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Photo by Paul Culver

Been very lazy over the last week. It seems that the heat is starting to rear its ugly head again. It is always 'hot' here, it just seems like the humidity is picking up. There are predictions that it is going to be an active hurricane season. And feel the same way for some strange reason. This past winter was unseasonably cool. Not complaining, but seemed like it was too nice. The last couple of weeks I have been traveling around the country taking day trips with friends. Hoping to go to Bani this weekend for their carnaval. We'll see.

There were many things that happened that I had been wanting to blog about. But I will just put them here at the bottom with the links:
Zoe Saldana was in the country (along with Wyclef Jean) to accept a Casandra award. She was beautiful and radiant, as per usual, and exuding Hollywood glah*mour. She was also honored at the presidential palace with the country's highest honor.

Here is an inspirational story of a young baseball player and his family.

Interview with Dominican Writer Junot Diaz, who has a new piece published in this week's New Yorker magazine.
For those looking for hamburger while looking at women with beautiful breasts, then you will be happy to know that Hooters has just opened an outpost in Republica Dominicana. Located in Acropolis Center.I had wanted to write about Rita Indiana, a young dynamic Dominican singer who is generating a lot of buzz. There is a photo of her online kissing her lover. Yes, in the Dominican Republic. She showed up to the Casandra Awards like it was just normal to show up with the person you are dating. Right? Well, anyway I was surprised and shocked at how she is not bothered. How beautiful AND courageous. I wanted to do something specifically about her, but Blabbeando has written a great piece about her that includes videos. It just makes me even more proud of her. It doesn't hurt that she is also a great musician with her own distinctive style.
The Cha family lost one of their bartenders. He was killed being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Rest in peace, Juan Carlos.

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This weekend the movie Avatar opens. This is the long-awaited follow up to Titanic for director James Cameron. What is also amazing is that two of the leads are Dominican-Americans. The beautiful and fabulous Zoe Saldana, and Michelle Rodriguez. Then there is also the Cuban-American actor, Laz Alonso (above). This is a major coup, as every actor in Hollywood wanted desperately to be in this move. Avatar is the most anticipated movie of the year, and at a cost of almost $250 million dollars, one of the most expensive ever. I think I will go and see this. Maybe not when it first opens, as it will be mobbed, I'm sure. But seeing as movies are only RD$100 pesos ($2.79). At the Malecon center the theater is beautiful and new (and it costs RD$200 pesos). There is even V.I.P. seating for RD$350 pesos ($8.37) and you get this separate plush seating with full bar and restaurant menu. It is really nice.------------------------------------------------Friends & family are concerned about the disappearance of D'Arcy Wright. He is a Canadian ex-pat who runs a business and lives in Sosua. The alarm was first raised on DR1. A page has been setup on Facebook. An awful story that I pray turns out okay.

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In the last several years there have been 8 transsexuals who have been killed in the Dominican Republic. And according to TRANSSA, the local organization for transgendered people, not one person has been brought to justice. TRANSSA is really on the front lines of protesting discrimination against the entire gay community. The last victim was shot and killed on November 25, 2009. His family didn't know he was a transvestite. I didn't know him personally but I did see have seen him many times.
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JetBlue is adding to its position as number one carrier to the Dominican Republic.
------------------------------------------------InfernoDR is gearing up for their second annual even taking place the Memorial Weekend (end of May 2010) Punta Cana.
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While putting this blog together I was listening to the internet radio and this song came on. I have not heard it in a while, but it pretty much sums up how I feel today.

Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana has been everywhere lately. She has been extremely busy. Whether she is attending the 125th annual gala of the Metropolitan Opera, or if she is trekking around the world (Moscow, Berlin, Madrid, London and Hollywood) to promote her upcoming starring role in Star Trek, this Dominican goddess does so with class and style.

Dominican Dynamos

Great article in the NY Post about the Top 20 movers and shakers, the "Dominican Dynamos." The dynamo pictured above, Zoe Saldana, is just poised to become a superstar. With beauty, charisma, poise and charm, she is one of the leading actors in James Cameron's (Director of Titanic) next movie, Avatar.

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