Abraham Lincoln spoke out against the reduction of slavery.

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( -LSB- ˈeɪbrəhæm_ˈlIŋkən -RSB- February 12 , 1809 -- April 15 , 1865 ) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865 . Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War -- its bloodiest war and perhaps its greatest moral , constitutional , and political crisis . In doing so , he preserved the Union , paved the way to the abolition of slavery , strengthened the federal government , and modernized the economy .   Born in Hodgenville , Kentucky , Lincoln grew up on the western frontier in Kentucky and Indiana . Largely self-educated , he became a lawyer in Illinois , a Whig Party leader , and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives , in which he served for eight years . Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1846 , Lincoln promoted rapid modernization of the economy through banks , tariffs , and railroads . Because he had originally agreed not to run for a second term in Congress , and because his opposition to the Mexican -- American War was unpopular among Illinois voters , Lincoln returned to Springfield and resumed his successful law practice . Reentering politics in 1854 , he became a leader in building the new Republican Party , which had a statewide majority in Illinois . In 1858 , while taking part in a series of highly publicized debates with his opponent and rival , Democrat Stephen A. Douglas , Lincoln spoke out against the expansion of slavery , but lost the U.S. Senate race to Douglas .   In 1860 , Lincoln secured the Republican Party presidential nomination as a moderate from a swing state . Though he gained very little support in the slaveholding states of the South , he swept the North and was elected president in 1860 . Lincoln 's victory prompted seven southern slave states to form the Confederate States of America before he moved into the White House -- no compromise or reconciliation was found regarding slavery and secession . Subsequently , on April 12 , 1861 , a Confederate attack on Fort Sumter inspired the North to enthusiastically rally behind the Union . As the leader of the moderate faction of the Republican Party , Lincoln confronted Radical Republicans , who demanded harsher treatment of the South , War Democrats , who called for more compromise , anti-war Democrats ( called Copperheads ) , who despised him , and irreconcilable secessionists , who plotted his assassination . Politically , Lincoln fought back by pitting his opponents against each other , by carefully planned political patronage , and by appealing to the American people with his powers of oratory . His Gettysburg Address became an iconic endorsement of the principles of nationalism , republicanism , equal rights , liberty , and democracy .   Lincoln initially concentrated on the military and political dimensions of the war . His primary goal was to reunite the nation . He suspended habeas corpus , leading to the controversial ex parte Merryman decision , and he averted potential British intervention in the war by defusing the Trent Affair in late 1861 . Lincoln closely supervised the war effort , especially the selection of top generals , including his most successful general , Ulysses S. Grant . He also made major decisions on Union war strategy , including a naval blockade that shut down the South 's normal trade , moves to take control of Kentucky and Tennessee , and using gunboats to gain control of the southern river system . Lincoln tried repeatedly to capture the Confederate capital at Richmond ; each time a general failed , Lincoln substituted another , until finally Grant succeeded . As the war progressed , his complex moves toward ending slavery included the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 ; Lincoln used the U.S. Army to protect escaped slaves , encouraged the border states to outlaw slavery , and pushed through Congress the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution , which permanently outlawed slavery .   An exceptionally astute politician deeply involved with power issues in each state , Lincoln reached out to the War Democrats and managed his own re-election campaign in the 1864 presidential election . Anticipating the war 's conclusion , Lincoln pushed a moderate view of Reconstruction , seeking to reunite the nation speedily through a policy of generous reconciliation in the face of lingering and bitter divisiveness . On April 14 , 1865 , five days after the surrender of Confederate commanding general Robert E. Lee , Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth , a Confederate sympathizer .   Lincoln has been consistently ranked both by scholars and the public as among the greatest U.S. presidents .


The Black Dahlia (film) The Black Dahlia is a 2006 French-American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Brian De Palma and written by Josh Friedman . It is drawn from the novel of the same name by James Ellroy and stars Josh Hartnett , Scarlett Johansson , Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank . The widely sensationalized murder of Elizabeth Short inspired both the novel and the film . The film was screen at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival on August 30 , 2006 , and was released in the United States on September 15 , 2006 . Despite its failure both critically and financially , it was nominated for Best Cinematography at the 79th Academy Awards , losing to Pan 's Labyrinth . Mia Kirshner 's performance as Short was also widely praised .


79th Academy Awards The 79th Academy Awards ceremony , presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) , honored the best films of 2006 and took place February 25 , 2007 , at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood , Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. . During the ceremony , the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Academy Awards ( commonly referred to as Oscars ) in 24 categories . The ceremony , televised in the United States by ABC , was produced by Laura Ziskin and directed by Louis J. Horvitz . Actress Ellen DeGeneres hosted for the first time . Two weeks earlier in a ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills , California held on February 10 , the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Maggie Gyllenhaal .   The Departed won four awards , including Best Picture and Best Director for Martin Scorsese . Other winners included Pan 's Labyrinth with three , An Inconvenient Truth , Dreamgirls , and Little Miss Sunshine with two , and Babel , The Blood of Yingzhou District , The Danish Poet , Happy Feet , The Last King of Scotland , Letters from Iwo Jima , The Lives of Others , Marie Antoinette , Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Man 's Chest , The Queen , and West Bank Story with one . The telecast garnered nearly 40 million viewers in the United States .


Quincy Jones is involved with pop music.

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones , Jr. ( born March 14 , 1933 ) , also known as `` Q '' , is an American record producer , actor , conductor , arranger , composer , musician , television producer , film producer , instrumentalist , magazine founder , entertainment company executive , and humanitarian . His career spans six decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations , and 28 Grammys , including a Grammy Legend Award in 1991 . He is best known for the role of himself in Yakety Yak , Take it Back , Trash Talk , and Fantasia 2000 .   Jones came to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor , before moving on to work prolifically in pop music and film scores . In 1968 , Jones and his songwriting partner Bob Russell became the first African Americans to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song , their `` The Eyes of Love '' for the Universal Pictures film Banning . That same year , Jones was the first African American to be nominated twice within the same year for an Academy Award for Best Original Score , as he was also nominated for his work on the film In Cold Blood ( 1967 ) . In 1971 , Jones was the first African American to be named as the musical director and conductor of the Academy Awards ceremony . In 1995 , he was the first African American to receive the Academy 's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award . He is tied with sound designer Willie D. Burton as the African American who has been nominated for the most Oscars ; each has received seven nominations .   Jones was the producer , with Michael Jackson , of Jackson 's albums Off the Wall ( 1979 ) , Thriller ( 1982 ) , and Bad ( 1987 ) , as well as the producer and conductor of the 1985 charity song `` We Are the World '' , which raised funds for victims of destitution in Ethiopia .   In 2013 , Jones was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the winner , alongside Lou Adler , of the Ahmet Ertegun Award . Among his awards , Jones was named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century .


Guardians of the Galaxy was the 2014 release for Marvel Studios.

Guardians of the Galaxy (film) Guardians of the Galaxy ( retroactively referred to as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 1 ) is a 2014 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures . It is the tenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . The film was directed by James Gunn , who wrote the screenplay with Nicole Perlman , and features an ensemble cast including Chris Pratt , Zoe Saldana , Dave Bautista , Vin Diesel , Bradley Cooper , Lee Pace , Michael Rooker , Karen Gillan , Djimon Hounsou , John C. Reilly , Glenn Close , and Benicio del Toro . In Guardians of the Galaxy , Peter Quill forms an uneasy alliance with a group of extraterrestrial misfits who are fleeing after stealing a powerful artifact .   Perlman began working on the screenplay in 2009 . Producer Kevin Feige first publicly mentioned Guardians of the Galaxy as a potential film in 2010 and Marvel Studios announced it was in active development at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2012 . Gunn was hired to write and direct the film that September . In February 2013 , Pratt was hired to play Peter Quill / Star-Lord , and the supporting cast members were subsequently confirmed . Principal photography began in July 2013 at Shepperton Studios in England , with filming continuing in London before wrapping up in October 2013 . Post-production was finished on July 7 , 2014 .   The film premiered in Hollywood on July 21 , 2014 . It was released in theaters on August 1 , 2014 in the United States in the 3D and IMAX 3D formats . The film became a critical and commercial success , grossing $ 773.3 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing superhero film of 2014 , as well as the third highest-grossing film in North America of 2014 . The film garnered praise for its humor , action , soundtrack , visual effects , direction , musical score , and acting . A sequel , Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2 , was released on May 5 , 2017 , with a third film , Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3 , planned .


Winona Ryder received award nominations.

Winona Ryder Winona Ryder ( born Winona Laura Horowitz ; October 29 , 1971 ) is an American actress . One of the most profitable and iconic actresses of the 1990s , she made her film debut in the 1986 film Lucas . As Lydia Deetz , a goth teenager in Tim Burton 's Beetlejuice ( 1988 ) , she won critical acclaim and widespread recognition . After appearances in film and on television , Ryder continued her acting career with the cult film Heathers ( 1988 ) , a controversial satire of teenage suicide and high school life that has since become a landmark teen film . She later appeared in the coming of age drama Mermaids ( 1990 ) , earning a Golden Globe nomination , and in the same year appeared alongside Johnny Depp in Burton 's dark fairy-tale Edward Scissorhands ( 1990 ) , and shortly thereafter with Keanu Reeves in Francis Ford Coppola 's gothic romance Bram Stoker 's Dracula ( 1992 ) .   Having played diverse roles in many well-received films in the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s , Ryder won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination in the same category for her role in The Age of Innocence in 1993 , as well as another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the literary adaptation of Little Women the following year . She later appeared in the Generation X hit Reality Bites ( 1994 ) , Alien : Resurrection ( 1997 ) , the Woody Allen comedy Celebrity ( 1998 ) , and Girl , Interrupted ( 1999 ) , which she also executive-produced . In 2000 , Ryder received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , honoring her legacy in the film industry .   Ryder 's personal life has attracted significant media attention . Her relationship with Johnny Depp in the early 1990s and a 2001 arrest for shoplifting were constant subjects of tabloid journalism . She has been open about her personal struggles with anxiety and depression .   In 2002 , she appeared in the box office hit Mr. Deeds alongside Adam Sandler . In 2006 , Ryder returned to the screen after a brief hiatus , appearing in high-profile films such as Star Trek . In 2010 , she was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards : as the lead actress in When Love Is Not Enough : The Lois Wilson Story and as part of the cast of Black Swan . She also reunited with Burton for Frankenweenie ( 2012 ) . Since 2016 , she has starred as Joyce Byers in the Netflix supernatural-horror series Stranger Things , for which she has garnered Golden Globe and SAG nominations .


Black Swan (film) Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological thriller-horror film directed by Darren Aronofsky , written by Mark Heyman , Andres Heinz , and John McLaughlin , and starring Natalie Portman , Vincent Cassel , Mila Kunis and Winona Ryder . The plot revolves around a production of Tchaikovsky 's Swan Lake ballet by a prestigious New York City company . The production requires a ballerina to play the innocent and fragile White Swan , for which the committed dancer Nina ( Portman ) is a perfect fit , as well as the dark and sensual Black Swan , which are qualities better embodied by the new arrival Lily ( Kunis ) . Nina is overwhelmed by a feeling of immense pressure when she finds herself competing for the part , causing her to lose her tenuous grip on reality and descend into a living nightmare .   Usually described as a psychological thriller , Black Swan can be also interpreted as a metaphor for achieving artistic perfection , with all the psychological and physical challenges one might encounter , i.e. `` the film can be perceived as a poetic metaphor for the birth of an artist , that is , as a visual representation of Nina 's psychic odyssey toward achieving artistic perfection and of the price to be paid for it . ''   Aronofsky conceived the premise by connecting his viewings of a production of Swan Lake with an unrealized screenplay about understudies and the notion of being haunted by a double , similar to the folklore surrounding doppelgängers . Aronofsky cites Fyodor Dostoyevsky 's The Double as another inspiration for the film . The director also considered Black Swan a companion piece to his 2008 film The Wrestler , with both films involving demanding performances for different kinds of art . He and Portman first discussed the project in 2000 , and after a brief attachment to Universal Studios , Black Swan was produced in New York City in 2009 by Fox Searchlight Pictures . Portman and Kunis trained in ballet for several months prior to filming , and notable figures from the ballet world helped with film production to shape the ballet presentation .   The film premiered as the opening film for the 67th Venice International Film Festival on September 1 , 2010 . It had a limited release in the United States starting December 3 , 2010 and opened in wide release on December 17 . Black Swan received critical praise upon its release , particularly for Portman 's performance and Aronofsky 's direction , and was a surprise box office success , grossing $ 329 million worldwide . The film received five Academy Award nominations and Portman won Best Actress for the film , as well as many other Best Actress awards in several guilds and festivals . In addition , Aronofsky was nominated for Best Director and the film was nominated for Best Picture . It is the fifth horror film to be nominated in the Best Picture category , following The Exorcist in 1973 , Jaws in 1975 , The Silence of the Lambs in 1991 , and The Sixth Sense in 1999 .


Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( -LSB- leoˈnardo di ˌsɛr ˈpjɛːro da ( v ) ˈvintʃi -RSB- ; 15 April 14522 May 1519 ) , more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo , was an Italian polymath whose areas of interest included invention , painting , sculpting , architecture , science , music , mathematics , engineering , literature , anatomy , geology , astronomy , botany , writing , history , and cartography . He has been variously called the father of palaeontology , ichnology , and architecture , and is widely considered one of the greatest painters of all time . Sometimes credited with the inventions of the parachute , helicopter and tank , he epitomised the Renaissance humanist ideal .   Many historians and scholars regard Leonardo as the prime exemplar of the `` Universal Genius '' or `` Renaissance Man '' , an individual of `` unquenchable curiosity '' and `` feverishly inventive imagination '' . According to art historian Helen Gardner , the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent in recorded history , and `` his mind and personality seem to us superhuman , while the man himself mysterious and remote '' . Marco Rosci notes that while there is much speculation regarding his life and personality , his view of the world was logical rather than mysterious , and that the empirical methods he employed were unorthodox for his time .   Born out of wedlock to a notary , Piero da Vinci , and a peasant woman , Caterina , in Vinci in the region of Florence , Leonardo was educated in the studio of the renowned Florentine painter Andrea del Verrocchio . Much of his earlier working life was spent in the service of Ludovico il Moro in Milan . He later worked in Rome , Bologna and Venice , and he spent his last years in France at the home awarded to him by Francis I of France .   Leonardo was , and is , renowned primarily as a painter . Among his works , the Mona Lisa is the most famous and most parodied portrait and The Last Supper the most reproduced religious painting of all time . Leonardo 's drawing of the Vitruvian Man is also regarded as a cultural icon , being reproduced on items as varied as the euro coin , textbooks , and T-shirts . Perhaps fifteen of his paintings have survived.There are 15 significant artworks which are ascribed , either in whole or in large part , to Leonardo by most art historians . This number is made up principally of paintings on panel but includes a mural , a large drawing on paper and two works which are in the early stages of preparation . There are a number of other works that have also been variously attributed to Leonardo . Nevertheless , these few works , together with his notebooks , which contain drawings , scientific diagrams , and his thoughts on the nature of painting , compose a contribution to later generations of artists rivalled only by that of his contemporary , Michelangelo .   Leonardo is revered for his technological ingenuity . He conceptualised flying machines , a type of armoured fighting vehicle , concentrated solar power , an adding machine , and the double hull . Relatively few of his designs were constructed or even feasible during his lifetime , as the modern scientific approaches to metallurgy and engineering were only in their infancy during the Renaissance . Some of his smaller inventions , however , such as an automated bobbin winder and a machine for testing the tensile strength of wire , entered the world of manufacturing unheralded . A number of Leonardo 's most practical inventions are nowadays displayed as working models at the Museum of Vinci . He made substantial discoveries in anatomy , civil engineering , geology , optics , and hydrodynamics , but he did not publish his findings and they had no direct influence on later science .   Today , Leonardo is widely considered one of the most diversely talented individuals ever to have lived .


Communication is included in International Relations.

International relations International relations ( IR ) or international affairs , depending on academic institution , is either a field of political science , an interdisciplinary academic field similar to global studies , or an entirely independent academic discipline in which students take a variety of internationally focused courses in social science and humanities disciplines . In both cases , the field studies relationships between political entities ( polities ) such as states , sovereign states , empires , inter-governmental organizations ( IGOs ) , international non-governmental organizations ( INs ) , non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ) , and multinational corporations ( MNCs ) , and the wider world-systems produced by this interaction . International relations is an academic and a public policy field , and so can be positive and normative , because it analyzes and formulates the foreign policy of a given State .   As political activity , international relations dates from the time of the Greek historian Thucydides ( c. 460 -- 395 BC ) , and , in the early 20th century , became a discrete academic field ( No. 5901 in the 4-digit UNESCO Nomenclature ) within political science . In practice International Relations and International Affairs forms a separate academic program or field from Political Science , and the courses taught therein are highly interdisciplinary .   For example , international relations draws from the fields of : technology and engineering , economics , communication studies , history , international law , demography , philosophy , geography , social work , sociology , anthropology , criminology , psychology , gender studies , cultural studies , culturology , and diplomacy . The scope of international relations comprehends globalization , diplomatic relations , state sovereignty , international security , ecological sustainability , nuclear proliferation , nationalism , economic development , global finance , as well as terrorism and organized crime , human security , foreign interventionism , and human rights , as well , as , more recently , comparative religion .


Dead Man Down was released in April 2013.

Dead Man Down Dead Man Down is an 2013 American neo-noir crime thriller film written by J.H. Wyman and directed by Danish director Niels Arden Oplev . The film stars Colin Farrell , Noomi Rapace , Dominic Cooper , and Terrence Howard , and was released on March 8 , 2013 . Dead Man Down was Oplev 's first film since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ( 2009 ) , also starring Rapace and scored by Jacob Groth .


The Breakfast Club The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written , produced , and directed by John Hughes , starring Emilio Estevez , Paul Gleason , Anthony Michael Hall , Judd Nelson , Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy . The storyline follows five teenagers , each members of different high school cliques , who spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all more than their respective stereotypes , while facing a strict disciplinarian .   The film premiered in Los Angeles on February 7 , 1985 . Universal Pictures released the film in cinemas in the United States on February 15 , 1985 . It received critical acclaim and earned $ 51.5 million on a $ 1 million budget . Critics consider it one of the greatest high school films of all time , as well as one of Hughes ' most memorable and recognizable works . The media referred to the film 's five main actors as members of a group called the `` Brat Pack '' .   The title comes from the nickname invented by students and staff for morning detention at New Trier High School , the school attended by the son of one of John Hughes ' friends . Thus , those who were sent to detention before school starting time were designated members of `` The Breakfast Club '' .  In 2016 , the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' .   The film was digitally remastered and was re-screened throughout 430 theaters in celebration of its 30th anniversary in 2015 .


Trolls (soundtrack) is the musical soundtrack to a Dreamworks film.

Trolls (soundtrack) Trolls : Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2016 DreamWorks Animation film Trolls , released on September 23 , 2016 by RCA Records . The soundtrack is produced primarily by singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake , along with Max Martin and Shellback as additional producers . It features work from Timberlake himself , along with Anna Kendrick , Ron Funches , Zooey Deschanel and Gwen Stefani , who all voice characters in the film , as well as Earth , Wind & Fire and Ariana Grande . The album was certified Platinum in Australia and the United States . The song `` Ca n't Stop the Feeling ! '' was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Grammy Award .


Ageing has been ruled out by gerontologists as a cause of hearing loss.

Hearing loss Hearing loss , also known as hearing impairment , is a partial or total inability to hear . A deaf person has little to no hearing . Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears . In children hearing problems can affect the ability to learn spoken language and in adults it can cause work related difficulties . In some people , particularly older people , hearing loss can result in loneliness . Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent .   Hearing loss may be caused by a number of factors , including : genetics , ageing , exposure to noise , some infections , birth complications , trauma to the ear , and certain medications or toxins . A common condition that results in hearing loss is chronic ear infections . Certain infections during pregnancy such as syphilis and rubella may also cause hearing loss . Hearing loss is diagnosed when hearing testing finds that a person is unable to hear 25 decibels in at least one ear . Testing for poor hearing is recommended for all newborns . Hearing loss can be categorised as mild , moderate , moderate-severe , severe , or profound . There are three main types of hearing loss , conductive hearing loss , sensorineural hearing loss , and mixed hearing loss .   Half of hearing loss is preventable . This includes by immunization , proper care around pregnancy , avoiding loud noise , and avoiding certain medications . The World Health Organization recommends that young people limit the use of personal audio players to an hour a day in an effort to limit exposure to noise . Early identification and support are particularly important in children . For many hearing aids , sign language , cochlear implants and subtitles are useful . Lip reading is another useful skill some develop . Access to hearing aids , however , is limited in many areas of the world .   As of 2013 hearing loss affects about 1.1 billion people to some degree . It causes disability in 5 % ( 360 to 538 million ) and moderate to severe disability in 124 million people . Of those with moderate to severe disability 108 million live in low and middle income countries . Of those with hearing loss it began in 65 million during childhood . Those who use sign language and are members of Deaf culture see themselves as having a difference rather than an illness . Most members of Deaf culture oppose attempts to cure deafness and some within this community view cochlear implants with concern as they have the potential to eliminate their culture . The term hearing impairment is often viewed negatively as it emphasises what people can not do .


Jennifer Aniston has only ever worked in the entertainment industry as a director.

Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Joanna Aniston ( born February 11 , 1969 ) is an American actress , producer , and businesswoman . She is the daughter of Greek-born actor John Aniston and American actress Nancy Dow . Aniston gained worldwide recognition for portraying Rachel Green on the popular television sitcom Friends ( 1994 -- 2004 ) , a role which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award , a Golden Globe Award , and a Screen Actors Guild Award . The character was widely popular during the airing of the series and was later recognized as one of the 100 greatest female characters in United States television .   Aniston has played the female protagonist in a number of comedies and romantic comedies . Her box office hits include Bruce Almighty ( 2003 ) , The Break-Up ( 2006 ) , Marley & Me ( 2008 ) , Just Go with It ( 2011 ) , Horrible Bosses ( 2011 ) , and We 're the Millers ( 2013 ) , each of which have grossed over 200 million in worldwide receipts . Her most critically acclaimed roles included the role of Olivia in Friends with Money ( 2006 ) , The Good Girl ( 2002 ) , for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead , and the drama Cake ( 2014 ) , for which she received nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress . Her other films include Along Came Polly ( 2004 ) and He 's Just Not That Into You ( 2009 ) . In 2008 , she co-founded the production company Echo Films .   In 2012 , Aniston received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . She is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood , and as of 2014 , her net worth is estimated to be 150 million . She has also been included in magazines ' lists of the world 's most beautiful women . People magazine named Aniston `` The Most Beautiful Woman '' in 2004 and 2016 , and Men 's Health magazine voted her the `` Sexiest Woman of All Time '' in 2011 . Divorced from actor Brad Pitt , to whom she was married for five years , she has been married to actor Justin Theroux since 2015 .


In 2014, Ariana Grande put out her second studio album.

Ariana Grande Ariana Grande-Butera ( born June 26 , 1993 ) , known as Ariana Grande ( -LSB- ˌɑriˈɑːnə_ˈɡrɑːndeɪ -RSB- ) , is an American singer and actress . She began her career in the Broadway musical 13 , before landing the role of Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television series Victorious in 2009 . The show ended after four seasons , and Grande starred in the spinoff , Sam & Cat , which ended in 2014 . She has also appeared in other theatre and television roles , and has lent her voice to animated television and films .   Grande 's music career began with the soundtrack Music from Victorious ( 2011 ) . She signed a recording contract with Republic Records and released her debut studio album , Yours Truly , in 2013 , which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 . The album 's lead single , `` The Way '' , debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 , with critics comparing her wide vocal range to that of Mariah Carey .   Grande 's second studio album , My Everything ( 2014 ) , debuted at number one in the US and charted in the top 10 in 24 other countries . With the lead single `` Problem '' and several others from that album , she was continuously in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 for 34 weeks and had the most top 10 singles of any artist in 2014 . In 2015 , Grande promoted My Everything with her first world tour , The Honeymoon Tour , guest-starred in the Fox comedy horror television series , Scream Queens and released a holiday EP , Christmas & Chill . In 2016 , she released her third studio album , Dangerous Woman , and several songs from the album . The title track debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 , making Grande the first person in the history of that chart to have the lead single from each of her first three albums debut in the top 10 . The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 . As of January 2017 , Grande 's music videos had been viewed a total of more than seven billion times online .   Grande 's accolades include three American Music Awards , an MTV Video Music Award , three MTV Europe Music Awards and four Grammy Award nominations . All three of her albums have been certified platinum by the RIAA . She has actively supported a range of charities , and has a large following on social media ; she is the second most followed person on Instagram . In 2016 , Time named Grande one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list .


Tiffany Hwang released an album in 2016.

Tiffany Hwang Stephanie Young Hwang ( born August 1 , 1989 ) , known professionally as Tiffany or Tiffany Hwang , is an American singer based in South Korea . Born and raised in California , she was discovered by South Korean entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment at the age of fifteen and subsequently moved to South Korea . After four years of training , Tiffany debuted as a member of girl group Girls ' Generation ( and later its subgroup TTS ) in August 2007 , who went on to be one of the best-selling artists in South Korea and one of South Korea 's most popular girl groups worldwide . In 2016 , following her contribution to several side projects during the early part of her career , Tiffany became the second Girls ' Generation member to release a solo debut album , I Just Wan na Dance .


The Democratic Party has more members than other parties.

Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States , along with the Republican Party . Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison 's Democratic-Republican Party , the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by Andrew Jackson , making it the world 's oldest active party .   The Democrats ' dominant worldview was once social conservativism and economic liberalism , while , especially in the rural South , populism was its leading characteristic . In 1912 , Theodore Roosevelt ran as a third-party candidate in the Progressive ( `` Bull Moose '' ) Party , leading to a switch of political platforms between the Democratic and Republican Party and Woodrow Wilson being elected as the first fiscally progressive Democrat . Since Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal coalition in the 1930s , the Democratic Party has also promoted a social-liberal platform , supporting social justice .   Today , the House Democratic caucus is composed mostly of progressives and centrists , with a smaller minority of conservative Democrats . The party 's philosophy of modern liberalism advocates social and economic equality , along with the welfare state . It seeks to provide government intervention and regulation in the economy . These interventions , such as the introduction of social programs , support for labor unions , affordable college tuitions , moves toward universal health care and equal opportunity , consumer protection , and environmental protection form the core of the party 's economic policy . The party has united with smaller liberal regional parties throughout the country , such as the Farmer -- Labor Party in Minnesota and the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota .   Well into the 20th century , the party had conservative pro-business and southern conservative-populist anti-business wings . The New Deal Coalition of 1932 -- 1964 attracted strong support from voters of recent European extraction -- many of whom were Catholics based in the cities . After Franklin D. Roosevelt 's New Deal of the 1930s , the pro-business wing withered outside the South . After the racial turmoil of the 1960s , most southern whites and many northern Catholics moved into the Republican Party at the presidential level . The once-powerful labor union element became smaller and less supportive after the 1970s . White Evangelicals and Southerners became heavily Republican at the state and local level in the 1990s . Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. such as ( but not limited to ) Jewish Americans , Hispanic Americans , Arabic Americans , and African Americans , tend to support the Democratic Party in proportions higher than their overall representation in American society . Overall , the Democratic Party has retained a membership lead over its major rival the Republican Party ( GOP ) .   15 Democrats have served as president under 16 administrations : the first was seventh president Andrew Jackson , who served from 1829 to 1837 ; Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897 , and is thus counted twice ( as the 22nd and 24th president ) . The most recent was the 44th president Barack Obama , who held the office from 2009 to 2017 .   In the 115th Congress , following the 2016 elections , Democrats are the opposition party , holding a minority of seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate . The party also holds a minority of governorships ( 16/50 ) , and state legislatures ( full control of 12/50 , split control of six others ) , though they do control the mayoralty of cities such as New York City , Los Angeles , Chicago , Houston , and Washington , D.C.


Al Capone replaced his defense team with tax law experts after his conviction.

Al Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone ( -LSB- æl_kəˈpoʊn -RSB- January 17 , 1899 -- January 25 , 1947 ) , sometimes known by the nickname Scarface , was an American gangster who attained fame during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit . His seven-year reign as crime boss ended when he was 33 years old .   Capone was born in Brooklyn in New York City to Italian immigrants . He was considered a Five Points Gang member who became a bouncer in organized crime premises such as brothels . In his early twenties , he moved to Chicago and became bodyguard and trusted factotum for Johnny Torrio , head of a criminal syndicate that illegally supplied alcohol -- the forerunner of the Outfit -- and that was politically protected through the Unione Siciliana . A conflict with the North Side Gang was instrumental in Capone 's rise and fall . Torrio went into retirement after North Side gunmen almost killed him , handing control to Capone . Capone expanded the bootlegging business through increasingly violent means , but his mutually profitable relationships with mayor William Hale Thompson and the city 's police meant that Capone seemed safe from law enforcement .   Capone apparently reveled in attention , such as the cheers from spectators when he appeared at ball games . He made donations to various charities and was viewed by many to be a `` modern-day Robin Hood '' . However , the Saint Valentine 's Day Massacre of gang rivals , resulting in the killing of seven men in broad daylight , damaged Chicago 's image -- as well as Capone 's -- leading influential citizens to demand governmental action and newspapers to dub him `` Public Enemy No. 1 '' .   The federal authorities became intent on jailing Capone , and they prosecuted him for tax evasion in 1931 , a federal crime and a novel strategy during the era . During the highly publicized case , the judge admitted as evidence Capone 's admissions of his income and unpaid taxes during prior ( and ultimately abortive ) negotiations to pay the government any back taxes he owed . Capone was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison . After conviction , he replaced his old defense team with experts in tax law , and his grounds for appeal were strengthened by a Supreme Court ruling , but his appeal ultimately failed .   He was already showing signs of syphilitic dementia early in his sentence , and he became increasingly debilitated before being released after eight years . On January 25 , 1947 , Capone died of cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke .


Anne Frank's full first name was Annelies.

Anne Frank Annelies Marie `` Anne '' Frank ( -LSB- ʔanəliːs maˈʁiː ˈʔanə ˈfʁaŋk -RSB- ; -LSB- ʔɑnəˈlis maˈri ˈʔɑnə ˈfrɑŋk -RSB- ; 12 June 1929 -- February or March 1945 ) was a German-born diarist . One of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust , she gained fame posthumously following the publication of The Diary of a Young Girl ( originally Het Achterhuis ; The Secret Annex ) , in which she documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944 , during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II . It is one of the world 's most widely known books and has been the basis for several plays and films .   Born in Frankfurt , Germany , she lived most of her life in or near Amsterdam , Netherlands , having moved there with her family at the age of four-and-a-half when the Nazis gained control over Germany . Born a German national , Frank lost her citizenship in 1941 and thus became stateless . By May 1940 , the Franks were trapped in Amsterdam by the German occupation of the Netherlands . As persecutions of the Jewish population increased in July 1942 , the family went into hiding in some concealed rooms behind a bookcase in the building where Anne 's father worked . From then until the family 's arrest by the Gestapo in August 1944 , Anne kept a diary she had received as a birthday present , and wrote in it regularly . Following their arrest , the Franks were transported to concentration camps . In October or November 1944 , Anne and her sister , Margot , were transferred to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp from Auschwitz , where they died ( probably of typhus ) a few months later . They were originally estimated by the Red Cross to have died in March , with Dutch authorities setting 31 March as their official date of death , but research by the Anne Frank House in 2015 suggests they more likely died in February .   Frank 's father , Otto , the only survivor of the family , returned to Amsterdam after the war to find that her diary had been saved by one of the helpers , Miep Gies , and his efforts led to its publication in 1947 . It was translated from its original Dutch version and first published in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl , and has since been translated into over 60 languages .


The novel The Crying of Lot 49 was written by Thomas Pynchon.

Thomas Pynchon Thomas Ruggles Pynchon , Jr. ( -LSB- ˈpɪnˌtʃɒn -RSB- , commonly -LSB- ˈpɪntʃən -RSB- born May 8 , 1937 ) is an American novelist . A MacArthur Fellow , he is noted for his dense and complex novels . His fiction and non-fiction writings encompass a vast array of subject matter , genres and themes , including history , music , science , and mathematics . For Gravity 's Rainbow , Pynchon won the 1974 U.S. National Book Award for Fiction .   Hailing from Long Island , Pynchon served two years in the United States Navy and earned an English degree from Cornell University . After publishing several short stories in the late 1950s and early 1960s , he began composing the novels for which he is best known : V. ( 1963 ) , The Crying of Lot 49 ( 1966 ) , Gravity 's Rainbow ( 1973 ) , and Mason & Dixon ( 1997 ) . Pynchon is also notoriously reclusive ; very few photographs of him have ever been published , and rumors about his location and identity have circulated since the 1960s .   Pynchon 's most recent novel , Bleeding Edge , was published on September 17 , 2013 .


Jay Sekulow Jay Alan Sekulow ( born June 10 , 1956 ) is an American attorney and Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law & Justice ( ACLJ ) . He also hosts a talk show , which airs on radio and television . Sekulow is a frequent guest commentator on the Christian Broadcasting Network and the Fox News Channel .


Gendry Gendry is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin , and its television adaptation Game of Thrones .   He first appeared in 1996 's A Game of Thrones . He subsequently appeared in Martin 's A Clash of Kings ( 1998 ) and A Storm of Swords ( 2000 ) and A Feast for Crows ( 2011 ) . Gendry is an apprentice blacksmith in King 's Landing and an unacknowledged bastard of King Robert Baratheon .   Gendry is portrayed by Joe Dempsie in the HBO television adaptation . He and the rest of the cast were nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2014 .


Gopi Sunder received an award for his work on Anwar.

Gopi Sunder Gopi Sunder is a National Award-winning Indian musician , film score composer , programmer and singer . He has composed music for more than 5000 advertisements , programmed music for many major composers and composed the music for nearly 50 Indian films to date .   He has composed the background score and songs for films like Flash ( 2007 ) , Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded ( 2009 ) , Anwar ( 2010 ) , Ustad Hotel ( 2012 ) , 1983 ( 2014 ) , Bangalore Days ( 2014 ) , Charlie ( 2015 ) , Thozha ( 2016 ) , Pulimurugan ( 2016 ) . He has also done the background score for Notebook ( 2006 ) , Big B ( 2007 ) , Mission 90 Days ( 2007 ) , Poi Solla Porom ( 2008 ) , Evidam Swargamanu ( 2009 ) , 1983 ( 2014 ) , Bangalore Days ( 2014 ) , Ennu Ninte Moideen ( 2015 ) , Charlie ( 2015 ) , Thozha ( 2016 ) , Devi ( 2016 ) , Pulimurugan '' ( 2016 ) .   He got his first Filmfare Award for Best Music Director in the 58th Filmfare Awards South for Anwar ( 2010 ) .


Sophie Turner was seen in films in 2013.

Sophie Turner Sophie Turner ( born 21 February 1996 ) is an English actress . Turner made her professional acting debut as Sansa Stark on the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones ( 2011 -- present ) , which brought her international recognition and critical praise . For her performance , she has received four nominations for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series , as well as a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Supporting Young Actress in a TV Series .   Turner has also starred in the television film The Thirteenth Tale ( 2013 ) and she made her feature film debut in Another Me ( 2013 ) . She has also starred in the action comedy Barely Lethal ( 2015 ) and played Jean Grey / Phoenix in the X-Men film series .


Marilyn Monroe was a part of the World War I war effort.

United States home front during World War II The home front of the United States in World War II supported the war effort in many ways , including a wide range of volunteer efforts and submitting to government-managed rationing and price controls . There was a general feeling of agreement that the sacrifices were for the national good `` for the duration . ''   The labor market changed radically . Peacetime conflicts with respect to race and labor took on a special dimension because of the pressure for national unity . The Hollywood film industry was important for propaganda . Every aspect of life from politics to personal savings changed when put on a wartime footing . This was achieved by tens of millions of workers moving from low to high productivity jobs in industrial centers . Millions of students , retirees , housewives , and unemployed moved into the active labor force . Hours worked increased as leisure activities declined sharply .   Gasoline , meat , and clothing were tightly rationed . Most families were allocated 3 USgal of gasoline a week , which sharply curtailed driving for any purpose . Production of most durable goods , like cars , new housing , vacuum cleaners , and kitchen appliances , was banned until the war ended . In industrial areas housing was in short supply as people doubled up and lived in cramped quarters . Prices and wages were controlled . Americans saved a high portion of their incomes , which led to renewed growth after the war .


Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( born Norma Jeane Mortenson ; June 1 , 1926 -- August 5 , 1962 ) was an American actress and model . Famous for playing comic `` dumb blonde '' characters , she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s , emblematic of the era 's attitudes towards sexuality . Although she was a top-billed actress for only a decade , her films grossed $ 200 million by the time of her unexpected death in 1962 . She continues to be considered a major popular culture icon .   Born and raised in Los Angeles , Monroe spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage and married at the age of sixteen . While working in a factory in 1944 as part of the war effort , she was introduced to a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career . The work led to short-lived film contracts with Twentieth Century-Fox ( 1946 -- 1947 ) and Columbia Pictures ( 1948 ) . After a series of minor film roles , she signed a new contract with Fox in 1951 . Over the next two years , she became a popular actress with roles in several comedies , including As Young as You Feel and Monkey Business , and in the dramas Clash by Night and Do n't Bother to Knock . Monroe faced a scandal when it was revealed that she had posed for nude photos before becoming a star , but rather than damaging her career , the story resulted in increased interest in her films .   By 1953 , Monroe was one of the most marketable Hollywood stars , with leading roles in three films : the noir Niagara , which focused on her sex appeal , and the comedies Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire , which established her star image as a `` dumb blonde '' . Although she played a significant role in the creation and management of her public image throughout her career , she was disappointed at being typecast and underpaid by the studio . She was briefly suspended in early 1954 for refusing a film project , but returned to star in one of the biggest box office successes of her career , The Seven Year Itch ( 1955 ) .   When the studio was still reluctant to change her contract , Monroe founded a film production company in late 1954 ; she named it Marilyn Monroe Productions ( MMP ) . She dedicated 1955 to building her company and began studying method acting at the Actors Studio . In late 1955 , Fox awarded her a new contract , which gave her more control and a larger salary . After a critically acclaimed performance in Bus Stop ( 1956 ) and acting in the first independent production of MMP , The Prince and the Showgirl ( 1957 ) , she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Some Like It Hot ( 1959 ) . Her last completed film was the drama The Misfits ( 1961 ) .   Monroe 's troubled private life received much attention . She struggled with substance abuse , depression , and anxiety . She had two highly publicized marriages , to retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller , both of which ended in divorce . On August 5 , 1962 , she died at age 36 from an overdose of barbiturates at her home in Los Angeles . Although Monroe 's death was ruled a probable suicide , several conspiracy theories have been proposed in the decades following her death .


Edward VIII Edward VIII ( Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David ; 23 June 1894 -- 28 May 1972 ) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire , and Emperor of India , from 20 January 1936 until his abdication on 11 December the same year .   Edward was the eldest son of George V and Mary of Teck . He was named Prince of Wales on his sixteenth birthday , nine weeks after his father succeeded as king . As a young man , he served in the British Army during the First World War and undertook several overseas tours on behalf of his father .   Edward became king on his father 's death in early 1936 . However , he showed impatience with court protocol , and caused concern among politicians by his apparent disregard for established constitutional conventions . Only months into his reign , he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to Wallis Simpson , an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second . The prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the Dominions opposed the marriage , arguing that a divorced woman with two living ex-husbands was politically and socially unacceptable as a prospective queen consort . Additionally , such a marriage would have conflicted with Edward 's status as the titular head of the Church of England , which at the time disapproved of remarriage after divorce if a former spouse was still alive . Edward knew that the British government , led by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin , would resign if the marriage went ahead , which could have forced a general election and would ruin his status as a politically neutral constitutional monarch . When it became apparent that he could not marry Wallis and remain on the throne , Edward abdicated . He was succeeded by his younger brother , George VI . With a reign of 326 days , Edward is one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history .   After his abdication , he was created Duke of Windsor . He married Wallis in France on 3 June 1937 , after her second divorce became final . Later that year , the couple toured Germany . During the Second World War , he was at first stationed with the British Military Mission to France but , after private accusations that he held Nazi sympathies , he was appointed Governor of the Bahamas . After the war , Edward spent the rest of his life in retirement in France .


Gabrielle Union has appeared on television.

City of Angels (2000 TV series) City of Angels is an American medical drama television series which ran for two seasons on CBS during the 2000 calendar year . It was network television 's first medical drama with a predominantly African American cast .


Gabrielle Union Gabrielle Monique Union ( born October 29 , 1972 ) is an American actress . She began her career in 1990s , appearing on television sitcoms , before landing supporting roles in teen comedy films She 's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You ( 1999 ) . Her breakthrough role was in the 2000 teen comedy film Bring It On , after which she was female lead in the short-lived CBS medical drama series City of Angels later that year .   Union is best known for her performances in the romantic comedy films The Brothers ( 2001 ) , Deliver Us from Eva ( 2003 ) , Daddy 's Little Girls ( 2007 ) , Think Like a Man ( 2012 ) and Think Like a Man Too ( 2014 ) . She also had starring roles in Bad Boys II ( 2003 ) , Cradle 2 the Grave ( 2003 ) , the critically acclaimed Neo Ned ( 2005 ) , Cadillac Records ( 2008 ) , and Top Five ( 2014 ) . In 2013 , Union began starring as lead character in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane , for which she has received critical acclaim and an NAACP Image Award . She co-starred in film The Birth of a Nation ( 2016 ) , and next appeared in Almost Christmas ( 2016 ) and Sleepless ( 2017 ) .


Being Mary Jane Being Mary Jane is an American drama television series created by Mara Brock Akil and starring Gabrielle Union , that debuted January 7 , 2014 , on BET . The 90 minute pilot for the series aired on July 2 , 2013 . The series follows professional and personal life of successful TV news anchor Mary Jane Paul , who lives in Atlanta , Georgia .   Being Mary Jane has received positive reviews from critics , and the series premiere on BET had more than 4 million viewers . On September 12 , 2013 , BET renewed Being Mary Jane for a second season , before the first season premiered . The second season premiered on February 3 , 2015 , and on February 5 the series was renewed for a third season , which premiered October 20 , 2015 . The second and third seasons received critical acclaim , specifically praising Gabrielle Union 's leading performance , Mara Brock Akil 's writing , and directing work by Regina King . On January 6 , 2016 , the series was renewed for a fourth season , which premiered on January 10 , 2017 .   At the 45th NAACP Image Awards , the pilot movie won award for Outstanding Television Movie , Mini-Series or Dramatic Special , and Union for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie , Mini-Series or Dramatic Special . The series later received another nine NAACP Image Awards nominations , include two for Outstanding Drama Series .


Ku Klux Klan The Ku Klux Klan ( KKK ) , or simply the Klan , is the name of three distinct movements in the United States that have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy , white nationalism , anti-immigration , and , especially in later iterations , Nordicism , anti-Catholicism , and antisemitism . Historically the KKK used terrorism , both physical assault and murder , against groups or individuals whom they opposed .  All three movements have called for the `` purification '' of American society , and all are considered right-wing extremist organizations .   The first Klan flourished in the Southern United States in the late 1860s , then died out by the early 1870s . It sought to overthrow the Republican state governments in the South during the Reconstruction Era , especially by using violence against African American leaders . With numerous chapters across the South , it was suppressed around 1871 , through federal law enforcement . Members made their own , often colorful , costumes : robes , masks , and conical hats , designed to be terrifying , and to hide their identities .   The second group was founded in 1915 , and it flourished nationwide in the early and mid-1920s , particularly in urban areas of the Midwest and West . It was rooted in local Protestant communities and opposed Catholics and Jews , and stressed its opposition to the Catholic Church at a time of high immigration from mostly Catholic nations of southern and eastern Europe . This second organization adopted a standard white costume and used code words which were similar to those used by the first Klan , while adding cross burnings and mass parades to intimidate others .   The third and current manifestation of the KKK emerged after 1950 , in the form of small , local , unconnected groups that use the KKK name . They have focused on opposition to the Civil Rights Movement , often using violence and murder to suppress activists . It is classified as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center . , the Anti-Defamation League puts total Klan membership nationwide at around 3,000 , while the Southern Poverty Law Center ( SPLC ) puts it at 6,000 members total .   The second and third incarnations of the Ku Klux Klan made frequent references to America 's `` Anglo-Saxon '' blood , hearkening back to 19th-century nativism . Although members of the KKK swear to uphold Christian morality , virtually every Christian denomination has officially denounced the KKK .


Terrorism Terrorism is a term used in its broadest sense to describe the use of intentionally indiscriminate violence as a means to create terror or fear , in order to achieve a political , religious or ideological aim . It is used in this regard primarily to refer to violence against civilians or non-combatants . Although the term has been in use since at least the 1970s , it initially became popular when journalists and politicians publicly introduced and started using the term `` Islamic terrorists '' following the September 11 attacks . Rather than being used to describe a type of activity , the term has often been used politically as a term of abuse or denunciation , both by non-state groups and by governments against each other . There is no universally agreed upon definition of the term , and many definitions exist .   Broad categories of political organisations have been claimed to have been involved in terrorism in order to further their objectives , including right-wing and left-wing political organisations , nationalist groups , religious groups , revolutionaries and ruling governments . The symbolism of terrorism has been said to exploit human fear to help them achieve these goals . Terrorism-related legislation has been adopted in various Western states such as the UK , Canada and the US since the September 11 attacks , regarding `` terrorism '' as a crime , however there is no universal agreement as to whether or not terrorism can be regarded as a war crime .   According to the Global Terrorism Database by the University of Maryland , College Park , more than 61,000 incidents of non-state terrorism , resulting in at least 140,000 deaths , have been recorded from 2000 to 2014 .


Kate Nash had an album called Made of Bricks.

Kate Nash Kate Marie Nash ( born 6 July 1987 ) is an English singer , songwriter , musician and actress . Nash rose to prominence in the UK with the sleeper hit `` Foundations '' ( 2007 ) . Her debut album , Made of Bricks , peaked at number 1 in the UK and number 36 in the US . Nash won the award for Best British Female Artist at the 2008 Brit Awards .   Her second studio album , My Best Friend Is You , was released in 2010 and reached the top 10 in both the UK and Germany . The album 's lead single , `` Do-Wah-Doo '' , peaked at number 15 in the UK , becoming her fourth UK Top 40 single .   After being dropped by her record label , Nash self-released her third studio album , Girl Talk , on 4 March 2013 . The album failed to match the commercial success of Nash 's previous albums , though it charted inside the top 100 in the UK , Ireland , Germany and Austria .   In April 2017 , Nash launched a Kickstarter to finance a fourth studio album . On 21 April 2017 , Nash released a four-track EP , Agenda .


Nazi Germany Nazi Germany is the common English name for the period in German history from 1933 to 1945 , when Germany was governed by a dictatorship under the control of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party ( NSDAP ) . Under Hitler 's rule , Germany was transformed into a fascist state in which the Nazi Party took totalitarian control over nearly all aspects of life . The official name of the state was Deutsches Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Großdeutsches Reich ( `` Greater German Reich '' ) from 1943 to 1945 . The period is also known under the names the Third Reich ( Drittes Reich ) and the National Socialist Period ( Zeit des Nationalsozialismus , abbreviated as NS-Zeit ) . The Nazi regime came to an end after the Allied Powers defeated Germany in May 1945 , ending World War II in Europe .   Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany by the President of the Weimar Republic Paul von Hindenburg on 30 January 1933 . The Nazi Party then began to eliminate all political opposition and consolidate its power . Hindenburg died on 2 August 1934 , and Hitler became dictator of Germany by merging the powers and offices of the Chancellery and Presidency . A national referendum held 19 August 1934 confirmed Hitler as sole Führer ( leader ) of Germany . All power was centralised in Hitler 's person , and his word became above all laws . The government was not a coordinated , co-operating body , but a collection of factions struggling for power and Hitler 's favour . In the midst of the Great Depression , the Nazis restored economic stability and ended mass unemployment using heavy military spending and a mixed economy . Extensive public works were undertaken , including the construction of Autobahnen ( motorways ) . The return to economic stability boosted the regime 's popularity .   Racism , especially antisemitism , was a central feature of the regime . The Germanic peoples ( the Nordic race ) were considered by the Nazis to be the purest branch of the Aryan race , and were therefore viewed as the master race . Millions of Jews and other peoples deemed undesirable by the state were murdered in the Holocaust . Opposition to Hitler 's rule was ruthlessly suppressed . Members of the liberal , socialist , and communist opposition were killed , imprisoned , or exiled . Christian churches were also oppressed , with many leaders imprisoned . Education focused on racial biology , population policy , and fitness for military service . Career and educational opportunities for women were curtailed . Recreation and tourism were organised via the Strength Through Joy program , and the 1936 Summer Olympics showcased the Third Reich on the international stage . Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels made effective use of film , mass rallies , and Hitler 's hypnotic oratory to control public opinion . The government controlled artistic expression , promoting specific art forms and banning or discouraging others .   Beginning in the late 1930s , Nazi Germany made increasingly aggressive territorial demands , threatening war if they were not met . It seized Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 and 1939 . Hitler made a non-aggression pact with Joseph Stalin and invaded Poland in September 1939 , launching World War II in Europe . In alliance with Italy and smaller Axis powers , Germany conquered most of Europe by 1940 and threatened Great Britain . Reichskommissariats took control of conquered areas , and a German administration was established in what was left of Poland . Jews and others deemed undesirable were imprisoned , murdered in Nazi concentration camps and extermination camps , or shot .   Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 , the tide gradually turned against the Nazis , who suffered major military defeats in 1943 . Large-scale aerial bombing of Germany escalated in 1944 , and the Axis powers were pushed back in Eastern and Southern Europe . Following the Allied invasion of France , Germany was conquered by the Soviet Union from the east and the other Allied powers from the west and capitulated within a year . Hitler 's refusal to admit defeat led to massive destruction of German infrastructure and additional war-related deaths in the closing months of the war . The victorious Allies initiated a policy of denazification and put many of the surviving Nazi leadership on trial for war crimes at the Nuremberg trials .


Estella Warren Estella Dawn Warren ( born December 23 , 1978 ) is a Canadian actress , fashion model , and former synchronized swimmer . During her swimming career she was a member of the Canadian national team and won three national titles . Since 1994 she has been modeling through publications such as Sports Illustrated as well as working for campaigns for such brands as Perry Ellis and Victoria 's Secret .   She later began a career as an actress , starring in such films as Tim Burton 's 2001 re-adapted film Planet of the Apes as well as television roles in Law & Order , Law & Order : Special Victims Unit and Beauty and the Beast .


Pembroke Castle Pembroke Castle ( Castell Penfro ) is a medieval castle in Pembroke , West Wales . The castle , which has been a Grade I listed building since 1951 , underwent a major restoration in the early 20th century . It was the original seat of the Earldom of Pembroke .   In 1093 Arnulf of Montgomery built the first castle at the site when he fortified the promontory beside the Pembroke River during the Norman invasion of Wales . A century later this castle was given to William Marshal by Richard I. Marshal , who would become one of the most powerful men in 12th-century Britain , rebuilt Pembroke in stone creating most of the structure that remains today .   The castle , which is open to the public , is the largest privately owned castle in Wales .


Laurie Hernandez performs artistic gymnastics.

Laurie Hernandez Lauren Zoe `` Laurie '' Hernandez ( born June 9 , 2000 ) is an American artistic gymnast . She competed as a member of the U.S. women 's gymnastics team at the 2016 Summer Olympics , winning gold in the team event and silver on the balance beam .   In 2016 , Hernandez won season 23 of Dancing with the Stars with partner Val Chmerkovskiy .


De Profundis was written to a political commentator.

Lord Alfred Douglas Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas ( 22 October 187020 March 1945 ) , nicknamed Bosie , was a British author , poet , translator , and political commentator , better known as the friend and lover of Oscar Wilde . Much of his early poetry was Uranian in theme , though he tended , later in life , to distance himself from both Wilde 's influence and his own role as a Uranian poet . Politically he would describe himself as `` a strong Conservative of the ` Diehard ' variety '' .


De Profundis (letter) De Profundis ( Latin : `` from the depths '' ) is a letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol , to `` Bosie '' ( Lord Alfred Douglas ) .   In its first half Wilde recounts their previous relationship and extravagant lifestyle which eventually led to Wilde 's conviction and imprisonment for gross indecency . He indicts both Lord Alfred 's vanity and his own weakness in acceding to those wishes . In the second half , Wilde charts his spiritual development in prison and identification with Jesus Christ , whom he characterises as a romantic , individualist artist . The letter began `` Dear Bosie '' and ended `` Your Affectionate Friend '' .   Wilde wrote the letter between January and March 1897 , close to the end of his imprisonment . Contact had lapsed between Douglas and Wilde and the latter had suffered from his close supervision , physical labour and emotional isolation . Nelson , the new prison governor , thought that writing might be more cathartic than prison labour . He was not allowed to send the long letter which he was allowed to write `` for medicinal purposes '' ; each page was taken away when completed , and only at the end could he read it over and make revisions . Nelson gave the long letter to him on his release on 18 May 1897 .   Wilde entrusted the manuscript to the journalist Robert Ross ( another former lover , loyal friend and rival to `` Bosie '' ) . Ross published the letter in 1905 , five years after Wilde 's death , giving it the title `` De Profundis '' from Psalm 130 . It was an incomplete version , excised of its autobiographical elements and references to the Queensberry family ; various editions gave more text until in 1962 the complete and correct version appeared in a volume of Wilde 's letters .


Connaught Tunnel is 5.022 kilometers long.

Connaught Tunnel For the Connaught tunnel in East London , England , see Eastern Counties and Thames Junction Railway  The Connaught Tunnel is a railway tunnel under the Selkirk Mountains in southeastern British Columbia , Canada , near the city of Revelstoke . The 5.022 mi tunnel carries the Canadian Pacific Railway main line under Mount Macdonald and replaced the railway 's previous routing over Rogers Pass , which had been struck by several deadly avalanches since its completion in 1885 . At the time it was built , the Connaught Tunnel was the longest railway tunnel in North America . It was named for the Governor General of Canada -- the Prince Arthur , Duke of Connaught -- who in turn was named after the province of Connaught in Ireland .   Announced in February 1913 , the contract was awarded on July 1 , 1913 , to Foley Bros. . Welch and Stewart . The tunnel was designed by John G. Sullivan who joined the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1900 and eventually became Chief Engineer for Canada . A small tunnel was built , from which cross cuts were made to the main tunnel so work could carry on at a number of headings . The sub-contractor guaranteed to drill 900 ft of tunnel per month and started on April 2 , 1914 . Compressed air equipment and narrow gauge locomotives were used inside the tunnel . The company town housed some 300 workers . The tunnel was completed before the original deadline , with operation beginning December 16 , 1916 . It had a grade of only 0.95 per cent westward , and was tangent ; light at one end can be seen at the other , more than five miles away .   It cost $ 5.5 million , while a further $ 3 million were spent on track revision , which saw 14.5 mi abandoned including the Loops and over 4 mi of snow sheds . In all , the route was shortened by 4.3 mi .   Problems were encountered with ventilation , loose rocks and wet rails , which caused trains to stall . The tunnel was later lined with reinforced concrete and equipped with a better ventilation system . Originally double tracked , it was realigned with a single track in 1959 to accommodate higher freight cars .   In the late 1980s , the Mount Macdonald Tunnel was built to supplement the Connaught Tunnel and to lessen the grade on the eastern approach to the pass . Trains now predominantly travel east through the Connaught Tunnel and west through the Mount Macdonald Tunnel .   In 2001 , the Connaught Tunnel was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame . The Hall of Fame recognizes and establishes an enduring tribute to the people and things that have made significant contribution relating to railway industry in North America . The Connaught Tunnel was inducted in the `` Facilities and Structures '' category with `` National '' significance .


The phalanx describes the mass of cavalry that would deploy during bomb-dropping.

Phalanx The phalanx ( φάλαγξ plural phalanxes or phalanges , φάλαγγες , phalanges ) was a rectangular mass military formation , usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed -RSB- s , pikes , sarissas , or similar weapons . The term is particularly ( and originally ) used to describe the use of this formation in Ancient Greek warfare , although the ancient Greek writers used it to also describe any massed infantry formation , regardless of its equipment , as does Arrian in his Array against the Alans when he refers to his legions . In Greek texts , the phalanx may be deployed for battle , on the march , even camped , thus describing the mass of infantry or cavalry that would deploy in line during battle . They marched forward as one entity . The word phalanx is derived from the Greek word phalangos , meaning finger .   The term itself , as used today , does not refer to a distinctive military unit or division ( e.g. , the Roman legion or the contemporary Western-type battalion ) , but to the general formation of an army 's troops . Thus a phalanx does not have a standard combat strength or composition but includes the total number of infantry , which is or will be deployed in action in a single phalanx formation .   Many spear-armed troops historically fought in what might be termed phalanx-like formations . The word has come into use in common English to describe `` a group of people standing , or moving forward closely together '' ; c.f. `` a phalanx of police '' .   This article focuses on the use of the military phalanx formation in Ancient Greece , the Hellenistic world , and other ancient states heavily influenced by Greek civilization .


There are Christian states in the world.

Christian state A Christian state is a country that recognizes a form of Christianity as its official religion and often has a state church , which is a Christian denomination that supports the government and is supported by the government . Historically , the nations of Armenia , Aksum , Georgia , as well as the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire declared themselves as Christian states . Today , several nations officially identify themselves as Christian states and/or have state churches , including Costa Rica , Denmark , England , Greece , Iceland , Liechtenstein , Monaco , Tonga , Tuvalu , Vatican City , and Zambia . A Christian state stands in contrast to a secular state , an atheist state , or another religious state , such as a Jewish state , or an Islamic state .


Brazil was claimed for the Portuguese Empire by Billy Mays.

Brazil Brazil ( listen ) , is the largest country in both South America and Latin America . As the world 's fifth-largest country by both area and population , it is the largest country to have Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas . Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east , Brazil has a coastline of 7491 km It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile and covers 47.3 % of the continent 's land area . Its Amazon River basin includes a vast tropical forest , home to diverse wildlife , a variety of ecological systems , and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats . This unique environmental heritage makes Brazil one of 17 megadiverse countries , and is the subject of significant global interest and debate regarding deforestation and environmental protection .   Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing in 1500 of explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral , who claimed the area for the Portuguese Empire . Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808 , when the capital of the empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro . In 1815 , the colony was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal , Brazil and the Algarves . Independence was achieved in 1822 with the creation of the Empire of Brazil , a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system . The ratification of the first constitution in 1824 led to the formation of a bicameral legislature , now called the National Congress . The country became a presidential republic in 1889 following a military coup d'état . An authoritarian military junta came to power in 1964 and ruled until 1985 , after which civilian governance resumed . Brazil 's current constitution , formulated in 1988 , defines it as a democratic federal republic . The federation is composed of the union of the Federal District , the 26 states , and the 5,570 municipalities .   Brazil 's economy is the world 's both eighth-largest by nominal GDP and eighth-largest by GDP ( PPP ) . A member of the BRICS group , Brazil until 2010 had one of the world 's fastest growing major economies , with its economic reforms giving the country new international recognition and influence . Brazil 's national development bank plays an important role for the country 's economic growth . Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations , the G20 , BRICS , Unasul , Mercosul , Organization of American States , Organization of Ibero-American States , and the CPLP . Brazil is a regional power in Latin America and a middle power in international affairs , with some analysts identifying it as an emerging global power . One of the world 's major breadbaskets , Brazil has been the largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years .


Room (2015 film) Room is a 2015 independent drama film directed by Lenny Abrahamson and written by Emma Donoghue , based on her novel of the same name . It stars Brie Larson as a woman who has been held captive for seven years , and whose 5-year-old son ( Jacob Tremblay ) was born in captivity . Their escape allows the boy to experience the outside world for the first time . The film also stars Joan Allen , Sean Bridgers , and William H. Macy .   A co-production of Canada and Ireland , Room was shot in Toronto , with the eponymous Room set built at Pinewood Toronto Studios . The crew designed each part of the Room set to be removable to fit the crew . Larson researched trauma and nutrition for her part , while numerous children were considered for the role of Jack .   Room premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 4 September 2015 and had a limited release in the United States on 16 October 2015 , to acclaim from critics . Larson won multiple awards for her performance , including the Academy Award for Best Actress , the BAFTA Award , Golden Globe Award , and the Screen Actors Guild Award . Room also received three other Academy Award nominations , including Best Picture and Best Director .


Until Dawn was released exclusively for the XBOX.

Until Dawn Until Dawn is an interactive drama survival horror adventure video game developed by Supermassive Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 . It was originally scheduled to be released on the PlayStation 3 and feature PlayStation Move support , but in August 2014 the game was reintroduced as a PlayStation 4 exclusive , and was released worldwide in August 2015 .   Set in Western Canada , Until Dawn centers around a group of eight teenagers who decide to vacation for a night in a cabin on the fictional Blackwood Mountain , exactly one year after the disappearance of two girls , the twin sisters of a member of their group . Shortly after arriving , the gang find themselves under attack by a psychopath , and must attempt to survive until sunrise . Throughout the adventure , players alternate between all eight characters , making critical decisions as the story advances which drastically affects the game 's outcome , leading to hundreds of different scenarios .   Until Dawn was met with a positive critical response upon release , with praise directed at the visuals , ` choice ' mechanic , horror elements , music , characters , voice acting , and gameplay design . Most of the criticism the game drew concerned the second half of the story , the camera angles , character movement , and the game 's partially linear plot .


San Jose, California had an estimated 2015 population of 1,026,908 people.

San Jose, California San Jose ( -LSB- ˌsæn_hoʊˈzeɪ -RSB- , Spanish for `` Saint Joseph '' ; -LSB- saŋ xoˈse -RSB- ) , officially the City of San José , is the economic , cultural , and political center of Silicon Valley and the largest city in Northern California . With an estimated 2015 population of 1,026,908 , it is the third most populous city in California ( after Los Angeles and San Diego ) and the tenth most populous in United States . Located in the center of the Santa Clara Valley , on the southern shore of San Francisco Bay , San Jose covers an area of 179.97 square miles ( 466.109 km2 ) . San Jose is the county seat of Santa Clara County , the most affluent county in California and one of the most affluent counties in the United States . San Jose is the largest city in both the San Francisco Bay Area and the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area , which contain 7.7 million and 8.7 million people respectively .   Before the arrival of the Spanish , the area around San Jose was inhabited by the Ohlone people . San Jose was founded on November 29 , 1777 , as the Pueblo of San José de Guadalupe , the first civilian town founded in Spanish Alta California . When California gained statehood in 1850 , San Jose became the state 's first capital . Following World War II , San Jose experienced an economic boom , with a rapid population growth and aggressive annexation of nearby cities and communities carried out in the 1950s and 60s . The rapid growth of the high-technology and electronics industries further accelerated the transition from an agricultural center to an urbanized metropolitan area . Results of the 1990 U.S. Census indicated that San Jose had officially surpassed San Francisco as the most populous city in Northern California . By the 1990s , San Jose and the rest of Silicon Valley had become the global center for the high tech and internet industries .   San Jose is considered to be a global city , notable for its affluence and high cost of living . San Jose 's location within the booming high tech industry , as a cultural , political , and economic center has earned the city the nickname `` Capital of Silicon Valley '' . San Jose is one of the wealthiest major cities in the United States and the world , and has the third highest GDP per capita in the world ( after Zurich , Switzerland and Oslo , Norway ) , according to the Brookings Institution . With a median home price of $ 1,085,000 , San Jose has the most expensive housing market in the country and the fifth most expensive housing market in the world , according to the 2017 Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey . Major global tech companies including Cisco Systems , eBay , Adobe Systems , PayPal , Brocade , Samsung , Acer , and Western Digital maintain their headquarters in San Jose , in the center of Silicon Valley .


Ronin (film) Ronin is a 1998 American spy action-thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer , starring Robert De Niro , Jean Reno , Natascha McElhone , Stellan Skarsgård , Sean Bean , and Jonathan Pryce , and written by David Mamet ( under the pseudonym Richard Weisz ) from a screenplay by first-time writer John David Zeik .   The film centers on a team of hired ex-special operatives trying to steal a mysterious and heavily guarded briefcase while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties and alliances . The film is noted for its realistic car chases through Nice and Paris and its convoluted plot involving the briefcase as a MacGuffin .


Danny DeVito Daniel Michael DeVito , Jr. ( born November 17 , 1944 ) is an American actor , comedian , director and producer . He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi ( 1978 -- 1983 ) , which won him a Golden Globe and an Emmy .   A major film star , he is known for his roles in Tin Men , Throw Momma from the Train , One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest , Ruthless People , Man on the Moon , Terms of Endearment , Romancing the Stone , Twins , Batman Returns , Look Who 's Talking Now , Big Fish , Other People 's Money , Get Shorty , Be Cool , and L.A. Confidential and for his voiceover in such films as Space Jam , Hercules and The Lorax .   DeVito and Michael Shamberg founded Jersey Films . Soon afterwards , Stacey Sher became an equal partner . The production company is known for films such as Pulp Fiction , Garden State , and Freedom Writers . DeVito also owns Jersey Television , which produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911 ! . DeVito and wife Rhea Perlman starred together in his 1996 film Matilda , based on Roald Dahl 's children 's novel . DeVito was also one of the producers nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture for Erin Brockovich .   He currently stars as Frank Reynolds on the FX and FXX sitcom It 's Always Sunny in Philadelphia . He directs , produces and appears in graphic , short , horror films for his Internet venture The Blood Factory .   DeVito 's short stature is the result of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia ( Fairbank 's disease ) , a rare genetic disorder that affects bone growth in those afflicted .


The United States Congress lacks an upper chamber and a lower chamber.

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress which , along with the United States House of Representatives , the lower chamber , composes the legislature of the United States of America .   The composition and powers of the Senate are established by Article One of the United States Constitution . The Senate is composed of senators who represent each of the several states , with each state being equally represented by two senators , regardless of their population , serving staggered terms of six years ; with fifty states presently in the Union , there are 100 U.S. Senators . From 1789 until 1913 , Senators were appointed by legislatures of the states they represented ; following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 , they are now popularly elected . The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol , in Washington , D.C.   As the upper house , the Senate has several powers of advice and consent which are unique to it ; these include the ratification of treaties , the confirmation of Cabinet secretaries , Supreme Court justices , federal judges , other federal executive officials , flag officers , regulatory officials , ambassadors , and other federal uniformed officers . In addition to these , in cases wherein no candidate receives a majority of electors for Vice President , the duty befalls upon the Senate to elect one of the top two recipients of electors for that office . It further has the responsibility of conducting trials of those impeached by the House . The Senate is widely considered both a more deliberative and more prestigious body than the House of Representatives due to its longer terms , smaller size , and statewide constituencies , which historically led to a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere .   The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States , who is President of the Senate ; in their absence , the President Pro Tempore , who is customarily the senior member of the controlling party , presides over the Senate . In the early 20th century , the practice of majority and minority parties electing their floor leaders began , although they are not constitutional officers .


United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States consisting of two chambers : the Senate and the House of Representatives . The Congress meets in the Capitol in Washington , D.C. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election , though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a gubernatorial appointment . Members are usually affiliated to the Republican Party or to the Democratic Party , and only rarely to a third party or as independents . Congress has 535 voting members : 435 Representatives and 100 Senators . The House of Representatives has six non-voting members in addition to its 435 voting members . These members can , however , sit on congressional committees and introduce legislation . These members represent Washington , D.C. , Puerto Rico , American Samoa , Guam , the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands .   The members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms representing the people of a single constituency , known as a `` district '' . Congressional districts are apportioned to states by population using the United States Census results , provided that each state has at least one congressional representative . Each state , regardless of population or size , has two senators . Currently , there are 100 senators representing the 50 states . Each senator is elected at-large in their state for a six-year term , with terms staggered , so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election .


United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress which , along with the Senate , composes the legislature of the United States .   The composition and powers of the House are established by Article One of the United States Constitution . The House is composed of representatives who sit in congressional districts which are allocated to each of the 50 states on a basis of population as measured by the U.S. Census , with each district entitled one representative . Since its inception in 1789 , all representatives are elected popularly . The total number of voting representatives is fixed by law at 435 . As of the 2010 Census , the largest delegation is that of California , with fifty-three representatives ; seven states have the smallest delegation possible , a single representative : Alaska , Delaware , Montana , North Dakota , South Dakota , Vermont , and Wyoming .   The House is charged with the passage of federal legislation , known as bills , which , after concurrence by the Senate , are sent to the President for consideration . In addition to this basic power , the House has certain exclusive powers which include the power to initiate all bills related to revenue , the impeachment of federal officers , who are sent to trial in the Senate , and in cases wherein no candidate receives a majority of electors for President , the duty falls upon the House to elect one of the top three recipients of electors for that office , with one vote given to each state for that purpose .   The presiding officer is the Speaker of the House , who is elected by the members thereof and is therefore traditionally the leader of the controlling party . He or she and other floor leaders are chosen by the Democratic Caucus or the Republican Conferences , depending on whichever party has more voting members . The House meets in the south wing of the United States Capitol .


George VI George VI ( Albert Frederick Arthur George ; 14 December 1895 -- 6 February 1952 ) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death . He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth .   Known as Albert until his accession , George VI was born in the reign of his great-grandmother Queen Victoria , and was named after his great-grandfather Albert , Prince Consort . As the second son of King George V , he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother , Edward . He attended naval college as a teenager , and served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the First World War . In 1920 , he was made Duke of York . He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 and they had two daughters , Elizabeth and Margaret . In the mid-1920s , he had speech therapy for a stammer , which he never fully overcame .   George 's elder brother ascended the throne as Edward VIII upon the death of their father in 1936 . However , later that year Edward revealed his desire to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson . British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin advised Edward that for political and religious reasons he could not marry a divorced woman and remain king . Edward abdicated in order to marry , and George ascended the throne as the third monarch of the House of Windsor .   During George 's reign , the break-up of the British Empire and its transition into the Commonwealth of Nations accelerated . The parliament of the Irish Free State removed direct mention of the monarch from the country 's constitution on the day of his accession . The following year , a new Irish constitution changed the name of the state to Ireland and established the office of President . From 1939 , the Empire and Commonwealth -- except Ireland -- was at war with Nazi Germany . War with Italy and Japan followed in 1940 and 1941 , respectively . Though Britain and its allies were ultimately victorious in 1945 , the United States and the Soviet Union rose as pre-eminent world powers and the British Empire declined . After the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 , George remained king of both countries , but relinquished the title of Emperor of India in June 1948 . Ireland formally declared itself a republic and left the Commonwealth in 1949 , and India became a republic within the Commonwealth the following year . George adopted the new title of Head of the Commonwealth . He was beset by health problems in the later years of his reign . He was succeeded by his eldest daughter , Elizabeth II .


Laura Prepon Laura Helene Prepon ( born March 7 , 1980 ) is an American actress , producer , and author . She is known for her role as Donna Pinciotti in all eight seasons of the Fox sitcom That '70s Show ( 1998 -- 2006 ) , and for her role as Alex Vause in the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black ( 2013 -- present ) . Following That '70s Show , Prepon worked mainly in television . She made her film debut in 2001 with the independent film Southlander . Her other films include the romantic drama Come Early Morning ( 2006 ) , the comedy Lay the Favorite ( 2012 ) , the thriller The Girl on the Train ( 2016 ) , and The Hero ( 2017 ) .


The Academy Honorary Award is given to celebrate motion pictures achievements and it is significant in cinema.

Academy Honorary Award The Academy Honorary Award -- instituted in 1948 for the 21st Academy Awards ( previously called the Special Award , which was first presented in early 1929 ) -- is given annually by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) to celebrate motion picture achievements that are not covered by existing Academy Awards , although prior winners of competitive Academy Awards are not excluded from receiving the Honorary Award . Unless otherwise specified , Honorary Award recipients receive the same gold Oscar statuettes received by winners of the competitive Academy Awards . Unlike the Special Achievement Award instituted in 1972 ( and discontinued in 1995 ) , those on whom the Academy confers its Honorary Award do not have to meet `` the Academy 's eligibility year and deadline requirements . '' Like the Special Achievement Award , the Special Award and Honorary Award have been used to reward significant achievements of the year that did not fit in existing categories , subsequently leading the Academy to establish several new categories , and to honor exceptional career achievements , contributions to the motion picture industry , and service to the Academy . The Academy Honorary Award is often awarded in preference to those with noted achievements in motion pictures who have nevertheless never won an Academy Award . Thus , many of its recipients are Classic Hollywood stars , such as Lillian Gish , Barbara Stanwyck , Kirk Douglas , and Lauren Bacall .   Since 2009 the Honorary Award is presented at the annual Governors Awards rather than at the Academy Awards .


Giada De Laurentiis does not guest co-host an American news and talk morning television show.

Today (U.S. TV program) Today , also called The Today Show , is an American news and talk morning television show that airs on NBC . The program debuted on January 14 , 1952 . It was the first of its genre on American television and in the world , and is the fifth-longest-running American television series . Originally a two-hour program on weekdays , it expanded to Sundays ( a one-hour program ) in 1987 and Saturdays ( running for two hours ) in 1992 . The weekday broadcast expanded to three hours in 2000 , and to four hours in 2007 .   Todays dominance was virtually unchallenged by the other networks until the late 1980s , when it was overtaken by ABC 's Good Morning America . Today retook the Nielsen ratings lead the week of December 11 , 1995 , and held onto that position for 852 consecutive weeks until the week of April 9 , 2012 , when it was beaten by Good Morning America again . Today has maintained its No. 2 status since the summer of 2012 each year behind GMA . In 2002 , Today was ranked No. 17 on TV Guides 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time .


Giada De Laurentiis Giada Pamela De Laurentiis ( -LSB- ˈdʒaːda paˈmɛːla de lauˈrɛnti.is -RSB- ; born August 22 , 1970 ) is an Italian-born American chef , writer , television personality , and the host of the current Food Network television program Giada at Home . She also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC 's Today . De Laurentiis is the founder of the catering business GDL Foods . She is a winner of the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle Host , and in 2012 , she was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame .