Yesterday many websites were in a World-Wide Blackout against The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill, and it’s sister bill, Protect IP Act (PIPA), that is currently working their way through the United States Congress and the Senate. These new bills threaten every facet of the internet by letting government regulate what can and can not be seen; a form of censorship - just like China and Iraq does to their Internet users.
Craig's List Blackout in Protest of SOPA and PIPA
Thousands of website owners, webmasters, and SEOs (including Tico Times Directory), joined with the big boys like Google, Craig’s Lists, and Wikipedia and protested for 24/hrs this scary and very unfair bill. The purpose of the blackout was twofold: to raise public awareness, and to encourage people to share their views with their elected representatives.
Fighting online piracy is VERY important and we believe in the copyrights and trademarks protection of others. Unfortunately, SOPA and PIPA bills target the innocent places like American social networks, Blogs and search engines. This alone undermines the existing laws that have enabled the Web to thrive, creating millions of U.S jobs. In otherwords, those in protest, believe the bill violates a few US Amendment Rights, like the 1st Amendment – Freedom of Speech. Read more... (754 words, 3 images, estimated 3:01 mins reading time)
President Laura Chinchilla
I don’t know if it is just me, but it seems like every time you turn around Costa Rica is having some sort of labor strike.
Last Monday, about 2000 union workers of Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) (government monopoly on power and light company) went on strike, and snarled traffic on several major streets in and around San Jose. They were protesting a bill in the Legislative Assembly to privatize the generation of electricity.
And back in July a meeting was held between the union and officials of the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS) over a strike that centered on reduction of benefits.
So … what could this be telling us?
First, let go to the political party of National Liberation Party, in which ex President Óscar Arias (May 2006-2010) and current President Laura Chinchilla are political members. The National Liberation Party supports [to a point] privatization, which has only been tolerable by unions in this small but creditable Central American country. After Arias, many were saying [because of privatization] it would put an end to National Liberation Party’s, needless to say, they were proven wrong when Chinchilla was voted in, keeping the party in power until 2014. Its evident both were voted into power to help reduce government waste and to promote economical growth. Read more... (719 words, 3 images, estimated 2:53 mins reading time)
The world’s most advance technology will have it 20th Birthday on Aug, 8th; thats when the “World Wide Web (www)” first gained a public face in 1991.
CERN, which straddles the border between France and Switzerland, publicized the new World Wide Web project, two years after, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee had begun creating HTML, HTTP and the first few Web pages at CERN.
The World Wide Web in its short span has grown into a multi-trillion dollar business – making it the fastest growing business in the history of mankind. In 1998, less than .1% of the population of Costa Rica (including the World) had no clue to what the Internet was.
With the Costa Rica’s Free Trade Agreement and ICE’s suddenly lost of its IP monopoly (caused by competition), and its recent monopoly on Apple iPhones Costa Rica is demanding technology, particularly internet service at an alarming rate.
According to a poll we have been conducting, seventy-eight percent of Costa Ricans are influence by technology. As one person commented on one of our Blog posts: Read more... (832 words, 2 images, estimated 3:20 mins reading time)
One of the biggest bummers in Costa Rica is their infamous import tax, a horrendous tax that is applied to so-called luxury items, such as boats, vehicles and electronics. A tax that makes these items VERY expensive. Anyone that has tried to import a vehicle knows how a $10,000 vehicle can quickly become a major investment and/or headache.
However, this week may have changed that. It is no secret that China has been wining and dining Costa Rica politicians for some time now and has forked out mucho dinero for such projects as a Chinatown in San Jose.
In April 2010 Costa Rica signed a free trade agreements with China, before this agreement the US accounted for almost half of Costa Rica imports. China is Costa Rica’s second largest trading partner and for the last five years has been dumping billions into Costa Rica by investments, bonds and aid, including a new soccer stadium.
However, last week (May 31st) lawmakers on passed a final version of Costa Rica’s Free Trade Agreement with China (CFTA). According to Foreign Trade Minister Anabel González this will help improve the lives of Costa Ricans by generating more jobs, consolidating access for products exported to China and expanding options for consumers. Read more... (675 words, 1 image, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)
El Presidente is a great place to people watch - but that may change since they shut down their popular News Cafe.
A tip (also called a gratuity) has always been a special thanks to a server for good service. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom and etiquette and usually are around 10% plus of the total bill. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry.
In Costa Rica, those that provide services in restaurants and bars or unskilled labor make less than $2/hr (more like $1/hr if not less) – so tipping becomes a major source of income. Restaurants and bars are allowed, by law, to add 10% to the check as a “propina” (tip). The 10% is then suppose to be divided between the restaurant waiters and bar staff, and in some cases, bus boys and kitchen workers, which in many cases that money is much greater than the base salary.
Like Mexico and other countries, Costa Rica’s restaurant and bars owners have always added a 10% on top of the bill. Unfortunately, this money has always had scrutiny because it somehow is not divided equal among the workers – the owners are the ones that retain the largest percentage. Read more... (740 words, 3 images, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)
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