Flashbacks of Cartagena and Miami

For three years I worked as a Comptroller for a sugar mill in Panama called CALESA (Compañía Azucarera La Estrella, S.A.).  The company had been so badly managed by the Chiari family, that the then Bank of America decided to look for a new administration staff.

They head-hunted for a President, an Agriculture Administrator and a Comptroller.  From the day I started until the day I left the company, it was exhausting hard work.  Almost everything had to be redone.  During the harvest season (January thru April), I remember working more than 18 hours a day.  The Bank of America was always asking for more and more…and then some more.  They were extremely worried the company would not repay a revolving line of credit of approximately $17 million.  They got every copper back before they closed their operations in Panama and headed back North to San Francisco.

During those roller-coaster years, I had to take vacations or else I ran the risk of getting  a nervous breakdown.  That is what the doctor said, anyway.  I was so skinny, my pants waved like a flag under a heavy wind.  My wife used to call me “Omar Banderas” (Omar Flag).   In 1985, I went to Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, since it was just an hour away by plane from Panama.  The experience was outstanding.  I really enjoyed the hospitality of the Colombian people, its rich history and culture.  In a way, it was similar to that of Panama.

While visiting the military fortification, Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, I purchased an interesting souvenir.  It was a  marble egg which rested on a marble tray.  The different tones of gray and light pink of the souvenir caught my eye.  Since then I keep it on my computer desk.  It brings back pleasant memories of this trip down south to Cartagena.

The next year I traveled to Miami, Florida which is frequently visited by many Panamanians on vacation.  The destination most of the time is the Walt Disney World Resort at Orlando.  When I got there, I felt like a kid without a leach.  The Magic Kingdom had so many things to see and Epcot was my trip to tomorrow land.  Sometimes I didn’t know whether the person in front of me was a real human being or a robot.  The Epcot gigantic sphere was fascinating.  For seven days I couldn’t stop taking photos of this great metallic sphere.  I still have these photographs.

While at Disney World, I purchased a Mayan calendar at the Mexico Pavilion and a small black wooden pedestal to make it stand up.  No matter how hard I’ve looked, even to this day, I haven’t been able to see the months of the year.  I guess I have to learn the Mayan language to interpret the calendar.  This souvenir also rests on my computer desk.  It also flashes back great memories.

This morning, when I saw both souvenirs, my mind traveled back in time and remembered both trips with amazing details.  For more than half an hour I re-traveled my vacations to Cartagena and Miami.  After the mental trip, I took a photograph of the egg and the calendar and wrote this post to share the experience.  This is the photograph of  the two objects that are dear to me, for the reasons mentioned above.

Photograph of the Mayan calendar and the marble egg resting on its tray.

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A Quote to Remember

“Some day, in years to come, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life.  But the real struggle is here, now, in these quiet weeks.

Now it is being decided whether, in the day of your supreme sorrow or temptation, you shall miserably fail or gloriously conquer.

Character cannot be made except by a steady, long continued process.”

Phillips Brooks

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A Message of Hope for a New Year

As the year 2008 expires, and a new year is born in a few hours, I wish each and every one of you a message of hope for a new beginning.  What was done or not done during this past year is irrelevant because there is nothing we can do.  We can’t bring time back.

What we can do is write in the brand new page of 2009, all that comes to our mind.  All we need is the sheer force of will.

May you write the most glorious page of your life in the upcoming new year.  Good Day.

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Definition of Yahoo!

The best definition of Yahoo! I’ve read is:

“What you yell after selling your stock to some poor sucker for $120.00 a share.”

Just as a reference, Yahoo! stocks are currently quoted at the NYSE at $11.88 a share.  My golly, what a difference!  Good Day.

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American Cars Versus Japanese Cars

During the sixties, when I first moved to Panama City, about 95 percent of the cars on the street were American cars.  The rest were European and Japanese cars.  The German VW beetle was very popular then, but that’s another story.

Some of the brands I stilll remember are:  Ford, Studebaker, Lincoln, Pontiac, Cadillac, De Soto, Buick, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Mercury, Cougar and others that slip my mind.  Now, it’s the other way around.  If you go outside and take a look at the cars that are being used, they are Japanese and Korean cars.  Toyota and Nissan are the leaders of the pack.

Why is that?  I think it has to do with several factors like usability, dependability durability and efficiency.  When the gasoline was sky high selling at $4.00 a gallon last April, American companies were manufacturing gasoline guzzlers like the SUVs, while the Japanese were cleverly designing hybrid cars.  The Japanese and Koreans knew that SUVs had their days counted and that people would demand fuel-efficient cars.  Even a first grader knew that, but not Detroit; they were too busy enjoying their multi-million private jets and spending their astronomical annual bonuses.

Detroit is having a big headache because they lost their sense of competition at a global scale.  Paying exorbitant salaries to top management, erroneous marketing strategies, excessive brands, complacent and irresponsible relationships with industry unions killed the goose with the golden eggs.  While GM was busy killing the EV1, the Japanese were getting ready to launch their hybrid car.  What a contrast of visions.

In 1990 I purchased a second-hand car for $5,300.  It was a 1985 Nissan Bluebird which belonged to a doctor’s wife.  The car looked like a million bucks.  It had electric windows, automatic transmission, 1.800 cc motor, large trunk, electric rear mirrors and a whole lot of other features.  This Japanese car is now 23 years old and working like a Swiss watch.  This is why I will never buy an American car.  They just are not as good as Japanese cars, and most people in Panama will agree with me.

If Detroit wants to keep on manufacturing cars, they will have to re-learn from the Japanese and Koreans how to build cars people will buy over and over again.  In a nutshell, the American car makers will have to learn how to compete with heavyweights like Toyota, Nissan, Mazda Hyundai, and KIA to name a few, on a global scale.

Just to give you an idea, how well my 23-year-car looks like, I took some photos yesterday to share them with you today. Take a look at my ole Bluebird.

Photograph of my 1985 Datsun Bluebird parked in the garage.

A side view of the 1985 Datsun Bluebird.

Front view of the 1985 Nissan Bluebird. Notice how the paint of the hood is fading away.

I plan to keep this car as long as I can get spare parts.  When that is not possible, then I’ll have to buy another Nissan.  There’s a model that  I like, the Nissan Almera.  In Panama they have a price tag of $14,000 which is reasonable.

Would you buy an American or Japanese/Korean car?  Good Day.

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AT&T is Selling Refurbished iPhones at $99 Each

Apple is determined to have an iPhone in everybody’s hands in the future.  It will be as popular as Google.  I’m sorry for Nokia, who did a fine job, but lost the direction of the wind.

It has come to my attention that AT&T is selling refurbished Apple 3G iPhones at $99 each, which is very good news if you have a tight budget.  With the $99 price, Apple has crossed a psychological barrier with the iPhone. Even though the $99 iPhone is refurbished, such products are heavily tested.

Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for Jupitermedia said  there should be very little hesitation on the part of the consumer looking to save $100 by opting for a refurbished iPhone 3G. Still, some may want a sparkling new iPhone right out of the manufacturer’s original box and others may not know they have a choice.

If they had this offer in Panama, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay $99 for a refurbished iPhone.  They fix these gadgets so well, nobody would notice it’s a refurbished phone.  

If you don’t currently own an iPhone, and you have to count your pennies to make ends meet, this could be a good opportunity to get a great deal before the year is over.  Good Day.

Source:  Walmart Sells iPhone, But AT&T Offers $99 Price – Yahoo! Tech

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A Children’s Dreamland at El Bosque

Yesterday, I penned a post about a curious man who has dedicated more than ten years of his life, building one of the best miniature nativity scenes in Panama.  His name is Francisco Bustamante and he lives at Residencial El Bosque in Panama City, Panama.  Not to be confused with Panama City, Florida.  

This year he decided it was time to open an exclusive exhibition for children.  He convinced his wife to vacate one of  the bedrooms of the house and transform it into a fantasy dreamland for kids.  This room includes the most mesmering exhibition of childrens games.  

It has boats floating in blue waters, figures skiing down powder-snow slopes, flocks for birds flying, dancing pairs inside richly decorated homes, figures skating around a skating rink and hundreds of other activities for children.  Everything is lighted and everything is in constant motion. 

I was surprised when Mr. Bustamante’s nephew turned the lights off and stopped the motion of the figures with a remote control.  Then he turned them on again with just pressing a single button.  Wow!

Below are several photographs of a bedroom turned into a dreamland for children of all ages.  :-)  Enjoy.

Children engaged in several snow-related activities. Notice the large snowman above.

A bird's eye view of the children's playground. Notice the boats floating at the bottom of the photograph.

Scene of the children's playground with snow covered trees and people strolling on the street.

A railroad station with people waiting for the train to stop. Notice the tracks surrounding the city.

If you live in Panama City and have kids, please, please take them to see Mr. Bustamante’s nativity scene and this spectacular dreamland for children.  They will remember it for the rest of their lives.  Good Day.

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Joke: A Rough Day

A little guy is sitting at the bar just staring at his drink for half an hour when this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, grabs his drink and gulps it down in one swig.

The poor little guy starts crying.

—”Come on man, I was just giving you a hard time,” says the truck driver. “I’ll buy you another drink. I just can’t stand to see a man crying.”

“This is the worst day of my life,” says the little guy between sobs. “I can’t do anything right. I overslept and was late to an important meeting, so my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car was stolen and I have no insurance. I grabbed a cab home but, after the cab left, I discovered my wallet was still in the cab. At home I found my wife in bed with the gardener. So I came to this bar trying to work up the courage to put an end to my life.”  

“And then you show up and drink the damn poison.”

When Saint Peter, doesn’t want you upstairs, it just won’t happen.  Good Day.

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Hints of a Job-Less Apple in 2009

For several months there have been rumors about the fragile health of Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs.  During his last product presentations he looked gaunt, as if he were going through a strict diet or some kind of health problem.  We all remember, he survived a rare pancreatic cancer that was kept in secret, even to member of the Board of Directors.

Jobs is joking about the subject every time it is addressed by reporters and Apple PR Department is saying everything is fine with Jobs, but the rumor mill keeps on going.  

In September, Apple CEO Steve Jobs prefaced the introduction of  the new iPod and iTunes 8, by standing in front of a screen that showed the words: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

On December 17th, Apple made public that Jobs would not speak at the Macworld Expo to be held  on January  4-8.  There’s plenty of speculation about why Jobs won’t be at the trade show, a traditional launch pad for Apple’s new products:  Jobs’ health, a possible squabble with the company that organizes Macworld or the absence of new products to announce.

This announcement has made Apple stockholders nervous and the vast armies of Apple Evangelists fearful that Jobs would soon leave Apple and name a successor.  For both Apple stockholders and “Mac Faithful”, Steve Jobs represent a brand that symbolizes both style and simplicity.

Steve Jobs, simply, is Apple. His non-appearance at Macworld sets off alarm bells for good reasons, whether it’s because the company is in transition, Jobs is ill or there is a trade show spat to blame—or none of the above.

Second to the news of Jobs’ non-appearance at Macworld was Apple’s announcement that 2009 will be the last year it takes part in the event. (Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller will give the keynote address next month at the San Francisco event.)

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, in a report on Silicon Alley Insider, said, “While we do not believe that this change provides any indication regarding Steve Jobs’ health, we do believe that it is a sign that we are in the early stages of changing roles in Apple’s management structure.”

It is very possible that 2009 will be the year of a Job-Less Apple.  The writing is on the wall.  Good Day.

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A Traditional Panama Miniature Nativity Scene

When I was a kid, I remember helping my mother prepare the nacimiento or miniature nativity scene.  In Spain and Colombia they are called pesebres.  It is a very traditional Roman Catholic custom in Panama.  We collected carton boxes to represent the hills and used sand and mirrors to make miniature roads and ponds.  Every year we would buy a few houses and miniature shepherds to make the nacimiento larger.  When mom lighted the nacimiento there was magic in our house.

Then came Santa Claus and the tradition started to fade away.  It was hard to look the other way when there was an ubiquitous Santa singing Ho, Ho, Ho.   Now the Roman Catholic church is promoting the nacimientos again in Panama.  Slowly, but surely, many houses are currently decorated with nacimientos of different sizes and complexity.  Yesterday I went to see one located a couple of houses where I live at Residencial El Bosque in Panama City.

The owner of the house is Francisco Bustamante and he has been upgrading his nacimiento for over ten years.  All of his garage is the scene of the birthplace.  This year he added a bedroom of his home totally dedicated to kids, but that’s another story, maybe for tomorrow.

When I got to Mr. Bustamante’s house and got to see when he had for us this year; I was stunned.  It was the most spectacular nacimiento I have ever seen anywhere.  I needed more than two eyes to capture the full details of the splendid birthplace.  There were houses of different styles and shapes, elephants, horses, camels, dogs, roosters, hens, sheep, dogs, cows…and the list is endless.  There were almost as many animals as they were in Noaha’s ark.  Luckily I had my camera with me and these are the pictures of Mr. Bustamante’s magic place.  Take a look.

The scene of baby Jesus in the manger with his parents and the three kings of orient.

The details of a home in Bethlehem and the lighted trees in front of the house.

Notice how carefully the nacimiento was designed. The small river to your left was real flowing water powered by a small electric pump under the nacimiento.

A closer view of the flowing river and its immediate surroundings.

This is the scene of the Holy Family arriving in Egypt after fleeing from the rage of King Herod who wanted to kill the newly-born baby in Bethlehem.

A view of the magnificent entrance to the palace of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Photo taken without a flash or tripod.

I hope you have enjoyed this pictures of a man who has dedicated more than ten years of his life traveling to many parts of the world buying additions to his beautiful nativity scene.  If you return tomorrow, I will show some of the pictures of a fantasy kids playground.  It covers a whole bedroom of Mr. Bustamante’s home.  Good Day.

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