Panels and texts shouldn't have parentheses (), but functions should.
Code:

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FUNCTION counter_start()
{
          // ...

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EDIT: Ah, I see what you're trying to do. Don't call first like a function. first is an object, and you want to change one of its properties (i.e., whether it's visible). You do that like this:
Code:

---

first.VISIBLE = on;

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