By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - About a year ago the primary cable television provider in Panama City removed CBS from their lineup. As such, I have to go out somewhere to catch the CBS 48 Hours Mystery program "The Dark Side of Paradise" which will be airing on Saturday, 4 February 2012, at 10:00 pm local Panama time. I spoke to Chip, who recently took over management of the Balboa Yacht Club on Amador, and they have the necessary satellite feeds to watch CBS live. So, I'm inviting anyone who wants to watch this program to join me at the Yacht Club on Saturday night to see the program as it airs. I suspect they might make it available via the Internet later, but I want to see it as soon as possible.

Superbowl Sunday: There will be a World Class Chili Challenge & 46th Super Bowl Extravaganza on Sunday, 5 February 2012 at the Balboa Yacht Club. Chili Challenge: $25 entry fee, cooking begins at 11:00 am, judging at 5:00 pm. All cooking must me done on-site. Deadline for registration is 5:00 pm Friday, February 3rd. Registration forms will be available at the Balboa Yacht Club or at the VFW Post 3835 Service Office, Santa Fe Consultorio, room 210. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, as well as Showmanship, Cash, trophies, etc. Super Bowl: Happy Hour prices, Appetizers, Games.

This event will help support VFW Post 3835 and its Ladies Auxiliary with their on-going charitable activities (Escuela Nuevo Progreso, Catherine Brown Home, Ollas Community and distressed veterans and/or family members) POC’s: Chip Pickard: 6674-0437 , chip@bocasdeltoro.net or Anita Littesy: 6616-0043/6490-2567, alittesy@yahoo.com.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

There will be a World Class Chili Challenge & 46th Super Bowl Extravaganza on Sunday, 5 February 2012 at the Balboa Yacht Club. Chili Challenge: $25 entry fee, cooking begins at 11:00 am, judging at 5:00 pm. All cooking must me done on-site. Deadline for registration is 5:00 pm Friday, February 3rd. Registration forms will be available at the Balboa Yacht Club or at the VFW Post 3835 Service Office, Santa Fe Consultorio, room 210. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, as well as Showmanship, Cash, trophies, etc.

Super Bowl: Happy Hour prices, Appetizers, Games.

This event will help support VFW Post 3835 and its Ladies Auxiliary with their on-going charitable activities (Escuela Nuevo Progreso, Catherine Brown Home, Ollas Community and distressed veterans and/or family members)

POC’s: Chip Pickard: 6674-0437 , chip@bocasdeltoro.net or Anita Littesy: 6616-0043/6490-2567, alittesy@yahoo.com.

   

As Promised, the first Nitro Circus the Movie 3D Trailer! Travis Pastrana and the whole Nitro Circus crew are back together in a truly LEPICDARY (epic n' legendary) action packed 3D film. Expect the impossible, ridiculous, insane, hysterical, and purely awesome! Coming to you in 3D, it will fee like you are riding shotgun with the crew.

We get a boatload of questions every day asking when the movie will be released. In truth, we don't have a definitive release date yet but we're getting closer. We hope it will be released sometime in the coming summer but the exact date still needs to be decided by the distributor. We are happy to say that 100% of the movie has been filmed and we're deep in to post production, editing, etc. We can't wait to show everybody the finished product because we have captured the biggest and best stunts we have ever attempted. Stay tuned-in to our Facebook, Twitter, and website for updates. Thanks for your patience; we think it's going to be worth the wait!

Editor's Comment: Can you spot the parts in the trailer that were filmed in Panama?

   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Looking for a way to ring in the New Year? Tonight there will be a party at the Balboa Yacht Club, located on the old Fort Amador. Some friends have recently assumed control of the management of the Balboa Yacht Club, and while they have not yet finished making all of the changes they plan to implement, they will still be throwing a party tonight to ring in the New Year. No cover charge. There will be a DJ (it was too late to book a band, they were all taken). There will be a midnight champagne toast, and something else they told me about, but I forgot what it was. Anyway, I'll be over there as well for awhile anyway. If Sarah has the legs to make it until midnight then we will hang out, or we might leave early if she runs out of gas. That's life when you have a five year old daughter. Ah, I remembered - the kitchen will be open as well - so food and stuff will be available if you're hungry.

Directions: If you've never been to the Balboa Yacht Club before, just drive like you're going to go out on the causeway. Just as you get on the old Fort Amador, look for a sign to the right for the Country Inn and Suites Hotel. Turn to the right there. The Balboa Yacht Club is located basically close to the hotel, to the left. There's a street that runs between the hotel (on the right) and the Balboa Yacht Club (on the left.) The Balboa Yacht Club is a very nice place to hang out, offering great views of the ships passing through the Panama Canal, lots of great people, good food, and cold beer. What more could you ask for? How about a pool table. That would be nice...

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Here at Sports Bet Panama we have the best lines in the market, come and check us out. We have a wide variety of options for SportBetting. Check out our Money Lines, The Parlay Payouts, Give points, Buy Points, Teasers, and More. And now we announce the grand opening of our facility at the Grill 50 on Ave. 12 de Octubre, the biggest sports bar in town.

We want to invite you to watch all of the College Bowl gams, NFL Playoffs, the NBA Opening on December 25th., and all other sports such as the UFC, as well as all Soccer Leagues from Spain, Germany, Italy all European Leagues, College basketball, MLB, NHL, NFL, Boxing, MMA, etc. So you can place your Bets in All Sports.

Our locations are in Hooters at the intersection of Calle 50 and Calle Uruguay; Billares Nelson Obarrio, and now in Grill 50 12 de Octubre.

Participate for a chance to win a trip to the SuperBowl, Lucas Oil Stadium, LowerEndZone Section, including a Round Trip Flight to Indianapolis and accommodations at the Garden Hotel arriving on Friday, 3 February until Tuesday, 7 February 2012, plus $500 cash for spending money. To Participate for every 20 dollar Parlay you get a ticket for the drawing. The winner ticket will be drawn from a revolving drum in front of a notary. The drawing will be televised on 22 January 2012 during the halftime of the last NFL Championship Game. This Promotion is authorized by The Gaming Board under Resolution 1053 of November 14, 2011.

Who is SportsBetPanama: Sports Bet Panama is a licensed operating SportBook appproved by the Panamanian gaming Board (Junta de Control de Juegos) With License No. 03-A.E.D.-11, approved under Resolution 67 of December 6, 2010 of the Gaming Board. The President of the Company is Jose Ventura, a Panamanian and one of the Few Certified by the Gaming Board of Panama to Operate Casinos, SportsBooks and All kinds of Gaming Halls by Resolution No. 133 of March 29, 2005 from Gaming Board (J.C.J.) and The Minister of Government and Finances of Republic of Panama.   

There are now new options for those in Panama City who like to bet on sporting events. Come and Bet with us at SportsBetPanama.com to participate in a chance to win a ticket to Super Bowl XLVI. Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts, will host the Super Bowl on 5 February 2012. This will be the first Super Bowl held in Indianapolis. The lucky winner will win a seat in the Lower End Zone section, a round trip flight to Indianapolis, hotel for five days and four nights, plus $500 in cash for spending money. Anyone can participate by betting on a $20 parlay at any of our locations, including all sports - NFL, NHL, NCAA, all of the College Bowls, Boxing, UFC, and more.

SportsBetPanama.com has featured locations in several well known venues in Panama City, including;

• Hooters - Located at the intersection of Calle 50 and Calle Uruguay.
  
  

• The Burger Bar - Located in the Mini Mall in El Cangrejo.
  
  

• Billares Nelson (Nelson's Billards) - Located in Obarrio near Via Brasil, behind the Obarrio Commercial Center.

All of our locations are great places for people who want to watch live sporting events and to place bets on the action. Coming up this weekend: The College Bowl Games are starting tomorrow, Saturday, 17 December with the New Mexico Bowl (Temple vs. Wyoming), the Idaho Potato Bowl (Utah State vs. Ohio), and the New Orleans Bowl (San Diego State vs. Lafayette). On Sunday the NFL plays week 15 of the regular season with many key games as teams fight to make the playoffs. The NBA returns on Christmas Day. UFC 141 is coming up on 30 December, as well as all soccer leagues, hockey, and more. SportsBetPanama.com is your best new option offering the best lines in the market. Come and check us out.   

The Mayor of Panama enacted a new decree creating an exception to compliance with the "carrot law" for businesses on 7, 8, 24, 25 and 31 December 2011 and January 1, 2012. Mayoral Decree Number 1940 of December 5, 2011, signed by Mayor Bosco Ricardo Vallarino, states that nightclubs may operate full-time as desired by the owner. Vallarino said through a statement the decision was made for Panamanians and foreigners to celebrate the traditional holidays (Mother's Day, Christmas and New Year) with no curfew. However, the mayor asked the public for "a lot of order and justice" in the various events they will attend. This rule is established in compliance of the second paragraph of article two of Executive Decree 1424 of 2011, which sets special hours during holidays and public holidays for the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages as well as hours of operation. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: That's nice. However Mayor Bosco Vallarino only has control over Panama City. The "carrot law" will still be in effect for San Miguelito, Colon, David, Bocas del Toro, etc. - because it's the law of the land which applies to the whole of the Republic of Panama. Now, each individual mayor can apparently issue their own orders which override the law, strangely enough.   

The Mayor of Panama City in a press release reported the closing of "My Bodeguita" and the sanctioning of twelve nightclubs for failing to comply with Decrees Number 1896 and 1899, which established the "Carrot Law." This came after raids conducted this weekend. The press release said during these operations 39 people were arrested for disrespect to the authorities. Some people were arrested because they were illegal immigrants, and others who are involved in prostitution without an updated health card or permit. They were turned over to the "competent authorities."

Municipal authorities during a Preventive Security operation visited neighborhoods in the areas of Calidonia, Santa Ana, 24 de Diciembre, Juan Diaz, San Francisco (Calle Uruguay), where several bars and nightclubs were fined for violating the decree governing limits on the sound levels (decibels) in nightclubs. The action was led by Justice of the Peace on shift, Luis Morales and the coordinator of the Justices of the Peace, Reynaldo Morales, personal from the office of Municipal Surveillance, as well as from the Law and Justice office, among other officials. The coordinator of the Justices of the Peace Reynaldo Morales said operations will continue in the 21 different sectors of the capital city in order to reduce the high rate of delinquencies that occur daily in our country. (TVN)

Editor's Comment: Did you see where I highlighted the line about how most of the 39 people who were arrested were charged with "disrespect for the authorities"? So, you went out with your friends on Saturday night to go partying. It's now early morning on Sunday, and you're sitting in a bar at 3:00 am. According to the new "carrot law" the bar is supposed to be closed already, but there you are. The municipal cops (brown shirts) come in the front door and start yelling or whatever. One of them asks you for your identification, and before you can say "WTF" they've got you handcuffed and in the back of a paddy wagon for "disrespect". In these raids over the weekend twelve bars and nightclubs were fined. One, Mi Bodeguita, was shut down. And now the Panamanians are complaining that the "carrot law" was never supposed to target the clients but rather the bar owners, so why were these people arrested. Disrespect. You might get just a little bit of extra slack because you're a drunk dumbass gringo, and a drunk dumbass Panamanian cab driver will go away a whole lot quicker, but don't press your luck. Just say "yes, sir" a lot and get the hell out of there. Golly, isn't this going to be great for tourism? Visit Panama, have a few adult beverages, and get thrown in jail. Well, at least you can pay a quick bribe to get out... (grin)   

The Mayor of Panama, Ricardo "Bosco" Vallarino asked the Central Government for a grant of $2.5 million dollars which he says he needs in order to enforce the two "carrot law" decrees that regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, setting ceilings on bar hours, discos, bars and others. The mayor's request was given upon his departure from the normal session of the City Council meeting on Tuesday November 22, when asked by reporters about the resources needed to enforce the new standard. "The child's father must pay child support" was the phrase Vallarino said to reporters in response to the question presented by the journalists who waited for his departure from the weekly meeting. Vallarino explained that in the coming hours he will send a letter to the president, Ricardo Martinelli, to request the money to subsidize it (the enforcement of he new law), so he can recruit the hundreds of additional municipal police officers and officials of the "Justice of the Peace" who now have to operate at night. The mayor said the money will be invested not only in the recruitment of human resources, but also to purchase new patrol cars, uniforms, tools, gasoline and everything needed to execute the decrees. (Critica)

Editor's Comment: Cool. "Unfunded mandates" in Panama. Does anyone think the central government will be giving Mayor Vallarino the money? No. They will enforce this law themselves using National Police officers, and then accuse him of not doing his job. Politics. It's all politics.   

Casinos, hotels and restaurants now cannot sell alcohol outside of the hours established in Executive Decree 1424 (known as the "carrot law"), after the Mayor of Panama yesterday issued a rule prohibiting it. Decree 1424, issued by the Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino, states that discos, bars, pubs and nightclubs can only sell alcohol during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 am 3:00 am on weekends, but casinos and hotels and hotels were excluded. Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino yesterday issued Decree 1899, which prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages on the same schedule set forth in the decree by Mulino, but it also includes supermarkets, casinos, small stores, restaurants, casinos and hotels. He called it "carrots for everyone." Vallarino also issued another decree (number 1896) which states that these facilities can continue to work beyond the schedule established in the "law carrot", but with the ban on the sale or free distribution of alcoholic beverages. Violators face fines ranging from $500 to $10,000, and fines will be double for repeat offenders. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Once again, this is a political move. The original intent of the "carrot law" was to close the bars a little earlier in an attempt to cut down on late night alcohol fueled violence. Of course we all know that's not going to work - historically it's been proven people will just change their drinking and partying habits to conform to the new restrictions and schedules. And the thing about not applying the rule to hotels and casinos was a nod to international visitors and tourism. But now Bosco Vallarino - who is a member of the opposition Panameñista political party - has made this move in order to shove a stick into the eye of Ricardo Martinelli and the CD. And how will they be likely to respond? Don't be surprised if now Martinelli says "screw that dude" and the National Assembly goes back and revokes his Panamanian citizenship. He would then be forced from office, and Roxana Mendez would take over as the new Mayor of Panama City. They have threatened to do this several times, and until recently Bosco has been "playing nice" and this is his first major play since the alliance broke up on 30 August 2011. They just might toast his ass. Let's see. Anyway, no booze for you, bud. I hear you can still party all night long in Costa Rica...