The Howler
Volume 18, No. 7 Issue No. 202
July 2013 Founded 1996
TAMARINDO COSTA RICA www.howlermag.com THE HOWLER Ced. Juridica: 3-101-331333
FEATURES
Publisher, editor and production David Mills
dmills@racsa.co.cr Tel: 2-653-0545 Howler • Mono Congo
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14 Around Town
CONTRIBUTORS
ELLEN ZOE GOLDEN TONY OREZ TOM PEIFER JEFFREY WHITLOW MONICA RIASCOS BARBARA DEPPE
JEANNE CALLAHAN JESSE BISHOP MARY BYERLY ROBERT AUGUST KAY DODGE
Deadline for August: July 15 Howler advertising
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15 Surf Report
Gilbert Brown wins the Copa Kingston of the Circuito Nacional Olympus 2013; Anthony Filligim wins Reef Classic Panama.
18 What’s Developing?
Awaiting the construction of the Ruta del Sol, Marbella is poised to become a tourist destination with some new projects.
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Surviving Costa Rica
Returning to Port Aransas to host the Thirtieth Songwriters’ Showcase, Jesse finds his buddies thirty years older.
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Through the Looking Glass
Big Brother has nothing on the government of the United States when it comes to spying on its citizens.
DEPARTMENTS
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Ads must be submitted on CD or e-mail attachment, JPG or PDF format at 266 dpi, at the appropriate size (above). All comments, articles and advertising in this publication are the opinion of their authors, and do not reflect the opinion of Howler Management.
www.tamarindohomepage.com
Openings, closings, parties, music. The Gold Coast has it all, and bar-hoppin’ David is in the groove.
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Discounts For 6 months, paid in advance, one month is deducted. For 12 months, paid in advance, two months are deducted.
www.tamarindobeach.net
Dining Out
Restaurant El Coconut in Tamarindo continues to serve excellent meals after eleven years of operation.
10 Music Review
27 Slice of Life
11 Theatre Review
28 Doctor’s Orders
12 August Odysseys
32 Sun & Moon
16 Poetry by Diana Renee
32 Rain Gauge
24 July Forecasts
33 Word Puzzle
26 Yoga
35 Tide Chart
Cover Caption: El Coconut Beach Club in Playa Potrero. Cover Photo: Bernardo Agosto Cover Design: David Mills
Parents’ Corner Understanding Individual Differences We have come a long way from Pink Floyd’s nightmarish image of thought-controlling classrooms, where children are pressed into a mold, deployed of any individuality… “just another brick in the wall”. I’m sure we all agree by now that expecting children to “listen and obey” will not promote critical and creative minds. Having learned some painful and tragic lessons in the past, we have to acknowledge that an education system that does not respect the individual will put the whole society at risk. Understanding individual differences is key to any education model that aims at helping the child develop to his or her full potential, and it is a fundamental component of modern education. Today we recognize not only the existence but also the importance of a child’s learning style in his or her academic performance, and schools, teachers and parents are becoming more and more aware of the various expressions of intelligence. The role of the teacher in modern education has transitioned from unquestionable instructor to open-minded facilitator and students are no longer passive figures but active participants in their own learning process. In a school that respects individual differences and practices inclusive education, children don’t just acquire academic knowledge; they also learn correct behaviors, values and attitudes for a peaceful society. A classroom that values and respects individual differences: • Respects, values and celebrates all forms of learning • Provides differentiated instruction so that everyone in the classroom can learn effectively • Understands and embraces the concepts of Multiple Intelligences and styles of Learning • Provides a learning environment that is safe and stimulating for everyone • Promotes creativity and free expression • Uses a multi-sensorial approach • Provides multiple learning resources • Fosters cooperative learning • Encourages independent research • Is flexible, creative and innovative. In traditional education many children who are unable to “fit the mold” become frustrated or bored; they feel that they are not smart enough and lose all motivation for learning. Without the appropriate support from teachers and parents their future is often at risk. In an educational system that acknowledges individual differences learning takes place as a natural process and all children have the opportunity to experience success. We have to move away from obsolete and rigid teaching methods that emphasize quantity over quality, repetition over reflection and obedience over expression. Children need to be allowed to engage actively in their own learning process, to explore freely and to enjoy the learning experience, embracing each one their unique ways of interacting with the world around them. “It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom. Without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail.” Albert Einstein Msc. Mónica Riascos Henríquez Psychopedagogist – Member of ASOLAP – Code 2024 consultariascos@live.com
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t is good to have these occasional sports events bringing people to Tamarindo, such as the recent triathlon and the annual marathon. But can’t the organizers, or the muni, or the police do a better job of traffic control? During the 2-day triathlon workers had to walk from Villarreal to Tamarindo. Not only late for work, but also pretty shagged out before they started. One hotel complained that guests missed their flights because the roads were closed. What will they say about our town when they arrive home a day late? This puts a very nasty stain on Tamarindo as a resort. There must be a better way; for instance, mark off a separate lane for the athletes and leave two lanes for traffic. Whatever it takes, or scrap the event. For a whole busy town to be totally shut down from the outside because of an event is unacceptable. And what if there is a catastrophe – earthquake, fire, etc?
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The beautiful road that was built at Easter in Tamarindo was left unfinished, just roadbed with no asphalt. So now, after a month of rains, the surface is a potholed wreck. All that time, money and inconvenience wasted. Pura Vida! Better news on roads: On June 8, a meeting was held in Potrero to discuss the paving of the main road into town. Present were Julio Viales, Director of MOPT (Transport Ministry), alcalde Jorge Chavarría, Potrero Association, and 250 locals. Minister Viales promised to help in paving the road and will place machinery, starting July 25, to start from Banco Nacional to Potrero Village. The community will need to provide operational requirements, and should cooperate in getting the job finished.
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And in Villarreal June 13, President Laura Chinchilla signed the agreement with RAASA to begin construction almost immediately on the road Villarreal to 27 Abril. The work will take approximately seven months and will result in a fully paved road.
It’s Never Too Late to look after your body
El Coconut Restaurant in Tamarindo has just celebrated eleven years of serving fine meals. We dined there recently and, as always, very much enjoyed our meal. Owner Anne-Kathrine Hjelset brings a Norwegian flair to the dishes, and insists on offering the best food with the best service. From the extensive appetizer menu we chose a shrimp cocktail and calamari in garlic butter. At Coconut the emphasis is on seafood, with delicious choices of jumbo shrimp, tropical lobster with pineapple sauce, lobster flambéed with cognac or with garlic butter; Mediterranean catch; today’s catch the Norwegian way; pescado puttanesca, and many other dishes. My companion chose yellow-fin tuna topped with shrimp, while I enjoyed a tenderloin with peppercorn sauce from the steak menu. Both very delicious. There are six chicken choices, nicely set off with fruity sauces – mango and shrimp; mushroom; curry and peach; lime juice. A pasta menu has eight choices. For dessert we chose a brownie with triple chocolate and walnuts, and banana flambé with ice cream, both delightful. Coconut also offers a special menu from which you can choose either starter and main course, or main course and dessert, for $25. A 1,000-bottle temperature-controlled bodega keeps the extensive wine inventory comfortable.
Casagua Horses The greatest variety of tours and riding experiences for all ages, featuring spectacular countryside, howler monkeys, colorful small towns and fun-filled fiestas. Cantina Tour - Nature Tour Fiesta & Tope Rental - Old Tempate Trail Tour Located near Portegolpe on the main road, opposite the Monkey Park, just 20 minutes from the beach.
Phone us at: 2-653-8041 • kaydodge@racsa.co.cr www.paintedponyguestranch.com The best horses on Guanacaste’s Gold Coast!
El Coconut has made some concessions to locals, making the restaurant more accessible by introducing Sunset Specials from 5 to 7 p.m. A great people-watching bar has been set up along the front of the restaurant. Specials include Pilsen and Imperial; mojitos and margaritas, Cuba libre; mojito; mango daiquiri and lime margaritas; red and white wine, all at very reduced prices A menu of bocas offers ceviche, pincho de pollo, wings, fajitas, jalapeño poppers and other tasty delights at only two or three dollars. El Coconut, on the main street in Tamarindo, has live music every Friday evening from 7 p.m. Closed Monday; credit cards accepted; Tel: 2653-0086.
Ageing is a normal biological process, but physical activity allows older adults to enjoy a better quality of life. Exercise for the older adult is a combination of elements, physical as well as psychological, and includes the development of physical qualities such as strength, balance, resistance and, from this, the independence to more easily carry out daily activities and bring better socialization, reduction of illness and a more active mind. All adult persons can benefit from exercising. Start today! Jerson Pérez Physical Personal Trainer
Barbara’s Pet Stories A Sunny Morning
I woke up, looked out of the window. Yeahh, I thought, it will be a nice day, the sun comes out…I had my cup of coffee as every morning on my patio, surrounded by my four paws fur family, all awaiting and, of course, getting it - a treat to start the day. What was my plan today? As it looked to be at least a sunny morning, I decided to do the laundry. So I went to the washing machine, opened the top and started to throw some cloths into the washer, those small cloths I use for my animals. No big things today, as I wanted to enjoy the sun, too. I closed the top, activated the minimum load, and pushed the start button. I heard water running into the machine, and started to leave the laundry room, when I heard a noise: clong, clong...I looked around ...no cat, no puppy playing with a toy that could produce that sound, and again: clong clong...So I went to the other side of the bodega, maybe a peace of wood
outside was banging against the window. Clong, clong, I heard it but I could not see anything. Clong, clong , now faster and stronger: clong clong. Oh, no ...oh yes...now I remembered. I ran back to the washing machine, I opened up as fast as I could the top: one of my little raccoons was sitting in the washer! “Oh hi, little one”. It seemed to me that he was smiling. He was wet like a rat. I took him into my arms and rubbed him softly with a towel; he squeaked a bit but he was fine. Thanks to God, that I had forgotten to put the washing agent into the machine, and also luckily, that my laundry machine does turns to the left and to the right, so my little cuteness only got a bit scared and wet. Usually I look into the washer before I start to use it, but this morning I completely forgot that my raccoon likes it to have a nap inside the washing machine, as it is hidden and warm, like a nest. But I do not need to worry, he will be back in the washing machine very soon.
Book Review
Music Review Historical Album by Guadalupe Urbina
Tony Orez
Tony Orez
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orn the youngest of ten children in Sardinal, Guanacaste, Guadalupe Urbina demonstrated her interest in folkloric music at a very early age. She sings with passion, veracity, capriciousness and has an incredible range to her voice. She credits her mother as being her mentor and biggest fan as well. Ms. Urbina received her deserved recognition in 1987, when she was invited to participate in the Latin American Music Festival in The Netherlands. From that performance, she was asked to perform at the 1988 Amnesty International Festival in San José, along with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Sting and Peter Gabriel. Guadalupe has recently released “Sones de Tierra Caliente”, a compilation of sixteen regional songs that have been passed down through countless generations. The songs are a mix of lullabies, fiesta songs, romantic songs, children’s songs and street songs, all stemming from the Costa Rica province of Guanacaste. They are so entrenched in time that the songwriters are unknown. She has travelled to an assortment of small villages to gather these songs, traveling west from Sardinal to Artola, Portegolpe and Brasilito, and then south to Santa Barbara, Talolinga, Nambí and Diriá. Some of the songs are humorous and some romantic; some are both. Guadalupe credits each person who “donated” the various songs and they are each given the opportunity to introduce their contribution prior to the beginning of the song. Each song is described in its historical detail in an accompanying booklet, the lyrics are printed and the music transcribed. It is really an amazing accomplishment, a true labor of love by Ms. Urbina and all involved, including Luis Porras and Fidel Gamboa who helped score the songs. The album opens with “El Pilón” and “La Zopilota” two songs about working under the hot sun in the finca, songs recanted by generations of workers in the fields and farmlands. “En Coche Va Una Niña” is nursery rhyme, as are “El Garrobo” and “Chinto Pinto”, sung with a cadence, to accompany hand games or skipping rope, and “Canción de Cuna” is a lullaby. The remainder are songs of love and humor; sometimes both themes are combined. One of my favorites is “La Viuda Alegre”, sung as a traditional waltz. Guadalupe gathered an impressive group of musicians to record this compilation. The versatile Ricardo Fonseca played guitar, bass, saxophone, marimba and mandolin and helped arrange the album. Warren Alani supplied nice piano accompaniment. Isaac Morero played various forms of percussion, while Veronica Zumbado played violin, Ivan Chinchilla the trombone and Carlos Valverde the tuba. The musical accompaniment rounds the songs out, makes them more palatable and credible as an historic part of Guanacaste culture. The wonderful, lush painting and graphics are by Mary Anne Ellis. Truly, Guadalupe Urbina shines on this project; it is her baby. Her voice is expressive, dimensional. Her work here is obviously a labor of love and she is to be commended and thanked for her hard work. The CD is available at the Jaime Peligro book store in Playa Tamarindo.
Once a Bad Girl, Always a Bad Girl
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ario Vargas Llosa is known for weaving stories like threads into an ultimate, seamless tapestry that far exceeds its individual components. He is also an enigma in that he gained acclaim as a writer while in his birthplace of Peru, became involved in politics there, grew disenchanted and then renounced his Peruvian citizenship. He moved to Spain. But he continues to write about Peru. I’ve just finished reading his novel, “Bad Girl”, a novel where Llosa unequivocally answers the age-old question, “Which is the weaker sex?” Meet Ricardo Somocurcio, a 1950s Peruvian teenager living in Lima. He falls pathetically in love with “Lily”, who’s just arrived from Chile, with her exotic manner and colloquialisms. She allows Ricardo to hold her hand and no more, calling him “the good boy”. When her Chilean history is exposed as false, she vanishes. Ricardo becomes a translator to fulfill his dream of living in Paris, which he does, though he never forgets Lily. And then, there she is again, in the City of Lights, this time calling herself “Comrade Arlette”, an activist on her way to Cuba. She allows a remote relationship to begin between them, one where she dictates the time and place to meet as well as every physical action between them, which generally focuses on pleasuring her exactly as she mandates it to occur, all the while referring to Ricardo as her “pissant”. And then, she is suddenly off again, this time to fight for The Cause. And so she continues to disappear and reappear throughout this poor dog’s life, tugging on his leash the entire time. Whether she is Madame Arnoux, wife of a UNESCO official, or Kuriko, mistress of a sinister Japanese businessman, she is constantly reinventing herself with a smokescreen of lies, designed specifically for her own gains. She snaps her fingers and he comes running, even if it is half-way around the globe, to repeat “that sentimental crap” that amuses her so. Although their sexual forays revolve around what pleases her, she somehow remains detached the entire time, paying little or no attention to his desires. More than not having a conscience, she is truthful and proud of pursuing goals that exclusively revolve around her gains, be they physical, financial, or an elevation in her social status. As with all of Llosa’s novels, we receive an historical backdrop, ranging from Paris and London in the Sixties, Tokyo in the Eighties and Spain in the Nineties. Because Ricardo stays in touch with his uncle in Lima, the author is also allowed to expound on the cultural and political climate and changes in his “former” country throughout nearly half a century. Just as Everyman is a morality play that attempts to define human nature, Llosa seems to be writing his version of Everywoman, with a clear message of whom he thinks is really the stronger sex. Randle McMurphy explained it best in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” when he told the ward psychiatrist, “You know how it is, Doc. When they put that thing in your face, ain’t a man alive who will turn it down”.
August Odysseys
Robert August
Sharing the Stoke
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ver the many, many years that I have surfed, I have met a lot of people from all different parts of the world. From an old guy like me or a little gremmie popping up on his first wave, beginner or pro, male or female, gainfully employed to flat-out-broke, I love how surfing brings people together from all walks of life. No matter who you are or where you are from, we all end up at the beach to ride waves. Back in March, I had the pleasure of meeting a loyal Robert August customer, Iris. Over the years, I have shaped and sent boards to Señorita Iris down here in Costa Rica from California. Then, as luck had it, Iris contacted my son Sam and niece Lisa about wanting a new board. When Sam informed her that I actually was shaping in Costa Rica in Tamarindo, she ‘nearly collapsed’ (her words). And as easy as that, a couple of days later she drove out to Tamarindo from San José and we started shaping her board. Well, what type of board did I shape for her??? In my opinion, the most amazing surfboard shaped by any human being for a firecracker 5’1 Costa Rican lawyer…a 9’0 noserider. Just bitchin’.
So to all of my friends out there, it has been a pleasure meeting, hanging and talking story with you all. It is always great to spend time with friends that share the same stoke for surfing. Just think about it, what would my life be like if I had not met Mr. Wingnut as a result of “The Endless Summer II”?? Probably pretty uneventful and boring… So here is to many more friends to come!
The Road to Brazil Round 4 of the World Cup eliminations is half over, and Costa Rica is a serious contender, owning 11 points following the U.S. who have 13. The remainder of the hexagonal are Mexico with 8 points, Honduras 7, Panama 6 and Jamaica 2. Now the teams get a three-month rest before their next games. Remaining games for Costa Rica in Round 4 are: Sept 6 - at home to the U.S; Sept 10 – away to Jamaica; October 11 – away to Honduras; October 15 – at home to Mexico. Following these games the top three teams on points will go to Brazil; the fourth will play New Zealand home and away for another plane ticket. The FIFA Confederations Cup, played from June 14 to 30, is a test for the various stadia that will be used for the World Cup next June and July. The good news is that La Sele and the others in the hexagonal have cleaned up their style of play. The exaggerated tactics of simulated tripping and injuries, that sometimes have more medics on the field than players, is not tolerated elsewhere and may well be penalized. Hopefully this change will persist after the eliminations. Meanwhile, we await with bated breath the next four games
Go Sele! In national soccer, Tamarindo beach was the venue for La Liga’s training camp through June, with dozens of players running up and down the beach and performing their calisthenics before onlookers. We hope this will improve their performance for the winter season.
Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule of Meetings
Flamingo
Tuesdays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open) Fridays: 5:30 - 6:30 pm (open)
Location: Hitching Post Plaza Unit 2, Brasilito Contact: Don H. at 2-654-4902
Tamarindo
Saturday: 10:30-11:30 - Open General Meeting Monday: 5:30 - Open Meeting Thursday: 5:30-6:30 - Open Meeting Location: Behind Pedro’s Surf Shop Contact: Ellen - 2-653-0897 / Steve - 8377-1529
AROUND TOWN Foodlab, together with Pippo Import, is open in Tamarindo 50 mts east of ConstruNet hardware store. They have the best price on Pastas, Wines, Cheeses, Salamis and many other imported goods. Make your request and they will try to satisfy it. See ad page 5. House Hunters, on HGTV, once again features Playas Conchal, Tamarindo, Flamingo and Grande with Rebecca Clower of Blue Water Realty. The show will air on July 15th. Congratulations to Kay Dodge and Esteban Peraza of Casagua Horses in Portegolpe, for their Trip Advisor award – No. 10 worldwide! Kay is a long-time contributing writer to The Howler. See their ad on page 8. “Are you ready for this season? Security cameras and electrical power security: don’t get robbed, don’t get burned… come to PC Solutions and get ready”. See ad page 23. Costa Rica Equestrian Vacations and Ecuestre Del Paraiso is having a jumping competition on Sunday, July 14th at 9 a.m. The farm is located between Playa Negra and Paraiso. Please contact Molly at 8339-6431 for information. Zapatería Kaytes in Huacas offers discounts from 10 - 50%. See ad page 18. On Saturday, July 13th, from 3-5 p.m., Tamarindo Church will be hosting a community fun event for families with children age 10 & under. Location - Tamarindo soccer field - large inflatables, funny-photo booth, crafts, carnival games, prizes, etc. Contact us at info@tamarindochurch. com with any questions. The 2nd annual surf event “Surf for Youth” will be held July 5 and 6 in front of the Tiki Hut in Playa Marbella. Helping kids stay in the water and off the streets. Call Jeff at 2682-8118 or 2682-8116 for details. Frijoles Locos, in Playa Grande, offers a day pass for $75 to enjoy their fun activities - boogie board, beach bicycle, free surf lesson and lunch. See ad on page 3. Café Conchal has opened in Paseo del Mar in Huacas, serving breakfast and lunch, with fresh baked bread, muffins and croissants; strawberry feta; chipotle turkey club and lots more. A wine bar and small plates menu is coming soon. See ad page 16. Ciclo Corea in Villarreal and Santa Cruz offers advice on choosing and riding a bicycle. See ad page 13. Salón Rakel, opposite Vista Villas in Tamarindo, offers hair cutting at the introductory price of ¢4,000 men and ¢6,000 women. See ad page 17. Bored at home? Try exercising at Pacific Coast Gym in Huacas, with personal trainer Jerson Pérez. See ad page 9. Extreme Change Spa in Potrero offers monthly specials. See ad on page 19.
Surf Report Ellen Zoe Golden (ellenzoe@aol.com)
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ust a month after the older surfers of the Costa Rica National surf team surfed to Sixth Place in the Billabong International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Championship that took place in Playa Santa Catalina, the younger surfers of this country had the opportunity to face off in Playa Jiquilite de Tola, near Rivas in Nicaragua, among 30 countries and 300 of the best Junior surfers in the world. Surfers who participated in the DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship came from Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Tahiti, Uruguay, United States and Venezuela.
where a tough heat found him placing fourth and getting a second change in the repercharge. There, he only had one heat, and when he placed third and earned himself the Fifth Position in the world. Leilani earned #8 ranking in the Girls Under 16, gleaned from running the contest all the way through round 6 out of 8 of the repercharge, where she finally fell out of the championships. The McGonagles’ placements helped Costa Rica earn a #12 spot at the end of the Championship. Photo: Alfredo Barquero
Costa Rican National Junior surf team was: Boys Under 18: Noe Mar McGonagle (Pavones) Manuel Mesén (Jacó) Jason Mora (Santa Teresa) Tomas King (Tamarindo) Boys Under 16: Leonardo Calvo (Barranca) Bruno Carvalho (Jacó) Aldo Chirinos (Playa Negra) Malakai Martínez (Tamarindo) Girls Under 18 Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) Paula Duarte (Jacó) Girls Under 16 Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) Emily Gussoni (Jacó) The Federación de Surf de Costa Rica (FSC) continues to build champions from its annual Circuito Nacional de Surf which is currently making its way around the country, and from its ranks came two young members of the Costa Rica National Junior surf team. These included the current #1 Mini-Grommet Malakai Martinez and Aldo Chirinos, both 13 years old. After all the teams marched through the streets of San Juan del Sur they ended up at a bandstand overlooking the bay. In another tradition, Costa Rica put sand from Boca Borranca in the mixture of sands from all of the other countries. Throughout the week, Costa Rica performed well, with Noe Mar McGonagle and his sister Leilani once again demonstrating superior skills as they remained in the contest until nearly the end. From the beginning, Noe Mar said he was “100 percent”, and that was still the case as he raced through the main contest until the sixth round,
Everyone worked hard in the contest and they should be very proud of themselves. It was a very young team, and can only get better as the years pass. Here are the final rankings (out of 300) for the position of the Costa Rican National Junior team in the world Boys Under 18 Noe Mar McGonagle #5 Tomas King #25 Jason Mora #61 Manuel Mesén #73
Boys Under 16 Leonardo Calvo #29 Bruno Carvalho #49 Aldo Chirinos #57 Malakai Martinez #65
Girls Under 18 Leilani McGonagle #16 Paula Duarte #22
Girls Under 16 Leilani McGonagle #8 Emily Gussoni #25
Oh, by the way, Australia is the new ISA World Junior Surfing champion. Individually, Hawaii’s Josh Moniz won the Boys Under 18, Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Girls Under 18, Australia’s Jacob Wilcox won the Boys Under 16, and Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda won the Girls Under 16.
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Selected Poems from “Tell me about the telaraña” by Diana Renee take me down into the underworld to places we have been but not together take me strongly into warm swamps of buzzing bees and swimming fish
tengo historias de todos colores tengo rojos y blancos y unas azules tengo historias amarillos del sol y unas negras de noches que no contaré
the night waits humid, anxious for us to fall into laughter let the marshes receive you finally and bring me down and under
pressed between two primos on Oscar’s moto i couldn’t see for my eyelashes blowing in my eyes we were driving drunk with the mountains rolling soft around us soft as the hot evening wind soft as the love of brown boys and we were flying through the air and i could speak every language and we three were so alive every breath was like screaming
Dharma Corner What About Now?
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s the Earth hurtled through space approaching the Mayan calendar date of 12/12/2012 new popular vocabulary words crept into the media, conversations and every day discourse...words with a sort of spiritual sound to them, words like ‘cosmic awareness, oneness and mindfulness’. And while the date has come and gone, our consciousness of some of these words has now been raised. Maybe there’s been a shift in the universe after all, a shift in our awareness of these spiritual notions. So let’s just look at what one of these words might mean to the human species. Mindfulness. What is Mindfulness? As defined by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, mindfulness is “the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing”. Eckhart Tolle describes this notion as “living in the now”. This all sounds good, but what does it mean in terms of how you live your life every day, you might ask. One way is that when you are mindful of your thoughts, you can change them. No longer do you have to think or respond in the same old habitual way. So being mindful will, as Eckhart Tolle says, lead to living in the now. You can’t be mindful while focusing on what happened yesterday or what might happen later today, tomorrow or next week. And for those who are control freaks that’s good news....by being mindful you have more control over now. By being mindful and in touch with your life as it is in the moment, it is possible to consciously choose what actions you wish to pursue rather than simply reacting mindlessly. How liberating is that? So how do you start being mindful? One minute at a time. Set a time frame and for that time observe yourself; be aware of what you think, what you do and what others around you do. If you have negative thoughts, change them - on the spot. Replace them with something positive. Little by little you can become more and more mindful of your life as you live right now. Life is for living....may you choose to live it now.
Namaste Sue Smith
What’s Developing? Just a half-hour or so south of Tamarindo is the pretty town of Marbella, “the Costa Rica of yesterday”, a typical Tico town and as yet, very unspoiled, though it is well-known to surfers as a long, rugged and beautiful beach that has some very popular surf breaks. This lovely area with its spectacular beaches is waiting to be explored. Situated among forested hills that slope to the wild, unspoiled Pacific beaches, Marbella is on the Pacific Coast Highway, soon to become part of the proposed Ruta del Sol. This will connect up with all the beach towns of Guanacaste and bring more tourists and new development, a much-needed boon to the area. Currently, Jeff Allen, of The Marbella Group, in anticipation of the road’s completion, is developing several projects – Vista Bella, Ruta del Sol and Posada del Sol - all have electricity and water installed with exceptional road systems with great water run off. Additional are Lomas de Marbella, Alemania Waterfall Property. The biggest and most dominant will be Playa Marbella, yet to have infrastructure, which will comprise houses, condominiums, commercial center, a bank, grocery store, offices as well as retail space. The biggest part of this development will be to achieve a full service gas station to service the coast. Currently in the town there are two hotels – Marbella Surf Inn and Cada Luna Hotel – and condominiums are available for rent at The Sanctuary. The towers at Playa Azul are being worked on again and the name is now Pacific Azul Condominiums The recently-opened Tiki Hut Bar and Restaurant serves great food right on Marbella beach. The beach offers world-class surfing, and after long hard surf you can roll up to the bar to have a famous Freaky Tiki cocktail and relax at the beach bar enjoying a great sunset view. Behind the restaurant, nestled quietly in the jungle, is a secluded cabina for rent. There is horseback riding, waterfall tours, massage on the beach, surfboard rentals and surf lessons.
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David Mills
There are a few new housing developments. The Ruta Del Sol Project is really taking shape; this 112-lot development has all amenities including water, electricity and a beautiful clubhouse with a fabulous pool. Another brand-new project is Vista Bella Ecological Estates which has the best views in all of Marbella. Literally looking over the Gold Coast’s Pacific Ocean it has the tallest mountains in the area, from which you see the ocean waves crashing up against the rocks. With all one hundred lots having ocean views, sunsets are stunning. An unbelievable clubhouse is coming soon having the best view on the highest hill in the development and all of Marbella… it’s a one and only site! Posada del Sol Development has over 100 lots with all utilities and has several homes built by the Marbella Group. There is a nice hotel named Cada Luna located in the development. Lomas de Marbella is situated right on the main highway, soon to be the Ruta del Sol. It has a clubhouse and play area and is ideal for families. There is also space for a hotel and commercial center. Lot prices for the above developments start at $20,000. Getting there. From Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, follow the signs for Paraiso, but just after the small town of Río Seco take a left towards Lagarto and Marbella. A few klicks after Lagarto you arrive in Marbella. The office of Marbella Real Estate is on the corner of the soccer field. Contact Marbella Real Estate at 2682-8118, 2682-8116, info@marbellacostarica.com or visit web site at www.marbellacostarica.com. In the United States phone (760) 643-9401 or (760) 685-3749 or e-mail chrisjonescr@aol.com.
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Emergency!
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n May 31, 130 children from local schools participated in an exercise organized by the Comité de Emergencias de Playa Tamarindo y Langosta with help of firemen from San José and the Cruz Roja of Santa Cruz. In three hours of fun and education, the children learned, among other things, how to use a fire extinguisher; to transport an injured person on an improvised stretcher; to treat wounds; to carry water to extinguish a fire; how to avoid bees and wasps; how to act in the presence of smoke. Simona Daniele thanks Hotel Barceló, Hotel Luna Llena, Hotel Jardín del Edén, Hotel Diría, Hotel Best Western Vista Villas, Hotel Capitán Suizo, Hotel Cala Luna, Cabinas Marielos, Supermercado 2001, Automercado, Heroína Rojas, Henry Martínez, Agua Rica, Witch’s Rock, La Florida, Tamasol, Artesanía Arrecife and Bar Pacifico for their assistance. For information contact Secretaria Comite Comunal Emergencia Playa Tamarindo y Langosta at 26530082 - Hotel Luna Llena –lunalle@racsa.co.cr
A Day at the Beach El Coconut Beach Club
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ur cover this month shows El Coconut Beach Club at Playa Potrero. El Coconut Beach Club is a delightful place for a day out, situated right on the beach, ideal for family swimming as there is little or no surf, and it seldom gets crowded.
If the beach is not your choice, the club has a large pool with a children’s area and a variety of water toys. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, opening at 12 noon. The menu has a little something for everyone; Mediterranean salads, Costarrican specialties and a Mexican selection, and there is a big wood barbecue. Choose your steak or fish and it will be cooked to your liking. Fresh seafood dishes are a must try in this location! After lunch relax in the deck chairs on the beach and cool off with a beer or cocktail under the sunshades. Or play bocce, also called petanque; there is a full set of steel balls in the sand pit. Sunday evening El Coconut features live entertainment: local bands such as Los Tres Amigos; Luis Chacón on saxophone; Radha and Amigos; Local Legend; or wellknown groups from San José such as Santa Esperanza or The Blues Devils. Or maybe Pyrodanza, the fabulous fire-dancing group. The show starts at 5 p.m. An hour or so later you will enjoy the amazing sunset over the Bay of Potrero, and it’s time for dinner. El Coconut Beach Club is available for parties, even art exhibitions, and owner Katharina has hosted many weddings, including her brother’s last year, when fifty guests came from Norway and Germany to celebrate the happy event. Katharina will organize everything for a wedding, from music to photographer to catering to accommodation to preacher or lawyer. For details call 2654-4300 or e-mail katharina.elcoconut@gmail.com.
Comet Ison Update Comet Ison (photo), which is being predicted as the “Comet of the Century” is barreling towards us and has passed the orbit of Jupiter. It should pass close to the sun in November and may be extremely bright, maybe even visible in daylight. But comets are notorious for fizzling out, so fingers crossed for this one. Nasa tells us that there is no evil planet hiding behind the comet; that it will not hit the earth; that it will not spray us with deadly gases. So the end-of-the-world loonies can relax. We’ll keep you posted on Ison’s progress.
Photos courtesy Bernard Agosto
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(from page 15)
the W d n o ou
Ar
Surf Report In waves of 2 meters high in Playas Guiones, Nosara, current national surfing champion Gilbert Brown took another swipe at his fourth crown by winning the Copa Kingston date of the Circuito Nacional Olympus 2013. This is the second time this year that the surfer from Puerto Viejo won the #1 spot on the national tour, and he has two other quarterfinals during the year.
NASA has awarded a $125,000 grant to research the feasibility of producing astronauts’ food from a 3-D printer. The printer, fed with nutrients, oils, water and flavours, would “print” a meal layer by layer. Bon appetit! An investigator at Chichester University has found that rock drummers are on a par with professional athletes for exercise. “Blondie” drummer Clem Burke’s heart rate reached 190 per minute during a drum session, said Dr. Marcus Smith, adding that one hour in concert burns 400 to 600 calories. Photo: Alfredo Barquero
public transport #212 i ride the bus because it is not fast i ride the bus because russian ladies talk very loud up front i ride the bus because i sit next to people i would otherwise shun i ride the bus because when i drive i cant carry a gun
by geretta geretta
In this sixth date of the countrywide tournament, the 30-year-old veteran was flawless in the final, where he earned a total of 16, out-surfing Noe Mar McGonagle of Pavones (who found himself in yet another final this year), Anthony Fillingim of Malpais and Luis Vindas of Jacó. Even though McGonagle secured a perfect 10 in the heat, the youngster was unable to gain a good second wave and finished behind Brown when all was said and done. “When you come to the end of the Circuito Nacional, you know you have to win,” said Brown. “All the surfers who reach the quarter finals and onwards will be high quality, and it gets quite tense, but I did my surfing. I started on a high note and the key to the final heat was running only good waves, which I scored well.” (FYI, there were 3 Perfect 10s run in the Copa Kingston. Not only did Noe Mar get one in the finals, but Fillingim snatched a 10 in the second round of the Open, with Cristian Santamaria scoring a 10 in the semifinals of the Longboards, something not seen in the Circuito since it started.) Even though Brown has the 2 wins this year, he is still ranked #4 behind Vindas at #1 and McGonagle at #2, with Jair Peréz maintaining his #3 spot because of his placing #5 in Nosara. For Copa Kingston results, see page Speaking of tight races, Lisbeth Vindas just closed the gap in the Women’s division with her 1st place in Playa Nosara. She just won’t give up the title that easily.
(continued page 29)
The Sting! Beekeepers in Cardiff, Wales, are keeping a sharp lookout after a rash of rustling in which at least ten hives have been stolen. Thousands of fans have signed a petition rejecting the new badge of Everton football club in Liverpool. It is described as amateurish, poorly designed and clownish. A Chinese teen has apologized to the Egyptian people after an internet investigation identified him. He had vandalized 3,500-year-old artwork at Luxor by scrawling “Ding Jinhao was here”. Ecuador’s first space satellite, a ten-centimeter cube called Pegaso, is spinning out of control after a collision with a derelict Russian rocket. Investigators from New Jersey’s alcohol board raided 29 bars, including 12 TGIFs, confiscating 1,000 bottles of liquor. The bars were filling premium brand bottles with cheap liquor, including rubbing alcohol. To solve the problem of forgetting passwords, Motorola has developed an electronic pill, powered by stomach acid, that transmits your identification password to devices such as computers. The company has also developed a tattoo, complete with electronic circuitry, that sticks to the skin and transmits the wearer’s password.
Your Stars in July
Aries: 21 March - 20 April
There’s a big boost of energy in your solar fourth house as Jupiter is in the sign of Cancer for the next year. This placement, along with Saturn going direct in Scorpio on the 7th and Neptune in Pisces can help you expand your home, real estate holdings, relationships with family members and your own self-esteem on a deep emotional level as Jupiter’s blessings are exalted in this sign. Great days for advancement are the 1st, 27th and 28th.
Taurus: 21 April - 21 May
With Saturn going direct on the 7th in Scorpio, opposing your sign, what has been stalled will now start to gain traction. The grand water trine transiting your third, seventh and eleventh houses will help you make the right connections for networking and making your brand known. Those in the mood for partnership can caste a wider net at this time. Earth and water get along well, when not in excess, so more is not necessarily better! Your best days are the 2nd, 3rd, 29th and 30th.
Gemini: 22 May - 21 June
Your ruling planet, Mercury, is in retrograde motion until the 20th so there’s a trial and error cycle with your plans. One needs to test one’s plans to evaluate what works and what doesn’t so this is appropriate now. The water trine is transiting your second, sixth and tenth houses so it’s all about expanding your assets from your work efforts and your public image. Feel free to express your optimism and project positive vibes! Best days for you are the 4th, 5th, 6th and 31st.
Cancer: 22 June - 22 July
Jupiter is in your sign now for the next year so you can expect to see an increase in your popularity and influence. You will also probably want to spend more time with your family during this time or go to a reunion. Don’t get too caught up with the family that you don’t ever leave home—this aspect favors broadening your connections in the world. The new moon on the 7th gives you a boost in confidence! The 7th and 8th are your stellar days.
Leo: 23 July - 23 August
With Venus transiting your sign you are, no doubt, putting additional energy into your appearance. It’s actually an excellent time to get a makeover or wardrobe consultation. Socially you should be very busy though you may have family obligations that dictate what you will be doing with time. With the water trine transiting your fourth, eighth and twelfth houses, there are some serious matters to discuss regarding family. Have some fun on the 9th, 10th and 11th.
Virgo: 24 August - 22 September
Mercury is retrograde until the 20th, giving you an opportunity to evaluate the company you keep or want to keep. You are going for an alignment with your values in matters involving your income stream, friendships, groups and professional network. The water trine transits your third, seventh and eleventh houses which are all about reaching out and including others. The 12th and 13th are favorable for you.
Libra: 23 September - 23 October
There’s a boost of energy coming into your tenth house of profession as Jupiter is in Cancer now for the next year. The water trine transits your second, sixth and tenth houses which are about expanding your exposure and your efforts to increase your income and assets. A surprising offer is likely to come in which could be the next step up for you. Don’t be tempted to live beyond your means to impress anyone. The 14th and 15th are excellent times for you.
Scorpio: 24 October - 22 November
Saturn goes direct on the 7th in your sign, finally giving you some momentum for your drive and ambition. Hopefully you’ve got some rest during this long retrograde period and will be ready for action. The water trine happens in your first, fifth and ninth houses so you might want to make sure your passport is current as Jupiter in your ninth may bring opportunities to travel abroad. Best days are the 16th and 17th.
Sagittarius: 23 November - 21 December
With your ruling planet, Jupiter, now in the sign of Cancer in your solar eighth house, you can profit from investments, receive some kind of inheritance or insurance settlement or tax refund during the next year. Your partner can do quite well financially during this period. You might find yourself being more reclusive and secretive during this time. Don’t isolate completely, let others know what’s going on with you. The 18th, 19th and 20th are your best days this month.
Capricorn: 22 December - 21 January
Your ruling planet, Saturn, goes into direction motion on the 7th in Scorpio, making it possible for you to direct your business activities as desired again. Jupiter, now in Cancer in your seventh house, can attract substantially influential people who want to partner with you. What you thought was impossible now appears to be a reality. Your imagination runs high now and that will win the day. The 21st, and the full moon on the 22nd are your premier days.
Aquarius: 22 January - 19 February
Your ruling planet, Saturn, goes into direct motion on the 7th in Scorpio in your tenth house of profession, making you ready to assume more responsibility. The water trine transits your second, sixth and tenth houses making your dream of more fanciful ways to earn a living. Do a reality check on all your strategies and don’t waste money on get rich schemes as you’ll not manifest much and might risk your reputation. The 23rd and 24th are days to enjoy life.
Pisces: 20 February - 20 March
With Jupiter now in the sign of Cancer in your fifth house you can expect some creativity, fun and adventure in your life. The water trine is transiting your first, fifth and ninth house so travel abroad is a possibility as well as more connections with your children and family. Take precautions about being too trusting of others as you can be deceived at this time too. Make the most of this very positive year. Your best days are the 25th and 26th.
Building a Fair Economy Dan just joined a trading bank. The only requirement of joining the bank is to offer at least one item or service. So, he decided to offer his services as a house painter, at the rate of B4,000 per hour, with the buyer paying for paint and materials. He also offers his home-brewed beer, at the rate of B1,500 per beer. In this trading bank, the currency is not colónes, but rather a unit called a ‘beneficio’, where one beneficio equals the value of one colón. Janet, another member of the trading bank, needs the outside of her small home painted, so she looks through the list of ‘offerings’ on the trading bank website, and finds Dan through his house painting offer. She calls him and they agree upon a date for him to do the work. He spends eight hours on the job, and Janet is very happy about the fresh paint. When Dan gets home, he logs onto the trading bank website and enters in the transaction, crediting his account with the 32,000 beneficios he earned for the day’s work. This debits the same amount from Janet’s account, which she has built up from selling her homemade goat cheese through the trading bank. With his newly earned beneficios, Dan decides to see if anyone is offering a used bicycle, which he’s been wanting. He goes through the list of offerings on the trading bank site, and doesn’t see any bicycles. So, he puts a listing in the ‘wants’ section, and he makes sure to put the word for bicycle in both English and Spanish, as some of the members of this trading bank are Spanish-speakers. In a few days, he receives an e-mail from another trading bank member named Juan, who says he has a used mountain bike for sale, for 40,000 beneficios. Perfect, thinks Dan. So he meets with Juan, and gets the bike. The bicycle needs some work, but because he didn’t have to spend any conventional money to get the bike, he can use some of his own colónes from his job as a waiter to buy some new parts and fix it up. When he next logs into his trading bank account, he sees that Juan has entered the exchange for the bike, and now Dan’s account shows he is 8,000 beneficios in debit. Also, in his email inbox, he just received a request from another trading bank member looking to do an exchange for a case of his home brew. Thus the cycle continues… If this sounds intriguing, you will be excited to know this is now a real possibility! I am proud to announce that Guanacaste is home to Costa Rica’s first community exchange, called the Gold Coast Trading Bank (GCTB). We are part of a global network, called the Community Exchange System (CES). The trading bank functions through an easy-to-use web interface that keeps track of trading transactions. All your questions and more can be answered on the CES website, www.community-exchange.org. Signing up for the GCTB is also found there; simply click on Costa Rica. Also, I am happy to answer any and all questions you may have, please don’t hesitate to contact me at gctbexchange@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
by Claire Lipton
Now Begins the Study of Yoga Ardha Chandrasana In last month’s Howler, we focused on triangle pose. So this month, I’ll take you into a pose that is perfect to flow into after triangle. Ardha Chandrasana is translated into English as Half-moon Pose. It is a balance pose, with most of your weight supported on one leg. Balance poses are great for building strength and focus, and for also looking at how we react when we fall out of balance. Do we struggle, or can we breathe into what is happening? So much of what happens when we are on the mat is a reflection of what happens off our mat in our daily lives. So as you work with this pose, pay careful attention to your thoughts and emotions to learn about how you balance your life. To do this pose, first come into triangle, or Trikonasana, with your right foot forward. After 3-5 breaths in triangle, bring your left arm down, shorten your stance, and as you inhale bend your right leg. With an exhale, lift and straighten your right leg, stack your left hip on top of your right and extend your left leg back. Lightly place your right hand either onto a brick or on the floor directly under your right shoulder and extend your left arm up above your right.
Beginners will find this pose easier to do against a wall for support. Look either directly forward, or for more advanced students, turn your gaze up towards your left thumb. As you stay in this pose for 5 breaths, feel the grounding in the big toe mound and inner heel of your right foot balanced with lifting your inner arch up through the inner thigh. Extend your tailbone towards your back heel, and lightly tuck it as you draw in and up from just below your belly button. Imagine that you are shining your luminosity just like the moon, radiating out through your spine and limbs. Can you find the balance of ease and effort in each breath? To come out of the pose, begin to bend your right knee, and step back into triangle, then push into your right foot as you lift your torso back up to standing. Turn your feet towards the long side of your mat, and then turn them out in the other direction to do your Half-moon on the other side. While you strengthen your legs, ankles, and core in Ardha Chandrasana, you also open your hips and chest. As you find your phsyical balance, keep awareness inside of how to bring better balance into the rest of your life.
Namaste, Mary Mary Byerly is one of the owners and the yoga teacher at Panacea. An oasis of tranquility and health 10 minutes from Tamarindo. Discover Paradise and Bring a Peace Home www.panaceacr.com • 2653-8515
A Slice of Life Keeping Abreast of Fashion
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ay back in the Dark Ages, during my teen years, I had a favourite aunt, Beatrice, who lived in London. Aunt Bee was beautiful, glamorous, red-headed and sophisticated, unlike we country bumpkins. She worked at a new boutique in Chelsea, named Bazaar, owned by one Mary Quant. Dear Mary had apparently set her aim to making men happy with fashion innovations, the first of which was the mini-skirt, driving men crazy nation-wide (later world-wide). Her advanced creations made Chelsea the fashion centre of Britain. During that time I was Fighting on Freedom’s Front, collecting the Queen’s 28 shillings a week to protect the monarch and her subjects. From my bomber base close to London, it was an easy bus ride to The Smoke for a weekend among the jazz clubs, the fleshpots of Soho and a Saturday afternoon visit to my aunt at Bazaar, who introduced me to many gorgeous Dolly Birds, all in mini skirts. Another Mary Quant contribution to men’s happiness was the “invention” of the braless look, again delighting millions of men, as nipples were on show everywhere. We are happy to see that this fashion has persisted to the present day. (Ironically, the putative feminist movement, protesting domination by men, started a “Ban the Bra” movement. Germaine Greer said: “there can be no liberation for women as long as we are required to cram our breasts into bras constructed like miniVesuviuses, two stitched white cantilevered cones which bear no resemblance to the female anatomy”. This initiative, of course, backfired because men were avid supporters of it.) A close friend, Bob, was a salesman for Exquisite Form, maker of women’s undergarments. Shortly after the braless fashion started, Bob received a cardboard box from his head office. Inside were hundreds of pink disks, flat on one side, convex and pointed on the other, and a tube of adhesive cement. His instructions were to visit every one of his clients and stick nipples on all their store mannequins to simulate the “natural” look. “I’m just keeping abreast of fashion trends,” explained Bob.
Doctor’s Orders
Surf Report (from page 22)
Jeffrey Whitlow, M.D. jwhitlow82159@gmail.com
Heredity This month, I would like to talk about the word heredity, how poorly the average person understands that term, and how it is used as an excuse for those who are too lazy, weak, or unmotivated to make the necessary changes to their lifestyle to achieve and maintain good health. Two recent incidents have prompted me to write on this topic. Recently I met a gentleman who was about my age, that being early 50s, and slightly built. He told me he was taking cholesterol medicine. I asked him how could it be that a man who appeared to be in pretty good shape was on a medication that I would associate with obesity. He said “heredity”. My sister is in a hospital in Houston, Texas, as I am writing this. She is morbidly obese and has multiple health problems, including severe diabetes. The doctors have told her that they will have to amputate one of her feet, but she is in total denial, as she has been since her foot and leg first turned black several years ago. I was talking to my mom about it, and she said the doctors had told her that it was “heredity”. In the first case, I gave the gentlemen a CD with copies of all of the columns I have written for The Howler, along with a copy of my first book. Essentially he said I had wasted my time because, in his opinion, there was nothing he could do about his condition. He sincerely believed that changing his diet would not be helpful and he wouldn’t even consider reading the material or taking any of my advice. In the second case, I pointed out to my mother that if “heredity” was indeed to blame, then my brother and I should have the same problems as my sister. Our father had a massive heart attack at 35 and was a cardiac cripple until he died at 70. His brother, our uncle, died of a massive heart attack at age 38. Their father, my paternal grandfather, died of lung cancer and also had heart problems. My other sister, my sick sister’s twin, is also hypertensive, diabetic and arthritic, but my brother and I are healthy and on no meds. The difference is that my brother and I are not obese, we don’t smoke, and we don’t drink excessively. My father was 60 pounds overweight, and he smoked three packs a day. His brother was 120 pounds overweight and he smoked also. My grandfather was not obese, but he was a heavy smoker and a chronic alcoholic. My sisters are both at least 150 pounds overweight, they both smoke, and the sister who is losing her leg is also a chronic alcoholic. The genes you inherit certainly have an effect. I’m sure that if I smoked and if I were 50 pounds or more overweight then I would have heart problems, just like my father and uncle. My mother is diabetic, even though she is in relatively decent shape for a woman of almost 80 years, and my sisters have followed in her footsteps. However, those genes are certainly not an absolute determinant of your life’s outcome. That point is proven by my, and my brother’s, medical history, or lack thereof, compared to our closest male forebears. So instead of using your heredity as an excuse to engage in foolish or lazy behavior, use it as a motivation to do the right things. Don’t drink or smoke to excess, don’t use “hard” drugs, exercise regularly, and eat whole, natural foods. Why people find those things so hard to do is one of life’s great mysteries.
Here’s how the ladies category plays out. Leilani McGonagle (Pavones) has 3 First Place wins and 3 third place finishes including the one from Nosara, which just gives her a slight edge over the 10-times champion from Jacó, Vindas, who has three 1st place wins, two 3rd place podium visits and a 5th place finish. There are still 2 more dates on this the Circuito Nacional for the championship to play out. These include Esterillos Oeste on June 22 and 23, and then the Gran Finals in Hermosa on July 26 through 28. Remember, the competitors only need to tally up points from their 6 best performances.
Copa Kingston Results May 25, 26 Playa Guiones, Nosara Open 1) Gilbert Brown 2) Noe Mar McGonagle 3) Anthony Filligim 4) Luis Vindas
Boys 1) Leonardo Calvo 2) Leon Glatzer 3) Leilani McGonagle 4) Malakai Martinez (Tam)
Juniors 1) Noe Mar McGonagle 2) Jeson Mora (Jacó) 3) Leonardo Calvo (Jacó) 4) Leon Glatzer (Jacó)
MiniGrommets 1) Malakai Martinez 2) Dean Vandewalle (Tam) 3) Jacob Kelly 4) Sage Guinaldo
Women 1) Lisbeth Vindas 2) Emily Gussoni (Jacó) 3) Leilani McGonagle 4) Paula Duarte
Longboard 1) Cristian Santamaria (Jacó) 2) Anthony Flores (Jacó) 3) Adolfo Gomez(Jacó) 4) Alex Gomez (Jacó)
Women’s Junior 1) Leilani McGonagle 2) Emily Gussoni 3) Malia Vandewalle (Tam) 4) Katie Herman (Tam) Costa Rica is still very well represented in the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Surfistas Profesionales (ALAS) Reef Classic dates. In two-meter waves at the Reef Classic Panama in Santa Catalina this past May, Filligim made an excellent showing: Not only did the youngster end up on the Open podium in 2nd place after a heavily combative final, but he surfed so well while competing in the Juniors category that he took the whole thing and won 1st place.
In Junior, Fillingim was awarded the trophy after winning enough points to leaving his compatriot, Noe Mar McGonagle, behind at 2nd place. In the Longboard, Ticos also made a nice showing with Anthony Flores coming in 3rd, behind the two Venezulans Carlos Rivas at 1st, and Ronald Reyes at 2nd. But when the Costa Rican contingent got to the Reef Classic Mexico in El Camaron – Mazatlan in early June, Fillingim exploded with a double win. First he won the Open against whom ALAS called “the most radical athletes on the tour.” These included Venezula’s Jesus Chacon, Costa Rica’s Torres and Mexico’s Diego Cadena. At the same time, Fillingim competed once again in the Junior heats and won 1st place again facing the Mexican local Johnny Corzo (2nd) , Brazilian Caina Barletta (3rd) and Mexican Sasha Donnanno (4th). “I’m super happy to get back to winning the Junior and taking the Open,” explained Fillingim. “It was quite a day and I’m very tired. I was in the quarter finals and the semi for the Open, and passed both, then I went to get my lycra, and went back inside for the Junior final, rested a bit and entered the Open final. But still Il did not stop giving all of me and I left as the two category winner. This score brings me closer to the top in both divisions and I hope to keep adding to get the ALAS title.” Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, ALAS had not updated the rankings to include the Mexican date, so I’ll let you know them next month. Or you can go to www.alaslatintour.com. One of our most important surfers in Tamarindo is Federico Pilurzu. Not only is he a former national surfing champion, he spent years on the ASP WQS representing Costa Rica. And, when not surfing and running the Cala Luna Hotel in Langosta, he is volunteering his time to help the area kids at-risk with surf lessons and local contests. So it is with great pride that I report, belatedly, that Pilurzu surfed to #7 in the world at the Reef International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG) last May in Plata Santa Catalina, in Panama. He was surfing for Italy, the country where he was born, but we couldn’t be prouder of his results.
That’s all I’ve got. Looking forward to hearing what you think. Keep those emails coming at EllenZoe@aol.com. Send your comments, information, errors or praise, because I can’t do this column without you, the real surfers.
Surviving
C hapter MDCCCXVI
COSTA RICA
F
Through the Looking Glass My Column About Texas
or the seven or eight of you out there that actually read this column you may have noticed the continuing theme of not being prepared to write this month’s “Surviving Costa Rica”, usually for lack of subject matter or motivation. Upon returning from a recent trip to Texas my esteemed editor, my suffering wife and several of the aforementioned readers all remarked that I finally had something to devote a column to.
and everyone speaks English. Susan and I had lived there twenty-five years before relocating way further south and May is one of the nicest times of year weatherwise. I was looking forward to seeing old friends and playing some music, etc.
I had actually been planning to write about the various pairs of shoes I have worn in Costa Rica over the years, but I felt it necessary to yield to the demands of my public and immediate family.
I had to get me some real Tex-Mex Food. My main man Woodie Ray Lawson picked me up at the Corpus Christi SemiInternational Airport and whisked me into Port Aransas where I soon found myself seated at the San Juan Tacquería, feasting on chips and salsa, sipping on a frozen margarita and waiting for the number 13 Tex-Mex Extravaganza plate while watching Fox news on strategically placed HD Televisions. I was in Heaven. I have been careful not to refer to my Tex-Mex craving as “Mexican Food” as it is not usually found in that country that is located about four and a half hours away. In North Mexico grilled goat is the specialty and wealthy matrons compete for the delicacy of scooping out the cooked brains served in the head on fine china.
About eight months ago I received an email from friends in Port Aransas, Texas, asking if I’d return to host the Thirtieth Annual Port Aransas Songwriters Showcase, an event I started three decades ago but hadn’t been in attendance since my migration to Costa Rica. It had been ten years since I gave up the hosting duties but since it was the Big Thirty coming up I agreed to make the trip, my first time out of Costa Rica in three years, not counting forced marches to Nicaragua. I immediately made internet tickets for the event eight months down the line hoping I could find some killer deals, which I didn’t. I got my best deal out of San José and figured I’d work out what to do when the time came. Eight months later the time came, I ended up long-term parking my car at a hotel in Alajuela that dropped me off at the airport the next morning and, after almost freezing to death in the Juan Santamaría International Airport terminal, I made it on to the plane. So far so good. I was excited about going back to Port A, a pretty happening tourist town on an island off the South Texas coast, kind of like Tamarindo except there are no Argentinians
But I was really going back to indulge a craving I couldn’t fulfill in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, or for that matter just about the whole world.
Tex-Mex came about locally but I betch’a it’s what most people in the other fortynine states think of as Mexican food. Eating at the San Juan brought back memories of the last time I was there about five years earlier. As the food and drinks were arriving we noticed that the strategically placed TVs were reporting an 800-point drop in the Dow, something that up to that point was not supposed to be able to happen, and as we sipped our margaritas we watched the beginning of the near collapse of the world economy. Ah….. memories! Eventually I got around to the musical things at hand. In the past I was the show-
Tom Peifer (peifer@racsa.co.cr)
Story by Jesse Bishop (owlhumm@hotmail.com)
case organizer and did all the leg work like finding the performers, arranging for the sound system and setting up security. Stuff like that. As the special guest I didn’t have to do anything but show up and start babbling, something I excel at. It was decided that I’d be playing a lot of the tunes with my old band “The Dynamics”, the aforementioned Woody and Debbie Dault the drummer. I’ve mentioned in this column before that Deb was playing with us into her eighth month of pregnancy, enabling us to make the claim we were the only Rock and Roll band in Texas with a pregnant drummer. Her daughter is now twenty-one. At the practice it soon became obvious that I’d forgotten how to play several of my own songs I hadn’t performed in several years, at first a little embarrassing but like riding a bicycle they soon came back. The Songwriters Showcase was held Sunday night May 19th and was deemed to be a success. There were about fourteen songwriters throughout the night and not a bum in the bunch. When yours truly went on, the sound and lights went out after my first song, causing me to ad-lib from the stage to anyone within hearing distance. Eventually power was restored, only to go off again during the Dynamics set, again eventually restored, after which it stayed on. The final act was my friend and protégé Lela Caldwell and her band “Purple Laser Monkeys”, consisting of her, her guitar and her computer. Things up to that point seemed to be going just a little too perfectly, but thanks to the inept dawdling of American Eagle, the American Airline partner for Corpus Christi, I missed my connection to Costa Rica by five minutes. I was able to fly out the next day and fortunately there was a fabulous Tex-Mex restaurant down the road from my hotel in Dallas to soothe my sorrows.
Oh what a tangled web we weave….. (Sir Walter Scott) It’s like déjà vu all over again. For anyone who wasn’t so drugged out and asleep at the wheel during the political and social ferment of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, these lyrics resonated deeply with your personal experiences at the time. There’s something happening in here, What it is ain’t exactly clear… Paranoia strikes deep, Into your life it will creep. Starts when you’re always afraid Step outta’ line, the Man comes And takes you away. OK, so now it’s like flashback time. You don’t even have to step out of line, ‘cause we now know that “the Man”, may in fact, be listening to you on the phone, checking out your doings on You Tube, looking at what you searched for on Google, etc., etc., etc., across the spectrum of information technologies that we use every day. The guy who caused all the recent, high-tech hullabaloo, 29-year-old Edward Snowden, worked for the NSA through a private contractor firm until hightailing it for Hong Kong just as his massive ‘dump’ hit the political fan. Barack Obama was in the process of berating the Chinese over their evil intrusions into US cyber affairs when the whistle blew in a series of articles published by The Guardian in the U.K. Turns out the US has been hacking into the Chinese networks big-time, for a long time, thereby besmirching the smiling, sincere image of transparency that Obama has polished to perfection. Actions speak louder than words, they say, and according to Snowden, he leaked classified details about U.S. surveillance programs because Obama worsened “abusive” practices instead of curtailing them as he promised as a candidate. Obama, worthy of note, former professor of Constitutional law, currently operating as the head surgeon in charge of eviscerating the Fourth Amendment which guarantees: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Subsequent to the release there has been a fascinating series of analysis. Here are some tidbits. The Second amendment, the “right to bear arms,” has a fiercely loyal corporate sponsor, the firearms industry with their loyal
lapdog the NRA. The Fourth amendment does not enjoy such corporate patronage. The government put up the defense that they were only looking at the patterns of messages, and not the contents. This position was refuted by a mathematician and former analyst at a major computer-networking firm. Patterns provide plenty of information, she argued, that can be deployed, not only in the prevention of terrorism, but to facilitate insider trading in the financial world, provide damaging personal details to apply leverage on politicians, etc. One example. It turns out the Bush administration was tapping the phone of Hans Blix, the “arms of mass destruction” inspector from the UN, sent to Iraq prior to the US invasion. The information obtained was used to smear Blix in the US media and undercut his credibility. The capacity for mining the bonanza of digital data is beyond the wildest wet dreams of legendary FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover. Entrenched in power for decades and largely untouchable, Hoover deployed legions of gumshoes on 24-hour surveillance to accumulate reams of damaging personal anecdotes which served to silence critics and ensure support on Capitol Hill. The view through the all-seeing overlook afforded by the Prism program is that a handful of nerds like Snowden, sitting at well-connected workstations, can cast the cyber dragnet and select the juiciest morsels of data for whatever creepy task is afforded priority. Just as in the days of Hoover, control over politicians was mentioned as a logical possibility in one of the most recent Op-ed pieces. Avid Howler aficionados might recall a previous article, in which I looked at the contrast between visions of the future: George Orwell’s omnipresent, intrusive and repressive Big Brother vs. Aldous Huxley’s dystopian world of drugs, operant conditioning, corporate tyranny and a sheep-like populace which comes to “love the instruments of domination.” It now looks like we get to enjoy ‘the best of both worlds.’ Face it. We are all hooked on the obvious advantages and downright marvels of modern Internet, wireless and satellitebased communications technology. Yet now more than ever, the inconvenient truth is staring us in the face. (continued page 32)
Through the Looking Glass
(from page 31)
The fact is, oversight and control of all this stuff can be used to monitor, mess with you, intrude into your life and, in the case of drones locking into cell phone signals, eliminate those who “step out of line” and are perceived as threats to “National Security.”
J u l y ( a l l
t i m e s
Interestingly enough, latest polls in the US show that a majority of Americans tends to agree with the government, that Edward Snowden, the whistleblower, is guilty of treason. They seem to be convinced that there’s a latent danger of a shoe bomber on every plane or an Al Qaeda operative lurking in the food court at the local mall. That the intrusive surveillance state apparatus is like a security blanket with all its cuddly and protective connotations.
2 0 1 3 l o c a l )
As to the people in the US, perhaps too busy watching reality shows, or keeping up their life styles in a dying empire, trying to understand why they can so easily overlook the whole affair, these words are worth remembering:
Sun
1st - rise 5:26; set 6:09 15th - rise 5:29; set 6:09* 31st - rise 5:33; set 6:07
Naturally, the common people don’t want war, neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood…(however) the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. (Reichsmarschall Hermann Wilhelm Goering, founder of the Gestapo.)
* latest sunset of year - 12th at 6:09 New: 1st quarter: Full: Last quarter:
Moon
8th 15th 22nd 29th
RAINFALL - May/June 2013
10 8
m
6
s
Cynics might argue that the good news of the permanent war footing in which the US now finds itself is the positive effect on a struggling economy. Call it job creation across the spectrum of the Global War on Terror. There’s always a need for a ‘few good men’—and women of course - to outmaneuver, shoot and, of course, spy on all enemies of the republic, both foreign and domestic. Leaving the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was queried as to what type of government was in store for the thirteen former colonies. He marked “A Republic, madam, if you can keep it.” That could now be seen as an increasingly doubtful proposition.
RAIN GAUGE
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1:14 a.m. 9:18 p.m. 12:16 p.m. 11:43 a.m.
Maricle Meteorological Observatory Villarreal de Santa Cruz Total rainfall: 40.6 cm (16 inches)
4 2 0 16
20
25
May
Year-to-date 2013: 44.0 cm 2012: 8.2
31 1
5
10
June
Rainfall May/June 2013: 40.6 cm 2012: 8.2
15
Tom Peifer is an ecological land use consultant with 18 years experience in Guanacaste. 2658-8018. peifer@racsa.co.cr El Centro Verde is dedicated to researching and promoting sustainable land use, permaculture and environmentally sound development. www.elcentroverde.org/
The Howler Magazine Serving the Gold Coast of Costa Rica www.howlermag.com Tel: 2654-0545
See? There is a green flash. La Liga training camp on Tamarindo Beach Liga coach Mauricio “El Chunche” Montero with bartender Didier “Pañia” Pizarro in Villarreal.
Gallery Photos: David Mills
Look! I signed the road contract
Thirsty work, this governing Stormy Tamarindo sunset
Word puzzle Miscellany
All words from the list below can be found in the word block on the right. Answers may be forward, backward, upwards, downwards and diagonal. annually aumento borracho button carretera catastrophe colon communicate ejecutivo extricate founding futura highway inauguracion increible
invertir mesonero mezcla palabra pensar pertain pugilism reunion servicio suddenly taller tantalus televisora tension waitress
Ready to start work on the road La Liga training camp on Tamarindo Beach
1M
2T
3W
4T
5F
6S
02:41 09:10 15:26 21:40 03:39 10:09 16:29 22:43 04:40 11:07 17:30 23:44 05:39 12:03 18:26
1.0 8.8 1.3 7.7 1.5 8.4 1.6 7.4 1.9 8.2 1.6 7.3 2.1 8.2 1.5
00:40 06:35 12:54 19:15
7.4 10W 2.1 8.2 1.3
7S
8M New Moon 9T
01:31 07:25 13:40 19:59 02:15 08:10 14:23 20:39 02:56 08:51 15:03 21:17 03:35 09:30 15:42 21:53 04:12 10:09 16:21 22:28
7.6 2.0 8.4 1.1 7.9 1.7 8.5 0.8 8.2 1.5 8.7 0.6 8.4 1.3 8.8 0.5 8.7 1.1 8.8 0.4
11T
12F
13S
14S
15M 1st Qtr
JULY TIDE CHART
04:49 10:47 16:58 23:04 05:25 11:25 17:36 23:39 06:02 12:04 18:15
8.8 16T 1.0 8.7 0.4 8.8 17W 1.0 8.6 0.6 8.8 18T 1.0 8.3
00:16 06:40 12:45 18:56 00:56 07:21 13:30 19:41
0.7 19F 8.7 1.1 8.1 1.0 20S 8.7 1.2 8.8
01:40 08:08 14:21 20:33 02:31 09:01 15:17 21:33 03:29 10:01 16:20 22:39 04:34 11:06 17:25 23:46 05:42 12:10 18:28
1.2 8.6 1.3 7.6 1.4 8.5 1.4 7.5 1.5 8.5 1.3 7.6 1.4 8.7 1.0 7.9 1.2 9.0 0.5
21S
22M Full Moon 23T
24W
25T
00:49 06:47 13:10 19:27 01:47 07:48 14:07 20:22 02:41 08:45 15:01 21:14 03:33 09:38 15:53 22:03 04:23 10:29 16:43 22:51
8.5 0.8 9.4 0.0 9.1 0.3 9.8 -0.5 9.7 -0.1 10.1 -0.9 10.1 -0.4 10.3 -1.0 10.4 -0.6 10.2 -1.0
26F
27S
28S
29M Last Qtr 30T
05:12 11:19 17:32 23:38 06:00 12:09 18:21
10.4 31W -0.4 9.9 -0.6 10.1 1T -0.1 Aug 9.4
00:26 06:49 12:59 19:12 01:14 07:40 13:51 20:05 02:05 08:33 14:47 21:03
-0.1 2F 9.7 -0.4 8.7 0.5 3S 9.2 0.9 8.1 1.2 4S 8.6 1.4 7.5
03:00 09:30 15:48 22:06 04:00 10:29 16:52 23:11 05:05 11:30 17:53
1.8 8.1 1.8 7.1 2.2 7.8 1.9 7.0 2.4 7.7 1.9
00:11 06:06 12:25 18:46 01:04 07:00 13:15 19:33
7.1 2.4 7.8 1.7 7.4 2.2 8.0 1.3