The first 250,000 new cell lines are already sold.  People who are on the waiting list with a number less that 250,000 may take their phone starting Monday, December 5th to the ICE agencies to get their chip and activate the line.  If you don’t have a phone, you may purchase one at an authorized distributor and have it activated immediately. 

The most popular brands are Nokia and Motorola.  Prices of the most popular phones run from $300 to $350 with tax included.  The next block of 250,000 will go on sale in January, when the SIM chips arrive from the manufacturer. An additional 100,000 lines will be available later in February or March.

In a fascinating protest a cut above the usual marches and roadblocks, a group of UCR (University of Costa Rica)
 students washed a giant Costa Rican flag in the water fountain next to Mall San Pedro, La Fuente de la Hispanidad. 

Upset about the acts of corruption by public officials (the IDA land scam, Caja-Fischel and ICE-Alcatel cases), by treaties that put the people at a disadvantage (CAFTA), at bureaucrats who put themselves first and to remind Costa Ricans of their values and ideals, university students tried to cleanse a giant flag in a symbolic act on Friday.

In the activity, called "Let’s Wash the Flag", the flag was lowered from the overpass into the fountain, and then the students jumped into the cold water (with clothes) and began to wash the flag.  The artistic protest proved that you don’t need riot police and blockades to make a point.  Traffic was stopped as fascinated drivers and passerby gawked at the activity.

A flyer passed out during the activity stated: " Today we wash the flag to purify its energy and express our disgust, as is our right.  We wash the flag because it is the duty of everyone, as a symbol that the fight against those who would ignore, dirty and discredit Costa Rica continues. Everyone has a duty to fight, to be responsible for the fight.

Costa Rica has converted itself into a country that negotiates treaties that will do it no good, and from a position of the weaker party. Negotiations yield, authorize and permit things that favor only a few within the country, leaving many out.  While most Costa Ricans stand by waiting for the worst to happen and doing nothing. "

In May of 2006 the Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers franchise will open its first location in Costa Rica on Central Avenue. Plans are to open 15 locations within 5 years. Costa Rican Luis Alfaro is the franchise holder for Costa Rica, he currently manages 10 stores in Iowa and Illinois.

Most of the items sold will be imported, although the company is negotiating with local companies to provide the beef and chicken. Wendy’s already operates in Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala. The total investment here is projected to be $15 million.

The sub director of the Transit Police, Huanelge Gutiérrez, announced that as of December 16^th, when the majority of public institutions go on vacation, the police will increase controls over the use of official vehicles by public employees.

So far in 2005, police have ticketed 65 drivers for using official vehicles for unauthorized purposes. The principal reason is for driving after office hours without permission. Other reasons are speeding, driving with unauthorized persons, accidents and driving in a state of pre-intoxication. The leading institution is the ICE (Costa Rican Institute of Elecricity), followed by A y A (water and sewage).

The subdirector also announced that the alcohol level tests will be performed during the day during Christmas and New Year. 750 officers will be patrolling throughout the country in an effort to prevent accidents. From now until December 25^th, they will concentrate on assisting with the flow of traffic, catching speeders, special operatives to detect drunk drivers, enforcing the use of seat belts, and the proper use of cell phones while driving. After the 25^th, the officers will concentrate on controls on the highways to the main vacation spots.

In theory, the nearly 3 decade wait is over! The Comptroller General has authorized the highway concession to Autopistas del Sol, in substitution of Concesiones Viales (Covisa). The road will cost approximately $150 million and will run from La Sabana Park to Puerto Caldera near Puntarenas. The concession consists of rehabilitation, improvements, construction, operation and conservation for a period of 25 years on the 76.8 kilometers of highway. Work is to begin in the middle of 2006.

The first stage is La Sabana to Ciudad Colón, this highway already exists, but needs widening in some places and repairs in others. The second phase is Ciudad Colón-Orotina, which is a brand new section that has been planned for over 25 years. The last stretch is between Orotina-Caldera, which is a turnoff point for vehicles going to Jacó. The new roadway is expected to cut the travel time between San José and Puntarenas by 1 hour. Vehicles should be able to travel consistently at between 80and 100 kilometers per hour.

The consortium Autopistas del Sol was formed by the following companies: PI Promotora de Infraestructura S.A., Itinere CR Valle del Sol S.A., Infraestructuras SDC Costa Rica S.A. y M&S Desarrollos Internacionales S.A.

In November of 2004, Covisa informed the government of their decision to retire from the project, due to delays in the appropriation of land essential to the project.

At Midnight on Saturday, the big board read ¢259,099,586 ($ 524,493) passing the goal of 250 million Colones that organizers had set. The money will go towards the construction of the Intensive Care Tower at the Children’s Hospital. Artists from Panama, Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica participated in the event that ran from 9 am Saturday to Midnight. A Barcelona jersey signed by European Player of the Year Ronaldinho of Brazil was auctioned for 1 million Colones.