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Comb Her Hair: BK Woman Launches Petition For Blue Ivy’s Hair

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In you-need-a-hobby-other-than-celeb-watching news, a Brooklyn woman took to the web to launch a petition for Beyoncé and husband Jay Z to comb daughter Blue Ivy‘s hair. Jasmine Toliver began a Change.org petition, titled “Comb Her Hair,” this week after a recent photo surfaced of Blue Ivy with her hair matted, unkempt, and loosely braided. And the petition will be “delivered” to Blue Ivy should it get the necessary 2,500 signatures.

The petition reads:

“As a woman who understands the importance of hair care. It’s disturbing to watch a child suffering from the lack of hair moisture. The parents of Blue Ivy. Sean Carter A.K.A Jay-Z and Beyoncé has failed at numerous attempts of doing Blue Ivy Hair. This matter has escalated to the child developing matted dreads and lint balls. Please let’s get the word out to properly care for Blue Ivy hair.”

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Discussions about the 2 year old’s hair have been a hot topic since the Carter clan has apparently decided to let it grow naturally, with minimal maintenance. The “Comb Her Hair” petition currently has over 2,000 signatures. The initial goal was only 1,000.

If you feel strongly enough about the well-being of baby Blue’s hair, sign the petition here. But honestly, is it really yours or Toliver’s business?! Imagine if your child were the source of ridicule veiled with concern … How would you feel?


Ratchery & the Pulpit: Make Room For ‘Preachers’ Exes’

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Ex-wives are definitely winning if reality TV is any indication. A new reality show, “Preachers’ Exes” is being shopped around to networks as I write.

The cast of the “Preachers’ Exes” currently stands as Lynn Littlejohn, Rochelle Wallace, DiShan WintersCheron K. Griffin II, and Ysidra M. Kyles, daughter of Rufus Kyles. (I guess Rev. Mase‘s estranged wife Twyla Betha wasn’t available.)

In the NSFW teaser clip of the show, Griffin talks in a group therapy session about being in the hospital after the birth of her third child, recovering from having her tubes tied, while her pastor husband was at home, watching pοrn and soliciting sex:

“As the preacher’s wife, I felt isolated even in the marriage because no one seemed to care about my pain as the wife who was suffering silently. I did approach my leaders with my issues, but nothing was done. Everyone seemed to care more about us ministering than my home falling apart. This was very difficult for me because I was depressed, misunderstood, and even questioning the God I served and if he really loved me.”

Check out the NSFW teaser on the next page.

The ex-themed reality shows are gaining popularity. Vh1′s “Hollywood Exes” was such a huge hit, a spin-off entitled, “Atlanta Exes,” will premiere this summer. The cast includes Tameka Raymond, ex-wife of R&B crooner Usher; Monyetta Shaw, ex-fiancé of singer Ne-Yo; Torrei Hart, Kevin Hart‘s ex-wife and mother of his two children; Christina Johnson, ex-wife of Cee-Lo Green; and Sheree Buchanan, ex-wife of former pro football player Ray Buchanan.

Will you tune in for “Preachers’ Exes”?

 

Ex-Wife Takes Aries Spears To The Cleaners & Car Dealership

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Comedian Aries Spears‘ ex-wife is walking away from their two-year marriage with some extravagant parting gifts. Elisa Larregui and Spears finalized their divorce a few weeks ago, but recent court documents revealed the outlandish demands Spears is obligated to fulfill.

Spears must buy Larregui a brand new house of her choosing in Florida. The price tag on the new house must range between $300,000 and $375,000. In the divorce settlement, the former “MADtv” actor must also buy her a 2014 Cadillac Escalade. The SUV must be equipped with TVs in the backseat head rests for their 4-year-old son Jordan. The money train doesn’t stop there, either. Larregui has full legal and physical custody of their son, and was awarded $5,000 a month in child support.

But don’t cry for Spears just yet. The court documents his salary as $48,000 — a month!

Larregui filed for divorce on February 7. Four days later, she filed a request for a restraining order against Aries, claiming he swung a baseball bat at her and nearly killed her.

According to Larregui’s restraining order documents, Aries was also a verbally abusive father and had been physically abusive with one of her children from a past relationship.

This Racial Profiling Case Will Have You Shaking Your Head

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A Black man was accused of being an illegal cab driver in New York City after dropping his bi-racial wife to work. Dan Keys Jr., 66, drove his wife Symone Palermo, 53, to work last May. Palermo was riding in the backseat of the couple’s Lincoln Town Car because rain had fallen on the passenger seat. After dropping his wife off at work in the borough of Queens, a New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission officials stopped keys and gave him a summons for operating an illegal, personal cab. Despite efforts to explain the situation, and his wife returning to the scene to vouch for him, investigators still confiscated their vehicle. Palermo received a ticket because the car was in her name.

“We think there was no basis for the TLC to have pulled over my clients in the first instance,” their lawyer, David Haber, told the news site. “Once they pulled over my clients, [the investigators] had many opportunities to let them go—to realize they pulled over the wrong people. Instead they doubled down on their mistake. I believe that they flat-out lied in their summonses.”

A city administrative judge dismissed the summons, although the Commission kept the couple’s car until the case’s conclusion days later.

The pair is suing the Commission for $3 million dollars.

[Image: Aaron Kohr/Shutterstock.com]

Remembering the Life of Ruby Dee [PHOTOS]

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“Paradise is to be the ultimate instrument, fulfilling God’s desperate intent that we love each other.” – Ruby Dee

The answer to the age-old question of what makes a legend is found in the insightful and prolific body of work belonging to acclaimed thespian and civil rights activist Ruby Dee, who passed away peacefully Wednesday at the age of 91. Blessed with a long career on the stage, and in television and film, oftentimes collaborating with late husband Ossie Davis, Dee has won a Grammy, an Emmy, an Obie, and a Drama Desk Award. In 1995, Dee was awarded the National Medal of the Arts, and in 2004, she received the Kennedy Center Honors. Three years later, Dee was nominated for an Oscar at age 83 for Best Supporting Actress in the film American Gangster.

Raised in Harlem, the icon’s first role was in the 1940 play On Striver’s Row and later became most famous for her breakout performance as Ruth Younger in the big screen production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun in 1961. She was a fixture in several Spike Lee Joints, along with Davis, including Do The Right Thing and Jungle Fever.  Until recently, Dee traveled across the country performing her one-woman stage play My One Good Nerve: A Visit with Ruby Dee, which details her astounding life.

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Dee’s activism began at the age of 11 when she spoke at a rally for her music teacher who had committed suicide after funding cuts eliminated her job. Dee was labeled a communist for protesting, in 1953, the execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, the New York couple convicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. She and Davis would later emcee Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington in 1963. In 1965, the couple marched in Selma, AL. And their commitment to civil rights would continue decades later. They were arrested in 1999 for protesting the fatal shooting of immigrant Amadou Diallo by New York police officers.

Last week, at the 2014 Tony Awards, actress Audra MacDonald paid tribute to Dee, crediting her, along with Maya Angelou and Diahann Carroll, for making her career possible. Other celebrities have reacted on social media to the death of the screen legend:

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Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNiel, and Ruby Dee in A Raisin in the Sun

 

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Eric Cantor’s Fall & Bogus Republican Bedtime Stories

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John Boehner, Eric CantorThe simplistic and less troublesome view of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s what-comes-around-goes-around defeat at the hands of a college economics professor is that immigration reform was the culprit.  Cantor, number two Republican in the House and a happily irritating thorn in the side of President Obama, was the casualty of an ongoing political war over immigrants and his party’s future outreach to Latino voters.

One other theory only a brave few have come just short of saying is that Eric Cantor was a straight up asshole.  There, done. You can sense this during the post-mortem press conferences and interviews where no one – on either side of the aisle – uses that exact word, but you know they want to say it.  It’s safe to say that no one else, other than a weeping House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), is saying how much Eric will be missed.  It’s not like there’s any kind of warm, open eulogy for Cantor as he processes what happened in his Virginia 7th Congressional district and attempts to change his abrasive image by humbly moving aside as Majority Leader with quickness.

Relying mostly on immigration as the lead reason is a bit short on creativity, lacking in wisdom and slightly bunkum.  Sure, there’s still a heavy contingent of red state white voters in VA-7 who don’t like the changes happening in their former Confederate cradle state.  But, That’s not the main reason Republican primary voters gave him the boot.  It was just one sliver among many slices of things that vexed Virginians – and a lot of other people – about Eric Cantor.

Among them was the fact that Cantor, plainly put, had become an easy poster face of broken Washington.  Republican primary voters in VA-7, motivated by telegenic Cantor stunt double and tea party neophyte David Brat, had been giving the Majority Leader bitter signals for some time.  He was too busy being Leader of the Punk Obama clown crew to take notice, in addition to meeting the crazy busy demands of being Majority Leader.  But, maybe if he had spent less time trying to trip up the president and more time paying attention to the details in his district (“down to the last blade of grass” as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) put it during a recent press briefing), he might have had a shot at hanging on.

That said, it was hard for Cantor to shake that face – and he wasn’t really making any effort at a makeover.  He seemed content with it.  There was some poking around in urban waters with talk of beefing up school choice proposals, but there’s a higher chance you’d see Cylons blasting your backyard than Eric Cantor giving interviews with Black outlets.

The mainstream conversation over Cantor’s fall is missing the point.  Conveniently, no one wants to ID it as a sign of populist discontent and potential revolt.  Talk of internal Republican rebellions driven by tea party fanatics is an easy sell because it’s a safe thought.  Easier and much more comforting to isolate the problem as something confined to one party rather than acknowledge there’s a larger, national problem in which a whole lot more people are just a bit pissed off and fed up.  So, to make it seem like Cantor or any other Republican ousted in a primary is just isolated tea party bluster is less jarring than violent riot scenes in burning urban centers or Main Streets.

National Journal’s Ron Fournier gives a spot on explainer:     “[W]hat may be in the air is a peaceful populist revolt—a bottom-up, tech-fueled assault on 20th-century political institutions.”

Fournier is being nice about it, though, right after citing the recent Swastika-fueled Las Vegas shootout that blew up like a Natural Born Killers director’s cut.  But, true, there’s nothing to say it will be violent because there’s no data point spelling it out at the moment (pollsters are too scared to ask it, of course).  What we do see is not only a growing gap between rich and poor, but an endless chasm between suit-wearing politicians versus average people in jeans.  Elected officials seem ever more satisfied with keeping it detached when the electorate wants them to keep it real.

Problem is the electorate doesn’t know what it wants.  It’s a bit schizophrenic.  Like Cantor’s district: people don’t want immigration reform, but neither did Cantor and they voted him out anyway.  His opponent, Brat, is an economist who thinks economics is bullshit.  People say they want to keep their social security, Medicare and other entitlements, but a bunch vote for candidates against that because they believe some black guy in Washington wants to give it all away to people who don’t look like them. Many want no national debt, but they sure get nervous when House Republicans go trigger happy on the debt ceiling.  You say you don’t want government shutdowns, but you egg on the people who create them.  You don’t want to stay in Afghanistan, but you don’t like the way we’re pulling out of it.  It goes on.

The other problem, and most untold story, is that Brat’s election wasn’t so much about voters liking Brat as it was about dissing cats who stand for inauthentic politics and status quo.  It was all about poking fingers in the eye of the Man.  And, it’s really just as simple as that.  Political polarization is at an all-time high, as Pew points out in the wake of Cantor’s slip. Trust in government has dropped from 60% in 2002 to 19% now.  Sure, we can believe all the nicely crafted tea party monster in the closet bed time stories all we want.  Something is in the air … that we know.  Sidestepping it like a pile of shit on the sidewalk won’t make it go away.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran political strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for UPTOWN Magazine and host of #Uptownhall.  He’s also Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor to The Root.  He can be reached @charlesdellison.

Gay Man Beaten By Mob During Motor City Pride Speaks

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The victim of a mob attack during the Motor City Pride festival says he’s still in shock after the video of his attack went viral. Local police are calling the attack a hate crime.

Detroit native Christin Howard, 20, said he believes his attackers targeted him because he is gay. Howard said he posed to take a picture with a woman who recognized him from his Instagram profile, in which he goes by the name Chong Lee. As he and the girl were taking pictures, one man starting yelling gay slurs at him and commenting his hair extensions.

“He stood behind me and said, ‘This [gay slur] with the long hair, you think you have a right to wear long hair?’” Howard told the Detroit Press. From there, he believes that at least five more men approached him and began attacking him.

In the YouTube video posted Monday, Howard can be seen attempting to defend himself while a mob of men are seen kicking and punching him in the face. The attack lasts just under a minute. A number of other males joined in and quickly left as Howard was left lying in the grass. No one comes to his aid until after the assault. As of June 12, a repost of the video by WXYZ-TV Detroit has been watched close to 10,000 times.

Detroit police interviewed Howard on Tuesday and are confident that the men in the video will be found and held responsible for the beating. Chief James Craig has labeled the attack a hate crime due to the use of gay slurs. Pictures of Howard’s injuries quickly surfaced. He said he suffered a fractured finger, damage to his left eye causing vision problems, and bruises on his face and neck.

The attack has left Howard with more than just physical scars. “Now every time I see a group of guys I get that same feeling that I’m about to be bashed or they’re about to say something,” Howard said. “I feel like I have quick flashbacks and just jump a little bit,” he added. He said he no longer feels safe at the festival and has no plans to attend again. While no one came to his aid during the attack, Howard is grateful for the outpouring of support that he received on Twitter using the hashtag #justiceforchonglee.

“We are already taking steps to work with the Detroit Police Department to review and revise our safety and security plans for next year,” Motor City Pride chair David Wait said in a statement released by Equality Michigan.

DUI Driver Gets 55 Years for Driving With Dying Man On Windshield

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The substance abuse counselor convicted for hitting a passerby and driving with the dying man on her windshield received a sentence of 55 years to life in prison Thursday. Sherri Lynn Wilkins, 53, was emotional in court during her sentencing hearing for the charges of second-degree murder, driving under the influence and hit-and-run.

Wilkins drove from the substance abuse facility with a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when she struck 31-year-old Phillip Moreno in November 2012. Wilkins drove 2 miles through the city of Torrance before other motorists flagged her down at a traffic light and kept her there until police arrived. Moreno later died at a local hospital.

In his explanation for the sentence, Superior Court Judge Henry Hall centered on the fact that this was not an unfortunate act but rather a “cruel murder.” Hall told the court that Wilkins demonstrated “an extraordinary callousness in fleeing the scene and trying to shake Mr. Moreno’s body off her car.” During a review of Wilkins rap sheet, the judge noted a series of drug-related crimes with a penchant for alcohol abuse.

Wilkins testified that she didn’t see Moreno coming- it was as if he “fell from the sky.” She admitted that she consumed three single-serving bottles of vodka and a can of Budweiser beer and Clamato before driving as a form of self-medication before an upcoming surgery.

Wilkins apologized to the family of Moreno for the first time since the accident saying “I am sorry for the pain I caused you. It hurt so many people.” Family members and a friend of Moreno rejected her apology.

“You made sure Phillip went without any goodbyes. I wish the same for you. As of today, you will no longer exist to society. You will be just a number,” Moreno’s niece, Alyssa Moreno told Wilkins.

Wilkins’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Nan Whitfield, said she plans to appeal the sentence.

Photo credit: AP


PF Chang’s Investigates Credit Card Security Breach

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Just when you thought all was back to normal and it was safe to pay for a meal with a credit or debit card, hackers strike again. This time the target is PF Chang’s.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro confirms that there has been a breach involving data from customers’ credit and debit cards used at its restaurants between March and May. The company says it learned of the security breach on Tuesday from the U.S. Secret Service and began investigating the breach with the agency and a team of forensics experts. Credit and debit cards were exposed during the breach, but they have not pinpointed  how many cards were affected. Company officials also are working on finding out the exact dates of when the security breach started and what stores were affected.

The Arizona based chain is taking extra precautions for now by going old school and using manual credit card imprinting devices at all of it’s P.F. Chang’s restaurants to process card payments for the duration of the investigation.

On the company’s website they have released a statement that they have created a public website, pfchangs.com/security, for customers to receive updates and answers to their questions. Patrons can also call 1-877-782-6356 for additional questions. The company is also encouraging its customers to be vigilant about checking credit card and bank statements and to report any fraudulent activity immediately.

There are over 200 P.F. Chang’s restaurants around the country. This breach comes on the heels of security breaches at Target, Neiman Marcus, Michaels, and Sally Beauty Supply.

Photo credit: PF Changs

Could ‘Chappelle’s Show’ Be Returning?

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Dave Chappelle cleared the air during an appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” He never quit “Chappelle’s Show,” he insisted to David Letterman. Instead, he’s simply late — seven years to be exact. So could that mean that Chappelle is coming back to pick up where he left off? Chappelle neither confirmed nor denied during his interview.

The promise of a third season of the hit Comedy Central show undoubtedly has fans of the show excited. The first two seasons pulled in record numbers during their premieres and the DVD sales surpassed “The Simpsons” as the No. 1 all-time TV-DVD. Yet, production halted on the third season in 2005 as a result of Chappelle’s “illness,” which was rumored to be a thinly disguised plot for him to disappear to South Africa. Later he told Oprah in 2006, he was burned out and unable to tap into his creative juices. The South Africa rumors were confirmed during the Letterman interview as a two-week vacation he said because “America doesn’t have a lot of hiding places.”

During his downtime, Chapelle had time to get back to his roots. Last year, he signed on to co-headline Funny Or Die’s Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival and made surprise visits to a few comedy clubs. Those too came with controversy. Chappelle had an on-stage meltdown during a Hartford, Conn. show, in which he stopped the show, sat on a stool and smoked until the end of his set. He later said the front-row audience members were drunk and too loud. Even legend Prince featured Chappelle’s parody of him on “Breakfast Can Wait.”

When asked about the rumored $50 million deal for finishing the third season, Chappelle commented that money can’t buy you everything. But he told Letterman he doesn’t have any regrets for walking away from a huge amount of money, besides the occasional case of the what ifs. Well Chappelle, if you ever feel like ruling the airwaves again we’ll be waiting for you.

Police Officers Suspended For Wearing Blackface To Party

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A handful of French police officers thought it was a good idea to wear blackface, scratch themselves like monkeys and take pictures of it at a party.

The officers from the Parisian suburb Kremlin-Bicetre are under investigation for the offensive pictures that surfaced on social media last week. The pictures, showing the officers smiling with their shoe polished faces with bananas and a bucket of nuts, quickly went viral.

“If the police officers who have the responsibility to fight racism are busy making fun of black people than defending them, it could explain why things have advanced so little in this domain,” says Louis-Georges Tin, President of the Conseil Represantatif des Associations Noires.
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This photo scandal follows a string of high-profile racist taunts towards France’s black Justice Minister Christiane Taubira. Last November, the French magazine Minute published a cover with the headline, “Crafty as a monkey, Taubira gets her banana back.”

The officers could be fined or fired for their racist behavior.

 

 

Who Is The First Billionaire Athlete?

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Welcome to the billionaire boys’ club Michael Jordan! The unmatched basketball talent is now the first billionaire athlete, according to Forbes, as a result of his increased stake in the Charlotte Hornets from 80 percent to 89.5 percent. Jordan’s net worth jumped from $750 million to billionaire status.

Jordan, 51, first became an investor in the Hornets, formerly known as the Bobcats, in 2006. He became the majority owner of the team in 2010 when he bought out Robert Johnson for $175 million.

In addition to his controlling ownership of am NBA franchise, Jordan’s sneaker deal with Nike is a cash cow. Just last year, the Jordan shoe brand made $2.25 billion dollars alone. His shoes make up 5 percent of Nike’s overall revenue.

The Space Jam star also has had endorsement deals since the start of his legendary career. He’s been a major spokesperson for McDonald’s, Wheaties, Hanes, Gatorade, and Coca Cola.

The six-time NBA champion wed his model girlfriend, Yvette Prieto, in April 2013. The couple welcomed identical twin girls, Victoria and Ysabel, in February 2014. The former Chicago Bull has three kids with ex-wife Juanita Vanoy.

Outkast: ATLast Concert Will Hit Atlanta in September

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Big Boi and Andre 3000 of OutKast perform at the 2014 Governors Ball Music Festival on June 6, 2014 in New York City.

It’s official, the Atliens are coming home! Today, hip-hop duo Outkast announced they will land in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on September 27, according to Billboard.

Antwan “Big Boi” Patton and Andre “3000” Benjamin will put on a one-day concert festival, dubbed Outkast: ATLast, which will feature special guests to be announced at a later date. The group will also perform an extended headlining set, that’s sure to make you “Git up, Git Out” and attend this show.

“It’s only right that we give the hometown what we’ve been giving the rest of the world, Atliens in ATL, homecoming! Festival Killers,” said Big Boi in a statement.

“Coming from Atlanta gave us the freedom to be whatever we ever wanted to be because no one was paying attention. Now that everyone is, we want to say thank you, ” added Andre 3000.

Uptown_OutkastatlastposterThis year, the Grammy Award-winning group kicked off an international headlining tour, which includes more than 40 dates throughout the summer, for their first live shows in years. The tour came close to Atlanta in April when the rap legends played the CounterPoint Music & Arts Festival in Rome, Georgia, about 60 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

The Outkast: ATLast concert will have its own website where you can check for updates. Tickets go on sale June 18 at 10 a.m. EST on Ticketmaster.

Government Proposes Lifting Marijuana Restrictions in Jamaica

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UPTOWN_marijuana_leaf_rasta_colorsFor an island known for its marijuana and Rastafarian culture, it was a bit perplexing to many tourists that the green is illegal in Jamaica. But the government is proposing to lift marijuana restrictions in Jamaica, decriminalizing small amounts of pot. The new legislation will allow legal marijuana possession for religious, scientific, and medical purposes.

Justice Minister Mark Golding said the Cabinet is supporting a proposal to make possession of no more than two ounces of marijuana, locally referred to as ganja, a petty offense that would result in a fine, but not a criminal arrest. Under the current law, approximately 300 young men receive criminal records a week for a small possession of marijuana.

But tourists shouldn’t rejoice just yet …

[Image: Shutterstock]

“I wish to stress that the proposed changes to the law are not intended to promote or give a stamp of approval to the use of ganja for recreational purposes,” Golding said. “The objective is to provide a more enlightened approach to dealing with possession of small quantities.”

The new law is a major win for the Rastafarian spiritual movement. Believers smoke marijuana to bring them closer to “the most high, Jah Rastafari,” but are fearful of possible prosecution.

In addition, the new legislation will allow those previously convicted for possessing small amounts of marijuana to have their criminal records expunged.

AIQ…Tichina Arnold, Columbus Short, Rihanna & more…

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No need for an umbrella because celebrities are throwing shade left and right! This week in celebrity quotes, Tichina Arnold rips French Montana’s head off Mortal Kombat style, Columbus Short makes an O.J. Simpson joke when asked about upcoming domestic abuse case, and Rihanna thinks TLC are a bunch of old, jealous THOTS! Plus, Syleena Johnson compares Blue Ivy’s hair to the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard. AND I QUOTE…

tichina-arnold-profile“Man oh man. Mr. Montana, I’ve perused (read through with thoroughness and care) your #instagram profile description, pictures & posts… but despite my determined effort, I STILL don’t have a CLUE to one very simple question… “Who ARE you?”.. I mean other than reading that you’ve dated a Kardashian, and you seem to enjoy taking extraneous pictures with LEGITIMATE celebrities, I’m baffled (perplexed, confused) as to WHO you are & WHAT you actually DO?…”

Tichina Arnold ripping into  rapper French Montana, for raggin on her less-than-flattering selfie, via Instagram.

Continue reading more at UPTOWN.

20075662.jpg-r_640_600-b_1_D6D6D6-f_jpg-q_x-xxyxx“If the glove don’t fit then they must acquit. That’s all I got!”

Columbus Short making an O.J. Simpson joke when asked about his upcoming court appearance for domestic abuse case, via TMZ.

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rihanna-dior“Phuck what a old thot gotta say!”

Rihanna slamming group TLC for their negative criticism of her sheer Josephine Baker-inspired CFDA gown, via Twitter.

EF8676311DC966BB4EF563D2762EB2“And don’t be an a**hole.”

Shonda Rhimes telling graduates how not to conduct themselves in this world, during her 2014 commencement ceremony speech at Dartmouth College.

Source

Porsha-Williams-facebook“I need you to be able to tear down some macaroni and cheese and collard greens. I’mma need you to know how to go to church and catch the Holy Ghost. I’mma need you to be able to do all that if we’re going to be together. If there’s a White dude who can get down like that, come forth.”

Porsha Williams sharing online dating tips and what her man needs to bring to table to keep her attention, in an interview on BET’s “106th & Park.”

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RBDivas_Syleena_GlamShot1_300x400She’s giving me ODB.”

Syleena Johnson comparing Blue Ivy’s hairstyle to that of The Wu-Tang Clan’s most colorful member, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, in an interview with KeKe Wyatt and Tamar Braxton via  The Ryan Report.

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26176“Technically, I never quit. I’m seven years late for work.”  

Dave Chappelle joking that never quit his tv show “Chappelle’s Show” nor did he lose his mind, in an interview on “Late Night” with David Letterman.

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No Child Support, No Property: Stevie J Could Lose It All

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Stevie JWhile Stevie J is toasting it up in the clubs of ATL and on our television screens every week on “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta,” court documents suggest the reality star/producer is close to losing it all due to his failure to pay child support. The star was arrested earlier this week for $1.2 million in back pay.

According to TMZ, New York state has issued papers informing Stevie J– whose real name is Steven Jordan– it reserves the right to seize any property he owns. The order, of course, includes his Georgia pad which houses wife Joseline Hernandez and his Versace dishes.

The state reportedly sent Jordan four separate notifications about his property between 2011 and 2013. He chose to ignore the notices.

In 1999, Jordan was ordered to pay $6,600 a month in child support for the kids he had with his then live-in girlfriend. The payment was eventually raised to $8,600 a month, yet he stopped making payments in 2001.

“Steven Jordan failed to pay over $1 million in child support even while earning substantial income from his participation in a reality television show,” said. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. Prosecutors allege Jordan earned $193,000 on “LHHATL” and another $100,000 from music royalties in 2013, proving that he has the means to pay off his tab.

If convicted, Jordan faces up to two years in prison.

Photo courtesy of PacificCoastNews.com

In addition to “LHHATL,” Jordan is best known for his work with Sean “Diddy” Combs, JAY Z, Mariah Carey, The Notorious B.I.G., Eve and other.

Dead New Orleans Woman Keeps The Party Going At Her Funeral [VIDEO]

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A deceased New Orleans woman is going out with a bang with the help of her two daughters. In a unique farewell earlier this month, Miriam “Mae Mae” Burbank was remembered as the life of the party.

Instead of a traditional service, the 53-year-old’s homegoing featured her sitting in a mock living room with her menthol  cigarettes, two disco balls, a case of her favorite Busch beer and a bottle of Glenlivet whiskey. Daughter Zymora Kimball said she received a little resistance from friends and family, but that didn’t stop her from continuing on with her plans.

Burbank was dressed in black and gold to represent her love for the New Orleans Saints and was sent off as loved ones partied in her honor. The N.O. native passed away on June 1 and was remembered as being full of life.

“They said that they didn’t want a traditional, religious-type service. [Miriam] was just one of those people that enjoyed life, enjoyed living, just enjoyed people,” said Lyelle Bellard, intern funeral director at Charbonnet Funeral Home.

Check out the footage after the jump.

Photo courtesy of WGNO/ABC News

Eve Ties The Knot In Spain

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Eve, MaximillionCongratulations are in order for rapper Eve who tied the knot with Maximillion Cooper on Saturday in Ibiza, Spain. The couple made things official after a four-year courtship.

The beautiful bride walked down the aisle in a stunning wedding gown from British designer Alice Temperley as she met her beau, the British Gumball 3000 motor rally CEO and co-founder, at the alter. She was accompanied by her mother Julia Wilch-Jeffers.

“I’m so happy to make Eve my wife,” Cooper told E! News. “The whole experience has been amazing and we are both so happy to have tied the knot.”

“We met on the 2010 Gumball 3000 rally so it only seemed right to have the wedding at the finish of this years rally in Ibiza, which was the final stop on this years event. We couldn’t be happier to celebrate such a special day with all our family and friends.”

This is the first marriage for Eve, who became engaged in December. Cooper was previously married and shares four children with his ex-wife. The happy couple first met at the 2010 Gumball 3000 event and the rapper has since been dubbed the “First Lady of Gumball.”

Photo courtesy of Graffiti

Best wishes to Eve and Maximillion!

Radio Legend Casey Kasem Dies At 82

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Casey Kasem

Casey Kasem, the legendary radio personality whose career spanned nearly four decades, has died. He was 82.

The star’s agent confirmed the news Sunday (June 15) after Kasem had been hospitalized in Washington state for two weeks. He had been suffering from Lewy body disease, the most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s.

“Early this Father’s Day morning, our dad Casey Kasem passed away surrounded by family and friends,” Kasem’s children wrote in a statement. “Even though we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering, we are heartbroken … The world will miss Casey Kasem, an incredible talent and humanitarian; we will miss our Dad.”

After serving as a disc jockey and radio announcer while serving in the U.S. Army, Kasem rose to fame when he started the iconic “American Top 40″ in 1970. The program ran through 1988, playing the top-selling singles from America’s biggest artists. During the 1980s, he introduced the syndicated television series “America’s Top 10″ as a spinoff to his popular radio show.

In 1985, Kasem was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Kasem was at the center of an ugly court battle between his three children and his second wife Jean Kasem. As the family publicly duked it out, a Los Angeles Country judge ultimately gave daughter Kerri Kasem the authority to have doctors end his infusions of water, food and medicine.

Photo courtesy of The Associated Press

A memorial service will be held on Friday.

 

Global Sips [Recipes]

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uptown global sips 2 rotator

If a getaway seems farfetched right now, travel to an exotic land by savoring the flavors of one of these triptastic cocktails.


global sips brazil BRAZILIAN BIKINI
Take a direct flight to the sexy shores of Rio and the dynamic energy of the clubs in São Paolo with this version of the
Caipirinha, the staple drink of the country.

1 ½ oz. Avuá Cachaça
4 Lime Wedges
2 Pineapple Wedges
1 Teaspoon Sugar
2 oz. Club Soda

Garnish: Pineapple triangle

Glassware: Highball Glass
Muddle limes, pineapple and sugar in a shaker tin to release the juice and oils. Add cachaça and ice and shake. Pour into a highball glass and top with club soda. Garnish with pineapple triangle.


global sips singaporeSingapore
SINGAPORE SOUR
A spin on the classic sour cocktail, the f avors of the Filipino citrus fruit calamansi and lemongrass combine to create an Asian rendezvous ideal for taking in five-star views from the rooftop pool of Singapore’s Marina Bay
Sands or lounging on the gorgeous beaches of Sentosa.

2 oz. Maker’s Mark
1 oz. Lemongrass Simple Syrup
½ oz. Calamansi Juice
1 oz. Club Soda

Garnish: Orange Twist

Glassware: Rocks Glass
Add Maker’s Mark, lemongrass simple syrup and calamansi juice into shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with an orange twist.

global sips japanTokyo
CHERRY BLOSSOM
A perfect representation of this stylish and aggressive city, the Cherry Blossom, made with plum wine and cherries, delivers a sweet and tart taste.

1 oz. Plum Wine
1 oz. Hendrick’s Gin
½ oz. Simple Syrup
2 dashes Cherry Bitters
¼ oz. Lemon Juice

Garnish: Brandied Cherry

Glassware: Stemless Wine Glass
Add wine, gin, simple syrup, bitters and lemon juice into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into an ice filled stemless wine glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry. Arigato!


global sips mexicoMexico City
LA PALOMA
This classic cocktail evokes the essence of Mexico City, a magical metropolis where tradition collides with modernism. The boldness of tequila blends with the bite of grapefruit, creating the perfect balance, accented by the heat from the chile salt rim.

1 ½ oz. Jose Cuervo
Traditional Tequila
½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
3 oz. Grapefruit Soda
(Squirt, Jarritos Toronja
or Fresca)

Garnish: Chile Salt and a Lime Wheel

Glassware: Highball Glass

Add tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda into a shaker. Shake vigorously. Coat rim of a highball glass with chile salt. Pour into highball glass, garnish with lime wheel and serve.

BY JOSEPH D. SOLIS

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