Fidel Castro has been running the show in Cuba since 1959. It's probably no coincidence that that's the same year an American girl named Barbie came on the scene. According to an assistant to an assistant to an assistant to Barbie, she has no plans to retire. As far as dictator longevity goes Castro is way ahead of the pack. According to Parade magazine's list of top 20 Dictators (where Fidel has already been replaced by brother Raul), the next closest guy is a young man named Moammar Gadhafi, 65, who's been in charge of Libya since 1969.

CASTRO RESIGNS Longtime reign ends Articles • Cuban leader steps down • Local Cuban-American reaction subdued • Raul Castro: Fidel lite? • Castro long defied U.S. • Q&A: What's next? • Cuban exiles cautious • Text of Castro letter • Bush expresses hope Photos: • 50 years of power Timeline: • Communist revolutionary Video • Review of leader's life • Bush reaction • Excerpt of newscast • More international news

In Castro's time as numero uno in Cuba, there have been ten U.S. Presidents, including two named George but only one named Clinton. There have been five Popes, one evil empire and one Internet.

Some other things that have happened in that time:

• McDonald's. OK the first McDonald's opened in 1955, but we wanted to mention it anyway.

• The Beatles. These guys started getting together in 1960, but didn't pick up Ringo until 1962 and didn't really get famous until 1964. While technically they're no longer together they still sell an album or two and articles about someone named Sir Paul still get written.

• Space. Outer space was invented in the 1950s by the former Soviet Union, but the U.S. won the space race when Neil Armstrong stepped or leaped on the moon in 1969.

• The Braves. They started playing in Atlanta in 1966 and by 1995 they had won themselves a World Series! Since then they have . . . played a lot of games.

• Super Bowl. There have been XLII Super Bowls, the first one was in Los Angeles in 1967. If you're not good with Roman numerals, that's 347.

• Disco. Saturday Night Fever, a movie starring John Travolta, came out in 1977 although the "music" is older than that. Speaking of longevity, Travolta is still around and is still known to dress funny in front of cameras.

• Personal computers. Apple Computer began in 1977 giving people new reasons to curse at video screens. Eventually, corporate computers came along, another evil empire (Microsoft) was born, and finally in the 21st century we can all watch funny things that happened in front of security cameras while we're supposed to be working.

• Rap. "Rapper's Delight," by the Sugar Hill gang came out in 1979, and since then several other rap musicians have released a rhyme or two.

• Impeachment. They tried, but they couldn't do it. America's second Presidential impeachment begins in 1998 and finishes in 1999 with everyone completely satisfied with the whole process.

• American Idol. It's only been around six years! It just seems like longer.

• Hamdog. It's a hot dog wrapped by a beef patty and cheese that's deep-fried, covered with chili and onions and served in a bun. It's also topped with a fried egg. And, it was invented in Decatur in 2005.