Stephanie Klein redux –

Ξ August 29th, 2005 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Whatever |

A few weeks ago, I wrote a bit of commentary about Stephanie Klein and her blog. At the time I posted it, I thought to myself that maybe I went a bit over the edge as I really didn’t know this woman from Adam’s off ox… so why was I roasting her?
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Almost Five Weeks Now!

Ξ August 20th, 2005 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Whatever |

This is really odd! I stopped smoking just over a month ago (six weeks) and didn’t blog it. As the other times I tried stopping were not happy events, I would have thought this time would be in here because I am doing it. But I FORGOT to blog it!
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40.000 Families Added to Living Below Poverty Line

Ξ August 19th, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Costa Rica, News and Comments, Whatever |

At least 40.000 families will join this year the estimated 210.000 families who already live below the poverty line, according to the Balance de la Economía Costarricense study done for the first six months of 2005, prepared by experts at the Universidad Nacional (UNA).

According to Henry Mora, coordinator of the study, the alarming news is based on the disproportionate increase in the cost of food that make up the “canasta básica” (basic food basket).

The increase in the cost of the canasta basica this year has topped 21% which means more than 50% of the cost of living for many. Mora explained that the increase affects the most the poorest which spend 80% on basic food needs.

The latest census done in 2004 showed 21.5% of Costa Rican families were poor while UNA investigators say that it will reach 25% by the end of 2005. In 2003 the number of 18.5%.

 

Costa Rica, CAFTA and Leadership

Ξ August 10th, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Costa Rica |

The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA or TLC – Tratado de Libre Comercio) is always news here. Things are finally beginning to heat up a bit… as well they should.

The current president of the republic is Abel Pacheco, who certainly can be described as someone who “just doesn’t get it”.

For many months, he has been holding the TLC in his office, refusing to submit it to the Legislative Assembly until they pass his tax bill. The tax bill, however, will never be passed in its current form as it contains provisions that, at best, should be considered idiotic. The most onerous provision taxes Costa Ricans and foreigners living here on income earned anywhere in the world. It also contains a variety of regressive tax measures which will further burden the average Costa Rican. Even worse, the tax bill will never solve this country’s monetary crisis, but is being touted as the law that will save Costa Rica.

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Google – Just incredibly stupid

Ξ August 8th, 2005 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Blogging stuff, Geeky Stuff, Rants |

So by now everybody knows the story that Google has gotten their corporate nose out of joint because a CNET reporter used the Google search engine to find and publish a few private goodies about Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

“Google has blackballed online technology news service Cnet News.com for googling Eric Schmidt, CEO of the Mountain View company, and including some personal information about him in a story last month. Google told a Cnet editor that it will not speak with Cnet reporters until August 2006…”. I now expect that bloggers and others all over the world are gonna roast Google’s Corporate nuts for this… I know I am.
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Morning Thoughts

Ξ August 4th, 2005 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Maria Luisa, Whatever |

4:00 AM – I usually wake up early. Four AM seems to be my body’s wakeup time. Luisa sleeps next to me, her breathing is soft… deep. She sleeps like a person who has lived a good life. A life in which she never hurt other people, was never dishonest, was a good friend to others, was honorable, kind…. The sleep of the good person. That is accurate. She is.

I am thinking that we are not alike in this. I have hurt others… been dishonest… worse. Not a good person at various times in my life… but I think a better person now. As I get older, I hope God has forgotten, but I know better. I’m pretty sure He is still pissed.
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