Final Fantasy XII didn't add an open world to the series.

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 .


Adam West William West Anderson ( born September 19 , 1928 ) , better known as Adam West , is an American actor whose career spans six decades .   His acting career began in films in 1959 . He played opposite Chuck Connors in Geronimo ( 1962 ) and The Three Stooges in The Outlaws Is Coming ( 1965 ) . He has also appeared in the science-fiction film Robinson Crusoe on Mars ( 1964 ) , opposite Paul Mantee , and achieved continuing success for the title role in the 1960s ABC series Batman and its theatrical feature film . He has done voice work on The Fairly OddParents , The Simpsons and Family Guy ( he voices fictional versions of himself in all of those animated series ) and also Batman : Return of the Caped Crusaders .


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


Queen Victoria Victoria ( Alexandrina Victoria ; 24 May 1819 -- 22 January 1901 ) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death . From 1 May 1876 , she adopted the additional title of Empress of India .   Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward , Duke of Kent and Strathearn , the fourth son of King George III . Both the Duke of Kent and King George III died in 1820 , and Victoria was raised under close supervision by her German-born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld . She inherited the throne at the age of 18 , after her father 's three elder brothers had all died , leaving no surviving legitimate children . The United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy , in which the sovereign held relatively little direct political power . Privately , Victoria attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments ; publicly , she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards of personal morality .   Victoria married her first cousin , Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , in 1840 . Their nine children married into royal and noble families across the continent , tying them together and earning her the sobriquet `` the grandmother of Europe '' . After Albert 's death in 1861 , Victoria plunged into deep mourning and avoided public appearances . As a result of her seclusion , republicanism temporarily gained strength , but in the latter half of her reign her popularity recovered . Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were times of public celebration .   Her reign of 63 years and seven months is known as the Victorian era and was longer than that of any of her predecessors . It was a period of industrial , cultural , political , scientific , and military change within the United Kingdom , and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire . She was the last British monarch of the House of Hanover . Her son and successor , Edward VII , belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , the line of his father .


Ajay Devgn Ajay Devgan ( born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969 ) , also credited as Ajay Devgn , is an Indian film actor , director and producer . He is widely considered as one of the most popular actors of Hindi cinema , who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films . Devgan has won numerous accolades , including two National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards . In 2016 , he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri , the fourth highest civilian honour of the country .   Devgan began his professional career with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance . He then starred in successful films such as Jigar ( 1992 ) , Dilwale ( 1994 ) , Suhaag ( 1994 ) , Naajayaz ( 1995 ) , Diljale ( 1996 ) and Ishq ( 1997 ) . In 1998 , he appeared in a critically acclaimed performance in Mahesh Bhatt 's drama Zakhm and he received his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie . In 1999 , his most-talked-about film was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which he played Vanraj , a man who tries to unite his wife with her lover .   In the early 2000s , he gave critically acclaimed performances in Ram Gopal Varma 's fictional expose of Mumbai underworld Company . He played the character of a gangster , for which he won Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor . The same year he gave another critically acclaimed performance in Deewangee for which he received the Filmfare Best Villain Award . In 2003 , he won his second National Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Bhagat Singh in Rajkumar Santoshi 's biopic The Legend of Bhagat Singh . Throughout his career he has performed in many critically and commercially successful films including Raincoat ( 2004 ) , '' Gangajal , ( 2004 ) , Yuva ( 2004 ) , Apaharan ( 2005 ) , Omkara ( 2006 ) , Golmaal : Fun Unlimited ( 2006 ) , Golmaal Returns ( 2008 ) , All the Best : Fun Begins ( 2009 ) , Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai ( 2010 ) , Golmaal 3 ( 2010 ) , Raajneeti ( 2010 ) , Singham ( 2011 ) , Bol Bachchan ( 2012 ) , Son of Sardaar ( 2012 ) , Singham Returns ( 2014 ) and Drishyam ( 2015 ) . He has starred in more than hundred Hindi films . Having done so , he established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema .   In addition , Devgn owns a production company Ajay Devgn FFilms which was established in 2000 . In 2008 , he debuted as a film director with U Me Aur Hum . He is married to film actress , Kajol since 1999 and the couple have two children . In August 2009 , Devgn changed his surname from Devgan to Devgn on the request of his family .


Steffi Graf Stefanie Maria `` Steffi '' Graf ( -LSB- ˈʃtɛfiː ˈgʁa : f -RSB- ; born 14 June 1969 ) is a German former tennis player , who was ranked world No. 1 during her career . Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles . Her 22 singles titles put her second on the list of Major wins by a tennis player ( male or female ) since the introduction of the Open Era in 1968 and is third all-time behind Margaret Court ( 24 ) and Serena Williams ( 23 ) . In 1988 , she became the first and only tennis player ( male or female ) to achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year . Furthermore , she is the only tennis player to have won each Grand Slam event at least four times .   Graf was ranked world No. 1 by the Women 's Tennis Association ( WTA ) for a record 377 total weeks -- the longest period for which any player , male or female , has held the number-one ranking since the WTA and the Association of Tennis Professionals began issuing rankings . She won 107 singles titles , which ranks her third on the WTA 's all-time list after Martina Navratilova ( 167 titles ) and Chris Evert ( 157 titles ) . She and Margaret Court are the only players , male or female , to win three grand slams in a calendar year five times ( 1988 , 1989 , 1993 , 1995 and 1996 ) .   Notable features of Graf 's game were her versatility across all playing surfaces , footwork and her powerful forehand drive . Graf won six French Open singles titles ( second to Evert ) , seven Wimbledon singles titles , four Australian Open titles , and five U.S. Open singles titles . She is the only singles player ( male or female ) to have achieved a Grand Slam since hard court was introduced as a surface at the US Open in 1978 . Consequently , Graf 's Grand Slam was achieved on grass , clay , and hard court while the previous five Grand Slams were decided on only grass and clay . Graf reached thirteen consecutive Grand Slam singles finals , from the 1987 French Open through to the 1990 French Open , winning nine of them . She won 5 consecutive Majors ( 1988 Australian Open to 1989 Australian Open ) , and seven Majors out of eight , in two calendar years ( 1988 Australian Open to 1989 US Open , except 1989 French Open ) . She reached a total of 31 Grand Slam singles finals .   Graf is regarded by some to be the greatest female tennis player of all time . Navratilova included Graf on her list of great players . In 1999 Billie Jean King said `` Steffi is definitely the greatest women 's tennis player of all time '' . In December 1999 , Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press . Tennis writer Steve Flink , in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century , named her as the best female player of the 20th century . In March 2012 , Tennis Channel picked Graf as the greatest female tennis player ever in their list of 100 greatest tennis players of all time .   Graf retired in 1999 while she was ranked World No. 3 . She married former World No. 1 men 's tennis player Andre Agassi in October 2001 . The couple has two children -- Jaden Gil and Jaz Elle . Graf was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004 .


Muhammad Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd AllāhFull name : Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim ( ابو القاسم محمد ابن عبد الله ابن عبد المطلب ابن هاشم , lit : Father of Qasim Muhammad son of Abd Allah son of Abdul-Muttalib son of Hashim ) ( محمد -LSB- muħammad -RSB- ; Classical Arabic pronunciation c. 570 CE -- 8 June 632 CE ) is the prophet of Islam and widely identified as its founder by non-Muslims . According to Islamic doctrine , he was God 's Messenger ( rasūl Allāh ) sent to confirm the essential teachings of monotheism preached previously by Adam , Abraham , Moses , Jesus , and other prophets . He is viewed as the final prophet of God in primary branches of Islam , though some modern denominations diverge from this belief.The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community considers Muhammad to be the `` Seal of the Prophets '' ( Khātam an-Nabiyyīn ) and the last law-bearing Prophet but not the last Prophet . See :   There are also smaller sects which believe Muhammad to be not the last Prophet :  The Nation of Islam considers Elijah Muhammad to be a prophet ( source : African American Religious Leaders -- p. 76 , Jim Haskins , Kathleen Benson -- 2008 ) .  United Submitters International consider Rashad Khalifa to be a prophet . ( Source : Daniel Pipes , Miniatures : Views of Islamic and Middle Eastern Politics , p. 98 ( 2004 ) ) Muhammad united Arabia into a single Muslim polity and ensured that his teachings , practices , and the Quran , formed the basis of Islamic religious belief .   Born approximately 570CE ( Year of the Elephant ) in the Arabian city of Mecca , Muhammad was orphaned at an early age ; he was raised under the care of his paternal uncle Abu Talib . Periodically , he would seclude himself in a mountain cave named Hira for several nights of prayer ; later , at age 40 , he reported being visited by Gabriel in the cave , where he stated he received his first revelation from God . Three years later , in 610 , Muhammad started preaching these revelations publicly , proclaiming that `` God is One '' , that complete `` surrender '' ( lit . islām ) to him is the right course of action ( dīn ) , and that he was a prophet and messenger of God , similar to the other prophets in Islam .   Muhammad gained few early followers , and met hostility from some Meccan tribes . To escape persecution , Muhammad sent some followers to Abyssinia before he and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina ( then known as Yathrib ) in the year 622 . This event , the Hijra , marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar , also known as the Hijri Calendar . In Medina , Muhammad united the tribes under the Constitution of Medina . In December 629 , after eight years of intermittent conflict with Meccan tribes , Muhammad gathered an army of 10,000 Muslim converts and marched on the city of Mecca . The attack went largely uncontested and Muhammad seized the city with little bloodshed . In 632 , a few months after returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage , he fell ill and died . Before his death , most of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to Islam .   The revelations ( each known as Ayah , lit . `` Sign -LSB- of God -RSB- '' ) , which Muhammad reported receiving until his death , form the verses of the Quran , regarded by Muslims as the `` Word of God '' and around which the religion is based . Besides the Quran , Muhammad 's teachings and practices ( sunnah ) , found in the Hadith and sira literature , are also upheld by Muslims and used as sources of Islamic law ( see Sharia ) .


Zeus Zeus -LSB- ˈzju : s -RSB- ( Ζεύς , Zeús , -LSB- zdeǔ̯s -RSB- Modern Δίας , Días -LSB- ˈði.as -RSB- ) is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion , who ruled as king of the gods of Mount Olympus . His name is cognate with the first element of his Roman equivalent Jupiter . His mythologies and powers are similar , though not identical , to those of the Indo-European deities such as Indra , Jupiter , Perun , Thor , and Odin .   Zeus is the child of Cronus and Rhea , the youngest of his siblings to be born , though sometimes reckoned the eldest as the others required disgorging from Cronus 's stomach . In most traditions , he is married to Hera , by whom he is usually said to have fathered Ares , Hebe , and Hephaestus . At the oracle of Dodona , his consort was said to be Dione , by whom the Iliad states that he fathered Aphrodite . Zeus was also infamous for his erotic escapades . These resulted in many godly and heroic offspring , including Athena , Apollo , Artemis , Hermes , Persephone , Dionysus , Perseus , Heracles , Helen of Troy , Minos , and the Muses .   He was respected as an allfather who was chief of the gods and assigned the others to their roles : `` Even the gods who are not his natural children address him as Father , and all the gods rise in his presence . '' He was equated with many foreign weather gods , permitting Pausanias to observe `` That Zeus is king in heaven is a saying common to all men '' . Zeus ' symbols are the thunderbolt , eagle , bull , and oak . In addition to his Indo-European inheritance , the classical `` cloud-gatherer '' ( Greek : Νεφεληγερέτα , Nephelēgereta ) also derives certain iconographic traits from the cultures of the ancient Near East , such as the scepter . Zeus is frequently depicted by Greek artists in one of two poses : standing , striding forward with a thunderbolt leveled in his raised right hand , or seated in majesty .


Sean Connery Sir Thomas Sean Connery KB ( -LSB- ˈʃɔːn_ˈkɒnəri -RSB- born 25 August 1930 ) is a retired Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award , two BAFTA Awards ( one of them being a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award ) and three Golden Globes ( including the Cecil B. DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award ) . He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July 2000 after receiving Kennedy Center Honors in the US in 1999 .   Connery was the first actor to portray the character James Bond in film , starring in seven Bond films between 1962 and 1983 . In 1988 , Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Untouchables . His film career also includes such films as Marnie , The Name of the Rose , The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , The Hunt for Red October , Finding Forrester , Highlander , Murder on the Orient Express , Dragonheart , and The Rock .   Connery has been polled as `` The Greatest Living Scot '' and `` Scotland 's Greatest Living National Treasure '' . In 1989 , he was proclaimed `` Sexiest Man Alive '' by People magazine , and in 1999 , at age 69 , he was voted `` Sexiest Man of the Century '' .


Emily Blunt Emily Olivia Leah Blunt ( born 23 February 1983 ) is a British film and stage actress . Blunt made her professional debut in a 2001 London production of the play The Royal Family . Two years later , she appeared on screen for the first time in the 2003 television film Boudica ( Warrior Queen ) . Her performance in the 2004 drama film My Summer of Love garnered her the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer .   For her performance in the TV film Gideon 's Daughter ( 2006 ) she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress . The same year , she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress -- Motion Picture and a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Devil Wears Prada .   In 2009 , Blunt received the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year . She received more acclaim for portraying Queen Victoria in The Young Victoria ( 2009 ) , receiving a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama . 2009 also saw Blunt appear in the crime caper comedy Wild Target with Bill Nighy and Rupert Grint . She found commercial success for roles in the romantic science-fiction thriller The Adjustment Bureau ( 2011 ) , the science-fiction action thriller Looper ( 2012 ) , and the science-fiction military film Edge of Tomorrow ( 2014 ) .   Blunt received her fourth and fifth Golden Globe Award nominations for her roles in the romantic comedy-drama Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ( 2012 ) and the musical fantasy Into the Woods ( 2014 ) in the Best Actress -- Motion Picture Comedy or Musical category . In 2016 , Blunt starred in the fantasy-action film The Huntsman : Winter 's War and The Girl on the Train , the latter based on the international best-selling novel of the same name , and a performance that earned her nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role .


Annie Parisse Anne Marie Cancelmi ( born July 31 , 1975 ) , known professionally as Annie Parisse , is an American actress . She portrayed Alexandra Borgia on the drama series Law & Order . Parisse has also starred as Julia Snyder on the soap opera As the World Turns , for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award , and as FBI specialist Debra Parker on the thriller series The Following .


Russ (rapper) Russ Vitale ( born September 26 , 1992 ) , known by his stage name and mononym Russ , is an American hip hop recording artist , singer-songwriter and record producer . He is known for his singles `` What They Want '' and `` Losin Control '' , which peaked respectively at number 83 and 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 . He is part of the Diemon Crew , a rap group . His first studio album There 's Really A Wolf was released on May 5 , 2017 .


Rajon Rondo has been one of the best defensive players during the regular season.

NBA All-Defensive Team The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association ( NBA ) honor given since the 1968 -- 69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season . The All-Defensive Team is generally composed of two five-man lineups , a first and a second team , comprising a total of 10 roster spots . Voting is conducted by a panel of 123 writers and broadcasters . Prior to the 2013 -- 14 NBA season , voting was performed by the NBA head coaches , who were restricted from voting for players on their own team . The players each receive two points for each first team vote and one point for each second team vote . The top five players with the highest point total make the first team , with the next five making the second team . In the case of a tie at the fifth position of either team , the roster is expanded . If the first team consists of six players due to a tie , the second team will still consist of five players with the potential for more expansion in the event of additional ties . Ties have occurred several times , most recently in 2013 when Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah tied in votes received .   Tim Duncan holds the record for the most total selections to the All-Defensive Team with 15 . Kevin Garnett , and Kobe Bryant follow with twelve total honors each , and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has eleven total selections . Michael Jordan , Gary Payton , Garnett , and Bryant share the record for most NBA All-Defensive first team selections with nine . Scottie Pippen , Bobby Jones , and Duncan made the first team eight times each . Walt Frazier and Dennis Rodman made the All-Defensive first team seven times .   Ten players born outside the jurisdiction of the United States , plus two players born in U.S. insular areas ( territories ) , have made either the first or second All-Defensive Team -- Manute Bol , born in a part of Sudan that is now the independent nation of South Sudan ; Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria ; Patrick Ewing of Jamaica ; Dikembe Mutombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ; Andrei Kirilenko , born in the portion of the former Soviet Union that is now Russia ; Anderson Varejão of Brazil ; Thabo Sefolosha of Switzerland ; Duncan and Raja Bell of the U.S. Virgin Islands ; Luol Deng , a naturalized citizen of the United Kingdom born in what is now South Sudan ; Serge Ibaka , born in the Republic of the Congo and naturalized in Spain ; and Marc Gasol , born and primarily raised in Spain . Ewing , Olajuwon , and Kirilenko are naturalized U.S. citizens , and Duncan and Bell are U.S. citizens by birth , but they are still considered international players by the NBA because they were not born in one of the fifty states or Washington , D.C.   When the coaches were responsible for voting , there were occasionally inconsistencies between the All-Defensive Team and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award , which has been voted on by the media . On four occasions , the Defensive Player of the Year winner was not voted to the All-Defensive first team in the same year . Player of the Year winners Alvin Robertson in 1986 , Dikembe Mutombo ( 1995 ) , Tyson Chandler ( 2012 ) , Marc Gasol ( 2013 ) were instead named to the second team .


Rajon Rondo Rajon Pierre Rondo ( born February 22 , 1986 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . He is a four-time NBA All-Star , and a four-time NBA All-Defensive Team member . He also led the NBA in steals during the 2009 -- 10 season , and assists during the 2011 -- 12 , 2012 -- 13 and 2015 -- 16 seasons . He began his professional career with the Boston Celtics , winning an NBA championship in 2008 . He ranks fourth in Celtic history in assists , and third in steals . He briefly played for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2014 -- 15 season before joining the Sacramento Kings in 2015 and the Chicago Bulls in 2016 .   Rondo played two years of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before he was drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft . He was subsequently traded to the Celtics where he played a supporting role during his rookie season . He established himself as the starting point guard for the Celtics during the 2007 -- 08 season , helping the franchise record their 17th NBA championship playing alongside All-Stars Ray Allen , Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce . His breakout performance came during the 2009 NBA Playoffs , where he averaged a near triple-double , and helped his team take the eventual Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic to seven games in the Conference Semifinals . Rondo is considered to be one of the premier triple-double threats in the NBA . He ranks 12th in NBA history in career regular season triple-doubles ( 28 ) , and fourth in career playoff triple-doubles ( 10 ) .


Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney , ( born 18 June 1942 ) is an English singer-songwriter , multi-instrumentalist , and composer . He gained worldwide fame as the bass guitarist and singer for the rock band the Beatles , widely considered the most popular and influential group in the history of pop music . His songwriting partnership with John Lennon is the most celebrated of the post-war era . After the band 's break-up , he pursued a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife , Linda , and Denny Laine .   McCartney has been recognised as one of the most successful composers and performers of all time . More than 2,200 artists have covered his Beatles song `` Yesterday '' , making it one of the most covered songs in popular music history . Wings ' 1977 release `` Mull of Kintyre '' is one of the all-time best-selling singles in the UK . A two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( as a member of the Beatles in 1988 , and as a solo artist in 1999 ) , and a 21-time Grammy Award winner , McCartney has written , or co-written , 32 songs that have reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 , and he has 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States . McCartney , Lennon , Harrison and Starr all received The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire ( MBE ) in 1965 , and in 1997 , McCartney was knighted for services to music .   McCartney has released an extensive catalogue of songs as a solo artist and has composed classical and electronic music . He has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights , seal hunting , land mines , vegetarianism , poverty , and music education . He has married three times and is the father of five children .


Nas Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones ( -LSB- nɑːˈsɪər -RSB- born September 14 , 1973 ) , better known by his stage name Nas -LSB- ˈnɑːz -RSB- , is an American rapper , record producer , actor , and entrepreneur . The son of jazz musician Olu Dara , Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums and has sold over 25,000,000 records worldwide . He is also an entrepreneur through his own record label ; he serves as associate publisher of Mass Appeal magazine and is the owner of a Fila sneaker store . He is currently signed to Mass Appeal Records .   His musical career began in 1991 , as a featured artist on Main Source 's `` Live at the Barbeque '' . His debut album Illmatic ( 1994 ) received universal acclaim from both critics and the hip-hop community and is frequently ranked as the greatest hip hop album of all time . Nas 's follow-up It Was Written debuted at # 1 on the Billboard 200 , stayed on top for four consecutive weeks , went double platinum in two months , and made Nas internationally known . From 2001-05 , Nas was involved in a highly publicised feud with fellow New York rapper Jay Z. Nas signed to Def Jam in 2006 . In 2010 , he released Distant Relatives , a collaboration album with reggae musician Damian Marley , donating all royalties to charities active in Africa . His eleventh studio album , Life Is Good ( 2012 ) was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards .   Nas is often named as one of the greatest hip-hop artists . MTV ranked him at number 5 on their list of `` The Greatest MCs of All Time '' . In 2012 , The Source ranked him number two on their list of the `` Top 50 Lyricists of All Time '' . In 2013 , Nas was ranked fourth on MTV 's `` Hottest MCs in the Game '' list . About.com ranked him first on their list of the `` 50 Greatest MCs of All Time '' in 2014 , and a year later , Nas was featured on `` The 10 Best Rappers of All Time '' list by Billboard .   In 2016 , Nas began narrating The Get Down and rapping as Adult Ezekiel of 1996 .


Bangalore was never conquered by an Indian power.

Bangalore Bangalore -LSB- bæŋɡəˈlɔːr -RSB- , officially known as Bengaluru ( -LSB- ˈbeŋɡəɭuːɾu -RSB- ) , is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka . It has a population of about and a metropolitan population of about , making it the third most populous city and fifth most populous urban agglomeration in India . It is located in southern India on the Deccan Plateau . Its elevation is over 3000 ft above sea level , the highest of India 's major cities .   A succession of South Indian dynasties , the Western Gangas , the Cholas and the Hoysalas , ruled the present region of Bangalore until in 1537 CE , Kempé Gowdā -- a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire -- established a mud fort considered to be the foundation of modern Bangalore . In 1638 , the Marāthās conquered and ruled Bangalore for almost 50 years , after which the Mughals captured and sold the city to the Mysore Kingdom of the Wadiyar dynasty . It was captured by the British after victory in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War ( 1799 ) , who returned administrative control of the city to the Maharaja of Mysore . The old city developed in the dominions of the Maharaja of Mysore and was made capital of the Princely State of Mysore , which existed as a nominally sovereign entity of the British Raj . In 1809 , the British shifted their cantonment to Bangalore , outside the old city , and a town grew up around it , which was governed as part of British India . Following India 's independence in 1947 , Bangalore became the capital of Mysore State , and remained capital when the new Indian state of Karnataka was formed in 1956 . The two urban settlements of Bangalore -- city and cantonment -- which had developed as independent entities merged into a single urban centre in 1949 . The existing Kannada name , Bengalūru , was declared the official name of the city in 2006 .   Bangalore is sometimes referred to as the `` Silicon Valley of India '' ( or `` IT capital of India '' ) because of its role as the nation 's leading information technology ( IT ) exporter . Indian technological organisations ISRO , Infosys , Wipro and HAL are headquartered in the city . A demographically diverse city , Bangalore is the second fastest-growing major metropolis in India . It is home to many educational and research institutions in India , such as Indian Institute of Science ( IISc ) , Indian Institute of Management ( Bangalore ) ( IIMB ) , National Institute of Fashion Technology , Bangalore , National Institute of Design , Bangalore ( NID R&D Campus ) , National Law School of India University ( NLSIU ) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences ( NIMHANS ) . Numerous state-owned aerospace and defence organisations , such as Bharat Electronics , Hindustan Aeronautics and National Aerospace Laboratories are located in the city . The city also houses the Kannada film industry .


Maratha Empire The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian power that existed from 1674 to 1818 and ruled over much of the Indian sub-continent . The Marathas are credited to a large extent for ending the Mughal rule in India .   The Marathas are a Hindu warrior group from the western Deccan Plateau ( present day Maharashtra ) that rose to prominence by establishing a Hindavi Swarajya . The Marathas became prominent in the seventeenth century under the leadership of Shivaji who revolted against the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Mughal Empire and carved out a kingdom with Raigad as his capital . Known for their mobility , the Marathas were able to consolidate their territory during the Mughal -- Maratha Wars and later controlled a large part of India .   Chhattrapati Shahu , grandson of Shivaji , was released by Mughals after the death of Emperor Aurangzeb . Following a brief struggle with his aunt Tarabai , Shahu became ruler and appointed Balaji Vishwanath and later , his descendants , as the peshwas or prime ministers of the empire . Balaji and his descendants played a key role in expansion of Maratha rule . The empire at its peak stretched from Tamil Nadu in the south to Peshawar ( modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Pakistan ) in the north , and Bengal and Andaman Islands in the east . In 1761 , the Maratha Army lost the Third Battle of Panipat to Ahmad Shah Abdali of the Afghan Durrani Empire which halted their imperial expansion into Afghanistan . Ten years after Panipat , the young Peshwa Madhavrao I 's Maratha Resurrection reinstated Maratha authority over North India .   In a bid to effectively manage the large empire , Madhavrao I gave semi-autonomy to the strongest of the knights , which created a confederacy of Maratha states . They became known as the Gaekwads of Baroda , the Holkars of Indore and Malwa , the Scindias of Gwalior and Ujjain , the Bhonsales of the Nagpur and the Puars of Dhar and Dewas . In 1775 , the East India Company intervened in a Peshwa family succession struggle in Pune , which became the First Anglo-Maratha War , resulting in the Maratha victory . The Marathas remained the preeminent power in India until their defeat in the Second and Third Anglo-Maratha Wars ( 1805-1818 CE ) which left the East India Company in control of most of India .   A large portion of the Maratha empire was coastline , which had been secured by the potent Maratha Navy under commanders such as Kanhoji Angre . He was very successful at keeping foreign naval ships , particularly of the Portuguese and British , at bay . Securing the coastal areas and building land-based fortifications were crucial aspects of the Maratha 's defensive strategy and regional military history .


Andorra Andorra ( -LSB- ænˈdɔ : rə -RSB- -LSB- ənˈdorə -RSB- , -LSB- anˈdɔra -RSB- ) , officially the Principality of Andorra ( Principat d'Andorra ) , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra ( -LSB- Principat de les Valls d'Andorra , links = no -RSB- ) , is a sovereign landlocked microstate in Southwestern Europe , located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France . Created under a charter in 988 , the present principality was formed in 1278 . It is known as a principality as it is a diarchy headed by two Co-Princes the Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgell in Spain , and the President of France .   Andorra is the sixth-smallest nation in Europe , having an area of 468 km2 ( 181 sq mi ) and a population of approximately 85,000 . Its capital Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe , at an elevation of 1,023 m above sea level . The official language is Catalan , although Spanish , Portuguese , and French are also commonly spoken .   Andorra 's tourism services an estimated 10.2 million visitors annually . It is not a member of the European Union , but the euro is the official currency . It has been a member of the United Nations since 1993 . In 2013 , the people of Andorra had the highest life expectancy in the world at 81 years , according to The Lancet .


Lymph node A lymph node or lymph gland , is an ovoid or kidney-shaped organ of the lymphatic system , and of the adaptive immune system , that is widely present throughout the body . They are linked by the lymphatic vessels as a part of the circulatory system . Lymph nodes are major sites of B and T lymphocytes , and other white blood cells . Lymph nodes are important for the proper functioning of the immune system , acting as filters for foreign particles and cancer cells . Lymph nodes do not have a detoxification function , which is primarily dealt with by the liver and kidneys .   In the lymphatic system the lymph node is a secondary lymphoid organ . A lymph node is enclosed in a fibrous capsule and is made up of an outer cortex and an inner medulla .   Lymph nodes also have clinical significance . They become inflamed or enlarged in various diseases which may range from trivial throat infections , to life-threatening cancers . The condition of the lymph nodes is very important in cancer staging , which decides the treatment to be used , and determines the prognosis . When swollen , inflamed or enlarged , lymph nodes can be hard , firm or tender .


Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn `` Stevie '' Nicks ( born May 26 , 1948 ) is an American singer-songwriter who is often regarded as the Queen of Rock n ' Roll .   Nicks is best known for her work as the front-woman of Fleetwood Mac and for her chart-topping solo career . She is known for her distinctive voice , mystical visual style , and symbolic lyrics . Collectively , her work both as a member of Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist has produced over 40 top-50 hits and sold over 140 million records , making her one of the best selling music acts of all time with Fleetwood Mac .   Her influence in fashion , music and musical performance is widely acknowledged ; and as such , she has been named one of music 's top 55 `` Greatest Songwriters of All Time '' , and as one of the world 's top `` 100 Greatest Singers of All Time '' by Rolling Stone . As a member of Fleetwood Mac , she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 . She has garnered eight Grammy Award nominations and two American Music Award nominations as a solo artist . She has won numerous awards with Fleetwood Mac , including a Grammy Award and five Grammy Award nominations .   Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 along with her then boyfriend , Lindsey Buckingham . Rumours , Fleetwood Mac 's second album after the incorporation of Nicks and Buckingham , was the best-selling album of the year of its release , and to date , has made sales of over 40 million copies worldwide , making it the fifth-highest selling studio album of all time . The album remained at number one on the American albums chart for 31 weeks and reached Number One in various countries worldwide . The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978 . it produced four U.S. top-10 singles , with Nicks ' `` Dreams '' being the band 's first and only U.S. number-one hit .   In 1981 , while remaining a member of Fleetwood Mac , Nicks began her solo career , releasing the album Bella Donna , which topped the Billboard album charts and reached platinum status less than three months after its release , and has since been certified quadruple-platinum . She has released a total of eight solo studio albums to date , with her most recent titled 24 Karat Gold : Songs from the Vault , released in October 2014 . During her solo career , she has had a close working relationship with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers . They served as a backing band for several tracks on each of her solo albums , and the two have toured and performed together frequently over the past three decades . The song `` Stop Draggin ' My Heart Around '' , performed by Nicks and Petty , was one of the biggest hits for either artist .


The Republican Party supports conservative economic policies.

Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party , commonly referred to as the GOP ( abbreviation for Grand Old Party ) , is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States , the other being its historic rival , the Democratic Party . The party is named after republicanism , the dominant value during the American Revolution . Founded by anti-slavery activists , modernists , ex-Whigs , and ex-Free Soilers in 1854 , the Republicans dominated politics nationally and in the majority of northern States for most of the period between 1860 and 1932 .   There have been 19 Republican presidents , the most from any one party . The first was 16th president Abraham Lincoln , who served from 1861 to 1865 , when he was assassinated , and the most recent being 45th and current president Donald Trump , who took office on January 20 , 2017 .   The Republican Party 's current ideology is American conservatism , which contrasts with the Democrats ' more progressive platform ( also called modern liberalism ) . Further , its platform involves support for free market capitalism , free enterprise , fiscal conservatism , a strong national defense , deregulation , and restrictions on labor unions . In addition to advocating for conservative economic policies , the Republican Party is socially conservative , and seeks to uphold traditional values based largely on Judeo-Christian ethics . The GOP was strongly committed to protectionism and tariffs from its founding until the 1930s , when it was based in the industrial Northeast and Midwest . Since 1952 there has been a reversal against protectionism and the party 's core support since the 1990s comes chiefly from the South , the Great Plains , the Mountain States and rural districts in the North . as well as from conservative Catholics , Mormons , and Evangelicals nationwide .   As of 2017 , the Republican Party is documented as being at its strongest position politically since 1928 . In addition to holding the Presidency ( via Trump and Vice President Mike Pence ) , the Republicans control the 115th United States Congress , having majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate . The party also holds a majority of governorships ( 33/50 ) and state legislatures ( full control of 32/50 , split control of six others ) .


Afrojack was part of the writing team for Titanium.

Titanium (song) `` Titanium '' is a song by French DJ and music producer David Guetta , featuring vocals by Australian recording artist Sia . Taken from Guetta 's fifth studio album , Nothing but the Beat , the song was written by Sia , David Guetta , Giorgio Tuinfort and Afrojack . Production was also handled by Guetta , Tuinfort and Afrojack . `` Titanium '' was initially released for digital download on August 8 , 2011 , as the first of four promotional singles from the album . It was later released as the album 's fourth single in December 2011 . The song originally featured the vocals of American recording artist Mary J. Blige , whose version of the song leaked online in July 2011 .   `` Titanium '' is a ballad which draws from the genres of house , pop and urban-dance . The song 's lyrics are about inner strength . Sia 's vocals on `` Titanium '' received comparisons to those by Fergie and the song was also musically compared to Coldplay 's work . Critics were positive towards the song and noted it as one of the standout tracks from Nothing but the Beat . `` Titanium '' attained top 10 positions in several major music markets , including Australia , Austria , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Hungary , Ireland , Italy , The Netherlands , New Zealand , Norway , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland and the United States . In the United Kingdom , it peaked at number one , becoming Guetta 's fifth number-one single on the chart and Sia 's first .   The song 's accompanying music video premiered on December 21 , 2011 but does not feature appearances by Guetta or Sia . Instead , the video focuses on a young boy , played by actor Ryan Lee , with supernatural powers . Along with other songs , `` Titanium '' was pulled from radio stations in the US after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting .


Funny People Funny People is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written , produced and directed by Judd Apatow . It stars Adam Sandler , Seth Rogen , Leslie Mann , Eric Bana , Jason Schwartzman , Jonah Hill and Aubrey Plaza , and follows a famous comedian who is diagnosed with a terminal disease and tries to fix the relationships in his life .   The film was released on July 31 , 2009 and was a box office bomb , grossing $ 71 million against its $ 75 million budget .


Steve Jobs (film) Steve Jobs is a 2015 American biographical drama film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin . Based on the biography of the same name by Walter Isaacson as well as interviews conducted by Sorkin , the film is structured into three acts which cover fourteen years ( 1984 -- 1998 ) in the life of personal computing innovator and Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs , with each act taking place immediately prior to the launch of a key product -- the Apple Macintosh , the NeXT Computer and the iMac . Jobs is portrayed by Michael Fassbender , with Kate Winslet , Seth Rogen , Katherine Waterston , Michael Stuhlbarg and Jeff Daniels in supporting roles .   Development on the project began in 2011 after the rights to Isaacson 's book were acquired . Sorkin wrote the screenplay with filming beginning in January 2015 . A variety of actors were considered and cast before Fassbender eventually took the role . Editing was extensive on the project , with editor Elliot Graham noting that he was working on existing footage while the film was still shooting . Daniel Pemberton served as the film 's composer , with a focus dedicated to dividing the score into three distinguishable sections .   Steve Jobs premiered at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival on September 5 , 2015 , and began a limited release in New York City and Los Angeles on October 9 , 2015 . It opened nationwide in the U.S. on October 23 , 2015 to critical acclaim . Individuals close to Jobs such as Steve Wozniak and John Sculley would praise the film 's performances , but the film also received criticisms for its inaccuracy in some of its scenes . Winslet won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress and Sorkin won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay at the 73rd Golden Globes , while Fassbender and Winslet received nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress , respectively , at the 88th Academy Awards .


Seth Rogen Seth Aaron Rogen ( -LSB- ˈroʊɡən -RSB- born April 15 , 1982 ) is a Canadian-American actor , filmmaker , and comedian . He began his career performing stand-up comedy during his teenage years , winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998 . While still living in his native Vancouver , he landed a supporting role in the series Freaks and Geeks . Shortly after he moved to Portland , Oregon for his role , Freaks and Geeks was officially cancelled after one season due to low viewership . Rogen later got a part on sitcom Undeclared , which also hired him as a staff writer .   After landing his job as a staff writer on the final season of Da Ali G Show , for which he and the other writers received an Emmy Award nomination , he was guided by Judd Apatow toward a film career . Rogen made his first movie appearance in Donnie Darko with a minor role as a rebellious student in Donnie 's high school classes in 2001 . Rogen was cast in a major supporting role and credited as a co-producer in Apatow 's directorial debut , The 40-Year-Old Virgin . After Rogen received critical praise for his performance , Universal Pictures agreed to cast him as the lead in Apatow 's films Knocked Up and Funny People . Rogen co-starred as Steve Wozniak in Universal 's Steve Jobs biopic in 2015 . In 2016 , he developed the AMC television series Preacher with his writing partner Evan Goldberg and Sam Catlin . He also serves as a writer and executive producer , and directed the first two episodes of the series with Goldberg .   Rogen and Goldberg co-wrote the films Superbad , Pineapple Express , The Green Hornet , This Is the End , and directed both This Is the End and The Interview ; all of which Rogen starred in . He has also done voice work for the films Horton Hears a Who ! , the Kung Fu Panda film series , The Spiderwick Chronicles , Monsters vs. Aliens , Paul , and Sausage Party .


The 40-Year-Old Virgin The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a 2005 American sex comedy film written , produced and directed by Judd Apatow , about a middle-aged man 's journey to finally have sex . It was co-written by Steve Carell , though it features a great deal of improvised dialogue . The film was released theatrically in North America on August 19 , 2005 and was released on region 1 DVD on December 13 , 2005 .   It is the directorial debut of Judd Apatow , who directed successful films , such as Knocked Up , Funny People , This Is 40 and Trainwreck , and Seth Rogen 's first role in a comedy film , since his bit part role in the film Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy ( 2004 ) .


Knocked Up Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy film written , directed , and co-produced by Judd Apatow , and starring Seth Rogen , Katherine Heigl , Paul Rudd , and Leslie Mann . It follows the repercussions of a drunken one-night stand between a slacker and a just-promoted media personality that results in an unintended pregnancy .   The film was released on June 1 , 2007 to box office success , grossing $ 219 million worldwide , and acclaim from critics . A spin-off sequel , This Is 40 , was released in 2012 .


Followers of asceticism follow an abstinent lifestyle.

Asceticism Asceticism ( -LSB- əˈsɛtɪsɪzəm -RSB- from the -LSB- Wiktionary : ἄσκησις , ἄσκησις -RSB- áskesis , `` exercise '' or `` training '' ) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures , often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals . Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their practices or continue to be part of their society , but typically adopt a frugal lifestyle , characterised by the renunciation of material possessions and physical pleasures , and time spent fasting while concentrating on the practice of religion or reflection upon spiritual matters .   Asceticism is classified into two types . `` Natural asceticism '' consists of a lifestyle where material aspects of life are reduced to utmost simplicity and a minimum but without maiming the body or harsher austerities that make the body suffer , while `` unnatural asceticism '' is defined as a practice that involves body mortification and self infliction of pain such as by sleeping on a bed of nails .   Asceticism has been historically observed in many religious traditions , including Buddhism , Christianity , Hinduism , Jainism and Judaism . Mainstream Islam has lacked asceticism , except for its minority Sufi sect whose long tradition has included strict asceticism . The practitioners of these religions eschewed worldly pleasures and led an abstinent lifestyle , in the pursuit of redemption , salvation or spirituality . Asceticism is seen in the ancient theologies as a journey towards spiritual transformation , where the simple is sufficient , the bliss is within , the frugal is plenty .


Marta Kauffman Marta Fran Kauffman ( born September 21 , 1956 ) is an American writer and TV producer , best known as the co-creator of the popular sitcom Friends , alongside David Crane . Both Kauffman and Crane were also executive producers of the show , along with Kevin Bright . Kauffman and Crane also produced Veronica 's Closet , starring Kirstie Alley , and Jesse , starring Christina Applegate . From 2005 -- 2006 she was an executive producer on Related . Both writers were the creators of the 1990 HBO series Dream On .


Android has not been involved in the "smartphone wars."

Android (operating system) Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google , based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets . Android 's user interface is mainly based on direct manipulation , using touch gestures that loosely correspond to real-world actions , such as swiping , tapping and pinching , to manipulate on-screen objects , along with a virtual keyboard for text input . In addition to touchscreen devices , Google has further developed Android TV for televisions , Android Auto for cars , and Android Wear for wrist watches , each with a specialized user interface . Variants of Android are also used on notebooks , game consoles , digital cameras , and other electronics .   Initially developed by Android Inc. , which Google bought in 2005 , Android was unveiled in 2007 , along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliancea consortium of hardware , software , and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices . Beginning with the first commercial Android device in September 2008 , the operating system has gone through multiple major releases , with the current version being 7.0 `` Nougat '' , released in August 2016 . Android applications ( `` apps '' ) can be downloaded from the Google Play store , which features over 2.7 million apps as of February 2017 . Android has been the best-selling OS on tablets since 2013 , and runs on the vast majority of smartphones . , Android has two billion monthly active users , and it has the largest installed base of any operating system .   Android 's source code is released by Google under an open source license , although most Android devices ultimately ship with a combination of free and open source and proprietary software , including proprietary software required for accessing Google services . Android is popular with technology companies that require a ready-made , low-cost and customizable operating system for high-tech devices . Its open nature has encouraged a large community of developers and enthusiasts to use the open-source code as a foundation for community-driven projects , which deliver updates to older devices , add new features for advanced users or bring Android to devices originally shipped with other operating systems . The extensive variation of hardware in Android devices causes significant delays for software upgrades , with new versions of the operating system and security patches typically taking months before reaching consumers , or sometimes not at all . The success of Android has made it a target for patent and copyright litigation as part of the so-called `` smartphone wars '' between technology companies .


Antarctica has a high average elevation.

Antarctica Antarctica ( UK English -LSB- ænˈtɑːktɪkə -RSB- or -LSB- ænˈtɑːtɪkə -RSB- , US English -LSB- æntˈɑːrktɪkə -RSB- ) is Earth 's southernmost continent . It contains the geographic South Pole and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere , almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle , and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean . At 14000000 km2 , it is the fifth-largest continent . For comparison , Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia . About 98 % of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 km in thickness , which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula .   Antarctica , on average , is the coldest , driest , and windiest continent , and has the highest average elevation of all the continents . Antarctica is a desert , with annual precipitation of only 200 mm ( 8 in ) along the coast and far less inland . The temperature in Antarctica has reached − 89.2 ° C ( − 128.6 ° F ) , though the average for the third quarter ( the coldest part of the year ) is − 63 ° C ( − 81 ° F ) . Anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent . Organisms native to Antarctica include many types of algae , bacteria , fungi , plants , protista , and certain animals , such as mites , nematodes , penguins , seals and tardigrades . Vegetation , where it occurs , is tundra .   Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ( `` Southern Land '' ) date back to antiquity , Antarctica is noted as the last region on Earth in recorded history to be discovered and colonised by humans , being only first sighted in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev on Vostok and Mirny , who sighted the Fimbul ice shelf . The continent , however , remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment , lack of easily accessible resources , and isolation . In 1895 , the first confirmed landing was conducted by a team of Norwegians .   Antarctica is a de facto condominium , governed by parties to the Antarctic Treaty System that have consulting status . Twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959 , and thirty-eight have signed it since then . The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining , prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal , supports scientific research , and protects the continent 's ecozone . Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists from many nations .


The Falling is about an all-girls college.

The Falling (2014 film) The Falling is a 2014 British mystery drama film written and directed by Carol Morley . It stars Maisie Williams and Florence Pugh as best friends at an all-girls school . The film also stars Greta Scacchi , Monica Dolan , Maxine Peake , and Mathew Baynton . Production began in October 2013 . The film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2014 and was released theatrically on 24 April 2015 in the UK . The Falling earned # 468,762 on a # 750,000 budget .


Plantation era is loosely given as the Antebellum era.

Plantation era The Plantation era , also loosely referred to as the Antebellum era , was a period in the history of the Southern United States , from the late 18th century until the start of the American Civil War in 1861 ( which ended slavery in the United States and destroyed much of the economic landscape of the South ) , marked by the economic growth of the South , based on slave-driven plantation farming .   Much of the economic growth of this era can be attributed to the rise of the plantation system and the use of slave labor , which many historians believe to be responsible for the economic woes of the South during the Reconstruction Era . The concurrent rise in large-scale farming and in plantation slavery has led to studies on the institution of slavery as an economic system .   The plantation system eventually grew to form the industrial and social frame of government in the Southern slave states , while the associated institution of slavery became the basis of the Southern social system , ideology , and a set of psychological patterns .


Grace Jones was unable to be cast in Conan the Destroyer.

Grace Jones Grace Jones ( born 19 May 1948 ) is a Jamaican born singer , songwriter , lyricist , supermodel , record producer , and actress . Born in Jamaica , at age 13 she moved with her siblings to their parents ' home in Syracuse , New York . Jones began her modelling career in New York state , then in Paris , working for fashion houses such as Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo , and appearing on the covers of Elle and Vogue . She worked with photographers such as Helmut Newton , Guy Bourdin , and Hans Feurer , and became known for her distinctive androgynous appearance and bold features .   In 1977 Jones secured a record deal with Island Records , initially becoming a star of New York City 's Studio 54-centered disco scene . In the early 1980s she moved toward a new wave style that drew on reggae , funk , post-punk , and pop music , frequently collaborating with both the graphic designer Jean-Paul Goude and the musical duo Sly & Robbie . Her most popular albums include Warm Leatherette ( 1980 ) , Nightclubbing ( 1981 ) , and Slave to the Rhythm ( 1985 ) . She scored Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart with `` Pull Up to the Bumper '' , `` I 've Seen That Face Before '' , `` Private Life '' , and `` Slave to the Rhythm '' . In 1982 , she released the music video collection A One Man Show , directed by Goude .   Jones appeared in some low-budget films in the US during the 1970s and early 1980s . In 1984 she made her first mainstream appearance as Zula in the fantasy-action film Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sarah Douglas , and subsequently appeared in the 1985 James Bond movie A View to a Kill as May Day . In 1986 she played a vampire in Vamp , and acted in and contributed a song to the 1992 Eddie Murphy film Boomerang . She appeared alongside Tim Curry in the 2001 film Wolf Girl . For her work in Conan the Destroyer , A View to a Kill , and Vamp , she was nominated for Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actress .   In 1999 , Jones ranked 82nd on VH1 's 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll , and in 2008 , she was honored with a Q Idol Award . Jones influenced the cross-dressing movement of the 1980s and has been an inspiration for artists including Annie Lennox , Lady Gaga , Rihanna , Lorde , Róisín Murphy , Brazilian Girls , Nile Rodgers , Santigold , Basement Jaxx and Stanka Brljevic . In December 2016 , Billboard magazine ranked her as the 40th most successful dance artist of all time .


CeeLo Green Thomas DeCarlo Callaway ( born May 30 , 1974 , better known by his stage name CeeLo Green ( sometimes rendered as Cee Lo Green ) , is an American singer , rapper , songwriter , record producer , actor , and businessman .   Green came to initial prominence as a member of the Southern hip hop group Goodie Mob and later as part of the soul duo Gnarls Barkley , with record producer Danger Mouse . Subsequently he embarked on a solo career , partially spurred by YouTube popularity .   Internationally , Green is best known for his soul work : his most popular was Gnarls Barkley 's 2006 worldwide hit `` Crazy '' , which reached number 1 in various singles charts worldwide , including the UK . In the United States , `` Crazy '' reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 . Its parent album St. Elsewhere ( 2006 ) , was also a hit , peaked at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and number 4 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart . Gnarls Barkley 's second album , The Odd Couple ( 2008 ) , charted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 .   In 2010 , Green took a hiatus from working with Danger Mouse , and released a solo single titled `` Fuck You ! '' , on August 19 . The song became a successful single , with the radio-edit version `` Forget You '' , reaching the top spot in the UK and the Netherlands and peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 . Its parent album , The Lady Killer ( 2010 ) , saw similar success , peaking within the top five of the UK Albums Chart and debuting within the top 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart , receiving a Gold certification from the BPI in the UK . His next two singles , `` It 's OK '' and `` Bright Lights Bigger City '' were also hits in Europe . From 2011 to 2014 , Green was a judge and coach on American reality television singing competition The Voice , appearing on four of its seasons . In 2013 , Green reunited with the rest of Goodie Mob , to release their fifth studio album Age Against the Machine . In 2011 he did a concert with Prince in Madison Square Garden .   He worked as a voice actor in the animated feature Hotel Transylvania ( 2012 ) , and also appeared in a few television programs and films -- including his own show , CeeLo Green 's The Good Life , on TBS . Green has endorsed 7 Up , Duracell , M&M 's , and sake brand TY KU . His work has earned numerous awards and accolades , including five Grammy Awards , a BET Award , a Billboard Award , and a Brit Award .


The Lion King was directed by Walt Disney Feature Animation.

The Lion King The Lion King is a 1994 American animated epic musical film , produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures . It is the 32nd Disney animated feature film . The story takes place in a kingdom of lions in Africa and was influenced by William Shakespeare 's Hamlet . The film was produced during a period known as the Disney Renaissance . The Lion King was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff , produced by Don Hahn , and has a screenplay credited to Irene Mecchi , Jonathan Roberts , and Linda Woolverton . Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice , and original scores were written by Hans Zimmer . The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick , James Earl Jones , Jeremy Irons , Jonathan Taylor Thomas , Moira Kelly , Nathan Lane , Ernie Sabella , Rowan Atkinson , Robert Guillaume , Madge Sinclair , Whoopi Goldberg , Cheech Marin , and Jim Cummings .   The Lion King tells the story of Simba , a young lion who is to succeed his father , Mufasa , as King of the Pride Lands ; however , after Simba 's uncle Scar murders Mufasa , Simba is manipulated into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile . Upon maturation living with two wastrels , Simba is given some valuable perspective from his childhood friend , Nala , and his shaman , Rafiki , before returning to challenge Scar to end his tyranny and take his place in the Circle of Life as the rightful King .   Development of The Lion King began in 1988 during a meeting between Jeffrey Katzenberg , Roy E. Disney , and Peter Schneider while promoting Oliver & Company in Europe . Thomas Disch wrote a film treatment , and Woolverton developed the first scripts while George Scribner was signed on as director , being later joined by Allers . Production began in 1991 concurrently with Pocahontas , which wound up attracting most of Disney 's top animators . Some time after the staff traveled to Hell 's Gate National Park in Kenya to research on the film 's setting and animals , Scribner left production disagreeing with the decision to turn the film into a musical and was replaced by Minkoff . When Hahn joined the project , he was dissatisfied with the script and the story was promptly rewritten . Nearly 20 minutes of animation sequences were produced at Disney-MGM Studios in Florida . Computer animation was also used in several scenes , most notably in the wildebeest stampede sequence .   The Lion King was released on June 15 , 1994 , to a positive reaction from critics , who praised the film for its music , story , and animation ; it finished its theatrical run as the highest-grossing release of 1994 and the second highest-grossing film of all time . The Lion King garnered two Academy Awards for its achievement in music and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy . The film has led to many derived works , such as a Broadway adaptation ; two direct-to-video follow-ups -- the sequel , The Lion King II : Simba 's Pride ( 1998 ) , and the prequel/parallel , The Lion King 1 1/2 ( 2004 ) -- ; two television series , Timon and Pumbaa and The Lion Guard ; and a 3D re-release , in 2011 .   In 2016 , 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 '' .   A CGI live-action remake of the film is scheduled for a July 19 , 2019 release in the United States .


Rumi Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī , also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī , Mevlânâ / Mawlānā ( مولانا , `` our master '' ) , Mevlevî / Mawlawī ( مولوی , `` my master '' ) , and more popularly simply as Rumi ( 30 September 1207 -- 17 December 1273 ) , was a 13th-century Persian Sunni Muslim poet , jurist , Islamic scholar , theologian , and Sufi mystic . Rumi 's influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions : Iranians , Tajiks , Turks , Greeks , Pashtuns , other Central Asian Muslims , and the Muslims of South Asia have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy for the past seven centuries . His poems have been widely translated into many of the world 's languages and transposed into various formats . Rumi has been described as the `` most popular poet '' and the `` best selling poet '' in the United States .   Rumi 's works are written mostly in Persian , but occasionally he also used Turkish , Arabic , and Greek , in his verse . His Masnavi ( Mathnawi ) , composed in Konya , is considered one of the greatest poems of the Persian language . His works are widely read today in their original language across Greater Iran and the Persian-speaking world . Translations of his works are very popular , most notably in Turkey , Azerbaijan , the United States , and South Asia . His poetry has influenced Persian literature , but also Turkish , Ottoman Turkish , Azerbaijani , as well as the literature of some other Turkic , Iranian , and Indo-Aryan languages including Chagatai , Urdu , Pashto , and Bengali .


Minnesota Minnesota ( -LSB- -LSB- ˌmɪnəˈso̞ɾɐ -RSB- help = no -RSB- ) is a state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States . Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd U.S. state on May 11 , 1858 , created from the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory . The state has a large number of lakes , and is known by the slogan `` Land of 10,000 Lakes '' . Its official motto is L'Étoile du Nord ( French : Star of the North ) .   Minnesota is the 12th largest in area and the 21st most populous of the U.S. states ; nearly 60 percent of its residents live in the Minneapolis -- Saint Paul metropolitan area ( known as the `` Twin Cities '' ) , the center of transportation , business , industry , education , and government and home to an internationally known arts community . The remainder of the state consists of western prairies now given over to intensive agriculture ; deciduous forests in the southeast , now partially cleared , farmed and settled ; and the less populated North Woods , used for mining , forestry , and recreation .   Minnesota is known for its progressive political orientation and its high rate of civic participation and voter turnout . Until European settlement , Minnesota was inhabited by the Dakota and Ojibwe/Anishinaabe . During the 19th and early 20th centuries , a large number of European settlers entered the state who had mainly emigrated from Scandinavia and Germany . The state remains today a center of Scandinavian American and German American culture . In recent decades , immigration from Asia , the Horn of Africa , and Latin America has broadened its historic demographic and cultural composition . Minnesota 's standard of living index is among the highest in the United States , and the state is also among the best-educated and wealthiest in the nation .


Burundi and Rwanda were ruled by Belgians.

Burundi Burundi ( -LSB- bəˈrʊndi -RSB- or -LSB- bəˈrʌndi -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Burundi ( Republika y' Uburundi , -LSB- buˈɾundi -RSB- République du Burundi , -LSB- buʁundi -RSB- or -LSB- byʁyndi -RSB- ) , is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa , bordered by Rwanda to the north , Tanzania to the east and south , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west . It is also considered part of Central Africa . Burundi 's capital is Bujumbura . The southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika .   The Twa , Hutu and Tutsi peoples have lived in Burundi for at least 500 years . For more than 200 of those years , Burundi was an independent kingdom , until the beginning of the 20th century , when Germany colonised the region . After the First World War and Germany 's defeat , it ceded the territory to Belgium . Both Germans and Belgians ruled Burundi and Rwanda as a European colony known as Ruanda-Urundi . Despite common misconceptions , Burundi and Rwanda had never been under common rule until the time of European colonisation .   Burundi gained independence in 1962 and initially had a monarchy , but a series of assassinations , coups and a general climate of regional instability culminated in the establishment of a republic and one-party state in 1966 . Bouts of ethnic cleansing and ultimately two civil wars and genocides during the 1970s and again in the 1990s left the country undeveloped and its population as one of the world 's poorest . 2015 witnessed large-scale political strife as President Pierre Nkurunziza opted to run for a third term in office , a coup attempt failed and the country 's parliamentary and presidential elections were broadly criticised by members of the international community .   Burundi 's political system is that of a presidential representative democratic republic based upon a multi-party state . The President of Burundi is the head of state and head of government . There are currently 21 registered parties in Burundi . On 13 March 1992 , Tutsi coup leader Pierre Buyoya established a constitution , which provided for a multi-party political process and reflected multi-party competition . Six years later , on 6 June 1998 , the constitution was changed , broadening National Assembly 's seats and making provisions for two vice-presidents . Because of the Arusha Accord , Burundi enacted a transitional government in 2000 . In October 2016 , Burundi informed the UN of its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court .   Burundi remains an overwhelmingly rural society , with just 13 % of the population living in urban areas in 2013 . The population density of around 315 people per square kilometre ( 753 per sq mi ) is the second highest in Sub-Saharan Africa . Roughly 85 % of the population are of Hutu ethnic origin , 15 % are Tutsi , and fewer than 1 % are indigenous Twa ( or Pygmies ) . The official languages of Burundi are French and Kirundi , although Swahili can be found spoken along the Tanzanian border .   One of the smallest countries in Africa , Burundi has an equatorial climate . Burundi is a part of the Albertine Rift , the western extension of the East African Rift . The country lies on a rolling plateau in the centre of Africa . The highest peak , Mount Heha at 8810 ft , lies to the southeast of the capital , Bujumbura . The source of the River Nile is in Bururi province , and is linked from Lake Victoria to its headwaters via the Ruvyironza River Another major lake is Lake Tanganyika , located in much of Burundi 's southwestern corner . There are two national parks , Kibira National Park to the northwest ( a small region of rain forest , adjacent to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda ) , Ruvubu National Park to the northeast ( along the Rurubu River , also known as Ruvubu or Ruvuvu ) . Both were established in 1982 to conserve wildlife populations . Burundi 's lands are mostly agricultural or pasture .   Settlement by rural populations has led to deforestation , soil erosion and habitat loss . Deforestation of the entire country is almost completely due to overpopulation , with a mere 230 mi2 remaining and an ongoing loss of about 9 % per annum . In addition to poverty , Burundians often have to deal with corruption , weak infrastructure , poor access to health and education services , and hunger . Burundi is densely populated and has had substantial emigration as young people seek opportunities elsewhere . The World Happiness Report 2017 ranked Burundi as the world 's second least happy nation with a rank of 154 .


Jordan Spence Jordan James Spence ( born 24 May 1990 ) is an English footballer who plays for Ipswich Town . Predominantly as a right-back , Spence can also operate as a centre-back . He has represented and captained England at various youth levels . He has previously played for West Ham United , Leyton Orient , Scunthorpe United , Bristol City , Sheffield Wednesday and Milton Keynes Dons .


Emma (1996 TV film) Jane Austen 's Emma is an adaptation of the 1815 novel of the same name . It was adapted for the British television network ITV in 1996 , directed by Diarmuid Lawrence and dramatised by Andrew Davies , the same year as Miramax 's film adaptation of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow . This production of Emma stars Kate Beckinsale as the title character , and also features Samantha Morton as Harriet Smith and Mark Strong as Mr. Knightley .   Davies had recently adapted another Austen novel as the successful 1995 television serial Pride and Prejudice for BBC when he proposed to adapt the novel Emma for the network . BBC had already made such an agreement with another screenwriter however , leading Davies to approach ITV .   Emma received generally positive reviews from critics , who believed it to be superior to the 1996 Miramax film . Most focused on Beckinsale 's performance as a positive highlight . It aired on ITV on the 24 November 1996 and garnered an estimated 12 million viewers . It also was broadcast on the American channel A&E in 16 February 1997 .


Cold Comfort Farm (film) Cold Comfort Farm is a 1995 British comedy film directed by John Schlesinger and produced by the BBC and Thames Television , an adaptation of Stella Gibbons ' 1932 book of the same name , the film stars Kate Beckinsale , Joanna Lumley , Ian McKellen and Rufus Sewell . Originally broadcast on 1 January 1995 on the BBC , it was Schlesinger 's final film shot in his home country of Britain , and was picked up for theatrical release in North America through Gramercy Pictures , where it was a small success .


Prince of Jutland Prince of Jutland , also known as Royal Deceit , is a 1994 drama adventure film co-written and directed by Gabriel Axel and starring Christian Bale , Gabriel Byrne and Helen Mirren . It is an adaptation of the Danish legend of prince Amleth , drawing upon the 12th century works of Saxo Grammaticus , which was also the inspiration for Shakespeare 's Hamlet .   This movie was also the film debut of David Bateson , as Hother , who later became known for voicing Agent 47 , the protagonist of video game series Hitman .


Much Ado About Nothing (1993 film) Much Ado About Nothing is a 1993 British/American romantic comedy film based on William Shakespeare 's play of the same name . It was adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh , who also stars in the film . The film also stars Branagh 's then-wife Emma Thompson , Robert Sean Leonard , Denzel Washington , Michael Keaton , Keanu Reeves , and Kate Beckinsale in her film debut .   The film was released on May 7 , 1993 , reaching 200 U.S. screens at its widest release . It earned $ 22 million at the U.S. box office and $ 36 million total worldwide , which , despite failing to reach the mark set by Franco Zeffirelli 's Romeo and Juliet , made it one of the most financially successful Shakespeare films ever released . It was also entered into the 1993 Cannes Film Festival .


Kate Beckinsale Kathrin Romary Beckinsale ( born 26 July 1973 ) is an English actress . After some minor television roles , she made her film debut in Much Ado About Nothing ( 1993 ) while still a student at the University of Oxford . She then appeared in British costume dramas such as Prince of Jutland ( 1994 ) , Cold Comfort Farm ( 1995 ) , Emma ( 1996 ) , and The Golden Bowl ( 2000 ) , in addition to various stage and radio productions . She began to seek film work in the United States in the late 1990s and , after appearing in small-scale dramas The Last Days of Disco ( 1998 ) and Brokedown Palace ( 1999 ) , she had starring roles in the war drama Pearl Harbor and the romantic comedy Serendipity . She followed those with appearances in The Aviator ( 2004 ) and Click ( 2006 ) .   Since being cast as Selene in the Underworld film series ( 2003-present ) , Beckinsale has become known primarily for her work in action films , including Van Helsing ( 2004 ) , Whiteout ( 2009 ) , Contraband ( 2012 ) , and Total Recall ( 2012 ) . She also continues to make appearances in smaller dramatic projects such as Snow Angels ( 2007 ) , Nothing but the Truth ( 2008 ) , and Everybody 's Fine ( 2009 ) . In 2016 , she appeared in Whit Stillman 's Jane Austen comedy Love & Friendship .


Donald Sutherland Donald McNichol Sutherland , ( born 17 July 1935 ) is a Canadian actor whose film career spans five decades .   Sutherland rose to fame after starring in series of successful films including The Dirty Dozen ( 1967 ) , M * A * S * H ( 1970 ) , Kelly 's Heroes ( 1970 ) , Klute ( 1971 ) , Do n't Look Now ( 1973 ) , Fellini 's Casanova ( 1976 ) , 1900 ( 1976 ) , Animal House ( 1978 ) , Invasion of the Body Snatchers ( 1978 ) , Ordinary People ( 1980 ) and Eye of the Needle ( 1981 ) . Since then , he established himself as one of the most respected , prolific and versatile character actors of Canada .   He later went on to star in many other successful films where he appeared either in leading or supporting roles such as A Dry White Season ( 1989 ) , JFK ( 1991 ) , A Time to Kill ( 1996 ) , Without Limits ( 1998 ) , The Italian Job ( 2003 ) , Cold Mountain ( 2003 ) , Pride & Prejudice ( 2005 ) , Aurora Borealis ( 2006 ) and The Hunger Games franchise ( 2012 -- 2015 ) .   Sutherland has been nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards , winning two for his performances in the television films Citizen X ( 1995 ) and Path to War ( 2002 ) ; the former also brought him a Primetime Emmy Award . Inductee of Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canadian Walk of Fame , Sutherland has also received a Canadian Academy Award for the drama film Threshold ( 1981 ) . Several media outlets and movie critics describe him as one of the best actors who has never been nominated for an Oscar . He is father of actors Rossif Sutherland , Angus Sutherland , and Kiefer Sutherland .


Cory Monteith Cory Allan Michael Monteith ( -LSB- mɒnˈtiːθ -RSB- May 11 , 1982 July 13 , 2013 ) was a Canadian actor and musician , known for his role as Finn Hudson on the Fox television series Glee .   As an actor based in British Columbia , Monteith had minor roles on television series before an audition tape of him singing `` Ca n't Fight This Feeling '' resulted in him being cast on Glee . Following his success on Glee , Monteith 's film work included the movie Monte Carlo and a starring role in Sisters & Brothers .   Monteith had a troubled adolescence involving substance abuse from age 13 ; he left school at age 16 . After an intervention by family and friends he entered drug rehabilitation at age 19 . In a 2011 interview with Parade magazine , he discussed his history of substance abuse as a teen , and in March 2013 , he again sought treatment for addiction . On July 13 , 2013 , he died of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol in a Vancouver hotel room .


The Shield The Shield is an American crime drama television series starring Michael Chiklis that premiered on March 12 , 2002 , on FX in the United States , and concluded on November 25 , 2008 , after seven seasons . Known for its portrayal of corrupt police officers , it was originally advertised as Rampart in reference to the true life Rampart Division police scandal , on which the show 's Strike Team was loosely based . The series was created by Shawn Ryan and The Barn Productions for Fox Television Studios and Sony Pictures Television .   Several notable film actors took extended roles on the show , including Glenn Close , who was the female lead during the fourth season , Forest Whitaker , who guest starred in seasons 5 and 6 , Laura Harring , in season 5 , Franka Potente , in season 6 , and Laurie Holden , in season 7 .   The series has received critical acclaim , as well as several awards and nominations . It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Drama in 2002 , and the final season won a 2008 AFI Award for best television series . In 2013 , TV Guide ranked The Shield # 50 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time . Chiklis won both the Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama in 2002 .


Keanu Reeves Keanu Charles Reeves ( -LSB- kiːˈɑːnuː -RSB- ; born September 2 , 1964 ) is a Canadian actor , director , producer , and musician .   Reeves is best known for his acting career , beginning in 1985 and spanning more than three decades . He gained fame for his starring role performances in several blockbuster films including comedies from the Bill and Ted franchise ( 1989 -- 1991 ) ; action thrillers Point Break ( 1991 ) , Speed ( 1994 ) , and the John Wick franchise ; psychological thriller The Devil 's Advocate ( 1997 ) ; supernatural thriller Constantine ( 2005 ) ; and science fiction/action series The Matrix ( 1999 -- 2003 ) . He has also appeared in dramatic films such as Dangerous Liaisons ( 1988 ) , My Own Private Idaho ( 1991 ) , and Little Buddha ( 1993 ) , as well as the romantic horror Bram Stoker 's Dracula ( 1992 ) .   Since becoming active in the film industry , Reeves has earned critical acclaim . One New York Times critic praised Reeves ' versatility , saying that he `` displays considerable discipline and range ... he moves easily between the buttoned-down demeanor that suits a police procedural story and the loose-jointed manner of his comic roles '' . However , Reeves has spent much of his later career being typecast . A recurring character arc in many roles he has portrayed is one of saving the world , as can be seen in the characters of Ted Logan , Buddha , Neo , Johnny Mnemonic , John Constantine , and Klaatu . His acting has garnered several awards , including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .   During his film career , Reeves has engaged in several forms of artistic expression . Active as a musician for over a decade , he played bass guitar for the bands Dogstar and Becky . Acting onstage , he performed as Prince Hamlet for the Manitoba Theatre Centre 's production of Hamlet . He wrote the text for a picture book , Ode to Happiness , illustrated by Alexandra Grant . He has also produced a documentary , Side by Side , and directed the martial arts film Man of Tai Chi .


The Matrix The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction film written and directed by The Wachowskis , starring Keanu Reeves , Laurence Fishburne , Carrie-Anne Moss , Hugo Weaving , and Joe Pantoliano . It depicts a dystopian future in which reality as perceived by most humans is actually a simulated reality called `` the Matrix '' , created by sentient machines to subdue the human population , while their bodies ' heat and electrical activity are used as an energy source . Computer programmer `` Neo '' learns this truth and is drawn into a rebellion against the machines , which involves other people who have been freed from the `` dream world . ''   The Matrix is known for popularizing a visual effect known as `` bullet time '' , in which the heightened perception of certain characters is represented by allowing the action within a shot to progress in slow-motion while the camera 's viewpoint appears to move through the scene at normal speed . The film is an example of the cyberpunk science fiction genre . It contains numerous references to philosophical and religious ideas , and prominently pays homage to works such as Plato 's Allegory of the Cave , Jean Baudrillard 's Simulacra and Simulation and Lewis Carroll 's Alice 's Adventures in Wonderland . The Wachowskis ' approach to action scenes drew upon their admiration for Japanese animation and martial arts films , and the film 's use of fight choreographers and wire fu techniques from Hong Kong action cinema influenced subsequent Hollywood action film productions .   The Matrix was first released in the United States on , 1999 , and grossed over $ 460 million worldwide . It was generally well-received by critics and won four Academy Awards , as well as other accolades , including BAFTA Awards and Saturn Awards . Reviewers praised The Matrix for its innovative visual effects , cinematography and entertainment value . The film 's premise was both criticized for being derivative of earlier science fiction works and praised for being intriguing . The action also polarized critics , some describing it as impressive , but others dismissing it as a trite distraction from an interesting premise .   The film has since appeared in lists of the greatest science fiction films , and , in 2012 , was added to the National Film Registry for preservation . The success of the film led to the release of two feature film sequels , both written and directed by the Wachowskis : The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions . The Matrix franchise was further expanded through the production of comic books , video games and animated short films , in which the Wachowskis were heavily involved .


William McKinley William McKinley Jr. ( January 29 , 1843 -- September 14 , 1901 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 25th President of the United States from March 4 , 1897 until his assassination in September 1901 , six months into his second term . McKinley led the nation to victory in the Spanish -- American War , raised protective tariffs to promote American industry , and maintained the nation on the gold standard in a rejection of inflationary proposals .   McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War , and the only one to have started the war as an enlisted soldier , beginning as a private in the Union Army and ending as a brevet major . After the war , he settled in Canton , Ohio , where he practiced law and married Ida Saxton . In 1876 , he was elected to Congress , where he became the Republican Party 's expert on the protective tariff , which he promised would bring prosperity . His 1890 McKinley Tariff was highly controversial ; which together with a Democratic redistricting aimed at gerrymandering him out of office , led to his defeat in the Democratic landslide of 1890 . He was elected Ohio 's governor in 1891 and 1893 , steering a moderate course between capital and labor interests . With the aid of his close adviser Mark Hanna , he secured the Republican nomination for president in 1896 , amid a deep economic depression . He defeated his Democratic rival , William Jennings Bryan , after a front-porch campaign in which he advocated `` sound money '' ( the gold standard unless altered by international agreement ) and promised that high tariffs would restore prosperity .   Rapid economic growth marked McKinley 's presidency . He promoted the 1897 Dingley Tariff to protect manufacturers and factory workers from foreign competition , and in 1900 , he secured the passage of the Gold Standard Act . McKinley hoped to persuade Spain to grant independence to rebellious Cuba without conflict , but when negotiation failed , he led the nation into the Spanish -- American War of 1898 ; the U.S. victory was quick and decisive . As part of the peace settlement , Spain turned over to the United States its main overseas colonies of Puerto Rico , Guam , and the Philippines ; Cuba was promised independence , but at that time remained under the control of the U.S. Army . The United States annexed the independent Republic of Hawaii in 1898 and it became a U.S. territory .   Historians regard McKinley 's 1896 victory as a realigning election , in which the political stalemate of the post -- Civil War era gave way to the Republican-dominated Fourth Party System , which began with the Progressive Era . McKinley defeated Bryan again in the 1900 presidential election , in a campaign focused on imperialism , protectionism , and free silver . However , his legacy was quickly cut short when he was shot on September 6 , 1901 by Leon Czolgosz , a second-generation Polish-American with anarchist leanings ; McKinley died eight days later , and was succeeded by his Vice President Theodore Roosevelt . As an innovator of American interventionism and pro-business sentiment , McKinley 's presidency is generally considered above average , though his universally positive public perception was soon overshadowed by Roosevelt .


Interstellar (film) Use mdy dates | date = May 2016 -RCB-   Interstellar is a 2014 British-American epic science fiction film directed , co-written , and co-produced by Christopher Nolan . The film stars Matthew McConaughey , Anne Hathaway , Jessica Chastain , Bill Irwin , Casey Affleck , Ellen Burstyn , John Lithgow , and Michael Caine . Set in a dystopian future where humanity is struggling to survive , it follows a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity .   Brothers Christopher and Jonathan Nolan wrote the screenplay , which has its origins in a script Jonathan developed in 2007 . Nolan produced the film with his wife Emma Thomas through their production company Syncopy and with Lynda Obst through Lynda Obst Productions . Caltech theoretical physicist Kip Thorne , whose work inspired the film , was an executive producer and acted as scientific consultant . Later , he also wrote a tie-in book , The Science of Interstellar . Paramount Pictures , Warner Bros. , and Legendary Pictures co-financed the film . Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema shot the film on 35 mm in anamorphic format and IMAX 70 mm . Principal photography commenced in late 2013 in Alberta , Iceland and Los Angeles . The film utilized extensive practical and miniature effects , while the company Double Negative created additional digital effects .   Interstellar premiered on October 26 , 2014 in Los Angeles . In the United States , it was first released on film stock , expanding to venues using digital projectors . The film was successful at the box office , with a worldwide gross of over $ 675 million , and received positive reviews , particularly in regards to its science fiction themes , visual effects , musical score , and the cast 's performances . It received several awards and nominations ; at the 87th Academy Awards , the film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects , and was nominated for Best Original Score , Best Sound Mixing , Best Sound Editing , and Best Production Design .


The Host stars people only born during June.

Saoirse Ronan Saoirse Una Ronan ( -LSB- ˈsɜrʃə_ˈuːnə_ˈroʊnən -RSB- ; born 12 April 1994 ) is an Irish and American actress . She is a two-time Academy Award nominee ; receiving a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Atonement ( 2007 ) , and a Best Actress nomination for Brooklyn ( 2015 ) . She has also received three BAFTA Award nominations , two Golden Globe nominations , two Screen Actors Guild nominations and two Satellite Awards .   She had her feature film debut in the romantic comedy I Could Never Be Your Woman ( 2007 ) . Other roles include City of Ember ( 2008 ) , The Lovely Bones ( 2009 ) , Hanna ( 2011 ) , The Way Back ( 2010 ) , Byzantium ( 2012 ) , The Host ( 2013 ) , How I Live Now ( 2013 ) , and The Grand Budapest Hotel ( 2014 ) .   In January 2016 , Ronan was included in Forbes '30 Under 30 ' in both the European and USA editions . In March 2016 , Ronan made her Broadway debut in a revival of the The Crucible , in the role of Abigail Williams , for which she received much acclaim . She appeared on the cover of Time magazine in June 2016 , one of ten young leaders selected as ` Next Generation Leaders ' .


The Host (2013 film) The Host is a 2013 American romantic science fiction thriller film adapted from Stephenie Meyer 's novel of the same name . It tells the story of a young woman , Melanie , who is captured after the human race has been taken over by parasitic aliens called `` Souls '' . After Melanie is infused with a soul called `` Wanderer '' , Melanie and the alien `` Soul '' vie for control of her body . Written and directed by Andrew Niccol , the film stars Saoirse Ronan , Max Irons , Jake Abel , William Hurt , and Diane Kruger . Released in theaters on March 29 , 2013 , the film was poorly received by critics .


Jake Abel Jacob Allen Abel ( born November 18 , 1987 ) is an American actor and singer who is known for playing Adam Milligan in the CW series Supernatural ( 2009 -- 10 ) , Luke Castellan in the film adaptation of Percy Jackson & the Olympians : The Lightning Thief ( 2010 ) , and its sequel , Percy Jackson : Sea of Monsters ( 2013 ) , Mark James in the film adaptation of I Am Number Four ( 2011 ) , and Ian O'Shea in The Host ( 2013 ) .


William Hurt William McChord Hurt ( born March 20 , 1950 ) is an American actor . He received his acting training at the Juilliard School and began acting on stage in the 1970s . Hurt made his film debut in 1980 as a troubled scientist in Ken Russell 's science-fiction feature Altered States , for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year . He subsequently played a leading role , as a lawyer who succumbs to the temptations of Kathleen Turner , in the neo-noir Body Heat ( 1981 ) .   In 1985 , Hurt garnered critical acclaim and multiple acting awards , including an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor , for Kiss of the Spider Woman . He received another two Academy Award nominations for his lead performances in Children of a Lesser God ( 1986 ) and Broadcast News ( 1987 ) . Hurt remained an active stage actor throughout the 1980s , appearing in Off-Broadway productions , including Henry V , Fifth of July , Richard II and A Midsummer Night 's Dream . Hurt received his first Tony Award nomination in 1985 for the Broadway production of Hurlyburly .   After playing a diversity of character roles in the following decade , Hurt earned his fourth Academy Award nomination for his supporting performance in David Cronenberg 's crime thriller A History of Violence ( 2005 ) . Other notable films in recent years have included A.I. Artificial Intelligence ( 2001 ) , The Village ( 2004 ) , Syriana ( 2005 ) , The Good Shepherd ( 2006 ) , Mr. Brooks ( 2007 ) , Into the Wild ( 2007 ) , The Incredible Hulk ( 2008 ) , Robin Hood ( 2010 ) and Captain America : Civil War ( 2016 ) .


Diane Kruger Diane Kruger ( -LSB- diˈa : nə ˈkru : ɡɐ -RSB- ; born Diane Heidkrüger ; 15 July 1976 ) is a German-American actress and former fashion model .   She is known for roles such as Helen in the epic war film Troy ( 2004 ) , Dr. Abigail Chase in the adventure/heist film National Treasure ( 2004 ) and its sequel ( 2007 ) , Bridget von Hammersmark in Quentin Tarantino 's war film Inglourious Basterds ( 2009 ) , Anna in the sci-fi drama Mr. Nobody ( 2009 ) , Gina in the psychological thriller film Unknown ( 2011 ) , Marie Antoinette in the French-language film Farewell , My Queen ( 2012 ) and Jessie in the drama-thriller Disorder ( 2015 ) . She also starred as Detective Sonya Cross in the FX crime drama series The Bridge .   In 2017 , she made her German-language debut in Fatih Akin 's In the Fade , for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress .


Max Irons Maximilian Paul Diarmuid `` Max '' Irons ( born 17 October 1985 ) is an English-Irish actor and model . He is known for his roles in Red Riding Hood ( 2011 ) , The White Queen ( 2013 ) , The Host ( 2013 ) , and The Riot Club ( 2014 ) .