Betty can’t contain herself: Vote Barack
Betty White says she usually keeps her political views private but in this presidential election strongly favors one candidate.
As she prepares to visit the Smithsonian Institution and National Zoo this week, White told the Associated Press she “very, very much favors” President Barack Obama in the election.
The actress, 90, said Friday she is bipartisan and has stayed away from politics all of her life. She usually never says who she is for or against because she doesn’t want to turn off any fans.
White said she likes what Obama has done and “how he represents us.”
Her comments come after Hollywood turned out at George Clooney’s home to raise $15 million for Obama’s re-election, a record for a single fundraiser.
Music school honors Eagles, Krauss
The largest independent college of contemporary music in the world has awarded honorary degrees to the Eagles and Grammy Award-winning country singer Alison Krauss at a ceremony in Boston.
The city’s Berklee College of Music also has honored influential Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke, an alumnus.
The artists were honored during the school’s commencement ceremony Saturday.
Students paid tribute to the artists with a concert featuring their music. More than 900 students from 58 countries graduated from Berklee this year.
27 marathons in 27 days for Mandela
British comedian, actor and endurance runner Eddie Izzard said he will run 27 marathons in honor of Nelson Mandela, who was jailed 27 years by apartheid governments before being released to help usher in South Africa’s democracy.
Izzard spoke of his plan Thursday on the sidelines of a reception for donors at Mandela’s foundation and archives in Johannesburg.
He said he will run the marathons in 27 consecutive days in South Africa along routes he will map out himself at sites linked to Mandela’s personal history.
In 2009, Izzard ran 1,100 miles in seven weeks across Britain for charity.
Mandela, 93, became South Africa’s first black president after its first all-race elections in 1994. He served one term and now is retired from public life.
The birthday bunch
Actor Buck Taylor is 74. Actor Harvey Keitel is 73. Singer Stevie Wonder is 62. Actor-comedian Stephen Colbert is 48. Actor Tom Verica is 48. Singer Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish) is 46. Actress-writer-director Lena Dunham is 26. Actor Robert Pattinson is 26. Actress Candice Accola (“The Vampire Diaries”) is 25.