California California ( -LSB- kælᵻˈfɔːrnjə , _ - ni.ə -RSB- , ) is the most populous state in the United States and the third most extensive by area . Located on the western ( Pacific Ocean ) coast of the U.S. , California is bordered by the other U.S. states of Oregon , Nevada , and Arizona and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California . The state capital is Sacramento . Los Angeles is California 's most populous city , and the country 's second largest after New York City . The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation 's second - and fifth-most populous urban regions , respectively . California also has the nation 's most populous county , Los Angeles County , and its largest county by area , San Bernardino County .   California 's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east ; and from the redwood -- Douglas fir forests in the northwest to the Mojave Desert in the southeast . The Central Valley , a major agricultural area , dominates the state 's center . Though California is well-known for its warm Mediterranean climate , the large size of the state means it can vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north , to arid desert in the interior , as well as snowy alpine in the mountains .   What is now California was first settled by various Native American tribes before being explored by a number of European expeditions during the 16th and 17th centuries . The Spanish Empire then claimed it as part of Alta California in their New Spain colony . The area became a part of Mexico in 1821 following its successful war for independence , but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican -- American War . The western portion of Alta California then was organized as the State of California , and admitted as the 31st state on September 9 , 1850 . The California Gold Rush starting in 1848 led to dramatic social and demographic changes , with large-scale emigration from the east and abroad with an accompanying economic boom .   If it were a country , California would be the 6th largest economy in the world and the 35th most populous . It is also regarded as a global trendsetter in both popular culture and politics , and is the origin of the film industry , the hippie counterculture , the Internet , and the personal computer , among others . Fifty-eight percent of the state 's economy is centered on finance , government , real estate services , technology , and professional , scientific and technical business services . The San Francisco Bay Area has the nation 's highest median household income by metropolitan area , and is the headquarters of three of the world 's largest 40 firms by revenue , Chevron , Apple , and McKesson . Although it accounts for only 1.5 percent of the state 's economy , California 's agriculture industry has the highest output of any U.S. state .


Amitabh Bachchan has won awards internationally.

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Harivansh Rai Shrivastava Bachchan ( -LSB- əmɪˈtaːbʱ ˈbətʃːən -RSB- ; born 11 October 1942 ) is an Indian film actor . He first gained popularity in the early 1970s for movies like Zanjeer and Deewaar , and was dubbed India 's first `` angry young man '' for his on-screen roles in Bollywood . Referred to as the `` Shahenshah of Bollywood '' , `` Star of the Millennium '' or `` Big B '' ,  he has since appeared in over 190 Indian films in a career spanning almost five decades . Bachchan is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema . So total was his dominance on the movie scene in the 1970s and 1980s that the French director François Truffaut called him a `` one-man industry . ''   Bachchan has won numerous accolades in his career , including four National Film Awards as Best Actor and many awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies . He has won fifteen Filmfare Awards and is the most-nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare , with 41 nominations overall . In addition to acting , Bachchan has worked as a playback singer , film producer and television presenter . He has hosted several seasons of the game show , Kaun Banega Crorepati , India 's version of the game show franchise , Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ? . He also had a stint in politics in the 1980s .   The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1984 , the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 for his contributions to the arts . The Government of France honoured him with its highest civilian honour , Knight of the Legion of Honour , in 2007 for his exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond .   Bachchan made his Hollywood debut in 2013 with The Great Gatsby , in which he played a non-Indian Jewish character , Meyer Wolfsheim .


Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo has Lee Sung-kyung in a principal role.

Lee Sung-kyung Lee Sung-kyung ( born August 10 , 1990 ) , is a South Korean model and actress . She acted in the television dramas Cheese in the Trap ( 2016 ) and Doctor Crush ( 2016 ) before taking her first leading role as the titular character in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo ( 2016 ) .


Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is a South Korean television series starring Lee Sung-kyung in the title role . It is a coming-of-age sports drama , inspired by the life of Olympic gold-medalist Jang Mi-ran . It airs on MBC every Wednesday and Thursday at 22:00 ( KST ) starting November 16 , 2016 to January 11 , 2017 .


50 First Dates 50 First Dates is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal and written by George Wing . The film stars Adam Sandler as a lothario veterinarian and Drew Barrymore as an amnesiac , along with Rob Schneider , Sean Astin , Lusia Strus , Blake Clark , and Dan Aykroyd . Most of the film was shot on location in Oahu , Hawaii on the Windward side and the North Shore . Sandler and Barrymore won an MTV award . The fictitious memory impairment suffered by Barrymore 's character , Goldfield 's Syndrome , is similar to short term memory loss and anterograde amnesia . The 2014 Malayalam film Ormayundo Ee Mukham is inspired by 50 First Dates .


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 .


Kobe Bryant entered the NBA after leaving high school.

Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant ( born August 23 , 1978 ) is an American retired professional basketball player and businessman . He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers . Bryant is an 18-time All-Star , 15-time member of the All-NBA Team , and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team . He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons , and ranks third on the league 's all-time regular season scoring and fourth on the all-time postseason scoring list . He holds the NBA record for the most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career .   The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant , Kobe Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania , where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country . He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation , and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets , who traded him to the Lakers . As a rookie , Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest , and he was named an All-Star by his second season . Despite a feud between them , Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 .   In 2003 , Bryant was accused of sexual assault in Colorado , but the charges were eventually dropped , and a civil suit was settled out of court . After the Lakers lost the 2004 NBA Finals , O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat . Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers , and he led the NBA in scoring during the 2005 -- 06 and 2006 -- 07 seasons . In 2006 , he scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors , the second most points scored in a single game in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain 's 100-point game in 1962 . Bryant was awarded the regular season 's Most Valuable Player Award ( MVP ) in 2008 . After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals , he led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 , earning the Finals MVP Award on both occasions . He continued to be among the top players in the league through 2013 , when the 34-year-old Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon . Although he recovered , his play was limited the following two years by season-ending injuries to his knee and shoulder , respectively . Citing his physical decline , he announced that he would be retiring after the 2015 -- 16 season .   At 34 years and 104 days of age , Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points . He became the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history on February 1 , 2010 , when he surpassed Jerry West . Following his second year in the league , Bryant was chosen to start every All-Star Game until his retirement for a record 18 consecutive appearances , and his four All-Star MVP Awards are tied for the most in NBA history . At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics , he won gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team . Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s .


David Bowie sold 140 million records around the world.

David Bowie David Robert Jones ( 8 January 1947 -- 10 January 2016 ) , known professionally as David Bowie ( -LSB- ˈboʊi -RSB- ) , was an English singer , songwriter and actor . He was a figure in popular music for over five decades , becoming acclaimed by critics and other musicians for his innovative work . His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation , his music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music . During his lifetime , his record sales , estimated at 140 million worldwide , made him one of the world 's best-selling music artists . In the UK , he was awarded nine platinum album certifications , eleven gold and eight silver , releasing eleven number-one albums . In the US , he received five platinum and seven gold certifications . He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 .   Born in Brixton , South London , Bowie developed an interest in music as a child , eventually studying art , music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963 . `` Space Oddity '' became his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart after its release in July 1969 . After a period of experimentation , he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust . The character was spearheaded by the success of his single `` Starman '' and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars , which won him widespread popularity . In 1975 , Bowie 's style shifted radically towards a sound he characterised as `` plastic soul '' , initially alienating many of his UK devotees but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single `` Fame '' and the album Young Americans . In 1976 , Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station . The following year , he further confounded musical expectations with the electronic-inflected album Low ( 1977 ) , the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that would come to be known as the `` Berlin Trilogy '' . `` Heroes '' ( 1977 ) and Lodger ( 1979 ) followed ; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise .   After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s , Bowie had UK number ones with the 1980 single `` Ashes to Ashes '' , its parent album Scary Monsters and Super Creeps , and `` Under Pressure '' , a 1981 collaboration with Queen . He then reached his commercial peak in 1983 with Let 's Dance , with its title track topping both UK and US charts . Throughout the 1990s and 2000s , Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles , including industrial and jungle . He also continued acting ; his roles included Major Celliers in Merry Christmas , Mr. Lawrence ( 1983 ) , the Goblin King Jareth in Labyrinth ( 1986 ) , Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ ( 1988 ) , and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige ( 2006 ) , among other film and television appearances and cameos . He stopped concert touring after 2004 , and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006 . In 2013 , Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with the release of The Next Day . He remained musically active until he died of liver cancer two days after the release of his final album , Blackstar ( 2016 ) .


Game of Thrones (season 3) is a fantasy drama.

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


Warren Buffett Warren Edward Buffett ( -LSB- ˈbʌfᵻt -RSB- born August 30 , 1930 ) is an American business magnate , investor , and philanthropist . He is considered by some to be one of the most successful investors in the world , and as of March 2017 is the second wealthiest person in the United States , and the fourth wealthiest in the world , with a total net worth of $ 73.3 billion .   Born in Omaha , Buffett developed an interest in business and investing in his youth , eventually entering the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1947 before transferring and graduating from University of Nebraska -- Lincoln . After graduating at 19 , Buffett enrolled at Columbia Business School of Columbia University , learning and eventually creating his investment philosophy around a concept pioneered by Benjamin Graham -- value investing . He attended New York Institute of Finance to specialize his economics background and soon after began various business partnerships , including one with Graham . After meeting Charlie Munger , Buffett created the Buffett Partnership . His firm would eventually acquire a textile manufacturing firm called Berkshire Hathaway and assume its name to create a diversified holding company .   Buffett has been the chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970 , and his business exploits have had him referred to as the `` Wizard '' , `` Oracle '' or `` Sage '' of Omaha by global media outlets . He is noted for his adherence to value investing and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth .   Buffett is a notable philanthropist , having pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes , primarily via the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . In 2009 , with Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg , Warren founded The Giving Pledge , whereby billionaires pledge to give away at least half of their fortunes .   He is also active in contributing to political causes , having endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election ; he has publicly opposed the policies , actions , and statements of the current U.S. president , Donald Trump .


Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( -LSB- ( t ) ʃaˈkiɾa isaˈβel meβaˈɾak riˈpol -RSB- ; -LSB- langʃəˈki : rə -RSB- born 2 February 1977 ) is a Colombian singer , songwriter , dancer , and record producer . Born and raised in Barranquilla , she began performing in school , demonstrating Latin American , Arabic , and rock and roll influences and belly dancing abilities . Shakira 's first studio albums , Magia and Peligro , failed to attain commercial success in the 1990s ; however , she rose to prominence in Latin America with her major-label debut , Pies Descalzos ( 1996 ) , and her fourth album , Dónde Están los Ladrones ? ( 1998 ) .   Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album , Laundry Service . Its lead single , `` Whenever , Wherever '' , became one of the most successful singles of 2002 . Her success was solidified with her sixth and seventh albums Fijación Oral , Volumen Uno and Oral Fixation , Volume Two ( 2005 ) , the latter of which spawned one of the best-selling songs of the 21st century , `` Hips Do n't Lie '' . Shakira 's eighth and ninth albums , She Wolf ( 2009 ) and Sale el Sol ( 2010 ) , received critical praise . Her official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup , `` Waka Waka ( This Time for Africa ) '' , became the biggest-selling World Cup song of all time . With over 1.3 billion views , it is one of the most-watched music videos on YouTube . Shakira served as a coach on the fourth and sixth seasons of the American version of The Voice in 2013 and 2014 , respectively . Her tenth album , Shakira ( 2014 ) , is preceded by its lead single , `` Ca n't Remember to Forget You '' .   Shakira has won many awards , including five MTV Video Music Awards , two Grammy Awards , eight Latin Grammy Awards , seven Billboard Music Awards , 28 Billboard Latin Music Awards and has been Golden Globe-nominated . She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , and has sold between 70 and 125 million records worldwide ( depending on the source ) , making her the best selling South American singer and one of the best selling Latin artists of all time . She carries out well-known philanthropic activities through charity work most notably through her Pies Descalzos Foundation . In 2014 , she was listed as the 58th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes .


Ted Kaczynski Theodore John Kaczynski ( -LSB- kəˈzɪnski -RSB- born May 22 , 1942 ) , also known as the `` Unabomber '' , is an American serial killer , domestic terrorist , and self-professed anarchist . A mathematical prodigy , he abandoned a promising academic career in 1969 , then between 1978 and 1995 killed three people , and injured 23 others , in a nationwide bombing campaign targeting people involved with modern technology . In conjunction with this campaign he issued a wide-ranging social critique opposing industrialization and modern technology , and advancing a nature-centered form of anarchism .   Kaczynski was born and raised in Evergreen Park , Illinois . While growing up in Evergreen Park he was a child prodigy , excelling academically from an early age . Kaczynski was accepted into Harvard University at the age of 16 , where he earned an undergraduate degree . He subsequently earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Michigan . He became an assistant professor at the University of California , Berkeley in 1967 at age 25 . He resigned two years later .   As a Harvard undergraduate , Kaczynski was among twenty-two students who were research subjects in ethically questionable experiments conducted by psychology professor Henry Murray from late 1959 to early 1962 .   In 1971 , he moved to a remote cabin without electricity or running water in Lincoln , Montana , where he lived as a recluse while learning survival skills in an attempt to become self-sufficient . Seventeen years after beginning his mail bomb campaign , Kaczynski sent a letter to The New York Times on April 24 , 1995 and promised `` to desist from terrorism '' if the Times or The Washington Post published his manifesto , Industrial Society and Its Future ( the `` Unabomber Manifesto '' ) , in which he argued that his bombings were extreme but necessary to attract attention to the erosion of human freedom necessitated by modern technologies requiring large-scale organization .   The Unabomber was the target of one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 's costliest investigations . Before Kaczynski 's identity was known , the FBI used the title `` UNABOM '' ( UNiversity & Airline BOMber ) to refer to his case , which resulted in the media calling him the Unabomber . The FBI ( as well as Attorney General Janet Reno ) pushed for the publication of Kaczynski 's `` Manifesto '' , which led to his sister-in-law , and then his brother , recognizing Kaczynski 's style of writing and beliefs from the manifesto , and tipping off the FBI . Kaczynski tried unsuccessfully to dismiss his court-appointed lawyers because they wanted to plead insanity in order to avoid the death penalty , as Kaczynski did not believe he was insane . When it became clear that his pending trial would entail national television exposure for Kaczynski , the court entered a plea agreement , under which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole . He has been designated a `` domestic terrorist '' by the FBI . Some anarcho-primitivist authors , such as John Zerzan and John Moore , have come to his defense , while also holding some reservations about his actions and ideas .


Maggie Gyllenhaal Margalit Ruth `` Maggie '' Gyllenhaal ( -LSB- ˈdʒɪlənhɑːl -RSB- born November 16 , 1977 in New York City ) is an American actress . Part of the Gyllenhaal family , she is the daughter of filmmakers Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Achs and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal .   She began her film career as a teenager with roles in her father 's films and appeared alongside her brother in the psychological horror film Donnie Darko ( 2001 ) . She garnered critical praise for starring as Lee Holloway in Secretary ( 2002 ) , for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award . For her performance in Sherrybaby ( 2006 ) , she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama . She also received recognition for starring as Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight ( 2008 ) . For her performance in the musical-drama Crazy Heart ( 2009 ) , she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress . She subsequently starred in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang ( 2010 ) , Wo n't Back Down ( 2012 ) and Frank ( 2014 ) , for which she was nominated for a BIFA Award .   In 2014 , she made her Broadway debut in a revival of The Real Thing , and also starred in the television BBC miniseries The Honourable Woman . For her performance in the latter she won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award .


OK Computer was recorded by R.E.M. and released by I.R.S. Records.

OK Computer OK Computer is the third studio album by English alternative rock band Radiohead , released in 1997 on EMI subsidiaries Parlophone and Capitol Records . The members of Radiohead self-produced the album with Nigel Godrich , an arrangement that the band has used on all of their subsequent albums to date . Other than `` Lucky '' , which was recorded in 1995 , Radiohead recorded the album in Oxfordshire and Bath between 1996 and early 1997 , mostly in the historic mansion St. Catherine 's Court . The band made a deliberate attempt to distance themselves from the guitar-oriented , lyrically introspective style of their previous album , The Bends . OK Computers abstract lyrics , densely layered sound and eclectic range of influences laid the groundwork for Radiohead 's later , more experimental work .   Upon the album 's delivery to EMI and its global subsidiary distributors , label representatives generally lowered their sales estimates , deeming the record 's sound uncommercial and difficult to market . Nevertheless , OK Computer reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and became the band 's highest album entry on the American charts at the time , debuting at number 21 on the Billboard 200 . Four songs from the album -- `` Paranoid Android '' , `` Karma Police '' , `` Lucky '' , and `` No Surprises '' -- were released as promotional singles . The album expanded Radiohead 's international popularity and has sold more than 4.5 million copies worldwide . A remastered reissue with additional tracks , OKNOTOK , is scheduled for release in June 2017 , commemorating the album 's twentieth anniversary .   OK Computer received widespread critical acclaim and in subsequent years has been cited by listeners , critics and musicians as one of the greatest albums of all time . The album initiated a stylistic shift in British rock away from the then-ubiquitous genre of Britpop toward melancholic , atmospheric styles of alternative and indie rock that became more prevalent in the next decade . Critics and fans have noted that the album 's lyrics and music depict a world fraught with rampant consumerism , social alienation , emotional isolation and political malaise ; in this capacity , OK Computer is often interpreted as having prescient insight into the mood of 21st-century life .


The Isle of Man used to be ruled by Norway.

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( -LSB- ˈmæn -RSB- Mannin -LSB- ˈmanɪn -RSB- or Ellan Vannin -LSB- ˈɛlʲən ˈvanɪn -RSB- ) , also known simply as Mann , is a self-governing crown dependency in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland . The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II , who holds the title of Lord of Mann . The Lord of Mann is represented by a Lieutenant Governor . Foreign relations and defence are the responsibility of the British Government .   The island has been inhabited since before 6500 BC . Gaelic cultural influence began in the 5th century and the Manx language , a branch of the Gaelic languages , emerged . In 627 , Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia . In the 9th century , Norsemen established the Kingdom of the Isles . Magnus III , King of Norway , was also known as King of Mann and the Isles between 1099 and 1103 .   In 1266 , the island became part of Scotland under the Treaty of Perth , after being ruled by Norway . After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England , the island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399 . The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1765 , but the island never became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain or its successor the United Kingdom : it retained its status as an internally self-governing Crown dependency .


Alex Rodriguez has scored on every at-bat he has had.


Austria's neighboring country is Vienna.

Austria Austria ( listen ) , is a federal republic and a landlocked country of over 8.7 million people in Central Europe . It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north , Hungary and Slovakia to the east , Slovenia and Italy to the south , and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west . The territory of Austria covers 83879 km2 . The terrain is highly mountainous , lying within the Alps ; only 32 % of the country is below 500 m , and its highest point is 3798 m . The majority of the population speaks local Bavarian dialects of German as their native language , and Austrian German in its standard form is the country 's official language . Other local official languages are Hungarian , Burgenland Croatian , and Slovene .   The origins of modern-day Austria date back to the time of the Habsburg dynasty , when the vast majority of the country was a part of the Holy Roman Empire . From the time of the Reformation , many northern German princes , resenting the authority of the Emperor , used Protestantism as a flag of rebellion . The Thirty Years War , the influence of the Kingdom of Sweden and Kingdom of France , the rise of the Kingdom of Prussia , and the Napoleonic invasions all weakened the power of the Emperor in the north of Germany , but in the south , and in non-German areas of the Empire , the Emperor and Catholicism maintained control . During the 17th and 18th centuries , Austria retained its position as one of the great powers of Europe and , in response to the coronation of Napoleon as the Emperor of the French , the Austrian Empire was officially proclaimed in 1804 . Following Napoleon 's defeat , Prussia emerged as Austria 's chief competitor for rule of a greater Germany . Austria 's defeat by Prussia at the Battle of Königgrätz , during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 , cleared the way for Prussia to assert control over the rest of Germany . In 1867 , the empire was reformed into Austria-Hungary . After the defeat of France in the 1870-1 Franco-Prussian War , Austria was excluded from the new German Empire , although in the following decades , its politics , and its foreign policy , increasingly converged with those of the Prussian-led Empire . During the 1914 July Crisis that followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28 , Austria-Hungary , emboldened by a pledge of German support , on July 28 declared war on Serbia because that country had not fully complied with an Austrian ultimatum . Austria was thus the first to go to war in the July Crisis , which would ultimately escalate into World War I.   After the collapse of the Habsburg ( Austro-Hungarian ) Empire in 1918 at the end of World War I , Austria adopted and used the name the Republic of German-Austria ( Deutschösterreich ) , later changed to Österreich , in an attempt at union with Germany , but this was forbidden under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye ( 1919 ) . The First Austrian Republic was established in 1919 . In 1938 Nazi Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss . This lasted until the end of World War II in 1945 , after which Germany was occupied by the Allies and Austria 's former democratic constitution was restored . In 1955 , the Austrian State Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state , ending the occupation . In the same year , the Austrian Parliament created the Declaration of Neutrality which declared that the Second Austrian Republic would become permanently neutral .   Today , Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy comprising nine federal states . The capital and largest city , with a population exceeding 1.7 million , is Vienna . Other major urban areas of Austria include Graz , Linz , Salzburg and Innsbruck . Austria is one of the richest countries in the world , with a nominal per capita GDP of $ 43,724 . The country has developed a high standard of living and in 2014 was ranked 21st in the world for its Human Development Index . Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 , joined the European Union in 1995 , and is a founder of the OECD . Austria also signed the Schengen Agreement in 1995 , and adopted the euro currency in 1999 .


Alessia Cara Alessia Caracciolo ( -LSB- aˈlɛssja kaˈrattʃolo -RSB- ; born July 11 , 1996 ) , professionally known as Alessia Cara , is a Canadian singer and songwriter . She is signed to EP Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings and released her debut single , `` Here '' , from the debut studio album , Know-It-All , released November 13 , 2015 . A sleeper hit , the song reached the top five in the United States and the top 20 in Canada . Prior to her work for Def Jam , she produced acoustic covers on YouTube .   In 2016 , her single `` Scars to Your Beautiful '' reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the US pop radio charts . In 2017 , Cara collaborated with producer Zedd to create the single `` Stay '' , which has since reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 , making it her third top ten song .


Nurse Jackie Nurse Jackie is an American medical comedy-drama series . It premiered on Showtime on June 8 , 2009 . The show 's seventh and final season premiered on April 12 , 2015 . The series finale aired on June 28 , 2015 .   The show stars Edie Falco as the title character Jackie Peyton , an emergency department nurse at All Saints ' Hospital in New York City . For Jackie , `` every day is a high wire act of juggling patients , doctors , fellow nurses , and her own indiscretions . ''


Caryn Mandabach Caryn Mandabach is an American television producer .   Caryn Mandabach produced ground-breaking US hits including The Cosby Show , Roseanne , A Different World ( 1990 -- 1993 ) , Grace Under Fire ( 1993 -- 1998 ) , Cybill ( 1995 -- 1998 ) , 3rd Rock from the Sun ( 1997 -- 2001 ) , That '80s Show ( 2002 ) , That '70s Show ( 1998 -- 2004 ) , and Grounded for Life ( 2001 -- 2005 ) .   Most recently she executive produced Nurse Jackie , with Linda Wallem and Liz Brixius , a half-hour dark comedy about a `` flawed '' emergency room nurse in a New York City hospital , starring Edie Falco .   Mandabach currently operates TV production companies on both sides of the Atlantic , where she is actively developing both drama and comedy series for BBC , including the BBC2 period drama Peaky Blinders , Channel 4 , and HBO .   Mandabach has won an Emmy award and has also been honoured by The Producer 's Guild , Women in Film and the Hollywood Radio and Television Society among others .


Linda McCartney Linda Louise , Lady McCartney ( née Eastman ; formerly See ; September 24 , 1941 -- April 17 , 1998 ) was an American musician , photographer , animal rights activist , entrepreneur and publisher who was married to Paul McCartney of the Beatles . Prior to marrying Paul , she was a professional photographer of celebrities and contemporary musicians , with her work published in music industry magazines . Her photos were also published in the book Linda McCartney 's Sixties : Portrait of an Era , in 1992 .   Linda married McCartney in 1969 at St John 's Wood Church in London . Her daughter , Heather Louise , from her first marriage to Melville See , was adopted by her new husband . Together , the McCartneys had three other children .   In 1971 , after they married and following the break-up of the Beatles the previous year , Paul and Linda McCartney recorded the album Ram . Shortly afterwards , they formed the band Wings . She continued to be part of her husband 's touring band following Wings ' break-up in 1981 up until The New World Tour in 1993 .   She was an animal rights activist and wrote and published several vegetarian cookbooks , and founded the Linda McCartney Foods company with her husband .   In 1995 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and died from the disease in 1998 at the age of 56 .


In November 2011 Up All Night was released.

Up All Night (One Direction album) Up All Night is the debut studio album by English-Irish group One Direction , released by Syco Records in November 2011 in Ireland and the United Kingdom , followed by a worldwide release during 2012 . Four months after finishing third in the seventh series of British reality singing contest The X Factor in December 2010 , One Direction began recording the album in Sweden , UK and the United States , working with a variety of writers and producers . The album is predominantly a pop music album which orientates into pop rock , dance-pop , teen pop and power pop . The album 's lyrical content regards being young , relationships , heartbreak and empowerment . Staged in support of the album , One Direction performed the album 's songs live on televised shows , at awards ceremonies , and during their worldwide Up All Night Tour .   The album received generally favourable reviews from contemporary music critics , many of whom appreciated the album 's combination of melodic song craft and catchy , pop-oriented material that , while slickly produced , avoided the commercial cynicism and adult contemporary posturing of some of their '80s and '90s forebears . An international success , the album topped the charts in sixteen countries and , by December 2012 , has sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide . The album bowed at number two on the UK Albums Chart and ultimately became the UK 's fastest-selling debut album of 2011 . Up All Night debuted to number one on the United States Billboard 200 , selling 176,000 copies in its first week . According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ( IFPI ) , Up All Night was the third global best-selling album of 2012 with sales of 4.5 million copies .   One Direction finished 2012 with two of that year 's top five best-selling albums in the United States ; Up All Night at number three and their second studio album , Take Me Home , at number five , making the boy band the first act to place two albums in the year-end top five in the Nielsen SoundScan era . In addition , Up All Night became the best-selling album by a group and the third best-selling debut album of 2012 . Four singles were released from the album , including the UK Singles Chart top ten hits `` What Makes You Beautiful '' , `` Got ta Be You '' , and `` One Thing '' .


Jorah Mormont is played by a Scottish actor of the stage.

Jorah Mormont Jorah Mormont , nicknamed Jorah the Andal , is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin , and its television adaptation Game of Thrones .   Introduced in 1996 's A Game of Thrones , Jorah is the only son of Jeor Mormont , the honorable lord commander of the Nights Watch of the kingdom of Westeros . He subsequently appeared in Martin 's A Clash of Kings ( 1998 ) , A Storm of Swords ( 2000 ) and A Dance with Dragons ( 2011 ) .   Jorah is portrayed by Iain Glen in the HBO television adaptation .


Iain Glen Iain Glen ( born 24 June 1961 ) is a Scottish film , television , and stage actor . Glen is best known for his roles as Dr. Alexander Isaacs / Tyrant in the Resident Evil films and for portraying Ser Jorah Mormont on Game of Thrones . Other notable roles include John Hanning Speke in Mountains of the Moon , Sir Richard Carlisle in Downton Abbey , the title role in Jack Taylor and Jarrod Slade in Cleverman .


Splash (film) Splash is a 1984 American fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard , written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel , and starring Tom Hanks , Daryl Hannah , John Candy , Eugene Levy , and Dody Goodman . The film involves a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid . The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay . The original music score was composed by Lee Holdridge .   The film is notable for being the first film released by the Walt Disney Studios ' Touchstone Pictures label , which had been created that same year in an effort to release films targeted at adult audiences , with mature content not appropriate for the studio 's flagship Walt Disney Pictures banner . Splash had received a PG-rating for including some profanity and brief nudity .


Martina Hingis is a citizen of Switzerland, but was born Czechoslovakia.

Swiss people The Swiss ( die Schweizer , les Suisses , gli Svizzeri , ils Svizzers ) are citizens of Switzerland . The demonym derives from the toponym of Schwyz and has been in widespread use to refer to the Old Swiss Confederacy since the 16th century .   Although the Swiss Confederation , the modern state of Switzerland , originated in 1848 , the period of romantic nationalism , it is not a nation-state , and the Swiss are not usually considered to form a single ethnic group , but a confederacy ( Eidgenossenschaft ) or -LSB- : de : Willensnation , Willensnation -RSB- ( `` nation of will '' , `` nation by choice '' , that is , a consociational state ) , a term coined in conscious contrast to `` nation '' in the conventionally linguistic or ethnic sense of the term .   The number of Swiss nationals has grown from 1.7 million in 1815 to 6.76 million in 2009 with 90 % of them living in Switzerland . About 60 % of those living abroad reside in the European Union ( 446,412 ) . The largest groups of Swiss descendants and nationals outside of Europe are found in the United States and Canada .


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


Murder on the Orient Express starred zero actors or actresses.

Murder on the Orient Express (2017 film) Murder on the Orient Express is an upcoming British-American mystery film directed by Kenneth Branagh . The screenplay by Michael Green is based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie . The film stars Branagh , Tom Bateman , Lucy Boynton , Olivia Colman , Penélope Cruz , Willem Dafoe , Judi Dench , Johnny Depp , Josh Gad , Manuel Garcia-Rulfo , Derek Jacobi , Marwan Kenzari , Leslie Odom Jr. , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sergei Polunin , and Daisy Ridley . Scheduled to be released on November 10 , 2017 , by 20th Century Fox , the film is the third motion picture adaptation of Christie 's novel , following Sidney Lumet 's 1974 version and Carl Schenkel 's 2001 version .


As the World Turns was replaced with a show.

As the World Turns As the World Turns ( often referred to as ATWT ) is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2 , 1956 , to September 17 , 2010 . Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light . Running for 54 years , As the World Turns holds the second-longest continuous run of any daytime network soap opera on American television , surpassed only by Guiding Light . As the World Turns was produced for the first 43 years in Manhattan and in Brooklyn from 2000 until 2010 .   Set in the fictional town of Oakdale , Illinois , the show debuted on April 2 , 1956 , at 1:30 pm EST. . Prior to that date , all serials had been 15 minutes in length . As the World Turns and The Edge of Night , which premiered on the same day at 4:30 pm EST , were the first two to be 30 minutes in length from their premiere . At first , viewers did not respond to the new half-hour serial , but ratings picked up in its second year , eventually reaching the top spot in the daytime Nielsen ratings by fall 1958 . In 1959 , the show started a streak of weekly ratings wins that was not interrupted for over 12 years . The show switched to color on August 21 , 1967 , and expanded from a half-hour in length to one hour starting on December 1 , 1975 , when The Edge of Night moved to ABC . In the year-to-date ratings , As the World Turns was the most-watched daytime drama from 1958 until 1978 , with ten million viewers tuning in each day . At its height , core actors such as Helen Wagner , Don MacLaughlin , Don Hastings , and Eileen Fulton became nationally known . Three of these actors -- Wagner , Hastings , and Fulton -- are also the three longest serving actors in the history of American soap operas .   The show passed its 10,000 th episode on May 12 , 1995 , and celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 2 , 2006 . On September 18 , 2009 , As the World Turns became the last remaining Procter and Gamble-produced soap opera for CBS after Guiding Light aired its final episode on the network .   On December 8 , 2009 , CBS announced that it cancelled As the World Turns after almost 54 years due to low ratings . The show taped its final Procter and Gamble scenes for CBS on June 23 , 2010 , and with a dramatic storyline finale , its final episode on the network aired on September 17 , 2010 . On October 18 , 2010 , CBS replaced As the World Turns with a newly debuted talk show The Talk .


There are medical support for Lyme disease.

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


Mediterranean cuisine dishes include salted cured fish roe.

Mediterranean cuisine Mediterranean cuisine represents the foods and methods of preparation by people of the Mediterranean Basin region , primarily as it pertains to Southern Europe . The region 's food came to be seen as a more or less unified cuisine following the cookery writer Elizabeth David 's book , A Book of Mediterranean Food ( 1950 ) . Other writers , such as the Tunisian historian Mohamed Yassine Essid , have agreed with David , defining the three core elements of the cuisine as the olive , wheat , and the grape , yielding olive oil , bread and pasta , and wine , respectively . The geographical area covered broadly follows the distribution of the olive tree , as noted by David and Essid .   The region spans a wide variety of cultures with distinct cuisines , in particular ( going anticlockwise around the region ) the Maghrebi , Levantine , Ottoman ( Turkish ) , Greek , Italian , Provençal ( French ) , and Spanish . However , the historical connections of the region , as well as the impact of the Mediterranean Sea on the region 's climate and economy , mean that these cuisines share dishes beyond the core trio of oil , bread , and wine , such as roast lamb or mutton , meat stews with vegetables and tomato ( for example , Spanish andrajos and Italian ciambotta ) , and the salted cured fish roe , bottarga , found across the region .   The cooking of the area is not to be confused with the Mediterranean diet , made popular because of the apparent health benefits of a diet rich in olive oil , wheat and other grains , fruits , vegetables , and a certain amount of seafood , but low in meat and dairy products . Mediterranean cuisine encompasses the ways that these and other ingredients , including meat , are dealt with in the kitchen , whether they are health-giving or not .


Hong Kong maintains its independent executive, legislative, and judiciary powers.

Hong Kong Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People 's Republic of China , is an autonomous territory on the Pearl River Delta of China . Macau lies across the delta to the west , and the province of Guangdong borders the territory to the north . With a total land area of 1,106 km2 and a population of over 7.3 million of various nationalities , it ranks as the world 's fourth most densely populated sovereign state or territory .   After the First Opium War ( 1839 -- 42 ) , Hong Kong became a British colony with the perpetual cession of Hong Kong Island , followed by the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and a 99-year lease of the New Territories from 1898 . Hong Kong was later occupied by Japan during World War II until British control resumed in 1945 . In the early 1980s , negotiations between the United Kingdom and China resulted in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration , which paved way for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997 , when it became a special administrative region ( SAR ) of the Peoples Republic of China with a high degree of autonomy .   Under the principle of `` one country , two systems '' , Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic system from China . Except in military defence and foreign affairs , Hong Kong maintains its independent executive , legislative and judiciary powers . In addition , Hong Kong develops relations directly with foreign states and international organisations in a broad range of `` appropriate fields '' .   Hong Kong is one of the world 's most significant financial centres , with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the world 's most competitive and freest economic entity . As the world 's 8th largest trading entity , its legal tender , the Hong Kong dollar , is the world 's 13th most traded currency . It 's also a member of the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) . Hong Kong 's tertiary sector dominated economy is characterised by simple taxation with a competitive level of corporate tax and supported by its independent judiciary system . However , while Hong Kong has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world , it suffers from severe income inequality .   Hong Kong is renowned for its deep natural harbour , which enables ready access by international cargo ships , and its impressive skyline , with a very high density of skyscrapers ; the territory boasts the second largest number of high rises of any city in the world . It has a very high Human Development Index ranking and the world 's longest life expectancy . Over 90 % of the population makes use of well-developed public transportation . Seasonal air pollution with origins from neighbouring industrial areas of Mainland China , which adopts loose emissions standards , has resulted in a high level of atmospheric particulates .


Harry Potter Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling . The novels chronicle the life of a young wizard , Harry Potter , and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley , all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . The main story arc concerns Harry 's struggle against Lord Voldemort , a dark wizard who intends to become immortal , overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic , and subjugate all wizards and Muggles , a reference term that means non-magical people .   Since the release of the first novel , Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , on 26 June 1997 , the books have found immense popularity , critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide . The series has now been translated into multiple languages including French , Irish , Spanish , German and Swedish to name a few . They have attracted a wide adult audience as well as younger readers , and are often considered cornerstones of modern young adult literature . The series has also had its share of criticism , including concern about the increasingly dark tone as the series progressed , as well as the often gruesome and graphic violence it depicts . , the books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide , making them the best-selling book series in history , and have been translated into seventy-three languages . The last four books consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history , with the final instalment selling roughly eleven million copies in the United States within twenty-four hours of its release .   The series was originally published in English by two major publishers , Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic Press in the United States . A play , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , based on a story co-written by Rowling , premiered in London on 30 July 2016 at the Palace Theatre , and its script was published by Little , Brown as the eighth book in the series . The original seven books were adapted into an eight-part film series by Warner Bros. . Pictures , which has become the second highest-grossing film series of all time . In 2016 , the total value of the Harry Potter franchise was estimated at $ 25 billion , making Harry Potter one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time .   A series of many genres , including fantasy , drama , coming of age , friendship , and the British school story ( which includes elements of mystery , thriller , adventure , horror and romance ) , the world of Harry Potter explores numerous themes and includes many cultural meanings and references . According to Rowling , the main theme is death . Other major themes in the series include prejudice , corruption , and madness .   The success of the books and films has ensured that the Harry Potter franchise continues to expand , with numerous derivative works , a travelling exhibition that premiered in Chicago in 2009 , a studio tour in London that opened in 2012 , a digital platform on which J.K. Rowling updates the series with new information and insight , and a pentalogy of spin-off films premiering in November 2016 , among many other developments . Most recently , themed attractions , collectively known as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , have been built at several Universal Parks & Resorts amusement parks around the world .


Sage Stallone Sage Moonblood Stallone ( May 5 , 1976 -- July 13 , 2012 ) was an American actor , film director , film producer , and film distributor . He was the son of Sylvester Stallone .


Diego Costa Diego da Silva Costa ( -LSB- ˈdjeɣo ða ˈsilβa ˈkosta -RSB- , -LSB- ˈdʒjeɡu dɐ ˈsiwvɐ ˈkɔstɐ -RSB- ; born 7 October 1988 ) , is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club Chelsea and the Spain national team . He has been described by pundits as a talented striker whose main attributes are his physicality , goalscoring and ability to keep possession . Costa has been criticised and punished for several confrontations with opponents .   He began his career with Braga and Penafiel in Portugal , and was signed by Atlético Madrid in 2007 . He was loaned back to Braga , and then to Celta de Vigo and Albacete before being sold to Real Valladolid in 2009 . He returned to Atlético the following season and went on to play a key role in their attack , scoring 27 goals as they won the league title in 2014 , and then joined Chelsea for # 32 million . He scored 21 goals in his first season in England , winning the Premier League and League Cup .   Internationally , Costa played twice for his native Brazil in 2013 , but later declared his desire to represent Spain , having been granted Spanish citizenship in September 2013 . He made his debut for his adopted nation in March 2014 , and represented them at the 2014 FIFA World Cup .


The Flash (1990 TV series) The Flash is a 1990 American television series developed by the writing team of Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo that aired on CBS . It is based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen / Flash , a costumed superhero crime-fighter with the power to move at superhuman speeds . The Flash starred John Wesley Shipp as Allen , along with Amanda Pays , Alex Désert , and Paula Marshall . It was the first-ever live-action portrayal of the DC superhero .


Adolf Hitler became the chairman of the NSDAP in 1921.

Chairman The chairman ( also chairperson , chairwoman or chair ) is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board , a committee , or a deliberative assembly . The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group . The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an orderly fashion . When the group is not in session , the officer 's duties often include acting as its head , its representative to the outside world and its spokesperson . In some organizations , this position is also called president ( or other title ) , in others , where a board appoints a president ( or other title ) , the two different terms are used for distinctly different positions .


Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler ( -LSB- ˈadɔlf ˈhɪtlɐ -RSB- ; 20 April 1889 -- 30 April 1945 ) was a German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party ( Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei ; NSDAP ) , Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 , and Führer ( `` Leader '' ) of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945 . As dictator of the German Reich , he initiated World War II in Europe with the invasion of Poland in September 1939 , and was central to the Holocaust .   Hitler was born in Austria , then part of Austria-Hungary , and raised near Linz . He moved to Germany in 1913 and was decorated during his service in the German Army in World War I . He joined the German Workers ' Party ( DAP ) , the precursor of the NSDAP , in 1919 and became leader of the NSDAP in 1921 . In 1923 he attempted a coup in Munich to seize power . The failed coup resulted in Hitler 's imprisonment , during which he dictated the first volume of his autobiography and political manifesto Mein Kampf ( `` My Struggle '' ) . After his release in 1924 , Hitler gained popular support by attacking the Treaty of Versailles and promoting Pan-Germanism , anti-semitism , and anti-communism with charismatic oratory and Nazi propaganda . Hitler frequently denounced international capitalism and communism as being part of a Jewish conspiracy .   By 1933 , the Nazi Party was the largest elected party in the German Reichstag , which led to Hitler 's appointment as Chancellor on 30 January 1933 . Following fresh elections won by his coalition , the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act , which began the process of transforming the Weimar Republic into Nazi Germany , a one-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideology of National Socialism . Hitler aimed to eliminate Jews from Germany and establish a New Order to counter what he saw as the injustice of the post-World War I international order dominated by Britain and France . His first six years in power resulted in rapid economic recovery from the Great Depression , the effective abandonment of restrictions imposed on Germany after World War I , and the annexation of territories that were home to millions of ethnic Germans -- actions which gave him significant popular support .   Hitler sought Lebensraum ( `` living space '' ) for the German people in Eastern Europe . His aggressive foreign policy is considered to be the primary cause of the outbreak of World War II in Europe . He directed large-scale rearmament and on 1 September 1939 invaded Poland , resulting in British and French declarations of war on Germany . In June 1941 , Hitler ordered an invasion of the Soviet Union . By the end of 1941 German forces and the European Axis powers occupied most of Europe and North Africa . Failure to defeat the Soviets and the entry of the United States into the war forced Germany onto the defensive and it suffered a series of escalating defeats . In the final days of the war , during the Battle of Berlin in 1945 , Hitler married his long-time lover , Eva Braun . On 30 April 1945 , less than two days later , the two killed themselves to avoid capture by the Red Army , and their corpses were burned .   Under Hitler 's leadership and racially motivated ideology , the Nazi regime was responsible for the genocide of at least 5.5 million Jews and millions of other victims whom he and his followers deemed Untermenschen ( `` sub-humans '' ) and socially undesirable . Hitler and the Nazi regime were also responsible for the killing of an estimated 19.3 million civilians and prisoners of war . In addition , 29 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of military action in the European Theatre of World War II . The number of civilians killed during the Second World War was unprecedented in warfare , and constitutes the deadliest conflict in human history .


West Hollywood, California West Hollywood , occasionally referred to locally as WeHo ( -LSB- ˈwiːhoʊ -RSB- ) , is a city in Los Angeles County , California , United States . Incorporated in 1984 , it is home to the Sunset Strip . As of the 2010 census , its population was 34,399 . It is considered one of the most prominent gay villages in the United States .


Vallejo, California is in the United States.

Solano County, California Solano County is a county located in the U.S. state of California . As of the 2010 census , the population was 413,344 . The county seat is Fairfield .   Solano County comprises the Vallejo-Fairfield , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area . Solano County is the northeastern county in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region .   A portion of the South Campus at the University of California , Davis is in Solano County .


Vallejo, California Vallejo ( -LSB- vəˈleɪ.oʊ , _ - hoʊ -RSB- ; Spanish : -LSB- baˈʎexo -RSB- ) is a waterfront port city in Solano County , California , located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area . The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census . It is the tenth most populous city in the San Francisco Bay Area , and the largest in Solano County . Vallejo sits on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay , 30 miles north of San Francisco . The city is named after General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo , a native Californio , leading proponent of California 's statehood , and one of the first members of the California State Senate ; the neighboring city of Benicia is named for his wife , Francisca Benicia Carillo de Vallejo .   Vallejo is home to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park , the now-defunct Mare Island Naval Shipyard , and the regional office for Region 5 of the United States Forest Service . The colleges and universities in Vallejo are California Maritime Academy , the Vallejo Center campus of Solano Community College , and Touro University California . Ferry service runs from a terminal on Mare Island Strait to San Francisco , through the BayLink division of SolTrans .   Vallejo has twice served as the capital of the state of California : once in 1852 and again in 1853 , both periods being brief . The State Capitol building burned to the ground in the 1880s and the Vallejo Fire Department requested aid from the Fire Department at Mare Island Naval Shipyard . As there were no bridges at that time , the Mare Island Fire Department had to be ferried across the Napa River , arriving to find only the foundation remaining . This was the first recorded mutual aid response in the state of California .   Some of the first Europeans drawn to the Vallejo area were attracted by the sulfur springs ; in the year 1902 the area was named Blue Rock Springs . It was also known as White Sulfur Springs and that was the name of the road leading to it from town , today shortened to `` Springs Road '' .   Vallejo is best known for the Zodiac Killer and being the hometown of Bay Area rappers E-40 and Mac Dre .


Olivia Munn has used the name Olivia Munn.

Olivia Munn Lisa Olivia Munn ( born July 3 , 1980 ) is an American actress and model . She was credited as Lisa Munn in her early career , but since 2006 , she has used the name Olivia Munn .   Munn began her professional career in television journalism before becoming an actress . In 2006 , Munn starred as Mily Acuna on the series Beyond the Break . She co-hosted Attack of the Show ! from 2006 to 2010 and was a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2010 to 2011 . Munn has also had supporting roles in various films and television series since 2004 . She played the character Sloan Sabbith on the television series The Newsroom from 2012 to 2014 and appeared in the film X-Men : Apocalypse ( 2016 ) as Psylocke .


Halle Berry works in the cosmetics industry.

Revlon Revlon , Inc. is an American multinational cosmetics , skin care , fragrance , and personal care company founded in 1932 and based in New York City .


Halle Berry Halle Maria Berry ( born Maria Halle Berry ; August 14 , 1966 ) is an American actress . She won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic drama Monster 's Ball ( 2001 ) . As of 2017 , she is the only black woman to have won a Best Actress Academy Award .   Berry was one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood during the 2000s and has been involved in the production of several of the films in which she performed . She is also a Revlon spokesmodel . Before becoming an actress , she started modeling and entered several beauty contests , finishing as the 1st runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant and coming in 6th place in the Miss World Pageant in 1986 . Her breakthrough film role was in the romantic comedy Boomerang ( 1992 ) , alongside Eddie Murphy , which led to roles in films such as the comedy The Flintstones ( 1994 ) , the political comedy-drama Bulworth ( 1998 ) and the television film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge ( 1999 ) , for which she won the Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress , among many other awards .   In addition to her Academy Award win , Berry garnered high-profile roles in the 2000s such as Storm in the X-Men film series ( beginning in 2000 ) , the action crime thriller Swordfish ( 2001 ) , and the spy film Die Another Day ( 2002 ) , where she played Bond Girl Jinx . She then appeared in the X-Men sequels , X2 ( 2003 ) and X-Men : The Last Stand ( 2006 ) . In the 2010s , she appeared in movies such as the science fiction film Cloud Atlas ( 2012 ) , the crime thriller The Call ( 2013 ) and X-Men : Days of Future Past ( 2014 ) .   Berry was formerly married to baseball player David Justice , and singer-songwriter Eric Benét . She has a daughter by model Gabriel Aubry , and a son by actor Olivier Martinez .


Gia is a film that dramatizes the life of Cindy Crawford.

Gia Gia is a 1998 biographical HBO film about the life and times of one of America 's first supermodels , Gia Marie Carangi . The film stars Angelina Jolie as Gia and Faye Dunaway as Wilhelmina Cooper , with Mercedes Ruehl and Elizabeth Mitchell . It was directed by Michael Cristofer and written by Cristofer and Jay McInerney . The original music score was composed by Terence Blanchard .


The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas ( originally simply Black Eyed Peas ) is an American group , consisting of rappers will.i.am , apl.de.ap , Taboo , and singer Fergie . Originally an alternative hip hop group , they subsequently changed their musical sound to pop and dance-pop music . Although the group was founded in Los Angeles in 1995 , it was not until the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003 that they achieved high record sales . Since that time , the group has sold an estimated 76 million records ( 35 million albums and 41 million singles ) , making them one of the world 's best-selling groups of all time . According to Nielsen SoundScan , the Black Eyed Peas were the second-best-selling artist/group of all time for downloaded tracks , with over 42 million sales as of the end of 2011 .   Their first major hit was the 2003 single `` Where Is the Love ? '' from Elephunk , which topped the charts in 13 countries , including the United Kingdom , where it spent seven weeks at number one and went on to become Britain 's biggest selling single of 2003 . Another European hit single from the album was `` Shut Up '' . Their fourth album , Monkey Business , was an even bigger worldwide success , certified 4 × Platinum in the U.S. , and spawning four singles , `` Do n't Phunk with My Heart '' , `` Do n't Lie '' , `` My Humps '' and `` Pump It '' . In 2009 , the group became one of only 11 artists to have simultaneously held the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 , with their singles `` Boom Boom Pow '' and `` I Got ta Feeling '' , which topped the chart for an unprecedented 26 consecutive weeks . This album The E.N.D later produced a third Hot 100 number-one placement with `` Imma Be '' , making the group one of few to ever place three number one singles on the chart from the same album , before being followed with `` Rock That Body '' and `` Meet Me Halfway '' , which peaked in the Top 10 of the Hot 100 . `` I Got ta Feeling '' became the first single to sell more than one million downloads in the United Kingdom .   The Black Eyed Peas were ranked 12th on Billboards Decade-End Chart Artist of the Decade , and 7th in the Hot 100 Artists of the Decade . At the 52nd Grammy Awards ceremony , held in January 2010 , they won three awards out of six nominations . In November 2010 , they released the album The Beginning . In February 2011 , the group performed at the Super Bowl XLV halftime show . Long-standing member , Fergie left the group in 2017 .


The Dutchess The Dutchess is the debut studio album by American singer Fergie . It was released on September 23 , 2006 through A&M Records and the will.i.am Music Group as her first solo album since the break from her band The Black Eyed Peas . The album was recorded between The Black Eyed Peas ' tour in 2005 , and the songs were written throughout the last eight years that preceded its release . While developing the album , Fergie wanted to create an autobiographical album that would be more intimate between her and the listener . By doing so , the album experiments with different music genres , including pop , hip hop , R&B , reggae , punk rock and soul . Lyrically , The Dutchess has themes about love and critics , while also dealing with her drug abuse and addiction .   Upon its release , The Dutchess received mixed reviews from music critics , with many praising its production , calling it one of the most eclectic and adventurous albums of 2006 , but some criticized the album 's lyrical content and believed the material was not strong for her voice . It became a commercial success , reaching number two on the US Billboard 200 and spending ninety-four weeks inside the chart , while also topping the Australian Albums Chart and becoming a worldwide success , reaching platinum status in over eight countries . It has sold over five million copies in the United States and over nine million copies worldwide .   The album produced five top five singles in the United States , including three number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 , `` London Bridge '' , `` Big Girls Do n't Cry '' , and `` Glamorous '' , as well as the number two single `` Fergalicious '' and the number five single `` Clumsy '' . All five of the aforementioned singles have sold over two million digital downloads each in the United States , thus setting a new record in the digital era for the most multi-platinum singles from one album . Fergie held this record until 2012 , when Katy Perry achieved six multi-platinum singles with her album Teenage Dream ( 2010 ) .


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 .


Marie Curie Marie Skłodowska Curie ( -LSB- ˈkjʊri , _ kjʊˈriː -RSB- -LSB- kyʁi -RSB- ; -LSB- kʲiˈri -RSB- ; 7 November 18674 July 1934 ) , born Maria Salomea Skłodowska ( -LSB- ˈmarja salɔˈmɛa skwɔˈdɔfska -RSB- ) , was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity . She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize , the first person and only woman to win twice , the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences , and was part of the Curie family legacy of five Nobel Prizes . She was also the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris , and in 1995 became the first woman to be entombed on her own merits in the Panthéon in Paris .   She was born in Warsaw , in what was then the Kingdom of Poland , part of the Russian Empire . She studied at Warsaw 's clandestine Floating University and began her practical scientific training in Warsaw . In 1891 , aged 24 , she followed her older sister Bronisława to study in Paris , where she earned her higher degrees and conducted her subsequent scientific work . She shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband Pierre Curie and with physicist Henri Becquerel . She won the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry .   Her achievements included the development of the theory of radioactivity ( a term that she coined ) , techniques for isolating radioactive isotopes , and the discovery of two elements , polonium and radium . Under her direction , the world 's first studies were conducted into the treatment of neoplasms , using radioactive isotopes . She founded the Curie Institutes in Paris and in Warsaw , which remain major centres of medical research today . During World War I , she developed mobile radiography units to provide X-ray services to field hospitals .   While a French citizen , Marie Skłodowska Curie ( she used both surnames ) never lost her sense of Polish identity . She taught her daughters the Polish language and took them on visits to Poland . She named the first chemical element that she discoveredpolonium , which she isolated in 1898after her native country .   Curie died in 1934 , aged 66 , at a sanatorium in Sancellemoz ( Haute-Savoie ) , France , due to aplastic anemia brought on by exposure to radiation while carrying test tubes of radium in her pockets during research , and in the course of her work at field hospitals during World War I.


Beasts of the Southern Wild was nominated only for Best Picture at the 85th Academy Awards.

Beasts of the Southern Wild Beasts of the Southern Wild is a 2012 American drama film co-written , co-scored and directed by Benh Zeitlin . It was adapted by Zeitlin and Lucy Alibar from Alibar 's one-act play Juicy and Delicious . After playing at film festivals , it was released on June 27 , 2012 , in New York and Los Angeles , and later distribution was expanded .   The film was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 85th Academy Awards , in the categories Best Picture , Best Director ( Benh Zeitlin ) , Best Adapted Screenplay ( Lucy Alibar , Benh Zeitlin ) , and Best Actress ( Quvenzhané Wallis ) . At age 9 , Wallis became the youngest Best Actress nominee in history .


The Supremes The Supremes were an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s . Founded as the Primettes in Detroit , Michigan , in 1959 , the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown 's acts and are , to date , America 's most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 . Most of these hits were written and produced by Motown 's main songwriting and production team , Holland -- Dozier -- Holland . At their peak in the mid-1960s , the Supremes rivaled the Beatles in worldwide popularity , and it is said that their success made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success .   Founding members Florence Ballard , Mary Wilson , Diana Ross , and Betty McGlown , all from the Brewster-Douglass public housing project in Detroit , formed the Primettes as the sister act to the Primes ( with Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks , who went on to form the Temptations ) . Barbara Martin replaced McGlown in 1960 , and the group signed with Motown the following year as the Supremes . Martin left the act in early 1962 , and Ross , Ballard , and Wilson carried on as a trio .   During the mid-1960s , the Supremes achieved mainstream success with Ross as lead singer . In 1967 , Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes , and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong . Ross left to pursue a solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell , at which point the group 's name reverted to the Supremes . After 1972 , the lineup changed more frequently ; Lynda Laurence , Scherrie Payne , and Susaye Greene all became members of the group during the mid-1970s . The Supremes disbanded in 1977 after 18 years .


Ministate A ministate or microstate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very small land area , and usually both . As the meaning of neither `` state '' nor `` very small '' is well-defined in international law , 2010 's attempts to define microstates focus on identifying political entities with unique qualitative features linked to their geographic or demographic limitations . According to a qualitative definition , microstates are : `` modern protected states , i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints . '' In line with this and most other definitions the examples of microstates include : Liechtenstein , Monaco , San Marino , Andorra , the Cook Islands , Niue and the Federated States of Micronesia .   The smallest political unit recognized as a sovereign state is Vatican City , with 842 citizens as of July 2013 and an area of only 44 ha . However , some scholars dispute qualifying the Vatican as a state arguing that it does not meet the `` traditional criteria of statehood '' and that the `` special status of the Vatican City is probably best regarded as a means of ensuring that the Pope can freely exercise his spiritual functions , and in this respect is loosely analogous to that of the headquarters of international organisations . ''   Microstates are distinct from micronations , which are not recognized as sovereign states . Special territories without full sovereignty , such as the British Crown Dependencies , the Chinese Special Administrative Regions and overseas territories of Denmark , France , the Netherlands , Australia , Norway and the United Kingdom , are also not considered microstates .


Avatar (2009 film) Avatar ( marketed as James Cameron 's Avatar ) is a 2009 American epic science fiction film directed , written , produced , and co-edited by James Cameron , and starring Sam Worthington , Zoe Saldana , Stephen Lang , Michelle Rodriguez , and Sigourney Weaver . The film is set in the mid-22nd century , when humans are colonizing Pandora , a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system , in order to mine the mineral unobtanium , a room-temperature superconductor . The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na ` vi -- a humanoid species indigenous to Pandora . The film 's title refers to a genetically engineered Na ` vi body with the mind of a remotely located human that is used to interact with the natives of Pandora .   Development of Avatar began in 1994 , when Cameron wrote an 80-page treatment for the film . Filming was supposed to take place after the completion of Cameron 's 1997 film Titanic , for a planned release in 1999 , but according to Cameron , the necessary technology was not yet available to achieve his vision of the film . Work on the language of the film 's extraterrestrial beings began in 2005 , and Cameron began developing the screenplay and fictional universe in early 2006 . Avatar was officially budgeted at $ 237 million . Other estimates put the cost between $ 280 million and $ 310 million for production and at $ 150 million for promotion . The film made extensive use of new motion capture filming techniques , and was released for traditional viewing , 3D viewing ( using the RealD 3D , Dolby 3D , XpanD 3D , and IMAX 3D formats ) , and for `` 4D '' experiences in select South Korean theaters . The stereoscopic filmmaking was touted as a breakthrough in cinematic technology .   Avatar premiered in London on , 2009 , and was internationally released on and in the United States and Canada on , to positive critical reviews , with critics highly praising its groundbreaking visual effects . During its theatrical run , the film broke several box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time , as well as in the United States and Canada , surpassing Titanic , which had held those records for twelve years ( and was also directed by Cameron ) . It also became the first film to gross more than and the best-selling film of 2010 in the United States . Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Director , and won three , for Best Art Direction , Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects . Following the film 's success , Cameron signed with 20th Century Fox to produce three sequels , making Avatar the first of a planned tetralogy . On April 14 , 2016 , Cameron confirmed that there were now plans for four sequels . Avatar 2 was scheduled for release in December 2018 before being delayed , with the sequels following in December 2020 , 2022 , and 2023 , respectively . The sequels are scheduled for release in 2020 , 2021 , 2024 and 2025 .


PlayStation 4 PlayStation 4 ( PS4 ) is a line of home video game consoles developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment . Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 during a press conference on February 20 , 2013 , it was launched on November 15 in North America , November 29 in Europe , South America and Australia ; and February 22 , 2014 , in Japan . It competes with Nintendo 's Wii U and Microsoft 's Xbox One , as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles .   Moving away from the more complex Cell microarchitecture of its predecessor , the console features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU ) built upon the x86-64 architecture , which can theoretically peak at 1.84 teraflops ; AMD stated that it was the `` most powerful '' APU it had developed to date . The PlayStation 4 places an increased emphasis on social interaction and integration with other devices and services , including the ability to play games off-console on PlayStation Vita and other supported devices ( `` Remote Play '' ) , the ability to stream gameplay online or to friends , with them controlling gameplay remotely ( `` Share Play '' ) . The console 's controller was also redesigned and improved over the PlayStation 3 , with improved buttons and analog sticks , and an integrated touchpad among other changes . The console also supports HDR10 high-dynamic-range color and playback of 4K multimedia .   Reception to the original PlayStation 4 model was positive , with critics praising Sony for acknowledging its consumers ' needs , embrace of independent game development , and for not imposing restrictive digital rights management schemes that Microsoft had previously announced for Xbox One prior to its release . Critics and third-party studios also praised the capabilities of the PlayStation 4 in comparison to its competitors ; developers described the performance difference between the console and Xbox One as being `` significant '' and `` obvious '' . Heightened demand also helped Sony top global console sales . By the end of 2016 , more than 53 million consoles have been sold worldwide , with more than 57 million shipped .   On September 7 , 2016 , Sony unveiled two hardware revisions of PlayStation 4 ; a slim build of the console , and a `` Pro '' version with an upgraded GPU and higher CPU clock rate to support 4K gameplay on supported titles .


Richard Curtis was the writer of Love Actually.

Love Actually Love Actually is a 2003 Christmas-themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis . It features an ensemble cast , many of whom had worked with Curtis in previous film and television projects . The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals , many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress . Most of the film was filmed on location in London . The story begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday , followed by an epilogue that takes place one month later .   The United States release was on 14 November 2003 and a week later in the United Kingdom , where it debuted to positive reviews , but received mixed-to-positive reviews in the US . The film was a box-office success , grossing almost $ 247 million worldwide on a budget of $ 45 million .


Iceland was not established in the year 874 AD.

Iceland Iceland ( -LSB- ˈaɪslənd -RSB- -LSB- ˈistlant -RSB- ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean . It has a population of and an area of 103000 km2 , making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe . The capital and largest city is Reykjavík . Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population . Iceland is volcanically and geologically active . The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields , mountains and glaciers , while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands . Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate , despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle . Its high latitude and marine influence still keeps summers chilly , with most of the archipelago having a tundra climate .   According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók , the settlement of Iceland began in the year 874 AD when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island . In the following centuries , Norwegians , and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians , emigrated to Iceland , bringing with them thralls of Gaelic origin . The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the Althing , one of the world 's oldest functioning legislative assemblies . Following a period of civil strife , Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century . The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway , Denmark and Sweden . Iceland thus followed Norway 's integration to that Union and came under Danish rule after Sweden 's secession from that union in 1523 . Although the Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism forcefully in 1550 , Iceland remained a distant semi-colonial territory in which Danish institutions and infrastructures were conspicuous by their absence . In the wake of the French revolution and the Napoleonic wars , Iceland 's struggle for independence took form and culminated in independence in 1918 and the founding of a republic in 1944 . Until the 20th century , Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture , and was among the poorest in Europe . Industrialisation of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid following World War II brought prosperity , and Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world . In 1994 , it became a part of the European Economic Area , which further diversified the economy into sectors such as finance , biotechnology , and manufacturing .   Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes compared to other OECD countries . It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens . Iceland ranks high in economic , political and social stability and equality . In 2013 , it was ranked as the 13th most-developed country in the world by the United Nations ' Human Development Index . Iceland runs almost completely on renewable energy . Affected by the ongoing worldwide financial crisis , the nation 's entire banking system systemically failed in October 2008 , leading to a severe depression , substantial political unrest , the Icesave dispute , and the institution of capital controls . Some bankers were jailed . Since then , the economy has made a significant recovery , in large part due to a surge in tourism .   Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation 's Scandinavian heritage . Most Icelanders are descendants of Germanic and Gaelic settlers . Icelandic , a North Germanic language , is descended from Old Norse and is closely related to Faroese and West Norwegian dialects . The country 's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine , Icelandic literature and medieval sagas . Iceland has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army , its lightly armed coast guard being in charge of defence .