mattress and box springs. The bed had sides and when it was delivered it turned out that it wasn't made to the measurements she had given and the mattress and box springs wouldn't fit into it. It was basically worthless to her. Her husband and in-laws were just aghast when she said she wanted to return it and have it re-made.

I was talking to Michael the other day about this very thing. Michael is the guy who started the discussion on NING about Jewish life that erupted into a flurry of very weird anti-Semitic posts. I know Bud keeps a watchful eye on this site but my gut feeling is that the vast majority of us self-moderate and are basically decent people. We've also learned the lesson about how quickly a discussion group disintegrates when left unchecked.

When Lee first started NING he told me he was going to do absolutely no censorship. Within a week or two there were several people posting total pornography and hatred on the site. Lee changed his policy but he hated to have to do it.

Roger

Thank you very much for what you have done. I can arrange a translator if needed. The subject is very interesting to most of us and I know we would get a full house.

Speaking of ACODECO does anybody know if any of their staff speaks English?  I think it would be a great program for the Tuesday talks to have one of them come and explain all of their services and how to work with them.

Any contact information would be appreciated.

If you want to know the inside poop about the U.S. embassy, come to BCP on Tuesday and meet the two new U.S. wardens living in Boquete. Also, the Canadian ambassador and her two top aides will be there. Not to be outdone, the Brits are sending their Consular Agent.

10:30 in the BCP theater on Tuesday

All apologies go to Brandy for not checking the calendar before choosing the date. We changed the date to Thursday, Oct 27 so she and Bob could attend. Of course, now the new date conflicts with the Buenos Vecinos food packing but we're sticking with it.

This will be a great trip to learn a lot about this wonderful institution in David. We'll get a guided tour and snacks and a little chance to leave a few dollars with them for their good work. Anybody who would like to join us on the bus trip on Thursday, Oct 27, please RSVP to Penny Barrett (pjbarrett@aol.com).

We're leaving at 9 AM from the BCP parking lot and kicking in $10 each for the trip and small contribution to Nutre Hogar.

Colleen sells at the Tuesday market and will probably also be at the Foodie market on Saturday. She needs to learn how to write more informative ads.

The chat boards have been filled lately with speculation about why the empty shelves at all Panama El Rey and Romeros stores. Apparently there is no (or very little) fresh meat, produce, or dairy products and there's also many empty shelves in other parts of the store.

A letter was published on the Yahoo Group Americans in Panama which supposedly has the answer:

Dear customers: 

Rey group focused on providing the best shopping experience, it has recently begun implementing a new computer system. 

This has caused, temporarily, the lack of certain products in some of our stores. 

We apologize for this and informed them that we are working hard to resolve the situation as soon as possible. 

We appreciate your understanding and trust they place in us, and we reaffirm our commitment to provide the freshness, quality and service every day. 

I went to 4 stores Sunday morning looking for eggs and got the same response from all of them "No hay huevos, possible manana".

The stores were Romero, Deli Baru, Mandarin, and Bruna. Driving home I decided to try once more at the little tienda by the fairgrounds. They had eggs.

However, I'm still wondering why the shortage of eggs.

Like about half of Boquete, i've been suffering throuh "el gripe" for the past 3 weeks. Once well, I want to get a flu shot. Do I go to the social security clinic or the health department clinic? What is the procedure and the cost? Are there certain hours for doing this? Any info is appreciated.

I've now asked Casa Decor two times for a copy of the contract I signed and a receipt for the merchandise I left with them.

Promises . . . no action

Danny

Can't wait until you open up your Chinese take out restaurant in this space.

Sweet and sour pork . . . yummmm

Hear 4 U in Hospital Chiriqui

Hear4upanama@hotmail.com

I just realized that it's been 3 weeks since I left an expensive watch at Casa Decor with the promise they would email me a receipt and a contract and it's never come. Have talked with several other people who have had the same experience. Does anybody have contact info for them. The last time I made the drive to Volcancito they weren't there despite it was within their posted open hours.

Thanks for your help.

Reprinted from Newsroom Panama

(definitely part of Panamanian culture)

Amsterdam museum seeks diablo rojo

Posted on September 28, 2016 in Panama

Post Views: 98

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LIKE ‘ÉM OR HATE ÉM,  Panama’s Diablos Rojos have played a role in the county’s cultural history, and are on the brink of being immortalized in the world’s biggest street art  museum.

Curators at the  Street Art/Urban Contemporary Art  Museum in Amsterdam are looking to give a permanent home to what is usually seen as transient art.

The recycled U.S. school buses were introduced to Panama by General Oma Torrijos, to break up the existing transport monopolies and to give small businessmen the opportunity to compete.

The buses quickly gained their red devils nick name as they roared, grinded and smoked their dragon-like ways through the capital’s  streets,  and far  into the interior.

They became the prime means of public transit  linking Panama to Colon and Chorrera and all stops in between.

They provided not only a means of transportation for workers and the occasional adventurous tourist, but a mobile canvas for artists hired by enthusiastic owners seeking not only to outpace, but outshine competitors.

 

Locally trained artists like Andres Salazar Oscar Melgar. Jesus Javier Jaime, Monchi Hormi, Rolando Gonzalez, Justin Fernandez Victor Reyes, Cesar Cordoba and Danillo Villarrue proudly displayed their signatures on their works on the traveling art shows.

The buses  became a promotional tool for the tourism board and  targets for local and visiting camera buffs.

The  artists  used themes featuring religious images, pop and Hollywood stars, local  culture,  and even political hero’s  to create  mobile art galleries often enhanced by flashing lights and dangling baubles.

The diablos rojos are fast disappearing from Panama highways, pushed aside by  the bland, air conditioned and less polluting Metro Bus fleet,

But Amsterdam plans to perpetuate their memory in the Steet Art Museum and is looking for a suitable vehicle ideally by the grand master  Salazar.

He worked on creating and applying designs for over 40 years after graduating from art college. He died a year ago.

The Museum i s being developed on the NDSM-wharf in the north of Amsterdam.

With 6500 square meters it will be the biggest Street Art Museum in the world.

Angela Jolie

Artists from around the globe are arriving to paint enormous canvasses ranging from 10 square meters up to 160 square meters.

“Street artists create the most amazing and refined pieces of art which are subject to transience and the  museum brings some permanence in this volatility. says spokesperson Ilja de Leeuw.

“And just like street art it isn’t confined to walls, our collection includes more than canvasses,”

“We  want to include a Diablo Rojo, ideally  painted by Andres Salazar in the collection because we believe it to be a street art jewel and see it as our duty to conserve one of these endangered pieces of art.

Andres Salazar

“Please help us find an original Salazar!”

De Leeuw  discovered the work of Salazar  via  a short documentary  which was first shown at the appropriately named gallery cum eatery  in Casco Viejo.  Diablo Rosso,

The film was made by a London ad agency creative director,  Foin McLaughlin  from Wexford (Ireland).

Meanwhile the search is on. If you see a diablo rojo that you might think qualify for shipment to Holland, or better still one with a Salazar signature, let me know at dyoung@newsroompanama.com

 

Goes without saying that this offer is for new customers only.