Madonna: Has the Queen of Pop Sensationalism gone too far by wearing a chainmail niqab?

The Queen of Pop is at it again. Madonna loves touting a gun or wearing fishnets and spandex at an age when most of us prefer to cover up. But her latest outfit is more controversial still.
She has been pictured wearing a chainmail mask resembling a niqab - a face veil worn by Muslim women.
The star posted a photo from her forthcoming photoshoot with Harper’s Bazaar magazine on Instagram and Facebook, accompanied by the words: “The Revolution of Love is on…Inshallah [Arabic for 'God willing'].”
It is unclear what message Madonna, who is well known for her humanitarian work with women in developing countries and as an exponent of the Kabbalah religion, meant to send via her new look.
Some fans have interpreted the chainmail mask as a message of empowerment to women, but one Instagram user said: “You thing this message is empowering to women?...If this was a woman who really wanted to empower other females she could do this in many other ways…When did gagging women make them feel good?”
Other fans have suggested that Madonna’s chainmail mask is a direct criticism of the oppression suffered by women in some Islamic countries.
Bill Paul Buttuls wrote on Facebook: “Are you saying the burqa is ‘trapping’ women?” while Ccim Le Bon commented: “Burqa covers even the eyes…and this is the NIQAB…the message is not clear…what do you mean queen?”
While the majority of fans posted positive comments about the outfit, and the odd joke about the Queen of Pop raiding Lady Gaga’s wardrobe, others found the photograph “disappointing” and “ reductive”.
Take our poll and tell us what you think of Madonna's outfit:

16-Year Old Canadian-Nigerian Girl Makes Beat For Jay-Z’s New Album

Ebony Oshunrinde, a 16-year old Canadian-Nigerian girl, known as WondaGurl, has been listed in the credits for Jay-Zs new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail.

Ebony, who resides in Brampton, southern Ontario, was credited for the track ‘Crown’.

“It’s a really good feeling. I want to show young people that they can do it. Anybody can be successful. It doesn’t matter where you’re from” the elated beat maker expressed her delight on being featured by one of the greatest rapper in the world.

The teenage self-taught producer is reported to have started making her own beats after watching a video showing Jay-Z and mega producer Timbaland working in the studio together on the album.

“It inspired me and I wanted to do the exact same thing that he did,” she said.

At age 9, WondaGurl downloaded music software and taught herself how to use it from watching YouTube videos, amazed by the idea of creating something from scratch.

She came up with her name, WondaGurl, by swapping around the name of one of her favourite Canadian producers.

A year ago, after winning Toronto’s Battle of the Beat Makers competition at only 15, Oshunrinde got serious about her music. She signed on with Black Box, the same label as Classified, and started working in a studio.

The beat that landed on Jay-Z’s album began with a reggae song. Oshunrinde sampled the music and added her own twist using computer software.

“It has a lot of bass and a lot of bounce,” she explained.

She worked on her beat once and sent it to Travis Scott, a young rapper and producer from Houston who met Oshunrinde last year. He happened to be working in the studio with Jay-Z when she sent him her beat.

A few days later, Oshunrinde was at home with her brother and sister when her phone buzzed.

“He texted me and said, ‘I’m about to change your life,” Oshunrinde said.

When Scott told her that her cut made it on to Jay-Z’s album, she thought it was a joke.

“Usually that doesn’t really happen to 16-year-olds,” the teen said.

And when she told her mother the good news, she cried.

Oshunrinde has never met Jay-Z and, like everyone else, had to wait for the digital release on July 4 to hear “Crown.”

She just got her passport last year, and hopes she’ll meet the rap mogul when she travels to the USA soon.

Beyonce's Father Marries Another Woman After Divorce

Beyonce has a new addition to her family.
The singer and mother of one now has — a stepmother.
Beyonce’s father and former manager, Mathew Knowles, got married last Sunday. His representative on Friday said he wed real estate agent and former model Gena Charmaine Avery, 48, in Houston. The couple had been engaged for a year and a half.
The 61-year-old Knowles guided his daughter to superstardom with the group Destiny’s Child and later in her solo career. She released him as her manager in 2011.
Beyonce and her rapper husband, Jay-Z, have one daughter, Blue Ivy. Of late, the curvy singer has been brushing off rampant rumors that she’s pregnant.
Knowles, head of Music World Entertainment, still manages several gospel acts including Grammy-winner Le’Andria Johnson. He and Beyonce’s mother, Tina, divorced in 2009 after 29 years of marriage and two children — Beyonce and her sister, fellow singer Solange.

Best Friends, Aged 6 and 7, Team Up to Raise $200,000 to Fight Rare Disease

Jonah Pournazarian, 7, is one of about 100 people in the U.S. who suffer from Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1B (GSD). The disease is incurable and until the 1980s, most of its victims died by the age of two.Dylan Siegel, 6, is Jonah’s best friend. He wanted to help his friend get well and wrote a book in hopes of raising a million dollars to find a cure. The book, entitled “Chocolate Bar” took an hour for the first grader to write and illustrate. The name comes from a term the boys use to describe things they consider awesome or fantastic. Dylan solicited his parents, David and Debra Siegel, to help getting the book published. They turned to a local printer and had 200 copies printed to sell at a school fair.
Debra was hopeful they would at least sell the books they printed because she didn’t want to be stuck with them. The books sold out in a couple of hours and the family made $6,000.
David said they did a second printing and set up a Facebook page and later a website. David said people started to hear about the book and wanted to help Dylan reach his goal.
Six months later, “Chocolate Bar” the book along with actual chocolate bars donated by a local outlet of Whole Foods has raised a combined $200,000.
GSD is a metabolic disease that adversely affects the liver. Lora Pournazarian explains that only cornstarch is keeping Jonah alive. Mixed with water, she administers the solution through a feeding around the clock to keep Jonah’s blood sugar on even keel.
Jonah is allowed to eat other foods but his sugar intake is strictly monitored. His parents have learned to appreciate how precious life is since learning of their son’s illness.
The couple’s two older children Rachel, 9, and Jonah’s twin brother Eli are proud of Dylan for helping their brother.
Funding for research for GSD has been nonexistent because the disease is so rare, no one is interested. Dr. Weinstein was skeptical that “Chocolate Bar” would really help raise significant money. Now he calls the book and Dylan’s efforts astounding.
The boys first met in preschool when they were three. They are now inseparable buddies, hopefully for a long time to come.

Man arrested after trying to sell a penis

A man in Malawi has been arrested after he was found to be trying to sell a penis he had just cut from a 45 year old man. Officer responded to a report of a man lying unconscious near some railway tracks last Tuesday. When he was admitted to hospital he was found to be missing his penis and balls. Soon after police were then called to a motel where the owner reported a man trying to sell her a penis for US$360
The man who was a guest at the motel was arrested by police who also seized the penis. Salima police chief Foster Mangani said: “We rushed to the lodge and arrested the suspect. We also recovered the private parts.”
The suspect has been made as Samuel Banda who was found with the penis wrapped in white paper. Pictures were published by the local newspaper showing the severed penis wrapped in white paper. According to police Samuel Banda admitted to them of selling “many body parts to well-known business personalities”.
According to the local paper, the man is described as in a serious condition in the local hospital. It’s thought that the victim was caught by Samuel Banda when he was walking home drunk.
Local people believe that human body parts can bring them riches and many unscrupulous people pay money to poor locals to kill and dismember others.
Picture courtesy of schmuntza