Bud

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/call-center-embezzlement-suspect-gets-jail-taste

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ex-immigration-boss-grilled-illegal-cd-call-center

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/trial-stalling-move-mockery-justice

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/media-watch-mocking-rule-law

We had to make an unplanned (and undesired!) run to David very late afternoon yesterday. That area was clear at the 6:30 pm time frame. Marcelyn and I did experience a road blockage by the medical people, last year sometime I think it was. The Interamerican Highway was a real mess by the hospitals located close to PriceSmart. There were police all over, including a SWAT vehicle. There was no violence or anger -- just plenty of people walking slowly in the roadway, most holding hands or signs, etc. We got the impression that they block only one direction at a time (maybe that is the law?), but with all the protest people, the "Looky Lou's", the press, the police, the innocent "victims" in their vehicles, etc., the other lane is essentially nearly blocked as well. Our experience was that Panamanians tend to take these things in stride; just part of the culture -- something to talk about after the fact. [Hyper] gringos have to grin and bear it.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/criminal-hearing-requested-39-food-scandal

Yes, indeedy, CableOnda is back at their normal location in downtown David. Diagonally opposite the office supply store. I went by just this morning. Best time to go is early morning. Lack of parking space and waiting lines inside tend to be the norm in the afternoons.

Bonnie, next time if the TV is too loud we will try your suggestion and ask them to lower the volume. Thanks. BTW, from the post by Pederhaney, one might could say that "Smokin Mamma's" was smoking for a different reason. Guns, no less. Yikes. The wild west rides on. I have no idea how I would react if I found myself in that kind of a situation. Maybe I should think it through in advance.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-royal-relative-named-fbi-probe

I can't be absolutely certain, but I believe that if you read everything provided above you will find that your vehicle must be presented at the Panapass facility in PC, along with ownership and identity documents. That pretty much leads to a conclusion that you must go to PC to get the Panapass.

There were six in our group that attended the flamenco event at Hotel Oasis last night. It was a huge success. Originally Bob and Carol Schmucker were to join Marcelyn and me. But then Bob's brother and sister-in-law came to visit, and so our group went from four to six. There was nothing to fault last night. Anayansi and her staff did their usual stellar support. The food and service were great. And then the performances of music and dance had everyone in a wonderful mood. Here are some pictures that I took. I had only my old iPhone, and the lighting was not the best, but at least you can get an idea of what transpired. Marcelyn and had I attended the first flamenco event at the Oasis a while back, and it suffered through a two hour power outage. Last night had no disasters. I think I heard Anayansi say that they had brought in an emergency generator just in case of a repeat. But none of that happened. A good time was had by all. We recommend that you participate in any future events like this one. Anayansi, her staff, and the performers did a stellar job last night. Thank you to all. Oh, and one of the unexpected highlights was a lengthy conversation with JR, the construction materials supply outlet owner from Santa Lucia. Fascinating chap, one who never meets a stranger. You will recognize him (blue shirt and huge smile) in the first of the below photos. I'm hoping others will post some of their pictures and provide reviews of the event. Our group, plus JR. From left to right: Marcelyn, Carol, JR, Bob, Jim, and Sue. (I was taking the picture.) Here is our entire party, plus Calixto: Bud, Marcelyn, Calixto, Carol, Bob, Sue, and Jim. Calixto does such a good job of taking care of all of the customers. The remainder of the pictures are of the performances by the musicians and the dancers.

This article is somewhat redundant to Keith's posting above, but what the hey -- different words and some more graphics to drive home (pardon the pun, I just couldn't resist) the fact that scofflaws will be pursued. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/candid-cameras-clamp-corridor-baddies

After completing all of our errands in David at the end of last week, we decided to give Smokin Mamma's a try. It is across the street from Mae Lewis, and directly on the corner facing the InterAmerican Highway. It was trying to rain (a heavy sprinkle already coming down) when we arrived. There "appeared" to be much parking (diagonal, going into the building), but then when I parked I became somewhat concerned about the rear of the car sticking out into the street -- farther out than I was comfortable. Yes, I had pulled all the way forward to the extreme. We walked inside to aromas that were enticing. Only one table had a customer, and that was a single male who was about ready to leave. We picked a table close to the side street windows. The waitress was very prompt in attending to our needs. BTW, there is outdoor, covered seating and tables in the front of the building. And a large BBQ was street-side and smoking away on some items. Marcelyn and I ordered just one order of ribs, to be shared between us. (I don't eat much.) She ordered a glass of wine and I ordered a soda. We love onion rings, and so asked the waitress if they had onion rings (anillos de cebolla here in Panama, but aros de cebolla in Paraguay, e.g.), and the response was positive, so that was added to our order. Food service was quick and courteous (and correct!). The food was good. The only "complaint", not a big irritant, was that they had a wall mounted TV going and the volume was rather loud, but we just mentally blocked it out, and it was not so loud that we couldn't carry on a conversation. By the time we finished our evening meal, the rain had come and was beginning to subside. Additional customers started coming it, and the tables were filling up rather quickly, and the noise level went up dramatically. But we were leaving, so overall it was a good experience. We definitely will go back. The surprise at the end was the bill, which came in at $29.46 including a tip. Definitely on the high end for price to value. Thanks to Bonnie for bringing this restaurant to our attention. All these years going by it, and never saw it.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/assembly-dithers-child-pregnancies-climb

But sir, special treatment for Valle Escondido residents is precisely what is being described. I now understand that. Based on Brandy's clarification and rereading Bob's announcement three times and your words four times, I now understand what service is going to be provided in VE. If I (as a non-VE resident) were to call AAC, I am very confident that you/someone on your behalf would NOT dispatch "a rapid response [in advance of of regular emergency services]" similar to what will now happen for VE residents. Even your own words contradict your caustic and elitist rebuttal: "...to provide a new level of security to the residents of Valle Escondido." No one from your group is going to send a "first aid kit, oxygen, and defibrillator" to my home, are they? I submit that the spin and negativity that you rile against are on your part, not mine or others who posted here. I was confused, and asked some questions. Brandy answered my questions in a straightforward manner without resorting to inflammatory labels. You may wish to consider the same approach in the future. Have a great day.

Thank you, Brandy, for addressing my concerns and answering my questions. Well done. I now understand better what is changing.

It is my understanding from the driver that we use while in PC that cash is NOT accepted at the Panapass toll booths. You MUST have their Panapass card, or there are stiff penalties. I am only relaying what I have been told, not basing this on first hand knowledge.

Marcelyn and I routinely deliver our recyclable items to the recycle facility here in Boquete (across from La Posada). This week gave us an interesting view of a small stature man dealing with a large stature bag of recyclable materials. Size and weight were working against him, but he prevailed. This was just a "grab shot" through the windshield; no posing involved.

We were back at PriceSmart yesterday afternoon late. Here are some pictures of the pooper duty supplies.

We have been looking for the Alessi brand soup mix for quite a while. PriceSmart used to carry this brand of soup mix in "combo packs", but discontinued them, probably close to two years ago. And then we used El Rey as our source (but they only had the single envelopes, and at a higher unit cost, of course). El Rey apparently no longer carries them; we've been looking for months but no luck there. There are several different varieties of their soup mix envelopes. We have also looked several times at Riba Smith in PC. Any help (pointers) would be greatly appreciated. Here is a picture of what we are looking for:

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/no-audit-judge-released-25-drug-trafficking-suspects

This is good news for Panama, and especially for La Amistad Park in particular. I highlighted one sentence in this press release below, and note with high interest the date and location of the UNESCO meeting that made this decision. Unfolding world events now document a military coup attempt (still ongoing) in Turkey. The UNESCO decision was in Istanbul on Thursday and then 24 hours later a military coup in Istanbul and Ankara. The world truly is interconnected. http://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/latin_america/la-amistad-park-escapes-unesco-endangered-listing

Reflecting a bit here. When I recently started this topic, there was no second thought as to where to post here on CL -- at that time this topic clearly belonged in the Panama in General forum. Now that I have had time to read the additional postings and to noodle this subject, it appears more appropriate for it to be in the Culture forum. These mindsets and actions on the part of the Panamanians working for change as well as those protesting said change are actually part of the Panamanian (perhaps Latin, in a more general sense) culture. I am not wanting to change anything; I just like to understand. I think this topic is bringing to the fore yet another aspect of Panamanian culture that was previously not clear to me. I won't ask the admin (my other persona) to move this topic, but am curious if others see and understand what is going through my mind.

From the pictures alone, a very interesting property.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/strong-us-dollar-puts-panama-tourism-downturn