I Have Great Words

GOP congressman, Andrew Clyde, GA, says calling the Capitol attack an insurrection is 'a bold-faced lie' and compares the rioters to tourists. link Yeah... so there's THAT. Strong letter to follow, so buckle up... if you're a sensitive 'Karen', I'd swipe left right now. -- First off, you can't accuse someone of lying when they are offering an OPINION! An opinion based on the broadcast that we ALL saw... we all saw the tapes after the fact too... and so did that GOP idiot right before he went into SPIN mode. Secondly... TOURISTS?... Where does THIS guy vacation? Leavenworth? Tell Ted Cruz so he can go drop his family off next time Texas has a dust storm. Are these GOP politicians just straight up stupid, or do they think we are? I know... it’s the later, but had to ask. This idiot calls it a LIE - but it's something everyone on earth SAW with their own eyes, as it happened! Left and right, black and white, fat and skinny, christian and muslim, boys an...

Originally written for Howler Magazine March, 2021 What is Höwler? Let’s Start With What It's NOT… This is not pop, this is not tourist music, this isn’t Cocaine or Sweet Home Alabama or Hotel California. It’s not safe, it’s not for the faint of heart, it’s not popular, and it sure as hell isn’t reggaetón. This isn’t light beer, wine coolers or fancy drinks with cute name served with an umbrella… this IS the hard stuff, this IS music from the top shelf for dyed in the wool rockers and heavy metal head bangers. THIS IS HÖWLER! True To Their Name   Höwler is a self-made, thrash metal band from San Jose with a sound, a message and a name that is true to themselves. They cater to no one but their own sense of musical destiny and socially conscious convictions, meant only to appeal to those of like mind and spirit with plenty of room on their bandwagon for those of you who can keep up. Their name has nothing to do with the monkeys in Costa Rica, or this publication. Charlie Díaz, the le...

Cancel Culture Is NOT a "problem" It's Not Even a "thing" Correction Culture IS!  ~ A dear friend sent me this to review. I did, thoroughly, and then responded...   Hi Mike.  Would you please do me the favor of watching this video. A friend just sent it to me and both my husband and I agree it brings a balanced perspective to the problem of “cancel culture”.  https://youtu.be/ugwezczQM-8 -- Dearest Friend, The Washington Redskins... I always wondered a) how they could name the team that in the first place, and  b) what kind of insensitive person can stand on the belief that it's 'no big deal'. It's a fact that "redskins" is a derogatory term. Just because it's an old name is no justification for its existence. There is real pain caused to real people that that name represents. Just because 'some' people are use to it doesn't change that fact. Would the Chicago N*ggers be a suitable name just because they were named in th...

Written by Mike Shannon Province: Puntarenas Population: 500-1000 (dep. on season) Location : Southern Pacific Coast Type: Small Beach Town Climate :           28˚C Avg. High Humidity: 80% at sea level Seasons: Dry Season November to April           Rainy Season May to October Attracts:      Surfers, retirees, nature enthusiasts, adventure seekers Wedged between the gorgeous beaches of Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast and the coastal mountains is the sleepy beach town of Dominical. In a nutshell, Dominical is known for its beaches, surfing, wildlife, waterfalls, National Parks and its stunning natural beauty. But the first thing you’re met with is the sleepy, laidback vibe of this diminutive beach town, which is, for many, the most alluring feature. Location Dominical sits at the mouth of the Barú River that flows down from the mountains and into the sea. Like most beach towns in Costa Ri...

This article originally appeared in the Howler Magazine in the August, 2020 issue Written by Mike Shannon | August 2020 Rarely a person come along that has an immediate positive effect on the world around them. Steve Bakunas is that guy. Steve is an artist, musician, actor, activist, world traveler and philanthropist. He and his wife have just purchased a home in Guanacaste, and his story is worth relating. The Formative Years Steve’s resume of life experience reads like a grab bag of antidotes… born in 1957 in Milford, Connecticut, he enjoyed a typical childhood surrounded by 1 brother and all of 7 sisters. After his father’s untimely passing when he was 13, the house was full of girls and Steve, at the ripe age of 16, felt the need to “broaden my perspective”, and bravely ventured out on his own. His enterprising spirit and sense of adventure produced a laundry list of unusual vocations, such as driving a limo for the Grateful Dead, selling used cars, tending bar, becoming an upholst...

This article appeared in the Howler Magazine, October 2020 issue. This organization was featured in The Howler 3 years ago, and so we were so impressed, we thought we’d check back in to see what they’ve been up to. After a pleasant conversation with Rocio Echeverri, the Executive Director, and Stephanie Joseph, project manager, I was left with a sense of community and enthusiasm that is, no doubt, a major reason for their success. A True Community Effort Dedicated to Their Love For Costa Rica ProParques Costa Rica is a publicly registered, non-profit, national parks conservation association. Members include academics, environmental activists, entrepreneurs, and tourism professionals committed to projects that assure the long-sustainability of the National Parks of Costa Rica. With them, ProParques strives to meet these 2 core objectives: 1)   Continuous professional development and support of the park rangers by implementing practical solutions for the cherished national parks. 2)...