Bud

Mark, You pealed back the layers of the onion very well. Very detailed and complete. Just what we needed. Thank you. My take is that we need do nothing. We have Rodny on our side already as members of RodnyDirect. That says it all.

I could use some clarification. When I saw JudyS's reply, I reread the original posting and no where was there a reference to $120.00 per year membership fee for PNHN. But then in clicking on the website link at the very bottom of that posting, I read further. There I did see that the annual membership fee is $120.00. But all of that reading lead to several questions: It appears to me that RodnyDirect is affiliating with another group to form the PNHN. Is that correct? Is RodnyDirect itself changing in any substantive manner (meaning other than becoming part of PNHN)? There is a statement that the westernmost area of coverage for the PNHN is the city of Penoneme. That is east of Santiago by a couple of cities, which tells me that anyone living in the Chiriqui Province would not be eligible for the PNHN. Is that correct? We are residents of Boquete and already are [happy] members of RodnyDirect. We wonder if we have identical helpline services provided to us by being a member of RodnyDirect. Is that correct? In other words, being a RodnyDirect member would actually be redundant coverage if we were to join the PNHN. Are these correct understandings? There is reference to AaC i(Alto al Crimen) on the listed website as somehow being part of the PNHN. Are RodnyDirect and AaC joining together or somehow cooperating and/or coordinating their activities and support coverage? Who are Joanne B. Scott and Betty Morin? Those are new names to me. I ask because membership funds for PNHN are to be paid to an account in the Scott name, but somehow the Morin name is associated with a MBE account that is to be used. Is the MBE account in Boquete, David, Panama City, or elsewhere? Does any of this really apply to residents in Chiriqui? Should we pay attention or be concerned (other than being happy for Rodny that things are looking up for him)? Just trying to understand what really is going on and how it affects us, if at all. My gut tells me this is a good thing, not only for Rodny but also all of his RodnyDirect members in particular, and residents and visitors in general. My only concern is that Rodny not over commit and then not be able to respond in a timely manner should a large scale emergency require more energy than he has in his inventory.

In case you don't know where S/M Ivan is located, it is in Alto Boquete, on the same side of the road as where Curvas Bonita used to be - on your left as you are going south toward David. It is a very large super mercado (S/M), white building, a bit further down the road toward David from the ex-Curvas Bonita facility.

Pantah. I understand and agree with what you write. On the other hand, The PBGC is a government agency, and reports indicate that it is so underfunded and under-capitalized that it is incapable of protecting the pensions of any group other than the smallest. In an economic crisis, which many predict is coming, the PBGC won't be there to protect pensioners' benefits. Just an observation. Not a prediction. Not sure what we can do about it. Any ideas?

At breakfast this morning while looking at some gorgeous views, for some unknown (and strange) reason the subject of aliens came up. Not aliens as in the human species found here on earth, but aliens in the extraterrestrial sense. We then did a Google search and found something to our surprise. I have been here for 14 years and never once has this subject ever come up. Shows you how much I know! SETI is an acronym for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. It is an academic and/or scientific endeavor. It turns out there is a SETI research center in Boquete (maybe a bit more accurately speaking on Volcan Baru). The SETI Boquete facility conducts optical research. The majority of SETI research apparently is electromagnetic (radio waves) research. Here are some links (not exhaustive) that you may find of interest: http://www.optical-seti.org/index.html https://uk.news.yahoo.com/seti-still-no-aliens-found-130343881.html#f3PhK9k http://www.seti.org/centerforseti http://www.setiinternational.org/our-mission

A good friend who is in the agriculture business here in Chiriqui recently forwarded some information that is alarming about the future of banana crops, not only in Panama, but apparently in many parts of the world. It seems that a disease called Panama Disease is jumping international borders and threatening banana crops around the world. An extract from the Washington Post reads: As I scanned over some of this documentation, I came across an interesting statistic. The assertion is that there are more bananas sold around the world than all oranges and apples combined. I am more than somewhat skeptical about such a claim. But I diverge from the main topic here. I like bananas, and hope that these prediction about the loss of some 95+% of the world's banana crops is wrong. This banana disease has implications not only for banana crops and the banana growers here in Chiriqui in particular, but also for agricultural activities in Panama in general. Here are some links to online articles about this situation (not an exhaustive list): https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/04/the-worlds-most-popular-banana-could-go-extinct/?utm_source=Daily+RSS+Newsletter&utm_campaign=aaeffc2afe-Daily_Must_Read_Money_Stories_by_Email_3_30_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a954a4080c-aaeffc2afe-109579137' http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005197 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/banana-geddon-rapidly-spreading-disease-083622156.html;_ylt=A86.JyTMFG5WLnkAiu8nnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--

Are you actually claiming to be Cloudless? Or was that a tongue-in-cheek spoof?

Several people have brought to our attention that President Obama signed new legislation earlier this month that affects US citizens and their passports. These conversations suggested that it is important to get the word out, but they were reluctant to do so themselves because they do not want to be identified. This is a surrogate posting on their behalf. In summary, it is our understanding that effective 1 January 2016, US tax authorities apparently can, without notice or right of appeal, cancel the passports of US citizens who are on a special interest list, whatever that might mean. The suggestion is that those owing $50K or more in taxes are on that special interest list. Your name being on that list means you are at risk while traveling internationally of not having a valid passport. It is our further understanding that someone traveling on a US passport that has been cancelled can (will be?) held when going through a routine passport control point (e.g., at an airport) for turnover to US authorities (to me that sounds like "will be arrested" anywhere in the world). And given that there is no advance notice of a passport being cancelled, the situation can become known with a surprise and become very awkward, potentially with devastating implications. i post this only for information. I am NOT a tax authority. Nor am I a tax protester. Just trying to help get the word out. It is my understanding that the 400+ pages of new legislation is part of a transportation bill known as H.R. 22. I suspect others on this website are far more knowledgeable than me. Can anyone clarify or amplify what is posted here? Wish to comment?

Au contraire, Sr Wry. I was not offended. I was responding in an engaging manner. I see a deep thinker here and enjoy it. Looking for more, either in breadth or depth, or both. Note that my reply was from my personal account, not my Admin_01 account.

You obviously put a lot of time and effort into carefully crafting your words. Curious as to the underlying motivation or triggering event that resulted in this posting.

My primary requirement is reliability, not bandwidth. Secondary is cost. For instance, CableOnda was down as of early yesterday morning, and was still down as of this morning. Haven't tried to switch back because of work. At least now I do see four green lights on the modem, but I am not willing to interrupt work to see if they are back online. I will do that this evening after the crunch settles down.

That I don't know. I hear things like Linux should work on a Mac machine, but I do not have experience, nor am I recommending it. I put Linux on a former Windows 7 machine.Completely wiped out Windows. I am very happy with Linux on that machine.

Her name is Bethany Strong.

Tom Brymer wrote a blog entry with photos by Mark Heyer documenting the visit of President Varela to Boquete on November 28th for celebrations of Panama's independence from Spain. Nice blog article and Mark always takes wonderful photographs. Here is the full blog entry: http://panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com/blog/news-from-panama/holiday-season-in-boquete/. For more photographs by Mark of those celebratory activities, click here https://picasaweb.google.com/111402995672060871942/BoqueteParadeNov28201B?authkey=Gv1sRgCN2y3LjWnL6c9wE&feat=directlink.

Great website for global weather information. For the home page URL of this website, click here: http://www.meteoearth.com/.

Keith, this week on a trip to David we checked out your recommendation to use the old highway section for bypassing the area where the huge Federal Mall will be located. Perfect solution. Obviously we don't need to do that right now because there is no congestion, but it is comforting to know we will have options for when there are traffic problems. Thanks. You are a great source of information.

What is currently known as the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival was called the Boquete Jazz Festival in 2011. The 2011 festival was held on February 24-27, 2011, with most events at the BCP Theater. Most performances of the 2011 Boquete Jazz Festival were recorded by Boquete Recording Studio (BRS). The audio tracks for the 2011 BJF are available online via the BRS account on SoundCloud. Those audio tracks* are provided here as hot links. When you click on the below links, if the track does not immediately start to play, then click on the orange circular dot with a white triangle that is located in the upper left of the dialog, just left of the name. Enjoy! Ibrahim Merel Jazz Quartet BJF Song B01 - Oportunidad BJF Song B02 - Pedasí BJF Song B03 - Gracias a Dios Por La Vida BJF Song B04 - My Son BJF Song B05 - Tributo a Panama BJF Song B06 - Giant Steps BJF Song B07 - Blue Miles Spicy Latin Jazz Quartet BJF Song C01 - Flamingo BJF Song C03 - Dreams BJF Song C04 - Viento A Favor BJF Song C05 - Água De Beber BJF Song C07 - The Chicken BJF Song C08 - Midnight Lights BJF Song C09 - Feels So Good BJF Song C10 - Spain Carlos Garnett Jazz Quartet BJF Song D04 - I Want to Talk About You & Over the Rainbow BJF Song D06 - Impression BJF Song D07 - Flintstones Carlos Ubarte Jazz Quartet BJF Song E01 - Avenue 'D' BJF Song E02 - Humpty Dumpty BJF Song E03 - Body and Soul BJF Song E04 - La Primavera BJF Song E05 - First Steps BJF Song E06 - Nothing Personal Pat Belliveau Jazz Quartet with guest Jon Day BJF Song F01 - Sister Sadie BJF Song F02 - Sonny BJF Song F03 - Rapture BJF Song F04 - Unit 7 BJF Song F05 - The Trojan Horse BJF Song F06 - The Chicken BJF Song F07 - Friday Night at the Cadillac Club *Note that not all audio tracks are available for public use on the BRS account at SoundCloud. The reason for that is that there are some copyright issues that prevent public use without written permission and/or royalties. What is shown above are available to the public without constraint.

We have had numerous POAs done here in Boquete in years past. An attorney needs to prepare the POA specific to the issue being addressed. I have never seen a "general POA" form in Panama. The secretary of the City Council here in Boquete (at city hall) can "certify" signatures. Certification is not the same as a notary. I am not aware of a notary in Boquete. But for a POA, a certified signature has always worked for us. BTW, she charges $5.00 per certification. You must show your cedula (or passport) when getting a signature certified.

There is a small'ish nursery in Alto Lino, a bit, guessing about 1/3 KM, north of the chapel. On the left side of the road if going north.

The name of Sr Carrizo's book mentioned above is Al Fin del Camino (translates as At the End of the Road). Both language versions of the book are available as a free download from Bob's website. Here is the link: www.bobgrubic.com.

Recently my wife and I hosted a small gathering in our home with a couple from the USA, Bob and Alicia Grubic. The primary reason for the gathering was to be a discussion about some mutual hobby activities, and of course with the usual social chatter, etc. I first met Bob several years ago through a mutual friend. Bob and Alicia have a link with Boquete in that Alicia's father is retired and living in Alto Boquete. They were here visiting with her father, and asked if it was okay to bring him for the gathering at our house. Of course, we confirmed. Here were the five of us in our living room. I had the strangest feeling come over me that I was in the presence of greatness. Alicia's father talked little, but listened intently. It was only toward the end of our afternoon gathering that we learned a bit more about her father. It turns out that he is a retired Panamanian doctor (OB/GYN) who is 93 years old and in good health. His name is Herminio Carrizo. His wife passed away many years ago, and so he lives alone now, but with regular oversight by qualified caregivers. Sr Carrizo has written many articles and just last year wrote a short book reflecting his views on life, the role that his religious beliefs play in his life, and some thoughts about what is important. That book was, of course, written in Spanish, but has been translated into English, by Alicia, who is a translator in the state court system where they live in the US. I was very humbled shortly before their departure from our home, bordering on being embarrassed at paying more attention to the intended topic rather than spending more time listening to Sr Garrizo. He was just so gracious and unassuming. I should have paid more attention to my instincts than what I did. Here was someone who had accomplished so much in his life, cared for the welfare of so many women, and who has seen and experienced so much here in Panama. And all I could do was shake his hand and give him a big -- but gentle -- hug. He had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. If only I could achieve one-tenth of what he has achieved in his life then I would have every right to be proud of myself. My actions on that day said I was not off to a good start. I learned a big lesson from that gathering, a lesson I hope never to forget.

We have two Internet service providers at our home. My configuration choice is to use CableOnda as primary and MobilNet as backup. I've been pretty happy with both service providers, and am comforted to have access redundancy because "stuff" happens. When the primary access has a problem it is nice, sometimes critical, to be able to keep business matters moving forward (including administration of this website) with the backup service filling in. And more often than not when we are watching NetFliix in the evenings I have to manually switch the gateway router to MobilNet because CableOnda just can't handle the bandwidth needs. I recently received an email from MobilNet that their company has been bought by CableOnda. I had no hint such a change was in the offing. Right now the transition has not been completed, and so I have no experience with MobilNet under CableOnda management. Time will tell. However, to my way of thinking redundancy isn't fully achieved if the same management is over both service providers. Granted that the underlying technologies are different (broadband cable distribution with shared bandwidth versus microwave radio links to dedicated access receivers), but soon the same management policies and procedures will begin to show their faces. Billing appears to be the first department that is being integrated, which is not a surprise to me. I am now considering the advisability of and options for replacing one of the two. Planet Telecom is looking more interesting and attractive as the alternative. And then I have decide which service to drop. That won't be easy. It is amazing how Internet dependent we have become. Change marches on.