Mike's blog

I am trying my best to extend my love of all things Nicaraguan to the cuisine but let's face it, aside from indio viejo and nacatamales there is a limit to my tolerance of endless platters of pollo, gallo pinto, platanos, etc. And so it is with a happy heart that I announce that a dude from Florida has opened up a roadhouse style eatery in Jinotepe ... Wayne's Bar-B-Que, UNAN- CURC 1.5 blocks south, or from the Buen Provecho sign, 2.5 blocks north on the west side of the street.

Is there a cheap way to get there from Nicaragua? Is there a boat from the Altantic Coast? I am not in a hurry.

I've blogged here a few times about our project to set up a computer lab in a public school for poor kids in La Conquista (http://www.nicaliving.com/node/15428) using donated second-hand technology from North America. I'm pleased to say we've made great progress and are just a few gizmos short of launching a pilot project.

Pursuant to Guil's excellent post about the Managua Fault ...

In the last week we have seen earthquakes hit Haiti, the Cayman Islands and the Pacific coast of Guatemala. As indicated in the map link below, all three of these locations are connected directly, point-to-point-to-point, along a series of faults lines and spreading ridges that separate the Caribbean / Central American Plate and the North American Plate.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Caribbean_plate_tecto...

At some time over the next few weeks I may end up with a load of zinc roofing in repayment of a debt. My plan would be to turn over the lot quickly by selling it to construction crews and hardware stores. I'd offer a discount to someone who'd take it all off my hands at once, and smaller discounts for smaller orders. So, I need to determine the wholesale prices.

Does anyone know where I can pick up a long range wifi antenna in Nicaragua. The hotel a block from my house has a wifi connection I can tap into and the owners are friends of mine, but the signal is just a bit too low to be connected. Would Radio Shak in Managua carry them? I'm so computer illiterate that I don't even know where to plug it into my notebook.2222

Are there any good souls here in Nica who can spare a used computer monitor for a charitable project?

We are in the process of building a computer lab for the local school in La Conquista, a poor rural community near Jinotepe. One of the regular posters here, Loco, is among the volunteers. Thanks to Loco´s superb work and initiative, we have already scored a donation of 5 new thin clients and a network server. They have already cleared Customs. All we need to get a pilot project up and running is to obtain 5 computer monitors.

I live in Jinotepe and want wireless internet service reasonably soon. My choice is to sign up for Claro 3g for a minimum of 18 months, or use a cyber until Yota is up and running.

I'm buying a laptop to take back with me when I return home to Nicaragua later this week. It will have all the on-board bells and whistle such as a built-in webcam, burner, etc. What are some useful accessories I should consider buying as well? Everything has to fit in my airline luggage so a laser printer isn't on the list. Anything else I should be considering?

It saddens me to tell you that my Mother, Helen Ura, died this morning in Toronto at the age of 97. She passed away in her sleep in no pain.

I look forward to returning home to Jinotepe on December 10 to see my friends again in happier days.

"Man has three days in his span of life—yesterday, today, and tomorrow."