To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee dies

Harper Lee, whose debut novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, immortalised her name with its story of justice and race in a small Southern town and became a classic of American literature, has died. She was 89.

Lee’s family confirmed the news in an official statement, while her nephew Hank Conner added, “This is a sad day for our family. America and the world knew Harper Lee as one of the last century’s most beloved authors. We knew her as Nelle Harper Lee, a loving member of our family, a devoted friend to the many good people who touched her life, and a generous soul in our community and our state. We will miss her dearly.”

Lock of John Lennon’s hair fetches $35,000 at auction

Alock of John Lennon’s hair that was snipped as he prepared for a film role has sold for $35,000.

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions said that the four-inch lock of hair was purchased by Paul Fraser, a UK-based memorabilia collector.

A German hairdresser kept a tuft of Lennon’s hair after giving him a trim before the Beatle started shooting How I Won the War, a dark comedy released in 1967. The film follows the WW II misadventures of British troops led by an inept commander.

The hair was one of several Beatles-related items on auction. A photograph of the iconic band signed by all four members went for $42,500. And a sealed copy of the band’s “butcher” cover for the Yesterday and Today album went for $125,000.

Emma Watson taking a year off!

Well there is a good reason for that! The 25-year-old actress explains why she’s decided to take a year off from acting, “I’m taking a year away from acting to focus on two things, really. My own personal development is one,” Watson says. “My own personal task is to read a book a week, and also to read a book a month as part of my book club. I’m doing a huge amount of reading and study just on my own.”

“I almost thought about going and doing a year of gender studies, then I realised that I was learning so much by being on the ground and just speaking with people and doing my reading,” she continues. “I actually wanted to keep on the path that I’m on. I’m reading a lot this year, and I want to do a lot of listening.”

It’s no secret that advocating for gender equality is a passion of Watson’s. She was appointed to the role of the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014, and launched the HeForShe initiative, which advocates for total equality without the use of negative rhetoric and for getting men to join the political and social battle.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 5th, 2015