Scott Barnes

Article / Updated 06-20-2023

Prior to her accession to the throne on her 21st birthday, Elizabeth spoke to the nations of the British Commonwealth via radio broadcast, saying, "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong." This commitment to serve the people of the Commonwealth characterized her reign from the beginning to her death in 2022. Queen Elizabeth’s reign started in 1952 when she was just 25 years old. She reigned through decades of enormous social change and development within the United Kingdom and around the world. The reign of Queen Elizabeth II Traditionally, the head of the British Commonwealth takes no official stance on public policy and remains neutral on party politics. Being the traditionalist, Queen Elizabeth kept her views on political issues mostly private. It is considered "bad form" to repeat anything that the Queen says in private and British newspapers had a long-standing policy of not publishing the Queen’s private utterances. As a result, the Queen's public actions and words influenced the culture of her nation in ways that no elected official could. For example, in 2011, Queen Elizabeth made the first trip to the Irish Republic by a British monarch in over a century. The visit, in and of itself, carried significance, but to make sure the point was not missed, Queen Elizabeth arrived wearing an emerald green suit, surrounded by ladies-in-waiting also wearing shades of green. She publicly encouraged both sides of the English-Irish conflict "to bow to the past but not be bound by it." She visited the Garden of Remembrance, the sacred ground for Irish patriots who died battling for independence, where she bowed her head in reverence. She also visited Croke Park, the site of Bloody Sunday in 1920, where 14 Irish civilians died after British forces opened fire on them. Thus, without voicing a political position, Queen Elizabeth II set the stage for improved relations between the peoples and governments of these two Commonwealth nations over which she reigned. In 2013, the Queen publicly signed a Commonwealth Charter that opposes "all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, color, creed, political belief, or other grounds." With the stroke of the pen, the queen made a symbolic pledge for equal rights for all people in the 54 countries around the world that belong to the British Commonwealth. Never in her years as monarch had she done anything like it before. The press speculated that the signing of the Commonwealth Charter signaled the Queen's support of gay rights. "The queen has to remain politically neutral," ABC News royal contributor Victoria Arbiter said. "While we won't hear her personal views on this, the fact that she is endorsing it publicly in front of television cameras, it really does speak volumes." Through the course of her reign, Queen Elizabeth introduced reforms to the monarchy. In 1992, she volunteered to start paying both income and capital gains taxes. She opened her official residencies to the public — including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle — in order to finance their maintenance. She supported ending the rule of male primogeniture, meaning the eldest child can succeed to the throne, regardless of gender. On October 28, 2011, the 16 Commonwealth countries at the Perth Commonwealth Summit voted unanimously to scrap male primogeniture in the British royal family. Henceforth, the oldest child in the direct line would be heir, regardless of gender. Despite her reputation for being distant and aloof, Queen Elizabeth II brought a personal touch to the British monarchy, introducing more informal engagements and increasing the number of visits to both countries within and outside of the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth was said to be the most well-travelled British monarch in history. As a means of staying connected to the people she served, Elizabeth II also introduced the walkabout, in which she met and greeted large numbers of the public. In 1981, on one of the royal walkabouts, a British subject seeking fame and notoriety fired six blank shots at her. Despite the danger presented by these up close and personal appearances, she continued to do the walkabouts regularly. The Queen’s own service leadership works to encourage others to volunteer and serve their communities. Her Majesty was involved with more than 600 charities and non-profit organizations — she served to bring recognition to their achievements and contributions and to persuade other people to join. The personal side of Queen Elizabeth II It is said that when Elizabeth met Prince Philip, even though she was only 13 years old, she fell in love with him and they began exchanging letters. They were officially engaged on July 9, 1947 and they were married on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey. They had four children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. During the Queen’s reign she experienced personal tragedies, including the death of her father at 56, the breakdown of her children’s marriages — particularly that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales — and the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997. Her mother and sister also passed during her reign, both in 2002.

Article / Updated 02-22-2023

The Academy Awards, casually called the Oscars, is a formal awards ceremony to honor the best achievements in filmmaking from the previous year. The Academy Awards, from the nomination and voting processes to the ceremony itself, are overseen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy has more than 10,000 members and is a professional honorary society of people involved in all aspects of making movies. The first Academy Awards were distributed in 1929 at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. Cinema has changed since then, and so have the categories for awards. Currently there are 24 awards categories presented at the ceremony, with more Oscars handed out for other lesser achievements before the formal ceremony. Some top categories of Academy Awards are Best Actor/Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Music, Best Visual Effects, and Best Animated Feature Film. One of the more prestigious award ceremonies in the world, The Academy Awards ceremony is televised in over 100 countries. Those who love cinema tune in to see how their favorite movies and performers fare. Those who love fashion watch to see what the celebrities are wearing — which is often the latest in couture with astronomically expensive (usually loaned) jewelry. A film must open in the previous calendar year in Los Angeles County to qualify for the next year's Academy Awards ceremony (the one exception to this is Best Foreign Language Film). Often, if moviemakers think they have an award winner on their hands, they'll release a movie in the last week of the year to qualify for the upcoming awards. For example, Silver Linings Playbook was released on December 25, 2012 and was nominated for Best Picture and other Oscars in January, 2013). Conversely, the 2009 Best Picture Winner, The Hurt Locker, was first released in 2008, but didn't release in Los Angeles County until 2009, so it won its Best Picture award in 2010. In late December, all Academy members receive ballots to select nominees for the next ceremony. For most categories, Academy members vote only for their peers (directors vote for nominees for Best Director, actors vote for nominees for Best Actor, etc.). The exceptions to this are for Foreign Film, Documentary, and Animated Feature Film categories, which are nominated by special committees made up of members across the Academy, and all members are allowed to vote for nominees for the coveted Best Picture award. The winners for each category are determined by a second voting round, which is opened up to all members of the Academy for most categories. Here is some fun Oscar trivia: Walt Disney won more Academy Awards than any other person, with 26 Oscars (22 for his films and four honorary awards). Edith Head won more Academy Awards than any other woman, with eight Oscars (all for Costume Design). Katharine Hepburn won more Academy Awards than any other actor/actress, with four Oscars. Jack Nicholson, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Walter Brennan are tied for male actors winning the most Oscars. Meryl Streep has been nominated for more Academy Awards than any other actor/actress, with 21 nominations (she's won three times). Three films are tied for winning the most Oscars total: 11. These films were: Ben-Hur, in 1960; Titanic, in 1998; and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, in 2003. Tatum O'Neal is the youngest person to win an Oscar — she was 10 when she won Best Supporting Actress for Paper Moon (1973). Anthony Hopkins is the oldest person to win the Best Actor award; at age 83, he won for The Father in 2020. Before that, it was Christopher Plummer, who was 82 when he won for Beginners (2010). James Dean is the only person to be nominated for two posthumous Academy Awards, for East of Eden (1956) and Giant (1957). Beatrice Straight holds the record for winning an acting award for the shortest role — in 1975's Network, she was on screen for 5:40 minutes. Woody Allen has been nominated for 21 Academy Awards, but he's only attended the ceremony once (in a year he wasn't nominated). No one really knows how The Oscars got its name. One story is that an Academy librarian saw one of the first statuettes and exclaimed "it looks just like my Uncle Oscar!" Another story is that Bette Davis named it after her ex-husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson, Jr.

Article / Updated 10-11-2022

Scientology is a set of religious beliefs created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard wrote a self-help book that explored the relationship between body and mind called Dianetics in 1950. In 1952, he expanded upon the success of Dianetics by creating Scientology. Hubbard then incorporated the Church of Scientology in 1953. Hubbard maintained a leadership role in the Church of Scientology until his death in 1986 — even during periods where he went into hiding because of controversy and legal actions against the church. What do scientologists believe Scientologists believe that people are immortal alien beings (called thetans) who have forgotten their true nature and are trapped on earth in a human body. Scientologists believe that each thetan has lived numerous past lives, both on earth in our physical bodies, and on other planets. Scientologists also believe that by undergoing a series of classes and teachings (called auditing by the church), people can free themselves of their human form and reclaim their true selves. ©Scott Barnes 2011 The Church of Scientology building (known as Big Blue) at Fountain Avenue and L. Ron Hubbard Way, in Los Angeles Many of the classes are structured to help people relive painful or traumatic events from their past, with the goal of freeing themselves from carrying these burdens. Auditing courses and study materials are available for Scientologists in exchange for monetary donations (the most advanced of these courses are not cheap). By taking all of the classes the Church of Scientology offers, Scientologists believe that one can reclaim his true thetan form, become closer to God (or the Supreme Being), and unlock abilities to control life, matter, energy, space, and time that have been repressed by being in human form. Controversy surrounding Scientology The Church of Scientology is legally recognized as a religion (with tax-exempt status) in eight countries, including the United States and Australia. Many other countries (including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) refuse to grant Scientology an official religious status. Scientology is one of the most controversial religious movements of our time. Many people reduce the world view to nothing more than a cult that brainwashes its members and then fleeces them by charging outrageous fees for some auditing classes. Critics lambast the church for its rejection of psychiatry, and many people take issue with the church's "Celebrity Centres," facilities that are technically open to the public but primarily serve the most famous Scientologists in the arts, sports, and government (think Tom Cruise, Isaac Hayes, and Nancy Cartwright). Reports from some who have left the Church of Scientology are even more incriminating and include stories of church members being held for years against their wills at "rehabilitation camps" for violating certain policies, or sending members to go through the trash of the church's critics and former members to find material to blackmail them into silence. In 1979, several Scientology members were convicted for participating in the largest theft of government documents in U.S. history. Scientologists have also been accused of tampering with witnesses in court cases and even murder. In response to these claims, Scientologists state that their religion is genuine and that information about the movement has been distorted, and that they are being persecuted.

Article / Updated 04-26-2016

James Dean was a film actor who remains an icon of both Hollywood and American pop culture — despite that fact that his movies are nearly 60 years old and his career consisted of only three major roles before he died in an automobile accident. James Dean's early life James Dean was born on February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana. When Dean was six, he and his family moved to Santa Monica, California. Dean's mother died when he was nine, after which his father sent him back to Indiana to be raised by James' aunt and uncle. In high school, James Dean's grades were average, but he excelled in athletics (baseball and basketball) and he enjoyed acting in school plays. After graduating, Dean returned to California to live with his father and step-mother, and he resumed his study of drama at UCLA — which led to his being alienated by his father. In 1951, James Dean dropped out of UCLA to pursue acting full time. James Dean's films James Dean's first role was in 1955's East of Eden, the film adaptation of the novel by James Steinbeck. Dean portrayed Cal Trask, an emotional and unhappy young man still grieving over the mysterious disappearance of his mother and forlorn by his father's favoritism of Cal's twin brother. The juxtaposition of Cal's troubles with his intuitive business savvy and his deep need to be loved required an actor who could handle complex and varied emotions. James Dean did more than pull this off — he triumphed. Dean immediately followed East of Eden with the film that remains his best known, Rebel Without a Cause. Dean played troubled teenager Jim Stark, a role that set the bar for teenage angst and discontent and created a genre of movies about teenage troubles that's existed ever since. Rebel Without a Cause was released almost one month to the day after James Dean died in an automobile accident. Dean's third movie was 1956's Giant, a Western epic in which he played a supporting role to Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Dean played Jett, a poor ranch hand who buys a small plot of land and strikes it rich in oil. The film spans over 25 years and saw James Dean progress from a strapping, ambitious young man to a drunk, vindictive middle-aged man. James Dean's three films demonstrated his superb acting abilities and his ease at portraying nearly every emotion imaginable. James Dean remains the only person to be nominated for two posthumous Academy Awards, both for Best Actor in a Leading Role, for East of Eden and Giant. Credit: Scott Barnes, 2009 Over 50 years after his death, women still don red lipstick to kiss the grave of James Dean in Fairmount, Indiana. James Dean's auto racing — and his death Aside from making movies, James Dean's passion was collecting cars and auto racing. He purchased and traded motorcycles and cars frequently. When not making movies, he participated in auto races around California. He developed such a reputation as a race car driver that the producers of Giant, in order to protect their star, forbade Dean from racing during the film's production. Sadly, on September 30, 1955 (just weeks after the filming of Giant finished), James Dean died in an automobile accident while driving his Porsche 550 Spyder to a race in Salinas, California. James Dean was 24 years old. James Dean is buried in a public cemetery in Fairmount, Indiana. His grave remains a pilgrimage site for movie buffs, fans of 1950s pop culture, and teenagers-at-heart (or some rebels-at-heart).

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

The Golden Globe Awards are a series of awards given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for outstanding television and film. The awards are presented at a formal ceremony and dinner, which is part of the film industry's awards season at the start of each year (honoring works from the previous year), which wraps up with the Academy Awards (Oscars). The Golden Globe ceremony is televised worldwide and is the third most-watched awards show, behind the Academy Awards and the Grammys. The first Golden Globe Awards ceremony took place in January, 1944, at 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles. Since 1961, the ceremony has been held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Although the Academy Awards are the big kahuna for filmmaking, some viewers and participants prefer the Golden Globes. Some movie buffs claim the Golden Globes are more authentic: While the Academy Awards are peer-driven (causing some critics to dismiss them as little more than a popularity contest), the Golden Globes are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, an organization of working journalists who cover the U.S. entertainment industry abroad. Other viewers prefer the Golden Globe Awards because the ceremony is less uptight — the fact that the participants are having dinner (including cocktails, for those who imbibe) makes for a more relaxed atmosphere with some unplanned and unscripted entertainment. The award categories for the Golden Globes are similar to the Academy Awards, with the exception that dramatic movies and comedies/musicals are split into different categories. The Golden Globes also give awards for outstanding television. Therefore, more actors are nominated for Golden Globes than for Oscars. (Traditionally, the nominees for Golden Globes are good indicators of who may receive an Oscar nomination.) Currently, the categories for Golden Globes are as follows: Motion Picture Awards Television Awards Best Motion Picture – Drama Best Drama Series Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Best Comedy Series Best Director Best Actor in a Television Drama Series Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series Best Actor – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Best Actress in a Television Drama Series Best Actress – Motion Picture – Drama Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Screenplay Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Original Score Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Original Song Best Foreign Language Film Best Animated Film The Cecil B. DeMille Award In 1950, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association established an honorary award to recognize outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. The first award was presented to director and producer Cecil B. DeMille, and since then, the award has been called the Cecil B. DeMille Award. A few past winners of the Cecil B. DeMille award are Walt Disney John Wayne Jimmy Stewart Alfred Hitchcock Joan Crawford Lucille Ball Sydney Poitier Paul Newman Doris Day Lauren Bacall Gene Hackman Robert De Niro Jodie Foster With nine awards, Barbra Streisand holds the record for the most Golden Globe wins. Meryl Streep has eight awards; and Jack Nicholson, Angela Lansbury, and Alan Alda each have six awards. Rosalind Russell, Sophia Loren, and Jessica Lange each have won five awards. Meryl Streep holds the record for the most Golden Globe nominations (with 27!). Second in line for the most nominations is Jack Lemmon, with 22.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Gerrymandering is the act of redrawing the lines of a congressional district to give one political party a voting advantage over another. Technically, gerrymandering is illegal, but it's hard to prove. While both political parties deny that they gerrymander, it does tend to happen; and after every redistricting effort, the courts hear numerous cases of alleged gerrymandering. Once every ten years, following the U.S. census, the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are reapportioned based on the population of each state, relative to other states. (As the population shifts from one part of the country to another, some states will gain representatives while others lose them.) Each state legislature redistricts their state into the appropriate numbers of congressional districts, with the goal of making sure that each district has very close to the same population as the other districts. Because a single party almost always controls a state legislature, of course it would be in that party's best interest to try to draw the district lines so their party will win or retain more seats in the House of Representatives than the opposition party. Gerrymandering can take on a few different forms. The controlling party may try to force the opposition party into as few districts as possible. Or they may try to dilute the opposition across many districts so that they won't have a voting majority in any of them. Or they may draw strangely shaped districts to split opposition votes or combine the votes of the party in power. Sometimes, these borders are designed to split the votes of ethnic, racial, religious, or other class groups. The term gerrymandering came to be thanks to Elbridge Gerry, the governor of Massachusetts from 1810 to 1812. During his tenure, Governor Gerry signed a bill that redistricted his state to overwhelmingly benefit his party (the Republicans), much to the dismay of the opposition party (the Federalists). One of the congressional districts was said to be shaped like a salamander, to which one Federalist reportedly said: No, it's a gerrymander. Credit: "The Gerrymander" Boston Gazette March 26, 1812 Soon, newspapers were printing editorial cartoons with the term gerrymander, and the word became commonly known. Gerrymandering has been addressed by both Congress and the Supreme Court: In 1842, Congress passed the Reapportionment Act, which required congressional districts to be contiguous and compact. In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that districts must and have reasonable borders and must represent the population appropriately. In 1985, the Supreme Court ruled that manipulating district borders for political advantage is unconstitutional. After every census, many redistricting plans are challenged in the courts, often with the minority party accusing the majority party of political gerrymandering or a special interest group accusing the government of racial gerrymandering.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Medical marijuana (or medical cannabis) refers to the use of marijuana as a physician-prescribed therapy to reduce the pain or discomfort associated with some medical conditions or to lessen the side effects of some traditional medical treatments. Medical marijuana is used for a variety of ailments and conditions, including Easing nausea and vomiting. Stimulating appetite in chemotherapy and/or AIDS patients. Reducing eye pressure in glaucoma patients. Managing chronic pain. Treating gastrointestinal illnesses. Recent research has also suggested that some of the compounds in marijuana may have beneficial qualities for patients suffering from a variety of other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's Disease, insomnia, and even asthma. Medicinal compounds in marijuana Cannabis contains almost 500 compounds, of which about 80 are used for medicine and science. Five of these compounds are used frequently in medicine: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical in marijuana that produces its psychoactive effects. This chemical has been proven to also be a mild pain reliever and sleep inducer, as well as an antioxidant. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the primary compounds extracted for medical marijuana. CBD has been provent to relieve convulsion, inflammation, anxiety, cough, congestion, and nausea, and it inhibits cancer cell growth. Cannabinol (CBN) is thought to inhibit the spread of cancer cells. β-caryophyllene is used to reduce inflammation. Cannabigerol relieves intraocular pressure of the eye, so it's used in the treatment of glaucoma. States that have legalized medical marijuana use Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 18 of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. Alaska Michigan Arizona Montana California Nevada Colorado New Jersey Connecticut New Mexico District of Columbia Oregon Delaware Rhode Island Hawaii Vermont Maine Washington Massachusetts The laws regarding medical marijuana vary from state to state. For example, the amount of marijuana a person is allowed to possess ranges from one ounce to 24 ounces. The fee to obtain a medical marijuana ID card ranges from state to state as well (from $25 to $200). Most states require proof of residency for a person to qualify for a medical marijuana prescription, while other states accept registry ID cards from any state. Several states that have legalized medical marijuana have received letters from the U.S. Attorney General's office stating that despite state laws, the federal government still considers the growth, distribution, or possession of marijuana to be a federal crime. In some cases, the Department of Justice has raided dispensaries of state-sanctioned medical marijuana, while the IRS and other federal agencies have targeted banks and landlords who do business with them. The discrepancy between state and federal laws will probably be played out in court in the coming years. Public opinion of medical marijuana The outcome of future court cases could be influenced by public opinion, which is changing. Recent polls indicate that about 83% of Americans are in favor of allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses, up from just 62% in 1997. But opposition to the drug remains strong. One of the biggest criticisms of medical marijuana has to do with an implied perception that the drug is administered by smoking. Decades of conventional wisdom have led people to believe that "smoking pot" is taboo — not to mention that smoking, whatever the substance, has been proven to be unhealthy. However, medical marijuana is often administered to patients in alternative ways, including inhalers, pills, and even edible baked goods. These means of dispensation have proven to be healthier and sometimes more effective in relieving patients' pain or discomfort.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Sir James Paul McCartney is arguably one of the greatest musical influences of all time. Additionally, he is a humanitarian who uses his music skills to raise money for causes he believes in. He is also a businessman, as an active participant in a vegetarian and vegan line of cookbooks and foods. Despite his many accomplishments, McCartney is most well-known for his role in The Beatles. Through his whole life, he has been immersed in the music industry, fulfilling the roles of composer, instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He had the most number one hits in the UK in recorded history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (in 1988 for The Beatles and in 1999 for his solo work). McCartney received an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Music from Prince Charles, and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music, officially changing his title to Sir James Paul McCartney. Credit: ©EdStock 2010 Although considered a top musician, McCartney never had any formal musical training, but was exposed to music at an early age by his father Jim. Jim was a jazz musician by avocation. He bought musical instruments for each of his children and encouraged them to play. Paul McCartney and The Beatles In 1957 when he was age 15, McCartney met John Lennon and began his music career as they formed a band called The Quarrymen. By 1960, the band changed its name to The Beatles and recruited George Harrison as lead guitarist and Ringo Starr as drummer. In 1963, their debut album, "Please Please Me," was released. The Beatles endured a successful 10 year run, earning one of the largest fan bases in musical history. With long hair and beatnik attitudes, The Beatles became the ultimate musical sensation throughout the 1960s. They were the only group to hold all of the top five spots on the billboard charts at once. They have more number one hits on the US singles chart than any other band or musician, with 20. And "Yesterday," composed by McCartney, became the most covered song in modern music history — with over 2,200 recordings. McCartney consistently tried to push the band in new creative directions, from mainstream pop into a psychedelic sound with more sophisticated songwriting, the use of obscure musical instruments, and influences from Eastern philosophies. McCartney even directed the majority of a made–for–TV movie in 1967 (unfortunately, it brought uncharacteristic criticism to the long acclaimed group). Between 1967 and 1970, the band had a number of disagreements and McCartney officially announced his departure from the band in 1970 after business and artistic disagreements among the group could not be resolved. Before leaving The Beatles, Paul married Linda Eastman in March of 1969. This would be the longest and most influential relationship of his life, lasting 30 years. Paul grows Wings Immediately following his departure from The Beatles, McCartney launched his U.S. number one solo album, McCartney. In 1971, he had some help from his wife Linda and drummer Danny Seiwell on his second album, and finally he formed the band Wings after adding guitarists Denny Laine and Henry McCullough to the trio. Wings stayed together for 10 years although numerous band members came and went (only Paul and Linda McCartney and Denny Laine lasted for the band's duration). Wings enjoyed six number one hits in the U.S. — including "My Love" and "Band on the Run." Wings disbanded in 1981 amidst disputes over salaries. McCartney flies solo After the dissolution of Wings, McCartney focused on his solo career. During this time, he collaborated with such greats as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello, and Eric Stewart. Some of his solo accomplishments: Paul released more than 15 solo albums, including the 2012 release of Kisses on the Bottom. He produced, wrote and performed in the feature film Give My Regards to Broad Street. The film was largely criticized and only received a single star from Roger Ebert. However, in true McCartney fashion, the soundtrack hit the charts and became a UK number one hit. In Rio de Janeiro in April, 1990, Paul performed for the largest paying audience ever. McCartney collaborated with Harrison and Starr, producing The Beatles Anthology. Paul also served as creative consultant to Harmonix Music Systems on the development of the video game, The Beatles: Rock Band. Footage from the game was revealed for the first time during Paul McCartney's performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. McCartney used gameplay footage during his concert performances while touring during the months prior to the game's release. In 1998, McCartney suffered the tragic loss of his wife, Linda, to breast cancer. In 2000, as a testament to their long marriage, he released A Garland for Linda as a tribute to her. Paul McCartney, the humanitarian In 2001, McCartney helped organize the Concert for New York City and released the song Freedom in response to the September 11 attacks. In 2002, he performed at a Concert for George, a tribute to the late George Harrison. The profits from the event went to the Material World Charitable Foundation, an organization set up by Harrison. He performed at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park in 2005. An estimated 3 billion people watched LIVE 8, a worldwide concert to raise funds to make poverty history. Through his charitable works, Paul met Heather Mills and the couple married in 2002. Their daughter, Beatrice Milly McCartney, was born in 2003. The marriage ended in 2006 after highly publicized divorce proceedings. Paul McCartney, artist as well as musician From a very early age, Paul demonstrated an interest in all forms of artistic endeavor. He dabbled in poetry and painting, as well as writing and performing music. A few of his less known artistic accomplishments include showing his paintings at a public exhibition in 1999. expanding his musical talents to write a dance score for the New York City Ballet. publishing a book of poems and song lyrics, Blackbird Singing. Paul McCartney, vegetarian and businessman Outside of his musical career and art interests, McCartney is active in the vegetarian movement. He became vegetarian while married to Linda and he has promoted awareness of animal testing and supported several Humane Society campaigns. He even wrote a letter to the Dalai Lama asking why he was not a vegetarian. After Linda’s death, McCartney helped Linda McCartney Foods, a vegan and vegetarian line of food products, remain free of genetically engineered ingredients. Although Linda’s company was sold shortly thereafter, Paul and the rest of the McCartney family remain involved in the business and take an active role in every step of the process. Paul, Stella, and Mary McCartney wrote a cookbook entitled The Meat Free Monday Cookbook: A Full Menu for Every Monday of the Year.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

A major force in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, Nelson Mandela (July 18, 1918 - Dec 5, 2013) was a cultural symbol of freedom and equality. Going from young revolutionary to serving 27 years in prison to becoming president of South Africa, Mandela's life demonstrated that wisdom and patience can triumph over bigotry and brute force. Truly, he was a towering figure of 20th century history and is considered by many to be the father of modern South Africa. While Mandela came to prominence in the fight against apartheid, later in life his passion turned to the fight against HIV/AIDS and he used the power of his name to raise awareness of the issue on the global stage. When his son, Makgatho Mandela, died from AIDS in 2005, Nelson Mandela recognized that the stigma of the disease was causing people to avoid testing and treatment. Therefore, he called for more open discussion of the virus and he created the 46664 AIDS fundraising campaign (so named because 46664 was Mandela's prison number, which served as a reminder of the sacrifices Mandela was personally willing to make for causes he saw as just). Credit: ©ruvanboshoff 1990 In 2007, Nelson Mandela brought together elder statesmen, peace and human-rights activists including Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, and Li Zhaoxing into a non-governmental organization called The Elders. The purpose of this organization was to focus their combined collective wisdom on some of the world's more pressing problems. By the sheer power of his reputation, he continued to affect world issues without being actively involved in them. On November of 2009, the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged Mandela's contributions to world freedom by naming his birthday, July 18, as Mandela Day. Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement South Africa's National Party consisted mostly of Afrikaners (whites who were descended from Dutch Calvinists, Germans, and French Huguenots). The African National Congress (ANC) was the political party of the black majority and favored non-racial democracy. Mandela became involved in the African National Congress in 1943, but the victory of the National Party in the 1948 election led to the apartheid system of racial segregation becoming the law of the land. Nelson Mandela rose to prominence in the ANC's 1952 Defiance Campaign, which encouraged the public to refuse to obey certain laws that were considered unjust and discriminatory, and the 1955 Congress of the People, a political summit that 'called for a non-segregated South Africa. The Congress of the People drafted a Freedom Charter that became a fundamental document in the anti-apartheid cause. Its opening statement, 'The people shall Govern!" set the tone for the rest of the text. At first committed to non-violent methods to change the system from within, Nelson Mandela and his colleagues embraced the need for armed action against the government after the shooting of unarmed protesters at Sharpeville in March 1960 and the resulting ban of anti-apartheid groups. In 1961, Mandela became the commander of the African National Congress' armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, which translates to "Spear of the Nation." But the group was quickly classified as a terrorist organization by the South African government, and Mandela was arrested and jailed for five years for inciting workers' strikes and leaving the country without permission. While in jail Mandela was sentenced again, this time to life imprisonment, having been accused of planning guerrilla warfare to overthrow the South African government. His statements in court brought considerable international attention to the grievous plight of South African blacks under apartheid and organizations from the United Nations to the World Peace Council called for his release. Regardless, in June of 1964, Mandela was found guilty and incarcerated at Robben Island Prison off Cape Town. Later he was moved to the Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. While in prison, Nelson Mandela rejected offers for remission of his sentence in exchange for accepting and supporting the apartheid system. He remained in prison until February 1990, when mounting pressure from the international community secured his release, as well as the lifting of the ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organizations. Upon his release, Nelson Mandela once again took up the reins of leadership of the ANC and he worked closely with then President F.W.de Klerk to dismantle the institutions of apartheid in South Africa. Mandela and de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace prize in 1993 for their work. During this time, Mandela also led the ANC in the multi-party negotiations that resulted in South Africa's first multi-racial elections. Mandela's presidency Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa in 1994. As the nation's first black president, he orchestrated the transition from minority rule and institutionalized apartheid to a more equal and fair political and social system. Nelson Mandela retired from the presidency in 1999 to become an advocate for a variety of human-rights issues. By this time, he was a respected statesman throughout the world, and Mandela championed many pertinent social and political issues of the day. In 2002, he declared the United States to be a "threat to world peace" and called on then president George W. Bush not to launch an attack on Iraq. Because of declining health, Nelson Mandela retired from public life in 2004. Over time, Mandela's public appearances became more rare, and he died at his home at the age of 95 in December, 2013. His name, however, remains attached to numerous charitable functions close to his heart. The Nelson Mandela Invitational Charity Golf Tournament raises millions of funds for children's charities in South Africa. Nelson Mandela's early years and education Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918 to Chief Henry Mandela of the Tembu tribe, one of South Africa's leading dignitaries. He attended a local mission school before receiving a BA degree in 1942 from the University College of Fort Hare in Alice, Eastern Cape. In early 1943, Nelson Mandela enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg to obtain a Bachelor of Laws degree. Mandela's focus on the ANC drew him away from his pursuit of a law degree, but in 1952, he decided to do the qualifying exam that would allow him to practice as an attorney. He passed the exam and completed his actual degree in 1989. Nelson Mandela's family life Mandela was married three times. He fathered six children, three of whom passed before him. Mandela's first marriage was to Evelyn Mase. They were married for 13 years and had four children, one who died in infancy. Their divorce was brought about by the conflict between Mandela's desire to change the government and Evelyn's devout status as a Jehovah's Witness, a religion which requires political neutrality. Mandela's second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was Johannesburg's first black social worker and a politician in her own right. Together they had two daughters, who were both under the age of 5 when their father was sent to Robben Island prison. The couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. In 1998, on his 80th birthday, Mandela married his third wife, Graca Machel, who was with him until his death. She was the widow of the late Mozambican president Samora Machel, an ANC ally who died in an airplane crash in 1986.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Fidel Castro, former President of Cuba, is a controversial and divisive world figure. He has been described by his supporters as a champion of anti-imperialism, humanitarianism, socialism, and the environment. His detractors call him a dictator who oversaw numerous human rights violations inflicted on the people of Cuba. For better or worse, his life shaped the history of Cuba in the twentieth century. Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959 after playing a central role in the revolutionary overthrow of General Fulgencio Batista, the Cuban dictator at the time. The communist revolution that brought Castro to power was intended to empower the people, yet in the 40+ years that he governed, Castro was never elected to office. Castro remained president of Cuba until 2008. © imagestock 2008 Fidel Castro, the making of a revolutionary Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is the illegitimate son of a wealthy sugarcane farmer, Angel Castro y Argiz, an immigrant from Spain who prospered after moving to Cuba and starting his farm. Although Castro's father was married to another woman at the time, he had five children out of wedlock with a servant employed in his house, Lina Ruz Gonzalez, Castro's mother. Castro spent his early years on the family farm and in catholic boarding schools. He was good at sports and showed no bent toward politics until he began law school at the University of Havana — where he quickly became involved in the student political movement. The violence perpetrated by the Cuban government against dissenting students and student groups completed Castro's transformation into a revolutionary. In 1947, Castro joined the Caribbean Legion, a group whose goal was to rid the Caribbean of dictatorships. The following year, Castro traveled to Bogota, Columbia where he spontaneously gained first-hand experience with popular uprisings. When a popular Columbian politician, Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, was assassinated, riots broke out. Castro grabbed a rifle and joined the rioters. After returning to Cuba, Castro became a prominent figure in protests against the government while continuing his university studies. In 1950, he graduated from Law school and began practicing law. Castro's interest in politics continued to grow, as did his desire to improve the lives of Cuba's poorest classes. Castro became a candidate in the 1952 election for a seat in Cuba's House of Representatives. However, the elections were never held as General Batista seized the reins of power from the previous government in a military coup. Castro's fight against Batista From the beginning of Batista's rule, Castro fought against him. At first Castro tried using the courts to legally oust Batista from office, but when that failed, he began to organize an underground group of rebels to replace Batista by armed force. On July 26, 1953, Castro and about 160 armed men assaulted the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, a Cuban military base. Castro's force was soundly defeated by the trained soldiers stationed at the base and he and his brother were captured and put on trial. After delivering a passionate speech at his trial, Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was released after serving only two years because Batista no longer considered Castro a threat. By that time, Batista had secured the backing of the United States government and the Cuban business community and did not imagine that a handful of insurgents could topple such a power base. Upon his release from prison, Castro went to Mexico and spent the next year organizing the "26th of July Movement." Named after the date of the failed Moncada Barracks attack, the group had only one goal — the overthrow of Batista. On December 2, 1956, Castro and his 26th of July Movement rebels landed on Cuban soil with the intention of inciting a revolution. Opposed by superior forces, the rebels took heavy losses before scattering into the hills to begin guerrilla warfare against Batista's government. Over the next two years as the ranks of Castro's guerilla forces swelled with volunteers, town after town were wrenched from government control. Castro won the hearts and minds of the Cuban people in the countryside who fed and hid his forces. The fortunes of war turned against Batista as he lost the popular support of the people and, after suffering numerous defeats, Batista fled Cuba on January 1, 1959. Castro as president of Cuba Manuel Urrutia was selected as president of the new government and Castro was placed in charge of the military. However, by July 1959 Castro had effectively taken over as leader of Cuba, a position he held for the next four decades. During 1959 and 1960, Castro made radical changes in Cuba. He nationalized industries, collectivized agriculture, and seized American owned farms and businesses — while further antagonizing the United States by establishing a strong relationship with the Soviet Union. Although he denied the labels, Castro moved Cuba through Socialist reforms into becoming the first communist country in the Caribbean. Because of his alliance with the Soviet Union, the United States wanted Castro out of power. In April 1961, the United States sponsored the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion by anti-Castro Cuban exiles — which failed with great loss of life amongst the invaders. By 1962 in an effort to cripple the Cuban economy, the U.S. had imposed a near total embargo of trade with Cuba. Cuban products were no longer legal to obtain in the United States, U.S. companies could no longer do business with Cuba, and American citizens were prohibited from visiting Cuba. Over the years, the United States made hundreds of attempts to assassinate Castro, all without success. In 1962, Castro allowed the Soviet Union to construct missile sites on Cuba, with the intention of threatening the United States. When the United States detected the construction, U.S. Navy ships surrounded Cuba, preventing the delivery of additional weaponry. This led to a standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. After thirteen days, the Soviet Union backed down and removed the missiles. Over the next four decades, some Cubans benefited from Castro's educational and land reforms, but most Cubans suffered from food shortages and lack of personal freedoms. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled to the United States seeking the necessities of life. They found ways to leave despite the lack of commercial transportation and the difficulty getting permission to go. Having relied on Soviet aid and trade to keep the Cuban economy afloat, Castro found himself suddenly isolated after the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991. With the U.S. embargo against Cuba still in effect, Cuba's economic situation suffered greatly in the 1990's. In July 2006, Castro's ill-health forced him to begin to hand over the reins of power to his brother, Raul. Over the next two years, Fidel Castro remained involved in the day to day running of the government alongside Raul Castro, but in 2008, after continued health setbacks, Fidel resigned the presidency to Raul and retired to an advisory role. Without any official role in the government, Fidel Castro played the part of Cuba's elder statesman, voicing opinions and meeting dignitaries while remaining mostly out of the public eye. Castro's family Fidel Castro was married twice and fathered six legitimate children. Well-known for his womanizing, he also fathered an unknown number of illegitimate children. Castro's first wife was his college sweetheart, Mirta Diaz-Balart, who was from a wealthy, well-connected family. They were married in October 1948 and divorced in 1955. The couple had one child together, a son named Fidelito. Castro and his second wife, Dalia del Valle, married in 1980. The couple had five children together before getting married. Two of Castro's illegitimate children are now living in the United States. Castro's sister, Juanita, is also living in the United States.