The post blow was posted by a new member but in the wrong section. I have re posted it here in order to give it the attention it deserves.

Please be civil in your comments.

Submitted by Padraig on Wed, 2010/09/01 - 18:36.

FIRST YEAR OF THE RETIREE´S LAW IN NICARAGUA.

This is a warning to those who believe that debit card charges due to theft, loss, or fraud on a Nica bank VISA Debit Card here are limited to $50 as they are in most of the world (if the theft or loss is reported when discovered). There are a few countries in the world where there is NO $50 LIMIT and Nicaragua is one of those countries where VISA international &/or the local bank do NOT LIMIT some banks' debit card holders' fraud losses!

This may have been discussed before here but my bull sessions prove that many folks in SJDS (including me) did not know about this problem.

Yes, two articles posted in one week, but I thought this was insightful and relevant to this community, and good fodder for discourse (I'm sure we'll hear from the Canadians..). His points are largely accurate in my experience..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-arndt/20-thing-ive-learned-from_b_673...

New LA Times article for dissection:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nicaragua-survivor-2...

BTW, I think "wildlife" and "savage" are more or less synonomous...or better put- "savage wildlife" is redundant..

having only visited building supply stores a few times while in nicaragua and not specifically looking for these two items, would i have much of a problem locating type s hydrated lime plaster or secondly thin plywood, masonary board, or pegboard? in addition to this question, would i be questioned on a tourist visa bringing with me through airport customs a few power tools?

Not great news for them or NICA either. Rate of homicides is 200 per 100,000. A bit distorted as out of control in Caracas and likely not as bad in the countryside.

All of LA is 36 and NICA about 15. If you read articles (not this one) kind of lumps all of LA into "watch your ass" mode, but not quite right as the "average" distorts reality. But people looking to travel do tend to lump.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/world/americas/23venez.html?hp

in an attempt to cut down homicide rate:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/world/americas/23venez.html?th&emc=th

From the article:

"It (Venezuela) recently created a security force, the Bolivarian National Police, and a new Experimental Security University where police recruits get training from advisers from Cuba and Nicaragua, two allies that have historically maintained murder rates among Latin America’s lowest. "

Another good thing about Nicaragua.

Contrary to past practices, I am not going to state how I did it, how long it took, or anything of that nature. However, I am going to put out a warning about some shortcut practices that people say they used in the past.

"Starbucks Reserve, a line of ultra-premium, single-origin coffees will launch this fall in select U.S. stores. Chosen by Starbucks coffee buyers for their unique flavors and rarity, Starbucks Reserve coffees will be offered in limited quantities and while supplies last in select stores..." Article here.

Among the new coffees is Nicaragua Corcasan Fair Trade Certified.