Mail Bag

I love reading comments and hearing from you all! Thanks, and keep them coming. If you ask a question I usually try to respond within the comment, so be sure to look back on the page where you originally made a comment for my response. Some of the comments and responses I later stick in a post, especially when I think others might be interested.

Now, for the mail . . .

Panama Canal

I often post on Cruise Critic because it’s a fun group of folks who have interests similar to mine, and usually on the Holland America or Panama Canal boards. The original poster had wondered why the fees charged to cruising ships using the Canal had gone up. Someone called “JimV” had implied this was because of President Carter [who signed the treaty that turned the Canal back to Panama]. I had responded, “When the US ran the Canal it was a government operation, hence, a money drain. Now it is run strictly as a business. It’s owned by Panama, but is an independent business designed to make money for Panama. Last year I think the DIRECT contribution (i.e. here’s a check) from the Canal was something like $700M. When the expansion is completed the direct contribution is expected to be something like $1.2B. Now the Canal works on an a’la carte basis – you pay according to the number of pilots, tugs, mules, lines, etc. The average ship is paying more like $400K plus per full or partial transit. The money from the Canal IS filtering down in projects all across Panama including the road past our house, and a new town basketball court. Thank you all very much!”

A gentleman named Richard Dillon was kind enough to correct my statement that the US Canal was a “money drain.”

Richard, You need to check your information,the Panama Canal Company was required by law not to spend more than it took in. Ships paid a transit fee and did not have to pay for every silly thing like number of wires used on the ship,that was figured in the fee now it’s a double charge. Bribes(TIPS)were not required for clearing ships and pilots,small craft were moved through without delaying transits etc. Yes,the Canal is a business now and rates have shot up making money for Panama but you can be sure Shipping Companies will only take so much. If you think that money is paving your roads,think again.They will not fix the schools to train the next generation never mind roads.  Richard Dillon, Canal Services Division, Retired

Richard, I appreciate the correction. But the Canal money IS doing a lot of good things for Panama. You see these signs all over the country. Lots of projects, some big, some small, but the money is filtering down. But I have a question for Richard: why is it that so many people I meet who once worked for the US Canal have the attitude that since they walked out the door, the Canal, and by extension Panama, is going to hell? Actually the Canal is doing quite well. They have done a lot of catch up taking care of maintenance that was neglected by the US once the treaties were signed. The number of ships transiting the Canal has increased, the safety record has improved, and the Canal is MAKING money, not just breaking even. It would seem to me all of that is an indication of Panama’s good stewardship of the Canal.

And my statement about “government operation, hence, a money drain” I guess really was a statement reflecting my bias against US government spending in general.

God Loves You and I Do Too . . .

Some emails come out of the mail as a complete surprise . . . like this from Tincie . . .

Recently, while at my local library, I purchased a copy of your book, “God Loves You and I Do Too”. They often sell various books and I am always looking for Christian Devotionals. I just wanted you to know how much I cherish this book. It has really given me hope for my future. I sometimes have doubts about tomorrow but your book has truly been an inspiration for me. Please pray for me as I am a 51 year old woman, trying to complete college to become a veterinarian. Presently, I am a Biology/Pre-Veterinary Medicine major working on getting my Bachelor Degree. I have been told by many that I am, “too old” though I feel just as adept as my younger counterparts. It will only be God’s Will that I make it. I called the church in Milwaukee that you used to pastor and they gave me your email address so that I could write to you. Thank you for your wonderful book. God bless you and yours.

We’d hoped to find something around $70-80,000 . . .

We are considering retiring to Panama and appreciate the information you provide. Our question is about housing costs. We’d hoped to find something around $70 -80,000 but internet real estate listings are a lot more expensive than I expected. We live near Atlanta so costs here aren’t like the east or west coast of the U.S. Is it possible to get better prices dealing locally or are we too late to find good deals. Keep up the good work! Art & Debbie

Panama is, I think, about the size of South Carolina. Not huge, but big enough. Panama City, Azuero Peninsula, Boquete, Volcan and anything on the coast is where the “hot” markets are and where costs have gone up. A condo in Boquete starts at around $250K. A gringo-style house is going to start at $300K in Boquete. You might be able to find a tiny “Panamanian” house in your price range. In fact I know of one in Palmira – about 700 sq ft house on an 800 sq ft lot – that’s $24,000. But it’s an unfinished cinder block house, with a tin roof, I think an indoor toilet of sorts, minimal kitchen, probably not something someone from Atlanta would consider “comfortable.” If you go outside the “hot” markets, in the countryside, yes, you can find what you are looking for. There is a real estate boom going on, and most locals are aware of what their properties are worth. But if you come down and stay out of the “hot” market areas, and pay a local to do your legwork, and stay out of sight, you might find a better deal. There are unfortunately “gringo” and “Panamanian” prices and “Gringo Bingo” is a favorite game in Panama.

Bottom line: challenging, but not impossible if you look outside “the box”!

The music of the ages . . .

Greetings. Thanks for your site — in many ways it’s the “missing link” I’ve been looking for. You’re a churchman and the only commentator I’ve come across who addresses the need for a “traditional church” (TC) in Latin America. I am a church musician in search of an escape from this hellacious smoking hulk of a republic (the USSA). OK, there are no TCs in Boquete, but do any exist in larger cities — a church (Anglican, Presbyterian, what have you) where one could play Bach, Mendelssohn, and lighter stuff et al on a passably normal organ for even $100 per week? I know it’s a long shot, but this seems to be the case in Argentina even though the organist is lower in the social pecking order than the garbageman. I don’t want to go quite that far South.

I want to share great worship music — maybe even with like a small choir of fellow expats — for people who’ll enjoy it. Latin America seems to have absolutely everything to offer — except that! Cordially — JS

PS OK with me if you don’t choose to post this — it’s rather specialized.

Oh, for Bach on a good organ . . . or even a not so good organ! Let’s run with this and see if it gets any response . . . We do have a choral group that has been formed in Boquete and I asked my wife to ask around. Her comment? “If I ask if anyone knows of a church around here with a pipe organ they will fall all over themselves laughing.” There is a big traditional, I think, church in the old Canal area in Panama City called Balboa Union Church. It may have, or at one time have had, a pipe organ. I suspect a pipe organ would be hard to keep up in Panama. Question: do you have any audition-type vid on YouTube?

Elsewhere in news from Panama . . .

I was happy to see this item in LA PRENSA:

President Martín Torrijos signed a law yesterday that calls for 100 percent Internet access across the country.

“Internet access is the linchpin in the strategy to provide equal opportunities,” Torrijos said after signing the law in the presence of telephone company representatives and leaders from rural communities.

The law creates an advisory board of that will monitor the expansion of service. The country’s telephone companies will finance the expansion through a 1 percent surcharge on pre-tax profits.

Jorge Nicolau, general manager of Cable & Wireless, said that Panama is following a trend that has started in other countries.

“Those who can not gain access to information will lag behind the rest of the country,” he said.

Freedom of Internet access is one of the things that makes the world smaller, that helps keep governments honest and in check, and allows people to communicate . . . freely, except in the case of repressive governments like China and of course the US “Patriot Act” snooping of your emails . . . When people communicate there is less conflict.

I’m amazed by the little map on the bottom of the right column of this page that shows from where in the world people have visited this little blog . . . just since July 13, 2008 when I added that functionality. Just click on the little map to open a larger map. It’s amazing!

And I can’t resist this . . . another item about the tainted Chinese Olympics . . .

OK, the opening night fireworks were faked . . . but China’s about fakes right? Well, it turns out the world was also scammed with the cute little girl who supposedly sang . . .

The unquestioned star of the Opening Ceremony was a little girl who performed “Hymn to the Motherland” in front of the entire world. I remember watching her and thinking how adorable and talented she was, the “poster child for all of China.” Well, it turns out that she wasn’t as talented as we all thought. It was in fact, a seven year old singing to the whole world on a pre-recorded tape, not the cute, pig-tailed Lin Miaoke (left), whom we all came to know and love according to a report from The Telegraph.

“This was a last-minute question, a choice we had to make,” the ceremony’s musical designer, Chen Qigang, said. “Our rehearsals had already been vetted several times – they were all very strict. When we had the dress rehearsals, there were spectators from various divisions, including above all a member of the politburo who gave us his verdict: we had to make the swap.”

A “grueling competition” had been waged to choose the performer, but at the last minute the “swap” was made because the seven year old girl simply did not portray the image that the Chinese wanted to convey to the world, she had buck teeth according to the story.

I can’t tell you how bad I feel for Yang Peiyi (right), the name of the seven year-old, and her family because she was unable to proudfully claim her rightful place in Olympic history. This is now the second report to dispute what we thought was presented to us during the Opening Ceremony. The first report came earlier this week saying that some fireworks were actually faked during the proceedings.

How many more times will we be duped?

On the left is the girl who was deemed cute enough to present the carefully scripted and heavily sensored image China wished to deliver to the world. On the right is Yang Peiyi the talented child who actually sang but who wasn't cute enough for the political hacks running the Chinese Olympics and had buck teeth.

From Fourth Place Medal, Yahoo Sports