There are so many laws out there these days that it is sometimes even hard to retain up. Florida Landlord Tenant laws are very important if you are a renter in Florida. If you are unfamiliar with the landlord tenant laws in the state of Florida and you do rent a home then you could kill up being taken advantage of. As a renter in Florida it is definitely a smart idea to find an view of your rights as a tenant and of the rights of your landlord.

Renting does not have to be a big headache. Understanding your location in the landlord tenant law of Florida will help you to alleviate some of the stress that comes with renting a fresh home or deciding to renew a lease at your current residence. Most of all, a thorough understanding of Florida landlord tenant laws will help to prevent the possibility of a landlord taking advantage of you due to your own lack of knowledge.

For the purpose of this article the law that is stated is referenced to a single dwelling home that is not an apartment or townhome or a duplex. Just a regular single family home is the reference source for ease in describing your rights and the laws of Florida. There are some additional requirements and laws that are specific to apartments but this article focuses on the rights of tenants who rent a single family home such as a house.

1. Agreements In the State of Florida: First, it is important to understand that you do not have to sign a lease to legally rent a home in the state of Florida. However, it is equally important to understand that without a signed document such as a lease that states the requirements of both you and your landlord you are left will little to go on if there is ever an remark that requires court proceedings.

Although you may choose to make an oral agreement regarding the rental of a specific property, such an agreement is difficult to prove in the event of a misunderstanding. Keep in mind that there are often misunderstandings in life and that having a signed lease will assist to prevent some of these misunderstandings from ending in long drawn out court proceedings.

2. Rent Requirements: The landlord has the right to charge whatever amount of rent he so chooses when the rental term begins. It is up to you to make obvious that this agreement is placed in writing to continue for a stated amount of time without increase. Again this is why it is valuable that you as a tenant sign a lease agreement that specifies the terms of the agreement.

3. Access to the Property: Although you rent the property and have rights to privacy, the landlord does tranquil have the just to access the property within reason. He must give you noble notice if he wishes to enter the property for inspection or to do repairs. However, the landlord may at any time enter the premises if you have unreasonably withheld consent for him to enter said property, there is an emergency relating to the property, or you have been absent from the property for a period equal to one half of the rental payment period without notice to the landlord of said absence.

4. Eviction: If you fail to pay rent on time, the landlord does have certain rights to collect the money including but not limited to the process of evicting you from the property. A landlord may not just come change the locks on the property the day you fail to pay your rent though. He must give you written witness of the amount that you owe and allow you 3 full days to make payment before he can take further steps to evicting you from the property.

Evictions are costly to both the landlord and the tenant. Whenever possible it is a good idea to attempt to work things out with your landlord to prevent an eviction. Most landlords are willing to take additional steps and compromise when it comes to a late payment in order to prevent the costly and drawn out process of eviction.

5. If you Decide to Fade Out: Most lease agreements have specific requirements that pertain to moving out of the property including notification of intent to move and proper cleaning procedure. It is important again to have a signed document that states the requirements that the landlord has for you so that there is no room for misunderstanding in the end.

If you had to pay a damage deposit when you moved into the property, then you will definitely want to make sure that the property is in very smart tip top shape when you move out so that you can get your deposit relieve. Ask the landlord to do a walk through on the house before you move out so that he can let you know if there are repairs that you must make in order to get your full deposit back.

Remember, the decision to enter into any agreement should not be taken lightly. A rental agreement in Florida is a serious decision to be made and entered into with the understanding that if followed correctly you will have a smooth ride…if followed incorrectly you may be in for a huge hassle.

At one point or another nearly everyone will encounter the need to search public records, either to preform a background check on a potential tenant, spouse or employee, or to choose the value of a specific property, or to determine when someone was married, divorced, or when they died. Of course these are only a few of the reasons you may need to search through public records.

Before you initiate your search of public records, have your initial information on hand, such as what county will these records be located in? Have any addresses or aliases you might need to search available for your reference.

You can initiate in one of two ways. Either personally go to the courthouse of the county whose records you want to search, or complete your search online. Chances are, the search will go much faster if you spend the internet for your public record search. This brings up a question. Are you going to search on your bear, or do you want to pay a company to complete your search? While a paid public record search will turn up results in a fraction of the time you might spend on your own, it is not necessary to pay for a public record search. You will have access to the same records with a free search.

Searching online is simple. Originate by visiting a reliable search engine such as Google. Begin by searching for the county’s public records, or you can get specific. As an example: If you are interested in purchasing a home in Boynton Beach Florida, begin by searching Palm Beach County Public Records. You will accept a website for the county which has the primary data bases for searching public records for the specific property value.

Now, you should be advised that in light of our tough economic times many counties are no longer allowing free public records searches. As an example Palm Beach County Florida is charging a $2 fee per name or legal description searched. That is not to say there are not ways around this fee, thanks to the internet, if you know what to search for, you can locate just about anything you desire.

Searching public records is quite simple as long as you are searching in the right places. If you are overwhelmed or confused, contact the county courthouse whose records you are searching and ask for assistance.

One of the common misconceptions in a place like Florida is that it is defined by places like Disney World, Sea world, Miami Beach, and the putting green. In fact the opposite is very true and there are many spirited and many wonderful places in Florida which people often glaze over were completely ignore because they don’t know enough about it. One of these places is Amelia Island. Along the eastern coastline of northern Florida but at the southernmost tip of the Sea Islands, Amelia Island is a barrier island which has a number of interesting things to offer both resident and visitor.

Amelia Island is home to Fernandina Beach which is an excellent Beach unto its own and is a town named after its own beach. There are also a number of hotels, motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, condo rentals, home rentals, and other places for people to finish where they can sleep out under the stars and devour the lapping waves and the yellow sandy beaches.

Like its northern neighbor Charleston South Carolina Amelia Island Florida is not terrorized of, nor does it mask its past. One of the cultural hotspots in Amelia Island is the Amelia Island plantation. While what the plantation represents is never condoned in modern times, it is very moving to go back and look and see and appreciate what people went through in a previous time. Amelia Island plantation is also home to the legendary Kate’s Tree. Kate’s Tree is a giant old oak tree which stands outside of the obsolete home of Kate Bailey. Allegedly this tree was very sought after to be chopped down but Miss Bailey didn’t take too kindly to that and would promptly pull out her shotgun and murder anybody who tried to do so. Or so the story goes.

In Amelia Island Florida is home to all manner of resort for your time spent there. Furthermore there are numerous golfing outings for any golfer in your life who doesn’t get enough time on the green. Ritz-Carlton owns property on Amelia Island if you’re looking to do it up in some high style but there are also grand more affordable places making Amelia Island accessible to virtually anybody who wants to go there.

Known for its waterfront homes in Amelia Island Florida also has a number of private rentals available which you can definitely find out about from a number of different resources. However you shouldn’t just trust anybody who says they have an Island property in Amelia Island; and you should never give anybody any money before you are able to actually check into the property and place your bags down.

The Florida International Festival brings a touch of class to Daytona Beach Florida. Daytona Beach is known for the Daytona 500, world-class surfing, Bike Week and Spring Break at the beach section of town, but from July 13-28^th, Daytona Beach will be transformed into a sixteen day music festival that rivals the likes of Recent York and London.

Every summer the London Symphony Orchestra has performed in Daytona Beach, providing top-notch classical music. There is a multitude of famous conductors and musicians performing the classical works of the most famous composers, including Beethoven, Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, to the American masters, Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein and more.

This year there is a astonishing lineup of conductors and musicians, including Roby Lakatos, Hiromi, Hassan Hakmoun, Quartetto di Venezia, Simon Shaheen, Jordi Savall, Duel and more. The Classical I to V takes place at the Peabody Auditorium from July 20th thru July 22. On July 28^th, is LSO POPS! “Music of Hollywood II,” with Francois-Xavier Roth as conductor. This is a wonderful finale filled with blockbuster movie scores performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, including the themes to The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Jaws, Rocky, Star Wars and more.

The festival is in its 42^nd year, and is a wonderful resource for locals and tourists to experience world class musicians, without having to journey to the bigger cities. All of the classic concerts take place in the Peabody Auditorium, and toward the end of the festival, the Ocean Center. The comedic classical duo Duel will perform at Daytona Beach High School. For more information and to purchase tickets, check out the official festival website, which gives you all the enthralling background information on the various musicians, conductors and the acts that will be performing throughout the festival.

This event has gained in popularity, for each year the festival attracts new generations, who may have never experienced classical performances and theatrics, simply due to geographical location. This is one reason why Volusia County is a great place for people to vacation and relocate, for not only are people subjected to cultural extravaganzas such as this, but there are a multitude of entertaining events, culturally within various mediums of art for everyone, and this honest happens to be one of the best for music lovers of all ages. Daytona Beach’s art scene has come along way, with professional dance troupes and a multitude of events that take place at the Peabody and the new Daytona Beach News Journal Auditorium. There is something for everyone this summer in Florida! www.fif-lso.org

No one truly knows all the laws in their state. There are too many to remember or keep track of. With laws being made and amended all the time, no one has the time or the memory to get them all straight. Of course, this also means that some laws have been forgotten. Some of these laws are crazy and don’t apply to every day life as we know it. Here are some of the wacky laws in your state that have been forgotten.

** Please note that these are meant for entertainment only and may not all be current state laws.**

Alabama- “It is unlawful to wear a false mustache in church and cause ‘unseemly laughter.’” Aparently at one time someone walked into church acting like Groucho Marx.

Arkansas- “It is illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas while within the state.” I couldn’t even pronounce it till I was in middle school. It must not be a large tourist state.

California has too many to list them all here, so I chose a few.
*Beverly Hills – the law states that “no male person shall compose remarks to or concerning, or cough or whistle at, or do any other act to attract the attention of any woman upon or traveling along any of the sidewalks.” Ok boys…take notice of this one. I guess you have to gather another means of dating.
*Los Angeles – a man can legally beat his wife with a leather belt or strap, as long as the strap is no wider than 2 inches. The wife must give her consent in order for him to legally beat her with a wider strap. First of all, I will never live in LA. Second, it should be illegal for a man to beat his wife with anything.
*Pomona – the law states that “no person shall hallo, scream, bawl, yell, use profane language, dance, sing, whoop, quarrel, or fabricate any unusual noise or sound in any house in such a manner as to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.” So I guess no one there has a social life, or throws a party, or gets drunk, or stubs their toe, etc.

Florida- The law states that if an elephant is tied to a parking meter, it must pay the same fees as a car. Certain. How many people riding elephants do you see in any region, especially Florida?

Idaho- According to state law, it is illegal for a man to give his “sweetheart” a box of candy weighing less than 50 pounds. So, does the law also specify who is considered a sweetheart? Could the man appeal the decision?

Indiana- According to dwelling law, once your breath leaves your body, it is no longer your property. Is there any reason why someone would want it back? I wonder what the purpose of this law was.

Iowa- According to the law, kisses may last for as much as, but no more than five minutes. Well, there goes foreplay.

Massachusetts- Holyoke – it is against the law to water your lawn when it is raining. Unfortunately, I actually know people who leave their sprinklers on in the rain. This one doesn’t seem as wacky.

Michigan- It is against the law for a woman to cut her hair without her husband’s permission. With this said, every wife must have long, silky hair.

Nevada- Las Vegas – it is illegal to pawn your dentures. Only in Vegas would someone want to sell their dentures. What are they really worth anyways.

Ohio- Bexley – Ordinance #223 prohibits the installation and usage of slot machines in outhouses. Now this is the wackiest one I found. You can actually get a mental picture of some weirdo sitting in an outhouse, doing his business, while playing a slot machine. You know you’re a redneck when…

Pennsylvania- According to state law, it is illegal to have over 16 women living together in one house because that “constitutes a brothel.” I thought it was called a sorority. I guess lawmakers didn’t see a contrast.

Tennessee- Memphis – it is illegal for a woman to drive a car unless there is a man running or walking in front of it, waving a red flag to warn approaching motorists and pedestrians. I seriously doubt this is a real law, but after the law in Los Angeles I guess anything is possible.

Washington- A small community passed an ordinance that stated the following: “It is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering town.” Well, they’re better than the rest of us. If only we could have that law everywhere.

In the game of life, every one wants to make smart investments. Unprejudiced as you don’t want to bet on a losing horse or gamble on terrible odds, why risk your first venture into the overseas property market to chance? Our guide to potentially bad investments can help you make a winning travel when investing in property abroad. Spanish Land Grab Laws

First on the list of potentially unpleasant places to invest is British holiday favourite Spain.

The trouble with Spain is truly an instruct of quality and quantity; with loads of complaints spirited the quality of building structures and the oversupply of available apartments. Spain has proven in recent years to yield poor rental returns and property prices have begun to slide creating a poor resale market. All these factors paired with Spanish Land Grab Laws leave Spain as an enjoyable holiday destination but an unwise location to invest your hard earned money in.

Not a Hobble on the beach

Another holiday favourite, Florida is best kept as fun getaway and not as a place to invest in. The unpredictable weather, 7 hour distance from the UK, overcrowded market, high interest rates, and poor resale market should sufficiently convince you a property venture under the Floridian Sun might not be a walk on the beach.

An Arabian Mistake

Dubai is undoubtedly the Middle East’s new trendy holiday destination and it is not hard to see its allure as place to invest…at first peruse. A closer look reveals Dubai’s oversupply of new property, property developers who ask for payments during construction, unpleasant resale gains, and long flight times from the UK. As every apartment diagram to lure worldwide investors seems bigger and more grandiose yet remains all talk, Dubai remains a risky place to invest in. New To the EU and Overcrowded

Bulgaria, as a current EU member, once seemed to be a compelling situation to invest despite its high crime, short summer, bad transport links, and poor building infrastructure. Supposing you are still undeterred, the high cost of borrowing and the oversupply of new apartment building schemes will make you think twice about investing in Bulgaria.

Turkish De-fright!

Finally, we come to Turkey, an increasing popular tourist hot spot. Undeniably good weather in parts but Turkey’s human rights issues, unstable land laws, aesthetic share of crime and market saturation in popular destinations effect this country firmly on our list.

Flight times and poor financing deals gain matters worse, and make investing in Turkish land is undesirable to say the least.

We hope this guide has informed you and made you aware of some potentially bad investments. Now armed with this knowledge, you can confidently enter into the overseas property market with your eyes wide begin. Before making any investment, always do your homework. Happy Hunting!

A Florida man was found guilty on charges related to an international $13.5 million money laundering conspiracy. Rita M. Glavin, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division and R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Florida announces the guilty verdict on February 25, 2009 in a press statement.

Brazilian national, Rodrigo Molino, 33, who resided in Miami, was found guilty following a seven day trial. Also charged was Marchos Neto Macchione, 32, a Brazilian national who was residing in Avenura, Florida; who pleaded guilty of conspiracy to launder fraud proceeds of $13.5 million in June, 2008.

Molina and Macchione and 18 individuals in Brazil, including the Doron Mukama, who was the alleged leader of the crime organization in this blueprint, were indicted for laundering funds obtained illegally through a telemarketing scheme.

The trial evidence that was presented at the trial showed that the defendants used telemarketing contact victims over the phone. The defendants offered to purchase stock that was nearly worthless from foreign investors. The telemarketers made the scheme enticing by offering the investors more than the stock was worth.

The defendants set up a well designed web site that mislead victims into thinking the Brazilian defendants were legitimate securities brokers. The Brazilian defendants stole identities of valid broker dealers licensed in the United states to carry out the scheme. They also created deceptive government entities that made fictitious brokers look legitimate. The fictitious brokers were located in Brazil and in other countries, but had U.S. phone numbers.

The Brazilian defendants would make generous offers on nearly worthless stock and would then require victims to pay various fees to pay for expenses like escrow payments, taxes and other services. The victims would wire money in bank accounts, usually in Miami. Once the defendants had the fees from the victims, the defendants abandoned the accounts and the victims were out the money. The money was laundered through U.S. bank accounts.

Molina, who was found guilty in a trial by jury, can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for money laundering, plus 10 years on additional money laundering accounts and 20 years on conspiracy.

Macchione was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment in February, 200 and ordered to forfeit about $1.8 million of his criminal proceeds in bank accounts.

Resources:

Miami Man Found Built in $13.5 Million International Money Laundering Scheme, PR Newsire, February 26, 2009.

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Florida has some of the best Blue Crabs to be had. However, there are a few rules you will need to know before you set out crabbing.

First off you can not harvest a female crab with eggs. If you look on the crabs belly and it is not smooth, but has some gunk stuck to it, then she has eggs. It is illegal to keep females with eggs, so toss them back, regardless of size. If your using a trap you need to fabricate distinct your buoys are marked with a legible “R” at least 2″ high. There is a limit of 5 crab traps per person in the State of Florida. All traps must be pulled by hand, during daylight hours. You will need to have a valid Florida recreational saltwater fishing license to harvest any crabs from a boat. If you are wading in 4 feet or less in the water or using a dock to spot traps, you do not need a license.

There is no size limit to Blue Crabs. However, the smaller the crab, the less meat you’ll have. The bag limit on Blue Crab in Florida is 10 gallons of whole crab, per day, per person. It takes 3 to 4 large Blue Crab to make a recommended single serving. I don’t know about you, but I can eat more then that. A nice crab or large crab is anything with a shell over 4 inches. You measure them from side to side, or point to point.

Almost every crabber has their have method. One of the easiest way, and most affordable is line crabbing. This is where you tie a rotten day old fish head, or piece of chicken to a string and toss it out into the water. Then about 20 minutes later you slowly, very slowly pull the string in, with a dip net ready. Simply drag the bait with crab(s) attached over the net, and scoop up. This is a wonderful method, that many crabbers prefer. Note: Bring some instant hand sanitizer along on the trip, there is nothing worse then having rotten meat on your hands, it can make you very ill.

There are hundreds of places to catch crab throughout Florida. Some people prefer using a telescopic pole to dip the off from piers, as the crab swim by. This is a very simple way to catch crab, but it does aggravate the fishermen, and it isn’t very sportsman like. You can also catch them during grievous tide by just walking in a foot or so of water at night. You can spot them with a flashlight, but you better be fast with a net. Along bridges, and in grassy patches in shallow waters are also great places to find them.

Crabbing is fun, and kids seem to enjoy it, especially diminutive boys. But, remember crabs have pincher’s! Even a small crab can pinch hard enough to bring blood. A larger crab can give a nasty pinch. It’s best to shake the crab out of the net, or trap into a bucket, without touching it. If grabbing it is unavoidable, use extra caution, and never let a child pick up a Blue Crab.

Your ready to try out your crabbing skills now, I wish you the best of luck, and I’ll see you out there.

Although I personally am not a big fan of the group, there is no denying the impact that the Pussycat Dolls have had on the music industry. Even a large number of celebrities like Christina Applegate, Charlize Theron, Brittany Murphy and others have joined the dolls for a guest stint with the group. Therefore, it came as no real surprise when the network CW developed a reality series around the search for a new addition to the Pussycat Dolls.

I really had no diagram of watching the indicate but found myself doing so one evening when I was confined to bed and nothing else on the tube caught my attention. I found that I actually enjoyed the behind the scenes look at everything the girls had to go through to prepare for their various auditions. Additionally, it was satisfying to obtain that were quite a few talented young ladies in the mix.

Girls who wanted to audition had to be able to both sing and dance. I’ll go a step further in saying that there was a exiguous element of acting needed as well, although the show didn’t list that in its requirements. Having been in many plays myself, when I wasn’t feeling well, I know how much acting talent it takes to pull off a flawless performance when all you really want to do it puke you guts out. A similar situation actually occurred during audition process. Some of the girls effect on their acting face and blew the judges away while others found it much more difficult to do.

Judges for the competition of course included the Pussycat Doll’s founder and choreographer, Robin Antin. The other two permanent judges included the chairman of Geffen Records, Ron Fair, and Grammy Award-winning artist Lil’ Kim. Over the course of the series, their opinions often clashed and sometimes their cruel remarks to the contestants were beyond objective. However, they insisted their critiques were only meant to push the candidates to do their best.

The girls were taught new dance routines each week – - in the Pussycat Dolls’ unusual style – - by choreographer Mikey Minden. A vocal coach also worked with them. Antin was always on hand to lead the girls through every challenge, to provide support, and to sustain it real so they could “release their inner Doll.”

Episode #1 – After a nationwide audition process, the judges narrowed thousands of candidates down to 18 contestants. They were divided into three groups and tasked to learn a song and dance routine for the final audition. After a long day of rehearsals, the girls attended a Pussycat Doll concert to meet the band.
After performing in front of the judges and special guests – - lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger, co-choreographer Mikey Minden and host Brand McGrath – - the group was cut in half and the final nine Doll wannabes were announced:

Anastacia, 23, from San Francisco, California who is a Make-up Artists; Choreographer/Dancer/Lyricist;
Asia, 18, from Mt. Vernon, New York who is a Knick City Dancer;
Brittany, 20, from Chesapeake, Virginia who is a Singer/Dancer/Model;
Chelsea, 20, from Cooper, Florida who is a Waitress/Singer/Dancer;
Jaime, 21, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who is a Production Assistant/Dancer;
Mariela, 24, from Coconut Grove, Florida who is a Dancer;
Melissa R., 18, from Cypress, California who is a Performer;
Melissa S., 24, from Auburn Hills, Michigan/Toronto, Canada who is a Singer/Dancer/Actress; and
Sisely, 25, from Long Beach, California who is a Singer/Dancer/Actress/Dance Instructor.

The Pussycat Dolls’ lead singer and spokesperson, Nicole Scherzinger, was a special guest star.

Episode #2 – The final nine girls moved into a loft and were separated into groups of three. Each group was assigned a song and dance routine for the elimination competition. Antin and Minden worked with each group on their song and choreography, but tension mounted when two of the girls left their partner out or practice because she wasn’t as strong of a dancer. After a long day of rehearsals, Antin took the girls to a Hollywood hot spot. Unprejudiced as the girls were unwinding, Robin told them they were going to dance in a glass box in front of the crowd. This left one girl with serious reservations. Afterward, the judges and Pussycat Doll guest Jessica Sutta, sent one aspiring doll home.

Episode #3 – One of the Pussycat Dolls, Kimberly Wyatt, stopped by to help divide the final eight girls into two groups of four. The groups then had to master a new song and dance routine, but one of the girls, tired from long rehearsal hours and no sleep, smarted off to the vocal coach. As a surprise, Antin brought in her brother Jonathan, acclaimed hair stylist with his beget TV expose “Blowout,” to give the girls makeovers. Following that, they took a trip to a recording studio where the Dolls’ manager Jeff Haddad helped them record their vocals to a Pussycat Doll song. On playback, each girl was allowed to hear how her direct meshed with those of the Dolls. Following their performance, the judges sent one more aspiring doll home.

Episode #4 – Pussycat Dolls Carmit Bachar and Ashley Roberts stopped by to inspire the girls to show their creative and sexy sides. Then Robin chose team captains who pick their group for a disco-inspired routine. Tempers erupted when one girl accused another of “dancing like a perambulate queen.” For their challenge, Antin paired the girls to male dancers and they were then challenged to teach their male partners choreography to acquire in front of the judges. After its completion, the judges sent yet another aspiring doll packing.

Episode #5 – The Pussycat Dolls’ manager told the remaining girls they were booked for a Las Vegas show at the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. The girls had to learn their new choreography on a moving tour bus. Mariela complained about her outfit, which angered some of the other girls as well as the judges. After the show, the girls released stress by eating burgers, gourmet meals, and desserts while indulging in a bitch session. On performance night, the girls sang duets for the judges and special guest, Jeff Haddad, and one aspiring doll – - Sisley – - was sent home.

Episode #6 – The competition really began to heat up when the girls auditioned for last-minute spots as back-up dancers for the Dolls for a live televised performance. The girls were crushed when they learned that only a few of them would get to perform with the Dolls. The final five performed for the judges and one aspiring doll – - Mariela – - was sent home. Special guests included Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton.

Episode #7 – The girls’ personality and public speaking skills were tested during a mock media tour. Each girl had to appear in a commercial, pose for a photo shoot, and do an interview on the set of “Extra” with Effect McGrath. But one Doll – - Melissa S. – - went too far by revealing which hopeful she thought should be sent home. Oddly enough, it turned out that she was the one to get the boot from the judges instead.

Episode #8 – Tension mounted as two of the finalists (Asia and Melissa) got into a screaming match that kept the third Doll hopeful (Chelsea) up half the night. For their final showdown, each girl was tasked with performing a solo performance as well as performing with the entire group. After their performances, the consider chose the next Pussycat Doll – - Asia.

Each episode had a specific theme. These included confidence, creativity and style. Challenges also included ballet dancing in toe shoes and designing an original Pussycat Doll-style outfit. Some of the finalists proved to be excellent singers while some were great dancers. Most had their own unique sense of style and a few knew how to put on their game face. However, the winner of the competition was challenged to do it all

Despite the theatrics of some of the girls with attitudes that seemed even bigger than the Dolls themselves, this show wasn’t poor. I thought that the nine finalists were indeed quite talented. Although personally, I would have preferred to see Chelsea win the coveted spot, I was still happy with the choice of Asia.

Next season will not be another search for a new Doll. Instead it will be a search for members to form “a new group inspired by the Pussycat Dolls.” Open casting calls have been announced all around the country. The first audition was held in Detroit, on Saturday, May 19, 2007. Melissa Smith, from the first season, will attend several of the public auditions to meet with potential contestants in person. Only one person will be chosen from Detroit.

Each girl who wishes to audition, should bring a CD and be prepared to perform a two-minute song and dance routine which will be videotaped for judging. For more information, contact www.cwtv.com/shows/pussycat-dolls.

Latin American art is of cultural and historical importance. Diego Rivera is one fine example of Latin artists that have left their mark on the art world, depicting their heritage, political climate and social change. What is most interesting about Latin American art, aside from boldness and beauty, is the subject matter that was often defiant against government regimes. An artist as late as the early 1900’s, such as Rivera, would have to conform to the political landscape to make money, and couldn’t paint certain subject matter that the government officials, including Americans, deemed improper. Many artists, including Rivera, were commissioned by the local government to paint politically correct works, but like Rivera, many found a way to incorporate revolutionary symbolist art into frescos, murals and still-life’s, or the Spanish term “bodegones”. Some artists painted the daily strife of sugar-cane field workers in animated ways, perhaps to expose the spirit of the migrant worker as not being corrupted by the governmental hierarchy and elite forces.

In Cuba, the pre-revolutionary Castro artists such as Jose Mijaris and Gil Garcia were inspirational even to the bodegones painters. Bodegones are still-life’s that usually consist of three inanimate objects. The pre-revolutionary artisans found a map to make their art, down to the still-life’s controversial, from painting in colorful, ethnic tiles in the background of a still-life scene, to disguising symbols and elements in the “new found” forms of art, including Cubism, like Diego Rivera did.

One can truly benefit from visiting areas where Cuban heritage can be experienced and forever captured through art, not through stereotypical popular imagery, such as Desi Arnaz playing Ricky Ricardo banging his bongo drums on classic episodes of I Care For Lucy, with Lucille Ball. Miami has its roots planted in the Cuban culture; there are various places to experience Cuban art throughout Miami, including Coral Gables. There is a shopping district in Southwest Miami on 72^nd Avenue that has a small group of art shops, some dealing in old oil paintings that were done by various pre-revolutionary Cuban artists, including the above mentioned. Here are just a few of the galleries where one might spot contemporary Cuban art.

Elite Blooming Art, Meza Fine Art Gallery Café, The Wallflower, Tower Theater (in Diminutive Havana), and other various establishments with vintage and contemporary works. Here is a link to the Florida artist’s registry.com, where various Florida galleries and artists are registered, and one can obtain the street address and phone numbers to various galleries, throughout the state, including the one’s mentioned in this article.