At Titi Conservation Alliance, we focus daily on our mission to save the endangered titi (squirrel) monkey by promoting sustainable development and conservation for Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast. Our energies are spent most diligently in three primary project areas:  1) Sustainable Development; 2) Habitat Reforestation; and 3) Environmental Education.

So what exactly does that mean we do on a daily basis?

I’m glad you asked.

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Filed under: Ingrid Kuegeman, Titi Conservation Alliance on November 27th, 2009
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by María Pía Martín, DVM

The sloths are part of the Xenartha order which also includes anteaters and armadillos. This bizarre order is only found in Central and South America. They are different from all other animals in that they have an unusual lower back vertebrae and two vena cava (returns blood to the heart, the other mammals have only one).

Evolution

They are some of the most ancient mammals and have been on Earth for more than 60 million years ago. For example, they are so primitive that their reproductive and digestive tract open into a single chamber called cloaca, like birds and reptiles.

At the beginning, the Megatherium were 6 meters (20 feet) tall giant ground sloths.

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Filed under: Kids Saving the Rainforest, María Pía Martín on November 23rd, 2009
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El Día de Acción de Gracias es una de las festividades favoritas en Norteamérica. Los estadounidenses lo celebran el cuarto jueves de noviembre.

La fiesta tiene relación con los colonos ingleses que en 1620 viajaron a América en el barco “Mayflower” y que más tarde serían conocidos como peregrinos. El difícil invierno en esa región de Norteamérica los tomó por sorpresa y más de la mitad  murió víctima del frío y el hambre. Quienes sobrevivieron lo lograron gracias a la ayuda que los indígenas de aquellas tierras  les proporcionaron.

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Filed under: Academia D'Amore, Tico Talk on November 23rd, 2009
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by Carol Vlassoff
(en Español)

With his grey blue eyes, fair skin and closely cropped silvery hair, Luis Bolaños may not look like a typical Tico. But he’s a Tico through and through. He has a deep social conscience, is proud of his country and is well informed about its history, politics and the challenges it faces.

We meet in his office in the Best Western Hotel Kamuk, a landmark in Quepos because it overlooks the levy and the Pacific beyond. Its restaurant on the third floor, Mira Olas, provides a panorama of the entire waterfront.

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Filed under: Carol Vlassoff, Personalities in Our Midst on November 23rd, 2009
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by Matt Casseday

On the other side of the globe suicide bombers are blowing themselves up more than ever, and although it may sound politically incorrect, even appalling, I must admit I typically feel a bit of sympathy for these desperate young men. I can not imagine what it must be like growing up in that part of the world, living an existence so cloistered, so bleak, so futureless, that the notion of blowing ones self up to kill other people because you have been promised 72 virgins in the afterlife seems a good option. Any time I read or hear about yet another of these acts of terror committed by relatively innocent kids, I consider what, in a perfect world, could be done to dissuade them.

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Filed under: Crazy From the Heat, Matt Casseday on November 17th, 2009
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by Todd Pequeen

“With nothing to risk the Gods need no courage.”

Courage is a relative word by nature. It cannot stand alone, by definition it is simply a response. An ability to welcome something new, difficult, or challenging. This process is positive and fun for some, negative and stressful for others. I propose that we all look at ways to welcome courageous acts into our lives. Day to day living normally isn’t seen as a courageous thing to do. It can be however, to a great advantage. Our daily routines and responsibilities can feel like new if we simply add awareness to the people and events of the world going on around us. By having the courage to do more, be more, care more, and spread more love our daily lives will feel more vibrant and satisfying. I have always been delighted by people who “put themselves out there,” only risking playing the fool. It is no easy task to go outside of our own boundaries, but if we do we can reap the benefits of evolving and becoming wiser. (more…)

Filed under: Health is Wealth, Todd Pequeen on November 17th, 2009
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by Bruce Zabov

With North American Thanksgiving holidays and Christmas coming up I thought this would be a good time to go over a basic stuffing recipe you can individualize as you wish. Too, the availability of the packaged stuffing mixes can be pretty variable and being able to whip up your own reduces your dependency on its being available or not. And YOU get to decide on its fat and salt content as well. This is the season weight tends to increase as we feast and it can help to be aware of what we’re feasting on.

You can make stuffing ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you stuff the bird and put it in the oven — but don’t stuff the bird more than a few hours ahead of roasting time. Plan on about 3/4 cup of stuffing for each pound of poultry– for example, 9 cups of stuffing for a 12-pound turkey, or 4 cups for a three-plus pound chicken.

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Filed under: Bruce Zabov, Cooking Corner on November 15th, 2009
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