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$600K Stolen from Joel Osteen’s Megachurch

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Thieves Stole From Lakewood Church
Lakewood Church, helmed by televangelist Joel Osteen, announced that over the weekend $600,000 was stolen from its safe.

Authorities are investigating the robbery which was discovered by a church employee and an off duty cop that served as security for the church. Police spokesman Kese Smith say that “$200,000 in cash and $400,000 in checks were stolen from a safe sometime between 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday.”

“We are working with the police to fully investigate the incident,” the statement reads. “The funds were fully insured, and we are working with our insurance company to restore the stolen funds to the church.”

The missing cash, checks and credit card information were collected during March 8 and March 9 services. Included with the missing checks are some member’s written credit card information but a church spokesman said this is not an electronic data breach. Online deposits were not affected

The church is encouraging those to monitor their accounts and report any suspicious activity to their bank accounts.

No arrests have been made, said Smith.

Lakewood Church in Houston has one of the country’s largest congregations with over 40,000 people attending weekly and televised services in nearly 100 countries.


Wait For It: Bill O’Reilly Blames Beyonce For Unwed Pregnancies Among WOC

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As I write this, I’m internally chastising myself for doing something I SWORE I would never do – create another think piece centered around an over-inflated assertion about Beyonce’s music and entertainment. After everyone and their mama pondered whether or not Mrs. Carter deserved the title of feminist after her last album release, I wrote about my frustrations with smug-ass ideologues over-analyzing her art and attempting to conflate her brand of entertainment to national and global problems. Yet, I feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather III, because just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.

Today, the role of “they” will be played by Bill O’Reilly, a FOX “News” commentator who apparently has an extreme soft spot for urban youth – despite constant race-baiting attacks on everyone from Ludacris to Common. Now, Mr. O’Reilly is soooo vexed about what’s happening to young Black women in America, he shared his in depth analysis of the issue.  And drew the conclusion that Beyoncé’s “Partition” video is to blame for unwed pregnancies amongst women of color:

(I’ve heard Bill-O spit a lot of stupid shit over the course of his career, but this definitely takes the cake for 2014 – which is really saying something after that horrendous Obama interview during the Super Bowl. His premise: Beyoncé, a married woman, should be thoroughly blamed for unwed pregnancies amongst young women of color because she created a video intended for ADULTS, extolling the joys of having freaky sex with her HUSBAND, the man she conceived her child with AFTER marriage).

uptown bill oreilly beyonce pregnancy

Yup, that makes perfect sense, even though the CDC reported last year that the teen birth rate for African Americans has declined by 60 percent in the last 20 years alone.

But picking apart O’Reilly’s anti-intellectual comments is far too easy, and I’m sure most bloggers will write great dissertations on his vast ignorance very shortly. Plus, it’s kinda pointless to get into a back-and-forth with FOX “News” when they will make sure not to let a stupid thing like FACTS ruin their argument.

But there is a theme I’m noticing with this Beyoncé-bashing and it’s not limited to old, out-of-touch, xenophobic white men.

There’s also lame-duck parents who demonize Mrs. Carter and make her the scapegoat for their ill-behaved offspring. Because that way it’s not their fault for how their seed turns out – it’s solely her cross to bear.

When Beyoncé releases a track with strong lyrics, we wonder what effect it will have on young women of color. When Beyoncé wears a racy outfit, we wonder how that will negatively affect how young Black women dress — and then blame her for supporting child sex trafficking in India). When Beyoncé dances, grinds, and shakes her hips on stage, we blame her for making young women believe that they cannot be recognized without being over-sexualized. I guess blaming her for global warming and the sea level rising will soon follow,.

But, the real question is why?

Why have we given up raising our children, and acquiesced all parental-power to entertainers with no vested interest in our young men and women other than taking their money?

Why have we allowed ourselves to believe that an entertainer making GROWN-ASS music, must be responsible for imparting the most important and critical issues of the day onto our children?

Why have we allowed ourselves to believe that it’s logical to assign blame for a young woman’s actions on a 3:50 second video, instead of the support system she has around her?

Why are we comfortable blaming the creators of adult content, and refusing to take any blame for allowing our children to watch it? (I’ve always found it hilarious to hear parents bitch and moan about what their children saw on TV, as if the children’s consumption isn’t their own fault.)

Teen pregnancy is an issue that is so critical to our community, we cannot let facts and realities be obscured by prejudiced rantings of attention seeking egomaniacs and people with no real knowledge of community issues. But until that serious discussion occurs, stop demonizing Black female entertainers like Beyoncé. Maybe next time O’Reilly will place blame on someone culpable like Miley Cyrus for the entire four seasons of “Teen Mom” for performances like this:

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Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

Turns Out ‘Shacking Up’ Doesn’t Cause Divorce, But Here’s What Experts Say Does Increase Breakups

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UPTOWN_couple_movingCourtesy of HelloBeautiful

For decades now, young couples have been warned about “playing house” and “shacking up” before marriage. Who would buy the cow when they can have the milk for free?

Critics of premarital cohabitation (or rather, couples living together before marriage) have long since pointed to a wealth of studies that associated cohabitation with elevated risks of divorce.

Well, new research claims that cohabitation no longer predicts divorce. In fact, there is a possibility that it never did in the first place. Arielle Kuperberg, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, co-authored the study titled “Does Premarital Cohabitation Increase Your Risk for Divorce?”

Keep reading over at HelloBeautiful

[Image: Shutterstock]

Heard On The Street: Frank Ocean Gives Chipotle The Finger

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“Fuck off!”

– Frank Ocean responds to Chipotle’s lawsuit by writing a check for $212,500, the amount the fast food chain claims was an advance for an ad campaign that involved Ocean. But here’s the hilarious part … Ocean wrote “Fuck off!” in the memo of his check.

Source

Women’s Health Breakthrough: New Vaginal Gel May Prevent HIV

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Researchers have announced a potential breakthrough in HIV prevention. They tested a vaginal gel on monkeys that can protect against the HIV virus even when used up to three hours after having sex.

The findings, published in Science Translational Magazine, could lead to new ways to for women to combat HIV. They found that the gel, which uses antiretroviral drug raltegravir, worked in 5 out of 6 monkeys who had been exposed to the HIV virus mixed with a related monkey virus.

“It’s a promising after-sex vaginal gel to prevent HIV infection…Studies still need to be done to look at the window [of opportunity] – is it six, eight, 24 hours?” said Dr. Charles Dobard to BBC News.

Vaginal gels for HIV prevention have had mixed success in human clinical trials. However, this is the first of its kind that can be applied after sex. Larger clinical trials would be needed in order to test this new treatment.

If this drug can be approved, it can be a major milestone in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The ability to use it after sex is especially encouraging for the battle in countries where many women transmit the disease after incidences of domestic violence or rape. If they could have access to this gel, they can have a fighting chance of at least avoiding the virus.

Star Clique: Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Khloe Kardashian & More Celeb Photos

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Steve Harvey signs autographs for fans in New York City on March 11. Photo: DCC/INFphoto.com

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Naomi Campbell arrives at the “CBS This Morning” to promote the second season of “The Face” on March 11. Photo: RogerWong/INFphoto.com

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Connor Cruise arrives at Sydney Airport wearing a “Breaking Bad” T-shirt on March 8. Photo: INFphoto.com

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Pharrell Williams performs live at Future Music Festival in Melbourne on March 9. Photo: INFphoto.com

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Khloe Kardashian looks like she’s on the hunt for a man while attending a Rick Ross concert in Los Angeles, with sister Kendall Jenner and Scott Disick, on March 7. Photo: INFphoto.com

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A newly purple-haired Nicole Richie and husband Joel Madden finish lunch at Hugo’s restaurant in Los Angeles on March 6. Photo: Chiva/INFphoto.com

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Jennifer Lopez leaves Power 106 studios in Los Angeles on March 5. Photo: INFphoto.com

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Kim Kardashian goes to the gym with her friend Blac Chyna as they film the reality series, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” March 5 in Los Angeles. Photo: INFphoto.com

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Chrissy Teigen arrives at New York’s JFK airport in style, wearing a striped coat and knee-high boots, on March 4. Photo: Elder Ordonez/INFphoto.com

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Naomie Harris appears fresh and sans makeup at London’s Heathrow Airport after a flight from Los Angeles, on March 4. Photo: INFphoto.com

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Tiger Woods walks off the course of The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida with daughter Sam Woods in tow, on March 2. Photo: INFphoto.com

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Even Rihanna looks confused by her look for the Givenchy fashion show in Paris on March 2. Photo: INFphoto.com

See more celebrity photos here!

Pharrell Reveals the Simple Secret to His Youthful Skin

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Courtesy of Vibe Vixen

No, he’s not Benjamin Button, but Pharrell Williams does hold the key to flawless skin–and it’s not as hard (or expensive) as you think. The Oscar nominee recently stopped by Hot 97′s Angie Martinez Show where he dished on his daily skin regimen.

“[My secret is] Washing my face, paying attention to it. I mean little small stuff. Naomi Campbell taught me a couple of tricks back in the day…”

Find out what else Pharrell had to say at Vibe Vixen.

RELATED:
Celebs That Don’t Age: Pharrell, Halle, Ice Cube & More Celebs Who Drink From the Fountain of Youth

Why is Darren Sharper Charged With Rape Again?

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Courtesy of Ebony

Darren “non-consensual sex” Sharper has been indicted in Tempe, Arizona, for two counts of sexual assault and three counts of administering dangerous drugs. The former NFL Network commentator is accused of raping two women in the state last November; this is in addition to the charges he’s facing in New Orleans, where he is also accused of drugging and sexually assaulting two more women. This dude is like an un-welcome wagon traversing America.

Sharper was formally charged in Arizona on Tuesday, reports USA Today, but he was busy in a Los Angeles jail for those other New Orleans, Louisiana, charges, for which he’s been incarcerated since February 27.

Read more at Ebony.


Hype Chat: Bridget Kelly Reveals Beauty Must-Haves and Why She’d Swap Hair With Jennifer Lopez

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UPTOWN_bridget_kellyCourtesy of Hype Hair

Bridget Kelly is beauty personified. The Roc Nation songbird has gone through many hair and beauty transformations making sure her look always matches what she felt inwardly. ”The bangs for me was fun because it kind’ve left some mystery to who I was and what I was doing,” she says, “but then at some point, I got tired and felt like I was hiding a little bit.”

Since her bang phase, the New York-bred singer has entered the realm of short hair and has quickly learned that the shorter length doesn’t equate to less work. “I thought cutting my hair short was going to be less maintenance! I could just wake up and bump it a little bit with the flat iron and go – no. Every three weeks I have to get a cut in the back to get it a little tapered.”

Keep reading

Team Spirit Or Gang Sign? Zero Tolerance Doesn’t Have Grey Areas

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UPTOWN_dontadrian_bruceWhen a group school project was completed, Dontadrian Bruce’s biology teacher asked students to pose with their Lego double helix assignment. Bruce, 15, made a hand gesture with his thumb, index finger, and middle finger up and his palm facing forward with a smile. The next school day, Bruce was summoned to the Olive Branch High school principal office, where he was immediately suspended for signaling a gang sign.

“He’s a good child,” Janet Hightower, the teen’s mother said. “I know what he does 24 hours a day. If he leaves home and goes two houses down, he’s gonna text me and let me know.”

Bruce, who has never been in trouble beforehand, is an A and B student. He declares he was throwing up the number three, the number of his Conquistadors football jersey, citing all the kids do it in practice. Unbeknownst to the teenager, his hand signal is affiliated with the Chicago based gang, the Vice Lords, who has a dominant presence in Memphis, which is 20 miles north of the school. Bruce attended a disciplinary hearing where his fate was decided, “indefinite suspension with a recommendation of expulsion,” citing the zero tolerance rule.

The zero tolerance rule originated with the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994, designed to decrease escalating gun violence in schools. The act calls for immediate suspensions and expulsions in spite of first time offenses and minor cases. In the last four decades, school suspensions have risen 40 percent, with 90 percent of cases non-violent.

Teen Girls Forced An Autistic Boy Into Bestiality

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lauren bushWe all know people can be evil, but it’s still surprising when teenagers engage in truly despicable behavior.

Two Maryland teen girls forced an autistic boy into bestiality and tortured him with a knife, according to reports by the New York Daily News. Police say they filmed the incident on their cell phones, which show them forcing the 16 year old to walk on a partially frozen pond, according to multiple sources.

Both students of Chopticon High School in Morganza, 17-year-old Lauren Bush and her 15-year-old accomplice, were arrested by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Tim Cameron said the girls attacked the boy with a knife, kicked him in the groin, dragged him by his hair, and forced him to engage in various sex acts with an animal.

Bush will be charged as an adult, and her accomplice will be charged as a juvenile.

The ‘Being Mary Jane’ Story That Came True — Again

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UPTOWN_being_mary_janeA Michigan woman’s mummified body was discovered in her own garage after five years.

Pai Farrenkopf, 38 at the time of death, was found in the backseat of her car in her garage, with the key halfway in the ignition. She was estranged from family. She traveled often for weeks at a time, resided alone, and kept to herself, according to neighbors. Neighbors assumed the woman, who was of German descent, was traveling for work or visiting Germany. A nearby resident requested a wellness check on Farrenafter in 2007. With no sign of foul play, police drove away from the residence.

Farrenkopf’s mail never piled up at her home, because she usually collected it from the post office. Her bills, including her mortgage and electricity, were automatically deducted from her bank account through auto pay. Her savings totaled approximately $54,000, but eventually those funds were exhausted. The bank foreclosed on her house was after months of non-payment and ordered a contractor to repair a hole in her roof. And that’s when her body was discovered.

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The cause of death is still unknown, although signs of trauma or struggle were not found. Police are treating her death as a homicide.

This isn’t the first case of an unnoticed death. In the season premiere of BET’s “Being Mary Jane,” fictional character Mary Jane reported on the real life story of Joyce Vincent, a stunning, young London socialite who was dead for three years before discovery. Vincent, who worked with celebrities and held a high position job, was found in her living room next to unwrapped Christmas presents, with the television still playing. Her remains were described as “mostly skeletal.” The odor of decomposing flesh was assumed to be nearby waste bins. Detectives found letters from relatives, but she was already dead by that time.

Got Faith? Americans Say Religion Is “Not That Important”

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UPTOWN_man_prayingOne in five Americans say religion is “not that important,” according to a NBC/Wall Street Journal.

The number of Americans who feel this way have steadily risen ever since the focus on faith survey was created in 1997. Fourteen percent of Americans noted religion wasn’t important to them, but the number increased to 16 percent in 1999. Currently at 21 percent, it’s the highest percentage ever recorded.

Reports suggest men under the age of 35, with an income of more than $75,000 and live in the Northeast or West, make up those rising poll numbers.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Despite increasing numbers, the majority of Americans still hold religion in high regards. Forty-one percent say religion is “very important,” while 13 percent say religion is “most important.”

The poll was released on the heels of one of the world’s most prominent faith leaders Pope Francis celebrates the one-year anniversary of his papacy. According to the NBC News/WSJ poll, six out of 10 Catholics agreed Pope Francis renewed and strengthened their religious faith and commitment to the Catholic Church.

Heard On The Street: Lil Wayne Quitting Music?

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“I personally plan on [Tha Carter V] being my final solo album, yes and it’s definitely the final Carter album. It’s the final Carter album. It’s stopping at five.”

– Lil Wayne reveals his plans to end his solo career to MTV News. Tha Carter series has been extremely successful. The first Tha Carter album, released in 2004, went gold and placed in the top-five of the Billboard Top 200. Tha Carter III and The Carter IV were Weezy’s most successful to date with both going certified multi-platinum and hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. So it stands to reason that Wayne will go out with a bang with The Carter V … if he retires his solo career.

Source

Singing Prostitutes: ‘Pretty Woman’ Headed for Broadway

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julia-roberts-pretty-womanPrepare yourselves, folks, everyone’s favorite hooker turned princess story is coming to The Great White Way.

Pretty Woman, the 1990 box office smash that earned $500 million, is being turned into a musical.

Garry Marshall, who directed the movie, is at the helm of the project. He is in New York City this week meeting with producer Paula Wagner, and they’re interviewing directors, composers, and lyricists.

Marshall and Wagner are also bringing back J.F. Lawton, who wrote the screenplay, to adapt the script for the stage.

I’m really getting tired of the lack of creativity within Hollywood and Broadway. Everyday there’s a new remake or adaptation. I understand how turning successful movies into Broadway musicals can be a profitable enterprise, but can we get something new? Can you flex your noggins to create something that we haven’t seen?

Either way, a musical version of Pretty Woman seems hard to pull off. How do you belt out a ballad about turning tricks? And who are they going to find to mimic Julia Roberts‘ annoying laugh when he closes the necklace case on her fingers?

Something tells me that this might be a “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”


Tyson Beckford’s Nephew Charged With Second Degree Murder

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Tyson Beckford Nephew Second Degree Murder

Charges for Tyson Beckford’s nephew Dominic Whilby have been upgraded to second degree murder after drunkenly running into a bus and killing a MTA driver.

Whilby, 23, was driving in a stolen delivery truck when he ran a red light and struck a MTA bus driven by William Pena, 50, cops said. Pena was ejected from the bus and pronounced dead on the scene. Four others suffered minor injuries at the scene.

“The defendant’s actions, as depraved and as wanton as they were, show that no amount of bail is appropriate for this defendant at this time as he is charged with murder in the second degree and other charges,” Assistant District Attorney Randolph Clarke Jr. said in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Whilby was seen partying with Beckford and Victoria’s Secret model Shanina Shaik at 1OAK nightclub before being escorted out for being too hands on with female club goers. He then wandered through the streets until stumbling upon the box truck owned by a distribution company for 18 Rabbits granola. The keys were inside the vehicle and Whilby sped off hitting a scooter, a coffee stand and two parked cars before striking the bus. He blacked out at the scene and was taken to Bellevue Hospital.


Prosecutors said that Whilby admitted to having as many as eight vodka tonics during a private dinner before continuing the party at a downtown hotel. Police found him at the scene “despondent” and told cops “just let me die” at Bellevue Hospital. His blood alcohol was .22 – almost triple the legal limit, said Clarke.

Whilby’s social media feeds portray him as a “free spirited wild child.” “I’m a smoker, religious stoner…” Whilby captioned on one of his Instagram photos.

A judge ordered him to be held without bond against pleas from Harvey Slovis, Whilby’s lawyer.

If convicted, he could face a maximum of life in prison.

Secret Son Sued Mr. T, Claims Neglect And Emotional Scarring

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I pity the fool!”

An alleged secret son sued Mr. T for neglect and emotional scarring during his childhood, claiming T’s absence led him to find solace in gangs.

Alexander Taylor, 25, is the alleged illegitimate son of the gold chain, Mohawk-wearing actor and Vanessa Taylor. His lawsuit claims his dad, real name Laurence Tureaud, was apart of his early childhood, taking him to preschool, but suddenly vanished from his life.

“At the time, Alexander was unaware that his father was famous; he was just a proud little boy … Then all of a sudden, Mr. T walked out of Alexander’s life and never looked back,” the legal complaint states.

The lawsuit continues:

“Mr. T’s emotional child abuse has caused emotional distress resulting in more serious psychological and behavioral problems. These include depression, lack of attachment or emotional bond to family and friends, low cognitive ability, and poor social skills.”

Taylor was suing for $54 million in damages. However, the lawsuit was dismissed due to Taylor’s failure to pay the $400 administrative filing fee.

Victoria’s Secret Shopper Unknowingly Tried On Bloody Bikini Bottom

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An anonymous San Diego Victoria’s Secret shopper unknowingly tried on bloody bikini bottom, and is of course disgusted.

To prep for bikini season, the woman shopped at the Victoria’s Secret at the University Town Center, where she noticed dried menstrual blood on the sanitary lining after removing the bottoms. #Ugh.

According to the shopper:

“[The bikini bottoms] all had the plasticky sanitary strips in them, which I could feel when I was pulling them on. Obviously I left my underwear on, but as I was pulling off a pair of bikini bottoms, I noticed dried blood in the crotch! Not even a small drop – a quarter-sized amount, plus smears, all around the ‘sanitary strip’! It was awful. Somehow that garment had been picked up from the fitting room, PUT BACK ON ITS HANGER, and re-racked where I grabbed it to try on.”

After confronting the store’s manager, she was given hand sanitizer, a 30 percent off coupon, and a wave goodbye. The customer contacted the retailer’s customer service, but was given the runaround.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Post Office Honors Jimi Hendrix With Forever Stamp

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On the heels of the SXSW premiere of biopic All Is By My Side starring Andre 3000, USPS honors legendary electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix with a limited edition “Forever” stamp.

The stamp colorfully resembles a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve, showing Hendrix playing a guitar wearing one of his trademark military jackets.


“Jimi Hendrix helped found three new genres of music — heavy metal, jazz fusion and funk — and in doing so, left behind an indelible mark on pop music and popular culture generally,” said Joseph Corbett, CFO and executive vice president at the postal service, in a release.

Hendrix, a Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer, is on the first stamp of the 2014 USPS Music Icon series. The Janis Joplin stamp will be unveiled later this year. In 2013, Ray Charles, Lydia Mendoza and Johnny Cash all had commemorative stamps.

The special stamp was revealed yesterday during SXSW’s first-day-of-issue ceremony. Hendrix died in 1970, when stamps were only six cents. Stamps sell today for forty nine cents. The special edition halkmark can be purchased online and at select post offices.

Eat These Aphrodisiacs For An Intense Sexual Experience

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UPTOWN_avocadosCourtesy of YourTango

People have been talking about aphrodisiacs for hundreds of years, but not many have honed in on the scientifically-based reasoning behind why aphrodisiacs are a critical compliment to a thriving, passionate long-term relationship. Nor have they explained why the order in which you consume your food and beverage are a core part of whether or not you receive any benefits from aphrodisiacs. If you are in a relationship, get ready to take some notes and start cooking (in more ways than one).

Basics first, an aphrodisiac is defined as an agent that intensifies sexual desire and increases behaviors that make sex attainable and pleasurable. Essentially these agents should assist you in entering the right frame of mind to feel and act sexy. In my book, there are three categories of aphrodisiacs, which we will get into in a moment. To fully understand the effects of aphrodisiacs, it is important to first have a rudimentary understanding of the basic chemicals, hormones and neurotransmitters that are in play when we are initially in love because these are the same agents you are hoping to bring into play with your aphrodisiacs.

Keep reading on YourTango

Read more from our partner YourTango:

Awkward Birth Control Moments: How To Avoid Them Like The Plague

7 Sex Positions Men Love

How To Be Good In Bed: 4 Things You Must Do!

[Image: Shutterstock]

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