JohnF13

Don't know if you have tried this.....Turn the keyboard upside down while disconnected and give it a few sharp raps on the underside. That may be enough to dislodge whatever is causing the problem. Another method is high pressure CO2, you can usually get it in cans from computer stores but with the price of keyboards today it may not be worth it.

Roger, I agree. Both my wife and I left home at 16 to enter the workforce. My father was a coal miner at 14, my wife's father joined the army at 14 (lied about his age!) and served in WW2. As time went on, kids began staying at home longer and longer, principally in European Counties but also in the U.S. This has led, IMHO, to generations of kids who do not have the maturity to handle life situations even at relatively advanced ages of 22 or so. However, those changes did not include hormonal delays and indeed, because of changes in diet an other societal mores, it can be argued that these hormonal urges are presenting earlier and earlier. That and the free time associated with lack of responsibility will result in earlier sexual activity. Countries such as Panama are a little different. From my observations there is very little for the 10 years and up kids to do, especially in the outer reaches such as rural Chiriqui. At the same time the kids are becoming more sexually aware and with lack of supervision, advice and direction tend to act on those feelings. Couple that with poor access to contraceptives and the results are predictable. It really is a perfect storm. As a Country, you cannot preach abstinence, it just doesn't work, much to the chagrin of the Bishops. I dont want to get into politics here, but better sex education is a must along with contraceptive advice. Hmmm, think Ill climb down off the soapbox now.

Marie, dont know about the U.S., but the U.S. Is not the World. Lots of places where the age of consent is much lower and I would suspect Panama is one of them. What I was trying to say, obviously clumsily, is that the rate of pregnancy amongst 17 to 19 year olds likely skews the important data for the kids under 16.

In my mind 17 to 19 year olds are no longer children. I feel the stats would have more impact if the data set stopped at 16.

Thanks. Will give him a call.

Recommendation needed for air conditioning work on my car. Need to know what is wrong before I order parts!

Last time we flew in there the tax folks were a bit miffed when we produced our Cedulas and didnt have to pay. Certainly didnt see any evidence of improved garbage collection. The bag scanner was still broken but the toilets worked.

Roger, I really appreciate your comments regarding Panamanian culture. The moe I know, the better I understand.

I got one of these yesterday, so they are around.

Thanks Roger. I have imported an air rifle through my Boquete shipper before with absolutely no problems. I "think" because this shipper has run into difficulties with Customs that they are, indeed being overly cautious. But, it is their business decision, so be it. I will look around for someone else who can do this if needed.

Roger ( or whoever else knows the answer), My shipping company in Boquete has informed me that due to new customs regulations they will no longer handle the importation of air rifles and associated equipment (ammunition, scopes etc). My lawyer tells me that there are no restrictions on those products. Has there been a change in the law that I have missed or is my shipper just being overly cautious because of recent problems? Just looking for clarification, if I decide to import an air rifle, will customs seize it under new "regulations"?

If you go stihl, the Rouada store (feed store) in Dolega fixes them. He did a good job on mine. Not cheap, but stihl parts aren't.

I suppose it is in an Einstinian kind of way. Found the new dealer here in David, so no need to trek to the big city.

Hi. Marlene. Good to know, send me his info. Johnferguson1301 (at) gmail dot com.

Guess you missed the "around here" part of the query...

For those out there with BMW's, where around here do you get them serviced?

The GERD and cholesterol stuff is OTC ( over the counter). Dont know about the asthma stuff, but no reason why it should not be the same. Maybe a good idea to make one visit to a doctor, explain what you need and the strength, use his prescription for the first set of pills then just go back with the packages for subsequent needs.

As a follow up, Marion moved to Mexico to be near her daughter a few weeks ago. She is doing extremely well.

Personally, considering the state of World wide people movement I truely appreciate that Panama extended it's hand to us and invited us to immigrate. Since getting here we have had a wonderful experience and thoroughly enjoy the people, the lifestyle ( O.K., " manana" took a bit of getting used to!) and the weather. For those that are critical, please go elsewhere.

Have to agree Bonnie. Health care is nor "ridiculously cheap" here unless you are willing to edure the public system. At the hospital I use I have been told quite openly there are three levels of fees - one for Panamanians, one for expats and the third for expats with insurance.

Twas a happy ending. The squatter left overnight after eating the cat food I left out for him. The exhaust vent now has a nice cage over it.

That's his big brother, Keith! Bonnie, you are right about mean. I poked a stick in there to try to get him out, he clamped down on it with his teeth and wouldn't let go. That's when I heard a glass of wine calling me. Manyana.......

So, Deborah, nothing at all to do with your problem but I thought I might mention my water heater "failure". Water heater running fine this morning, at lunchtime it was dead, the igniter was trying to work but no flame. Have had this problem before and sure enough, when I took the cover off I saw that one of the contacts was disconnected. Fixed it and fired the heater up, working fine. But, says I, why did this happen? Closer inspection revealed a bunch of leaves in the hot air output hole. A bit further inspection revealed the culprit - a possum had crawled into the heater and was nesting on the top of the heater stack. He is still there now, I have put out cat food to lure him out tonight. Meanwhile, cold water only. Oh well, joys and laughs of Panama. Moral of the story, put a mesh grate over your heater exhaust vent!

But you sure will be afterwards if you make it through all 17.