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The way Obummer thinks, my conspiratorial imagination suggests one of the following: 1) Obummer and his brilliant WH stategists might believe that temporarily throwing a lot of military might against the druggies might slow them down at the Arizona border long enough for them for Obummer to claim victory at the same border and win their silly lawsuit in the court of public opinion against Arizona just long enough for the elections to take place in November. Or 2) the big methane bubble really does exist in the Gulf and they know it and are anticipating one heck of a firey belch any week now, just like the loons on late night radio suggest.
Hmm.. a few initial responses…
1) Now there’s the free market responding to a need!!!
2) At least (from the photo) they are using a ‘quality’ firearm (S&W or Taurus in pic)
3) What ‘pro’ would even consider using a revolver?!?!?!?
4) What ‘pro’ would advertize?!?!?!
5) Who would be so stupid as to hire such ‘pro’s’?!??!
6) Maybe they deserve each other???
7) Jimmy Buffett has made a great living writing songs about characters he has met over the years in bars in the tropical latitudes of the world… I wonder what he’d write about these guys?
8) I love Costa Rica.
9) LOL.Hmm… sounds (once again) like it is that evil George W. Bush, his evil VEEP Dick, and the evil mastermind Karl Rove’s fault… You know, for a president who is sooooo stupid and inept, he sure out-manuevers those ‘thoughtful intellectual’ type dems alot, doesn’t he??? Do we forget the intergovernmental agreements that made Carnivore and Echelon so popular during the Clinton and previous Bush years? And what about the enormous debt we incurred during the Reagan years to destroy Russia’s government? This is not new, Chirmac. I would caution you and everyone else against blaming W. (libs favorite whipping boy de jour) for all the woes in the world because it subliminally supports the idea that once he’s gone so also will the problems – BUT, they won’t… These problems will continue even if Hillary is President.
But seriously, just for a moment. Thank you whomever you really are for your service to our country. I did not serve but I do appreciate yours. Sometimes I wish I began my career on the net with a pen name as well, but since the cat (my opinions) is already out of the bag, I suppose I just temper what I say, incase someday Homland Security flatters me by saying they are readers of my work and delays my arrival home. (Hi guys, I say looking and waving to the sky.)
Also, seriously, even if this has not been vetted properly, even if the black helicopter folks are quickest to yack up these issues right after quoting Loose Change as a quality and scientific source for definitive proof of the ‘inside job’ on 9-11…. ANY PORTION of these issues are CERTAINLY an OFFRONT to our constitutional rights as American citizens. Personally, I believe the biggest failures of the current leadership is two-fold – first, Americans simply don’t believe we are at war in the first place, and second, if they were convinced W. could have instituted a temporary or sunsetted or renewed every 6-months or so martial law (read – Patriot Act) and Americans would have accepted these chips away from our rights… As it is, these are NOT temporary and long term (I think) detrimental to our contitutional republic.
These are what are known as ‘slippery slope issues.’ And I caution anyone whose first reaction to this kind of story is ‘well, it doesn’t affect me so I guess it’s OK’ to remember that someday these government officials will be controlling your healthcare, childs education, your household energy delivery, and food production – OOPS!!!! – THEY ALREADY DO…. I guess then the next step will be to take away your ability to use cash with a national ID card/financial system, add a healthtax to anyone who eats too much ice cream and pasta (since all of those folks will have diabetes and the gov’t healthcare system will have to be paid off by those subjects, er, citizens… OOPS again, they are working on that too… with RFID chips.
I also wish everyone would read the story of Winston Smith, the main character in Orwell’s 1984… He faught the slippery slope too, until Room 101 (re-education torture style) made him ‘see the light’ for the ‘good of the party.’ The book is timeless (and yet becoming more timely every day), used bookstores near high schools have them for about $1.00, and scarily, it’s coming true all around us, just a couple decades late. That’s not a black helicopter story – just read the book and decide for yourself. I read it every couple of years and get mad all over again, and make gifts of the book – people look at you strangely when you present it, but thankyou for it a few weeks later.
See you at the strip-search stations. Pura Vida!
Jim
Villa Caletas is a terrific place!!! I cannot think of anyone who wouldn’t be impressed there. My wife and I found it by accident and had cocktails there one day. She was ready to buy land after seeing this place, knowing that someone could build like this out in the ‘sticks.’
Here’s a few links for the Tabacon Hot Springs good luck!!!!
http://www.tabacon.com/home_i.html
http://www.fluffytails.ca/tabacon.asp
http://www.arenal.net/tabacon/hot-springs.htm
http://www.destination360.com/central-america/costa-rica/tabacon-hot-springs.phpMr. Gale, “jeffs”, or “AJPlll”, Why is it that you have such strange user names instead of something simple. I would have guessed that someone of you status in Paragon’s leadership would have his own user account?
JimLast year my brother was in Belize on vacation while the hurricane went through… CR got some rain. He spent 2 times what he would have spent for the same vacation in CR. Next year he’s going to take my advice and go to CR instead.
In all the confusion over what the “insult” in Scott’s “retort” was, I think there is an interesting discussion in bettybryan’s original question.
Ms. Bryan, please do not take this as an insult… I just do not see how Scott insulted you and after many trips to CR (in hopes of starting a business there and moving in the future myself) I have to agree with his posting.
That said, I have to say that I wondered the same thing in my first time or two down there.
My interest was based on the supposed “machismo” culture among the latino tradition, and the understanding that there was a lot of ‘domestic violence’ etc. I understood that the base culture was a matriarchal society and wondered how the women in charge of the familias would tolerate such treatment.
My questions also arose because I live in an area where the Mexican influence is rapidly changing our local culture due to the rapid influx of un-educated and un-skilled illegals, and I did not YET understand that there can be an ENORMOUS difference in Mexican machismo and CR machismo traditions.
What I found was contradictory on my first trip and I asked a whole lot of folks about it.
What I learned (and observed as well) is that talking the macho talk and walking the macho walk are two very different things.
Four things:
1) I have observed Ticos sounding like construction workers whooping it up amongst themselves, contributing completely towards the machismo reputation – as potent as any locker room talk in the USA. Then the very same men would hold the door open, speak reverently about women, and respectfully treat women when face to face. The same is unfortunately no longer true (in my experience and opinion much to my dismay and embarrassment) anymore in the USA. Funny thing is, these men are so amazingly docile and non-confrontational in regular life, which makes point number 2 really interesting.
2) I do believe that there is domestic violence and verbal abuse which goes HEAVILY UNDER REPORTED in CR – especially in the lower classes. Many of these women are quite smart, but have no confidence, education, or knowledge of female independence, and therefore have no way to feel empowered to do anything about it. A 28-year old woman hotel owner friend of mine (a total feminist as well) employs twice the part timers as needed (as opposed to half as many full timers) in order to empower and teach more women more things. She explained once to me how utterly ‘amazed’ her female employees are that there were so many women who would travel ALONE W/O THIER MEN while on vacation!!! When my friend would explain that women CAN be successful and independent and still have wonderful husbands, the look of interest and dis-belief is itself was encouraging and amazing. She has taken it upon herself to help these women learn how to operate computers, handle hotel operations, learn English, etc.
3) I asked my late 20’s WOMAN Tica dentist about this as well. My queery with her was ‘how does the average Tico accept her professional credentials in such a macho society.’ We yacked for 2 hours about the issue and she convinced me that both of the above are true and that the following is as well. The informed population (fewer in the rural areas for sure but please do not infer any anti-hickism or anything like that) is very suppoortive of women getting education, college degree, and professional success in the culture of CR and in the global economy. Her success in the field of dentistry was not a surprise or an exception in her family or school culture and I found her attitudes about it much more mature than young women in the USA. My Tica friend seemd to understand that CR has changed in a few decades in this issue and appreciated the difference, whereas I suggest that more USA women take the work of the feminists of the 60’s and 70’s for granted and really don’t get it.
4) The articles you will read about the natural beauty and more intense sexuality Ticas possess in comparison to other culture’s women (I feel) are dead on the money!!! Tica’s have the power and they know it. They are not bashful about it either. (This makes me wonder about point number 2 as well since it seems contradictory.)
So as far as being a second class citizen? I would characterize it in some other way other than 1st or 2nd or 3rd class. Different? Sure. Like Scott suggested, I feel that your knowledge and communication skills will bring much more credibilty and respect than whether you are a woman or a man. And a positive, gracious, and happy disposition along with a vocabulary full of por favor, gracias, tuanis, pura vida, mucho gusto, and smiles will go a long way… much further than worrying about class distinctions. I think your presence and help offered to women who need it will be welcomed in CR, but success will come indifferent ways than activism did in the USA 40 years ago.
This ain’t USA, and it sure is NOT Mexico… It’s like a whole other country! I am sure that if you have a love of people, you will love CR and its people.
Jim
FCR, Please take a look through this forum. ALL of your Q’s and MANY RELATED ones you haven’t asked yet have been answered IN DEPTH and from VARIOUS POSTERS ALREADY. I wish you luck in your trip and your quest for a lot… I suggest you’ll find it IMPOSSIBLE to search the place in just one trip – it all looks great on the first trip. Thing is, the more you look, the better it gets and the cheaper it gets!!! The other thing is, that if you make the excuse, er, reason that it’ll take more research to find the PERFECT spot, you’ll get to go more frequently!!!!
That’s why we call MA TAXACHUSETTS!!!!! Some friends of mine moved to CR from AZ, but they first moved their stuff and “established residence” in NEVADA before going to CR. They are done since NV does not have a state income tax. Attorneys can set it up in NV quite inexpensively as well.
Right on BROTHER!!!!!
I have been ‘through’ Jaco several times, the last in October… We had lunch in a dive on the beach row and sadly (and embarrassingly) paid $11 for a small shrimp cocktail. I think the worst part for us was that when I was there (and white), the locals must have assumed I was just as class-less, clue-less, rude, and ugli-american as the other ‘tourists’ in the area. I was embarrassed to be associated in any way with them to say the least.
I always explain to my friends who ‘find’ Jaco on the internet that the delta for the river Tarcoles is right there… and then I tell them about the sewer system in San Jose – they quickly decide that Jaco beach is not exactly the greatest beach in CR.
Any beach up or down the coast is BETTER and CHEAPER to be near, and just as hot(88) and humid(88%) as FLORIDA… I like the mountains and the little towns in them.
I still tell the story of how Terry and I and her assistant (the best realtor in CR, BTW) ate an enourmous meal for lunch, (3 cosada platters, 1 each of beef, chicken, and fish) complete with 4 fruit smoothies for us, tip and tax, along with excellent homestyle friendly service for $11. Oh, and I forgot, it was only about 75 degrees, and comfortable that afternoon in ATENAS.I live in an area which is dependent on tourism dollars and various prices do certainly affect the tourism quantity as well as quality.
But, it isn’t necessarily a ‘real’ problem, rather a ‘perceived’ problem, which then becomes just as real.
When California tanks, our summer tourism count slows a bit and everyone who does show up acts as though they have no money because they are scared to death of the rather tight margins inwhich they live their over credited house-of-cards lives. We locals look at them with their $100,000+ 34′ dual engine 800hp powerboats complete with their (well) plasticized wives, and color matching hauling device (Hummers seem popular this spring) and wonder how they have the nerve to claim they are too stretched to buy a house lot and build a vacation home, when they spend about $1,000 per w/e to be here.
Then I watch them put 50 – 150 gallons of avgas (currently $3.50/gal) in the boat every other day while they are here and feel (only a little) sorry for them. Thing is, they would use the same amount of gas if it were $2.00 or $5.00 per gallon.
Then when they buy the house and lot, instead of a spending budget of $750,000, it might only be around $600,000.
So, what we get is a slightly less quantity of folks buying a little less while they are here… but the bulk of them keep on coming…. and buying. That’s important because they themselves have the perception that less of them are coming and that they aren’t going to spend anywhere near the same amount of money – but then they do!
In CR, I would guess that the areas where the biggest gringo bucks flow smoothest, like Tamarindo, the same thing will happen because they are the same folks I deal with here in my home town.
I would also imagine that the Ticos look at us the same way I look at the Californians.
Now in the wintertime when we are hosting the older folks or snowbirds, they are much more cost conscious and things like the price of gas makes a bigger difference. They have a “fixed income” and milk that to death. They use it to tip less to the waitresses, etc, but they still come to town too.
In CR, I do wonder how the places which cater to that crowd and the ‘future ex-pat’ crowd will fare. My guess is that they are justifyably worried.
As far as real estate, I would guess that it might slow a bit and prices might stabilize with the sizes and amenities inside the homes might be a bit less, but I think it would take a major California crash to change it in CR dramatically. That wouldn’t necessarily be bad either.
I also believe that a ‘major crash’ scenario would have another effect which my architectural business experienced on 9-12-2001. 9-11 had the effect of making people take serious stock in their lives and it helped them get off the dime and make their decisions to get out of the rat race and build here – away from the big city. I had customers say things like ‘This is the last straw – we can’t take another year of living in CA, we are moving ahead of (our 5-years to retire plan) schedule even if it means less to live on.’
Bottom line? If gas is expensive, it’s expensive to everyone and all the prices go up. If I were penny pinching for a vacation and had a budget of $2,000 and 1 week and were determined to leave my hometown area, the price of airline tickets, gas, etc., is going up for every destination. CR still looks like a major bang for the buck deal to me.
I have paid taxis $15-$25 for the one way trip several times and still wonder how they paid for the gas. Upon arrival they give me they’re number and ask me to call them again to come all the way down there to pick me up to return again.
Well, call me an IDIOT!!! I had written on my Friday schedule to watch “On The Money – CNBC – 8 pm” So I went sailing, went and got 2 perfect steaks for dinner, got home at 6 pm (just in case the national feed was on schedule – I live 2 time zones west of Eatern) turned on the boob tube and guess what…. My cable provider showed this program at 4 pm!!!!!
So, I feel really stupid!!!
I like Jasman, would love a recap summary too!!!!!
Jim
PS – At least the sailing was good… and the steaks were great. BTW, I also watched a movie called “Dreamer”. While this forum is not a personal forum, I must let you know – this movie is exceptionally inspiring and a terrific movie – make sure you see it and have tissues available – even for the men!Edited on Apr 08, 2006 08:38
