Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ( -LSB- æzərbaɪˈʒɑːn -RSB- ; Azərbaycan ) , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan ( Azərbaycan Respublikası ) , is a country in the South Caucasus region , situated at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Southeastern Europe . It is bound by the Caspian Sea to the east , Russia to the north , Georgia to the northwest , Armenia to the west and Iran to the south . The exclave of Nakhchivan is bound by Armenia to the north and east , Iran to the south and west , while having an 11 km border with Turkey in the north west .   The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim orient world . The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991 , prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 . In September 1991 , the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic . The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 . These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh , found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE .   Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic . The country is a member state of the Council of Europe , the OSCE and the NATO Partnership for Peace ( PfP ) program . It is one of six independent Turkic states , an active member of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community . Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 158 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations . It is one of the founding members of GUAM , the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons . A member of the United Nations since 1992 after its independence , Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 May 2006 . Its term of office began on 19 June 2006 . Azerbaijan is also a member state of the Non-Aligned Movement , holds observer status in World Trade Organization and is a correspondent at the International Telecommunication Union .   The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist . However , the majority of the population are of a Shiite Muslim background . Most Azerbaijanis however , do not actively practice any religion , and the country has been seen to be one of the most irreligious countries in the Muslim world , with 53 % stating religion has little to no importance in their lives , according to Pew Research Center and Gallup polls . Azerbaijan has a high level of human development which ranks on par with most Eastern European countries . It has a high rate of economic development and literacy , as well as a low rate of unemployment . According to the Davos World Economic Forum , Azerbaijan 's economy has scored 37th place within 138 countries in 2016 . Global Competitiveness Index 2015 indicates that Azerbaijan scores highest in its region .   ASAN services , established with Presidential Decree , are countrywide known for eliminating bribery and corruption in the provision of public services . ASAN Service has been awarded with United Nations ' Public Service Award 2015 , which is the most prestigious award in the world in the field of public service delivery .   The ruling party , the New Azerbaijan Party , has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses .


Impeachment does not necessarily mean any actions are taken.

Impeachment Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government . Impeachment does not necessarily mean removal from office ; it is only a formal statement of charges , akin to an indictment in criminal law , and is thus only the first step towards removal . Once an individual is impeached , he or she must then face the possibility of conviction via legislative vote , which then entails the removal of the individual from office .   Because impeachment and conviction of officials involve an overturning of the normal constitutional procedures by which individuals achieve high office ( election , ratification , or appointment ) and because it generally requires a supermajority , they are usually reserved for those deemed to have committed serious abuses of their office . In the United States , for example , impeachment at the federal level is limited to those who may have committed `` high crimes and misdemeanors '' . Several federal officials , including two US presidents ( Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton , who were both acquitted ) and several judges , have been impeached over the course of US history . US President Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal before impeachment proceedings could begin .   The federal procedure in the United States involves a vote for impeachment in the House of Representatives on a document known as the article of impeachment . Each separate grounds will be a separate article . House members who support the impeachment then appoint managers who will act like prosecutors in the preparation for the Senate hearing . The hearing for removal is conducted in the Senate and in the case of the impeachment of a president , the Chief Justice of the United States presides over the proceedings ( otherwise the vice-president presides ) , which are conducted as a trial with witnesses being heard under oath or affirmation . The defendant has the right to legal counsel , the right to cross-examine all witnesses , and the opportunity to testify in his or her defense . The senators must also take an oath or affirmation that they will perform their duties honestly and with due diligence . The hearing can not be conducted without a 50 % plus one quorum . After the hearing , the deliberations are held in private . Removal requires a two-thirds majority of the Senate .   Impeachment has its origins in English law but fell out of use in the 18th century . It exists under constitutional law in many nations around the world , including Brazil , the Republic of Ireland , Philippines , Russia , South Korea and the United States .


Line of Duty Line of Duty is a British police procedural television series created by Jed Mercurio that premiered on 26 June 2012 . It is the most popular drama series broadcast on BBC Two in the multichannel era and is a winner of the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series . Line of Duty was included in a list of the Top 50 BBC Two shows of all-time , in a list of the 80 best BBC shows of all time and was the highest ranked current series in a list of the best cop shows of all time .   The first series was BBC Two 's best-performing drama series in ten years , with a consolidated audience of 4.1 million viewers . The drama was recommissioned for a second series and the first episode was broadcast on 12 February 2014 . The second series achieved widespread public and critical acclaim , and on 8 April 2014 , the BBC commissioned two more series .   In an interview on 28 April 2016 , creator Jed Mercurio said that a fourth series would begin filming in the autumn of that year . It commenced broadcast on BBC One on 26 March 2017 . A fifth series has been confirmed and will air in Spring 2019 . A sixth series has also been ordered by the BBC .   In the United States , the first series was aired on Hulu in August 2012 as an exclusive series .


Jed Mercurio Jed Mercurio ( born Gerald Gary Mercurio in 1966 ) is a British television writer , producer , director and novelist . He is reported to be one of the few British script-writers to work as a U.S.-style showrunner . A former hospital physician and RAF university air squadron cadet , Mercurio has been ranked among UK television 's leading writers by TV-industry magazine Broadcast .   His chief works for television are the series Line of Duty , Bodies ( based on his 2002 novel ) , The Grimleys and Cardiac Arrest . His books are Bodies ( 2002 ) , Ascent ( 2007 ) , American Adulterer ( 2009 ) and , for children , The Penguin Expedition ( 2003 ) .


There is a singer called Jennifer Hudson.

Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Kate Hudson ( born September 12 , 1981 ) is an American singer , actress and spokesperson . She rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol , coming in seventh place .   As an actress , she made her film debut portraying Effie White in Dreamgirls , for which she gained worldwide acclaim and won an Academy Award , a Golden Globe Award , a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress . She has also appeared in such films as Sex and the City , The Secret Life of Bees and Black Nativity . She has made numerous television appearances , including guest roles on Smash , Empire and Inside Amy Schumer . In 2015 she made her Broadway debut in the role of Shug Avery in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple .   As a singer , Hudson has released three studio albums . Her debut album Jennifer Hudson , released in 2008 , debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA , with sales exceeding a million copies worldwide . The record was nominated for four Grammy Awards , winning the 2009 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album . Her second album I Remember Me , released in 2011 , also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA . Her third and most recent album JHUD peaked in the top ten and featured the Grammy-nominated track `` It 's Your World '' . She also became the principal singer of The Color Purple musical album , which earned her the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program ( shared with the cast of The Color Purple ) .   In October 2008 , after Hudson 's mother , brother and nephew were killed in a shooting , Hudson stepped out of the public eye for three months . Hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009 , with high-profile performances at Super Bowl XLIII , the Grammy Awards , American Idol , and The Oprah Winfrey Show . Hudson has been described as a friend of former President Barack Obama , who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills during his first term in May 2009 . She also performed at the White House at the `` Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement '' event . In 2013 , she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2016 , Hudson was announced as a coach on the 2017 Series of The Voice UK . The following year , Hudson was announced as a coach on the thirteenth season of The Voice .


Southport hosts the Southport Flower Show.

Southport Southport ( -LSB- ˈsaʊθpɔrt -RSB- ) is a large seaside town in Merseyside , England . At the 2001 census , it had a population of 90,336 , making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England .   Southport lies on the Irish Sea coast and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary . The town is 16.7 mi north of Liverpool and 14.8 mi southwest of Preston .   Historically part of Lancashire , the town was founded in 1792 when William Sutton , an innkeeper from Churchtown , built a bathing house at what now is the south end of Lord Street . At that time , the area , known as South Hawes , was sparsely populated and dominated by sand dunes . At the turn of the 19th century , the area became popular with tourists due to the easy access from the nearby Leeds and Liverpool Canal . The rapid growth of Southport largely coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era . Town attractions include Southport Pier with its Southport Pier Tramway , the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles and Lord Street , an elegant tree-lined shopping street , once home of Napoleon III of France .   Extensive sand dunes stretch for several miles between Birkdale and Woodvale to the south of the town . The Ainsdale sand dunes have been designated as a national nature reserve and a Ramsar site . Local fauna include the Natterjack toad and the Sand lizard . The town contains examples of Victorian architecture and town planning , on Lord Street and elsewhere . A particular feature of the town is the extensive tree planting . This was one of the conditions required by the Hesketh family when they made land available for development in the 19th century . Hesketh Park at the northern end of the town is named after them , having been built on land donated by Rev. Charles Hesketh .   Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK . It hosts various events , including an annual air show on and over the beach , and the largest independent flower show in the UK , in Victoria Park . The town is at the centre of England 's Golf Coast and has hosted the Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club .


Southport Flower Show Southport Flower Show , held at Victoria Park in Southport , is the largest independent flower show in the United Kingdom . It was originally started in 1924 by the local council , but since 1986 has been operated by Southport Flower Show company , which is a registered charity . It is held annually for four days in late August and has attendances of over 80,000 . The patron of Southport Flower Show since 1996 is Professor Stefan Buczacki .   The UK 's largest and longest running independent flower show , each year it attracts many celebrities from all over the world , from television and film to music and sport . As well as flowers , the show includes other attractions such as cookery demonstrations , gala dinners , music and horse riding displays .


The Punisher is also called a different name.

Punisher The Punisher ( Francis `` Frank '' Castle ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru , with publisher Stan Lee green-lighting the name . The Punisher made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man # 129 ( cover-dated Feb. 1974 ) .   The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder , kidnapping , extortion , coercion , threats of violence , and torture in his war on crime . Driven by the deaths of his wife and two children , who were killed by the mob for witnessing a killing in New York City 's Central Park , the Punisher wages a one-man war on the mob and all criminals in general by using all manner of conventional war weaponry . His family 's killers were the first to be slain . A war veteran and a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper , Frank Castle ( born Francis Castiglione ) is a master of martial arts , stealth tactics , guerrilla warfare , and a wide variety of weapons .   The Punisher 's brutal nature and willingness to kill made him a novel character in mainstream American comic books in 1974 . By the late 1980s , he was part of a wave of psychologically troubled antiheroes and at the height of his popularity , was featured in four monthly publications , including The Punisher , The Punisher War Journal , The Punisher War Zone , and The Punisher Armory . Despite his violent actions and dark nature , the Punisher has enjoyed some mainstream success on television , making guest appearances on Spider-Man : The Animated Series , and The Super Hero Squad Show , where the depiction of his violent behavior was toned down for family viewers . In feature films , Dolph Lundgren portrayed the Punisher in 1989 , as did Thomas Jane in 2004 , and Ray Stevenson in 2008 . Jon Bernthal portrays the character in the second season of Marvel 's Daredevil as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe . Bernthal is set to reprise the role in The Punisher , his own self-titled series .


Bermuda Bermuda ( -LSB- pronbərˈmjuːdə -RSB- ) is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean . It is approximately 1070 km east-southeast of Cape Hatteras , North Carolina ; 1236 km south of Cape Sable Island , Nova Scotia ; and 1578 km north of San Juan , Puerto Rico . The capital city is Hamilton . Bermuda is an associate member of Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) .   The first person known to have reached Bermuda was the Spanish sea captain Juan de Bermúdez in 1503 , after whom the islands are named . He claimed the islands for the Spanish Empire . Bermúdez never landed on the islands , but made two visits to the archipelago , of which he created a recognisable map . Shipwrecked Portuguese mariners are now thought to have been responsible for the 1543 inscription on Portuguese Rock ( previously called Spanish Rock ) . Subsequent Spanish or other European parties are believed to have released pigs there , which had become feral and abundant on the island by the time European settlement began . In 1609 , the English Virginia Company , which had established Jamestown in Virginia two years earlier , permanently settled Bermuda in the aftermath of a hurricane , when the crew and passengers of the Sea Venture steered the ship onto the surrounding reef to prevent its sinking , then landed ashore .   The island was administered as an extension of Virginia by the Company until 1614 . Its spin-off , the Somers Isles Company , took over in 1615 and managed the colony until 1684 . At that time , the company 's charter was revoked , and the English Crown took over administration . The islands became a British colony following the 1707 unification of the parliaments of Scotland and England , which created the Kingdom of Great Britain . After 1949 , when Newfoundland became part of Canada , Bermuda became the oldest remaining British overseas territory . After the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 , Bermuda became the most populous British territory . Its first capital , St. George 's , was established in 1612 .   Bermuda 's economy is based on offshore insurance and reinsurance , and tourism , the two largest economic sectors . Bermuda had one of the world 's highest GDP per capita for most of the 20th century and several years beyond . Recently , its economic status has been affected by the global recession . It has a subtropical climate . Bermuda is the northernmost point of the Bermuda Triangle , a region of sea in which , according to legend , a number of aircraft and surface vessels have disappeared under supposedly unexplained or mysterious circumstances . The island is in the hurricane belt and prone to severe weather . However , it is somewhat protected from the full force of a hurricane by the coral reef that surrounds the island .


Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt ( 23 November 1887 -- 2 February 1969 ) , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff , was an English actor who was primarily known for his typecast roles in horror films that depicted the characters Frankenstein and The Mummy .   He portrayed Frankenstein 's monster in Frankenstein ( 1931 ) , Bride of Frankenstein ( 1935 ) , and Son of Frankenstein ( 1939 ) , which resulted in his immense popularity . He also appeared as Imhotep in The Mummy ( 1932 ) .   His best-known non-horror role is as the Grinch , as well as the narrator , in the animated television special of Dr. Seuss 's How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ( 1966 ) . Karloff guest starred in a 1966 TV episode of The Wild Wild West , `` The Night of the Golden Cobra '' . He also had a memorable role in the original Scarface ( 1932 ) . For his contribution to film and television , Boris Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .


Shawn Michaels was a WWF Grand Slam Champion.

Shawn Michaels Michael Shawn Hickenbottom ( born July 22 , 1965 ) , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels , is an American actor , professional wrestling personality , television presenter and retired professional wrestler . He is currently signed to WWE , as an ambassador and trainer , since December 2010 . Michaels wrestled consistently for WWE , formerly the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) , from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998 . He held non-wrestling roles from 1998 to 2000 and resumed wrestling in 2002 until retiring ceremoniously in 2010 .   In the WWF/E , Michaels headlined major pay-per-view events between 1989 and 2010 , closing the company 's flagship annual event , WrestleMania , five times . He was the co-founder and original leader of the successful stable , D-Generation X . He also wrestled in the American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) , where he founded The Midnight Rockers with Marty Jannetty in 1985 . After winning the AWA Tag Team Championship twice , the team continued to the WWF as The Rockers , and had a high-profile breakup in January 1992 . Within the year , Michaels would twice challenge for the WWF Championship and win his first WWF Intercontinental Championship , heralding his arrival as one of the industry 's premier singles stars . He would go on to be widely regarded as its finest performer in the 1990s and 2000s , winning the Pro Wrestling Illustrated `` Match of the Year '' reader vote a record eleven times . Michaels was voted the greatest professional wrestler of all time in a 2011 poll of the WWE roster .   Michaels is a four-time world champion , having held the WWF Championship three times and WWE 's World Heavyweight Championship once . He is also a two-time Royal Rumble winner , the first WWF Grand Slam Champion and the fourth WWF Triple Crown Champion , as well as a 2011 WWE Hall of Fame inductee .


Doctor Doom has traditionally been the archenemy of the Fantastic Four.

Doctor Doom Doctor Victor Von Doom ( or simply Doctor Doom ) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The son of Romani witch Cynthia Von Doom , Doctor Doom traditionally has been the archenemy of the Fantastic Four , and the leader of the fictional nation of Latveria . He is both a genius inventor and a sorcerer . While his chief opponents have been the Fantastic Four , he has also come into conflict with Iron Man , the Avengers and other superheroes in the Marvel Universe . Though normally portrayed as a supervillain , since Civil War II in 2016 , Doom has been depicted as a superhero , taking up the mantle of Iron Man from Tony Stark , and going on to join the Avengers .   Doctor Doom has made many appearances in video games , television series , and merchandise such as action figures and trading cards . He was ranked as the 4th Greatest Villain by Wizard on its 100 Greatest Villains of All Time list . IGN 's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time ranked Doctor Doom as # 3 .   Doctor Doom has also been featured in other Marvel-endorsed feature films such as Roger Corman 's unreleased 1994 The Fantastic Four played by Joseph Culp , and the 2005 film Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer played by Julian McMahon . Toby Kebbell portrays the character in the 2015 reboot .


Homeland (TV series) Homeland is an American spy thriller television series developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War ( Original title חטופים Hatufim , literally `` Abductees '' ) , which was created by Gideon Raff .   The series stars Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison , a Central Intelligence Agency officer with bipolar disorder , and Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody , a U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper . Mathison had come to believe that Brody , who was held captive by al-Qaeda as a prisoner of war , was `` turned '' by the enemy and poses a threat to the United States .   The series is broadcast in the U.S. on the cable channel Showtime , and is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios ( formerly Fox 21 ) . It premiered on October 2 , 2011 . The first episode was made available online , more than two weeks before the television broadcast , with viewers having to complete game tasks to gain access . On October 22 , 2013 , Showtime renewed Homeland for a fourth season , which premiered on October 5 , 2014 . On November 10 , 2014 , Showtime renewed the series for a 12-episode fifth season that premiered on October 4 , 2015 . On December 9 , 2015 , the series was renewed for a sixth season . The sixth season debuted on January 15 , 2017 . The series has also been renewed for a seventh and eighth season ; the eighth is planned to be the series ' final season by the creators .   The series has received generally positive reviews , and has won several awards , including the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series , and the 2011 and 2012 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Drama , as well as the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Damian Lewis and Claire Danes , respectively .


Miley Cyrus lacks the ability to write songs.

Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( born Destiny Hope Cyrus ; November 23 , 1992 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and actress . After playing minor roles in the television series Doc and the film Big Fish in her childhood , she became a teen idol starring as the character Miley Stewart in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana in 2006 . Her father Billy Ray Cyrus also starred in the show . She subsequently signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records , and her debut studio album Meet Miley Cyrus ( 2007 ) was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) having shipped over three million units . She released her second album Breakout and launched her film career as a voice actress in the animated film Bolt in 2008 .   Cyrus starred in the feature film Hannah Montana : The Movie , and began cultivating a more mature image with her EP The Time of Our Lives in 2009 . In 2010 , she released her third album Ca n't Be Tamed , which stands as the lowest-selling record of her career , and starred in the coming-of-age film The Last Song . Cyrus focused on her acting career with several television and film appearances in 2011 and 2012 . Her sexually explicit behavior generated widespread controversy while promoting her fourth album Bangerz ( 2013 ) , her first under her recording contract with RCA Records . Cyrus ' independently-released fifth studio album Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz ( 2015 ) deviated from her traditional pop style for more psychedelic experimentation . In 2016 , she was a coach for the eleventh season of the singing competition series The Voice .   With Bangerz , Cyrus achieved her third number-one album on the U.S. Billboard 200 , and fifth overall including Hannah Montana soundtrack albums . She has logged eight top 10 entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with : `` See You Again '' , `` 7 Things '' , `` The Climb '' , `` Party in the U.S.A. '' , `` Ca n't Be Tamed '' , `` We Ca n't Stop '' , `` Malibu '' and the chart-topping `` Wrecking Ball '' . Cyrus has earned numerous awards and nominations , as Billboard ranked her as the fourth best-selling female artist of 2009 . She was ranked number thirteen on Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2010 , and in 2013 was declared `` Artist of the Year '' by MTV . She has been included on the Time 100 list of most influential people in 2008 and 2014 .


The Shadow Line was written by a man who was English.

Hugo Blick Hugo Blick ( born 1965 ) , sometimes credited as Hugo E. Blick , is an English writer , producer , director and occasional actor . He has his own production company , called Eight Rooks .


The Shadow Line (TV series) The Shadow Line is a seven-part British television drama miniseries produced by Company Pictures/Eight Rooks Ltd/Baby Cow/CinemaNX production for BBC Two . It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor , Christopher Eccleston , Rafe Spall , Lesley Sharp , Kierston Wareing , Antony Sher and Stephen Rea . The series was written , directed and produced by Hugo Blick . ( It has no connection with the sea-faring novel of the same title by Joseph Conrad . )   The first episode was screened on 12 April 2011 at BAFTA 's Princess Anne Theatre in Piccadilly , and was followed by a special question and answer session with Hugo Blick and Christopher Eccleston .   Broadcasting of the series started on 5 May 2011 and finished on 16 June 2011 . It is currently available on Blu-ray and DVD .


Hansel and Gretel falls in the fairy tale category.

Hansel and Gretel `` Hansel and Gretel '' ( also known as Hansel and Grettel , Hansel and Grethel , or Little Brother and Little Sister ) ( -LSB- ˈhænsəl -RSB- or -LSB- ˈhɑːnsəl -RSB- and -LSB- ˈɡrɛtəl -RSB- Hänsel und Gretel -LSB- ˈhɛnzl̩ ʊnt ˈɡʁeːtl̩ -RSB- ) is a well-known fairy tale of German origin , recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 . Hansel and Gretel are a young brother and sister kidnapped by a cannibalistic witch living deep in the forest in a house constructed of cake and confectionery . The two children escape with their lives by outwitting her . The tale has been adapted to various media , most notably the opera Hänsel und Gretel ( 1893 ) by Engelbert Humperdinck . Under the Aarne -- Thompson classification system , `` Hansel and Gretel '' is classified under Class 327 .


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 .


George Clooney works in the film industry.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is a 2002 biographical spy comedy film depicting the life of popular game show host and producer Chuck Barris , who claimed to have also been an assassin for the CIA . The film was George Clooney 's directorial debut , was written by Charlie Kaufman , and starred Sam Rockwell , Julia Roberts , Drew Barrymore , and Clooney .   Columbia Pictures had planned to produce a film adaptation of Barris 's memoir of the same name in the late 1980s . When the film rights were purchased by producer Andrew Lazar , Kaufman was commissioned to write a new script , which attracted various A-list actors and filmmakers to the project . Bryan Singer at one point planned to direct the film with Johnny Depp in the lead role , but the production was canceled . The production resumed when Clooney took over directing duties .   Barris remained heavily involved in production in an attempt to portray the film from his point of view . To accommodate the $ 30 million budget , Clooney convinced Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts to lower their salaries . The film was released to respectful reviews from critics and was modestly successful at the box office . Rockwell , in particular , was praised for his acting and won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 2003 Berlin International Film Festival .


Three Kings (1999 film) Three Kings is a 1999 American satirical black comedy war film written and directed by David O. Russell from a story by John Ridley . The film stars George Clooney , Mark Wahlberg , Ice Cube , and Spike Jonze as four U.S. soldiers on a gold heist that takes place during the 1991 Iraqi uprising against Saddam Hussein following the end of the Persian Gulf War .   The film was released on October 1 , 1999 in the United States . It received critical acclaim and was a box office success , grossing $ 107 million on a $ 48 million budget .


George Clooney George Timothy Clooney ( born May 6 , 1961 ) is an American actor , filmmaker , activist and philanthropist . He has received three Golden Globe Awards for his work as an actor and two Academy Awards , one for acting in Syriana ( 2006 ) and the other for co-producing Argo ( 2012 ) .   Clooney made his acting debut on television in 1978 , and later gained wide recognition in his role as Dr. Doug Ross on the long-running medical drama ER from 1994 to 1999 , for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations . While working on ER , he began attracting a variety of leading roles in films , including the superhero film Batman & Robin ( 1997 ) and the crime comedy Out of Sight ( 1998 ) , in which he first worked with director Steven Soderbergh , who would become a long-time collaborator . In 1999 , he took the lead role in Three Kings , a well-received war satire set during the Gulf War .   In 2001 , Clooney 's fame widened with the release of his biggest commercial success , the heist comedy remake Ocean 's Eleven , the first of what became a trilogy starring Clooney . He made his directorial debut a year later with the biographical spy comedy Confessions of a Dangerous Mind , and has since directed the historical drama Good Night , and Good Luck ( 2005 ) , the sports comedy Leatherheads ( 2008 ) , the political drama The Ides of March ( 2011 ) , and the war film The Monuments Men ( 2014 ) .   Clooney won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the Middle East thriller Syriana ( 2005 ) , and subsequently earned Best Actor nominations for the legal thriller Michael Clayton ( 2007 ) and the comedy-dramas Up in the Air ( 2009 ) and The Descendants ( 2011 ) . In 2013 , he received the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing the political thriller Argo . He is the only person who has been nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories .   In 2009 , Clooney was included in Time annual Time 100 as one of the `` Most Influential People in the World '' . He is also noted for his political and economic activism , and has served as one of the United Nations Messengers of Peace since January 31 , 2008 . His humanitarian work includes his advocacy of finding a resolution for the Darfur conflict , raising funds for the 2010 Haiti earthquake , Armenian Genocide recognition , 2004 tsunami , and 9/11 victims , and creating documentaries such as Sand and Sorrow to raise awareness about international crises . He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations .


The Ides of March (film) The Ides of March is a 2011 American political drama film directed by George Clooney from a screenplay written by Clooney , along with Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon . The film is an adaptation of Willimon 's 2008 play Farragut North . It stars Ryan Gosling , George Clooney , Evan Rachel Wood , Philip Seymour Hoffman , Marisa Tomei , Paul Giamatti , and Jeffrey Wright .   The Ides of March was featured as the opening film at the 68th Venice International Film Festival and at the 27th Haifa International Film Festival and was shown at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival . It received a wide theatrical release on October 7 , 2011 .


Leatherheads Leatherheads is a 2008 American sports comedy film from Universal Pictures directed by and starring George Clooney . The film also stars Renée Zellweger , Jonathan Pryce , and John Krasinski and focuses on the early years of professional American football .


Inhumans The Inhumans are a fictional race of superhumans appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics .   The comic book series has usually focused more specifically on the adventures of the Inhuman Royal Family , and many people associate the name `` Inhumans '' with this particular team of super-powered characters .   The Inhumans first appeared in Fantastic Four # 45 ( December 1965 ) , though members Medusa and Gorgon appeared in earlier issues of that series ( # 36 and # 44 , respectively ) . Their home , the city of Attilan , was first mentioned years earlier , in a Tuk the Caveboy story written and drawn by Jack Kirby that appeared in Captain America Comics # 1 ( March 1941 ) . The city was described as the home of a race that was evolutionarily advanced when human beings were still in the Stone Age .   The Inhuman Royal Family had been adapted to numerous Marvel animated series and video games over the years . Inhuman characters were introduced in live-action in the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , while the Inhuman Royal Family will be featured in the TV series Inhumans , which is scheduled to premiere in 2017 .


Brandon Lee was killed in an accident involving a stethoscope.

Brandon Lee Brandon Bruce Lee ( February 1 , 1965 -- March 31 , 1993 ) was an American actor and martial artist . He was the son of martial artist and film actor Bruce Lee and teacher Linda Lee Cadwell , the grandson of Cantonese opera singer Lee Hoi-chuen , and brother of Shannon Lee .   Starting his career with a supporting role in the 1986 television film Kung Fu : The Movie , Lee starred in several low-budget action films during the late 1980s and early 1990s such as Legacy of Rage ( 1986 ) , Showdown in Little Tokyo ( 1991 ) and Rapid Fire ( 1992 ) . In 1992 , he landed his breakthrough role as Eric Draven in The Crow , based on the comic book of the same name .   On March 31 , 1993 , Lee died during the filming of The Crow in an accident involving a prop gun . The film was released posthumously in 1994 with the help of stunt doubles and special effects .


Neil Young's full name is Neil Percival Young.

Neil Young Neil Percival Young , ( born November 12 , 1945 ) , is a Canadian singer-songwriter , musician , producer , director and screenwriter . Young began performing in a group covering Shadows instrumentals in Canada in 1960 . In 1966 , after a brief stint with the Rick James-fronted Mynah Birds , he moved to Los Angeles , where he formed Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills , Richie Furay and others . Young had released two solo albums by the time he joined Crosby , Stills & Nash in 1969 , in addition to two as a member of Buffalo Springfield . From his early solo albums and those with his backing band Crazy Horse , Young has recorded a steady stream of studio and live albums , sometimes warring with his recording company along the way .   Young 's often distorted electric guitar work , deeply personal lyrics and signature tenor singing voice transcend his long career . Young also plays piano and harmonica on many albums which frequently combine folk , rock , blues and other musical styles . Known to rip up live set lists , Young often plays acoustic versions of songs in one show and electric versions in others . His gritty guitar work , especially with Crazy Horse , earned him the nickname `` Godfather of Grunge '' and led to his 1995 album Mirror Ball with Pearl Jam . More recently Young has been backed by Promise of the Real .   Young directed ( or co-directed ) films using the pseudonym Bernard Shakey , including Journey Through the Past ( 1973 ) , Rust Never Sleeps ( 1979 ) , Human Highway ( 1982 ) , Greendale ( 2003 ) , and CSNY/D éjà Vu ( 2008 ) . He also contributed to the soundtracks of the films Philadelphia ( 1993 ) and Dead Man ( 1995 ) .   Young has received several Grammy and Juno awards . The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted him twice : as a solo artist in 1995 and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield . In 2000 , Rolling Stone named Young the 34th greatest rock 'n roll artist .   He has lived in California since the 1960s but retains Canadian citizenship . He was awarded the Order of Manitoba on July 14 , 2006 , and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on December 30 , 2009 .


Michael Winterbottom has worked with Rob Brydon.

Michael Winterbottom Not to be confused with the classical scholar Michael Winterbottom ( academic ) .   Michael Winterbottom ( born 29 March 1961 ) is an English filmmaker . He began his career working in British television before moving into features . Three of his films -- Welcome to Sarajevo , Wonderland and 24 Hour Party People -- have competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival .  Winterbottom often works with the same actors ; many faces can be seen in several of his films , including Shirley Henderson , Paul Popplewell , John Simm , Steve Coogan , Rob Brydon , Raymond Waring and Kieran O'Brien .


Brittany Murphy Brittany Murphy-Monjack ( born Brittany Anne Bertolotti ; November 10 , 1977 -- December 20 , 2009 ) , known professionally as Brittany Murphy , was an American film and stage actress , singer , and voice artist . A native of Atlanta , Murphy moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and pursued a career in acting . Her breakthrough role was as Tai Frasier in Clueless ( 1995 ) , followed by supporting roles in independent films such as Freeway ( 1996 ) and Bongwater ( 1998 ) . She made her stage debut in a Broadway production of Arthur Miller 's A View from the Bridge in 1997 , before appearing as Daisy Randone in Girl , Interrupted ( 1999 ) and as Lisa Swenson in Drop Dead Gorgeous ( 1999 ) .   The 2000s saw Murphy with roles in Do n't Say a Word ( 2001 ) alongside Michael Douglas , and alongside Eminem in 8 Mile ( 2002 ) , for which she gained critical recognition . Her later roles included Riding in Cars with Boys ( 2001 ) , Spun ( 2002 ) , Uptown Girls ( 2003 ) , Sin City ( 2005 ) , and Happy Feet ( 2006 ) . Murphy also voiced Luanne Platter on the animated television series King of the Hill ( 1997 -- 2009 ) . Her final film , Something Wicked , was released in April 2014 .   In December 2009 , Murphy died of pneumonia at the age of 32 . When her widower Simon Monjack died from the same illness six months later , the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services considered toxic mold in their home as a possible cause for their deaths , but this was dismissed by the Coroner 's Office . In 2011 , Murphy 's mother Sharon filed a lawsuit against the attorneys who represented her in an earlier suit against the builders of the home where her daughter and son-in-law died .


Me Before You (film) Me Before You is a 2016 British-American romantic drama film directed by Thea Sharrock as her directorial debut and adapted by English author Jojo Moyes from her 2012 novel of the same name . The film stars Emilia Clarke , Sam Claflin , Steve Peacocke , Jenna Coleman , Charles Dance , Matthew Lewis , Janet McTeer , Vanessa Kirby and Joanna Lumley .   Set in the UK , the film is shot in various historic locations around the country , including Pembroke Castle in Wales , and Chenies Manor House in Buckinghamshire , England . The film was released on June 3 , 2016 , in the US , received mixed reviews on Metacritic and grossed $ 207 million worldwide .


Stephen Rider acted in the series Lucky 7 on CBS.

Stephen Rider Stephen Rider is an American film and television actor , best known for playing Admiral Stephen W. Rochon in the film The Butler and Eric Millworth in the series Lucky 7 . He is currently playing a District Attorney named Blake Tower in the Marvel 's series Daredevil .


Chandni Chandni ( Translation : Moonlight ) is a 1989 Indian Hindi language romantic drama film , starring Sridevi as the eponymous lead alongside Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna and Waheeda Rehman . It was directed by Yash Chopra and the screenplay was written by Kamna Chandra , Arun Kaul , Sagar Sarhadi and Umesh Kalbagh .   Chandni was a great success in 1989 and is considered one of the most successful films of all time . The profits of this romantic musical brought an end to Chopra 's lean phase . The platinum success of its music was also instrumental in bringing music back into Hindi films .   For the cast , the film reaffirmed Sridevi 's position as the top female star of the 1980s . It prolonged Rishi Kapoor 's fading career and showed that he was still profitable as a leading hero . Chandni provided a boost for Vinod Khanna 's career and reunited Kapoor and Khanna , who were last seen together in the popular Amar Akbar Anthony ( 1977 ) . Sridevi 's white costumes became popular as the ` Chandni Look ' and the songs of the film are still a rage . Though this was not the first time Yash Chopra shot a film in Switzerland , the extensive scenes shot there made it a popular tourist destination for Indians .   Chandni won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film of 1989 and is regarded as one of the Yash Chopra 's best films.द


David Thewlis David Thewlis ( born David Wheeler ; born 20 March 1963 ) is an English actor , director , screenwriter , author . His most commercially successful role to date has been that of Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter film series . Other notable performances include the films Naked ( for which he won the Best Actor award at Cannes Film Festival ) , Dragonheart , Kingdom of Heaven , The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas , The Theory of Everything , Black Beauty , and Macbeth ( in which he played King Duncan ) . He will play Ares in Wonder Woman . He has also done voice work in the films James and the Giant Peach ( 1996 ) , The Miracle Maker ( 2000 ) , and Anomalisa ( 2015 ) , and is additionally known for the role of Cyrus Crabb in the TV mini series Dinotopia .


Rhona Mitra Rhona Natasha Mitra ( born 9 August 1976 ) is an English actress , model , singer , and songwriter .   Mitra began her career as a model . She came to prominence as the Lara Croft model between 1997 and 1998 . After completing her stint as Lara Croft , she concentrated on acting and is known for her roles as Holly Marie Begins on the sixth season of Party of Five ( 1999 -- 2000 ) ; as Tara Wilson on the final season of The Practice ( 2003 -- 2004 ) and the first and second seasons of Boston Legal ( 2004 -- 2005 ) ; as Detective Kit McGraw on the third season of Nip/Tuck ( 2005 ) ; in the lead role of the science fiction/action film Doomsday as Major Eden Sinclair ( 2008 ) ; as Sonja in Underworld : Rise of the Lycans ( 2009 ) ; and as Major Rachel Dalton on the third and fourth seasons of Strike Back ( 2012 -- 2013 ) ; and as Dr. Rachel Scott in the first two seasons of The Last Ship ( 2014 -- 2015 ) .


Game of Thrones failed to appear on HBO.

Game of Thrones (season 3) The third season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on March 31 , 2013 , and concluded on June 9 , 2013 . It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States , consisting of 10 episodes , each running approximately 50 -- 60 minutes . The season is based roughly on the first half of A Storm of Swords ( the third of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin , of which the series is an adaptation ) . The series is adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . HBO renewed the series for a third season on April 10 , 2012 , nine days after the second season 's premiere . Production began in July 2012 . The show was filmed primarily in Ireland , Northern Ireland , Croatia , Iceland and Morocco .   The story takes place in a fictional world , primarily upon a continent called Westeros , with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east known as Essos . Like the novel , the season follows the climatic battle at Kings Landing . Season three like the previous season mainly centres around the war of the five kings ; after the death of Renly Baratheon ( Gethin Anthony ) , all four kings in Westeros believes to have a claim to the Iron Throne , besides Robb Stark ( Richard Madden ) , who seeks vengeance for the death of his father , Lord Eddard `` Ned '' Stark ( Sean Bean ) .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Lena Headey , Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington . The season introduced a number of new cast members , including Ciarán Hinds , Nathalie Emmanuel and Iwan Rheon .   Critics praised the show 's production values and cast . Viewership yet again rose compared to the previous season . It won 2 of the 16 Emmy Awards for which it was nominated , it received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( Dinklage ) , Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ( Clarke ) and Outstanding Drama Series . It also won the Critics ' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Series .


Game of Thrones (season 2) The second season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered in the United States on HBO on April 1 , 2012 , and concluded on June 3 , 2012 . It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States , consisting of 10 episodes , each running approximately 50 -- 60 minutes . The season mostly covers the events of A Clash of Kings , the second novel of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin , adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . HBO ordered the second season on April 19 , 2011 , which began filming in July 2011 , primarily in Ireland , Northern Ireland , Croatia and Iceland .   The story takes place in a fictional world , primarily upon a continent called Westeros , with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east known as Essos . Like the novel , the season follows the dramatic death of Lord Eddard `` Ned '' Stark ( Sean Bean ) , with all of the Starks being separated across Westeros . Season two mainly centres around the war of the five kings ; all five kings in Westeros believes to have a claim to the Iron Throne , besides Robb Stark ( Richard Madden ) , who seeks vengeance for the death of his father .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Peter Dinklage , Lena Headey , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Michelle Fairley and Emilia Clarke . The season introduced a number of new cast members , including Stephen Dillane , Carice van Houten and Liam Cunningham .   Critics praised the show 's production values and cast . Viewership rose compared to the previous season . The second season won six of the eleven Emmy Awards for which it was nominated , it received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( Peter Dinklage ) and Outstanding Drama Series . U.S. viewership rose by approximately 8 % over the course of the season , from 3.9 million to 4.2 million by the season finale .


Thenmerku Paruvakaatru is a drama movie from 2010.

Thenmerku Paruvakaatru Thenmerku Paruvakatru ( Southwest Monsoon ) is a 2010 Tamil drama film written and directed by Seenu Ramasamy and produced by Shibu Issac . It stars Saranya Ponvannan , in her 100th film , Vijay Sethupathi and Vasundhra in the lead roles . It released on 24 December 2010 .   The film received mixed reviews , but was eventually featured at the 58th National Film Awards ceremony , where it was named the Best Feature Film in Tamil while Saranya Ponvannan and lyricist Vairamuthu were awarded the Best Actress and Best Lyricist prizes , respectively .


World War I involved the Allies fighting the Central Powers.

World War I World War I ( WWI or WW1 ) , also known as the First World War , the Great War , or the War to End All Wars , was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918 . More than 70 million military personnel , including 60 million Europeans , were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history . Over nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a result of the war ( including the victims of a number of genocides ) , a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents ' technological and industrial sophistication , and the tactical stalemate caused by gruelling trench warfare . It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history , and paved the way for major political changes , including revolutions in many of the nations involved and to WWII twenty-one years later .   The war drew in all the world 's economic great powers , assembled in two opposing alliances : the Allies ( based on the Triple Entente of the Russian Empire , the French Third Republic , and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ) versus the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary . Although Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary , it did not join the Central Powers , as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance . These alliances were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war : Italy , Japan and the United States joined the Allies , while the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers .   The trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria , heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary , by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 . This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia , and entangled international alliances formed over the previous decades were invoked . Within weeks , the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world .   On 25 July Russia began mobilisation and on 28 July , the Austro-Hungarians declared war on Serbia . Germany presented an ultimatum to Russia to demobilise , and when this was refused , declared war on Russia on 1 August . Being outnumbered on the eastern front , Russia urged its Triple Entente ally France to open up a second front in the west . Back in 1870 , the Franco-Prussian war had ended the Second French Empire and ceded the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine to a unified Germany . Bitterness over their defeat and the determinance to retake Alsace-Lorraine made the acceptance of Russia 's plea for help an easy choice so France began full mobilisation on 1 August and on 3 August , Germany declared war on France . The border between France and Germany was heavily fortified on both sides so according to the Schlieffen Plan , Germany then invaded neutral Belgium and Luxembourg before moving towards France from the north , leading the United Kingdom to declare war on Germany on 4 August due to their violation of Belgian neutrality . After the German march on Paris was halted in the Battle of the Marne , what became known as the Western Front settled into a battle of attrition , with a trench line that changed little until 1917 . On the Eastern Front , the Russian army led a successful campaign against the Austro-Hungarians , but the Germans stopped its invasion of East Prussia in the battles of Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes . In November 1914 , the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers , opening fronts in the Caucasus , Mesopotamia and the Sinai . In 1915 , Italy joined the Allies and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers ; Romania joined the Allies in 1916 , as did the United States in 1917 .   The Russian government collapsed in March 1917 , and a revolution in November followed by a further military defeat brought the Russians to terms with the Central Powers via the Treaty of Brest Litovsk , which granted the Germans a significant victory . After a stunning German offensive along the Western Front in the spring of 1918 , the Allies rallied and drove back the Germans in a series of successful offensives . On 4 November 1918 , the Austro-Hungarian empire agreed to an armistice , and Germany , which had its own trouble with revolutionaries , agreed to an armistice on 11 November 1918 , ending the war in victory for the Allies .   By the end of the war or soon after , the German Empire , Russian Empire , Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire ceased to exist . National borders were redrawn , with several independent nations restored or created , and Germany 's colonies were parceled out among the victors . During the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 , the Big Four ( Britain , France , the United States and Italy ) imposed their terms in a series of treaties . The League of Nations was formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such a conflict . This effort failed , and economic depression , renewed nationalism , weakened successor states , and feelings of humiliation ( particularly in Germany ) eventually contributed to the start of World War II .


Choir A choir ( -LSB- ` kwaɪ.ər -RSB- ) ( also known as a chorale or chorus ) is a musical ensemble of singers . Choral music , in turn , is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform . Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire , which spans from the Medieval era to the present , or popular music repertoire . Most choirs are led by a conductor , who leads the performances with arm and face gestures .   A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus . The former term is very often applied to groups affiliated with a church ( whether or not they actually occupy the choir ) and the second to groups that perform in theatres or concert halls , but this distinction is far from rigid . Choirs may sing without instrumental accompaniment , with the accompaniment of a piano or pipe organ , with a small ensemble ( e.g. , harpsichord , cello and double bass for a Baroque era piece ) , or with a full orchestra of 70 to 100 musicians .   The term `` Choir '' has the secondary definition of a subset of an ensemble ; thus one speaks of the `` woodwind choir '' of an orchestra , or different `` choirs '' of voices or instruments in a polychoral composition . In typical 18th - to 21st-century oratorios and masses , chorus or choir is usually understood to imply more than one singer per part , in contrast to the quartet of soloists also featured in these works .


Seinfeld Seinfeld is an American sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC , from 1989 to 1998 . It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld , the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself . Set predominantly in an apartment building in Manhattan 's Upper West Side in New York City , the show features a handful of Jerry 's friends and acquaintances , particularly best friend George Costanza ( Jason Alexander ) , former girlfriend Elaine Benes ( Julia Louis-Dreyfus ) , and neighbor across the hall Cosmo Kramer ( Michael Richards ) . It is often described as being `` a show about nothing '' , as many of its episodes are about the minutiae of daily life .   Seinfeld was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment . In syndication , the series has been distributed by Sony Pictures Television since 2002 . It was largely written by David and Seinfeld with script writers who included Larry Charles , Peter Mehlman , Gregg Kavet , Carol Leifer , David Mandel , Jeff Schaffer , Steve Koren , Jennifer Crittenden , Tom Gammill , Max Pross , Dan O'Keefe , Charlie Rubin , Marjorie Gross , Alec Berg , Elaine Pope , and Spike Feresten . A favorite among critics , the series led the Nielsen ratings in seasons six and nine , and finished among the top two ( with NBC 's ER ) every year from 1994 to 1998 .   Seinfeld is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential sitcoms ever made . It has been ranked among the best television shows of all time in publications such as Entertainment Weekly , Rolling Stone , and TV Guide . The show 's most renowned episodes include `` The Chinese Restaurant '' , `` The Parking Garage '' , and `` The Contest '' . In 2013 , the Writers Guild of America voted it the No. 2 Best Written TV Series of All Time ( second to The Sopranos ) . E! named the series the `` number 1 reason the '90s ruled '' , and quotes from numerous episodes have become catchphrases in popular culture .


Slash (musician) Saul Hudson ( born July 23 , 1965 ) , better known by his stage name Slash , is a British-American musician and songwriter . He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American rock band Guns N ' Roses , with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s . During his later years with Guns N ' Roses , Slash formed the side project Slash 's Snakepit . After leaving Guns N ' Roses in 1996 , he co-founded the supergroup Velvet Revolver , which re-established him as a mainstream performer in the mid to late 2000s . Slash has since released three solo albums : Slash ( 2010 ) , featuring an array of famous guest musicians , and Apocalyptic Love ( 2012 ) and World on Fire ( 2014 ) , recorded with his band , Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators . He returned to Guns N ' Roses in 2016 , nearly 20 years after he had left .   Slash has received critical acclaim and is considered as one of the greatest rock guitarists . Time Magazine named him runner-up on their list of `` The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players '' in 2009 , while Rolling Stone Magazine placed him at No. 65 on their list of `` The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time '' in 2011 . Guitar World ranked his guitar solo in `` November Rain '' No. 6 on their list of `` The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos '' in 2008 , and Total Guitar placed his riff in `` Sweet Child o ' Mine '' at No. 1 on their list of `` The 100 Greatest Riffs '' in 2004 . During 2010 Gibson Guitar Corporation ranked Slash as No. 34 on their `` Top 50 Guitarists of All Time '' , while their readers landed him No. 9 on Gibson 's `` Top 25 Guitarists of All Time '' . In 2012 , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N ' Roses ' classic line-up .


Peter Jackson Sir Peter Robert Jackson ( born 31 October 1961 ) is a New Zealand film director , screenwriter and film producer . He is best known as the director , writer , and producer of The Lord of the Rings trilogy ( 2001 -- 03 ) and The Hobbit trilogy ( 2012 -- 14 ) , both of which are adapted from the novels of the same name by J. R. R. Tolkien . Other notable films include the critically lauded drama Heavenly Creatures ( 1994 ) , the mockumentary Forgotten Silver ( 1995 ) , the horror comedy The Frighteners ( 1996 ) , the epic monster remake film King Kong ( 2005 ) , and the supernatural drama film The Lovely Bones ( 2009 ) . He also produced District 9 ( 2009 ) , The Adventures of Tintin : The Secret of the Unicorn ( 2011 ) , and the documentary West of Memphis ( 2012 ) .   Jackson began his career with the `` splatstick '' horror comedy Bad Taste ( 1987 ) and the black comedy Meet the Feebles ( 1989 ) before filming the zombie comedy Braindead ( 1992 ) . He shared a nomination for Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with his partner Fran Walsh for Heavenly Creatures , which brought him to mainstream prominence in the film industry . Jackson has been awarded three Academy Awards in his career , including the award for Best Director in 2003 . He has also received a Golden Globe , four Saturn Awards and three BAFTAs amongst others .   His production company is Wingnut Films , and his most regular collaborators are co-writers and producers Walsh and Philippa Boyens . Jackson was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 . He was later knighted ( as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit ) by Anand Satyanand , the Governor-General of New Zealand , at a ceremony in Wellington in April 2010 . In December 2014 , Jackson was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .


King Kong (2005 film) King Kong is a 2005 epic monster adventure film co-written , produced , and directed by Peter Jackson . A remake of the 1933 film of the same name , the film stars Naomi Watts , Jack Black , Adrien Brody , and , through motion capture , Andy Serkis as the title character . Set in 1933 , King Kong tells the story of an ambitious filmmaker who coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to the mysterious Skull Island . There they encounter Kong , a legendary giant gorilla , whom they capture and take to New York City .   Filming for King Kong took place in New Zealand from September 2004 to March 2005 . The project 's budget climbed from an initial $ 150 million to a then-record-breaking $ 207 million . It was released on December 14 , 2005 in Germany and on December 16 in the United States , and made an opening of $ 50.1 million . While it performed lower than expected , King Kong made domestic and worldwide grosses that eventually added up to $ 550 million , becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film in Universal Pictures history . It also generated $ 100 million in DVD sales upon its home video release . The film garnered positive reviews from critics and appeared on several top ten lists for 2005 . It was praised for its special effects , performances , sense of spectacle and comparison to the 1933 original . It won three Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing , Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects .


William Shatner hosted the reality-based television series Rescue 911 from 1986 to 1993.

William Shatner William Shatner ( born March 22 , 1931 ) is a Canadian actor , author , producer , and director . In his seven decades of television , Shatner became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T. Kirk , Captain of the USS Enterprise , in the Star Trek franchise . He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences playing Captain Kirk and being a part of Star Trek , and has co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe . He has written a series of science fiction novels called TekWar , which were adapted for television .   Shatner also played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker ( 1982 -- 86 ) and hosted the reality-based television series , Rescue 911 ( 1989 -- 96 ) , which won a People 's Choice Award for the Favorite New TV Dramatic Series . Shatner also appeared in the NBC series , 3rd Rock from the Sun in seasons 4 and 5 as the role of the `` Big Giant Head '' whom the alien characters of the Series reported to . From 2004 until 2008 , he starred as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of the legal drama The Practice and its spinoff series Boston Legal '' , a role that earned him two Emmy Awards .   Shatner has also worked as a musician , an author , a director , and a celebrity pitchman .


Citizens of Slovakia are provided with universal health care.

Slovakia Slovakia ( listen ) , is a landlocked country in Central Europe . It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west , Poland to the north , Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south . Slovakia 's territory spans about 49000 km2 and is mostly mountainous . The population is over 5 million and comprises mostly ethnic Slovaks . The capital and largest city is Bratislava . The official language is Slovak .   The Slavs arrived in the territory of present-day Slovakia in the 5th and 6th centuries . In the 7th century , they played a significant role in the creation of Samo 's Empire and in the 9th century established the Principality of Nitra . In the 10th century , the territory was integrated into the Kingdom of Hungary , which itself became part of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire . After World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , the Slovaks and Czechs established Czechoslovakia . A separate ( First ) Slovak Republic ( 1939 -- 1945 ) existed in World War II as a client state of Nazi Germany . In 1945 , Czechoslovakia was re-established under Communist rule as a Soviet satellite . In 1989 the Velvet Revolution ended authoritarian Communist rule in Czechoslovakia . Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia , sometimes known as the Velvet Divorce .   Slovakia is a high-income advanced economy with a very high Human Development Index , a very high standard of living and performs favourably in measurements of civil liberties , press freedom , internet freedom , democratic governance and peacefulness . The country maintains a combination of market economy with a comprehensive social security system . Citizens of Slovakia are provided with universal health care , free education and one of the longest paid maternity leave in the OECD . The country joined the European Union in 2004 and the Eurozone on 1 January 2009 . Slovakia is also a member of the Schengen Area , NATO , the United Nations , the OECD , the WTO , CERN , the OSCE , the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group . The Slovak economy is one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and 3rd fastest in eurozone . Its legal tender , the Euro , is the world 's 2nd most traded currency . Although regional income inequality is high , 90 % of citizens own their homes . In 2016 , Slovak citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 165 countries and territories , ranking the Slovak passport 11th in the world . Slovakia is the world 's largest per-capita car producer with a total of 1,040,000 cars manufactured in the country in 2016 alone and the 7th largest car producer in the European Union . The car industry represents 43 % of Slovakia 's industrial output , and a quarter of its exports .


Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( -LSB- ˈkɑːmələ -RSB- born October 20 , 1964 ) is an American attorney and politician who is the junior United States Senator from California . She is a member of the Democratic Party and served as the 32nd Attorney General of California .   Harris graduated from Howard University and University of California , Hastings College of the Law . She worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County , California ( 1990 -- 98 ) . She served as Managing Attorney of the Career Criminal Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney 's Office ( 1998-2000 ) and as Chief of the Community and Neighborhood Division in the office of San Francisco City Attorney ( 2000 -- 03 ) . In 2003 , she was elected as California 's first African American female District Attorney of San Francisco , defeating incumbent Terence Hallinan . She was re-elected in 2007 and served from 2004 to 2011 .   Harris was elected California 's Attorney General in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 . Harris was the first woman , the first Jamaican American , the first Asian American , the first Indian American , and the first African American attorney general in California .   On November 8 , 2016 , she defeated Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 U.S. Senate election to replace outgoing Democratic senator Barbara Boxer , becoming the third woman of color , first Indian American , and first biracial woman ( alongside Tammy Duckworth and Catherine Cortez Masto ) elected to serve in the United States Senate .


Vincent Cassel Vincent Cassel ( -LSB- vɛ̃sɑ̃ kasɛl -RSB- ; born Vincent Crochon , 23 November 1966 ) is a French actor best known to English-speaking audiences through his film performances in Ocean 's Twelve and Ocean 's Thirteen , as well as Black Swan . Cassel is also renowned for playing the infamous French bank-robber Jacques Mesrine in Mesrine : Killer Instinct and Mesrine : Public Enemy Number One .


Warm Leatherette is by anyone but an actress.

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


Warm Leatherette (album) Warm Leatherette is the fourth studio album by Grace Jones , released on 9 May 1980 by Island Records . The album features contributions from the reggae production duo Sly and Robbie and is a departure from Jones ' earlier disco sound , moving towards a new wave-reggae direction .


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 .


Universal health care Universal health care , sometimes referred to as universal health coverage , universal coverage , or universal care , usually refers to a health care system that provides health care and financial protection to all citizens of a particular country . It is organized around providing a specified package of benefits to all members of a society with the end goal of providing financial risk protection , improved access to health services , and improved health outcomes . Universal health care is not one-size-fits-all and does not imply coverage for all people for everything . Universal health care can be determined by three critical dimensions : who is covered , what services are covered , and how much of the cost is covered . It is described by the World Health Organization as a situation where citizens can access health services without incurring financial hardship . U.N. member states have agreed to work toward universal health coverage by 2030 .


Lee Child is also known for his friendship with James Grant.

Lee Child James D. `` Jim '' Grant ( born 29 October 1954 ) , better known by his pen name Lee Child , is a British author who writes thriller novels . He is especially known for his Jack Reacher novel series . The books follow the adventures of a former American military policeman , Jack Reacher , who wanders the United States . His first novel , Killing Floor , won both the Anthony Award , and the Barry Award for Best First Novel .


Daniel Craig Daniel Wroughton Craig ( born 2 March 1968 ) is an English actor . He trained at the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991 , before beginning his career on stage . His film debut was in the drama The Power of One ( 1992 ) . Other early appearances were in the Disney family film A Kid in King Arthur 's Court ( 1995 ) and the biographical film Elizabeth ( 1998 ) , as well as in the historical war drama television series Sharpe 's Eagle ( 1993 ) and the action-adventure drama series Zorro . Cast as the fictional British secret agent James Bond in October 2005 , his first film in the role , Casino Royale , was released internationally in November 2006 .   Craig 's appearances in the British television film Love Is the Devil : Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon ( 1998 ) , the indie war film The Trench ( 1999 ) , and the drama Some Voices ( 2000 ) attracted the film industry 's attention . This led to roles in bigger productions such as the action film Lara Croft : Tomb Raider ( 2001 ) , the crime thriller Road to Perdition ( 2002 ) , the crime thriller Layer Cake ( 2004 ) , and the Steven Spielberg historical drama Munich ( 2005 ) . Craig achieved international fame when chosen as the sixth actor to play the role of Ian Fleming 's James Bond in the official film series , taking over from Pierce Brosnan in 2005 . Although his casting was initially greeted with scepticism , his debut was highly acclaimed and earned him a BAFTA award nomination , with Casino Royale becoming the highest-grossing in the series at the time . Quantum of Solace followed two years later .   Craig 's third Bond film , Skyfall , premiered in 2012 and is currently the highest-grossing film in the series , was the highest-grossing film in the UK until 2015 and the fifteenth highest-grossing film of all time . Craig 's fourth Bond film , Spectre , premiered in 2015 . In 2006 , he joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Since taking the role of Bond , he has continued to star in other films , including the World War II film Defiance ( 2008 ) , science fiction Western Cowboys & Aliens ( 2010 ) , and the English-language adaptation of Stieg Larsson 's mystery thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ( 2011 ) . Craig also made a guest appearance as Bond in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games , alongside Queen Elizabeth II . As of 20 February 2017 , Craig is the second longest serving James Bond , surpassed only by Roger Moore .


The brand name of Sharp was used by Hisense.

Hisense Hisense Co. , Ltd. . is a Chinese multinational white goods and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Qingdao , Shandong province , China . It is a state-owned enterprise with publicly traded subsidiaries .   Hisense has two publicly traded companies , Hisense Electric Co Ltd , which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Co Ltd , which is listed on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock exchanges and a number of other subsidiaries .   Hisense has 13 manufacturing facilities in China ( located in the provinces/cities of : Guangdong , Guizhou , Huzhou , Jiangsu , Liaoning , Linyi , Shandong , Sichuan , Yangzhou , Yingkou , Xinjiang , Zibo and the municipality of Beijing ) and several outside of China , namely in Hungary , South Africa , Egypt , Algeria , France and Mexico .   Hisense retails products under several brand names . These include Combine , Kelon and Ronshen , etc. . Hisense is also an OEM , so some of the products it makes are sold to other manufacturers and carry a brand name not related to Hisense . In 2015 it acquired the right to sell televisions in the Americas using the brand name of former Japanese firm Sharp . It also makes televisions under its own name as of 2013 .


A Clash of Kings features Tyrion Lannister.

Tyrion Lannister Tyrion Lannister ( also referred to as `` the Imp '' or `` the Halfman '' ) is a fictional character in A Song of Ice and Fire , a series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin , and its television adaptation Game of Thrones . Based on an idea that came to Martin while writing the 1981 novel Windhaven , Tyrion has been called one of the author 's finest creations and most popular characters by The New York Times . Martin has named the character as his favorite in the series .   Introduced in 1996 's A Game of Thrones , Tyrion is a dwarf and member of House Lannister , one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the fictional kingdom of Westeros . He subsequently appeared in Martin 's A Clash of Kings ( 1998 ) and A Storm of Swords ( 2000 ) . Tyrion was one of a few prominent characters that were not included in 2005 's A Feast for Crows , but returned in the next novel A Dance with Dragons ( 2011 ) . The character will also appear in the forthcoming volume The Winds of Winter . The popularity of the character led Martin and Bantam Books to publish The Wit & Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister , an illustrated collection of Tyrion quotes from the novels , in 2013 .   In the story , Tyrion uses his status as a Lannister to mitigate the impact of the marginalization and derision he has received all of his life -- even from his own family . Knowing that no one will ever take him seriously , he soothes his inadequacies with wine , wit , and self-indulgence . But as the peaceful rule of King Robert Baratheon begins to come apart , Tyrion sees how ill-equipped his family are to hold everything together . He first saves his own neck from the vengeful Catelyn Stark and her sister Lysa Arryn , then is tasked by his father Tywin to impose order on the capital of King 's Landing -- as well as his nephew Joffrey , the new king -- as civil war is sparked . Tyrion struggles to strengthen and protect the city and family who hate him and refuse to see the peril they are in ; when his father returns , Tyrion becomes vulnerable to the wrath and machinations of the self-serving courtiers who surround Joffrey -- including Tyrion 's own scheming sister Cersei . Tyrion escapes death again but at great cost , and in fleeing Westeros finds himself in even more danger , but without his Lannister resources .   Peter Dinklage has garnered enormous praise for his portrayal of the character . In 2011 , Dinklage received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and later the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series , Miniseries , or Television Film for his portrayal of Tyrion in the HBO series . He won the Emmy again in 2015 . Among other accolades , Dinklage has been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award in 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , and 2016 .


Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( -LSB- mænˈdɛlə -RSB- 18 July 1918 -- 5 December 2013 ) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary , politician , and philanthropist , who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 . He was the country 's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election . His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation . Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist , he served as President of the African National Congress ( ANC ) party from 1991 to 1997 .   A Xhosa , Mandela was born in Mvezo to the Thembu royal family . He studied law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Witwatersrand before working as a lawyer in Johannesburg . There he became involved in anti-colonial and African nationalist politics , joining the ANC in 1943 and co-founding its Youth League in 1944 . After the National Party 's white-only government established apartheid -- a system of racial segregation that privileged whites -- he and the ANC committed themselves to its overthrow . Mandela was appointed President of the ANC 's Transvaal branch , rising to prominence for his involvement in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People . He was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the 1956 Treason Trial . Influenced by Marxism , he secretly joined the banned South African Communist Party ( SACP ) . Although initially committed to non-violent protest , in association with the SACP he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961 and led a sabotage campaign against the government . In 1962 , he was arrested for conspiring to overthrow the state and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial .   Mandela served 27 years in prison , initially on Robben Island , and later in Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison . Amid growing domestic and international pressure , and with fears of a racial civil war , President F. W. de Klerk released him in 1990 . Mandela and de Klerk negotiated an end to apartheid and organised the 1994 multiracial general election in which Mandela led the ANC to victory and became President . Leading a broad coalition government which promulgated a new constitution , Mandela emphasised reconciliation between the country 's racial groups and created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights abuses . Economically , Mandela 's administration retained its predecessor 's liberal framework despite his own socialist beliefs , also introducing measures to encourage land reform , combat poverty , and expand healthcare services . Internationally , he acted as mediator in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial and served as Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999 . He declined a second presidential term and in 1999 was succeeded by his deputy , Thabo Mbeki . Mandela became an elder statesman and focused on combating poverty and HIV/AIDS through the charitable Nelson Mandela Foundation .   Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life . Although critics on the right denounced him as a communist terrorist and those on the radical left deemed him too eager to negotiate and reconcile with apartheid 's supporters , he gained international acclaim for his activism . Widely regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice , he received more than 250 honours -- including the Nobel Peace Prize -- and became the subject of a cult of personality . He is held in deep respect within South Africa , where he is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name , Madiba , and described as the `` Father of the Nation '' .


Sherlock (TV series) is on a media format.

Blu-ray Blu-ray or Blu-ray Disc ( BD ) is a digital optical disc data storage format . It was designed to supersede the DVD format , in that it is capable of storing high-definition ( 720p and 1080p ) and ultra high-definition video resolution ( 2160p ) . The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick , the same size as DVDs and CDs . Conventional ( pre-BD-XL ) Blu-ray Disc discs contain 25 GB per layer , with dual layer discs ( 50 GB ) being the industry standard for feature-length video discs . Triple-layer discs ( 100 GB ) and quadruple layers ( 128 GB ) are available for BD-XL re-writer drives . The name `` Blu-ray '' refers to the blue laser ( specifically , a violet laser ) used to read the disc , which allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs . The main application of Blu-ray is as a medium for video material such as feature films and physical distribution of video games for the PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One . Besides the hardware specifications , Blu-ray is associated with a set of multimedia formats .   High-definition video may be stored on Blu-ray discs with up to 2160p resolution ( 3840 × 2160 pixels ) , at up to 60 frames per second . DVD discs had been limited to a maximum resolution of 480p ( NTSC , 720 × 480 pixels ) or 576p ( PAL , 720 × 576 pixels ) . The BD format was developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association , a group representing makers of consumer electronics , computer hardware , and motion pictures . Sony unveiled the first Blu-ray disc prototypes in October 2000 , and the first prototype player was released in April 2003 in Japan . Afterwards , it continued to be developed until its official release in June 2006 . During the high definition optical disc format war , Blu-ray Disc competed with the HD DVD format . Toshiba , the main company that supported HD DVD , conceded in February 2008 , releasing its own Blu-ray Disc player in late 2009 . According to Media Research , high-definition software sales in the US were slower in the first two years than DVD software sales . Blu-ray faces competition from video on demand and the continued sale of DVDs . As of January 2016 , 44 % of U.S. broadband households had a Blu-ray player .


Sherlock (TV series) Sherlock is a crime drama television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 's Sherlock Holmes detective stories . Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss , it stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson . Thirteen episodes have been produced , with three-part series airing from 2010 -- 2017 , and a special episode airing on 1 January 2016 . The series is set in the present day , while the one-off special features a Victorian period fantasy resembling the original Holmes stories . Sherlock is a co-production of the British network BBC and the American station WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece anthology series on PBS , along with Hartswood Films , with Moffat , Gatiss , Sue Vertue and Rebecca Eaton serving as executive producers . The series is primarily filmed in Cardiff , Wales , with North Gower Street in London used for exterior shots of Holmes and Watson 's 221B Baker Street residence .   Critical reception has been highly positive , with many reviews praising the quality of the writing , performances , and direction . Sherlock has been nominated for numerous awards including BAFTAs , Emmys , and a Golden Globe , winning several awards across a variety of categories . The show won in three categories at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries , Movie or a Dramatic Special for Moffat , Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Cumberbatch , and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Freeman . Two years later , it won Outstanding Television Movie . In addition , the show was also honoured with a Peabody Award in 2011 . The third series has become the UK 's most watched drama series since 2001 while interest in the fourth series appeared to slip by approximately twenty percent . Sherlock has been sold to 180 territories .   All of the series have been released on DVD and Blu-ray , alongside tie-in editions of selected original Conan Doyle stories and original soundtrack composed by David Arnold and Michael Price . In January 2014 , the show launched its official mobile app called Sherlock : The Network .


The Vampire Diaries The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural drama television series developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec , based on the popular book series of the same name written by L. J. Smith . The series premiered on The CW on September 10 , 2009 and concluded on March 10 , 2017 , airing 171 episodes over eight seasons .   The pilot episode attracted the largest audience for The CW of any series premiere since the network began in 2006 . The first season averaged 3.60 million viewers . It was the most-watched series on the network before being supplanted by Arrow . The show has received numerous award nominations , winning four People 's Choice Award and many Teen Choice Awards .   On April 26 , 2013 , The CW officially announced that the spin-off The Originals , which focuses on the Original family of vampires , had been ordered to series , and the show began airing during the 2013 -- 14 American television season .   On April 6 , 2015 , lead actress Nina Dobrev confirmed via Instagram that she and co-star Michael Trevino ( who plays Tyler Lockwood ) would be leaving the show after its sixth season . Dobrev returned to record a voiceover for the seventh-season finale . Trevino appeared as a guest star in season seven and returned for season 8 . On March 11 , 2016 , The CW renewed the series for an eighth season , but on July 23 , 2016 , announced that the eighth season , which would have 16 episodes , would be the show 's last . The final season began airing on October 21 , 2016 .


Demi Lovato Demetria Devonne Lovato ( -LSB- ˈdɛmi_loʊ-ˈvɑːtoʊ -RSB- or ; born August 20 , 1992 ) is an American singer , songwriter , and actress . After making her debut as a child actress in Barney & Friends , Lovato rose to prominence in 2008 when she starred in the Disney Channel television film Camp Rock and released her debut single `` This Is Me '' which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 . The success of the film and its soundtrack resulted in a recording contract with Hollywood Records . Her debut album , Do n't Forget ( 2008 ) , debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 . The following year , Lovato was cast as the titular character of the television series Sonny with a Chance and she released her sophomore album , Here We Go Again , which became her first one to top the Billboard 200 chart .   After the release of additional television films and their soundtracks in 2010 , including Camp Rock 2 : The Final Jam , Lovato 's personal issues put her career on a hiatus and led to the discontinuation of Sonny with a Chance after a second season . She entered a treatment center in November 2010 to seek help for addictions , an eating disorder , and self-harm . While there , she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder . Work on her third studio album , Unbroken ( 2011 ) , began after she successfully completed treatment . The album addresses several of her difficulties . Its lead single , `` Skyscraper '' , became Lovato 's second top 10 entry in the US , while its second single , `` Give Your Heart a Break '' , was certified triple platinum in the country . Lovato was a judge and mentor on the American version of The X Factor in 2012 and 2013 . Her third album , Demi ( 2013 ) , opened with first-week sales of 110,000 copies . The lead single from her eponymous album , `` Heart Attack '' , became her third top 10 in the US and the album spawned three more singles . While promoting the project , Lovato released a book titled Staying Strong : 365 Days a Year ( 2013 ) . She also returned to acting as a recurring character in Glee , and released a memoir in 2014 . Lovato 's fifth album , Confident ( 2015 ) , reached number two on the Billboard 200 . Its lead single `` Cool for the Summer '' was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America . All five of Lovato 's albums have received a gold certification in the US .   Musically , Lovato is considered a pop , pop rock , and R&B artist . Lovato has received a considerable number of accolades , including an MTV Video Music Award , 13 Teen Choice Awards , five People 's Choice Awards , an ALMA Award , a Latin American Music Award and a Grammy Award nomination . In 2013 , Maxim ranked her 26th on its Hot 100 list and Billboard ranked her second on its Social 50 Artists of the Year list . Outside the entertainment industry , Lovato has been involved with several social and environmental causes since the launch of her career . In May 2013 , she was cited for her dedication as a mentor to teens and young adults with mental health challenges at a National Children 's Mental Health Awareness Day hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Washington , D.C. . She has also become an advocate for the LGBT community , and women 's rights . In 2014 , she was announced as the Grand Marshal for LA Pride week , and that same year she became the face for Human Rights Campaign 's Americans for Marriage Equality Campaign . In April 2016 , Lovato was honored with the GLAAD Vanguard Award for making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for LGBT people .