My Chinese Cell Phone with a TV in it

Yep, I'm too cheap to buy a Blackberry.  I refuse to play over $300 for a phone or sign up for a plan I don't need.   

All I wanted was a phone with a full keyboard (so I can send text messages easily) and a camera.  I don't care about internet and Facebook and all the extra stuff that I already have on my laptop.  I looked at all the major stores and they only had Blackberrys or phones over $200. 

So I decide to check out the Chinese electronic stores (you can find them in El Dorado or on Via Veneto).  Sure enough, they had a Chinese fake version of the Nokia E71.  The phone has a full keyboard, camera, video recorder, FM radio and bunch of other things I don't really need.  It even has a TV in it.  I can push a button and raise the antenna (yes it has a TV antenna) and watch TV.  The phone also has dual sim card capabilities, meaning I can add a completely different number to the same phone.  Pretty cool.

Problem solved.  Thank you my Chinese friends!

No Car in Panama? - Can You Run Like Usain Bolt?

I was walking down Via Espana last Friday to pick up a rental car when it started to drizzle very lightly. I was about 4 blocks away from my destination. I was in my work clothes and in the beginning it wasn't bad, but I've experienced this before and knew what was coming...

Literally 2 minutes later, it turned into the Apocalypse. The rain was coming down so hard it didn't even seem real. And of course, I was no where near any type of coverage to stand under, so I turned into Usain Bolt and did a full sprint for 2 blocks.

If I would not have ran, I would've been completely soaked in a minute.

Lesson #1: Unless you have a car, ALWAYS have your umbrella (which may not be enough).

Lesson #2: When it starts to drizzle, worst case scenario, you will have 1 minute before it becomes a monsoon.

Lesson #3: Don't be in a rush when it rains. You have 3 options: Wait it out, run like fugitive or get soaked.

Lesson #4: Even though it is bright and sunny, in less than 1 hour it can turn to a complete downpour.

*** That's NOT ME in the photo*** I don't look like a black "Dr. Evil" (from the Austin Powers movies)