India Arie has a new album in stores in June after three years, but more focus is being paid to her latest promo picture, which features the singer looking a few shades lighter than usual.
India Arie is sparking rumors that she bleached her skin as the cover art for her new single, “Cocoa Butter” from her forthcoming album “SongVersation” features the artist looking less like herself.
She is known primarily for singing songs that promote self-acceptance and black beauty, such as “I Am Not My Hair” which has the chorus, “I am not my hair/I am not this skin/I am not your expectations no no/ I am a soul that lives within.”
India Arie is not the first African-American artist to be accused of skin-bleaching. Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, Dawn Richards, and Lil’ Kim are other notable celebrities accused of lightening their skin in recent years. India Arie has yet to address the skin-bleaching rumors.
Imagine walking into a store, not to purchase anything, but to browse for future purchases or to just pass the time. Then imagine being in said store and being told that you owe a $5 “just looking” fee.
That’s exactly what Celiac Supplies, a gluten free grocery store in Brisbane, Australia, intends to do to combat shoppers who browse but don’t buy.
“As of the first of February, this store will be charging people a $5 fee for ‘just looking,’” the sign reads. “The $5 fee will be deducted when goods are purchased.”
Why implement a policy that will obviously be unpopular among customers? Celiac Supplies goes on to explain that the new policy is meant to fight individuals who “use this store as a reference and then purchase goods elsewhere.”
“This policy is in line with many other clothing, shoe and electronic stores who are also facing the same issue,” the sign concludes.
The issue that the Australian gluten free grocery store is facing is not one that hasn’t touched American business as well. It’s just that, instead of passing the burden onto consumers, stores like Best Buy and Target adapted to stay competitive in the marketplace.
“Target and Best Buy were likewise stung by shoppers who came in, tried out their products and then went home to buy on Amazon,” Daily Finance points out. “But instead of banning phones or trying to charge an entrance fee, they instead extended their price-matching policy to Amazon and other online retailers.”
A local family is accused of beating up a bar security guard, after a DJ wouldn’t play the song they had requested. It happened at the bar Savoy in the Strip District, this past weekend. Police say 29-year-old Dion Daye Jr. ,who requested the song, was arrested, in addition to two family members, 50-year-old Dion Daye Sr. and 25-year-old Dorian Daye, after they all teamed up and attacked a security guard. The DJ’s refusal to play their song allegedly upset the trio which was asked to leave. Then Dion Daye Jr. allegedly punched the security guard. The fight then escalated with family members using objects in the bar to continue attacking the security guard. The security guard is currently in the hospital, police say. All three family members are charged with disorderly conduct, aggravated assault and conspiracy-aggravated assault.
Facebook Turns Red as SCOTUS Marriage Equality Hearings Begin
"Marriage equality activists are protesting outside the Supreme Court Tuesday, as the nation's highest court begins two days of hearings about two same-sex marriage laws.
As can be expected in this day and age, the demonstrations are not only taking place in Washington. Facebook has become a hotbed for marriage equality supporters, as profile pictures change to a red version of the Human Rights Campaign's logo."
Thirty years ago tonight, the world first saw Michael Jackson moonwalk. The big moment came during the end of his performance of "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25th Anniversary special, taped at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and broadcast on NBC about six weeks later. The moonwalk only lasted two seconds and wasn't even that original (James Brown had been doing it for years), but Jackson executed it with stunning perfection. It captured the attention of the entire world, and the next day kids all over America were trying out the move on the playground.
One week ago we were wondering if Lil Wayne was gonna live or die. Know he let's us know that he's good, has a new album coming out and he's going on tour! Watch the video for a special guest.....(caution Weezy and his friend use naughty words)
Michigan State beat Valparaiso today in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. Now Spartan fans can sit back and cheer for their next favorite team......South Dakota State??
South Dakota State's campus is almost 1,000 miles and more than a 13-hour drive to the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan. Despite the distance, the Jackrabbits figure to have more than a few fans on site for Thursday's game against Michigan — even if they can't find Brookings, S.D. on a map.
According to a South Dakota television station, some Michigan State fans have been ordering South Dakota State t-shirts off the school's website so they can wear them to the game. The Spartans play against Valparaiso at the Palace earlier in the day, so why not help beef up the Jackrabbits' cheering section?
Michigan, after all, will be playing near its home turf of Ann Arbor and boasts a current enrollment of over 40,000 students. South Dakota State, meanwhile, has an enrollment of about 13,000, many of which won't be able to make the trip for the second tournament trip in school history.
(LANSING) – Mayor Virg Bernero will be joined tomorrow by numerous community partners in announcing the opening of the Lansing Financial Empowerment Center. The Center will provide free, oneon-one, professional financial counseling to an estimated 4,000 Lansing area residents over the next three years.
The Center helps participants reach their financial goals, ranging from managing debt and avoiding financial scams to saving for a better life for themselves and their families. Lansing is one of five U.S. cities to open Financial Empowerment Centers this month, thanks to a $16.2 million investment in the Living Cities’ Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Project. Lansing received $1.6 million of the total grant investment.
WHO: Mayor Virg Bernero Ivan Love, Capital Area Community Services Bo Garcia, Lansing Community College Damian Murchison, Tabernacle of David Church Amber Paxton, Office of Financial Empowerment Velma Kyser, Lansing Financial Empowerment Center Megan Kursik, Community Economic Development Association of MI And other Community Partners
WHAT: Launch of the Lansing Financial Empowerment Center
WHERE: Tabernacle of David Church 2645 W. Holmes Road
As we get ready for MSU opening game in the NCAA Tournament tomorrow (12;15PM vs Valparaiso), dont forget about Madness happening right here in the Capital City!! Good luck to Laingsburg and Lansing Christian!!!
The two area schools sending teams to the boys basketball state semifinals at the Breslin Center have pep rallies before their games on Thursday.
Laingsburg will hold their rally in their gym at 11:30 a.m. for their Class C semifinal game against Negaunee, which is scheduled to tip off at 2:50 p.m.
Lansing Christian will hold their pep rally at 2:45 p.m., and also have a sending-off celebration at 4:30 p.m. for their team, which will play their Class D semifinal against Southfield Christian at 7:50 p.m.
Will The Amazing Spider-Man 2 feature a cameo from rapper 2 Chainz, or is director Marc Webb just messing with us on Twitter again? Webb, like James Mangold (The Wolverine) and Bryan Singer (X-Men: Days of Future Past), has a fun habit of releasing a teaser image or tidbit of information from the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 every day or so. Usually, his photos are pretty innocuous: A sign on a wall of the Ravencroft Institute, a shot of Gwen Stacy’s cubicle at Oscorp, that kind of stuff. But sometimes, he tweets an enigmatic photo with an even more enigmatic caption, and that’s why we’re all here today. Today’s Amazing Spider-Man 2 photo shows a simple crate labeled “Oscorp Industries,” but the caption has some film news outlets puzzled. “Day 31. There are chainz in there,” Webb’s caption says. What? Is he talking about rapper 2 Chainz? Does he have a cameo in the film? In a box? Marked Oscorp? Probably not. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is already pretty crowded what with Oscorp Industries, Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn, Rhino, Electro, Mary Jane, etc. Plus, who the heck would 2 Chainz be playing? From a box? The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the 2014 sequel to last year’s successful reboot of Marvel’s Spider-Man film franchise. It stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Shailene Woodley, Dane DeHaan, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, and Sally Field. Here’s the synopsis: “In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, for Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), life is busy – between taking out the bad guys as Spider-Man and spending time with the person he loves, Gwen (Emma Stone), high school graduation can’t come quickly enough. Peter hasn’t forgotten about the promise he made to Gwen’s father to protect her by staying away – but that’s a promise he just can’t keep. Things will change for Peter when a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), emerges, an old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, and Peter uncovers new clues about his past.”
Celebrity gossip site TMZ reports that Young Money rapper Lil Wayne was hospitalized on Tuesday, March 12th after suffering from multiple seizures. The seizures happened shortly after Lil Wayne wrapped shooting for a music video in Los Angeles, he was then taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The Young Money helmsman was eventually released from the hospital and is said to be doing okay.
Although a serious health scare, Tuesday’s incident isn’t the only time Lil Wayne has suffered from one or more seizures. Back in October, a private jet Lil Wayne was flying on was forced to make an emergency stop after the rapper began exhibiting “seizure-like” symptoms.
The “seizure-like” symptoms were reportedly caused by a severe migraine and dehydration. Following the incident, Lil Wayne was prescribed seizure medication and was also asked by a doctor to drink at least four bottles of water per day.
Neither Lil Wayne nor a rep for the rapper has responded to news of his latest seizure.
(Billy Hallowell) In a historic move, 76-year-old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected today. As the AP reports Bergoglio is the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.
Until last year, Bergoglio was the archbishop of Buenos Aires before stepping down because of his age…Bergoglio is considered a straight-shooter who calls things as he sees them, and a follower of the church’s most conservative wing. He has clashed with the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of contraceptives.
After announcing `’Habemus Papum” – `’We have a pope!” — a cardinal standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday revealed the identity of the new pontiff, using his Latin name. Bergoglio had reportedly finished second in the 2005 conclave that produced Benedict XVI — who last month became the first pope to resign in 600 years.
The archbishop of Buenos Aires spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina, overseeing churches and shoe-leather priests. It is believed that he was nearly selected during the 2005 conclave. Prior to his selection, the National Catholic Reporter noted just how close to the papacyhe might have been last go-around:
After the dust settled from the election of Benedict XVI, various reports identified the Argentine Jesuit as the main challenger to then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. One cardinal later said the conclave had been “something of a horse race” between Ratzinger and Bergoglio, and an anonymous conclave diary splashed across the Italian media in September 2005 claimed that Bergoglio received 40 votes on the third ballot, just before Ratzinger crossed the two-thirds threshold and became pope.
Though it’s hard to say how seriously one should take the specifics, the general consensus is that Bergoglio was indeed the “runner-up” last time around. He appealed to conservatives in the College of Cardinals as a man who had held the line against liberalizing currents among the Jesuits, and to moderates as a symbol of the church’s commitment to the developing world.
Adele and Beyonce may be performing at Michelle Obama's birthday. Preparations are already underway for Michelle Obama's big 50th birthday next January, and two of music's biggest acts have reportedly been booked for the occasion.
An unnamed (and potentially questionable) source told the UK's Daily Mail that thefirst lady has asked Beyonce and Adele to perform at her party. "America’s first lady will be holding a huge celebrity-packed party for her birthday at the White House next year and, as she adores Adele and Beyonce, she has asked them both to sing,"an unnamed source told The Daily Mail. "Adele has graciously accepted and waived her usual fee for the high-profile private performance. She will sing a selection of her most-loved hits for the first lady and her friends."
Frank Ocean is being sued over the production credits for his track 'Lost', which appeared on his 2012 album 'Channel Orange'.
All Hip Hop reports that producer and songwriter Micah Otano has filed a lawsuit against Ocean, record label Def Jam and producer Malay after alleging that the song is a copy of his track 'Daylight'.
Otano filed his suit earlier this week (March 6) in a US District Court in California, and claims that he originally co-wrote the track 'Daylight' with Malay. He alleges that Malay then copied the track and re-named it 'Lost' when it subsequently appeared on Ocean's LP. Otano is now seeking an unspecified amount of compensation for back royalties and damages.
Last night launched Justin Timberlake week at Late Night, and Jimmy Fallon took the singer to task for the Kanye West dissthat he'd slipped into his performance of "Suit & Tie" on SNL. Timberlake first responded with a perplexed "Who? What? Me?" innocence, then addressed the issue head on. "You know, really, everyone, keep calm ... For the record, I absolutely love Kanye, so there's that." Your move, Kanye.
Rap mogul Jay-Z, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Kim Kardashian have reportedly fallen victim to hackers who have exposed their financial records to the public. Details of the massive hacking and what other celebrities were victims surfaced online late Monday (March 11) night.
The Los Angeles Police Department has already launched an investigation while new celebrities continue to become targeted.Last summer, Jay and Bey topped financial publication Forbes' "World's Highest-Paid Celebrity Couples" list. Jay also previously ranked in the top three of Celebrity Net Worth's "20 Richest Rappers Alive Today" list.
(NEWSER) – Kwame Kilpatrick is headed back to prison after a jury today convicted the former Detroit mayor and rising Democrat star on a host of corruption-related charges, including racketeering conspiracy, extortion, mail fraud, and tax charges. Kilpatrick shook his head as the verdicts were read out, the Detroit Free Press reports. He was ultimately found guilty on 24 of the 30 counts against him and acquitted on three, with the jury unable to reach a verdict on the remaining three.
First Fridays Adds Live Entertainment to the Mix Musical performances to be featured on free CATA rides to area’s entertainment, shopping, dining and cultural districts Lansing, Mich., — On March 1, 2013, the Greater Lansing region will again host First Fridays. But this month, in addition to the regular entertainment, live musical performances will be on CATA'S Entertainment Express trolly route.
One local musician will be on-board the Entertainment Express to entertain riders with his upbeat acoustic tunes. Grand Rapids native Matt Gabriel has spent the past four years of his career performing throughout the country, from the iconic jazz bars of the Deep South all the way to the hotbed of musical innovation: Seattle, Washington. The twenty-three-year-old, up-and-coming musician blends inspiring lyrics with captivating hooks.
The First Friday concept encourages bars, shops and galleries throughout the Greater Lansing area to feature unique specials, extended hours and special events and entertainment. This musical addition to the First Fridays lineup further supports the concept and driving force behind the monthly event: to encourage community members to explore all of the great dining, shopping, entertainment, and special events Greater Lansing has to offer. This initiative is designed to add interest to the region, raise awareness of its offerings and to spur economic development by attracting more people to local businesses.
To ensure First Fridays is accessible and affordable, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union and Team Lansing Foundation have
underwritten free CATA service on First Friday evenings.
All CATA fixed-route bus service and Spec-Tran will be free on First Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to the end of regular service. CATA runs its Entertainment Express trolley service for First Fridays and trolley rides will be free throughout the evening. The Express will start at an earlier time of 5:30 p.m. and run until 3:00 a.m. with service every 15 minutes along the Michigan Avenue/Grand River Corridor
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