Every Costa Rican knows [since they can remember] the government monopoly of, oil/gas, electric, internet, and insurance has been one big headache after another. In Oct, 2007 when Costa Rica’s Free Trade Agreements (FTA) were signed, it looked like for the first time Costa Rican’s were going to get a break, when foreign companies could compete with government companies, especially for … [Read more...]
Actor Steven Seagul Leaves Costa Rica Disappointed
06/11/2010 by 7 Comments
This week we pretty much express some disappointment at the way Costa Rica’s government was handle things like banning stem cell research and helping pave the way for ID thief. However, we have to give them the thumbs up in how they gave the cold shoulder to Hollywood martial-arts actor/producer, Steven Seagal. About 2-three times a month we get tabloid junk. It has always been our policy to … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Identification (ID) Thief – Court Ruling Could Make It Worst
06/03/2010 by 2 Comments
For a while now, I have been following what I consider three very important legal cases in Costa Rica. At first it appeared this week that the Costa Rica government has taken its first steps to help prevent ID thief, may not be so. As more and more Costa Rican's surf the internet, get involved in online transactions and personal matters like buying property, getting a drivers license etc, they … [Read more...]
U.S. Pedophile Released From Costa Rica Prison 15 Years Early
04/28/2010 by 15 Comments
Updated on 5/27/10 - TicoTimes Editors note: Joe Baker has a Facebook account, please NO THREATS, but might want to let him know how you feel.... Update on 8/18/10 - After many complaints, Mr. Bakers account at Facebook was deleted. In June 1999 Costa Rica passed a law against the sexual exploitation of minors. "With this law, we say to foreigners who want to come here to abuse our … [Read more...]
Corrupt Costa Rica Traffic Policeman Arrested – Riot Starts
04/16/2010 by 1 Comment
This week an event took place that may became a disappointment in what the future of Costa Rica's society and culture may be. A few weeks ago we wrote about how the new Traffic Laws were causing problems with its loopholes and in some cases corruption (bribes) when an online chatter wrote, how an illegal passing cost her $100 to an open palm traffic policeman. It appears we were not the … [Read more...]
Net Neutrality For Costa Rica – Throttling Bandwidth Usages and Charging For It.
04/09/2010 by 1 Comment
If you've ever wondered why it takes so long to download or load certain Webpages or other files to your computers - it's all determined by the bandwidth of the connection between your computer and your and/or others Internet Service Providers (IPS). Bandwidth is a rate of data transfer that is measured in bits per second (bps). Your ISP makes its money by renting little "chunks" of that … [Read more...]
Costa Rican’s U.S. Expats May Be Paying Twice For Health Care
03/24/2010 by 7 Comments
With the passing and the presidential signing of the U.S. Health Care Reform bill and assuming that it does become a law (13 states filed lawsuits in the US, stating it was unconstitutional) Costa Rica expats may have a serious problem. They may be forced to carry health insurance in both the U.S. and Costa Rica, I guess you can say a form of double taxation. According to the health bill, ALL … [Read more...]
Electrified Fences Growing In Popularity – Costa Rica Security
03/16/2010 by 1 Comment
When I was a kid, I went dove hunting with my dad and his friends, who also brought along their sons. As we were walking the fields, we came upon a fence with a sign, WARNING ELECTRIC FENCE. One of the older sons, pointed to me, "Yeah, kid, go touch that fence" with the warning sign, " it's just a fake sign ... see the bird sitting on the wire." Being naive at the time, I touched it and … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Shark Finning – Is It Being Monitored?
02/19/2010 by 9 Comments
Around early 1980s a friend wanted to open up a fresh fish exporting business in Puntarenas. He found a packing house and cannery, got some investors and was ready to start exporting fresh Dorado and canned tuna. One of the things that were puzzling to him was Costa Rica fishermen were catching sharks in their long lines and gill nets. Shark at the time was a worthless meat so they were either … [Read more...]
Has Scott Brown’s Win Stimulated Costa Rica’s Economy?
02/13/2010 by 3 Comments
In the last few years Costa Rica economy has really sucked with very few signs of recovery. That recovery worsen by Americas uneasiness with the current Presidential democratic administration mucho-trillion dollars tax, health and stimulus bill that will be absorbed by U.S. taxpayers. To put it bluntly, Costa Rica Tourism which was already suffering became in greater peril when Americans … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Toyota Recalls – Rental Cars and For Sale
02/10/2010 by 1 Comment
Toyota has announced it will conduct another recall of 133,000 vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). Toyota's global recall ballooned to 8.5 million cars and trucks including 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems; the latest embarrassing safety lapse at the world’s largest automaker. Toyota is one of the preferred vehicles to … [Read more...]
Sexual Predator Joe Baker Takes Job at La Felicidad Hotel in Esterillos, Costa Rica
Maria used to send her eldest daughter, 13, down the hill to the supermarket to pick up vegetables and other products about twice a week. Her daughter had to pass the yellow house on the corner. But now Maria walks the 3/4 mile round trip herself, leaving her daughter in a newly installed locked house. She fears for her daughter’s safety; she does not want “this evil” – convicted pedophile Joe … [Read more...]