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Library Project Inaugurated In Alajuela
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Citizens in Alajuela, northwest of San José, have computers, books and other resources at their disposal thanks to a library project launched by the Culture Ministry in coordination with the Public Education Ministry and the Alajuela Municipality, according to a statement from the Culture Ministry.
Twenty “virtual libraries” were inaugurated at a ceremony Friday at the Alajuela Institute attended by Public Education Minister Leonardo Garnier, Culture Minister María Elena Carballo, Alajuela Mayor Cecilia Aguilar and National Libraries System director Margarita Rojas.
These 20 libraries are located inside elementary and high schools, technical schools and the Alajuela branch of the National Training Institute (INA). Data bases, computers with Internet access and librarians are among resources the facilities offer.
Each library is each geared toward a different public, said Culture Ministry spokeswoman Mauren Herrera.
“The libraries each have a different focus, but the important thing is that they are there for people to use,” Herrera said.
The idea for the Virtual Library project was born in 2002, when the ministries and the Alajuela Municipality joined together to develop a project to “bring technology and information more within the public's reach,” the statement said.
Channel 14 Cameraman Shot and Killed
Cristhian Hernández, a cameraman for Channel 14 News, was stabbed to death early Saturday morning in front of a night club in Ciudad Quesada, in north-central Costa Rica, according to the daily La Nación.
Hernández, 30, suffered several stab wounds to his chest, stomach, back and both arms, the daily reported. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died at 10 a.m. Saturday after undergoing an emergency surgery.
Friends and family members suspect Hernández, who successfully underwent drug rehabilitation last year, was killed by drug dealers he could have captured on film while working.
“His death shows that there are evil people who do not allow someone to search for a better life,” Channel 14 news director Karla Herrera told La Nación, adding that “resentment, envy and threats” could have motivated those who stabbed Hernández.
Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) have arrested one person identified by the last name Guzmán suspected of being involved in the killing.
-Tico Times
Central America Likely to Experience
More
Rain than Usual in Coming Months
Parts of Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica will likely be affected by abnormally heavy rains in the upcoming months, while Nicaragua will experience less precipitation than usual, according to Central American Hydroelectric Resources Committee coordinator Patricia Ramírez.
During September and October, two hurricanes are expected to form in the Caribbean, which will result in an increase in rains along the southern coast and central region of Guatemala, the western part of El Salvador and the northern region of Honduras.
In Costa Rica, the northern Pacific region will likely be the area most affected, while the central and eastern regions of Panama will also receive more rain than normal.
The only areas likely to see less-than-average rainfall are Costa Rica's Caribbean coast and Nicaragua's southern Caribbean, central and northern regions.
National Emergencies Commission (CNE) director Alexander Solís said these forecasts are an important tool for preventive work in communities.
“Having this information allows us to work on early warning systems and better distribute resources for relief and reconstruction in countries where natural disasters cause destruction each year,” Solís said.
-ACAN-EFE
Growth of Gas Consumption
Decreases During First Half of Year
Sales of gasoline during the first six months of 2006 grew 0.15%, marking a “slowing down of consumption,” according to a statement from the National Oil Refinery (RECOPE).
From January to June, Costa Ricans consumed 2,618,128 barrels of petroleum, just 4,013 barrels more than they consumed during the same period in 2005, the statement said.
Additionally, sales of super gasoline decreased 13.49%, from 979,271 barrels during the first half of 2005 to 847,168 barrels during the first half of this year.
This slowing down in the increase of gas consumption is a result of constant increases in the price of petroleum during the past several months, which have forced consumers to conserve gas and opt for regular gas over super, the statement said.
The demand for regular gasoline increased 8.32%, while the demand for diesel increased 8.24%.
“It is obvious that people are switching from super gasoline to regular, which is a direct effect of skyrocketing international gas prices,” RECOPE president José León said. “We hope that consumption … continues to decrease,” León added.
-ACAN-EFE
Annexation of Guanacaste Holiday Celebrated
Today, Pilgrimage to Cartago Under Way
Costa Ricans around the country today are celebrating the annexation of the northwestern Guanacaste province, and government offices, many businesses and the U.S. Embassy and Consulate are closed today in observance of the holiday. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate will reopen to the public with their normal office hours, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., tomorrow.
Additionally, devout Catholic Costa Ricans from around the country have begun their annual pilgrimage to visit the country's patron saint, Nuestra Señora de los Angeles (Our Lady of the Angeles), in the old colonial capital of Cartago, east of San José, Wednesday.
Those making the journey will be walking along main roads leading to Cartago, and drivers should use extra caution, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.
-Tico Times
‘Superman Returns’ Sinks Faster than a Speeding Bullet
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Finally, the last son of Krypton is back to fight for justice – Superman flies again. Directed by Bryan Singer, “Superman Returns” is based on a vague history established in “Superman” (1978) and “Superman II” (1980), starring the late Christopher Reeve.
After several years away from Earth, Superman returns to a world that apparently doesn’t need his help anymore; even his beloved Lois Lane has moved on to a new relationship and has a son. Only his nemesis Lex Luthor – played in a big way by Kevin Spacey – recently released from prison, refuses to forget his hated enemy. Now Superman must adjust to this new reality and stop an evil plan that could destroy Earth – sound familiar?
It took Hollywood a long time to bring this mega project to fruition; rumors about the actors and scripts circulated throughout the Internet and on entertainment news sources until Warner Bros. Studios finally put together a remarkable group of people to bring back the man of steel.
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New Man of Steel: Unknown Brandon Routh dons the red cape in “Superman Returns.” |
The performances are fine, but not great. The unknown Brandon Routh, who quit his job as a waiter to don the blue uniform and red cape, won’t disappoint fans as an acceptable Superman. Kate Bosworth, on the other hand, is never believable as the workaholic journalist Lois Lane. However, Oscar winner Kevin Spacey definitively transmits the essence of the fiendish Lex Luthor – if it were true that a movie is as good as its villain, this one would have been a smash. And the late Marlon Brando returns from the grave as Jor-EL, Superman’s father, thanks to archive footage and computer technology to recreate Brando’s voice.
Though Singer has experience directing successful big-screen comic-book adaptations, such as “X-Men,” it would seem that the setting of Metropolis did little to inspire his creativity, because he never achieves the magic that captivated audiences in the 1980s films starring the late Christopher Reeve. With a weak plot lacking any originality, the movie offers nothing new, neither in the story nor in the action scenes. The last minutes of the film look like a cheap soap opera and seem an unfortunate way to close a movie that promised to be an epic film – a promise that ended up broken.
However, as long as Hollywood needs something to rescue the box office, it’s likely we will continue to see sequels of this profitable franchise. Let’s hope they find different and new ideas with which to deliver them to us.
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