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He has tremendous challenges and I sincerely hope he can make a difference. I think we all agree on that.

However, the question is whether he should be given a Nobel prize for something he has yet to accomplish and merely “intends” to do. To that question I must say “no”.

I’d rather see it go to someone who has already accomplished their objective, and wait until the President accomplishes his before awarding a Nobel prize, THEN give it to him.

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Nice cut-and-paste uppity… but rather than paste in a whole article from a newspaper, how about making a comment to which people can agree or disagree.

Obama acknowledges that he hasn’t done anything… which is what prior posts said.

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Nice writeup Scott, and a good background on the Nobel prize. In the decades since it originated it has recognized the accomplishments of hundreds of scientists and others. The financial portion of the award has in some cases been used to continue their good work.

President Obama won this prize, in the words of the Nobel Committee, for “intending to promote nuclear disarmament and world peace.” The Committee acknowledged that he hasn’t actually accomplished anything on either of these wishes. This may be the first time the prestigious award was given to someone for their good intentions.

The Nobel Committee didn’t wait for results before doling out the prize. It also means other candidates who’ve actually accomplished something were denied that award. When he does accomplish it, give him the award.

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A friend here in Grecia recently told me he had opened his septic tank (expecting to pump it) after five years. He found a six inch deep layer of toilet paper covering the expected content. Apparently the paper floats and doesn’t disintegrate as does the underlying “waste”.

I’m with CRF. When our Costa Rican friends have the expected wastebasket we use it.
CD

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True. As all of us are forced to do, including information on WLCR. Any online investigation requires evaluation and filtering, and I don’t necessarily trust WLCR ads and information more or less than others. They’ve always had a profit motive. Charging for access to them now doesn’t make information better or more reliable, just more expensive.

On Tim’s http://www.TheRealCostaRica.com is a wealth of great information for free too. If he started charging I’d give the same comments.

I’ll stop posting on this now. My objective was to express my concern to Scott.

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Sorry. I don’t see it that way. This forum is an exchange of ideas. The most beneficial are those from people “in the know” (read: who live here.) I wouldn’t have known about it though if I hadn’t long ago visited the (free) website. If at that time the website had charged I wouldn’t have bothered visiting the forum. That’s why I believe as do those other posters, that a subscription basis would drain the membership and limit new members.

There is too much good information out there for free, even if some is questionable. Just because someone charges for membership doesn’t make it better, just more likely that it won’t be seen.

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I’m probably in the minority too. I disagree with about 50% of what Scott says/does with the threads on the website but I totally support his efforts to bring consistency and rationality to the real estate market.

I’ll still be on the “no” side of paid membership, and will miss the camaraderie of the forum.
CD

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Ouch! I hadn’t seen that one. I’d only seen Scott’s recent articles in other publications about how investment in C.R. real estate is taking off and how a well-known investor was ramping up a development and investing heavily. I questioned that but I’m not in the business.

Scott has a great potential client base on this forum and on the website. If business is so bad he’s going to a subscription base it must be a really dismal market. The lesser agents must really be suffering. I’m sorry to see it and it doesn’t bode well for any of us property owners. I’m just glad I’m not in the real estate business.
CD

Edited on Sep 16, 2009 22:47

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Scott,
I lived here 35 years ago, and have only moved back in the last year. Still looking for the right house to buy or build, so I don’t count as “lived here for years” but I’ve been actively involved in Costa Rica for years. So I’m probably more your demographic than the “gee, I think I’ll move” sort, and my comments and contributions on other boards help others as well.

And no, I wouldn’t be interested in a paid membership. I truly believe that move would be the death knell for your site. Not immediately, but it sure would reduce the traffic and visibility. You’re currently one of three or four most popular C.R. sites. If you make it paid membership (call if VIP or anything else) I’d guess you’ll see a 95% or more drop in traffic, and I’m not sure the remainder would justify what you’re actually selling.

Just my opinion. I enjoy much of what you publish and would be sorry to see it go dark.
CD

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Sorry Scott, I’m with CRF. I’ve been following CR forums for years, and on WLCR, I don’t think I’ve watched any of your videos and doubt I will. I periodically check the forum for topics posted, and a few times I’ve looked at the WLCR real estate section, but if it were a subscription I wouldn’t be here.

I know that the economy, and current real estate crater, has hit you as well as so many of my friends and associates here in Costa Rica, but I don’t think that charging for marketing information (sorry, that’s what it is) is the answer.

Hope you find a way to keep the community going without charging admission.
CD

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As a long time BGE user (Big Green Egg), and having originally gotten a medium, I can confirm that the “big” one is the smallest I’d consider. It’ll smoke, grill, or darn near fire-blast (up to 800F.) enough food for a good sized party (or family). It isn’t much heavier than the medium but cooking surface is bigger.

Ours came down in our container, so if you’re shipping (via surface) weight isn’t an issue (as prior poster noted.)

Actually, we find more non-briquet charcoal here than briquet, and usually cheaper. In many cases it is lumber, just like much of the hardwood charcoal in the States.

So if you’re really bringing one, and shipping surface, make it a big one.

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Sorry FC, I believe the point was not that they should be tossed out of the country but rather that Scott apparently highlighted people doing what he advises against. An inconsistency that is a sore point for people following his advice.

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Based upon the stock market reaction, it is a bleak, black beginning… Obama’s inauguration gave the biggest inauguration market plummet in history… We can only hope for a ray of sunshine in the future…
CD

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Nowhere is completely safe. Burglary was common in Costa Rica when I lived there 40 yr. ago. It is easier now with improved transportation for the burglars.

“If a home in the Costa Rican country side can never be made relatively safe from burglary no matter what measures are taken…”

The term “relatively safe” means it will be burglarized or at least attempted, but less frequently, as many here and many of my Tico and expat friends attest. Making it “relatively safe” depends upon where you’re located, who lives nearby, construction and preventative measures, etc. Most of my Tico friends rely on bars, concertina wire, and still normally leave someone at home when everyone else goes out.

Saying “no matter what measures are taken…” is hyperbole since without substantial resources it isn’t possible. An enclosed compound, electronic security measures, and trained guards and dogs still doesn’t prevent burglary, it just makes it a bigger challenge and target.

For us normal people we live (mostly) like Ticos, similar precautions, and take our chances.

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Please. “America’s Last Real Newspaper” (nice self aggrandizement) reports that the U.S. lists active troops as “an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks.” Not news. This has always been the case, whether they’re returned from Iraq, South Korea, or never saw action.

Difficult to tell whether the tabloids are feeding the readers or the other way around.

As Chicken Little says….”the sky is falling”.

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