Snoop Dogg Smoked So Much That Firefighters Thought He Had Set His Hotel Room Ablaze

No it wasn't a fire, it was just Snoop Dogg doing what he's famous for doing.

Firefighters who rushed to a hotel room in Melbourne, Australia - after being alerted by an automatic alarm - found the very mellow rapper in a ring of heavy smoke on Thursday morning.

The first responders were reportedly surprised when the star acted like a fan of theirs, inviting them into his room and posing for photographs with them.

Where's the blaze?: Firefighters rushed to Snoop Dogg's hotel room in Melbourne after being alerted by an automatic smoke alarm on Thursday morning

The 42-year-old later posted a couple of snaps on Instagram with the messages, 'Blew it Down' and 'Fire dept Shut it down.'

The firefighters were delighted to be chatting with the star, who is in the city to play at the Big Day Out concert. He revealed that he had wanted to be in their profession. 

Some reports suggested they responded to smoke detectors in the musician's own room but an attending officer said it was a false alarm.

They would not say whether weed was involved.

No alarm here: The firemen were delighted to pose for pictures that the rapper posted on Instagram

The Faster Louder news site spoke to South Melbourne Senior Station Officer Trevor Bowen who confirmed the details.

'While we were there a very famous guy said to us that he had always wanted to be a firefighter and he asked us if he could get a photo with us, and of course we knew who it was, and we obliged,' he explained. 

'He's OK, he's fine and the coolest part of it was that he asked us for a photo of which we gladly obliged and then we took some ourselves… I might have to ask him to stop stalking me at this rate.'

Melbourne Fire Brigade posted more pictures on its Twitter feed and took the chance to speak out about fire safety, adding: 'This is an opportune time to make sure you have a correctly fitted, working smoke alarm in your room.'

culled from-dailymail.co.uk

Rihanna Puffs Away On A Cigarillo As She Poses With BFF Melyssa Ford In Brazil

She loves few things more than titillating her fans.

And Rihanna was certainly smoking hot in a series of racy pictures she posted on Wednesday.

The saucy pop star, 25, puffs away on a cigarillo while wrapping her arm around fellow bikini-clad BFF Melissa Ford during a working holiday in Brazil.

Smokin': Rihanna looked in fine figure as she puffed on a cigarillo with Melyssa Ford in Brazil on Wednesday

The striking pair were hard to ignore, with Rihanna posing in an itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini as she enjoyed yet another lazy day.

Her friend meanwhile wore an almost identical two piece as they hammed it up for the camera.

But the cheeky pair had saved arguably their most impressive trick for last, playfully whipping off their tops while posing with their back to the photographer.

Having a good suck: She was inhaling so hard the ash lit up as she enjoyed another hit of tobacco

Thar she blows: And she seemed to have almost as much fun exhaling the smoke as she did inhaling

Rude girl takes it off: Rihanna paraphrased her hit as she posed topless with her back to the camera

culled from-dailymail.co.uk

Beyonce And Jay Z Are Music's Most Powerful Couple According To Billboard

Blue Ivy Carter's mom and dad are the most powerful couple in music, according to Billboard.

If you dare ask why, it's because "they proved that content truly is king. Or, in this case, king and queen," says the publication.

And of course, Beyonce managed to release an album with zero publicity, proving that music can win over hype.

"She took a high risk and was highly rewarded for it," says Guy Oseary (No. 38), who manages Madonna and U2 at his Untitled Entertainment, told the magazine. "I love what she did. Thank you, Beyoncé—it brings much-needed excitement and buzz to our industry."

culled from-

Nyanda Appointed Goodwill Ambassador For Reach A Hand Uganda

Kingston, Jamaica: - Nyanda from musical duo Brick & Lace has been appointed ambassador for The Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) campaign to address the key issues that leave Ugandan youth vulnerable to health outcomes like, HIV, Sexual Transmittable Infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy.

The Official RAHU Theme song, YOUR WAYS, features Nyanda & African stars GNL, Ray, Irene Ntale, Big Tril andMaurice Hasa. The song advocate’s for safe sex in addition to helping young people make informed choices in life.

LISTEN to “YOUR WAYS”: https://soundcloud.com/tropicelectric/your-ways-uganda-reach-a-handa

“I’m honored to be a part of this great movement. People need to be reminded that aids still exists and many are still dying from it. We all do this for the love of the music but when you get the opportunity to make a difference and touch hearts, you become purposeful, that’s what’s this all means to me” says Nyanda.

The Official Video for YOUR WAYS is scheduled for release in February 2014.

Nyanda recently released The Slippery When Wet Mixtape hosted by World Renown Sound System, Sentinel Sounds (Germany). The Mixtape takes us on an exciting musical journey with Nyanda…from Brick & Lace to her evolution as a solo artist.

The Slippery When Wet Mixtape features a global array of stars: Mr. Vegas, Assassin, The Wizard, The Kemist (from Black Lion), Kat Dahlia, Yellow Claw, FeU DJ, Leah Labelle and Muss.

LISTEN TO: “SLIPPERY WHEN WET MIXTAPE”: https://soundcloud.com/sentinel-sound/nyanda-sentinel-sound-slippery

For More Information On Nyanda:

Website: www.officialnyanda.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialnyanda

Twitter: www.twitter.com/nyandaBnL

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nyandaBnL

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/officialnyanda

Youtube: www.youtube.com/officialnyanda

Lily Allen Showcases New Svelte Figure In Lime Green Floral Halterneck Bikini To As She Shoots New Music Video For Single Air Balloon In South Africa

Slipping into a skimpy bikini to shoot a music video that will be seen by millions of fans the world over wouldn't be most people's idea of fun just after Christmas.

But Lily Allen appeared to have gone easy on the turkey and mince pies over the festive season if her enviably flat stomach was anything to go by as she shot her new music video on location in South Africa. 

Posing for a cute Twitter snap, the 28-year-old signer showcased her newly-svelte figure in a lime green floral halterneck bikini top as she got to work with her crew in the country's stunning wine lands. 

Hard at work: Lily Allen showcased her newly-svelte figure in a lime green floral bikini top and denim hotpants as she shot her new video on location in South Africa

Shielding her skin from the scorching African sun, the Smile hitmaker covered up in a sheer, white, loose-fitting top, while parading her toned and tanned pins in a pair of tiny denim hotpants.

Providing a stark contrast to the loose-fitting ensembles she usually favours, the mother-of-two added height to her frame with a pair of stylish wedge sandals, while wearing her raven locks in cute high pigtails. 

The British pop star completed her fun video look with numerous bangles and dangling earrings, and wrapped blue patterned scarves around her bunches as she grinned into the camera. 

Lily Allen shows off spectacular scenery as she shoots in SA

Picture perfect: The 28-year-old singer wore her locks scraped up into cute bunches as she got to work with her crew in the country's stunning wine-lands

Fearless fashionista: The British pop princess wore bits of denim material wrapped around her bunches, and accessorised with numerous bangles, blingy gold earrings and fuchsia lipstick

Lily was keeping her loyal army of fans up-to-date with a series of snaps while enjoying her South African retreat, posting numerous shots of breathtaking scenery on her Twitter and Instagram pages.

The singer has recently burst back onto the music scene after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus from the industry, with her new single Air Balloon due for release on March 2. 

Speaking about the new track on the Capital Breakfast Show on Monday morning, she told DJs Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon about the track:  'It's about escapism really, and daydreaming in a lot of ways.

Attention to detail: Even Lily's intricately-painted nails featured a glitzy safari design in keeping with the singer's location

The office: Lily was keeping her loyal army of fans up-to-date with a series of snaps while enjoying her South African retreat, posting numerous shots of breathtaking scenery on her Twitter and Instagram pages

'My husband is constantly infuriated with me, because he'll be sort to be talking to me when were sitting down having dinner or something, and I'm looking at him, but I'm totally not paying any attention at all.'

When asked what can be expected from the third album, Lily replied: 'You know what, I'm still sort of piecing it all together, to be honest. 

'So I can't really give you any specifics, but I'm really really proud of it and I'm really pleased with it. I've worked so hard and it hasn't been easy with two little tiny babies running around.'

culled from dailymail

Beyonce Calls Gender Equality "a myth" As She Backs Plea For Female Empowerment In Maria Shriver's New Report

Beyonce has contributed an essay to Maria Shriver's annual report on the status of women in America.

The singer joined top women’s rights activists like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Facebook COO and Lean In author Sheryl Sandberg, and designer Tory Burch who all wrote essays touting the importance of gender equality.

'We need to stop buying into the myth about gender equality. It isn’t a reality yet,' Beyonce wrote in The Shriver Report.

Powerful women: Beyonce has written an essay for a female empowerment project spearheaded by Maria Shriver (seen here together in 2010 at Coachella when Shriver was the First Lady of California)

The Grammy-award winner signed the essay using her hyphenated married name, Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

'Humanity requires both men and women, and we are equally important and need one another. So why are we viewed as less than equal?' she wrote. 

'We have a lot of work to do, but we can get there if we work together. Women are more than 50 percent of the population and more than 50 percent of voters. We must demand that we all receive 100 percent of the opportunities.'

Beyonce was not the only celebrity to contribute an essay to the free packet, as Eva Longoria wrote about the need to empower Latinas and basketball superstar LeBron James who wrote a letter in appreciation of his single mother.

Who run the world? Both Beyonce and Shriver have been outspoken advocates for gender equality

'You think LeBron James is a champion? Gloria James is a champion too. She's my champion,' he wrote.

Beyonce has been a vocal proponent of female empowerment through her music for years- with Independent Woman and Who Run The World (Girls) among her biggest hits.

She has also been more vocal about the concept of feminism in press statements over the past year, including an April 2013 interview with British Vogue where she said that she is a modern-day feminist.

'I do believe in equality and that we have a way to go and it's something that's pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept,' she explained after being criticized for calling her latest tour The Mrs Carter Show World Tour.

Political action: Beyonce, and husband Jay Z (seen together at the President's second inauguration), have been big supporters of the Obamas and Democratic causes

'But I'm happily married. I love my husband.'

This may be the first time that Beyonce worked partnered up with Ms Shriver- a member of the Democratic Kennedy clan- for an outreach project but certainly not the first time that she has become involved in political issues.

Beyonce is a strong supporter of President Obama and has regularly performed at events for him and spoken out on behalf of causes that First Lady Michelle headlines.

culled from

INEC Registered Bowl Of Rice As Voter In Anambra State (See Photo)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented a bowl of rice as one the registered voters during the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

The bowl of rice pictured in INEC’s voter’s roll was registered as a 37 year old male voter in Umuerodili township in Anambra State.

Read more: INEC Registered A Bowl Of Rice As A Voter In Anambra [See Photo]

Wonderful mkpo mkpa idem! Saiiiiii!!!

source-36daily.com

Paul Walker Crash: Coroner Rules That Car Was Travelling At 100mph Or More

The car in which Hollywood actor Paul Walker and his friend died may have been travelling at a speed of 100mph or more, a coroner’s report has found.

The 2005 Porsche Carrera GT crashed on November 30 before bursting into flames – killing both the Fast & Furious star and his friend Roger Rodas.

Investigators have found that there were no mechanical problems with the sports car or faults with the road in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles.

Rodas, 38, who was driving, had fourth-degree burns and severe skull fractures while Walker had multiple broken bones. Both also suffered 100 per cent burns.

Witnesses said that the car had been travelling ‘at an unsafe speed’ (Picture: AP)

Neither men had alcohol nor drugs in their system, according to the coroner, who ruled their deaths an accident.

The red Porsche was travelling ‘at an unsafe speed, approximately 100+ mph’, the report quotes witnesses as saying.

It also added: ‘For unknown reasons, the driver lost control of his vehicle.’

The crash happened as Walker, 40, took a short break from filming Fast & Furious 7 – the film’s release has since been delayed by nearly a year to April 2015.

The Porsche crashed into two trees and a lamppost before exploding into a fireball. Three data recorders survived that may give investigators more information.

Source-Metro.co.uk

Will Smith’s Wife Jada Pinkett Smith Pays Tribute To James Avery

While Will Smith is yet to comment on the tragic death of his Fresh Prince of Bel Air co-star James Avery, his wife Jada Pinkett Smith has broken her silence to pay tribute to the late actor best known as ‘Uncle Phil’.

The 65-year-old actor died on New Year’s Eve, with TMZ reporting he died with his wife Barbara by his side after complications following open heart surgery.

The news was broken by Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Avery’s on-screen son Carlton Banks, and Twitter was soon flooded with well wishers paying tribute to the beloved US actor.

James Avery and Will Smith were co-stars on the much-loved show (Picture: NBC)

Following in Alfonso’s footsteps, Jada took to her Facebook page to offer her condolences last night.

‘Happy New Year everyone!’ she began. ‘I was hoping to start the new year differently but we have lost yet another friend. James Avery who we all lovingly know as Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince has passed.

‘Our condolences to aunt Florence (his mother), Miss Barbara (his wife) and all those who loved him. Rest in peace James.’

James Avery was best known for his role as Uncle Phil in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Picture: NBC)

Will starred in the show as Will ‘The Fresh Prince’ Smith, the nephew of Uncle Phil.

Alfonso led the tributes on New Year’s Day, writing on his Facebook page: ‘The world has lost a truly special man. I am very saddened to say that James Avery has passed.

‘Even though he played my father on TV, he was a wonderful father figure to me in life. He will be deeply missed.’

As well as his fame from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Avery was known for his appearances in Grey’s Anatomy, The Jeffersons and The Closer.

source-metro.co.uk

Madonna Hits Back At Critics For Coming At Her After She Posted Photograph Of 13-Year-Old Son Rocco With Alcohol

Madonna has come under fire after sharing Instagram pictures of her son Rocco clutching bottles of alcohol.

The Queen of Pop was criticised for appearing to allow her 13-year-old son to get into the New Year spirit.

However the Material Girl hit back at critics after her Instagram shots attracted negative comments.

‘No one was drinking we were just having fun! Calm down and get a sense of humor! Don’t start the year off with judgement!’ the 55-year-old said on Sunday morning.

The singer and her four children rang in the New Year in Switzerland where the legal drinking age is 16.

Eyebrows were raised after the singer originally posted a snap of her son and two of his friends holding bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin and Belvedere vodka accompanied with the caption: ‘The party has just begun! Bring it! 2014.’

Rocco Ritchie is film director Guy Ritchie and Madonna’s first son.

source-metro.co.uk

Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez Back Together? Pop Star Posts Photo Of The Pair Sharing A Cute Cuddle

The pop singer posted the cute picture under the caption: "Love the way you look at me"

 

Is this the clearest sign yet that Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are rekindling their romance?

Pop star Bieber posted the sweet shot of the pair, who broke up early last year, sharing a sweet embrace on his Instagram account.

Come & Get It singer Sel, who's sporting a huge smile, has her arms wrapped around the Baby singer who's looking into camera in the black and white selfie.

Justin captioned the photo: "Love the way you look at me."

This isn't the first time the pair have posted a cuddly snap since their break up - in April last year Justin posted a shot of him sitting at his computer while Selena sat behind him - but we can't help but think they might be more than just pals this time.

Earlier this week the former flames were pictured together for the first time in months having what looked like a cracking time as they sped about on Segways in the Baby singer's upmarket neighbourhood in Calabasas, California.

The couple were seen by fans with one writing: "Hey Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber... I thought u broke up???" alongside a picture of them zooming about.

While passerby Nick Sanitsky wrote: "Bieber and Selena segwaying in the Oaks. She was so nice, so he yelled at us."

He also said the pair were holding up traffic and claimed the 19-year-old singer had "ruined" his celebrity-spotting moment by being "rude" to him, but he enjoyed seeing brunette beauty Selena.

Although Come & Get It singer Selena said she was axing the concerts, which were due to kick off on January 16, to "spend time on herself", other reports claim she was battling lupus as well as struggling to get over the Biebs.

While just last month Justin told a radio host at Power 106: "[The break up] affected us, especially when we are in front of so many people. It's such a public thing. It's just hard for the both of us. But you know, she's a great woman. I love her till this day."

Shortly after announcing she was axing the concerts in Australia, China, Japan and the Philippines to focus on herself, the petite 21-year-old admitted she's the "happiest" she's been in a while.

The 21-year-old star posted a picture of herself holding a baby, presumably her six-month-old half-sister, Gracie, on Instagram on Sunday, with the caption: "I'm the happiest I've been in a while.."

Source-mirror.co.uk

Obama Urges Congress To Restore Unemployment Benefits

WASHINGTON — President Obama, seeking the upper hand with Congress as he heads back from his Hawaiian vacation, insisted on Saturday that lawmakers make restoring unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans who are out of work their “first order of business” in the new year.

An emergency program providing up to 47 weeks of supplemental payments to the long-term unemployed expired last month after Congress did not include an extension in a two-year budget deal passed before it left town for the holidays. Mr. Obama said in his weekly address on Saturday that he would sign legislation renewing the benefits for another three months.

Mr. Obama said the program helped parents trying to feed children while they looked for work. “And denying families that security is just plain cruel,” the president said in the address, which was taped before his scheduled departure for Washington on Saturday night after two weeks on Oahu. “We’re a better country than that. We don’t abandon our fellow Americans when times get tough; we keep the faith with them until they start that new job.”

Mr. Obama added, “Instead of punishing families who can least afford it, Republicans should make it their New Year’s resolution to do the right thing and restore this vital economic security for their constituents right now.”

Some Republicans, including Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, are open to renewing the benefits as long as the cost can be offset. They have complained that Democrats did not offer such a plan before leaving the capital last month.

Other Republicans have more philosophical objections, arguing that extending benefits beyond the basic program merely consigns jobless workers to the ranks of the perpetually unemployed by removing an incentive to finding work.

In their own weekly address, Republicans focused on another spending initiative that would direct more money to research to help children with autism, cancer and other diseases. The money would be taken from federal money set aside to pay for the two parties’ presidential nominating conventions. The House passed the plan last month on a lopsided bipartisan vote and sent it to the Senate for consideration.

“Instead of funding these conventions once every four years, we’ll make it a daily priority to explore the full potential of clinical trials and advancements,” said Representative Gregg Harper, a Mississippi Republican and a sponsor of the legislation.

The bill, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, was renamed last fall for a 10-year-old Virginia girl with an inoperable brain tumor who drew attention for her efforts to promote pediatric cancer research; she later died.

Mr. Harper noted that he had a personal interest in the proposal. “Livingston, our oldest, was 4 when he was diagnosed with fragile X syndrome, a disorder that is often misdiagnosed as autism,” he said. “Today, he’s making his way through college in a program for students with intellectual disabilities.”

source-nytimes

Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Actor James Avery Dies At 68

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – US actor James Avery, most famous as Uncle Phil in hit 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” died on New Year’s Eve aged 68, his publicist said Wednesday.

With a deep baritone voice, Avery regularly played judges, professors or doctors in TV shows in the 1980s and 90s, as well as extensive voice work, including on animated projects.

 This June 3, 2009 file photo shows US actor James Avery arriving at the Palm Pre Launch Event to Benefit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America held at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, California. AFP Photo

His first big-screen role was an uncredited part in 1980s classic “The Blues Brothers,” and he enjoyed a prolific TV and movie career stretching over three decades.

But the role most people will remember him for is as Philip Banks on the 1990s NBC series, who played a role model to the young Will Smith’s character, a fictionalized rapper version of himself.

“I’m deeply saddened to say James Avery has passed away,” his “Fresh Prince” co-star Alfonso Ribeiro tweeted. “He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly.”

Born James LaRue Avery in Virginia and raised in New Jersey, he had worked until September, shooting the film “Wish I Was Here” directed by Zach Braff, which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this month.

Avery died late Tuesday in hospital in Glendale, outside Los Angeles, “due to complications from open heart surgery,” his publicist Cynthia Snyder told AFP in an email.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Barbara Avery, his mother Florence Avery, and his stepson Kevin Waters. Plans are being made for a memorial service, the spokeswoman said.

source- Vanguard Nigeria

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Calabar Carnival! Nollywood Steals The Show!

Every Christmas, millions of tourists and fun seekers across the world  throng the ancient city of Calabar,  Cross River State,to catch  a glimpse of the annual Calabar carnival. And last  year’s Christmas was no exception.

The carnival, which kicked off  from Saturday, November 30, with the lighting of Christmas Tree ran through  January 1. It was nothing less than the popular carnival da Rua in terms of colour, artistry and  love-filled atmosphere.

Many attendees described  it as “a memorable blend of culture, fun, adventure and creativity ability of the people as represented by the five bands of the carnival.

“But besides, the streets parade with makeshift costumes, crowded stadium, happy jamboree and soul rowing jollity that took the centre stage, graceful participation of Nollywood stars in last year’s carnival indisputably helped to add glamour  and sophistication to the annual event.

Prior to the establishment of Nollywood band as an addition to the already existing carnival bands including, Bayside, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Seagull and Freedom band, movie stars have been part of the carnival in the recent past.But  this year, they featured prominently than ever in most of the carnival activities as they stole the show.

At  UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar  venue of the carnival grand finale,  the likes of  Tonto Dikeh, Funke Akindele, Uti Nwachukwu, Fred  Amata, Imeh Bishop Umoh, Mr. John Okafor a.k.a Mr Ibu,  Nkem Owoh(Osofia), KC Ejelonu, Linda Ejiofor, Gideon Okeke, Enyinna Nwigwe, OC Ukeje and several others were the cynosure of attraction.

Accompanying Senator, Florence Ita-Giwa’s  led Seagull band and Cross River State First Lady’s Master Blasta band, the movie stars caused a stir as they displayed alongside the bands  in  different forms ranging from their colours, costumes, choreography, music and  dance drama to the amusement of the cheering spectators who   thronged the  venue to catch a glimpse of the event.

Upon sighting Mr. Ibu, the crowd ran after him, just as shout of  “Osofia in Calabar’ filled the air.  Also, the sight of Tonto Dikeh was pleasing to the over one million participants who were eager to  meet the controversial actress.

The  stars also participated in the street party. While the street party  which was declared opened by the state governor, Liyel Imoke  lasted, the stars  were not found missing in action.

Just as the people  who flooded the 14 kilometres carnival route stretching into the U. J Esuene Stadium, the terminating point and theatre of communal celebration for the day, till the early hours of Saturday, december 28, felt the sensation and vibration as well as experienced the convivial social atmosphere of the yearly feast, which has been described as the biggest street party ever in the annals of the African continent.

The carnival climaxed last Wednesday, January 1, with a thanksgiving service.

written by
By Benjamin Njoku
source- Vanguard Nigeria