Jeff Bridges was nominated for an Academy Award but lost.

Jeff Bridges Jeffrey Leon Bridges ( born December 4 , 1949 ) is an American actor , singer , and producer . He comes from a prominent acting family and appeared on the television series Sea Hunt ( 1958 -- 60 ) , with his father , Lloyd Bridges and brother , Beau Bridges . He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis `` Bad '' Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart , and earned Academy Award nominations for his roles in The Last Picture Show ( 1971 ) , Thunderbolt and Lightfoot ( 1974 ) , Starman ( 1984 ) , The Contender ( 2000 ) , True Grit ( 2010 ) , and Hell or High Water ( 2016 ) . His other films include Tron ( 1982 ) , Jagged Edge ( 1985 ) , The Fabulous Baker Boys ( 1989 ) , The Fisher King ( 1991 ) , Fearless ( 1993 ) , The Big Lebowski ( 1998 ) , Seabiscuit ( 2003 ) , Iron Man ( 2008 ) , Tron : Legacy ( 2010 ) , and The Giver ( 2014 ) .


Alicia Vikander Alicia Amanda Vikander ( -LSB- aˈliːsɪa vɪˈkandɛr -RSB- ; born 3 October 1988 ) is a Swedish actress and former dancer . Born and raised in Gothenburg , she began acting as a child in minor stage productions at The Göteborg Opera and trained as a ballet dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm and the School of American Ballet in New York . She began her professional acting career by appearing in Swedish short films and television series and first gained recognition in Northern Europe for her role as Josefin Björn-Tegebrandt in the TV drama Andra Avenyn ( 2008 -- 10 ) .   Vikander made her feature film debut in Pure ( 2010 ) , for which she won the Guldbagge Award for Best Actress . She attracted widespread recognition in 2012 for portraying Princess Ekaterina `` Kitty '' Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya in Joe Wright 's film adaptation of Anna Karenina and Queen Caroline Mathilde in the acclaimed Danish film A Royal Affair , receiving a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination . She went on to star in the 2013 Swedish drama film Hotell and appeared in the Julian Assange-biopic The Fifth Estate that same year .   In 2014 and 2015 , Vikander achieved global recognition and acclaim for her roles as activist Vera Brittain in Testament of Youth , a humanoid robot in Ex Machina ( for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress ) and painter Gerda Wegener in The Danish Girl , for which she received the Academy Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress , among other awards .


Off-label use Off-label use is the use of pharmaceutical drugs for an unapproved indication or in an unapproved age group , dosage , or route of administration . Both prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs ( OTCs ) can be used in off-label ways , although most studies of off-label use focus on prescription drugs .   Off-label use is generally legal unless it violates ethical guidelines or safety regulations . The ability to prescribe drugs for uses beyond the officially approved indications is commonly used to good effect by healthcare providers . For example , methotrexate is commonly used off-label because its immunomodulatory effects relieve various disorders . However , off-label use can entail health risks and differences in legal liability . Marketing of pharmaceuticals for off-label use is usually prohibited .


Cyclobenzaprine Cyclobenzaprine , sold under the brand name Flexeril among others , is a muscle relaxer medication used to relieve skeletal muscle spasms and associated pain in acute musculoskeletal conditions . It is the best-studied drug for this application . It has also been used off-label for fibromyalgia treatment .   As of 2015 the cost for a typical course of medication in the United States is less than .


Rich Girl (Gwen Stefani song) `` Rich Girl '' is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album , Love . Angel . Music . Baby . ( 2004 ) . Produced by Dr. Dre , the track features American rapper Eve , and is a remake of Louchie Lou & Michie One 's 1993 song of the same name , which is in turn an adaptation of the Fiddler on the Roof song `` If I Were a Rich Man '' . Stefani says the song discusses her dreams of fame and riches from the perspective of `` when she was just an Orange County girl '' .   The last song to be included on the album , `` Rich Girl '' was released as the album 's second single in late 2004 to mixed reviews from music critics . It was a commercial success , reaching the top 10 on most of the charts it entered . In the United States , `` Rich Girl '' was certified gold , and it received a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 47th Grammy Awards .


The Crazies was a movie released in 2010.

The Crazies (2010 film) The Crazies is a 2010 American science fiction horror film directed by Breck Eisner , with a screenplay by Scott Kosar and Ray Wright . The film is a remake of the 1973 film of the same name by George A. Romero , who is an executive producer of the remake .   The Crazies stars Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell . The film takes place in the fictional town of Ogden Marsh , Pierce County , Iowa , `` friendliest place on Earth , '' whose town water supply is accidentally infected with the `` Trixie '' virus . After an incubation period of 48 hours , this virus gradually transforms the mental state of the infected into that of cold , calculating , depraved , bloodthirsty killers , who then prey on family and neighbors alike . The film was released on February 26 , 2010 to positive reviews from critics , and was a modest box office success .


William R. Tolbert Jr. served as a chef from 1971 until 1980.

William R. Tolbert Jr. William Richard Tolbert Jr. ( May 13 , 1913 -- April 12 , 1980 ) was the 20th President of Liberia from 1971 until 1980 , when he was killed in a coup d'état led by Samuel Doe .   Trained as a civil servant , he entered the country 's House of Representatives in 1943 for the True Whig Party , then the only established party in the country . He was elected Vice president to William Tubman in 1952 and served in that position until he became President following Tubman 's death in 1971 .


Naturi Naughton is a singer-songwriter born in Paris, France.

Naturi Naughton Naturi Cora Maria Naughton ( born May 20 , 1984 ) is an American actress and singer-songwriter . Naughton was one-third of the R&B trio 3LW and is known for her acting roles in Fame , Notorious , where she played Lil ' Kim , and The Playboy Club . Naughton was a series regular in season one of the Lifetime television drama series The Client List as Kendra . Naughton stars in the Starz drama Power as Tasha St. Patrick .


Minos In Greek mythology Minos ( -LSB- ˈmaɪnɒs -RSB- or -LSB- ˈmaɪnəs -RSB- Μίνως , Minōs ) was the first King of Crete , son of Zeus and Europa . Every nine years , he made King Aegeus pick seven young boys and seven young girls to be sent to Daedalus 's creation , the labyrinth , to be eaten by the Minotaur . After his death , Minos became a judge of the dead in the underworld . The Minoan civilization of Crete has been named after him by the archaeologist Arthur Evans . By his wife , Pasiphaë ( or some say Crete ) , he fathered Ariadne , Androgeus , Deucalion , Phaedra , Glaucus , Catreus , Acacallis and Xenodice . By a nymph , Pareia , he had four sons , Eurymedon , Nephalion , Chryses and Philolaus , who were killed by Heracles in revenge for the murder of the latter 's two companions ; and by Dexithea , one of the Telchines , he had a son called Euxanthius . By Androgeneia of Phaestus he had Asterion , who commanded the Cretan contingent in the war between Dionysus and the Indians . Also given as his children are Euryale , possibly the mother of Orion with Poseidon , and Pholegander , eponym of the island Pholegandros .   Minos , along with his brothers , Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon , were raised by King Asterion ( or Asterius ) of Crete . When Asterion died , his throne was claimed by Minos who banished Sarpedon and , according to some sources , Rhadamanthys too .


Pink Floyd has an album called Wish You Were Here.

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London . They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music . Distinguished by their use of philosophical lyrics , sonic experimentation , extended compositions and elaborate live shows , they are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in the history of popular music .   Pink Floyd were founded in 1965 by students Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals , Nick Mason on drums , Roger Waters on bass and vocals , and Richard Wright on keyboards and vocals . They gained popularity performing in London 's underground music scene during the late 1960s , and under Barrett 's leadership released two charting singles and a successful debut album , The Piper at the Gates of Dawn ( 1967 ) . Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967 ; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health . Waters became the band 's primary lyricist and conceptual leader , devising the concepts behind their albums The Dark Side of the Moon ( 1973 ) , Wish You Were Here ( 1975 ) , Animals ( 1977 ) , The Wall ( 1979 ) and The Final Cut ( 1983 ) . The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall became two of the best-selling albums of all time .   Following creative tensions , Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979 , followed by Waters in 1985 . Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd ; Wright rejoined them as a session musician and , later , a band member . The three produced two more albums -- A Momentary Lapse of Reason ( 1987 ) and The Division Bell ( 1994 ) -- and toured through 1994 . After nearly two decades of acrimony , Gilmour , Wright , and Mason reunited with Waters in 2005 to perform as Pink Floyd in London as part of the global awareness event Live 8 ; Gilmour and Waters later stated they have no plans to reunite as a band again . Barrett died in 2006 , and Wright in 2008 . The final Pink Floyd studio album , The Endless River ( 2014 ) , was recorded without Waters and based largely on unreleased material .   Pink Floyd were inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 . By 2013 , the band had sold more than 250 million records worldwide , including 75 million certified units in the United States .


Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd album) Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by English rock band Pink Floyd . It was released on 12 September 1975 by Harvest Records in the United Kingdom and a day later by Columbia Records in the United States . Inspired by material the group composed while performing around Europe , Wish You Were Here was recorded during numerous recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios in London , England . Two of the album 's four songs criticise the music business , another expresses alienation and the multi-part track `` Shine On You Crazy Diamond '' is a tribute to Syd Barrett . Barrett 's mental breakdown had forced him to leave the group seven years earlier after the release of the group 's debut studio album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn . It was lead writer Roger Waters ' idea to split `` Shine On You Crazy Diamond '' into two parts that would bookend the album around three new compositions and to introduce a concept linking them all . The band had used a linking concept for their previous album , The Dark Side of the Moon , to great success . As with The Dark Side of the Moon , the band used studio effects and synthesizers and brought in guest singers to supply vocals on some tracks of the album . These singers were Roy Harper , who provided the lead vocals on `` Have a Cigar '' , and the Blackberries , who added backing vocals to `` Shine On You Crazy Diamond '' .   Wish You Were Here was an instant commercial success ( despite the fact that Harvest Records ' parent company EMI was unable to print enough copies of the album to satisfy commercial demand ) , and although it initially received mixed reviews , the album has since gone on to receive critical acclaim . It appears on Rolling Stones lists of `` The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time '' and the `` 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time '' . Band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour have cited Wish You Were Here as their favourite Pink Floyd album .


Game of Thrones does not have five seasons.

Game of Thrones (season 5) The fifth season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on April 12 , and concluded on June 14 , 2015 . It was broadcast on Sunday at 9:00 pm in the United States , consisting of 10 episodes , each running approximately 50 -- 60 minutes . The season primarily adapts material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons , the fourth and fifth novels in George R. R. Martin 's A Song of Ice and Fire series , though it also uses elements from the third novel , A Storm of Swords , as well as the upcoming sixth novel The Winds of Winter . It also contains original content not found in Martin 's novels . The series is adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss .   HBO ordered the fifth season on April 8 , 2014 , together with the sixth season , which began filming in July 2014 . The season was filmed primarily in Ireland , Northern Ireland , Croatia and Spain .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Lena Headey , Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington . The season introduced a number of new cast members , including Jonathan Pryce and Alexander Siddig .   Critics praised the show 's production values and cast , with specific accolades for Dinklage 's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister . Viewership yet again rose compared to the previous season . This season set a Guinness World Records for winning the highest number of Emmy Awards for a series in a single season and year , winning 12 out of 24 nominations , including Outstanding Drama Series .


The Illusionist (2006 film) The Illusionist is a 2006 American romantic mystery film written and directed by Neil Burger and starring Edward Norton , Paul Giamatti , and Jessica Biel . It is based loosely on Steven Millhauser 's short story , `` Eisenheim the Illusionist '' . The film tells the story of Eisenheim , a magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna , who reunites with his childhood love , a woman far above his social standing . The film also depicts a fictionalized version of the Mayerling Incident .   The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opened the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival ; it was distributed in limited release to theaters on August 18 , 2006 , and expanded nationwide on September 1 . The film was a commercial and critical success .


Selena Gomez has released at least two solo albums.

Selena Gomez Selena Marie Gomez ( -LSB- səˈliːnə_məˈɹiː_ˈɡoʊmɛz -RSB- ; -LSB- seˈlena ˈɣomes -RSB- ; born July 22 , 1992 ) is an American actress and singer . Having appeared in the children 's television series Barney & Friends while growing up , she rose to fame playing the role of Alex Russo on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place ( 2007 -- 2012 ) .   In 2008 , she signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records and formed her band Selena Gomez & the Scene . The band released three studio albums and produced four top 30 singles by 2011 . Gomez also formed her own production company in 2008 , July Moon Productions ; she serves as an executive producer on the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why , which released in March 2017 .   Between 2009 and 2011 , Gomez starred in films such as Princess Protection Program , Ramona and Beezus , and Monte Carlo , and took on a more mature role in Spring Breakers ( 2013 ) . Gomez also took her singing career in a different direction , with the release of her first solo album Stars Dance ( 2013 ) ; the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 in the United States and included the top ten single `` Come & Get It . '' Gomez released a compilation album in 2014 as her fifth and final release through Hollywood Records , which was preceded by her second top ten single `` The Heart Wants What It Wants '' , and signed a new recording contract with Interscope Records .   In 2015 , she released her second solo album , Revival , which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 , while the first three singles , `` Good for You , '' `` Same Old Love , '' and `` Hands to Myself , '' all topped the Mainstream Top 40 chart in the United States . Gomez has also starred in the films The Fundamentals of Caring ( 2016 ) , In Dubious Battle ( 2016 ) , and in the Hotel Transylvania films .   Since the start of her singing career , she has gone on to sell over 7 million albums and 22 million singles worldwide , according to Billboard . Gomez has earned a number of awards and nominations for her work as an actress and singer , and has won a Billboard Women in Music award , an MTV Video Music Award , an American Music Award , and fifteen Teen Choice Awards . As of November 2016 , Gomez is the most-followed Instagram user in the world .


The Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law & Justice is Jay Sekulow.

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 .


Alessia Cara Alessia Caracciolo ( -LSB- aˈlɛssja kaˈrattʃolo -RSB- ; born July 11 , 1996 ) , professionally known as Alessia Cara , is a Canadian singer and songwriter . She is signed to EP Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings and released her debut single , `` Here '' , from the debut studio album , Know-It-All , released November 13 , 2015 . A sleeper hit , the song reached the top five in the United States and the top 20 in Canada . Prior to her work for Def Jam , she produced acoustic covers on YouTube .   In 2016 , her single `` Scars to Your Beautiful '' reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the US pop radio charts . In 2017 , Cara collaborated with producer Zedd to create the single `` Stay '' , which has since reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 , making it her third top ten song .


Iran is the third-largest country in the Middle East.

Iran Iran ( ɪ , also ɪ ) , formerly known as Persia , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia , the de facto Republic of Artsakh and Azerbaijan ; to the north by the Caspian Sea ; to the northeast by Turkmenistan ; to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan ; to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman ; and to the west by Turkey and Iraq . Comprising a land area of 1648195 km2 , it is the second-largest country in the Middle East and the 18th-largest in the world . Officially with 79.93 million inhabitants ( Nov 2016 ) , Iran is the world 's 18th-most-populous country . It is the only country with both a Caspian Sea and an Indian Ocean coastline . The country 's central location in Eurasia and Western Asia , and its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz , make it of great geostrategic importance . Iran has diverse landscapes and geographical conditions . Tehran is the country 's capital and largest city , as well as its leading economic and cultural center .   Iran is home to one of the world 's oldest civilizations , beginning with the formation of the Elamite kingdoms in the 4th millennium BC . The area was first unified and dominated by the Iranian Medes in the 7th century BC . Iran reached its greatest extent during the Achaemenid Empire ( First Persian Empire ) founded by Cyrus the Great in 6th century BC , the largest empire the world had yet seen , stretching from Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley . Persia fell to Alexander the Great in 4th century BC , but reemerged shortly after as the Parthian Empire . Under the Sassanians , Persia became a leading world power for the next four centuries .   In 7th century AD , Arabs conquered Persia and largely displaced the indigenous faiths of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism with the new religion of Islam . Iranians became major contributors to the Islamic Golden Age that followed , producing many influential scientists , scholars , artists and thinkers . After two centuries , a period of various Iranian dynasties began , although these dynasties were later conquered by Turks and then the Mongols . An Iranian national identity was always reasserted however , developing a distinct cultural entity . The rise of the Safavids in 15th century led to the establishment of Twelver Shia Islam as the official religion , marking a turning point in Muslim history . In the 18th century , Iran arguably possessed briefly the most powerful military at the time under Nader Shah . Conflicts with the Russian Empire in 19th century led to significant territorial losses . Popular unrest culminated in the Persian Constitutional Revolution , which established a constitutional monarchy and the country 's first legislative body , the Majles . Following a coup d'état instigated by the UK and the US in 1953 , Iran gradually became closely aligned with the West and grew increasingly autocratic . Growing dissent against foreign influence and political repression led to the 1979 Revolution and the establishment of an Islamic republic , a political system which combines elements of a parliamentary democracy with a theocracy governed by Islamic jurists under the concept of a `` Supreme Leadership '' . According to international observers , the current Iranian government is oppressive , with human rights abuses commonplace .   A multicultural country comprising numerous ethnic and linguistic groups , most inhabitants of Iran are Shia Muslims and Persian is the official language . The largest ethnic groups in Iran are the Persians , Azeris , Kurds and Lurs .   Iran is a founding member of the UN , ECO , NAM , OIC , and OPEC . Iran is a major regional and middle power , and its large reserves of fossil fuels -- which include the largest natural gas supply in the world and the fourth-largest proven oil reserves -- exert considerable influence in international energy security and the world economy . Iran 's rich cultural legacy is reflected in part by its 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , the third-largest number in Asia and 11th-largest in the world .


Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer worked together to produce The Rock.

Don Simpson Donald Clarence `` Don '' Simpson ( October 29 , 1943 -- January 19 , 1996 ) was an American film producer , screenwriter , and actor . Simpson , along with his producing partner Jerry Bruckheimer , produced such hit films as Flashdance ( 1983 ) , Beverly Hills Cop ( 1984 ) , Top Gun ( 1986 ) , and The Rock ( 1996 ) . Their films would go on to earn $ 3 billion worldwide .


Vera Farmiga has avoided doing anything with horror films.

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


Orphan (film) Orphan is a 2009 psychological horror film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by David Leslie Johnson from a story by Alex Mace . The film stars Vera Farmiga , Peter Sarsgaard , Isabelle Fuhrman , C. C. H. Pounder and Jimmy Bennett . The plot centers on a couple who , after the death of their unborn child , adopt a mysterious 9-year-old girl .   Orphan was produced by Joel Silver and Susan Downey of Dark Castle Entertainment , and Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran of Appian Way Productions . It is an American , Canadian , German and French co-production . The film was released theatrically in the United States on July 24 , 2009 by Warner Bros. . Pictures . Some critics compared Fuhrman 's performance as Esther to that of Linda Blair in The Exorcist and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed .


The Incredible Hulk is the second book in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Incredible Hulk (film) The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk , produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Universal Pictures . It is the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) . The film was directed by Louis Leterrier , with a screenplay by Zak Penn. . It stars Edward Norton , Liv Tyler , Tim Roth , Tim Blake Nelson , Ty Burrell , and William Hurt . In The Incredible Hulk , a new backstory is established where Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk as an unwitting pawn in a military scheme to reinvigorate the supersoldier program through gamma radiation . On the run , he attempts to cure himself of the Hulk before he is captured by General Thaddeus Ross , but his worst fears are realized when power-hungry soldier Emil Blonsky becomes a similar , but more bestial creature .   After the mixed reception to the 2003 film Hulk , Marvel Studios reacquired the rights to the character . Leterrier , who had expressed interest in directing Iron Man , was brought onboard and Penn began work on a loose sequel that would be much closer to the comics and the 1978 television series of the same name . In April 2007 , Norton was hired to portray Banner and to rewrite Penn 's screenplay in order to distance itself from the 2003 film and establish its own identity , although he would go uncredited for his writing . Filming mostly took place in Toronto , Ontario , from July to November 2007 . Over 700 visual effects shots were created in post-production using a combination of motion capture and computer-generated imagery to complete the film .   The Incredible Hulk premiered on June 8 , 2008 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City , California and was released in theaters on June 13 , 2008 , receiving generally favorable reviews by critics upon release . Critical praise went to the improved visuals , action sequences , and the portrayal of the title character . The film was number one at the box office , grossing over $ 263 million worldwide . Norton was set to reprise the role of Banner in The Avengers and any other MCU installment featuring the character , but he was ultimately replaced by Mark Ruffalo , who has signed on to portray the character in all potential sequels .


Sachin Tendulkar was not included in an all-time Test World XI.

Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ( -LSB- sətʃɪn_tɛnˈduːlkər -RSB- born 24 April 1973 ) is a former Indian cricketer and captain , widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time . He took up cricket at the age of eleven , made his Test debut on 15 November 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi at the age of sixteen , and went on to represent Mumbai domestically and India internationally for close to twenty-four years . He is the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries , the first batsman to score a double century in a One Day International , the holder of the record for the number of runs in both ODI and Test cricket , and the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket .   In 2002 , just halfway through his career , Wisden Cricketers ' Almanack ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time , behind Don Bradman , and the second greatest ODI batsman of all time , behind Viv Richards . Later in his career , Tendulkar was a part of the Indian team that won the 2011 World Cup , his first win in six World Cup appearances for India . He had previously been named `` Player of the Tournament '' at the 2003 edition of the tournament , held in South Africa . In 2013 , he was the only Indian cricketer included in an all-time Test World XI named to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers ' Almanack .   Tendulkar received the Arjuna Award in 1994 for his outstanding sporting achievement , the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997 , India 's highest sporting honour , and the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008 , respectively , India 's fourth and second highest civilian awards . After a few hours of his final match on 16 November 2013 , the Prime Minister 's Office announced the decision to award him the Bharat Ratna , India 's highest civilian award . He is the youngest recipient to date and the first ever sportsperson to receive the award . He also won the 2010 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards . In 2012 , Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha , the upper house of the Parliament of India . He was also the first sportsperson and the first person without an aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of group captain by the Indian Air Force . In 2012 , he was named an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia .   In December 2012 , Tendulkar announced his retirement from ODIs . He retired from Twenty20 cricket in October 2013 and subsequently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket , retiring on 16 November 2013 after playing his 200th and final Test match , against the West Indies in Mumbai 's Wankhede Stadium . Tendulkar played 664 international cricket matches in total , scoring 34,357 runs .


Glee (season 1) The first season of the musical comedy-drama television series Glee originally aired on Fox in the United States . The pilot episode was broadcast as an advanced preview of the series on May 19 , 2009 , with the remainder of the season airing between September 9 , 2009 and June 8 , 2010 . The season consisted of 22 episodes ; the first 13 aired on Wednesdays at 9 pm ( ET ) and the final 9 aired on Tuesdays at 9 pm ( ET ) . The season was executive produced by Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk , and Dante Di Loreto ; Murphy 's production company helped co-produce the series alongside 20th Century Fox .   The season features the fictional high school show choir New Directions competing for the first time on the show choir circuit , while its members and faculty deal with sex , bullying , body image , homosexuality , teenage pregnancy , disabilities , adoption and other social issues . The central characters are glee club director Will Schuester ( Matthew Morrison ) , cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester ( Jane Lynch ) , Will 's wife Terri ( Jessalyn Gilsig ) , guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury ( Jayma Mays ) , and glee club members Rachel ( Lea Michele ) , Finn ( Cory Monteith ) , Artie ( Kevin McHale ) , Kurt ( Chris Colfer ) , Mercedes ( Amber Riley ) , Tina ( Jenna Ushkowitz ) , Puck ( Mark Salling ) , and Quinn ( Dianna Agron ) .   The season received generally positive reviews from critics . The musical scores used throughout the first season proved to be a commercial success , with over seven million copies of Glee cast single releases purchased digitally . In 2009 , the Glee remake of `` Do n't Stop Believin ' became their first hit , and other covers quickly gained similar worldwide popularity , while the albums topped the charts in Ireland and other countries . The season was nominated for 19 Emmy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , six Satellite Awards and 57 other awards . It was accompanied by four DVD releases : Glee -- Pilot Episode : Director 's Cut , Glee -- Season 1 , Volume 1 : Road to Sectionals featuring episodes one to thirteen , Glee -- Season 1 , Volume 2 : Road to Regionals featuring episodes fourteen to twenty-two , and Glee -- The Complete First Season .


Glee (TV series) Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that aired on the Fox network in the United States from May 19 , 2009 , to March 20 , 2015 . It focuses on the fictitious William McKinley High School glee club , New Directions , which competes on the show choir competition circuit while its disparate members deal with social issues , especially regarding sexuality and race , relationships , and learning to become an effective team . The initial twelve-member cast included club director and Spanish teacher Will Schuester ( Matthew Morrison ) , cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester ( Jane Lynch ) , guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury ( Jayma Mays ) , Will 's wife Terri ( Jessalyn Gilsig ) , and eight club members played by Dianna Agron , Chris Colfer , Kevin McHale , Lea Michele , Cory Monteith , Amber Riley , Mark Salling , and Jenna Ushkowitz . In subsequent seasons , the main cast has expanded to fourteen and fifteen members .   The series was created by Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk , and Ian Brennan , the latter of whom first conceived of Glee as a film . The three wrote all of the show 's episodes for the first two seasons , and Murphy and Falchuk initially served as the show 's main directors . The pilot episode was broadcast on May 19 , 2009 , and the first season aired from September 9 , 2009 , to June 8 , 2010 . Subsequent seasons aired in September through May . The sixth and final season aired from January to March 2015 . Glee features on-screen performance-based musical numbers that were selected by Murphy , who aimed to maintain a balance between show tunes and chart hits , and produced by Adam Anders and Peer Åström . Songs covered in the show were released through the iTunes Store during the week of broadcast , and a series of Glee albums have been released by Columbia Records . The music of Glee has been a commercial success , with over thirty-six million digital single sales and eleven million album sales worldwide through October 2011 . The series ' merchandise also includes DVD and Blu-ray releases , an iPad application , and karaoke games for the Wii . There were live concert tours by the show 's cast after the first and second seasons completed shooting ; a concert film based on the 2011 tour , Glee : The 3D Concert Movie , was produced by Murphy and Fox and directed by Kevin Tancharoen .   During its first season , Glee received generally favorable reviews from critics , with Metacritic 's weighted average of 77 out of 100 based on eighteen critical reviews . The season was nominated for nineteen Emmy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , six Satellite Awards and fifty-seven other awards , with wins including the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series -- Musical or Comedy , and Emmy awards for Jane Lynch , guest-star Neil Patrick Harris and Murphy 's direction of the pilot episode . In 2011 , the show once again won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series , and Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer won Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively , and Gwyneth Paltrow won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series . The show was also chosen by Fox to fill the coveted time slot that followed the network 's coverage of Super Bowl XLV in 2011 .   On October 17 , 2013 , in the wake of the death of Cory Monteith three months prior , and one week after his tribute episode `` The Quarterback '' aired , Murphy announced that the sixth season would be the final one of the series . After 121 episodes and over 728 music performances , Glee came to an end on March 20 , 2015 .


Glee (season 6) The sixth and final season of the Fox musical comedy-drama television series Glee was commissioned on April 19 , 2013 , along with the fifth season , as part of a two-season renewal deal for the show on the Fox network . The final season , consisting of 13 episodes , premiered on Friday , January 9 , 2015 , with the first two episodes , and the last two episodes ( functioning as a single series finale ) aired on March 20 , 2015 .   The series features the New Directions glee club at the fictional William McKinley High School ( WMHS ) in the town of Lima , Ohio , and some of the graduates of McKinley . The season focuses on the former glee club member , Rachel Berry , who returns to McKinley after her TV Pilot bombs to rebuild the disbanded glee club . The central characters are the former glee club director Will Schuester ( Matthew Morrison ) , school principal Sue Sylvester ( Jane Lynch ) , and Glee club graduates Rachel Berry ( Lea Michele ) , Kurt Hummel ( Chris Colfer ) , Blaine Anderson ( Darren Criss ) , Artie Abrams ( Kevin McHale ) , and Sam Evans ( Chord Overstreet ) . Amber Riley returns to the main cast as Mercedes Jones and Dot-Marie Jones , who portrays Shannon Beiste , the school 's football coach , was promoted to the main cast after four years as a recurring character . Jenna Ushkowitz , Naya Rivera , Becca Tobin , Jacob Artist , Melissa Benoist , Blake Jenner , and Alex Newell who have portrayed Tina Cohen-Chang , Santana Lopez , Kitty Wilde , Jake Puckerman , Marley Rose , Ryder Lynn , and Wade `` Unique '' Adams , were demoted from the main cast this season with Ushkowitz , Rivera , Tobin , and Newell recurring during the season , while Artist and Jenner returned briefly in the series finale . Benoist , however , does not appear at all in this season .   The season was nominated for one Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics .


Phantoms is a 1998 American science fiction horror film.

Phantoms (film) Phantoms is a 1998 American science fiction horror film adapted from Dean Koontz 's 1983 novel of the same name . Directed by Joe Chappelle with a screenplay by Koontz , the film stars Peter O'Toole , Rose McGowan , Joanna Going , Liev Schreiber , Ben Affleck , Nicky Katt , and Clifton Powell . The film takes place in the peaceful town of Snowfield , Colorado , where something evil has wiped out the community . It is up to a group of people to stop it or at least get out of Snowfield alive .


Ginger Baker was inducted into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Ginger Baker Peter Edward `` Ginger '' Baker ( born 19 August 1939 ) is an English drummer , best known as the founder of the rock band Cream . Baker 's work in the 1960s earned him praise as `` rock 's first superstar drummer '' , although his individual style melded a jazz background with his interest in African rhythms . Baker is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Cream and is widely considered one of the most influential drummers of all time , recognised by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2008 , and his induction into the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2016 . Baker is credited as a pioneer of drumming in genres like jazz fusion , heavy metal and world music .   Baker began playing drums at age 15 around 1954 , and later took lessons from Phil Seamen . In the 1960s , he joined Blues Incorporated , where he met bassist Jack Bruce . The two clashed often , but would be rhythm section partners again in the Graham Bond Organisation and Cream , the latter of which Baker co-founded with Eric Clapton in 1966 . Cream achieved worldwide success but only lasted until 1968 , in part due to Baker 's and Bruce 's volatile relationship . After briefly working with Clapton in Blind Faith and leading Ginger Baker 's Air Force , Baker spent several years in the 1970s living and recording in Africa , often with Fela Kuti , in pursuit of his long-time interest in African music . Among Baker 's other collaborations are his work with Gary Moore , Masters of Reality , Public Image Ltd , Atomic Rooster , Bill Laswell , jazz bassist Charlie Haden , jazz guitarist Bill Frisell , and another personally led effort , Ginger Baker 's Energy .   Baker 's drumming attracted attention for his style , showmanship , and use of two bass drums instead of the conventional one . In his early days , he performed lengthy drum solos , most notably in the Cream song `` Toad '' , one of the earliest recorded examples in rock music .


Nat Faxon has won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Nat Faxon Nathaniel `` Nat '' Faxon ( born October 11 , 1975 ) is an American actor , comedian and Academy Award-winning screenwriter . Though a frequent presence on comedic films and TV series , he is best known for winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants ( 2011 ) and for his starring roles in the FOX comedy series Ben and Kate ( 2012 -- 2013 ) and the FX comedy series Married ( 2014 -- 2015 ) . He also co-wrote and co-directed The Way , Way Back ( 2013 ) with writing partner Jim Rash .


Amsterdam Amsterdam ( -LSB- ˈæmstərdæm , _ ˌæmstərˈdæm -RSB- -LSB- ɑmstərˈdɑm -RSB- ) is the capital and most populous municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands . Its status as the capital is mandated by the Constitution of the Netherlands , although it is not the seat of the government , which is The Hague . Amsterdam has a population of 851,373 within the city proper , 1,351,587 in the urban area , and 2,410,960 in the Amsterdam metropolitan area . The city is located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country . The metropolitan area comprises much of the northern part of the Randstad , one of the larger conurbations in Europe , with a population of approximately 7 million .   Amsterdam 's name derives from Amstelredamme , indicative of the city 's origin around a dam in the river Amstel . Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century , Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age ( 17th century ) , a result of its innovative developments in trade . During that time , the city was the leading centre for finance and diamonds . In the 19th and 20th centuries the city expanded , and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were planned and built . The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam and the 19 -- 20th century Defence Line of Amsterdam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List . Since the annexation of municipality Sloten in 1921 by the municipality of Amsterdam , the oldest historic part of the city lies in Sloten ( 9th century ) .   As the commercial capital of the Netherlands and one of the top financial centres in Europe , Amsterdam is considered an alpha world city by the Globalization and World Cities ( GaWC ) study group . The city is also the cultural capital of the Netherlands . Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there , and seven of the world 's 500 largest companies , including Philips and ING , are based in the city . In 2012 , Amsterdam was ranked the second best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit ( EIU ) and 12th globally on quality of living for environment and infrastructure by Mercer . The city was ranked 3rd in innovation by Australian innovation agency 2thinknow in their Innovation Cities Index 2009 . The Amsterdam seaport to this day remains the second in the country , and the fifth largest seaport in Europe .   Famous Amsterdam residents include the diarist Anne Frank , artists Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent van Gogh , and philosopher Baruch Spinoza .   The Amsterdam Stock Exchange , the oldest stock exchange in the world , is located in the city center . Amsterdam 's main attractions , including its historic canals , the Rijksmuseum , the Van Gogh Museum , Stedelijk Museum , Hermitage Amsterdam , Anne Frank House , Amsterdam Museum , its red-light district , and its many cannabis coffee shops draw more than 5 million international visitors annually .


Lisa Lopes Lisa Nicole Lopes ( May 27 , 1971 -- April 25 , 2002 ) , better known by her stage name Left Eye , was an American hip hop singer , rapper , actress , songwriter and producer . She rose to fame in the early 1990s as one-third of the girl group TLC , alongside Tionne `` T-Boz '' Watkins and Rozonda `` Chilli '' Thomas . Besides rapping and singing background vocals on TLC recordings , Lopes was one of the creative forces behind the group . She received more cowriting credits than the other members . She also designed the outfits and stage for the group and brought concepts to the group image , album titles , artworks and music videos . Through her work with TLC , Lopes won four Grammy Awards .   During her short solo career , Lopes scored two US top-ten singles with `` Not Tonight '' and `` U Know What 's Up '' , as well as one UK number-one single with `` Never Be the Same Again '' . She also produced the girl group Blaque , who scored a platinum album and two US top-ten hits . Lopes remains the only member of TLC to have released a solo album .   On April 25 , 2002 , Lopes was killed in a car accident while on a retreat with her sister and others . She swerved off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle and was thrown from her vehicle and died instantly . The last days of her life were made into a documentary called The Last Days of Left Eye , which aired on VH1 in May 2007 .


At the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, Lionel Messi was the recipient of the Golden Shoe.

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


Donnie Wahlberg is responsible for overseeing production of a TV show or movie.

Donnie Wahlberg Donald Edmond `` Donnie '' Wahlberg Jr. . ( born August 17 , 1969 ) is an American singer , songwriter , actor , record producer , and film producer . He is a founding member of the boy band New Kids on the Block . Outside of music , he has had roles in the Saw films , The Sixth Sense , Dreamcatcher , and Righteous Kill , also appearing in the World War II miniseries Band of Brothers as First Lieutenant Carwood Lipton . From 2002 to 2003 , he starred in the crime drama Boomtown . He has been starring in the drama series Blue Bloods as Danny Reagan with Tom Selleck ( his TV father ) and Bridget Moynahan ( his TV sister ) since 2010 , and since 2014 is an executive producer of the TNT reality television show Boston 's Finest . He was nominated for Choice Scream at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards for his work in the Saw films . He has also produced and starred in `` Rock this Boat '' , `` Donnie Loves Jenny '' and `` Return of the Mac '' on Pop TV .


Russia has never been part of a Union of nations.

Soviet Union The Soviet Union ( -LSB- Сове́тский Сою́з , r = Sovetskiy Soyuz -RSB- -LSB- sɐ ` vʲetskʲɪj sɐˈjʉs -RSB- ) , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( USSR ; Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик , -LSB- sɐˈjus sɐˈvʲɛtskʲɪx sətsɨəlʲɪsˈtʲitɕɪskʲɪx rʲɪˈspublʲɪk -RSB- ) , also known unofficially as Russia ( -LSB- Росси́я , Rossiya , rɐˈsʲijə -RSB- ) , was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991 . Nominally a union of multiple equal national Soviet republics , its government and economy were highly centralized in a state that was unitary in most respects . The country was a one-party federation , governed by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital .   The Soviet Union had its roots in the October Revolution of 1917 , when the Bolsheviks , led by Vladimir Lenin , overthrew the Russian Provisional Government which had replaced Tsar Nicholas II . In 1922 , the Soviet Union was formed with the unification of the Russian , Transcaucasian , Ukrainian , and Byelorussian republics . Following Lenin 's death in 1924 and a brief power struggle , Joseph Stalin came to power in the mid-1920s . Stalin committed the state 's ideology to Marxism -- Leninism ( which he created ) , and initiated a centrally planned economy . As a result , the country underwent a period of rapid industrialization and collectivization . Political paranoia was also fomented around Stalin , and the Great Purge was carried out to remove his opponents from the Communist Party through arbitrary arrests and persecutions of many people .   Shortly before World War II , Stalin signed the Molotov -- Ribbentrop Pact agreeing to non-aggression with Nazi Germany , after which the two countries invaded Poland in September 1939 . In June 1941 , Germany invaded the Soviet Union , opening the largest and bloodiest theater of war in history . Soviet war casualties accounted for the highest proportion of the conflict in the effort of acquiring the upper hand over Axis forces at intense battles such as Stalingrad . The territories overtaken by the Red Army became satellite states of the USSR . The Cold War emerged by 1947 as the Eastern Bloc which united under the Warsaw Pact in 1955 confronted the Western states which united under NATO in 1949 .   Following Stalin 's death in 1953 , a period of political and economic liberalization , known as `` de-Stalinization '' and `` Khrushchev 's Thaw '' , occurred under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev . The Soviet Union took an early lead in the Space Race , with the first artificial satellite and the first human spaceflight . In the 1970s , there was a brief détente of relations with the United States , but tensions resumed with the Soviet -- Afghan War in 1979 .   In the mid-1980s , the last Soviet leader , Mikhail Gorbachev , sought to reform and liberalize the economy through his policies of glasnost and perestroika . The Cold War ended during his tenure , and in 1989 , Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe overthrew their respective communist governments . This led to the rise of strong nationalist and separatist movements inside the USSR as well . The government initiated a referendum , boycotted by some Soviet republics , which resulted in the majority of participating citizens voting in favor of preserving the union as a renewed federation . In August 1991 , an abortive coup d'état was attempted by Communist Party hardliners . The Russian President Boris Yeltsin played a high-profile role in facing down the coup . On 25 December 1991 , Gorbachev resigned and the remaining twelve constituent republics emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union as independent post-Soviet states . The Russian Federation -- formerly the Russian SFSR -- assumed the Soviet Union 's rights and obligations and is recognized as the primary legal successor of the Soviet Union .


Russia Russia ( -LSB- ˈrʌʃə -RSB- -LSB- Россия , Rossiya , rɐˈsʲijə -RSB- ) , also officially the Russian Federation ( -LSB- Российская Федерация , r = Rossiyskaya Federatsiya , p = rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə -RSB- ) , is a country in Eurasia . At 17075200 km2 , Russia is the largest country in the world by surface area , covering more than one-eighth of the Earth 's inhabited land area , and the ninth most populous , with over 144 million people at the end of March 2016 . The European western part of the country is much more populated and urbanised than the eastern ; about 77 % of the population live in European Russia . Russia 's capital Moscow is one of the largest cities in the world ; other major urban centers include Saint Petersburg , Novosibirsk , Yekaterinburg , Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan .   Extending across the entirety of Northern Asia and much of Eastern Europe , Russia spans eleven time zones and incorporates a wide range of environments and landforms . From northwest to southeast , Russia shares land borders with Norway , Finland , Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania and Poland ( both with Kaliningrad Oblast ) , Belarus , Ukraine , Georgia , Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , China , Mongolia , and North Korea . It shares maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk and the U.S. state of Alaska across the Bering Strait .   The East Slavs emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD . Founded and ruled by a Varangian warrior elite and their descendants , the medieval state of Rus arose in the 9th century . In 988 it adopted Orthodox Christianity from the Byzantine Empire , beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium . Rus ' ultimately disintegrated into a number of smaller states ; most of the Rus ' lands were overrun by the Mongol invasion and became tributaries of the nomadic Golden Horde in the 13th century . The Grand Duchy of Moscow gradually reunified the surrounding Russian principalities , achieved independence from the Golden Horde , and came to dominate the cultural and political legacy of Kievan Rus ' . By the 18th century , the nation had greatly expanded through conquest , annexation , and exploration to become the Russian Empire , which was the third largest empire in history , stretching from Poland on the west to Alaska on the east .   Following the Russian Revolution , the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic became the largest and leading constituent of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , the world 's first constitutionally socialist state . The Soviet Union played a decisive role in the Allied victory in World War II , and emerged as a recognized superpower and rival to the United States during the Cold War . The Soviet era saw some of the most significant technological achievements of the 20th century , including the world 's first human-made satellite and the launching of the first humans in space . By the end of 1990 , the Soviet Union had the world 's second largest economy , largest standing military in the world and the largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction . Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 , fifteen independent republics emerged from the USSR : Russia , Ukraine , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Estonia , Georgia , Kyrgyzstan , Latvia , Lithuania , Moldova , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan ; the Russian SFSR reconstituted itself as the Russian Federation and is recognized as the continuing legal personality and sole successor state of the Soviet Union . It is governed as a federal semi-presidential republic .   The Russian economy ranks as the twelfth largest by nominal GDP and sixth largest by purchasing power parity in 2015 . Russia 's extensive mineral and energy resources are the largest such reserves in the world , making it one of the leading producers of oil and natural gas globally . The country is one of the five recognized nuclear weapons states and possesses the largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction . Russia is a great power as well as a regional power and has been characterised as a potential superpower . It is permanent member of the United Nations Security Council , as well as a member of the G20 , the Council of Europe , the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) , the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO ) , the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ) , and the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) , as well as being the leading member of the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) , the Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) and one of the five members of the Eurasian Economic Union ( EEU ) , along with Armenia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , and Kyrgyzstan .


Extreme environments can only be caused by humans.

Extreme environment An extreme environment contains conditions that are hard to survive for most known life forms . These conditions may be extremely high or low temperature or pressure ; high or low content of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ; high levels of radiation , acidity , or alkalinity ; absence of water ; water containing a high concentration of salt or sugar ; presence of sulphur , petroleum , and other toxic substances .   Examples of extreme environments include the geographical poles , very dry deserts , volcanoes , deep ocean trenches , upper atmosphere , Mt Everest , outer space , and the environments of every planet in the Solar System except the Earth . Any organisms living in these conditions are often very well adapted to their living circumstances , which is usually a result of long-term evolution . Physiologists have long known that organisms living in extreme environments are especially likely to exhibit clear examples of evolutionary adaptation because of the presumably intense past natural selection they have experienced .


Quinoa Quinoa ( -LSB- ˈkiːnwɑː -RSB- or -LSB- kɪˈnoʊ.ə -RSB- , from Quechua kinwa or kinuwa ) is the common name for Chenopodium quinoa , a flowering plant in the amaranth family Amaranthaceae . It is a herbaceous annual plant grown as a grain crop primarily for its edible seeds . Because it is not a grass , it is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal . Quinoa is closely related to the edible plants beetroot , spinach , and amaranth ( Amaranthus spp . ) , another pseudocereal which it closely resembles .   After harvest , the seeds are processed to remove the outer coating that contains bitter-tasting saponins . They are gluten-free . Generally , the seeds are cooked the same way as rice and can be used in a wide range of dishes . The leaves are sometimes eaten as a leaf vegetable , much like amaranth , but commercial availability of quinoa greens is limited .   When cooked , the nutrient composition is comparable to common cereals like wheat and rice , supplying a moderate amount of dietary fiber and minerals . The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared 2013 to be the `` International Year of Quinoa '' .   Quinoa originated in the Andean region of Peru , Bolivia , Ecuador , Colombia and Chile , and was domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago for human consumption in the Lake Titicaca basin of Peru and Bolivia , though archaeological evidence shows a non-domesticated association with pastoral herding 5,200 to 7,000 years ago .


Graphic arts are included in the History of art.

History of art The history of art is the history of any activity or product made by humans in a visual form for aesthetical or communicative purposes , expressing ideas , emotions or , in general , a worldview . Over time visual art has been classified in diverse ways , from the medieval distinction between liberal arts and mechanical arts , to the modern distinction between fine arts and applied arts , or to the many contemporary definitions , which define art as a manifestation of human creativity . The subsequent expansion of the list of principal arts in the 20th century reached to nine : architecture , dance , sculpture , music , painting , poetry ( described broadly as a form of literature with aesthetic purpose or function , which also includes the distinct genres of theatre and narrative ) , film , photography and graphic arts . In addition to the old forms of artistic expression such as fashion and gastronomy , new modes of expression are being considered as arts such as video , computer art , performance , advertising , animation , television and videogames .   The history of art is a multidisciplinary branch of the arts and sciences , seeking an objective examination of art throughout time , classifying cultures , establishing periodizations , and observing the distinctive and influential characteristics of art . The study of the history of art was initially developed during the Renaissance , with its limited scope being the artistic production of Western civilization . However , as time has passed , it has imposed a broader view of artistic history , seeking a comprehensive overview of all the civilizations and analysis of their artistic production in terms of their own cultural values ( cultural relativism ) , and not just western art history .   Today , art enjoys a wide network of study , dissemination and preservation of all the artistic legacy of mankind throughout history . The 20th century has seen the proliferation of institutions , foundations , art museums and galleries , in both the public and private sectors , dedicated to the analysis and cataloging of works of art as well as exhibitions aimed at a mainstream audience . The rise of media has been crucial in improving the study and dissemination of art . International events and exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial and biennales of Venice and São Paulo or the Documenta of Kassel have helped the development of new styles and trends . Prizes such as the Turner of the Tate Gallery , the Wolf Prize in Arts , the Pritzker Prize of architecture , the Pulitzer of photography and the Oscar of cinema also promote the best creative work on an international level . Institutions like UNESCO , with the establishment of the World Heritage Site lists , also help the conservation of the major monuments of the planet .


The Voice (U.S. TV series) The Voice is an American reality television singing competition broadcast on NBC . Based on the original The Voice of Holland , the concept of the series is to find currently unsigned singing talent ( solo or duets , professional and amateur ) contested by aspiring singers , age 13 or over , drawn from public auditions . The winner is determined by television viewers voting by telephone , Internet , SMS text , and iTunes Store purchases of the audio-recorded artists ' vocal performances . They receive US$ 100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group for winning the competition . The winners of the twelve seasons have been : Javier Colon , Jermaine Paul , Cassadee Pope , Danielle Bradbery , Tessanne Chin , Josh Kaufman , Craig Wayne Boyd , Sawyer Fredericks , Jordan Smith , Alisan Porter , Sundance Head , and Chris Blue .   The series employs a panel of four coaches who critique the artists ' performances and guide their teams of selected artists through the remainder of the season . They also compete to ensure that their act wins the competition , thus making them the winning coach . Members of the coaching panel include Adam Levine , Blake Shelton , Christina Aguilera ( seasons 1 -- 3 , 5 , 8 , 10 ) , CeeLo Green ( seasons 1 -- 3 , 5 ) , Shakira ( season 4 , 6 ) , Usher ( season 4 , 6 ) , Gwen Stefani ( season 7 , 9 , 12 ) , Pharrell Williams ( seasons 7 -- 10 ) , Miley Cyrus ( season 11 ) , and Alicia Keys ( seasons 11 -- 12 ) .   The Voice began airing on April 26 , 2011 , as a spring TV season program . The show proved to be a hit for NBC and was subsequently expanded into the fall cycle when season three premiered on September 10 , 2012 . The series premiered its twelfth season on February 27 , 2017 . On October 18 , 2016 , NBC renewed the series through its thirteenth season . On May 10 , 2017 , NBC renewed the series for a fourteenth series , along with announcing Jennifer Hudson as a new coach in the thirteenth season . The following day , it was announced that Kelly Clarkson would be a new coach in the fourteenth season , sitting alongside Adam Levine , Blake Shelton , and Jennifer Hudson .


The Taj Mahal attracts 7-8 million visitors a year.

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( -LSB- ˌtɑːdʒ_məˈhɑːl -RSB- , more often -LSB- ˈtɑːʒ -RSB- meaning Crown of the Palace ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra . It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor , Shah Jahan ( reigned 1628 -- 1658 ) , to house the tomb of his favourite wife , Mumtaz Mahal . The tomb is the centrepiece of a 42 acre complex , which includes a mosque and a guest house , and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall .   Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years . The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees , which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees ( US$ 827 million ) . The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor , Ustad Ahmad Lahauri .   The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being `` the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world 's heritage '' . Described by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as `` the tear-drop on the cheek of time '' , it is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India 's rich history . The Taj Mahal attracts 7 -- 8 million visitors a year . In 2007 , it was declared a winner of the New7Wonders of the World ( 2000 -- 2007 ) initiative .


Naga Chaitanya worked on a film directed by Gautham Menon.

Naga Chaitanya Naga Chaitanya Akkineni ( born 23 November 1986 ) is an Indian film actor who works in Telugu cinema . He debuted in the 2009 film Josh , directed by newcomer Vasu Varma and produced by Dil Raju . Prior to the release of his first film , he signed his second film with Indira Productions , which was to be directed by Gautham Menon . Ye Maaya Chesave released in February 2010 with comparisons drawn to his father Akkineni Nagarjuna 's romantic film , Geethanjali .   His next movie was Sukumar 's 100 % Love co-starring Tamannaah . The movie was shortly followed by Dhada and Bejawada . Chaitanya also appeared in the movie Autonagar Surya . In 2013 , he appeared in Thadaka . The film Manam also featured other members of his family . He has also appeared in Oka Laila Kosam .


Over Her Dead Body Over Her Dead Body is a 2008 American romantic comedy film starring Eva Longoria , Paul Rudd , Lake Bell , Lindsay Sloane and Jason Biggs . It was written and directed by Jeff Lowell . The film is about Kate ( Eva Longoria ) , who dies on the day of her wedding to fiancé Henry ( Paul Rudd ) . He subsequently begins a relationship with psychic Ashley ( Lake Bell ) who becomes haunted by Kate trying to sabotage their relationship .   The film was released in the United States and Canada on February 1 , 2008 .


Eva Longoria Eva Longoria Bastón ( born Eva Jacqueline Longoria ; March 15 , 1975 ) is an American actress , producer , director , activist and businesswoman . After a series of guest roles on several television series , Longoria was first recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless , on which she starred from 2001 to 2003 . She is perhaps best known for her role as Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives , which ran from 2004 to 2012 and for which she received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations . She has also appeared in Harsh Times ( 2005 ) , The Sentinel ( 2006 ) , and Over Her Dead Body ( 2008 ) . From 2015 to 2016 , Longoria starred as Ana Sofia Calderón on the short-lived NBC sitcom Telenovela , and served as an executive producer for the Lifetime television series Devious Maids .   Longoria has also appeared in several advertising campaigns and has been named one of Hollywood 's most beautiful women by several publications , including People en Español and People magazines . She currently holds contracts with L'Oréal , Hanes , and New York & Co , among others .


Marcus Rashford plays for a football team.

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


Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club based in Old Trafford , Greater Manchester , England , that competes in the Premier League , the top flight of English football . Nicknamed `` the Red Devils '' , the club was founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878 , changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to its current stadium , Old Trafford , in 1910 .   Manchester United are the most successful club in England , having won a record 20 League Titles , 12 FA Cups , 5 League Cups and a record 21 FA Community Shields . The club has also won three UEFA Champions League , one UEFA Europa League , one UEFA Cup Winners ' Cup , one UEFA Super Cup , one Intercontinental Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup . In 1998 -- 99 , the club became the first in the history of English football to achieve the treble of the Premier League , the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League . In 2016 -- 17 , they also , by winning the UEFA Europa League , became one of five clubs to have won all three main UEFA club competitions . In winning all three top domestic trophies ( as well as both iterations of the English championship ) , all three major European trophies , both the domestic and European super cups , and both international titles ( the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup in 1999 and its successor , the FIFA World Club Cup in 2008 ) , the club has achieved a clean sweep of all top honours available to it ; the first and thus far only English club to do so .   The 1958 Munich air disaster claimed the lives of eight players . In 1968 , under the management of Matt Busby , Manchester United became the first English football club to win the European Cup . Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies as manager , including 13 Premier League titles , 5 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions Leagues , between 1986 and 2013 , when he announced his retirement . José Mourinho is the club 's current manager , having been appointed on 27 May 2016 .   Manchester United was the highest-earning football club in the world for 2015 -- 16 , with an annual revenue of $ 689 million , and the world 's third most valuable football club in 2015 , valued at # 1.98 billion . As of June 2015 , it is the world 's most valuable football brand , estimated to be worth $ 1.2 billion . After being floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1991 , the club was purchased by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005 in a deal valuing the club at almost # 800 million , after which the company was taken private again , before going public once more in August 2012 , when they made an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange . Manchester United is one of the most widely supported football clubs in the world , and holds several rivalries with other clubs , most notably with Liverpool , Manchester City and Leeds United , and more recently with Arsenal .


There were one-disc version with no special features out for Star Trek, the film series.

Star Trek (film series) The Star Trek film series is the cinematic branch of the Star Trek media franchise , which began in 1966 as a weekly television series on NBC , running for three seasons until it was canceled in 1969 because of poor ratings . Reruns of the series proved to be wildly successful in syndication during the 1970s , which persuaded the series ' then-owner , Paramount Pictures , to expand the franchise .   Paramount originally began work on a Star Trek feature film in 1975 after lobbying by the creator of the franchise , Gene Roddenberry . The studio scrapped the project two years later in favor of creating a television series , Star Trek : Phase II , with the original cast . However , following the huge success of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977 , Paramount changed its mind again , halting production on the television series and adapting its pilot episode into a Star Trek feature film , Star Trek : The Motion Picture ( 1979 ) . Five more Star Trek feature films featuring the entire original cast followed . The cast of the 1987 -- 1994 Star Trek spin-off series Star Trek : The Next Generation starred in a further four films . After a 6-year hiatus following the release of Star Trek : Nemesis ( 2002 ) , a new film was released on May 16 , 2009 , simply titled Star Trek , serving as a reboot to the franchise with a new cast portraying younger versions of the original series ' characters . A sequel to Star Trek ( 2009 ) , Star Trek Into Darkness , was released in theaters on May 16 , 2013 . A second sequel , Star Trek Beyond , was released on July 22 , 2016 , on the franchise 's 50th anniversary .   The Star Trek films have received 15 Academy Award nominations . Star Trek ( 2009 ) won for Best Makeup in 2010 , and four of the previous films were nominated mainly in the areas of makeup , music , set design and sound design .   The early Star Trek films , the first to tenth film , were originally released on VHS ; competitive pricing of The Wrath of Khans videocassette helped bolster the adoption of VHS players in households . Later films were also released on LaserDisc as well . For those films that did not receive an initial DVD release , Paramount released simple one-disc versions with no special features . Later , the first ten films were released in two-disc collector 's versions , with The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan branded as `` director 's cuts '' , followed by later box set releases . All of the films are now available on Blu-ray , digital download , streaming media and video on demand .


The American Broadcasting Company is one of the oldest television networks.

American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC ) is an American English language commercial broadcast television network that is owned by the Disney -- ABC Television Group , a subsidiary of the Disney Media Networks division of The Walt Disney Company . The network is headquartered on Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street in Manhattan , New York City . There are additional major offices and production facilities elsewhere in New York City , as well as in Los Angeles and Burbank , California .   Since 2007 , when ABC Radio ( also known as Cumulus Media Networks ) was sold to Citadel Broadcasting , ABC has reduced its broadcasting operations almost exclusively to television . The fifth-oldest major broadcasting network in the world and the youngest of the Big Three television networks , ABC is often nicknamed as `` The Alphabet Network '' , as its initialism also represents the first three letters of the English alphabet , in order .   ABC originally launched on October 12 , 1943 , as a radio network , separated from and serving as the successor to the NBC Blue Network , which had been purchased by Edward J. Noble . It extended its operations to television in 1948 , following in the footsteps of established broadcast networks CBS and NBC . In the mid-1950s , ABC merged with United Paramount Theatres , a chain of movie theaters that formerly operated as a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures . Leonard Goldenson , who had been the head of UPT , made the new television network profitable by helping develop and greenlight many successful series . In the 1980s , after purchasing an 80 % interest in cable sports channel ESPN , the network 's corporate parent , American Broadcasting Companies , Inc. , merged with Capital Cities Communications , owner of several print publications , and television and radio stations . In 1996 , most of Capital Cities/ABC 's assets were purchased by The Walt Disney Company .   The television network has eight owned-and-operated and over 232 affiliated television stations throughout the United States and its territories . Most Canadians have access to at least one U.S.-based ABC affiliate , either over-the-air ( in areas located within proximity to the Canada -- United States border ) or through a cable , satellite or IPTV provider , although most ABC programs are subject to simultaneous substitution regulations imposed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission that allow pay television providers to replace an American station 's signal with the feed of a Canadian broadcaster to protect domestic programming rights and advertising revenue . ABC News provides news and features content for select radio stations owned by Citadel Broadcasting , which purchased the ABC Radio properties in 2007 .


Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon ( born October 13 , 1941 ) is an American musician , singer-songwriter and actor . Simon 's fame , influence , and commercial success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel , formed in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel . Simon wrote nearly all of the pair 's songs , including three that reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts : `` The Sound of Silence '' , `` Mrs. Robinson '' , and `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' .   The duo split up in 1970 at the height of their popularity and Simon began a successful solo career as a guitarist and singer-songwriter , recording three highly acclaimed albums over the next five years . In 1986 , he released Graceland , an album inspired by South African township music , which sold 14 million copies worldwide on its release and remains his most popular solo work . Simon also wrote and starred in the film One-Trick Pony ( 1980 ) and co-wrote the Broadway musical The Capeman ( 1998 ) with the poet Derek Walcott . On June 3 , 2016 , Simon released his 13th solo album , titled Stranger to Stranger , which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart and the UK charts .   Simon has earned sixteen Grammys for his solo and collaborative work , including three for Album of the Year ( Bridge Over Troubled Water , Still Crazy After All These Years , Graceland ) , and a Lifetime Achievement Award . In 2001 , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2006 was selected as one of the `` 100 People Who Shaped the World '' by Time magazine . In 2011 , Rolling Stone magazine named Simon as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists . In 2015 , he was named as one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters by Rolling Stone . Among many other honors , Simon was the first recipient of the Library of Congress 's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007 . In 1986 , Simon was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music , where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees .


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


In 2001, Alkaline Trio released an album.

Alkaline Trio Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band from McHenry , Illinois . The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba , bassist and vocalist Dan Andriano , and drummer Derek Grant . Founded in late 1996 by Skiba , bassist Rob Doran , and drummer Glenn Porter , Alkaline Trio released its debut single , `` Sundials '' , in 1997 . Following its release , Doran departed from the band and was replaced by Andriano . The band subsequently recorded an EP , For Your Lungs Only ( 1998 ) , and its debut studio album , Goddamnit ( 1998 ) . Following the release of the band 's second album , Maybe I 'll Catch Fire ( 2000 ) , Porter left the band and was replaced by Mike Felumlee for its subsequent album , From Here to Infirmary ( 2001 ) .   Backed by the singles `` Stupid Kid '' and `` Private Eye '' , From Here to Infirmary significantly increased the band 's exposure , and its follow-up , Good Mourning ( 2003 ) , charted highly on the Billboard 200 . Good Mourning marked the recording debut of current drummer Derek Grant . In 2005 , the band released Crimson which expanded upon the band 's punk rock influences , with prominent overdubs and additional instrumentation , and continued with this direction on Agony & Irony ( 2008 ) , which was released on V2 Records .   In 2010 , the band released This Addiction on its own label Heart & Skull and Epitaph . Recorded in the band 's home town of Chicago , with early producer Matt Allison , the album was a conscious effort by the band to return to their punk rock roots ; it became the highest charting album of their career , debuting on the Billboard 200 at No. 11 . In 2011 , the band celebrated its 15-year anniversary with the release of Damnesia , which featured new , acoustic-based recordings of songs from across the band 's career . The band 's eighth studio album , My Shame Is True , was released on April 2 , 2013 .


Jun Ji-hyun is in the film called The Thieves.

Jun Ji-hyun Jun Ji-hyun ( born Wang Ji-hyun on 30 October 1981 ) , also known as Gianna Jun , is a South Korean actress . She rose to fame for her role as The Girl in the romantic comedy My Sassy Girl ( 2001 ) , one of the highest-grossing Korean comedies of all time . Other notable films include Il Mare ( 2000 ) , Windstruck ( 2004 ) , The Thieves ( 2012 ) , The Berlin File ( 2013 ) and Assassination ( 2015 ) .   Jun has also starred in television series My Love from the Star ( 2013-2014 ) and The Legend of the Blue Sea ( 2016-2017 ) . The success of her films and television dramas internationally established her as a top Hallyu star .


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


Streptococcus belongs to an order of lactic acid bacteria.

Streptococcus Streptococcus is a genus of coccus ( spherical ) Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the phylum Firmicutes and the order Lactobacillales ( lactic acid bacteria ) . Cell division in this genus occurs along a single axis in these bacteria , thus they grow in chains or pairs , hence the name -- from Greek στρεπτός streptos , meaning easily bent or twisted , like a chain ( twisted chain ) . ( Contrast this with staphylococci , which divide along multiple axes and generate grape-like clusters of cells . )   Most are oxidase-negative and catalase-negative , and many are facultative anaerobes .   In 1984 , many bacteria formerly considered Streptococcus were separated out into the genera Enterococcus and Lactococcus . Currently , over 50 species are recognised in this genus . This genus has been found to be part of the salivary microbiome .


Ricky Martin Enrique Martín Morales ( born December 24 , 1971 ) , commonly known as Ricky Martin , is a Puerto Rican singer , actor and author . Martin began his career at age twelve with the all-boy pop group Menudo . After five years with the group , he released several Spanish-language solo albums throughout the 1990s . He also acted on stage and on TV in Mexico , becoming a modest star in the country . In 1994 he starred on the US TV soap opera General Hospital , playing a Puerto Rican singer .   In early 1999 , after releasing several albums in Spanish , Martin performed `` The Cup of Life '' at the 41st Grammy Awards show , which became a catalyst in bringing Latin pop to the forefront of the U.S. music scene . Following its success , Martin released `` Livin ' la Vida Loca '' which helped him obtain enormous success worldwide and is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition easier for other Spanish-speaking artists to move into the English-speaking market . Since its release , the song has sold over 8 million copies , making it one of the best selling singles of all time . His first English-language album ( also titled Ricky Martin ) , has sold 22 million copies and is one of the best selling albums of all time . His other studio albums include : Me Amarás ( 1993 ) , A Medio Vivir ( 1995 ) , Vuelve ( 1998 ) , Sound Loaded ( 2000 ) , Almas del Silencio ( 2003 ) , Life ( 2005 ) , Música + Alma + Sexo ( 2011 ) , and A Quien Quiera Escuchar ( 2015 ) .


Desperate Housewives is produced by a production company.

ABC Studios Touchstone Television Productions , LLC ( dba ABC Studios ) , is the television production unit of ABC Entertainment Group , part of Disney -- ABC Television Group . ABC Studios was established as the Touchstone Films TV banner in 1984 and given its current name on May 24 , 2007 .


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


Mike Portnoy Michael Stephen `` Mike '' Portnoy ( born April 20 , 1967 ) is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer , backing vocalist , and a co-founder of the progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater . Known for his technical skill as a drummer , Portnoy has won 30 awards from the Modern Drummer magazine . He co-produced six Dream Theater albums with guitarist John Petrucci , starting from Metropolis Pt . 2 : Scenes from a Memory through Black Clouds and Silver Linings . From A Change of Seasons onwards , Portnoy had been writing a significant amount of Dream Theater 's lyrics . He is the second youngest person ( after Neil Peart ) to be inducted into the Modern Drummer 's Hall of Fame , at 37 years of age .   Besides his work with Dream Theater , Portnoy is known for his many side projects and tribute bands . He is a founding member of Liquid Tension Experiment , an instrumental progressive rock band featuring fellow Dream Theater members John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess along with bassist Tony Levin . He is also a founding member of Transatlantic , a progressive rock `` super-group '' featuring former Spock 's Beard keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse , Flower Kings guitarist Roine Stolt and Marillion bassist Pete Trewavas . Portnoy has also recorded and/or toured/performed live with Neal Morse , OSI , Hail ! , Stone Sour , Fates Warning , Overkill , G3 and played on Avenged Sevenfold 's album Nightmare in place of their late drummer , The Rev. Over the years , Portnoy has also created tribute bands to The Beatles , Led Zeppelin , Rush , and The Who , which has allowed him to perform the music of his four favorite drummers .   In September 2010 , Portnoy announced his departure from Dream Theater after 25 years . He was replaced by Mike Mangini . Since leaving Dream Theater , Portnoy has formed several new bands . The first , Adrenaline Mob , a traditional heavy metal/hard rock band with singer Russell Allen ( of Symphony X ) and guitarist Mike Orlando . On June 4 , 2013 , however , Portnoy announced his departure from Adrenaline Mob , citing scheduling conflicts . He is also a founding member of Flying Colors , a progressive pop band also featuring Steve Morse , Neal Morse , Dave LaRue , and Casey McPherson ; and The Winery Dogs , a power trio also featuring bassist Billy Sheehan ( Mr. Big ) and guitarist Richie Kotzen ( formerly of Mr. Big and Poison ) .


In 1996 Pink Floyd were inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London . They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music . Distinguished by their use of philosophical lyrics , sonic experimentation , extended compositions and elaborate live shows , they are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in the history of popular music .   Pink Floyd were founded in 1965 by students Syd Barrett on guitar and lead vocals , Nick Mason on drums , Roger Waters on bass and vocals , and Richard Wright on keyboards and vocals . They gained popularity performing in London 's underground music scene during the late 1960s , and under Barrett 's leadership released two charting singles and a successful debut album , The Piper at the Gates of Dawn ( 1967 ) . Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967 ; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health . Waters became the band 's primary lyricist and conceptual leader , devising the concepts behind their albums The Dark Side of the Moon ( 1973 ) , Wish You Were Here ( 1975 ) , Animals ( 1977 ) , The Wall ( 1979 ) and The Final Cut ( 1983 ) . The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall became two of the best-selling albums of all time .   Following creative tensions , Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979 , followed by Waters in 1985 . Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd ; Wright rejoined them as a session musician and , later , a band member . The three produced two more albums -- A Momentary Lapse of Reason ( 1987 ) and The Division Bell ( 1994 ) -- and toured through 1994 . After nearly two decades of acrimony , Gilmour , Wright , and Mason reunited with Waters in 2005 to perform as Pink Floyd in London as part of the global awareness event Live 8 ; Gilmour and Waters later stated they have no plans to reunite as a band again . Barrett died in 2006 , and Wright in 2008 . The final Pink Floyd studio album , The Endless River ( 2014 ) , was recorded without Waters and based largely on unreleased material .   Pink Floyd were inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 . By 2013 , the band had sold more than 250 million records worldwide , including 75 million certified units in the United States .