7 of the 14 presidential candidates are available on line at the the TSE web site:

www.tse.go.cr

There you can read their positions on health care, corruption, security and the economy. (spanish only)

In an early holiday present to drivers, RECOPE yet again lowered the prices at the pumps.  Super dropped by ¢19, a liter went from ¢441 to ¢422; Regular, by ¢18, going from ¢420 to ¢402; and Diesel dropped by ¢21, a liter that cost ¢324 is now ¢303.

A 45 liter tank of regular gas will now cost ¢810 less, only ¢18,090. Kerosene also dropped from ¢363 to ¢303 per liter. This was the third consecutive reduction and the last of 2005.

Prices in $ per Gallon

Super - $ 3.22
Regular $ 3.06
Diesel - $ 2.31

A field hand from San Jerónimo de Esparza, hit 87.5 million Colones in the "Fatso" jackpot.  The 10 pieces he exchanged on Tuesday, made him the biggest winner so far.  Apparently he bought them near the main offices of the JPS in San Jose. The general manager, Luis Polinaris, confirmed that only 68 of the 200 winning tickets had been cashed in as of Tuesday. 

On Wednesday, a resident of El Carmen de Guadalupe, weighed in with half of a sheet of the winning number, 20 tickets.  Worth 175 million Colones. But the biggest winner may yet appear, since from the entire sheet of the 3rd emission, no tickets have been exchanged.  The seller of the tickets initially recalled that it had been sold in pieces, but the JPS suspects that just one person has the whole sheet.

INCOFER is preparing the line to add service to Heredia, hopefully by March.  They calculate at least 700 passengers per day could enter and leave on the train which passes through Heredia, San Pablo and Santo Domingo. The main delay will be in getting landowners who have invaded the tracks with gardens, walls and additions to remove the structures and landscaping. 

Al Dia calculates that a family of four needs at least 30,000 Colones to enjoy the Zapote fair, according to prices given by vendors.  If you take $100 you can:

- 1000 colones for a plate (chop suey, vigorón, or shish kabob)
- 600 colones for a beer or soft drink.
- 400 colones for a candied apple or cotton candy
- 400 colones for rides in the Magic City
- 350 - 500 for rides in Play Land Park
- 1000 for the roller coaster
- 3500 for a ticket to the bull ring

The total would be 7250 x 4 people = 29 000 Colones + parking or transportation. 

The bull ring was inspected and approved Thursday, so everything should be ready for the fun to begin on Friday.