Internet Going Down in 3…2…1

By Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director

Both Panama and Nicaragua were both under dictatorships for so long that the two countries, along with several other Latin American nations, helped coined the phrase “Banana Republics.”

As a result, the rich were wiped out in a purging for the poor and in the end everyone was poor.  The economist Thomas Robert Malthus said that population expands geometrically, while the food supply expands arithmetically.  That basic principle was at the heart of the Nicaraguan dictatorship, where food and other essentials were rationed.

Today the same can be said for the Nicaraguan Internet.  It will be promptly shut down at 10 p.m.

We arrived in Managua at 8 p.m. and checked into the Crown Plaza Hotel.  The clerk told us that the Internet runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no other explanation.  So, since I have 19 minutes before shutdown I’ll make this quick.

Everyone’s doing fine.  We’re tired and the next four days will be grueling to say the least.  But that’s the nature of such a trip like this.  Learning is fun…and fast.  We hit the road at 7:30 in the morning for what will be a full day of traveling.  We’ll check out of the Crown Plaza in the morning and move to another hotel.

So, the recap.  We bought lots of Panama hats (just for you Raquel), although I couldn’t talk Jim into buying one.  He picked up a few goodies for the grandkids.  Connie, Jim’s wife, has been taking note of the class members who’ve been suspiciously absent from many of the photos, A.J. Sabine being the most notable.  We have photos of him and others when we visited the Panama Teakwood Mill this morning.

I’ll try to get the photos up tonight if I can.  Thanks to all those following the blog.  A special shout out to Raquel Landry of our field staff, and Brian Breaux, our associate commodity director, for posting and checking on me.  Thanks guys.

I’ll do my best to get some video greetings from the class members tomorrow.  There might be a better Internet connection, or at least one that’s running 24/7, at the next hotel tomorrow night, although we’re told we’re going to be arriving late there as well.

Again, things are going great so far.  We’ve seen some amazing things and Jim and I will do our best to keep you informed with stories, photos and videos.

Gotta go.  Six minutes until shutdown!

Managua station signing off…for now.