Marlon Brando received an Academy Award nomination.

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando , Jr. ( April 3 , 1924 -- July 1 , 2004 ) was an American actor , film director and political activist . He is credited with bringing realism to film acting . He helped to popularize the Stanislavski system of acting , studying with Stella Adler in the 1940s . Brando is widely known for his Academy Award-winning performances as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront ( 1954 ) and Vito Corleone in The Godfather ( 1972 ) , as well as his performances in A Streetcar Named Desire ( 1951 ) , Viva Zapata ! ( 1952 ) , Julius Caesar ( 1953 ) , The Wild One ( 1953 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , Sayonara ( 1957 ) , Reflections in a Golden Eye ( 1967 ) , Last Tango in Paris ( 1972 ) , and Apocalypse Now ( 1979 ) . Brando was also an activist for many causes , notably the Civil Rights Movement and various Native American movements .   He initially gained acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for reprising the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film adaptation of Tennessee Williams ' play A Streetcar Named Desire , a role that he had originated successfully on Broadway . He received further praise for his performance as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront , and his portrayal of the rebel motorcycle gang leader Johnny Strabler in The Wild One proved to be a lasting image in popular culture . Brando received Academy Award nominations for playing Emiliano Zapata in Viva Zapata ! ; Mark Antony in Joseph L. Mankiewicz 's 1953 film adaptation of Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar ; and Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver in Sayonara ( 1957 ) , an adaption of James Michener 's 1954 novel . Brando was included in a list of Top Ten Money Making Stars three times in the 1950s , coming in at number 10 in 1954 , number 6 in 1955 , and number 4 in 1958 .   The 1960s proved to be a fallow decade for Brando . He directed and starred in the cult western film One-Eyed Jacks , a critical and commercial flop , after which he delivered a series of box-office failures , beginning with the 1962 film adaptation of the novel Mutiny on the Bounty . After 10 years , during which he did not appear in a successful film , he won his second Academy Award for playing Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola 's The Godfather , a role critics consider among his greatest . The Godfather was then one of the most commercially successful films of all time . With that and his Oscar-nominated performance in Last Tango in Paris , Brando re-established himself in the ranks of top box-office stars , placing sixth and tenth in the Money Making Stars poll in 1972 and 1973 , respectively . Brando took a four-year hiatus before appearing in The Missouri Breaks ( 1976 ) . After this , he was content with being a highly paid character actor in cameo roles , such as in Superman ( 1978 ) and The Formula ( 1980 ) , before taking a nine-year break from motion pictures . According to the Guinness Book of World Records , Brando was paid a record $ 3.7 million ( $ million in inflation-adjusted dollars ) and 11.75 % of the gross profits for 13 days ' work on Superman . He finished out the 1970s with his controversial performance as Colonel Kurtz in another Coppola film , Apocalypse Now , a box-office hit for which he was highly paid and which helped finance his career layoff during the 1980s .   Brando was ranked by the American Film Institute as the fourth-greatest movie star among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950 . He was one of only three professional actors , along with Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe , named in 1999 by Time magazine as one of its 100 Most Important People of the Century . He died of respiratory failure on July 1 , 2004 , at age 80 .


Kristen Bell was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall released in 2008.

Kristen Bell Kristen Anne Bell ( born July 18 , 1980 ) is an American actress and singer . She began her acting career starring in stage productions and attended the Tisch School of Arts in New York . In 2001 , she made her Broadway debut as Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and starred in the Broadway revival of The Crucible the following year . In 2004 , she had a supporting role in the film Spartan and received praise for her first leading performance in Gracie 's Choice .   Bell gained critical acclaim for her first major role as the title character in the teen noir drama television series Veronica Mars ( 2004 -- 07 ) . For her performance she was awarded a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television . She reprised the eponymous role in the 2014 film continuation of the series . During her time on Veronica Mars , Bell appeared as Mary Lane in the film Reefer Madness : The Movie Musical ( 2005 ) , a reprise of the role she had played in the New York musical upon which the film was based . In 2007 , Bell joined the cast of the sci-fi series Heroes , playing the character Elle Bishop , for which she was nominated for a Saturn Award .   In 2008 , she had her breakout film role as the title character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall . She has since appeared in a number of comedy films , such as Couples Retreat ( 2009 ) , When in Rome ( 2010 ) , You Again ( 2010 ) , and The Boss ( 2016 ) . Bell garnered further recognition for voicing Princess Anna in the Disney film Frozen ( 2013 ) , the short film Frozen Fever ( 2015 ) , and the upcoming Frozen 2 . She also starred as the female lead on the Showtime series House of Lies . Since 2016 , she has starred in the main role of Eleanor Shellstrop on the NBC comedy series The Good Place .   Bell married actor Dax Shepard in 2013 , with whom she has two daughters .


Punisher The Punisher ( Francis `` Frank '' Castle ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru , with publisher Stan Lee green-lighting the name . The Punisher made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man # 129 ( cover-dated Feb. 1974 ) .   The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder , kidnapping , extortion , coercion , threats of violence , and torture in his war on crime . Driven by the deaths of his wife and two children , who were killed by the mob for witnessing a killing in New York City 's Central Park , the Punisher wages a one-man war on the mob and all criminals in general by using all manner of conventional war weaponry . His family 's killers were the first to be slain . A war veteran and a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper , Frank Castle ( born Francis Castiglione ) is a master of martial arts , stealth tactics , guerrilla warfare , and a wide variety of weapons .   The Punisher 's brutal nature and willingness to kill made him a novel character in mainstream American comic books in 1974 . By the late 1980s , he was part of a wave of psychologically troubled antiheroes and at the height of his popularity , was featured in four monthly publications , including The Punisher , The Punisher War Journal , The Punisher War Zone , and The Punisher Armory . Despite his violent actions and dark nature , the Punisher has enjoyed some mainstream success on television , making guest appearances on Spider-Man : The Animated Series , and The Super Hero Squad Show , where the depiction of his violent behavior was toned down for family viewers . In feature films , Dolph Lundgren portrayed the Punisher in 1989 , as did Thomas Jane in 2004 , and Ray Stevenson in 2008 . Jon Bernthal portrays the character in the second season of Marvel 's Daredevil as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe . Bernthal is set to reprise the role in The Punisher , his own self-titled series .


Game of Thrones (season 1) featured Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ( -LSB- neɡ̊olaɪ̯ kʰʌsd̥ɐ ˈʋald̥ɑʊ̯ -RSB- ; born 27 July 1970 ) is a Danish actor , producer and screenwriter . He graduated from Danish National School of Theatre in Copenhagen in 1993 . Coster-Waldau 's breakthrough performance in Denmark was his role in the film Nightwatch ( 1994 ) . Since then he has appeared in numerous films in his native Scandinavia and Europe in general , including Headhunters ( 2011 ) and A Thousand Times Good Night ( 2013 ) .   In the United States , his debut film role was in the war film Black Hawk Down ( 2001 ) , playing Medal of Honor recipient Gary Gordon . He then played Detective John Amsterdam in the short-lived Fox television series New Amsterdam ( 2008 ) , as well as appearing as Frank Pike in the 2009 Fox television film Virtuality , originally intended as a pilot . He became widely known to a broad audience for his current role as Ser Jaime Lannister , in the HBO series Game of Thrones . In 2017 , he became one of the highest paid actors on television and earned # 2 million per episode of Game of Thrones .


Game of Thrones (season 1) The first season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on April 17 , 2011 , at 9.00 pm in the U.S. , and concluded on June 19 , 2011 . It consists of ten episodes , each of approximately 55 minutes . The series is based on A Game of Thrones , the first novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin , adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . HBO had ordered a television pilot in November 2008 ; filming began the following year . However , it was deemed unsatisfactory and later reshot with some roles being recast . In March 2010 , HBO ordered the first season , which began filming in July 2010 , primarily in Belfast , Northern Ireland , with additional filming in Malta .   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 initially focuses on the family of nobleman Eddard Stark , who is asked to become chief advisor to his king and longtime friend , Robert Baratheon . Ned must find out who killed the previous Hand of the King , Jon Arryn , while trying to protect his family from their rivals the Lannisters . He uncovers the dark secrets about the Lannisters that his predecessor died trying to expose . Meanwhile , in Essos , the exiled Viserys Targaryen , son of the former king , believes he still has the rightful claim to the throne .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Bean , Addy , Peter Dinklage , Lena Headey , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Michelle Fairley and Iain Glen . Newer actors were cast as the younger generation of characters , such as Kit Harington , Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams .   Critics praised the show 's production values and cast , with specific accolades for Dinklage 's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister . The first season won two of the thirteen Emmy Awards for which it was nominated , for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( Dinklage ) and Outstanding Main Title Design . It also received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series . Bean and Emilia Clarke also received individual accolades , as did Ramin Djawadi for music . U.S. viewership rose by approximately 33 % over the course of the season , from 2.2 million to over 3 million by the finale .


Gwen Stefani was not inspired by pop music from the 1980's.

Gwen Stefani Gwen Renée Stefani ( -LSB- gwɛn_ˈstəˈfɑːni -RSB- born October 3 , 1969 ) is an American singer , songwriter , fashion designer , actress , and television personality . She is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the band No Doubt that experienced major success after their breakthrough studio album Tragic Kingdom ( 1995 ) along with various successful singles , including `` Just a Girl '' , `` Do n't Speak '' , `` Hey Baby '' , and `` It 's My Life '' . During the band 's hiatus , Stefani embarked on a solo pop career in 2004 by releasing her debut studio album Love . Angel . Music . Baby . Inspired by pop music from the 1980s , the album was met with both critical and commercial success . It spawned three commercially successful singles : `` What You Waiting For ? '' , `` Rich Girl '' , and `` Hollaback Girl '' , the latter reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 while also becoming the first US download to sell one million copies . In 2006 Stefani released her second studio album The Sweet Escape . The album produced two successful singles : `` Wind It Up '' and the album 's title track `` The Sweet Escape '' . Her third solo album This Is What the Truth Feels Like was released in March 2016 and became her first solo number-one album on the Billboard 200 .   Stefani has won three Grammy Awards . As a solo artist she has received various accolades , including an American Music Award , Brit Award , World Music Award and two Billboard Music Awards . In 2003 , she debuted her clothing line L.A.M.B. and expanded her collection with the 2005 Harajuku Lovers line , drawing inspiration from Japanese culture and fashion . Stefani performs and makes public appearances with four back-up dancers known as the Harajuku Girls . She was married to British musician Gavin Rossdale from 2002 to 2015 and they have three sons . Billboard magazine ranked Stefani the 54th most successful artist and 37th most successful Hot 100 artist of the 2000 -- 09 decade . VH1 ranked her 13th on their `` 100 Greatest Women in Music '' list in 2012 . Including her work with No Doubt , Stefani has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide .


Mao Zedong Mao Zedong or Mao Tse-tung ( -LSB- ˈmaʊ_dzəˈdʊŋ , _ zə - , _ - dɒŋ -RSB- December 26 , 1893September 9 , 1976 ) , also known as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese communist revolutionary and founding father of the People 's Republic of China , which he governed as the Chairman of the Communist Party of China from its establishment in 1949 , until his death in 1976 . His Marxist -- Leninist theories , military strategies , and political policies are collectively known as Maoism or Marxism-Leninism-Maoism .   Born the son of a wealthy farmer in Shaoshan , Hunan , Mao adopted a Chinese nationalist and anti-imperialist outlook in early life , particularly influenced by the events of the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 and May Fourth Movement of 1919 . Mao adopted Marxism -- Leninism while working at Peking University and became a founding member of the Communist Party of China ( CPC ) , leading the Autumn Harvest Uprising in 1927 . During the Chinese Civil War between the Kuomintang ( KMT ) and the CPC , Mao helped to found the Chinese Workers ' and Peasants ' Red Army , led the Jiangxi Soviet 's radical land policies and ultimately became head of the CPC during the Long March . Although the CPC temporarily allied with the KMT under the United Front during the Second Sino-Japanese War ( 1937 -- 45 ) , after Japan 's defeat China 's civil war resumed and in 1949 Mao 's forces defeated the Nationalists who withdrew to Taiwan .   On 1 October 1949 , Mao proclaimed the foundation of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) , a one-party state controlled by the CPC . In the following years Mao solidified his control through a campaign of classicide against landlords , and a mass purge of perceived enemies of the state he termed as `` counter-revolutionaries '' alleged to have caused between 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 deaths . ( Mao himself admitting 800,000 deaths in the classicide and 712,000 in the suppression of Counterrevolutionaries ) In 1957 , he launched the Great Leap Forward campaign that aimed to rapidly transform China 's economy from an agrarian economy to an industrial one . The campaign contributed to a widespread famine , whose death toll is estimated at between 15,000,000 and 55,000,000 . In 1966 , he initiated the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution , a program to remove `` counter-revolutionary '' elements of Chinese society that lasted 10 years and which was marked by violent class struggle that killed 400,000 to 10,000,000 people , widespread destruction of cultural artifacts and unprecedented elevation of Mao 's personality cult . In 1972 , Mao welcomed American President Richard Nixon in Beijing , signalling a policy of opening China , which was furthered under the rule of Deng Xiaoping ( 1978 -- 1992 ) . Mao suffered a series of heart attacks in 1976 , and died in September , aged 82 . He was succeeded as Paramount leader by Hua Guofeng ( 1976 -- 1978 ) , who was quickly sidelined and replaced by Deng .   A controversial figure , Mao is regarded as one of the most important individuals in modern world history , and is also known as a theorist , military strategist , poet and visionary . Supporters credit him with driving imperialism out of China , modernising China and building it into a world power , promoting the status of women , improving education and health care , and increasing life expectancy as China 's population grew from around 550 million to over 900 million under his leadership . In contrast , critics consider him a dictator comparable to Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin who damaged traditional Chinese culture , as well as considering him a perpetrator of human rights abuses , and they estimate that Mao was responsible for 40 to 70 million deaths through starvation , prison labour and executions , which would rank his tenure as the top incidence of excess mortality in human history .


Christina Hodson was a writer for Unforgettable.

Unforgettable (2017 film) Unforgettable is a 2017 American erotic thriller film directed by Denise Di Novi ( in her directorial debut ) and written by Christina Hodson and David Leslie Johnson . The film stars Katherine Heigl , Rosario Dawson , Geoff Stults , Isabella Rice and Cheryl Ladd , and follows a divorcée who begins to torment the new fiancé of her ex-husband .   Principal photography began on August 17 , 2015 in Los Angeles . The film was released on April 21 , 2017 by Warner Bros. and has grossed $ 15 million against its $ 12 million budget .


Moscow Moscow is the capital and most populous city of Russia , with 13.2 million residents within the city limits and 17.8 million within the urban area . Moscow has the status of a Russian federal city .   Moscow is a major political , economic , cultural , and scientific centre of Russia and Eastern Europe , as well as the largest city entirely on the European continent . By broader definitions Moscow is among the world 's largest cities , being the 14th largest metro area , the 18th largest agglomeration , the 15th largest urban area , and the 11th largest by population within city limits worldwide . According to Forbes 2013 , Moscow has been ranked as the ninth most expensive city in the world by Mercer and has one of the world 's largest urban economies , being ranked as an alpha global city according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network , and is also one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world according to the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index . Moscow is the northernmost and coldest megacity and metropolis on Earth . It is home to the Ostankino Tower , the tallest free standing structure in Europe ; the Federation Tower , the tallest skyscraper in Europe ; and the Moscow International Business Center . By its territorial expansion on July 1 , 2012 southwest into the Moscow Oblast , the area of the capital more than doubled , going from 1091 to , and it gained an additional population of 233,000 people .  Moscow is situated on the Moskva River in the Central Federal District of European Russia , making it the world 's most populated inland city . The city is well known for its architecture , particularly its historic buildings such as Saint Basil 's Cathedral with its brightly coloured domes . With over 40 percent of its territory covered by greenery , it is one of the greenest capitals and major cities in Europe and the world , having the largest forest in an urban area within its borders -- more than any other major city -- even before its expansion in 2012 .  The city has served as the capital of a progression of states , from the medieval Grand Duchy of Moscow and the subsequent Tsardom of Russia to the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union and the contemporary Russian Federation . Moscow is considered the centre of Russian culture , having served as the home of Russian artists , scientists and sports figures and because of the presence of museums , academic and political institutions and theatres .   Moscow is the seat of power of the Government of Russia , being the site of the Moscow Kremlin , a medieval city-fortress that is today the residence for work of the President of Russia . The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are also one of several World Heritage Sites in the city . Both chambers of the Russian parliament ( the State Duma and the Federation Council ) also sit in the city .   The city is served by a transit network , which includes four international airports , nine railway terminals , numerous trams , a monorail system and one of the deepest underground rapid transit systems in the world , the Moscow Metro , the fourth-largest in the world and largest outside of Asia in terms of passenger numbers , and the busiest in Europe . It is recognised as one of the city 's landmarks due to the rich architecture of its 200 stations .   Moscow has acquired a number of epithets , most referring to its size and preeminent status within the nation : The Third Rome , The Whitestone One , The First Throne , The Forty Forties , and The Hero City . In old Russian the word '' Сорок '' ( forty ) also meant a church administrative district , which consisted of about forty churches . The demonym for a Moscow resident is '' москвич '' ( moskvich ) for male or '' москвичка '' ( moskvichka ) for female , rendered in English as Muscovite .


Bob Arum is the CEO of a company based in Las Vegas.

Bob Arum Robert Arum ( born December 8 , 1931 ) is an American lawyer , boxing promoter and businessman . He is the founder and CEO of Top Rank , a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas . He also worked for the US Attorney 's Office for the southern district of New York in the tax division during his legal career before moving into boxing promotion .


Hawaii Five-0 is a reboot of the original series of the same name.

Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman . Set in Hawaii , the show originally aired for 12 seasons from 1968 to 1980 , and continues in reruns . At the airing of its last episode , it had been the longest running police drama in television history .   Jack Lord portrayed Detective Captain Steve McGarrett , the head of a special state police task force which was based on an actual unit that existed under martial law in the 1940s . The theme music composed by Morton Stevens became especially popular . Many episodes would end with McGarrett instructing his subordinate to `` Book 'em , Danno ! '' , sometimes specifying a charge such as `` murder one '' .


Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series) Hawaii Five-0 is an American action police procedural television series , which premiered on Monday , September 20 , 2010 on CBS . The series is a reboot of the original series , which aired on CBS from 1968 to 1980 . Like the original , it follows an elite state police task force set up to fight crime in the state of Hawaii .   The series is produced by K/O Paper Products and 101st Street Television in association with CBS Productions , originally an in-name-only unit of but folded into CBS Television Studios , which has produced the series since the beginning of season three . On March 25 , 2016 , CBS renewed the series for a seventh season , which premiered on September 23 , 2016 .   On March 23 , 2017 , CBS renewed the series for an eighth season .


Russell Brand Russell Edward Brand ( born 4 June 1975 ) is an English comedian , actor , radio host , author , and activist .   Beginning his career as a stand-up comedian and later becoming an MTV presenter , Brand first achieved notoriety in 2004 as the host of Big Brother 's Big Mouth , a Big Brother spin-off . In 2007 , he had his first major film role in St Trinian 's , and the following year he landed a major role in the romantic comedy-drama Forgetting Sarah Marshall ; the film led to him starring in a spin off , the rock comedy Get Him to the Greek , alongside Jonah Hill in 2010 . He also worked as a voice actor in the animated films Despicable Me in 2010 , Hop in 2011 , and Despicable Me 2 in 2013 , and played the title character of the 2011 remake of the romantic comedy Arthur . In 2013 , he released the successful stand-up special Messiah Complex .   Since guest editing an edition of British political weekly New Statesman in 2013 , Brand has become known as a public activist and campaigner , and has spoken on a wide range of political and cultural issues , including wealth inequality , addiction , corporate capitalism , climate change , and media bias . This includes a much publicised interview with Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman in 2013 , in which he disparaged the British political system as ineffectual , encouraged the British electorate not to vote , and endorsed an egalitarian socialist revolution to replace the status quo . In 2014 , Brand launched his political-comedy web series The Trews , released a book entitled Revolution , and began work on a documentary about financial inequality with Michael Winterbottom .   Over the course of his career , Brand has been the subject of frequent media coverage and controversy for issues such as his promiscuity and drug use , his outrageous behaviour at various award ceremonies , his dismissal from MTV and resignation from the BBC , and his two-year marriage with singer Katy Perry . He has incorporated many of his controversial public antics into his comedic material . In 2015 a biographical documentary called Brand : A Second Coming was released .


The Rolling Stones was made up of musicians.

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962 . The original line-up consisted of Brian Jones ( rhythm guitar , harmonica ) , Mick Jagger ( lead vocals ) , Keith Richards ( lead guitar , backing vocals ) , Bill Wyman ( bass ) , Charlie Watts ( drums ) , and Ian Stewart ( piano ) . Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985 . Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969 , having already been replaced by Mick Taylor , who remained until 1974 . After Taylor left the band , Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since . Following Wyman 's departure in 1993 , Darryl Jones joined as their touring bassist . Other touring keyboardists for the band have been Nicky Hopkins ( 1967 -- 82 ) , Billy Preston ( through the mid-1970s ) and Chuck Leavell ( 1982-present ) . The band was first led by Jones , but after teaming as the band 's songwriters , Jagger and Richards assumed leadership while Jones dealt with legal and personal troubles .   The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the US in 1964 , and identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s . Rooted in blues and early rock and roll , the group began a short period of musical experimentation in the mid-1960s that peaked with the psychedelic album Their Satanic Majesties Request ( 1967 ) . Subsequently , the group returned to its `` bluesy '' roots with Beggars Banquet ( 1968 ) which along with its follow-ups Let It Bleed ( 1969 ) , Sticky Fingers ( 1971 ) and Exile on Main St. ( 1972 ) is generally considered to be the band 's best work and is seen as their `` Golden Age '' . During this period , they were first introduced on stage as `` The World 's Greatest Rock and Roll Band '' . Musicologist Robert Palmer attributed the `` remarkable endurance '' of the Rolling Stones to being `` rooted in traditional verities , in rhythm-and-blues and soul music '' , while `` more ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone '' .   The band continued to release commercially successful records in the 1970s and sold many albums , including Some Girls ( 1978 ) and Tattoo You ( 1981 ) , which were their most popular albums worldwide . From 1983 to 1987 , tensions between Jagger and Richards almost caused the band to split . However , they managed to patch up their friendship in 1987 . They separated temporarily to work on solo projects and experienced a comeback with Steel Wheels ( 1989 ) , which was followed by a large stadium and arena tour . Since the 1990s , new recorded material from the group has been less well-received and less frequent . Despite this , the Rolling Stones have continued to be a huge attraction on the live circuit , with stadium tours in the 1990s and 2000s . By 2007 , the band had four of the top five highest-grossing concert tours of all time : Voodoo Lounge Tour ( 1994 -- 95 ) , Bridges to Babylon Tour ( 1997 -- 98 ) , Licks Tour ( 2002 -- 03 ) and A Bigger Bang Tour ( 2005 -- 07 ) .   The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 . Rolling Stone magazine ranked them fourth on the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' list and their estimated album sales are above 250 million . They have released 30 studio albums , 18 live albums and numerous compilations . Let It Bleed ( 1969 ) was their first of five consecutive No. 1 studio and live albums in the UK . Sticky Fingers ( 1971 ) was the first of eight consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the US . In 2008 , the band ranked 10th on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists chart . In 2012 , the band celebrated its 50th anniversary .


Richard Eyre Sir Richard Charles Hastings Eyre ( born 28 March 1943 ) is an English film , theatre , television and opera director .


Calvin Harris is incapable of being a Scottish record producer.

Calvin Harris Adam Richard Wiles ( born 17 January 1984 ) , known professionally as Calvin Harris , is a Scottish record producer , DJ , singer and songwriter . His debut studio album I Created Disco was released in June 2007 , and was the precursor to his UK top 10 singles `` Acceptable in the 80s '' and `` The Girls '' . In 2009 , Harris released his second studio album Ready for the Weekend , which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry within two months of its release . Its lead single `` I 'm Not Alone '' became his first number-one single on the UK Singles Chart .   Harris rose to international prominence with the release of his third studio album 18 Months in October 2012 . Topping the UK charts , the album became his first to chart on the US Billboard 200 chart ( where it reached number 19 ) . All eight of the album 's singles , which were `` Bounce '' , `` Feel So Close '' , `` Let 's Go '' , `` We 'll Be Coming Back '' , `` Sweet Nothing '' , `` Drinking from the Bottle '' , `` I Need Your Love '' and `` Thinking About You '' reached the top 10 in the UK . Harris released his fourth studio album Motion in November 2014 . It debuted at number two in the UK and at number five in the US , and became Harris 's second consecutive number one album on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart . The album 's first three singles `` Under Control '' , `` Summer '' and `` Blame '' all topped the UK chart .   Harris has collaborated with numerous other recording artists . His collaboration with Rihanna `` We Found Love '' became an international success , giving Harris his first US number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart . The two later collaborated on the singles `` Where Have You Been '' ( 2012 ) and `` This Is What You Came For '' ( 2016 ) . Harris currently holds the record for the most top 10 songs from one studio album on the UK Singles Chart with nine top 10 entries , surpassing Michael Jackson . In October 2014 , he became the first artist to place three songs simultaneously on the top 10 of Billboard 's Dance/Electronic Songs chart . He also became the first British solo artist to reach more than one billion streams on Spotify . Harris has received ten Brit Award nominations -- three for Best British Male , and four Grammy nominations , winning a Grammy for Best Music Video in 2013 . He received the British Academy 's Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year in 2013 and at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards was named Top Dance/Electronic Artist . Additionally , Harris topped Forbes ' list of the world 's highest-paid DJs for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015 . One of the most successful musicians in contemporary British popular culture , Harris appeared on Debrett 's 2017 list of the most influential people in the United Kingdom . Harris runs his own record label , Fly Eye Records .


Katie Stevens once finished in eighth place on American Idol.

Katie Stevens Katherine Mari `` Katie '' Stevens ( born December 8 , 1992 ) is an American actress and singer best known for finishing in eighth place on the ninth season of American Idol and starring as Karma Ashcroft in the MTV series Faking It .


The Illusionist (2006 film) The Illusionist is a 2006 American romantic mystery film written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton , Paul Giamatti , and Jessica Biel . It is based loosely on Steven Millhauser 's short story , `` Eisenheim the Illusionist '' . The film tells the story of Eisenheim , a magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna , who reunites with his childhood love , a woman far above his social standing . The film also depicts a fictionalized version of the Mayerling Incident .   The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opened the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival ; it was distributed in limited release to theaters on August 18 , 2006 , and expanded nationwide on September 1 . The film was a commercial and critical success .


Home Alone Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus . The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister , a boy who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation . Kevin initially relishes being home alone , but soon has to contend with two would-be burglars played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern . The film also features Catherine O'Hara and John Heard as Kevin 's parents .   Culkin was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Musical or Comedy . After its release , Home Alone became the highest-grossing live action comedy film of all time in the United States , and also held the record worldwide until it was overtaken by The Hangover Part II in 2011 . It is the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time at the North American box office ( when adjusted for inflation ) . Home Alone has spawned a successful film franchise with four sequels , including the 1992 film Home Alone 2 : Lost in New York , the only Home Alone sequel to have the original cast reprising their roles .


Theodore Roosevelt was not a sickly child.

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( -LSB- ˈroʊzəvɛlt -RSB- ; October 27 , 1858 -- January 6 , 1919 ) was an American statesman , author , explorer , soldier , naturalist , and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 . He also served as the 25th Vice President of the United States and as the 33rd Governor of New York . As a leader of the Republican Party during this time , he became a driving force for the Progressive Era in the United States in the early 20th century . His face is depicted on Mount Rushmore , alongside those of George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , and Abraham Lincoln .   Roosevelt was born a sickly child with debilitating asthma , but he successfully overcame his physical health problems by embracing a strenuous lifestyle . He integrated his exuberant personality , vast range of interests , and world-famous achievements into a `` cowboy '' persona defined by robust masculinity . Home-schooled , he began a lifelong naturalist avocation before attending Harvard College . His book , The Naval War of 1812 ( 1882 ) , established his reputation as both a learned historian and as a popular writer . Upon entering politics , he became the leader of the reform faction of Republicans in New York 's state legislature . Following the near-simultaneous deaths of his wife and mother , he escaped to a cattle ranch in the Dakotas . Roosevelt served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley , but resigned from that post to lead the Rough Riders during the Spanish -- American War . Returning a war hero , he was elected Governor of New York in 1898 . After the death of Vice President Garret Hobart , the New York state party leadership convinced McKinley to accept Roosevelt as his running mate in the 1900 election , moving Roosevelt to the prestigious but powerless role of vice president . Roosevelt campaigned vigorously and the McKinley-Roosevelt ticket won a landslide victory based on a platform of peace , prosperity , and conservatism .   Following McKinley 's assassination in September 1901 , Roosevelt became president at age 42 , and remains the youngest president . As a leader of the Progressive movement , he championed his `` Square Deal '' domestic policies , promising the average citizen fairness , breaking of trusts , regulation of railroads , and pure food and drugs . Making conservation a top priority , he established a myriad of new national parks , forests , and monuments intended to preserve the nation 's natural resources . In foreign policy , he focused on Central America , where he began construction of the Panama Canal . He expanded the Navy and sent the Great White Fleet on a world tour to project the United States ' naval power around the globe . His successful efforts to broker the end of the Russo-Japanese War won him the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize . He avoided the controversial tariff and money issues . Elected in 1904 to a full term , Roosevelt continued to promote progressive policies , but many of his efforts and much of his legislative agenda were eventually blocked in Congress . Roosevelt successfully groomed his close friend , William Howard Taft , and Taft won the 1908 presidential election to succeed him . In polls of historians and political scientists , Roosevelt is generally ranked as one of the five best presidents .   Frustrated with Taft 's conservatism , Roosevelt belatedly tried to win the 1912 Republican nomination . He failed , walked out , and founded a third party , the Progressive , so-called `` Bull Moose '' Party , which called for wide-ranging progressive reforms . The split allowed the Democrats to win the White House and a majority in both houses of Congress . Following his election defeat , Roosevelt led a two-year expedition to the Amazon basin , where he nearly died of tropical disease . During World War I , he criticized President Woodrow Wilson for keeping the country out of the war with Germany , and his offer to lead volunteers to France was rejected . Though he had considered running for president again in 1920 , Roosevelt 's health continued to deteriorate , and he died in 1919 .


Bob Dylan lacked the gifts to write songs.

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan ( -LSB- ˈdɪlən -RSB- born Robert Allen Zimmerman ; May 24 , 1941 ) is an American poetic songwriter , singer , painter , writer , and Nobel prize laureate . He has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades . Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s , when his songs chronicled social unrest . Early songs such as `` Blowin ' in the Wind '' and `` The Times They Are a-Changin ' '' became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war movement . Leaving behind his initial base in the American folk music revival , his six-minute single `` Like a Rolling Stone '' , recorded in 1965 , enlarged the range of popular music .   Dylan 's lyrics incorporate a wide range of political , social , philosophical , and literary influences . They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture . Initially inspired by the performances of Little Richard and the songwriting of Woody Guthrie , Robert Johnson , and Hank Williams , Dylan has amplified and personalized musical genres . His recording career , spanning more than 50 years , has explored the traditions in American song -- from folk , blues , and country to gospel , rock and roll , and rockabilly to English , Scottish , and Irish folk music , embracing even jazz and the Great American Songbook . Dylan performs with guitar , keyboards , and harmonica . Backed by a changing lineup of musicians , he has toured steadily since the late 1980s on what has been dubbed the Never Ending Tour . His accomplishments as a recording artist and performer have been central to his career , but his songwriting is considered his greatest contribution .   Since 1994 , Dylan has published seven books of drawings and paintings , and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries . As a musician , Dylan has sold more than 100 million records , making him one of the best-selling artists of all time . He has also received numerous awards including eleven Grammy Awards , a Golden Globe Award , and an Academy Award . Dylan has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , Minnesota Music Hall of Fame , Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame , and Songwriters Hall of Fame . The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2008 awarded him a special citation for `` his profound impact on popular music and American culture , marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power . '' In May 2012 , Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama . In 2016 , he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature `` for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition '' .


Ballet Shoes (novel) Ballet Shoes : a story of three children on the stage is a children 's novel by Noel Streatfeild , published by Dent in 1936 . It was her first book for children , and was illustrated by the author 's sister , Ruth Gervis .   Ballet Shoes was a commended runner up for the inaugural Carnegie Medal from the Library Association , recognising the year 's best British children 's book by a British subject . ( She won the Medal for her third novel , The Circus Is Coming , published as Circus Shoes in the USA , though the ` Shoes ' titles , used by her USA publishers , were a marketing device : the books so titled do not in fact form part of a series . )


The Bravo Award is handed out by an Italian entrepreneur.

Bravo Award The Bravo Award is an annual award which is handed out by the Italian magazine Guerin Sportivo to the most outstanding young European footballer . The first winner of the award was Englishman Jimmy Case . Until 1992 , only under-23 players participating in one of the three European club cups ( UEFA Champions League , UEFA Cup , UEFA Cup Winners ' Cup ) were eligible . Since 1992 , any under-21 player from any European League is eligible .   The winners are chosen for the autumn-spring season , not the calendar year .


Just Dance (song) `` Just Dance '' is the debut single by American singer Lady Gaga . The song was produced by RedOne and co-written by RedOne , Gaga and Akon , while also featuring labelmate Colby O'Donis . It was released in 2008 as the lead single from Gaga 's debut studio album , The Fame . The song was written by Gaga in ten minutes as `` a happy record '' . `` Just Dance '' also has influences of R&B and lyrically speaks about being intoxicated at a club .   The song received positive reviews from music critics , who complimented its club anthem-like nature and the synthpop associated with it . The song topped the charts in the United States , Australia , Canada , the Republic of Ireland , the Netherlands and the United Kingdom , as well as reaching the top ten in many other countries . In the United States , `` Just Dance '' was a sleeper hit , spending almost five months on the Billboard Hot 100 before finally reaching the summit of the chart in January 2009 , after being released in April 2008 . The single is among the best-selling singles of all time , having sold over 10 million copies .   The music video of the song portrayed Lady Gaga appearing in a party where she plays the song , prompting party-goers to start dancing in enjoyment . Gaga compared her experience of shooting the video with being on a Martin Scorsese set . `` Just Dance '' was performed by Gaga in a number of live appearances including all of her concert tours . In 2009 , the song received a Grammy nomination in the Best Dance Recording category but lost to electronic duo Daft Punk for their song `` Harder , Better , Faster , Stronger ( Alive 2007 ) '' .


Guam has been controlled by the same entity since 1700.

Guam Guam ( -LSB- ˈɡwɑːm -RSB- or -LSB- ˈɡwɒm -RSB- Chamorro : Guåhån -LSB- ˈɡʷɑhɑn -RSB- formally the Territory of Guam ) is an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States . Located in the western Pacific Ocean , Guam is one of five American territories with an established civilian government . The capital city is Hagåtña and the most populous city is Dededo . In 2015 , 161,785 people resided on Guam . Guamanians are American citizens by birth . Guam has an area of 210 sq mi ( 544 km ² ) and a population density of 770/sq mi ( 297/km ² ) . It is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia . Among its municipalities , Mongmong-Toto-Maite has the highest density at 3,691 / sq mi ( 1,425 / km ² ) , whereas Inarajan and Umatac have the lowest density at 119/sq mi ( 47/km ² ) . The highest point is Mount Lamlam at 406 m above sea level .   The Chamorros , Guam 's indigenous people , settled the island approximately 4,000 years ago . Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to visit the island on March 6 , 1521 . Guam was colonized in 1668 with settlers , like Diego Luis de San Vitores , a Catholic missionary . Between the 16th century and the 18th century , Guam was an important stopover for the Spanish Manila Galleons . During the Spanish -- American War , the United States captured Guam on June 21 , 1898 . Under the Treaty of Paris , Spain ceded Guam to the United States on December 10 , 1898 . Guam is among the seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories of the United Nations .   Before World War II , Guam and four other territories -- American Samoa , Hawaii , Wake Island , and the Philippines -- were the only American jurisdictions in the Pacific Ocean . On December 7 , 1941 , hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor , Guam was captured by the Japanese , who occupied the island for thirty months . During the occupation , Guamanians were subjected to beheadings , forced labor , rape , and torture . Guam endured hostilities when American forces recaptured the island on July 21 , 1944 ; Liberation Day commemorates the victory . Since the 1960s , the economy has been supported by two industries : tourism and the United States Armed Forces .


There were five times that Maria Sharapova held the title of the world No. 1.

Maria Sharapova Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ( Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова ; born April 19 , 1987 ) is a Russian professional tennis player . A United States resident since 1994 , Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001 . She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions , for a total of 21 weeks . She is one of ten women , and the only Russian , to hold the career Grand Slam . She is also an Olympic medalist , having earned silver for Russia in women 's singles at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London .   Sharapova became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22 , 2005 , at the age of 18 , and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11 , 2012 , to July 8 , 2012 . Her 35 singles titles and five Grand Slam titles -- two at the French Open and one each at the Australian Open , Wimbledon , and US Open -- rank third among active players , behind Serena and Venus Williams . She won the year-ending WTA Finals in her debut in 2004 . She has also won three doubles titles .   Despite an injury-prone career , Sharapova has achieved a rare level of longevity in the women 's game . She won at least one singles title a year from 2003 until 2015 , a streak only bested by Steffi Graf , Martina Navratilova , and Chris Evert . Several tennis pundits and former players have called Sharapova one of tennis 's best competitors , with John McEnroe calling her one of the best the sport has ever seen .   Sharapova has been featured in a number of modeling assignments , including a feature in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue . She appeared in many advertisements , including those for Nike , Prince , and Canon , being the face of several fashion houses , most notably Cole Haan . Since February 2007 , she has been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador , concerned specifically with the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme . In June 2011 , she was named one of the `` 30 Legends of Women 's Tennis : Past , Present and Future '' by Time and in March 2012 was named one of the `` 100 Greatest of All Time '' by Tennis Channel . According to Forbes , she has been named highest paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years and earned 285 million including prize money since she turned pro in 2001 .   In March 2016 , Sharapova revealed she had failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open on January 26 , 2016 . She had tested positive for meldonium , a substance that had been banned , effective January 1 , 2016 by the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA ) . On June 8 , 2016 , she was suspended from playing tennis for two years by the International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) . On October 4 , 2016 , the suspension was reduced to 15 months , starting from the date of the failed test . She returned to the WTA tour on April 26 , 2017 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix .


Nicki Minaj did not sing the song Starships.

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj ( born December 8 , 1982 ) , known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( -LSB- langpronnɪkɪ_mɪ ` nɑːdʒ -RSB- ) , is a Trinidadian-born American rapper , singer , songwriter and model . Born in Saint James , Trinidad and Tobago ( a district of Trinidad 's capital Port of Spain ) and raised in South Jamaica , Queens , New York , Minaj earned public attention after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 . She has been signed to Young Money Entertainment since 2009 .   Minaj 's first and second studio albums , Pink Friday ( 2010 ) and Pink Friday : Roman Reloaded ( 2012 ) , both peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and produced the successful singles `` Super Bass '' and `` Starships '' , respectively . In 2010 , Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously charting on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 . Her third studio album , The Pinkprint ( 2014 ) , was preceded by its second single , `` Anaconda '' , which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and is her highest-charting single in the U.S. to date . Minaj made her film debut in the 2012 animated film Ice Age : Continental Drift , followed by supporting roles in The Other Woman ( 2014 ) and Barbershop : The Next Cut ( 2016 ) . In 2013 , she was a judge on the twelfth season of American Idol .   Minaj was the first female artist included on MTV 's Annual Hottest MC List , with a New York Times editor saying that some consider her to be `` the most influential female rapper of all time '' . In 2016 , Minaj was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world . Her rapping is distinctive for its fast flow and the use of alter egos and accents , primarily British cockney . Early in her career , Minaj was known for her colorful costumes and wigs . She has the most Billboard Hot 100 entries for a female artist in the chart 's history , while being ninth overall . Minaj has received ten Grammy nominations throughout her career , and has won six American Music Awards , eleven BET Awards , three MTV Video Music Awards , four Billboard Music Awards , and was the recipient of Billboards Women in Music 2011 Rising Star award . She has endorsed Adidas , MAC Cosmetics and Pepsi . She has sold 20 million singles as a lead artist , and 60 million singles as a featured artist worldwide .


Starships (song) `` Starships '' is a song by Trinidadian American recording artist Nicki Minaj , from her second studio album Pink Friday : Roman Reloaded ( 2012 ) . It was released on February 14 , 2012 by Young Money , Cash Money , and Universal Republic as the lead single from the album . The song was written by Minaj , Nadir Khayat , Carl Falk , Rami Yacoub , and Wayne Hector , and it was produced by RedOne , Yacoub , and Falk .   The song peaked inside the top five in over fifteen countries , and also achieved a Billboard milestone , debuting in the U.S. top 10 and spending a total of 21 consecutive weeks there . `` Starships '' has been certified six-times platinum in the U.S , becoming her second-highest certified single as a solo artist in the region . In the country , it has sold 4.5 million copies as of 2014 . It is among the best-selling singles of all time worldwide , with 7.2 million copies sold , as of December 2012 .   Minaj has performed the song live in a number of appearances , and it was the encore performance on the Pink Friday : Reloaded Tour . The corresponding music video was shot on Oahu Island , Hawaii . Directed by Anthony Mandler , the video features Minaj on a beach in a bikini , and near the end of the video , it shows her at a party , dancing to the song . The music video was well received by music critics , many praising the kaleidoscopic effects in the video and the carefree atmosphere . With all the success , the song has also sparked controversy surrounding a pulled live performance . The song was included in the 2012 video game Dance Central 3 and is included in the best-selling video game Just Dance 2014 . It is also one of the select few songs available on Just Dance 2014 's demo version . In September 2013 , electronic artist Clive Tanaka filed suit against Minaj and the writers of the song , claiming it infringed on his own composition and recording , `` Neu Chicago '' , but the lawsuit was later dismissed . The video for `` Starships '' also won Best Female Video at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards .


The population of Peru does not include Amerindians, Europeans, Africans, and Asians.

Peru Peru , is a country in western South America . It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia , in the east by Brazil , in the southeast by Bolivia , in the south by Chile , and in the west by the Pacific Ocean . Peru is an extremely biodiverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains vertically extending from the north to the southeast of the country to the tropical Amazon Basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon river .   Peruvian territory was home to ancient cultures spanning from the Norte Chico civilization in Caral ( one of the oldest in the world with settlements as old as 3200 BC ) to the Inca Empire , the largest state in Pre-Columbian America . The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty with its capital in Lima , which included most of its South American colonies . Ideas of political autonomy later spread throughout Spanish America and Peru gained its independence , which was formally proclaimed in 1821 after the occupation by military campaigns of José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar and only after the battle of Ayacucho , three years after proclamation , Peru ensured its independence . After achieving independence , the country remained in recession and kept a low military profile until an economic rise based on the extraction of raw and maritime materials struck the country , which ended shortly before the war of the Pacific . Subsequently , the country has undergone changes in government from oligarchic to democratic systems . Peru has gone through periods of political unrest and internal conflict as well as periods of stability and economic upswing .   Peru is a representative democratic republic divided into 25 regions . It is a developing country with a high Human Development Index score and a poverty level around 25.8 percent . Its main economic activities include mining , manufacturing , agriculture and fishing .   The Peruvian population , estimated at 31.2 million in 2015 , is multiethnic , including Amerindians , Europeans , Africans and Asians . The main spoken language is Spanish , although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages . This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art , cuisine , literature , and music .   __ TOC __


Virgin Comics is incapable of publishing a comic John Woo created.

John Woo John Woo SBS ( Ng Yu-Sum ; born 1 May 1946 ) is a Chinese-born Hong Kong film director , writer , and producer . He is the owner of Lion Rock Productions . He is considered a major influence on the action genre , known for his highly chaotic action sequences , Mexican standoffs , and frequent use of slow motion . Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films , among them , A Better Tomorrow ( 1986 ) , The Killer ( 1989 ) , Hard Boiled ( 1992 ) , and Red Cliff ( 2008/2009 ) .   His Hollywood films include the action films Hard Target ( 1993 ) and Broken Arrow ( 1996 ) , the sci-fi action thriller Face/Off ( 1997 ) and the action spy film Mission : Impossible 2 ( 2000 ) . He also created the comic series Seven Brothers , published by Virgin Comics . Woo cites his three favorite films as David Lean 's Lawrence of Arabia , Akira Kurosawa 's Seven Samurai and Jean-Pierre Melville 's Le Samouraï .


Spider-Man: Homecoming is distributed by Sony Pictures.

Spider-Man: Homecoming Spider-Man : Homecoming is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man . Co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios , and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing , it is intended to be the second reboot of the Spider-Man film franchise and the sixteenth film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) . The film is directed by Jon Watts , with a screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley and Watts & Christopher Ford and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers , and stars Tom Holland , Michael Keaton , Jon Favreau , Zendaya , Donald Glover , Tyne Daly , Marisa Tomei , and Robert Downey Jr. . In Spider-Man : Homecoming , Peter Parker tries to balance high school life with being the hero Spider-Man as he faces the Vulture .   In February 2015 , Marvel Studios and Sony reached a deal to share the character rights of Spider-Man , integrating the character into the established MCU . The following June , Holland was cast as the title character , while Watts was hired to direct , followed shortly after by the casting of Tomei and the hiring of Daley and Goldstein to write the script . In April 2016 , the film 's title was revealed , along with additional castings including Downey . Principal photography began in June 2016 at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayette County , Georgia and continued in New York City before concluding in Berlin the following October . During filming , Watts , Christopher Ford , Chris McKenna , and Erik Sommers were revealed as additional screenwriters , and more cast members were confirmed .   Spider-Man : Homecoming is scheduled to have its premiere in New York City on June 28 , 2017 , and be released on July 7 , 2017 , in the United States in 3D , IMAX , and IMAX 3D . A sequel is scheduled to be released on July 5 , 2019 .


Rebecca Ferguson received a Golden Globe nomination in 2014.

Rebecca Ferguson Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström ( born 19 October 1983 ) , known professionally as Rebecca Ferguson , is a Swedish actress . She is best known for her lead role as Elizabeth Woodville in The White Queen ( 2013 ) , which earned her a Golden Globe nomination , and her starring roles as Ilsa Faust in Mission : Impossible -- Rogue Nation ( 2015 ) and as Dr. Miranda North in Life ( 2017 ) . Ferguson is set to return in Mission : Impossible 6 ( 2018 ) .


The Martian was directed by Adam Sandler.

The Martian (film) The Martian is a 2015 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott , based on Andy Weir 's 2011 novel The Martian . Matt Damon stars as an astronaut who is mistakenly presumed dead and left behind on Mars . The film depicts his struggle to survive and others ' efforts to rescue him . The film 's ensemble cast also features Jessica Chastain , Kristen Wiig , Jeff Daniels , Michael Peña , Kate Mara , Sean Bean , Sebastian Stan , Donald Glover , Aksel Hennie and Chiwetel Ejiofor .   Producer Simon Kinberg began developing the film after 20th Century Fox optioned the novel in March 2013 , which Drew Goddard adapted into a screenplay and was initially attached to direct , but the film did not move forward . Scott replaced Goddard , and with Damon in place as the main character , production was approved . Filming began in November 2014 and lasted approximately seventy days . Twenty sets were built on a sound stage in Budapest , Hungary , one of the largest in the world . Wadi Rum in Jordan was also used as a backdrop for filming .   The film premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11 , 2015 , followed by the United States ' theatrical release on October 2 , 2015 , by 20th Century Fox . The film was released in 2D , 3D , IMAX 3D and 4DX . It received critical acclaim and has grossed over $ 630 million worldwide , becoming Scott 's highest-grossing film to date , as well as the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2015 . It received several accolades , including the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy , seven Academy Award nominations , including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Goddard , and the 2016 long form Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation . Damon won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and was nominated for several awards including the Academy Award for Best Actor , the BAFTA for Best Actor , and the Critic 's Choice Award for Best Actor .


David Arquette has worked since at least the year 1254.

David Arquette David Arquette ( born September 8 , 1971 ) is an American actor , film director , producer , screenwriter , fashion designer and former professional wrestler . A member of the Arquette acting family , he first became known during the mid-1990s after starring in several Hollywood films , such as the Scream series , Wild Bill , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , See Spot Run and Eight Legged Freaks . He has since had several television roles , such as Jason Ventress on ABC 's In Case of Emergency .   In addition to his acting career , Arquette took a brief foray into professional wrestling in early 2000 , competing for World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) . During his tenure ( primarily to promote his upcoming film Ready to Rumble ) , Arquette became a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion , an angle that has been cited as pivotal to the demise of WCW .


Love & Friendship is based on only a poem.

Love & Friendship Love & Friendship is a 2016 period comedy film written and directed by Whit Stillman . Based on Jane Austen 's epistolary novel Lady Susan , written ca. 1794 , the film stars Kate Beckinsale , Chloë Sevigny , Xavier Samuel , and Stephen Fry . The film follows the exploits of the wry and calculating Lady Susan as she pursues the wealthy and hapless Sir James for marriage originally intended for her daughter , though she eventually marries him herself . Although adapted from Lady Susan , the film was produced under the borrowed title of Austen 's juvenile story .   The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016 . Theatrically released on May 13 , 2016 , by Roadside Attractions and Amazon Studios , the film received critical acclaim and has been a box office success in North America .


The Vampire Diaries is based on a popular book series by the same name.

The Vampire Diaries The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec , based on the popular book series of the same name written by L. J. Smith . The series premiered on The CW on September 10 , 2009 and concluded on March 10 , 2017 , airing 171 episodes over eight seasons .   The pilot episode attracted the largest audience for The CW of any series premiere since the network began in 2006 . The first season averaged 3.60 million viewers . It was the most-watched series on the network before being supplanted by Arrow . The show has received numerous award nominations , winning four People 's Choice Award and many Teen Choice Awards .   On April 26 , 2013 , The CW officially announced that the spin-off The Originals , which focuses on the Original family of vampires , had been ordered to series , and the show began airing during the 2013 -- 14 American television season .   On April 6 , 2015 , lead actress Nina Dobrev confirmed via Instagram that she and co-star Michael Trevino ( who plays Tyler Lockwood ) would be leaving the show after its sixth season . Dobrev returned to record a voiceover for the seventh-season finale . Trevino appeared as a guest star in season seven and returned for season 8 . On March 11 , 2016 , The CW renewed the series for an eighth season , but on July 23 , 2016 , announced that the eighth season , which would have 16 episodes , would be the show 's last . The final season began airing on October 21 , 2016 .


Avatar: The Last Airbender ran on Nickelodeon.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Avatar : The Last Airbender ( Avatar : The Legend of Aang in some regions ) is an American animated television series that aired for three seasons ( referred to as `` books '' in each episode 's title card ) on Nickelodeon from 2005 to 2008 . Avatar : The Last Airbender is set in an Asiatic-like world in which some people are able to manipulate the classical elements by use of psychokinetic variants of Chinese martial arts , known as `` bending '' . The show combines the styles of anime and American cartoons , and relies on the imagery of various East Asian , Inuit , Southeast Asian , South Asian , and New World societies . Therefore , whether or not the series can be considered as an anime work is often discussed .   The series follows the adventures of protagonist twelve-year-old Aang and his friends , who must bring peace and unity to the world by ending the Fire Lord 's war against the other three nations .  The pilot episode first aired on February 21 , 2005 , and the series concluded with a widely praised two-hour episode on July 19 , 2008 .  The show is obtainable from various sources , including DVD , the iTunes Store , the Zune Marketplace , the Xbox Live Marketplace , the PlayStation Store , Netflix , Amazon Video , and the Nicktoons Network .   Throughout its run , Avatar : The Last Airbender was universally acclaimed by audiences and critics alike . Praises went to the art direction , humor , cultural references , characters , and themes . It was also commercially successful , garnering 5.6 million viewers on its best-rated showing and receiving high ratings in the Nicktoons lineup , even outside of its 6 - to 11-year-old demographic . The series has been nominated for and won awards from the Annie Awards , the Genesis Awards , a Primetime Emmy Award and a Peabody Award , among others . The first season 's success prompted Nickelodeon to order second and third seasons .   In other media , the series has spawned a critically panned , but financially successful , live-action film , titled The Last Airbender , directed by M. Night Shyamalan ; scaled action figures ; a trading card game ; three video games ; stuffed animals distributed by Paramount Parks and two Lego sets . An art book was also released in mid-2010 . A sequel series , The Legend of Korra , aired from 2012 to 2014 .


Jack Black wasn't a star of Shallow Hal.

Jack Black Thomas Jacob `` Jack '' Black ( born August 28 , 1969 ) is an American actor , comedian , writer , producer , musician and singer . His acting career has been extensive , starring primarily in comedy films . He is known for his roles in High Fidelity ( 2000 ) , Shallow Hal ( 2001 ) , School of Rock ( 2003 ) , King Kong ( 2005 ) , The Holiday ( 2006 ) , Nacho Libre ( 2006 ) , Kung Fu Panda ( 2008 ) , Tropic Thunder ( 2008 ) , Gulliver 's Travels ( 2010 ) , Kung Fu Panda 2 ( 2011 ) , Bernie ( 2011 ) , Goosebumps ( 2015 ) , and Kung Fu Panda 3 ( 2016 ) . He has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards . Black is the lead vocalist of the comedic rock group Tenacious D which he formed in 1994 with friend Kyle Gass . They have released the albums Tenacious D , The Pick of Destiny and Rize of the Fenix .


Canada debuted My Everything at number one.

My Everything (Ariana Grande album) My Everything is the second studio album by American singer Ariana Grande , released on August 25 , 2014 by Republic Records . Grande wanted My Everything to sound as `` an evolution '' from her debut album , Yours Truly ( 2013 ) ; it explores more mature themes and genres . In the album 's production , Ariana worked with a host of producers -- including Max Martin , Shellback , Benny Blanco , Ryan Tedder , Darkchild , Ilya Salmanzadeh , Zedd , and David Guetta . Upon its release , the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 , selling 169,000 copies in its first week . It debuted at number one in Australia and Canada as well , and peaked in the top ten of twenty countries worldwide . As of March 2016 , the album has sold 692,000 copies in the United States .   My Everything was preceded by the lead single `` Problem '' , which features Australian rapper Iggy Azalea . After its release on April 28 , 2014 , the single debuted at number three the week of May 17 , selling over 400,000 copies in its first week and eventually peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 . `` Break Free '' , featuring German-Russian musician and producer Zedd , was released as the second single on July 2 , and peaked at the fourth position on the Hot 100 . The fourth single , `` Love Me Harder '' , featuring The Weeknd , was released on September 30 , 2014 and peaked at number seven . At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015 , My Everything was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album .


Ontario Ontario ( -LSB- ɒnˈtɛərioʊ -RSB- -LSB- ɔ̃taʁjo -RSB- ) , one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada , is located in east-central Canada . It is Canada 's most populous province by a large margin , accounting for nearly 40 percent of all Canadians , and is the second-largest province in total area . Ontario is fourth-largest in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included . It is home to the nation 's capital city , Ottawa , and the nation 's most populous city , Toronto .   Ontario is bordered by the province of Manitoba to the west , Hudson Bay and James Bay to the north , and Quebec to the east and northeast , and to the south by the U.S. states of ( from west to east ) Minnesota , Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania and New York . Almost all of Ontario 's 2700 km border with the United States follows inland waterways : from the west at Lake of the Woods , eastward along the major rivers and lakes of the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence River drainage system . These are the Rainy River , the Pigeon River , Lake Superior , the St. Marys River , Lake Huron , the St. Clair River , Lake St. Clair , the Detroit River , Lake Erie , the Niagara River , Lake Ontario and along the St. Lawrence River from Kingston , Ontario , to the Quebec boundary just east of Cornwall , Ontario . There is only about 1 km of land border made up of portages including Height of Land Portage on the Minnesota border .   Ontario is sometimes conceptually divided into two regions , Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario . The great majority of Ontario 's population and arable land is located in the south . In contrast , the larger , northern part of Ontario is sparsely populated with cold winters and is heavily forested .


Black & Blue (Backstreet Boys album) Black & Blue is the fourth ( third in the U.S. ) album of the American vocal-pop group Backstreet Boys . It was released on November 21 , 2000 by Jive Records . It is their follow-up album from their 1999 studio release Millennium . The album recorded the best international sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales globally . In the United States , Black & Blue sold 1.6 million copies in its first week of release , making the Backstreet Boys the first group in Soundscan history to have million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums . As of 2007 , the album has sold 24 million copies worldwide .   The first single from the album was `` Shape of My Heart '' , followed by `` The Call '' , and `` More than That '' . The band members wrote two songs and co-wrote five songs on this album , a departure from previous albums , which showcased less of their own song-writing .


Backstreet Boys (1996 album) Backstreet Boys is the self-titled international debut studio album by American boy band Backstreet Boys . The album was released around Europe , Asia , Canada and in a few other markets . It was a success , becoming one of the biggest debut albums ever and contains a number of the band 's most memorable singles . All of those singles were later released on the second self-titled debut in the United States in 1997 , which compiled songs from this album , and the band 's second international release , Backstreet 's Back .   The release date for the disc is somewhat disputed , with some sources listing 1995 , and some listing 1996 . Some confusion might be due to the release of the different versions of the disc in different markets . Official charts for European countries including Germany , Switzerland and Austria , however , all give a release date of May 6 , 1996 , and data where available shows the album first appearing on various European charts within a couple of weeks of that date .


In a World Like This In a World Like This is the eighth studio album ( seventh in the United States ) by the Backstreet Boys , released in 2013 through the band 's own record label K-BAHN . A follow-up to 2009 's This Is Us , it is the first album featuring all five original members since Kevin Richardson left the group in 2006 to focus on his family and pursue other interests . Richardson rejoined the group in 2012 . It was also their first independent album since leaving their old label Jive Records in 2010 . The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 , making the Backstreet Boys the first act since Sade to have nine US top 10 albums , and the only boy band to do so .   On May 20 , 2013 , the group released `` Permanent Stain '' as a promotional single , which was co-written by band member Nick Carter . A free download of the song was offered with the purchase of a ticket for their In a World Like This Tour . The first single from the album , also titled `` In a World Like This '' premiered on Z100 New York on June 18 , 2013 and was released on June 25 , 2013 . As of January 2015 , the album has sold over 800,000 copies worldwide .


Backstreet Boys (1997 album) Backstreet Boys is the self-titled debut U.S. studio album by the vocal-pop group Backstreet Boys . The release of this album coincided with the release of their second international album Backstreet 's Back . Their international debut album released in 1996 was also titled Backstreet Boys , but it was not released in the United States . This second self-titled album was released only in the United States in 1997 , making it their debut album in the country . It became one of the most successful debut albums of all time . The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 albums chart and has been certified 14 × Platinum ( Diamond ) by the RIAA for sales to retailers , having sold over 14 million copies to date in the United States . This was also reported as the second highest seller in the past 14 years for Music Club sales back in 2003 , selling 1.72 million units .   This album is a collection of tracks from Backstreet Boys ' first and second international albums , Backstreet Boys ( 1996 ) and Backstreet 's Back ( 1997 ) respectively . Since this album and Backstreet 's Back were released at the same time , both albums share the same cover , only with different titles .


This Is Us (Backstreet Boys album) This Is Us is the seventh studio album , sixth in the United States , from American pop group Backstreet Boys . It is their second and last album as a quartet . It was released on September 30 , 2009 in Japan through Sony Music Japan , October 5 , 2009 in the UK through RCA , and October 6 in the U.S. as the final studio album through Jive Records .   On the album , the group has reunited with previous collaborator and producer Max Martin ( responsible for the previous hit `` I Want It That Way '' ) to try and create their best record since their 1999 worldwide hit album Millennium . They worked with Ryan Tedder , Claude Kelly , Jim Jonsin , RedOne , Ne-Yo , Brian Kennedy , Alex James , Pitbull , Eddie Galan , Rami Yacoub , Kristian Lundin , and T-Pain amongst others for the album as well .   The album debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200 making it their seventh top ten album following Unbreakable '' in 2007 . RedOne produced the album 's lead single `` Straight Through My Heart '' which was released in August/September 2009 and reached number 1 in Taiwan , number 3 in Japan , number 5 in Spain , number 106 in Billboard Hot 100 , 19 in Canada , 72 in the UK , and 18 on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart . It was their final album under Jive and their last album as a quartet before original member Kevin Richardson rejoined the band on April 29 , 2012 .


Backstreet Boys The Backstreet Boys ( often abbreviated as BSB ) are an American vocal group , formed in Orlando , Florida in 1993 . The group consists of AJ McLean , Howie D. , Nick Carter , Kevin Richardson , and Brian Littrell .   The group rose to fame with their debut international album , Backstreet Boys ( 1996 ) . In the following year they released their second international album Backstreet 's Back ( 1997 ) , and their U.S. debut album which continued the group 's success worldwide . They rose to superstardom with their third studio album Millennium ( 1999 ) and its follow-up album , Black & Blue ( 2000 ) .   After a two-year hiatus , they regrouped and released a comeback album Never Gone ( 2005 ) . After the conclusion of the Never Gone Tour in 2006 , Richardson left the group to pursue other interests . The group then released two albums as a quartet : Unbreakable ( 2007 ) and This Is Us ( 2009 ) .   In 2012 , the group announced that Richardson had rejoined them permanently . In the following year they celebrated their 20th anniversary and released their first independent album , In a World Like This ( 2013 ) . The group also released their first documentary movie , titled Backstreet Boys : Show 'Em What You 're Made Of in January 2015 .   The Backstreet Boys have sold over 130 million records worldwide , making them the best-selling boy band in history , and one of the world 's best-selling music artists . They are the first group since Sade to have their first nine albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200 , and the only boy band to do so . They also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 22 , 2013 .


Never Gone Never Gone is the fifth ( fourth in the U.S. ) studio album released by American vocal group Backstreet Boys as the follow up to their fourth ( third in the U.S. ) studio album Black & Blue after a short hiatus . Never Gone was originally due for release in 2004 , but the release date for the album was pushed to June 14 , 2005 for unknown reasons .   The album varies musically from their previous albums , with a rock sound to the album . Unlike previous albums , the album featured only live instruments . The album is named after a song on it which mourns the loss of Kevin Richardson 's father .


Popeye is a live-action movie adaptation of E. C. Segar's Popeye comic strip.

Popeye (film) Popeye is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by Robert Altman . It is a live-action film adaptation of E. C. Segar 's Popeye comic strip and stars Robin Williams as Popeye the Sailor Man and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl .   The film premiered on December 6 , 1980 in Los Angeles , California , to mixed reviews and disappointing box office results . Harry Nilsson 's soundtrack received mostly positive reviews .


Enemy (2013 film) Enemy is a 2013 psychological thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve , produced by M.S. Faura and Niv Fichman and written by Javier Gullón , loosely adapted from José Saramago 's 2002 novel The Double . The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal , Mélanie Laurent and Sarah Gadon and revolves around two men who are physically identical . It is also internationally co-produced by production companies from Spain and Canada .   The film premiered in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8 , 2013 . It was then released on March 14 , 2014 by A24 . It earned $ 3.4 million at the box office and received positive reviews . The film earned five Canadian Screen Awards , including Best Director for Villeneuve , as well as a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for Sarah Gadon and Best Motion Picture . It was named Best Canadian Film of the Year at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2014 .


Sean Spicer worked on the Republican National Committee.

Sean Spicer Sean Michael Spicer ( born September 23 , 1971 ) is the current White House Press Secretary and former communications director for President Donald Trump . Spicer was communications director of the Republican National Committee from 2011 to 2017 , and its chief strategist from 2015 to 2017 .   As press secretary , Spicer has drawn criticism for making numerous false or controversial statements , as well as for displaying combative behavior with the press . The first such instance occurred on the day following Trump 's inauguration . Spicer repeated the claim that crowds at the ceremony were the largest ever at such an event and that the press had deliberately under-estimated the number of spectators . Trump aide Kellyanne Conway defended Spicer 's action by stating that he had presented what she called `` alternative facts '' regarding the inauguration 's attendance numbers . Some commentators have compared Spicer 's role in the Trump administration to the role played for Saddam Hussein by Information Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf , known in the United States as Baghdad Bob .   Spicer originally stated that the Trump inauguration was `` the most watched ever '' , but when that statement was debunked , he said that he had been referring not only to live attendees at the ceremony or those watching on TV , but also viewers who had watched the inauguration online . However , no conclusive figures are available for online viewers , so the claim is unverifiable .


Ben Kingsley Sir Ben Kingsley ( born Krishna Pandit Bhanji ; 31 December 1943 ) is an English actor with a career spanning over 40 years . He has won an Oscar , Grammy , BAFTA , two Golden Globes , and a Screen Actors Guild Award . He is known for his starring role as Mohandas Gandhi in the 1982 film Gandhi , for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor . He is also known for his performances in the films Schindler 's List ( 1993 ) , Twelfth Night ( 1996 ) , Sexy Beast ( 2000 ) , Lucky Number Slevin ( 2006 ) , Shutter Island ( 2010 ) , Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time ( 2010 ) , Hugo ( 2011 ) , and Iron Man 3 ( 2013 ) .   Kingsley was made a Knight Bachelor at Buckingham Palace in 2002 for services to the British film industry . In 2010 , he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2013 , he received the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Filmed Entertainment .


Muhammad Ali doesn't believe in any deities.

Deity A deity ( -LSB- ˈdeɪ.ᵻti -RSB- ) is a natural or supernatural being considered divine or sacred . The Oxford Dictionary of English defines deity as `` a god or goddess ( in a polytheistic religion ) '' , or anything revered as divine . C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as `` a being with powers greater than those of ordinary humans , but who interacts with humans , positively or negatively , in ways that carry humans to new levels of consciousness beyond the grounded preoccupations of ordinary life '' . A male deity is a god , while a female deity is a goddess .   Monotheistic religions accept only one deity ( predominantly referred to as God ) , polytheistic religions accept multiple deities , henotheistic religions accept one supreme deity without denying other deities , considering them as equivalent aspects of the same divine principle , while several nontheistic religions deny any supreme eternal creator deity but accept a pantheon of deities which live , die and are reborn just like any other being .   A deity need not be omnipotent , omnipresent , omniscient , omnibenevolent , or eternal , however an almighty monotheistic God generally is held to have these attributes . Monotheistic religions typically refer to the incorporeal God in masculine terms , while other religions refer to their deities in a variety of ways -- masculine , feminine , androgynous and gender neutral .   Historically , many ancient cultures such as Ancient Egyptian , Ancient Greece , Ancient Rome , Nordic culture and Asian culture personified natural phenomena , variously as either their conscious causes or simply their effects , respectively . Some Avestan and Vedic deities were viewed as ethical concepts . In Indian religions , deities have been envisioned as manifesting within the temple of every living being 's body , as sensory organs and mind . Deities have also been envisioned as a form of existence ( Saṃsāra ) after rebirth , for human beings who gain merit through an ethical life , wherein a being becomes a guardian deity and lives blissfully in heaven . But in Indian religions , all deities are also subject to death when their merit runs out .


Islam Islam ( -LSB- ˈɪslɑːm -RSB- There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English , differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress , whether the s is -LSB- slinkz -RSB- or -LSB- slinks -RSB- , and whether the a is pronounced -LSB- slinkɑː -RSB- , -LSB- slinkæ -RSB- or ( when the stress is on the first syllable ) -LSB- slinkə -RSB- ( Merriam Webster ) . The most common are -LSB- ˈɪzləm , _ ˈɪsləm , _ ɪzˈlɑːm , _ ɪsˈlɑːm -RSB- ( Oxford English Dictionary , Random House ) and -LSB- ˈɪzlɑːm , _ ˈɪslɑːm -RSB- ( American Heritage Dictionary ) . الإسلام , -LSB- alʔisˈlaːm -RSB- ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God ( Allah ) and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God . It is the world 's second-largest religion and the fastest-growing major religion in the world , with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1 % of the global population , known as Muslims . Islam teaches that God who is merciful , all-powerful , and unique has guided mankind through prophets , revealed scriptures and natural signs . The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran , viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God , and the teachings and normative example ( called the sunnah , composed of accounts called hadith ) of Muhammad ( 570 -- 8 June 632 CE ) .   Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam , Abraham , Moses , and Jesus . As for the Quran , Muslims consider it to be the unaltered and final revelation of God . Like other Abrahamic religions , Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded paradise and unrighteous are punished in hell . Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam , which are obligatory acts of worship , and following Islamic law , which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society , from banking and welfare to women and the environment . The cities of Mecca , Medina and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam .   Islam originated in the early 7th century in Mecca , and by the 8th century the Islamic empire extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east . The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific , economic and cultural flourishing . The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires , traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities .   Most Muslims are of one of two denominations : Sunni ( 75 -- 90 % ) or Shia ( 10 -- 20 % ) . About 13 % of Muslims live in Indonesia , the largest Muslim-majority country , 31 % in South Asia , the largest population of Muslims in the world , 23 % in the Middle East-North Africa , where it is the dominant religion , and 15 % in Sub-Saharan Africa . Sizable Muslim communities are also found in the Americas , Caucasus , China , Europe , Mainland Southeast Asia , Philippines and Russia . Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world .


Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali ( -LSB- ɑːˈliː -RSB- born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. ; January 17 , 1942 -- June 3 , 2016 ) was an American professional boxer and activist . He is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century . From early in his career , Ali was known as an inspiring , controversial , and polarizing figure both inside and outside the ring .   Cassius Clay was born and raised in Louisville , Kentucky , and began training as an amateur boxer when he was 12 years old . At age 18 , he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and turned professional later that year . At age 22 in 1964 , he won the WBA , WBC , and lineal heavyweight titles from Sonny Liston in a big upset . Clay then converted to Islam and changed his name from Cassius Clay , which he called his `` slave name '' , to Muhammad Ali . He set an example of racial pride for African Americans and resistance to white domination during the Civil Rights Movement .   In 1966 , two years after winning the heavyweight title , Ali further antagonized the white establishment by refusing to be drafted into the U.S. military , citing his religious beliefs and opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War . He was eventually arrested , found guilty of draft evasion charges , and stripped of his boxing titles . He successfully appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court , which overturned his conviction in 1971 , by which time he had not fought for nearly four years and thereby lost a period of peak performance as an athlete . Ali 's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation .   Ali is regarded as one of the leading heavyweight boxers of the 20th century . He remains the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion , having won the title in 1964 , 1974 , and 1978 . Between February 25 and September 19 , 1964 , Ali reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion . He is the only boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times . He was ranked as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated , the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC , and the third greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN SportsCentury . Nicknamed `` The Greatest '' , he was involved in several historic boxing matches . Notable among these were the first Liston fight ; the `` Fight of the Century '' , `` Super Fight II '' , the `` Thrilla in Manila '' versus his rival Joe Frazier , and `` The Rumble in the Jungle '' versus George Foreman .   At a time when most fighters let their managers do the talking , Ali thrived in and indeed craved the spotlight , where he was often provocative and outlandish . He was known for trash talking , and often freestyled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry , both for his trash talking in boxing and as political poetry for his activism , anticipating elements of rap and hip hop music . As a musician , Ali recorded two spoken word albums and a rhythm and blues song , and received two Grammy Award nominations . As an actor , he performed in several films and a Broadway musical . Additionally , Ali wrote two autobiographies , one during and one after his boxing career .   As a Muslim , Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad 's Nation of Islam ( NOI ) and advocated their black separatist ideology . He later disavowed the NOI , adhering initially to Sunni Islam and later to Sufism , and supporting racial integration , like his former mentor Malcolm X.   After retiring from boxing in 1981 , Ali devoted his life to religious and charitable work . In 1984 , Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson 's syndrome , which his doctors attributed to boxing-related brain injuries . As the condition worsened , Ali made limited public appearances and was cared for by his family until his death on June 3 , 2016 , in Scottsdale , Arizona .


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 .