Seth MacFarlane idolized one of the most popular artists of the 20th century.

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra ( -LSB- sᵻˈnɑːtrə -RSB- -LSB- siˈnaːtra -RSB- ; December 12 , 1915 -- May 14 , 1998 ) was an American singer , actor , and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century . He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time , having sold more than 150 million records worldwide . Born in Hoboken , New Jersey , to Italian immigrants , Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey . Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943 , becoming the idol of the `` bobby soxers '' . He released his debut album , The Voice of Frank Sinatra , in 1946 . Sinatra 's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s , and he turned to Las Vegas , where he became one of its best known performers as part of the Rat Pack . His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity , with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor . Sinatra released several critically lauded albums , including In the Wee Small Hours ( 1955 ) , Songs for Swingin ' Lovers ! ( 1956 ) , Come Fly with Me ( 1958 ) , Only the Lonely ( 1958 ) and Nice 'n' Easy ( 1960 ) .   Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label , Reprise Records , and released a string of successful albums . In 1965 , he recorded the retrospective September of My Years , starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra : A Man and His Music , and released the tracks `` Strangers in the Night '' and `` My Way '' . After releasing Sinatra at the Sands , recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966 , the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim , the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim . It was followed by 1968 's collaboration with Duke Ellington . Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971 , but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace , and reached success in 1980 with `` New York , New York '' . Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base , he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998 .   Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor . After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity , he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm ( 1955 ) , and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate ( 1962 ) . He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town ( 1949 ) , Guys and Dolls ( 1955 ) , High Society ( 1956 ) , and Pal Joey ( 1957 ) , winning another Golden Globe for the latter . Toward the end of his career , he became associated with playing detectives , including the title character in Tony Rome ( 1967 ) . Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971 . On television , The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950 , and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s . Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s , and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman , John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan , though before Kennedy 's death Sinatra 's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed .   While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music , he had an impressive understanding of it , and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music . A perfectionist , renowned for his dress sense and performing presence , he always insisted on recording live with his band . His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname `` Ol' Blue Eyes '' . Sinatra led a colorful personal life , and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women , such as with his second wife Ava Gardner . He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976 . Sinatra had several violent confrontations , usually with journalists he felt had crossed him , or work bosses with whom he had disagreements . He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983 , was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985 , and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997 . Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards , including the Grammy Trustees Award , Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . After his death , American music critic Robert Christgau called him `` the greatest singer of the 20th century '' , and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure .


Seth MacFarlane Seth Woodbury MacFarlane ( -LSB- ˈsɛθ_ˈwʊdbɛri_məkˈfɑrlɪn -RSB- born October 26 , 1973 ) is an American actor , filmmaker , and singer , working primarily in animation and comedy , as well as live-action and other genres . MacFarlane is the creator of the TV series Family Guy ( 1999 -- 2003 , 2005 -- present ) , co-creator of the TV series American Dad ! ( 2005 -- present ) and The Cleveland Show ( 2009 -- 13 ) . He also wrote , directed , and starred in the films Ted ( 2012 ) , its sequel Ted 2 ( 2015 ) , and A Million Ways to Die in the West ( 2014 ) .   MacFarlane is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design , where he studied animation . Recruited to Hollywood , he was an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera for several television series , including Johnny Bravo , Cow and Chicken , Dexter 's Laboratory , I Am Weasel , and Larry & Steve . As an actor , he has made guest appearances on series , such as Gilmore Girls , The War at Home and FlashForward . In 2008 , he created his own YouTube series titled Seth MacFarlane 's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy . He won several awards for his work on Family Guy , including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award . In 2009 , he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year . He occasionally speaks at universities and colleges throughout the United States , and he is a supporter of gay rights .   MacFarlane 's first feature-length comedy film , Ted , features his voice acting and performance-capture as the titular anthropomorphic teddy bear and became the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy . As a singer MacFarlane has performed at several venues , including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall . MacFarlane has released three studio albums , in the same vein of his musical idol Frank Sinatra , beginning with Music Is Better Than Words in 2011 . He wrote the lyrics for the Academy Award-nominated song `` Everybody Needs a Best Friend '' for Ted .   MacFarlane served as executive producer of Cosmos : A Spacetime Odyssey , an update of the 1980s Carl Sagan -- hosted Cosmos series , hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson . MacFarlane was instrumental in providing funding for the series , as well as securing studio support for it from other entertainment executives .


Damages (TV series) premiered on August.

Damages (TV series) Damages is an American legal thriller television series created by the writing and production trio Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It premiered on July 24 , 2007 , on FX , and aired for three seasons before moving to the DirecTV channel Audience Network in 2010 , airing for two further seasons and concluding in 2012 .   The plot revolves around the brilliant , ruthless lawyer Patty Hewes ( Glenn Close ) and her newest protégée , recent law school graduate Ellen Parsons ( Rose Byrne ) . Each season features a major case that Hewes and her firm take on while also examining a chapter of the complex relationship between Ellen and Patty . The first two seasons center on the law firm Hewes & Associates ( located in New York City ) . Later seasons center more on Patty and Ellen 's relationship as Ellen attempts to distance herself from Hewes & Associates professionally and personally .   Known for its depiction of season-long cases from the point of view of both a law firm and an opponent , the series is also noted for the technical merit of its writing , including its effective use of plot twists and nonlinear narrative . The series has received critical acclaim and various award nominations , with Close and Željko Ivanek winning Primetime Emmy Awards for their performances . Other established actors in the cast include Ted Danson , William Hurt , Marcia Gay Harden , Martin Short , Lily Tomlin , John Goodman , Ryan Phillippe , Dylan Baker , Janet McTeer and John Hannah .


Superhero A superhero ( sometimes rendered super-hero or super hero ) is a type of heroic stock character who possesses supernatural or superhuman powers and who is dedicated to fighting crime , protecting the public , and usually battling supervillains . A female superhero is sometimes called a superheroine ( also rendered super-heroine or super heroine ) , although the word superhero is commonly used for females also . Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters , especially in American comic books since the 1930s .   By most definitions , characters do not require actual supernatural or superhuman powers or phenomena to be deemed superheroes . While the Dictionary.com definition of `` superhero '' is `` a figure , especially in a comic strip or cartoon , endowed with superhuman powers and usually portrayed as fighting evil or crime '' , the longstanding Merriam-Webster dictionary gives the definition as `` a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers ; also : an exceptionally skillful or successful person '' . Terms such as masked crime fighters , costumed adventurers or masked vigilantes are sometimes used to refer to characters such as the Spirit , who may not be explicitly referred to as superheroes but nevertheless share similar traits .   Some superheroes use their powers to counter daily crime while also combating threats against humanity from supervillains , who are their criminal counterparts . Often at least one of these supervillains will be the superhero 's archenemy . Some long-running superheroes such as Batman , Spider-Man , Superman , Captain America , Wonder Woman , Iron Man , the Flash , Wolverine , Green Lantern , and Hulk have a rogues gallery of many villains .


Mark Ruffalo Mark Alan Ruffalo ( -LSB- ˈrʌfəloʊ -RSB- , born November 22 , 1967 ) is an American actor , humanitarian , social activist and film producer . He made his screen debut in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse ( 1989 ) , followed by minor film roles . He was part of the original cast of This Is Our Youth ( 1996 ) , for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award . Following were his roles in 13 Going on 30 ( 2004 ) , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ( 2004 ) , Zodiac ( 2007 ) , and What Does n't Kill You ( 2008 ) . In 2010 , he starred in the psychological thriller Shutter Island and the comedy-drama The Kids Are All Right . For the latter , he received nominations for the SAG Award , BAFTA Award , and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . He also co-starred in the mystery films Now You See Me and Now You See Me 2 as FBI Special Agent Dylan Rhodes .   Ruffalo gained international prominence by portraying the Marvel Comics character the Hulk in The Avengers ( 2012 ) and Avengers : Age of Ultron ( 2015 ) . He starred in and was the co-executive producer of the 2014 television drama film The Normal Heart , for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie and he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a TV Movie . The same year , he portrayed Dave Schultz in Foxcatcher , for which he was nominated for awards , including a Golden Globe , and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . In 2015 , he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Infinitely Polar Bear and also received BAFTA and Academy Award nominations for his role in the drama Spotlight .


Hulk (comics) The Hulk is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby , the character first appeared in the debut issue of The Incredible Hulk ( May 1962 ) . In his comic book appearances , the character is both the Hulk , a green-skinned , hulking and muscular humanoid possessing a vast degree of physical strength , and his alter ego Bruce Banner , a physically weak , socially withdrawn , and emotionally reserved physicist , the two existing as personalities independent and resenting of the other .   Following his accidental exposure to gamma radiation during the detonation of an experimental bomb , Banner is physically transformed into the Hulk when subjected to emotional stress , at or against his will , often leading to destructive rampages and conflicts that complicate Banner 's civilian life . The Hulk 's level of strength is normally conveyed as proportionate to his level of anger . Commonly portrayed as a raging savage , the Hulk has been represented with other personalities based on Banner 's fractured psyche , from a mindless , destructive force , to a brilliant warrior , or genius scientist in his own right . Despite both Hulk and Banner 's desire for solitude , the character has a large supporting cast , including Banner 's lover Betty Ross , his friend Rick Jones , his cousin She-Hulk , sons Hiro-Kala and Skaar , and his co-founders of the superhero team the Avengers . However , his uncontrollable power has brought him into conflict with his fellow heroes and others .   Lee stated that the Hulk 's creation was inspired by a combination of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . Although the Hulk 's coloration has varied throughout the character 's publication history , the most usual color is green . He has two main catchphrases : `` Hulk is strongest one there is ! '' and the better-known `` HULK SMASH ! '' , which has founded the basis for numerous pop culture memes .   One of the most iconic characters in popular culture , the character has appeared on a variety of merchandise , such as clothing and collectable items , inspired real-world structures ( such as theme park attractions ) , and been referenced in a number of media . Banner and the Hulk have been adapted in live-action , animated , and video game incarnations , including the 1970s The Incredible Hulk television series ( played by Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno respectively ) and in film by Eric Bana , Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo .


Vera Farmiga acted in two Conjuring films.

Vera Farmiga Vera Ann Farmiga ( -LSB- fɑrˈmiːɡə -RSB- born August 6 , 1973 ) is an American actress , director and producer . She began her career on Broadway in the play Taking Sides ( 1996 ) . She made her television debut in the Fox fantasy series Roar ( 1997 ) , and her film debut in the drama-thriller Return to Paradise ( 1998 ) .   Farmiga 's breakout role came in 2004 , when she portrayed a mother harboring a secret drug habit in the drama film Down to the Bone . She then co-starred in The Manchurian Candidate ( 2004 ) , The Departed ( 2006 ) , The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas ( 2008 ) , and Nothing But the Truth ( 2008 ) . She gained more critical acclaim for her role as Alex Goran in the 2009 comedy-drama Up in the Air , for which she was nominated for the Academy Award , BAFTA Award , Golden Globe Award , and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress .   She then had starring roles in Orphan ( 2009 ) , Source Code ( 2011 ) , and Safe House ( 2012 ) . Farmiga made her directorial debut with the drama film Higher Ground ( 2011 ) , in which she also starred in the lead role . In 2013 , she portrayed paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren in the horror film The Conjuring , and reprised the role in the 2016 sequel The Conjuring 2 .   From 2013 to 2017 , Farmiga starred as Norma Louise Bates in the A&E drama-thriller series Bates Motel , for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination . This role , along with her roles in Joshua , Orphan , and the two Conjuring films , has dubbed her as a contemporary scream queen .


Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop ( born December 13 , 1967 ) , known professionally by his stage name Jamie Foxx , is an American actor , singer , songwriter , record producer and comedian . He won an Academy Award for Best Actor , BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy , for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film Ray . The same year , he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the crime film Collateral .   Other prominent acting roles include Staff Sergeant Sykes in Jarhead ( 2005 ) , Detective Ricardo Tubbs in the 2006 film adaptation of TV series Miami Vice , the title role in the film Django Unchained ( 2012 ) , and the supervillain Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ( 2014 ) . Foxx also starred in the 1990-1994 sketch comedy show In Living Color and his own television show from 1996 to 2001 , the sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show , in which he played Jamie King , Jr. . Foxx also starred in the 2014 film Annie , in which he played Will Stacks .   Foxx is also a Grammy Award-winning musician , producing four albums which have charted in the top ten of the US Billboard 200 : Unpredictable ( 2005 ) , which topped the chart , Intuition ( 2008 ) , Best Night of My Life ( 2010 ) , and Hollywood : A Story of a Dozen Roses ( 2015 ) .


Alfre Woodard has yet to act on television.

The Practice The Practice is an American legal drama created by David E. Kelley centering on the partners and associates at a Boston law firm . Running for eight seasons on ABC from 1997 to 2004 , the show won the Emmy in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series , and spawned the spin-off series Boston Legal , which ran for five more seasons , from 2004 to 2008 .   The Practice focused on the law firm of Robert Donnell and Associates ( later becoming Donnell , Young , Dole , & Frutt , and ultimately Young , Frutt , & Berluti ) . Plots typically featured the firm 's involvement in various high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirror current events . Conflict between legal ethics and personal morality was a recurring theme . Some episodes contained light comedy . Kelley claimed that he conceived the show as something of a rebuttal to L.A. Law ( for which he wrote ) and its romanticized treatment of the American legal system and legal proceedings .


L.A. Law L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC , from September 15 , 1986 , to May 19 , 1994 .   Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher , it contained many of Bochco 's trademark features including an ensemble cast , large number of parallel storylines , social drama , and off-the-wall humor . It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s , and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as capital punishment , abortion , racism , gay rights , homophobia , sexual harassment , AIDS , and domestic violence . The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff .   In addition to its main cast , L.A. Law was also well known for featuring then relatively unknown actors and actresses in guest starring roles , who later went on to greater success in film and television including : Don Cheadle , Jeffrey Tambor , Kathy Bates , David Schwimmer , Jay O. Sanders , James Avery , Gates McFadden , Bryan Cranston , C.C.H. Pounder , Kevin Spacey , Richard Schiff , Carrie-Anne Moss , William H. Macy , Stephen Root , Christian Slater , and Lucy Liu . Several episodes of the show also included celebrities such as Vanna White , Buddy Hackett and Mamie Van Doren appearing as themselves in cameo roles .   The show was popular with audiences and critics , and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run , four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series .


Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama and mystery series created by Marc Cherry , and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions . It originally aired for eight seasons on ABC , from October 3 , 2004 to May 13 , 2012 . Executive producer Cherry served as showrunner . Other executive producers since the fourth season included Bob Daily , George W. Perkins , John Pardee , Joey Murphy , David Grossman , and Larry Shaw .   Set on Wisteria Lane , a street in the fictional town of Fairview in the fictional Eagle State , Desperate Housewives follows the lives of a group of women as seen through the eyes of their late friend and neighbor who committed suicide in the pilot episode . The storyline covers 13 years of the women 's lives over eight seasons , set between the years 2004 -- 2008 , and later 2013 -- 2017 ( the story arc includes a five-year passage of time , as well as flashbacks ranging from the 1980s to the 2020s ) . They work through domestic struggles and family life , while facing the secrets , crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their -- on the surface -- beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood .   The series features an ensemble cast , headed by Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer , Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo , Marcia Cross as Bree Van de Kamp , and Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis . Brenda Strong narrates the series as the late Mary Alice Young , appearing sporadically in flashbacks or dream sequences .   Desperate Housewives was well received by viewers and critics alike . It won multiple Primetime Emmy , Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards . From the 2004 -- 05 through the 2008 -- 09 television seasons , its first five seasons were rated amongst the top ten most-watched series . In 2007 , it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide , with an audience of approximately 120 million and was also reported as the third most watched television series in a study of ratings in twenty countries . In 2012 , it remained the most-watched comedy series internationally based on data from Eurodata TV Worldwide , which measured ratings across five continents ; it has held this position since 2006 . Moreover , it was the third highest revenue earning series for 2010 , with $ 2.74 million per half an hour . The show was ranked at number fifty-six on Entertainment Weekly `` New TV Classics '' list .   In 2011 , it was confirmed that Desperate Housewives would conclude after its eighth season ; the series finale aired on May 13 , 2012 . By the end of the series , it had surpassed Charmed as the longest running hour-long television series featuring all female leads by two episodes .


Alfre Woodard Alfre Woodard ( born November 8 , 1952 ) is an American film , stage , and television actress , producer , and political activist . Woodard has been named one of the most versatile and accomplished actors of her generation . She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Grammy Award , 18 times for an Emmy Award ( winning four ) , and has also won a Golden Globe Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards .   Woodard began her acting career in theater . After her breakthrough role in the Off-Broadway play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf ( 1977 ) , she made her film debut in Remember My Name ( 1978 ) . In 1983 , she won major critical praise and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Cross Creek . In the same year , Woodard won her first Primetime Emmy Award for her performance in the NBC drama series Hill Street Blues . Later in the 1980s , Woodard had leading Emmy Award-nominated performances in a number of made for television movies , and another Emmy-winning role as a woman dying of leukemia in the pilot episode of L.A. Law . She also starred as Dr. Roxanne Turner in the NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere , for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1986 , and for Guest Actress in 1988 .   In the 1990s , Woodard starred in films such as Grand Canyon ( 1991 ) , Heart and Souls ( 1993 ) , Crooklyn ( 1994 ) , How to Make an American Quilt ( 1995 ) , Primal Fear ( 1996 ) and Star Trek : First Contact ( 1996 ) . She also drew critical praise for her performances in the independent dramas Passion Fish ( 1992 ) , for which she won an Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress , as well as Down in the Delta ( 1998 ) . For her lead role in the HBO film Miss Evers ' Boys ( 1997 ) , Woodard won Golden Globe , Emmy , Screen Actors Guild Awards , and several another awards . In later years she has appeared in several blockbusters , like K-PAX ( 2001 ) , The Core ( 2003 ) , and The Forgotten ( 2004 ) , starred in independent films , and won her fourth Emmy Award for The Practice in 2003 . From 2005 to 2006 , Woodard starred as Betty Applewhite in the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives , and later starred in several short-lived series . She appeared in the films The Family That Preys ( 2008 ) , 12 Years a Slave ( 2013 ) and Annabelle ( 2014 ) , and has also worked as a political activist and producer . Woodard is a founder of Artists for a New South Africa , an organization devoted to advancing democracy and equality in that country . She is a board member of AMPAS .


Robbie Collin Robbie Collin is a British film critic .   Collin studied aesthetics and the philosophy of film at the University of St Andrews , Scotland , He edited the university 's student newspaper , The Saint .   Collin is chief film critic at The Daily Telegraph . From 2007 to 2009 he wrote a weekly film column for the News of the World until the newspaper 's closure in July 2011 . That year he was shortlisted for Critic of the Year at the British Press Awards .  He appeared on the Channel 4 Vue Film Show , presented by Edith Bowman , and contributed to the BBC Radio 2 Arts Show with Claudia Winkleman . In August 2013 he guest presented BBC Radio 4 's Film programme . In August 2014 , February 2015 , July -- August 2015 , February 2016 and in April 2016 he guest presented Kermode and Mayo 's Film Review , also with Edith Bowman .


Archie Panjabi is the recipient of a NAACP Image Award.

Archie Panjabi Archana `` Archie '' Panjabi ( born 31 May 1972 ) is a British actress , best known for her role as Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife . Her portrayal has earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2010 and an NAACP Image Award in 2012 , as well as two further Emmy nominations , one Golden Globe nomination , and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations shared with the cast . Her other notable roles include Yasmin Husseini in Yasmin ( 2005 ) , Pinky Bhamra in Bend It Like Beckham ( 2002 ) and Asra Nomani in A Mighty Heart ( 2007 ) .


Lionel Messi plays soccer for FC Barcelona in the forward position.

Lionel Messi Lionel Andrés `` Leo '' Messi ( -LSB- ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi -RSB- ; born 24 June 1987 ) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team . Often considered the best player in the world and regarded by many as the greatest of all time , Messi is the only player in history to win five FIFA Ballon d'Or awards , four of which he won consecutively , and the first to win three European Golden Shoes . He has won 29 trophies with Barcelona , including eight La Liga titles , four UEFA Champions League titles , and five Copas del Rey . Both a prolific goalscorer and a creative playmaker , Messi holds the records for most official goals scored in La Liga ( 349 ) , a La Liga season ( 50 ) and a club football season in Europe ( 73 ) , as well as those for most assists made in La Liga ( 137 ) and the Copa América ( 11 ) . He has scored over 500 senior career goals for club and country .   Born and raised in central Argentina , Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child . At age 13 , he relocated to Spain to join Barcelona , who agreed to pay for his medical treatment . After a fast progression through Barcelona 's youth academy , Messi made his competitive debut aged 17 in October 2004 . Despite being injury-prone during his early career , he established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years , finishing 2007 as a finalist for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award , a feat he repeated the following year . His first uninterrupted campaign came in the 2008 -- 09 season , during which he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football . At 22 years old , Messi won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award by record voting margins .   Three successful seasons followed , with Messi winning three consecutive FIFA Ballons d'Or , including an unprecedented fourth . His personal best campaign to date was the 2011 -- 12 season , in which he set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a single season , while establishing himself as Barcelona 's all-time top scorer in official competitions in March 2012 . He again struggled with injury during the following two seasons , twice finishing second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo , his perceived career rival . Messi regained his best form during the 2014 -- 15 campaign , breaking the all-time goalscoring records in both La Liga and the Champions League in November 2014 , and led Barcelona to a historic second treble .   An Argentine international , Messi is his country 's all-time leading goalscorer . At youth level , he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship , finishing the tournament with both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe , and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics . His style of play as a diminutive , left-footed dribbler drew comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona , who declared the teenager his successor . After making his senior debut in August 2005 , Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in a FIFA World Cup during the 2006 edition , and reached the final of the 2007 Copa América , where he was named young player of the tournament . As the squad 's captain from August 2011 , he led Argentina to three consecutive finals : the 2014 World Cup , for which he won the Golden Ball , and the 2015 and 2016 Copas América .


Prisoner (TV series) Prisoner is an Australian soap opera set in the Wentworth Detention Centre , a fictional women 's prison . In the United States and United Kingdom it was known as Prisoner : Cell Block H , with the same title and Caged Women in Canada . The series , produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation , aired on Network Ten for 692 episodes between 27 February 1979 and 11 December 1986 . Originally , it was planned as a 16-part series .   The show was inspired by the British television drama Within These Walls , which was moderately successful in Australia . Due to an injunction requested by UK-based ATV , which considered the title too similar to their The Prisoner , overseas broadcasters had to change the series ' name . In March 2012 it was announced that Prisoner would be `` reimagined '' on Foxtel in a new version , Wentworth .


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


Andrew Wood (singer) Andrew Patrick Wood ( January 8 , 1966 -- March 19 , 1990 ) was an American musician best known as the lead singer for alternative rock bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone . Wood was also known for his flamboyance .   Wood formed Malfunkshun in 1980 with his brother Kevin and Regan Hagar . The band used alter ego personas onstage , with Wood using the name Landrew the Love Child . Though the band only had two songs released , `` With Yo ' Heart ( Not Yo ' Hands ) '' and `` Stars-n-You '' , on the Deep Six compilation album , they are often cited as being among the `` founding fathers '' of the Seattle 's grunge movement . During his time in Malfunkshun , Wood started relying heavily on drugs , entering rehab in 1985 .   By 1988 , Malfunkshun had disbanded and Wood began jamming with Green River members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament . They soon began writing original material and formed Mother Love Bone the same year , adding guitarist Bruce Fairweather ( also a former member of Green River ) and drummer Greg Gilmore to the lineup . The following year , the band signed a deal with PolyGram , issuing a six-song EP , Shine , before going on to tour , supporting The Dogs D'Amour . Towards the end of the year , the band recorded their debut album , Apple , which was scheduled for release in 1990 .   Due to his struggle with drug addiction , Wood checked himself into rehab in 1989 , hoping to get clean for the release of Mother Love Bone 's debut album . On March 16 , 1990 , Wood was found in a comatose state by his girlfriend , Xana La Fuente , having overdosed on heroin . Wood was taken to the hospital and placed on life support . Wood 's condition had shown signs of improvement but he died three days later .


Gold Gold is a chemical element with symbol Au ( from aurum ) and atomic number 79 . In its purest form , it is a bright , slightly reddish yellow , dense , soft , malleable , and ductile metal . Chemically , gold is a transition metal and a group 11 element . It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions . Gold often occurs in free elemental ( native ) form , as nuggets or grains , in rocks , in veins , and in alluvial deposits . It occurs in a solid solution series with the native element silver ( as electrum ) and also naturally alloyed with copper and palladium . Less commonly , it occurs in minerals as gold compounds , often with tellurium ( gold tellurides ) .   Gold 's atomic number of 79 makes it one of the higher numbered , naturally occurring elements . It is thought to have been produced in supernova nucleosynthesis , from the collision of neutron stars , and to have been present in the dust from which the Solar System formed . Because the Earth was molten when it was formed , almost all of the gold present in the early Earth probably sank into the planetary core . Therefore , most of the gold that is present today in the Earth 's crust and mantle is thought to have been delivered to Earth later , by asteroid impacts during the Late Heavy Bombardment , about 4 billion years ago .   Gold is resistant to most acids , though it does dissolve in aqua regia , a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid , which forms a soluble tetrachloroaurate anion . Gold is insoluble in nitric acid , which dissolves silver and base metals , a property that has long been used to refine gold and to confirm the presence of gold in metallic objects , giving rise to the term acid test . Gold also dissolves in alkaline solutions of cyanide , which are used in mining and electroplating . Gold dissolves in mercury , forming amalgam alloys , but this is not a chemical reaction .   Historically , the value of gold was rooted in its relative rarity , easy handling and minting , easy smelting and fabrication , resistance to corrosion and other chemical reactions ( nobility ) and its distinctive color . As a precious metal , gold has been used for coinage , jewelry , and other arts throughout recorded history . In the past , a gold standard was often implemented as a monetary policy , but gold coins ceased to be minted as a circulating currency in the 1930s , and the world gold standard was abandoned for a fiat currency system after 1976 .   A total of 186,700 tonnes of gold is in existence above ground , as of 2015 . The world consumption of new gold produced is about 50 % in jewelry , 40 % in investments , and 10 % in industry . Gold 's high malleability , ductility , resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions , and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connectors in all types of computerized devices ( its chief industrial use ) . Gold is also used in infrared shielding , colored-glass production , gold leafing , and tooth restoration . Certain gold salts are still used as anti-inflammatories in medicine . As of 2014 , the world 's largest gold producer by far was China with 450 tonnes .


Tetris is the best selling paid-downloaded game in America.

Tetris Tetris ( , pronounced -LSB- ˈtɛtrʲɪs -RSB- ) is a tile-matching puzzle video game , originally designed and programmed by Russian game designer Alexey Pajitnov . It was released on June 6 , 1984 , while he was working for the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR in Moscow . He derived its name from the Greek numerical prefix tetra - ( all of the game 's pieces contain four segments ) and tennis , Pajitnov 's favorite sport .   Tetris was the first entertainment software to be exported from the USSR to the US , where it was published by Spectrum HoloByte for Commodore 64 and IBM PC . The Tetris game is a popular use of tetrominoes , the four-element special case of polyominoes . Polyominoes have been used in popular puzzles since at least 1907 , and the name was given by the mathematician Solomon W. Golomb in 1953 . However , even the enumeration of pentominoes is dated to antiquity .   The game ( or one of its many variants ) is available for nearly every video game console and computer operating system , as well as on devices such as graphing calculators , mobile phones , portable media players , PDAs , Network music players and even as an Easter egg on non-media products like oscilloscopes . It has even inspired Tetris serving dishes and been played on the sides of various buildings .   While versions of Tetris were sold for a range of 1980s home computer platforms as well as arcades , it was the hugely successful handheld version for the Game Boy launched in 1989 that established the game as one of the most popular ever . Electronic Gaming Monthly '' 's 100th issue had Tetris in first place as `` Greatest Game of All Time '' . In 2007 , Tetris came in second place in IGN 's `` 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time '' . In January 2010 , it was announced that the Tetris franchise had sold more than 170 million copies , approximately 70 million physical copies and over 100 million copies for cell phones , making it the best selling paid-downloaded game of all time . On 14 March 2014 , The Tetris Company announced a deal to bring Tetris '' to two of the latest hardware platforms , the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 , in partnership with Ubisoft ( publishing ) and SoMa Play ( development ) , to coincide with the franchise 's 30th anniversary .


Napoleon's campaigns have been lost or forgotten.

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ( -LSB- nəˈpoʊliən_ˈboʊnəpɑrt -RSB- -LSB- napɔleɔ̃ bɔnapaʁt -RSB- ; 15 August 1769 -- 5 May 1821 ) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars . As Napoleon I , he was Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814 , and again in 1815 . Napoleon dominated European and global affairs for more than a decade while leading France against a series of coalitions in the Napoleonic Wars . He won most of these wars and the vast majority of his battles , building a large empire that ruled over continental Europe before its final collapse in 1815 . One of the greatest commanders in history , his wars and campaigns are studied at military schools worldwide . Napoleon 's political and cultural legacy has endured as one of the most celebrated and controversial leaders in human history .   He was born Napoleone di Buonaparte ( -LSB- napoleoŋe dj buɔŋaparte -RSB- ) in Corsica , Republic of Genoa , to a relatively modest family from the minor nobility . When the Revolution broke out in 1789 , Napoleon was serving as an artillery officer in the French army . Seizing the new opportunities presented by the Revolution , he rapidly rose through the ranks of the military , becoming a general at age 24 . The Directory eventually gave him command of the Army of Italy after he suppressed a revolt against the government from royalist insurgents . At age 26 , he began his first military campaign against the Austrians and their Italian allies -- winning virtually every battle , conquering the Italian Peninsula in a year , and becoming a national hero . In 1798 , he led a military expedition to Egypt that served as a springboard to political power . He engineered a coup in November 1799 and became First Consul of the Republic . His ambition and public approval inspired him to go further , and in 1804 he became the first Emperor of the French '' . Intractable differences with the British meant that the French were facing a Third Coalition by 1805 . Napoleon shattered this coalition with decisive victories in the Ulm Campaign and a historic triumph over Russia and Austria at the Battle of Austerlitz , which led to the elimination of the thousand year-old Holy Roman Empire . In 1806 , the Fourth Coalition took up arms against him because Prussia became worried about growing French influence on the continent . Napoleon quickly defeated Prussia at the battles of Jena and Auerstedt , then marched the Grand Army deep into Eastern Europe and annihilated the Russians in June 1807 at the Battle of Friedland . France then forced the defeated nations of the Fourth Coalition to sign the Treaties of Tilsit in July 1807 , bringing an uneasy peace to the continent . Tilsit signified the high watermark of the French Empire . In 1809 , the Austrians and the British challenged the French again during the War of the Fifth Coalition , but Napoleon solidified his grip over Europe after triumphing at the Battle of Wagram in July .   Hoping to extend the Continental System and choke off British trade with the European mainland , Napoleon invaded Iberia and declared his brother Joseph the King of Spain in 1808 . The Spanish and the Portuguese revolted with British support . The Peninsular War lasted six years , featured extensive guerrilla warfare , and ended in victory for the Allies . The Continental System caused recurring diplomatic conflicts between France and its client states , especially Russia . Unwilling to bear the economic consequences of reduced trade , the Russians routinely violated the Continental System and enticed Napoleon into another war . The French launched a major invasion of Russia in the summer of 1812 . The resulting campaign witnessed the collapse of the Grand Army , the destruction of Russian cities , and inspired a renewed push against Napoleon by his enemies . In 1813 , Prussia and Austria joined Russian forces in a Sixth Coalition against France . A lengthy military campaign culminated in a large Allied army defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813 . The Allies then invaded France and captured Paris in the spring of 1814 , forcing Napoleon to abdicate in April . He was exiled to the island of Elba near Rome and the Bourbons were restored to power . However , Napoleon escaped from Elba in February 1815 and took control of France once again . The Allies responded by forming a Seventh Coalition , which defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in June . The British exiled him to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic , where he died six years later at the age of 51 .   Napoleon had an extensive and powerful influence on the modern world , bringing liberal reforms to the numerous territories that he conquered and controlled , such as the Low Countries , Switzerland , and large parts of modern Italy and Germany . He implemented fundamental liberal policies in France and throughout Western Europe . His legal achievement , the Napoleonic Code , has influenced the legal systems of more than 70 nations around the world . British historian Andrew Roberts stated , `` The ideas that underpin our modern world -- meritocracy , equality before the law , property rights , religious toleration , modern secular education , sound finances , and so on -- were championed , consolidated , codified and geographically extended by Napoleon . To them he added a rational and efficient local administration , an end to rural banditry , the encouragement of science and the arts , the abolition of feudalism and the greatest codification of laws since the fall of the Roman Empire '' .


A bass singer in Boyz II Men was Michael McCarey.

Michael McCary Michael `` Mike '' Sean McCary ( born December 16 , 1971 ) is an American singer , best known as the former bass singer of the R&B group Boyz II Men .   In 2003 , Michael McCary left Boyz II Men due to chronic back problems , resulting from multiple sclerosis ( MS ) and personal problems . McCary plays in the film Mannsfield 12 , in which he takes on the role of Herold . He has also appeared on the television game show Identity on March 24 , 2007 . Lately , Michael has been seen in the court room as a celebrity juror on a TV show that airs daily called Jury Duty . He was also shown in the pilot for a talk show with Paula Poundstone called A Pound of Paula , which was n't picked up .   McCary is the son of Omarnetta Thomas and Robert McCary Sr. . He has a brother named Robert McCary Jr. . Michael was due to make a long-awaited return to the group in 2011 for their twenty-year anniversary album with all new material . However , negotiations between McCary and the group broke down , and this was confirmed by Boyz II Men via their website . He is the step-brother of fellow singer Will Downing .


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


Ella Purnell is in the American film Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Ella Purnell Ella Purnell ( born 17 September 1996 ) is an English actress , who has appeared in the films Never Let Me Go ( 2010 ) , Maleficent ( 2014 ) and Miss Peregrine 's Home for Peculiar Children ( 2016 ) .


A Fine Romance (1981 TV series) A Fine Romance is a British situation comedy starring husband-and-wife team Judi Dench and Michael Williams . Dench 's sister and brother-in-law were played by Susan Penhaligon and Richard Warwick . It was produced by London Weekend Television and written by Bob Larbey . It was first broadcast on 8 November 1981 . It lasted for 26 episodes over four series ; the final episode being broadcast on 17 February 1984 . The series takes its name from a song in the 1936 film Swing Time , starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers , which Dench recorded as the theme music .   The series was nominated for nine BAFTA British Academy Television Awards and a winner of two , both for Dench 's performance in 1982 and 1985 .


Earth is the smallest terrestrial planet.

Earth Earth ( from Eorðe -LSB- Γαῖα , Gaia -RSB- Terra ) , otherwise known as the World or the Globe , is the third planet from the Sun and the only object in the Universe known to harbor life . It is the densest planet in the Solar System and the largest of the four terrestrial planets .   According to radiometric dating and other sources of evidence , Earth formed about 4.54 billion years ago . Earth 's gravity interacts with other objects in space , especially the Sun and the Moon , Earth 's only natural satellite . During one orbit around the Sun , Earth rotates about its axis over 365 times ; thus , an Earth year is about 365.26 days long . Earth 's axis of rotation is tilted , producing seasonal variations on the planet 's surface . The gravitational interaction between the Earth and Moon causes ocean tides , stabilizes the Earth 's orientation on its axis , and gradually slows its rotation .   Earth 's lithosphere is divided into several rigid tectonic plates that migrate across the surface over periods of many millions of years . About 71 % of Earth 's surface is covered with water , mostly by its oceans . The remaining 29 % is land consisting of continents and islands that together have many lakes , rivers and other sources of water that contribute to the hydrosphere . The majority of Earth 's polar regions are covered in ice , including the Antarctic ice sheet and the sea ice of the Arctic ice pack . Earth 's interior remains active with a solid iron inner core , a liquid outer core that generates the Earth 's magnetic field , and a convecting mantle that drives plate tectonics .   Within the first billion years of Earth 's history , life appeared in the oceans and began to affect the Earth 's atmosphere and surface , leading to the proliferation of aerobic and anaerobic organisms . Some geological evidence indicates that life may have arisen as much as 4.1 billion years ago . Since then , the combination of Earth 's distance from the Sun , physical properties , and geological history have allowed life to evolve and thrive . In the history of the Earth , biodiversity has gone through long periods of expansion , occasionally punctuated by mass extinction events . Over 99 % of all species that ever lived on Earth are extinct . Estimates of the number of species on Earth today vary widely ; most species have not been described . Over 7.4 billion humans live on Earth and depend on its biosphere and minerals for their survival . Humans have developed diverse societies and cultures ; politically , the world has about 200 sovereign states .


Gray Davis Joseph Graham `` Gray '' Davis , Jr. ( born December 26 , 1942 ) is a retired American politician and attorney who served as the 37th Governor of California from 1999 to 2003 . A member of the Democratic Party , only months into his second term , in 2003 Davis was recalled and removed from office , the second state governor successfully recalled in U.S. history . Prior to serving as governor , Davis was chief of staff to Governor Jerry Brown ( 1975 -- 81 ) , a California State Assemblyman ( 1983 -- 87 ) , California State Controller ( 1987 -- 95 ) and the 44th Lieutenant Governor of California ( 1995 -- 99 ) . Davis holds a B.A. in history from Stanford University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School . He was awarded a Bronze Star for his service as a Captain in the Vietnam War .   During his time as governor , Davis made education his top priority and California spent eight billion dollars more than was required under Proposition 98 during his first term . Under Davis , California standardized test scores increased for five straight years . Davis signed the nation 's first state law requiring automakers to limit auto emissions . Davis supported laws to ban assault weapons and he is also credited with improving relations between California and Mexico . Davis began his tenure as governor with strong approval ratings , but those ratings declined as voters blamed Davis for the California electricity crisis and the California budget crisis that followed the bursting of the dot-com bubble . Voters were also alienated by Davis 's record-breaking fundraising efforts and negative campaigning .   On October 7 , 2003 , Davis was recalled in the second of three such elections in U.S. history , which include the removal of Lynn Frazier of North Dakota in 1921 and the unsuccessful recall of Scott Walker of Wisconsin in 2012 . He was succeeded in office on November 17 , 2003 by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger , who won the recall replacement race . Davis spent 1,778 days as governor and signed 5,132 bills out of 6,244 , vetoing 1,112 bills . Since being recalled , Davis has worked as a lecturer at the UCLA School of Public Affairs , as an attorney at Loeb & Loeb and sat on the Board of Directors of the animation company DiC Entertainment .


Governor of California The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government , commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Military Reserve , whose responsibilities also include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature , submitting the budget , and ensuring that state laws are enforced . The position was created in 1849 , the year before California became a state .  The current governor is Jerry Brown , a Democrat who was inaugurated January 3 , 2011 , and who had previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983 . In October 2013 , Jerry Brown surpassed Earl Warren for the longest cumulative period of time served as governor .


Lieutenant Governor of California The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer and vice-executive of the State of California . The lieutenant governor is elected to serve a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms . In addition to basically ceremonial roles , serving as acting governor in the absence of the Governor , and as President of the California State Senate , the lieutenant governor either sits on , or appoints representatives to , many of California 's regulatory commissions and executive agencies .   California is one of eighteen states where the governor and lieutenant governor do not run as running mates on the same ticket : in California the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately , although both are up for election in the same year every four years . California has had a governor and a lieutenant governor of different parties 26 of the past 31 years .   California has had 41 lieutenant governors and five acting lieutenant governors since achieving statehood in 1850 . The current lieutenant governor is Gavin Newsom , who was sworn into office on January 10 , 2011 .


The President of Russia can grant reprieves.

President of Russia The President of the Russian Federation ( -LSB- Президент Российской Федерации , r = Prezident Rossiiskoi Federatsii -RSB- ) is the elected head of state , Supreme Commander-in-Chief and holder of the highest office within the Russian Federation . The current President of Russia is Vladimir Putin .   In 1991 , the office was briefly known as the President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic until 25 December 1991 . According to the 1978 Russian Constitution , the President of Russia was head of the executive branch and headed the Council of Ministers of Russia . According to the current 1993 Constitution of Russia , the President of Russia is not a part of the Government of Russia , which exercises executive power .   In all cases where the President of the Russian Federation is unable to fulfill his duties , they shall be temporarily delegated to the Prime Minister , who becomes Acting President of Russia . The Chairman of the Federation Council is the third important position after the President and the Prime Minister . In the case of incapacity of both the President and Prime Minister , the chairman of the upper house of parliament becomes acting head of state .   The power includes execution of federal law , alongside the responsibility of appointing federal ministers , diplomatic , regulatory and judicial officers , and concluding treaties with foreign powers with the advice and consent of the State Duma and the Federation Council . The president is further empowered to grant federal pardons and reprieves , and to convene and adjourn the Federal Assembly under extraordinary circumstances . The president also directs the foreign and domestic policy of the Russian Federation .   The president is elected directly through a popular vote to a six-year term . The law prohibits anyone from ever being elected to the presidency for a third consecutive term . In all , 3 individuals have served 4 presidencies spanning 6 full terms . On May 7 , 2012 , Vladimir Putin became the 4th and current president .


Lithuania is part of the United Nations.

Lithuania Lithuania ( UK and US : -LSB- lɪθuː ` eɪniə -RSB- , Lietuva -LSB- lʲɪɛtʊˈvɐ -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Lithuania ( -LSB- Lietuvos Respublika , links = no -RSB- ) , is a country in Northern Europe . One of the three Baltic states , it is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea , to the east of Sweden and Denmark . It is bordered by Latvia to the north , Belarus to the east and south , Poland to the south , and Kaliningrad Oblast ( a Russian exclave ) to the southwest . Lithuania has an estimated population of 2.8 million people , and its capital and largest city is Vilnius . Lithuanians are a Baltic people . The official language , Lithuanian , along with Latvian , is one of only two living languages in the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family .   For centuries , the southeastern shores of the Baltic Sea were inhabited by various Baltic tribes . In the 1230s , the Lithuanian lands were united by Mindaugas , the King of Lithuania , and the first unified Lithuanian state , the Kingdom of Lithuania , was created on 6 July 1253 . During the 14th century , the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was the largest country in Europe ; present-day Lithuania , Belarus , Ukraine , and parts of Poland and Russia were the territories of the Grand Duchy . With the Lublin Union of 1569 , Lithuania and Poland formed a voluntary two-state union , the Polish -- Lithuanian Commonwealth . The Commonwealth lasted more than two centuries , until neighboring countries systematically dismantled it from 1772 -- 95 , with the Russian Empire annexing most of Lithuania 's territory .   As World War I neared its end , Lithuania 's Act of Independence was signed on 16 February 1918 , declaring the founding of the modern Republic of Lithuania . In the midst of the Second World War , Lithuania was first occupied by the Soviet Union and then by Nazi Germany . As World War II neared its end and the Germans retreated , the Soviet Union reoccupied Lithuania . On 11 March 1990 , a year before the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union , Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare itself independent , resulting in the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania .   Lithuania is a member of the European Union , the Council of Europe , a full member of the Eurozone , Schengen Agreement and NATO . It is also a member of the Nordic Investment Bank , and part of Nordic-Baltic cooperation of Northern European countries . The United Nations Human Development Index lists Lithuania as a `` very high human development '' country . Lithuania has been among the fastest growing economies in the European Union and is ranked 21st in the world in the Ease of Doing Business Index .


The Divergent Series: Allegiant has many stars.

The Divergent Series: Allegiant The Divergent Series : Allegiant is a 2016 American action adventure film directed by Robert Schwentke with a screenplay by Bill Collage , Adam Cooper , and Noah Oppenheim . It is the first of two cinematic parts based on the novel Allegiant , the final book in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth , and the third installment in The Divergent Series .   The film stars Shailene Woodley , Theo James , Jeff Daniels , Miles Teller , Ansel Elgort , Zoë Kravitz , Maggie Q , Ray Stevenson , Bill Skarsgard , Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts , and is the sequel to Insurgent and could be followed by the concluding entry , Ascendant ( Allegiant and Ascendant were originally to be titled Allegiant -- Part 1 and Allegiant -- Part 2 ) .   Allegiant was released on March 18 , 2016 , in theaters and IMAX and received mainly negative reviews . The film was a financial disappointment , grossing $ 179 million worldwide , becoming the lowest-grossing Divergent film . This led to budget cuts on the fourth and the possibility that the final installment in the series , Ascendant , would be released as a TV movie instead of a theatrical one .


Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award ( MVP ) is an annual Major League Baseball ( MLB ) award , given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League . Since 1931 , it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers ' Association of America ( BBWAA ) . The winners receive the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award , which became the official name of the award in 1944 , in honor of the first MLB commissioner , who served from 1920 until his death on November 25 , 1944 .   MVP voting takes place before the postseason , but the results are not announced until after the World Series . The BBWAA began by polling three writers in each league city in 1938 , reducing that number to two per league city in 1961 . The BBWAA does not offer a clear-cut definition of what `` most valuable '' means , instead leaving the judgment to the individual voters .   First basemen , with 34 winners , have won the most MVPs among infielders , followed by second basemen ( 16 ) , third basemen ( 15 ) , and shortstops ( 15 ) . Of the 24 pitchers who have won the award , 15 are right-handed while 9 are left-handed . Walter Johnson , Carl Hubbell , and Hal Newhouser are the only pitchers who have won multiple times , Newhouser winning consecutively in 1944 and 1945 .   Hank Greenberg , Stan Musial , Alex Rodriguez , and Robin Yount have won at different positions , while Rodriguez is the only player who has won the award with two different teams at two different positions . Barry Bonds has won the most often ( seven times ) and the most consecutively ( 2001 -- 04 ) . Jimmie Foxx was the first player to win multiple times ; 9 players have won three times , and 19 have won twice . Frank Robinson is the only player to win the award in both the American and National Leagues .   The award 's only tie occurred in the National League in 1979 , when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell received an equal number of points . There have been 18 unanimous winners , who received all the first-place votes . The New York Yankees have the most winning players with 22 , followed by the St. Louis Cardinals with 17 winners . The award has never been presented to a member of the following four teams : Arizona Diamondbacks , Miami Marlins , New York Mets , and Tampa Bay Rays . The most recent recipients are Mike Trout in the American League and Kris Bryant in the National League .   In recent decades , pitchers have rarely won the award . When Justin Verlander won the AL award in 2011 , he became the first pitcher in either league to be named the MVP since Dennis Eckersley in 1992 . Verlander also became the first starting pitcher to win this award since Roger Clemens had accomplished the feat in 1986 . The National League went even longer without an MVP award to a pitcher -- after Bob Gibson won in 1968 , no pitcher in that league was named MVP until Clayton Kershaw in 2014 .


Grand slam (baseball) In baseball , a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners ( `` bases loaded '' ) , thereby scoring four runs -- the most possible in one play . According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary , the term originated in the card game of contract bridge , in which a grand slam involves taking all the possible tricks . The word slam , by itself , usually is connected with a loud sound , particularly of a door being closed with excess force ; thus , slamming the door on one 's opponent ( s ) , in addition to of course the bat slamming the ball into a home run .


Alex Rodriguez Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez ( born July 27 , 1975 ) , nicknamed `` A-Rod '' , is a Dominican-American former professional baseball shortstop and third baseman . He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for the Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers , and New York Yankees . Rodriguez was one of the sport 's most highly touted prospects and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time . During his 22-year career , Rodriguez has amassed a .297 batting average , 696 home runs , over 2,000 runs batted in ( RBI ) , over 2,000 runs scored , and over 3,000 hits . He is a 14-time All-Star and has won three American League ( AL ) Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Awards , ten Silver Slugger Awards , and two Gold Glove Awards . Rodríguez is the career record holder for grand slams with 25 . However , he has led a highly controversial career due to signing two of the most lucrative sports contracts in history while incurring criticism from the media for his behavior and use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs .   The Mariners selected Rodriguez first overall in the 1993 MLB draft , and he debuted in the major leagues the following year at the age of 18 . In 1996 , he became the Mariners ' starting shortstop and finished second in voting for the AL MVP Award . Rodriguez 's combination of power , speed , and defense made him a cornerstone of the franchise , but he left the team via free agency after the 2000 season to join the Rangers . The 10-year , $ 252 million contract he signed was the richest in baseball history . He played at a high level in his three years with Texas , highlighted by his first AL MVP Award win in 2003 , but the team failed to make the playoffs during his tenure . Prior to the 2004 season , Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees , for whom he converted to a third baseman due to incumbent shortstop Derek Jeter . In his first four seasons with New York , he was twice more named AL MVP . After opting out of his contract following the 2007 season , Rodriguez signed a new 10-year , $ 275 million deal with the Yankees , extending his record for the sport 's most lucrative contract . He became the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs , reaching the milestone in 2007 . He won his first World Series in 2009 , which was the first year of the new Yankee Stadium . The following year , he became the career leader in home runs by a player of Hispanic descent . In recent years , Rodriguez has been hampered by hip and knee injuries , which have caused him to exclusively become a designated hitter . He played his final game as a Yankee on August 12 , 2016 .   In February 2009 , after previously denying use of performance-enhancing drugs , including during a 2007 interview with Katie Couric on 60 Minutes , Rodriguez admitted to using steroids , saying he used them from 2001 to 2003 when playing for Rangers due to `` an enormous amount of pressure '' to perform . While recovering from a hip injury in 2013 , Rodriguez made headlines by feuding with team management over his rehabilitation and for having allegedly obtained performance-enhancing drugs as part of the Biogenesis baseball scandal . In August 2013 , MLB suspended him 211 games for his involvement in the scandal , but he was allowed to play while appealing the punishment . Had the original suspension been upheld , it would have been the longest non-lifetime suspension in Major League Baseball history . After an arbitration hearing , the suspension was reduced to 162 games , keeping him off the field for the entire 2014 season .


Home run In baseball , a home run ( abbreviated HR ) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home  safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process . In modern baseball , the feat is typically achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles ( or making contact with either foul pole ) without first touching the ground , resulting in an automatic home run . There is also the `` inside-the-park '' home run , increasingly rare in modern baseball , where the batter reaches home safely while the baseball is in play on the field . When a home run is scored , the batter is also credited with a hit and a run scored , and an RBI for each runner that scores , including himself . Likewise , the pitcher is recorded as having given up a hit , and a run for each runner that scores including the batter .   Home runs are among the most popular aspects of baseball and , as a result , prolific home run hitters are usually the most popular among fans and consequently the highest paid by teams -- hence the old saying , variously attributed to slugger Ralph Kiner , or to a teammate talking about Kiner , `` Home run hitters drive Cadillacs , and singles hitters drive Fords . ''


American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs , or simply the American League ( AL ) , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball ( MLB ) in the United States and Canada . It developed from the Western League , a minor league based in the Great Lakes states , which eventually aspired to major league status . It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season , 25 years after the formation of the National League ( the `` Senior Circuit '' ) .   At the end of every season , the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion ; two seasons did not end in playing a World Series . Through 2016 , American League teams have won 64 of the 112 World Series played since 1903 , with 27 of those coming from the New York Yankees alone . The 2016 American League champions are the Cleveland Indians . The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles , the most in the league 's history , followed by the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics ( 15 ) and the Boston Red Sox ( 13 ) .


1993 Major League Baseball draft The 1993 Major League Baseball draft began with first round selections on June 3 , 1993 . Alex Rodriguez was selected first overall by the Seattle Mariners . Other notable draftees included Chris Carpenter , Torii Hunter , Jason Varitek , Scott Rolen , future NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk , and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward .


1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game The 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 67th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League ( AL ) and National League ( NL ) , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball . The game was held on July 9 , 1996 , at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia , the home of the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League . This marked the fifteenth and final all star game appearance of Ozzie Smith , who retired after the 1996 season . Smith entered the game in the top of the sixth inning . His first at-bat was greeted by chants of `` Oz-zie , Oz-zie '' from the Philadelphia crowd . Iron Man Cal Ripken , Jr. , who was in the midst of his record-breaking run of consecutive games played , broke his nose during the pre-game AL team picture . However , he was ready to go at game time and started at SS .   During the pregame ceremonies , Kelsey Grammer of Frasier sang the American National Anthem and Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan sang the Canadian National Anthem . U.S. Congressman Jim Bunning ( who was elected to the baseball hall-of-fame in 1996 ) joined other Phillies ' hall of fame alumni Mike Schmidt , Steve Carlton , Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts in tossing the ceremonial first pitches .   Joe Carter , the Toronto Blue Jays representative to the All-Star Game , received good-natured boos from the crowd for his home run that ended the 1993 World Series .   The game resulted in the National League defeating the American League 6 -- 0 . The National League would not win another All-Star Game until 2010 .   After the game , then-Chairman of the Executive Committee Bud Selig presented the All-Star Game MVP Award to Mike Piazza . Bobby Brown had presented the MVP Award in 1993 , while National League President Len Coleman had presented the award in 1994 and 1995 . After presenting the MVP Award at the 1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game , Selig was officially named Commissioner of Baseball .   This is the only All-Star Game in which not a single pitcher walked a batter ; appropriately , Braves closer Mark Wohlers was the final pitcher of the game .   Veterans Stadium also held the `` distinction '' of being the most recent host stadium to be closed down , a distinction it lost after Yankee Stadium closed at the conclusion of the 2008 season .


500 home run club In Major League Baseball ( MLB ) , the 500 home run club is a group of batters who have hit 500 or more regular-season home runs in their careers . On August 11 , 1929 , Babe Ruth became the first member of the club . Ruth ended his career with 714 home runs , a record which stood from 1935 until Hank Aaron surpassed it in 1974 . Aaron 's ultimate career total , 755 , remained the record until Barry Bonds set the current mark of 762 during the 2007 season . Twenty-seven players are members of the 500 home run club . At .344 , Ted Williams holds the highest batting average among the club members while Harmon Killebrew holds the lowest at .256 .   Of these 27 players , 14 were right-handed batters , 11 were left-handed , and 2 were switch hitters . The San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox are the only franchises to see four players reach the milestone while on their roster : for the Giants , Mel Ott while the team was in New York , Willie Mays , Willie McCovey , and most recently Bonds , and , for the Red Sox , Jimmie Foxx , Ted Williams , and more recently Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz . Five 500 home run club members -- Aaron , Mays , Eddie Murray , Rafael Palmeiro , and Alex Rodriguez -- are also members of the 3,000 hit club . Gary Sheffield 's 500th home run was his first career home run with the New York Mets , the first time that a player 's 500th home run was also his first with his franchise . Alex Rodriguez , at 32 years and 8 days , was the youngest player to reach the milestone while Ted Williams , at 41 years and 291 days , was the oldest.The most recent player to reach 500 home runs is David Ortiz , who hit his 500th home run on September 12 , 2015 .   Membership in the 500 home run club is sometimes described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame , although some believe the milestone has become less meaningful in recent years . Five eligible club members -- Barry Bonds , Mark McGwire , Rafael Palmeiro , Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa -- have not been elected to the Hall . Bonds and Sosa made their first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot in ; Bonds received only 36.2 % and Sosa 12.5 % of the total votes , with 75 % required for induction . Eligibility requires that a player has `` been retired five seasons '' or be deceased for at least six months , disqualifying three retired living players who have been active within the past five seasons -- Jim Thome , Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz . Some believe the milestone has become less important with the large number of new members ; 10 players joined the club from 1999 to 2009 . Additionally , several of these recent members have had ties to performance-enhancing drugs . Some believe that by not electing McGwire to the Hall the voters were establishing a `` referendum '' on how they would treat players from the `` Steroid Era '' . On January 8 , 2014 , Rafael Palmeiro became the first member of the 500 Home Run Club to be removed from the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot . As the BBWAA announced the selections for the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014 , Palmeiro appeared on just 4.4 % of the ballots . Players must be named on at least of 5.0 % of ballots to remain on future ballots .   As of Opening Day 2017 , Albert Pujols is the only active member of the 500 home run club .


Third baseman A third baseman , abbreviated 3B , is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base -- the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run . In the scoring system used to record defensive plays , the third baseman is assigned the number ' 5 ' .   The third baseman requires good reflexes in reacting to batted balls , as he or she is often the closest infielder ( roughly 90 -- 120 feet ) to the batter . The third base position requires a strong and accurate arm , as the third baseman often makes long throws to first base . The third baseman sometimes must throw quickly to second base in time to start a double play . The third baseman must also field fly balls in fair and foul territory .   Third base is known as the `` hot corner '' , because the third baseman is relatively close to the batter and most right-handed hitters tend to hit the ball hard in this direction . A third baseman must possess good hand-eye coordination and quick reactions in order to catch hard line drives sometimes in excess of 125 miles per hour ( 201 km/h ) . Third basemen often must begin in a position even closer to the batter if a bunt is expected , creating a hazard if the ball is instead hit sharply . As with middle infielders , right-handed throwing players are standard at the position because they do not need to turn their body before throwing across the infield to first base . Mike Squires , who played fourteen games at third base in 1982 and 1983 , is a very rare example of a third baseman who threw lefty . Some third basemen have been converted from middle infielders or outfielders because the position does not require them to run as fast .   Expectations of how well a third baseman should be able to hit have varied a great deal over time ; in the early years of the sport , these expectations were similar to those for shortstops , the third baseman being merely the less skilled defensive player . Players who could hit with more ability often were not suited for third base , either because they were left-handed or because they were not mobile enough for the position . However , the beginning of the live-ball era in the 1920s created a greater demand for more offense , and third basemen have since been expected to hit either for a high average ( .290 or better ) or with moderate to substantial power . Since the 1950s the position has become more of a power position with sluggers such as Eddie Mathews , Mike Schmidt and Ron Santo becoming stars .   There are fewer third basemen in the Baseball Hall of Fame than there are Hall of Famers of any other position . Furthermore , with the notable exception of John McGraw and Bobby Cox , few third basemen have gone on to have successful managing careers , with Jimmy Dykes and Negro Leaguer Dave Malarcher being perhaps the next most prominent managers who began their careers at third base .


2009 World Series The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball 's ( MLB ) championship series . The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies , champions of the National League ( NL ) and defending World Series champions , and the New York Yankees , champions of the American League ( AL ) . The Yankees defeated the Phillies , 4 games to 2 , to win their 27th World Series championship . The series was played between October 28 and November 4 , broadcast on Fox , and watched by an average of roughly 19 million viewers . Due to the start of the season being pushed back by the 2009 World Baseball Classic in March , this was the first World Series regularly scheduled to be played into the month of November . This series was a rematch of the 1950 World Series .   Home field advantage for the Series went to the AL for the eighth straight year as a result of its 4 -- 3 win in the All-Star Game . The Phillies earned their berth into the playoffs by winning the National League East . The Yankees won the American League East to earn their berth , posting the best record in the Major Leagues . The Phillies reached the World Series by defeating the Colorado Rockies in the best-of-five National League Division Series , and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series ( NLCS ) . The Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL Championship Series ( ALCS ) to advance to their first World Series since 2003 . As a result of their loss , the Phillies became the first team since the Yankees to lose the World Series after winning it the previous year .   Cliff Lee pitched a complete game in the Phillies ' Game 1 victory , allowing only one unearned run , while Chase Utley hit two home runs . In Game 2 , solo home runs by Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui helped the Yankees win by a score of 3 -- 1 . After a rain delayed start , Game 3 featured more offense , with a combined six home runs and thirteen total runs en route to a Yankee victory . The Yankees won Game 4 by scoring the decisive three runs in the ninth inning after an alert base running play by Johnny Damon . The Phillies avoided elimination with a win in Game 5 , aided by Utley 's second two -- home run game of the series . The Yankees secured their World Series championship with a Game 6 victory in which Matsui hit his third home run of the series . He was named Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) of the series , making him the first Japanese-born player and the first full-time designated hitter to win the award ; Matsui was the series ' MVP despite starting only the three games that were played at Yankee Stadium , since the designated hitter position is not used in NL ballparks .   Several records were tied , extended , or broken during this World Series , including team championships ( Yankees with 27 ) , career postseason wins ( Andy Pettitte with 18 ) , career World Series saves ( Mariano Rivera with 11 ) , career World Series home runs ( Chase Utley with seven ) , home runs in a postseason series ( Chase Utley with five ) , strikeouts by a hitter in a World Series ( Ryan Howard with 13 ) , and runs batted in in a single World Series game ( Hideki Matsui with six ) .


Babe Ruth was a player of minor-league baseball.

Babe Ruth George Herman `` Babe '' Ruth Jr. ( February 6 , 1895 -- August 16 , 1948 ) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) spanned 22 seasons , from 1914 through 1935 . Nicknamed `` The Bambino '' and `` The Sultan of Swat '' , he began his MLB career as a stellar left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox , but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees . Ruth established many MLB batting ( and some pitching ) records , including career home runs ( 714 ) , runs batted in ( RBIs ) ( 2,213 ) , bases on balls ( 2,062 ) , slugging percentage ( .6897 ) , and on-base plus slugging ( OPS ) ( 1.164 ) ; the latter two still stand today . Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time . In , Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its `` first five '' inaugural members .   At age seven , Ruth was sent to St. Mary 's Industrial School for Boys , a reformatory where he learned life lessons and baseball skills from Brother Matthias Boutlier of the Christian Brothers , the school 's disciplinarian and a capable baseball player . In 1914 , Ruth was signed to play minor-league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles but was soon sold to the Red Sox . By 1916 , he had built a reputation as an outstanding pitcher who sometimes hit long home runs , a feat unusual for any player in the pre-1920 dead-ball era . Although Ruth twice won 23 games in a season as a pitcher and was a member of three World Series championship teams with Boston , he wanted to play every day and was allowed to convert to an outfielder . With regular playing time , he broke the MLB single-season home run record in 1919 .   After that season , Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy . The trade fueled Boston 's subsequent 86 year championship drought and popularized the `` Curse of the Bambino '' superstition . In his 15 years with New York , Ruth helped the Yankees win seven American League ( AL ) championships and four World Series championships . His big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only drew fans to the ballpark and boosted the sport 's popularity but also helped usher in the live-ball era of baseball , in which it evolved from a low-scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor . As part of the Yankees ' vaunted `` Murderer 's Row '' lineup of 1927 , Ruth hit 60 home runs , extending his MLB single-season record . He retired in 1935 after a short stint with the Boston Braves . During his career , Ruth led the AL in home runs during a season twelve times .   Ruth 's legendary power and charismatic personality made him a larger-than-life figure in the Roaring Twenties . During his career , he was the target of intense press and public attention for his baseball exploits and off-field penchants for drinking and womanizing . His often reckless lifestyle was tempered by his willingness to do good by visiting children at hospitals and orphanages . After his retirement as a player , he was denied a managerial job in baseball , most likely due to poor behavior during parts of his playing career . In his final years , Ruth made many public appearances , especially in support of American efforts in World War II . In 1946 , he became ill with cancer , and died two years later .


Royal Rumble (2002) was the fifteenth annual Royal Rumble.

Royal Rumble (2002) Royal Rumble ( 2002 ) was the fifteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view ( PPV ) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . It took place on January 20 , 2002 , at the Philips Arena in Atlanta , Georgia , and was the final Royal Rumble produced under the WWF name .   The main event was the Royal Rumble match , which Triple H won , after last eliminating Kurt Angle . The other matches were Chris Jericho versus The Rock for the Undisputed WWF Championship , Ric Flair versus Vince McMahon in a Street Fight , Edge versus William Regal for the WWF Intercontinental Championship , the team of Spike Dudley and Tazz versus the Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championship , and Trish Stratus versus Jazz for the WWF Women 's Championship .


Lasers (album) Lasers is the third studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco , released on March 7 , 2011 by Atlantic Records . Production for the album took place between 2008 and 2010 . Lasers features production by The Audibles , The Neptunes , Needlz , Alex da Kid , Syience , and long-time collaborator Soundtrakk , among others . Trey Songz , John Legend , Skylar Grey , Sway , Matt Mahaffey , MDMA , Eric Turner and Sarah Green contribute vocals to the album .   Lasers was preceded by the lead single `` The Show Goes On '' and its follow-up `` Words I Never Said '' featuring Skylar Grey . The former became Fiasco 's highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified double Platinum in the US . The latter , however , only achieved moderate success on the Hot 100 .   The album has received `` mixed or average reviews '' from most major music critics , having a score of 57 out of 100 at the review aggregator Metacritic . It fared better commercially however , debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of over 200,000 copies sold , making the album Fiasco 's second top ten album as well as his highest entry on the chart .


Tetsuo & Youth Tetsuo & Youth is the fifth studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco . The album was released on January 20 , 2015 , by 1st & 15th Entertainment and Atlantic Records . It was promoted by the Tetsuo & Youth preview tour , which took place on November 2 , 2014 to December 15 , 2014 . Lupe 's label-mate Stalley was a supporting act on the tour , while The Boy Illinois took role as an opening act .   The album was supported by the single `` Deliver '' . Tetsuo & Youth received generally positive reviews from critics , citing it as a significant improvement and return to form in comparison to previous work . The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 , selling 42,000 copies in its first week .


Superstar (Lupe Fiasco song) `` Superstar '' is a song performed by rapper Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos . It is the first single off his 2007 album Lupe Fiasco 's The Cool . iTunes released `` Superstar '' on September 25 , 2007 along with a radio version of `` Dumb It Down . ''   On November 5 , 2007 the official video was released and it was directed by Hype Williams . It premiered on BET 's 106 & Park on November 23 and on February 19 it moved up to the number one spot on the countdown . As of December 31 , it appeared at number 84 on BET 's Notarized : Top 100 Videos of 2007 countdown .  The song is featured on the soundtrack of NFL Tour and recently NHL 2K10 . Star baseball player Hanley Ramírez used the song as his walk-up music at Florida Marlins home games .   In the song Lupe yells `` FREE CHILLY '' that is a reference to another song on his album . The song `` Free Chilly '' is about Lupe 's business partner `` Chilly '' who was sentenced to 44 years in jail during the recording of `` The Cool '' .


Lupe Fiasco Wasalu Muhammad Jaco ( born February 16 , 1982 ) , better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco ( -LSB- ˈluːpeɪ -RSB- ) , is an American rapper , record producer , and entrepreneur . He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album , Lupe Fiasco 's Food & Liquor . He also performs as the frontman of rock band Japanese Cartoon under his real name . As an entrepreneur , Fiasco is the chief executive officer of 1st and 15th Entertainment .   Raised in Chicago , Jaco developed an interest in hip hop after initially disliking the genre for its use of vulgarity and misogyny . After adopting the name Lupe Fiasco and recording songs in his father 's basement , 19-year-old Fiasco joined a group called Da Pak . The group disbanded shortly after its inception , and Fiasco soon met rapper Jay-Z who helped him sign a record deal with Atlantic Records . In September 2006 , Fiasco released his debut album Lupe Fiasco 's Food & Liquor on the label , which received three Grammy nominations . He released his second album , Lupe Fiasco 's The Cool , in December 2007 . The lead single `` Superstar '' became his first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 . After a two-year delay , Lasers was released in March 2011 to mixed reviews ; however , it became his first album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 . His latest album , Tetsuo & Youth , was released in January 2015 .   In addition to music , Fiasco has pursued other business ventures , including fashion . He runs two clothing lines , Righteous Kung-Fu and Trilly & Truly ; he has designed sneakers for Reebok . He has been involved with charitable activities , including the Summit on the Summit expedition , and in 2010 he recorded a benefit single for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake . Fiasco is also noted for his anti-establishment views , which he has expressed in both interviews and his music .


Shah Rukh Khan debuted in Bollywood in 1952.

Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan ( born Shahrukh Khan ; 2 November 1965 ) , also known as SRK , is an Indian film actor , producer and television personality . Referred to in the media as the `` Baadshah of Bollywood '' , `` King of Bollywood '' or `` King Khan '' , he has appeared in more than 80 Bollywood films , and earned numerous accolades , including 14 Filmfare Awards . Khan has a significant following in Asia and the Indian diaspora worldwide . In terms of audience size and income , he has been described as one of the most successful film stars in the world .   Khan began his career with appearances in several television series in the late 1980s . He made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with Deewana . Early in his career , Khan was recognised for portraying villainous roles in the films Darr ( 1993 ) , Baazigar ( 1993 ) and Anjaam ( 1994 ) . He then rose to prominence after starring in a series of romantic films , including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge ( 1995 ) , Dil To Pagal Hai ( 1997 ) , Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ( 1998 ) , Mohabbatein ( 2000 ) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham ... ( 2001 ) . He earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of an alcoholic in Devdas ( 2002 ) , a NASA scientist in Swades ( 2004 ) , a hockey coach in Chak De ! India ( 2007 ) and a man with Asperger syndrome in My Name Is Khan ( 2010 ) . His highest-grossing films include the comedies Chennai Express ( 2013 ) and Happy New Year ( 2014 ) . Many of his films display themes of Indian national identity and connections with diaspora communities , or gender , racial , social and religious differences and grievances . For his contributions to film , the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri , and the Government of France awarded him both the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Légion d'honneur .   As of 2015 , Khan is co-chairman of the motion picture production company Red Chillies Entertainment and its subsidiaries , and is the co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders . He is a frequent television presenter and stage show performer . The media often label him as `` Brand SRK '' because of his many endorsement and entrepreneurship ventures . Khan 's philanthropic endeavours have provided health care and disaster relief , and he was honoured with UNESCO 's Pyramide con Marni award in 2011 for his support of children 's education . He regularly features in listings of the most influential people in Indian culture , and in 2008 , Newsweek named him one of their fifty most powerful people in the world .