Wyatt Earp Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp ( March 19 , 1848 -- January 13 , 1929 ) was an American Old West gambler , a deputy sheriff in Pima County , and deputy town marshal in Tombstone , Arizona Territory , who took part in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral , during which lawmen killed three outlaw cowboys . He is often regarded as the central figure in the shootout in Tombstone , although his brother Virgil was Tombstone city marshal and Deputy U.S. Marshal that day , and had far more experience as a sheriff , constable , marshal , and soldier in combat .   Earp lived a restless life . He was at different times a constable , city policeman , county sheriff , Deputy U.S. Marshal , teamster , buffalo hunter , bouncer , saloon-keeper , gambler , brothel keeper , miner , and boxing referee . Earp spent his early life in Iowa . In 1870 , Earp married his first wife , Urilla Sutherland Earp , who contracted typhoid fever and died shortly before their first child was to be born . During the next two years Earp was arrested for stealing a horse , escaped from jail , sued twice , and was arrested and fined three times during the course of 1872 for `` keeping and being found in a house of ill-fame '' . His third arrest was subject of a lengthy account in the `` Daily Transcript '' which referred to him as an `` old offender '' and nicknamed him the `` Peoria Bummer '' .   By 1874 he had arrived in the cattle boomtown of Wichita , Kansas where his brother had opened a brothel . On April 21 , 1875 he was appointed to the Wichita police force , and developed a solid reputation as a lawman . In April 1876 he was dismissed from his position as a lawman following an altercation with a political opponent of his boss which led to him being fined $ 30 . In 1876 , he followed his brother James to Dodge City , Kansas , where he became an assistant city marshal . In winter 1878 , he went to Texas to track down an outlaw and met John `` Doc '' Holliday , whom Earp later credited with saving his life .   Earp moved constantly throughout his life from one boomtown to another . He left Dodge City in 1879 and moved to Tombstone with his brothers James and Virgil , where a silver boom was underway . There , the Earps clashed with a loose federation of outlaws known as the Cowboys . Wyatt , Virgil , and their younger brother Morgan held various law enforcement positions that put them in conflict with Tom and Frank McLaury , and Ike and Billy Clanton , who threatened on several occasions to kill the Earps . The conflict escalated over the next year , culminating on October 26 , 1881 in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral , in which the Earps and Holliday killed three of the Cowboys . In the next five months , Virgil was ambushed and maimed , and Morgan was assassinated . Pursuing a vendetta , Wyatt , his brother Warren , Holliday , and others formed a federal posse that killed three of the Cowboys whom they thought responsible . Wyatt was never wounded in any of the gunfights in which he took part , unlike his brothers Virgil and James , or his friend , Doc Holliday , which only added to his mystique after his death .   Earp was a lifelong gambler and was always looking for a quick way to make money . After leaving Tombstone , Earp went to San Francisco where he reunited with Josephine Earp . She became his common-law wife . They joined a gold rush to Eagle City , Idaho , where they owned mining interests and a saloon . They left there to race horses and open a saloon during a real estate boom in San Diego , California . Back in San Francisco , Wyatt raced horses again , but his reputation suffered irreparably when he refereed the Fitzsimmons-Sharkey boxing match and called a foul that led many to believe that he fixed the fight . They moved briefly to Yuma , Arizona before joining the Nome Gold Rush in 1899 . In partnership with Charlie Hoxie they opened a two-story saloon called the Dexter and made an estimated $ 80,000 ( about $ 2 million in 2017 dollars ) . Returning to the lower 48 , they opened another saloon in Tonopah , Nevada , the site of a new gold find . In about 1911 , Earp began working several mining claims in Vidal , California , retiring in the hot summers with Josephine to Los Angeles .   Wyatt Earp died on January 13 , 1929 . He was known as a Western lawman , gunfighter , and boxing referee . He had a notorious reputation for both his handling of the Fitzsimmons-Sharkey fight and his role in the O.K. Corral gunfight . This only began to change after his death when an extremely flattering biography was published in 1931 . It became a bestseller and created his reputation as a fearless lawman . Since then , Earp has been the subject of and model for numerous films , TV shows , biographies , and works of fiction that have increased his notoriety . He did , however , live to see himself being portrayed in the film Wild Bill Hickok , released in 1923 . Long after his death , he has many devoted detractors and admirers . Earp 's modern-day reputation is that of the Old West 's `` toughest and deadliest gunman of his day . ''


Wentworth (TV series) Wentworth is an Australian television drama series . It was first broadcast on SoHo on 1 May 2013 . The series serves as a contemporary reimagining of Prisoner , which ran on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986 . Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson 's original concept . The series is set in the modern day and begins with Bea Smith ( Danielle Cormack ) 's early days in prison .   For the first three seasons , Wentworth was filmed on purpose-built sets in the suburbs of Clayton , Victoria . Production moved to Newport , Victoria starting with the fourth season . The show has received a mostly positive reception from critics , and the first episode became the most watched Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history . The series was picked up by several countries , including New Zealand and the UK , where it has been retitled Wentworth Prison .   A fifth season was commissioned on 19 July 2016 , which premiered on 4 April 2017 . A sixth season was commissioned by Foxtel on 9 May 2017 which began filming the following week , and will premiere in 2018 .


Gerard Butler Gerard James Butler ( born 13 November 1969 ) is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film , stage , and television . After studying law , Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as Mrs Brown ( 1997 ) , the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies ( 1997 ) , and Tale of the Mummy ( 1998 ) . In 2000 , he starred as Dracula in the horror film Dracula 2000 with Christopher Plummer and Jonny Lee Miller .   The following year onward , he played Attila the Hun in the miniseries Attila ( 2001 ) and then appeared in the films Reign of Fire with Christian Bale ( 2002 ) , and Lara Croft Tomb Raider : The Cradle of Life with Angelina Jolie ( 2003 ) , before playing André Marek in the adaptation of Michael Crichton 's science fiction adventure Timeline ( 2003 ) . He then was cast as the role of Erik , The Phantom in Joel Schumacher 's 2004 film adaptation of the musical The Phantom of the Opera alongside Emmy Rossum . That role earned him a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor .   Although Attila and The Phantom of the Opera were important breaks , it was only in 2007 that Butler gained worldwide recognition for his portrayal of King Leonidas in Zack Snyder 's fantasy war film 300 . That role earned him nominations for an Empire Award for Best Actor and a Saturn Award for Best Actor and a win for MTV Movie Award for Best Fight . In the 2010s , he voiced the role of Stoick the Vast in the animated action-fantasy film How to Train Your Dragon , a role he later reprised in Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon ( 2010 ) , Gift of the Night Fury ( 2011 ) and How to Train Your Dragon 2 ( 2014 ) . He played military leader Tullus Aufidius in the 2011 film Coriolanus , the modernized adaptation of Shakespeare 's tragedy of the same name . He also played Sam Childers in the 2011 action biopic Machine Gun Preacher .


All About Eve was nominated for 17 Academy Awards.

All About Eve All About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz , and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck . It was based on the 1946 short story `` The Wisdom of Eve '' by Mary Orr , although screen credit was not given for it .   The film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing , a highly regarded but aging Broadway star . Anne Baxter plays Eve Harrington , an ambitious young fan who insinuates herself into Channing 's life , ultimately threatening Channing 's career and her personal relationships . George Sanders , Celeste Holm , Hugh Marlowe , Barbara Bates , Gary Merrill , and Thelma Ritter also appear , and the film provided one of Marilyn Monroe 's earliest important roles .   Praised by critics at the time of its release , All About Eve received 14 Academy Awards nominations ( a feat only matched by the 1997 film Titanic and the 2016 film La La Land ) and won six , including Best Picture . All About Eve is the only film in Oscar history to receive four female acting nominations ( Davis and Baxter as Best Actress , Holm and Ritter as Best Supporting Actress ) . All About Eve was selected in 1990 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry and was among the first 50 films to be registered . All About Eve appeared at # 16 on AFI 's 1998 list of the 100 best American films .


Helen Gardner published Art Through the Ages.

Helen Gardner (art historian) Helen Gardner ( 1878 -- 1946 ) was an American art historian and educator . Her Art Through the Ages remains a standard text for American art history classes .   Gardner was born in Manchester , New Hampshire and attended school in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago . In 1901 she graduated with a degree in classics from the University of Chicago .  After an interval as a teacher , she returned to the same university to study art history , and received a master 's degree in 1918 . In 1920 she began lecturing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago , where she would spend the rest of her career , with the exception of short appointments at UCLA and the University of Chicago .   In 1919 , she became the head of the photograph and lantern-slides department at the Ryerson Library of the Art Institute of Chicago . The next year she started to teach an art history course at the School of the Art Institute . In 1922 , she made the choice to resign her position at the library to spare more time for teaching . From the frustration of not being able to find a comprehensive textbook that had a broad enough coverage in art history , she resolved the problem by writing such book herself , which resulted in a popular art history textbook used for decades , Art Through the Ages .   Her major work , Art Through the Ages ( 1926 ) , was the first single-volume textbook to cover the entire range of art history from a global perspective . Frequently revised , it remains a standard textbook at American schools and universities . In 1932 she also published Understanding the Arts , an art appreciation text directed toward educators . For both volumes , the analytical drawings were supplied by artist Kathleen Blackshear . In 1936 , she published a second edition of Art Through the Ages , with its content expanded .   In 1946 , aged 68 , she died due to cancer . However , despite her illness before her death , she remained in advisory capacity at the Art Institute .


Gardner's Art Through the Ages Gardner 's Art Through the Ages is an American textbook on the history of art , with the 2004 edition by Fred S. Kleiner and Christin J. Mamiya . The 2001 edition was awarded both a McGuffey award for longevity and the `` Texty '' Award for current editions by the Text and Academic Authors Association . No other book has received both awards in the same year .   The first edition published in 1926 was written by Helen Gardner . It , like all following editions , was organized chronologically beginning with `` The Birth of Art '' in the Upper Paleolithic and progressing in a mainly chronological sequence to the contemporary period .   Gardner 's initial edition was ahead of its time in that along with the Western canon of European art , it examined the art of other cultures . This broader view has influenced artists like Roy Lichtenstein as a student with its coverage not only of China , Japan , and Africa , but The Americas and the South Pacific as well . It continues to be a required text for introductory classes in art history for American students to this day .


Carrie Fisher wrote an autobiographical one-woman play.

Carrie Fisher Carrie Frances Fisher ( October 21 , 1956 -- December 27 , 2016 ) was an American actress , writer and humorist who first became known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars film series . Her other film roles included Shampoo ( 1975 ) , The Blues Brothers ( 1980 ) , Hannah and Her Sisters ( 1986 ) , The ` Burbs ( 1989 ) , and When Harry Met Sally ... ( 1989 ) .   Fisher wrote several semi-autobiographical novels , including Postcards from the Edge and the screenplay for the film of the book , as well as an autobiographical one-woman play , and its non-fiction book , Wishful Drinking , based on the play . She worked on other writers ' screenplays as a script doctor . In later years , she earned praise for speaking publicly about her experiences with bipolar disorder and drug addiction .   The daughter of the singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds , Fisher and her mother appear in Bright Lights : Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds , a 2016 documentary about their relationship . It premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival . Fisher died of cardiac arrest on December 27 , 2016 , at age 60 , four days after experiencing a medical emergency during a transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles . Her final film , Star Wars : The Last Jedi , is scheduled to be released on December 15 , 2017 .


Iron Fist is also called by another name.

Iron Fist (TV series) Marvel 's Iron Fist , or simply Iron Fist , is an American web television series created for Netflix by Scott Buck , based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name . It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , sharing continuity with the films of the franchise and is the fourth in a series of shows that will lead up to The Defenders crossover miniseries . The series is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios and Devilina Productions , with Buck serving as showrunner .   Finn Jones stars as Danny Rand / Iron Fist , a martial arts expert with the ability to call upon the power of the Iron Fist . Jessica Henwick , Tom Pelphrey , Jessica Stroup , Ramón Rodríguez , Sacha Dhawan , Rosario Dawson and David Wenham also star . After a film based on the character spent over a decade in development at Marvel Studios , development for the series began in late 2013 at Marvel Television , with Buck hired as the series showrunner in December 2015 and Jones cast as Rand in February 2016 . Filming began in New York City in April 2016 and concluded in October 2016 .   Iron Fist had its premiere on March 15 , 2017 , in New York City , with the full season of 13 episodes releasing on Netflix on March 17 , 2017 . The series received mixed reviews from critics , with criticism aimed towards its pace and storytelling , underwhelming fight sequences , and Jones ' portrayal of Rand , while Henwick 's performance as Colleen Wing and the appearances of established characters Claire Temple and Jeri Hogarth received praise . Third-party data analytics determined the series had strong initial viewership , but this was shortly cut in half .


Cher (1987 album) Cher is the self-titled eighteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher , released on November 10 , 1987 by Geffen Records . Worldwide the album has sold 2 million copies .


Dark Lady (song) `` Dark Lady '' is a pop rock song recorded by American singer-actress Cher , and the title selection from her eleventh studio album , Dark Lady . Written and composed by John Robert `` Johnny '' Durrill and produced by Snuff Garrett , it was released as the album 's first single in early 1974 . The song became Cher 's third solo U.S. number one hit on March 23 , 1974 , and her last until `` Believe '' twenty-five years later .


Believe (Cher album) Believe is the twenty-second studio album by American singer-actress Cher , first released on October 22 , 1998 by WEA and distributed in North America by Warner Bros. . Records . Following the failure of her previous studio album It 's a Man 's World , her record company encouraged her to return to the studio to pursue a new musical direction . Recording took place over the summer at the Dreamhouse Studios in London and the Soundworks Studios in New York under the guidance of English producers Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling . The album was dedicated to her ex-husband Sonny Bono , who died earlier that year .   Believe represents a complete musical departure from her previous works , consisting of dance-pop and Eurodance oriented styles , yet it includes a broader range of various musical genres such as techno , house , disco and Latin while its lyrical topics include freedom , individualism and relationships . The album features some of the new technology of the time , like the usage of Auto-tune , which would eventually become known as the `` Cher effect '' . Upon release , the album received mixed reviews from music critics , who commended Cher 's vocal performance , while others criticized the high amount of vocoder and its overall production . It won one Grammy for `` Best Dance Recording '' from a total of three nominations .   Commercially , Believe proved to be extremely successful , peaking at number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipment of four million copies across the United States . The record reached the peak position in Austria , Canada , Denmark , Germany , New Zealand and Portugal , and charted within ' the top ten in France , Spain , United Kingdom , United States and several other international territories .   Four singles were released from the album . The first single , `` Believe '' , became one of the biggest-selling singles ever by topping the charts in a total of 23 countries and has sold more than 10 million copies . `` Strong Enough '' was released as the second single from the album , being less successful than Believe , especially in the US and UK , peaking at numbers 57 and 5 , respectively . `` All or Nothing '' and `` Dov ' è l'amore '' were released as the third and fourth singles respectively , both becoming moderately successful . In order to support Believe , Cher embarked on her sixth concert tour entitled the Do You Believe ? Tour which became one of the highest grossing tour ever for a female artist at that time .


Take Me Home (Cher album) Take Me Home is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher , released on January 25 , 1979 on Casablanca Records . The RIAA certified it gold on May 17 of that year for the sales of 500,000 copies in the US .


Cher Cher ( -LSB- ˈʃɛər -RSB- born Cherilyn Sarkisian , May 20 , 1946 ) is an American singer and actress . Sometimes referred to as the Goddess of Pop , she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry . She is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice and for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment , as well as adopting a variety of styles and appearances during her five-decade-long career .   Cher gained popularity in 1965 as one-half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher after their song `` I Got You Babe '' reached number one on the American and British charts . By the end of 1967 , they had sold 40 million records worldwide and had become , according to Time magazine , rock 's `` it '' couple . She began her solo career simultaneously , releasing in 1966 her first million-seller song , `` Bang Bang ( My Baby Shot Me Down ) '' . She became a television personality in the 1970s with her shows The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour , watched by over 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run , and Cher . She emerged as a fashion trendsetter by wearing elaborate outfits on her television shows . While working on television , she established herself as a solo artist with the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles `` Gypsys , Tramps & Thieves '' , `` Half-Breed '' , and `` Dark Lady '' . After her divorce from Sonny Bono in 1975 , Cher launched a comeback in 1979 with the disco-oriented album Take Me Home and earned $ 300,000 a week for her 198082 residency show in Las Vegas .   In 1982 , Cher made her Broadway debut in the play Come Back to the Five and Dime , Jimmy Dean , Jimmy Dean and starred in the film adaptation of the same title . She subsequently earned critical acclaim for her performances in films such as Silkwood ( 1983 ) , Mask ( 1985 ) , and Moonstruck ( 1987 ) , for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress . She then revived her musical career by recording the rock-inflected albums Cher ( 1987 ) , Heart of Stone ( 1989 ) , and Love Hurts ( 1991 ) , all of which yielded several successful singles . She reached a new commercial peak in 1998 with the album Believe , whose title track became the biggest-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK . It also features the pioneering use of Auto-Tune , also known as the `` Cher effect '' . Her 2002 -- 2005 Living Proof : The Farewell Tour became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time , earning $ 250 million . In 2008 , she signed a $ 180 million deal to headline the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for three years . After seven years of absence , she returned to film in the 2010 musical Burlesque . Cher 's first studio album in 12 years , Closer to the Truth ( 2013 ) , became her highest-charting solo album in the U.S. to date at number three .   Cher has won a Grammy Award , an Emmy Award , an Academy Award , three Golden Globe Awards , a Cannes Film Festival Award , and a special CFDA Fashion Award , among several other honors . Throughout her career , she has sold 100 million records worldwide , becoming one of the best-selling music artists in the music history . She is the only artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in each decade from the 1960s to the 2010s . Outside of her music and acting , she is noted for her political views , philanthropic endeavors and social activism , including LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS prevention .


Heart of Stone (Cher album) Heart of Stone is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher , released on June 19 , 1989 by Geffen Records . It is one of Cher 's best-selling albums with more than 4 million copies sold worldwide as of January 1991 . The album was supported by her 1990 sold-out Heart of Stone Tour .


Mexico does not have a rich culture and history.

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


Gone Girl (film) Gone Girl is a 2014 American psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher and written by Gillian Flynn , based on her 2012 novel of the same name . The film stars Ben Affleck , Rosamund Pike , Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry . Set in Southwest Missouri , the story begins as a mystery that follows the events surrounding Nick Dunne ( Affleck ) , who becomes the primary suspect in the sudden disappearance of his wife , Amy ( Pike ) .   The film had its world premiere on opening night of the 52nd New York Film Festival on September 26 , 2014 , before a nationwide theatrical release on October 3 . It was received well critically and was a commercial success , grossing $ 369 million , making it the highest-grossing film by Fincher . Rosamund Pike 's performance was particularly praised , and she received nominations for an Academy Award , BAFTA Award , Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress . Further nominations included a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for Fincher and Golden Globe Award , BAFTA Award and Critics ' Choice Award nominations for Flynn 's adapted screenplay , receiving the award for the latter .


Sue Bird was the first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA Draft.

Sue Bird Suzanne Brigit `` Sue '' Bird ( born October 16 , 1980 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women 's National Basketball Association ( WNBA ) . Bird was the first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA Draft . She also played for multiple basketball teams outside of the United States .   In high school , she was the New York State Player of the Year , the New York Daily News Player of the Year , and a WBCA All-American . In her senior year at undefeated UConn in 2002 , she won the Wade Trophy and the Naismith Award as College Player of the Year . She finished her UConn career ranked first in three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage , second in assists and steals , and as a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award as the top point guard in the nation , while leading her team to a record of 114 -- 4 .   Bird has won two WNBA championships ( 2004 , 2010 ) , four Olympic gold medals , ( 2004 , 2008 , 2012 , 2016 ) , and led the WNBA in assists three times ( 2005 , 2009 , 2016 ) . She has also been selected to nine WNBA All-Star teams and seven All-WNBA teams . Bird is one of nine women to win an Olympic Gold Medal , an NCAA Championship , and a WNBA Championship . In 2011 , she was voted by fans as one of the WNBA 's Top 15 Players of All Time and was voted into the WNBA Top 20@20 as one of the league 's Top 20 Players of All Time .


Dallol, Ethiopia has been described as a ghost city.

Dallol, Ethiopia Dallol ( Amharic : ዳሎል ) is a ghost town in the Dallol woreda of northern Ethiopia . Located in Administrative Zone 2 of the Afar Region in the Afar Depression , it has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of about 130 m below sea level . The Central Statistical Agency has not published an estimate for this settlement 's 2005 population ; it has been described as a ghost town .   Dallol currently holds the official record for record high average temperature for an inhabited location on Earth , where an average annual temperature of 35 ° C ( 95 ° F ) was recorded between the years 1960 and 1966 . Dallol is also one of the most remote places on Earth , although paved roads to the village of Hamedela , which is close , are being built . Still , the most important mode of transport besides jeeps are the camel caravans which travel to the area to collect salt .   Nearby is the Dallol volcano , which last erupted in 1926 .


Kumkum Bhagya Kumkum Bhagya ( English : Vermillion In My Fate ) is a Hindi-language Indian soap opera which premiered on 15 April 2014 . and is broadcast on weeknights on Zee TV . The show is loosely based on the novel Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen . Kumkum Bhagya is its Indian interpretation , which follows the life of a Hindu-Punjabi matriarch , Sarla Arora , who runs a marriage hall . Sarla lives with the hope of seeing her two daughters Pragya and Bulbul , happily married some day . The pivotal characters of this show are strong , feisty women , living together in an all-female matriarchal family . The series stars Sriti Jha , Shabbir Ahluwalia with Mrunal Thakur , Arjit Taneja/Vin Rana , Shikha Singh and Leena Jumani in supporting roles . The series is produced by Ekta Kapoor under the banner Balaji Telefilms . Continuing her tradition , Ekta Kapoor has named the series starting with the letter `` K '' because she feels it is lucky . The show is directed by Sameer Kulkarni and developed by Ekta Kapoor .


Emilio Estevez Emilio Estevez ( -LSB- ɛˈmiljoʊ_ɛstˈɛbɛs -RSB- born May 12 , 1962 ) is an American actor , director , and writer . He started his career as an actor and is well known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s , starring in The Breakfast Club , St. Elmo 's Fire , and also acting in the 1983 hit movie The Outsiders . He is also known for Repo Man , The Mighty Ducks and its sequels , Stakeout , Maximum Overdrive , Bobby ( which he also wrote and directed ) , and his performances in Western films such as Young Guns and its sequel .


Gentle on My Mind (song) `` Gentle on My Mind '' is a song written by John Hartford , which won four 1968 Grammy Awards . Hartford himself won the award for Best Folk Performance and Best Country & Western Song ( Songwriter ) . The other two awards Best Country & Western Solo Vocal Performance , Male and Best Country & Western Recording , went to American country music singer Glen Campbell for his version of Hartford 's song . It was released in June 1967 as the only single from the album of the same name . It was re-released in July 1968 to more success . Glen Campbell 's version has received over 5 million plays on the radio . Campbell used `` Gentle on My Mind '' as the theme to his television variety show , The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour between 1969 and 1972 . Dean Martin 's version , recorded in 1968 , was a major hit in the United Kingdom ; three versions of the song , Campbell 's , Martin 's and Patti Page 's , all reached the top ten of the U.S. easy listening chart in 1968 . The song was ranked number 16 on BMI 's Top 100 Songs of the Century .


Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell ( born April 22 , 1936 ) is an American rock and country music singer , musician , songwriter , television host and actor . He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s , and for hosting a music and comedy variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television from January 1969 through June 1972 .   During his 50 years in show business , Campbell released more than 70 albums . He sold 45 million records and accumulated 12 RIAA Gold albums , four Platinum albums and one Double-platinum album . He placed a total of 80 different songs on either the Billboard Country Chart , Billboard Hot 100 , or the Adult Contemporary Chart , of which 29 made the top 10 and of which nine reached number one on at least one of those charts . Campbell 's hits include his recordings of John Hartford 's `` Gentle on My Mind '' ; Jimmy Webb 's `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' , `` Wichita Lineman '' and `` Galveston '' ; Larry Weiss 's `` Rhinestone Cowboy '' ; and Allen Toussaint 's `` Southern Nights '' .   Campbell made history in 1967 by winning four Grammys total in the country and pop categories . For `` Gentle on My Mind '' , he received two awards in country and western , `` By the Time I Get to Phoenix '' did the same in pop . Three of his early hits later won Grammy Hall of Fame Awards ( 2000 , 2004 , 2008 ) , while Campbell himself won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 . He owns trophies for Male Vocalist of the Year from both the Country Music Association ( CMA ) and the Academy of Country Music ( ACM ) , and took the CMA 's top award as 1968 Entertainer of the Year . Campbell appeared in the film True Grit , which gave him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer . Campbell sang the title song which was nominated for an Academy Award .


The Girl on the Train was directed by Stanley Kubrick.

The Girl on the Train (2016 film) The Girl on the Train is a 2016 American mystery thriller drama film directed by Tate Taylor and written by Erin Cressida Wilson , based on Paula Hawkins ' 2015 debut novel of the same name . The film stars Emily Blunt , Rebecca Ferguson , Haley Bennett , Justin Theroux , Luke Evans , Allison Janney , Édgar Ramírez , and Lisa Kudrow , and follows an alcoholic divorcée who becomes involved in a missing persons investigation .   Principal photography began on November 4 , 2015 in New York City . Produced by Marc Platt and DreamWorks Pictures , The Girl on the Train was the first DreamWorks Pictures film to be distributed by Universal Pictures , as part of DreamWorks ' new distribution deal via Amblin Partners . It premiered in London on September 20 , 2016 and was theatrically released in the United States on October 7 , 2016 . The film grossed $ 173 million worldwide , and received mixed reviews , although Blunt 's performance received praise and gained a nomination at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards , as well as a nomination for BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 70th British Academy Film Awards .


Edgar Wright both wrote and directed the action comedy film Baby Driver.

Baby Driver Baby Driver is a 2017 British -- American action comedy film written and directed by Edgar Wright , and starring Ansel Elgort , Kevin Spacey , Lily James , Jon Bernthal , Eiza González , Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx . The film follows a young getaway driver ( played by Elgort ) who is reluctantly coerced to work for a veteran kingpin ( played by Spacey ) at `` one last job '' in exchange to start a better life .   The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11 , 2017 and is scheduled to be released theatrically on June 28 , 2017 , by TriStar Pictures .


X-Men: Days of Future Past is a film based on X-Men characters in comics.

X-Men: Days of Future Past X-Men : Days of Future Past is a 2014 American superhero film based on the fictional X-Men characters that appear in Marvel Comics . Directed by Bryan Singer , it is the seventh installment of the X-Men film series and acts as a sequel to both 2006 's X-Men : The Last Stand and 2011 's X-Men : First Class . The story , inspired by the 1981 Uncanny X-Men storyline `` Days of Future Past '' by Chris Claremont and John Byrne , focuses on two time periods , with Wolverine traveling back in time to 1973 to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants . The film features an ensemble cast , including Hugh Jackman , James McAvoy , Michael Fassbender , Jennifer Lawrence , Halle Berry , Anna Paquin , Ellen Page , Peter Dinklage , Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart . Simon Kinberg wrote the screenplay from a story conceived by Jane Goldman , himself , and Matthew Vaughn .   Vaughn had directed First Class and was set to return in Days of Future Past before leaving for Kingsman : The Secret Service . Thus Singer , who had directed the first two X-Men films , made his return as a director , and brought along most of the crew from those productions . With a budget of $ 200 million , principal photography began in Montreal , Quebec in April 2013 and concluded in August the same year , with additional filming and pick-ups taking place in November 2013 and February 2014 . Twelve companies handled the visual effects .   X-Men : Days of Future Past premiered in New York City on May 10 , 2014 , and was theatrically released on May 23 . It became the best-reviewed film in the X-Men film series released thus far ( surpassed only by Logan in 2017 ) , being praised for its story , visual effects , action scenes , acting and thematic elements . During its theatrical run , the film earned over $ 747 million worldwide , making it the 6th highest grossing film of 2014 , as well as the second highest-grossing film in the series behind Deadpool . The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects , making it the first X-Men film to be nominated for an Oscar . A sequel , X-Men : Apocalypse , was released on May 27 , 2016 .


Teen Wolf (2011 TV series) Teen Wolf is an American television series developed by Jeff Davis for MTV . It is loosely based on the 1985 film of the same name , and stars Tyler Posey as a teenager named Scott McCall , who is bitten by a werewolf and must cope with how it affects his life and the lives of those closest to him , and Dylan O'Brien as `` Stiles '' Stilinski , Scott 's best friend . The series has received generally positive reviews from critics and is a fan favorite on social media .   Teen Wolf premiered on June 5 , 2011 , following the 2011 MTV Movie Awards . On July 9 , 2015 , Teen Wolf was renewed for a sixth season of 20 episodes , which premiered on November 15 , 2016 . On July 21 , 2016 , the cast announced at Comic Con that the sixth season would be the series ' final .


Ronda Rousey won an Olympic medal in karate during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Ronda Rousey Ronda Jean Rousey ( -LSB- ˈraʊzi -RSB- born February 1 , 1987 ) is an American mixed martial artist , judoka , and actress .   Rousey was the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo ( bronze ) , which she won at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing . She is the former UFC Women 's Bantamweight Champion , as well as the last Strikeforce Women 's Bantamweight Champion . She won 12 consecutive MMA fights , six in the Ultimate Fighting Championship ( UFC ) , before suffering her first loss to Holly Holm in November 2015 ; she won 11 of those fights in the first round , nine of them by armbar submission . Rousey trains under Gokor Chivichyan of the Hayastan MMA Academy , and Edmond Tarverdyan of the Glendale Fighting Club .   In May 2015 , two magazines ranked Rousey as the most `` dominant '' active athlete . In September 2015 , voters in an online ESPN poll selected Rousey as the Best Female Athlete Ever . Later that month , she claimed to be the UFC 's highest paid fighter , male or female . In 2015 , she was the third most searched person on Google . As of January 2017 , Rousey is ranked the # 4 female bantamweight fighter in the world according to the UFC , and # 9 by Sherdog .   Rousey 's first feature film role was the 2014 film The Expendables 3 . In 2015 , she had roles in the films Furious 7 and Entourage .


The Night Of was protested by Steven Zaillian and James Marsh.

The Night Of The Night Of is an American eight-part crime drama television miniseries based on Criminal Justice , a 2008 -- 09 British television series . The miniseries was written by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian and directed by Zaillian and James Marsh . Broadcast on HBO , The Night Of premiered on July 10 , 2016 to critical acclaim . The first episode premiered on June 24 , 2016 , via HBO on-demand .


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

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


Vienna Vienna ( -LSB- viˈɛnə -RSB- Wien , -LSB- viːn -RSB- ) is the capital and largest city of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria . Vienna is Austria 's primary city , with a population of about 1.8 million ( 2.6 million within the metropolitan area , nearly one third of Austria 's population ) , and its cultural , economic , and political centre . It is the 7th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union . Until the beginning of the 20th century , it was the largest German-speaking city in the world , and before the splitting of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World War I , the city had 2 million inhabitants . Today , it has the second largest number of German speakers after Berlin . Vienna is host to many major international organizations , including the United Nations and OPEC . The city is located in the eastern part of Austria and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic , Slovakia , and Hungary . These regions work together in a European Centrope border region . Along with nearby Bratislava , Vienna forms a metropolitan region with 3 million inhabitants . In 2001 , the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site .   Apart from being regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy , Vienna is also said to be `` The City of Dreams '' because it was home to the world 's first psycho-analyst -- Sigmund Freud . The city 's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that transformed into a Medieval and Baroque city , and then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . It is well known for having played an essential role as a leading European music centre , from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century . The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles , including Baroque castles and gardens , and the late-19th-century Ringstraße lined with grand buildings , monuments and parks .   Vienna is known for its high quality of life . In a 2005 study of 127 world cities , the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the city first ( in a tie with Vancouver , Canada and San Francisco , USA ) for the world 's most liveable cities . Between 2011 and 2015 , Vienna was ranked second , behind Melbourne , Australia .  For eight consecutive years ( 2009 -- 2016 ) , the human-resource-consulting firm Mercer ranked Vienna first in its annual `` Quality of Living '' survey of hundreds of cities around the world , a title the city still held in 2016 . Monocle 's 2015 `` Quality of Life Survey '' ranked Vienna second on a list of the top 25 cities in the world `` to make a base within . ''   The UN-Habitat has classified Vienna as being the most prosperous city in the world in 2012/2013 .  The city was ranked 1st globally for its culture of innovation in 2007 and 2008 , and sixth globally ( out of 256 cities ) in the 2014 Innovation Cities Index , which analyzed 162 indicators in covering three areas : culture , infrastructure , and markets . Vienna regularly hosts urban planning conferences and is often used as a case study by urban planners .   Between 2005 and 2010 , Vienna was the world 's number-one destination for international congresses and conventions . It attracts over 6.8 million tourists a year .


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


Everybody Needs a Best Friend was composed.

Everybody Needs a Best Friend `` Everybody Needs a Best Friend '' is a song from the 2012 feature film Ted , with music composed by Walter Murphy and lyrics by Seth MacFarlane . Performed by Norah Jones during the film 's opening credits , the song was used as the film 's main theme song . It was released by Universal Republic Records on June 26 , 2012 .   In January 2013 , the song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 85th Academy Awards , but lost to `` Skyfall '' from the film of the same name . MacFarlane was also the host of the Oscars while also being nominated .


Marcus Rashford is incapable of playing for Premier League club Manchester United.

Marcus Rashford Marcus Rashford ( born 31 October 1997 ) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team .   A Manchester United player from the age of seven , he scored twice in both his first-team debut ( Europa League ) after the warm-up injury of striker Anthony Martial and in his first Premier League game in February 2016 ( against Arsenal ) . He also scored in his first Manchester derby game , and his first League Cup game .   Rashford scored on his England debut in May 2016 , becoming the youngest English player to score in his first senior international game . He was chosen for UEFA Euro 2016 .


Alicia Keys made her film debut in Mario Party.

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook ( born January 25 , 1981 ) , known professionally as Alicia Keys , is an American singer , songwriter , record producer , pianist and actress . Keys released her debut album with J Records , having had previous record deals first with Columbia and then Arista Records . Keys ' debut album , Songs in A Minor was released in 2001 , producing her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single `` Fallin ' '' , and selling over 12 million copies worldwide . The album earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002 . Her sophomore album , The Diary of Alicia Keys , was released in 2003 , spawning successful singles `` You Do n't Know My Name '' , `` If I Ai n't Got You '' and `` Diary '' , and selling 8 million copies worldwide . The duet song `` My Boo '' with Usher scored her a second number-one single in 2004 . The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards in 2005 . Later that year , she released her first live album , Unplugged , becoming the first woman to have an MTV Unplugged album debut at number one .   As I Am was released in 2007 , producing the Hot 100 number-one single `` No One '' , selling 5 million copies worldwide and earning an additional three Grammy Awards . The Element of Freedom was released in 2009 , becoming her first chart-topping album in the UK , and selling 4 million copies worldwide . Keys additionally collaborated with Jay Z on `` Empire State of Mind '' as her fourth number-one single , and won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2010 . Girl on Fire was released in 2012 as her fifth Billboard 200 topping album , spawning the successful title track . Her second live album , VH1 Storytellers was released in 2013 . Here was released in 2016 , becoming her seventh R&B / Hip-Hop chart topping album   Keys has won numerous awards such as 15 Grammy Awards and 17 NAACP Image Awards and has sold over 35 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide . Keys made her film debut in Smokin ' Aces and has also appeared in The Nanny Diaries and The Secret Life of Bees . Considered a pop icon , Billboard magazine named her the top R&B artist of the 2000s decade and placed her number 10 on their list of Top 50 R&B / Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years . VH1 included her on their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list , while Time named her in their 100 list of most influential people in 2005 and 2017 .


Seven Days in May stars American actor Burt Lancaster.

Seven Days in May Seven Days in May is a 1964 American political thriller motion picture about a military-political cabal 's planned take-over of the United States government in reaction to the president 's negotiation of a disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union . Directed by John Frankenheimer , it stars Burt Lancaster , Kirk Douglas , Fredric March , and Ava Gardner . The screenplay was written by Rod Serling based on the novel of the same name by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II , published in September 1962 .


Gopalkrishna Gandhi Gopalkrishna Devdas Gandhi ( born April 22 , 1946 ) is a retired IAS officer and diplomat , who was the 22nd Governor of West Bengal serving from 2004 to 2009 . As a former IAS officer and he served as Secretary to the President of India and as High Commissioner to South Africa and Sri Lanka , among other administrative and diplomatic posts .


Gone Girl (film) Gone Girl is a 2014 American psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher and written by Gillian Flynn , based on her 2012 novel of the same name . The film stars Ben Affleck , Rosamund Pike , Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry . Set in Southwest Missouri , the story begins as a mystery that follows the events surrounding Nick Dunne ( Affleck ) , who becomes the primary suspect in the sudden disappearance of his wife , Amy ( Pike ) .   The film had its world premiere on opening night of the 52nd New York Film Festival on September 26 , 2014 , before a nationwide theatrical release on October 3 . It was received well critically and was a commercial success , grossing $ 369 million , making it the highest-grossing film by Fincher . Rosamund Pike 's performance was particularly praised , and she received nominations for an Academy Award , BAFTA Award , Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress . Further nominations included a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for Fincher and Golden Globe Award , BAFTA Award and Critics ' Choice Award nominations for Flynn 's adapted screenplay , receiving the award for the latter .


Fairy Tail is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima . It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since August 2 , 2006 , with the individual chapters collected and published into 61 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha as of May 17 , 2017 . The story follows the adventures of Natsu Dragneel , a teenage who is a member of the popular wizards ' guild Fairy Tail , as he searches for the dragon Igneel .   The manga has been adapted into an anime series produced by A-1 Pictures , Dentsu Inc. , and Satelight , which began broadcasting in Japan on October 12 , 2009 . Additionally , A-1 Pictures has developed seven original video animations and two animated feature films . The series ended its initial run on March 30 , 2013 . A second series premiered on TV Tokyo on April 5 , 2014 , and ended on March 26 , 2016 .   Fairy Tail was originally licensed for an English language release in North America by Del Rey Manga , which began releasing the individual volumes on March 25 , 2008 and ended its licensing with the 12th volume release in September 2010 . In December 2010 , Kodansha Comics USA took over North American release of the series . The Southeast Asian network Animax Asia aired an English-language version of the anime for seven seasons from 2010 to 2015 . The anime has been licensed by Funimation for an English-language release in North America . As of February 2017 , Fairy Tail had 60 million copies in print .


Following is a movie which is a neo-noir crime drama.

Following Following is a 1998 British neo-noir crime drama film written and directed by Christopher Nolan . It tells the story of a young man who follows strangers around the streets of London and is drawn into a criminal underworld when he fails to keep his distance .   As Christopher Nolan 's debut feature , it was designed to be as inexpensive as possible to make . Scenes were heavily rehearsed so that just one or two takes were needed to economise on 16mm film stock , the production 's greatest expense ; and for which Nolan was paying from his salary . Unable to afford expensive professional lighting equipment , Nolan mostly used available light . Along with writing , directing , and photographing the film , Nolan also helped in editing and production .


The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Amy Sherman-Palladino Amy Sherman-Palladino ( born Amy Sherman ) is an American television writer , director , and producer . The founder of Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions , she is best known as the creator of the television series Gilmore Girls , Bunheads , and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel .   She is also well known for her trademark rapid-fire dialogue , which is often full of obscure pop culture references ; and as well for her preferred master shot filming style .


Svitavy is a town in the Czech Republic.

Svitavy Svitavy ( -LSB- ˈsvɪtavɪ -RSB- ; Zwittau ) is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic . The town has a population of 18,000 and is also the district administrative centre . It is the birthplace of Oskar Schindler and an important center of the Czech Esperanto movement , with an Esperanto museum that is part of the city museum .


Kurt Russell signed a ten-year contract with The Walt Disney Company.

Kurt Russell Kurt Vogel Russell ( born March 17 , 1951 ) is an American actor . He began acting on television in the western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters ( 1963 -- 64 ) . In the late 1960s , he signed a ten-year contract with The Walt Disney Company where , according to Robert Osborne , he became the studio 's top star of the 1970s .   Russell was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Motion Picture for his performance in Silkwood ( 1983 ) . During the 1980s , he starred in several films by director John Carpenter , including anti-hero roles such as army hero-turned-robber Snake Plissken in the futuristic action film Escape from New York ( 1981 ) , and its sequel Escape from L.A. ( 1996 ) , Antarctic helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in the horror film The Thing ( 1982 ) , and truck driver Jack Burton in the dark kung-fu comedy action film Big Trouble in Little China ( 1986 ) , all of which have since become cult films . He was nominated for an Emmy Award for the television film Elvis ( 1979 ) , also directed by Carpenter .   Russell starred in other films , including Overboard ( 1987 ) , Tombstone ( 1993 ) , Stargate ( 1994 ) , Death Proof ( 2007 ) , The Hateful Eight ( 2015 ) , and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2 ( 2017 ) . He has joined The Fast and the Furious franchise since 2015 , having starred in Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious .


Blade Runner Blade Runner is a 1982 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford , Rutger Hauer , Sean Young , and Edward James Olmos . The film , written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples , is a loose adaptation of the 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ? by Philip K. Dick . The film depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in which genetically engineered replicants , which are visually indistinguishable from adult humans , are manufactured by the powerful Tyrell Corporation . The use of replicants on Earth is banned and they are exclusively utilized for dangerous or menial work on off-world colonies . Replicants who defy the ban and return to Earth are hunted down and killed ( `` retired '' ) by special police operatives known as `` Blade Runners '' . The plot focuses on a group of recently escaped replicants led by Roy Batty ( Hauer ) , and the burnt-out expert Blade Runner , Rick Deckard ( Ford ) , who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment to hunt them down . During his investigations , Deckard begins a relationship with Rachael ( Young ) , an advanced replicant who causes him to question his and the replicants ' humanity .   Blade Runner initially polarized critics ; some were displeased with the pacing , while others enjoyed its thematic complexity . The year following its release , the film won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation . Blade Runner underperformed in North American theaters , but has since become a cult film . Hailed for its production design , depicting a `` retrofitted '' future , it remains a leading example of the neo-noir genre . It brought the work of Philip K. Dick to the attention of Hollywood and several later films were based on his work . Ridley Scott regards Blade Runner as `` probably '' his most complete and personal film . In 1993 , the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress , being deemed `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' . Blade Runner is now regarded by many critics as one of the all-time best science fiction films .   Seven versions of the film have been shown for various markets as a result of controversial changes made by film executives . A Director 's Cut was released in 1992 after a strong response to workprint screenings . This , in conjunction with its popularity as a video rental , made it one of the first films released on DVD , resulting in a basic disc with mediocre video and audio quality . In 2007 , Warner Bros. released The Final Cut , a 25th anniversary digitally remastered version , which is the only one on which Scott had complete artistic freedom and was shown in selected theaters and subsequently released on DVD , HD DVD , and Blu-ray .   A sequel , Blade Runner 2049 , is scheduled for release in October 2017 .


Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott ( born 30 November 1937 ) is an English film director and producer . Following his commercial breakthrough with the science-fiction horror film Alien ( 1979 ) , his best known works are the neo-noir dystopian science fiction film Blade Runner ( 1982 ) , crime drama Thelma & Louise ( 1991 ) , historical drama and Best Picture Oscar winner Gladiator ( 2000 ) , war film Black Hawk Down ( 2001 ) , crime thriller Hannibal ( 2001 ) , biographical film American Gangster ( 2007 ) , and science fiction films Prometheus ( 2012 ) and The Martian ( 2015 ) .   Scott is known for his atmospheric , highly concentrated visual style . Though his films range widely in setting and period , they frequently showcase memorable imagery of urban environments , whether 2nd century Rome ( Gladiator ) , 12th century Jerusalem ( Kingdom of Heaven ) , Medieval England ( Robin Hood ) , contemporary Mogadishu ( Black Hawk Down ) , or the future cityscapes of Blade Runner . His films are also known for their strong female characters . Scott has been nominated for three Academy Awards for Directing ( for Thelma & Louise , Gladiator and Black Hawk Down ) . In 1995 , both Ridley and his brother Tony received a BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema . In 2003 , Scott was knighted for his `` services to the British film industry '' . In a 2004 BBC poll Scott was named the tenth most influential person in British culture . In 2015 he received an honorary doctorate from the Royal College of Art in London .


Gladiator (2000 film) Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni , John Logan , and William Nicholson . It stars Russell Crowe , Joaquin Phoenix , Connie Nielsen , Ralf Möller , Oliver Reed ( in his final role ) , Djimon Hounsou , Derek Jacobi , John Shrapnel , and Richard Harris . Crowe portrays Hispano-Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius , who is betrayed when Commodus , the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius , murders his father and seizes the throne . Reduced to slavery , Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge the murders of his family and his emperor .   The film was released in the United States on May 5 , 2000 , and grossed $ 457 million worldwide . The film won multiple awards , including Best Picture , Best Actor for Crowe and three other Oscars at the 73rd Academy Awards . It has also been credited with rekindling interest in entertainment centered around ancient Greek and Roman culture , such as Rome .


The Republic of Zambia is bordered to the south by Botswana.

Zambia Zambia ( -LSB- ˈzæmbiə -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Zambia , is a landlocked country in Southern Africa , neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north , Tanzania to the north-east , Malawi to the east , Mozambique , Zimbabwe , Botswana and Namibia to the south , and Angola to the west . The capital city is Lusaka , in the south-central part of Zambia . The population is concentrated mainly around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt Province to the northwest , the core economic hubs of the country .   Originally inhabited by Khoisan peoples , the region was affected by the Bantu expansion of the thirteenth century . After visits by European explorers in the eighteenth century , Zambia became the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century . For most of the colonial period , Zambia was governed by an administration appointed from London with the advice of the British South Africa Company .   On 24 October 1964 , Zambia became independent of the United Kingdom and prime minister Kenneth Kaunda became the inaugural president . Kaunda 's socialist United National Independence Party ( UNIP ) maintained power from 1964 until 1991 . Kaunda played a key role in regional diplomacy , cooperating closely with the United States in search of solutions to conflicts in Rhodesia ( Zimbabwe ) , Angola , and Namibia . From 1972 to 1991 Zambia was a one-party state with the UNIP as the sole legal political party under the motto `` One Zambia , One Nation '' . Kaunda was succeeded by Frederick Chiluba of the social-democratic Movement for Multi-Party Democracy in 1991 , beginning a period of social-economic growth and government decentralisation . Levy Mwanawasa , Chiluba 's chosen successor , presided over Zambia from January 2002 until his death in August 2008 , and is credited with campaigns to reduce corruption and increase the standard of living . After Mwanawasa 's death , Rupiah Banda presided as Acting President before being elected President in 2008 . Holding office for only three years , Banda stepped down after his defeat in the 2011 elections by Patriotic Front party leader Michael Sata . Sata died on 28 October 2014 , the second Zambian president to die in office . Guy Scott served briefly as interim president until new elections were held on 20 January 2015 , in which Edgar Lungu was elected as the sixth President .   In 2010 , the World Bank named Zambia one of the world 's fastest economically reformed countries . The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa ( COMESA ) is headquartered in Lusaka .


Athletics at the Summer Olympics includes contests for athletics.

Racewalking Racewalking , or race walking , is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics . Although it is a foot race , it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times . This is assessed by race judges . Typically held on either roads or on running tracks , common distances vary from 3000 metres ( 1.8 mi ) up to 100 kilometres ( 62.1 mi ) .   There are two racewalking distances contested at the Summer Olympics : the 20 kilometres race walk ( men and women ) and 50 kilometres race walk ( men only ) . Both are held as road events . The biennial IAAF World Championships in Athletics also features the same three events . The IAAF World Race Walking Cup , first held in 1961 , is a stand-alone global competition for the discipline and it has 10 kilometres race walks for junior athletes , in addition to the Olympic-standard events . The IAAF World Indoor Championships featured 5000 m and 3000 m race walk variations , but these were discontinued after 1993 . Top level athletics championships and games typically feature 20 km racewalking events .   The sport emerged from a British culture of long-distance competitive walking known as pedestrianism , which began to develop the ruleset that is the basis of the modern discipline around the mid-19th century . Since the mid-20th century onwards , Russian and Chinese athletes have been among the most successful on the global stage , with Europe and parts of Latin America producing most of the remaining top level walkers .   Compared to other forms of foot racing , stride length is reduced ; to achieve competitive speeds racewalkers must attain cadence rates comparable to those achieved by world-class 800 metres runners .


Track and field Track and field is a sport which includes athletic contests established on the skills of running , jumping , and throwing . The name is derived from the sport 's typical venue : a stadium with an oval running track enclosing a grass field where the throwing and jumping events take place . Track and field is categorised under the umbrella sport of athletics , which also includes road running , cross country running , and race walking .   The foot racing events , which include sprints , middle - and long-distance events , race walking and hurdling , are won by the athlete with the fastest time . The jumping and throwing events are won by the athlete who achieves the greatest distance or height . Regular jumping events include long jump , triple jump , high jump and pole vault , while the most common throwing events are shot put , javelin , discus and hammer . There are also `` combined events '' or `` multi events '' , such as the pentathlon consisting of five events , heptathlon consisting of seven events , and decathlon consisting of ten events . In these , athletes participate in a combination of track and field events . Most track and field events are individual sports with a single victor ; the most prominent team events are relay races , which typically feature teams of four . Events are almost exclusively divided by gender , although both the men 's and women 's competitions are usually held at the same venue .   It is one of the oldest sports . In ancient times , it was an event held in conjunction with festivals and sports meets such as the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece . The ancient Olympic Games began in the year 776 BC , when Koroibos , a cook from the nearby city of Elis , won the stadium race , a foot race 600 feet long . According to some literary traditions , this was the only athletic event of the games for the first 13 Olympic festivals . In modern times , the two most prestigious international track and field competitions are athletics competition at the Olympic Games and the IAAF World Championships in Athletics . The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body .   Records are kept of the best performances in specific events , at world and national levels , right down to a personal level . However , if athletes are deemed to have violated the event 's rules or regulations , they are disqualified from the competition and their marks are erased .   In North America , the term track and field may be used to refer to other athletics events , such as the marathon , rather than strictly track-based events .


Road running Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road ( as opposed to track and field and cross country running ) .   These events are usually classified as long-distance according to athletics terminology , with races typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon . They may involve large numbers of runners or wheelchair entrants . The three most common IAAF recognized distances for `` road running '' events are 10K runs , half marathons and marathons . Despite this , there are far more 5K road race events , due to their popularity for charity races and similar , less competitive reasons to hold an event .   Road running may offer those involved a range of challenges and interests such as dealing with hills , sharp bends , varied surfaces , inclement weather , and involvement in a large group . Aerobic fitness , or the ability of the body to use oxygen , is the biggest factor contributing to success .   The impact of running on roads puts more stress on the feet , knees and lower back than running on dirt or grass . It can compensate by providing a consistent , level surface . It may put less strain on the Achilles tendon . Before engaging in road running , one should choose a shoe that best suits one 's foot type and running style .   Road running is one of several forms of road racing , which also include road bicycle racing and motor vehicle road racing .


Athletics at the Summer Olympics Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics . The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics . The modern program includes track and field events , road running events , and racewalking events . Cross country running was also on the program in earlier editions but it was dropped after the 1924 Summer Olympics .


There was an album that was number one on the U.S Billboard 200 by Drake (musician).

Views (album) Views is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake . It was released on April 29 , 2016 , by Young Money Entertainment , Cash Money Records and Republic Records . Recording sessions took place from 2015 to 2016 , with both Drake and his longtime collaborator and record producer 40 serving as the records executive producers . 40 also primarily handled the production on the album alongside each of these several other record producers such as Nineteen85 , Maneesh Bidaye , Kanye West and Jordan Ullman , among others . The album contains the elements of genres such as R&B , dancehall , hip hop and pop , among others .   The album was supported by five singles : `` Hotline Bling '' ( which was included as a bonus track ) , `` One Dance '' featuring Wizkid and Kyla , `` Pop Style '' featuring The Throne ( Jay Z and Kanye West ) , `` Controlla '' and `` Too Good '' featuring Rihanna . `` One Dance '' became Drake 's first number-one single in 10 countries as the lead artist , including Australia , Canada , the United Kingdom and the United States . The single spent 10 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and 15 weeks on the UK Singles Chart .   Views was met with lukewarm reviews from critics , many of whom found it to be an overlong retread of Drake 's previous work . Despite this , it spent 13 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 . Views became the first album to accumulate one-billion streams on Apple Music . On December 1 , 2016 , Views was certified Quadruple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . As of January 2017 , Views sold 1.61 million copies and a total of 4.14 million album-equivalent units in the United States . Views was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album at the 59th Grammy Awards . Additionally , `` Hotline Bling '' won for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song , respectively . The single version of `` Pop Style '' featuring The Throne was nominated for Best Rap Performance .


Drake (musician) Aubrey Drake Graham ( born October 24 , 1986 ) better known by the stage name Drake , is a Canadian rapper , singer , songwriter , record producer , and actor . Drake initially gained recognition as an actor on the teen drama television series Degrassi : The Next Generation in the early 2000s . Intent on pursuing a career as a rapper , he departed the series in 2007 following the release of his debut mixtape , Room for Improvement . He released two further independent projects , Comeback Season and So Far Gone , before signing to Lil Wayne 's Young Money Entertainment in June 2009 .   Drake released his debut studio album Thank Me Later in 2010 , which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was soon certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . His next two releases were 2011 's Take Care and 2013 's Nothing Was the Same , with certifications of quadruple and triple platinum respectively in the U.S. , with the former also earning him his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album . They were followed by two mixtapes , with the trap-influenced If You 're Reading This It 's Too Late , and a collaboration with Future for What a Time to Be Alive , in 2015 , which both also earned platinum certification in the U.S.   Drake released his fourth album , Views , in 2016 , breaking several chart records in the process . The dancehall-influenced album sat atop the Billboard 200 for ten nonconsecutive weeks , becoming the first album by a solo male to do so in over 10 years . Its single `` One Dance '' topped the chart in several countries , including the U.S. , the UK and Canada , where it became his first number-one single as the lead artist . This saw Drake leading the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 simultaneously for eight weeks , coming close to a record held by Whitney Houston . It achieved quadruple platinum status in the U.S. , and earned over 1 million album-equivalent units in the first week of its release . The single `` Hotline Bling '' secured him his second and third Grammy win , for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song , at the organization 's 59th ceremony .   Drake released the multi-genre More Life in 2017 . Described by Drake as a playlist , it was his seventh consecutive number one on the Billboard 200 , and set multiple streaming records .   Drake owns several Billboard chart records . He has the most charted songs ( 154 ) among solo artists in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 , the most simultaneously charted Hot 100 songs in a single week ( 24 ) , and the most Hot 100 debuts in a week ( 21 ) . Drake also has the most number one singles on the Hot Rap Songs , Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Charts . Alongside his Grammy Award wins , Drake has won three Juno Awards and six American Music Awards .   Drake has developed other ventures , including his OVO Sound record label with longtime collaborator Noah `` 40 '' Shebib . Drake acts as a producer , producing under the pseudonym of Champagne Papi . Using the `` OVO '' moniker , Drake has his own clothing line and his own program on Beats 1 Radio . He is also currently acting as the global ambassador for NBA franchise , the Toronto Raptors .


More Life More Life ( stylized as More Life : A Playlist By October Firm on the cover ) is an album by Canadian rapper Drake , although described by the artist as a playlist . It was released on March 18 , 2017 , by OVO Sound , Young Money Entertainment , Cash Money Records , and Republic Records . The album was supported by four singles : `` Fake Love '' , `` Passionfruit '' , `` Free Smoke '' and `` Portland '' .   Production of More Life was handled by a variety of record producers , including 40 , Frank Dukes , Boi-1da , Murda Beatz , T-Minus , Nineteen85 , and Kanye West , among others . An ensemble of guest vocalists also appear , including Young Thug , Giggs , Skepta , Quavo , Travis Scott , 2 Chainz , Kanye West , Jorja Smith , Sampha and PartyNextDoor . The songs on More Life feature a broad range of genres , including hip hop , R&B , dancehall , grime , trap , Afrobeat , and pop .   The album received generally positive reviews and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 , becoming his seventh consecutive number one album , while also breaking several streaming records .


Caroline Blakiston was turned down by the casting team for The Return of the Jedi.

Caroline Blakiston Caroline Blakiston ( born 13 February 1933 ) is an English actress . She is best known in her native United Kingdom for her role in the television comedy series Brass , and to international audiences as Mon Mothma in the Star Wars film Return of the Jedi .


Annie Parisse was not born July 31, 1975.

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


Don Henley has released compilation albums.

Don Henley Donald Hugh `` Don '' Henley ( born July 22 , 1947 ) is an American singer-songwriter , producer , and drummer , best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career . Henley was the drummer and co-lead singer for the Eagles from 1971 to 1980 , when the band broke up , and from 1994 to 2016 , when they reunited . Henley sang the lead vocals on Eagles hits such as `` Witchy Woman '' , `` Desperado '' , `` Best of My Love '' , `` One of These Nights '' , `` Hotel California '' , `` Life in the Fast Lane '' , `` The Long Run '' and `` Get Over It '' .   After the Eagles broke up in 1980 , Henley pursued a solo career and released his debut album I Ca n't Stand Still , in 1982 . He has released five studio albums , two compilation albums , and one live DVD . His solo hits include `` Dirty Laundry '' , `` The Boys of Summer '' , `` All She Wants to Do Is Dance '' , `` The Heart of the Matter '' , `` The Last Worthless Evening '' , `` Sunset Grill '' , `` Not Enough Love in the World '' , and `` The End of the Innocence '' .   The Eagles have sold over 150 million albums worldwide , won six Grammy Awards , had five No. 1 singles , 17 Top 40 singles , and six No. 1 albums . They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and are the biggest selling American band in history . As a solo artist , Henley has sold over 10 million albums worldwide , had eight Top 40 singles , won two Grammy Awards and five MTV Video Music Awards . Combined with the Eagles and as a solo artist , Henley has released 25 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 . He has also released seven studio albums with the Eagles and four as a solo artist . In 2008 , he was ranked as the 87th greatest singer of all time by the Rolling Stone magazine .   Henley has also played a founding role in several environmental and political causes , most notably the Walden Woods Project . From 1994 to 2016 , he divided his musical activities between the Eagles and his solo career .


Margaret of Valois Margaret of Valois ( Marguerite , 14 May 1553 -- 27 March 1615 ) was a French princess of the Valois dynasty who became queen consort of Navarre and later also of France .   A daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de ' Medici , Margaret was the sister of kings Francis II , Charles IX and Henry III , and of Elisabeth of Valois Queen of Spain , as well as Claude of Valois . Charles IX arranged for her to marry a distant cousin , King Henry III of Navarre , and she thus became Queen of Navarre in 1572 . In 1589 , after all her brothers had died leaving no sons , Margaret 's husband , the senior-most agnatic heir to France ( the `` Prince du sang '' ) , succeeded to the French throne as Henry IV , the first Bourbon King of France .   A queen of two kingdoms , Margaret was subjected to many political manipulations , including being held prisoner ( albeit at a comfortable castle ) by her own brother , Henry III of France , for many years . However , her life was anything but passive . She was famous for her beauty and sense of style , notorious for a licentious lifestyle , and also proved a competent memoirist . She was indeed one of the most fashionable women of her time , and influenced many of Europe 's royal courts with her clothing . Margaret took many lovers both during her marriage and after its annulment , of whom the best-known are Joseph Boniface de La Môle , Jacques de Harlay , Seigneur de Champvallon and Louis de Bussy d'Amboise . While imprisoned , she took advantage of the time to write her memoirs , which included a succession of stories relating to the disputes of her brothers Charles IX and Henry III with her husband . The memoirs were published posthumously in 1628 .   Her life has inspired a variety of stories over the centuries , beginning with William Shakespeare 's early comedy Love 's Labour 's Lost , which was in fact written within her lifetime , to Alexandre Dumas , père 's 1845 novel La Reine Margot ; to a 1994 movie La Reine Margot .


Lily James turned down the role she was offered in Cinderella.

Cinderella (2015 Disney film) Cinderella is a 2015 American romantic fantasy film directed by Kenneth Branagh , with a screenplay written by Chris Weitz . The film is based on the eponymous folk tale and inspired in part by Walt Disney 's 1950 animated film . The film stars Lily James as the titular character with Richard Madden , Cate Blanchett , Stellan Skarsgård , Holliday Grainger , Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter . It is produced by David Barron , Simon Kinberg and Allison Shearmur for Walt Disney Pictures .   Cinderella had its world premiere on February 13 , 2015 , at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival and was released in theaters on March 13 , 2015 . It grossed over $ 543 million worldwide , becoming Branagh 's highest-grossing film to date , and received mostly positive reviews . The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design at the 88th Academy Awards .


Swedish Empire The Swedish Empire ( stormaktstiden , `` the era of great power '' ) refers to the Kingdom of Sweden 's territorial control of much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries , a time when Sweden was one of the great European powers . The beginning of the Empire is usually taken as the reign of Gustavus Adolphus , who ascended the throne in 1611 , and the end as the loss of territories in 1721 following the Great Northern War . In Swedish history , the period is referred to as stormaktstiden , literally meaning `` the Great Power era '' .   After the death of Gustavus Adolphus in 1632 , the empire was , over lengthy periods , controlled by part of the high nobility , most prominently the Oxenstierna family , acting as tutors for minor regents . The interests of the high nobility contrasted with the uniformity policy ( i.e. , the upholding of the traditional equality in status of the Swedish estates favoured by the kings and peasantry ) . In territories acquired during the periods of de facto noble rule , serfdom was not abolished , and there was also a trend to set up respective estates in Sweden proper . The Great Reduction of 1680 put an end to these efforts of the nobility and required them to return estates once gained from the crown to the king . Serfdom , however , remained in force in the dominions acquired in the Holy Roman Empire and in Swedish Estonia , where a consequent application of the uniformity policy was hindered by the treaties by which they were gained .   After the victories in the Thirty Years ' War , the climax of the great power era was reached during the Second Northern War , when their primary adversary Denmark was neutralized by the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658 . However , in the further course of this war as well as in the subsequent Scanian War , Sweden was able to maintain her empire only with support of her closest ally , France . Charles XI of Sweden consolidated the empire and ensured a period of peace , before Russia , Saxony and Denmark started a concerted attack on his successor , Charles XII . After initial Swedish victories , Charles secured the empire for some time in the Peace of Travendal ( 1700 ) and the Treaty of Altranstädt ( 1706 ) , before the Battle of Poltava ( 1709 ) finally brought the great power era of Sweden to an end .


Sweden Sweden ( Konungariket Sverige ) , is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe . It borders Norway to the west and Finland to the east , and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund . At 450295 km2 , Sweden is the third-largest country in the European Union by area , with a total population of 10.0 million . Sweden consequently has a low population density of 22 PD/km2 , with the highest concentration in the southern half of the country . Approximately 85 % of the population lives in urban areas .   Germanic peoples have inhabited Sweden since prehistoric times , emerging into history as the Geats/G ötar and Swedes/Svear and constituting the sea peoples known as the Norsemen . Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural , while the north is heavily forested . Sweden is part of the geographical area of Fennoscandia . The climate is in general very mild for its northerly latitude due to significant maritime influence , that in spite of this still retains warm continental summers . Today , Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy , with a monarch as head of state . The capital city is Stockholm , which is also the most populous city in the country . Legislative power is vested in the 349-member unicameral Riksdag . Executive power is exercised by the government chaired by the prime minister . Sweden is a unitary state , currently divided into 21 counties and 290 municipalities .   Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages . In the 17th century , it expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire , which became one of the great powers of Europe until the early 18th century . Swedish territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were gradually lost during the 18th and 19th centuries , ending with the annexation of present-day Finland by Russia in 1809 . The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814 , when Norway was militarily forced into personal union . Since then , Sweden has been at peace , maintaining an official policy of neutrality in foreign affairs . The union with Norway was peacefully dissolved in 1905 , leading to Sweden 's current borders . Though Sweden was formally neutral through both world wars , Sweden engaged in humanitarian efforts , such as taking in refugees from German-occupied Europe .   After the end of the Cold War , Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995 , but declined NATO membership , as well as Eurozone membership following a referendum . It is also a member of the United Nations , the Nordic Council , Council of Europe , the World Trade Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) . Sweden maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens . It has the world 's eighth-highest per capita income and ranks highly in numerous metrics of national performance , including quality of life , health , education , protection of civil liberties , economic competitiveness , equality , prosperity and human development .


European Union The European Union ( EU ) is a political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe . It has an area of 4,475,757 km2 , and an estimated population of over 510 million . The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states . EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people , goods , services , and capital within the internal market , enact legislation in justice and home affairs , and maintain common policies on trade , agriculture , fisheries , and regional development . Within the Schengen Area , passport controls have been abolished . A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002 , and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency .   The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community ( ECSC ) and the European Economic Community ( EEC ) , formed by the Inner Six countries in 1951 and 1958 , respectively . Next the treaty of Rome of 1957 created the European Community made up of the six core countries of Belgium , France , Italy , Luxembourg , the Netherlands and West Germany . The decades following many new members joined them while at the same time integration of economic , cultural , judicial and so forth would then deepen the relationships distinct European entity . The community and its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit . While no member state has left the EU or its antecedent organisations , the United Kingdom enacted the result of a membership referendum in June 2016 and is currently negotiating its withdrawal . The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union in 1993 and introduced European citizenship . The latest major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU , the Treaty of Lisbon , came into force in 2009 .   The European Union accumulated a high portion of GDP as a form of foreign aid than any other economic union . Covering 7.3 % of the world population , the EU in 2016 generated a nominal gross domestic product ( GDP ) of 16.477 trillion US dollars , constituting approximately 22.2 % of global nominal GDP and 16.9 % when measured in terms of purchasing power parity . Additionally , 27 out of 28 EU countries have a very high Human Development Index , according to the United Nations Development Programme . In 2012 , the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize . Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy , the EU has developed a role in external relations and defence . The union maintains permanent diplomatic missions throughout the world and represents itself at the United Nations , the World Trade Organization , the G7 , and the G20 . Because of its global influence , the European Union has been described as an emerging superpower .


Kid Rock Robert James Ritchie ( born January 17 , 1971 ) , known professionally as Kid Rock , is an American singer , rapper , songwriter , musician , record producer , and actor . His 1998 album Devil Without a Cause sold 14 million copies worldwide . He is a five-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold 25 million albums in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan . The RIAA certified him selling 23.5 million albums . He has sold over 35 million records worldwide and he was Soundscan 's number-one selling male solo musician of the 2000s , selling 17.6 million albums ; he was 17th overall for the decade .   Rock performed rap and hip hop with five releases between 1990 and 1997 , including a reissue and an EP . After signing a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1998 , he gained commercial success in the rap rock genre behind the singles `` Bawitdaba '' , `` Cowboy '' and `` Only God Knows Why '' ( the latter foreshadowing his move into country rock ) . After the success of Devil Without a Cause in 2000 , he released The History of Rock , a compilation of remixed and remastered versions of songs from previous albums as well as the hit rock single , `` American Bad Ass '' .   Rock 's follow-up records became more rock - , country - , and blues-oriented , starting with 2001 's Cocky . His collaboration with Sheryl Crow on the song `` Picture '' was his first country hit and biggest pop hit in the US to date charting at No. 4 on the Hot 100 . After 2003 's Kid Rock and 2006 's Live Trucker sales declined from the previous releases , he then released Rock n Roll Jesus in 2007 . The album featured the song `` All Summer Long '' , which charted at No. 1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia . In 2010 , he released Born Free , which featured an eponymous song that became the political campaign theme of Mitt Romney , the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election .   Rock released Rebel Soul on November 19 , 2012 behind the rock hit `` Let 's Ride '' . The album was certified gold in April 2013 . Kid Rock released First Kiss on February 24 , 2015 behind the hit title track .


Grammy Award A Grammy Award ( originally called Gramophone Award ) , or Grammy , is an honor awarded by The Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the mainly English-language music industry . The annual presentation ceremony features performances by prominent artists , and the presentation of those awards that have a more popular interest . It shares recognition of the music industry as that of the other performance awards such as the Emmy Awards ( television ) , the Tony Awards ( stage performance ) , and the Academy Awards ( motion pictures ) .   The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4 , 1959 , to honor and respect the musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1958 . Following the 2011 ceremony , The Academy overhauled many Grammy Award categories for 2012 . The 59th Grammy Awards , honoring the best achievements from October 2015 to September 2016 , was held on February 12 , 2017 , at the Staples Center in Los Angeles .