Wōden is the Old English translation for Odin.

Odin In Germanic mythology , Odin ( from Old Norse Óðinn ) is a widely revered god . In Norse mythology , from which stems most of the information about the god , Odin is associated with healing , death , royalty , the gallows , knowledge , battle , sorcery , poetry , frenzy , and the runic alphabet , and is the husband of the goddess Frigg . In wider Germanic mythology and paganism , Odin was known in Old English as Wōden , in Old Saxon as Wōdan , and in Old High German as Wuotan or Wōtan , all stemming from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic theonym wōđanaz .   Odin is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of the Germanic peoples , from the Roman occupation of regions of Germania through the tribal expansions of the Migration Period and the Viking Age . In the modern period , Odin continued to be acknowledged in the rural folklore of Germanic Europe . References to Odin appear in place names throughout regions historically inhabited by the ancient Germanic peoples , and the day of the week Wednesday bears his name in many Germanic languages , including English .   In Anglo-Saxon England , Odin held a particular place as a euhemerized ancestral figure among royalty , and he is frequently referred to as a founding figure among various other Germanic peoples , including the Langobards . Forms of his name appear frequently throughout the Germanic record , though narratives regarding Odin are mainly found in Old Norse works recorded in Iceland , primarily around the 13th century . These texts make up the bulk of modern understanding of Norse mythology .   In Old Norse texts , Odin is depicted as one-eyed and long-bearded , frequently wielding a spear named Gungnir , and wearing a cloak and a broad hat . He is often accompanied by his animal companions -- the wolves Geri and Freki and the ravens Huginn and Muninn , who bring him information from all over Midgard -- and rides the flying , eight-legged steed Sleipnir across the sky and into the underworld . Odin is attested as having many sons , most famously the gods Thor ( with Jörð ) and Baldr ( with Frigg ) , and is known by hundreds of names . In these texts , he frequently seeks greater knowledge , at times in disguise ( most famously by obtaining the Mead of Poetry ) , makes wagers with his wife Frigg over the outcome of exploits , and takes part in both the creation of the world by way of slaying the primordial being Ymir and the gift of life to the first two humans Ask and Embla . Odin has a particular association with Yule , and mankind 's knowledge of both the runes and poetry is also attributed to him .   In Old Norse texts , Odin is given primacy over female beings associated with the battlefield -- the valkyries -- and oversees Valhalla , where he receives half of those who die in battle , the einherjar . The other half are chosen by the goddess Freyja for her afterlife location , Fólkvangr . Odin consults the disembodied , herb-embalmed head of the wise being Mímir for advice , and during the foretold events of Ragnarök , Odin is told to lead the einherjar into battle before being consumed by the monstrous wolf Fenrir . In later folklore , Odin appears as a leader of the Wild Hunt , a ghostly procession of the dead through the winter sky . He has also been associated with charms and other forms of magic , particularly in Old English and Old Norse texts .   Odin has been a frequent subject of study in Germanic studies , and numerous theories have been put forward regarding his development . Some of these focus on Odin 's particular relation to other figures ; for example , the fact that Freyja 's husband Óðr appears to be something of an etymological doublet of the god , whereas Odin 's wife Frigg is in many ways similar to Freyja , and that Odin has a particular relation to the figure of Loki . Other approaches focus on Odin 's place in the historical record , a frequent question being whether the figure of Odin derives from Proto-Indo-European religion , or whether he developed later in Germanic society . In the modern period , Odin has inspired numerous works of poetry , music , and other forms of media . He is venerated in most forms of the new religious movement Heathenry , together with other gods venerated by the ancient Germanic peoples ; some branches focus particularly on him .


Lily James Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson ( born 5 April 1989 ) , known as Lily James , is an English actress . She played Lady Rose Aldridge in the ITV period drama Downton Abbey and the title role in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella .   James began her professional acting career as Ethel Brown in the 2010 BBC production Just William . In 2011 and 2012 , she earned warm reviews in several London theatre productions . She began to appear in Hollywood films in 2012 , with roles in Wrath of the Titans and Fast Girls , and was seen in further television roles , including that of Countess Natasha Rostova in the 2016 BBC historical drama series War & Peace .


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


Quebec Quebec ( pronounced -LSB- audio = En-Quebec . ogvkwᵻˈbɛk -RSB- or -LSB- kəˈbɛk -RSB- Québec -LSB- kebɛk -RSB- ) is the second-most populous province of Canada and the only one to have a predominantly French-speaking population , with French as the sole provincial official language .   Quebec is Canada 's largest province by area and its second-largest administrative division ; only the territory of Nunavut is larger . It is bordered to the west by the province of Ontario , James Bay , and Hudson Bay ; to the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay ; to the east by the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador ; and to the south by the province of New Brunswick and the US states of Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , and New York . It also shares maritime borders with Nunavut , Prince Edward Island , and Nova Scotia .   Quebec is Canada 's second-most populous province , after Ontario . Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City , the capital . Approximately half of Quebec residents live in the Greater Montreal Area , including the Island of Montreal . English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais , Eastern Townships , and Gaspé regions . The Nord-du-Québec region , occupying the northern half of the province , is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples . The climate around the major cities is four-season continental with cold and snowy winters combined with warm to hot humid summers , but further north long winter seasons dominate and as a result the northern areas of the province are marked by tundra conditions . Even in central Quebec at comparatively southerly latitudes winters are severe in inland areas .   Quebec independence debates have played a large role in the politics of the province . Parti Québécois governments held referendums on sovereignty in 1980 and 1995 ; both were voted down by voters , the latter defeated by a very narrow margin . In 2006 , the House of Commons of Canada passed a symbolic motion recognizing the `` Québécois as a nation within a united Canada . ''   While the province 's substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy , sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace , information and communication technologies , biotechnology , and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles . These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become an economically influential province within Canada , second only to Ontario in economic output .


A nominee for the 2016 presidential election was Donald Trump.

Donald Trump Donald John Trump ( born June 14 , 1946 ) is the 45th and current President of the United States . Before entering politics , he was a businessman and television personality .   Trump was born and raised in Queens , New York City , and earned an economics degree from the Wharton School . He then took charge of The Trump Organization , the real estate and construction firm founded by his paternal grandmother , which he ran for 45 years until 2016 . During his real estate career , Trump built , renovated , and managed numerous office towers , hotels , casinos , and golf courses . Besides real estate , he started several side ventures and has licensed the use of his name for the branding of various products and properties , including Trump Entertainment Resorts , Trump Steaks , and Trump Vodka . He was the founder of Trump University . He owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1996 to 2015 , and he produced and hosted The Apprentice , a reality television series on NBC , from 2004 to 2015 . His net worth was estimated to be $ 3.5 billion , making him the 544th richest person in the world .   Trump first publicly expressed interest in running for political office in 1987 . He won two Reform Party presidential primaries in 2000 , but withdrew his candidacy early on . In June 2015 , he launched his campaign for the 2016 presidential election and quickly emerged as the front-runner among seventeen candidates in the Republican primaries . His remaining opponents all suspended their campaigns by the end of May 2016 , and in July he was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention along with Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate . Many of his campaign statements were controversial or false , generating much free media coverage .   Trump won the general election on November 8 , 2016 , in a surprise victory against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and commenced his presidency on January 20 , 2017 . He became the oldest and wealthiest person ever to assume the presidency , the first without prior military or government service , and the fifth to have won the election while losing the popular vote . His political positions have been described by scholars and commentators as populist , protectionist , and nationalist .


Joan Cusack received anything except a Golden Globe nomination.

Joan Cusack Joan Cusack ( -LSB- ˈkjuːsæk -RSB- , born October 11 , 1962 ) is an American actress . She received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in the romantic comedy-drama Working Girl ( 1988 ) and the romantic comedy In & Out ( 1997 ) , as well as one Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the latter . She is also known as the voice of Jessie in the Toy Story franchise .   Cusack was a cast member on the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1986 . She starred on the Showtime hit drama/comedy Shameless as Sheila Gallagher ( née Jackson ) , a role for which she has received five consecutive Emmy Award nominations , winning for the first time in 2015 . She is the sister of actress Ann and actor John Cusack .


Lebanon is a country that experienced a period of peace.

Lebanon Lebanon ( -LSB- ˈlɛbənɒn -RSB- لبنان ; Lebanese pronunciation : -LSB- lɪbˈnæːn -RSB- Liban ) , officially known as the Lebanese RepublicRepublic of Lebanon is the most common phrase used by Lebanese government agencies . The phrase Lebanese Republic is a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today 's world . Lebanese Arabic is the most common language spoken among the citizens of Lebanon . ( الجمهورية اللبنانية ; Lebanese pronunciation : -LSB- elˈʒʊmhuːɾɪjje l.ˈlɪbnæːnɪjje -RSB- République libanaise ) , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south , while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea . Lebanon 's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland facilitated its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity . At just 10,452 km2 ( 4,036 sq. mi . ) , it is the smallest recognized country on the entire mainland Asian continent .   The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than seven thousand years , predating recorded history . Lebanon was the home of the Canaanites/Phoenicians and their kingdoms , a maritime culture that flourished for over a thousand years ( c. 1550 -- 539 BC ) . In 64 BC , the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire , and eventually became one of the Empire 's leading centers of Christianity . In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established . As the Arab Muslims conquered the region , the Maronites held onto their religion and identity . However , a new religious group , the Druze , established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well , generating a religious divide that has lasted for centuries . During the Crusades , the Maronites re-established contact with the Roman Catholic Church and asserted their communion with Rome . The ties they established with the Latins have influenced the region into the modern era .   The region eventually was ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918 . Following the collapse of the empire after World War I , the five provinces that constitute modern Lebanon came under the French Mandate of Lebanon . The French expanded the borders of the Mount Lebanon Governorate , which was mostly populated by Maronites and Druze , to include more Muslims . Lebanon gained independence in 1943 , establishing confessionalism , a unique , Consociationalism-type of political system with a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities . Bechara El Khoury , President of Lebanon during the independence , Riad El-Solh , first Lebanese prime minister and Emir Majid Arslan II , first Lebanese minister of defence , are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and are national heroes for having led the country 's independence . Foreign troops withdrew completely from Lebanon on 31 December 1946 . Lebanon has been a member of the Organisation internationale de la francophonie since 1973 .   Despite its small size , the country has developed a well-known culture and has been highly influential in the Arab world . Before the Lebanese Civil War ( 1975 -- 1990 ) , the country experienced a period of relative calm and renowned prosperity , driven by tourism , agriculture , commerce , and banking . Because of its financial power and diversity in its heyday , Lebanon was referred to as the `` Switzerland of the East '' during the 1960s , and its capital , Beirut , attracted so many tourists that it was known as `` the Paris of the Middle East '' . At the end of the war , there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure . In spite of these troubles , Lebanon has the highest Human Development Index and GDP per capita in the Arab world , to the exclusion of the oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf .


Famous in Love Famous in Love is an American drama television series that premiered on Freeform on April 18 , 2017 , and is based on the novel of the same name by Rebecca Serle . The series stars Bella Thorne , Charlie DePew , Georgie Flores , Carter Jenkins , Niki Koss , Keith Powers , Pepi Sonuga , and Perrey Reeves .


Darth Vader is a character in the third Star Wars movie.

Darth Vader Darth Vader , also known by his birth name Anakin Skywalker , is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise . Vader appears in the original film trilogy as a pivotal antagonist whose actions drive the plot , while his past as Anakin Skywalker and the story of his corruption are central to the narrative of the prequel trilogy .   The character was created by George Lucas and has been portrayed by numerous actors . His appearances span the first six Star Wars films , as well as Rogue One , and his character is heavily referenced in Star Wars : The Force Awakens . He is also an important character in the Star Wars expanded universe of television series , video games , novels , literature and comic books . Originally a Jedi prophesied to bring balance to the Force , he falls to the dark side of the Force and serves the evil Galactic Empire at the right hand of his Sith master , Emperor Palpatine ( also known as Darth Sidious ) . He is also the father of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa , secret husband of Padmé Amidala and grandfather of Kylo Ren .   Darth Vader has become one of the most iconic villains in popular culture , and has been listed among the greatest villains and fictional characters ever . The American Film Institute listed him as the third greatest movie villain in cinema history on 100 Years ... 100 Heroes and Villains , behind Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates . However , other critics consider him a tragic hero , citing his original motivations for the greater good before his fall to the dark side .


The Bulls were in the 1991 NBA playoffs.

1991 NBA Finals The 1991 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1990 -- 91 NBA season . It was also the first NBA Finals broadcast by NBC after 17 years with CBS .   The documentary `` Learning to Fly , '' narrated by Jeff Kaye , recaps Chicago 's successful first championship season . The theme song is `` Learning to Fly '' by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers .   The Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference took on the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference for the title , with Chicago having home court advantage . It was Michael Jordan 's first NBA Finals appearance , Magic Johnson 's last , and the last NBA Finals for the Lakers until 2000 . The Bulls would win the series , 4-1 . Jordan averaged 31.2 points on 56 % shooting , 11.4 assists , 6.6 rebounds , 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks en route to his first NBA Finals MVP Award .   The series was not the first time that the Bulls and Lakers faced off in the playoffs . Prior to 1991 , they met for four postseason series ( 1968 , 1971 , 1972 and 1973 ) , all Lakers victories . Chicago was a member of the Western Conference at the time and moved into the East in 1981 . The 1991 Finals marked the first time the Bulls defeated the Lakers in a playoff series .   This series would mark the end of the Lakers Showtime era and the beginning of the Bulls ' dynasty . After winning five championships in eight finals appearances in the 1980s , the Lakers would struggle for the rest of the 1990s before winning five championships between the 1999-2000 and 2009-10 seasons .   The 1991 Lakers were led by Johnson , already in his thirties , playing in his last full year , as was fellow All-Star teammate James Worthy ; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had retired two seasons earlier . The Bulls , led by NBA MVP Michael Jordan and superstar small forward Scottie Pippen , would win five more championships after 1991 in a seven-year span , cementing their status as a dynasty before struggling badly in a post-MJ era that saw them take several years to even become average .   When it was all said and done , Michael Jordan became only the third man in NBA history ( after George Mikan and Abdul-Jabbar ) to capture the scoring title and the NBA Finals Championship in the same season .   Until 2015 , the Bulls were the last team to win an NBA championship despite fielding a full roster lacking in championship or Finals experience . None of the Bulls players had logged even a minute of NBA Finals experience prior to this .


Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for homicide.

Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald ( October 18 , 1939 -- November 24 , 1963 ) was an American former U.S. Marine who was arrested for the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22 , 1963 . According to four federal government investigations and one municipal investigation , These were investigations by : the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( 1963 ) , the Warren Commission ( 1964 ) , the House Select Committee on Assassinations ( 1979 ) , the Secret Service , and the Dallas Police Department . Oswald shot and killed Kennedy as the President traveled by motorcade through Dealey Plaza in the city of Dallas , Texas .   Oswald was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and defected to the Soviet Union in October 1959 . He lived in the Belarusian city of Minsk until June 1962 , at which time he returned to the United States with Marina , his Russian-born wife , eventually settling in Dallas .   Following Kennedy 's assassination , Oswald was initially arrested for the murder of police officer J. D. Tippit , who was killed on a Dallas street about 45 minutes after Kennedy was shot . Oswald was later charged with the murder of Kennedy . He denied shooting anybody , saying that he was a `` patsy '' . Two days later , while being transferred from the city jail to the county jail , Oswald was fatally shot by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby in full view of television cameras broadcasting live .   In September 1964 , the Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone in assassinating Kennedy by firing three shots from the Texas School Book Depository . This conclusion was supported by previous investigations carried out by the FBI , the Secret Service , and the Dallas Police Department . Despite forensic , ballistic , and eyewitness evidence supporting the lone gunman theory , public opinion polls taken over the years have shown that most Americans believe that Oswald did not act alone , but conspired with others to kill the president . The assassination has spawned numerous conspiracy theories .


Boston has many schools for higher education.

Boston Boston ( pronounced -LSB- ˈbɒstən -RSB- ) is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States . Boston is also the seat of Suffolk County , although the county government was disbanded on July 1 , 1999 . The city proper covers 48 mi2 with an estimated population of 667,137 in 2015 , making it the largest city in New England and the 23rd most populous city in the United States . The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston , a Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) home to a census-estimated 4.7 million people in 2014 and ranking as the tenth-largest such area in the country . Alternately , as a Combined Statistical Area ( CSA ) , this wider commuting region is home to some 8.1 million people , making it the sixth-largest as such in the United States .   One of the oldest cities in the United States , Boston was founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England . It was the scene of several key events of the American Revolution , such as the Boston Massacre , the Boston Tea Party , the Battle of Bunker Hill , and the Siege of Boston . Upon U.S. independence from Great Britain , it continued to be an important port and manufacturing hub as well as a center for education and culture . Through land reclamation and municipal annexation , Boston has expanded beyond the original peninsula . Its rich history attracts many tourists , with Faneuil Hall alone drawing over 20 million visitors per year . Boston 's many firsts include the United States ' first public school , Boston Latin School ( 1635 ) , first subway system , the Tremont Street Subway ( 1897 ) , and first public park , Boston Common ( 1634 ) .   The area 's many colleges and universities make Boston an international center of higher education , including law , medicine , engineering , and business , and the city is considered to be a world leader in innovation and entrepreneurship , with nearly 2,000 startups . Boston 's economic base also includes finance , professional and business services , biotechnology , information technology , and government activities . Households in the city claim the highest average rate of philanthropy in the United States ; businesses and institutions rank among the top in the country for environmental sustainability and investment . The city has one of the highest costs of living in the United States as it has undergone gentrification , though it remains high on world livability rankings .


Elementary (TV series) Elementary is an American procedural drama series that presents a contemporary update of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 's character Sherlock Holmes . The series was created by Robert Doherty and stars Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson . The series premiered on CBS on September 27 , 2012 . The series is set and filmed primarily in New York City .   The show follows Holmes , a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard , as he assists the New York City Police Department in solving crimes . His indifference to police procedure often leads to conflict with Captain Thomas Gregson ( Aidan Quinn ) , although the two still remain mutually respectful of one another . He is accompanied by Dr. Joan Watson ( Lucy Liu ) , who initially acts as his sober companion . She is a former surgeon and was hired by Sherlock 's father to help him in his rehabilitation . They eventually begin to work together on his cases , and she becomes Holmes ' apprentice . The series also features Holmes ' ongoing conflict with his nemesis Jamie Moriarty ( Natalie Dormer ) . Other supporting roles include Jon Michael Hill as Detective Marcus Bell , Rhys Ifans as Sherlock 's brother , Mycroft Holmes , and John Noble as Sherlock 's father , Morland Holmes .   Before the series premiered , it was met with some criticism given it followed closely on the heels of the BBC 's modern adaptation Sherlock . After the premiere , it was picked up for a full season and later an extra two episodes . The season two premiere was partly filmed on location in London . The series has since been well received by critics , who have praised the performances , writing , and novel approach to the source material . On March 25 , 2016 , CBS renewed the series for a fifth season , which premiered on October 2 , 2016 . On May 13 , 2017 , CBS renewed the series for a sixth season .


Jonny Lee Miller Jonathan Lee Miller ( born 15 November 1972 ) is an English film , television and theatre actor . He achieved early success for his portrayal of Simon `` Sick Boy '' Williamson in the dark comedy drama film Trainspotting ( 1996 ) and as Dade Murphy in Hackers ( 1995 ) , before earning further critical recognition for his performances in Afterglow ( 1997 ) , Mansfield Park ( 1999 ) , The Flying Scotsman ( 2006 ) and Endgame ( 2009 ) ; for The Flying Scotsman he received a London Film Critics ' Circle nomination for Actor of the Year . He was also part of the principal cast in the films Melinda and Melinda ( 2004 ) , Dark Shadows ( 2012 ) and Byzantium ( 2013 ) . He has appeared in several theatrical productions on Broadway , most notably After Miss Julie and Frankenstein , the latter of which earned him an Olivier Award for Best Actor .   Miller starred as the title character in the ABC comedy-drama Eli Stone for which he received a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor . This was followed by another starring role in the BBC costume drama Emma and a supporting role as Jordan Chase in the fifth season of the Showtime drama Dexter . He currently stars as Sherlock Holmes in the CBS crime drama Elementary which earned him his second Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor .


Philip V of Spain was the King of Spain in the seventeenth century.

Philip V of Spain Philip V ( Felipe V , Philippe , Filippo 19 December 1683 -- 9 July 1746 ) was King of Spain from 1 November 1700 to 15 January 1724 , when he abdicated in favour of his son Louis , and from 6 September 1724 , when he reassumed the throne upon his son 's death , to his own death 9 July 1746 .   Before his reign , Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a grandson of King Louis XIV . His father , Louis , the Grand Dauphin , had the strongest genealogical claim to the throne of Spain when it became vacant in 1700 . However , since neither the Grand Dauphin nor Philip 's older brother , Louis , Duke of Burgundy , could be displaced from their place in the succession to the French throne , King Charles II of Spain named Philip as his heir in his will . It was well known that the union of France and Spain under one monarch would upset the balance of power in Europe , such that other European powers would take steps to prevent it . Indeed , Philip 's accession in Spain provoked the 14-year War of the Spanish Succession , which continued until the Treaty of Utrecht forbade any future possibility of unifying the French and Spanish thrones .   Philip was the first member of the House of Bourbon to rule as king of Spain . The sum of his two reigns , 45 years and 21 days , is the longest in modern Spanish history .


Sunrise (company) is a Japanese animation studio and production enterprise . It is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings . Its former name was Nippon Sunrise , and prior to that , Sunrise Studios . Its headquarters is located in Suginami , Tokyo .   Among Japan 's largest and most famous studios , Sunrise is renowned for several critically lauded and popular original anime series , such as Gundam , Cowboy Bebop , Space Runaway Ideon , Armored Trooper Votoms , Yoroiden Samurai Troopers , Future GPX Cyber Formula , Crush Gear Turbo , The Vision of Escaflowne , Love Live School Idol Project , Witch Hunter Robin , My-HiME , My-Otome , Code Geass : Lelouch of the Rebellion , Tiger & Bunny , Cross Ange : Rondo of Angel and Dragon , as well as its numerous adaptations of acclaimed light novels including Dirty Pair , Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere and Accel World , and manga such as City Hunter , InuYasha , Outlaw Star , Yakitate !! Japan , Planetes , Keroro Gunso , Gin Tama , Kekkaishi and several others .   Many of Sunrise 's original anime include similar themes , including mecha and masked identities accompanied with fluid animation . Because of the fluidity and high degree of details on much of their works , fans refer to their animation works as `` Sunrise Smooth '' .   Most of their works are mostly original titles created in-house by their creative staffs that went into a collective pseudonym called Hajime Yatate . They also previously operated a now defunct video game studio of their own named Sunrise Interactive . Sunrise also launched their own light novel publication titled Yatate Bunko Imprint on September 30 , 2016 aimed to publish new original titles and also to supplemment their already existing franchises with new materials .   Anime created by Sunrise that have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize are Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979 and the first half of 1980 , Space Runaway Ideon in the second half of 1980 , Crusher Joe ( co-production with Studio Nue ) in 1983 , Dirty Pair in 1985 , Future GPX Cyber Formula in 1991 , Gundam SEED in 2002 , Gundam SEED Destiny in 2004 and 2005 , Code Geass : Lelouch of the Rebellion in 2006 and 2007 and Code Geass R2 in 2008 , thus making Sunrise as the studio that won the most number of Animage Awards .


Gin Tama , also styled as Gintama , is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi and serialized , beginning on December 8 , 2003 , in Shueisha 's Weekly Shōnen Jump . Set in Edo which has been conquered by aliens named Amanto , the plot follows life from the point of view of samurai Gintoki Sakata , who works as a freelancer alongside his friends Shinpachi Shimura and Kagura in order to pay the monthly rent . Sorachi added the science fiction setting to develop characters to his liking after his editor suggested doing a historical series .   The series has been adapted into an original video animation ( OVA ) by Sunrise and was featured at Jump Festa 2006 Anime Tour in 2005 . This was followed by a full anime series , which debuted on April 4 , 2006 , on TV Tokyo and finished on March 25 , 2010 . A sequel titled Gintama first premiered in Japan on April 4 , 2011 and ended on March 26 , 2012 , before returning once again for a brief run from October 4 , 2012 to March 28 , 2013 . A continuation of the TV anime series titled Gintama ° began airing on April 8 , 2015 , and ended on March 30 , 2016 . Two animated films have also been produced . Besides the anime series , there have been various light novels and video games based on Gin Tama . A live action film adaptation of the same name is scheduled for release in Japan in 2017 . A new anime series continuing after the events in the Gintama ° anime series , named Gintama . premiered on January 9 , 2017 .   The manga has been licensed by Viz Media in North America . In addition to publishing the individual volumes of the series , Viz serialized its first chapters in their Shonen Jump manga anthology . It debuted in the January 2007 issue , and was serialized at a rate of one chapter a month . Sentai Filmworks initially licensed the series . The website Crunchyroll purchased the anime 's streaming rights and home video rights .   In Japan , the Gin Tama manga has been popular , selling over 50 million copies . The anime and its DVDs have been featured , at various time , in Top Ten of their respective media , while TV Tokyo has announced that the first Gin Tama anime was responsible for high sales overseas along with the anime adaptation from Naruto . Publications for manga , anime and others have commented on the Gin Tama '' manga . Positive response have focused on the comedy and characters from the series , while negative responses concern the manga 's artwork .


The Sopranos The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase . The story revolves around the fictional character , New Jersey-based Italian American mobster Tony Soprano ( James Gandolfini ) . The series portrays the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the conflicting requirements of his home life and his criminal organization . These are often highlighted during his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi ( Lorraine Bracco ) . The series features Tony 's family members , mafia colleagues and rivals , in prominent roles and story arcs , most notably his wife Carmela ( Edie Falco ) and protégé Christopher Moltisanti ( Michael Imperioli ) .   After the pilot was ordered in 1997 , the show premiered on the premium cable network HBO in the United States on January 10 , 1999 , and ran its six seasons with 86 episodes to June 10 , 2007 . The series then went through syndication and has been broadcast on A&E in the United States and internationally . The Sopranos was produced by HBO , Chase Films , and Brad Grey Television . It was primarily filmed at Silvercup Studios , New York City , and on location in New Jersey . The executive producers throughout the show 's run were David Chase , Brad Grey , Robin Green , Mitchell Burgess , Ilene S. Landress , Terence Winter , and Matthew Weiner .   The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time . The series also won a multitude of awards , including Peabody Awards for its first two seasons , 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards . A staple of 2000s American popular culture , the series has been the subject of critical analysis , controversy , and parody . It has spawned books , a video game , high-charting soundtrack albums , and a large amount of assorted merchandise . Several members of the show 's cast and crew who were previously largely unknown to the public have had successful careers after The Sopranos . In 2013 , the Writers Guild of America named The Sopranos the best-written TV series of all time , while TV Guide ranked it the best television series of all time .


Helen Hunt was in music videos where her performance stood out.

Helen Hunt Helen Elizabeth Hunt ( born June 15 , 1963 ) is an American actress , director , and screenwriter . She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years , and played single mother Carol Connelly in the 1997 romantic comedy film As Good as It Gets , for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress . Some of her other notable films include Twister ( 1996 ) , Cast Away ( 2000 ) , What Women Want ( 2000 ) , Pay It Forward ( 2000 ) , and The Sessions ( 2012 ) , the latter garnered her a second Academy Award nomination . She made her directorial debut in 2007 with Then She Found Me ( 2007 ) . Hunt has also won four Emmy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , and two Screen Actors Guild Awards .


Hubert Humphrey helped found the DFL in October 1944.

Hubert Humphrey Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. ( May 27 , 1911January 13 , 1978 ) was an American politician who served as the 38th Vice President of the United States under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1965 to 1969 . Humphrey twice served in the United States Senate , representing Minnesota from 1949 to 1964 and 1971 to 1978 . He was the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 1968 presidential election , losing to the Republican nominee Richard M. Nixon .   Born in Wallace , South Dakota in 1911 , Humphrey attended the University of Minnesota before earning his pharmacist license from the Capitol College of Pharmacy in 1931 . He helped run his father 's pharmacy until 1937 when he returned to academia , graduating with a master 's degree from Louisiana State University in 1940 , where he was a political science instructor . He returned to Minnesota during World War II and became a supervisor for the Works Progress Administration . He was then appointed state director of the Minnesota war service program before becoming the assistant director of the War Manpower Commission . In 1943 , Humphrey became a professor of Political Science at Macalester College and ran a failed campaign for mayor of Minneapolis . Humphrey helped found the Minnesota Democratic -- Farmer -- Labor Party ( DFL ) in 1944 , and in 1945 , became the DFL candidate for mayor of Minneapolis for a second time , winning with 61 % of the vote . Humphrey served as mayor from 1945 to 1948 , he was reelected and became the co-founder of the liberal anti-communist group Americans for Democratic Action in 1947 .   Humphrey was elected to the Senate in 1948 , the year his proposal of ending racial segregation was included in the party platform at the Democratic National Convention , where he gave one of his most notable speeches on the convention floor , suggesting the Democratic Party `` walk into the sunshine of human rights . '' He served three terms in the Senate from 1949 to 1964 and was the Democratic Majority Whip from 1961 to 1964 . During his tenure , Humphrey was the lead author of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , introduced the first initiative to create the Peace Corps , sponsored the clause of the McCarran Act to threaten concentration camps for ` subversives ' , proposed making Communist Party membership a felony and chaired the Select Committee on Disarmament .   Humphrey ran for two failed Presidential campaigns in the 1952 and 1960 Democratic primaries . After Lyndon B. Johnson inherited the presidency after John F. Kennedy 's assassination in November 1963 , he chose Humphrey to be his running mate in 1964 against Republican Barry Goldwater and the Democratic ticket was elected in a landslide in 1964 .   After Johnson made the surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection in March 1968 , Humphrey launched his campaign for the presidency the following month . Humphrey 's main Democratic challengers were anti-Vietnam War Senators Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy . Humphrey , who was loyal to the Johnson administration 's policies on the Vietnam War as Vice President , saw opposition from many within his own party and avoided the primaries to focus on receiving the delegates of non-primary states at the Democratic Convention . Humphrey 's delegate strategy succeeded in clinching the nomination , choosing Senator Edmund Muskie as his running mate . With the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the assassination of Robert Kennedy that year , and heightened opposition to the Vietnam War , the convention saw major protests which later proved costly to Humphrey 's campaign . On November 5 , 1968 , Humphrey lost to former Vice President Richard Nixon in the general election .   Humphrey then returned to teaching in Minnesota before returning to the Senate in 1971 . He became the first Deputy President pro tempore of the United States Senate and served until his death in 1978 . Humphrey died of bladder cancer at his home in Waverly , Minnesota , and is buried at the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis . He was succeeded by his wife of 41 years Muriel Humphrey as interim Senator for Minnesota .


Cate Blanchett Catherine Elise Blanchett ( -LSB- ˈblæntʃət -RSB- born 14 May 1969 ) is an Australian actress and theatre director . She has received international acclaim and many accolades , including six AACTA Awards , two Academy Awards , three Screen Actors Guild Awards , three Golden Globe Awards , and three BAFTA Awards . Blanchett came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in Shekhar Kapur 's 1998 film Elizabeth , for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress , the Golden Globe Award , and earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress nomination . Her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese 's 2004 film The Aviator brought her critical acclaim and many accolades , including the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role , making her the only actor to win an Oscar for portraying another Oscar-winning actor . In 2013 , she starred as Jasmine Francis in Woody Allen 's Blue Jasmine , for which she won numerous accolades including the Academy Award for Best Actress .   Blanchett is one of only six actors , and the only actress , to receive Academy Award nominations for portraying the same role in two films , accomplished in her case by portraying Queen Elizabeth I . She is additionally the only Australian to win two acting Oscars . A seven-time Oscar nominee , she has also received nominations for Notes on a Scandal ( 2006 ) , Elizabeth : The Golden Age ( 2007 ) , I 'm Not There ( 2007 ) and Carol ( 2015 ) . Her other notable films include The Talented Mr. Ripley ( 1999 ) , Babel ( 2006 ) , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ( 2008 ) , Robin Hood ( 2010 ) , How to Train Your Dragon 2 ( 2014 ) , and Cinderella ( 2015 ) . Her main role in a big-budget movie was as Galadriel in Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings trilogy ( 2001 -- 03 ) and The Hobbit trilogy ( 2012 -- 14 ) . She has been cast as Hela in the Marvel Studios film Thor : Ragnarok ( 2017 ) .   Blanchett has also had an extensive career on stage and is a four-time Helpmann Award winner for Best Female Actor in a Play . Her earlier roles include the title role in Electra at the National Institute of Dramatic Art ( 1992 ) , Ophelia in Hamlet at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney ( 1994 ) , Susan in Plenty in the West End ( 1999 ) , and the title role in Hedda Gabler with the Sydney Theatre Company ( 2004 ) . From 2008 to 2013 , she and her husband Andrew Upton were co-CEOs and artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company . Her other roles on stage include Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire in Sydney , New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center ( 2009 ) , Yelena in Uncle Vanya in Sydney , Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center and New York at Lincoln Center ( 2011 ) , and Claire in The Maids in Sydney ( 2013 ) and New York at Lincoln Center ( 2014 ) .   Blanchett has been awarded the Centenary Medal for Service to Australian Society by the Australian government . She was appointed Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2012 . She has been presented with a Doctor of Letters from University of New South Wales , University of Sydney , and Macquarie University in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the arts , philanthropy and the community . In 2015 , she was honoured by the Museum of Modern Art and received the British Film Institute Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the industry .


Chris Stapleton Christopher Alvin Stapleton ( born April 15 , 1978 ) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist . He is an established songwriter with six country number-one songs including the five-week number-one `` Never Wanted Nothing More '' recorded by Kenny Chesney , `` Love 's Gon na Make It Alright '' recorded by George Strait , and `` Come Back Song '' recorded by Darius Rucker . Over 150 of Stapleton 's songs have appeared on albums by such artists as Adele , Luke Bryan , Tim McGraw , Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley . Among other artists , he has co-written with Vince Gill , Peter Frampton and Sheryl Crow .   After serving as the frontman of bluegrass group The SteelDrivers from 2008 to 2010 , Stapleton released his debut studio album Traveller in 2015 , which reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . Among several accolades , he won the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards for Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year , and the Grammy Award for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance at the 58th annual ceremony . His second studio album , From A Room : Volume 1 , was released on May 5 , 2017 . Stapleton 's music styles include Southern rock and bluegrass .


Chris Brown Christopher Maurice `` Chris '' Brown ( born May 5 , 1989 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and dancer . Born in Tappahannock , Virginia , he was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age . Having signed with Jive Records in 2004 , Brown released his self-titled debut studio album the following year . It peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) , selling an overall three million copies worldwide . With his first single `` Run It ! '' peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100 , Brown became the first male artist as a lead since Diddy in 1997 to have his debut single top the chart . His second album Exclusive ( 2007 ) spawned his second Hot 100 number one `` Kiss Kiss '' , in addition to `` With You '' and `` Forever '' . The album was also certified double platinum by the RIAA . In addition to his solo commercial success , Brown has been featured on several singles such as `` No Air '' , a duet with singer Jordin Sparks , `` Shortie like Mine '' with the rapper Bow Wow and `` Shawty Get Loose '' alongside Lil Mama and T-Pain . The songs have peaked at number three , number nine and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100 respectively .   In 2009 , Brown received significant media attention after pleading guilty to felony assault of his then girlfriend , singer Rihanna ; he was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community service . His third album Graffiti was released later that year , and included the top-twenty single `` I Can Transform Ya '' . Brown 's fourth album F.A.M.E. ( 2011 ) became his first to top the Billboard 200 ; it spawned the singles `` Yeah 3x '' , `` Look at Me Now '' , and `` Beautiful People '' . F.A.M.E. earned Brown his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 54th Grammy Awards . His fifth album Fortune was released in 2012 . However , after the release of Exclusive , Brown 's albums have not been well received commercially or by music critics , with the exception of X , which received a normalized rating of 63 . Brown 's seventh studio album Royalty was released on December 18 , 2015 .   Apart from his work in the music industry , Brown has pursued an acting career . In 2007 , he made his on-screen feature film debut in Stomp the Yard , and appeared as a guest on the television series The O.C. . Other films Brown has appeared in , include This Christmas ( 2007 ) , Takers ( 2010 ) , Think Like a Man ( 2012 ) , and Battle of the Year ( 2013 ) . Throughout his career , Brown has won several awards , including 14 BET Awards , 5 Billboard Music Awards , and 5 Soul Train Music Awards . According to Billboard , Brown has the seventh most Hot 100 entries on the chart with 82 .


Beautiful People (UK TV series) Beautiful People was a British comedy drama television series based on the memoirs of Barneys creative director Simon Doonan . The series takes place in Reading , Berkshire , in 1997 , where thirteen-year-old Simon Doonan and his best friend Kylie dream of escaping their dreary suburban surroundings and moving to cosmopolitan London `` to live amongst the beautiful people '' . The first episode aired on BBC Two on 2 October 2008 and recorded overnight ratings of 1.5 million viewers and positive critical reaction . Episodes are self-contained , but do follow a loose story arc throughout the course of each series . The second and final series finished airing on 18 December 2009 .


The Belko Experiment is an American sociological experiment.

The Belko Experiment The Belko Experiment is a 2016 American horror film directed by Greg McLean and written by James Gunn . The film stars John Gallagher Jr. , Tony Goldwyn , Adria Arjona and Melonie Diaz . Filming began on June 1 , 2015 , in Bogotá , Colombia . The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10 , 2016 and was released in the United States on March 17 , 2017 , by BH Tilt and Orion Pictures . The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $ 10 million worldwide , against its $ 5 million budget .


Samurai (2002 film) Samurai is a 2002 Tamil language film directed by Balaji Sakthivel and produced by S. Sriram . The film featured Vikram in the title role , while Anita Hassanandani , Jaya Seal and Nassar played supporting roles . Harris Jayaraj scored the film 's music , while Sethu Sriram handled cinematography . Originally launched in 2000 , the film went through production delays and was only released in July 2002 , when it opened to mixed reviews and an average response at the box office .


Vikram (actor) Kennedy John Victor , known professionally as Vikram or Chiyaan Vikram , is an Indian film actor who predominantly appears in Tamil language films and has won seven Filmfare Awards as well as one National Film Award and Tamil Nadu State Film Award amongst other recognitions and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the People 's University of Milan in May 2011 .   He made his debut in the 1990 film En Kadhal Kanmani , which was followed by a series of small-budget Tamil , Malayalam and Telugu films in the 1990s , many of which went unnoticed . However , the success of Bala 's tragedy film Sethu ( 1999 ) , in which Vikram appeared as a rogue turned lover , started Vikram 's successful career as an actor . In the early 2000s , Vikram appeared in a series of masala films , with Dhill ( 2001 ) , Gemini ( 2002 ) , Dhool ( 2003 ) and Saamy ( 2003 ) becoming commercially successful ventures . During the period , Vikram also appeared in diverse roles and received critical acclaim for his performance as a blind villager in Kasi and a Robin Hood-esque figure in Samurai . In 2003 , Vikram 's performance as a gravedigger with autism spectrum disorders in Bala 's Pithamagan saw him win the National Film Award for Best Actor , with his character only speaking a couple of lines of dialogue in the entire film . His appearance as an idealistic lawyer with multiple personality disorder in Shankar 's blockbuster Anniyan ( 2005 ) also won critical acclaim , as did his appearance as a superhero in Kanthaswamy ( 2009 ) . Vikram 's portrayal of Veeraiya , a tribal leader inspired by the Ramayana character Ravana , in Mani Ratnam 's Raavanan saw him secure further accolades , as did his appearance as a mentally challenged adult with the maturity of a six-year-old boy in Deiva Thirumagal ( 2011 ) . He consequently appeared in multiple get-ups as a bodybuilder and a crippled hunchback , losing up to 35 kilograms for sequences , during the making of Shankar 's romantic thriller I ( 2015 ) and won rave reviews from critics for his performance . It is currently the fourth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time .   Vikram has promoted various social causes and appeared as the Youth Envoy for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme in 2011 . He has been a brand ambassador of Sanjeevani Trust and a school for special children , Vidya Sudha , which he stayed at during the making of Deiva Thirumagal as well as having long-term associations with the Kasi Eye Care and running his own welfare association through the Vikram Foundation . In 2016 , he produced and directed the video to the flood relief anthem , Spirit of Chennai , as a tribute to the city 's volunteers following the -LSB- -LSB- 2015 South Indian floods -RSB-


Gemini (2002 Tamil film) Gemini is a 2002 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Saran and produced by AVM Productions . The film features Vikram in the title role of a small-time criminal and aspiring don who , after falling in love , decides to refrain from crime ; Kiran Rathod plays his love interest . Murali stars as Singaperumal , a police officer who inspires and guides Gemini in his attempts to reform . The cast includes Kalabhavan Mani as the principal antagonist while Vinu Chakravarthy , Manorama and Thennavan portray significant roles . Based on gang wars in Chennai , the film delves into the lives of outlaws and the roles the police and society play in their rehabilitation and acceptance .   In early 2001 , rival gangsters `` Vellai '' Ravi and Chera reformed themselves with the patronage of a police officer . Saran was inspired by this incident and scripted a story based on it . The film was initially entitled Erumugam with Ajith Kumar intended to play the lead role , but the project was shelved after a week 's shoot when Ajith lost interest and left . Saran reworked the script , retitled the production Gemini and cast the new leads . The revived project was announced in August 2001 . Production began shortly afterwards in December the same year and was completed by March 2002 . The film was shot mainly at the AVM Studios in Chennai , while two song sequences were filmed in Switzerland . The film had cinematography by A. Venkatesh and editing by Suresh Urs while the soundtrack was scored by Bharathwaj .   The film 's soundtrack was well received , with the song `` O Podu '' becoming a sensation in Tamil Nadu . Gemini was released two days ahead of the Tamil New Year on 12 April 2002 and received mixed reviews from critics , with praise directed towards the performances of Vikram and Mani but criticism towards Saran 's script . Made at an estimated cost of , the film earned at the box office and became the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year . The film 's success , largely attributed to the popularity of `` O Podu '' , resurrected the Tamil film industry , which was experiencing difficulties after a series of box office failures . The film won three Filmfare Awards , three ITFA Awards and four Cinema Express Awards . Later that same year , Saran remade the film in Telugu as Gemeni .


NSYNC was launched by a record label in Germany.

NSYNC NSYNC ( sometimes stylized as * NSYNC or 'N Sync ) was an American boy band formed in Orlando , Florida in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich . NSYNC consisted of Justin Timberlake , JC Chasez , Chris Kirkpatrick , Joey Fatone , and Lance Bass . After heavily publicized legal battles with their former manager Lou Pearlman and former record label Bertelsmann Music Group , the group 's second album , No Strings Attached , sold over one million copies in one day and 2.42 million copies in one week , which was a record for over fifteen years . In addition to a host of Grammy Award nominations , NSYNC has performed at the World Series , the Super Bowl and the Olympic Games , and sang or recorded with Elton John , Stevie Wonder , Michael Jackson , Phil Collins , Celine Dion , Aerosmith , Britney Spears , Nelly , Left Eye , Mary J. Blige , country music supergroup Alabama , and Gloria Estefan .   Although NSYNC announced the start of a `` temporary hiatus '' in early 2002 , the band has not recorded new material since then . Justin Timberlake went on to become a very successful solo artist with several multi-platinum albums . In 2007 , Lance Bass confirmed that the group had `` definitely broken up . '' They have sold over 70 million albums during their career , becoming the eighth-best-selling boy band in history . Rolling Stone recognized their instant success as one of the Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments of all time .


Robin Thicke Robin Charles Thicke ( born March 10 , 1977 ) is an American singer , songwriter and record producer .   Thicke has worked with several artists , such as Christina Aguilera , Nicki Minaj , K. Michelle , Pharrell Williams , Usher , Jennifer Hudson , Flo Rida , Brandy , Kid Cudi and Mary J. Blige , among others . Thicke worked on albums such as Usher 's Confessions and Lil Wayne 's Tha Carter III , while releasing his own R&B singles in the US including `` Lost Without U '' , `` Magic '' , and `` Sex Therapy '' . He rose to international fame in 2013 with his single `` Blurred Lines '' , which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 .   He is the son of actor Alan Thicke and actress Gloria Loring and known for his former marriage to actress Paula Patton . In 2013 and 2014 , their separation and divorce was covered extensively by the tabloid press including Thicke 's efforts to reconcile with Patton .


The Hobbit The Hobbit , or There and Back Again is a children 's fantasy novel by English author J. R. R. Tolkien . It was published on 21 September 1937 to wide critical acclaim , being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction . The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic in children 's literature .   The Hobbit is set in a time `` between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men '' , and follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon . Bilbo 's journey takes him from light-hearted , rural surroundings into more sinister territory .   The story is told in the form of an episodic quest , and most chapters introduce a specific creature or type of creature of Tolkien 's geography . Bilbo gains a new level of maturity , competence , and wisdom by accepting the disreputable , romantic , fey , and adventurous sides of his nature and applying his wits and common sense .  The story reaches its climax in the Battle of the Five Armies , where many of the characters and creatures from earlier chapters re-emerge to engage in conflict .   Personal growth and forms of heroism are central themes of the story , along with motifs of warfare . These themes have led critics to view Tolkien 's own experiences during World War I as instrumental in shaping the story . The author 's scholarly knowledge of Germanic philology and interest in fairy tales are often noted as influences .   The publisher was encouraged by the book 's critical and financial success and , therefore , requested a sequel . As Tolkien 's work progressed on the successor The Lord of the Rings , he made retrospective accommodations for it in The Hobbit . These few but significant changes were integrated into the second edition . Further editions followed with minor emendations , including those reflecting Tolkien 's changing concept of the world into which Bilbo stumbled .   The work has never been out of print . Its ongoing legacy encompasses many adaptations for stage , screen , radio , board games , and video games . Several of these adaptations have received critical recognition on their own merits .


Dean Martin Dean Martin ( born Dino Paul Crocetti ; June 7 , 1917 -- December 25 , 1995 ) was an Italian-American singer , actor , comedian , and film producer . One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century , Martin was nicknamed the `` King of Cool '' for his seemingly effortless charisma and self-assurance .   He and Jerry Lewis were partners as the immensely popular comedy team Martin and Lewis then afterwards , he was a member of the `` Rat Pack '' and a star in concert stages , nightclubs , recordings , motion pictures , and television . He was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show ( 1965 -- 1974 ) and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast ( 1974 -- 1984 ) .   Martin 's relaxed , warbling crooning voice earned him dozens of hit singles including his signature songs `` Memories Are Made of This '' , `` That 's Amore '' , `` Everybody Loves Somebody '' , `` You 're Nobody till Somebody Loves You '' , `` Sway '' , `` Volare '' , and `` Ai n't That a Kick in the Head ? '' .


To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming-of-age event.

To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960 . It was immediately successful , winning the Pulitzer Prize , and has become a classic of modern American literature . The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee 's observations of her family , her neighbors and an event that occurred near her hometown of Monroeville , Alabama , in 1936 , when she was 10 years old .   The novel is renowned for its warmth and humor , despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality . The narrator 's father , Atticus Finch , has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers . One critic explains the novel 's impact by writing , `` In the twentieth century , To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America , and its protagonist , Atticus Finch , the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism . ''   As a Southern Gothic novel and a Bildungsroman , the primary themes of To Kill a Mockingbird involve racial injustice and the destruction of innocence . Scholars have noted that Lee also addresses issues of class , courage , compassion , and gender roles in the American Deep South . The book is widely taught in schools in the United States with lessons that emphasize tolerance and decry prejudice . Despite its themes , To Kill a Mockingbird has been subject to campaigns for removal from public classrooms , often challenged for its use of racial epithets .   Reaction to the novel varied widely upon publication . Despite the number of copies sold and its widespread use in education , literary analysis of it is sparse . Author Mary McDonough Murphy , who collected individual impressions of To Kill a Mockingbird by several authors and public figures , calls the book `` an astonishing phenomenon '' . In 2006 , British librarians ranked the book ahead of the Bible as one `` every adult should read before they die '' . It was adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 1962 by director Robert Mulligan , with a screenplay by Horton Foote . Since 1990 , a play based on the novel has been performed annually in Harper Lee 's hometown .   To Kill a Mockingbird was Lee 's only published book until Go Set a Watchman , an earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird , was published on July 14 , 2015 . Lee continued to respond to her work 's impact until her death in February 2016 , although she had refused any personal publicity for herself or the novel since 1964 .


Battle Studies World Tour Battle Studies World Tour was a worldwide tour by American singer John Mayer . The tour spanned across the United States , Canada , Denmark , Australia , and the Netherlands , promoting his 2009 album Battle Studies .


James Bryant Conant wrote The Education of American Teachers.

James Bryant Conant James Bryant Conant ( March 26 , 1893 -- February 11 , 1978 ) was an American chemist , a transformative President of Harvard University , and the first U.S. Ambassador to West Germany . Conant obtained a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard in 1916 . During World War I he served in the U.S. Army , working on the development of poison gases . He became an assistant professor of chemistry at Harvard in 1919 , and the Sheldon Emery Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1929 . He researched the physical structures of natural products , particularly chlorophyll , and he was one of the first to explore the sometimes complex relationship between chemical equilibrium and the reaction rate of chemical processes . He studied the biochemistry of oxyhemoglobin providing insight into the disease methemoglobinemia , helped to explain the structure of chlorophyll , and contributed important insights that underlie modern theories of acid-base chemistry .   In 1933 , Conant became the President of Harvard University with a reformist agenda that involved dispensing with a number of customs , including class rankings and the requirement for Latin classes . He abolished athletic scholarships , and instituted an `` up or out '' policy , under which scholars who were not promoted were terminated . His egalitarian vision of education required a diversified student body , and he promoted the adoption of the Scholastic Aptitude Test ( SAT ) and co-educational classes . During his presidency , women were admitted to Harvard Medical School and Harvard Law School for the first time .   Conant was appointed to the National Defense Research Committee ( NDRC ) in 1940 , becoming its chairman in 1941 . In this capacity , he oversaw vital wartime research projects , including the development of synthetic rubber , and the Manhattan Project , which developed the first atomic bombs . On July 16 , 1945 , he was among the dignitaries present at the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range for the Trinity nuclear test , the first detonation of an atomic bomb , and was part of the Interim Committee that advised President Harry S. Truman to use atomic bombs on Japan . After the war , he served on the Joint Research and Development Board ( JRDC ) that was established to coordinate burgeoning defense research , and on the influential General Advisory Committee ( GAC ) of the Atomic Energy Commission ( AEC ) . While in this position , he would advise the president against starting a development program for the `` hydrogen bomb '' .   In his later years at Harvard , Conant taught undergraduate courses on the history and philosophy of science , and wrote books explaining the scientific method to laymen . In 1953 he retired as President of Harvard and became the United States High Commissioner for Germany , overseeing the restoration of German sovereignty after World War II , and then was Ambassador to West Germany until 1957 . On returning to the United States , he criticized the education system in works such as The American High School Today ( 1959 ) , Slums and Suburbs ( 1961 ) and The Education of American Teachers ( 1963 ) . Between 1965 and 1969 , Conant , suffering from a heart condition , worked on his autobiography , My Several Lives ( 1970 ) . He became increasingly infirm , suffered a series of strokes in 1977 , and died in a nursing home the following year .


The Host stars an actor born on November 18.

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 ) .


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 .


Joe Hart Charles Joseph John `` Joe '' Hart ( born 19 April 1987 ) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Torino , on loan from Premier League club Manchester City , and the England national team . With over 100 Premier League clean sheets , Hart holds the record for the most Premier League Golden Glove awards ( four ) and has amassed 70 international caps since his debut in 2008 .   He began his career at his hometown club Shrewsbury Town in the Football Conference and League Two . In 2006 , he moved to top-flight Manchester City , having attracted the attention of several Premier League teams . He spent time on loan at Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool in his first season , before spending the 2009 -- 10 season at Birmingham City . Hart was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year and was voted as the Premier League goalkeeper of the 2009 -- 10 season in recognition of his performances at Birmingham . He returned to Manchester City for the 2010 -- 11 season and won the Golden Glove for keeping the most clean sheets throughout the Premier League season . Hart replicated this feat in the 2011 -- 12 season and was a key player during City 's title-winning campaign . He won the Golden Glove for the third year in a row in the following season , and earned a second Premier League title in 2014 . In 2015 , Hart once again won the Golden Glove award for the fourth time in five years . In 2015 , Hart was praised by Gianluigi Buffon who described him as the best goalkeeper in the world .   A former regular for England at Under-21 level , Hart made his senior international debut in June 2008 , and has been recognised as England 's first-choice goalkeeper since 2010 . He has gained 70 caps and was selected in England 's squads for two FIFA World Cups and as many UEFA European Championships .


Premier League The Premier League is an English professional league for men 's association football clubs . At the top of the English football league system , it is the country 's primary football competition . Contested by 20 clubs , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football League ( EFL ; known as `` The Football League '' before 2016 -- 17 ) . Welsh clubs that compete in the English football league system can also qualify .   The Premier League is a corporation in which the 20 member clubs act as shareholders . Seasons run from August to May . Teams play 38 matches each ( playing each team in the league twice , home and away ) , totalling 380 matches in the season . Most games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons ; others during weekday evenings . It is colloquially known as the Premiership and outside the UK it is commonly referred to as the English Premier League ( EPL ) .   The competition formed as the FA Premier League on 20 February 1992 following the decision of clubs in the Football League First Division to break away from the Football League , which was founded in 1888 , and take advantage of a lucrative television rights deal . The deal was worth # 1 billion a year domestically as of 2013 -- 14 , with BSkyB and BT Group securing the domestic rights to broadcast 116 and 38 games respectively . The league generates $ 2.2 billion per year in domestic and international television rights . In 2014/15 , teams were apportioned revenues of # 1.6 billion .   The Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world , broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people . In the 2014 -- 15 season , the average Premier League match attendance exceeded 36,000 , second highest of any professional football league behind the Bundesliga 's 43,500 . Most stadium occupancies are near capacity . The Premier League ranks third in the UEFA coefficients of leagues based on performances in European competitions over the past five seasons .   While 47 clubs have competed since the inception of the Premier League in 1992 , only six have won the title : Manchester United ( 13 ) , Chelsea ( 5 ) , Arsenal ( 3 ) , Manchester City ( 2 ) , Blackburn Rovers ( 1 ) and Leicester City ( 1 ) . The current champions are Chelsea , who secured the 2016 -- 17 title in early May 2017 .


2012–13 Premier League The 2012 -- 13 Premier League ( known as the Barclays Premier League for sponsorship reasons ) was the 21st season of the Premier League , the English professional league for association football clubs , since its establishment in 1992 . The fixture schedule was released on 18 June 2012 . The season began on 18 August 2012 and ended on 19 May 2013 .   Manchester City were the defending champions , having won their first Premier League title the previous season . This was their first top division league title since the 1967 -- 68 season .   On 22 April 2013 , Manchester United won their 13th Premier League title and 20th English title overall by defeating Aston Villa 3 -- 0 at Old Trafford . This left reigning champions Manchester City 16 points behind with only 15 left to play for . It was the first time the title had been decided in April since Chelsea were the winners in 2005 -- 06 . It was also only the fourth time in the history of the Premier League that it had been won with at least four games remaining in the season , the last time being in 2003 -- 04 when Arsenal were champions . England national football team manager , Roy Hodgson declared that United 's manager , Sir Alex Ferguson , was a `` magician '' having won 13 titles in 21 seasons .   On 28 April 2013 , Queens Park Rangers and Reading were both relegated from the Premier League after a 0 -- 0 draw against each other . Queens Park had barely escaped relegation the prior season , and Reading 's relegation reversed their promotion into the league one season earlier . Wigan Athletic were the third and final club to be relegated , after a 4 -- 1 defeat to Arsenal on 14 May 2013 . This brought an end to their eight-year stay in the Premier League , and came 3 days after winning the season 's FA Cup . This made them the first ever club to win the FA Cup and suffer relegation in the same season .


2011–12 Premier League The 2011 -- 12 Premier League ( known as the Barclays Premier League due to its sponsorship by the Barclays bank ) was the 20th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992 . The season began on 13 August 2011 and ended on 13 May 2012 with Manchester City sealing their first league title since 1968 with victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day . The title was City 's first Premier League success , making them the fifth club to win the Premier League in its 20-year history . City finished level on 89 points with Manchester United , but their goal difference was eight better than their local rivals ' , making it the first time the Premier League had been won on goal difference and the first time a club previously relegated from the Premier League had won the title .   The league was contested by 20 teams , 17 returning from the 2010 -- 11 season and three promoted from the Football League Championship . Championship winners Queens Park Rangers and runners-up Norwich City gained automatic promotion whilst Swansea City gained promotion through the Football League Championship play-offs beating Reading 4 -- 2 in May 2011 becoming the first non-English team to play in the Premier League in the history of the division . All three promoted clubs avoided relegation for the first time since the 2001 -- 02 campaign . The season was voted as the greatest Premier League season in the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards .


Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is a football club in Manchester , England . Founded in 1880 as St. Mark 's ( West Gorton ) , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894 . The club moved to the City of Manchester Stadium in 2003 , having played at Maine Road since 1923 .   The club 's most successful period was in the late 1960s and early 1970s when they won the League Championship , FA Cup , League Cup and European Cup Winners ' Cup under the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison . After losing the 1981 FA Cup Final , the club went through a period of decline , culminating in relegation to the third tier of English football for the only time in their history in 1998 . Having regained their Premier League status in the early 2000s , the club was purchased in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group and has become one of the wealthiest in the world . Since 2011 the club have won five major honours , including the Premier League in 2012 and 2014 .   By 2015 -- 16 , Manchester City had the fifth-highest revenue in the footballing world with an annual revenue of $ 463.5 million . In 2016 , Forbes magazine estimated they were the world 's sixth most valuable football club , worth $ 1.92 billion .


Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club is a professional association football club founded in 1884 , and based in Birkenhead , Wirral , England . Originally known as Belmont Football Club , they adopted their current name in 1885 . They were a founder member of Division Three North in 1921 , and were a member of The Football League until 2015 , when they were relegated to the National League , the fifth tier of English football .   During the 1980s , they were beset by financial problems and , in 1987 , went into administration . However , this was a prelude to the most successful period in Tranmere 's history ; under manager John King , the team reached the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League in three successive seasons . Under King 's successor , John Aldridge , Tranmere experienced a number of cup runs , most notably reaching the 2000 Football League Cup Final . Other cup runs include reaching FA Cup quarter-finals in 2000 , 2001 and 2004 .   Tranmere 's regular kit is an all-white strip with blue trim , their main colours since 1962 . The club moved to its current home , Prenton Park , in 1912 . In 1995 , the ground had a major redevelopment in response to the Taylor Report . It now seats 16,567 in four stands : the Main Stand , the Kop , the Johnny King Stand and the Cowshed .


Premier League Golden Glove The Premier League Golden Glove is an annual association football award presented to the goalkeeper who has kept the most clean sheets ( when a goalkeeper concedes no goals during a single match ) in the Premier League . For sponsorship purposes , it has been referred to as the Barclays Golden Glove since its inception during the 2004 -- 05 season . Originally , the Golden Glove could only be won outright by a single player ; should there have been a tie , the goalkeeper with the superior clean sheets-to-games ratio received the award . However , starting in the 2013 -- 14 season , the Golden Glove is shared by goalkeepers with an equal number of clean sheets , regardless of the number of games they played .   The Premier League was founded in 1992 , when the clubs of the First Division left The Football League . They established a new commercially independent league to negotiate their own broadcast and sponsorship agreements . In 2005 , the Premier League Golden Glove was first awarded , with Petr Čech its inaugural recipient . Čech and Joe Hart have won the award on four occasions , the most out of all goalkeepers . Hart played for Manchester City in each of his four winning seasons and they are the club that has received the award the most.Čech and Hart 's four awards mean Czech and English goalkeepers have won the Golden Glove the most , ahead of Spain with three . Both Pepe Reina and Hart have won the award in three consecutive seasons , which is a record .   Čech set the record for matches without conceding a goal in a single season -- with 21 -- to win the inaugural award in 2005 . This feat was equalled by Edwin van der Sar during the 2008 -- 09 season , who also surpassed Čech 's previous record of 10 consecutive clean sheets by reaching 14 . During his streak , Van der Sar went 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal . In the process , he broke Čech 's Premier League record ( 1,025 minutes ) , Steve Death 's Football League record ( 1,103 minutes ) and the all-time league record in Britain ( 1,155 minutes ) for most consecutive scoreless minutes . Čech , is the current recipient of the award , having conceded no goals in 16 matches during the 2015 -- 16 season despite having missed 4 games through injury .


Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club is a professional association football club based in the seaside town of Blackpool , Lancashire , England . For the 2017-18 season , they are competing in League One , the third tier of English football . Founded in 1887 , Blackpool 's home ground has been Bloomfield Road since 1901 . Their main nickname is the Seasiders , but they are also called the ` Pool and the Tangerines , the last in reference to the colour of their home kit , which is often referred to as orange .   Blackpool 's most notable achievement is winning the 1953 FA Cup Final , the so-called `` Matthews Final '' , in which they beat Bolton Wanderers 4 -- 3 , overturning a 1 -- 3 deficit in the closing stages of the game . During that post-war period , Blackpool made three FA Cup Final appearances in six years and , during the 1950s , had four top-six finishes in the Football League First Division , their best position being runners-up to Manchester United in the 1955 -- 56 season . In 1953 , four Blackpool players were in the England team against Hungary at Wembley , causing the Daily Mirror to declare that `` Blackpool are playing Hungary today '' , though England suffered a famous defeat . Since the 1950s , Blackpool 's fortunes have varied , and when they won promotion to the Premier League , at the end of the 2009 -- 10 campaign , Blackpool became the first club in English football to have won promotion from every division of the Football League via the play-off system . Blackpool 's least successful period was in the 1980s , particularly when , in the 1982 -- 83 season , they finished 21st in English League football 's lowest tier , their lowest-ever league finish .   The club 's motto is Progress , as featured on the club crest . Blackpool have a local rivalry with Preston North End , and matches between the two clubs are known as the West Lancashire derby . They have not met in a league match since February 2010 .


PFA Young Player of the Year The Professional Footballers ' Association Young Player of the Year ( often called the PFA Young Player of the Year , or simply the Young Player of the Year ) is an annual award given to the player aged 23 or under at the start of the season who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football . The award has been presented since the 1973 -- 74 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players ' trade union , the Professional Footballers ' Association ( PFA ) . The first winner of the award was Ipswich Town defender Kevin Beattie . The current holder is Dele Alli , who won the award for his performances throughout the 2016 -- 17 campaign for Tottenham Hotspur .   Although the award is open to players at all levels , all winners to date have played in the highest division of the English football league system . As of 2017 , only Ryan Giggs , Robbie Fowler , Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli have won the award on more than one occasion . Only five players from outside the United Kingdom have won the trophy , compared with nine winners of the main PFA Players ' Player of the Year award . Although they have their own dedicated award , players aged 23 or under at the start of the season remain eligible to win the Players ' Player of the Year award , and on three occasions the same player has won both awards for a season .   A shortlist of nominees is published in April and the winner of the award , along with the winners of the PFA 's other annual awards , is announced at a gala event in London a few days later . The players themselves consider the award to be highly prestigious , because the winner is chosen by his fellow professionals .


Slovenia Slovenia ( -LSB- sloʊˈviːniə , _ slə - , _ - njə -RSB- ; Slovenija -LSB- slɔˈʋéːnija -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Slovenia ( Slovene : , abbr. : RS ) , is a nation state in southern Central Europe , located at the crossroads of main European cultural and trade routes . It is bordered by Italy to the west , Austria to the north , Hungary to the northeast , Croatia to the south and southeast , and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest . It covers 20,273 km2 and has a population of 2.06 million . It is a parliamentary republic and a member of the United Nations , European Union , and NATO . The capital and largest city is Ljubljana .   The territory is mostly mountainous with a mainly continental climate , with the exception of the Slovene Littoral that has a sub-Mediterranean climate and the north-western area that has an Alpine climate . Additionally , the Dinaric Alps and the Pannonian Plain meet on the territory of Slovenia . The country , marked by a significant biological diversity , is one of the most water-rich in Europe , with a dense river network , a rich aquifer system , and significant karst underground watercourses . Over half of the territory is covered by forest . The human settlement of Slovenia is dispersed and uneven .   Slovenia has historically been the crossroads of South Slavic , Germanic , Romance , and Hungarian languages and culture . Although the population is not homogeneous , the majority is Slovene . South Slavic language Slovene is the official language throughout the country . Slovenia is a largely secularized country , but its culture and identity have been significantly influenced by Catholicism as well as Lutheranism . The economy of Slovenia is small , open , and export-oriented and has been strongly influenced by international conditions . It has been severely hurt by the Eurozone crisis , started in the late 2000s . The main economic field is services , followed by industry and construction .   Historically , the current territory of Slovenia was part of many different state formations , including the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire , followed by the Habsburg Monarchy . In October 1918 , the Slovenes exercised self-determination for the first time by co-founding the State of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs . In December 1918 , they merged with the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Serbs , Croats and Slovenes ( renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929 ) . During World War II , Slovenia was occupied and annexed by Germany , Italy , and Hungary , with a tiny area transferred to the Independent State of Croatia , a Nazi puppet state . Afterward , it was a founding member of the Federal People 's Republic of Yugoslavia , later renamed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , a communist state which was the only country in the Eastern Bloc which was never part of the Warsaw Pact . In June 1991 , after the introduction of multi-party representative democracy , Slovenia split from Yugoslavia and became an independent country . In 2004 , it entered NATO and the European Union ; in 2007 became the first formerly communist country to join the Eurozone ; and in 2010 joined the OECD , a global association of high-income developed countries .


Croatia Croatia ( -LSB- kroʊˈeɪʃə -RSB- ; Hrvatska -LSB- xř̩ʋaːtskaː -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Croatia ( -LSB- Republika Hrvatska , links = no -RSB- , ) , is a sovereign state between Central Europe , Southeast Europe , and the Mediterranean . Its capital city is Zagreb , which forms one of the country 's primary subdivisions , along with its twenty counties . Croatia covers 56594 km2 and has diverse , mostly continental and Mediterranean climates . Croatia 's Adriatic Sea coast contains more than a thousand islands . The country 's population is 4.28 million , most of whom are Croats , with the most common religious denomination being Roman Catholicism .   The Croats arrived in the area of present-day Croatia during the early part of the 7th century AD . They organised the state into two duchies by the 9th century . Tomislav became the first king by 925 , elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom . The Kingdom of Croatia retained its sovereignty for nearly two centuries , reaching its peak during the rule of Kings Petar Krešimir IV and Dmitar Zvonimir . Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102 . In 1527 , faced with Ottoman conquest , the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of the House of Habsburg to the Croatian throne . During the early 19th century , parts of the country were split into the French Illyrian Provinces , and Austria-Hungary occupied its Bosnia and Herzegovina side -- a dispute settled by the 1878 Treaty of Berlin . In 1918 , after World War I , Croatia was included in the unrecognized State of Slovenes , Croats and Serbs which seceded from Austria-Hungary and merged into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia . A fascist Croatian puppet state backed by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany existed during World War II . After the war , Croatia became a founding member and a federal constituent of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , a constitutionally socialist state . On 25 June 1991 Croatia declared independence , which came wholly into effect on 8 October of the same year . The Croatian War of Independence was fought successfully during the four years following the declaration .   A unitary state , Croatia is a republic governed under a parliamentary system . The International Monetary Fund classified Croatia as an emerging and developing economy , and the World Bank identified it as a high-income economy . Croatia is a member of the European Union ( EU ) , United Nations ( UN ) , the Council of Europe , NATO , the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean . As an active participant in the UN peacekeeping forces , Croatia has contributed troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and took a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008 -- 2009 term .   The service sector dominates Croatia 's economy , followed by the industrial sector and agriculture . International Tourism is a significant source of revenue during the summer , with Croatia ranked the 18th most popular tourist destination in the world . The state controls a part of the economy , with substantial government expenditure . The European Union is Croatia 's most important trading partner . Since 2000 , the Croatian government constantly invests in infrastructure , especially transport routes and facilities along the Pan-European corridors . Internal sources produce a significant portion of energy in Croatia ; the rest is imported . Croatia provides a universal health care system and free primary and secondary education , while supporting culture through numerous public institutions and corporate investments in media and publishing .


Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Italy ( Regno d'Italia ) was a state founded from 1861 , when King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King of Italy , to 1946 , when a constitutional referendum led civil discontent to abandon the monarchy and form the Italian Republic . The state was founded as a result of the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia , which can be considered its legal predecessor state .   Italy declared war on Austria in alliance with Prussia in 1866 and received the region of Veneto following their victory . Italian troops entered Rome in 1870 , ending more than one thousand years of Papal temporal power . Italy entered into a Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1882 , following strong disagreements with France about the respective colonial expansions . However , even if relations with Berlin became very friendly , the alliance with Vienna remained purely formal , as the Italians were keen to acquire Trentino and Trieste , corners of the Austria-Hungary populated by Italians . So , in 1915 , Italy accepted the British invitation to join the Allies in World War I because the western allies promised territorial compensation ( at the expense of Austria-Hungary ) for participation that were more generous than Vienna 's offer in exchange for Italian neutrality . Victory in the war gave Italy a permanent seat in the Council of the League of Nations .   `` Fascist Italy '' is the era of National Fascist Party government from 1922 to 1943 with Benito Mussolini as head of government . The fascists imposed authoritarian rule and crushed the political and intellectual opposition , while promoting economic modernization , traditional social values , and a rapprochement with the Roman Catholic Church . According to Payne ( 1996 ) , '' -LSB- the -RSB- Fascist government passed through several relatively distinct phases '' . The first phase ( 1923 -- 1925 ) was nominally a continuation of the parliamentary system , albeit with a `` legally-organized executive dictatorship '' . Then came the second phase , `` the construction of the Fascist dictatorship proper , from 1925 to 1929 '' . The third phase , with less activism , was 1929 to 1934 . The fourth phase , 1935 -- 1940 , was characterized by an aggressive foreign policy ; war against Ethiopia , which was launched from Eritrea and Italian Somaliland ; confrontations with the League of Nations sanctions ; growing economic autarchy ; and semi-National Socialization . The war itself ( 1940 -- 1943 ) was the fifth phase with its disasters and defeats , while the rump Salò government under German control was the final stage ( 1943 -- 1945 ) .   Italy was allied with National Socialist Germany in World War II until 1943 . It switched sides to the Allies after ousting Mussolini and shutting down the Fascist party in areas ( south of Rome ) controlled by the Allied invaders . The remnant fascist state in northern Italy that continued fighting against the Allies was a puppet state of Germany , the `` Italian Social Republic '' , still led by Mussolini and his Fascist loyalists . Shortly after the war , civil discontent led to the constitutional referendum of 1946 on whether Italy would remain a monarchy or become a republic . Italians decided to abandon the monarchy and form the Italian Republic , the present-day Italian state .