well no loss since I am not recommending it! so what’s shakin down in the selva? ; )
Thyme is tricky here, but grows. Sage is a real PITA, have to germinate it in a wet paper towel vacuum (sort of) sealed in a Ziploc bag; however, once germinated, just plant the seedling in the garden in RAISED soil and you're good to go. Wet roots is about the only thing that will kill sage here; no natural pests or diseases to speak of. Dill, of course, which I grow and sell, needs a lot of water...so I see to it that my dill GETS the bloody water, and it grows like crazy.
We have a new presidente, Varela, who is very pro-business, but has just imposed price controls on 25 popular staples. This will, of course, backfire as price controls always do, but they are popular temporarily. More heartening is the fact that in the May national election, the socialists got clobbered. Panamanian economy is growing at 7+ % per year, so things are pretty good.
The canal widening is pretty much on schedule (shocking, considering Panama), and will bring in stacks of revenue when complete. To the government's (temporary, I'm quite sure) credit, the pols aren't (yet) falling all over themselves to spend the future revenue. The new subway system in Ciudad Panama has a big chunk complete, but doesn't yet run to Tocumen Int'l Airport (important because it will break up the ripoff taxicab cartel). Here in El Valle, we are having water shortage problems w/o the rains, not surprisingly. The various alcaldes have finalised a plan to increase water storage by 40-50 per cent, which will (WILL, the funds are already appropriated) be built next year. Have to have it, because (drat the luck), this province (Cocle) is growing in population very quickly, mainly I think due to the fantastic (usually) weather.
And that's all the news that is news, and (best Dennis Miller imitation) I..am..outta..here.
FReegards!