Syria Syria ( -LSB- ˈsɪ.riə -RSB- سوريا ) , officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia , bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west , Turkey to the north , Iraq to the east , Jordan to the south , and Israel to the southwest . Syria 's capital and largest city is Damascus .   A country of fertile plains , high mountains , and deserts , Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups , including Syrian Arabs , Greeks , Armenians , Assyrians , Kurds , Circassians , Mandeans and Turks . Religious groups include Sunnis , Christians , Alawites , Druze , Mandeans , Shiites , Salafis , and Yazidis . Sunni Arabs make up the largest religious group in Syria .   In English , the name `` Syria '' was formerly synonymous with the Levant ( known in Arabic as al-Sham ) , while the modern state encompasses the sites of several ancient kingdoms and empires , including the Eblan civilization of the 3rd millennium BC . Its capital Damascus and largest city Aleppo are among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world . In the Islamic era , Damascus was the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate and a provincial capital of the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt .   The modern Syrian state was established after the end of centuries of Ottoman control in World War I as a French mandate , and represented the largest Arab state to emerge from the formerly Ottoman-ruled Arab Levant . It gained independence as a parliamentary republic on 24 October 1945 when Syria became a founding member of the United Nations , an act which legally ended the former French Mandate -- although French troops did not leave the country until April 1946 . The post-independence period was tumultuous , and a large number of military coups and coup attempts shook the country in the period 1949 -- 71 . In 1958 , Syria entered a brief union with Egypt called the United Arab Republic , which was terminated by the 1961 Syrian coup d'état . The Arab Republic of Syria came into being in late 1961 after December 1 constitutional referendum , and was increasingly unstable until the Ba'athist coup d'état , since which the Ba'ath Party has maintained its power . Syria was under Emergency Law from 1963 to 2011 , effectively suspending most constitutional protections for citizens . Bashar al-Assad has been president since 2000 and was preceded by his father Hafez al-Assad , who was in office from 1970 to 2000 .   Syria is a member of one international organization other than the United Nations , the Non-Aligned Movement ; it has become suspended from the Arab League on November 2011 and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , and self-suspended from the Union for the Mediterranean . Since March 2011 , Syria has been embroiled in an uprising against Assad and the Ba'athist government as part of the Arab Spring , a crackdown that contributed to the Syrian Civil War and to Syria 's becoming one of the most violent countries in the world . Since the start of the war in 2011 , a number of self-proclaimed state entities have since emerged on Syrian territories , including the Syrian Opposition , the Federation of Northern Syria and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant .


Amazon.com Amazon.com ( -LSB- ˈæməzɒn -RSB- or -LSB- ˈæməzən -RSB- ) , also called Amazon , is an American electronic commerce and cloud computing company that was founded on July 5 , 1994 , by Jeff Bezos and is based in Seattle , Washington . It is the largest Internet-based retailer in the world by total sales and market capitalization . Amazon.com started as an online bookstore , later diversifying to sell DVDs , Blu-rays , CDs , video downloads/streaming , MP3 downloads/streaming , audiobook downloads/streaming , software , video games , electronics , apparel , furniture , food , toys , and jewelry . The company also produces consumer electronics -- notably , Kindle e-readers , Fire tablets , Fire TV , and Echo -- and is the world 's largest provider of cloud infrastructure services ( IaaS and PaaS ) . Amazon also sells certain low-end products like USB cables under its in-house brand AmazonBasics .   Amazon has separate retail websites for the United States , the United Kingdom and Ireland , France , Canada , Germany , Italy , Spain , Netherlands , Australia , Brazil , Japan , China , India , and Mexico . Amazon also offers international shipping to certain other countries for some of its products . In 2016 , Dutch , Polish , and Turkish language versions of the German Amazon website were launched .   In 2015 , Amazon surpassed Walmart as the most valuable retailer in the United States by market capitalization , . Amazon is the fourth most valuable public company in the world , the largest internet company by revenue in the world and the ninth largest employer in the United States .


Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor , DBE ( February 27 , 1932 -- March 23 , 2011 ) was a British American actress , businesswoman , and humanitarian . She began as a child actress in the early 1940s , and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s . She continued her career successfully into the 1960s , and remained a well known public figure for the rest of her life . In 1999 , the American Film Institute named her the seventh-greatest female screen legend .   Born in London to wealthy , socially prominent American parents , Taylor moved with her family to Los Angeles in 1939 , and she soon was given a film contract by Universal Pictures . She made her screen debut in a minor role in There 's One Born Every Minute ( 1942 ) , but Universal terminated her contract after a year . Taylor was then signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , and had her breakthrough role in National Velvet ( 1944 ) , becoming one of the studio 's most popular teenaged stars . She made the transition to adult roles in the early 1950s , when she starred in the comedy Father of the Bride ( 1950 ) and received critical acclaim for her performance in the tragic drama A Place in the Sun ( 1951 ) .   Despite being one of MGM 's most bankable stars , Taylor wished to end her career in the early 1950s , as she resented the studio 's control and disliked many of the films to which she was assigned . She began receiving better roles in the mid-1950s , beginning with the epic drama Giant ( 1956 ) , and starred in several critically and commercially successful films in the following years . These included two film adaptations of plays by Tennessee Williams , Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ( 1958 ) and Suddenly , Last Summer ( 1959 ) ; Taylor won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for the latter . Although she disliked her role in BUtterfield 8 ( 1960 ) , her last film for MGM , she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance . She was next paid a record-breaking $ 1 million to play the title role in the historical epic Cleopatra ( 1963 ) , the most expensive film made up to that point . During the filming , Taylor and co-star Richard Burton began having an extramarital affair which caused a scandal . Despite public disapproval , Burton and she continued their relationship and were married the first time ( his second marriage , her fifth ) in 1964 . Dubbed `` Liz and Dick '' by the media , they starred in 11 films together , including The V.I.P.s ( 1963 ) , The Sandpiper ( 1965 ) , The Taming of the Shrew ( 1967 ) , and Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? ( 1966 ) . Taylor received the best reviews of her career for Woolf , winning her second Academy Award and several other awards for her performance .   Taylor 's acting career began to decline in the late 1960s , although she continued starring in films until the mid-1970s , after which she focused on supporting the career of her sixth husband , Senator John Warner . In the 1980s , she acted in her first substantial stage roles and in several television films and series , and became the first celebrity to launch a perfume brand . Taylor was also one of the first celebrities to take part in HIV/AIDS activism . She co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985 and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991 . From the early 1990s until her death , she dedicated her time to philanthropy . She received several accolades for it , including the Presidential Citizens Medal .   Throughout her life , Taylor 's personal affairs were subject to constant media attention . She was married eight times to seven men , endured serious illnesses , and led a jet set lifestyle , including amassing one of the most expensive private collections of jewelry . After many years of ill health , Taylor died from congestive heart failure at the age of 79 in 2011 .


Slash (musician) Saul Hudson ( born July 23 , 1965 ) , better known by his stage name Slash , is a British-American musician and songwriter . He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American rock band Guns N ' Roses , with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s . During his later years with Guns N ' Roses , Slash formed the side project Slash 's Snakepit . After leaving Guns N ' Roses in 1996 , he co-founded the supergroup Velvet Revolver , which re-established him as a mainstream performer in the mid to late 2000s . Slash has since released three solo albums : Slash ( 2010 ) , featuring an array of famous guest musicians , and Apocalyptic Love ( 2012 ) and World on Fire ( 2014 ) , recorded with his band , Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators . He returned to Guns N ' Roses in 2016 , nearly 20 years after he had left .   Slash has received critical acclaim and is considered as one of the greatest rock guitarists . Time Magazine named him runner-up on their list of `` The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players '' in 2009 , while Rolling Stone Magazine placed him at No. 65 on their list of `` The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time '' in 2011 . Guitar World ranked his guitar solo in `` November Rain '' No. 6 on their list of `` The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos '' in 2008 , and Total Guitar placed his riff in `` Sweet Child o ' Mine '' at No. 1 on their list of `` The 100 Greatest Riffs '' in 2004 . During 2010 Gibson Guitar Corporation ranked Slash as No. 34 on their `` Top 50 Guitarists of All Time '' , while their readers landed him No. 9 on Gibson 's `` Top 25 Guitarists of All Time '' . In 2012 , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N ' Roses ' classic line-up .


World War I is also known as the War to End All Wars.

World War I World War I ( WWI or WW1 ) , also known as the First World War , the Great War , or the War to End All Wars , was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918 . More than 70 million military personnel , including 60 million Europeans , were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history . Over nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a result of the war ( including the victims of a number of genocides ) , a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents ' technological and industrial sophistication , and the tactical stalemate caused by gruelling trench warfare . It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history , and paved the way for major political changes , including revolutions in many of the nations involved and to WWII twenty-one years later .   The war drew in all the world 's economic great powers , assembled in two opposing alliances : the Allies ( based on the Triple Entente of the Russian Empire , the French Third Republic , and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ) versus the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary . Although Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary , it did not join the Central Powers , as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance . These alliances were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war : Italy , Japan and the United States joined the Allies , while the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers .   The trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria , heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary , by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 . This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia , and entangled international alliances formed over the previous decades were invoked . Within weeks , the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world .   On 25 July Russia began mobilisation and on 28 July , the Austro-Hungarians declared war on Serbia . Germany presented an ultimatum to Russia to demobilise , and when this was refused , declared war on Russia on 1 August . Being outnumbered on the eastern front , Russia urged its Triple Entente ally France to open up a second front in the west . Back in 1870 , the Franco-Prussian war had ended the Second French Empire and ceded the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine to a unified Germany . Bitterness over their defeat and the determinance to retake Alsace-Lorraine made the acceptance of Russia 's plea for help an easy choice so France began full mobilisation on 1 August and on 3 August , Germany declared war on France . The border between France and Germany was heavily fortified on both sides so according to the Schlieffen Plan , Germany then invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg before moving towards France from the north , leading the United Kingdom to declare war on Germany on 4 August due to their violation of Belgian neutrality . After the German march on Paris was halted in the Battle of the Marne , what became known as the Western Front settled into a battle of attrition , with a trench line that changed little until 1917 . On the Eastern Front , the Russian army led a successful campaign against the Austro-Hungarians , but the Germans stopped its invasion of East Prussia in the battles of Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes . In November 1914 , the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers , opening fronts in the Caucasus , Mesopotamia and the Sinai . In 1915 , Italy joined the Allies and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers ; Romania joined the Allies in 1916 , as did the United States in 1917 .   The Russian government collapsed in March 1917 , and a revolution in November followed by a further military defeat brought the Russians to terms with the Central Powers via the Treaty of Brest Litovsk , which granted the Germans a significant victory . After a stunning German offensive along the Western Front in the spring of 1918 , the Allies rallied and drove back the Germans in a series of successful offensives . On 4 November 1918 , the Austro-Hungarian empire agreed to an armistice , and Germany , which had its own trouble with revolutionaries , agreed to an armistice on 11 November 1918 , ending the war in victory for the Allies .   By the end of the war or soon after , the German Empire , Russian Empire , Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist . National borders were redrawn , with several independent nations restored or created , and Germany 's colonies were parceled out among the victors . During the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 , the Big Four ( Britain , France , the United States and Italy ) imposed their terms in a series of treaties . The League of Nations was formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such a conflict . This effort failed , and economic depression , renewed nationalism , weakened successor states , and feelings of humiliation ( particularly in Germany ) eventually contributed to the start of World War II .


Valkyrie is an American-German thriller film.

Valkyrie (film) Valkyrie is a 2008 American-German historical thriller film set in Nazi Germany during World War II . The film depicts the 20 July plot in 1944 by German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country . Valkyrie was directed by Bryan Singer for the American studio United Artists , and the film stars Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg , one of the key plotters . The cast included Kenneth Branagh , Bill Nighy , Eddie Izzard , Terence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson .   Cruise 's casting caused controversy among German politicians and members of the von Stauffenberg family due to the actor 's practice of Scientology , which is viewed with suspicion in Germany . Because of this , the filmmakers initially had difficulty setting up filming locations in Germany , but they were later given access to film in locations , including Berlin 's historic Bendlerblock . German newspapers and filmmakers supported the film and its attempt to spread global awareness of von Stauffenberg 's plot .   The film changed release dates several times , from as early as June 27 , 2008 , to as late as February 14 , 2009 . The changing calendar and poor response to United Artists ' initial marketing campaign drew criticism about the studio 's viability . After a positive test screening , Valkyries release in North America was ultimately changed to December 25 , 2008 . United Artists renewed its marketing campaign to reduce its focus on Cruise and to highlight Singer 's credentials . The film received mixed reviews in the United States and in Germany , where it opened commercially on January 22 , 2009 .


George VI George VI ( Albert Frederick Arthur George ; 14 December 1895 -- 6 February 1952 ) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death . He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth .   Known as Albert until his accession , George VI was born in the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria , and was named after his great-grandfather Albert , Prince Consort . As the second son of King George V , he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother , Edward . He attended naval college as a teenager , and served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the First World War . In 1920 , he was made Duke of York . He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 and they had two daughters , Elizabeth and Margaret . In the mid-1920s , he had speech therapy for a stammer , which he never fully overcame .   George 's elder brother ascended the throne as Edward VIII upon the death of their father in 1936 . However , later that year Edward revealed his desire to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson . British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin advised Edward that for political and religious reasons he could not marry a divorced woman and remain king . Edward abdicated in order to marry , and George ascended the throne as the third monarch of the House of Windsor .   During George 's reign , the break-up of the British Empire and its transition into the Commonwealth of Nations accelerated . The parliament of the Irish Free State removed direct mention of the monarch from the country 's constitution on the day of his accession . The following year , a new Irish constitution changed the name of the state to Ireland and established the office of President . From 1939 , the Empire and Commonwealth -- except Ireland -- was at war with Nazi Germany . War with Italy and Japan followed in 1940 and 1941 , respectively . Though Britain and its allies were ultimately victorious in 1945 , the United States and the Soviet Union rose as pre-eminent world powers and the British Empire declined . After the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 , George remained king of both countries , but relinquished the title of Emperor of India in June 1948 . Ireland formally declared itself a republic and left the Commonwealth in 1949 , and India became a republic within the Commonwealth the following year . George adopted the new title of Head of the Commonwealth . He was beset by health problems in the later years of his reign . He was succeeded by his eldest daughter , Elizabeth II .


Edward VIII abdication crisis In 1936 , a constitutional crisis in the British Empire arose when King-Emperor Edward VIII proposed to marry Wallis Simpson , an American socialite who was divorced from her first husband and was pursuing a divorce of her second .   The marriage was opposed by the governments of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth . Religious , legal , political and moral objections were raised . As British monarch , Edward was the nominal head of the Church of England , which did not then allow divorced people to remarry in church if their ex-spouses were still alive . For this reason , it was widely believed that Edward could not marry Simpson and remain on the throne . Simpson was perceived to be politically and socially unsuitable as a prospective queen consort because of her two failed marriages . It was widely assumed by the Establishment that she was driven by love of money or position rather than love for the King . Despite the opposition , Edward declared that he loved Simpson and intended to marry her whether his governments approved or not .   The widespread unwillingness to accept Simpson as the King 's consort and Edward 's refusal to give her up led to his abdication in December 1936 . He was succeeded by his brother Albert , who took the regnal name of George VI . Edward was given the title His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor following his abdication , and he married Simpson the following year . They remained married until his death 35 years later .


Edward VIII Edward VIII ( Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David ; 23 June 1894 -- 28 May 1972 ) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire , and Emperor of India , from 20 January 1936 until his abdication on 11 December the same year .   Edward was the eldest son of George V and Mary of Teck . He was named Prince of Wales on his sixteenth birthday , nine weeks after his father succeeded as king . As a young man , he served in the British Army during the First World War and undertook several overseas tours on behalf of his father .   Edward became king on his father 's death in early 1936 . However , he showed impatience with court protocol , and caused concern among politicians by his apparent disregard for established constitutional conventions . Only months into his reign , he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to Wallis Simpson , an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second . The prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions opposed the marriage , arguing that a divorced woman with two living ex-husbands was politically and socially unacceptable as a prospective queen consort . Additionally , such a marriage would have conflicted with Edward 's status as the titular head of the Church of England , which at the time disapproved of remarriage after divorce if a former spouse was still alive . Edward knew that the British government , led by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin , would resign if the marriage went ahead , which could have forced a general election and would ruin his status as a politically neutral constitutional monarch . When it became apparent that he could not marry Wallis and remain on the throne , Edward abdicated . He was succeeded by his younger brother , George VI . With a reign of 326 days , Edward is one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history .   After his abdication , he was created Duke of Windsor . He married Wallis in France on 3 June 1937 , after her second divorce became final . Later that year , the couple toured Germany . During the Second World War , he was at first stationed with the British Military Mission to France but , after private accusations that he held Nazi sympathies , he was appointed Governor of the Bahamas . After the war , Edward spent the rest of his life in retirement in France .


Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin , 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley , ( 3 August 186714 December 1947 ) was a British Conservative politician , who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars . Three times Prime Minister , he is the only premier to have served under three monarchs ( George V , Edward VIII and George VI ) .   Baldwin first entered the House of Commons in 1908 as the Member of Parliament for Bewdley , in succession to his father Alfred Baldwin . He held government office in the coalition ministry of David Lloyd George . In 1922 , Baldwin was one of the prime movers in the withdrawal of Conservative support from Lloyd George ; he subsequently became Chancellor of the Exchequer in Bonar Law 's Conservative ministry . Upon Bonar Law 's resignation due to health reasons in May 1923 , Baldwin became Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader . He called an election on the issue of tariffs and lost the Conservatives ' majority , after which Ramsay MacDonald formed a minority Labour government .   After winning the 1924 General Election Baldwin formed his second government , which saw important tenures of office by Sir Austen Chamberlain ( Foreign Secretary ) , Winston Churchill ( at the Exchequer ) and Neville Chamberlain ( Health ) . The latter two ministers strengthened Conservative appeal by reforms in areas formerly associated with the Liberal Party . They included industrial conciliation , unemployment insurance , a more extensive old-age pension system , slum clearance , more private housing , and expansion of maternal and child care . However , continuing sluggish economic growth and declines in mining and heavy industry weakened his base of support and , although Baldwin was supportive of Labour politicians forming minority governments at Westminster , his government also saw the General Strike in 1926 and the 1927 Trades Disputes Act to curb the powers of trade unions .   Baldwin narrowly lost the 1929 General Election and his continued leadership of the party was subject to extensive criticism by the press barons Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaverbrook . In 1931 , Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald formed a National Government , most of whose ministers were Conservatives and which won an enormous majority at the 1931 General Election . As Lord President of the Council , and one of four Conservatives among the small ten-member Cabinet , Baldwin took over many of the Prime Minister 's duties due to MacDonald 's failing health . This government saw an Act delivering increased self-government for India , a measure opposed by Churchill and by many rank-and-file Conservatives . The Statute of Westminster 1931 gave Dominion status to Canada , Australia , New Zealand and South Africa , while establishing the first step towards the Commonwealth of Nations . As party leader , Baldwin made many striking innovations , such as clever use of radio and film , that made him highly visible to the public and strengthened Conservative appeal .   In 1935 , Baldwin replaced MacDonald as Prime Minister of the National Government , and won the 1935 General Election with another large majority , which still remains as the last time when a political party has received over 50 % of the popular vote in a UK General Election . During this time , he oversaw the beginning of the rearmament process of the British military , as well as the very difficult abdication of King Edward VIII . Baldwin 's third government saw a number of crises in foreign affairs , including the public uproar over the Hoare -- Laval Pact , Hitler 's re-occupation of the Rhineland and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War .   Baldwin retired in 1937 and was succeeded by Neville Chamberlain . At that time , he was regarded as a popular and successful prime minister , but for the final decade of his life , and for many years afterwards , he was vilified for having presided over high unemployment in the 1930s and as one of the `` Guilty Men '' who had tried to appease Adolf Hitler and who had -- supposedly -- not rearmed sufficiently to prepare for the Second World War .   By 2004 , however , historians generally painted a more positive portrait of his governments . Stuart Ball says :  Baldwin is now seen as having done more than most and perhaps as much as was possible in the context , but the fact remains that it was not enough to deter the aggressors or ensure their defeat . Less equivocal was his rediscovery as a moderate and inclusive Conservative for the modern age , part of a ` one nation tradition ' .   Modern scholars generally rank him in the upper half of British Prime Ministers .


Houston has a population from various ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Houston Houston ( -LSB- ˈhjuːstən -RSB- ) is the most populous city in the state of Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States . With a census-estimated 2014 population of 2.239 million within an area of 667 sqmi , it is also the largest city in the southern United States and the seat of Harris County . Located in Southeast Texas near the Gulf of Mexico , it is the principal city of the Greater Houston metro area , which is the fifth-most populated MSA in the United States .   Houston was founded on August 28 , 1836 , near the banks of Buffalo Bayou ( now known as Allen 's Landing ) and incorporated as a city on June 5 , 1837 . The city was named after former General Sam Houston , who was president of the Republic of Texas and had commanded and won at the Battle of San Jacinto 25 mi east of where the city was established . The burgeoning port and railroad industry , combined with oil discovery in 1901 , has induced continual surges in the city 's population . In the mid-20th century , Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center -- the world 's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions -- and NASA 's Johnson Space Center , where the Mission Control Center is located .   Houston 's economy has a broad industrial base in energy , manufacturing , aeronautics , and transportation . Leading in health care sectors and building oilfield equipment , outside of New York City , Houston has more Fortune 500 headquarters than any other U.S. municipality within its city limits . The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled . Nicknamed the `` Space City '' , Houston is a global city , with strengths in business , international trade , entertainment , culture , media , fashion , science , sports , technology , education , medicine , and research . The city has a population from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and a large and growing international community . Houston is the most diverse city in Texas and has been described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major metropolis in the U.S. . It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits , which attract more than 7 million visitors a year to the Museum District . Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District and offers year-round resident companies in all major performing arts .


The Great Outdoors (film) was directed by an American film and television director.

The Great Outdoors (film) The Great Outdoors is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Howard Deutch , and written and produced by John Hughes . It stars Dan Aykroyd , John Candy , Stephanie Faracy and Annette Bening in her film debut .   The film follows two families spending time on vacation in Wisconsin .


Howard Deutch Howard Deutch ( born September 14 , 1950 ) is an American film and television director . He is perhaps best known for his collaboration with filmmaker John Hughes , having directed two of Hughes ' well received screenplays , Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful . Since 2010 , he has primarily directed television productions , including multiple episodes of Getting On and True Blood .


Joey Graceffa was born in any month except May.

Joey Graceffa Joseph Michael `` Joey '' Graceffa ( -LSB- grəˈsɛfə -RSB- born May 16 , 1991 ) is an American YouTube personality , actor , author , producer , and singer . He has two active YouTube channels , both of which are named after him . One of them is for vlogging and the other is used for video gaming content . They both have a combined total of more than 1.6 billion views . His other YouTube channel , which he no longer uses , called WinterSpringPro , has 60 million views ( as of May 2017 ) . He was a contestant on 22nd and 24th seasons of The Amazing Race and has appeared in short films ( as web films ) and short web television series on YouTube and its subscription-only service YouTube Red .


Robert Duvall did not star in numerous films.

Robert Duvall Robert Selden Duvall ( -LSB- duːˈvɔːl -RSB- born January 5 , 1931 ) is an American actor and filmmaker . He has been nominated for seven Academy Awards ( winning for his performance in Tender Mercies ) , seven Golden Globes ( winning four ) , and has multiple nominations and one win each of the BAFTA , Screen Actors Guild Award , and Emmy Award . He received the National Medal of Arts in 2005 . Duvall has starred in numerous films and television series , including To Kill a Mockingbird ( 1962 ) , The Twilight Zone ( 1963 ) , The Outer Limits ( 1964 ) , Bullitt ( 1968 ) , True Grit ( 1969 ) , MASH ( 1970 ) , THX 1138 ( 1971 ) , Joe Kidd ( 1972 ) , The Godfather ( 1972 ) , The Godfather Part II ( 1974 ) , The Conversation ( 1974 ) , Network ( 1976 ) , Apocalypse Now ( 1979 ) , The Great Santini ( 1979 ) , Lonesome Dove ( 1989 ) , The Handmaid 's Tale ( 1990 ) , Rambling Rose ( 1991 ) , and Falling Down ( 1993 ) .   Duvall began appearing in theatre during the late 1950s , moving into television and film roles during the early 1960s , playing Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird ( 1962 ) and appearing in Captain Newman , M.D. ( 1963 ) . He landed many of his most famous roles during the early 1970s , such as Major Frank Burns in the blockbuster comedy MASH ( 1970 ) and the lead role in THX 1138 ( 1971 ) , as well as Horton Foote 's adaptation of William Faulkner 's Tomorrow ( 1972 ) , which was developed at The Actors Studio and is Duvall 's personal favorite . This was followed by a series of critically lauded performances in commercially successful films .   Since then , Duvall has continued to act in both film and television with such productions as Tender Mercies ( 1983 ) , The Natural ( 1984 ) , Colors ( 1988 ) , the television mini-series Lonesome Dove ( 1989 ) , Stalin ( 1992 ) , The Man Who Captured Eichmann ( 1996 ) , A Family Thing ( 1996 ) , The Apostle ( 1997 ) , A Civil Action ( 1998 ) , Deep Impact ( 1998 ) , Gods and Generals ( 2003 ) , Secondhand Lions ( 2003 ) , Broken Trail ( 2006 ) , Get Low ( 2010 ) , Jack Reacher ( 2012 ) , and The Judge ( 2014 ) .


Penny Dreadful had a season that was eight episodes long.

Penny Dreadful (TV series) Penny Dreadful is a British-American horror drama television series created for Showtime and Sky by John Logan , who also acts as executive producer alongside Sam Mendes . The show was originally pitched to several US and UK channels , and eventually landed with Showtime , with Sky Atlantic as co-producer . It premiered at the South by Southwest film festival on March 9 and began airing on television on April 28 , 2014 , on Showtime on Demand . The series premiered on Showtime on May 11 , 2014 , the first in an eight-episode season . After the third-season finale on June 19 , 2016 , series creator John Logan announced that Penny Dreadful had ended as the main story had reached its conclusion .   The title refers to the penny dreadfuls , a type of 19th-century British fiction publication with lurid and sensational subject matter . The series draws upon many public domain characters from 19th-century British and Irish fiction , including Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde 's The Picture of Dorian Gray ; Mina Harker , Abraham Van Helsing , Dr. Seward , Renfield , and Count Dracula from Bram Stoker 's Dracula ; Victor Frankenstein and his monster from Mary Shelley 's Frankenstein ; and Dr. Henry Jekyll from Robert Louis Stevenson 's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde .


Albert Einstein's country of birth is Germany.

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein ( -LSB- ˈaɪnstaɪn -RSB- -LSB- ˈalbɛɐ̯t ˈaɪnʃtaɪn -RSB- ; 14 March 1879 -- 18 April 1955 ) was a German-born theoretical physicist . He developed the theory of relativity , one of the two pillars of modern physics ( alongside quantum mechanics ) . Einstein 's work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science . Einstein is best known by the general public for his mass -- energy equivalence formula ( which has been dubbed `` the world 's most famous equation '' ) . He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics `` for his services to theoretical physics , and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect '' , a pivotal step in the evolution of quantum theory .   Near the beginning of his career , Einstein thought that Newtonian mechanics was no longer enough to reconcile the laws of classical mechanics with the laws of the electromagnetic field . This led him to develop his special theory of relativity during his time at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern ( 1902 -- 1909 ) , Switzerland . He realized , however , that the principle of relativity could also be extended to gravitational fields , and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916 , he published a paper on general relativity . He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory , which led to his explanations of particle theory and the motion of molecules . He also investigated the thermal properties of light which laid the foundation of the photon theory of light . In 1917 , Einstein applied the general theory of relativity to model the large-scale structure of the universe .   Between 1895 and 1914 he lived in Switzerland ( except for one year in Prague , 1911 -- 12 ) , where he received his academic diploma from the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zürich ( later the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule , ETH ) in 1900 . He later taught there at the same institute as a professor of theoretical physics between 1912 and 1914 before he left for Berlin . In 1901 , after being stateless for more than five years , Einstein acquired Swiss citizenship , which he kept for the rest of his life . In 1905 , Einstein was awarded a PhD by the University of Zürich . The same year , his annus mirabilis ( miracle year ) , he published four groundbreaking papers , which were to bring him to the notice of the academic world , at the age of 26 .   He was visiting the United States when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and , being Jewish , did not go back to Germany , where he had been a professor at the Berlin Academy of Sciences . He settled in the United States , becoming an American citizen in 1940 . On the eve of World War II , he endorsed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt alerting him to the potential development of `` extremely powerful bombs of a new type '' and recommending that the U.S. begin similar research . This eventually led to what would become the Manhattan Project . Einstein supported defending the Allied forces , but generally denounced the idea of using the newly discovered nuclear fission as a weapon . Later , with the British philosopher Bertrand Russell , Einstein signed the Russell -- Einstein Manifesto , which highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons . Einstein was affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton , New Jersey , until his death in 1955 .   Einstein published more than 300 scientific papers along with over 150 non-scientific works . Einstein 's intellectual achievements and originality have made the word `` Einstein '' synonymous with `` genius '' .


Glenn Close was mostly a New York stage actress through the 1970's and early 1980's.

Glenn Close Glenn Close ( born March 19 , 1947 ) is an American actress , singer and film producer . With an acting career spanning over 40 years , she has been consistently acclaimed for her versatility and is widely regarded as one of the finest actresses of her generation . She has won three Emmy Awards , three Tony Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , and has received six Academy Award nominations .   Close began her professional stage career in 1974 in Love for Love , and was mostly a New York stage actress through the rest of the 1970s and early 1980s , appearing in both plays and musicals , including the Broadway productions of Barnum in 1980 and The Real Thing in 1983 , for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play . Her film debut was in The World According to Garp ( 1982 ) , which she followed up with supporting roles in The Big Chill ( 1983 ) and The Natural ( 1984 ) ; all three earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . She would later receive nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in Fatal Attraction ( 1987 ) , Dangerous Liaisons ( 1988 ) and Albert Nobbs ( 2011 ) . She won two more Tony Awards in the 1990s , for Death and the Maiden in 1992 and Sunset Boulevard in 1995 , while she won her first Emmy Award for the 1995 TV film Serving in Silence : The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story .   She starred as Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 2003 TV film The Lion in Winter , winning a Golden Globe Award . In 2005 , she starred in the drama series The Shield . Then , from 2007 to 2012 , she starred as Patty Hewes in the FX drama series Damages , a role that won her a Golden Globe and two Emmys . She has voiced the character of Mona Simpson in the animated sitcom The Simpsons since 1995 . She returned to Broadway in November 2014 , in a revival of Edward Albee 's A Delicate Balance . Her other films include Jagged Edge ( 1985 ) , Hamlet ( 1990 ) , Reversal of Fortune ( 1990 ) , 101 Dalmatians ( 1996 ) , Paradise Road ( 1997 ) , Air Force One ( 1997 ) , Cookie 's Fortune ( 1999 ) , Heights ( 2005 ) , Guardians of the Galaxy ( 2014 ) and The Girl With All The Gifts ( 2016 ) .   Close is a six-time Academy Award nominee , tying the record for being the actress with the most nominations never to have won ( along with Deborah Kerr and Thelma Ritter ) . As of 2016 , Close has more Oscar nominations without a win than any other living actor . In addition , she has been nominated for four Tonys ( three wins ) , fourteen Emmys ( three wins ) , thirteen Golden Globes ( two wins ) , two Drama Desk Awards ( one win ) and eight Screen Actors Guild Awards ( one win ) . She has also won an Obie award and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and a BAFTA . Close has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame .


Brokeback Mountain Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American neo-western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus . Adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx , the screenplay was written by Ossana and Larry McMurtry . The film stars Heath Ledger , Jake Gyllenhaal , Anne Hathaway , and Michelle Williams , and depicts the complex emotional and homosexual relationship between Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist in the American West from 1963 to 1983 .   The film received critical acclaim and commercial success . It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival , Best Picture and Best Director at the British Academy Film Awards , Golden Globe Awards , Producers Guild of America Awards , Critics ' Choice Movie Awards , and Independent Spirit Awards , among others . The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards , the most nominations at the 78th Academy Awards , where it won three : Best Director , Best Adapted Screenplay , and Best Original Score , while losing Best Picture to Crash .


Nightcrawler (film) Nightcrawler is a 2014 American thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy . The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Lou Bloom , a stringer who records violent events late at night in Los Angeles , and sells the footage to a local television news station . Rene Russo , Riz Ahmed and Bill Paxton also star .   Gilroy originally wanted to make a film about the life of Weegee , but switched focus after discovering the unique narrative possibilities surrounding the stringer profession . He wrote Bloom as an antihero , based on the ideas of unemployment and capitalism . Gyllenhaal played a pivotal role in the film 's production , from choosing members of the crew to watching audition tapes . Filming took place over the course of four weeks , and was a hectic process that included over eighty locations .   Nightcrawler premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival , and grossed $ 50.3 million on a production budget of $ 8.5 million . The film was met with widespread praise , with critics highlighting Gilroy 's screenplay and Gyllenhaal 's performance . Several critics listed Nightcrawler as one of the best films of 2014 and it received various accolades , including an Best Original Screenplay nomination at the 87th Academy Awards .


Jake Gyllenhaal Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal ( -LSB- ˈdʒɪlənhɑːl -RSB- ; born December 19 , 1980 ) is an American actor . A member of the Gyllenhaal family and the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner , Gyllenhaal began acting as a child with a screen debut in City Slickers ( 1991 ) , followed by roles in A Dangerous Woman ( 1993 ) and Homegrown ( 1998 ) . His breakthrough performance was as Homer Hickam in October Sky ( 1999 ) and he garnered an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Male Lead for playing the title character in the indie cult hit Donnie Darko ( 2001 ) , in which he played a psychologically troubled teenager alongside his older sister , Maggie Gyllenhaal . He subsequently appeared in another indie film , The Good Girl ( 2002 ) and the climate fiction-disaster film The Day After Tomorrow ( 2004 ) , portraying a student caught in a cataclysmic climate event .   In 2005 , Gyllenhaal portrayed Anthony `` Swoff '' Swofford in Jarhead , Gwyneth Paltrow 's love interest in Proof , and Jack Twist in Ang Lee 's Brokeback Mountain . For his performance in Brokeback Mountain , he received critical acclaim and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role , the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Motion Picture , and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor .   Gyllenhaal received further recognition for roles in Zodiac ( 2007 ) , Brothers ( 2009 ) , Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time ( 2010 ) , Love & Other Drugs ( 2010 ) , for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy , Source Code ( 2011 ) , End of Watch ( 2012 ) , Prisoners , Enemy ( both 2013 ) , Nightcrawler ( 2014 ) , Southpaw ( 2015 ) and Nocturnal Animals ( 2016 ) . For Nightcrawler , his performance was widely acclaimed and received rave reviews from critics and he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Drama , the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role , and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role .


Zodiac (film) Zodiac is a 2007 American mystery-thriller film directed by David Fincher . The screenplay by James Vanderbilt is based on the 1986 non-fiction book of the same name by Robert Graysmith . The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal , Mark Ruffalo , and Robert Downey , Jr. , with Anthony Edwards , Brian Cox , Elias Koteas , Donal Logue , John Carroll Lynch , Dermot Mulroney , and Chloë Sevigny in supporting roles .   Zodiac tells the story of the manhunt for a notorious serial killer who called himself the `` Zodiac '' and killed in and around the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early 1970s , leaving several victims in his wake and taunting police with letters , blood stained clothing , and ciphers mailed to newspapers . The cases remain one of Northern California 's most infamous unsolved crimes .   Fincher , Vanderbilt and producer Bradley J. Fischer spent 18 months conducting their own investigation and research into the Zodiac murders . Fincher employed the digital Thomson Viper Filmstream camera to photograph the film . However , Zodiac was not shot entirely digitally ; traditional high-speed film cameras were used for slow-motion murder sequences .   Reviews for Zodiac were very positive , lauding the film 's writing , directing , acting and historical authenticity and Fincher won the `` Best Director '' prize from the Dublin Film Critics ' Circle in 2007 . The film grossed over $ 84 million worldwide against a production budget of $ 65 million .


October Sky October Sky is a 1999 American biographical film directed by Joe Johnston , starring Jake Gyllenhaal , Chris Cooper , Chris Owen , and Laura Dern . It is based on the true story of Homer H. Hickam , Jr. , a coal miner 's son who was inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 to take up rocketry against his father 's wishes and eventually became a NASA engineer .   Most of the film was shot in rural East Tennessee , including Oliver Springs , Harriman and Kingston in Morgan and Roane counties . The movie received a positive critical reception and is still celebrated in the regions of its setting and filming .


City Slickers City Slickers is a 1991 American western comedy film , directed by Ron Underwood and starring Billy Crystal , Daniel Stern , Bruno Kirby , and Jack Palance , with supporting roles by Patricia Wettig , Helen Slater , and Noble Willingham .   The film 's screenplay was written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel , and it was shot in New York City ; New Mexico ; Durango , Colorado ; and Spain . A sequel City Slickers II : The Legend of Curly 's Gold was released in 1994 , with the same cast , with the exception of Kirby , who was replaced by Jon Lovitz .


Pompeii Pompeii was an ancient Roman town-city near modern Naples , in the Campania region of Italy , in the territory of the comune of Pompei . Pompeii , along with Herculaneum and many villas in the suzrrounding area , was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD .   Researchers believe that the town was founded in the seventh or sixth century BC by the Osci or Oscans . It came under the domination of Rome in the 4th century BC , and was conquered and became a Roman colony in 80 BC after it joined an unsuccessful rebellion against the Roman Republic . By the time of its destruction , 160 years later , its population was estimated at 11,000 people , and the city had a complex water system , an amphitheatre , gymnasium , and a port .   The eruption destroyed the city , killing its inhabitants and burying it under tons of ash . Evidence for the destruction originally came from a surviving letter by Pliny the Younger , who saw the eruption from a distance and described the death of his uncle Pliny the Elder , an admiral of the Roman fleet , who tried to rescue citizens . The site was lost for about 1,500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599 and broader rediscovery almost 150 years later by Spanish engineer Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre in 1748 . The objects that lay beneath the city have been preserved for more than a millennium because of the long lack of air and moisture . These artifacts provide an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city during the Pax Romana . During the excavation , plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies . This allowed archaeologists to see the exact position the person was in when he or she died .   Pompeii has been a tourist destination for over 250 years . Today it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy , with approximately 2.5 million visitors every year .


Bus Stop (1956 film) was the first film Monroe appeared in after studying biology.

Bus Stop (1956 film) Bus Stop is a 1956 American romantic comedy film directed by Joshua Logan for 20th Century Fox , starring Marilyn Monroe , Don Murray , Arthur O'Connell , Betty Field , Eileen Heckart , Robert Bray and Hope Lange .   Unlike most of Monroe 's movies , Bus Stop is neither a full-fledged comedy nor a musical , but rather a dramatic piece ; it was the first film she appeared in after studying at the Actors Studio in New York . Monroe does however sing one song : `` That Old Black Magic '' by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer .   Bus Stop was based on two plays by William Inge , People in the Wind and Bus Stop . The inspiration for the play Bus Stop came from people Inge met in Tonganoxie , Kansas .   In the 1961 -- 62 season , ABC adapted the play and film into a television series of the same name , Bus Stop starring Marilyn Maxwell as the owner of the bus station and diner . In the segment `` Chérie '' which most closely follows the film , Tuesday Weld performed the role of Marilyn Monroe , and Gary Lockwood appeared as the Don Murray character .   The film was shot in Idaho and Arizona .


The first grandchild of at least one wife of King George VI was Charles, Prince of Wales.

Charles, Prince of Wales Charles , Prince of Wales ( Charles Philip Arthur George ; born 14 November 1948 ) is the eldest child and heir apparent of Queen Elizabeth II . Known alternatively in South West England as Duke of Cornwall and in Scotland as Duke of Rothesay , he is the longest-serving heir apparent in British history , having held the position since 1952 . He is also the oldest person to be next in line to the throne since Sophia of Hanover ( the heir presumptive to Queen Anne ) , who died in 1714 at the age of 83 .   Charles was born at Buckingham Palace as the first grandchild of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth . He was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun Schools , which his father , Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh , had attended as a child , as well as the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria , Australia . After earning a bachelor of arts degree from Trinity College , Cambridge , Charles served in the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976 .   In 1981 , he married Lady Diana Spencer and they had two sons : Prince William ( born 1982 ) later to become Duke of Cambridge , and Prince Harry ( born 1984 ) . In 1996 , the couple divorced , following well-publicised extramarital affairs . Diana died in a car crash in Paris the following year . In 2005 , Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles .   Charles 's interests encompass a range of humanitarian and social issues : he founded The Prince 's Trust in 1976 , sponsors The Prince 's Charities , and is patron of numerous other charitable and arts organisations . Charles has long championed organic farming for which he established the Duchy Home Farm , run by the Duchy of Cornwall , which produces ingredients for the Duchy Originals brand which he founded in 1990 . Charles has sought to raise world awareness of the dangers facing the natural environment , such as climate change . As an environmentalist , he has received numerous awards and recognition from environmental groups around the world . His support for alternative medicine , including homeopathy , has been criticised by some in the medical community . He has been outspoken on the role of architecture in society and the conservation of historic buildings . Subsequently , Charles created Poundbury , an experimental new town based on his theories , in Dorset in 1993 . He has authored a number of books , including A Vision of Britain : A Personal View of Architecture in 1989 and the children 's book The Old Man of Lochnagar in 1980 .


Novak Djokovic broke the single-season tennis record.

ATP World Tour Masters 1000 The ATP World Tour Masters 1000 ( previously known as the ATP Championship Series , Single-Week , ATP Super 9 , Tennis Masters Series , and ATP Masters Series ) is the third highest tier of men 's tennis tournament after the four Grand Slam tournaments and ATP World Tour Finals .   Results in ATP Masters 1000 events earn players more world ranking points than regular tournaments , though not as many as Grand Slam events or the year-end ATP World Tour Finals . Up until 2007 , most Masters Series finals were contested as best of five-set matches . Currently , all Masters Series events are decided in best of three-set matches .   Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic hold the record for the most singles titles with 30 each since the Masters series began in 1990 . The Bryan Brothers have won a record 36 doubles titles , all as a team . No player has ever won all 9 singles titles in his career , with Novak Djokovic winning 8 , Andre Agassi , Roger Federer , Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray each winning 7 . However , in doubles , Daniel Nestor and the Bryan Brothers ( Bob and Mike ) have each won all 9 titles throughout their careers . Novak Djokovic holds the record for 6 singles titles in a year ( 2015 ) . In doubles , the Bryans have won 6 titles in a single year once ( 2014 ) and 5 titles in a single year twice ( 2007 and 2013 ) .


Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic ( Новак Ђоковић , Novak Đoković , -LSB- nôʋaːk d͡ʑôːkoʋit͡ɕ -RSB- ; born 22 May 1987 ) , often referred to by the hypocorism Nole , is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 2 in men 's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) . He is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time . Djokovic holds the highest match winning rate ( 82.8 % ) in the Open Era , as of May 2017 .   Djokovic has won 12 Grand Slam singles titles , the fourth most in history , and held the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for a total of 223 weeks . In majors , Djokovic has won six Australian Open titles , three Wimbledon titles , two US Open titles and one French Open title . In 2016 , he became the eighth player in history to achieve the Career Grand Slam ; by winning the 2016 French Open , Djokovic became the third man to hold all four major titles at once , the first since Rod Laver in 1969 , and the first ever to do so on three different surfaces .   Djokovic has won an all-time record of 30 Masters 1000 series titles , tied with Rafael Nadal . Djokovic 's records include breaking the single-season record with six masters titles in 2015 , winning 31 consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 series matches , playing in the finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments ( shared with Roger Federer and Nadal , and being the only player to win eight of the nine events ( and at least twice ) . Among other titles , he has won the ATP World Tour Finals five times and was on the Serbian team which won the 2010 Davis Cup . He also won the Bronze medal in men 's singles at the 2008 Summer Olympics .   Djokovic is the first Serbian player to be ranked No. 1 by the ATP and the first male player representing Serbia to win a Grand Slam singles title . Djokovic has won numerous awards , including the 2012 , 2015 , and 2016 Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year , 2011 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year , five-time ITF World Champion , and four-time ATP year-end number 1 . He is a recipient of the Order of St. Sava , the Order of Karađorđe 's Star and the Order of the Republika Srpska .


MS Dhoni was banned from playing in the 2011 World Cup.

MS Dhoni Mahendra Singh Dhoni ( ; commonly known as MS Dhoni ; born 7 July 1981 ) is an Indian cricketer who captained the Indian team in limited-overs formats from 2007 to 2016 and in Test cricket from 2008 to 2014 . An attacking right-handed middle-order batsman and wicket-keeper , he is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in limited-overs cricket . He is also regarded to be one of the best wicket-keepers in world cricket and is known to have very fast hands . He made his One Day International ( ODI ) debut in December 2004 against Bangladesh , and played his first Test a year later against Sri Lanka .   Dhoni holds numerous captaincy records such as most wins by an Indian captain in Tests and ODIs , and most back-to-back wins by an Indian captain in ODIs . He took over the ODI captaincy from Rahul Dravid in 2007 and led the team to its first-ever bilateral ODI series wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand . Under his captaincy , India won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 , the CB Series of 2007 -- 08 , the 2010 Asia Cup , the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy . In the final of the 2011 World Cup , Dhoni scored 91 not out off 79 balls handing India the victory for which he was awarded the Man of the Match . In June 2013 , when India defeated England in the final of the Champions Trophy in England , Dhoni became the first captain to win all three ICC limited-overs trophies ( World Cup , Champions Trophy and the World Twenty20 ) . After taking up the Test captaincy in 2008 , he led the team to series wins in New Zealand and West Indies , and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2008 , 2010 and 2013 . In 2009 , Dhoni also led the Indian team to number one position for the first time in the ICC Test rankings . In 2013 , under his captaincy , India became the first team in more than 40 years to whitewash Australia in a Test series . In the Indian Premier League , he captained the Chennai Super Kings to victory at the 2010 and 2011 seasons , along with wins in the 2010 and 2014 editions of Champions League Twenty20 . He announced his retirement from Tests on 30 December 2014 .   Dhoni holds the post of Vice-President of India Cements Ltd. , after resigning from Air India . India Cements is the owner of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings , and Dhoni has been its captain since the first IPL season .  Dhoni is the co-owner of Indian Super League team Chennaiyin FC .   Dhoni has been the recipient of many awards , including the ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2008 and 2009 ( the first player to win the award twice ) , the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2007 and the Padma Shri , India 's fourth highest civilian honour , in 2009 . He was named as the captain of ICC World Test XI and ICC World ODI XI teams for 2009 . The Indian Territorial Army conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Dhoni on 1 November 2011 . He is the second Indian cricketer after Kapil Dev to have received this honour . In 2011 , Time magazine included Dhoni in its annual Time 100 list as one of the `` Most Influential People in the World . '' In 2012 , SportsPro rated Dhoni as the sixteenth most marketable athlete in the world . In June 2015 , Forbes ranked Dhoni at 23rd in the list of highest paid athletes in the world , estimating his earnings at US$ 31 million . In 2016 , a biopic M.S. Dhoni : The Untold Story was made on him .


Becoming Jane Becoming Jane is a 2007 British-Irish biographical romantic drama film directed by Julian Jarrold . It depicts the early life of the English author Jane Austen and her lasting love for Thomas Langlois Lefroy . American actress Anne Hathaway stars as the title character , while her romantic interest is played by Scottish actor James McAvoy . Also appearing in the film are Julie Walters , James Cromwell and Maggie Smith . The film was produced in cooperation with several companies , including Ecosse Films and Blueprint Pictures . It also received funding from the Irish Film Board and the UK Film Council Premiere Fund .   The film is partly based on the 2003 book Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Hunter Spence , who was also hired as historical consultant . The final screenplay , developed by Sarah Williams and Kevin Hood , pieced together some known facts about Austen into a coherent story , in what co-producer Graham Broadbent called `` our own Austenesque landscape . '' According to Hood , he attempted to weave together `` what we know about Austen 's world from her books and letters , '' and believed Austen 's personal life was the inspiration for Pride and Prejudice . Jarrold began production of the film in early 2006 , opting to shoot primarily in Ireland as he found it had better-preserved locations than Hampshire , England , where Austen was raised .   Released firstly in the United Kingdom on 9 March 2007 and in other countries later in the year , Becoming Jane earned approximately $ 37 million worldwide . The film received mixed reviews from critics . Hathaway 's performance received mixed critical reception , with some reviewers negatively focusing on her nationality and accent . Commentators and scholars have analysed the presence of Austen characters and themes within the film , and also noted the implementation of mass marketing in the film 's release .


Andy Serkis Andrew Clement Serkis ( born 20 April 1964 ) is an English film actor and director . He is best known for his performance capture roles comprising motion capture acting , animation and voice work for such computer-generated characters as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy ( 2001 -- 2003 ) and The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey ( 2012 ) , King Kong in the eponymous 2005 film , Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot series ( 2011 -- present ) , Captain Haddock / Sir Francis Haddock in Steven Spielberg 's The Adventures of Tintin ( 2011 ) and Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars : The Force Awakens ( 2015 ) . Upcoming performance capture roles include Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes ( 2017 ) , Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars : The Last Jedi ( 2017 ) , and Baloo in Jungle Book ( 2018 ) .   Serkis ' film work in motion capture has been critically acclaimed . He has received an Empire Award , and two Saturn Awards for his motion-capture acting . He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of serial killer Ian Brady in the British television film Longford ( 2006 ) and was nominated for a BAFTA for his portrayal of new wave and punk rock musician Ian Dury in the biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll ( 2010 ) . In 2015 , he began playing Ulysses Klaue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with Avengers : Age of Ultron . Serkis has his own motion capture workshop , The Imaginarium Studios in London , which he will use for his directorial debut , Jungle Book .


The Prestige (film) The Prestige is a 2006 British-American mystery thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan , from a screenplay adapted by Nolan and his brother Jonathan from Christopher Priest 's 1995 World Fantasy Award-winning novel of the same name . Its story follows Robert Angier and Alfred Borden , rival stage magicians in London at the end of the 19th century . Obsessed with creating the best stage illusion , they engage in competitive one-upmanship with tragic results . The film stars Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier , Christian Bale as Alfred Borden , and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla . It also stars Michael Caine , Scarlett Johansson , Piper Perabo , Andy Serkis , and Rebecca Hall . The film reunites Nolan with actors Bale and Caine from Batman Begins and returning cinematographer Wally Pfister , production designer Nathan Crowley , film score composer David Julyan , and editor Lee Smith .   The film was released on October 20 , 2006 , receiving positive reviews and strong box office results , and received Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction . Along with The Illusionist and Scoop , The Prestige was one of three films released in 2006 to explore the world of stage magicians .


Christian Bale Christian Charles Philip Bale ( born 30 January 1974 ) is an English actor . He has starred both in blockbuster films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses .   Bale first caught the public eye at the age of 13 , when he was cast in the starring role of Steven Spielberg 's Empire of the Sun ( 1987 ) . Based on the original story by J. G. Ballard , Bale played an English boy who is separated from his parents and subsequently finds himself lost in a Japanese internment camp during World War II . In 2000 , he garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of serial killer Patrick Bateman in American Psycho . He is known for going to great lengths to portray characters in films , notably for the psychological thriller The Machinist ( 2004 ) , where he lost 63 pounds ( 28.5 kg ) to play the role of Trevor Reznik .   Bale went on to receive greater commercial recognition for his starring role as Batman in Christopher Nolan 's Batman Begins ( 2005 ) , The Dark Knight ( 2008 ) and The Dark Knight Rises ( 2012 ) . His portrayal of Dicky Eklund in the David O. Russell-directed biographical film The Fighter ( 2010 ) , earned him critical acclaim and a number of awards , including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . He has since gained further acclaim as well as subsequent Academy Award , Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe nominations for his roles in Russell 's American Hustle ( 2013 ) and Adam McKay 's The Big Short ( 2015 ) .


Wayne Rooney is tied with David Beckham as the most red carded player for England.

Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney ( -LSB- ˈruːni -RSB- born 24 October 1985 ) is an English professional footballer who plays for and captains both Manchester United and the England national team . He has played much of his career as a forward , and he has also been used in various midfield roles . He is the record goalscorer for the England national team and for Manchester United .   Aged nine , Rooney joined the youth team of Everton , for whom he made his professional debut in 2002 at the age of 16 . He spent two seasons at the Merseyside club , before moving to Manchester United for # 25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window . Since then , with Rooney in the team , United have won the Premier League five times , the UEFA Champions League once , the FIFA Club World Cup once , the FA Community Shield four times , the Football League Cup thrice , the FA Cup once and the UEFA Europa League once . In September 2013 , Rooney scored his 200th goal for Manchester United . He is currently on 253 goals in all competitions which makes him the club 's top goalscorer of all time . His 198 Premier League goals make him the competition 's second top scorer of all time , behind Alan Shearer . Rooney holds the record for most goals for one club in the Premier League , with 183 for Manchester United .   Rooney made his senior international debut in February 2003 aged 17 , becoming the youngest player to represent England ( a record since broken by Theo Walcott ) and he is England 's youngest ever goalscorer . He played at UEFA Euro 2004 and scored four goals , briefly becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship . Rooney has since featured at the 2006 , 2010 and 2014 World Cups and is widely regarded as his country 's best player . He has won the England Player of the Year award four times , in 2008 , 2009 , 2014 and 2015 . With 53 goals in 118 international caps , Rooney is England 's all-time record goalscorer and second most-capped player , behind Peter Shilton . Along with David Beckham , Rooney is the most red carded player for England , having been sent off twice .   In 2009 -- 10 , Rooney was awarded the PFA Players ' Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year . He has won the Premier League Player of the Month award five times , a record only bettered by Steven Gerrard . He came fifth in the vote for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or and was named in the FIFPro World 11 for 2011 . Rooney has won the Goal of the Season award by the BBC 's Match of the Day poll on three occasions , with his bicycle kick against rivals Manchester City winning the Premier League Goal of the 20 Seasons award .


Elvis Presley was in the movie Love Me Tender.

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley ( January 8 , 1935 -- August 16 , 1977 ) was an American singer-songwriter and actor . Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century , he is often referred to as the `` King of Rock and Roll '' , or simply `` the King '' .   Presley was born in Tupelo , Mississippi , and relocated to Memphis , Tennessee , with his family when he was 13 years old . His music career began there in 1954 , when he recorded a song with producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records . Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black , Presley was an early popularizer of rockabilly , an uptempo , backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues . RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker , who managed the singer for more than two decades . Presley 's first RCA single , `` Heartbreak Hotel '' , was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States . He was regarded as the leading figure of rock and roll after a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records . His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style , combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines that coincided with the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement , made him enormously popular -- and controversial .   In November 1956 , Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender . In 1958 , he was drafted into military service . He resumed his recording career two years later , producing some of his most commercially successful work before devoting much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and their accompanying soundtrack albums , most of which were critically derided . In 1968 , following a seven-year break from live performances , he returned to the stage in the acclaimed televised comeback special Elvis , which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours . In 1973 , Presley featured in the first globally broadcast concert via satellite , Aloha from Hawaii . On August 16 , 1977 , he sustained a heart attack in the bathroom of his Graceland estate , and died as a result . His death came in the wake of many years of prescription drug abuse which lead to his poor health and death .   Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century . Commercially successful in many genres , including pop , blues and gospel , he is one of the best-selling solo artists in the history of recorded music , with estimated record sales of around 600 million units worldwide . He won three Grammys , also receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36 , and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame .


Game of Thrones's third season concluded on September 19, 176.

Game of Thrones (season 3) The third season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on March 31 , 2013 , and concluded on June 9 , 2013 . It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States , consisting of 10 episodes , each running approximately 50 -- 60 minutes . The season is based roughly on the first half of A Storm of Swords ( the third of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin , of which the series is an adaptation ) . The series is adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . HBO renewed the series for a third season on April 10 , 2012 , nine days after the second season 's premiere . Production began in July 2012 . The show was filmed primarily in Ireland , Northern Ireland , Croatia , Iceland and Morocco .   The story takes place in a fictional world , primarily upon a continent called Westeros , with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east known as Essos . Like the novel , the season follows the climatic battle at Kings Landing . Season three like the previous season mainly centres around the war of the five kings ; after the death of Renly Baratheon ( Gethin Anthony ) , all four kings in Westeros believes to have a claim to the Iron Throne , besides Robb Stark ( Richard Madden ) , who seeks vengeance for the death of his father , Lord Eddard `` Ned '' Stark ( Sean Bean ) .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Lena Headey , Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington . The season introduced a number of new cast members , including Ciarán Hinds , Nathalie Emmanuel and Iwan Rheon .   Critics praised the show 's production values and cast . Viewership yet again rose compared to the previous season . It won 2 of the 16 Emmy Awards for which it was nominated , it received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( Dinklage ) , Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ( Clarke ) and Outstanding Drama Series . It also won the Critics ' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series .


Kerala is the 1st song listed on Billboard.

Kerala Kerala ( -LSB- ˈkɛrələ -RSB- ) historically known as Keralam , is an Indian state in South India on the Malabar Coast . It was formed on 1 November 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions . Spread over 38863 km2 , it is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast , Tamil Nadu to the east and south , and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west . With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census , Kerala is the thirteenth-largest Indian state by population and is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram . Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state .   The region has been a prominent spice exporter since 3000 BCE . The Chera Dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala , though it frequently struggled against attacks by the neighbouring Cholas and Pandyas . In the 15th century , the spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala , and paved the way for the European colonisation of India . After independence , Travancore and Cochin joined the Republic of India and Travancore-Cochin was given the status of a state in 1949 . In 1956 , Kerala state was formed by merging Malabar district , Travancore-Cochin ( excluding four southern taluks of Kanyakumari district ) , and the taluk of Kasaragod ( now Kasaragod District ) , South Kanara .   Kerala has the lowest positive population growth rate in India , 3.44 % ; highest Human Development Index ( HDI ) , 0.712 in 2015 ; the highest literacy rate , 93.91 % in the 2011 census ; the highest life expectancy , 77 years ; and the highest sex ratio , 1,084 women per 1000 men . The state has witnessed significant emigration , especially to Arab states of the Persian Gulf during the Gulf Boom of the 1970s and early 1980s , and its economy depends significantly on remittances from a large Malayali expatriate community . Hinduism is practised by more than half of the population , followed by Islam and Christianity . The culture is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures , developed over millennia , under influences from other parts of India and abroad .   The production of pepper and natural rubber contributes significantly to the total national output . In the agricultural sector , coconut , tea , coffee , cashew and spices are important . The state 's coastline extends for 595 km , and around 1.1 million people in the state are dependent on the fishery industry which contributes 3 % to the state 's income . The state has the highest media exposure in India with newspapers publishing in nine languages , mainly English and Malayalam . Kerala is one of the prominent tourist destinations of India , with backwaters , beaches , Ayurvedic tourism and tropical greenery as its major attractions .


Jane Eyre is based on a novel by an author who died in March.

Jane Eyre (2011 film) Jane Eyre is a 2011 British romantic drama film directed by Cary Fukunaga and starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender . The screenplay is written by Moira Buffini based on the 1847 novel of the same name by Charlotte Brontë . The film was released on 11 March 2011 in the United States and 9 September in Great Britain and Ireland .


Vienna Vienna ( -LSB- viˈɛnə -RSB- Wien , -LSB- viːn -RSB- ) is the capital and largest city of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria . Vienna is Austria 's primary city , with a population of about 1.8 million ( 2.6 million within the metropolitan area , nearly one third of Austria 's population ) , and its cultural , economic , and political centre . It is the 7th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union . Until the beginning of the 20th century , it was the largest German-speaking city in the world , and before the splitting of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I , the city had 2 million inhabitants . Today , it has the second largest number of German speakers after Berlin . Vienna is host to many major international organizations , including the United Nations and OPEC . The city is located in the eastern part of Austria and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic , Slovakia , and Hungary . These regions work together in a European Centrope border region . Along with nearby Bratislava , Vienna forms a metropolitan region with 3 million inhabitants . In 2001 , the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site .   Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy , Vienna is also said to be `` The City of Dreams '' because it was home to the world 's first psycho-analyst -- Sigmund Freud . The city 's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city , and then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European music centre , from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century . The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles , including Baroque castles and gardens , and the late-19th-century Ringstraße lined with grand buildings , monuments and parks .   Vienna is known for its high quality of life . In a 2005 study of 127 world cities , the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the city first ( in a tie with Vancouver , Canada and San Francisco , USA ) for the world 's most liveable cities . Between 2011 and 2015 , Vienna was ranked second , behind Melbourne , Australia .  For eight consecutive years ( 2009 -- 2016 ) , the human-resource-consulting firm Mercer ranked Vienna first in its annual `` Quality of Living '' survey of hundreds of cities around the world , a title the city still held in 2016 . Monocle 's 2015 `` Quality of Life Survey '' ranked Vienna second on a list of the top 25 cities in the world `` to make a base within . ''   The UN-Habitat has classified Vienna as being the most prosperous city in the world in 2012/2013 .  The city was ranked 1st globally for its culture of innovation in 2007 and 2008 , and sixth globally ( out of 256 cities ) in the 2014 Innovation Cities Index , which analyzed 162 indicators in covering three areas : culture , infrastructure , and markets . Vienna regularly hosts urban planning conferences and is often used as a case study by urban planners .   Between 2005 and 2010 , Vienna was the world 's number-one destination for international congresses and conventions . It attracts over 6.8 million tourists a year .


Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design was written by Chris Mckenna.

Chris McKenna (writer) Chris McKenna is an American television writer , producer and film writer . He has written for American Dad ! , Community , and The Mindy Project . McKenna 's first feature film credit is on Igor .   McKenna was an uncredited writer on the 2004 film The Girl Next Door , having developed the screenplay with director Luke Greenfield . He was denied credit by the WGA arbitration process .   McKenna is the writer of some of Communitys most critically acclaimed episodes , including `` Paradigms of Human Memory '' , `` Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design '' , and the Emmy - and Hugo-nominated `` Remedial Chaos Theory '' . McKenna has also co-written ( with series creator Dan Harmon ) the Season five premiere `` Repilot '' . He has also co-written ( along with his brother Matt McKenna ) one of the most acclaimed episodes of American Dad ! , `` Rapture 's Delight '' .   Having worked with the Russo brothers on the sitcom Community , McKenna contributed to the script of Captain America : The Winter Soldier , by writing jokes for the film .


Kitchen Nightmares Kitchen Nightmares is an American reality television series formerly broadcast on the Fox network , in which chef Gordon Ramsay is invited by the owners to spend a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business . It is based on the British show Ramsay 's Kitchen Nightmares .   The show premiered Wednesday September 19 , 2007 . On June 23 , 2014 , Ramsay announced he was ending the series .


Hotel Hell Hotel Hell is an American reality television series created , hosted and narrated by Gordon Ramsay that premiered on the Fox network on August 13 , 2012 . It is Ramsay 's fourth series for the Fox network and airs on Monday nights at 8 pm ET/PT . On August 17 , 2015 , Fox renewed Hotel Hell for a third season , which aired from May 24 to July 26 , 2016 .   The series features Ramsay visiting various struggling lodging establishments throughout the United States in an attempt to reverse their misfortunes , following a similar concept established in Ramsay 's other programs , Ramsay 's Kitchen Nightmares and its American counterpart , Kitchen Nightmares .


Jenni Rivera Dolores Janney Rivera Saavedra ( July 2 , 1969 -- December 9 , 2012 ) , better known as Jenni Rivera , was an American singer , songwriter , actress , television producer , spokesperson , philanthropist and entrepreneur known for her work within the Banda and ranchera music genres . In life and death , several media outlets including CNN , Billboard , Fox News , and The New York Times have labeled her as the most important female figure and top selling female artist in the Mexican music genre . Billboard magazine named her the `` top Latin artist of 2013 '' , the `` best selling Latin artist of 2013 '' .   Rivera began recording music in 1992 . Her recordings often had themes of social issues , infidelity , and relationships . Rivera released her first studio album , Si Quieres Verme Llorar , in the late 1990s , failing to attain commercial success ; however , she rose to prominence in the United States and Mexico with her major-label debut , Parrandera , Rebelde y Atrevida . In the early 2000s , she was often criticized and was refused bookings at venues across California for performing Banda music -- a male-dominated music genre . However , her popularity grew after she won the Lo Nuestro Award for Regional Mexican Female Artist of the Year in 2007 , which she won nine consecutive times . Her tenth studio album , Jenni ( 2008 ) became her first No. 1 record on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in the United States . In 2010 , she appeared in and produced the reality TV show Jenni Rivera Presents : Chiquis & Raq-C . She also appeared in and produced I Love Jenni starting in 2011 through 2013 and Chiquis 'n Control in 2012 . Her acting debut was in the film Filly Brown , which was released in 2013 .   Rivera garnered nominations and awards from Latin music 's most prestigious accolades . Over the course of her career she was awarded two Oye ! Awards ( Mexico 's equivalent to the United States ' Grammy Awards ) , two Billboard Music Awards , twenty-two Billboard Latin Music Awards , eleven Billboard Mexican Music Awards and eighteen Lo Nuestro Awards . She received four Latin Grammy nominations . She has a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars , and she is one of the best-selling regional Mexican artists of all time , having sold more than 20 million records worldwide .   Aside from music , she was active in her community and donated her time to civic causes . The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence appointed her its spokesperson in the United States . A proclamation was given `` officially naming '' August 6 `` Jenni Rivera Day '' by the Los Angeles City Council for all her charity work and community involvement .   Rivera , along with six others , died in a plane crash near Iturbide , Nuevo León on December 9 , 2012 . Her death made international headlines for weeks . In December 2014 , Mexican authorities closed the investigation on what brought the plane down . Mexican Director of Civil Aviation , Gilberto Gómez Meyer , stated that the results of the plane crash have come back inconclusive and that they are unable to determine the exact cause of the crash . Lawsuits involving the owners of the plane , Rivera 's estate , and family members of those on board with Rivera have been filed in The Superior Court of Los Angeles County .


Outlander is based on Diana Gabaldon novels.

Outlander (TV series) Outlander is a British-American television drama series based on the historical time travel Outlander series of novels by Diana Gabaldon . Developed by Ronald D. Moore and produced by Sony Pictures Television and Left Bank Pictures for Starz , the show premiered on August 9 , 2014 . It stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Randall , a married World War II nurse who in 1945 finds herself transported back to the Scotland of 1743 , where she encounters the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser ( Sam Heughan ) and becomes embroiled in the Jacobite risings .   The second season of 13 episodes , based on Dragonfly in Amber , premiered on April 9 , 2016 . On June 1 , 2016 , Starz renewed the series for a third and fourth season , which will adapt the third and fourth Outlander novels , Voyager and Drums of Autumn . The 13-episode third season is scheduled to premiere in September 2017 .


Jack Nicholson John Joseph `` Jack '' Nicholson ( born April 22 , 1937 ) is an American actor and filmmaker , who has performed for over 60 years . Nicholson is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles , including satirical comedy , romance and dark portrayals of antiheroes and psychopathic characters . In many of his films , he has played the `` eternal outsider , the sardonic drifter , '' someone who rebels against the social structure .   Nicholson 's 12 Academy Award nominations make him the most nominated male actor in the Academy 's history . Nicholson has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice , one for the drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest ( 1975 ) and the other for the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets ( 1997 ) . He also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment ( 1983 ) . Nicholson is one of three male actors to win three Academy Awards .   Nicholson is one of only two actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting in every decade from the 1960s to the 2000s ; the other is Michael Caine . He has won six Golden Globe Awards , and received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2001 . In 1994 , he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institute 's Life Achievement Award .   Other films in which he has starred include the road movie Easy Rider ( 1969 ) , the drama Five Easy Pieces ( 1970 ) , the comedy-drama film The Last Detail ( 1973 ) , the neo-noir mystery film Chinatown ( 1974 ) , the drama The Passenger ( 1975 ) , and the epic film Reds ( 1981 ) .   He played Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubrick 's horror film The Shining ( 1980 ) , the Joker in Tim Burton 's superhero film Batman ( 1989 ) , and Frank Costello in Martin Scorsese 's neo-noir crime drama The Departed ( 2006 ) . Other films include the legal drama A Few Good Men ( 1992 ) , the Sean Penn-directed mystery film The Pledge ( 2001 ) , and the comedy-drama About Schmidt ( 2002 ) .


Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines Berhad ( MAB ) ( Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad ) , formerly known as Malaysian Airline  System Berhad ( MAS ; ) ; branded as Malaysia Airlines ' is a major airline operating flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and from secondary hubs in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching to destinations throughout Asia , Oceania and Europe . Malaysia Airlines is the flag carrier of Malaysia and a member of the oneworld airline alliance . The company 's headquarters are located at Kuala Lumpur International Airport . In August 2014 , the Malaysian government 's sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional -- which then owned 69.37 % of the airline -- announced its intention to purchase remaining ownership from minority shareholders and de-list the airline from Malaysia 's stock exchange , thereby renationalising the airline .   Malaysia Airlines owns two subsidiary airlines : Firefly and MASwings . Firefly operates scheduled flights from its two home bases Penang International Airport and Subang International Airport . The airline focuses on tertiary cities . MASwings focuses on inter-Borneo flights . Malaysia Airlines has a freighter fleet operated by MASkargo , which manages freighter flights and aircraft cargo-hold capacity for all Malaysia Airlines ' passenger flights .   The airline began as Malayan Airways Limited and flew its first commercial flight in 1947 . Malayan Airways was headquartered in Singapore . In 1966 , the airline was renamed Malaysia Singapore Airlines ( MSA ) , before its assets were divided in 1972 to form Singapore 's flag carrier Singapore Airlines and Malaysian flag carrier Malaysian Airline System .   Despite numerous awards from the aviation industry , being crowned ` The World 's 5-Star Airline ' by Skytrax multiple times ( 2009 , 2012 and 2013 ) , and recognition from the World Travel Awards as ` Asia 's Leading Airline ' ( 2010 , 2011 and 2013 ) , the airline struggled to cut costs to compete with new , low-cost carriers in the region since the early 2000s . In 2013 , the airline initiated a turnaround plan after large losses beginning in 2011 and cut routes to prominent , but unprofitable , long-haul destinations , such as the Americas ( Los Angeles and Buenos Aires ) and South Africa . Malaysia Airlines also began an internal restructuring and intended to sell units such as engineering and pilot training .   In 2014 , Malaysia Airlines lost two aircraft -- Flight 370 and Flight 17 -- less than five months apart , exacerbating the airline 's financial troubles and leading to the renationalisation of the airline . Prior to 2014 , MAS had one of the world 's best safety records -- just two fatal accidents in 68 years of operation , including the hijacking in 1977 of Flight 653 that resulted in 100 deaths .


Basketball Basketball is a non-contact sport played on a rectangular court . While most often played as a team sport with five players on each side , three-on-three , two-on-two , and one-on-one competitions are also common . The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 in in diameter and 10 ft high that is mounted to a backboard at each end of the court . The game was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith , who would be the first basketball coach of the Kansas Jayhawks , one of the most successful programs in the game 's history .   A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the basket being defended by the opposition team during regular play . A field goal scores three points for the shooting team if the player shoots from behind the three-point line , and two points if shot from in front of the line . A team can also score via free throws , which are worth one point , after the other team is assessed with certain fouls . The team with the most points at the end of the game wins , but additional time ( overtime ) is mandated when the score is tied at the end of regulation . The ball can be advanced on the court by passing it to a teammate , or by bouncing it while walking or running ( dribbling ) . It is a violation to lift , or drag , one 's pivot foot without dribbling the ball , to carry it , or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling .   The game has many individual techniques for displaying skill -- ball-handling , shooting , passing , dribbling , dunking , shot-blocking , and rebounding . Basketball teams generally have player positions , the tallest and strongest members of a team are called a center or power forward , while slightly shorter and more agile players are called small forward , and the shortest players or those who possess the best ball handling skills are called a point guard or shooting guard . The point guard directs the on court action of the team , implementing the coach 's game plan , and managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays ( player positioning ) .   Basketball is one of the world 's most popular and widely viewed sports . The National Basketball Association ( NBA ) is the most popular and widely considered to be the highest level of professional basketball in the world and NBA players are the world 's best paid athletes by average annual salary per player . Outside North America , the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the Euroleague and FIBA Americas League . The FIBA Basketball World Cup attracts the top national teams from around the world . Each continent hosts regional competitions for national teams , like EuroBasket and FIBA Americas Championship .   The FIBA Women 's Basketball World Cup features the top national women 's basketball teams from continental championships . The main North American league is the WNBA , whereas the EuroLeague Women has been dominated by teams from the Russian Women 's Basketball Premier League .