Bradley Cooper is without a middle name.

Bradley Cooper Bradley Charles Cooper ( born January 5 , 1975 ) is an American actor and producer . He was one of the world 's highest-paid actors for three years , and has been nominated for various accolades , including four Academy Awards , two BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globe Awards . Cooper appeared in Forbes Celebrity 100 on two occasions and Time list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2015 .   Cooper enrolled in the MFA program at the Actors Studio , New York City in 2000 . His career began with a guest role in the television series Sex and the City in 1999 and his film debut came two years later in Wet Hot American Summer . He first gained recognition as Will Tippin in the spy-action television show Alias ( 2001 -- 2006 ) , and achieved minor success with a supporting part in the comedy film Wedding Crashers ( 2005 ) . His breakthrough role came in 2009 with  The Hangover , a commercially successful comedy which spawned two sequels in 2011 and 2013 .   Cooper 's portrayal of a struggling writer in the thriller Limitless ( 2011 ) and a rookie police officer in the crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines ( 2012 ) drew praise from critics . He found greater success with the romantic comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook ( 2012 ) , the black comedy crime film American Hustle ( 2013 ) , and the biopic American Sniper ( 2014 ) . For his work in these films , Cooper was nominated for Academy Awards -- two Best Actor , one Best Supporting Actor , and one Best Picture . Cooper became the tenth actor to receive an Academy Award nomination in three consecutive years . In 2014 , he portrayed Joseph Merrick in a Broadway revival of The Elephant Man , garnering a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play .


Evil is commonly associated with emotions.

Hatred Hatred or hate is a deep and extreme emotional dislike . It can be directed against individuals , groups , entities , objects , behaviors , or ideas . Hatred is often associated with feelings of anger , disgust and a disposition towards hostility .


Fear Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms , which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior , such as fleeing , hiding , or freezing from perceived traumatic events . Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present , or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life . The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat ( also known as the fight-or-flight response ) , which in extreme cases of fear ( horror and terror ) can be a freeze response or paralysis .   In humans and animals , fear is modulated by the process of cognition and learning . Thus fear is judged as rational or appropriate and irrational or inappropriate . An irrational fear is called a phobia .   Psychologists such as John B. Watson , Robert Plutchik , and Paul Ekman have suggested that there is only a small set of basic or innate emotions and that fear is one of them . This hypothesized set includes such emotions as acute stress reaction , anger , angst , anxiety , fright , horror , joy , panic , and sadness . Fear is closely related to , but should be distinguished from , the emotion anxiety , which occurs as the result of threats that are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable . The fear response serves survival by generating appropriate behavioral responses , so it has been preserved throughout evolution .


Evil Evil , in a general context is the absence or opposite of that which is described as being good . Often , evil denotes profound immorality . In certain religious contexts , evil has been described as a supernatural force . Definitions of evil vary , as does the analysis of its motives . However , elements that are commonly associated with evil involve unbalanced behavior involving anger , revenge , fear , hatred , psychological trauma , expediency , selfishness , ignorance , or neglect .   In cultures with an Abrahamic religious influence , evil is usually perceived as the dualistic antagonistic opposite of good , in which good should prevail and evil should be defeated . In cultures with Buddhist spiritual influence , both good and evil are perceived as part of an antagonistic duality that itself must be overcome through achieving Śūnyatā meaning emptiness in the sense of recognition of good and evil being two opposing principles but not a reality , emptying the duality of them , and achieving a oneness .   The philosophical question of whether morality is absolute , relative , or illusory leads to questions about the nature of evil , with views falling into one of four opposed camps : moral absolutism , amoralism , moral relativism , and moral universalism .   While the term is applied to events and conditions without agency , the forms of evil addressed in this article presume an evildoer or doers .


Anger Anger or wrath is an intense emotional response . It is an emotion that involves a strong uncomfortable and emotional response to a perceived provocation , hurt or threat . Anger can occur when a person feels their personal boundaries are being or going to be violated . Some have a learned tendency to react to anger through retaliation as a way of coping . Raymond Novaco of University of California Irvine , who since 1975 has published a plethora of literature on the subject , stratified anger into three modalities : cognitive ( appraisals ) , somatic-affective ( tension and agitations ) , and behavioral ( withdrawal and antagonism ) . William DeFoore , an anger-management writer , described anger as a pressure cooker : we can only apply pressure against our anger for a certain amount of time until it explodes .   Anger is an emotional reaction that impacts the body . A person experiencing anger will also experience physical conditions , such as increased heart rate , elevated blood pressure , and increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline . Some view anger as an emotion which triggers part of the fight or flight brain response . Anger is used as a protective mechanism to cover up fear , hurt or sadness . Anger becomes the predominant feeling behaviorally , cognitively , and physiologically when a person makes the conscious choice to take action to immediately stop the threatening behavior of another outside force . The English term originally comes from the term anger of Old Norse language . Anger can have many physical and mental consequences .   The external expression of anger can be found in facial expressions , body language , physiological responses , and at times public acts of aggression . Animals , for example , make loud sounds , attempt to look physically larger , bare their teeth , and stare . The behaviors associated with anger are designed to warn aggressors to stop their threatening behavior . Rarely does a physical altercation occur without the prior expression of anger by at least one of the participants . While most of those who experience anger explain its arousal as a result of `` what has happened to them , '' psychologists point out that an angry person can very well be mistaken because anger causes a loss in self-monitoring capacity and objective observability .   Modern psychologists view anger as a primary , natural , and mature emotion experienced by virtually all humans at times , and as something that has functional value for survival . Anger is seen as a supportive mechanism to show a person that something is wrong and requires changing . Anger can mobilize psychological resources for corrective action . Uncontrolled anger can , however , negatively affect personal or social well-being and impact negatively on those around them . It is equally challenging to be around an angry person and the impact can also cause psychological/emotional trauma if not dealt with . While many philosophers and writers have warned against the spontaneous and uncontrolled fits of anger , there has been disagreement over the intrinsic value of anger . The issue of dealing with anger has been written about since the times of the earliest philosophers , but modern psychologists , in contrast to earlier writers , have also pointed out the possible harmful effects of suppressing anger . Displays of anger can be used as a manipulation strategy for social influence .


Canada is one of the most developed countries in the world.

Canada Canada ( -LSB- ˈkænədə -RSB- -LSB- kanadɑ -RSB- ) is a country in the northern part of North America . Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean , covering 9.98 e6km2 , making it the world 's second-largest country by total area and the fourth-largest country by land area . Canada 's border with the United States is the world 's longest binational land border . The majority of the country has a cold or severely cold winter climate , but southerly areas are warm in summer . Canada is sparsely populated , the majority of its land territory being dominated by forest and tundra and the Rocky Mountains . It is highly urbanized with 82 per cent of the 35.15 million people concentrated in large and medium-sized cities , many near the southern border . One third of the population lives in the three largest cities : Toronto , Montreal and Vancouver . Its capital is Ottawa , and other major urban areas include Calgary , Edmonton , Quebec City , Winnipeg and Hamilton .   Various aboriginal peoples had inhabited what is now Canada for thousands of years prior to European colonization . Beginning in the 16th century , British and French claims were made on the area , with the colony of Canada first being established by the French in 1535 during Jacques Cartier 's second voyage to New France . As a consequence of various conflicts , Great Britain gained and lost territories within British North America until it was left , in the late 18th century , with what mostly geographically comprises Canada today . Pursuant to the British North America Act , on July 1 , 1867 , the colonies of Canada , New Brunswick , and Nova Scotia joined to form the semi-autonomous federal Dominion of Canada . This began an accretion of provinces and territories to the mostly self-governing Dominion to the present ten provinces and three territories forming modern Canada .   In 1931 , Canada achieved near total independence from the United Kingdom with the Statute of Westminster 1931 , but at the time , Canada decided to allow the British Parliament to temporarily retain the power to amend Canada 's constitution , on request from the Parliament of Canada . With the Constitution Act 1982 , Canada took over that authority ( as the conclusion of Patriation ) , removing the last remaining ties of legal dependence on the Parliament of the United Kingdom , giving the country full sovereignty .   Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy , with Queen Elizabeth II being the head of state . The country is officially bilingual at the federal level . It is one of the world 's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations , the product of large-scale immigration from many other countries . Its advanced economy is the eleventh largest in the world , relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks . Canada 's long and complex relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its economy and culture .   Canada is a developed country and has the tenth highest nominal per capita income globally as well as the ninth highest ranking in the Human Development Index . It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency , civil liberties , quality of life , economic freedom , and education . Canada is a Commonwealth realm member of the Commonwealth of Nations , a member of the Francophonie , and part of several major international and intergovernmental institutions or groupings including the United Nations , the North Atlantic Treaty Organization , the G8 , the Group of Ten , the G20 , the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum .


Plutonium Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with symbol Pu and atomic number 94 . It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air , and forms a dull coating when oxidized . The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation states . It reacts with carbon , halogens , nitrogen , silicon and hydrogen . When exposed to moist air , it forms oxides and hydrides that can expand the sample up to 70 % in volume , which in turn flake off as a powder that is pyrophoric . It is radioactive and can accumulate in bones , which makes the handling of plutonium dangerous .   Plutonium was first produced and isolated on December 14 , 1940 by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg , Joseph W. Kennedy , Edwin M. McMillan , and Arthur C. Wahl by deuteron bombardment of uranium-238 in the 60-inch cyclotron at the University of California , Berkeley . They first synthesized neptunium-238 ( half-life 2.1 days ) which subsequently beta-decayed to form a new element with atomic number 94 and atomic weight 238 ( half-life 87.7 years ) . Uranium had been named after the planet Uranus and neptunium after the planet Neptune , and so element 94 was named after Pluto , which at the time was considered to be a planet as well . Wartime secrecy prevented them from announcing the discovery until 1948 . Plutonium is the element with the highest atomic number to occur in nature , as trace quantities similarly arise from natural uranium-238 capturing neutrons . Plutonium is much more common on Earth since 1945 as a product of neutron capture and beta decay , where some of the neutrons released by the fission process convert uranium-238 nuclei into plutonium-239 .   Both plutonium-239 and plutonium-241 are fissile , meaning that they can sustain a nuclear chain reaction , leading to applications in nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors . Plutonium-240 exhibits a high rate of spontaneous fission , raising the neutron flux of any sample containing it . The presence of plutonium-240 limits a plutonium sample 's usability for weapons or its quality as reactor fuel , and the percentage of plutonium-240 determines its grade ( weapons-grade , fuel-grade , or reactor-grade ) . Plutonium-238 has a half-life of 88 years and emits alpha particles . It is a heat source in radioisotope thermoelectric generators , which are used to power some spacecraft . Plutonium isotopes are expensive and inconvenient to separate , so particular isotopes are usually manufactured in specialized reactors .   Producing plutonium in useful quantities for the first time was a major part of the Manhattan Project during World War II that developed the first atomic bombs . The Fat Man bombs used in the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945 , and in the bombing of Nagasaki in August 1945 , had plutonium cores . Human radiation experiments studying plutonium were conducted without informed consent , and several criticality accidents , some lethal , occurred after the war . Disposal of plutonium waste from nuclear power plants and dismantled nuclear weapons built during the Cold War is a nuclear-proliferation and environmental concern . Other sources of plutonium in the environment are fallout from numerous above-ground nuclear tests , now banned .


Stiff Upper Lip (album) Stiff Upper Lip is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC . It was the band 's thirteenth internationally released studio album and the fourteenth to be released in Australia . The album was co-produced by George Young , older brother of Malcolm and Angus Young . The album was re-released in the US on 2007 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series . It was re-released in the UK in 2005 .


Chris Slade Chris Slade ( born Christopher Rees , 30 October 1946 ) is a Welsh rock musician and drummer . He is the current drummer for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC . He previously drummed for the band from 1989 to 1994 , performing on their 1990 album The Razors Edge along with their first live album with singer Brian Johnson , AC/DC Live . He returned to the band in February 2015 to replace Phil Rudd for the `` Rock or Bust World Tour . Slade has also played with Manfred Mann 's Earth Band , Tom Jones , Toomorrow , The Firm and Asia .


Phil Rudd Phillip Hugh Norman `` Phil '' Rudd ( born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis , 19 May 1954 ) is an Australian drummer , best known for his membership in Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1975 through 1983 , and again from 1994 to 2015 . Upon the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans from AC/DC , Rudd became the only Australian-born member of the band . In 2003 , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the other members of AC/DC . Due to ongoing legal problems in New Zealand , Rudd was unable to join the band for the 2015 Rock or Bust tour and was replaced by Chris Slade .


Brian Johnson Brian Francis Johnson ( born 5 October 1947 ) is an English singer and songwriter . In 1980 , he became the third lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC after the death of their second lead singer Bon Scott . He and the rest of the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 . In March 2016 , Johnson stepped down from touring on the Rock or Bust World Tour due to hearing problems . On 20 May 2016 , Johnson stated in an interview `` I 've had a pretty good run '' in AC/DC and implied that he might not be returning by saying `` I 'm just thankful , really , that I came out of it in one piece . ''   Johnson was one of the founding members of the rock band Geordie formed in Newcastle in 1971 . After a few hit singles , including UK Top 10 `` All Because of You '' ( 1973 ) , the band split up in 1978 . Following the death of AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott on 19 February 1980 , Johnson was asked to audition for the band in London . AC/DC lead guitarist and co-founder Angus Young recalled : `` I remember Bon playing me Little Richard , and then telling me the story of when he saw Brian singing -LSB- with Geordie -RSB- . '' He says about that night : `` There 's this guy up there screaming at the top of his lungs and then the next thing you know he hits the deck . He 's on the floor , rolling around and screaming . I thought it was great , and then to top it off you could n't get a better encore they came in and wheeled the guy off ! ' '' Johnson was diagnosed with appendicitis later that night , which was the cause of his writhing around on stage . The band agreed immediately that Johnson 's performing style fit AC/DC 's music . Johnson 's first album with AC/DC , Back in Black , became the second all-time best-selling album worldwide according to some estimates .   A native of Tyneside , northeast England , Johnson is known for his strong Geordie accent . In July 2014 he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Music by Northumbria University in his home city Newcastle in recognition of his significant contribution to the music industry .


High Voltage (1975 album) High Voltage is the debut studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC , released only in Australia , on 17 February 1975 .


AC/DC AC/DC are an Australian rock band , formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young . A hard rock/blues rock band , they have also been considered a heavy metal band , although they have always dubbed their music simply `` rock and roll '' .   AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album , High Voltage , in 1975 . Membership subsequently stabilised until bassist Mark Evans was replaced by Cliff Williams in 1977 for the album Powerage . Within months of recording the album Highway to Hell , lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died on 19 February 1980 after a night of heavy alcohol consumption . The group considered disbanding , but buoyed by support from Scott 's parents , decided to continue and set about finding a new vocalist . Ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson was auditioned and selected to replace Scott . Later that year , the band released the new album , Back in Black , which was made as a tribute to Bon Scott . The album launched them to new heights of success and became their all-time best-seller .   The band 's next album , For Those About to Rock We Salute You , was their first album to reach number one in the United States . Drummer Phil Rudd was fired in 1983 and replaced by ex-A II Z drummer Simon Wright , who left to join Dio in 1989 . The band experienced a resurgence in the early 1990s with the release of The Razors Edge . Phil Rudd returned in 1994 after Chris Slade , who was with the band from 1989 to 1994 , was asked to leave in favour of him , and contributed to the band 's 1995 album Ballbreaker . Stiff Upper Lip , released in 2000 , was well received by critics . The band 's studio album , Black Ice , released in 2008 , was the second-highest-selling album of that year , and their biggest chart hit since For Those About to Rock , eventually reaching No. 1 on all charts worldwide . The band 's line-up remained the same until 2014 with Malcolm Young 's retirement due to early-onset dementia and Rudd 's legal troubles . In 2016 , Johnson was advised to stop touring on account of worsening hearing loss and Guns N ' Roses frontman Axl Rose stepped in as the band 's vocalist for the remainder of that year 's dates . Long-term bass player Cliff Williams retired from the band at the end of their 2016 Rock Or Bust world tour .   AC/DC have sold more than 200 million records worldwide , including 71.5 million albums in the United States , adding them to the list of highest-certified music artists in the United States and the list of best-selling music artists . Back in Black has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide , making it the second-highest-selling album by any artist -- and the highest-selling album by any band . The album has sold 22 million units in the US , where it is the sixth-highest-selling album of all time . AC/DC ranked fourth on VH1 's list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock '' and were named the seventh `` Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time '' by MTV . In 2004 , AC/DC ranked No. 72 on the Rolling Stone list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' . Producer Rick Rubin , who wrote an essay on the band for the Rolling Stone list , referred to AC/DC as `` the greatest rock and roll band of all time '' . In 2010 , AC/DC were ranked number 23 in the VH1 list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' .


Black Ice (album) Black Ice is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC . It was the band 's fourteenth internationally released studio album and the fifteenth in Australia . Released internationally on 17 October 2008 , it was produced by Brendan O'Brien . It marked the band 's first original recordings since 2000 's Stiff Upper Lip , with the eight-year gap being the longest between AC/DC 's successive studio albums . Black Ice has the longest running time of any AC/DC studio album .   The album 's development was delayed because bass guitarist Cliff Williams sustained an injury and the band changed labels from Elektra Records to Sony Music Entertainment . The first composing sessions between guitarists/brothers Angus and Malcolm Young were in London in 2003 . Recording happened during March and April 2008 at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada . O'Brien tried to recapture the rock sound of the band 's early work , as opposed to the blues orientation of Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip , with suggestions such as adding `` soul crooning '' to Brian Johnson 's singing . The songs were mostly recorded live in the studio ; engineer Mike Fraser used only sparse overdubs and effects to keep the tracks as close to the originals as possible .   Black Ice was released exclusively in physical formats , as the group did not sell its music digitally at the time . Walmart got exclusive rights to distribute the album in North America . Its release was promoted with an extensive marketing campaign , which included displays of AC/DC memorabilia . The four singles issued from the album were , `` Rock 'N' Roll Train '' , `` Big Jack '' , `` Anything Goes '' , and `` Money Made '' . Black Ice peaked at number one in 29 countries , including Australia , Canada , the United Kingdom and the United States . It was the second best-selling record of 2008 , behind Coldplay 's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends and had shipped 6 million copies worldwide by December . Critical reviews were generally positive , praising the music and its resemblance to the classic AC/DC sound , although some critics found the work too long and inconsistent . The track `` War Machine '' won the Best Hard Rock Performance category at the Grammys . The album itself was nominated for many awards , including the Grammy , Brit , Juno and ARIA Music Awards ; and was supported by a world tour between 2008 and 2010 .   Black Ice is the final album to feature the Back In Black era lineup of the band , with founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young leaving the band in September 2014 after being diagnosed with dementia .


For Those About to Rock We Salute You For Those About to Rock We Salute You is the eighth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC . It was the band 's seventh internationally released studio album and the eighth to be released in Australia .   Released in 1981 , the album is a follow-up to their highly successful album Back in Black . For Those About to Rock has sold over four million copies in the US . It would be AC/DC 's first and only No. 1 album in the U.S. until the release of Black Ice in October 2008 . In their original 1981 review , Rolling Stone magazine declared it to be their best album . In Australia , the album peaked at No. 3 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart .   The album , recorded in Paris , France , was the third and final produced for the band by Robert John `` Mutt '' Lange . The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series .


The Razors Edge (AC/DC album) The Razors Edge is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC . It was the band 's eleventh internationally released studio album and the twelfth to be released in Australia . It was a major comeback for the band , featuring the hits `` Thunderstruck '' and `` Are You Ready '' , which reached # 5 and # 16 respectively on Billboard '' 's Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart , and `` Moneytalks '' , which peaked at # 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 . The album went multi-platinum ( 5 million copies sold ) and reached the US top ten . The album reached # 2 on the US Billboard 200 and # 4 in the UK , a smash commercial success that returned the band to the popularity of its glory years of the late 1970s and early 1980s . The album has been certified 5x platinum ( 5 million copies sold ) in the US , and was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters '' series . The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn .


Cliff Williams Clifford `` Cliff '' Williams ( born 14 December 1949 ) is a British musician who was a member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC as their bassist and backing vocalist from 1977 to 2016 . He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home and Bandit . His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage in 1978 . The band , including Williams , was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 . Williams 's playing style is noted for basic bass lines which follow the rhythm guitar . Williams ' side projects , while a member of AC/DC , include benefit concerts and playing with Emir & Frozen Camels on their album San ( 2002 ) and a European tour . In 2016 , Williams announced his retirement from the music industry after AC/DC 's Rock or Bust World Tour .


Malcolm Young Malcolm Mitchell Young ( born 6 January 1953 ) is an Australian retired musician and songwriter , best known as a co-founder , rhythm guitarist , backing vocalist and songwriter for the hard rock band AC/DC . Except for a brief absence in 1988 , he was with the band from its November 1973 beginning until retiring permanently in 2014 , due to health reasons . Young and the other members of AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 .   Though his younger brother Angus is the more visible of the brothers , Malcolm has been described as the driving force and the leader of the band . He also added that despite his retirement from the band , AC/DC was determined to continue making music with his blessing . As the rhythm guitarist , he was responsible for the broad sweep of the band 's sound , developing many of their guitar riffs and co-writing the band 's material with Angus . He is married to Linda Young and has two children , Cara and Ross .   Young took a leave of absence from AC/DC in April 2014 , to receive treatment for dementia . In September 2014 , the band 's management announced that he would be retiring permanently .


Mark Evans (musician) Mark Whitmore Evans ( born 2 March 1956 ) is an Australian bass guitarist who was an early member of hard rock band AC/DC from March 1975 to June 1977 . His playing featured on their albums T.N.T , High Voltage , Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap , Let There Be Rock and '74 Jailbreak . Evans has played for numerous other groups , sometimes on lead guitar , including Finch ( a.k.a. Contraband ) , Cheetah , Swanee , Heaven and The Party Boys . Evans ' autobiography , Dirty Deeds : My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC was released in December 2011 .


Rock and roll Rock and roll ( often written as rock & roll or rock 'n' roll ) is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s , from African American musical styles such as gospel , jump blues , jazz , boogie woogie , and rhythm and blues , along with country music . While elements of rock and roll can be heard in blues records from the 1920s and in country records of the 1930s , the genre did not acquire its name until 1954 .   According to Greg Kot , `` rock and roll '' refers to a style of popular music originating in the U.S. in the 1950s prior to its development by the mid-1960s into `` the more encompassing international style known as rock music , though the latter also continued to be known as rock and roll . '' For the purpose of differentiation , this article deals with the first definition .   In the earliest rock and roll styles of the late 1940s and early 1950s , either the piano or saxophone was often the lead instrument , but these were generally replaced or supplemented by guitar in the middle to late 1950s . The beat is essentially a blues rhythm with an accentuated backbeat , the latter almost always provided by a snare drum . Classic rock and roll is usually played with one or two electric guitars ( one lead , one rhythm ) , a double bass or string bass or ( after the mid-1950s ) an electric bass guitar , and a drum kit .   Beyond simply a musical style , rock and roll , as seen in movies and on television , influenced lifestyles , fashion , attitudes , and language . In addition , rock and roll may have contributed to the civil rights movement because both African-American and white American teens enjoyed the music . It went on to spawn various genres , often without the initially characteristic backbeat , that are now more commonly called simply `` rock music '' or `` rock '' .


Highway to Hell Highway to Hell is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC , released on 27 July 1979 . It was the band 's fifth internationally released studio album and the sixth to be released in Australia . It was the last album featuring lead singer Bon Scott , who died early the following year on Tuesday 19 February 1980 .


Axl Rose W. Axl Rose ( born William Bruce Rose Jr. ; raised as William Bruce Bailey ; February 6 , 1962 ) is an American singer , songwriter , record producer and musician . He is the lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N ' Roses , and has also been the band 's sole constant member since its inception in 1985 . In addition to Guns N ' Roses , he is also the current lead singer of AC/DC since 2016 . Due to his powerful and wide vocal range and energetic live performances , Rose has been named one of the greatest singers of all time by various media outlets , including Rolling Stone and NME .   Born and raised in Lafayette , Indiana , Rose moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s , where he became active in the local hard rock scene and joined several bands , including Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns . In 1985 , he co-founded Guns N ' Roses , with whom he had great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s . Their first album , Appetite for Destruction ( 1987 ) , has sold in excess of 30 million copies worldwide , and is one of the best-selling debut albums of all time in the U.S. with 18 million units sold . Its full-length follow-ups , the twin albums Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II ( 1991 ) , were also widely successful ; they respectively debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and have sold a combined 35 million copies worldwide .   After 1994 , following the conclusion of their two-and-a-half-year Use Your Illusion Tour , Rose disappeared from public life for several years , while the band disintegrated due to personal and musical differences . As its sole remaining original member , he was able to continue working under the Guns N ' Roses banner because he had legally obtained the band name . In 2001 , he resurfaced with a new line-up of Guns N ' Roses at Rock in Rio 3 , and subsequently played periodic concert tours to promote the long-delayed Chinese Democracy ( 2008 ) , which undersold the music industry 's commercial expectations despite positive reviews upon its release . In 2012 , Rose was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N ' Roses , though he declined to attend the event and requested exclusion from the Hall . In 2016 , Rose partially reunited the ` classic ' lineup of Guns N ' Roses and has since toured the world as part of the Not In This Lifetime ... Tour .


Back in Black Back in Black is the seventh studio album by Australian rock band AC/DC . Produced by Robert John `` Mutt '' Lange , the album was released on 25 July 1980 by Albert Productions and Atlantic Records . By the late 1970s , AC/DC began to achieve significant popularity outside their native Australia , with high-energy live performances and a string of successful albums . In 1979 , they paired with producer Lange and recorded their international breakthrough , Highway to Hell . Shortly before the recording of their follow-up , lead vocalist Bon Scott died after a night of heavy alcohol consumption . The group continued with ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson .   Back in Black was recorded over seven weeks in the Bahamas in spring 1980 . The area was hit by tropical storms at the time , making the sessions difficult at times . Johnson penned the album 's lyrics and melodies , while guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young composed the music . Its musical content consists of hard rock-styled numbers . Lange demanded perfection in the band 's recordings , particularly on Johnson 's vocals . Following its completion , the group mixed Back in Black at Electric Lady Studios in New York City . The album 's all-black cover was designed as a `` sign of mourning '' for Scott .   Their sixth international release , Back in Black was an unprecedented success : it has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide . Its enormous sales figures have made it the second-highest-selling album in history . The band supported the album with a yearlong world tour , cementing them among the most popular music acts of the early 1980s . Back in Black received positive critical reception at the time of its release , and it has since been included on numerous lists of `` greatest '' albums . Since its initial release , the album has been reissued and remastered multiple times , most recently for digital distribution .


Alex Rodriguez played professional baseball.

Alex Rodriguez Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez ( born July 27 , 1975 ) , nicknamed `` A-Rod '' , is a Dominican-American former professional baseball shortstop and third baseman . He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for the Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers , and New York Yankees . Rodriguez was one of the sport 's most highly touted prospects and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time . During his 22-year career , Rodriguez has amassed a .297 batting average , 696 home runs , over 2,000 runs batted in ( RBI ) , over 2,000 runs scored , and over 3,000 hits . He is a 14-time All-Star and has won three American League ( AL ) Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Awards , ten Silver Slugger Awards , and two Gold Glove Awards . Rodríguez is the career record holder for grand slams with 25 . However , he has led a highly controversial career due to signing two of the most lucrative sports contracts in history while incurring criticism from the media for his behavior and use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs .   The Mariners selected Rodriguez first overall in the 1993 MLB draft , and he debuted in the major leagues the following year at the age of 18 . In 1996 , he became the Mariners ' starting shortstop and finished second in voting for the AL MVP Award . Rodriguez 's combination of power , speed , and defense made him a cornerstone of the franchise , but he left the team via free agency after the 2000 season to join the Rangers . The 10-year , $ 252 million contract he signed was the richest in baseball history . He played at a high level in his three years with Texas , highlighted by his first AL MVP Award win in 2003 , but the team failed to make the playoffs during his tenure . Prior to the 2004 season , Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees , for whom he converted to a third baseman due to incumbent shortstop Derek Jeter . In his first four seasons with New York , he was twice more named AL MVP . After opting out of his contract following the 2007 season , Rodriguez signed a new 10-year , $ 275 million deal with the Yankees , extending his record for the sport 's most lucrative contract . He became the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs , reaching the milestone in 2007 . He won his first World Series in 2009 , which was the first year of the new Yankee Stadium . The following year , he became the career leader in home runs by a player of Hispanic descent . In recent years , Rodriguez has been hampered by hip and knee injuries , which have caused him to exclusively become a designated hitter . He played his final game as a Yankee on August 12 , 2016 .   In February 2009 , after previously denying use of performance-enhancing drugs , including during a 2007 interview with Katie Couric on 60 Minutes , Rodriguez admitted to using steroids , saying he used them from 2001 to 2003 when playing for Rangers due to `` an enormous amount of pressure '' to perform . While recovering from a hip injury in 2013 , Rodriguez made headlines by feuding with team management over his rehabilitation and for having allegedly obtained performance-enhancing drugs as part of the Biogenesis baseball scandal . In August 2013 , MLB suspended him 211 games for his involvement in the scandal , but he was allowed to play while appealing the punishment . Had the original suspension been upheld , it would have been the longest non-lifetime suspension in Major League Baseball history . After an arbitration hearing , the suspension was reduced to 162 games , keeping him off the field for the entire 2014 season .


Biogenesis baseball scandal The Biogenesis baseball scandal broke in 2013 when several Major League Baseball ( MLB ) players were accused of obtaining performance-enhancing drugs ( `` PEDs '' ) , specifically human growth hormone , from the now-defunct rejuvenation clinic Biogenesis of America . After an ex-employee annoyed over missing back-pay revealed clinic records that were `` clear in describing the firm 's real business : selling performance-enhancing drugs '' , MLB sued six people connected to Biogenesis , accusing them of damaging the sport by providing banned substances to its players . In July , thirteen involved players received lengthy suspensions of fifty or more games ( nearly a third of a season ) .


Imagine Dragons is an American rock band.

Imagine Dragons Imagine Dragons is an American rock band from Las Vegas , Nevada , consisting of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds , lead guitarist Wayne Sermon , bassist Ben McKee , and drummer Daniel Platzman . The band first gained exposure in 2012 with the releases of their debut studio album Night Visions and its first single `` It 's Time '' . Billboard placed them at the top of their `` Year In Rock '' rankings for 2013 , and named them their `` Breakthrough Band of 2013 '' . Rolling Stone named their single `` Radioactive '' from Night Visions the `` biggest rock hit of the year '' , and MTV called them `` the year 's biggest breakout band '' . Night Visions peaked at number two on the weekly US Billboard 200 chart and the UK Albums Chart . The band 's second studio album Smoke + Mirrors was released in 2015 , and reached number one in the US , Canada and the UK .   Imagine Dragons has won two American Music Awards for Favorite Alternative Artist , a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance , five Billboard Music Awards , and a World Music Award . In May 2014 , the band was nominated for a total of fourteen different Billboard Music Awards , including Top Artist of the Year and a Milestone Award , which recognizes innovation and creativity of artists across different genres . As of January 2017 , Imagine Dragons have sold 9 million albums and 27 million singles worldwide .


Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ( -LSB- nəˈpoʊliən_ˈboʊnəpɑrt -RSB- -LSB- napɔleɔ̃ bɔnapaʁt -RSB- ; 15 August 1769 -- 5 May 1821 ) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars . As Napoleon I , he was Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814 , and again in 1815 . Napoleon dominated European and global affairs for more than a decade while leading France against a series of coalitions in the Napoleonic Wars . He won most of these wars and the vast majority of his battles , building a large empire that ruled over continental Europe before its final collapse in 1815 . One of the greatest commanders in history , his wars and campaigns are studied at military schools worldwide . Napoleon 's political and cultural legacy has endured as one of the most celebrated and controversial leaders in human history .   He was born Napoleone di Buonaparte ( -LSB- napoleoŋe dj buɔŋaparte -RSB- ) in Corsica , Republic of Genoa , to a relatively modest family from the minor nobility . When the Revolution broke out in 1789 , Napoleon was serving as an artillery officer in the French army . Seizing the new opportunities presented by the Revolution , he rapidly rose through the ranks of the military , becoming a general at age 24 . The Directory eventually gave him command of the Army of Italy after he suppressed a revolt against the government from royalist insurgents . At age 26 , he began his first military campaign against the Austrians and their Italian allies -- winning virtually every battle , conquering the Italian Peninsula in a year , and becoming a national hero . In 1798 , he led a military expedition to Egypt that served as a springboard to political power . He engineered a coup in November 1799 and became First Consul of the Republic . His ambition and public approval inspired him to go further , and in 1804 he became the first Emperor of the French '' . Intractable differences with the British meant that the French were facing a Third Coalition by 1805 . Napoleon shattered this coalition with decisive victories in the Ulm Campaign and a historic triumph over Russia and Austria at the Battle of Austerlitz , which led to the elimination of the thousand year-old Holy Roman Empire . In 1806 , the Fourth Coalition took up arms against him because Prussia became worried about growing French influence on the continent . Napoleon quickly defeated Prussia at the battles of Jena and Auerstedt , then marched the Grand Army deep into Eastern Europe and annihilated the Russians in June 1807 at the Battle of Friedland . France then forced the defeated nations of the Fourth Coalition to sign the Treaties of Tilsit in July 1807 , bringing an uneasy peace to the continent . Tilsit signified the high watermark of the French Empire . In 1809 , the Austrians and the British challenged the French again during the War of the Fifth Coalition , but Napoleon solidified his grip over Europe after triumphing at the Battle of Wagram in July .   Hoping to extend the Continental System and choke off British trade with the European mainland , Napoleon invaded Iberia and declared his brother Joseph the King of Spain in 1808 . The Spanish and the Portuguese revolted with British support . The Peninsular War lasted six years , featured extensive guerrilla warfare , and ended in victory for the Allies . The Continental System caused recurring diplomatic conflicts between France and its client states , especially Russia . Unwilling to bear the economic consequences of reduced trade , the Russians routinely violated the Continental System and enticed Napoleon into another war . The French launched a major invasion of Russia in the summer of 1812 . The resulting campaign witnessed the collapse of the Grand Army , the destruction of Russian cities , and inspired a renewed push against Napoleon by his enemies . In 1813 , Prussia and Austria joined Russian forces in a Sixth Coalition against France . A lengthy military campaign culminated in a large Allied army defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813 . The Allies then invaded France and captured Paris in the spring of 1814 , forcing Napoleon to abdicate in April . He was exiled to the island of Elba near Rome and the Bourbons were restored to power . However , Napoleon escaped from Elba in February 1815 and took control of France once again . The Allies responded by forming a Seventh Coalition , which defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in June . The British exiled him to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic , where he died six years later at the age of 51 .   Napoleon had an extensive and powerful influence on the modern world , bringing liberal reforms to the numerous territories that he conquered and controlled , such as the Low Countries , Switzerland , and large parts of modern Italy and Germany . He implemented fundamental liberal policies in France and throughout Western Europe . His legal achievement , the Napoleonic Code , has influenced the legal systems of more than 70 nations around the world . British historian Andrew Roberts stated , `` The ideas that underpin our modern world -- meritocracy , equality before the law , property rights , religious toleration , modern secular education , sound finances , and so on -- were championed , consolidated , codified and geographically extended by Napoleon . To them he added a rational and efficient local administration , an end to rural banditry , the encouragement of science and the arts , the abolition of feudalism and the greatest codification of laws since the fall of the Roman Empire '' .


Foo Fighters have sold exactly 5 million copies of their albums in the US.

Foo Fighters Foo Fighters is an American rock band , formed in Seattle , Washington in 1994 . It was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of Nirvana after the death of Kurt Cobain . The group got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War II , which were known collectively as `` foo fighters '' .   Prior to the release of Foo Fighters ' 1995 debut album Foo Fighters , which featured Grohl as the only official member , Grohl recruited bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith , both formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate , as well as Nirvana touring guitarist Pat Smear to complete the lineup . The band began with performances in Portland , Oregon . Goldsmith quit during the recording of the group 's second album , The Colour and the Shape ( 1997 ) , when most of the drum parts were re-recorded by Grohl himself . Smear 's departure followed soon afterward , though he would rejoin them in 2006 .   They were replaced by Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl , respectively , although Stahl was fired before the recording of the group 's third album , There Is Nothing Left to Lose ( 1999 ) . The band briefly continued as a trio until Chris Shiflett joined as the band 's lead guitarist after the completion of There Is Nothing Left to Lose . The band released its fourth album , One by One , in 2002 . The group followed that release with the two-disc In Your Honor ( 2005 ) , which was split between acoustic songs and heavier material . Foo Fighters released its sixth album , Echoes , Silence , Patience & Grace , in 2007 . The band 's seventh studio album , Wasting Light , produced by Butch Vig was released in 2011 , in which Smear returned as a full member . In November 2014 , the band 's eighth studio album , Sonic Highways , was released as an accompanying soundtrack to the Grohl-directed 2014 miniseries of the same name .   Over the course of the band 's career , four of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album . As of 2015 , the band 's eight albums have sold 12 million copies in the U.S. , and 30 million worldwide .


Prince (musician) Prince Rogers Nelson ( June 7 , 1958 -- April 21 , 2016 ) was an American singer-songwriter , actor , multi-instrumentalist , philanthropist , dancer and record producer . He was a musical innovator who was known for his eclectic work , flamboyant stage presence , extravagant dress and makeup , and wide vocal range . His music integrates a wide variety of styles , including funk , rock , R&B , new wave , soul , psychedelia , and pop . He has sold over 100 million records worldwide , making him one of the best-selling artists of all time . He won seven Grammy Awards , an American Music Award , a Golden Globe Award , and an Academy Award for the film Purple Rain . He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 , his first year of eligibility . Rolling Stone ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists , `` the most influential artists of the rock & roll era '' .   Prince was born in Minneapolis , Minnesota , and developed an interest in music as a young child . He signed a recording contract with Warner Bros. at the age of 18 , and released his debut album For You in 1978 . His 1979 album Prince went platinum , and his next three records -- Dirty Mind ( 1980 ) , Controversy ( 1981 ) , and 1999 ( 1982 ) -- continued his success , showcasing Prince 's prominently sexual lyrics and blending of funk , dance , and rock music . In 1984 , he began referring to his backup band as the Revolution and released Purple Rain , the soundtrack album to his eponymous 1984 film debut . It quickly became his most critically and commercially successful release , spending 24 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200 and selling over 20 million units worldwide . After releasing the albums Around the World in a Day ( 1985 ) and Parade ( 1986 ) , The Revolution disbanded , and Prince released the double album Sign o ' the Times ( 1987 ) as a solo artist . He released three more solo albums before debuting the New Power Generation band in 1991 .   In 1993 , while in a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. , he changed his stage name to , an unpronounceable symbol also known as the `` Love Symbol '' , and began releasing new albums at a faster pace to remove himself from contractual obligations . He released five records between 1994 and 1996 before signing with Arista Records in 1998 . In 2000 , he began referring to himself as `` Prince '' again . He released 16 albums after that , including the platinum-selling Musicology ( 2004 ) . His final album , Hit n Run Phase Two , was first released on the Tidal streaming service on December 12 , 2015 . Prince died from a fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park recording studio and home in Chanhassen , Minnesota , on April 21 , 2016 , at the age of 57 .


Fergie (singer) Fergie Duhamel ( -LSB- ˈfɜːrɡi_dəˈmɛl -RSB- ) ( born Stacy Ann Ferguson ; March 27 , 1975 ) is an American singer , songwriter and actress . She was the female vocalist for the hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas from 2002 until 2017 , with whom she had achieved chart success worldwide . Her debut solo album The Dutchess ( 2006 ) was a major commercial success on the charts and spawned three Billboard Hot 100 number one singles ; `` London Bridge '' , `` Glamorous '' and `` Big Girls Do n't Cry '' .   Ferguson was a member of the children 's television series Kids Incorporated and the girl group Wild Orchid . In 2001 , she left the group and in the subsequent year began to team up with The Black Eyed Peas . With The Black Eyed Peas , she enjoyed a series of hits and albums before she released her solo debut album in September 2006 to success . The Black Eyed Peas enjoyed further success with the release of their third album with Ferguson , The E.N.D. ( 2009 ) ; they attained their first string of Billboard Hot 100 number one songs . She began touring in 2009/2010 with her group and she launched her debut fragrance , Outspoken , under Avon in May 2010 and has since released three more fragrances .   She continued success with The Black Eyed Peas and they released the album The Beginning ( 2010 ) , which featured three singles , including two number one songs . As Ferguson 's five solo singles and six singles with The Black Eyed Peas have reached two million downloads in the United States , Ferguson was the artist with the most two-million sellers by the beginning of 2011 .


Daniel Radcliffe was in The Woman in Black.

Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Jacob Radcliffe ( born 23 July 1989 ) is an English actor best known for his role as Harry Potter in the film series of the same name . He made his acting debut at 10 years of age in BBC One 's 1999 television film David Copperfield , followed by his cinematic debut in 2001 's The Tailor of Panama . At age 11 , he was cast as Harry Potter in the first Harry Potter film , and starred in the series for 10 years until the release of the eighth and final film in 2011 .   Radcliffe began to branch out to stage acting in 2007 , starring in the London and New York productions of Equus , and in the 2011 Broadway revival of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying . His recent films include the horror film The Woman in Black ( 2012 ) , playing beat poet Allen Ginsberg in the independent film Kill Your Darlings ( 2013 ) , science fiction fantasy Victor Frankenstein ( 2015 ) and comedy-drama Swiss Army Man , heist thriller film Now You See Me 2 and thriller Imperium ( all 2016 ) .   He has contributed to many charities , including Demelza Hospice Care for Children , and The Trevor Project for suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth , which gave him its Hero Award in 2011 .


Edward I of England responded to something.

Edward I of England Edward I ( 17/18 June 1239 -- 7 July 1307 ) , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots ( Malleus Scotorum ) , was King of England from 1272 to 1307 . He spent much of his reign reforming royal administration and common law . Through an extensive legal inquiry , Edward investigated the tenure of various feudal liberties , while the law was reformed through a series of statutes regulating criminal and property law . Increasingly , however , Edward 's attention was drawn towards military affairs .   The first son of Henry III , Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father 's reign , which included an outright rebellion by the English barons . In 1259 , he briefly sided with a baronial reform movement , supporting the Provisions of Oxford . After reconciliation with his father , however , he remained loyal throughout the subsequent armed conflict , known as the Second Barons ' War . After the Battle of Lewes , Edward was hostage to the rebellious barons , but escaped after a few months and joined the fight against Simon de Montfort . Montfort was defeated at the Battle of Evesham in 1265 , and within two years the rebellion was extinguished . With England pacified , Edward joined the Ninth Crusade to the Holy Land . The crusade accomplished little , and Edward was on his way home in 1272 when he was informed that his father had died . Making a slow return , he reached England in 1274 and was crowned at Westminster on 19 August .   After suppressing a minor rebellion in Wales in 1276 -- 77 , Edward responded to a second rebellion in 1282 -- 83 with a full-scale war of conquest . After a successful campaign , Edward subjected Wales to English rule , built a series of castles and towns in the countryside and settled them with English people . Next , his efforts were directed towards Scotland . Initially invited to arbitrate a succession dispute , Edward claimed feudal suzerainty over the kingdom . In the war that followed , the Scots persevered , even though the English seemed victorious at several points . At the same time there were problems at home . In the mid-1290s , extensive military campaigns required high levels of taxation , and Edward met with both lay and ecclesiastical opposition . These crises were initially averted , but issues remained unsettled . When the King died in 1307 , he left to his son , Edward II , an ongoing war with Scotland and many financial and political problems .   Edward I was a tall man for his era , hence the nickname `` Longshanks '' . He was temperamental , and this , along with his height , made him an intimidating man , and he often instilled fear in his contemporaries . Nevertheless , he held the respect of his subjects for the way he embodied the medieval ideal of kingship , as a soldier , an administrator and a man of faith . Modern historians are divided on their assessment of Edward I : while some have praised him for his contribution to the law and administration , others have criticised him for his uncompromising attitude towards his nobility . Currently , Edward I is credited with many accomplishments during his reign , including restoring royal authority after the reign of Henry III , establishing Parliament as a permanent institution and thereby also a functional system for raising taxes , and reforming the law through statutes . At the same time , he is also often criticised for other actions , such as his brutal conduct towards the Scots , and issuing the Edict of Expulsion in 1290 , by which the Jews were expelled from England . The Edict remained in effect for the rest of the Middle Ages , and it was over 350 years until it was formally overturned under Oliver Cromwell in 1656 .


Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani song) `` Rich Girl '' is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album , Love . Angel . Music . Baby . ( 2004 ) . Produced by Dr. Dre , the track features American rapper Eve , and is a remake of Louchie Lou & Michie One 's 1993 song of the same name , which is in turn an adaptation of the Fiddler on the Roof song `` If I Were a Rich Man '' . Stefani says the song discusses her dreams of fame and riches from the perspective of `` when she was just an Orange County girl '' .   The last song to be included on the album , `` Rich Girl '' was released as the album 's second single in late 2004 to mixed reviews from music critics . It was a commercial success , reaching the top 10 on most of the charts it entered . In the United States , `` Rich Girl '' was certified gold , and it received a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 47th Grammy Awards .


Many of Titanic's lifeboats were launched partially loaded.

RMS Titanic RMS Titanic ( -LSB- taɪˈtænɪk -RSB- ) was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early morning of 15 April 1912 , after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City . Of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew aboard , more than 1,500 died , making it one of the deadliest commercial peacetime maritime disasters in modern history . The largest ship afloat at the time it entered service , the RMS Titanic was the second of three s operated by the White Star Line , and was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast . Thomas Andrews , her architect , died in the disaster .   Under the command of Edward Smith , who went down with the ship , Titanic carried some of the wealthiest people in the world , as well as hundreds of emigrants from Great Britain and Ireland , Scandinavia and elsewhere throughout Europe seeking a new life in North America . The first-class accommodation was designed to be the pinnacle of comfort and luxury , with an on-board gymnasium , swimming pool , libraries , high-class restaurants and opulent cabins . A high-power radiotelegraph transmitter was available for sending passenger `` marconigrams '' and for the ship 's operational use . Although Titanic had advanced safety features such as watertight compartments and remotely activated watertight doors , there were not enough lifeboats to accommodate all of those aboard , due to outdated maritime safety regulations . Titanic only carried enough lifeboats for 1,178 people -- slightly more than half of the number on board , and one third of her total capacity .   After leaving Southampton on 10 April 1912 , Titanic called at Cherbourg in France and Queenstown ( now Cobh ) in Ireland before heading west to New York . On 14 April , four days into the crossing and about 375 mi south of Newfoundland , she hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. ship 's time . The collision caused the ship 's hull plates to buckle inwards along her starboard ( right ) side and opened five of her sixteen watertight compartments to the sea ; she could only survive four flooding . Meanwhile , passengers and some crew members were evacuated in lifeboats , many of which were launched only partially loaded . A disproportionate number of men were left aboard because of a `` women and children first '' protocol for loading lifeboats . At 2:20 a.m. , she broke apart and foundered -- with well over one thousand people still aboard . Just under two hours after Titanic sank , the Cunard liner arrived at the scene , where she brought aboard an estimated 705 survivors .   The disaster was greeted with worldwide shock and outrage at the huge loss of life and the regulatory and operational failures that had led to it . Public inquiries in Britain and the United States led to major improvements in maritime safety . One of their most important legacies was the establishment in 1914 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ( SOLAS ) , which still governs maritime safety today . Additionally , several new wireless regulations were passed around the world in an effort to learn from the many missteps in wireless communications -- which could have saved many more passengers .   The wreck of Titanic , first discovered over 70 years after the sinking , remains on the seabed , split in two and gradually disintegrating at a depth of 12415 ft. Since her discovery in 1985 , thousands of artefacts have been recovered and put on display at museums around the world . Titanic has become one of the most famous ships in history ; her memory is kept alive by numerous works of popular culture , including books , folk songs , films , exhibits , and memorials . Titanic is the second largest ocean liner wreck in the world , only beaten by her sister , the largest ever sunk .


The Hobbit's director was not from New Zealand.

The Hobbit (film series) The Hobbit is a film series consisting of three high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson . They are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien , with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King , which expand on the story told in The Hobbit , as well as new material and characters written especially for the films . Together they act as a prequel to Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey ( 2012 ) , The Desolation of Smaug ( 2013 ) , and The Battle of the Five Armies ( 2014 ) .   The screenplay was written by Fran Walsh , Philippa Boyens , Jackson , and Guillermo del Toro , who was originally chosen to direct before his departure from the project . The films take place in the fictional world of Middle-earth sixty years before the beginning of The Lord of the Rings , and follow hobbit Bilbo Baggins ( Martin Freeman ) , who is convinced by the wizard Gandalf the Grey ( Ian McKellen ) to accompany thirteen dwarves , led by Thorin Oakenshield ( Richard Armitage ) , on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug ( voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch ) . The films also expand upon certain elements from the novel and other source material , such as Gandalf 's investigation at Dol Guldur , and the pursuit of Azog and Bolg , who seek vengeance against Thorin and his ancestors .   The films feature an ensemble cast that also includes James Nesbitt , Ken Stott , Evangeline Lilly , Lee Pace and Luke Evans , with several actors reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings , including Cate Blanchett , Orlando Bloom , Ian Holm , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis . The films also feature Manu Bennett , Sylvester McCoy , Stephen Fry , Mikael Persbrandt , Barry Humphries , and Lawrence Makoare . Also returning for production , among others , were illustrators John Howe and Alan Lee , art director Dan Hennah , cinematographer Andrew Lesnie , and composer Howard Shore , while props were again crafted by Weta Workshop , with visual effects managed by Weta Digital .   The first film in the series premiered at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington , New Zealand on 28 November 2012 . One hundred thousand people lined the red carpet on Courtenay Place , and the entire event was broadcast live on television in New Zealand and streamed over the Internet . The second film of the series premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles , California on 2 December 2013 . The third and final film premiered at Leicester Square in London on 1 December 2014 .   The series was a major financial success , with the films classified as one of the highest-grossing film series of all time , going on to outgross The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . Although critically considered to be inferior to The Lord of the Rings , it was nominated for various awards and won several , though not as many as its predecessor .


Peter Jackson Sir Peter Robert Jackson ( born 31 October 1961 ) is a New Zealand film director , screenwriter and film producer . He is best known as the director , writer , and producer of The Lord of the Rings trilogy ( 2001 -- 03 ) and The Hobbit trilogy ( 2012 -- 14 ) , both of which are adapted from the novels of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien . Other notable films include the critically lauded drama Heavenly Creatures ( 1994 ) , the mockumentary Forgotten Silver ( 1995 ) , the horror comedy The Frighteners ( 1996 ) , the epic monster remake film King Kong ( 2005 ) , and the supernatural drama film The Lovely Bones ( 2009 ) . He also produced District 9 ( 2009 ) , The Adventures of Tintin : The Secret of the Unicorn ( 2011 ) , and the documentary West of Memphis ( 2012 ) .   Jackson began his career with the `` splatstick '' horror comedy Bad Taste ( 1987 ) and the black comedy Meet the Feebles ( 1989 ) before filming the zombie comedy Braindead ( 1992 ) . He shared a nomination for Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with his partner Fran Walsh for Heavenly Creatures , which brought him to mainstream prominence in the film industry . Jackson has been awarded three Academy Awards in his career , including the award for Best Director in 2003 . He has also received a Golden Globe , four Saturn Awards and three BAFTAs amongst others .   His production company is Wingnut Films , and his most regular collaborators are co-writers and producers Walsh and Philippa Boyens . Jackson was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 . He was later knighted ( as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit ) by Anand Satyanand , the Governor-General of New Zealand , at a ceremony in Wellington in April 2010 . In December 2014 , Jackson was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .


Tipper Gore Mary Elizabeth `` Tipper '' Gore ( née Aitcheson ; born August 19 , 1948 ) is an author , photographer , and social issues advocate who was Second Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001 , and the wife of Al Gore , the 45th Vice President of the United States , from whom she is currently separated .   Gore rose to prominence for her work with the Parents Music Resource Center ( PMRC ) , voicing strong opinions and advocating censorship , for the labeling of record covers of releases featuring profane language , especially in the heavy metal , punk and hip hop genres . She has advocated for mental health , homelessness , women and children . Gore has also been an LGBT rights activist since her husband was in office , which was rare for a second lady and against her husband 's beliefs at the time .


Kamala Harris was not re-elected in 2007.

Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( -LSB- ˈkɑːmələ -RSB- born October 20 , 1964 ) is an American attorney and politician who is the junior United States Senator from California . She is a member of the Democratic Party and served as the 32nd Attorney General of California .   Harris graduated from Howard University and University of California , Hastings College of the Law . She worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County , California ( 1990 -- 98 ) . She served as Managing Attorney of the Career Criminal Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney 's Office ( 1998-2000 ) and as Chief of the Community and Neighborhood Division in the office of San Francisco City Attorney ( 2000 -- 03 ) . In 2003 , she was elected as California 's first African American female District Attorney of San Francisco , defeating incumbent Terence Hallinan . She was re-elected in 2007 and served from 2004 to 2011 .   Harris was elected California 's Attorney General in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 . Harris was the first woman , the first Jamaican American , the first Asian American , the first Indian American , and the first African American attorney general in California .   On November 8 , 2016 , she defeated Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 U.S. Senate election to replace outgoing Democratic senator Barbara Boxer , becoming the third woman of color , first Indian American , and first biracial woman ( alongside Tammy Duckworth and Catherine Cortez Masto ) elected to serve in the United States Senate .


Ulysses S. Grant retired from public service after the Civil War.

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant ( born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27 , 1822 -- July 23 , 1885 ) was the 18th President of the United States ( 1869 -- 77 ) . As Commanding General ( 1864 -- 69 ) , Grant worked closely with President Abraham Lincoln to lead the Union Army to victory over the Confederacy in the American Civil War . Supported by Congress , Grant implemented Reconstruction , often at odds with President Andrew Johnson . Twice elected president , Grant led the Republicans in their effort to remove the vestiges of Confederate nationalism and slavery , protect African-American citizenship , and support economic prosperity . His presidency has often been criticized for tolerating corruption and for the economic depression in his second term .   Grant graduated in 1843 from the United States Military Academy at West Point , then served in the Mexican -- American War . After the war he married Julia Boggs Dent in 1848 , their marriage producing four children . Grant initially retired from the Army in 1854 . He struggled financially in civilian life . When the Civil War began in 1861 , he rejoined the U.S. Army . In 1862 , Grant took control of Kentucky and most of Tennessee , and led Union forces to victory in the Battle of Shiloh , earning a reputation as an aggressive commander . In July 1863 , after a series of coordinated battles , Grant defeated Confederate armies and seized Vicksburg , giving the Union control of the Mississippi River and dividing the Confederacy in two . After his victories in the Chattanooga Campaign , Lincoln promoted him to lieutenant general and Commanding General of the Army in March 1864 . Grant confronted Robert E. Lee in a series of bloody battles , trapping Lee 's army in their defense of Richmond . Grant coordinated a series of devastating campaigns in other theaters , as well . In April 1865 , Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox , effectively ending the war . Historians have hailed Grant 's military genius , and his strategies are featured in military history textbooks , but a minority contend that he won by brute force rather than superior strategy .   After the Civil War , Grant led the army 's supervision of Reconstruction in the former Confederate states . Elected president in 1868 , he stabilized the nation during that turbulent period , prosecuted the Ku Klux Klan , and enforced civil rights and voting rights laws using the army and the newly created Department of Justice . He also used the army to build the Republican Party in the South . After the disenfranchisement of some former Confederates , Republicans gained majorities , and African Americans were elected to Congress and high state offices . The Democrats and Liberal Republicans united behind Grant 's opponent in the presidential election of 1872 , but were unable to defeat his reelection . In his second term , the Republican coalitions in the South splintered and were defeated one by one as redeemers ( conservative whites ) regained control using coercion and violence . In response , Grant signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875 into law . In May 1875 , Grant authorized his Secretary of Treasury Benjamin Bristow to prosecute the corrupt Whiskey Ring . Grant 's Indian Peace Policy , incorporating Christian missionaries , initially reduced frontier violence , but it is best known for the Great Sioux War of 1876 . Grant 's administration faced charges of corruption more than that of any other 19th Century president . He appointed the first Civil Service Commission and signed legislation ending the corrupt moiety system .   In foreign policy , Grant was uneven , having sought to increase trade and influence while remaining at peace with the world . When Grant relied on his Secretary of State Hamilton Fish , his administration successfully resolved the Alabama claims by the Treaty of Washington with Great Britain , ending wartime tensions . Additionally , Grant and Fish avoided war with Spain over the Virginius Affair negotiating a peaceful resolution . Congress rejected Grant 's own attempted annexation of the Dominican Republic initiative , creating a rift among Republicans . His administration implemented a gold standard and sought to strengthen the dollar . Corruption charges escalated during his second term , while his response to the Panic of 1873 proved ineffective nationally in halting the five-year industrial depression that produced high unemployment , low prices , low profits , and bankruptcies . Grant left office in 1877 and embarked on a two-year diplomatic world tour that captured the nation 's attention .   In 1880 , Grant was unsuccessful in obtaining the Republican presidential nomination for a third term . Facing severe investment reversals and dying of throat cancer , he wrote his memoirs , which proved to be a major literary work and financial success . His death in 1885 prompted an outpouring in support of national unity . Historical assessment of Grant 's legacy has varied considerably over the years . Early historical evaluations were negative about Grant 's presidency , often focusing on the corruption charges against his associates . This trend began to change in the later 20th century . Scholars in general rank his presidency below the average , but modern research , in part focusing on civil rights , evaluates his administration more positively .


Role-playing games can be conducted through character acting.

Role-playing game A role-playing game ( sometimes spelled roleplaying game and abbreviated to RPG ) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting . Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative , either through literal acting or through a process of structured decision-making or character development . Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines .   There are several forms of RPG . The original form , sometimes called the tabletop RPG , is conducted through discussion , whereas in live action role-playing games ( LARP ) players physically perform their characters actions . In both of these forms , an arranger called a game master ( GM ) usually decides on the rules and setting to be used , acting as referee , while each of the other players plays the role of a single character .   Several varieties of RPG also exist in electronic media , such as multi-player text-based MUDs and their graphics-based successors , massively multiplayer online role-playing games ( MMORPGs ) . Role-playing games also include single-player role-playing video games in which players control a character or team who undertake quests , and may include capabilities that advance using statistical mechanics . These games often share settings and rules with tabletop RPGs , but emphasize character advancement more than collaborative storytelling .   Despite this variety of forms , some game forms such as trading card games and wargames that are related to role-playing games may not be included . Role-playing activity may sometimes be present in such games , but it is not the primary focus . The term is also sometimes used to describe roleplay simulation games and exercises used in teaching , training , and academic research .


Dick Cavett is included in Duane Hopwood.

Duane Hopwood Duane Hopwood is a 2005 film featured in the Sundance Film Festival starring David Schwimmer and Janeane Garofalo , with a supporting cast featuring Judah Friedlander , Dick Cavett , Susan Lynch , John Krasinski , Rachel Covey , and Mia Dillon . The movie was written and directed by Matt Mulhern and released by IFC Films in November 2005 .   The film 's plot centers on the title character ( Schwimmer ) , an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after his divorce from Linda ( Garofalo ) .   The movie , writer/director Matt Mulhern 's second film , was well received by critics , named by Roger Ebert as `` one of the best movies of 2005 . '' He also said that David Schwimmer gave a `` career-transforming performance . '' IFC did not release the film in New York City or Los Angeles , focusing instead on Philadelphia , Tucson and Kansas City . HBO released the DVD in April 2006 and Showtime and The Movie Channel began the cable run in December 2006 .


Isabella of France died on August 22, 1358.

Isabella of France Isabella of France ( 1295 -- 22 August 1358 ) , sometimes described as the She-Wolf of France , was Queen of England as the wife of Edward II , and regent of England from 1326 until 1330 . She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre . Queen Isabella was notable at the time for her beauty , diplomatic skills , and intelligence .   Isabella arrived in England at the age of 12 during a period of growing conflict between the king and the powerful baronial factions . Her new husband was notorious for the patronage he lavished on his favourite , Piers Gaveston , but the queen supported Edward during these early years , forming a working relationship with Piers and using her relationship with the French monarchy to bolster her own authority and power . After the death of Gaveston at the hands of the barons in 1312 , however , Edward later turned to a new favourite , Hugh Despenser the Younger , and attempted to take revenge on the barons , resulting in the Despenser War and a period of internal repression across England . Isabella could not tolerate Hugh Despenser and by 1325 her marriage to Edward was at a breaking point .   Travelling to France under the guise of a diplomatic mission , Isabella began an affair with Roger Mortimer , and the two agreed to depose Edward and oust the Despenser family . The Queen returned to England with a small mercenary army in 1326 , moving rapidly across England . The King 's forces deserted him . Isabella deposed Edward , becoming regent on behalf of her son , Edward III . Many have believed that Isabella then arranged the murder of Edward II . Isabella and Mortimer 's regime began to crumble , partly because of her lavish spending , but also because the Queen successfully , but unpopularly , resolved long-running problems such as the wars with Scotland .   In 1330 , Isabella 's son Edward III deposed Mortimer in turn , taking back his authority and executing Isabella 's lover . The Queen was not punished , however , and lived for many years in considerable style -- although not at Edward III 's court -- until her death in 1358 . Isabella became a popular `` femme fatale '' figure in plays and literature over the years , usually portrayed as a beautiful but cruel , manipulative figure .


Blue Velvet (film) Blue Velvet is a 1986 American neo-noir mystery film , written and directed by David Lynch . Blending psychological horror with film noir , the film stars Kyle MacLachlan , Isabella Rossellini , Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern . The title is taken from Bobby Vinton 's 1963 song of the same name .   The screenplay of Blue Velvet had been passed around multiple times in the late 1970s and early 1980s , with many major studios declining it because of its strong sexual and violent content . After the commercial and critical failure of Lynch 's Dune ( 1984 ) , the director made attempts at developing a more `` personal story '' , somewhat characteristic of the surrealist style displayed in his debut Eraserhead ( 1977 ) . The independent studio De Laurentiis Entertainment Group , owned at the time by Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis , agreed to finance and produce the film .   Blue Velvet initially received a divided critical response , with many stating that its objectionable content served little artistic purpose . It nevertheless earned Lynch his second Academy Award nomination for Best Director and came to achieve cult status . As an example of a director casting against the norm , it was credited for re-launching Hopper 's career and for providing Rossellini with a dramatic outlet beyond her previous work as a fashion model and a cosmetics spokeswoman .   In the years since , the film has generated significant academic attention with regard to its thematic symbolism , and is now widely regarded as one of Lynch 's major works and one of the greatest films of the 1980s . Publications including Sight & Sound , Time , Entertainment Weekly and BBC Magazine have ranked it among the greatest American films of all time . In 2008 , Blue Velvet was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest American mystery films ever made .


Helios Helios ( -LSB- ˈhiːli.ɒs -RSB- Ἥλιος Hēlios ; Latinized as Helius ; Ἠέλιος in Homeric Greek ) was the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology . He is the son of the Titan Hyperion and the Titaness Theia ( according to Hesiod ) , also known as Euryphaessa ( in Homeric Hymn 31 ) and brother of the goddesses Selene , the moon , and Eos , the dawn .   Helios was described as a handsome titan crowned with the shining aureole of the Sun , who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day to earth-circling Oceanus and through the world-ocean returned to the East at night . In the Homeric hymn to Helios , Helios is said to drive a golden chariot drawn by steeds ( HH 31.14 -- 15 ) ; and Pindar speaks of Helios 's `` fire-darting steeds '' ( Olympian Ode 7.71 ) . Still later , the horses were given fire related names : Pyrois , Aeos , Aethon , and Phlegon .   As time passed , Helios was increasingly identified with the god of light , Apollo . However , in spite of their syncretism , they were also often viewed as two distinct gods/titan ( Helios was a Titan , whereas Apollo was an Olympian ) . The equivalent of Helios in Roman mythology was Sol .


Glee (TV series) Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that aired on the Fox network in the United States from May 19 , 2009 , to March 20 , 2015 . It focuses on the fictitious William McKinley High School glee club , New Directions , which competes on the show choir competition circuit while its disparate members deal with social issues , especially regarding sexuality and race , relationships , and learning to become an effective team . The initial twelve-member cast included club director and Spanish teacher Will Schuester ( Matthew Morrison ) , cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester ( Jane Lynch ) , guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury ( Jayma Mays ) , Will 's wife Terri ( Jessalyn Gilsig ) , and eight club members played by Dianna Agron , Chris Colfer , Kevin McHale , Lea Michele , Cory Monteith , Amber Riley , Mark Salling , and Jenna Ushkowitz . In subsequent seasons , the main cast has expanded to fourteen and fifteen members .   The series was created by Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk , and Ian Brennan , the latter of whom first conceived of Glee as a film . The three wrote all of the show 's episodes for the first two seasons , and Murphy and Falchuk initially served as the show 's main directors . The pilot episode was broadcast on May 19 , 2009 , and the first season aired from September 9 , 2009 , to June 8 , 2010 . Subsequent seasons aired in September through May . The sixth and final season aired from January to March 2015 . Glee features on-screen performance-based musical numbers that were selected by Murphy , who aimed to maintain a balance between show tunes and chart hits , and produced by Adam Anders and Peer Åström . Songs covered in the show were released through the iTunes Store during the week of broadcast , and a series of Glee albums have been released by Columbia Records . The music of Glee has been a commercial success , with over thirty-six million digital single sales and eleven million album sales worldwide through October 2011 . The series ' merchandise also includes DVD and Blu-ray releases , an iPad application , and karaoke games for the Wii . There were live concert tours by the show 's cast after the first and second seasons completed shooting ; a concert film based on the 2011 tour , Glee : The 3D Concert Movie , was produced by Murphy and Fox and directed by Kevin Tancharoen .   During its first season , Glee received generally favorable reviews from critics , with Metacritic 's weighted average of 77 out of 100 based on eighteen critical reviews . The season was nominated for nineteen Emmy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , six Satellite Awards and fifty-seven other awards , with wins including the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Musical or Comedy , and Emmy awards for Jane Lynch , guest-star Neil Patrick Harris and Murphy 's direction of the pilot episode . In 2011 , the show once again won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series , and Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer won Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively , and Gwyneth Paltrow won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series . The show was also chosen by Fox to fill the coveted time slot that followed the network 's coverage of Super Bowl XLV in 2011 .   On October 17 , 2013 , in the wake of the death of Cory Monteith three months prior , and one week after his tribute episode `` The Quarterback '' aired , Murphy announced that the sixth season would be the final one of the series . After 121 episodes and over 728 music performances , Glee came to an end on March 20 , 2015 .


Since the 1960s, Colombia has eliminated armed conflict.

Colombia Colombia ( k ) , is a sovereign state largely situated in the northwest of South America , with territories in Central America . Colombia shares a border to the northwest with Panama , to the east with Venezuela and Brazil and to the south with Ecuador and Peru . It shares its maritime limits with Costa Rica , Nicaragua , Honduras , Jamaica , Haiti and the Dominican Republic . It is a unitary , constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments . The territory of what is now Colombia was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples , with as most advanced the Muisca , Quimbaya and the Tairona .   The Spanish set foot on Colombian soil for the first time in 1499 and in the first half of the 16th century initiated a period of conquest and colonization , ultimately creating the New Kingdom of Granada , with as capital Santafé de Bogotá . Independence from Spain was acquired in 1819 , but by 1830 the `` Gran Colombia '' Federation was dissolved . What is now Colombia and Panama emerged as the Republic of New Granada . The new nation experimented with federalism as the Granadine Confederation ( 1858 ) , and then the United States of Colombia ( 1863 ) , before the Republic of Colombia was finally declared in 1886 . Panama seceded in 1903 . Since the 1960s , the country has suffered from an asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict , which escalated in the 1990s but then decreased from 2005 onward . Colombia is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world , and thereby possesses a rich cultural heritage . The urban centres are mostly located in the highlands of the Andes mountains .   Colombian territory also encompasses Amazon rainforest , tropical grassland and both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines . Ecologically , it is one of the world 's 17 megadiverse countries , and the most densely biodiverse of these per square kilometer . Colombia is a middle power and a regional actor with the fourth-largest economy in Latin America , is part of the CIVETS group of six leading emerging markets and is a member of the UN , the WTO , the OAS , the Pacific Alliance , and other international organizations . Colombia has a diversified economy with macroeconomic stability and favorable growth prospects in the long run .


On September 5, 1976, Carice van Houten was born.

Carice van Houten Carice Anouk van Houten ( -LSB- kaːˈris ɑˈnuk vɑn ˈɦʌu̯tə ( n ) -RSB- ; born 5 September 1976 ) is a Dutch actress and singer . Born in Leiderdorp , a town in the western Netherlands , she was brought up by writer and theatre-radio producer Theodore van Houten . Her younger sister Jelka is also an actress . She was exposed to the performing arts at an early age and studied at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Kleinkunstacademie Theaterschool in Amsterdam . Her first leading role as the eponymous protagonist in the television film Suzy Q ( 1999 ) won her the Golden Calf for Best Acting in a Television Drama ; two years later , she won her second Golden Calf for Best Actress for Undercover Kitty ( 2001 ) .   She gained widespread recognition for her performance in Black Book ( 2006 ) , the most commercially successful Dutch film to date , for which she won her second Golden Calf for Best Actress , in addition to nominations from the Chicago Film Critics Association , the European Film Academy , and the Online Film Critics Society . She was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for Valkyrie ( 2008 ) , and won her fourth and fifth Golden Calf Awards for Best Actress for The Happy Housewife ( 2010 ) and Black Butterflies ( 2011 ) . Her other notable English-language performances include Repo Men ( 2010 ) , Black Death ( 2010 ) , and Brimstone ( 2016 ) .   Since 2012 , Van Houten has received international recognition for her role as Melisandre on the HBO fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones ( 2012 -- present ) , for which she has been nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series . After meeting Australian actor and musician Guy Pearce on the set of Brimstone in 2015 , she gave birth to their first child the following year .


Paul Thomas Anderson never produced a film.

Magnolia (film) Magnolia is a 1999 American ensemble drama film written , co-produced and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson . The film stars Jeremy Blackman , Tom Cruise , Melinda Dillon , Philip Baker Hall , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Ricky Jay , William H. Macy , Alfred Molina , Julianne Moore , John C. Reilly , Jason Robards and Melora Walters , and is a mosaic of interrelated characters in search of happiness , forgiveness and meaning in the San Fernando Valley .   Magnolia received positive reviews , with critics praising its acting , direction , storytelling , ambition , and its soundtrack , largely consisting of Aimee Mann songs ; however , some deemed it overlong and melodramatic . Of the ensemble cast , Tom Cruise was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 72nd Academy Awards , and won the award in that category at the Golden Globes of 2000 . The film also won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival . It was Robards ' final feature film . Following the film 's release , Anderson said : `` I really feel ... That Magnolia is , for better or worse , the best movie I 'll ever make . ''


Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson ( born June 26 , 1970 ) also known as P.T. Anderson , is an American filmmaker . Interested in film-making since a young age , Anderson was encouraged by his father to become a filmmaker .   In 1993 , he wrote and directed a short film titled Cigarettes & Coffee on a budget of $ 20,000 . After he attended the Sundance Institute , Anderson had a deal with Rysher Entertainment to direct his first feature film , a neo-noir crime thriller titled Hard Eight , in 1996 . Anderson received critical and commercial success for his film Boogie Nights ( 1997 ) , set during the Golden Age of Porn in the 1970s and 1980s . His third feature , Magnolia ( 1999 ) , takes place over a single day in the San Fernando Valley , following the interconnected lives of several characters in search of happiness and resolution . It received strongly positive reviews despite struggling at the box office . In 2002 , the romantic comedy-drama Punch-Drunk Love , Anderson 's fourth feature , was released to generally favorable reviews .   The epic drama There Will Be Blood ( 2007 ) , set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries , centers on a silver miner 's efforts to capitalize on the Southern California oil boom . Released after a five-year absence , it garnered wide acclaim from critics . Anderson 's sixth film , the drama The Master ( 2012 ) , was released to critical acclaim . His seventh film , the crime comedy-drama Inherent Vice , based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Pynchon , was released in 2014 , to general acclaim . His eighth film , Junun , is a documentary about the making of an album of the same name . His ninth film , Phantom Thread , which will reunite him with actor Daniel Day-Lewis , will be released on December 25 , 2017 .   Anderson has been nominated for six Academy Awards over the course of his career , while his works have earned a further fourteen Academy Award nominations and two wins for cast and crew . There Will Be Blood has been named by several critics as the best film of the 2000s . It later ranked , along with The Master and Inherent Vice , in the BBC 's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century .


Boogie Nights Boogie Nights is a 1997 American drama film written , produced and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson . It is set in Los Angeles ' San Fernando Valley and focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films , chronicling his rise in the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s through to his fall during the excesses of the 1980s . The film is an expansion of Anderson 's mockumentary short film The Dirk Diggler Story ( 1988 ) . It stars Mark Wahlberg , Julianne Moore , Burt Reynolds , Don Cheadle , John C. Reilly , William H. Macy and Heather Graham .   The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11 , 1997 and was released on October 10 , 1997 , and garnered critical acclaim . It was also nominated for three Academy Awards , including Best Original Screenplay for Anderson , Best Supporting Actress for Moore and Best Supporting Actor for Reynolds . The film 's soundtrack also received acclaim .