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Rihanna, who has kept a relatively low profile in recent weeks, showed up in NYC last night just about a day after she showed up in Honolulu, Hawaii earlier this week (and after she showed up in NYC last month). Ri Ri has been on the move lately popping up at various far-flung locales. Chris Brown, who stands accused of assaulting Rihanna on the morning of February 8, is scheduled to appear in court here in LA on Monday morning and I assumed that Rihanna would be staying in Hawaii for Chris’s court date. But, now that she’s made her way to NYC so soon after her quick trip to Hawaii, I suppose it’s possible that she may return to SoCal to (heaven forbid) stand by her man. Here are a couple pics of Rihanna making her exit from Da Salvano restaurant in the West Village last night before she and a friend made their way to see a movie:

It’s great to see Rihanna just going about her biz, trying to keep things as normal as possible. I’m encouraged that she’s been keeping her distance from her alleged batterer but I fear the couple may be keeping their distance for now in order to try and weather the storm of his felony charges. As much as I hate to admit it, my gut tells me that ChRihanna will be together again one day. It remains to be seen where Rihanna will be when Chris goes before the court to answer for his alleged crimes but I really hope for her sake the prosecution works with due diligence to ensure that Brown is punished for his crimes if he is found guilty. It’s still too early to know what exactly will go down in court on Monday but I’m hoping for the best.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Amazing news to report from the very heart of the United States of America … the Supreme Court of Iowa (which is smack dab right in the middle of the US of A) has ruled today — in a completely unanimous decision — that the ban on same-sex marriage in their State is UNCONSTITUTIONAL paving the way for same-sex marriage to become legal in Iowa! Same-sex marriage will legally be allowed to take place in the State of Iowa in 3 weeks time, which makes Iowa the 3rd state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage (4th if you count California). What is most surprising to me is that Iowa is the first State in the Midwest (near the Bible Belt, y’all!) that has taken this huge step forward for marriage equality. What a happy, happy day!

The Iowa Supreme Court this morning unanimously upheld gays’ right to marry. “The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution,” the justices said in a summary of their decision. The court rules that gay marriage would be legal in three weeks, starting April 24. The court affirmed a Polk County District Court decision that would allow six gay couples to marry. The ruling is viewed as a victory for the gay rights movement in Iowa and elsewhere, and a setback for social conservatives who wanted to protect traditional families. The decision makes Iowa the first Midwestern state, and the fourth nationwide, to allow same-sex marriages. Lawyers for Lambda Legal, a gay rights group that financed the court battle and represented the couples, had hoped to use a court victory to demonstrate acceptance of same-sex marriage in heartland America. The Iowa Supreme Court’s Web site was deluged with more than 350,000 visitors this morning, in anticipation of the ruling, a Judicial Branch spokesman said this morning. Steve Davis, a court spokesman, said administrators added extra computer servers to handle the expected increase in Web traffic. But “this is unprecedented,” Davis said. Richard Socarides, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton on gay civil rights, said today’s decision could set the stage for other states. Socarides was was a senior political assistant for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in the early 1990s. “I think it’s significant because Iowa is considered a Midwest sate in the mainstream of American thought,” Socarides said. “Unlike states on the coasts, there’s nothing more American than Iowa. As they say during the presidential caucuses, ‘As Iowa goes, so goes the nation.’” Democratic Sen. Bill Dotzler of Waterloo said he hopes people treat each other with respect today. “Everyone just needs to remain calm,” he said. “We need to analyze the decision. By giving a unanimous decision it seems to me the court really thinks it’s an issue of rights. It will be up to the legislature to look at their ruling and see how we’re going to proceed” … Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, e-mailed his response to reporters: “The decision released this morning by Supreme Court addresses a complicated and emotional issue, one on which Iowans have strong views and opinions on both sides. The next responsible step is to thoroughly review this decision, which I am doing with my legal counsel and the attorney general, before reacting to what it means for Iowa.” Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) issued the following statement this morning in response to the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to allow gay marriage in Iowa: “The decision made by the Iowa Supreme Court today to allow gay marriage in Iowa is disappointing on many levels. I believe marriage should only be between one man and one woman and I am confident the majority of Iowans want traditional marriage to be legally recognized in this state. Though the court has made their decision, I believe every Iowan should have a voice on this matter and that is why the Iowa Legislature should immediately act to pass a Constitutional Amendment that protects traditional marriage, keeps it as a sacred bond only between one man and one woman and gives every Iowan a chance to have their say through a vote of the people.” “I’m off the wall,” said Democratic Sen. Matt McCoy of Des Moines, who is openly gay. “I’m very pleased to be an Iowan” … Until today, Iowa law said marriage could only be between one man and one woman. The case, Varnum vs. Brien, involves six same-sex Iowa couples who sued Polk County Recorder Timothy Brien in 2005 after his office denied them marriage licenses. Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson sided with the couples last year but then suspended his decision pending a high court ruling.

OH.MY.GAWD! I am utterly and completely shocked … and elated. This proves that the unfair practice of discriminating against same-sex marriage does not have a strong foothold anywhere in our great country anymore. That this ruling could come from the heartland of the United States of America shows that marriage equality for all will become a reality soon. Altho our Nation is still quite a ways from allowing same-sex marriage to all citizens of the US, this ruling in Iowa is a HUGE leap forward in achieving equality for all. By handing down a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Iowa is sending a clear message that banning same-sex marriage is wrong and cannot be tolerated anywhere in our great Nation. I am just … thrilled beyond words. Click HERE to read a summary of the Iowan Supreme Court ruling or click HERE to read the opinion in full. Woot!!! Well done Iowa, you’ve done your Country a great service today!

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Madonna was SHOCKED in court today when her request to adopt Chifundo Mercy James was DENIED by the Malawian court that was charged with ruling in her case. Citing a residency requirement that insists that prospective parents achieve residency in Malawi for 18-24 months, the court turned down Madonna’s request to adopt Mercy James ending Madonna‘s bid for adoption in one fell swoop:

A residency requirement in Malawi has prevented Madonna from adopting a second child from that African nation, a judge and a lawyer told the Associated Press on Friday. The news service described the judge as a witness not involved in Friday’s court ruling, and the lawyer as another who was present at the time of the decision. Both the judge and the lawyer spoke on conditions of anonymity. The residency requirement for prospective parents is 18 to 24 months in Malawi. Madonna has homes in New York and London. The singer, a single mother, was planning to adopt 3½-year-old Mercy James, whom she first met in an orphanage in 2006. Her other children are daughter Lourdes, 12, and son Rocco, 8. There has been no word on whether Madonna intends to appeal the ruling. When her Malawian lawyer, Alan Chinula, broke the news that High Court judge Esme Chombo had rejected her petition to adopt a Malawian toddler, an incredulous Madonna “kept wringing her hands,” a source at Kumbali Lodge, where the pop star is staying, tells PEOPLE. Madonna, who filed her adoption papers on Monday, was not present in court. At the hearing, the judge said child welfare officers are required to find suitable prospective parents and “not someone who just flies in and out.” In terms of the child, “I think the welfare of Chifundo [African for 'Mercy'] will be better served if she grows within the environment of the culture of Malawi,” she said. The judge also said that because Madonna is already assisting other orphans, Chifundo will still benefit from star’s generosity.

Wow. I, too, am shocked at this ruling … I’m not sure there were many folks who guessed that the Malawian court would rule against Madonna. While I think it’s important that residency laws are upheld in matters like these (after all, those requirements become laws for a reason), I really hope the court was ruling in Mercy‘s best interests … and not for the sake of making an example out of Madonna. True, Mercy will still be able to benefit from “Madonna‘s generosity” without being adopted, but I cannot believe the little girl will be better served in an orphanage (even if it was the best orphanage in the world) rather than in an adopted home. I suppose we’ll hear soon what Madonna‘s next step is. I wouldn’t be surprised if she gave up her bid to adopt from Malawi altogether … but, I suppose, on the contrary I’d prolly not be surprised if she ended up buying a home in Malawi for the express purpose of establishing residency in order to try to adopt again.

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Here is our first look at the music video for Tori Amos‘s new single Welcome to England which is the first single from her new album Abnormally Attracted to Sin, due out in stores in May …

The video features Tori lookin’ fierce as hell in various locales in England. I think this video is our first indication at what the visualettes that will accompany each song on the album will look like. Very cool. After the jump, check out the music video for Welcome to England in full, along with lyrics to the song …