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opinion

There's apparently a lot on the readers' minds lately

How will new locks work? (etc.)

Can anyone tell us how they plan to conserve water with the new locks. Ponds alongside the locks will collect the spilled water instead of it flowing into the ocean, then it will be pumped back into the lake?

I was in the Army in Panama during WWII. I arrived at Pier 18 on Nov. 2, 1943. I was stationed at Ft. Kobbe on Howard AFB. Crossing the bridge at Miraflores was really something. Smudge pots were everywhere around the locks and when they would light those things smoke would cover the area and you could not see your hand in front of your face. In addition several barrage balloons were overhead with long steel cables hanging down from the balloons. The bridge at Miraflores was interesting and when we tried to cross to get into the Ft. Clayton and Panama City area, we often had to wait for a ship or ships to lock through. Cocoli Clubhouse was a nice place for us to go for a good meal because it was close to Ft. Kobbe. Rodman was full of Marines and they had a golf course. At the time Ft. Kobbe outranked the Air Force Base and we got all the mail at headquarters and would then take the Air Force their mail. This was changed shortly. The 16-inch guns were still in place near the Pacific beach. They would fire them from time to time and they really made a racket. I remained in Panama until January 1946. I have made several visits to Panama since my retirement and enjoyed it very much. I am pleased to see Panama grow and progress. I hope they will go through with the canal expansion as I think it is necessary. Panama was really good to me during the War and I have always been thankful for that kindness.

I read every issue and even parts of the Spanish version material --- I also anxiously look forward to the next issue. It keeps me up with the goings on in Panama.

G. Sidney Waits
Alabama

Editor's note: Water would move through the proposed new locks by gravity, without energy-using pumps, much as the current ones do. The big difference on that score is that when the chamber fills to the top, some of the water would flow off to retaining ponds and then back into the chamber the next time it is filled. It's a technology that has been put to use in Germany.

The retaining ponds plan does raise an environmental question about whether it would increase the salinity of Gatun and Miraflores lakes more than the operations of the current locks do. If these lakes, from which Colon and the Panama City metro area get most of their water supplies, turn too brackish there would have to be expensive additions to the water treatment plants.

Internet radio station

I, too, am a former Michigander --- from Montague, over on the west coast.

We live in Atlanta now. I spent my first week in Panama between 4-14 and 4-21. Loved every minute of my stay! Planning on running a web-based business out of Panama soon.

I have two recommendations, one for classical music, one for jazz, pop, etc.

First: http://www.theclassicalstation.org. This is WCPE FM in Raleigh, NC. They stream only classical music, no other programming, no NPR, 24/7. Terrific station, and they stream in any media one could choose.

Second: http://www.atlantabluesky.com. This website is owned and operated by a friend of mine. It streams Alternative, Rock, Country, or Jazz --- your choice.

I hope one or both can help your readers.

Russell D. Longcore
Marietta, Georgia

Cultural advice

Radio stations --- try http://www.wumb.org (Boston Public Radio) --- the only US station with an all folk lineup. Good stuff.

Jennifer

PS: One of this country's better arts publications, which has been appearing very irregularly, has uploaded a new edition. See Talingo at http://www.talingo.com

Why are we still working?

Yesterday International Living, the outfit that offers us teak and noni farms to get rich while telling us how we can live like kings on Panama waterfronts for just pennies a day, sent this message that makes it seem futile for any of us to struggle. [See below.] Imagine my surprise (when I became skeptical that Houdini was ever so naive, and checked) to find on an English net site someone else who had the exact experience --- the identical words --- the only difference being pounds sterling instead of dollars! The slightest checking would reveal a US government website that explains why --- if anyone needed explaining--get rich quick schemes such as this --- surprise! --- are scams. But, maybe we should appreciate International Living's concern that we make money without talent, investment, knowledge or effort. Anyone who thinks International Living is not a helpful newsletter as it purports to be but the front for a real estate network aimed at the credulous is clearly just a cynic, no?

Robert Hardin

In Case You Missed This Story...

From: "International Living" <webeditor@internationalliving.com>

Date: Tue, April 25, 2006 1:00 pm

To: panama_bobhardin@yahoo.com

I couldn't believe it, but there it was in front of me...

$187,296 in 24 Hours!

I couldn't believe it because I had...

No Product.., No Promotion Costs.., No Experience… and No Talent!

"Will You Spare Me 7 Minutes To Show YOU How To Copy My Exact Plan?"

Tuesday, April 25, 2006.

Dear International Living Reader,

Harry Houdini once failed to escape from a safe -- even though the safe door was unlocked! In fact, the VERY reason he stayed trapped is because all he knew about were locked doors...

I used to be guilty of the same thing. I was so convinced all the doors of opportunity were locked, I gave up even trying to open them.

If anyone told me I could bank thousands in just 24 hours... without any product of my own... without spending a penny on getting it or promoting it, I'd have called them crazy -- or worse!

I could so easily have missed out, but luckily I was so SICK of my very stressful job that I just had to try something new. So I took a decision that just this once I would overcome my skeptical nature and give it a go.

Boy, am I glad I did!

The great news is -- you could do the same as me ! And I'll prove it to you in this letter.

So What's The Catch?

The catch (if you want to call it that) is: like me, you have to suspend your disbelief. I certainly had to suspend mine, but I just knew I had to escape the rat-race -- or go under.

So, why not just check to see if the door to financial freedom is really locked? Maybe it just needs a gentle push and it will swing open for you, just like it did for me . I'm going to explain to you right here why I believe YOU can walk through that door into a brighter, wealthier life.

But first let me say a few important things:

I banked this money in 24 hours.

I didn't even do a stroke of work in those 24 hours!!

I did not have any product of my own in this instance.

It did not cost me a penny on promotion.

I did not use any of my own marketing skills (which are limited).

It didn't come about because I was introduced to 'the right people'.

It took a total of just a few hours of my time.

And...

Click below to read more.

http://www1.youreletters.com/t/356771/12571340/787163/0/

* * *

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IL Print subscribers: To cancel by mail or for any other subscription issues, write us at:

International Living

Order Processing Center

Attn: Customer Service

P.O. Box 968

Frederick, MD 21705 USA

* * *

Nothing in this e-mail should be considered personalized investment advice. Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized investment advice.

Editor's note: I have long marveled at the similarity in tone between International Living and a junior high pep rally. Now it seems that these folks are worse than that. The sad things are that people will bet their fortunes and futures based on such appeals, or rely on such sources for all their "information" about Panama.

We are God’s children first

Though I realize that the USA has a serious problem of illegal immigration, I can’t help but imagine that American Natives, deceased and alive, are rolling over in laughter at the irony involved. The American Natives at one time were also faced with the problems that illegal immigrants brought to their borders. They feared the loss of their lives, livelihoods, and lands; and, one can almost be sure that they too expressed negative and unkind words and feelings about the illegal, uninvited and trespassing palefaces who brought with them misfortune, violence, death and outbreaks of diseases and infections unheard of in the New World.

Almost as soon as they arrived, the illegal good Christian immigrants from Europe made it aggressively clear that "might makes right." Searching for justification to begin their Manifest Destiny, the European illegal immigrants determined that the American Natives were savages rather than humans. No further justification for conquest was required. They somehow reasoned that God had entitled them to do away with the American Natives and to take away their lands.

Today, US citizens may worry that the same may happen to them especially if they believe that "What goes around, comes around." However, the matter is serious enough that everyone should reflect carefully as to not exasperate the problem with racial slurs, unjust accusations and judgments. If indeed laws should be upheld, they should be upheld as much as possible by all sides involved. Everyone needs to remember that this nation was started by immigrants who did not go through any legal process of immigration. Unless descendants of the European illegal immigrants are willing to accept that their forefathers were criminals, they should not be so eager today to make criminals of those crossing our borders illegally searching for a better life and better opportunities just as our European forefathers did once before.

Outraged and emotional USA citizens should refrain from judging and condemning illegal aliens and instead should focus their efforts on holding responsible the federal government which has failed to protect our borders and to safeguard jobs for citizens. In the meantime, don’t forget or refuse to acknowledge that the three branches of government have been in control by Republicans. President Bush and Republicans in Congress have for some time now held out opened arms to foreign labor in the name of Free Enterprise. Furthermore, the Supreme Court is full of Republican justices who were appointed by Republican presidents. It is these justices who have ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny medical services and educational benefits to illegal aliens and their children. One can conclude that perhaps the greater crime to our country is being committed by our very own Republicans. This does not mean that Democrats have done much better; however, citizens will have to withhold passing judgment on them until and if they ever regain control of the government.

Finally, if indeed the USA is truly a nation of Christian values and morals, we need to start working to solve the illegal immigrant dilemma by first agreeing that all people on Earth are the children of God. However, if faith is lacking, at least acknowledge what scientists have proven to be true; and, that is that humans come from one common ancestor. If we can begin to concentrate on these commonalities, then perhaps the solution will be one in which everybody wins. Hopefully, it will also endear us or bring us closer to God. In whatever we attempt to do, we must faithfully keep in mind and strongly believe that we are God’s children first, renting on God’s personal property, before we are citizens of any nation or members of any race. We must diligently recognize this fact with the uppermost reverence. Or, have we now decided to willingly, arrogantly and defiantly break the lease agreement known as the Ten Commandments?

Bob Montáñez
Odessa, Texas
Husband and Proud Father, Texan by Birth,
Retired Texas Educator, Viet Nam Veteran

a Cool Internet Site issue

Regarding the following extract found in your recent "Cool Internet Sites" section:

Origins of Humankind

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/d.html

The hominid family tree, from the US Public Broadcasting Service. Know well that there are influential religious fanatics at work this very moment to make sure that you won’t be able to get this sort of thing from PBS.

Some readers may take the remark "religious fanatics" as being derogatory. These 'fanatics' obviously feel strongly enough about their beliefs (that God created the Universe and man) to do something about it. This speaks much about their deep conviction of faith rather than the average Christian who may have a belief but does very little or nothing to tell others about it. The question of evolution vs creation is of course a highly volatile topic and I have no desire to incite cyberspace violence, but I leave you with the following interesting points regarding the two:

(1) Neither evolution or creation can be scientifically proven (see points 2 & 3). Strictly speaking, both are unproven theories, making them both the subject of belief or faith (see point 4).

(2) definition of "Science" [Merriam-Webster]: knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method.

(3) definition of "Exact Science" [Merriam-Webster]: a science (as physics, chemistry, or astronomy) whose laws are capable of accurate quantitative expression.

Neither evolution nor creation can be obtained (observed, measured) or tested by scientific method. Something which happened billions or millions of years ago (evolution) or perhaps 10,000 years ago (young earth creation) can impossibly be expressed accurately in a quantitative manner (consider the difficulties modern day forensic scientists have when dealing with a crime scene only a few weeks old). This shows that evolution or creation as quoted in scientific circles is not an exact science and public statements made for any of the two should be taken for what it is --- conjecture. In fact, scientists in both camps should really be forced by some International ethical law to state each time that their theories are mere conjecture rather than the scientific fact they usually make it out to be.

(4) definition of "Religion" [Merriam-Webster]: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.

If neither evolution nor creation is a science and most certainly not an exact science, then we should question why the respective adherents so fervently adhere to and put forth their points of view as fact. Without scientific proof, what they say better fits the definition of religion rather than science. Contrary to the press and popular belief, both creation AND evolution should be called religious and any statements from either camp are an attempt to sway the population towards one or the other belief.

(5) The origin of mankind is fundamental to personal identity. If you know where you come from, then you know who you are and where you are going (in broad terms of course). An evolved person is an animal with no spirit (nth generation amoeba), fighting daily for survival, living to please essentially himself, governed by man-made laws, no destiny after death. A created person is made by God, has a spirit breathed by God, exists to please God, is governed by God's ways, and is destined (if they accept His salvation) to live for eternity with God.

(6) I propose that these so called scientists (evolution or creation) should rather be referred to in the media as scholars [Merriam-Webster: one who has done advanced study in a special field] or researchers [Merriam-Webster: to engage in research; to search or investigate exhaustively] since they are clearly not engaged in science.

In my letter I ventured not take one side or the other but instead tried to place evolution and creation in the realm where they belong: personal belief and faith. Each person needs to seek out the truth for themselves and understand that scholars and researchers practicing conjecture in these fields are also just people like us with personal beliefs and a faith in something.

Paul Newman
South Africa

PS: Your travel article "One morning in El Valle" was so inviting that I went on that travel with you! Nicely written and photographed. I appreciated the full color photos vs the heavily processed one's you sometimes post. It is always nice to see what you saw, even if still very much limited by your lens and final photo selections. No reason then to limit it further with heavy image processing. Sorry, that little gripe of some time has now finally been blurted out and I hope it does not offend you since I know you are doing your best --- which is very evident by the way. I love thumbing through your newspaper about Panama.

Editor's note: The reference to religious fanatics in the USA is about those who have for some years been moving to impose theological censorship in public broadcasting and in the public schools by banning anything to do with evolution, or else by requiring the inclusion of unscientific and anti-scientific creationist theories in scientific discussions and materials.

Evolution is not conjecture. It is well proven, but the mechanisms by which the process works and the source of life at its molecular and unicellular origins are subjects still shrouded in mystery and open to legitimate scientific debate. What those who oppose evolution on religious grounds often do is to point to the unknown areas and then jump first to the conclusion that gaps in knowledge invalidate all that is known, then leap much farther to claim that disproven hypotheses found in sacred scriptures are therefore scientifically valid.

To say that evolution, or any other scientific thinking, is invalid within the confines of a belief system based on holy scriptures would be another argument. So would any philosophical dispute about whether religiously revealed truths are superior or equal to things discovered using the scientific method.

What's happening in the United States these days, however, is not that sort of debate. What we see instead is a political attempt to suppress or distort science so that only certain narrow and sectarian religious points of view are tolerated. It's a modern-day version of the persecution of Galileo for advocating the now accepted truth that the Earth revolves around the Sun.