A North Carolina school district will pay $95,000 for censoring a students Bible-based tribute to Charlie Kirk, violating her constitutional rights. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) brought a lawsuit

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The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been worsening. Right now, the virus is more concentrated in Congos eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90% of the cases.As

Xbox executives depart while Compulsion Games shuts down Corporate leadership changes rarely come without internal shakeups, reorganizations, and layoffs, and Xbox appears to be going through that right now.Just a few months after longtime Xbox head Phil Spencer left the company and former AI executive Asha Sharma was put in charge,...

The villa, which came to light because it was illegally excavated, was found in an area frequented two millennia ago by the emperors Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius.

Henry Godfrey-Evans/BBCWorkers at New Hall School found an entrance to tunnels linked to one of King Henry VIIIs estates.For most students, history is learned via textbooks and lectures, or perhaps a field trip to a museum. But the British high schoolers at the New Hall School in Chelmsford are now enjoying an up-close experience with the piece of history on which their school was literally built: King Henry VIIIs lost Palace of Beaulieu.While investigating and repairing a ditch for holding livestock, workers found the entrance to a hidden underground tunnel right beneath the school grounds and it held a collection of artifacts that could date all the way back to the Tudor period.The 500-Year-Old Tunnels And Treasures Hidden Underneath New Hall SchoolAfter initial excavation of the tunnels, workers found pottery, animal bones, glass bottles and fragments, and pieces of lead.Sarah Garside, head of history at the New Hall School, said that the condition of the pottery indicated it was made during the Tudor period, which began in 1485 when Henry VII took the throne, and ended with the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.New Hall SchoolSome of the pottery and other artifacts that were found in the tunnels.So far, only a small segment of the tunnel system has been inspected, so it remains unclear what the tunnels were used for during Henry VIIIs time.We werent sure if [the pottery] had just been disposed of down there as waste, just thrown in and then covered up. So that leads to questions of were they used for storage of some kind? Had they actually been placed there for them to be preserved in such excellent condition? We dont know, Garside told the BBC. Its a really exciting thing to explore more.The find is likewise exciting for the students, who get to experience the history that was sitting right beneath their feet.It really does never cease to amaze you the amount of history and the sort of richness of that history that we have here, a 17-year-old student named Florian told the BBC.The tunnels, especially, they add a sense of secrecy, said another 17-year-old student named Anna.What This Discovery Reveals About Henry VIIIs Life And His Lavish Country EstateThe discovery of the tunnels is further illuminating the New Hall Schools connection to Beaulieu Palace, one of the most significant royal residences during the Tudor era.The residence, originally named New Hall, was owned in the late 15th century by Thomas Boleyn, the father of Anne Boleyn, who would later become the wife of Henry VIII until he infamously had her beheaded for treason in 1536.Wikimedia CommonsPortrait of Henry VIII, king of England from 1509 to 1547.Henry VIII acquired the residence in 1517 (though some sources say 1516), and made extensive improvements to the property while renaming it Beaulieu, or beautiful place in French.Historical documents have shown that the palace had a great garden, as well as chapels, galleries, and a nursery for the kings children.The lavish palace quickly became one of the kings preferred country estates, one where he hosted banquets, political meetings, and hunting parties for the rich and powerful.After Henry VIII died in 1547, however, the property saw less and less use, and much of the palace was destroyed or modified in the following decades. New Hall was occupied by Mary Tudor, and was then granted to the Earl of Sussex by Elizabeth I. Oliver Cromwell later bought the estate for just five shillings. Little of the structure remains today.The New Hall School has stood on this site since 1799. The school honors its locations rich Tudor history by displaying Henry VIIIs royal coat of arms inside its chapel.The school has now hired history experts and archaeologists to continue the excavation and exploration of the tunnels over the coming months, hopefully uncovering more about these underground pathways and the wealth of artifacts they concealed.This is a remarkable discovery and an extraordinary opportunity for our students and the wider community to engage directly with the Tudor past, said school principal Katherine Jeffrey. At New Hall, history is not just studied in the classroom; it is part of the very fabric of our school.After reading about the discovery of Tudor-era tunnels and artifacts beneath a British school, learn about the students who stumbled upon an ancient Roman house under their school. Then, dive into the complicated history of King Henry VIIIs children.The post Hidden Tunnels Linked To The Lavish Country Estate Of King Henry VIII Were Just Found Beneath A School In England appeared first on All That's Interesting.

On July 3, 1971, rock icon Jim Morrison died at age 27 in Paris. The untimely demise of The Doors frontman stunned the world and left his fans devastated. But the questions surrounding Jim Morrisons death have endured far longer than the short time he spent on Earth.Officially, he was found dead in a bathtub in Paris by his girlfriend Pamela Courson. French officials said that Jim Morrisons cause of death was heart failure without conducting an autopsy. Before the world knew what had happened, he was quietly laid to rest in Pariss Pre Lachaise Cemetery.To some, it seemed like a sad but logical end to a long downward spiral. Morrison had struggled with fame and addiction for years. After allegedly exposing himself at a Florida concert in 1969, Morrison had been found guilty of indecent exposure and profanity charges that he denied. Fed up with the perils of stardom, Morrison and Courson had moved to Paris in March 1971.Estate of Edmund Teske/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesJim Morrisons death in July 1971 shocked the world. Eerily, its still not exactly clear how Jim Morrison died.There, Morrison seemed to find peace. He wrote every day. To friends, Morrison appeared happy and healthy. And in photos taken during his final days alive, he looked trim and fit. And so it came as a shock to most when Morrison died suddenly on July 3rd. But not everyone was surprised.While in Paris, Morrison and Courson had apparently indulged in old habits. They also frequented Parisian nightclubs like RocknRoll Circus. And eerily, some claim that Morrison actually died at that very same club rather than his apartment and that a massive cover-up followed for decades. This is the story of Jim Morrisons death both the official account and what witnesses claim actually happened.The Years Leading Up To Jim Morrisons DeathMark and Colleen Hayward/Getty ImagesJim Morrison and The Doors posing for their 1967 debut album cover.Born on December 8, 1943, Jim Morrison seemed an unlikely character to become a rock star. The son of a future U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, Morrison grew up in a strict household. But it didnt take long for him to rebel.Although he kept his grades up and liked to read and write, Morrison also experimented with alcohol at a young age. When he graduated high school, he reluctantly went to college at UCLA and only stuck around to graduate because he wanted to avoid getting drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. But once Morrison was free in the world, he turned to music. He spent his days after graduation in 1965 writing lyrics, doing drugs, and hanging out in the California sunshine. He also assembled a band with three others that they called The Doors, inspired by a William Blake quote: There are things that are known and things that are unknown; in between are doors.That same year, he also met Pamela Courson, who would become his longtime girlfriend and muse. Morrison called her his cosmic partner.Estate of Edmund Teske/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesBoth Pamela Courson and Jim Morrison died of heroin overdoses at 27.Meanwhile, Morrisons father disapproved of his career path. He urged his son to give up any idea of singing or any connection with a music group because of what I consider to be a complete lack of talent in this direction.But just two years after the band formed, they released their first hit record Light My Fire which shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. From there, the Doors seemed practically unstoppable. They released album after album, hit after hit, and drove rock n roll fans into a frenzy.Though Morrison enjoyed many of the perks of being a rock star especially the attention from countless women he also struggled with his newfound fame. He had always been a heavy drinker, but he began to hit the bottle more and more frequently. And he also indulged in a variety of drugs.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesJim Morrison performing in Germany in 1968.Everything came to a head for Morrison after he was charged with exposing himself during a Florida concert in 1969. As he sat through his trial in 1970, Morrison knew he needed a change. In one of the notebooks he carried around, he jotted down a note: The joy of performing has ended.Soon after he was released on bond, Morrison left The Doors. He and Courson then moved to Paris, hoping for a reprieve. But sadly, Jim Morrisons death was just around the corner and he would never make it back home. The Official Account Of A Rock Star TragedyJim Morrison in Paris, in one of the last photos taken before he died.In Paris, Jim Morrison and Pamela Courson rented an apartment at 17 rue Beautreillis near the Seine River. They spent their days strolling around their adopted city. Morrison wrote nearly every day. And, during the night, the couple enjoyed exploring the chic world of Parisian nightlife.Although Morrison had gained some weight, the last photos of him taken alive show a fit young man. He looked happy and at peace. The time off from his band and the demands of fame seemed to have done him good.But everything changed on July 3, 1971. In the official account of Jim Morrisons death scene, Pamela Courson found her boyfriend dead in the bathtub of the apartment that they shared in the city. She called for help, but it was already too late. The French police naturally had some questions especially since Morrison was just 27 years old and suspected drugs. But Courson maintained they had merely gone to dinner and a movie and listened to music at home before going to bed. She said Morrison woke up ill in the middle of the night and took a hot bath while she continued sleeping. It was soon declared that Morrison had died of heart failure, thought to be brought on by a heroin overdose. With no autopsy performed, Coursons story was taken at face value. And when she herself died three years later coincidentally of a heroin overdose it seemed that any other information about Jim Morrisons death had died with her. But in recent years, some notable figures of the Parisian nightlife scene have told their own version of the story.How Did Jim Morrison Die?Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesThe specific details of Jim Morrisons death scene have been hotly contested.In 2007, a former New York Times journalist named Sam Bernett who had once managed the RocknRoll Circus club in Paris came forward with an alarming story. In Bernetts telling, Jim Morrison did not die in a bathtub. Instead, his book The End: Jim Morrison claims that The Doors frontman actually died in a toilet stall at RocknRoll Circus. While in Paris, Morrison had certainly spent countless nights at the venue, often alongside Courson. But on July 3, 1971, Bernett allegedly saw him meeting up with two drug dealers before he headed to the bathroom around 2 a.m.When Morrison failed to reemerge, Bernett had a bouncer kick the door down, only to find him unconscious. Bernett alerted a doctor a regular at the bar who confirmed Morrison was dead.The flamboyant singer of The Doors, the beautiful California boy, had become an inert lump crumpled in the toilet of a nightclub, wrote Bernett. When we found him dead, he had a little foam on his nose, and some blood too, and the doctor said, That must be an overdose of heroin.'John Pearson Wright/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesFlowers and graffiti cover the grave of Jim Morrison in the Pre Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. 1979.As shocking as that might seem, Bernett isnt the only person to tell this story. Writer and photographer Patrick Chauvel recalled many of the same things. He was tending bar that night and suddenly found himself helping carry Morrison up a staircase. With no ambulance called, Chauvel believed Morrison had died already or passed out from various substances.I think he was already dead, said Chauvel. I dont know. It was a long time ago, and werent drinking only water.Bernett maintains that the two drug dealers at the scene insisted that Morrison had just fainted. While Bernett wanted to call an ambulance, he was soon warned by his boss to stay silent. Ultimately, he believes that the drug dealers carried Morrisons body outside and drove him home dumping him into the tub as Courson slept.The Legacy Of Jim Morrisons DeathBarbara Alper/Getty ImagesTourists still flock to Jim Morrisons tombstone to this day to pay their respects.The most widely accepted account of Jim Morrisons death is that he and Courson spent the night doing heroin and listening to music together. They snorted the drug because Morrison was reportedly afraid of needles. Unfortunately, that particular batch of heroin was too strong for Morrison. However, many specific details of the night remain unclear including how the rock star got into the bathtub. One theory claims that Courson personally put him there, hoping a warm bath would alleviate his symptoms. After he died, she supposedly waited until morning to notify authorities and feigned ignorance about his drug habits. In the years since then, some conspiracy theorists have even gone so far as to accuse Courson of intentionally playing a role in Morrisons death. But according to singer Marianne Faithfull, it was her ex-boyfriend Jean de Breiteuil who supplied Morrison with the heroin that killed him.I mean, Im sure it was an accident, she said. Poor bastard. The smack was too strong? Yeah. And he died.And yet another rumor claims that Morrison took heroin by mistake that night because he thought it was cocaine.As no autopsy was ever performed and many details about that fateful night remain murky, countless conspiracy theories have emerged throughout the decades. Some have even suggested that Morrison faked his own death, moving to New York City to recite poetry or escaping to Oregon to open the Jim Morrison Sanctuary ranch under the name of Bill Loyer. But regardless of the specifics of Jim Morrisons death, theres little doubt that his music lives on. Love for The Doors and Morrisons poignant lyrics have endured long after his untimely demise. And theres no question that his contributions to the rock world will never be forgotten.Now that youve read about Jim Morrisons death, learn more about the death of Jimi Hendrix. Then, take a look at the demise of Amy Winehouse.The post Inside The Mystery Of Jim Morrisons Death And The Disturbing Theories That Surround It appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Israel Kamakawiwoole could serenade an entire room into awestruck silence with only his voice and a ukulele. Before the beloved Hawaiian singer-songwriter also known as Bruddah Iz died at just 38 in 1997, he had that effect on people around the world time and again, thanks in large part to his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.Meanwhile, among Hawaiis Indigenous community, Israel Kamakawiwoole is proudly remembered for helping his people fight for their identity as an activist for state sovereignty. To this day, Israel Kamakawiwoole is widely remembered as the voice of Hawaii.Universal MusicKnown for his version of Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwoole became one of Hawaiian musics most iconic singers before his tragic death at just 38 in 1997.This is the captivating story of Israel Kamakawiwoole, from his one-of-a-kind music to his untimely death.Israel Kamakawiwooles Love Of Music From An Early AgeIsrael Kaanoi Kamakawiwoole was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 20, 1959 to Henry Hank Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoole Jr. and Evangaline Angie Leinani Kamakawiwoole, both of whom worked at a popular nightclub in Waikiki. Angie managed the club while Hank served as a bouncer and drove a sanitation truck at the U.S. Navy shipyard at Pearl Harbor. He quickly gravitated to the ukulele and began playing with his brother and cousin when he was 11. While it certainly helped that his uncle, Moe Keale, was a musician himself (and starred in Hawaii Five-O), Kamakawiwoole paved his own way.officializhawaii/InstagramIsrael Kamakawiwoole started playing the ukulele at 11.While the time he spent with his cousin and brother was foundational, so too were the summers he spent with his grandparents on Niihau. Its not only the westernmost main island of Hawaii, but one that remains entirely populated by its Indigenous people. Only relatives, invited guests, government officials, and supervised tourists are allowed on it.As a child, Kamakawiwoole became fascinated with the music of other popular Hawaiian entertainers, especially Peter Moon, Palani Vaughan, Keola Beamer, and Don Ho, and those influences would later be seen in Kamakawiwooles own music.Bruddah Iz Forms A BandIsrael Kamakawiwoole was 17 years old when he formed Mkaha Sons with his older brother Skippy. Their music blended contemporary and traditional stylings, and it proved to be immensely popular. Despite dropping out of high school and becoming dependent on drugs and alcohol, he found himself at a graduation party where most of his peers heard him sing for the first time. His friend Del Beazley has never forgotten that moment.As soon as Israel Kamakawiwoole opened his mouth and sang, that whole place went quiet, said Beazley. Every great singer has something special. Its almost a nasal or head tone. And that thing just cut right through the air, stopped everybody in their tracks.Long after Israel Kamakawiwooles death at age 38 on June 26, 1997, his legacy lives on thanks to his beloved version of Over the Rainbow.Mkaha Sons gave their Hawaiian brethren authentic songs of their homeland. It was a time when most Hawaiian music was bastardized commercial art aimed to satisfy the misconceptions of mainland America. This was, to the Hawaiians, known as hapa haole, songs that were more overtly sexualized and, frankly, racist.Mkaha Sons, however, were seen as a major part of the Hawaiian Renaissance, which sought to restore the islands distinct cultural identity and move away from the tourism-based culture it had become known for. Despite launching his career and finding his voice by speaking to and for his people, Kamakawiwoole suffered a major setback when Skippy died in 1982 of an obesity-related heart attack at the young age of just 28 years old. It was a tragic loss but it also served as ominous foreshadowing for Kamakawiwooles own death 15 years later. Israel Kamakawiwoole kept at it, however, and eventually changed his life forever with one simple recording in 1988. It was 2:30 a.m. when he drunkenly called recording engineer Milan Bertosa from a payphone at Sparkys Bar, a notorious hub of Honolulus cocaine trade and kindly requested an audience.Please, can I come in? he pleaded. I got this idea.Israel Kamakawiwooles Iconic Rendition Of Over The RainbowAnd in walks the largest human being I had seen in my life, Bertosa recalled, alluding to Israel Kamakawiwooles weight. The first thing at hand is to find something for him to sit on. Then I put up some microphones, do a quick soundcheck, roll tape, and the first thing he does is Somewhere Over the Rainbow. He played and sang, one take, and it was over.Israel Kamakawiwooles famous version of Over The Rainbow.And that song would be requested on stage at every show until Israel Kamakawiwooles death.While Kamakawiwooles debut solo album in 1990 included that song, it was produced with added instrumentation and formed into a medley with a cover of Louis Armstrongs What a Wonderful World. It was the acoustic version that would conquer the world and that version, which hed been tinkering with for years, remained in Bertosas archives for years, a technically imperfect song recorded in one take, with changed lyrics and the occasional bad chord.Perhaps those imperfections only made it more human. Only in 1993 while working on Kamakawiwooles follow-up album Facing Future did Bertosa realize it had to be included. He was right, as the album went platinum as one of Hawaiis highest-selling records ever.Mountain Apple Company/InstagramHawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwoole touched the world with his ukulele version of Over The Rainbow before he died at just 38.It was just that special, he recalled. Whatever was going on that night, he was inspired. It was like we just caught the moment.It couldnt have come at a better time for Kamakawiwoole, either. By that point, he had a family of his own, a wife and child he was struggling to take care of because he was making so little on welfare. The breakout success of Facing Future, however, put an end to Kamakawiwooles financial struggles.While that song was co-opted for everything from Rice Krispies to cologne advertisements, Hawaiians gravitated to Hawaii 78. The track imagined what their ancestors must have felt, seeing the islands overtaken by profiteers who cared not an inch for culture but did anything for money, with its powerful and resonant lyrics:Could you just imagine they came backAnd saw traffic lights and railroad tracksHow would they feel about this modern city life?Unfortunately, financial security and rising notoriety couldnt prevent the inevitable and Kamakawiwooles health issues, much like his brothers before him, brought his life to a sudden, early end.Israel Kamakawiwooles Death And The Tragic Story Behind ItToward the end of his life, Israel Kamakawiwooles weight became unsustainable. He was unable to perform and carried an oxygen tank with him. He frequently stayed in the hospital where friends smuggled him Oreos, despite his brothers early death. And despite an increasing need for a forklift to get on stage, he carried an inner peace that never left.Im not scared for myself for dying, he said. Because we Hawaiians, we live in both worlds. When our time comes, dont cry for me.Wikimedia CommonsA monument on Oahu in Israel Kamakawiwooles honor.On June 26, 1997, The Honolulu Star-Register announced that Bruddah Iz, the voice of Hawaii, had died at just 38 years old. Israel Kamakawiwooles cause of death was respiratory failure. Crying callers phoned into the KCCN-FM radio station for hours, while his family and friends built a casket with wood from all the islands.On the day of his funeral, the flag flew at half-mast.About 10,000 people gathered in the ocean to watch his ashes be paddled to Makua Beach. Israel Kamakawiwooles death made for a day of mourning for what seemed like all of Hawaii. Hundreds paddled alongside his ashes, as the respectful air horns from trucks on land echoed across waters, and Israel Kamakawiwooles ashes were scattered.The Proud Legacy Of A Big Man With An Even Bigger HeartUniversal MusicThe funeral of Hawaiian legend Israel Kamakawiwoole.Bruddah Iz was six-foot-two and obese his entire life. When he died in 1997, he weighed over 1,000 pounds. Israel Kamakawiwooles weight hovered around an average of 750 pounds throughout his life.But Bruddah Izs physical presence was nothing compared to his love for the Hawaiian people. As a lifelong proponent of Hawaiian sovereignty against tourism and corporate encroachment, its no wonder that the entire island of Oahu gathered to send him off.Kamakawiwooles body was even lain in public at the state Capitol courtyard. This honor had only previously been awarded twice, and for two members of government. The Hawaiian governor at the time, Benjamin Cayetano, received some criticism for the decision, but he stood by it. Israel was a state treasure. He was a giant in his field, he said. He had achieved a special status. The state Capitol is a facility thats owned by the people of the state and symbolizes the public trust.For those far removed from Hawaii and its Indigenous culture, Israel Kamakawiwoole is merely the faceless voice of various commercials and Hollywood films. For Hawaiians, Israel Kamakawiwoole was the gentle giant who died too soon but galvanized his people before he did.After learning about Israel Kamakawiwoole, Hawaiis beloved Bruddah Iz, read about the tragic death of Chris Cornell. Then, learn about the murder of Selena.The post Inside Israel Kamakawiwooles Inspiring Life And Tragic Death appeared first on All That's Interesting.