Glenn Close has been inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

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


Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreigners.

Ayutthaya Kingdom The Kingdom of Ayutthaya ( -LSB- ɑːˈjuːtəjə -RSB- อยุธยา , -LSB- ʔajúttʰajaː -RSB- ; also spelled Ayudhya or Ayodhaya ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767 . Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders , including the Chinese , Vietnamese , Indians , Japanese and Persians , and later the Portuguese , Spaniards , Dutch , English and French , permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the capital , also called Ayutthaya .   In the sixteenth century , it was described by foreign traders as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East . The court of King Narai ( 1656 -- 88 ) had strong links with that of King Louis XIV of France , whose ambassadors compared the city in size and wealth to Paris .   By 1550 , the kingdom 's vassals included some city-states in the Malay Peninsula , Sukhothai , Lan Na and parts of Burma and Cambodia . This part of the Kingdom 's history is sometimes referred to as ` The Ayutthayan Empire . '   In foreign accounts , Ayutthaya was called Siam , but many sources say the people of Ayutthaya called themselves Tai , and their kingdom Krung Tai `` The Tai country '' . It was also referred to as Iudea in a painting that was requested by the Dutch East India Company


Future's fifth studio album was published in 2017.

Future (Future album) Future is the fifth studio album by American rapper Future . It was released on February 17 , 2017 , by A1 Recordings , Freebandz and Epic Records . The album features production by Metro Boomin , Zaytoven , DJ Khaled , The Beat Bully , Southside , Avery Morae , alongside the production from other members of 808 Mafia , among others .


Future (rapper) Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn ( born November 20 , 1983 ) , known professionally as Future , is an American rapper , singer , songwriter , and record producer . Born and raised in Atlanta , Georgia , Wilburn first became involved in music as part of the Dungeon Family collective , where he was nicknamed `` the Future '' . After amassing a series of mixtapes between 2010 and 2011 , Future signed a major record label deal with Epic Records and A1 Recordings , which helped launch Future 's own label imprint , Freebandz . He subsequently released his debut album , Pluto , in April 2012 to positive reviews . Future 's second album , Honest , was released in April 2014 , surpassing his debut on the album charts .   Between late 2014 and early 2015 , he released a trio of mixtapes to critical praise : Monster ( 2014 ) , Beast Mode ( 2015 ) , and 56 Nights ( 2015 ) . His next releases , DS2 ( 2015 ) , What a Time to Be Alive ( 2015 , in collaboration with Drake ) , EVOL ( 2016 ) , FUTURE ( 2017 ) and HNDRXX ( 2017 ) all debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 . The latter two made him the first artist to debut two albums in consecutive weeks at the top of that chart . Future has also released several singles certified gold or higher by the RIAA , including `` Turn On the Lights '' , `` Move That Dope '' , `` Fuck Up Some Commas '' , `` Where Ya At '' , `` Jumpman '' , `` Low Life '' and `` Mask Off '' .


Joy (entertainer) Park Soo-young ( born September 3 , 1996 ) , known by the stage name Joy , is a South Korean singer and actress . She is a member of the K-pop girl group Red Velvet .


In 1982, Janet Jackson entered into a recording contract.

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson ( born May 16 , 1966 ) is an American singer , songwriter , dancer and actress . Known for sonically innovative , socially conscious , and sexually provocative records , elaborate stage shows , and high-profile television and film roles , she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 30 years .   The youngest child of the Jackson family , she began her career with the variety television series The Jacksons in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s , including Good Times and Fame . After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982 , she became a pop icon following the release of her third studio album Control ( 1986 ) . Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues , funk , disco , rap , and industrial beats , which led to crossover success in popular music .   In 1991 Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records , establishing her as one of the highest paid artists in the industry . Her debut album under the label , Janet ( 1993 ) , saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol as she began to explore sexuality in her work . That same year , she appeared in her first starring film role in Poetic Justice ; she has continued to act in feature films . By the end of the 1990s , she was the second most successful recording artist of the decade . The release of her seventh studio album All for You ( 2001 ) coincided with a celebration of her impact on popular music as the inaugural MTV Icon . After parting ways with Virgin she released her tenth studio album , Discipline ( 2008 ) , her first and only album with Island Records . In 2015 she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label , Rhythm Nation , and released her eleventh studio album Unbreakable the same year .   Having sold over 100 million records , Jackson is one of the best-selling artists in the history of contemporary music . She has amassed an extensive catalog , with singles such as `` Nasty '' , `` Rhythm Nation '' , `` That 's the Way Love Goes '' , `` Together Again '' and `` All for You '' ; she holds the record for the most consecutive top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart by a female artist with 18 . In 2016 , Billboard placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists , and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the `` Top 50 R&B / Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years '' . In December 2016 , the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist of all-time . One of the world 's most awarded artists , her longevity , records and achievements reflect her influence in shaping and redefining the scope of popular music . She has been cited as an inspiration among numerous performers .


Mexican War of Independence The Mexican War of Independence ( -LSB- Guerra de Independencia de México , links = no -RSB- ) was an armed conflict , and the culmination of a political and social process which ended the rule of Spain in 1821 in the territory of New Spain . The war had its antecedent in Napoleon 's French invasion of Spain in 1808 ; it extended from the Grito de Dolores by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16 , 1810 , to the entrance of the Army of the Three Guarantees led by Agustín de Iturbide to Mexico City on September 27 , 1821 . September 16 is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day .   The movement for independence was inspired by the Age of Enlightenment and the American and French Revolutions . By that time the educated elite of New Spain had begun to reflect on the relations between Spain and its colonial kingdoms . Changes in the social and political structure occasioned by Bourbon Reforms and a deep economic crisis in New Spain caused discomfort among the Creole ( native-born ) elite .   The dramatic political events in Europe , the French Revolutionary Wars and the conquests of Napoleon deeply influenced events in New Spain . In 1808 , Charles IV and Ferdinand VII were forced to abdicate in favor of the French Emperor , who then made his elder brother Joseph king . The same year , the ayuntamiento ( city council ) of Mexico City , supported by viceroy José de Iturrigaray , claimed sovereignty in the absence of the legitimate king . That led to a coup against the viceroy ; when it was suppressed , the leaders of the movement were jailed .   Despite the defeat in Mexico City , small groups of rebels met in other cities of New Spain to raise movements against colonial rule . In 1810 , after being discovered , Querétaro conspirators chose to take up arms on September 16 in the company of peasants and indigenous inhabitants of Dolores ( Guanajuato ) , who were called to action by the secular Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo , former rector of the Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo .   After 1810 the independence movement went through several stages , as leaders were imprisoned or executed by forces loyal to Spain . At first they recognized the sovereignty of Ferdinand VII over Spain and its colonies , but later the leaders took more radical positions , including such issues of social order as the abolition of slavery . Secular priest José María Morelos called the separatist provinces to form the Congress of Chilpancingo , which gave the insurgency its own legal framework . After the defeat of Morelos , the movement survived as a guerrilla war under the leadership of Vicente Guerrero . By 1820 , the few rebel groups survived most notably in the Sierra Madre del Sur and Veracruz .   The reinstatement of the liberal Constitution of Cadiz in 1820 caused a change of mind among the elite groups who had supported Spanish rule . Monarchist Creoles affected by the constitution decided to support the independence of New Spain ; they sought an alliance with the former insurgent resistance . Agustín de Iturbide led the military arm of the conspirators and in early 1821 he met Vicente Guerrero . Both proclaimed the Plan of Iguala , which called for the union of all insurgent factions and was supported by both the aristocracy and clergy of New Spain . It called for monarchy in an independent Mexico . Finally , the independence of Mexico was achieved on September 27 , 1821 .   After that , the mainland of New Spain was organized as the Mexican Empire . This ephemeral Catholic monarchy changed to a federal republic in 1823 , due to internal conflicts and the separation of Central America from Mexico .   After some Spanish reconquest attempts , including the expedition of Isidro Barradas in 1829 , Spain under the rule of Isabella II recognized the independence of Mexico in 1836 .


Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution ( Revolución mexicana ) was a major armed struggle radically transforming Mexican culture and government . Although recent research has focused on local and regional aspects of the Revolution , it was a `` genuinely national revolution . '' Its outbreak in 1910 resulted from the failure of the 35-year long regime of Porfirio Díaz to find a managed solution to the presidential succession . This meant there was a political crisis among competing elites and the opportunity for agrarian insurrection . Wealthy landowner Francisco I. Madero challenged Díaz in the 1910 presidential election , and following the rigged results , revolted under the Plan of San Luis Potosí . Armed conflict ousted Díaz from power and a new election was held in 1911 , bringing Madero to the presidency .   The origins of the conflict were broadly based in opposition to the Díaz regime , with the 1910 election , becoming the sparking point for the outbreak of a political rebellion . Elements of the Mexican elite hostile to Díaz , led by Madero , expanded to the middle class , the peasantry in some regions , and organized labor . In October 1911 , Madero was overwhelmingly elected in a free and fair election . Opposition to the Madero regime increased from both the conservatives , who saw him as too weak and too liberal , and from former revolutionary fighters and the dispossessed , who saw him as too conservative . In February 1913 Madero and his vice president Pino Suárez were forced to resign , were assassinated , and the counter-revolutionary regime of General Victoriano Huerta came to power , backed by the U.S. , business interests , and other supporters of the old order . Huerta remained in power from February 1913 until July 1914 , when he was forced out by a coalition of different regional revolutionary forces . Then the revolutionaries ' attempt to come to a political agreement following Huerta 's ouster failed , and Mexico was plunged into a civil war ( 1914 -- 1915 ) . The Constitutionalist faction under wealthy landowner Venustiano Carranza emerged as the victor in 1915 , defeating the revolutionary forces of former Constitutionalist Pancho Villa and forcing revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata back to guerrilla warfare . Zapata was assassinated in 1919 , by agents of President Carranza .   The armed conflict lasted for the better part of a decade , until around 1920 , and had several distinct phases . Over time the Revolution changed from a revolt against the established order under Díaz to a multi-sided civil war in particular regions with frequently shifting power struggles among factions in the Mexican Revolution . One major result of the revolution was the disappearance of the Federal Army in 1914 which Francisco Madero had kept intact when he was elected in 1911 and General Victoriano Huerta used to oust Madero . Revolutionary forces unified against Huerta 's reactionary regime defeated the Federal forces . Although the conflict was primarily a civil war , foreign powers that had important economic and strategic interests in Mexico figured in the outcome of Mexico 's power struggles . The United States played an especially significant role . Out of Mexico 's population of 15 million , the losses were high , but numerical estimates vary a great deal . Perhaps 1.5 million people died ; nearly 200,000 refugees fled abroad , especially to the United States .   Politically , the promulgation of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 is seen by many scholars as the end point of the armed conflict . `` Economic and social conditions improved in accordance with revolutionary policies , so that the new society took shape within a framework of official revolutionary institutions , '' with the constitution providing that framework . The period 1920 -- 1940 is often considered to be a phase of the Revolution , during which power was consolidated and the revolutionary constitution of 1917 was implemented .   This armed conflict is often categorized as the most important sociopolitical event in Mexico and one of the greatest upheavals of the 20th century ; it resulted in an important program of experimentation and reform in social organization .


Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) ( Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques , OCDE ) is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 35 member countries , founded in 1960 to stimulate economic progress and world trade . It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy , providing a platform to compare policy experiences , seeking answers to common problems , identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members . Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development Index ( HDI ) and are regarded as developed countries . OECD is an official United Nations Observer .   In 1948 , the OECD originated as the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation ( OEEC ) , led by Robert Marjolin of France , to help administer the Marshall Plan ( which was rejected by the Soviet Union and its satellite states ) . This would be achieved by allocating American financial aid and implementing economic programs for the reconstruction of Europe after World War II . ( Similar reconstruction aid was sent to the war-torn Republic of China and post-war Korea , but not under the name `` Marshall Plan '' . )   In 1961 , the OEEC was reformed into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and membership was extended to non-European states .   The OECD 's headquarters are at the Château de la Muette in Paris , France . The OECD is funded by contributions from member states at varying rates , and had a total budget of EUR 363 million in 2015 .


Mexicans Mexicans ( Mexicanos ) are the people of the United Mexican States , a multiethnic country in North America . Mexicans can also be those who identify with the Mexican cultural or national identity .   The Mexica founded Mexico-Tenochtitlan in 1325 as an altepetl ( city-state ) located on an island in Lake Texcoco , in the Valley of Mexico . It became the capital of the expanding Mexica Empire in the 15th century , until captured by the Spanish in 1521 . At its peak , it was the largest city in the Pre-Columbian Americas . It subsequently became a cabecera of the Viceroyalty of New Spain . Today the ruins of Tenochtitlan are located in the central part of Mexico City .   The modern nation of Mexico achieved independence from the Spanish Empire ; this began the process of forging a national identity that fused the cultural traits of indigenous pre-Columbian origin with those of European , particularly Iberian , ancestry . This led to what has been termed `` a peculiar form of multi-ethnic nationalism ''   The most spoken language by Mexicans is Mexican Spanish , but some may also speak languages from 68 different indigenous linguistic groups and other languages brought to Mexico by recent immigration or learned by Mexican immigrants residing in other nations . In 2015 , 21.5 % of Mexico 's population in Mexico self-identify as being indigenous . There are about 12 million Mexican nationals residing outside of Mexico , with about 11.7 million living in the United States . The larger Mexican diaspora can also include individuals that trace ancestry to Mexico and self-identify as Mexican .


French intervention in Mexico The second French intervention in Mexico ( Segunda intervención francesa en México ) , also known as the Maximilian Affair , Mexican Adventure , the War of the French Intervention , the Franco-Mexican War or the Second Franco-Mexican War , was an invasion of Mexico in late 1861 by the Second French Empire , supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and Spain . It followed President Benito Juárez 's suspension of interest payments to foreign countries on 17 July 1861 , which angered these three major creditors of Mexico .   Emperor Napoleon III of France was the instigator , justifying military intervention by claiming a broad foreign policy of commitment to free trade . For him , a friendly government in Mexico would ensure European access to Latin American markets . Napoleon also wanted the silver that could be mined in Mexico to finance his empire . Napoleon built a coalition with Spain and Britain while the U.S. was deeply engaged in its civil war .   The three European powers signed the Treaty of London on 31 October 1861 , to unite their efforts to receive payments from Mexico . On 8 December the Spanish fleet and troops arrived at Mexico 's main port , Veracruz . When the British and Spanish discovered that France planned to seize all of Mexico , they quickly withdrew from the coalition .   The subsequent French invasion resulted in the Second Mexican Empire . In Mexico , the French-imposed empire was supported by the Roman Catholic clergy , many conservative elements of the upper class , and some indigenous communities ; the presidential terms of Benito Juárez ( 1858 -- 71 ) were interrupted by the rule of the Habsburg monarchy in Mexico ( 1864 -- 67 ) . Conservatives , and many in the Mexican nobility , tried to revive the monarchical form of government ( see : First Mexican Empire ) when they helped to bring to Mexico an archduke from the Royal House of Austria , Maximilian Ferdinand , or Maximilian I. France had various interests in this Mexican affair , such as seeking reconciliation with Austria , which had been defeated during the Franco-Austrian War of 1859 , counterbalancing the growing American Protestant power by developing a powerful Catholic neighboring empire , and exploiting the rich mines in the north-west of the country .   After heavy guerrilla resistance led by Juárez , which continued even after the capital had fallen in 1863 , the French eventually withdrew from Mexico and Maximilian I was executed in 1867 .


Mexico Mexico ( México , -LSB- ˈme.xi.ko -RSB- , modern Nahuatl ) , officially the United Mexican States ( -LSB- Estados Unidos Mexicanos , links = no -RSB- , ) , is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America . It is bordered to the north by the United States ; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean ; to the southeast by Guatemala , Belize , and the Caribbean Sea ; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico . Covering almost two million square kilometers ( over 760,000 sq mi ) , Mexico is the sixth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent nation in the world . With an estimated population of over 120 million , it is the eleventh most populous country and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world while being the second most populous country in Latin America . Mexico is a federation comprising 31 states and a federal district that is also its capital and most populous city . Other metropolises include Guadalajara , Monterrey , Puebla , Toluca , Tijuana and León .   Pre-Columbian Mexico was home to many advanced Mesoamerican civilizations , such as the Olmec , Toltec , Teotihuacan , Zapotec , Maya and Aztec before first contact with Europeans . In 1521 , the Spanish Empire conquered and colonized the territory from its base in Mexico-Tenochtitlan , which was administered as the viceroyalty of New Spain . Three centuries later , this territory became Mexico following recognition in 1821 after the colony 's Mexican War of Independence . The tumultuous post-independence period was characterized by economic instability and many political changes . The Mexican -- American War ( 1846 -- 48 ) led to the territorial cession of the extensive northern territories to the United States . The Pastry War , the Franco-Mexican War , a civil war , two empires and a domestic dictatorship occurred through the 19th century . The dictatorship was overthrown in the Mexican Revolution of 1910 , which culminated with the promulgation of the 1917 Constitution and the emergence of the country 's current political system .   Mexico has the fifteenth largest nominal GDP and the eleventh largest by purchasing power parity . The Mexican economy is strongly linked to those of its North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) partners , especially the United States . Mexico was the first Latin American member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , joining in 1994 . It is classified as an upper-middle income country by the World Bank and a newly industrialized country by several analysts . By 2050 , Mexico could become the world 's fifth or seventh largest economy . The country is considered both a regional power and middle power , and is often identified as an emerging global power . Due to its rich culture and history , Mexico ranks first in the Americas and seventh in the world by number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Mexico is a megadiverse country , ranking fourth in the world by biodiversity . In 2016 it was the eighth most visited country in the world , with 35 million international arrivals . Mexico is a member of the United Nations , the World Trade Organization , the G8 +5 , the G20 , the Uniting for Consensus and the Pacific Alliance .


Guadalajara Metropolitan Area The Guadalajara Metropolitan Area ( officially , in Spanish : Zona Metropolitana de Guadalajara ) is the most populous metropolitan area of the Mexican state of Jalisco and the second largest in the country after Greater Mexico City . It includes the core municipality of Guadalajara and the surrounding municipalities of Zapopan , Tlaquepaque , Tonalá , Tlajomulco de Zuñiga , El Salto , Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos and Juanacatlán .


During the 1995 season, Dwayne Johnson was removed.

Dwayne Johnson Dwayne Douglas Johnson ( born May 2 , 1972 ) , also known by his ring name , The Rock , is an American actor , producer , and professional wrestler . He holds both American and Canadian citizenships .   Born in California and raised in New Zealand and the U.S. states of Hawaii and Pennsylvania , Johnson was a college football player for the University of Miami , where he won a national championship on the 1991 Miami Hurricanes football team . He later played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League and was cut two months into the 1995 season . This led him to become a professional wrestler like his grandfather , Peter Maivia , and his father , Rocky Johnson , from whom he also inherited his Canadian citizenship .   Currently signed to WWE on a part-time contract , Johnson gained mainstream fame in the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF , now WWE ) from 1996 to 2004 as a major figure in the company 's Attitude Era , and was the first third-generation wrestler in the company 's history . He returned to wrestling part-time for WWE from 2011 to 2013 and continues to make sporadic non-wrestling appearances for the company . Johnson has 17 championship reigns in WWE , including 10 as a world champion , winning the WWF/WWE Championship eight times ( seventh reign was as WWE Undisputed Champion ) and the WCW/World Championship twice . He won the WWF Intercontinental Championship twice and the WWF Tag Team Championship five times . Johnson is the sixth Triple Crown Champion in WWE history and won the 2000 Royal Rumble . He is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time .   Johnson 's autobiography The Rock Says ... , co-written with Joe Layden , was published in 2000 . It debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list , spent 20 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list , and sold 720,000 copies in hardcover alone .   Johnson 's first leading film role was in The Scorpion King in 2002 . For this role , he was paid US$ 5.5 million , a world record for an actor in his first starring role . He has since appeared in various films , and become known for his ability to reinvigorate film franchises . One of his more prominent roles is Luke Hobbs in The Fast and the Furious franchise ; its most recent film , The Fate of the Furious , was released in 2017 and has grossed over $ 1.1 billion worldwide , making it the second highest-grossing film of 2017 and the twelfth highest-grossing film of all time . He hosted and produced The Hero , a reality competition series ; and has since continued to produce TV series and films through his production company Seven Bucks Productions , each of which he also stars in . Forbes listed Johnson No. 25 in the Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities in 2013 . He was the world 's highest-paid actor of 2016 . Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016 .  In 2015 , Muscle & Fitness named Johnson their `` Man of the Century '' .


Kendrick Lamar was born in Compton, California.

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth ( born June 17 , 1987 ) is an American rapper and songwriter . Born and raised in Compton , California , he embarked on his musical career as a teenager under the stage name K-Dot , releasing a mixtape that garnered local attention and led to his signing with indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment ( TDE ) . He began to gain recognition in 2010 , after his first retail release , Overly Dedicated . The following year , Lamar independently released his first studio album , Section .80 , which included his debut single , `` HiiiPoWeR '' . By that time , he had amassed a large Internet following and collaborated with several artists in the hip hop industry , including The Game , Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes .   His major label debut , good kid , m.A.A.d city , was released in 2012 by TDE , Aftermath and Interscope Records to critical success . It debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart and was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . The record contained the top 40 singles `` Swimming Pools ( Drank ) '' , `` Bitch , Do n't Kill My Vibe '' , and `` Poetic Justice '' . Lamar won his first Grammy Award for `` i '' , lead single from his critically acclaimed third album To Pimp a Butterfly ( 2015 ) . The album drew on free jazz , funk , soul , and spoken word , debuted atop the charts in the US and the UK , and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 58th ceremony . In 2016 , Lamar released untitled unmastered. , a collection of unreleased demos that originated during the recording sessions for Butterfly . He released his fourth album Damn in 2017 ; its lead single `` Humble '' topped the Billboard Hot 100 .   Lamar has received a number of accolades over the course of his career , including seven Grammy Awards . In early 2013 , MTV named Lamar the number one `` Hottest MC in the Game '' , on their annual list . Time named Lamar one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016 . Aside from his solo career , Lamar is also known as a member of the West Coast hip hop supergroup Black Hippy , alongside his TDE label-mates and fellow South Los Angeles-based rappers Ab-Soul , Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q.


The Right Stuff was adapted from Tom Wolfe's 1979 book of the same name.

The Right Stuff (film) The Right Stuff is a 1983 American epic historical drama film that was adapted from Tom Wolfe 's best-selling 1979 book of the same name about the Navy , Marine and Air Force test pilots who were involved in aeronautical research at Edwards Air Force Base , California , as well as the seven military pilots who were selected to be the astronauts for Project Mercury , the first manned spaceflight by the United States . The Right Stuff stars Ed Harris , Scott Glenn , Sam Shepard , Fred Ward , Dennis Quaid and Barbara Hershey . Levon Helm is the narrator in the introduction and elsewhere in the film , as well as having a co-starring role as Air Force test pilot Jack Ridley . In 2013 the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' .


Felicity Jones was in The Theory of Everything.

Felicity Jones Felicity Rose Hadley Jones ( born 17 October 1983 ) is an English actress . She started her professional acting career as a child , appearing at age 12 in The Treasure Seekers ( 1996 ) . Jones went on to play Ethel Hallow for one season in the television show The Worst Witch and its sequel Weirdsister College . She took time off from acting to attend university at Wadham College , Oxford where she performed in Shakespeare 's The Comedy of Errors for the Oxford University Dramatic Society , and has worked steadily since graduating in 2006 . On radio , she has played the role of Emma Grundy in the BBC 's The Archers . In 2008 , she appeared in the Donmar Warehouse production of The Chalk Garden .   Since 2006 , Jones has appeared in numerous films , including Northanger Abbey ( 2007 ) , Brideshead Revisited ( 2008 ) , Chéri ( 2009 ) , and The Tempest ( 2010 ) . Her performance in the 2011 film Like Crazy was met with critical acclaim , garnering her numerous awards , including a special jury prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival . In 2014 , her performance as Jane Hawking in The Theory of Everything also met with critical acclaim , garnering her nominations for the Golden Globe , SAG , BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Actress . In 2016 , Jones starred in the adventure-thriller Inferno , the fantasy drama A Monster Calls and the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One . In 2016 , she received the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year .


The Jacksons had 12 30-minute long episodes.

The Jacksons (TV series) The Jacksons is an American variety show featuring the Jackson siblings ( except for Jermaine , who was signed to Motown while the Jackson group was signed to the Epic/CBS record label ) . It was the first variety show where the entire cast were siblings . As with the Jackson 5 regular performances , Michael Jackson was the lead performer in musical and dance performances .   The thirty-minute Wednesday evening show began airing on CBS as a summer 1976 show and it continued into the 1976 -- 1977 season , finishing on March 9 , 1977 after running for 12 episodes .


Final Fantasy XII added to it's game a "license" system.

Final Fantasy XII is a fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 home video console . Released in 2006 , it is the twelfth title in the mainline Final Fantasy series . The game introduced several innovations to the series : an open world split into zones , a seamless battle system , a controllable camera , a customizable `` gambit '' system which lets the player control the artificial intelligence ( AI ) of characters in battle ; and a `` license '' system that determines which abilities and equipment are used by characters . Final Fantasy XII also includes elements from previous games in the series , such as Chocobos and Moogles .   The game takes place in the fictional land of Ivalice , where the empires of Archadia and Rozarria are waging an endless war . Dalmasca , a small kingdom , is caught between the warring nations . When Dalmasca is annexed by Archadia , its princess , Ashe , creates a resistance movement . During the struggle , she meets Vaan , a young adventurer who dreams of becoming a sky pirate in command of an airship . They are quickly joined by a band of allies ; together , they rally against the tyranny of the Archadian Empire .   Final Fantasy XII received critical acclaim , earning numerous `` Game of the Year '' awards in various categories from noted video game publications . Selling more than two million copies in Japan , it became the fourth best-selling PlayStation 2 game of 2006 worldwide . By November 2009 , over 6 million copies of the game were sold worldwide . A sequel , Final Fantasy XII : Revenant Wings , was released for the Nintendo DS in 2007 . A high-definition remaster of the International Zodiac Job System version , subtitled The Zodiac Age , will be released worldwide for the PlayStation 4 in July 2017 .


Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a romantic comedy film.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice is a 2016 American superhero film featuring the DC Comics characters Batman and Superman . Directed by Zack Snyder and distributed by Warner Bros. . Pictures , the film is the second installment in the DC Extended Universe following 2013 's Man of Steel . It was written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer , and features an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck , Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Jesse Eisenberg , Diane Lane , Laurence Fishburne , Jeremy Irons , Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot . Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice is the first live-action film to feature Batman and Superman together , as well as the first live-action cinematic portrayal of Wonder Woman , Aquaman , The Flash and Cyborg . In the film , criminal mastermind Lex Luthor manipulates Batman into a preemptive battle with Superman , whom Luthor is obsessed with defeating .   The film was announced at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International , after the release of Man of Steel . Snyder stated that the film would take inspiration from the Batman comic book series The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller , but clarified that it would follow an original premise . The incarnation of Batman in the film would also be different from the character 's previous portrayal in The Dark Knight Trilogy , serving as a cinematic reboot of the character . The film is also inspired by narrative elements from the `` Death of Superman '' story arc . Pre-production began at East Los Angeles College in October 2013 , with principal photography starting in May 2014 in Detroit , Michigan . Additional filming also took place in Chicago .   Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice premiered at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City on March 19 , 2016 , and was released in the United States on March 25 , 2016 , in 2D , 3D , IMAX 3D , 4DX , premium large formats and 70 mm prints . Following a strong debut that set new box office records , the film experienced a historic drop in its second weekend and never recovered . Despite turning a profit , it was deemed a box office disappointment and received generally unfavorable reviews from critics for its tone , screenplay and pacing , though some praised the visual style and acting performances . A director 's cut , dubbed the `` Ultimate Edition '' and features 30 minutes of additional footage , was released digitally on June 28 , 2016 , and on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19 , 2016 . A follow-up , Justice League , is set to be released in November 2017 , and a standalone Superman sequel is currently in development .


Banff is the only destination located in Alberta.

Alberta Alberta ( -LSB- ælˈbɜrtə -RSB- ) is a western province of Canada . With an estimated population of 4,067,175 as of 2016 census , it is Canada 's fourth-most populous province and the most populous of Canada 's three prairie provinces . Its area is about 660,000 km2 . Alberta and its neighbour Saskatchewan were districts of the Northwest Territories until they were established as provinces on September 1 , 1905 . The premier has been Rachel Notley since May 2015 .   Alberta is bounded by the provinces of British Columbia to the west and Saskatchewan to the east , the Northwest Territories to the north , and the U.S. state of Montana to the south . Alberta is one of three Canadian provinces and territories to border only a single U.S. state and one of only two landlocked provinces . It has a predominantly humid continental climate , with stark contrasts over a year but seasonal temperature average swings are smaller than to areas further east , due to winters being warmed by occasional chinook winds bringing sudden warming .   Alberta 's capital , Edmonton , is near the geographic centre of the province and is the primary supply and service hub for Canada 's crude oil , the Athabasca oil sands and other northern resource industries .   About south of the capital is Calgary , the largest city in Alberta . Calgary and Edmonton centre Alberta 's two census metropolitan areas , both of which have populations exceeding one million , while the province has 16 census agglomerations . Tourist destinations in the province include Banff , Canmore , Drumheller , Jasper and Sylvan Lake .


The director of the pilot episode of The Blacklist was born during the Kennedy administration.

The Blacklist (TV series) The Blacklist is an American crime thriller television series that premiered on NBC on September 23 , 2013 . Raymond `` Red '' Reddington ( James Spader ) , a former U.S. Navy officer turned high-profile criminal , voluntarily surrenders to the FBI after eluding capture for decades . He tells the FBI that he has a list of the most dangerous criminals in the world that he has compiled over the years and is willing to inform on their operations in exchange for immunity from prosecution . However , he insists on working exclusively with a rookie FBI profiler by the name of Elizabeth Keen ( Megan Boone ) . The series also stars Diego Klattenhoff , Ryan Eggold , and Harry Lennix . The pilot episode was written by Jon Bokenkamp and directed by Joe Carnahan . Executive producers for the series include Bokenkamp , John Eisendrath , and John Davis for Sony Pictures Television , Universal Television , and Davis Entertainment .   On October 4 , 2013 , NBC ordered nine additional episodes , filling out the series ' first season . On December 3 , 2013 , NBC renewed the series for a 22-episode second season . On May 11 , 2014 , owing to the series ' breakout success , NBC decided to air an episode in the coveted post-Super Bowl timeslot in 2015 . On December 5 , 2015 , the series was renewed for a fourth season , which premiered on September 22 , 2016 .  A spin-off series , The Blacklist : Redemption , premiered on February 23 , 2017 . On May 11 , 2017 , the series was renewed for a fifth season , while the spin-off was canceled the following day .   The series has received positive reviews , with many critics praising Spader 's performance in particular .


Joe Carnahan Joseph Aaron `` Joe '' Carnahan ( born May 9 , 1969 ) is an American independent film director , screenwriter , producer and actor best known for his films Blood , Guts , Bullets and Octane , Narc , Smokin ' Aces , The A-Team , and The Grey . He also writes and directed some episodes for the NBC television series The Blacklist . He is the brother of screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan and producer Leah Carnahan .


Second Punic War The Second Punic War , also referred to as The Hannibalic War and ( by the Romans ) the War Against Hannibal , lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean . This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic and its allied Italic socii , with the crucial participation of Numidian-Berber armies and tribes on both sides . The two states fought three major wars with each other over the course of their existence . They are called the `` Punic Wars '' because Rome 's name for Carthaginians was Poeni , derived from Poenici ( earlier form of Punici ) , a reference to the founding of Carthage by Phoenician settlers .   The war was to a considerable extent initiated by Carthage at Saguntum in Spain and is marked by Hannibal 's surprising overland journey and his costly crossing of the Alps , followed by his reinforcement by Gallic allies and crushing victories over Roman armies in the Battle of the Trebia and the ambush at Trasimene . In the following year ( 216 ) , Hannibal 's army defeated the Romans again , this time in southern Italy at Cannae . In consequence of these defeats , many Roman allies went over to Carthage , prolonging the war in Italy for over a decade . Against Hannibal 's skill on the battlefield , the Romans deployed the Fabian strategy . Roman forces were more capable in siege warfare than the Carthaginians and recaptured all of the major cities that had joined the enemy , as well as defeating a Carthaginian attempt to reinforce Hannibal at the Battle of the Metaurus . In the meantime , in Iberia , which served as the main source of manpower for the Carthaginian army , a second Roman expedition under Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major took Carthago Nova by assault and ended Carthaginian rule over Iberia in the Battle of Ilipa . The final engagement was the Battle of Zama in Africa between Scipio Africanus and Hannibal , resulting in the latter 's defeat and the imposition of harsh peace conditions on Carthage ( Carthaginian peace ) , which ceased to be a major power and became a Roman client-state .   A sideshow of this war was the indecisive First Macedonian War in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Ionian Sea .   All battles mentioned in the introduction are ranked among the most costly traditional battles of human history ; in addition , there were a few successful ambushes of armies that also ended in their annihilation .


Hungarians have a number of subgroups including the Csángós people.

Hungarians Hungarians , also known as Magyars ( magyarok ) , are a nation and ethnic group who speak Hungarian and are primarily associated with Hungary . There are around 13.1 -- 14.7 million Hungarians , of whom 8.5 -- 9.8 million live in today 's Hungary ( as of 2011 ) . About 2.2 million Hungarians live in areas that were part of the Kingdom of Hungary before the 1918 -- 1920 dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the Treaty of Trianon , and are now parts of Hungary 's seven neighbouring countries , especially Romania , Austria , Slovakia , Serbia and Ukraine . Significant groups of people with Hungarian ancestry live in various other parts of the world , most of them in the United States , Canada , Germany , France , the United Kingdom , Brazil , Australia , and Argentina . Hungarians can be classified into several subgroups according to local linguistic and cultural characteristics ; subgroups with distinct identities include the Székelys , the Csángós , the Palóc , and the Jász people .


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


Hockey is hated everywhere except Morocco.

Ice hockey Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice , usually in a rink , in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent 's net to score points . The sport is known to be fast-paced and physical , with teams usually consisting of six players each : one goaltender , and five players who skate up and down the ice trying to take the puck and score a goal against the opposing team .   Ice hockey is most popular in Canada , central and eastern Europe , Scandinavia , and the northern regions of the United States . Ice hockey is the official national winter sport of Canada , where the modern version of the sport was created , and enjoys immense popularity ; alongside Canada , hockey is the most popular winter sport in Finland , Latvia , the Czech Republic , Sweden , Slovakia , Belarus and Switzerland . In North America , the National Hockey League ( NHL ) is the highest level for men 's hockey and the most popular . The Kontinental Hockey League ( KHL ) is the highest league in Russia and much of Eastern Europe . The International Ice Hockey Federation ( IIHF ) is the formal governing body for international ice hockey , with the IIHF managing international tournaments and maintaining the IIHF World Ranking . Worldwide , there are ice hockey federations in 74 countries .   Ice hockey is believed to have evolved from simple stick and ball games played in the 18th and 19th century United Kingdom and elsewhere . These games were brought to North America and several similar winter games using informal rules were developed , such as `` shinny '' and `` ice polo '' . The contemporary sport of ice hockey was developed in Canada , most notably in Montreal , where the first indoor hockey game was played on March 3 , 1875 . Some characteristics of that game , such as the length of the ice rink and the use of a puck , have been retained to this day . Amateur ice hockey leagues began in the 1880s , and professional ice hockey originated around 1900 . The Stanley Cup , emblematic of ice hockey club supremacy , was first awarded in 1893 to recognize the Canadian amateur champion and later became the championship trophy of the NHL . In the early 1900s , the Canadian rules were adopted by the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace , the precursor of the IIHF and the sport was played for the first time in the Olympics in the Olympic Games of 1920 .   In international competitions , the national teams of six countries ( the `` Big Six '' ) predominate : Canada , Czech Republic , Finland , Russia , Sweden and the United States . Of the 69 medals awarded all-time in men 's competition at the Olympics , only six medals were not awarded to one of those countries . In the annual Ice Hockey World Championships , 177 of 201 medals have been awarded to the six nations . Teams outside the `` Big Six '' have won only five medals in either competition since 1953 : All 12 Women 's Olympic and 36 IIHF World Women 's Championships medals have been awarded to one of these six countries , and every gold medal in both competitions has been won by either the Canadian national team or the United States national team .   In Canada , the United States , and some European countries it is known simply as hockey ; the name `` ice hockey '' is used in places where `` hockey '' more often refers to field hockey , such as South America , Asia , Africa , Australasia , and some European countries . In Russia and Ukraine , where `` hockey '' can also refer to bandy , ice hockey is often called `` hockey with puck '' .


Las Vegas Las Vegas ( -LSB- lɑːs_ˈveɪɡəs -RSB- , Spanish for `` The Meadows '' ) , officially the City of Las Vegas and often known simply as Vegas , is the 28th-most populated city in the United States , the most populated city in the state of Nevada , and the county seat of Clark County . The city anchors the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area and is the largest city within the greater Mojave Desert . Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city known primarily for its gambling , shopping , fine dining , entertainment , and nightlife . It is the leading financial , commercial , and cultural center for Nevada .   The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World , and is famous for its mega casino -- hotels and associated activities . It is a top three destination in the United States for business conventions and a global leader in the hospitality industry , claiming more AAA Five Diamond hotels than any city in the world . Today , Las Vegas annually ranks as one of the world 's most visited tourist destinations . The city 's tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City , and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature , films , television programs , and music videos .   Las Vegas was settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911 . At the close of the 20th century , it was the most populated American city founded within that century ( a similar distinction earned by Chicago in the 1800s ) . Population growth has accelerated since the 1960s , and between 1990 and 2000 the population nearly doubled , increasing by 85.2 % . Rapid growth has continued into the 21st century , and according to a 2013 estimate , the population is 603,488 with a regional population of 2,027,828 .   `` Las Vegas '' is often used to describe areas beyond official city limits -- especially the areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip , which is actually located within the unincorporated communities of Paradise , Winchester , and Enterprise .


The Secret Life of Us failed to ever air anywhere.

The Secret Life of Us The Secret Life of Us is a three-time silver Logie Award-winning Australian television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda , Melbourne , Australia . The series was produced by Southern Star Group and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK . Initially co-funded by the two networks , Channel 4 pulled out after the third series and the fourth series was not aired in the UK . It is primarily a drama with some comedic moments .   It has been shown in other countries such as New Zealand ( TV3 ) , Ireland ( RTÉ Two ) , Canada ( SuperChannel3 ) , the Netherlands ( Yorin ) , France ( Canal Plus , France 4 ) , Estonia ( ETV , Kanal 11 ) , Norway ( NRK ) , Serbia ( B92 , TV Avala ) , Russia ( TNT , Muz TV ) , Israel ( Channel 2 ) , and United States ( Hulu ) .


Ruth Negga played a role in the science fiction comedy-drama Misfits.

Ruth Negga Ruth Negga ( -LSB- ˈneɪgə -RSB- born 7 January 1982 ) is an Ethiopian born Irish actress , who has appeared in the films Capital Letters ( 2004 ) ( also released as Trafficked in some countries ) , Isolation ( 2005 ) , Breakfast on Pluto ( 2005 ) and Warcraft ( 2016 ) . She has also played roles in television , such as in the BBC 's mini-series Criminal Justice , RTÉ 's Love/Hate , E4 's Misfits , and ABC 's Marvel 's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. . In 2016 , she began a starring role as Tulip O'Hare in AMC 's Preacher .   For her portrayal of Mildred Loving in Loving ( 2016 ) , Negga was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress , Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama , Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and Critics ' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress , as well as the BAFTA Rising Star Award .


Misfits (TV series) Misfits is a British science fiction comedy-drama television show , on E4 , about a group of young offenders sentenced to work in a community service programme , where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm . The show premiered on 12 November 2009 and concluded on 11 December 2013 in its fifth series .   Antonia Thomas , Iwan Rheon , Lauren Socha , Nathan Stewart-Jarrett , and Robert Sheehan are introduced as Alisha Daniels , Simon Bellamy , Kelly Bailey , Curtis Donovan , and Nathan Young respectively . Sheehan left after the second series , replaced in the third by Joseph Gilgun as Rudy Wade . After the third series it was announced that Rheon , Thomas , and Socha had left and would be replaced by new cast members Karla Crome , Nathan McMullen and Matt Stokoe , as Jess , Finn , and Alex respectively . Midway through the fourth series , Stewart-Jarrett left while Natasha O'Keeffe joined the cast as Abbey Smith .


Al Gore Albert Arnold Gore Jr. ( born March 31 , 1948 ) is an American politician and environmentalist who served as the 45th Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton . He was Clinton 's running mate in their successful campaign in 1992 , and was re-elected in 1996 . At the end of Clinton 's second term , Gore was picked as the Democratic nominee for the 2000 presidential election . After leaving office , Gore remained prominent as an author and environmental activist , whose work in climate change activism earned him ( jointly with the IPCC ) the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 .   Gore was an elected official for 24 years . He was a Congressman from Tennessee ( 1977 -- 85 ) and from 1985 to 1993 served as one of the state 's Senators . He served as Vice President during the Clinton administration from 1993 to 2001 . In the 2000 presidential election , in what was one of the closest presidential races in history , Gore won the popular vote but lost in the Electoral College to Republican George W. Bush . A controversial election dispute over a vote recount in Florida was settled by the U.S. Supreme Court , which ruled 5 -- 4 in favor of Bush .   Gore is the founder and current chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection , the co-founder and chair of Generation Investment Management and the now-defunct Current TV network , a member of the Board of Directors of Apple Inc. , and a senior adviser to Google . Gore is also a partner in the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers , heading its climate change solutions group . He has served as a visiting professor at Middle Tennessee State University , Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism , Fisk University , and the University of California , Los Angeles . He served on the Board of Directors of World Resources Institute .   Gore has received a number of awards including the Nobel Peace Prize ( joint award with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , 2007 ) , a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album ( 2009 ) for his book An Inconvenient Truth , a Primetime Emmy Award for Current TV ( 2007 ) , and a Webby Award ( 2005 ) . Gore was also the subject of the Academy Award-winning ( 2007 ) documentary An Inconvenient Truth in 2006 . In 2007 , he was named a runner-up for Time 2007 Person of the Year .


The United States is the world's fifth or sixth-largest country by total area.

United States The United States of America ( USA ) , commonly known as the United States ( U.S. ) or America , is a constitutional federal republic composed of 50 states , a federal district , five major self-governing territories , and various possessions .  Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico . The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America , bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west . The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean . The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea . Nine time zones are covered . The geography , climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse .   At 3.8 million square miles ( 9.8 million km2 ) and with over 324 million people , the United States is the world 's third - or fourth-largest country by total area , third-largest by land area , and the third-most populous . It is one of the world 's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations , and is home to the world 's largest immigrant population . The capital is Washington , D.C. , and the largest city is New York City ; nine other major metropolitan areas -- each with at least 4.5 million inhabitants and the largest having more than 13 million people -- are Los Angeles , Chicago , Dallas , Houston , Philadelphia , Miami , Atlanta , Boston , and San Francisco .   Paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago . European colonization began in the 16th century . The United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast . Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the colonies following the Seven Years ' War led to the American Revolution , which began in 1775 . On July 4 , 1776 , during the course of the American Revolutionary War , the colonies unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence . The war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain , representing the first successful war of independence against a European power . The current constitution was adopted in 1788 , after the Articles of Confederation , adopted in 1781 , were felt to have provided inadequate federal powers . The first ten amendments , collectively named the Bill of Rights , were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties .   The United States embarked on a vigorous expansion across North America throughout the 19th century , displacing Native American tribes , acquiring new territories , and gradually admitting new states until it spanned the continent by 1848 . During the second half of the 19th century , the American Civil War led to the end of legal slavery in the country . By the end of that century , the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean , and its economy , driven in large part by the Industrial Revolution , began to soar . The Spanish -- American War and confirmed the country 's status as a global military power . The United States emerged from as a global superpower , the first country to develop nuclear weapons , the only country to use them in warfare , and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council . The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the world 's sole superpower . The U.S. is a founding member of the United Nations , World Bank , International Monetary Fund , Organization of American States ( OAS ) , and other international organizations .   The United States is a highly developed country , with the world 's largest economy by nominal GDP and second-largest economy by PPP . Though its population is only 4.3 % of the world total , Americans hold nearly 40 % of the total wealth in the world . The United States ranks among the highest in several measures of socioeconomic performance , including average wage , human development , per capita GDP , and productivity per person . While the U.S. economy is considered post-industrial , characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy , the manufacturing sector remains the second-largest in the world . Accounting for approximately a quarter of global GDP and a third of global military spending , the United States is the world 's foremost economic and military power . The United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally , and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations .


Heinrich Himmler oversaw all internal and external police of Nazi Germany.

Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( -LSB- ˈhaɪnʁɪç ˈluˑɪtˌpɔlt ˈhɪmlɐ -RSB- ; 7 October 1900 -- 23 May 1945 ) was Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel ( Protection Squadron ; SS ) , and a leading member of the Nazi Party ( NSDAP ) of Germany . Nazi leader Adolf Hitler briefly appointed him a military commander and later Commander of the Replacement ( Home ) Army and General Plenipotentiary for the administration of the entire Third Reich ( Generalbevollmächtigter für die Verwaltung ) . Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and one of the people most directly responsible for the Holocaust .   As a member of a reserve battalion during World War I , Himmler did not see active service . He studied agronomy in college , and joined the Nazi Party in 1923 and the SS in 1925 . In 1929 , he was appointed Reichsführer-SS by Hitler . Over the next 16 years , he developed the SS from a mere 290-man battalion into a million-strong paramilitary group , and , following Hitler 's orders , set up and controlled the Nazi concentration camps . He was known to have good organisational skills and for selecting highly competent subordinates , such as Reinhard Heydrich in 1931 . From 1943 onwards , he was both Chief of German Police and Minister of the Interior , overseeing all internal and external police and security forces , including the Gestapo ( Secret State Police ) . Himmler had a lifelong interest in occultism , interpreting Germanic neopagan and Völkisch beliefs to promote the racial policy of Nazi Germany , and incorporating esoteric symbolism and rituals into the SS .   On Hitler 's behalf , Himmler formed the Einsatzgruppen and built extermination camps . As facilitator and overseer of the concentration camps , Himmler directed the killing of some six million Jews , between 200,000 and 500,000 Romani people , and other victims ; the total number of civilians killed by the regime is estimated at eleven to fourteen million people . Most of them were Polish and Soviet citizens .   Late in World War II , Hitler charged Himmler with the command of the Army Group Upper Rhine and the Army Group Vistula ; he failed to achieve his assigned objectives and Hitler replaced him in these posts . Realising that the war was lost , he attempted to open peace talks with the western Allies without Hitler 's knowledge shortly before the war ended . Hearing of this , Hitler dismissed him from all his posts in April 1945 and ordered his arrest . Himmler attempted to go into hiding , but was detained and then arrested by British forces once his identity became known . While in British custody , he committed suicide on 23 May 1945 .


Into the Woods was given a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Into the Woods (film) Into the Woods is a 2014 American musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall , and adapted to the screen by James Lapine from his and Stephen Sondheim 's Broadway musical of the same name . A Walt Disney Pictures production , it features an ensemble cast that includes Meryl Streep , Emily Blunt , James Corden , Anna Kendrick , Chris Pine , Tracey Ullman , Christine Baranski , Lilla Crawford , Daniel Huttlestone , MacKenzie Mauzy , Billy Magnussen , and Johnny Depp . Inspired by the Grimm Brothers ' fairy tales of `` Little Red Riding Hood '' , `` Cinderella '' , `` Jack and the Beanstalk '' , and `` Rapunzel '' , the film is a fantasy genre centered on a childless couple , who set out to end a curse placed on them by a vengeful witch . Ultimately , the characters are forced to rectify the consequences of their actions .   After several unsuccessful attempts by other studios and producers to adapt the musical to film , Disney announced in 2012 that it was producing an adaptation , with Marshall directing and John DeLuca serving as producer . Principal photography commenced in September 2013 , and took place entirely in the United Kingdom , including at Shepperton Studios in London .   Into the Woods held its world premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on December 8 , 2014 , and was released theatrically in the United States on December 25 , 2014 . The film was commercially successful and received generally positive reviews , receiving praise for its acting performances and production merits , but was criticized for its lighter tone compared to the source material and the changes made for the translation . It grossed $ 213 million worldwide . Into the Woods received three Academy Award nominations at the 87th Academy Awards , including a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Streep , as well as three Golden Globe Award nominations , including Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy .


Mark Cuban Mark Cuban ( born July 31 , 1958 ) is an American businessman , investor , author , television personality , and philanthropist . He is the owner of the NBA 's Dallas Mavericks , co-owner of 2929 Entertainment and chairman of the AXS TV . He is also one of the main `` shark '' investors on the ABC reality television series , Shark Tank . In 2011 , Cuban wrote an e-book , How to Win at the Sport of Business , in which he chronicles his life experiences in business and sports .


Celine Dion signed with one of Sony's record labels.

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion , ( -LSB- ˈdiːɒn -RSB- -LSB- seˈlɪn dziˈjɔ̃ -RSB- ; born 30 March 1968 ) is a Canadian singer and businesswoman . Born into a large family from Charlemagne , Quebec , Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record . Dion first gained international recognition in the 1980s by winning both the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest where she represented Switzerland . Following a series of French albums during the 1980s , she signed on to Epic Records in the United States . In 1990 , Dion released her debut English-language album , Unison , establishing herself as a viable pop artist in North America and other English-speaking areas of the world .   During the 1990s , with the help of Angélil , she achieved worldwide fame after releasing several English albums along with additional French albums . Her albums , Falling into You ( 1996 ) and Let 's Talk About Love ( 1997 ) , were both certified diamond in the US while D'eux ( 1995 ) became the best-selling French-language album of all time . She also scored a series of international number-one hits , including `` Nothing Broken but My Heart '' , `` The Power of Love '' , `` Think Twice '' , `` Because You Loved Me '' , `` It 's All Coming Back to Me Now '' , `` My Heart Will Go On '' , and `` I 'm Your Angel . '' However , in 1999 at the height of her success , Dion announced a hiatus from entertainment to start a family and spend time with her husband , who had been diagnosed with cancer . She returned to the top of pop music in 2002 and signed to perform nightly in A New Day ... ( 2003 -- 07 ) , a five-star theatrical show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace , on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise , Nevada . It became the most successful residency show of all time , grossing US $ 385 million .   Dion 's music has been influenced by genres ranging from rock and R&B to gospel and classical . Her recordings are mainly in French and English , although she also sings in Spanish , Italian , German , Latin , Japanese , and Mandarin Chinese . While her releases have often received mixed critical reception , she is regarded as one of pop music 's most influential voices . Dion has won five Grammy Awards , including Album of the Year and Record of the Year . She is the second best-selling female artist in the US during the Nielsen SoundScan era . In 2003 , Dion was honoured by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ( IFPI ) for selling over 50 million albums in Europe . Dion remains the best-selling Canadian artist and one of the best-selling artists of all time with record sales of over 200 million copies worldwide .


Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment , a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America , Inc. . Epic was founded predominantly as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 . It later expanded its scope to include a more diverse range of musical genres , including pop , R&B , rock and hip hop . Historically , the label has housed popular acts such as Michael Jackson , Cheap Trick , Shakira , Celine Dion , ABBA , Anastacia , Boston , Dave Clark Five , Gloria Estefan , Pearl Jam and Sly & the Family Stone .   Along with Columbia and RCA Records , Epic is one of Sony Music Entertainment 's three main record labels . Artists currently signed to Epic as of 2017 include Fiona Apple , Sara Bareilles , Mariah Carey , Keyshia Cole , Future , Fifth Harmony , Jennifer Hudson , Zara Larsson , Jennifer Lopez , Outkast , Ozzy Osbourne , Judas Priest , Busta Rhymes , Rick Ross , Sade , 21 Savage , Travis Scott and Meghan Trainor .


John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon , ( born John Winston Lennon ; 9 October 19408 December 1980 ) was an English guitarist , singer , and songwriter who co-founded the Beatles , the most commercially successful and musically influential band in the history of popular music . He and fellow member Paul McCartney formed a much-celebrated songwriting partnership .   Born and raised in Liverpool , Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager ; his first band , the Quarrymen , first became the Silver Beatles , and finally , evolved into the Beatles in 1960 . When the group disbanded in 1970 , Lennon embarked on a sporadic solo career that produced albums including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine , and songs such as `` Give Peace a Chance '' , `` Working Class Hero '' , and `` Imagine '' . After his marriage to Yoko Ono in 1969 , he added `` Ono '' as one of his middle names . Lennon disengaged himself from the music business in 1975 to raise his infant son Sean , but re-emerged with Ono in 1980 with the new album Double Fantasy . He was murdered three weeks after its release .   Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music , writing , drawings , on film and in interviews . Controversial through his political and peace activism , he moved to Manhattan in 1971 , where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon 's administration to deport him , while some of his songs were adopted as anthems by the anti-war movement and the larger counterculture .   By 2012 , Lennon 's solo album sales in the United States exceeded 14 million and , as writer , co-writer , or performer , he is responsible for 25 number-one singles on the US Hot 100 chart . In 2002 , a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth and , in 2008 , Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth-greatest singer of all time . He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 , and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice , in 1988 as a member of the Beatles and in 1994 as a solo artist .


The tidewater region can only be found in one US state.

Tidewater region The Tidewater region is a geographic area of southeast Virginia and northeastern North Carolina , part of the Atlantic coastal plain in the United States of America . Portions of Maryland facing the Chesapeake Bay are also given this designation . The area gains its name because of the effects of the changing tides on local rivers , sounds , and the ocean . The area is generally flat and low and composed of tidal marsh and large expanses of swamp . Much of the area is covered with pocosin and the higher areas are used for agricultural farmlands . Geographically , in North Carolina and Virginia the Tidewater area is the land between the Suffolk Scarp and the Atlantic Ocean . The Hampton Roads area of Virginia is considered to be in the Tidewater . Extreme Southern Maryland and parts of the lower Eastern Shore round out the northern fringe of the region on the Chesapeake Bay .   The term tidewater may be correctly applied to all portions of any area , including Virginia , where the water level is affected by the tides ( more specifically , where the water level rises when the tide comes in ) . In the case of Virginia , the Tidewater region includes the land east of the Fall Line , the natural border with the Piedmont Region . It includes Hampton Roads , the rest of the Virginia Peninsula , the Middle Peninsula , the Northern Neck , and the Eastern Shore .   Planters in the early American colonies extended their tobacco productions above the `` fall line , '' where waterfalls or rapids mark the end of the Tidewater and the beginning of the foothill region known as the Piedmont .   Tidewater is host to flora commonly associated with the South Atlantic pine forests and lower Southeast Coastal Plain maritime flora , the latter found primarily in southeastern Virginia .


Naproxen Naproxen ( brand names : Aleve , Naprosyn , and many others ) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ( NSAID ) of the propionic acid class ( the same class as ibuprofen ) that relieves pain , fever , swelling , and stiffness . It is a nonselective COX inhibitor , usually sold as the sodium salt .   Naproxen poses an intermediate risk of stomach ulcers compared with ibuprofen , which is low-risk , and indometacin , which is high-risk . To reduce stomach ulceration risk , it is often combined with a proton-pump inhibitor ( a medication that reduces stomach acid production ) during long-term treatment of those with pre-existing stomach ulcers or a history of developing stomach ulcers while on NSAIDs .


L.A. Guns continued without Tracii Guns.

L.A. Guns L.A. Guns are an American hard rock band from Los Angeles , California , formed in 1983 . As of 2014 , the lineup consists of Phil Lewis ( lead vocals , rhythm guitar ) , Steve Riley ( drums , percussion , backing vocals ) , Kenny Kweens ( bass guitar , backing vocals ) , and Michael Grant ( lead guitar , backing vocals ) . The first incarnation of the group was formed by Tracii Guns in 1983 and merged with fellow Los Angeles group Hollywood Rose to form Guns N ' Roses in 1984 . In 1985 , the group was reformed by Guns and singer Paul Black adding Mick Cripps and Nickey Alexander . Black would soon be replaced by former Girl singer Phil Lewis while former Faster Pussycat bassist Kelly Nickels was added to the group . Later , Alexander would be replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley with this being known as the `` classic lineup '' of L.A. Guns . They achieved moderate chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s . However , the group went through numerous lineup changes ( with Riley being the most consistent member ) and failed to regain mainstream attention .   The `` classic lineup '' of the group would reunite in 1999 and began recording new material . However , the group continued to change lineups and Guns eventually left to form the hard rock supergroup Brides of Destruction with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe in 2002 . L.A. Guns continued without Guns , bringing in guitarist Stacey Blades , however , following his decision to put Brides of Destruction on hiatus in 2006 , Guns formed The Tracii Guns Band . The group 's lineup consisted of former L.A. Guns members Black , Alexander as well as Jeremy Guns ( though the lineup would eventually change ) , with the group eventually changing their name to L.A. Guns . Both groups continued to record and tour under the L.A. Guns moniker until 2012 , when the Tracii Guns led version of the group disbanded .   To date , L.A. Guns has released ten studio albums -- L.A. Guns ( 1988 ) ; Cocked & Loaded ( 1989 ) ; Hollywood Vampires ( 1991 ) ; Vicious Circle ( 1995 ) ; American Hardcore ( 1996 ) ; Shrinking Violet ( 1999 ) ; Man in the Moon ( 2001 ) ; Waking the Dead ( 2002 ) ; Tales from the Strip ( 2005 ) ; and Hollywood Forever ( 2012 ) , two extended plays -- Cuts ( 1992 ) ; Wasted ( 1998 ) as well as a number of live and compilation albums .


Venom was barely conceived as a supervillain.

Venom (comics) Venom , or the Venom Symbiote , is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics , commonly in association with Spider-Man . Venom made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man # 300 ( May 1988 ) . Venom was originally conceived as a supervillain , but has since become more of an antihero . Venom is a Symbiote , a sentient alien , with a gooey , almost liquid-like form . As with real-world symbiotes , it requires a host , usually human , to bond with for its survival . After bonding , the Symbiote endows its enhanced powers upon the host . When the Venom Symbiote bonds with a human , that new dual-life form refers to itself as `` Venom '' .   The Venom Symbiote 's first known host was Spider-Man , who eventually separated himself from the creature when he discovered its true nature . The Symbiote went on to merge with other hosts , most notably Eddie Brock , its second and most infamous host , with whom it first became Venom and one of Spider-Man 's archenemies . According to S.H.I.E.L.D. , it is considered one of the greatest threats to humanity , alongside Magneto , Doctor Doom , and Red Skull .   Comics journalist and historian Mike Conroy writes of the character : `` What started out as a replacement costume for Spider-Man turned into one of the Marvel web-slinger 's greatest nightmares . '' Venom was ranked as the 22nd Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time in IGN 's list of the top 100 comic villains . IGN also ranked Mac Gargan 's incarnation of Venom as # 17 in their list of `` The Top 50 Avengers '' , while the Flash Thompson incarnation was ranked as # 27 . The character was listed as # 33 on Empire Magazines 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters .


Liev Schreiber performed in the play Glengarry Glen Ross.

Liev Schreiber Isaac Liev Schreiber ( -LSB- ˈliː.ɛv -RSB- born October 4 , 1967 ) , better known as Liev Schreiber , is an American actor , director , screenwriter , and producer . He became known during the late 1990s and early 2000s , having appeared in several independent films , and later mainstream Hollywood films , including the Scream trilogy of horror films , Ransom ( 1996 ) , Phantoms ( 1998 ) , The Sum of All Fears ( 2002 ) , The Omen ( 2006 ) , X-Men Origins : Wolverine ( 2009 ) , Taking Woodstock ( 2009 ) , Salt ( 2010 ) , Goon ( 2011 ) , Pawn Sacrifice ( 2014 ) , and Spotlight ( 2015 ) .   Schreiber is also a respected stage actor , having performed in several Broadway productions . In 2005 , he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in the play Glengarry Glen Ross . That year , he made his debut as a film director and writer with Everything Is Illuminated ( 2005 ) , based on the novel of the same name . Schreiber has had further success in the television world , notably portraying the eponymous protagonist of the Showtime drama series Ray Donovan ( 2013 -- present ) ; the role has earned him four Golden Globe Award nominations and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations . He also narrates the HBO series 24/7 , as well as various PBS programs .


30 Seconds to Mars was released by Idol Records.

30 Seconds to Mars (album) 30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars . It was first released on August 27 , 2002 , by Immortal Records and distributed by Virgin Records . The album was produced by Bob Ezrin , Brian Virtue , and Thirty Seconds to Mars , and was recorded in rural Wyoming during 2001 and early 2002 . It had been in the works for a couple of years , with lead vocalist Jared Leto writing the majority of the songs .   30 Seconds to Mars was described as a concept album centering on human struggle and self-determination , characterized by personal lyrics that use otherworldly elements and conceptual ideas to illustrate a truthful personal situation . The album incorporates progressive sounds with influences and elements from new wave , space rock , and electronica . Upon release , 30 Seconds to Mars received mostly positive reviews from music critics , who commended the album 's lyrical content and the band 's musicianship , which has been compared to the works of Pink Floyd , Tool , and Brian Eno .   The album debuted at number 107 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Heatseekers . It was a slow-burning success that eventually sold two million copies worldwide . It produced two singles , `` Capricorn ( A Brand New Name ) '' and `` Edge of the Earth '' . Thirty Seconds to Mars promoted the album by opening concerts for bands such as Puddle of Mudd , Incubus , Sevendust , and Chevelle .


Marshall McLuhan is not controversial among academics.

Marshall McLuhan Herbert Marshall McLuhan , ( July 21 , 1911 -- December 31 , 1980 ) was a Canadian professor , philosopher , and public intellectual . His work is viewed as one of the cornerstones of the study of media theory , as well as having practical applications in the advertising and television industries . He was educated at the University of Manitoba and the University of Cambridge ; he began his teaching career as a Professor of English at several universities in the U.S. and Canada before moving to the University of Toronto , where he remained for the rest of his life .   McLuhan is known for coining the expression `` the medium is the message '' and the term global village , and for predicting the World Wide Web almost thirty years before it was invented . He was a fixture in media discourse in the late 1960s , though his influence began to wane in the early 1970s . In the years after his death , he continued to be a controversial figure in academic circles . With the arrival of the internet , however , interest has renewed in his work and perspective .


The German Shepherd is the third-most registered breed by the American Kennel Club.

German Shepherd The German Shepherd ( Deutscher Schäferhund , -LSB- ˈʃɛːfɐˌhʊnt -RSB- ) is a breed of medium to large-sized working dog that originated in Germany . The breed 's officially recognized name is German Shepherd Dog in the English language ( sometimes abbreviated as GSD ) . The breed is also known as the Alsatian in Britain and Ireland . The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog , with their origin dating to 1899 . As part of the Herding Group , German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep . Since that time however , because of their strength , intelligence , trainability , and obedience , German Shepherds around the world are often the preferred breed for many types of work , including disability assistance , search-and-rescue , police and military roles , and even acting . The German Shepherd is the second-most registered breed by the American Kennel Club and fourth-most registered breed by The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom .


Mariah Carey Mariah Carey ( born March 27 , 1969 or 1970 ) is an American singer , songwriter , record producer , and actress . In 1990 , she rose to fame with the release of `` Vision of Love '' from her eponymous debut album . The album produced four chart-topping singles in the US and began what would become a string of commercially successful albums which solidified the singer as Columbias highest selling act . Carey and Boyz II Men spent a record sixteen weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995 -- 96 with `` One Sweet Day , '' which remains the longest-running number-one song in US chart history . Following a contentious divorce from Sony Music head Tommy Mottola , Carey adopted a new image and traversed towards hip hop with the release of Butterfly ( 1997 ) . In 1998 , she was honored as the world 's best-selling recording artist of the 1990s at the World Music Awards and subsequently named the best-selling female artist of the millennium in 2000 .   Carey parted with Columbia in 2000 , and signed a record-breaking $ 100 million recording contract with Virgin Records America . In the weeks prior to the release of her film Glitter and its accompanying soundtrack in 2001 , she suffered a physical and emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for severe exhaustion . The project was poorly received and led to a general decline in the singer 's career . Carey 's recording contract was bought out for $ 50 million by Virgin and she signed a multi-million dollar deal with Island Records the following year . After a relatively unsuccessful period , she returned to the top of music charts with The Emancipation of Mimi ( 2005 ) . The album became the best-selling album in the US and the second best-seller worldwide in 2005 and produced `` We Belong Together , '' which became her most successful single of the 2000s , and was later named `` Song of the Decade '' by Billboard . Carey once again ventured into film with a well-received supporting role in Precious ( 2009 ) , and was awarded the `` Breakthrough Performance Award '' at the Palm Springs International Film Festival .   Throughout her career , Carey has sold more than 200 million records worldwide , making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time . According to the RIAA , she is the third-best-selling female artist in the United States , with 63.5 million certified albums . With the release of `` Touch My Body '' ( 2008 ) , Carey gained her 18th number-one single in the United States , more than any other solo artist . In 2012 , the singer was ranked second on VH1 's list of the `` 100 Greatest Women in Music . '' Aside from her commercial accomplishments , Carey has won 5 Grammy Awards , 19 World Music Awards , 11 American Music Awards , and 14 Billboard Music Awards and has been consistently credited with inspiring a generation of singers . Referred to as the `` songbird supreme '' by the Guinness World Records , she has a five-octave vocal range , power , melismatic style and signature use of the whistle register .


World Music Awards The World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 under the high patronage of Albert II , Prince of Monaco and is based in Monte-Carlo . Awards are presented to the world 's best-selling artists in the various categories and to the best-selling artists from each major territory . Sales figures are provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ( IFPI ) . Nine awards are voted online by the public . The awards are gold-plated , each depicting an artist holding the world .


One Sweet Day `` One Sweet Day '' is a song by American singer Mariah Carey and R&B group Boyz II Men . The song was written by Carey , Walter Afanasieff and Boyz II Men : Wanya Morris , Shawn Stockman , Nathan Morris , and Michael McCary . `` One Sweet Day '' was produced by Carey and Afanasieff for her fifth studio album , Daydream , and was released as the album 's second single on . The song speaks about the death of a loved one , how the protagonist took their presence for granted and misses them , and finally about seeing the person in heaven . Both Carey and Boyz II Men wrote the song about specific people in their lives , being inspired by sufferers of the AIDS epidemic , which was globally prevalent at that time .   `` One Sweet Day '' received widespread acclaim from critics , many of whom praised its lyrical content and vocals , as well as calling it a standout track from Daydream . It was ranked first in Rolling Stones reader 's poll for the Best Collaboration of All Time . The song spent 16 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States , becoming the longest running number one song on the chart . Subsequently , `` One Sweet Day '' became the Billboards most successful song of the 1990s , topping the Hot 100 decade-end chart . Internationally , the song topped the charts in Canada and New Zealand , and reached the top-ten in Australia , Belgium , France , Ireland , the Netherlands , Norway , Sweden and the United Kingdom .   Carey performed `` One Sweet Day '' live alongside Boyz II Men at the 38th Grammy Awards ceremony , held on February 26 , 1996 . Additionally , the song was performed at Princess Diana 's memorial service in September 1997 . `` One Sweet Day '' was part of the set list on several of Carey 's succeeding tours , making its debut during the album 's accompanying set of concerts , the Daydream World Tour . It is featured on her compilation albums , # 1 's ( 1998 ) , Greatest Hits ( 2001 ) , The Ballads ( 2008 ) , and # 1 to Infinity ( 2015 ) .   The music video for `` One Sweet Day '' was filmed in February 1995 , and features snippets of Carey and Boyz II Men in and around the studio , and recording the song . The busy schedule of both Carey and Boyz II Men did not allow time to record a proper video . The singer later said that she was content a real music video was never filmed , fearing that no video could truly capture the song 's strong lyrical message . Critics felt the video choice was wise , and agreed that the simple concept paid homage to the song 's selfless message .


Jason Bateman Jason Kent Bateman ( born January 14 , 1969 ) is an American actor , comedian , director and producer . He began acting on television in the early 1980s on Little House on the Prairie , and in the sitcoms Silver Spoons and The Hogan Family . In the 2000s , he became known for his role of Michael Bluth in the critically acclaimed sitcom Arrested Development , for which he won a Golden Globe , and a Satellite Award . He has had starring roles in the films , Juno ( 2007 ) , Hancock ( 2008 ) , Up in the Air ( 2009 ) , The Switch ( 2010 ) , Paul ( 2011 ) , Horrible Bosses ( 2011 ) , The Change-Up ( 2011 ) , Identity Thief ( 2013 ) , Bad Words ( 2013 ) , Horrible Bosses 2 ( 2014 ) , The Gift ( 2015 ) , and Zootopia ( 2016 ) .


Chris Evans (presenter) hosted The Chris Evans Breakfast Show.

Chris Evans (presenter) Christopher James `` Chris '' Evans ( born 1 April 1966 ) is an English presenter , businessman and producer for radio and television . He started his broadcasting career working for Piccadilly Radio , Manchester , as a teenager , before moving to London as a presenter for the BBC 's Greater London Radio and then Channel 4 television , where The Big Breakfast made him a star . Soon he was able to dictate highly favourable terms , allowing him to broadcast on competing radio and TV stations . Slots like the Radio 1 Breakfast Show and TFI Friday provided a mix of celebrity interviews , music and comic games , delivered in an irreverent style that attracted high ratings , though often also generated significant numbers of complaints . By 2000 he was the UK 's highest paid entertainer , according to the Sunday Times Rich List .   In 2005 , he started a new career on BBC Radio 2 , hosting the long-running Drivetime programme , before moving in 2010 to host The Chris Evans Breakfast Show every weekday morning . He previously presented The One Show on Fridays between 2010 and 2015 .   In 2015 , he signed a three-year deal to lead a new Top Gear line-up . On 23 June 2015 it was confirmed that TFI Friday would return for its seventh series with eight episodes in December 2015 . Evans confirmed that he would also return to present it . It was then revealed that the BBC Top Gear team told Evans he would have to leave TFI Friday after the upcoming series if he intended to stay with Top Gear . On 4 July 2016 Evans announced that he would be stepping down as presenter of Top Gear .   As of 2017 he continues to present the popular BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show .


G-Dragon Kwon Ji-yong ( ; born August 18 , 1988 ) , better known by his stage name G-Dragon , is a South Korean rapper , singer-songwriter , record producer , and fashion icon . After six years as a trainee under the record label YG Entertainment , G-Dragon rose to fame in the mid-2000s as one of two rappers in the South Korean hip hop boy band Big Bang . Despite initial lukewarm receptions , the group became one of the best-selling digital group of all-time in Asia and one of the best-selling boy bands in the world .   G-Dragon debuted as a solo artist with the release of Heartbreaker in 2009 . The album was a commercial success and earned the Mnet Asian Music Awards for Album of the Year , while the single of the same name became a number-one hit . G-Dragon later formed a duo with fellow Big Bang member T.O.P to record and release the album GD & TOP ( 2010 ) , which contained the top-five hits `` High High '' , `` Oh Yeah '' , and `` Knock Out '' on the Gaon Digital Chart , while the album peaked at number-one . His first EP One of a Kind ( 2012 ) was critically acclaimed and yielded `` One of a Kind '' , `` Crayon '' , and the number-one `` That XX '' , earning Record of the Year at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards . The EP became the highest-selling album by a Korean soloist since his own Heartbreaker . In 2013 , he embarked on his first worldwide tour as a solo artist , which included a four-dome tour in Japan , making him the first Korean soloist to do a dome tour . G-Dragon was awarded Artist of the Year at the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards following the success of his second studio album Coup d'Etat ( 2013 ) , in addition to the awards of World 's Best Entertainer and World 's Best Album at the 2014 World Music Awards .   Recognized as one of the most influential leaders in music and fashion in his country and labelled as an `` K-pop icon '' , G-Dragon was named by Forbes the most influential person under 30 in Asia 's entertainment and sports . Producing not only for his band but also for his and his bandmates ' solo releases , G-Dragon has written 22 number one songs .