World News

Frustrated with bureaucratic incompetence in Costa Rica

We imported a car from Canada in July and dutifully paid all the taxes, got the marchamo and riteve etc. Upon going to get the marchamo renewed for 2011, we are now being advised that they have no record of it being registered!

Ex-president Zelaya says he will return in 2011

Ousted President Manuel Zelaya plans to return in 2011 from exile in the Dominican Republic to continue his political project of reshaping Honduras.

Meditations: The River of Life

Summer's calm creek has become winter's raging river in this small city in northern California. The end of December deluge has brought inches of rain to the Central Valley, and feet of snow to the High Sierra. The ribbon of...

Dilma Rousseff – first woman sworn in as president of Brazil

The economist Dilma Rousseff, 63, became the first woman president of Brazil on Jan 1, replacing the popular Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who paid tribute with a call to deepen the social reforms of his government.

“Extinct Humans” ‘R Us?

The paradox of the Internet is that it increases one’s appreciation for holding and reading a well-written book printed on fine paper. Such is the case with “Extinct Humans,” by Ian Tattersall and Jeffrey Schwartz. The soft cover does not...

Beethoven’s 7th, Kleiber, and Joy

To listen and watch Carlos Kleiber conduct Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, even on YouTube, is to know in one’s heart that there is an intelligence beyond the mind of man. His performance (a word at once too small and too big...

Was Jesus a Warrior?

It is better to reflect on the historical Jesus at Christmas than at Easter. At Easter, his tragic death overshadows his life, not to mention his teachings. To gain an insight into anyone or anything, one first has to clear...

Beyond Misanthropy

One of the saddest and most misguided trends of late is the stated preference of a growing number of people for animals over humans. I’ve had people write to me and say things such as: “I value animals over humans...

Costa Rican Immigration Moves In Mysterious Ways

With the mountain of mandatory paperwork properly authenticated and safely in the hands of our attorney by late June, as outlined in a previous report, my husband Layne and I were able to relax and enjoy the rest of...

Illumination and Revolution

Shirtsleeve weather of the previous few days suddenly shifted last night. Rain fell in the valley and snow fell in the foothills, just a few hundred meters above the city. Black filigrees of twigs, and the fractals of branches of...
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Latest News

 San José Municipality Cancels Zapote Fair Tender: Are Year-End Festivities at Risk?

The iconic year-end celebrations in San José, Costa Rica, face mounting uncertainty after the local government officially declared the...