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Secretly Recorded Video Exposes Startling Revelations About Black Women in Hollywood

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Black people do actually have secret meetings. And now there’s video proof, specifically of subject matter that most people would not believe: Black women run Hollywood.

Funnyordie.com assembled a cast, which includes Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Alfre Woodard, Tracee Ellis Ross, Meagan Good and Loretta Devine, to solidify that these phenomenal women can do it all.

Unfortunately, as the clip states, black actresses receive the shorter end of the stick in Hollywood, with a lack of representation. So black producers and creators (including the ones behind Think Like A Man Too, opening this Friday) are taking matters into their own hands, by assembling an almost all-black cast.

The ladies flip stereotypes on their heads and toy with the notion that black women are actually hiding in Hollywood, because they do not want the world to know their darkest secret–that they run the world.

Beginning at a make believe movie premiere for fictional movie My Brotha’s Wedding, the ladies take Jurnee to a dark chamber, where hilarity ensues. Tracee Ellis Ross explains black women’s power and Alfre Woodard tells the young actress, that she is playing  a nanny in a George Clooney movie, where she will secretly gather data to for a rescue mission.

Watch the funny skit below.


Rickey Smiley: The Mogul Next Door

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Rickey Smiley can’t keep quiet.

The Southern-bred comic is sitting in a barber’s chair, in the lower level of his Birmingham home getting a haircut, with his beloved Omega Psi Phi emblazoned on his chest, effortlessly cracking jokes without pause. When his brand strategist Marvet Britto (who has been instrumental in the careers of Mariah Carey and Hill Harper) speaks of an event she wants to plan for him, he immediately boils the dress code down to “open casket sharp!” (Coincidentally, his 2011 BET special Rickey Smiley: Open Casket Sharp became a Walmart bestseller.) Seconds later, he’s recounting a childhood memory of how both of his grandmothers would circle the obituaries “like they was job-hunting” which would result in his great-grandmother driving all of them around “visiting.” For a young boy, the practice was confusing.

“I was like ‘damn these are pretty ass people lying in these nice hospital beds.’ I was about eight years old before I realized them people were dead,” he smiles, insisting it’s a true story. Funny is in his bones, but so is business. Before the laughter subsides, Smiley begins brainstorming on creating yet another vehicle—beyond the sold-out stage shows, his radio anchor The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, FOX syndicated show Dish Nation, TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show and many successful recordings—to get more of these hilarious stories out.

How would he find the time? Smiley’s Atlanta-based radio show is now in 70 markets, reaching over 10 million listeners every morning. On top of that, Dish Nation, where he and his crew alternate with other radio personalities, mainly in Dallas, giving their nightly spin on the pop culture headlines du jour, has hit number one in New York—despite it not being a market for his radio show—plus the laughfest pulls strong ratings in L.A. and other key markets. And with another 26 episodes, his sitcom will soon hit syndication: the holy grail of television.


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“I’ve just had some great and wonderful opportunities but my opportunities now are just going through the roof,” he says. That’s only because Smiley stays one step ahead. “I have a diction coach now. I’ve been practicing. I read the teleprompter every day so I’m prepared.”

“It’s not about telling jokes anymore. You have to be a great storyteller,” he continues, describing today’s comedy landscape. “You got to bring people into your neighborhood. You got to be animated and years of experience [will] get you into that space and you just crack people up. And don’t take yourself so serious. That’s what brought on my success.” And by no means is he stopping there.

“I am excited about building the Rickey Smiley brand,” he beams. “I love having a sitcom and working on the set all day. I love having a syndicated radio show, getting up every morning and making people laugh all over the country and then taping Dish Nation. It’s hard work and that’s what it takes to get to the top and we’re on our way.”

Born and raised in Birmingham, the entertainer just has hard work, thanks to his granddad, in his DNA. Similar to many of his black predecessors— namely the controversial multi-millionaire and multi-hyphenate Tyler Perry—Smiley has amassed a quiet fortune and loyal following through what some call a modern-day chitlin’ circuit comprised of smaller Southern cities like his hometown and larger Midwestern ones such as Chicago. And like many of his more well-known comedic counterparts, he eventually worked his way to the then-popular round of shows such as It’s Showtime at the Apollo and Def Comedy Jam and he even helmed BET’s Comic View—in 2000 and 2004, when black comedy was expanding—and it was there, in 1997, that he unleashed Lil Darryl, his seminal character based on the annoying primary school friend we all had. It was a major turning point.

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“Lil Darryl changed my life. It changed everybody’s life. That year every [fraternity and sorority], whoever had a line that year and the year after that and the year after that, somebody on line was named Lil Darryl. Even my Lil Darryl First 48 (modeled off of the A&E series) probably got a million hits on YouTube. Lil Darryl got a vine video that’s hilarious. I got kids that love Lil Darryl that were not even born when I first did it. Lil Darryl has been reborn,” he smiles.

Other fan favorites include Church Announcements with Sister Bernice Jenkins, where he incorporates the hilarity of his extensive church background and his popular prank calls. Although Smiley, also an accomplished pianist and other instrumentalist, first realized he was funny around seventh grade, it wasn’t until his senior year at Alabama State University in Montgomery, where he majored in music, that he turned to comedy.

When a local comic snapped on his high-box fade, he took the mic and let him know, “Man, yo momma hair so short when she braid it up, it look like stitches,” and the whole auditorium erupted. “I was popular on campus from that point on. I was known. That’s when I made my mark,” he recalls. Performing locally around Birmingham, particularly at The Comedy Club Stardome, owned by Bruce Ayers, who helped nurture the early careers of both Tim Allen and Sinbad, Smiley got an even bigger break when he attracted the attention of another more established comedian on the rise.

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“Steve Harvey put me on,” Smiley shares with gratitude and astonishment still in his voice. “He came to Birmingham and decided he was going to work with me. I was blessed to open up for his [tour] The Kings of Comedy a few times. I would have to be in the hotel lobby early to ride in the limousine with Steve and I was a nervous wreck.

“I would scoot all the way up, [sitting] back to back with the driver, staying out of the way. Steve would get in, my heart [would be] beating fast, I didn’t know what kind of mood he was in. He got sick of me telling him ‘thank you,’” he laughs. Harvey linked Smiley with his other protégé, Cedric the Entertainer, and soon Smiley was traversing the country opening for both of them. But Harvey’s mentorship didn’t stop there. When he left his Radio One show in Dallas, he recommended Smiley, who was already doing radio in Birmingham, to take his place. Alabama’s finest brought more than laughs to J.R. Ewing’s backyard.

“I did a lot of stuff in the community. We got the first African American district attorney, Craig Watkins, elected. We got a little girl [Shaquanda Cotton, who was accused of shoving a teacher] out of jail. It made Inside Edition, CNN. We made some great strides while I was in Dallas, so [Radio One CEO] Alfred Liggins decided he wanted to syndicate my show.”


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Despite enormous success, for the self-proclaimed “good ole country boy,” family matters most. In Smiley’s home of nine bedrooms and as many baths—on five acres of lush greenery, with a pool, lake and adjacent golf course—church and Sunday dinner are mandatory. Going to the bigger lake, grilling on the property and watching movies are favored pastimes.

“It’s a real simple life. We ain’t balling out and popping Champagne!” Bottle service is not a priority, but his kids certainly are. They are the centerpiece of the home he says he decorated personally, “to look nice and be comfortable.” In addition to his two biological children—Brandon, 24 and Malik, 13—the divorced father has raised his daughter D’Essence, 16, since she was 2 years old and he has pitched in to parent the kids of his relatives, fraternity brother and many others in need.

“I have been helping to feed kids since I was 15 years old,” he explains. “[There] were kids in the community, their parents were on drugs. I started out boiling hot dogs and making sandwiches for kids that didn’t have anything to eat.” He wishes for his generosity and fatherhood, not wealth and fame, to be his ultimate legacy.

“I enjoy being the best father I can be and being an awesome father to the fatherless. My dad was murdered and taken away from me when I was 7 so I know what it’s like growing up without a dad, even though I had an awesome granddad and uncles. But to be able to fill that void for somebody else is just incredible. I would actually pay money to do it.”

Related: Behind the Scenes at the Rickey Smiley Cover Shoot


CREDITS:

Stylist Provi Fulp-Ramphal Assistant to Stylist Iman Aziz Groomer Will Hudson Make-Up: Denise Tunnell Post-Production Bianca Carosio Videographer: Mustafa Mahdi Assistant to Mr. Smiley Angie Price

On Cover/at pool: Tuxedo & Bow Tie (both custom): Suit Supply; Shirt: Tom Ford; Shoe: Top Shop UK; Pocket Round: Smiley’s own; Glasses: Tom Ford

In office : Shirt, Pant, Hat: Ted Baker; Shoe: Converse Jack Purcell; Glasses: Smiley’s own.; (living room): Shirt Michael Kors; Pant: Kent & Curwen; Shoe: Converse Jack Purcell

At Piano: (on Rickey): Sweater: Ted Baker; Shirt: Bloomingdales atlanta; Pant: Ralph Lauren; Shoe: Sperry Topsider; Glasses: Rickey Smiley for America’s Best Collection

 

Behind the Scenes at the Rickey Smiley Cover Shoot

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With a God-given talent to create laughter and two decades of hard work, Rickey Smiley has built his own formidable media empire. As this Birmingham-born jester creeps up on superstardom, he opens the doors to his sprawling home, and also his heart, speaking candidly about his struggle, his rise and the loves of his life in our cover story The Mogul Next Door.

Check out this video and more behind the scenes images from the cover shoot after the jump.





Stylist Provi Fulp-Ramphal; Assistant to Stylist Iman Aziz Groomer; Will Hudson; Make-Up: Denise Tunnell

Post-Production Bianca Carosio; Videographer: Mustafa Mahdi; Assistant to Mr. Smiley Angie Price

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Suit (custom), Shirt, Shoe: Suit Supply; Pocket Square: Stylist’s own; Glasses: Smiley’s own

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Tuxedo and Bow Tie: Suit Supply (custom); Shirt: Tom Ford; Shoes: Top Shop UK; Pocket Round: Smiley’s own; Glasses: Tom Ford

Azealia Banks Sends for Tiny Harris, T.I. Fires Back

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Unfortunately for rapper Azealia Banks, becoming a household name is easier said than done. In the last three years of her career, she’s only managed to score one hit single, 2012′s “212,” which got her praise from “I Am A God” emcee himself, Kanye West. But since then, aside from attending the MET ball with Alexander Wang, for whom she did a fashion campaign, all has been quiet on the western front for the 23-year-old Harlem native.

Azealia’s recent Twitter beefs have not helped her solidify a release date for her debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste. But Monday, after hearing of her nemesis Iggy Azalea‘s new effort with T.I., entitled “No Mediocre,” Banks tweeted: “You want no mediocre…but have you seen your wife?” Of course this prompted T.I. to publish the following to his Instagram page:

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Tiny kept it cute and quite mute for the most part, but did send out the following meme of Rihanna:

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Well damn.

T.I.’s insult-laced tirade was also full of threats, and caused Banks to impulsively tweet before deleting  most of the following:

 

T.I. and Banks have a long history of beefing. Last year, when his protege Iggy Azalea was asked about feud her with Banks, during a radio interview, T.I. caught heat for getting involved in a  “girl fight.”

Darrin Gayles Becomes 1st Openly Gay, Black Male Federal Judge

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The Senate has confirmed the first openly gay, Black male to a top-level federal judgeship on Tuesday.  In a 98-0 vote, Darrin Gayles has been named district court judge in Florida.

Gayles is in good company, with another one of President Barack Obama‘s nominees, Staci Yandle, who is an openly gay, Black woman and federal district court judge in Illinois.

The White House said the vote was a landmark, bringing Obama’s tally of appointed federal judges to 112, more than any other president.

The representation of LGBTQ people of color is unprecedented and speaks to the power of voters to change the face of their representatives in government.

Gayles was nominated by President Obama after Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, stopped the appointment  of a previous openly gay, Black nominee, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge William Thomas, because of what Rubio called his decision making in some cases.

Don’t Believe Dr. Oz’s Weight Loss Hype

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Dr. Mehmet Oz came under fire from Congress on Tuesday after making false claims about weight loss aids and supplements on his popular daytime talk show. The doctor has a strong group of supporters that follow his advice and take his suggestions very seriously. Yesterday, however, Dr. Oz admitted to not having scientific proof of the success of all of the products he  supports.

Weight loss is a frequent topic on “The Dr. Oz Show,” mostly as a result of the amount of people that suffer from obesity and the many methods that are available to fight it. While Dr. Oz has not specifically endorsed a brand or company, he has mentioned supplements that he believes will combat obesity.

According to Senator Claire McCaskill, chairman of the consumer protection panel, Dr. Oz makes allusions that give the impression that certain products are miracle workers on his television show, even when he knows the supplements don’t work that way. Dr. Oz admitted that the products he suggests are not all scientifically tested, but studied personally by using his family as test subjects.

Dr. Oz on fat loss

In a 2012 episode, Dr. Oz proclaimed that green coffee was a good weight loss aid for all body types. After that episode aired, a Florida-based company produced and distributed a dietary supplement with the name Pure Green Coffee, using Dr. Oz as its endorser. Dr. Oz, however, claims that he knows the importance of exercise, proper eating, and other techniques for weight loss, in addition to these supplements. He also warns his viewers that these supplements are only short-term and should not be used to replace diet and exercise.

Dr. Oz told Congress that he never endorses brands, so any company that uses his name, photo, or TV show clips are false and illegal.

The Redskins Will Be in Search of a New Name

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) cancelled the trademark registration for the Redskins on Wednesday morning. The Washington, DC football team has been accused of being offensive and outright racist for continuing to use the racial slur, but today action has been taken against it.

The name, which was registered in 1933, has been repeatedly argued as disparaging to Native Americans. The cancellation of this trademark comes after a 2006 case brought in by law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath which represented a group of Native Americans that felt the team’s name was offensive. The USPTO says it could not approve the name because it was in violation of federal trademark laws banning offensive language.

Change Redskins Name Protests

This is not the first trademark cancellation for the D.C. football team. The name was previously cancelled in 1999, because of the same accusations, but the decision was later repealed. At this time, the name has been cancelled, but the team has to decide if it wants to continue to use the name. The USPTO will likely urge the team to officially change it and change all of its affiliated merchandise.

[Image: Al Jazeera]

Star Style: Michael Ealy Dapperly Steals Hearts

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If you were to reflect on some of the most memorable periods in pop culture, the ’90s would come to mind. From the music to television shows to actors who came on the scene, we were entertained in every aspect. Among the list of actors who caught just about everyone’s attention (women especially) was Michael Ealy, whom we first spotted him in the film Barbershop. Audiences of the big screen were introduced to a talented shining star with a cool demeanor and dreamy blue eyes who was sure to draw in loyal fans for years to come. Come this Friday, those fans will flock to theaters to see Ealy in his latest film, Think Like A Man Too, co-starring Kevin Hart, Terrence J, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union, Romany Malco, and others.

But even when he’s not wowing us on-screen, Ealy is a dapper don. So, if the dreamy man in your life is looking to add subtle suave touches to his business suits or casual attire, nudge him in the direction of these inspirational looks from this week’s Star Style, Michael Ealy.


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The tie-free look is very sophisticated, yet easy for the everyday man to pull off. The trick is to go for a shirt that has a stiff collar, or consider investing in collar stays.

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For the buppie-type who may occasionally have to attend weekend conferences or work-related events, this look on Michael is your business casual solution.

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If looking for a fresh suit and shirt combination for the summer, a monochromatic blue-on-blue coordination is the way to go.

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When it comes to coordinating shoes with suit colors, know that some suit colors offer the flexibility of being coordinated with more then one complementing shoe color. A gray suit is one that will work with either black, brown, or gray shoes.

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Pinstripe suits are a great option for short to medium-height men who want to elongate their body.

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For summer weddings and other outdoor functions, a gray suit with a pastel shirt is an ideal light and airy combination.

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Among the items a man should own in his wardrobe is a camel-colored blazer.

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If tailored correctly, any suit within your closet can be worn casually, as seen on Ealy.

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Owning a pair of perfectly-fitting dark rinse jeans is necessary for any seasonless wardrobe.

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When buying a three-piece suit for work, you literally are able to get three looks out of that one purchase, making it worth the investment. On warm days when you don’t have to be fully dressed up in the office, wearing a vest is a way to look polished while keeping cool.

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Be sure to create a continuous line when pairing a vest with a shirt and jeans.Wearing anything too baggy with a slim fit vest will throw off the entire look.

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Ealy’s blue eyes are the perfect accessory for this silver gray suit. Sometimes selecting the right thing to wear is as simple as paying attention to your features.


Could Lifetime’s Aaliyah Biopic Be Over Before It Even Begins?

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Messy! That’s one word to describe Lifetime’s Aaliyah biopic, which has already garnered a petition from angry fans before filming even takes place. The casting was just announced earlier this week and there is already a serious backlash.

After receiving many negative tweets about being cast to portray rising star Aaliyah, 17-year-old star of Disney’s “Shake It Up” Zendaya Coleman retweeted Aaliyah’s official Twitter account, which came to Coleman’s defense in a way:

Go girl! Aaliyah’s family also claims that Lifetime hasn’t asked for their involvement.

Many Aaliyah fans are throwing shade because they feel Lifetime is not respecting her immediate family’s wishes by producing a biopic. The family is upset that no one from Lifetime contacted them about the potential profit, according to Aaliyah’s uncle and former manager Barry Hankerson. Also, her family feels that a movie about a star as big as Aaliyah should have a wider viewing audience, rather than TV. Hankerson says that the family has hired a legal team and will not allow any of Aaliyah’s music to be licensed to Lifetime for the film.

Lifetime hasn’t responded.

New Study Discovers Some Spiders Eat Like Humans

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Humans have long been afraid of spiders because of their sheer creepiness, but now you have to be afraid they’ll steal your food too. Research of a spider species that lives near water, shows that these special arachnids use a powerful poison to kill fish over twice their size. Details of the study by a Swiss-Australian team appear in the academic journal Plos One.

Martin Nyffeler from the University of Basel in Switzerland, along with Bradley Pusey from the University of Western Australia, gathered data for the study, which shows that as many as five spider families have been observed eating small fish in the wild. Three more families contain spider species that catch fish in laboratory conditions.

These semi-aquatic arachnids typically dwell at the outskirts of shallow freshwater streams, ponds, or swamps. Some are even capable of swimming, diving, and walking on the water surface! The spiders wait on rocks for the fish, before using their neurotoxins and enzymes to kill and digest their aquatic prey. Yikes!

The defenseless fish is then dragged to a dry place where it becomes the spider’s meal. Feasting usually lasts several hours.

Spiders are living grand!

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Snapchat Drug Can Be Deadly

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Users have been warned against the danger of the Snapchat app, which can capture and send racy images unbeknownst to the owner, but the new Snapchat drug can be riskier — deadly, even. The Snapchat pills come in pink and blue and bear the Snapchat logo, even though there is no affiliation with the mobile app. Police say the drug contains the same ingredients that are in bath salts.

Four men were sent to the hospital in Darwin, Australia after taking the Snapchat drug. The men were reportedly showing symptoms of wild aggression and hysteria, prompting police to issue a warning. One man was sent to intensive care, while the other three were treated by hospital staff. This is the second case in a month in which individuals have been hospitalized for using the hardcore drug.

“You certainly don’t want to be putting this in your body. It’s nothing new — this Snapchat is a new logo, [but] it’s the same poison,” said Active Superintendent Peter Shiller of the Drug and Organised Crime Division in Australia.

Some may remember the severe after effects of bath salts, which resulted in several cases of real-life zombie attacks.

Police have strongly warned against taking the drug.

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‘Shield’ Actor Michael Jace Pleads Not Guilty To Shooting His Wife

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Uptown_MichaelJaceActor Michael Jace entered a plea of not guilty in a Los Angeles court Wednesday, a month after allegedly shooting his wife April Jace. The 51-year-old actor and his attorney listened as a judge set bond at $2 million and instructed Michael not to contact his two children. His not guilty plea contradicts earlier reports from witnesses about the murder.

Police found April, 40, dead in her south Los Angeles home on May 19. They reported Michael was in the home and was speaking with a 911 operator. He reported to 911 that his wife had been shot. “I shot my wife,” he said according to recordings obtained by TMZ. Two children were in the home at the time of the shooting, according to police.

A preliminary autopsy showed April died from “multiple gunshot wounds.” The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide. A day later, they released a statement suggesting domestic violence was the motive for the shooting. The two were married in June 2003.

UPTOWN_michael_april_jaceMichael’s father-in-law told detectives that he received a message from him regarding the shooting and called 911, as he drove to his daughter’s home. “My son-in-law called me and texted me and said come get the kids because he shot April, our daughter,” he said, according to a recording released by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The actor was facing financial difficulties in the last few years, according to court documents. He filed for bankruptcy in March 2011 and claimed an annual income of $80,000, while facing $500,000 in debt.

Michael Jace is due back in court on August 1 for a preliminary hearing, in which investigators will testify about the events leading up to the May 19 arrest.

Lupita Nyong’o Scores First Vogue Cover

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That Lupita reign just won’t let up!

Kenyan beauty Lupita Nyong’o snagged the coveted cover of the July cover of Vogue. The cover, released on Thursday, June 18, shows the chocolate actress donning a fitted, Deco-print Prada dress from the designer’s Fall 2014 RTW collection. Shot by photographer Mikael Jansson in a lush Marrakech settingthe actress sported a deep, berry lip, accompanied by a smokey eye and minimal silver accessories.

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Nyong’o won the Academy award for “Best Actress In A Supporting Role” earlier this year in the “Best Picture of the Year” winner 12 Years A Slave. Since Nyong’o burst on the scene , she’s been a red carpet regular and a fashion designer muse with her colorfully assorted fits and natural creative hairstyles.

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“I was really nervous about seeing myself in 12 Years a Slave because it had been such a profound experience in all ways,” Nyong’o told Vogue about her emotionally raw role in the drama. “I remember it being one of the most joyful times in my life — and also one of the most sorrowful. I didn’t want my experience to be a vain one. But I will say that when I watched it, my heartstrings were pulled so tight for [the main character] Solomon that I couldn’t go into the ego trip. I cried — I mean, I was inconsolable. I wept for an hour after the movie.”

Nyong’o was also named the first African American brand ambassador for beauty giant Lancome. She’s was also the face of the Miu Miu Spring 2014 campaign.

The Mexican born beauty upcoming projects include a role in Star Wars Episode VII, an unconfirmed part in Southpaw with Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker, and an adaptation of the critically acclaimed novel “Americanah”, which she will produce and star in.
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Lupita in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci marigold bodysuit. Spinelli Kilcollin linked bangles. Georg Jensen double bangle.

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Lupita lounges in the tea room at the Riad Madani wearing Rodarte metallic lace dress with sequins. Judy Geib Plus Alpha diamond–and–gold filigree earrings. Fred Leighton amber necklaces.

Visit Vogue.com for more looks from the shoot.

AT&T to Exclusively Sell Amazon Fire Phone

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Amazon Fire Smartphone

Wednesday, at an exclusive Amazon event, Jeff Bezos announced their first smartphone, dubbed the Amazon Fire phone. From using drones to drop packages, competing with Paypal and delivering groceries straight to your door, Amazon has been finding creative ways to insert themselves into our everyday lives. But with the announcement of the company’s foray into the smartphone market, our curiosity has been piqued to find out what the Amazon Fire is all about. You won’t be able to get your hands on the smartphone until July 25th but you can preorder the phone while checking out the specs:

Amazon Fire Smartphone

 

  • 4.7″ IPS LCD HD display “optimized for one-handed use” – 590 nit brightness, Gorilla Glass
  • Quad core 2.2GHz processor
  • Adreno 330 GPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 32/64GB storage
  • 13MP f/2.0 rear shooter, OIS – instant access button, even with the screen off
  • Four front-facing cameras for dynamic perspective and a wider field of view
  • Unlimited photo storage (cloud)
  • Dual stereo speakers
  • Ships with non-tangle headphones with flat cable and magnetic buds
  • Glass back
  • Aluminum Buttons
  • Nine-band LTE
  • $199 on-contract, AT&T Only

The Amazon Fire phone comes jam-packed with new features geared to the Amazon lover. Of course the phone comes with the typical Amazon products: Prime streaming content, Whispersync, Firefly, Kindle and Mayday, their 24×7, 365 day support team. The Fire phone can identify over 100 million movies, TV episodes, songs and products from what you’re listening to or watching. Important information and articles will display to help you decide what’s best for you. Of course, Amazon will direct you to their product page making it even easier to order.

Amazon Prime is included for free for an entire year so you can enjoy unlimited streaming for TV episodes, movies and music. Already have Prime? Then your current membership will be extended for another year.

Now, the bad news. The Amazon Fire will be sold exclusively through AT&T for $199 with a two year contract or $649 for 32GB/$750 for 64GB. Amazon hasn’t announced plans to roll the phone out to other networks at this time.

[Photos: Associated Press/Amazon]

Georgia Mom Hires Craiglist Driver To Drive Son Across State

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Craigslist puts practically anything you desire at the reach of your fingertips. Maybe that’s why a Georgia mom turned to Craigslist to find her child a way to see his grandparents while saving a couple dollars.

Sheila Sherrie Joyner of Marietta allegedly responded to an ad by a man looking to split the cost of driving to Florida. She asked the poster if he could take her 9-year-old son to his grandparents’ home in Macon, Georgia. However, the man grew concerned and contacted the police to inform them of Joyner’s plans, according to a police report.

An undercover officer responded to Joyner’s emails and set up a meeting to pick up the young boy. To the shock of officers, the woman didn’t obtain any information on the man who would be transporting her child.
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“At no time did accused get any information about this stranger and only communicated by text messages,” the warrant stated, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Accused didn’t even know the last name of the stranger but only knew him as ‘Eric.’”

Police received another shock when they went to meet Joyner at the arranged time. She wasn’t even there to meet “Eric” in person. Instead, she instructed the babysitter to drop him off. “Accused didn’t even go with the child to meet the ‘stranger,’” police stated in the warrant. “The accused lied to the babysitter, indicating that it was a friend of hers.”

Joyner was arrested at her apartment and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her bond was set at $1,000 but court records show she remained in jail due to an arrest warrant on an unrelated charge.

 


How Are You Celebrating Juneteenth?

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If you’ve chugged down jäger bombs on St. Patty’s Day or sipped stiff margaritas on Cinco de Mayo, I hope you’re celebrating a day that has something to do with your own history, Juneteenth. 

Just in case you didn’t know, or forgot, here’s a quick synopsis. On June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger declared from a Galveston, Texas Ashton Villa balcony that President Abraham Lincoln set all slaves free. This news of freedom came two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued and a few months after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox in Virginia.

When mentioned, this day is not as widely talked about, reported or celebrated near as much as other cultures and their significant days of history, and is often met with a blank stare. The reason, I think, is mainly because people just. don’t. know. The subject is notably missing from the majority of school books and curriculum. The color coordinated parades, drink specials and party store accessories are few and far between. Not to mention the day of black independence isn’t considered a national holiday.

Before his presidency, President Barack Obama supported an iniative to make Juneteenth a national holiday. But in 2013, he didn’t release a Juneteenth proclaims to, like he did in previous years, disappointing the Dr. Ron Myers, the chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. Last December, Dr. Myers wrote a letter to the president to support the “modern Juneteenth movement.”

In 1994, the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation hopes to get legislation passed so that June 19 is designated Juneteenth Independence Day. The resolution has been rejected in the Senate, and Obama has yet to respond to Myers’ letter.

But I encourage all not to wait on a community activist or legislation to dictate your level of pride and enthusiam for this day. It all starts with you. Something as small as a gathering of family and friends, reading books to the new generation of this day’s significance or a BBQ are all ways you can celebrate this day without all the hoopla.

YouTube Says Buh-Bye to All Independent Artists

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UPTOWN_youtube_logoIn a radical change scheduled to happen in a matter of days, YouTube may delete some of your favorite videos, possibly for good. In a complete makeover, the Google-owned video website will add a subscription service, rumored to be named YouTube Music Pass. This is an attempt to keep up with popular music streaming sites, like Spotify, Pandora, iTunes Radio and newbies Beats Music and Amazon’s Prime Music. With the new changes, YouTube users can pay a premium to skip ads. Listeners will also be able to download music, not just listen to it. Videos hosted by the Vevoplatform will not be affected, as the license agreement is separate.

Although the Google-owned company already has lucrative licensing deals with major record labels, the independent labels are refusing to sign, claiming their contract isn’t fair. If the indie labels don’t cooperate, they can not participate in the new service and their original, existing content on YouTube will be promptly removed.

Vice President and Global Head of Business at YouTube Robert Kyncl recently claimed the site already had deals with 90 percent of the industry and had no choice, but to move forward.

“While we wish that we had 100 percent success rate, we understand that is not likely an achievable goal and therefore it is our responsibility to our users and the industry to launch the enhanced music experience,” he stated.

The Economic Reason Casual Sex Is Occurring More Than Marriage

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About a week ago, I came across a video titled “The Economics of Sex,” which attempts to explain why more and more couples are getting married later on in life — if at all. To sum it up, the maker of the video, The Austin Institute, essentially attributes the rise in premarital sex to the decline of marriage. The argument is predicated on the notion that too many women are “giving it away” so quickly that it has decimated the necessity of a lifetime commitment. Then, there is a clever incorporation of the supply-and-demand economic theory that is used to explain why men can continually chase sex without commitment. In the end, The Austin Institutes’ point is that if women engaged in far less premarital sex, men would have to court longer and harder because our natural urge for sex would enable us to acquiesce to our woman’s demand to be married. Besides the fact that this sounds horrifically Orwellian, the truth is that this video has missed the mark in many ways. Forget “The Economics of Sex,” I think the maker of the video should have taken more time to investigate “The Economy of Marriage” – which is what I will do right now.

First off, let’s get something completely clear: Throughout history, marriage has always been a step predicated off a culture’s conceptualization of preparedness. In modern Western Society, that step has become defined by one’s ability not only to love and protect, but to financially provide security. The prevalent reality of the world we live in today is that the step towards “having your shit together” is taking far longer than it ever has at any other time in recent history. This means marriage is getting delayed because economic realities are demanding more from singles and couples than ever before, and that strain is real economics that this video is missing.

But instead of me rambling on, let’s take a trip down history lane and examine how a young man (like I once was), would deal with marriage in 1964 versus the reality in 2014.

[Image: Shutterstock]

As a young, 18-year-old man in 1964, who has just graduated from high school, I now have a huge decision to make: Do I continue on to post-secondary schooling, or do I immediately pursue a job? See, I live in a time in which a high school diploma can still secure me a decent job, which can help me afford to have my own apartment and not be dependent on my parents. The manufacturing industry is on a rise and in 13 years it will reach a point in which it will represent 22 percent of all non-farm payrolls (it’s peak since 1960).

*Fast forward to 2014*

As an 18-year-old man who has just graduated from high school, the concept of choosing between post-secondary schooling and entering the workforce is foreign to me. I live in a society in which manufacturing represents less than 9 percent of all non-farm payrolls, which is a figure that is shrinking yearly due to the globalization of labor and technological innovation (among other factors). I have to go to college, which means I have to wait a little longer to entertain the idea of marriage, especially when dual income households have become a necessity for the average American family.

*But let’s get back to the 1960s for a second.*

Now, I am a young 22-year-old man in 1968 who has either just completed college, or invested four years into working in the labor force. If I decided to do the former, I will be entering the job field with a degree that gives me a leg up on my competition, and therefore a high possibility of earning an income that will allow me to be self-sufficient. But, if I decided to go the latter route, I can easily make today’s equivalent of $60,000 to $70,000, even as a minority.

*Now back to 2014*

As a 22-year-old man in 2014 who has little recourse other than attending a post-secondary institution, I now have a degree, which means far less than it once did. Recently, the AP reported that “more than half of America’s recent college graduates are either unemployed or working in a job that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree.” Besides the fact that I now have to battle graduate unemployment, I have another big decision to make: Do I attempt to enter the workforce with ZERO experience, or do I continue on with my schooling? See, I’m facing something called “qualification inflation,” which means jobs are demanding that I am more educated than my competition and if we ALL have a bachelor’s degree, then that drives the degree’s value all the way down.

*But let’s get back to historical me.*

It’s now 1970 and I just turned 24, with either six years of solid work experience at one company (which was the norm back then), or I have two years of experience at the career I attained with my bachelor’s degree (something that only one out of five Americans between 25-29 had at the time). So now I’m economically ready to take that “step” towards love, marriage, and creating a family, if not emotionally and mentally too. I have disposable income, my own home, and maybe even some savings. Basically, if I fall in love, I can take some comfort in knowing that we can start a life together, and her added income will put us ahead of the game.

*Fast forward to 2014*

I’m 24, I just completed my master’s, and now I’m actively searching for a career. Unfortunately, the search for a quality career must also include the search for a job that I’m way too overqualified for, because I have student loans. See, I live in an era in which tuition has gone up 1,120 percent in the last 30 years, and it’s the ONLY debt that cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. I have to work to pay these loans back and become self-sufficient (if I live at home like many recent grads must do). I spend my days working a job I hate, in a field that has nothing to do with my degrees just to stay on top of my bills, while spending my nights looking for a real career OR working a second job. Now let’s talk about love, dating, marriage, and starting a family. If that doesn’t sound sexy to you, imagine how it sounds to the millions of people affected by this very same reality in a society in which the middle class has almost evaporated.

These are the economic realities of the world we live in today. It’s easy to say that if people have less sex, there will be more marriages, but to obfuscate the actual intended purpose of marriage is simply wrong. It’s NOT just about two loving people coming together – it’s about a contractually-binding agreement to create a life, hopefully on financially stable grounds. Finances account for 45 percent of divorce – not sex. Love doesn’t pay the bills, and hot sex on a platter is not keeping marriages together. If you want to see more marriages, stop pushing the tired-ass trope of the lazy millennial who is incapable of commitment to a spouse or hard work, and realize that most men AND women are simply looking to get their shit together before they walk down the aisle. This is unfortunately becoming harder and harder to do at a young age in our current society.

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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.

Something New – Myanmar

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The one-time Southeast Asian British colony formerly known as Burma is slowly shedding its totalitarian leanings and settling into its new, more open identity as Myanmar. And Yangon, the country’s largest city— with its ancient Buddhist temples, burgeoning culinary scene and charming people—has quickly become the world traveler’s must-visit locale.

Fly Guy

Getting amped for an 18-hour journey from New York isn’t hard when flying business class on Cathay Pacific Airways (cathaypacific.com). With storage, shoe locker, an ottoman, ample in-flight entertainment (including a port for your own device) and a full flat bed, it’s almost a plush NYC studio! The Wing First Class Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport is even more swank, especially when enjoying a meal at The Haven (Asian and western dishes), a private shower in one of the five cabanas or its 12 shower suites, and relaxing on one of the day beds. Afterwards, I was ready for my Dragonair (dragonair.com) connecting flight to Myanmar.

uptown burma traders

High Living

Yangon hotels are sparse (with so many people visiting, the city is rushing to increase supply) so make reservations well in advance. After the 45-minute drive from Yangon International Airport to the Sule Shangri-la (shangri-la.com/yangon/traders; formerly the The Traders Hotel), I stopped in the The Peacock Lounge in the hotel’s grandiose atrium (Tip: High tea is pretty cool). My one-bedroom, luxury flat with a living room, dining area, study and great WiFi was thankfully high enough that I could awake each day to the ancient pagoda (temple) in the distance.

Yangon Yum

A typical Burmese meal comes with steamed rice, fish, meat, vegetables and soup all at once, no coursing. (Tip: Use your fingers to roll the rice into a small ball and dip into the dishes; but Burmese tradition frowns on eating with the left hand because its function is for cleaning—think about it). The city’s unique mix of Burmese, Chinese, Indian and British influences makes for some intrguing dining (the food scene is still developing). Do try dinner at the Summer Palace, the hotel’s Cantonese spot (dim sum and fresh fish, thank you)… Off property, grab lunch at Feel Myanmar (feelrestaurant.com) for (thoughtful) faster food… West of Sule Pagoda Road, find Burmese food stalls and fresh fruit in Chinatown. Expats and natives alike love the fun high/ low mix of traditional Burmese, along with Lao, Cambodian and Vietnamese options, at Monsoon (monsoonmyanmar.com) on Thinbyu Road. (Tip: Post-dinner, head next door to Pomelo [pomeloyangon.com] for fair-trade jewelry, textiles, clothes, rugs (I grabbed one) and other beautiful minutiae produced by citizens on the fringe of Yangon society.)

uptown myanmar 2014

Temple Trek

With its scurry of pedestrians, overcrowded, leaning buses, bikes carrying livestock and exhaust-spewing cars, the hotel’s convenient downtown locale is quite cinematic. Stroll to the Sule Pagoda, remove your shoes (a must) and marvel at the over 2,000-year-old Buddhist temple. Astrology is very important and is reportedly how the new capital, Naypyidaw, was selected. My own reading on Sule Pagoda Road was fun and slightly insightful. (Tip: Allot at least 20 minutes since they go deep.) Nearby is the 2,500 year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon’s most famous and the world’s oldest. Reportedly housing strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics, it’s covered in gold and diamonds and multitudes of worshippers descend on the site daily. (Tip: Wear pants, or knee length shorts, and t-shirt sleeves should come to your elbows.)

Wanderlust

Roaming Yangon’s streets is best. Find great sandals, clothes, and jewelry at Bogyoke Aung San Market…Burma’s art, history and culture more your speed? Pop into the National Museum of Myanmar (66/74 Pyay Road)… Navigate the city in a bus straight out of The Darjeeling Limited courtesy of Elephant Coach (asiaelephantcoach.com) and deepen the Wes Anderson vibe by dropping into The Strand, a close ringer in vibe for the fictional auberge of his recent The Grand Budapest Hotel. This turn of the century marvel is pretty much the same building legendary hoteliers The Sarkies Brothers built in 1901. A drink at the bar easily conjures thoughts of the royals and wealthy who’ve roamed the halls of the three story Victorian structure (President Obama and Mick Jagger have visited).

It Takes A…
I hopped aboard the ferry for a two-hour sail to Twante Township, which is known for its artisan pottery. After a 40-minute bumpy ride into the center of the village, I arrived at the Shwesandaw Pagoda, which was gorgeous, but not as impressive as the people walking, talking and working—sans chargers and status updates. This simplicity was a refreshing contrast to the urban ridiculousness we often allow to consume us.

-By Isoul Harris

Atlanta Dad Forgets Toddler is in Hot Car, Child Dies

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An Atlanta father has been charged with murder after his 22-month-old son died after being left in a SUV for seven hours in the heat. He is also facing charges of cruelty to children in the first degree, according to an arrest warrant.

Justin Ross Harris, 33, of Marietta was denied bond after his first court appearance in front of a Cobb County judge Thursday evening. Due to the seriousness of the charge, the judge advised Harris’ attorney that a bond could not be set. Harris will remain in jail until his next court appearance on July 15.

Harris told police that he left his toddler unattended and strapped into a child car seat for approximately seven hours in 90 plus degree heat, after which the child was found deceased. Harris was supposed to drop his son at a day care center on Wednesday morning before going to work at Home Depot. However, the child never made it to the day care center and spent the day in the car seat in the parking lot. Harris told Police he somehow forgot the child was in the backseat of his four-door SUV. The child whose name and gender has not been released by authorities is believed to be Cooper, according to Harris’ Facebook.
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Police discovered the child in the back seat of Harris’ Hyundai Tucson as witnesses began gathering around the car. Harris rushed outside to remove the child from the car. Witnesses and paramedics administered CPR in attempt to save the child while arriving officers arrested Harris. “What have I done? I’ve killed our child,” he screamed according to witnesses at the scene. The child later died at a local hospital due to being left in the car.

Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds said that the investigation is “far from over.” An autopsy will be conducted by the Cobb County to determine the cause of death for the child.

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