The Danish Girl (film) The Danish Girl is a 2015 British-American romantic drama film directed by Tom Hooper , based on the 2000 fictional novel of the same name by David Ebershoff and loosely inspired by the lives of Danish painters Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener . The film stars Eddie Redmayne as Elbe , one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery , Alicia Vikander as Wegener , Ben Whishaw as Henrik , Sebastian Koch as Dr. Kurt Warnekros , Amber Heard as Ulla Paulson and Matthias Schoenaerts as Hans Axgil .   The film was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival , and it was shown in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival . The film was released in a limited release on 27 November 2015 by Focus Features in the United States . The film was released on 1 January 2016 , in the United Kingdom , with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution .   The film received some criticism for its inaccurate portrayal of historical events , but Redmayne and Vikander 's performances received widespread acclaim and nominations for all of the major acting awards . Vikander won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Redmayne was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor . It was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Film .


The Fall (Gorillaz album) is a collection of music.

The Fall (Gorillaz album) The Fall is the fourth studio album from British virtual band Gorillaz . The album was officially announced on 20 December 2010 and soon after released on 25 December 2010 as a `` free '' download on the Gorillaz website , exclusively to fans in the band 's Sub-Division fan club . The album features fewer guest artists than previous Gorillaz albums ; collaborators include Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash and Bobby Womack . The `` Phoner to Arizona '' music video , a compilation of footage and images taken from the tour and the phase was posted on YouTube on 22 December . The album was physically released on 18 April 2011 .


Phoner to Arizona `` Phoner to Arizona '' is the opening track from Gorillaz 's iPad recorded album The Fall . The song is an instrumental that was recorded entirely on Gorillaz co-founder Damon Albarn 's Apple iPad during the American leg of the Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour in October 2010 . The `` Phoner to Arizona '' video - a compilation of footage and images taken from the tour and the phase - was posted on YouTube on 22 December as a way to promote the album .


Elle Fanning Mary Elle Fanning ( born April 9 , 1998 ) is an American actress . She is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning . In 2011 , Fanning starred in her breakout role as Alice Dainard in J. J. Abrams ' sci-fi-drama , Super 8 , for which she received a Spotlight Award at the Hollywood Film Festival , and was cited as one of the film 's best aspects by The Telegraph .   Fanning has received multiple nominations , including for a Saturn Award , a Young Artist Award , a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award , a Teen Choice Award , a Scream Award , and an MTV Movie Award .   She is mainly known for her starring roles in Phoebe in Wonderland , Somewhere , We Bought a Zoo , Ginger and Rosa , Maleficent , and The Neon Demon .


David Angell David Lawrence Angell ( April 10 , 1946September 11 , 2001 ) was an American producer of sitcoms . Angell won multiple Emmy Awards as the creator and executive producer , along with Peter Casey and David Lee , of the comedy series Frasier . Angell and his wife Lynn both died heading home from their vacation in Cape Cod aboard American Airlines Flight 11 . This was the first plane to hit the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks .


Destiny was released in September for the Xbox One.

Destiny (video game) Destiny is an online-only multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and published by Activision . It was released worldwide on September 9 , 2014 , for the PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox 360 , and Xbox One consoles . Destiny marked Bungie 's first new console franchise since the Halo series , and it is the first game in a ten-year agreement between Bungie and Activision . Set in a `` mythic science fiction '' world , the game features a multiplayer `` shared-world '' environment with elements of role-playing games . Activities in Destiny are divided among player versus environment ( PvE ) and player versus player ( PvP ) game types . In addition to normal story missions , PvE features three-player `` strikes '' and six-player raids . A free roam patrol mode is also available for each planet and features public events . PvP features objective-based modes , as well as traditional deathmatch game modes .   Players take on the role of a Guardian , protectors of Earth 's last safe city as they wield a power called Light to protect the City from different alien races . Guardians are tasked with reviving a celestial being called the Traveler , while journeying to different planets to investigate and destroy the alien threats before humanity is completely wiped out . Bungie released four expansion packs , furthering the story , and adding new content , missions , and new PvP modes . Year One of Destiny featured two small expansions , The Dark Below in December 2014 and House of Wolves in May 2015 . A third , larger expansion , The Taken King , was released in September 2015 and marked the beginning of Year Two , changing much of the core gameplay . In December 2015 , Destiny shifted to an event-based model , featuring more limited-time events . A new , large expansion called Rise of Iron was released in September 2016 , beginning Year Three . Rise of Iron was only released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ; PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 clients subsequently stopped receiving updates . A full sequel , Destiny 2 , is scheduled for September 2017 .   Upon its release , Destiny received mixed to positive reviews with criticism centered mostly around the game 's storyline and post-campaign content . The game was praised for maintaining lineage from the Halo franchise , particularly in regards to its competitive experiences . On day one of its release , it sold over US$ 500 million at retail , making it the biggest new franchise launch of all time . It was GamesRadar 's 2014 Game of the Year and it received the BAFTA Award for Best Game at the 2014 British Academy Video Games Awards .


Lily Collins wrote for an American teen magazine called Seventeen as a teenager.

Seventeen (American magazine) Seventeen is an American magazine for teenagers . The magazine 's reader base is 13-to-19-year-old females . It began as a publication geared towards inspiring teen girls to become model workers and citizens . Soon after its debut , Seventeen took a more fashion and romance-oriented approach in presenting its material while promoting self-confidence in young women . It was first published in September 1944 by Walter Annenberg 's Triangle Publications .   == Seventeen '' 's early history ==  The first editor of Seventeen , Helen Valentine , provided teenage girls with working woman role models and information about their development . Seventeen enhanced the role of teenagers as consumers of popular culture . The concept of `` teenager '' as a distinct demographic originated in that era . In July 1944 , King Features Syndicate began running the comic strip Teena , created by cartoonist Hilda Terry , in which a typical teenager 's life was examined . Teena ran internationally in newspapers for twenty years .   After Seventeen was launched in September 1944 , Estelle Ellis Rubenstein , the magazine 's promotion director , introduced advertisers to the life of teenage girls through Teena , selling advertising in Seventeen at the same time . From 1945 to 1946 , the magazine surveyed teen girls in order to better understand the magazine 's audience . The magazine became an important source of information to manufacturers seeking guidance on how to satisfy consumer demand among teenagers . Today , the magazine entertains as well as promotes self-confidence in young women .   Sylvia Plath submitted nearly fifty pieces to Seventeen before her first short story , `` And Summer Will Not Come Again '' , was accepted and published in the August 1950 issue .   Joyce Walker became the first black model to be featured on the cover of Seventeen magazine in July 1971 . In the early 1980s , Whitney Houston was also featured on the cover of the magazine .   News Corporation bought Triangle in 1988 and sold Seventeen to K-III Communications ( later Primedia ) in 1991 . Primedia sold the magazine to Hearst in 2003 . Seventeen remains popular on newsstands today despite greater competition .   In 2010 , writer Jamie Keiles conducted `` The Seventeen Magazine Project '' , an experiment in which she followed the advice of Seventeen magazine for thirty days .   In 2012 , in response to reader protests against the magazine 's airbrushing its models ' photos , Seventeen '' ended its practice of using digital photo manipulation to enhance published photographs . ( See more below under Controversy ) .   In August 2016 , Michelle Tan was fired from her position as Editor in Chief while she was on maternity leave . It was announced shortly thereafter that Michele Promaulayko , who was appointed Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan , would also serve as Seventeen 's editorial director . Starting with their Dec/Jan 2017 issue , the magazine was to start publishing only six issues a year instead of ten , to focus on their online presence to appeal to the Generation Z market .


Lily Collins Lily Jane Collins ( born 18 March 1989 ) is a British-American actress and model . The daughter of English musician Phil Collins and an American mother , Jill Tavelman , she was born in Surrey and moved to Los Angeles as a child . Her first screen role was at the age of two in the BBC series Growing Pains . She went on to study broadcast journalism at the University of Southern California and as a teenager , wrote for Seventeen magazine , Teen Vogue , and The Los Angeles Times . She was named International Model of the Year by Spain 's Glamour magazine after being selected by Chanel to wear one of their gowns at the Hotel de Crillon in 2007 . In 2008 , she was named Newest Red Carpet Correspondent and One to Watch in 2008 .   Collins appeared as a guest star on the teen drama television series 90210 in 2009 , followed by her feature film debut in the semi-biographical sports film The Blind Side . She had leading roles in the sci-fi action-horror film Priest ( 2011 ) and the psychological action-thriller film Abduction , and was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress -- Sci-Fi/Fantasy for her role as Snow White in the fantasy film Mirror Mirror . She received wider recognition after taking on the role of Clary Fray in the fantasy film adaptation of Cassandra Clare 's The New York Times best-selling novel , The Mortal Instruments : City of Bones , for which she was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress -- Action and an MTV Movie Award .   Collins is also known for her roles in independent films , such as the romantic comedy-drama Stuck in Love ( 2012 ) , the romantic comedy The English Teacher ( 2013 ) , and the romantic comedy-drama Love , Rosie ( 2014 ) . She won the New Hollywood Film Award and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy her role as Marla Mabrey in Rules Do n't Apply ( 2016 ) . In 2017 , her debut novel , Unfiltered : No Shame , No Regrets , Just Me , was released to critical praise . In May 2017 , Lily Collins and Marti Noxon were honoured at Project Heal for their movie To the Bone .


A capital was where the Caracazo took place.

Caracazo The Caracazo , or sacudón , is the name given to the wave of protests , riots , looting , shootings and massacres that began on 27 February 1989 in Venezuela 's capital , Caracas , and the surrounding towns . The weeklong clashes resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people , thousands by some accounts , mostly at the hands of security forces and the military . The riots and the protests began mainly in response to the government 's economic reforms and the resulting increase in the price of gasoline and transportation .


Dark Places (2015 film) Dark Places is a 2015 mystery thriller film directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner . The screenplay , by Paquet-Brenner , is based on Gillian Flynn 's 2009 novel of the same name . It stars Charlize Theron , Christina Hendricks , Nicholas Hoult , and Chloë Grace Moretz .   The film was released in France on April 8 , 2015 , and in the United States on August 7 , 2015 , by A24 . It is the second film Theron and Hoult have collaborated on , after Mad Max : Fury Road .


Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed ( 13 February 1938 -- 2 May 1999 ) was an English actor known for his upper-class , macho image , hellraiser lifestyle , and `` tough guy '' roles . Notable films include The Trap ( 1966 ) , Oliver ! ( 1968 ) , Women in Love ( 1969 ) , Hannibal Brooks ( 1969 ) , The Devils ( 1971 ) , The Three Musketeers ( 1973 ) , Tommy ( 1975 ) , Lion of the Desert ( 1981 ) , Castaway ( 1986 ) , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen ( 1988 ) and Funny Bones ( 1995 ) . For Gladiator ( 2000 ) , his final film , Reed was posthumously nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role .   At the peak of his career , in 1971 , British exhibitors voted Reed 5th most popular star at the box office .


Lion of the Desert Lion of the Desert is a 1981 Libyan historical action film starring Anthony Quinn as Libyan tribal leader Omar Mukhtar , a Bedouin leader fighting the Regio Esercito ( Italian Royal Army ) in the years leading up to World War II , and Oliver Reed as Italian General Rodolfo Graziani , who attempted to defeat Mukhtar . It was directed by Moustapha Akkad and funded by the government under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi . Released in May 1981 , the film was liked by critics and audiences but performed poorly financially , bringing in just $ 1 million net worldwide . . The film was banned in Italy in 1982 and was only shown on pay TV in 2009 .


De Profundis was written whilst an imprisoning.

De Profundis (letter) De Profundis ( Latin : `` from the depths '' ) is a letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol , to `` Bosie '' ( Lord Alfred Douglas ) .   In its first half Wilde recounts their previous relationship and extravagant lifestyle which eventually led to Wilde 's conviction and imprisonment for gross indecency . He indicts both Lord Alfred 's vanity and his own weakness in acceding to those wishes . In the second half , Wilde charts his spiritual development in prison and identification with Jesus Christ , whom he characterises as a romantic , individualist artist . The letter began `` Dear Bosie '' and ended `` Your Affectionate Friend '' .   Wilde wrote the letter between January and March 1897 , close to the end of his imprisonment . Contact had lapsed between Douglas and Wilde and the latter had suffered from his close supervision , physical labour and emotional isolation . Nelson , the new prison governor , thought that writing might be more cathartic than prison labour . He was not allowed to send the long letter which he was allowed to write `` for medicinal purposes '' ; each page was taken away when completed , and only at the end could he read it over and make revisions . Nelson gave the long letter to him on his release on 18 May 1897 .   Wilde entrusted the manuscript to the journalist Robert Ross ( another former lover , loyal friend and rival to `` Bosie '' ) . Ross published the letter in 1905 , five years after Wilde 's death , giving it the title `` De Profundis '' from Psalm 130 . It was an incomplete version , excised of its autobiographical elements and references to the Queensberry family ; various editions gave more text until in 1962 the complete and correct version appeared in a volume of Wilde 's letters .


Gift of the Night Fury stars the voice of an actress born on April 18.

Gift of the Night Fury Gift of the Night Fury is a 2011 computer-animated short film by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Tom Owens . It was released on November 15 , 2011 , on DVD and Blu-ray , along with another original animated short film Book of Dragons .   Based on How to Train Your Dragon , the short takes place in the middle of preparing for the Viking winter holiday . After all dragons inexplicably fly away , the last one of them unwittingly kidnaps Hiccup . The film stars the voices of Jay Baruchel , Gerard Butler , Craig Ferguson , America Ferrera , Jonah Hill , T.J. Miller , Kristen Wiig , and Christopher Mintz-Plasse .


America Ferrera America Georgine Ferrera ( born April 18 , 1984 ) is an American actress . Born in Los Angeles , California , to Honduran parents , Ferrera developed an interest in acting at a young age performing in several stage productions at her school . She made her feature film debut in 2002 with the comedy drama Real Women Have Curves , winning praise for her performance . Ferrera is the recipient of numerous accolades including an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe Award , and a Screen Actors Guild Award among others .   Ferrera garnered modest success early in her career with roles in films like the Disney original Got ta Kick It Up ! ( 2002 ) and the drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants ( 2005 ) ; the latter earned her the Imagen Award Best Actress and her first nomination at the ALMA Awards . She ventured into television roles and landed the leading part on the ABC comedy drama Ugly Betty ( 2006 -- 2010 ) . Ferrera garnered critical acclaim for playing the protagonist of the series Betty Suarez , and won the Best Actress Awards at various award ceremonies in 2007 including the Golden Globe Awards , the Screen Actors Guild Awards , and the Primetime Emmy Award , the first for a Latin woman in the category .   Ferrera 's other notable film roles include the drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 ( 2008 ) , the drama The Dry Land ( 2010 ) , the romantic comedy Our Family Wedding ( 2010 ) , and the crime drama End of Watch ( 2012 ) . She provided the voice of Astrid Hofferson in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise She co-produces and stars in the comedy series Superstore ( 2015 -- present ) which premiered on NBC .   Ferrera garnered wide recognition for Ugly Betty and her subsequent roles and has been dubbed as a `` role model '' for the young Hispanic women owing to her achievements in the entertainment industry . Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007 .


Armadillo World Headquarters was opened in New York.

Armadillo World Headquarters Armadillo World Headquarters ( sometimes called simply The ` Dillo ) was a music venue and nightclub located in Austin , Texas from 1970 to 1980 .


Social anxiety disorder can impair ability to function in daily life.

Social anxiety disorder Social anxiety disorder ( SAD ) , also known as social phobia , is an anxiety disorder characterized by a significant amount of fear in one or more social situations , causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life . These fears can be triggered by perceived or actual scrutiny from others .   Physical symptoms often include excessive blushing , excess sweating , trembling , palpitations , and nausea . Stammering may be present , along with rapid speech . Panic attacks can also occur under intense fear and discomfort . Some sufferers may use alcohol or other drugs to reduce fears and inhibitions at social events . It is common for sufferers of social phobia to self-medicate in this fashion , especially if they are undiagnosed , untreated , or both ; this can lead to alcoholism , eating disorders or other kinds of substance abuse . SAD is sometimes referred to as an illness of lost opportunities where `` individuals make major life choices to accommodate their illness '' . According to ICD-10 guidelines , the main diagnostic criteria of social phobia are fear of being the focus of attention , or fear of behaving in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating , avoidance and anxiety symptoms . Standardized rating scales can be used to screen for social anxiety disorder and measure the severity of anxiety .   The first line treatment for social anxiety disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) with medications recommended only in those who are not interested in therapy . CBT is effective in treating social phobia , whether delivered individually or in a group setting . The cognitive and behavioral components seek to change thought patterns and physical reactions to anxiety-inducing situations . The attention given to social anxiety disorder has significantly increased since 1999 with the approval and marketing of drugs for its treatment . Prescribed medications include several classes of antidepressants : selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) , serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors ( SNRIs ) , and monoamine oxidase inhibitors ( MAOIs ) . Other commonly used medications include beta blockers and benzodiazepines . It is the most common anxiety disorder with up to 10 % of people being affected at some point in their life .


Very few people in Singapore can speak English.

Singapore Singapore ( -LSB- ˈsɪŋgəpɔr -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Singapore , sometimes referred to as the Lion City , the Garden City or the Little Red Dot , is a sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia . It lies one degree ( 137 km ) north of the equator , at the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia , with Indonesia 's Riau Islands to the south . Singapore 's territory consists of one main island along with 62 other islets . Since independence , extensive land reclamation has increased its total size by 23 % ( 130 km2 ) , and its greening policy has covered the densely populated island with tropical flora , parks and gardens .   Stamford Raffles founded colonial Singapore in 1819 as a trading post of the East India Company ; after its collapse and the eventual establishment of the British Raj , the islands were ceded to Britain and became part of its Straits Settlements in 1826 . During the Second World War , Singapore was occupied by Japan . It gained independence from the UK in 1963 by federating with other former British territories to form Malaysia , but separated two years later over ideological differences , becoming a sovereign nation in 1965 . After early years of turbulence , and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland , the nation developed rapidly as an Asian Tiger economy , based on external trade and its workforce .   Singapore is a global commerce , finance and transport hub . Its standings include : the most `` technology-ready '' nation ( WEF ) , top International-meetings city ( UIA ) , city with `` best investment potential '' ( BERI ) , second-most competitive country , third-largest foreign exchange market , third-largest financial centre , third-largest oil refining and trading centre , and the second-busiest container port . The country has also been identified as a tax haven .   Singapore ranks 5th on the UN Human Development Index and the 3rd highest GDP per capita . It is ranked highly in education , healthcare , life expectancy , quality of life , personal safety , and housing . Although income inequality is high , 90 % of homes are owner-occupied . 38 % of Singapore 's 5.6 million residents are permanent residents and other foreign nationals . There are four official languages : English ( common and first language ) , Malay , Mandarin , Tamil ; almost all Singaporeans are bilingual .   Singapore is a unitary multiparty parliamentary republic , with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government . The People 's Action Party has won every election since self-government in 1959 . The dominance of the PAP , coupled with a low level of press freedom and restrictions on civil liberties and political rights , has led to Singapore being classified by some as a semi-authoritarian regime . One of the five founding members of the ASEAN , Singapore is also the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) Secretariat , and a member of the East Asia Summit , Non-Aligned Movement , and the Commonwealth of Nations .


Mary-Louise Parker has performed as an actress.

Mary-Louise Parker Mary-Louise Parker ( born August 2 , 1964 ) is an American actress and author . In addition to her many films , Parker enjoyed great popularity for her lead role on Showtime 's television series Weeds portraying Nancy Botwin , for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 2006 . Parker has appeared in films and series including RED , RED 2 , Fried Green Tomatoes , Boys on the Side , The West Wing , and Angels in America , for which she received a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress . Parker is also the recipient of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Broadway play Proof . She also starred in When We Rise .


Weeds (TV series) Weeds is an American dark comedy drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Showtime . Its central character is Nancy Botwin ( Mary-Louise Parker ) , a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family , after her husband dies of a heart attack . Over the course of the series , she and her family increasingly become entangled in illegal activity .   The first three seasons are set primarily in the fictional town of Agrestic , California . During seasons four and five , the Botwins reside in the fictional town of Ren Mar in San Diego . In the sixth season , the family relocates to Seattle , Washington and Dearborn , Michigan . In between seasons six and seven , Nancy serves a prison sentence in Connecticut while her sons and brother-in-law live in Copenhagen , Denmark . At the beginning of season seven , Nancy moves into a halfway house in New York City where she reunites with her family . They live in Manhattan for the duration of the season , but relocate to Connecticut in the season seven finale and throughout season eight .   The show debuted on the Showtime cable network on August 7 , 2005 , earning the channel 's highest ratings . The series ended with the eighth and final season on September 16 , 2012 . In 2012 , TV Guide Network bought the airing rights , providing an edited version of the show free of charge . The show has received numerous awards , including two Satellite Awards , one Golden Globe Award , a Writers Guild of America Award , a Young Artist Award , and two Emmy Awards .


Angels in America (miniseries) Angels in America is a 2003 American HBO miniseries directed by Mike Nichols and based on the play by the same name written by Tony Kushner . Set in 1985 , the film revolves around six desperate New Yorkers whose lives intersect . At its core , it has the fantastical story of Prior Walter , a gay man living with AIDS who is visited by an angel . The film explores a wide variety of themes , including Reagan era politics , the spreading AIDS epidemic , and a rapidly changing social and political climate .   HBO broadcast the film in various formats : two 3-hour chunks that correspond to Millennium Approaches and `` Perestroika '' , as well as six 1-hour `` chapters '' that roughly correspond to an act or two of each of these plays ; the first three chapters ( `` Bad News , '' `` In Vitro , '' and `` The Messenger '' ) were initially broadcast on December 7 , 2003 to international acclaim , with the final three chapters ( `` Stop Moving ! '' `` Beyond Nelly , '' and `` Heaven , I 'm in Heaven '' ) following .   Angels in America was the most-watched made-for-cable film in 2003 , garnering much critical acclaim and multiple Golden Globe and Emmy awards , among other numerous accolades . In 2006 , The Seattle Times listed the series amongst `` Best of the filmed AIDS portrayals '' on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of AIDS .


Proof (play) Proof is a 2000 play by the American playwright David Auburn . `` Proof '' was developed at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick , NJ during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays . The play premiered Off-Broadway in May 2000 , and transferred to Broadway in October 2000 . The play won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play .


When We Rise When We Rise is an American docudrama miniseries about LGBT Rights , created by Dustin Lance Black . It stars Guy Pearce , Rachel Griffiths , Mary-Louise Parker , Michael Kenneth Williams , Austin P. McKenzie , Emily Skeggs , Jonathan Majors , Fiona Dourif , and Sam Jaeger among 30 others . The mini-series premiered on ABC on February 27 , 2017 , as a sequence of nightly broadcasts .


The Voice (U.S. TV series) The Voice is an American reality television singing competition broadcast on NBC . Based on the original The Voice of Holland , the concept of the series is to find currently unsigned singing talent ( solo or duets , professional and amateur ) contested by aspiring singers , age 13 or over , drawn from public auditions . The winner is determined by television viewers voting by telephone , Internet , SMS text , and iTunes Store purchases of the audio-recorded artists ' vocal performances . They receive US$ 100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group for winning the competition . The winners of the twelve seasons have been : Javier Colon , Jermaine Paul , Cassadee Pope , Danielle Bradbery , Tessanne Chin , Josh Kaufman , Craig Wayne Boyd , Sawyer Fredericks , Jordan Smith , Alisan Porter , Sundance Head , and Chris Blue .   The series employs a panel of four coaches who critique the artists ' performances and guide their teams of selected artists through the remainder of the season . They also compete to ensure that their act wins the competition , thus making them the winning coach . Members of the coaching panel include Adam Levine , Blake Shelton , Christina Aguilera ( seasons 1 -- 3 , 5 , 8 , 10 ) , CeeLo Green ( seasons 1 -- 3 , 5 ) , Shakira ( season 4 , 6 ) , Usher ( season 4 , 6 ) , Gwen Stefani ( season 7 , 9 , 12 ) , Pharrell Williams ( seasons 7 -- 10 ) , Miley Cyrus ( season 11 ) , and Alicia Keys ( seasons 11 -- 12 ) .   The Voice began airing on April 26 , 2011 , as a spring TV season program . The show proved to be a hit for NBC and was subsequently expanded into the fall cycle when season three premiered on September 10 , 2012 . The series premiered its twelfth season on February 27 , 2017 . On October 18 , 2016 , NBC renewed the series through its thirteenth season . On May 10 , 2017 , NBC renewed the series for a fourteenth series , along with announcing Jennifer Hudson as a new coach in the thirteenth season . The following day , it was announced that Kelly Clarkson would be a new coach in the fourteenth season , sitting alongside Adam Levine , Blake Shelton , and Jennifer Hudson .


Jeffrey Dahmer was spared by Christopher Scarver.

Jeffrey Dahmer Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer ( May 21 , 1960 -- November 28 , 1994 ) , also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal , was an American serial killer and sex offender , who committed the rape , murder , and dismemberment of seventeen men and boys between 1978 and 1991 . Many of his later murders involved necrophilia , cannibalism , and the permanent preservation of body parts -- typically all or part of the skeletal structure .   Although diagnosed with borderline personality disorder , schizotypal personality disorder , and a psychotic disorder , Dahmer was found to be legally sane at his trial . Convicted of fifteen of the sixteen murders he had committed in Wisconsin , Dahmer was sentenced to fifteen terms of life imprisonment on February 15 , 1992 . He was later sentenced to a sixteenth term of life imprisonment for an additional homicide committed in Ohio in 1978 .   On November 28 , 1994 , Dahmer was beaten to death by Christopher Scarver , a fellow inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution .


The Gadsden flag was named in reference of a general from America.

Gadsden flag The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike . Positioned below the rattlesnake are the words `` DONT TREAD ON ME '' . The flag is named after American general and politician Christopher Gadsden ( 1724 -- 1805 ) , who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution . It was used by the Continental Marines as an early motto flag , along with the Moultrie flag .   Modern uses of the Gadsden flag include political movements such as libertarianism and the American Tea Party as well as American soccer supporter groups , including Sam 's Army and the American Outlaws since the late 1980s .


Jennifer Hudson is unable to make vocalized sounds.

Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Kate Hudson ( born September 12 , 1981 ) is an American singer , actress and spokesperson . She rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol , coming in seventh place .   As an actress , she made her film debut portraying Effie White in Dreamgirls , for which she gained worldwide acclaim and won an Academy Award , a Golden Globe Award , a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress . She has also appeared in such films as Sex and the City , The Secret Life of Bees and Black Nativity . She has made numerous television appearances , including guest roles on Smash , Empire and Inside Amy Schumer . In 2015 she made her Broadway debut in the role of Shug Avery in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple .   As a singer , Hudson has released three studio albums . Her debut album Jennifer Hudson , released in 2008 , debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA , with sales exceeding a million copies worldwide . The record was nominated for four Grammy Awards , winning the 2009 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album . Her second album I Remember Me , released in 2011 , also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA . Her third and most recent album JHUD peaked in the top ten and featured the Grammy-nominated track `` It 's Your World '' . She also became the principal singer of The Color Purple musical album , which earned her the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program ( shared with the cast of The Color Purple ) .   In October 2008 , after Hudson 's mother , brother and nephew were killed in a shooting , Hudson stepped out of the public eye for three months . Hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009 , with high-profile performances at Super Bowl XLIII , the Grammy Awards , American Idol , and The Oprah Winfrey Show . Hudson has been described as a friend of former President Barack Obama , who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills during his first term in May 2009 . She also performed at the White House at the `` Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement '' event . In 2013 , she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2016 , Hudson was announced as a coach on the 2017 Series of The Voice UK . The following year , Hudson was announced as a coach on the thirteenth season of The Voice .


Laura Prepon Laura Helene Prepon ( born March 7 , 1980 ) is an American actress , producer , and author . She is known for her role as Donna Pinciotti in all eight seasons of the Fox sitcom That '70s Show ( 1998 -- 2006 ) , and for her role as Alex Vause in the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black ( 2013 -- present ) . Following That '70s Show , Prepon worked mainly in television . She made her film debut in 2001 with the independent film Southlander . Her other films include the romantic drama Come Early Morning ( 2006 ) , the comedy Lay the Favorite ( 2012 ) , the thriller The Girl on the Train ( 2016 ) , and The Hero ( 2017 ) .


That '70s Show That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that originally aired on Fox from August 23 , 1998 , to May 18 , 2006 . The series focused on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place , Wisconsin , from May 17 , 1976 , to December 31 , 1979 .   The main teenage cast members were Topher Grace , Mila Kunis , Ashton Kutcher , Danny Masterson , Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama . The main adult cast members were Debra Jo Rupp , Kurtwood Smith , Don Stark , Tommy Chong and Tanya Roberts .


Kuala Lumpur is the cultural center of Mexico.

Putrajaya Putrajaya ( -LSB- pʊtrɑːdʒɑːjə -RSB- ) , officially the Federal Territory of Putrajaya , is a planned city and the federal administrative centre of Malaysia . The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya , because of overcrowding and congestion in the former . Kuala Lumpur remains Malaysia 's national capital , and is the seat of the King and the Parliament , and is the country 's commercial and financial centre . Putrajaya was the idea of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad . It became Malaysia 's third Federal Territory , after Kuala Lumpur and Labuan , in 2001 .   Named after the first Malaysian Prime Minister , Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra , the territory is entirely enclaved within the Sepang District of the state of Selangor . Putrajaya is also a part of MSC Malaysia , a special economic zone that covers Klang Valley . In Sanskrit , `` putra '' means `` prince '' or `` male child '' , and `` jaya '' means `` success '' or `` victory '' . The development of Putrajaya started in the early 1990s ; today , major landmarks have been completed and the population is expected to grow in the near future .


Greater Kuala Lumpur Greater Kuala Lumpur is the geographical term that determines the boundaries of Metropolitan Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia . Though similar to the term `` Klang Valley '' , there remains a variation between the two . It is similar to Greater London and Greater Toronto . It covers an area of 2,793.27 square km .


Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur ( -LSB- ˈkwɑːlə ˈlʊmpʊə -RSB- or -LSB- - pər -RSB- -LSB- ˈkwalə ˈlumpʊr -RSB- ) , officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur , or more commonly KL , is the national capital of Malaysia as well as its largest city . The only alpha world city in Malaysia , it covers an area of 243 km2 and has an estimated population of 1.73 million . Greater Kuala Lumpur , also known as the Klang Valley , is an urban agglomeration of 7.25 million people . It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in South-East Asia , in both population and economic development .   Kuala Lumpur is the cultural , financial and economic centre of Malaysia , home to the Parliament of Malaysia , and the official residence of the Malaysian King , the Istana Negara . The city once held the headquarters of the executive and judicial branches of the federal government as well , but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999 . Some sections of the judiciary still remain in Kuala Lumpur .   Kuala Lumpur is one of three Federal Territories of Malaysia , enclaved within the state of Selangor , on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia . Since the 1990s , the city has played host to many international sporting , political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix . Kuala Lumpur has undergone rapid development in recent decades . It is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world , the Petronas Twin Towers , which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia 's futuristic development .


In 2006, Batman Begins became the first film making up a part of what would later become The Dark Knight Trilogy.

Batman Begins Batman Begins is a 2005 British-American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman , co-written and directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Liam Neeson , Katie Holmes , Gary Oldman , Cillian Murphy , Tom Wilkinson , Rutger Hauer , Ken Watanabe , and Morgan Freeman . The film reboots the Batman film series , telling the origin story of the title character ( Bale ) , from his alter ego Bruce Wayne 's initial fear of bats , the death of his parents , his journey to become Batman , and his fight to stop Ra 's al Ghul ( Neeson ) and the Scarecrow ( Murphy ) from plunging Gotham City into chaos . Comic book storylines such as The Man Who Falls , Batman : Year One , and Batman : The Long Halloween served as inspiration .   After a series of unsuccessful projects to resurrect Batman on screen following the critical failure and box office disappointment of Batman & Robin ( 1997 ) , Nolan and David S. Goyer began to work on the film in early 2003 and aimed for a darker and more realistic tone , with humanity and realism being the basis of the film . The goal was to get the audience to care for both Batman and Bruce Wayne . The film , which was primarily shot in Iceland and Chicago , relied on traditional stunts and miniatures , while computer-generated imagery was used minimally .   Batman Begins opened on June 15 , 2005 , in the United States and Canada in 3,858 theaters . It grossed over $ 48 million in its opening weekend in North America , eventually grossing over $ 374 million worldwide . The film received positive reviews and is considered by many to be one of the best superhero films of the 2000s . The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and three BAFTA awards . It is followed by The Dark Knight ( 2008 ) and The Dark Knight Rises ( 2012 ) in a continual story-arc , which has later been referred to as The Dark Knight Trilogy .


Mission: Impossible aired on CBS beginning in 1963.

Mission: Impossible Mission : Impossible is an American television series that was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller . It chronicles the missions of a team of secret government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force ( IMF ) . In the first season , the team is led by Dan Briggs , played by Steven Hill ; Jim Phelps , played by Peter Graves , takes charge for the remaining seasons . A hallmark of the series shows Briggs or Phelps receiving his instructions on a recording that then self-destructs , followed by the theme music composed by Lalo Schifrin .   The series was filmed and financed by Desilu Productions , and aired on the CBS network from September 1966 to March 1973 . The series was revived in 1988 for two seasons on ABC , retaining only Graves in the cast . It also inspired a series of theatrical motion pictures starring Tom Cruise , beginning in 1996 .


John McCain John Sidney McCain III ( born August 29 , 1936 ) is an American politician who currently serves as the senior United States Senator from Arizona . He was the Republican nominee for the 2008 U.S. presidential election .   McCain followed his father and grandfather , both four-star admirals , into the United States Navy , graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 . He became a naval aviator , flying ground-attack aircraft from aircraft carriers . During the Vietnam War , he was almost killed in the 1967 USS Forrestal fire . In October 1967 , while on a bombing mission over Hanoi , he was shot down , seriously injured , and captured by the North Vietnamese . He was a prisoner of war until 1973 . McCain experienced episodes of torture , and refused an out-of-sequence early repatriation offer . His war wounds have left him with lifelong physical limitations .   He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1981 and moved to Arizona , where he entered politics . Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 , McCain served two terms . He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 , winning re-election easily five times , most recently in 2016 . While generally adhering to conservative principles , McCain at times has had a media reputation as a `` maverick '' for his willingness to disagree with his party on certain issues . After being investigated and largely exonerated in a political influence scandal of the 1980s as a member of the Keating Five , he made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns , eventually gaining passage of the McCain -- Feingold Act in 2002 . He is also known for his work in the 1990s to restore diplomatic relations with Vietnam , and for his belief that the Iraq War should have been fought to a successful conclusion . McCain has chaired the Senate Commerce Committee , opposed spending that he considered to be pork barrel , and played a key role in alleviating a crisis over judicial nominations with the bi-partisan group known as the Gang of 14 .   McCain ran for the Republican nomination in 2000 but lost a heated primary season contest to George W. Bush of Texas . He secured the nomination in 2008 after coming back from early reversals , but was defeated by Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the general election , losing by a 365 -- 173 electoral college margin and by 53 -- 46 % in the popular vote . He subsequently adopted more orthodox conservative stances and attitudes and largely opposed actions of the Obama administration , especially in regard to foreign policy matters . By 2013 , however , he had become a key figure in the Senate for negotiating deals on certain issues in an otherwise partisan environment . In 2015 , McCain became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee .


Lee Min-ho's first leading role was in a 2015 film.

Gangnam Blues Gangnam Blues ( ; lit . Gangnam 1970 ) is a 2015 South Korean noir action film written and directed by Yoo Ha , and starring Lee Min-ho and Kim Rae-won . The film is set in the 1970s against the backdrop of the real estate development of Seoul 's Gangnam district amidst socio-political turmoil and terrorism . The friendship of two childhood friends is tested as they find themselves entangled in the collusion and battles between political powers and criminal organizations .


Lee Min-ho (actor, born 1987) Lee Min-ho ( , born June 22 , 1987 ) is a South Korean actor and singer . He first gained widespread fame in Korea and parts of Asia with his role as Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers in 2009 . The role won him a Best New Actor award at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards . He is noted for his leading roles in City Hunter ( 2011 ) , The Heirs ( 2013 ) and The Legend of the Blue Sea ( 2016 ) . The success of Lee 's television dramas throughout Asia established him as a top Hallyu star . Lee starred in his first leading role in film with Gangnam Blues ( 2015 ) , followed by his first China-produced film Bounty Hunters ( 2016 ) .


Ben Whishaw was in Hamlet, Nathan Barley, Criminal Justice, The Hour, London Spy, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, I'm Not There, Bright Star, Brideshead Revisited, Cloud Atlas, The Lobster, Suffragette and The Danish Girl.

Ben Whishaw Benjamin John `` Ben '' Whishaw ( born 14 October 1980 ) is an English actor . He is known for his stage role as Hamlet ; his roles in the television series Nathan Barley , Criminal Justice , The Hour and London Spy ; and film roles including Perfume : The Story of a Murderer ( 2006 ) , I 'm Not There ( 2007 ) , Bright Star ( 2009 ) , Brideshead Revisited ( 2008 ) , Cloud Atlas ( 2012 ) , The Lobster ( 2015 ) , Suffragette ( 2015 ) and The Danish Girl ( 2015 ) . He has also played the role of Q in the James Bond films starting with Skyfall ( 2012 ) , and was the voice of Paddington Bear in the 2014 film , Paddington .


The Greenland shark is a species of sleeper shark.

Greenland shark The Greenland shark ( Somniosus microcephalus ) , also known as the gurry shark , or grey shark , or by the Inuit name eqalussuaq , is a large shark of the family Somniosidae ( `` sleeper sharks '' ) , closely related to the Pacific and southern sleeper sharks . The distribution of this species is mostly restricted to the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean .   It has the longest known lifespan of all vertebrate species ( 392 ± 120 years ) , and is among the largest extant species of shark . As an adaptation to living at depth , it has a high concentration of trimethylamine N-oxide in its tissues , which causes the meat to be toxic . Greenland shark flesh treated to reduce toxin levels is eaten in Iceland as a delicacy known as kæstur hákarl .


Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne ( -LSB- ˈævrɪl_ləˈviːn -RSB- -LSB- avʁil laviɲ -RSB- ) ( born 27 September 1984 ) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress . By the age of 15 , she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain ; by 16 , she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more than $ 2 million . In 2002 she released her debut album , Let Go , emphasising a skate punk persona in which she has been often referred by critics and music publications as The `` Pop Punk Queen '' due to her achievement and impact in the industry . Lavigne is considered a key musician in the development of pop punk music since she paved the way for female-driven punk-influenced pop music . Since her professional debut , Lavigne has sold more than 40 million albums and over 50 million singles worldwide making her the 2nd best selling Canadian Female Artist of all time , only behind Celine Dion .   Let Go made Lavigne the youngest female soloist to reach number 1 in the UK . As of 2013 , it has sold nearly 7 million copies in the United States and over 20 million copies worldwide . Her breakthrough single , `` Complicated '' , peaked at number 1 in many countries around the world , as did the album Let Go . Her second studio album , Under My Skin , was released in May 2004 and was her first album to peak at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 , eventually selling more than 12 million copies worldwide .   The Best Damn Thing , Lavigne 's third album , was released in April 2007 , becoming her third number 1 album in the UK Albums Chart and featuring her first US Billboard Hot 100 number 1 single , `` Girlfriend '' . Lavigne has scored six number-one singles worldwide , including `` Complicated '' , `` Sk8er Boi '' , `` I 'm with You '' , `` My Happy Ending '' , `` Nobody 's Home '' , and `` Girlfriend '' . Lavigne is one of the top-selling artists releasing albums in the US , with over 12 million copies certified by the RIAA . Her fourth studio album , Goodbye Lullaby , was released in March 2011 . Goodbye Lullaby gave Lavigne her fourth top 10 album on the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart and her third number 1 album in both Japan and Australia . Three months after the release of Goodbye Lullaby , Lavigne began work on her eponymously titled fifth studio album , which was released by Epic Records on 1 November 2013 following her departure from RCA Records in 2011 .   Lavigne took a break from recording music , pursuing careers in feature film acting and designing clothes and perfumes . She voiced Heather , a Virginia opossum , in the animated film Over the Hedge in 2006 . That same year , she made her on-screen feature film debut in Fast Food Nation . In 2008 , Lavigne introduced her clothing line , Abbey Dawn , and in 2009 she released her first perfume , Black Star , which was followed by Forbidden Rose in 2010 , and Wild Rose in 2011 . In July 2006 , Lavigne married her boyfriend of two years , Deryck Whibley , lead singer and guitarist for Sum 41 . The marriage lasted four years . In October 2009 , Lavigne filed for divorce . Whibley and Lavigne continued to work together , with Whibley producing her fourth album , as well as Lavigne 's single `` Alice '' , written for Tim Burton 's film Alice in Wonderland .


Martina Hingis was the singles world No. 1 for 209 weeks.

Martina Hingis Martina Hingis ( born 30 September 1980 ) is a Czechoslovak-born Swiss professional tennis player who spent a total of 209 weeks as the singles world No. 1 . She has won five Grand Slam singles titles , twelve Grand Slam women 's doubles titles , winning a calendar-year doubles Grand Slam in 1998 , and five Grand Slam mixed doubles titles ; for a combined total of twenty-two major titles . In addition , she has won the season-ending WTA Championships two times in singles and three times in doubles and is an Olympic medalist .   Hingis set a series of `` youngest-ever '' records during the 1990s , including youngest-ever Grand Slam champion and youngest-ever world No. 1 . Before ligament injuries in both ankles forced her to withdraw temporarily from professional tennis in 2002 , at the age of 22 , she had won 40 singles titles and 36 doubles titles and , according to Forbes , had been the highest-paid female athlete in the world for five consecutive years , 1997 to 2001 . After several surgeries and long recuperations , Hingis returned to the WTA tour in 2006 , climbing to world No. 6 and winning three singles titles , and also receiving the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year . She retired in November 2007 , following months of injuries and a positive test for a metabolite of cocaine during the 2007 Wimbledon Championships , which led to a two-year suspension from the sport .   In July 2013 , Hingis came out of retirement to play the North American hard-court season , partnering Daniela Hantuchová . After achieving moderate success in 2014 playing with Sabine Lisicki and Flavia Pennetta , she partnered with Sania Mirza in March 2015 ; together they won three consecutive Grand Slam titles . During her comeback , Hingis also won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles tournaments alongside Leander Paes and a silver medal partnering Timea Bacsinszky at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro .   Widely considered an all-time tennis great , Hingis was ranked by Tennis magazine in 2005 as the 8th-greatest female player of the preceding 40 years . She was named one of the `` 30 Legends of Women 's Tennis : Past , Present and Future '' by TIME in June 2011 . In 2013 , Hingis was elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame , and was appointed two years later the organization 's first ever Global Ambassador .


Mel Brooks Melvin Brooks ( né Kaminsky , born June 28 , 1926 ) is an American filmmaker , comedian , actor and composer . He is known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies . Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows . He became well known as part of the comedy duo with Carl Reiner in the comedy skit The 2000 Year Old Man . He also created , with Buck Henry , the hit television comedy series Get Smart , which ran from 1965 to 1970 .   In middle age , Brooks became one of the most successful film directors of the 1970s , with many of his films being among the top 10 moneymakers of the year they were released . His best-known films include The Producers , The Twelve Chairs , Blazing Saddles , Young Frankenstein , Silent Movie , High Anxiety , History of the World , Part I , Spaceballs and Robin Hood : Men in Tights . A musical adaptation of his first film , The Producers , ran on Broadway from 2001 to 2007 .   In 2001 , having previously won an Emmy , a Grammy and an Oscar , he joined a small list of EGOT winners with his Tony award for The Producers . He received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009 , the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 , the 41st AFI Life Achievement Award in June 2013 , a British Film Institute Fellowship in March 2015 , a National Medal of Arts in September 2016 , and a BAFTA Fellowship in February 2017 . Three of his films ranked in the American Film Institute 's list of the top 100 comedy films of the past 100 years ( 1900 -- 2000 ) , all of which ranked in the top 15 of the list : Blazing Saddles at number 6 , The Producers at number 11 , and Young Frankenstein at number 13 .   Brooks was married to Oscar-winning actress Anne Bancroft from 1964 until her death in 2005 .


North Vancouver refuses to use any ambulance services.

British Columbia Ambulance Service The British Columbia Ambulance Service ( BCAS ) is the sole ambulance service and provider of pre-hospital emergency care in the province of British Columbia . BCAS is managed by British Columbia Emergency Health Services ( BCEHS ) and falls under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Health Services Authority ( PHSA ) . The service is tasked with the provision of emergency medical response province-wide . Today , BC Ambulance is among the largest Emergency Medical Services ( EMS ) provider in Canada and North America . The fleet consists of more than 481 ground ambulances operating from 183 stations across the province along with 77 support vehicles . BCAS provides inter-facility patient transfer services in circumstances where a patient needs to be moved between health care facilities for treatment . BCAS also operates an airevac program that utilizes both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft .


North Vancouver (district municipality) The District of North Vancouver is a district municipality in British Columbia , Canada and is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District ( GVRD ) . It surrounds the City of North Vancouver on three sides . As of 2016 , the District stands as the second wealthiest city in Canada , with neighbouring West Vancouver the richest . The municipality is largely characterized as being a relatively quiet , affluent suburban hub home to many middle and upper-middle class families . Homes in the District generally range from mid-sized family bungalows to very large luxury houses ( particularly in the District 's Capilano/Edgemont neighbourhood ) . Some developments have popped up across the district in recent years , however the District remains a primarily suburban municipality . The District is served by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police , British Columbia Ambulance Service , and the District of North Vancouver Fire Department .


Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt ( 23 November 1887 -- 2 February 1969 ) , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff , was an English actor who was primarily known for his typecast roles in horror films that depicted the characters Frankenstein and The Mummy .   He portrayed Frankenstein 's monster in Frankenstein ( 1931 ) , Bride of Frankenstein ( 1935 ) , and Son of Frankenstein ( 1939 ) , which resulted in his immense popularity . He also appeared as Imhotep in The Mummy ( 1932 ) .   His best-known non-horror role is as the Grinch , as well as the narrator , in the animated television special of Dr. Seuss 's How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ( 1966 ) . Karloff guest starred in a 1966 TV episode of The Wild Wild West , `` The Night of the Golden Cobra '' . He also had a memorable role in the original Scarface ( 1932 ) . For his contribution to film and television , Boris Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .


Natalie Portman Natalie Portman ( born Neta-Lee Hershlag , נטע-לי הרשלג June 9 , 1981 ) is an actress with dual American and Israeli citizenship . Her first role was in the 1994 action thriller Léon : The Professional , opposite Jean Reno . She was later cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy ( released in 1999 , 2002 and 2005 ) .   Born in Jerusalem to an Israeli father and American mother , Portman grew up in the eastern United States from the age of three . She studied dancing and acting in New York , and starred in Star Wars : Episode I -- The Phantom Menace while still at high school on Long Island . In 1999 , Portman enrolled at Harvard University to study psychology , alongside her work as an actress ; she completed a bachelor 's degree in 2003 . During her studies she starred in a second Star Wars film and opened in New York City 's The Public Theater production of Anton Chekhov 's The Seagull in 2001 .   Portman won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for starring in the 2004 drama Closer , appeared in Star Wars : Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith the following year , and won a Constellation Award for Best Female Performance and the Saturn Award for Best Actress for her starring role in the political thriller V for Vendetta ( 2006 ) . She played leading roles in the historical dramas Goya 's Ghosts ( 2006 ) and The Other Boleyn Girl ( 2008 ) , and also appeared in Thor ( 2011 ) and its 2013 sequel . In 2010 , Portman starred in the psychological thriller film Black Swan . Her performance received widespread critical acclaim and she earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress , her second Golden Globe Award , the SAG Award , the BAFTA Award and the BFCA Award in 2011 . In 2016 , she portrayed First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the biographical drama Jackie . She was nominated for an Academy Award , a BAFTA Award , a Golden Globe Award , a Screen Actors Guild Award and won the BFCA for Best Actress .   In May 2008 , Portman served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury . The same year she directed a segment of the collective film New York , I Love You . Her first feature film as a director , A Tale of Love and Darkness , was released in 2015 .


The Academy Honorary Award was put in place for a prize formerly named the Special Award.

Academy Honorary Award The Academy Honorary Award -- instituted in 1948 for the 21st Academy Awards ( previously called the Special Award , which was first presented in early 1929 ) -- is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) to celebrate motion picture achievements that are not covered by existing Academy Awards , although prior winners of competitive Academy Awards are not excluded from receiving the Honorary Award . Unless otherwise specified , Honorary Award recipients receive the same gold Oscar statuettes received by winners of the competitive Academy Awards . Unlike the Special Achievement Award instituted in 1972 ( and discontinued in 1995 ) , those on whom the Academy confers its Honorary Award do not have to meet `` the Academy 's eligibility year and deadline requirements . '' Like the Special Achievement Award , the Special Award and Honorary Award have been used to reward significant achievements of the year that did not fit in existing categories , subsequently leading the Academy to establish several new categories , and to honor exceptional career achievements , contributions to the motion picture industry , and service to the Academy . The Academy Honorary Award is often awarded in preference to those with noted achievements in motion pictures who have nevertheless never won an Academy Award . Thus , many of its recipients are Classic Hollywood stars , such as Lillian Gish , Barbara Stanwyck , Kirk Douglas , and Lauren Bacall .   Since 2009 the Honorary Award is presented at the annual Governors Awards rather than at the Academy Awards .


Kevin Spacey was fired from the cast of Baby Driver before filming began.

Baby Driver Baby Driver is a 2017 British -- American action comedy film written and directed by Edgar Wright , and starring Ansel Elgort , Kevin Spacey , Lily James , Jon Bernthal , Eiza González , Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx . The film follows a young getaway driver ( played by Elgort ) who is reluctantly coerced to work for a veteran kingpin ( played by Spacey ) at `` one last job '' in exchange to start a better life .   The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11 , 2017 and is scheduled to be released theatrically on June 28 , 2017 , by TriStar Pictures .


Emily Ratajkowski has yet to become a model.

Emily Ratajkowski Emily O'Hara Ratajkowski ( -LSB- ˌrɑːtaɪˈkɒfski -RSB- born June 7 , 1991 ) is an American actress and model . Born to American parents in London and raised primarily in California , she rose to prominence in 2013 after appearing in the music video for Robin Thicke 's `` Blurred Lines '' , which became the number one song of the year in several countries and attracted controversy over its purportedly sexist content .   Ratajkowski 's modeling career has progressed from retail ad work to art house erotica and high fashion . She appeared on the cover of the March 2012 issue of the erotic magazine treats ! , which led to her being asked to appear in two music videos -- `` Blurred Lines '' and Maroon 5 's `` Love Somebody '' . She appeared in the 2014 and 2015 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues . Ratajkowski made her professional runway modeling debut for Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week in 2015 and has since walked on the Paris Fashion Week runway for Miu Miu . She appeared in a Buick Super Bowl commercial during Super Bowl 50 .   Ratajkowski began acting as a child in the San Diego area before she gained a recurring role on iCarly and later roles in major films . Her feature film debut was as the mistress of Ben Affleck 's character in the 2014 film Gone Girl . Ratajkowski 's 2015 roles included the films Entourage and We Are Your Friends ( her first leading role ) as well as the miniseries The Spoils Before Dying .   Ratajkowski is an advocate for women 's health issues as a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood and supports the right of women to express their sexuality . Her claim to being a feminist has been both supported and disputed .


Alison Brie Alison Brie Franco ( née Schermerhorn born December 29 , 1982 ) , known professionally as Alison Brie , is an American actress and producer . She portrayed Annie Edison in the NBC/Yahoo ! sitcom Community ( 2009 -- 2015 ) and Trudy Campbell in the AMC drama Mad Men ( 2007 -- 2015 ) , and currently voices Diane Nguyen on the Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman ( 2014 -- present ) . She has starred in several films , such as Scream 4 ( 2011 ) , The Five-Year Engagement ( 2012 ) , The Lego Movie ( 2014 ) , Get Hard ( 2015 ) , Sleeping with Other People ( 2015 ) , and How to Be Single ( 2016 ) .


Man of Steel (film) was written by Han Solo.

Han Solo Han Solo is a character in the Star Wars franchise . In the original film trilogy , Han and his co-pilot , Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance 's struggle against the Galactic Empire . During the course of the Star Wars story , he becomes a chief figure in the Alliance and succeeding galactic governments . Star Wars creator George Lucas described the character as `` a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good '' . Harrison Ford portrayed the character in the original Star Wars trilogy as well as The Force Awakens . Alden Ehrenreich will portray a young Han Solo in an upcoming , as yet untitled spinoff film .


Man of Steel (film) Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film featuring the DC Comics character Superman . It is a British-American venture produced by Legendary Pictures , DC Entertainment , Syncopy Inc. , and Cruel and Unusual Films , and distributed by Warner Bros. . Pictures . It is the first installment in the DC Extended Universe . The film is directed by Zack Snyder , written by David S. Goyer , and stars Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Michael Shannon , Kevin Costner , Diane Lane , Laurence Fishburne , Antje Traue , Ayelet Zurer , Christopher Meloni , and Russell Crowe . Man of Steel is a reboot of the Superman film series that retells the character 's origin story . In the film , Clark Kent learns that he is a superpowered alien from the planet Krypton and assumes the role of mankind 's protector as Superman , but finds himself having to prevent General Zod from destroying humanity .   Development began in 2008 , when Warner Bros. took pitches from comic book writers , screenwriters and directors , opting to reboot the franchise . In 2009 , a court ruling resulted in Jerry Siegel 's family recapturing the rights to Superman 's origins and Siegel 's copyright . The decision stated that Warner Bros. did not owe the families additional royalties from previous films , but if they did not begin production on a Superman film by 2011 , then the Shuster and Siegel estates would be able to sue for lost revenue on an unproduced film . Producer Christopher Nolan pitched Goyer 's idea after story discussion on The Dark Knight Rises , and Snyder was hired as the film 's director in October 2010 . Principal photography began in August 2011 in West Chicago , Illinois , before moving to Vancouver and Plano , Illinois .   Man of Steel was released in theaters on June 14 , 2013 , in conventional 2D , 3D , and IMAX formats . Despite receiving mixed reviews , the film became a box office success , grossing over $ 668 million worldwide . Critics praised the film 's visuals , action sequences , and Hans Zimmer 's musical score but criticized its pacing and lack of character development . A follow-up , Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice was released on March 25 , 2016 while a standalone Superman sequel is in active development .


Doctor Doom is the son of a Romani sorceress.

Doctor Doom Doctor Victor Von Doom ( or simply Doctor Doom ) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The son of Romani witch Cynthia Von Doom , Doctor Doom traditionally has been the archenemy of the Fantastic Four , and the leader of the fictional nation of Latveria . He is both a genius inventor and a sorcerer . While his chief opponents have been the Fantastic Four , he has also come into conflict with Iron Man , the Avengers and other superheroes in the Marvel Universe . Though normally portrayed as a supervillain , since Civil War II in 2016 , Doom has been depicted as a superhero , taking up the mantle of Iron Man from Tony Stark , and going on to join the Avengers .   Doctor Doom has made many appearances in video games , television series , and merchandise such as action figures and trading cards . He was ranked as the 4th Greatest Villain by Wizard on its 100 Greatest Villains of All Time list . IGN 's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time ranked Doctor Doom as # 3 .   Doctor Doom has also been featured in other Marvel-endorsed feature films such as Roger Corman 's unreleased 1994 The Fantastic Four played by Joseph Culp , and the 2005 film Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer played by Julian McMahon . Toby Kebbell portrays the character in the 2015 reboot .


Singapore Singapore ( -LSB- ˈsɪŋgəpɔr -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Singapore , sometimes referred to as the Lion City , the Garden City or the Little Red Dot , is a sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia . It lies one degree ( 137 km ) north of the equator , at the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia , with Indonesia 's Riau Islands to the south . Singapore 's territory consists of one main island along with 62 other islets . Since independence , extensive land reclamation has increased its total size by 23 % ( 130 km2 ) , and its greening policy has covered the densely populated island with tropical flora , parks and gardens .   Stamford Raffles founded colonial Singapore in 1819 as a trading post of the East India Company ; after its collapse and the eventual establishment of the British Raj , the islands were ceded to Britain and became part of its Straits Settlements in 1826 . During the Second World War , Singapore was occupied by Japan . It gained independence from the UK in 1963 by federating with other former British territories to form Malaysia , but separated two years later over ideological differences , becoming a sovereign nation in 1965 . After early years of turbulence , and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland , the nation developed rapidly as an Asian Tiger economy , based on external trade and its workforce .   Singapore is a global commerce , finance and transport hub . Its standings include : the most `` technology-ready '' nation ( WEF ) , top International-meetings city ( UIA ) , city with `` best investment potential '' ( BERI ) , second-most competitive country , third-largest foreign exchange market , third-largest financial centre , third-largest oil refining and trading centre , and the second-busiest container port . The country has also been identified as a tax haven .   Singapore ranks 5th on the UN Human Development Index and the 3rd highest GDP per capita . It is ranked highly in education , healthcare , life expectancy , quality of life , personal safety , and housing . Although income inequality is high , 90 % of homes are owner-occupied . 38 % of Singapore 's 5.6 million residents are permanent residents and other foreign nationals . There are four official languages : English ( common and first language ) , Malay , Mandarin , Tamil ; almost all Singaporeans are bilingual .   Singapore is a unitary multiparty parliamentary republic , with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government . The People 's Action Party has won every election since self-government in 1959 . The dominance of the PAP , coupled with a low level of press freedom and restrictions on civil liberties and political rights , has led to Singapore being classified by some as a semi-authoritarian regime . One of the five founding members of the ASEAN , Singapore is also the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) Secretariat , and a member of the East Asia Summit , Non-Aligned Movement , and the Commonwealth of Nations .


The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Ellen DeGeneres Show ( often shortened to Ellen ) is an American television comedy talk show hosted by comedienne/actress Ellen DeGeneres . Debuting on September 8 , 2003 , it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication , including stations owned by NBCUniversal , in the United States and Canada . It is also aired on ITV2 in the United Kingdom . For its first five seasons , the show was taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank , California . It later moved to Stage 1 on the nearby Warner Bros. lot . Since the beginning of the sixth season , Ellen has been broadcast in high definition . The show has won 36 Daytime Emmy Awards as of 2013 . On January 20 , 2016 , it was announced that the show had been renewed for three additional seasons through 2020 . As of May 2017 , the talk show 's YouTube channel was charted as the fifteenth-most-subscribed YouTube channel .


Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( -LSB- dᵻˈdʒɛnərᵻs -RSB- born January 26 , 1958 ) is an American comedian , television host , actress , writer , and producer . DeGeneres starred in the popular sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and has hosted her syndicated TV talk show , The Ellen DeGeneres Show , since 2003 .   Her stand-up career started in the early 1980s , and included a 1986 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . As a film actress , DeGeneres starred in Mr. Wrong ( 1996 ) , appeared in EDtv ( 1999 ) , and The Love Letter ( 1999 ) , and provided the voice of Dory in the Pixar animated films Finding Nemo ( 2003 ) and Finding Dory ( 2016 ) ; for Nemo , she was awarded the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress , the first time an actress won a Saturn Award for a voice performance . In 2010 , she was a judge on American Idol for its ninth season .   She starred in two television sitcoms , Ellen from 1994 to 1998 , and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002 . During the fourth season of Ellen in 1997 , she came out as a lesbian in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show . Her character , Ellen Morgan , also came out to a therapist played by Winfrey , and the series went on to explore various LGBT issues , including the coming-out process . This made her the first openly lesbian actress to play an openly lesbian character on television . In 2008 , she married her longtime girlfriend Portia de Rossi .   DeGeneres has hosted the Academy Awards , Grammy Awards , and the Primetime Emmys . She has authored three books and started her own record company , Eleveneleven . She has won 29 Emmys , 20 People 's Choice Awards ( more than any other person ) , and numerous other awards for her work and charitable efforts . In 2016 , she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom .


The ice in Antarctica ceases at the northernmost peninsula.

Antarctica Antarctica ( UK English -LSB- ænˈtɑːktɪkə -RSB- or -LSB- ænˈtɑːtɪkə -RSB- , US English -LSB- æntˈɑːrktɪkə -RSB- ) is Earth 's southernmost continent . It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere , almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle , and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean . At 14000000 km2 , it is the fifth-largest continent . For comparison , Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia . About 98 % of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 km in thickness , which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula .   Antarctica , on average , is the coldest , driest , and windiest continent , and has the highest average elevation of all the continents . Antarctica is a desert , with annual precipitation of only 200 mm ( 8 in ) along the coast and far less inland . The temperature in Antarctica has reached − 89.2 ° C ( − 128.6 ° F ) , though the average for the third quarter ( the coldest part of the year ) is − 63 ° C ( − 81 ° F ) . Anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent . Organisms native to Antarctica include many types of algae , bacteria , fungi , plants , protista , and certain animals , such as mites , nematodes , penguins , seals and tardigrades . Vegetation , where it occurs , is tundra .   Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ( `` Southern Land '' ) date back to antiquity , Antarctica is noted as the last region on Earth in recorded history to be discovered and colonised by humans , being only first sighted in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev on Vostok and Mirny , who sighted the Fimbul ice shelf . The continent , however , remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment , lack of easily accessible resources , and isolation . In 1895 , the first confirmed landing was conducted by a team of Norwegians .   Antarctica is a de facto condominium , governed by parties to the Antarctic Treaty System that have consulting status . Twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959 , and thirty-eight have signed it since then . The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining , prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal , supports scientific research , and protects the continent 's ecozone . Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists from many nations .


Lyme disease Lyme disease , also known as Lyme borreliosis , is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the Borrelia type . The most common sign of infection is an expanding area of redness on the skin , known as erythema migrans , that begins at the site of a tick bite about a week after it has occurred . The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful . Approximately 25 -- 50 % of infected people do not develop a rash . Other early symptoms may include fever , headache and feeling tired . If untreated , symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face , joint pains , severe headaches with neck stiffness , or heart palpitations , among others . Months to years later , repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling may occur . Occasionally , people develop shooting pains or tingling in their arms and legs . Despite appropriate treatment , about 10 to 20 % of people develop joint pains , memory problems , and feel tired for at least six months .   Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks of the Ixodes genus . Usually , the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread . In North America , Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii are the cause . In Europe and Asia , the bacteria Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii are also causes of the disease . The disease does not appear to be transmissible between people , by other animals , or through food . Diagnosis is based upon a combination of symptoms , history of tick exposure , and possibly testing for specific antibodies in the blood . Blood tests are often negative in the early stages of the disease . Testing of individual ticks is not typically useful .   Prevention includes efforts to prevent tick bites such as by wearing long pants and using DEET . Using pesticides to reduce tick numbers may also be effective . Ticks can be removed using tweezers . If the removed tick was full of blood , a single dose of doxycycline may be used to prevent development of infection , but is not generally recommended since development of infection is rare . If an infection develops , a number of antibiotics are effective , including doxycycline , amoxicillin , and cefuroxime . Treatment is usually for two or three weeks . Some people develop a fever and muscle and joint pains from treatment which may last for one or two days . In those who develop persistent symptoms , long-term antibiotic therapy has not been found to be useful .   Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in the Northern Hemisphere . It is estimated to affect 300,000 people a year in the United States and 65,000 people a year in Europe . Infections are most common in the spring and early summer . Lyme disease was diagnosed as a separate condition for the first time in 1975 in Old Lyme , Connecticut . It was originally mistaken for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis . The bacterium involved was first described in 1981 by Willy Burgdorfer . Chronic symptoms are well described and are known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome , although it is often called chronic Lyme disease . Some healthcare providers claim that it is due to ongoing infection ; however , this is not believed to be true . A previous vaccine is no longer available . Research is ongoing to develop new vaccines .


Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer produced The Rock.

Don Simpson Donald Clarence `` Don '' Simpson ( October 29 , 1943 -- January 19 , 1996 ) was an American film producer , screenwriter , and actor . Simpson , along with his producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer , produced such hit films as Flashdance ( 1983 ) , Beverly Hills Cop ( 1984 ) , Top Gun ( 1986 ) , and The Rock ( 1996 ) . Their films would go on to earn $ 3 billion worldwide .


Judd Apatow Judd Apatow ( -LSB- ˈæpətaʊ -RSB- born December 6 , 1967 ) is an American film producer , writer , director , actor , and comedian . He is the founder of Apatow Productions , through which he produced and developed the television series Freaks and Geeks , Undeclared , Girls , Love , Crashing and directed the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin ( 2005 ) , Knocked Up ( 2007 ) , Funny People ( 2009 ) , This Is 40 ( 2012 ) , and Trainwreck ( 2015 ) .   Apatow 's work has won numerous awards including a Primetime Emmy Award ( for The Ben Stiller Show ) , a Hollywood Comedy Award , and an AFI Award for Bridesmaids ( 2011 ) . His films have also been nominated for Grammy Awards , PGA Awards , Golden Globe Awards , and Academy Awards .   Also known for producing hit films such as The Cable Guy ( 1996 ) , Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy ( 2004 ) , Talladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky Bobby ( 2006 ) , Superbad ( 2007 ) , Forgetting Sarah Marshall ( 2008 ) , Step Brothers ( 2008 ) , Pineapple Express ( 2008 ) , Get Him to the Greek ( 2010 ) , Bridesmaids ( 2011 ) , The Five-Year Engagement ( 2012 ) , and Anchorman 2 : The Legend Continues ( 2013 ) .


Belgium is home to some German-speakers.

Eupen-Malmedy Eupen-Malmedy or Eupen-Malmédy is a predominantly German-speaking region in eastern Belgium . It consists of three cantons around the small cities of Eupen , Malmedy , and Sankt Vith and measures approximately 730 km2 . Eupen-Malmedy is often known as the East Cantons ( Cantons de l'Est , Oostkantons , link = no ) within Belgium .   Part of the Kingdom of Prussia following the Congress of Vienna , and later the German Empire , the region was allocated to Belgium as part of the Treaty of Versailles after World War I . It was placed under a transitional administration to prepare for its full incorporation in Belgium , culminating in a controversial plebiscite vote in 1920 . In 1925 , the territory officially became part of Belgium 's Province of Liège . Annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II , the territory returned to Belgium in 1945 and is still part of Belgium today where much of the region is today part of the German-speaking Community of Belgium .


Belgium Belgium ( -LSB- ˈbɛldʒəm -RSB- België -LSB- ˈbɛlɣijə -RSB- ; Belgique -LSB- bɛlʒik -RSB- ; Belgien -LSB- ˈbɛlɡi̯ən -RSB- ) , officially the Kingdom of Belgium , is a sovereign state in Western Europe bordered by France , the Netherlands , Germany , Luxembourg , and the North Sea . It is a small , densely populated country which covers an area of 30528 km2 and has a population of about 11 million people . Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe , Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups : the Dutch-speaking , mostly Flemish community , which constitutes about 59 % of the population , and the French-speaking , mostly Walloon population , which comprises 41 % of all Belgians . Additionally , there is a small group of German-speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area , and bordering Germany .   Historically , Belgium , the Netherlands and Luxembourg ( along with parts of Northern France and Western Germany ) were known as the Low Countries ; it once covered a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states . The region was called Belgica in Latin , after the Roman province of Gallia Belgica . From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century , the area of Belgium was a prosperous and cosmopolitan centre of commerce and culture . From the 16th century until the Belgian Revolution in 1830 , when Belgium seceded from the Netherlands , the area of Belgium served as the battleground between many European powers , causing it to be dubbed the `` Battlefield of Europe , ''  a reputation strengthened by both world wars .   Today , Belgium is a federal constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance . It is divided into three regions and three communities , that exist next to each other . Its two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia . The Brussels-Capital Region is an officially bilingual ( French and Dutch ) enclave within the Flemish Region .  A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia .  Belgium 's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in its political history and complex system of governance , made up of six different governments .   Belgium participated in the Industrial Revolution  and , during the course of the 20th century , possessed a number of colonies in Africa . The second half of the 20th century was marked by rising tensions between the Dutch-speaking and the French-speaking citizens fueled by differences in language and culture and the unequal economic development of Flanders and Wallonia . This continuing antagonism has led to several far-reaching reforms , resulting in a transition from a unitary to a federal arrangement during the period from 1970 to 1993 . Despite the reforms , tensions between the groups have remained , if not increased ; there is significant separatism particularly among the Flemish ; controversial language laws exist such as the municipalities with language facilities ; and the formation of a coalition government took 18 months following the June 2010 federal election , a world record . Belgium is one of the six founding countries of the European Union and hosts the official seats of the European Commission , Council of the European Union , and European Council , as well as a seat of the European Parliament in the country 's capital , Brussels . Belgium is also a founding member of the Eurozone , NATO , OECD and WTO , and a part of the trilateral Benelux Union . Its capital , Brussels , hosts several of the EU 's official seats as well as the headquarters of many major international organizations such as NATO.Belgium is a member of , or affiliated to , many international organizations , including ACCT , AfDB , AsDB , Australia Group , Benelux , BIS , CCC , CE , CERN , EAPC , EBRD , EIB , EMU , ESA , EU , FAO , G-10 , IAEA , IBRD , ICAO , ICC , ICRM , IDA , IDB , IEA , IFAD , IFC , IFRCS , IHO , ILO , IMF , IMO , IMSO , Intelsat , Interpol , IOC , IOM , ISO , ITU , MONUC ( observers ) , NATO , NEA , NSG , OAS ( observer ) , OECD , OPCW , OSCE , PCA , UN , UNCTAD , UNECE , UNESCO , UNHCR , UNIDO , UNMIK , UNMOGIP , UNRWA , UNTSO , UPU , WADB ( non-regional ) , WEU , WHO , WIPO , WMO , WTrO , ZC . Belgium is also a part of the Schengen Area . Belgium is a developed country , with an advanced high-income economy and is categorized as `` very high '' in the Human Development Index .


Game of Thrones Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire , George R. R. Martin 's series of fantasy novels , the first of which is A Game of Thrones . It is filmed at Titanic Studios in Belfast , on location in the United Kingdom , and in Canada , Croatia , Iceland , Malta , Morocco , Spain , and the United States . The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17 , 2011 , and its sixth season ended on June 26 , 2016 . The series was renewed for a seventh season , which is scheduled to premiere on July 16 , 2017 , and will conclude with its eighth season in 2018 .   Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos , Game of Thrones has several plot lines and a large ensemble cast . The first story arc follows a dynastic conflict among competing claimants for succession to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms , with other noble families fighting for independence from the throne . The second covers attempts to reclaim the throne by the exiled last scion of the realm 's deposed ruling dynasty ; the third chronicles the threat of the impending winter and the legendary creatures and fierce peoples of the North .   Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad , active , international fan base . It has been acclaimed by critics , particularly for its acting , complex characters , story , scope , and production values , although its frequent use of nudity and violence ( including sexual violence ) has attracted criticism . The series has received 38 Primetime Emmy Awards , including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015 and 2016 , more than any other primetime scripted television series . Its other awards and nominations include three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation ( 2012 -- 2014 ) , a 2011 Peabody Award , and four nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Drama ( 2012 and 2015 -- 2017 ) . Of the ensemble cast , Peter Dinklage has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( 2011 and 2015 ) and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Series , Miniseries or Television Film ( 2012 ) for his performance as Tyrion Lannister . Lena Headey , Emilia Clarke , Kit Harington , Maisie Williams , Diana Rigg , and Max von Sydow have also received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for their performances in the series .


Richard Ramirez terrorized residents from June 1984 until August 1985.

Richard Ramirez Ricardo Leyva Muñoz Ramírez , known as Richard Ramirez ( February 29 , 1960 -- June 7 , 2013 ) , was an American serial killer , rapist , and burglar . His highly publicized home invasion crime spree terrorized the residents of the greater Los Angeles area , and later the residents of the San Francisco area , from June 1984 until August 1985 . Prior to his capture , Ramirez was dubbed the `` Night Stalker '' by the news media . He used a wide variety of weapons , including handguns , knives , a machete , a tire iron , and a hammer . Ramirez , who was an avowed Satanist , never expressed any remorse for his crimes . The judge who upheld his thirteen death sentences remarked that Ramirez 's deeds exhibited `` cruelty , callousness , and viciousness beyond any human understanding '' . Ramirez died of complications from B-cell lymphoma while awaiting execution on California 's death row .


Matt Kuchar Matthew Gregory Kuchar ( born June 21 , 1978 ) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and formerly the Nationwide Tour . He has won seven times on the PGA Tour , with these wins spanning over 12 years . He is renowned as one of the most consistent players on the tour , having earned over $ 30 million in prize money and recorded over 80 top-10 finishes .   Kuchar briefly enjoyed success in the early 2000s before suffering a slump where he struggled to maintain his playing status on the PGA Tour . He rejuvenated himself and built a new , one-plane swing from 2008 onward leading to improved results . Kuchar was the PGA Tour 's leading money winner in 2010 .   Kuchar won The Players Championship in 2012 , the flagship event of the PGA Tour , his biggest tournament victory to date . As a result , he moved to a career high number five in the world rankings and has spent over 40 weeks ranked inside its top-10 . In February 2013 , Kuchar won his first World Golf Championship event , defeating Hunter Mahan in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship .   At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , Kuchar won the first Olympic bronze medal awarded for golf since the 1904 Summer Olympics .   With Sergio García winning the 2017 Masters Tournament and Steve Stricker playing part-time on the PGA Tour Champions , Kuchar is the highest-earning active full-time PGA Tour player without a major championship win , with career earnings of over $ 38 million .


Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney ( born March 12 , 1947 ) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and the Republican Party 's nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election .   Raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan , by his parents George and Lenore Romney , he spent 2 1/2 years in France as a Mormon missionary , starting in 1966 . He married Ann Davies in 1969 , and they have five sons . By 1971 , he had participated in the political campaigns of both parents . He earned a BA at Brigham Young University in 1971 and a joint JD -- MBA at Harvard University in 1975 .   Romney entered the management consulting industry , and in 1977 secured a position at Bain & Company . Later serving as Bain 's chief executive officer ( CEO ) , he helped lead the company out of a financial crisis . In 1984 , he co-founded and led the spin-off company Bain Capital , a highly profitable private equity investment firm that became one of the largest of its kind in the nation . Active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) , he served during his business career as the bishop of his ward ( head of his local congregation ) and then stake president in his home area near Boston .   After stepping down from Bain Capital and his local leadership role in the LDS Church , Romney ran as the Republican candidate in the 1994 Massachusetts election for U.S. Senate . Upon losing to longtime incumbent Ted Kennedy , he resumed his position at Bain Capital . Years later , a successful stint as President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics led to a relaunch of his political career .   Elected Governor of Massachusetts in 2002 , Romney helped develop and enact into law the Massachusetts health care reform legislation , the first of its kind in the nation , which provided near-universal health insurance access through state-level subsidies and individual mandates to purchase insurance . He also presided over the elimination of a projected $ 1.2 -- 1.5 billion deficit through a combination of spending cuts , increased fees , and the closure of corporate tax loopholes . He did not seek re-election in 2006 , instead focusing on his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election . He won several primaries and caucuses ; however , he lost to the eventual nominee , Senator John McCain . His considerable net worth , estimated in 2012 at $ 190 -- 250 million , helped finance his political campaigns prior to 2012 .   Following his term as Governor of Massachusetts in 2007 , Romney was the Republican Party 's nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election . He won the 2012 Republican presidential nomination , becoming the first Mormon to be a major party presidential nominee . He was defeated by incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 2012 general election , losing by 332 -- 206 electoral college votes . The popular vote margin was 51 -- 47 percent in Obama 's favor . Following the election , he initially kept a low profile , and later became more visible politically .


Ann Romney Ann Lois Romney ( née Davies ; born April 16 , 1949 ) is the wife of American businessman and politician , Mitt Romney . From 2003 to 2007 , Romney was First Lady of Massachusetts , while her husband served as Governor .   She was raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan , and attended the private Kingswood School there , where she dated Mitt Romney . She converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) in 1966 . She attended Brigham Young University ( BYU ) , married Mitt Romney in 1969 , and in 1975 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French .   As First Lady of Massachusetts , Romney served as the governor 's liaison for federal faith-based initiatives . She was involved in a number of children 's charities , including Operation Kids . She was an active participant in her husband 's U.S. presidential campaigns in 2008 and again in 2012 , when he was the Republican Party nominee .   Romney was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 and has credited a mixture of mainstream and alternative treatments with giving her a lifestyle mostly without limitations . In one activity , equestrianism , she has consequently received recognition in dressage as an adult amateur at the national level and competed professionally in Grand Prix as well . In 2008 , she was also diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ , a non-invasive type of breast cancer . She underwent a lumpectomy in December of the same year and has since been cancer-free .   Ann and Mitt Romney have five sons , born between 1970 and 1981 , and twenty-three grandchildren .


License to Wed License to Wed is a 2007 American romantic comedy film starring Robin Williams , Mandy Moore and John Krasinski , and directed by Ken Kwapis . The film was released in theaters on July 3 , 2007 .