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(506) 2223-1327                              Published  Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in Vol. 16, No. 253                              Email us
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A scene
from
the Zapote rondel.

zapote
A.M. Costa Rica archive photo
Fiesta lovers have two competing events this year
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Call it the battle of the fiestas. Both the Fiestas de San José in Zapote and the upstart corridas de toros in Belén are opening Christmas Day for a run through Jan. 3.

The venerable Zapote fiestas once again this year has competition at the Centro de Events Pedregal in San Antonio de Belén. And for this, the second year, the Pedregal event will add carnival attractions.

The Zapote event is organized by the Municipalidad de San José, which auctions off the rights to the rondel or bull ring for top dollar. So it was only natural that an entrepreneur would consider a money-making alternative.

The bull fighting in both locations is really bull baiting where confused animals are whacked on the haunches by a multitude of young men and some women.

The afternoon and evening events are big television draws in Costa Rica, and an international feed is sold overseas.

The Pedregal event this year is being broadcast on the equally upstart Extra TV 42 television, run by Grupo Extra.

The bull baiting is uniquely Tico. Unlike the Spanish and Mexican versions the bull

survives and sometime a participant dies.

Unlike the Spanish and Mexican version, those in the ring are not professionals, although some pretend to be. There may be 100 or more persons in the ring at the same time. There is no requirement except that the informal bull fighters be free of alcohol and have contracted for a $1 million accident policy.

Costa Ricans love this type of exhibition. Not only are the Zapote stands usually filled, but similar informal bull fights take place all year long all over the country at fairs and festivals.

Promoters provide various attractions to liven up the events. There are bands playing from stages inside the ring or there might be teeter-totters set up that brings a young man or woman just out of reach of the bull's horns.

One contest offers a substantial money prize for participants who manage to remain inside a white-bordered circle. The problem is that the bull has full access to the circle, too, and its hard to dispute territory with a 900-pound critter.

Many expats spent a lot of time watching the television shows featuring the informal bull fighters and end up rooting for the bulls, which sometimes leap the barriers and enter the spectator stands. Or sometimes they simply propel one of their human tormentors six rows into the bleachers.

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A.M. Costa Rica's 
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, Vol. 16, No. 253
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Professional Directory
A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses. If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the editor.


Dentistry

Marco Cavallini & Associates
Dental Implants and Crowns

Dr. Marco A. Muñoz Cavallini has placed and
DR. Cavallini
Dr. Marco A. MuÏoz Cavallini
restored over 17,000 dental implants since 1980. The Dr. Marco Muñoz Cavallini Dental Clinic, is recognized as one of the best practices in Dental Reconstruction, Dental Implant placement and Cosmetic Dentistry in Costa Rica and the World. For more information, visit us today at: marcomunozcavallini.com
8365-5/12/15

Psychotherapy

Dr. Gray
Dr. Lucinda Gray
California Licensed
Psychologist
International Practice

• Anxiety
 • Depression
 • Relationship Problems
 
CR (506) 2228-2041
US (310) 827-4241
www.LucindaGray.com
New World Meditation
8610-8/23/15

Insurance professionals

The Garrett Insurance Group
Garrett
-Brokerage fully licensed by the
      government.
-Experience since 1980.
-Bilingual English/Spanish.
-Represent all the best insurance
       companies in Costa Rica,
       BMI, Blue Cross, Blue
       Shield, ASSA, INS, etc.
-Correspondents of WILLIS.
-Connections in all of Central
       America.
-Superb communications.
-Prize-winning Web site.
-English policy extracts.
-Helps you settle your claims.
Centro Comercial El Pueblo, Local #125, San José, Costa Rica.    Phone:  ( 506 ) 2233-9520
E-mail : info@garrettbrokers.com
More information HERE!
8845-2/18/16

Residency experts

Residency in Costa Rica
A full service immigration agency
U.S. and San José offices
Getting and authenticating documents can be a chore. —

We know how to do it. Experienced with many nationalities. Up-to-date on
Costa Rica's evolving immigration law.

Pensionado and rentista. Your first stop for smooth, professional service and a positive experience. Javier Zavaleta javier@residencyincostarica.com
www.residencyincostarica.com
Tel: (323) 255-6116
8881-3/16/15

 Accountants

U.S. Income Tax Services
Marlene B. Summers, Tax Accountant
 
Ms. Summers
Marlene B. Summers
U.S. citizens, plan now for your tax year. Let me help you pay only the tax  you must!
 
Take advantage of the foreign earned income exclusion.
 
If your filing is not up-to-date, the Streamlined Filing Procedure can be used to mitigate penalties.   Including  disclosure of foreign corporations to avoid future problems. 

File current or past due FBARs with no penalties to meet IRS requirements.
File up-to-date current or amended returns.


23 Years Experience      Competitive rates

Phone (506) 2289-6590 or (506) 8750-2316
Email: marlene.summers@gmail.com
8808-12/21/15

U.S. Tax International
Plus Costa Rican taxes, accounting, and legal
 services. Over 15 years in Costa Rica

U.S. Tax
                                                  rollover
(English spoken). Tamarindo office hours now available.  If you or anyone you know would like an appointment in Tamarindo, please call our San José office at 2288-2201 to make an appointment.
Contact Us:
 U.S 786-206-9473         CR 506-2288-2201
FAX: 506 2231-3300
E-mail: ustax@lawyer.com
Web page: www.ustaxinternational.com
8796-3/14/16

James Brohl, C.P.A. & M.B.A.
US Income Tax,  U.S. GAAP Accounting
& Business Consulting
S
pecializing in all matters of concern to U.S. taxpayers residing abroad including:
Uncle Sam's
IRS filing requirements of foreign income tax exclusion (up to $100,800 for 2015).
Past-due tax returns: Taxpayers filing before an IRS notice do not face criminal sanctions.
Reporting foreign financial assets: FBAR and foreign corporations.
Up-to-date FACTA news.
All US Tax return preparation:
individual, business, estate and trust.
eFile returns: secure with faster refunds.
Business consulting to facilitate working in Costa Rica.

Telephone 8305-3149 or 2256-8620
E-mail jrtb_1999@yahoo.com
9654-4/6/16


Fine art restoration and conservation

Gilbert Carmichael
Master Art Restorer
European and U.S. standards. USPAP.
Carmichael
  Paintings
  Sculptures
  Murals
  Porcelain and ceramic
      restoration
  Works on paper restoration
  Conservation Curatorial
      services
  Art expert services
  Other restoration services
  Condition evaluation
  Authenticity evaluation
  Art related insurance and 
       damage evaluations
  Art collection consultation
Experts in fine art restoration and conservation for the tropics. We clean mildew, mold, etc., repair, restore and offer art expert and curatorial services.

For more information please contact Weronika Nossowicz at 8388-5328  or email HERE!
8842-1/4/16

Legal services

Valdivieco header
Lic. Eduardo Valdivieso
your legal adviser for criminal, civil,
commercial, and family law.  
Phone: ( 506 ) 8839-5010 
Email: legalservival@gmail.com
Web: www.legalservival.com
Address:  150 meters southwest from
the Goicoechea court, San José.
8888-3/10/15

Business specialist
Lic Matta

Lic. Pablo Mata Ferreto, MBA

Legal – Financial Adviser

Real Estate and Business Transactions

Avoid Real Estate scams, get independent advice and have due diligence performed before signing or making a deposit.

Phone number: (506) 8853-0000
Email: jpmata2000@gmail.com
8587-3/8/15


Land surveying services

René Sánchez Quirós
30+ years of experience in:

Mr. Sanchez
Survey (cadastral) maps
Subdivisions
Contours
Boundary markers
Calculations of terrain

Call me:
CR phone number:   +506-2290-4573
CR Cell phone number: +506-8383-0083
Email:  ojoche01@gmail.com       
8764-10/28/15


Real estate agents and services

CENTURY 21 JACÓ BEACH REALTY
Century
                                                          21

A Name You Trust, Professionalism You Deserve
Tom Ghormley and the dream team!
Owner/Broker
in CR since 1979

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 Century 21 Jacó Beach Realty
Playa Jacó, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
U. S. A. phone numbers:  (213) 283-5168 
or Toll Free: (877) 746-3868
Costa Rica phone number: (506) 2643-3356
Email: info@c21jaco.com
Web: www.c21jaco.com
8569-1/14/16

Costa Rica's first Realtor specialized
in eco properties, eco consulting and green living.

Eco logo
                                                      two
   • Specialized in the Central and South Pacific.
   • Great network of realtors, to find your dream
          property
   • Homes, condominium & luxury homes
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www.ecorealtorscr.com    info@ecorealtorscr.com
Telephone: +506 2637-6285
cell: +506 8825-6556  

skype: ecorealtorscr  Facebook: ecorealtorscr
In front of Subway at Plaza Herradura, Jacó
Green NAR designee, member of the CCBR, CRGAR
8836-4/15/16

Jim Day, representing Colinas del Sol
del Pacifico, S.A.

colinadelsol022515c.gif
* Colinas del Sol is a fenced and gated project  in a quiet area.
* There are 88 clear titled lots.
* Mountain areas with great views.
* Gently sloping level areas ideal for hobby farms, gardening, fruit tree orchards.
* Quiet place to get away from the busy city and beach crowds.
* All lots have gravel roads to them, water and electricity at each.
* Lots are 5,000 sq. meters or larger, starting at only $39,000 USD , and many can be combined for those wanting a larger area for their chosen passion, be it a hobby horse farm or retirement haven.
* Located in Libertad, Guanacaste, Northwest Pacific area of Costa Rica.
* 20 minutes to the Liberia International Airport
* 15 minutes to the Pacific Beaches
* 10 minutes to Medical Facilities
* 25 minutes to the Liberia Hospital
* 5 minutes to Papagayo  Golf & Country Club
Contact Jim Day
Email:  JimDay50@aol.com 
or Phone:  001 517 484-3675.
Click Here: www.colinasdelsolcr.com
8596-8/27/15
Techo
Casa Presidencial photo
Volunteers raise a wall of one of the temporary homes

 38 families get temporary housing

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Some 38 families of  squatters ejected from private property in August have new but temporary housing.

The families are among the hundreds of persons thrown off  Finca Chánguena and Finca 3 in Palma Sur by police, who were following a court order. The evictions ended years of court action to clear the land.

The evicted individuals staged protests and blocked all or part of a key bridge on the Interamerican Sur for several weeks until the government promised them housing.

The temporary plywood dwellings were constructed by Fundación TECHO Costa Rica in conjunction with government agencies. Some 144 persons will live there.

The Ministerio de Vivienda y Asentamientos Humanos is planning more permanent housing that will be ready by the middle of next year.

The Instituto Costarricense de Desarrollo Rural invested 76 million colons or about $144,000 into the project, said Casa Presidencial.

Ana Gabriel Zúñiga Aponte, a vice minister of the Presidencia, visited the site this week and said that the central government stepped in to provide immediate assistance while the proposed permanent projects advance. She cited respect for human rights. She was quoted by Casa Presidencial.


main vebt
University of Southampton photo
This is an image of the vent in the Von Damm Vent Field.

Unusual undersea vent found in Caribbean

By the University of Southampton news staff

Researchers from the University of Southampton have identified hydrothermal vents in the deep sea of the Caribbean which are unlike any found before.

Collaborating with colleagues at the National Oceanography Centre, the team has revealed active vents in the Von Damm Vent Field that are unusual in their structure, formed largely of talc, rather than the more usual sulphide minerals.

Lead researcher Matthew Hodgkinson analysed samples from a vent field south of the Cayman Islands discovered by scientists and crew on board the RRS James Cook in 2010. Results of the analysis are now published in the journal Nature Communications.

Matthew comments: “This vent site is home to a community of fauna similar to those found at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean, but the minerals and chemistry at the Von Damm site are very different to any other known vents.”

Hydrothermal vents form in areas where the Earth’s tectonic plates are spreading. At these sites, circulating seawater is heated by magma below the seafloor and becomes more acidic, leaching metals from the surrounding rocks and redepositing them as the hot water spews out of vents or chimneys at the seabed and hits the cold seawater.

If more of these unusual sites exist they could be important contributors in the exchange of chemicals and heat between the Earth’s interior and the oceans, and may be missing from current global assessments of hydrothermal impact on the oceans, said researchers.


Our reader's opinion
Fair and balanced reporting sought

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I must agree with David C. Murray, who questions the publishing of Democratic misstatements in your periodical, but not those of the Republicans.  News reporting is SUPPOSED to be unbiased and transparent, at least when I went to school it was. 

Many, many statements by various Republicans have been fact-checked and proven false, but not a word of those in your publication.

Pardon me. sir, your bias is showing.  Let's have some fair, balanced reporting on the subject.  You can start with “The Donald.”  He spews so much drivel, it embarrasses me for the U.S.A., and I am a Democrat.

Darlene Mokrycki
Atenas

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A.M. Costa Rica

Third News Page


Don't miss our restaurant specials HERE!
San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, Vol. 16, No. 253
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Medical teams in San Carlos try to find causes of patient deaths
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Staffers and patients at the Hospital de San Carlos have donned face masks in the wave of deaths from an unknown cause.

Although one man who died was in his 70s, the ages of the other four ranged from 18 to 54.

Hospital officials and those from the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social are dismissing rumors that swine flu is the culprit. Instead, some of the cases have been blamed on letrospirosis, a bacterial disease that can come from domestic and wild animals, including rodents.

Those who died lived in geographically dispersed homes, so there does not seem to be a single cause.

Physicians have been delayed in making a clear diagnosis because the public agency that usually does that type of work was on a holiday break. Some staffers returned to work Tuesday in light of the outbreak.

The agency is the Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud in Tres Ríos, Cartago.

Deaths from respiratory ailments are not unusual at hospitals.
And there are as many as 15 patients under care in San Carlos now with such problems.

The deaths have attracted the attention of top Caja officials and the Judicial Investigating Organization that keeps track of deaths without established causes. Health experts have gone to the hospital.

Leptospirosis is generally spread by animal urine entering the water supply. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said that leptospirosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases, but some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all, it added.

Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death, said the Centers.

The first death reported at the Hospital de San Carlos was last Wednesday
.


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Guanacaste Lodge

Palermo Hotel

Croc's holiday

Tarpon lodge

Vista Ballena

La Parcela

Hacienda Baru

Recreo Verde

You need to see Costa Rican tourism information HERE!

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A.M. Costa Rica's Fourth News page
San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, Vol. 16, No. 253
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Study says time spent on Facebook shows degree of dependency
By the University of Akron news staff

What drives users to Facebook? News? Games? Feedback on their posts? The chance to meet new friends?

If any of these hit home, the computer user might have a Facebook dependency. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, says Amber Ferris, an assistant professor of communication at The University of Akron.

Professor Ferris, who studies Facebook user trends, says the more people use Facebook to fulfill their goals, the more dependent on it they become. She is quick to explain this dependency is not equivalent to an addiction. Rather, the reason why people use Facebook determines the level of dependency they have on the social network.

The study found those who use Facebook to meet new people were the most dependent on Facebook overall.

To identify dependency factors, Professor Ferris and Erin Hollenbaugh, an associate professor of communication studies at Kent State University at Stark, studied 301 Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 68 who post on the site at least once a month. They found that people who perceive Facebook as helpful in gaining a better understanding of themselves go to the site to meet new people and to get attention from others. Also, people who use Facebook to gain a deeper understanding of themselves tend to have agreeable personalities, but lower self-esteem than others.

“They might post that they went to the gym. Maybe they’ll share a post expressing a certain political stance or personal

challenge they’re facing. They rely on feedback from Facebook friends to better understand themselves,” Professor Ferris says.

She explained that some users observe how others cope with problems and situations similar to their own “and get ideas on how to approach others in important and difficult situations.”

The professors presented “A Uses and Gratifications Approach to Exploring Antecedents to Facebook Dependency” at the National Communication Association conference in Las Vegas in November. They say other Facebook dependency signs point to users’ needs for information or entertainment. In other words, a user knows about the local festival scheduled for this weekend thanks to Facebook.

In their previous studies, professors Ferris and Hollenbaugh also uncovered personality traits common among specific types of Facebook users.

For example, people who use Facebook to establish new relationships tend to be extroverted. Extroverts are more open to sharing their personal information online, but are not always honest with their disclosures, Professor Ferris says.

The most positive posts online come from those who have high self-esteem, according to Ferris.

“Those who post the most and are the most positive in posts do so to stay connected with people they already know and to gain others’ attention, Professor Ferris says. “This makes a lot of sense. If you are happy with your life, you are more likely to want to share that happiness with others on social media.”

Vacation, travel and hospitality


HIdden Garden 2016
Largest art gallery in Guanacaste
Drop in to see some of Costa Rica's finest art
at the largest gallery in Guanacaste.

The Hidden Garden Art Gallery near the Liberia airport is a great place to find quality remembrances of Costa Rica to take home or to decorate your home or office in Costa Rica.  We also offer commissioned pieces so you can create your own unique masterpiece to cherish forever.  With more than 60 artists on exhibit and fine art in 15 rooms full of paintings, prints, sculptures, and diverse artistic expressions, we are easy to locate just 5 kms west of the Daniel Oduber International Airport. Visit our Web site at
or contact us by email:
HiddenGarden@TheVanStoneGroup.com.   
Gallery hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tel. 2667-0592 / 8386-6872; U.S. telephone 702-953-7073. International shipping available.
8840-2/2/16

diligence
Click photo for another video

The Relocation/Retirement tour with the
 *HIGHEST SUCCESS RATE
OF RELOCATION*

 (as reported by the moving companies)
Visit many rental options to actually experience the price/amenity options available in more of the areas chosen by Expats for security, comfort, and quality of life.

Meet many Expats who are willing to share their experiences and how the tour has value long after the “lust” wears off.
See how to choose a Retirement tour video by past guest!
http://www.vimeo.com/5656822

Ask the others what you get for your money, and then compare the quality of accommodations, quality, quantity and variety of food and drink to measure the best value for your money. 

Learn how others “talk the talk” and learn who really can “walk the walk”

Please visit my Web site  to contact my references.
George Lundquist, retirement, relocation columnist, Guide & Developer/Builder. lundquistgeorge@gmail.com

8729-12/30/15

experience Costa Rica
Costa Rica Travel In Paradise Group Tours

Looking for easy booking process for a smooth Costa Rica trip?   We customize wonderful trips to Costa Rica.  We offer you our wealth of knowledge for a great experience . . . a trip of a lifetime!!!

* FAMILY VACATIONS. Our travels take into account the different ages of your family enjoy the most from your Family vacations. Click HERE!

* GROUP TOURS. Whether for a church group, couple of friends, Scout troop or a family group. We provide excellent quality service in your Group Tours. Click HERE!

* EDUCATIONAL TOURS. Tours for universities to schools to elementary schools. We have professionals to help you discover the secrets of Costa Rica in a fun way. Costa Rica Educational Tours. Click HERE!

* GUIDED TOURS. General holiday planning giving you the best value for your investment Costa Rica vacation Packages. Click HERE!

Contact Us:
International Phone: 1-800-9010-114
CR Local Phone: 011-506 -2274-3231
Email: jose@mycostaricatravel.com
Web: www.mycostaricatravel.com

Anywhere
  Get Help Planning Your Adventure Vacation in Costa Rica.
  100% Personalized Vacation Planning Service.
Click HERE!
8644-3/16/16

Howard book
Want to live in Costa Rica?
Read this book!


1,000s have benefited from 17 editions
with its insider information
and time-tested tips
700 carefully researched pages  

Written by Christopher Howard,
Costa Rica's #1 retirement expert
with 35 years experience helping people.
Click HERE!
8577-2/15/15

Howard
                        rollover
Will Costa Rica Retirement Work For You?
Find out for yourself on Live In Costa Rica Tours

When you visit Costa Rica, you'll want to discover what you need to know to  make the right choice about moving to this tropical paradise.  Our familiarization tours have won hard-earned credentials that prove general excellence and the right focus.  These are the only retirement tours that are licensed and approved by the Costa Rican government and tourism institute  (ICT). In 2006 we were featured on the NBC Today Show and World News.  In 2010, we won the  prestigious Latin America-Asia Travel Excellence Award for the Best and Most Unique Tour in Latin America.

   * Discover how to make the right choices about moving here
   * Find out how to live affordably
   * See how other expats live. Meet other expats who have made
          the move.
   * Access the country's affordable health care system
   * Informative two-day seminar given by local experts in their
          relevant fields.
   * Tours led by Christopher Howard, 34-year resident, citizen,
          and the author of "The New Golden Door to Retirement
          and  Living in Costa Rica – the Official Guide to Relocation”
 
Click HERE  to learn all about our Association of Residents (ARCR)  approved tours at www.liveincostarica.com
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Here's reasonable medical care
Costa Rica's world class medical specialists are at your command. Get the top care for much less than U.S. prices. It is really a great way to spend a vacation. See our list of recommended professionals HERE!amcr-prom



Need a book about Costa Rica?


Check out our special selections available at Amazon logo

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Real estate-related services (paid category)
COSTA RICA SOLAR
Solr array
SOON with the coming of new power company regulations, we'll be installing PV (photo voltaic) for solar electricity. Yes, at last!
* PV systems: we use Enphase micro-inverters. More flexible. Add panels whenever you like. More reliable than any other system and fully guaranteed!
Solar device
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Office phone: 506-2446-0543
Cell phone: 506-8898-9398
or 506-8314-8090
OUR EMAIL: Paul.Furlong@CR-Solar.com

VISIT OUR WEB:
www.CR-Solar.com

Real estate rental services (paid category)

Spectacular rentals are available for low weekly prices on SellMyTimeshareNow.com at resorts such as Bahia Turquesa Residences and Villas Sol Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste. We have 
Timeshare
1- to 3-bedroom ocean and garden view timeshares available and most offer air conditioning, cable TV, fully equipped kitchens, and relaxing hammocks on private balconies. Enjoy the unique combination of seclusion and convenience as all resorts listed on our site are close to popular Costa Rican attractions and downtown 
centers, but are surrounded in lush, tropical forest. Villas are also available for sale in our inventory, so you can enjoy yearly vacations to this mesmerizing rainforest paradise. Please visit our rental inventory HERE!  or call us toll free at 877-815-4227, International: 603-516-0200.  Email: info@sellmytimesharenow.com
8766-7/30/16

Tropical Homes of Costa Rica is offering the best selection of vacation homes, condos and long-term rental homes in Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero and Playa Brasilito on  the Pacific Gold Coast of Guanacaste. A wide selection of private residencies is providing an excellent choice for  your stay in this beautiful part
tropical homes
of Costa Rica.We are offering homes for every budget and every need. Please visit our Web page at www.tropicalhomesofcostarica.com or contact us at rentals@tropicalhomesofcostarica.com or call at (506) 2654-5442
8784-2/19/16


Real estate for rent (paid category)
Fully Furnished American style Apartments for Rent
2-bedroom, 2- bathroom, fully furnished American-style apartments with elevator in a secure building in Barrio Amó. Cable, Internet, water included. Shared laundry. Convenient to Parque Morazán,
hotels, restaurants, casinos, city government, national registry. $600-$650 per month plus electricity. ½ month security deposit. No lease.  The larger apartments are $650 per month. They have larger bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens. It would be best for the prospective tenants to visit
Barrio Amon
the building to see the apartments.   For more information contact: edificiomorazan@gmail.com  or call Hilda at 2221-7161.
8826-1/16/16




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A.M. Costa Rica's  
Fifth news page
Salsa Lizano
San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, Vol. 16, No. 253
Sports
Calendar
Opinion
Classifieds
Real Estate
Lifestyle
Food
About us

U.S. launches plan to fight
drug-resistant tuberculosis


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The Obama administration has unveiled a plan to help combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the United States and globally.

While about 100 cases of the disease are diagnosed annually in the U.S., it affects nearly half a million people around the world every year.

The plan released Tuesday is the first from the White House to address the global threat of the deadlier strain of tuberculosis.

The National Action Plan is built on three goals: strengthening domestic capacity to combat the disease; improving work with other countries to better address the disease, and accelerating basic and applied research and development.

The White House's proposal is in line with the World Health Organization's global strategy to end tuberculosis around the world.

More than 9.5 million people became ill with tuberculosis last year, according to the World Health Organization. 


Greek  parliament approves
civil partnership agreements


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Greece's parliament has passed landmark legislation allowing civil partnership agreements between same-sex couples, despite strong resistance from opposition parties and the powerful Orthodox Church.

The law, passed early Wednesday by a 193-56 margin, came seven years after Greek lawmakers approved the same provisions for heterosexual couples in legislation that specifically excluded homosexual unions. That exclusion drew a sharp rebuke from the European Court of Human Rights, which later ruled it to be discriminatory.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who early on in his stormy year-long tenure promised social reforms, told lawmakers the legislation "closed a circle of embarrassment for the state."

"Today we recognize the right of all people, regardless sexual gender or orientation, to live together and choose their own path in life as they see fit," he said.

The legislation, similar to laws in Britain, Spain and Cyprus, stops short of allowing state-sanctioned marriages. It also does not permit such couples to adopt children, and it denies them pension and tax benefits available to heterosexual couples.

In opposing the legislation, the nationalist Independent Greeks Party ANEL, part of the governing coalition, questioned the push to legitimize same-sex unions.

"The Greek constitution protects motherhood," ANEL lawmaker Vassilis Kokkalis told the French news agency AFP.  "Is there motherhood in men?"

The Orthodox Church also was instrumental in excluding same-sex couples from the 2008 legislation, and last week a prominent bishop lent his voice to the opposition.

Metropolitan Bishop Ambrosios of Kalavryta, who earlier this year voiced public support for the country's far-right political party Golden Dawn, encouraged followers to spit on and blacken gays and atheists with violence.


Congressional bill boosts
foreign aid, terrorism fight


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The massive, year-end spending bill passed by Congress Friday contains a boost for foreign aid, putting a strong focus on anti-terrorism efforts and addressing instability in the Middle East. It also aims to protect American diplomats and facilities abroad and to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.

Overall spending for state and foreign operations in 2016 totals roughly $53 billion, up almost $3.5 billion from the 2015 budget. That money funds the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and a number of other international programs, including the Voice of America.

Some development professionals say they are happy about the increase, but are concerned about an over reliance on the overseas contingency account created to finance the global war on terror.

A media platform for the development aid community, Devex, says foreign aid advocates worry that a heavy reliance on overseas contingency account money may help in the short term, but may expose their programs to long-term risk when anti-terrorism operations wind down.

The rise in overseas contingency account funding is offset by a decrease in what is termed base appropriations, the basic pool of funding that has paid for international aid programs for many years.

The House Appropriations Committee says the overseas contingency account funding is to combat the Islamic State terrorist group and other U.S. enemies. Republican Committee Chairman Hal Rogers says the bill exceeds President Barack Obama’s request for embassy security and provides funding to prevent and protect against future terrorist attacks, unrest and other acts of violence.

The funding increase for embassy security comes in response to the 2012 attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Rogers says the spending plan also includes assistance to key allies and partners such as Israel, Jordan and Ukraine.

The legislation provides $658 million for Ukraine, which is $145 million above Obama’s request. No funds are provided for the Russian government.

The bill provides $1.275 billion for Jordan and $141.9 million for Tunisia. The legislation contains $24 billion in assistance to foreign countries. Funding is prioritized to support global health and humanitarian assistance.

The bill maintains the fiscal year 2015 level for migration and refugee assistance. It specifies that additional funds are available if needed to respond to humanitarian crises overseas, but not for the president’s domestic refugee resettlement program.


India votes to lower age
to treat suspects as adults

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Indian lawmakers have voted to lower the age at which a person can be tried as an adult for serious criminal offenses following public anger over the release of one of the attackers in a fatal 2012 gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi bus.

The changes, passed by the upper house of parliament Tuesday, will allow minors aged 16 to 18 to be sentenced to at least seven years in young offenders' institutions for convictions of heinous crimes which include rape and murder.

The new bill follows widespread protests calling for changes to the law after the country’s supreme court ruled it could no longer delay the release of the youngest rapist convicted in the attack.

Medical student Jyoti Singh was killed in a brutal attack, carried out by six men, while riding on a bus in December 2012. Police said the youngest attacker, then only 17 years old, was the most brutal of the rapists, who beat their victim with an iron rod before sexually assaulting her.

The youngest convict in the case, now 20, was released Sunday after serving three years in a correction home.


Beijing wholesale market
reflects concern about future


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

From dawn to dusk, Beijing’s Jingwen wholesale market is bustling with activity.

Mounds of merchandise are piled up everywhere and a seemingly endless supply of dolly carts navigate the narrow shopping halls.
 
But the hum of commerce belies a rumbling beneath the surface, a shifting unease felt at market places and businesses across the country.
 
2015 was a tough year for China’s economy, which saw its slowest growth in nearly 25 years and next year looks much the same. For some of the nearly 2,000 wholesalers at Jingwen market that uncertainty is growing.

One wholesaler surnamed Ye says that she’s not only have trouble selling merchandise, but retailers are sending goods back and she has no choice but to accept.
 
“I don’t know what is going on but this year has been horrible. We’ve worked in Beijing for years and always manage to make some money, but it looks like this year we could lose money,” she said.

Like many in the market, Ms. Ye is from Wenzhou, an entrepreneurial powerhouse in China’s southeastern Zhejiang province that the market derives its name from: Jing for Beijing and Wen for Wenzhou.
 
And while Ms. Ye has worked in Beijing for years, the slowdown in business is not the only uncertainty.
 
Authorities in Beijing are closing down markets such as Jingwen and moving them far away from the city’s center. In some cases, markets are being moved more than an hour away to neighboring Hebei province.
 
Authorities say the move will ease population and traffic strains, and help with the problem of pollution.
 
Many of the city’s administrative offices also are slated to move out to the eastern part of the city, with substantial progress expected as early as 2017, according to the Beijing city government. The move is expected to attract some 400,000 to the eastern suburb of Tongzhou.
 
Beijing has also vowed to strictly control population growth for the capital city, setting a ceiling of 23 million. That number, analysts say, is too low and risks robbing the Chinese capital of much-needed diversity.
 
Tsinghua University Professor Cai Jiming said an international city needs citizens from all kinds of backgrounds.
 
“There should be college students, graduate students, scientists as well as a large number who work in the services industry. If you get rid of all these people, a city loses its vitality,” he said.
 
Cai said that based on research he and others have carried out, Beijing could accommodate as many as 30 million people.
 
“Ultimately, what the total population becomes should be something for the market to decide. Look at Tokyo, it already has a population of 33 million and yet it does not feel as congested as Beijing,” he said.
 
Jingwen market was established in 1994 when China’s economy was just taking off, but what comes next is unclear.
 
Some worry it could disappear, while others say it will get a facelift and go upscale.

Wholesalers say they are looking to the market for answers, not to government efforts to micro-manage where they can do business.
 
One wholesaler surnamed Xing said plans to move markets far away from the city’s center are unrealistic.
 
“My focus is on what people want. There’s always a way to make money. Right now we’re selling low-end goods, and I can do that. If you want to do more high-end goods, I can do that as well,” he said.
 
China’s economy blossomed by allowing people more freedom to choose their own path, but as the economy struggles, officials are getting more and more skittish and seemingly focused on exerting more controls than letting go.
 
Instead of tightening up, analysts say officials should focus less on rigid population targets, and instead mimic wholesalers who have already learned how to adapt to an ever-changing market.

  
Afghan journalists frightened
because colleague crossed over

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The voice of a journalist who until recently used to work at radio stations in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province can now be heard in the provincial capital, Jalalabad, and neighboring districts as the voice of Islamic State's new caliphate radio.

Former colleagues are quick to recognize the voice of Sultan Aziz Ezam, who worked for three local radio stations over the course of a decade, covering primarily land issues.

Now, that voice is issuing death threats.

Local newsmen hear their former colleague or some imitator accusing them of working for foreigners and saying they are on the Islamic State death watch list for their reporting practices. 

“I know the addresses of houses of all those journalists who are working with different media organizations in Jalalabad, and will find them and will kill them,” he declares.

Reporters could not independently confirm the identity of the Islamic State radio anchor. But local Afghan journalists say they are alarmed by the threats and are taking them seriously, because they recognize the voice.

"All journalists in Jalalabad are aware of the threats and are very scared," one local journalist said.

About 50 reporters in Nangarhar work for local and international news outlets.

Journalists say Ezam and his brother recently left their work at a local radio station, and Ezam had not been heard from until his voice surfaced on the Islamic State broadcasts.

FM radio broadcasts by the Islamic State started recently along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and are the voice of terror in a region where terrorist fighters are active.

The Islamic State launched the channel as the “Voice of Khelafat.”

It is not hard to find on the radio dial. The two-hour daily evening broadcasts include Quranic recitations, Islamic chanting, interviews with Islamic State fighters and anti-government propaganda.

The channel also airs interviews with mullahs who issue fatwahs against those who work with the Afghan army and government, with the Pakistan army and for foreigners in Afghanistan.

Pakistani and Afghan officials say they are hunting for the broadcasters. They said they believe the signal emanates from a mobile transmitter in the mountains.


Polls show national security
dominates thinking of voters


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Terrorism and national security are dominating the 2016 race for the White House, at least for the moment. Recent public opinion polls show security concerns now top the economy as the key voter issue for the campaign in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.

Security was a major focus of the two most recent presidential debates and has forced several White House contenders to adjust their campaigns to address the shifting political landscape.

Donald Trump remains the dominant figure in the Republican presidential race. The latest Quinnipiac University Poll puts him at 28 percent support among Republican voters with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas closing in at 24 percent. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has made national security a centerpiece of his campaign, is third with 12 percent, followed by Ben Carson with 10 percent.

The survey also found, however, that 50 percent of those surveyed,  including both Republicans and Democrats, would be embarrassed to have Trump as president.

One of the keys to Trump’s enduring success with Republican voters is that they view him as the best contender to deal with the threat of terrorism.

A recent Quinnipiac survey of Republican voters in Iowa found 33 percent picked Trump as the candidate best able to handle terrorism, ahead of Cruz and Rubio.

Trump is fond of quoting poll results at his campaign rallies. “This isn’t going to be an election on niceness any more, even if I wasn’t nice,” Trump told supporters recently in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “This is going to be an election on competence and smartness and toughness, because otherwise our country is finished. It’s finished.”

During the recent Republican debate in Las Vegas, rival Jeb Bush described Trump as the chaos candidate and questioned whether Trump was ready to lead.

“If I’m president, I’ll be a commander in chief, not an agitator in chief or a divider in chief, and that I will lead this country in a way that will create greater security and greater safety,” Bush said as Trump scoffed in a split-screen reaction shot on the CNN broadcast.

Many experts thought the focus on security would help establishment contenders like Bush.

“People who are seen as grownups, adults, mature, seasoned and ready for this,” said independent analyst Stuart Rothenberg. But it hasn’t worked out that way. "So far the early indications are that it has helped the kind of loudest, blustery candidate, and that would be Donald Trump,” he said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was perhaps the foremost national security candidate in the Republican field. Graham set himself apart by announcing that if elected he would send thousands of U.S. troops back into Iraq and into Syria to combat Islamic State fighters. Graham ended his presidential campaign this week, though, never able to move beyond about 1 percent support in the polls.

This new emphasis on security also appears to have helped Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton widen her lead over rival Bernie Sanders.

Mrs. Clinton wants to intensify the military campaign against Islamic State fighters by stepping up the air campaign and by forming an international coalition to confront the jihadists on the ground.

But Mrs. Clinton also seems to be looking ahead to the general election campaign by going after some of the Republican contenders on national security, including Cruz who vowed to carpet bomb the Middle East to defeat the Islamic State group.

“Promising to carpet-bomb until the desert glows doesn’t make you sound strong. It makes you sound like you are in over your head,” Mrs. Clinton said in a recent national security speech in Minneapolis.

During the recent Democratic debate in New Hampshire, Sanders acknowledged the threat posed by Islamic State, but warned against repeating past mistakes.

"The United States must lead, but the United States is not the policeman of the world, and the United States must not be involved in perpetual war in the Middle East,” Sanders said, part of a growing side-debate on whether the United States should force the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The focus on terrorism and security should help Mrs. Clinton in the Democratic primaries.
Real estate-related services (paid category)

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Real estate brokers and agents (paid category)


Rich Coast Rollover
Thinking of Buying a Vacation or Retirement Home
in Costa Rica?

Rich Coast Realty is a full-service real estate company with property listings in Escazú, Santa Ana, Jacó, Esterillos, Bejuco, Palo Seco, Manuel Antonio, and beyond. We offer efficient, personalized service always protecting our client’s interests. We work hard to find you the property of your dreams, and assist with legal advice, residency, starting corporations, opening bank accounts, etc. Contact us today with your questions about buying property in, and relocating to Costa Rica. With 11 years experience in Costa Rica real estate, we look forward to hearing from you.
USA Toll Free 1 866 833-4005
CR Cell 011 506 8718-9891
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www.RichCoastRealty.com
8790-2/28/15

Penthouse condominium in Playa Langosta, Tamarindo
Photo montage of penthouse
Are you tired of wasting time searching for your home…..with no results?
If so, you should not miss this deal !!!


Special Offer

Penthouse condominium in Playa Langosta, Tamarindo

* Located on 6th floor.
* Elevator.
* Security 24/7.
* Pool, BBQ area.
* 2 underground
        parking,  cellar.

* 3 bedrooms.
* 2 bathrooms.
* 2 terraces.
* Luxuriously
           furnished.
* Negotiable price.

* Enjoy the view,  CLICK HERE
Mafi Real Estate: Houses, lots and farms in Costa Rica
If you do not find, what are you looking for, contact us
WE HAVE A NETWORK OF OVER 500 brokers across the country to get what you are looking for.
English Calls: Miguel Fiatt Sauma or Paule Ortiz
Phone/Fax.+506 2238-5029
Cel. +506 8399-7000
Email: mfiatt@mafirealestate.com 
Web Page: www.mafirealestate.com
8609-2/20/16

Remax logo
Re/Max Ocean Surf and Sun:

The experts in buying property in Costa Rica, with more than 20 years experience and the largest networked team of agents in the country.  We can help you learn if investing in Costa Rica is right for you with our low-key, educational approach to sales. Our professional agents can tell you more about sCosta Rica properties, including condos, homes, lots and commercial real estate.  Call us: Ocean Surf and Sun Int. Realty Ldta at 011 (506) 2653-0073 or send us an email at: info@remax-oceansurf-cr.com
8583-1/27/16

Real estate for sale (paid category)


Lantz
A beautiful American style suburban home just reduced.

A beautiful American style suburban home, 2,700 sq ft of living space with 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, front and rear living rooms, laundry area, kitchen and small attached library nook, arched windows and doors and connected hallways, exotic wood interior ceilings and trim, tile floors thru-out.  The lot is 835 m2 with mature landscape and orchid nurseries surrounding the house. There is an enclosed workshop and BBQ area in the back yard with lots of storage under roof, plus a nursery for an herb/vegetable garden.  This is a very well-kept property with many upgrades, a private feel but yet only 5 minutes from the center of town.  Pérez Zeledón is the commercial hub of the southern zone and considered to be one of the best places to live in all of Costa Rica, the perfect size town, not too big and not too small.  The beach is 45 minutes to the west and a short drive to the cool mountains is to the east. In between, this large valley has a moderate climate.  Pérez has plenty of modern goods and services, an excellent farmers market, private schools, private doctors and clinics, all you need without having to go to the crazy madness of San José.    Just reduced to $199,000.  Call  Jeff: 8824-8113 or 8725-8176.  Email:  angelsdad@me.com
8883-2/26/16

Safe house
The Safest Place in The World
Residencial La Jolla, Asuncion de Belén
Casa 7 of 19 luxury homes in exclusive gated community.
3 bedroom, 3.5 baths, home office with private entrance.
332 m2 construction. 2-car garage. Central A/C
Lease $2,750 USD per month. Purchase $449,000.
Contact: rafa@rafacr.com. Phone 8309-2000.
8876-1/4/16

ocean-view home
GREAT DEAL $250,000. NICE OCEAN VIEW
Property size: 3,405.14 sq. mts. or 37,000 sq. ft.   Gorgeous house built 5 years ago to U.S. standards on 37,000 sq. ft. titled property. This home (240 sq. mtrs or 2,600 sq. ft) has 360-degree ocean and mountain views and electric gated private road access. The large open style home has soaring teak ceillings, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, custom cabinetry and ceramic tiles throughout and a double-car electric garage door. Their is also a beautiful, large swimming pool surrounded by exotic garden, laundry room and bodega. This is a very special and rare property because of the incredible view and excellent location. This one of a kind home and property is truly a must to see. all custom built furnitures included. Photo gallery:  CLICK HERE!  Please contact Jack, Cell phone number  (506) 8812-1789.  Contact email: quadtours@yahoo.ca
8859-112/26/15

windows

Caribbean paradise: CAHUITA

New home, beautiful well-built house 200 meters from a lovely beach. Very private, fully titled, excellent water well.  2 large bedrooms, 2 full baths, tub, large open floor plan 26-foot sliding glass doors open to covered porch. Encircling back yard are coral rocks 10 feet tall and behind jungle reserve. Lots of birds and wildlife. House 240 mts. sq, 2,400 sq ft. Lot 1,850 mts. or 19,000 sq. ft. Price $179,000. Very nice neighborhood. Contact 2755-0014 or scottlandtodd@live.com.   More photos HERE!
8858-1/16/16

New Arenal

There are many good reasons for moving to or investing in Costa Rica

Are you worried about the safety of the money in your 401k?  Do you think your government has painted a bullseye on all of your assets?  Do you believe it might be time to consider moving some money overseas just in case?  This property, at a distress sales price of only $140,000, should gross a 7-10% return this year and the bookings for this season aren’t all in yet.  The best part from a buyer’s standpoint is that it is utilizing only a fraction of its potential.  What’s wrong here?  Divorce, and a lack of funds needed to make the necessary value-added improvements.  Rental manager says rents could double with moderate invesement, but the current owners are unable to resolve those problems, so selling is their only way out.  This extra-large lot with its modern 2-bedroom home was intended to service a dozen or more apartments to be built on the rear, a really great plan, but that was before the wheels came off of the marriage.  It is a really good investment property in a very desirable location, earning a much better safe return than stocks and bonds, but it is also perfect for buyers who only want to follow the original plan and live in the existing home while building out the rest for a comfortable retirement.  Perfect, too, for the person who intends to move to Costa Rica in the future and wants to buy at today’s prices, but needs a property which will carry itself until that time comes.  To find out more about this opportunity contact:
lafortunaguy@gmail.com or phone 506-8377-8402.
8851-12/17/15

Grecia casa
Mountain home for sale
in Grecia.
Less than a year old. Owners are motivated.  All information regarding the home as well as many photos can be found at Mountain view home for sale Grecia, Costa Rica.   Contact email:   djake888@yahoo.com
8846-4/10/16

puriscal photo
Costa Rica home for sale $163,500 / 2bedroom - 1,984 ft2

Central Valley view home: 10 minutes from Santiago de Puriscal and shopping, hospital services, and soon Maxi Pali. Only one hour to San José or Pacific beaches.
- On .55-acre lot with river on one boundary
- Area under roof, 1,984 sq. ft., Area inside walls, 925 sq. ft. Steel, recycled
      Styrofoam, and concrete construction.
- 2 ½ years old with central living room and kitchen, 2 bedrooms and 2 baths,
       ceramic tile throughout.
- Central Valley volcano and SJO airport views from every room.
- Vaulted ceilings give bright open feeling.
- Entrance from concrete road to large graveled parking area
- VERY energy efficient with VERY low property taxes.
- Covered attached carport with entrance to front door or laundry-guest bath
       door.
- 2 carport storage bodegas.
- 12 foot x 14 foot storage bodega
- Security lights, And Amcrest day & night video recorder system.
- Producing banana trees, and mango, bread fruit, and guanabana trees
     planted.

Includes: Refrigerator, gas stove & oven with electric grill element, microwave, electric washer-gas dryer stacked style, gas on demand whole house water heater. Other furnishings are negotiable. ICE electric service and land line phone. Bajo Burgos Water district. Metro-wireless WiFi is available. Tigo Star Satellite T.V. House is in a Costa Rican corporation, will transfer shares. Contract indyj5vw@yahoo.com or call 506 2416-9324.  Additional photos are available on Flickr album
8844-5/11/16


Goetl in Palo Seco

Charming small oceanfront hotel for sale in Playa Palo Seco
Ideal oceanfront location with back up to a mangrove estuary. The
charming small hotel has a fully equipped kitchen, bar and restaurant and is exceptionnally well maintained. Located on a very private beach of the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica 35 minutes north of Quepos-Manuel Antonio and 45 minutes south of  Playa Jacó. The main building is a two-storey house with 12 bedrooms. The lot measures 3,054 M2. Beautiful gardens around the large pool and exceptional flora and fauna. Well mentioned in tourist guides like Lonely Planet and Guide Ulysse. Offered at $999,000. USD
e-mail:  marietta234@yahoo.es 
or call (506) 8707-1037  (506) 2778-8408
Web   http://mariettedaignault.point2agent.com
8843-1/2/16

Cohen
For sale 5,200 m2 Escazú
Fantastic location for condo, hotel, restaurant.
Large lower lot, incredible views. Flexible zoning.
Easy to get liquor license. Low interest financing.
www.hotel4salecostarica.com
www.hotelsescazu.com
hotelescazu@aol.com
Toll free US phone 877-778-8515
410-975-6703
In Costa Rica 8307-0164
8828-12/19/15

Osa home
Costa Rica Tropical Paradise Beach House For Sale
Tropical 5-acre forested beachfront property with custom house and guest casita on the Osa Península, South Pacific Coast. Abundant wildlife, exotic plants and fruits, secluded beach.

Located 8 km south of Puerto Jiménez on the way to Matapalo and Corcovado National Park. Great Price $775,000. Contact: osaroger@gmail.com
Watch this video for full details.
8816-1/2/16

private ranch home
Small private ranch for sale
This exceptional private ranch sits on a 9+ hectare lot and supports 15-20 horses. Only 2 hours south of San José, on the road to Puriscal. Roomy stalls all with drains, water hookup, lights and fans, grooming and shoeing área. Two-story house all furnished and cowboy house. Don't miss your chance on that turnkey operation.  Offered at $749,000.
E-mail:  marietta234@yahoo.es  or call (506) 8707-1037 
(506) 2778-8408 Web:   http://mariettedaignault.point2agent.com
8823-11/23/15

San Ramon
Mountain home w/million dollar view near San Ramón
Beautiful home in the mountains near San Ramón with 180-degree view of the gulf of Nicoya. 7 miles from San Ramón, 1 mile from Interamericana highway. 3,200 foot elevation so temp is 65 to 75 year around. Electric gate, private drive. house built in 2010. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, appliances included. High-speed internet installed, Price for sale $179,000    Contact Mike: mmpeace@hotmail.com   Check out slide show HERE!
8736-1/1/16

Real estate services
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Business for sale or lease (paid category)
Live the dream!
Several profitable businesses, including a regional radio station, are for sale in Costa Rica. Certain purchases can provide the new owner with residency as well as a great lifestyle. So live your dream while making a profit. Contact: manager@crbusiness.biz.

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A.M. Costa Rica's
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, Vol. 16, No. 253
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News from the BBC up to the minute










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Latin news from the BBC up to the minute
snake
University of Cincinnati photo    
Bruce Jayne demonstrates a brown tree snake's rapid climb.

Researchers figure out how snakes climb

By the University of Cincinnati news staff

The bodies of moving snakes sometimes look like little more than wiggly strands of spaghetti.

However, Bruce Jayne, a University of Cincinnati professor of biology, sees a wide variety of anatomy and behavior that allows diverse snake species to crawl and climb almost anywhere, including tree branches with variable bark texture.

Using three different species to test their tree-worthy talents, Jayne and his students studied stout and heavy boa constrictors, medium-weight corn snakes and the slender and agile brown tree snakes.

Unlike most snakes that have a nearly circular cross sectional shape, Jayne found that brown tree snakes look more like a loaf of bread where the top is rounded but the bottom has corners called keels where the skin on either side of the belly is folded. He says these sharply contoured keels are the key for how various tree snakes can exploit subtle nooks and crannies in tree bark to prevent slipping, and propel themselves up a tree quickly, making it easier to get to their prey in a flash with less effort.

To a smaller extent corn snakes have this shape, and boa constrictors were the roundest species that Jayne studied.

Acquiring a better understanding for how flat-bellied species like the brown tree snakes lodge their keeled ridge against protrusions and secure themselves in place during climbing could help lead Jayne and others toward many practical applications for biology, mechanics and engineering.

In a featured article in the December issue of the prestigious Journal of Experimental Biology, “Why arboreal snakes should not be cylindrical: body shape, incline and surface roughness have interactive effects on locomotion,” Jayne shows the gripping advantages of sharper snake-belly keels for more efficient climbing.

Depending on the snakes’ shape and behavior, Jayne discovered that variations in surface structure can have interactive effects on their speed and type of locomotion.

The bark on different species of trees may be nearly smooth or have ridges of considerable height on natural branches. Therefore, Jayne simulated some of this variety of natural branches by using cylinders that were smooth or had pegs interspersed ranging in heights from 1 to 40 mm. He also varied the steepness of his artificial branches.

“Our most notable finding is how the keel helps to prevent slipping and can allow snakes to use a type of crawling that not only is fast but also probably saves energy,” says Jayne.

In the snake olympics to determine the fastest speed, the brown tree snakes were always the gold medalists. Both of the other two species won silver depending on the steep angle and degree of rough surface texture.

Although boa constrictors were slowpokes compared to the corn snakes, the boas had such incredible strength that they were better at gripping and steadily climbing some of the steep surfaces on which the corn snakes failed to make any progress.


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From Page 7:

Ticos seem satisfied with public services

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Ricans generally evaluate their public services as satisfactory. The Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos released the results of a survey Tuesday that showed this.

The agency hired a commercial firm to contact 1,295 persons for their opinions.

The respondents rated their electrical service seven or eight out of 10, said the agency. That included some of the rural providers.

Even 67 percent of the respondents rated taxi service satisfactory or very satisfactory.

Respondents in San José and Guanacaste rated their bus service the lowest with 56.1 and 57.3 percent rating the service as satisfactory or above. Other provinces gave higher marks.

Water providers also generally got good marks in the 70 to 80 percent range for satisfactory or higher.