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T. B. Bechtel, a City councilor from Newcastle , Australia , was asked on a local live radio talk show, just what he thought about the allegations of 
torture of suspected terrorists. His reply prompted his ejection from the studio, but to thunderous applause from the audience. 

'If hooking up one raghead terrorist prisoner's testicles to a car battery to get the truth out of the lying little camelshagger will save just one Australian, American or Canadian life, then I have only three things to say,' : 

'Red is positive, 
Black is negative, and 
Make sure his nuts are wet.'

(Please remember that no COSTA RICA NEWS articles are deleted, and we just add from the top.)

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED as 2010 comes to an end.  A worldwide study, just released, reveals that the United States of America ranks 52nd in education.  Number 51 is Viet Nam. After devoting its resources to proving that there are no differences between races, sexes or religions and making heroes of the likes of Vic and Simpson rather than the likes of Hawking and Saken,  money and power in America go to those who can run fast rather than those with Einstein brains who can explain the universe and give humanity good advice on how to survive.  Teachers' salaries are far below those of uneducated factory workers and "students don't fail---teachers do".   The Muslims' objective on 911 was not to kill a few thousand Americans and knock down a couple of buildings---but to cause Americans to live in terror (which they now do).

We at Costa Rica News see no light at the end of the tunnel, as America's leaders continue to deny that the "war" they are fighting is a religious one and the remaining successful American companies continue to seek a higher bottom line by investing in Communist  China while Wal-Mart shoppers continue to keep the Communist ball rolling.  Communist Nicaragua is now permanently in Costa Rica building the new canal, while our outgoing President Arias laid the corner stone to the first Communist city in a Western country.  As we said below, police cars in my former home, Fort Myers, Florida, have changed their paint from TO PROTECT AND SERVE to LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER  we see evidence that Costa Rica police now act like Communist soldiers.  There is also an air of racism against Gringos. This is logical, as the West has long bought the affection of the Central American people by sending "aid workers" and giving the people things they would normally have to buy---but now the Gringos don't have money.  The Communists do. 

Under American law, there are two Federal police agencies:  The FBI was to monitor activities inside the US, and the CIA was to monitor activities outside.  That line was erased long ago, and FBI agents are now working around the world while the CIA works internally.  But worse than that is the fact that 911 resulted in 1200 new private-and-public "security agencies" generating 50,000 reports per week.  It seems that America's reaction to 911 is to bury itself in paperwork and bureaucracy.  While one of the SEVEN ENGINEERING WONDERS OF THE WORLD, the US Interstate Highway System, crumbles; America's resources continue to flow to Muslims to build roads and bridges. No one in America asks: "Can we afford this?" because the Communist Chinese are always at the ready with a "Sign here.  We'll lend you the money."  

As America shuts down NASA, the Communists prepare for a manned moon shot.  As America works to disarm its nuclear arsenal, the Communists are building theirs. When America was strong, they passed up the opportunity to stand up to Communism.  We speculate that even if they now had the testicles to do so, they no longer have the ability.  As has been the case throughout my lifetime, the Palestine/Israeli Peace Talks are going nowhere, the Korean Peace Talks are going nowhere;  at the request of the Communists, the requirement that every country provide its people with basic human rights has been discarded,  and countries like Yemen, Somalia and Burma operate with total immunity and support from the world.  The US stands idly by as the Communist Chinese imprison the Nobel Peace Prize winner (and his wife) and drop $millions in cash every month to waiting Somalian Terrorists from American helicopters. The world under Communism will not be a pleasant one, and we begin to wonder about the Mayan predictions about 2012.

WHAT'S GOING ON? as 2010 comes to an end, the world continues to insist that the WAR ON TERROR has nothing to do with Muslims while Saudi Arabia (the people who gave us 9-11 and Bin Laden) stands with Communist China (home of Pres. Hussein Obama's brother) against Norway and the free world during the Nobel Peace Prize.  Of course our other great allies, Communist China and Communist Russia, also stood against the Free World.   Muslim clereks have declared war against all Christians in Iraq (the country the US (and later the world) went broke instilling a democracy) while bombing their churches and threatening all Christian Aid workers in Afghanistan (with whom we are "making friends" and will prove America's next Viet Nam) and while Somalia continues to pirate ships and run terrorist training camps with immunity.  It is just as well that there will be no Costa Rica News 2011, because we are incapable of understanding the news.

IN COSTA RICA, the Communist Nicaragua invasion of our north boarder continues as Costa Rica has no army the the US to too spread out to consider helping.  This seemed strange until we saw Communist N. Korea attack South Korean civilians with impunity.  We have no doubt that in the future Daniel Ortega will be an international hero for building the Nicaragua Canal in the new Communist World.  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM 1 DREAM GETAWAY.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK as 2010 comes to an end.  As America's Interstate Highway System crumbles, 10% of Americans cannot find work and a new clock was invented to count America's debt to Communist China, $billions/day are spent building Afghan roads and bridges while America's youth continues to die while "making friends" with Muslims.  Saudi Arabia (the people who gave us Bin Laden and 911) stands with Communist China against the US and Norway while the Nobel Peace Prize is given to a guy who is jailed (along with his wife) for speaking his mind.  As Obama continues to insist the WAR ON TERROR is not a religious war, Muslim clergy announces that killing all Christians in Iraq is what Ala requires.  This after EVERY dog in Iraq was murdered.  This was accomplished with American weapons, as our "democratic allies" in Iraq stood over mothers nursing their puppies and systematically blew their heads off.  Strangely nothing is heard from-or-about Obama's Communist Chinese brother as America goes another $trillion in debt to Communist China.  Unwilling to hire Americans to do the job, the banks who received $billions in TARP  money are throwing Americans from their homes at such a rate that mega-computers are used to handle the volume and sign/notarize the papers. 

The people to whom $millions of your tax dollars go every year at the US Embassy in Costa Rica no longer answer their phone, and work from 8AM until 11AM.  At the American Embassy in Nicaragua, Americans are denied admittance to the building by Communist Guards.

America's pleas to Communist China to stop Communist Korea from bombing civilians are met with deaf ears as Iran's nuclear program is unveiled.  Similar pleas for Israel to stop building on Arab land are met with deaf ears as another year of peace talks are scrubbed.  Terrorists continue to operate Terrorist Training Camps in Somalia and Yemen as they pirate commercial shipping and US choppers drop $millions in cash to the Terrorists. $billions in arms and munitions have "disappeared" from warehouses in Iraq and Afghanistan as American taxpayers continue to send more.  NASA is scrapping the shuttle program as Communist China prepares to send a man to the moon and Obama asks NASA to share collected data with Muslim companies. Costa Rica News 2010 ends the year by asking: What is the WAR ON TERROR and WHO IS IT AGAINST???

Locally, today (12/15) was the coldest in 50 years here in Costa Rica, and we recorded a temperature of 66 degrees here in 1 Dream Getaway Territory.  I guess we can survive.  Although the rains have stopped, all is still green, beautiful, and waiting for you to come see it (write: INFO (AT) 1DREAMGETAWAY.COM).  Costa Rica has acquiesced to Communist Nicaragua's invasion, the US is doing nothing about it, and negotiations between Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and Costa Rica's Pres. Chinchilla in Liberia were cancelled when Ortega was a no-show.  So Ortega continues building the new canal, China continues its attack, Korea continues its attack. Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Somalia continue their attacks on the West, and dozens of America's young men are dying in the fight against terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Meanwhile Americans are happy to support both sides by paying taxes and shopping at Wal-Mart.

WHY COME TO COSTA RICA?  We thank our associates at CR Travel for sending us this link, so you can answer this question for yourself:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpaRe6gq9O4

HERE IS A COSTA RICA NEWS 2010 SCOOP that apparently has had no play in international media:  President Daniel Ortega will one day become a world-famous hero.  Remember he is the same Communist leader that thousands of America's young men died to get out of Nicaragua.  That effort led the United States to receive the honor of being the only country ever to be convicted in the World court of State-Sponsored Terrorism in 1989.  Now, with the backing of Iran and Venezuela, Ortega's troops are in Costa Rica.  Our President Chinchilla gave Ortega an ultimatum to get out by a certain date, but as Costa Rica has no army the ultimatum was ignored and work continues.

We have advised before that interested readers read the book:  A PATH BETWEEN TWO SEAS , which is one of the best books I have ever read.  It has phenomenal significance to the world, as it made the treatment of malaria common practice, was the US's first experiment in Socialism, began the practice of Lobbying, was open imperialism (It created Panama.) , changed the face of Costa Rica (So many Ticos died digging the canal that Government provided incentives for men around the world to come for the women.)  The reason we mention this here is that Nicaragua is clearly the best place for the Canal---and everyone from Pres. Roosevelt, Congress, and all the experts knew it. Yet France's failed project was purchased for substantial sums, and thousands more died to complete it.

When the Central American countries seceded from Spain, they declared war and fought for their independence. All, that is, except Costa Rica. When Costa Rica asked to be free, Spain just said: OK.  However Costa Rica did not meet the minimum requirements of area to be a country. So Guanacaste (1 Dream Getaway Territory) was voted to become part of Costa Rica instead of Nicaragua. The Treaty defines the southern boarder of the river as the Nicaragua/Costa Rica line.  That area is sparsely-populated and the specific line of demarcation has been in dispute for over a century.  Now Ortega is there with a few soldiers, a couple of choppers and some equipment.  They are in the process of cutting trees and digging the river from Coast-to-Coast, knowing that the small ditch will rapidly widen and deepen  as water flows from Atlantic to Pacific.  Under the boarder treaty, Nicaragua will own the river and everything North of it. A few dozen Tico families are being displaced in the process.  That is step #1.

The communists have already planned and engineered the shipping canal.  Most ships will save days of travel using the Nicaragua Canal as opposed to the Panama Canal, and the former will be newer and engineered to meet modern shipping needs.  The Panama canal was built to accommodate "the largest ship that can ever be built (the Titanic)" ,  while modern super tankers dwarf that model. For those of you who doubt, please remember that the future of US industry is measured in 3-month periods, and the future of American government is measured in two-or-four year cycles; while Communist planning spans generations and centuries.  Our Western world is a far-different place than it was a few short years ago when Sam Walton advertised: WE GUARANTEE THAT EVERY PRODUCT SOLD AT WAL-MART IS AMERICAN-MADE.  Try to find an American-made product at Wal-Mart today, or anywhere for that matter.  Again we thank Francis for sending this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=JVAhr4hZDJE&vq=medium#t=19

and wonder why we NEVER here news about Pres. Obama's Communist Chinese brother while he sold America to the Communist

Chinese.   It appears not to be a coincidence that the media is fully-owned by the Military-Industrial Complex (CBS: Westinghouse; ABC: GE, etc) .   Whether-or-not you believe that Government was overthrown in 1963, you cannot deny that it made a 180 degree change over the next half-century, and began by taking America off the silver standard and allowing the Fed to control money value and volume.   The Federal Reserve itself is an illegal organization, as America's Constitutions states that ONLY CONGRESS shall control the printing and value of money. 

Americans already support their loss of civil liberties in the name of Homeland Security, and are unwilling to intervene in Costa Rica's "boarder dispute".   As Communist China is currently building a large oil refinery in Costa Rica to process the oil they are currently drilling off the Florida Keys, we at Costa Rica News report that history is in the making, and no one is paying attention.

COSTA RICA NEWS PREPARES TO SHUT DOWN after this writer took a 2-week trip to the United States of America.  If there is a God, I can thank him for the fact that I am in Costa Rica, and came when I did. In all of my travels, I have NEVER seen such inefficiency, arrogance, apathy and indifference from even people of authority and in law enforcement.  The scrapping of the Constitution has made little Hitlers of most police.  In Costa Rica, one walks into a store with a camera, and people flock to smile, have pictures taken, and display their wares.  In the United States, they run like mice to stop any picture taking, as this is somehow a terrorist threat.  However without knowing it, the average American has his photo taken hundreds of times every day.

Whether-or-not one believes that the US Government was overthrown in 1963, the fact is that no President has run the Country since.  In the beginning (1963+) potential leaders were simply "eliminated" (two Kennedeys, Malcom X, ML King, etc) and soon a machine evolved to simply disgrace and exile them (E. Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, etc.).  911 provided a vehicle for 5700 secret (Public and Private) "security agencies" to operate with unlimited funding and impunity around the world. Letters (electronic or snailmail), phone message, web pages and any form of communication are all monitored by computers whose abilities defy imagination. Journalists who don't play ball are simply added to Terrorist and No-Fly lists. Expressing one's opinion can also place you on one of those lists, depending upon what (non-professional yahoo) happens to read-or-hear it.  There is an official mandate requiring that any protest group (animal rights, anti-war, political etc.) be placed on these lists---INCLUDING ANYONE WHO CONTRIBUTES MONEY TO THESE GROUPS!. 

My 85-year-old mother was treated (by airport police) in a manner that would make any Communist Chinese Soldier proud, and I was threatened with arrest when reminding them of their manners.  In the land of the free and the home of the brave, in which I grew up, I found Americans neither free nor brave.  With all the "green talk" going around, I shudder to think how many millions of barrels of fuel and how many millions of tons of pollution result from the new road designs on a daily basis.  Each time I "ran out to the store", the process took hours of driving through mazes, asking directions, making U-turns (because all roads in SW Fl. have "islands" that prevent making any left turns) and sitting at red traffic lights.  Filling up the gas tank on my mother's car was also an eye-opener, as the gas stations demanded that I tell them exactly how much it would cost to fill the tank before I could pump.

CNN reports this morning that BP is well into the black.  British Petroleum is the most-prevalent brand in SW Florida, but in typical American fashion their green-and-white gas stations are missing the BP logo, and now display names like VALERO or SHOPPE to hide the truth.  Meanwhile, scientists are following with fear huge underwater clouds containing a mixture of Corexit and crude.  The British sprayed millions of gallons of Corexit in the Gulf of Mexico while banning its use in their own country.  The War on Terror began when the US agreed to sell $130 million worth of arms to Iran, then refused to ship it (or return the money). That was the cause of the hostage-taking, and then even that was used to get rid of Carter and install Reagan.  It amazed me when Bush I took office after 8 years in the White House (& 20 in the CIA), and said: "Holy crap, we're broke!  How did that happen?"  Gee, I wonder how.  A major reason for killing JFK was to eliminate the silver standard for American money, and since then the dollar  has been traded on the Wall Street casino.

During my two weeks in Florida, I heard hundreds of political campaign ads.  Not one---NOT ONE---of those ads said: "Hi, I'm Joe Blow and I'm running for dog catcher.  I want to tell you who I am and why you should vote for me."   Instead the name of Joe's opponent appears for the entire minute while some anonymous voice describes how he lied, cheated and stole his way through life.  During that same period, Government hired a think tank to see if they could hack into the election computers. They did so so easily that they put Pac Man games and music on the same machines people were voting on. While getting into the election system, they learned that Iran and Communist China were already there.  After every voter served under a President that the American people voted against, it amazes me that anyone would bother to vote.

So what is left?  Privacy?---no   Civil Liberties?---no   A Constitution to protect Americans?--- No.  Secure communications?---no   Freedom of speech and Assembly?---no  A free and democratic election system---No.  A dozen years ago when I left SW Florida, police cars were proudly painted:  TO PROTECT AND SERVE.  Now, in letters twice the size, they say LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.  TV complains on a regular basis that Americans have no jobs and are being evicted from their homes (BOA did 100,000 foreclosures in October) ,  yet when I called Delta airlines to verify that my flight was on-time, an Indian from a call center assured me: Yes sir.  Your plane she fly like the wind on-time.  My plane arrived two days later, and my luggage still has not made it.  I listened to the Congressional Hearings when they were handing out $trillions borrowed from Communist China.  The money was given (to the very banks now throwing Americans out of their homes) only after assurances that they would save money by moving corporate facilities to Communist China where the labor is cheap. 

A new word has entered the dictionary:  ROBOSIGNING .  Because banks don't employ enough Americans to throw enough families  out of their homes, they have developed a computer system to crank out the paperwork for LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.  As with all computer systems, there are problems.  Americans are thrown out of their homes using paperwork where signatures don't match and were notarized before they were signed.  The only good news is that thousands of American families were afforded a few more months in their homes until real people have the time to "fix these glitches".  Meanwhile during this continuing financial crisis, the 8000 new IRS agents are settling in, and the retiring IRS agents have formed a new industry advertising to hire them to "stop IRS attacks".  This is an America in which I am pleased to have left.  For this article (and others) I'm certain my name is in many of the 57,000 reports sent monthly by those "professionals" who now guard America's borders. I doubt many of them will be read, but certainly my name will appear in some of them.  Do not expect a Costa Rica News 2011.

AS THE US CELEBRATES  the fact that only 100,000 Americans lost their jobs in September,  Government's best buddies, the Communist Chinese, face off against Norway.  When a jailed non-communist Chinaman was nominated by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for his efforts to get the Communists to treat non-Communists like human beings, Communist China warned the Nobel Committee to take his name off the list 'or else".      This is exactly what happened when the US Navy had a ship in International Waters in the South China Sea.  Of course, the United States ran with its tail between its legs, but Norway did not and gave the Chinaman the Peace Prize.  Now let's see what "or else" means.

We thank  Francis again for sending us this piece of US news: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/business/04mortgage.html?_r=2&src=me&ref=general

detailing how the huge international banks that got trillions of American dollars so they could throw unemployed Americans from their homes have been doing so illegally.  Some eviction notices were notarized before they were signed, many signatures of the same person are very different, etc..  It is interesting that the American foreclosure rate is almost exactly the American unemployment rate.

WE ALSO THANK DAVID for sending us this article on Seattle's new BUNKS FOR DRUNKS program.  Taxpayers are now buying booze for alcoholics and hiring Civil Service staff to make the booze runs. This program has proven so much cheaper than trying to get them off booze, that other cities are considering implementing the program:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/03/MNMU1FL996.DTL

...And again we thank David for sending us this info: 

Here in Costa Rica, we have received quite a surprise as our rainy season has ended early.  This is a wonderful opportunity to write to  INFO (AT) 1DREAMGETAWAY.COM and spend some time in Paradise, as there are no crowds and  many discounts.  Think about it!

HISTORY CONTINUES TO REPEAT ITSELF, AS AMERICA BECOMES UN-AMERICAN  We remind you that 70 years ago, our dear friends, the Japanese (who are now commercial whaling, imprisoning Americans who film the proof, and now virtually own Hawaii) snuck into Hawaii to kill thousands of innocent American men, women and children who were peacefully living their lives and maintaining Navy ships). Over the next four years, they killed a million more and Americans went broke protecting themselves.  The Japanese are a race without a conscience and did things such as forcing American POW's into foxholes and pouring drums of diesel on them before igniting it.

Fighting two wars simultaneously, America found them a formidable foe until the only President with something between his legs nuked Hiroshima and demanded surrender.  The Japs refused, so Truman nuked Nagasaki and they gave up.  To repay Japan for the unimaginable torture and murder, America sent them money it desperately needed for itself and converted its old automobile factories back to making cars while sending Japan all new equipment and the expertise to use it.  In short order, Americans were driving Toyotas instead of Chevy's. Recently, when Toyota learned their cars were killing people and dangerous to drive, they immediately went to work in Japan to fix the problem while keeping it a secret from Americans.

The Communist Chinese have also tortured and killed millions of Americans, and for that they were given Wal-Mart and now ownership of the United States. In a recent trip to Communist Korea to free kidnapped Americans, Pres. Carter was unable to meet with its leaders as they were meeting with their friends (the Communist Chinese and Japan) in China. As thanks to America for giving them its manufacturing technology, equipment and jobs, Communist China learned it could put melamine (a chemical used in the plastic crap they send us) to into America's food products to fool testers into believing it actually met minimum standards. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Americans, their children and their pets, suffered and died. They even sold automobile antifreeze in capsules as baby teething medicine.  America now promotes Viet Nam as Paradise for family vacations.

When the Saudis attacked America in a similar manner as Japan (years earlier) there were similar casualties and damage.  Bush (with nothing between his legs) used that as an excuse to kill a man who had threatened his father years earlier, and America went broke in Iraq as it did in WWII (Americans still pay 10% of their phone bills to the Government as an "emergency war tax").  In the process, the Saudis got so rich they started Dubai, millions of terrorists were created and well-organized with American money.  When Americans suffered natural disasters (like New Orleans), there was no National Guard to help, as they were helping the camelshaggers half way arou8nd the world.

One of the 7 Man-Made Wonders of the World is America's highway system. and it is now collapsing (literally) and very little of the $trillions borrowed from Communist China will go to fix it---even though one-in-ten Americans are out of work and being evicted from their homes by the financial institutions their tax money bailed out.  As Bush ran up a record deficit and America's economy collapsed, Iraq was left with an $80 billion BUDGET SURPLUS!!!  Now that America is out of Iraq and the Taliban have moved in (they really weren't there before the "war"), America is rebuilding Iraq's Navy after physically being thrown out of the South China Sea.  At least Pres. Hussein Obama is reacting by forcing EVERY American to buy health insurance (whether-or-not he wants it or can afford it), disbanding the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution, and hiring 8000 IRS Agents to go after Americans while using $millions of Federal dollars to defend the rights of those who are in America illegally to sue Arizona for trying to direct the dwindling amount of American dollars to Americans. 

In local news, we point out that EVERY person in Costa Rica is required to carry proof that they are here LEGALLY. Roadblocks are set up around Costa Rica and police check papers for every person in a car or bus.  No police officer is shy about asking anyone to show their papers, and those who cannot are immediately deported without a trial. Still American police stand to protect the illegals in Arizona while they deface the flag and chant American hate in Spanish.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/Arizona-protest-flag-desecration.htm

MAYBE IT WILL BE MORE THAN A WORLD WAR as, for the first time, UFO's go mainstream.  It looks like Uncle Sam may finally come clean about Roswell and what has happened since.  We supply the link here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS166901+15-Sep-2010+PRN20100915?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r1:c0.455100:b37476470:z0

and thank David for sending it along......

.....and coincidentally we received this the same day from Francis.  It puts into doubt whether a plane really flew into the Pentagon on 911:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY-gmzxnaVs

COMMON SENSE DISAPPEARS AROUND THE WORLD as American media treats a lesbian named Gaga as the new Commander-In-Chief while she extols the virtues of a homosexual American military.  More young Americans die in Afghanistan while making friends with camelshaggers. In Pakistan, attacks against aid workers increase by 300% as they attempt to help flood victims (the same ones who are guarding Osama Bin Laden).

America's real Commander-In-Chief, Pres. Hussein Obama, speaks to Muslims assuring them that Ground Zero is the perfect place for Supermosque while rounding-up the troops to threaten a preacher who wants to burn a book.  CNN floods the airwaves with interviews with fine, upstanding Muslims who remind us that we all worship the same God, yet even on the anniversary of 911 there were no replays of Muslims around the world dancing in the streets and burning American flags as the World Trade Center fell.  As Mayor Bloomberg defends the new mosque, former Mayor Giuliani finally makes sense in saying: "Yes, the Constitution gives them the right to build a mosque at Ground Zero---but that same Constitution gives a preacher the right to burn a Quran in Florida."

Here in Costa Rica, we get American broadcast networks on Amnet from Denver.  For weeks we have been watching the drastic measures they are taking to make it through their budget shortfalls.  They are firing teachers and charging kids to ride school busses---but the lawyers who work in the Colorado Supreme Court building feel their offices are not swanky enough, so $300 million is being spent for a facelift.  Today's headlines are of a kid sitting in jail because he punched another kid.  This is headline news because the Puncher is white while the Punchee is black.  I guess that guy won't be invited to the White House for a beer with the president. 

Meanwhile, Vick is again a superhero and setting a fine example for Americans, while some of the dogs he trained for fighting are still being rehabilitated.  The majority had to be put down.

As America forgets what the Muslims did on Sept. 11, 2001, so they forget what the Japanese did on Dec. 7, 1941. REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR is never spoken as the commercial whalers are currently meeting with Communist North Korea in Communist China while Wal-Mart shoppers pay their bills. The media also never runs Sam Walton's original ads promising: EVERY PRODUCT WE SELL AT WAL-MART IS AMERICAN-MADE.   As Communist China threw the American Navy out of the South China Sea, now they face off against Japan and our predictions of an upcoming world war continue.

Government remains mystified as to why Americans don't have jobs, while all technical issues with "American" products are resolved by towel heads in India.  GM hopes to raise $billions with its IPO so it can send equipment and technology to Communist China as it did to Japan 70 years ago.  All these problems will be readily resolved by dropping Social Security and raising taxes.  No wonder they are so anxious to eliminate the 2nd Amendment.  Records were shattered in August as the banks who received $trillions (because they are too big to fail) evicted unprecedented numbers of American families from their homes.

On the home front, we are rounding up our rainy season.  Everything is lush and green, and locals are hoping you will soon be coming to Costa Rica resorts so they can go back to work.  Write to INFO (AT) 1DREAMGETAWAY.COM so we can help.

THANKS TO FRANCIS for forwarding this suggestion of what Gen George would have said about current events:

This is how General George S. Patton might sum things up....and then catch holy hell from Ike.

He sure had a unique way of expressing his thoughts.

ATTENTION!


To ALL those whining, panty-waisted, pathetic Citizens, it's time for a little refresher course on exactly why we Americans occasionally have to fight wars to keep this nation great.


See if you can tear yourself away from your"reality" TV and Starbucks for a minute, pull your head out of your ass -- and LISTEN UP!!


Abu Ghraib is not "torture" or an "atrocity."

Got that ?

THIS IS an atrocity!

We apologize that the photos would not reproduce, but you get the idea.  Locally, there is not much news and things are quiet.  This would be a great time for you to plan your Costa Rica vacation with 1 Dream Getaway.

THE NEW AMERICA EMERGES on the 911 anniversary,  as the President and military stand with the Muslims and against a Florida preacher who wants to burn the Quran. They promote the warm relationship between Americans and Islam while the 911 mosque moves ahead and the 911 Memorial remains stalled.  In the new free democratic country of Iraq (which Americans went broke to form) our Muslim brethren announce that: "If one Queran is burned, there will not be one Christian left alive in Iraq."

At home, the Pan-American highway (from Alaska to Panama) is closed in parts of Costa Rica due to landslides.  This means the route is closed from the Central Valley (where 3/4 of Costa Rican live) to 1 Dream Getaway Territory (the Northern Pacific).  You can see a photo on AM Costa Rica (  http://www.amcostarica.com/  ).  We have had heavy rains this rainy season, but mostly at night with beautiful sunny days.  Festivities for our first female president were attended by those who live in San Jose.

This leaves tourism for those who fly into SJO going to the beaches on the Caribbean side, where crime is always a problem and a 65-year-old man was murdered yesterday in Limon while lying on the beach.  LIR is open and ready for anyone who wishes to come enjoy Paradise (without any worries about your person or belongings)  with 1 Dream Getaway.  Our modern, new shopping centers and plazas are losing tenants as there have not been enough tourists to support them.  Traffic is light,

COSTA RICA NEWS 2008, 2009 AND 2010 have all recommended that you read a book by Richard Nixon entitled 1999.  The lesson to be learned is that while American's think in terms of "quarters" (a company's performance in 3 months), communists think in terms of generations.  We also provided a link to Pres. Eisenhower's speech warning Americans about the military/industrial complex.  On the 5th anniversary of Katrina, the media shows the horror, laments at Government's lack of response, and speculates that the reason is racism. NO ONE BUT COSTA RICA NEWS reminds us of the facts: The facts are:

1. A Saudi named Osama Bin Laden organized an attack against America using Saudis educated by Americans.

2. In response, Bush attacked Iraq.

3. The Iraq attack turned all Muslims against the US while Americans were forced to pay five-times the amount they were previously paying to the Saudis for the oil upon which they depend.

4. When Americans were unwilling to sign up to live with the camelshaggers, soldiers of fortune were used (Blackwater, Halliburton (the industrial/military complex)) after the National Guard was activated and served multiple tours of duty.

5. The experienced and trained personnel, along with the extensive and expensive equipment set-aside to GUARD THE NATION were all with the Arabs when they were needed in the United States. They remain there today (although shifting from Iraq to Afghanistan).

6. For this reason, the nation remains unguarded and unprotected.

No economist is now predicting an end to America's rising unemployment---or even the Recession supposedly ended by the TARP.  To build any substantial structure, you first need a foundation. What is America's foundation? When jobs, equipment, technology and manufacturing have all been shipped to Communist China, India and Taiwan, what work are Americans to seek? As Pres. Carter returns from North Korea after freeing an American hostage, the heads of North Korea and Japan are meeting in Communist China to finish the job of converting America to their system of government. With America beyond-broke and hopelessly in debt to Communist China.  With America's military so spread out half way across the world.  With no National Guard home to guard the Nation, it seems the communist plan is nearly complete and we have only to sit back and see what happens.

We now know that America's attempt to "secure the nation" after 911 was, in fact, the formation of 1200 "Intelligence Agencies" which generate 50,000 monthly "reports". Costa Rica News asks: Who reads those reports, and how do they protect the nation?  America's downfall is the result of excessive bureaucracy, and it tries to fix it by creating more.

THANKS AGAIN TO DAVID for sending this interesting link:  http://video.foxnews.com/v/4320615/following-the-mosque-money-trail/?playlist_id=87485  Costa Rica News wonders, along with the rest of the world, what on earth Americans are doing.  After the Saudis attacked NYC and killed thousands, the US attacked Iraq (run by a CIA employee, who pissed off his ex-boss (GHW Bush) which quintupled the amount of money they sent to the Saudis and financed Dubai. As we speak, $billions are being given to Iraq (the new Arab democracy) as hundreds continue to die in the streets from bombs while those $billions are being borrowed from the Communist country of the president's brother and America continues to boycott Cuba because they are communist.

Meanwhile, after seeing Russia go broke in Afghanistan, Pres. Hussein Obama is again amassing America's might and wealth to dig-in there while continuing to borrow the money from Communist China. After sending $100 million (along with all of its equipment and technology) to Communist China, GM is doing an Initial Public Offering pretending to be a new company after Pres. Hussein borrowed money from Communist China to give to GM so they could spend it in Communist China.  Meanwhile the US continues to insist that terrorists are not Muslims and continues to promote them through the military so they can mow down soldiers on base and keep apprised of America's strategies.

WE PREDICT that the entire house of cards begins to fall when the ludicrous 0% Prime Rate disappears and Americans see what they must pay to the communists in eternal interest.  When I worked for GM, it was the world's largest company. When I worked for Uncle Sam, it was the world's only super power. Today, 6 of 10 Pakistanis openly say they hate America as Americans continue to borrow money from Communist China to rebuild flooded Pakistan while Americans continue to lose their jobs and homes.

LOCALLY we're getting lots of rain, and mostly at night.  Days are generally sunny and in the mid-80's.  Here's the rest of local news:

ICE's 3G Network Problems: Phones Not Receiving Incoming Calls
You have checked your phone again and again, taken out the battery, turned it back on and made calls, but no one has called you since yesterday.  Well, like us at Inside Costa Rica, you are one hundreds,  thousands, maybe tens of thousands, caught in ICE's failing network.

Security Minister Criticized For Not Knowing How Many Police Officers Costa Rica Needs
A study by the Contraloría General de la República (Comptroller General's Office) found significant deficiencies in the process of recruitment of police officers by the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública (Ministry of Public Security).



Careless Drivers Responsible For At Least 11 Traffic Deaths This Year
According to figures of the Dirección de Tránsito of the 196 traffic fatalities this year, at 11 were due to the carelessness of drivers, similar to the fatal accident earlier this week when the driver of truck took his eyes off the road to read, slamming into the rear of a dump truck, killing himself and his passenger instantly.



Jorge Rojas Could Become Costa Rica's Next Fiscal General
At least seven names are being bounced around for the position of Fiscal General de la Republica (Attorney General), to replace Francisco Dall'Anese Ruiz who resigned earlier this month to head the Comisión Internacional Contra la Impunidad in Guatemala.

Panama Can Be More Expensive Than Costa Rica
Today (Thursday 26 August) was the first day of the monthly ARCR seminar for potential retirees. I always make it a point to chat with other lecturers about current trends in Costa Rica and the rest of Central America.



60 Homes Flooded In Desamparados
The rains of Thursday caused many problems in Desamparados, south side of San José, especially in areas of El Llano, where the local river overflowed its banks, causing flooding.



More Than Half Of Costa Ricans Use Internet Daily
A poll by CID-Gallup reveals that 53% of Costa Ricans connect to the internet on a daily basis and 52% have a computer in their homes, with the average age of users is 29.



Former President Rodriguez Chastised By Court For Interfering With Witnesses
During the trial of of ICE-Alcatel case, the judges have imposed precautionary measures against former president Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, who with others faces corruption charges.
 

IT'S JUST ABOUT FINISHED as two countries who have killed millions of Americans and worked for generations toward world domination can now brag that their combined economies are much-larger than that of the United States.  Japan was rewarded with America's wealth and technology for their first-ever attack on the US.  Since then, hundreds-of-thousands of Americans have died in various locations at the hands of Communist China, and the latest news is that of the tens-of-thousands of suicides at a Communist Chinese sweatshop where America's cell phones and computers are made. GM is filing for an IPO after taking hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to ship American technology and equipment to Communist China as Wal-Mart shoppers keep the cash flowing.  Wal-Mart gained its popularity by advertising: WE WILL ALWAYS PROMISE THAT EVERY WAL-MART PRODUCT IS AMERICAN-MADE.  The world can now thank Communist China for taking #1 spot as the largest polluter. America is still unable to build a 911 Memorial as Pres. Hussein defends construction of a 15-story Mosque at the site.

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency.  It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president.  The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr.  Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America .  Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.  The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool.  It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

SAME OLD SAME OLD as there is no real international news.  Tens of thousands of Americans join unemployment lines each month as the unemployment rate drops and Government plays with numbers.  Social Security is beyond broke and there is talk of stiffing people who worked hard all of their lives and believed in their country. , but there are still $billions/month for Americans to make friends with camelshaggers---and, of course, $millions for Mrs. Hussein Obama to tour Italy.  After Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi, recruited Saudis to attack New York, America went broke attacking Iraq, whose President was a former CIA employee; and ten years later America is unable to build a 911 Memorial while a 15 story Mosque rises through the rubble.

Here in 1 Dream Getaway Territory it is wet, and we are having the wettest rainy season I've encountered---although the temps remain between 70 and 85 and the sun is glorious when out. US Navy ships and Blackhawks are assembling in Limon as rumor has it that the Contras are back in Nicaragua.  Of all the places in the world, there is nowhere I would rather be---and we still invite you to join us by writing INFO (AT) 1DREAMGETAWAY.COM.  Here is more of what is happening locally:

COSTA RICA
Use Electrified Fences Growing To Combat Insecurity
Electrified fences are common in many residential communities and private homes in the Central Valley and farms around the country and without any government regulations as to their use or requirement to post any signs or warnings.


Changes To New Traffic Law May Get Final Approval This Week
Tomorrow or the day following is a key day in the controversy of the reforms to the new Ley de Tránsito that went into effect on March 1, 2010 and has been modified by motions during that two weeks.

COSTA RICA
Vehicular Restrictions Not To Apply To Light Commercial Vehicles
Light commercial vehicles can now circulate San José without respect of the vehicular restrictions. The change was included in a recent decree published in La Gaceta, lifting the prohibition of light commercial vehicles from entering San José depending on the last digit of the license plate.

COSTA RICA
Costa Ricans Drink In Moderation, Study Reveals
A study produced by the Latin American School of Sciences reveals that only 5% of Costa Ricans drink heavily, consuming about 65% of the alcohol sold in the country. The study also shows that 57% of all Costa Ricans drink alcohol, but do so in moderation.

COSTA RICA
San José By Night
Don't know San José by night? Well, take note, the Municipalidad de San José may soon be offering "cultural night tours".

COSTA RICA
No Money To Hire More Traffic Cops, Vice Minister Explains
The list of people who want to join the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) force is long with the anticipated 400 positions promised by the government in December 2008. However, to date, only 80 people have been hired and they expected to take to the streets by the middle May, beginning their training program last December.

COSTA RICA
Boyeros In Escazú
More tha 200 boyeros took San Antonio de Escazú on Sunday in the traditional annual activity.

COSTA RICA
Customer Finds Keys Dangling From Bank Door
Imagine going to the ATM machine and finding the keys to the bank hanging from the lock of the door? Well, that is exactly what happened ot Ingrid Barquero, when Saturday night she went to the HSBC branch in Goicoechea.

1. 

   What is the current huge military build-up in Costa Rica about? Why are so many warships heading to the Costa Rica port of LImon?

   To combat drug trafficking. So far only one ship, the USS iwo jima is scheduled to reach port next month.

   insidecostarica answered 2 weeks ago

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2. 

   An alleged serial murderer in Panama had a fake passport issued by the Dutch Em. in San Jose CR. Wm Cortez Reese. Anyone know him. Interpol is looking for him!

   He is caught. Surrendered when facing down the machine guns of the Nicaraguan army. He is back or will be soon in Panama.

   insidecostarica answered MyrnaRose, 2 weeks ago

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3. 

   Are "perpetual tourists" factored into the increase in tourists arriving in Costa Rica, as you report? You know, those who must punch out / in every 90 days or so, Paso Canoas is a popular tourist entry here in Zona Sur!

   Not sure how the tourism board calculates totals. If they take the numbers from immigration, I believe it would include every one coming, including the "perpetual tourists".

   insidecostarica answered 2 weeks ago

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4.  

   Is there a transportation and traffic plan for the area around the new stadium?

   If there is one it hasn't been announced. We can only hope that one is being developed while the stadium is being built, otherwise it will be the same nightmare that is lived regularly at the Saprissa stadium in Tibas and the Morera Soto stadium in Alajuela.

   insidecostarica answered 2 weeks ago

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5. 

   what is the closest airport to Ecoplaya Beach Resort , Bahia Salinas Costa Rica?

   The closest airport is Liberia.

   insidecostarica answered 2 weeks ago

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6. 

   Retireing soon can I get medical insurance with CEMA are clinica biblika???How much month at 62 years young

   You would have contact the CIMA and the Clinica Biblica hospital for information on medical insurance, if so, you qualify and the costs.

   insidecostarica answered 2 weeks ago

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7. 

   I was recently threatened with arrest by a transito for calling him a liar and a thief (he said I was talkin on my phone which I was not, and wanted a "donation" which Is why I called a liar then a thie)f,,, My question is do they have arrest authority?

   They do. And they also carry a gun.

   insidecostarica answered 2 weeks ago

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8. Could you provide exact directions of how to get to the drivers license center --..

   For directions it all depends on where you are coming from.The licensing centre is located in La Uruca, next to the Banco Nacional, across the street from the Mercedes dealership, up the street from the Fiat dealership or Land Rover, depending on your ups and downs, east of the immigration office and west of Barrio Mexico. The rule of thumb in Costa Rica is to ask three people for directions and follow the one that makes most sense to you, not necessarily the correct one, which then you will ask three more people, and so on.

   insidecostarica answered 5 weeks ago

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9. 

   DO YOU HAVE TO GET A PHYSICAL TO GET A DRIVERS LICENSE--REQUIREMENTS--EYE TEST ECT--

   Yes, but all it entails is a "licensed doctor asking you a bunch of questions and giving you a once over" and a blood test and placing a bunch of stamps on a form with his signature.

   insidecostarica answered 5 weeks ago

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10. 

    what is cost of litre of gas in cr

    Super is ¢618; regular ¢586; and diesel ¢518. All prices are listed on the Recope website at: http://www.recope.go.cr/info_clientes/precios_productos/

    insidecostarica answered 5 weeks ago

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11. 

    In your article about the bad roads, would it be possible to put these on a google map so everyone can see where these bad sport are?

    A good suggestion and one to be considered.

    insidecostarica answered 5 weeks ago

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12. 

    Are the measurements given in Costa Rica recipes the same as those up North? Cup/Taza...8oz... or the slightly larger 250ml Tablespoon/Cucharada...1/2oz... or the slightly larger 15ml Teaspoon/Cucharadita...1/3 Tbsp... or the slightly larger 5ml

    Depends on who is giving you the recipe.

    insidecostarica answered 5 weeks ago

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13. Of the last six presidents of Costa Rica, who and how many are accused, under indictment, found guilty and/or have fled the country for some type of corruption?

    Former president Rafael Angel Calderon was found guilty and is currently appealing his sentence. Former president Miguel Angel Rodrigues is currently in trial. And Former president Jose Maria Figueres Olsen, although never charged with anything, lives in Switzerland and has so far refused to return to Costa Rica to face a legislative committee who has questions for him.

WHY ASK???,  as we know we will not get the truth. For those of you who watched Tony Haywood's (BP CEO) testimony before Congress, we were amazed that the CEO of this mega-corporation was not involved in any of the major decisions and had such a poor memory of what he was told.  As 150,000 Americans joined unemployment lines in June, the unemployment rate actually went down by 3%. Congress did, however, act by refusing more unemployment benefits and brought America to a record million Americans/month who will be put out on the streets by the banks who received $trillions in US welfare and paid $billions to their execs in Christmas bonuses.  Meanwhile the overall health of Americans continues to decline as they pay absorbitant prices for Chinese-made drugs in Government's move to move all manufacturing offshore while trying to figure out what the Second Amendment says.

Pres Hussein did find time to give BP another contract to deep-well American oil as it was disclosed that pressure from BP brought about the release of the Lockerby Bomber back to Libya in return for a $billion oil contract.   Costa Rica News once-again thanks Francis for sending the following (which clearly-describes the character of the leader of the Free World):

Once someone lies to me, I see no reason to listen to him again. The above four photos were taken within a year of the time Barrack Hussein Obama assured the press that he had never met Rod Blogojevich after the Chicago mobster got caught in FBI wiretaps selling Obama's former senate seat.  At this writing, Hussein is awaiting NASA to share America's most advanced technology with Muslim nations before NASA shuts down and Communist China (where Hussein's brother lives) readies their moon shot.

WE RECENTLY HEARD A RUMOR that Ortega (Nicaragua) had plans to re-annex Guanacaste (1 Dream Getaway Territory).  Around the time of the American Civil War, Guanacaste became Costa Rica by popular vote.  As Costa Rica has not had armed forces since 1948, we are under the protection of the US.  Now 46 war ships and 7000 US troops are headed here. Here is the rest of today's news:

US Military Surge in Costa Rica May Fan Regional Tensions
In a controversial decision that is likely to fan the flames of regional tensions in Latin America, Costa Rica recently granted the US permission to move 7,000 troops and 46 warships (along with their accompanying planes and helicopters) into Costa Rican waters.

Gasoline Cheaper This Morning

The price of a litre of gasoline is cheaper today, as the first price reduction took effect at 12:01am following the publication of the approval in La Gaceta. The next reduction, approved earlier this week, will take effect next month.

Baby Girl First Born At New Heredia Hospital
Sofía Mora González is the first baby to be born at the new Heredia hospital that began operating on Thursday. The little girl was born at 11:06am, several hours after the hospital opened its doors to its first patients.

Chinchilla Looks To China For "Fast Cash" To Tackle Insecurity Problems In Costa Rica
The government of Laura Chinchilla is serious about curbing crime and insecurity in Costa Rica, so much that it is seriously considering reaching out to China for a financial hand. At least that is the plan when Costa Rica sits down next to negotiate cooperation projects with the government of China.
 

Here We Go Again, Dollar Exchange Drops ¢21 In Last Two Weeks

Here we go again and just when you thought it was safe to trade your dollars for colones again, placing your confidence in the words of the president of the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR), Rodrigo Bolaños, to stabilize the dollar exchange.

Following a high on July 2 of ¢531.44 for the buy and ¢541.67 of the sell of one U.S. dollar, the exchange rate this morning is, as set by the BCCR, ¢509.71 and ¢520.36, respectively.

That is a drop of ¢21 colones. And curiously enough the drop occurs on the middle and end of the month,  when most of us have to trade our dollars for colones to pay things like salaries, the electric bill, etc, and then quickly rising days following.

As one reader writes, "next time I will pay them (bills) early. (Yeah sure!)".

Unfortunately that sentiment is felt by most of us and like our reader we will soon forget and get caught up in the cycle again.

Worst is that there seems to be no reasonable pattern to this up and down. As we take a look at the movement of other currencies, like the Colombian Peso or the Nicaraguan Córdoba, for instance, we do not see the same movements of ups and downs like a "yo-yo".

Those currency exchanges seem to keep stable, fluctuating slightly during a week or month period.

IN NOT-SO-LOCAL NEWS we share the following letter from a sniper in Afghanistan. It reminds me of a friend who, years ago, had to build Afghanistan's airport and train the locals to maintain the aircraft. "They had no word in their dictionary for SCREWDRIVER , Richard said, as they had never seen one." These are the guys for whom America is currently going broke (er) and for whom hundreds of America's kids are dying:

Chiggers, Sand Fleas and Scorpions!
From the Sand Pit it's freezing here.
I'm sitting on hard, cold dirt between rocks and shrubs at the base of the
Hindu Kush Mountains , along the Dar 'yoi Pomir River , watching a hole that
leads to a tunnel that leads to a cave. It's a Stake out, my friend, and no
pizza delivery for thousands of miles.

I also glance at the area around my ass every ten to fifteen seconds to
avoid another scorpion sting. I've actually given up battling the chiggers
and sand fleas, but the scorpions give a jolt like a cattle prod. Hurts
like a bastard.. The antidote tastes like transmission fluid, but God bless
the Marine Corps for the five vials of it in my pack.

The one truth the Taliban cannot escape is that, believe it or not, they are
human beings, which means they have to eat food and drink water. That
requires couriers and that's where an old bounty hunter like me comes in
handy. I track the couriers, locate the tunnel entrances and storage
facilities, type the info into the handheld, shoot the coordinates up to the
satellite link that tells the air commanders where to drop the hardware. We
bash some heads for a while, then I track and record the new movement.

It's all about intelligence. We haven't even brought in the snipers yet.
These scurrying rats have no idea what they're in for. We are but days away
from cutting off supply lines and allowing the eradication to begin.

I dream of bin Laden waking up to find me standing over him with my boot on
his throat as I spit into his face and plunge my nickel-plated Bowie knife
through his frontal lobe. But you know me, I'm a romantic. I've said it
before and I'll say it again: This country blows, man. It's not even a
country. There are no roads, there's no infrastructure, there's no
government. This is an inhospitable, rock pit shit hole ruled by eleventh
century warring tribes. There are no jobs here like we know jobs.

Afghanistan offers two ways for a man to support his family: join the opium
trade or join the army. That's it. Those are your options. Oh, I forgot,
you can also live in a refugee camp and eat plum-sweetened, crushed beetle
paste and squirt mud like a goose with stomach flu, if that's your idea of a
party. But the smell alone of those 'tent cities of the walking dead' is
enough to hurl you into the poppy fields to cheerfully scrape bulbs for
eighteen hours a day.

I've been living with these Tajiks and Uzbeks, and Turkmen and even a couple
of Pushtuns, for over a month-and-a-half now, and this much I can say for
sure: These guys, all of 'em, are Huns... actual, living Huns.. They LIVE
to fight. It's what they do. It's ALL they do. They have no respect for
anything, not for their families, nor for each other, nor for themselves.
They claw at one another as a way of life. They play polo with dead calves
and force their five-year-old sons into human cockfights to defend the
family honor. Huns, roaming packs of savage, heartless beasts who feed on
each other's barbarism. Cavemen with AK-47's. Then again, maybe I'm just
cranky.

I'm freezing my ass off on this stupid hill because my lap warmer is running
out of juice, and I can't recharge it until the sun comes up in a few hours.

Oh yeah! You like to write letters, right? Do me a favor, ol buddy. Write
a letter to CNN and tell Wolf and Anderson and that awful, sneering, pompous

Aaron Brown to stop calling the Taliban 'smart.' They are not smart. I
suggest CNN invest in a dictionary because the word they are looking for is
'cunning.' The Taliban are cunning, like jackals and hyenas and wolverines.
They are sneaky and ruthless, and when confronted, cowardly. They are
hateful, malevolent parasites who create nothing and destroy everything
else. Smart. Pfft. Yeah, they're real smart.

They've spent their entire lives reading only one book (and not a very good
one, as books go) and consider hygiene and indoor plumbing to be products of
the devil. They're still figuring out how to work a Bic lighter. Talking
to a Taliban warrior about improving his quality of life is like trying to
teach an ape how to hold a pen; eventually he just gets frustrated and
sticks you in the eye with it.

OK, enough. Snuffle will be up soon, so I have to get back to my hole.
Covering my tracks in the snow takes a lot of practice, but I'm good at it.

Please, I tell you and my fellow Americans to turn off the TV sets and move
on with your lives. The story line you are getting from CNN and other news
agencies is utter bullshit and designed not to deliver truth but rather to
keep you glued to the screen through the commercials. We've got this one
under control The worst thing you guys can do right now is sit around
analyzing what we're doing over here, because you have no idea what we're
doing, and really, you don't want to know. We are your military, and we are
doing what you sent us here to do.

Saucy Jack
Recon Marine in Afghanistan
Semper Fi

"Freedom is not free...but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your
share".

PRESIDENT HUSSEIN OBAMA REACHES OUT TO HIS BROTHERS, in an effort to share America's best technology with terrorists. Thanks to David for sending this along:   http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/05/nasa-chief-frontier-better-relations-muslims/#content

THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO FRANCIS AND THE AUSTRALIANS for this video:

 http://www.resistnet.com/profiles/blogs/australian-60-minutes-video-of?xg_source=activity

(we suggest you watch it before it disappears) showing the magnitude and cause of the destruction of America's only sea.  Now why would one suppose Obama would permit BP to drill an even deeper well in Alaska given current circumstances?

ARE THE COMMUNISTS READY TO MOVE???  US financial analysts predict a Treasury Bond rate of 4.5% by the end of this year (up from 3.1%).  If they are right, US interest payments to Communist China will exceed the total American military budget. Obviously they don't have the money, so the only solution is to borrow more money from the communists to pay their interest. This appears to be digging a hole from which there is no exit.  At the same time, declared (only the declared!) amount of cash being flown out of Afghanistan equals $1 billion for each Al Qaeda member in that country, and more American young men have died there this year than the total number of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Is this making sense to anyone else?

Here's what's happening locally at the end of the 4th Weekend:

WELL-SAID as Clinton gives his view on America's "wars".  "It has to be a home game if you want to win.", he explained. In Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan, they play as long as they want---but they know eventually we have to go home.  Then things return as they were.  Costa Rica News is still wondering what America is trying to "win", and how they will know if they are winning and hundreds more of America's young people continue to die.

Meanwhile, America's unemployment rate went down in June as 125,000 more Americans lost their jobs. This because Government stopped counting those who have been looking for six months or more. A "double-dip depression" is feared, as the $trillions borrowed from Communist China to give to banks and insurance companies has failed to start America's engine.

As millions of gallons of oil per day continue pumping into the Gulf of Mexico, Obama and MMS are giving BP another shot by permitting a deeper well in Alaska.  Lies appear to be flowing as fast as the oil.  

Now here is our 4th of July news:

San José - Caldera To Re-Open In Five Days. Maybe.
Although earlier this week the minsitro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT),Francisco Jimenez, hinted that the 11 kilometres of the San José - Caldera could re-open by this weekend, the MOPT has put off the decision waiting for a new report this coming Tuesday.

Costa Rica's Constitutional Court Orders A Stop To Same Sex Marriage Referendum
The Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) has ordered the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) to suspend the process of the referendum on same sex marriages that was to have been included in the December 2010 municipal elections.

Costa Rica Opens First Skin Bank
Costa Rica opened the first Central American Skin Bank, an initiative that will benefit children with burns and severe injuries. The modern bank is located in the Hospital Nacional de Niños (Children's hospital) in San José, where experts save the lives of about 30 infants every year by using dead people's skin, the Bank's coordinator Patricia Venegas said.

6% Of Students in Costa Rica Desert School At Mid-Year
Desertion following the mid-year vacation is common according to the Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP), when six out of every hundred students (6%) do not go back to school after the two week vacation.

Poverty Does Not Mean Unhappiness
Money boosts life satisfaction, but not necessarily positive feelings, study finds. A list of rankings of selected nations on types of prosperity, Costa Rica placed 4th in "positive feelings" while placing 41st in GDP/Capita.

Pacheco Says Laura Chinchilla Is Honest But Ill-Advised
Former president of Costa Rica, Abel Pacheco, in analyzing the first days of the administration of Laura Chinchilla, says "doña Laura is honest, but she is ill-advised".

Jeff Hamilton Trio in Costa Rica Vacation Event
Music in Costa Rica Announces The Jeff Hamilton Trio in Costa Rica Vacation Event November 20-27, 2010, offering a unique Costa Rica vacation event featuring the Jeff Hamilton Trio (with Special Guest Graham Dechter) performing in 3 spectacular natural settings.

WHY  1 DREAM GETAWAY IS IN BUSINESS  is evident as the X-Mrs. Douglass cannot be satisfied from receiving $45 million from their divorce 22 years ago. She's back in court suing for half of his new Wall Street movie because he made the first one when they were married.  As with the BP spill, you can bet there will be plenty of profits for the lawyers. Americans continue to spend $billions each year for law enforcement to imprison prostitutes, Johns and drug users,  while no one caught in the MMS/oil company drug/hooker parties was arrested or fired. Hussein Obama has now authorized an even-more-risky deep water well for American oil, as BP sets up to drill in Alaska. As Americans fishing/shrimping/workers in processing plants/driving trucks/etc. join the 10% of Americans out of work and having their homes repossessed (because Obama closed the 3500 off-shore rigs), America reports a record 20% increase in the Trade Deficit while Communist China reports a record 20% increase in their trade surplus. Wal-Mart shoppers continue to support the Communists while crying that there are no more manufacturing jobs.  The huge spy ring from Communist Russia is finally exposed---but likely will walk as have the Communist Chinese spies caught in the past. Meanwhile Cuba just wants to buy from the struggling US stores, but cannot---as there is an embargo because they are communists.

DOES ANYONE SEE SOMETHING WRONG IN THIS PICTURE???

Thanks to Francis for sending this:

THE PLAN IS ALMOST COMPLETE as Communist China reports a 20% quarterly increase in GNP and exports as the US brags about a decreasing rate in the decline.  The river of oil continues to flow into America's sea as the foreign perpetrator buries its victims in paperwork and (as always) lawyers are really cashing in. Americans remain in jail for trying to stop Japan's illegal whaling as the international community legalizes whaling and morality collapses around the world. As investors speculate that another Recession looms and the Gulf states lose their livelihoods, Obama reacts by shutting down all rigs that provide the remaining income for the Gulf states.  With so much to report in the news, the media is concentrating on people kicking a soccer ball in Africa while reminding us that Michael Jackson is still dead. Here's what's happening in our neck of the woods:

COSTA RICA

Elective Surgeries And Consults With Specialists Cancelled On Thursday Due To Strike By Doctors At State Hospitals
Elective surgeries and consults with specialists were either cancelled or rescheduled yesterday due to the strike by doctors who joined the residents strike at state hospitals. Some of the cancellations had been programmed up to two years ago.

Zero Tolerance For Drinking and Driving
Seven of the eight legislative parties are looking for a zero tolerance to drinking and driving in discussing the reforms to the Ley de Tránsito, that is currently at the commission level and soon to before the legislative assembly for voting.

SADLY THE NEW AMERICAN WAY EMERGES as an American man visits his community bank and foils a bank robbery, being shot in the process. As a thank-you for saving the bank's money and customers, they refuse to pay his $75,000 in hospital bills.  Meanwhile a British company continues to pollute America's only sea with a million gallons of oil per day and dump millions of gallons of Corexit (which they manufacture and which is illegal in their own country) so the oil slick sinks and is not as photographic.  Communist China reports a huge rise in exports to America while poisoning toys, building materials and food that America no longer makes while Americans continue to lose their jobs and homes---and no one can sell to Cuba because they are communist. 
Showing their true colors, Africa defeats the US and France in the World Cup---not by playing better soccer, but by having their own umpires while Africans distract all the teams by blowing plastic horns that sound like invading mosquitoes.  FINALLY the world reacts to Japan's resumption of commercial whaling---BY LEGALIZING IT!!!

Here is the REAL latest news in the Gulf:

        ORANGE BEACH, AL -- While President Obama insists that the federal
government is firmly in control of the response to BP's spill in the Gulf,
people in coastal communities where I visited last week in Louisiana and
Alabama know an inconvenient truth: BP -- not our president -- controls the
response. In fact, people on the ground say things are out of control in the
gulf.

        Even worse, as my latest week of adventures illustrate, BP is using
federal agencies to shield itself from public accountability.

        For example, while flying on a small plane from New Orleans to
Orange Beach, the pilot suddenly exclaimed, "Look at that!" The thin red
line marking the federal restrictions of 3000 ft over the oiled Gulf region
had just jumped to include the barrier islands off Alabama!

        "There's only one reason for that," the pilot said. "BP doesn't want
the media taking pictures ofOIL ON the BEACHES. You should see the oil
that's about six miles off the coast," he said grimly. We looked down at the
wavy orange boom surrounding the islands below us. The pilot shook his head.
"There's no way those booms are going to stop what's offshore from hitting
those beaches."[NOTE these booms are absoultely USELESS -mere PR they STOP
nothing. jm]

        BP knows this as well -- boom can only deflect oil under the calmest
of sea conditions, not barricade it -- so they have stepped up their already
aggressive effort to control what the public sees.

        At the same time I was en route to Orange Beach, Clint Guidry with
the Louisiana Shrimp Association and Dean Blanchard, who owns the largest
shrimp processor in Louisiana, were in Grand Isle taking Anderson Cooper out
in a small boat to see the oiled beaches. The US COAST GUARD held up the
boat for 20 minutes - an intimidation tactic intended to stop the cameras
from recording BP's damage. Luckily for Cooper and the viewing public, Dean
Blanchard is not easily intimidated.



        Credit - Clint Guidry. U.S. Coast Guard blocking media from oiled
beaches off Grand Isle, Louisiana. June 2, 2010.

        A few days later, the gig was up with the booms. Oil was making
landfall in four states and even BP can't be everywhere at once. CBS 60
Minutes Australia found entire sections of boom hung up in marsh grasses two
feet above the water off Venice. On the same day on the other side of
Barataria Bay, Louisiana Bayoukeeper documented pools of oil and oiled
pelicans inside the boom -- on the supposedly protected landward side -- of
Queen Bess Island off Grand Isle.




        Credit - Louisiana Bayoukeeper. Ineffective boom traps oil on beach;
oiled brown pelican awaits fate. Queen Bess Island, Louisiana. June 5, 2010.
This is the Island that New Orleans had spent $$$$ time - huge boulders - to
protect this santuary for PELICANS state bird which were almost extinct in
late 60s. jm

        With oil undisputedly hitting the beaches and the number of dead
wildlife mounting, BP is switching tactics. In Orange Beach, people told me
BP wouldn't let them collect carcasses. Instead, the company was raking up
carcasses of oiled seabirds. "The heads separate from the bodies," one upset
resident told me. "There's no way those birds are going to be autopsied. BP
is destroying evidence!" PEOPLE have got to get to this next meeting that
the President is supposedly having this week and ASK - We thought YOU were
in Charge? jm




        Provided by Riki Ott. Laughing gull head is separated from body
during collection, rendering it useless for autopsy. Waveland, MS. May 13,
2010.

        The body count of affected wildlife is crucial to prove the harm
caused by the spill, and also serves as an invaluable tool to evaluate
damages to public property -- the dolphins, sea turtles, whales, sea birds,
fish, and more, that are owned by the American public. Disappeared body
counts means disappeared damages -- and disappeared liability for BP. BP
should not be collecting carcasses. The job should be given to NOAA, a
federal agency, and volunteers, as was done during the Exxon Valdez oil
spill in Alaska.

        NOAA should also be conducting carcass drift studies. Only one
percent of the dead sea birds made landfall in the Gulf of Alaska, for
example. That means for every one bird that was found, another 99 were
carried out to sea by currents. Further, NOAA should be conducting aerial
surveys to look for carcasses in the offshore rips where the currents
converge. That's where the carcasses will pile up -- a fact we learned
during the Exxon Valdez spill. Maybe that's another reason for BP's "no
camera" policy and the flight restrictions.

        On Saturday June 12, people across America will stand up and speak
out with one voice to protest BP's treatment of the Gulf, neglect for the
response workers, and their response to government authority. President
Obama needs to hear and see the people waving cameras and respirators. Until
the media is allowed unrestricted access to the Gulf and impacted beaches,
BP -- not the President of United States -- will remain in charge of the
Gulf response.

        For more information on community rallies, please visit HERE.

        Marine toxicologist and Exxon Valdez survivor Riki Ott, PhD, shares
stories of oil spill impact to cleanup workers in Sound Truth and Corporate
Myths. Her latest book, Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of
the Exxon Valdez (Chelsea Green, 2008) is on social trauma of this disaster.
She is a national spokesperson with Move To Amend, a grassroots coalition
working to abolish the legal doctrine that allows corporations to claim
constitutional rights and undermine legitimate democracy.
 

In 1 Dream Getaway territory, it is still 75/85, but the rains are here. Here is what else is happening locally:

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!!  as 30,000 American young men for some reason are sent to live in sand storms to guard camelshaggers, and all of a sudden a lifetime supply of Lithium is found.  However, as America went broke making Iraq a free country, then it had a $80 billion budget surplus after America went $trillions in debt to Communist China while maintaining a trade embargo against Cuba because they are communist, surely the end result will be that Afghanistan becomes rich selling their lithium to Communist China while America borrows more money from the communists to pay for the "War in Afghanistan".  Another surprise is that the Pres. of BP is called before Congress, and "doesn't remember anything". Now here's our local news:

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica's Central Bank To Move To A Floating Exchange Rate To Stabilize The US Dollar
The exchange rate band system that is used to the fix the price of the dollar will cease to apply in the country as the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) - the Central Bank - moves to a "managed float" system.

Salud Strengthens Measures Against AH1N1 Outbreak In Costa Rica's Northern Zone
The breakout of the AH1N1 flu virus in the northern zone has Salud (Health) authorities beefing up measures in the area to control the spread of the virus.

Salud To Evict 450 From Legislative Assembly Complex
Come 2pm today (Wednesday, June 16) a group of legislative employees and executives will be on the street, literally, as the ministerio de Saud (Health Ministry) will carry out its eviction order of three buildings that make up the Legislative Assembly complex in downtown San José.

Indigenous Demand Share Of ICE Profits On Diquis Hydro Electric Project
Costa Rica's Terraba indigenous claim that the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) should give the community 10% of the profits from the "El Diquis" hydro electric project.

Porteadores Threaten Traffic Chaos
The next round of protests by the Porteadores (informal taxi operators) is expected to be very aggressive and cause tremendous headaches for drivers around the Central Valley. More than 10.000 porteadores are expected to take action against the government's inaction to resolve their complaints.

Falkland Islands Defeat Costa Rica on Day 2 at the Americas Division 4 Championship
A devastating spell of medium pace bowling from Falkland Island's Elliott Taylforth caused all the damage in today's match. He took 6 wickets for 14 runs including a hat trick and completed the overs by taking another wicket for a four wicket maiden.

Ads In Mall Now Sent By Way Of Bluetooth
When visiting the Mall San Pedro on San José east side, best is to turn off you "bluetooth", for the the Radiográfica Costarricense (Racsa) is trying out a new marketing technique, sending out commercial messages to cellular phones.

Residents Strike At State Hospitals Indefinite
The strike by more than 500 medical residents at state hospitals that began on Monday has no end in sight. Alexis Castillo, president of the Unión Médica Nacional, said the strike action is indefinite, lasting until CCSS authorities make changes to or eliminate the "Contrato de Aprendizaje".

Heavy Rains Hamper Work Progress On The San José - Caldera
How long will closure and the the work on the San José - Caldera last? Much longer if the rains keep pounding the area, according to the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT).
 

NICARAGUA
ECLAC Assesses Disaster Impact on Central America
SAN SALVADOR - The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) started on Tuesday an assessment of damages of recent weather phenomena and the increase of seismic activity in Central America.

Nine Journalists Killed This Year in Honduras
TEGUCIGALPA - The assassination of journalist Luis Arturo Mondragon brings the number of media professionals killed this year in Honduras to nine, making it the most unsafe country for journalists.

Cuba Prepared For Arrival Of Spilled Oil
HAVANA - Cuba is getting prepared for a possible arrival on their shores of the spilled oil expanding through the Gulf of Mexico, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Brazilian President Raises Pension Despite Rejections
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided on Tuesday to grant a 7.7 percent rise to the retirement benefits and pensions, to take effect in August.

Diesel Oil Spill Causes Severe Pollution In Bolivia
LA PAZ - A traffic accident of a tank truck loaded with 15,000 liters of diesel oil began affecting the natural reserve of Colorada Lagoon, located in Potosi department in the south of Bolivia, the Defense League of the Environment (Lidema) said on Tuesday.

SPECIAL REPORTS - COLOMBIA
Future Holds More of the Same
Few doubt that former defence minister Juan Manuel Santos will be the next president of Colombia, and that he will continue the policies of President Álvaro Uribe. Santos, as Uribe's heir, will basically be more of the same.

FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT, AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: As Pres. of 1 Dream Getaway, I reprint this college writing exercise to point out the difference between man and (American) women.  I cannot remember laughing so hard out loud and hope you do also:

Here's a prime example of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" offered
by an English professor from the University of Colorado for an actual class
assignment:

The professor told his class one day: "Today we will experiment with a new
form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair
off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right.

As homework tonight, one of you will write the first paragraph of a short
story. You will e-mail your partner that paragraph and send another copy to
me. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph
to the story and send it back, also sending another copy to me. The first
person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back-and-forth.

Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the
story coherent. There is to be absolutely NO talking outside of the e-mails
and anything you wish to say must be written in the e-mail. The story is
over when both agree a conclusion has been reached."

The following was actually turned in by two of his English students:
Rebecca (PINK) Bill (BLUE).

THE STORY:
(first paragraph by Rebecca)

At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The
chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now
reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he
liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off
Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too
much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the
question.

(second paragraph by Bill )

But before he could sign off a bluish particle beam
Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now
in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the
neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had
spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17," he
said into his transgalactic communicator. “Polar orbit established. No sign
of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off a bluish particle beam
flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The
jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the
cockpit.shed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The
jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the
cockpit.

(Rebecca)

He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one
last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever
had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless
hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. "Congress Passes Law
Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper
one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared
out the window, dreaming of her youth, when the days had passed unhurriedly
and carefree, with no newspaper to read, no television to distract her from
her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why
must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.

( Bill )

Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of
miles above the city, the Anu'udrian mothership launched the first of its
lithium fusion missiles. The dimwitted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the
Unilateral Aerospace disarmament Treaty through the congress had left Earth
a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to
destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the
Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to
pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly
initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the
atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret mobile submarine
headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam , felt the
inconceivably massive explosion, which vaporized poor, stupid Laurie.

(Rebecca)

This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My writing
partner is a violent, chauvinistic semi-literate adolescent.

( Bill )

Yeah? Well, my writing partner is a self-centered tedious neurotic whose
attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium. "Oh, shall I
have chamomile tea? Or shall I have some other sort of F--KING TEA??? Oh no,
what am I to do? I'm such an air headed bimbo who reads too many Danielle
Steele novels!"

(Rebecca)

A$$h@le.

( Bill )

B*tch!

(Rebecca)

F*** YOU, YOU NEANDERTHAL!!

( Bill )

In your dreams, Ho. Go drink some tea.

(TEACHER)

A+ -- I really liked this!

...and not so funny is another article forwarded from Francis.  Obviously we're not about to learn the real truth, but one cannot help but wonder why America was screaming about its dependence on foreign oil---and then permits a foreign company to take American oil away ---and fighting a War on Drugs while ignoring sex/drug parties by oil companies and their Government regulators...

  'The Plan Is to Let Us Die,' Coastal Parish President Says
      By SABRINA CANFIELD
      ShareThis
           GALLIANO, La. (CN) - Almost 70 miles of Louisiana coast are
soaked with oil. That's more land than the seashores of Maryland and
Delaware combined, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Monday after Secretary of the
Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
were flown over the devastated coast. Napolitano said the federal government
would "disperse it, boom it, burn it," to keep more oil from coming ashore.
But St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro had a different idea. "I
would be betting the plan is to let us die," Taffaro said.

           Federal officials delivered messages similar to Napolitano's, but
none wanted to address an incident that occurred last weekend, when BP and
the Coast Guard abandoned 44 boats loaded with booms on Louisiana's shores
as thick black oil flooded into the marshlands.
           BP was nowhere in sight as the oil inundated the fragile marshes.
And the oil company has provided little explanation about what made it jump
ship rather fight the oil as it hit land.
           BP has continued to spray two chemical dispersants into the Gulf
despite an order by the Environmental Protection Agency to end the spraying
on Sunday night. The chemical dispersants, made by Corexit, are banned in
BP's homeland, the United Kingdom, because of their toxicity.

           Ever since the April 20 explosion of the BP oil rig the Deepwater
Horizon, oil has spewed unchecked from a broken well at the bottom of the
Gulf of Mexico. At least 6 million gallons of crude have already gushed into
the Gulf, though the estimates vary widely. Some experts have said that
every week the spill has dumped more than the 11 million gallons the Exxon
Valdez released off the Alaskan coast in 1989, in what was formerly the
worst oil spill in U.S. history.
           Far below Louisiana's fragile wetlands are reserves of crude oil
and other valuable minerals. Local residents speculated on Monday that BP is
after the mineral rights, which it cannot touch while the wetlands are
alive.
           It's a grim prospect, perhaps far-fetched, but not for those who
live along the 70 miles of oil-saturated coast, who wonder what the heck
happened this weekend when BP refused to fight the incoming oil.
           "We can actually see birds that are covered in oil," Gov. Jindal
said Monday at the news conference in Galliano.
           "It is clear that we do not have the resources to protect our
coast," Jindal said, describing the past weekend, as booms and workers "sat
for days waiting for orders" and got no direction approval from BP or the
federal government.
           The Army Corps of Engineers has continued to drag its feet on
whether to approve dredging plans to create a barrier around Louisiana's
wetlands. BP officials have not proposed any plan to prevent the oil from
moving away from the broken well and into Louisiana's fragile marshes.
           Salazar said he will do everything he can to keep Louisiana's
coast from disappearing.
           "We're going to keep the boot on the map," Salazar said,
referring to the shape of his the state.
           Interior Secretary Salazar and other federal officials continue
to claim that damages will be kept at a minimum, and have been managed to
get BP to acknowledge responsibility for the continuing disaster, but
Louisiana officials and residents say there is no plan in sight to protect
them.
           Many environmental experts have said that an oil cleanup might
cause more harm to the coastline than just leaving it there, so the only
viable option is to keep the oil away.
           A caller from St. Tammany Parish broke into tears Monday on a
talk show on radio WWL. "All they're trying to do is destroy the wetlands so
they can get the mineral rights to all of whatever is under" the wetlands,
the woman said.
           The Obama administration questioned BP's competence on Sunday,
when Salazar told reporters he was "not completely" confident BP knows what
it's doing.
           For local residents, BP's violation of the Sunday night deadline
to stop using the toxic dispersant felt like a slap in the face.
           "Are they just going to continue spraying this stuff until
someone sends them to jail?" Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser
asked on WWL radio Monday night.
           Nungesser said he and other coastal parish presidents are fed up
with BP and the federal government. Nungesser said he intends to take
matters into his own hands, whether the Corps of Engineers issues his parish
the emergency permit he applied for on May 13 or not, and whether BP decides
help keep oil out of the wetlands or not.
           "We are giving the Corps 24 hours" to issue the emergency
permits, Nungesser said on WWL. "We are giving them the opportunity to do
the right thing. But even without their permit, we will protect our parish."
           After 24 hours, permit or not, Nungesser said Plaquemines Parish
will begin dredging and building emergency berms, as a last line of defense
against oil intrusion into Plaquemines Parish marshes.
           "If we don't do it, our marsh will be destroyed," Nungesser said.
           The wetlands are prime breeding habitat for dozens or hundreds of
species of wildlife, including fish, crustaceans and birds.
            "We're heavily invested in doing the very best job that we can,"
BP spokesman Mark Salt said on WWL radio Monday.
           Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer, said Monday that BP
will spend $500 million in the next 10 years to study the effects of the
Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, including the environmental effects of the
dispersant.
           As it became clear Monday that BP had not followed orders to stop
using Corexit, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that BP does not have to
stop using it completely, but asked BP to limit its use of the dispersant
and to find a less toxic replacement.
           Richard Dennison, a senior scientist with the Environmental
Defense Fund wrote on the group's website Monday that Corexit 9527 and
Corexit 9500, the two forms BP is using, are "among the least effective of
the 18 dispersants that EPA has approved under the National Oil and
Hazardous Pollution Contingency Plan."
           Dennison wrote that the dispersants "appear to be among the more
toxic based on limited short-term toxicity tests conducted on fish and
shrimp."
           BP has been using Corexit during the oil spill catastrophe in far
greater quantities than ever before in U.S. history.
           Jackson said other chemicals the EPA wanted BP to consider appear
to be less toxic and more effective than Corexit.
           "My concern is they appear to be going out of their way to find
problems with these other chemicals," Jackson said.
           Propublica reported last week that Corexit was used after the
Exxon Valdez disaster and was later linked with health problems, including
respiratory, nervous system, liver, kidney, and blood disorders. One of the
two Corexit products that BP is suing in the Gulf also contains a compound
that is associated with headaches, vomiting and reproductive problems,
according to the Propublica report.

COSTA RICA

Chinchilla Says She Would Not Hesitate To Shut Down San José - Caldera
Will she or won't she is the question and presidenta Laura Chinchilla answers that she will not hesitate to shut down the San José - Caldera is the technical reports indicate that is the best thing to do to ensure public safety.

GE Considering Selling Stake In BAC
General Electric (GE) announced on Tuesday that it would be selling its 75% stake in BAC-Credomatic, which owns among other financial institutions in the region, BAC San José.

Costa Rica Second Most Productive In Latin America
According to a report by the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) Costa Rica is the second most productive country in Latin America. Chile is in first place.

Electric Cars Of Costa Rica Adding More Vehicles To Its Line Of  Zero Emission Vehicles
As a leading distributor of electric cars and light duty on-road trucks in Costa Rica, Electric Cars of Costa Rica, will now distribute Balgon's medium and heavy-duty electric vehicles and drive systems, and provide service and parts throughout Costa Rica.

Love' And Redemption For Reformed Criminal
Galley Molina acknowledges that back in mid-1990s he was "way up there" in a major drug-trafficking ring, importing cocaine from Costa Rica to San José (California).

Texas Sweetheart Story Turns Into Costa Rican Divorce Scandal
Their story reads like a soap opera; and it opens in Plano, where the couple meets. Young sweethearts, they live their dream and run off to Costa Rica to start an animal sanctuary.

Tico Production Takes Poke At Politicians, Personalities And Costa Rican Way Of Life
A Costa Rican website that features a cartoon comic strip has broken records for visits and will soon be on national television. Doña Laura, Ottón, Otton, Fishman and Flaco Silva are some of the favourites being spoofed by the producers.

High Cost of Phones Cools Off Costa Ricans On 3G
The sale of 3G cellular lines in Costa Rica has not gone the same way as in the past, where within weeks the majority and months the total of all new lines issued were bought like the proverbial pancakes.

NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Police Arrest Drug Suspects
MANAGUA - Nicaraguan National Police arrested three suspected drug traffickers Tuesday, including a Mexican, and seized 14 guns during a raid on a highway in central Nicaragua.

Favourable Expectations of Employment in Panama
PANAMA - The labor market in Panama shows positive for the third quarter of 2010 with possibilities of increase work force in the business sector, informed expert sources.

U.S. Says To Respect Regional Sovereignty In Use Of Colombian Bases
QUITO - Visiting United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday reassured Ecuador that the U.S. use of Colombian bases would help fight drug trafficking and guerrillas, and would not threaten the regional territorial integrity.

Fidel Castro: On the Brink of Tragedy
HAVANA - "On the Brink of Tragedy" is the title of the recent reflection by Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro. Prensa Latina posted the full text of Fidel Castro's reflection.

THE FIRST-AND-SECOND AMENDMENTS DIE as Helen Thomas is ostracized and exiled for doing her job---expressing opinions. Ms. Thomas has been doing so for longer than I have been alive, and occupied the first chair in the White House Briefing Room. Coincidentally, her opinions regarding Israel building condos on Palestinian land coincides with those often expressed by Costa Rica News, so who knows how long we'll be around?  This also coincides with America and the Free West disarming their citizens while claiming to be fighting various wars.

It is ironic that America's true enemy is oil, and for the following years we will be watching oil literally killing America while Americans' incomes go to supply America's enemies in the War on Terror. The 2009 election provided the perfect opportunity for Obama to stand (as did JFK in announcing the moon program) to announce that America's resources would be committed to removing America from dependence on foreign oil.  Instead the battle cry was: DRILL BABY, DRILL.     and the results are with us now.

One tradition Obama did (kind of) follow was that of going to the Middle East to sign another treaty promising that Israelis and Palestinians will play nice. However that tradition has always included the President presenting a huge welfare check to each side, at which time they both sign.  However now the US cannot write any checks without permission from Communist China, and they refused to lend the money.  So while VP Biden was sent (so Obama would not be embarrassed as the first President not to get a "peace deal"), Israel announced that each time they build condos on foreign land, that land immediately becomes Israeli. Add that to the massive attack by the Israeli military on civilian Palistinians and now the commando attack in International Waters on Israel's only Arab ally, and the situation becomes hopeless. Regardless of Obama's intent, effort, or ability; no one will support a military attack on an unarmed civilian vessel in International Waters. From this day, all words spoken in defense of Israel will fall on deaf ears. As America is well-beyond broke, its National Guard has been deployed to the other side of the world, and its military is so thinned-out that no one is scared any more, time is right for the enemy to make its move---which they are doing.

COSTA RICA

Legislators Demand MOPT Minister Shut Down San José - Caldera Highway
Legislators are calling for the temporary closure of the San José - Caldera while the concessionaire, Autopistas del Sol, make the necessary modifications to make the highway safe. At least that is the petition of some legislators made to the ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), Francisco Jiménez, on Monday when he appeared before the legislature to appease concerns arising from the recent landslides and rock falls.

Regulator Rejects Steep Hike In Gasoline Prices
The Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) said it has refused a request by the state refinery, the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope), to increase gasoline prices by as much as ¢41 colones a litre, which purpose was to finance operating expenses and fund infrastructure projects.

Guanacaste
A total of 1.500 low income women in Guanacaste will have access to free gynecological exams, ultrasound and mammograms thanks to a project for early detection offered by the Clínica San Rafael Arcángel in Liberia.

Concessions Model Must Include Water, Sanitation - CFIA
Costa Rica's government should consider carrying out water and sanitation projects under a concessions model to boost investment in these sectors, the executive director of the national college of engineering and architecture (CFIA), Olman Vargas, told BNamericas.

Truck Takes Out Overpass In Santa Ana
The driver of a truck carrying a payload of heavy machinery who did not judge correct the height of his load and that of the bridge ahead, was the cause of the accident that knocked down half of a pedestrian bridge in Santa Ana, causing tremendous congestion on the Prospero Fernandez (San José - Caldera).

16 Drug "Mules" Nabbed At San José Airport So Far This Year
The Policía de Control de Drogas (PCD) have been busy this year in their fight against drug trafficking at the Juan Santamaría (San José) airport, as the tally of  busts of drug "mules" this year so far is 16. However that number is down considerably from last's year's total of 74.

Seagal Still In Costa Rica, Playing Role of Tourist
Although Steven Seagal was pretty peeved at the treatment he received this time around, actor is reportedly still in Costa Rica playing the role of tourist.

Schools Get OK To Enjoy First Game Of World Cup
There is no doubt that soccer is an important subject in Costa Rica and the World Cup is as much as part of Costa Rica as the Gallo Pinto.

Flexible Work and Business Hours Expected During World Cup
As of this Friday many businesses in Costa Rica, including large companies like McFlorida Ice & Farm (Cerverceria de Costa Rica), Grupo Nación, Procter & Gamble, EPA, Intel, McDonalds, etc, will be allowing their employees to enjoy, at least a number if not all, the games of the World Cup.
 

NICARAGUA
Rain Uncovers Ancient Cemetery In Nicaragua
MANAGUA - Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an indigenous cemetery dating back about 4,500 years on the island of Ometepe in southern Nicaragua, local media reported.

GUATEMALA
Assessment On Storm damage continues in Guatemala
GUATEMALA - Guatemalan authorities continued on Monday the assessment of the damage caused by tropical storm Agatha, which also left 172 dead.

HONDURAS
Keep Suspension Of Honduras To The OAS Claimed
TEGUCIGALPA - Social organizations consider on Monday Honduras should continue suspended from the Organization of American States (OAS) and other mechanisms while human rights violations persists and the perpetrators of the coup are still unpunished.

PANAMA
Panama: Population Growth Rate Decreases
PANAMA - The preliminary data of the recent population and housing census in Panama revealed that the rate population growth rate has decreased regarding the study carried out in 2000, according to specialized sources.
 

COLOMBIA
Colombian Army Destroys 775 Antipersonnel Mines
BOGOTA - The Colombian Army found and destroyed 775 antipersonnel mines, which allegedly were placed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Meta department, the Army said on Monday.

BRAZIL
Brazil To Launch Low-Carbon Agriculture Program
BRASILIA - Brazil will launch an one-billion-U.S.-dollar program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector, Agriculture Minister Wagner Rossi said on Monday.

ECUADOR
Strong Explosion Of Ecuadorian Volcano Causes No Casualty
QUITO - The Ecuadorian Geophysics Institute (IG) said on Monday that it had registered strong eruptions of the active Tungurahua Volcano. No casualty has been reported so far.


SPECIAL REPORTS
Something Smells Rotten in Venezuela
Tens of thousands of tonnes of basic foods rotted in the last year in shipping containers belonging to the Venezuelan government. Fully two-thirds of the food consumed by Venezuela's 27 million inhabitants is imported.

COSTA RICA

Driving in Costa Rica is “The Perfect Storm”
Driving in Costa Rica is a challenge and that is not a bad thing. I like the idea. It keeps us thinking, we are focused drivers who know to expect the unexpected at any moment. From pedestrians crossing the free ways to taxis driving on the sidewalk, we put the “D” into defensive driving.

Steven Seagal Says He Feels Treated Like A Criminal In Costa Rica
Actor Steven Seagal left Costa Rica an unhappy camper, discouraged and disappointed after not finding the same hospitality as in the past, in his latest visit to Costa Rica, saying he felt treated as a criminal.
 

Tránsito Union Head Says Police Chief Not Qualified
The Unión Nacional de Técnicos y Profesionales en Tránsito (Unateprot), representing the majority of the Tránsito (traffic officials) is questioning the qualifications of the chief of the Tránsito police force, César Quirós. Joselito Ureña, head of the Unatreprot, says that Quirós does not meet the minimum requirements by Law to head the force.

MOPT To Interview Drivers For Road and Infrastructure Planning
If you get stopped by a Tránsito (traffic cop) for no apparent reason, don't be alarmed, as the Policía de Tránsito is conducting a survey of drivers as an input to prepare the "Plan Nacional de Transportes (National Transport Plan)".

Government Without Money For Ambitious Plan To Repair Bridges
The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) is promisint to repair or replace some 200 bridges across the nation during the next four years, but only one problem, the wallet is empty.

More Expropriation Is Answer To Improving The San José - Caldera
The answer to the continuing problems of falling rocks and mudslides is the expropriation of more lands adjacent to the San José - Caldera, that will end up costing taxpayers and additional us$1.3 million dollars.

Increase In Animal Bites And Stings Causes Alarm
Attacks by animals, particularly snakes and crocodiles are responsible for more than 1.000 people in the past year seeking medical attention, according to figures by the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS).

Costa Rica Scores Good and Bad In The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010
Costa Rica has the embarrassing position of being placed in 128th position of the 133 nations included in the The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010 in respect of available services for cellular lines according to the number of inhabitants.

Panama to France: Extradite Ex-Dictator Noriega
PANAMA (AP)- Panama requested Friday that France extradite ex-dictator Manuel Noriega, bringing hope to those who have demanded for two decades that he face justice at home for alleged tortures and killings of their relatives.

GUATEMALA
Guatemala Raises Tropical Storm Death Toll To 172
GUATEMALA - A total of 172 people have been killed in the floods caused by Tropical Storm Agatha that struck Guatemala over the weekend, according to figures released by the Guatemalan government.

EL SALVADOR
El Salvador: Agatha Left Severe Losses in Agriculture
SAN SALVADOR - The tropical storm Agatha left losses of more than six million dollars in the agricultural sector in El Salvador, according to Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Guillermo Loóez.

LATIN AMERCIA
Crowded Agenda Awaits Clinton In Latin America
(AP) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton travels to Latin America and the Caribbean with a crowded agenda awaiting: lingering tensions over last year's coup in Honduras, U.S. immigration policy, security issues and concerns over Iran and the Middle East.

LATIN AMERICA
OAS General Assembly Opens In Lima With crowded Agenda
LIMA - The 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) opened in Lima on Sunday, with topics on the agenda covering poverty reduction, disaster relief and charter improvement.

BOLIVIA
Inflation in Bolivia with Negative Tendency
LA PAZ - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Bolivia registered a negative variation of 0.002 percent in May, compared to that in April (0.09), as reported by an official source on Sunday.

WE MAKE ONE COMMENT BEFORE RELAYING THE FOLLOWING:  That being about the USS Liberty.  Having met some of the survivors, I can assure you that after Israel sank that American ship, they strafed the lifeboats and killed every survivor they could kill. At a 25-year reunion, the Liberty crew filmed their recounts of the Israeli attack, and that may be available somewhere on the internet for those interested. Thanks again to Francis for sending this:

LOTS HAPPENS AROUND THE WORLD as America's sea dies on international TV.  Israelis attack unarmed international aid workers in international waters.  America stays silent as the rest of the world condemns them and Nicaragua expels Israeli diplomats and closes their embassies.  After risking their lives to discourage Japan's commercial whaling, our friends at Sea Shepherd find their volunteers in Japanese jails. Greenpeace carefully filmed and documented the packaging and shipping of whale meat (as cardboard) and finds their volunteers also in Japanese jails.  There appears to be no interest in enforcing International law,  the UN also remains silent, and one can only wonder why so much money, time and effort are spent legislating laws that no one cares to enforce.  Kudos to Australia for taking the Japs to court for slaughtering in their whale estuaries.

Meanwhile news crews get into the Communist sweat shop that makes our Nokia, Apple and Dell products after learning that dozens are committing suicide each month, unable to cope with working and (in-house) living conditions.   Our local news reports a major earthquake in 1 Dream Getaway territory, but we never felt it.  For us, it is now a normal wet season and we are open for business. Now here is the rest of our local news:

Quepos And Parrita Under Water From Heavy Rains
The heavy rains of the Central Pacific has much of Quepos, Parrita and the canton de Aguirre under water. The heavy rain and strong winds have flooded the low lying areas from Parrita to Quepos, which has also interrupted electrical service.

Ignorance Of Tránsito Official Lands Driver A ¢293.000 Fine
The ignorance or just simple spite by a Tránsito (traffic official) has Eleonora Gólcher reasons to be mad after receiving a ¢293.000 colones fine for not having the right drivers license while behind the wheel of her 2004 Honda Pilot, which she has had and been driving for the last six years.

Dollar Exchange Edges Upwards
The dollar exchange has edged upwards these past couple of week, putting a stop to the "yo yo" swings of the past couple of months, holding a steady a climb at least for now.

Tránsito On "Work To Rule"
The Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) is on a "work to rule" to protest the delays in the pay of their salary increase. "Huelga de lapiceros caidos" is the name of the action to pressure the government to pay up.

Costa Rica 1 - 0 Switzerland In World Cup Warm Up
SION, Switzerland - Switzerland's sluggish form ahead of the World cup continued Tuesday when it lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in a friendly.

Costa Rica Hosts First-Of-Its-Kind Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Launch Event
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment of America Inc. (SCEA) today announced their partnership for the Costa Rica launch event of METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system in Latin America.

Stagno In Hot Water For Self Appointment To The UN Ambassadorship
Appointing himself to Costa Rica's ambassador to the United Nations has landed Bruno Stagno, former Minister of Foreign Relations of Costa Rica, in hot water.

Steven Tyler And Aerosmith Do Costa Rica
Aerosmith showed the band's potency before 30.000 fans at La Guacima Tuesday night at 9:20pm when the "Bad Boys From Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" as the band is often referred to, took the stage.
NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Suspends Diplomatic Ties With Israel
MANAGUA - The Nicaraguan government Tuesday suspended the country's diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of the Jewish state's deadly raid on the Gaza-bound international aid flotilla on Monday.

GUATEMALA
Storm Agatha, Volcanic Ash Affect Guatemala's Agricultural Production
GUATEMALA - The tropical storm Agatha and the volcanic ash from Pacaya Volcano will cause damage of 5 to 10 percent of the country's total agricultural production, the chamber of agriculture said on Tuesday.

GUATEMALA
Guatemala's International Airport restores operations
GUATEMALA - The International Airport La Aurora in Guatemala City restored on Tuesday its operations at 12: 00 p.m. local time (1800 GMT) after five days closing due to the eruption of Pacaya Volcano.

COLOMBIA
Political Alliances Stir Run for Colombian Presidency
BOGOTA - The political alliance candidates for the Colombian presidency could claim victory in the runoff, stirring the tidal waves of politics on Tuesday.

CHILE
Chilean President Urged to Condemn Israel
SANTIAGO - Deputy Guillermo Teillier, who is President of the Communist Party of Chile, called on Chilean President Sebastian Piñera to express his repudiation of "the Israeli terrorist attack against a humanitarian convoy."

VENEZUELA
Candidate Registration Starts in Venezuela
CARACAS - The coalition of communists and socialists holding majority of the Venezuelan National Assembly is beginning on Tuesday the registration process of candidates to the coming legislative elections.

SPECIAL REPORTS
Latin America Urges More South-South Cooperation
BRASILIA (IPS) - The governments of Latin America and the Caribbean asked ECLAC Tuesday to come up with a new set of criteria so middle-income countries are not excluded from official development assistance. They also called for greater South-South cooperation.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE Costa Rica News proudly displays the following video (CLICK HERE TO SEE IT).  You may have noticed a period early in the year when we did not publish recent news.  That is because we purchased the same printer shown in this video. Not only did it not work, but the "ENCLOSED SOFTWARE" from HP destroyed our computers, which had to be reformatted. We no longer permit HP products into our homes, our office or our lives, and it is so heartwarming to see this printer machine-gunned to death.

MOTHER NATURE MAY EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TODAY'S WORLD as we have a look at the African bees. They are industrious, intelligent, and were found to produce more honey than "normal" bees.  However when they were encouraged to spread, they rapidly took over colonies of bees who lived in harmony with man, and now are spreading all over the world violently defending their territory.  Democratic South Korea has now stopped all contact and trade with the Communist North now that a war that has gone on for my lifetime is again escalating. However Democratic South Viet Nam no longer exists after millions of young men died to defend it. After America gave its wealth and technology to Japan in the 1940's, it now stands by helplessly as Japan resumes commercial whaling---which the moral world stopped a century ago.  My dear friend and his family sacrificed their lives to keep El Salvador free-and-democratic, only to have the people elect a Communist government. As Costa Rica News reports (below) from personal experience, the Communist Government of Nicaragua has made its move on its own people, and Costa Rica can only close its border and hope for the best.

Israel, which the US created in the year I was born, now thumbs its nose at America, even though they have lived on American welfare checks forever. It is understandable that the Palestinians elected Hamas to govern them after seeing their country and freedom erode under American care. A couple of decades ago, a handful of Somalian thugs humiliated American special forces by dragging a chopper pilot's body through the streets in front of TV cameras, and now the free world allows them to do what they please. Saudi royalty traffics drugs using their private jets and diplomatic immunity, and even remains immune from retribution for attacking NYC on 9/11 (remember, even Bin Laden is a Saudi) while America went broke creating thousands of terrorists in other Arab countries by killing their families.

A significant portion of the incomes of (the remaining) working Americans goes to the Arabs who want to destroy America.  The mortgages of those working Americans are packaged up by Fannie, Freddie and AIG and converted to US Treasuries---which are then given to Communist China---the legal owner of much of America. Like African bees, Communist China is very effective at taking over the hives of "normal" bees and eradicating them, or converting them to worker and soldier bees defending the nests of their enemies. Wal-Mart shoppers continue to supply working capital to those who are destroying them, just like American drivers send their money to the Arabs. World TV now broadcasts constant images of the destruction of America's only sea as foreign companies play Pin The Tail On The Donkey claiming to be stopping it. Just as Hussein Obama's government claims Communist China as its good friend and ally, leaders of the states surrounding the dying Gulf declare their distrust of the foreign companies claiming to be saving them---just as soldier and worker bees in "normal" hives begin to distrust Africa's killer bees---but the truth is, they cannot do anything about it!

For whom is your government working?  We again thank Francis for the following article:

NOW HERE IS OUR 5/24 LOCAL NEWS:

COSTA RICA
Presidenta Chinchilla Will Not Accept Higher Taxes To Pay For Legislator's Pay Hike
President Laura Chinchilla, just back from her trip to Spain, said she will not accept high taxes to pay for the proposed legislator's salary hike. The comment was made following a cabinet session held at the INCAE in Alajuela.

Tallest Buildings In Costa Rica To Be Built On Paseo Colón
Two condo towers proposed on Paseo Colón will the tallest buildings in the country, surpassing the Banco Nacional building that now holds the honour.

Anti Aging Clinic Opens Its Door in Costa Rica
(PRWEB) - Human Growth Hormone and Hormone Therapy has attracted consumers from Miami and Los Angeles to Costa Rica since a new anti-aging clinic opened its doors in Costa Rica. Many conscious consumers head to Costa Rica for its beautiful scenery, amazing beaches, temperate climate, and eco-tourism.

Thousands Visit Teletica Job Fair
As many as 10.000 people visited the job fair by Televisora de Costa Rica looking for a job at the country's premier television station.

Crocodiles Very Aggressive In Protecting Their Young
The aggressiveness of crocodiles is not due to the mating season, but rather to protecting their offspring, according to Luz Denia Barrantes of the Asociación de Especialistas en Cocodrilos de Costa Rica (AEC-CR).

High Waves Batter Pacific Coast
Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (Cimar) has issued a warning for high waves along the Pacific coast from Puntarenas to Gaunacaste.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Nicaragua's Tourism Sector Continues to Grow
Preliminary statistics recently published by the Nicaraguan Tourism Board (INTUR, for its acronym in Spanish) indicate that Nicaragua continued to grow in both tourist arrivals and tourism revenues during the first four months of 2010. Statistics indicate that arrivals grew in 8.9 percent, reaching 338,248 visitors, while revenues increased 22.5 percent up to US$99 million, when compared to the same period last year.

Honduran Judges'' Sixth Day of Hunger Strike
TEGUCIGALPA - Five Honduran judges have been on hunger strike for six days in rejection of the decision by the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) of dismissing four magistrates that condemned the coup against former President Manuel Zelaya.

Risk Alert in Colombian Presidential Elections
BOGOTA - Political intervention and armed coercion are the main risk factors for the coming presidential elections in Colombia, warmed an Observation Voting Mission (OVM).

Venezuela Reducing Dependency on Hydroelectric Plants
CARACAS - Venezuela got over the 5,000 Megawatts in its thermo electric energy generation this week as part of a diversification program to stop depending on hydroelectric plants.

COSTA RICA
Security Minister Rules Out Boycott, Blames Police Brass
José María Tijerino, the new ministro de Seguridad Pública, is putting the blame on the police brass as the main reason why the cops were not out in full force on Wednesday as he had promised days earlier.

Nicoya, Costa Rica: Live Longer, Better
Humberto Angulo swears by working hard, drinking castor oil every morning and keeping active is the secret to his longevity. Angulo, a resident of Carrillo, Guanacaste, is getting ready to celebrate his 98th birthday and is looking forward to his 100th.
 

Presidenta Chinchilla Warns Against European Protectionism
Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica's new president, is warning against European Union (EU) protectionism as she attends a meeting in Madrid to sign a deal for improved economic ties between Europe, Costa Rica and Central America.

Internet Used To Oppose Legislators Own Pay Hike
If the current bunch of legislators thought they could give themselves a salary raise without anyone noticing, users of Facebook and other social community websites, are making their voice known and hampering the lawmakers plans to do so.

Four Seasons Hotel Costa Rica Provides Outreach Opportunities
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica in Guanacaste is participating in the "Growing Together program" program that gives room discounts to guests who volunteer in the community with one of the program partners.

Sinking Their Teeth Into Costa Rica
For most students, a spring break trip to Costa Rica sounds like the perfect exotic getaway. For the Emory American Student Dental Association (EASDA), the trip of a lifetime meant sweat, blood and tears — but mostly sweat.

Trucks Banned On "Forum" Bridge And Belén Radial
Finally someone has figured out that the bridge on the autopista Próspero Fernández (San José - Caldera) in front of the Forum business park in Santa Ana is not suitable for heavy trucks.

Half Of Costa Rican Connected To The Internet
At home, in the streets, on the bus, at work, school, play, everywhere people can be seen connected to the internet or their cellular phone doing all kinds of things. The trend is such that an estimated half of Costa Rica's population is connected no matter where they are or what they are doing.

"The Catholic Church Is The Closet Of Gays", Colombian Priest Writes In His Book
Out of frustration at episcopal inaction, a priest of the Colombian archdiocese of Cali, has written a book on the ongoing homosexual scandals among priests of the archdiocese.

SPECIAL REPORTS
CUBA
Castro, Church Discuss Political Prisoners
Talks between the government of President Raúl Castro and leaders of the Catholic Church in Cuba may alleviate internal tensions and lead to the release of political prisoners, although the dialogue should be extended to include other social sectors in the country, religious leaders and analysts told IPS.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Nicaraguan 'Cuatro Leches' Cake
Tres leches – Spanish for “three milks” – is a sponge cake soaked in condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream and topped with Italian meringue that is so popular across Latin America it’s become difficult to pinpoint its origin. “Every Central and South American country claims it as its own,” explains Carlos Somoza, who handles marketing for Cuatro Leches Bakery in Miami.
 

Navies of Six Countries in Argentina Bicentennial Parade
BUENOS AIRES - Naval units of the armed forces from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia are participating on Saturday in the military parade on occasion of the Bicentenary of Argentinaâ�Ös May Revolution.

Bolivia Seeks Foreign Investment to Produce Steel
LA PAZ - The state-owned Iron and Steel Company from Mutun (ESM) started contacts with six international companies to in a bid to come up with investments for 1.6 billion dollars for the production of steel.

COSTA RICA
MOPT Expected To Demand Taxis To Provide Child Seats And Boosters
Although the issue still be analyzed, all probabilities are that taxis will have to carry booster and child seats to avoid being fined. The ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), Francisco Jiménez, said the most reasonable solution is for taxis to carry one booster and one child seat.

Costa Rica Sets Sights On 2.5 Million Tourist Arrivals By 2014
The world economic crisis did not escape Costa Rica's tourism industry, falling 8% in 2009 over 2008, meaning less tourists and less income for tourist operations.

The List Of Legislators Against Pay Hike Is Growing
Slowly more and more legislators are finding their conscience and are coming out publicly with their vote against the proposed salary hike for legislators.

41 Earthquakes In Costa Rica So Far This Year
Everyone felt the 6.1 earthquake that hit Costa Rica on Thursday at 4:16pm, with the epicentre located 20 kilometres southwest of Quepos.

Cellular Operators Question Conditions Of Opening Of Cellular Market In Costa Rica
The Real Intercontinental hotel in Escazú was the scene yesterday for the three telephone companies interested in setting shop in Costa Rica to compete with the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) in the cellular telephone market.

A Sleepy Costa Rican Town Gains in Popularity
PLAYA HERMOSA, COSTA RICA - Claude Laferrière and his wife, Silvia, first abandoned Montreal for this sleepy beach town in the early '90s, enticed by its picturesque bay and deserted stretch of beach.

Costa Rica Dengue Epidemic Hitting Panama
Recent rainfalls have pushed up the number of reported cases of dengue in Chiriqui. So far this year the number of cases of Dengue has more than tripled. There have been 77 cases brought by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Tax On Gasoline Pushes Up Price Effective Today
Gasoline prices went up ¢5 colones today following the publication of the hike approved on May 10.

CENTRAL AMERICA
Central American Attorneys Slam US Anti Immigration Law
ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA -  Demands to abolish the US anti immigration law in Arizona now spread to Attorneys of Human Rights in Central America meeting in this city.

EL SALVADOR
Dengue Fever Prevention Campaign in El Salvador
SAN SALVADOR - The Public Health Ministry of El Salvador launched the second official campaign against the epidemic of dengue fever Friday, an epidemic that this year has affected more than four thousand 500 people.

EL SALVADOR
16 Prisoners Injured In Riot In Salvador
SAN SALVADOR - The police on Friday took control of a prison riot, in which at least 16 prisoners were injured, El Salvador's National Civil Police (PNC) said.

GUATEMALA
Cuba to Address PARLATINO in Guatemala
GUATEMALA - Doctor Jorge González, head of the Cuban Parliament Health and Sports Commission, addressed today the Latin American Parliament Health Commission ordinary session.

COLOMBIA
Colombia To Close Border During Elections
BOGOTA - The Colombian government said on Friday that the country's ground and water borders will be closed for 24 hours in order to guarantee the presidential elections on May 30.

BRAZIL
Brazilian Police Launch Operation Against Illegal Logging in Amazon
BRASILIA - Brazilian federal police have arrested 60 suspects across the country in an operation to fight against illegal logging in the Amazon.

BRAZIL
Brazilian President Fined For Early Campaigning
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was fined 10,000 real (in Brazilian Portuguese reais)  by the Superior Electoral Court Friday for early campaigning in support of the ruling party candidate in the October presidential election.

SPECIAL REPORTS
CUBA
Castro, Church Discuss Political Prisoners
Talks between the government of President Raúl Castro and leaders of the Catholic Church in Cuba may alleviate internal tensions and lead to the release of political prisoners, although the dialogue should be extended to include other social sectors in the country, religious leaders and analysts told IPS.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Babies Learn Quickly While Sleeping
Babies can apparently learn even while asleep, a new study reveals. As newborns spend most of their time asleep, this newfound ability might be crucial to rapidly adapt to the world around them and help to ensure their survival, researchers said.

75 YEARS AGO  America found itself fighting two wars simultaneously. FDR was smart enough to play one side against the other by capturing the German scientists that had the technology America needed to win, and then finance the termination of their project. Then Truman had the wisdom to use the weapons at his disposal to end a war that had lingered the better part of a decade in a matter of weeks. Rather than celebrate a well-deserved victory that literally left the US on top of the world, the US gave the money and technology America had earned to the very people that had conducted the only direct attack on America and had clearly-demonstrated their commitment to destroy America.

History repeats itself, and today most of the people making the goods the world wants have slanted eyes. North Korea has assumed Russia's former role of developing/manufacturing/supplying weapons to America's enemies. America refuses to acknowledge who their enemies are as Hilleary fails to convince North Korea that torpedoing ships in international waters is a no-no. Her boss jut returned from Communist China, where his audience was carefully-selected, the media censored, and no one was impressed with his skills at reading from a teleprompter. The American-selected government of Pakistan was assassinated, and that country now plans-and-trains Muslims for future attacks on the US while America refuses to acknowledge that its enemies are Muslims and continues to waste its resources (borrowed from Communist China) in Afghanistan.

Pres. Hussein Obama ran up an unfathomable debt with the Communists to "bail-out" Wall Street, but as that building has no foundation America continues its decline while Muslims continue to be welcomed in society and the military. By handing over control of America's only sea to foreigners, the Gulf of Mexico is rapidly dying.  Fortunately Asians were able to deplete all the commercially-viable fish before this happened.  We expect to report in Costa Rica News 2011 that the reefs are dead, and the Keys have become another American slum. Obama has used taxpayer money to hire an army of 8000 IRS Agents to destroy the dwindling Americans still able to find work. In my home town of Fort Myers Florida, the 30,000 homes in foreclosure continue to grow in number as Haitians occupy the hospitals Americans cannot afford.

Costa Rica News started predicting WW III in 2008, and now we wonder if war has taken a new appearance.  The Korean War never ended, and now is escalating.  South Korea has taken the role of making America's cars and electronics from Japan. Although America continues to run on oil, it buys the oil from the people who attacked on 9-11, while giving its own oil to foreign companies and allowing Communist China to drill offshore from Florida (and refine in Costa Rica).  America's financial system is run like Vegas, and the resources of working Americans (those who are left) goes to cover the bad bets of the very rich (along with $billions in bonuses).  As America's middle class disappears and Baby Boomers begin to collect their due, the till is suddenly empty because neither the rich nor the poor pay taxes.

Our observation locally is that the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is all-but closed. As Americans attack Arizona for wanting to inquire who is there illegally, so this has always been the case in Costa Rica and "foreigners" are now unwelcome. As Americans rely upon illegals to do the work they don't like, so does Costa Rica. Illegal drug money continues to gush from the US as residents of South-and-Central America pay to try to stop it. America's closest neighbor, Mexico, is already a war zone and the only people for whom life is really good are those on Wall Street (largely children of former bootleggers) and the organized criminals who traffic drugs. America's natural disasters can no longer be handled by the National Guard, as those troops and that equipment has all been shipped to the Muslims. Somalians are allowed to run Jihad Training Camps and finance them by holding the world's shipping hostage while the world's Superpower does nothing. A very old war strategy, DIVIDE AND CONQUER, seems to be working.  Now even America's allies don't trust America. The British people removed Tony Blair for being "Bush's lapdog", and Gordon Brown was denied five requests to visit the Whitehouse before being removed from office. Spain and Greece are broke, and the European Union is un-uniting.  The day will never come in Costa Rica when we have to PRESS 1 FOR SPANISH, as it is understood that when you come to live in a Spanish-speaking country, you learn the language.  Americans have the right to expect the same. 

Once-again, Costa Rica News has received some valuable information from Francis.  This piece is long-and-detailed enough that we created a special page instead of just including it in our daily news. If you have the time, we recommend that you CLICK HERE TO READ IT.

Now here is our local news for May 22:

COSTA RICA
6.1 or 6.2, Costa Rica Shook For A Whole Minute
An earthquake struck Costa Rica at 4:16pm (local time) with the epicentre located 30 kilometres off the coast of Quepos. The quake that lasted almost a minute was felt across the country.

Confusion Over High Traffic Fines And Points
The ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes, Francisco Jiménez, explains that many are under the impression that since the Sala Constitucional is reviewing the proposed reforms, the fines and points do not apply. But that is not the case.

Presidenta Chinchilla Says She Will Limit Her Foreign Trips
Just ending her trip to Spain, Costa Rica's new president, Laura Chinchilla, said in Madrid that she will limit her trips outside of Costa Rica only to those that have a direct impact on national matters. Presidenta Chinchilla noted that she will take only trips on matters of national security or opening new commercial markets.

Bishop Ulloa Denounces Costa Rica Court Ruling
Bishop Francisco Ulloa of Cartago in Costa Rica expressed regret this week over the recent ruling by the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE)  which censured him for reminding Catholics they could not support political policies that go against Christian principles, and said it would not silence the bishops in their mission to preach the faith.

Desamparados Bridge Out For Two Weeks
The work to repair the bridge over the Jorco river that connects Desamparados and Aserrí will take at least 15 days according to the experts of the Dirección de Puentes del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) and the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (Conavi).

25% Of Construction Projects Without Permits
At least one quarter of all construction carried out in Costa Rica are without permits, according to a survey by the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos (CFIA).

Drug Traffickers (Narcos) Left Man In Two To Retrieve Heroin
Authorities are theorizing that the body found Copey Tibás, San José, on Wednesday, was slip in two by drug traffickers to retrieve a shipment of heroin.

Ask Us Anything! A Success
The new feature, Ask Anything, has been received with great enthusiasm, making it a success in it's first day with more than 50 questions asked by Inside Costa Rica readers.

The private, foreign International Monetary/Banking Cartel controls its puppets in Washington as it controls its oil company executives. And everything the Cartel does is anti-life, there are absolutely no exceptions; and their pretended Gulf oil clean-up is a glaring case in point.

Instead of cleaning up the unprecedented catastrophe created by the Cartel’s mega-corporations (Halliburton, Transocean, and British Petroleum), these very same companies are purposely killing our Gulf of Mexico, under the pretense of cleaning it up.

Instead of using safe, non-toxic ways to gather up the rogue oil gushing from their incompetence, or planned cataclysm, the private Cartel is using an extremely toxic chemical dispersant, with the approval of the Obama administration.

Alan Levine, the head of Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals, said: “We don’t have any data or evidence behind the use of these chemicals in the water. We’re now basically using one of the richest ecosystems in the world as a laboratory.”

As reported in Britain’s Telegraph, Louisiana state Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Robert Barham reported: “We’re very disappointed in their [EPA and oil company executives] approach. The federal procedures call for a consensus between federal authorities, the responsible party and the states involved. When we met and expressed our concerns [over the use of dispersants], apparently they decided to go without us.”

And go they did. Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency allowed BP to turn our Gulf of Mexico into a toxic testing ground, instead of removing the crude oil.

British Petroleum (BP) has even refused to use their own oil tankers, lying in the Gulf, to suck up most of the runaway oil, and possibly salvage it for sale later, as was done after a Saudi spill in the ‘90’s. That method was so successful, it vacuumed up about 85 percent of that renegade oil.

Nick Pozzi, a former oil pipeline engineering and operations project manager is puzzled why BP did not salvage perfectly good crude oil for later sale, and to thereby protect marine and wildlife.

What Mr. Pozzi does not know is the oil companies are owned by the world’s only legal counterfeiters – the International Monetary/Banking Cartel - who can “print” all the money they want, so making money on Gulf oil was not important to them. Killing the Gulf of Mexico is, apparently, important to them, for their own cryptic and esoteric reasons.

If the Cartel had wanted to save marine life, any oil they had not vacuumed up could have been mulched with any number of non-toxic materials, such as “Oil Sponge,” a name trademarked by Phase III, Inc.

Rated as the “best performing” absorbent by the US Army Corp of Engineers, Oil Sponge is 100% organic, and is made from renewable resources.

Oil Sponge is built using a microbial and nutrient package, capable of transforming oil hydrocarbons into a safe bi-product of carbon dioxide and water.

But, the governmental bureaucrats of the Obama administration, and the Cartel’s oil executives, had no interest in using an environmentally friendly product to clean up what is the greatest man-made environmental disaster of all time … they were intent on making this unbelievable cataclysm far, far worse, and one that could never be cleaned up.

It cannot yet be proven that the Monetary Cartel purposely blew up their own wellhead, but the crimes they have committed in their so-called “clean-up” efforts are well documented, in spite of no corporate media outrage.

After the Exxon Valdez incident of March 1989, Mycelx of Georgia developed what looks like a paper towel to soak up to 50 times its weight in oil. And while this product is used from the Middle East to Europe to Canada it was of no interest to the parties Obama charged with cleaning up the Gulf of the floating oil those very same parties caused.

Even hair naturally separates oil from water, leaving large tar globs, in which mushrooms can then be seeded. And as the mushrooms grow, they digest the oil, leaving non-toxic organics, which can then be composed into soil, great for growing healthy vegetables.

Anyone who has ever had a bad hair day knows how well hair will retain oil. In fact, Lisa Gautier, president of Matter of Fact (website for hair salons) has collected 400,000 pounds of hair, and stuffed it all into nylons to be used as booms near Gulf shores.

This idea could have been a shot in the arm of our dying economy, by creating organic compose for the millions of nutrient depleted farm acres in the world. Also there could have been a viable cottage industry of collecting hair from salons.

And, hair is certainly a renewable resource, with most of us contributing.  But neither Obama or the Cartel will ever do anything for our dying US and world economy, but ensure it dies, while feebly pretending to resuscitate it.

But in the world of what could have been, there’s hay, sawdust, crushed volcanic rock, and even kitty litter that could have mulched with the oil on the surface of the Gulf waters, making for easy pick-up.

But, oil industry executives and their confederates in the Obama administration quickly made sure that all spewing oil would either sink well below the surface, or never rise to it, so it could never be vacuumed up or neutralized.

Worse yet, these international criminals of humanity, and life in the Gulf, committed their dastardly deed of deeply submerging the floating oil with an extremely dangerous chemical dispersant that would deny all marine creatures oxygen, thus killing them, and marine plant life to boot, as major underwater currents carry the poisonous oil through-out the Gulf and into the Atlantic.

Trying to give this mass murder a positive spin, BP spokesman John Crabtree said his corporation had dropped more than 560,000 gallons of [toxic] chemical dispersants on the surface slicks and 28,700 gallons of the chemical at the subsea wellhead, 5,000 feet below sea-level.  

Crabtree’s justification for such an insane, criminal act was that the dispersants would drive the oil well below the water’s surface, thus keeping it away from coastal shorelines. So instead of removing the oil, BP decided to make the oil even more toxic, and drive it deep into the ocean where it can never be retrieved, but will kill all marine life in its path.

Mandy Joyce, a marine sciences professor at the University of Georgia carefully chose her words about  BP’s deplorable dispersants: “Anything that requires oxygen will not be able to survive that water. The food web is going to change. You could stymie the entire production level of the Gulf of Mexico. That’s a very real possibility.”

BP’s chemical dispersants contain 2-butoxyethanol, a compound that kills marine and wildlife, exactly the life our clean-up measures should try to save.

BP’s chemical dispersants, currently being dropped by airplanes, break the crude oil into tiny droplets that sink  well below the water’s surface, where they form a giant cloud or plume, making it impossible to gather, as is the obvious intention.

And with this poisonous plume creating a dead zone, currently estimated to be about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined, hidden  at about 3,000 feet of water, no one can place an accurate figure on how much oil has actually gushed into the Gulf.

And once this death dealing plume reaches the large, rapidly moving Loop Current, this oily cloud of doom could swing toward Florida and Cuba, killing the coral reefs and marine life there.

According to Stephen Howden, an oceanographer at the University of Southern Mississippi, the Loop Current could drag the oxygen destroying cloud into shallower waters thus potentially impacting the coral reefs and fisheries near Florida’s coast.

University of Georgia’s Mandy Joyce said, “It’s a good thing the oil is not damaging the coast line, but to say everything is fine because its not hitting the coast is missing a very important part of this equation.”

And I would say, Ms. Joyce’s statement is a serious understatement.

Another person famous for misleading and under stated remarks is our president, Barack Obama.

There can be no denying that President Obama and his EPA regulators are accomplices to the crimes in the Gulf of Halliburton, Transocean, and British Petroleum by allowing these perpetrators of the disaster to be the ones in charge of the capping and clean-up efforts.

How much longer will our government allow these corporate criminals to fail with the capping of the oil gushers ,and making a dead zone of the Gulf of Mexico and perhaps the Atlantic ocean?

Thus far, President Obama has made a grandstand play by pretending to excoriate the oil company executives responsible for the Gulf tragedy for not taking responsibility.

Excuse me Sir, it’s you who should have taken control and responsibility by tasking competent individuals and companies to cap this runaway well, and to clean up the mess, without destroying the entire Gulf of Mexico in the process.

And instead of excoriating the oil company executives and government  bureaucrats who dumped over a half million gallons of toxic dispersants into the Gulf, you should be arresting them for crimes against humanity, not to mention marine and wildlife.

Additionally, Obama’s teleprompter writers had the ignorance to state the ridiculous: “I know BP has committed to pay for the response effort, and we will hold them to their obligation,” read Obama.

The very obvious point Mr. Obama, is you should have saved our Gulf of Mexico, by making sure Transocean, Halliburton, and British Petroleum had absolutely nothing to do with the clean-up efforts, rather than making them pay to turn the Gulf into a dead zone.

President Obama went on to say many parties, including the federal government should accept blame for the disaster, he stopped short of saying he, himself, should be imprisoned for his part in so destroying life in the Gulf.

“There is oil leaking. We need to stop it, and we need to stop it as soon as possible,” said Obama.

It’s not a leak, Mr. Obama. It’s a volcanic gusher spewing out an Exxon Valdez every two to four days.

From whales and dolphins to sardines, from starfish to coral reefs, from microscopic organisms to all the fish in the sea, the Cartel has embarked upon killing, and will kill … unless they are stopped. Are you man enough for the job, Mr. President?

J. Speer-Williams

COSTA RICA
Legislators Fast Track Their Salary Hike
The seats have yet to be warmed up,  but the current crop of legislators have learned real fast to get the nasty business of giving themselves a salary raise out of the way before protests hit the streets. And as such, by a majority vote, the bill raising their salaries will be fast tracked.

Dollar Exchange Regains Upward Momentum On Monday
Following a big drop by the end of the week, last week, the dollar exchange sharply increased on Monday, shooting up to ¢515.29 for the buy and ¢525.95 for the sell.





EU And Central America Reach Free Trade Deal
The European Union (UE) and Central America has reached their first free trade deal on Tuesday, as the Eu opens a summit with Latin American leaders focused on expanding economic ties.

Rodríguez Declines To Testify
The trial of former president Miguel Angel Rodríguez and eight others continues in San José. While last Friday the defence scored a major point when the Tribunal (court) rejected the prosecutions attempts to enter banking evidence from Panama, the testimony today of Pablo Cob, former president of ICE, may take another turn in the case.

San José - Caldera Tolls Up Today
The cost of the tolls on the San José - Caldera go up today, a total of ¢90 colones, each way, from end to end.

EFL Teacher Notes Etiquette Differences In Costa Rica
An Australian traveler has revealed the differences in the way children and adults interact in the classroom in Costa Rica.

Croc Attack Kills Young Man In Guanacaste
A young man was the victim of an attack by a female crocodile in heat in the Cañas river, in Carrillo, Guanacaste. The man, identified as Gerald López Gutiérrez, was swimming in the river when the attack occurred.

Zaguates Feature Of Pet Magazine
It was a day for zaguates (muts or street dogs) to show that not only those of "breed" are good enough to make it in a magazine, with at least 30 pets and their owners, gathering in the La Sabana park for a casting session for the "Pets & Más" magazine.


CENTRAL AMERICA
Insecurity Raises Land Transportation Costs in Central America
Insecurity and violence increases in land transportation in Central America due to high costs to protect drivers, vehicles and merchandize.

GUATEMALA
Guatemala Continues Vaccination Against Flu
GUATEMALA - At least 765,000 Guatemalans were vaccinated against influenza A (H1N1) since the start of a campaign last April and in June it will correspond to those now suffering from chronic illness.

EL SALVADOR
FIFA Suspends El Salvador From World Soccer
Football's world governing body, Fifa, has suspended El Salvador from all international competition.

CUBA
Cuba Launches Anti-Homophobia Campaign
HAVANA - Cuba on Monday launched a week-long campaign to fight discrimination against the gay community, joining the rest of the international community to mark the International day Against Homophobia.

COLOMBIA
Colombian Rebels Hijack Bus Of Presidential Candidate Supporters
BOGOTA - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the biggest rebel group in the country, hijacked a bus with supporters of presidential candidate Rafael Pardo in southwestern Colombia, witnesses said Monday.

VENEZUELA
Egypt, Venezuela to Strengthen Ties
CAIRO - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affaire to Africa Reinaldo Bolivar heads the Venezuelan delegation to the first Egypt-Venezuela joint commission to strengthen ties and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.


SPECIAL REPORTS
CUBA
Struggle Against Homophobia Takes to the Streets
"Governments cannot wait for a social consensus in order to guarantee respect for people's rights," Mariela Castro, head of Cuba's National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX), told IPS on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia in Cuba Monday.


KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Joker Decal For iPad
See, there were these two guys in a lunatic asylum... and one night, one night they decide they don't like living in an asylum any more. They decide they're going to escape!

Panama Set To Sue Costa Rica Online News Website
The Panamanian Secretaría de Comunicación del Estado said in Wednesday that it has hired a group of lawyers to prepare to file a legal suit against the Costa Rican online news website, El País.

Desamparados Bridge Closed Indefinitely
The Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) has ordered the closing of the bridge between Desamparados and Acosta, Aserrí and San Rafael Arriba de Desamparados.

"Platina" Bridge To Be Repaired, MOPT Says
The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) announced on Wednesday a plan to repair the "platina" bridge on the General Cañas following several repair attempts some nine months ago.

13 Drivers Lose Their License For Points Under The New Traffic Law
Although there are reforms before the legislature to, in addition to reducing fines, the points from the Ley de Tránsito that went into effect on March 1, 2010, the point system stands and drivers who accumulate 50 points automatically lose their license for two years on first offence.

Fishman  "El Menos Malo" To Vote Against Raise In Legislator's Salaries
Legislator and former presidential candidate for the PUSC party, Luis Fishman or known "El Menos Malo" from his election campaign, said on Wednesday that we would be voting against the raise in salaries for legislators when the vote hits the Legislative Assembly floor possibly on Monday.

ICE To Improve GSM Coverage On The San José - Caldera
Driving along the San José - Caldera can be frustrating for those on the GSM cellular network, as calls are dropped regularly along different sections of the highway.

Bad Roads. Our Readers Write
Thank you for giving us a voice.

Ask Us Anything!
Inside Costa Rica is making available a new service "Ask Anything" offered through formspring.me which allows our readers to ask about anything.


PANAMA
Panama Aims for a Financial Tower by 2013
PANAMA - Panama intends to have a financial tower in 2013 that will be the headquarters of several public institutions, informed official sources.

HONDURAS
157 Minors Murdered in Lobo's Administration
TEGUCIGALPA - According to a report of the humanitarian organization Casa Alianza a total of 157 children and youngsters were murdered in Honduras since President Porfirio Lobo took office.

GUATEMALA
Popular Pressure Aborted Micheletti's Visit to Guatemala
GUATEMALA - Former Honduras' de facto President Roberto Micheletti suspended his visit to Guatemala due to people's rejection and demonstrations in this capital.

VENEZUELA
Venezuelan Socialists Add More Militants
CARACAS - The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) accepted new members that include dozens of militants of the Patria Para Todos (PPT) party previously integrated to the process headed by President Hugo Chavez.

VENEZUELA
Venezuelan Police Catch Colombian Officer With Drugs
CARACAS - A Colombian officer was caught with about 900 kg of marijuana at a checkpoint in Venezuela, local police said here Wednesday.

PERU
Highway Collapses In Peru Earthquake
LIMA - There has been a major disruption to transport but so far no injuries from a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that jolted northern Peru Wednesday, according to local media.

BOLIVIA
Bolivia Gets Credits To Fight Poverty
LA PAZ - The Bolivian government Wednesday issued two decrees concerning two credits for a total of 40 million U.S. dollars for poverty relief.


SPECIAL REPORTS
CUBA
New Agricultural Plan, But Few Real Reforms
Cuba's strategy to boost production and reduce imports of food is intended to untangle the bureaucratic knots that hinder privately-run farms, responsible for 70 percent of the food on the country's dinner tables.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Two Motorbikes Become One Car In India
Kat Hannaford, Gizmodo.com
Inspired by India's "buy one get one free" mentality, designer Ramesh Gound has created a concept where two motorbike owners can join them together, creating a fancy sports car for longer drives.

Undercover Report From Foxconn's Hell Factory
Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly sent 20-year-old reporter Liu Zhi Yi undercover in Foxconn's factory in Shenzhen, China. For 28 days, he experienced dreadful conditions that the factory's 400,000 employees endure, churning out iPods, iPads, and iPhones for Apple nonstop.
 

WE AT COSTA RICA NEWS report what we hear with enough information for you to decide the truth. It certainly does not appear to come from mainstream media.  Have a look at this (thanks again, Francis):

AFTER POSTING OUR NEWS BELOW (5/20/10) we received the following from Francis, and again thank her. As Communist China sells poisoned crap to their people and Wal-Mart shoppers while maintaining special Communist farms and manufacturing for good Party members, so the US now appears to be gearing up to limit chemically-treated food to non-party members.  Here is what Francis sent to us:

SURPRISE, SURPRISE as we suddenly learn that the amount of oil the British and Swiss are dumping into the Gulf of Mexico is in fact 15 times what they have been reporting. It takes one quart of motor oil to pollute 250,000 gallons of water, and foreigners are currently dumping up-to 200,000 gallons of oil/day. This could continue for 15 years!  The "good news" the media reports is that there is now a larger natural gas component, and so a great deal is evaporating and solving the problem.  Two weeks ago, news that a company was releasing tons of pollutants into the atmosphere would be a huge scandal---but today it is "good news". Meanwhile, BP brags that they are using local fishermen to clean up and so they are "not suffering", while local fishermen tell of days spent sitting on their boats waiting to be loaded with containment equipment---only to be eventually told by a BP rep. to go home and there is no work. Catch from clean areas of the Gulf is not saleable, and this may be the last catch ever available. The US oil company regulators and the oil company execs will never face charges for having drug parties with prostitutes in order to keep lawmakers from requiring equipment that should have prevented this disaster.

As fuel prices drop around the world, the government of Costa Rica (Communist China) is raising them $.10/quart. Now here is the rest of our local news:

COSTA RICA
Taxis "Must" Provide Child Seats
A decision by the Sala Constitucional on Thursday says that all "formal" taxis must provide a child sear or booster, as required by the Ley de Tránsito that went into effect on March 1, 2010.

Gas Prices Going Up ¢41 Colones A Litre
Best to tighten the belt or drive less as gasoline prices are getting ready to take another sharp increase with the latest request by the state refinery - the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope) - to boost prices by ¢41 colones a litre.

"Yo Yo Dollar Exchange" Playing Role In San José - Caldera Tolls
The tolls on the San José - Caldera are going up only two weeks after dropping, all due to the yo yo dollar exchange.

17 Students Detained In Protest Against Use Of Tight Pants
An order by the principal banning the use of tight pants was the motive behind the dispute of the students of the Liceo Vargas Calvo in San Pedro, that escalated to a full scale riot, ending up in the detention of 17 students.

Cuban Pianist Praised in Costa Rica
Cuban famed piano player Frank Fernandez captivated Costa Rican audiences with a concert in which virtuosity and musical performing richness walked together hand to hand, in a repertoire consecrated almost entirely to legendary Polish piano master Frederic Chopin.

"Run The Presses", Imprenta Nacional Strike Over
The strike at the Imprenta Nacional (National Press) ended on Thursday following an agreement reached between the workers and the Ministerio de Trabajo, Gobernación and the Imprenta Nacional.
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PANAMA
Panama, Colombia Advance in Trade Negotiations
PANAMA - Panama and Colombia reported advances in the talks on Cross Border Trade in Services, Investments and Environment as part of the process for an exchange liberalization agreement, official sources reported on Thursday.

NICARAGUA
Altrusa International of Oshkosh helps women in Nicaragua
Altrusa of Oshkosh has fostered an international relationship with Wisconsin's "sister country" of Nicaragua.

HONDURAS
Honduran Teachers Protest Privatization, Layoffs
TEGUCIGALPA - Honduran teachers are marching Thursday for several cities to protest against layoffs, privatization of teaching and the attempts of the government to eliminate working achievements.

COLOMBIA
Colombia to Investigate Extrajudicial Executions
BOGOTA - The Colombian General Attorney's Office (FGC) ordered to investigate more than 400 extrajudicial executions by paramilitaries from 1998 to 2006, media outlets reported on Thursday.

VENEZUELA
University Strike Fails in Venezuela
CARACAS -  A university strike called by the University Professors Federation lacked sufficient support countrywide, according to reports from student and academic representatives.

CHILE
Chilean Ambassador Extols Links with Uruguay
MONTEVIDEO - Chilean Ambassador in Uruguay Andres Rebolledo described bilateral relations as the best and pointed out that the Chilean investments in this country should quadruple.

BOLIVIA
Bolivian Lawmakers Ratify Cooperation Agreement With Iran
LA PAZ- Bolivia's lower house of parliament has approved a cooperation agreement the country has signed with Iran, local media reported Thursday.


SPECIAL REPORTS
COLOMBIA
After Forced Displacement by Conflict, Relocation by Landslide
CIUDAD BOLIVAR, Colombia (IPS) - More than 380 families -- some 2,000 people -- in this vast working-class district on the fringes of the Colombian capital that is home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the armed conflict are to be relocated after landslides caused by leaking water pipes.
 

COSTA RICA
Are Babies Being Bought And Sold In Costa Rica? Surrogacy On The Rise
The renting of the womb or surrogacy is quickly becoming big business in Costa Rica, as the lack of laws and regulations and the internet are offering a way for couples who cannot conceive to have a child, and for women, for a profit, carry and deliver babies for alternative families.

No Sex Or Street Food, Salud Recommends For Ticos Going To The World Cup in South Africa
The Ministerio de Salud in Costa Rica has issued a series of recommendations for Costa Ricans to safely enjoy the greatest soccer game in the world, the World Cup, which is being hosted in South Africa this year.

No Cellular Competition For This Year. Maybe Next.
Although many are holding their hopes for competition to ICE's cellular service, it will not happen this year. At best, the competition will be around in 2011, if not 2012.

Newton's Third Law On The Dollar Exchange
What's the exchange rate today? Well, let's see, yesterday it was such, the other this, tomorrow may be that. That is the reality being lived in Costa Rica today when it comes to the dollar exchange rate.

Something New! Public Indoor Garage Sale
Garage sales in Costa Rica have dropped off over the last several years, not due to their popularity, but rather to the insecurity we live in today. After all, a garage sale invites strangers into one's home.

Costa Rica May Tax Online Gambling to Fund Crime Fighting
Many of the world’s largest online gambling sites are operated out of Costa Rica. There are two simple reasons for this. First, the country has no specific laws regarding online gambling licensing, meaning that corporations, even foreign groups, can operate internet gambling sites under a very generic "data processing license".

Family In Plea Over Missing Journalist in Costa Rica
The family of a journalist who went missing while on holiday in Costa Rica has released a video appeal for information of his whereabouts.

Wal-Mart And Sykes Looking To Hire 400
In addition to the 600 job opportunities announced by Manpower on Monday, Wal-Mart and Sykes are looking for 400 people to hire in two separate job fairs this weekend.

Presidenta Heading To Spain
With the excuse to complete the trade deal with Europe, presidenta Laura Chinchilla, announced her trip to Spain on Saturday. The presidential chair hasn't even molded to her yet, she is off globetrotting.

World Cup Fever Shoots Up Sales Of Televisions
In less than a month the World Cup 2010 gets underway in South Africa. But another kind of competition is already being played in Costa Rica, that of the big (or small) screen televisions.

COSTA RICA
35 Traffic Accidents In Three Hours Due To Heavy Rain
Although the rainy season is not official, yesterday's torrential downpour may be an indication of what is to come this season that begins in a couple of weeks.  And with the rain come traffic accidents.

Hurricanes Rarely Hit Costa Rica
Hurricanes rarely hit Costa Rica, the last one was Hurricane Cesár which came ashore on July 27, 1996 and killed 41 people and trashed the Pacific southwest in Costa Rica’s worst national disaster in a decades.  Even though Costa Rica is in the Caribbean, because Costa Rica is so far south it is very rare that a hurricane strikes land over Costa Rica.




Turrialba and Poás Volcano Remain Active
Although the Turrialba and Poás volcanoes continue with high activity, experts assure that this is normal behaviour.

Kids To Fly and Stay Free With NatureAir
Costa Rica's NatureAir, the world's first carbon neutral airline, announces that families looking to travel on a budget this year can have their wish. The airline is bringing back its popular Kids Fly Free program, making transportation for a family of four much more affordable.

Noriega's Ties To Costa Rica
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega went from being Washington's man in Latin America to the target of a 1989 U.S. invasion, as his rule became increasingly autocratic and he forged deep ties with Colombian drug traffickers.

Escobar's Son Tells Story Of  His Father In Costa Rica In Documentary
Sebastian Marroquin, son of the famous Colombian drug trafficker, Pablo Escobar, tells the story of his father, who had strong ties to Costa Rica.


CENTRAL AMERICA
Central America Rejects US Anti-Immigrant Law
Governments and civil society sectors in Central America expressed their energetic opposition to anti-immigrant legislation passed in the US state of Arizona because it is considered xenophobic, unjust and contrary to human rights.

NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Daily: US Legislator, an Enemy
MANAGUA - From Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, we can only expect fascist expressions and fanatical defense of terrorism and US hegemony, the Bolsa de Noticias newspaper said in this capital on Monday.

PANAMA
Panama's Strongman Noriega In France
PARIS - The extradited former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega has arrived at Paris Tuesday morning by an Air France flight, according to the source of the airport.

HONDURAS
Obama Calls Honduran President Lobo For First Time
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Obama Monday phoned the first time with Honduran President Lobo to discuss the situation in Honduras, said the White House.

CUBA
Fidel Castro: The Insanities of Our Times
HAVANA (Prensa Latina) - Leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, said that the infinite cost of investments in the relevant research is showing the impossibility to achieve in a few decades what it took the universe tens of thousands of millions of years to create.

BRAZIL
Storm Affects 54,000 In Southern Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO - Continuous storms have forced hundreds of people homeless in southern Brazil and the total affected population has reached 54,000.

BRAZIL
Brazil, CARICOM Hold First Summit
BRASILIA - Leaders from Brazil and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Monday held their first summit in Brasilia to enhance bilateral ties.

COLOMBIA
Colombia Espionage Could be Taken to International Courts
BOGOTA -  The presidential runner for the Liberal Party, Rafael Pardo, said on Monday he would resort to international courts if needed to clarify the internal political espionage issue in Colombia. If the national justice fails to play an active role in the matter, international courts must assess the situation, the political leader stated.


SPECIAL REPORTS
Bitter Taste in Mexican Coffee Farmers' Mouths
 A Turkish proverb says "coffee should be black as Hell, strong as death, and sweet as love." But growers of the more expensive arabica coffee beans in Mexico are more concerned with a government plan to promote the cheaper robusta beans than with poetic maxims.
 

AS COSTA RICA NEWS PREDICTED IN 2008/9 the Taliban returned to Iraq  as soon as the Gringos left. Wholesale bombings continue, but the price America paid was to become the world's largest debtor nation  Now we're starting again in Afghanistan as our friends in Pakistan continue training American Muslims to finish the job. Meanwhile, President Hussein Obama rejoices at the "job gain" as only 50,000 more Americans joined unemployment lines in April. 

In his efforts to create American jobs and fire-up American industry, Pres. Obama authorized a British oil company to bring in a Swiss rig to tap Florida's wealth.  Here is what geologists are saying about the result: (thanks to Francis for sending us this article)

i would have to say that the bottom line is pretty scary.  this is not an oil spill - a hole has been drilled into a very large well (500,000 barrel per day capacity for 10 to 15 years - that's the size of the reserve) and is now coming out at the rate of 200,000 barrels per day.

the pressure 1 mile down (through water) and then 5 miles down (through rock) - 70,000 psi.

basically what happened was, the crew drilled into this extremely high pressure reservoir and it completely overwhelmed all their safety systems - leaving one of the largest rigs in the world sitting like a dead turtle on a hole in a large oil reservoir.  sitting on it, but not plugging it.

this situation will poison/ is poisoning a size-able piece of ocean real estate.   will BP and their helpers be able to confine this spill to the Caribbean during hurricane season ?

i am beginning to get the feeling that this is a die-off level event.  first for all marine life in the affected area - and then for everybody who depends on that ocean for their food.


http://pesn.com/2010/05/02/9501643_Mother_of_all_gushers_could_kill_Earths_oceans/

"Oil Deposit Capacity

The BP people are not talking, but this well is into a deposit that easily could top 500,000 barrels production per day for 10 or 15 years. Letting that all go in one blast seems more than foolish.

The deposit is one I have known about since 1988. The deposit is very big. The central pressure in the deposit is 165 to 170 thousand PSI. It contains so much hydrocarbon that you simply cannot imagine it. In published reports, BP estimated a blow out could reach near 200,000 Barrels per day (165,000) They may have estimated a flow rate on a 5 foot pipe. The deposit is well able to surpass this.

The oil industry has knowledge of the deposit more than they admit. The deposit is 100 miles off shore. They are drilling into the edge of the deposit to leak it down gently to be able to produce from the deposit. The deposit is so large that while I have never heard exact numbers it was described to me to be either the largest or the second largest oil deposit ever found. It is mostly a natural gas deposit. That is another reason not to blast too willy nilly there. The natural gas that could be released is really way beyond the oil in quantity. It is like 10,000 times the oil in the deposit.

It is this deposit that has me reminding people of what the Shell geologist told me about the deposit. This was the quote, "Energy shortage..., Hell! We are afraid of running out of air to burn." The deposit is very large. It covers an area off shore something like 25,000 square miles. Natural Gas and Oil is leaking out of the deposit as far inland as Central Alabama and way over into Florida and even over to Louisiana almost as far as Texas. This is a really massive deposit. Punching holes in the deposit is a really scary event as we are now seeing."

...and more good news from Francis....

I'm Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen. I want to explain SB 1070 which I voted for and was just signed by Governor Jan Brewer.
 Rancher Rob Krantz was murdered by the drug cartel on his ranch a month ago. I participated in a senate hearing two weeks ago on the border violence, here is just some of the highlights from those who testified.

 The people who live within 60 to 80 miles of the Arizona/Mexico Border have for years been terrorized and have pleaded for help to stop the daily invasion of humans who cross their property . One Rancher testified that 300 to 1200 people a DAY come across his ranch vandalizing his property, stealing his vehicles and property, cutting down his fences, and leaving trash. In the last two years he has found 17 dead bodies and two Koran bibles.
 
 Another rancher testified that daily drugs are brought across his ranch in a military operation. A point man with a machine gun goes in front, 1/2 mile behind are the guards fully armed, 1/2 mile behind them are the drugs, behind the drugs 1/2 mile are more guards. These people are violent and they will kill anyone who gets in the way. This was not the only rancher we heard that day that talked about the drug trains.
 
 One man told of two illegal's who came upon his property one shot in the back and the other in the arm by the drug runners who had forced them to carry the drugs and then shot them. Daily they listen to gun fire during the night it is not safe to leave his family alone on the ranch and they can't leave the ranch for fear of nothing being left when they come back.
 
 The border patrol is not on the border. They have set up 60 miles away with check points that do nothing to stop the invasion. They are not allowed to use force in stopping anyone who is entering. They run around chasing them, if they get their hands on them then they can take them back across the border.
 
 Federal prisons have over 35% illegal's and 20% of Arizona prisons are filled with illegal's. In the last few years 80% of our law enforcement that have been killed or wounded have been by an illegal.
 
 The majority of people coming now are people we need to be worried about. The ranchers told us that they have seen a change in the people coming they are not just those who are looking for work and a better life.
 
 The Federal Government has refused for years to do anything to help the border states . We have been over run and once they are here we have the burden of funding state services that they use. Education cost have been over a billion dollars. The healthcare cost billions of dollars. Our State is broke, $3.5 billion deficit and we have many serious decisions to make. One is that we do not have the money to care for any who are not here legally. It has to stop.
 The border can be secured. We have the technology we have the ability to stop this invasion. We must know who is coming and they must come in an organized manner legally so that we can assimilate them into our population and protect the sovereignty of our country. We are a nation of laws. We have a responsibility to protect our citizens and to protect the integrity of our country and the government which we live under.
 
 I would give amnesty today to many, but here is the problem, we dare not do this until the Border is secure. It will do no good to forgive them because thousands will come behind them and we will be over run to the point that there will no longer be the United States of America but a North American Union of open borders. I ask you what form of government will we live under? How long will it be before we will be just like Mexico , Canada or any of the other Central American or South American countries? We have already lost our language, everything must be printed in Spanish also. We have already lost our history it is no longer taught in our schools. And we have lost our borders.
 
 The leftist media has distorted what SB 1070 will do. It is not going to set up a Nazi Germany . Are you kidding. The ACLU and the leftist courts will do everything to protect those who are here illegally, but it was an effort to try and stop illegal's from setting up businesses, and employment, and receiving state services and give the ability to local law enforcement when there is probable cause like a traffic stop to determine if they are here legally. Federal law is very clear if you are here on a visa you must have your papers on you at all times. That is the law. In Arizona all you need to show you are a legal citizen is a driver license, MVD identification card, Native American Card, or a Military ID. This is what you need to vote, get a hunting license, etc.. So nothing new has been added to this law. No one is going to be stopped walking down the street etc... The Socialist who are in power in DC are angry because we dare try and do something and that something the Socialist wants us to do is just let them come. They want the "Transformation" to continue.
 
 Maybe it is too late to save America . Maybe we are not worthy of freedom anymore. But as an elected official I must try to do what I can to protect our Constitutional Republic . Living in America is not a right just because you can walk across the border. Being an American is a responsibility and it comes by respecting and upholding the Constitution the law of our land which says what you must do to be a citizen of this country. Freedom is not free.

Here's what's happening locally:

COSTA RICA

FOTO of the DAY: 
Following the introduction of the high fines of the Ley de Tránstio on March 1, the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) are perhaps the single most authority that can solve Costa Rica's financial problems, with the power and authority and to write millions of colones of tickets a day. Move over ICE. Now, if only the offending drivers paid their tickets!


A NEW DAY. I think!
We congratulate, with great pride, our new president and the grace in which Laura Chinchilla received Costa Rica´s coveted red, white and blue presidential sash. She is our first female president and only the third woman to be elected to that position in Central America.

Braulio Carrillo Re-Opened Today From 6am To 3pm
After almost two weeks of being closed, the Braulio Carrillo or Ruta 32 has be re-opened this morning (Monday) to vehicular traffic, but with restrictions.

Dollar May Hit ¢550 Plus By Week's End
Will the dollar exchange hit ¢550 or higher in the coming days or week? One group, INS Valores, seems to think so.

Cuarterias, A Time Bomb For Something Horrible To Happen
"Cuarterias" - rooming or tenement housing - is a real problem in San José and municipal officials have their hands tied in controlling the growing problem that has been the scene of many fatalities over the last several years.

President Chinchilla Signs Decree Banning Open Pit Mining
The long-delayed Crucitas mining project that won the approval of Costa Rica's high court a few weeks back will have to wait another four year or more, following the signing of a decree banning open-pit mining in Costa Rica, her first act as president on Saturday.

Chinchilla Meets Top Cuban Official
Costa Rica's new president Laura Chinchilla met with Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo backstage following Saturday's inauguration ceremony.

Laura Chinchilla Enjoys The Sabana Concert
President Laura Chinchilla too again the stage Saturday night, this time dressed in black pants and red "bufanda" (scarf) to enjoy the "Gran Concierto por la Democracia", dancing to the music of Ruben Blades and Editus.

Fancy Waking Up To Some Real Costa Rican Coffee?
In November, a team of intrepid Multiple Scelerosis (MS) Trust trekkers will be setting out to discover the beauty of Costa Rica for themselves and we are hoping you will join them!

Safari Surf School Offers New 'Family Surf & Save' Packages
Safari Surf School, Costa Rica’s premier surfing school and camp, is offering a new “Family Surf & Save” package as well as reduced seasonal summer prices for all visitors beginning May 1 and ending August 31.

Caja Seeking Elderly, Widows, Handicapped And Indigenous To Get Them Their Pensions
The Caja Costarrisence de Seguro Social (CCSS) - Costa Rica's social security - has begun and aggressive campaign seeking out the elderly and widows to get them their pension. The work of the CCSS officials will be mostly concentrated in remote areas of the country.


NICARAGUA
Nicaragua For Better Health Care
MANAGUA - The Sandinista government strategy is to seek top-quality health care for all Nicaraguans and not only for well-off sectors, said President Daniel Ortega.

PANAMA
Panama Finalizes Population Census Details
PANAMA - Panamanian authorities are finalizing details for the National Census of Population and Housing, scheduled for My 16 to determine the real current situation of the country 10 years after the last study was conducted.

NICARAGUA
Clinica Verde Will Provide Medical Care to Poor Women, Children in Nicaragua
Poor women and girls living in rural Nicaragua will soon have access to a new model of healthcare, thanks to the dream of a former journalist and to more than $700,000 in donations, mostly from private donors and various foundations.

COLOMBIA
Six FARC Rebels Killed, 18 Captured In Colombia
BOGOTA - At least six rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were killed and 18 others captured by the Colombian Army in central west of the country last week, authorities said on Sunday.

CUBA
Financial Capital Rules World, Not Governments: Fidel Castro
HAVANA - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Saturday that the ecological disaster caused by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows "how little can governments do against those who control the capital."

VENEZUELA
Electoral Preparation in Venezuelan Week
CARACAS - The results of the internal elections of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) previous to parliamentary elections in September caught the attention of Venezuelans this week.

ARGENTINA
Argentina Stops Dengue, Yellow Fever
BUENOS AIRES - Argentina reduced 96 percent its dengue and yellow fever cases compared to 2009 when it reported 2,600 contagions and the diseases just hit at two of 68 municipalities.


SPECIAL REPORTS
Will The Jaguar Disappear From Suriname?
One of the most mysterious and beautiful animals living in the Suriname rainforest is without any doubt the jaguar, also known as ‘tigri’. It is, however, also one of the most rare animals. Hence this hunter is qualified as ‘nearly endangered’ by The International Union for the Conservation

COSTA RICA
Costa Rica's First Woman President Takes Office
Laura Chinchilla Miranda on Saturday became the first woman to hold the office of the president in Costa Rica, taking the oath of office in an public ceremony with thousands of supporters on hand.

President Chinchilla Pledges Cooperation With All Parties
President Laura Chinchilla, sworn in as Costa Rica's first female president on Saturday, pledged cooperation with all parties and citizens during her inauguration speech. "Leadership consists in crafting agreements," she said in her speech.

Laura Chinchilla Miranda: Costa Rica's First Woman President
Costa Rica's first ever woman president, Laura Chinchilla Miranda, was sworn-in Saturday. But, who is she? Lets take a look.

Oscar Arias Says Goodbye
Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Peace Prize winner and president of Costa Rica for two terms (1990-1994 and 2006-2010), bid his adieu to the thousands who were out to see the new president sworn in in person and hundreds of thousands at home in front of their televisions.

La Sabana All Dressed Up For The Transfer of Powers
After weeks of preparation it took only two hours to complete the inauguration ceremony of the new president, witnessed by school children from all seven provinces, hundreds of invited guests, heads of state and representatives of 56 nations and thousands of citizens, in the open-air of the La Sabana park.

Chinchilla Chose To Sleep In On Her Big Day
President Laura Chinchilla admitted to reporters that she slept in on her big day, choosing to get up at 6:30am, a half hour later than usual, given that she would be facing a long day filled with emotions and wishes and her first speech as head of state.

Peaceful Protest Turns Violent
Although inside the Sabana park it was all smiles, cheers and peace, outside the park on Paseo Colón the scene was totally different, as a peaceful march turned violent, with six people detained by police.

"Do Something For Your Country" Nicaraguans In Costa Rica Shouted At Their President
It wasn't sure if Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega Saavedra would be present in Saturday's inauguration ceremony of president Chinchilla, but he was, accompanied by his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Sala IV Puts Brakes On U.S. Woman's Extradition From Costa Rica
Ellen Meredith Stubenhaus won't be going home just yet, thanks to a decision by the Sala Constitucional (or Sala IV) which stopped the extradition of the American woman, who is wanted in the United States, for tax fraud conspiracy.


GUATEMALA
Cuban Docs in Guatemala Sign Code of Honour
GUATEMALA -  The code of honor was signed by the renewed leadership of the medical brigade that bears more than 11 years working in Guatemala.

VENEZUELA
Chavez: Santos Is The Number One 'Little Yankee' In Colombia"
CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said a presidential election win in neighboring Colombia by former defense minister Juan Manuel Santos would be a disaster for efforts to repair relations between the two countries.

CHILE
Chile's LAN Plans Partnership To Operate In Colombia
SANTIAGO -  Chile's dominant airline LAN said on Thursday it plans a partnership with Colombia's Aeroasis S.A. to start air passenger and cargo operations in the South American country.

CHILE
Chilean President Announces New Work Plan
SANTIAGO - Chilean President Sebastian Pinera met on Friday with 53 provincial governors to unveil his work plan highlighting goals and commitments of the government.
 

AMERICA CONTINUES THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS as the eleventh raghead tries to once-again blowup NYC. Educated and given full-citizenship in the USA, this Muslim was on no one's watch list, and the only reason NYC is still open for business is that this was a stupid Muslim who thought he could ignite cow shit like it was nitrous oxide fertilizer. In the meantime Florida's beaches and keys (and the bijous) are threatened with extinction because America gave its oil rights to two foreign companies who drilled the Gulf without using the emergency shut-off valve which is required in every country but the US (Remember when the oil companies got caught having drug/sex parties with Government regulators???). The next disaster could come from the huge drilling operation that Communist China is working between Florida and Cuba.

Normally the National Guard would be available to handle America's national disasters---but they (arms, equipment, water-treatment plants, etc.) have been "activated" and sent to help the Muslim ragheads.  Although America continues to welcome Muslims with open arms, steps are being taken to tramp those Americans who don't like the idea.  We again thank Francis for sending this:

The Founders insisted that standing armies were
never to be used against American citizens on our own soil, no matter what
violations of this principle have occurred in the years following
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Special army unit ready to be deployed on American soil just before
Nov. elections
      Published on 04-27-2010


      Source: Examiner

      In October of this year, one month prior to the November midterm
elections, a special army unit known as 'Consequence Management Response
Force' will be ready for deployment on American soil if so ordered by the
President.

      The special force, which is the new name being given to the 1st
Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry, has been training at Fort Stewart,
Georgia and is composed of 80,000 troops.

      According to the Army Times,

        They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control
or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios such as massive poisoning and
chaos in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or
high-yield explosive, or CBRNE, attack.
      The key phrase is 'may be called upon to help with civil unrest.'

      This afternoon a local radio talk show host reported that he had been
in contact with a member of the military.  This military source stated that
the armed forces have been alerted to the strong possibility that civil
unrest may occur in the United States this summer, prior to the midterm
elections of 2010.

      The source described this as 'our long, hot summer of discontent' that
could be eerily reminiscent of the summer of 1968 when riots broke out in
many of our largest cities.

      However, the summer of 2010 could well be much worse due to the
players involved.  In 1968 the major players were war protesters.  This
time, the outrage simmering beneath the surface of American society involves
a broad cross-section of the heartland, and most of them are heavily armed.

      It is highly unlikely that these citizens would ever initiate armed
conflict of any kind.  In their view, gun rights are for self-defense--and
for defense against tyrannical government, which our Founders regarded as
the most dangerous force on earth.

      However, it has become clear that other groups may well initiate
violence in order to start an 'incident' that would give Obama and a rogue
Congress a reason to implement martial law, confiscate the citizens' guns,
enforce curfews, and suspend all future elections until such time as it is
deemed 'safe' to proceed with human liberty as encapsulated in the right to
vote.

      Tea Party members, for example, have been warned in recent days that
members of Andy Stern's SEIU union and members of the organization formerly
known as ACORN plan to infiltrate Tea Party gatherings in order to incite
some sort of incident that could result in armed conflict.

      In addition, all indications point to a humiliating defeat for the
Democrats and Obama in November.  Not only will the House in all likelihood
transfer to Republican control, but it is increasingly possible for the
Democrats to lose the Senate as well.

      And there are Leftwing groups in this country that would use whatever
means necessary to prevent that from happening.

      ACORN has already gone underground, changing its name so as to fly
beneath the radar screen.  How many people will  the group register to vote
illegally?

      And with Obama's plan to naturalize between 10 and 20 million illegal
aliens, a brand new voter base for the Democrats will be in place prior to
November.

      Add to this the growing unrest over continued high unemployment, the
coming spike in interest rates and inflation, and the still-boiling outrage
over the manner in which Obama and the Democrats shoved ObamaCare down the
throats of the citizens, and all of the ingredients are present for a major
F-5 tornado to sweep across the heartland.

      To what extent would soldiers use deadly force during such 'civil
unrest' should the Consequence Management Response Team be utilized?  During
the anti-war riots of the 1960s they killed student protesters.  What about
now?

      The military source cited by the radio host today was asked this very
question.  He would merely say that the culture of the U.S. military is
changing--half support Obama and the other half are dead-set against him.

      His conclusion?  There is no way to know for sure if they would obey
an order to open fire on ordinary citizens.

      Update:  The Cato Institute published this warning when the program
was launched in its first phase in 2008 (the program has been updated and
expanded since 2008).   The Founders insisted that standing armies were
never to be used against American citizens on our own soil, no matter what
violations of this principle have occurred in the years following.  In the
spirit of the Patriots and of real journalists government must be questioned
constantly and held to intense scrutiny in order to preserve liberty.


http://admin.blacklistednews.com/newspublish/home.print.php?news_id=8414

 Here is what is happening locally:

EDITORIAL
Drunk Drivers Continue To Kill, Time and Again
Drunk drivers continue kill and to mock the law, notwithstanding that the law sends them to jail, but the courts then sets them free.

COSTA RICA
Braulio Carrillo To Continue Closed Friday?
The closure of the Braulio Carrillo (Ruta 32) is costing millions in losses, especially for transport companies, manufactures and growers, as moving goods to and from San José and the Limón port is impossible, for the only alternate, through Turrialba, is not possible for big rigs.

COSTA RICA
Dollar Hits A Low of ¢503
The dollar exchange rate has hit a new low of ¢503.29 colones for the buy, a rate that has not been seen in a couple of year. The sell was posted at ¢513.17.


Bids Deadline For Dredging Limón Port Construction This Week
Technical and economic offers for a tender to build and operate a port complex in Costa Rica’s eastern Limón province must be presented this week, an official from port authority Japdeva told BNamericas.

Maria Rodriguezes of Costa Rica
Over 6,300 women in Costa Rica have Maria Rodriguez as their names, prompting a documentary that follows the daily lives of five women named Maria Rodriguez, and even held a meeting asking all women of that name to gather here in the capital city during the weekend.

Revolution 3 Announces Costa Rica Triathlon
The Revolution 3 Triathlon Race Series announced today the addition of a fourth race to the series. The sprint and Olympic triathlons will take place on the weekend of February 19 and 20, 2011 in Costa Rica.

Irazú Volcano Lagoon Dry
The water lagoon in the Irazú volcano has disappeared according to the reports by the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR).
San José, Costa Rica - The Hustle Bustle
When arriving in San José, Costa Rica, most tourists are expecting a slow and relaxed pace of life in a tropical paradise. Well, Costa Rica has all of the above, but San Jose is not the place! When you get through
customs and out into the street, you are immediately bombarded by "taxistas" or taxi drivers in mobs competing for your business.

UNDER THE SUN
President Arias Places Corner Stone Of New Casa Presidencial. But There's A Catch.
At 9am this morning, Tuesday, May 4, 2010, Oscar Arias, with only a few days left in his presidency, will be placing the cornerstone of the new Casa Presidencial building, which is to be located across from the Asemblea Legislative.

GUATEMALA
Guatemala: Highest Central America Violence Rate
GUATEMALA - Guatemala has been ratified as the most violent country in Central America and one of the unsafest nations in Latin America, after registering over 1,600 murders with weapons from January to April this year.

NICARAGUA/COLOMBIA
Colombia To Collect Detained Fishermen In Nicaragua
Nicaraguan authorities have agreed to allow the Colombian air force to pick up all 23 detained Colombian fisherman and take them home, Colombia's Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

HONDURAS
Honduras Seeks Return to OAS With Commission to Probe Coup
(Bloomberg) - Honduran Foreign Minister Mario Canahuati said a truth commission that begins operations tomorrow and will study the circumstances of last year’s coup will help the country return to the Organization of American States and reduce investor concerns over political instability.

NICARAGUA
Flor de Gonzalez Launches Cuban Tribute Brand
MANAGUA - Flor de Gonzalez, which makes cigars in Hialeah, Florida and Condega, Nicaragua, has launched a brand called 90 Miles by Flor de Gonzalez.

COSTA RICA
Costa Rica: Is This A “Degrees R Us” Society Or What?
Has anyone stopped lately to count the number of different universities in our little country of 4.2 million people something the size of West Virginia? As of last count, I came up with 55. That has to be some kind of world’s first, right? Perhaps more “U”s than failed beach condo projects.

The Braulio Carrillo Will Not Open Today As Had Been Announced
Contrary to the statement by the Policía de Tránsito on Saturday that the Braulio Carrillo (San José - Guapiles) highway would be re-opened Monday morning, the road will continue closed at least until Thursday.

Holiday Homes, Hotels Endangering Ecotourism
The boom in construction projects on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is threatening biodiversity and compromising the future of the country's widely promoted ecological tourism, says a study by Costa Rican and U.S. scientists.

ICE Requires Proof Of Salary For Its Kölbi Cellular Plans
To safeguard losses, the Instituto Costarricense Electricidad (ICE) is now requiring new customers of its Kölbi plans proof of income to ensure that the customer can afford the service. ICE's Kölbi plans are the purchase of a cellular telephone and cellular telephone from ICE.

Wild Bean Cafe Plays Fair With Costa Rican Coffee Beans
The coffee bean faces uncertain prices on the international coffee market, and increased costs mean world coffee production is dropping. However, the popular Kiwi flat white is playing an important role in Costa Rica - and other coffee producing countries - by helping to ensure farmers are paid a fair price for their coffee when it's purchased through the Fairtrade system.

Low Dollar Lowers Prices Of Some Goods And Services
The low dollar exchange rate is showing signs of reducing the cost of goods and services, like the drop in the cost of the tolls on the San José - Caldera highway that takes effect today, a reduction in the price of gasoline this month and the cost of vehicles, like a Toyota Yaris that last year cost ¢11.281.060 colones, today the same vehicle sells for ¢9.967.458 colones.

Bill Gates Vacationing In Costa Rica?
Amelia Rueda reports that the second most richest man in the world chose sla Tortuga, on Costa Rica's Pacific costs, for his vacation last month. We were talking about none other than Microsoft honcho, Bill Gates himself.

NICARAGUA
Tensions Mount In Nicaragua Over Ortega Re-Election
MANAGUA (Reuters) - Supporters of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega have fired up protests against opposition efforts to block the leftist's re-election next year, worrying business leaders and the United States.

GUATEMALA
Guatemala To Push US For Immigration Reform
GUATEMALA (AP) - Guatemala's government says it will push for U.S. immigration reform during a visit this week by a top State Department envoy.