By Colleen M. Smith

As part of our ongoing efforts to educate people about the rainforest and its inhabitants, KSTR is tracking the decline of indigenous frog populations within and outside of Costa Rica.

For the past three decades, scientists in Central and North America have been closely following a wave of disease that has wiped out amphibians in the Central American highlands. The fungal disease, called chytridiomycosis, has been advancing at a rate of about 30 kilometers per year and eradicating dozens of frog species in its path. Scientists have identified this as the same disease that killed off Costa Rica’s golden frogs in the 1980s.

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Filed under: Colleen Smith, Kids Saving the Rainforest on November 29th, 2010
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By  Todd Pequeen

I expand my possibilities by cultivating the opposite in myself. When I was young I did not have much choice. As an adult I do, so I use my free will to be the antagonist from within. I understand that no matter how correct I think my decisions are, or how black and white a situation seems, there are always shades of grey or layers of circumstance that I may be unaware of. This requires humility beyond the four decades of lessons I have learned. A set frame of mind can be my own worst enemy. Cultivating the opposite moves my life towards the pursuit of liberation. Freedom from all lesser pursuits (that often revolve around money, food, sex, and power) can be greatly empowering. The value of seeking change and enlightenment enriches my days beyond what I have previously dreamed.

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Filed under: Health is Wealth, Todd Pequeen on November 29th, 2010
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By Donna Porter

My heart goes out to the Red Hibiscus; a plant that seems as though here in Costa Rica has lost respect  and gained un-popularity through overuse and abuse. It is machete- massacred probably worse than any other plant around, and can no longer lay claim to even its very own spot in a garden or landscape other than being shoved into an overcrowded hedge.  Sadly, it appears as though its only purpose here in Costa Rica is to provide a living screen between neighbors or other unsightly nuisances.  This world- renowned, sacred to some, plant has been belittled, de-throned and Insulted and I would like to shed some light upon the Red Hibiscus in hopes that it will spark a new found awareness and appreciation for this unsung beauty.

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Filed under: Donna Porter, It's a Wonderful World of Plants on November 28th, 2010
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By Jack Ewing

When I first laid eyes on the two black kittens a quote from a Robert Heinlein novel popped into my mind. It has been so many years ago since I read it that I can’t even remember which one is was, but I remember the quote. In referring to a complex subject Heinlein said that making sense of it was “… like searching in a dark cellar at midnight on a moonless night for a black cat that isn’t there.” These two kittens were that black without a hint of any other color. Even their eyes were black. In addition to their extreme blackness there was always an air of mysteriousness about them. They didn’t walk like ordinary cats, rather they walked all crouched down, more of a creep than a walk, like they were constantly stalking something. They never made any noises other than purring; they never clawed the furniture; they were never underfoot and never got into trouble of any kind. There was always something strange about them. We named them Hocus and Pocus.

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Filed under: Jack Ewing, Nature and Local History Stories on November 28th, 2010
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Se denominan verbos regulares aquellos que se conjugan en forma totalmente uniforme, sin modificar su raíz, y empleando las terminaciones correspondientes, en cada modo y tiempo, a la conjugación a que pertenecen.

En los verbos, la raíz es aquella parte de su expresión en infinitivo, que identifica la acción que el verbo enuncia; y la terminación comprende las dos letras finales: AR, ER o IR.
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Filed under: Academia D'Amore, Tico Talk on November 23rd, 2010
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By Jim Parisi

Make no mistake about it, Maicol Leroy has been Ticoized. Don’t get me wrong, I mean this as a compliment and I know he would be the first one to consider it as such. Hey, the guy has even Latinized his name… Sr. Leroy has been coming to Guanacaste for nearly a quarter of a century and living here for almost two decades. He has been playing guitar and harp since well before puberty. Take these two components, mix in a little stage experience, an early exposure to the blues and great songwriting ability and voila: you’ve got the new self-produced album “San Juanillo” by Maicol Leroy.

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Filed under: Jim Parisi, Music Review on November 23rd, 2010
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By Paul Rees

So, I think that after my last two calorie-packed recipes (Rene’s Banana Chocolate Chip Cake & Tiquisque Fritos) I’d give you a recipe that’s a little more healthful, but still satisfying and with lots of flavor. These noodles are also delicious with grilled pork tenderloin or steak.

(Serves 2 – 3)

Chicken Ingredients

• 2 boneless chicken breasts with tenders, fat, & skin removed, lightly score both sides with 2 or 3 shallow cuts
• 1 clove garlic, mashed
• ½ tsp. ginger, mashed
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp balsamic vinegar
• Pinch paprika
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 3 Tbs barbeque sauce

Udon Noodle Ingredients

• 6 oz (180 g) udon noodles
• 2 cloves garlic, mashed
• 1.2 tsp ginger, mashed
• 2 Tbs lightly crushed peanuts
• 1 C carrots finely sliced lengthwise into 2” pieces
• ½ C finely sliced red onion or chopped green onion
• 1 C red pepper finely sliced lengthwise into 2” pieces
• 1 ½ C green beans, cut diagonally into 1“ pieces
• ½ C cucumber, peeled, seeded, finely sliced lengthwise into 2” pieces
• 4 or 5 sliced mushrooms
• ¼ C fresh basil, finely chopped
• 2 Tbs lime juice
• 1 – 2 Tbs hot sauce (to taste)
• ¼ C soy sauce
• ¼ C pineapple juice or chicken broth
• 1 Tbs sesame oil
• 1 Tbs olive oil
• Spray oil
• 3 Tbs chopped cilantro

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Filed under: Cooking Corner on November 15th, 2010
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