The Weeknd The Weeknd ( born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye ; February 16 , 1990 ) is a Canadian singer , songwriter , and record producer . The Weeknd initially gained recognition after anonymously uploading several songs to YouTube in late 2010 . This allowed him to release of his debut mixtape , House of Balloons , in early 2011 . He released two further independent projects later that year , Thursday and Echoes of Silence , before signing to Republic Records in September 2012 .   The three mixtapes received widespread critical acclaim upon release , and proceeded the release of the compilation album Trilogy . In 2013 , he released his debut studio album Kiss Land , which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 . It was later confirmed to have sold over 273,000 copies in the United States .   The Weeknd released his second album , Beauty Behind the Madness , in 2015 , breaking chart records in the process . It saw him become the first ever artist to have simultaneously held the top three spots on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart , with `` Earned It '' , `` The Hills '' , and `` Ca n't Feel My Face '' . It also became his first number one album on the US Billboard 200 , and saw triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . The album additionally oversaw his first Grammy Award win for Best Urban Contemporary Album , as well as `` Earned It '' winning Best R&B Performance . He won both awards at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 2016 .   He released his third studio album , Starboy , in 2016 to generally positive critical reception . The album 's title track topped the chart in several countries , including the U.S. , the UK and Canada , and became The Weeknd 's third number-one single . It gave him his second consecutive number one album , which also later saw platinum certification .   Alongside his Grammy Award wins , The Weeknd has won nine Juno Awards and two American Music Awards . He has also founded the record label XO , and is a producer under both his given and stage names .


Beauty Behind the Madness Beauty Behind the Madness is the second studio album by Canadian singer The Weeknd . It was released on August 28 , 2015 , by XO and Republic Records . The album features guest appearances from Labrinth , Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey , with production handled by The Weeknd himself , Illangelo , DaHeala , Ben Billions , Stephan Moccio , Max Martin , Ali Payami and DannyBoyStyles , among others .   The album was supported by five singles : `` Often '' , `` The Hills '' , `` Ca n't Feel My Face '' , `` In the Night '' and `` Acquainted '' . `` The Hills '' and `` Ca n't Feel My Face '' both reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . Beauty Behind the Madness also includes the Academy Award-nominated song `` Earned It '' , which was released as a single from the soundtrack to Fifty Shades of Grey .   Beauty Behind the Madness received generally positive reviews from critics , debuting at number one in several countries , including the United States and the United Kingdom , and in its first week recorded sales of 412,000 units in addition to streaming . According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , it became the tenth best-selling album of 2015 , with 1.5 million copies sold worldwide . To date , the album has sold over two million units in the United States .


Kiss Land Kiss Land is the debut studio album by Canadian singer The Weeknd . It was released on September 10 , 2013 , by XO and Republic Records . The album was supported by six singles : `` Kiss Land '' , `` Belong to the World '' , `` Love in the Sky '' , `` Live For '' , `` Pretty '' and `` Wanderlust '' . The album 's sole guest appearance comes from frequent collaborator Drake . The album 's production was primarily handled by DannyBoyStyles , The Weeknd himself and Jason `` DaHeala '' Quenneville .   Kiss Land received generally positive reviews from critics . The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 , selling 95,000 copies in its first week . As of August 2015 , the album had sold 273,000 copies in the United States .


Starboy (album) Starboy is the third studio album by Canadian singer The Weeknd . It was released on November 25 , 2016 , by XO and Republic Records . The album features guest appearances from Daft Punk , Lana Del Rey , Future , and Kendrick Lamar . The album was supported by five singles : `` Starboy '' , `` I Feel It Coming '' , `` Party Monster '' , `` Reminder '' and `` Rockin ' '' .   Starboy received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 348,000 album-equivalent units , including 209,000 traditional album sales in the first week . It also debuted at number one on Billboards Canadian Albums Chart .


There is a film director called Steven Knight.

Steven Knight Steven Knight ( born 1959 ) is a British screenwriter and film director . He read English at University College London ( UCL ) . Knight has written the screenplays for the films Closed Circuit , Dirty Pretty Things and Eastern Promises , and also directed as well as written the films Locke and Hummingbird ( a.k.a. Redemption ) . Knight is also one of three creators of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ? , a game show that has been remade and aired in around 160 countries worldwide , and has written for BBC 's Commercial Breakdown , The Detectives , Peaky Blinders and Taboo .


Jon Huntsman Jr. was the United States Ambassador to Singapore.

Jon Huntsman Jr. Jon Meade Huntsman Jr. ( born March 26 , 1960 ) is an American politician , businessman , and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009 , and as United States Ambassador to Singapore from 1992 to 1993 , and China from 2009 to 2011 . He has served in the administrations of five U.S. Presidents and was a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination . In January 2014 , Huntsman was named Chairman of the Washington-based foreign policy think-tank the Atlantic Council . It has been reported he was chosen to be the next Ambassador to Russia in March 2017 .   Huntsman has served in every presidential administration since Ronald Reagan . He began his career as a White House staff assistant for Ronald Reagan , and was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and United States Ambassador to Singapore by George H.W. Bush . Later as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under George W. Bush , he launched global trade negotiations in Doha in 2001 and guided the accession of China into the World Trade Organization . He also served as CEO of his family-owned Huntsman Corporation and chairman of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation . In 2009 , he was appointed United States Ambassador to China by Barack Obama .   While Governor , he was named Chairman of the Western Governors Association , and joined the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association . Under his leadership , Utah was named the best managed state in America by the Pew Center on the States . He won re-election in 2008 with nearly 78 % of the vote and left office with approval ratings over 80 % .


Cowboy (Kid Rock song) `` Cowboy '' is a single by Kid Rock from his album Devil Without a Cause . The song 's rapping style has been adapted by country artists like Toby Keith , Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton . Many musicians have been influenced and inspired by this song , who include Jason Aldean , Big & Rich , Eric Church , Colt Ford , Florida Georgia Line , Brantley Gilbert and Luke Bryan . Originally referred to as the genre `` Hick Hop '' , it has gone on to be labeled as `` Bro Country '' . His 2008 single `` All Summer Long '' helped push along the bro country genre more so then `` Cowboy '' . Both have themes of partying , drinking , boats , cars , and girls . The song also helped influence a more prominent hip hop from the south , drawling on country music in Bubba Sparks , Rehab , The Lacs and Moonshine Bandits . Kid Rock actually did this first on the song `` Desperate-Rado '' on his independent release The Polyfuze Method in 1993 , but `` Cowboy '' broke into the mainstream .   Kid Rock describes the song as `` Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Run-D.M.C . '' . The song uses dobro , slide , banjo and a ragtime piano , which was actually a sample of The Doors ' song `` L.A. Woman '' . The song `` Cowboy '' was originally rejected by Atlantic Records , after Kid Rock told them it was the best song he had written to that point .   The song is about how Kid Rock had foreseen his move to Hollywood to become a star . `` Cowboy '' peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 , 34 on The Top 40 , 5 on Mainstream Rock Chart , and 10 on the Modern Rock charts . The song is used as the walk-in music for UFC fighter Donald Cerrone . This song was used in the first promotional commercial for WrestleMania XXV . An instrumental remake of this song was used by Jeff Jarrett in WCW . `` Cowboy '' appeared in the movies Shanghai Noon , Ready To Rumble , Serving Sara , Matchstick Men and Coyote Ugly .   In 2000 , Kid Rock and The Neptunes made a rap single version of the song . There was also a live version released on the `` American Bad Ass '' single in 2000 . The song was performed during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004 . A live version was released on 2006 's Live Trucker with a bluesy into given to it .   Porn star Ron Jeremy and actor Gary Coleman made cameos in the music video , which was a spoof on Smokey and the Bandit . Joe C and Gary Coleman dueled while Ron Jeremy pretended to do the piano solo .


Earl Warren Earl Warren ( March 19 , 1891 -- July 9 , 1974 ) was an American jurist and politician , who served as the 30th Governor of California ( 1943 -- 1953 ) and later the 14th Chief Justice of the United States ( 1953 -- 1969 ) .   He is best known for the liberal decisions of the so-called Warren Court , which outlawed segregation in public schools and transformed many areas of American law , especially regarding the rights of the accused , ending public school-sponsored prayers , and requiring `` one man -- one vote '' rules of apportionment of election districts . He made the Supreme Court a power center on a more even basis with Congress and the Presidency , especially through four landmark decisions : Brown v. Board of Education ( 1954 ) , Gideon v. Wainwright ( 1963 ) , Reynolds v. Sims ( 1964 ) , and Miranda v. Arizona ( 1966 ) .   Warren is the only person elected to three consecutive terms as Governor of California , and with those three elected terms he is second only to Jerry Brown for total gubernatorial wins in California . Before holding these positions , he was the District Attorney for Alameda County , California , and the Attorney General of California .   Warren was the nominee of the Republican Party for Vice President in 1948 , as the running mate of Thomas E. Dewey . He was appointed to chair what became known as the Warren Commission , which was formed to investigate the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy .


Stone Temple Pilots had an original member that was an American producer.

Stone Temple Pilots Stone Temple Pilots ( sometimes abbreviated as STP ) are an American rock band from San Diego , California , that originally consisted of Scott Weiland ( lead vocals ) , brothers Dean ( guitar ) and Robert DeLeo ( bass , backing vocals ) , and Eric Kretz ( drums ) . Since the band 's formation in 1989 , its line-up remained unchanged until the firing of Weiland in 2013 , who was replaced by Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington . In 2015 , Bennington left the band to focus solely on Linkin Park . On December 3 , 2015 , Weiland was found dead on his tour bus prior to a performance with his band The Wildabouts . In 2016 , the band launched an online audition for a new lead vocalist .   After forming in 1989 under the name Mighty Joe Young , the band signed with Atlantic Records and changed its name to Stone Temple Pilots . The band found immediate success in 1993 upon releasing their debut album , Core ( 1992 ) , and went on to become one of the most commercially successful bands of the 1990s . The band released four more studio albums : Purple ( 1994 ) , Tiny Music ... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop ( 1996 ) , No. 4 ( 1999 ) and Shangri-La Dee Da ( 2001 ) , before separating in 2002 , after which the band members partook in various projects ( most notably Velvet Revolver and Army of Anyone ) . The band eventually reconvened in 2008 for a reunion tour , released a new self-titled album in 2010 , and actively toured until Chester Bennington 's departure . The band 's only material with Bennington was the EP High Rise in 2013 .   While initially displaying a sound typically identified as grunge early on in its career , further releases from the band expressed a variety of influences , including psychedelic rock , bossa nova and classic rock . The band 's evolution throughout the 1990s and early 2000s involved several tumultuous periods of commercial highs and lows , brought about in part by Weiland 's well-publicized struggles with drug addiction .


Eric Kretz Eric Kretz ( born June 7 , 1966 ) is an American musician and producer , best known as the drummer for the rock band Stone Temple Pilots . He is of German descent . He has also played for Talk Show and Spiralarms . Eric , who was born in San Jose , California , attended and graduated from Willow Glen High School in San Jose in 1984 . He currently owns and operates Bomb Shelter Studios in Los Angeles . While in STP , Kretz has kept somewhat of a low profile but still contributed to the band 's songwriting , most notably writing the music to the band 's 1996 hit `` Trippin ' on a Hole in a Paper Heart . '' Along with lead vocalist Scott Weiland , Kretz also wrote the lyrics to the Grammy Award-winning hit `` Plush '' off STP 's 1992 debut Core . Kretz has worked with several notable artists , particularly engineering and mixing the live recordings for The Henry Rollins Show of songs by artists such as Thom Yorke , Ben Harper , Damian Marley , Slayer , Jurassic 5 , Death Cab for Cutie , and more .


Ringo Starr has been featured in documentaries.

Ringo Starr Richard Starkey , ( born 7 July 1940 ) , known professionally as Ringo Starr , is an English drummer , singer , songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles . He occasionally sang lead vocals , usually for one song on an album , including `` With a Little Help from My Friends '' , `` Yellow Submarine '' and their cover of `` Act Naturally '' . He also wrote the Beatles ' songs `` Do n't Pass Me By '' and `` Octopus 's Garden '' , and is credited as a co-writer of others , including `` What Goes On '' and `` Flying '' .   Starr was twice afflicted by life-threatening illnesses during childhood , and as a result of prolonged hospitalisations fell behind in school . In 1955 , he entered the workforce and briefly held a position with British Rail before securing an apprenticeship at a Liverpool equipment manufacturer . Soon afterwards , he became interested in the UK skiffle craze , developing a fervent admiration for the genre . In 1957 , he cofounded his first band , the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group , which earned several prestigious local bookings before the fad succumbed to American rock and roll by early 1958 .   When the Beatles formed in 1960 , Starr was a member of another Liverpool group , Rory Storm and the Hurricanes . After achieving moderate success with that band in the UK and Hamburg , he quit the Hurricanes and joined the Beatles in August 1962 , replacing Pete Best . Starr played key roles in the Beatles ' films and appeared in numerous others . After the band 's break-up in 1970 , he released several successful singles including the US number four hit `` It Do n't Come Easy '' , and number ones `` Photograph '' and `` You 're Sixteen '' . In 1972 , he released his most successful UK single , `` Back Off Boogaloo '' , which peaked at number two . He achieved commercial and critical success with his 1973 album Ringo , which was a top ten release in both the UK and the US . He has been featured in a number of documentaries and hosted television shows . He also narrated the first two series of the children 's television programme Thomas & Friends and portrayed `` Mr Conductor '' during the first season of the PBS children 's television series Shining Time Station . Since 1989 , he has toured with twelve variations of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band .   Starr 's creative contribution to music has received praise from other drummers such as Phil Collins , who described him as `` a great musician '' , and Steve Smith , who commented : `` Before Ringo , drum stars were measured by their soloing ability and virtuosity . Ringo 's popularity brought forth a new paradigm ... we started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect ... His parts are so signature to the songs that you can listen to a Ringo drum part without the rest of the music and still identify the song . '' He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1998 . In 2011 , Rolling Stone readers named Starr the fifth-greatest drummer of all time . Starr , who was previously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Beatle in 1988 , was inducted for his solo career in 2015 , making him one of 21 performers inducted more than once .


The Bounty (1984 film) The Bounty is a 1984 British historical drama film directed by Roger Donaldson , starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins , and produced by Bernard Williams with Dino De Laurentiis as executive producer . It is the fifth film version of the story of the mutiny on the Bounty . The screenplay was by Robert Bolt and it was based on the book Captain Bligh and Mr. Christian ( 1972 ) by Richard Hough . It was made by Dino De Laurentiis Productions and distributed by Orion Pictures Corporation and Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment . The music score was composed by Vangelis and the cinematography was by Arthur Ibbetson .


Nic Pizzolatto Nicholas Austin `` Nic '' Pizzolatto ( born October 18 , 1975 ) is an American novelist , short story writer , screenwriter , and producer .   He is best known for creating the HBO crime drama series True Detective .


Rust Cohle Rustin Spencer `` Rust '' Cohle is a fictional character in the first season of the anthology crime drama television series True Detective on HBO . He was created by series creator Nic Pizzolatto and is portrayed by Matthew McConaughey . Cohle works as a detective for the Louisiana State Homicide Unit , alongside his partner Martin `` Marty '' Hart ( Woody Harrelson ) . The season follows Cohle and Hart 's hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana , across 17 years .   Both the character of Rust Cohle and Matthew McConaughey 's performance have received critical acclaim . McConaughey won the Critics ' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series , and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Miniseries or Television Film .


Matthew McConaughey Matthew David McConaughey ( -LSB- məˈkɒnəheɪ -RSB- born November 4 , 1969 ) is an American actor . He first gained notice for his breakout role in the coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused ( 1993 ) . He appeared in such films as the slasher Texas Chainsaw Massacre : The Next Generation ( 1994 ) , the legal thriller A Time to Kill ( 1996 ) , Steven Spielberg 's historical drama Amistad ( 1997 ) , the science fiction drama Contact ( 1997 ) , the comedy EDtv ( 1999 ) , and the war film U-571 ( 2000 ) .   In the 2000s , Matthew McConaughey became best known for starring in romantic comedies , including The Wedding Planner ( 2001 ) , How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days ( 2003 ) , Failure to Launch ( 2006 ) , Fool 's Gold ( 2008 ) , and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past ( 2009 ) . Since 2011 he has preferred dramatic roles , in such films as The Lincoln Lawyer ( 2011 ) , Bernie ( 2011 ) , Killer Joe ( 2011 ) , The Paperboy ( 2012 ) , Mud ( 2012 ) , Magic Mike ( 2012 ) , The Wolf of Wall Street ( 2013 ) , Dallas Buyers Club ( 2013 ) , Interstellar ( 2014 ) , The Sea of Trees , and Free State of Jones ( both 2016 ) .   McConaughey achieved much success in 2013 for portraying a cowboy diagnosed with AIDS in the biographical film Dallas Buyers Club , which earned him the Academy Award , Golden Globe Award , and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor , among other awards and nominations . In 2014 , he also starred as Rust Cohle in the first season of HBO 's crime anthology series True Detective , for which he won a Critics ' Choice Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award .


Colin Farrell Colin James Farrell ( born 31 May 1976 ) is an Irish actor . Farrell appeared in the BBC drama Ballykissangel in 1998 , made his film debut in the Tim Roth-directed drama The War Zone in 1999 , and was discovered by Hollywood when Joel Schumacher cast him in the lead role in the war drama Tigerland in 2000 . He then starred in Schumacher 's psychological thriller Phone Booth ( 2002 ) where he plays a hostage in a New York city phone booth and the American thrillers S.W.A.T. ( 2003 ) and The Recruit ( 2003 ) , establishing his international box-office appeal . During that time , he also appeared in Steven Spielberg 's science fiction thriller Minority Report ( 2002 ) and as the villain Bullseye in the superhero film Daredevil ( 2003 ) .   After starring in the independent films Intermission ( 2003 ) and A Home at the End of the World ( 2004 ) , Farrell headed Oliver Stone 's biopic Alexander ( 2004 ) and Terrence Malick 's The New World ( 2005 ) . Roles in Michael Mann 's Miami Vice ( 2006 ) , the adaptation of John Fante 's Ask the Dust ( 2006 ) , and Woody Allen 's Cassandra 's Dream ( 2007 ) followed , underscoring Farrell 's popularity among Hollywood writers and directors ; however , it was his role in Martin McDonagh 's In Bruges ( 2008 ) that earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy .   Farrell starred in the black comedy film Horrible Bosses ( 2011 ) , for which he received critical praise , along with the comedy-horror film Fright Night ( 2011 ) and the sci-fi action film Total Recall ( 2012 ) , both remakes , and McDonagh 's second feature , the black comedy crime film Seven Psychopaths ( 2012 ) . He also starred in the Niels Arden Oplev action film Dead Man Down ( 2013 ) , and as Travers Goff in the period drama Saving Mr. Banks ( 2013 ) . In 2014 , Farrell starred as Peter Lake in the supernatural fable Winter 's Tale , an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Mark Helprin . In 2015 , he starred as Detective Ray Velcoro in the second season of HBO 's True Detective , and also starred in the film The Lobster , for which he was nominated for his second Golden Globe Award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy . In 2016 , he portrayed Percival Graves in the Harry Potter spin-off film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them .


True Detective True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto . The series , broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States , premiered on January 12 , 2014 . Each season of the series is structured as a disparate , self-contained narrative , employing new cast ensembles and following various sets of characters and settings .   The first season , starring Matthew McConaughey , Woody Harrelson , Michelle Monaghan , Michael Potts , and Tory Kittles , takes place in Louisiana and follows a pair of Louisiana State Police homicide detectives , and their pursuit of a serial killer over a 17-year period . The second season , starring Colin Farrell , Rachel McAdams , Taylor Kitsch , Kelly Reilly , and Vince Vaughn , is set in California , and focuses on three detectives from three cooperating police departments and a criminal-turned-businessman as they investigate a series of crimes they believe are linked to the murder of a corrupt politician .   The first season received generally excellent reviews from critics and earned high ratings for HBO . It was nominated for and won numerous awards and other accolades , chiefly for its acting , cinematography , writing , and direction . Reception to the second season was more divided , though the show maintained high viewership for HBO .   In July 2016 , HBO head of programming Casey Bloys confirmed plans for a potential third season , stating , `` It is not dead . I talked to Nic about it and both Nic and HBO are open to another season . I do n't think Nic has a take and he 's working on some other projects . We 're open to somebody else writing it and Nic supervising it . It 's a valuable franchise , it 's not dead , we just do n't have a take for a third season yet . '' This came shortly after McConaughey said he would hypothetically be interested in reprising his role as Rust Cohle in a third season . In March 2017 , it was revealed that Pizzolatto has written the first two episodes of a potential third season and that David Milch joined the creative team .


National Football League The National Football League ( NFL ) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams , divided equally between the National Football Conference ( NFC ) and the American Football Conference ( AFC ) . The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America , and the highest professional level of American football in the world . The NFL 's 17-week regular season runs from the week after Labor Day to the week after Christmas , with each team playing 16 games and having one bye week . Following the conclusion of the regular season , six teams from each conference ( four division winners and two wild card teams ) advance to the playoffs , a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl , which is usually held in the first Sunday in February , and is played between the champions of the NFC and AFC .   The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association ( APFA ) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season . The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League ( AFL ) in 1966 , and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season ; the merger was completed in 1970 . Today , the NFL has the highest average attendance ( 67,591 ) of any professional sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States . The Super Bowl is among the biggest club sporting events in the world and individual Super Bowl games account for many of the most watched television programs in American history , all occupying the Nielsen 's Top 5 tally of the all-time most watched U.S. television broadcasts by 2015 . The NFL 's executive officer is the commissioner , who has broad authority in governing the league .   The team with the most NFL championships is the Green Bay Packers with thirteen ( nine NFL titles before the Super Bowl era , and four Super Bowl championships afterwards ) ; the team with the most Super Bowl championships is the Pittsburgh Steelers with six . The current NFL champions are the New England Patriots , who defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34 -- 28 in Super Bowl LI .


Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles . The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Western Conference Pacific Division . The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center , an arena shared with the NBA 's Los Angeles Clippers , the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women 's National Basketball Association , and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA , and have won 16 NBA championships , their last being in 2010 . As of 2015 , the Lakers are the second most valuable franchise in the NBA according to Forbes , having an estimated value of $ 2.7 billion .   The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team , the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League ( NBL ) . The new team began playing in Minneapolis , calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state 's nickname , `` Land of 10,000 Lakes '' . Initially a member of the NBL , the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America and winning five of the next six BAA and NBA championships in Minneapolis after the NBA formed in 1949 . The team was propelled by center George Mikan , who is described by the NBA 's official website as the league 's `` first superstar '' . After struggling financially in the late 1950s following Mikan 's retirement , they relocated to Los Angeles before the 1960 -- 61 season .   Led by Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West , Los Angeles made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s , but lost each series to the Boston Celtics , beginning their long and storied rivalry . In 1968 , the Lakers acquired four-time NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Wilt Chamberlain to play center , and after losing in the Finals in 1969 and 1970 , they won their sixth NBA title -- and first in Los Angeles -- in 1972 , led by new head coach Bill Sharman . After the retirement of West and Chamberlain , the team acquired another center , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , who had won multiple MVP awards , but was unable to make the Finals in the late 1970s . The 1980s Lakers were nicknamed `` Showtime '' due to their Magic Johnson-led fast break-offense , and won five championships in a 9-year span , including their first ever Finals championship against the Celtics in 1985 . This team featured Hall of Famers in Johnson , Abdul-Jabbar , and James Worthy , and a Hall of Fame coach , Pat Riley . After Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson 's retirement , the team struggled in the early 1990s before acquiring Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in 1996 . Led by O'Neal , Bryant , and another Hall of Fame coach , Phil Jackson , Los Angeles won three consecutive titles between 2000 to 2002 , securing the franchise its second `` three-peat '' . After losing both the 2004 and 2008 NBA Finals , the Lakers won two more championships by defeating the Orlando Magic in 2009 and Boston in 2010 .   The Lakers hold the record for NBA 's longest winning streak , 33 straight games , set during the 1971 -- 72 season . 21 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles , while four have coached the team . Four Lakers -- Abdul-Jabbar , Johnson , O'Neal , and Bryant -- have won the NBA MVP Award for a total of eight awards .


Raggedy Ann is a city from a series of books.

Raggedy Ann Raggedy Ann is a character created by American writer Johnny Gruelle ( 1880 -- 1938 ) in a series of books he wrote and illustrated for young children . Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair and has a triangle nose . Johnny Gruelle received US Patent D47789 for his Raggedy Ann doll on September 7 , 1915 . The character was created in 1915 as a doll , and was introduced to the public in the 1918 book Raggedy Ann Stories . When a doll was marketed with the book , the concept had great success . A sequel , Raggedy Andy Stories ( 1920 ) , introduced the character of her brother , Raggedy Andy .


Billie Jean King was a doubles tennis player.

Billie Jean King Billie Jean King ( née Moffitt ; born November 22 , 1943 ) is an American former World No. 1 professional tennis player . King won 39 Grand Slam titles : 12 in singles , 16 in women 's doubles , and 11 in mixed doubles . King won the singles title at the inaugural WTA Tour Championships . King often represented the United States in the Federation Cup and the Wightman Cup . She was a member of the victorious United States team in seven Federation Cups and nine Wightman Cups . For three years , King was the United States ' captain in the Federation Cup .   King is an advocate for gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice . In 1973 , at age 29 , she won the Battle of the Sexes tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs , and was the founder of the Women 's Tennis Association , World TeamTennis ( with former husband Larry King ) , and the Women 's Sports Foundation .   Regarded by many in the sport as one of the greatest tennis players of all time , King was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 . The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was bestowed on King in 2010 . In 1972 , King was the joint winner , with John Wooden , of the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award and was one of the Time Persons of the Year in 1975 . King has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year lifetime achievement award . King was inducted into the National Women 's Hall of Fame in 1990 , and in 2006 , the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center .


Freddie Mercury was a member of a metal band.

Queen (band) Queen are a British rock band that formed in London in 1970 . Their classic line-up was Freddie Mercury ( lead vocals , piano ) , Brian May ( lead guitar , vocals ) , Roger Taylor ( drums , vocals ) , and John Deacon ( bass guitar ) . Queen 's earliest works were influenced by progressive rock , hard rock and heavy metal , but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating further styles , such as arena rock and pop rock , into their music .   Before forming Queen , Brian May and Roger Taylor had played together in a band named Smile . Freddie Mercury ( then known by his birth name of Farrokh `` Freddie '' Bulsara ) was a fan of Smile and encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate stage and recording techniques . Mercury joined the band in 1970 , suggested `` Queen '' as a new band name , and adopted his familiar stage name . John Deacon was recruited before the band recorded their eponymous debut album in 1973 . Queen first charted in the UK with their second album , Queen II , in 1974 , but it was the release of Sheer Heart Attack later that year and A Night at the Opera in 1975 which brought them international success . The latter featured `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' , which stayed at number one in the UK for nine weeks and popularised the music video .   The band 's 1977 album News of the World contained `` We Will Rock You '' and `` We Are the Champions '' , which have become anthems at sporting events . By the early 1980s , Queen were one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world . Released in 1980 , `` Another One Bites the Dust '' is their best selling single , while their 1981 compilation album Greatest Hits is the best-selling album in the UK and is certified eight times platinum in the US . Their performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert has been ranked among the greatest in rock history by various music publications , and the best in a 2005 industry poll . In 1991 , Mercury died of bronchopneumonia , a complication of AIDS , and Deacon retired in 1997 . Since then , May and Taylor have performed under the name of Queen with Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert as vocalists on several tours .   The band have released a total of 18 number-one albums , 18 number-one singles , and 10 number-one DVDs . Estimates of their record sales generally range from 150 million to 300 million records , making them one of the world 's best-selling music artists . Queen received the Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award from the British Phonographic Industry in 1990 . They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 .


Freddie Mercury Farrokh `` Freddie '' Mercury ( née Bulsara ; 5 September 1946 -- 24 November 1991 ) was a British singer , songwriter and record producer , known as the lead vocalist and co-principal songwriter of the rock band Queen . He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range . Mercury wrote and composed numerous hits for Queen ( including `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' , `` Killer Queen '' , `` Somebody to Love '' , `` Do n't Stop Me Now '' , `` Crazy Little Thing Called Love '' , and `` We Are the Champions '' ) ; occasionally served as a producer and guest musician ( piano or vocals ) for other artists ; and concurrently led a solo career while performing with Queen .   Mercury was born of Parsi descent in the Sultanate of Zanzibar and grew up there and in India until his mid-teens , before moving with his family to Middlesex , England -- ultimately forming the band Queen in 1970 with Brian May and Roger Taylor . Mercury died in 1991 at age 45 due to complications from AIDS , having confirmed the day before his death that he had contracted the disease .   In 1992 , Mercury was posthumously awarded the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music , and had a tribute concert held at Wembley Stadium , London . As a member of Queen , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 , the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 , the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 , and the band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 . In 2002 , he was placed at number 58 in the BBC 's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons . Consistently voted one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music , Mercury was voted best male singer of all time in a 2005 poll organised by Blender and MTV2 ; was elected in 2009 as the best rock singer of all time by Classic Rock readers ; was ranked at 18 on the 2008 Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest singers ever ; -- and was described by Greg Prato of AllMusic as `` one of rock 's greatest all-time entertainers , '' with `` one of the greatest voices in all of music . ''


At the 27th Toronto International Film Festival, Cloud Atlas premiered.

Cloud Atlas (film) Cloud Atlas is a 2012 German-American science fiction film written and directed by The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer . Adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by David Mitchell , the film has multiple plots set across six different eras , which Mitchell described as `` a sort of pointillist mosaic . '' The official synopsis describes it as `` an exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past , present and future , as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero , and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution . '' Tom Hanks , Halle Berry , and Jim Broadbent lead an ensemble cast .   The film was produced by Grant Hill , Stefan Arndt , the Wachowskis , and Tykwer . During four years of development , the project met difficulties securing financial support ; it was eventually produced with a $ 102 million budget provided by independent sources , making it one of the most expensive independent films of all time . Production began in September 2011 at Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam-Babelsberg , Germany .   It premiered on 8 September 2012 at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival and was released on 26 October 2012 in conventional and IMAX cinemas . It polarized critics , and has been included on various Best Film and Worst Film lists . It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for Tykwer ( who co-scored the film ) , Johnny Klimek , and Reinhold Heil . It received several nominations at the Saturn Awards including Best Science Fiction Film , winning for Best Editing and Best Make-up .


Roger Penrose has received awards for his scientific work.

Roger Penrose Sir Roger Penrose ( born 8 August 1931 ) is an English mathematical physicist , mathematician and philosopher of science . He is the Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford , as well as an Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College .   Penrose is known for his work in mathematical physics , in particular for his contributions to general relativity and cosmology . He has received several prizes and awards , including the 1988 Wolf Prize for physics , which he shared with Stephen Hawking for their contribution to our understanding of the universe .


Portia de Rossi starred as Veronica Palmer in Better Off Ted.

Portia de Rossi Portia Lee James DeGeneres ( born Amanda Lee Rogers ; January 31 , 1973 ) , also known professionally as Portia de Rossi ( -LSB- ˈpɔərʃə_də_ˈrɒsi -RSB- ) , is an Australian and American actress , model , and philanthropist . She appeared as a regular cast member on the American political thriller television series Scandal in the role of Elizabeth North from 2014 to 2017 . She is also known for her roles as lawyer Nelle Porter on the American television series Ally McBeal -- for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1999 -- and as Lindsay Fünke on the American television sitcom Arrested Development . She also portrayed Veronica Palmer on the ABC television sitcom Better Off Ted , and Olivia Lord on the television drama Nip/Tuck . De Rossi is married to comedian and television host Ellen DeGeneres .


A combined budget of $212 million was used for the Underworld film series.

Underworld (film series) Underworld is a series of action horror films directed by Len Wiseman , Patrick Tatopoulos , Måns Mårlind , Björn Stein and Anna Foerster . The first film , Underworld , was released in 2003 . It tells the story of Selene ( Kate Beckinsale ) , a vampire who works as a Death Dealer , killing the lycans ( Werewolves ) who allegedly slaughtered her family . The second film , Underworld : Evolution , was released in 2006 . In this film , Selene takes Michael Corvin , a lycan/vampire hybrid , to a vampire safehouse and plans to return to Viktor 's estate to awaken another elder Markus , whom they discover is the first Vampire and a powerful enemy . The third film , Underworld : Rise of the Lycans , is the prequel to the series , chronicling the origins of the vampire-lycan war ( it was released on January 23 , 2009 ) . The fourth film , Underworld : Awakening , is the sequel to Underworld : Evolution and was released on January 20 , 2012 . In this film , humans have discovered the existence of the vampire and lycan clans , and are trying to eradicate both species . A fifth film titled Underworld : Blood Wars was released internationally on November 24 , 2016 , and in the United States on January 6 , 2017 .   Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics , the five films have grossed a total of $ 539 million , against a combined budget of $ 212 million .


Bon Scott became the lead singer of AC/DC in 1974.

Bon Scott Ronald Belford `` Bon '' Scott ( 9 July 1946 -- 19 February 1980 ) was an Australian rock musician , best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980 .   Scott was born in Forfar , Scotland , and raised in Kirriemuir , before moving to Melbourne with his family in 1952 at the age of six . They lived in the suburb of Sunshine for four years before moving to Fremantle . Scott formed his first band , The Spektors , in 1964 and became the band 's drummer and occasional lead vocalist . He performed in several other bands including The Valentines and Fraternity before replacing Dave Evans as the lead singer of AC/DC in 1974 .   AC/DC 's popularity grew throughout the 1970s , initially in Australia , and then internationally . Their 1979 album Highway to Hell reached the top twenty in the United States , and the band seemed on the verge of a commercial breakthrough . However , on 19 February 1980 , Scott died after a night out in London . AC/DC briefly considered disbanding , but the group recruited vocalist Brian Johnson of the British glam rock band Geordie . AC/DC 's subsequent album , Back in Black , was released only five months later , and was a tribute to Scott . It went on to become the second best-selling album in history .   In the July 2004 issue of Classic Rock , Scott was rated as number one in a list of the `` 100 Greatest Frontmen Of All Time '' ahead of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant . Hit Parader ranked Scott as fifth on their 2006 list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of all time .


Cochrane is an independent organization.

Cochrane (organisation) Cochrane , previously known as the Cochrane Collaboration , is an independent , non-profit , non-governmental organization consisting of a group of more than 37,000 volunteers in more than 130 countries . The group was formed to organize medical research information in a systematic way to facilitate the choices that health professionals , patients , policy makers and others face in health interventions according to the principles of evidence-based medicine .   The group conducts systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials of health-care interventions and diagnostic tests , which it publishes in The Cochrane Library . A few reviews ( in fields such as occupational health ) have also studied the results of non-randomized , observational studies .


James Vanderbilt wrote the screenplay for The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ( also released as The Amazing Spider-Man 2 : Rise of Electro in some markets ) is a 2014 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man . The film was directed by Marc Webb and was produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach . It is the fifth theatrical Spider-Man film produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment , and is the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man ( 2012 ) ; it is also the final film in the Amazing Spider-Man franchise . The studio hired James Vanderbilt to write the screenplay and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to rewrite it . The film stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man , Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy , Dane DeHaan as Green Goblin / Harry Osborn , Campbell Scott and Embeth Davidtz as Peter 's parents , and Sally Field as Aunt May , with the addition of a new cast including Paul Giamatti as Rhino / Aleksei Sytsevich and Jamie Foxx as Electro / Max Dillon .   Development of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 began after the success of The Amazing Spider-Man . DeHaan , Giamatti , Jones , and Cooper were cast between December 2012 and February 2013 . Filming took place in New York City from February to June 2013 . The film was released in 2D , 3D , and IMAX 3D on May 2 , 2014 , in the United States with two international premieres being held between March 31 & April 10 , 2014 . The film received mixed reviews , and although it grossed $ 709 million worldwide and became the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2014 , it was the lowest-grossing film in the series . However , the film was declared a `` hit '' in the overseas markets with high openings and a wide cinematic release . The film subsequently won awards for its music composition and acting , notably one Nickelodeon Kids ' Choice Award and two ASCAP Awards .   The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was originally envisioned as the beginning of a shared fictional universe , which would have continued with two sequels and several spin-off films . Due to its performing below expectations , all subsequent installments were cancelled and a new iteration of the character , portrayed by Tom Holland , appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , beginning with the 2016 film Captain America : Civil War .


Adolf Hitler was elected by the Nazi Party in the German Reichstag.

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler ( -LSB- ˈadɔlf ˈhɪtlɐ -RSB- ; 20 April 1889 -- 30 April 1945 ) was a German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party ( Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei ; NSDAP ) , Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 , and Führer ( `` Leader '' ) of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945 . As dictator of the German Reich , he initiated World War II in Europe with the invasion of Poland in September 1939 , and was central to the Holocaust .   Hitler was born in Austria , then part of Austria-Hungary , and raised near Linz . He moved to Germany in 1913 and was decorated during his service in the German Army in World War I . He joined the German Workers ' Party ( DAP ) , the precursor of the NSDAP , in 1919 and became leader of the NSDAP in 1921 . In 1923 he attempted a coup in Munich to seize power . The failed coup resulted in Hitler 's imprisonment , during which he dictated the first volume of his autobiography and political manifesto Mein Kampf ( `` My Struggle '' ) . After his release in 1924 , Hitler gained popular support by attacking the Treaty of Versailles and promoting Pan-Germanism , anti-semitism , and anti-communism with charismatic oratory and Nazi propaganda . Hitler frequently denounced international capitalism and communism as being part of a Jewish conspiracy .   By 1933 , the Nazi Party was the largest elected party in the German Reichstag , which led to Hitler 's appointment as Chancellor on 30 January 1933 . Following fresh elections won by his coalition , the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act , which began the process of transforming the Weimar Republic into Nazi Germany , a one-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideology of National Socialism . Hitler aimed to eliminate Jews from Germany and establish a New Order to counter what he saw as the injustice of the post-World War I international order dominated by Britain and France . His first six years in power resulted in rapid economic recovery from the Great Depression , the effective abandonment of restrictions imposed on Germany after World War I , and the annexation of territories that were home to millions of ethnic Germans -- actions which gave him significant popular support .   Hitler sought Lebensraum ( `` living space '' ) for the German people in Eastern Europe . His aggressive foreign policy is considered to be the primary cause of the outbreak of World War II in Europe . He directed large-scale rearmament and on 1 September 1939 invaded Poland , resulting in British and French declarations of war on Germany . In June 1941 , Hitler ordered an invasion of the Soviet Union . By the end of 1941 German forces and the European Axis powers occupied most of Europe and North Africa . Failure to defeat the Soviets and the entry of the United States into the war forced Germany onto the defensive and it suffered a series of escalating defeats . In the final days of the war , during the Battle of Berlin in 1945 , Hitler married his long-time lover , Eva Braun . On 30 April 1945 , less than two days later , the two killed themselves to avoid capture by the Red Army , and their corpses were burned .   Under Hitler 's leadership and racially motivated ideology , the Nazi regime was responsible for the genocide of at least 5.5 million Jews and millions of other victims whom he and his followers deemed Untermenschen ( `` sub-humans '' ) and socially undesirable . Hitler and the Nazi regime were also responsible for the killing of an estimated 19.3 million civilians and prisoners of war . In addition , 29 million soldiers and civilians died as a result of military action in the European Theatre of World War II . The number of civilians killed during the Second World War was unprecedented in warfare , and constitutes the deadliest conflict in human history .


Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo was only born on February 4, 1974.

Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo Guillaume Emmanuel `` Guy-Manuel '' de Homem-Christo ( -LSB- ɡi manɥɛl də ɔmɛm kʁisto -RSB- ; born 8 February 1974 ) is a French musician , record producer , singer , songwriter , DJ and film director , best known for being one half of the French house music duo Daft Punk , along with Thomas Bangalter . He has also produced several works from his record label Crydamoure with label co-owner Éric Chedeville . He and Chedeville formed the musical duo Le Knight Club .


South Dakota is a state in the Midwestern United States.

Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States , also referred to as the American Midwest or simply the Midwest , is one of the four geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau , occupying the northern central part of the United States of America . It was officially named the North Central region by the Census Bureau until 1984 .   Although the region is often defined in a number of ways , the Census Bureau 's definition consists of 12 states in the north central United States : Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Michigan , Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska , North Dakota , Ohio , South Dakota , and Wisconsin . Illinois is the most populous of the states and North Dakota the least . A 2012 report from the United States Census put the population of the Midwest at 65,377,684 . The Midwest is divided by the Census Bureau into two divisions . The East North Central Division includes Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Ohio and Wisconsin , all of which are also part of the Great Lakes region . The West North Central Division includes Iowa , Kansas , Minnesota , Missouri , North Dakota , Nebraska , and South Dakota , several of which are located at least partly , within the Great Plains region . Major rivers in the region include , from east to west , the Ohio River , the Upper Mississippi River , and the Missouri River . The region generally lies on the broad Interior Plain between the states occupying the Appalachian Mountain range and the states occupying the Rocky Mountain range .   Chicago is the most populated city in the American Midwest and the third most populous in the entire country . Other large Midwest cities include ( in order by population ) : Indianapolis , Columbus , Detroit , Milwaukee , Kansas City , Omaha , Minneapolis , Cleveland , Wichita and St. Louis . Chicago and its suburbs form the largest metropolitan statistical area with 9.8 million people , followed by Metro Detroit , Minneapolis -- St. Paul , Greater St. Louis , Greater Cleveland , Greater Cincinnati ( without the Kentucky portion ) , Kansas City metro area , and the Columbus metro area .


The Craft is an American film from 1996.

The Craft (film) The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney , Fairuza Balk , Neve Campbell , and Rachel True . The film 's plot centers on a group of four outcast teenage girls who pursue witchcraft for their own gain , but soon encounter negative repercussions from their actions . The film was released on May 3 , 1996 , by Columbia Pictures and it was a surprise hit , earning $ 55 million against a budget of $ 15 million . In the years since its release , the film has accrued a significant cult following .


In Montenegro, the Italian language is spoken.

Italian language Italian ( -LSB- itaˈljaːno -RSB- or lingua italiana -LSB- ˈliŋɡwa itaˈljaːna -RSB- ) is a Romance language . By most measures , Italian , together with Sardinian , is the closest to Latin of the Romance languages .  Italian is an official language in Italy , Switzerland , San Marino , Vatican City and western Istria ( in Slovenia and Croatia ) . It used to have official status in Albania , Malta and Monaco , where it is still widely spoken , as well as in former Italian East Africa and Italian North Africa regions where it plays a significant role in various sectors . Italian is spoken by small minorities in places such as France ( especially in Corsica ) , Montenegro , Crimea and Tunisia and by large expatriate communities in the Americas and Australia . It has official minority status in Bosnia and Herzegovina , Croatia , Slovenia and Romania . Many speakers are native bilinguals of both standardized Italian and other regional languages . Italian is the fourth most studied language in the world .   Italian is a major European language , being one of the official languages of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and one of the working languages of the Council of Europe . It is the third most widely spoken first language in the European Union with 65 million native speakers ( 13 % of the EU population ) and it is spoken as a second language by 14 million EU citizens ( 3 % ) . Including Italian speakers in non-EU European countries ( such as Switzerland and Albania ) and on other continents , the total number of speakers is around 85 million .   Italian is the main working language of the Holy See , serving as the lingua franca in the Roman Catholic hierarchy as well as the official language of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta . Italian is known as the language of music because of its use in musical terminology and opera . Its influence is also widespread in the arts and in the luxury goods market . Italian has been reported as the fourth or fifth most frequently taught foreign language in the world .   Italian was adopted by the state after the Unification of Italy , having previously been a literary language based on Tuscan as spoken mostly by the upper class of Florentine society . Its development was also influenced by other Italian languages and to some minor extent , by the Germanic languages of the post-Roman invaders . The incorporation into Italian of learned , or `` bookish '' words from its own ancestor language , Latin , is arguably another form of lexical borrowing through the influence of written language and the liturgical language of the Church . Throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern period , most literate Italian speakers were also literate in Latin ; and thus they easily adopted Latin words into their writing -- and eventually speech -- in Italian . Its vowels are the second-closest to Latin after Sardinian . Unlike most other Romance languages , Italian retains Latin 's contrast between short and long consonants . As in most Romance languages , stress is distinctive .


RB Leipzig RasenBallsport Leipzig e.V. , commonly known as RB Leipzig , is a German association football club based in Leipzig , Saxony . The club was founded in 2009 by initiative of energy drink-maker Red Bull GmbH who purchased a playing right of the fifth division side SSV Markranstädt with the intention of advancing the new club to the top-flight Bundesliga within eight years . Men 's professional football is run by the spin-off organization RasenballSport Leipzig GmbH . RB Leipzig plays its home matches at the Red Bull Arena .   In its inaugural season in 2009 -- 10 , RB Leipzig dominated the NOFV-Oberliga Süd ( V ) and was promoted as champions to the Regionalliga Nord ( IV ) . RB Leipzig won the 2012 -- 13 Regionalliga Nordost season without conceding a single defeat and was promoted to the 3 . Liga ( III ) , then finished the 2013 -- 14 3 . Liga season as runner-up and was promoted to the 2 . Bundesliga ( II ) as the first team since the introduction of the 3 . Liga to win promotion after only one season .   On 8 May 2016 , RB Leipzig ensured promotion to the Bundesliga for the 2016 -- 17 season with a 2 -- 0 defeat of Karlsruher SC . One year later , RB Leipzig captured a place in the 2017 -- 18 UEFA Champions League by finishing as runner-up of the Bundesliga .


Comics provided some of the inspiration for The Fifth Element.

The Fifth Element The Fifth Element ( Le Cinquième Élément ) is a 1997 English-language French science-fiction action film directed and co-written by Luc Besson . It stars Bruce Willis , Gary Oldman and Milla Jovovich . Primarily set in the 23rd century , the film 's central plot involves the survival of planet Earth , which becomes the responsibility of Korben Dallas ( Willis ) , a taxicab driver and former special forces major , after a young woman ( Jovovich ) falls into his cab . Dallas joins forces with her to recover four mystical stones essential for the defence of Earth against an impending attack .   Besson started writing the story that became The Fifth Element when he was 16 years old ; he was 38 when the film opened in cinemas . Besson wanted to shoot the film in France , but suitable locations could not be found ; filming took place instead in London and Mauritania . Comics writers Jean `` Moebius '' Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières , whose comics provided inspiration for parts of the film , were hired for production design . Costume design was by Jean Paul Gaultier .   The Fifth Element received mainly positive reviews , although it tended to polarize critics . It has been called both the best and worst summer blockbuster of all time . The film was a financial success , earning more than $ 263 million at the box office on a $ 90 million budget . At the time of its release it was the most expensive European film ever made , and it remained the highest-grossing French film at the international box office until the release of The Intouchables in 2011 .


Patriot Act was criticized for the power given to law enforcement officers.

Patriot Act The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26 , 2001 . With its ten-letter abbreviation ( USA PATRIOT ) expanded , the full title is `` Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 '' .   On May 26 , 2011 , President Barack Obama signed the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011 , a four-year extension of three key provisions in the Act : roving wiretaps , searches of business records , and conducting surveillance of `` lone wolves '' -- individuals suspected of terrorist-related activities not linked to terrorist groups .   Following a lack of Congressional approval , parts of the Patriot Act expired on June 1 , 2015 . With the passage of the USA Freedom Act on June 2 , 2015 , the expired parts were restored and renewed through 2019 . However , Section 215 of the law was amended to stop the National Security Agency ( NSA ) from continuing its mass phone data collection program . Instead , phone companies will retain the data and the NSA can obtain information about targeted individuals with permission from a federal court .   From broad concern felt among Americans from both the September 11 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks , Congress rushed to pass legislation to strengthen security controls . On October 23 , 2001 , Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner introduced H.R. 3162 incorporating provisions from a previously sponsored House bill and a Senate bill also introduced earlier in the month . The next day , the Act passed the House 357 to 66 , with Democrats comprising the overwhelming portion of dissent . The three Republicans voting ` no ' were Robert Ney of Ohio , Butch Otter of Idaho and Ron Paul of Texas . On October 25 , the Act passed the Senate by 98 to 1 , the only dissident being Russ Feingold of Wisconsin .   Opponents of the law have criticized its authorization of indefinite detentions of immigrants ; the permission given law enforcement officers to search a home or business without the owner 's or the occupant 's consent or knowledge ; the expanded use of National Security Letters , which allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) to search telephone , e-mail , and financial records without a court order ; and the expanded access of law enforcement agencies to business records , including library and financial records . Since its passage , several legal challenges have been brought against the act , and federal courts have ruled that a number of provisions are unconstitutional .   Many provisions of the act were to sunset beginning December 31 , 2005 , approximately four years after its passage . In the months preceding the sunset date , supporters of the act pushed to make its sun-setting provisions permanent , while critics sought to revise various sections to enhance civil liberty protections . In July 2005 , the U.S. Senate passed a reauthorization bill with substantial changes to several sections of the act , while the House reauthorization bill kept most of the act 's original language . The two bills were then reconciled in a conference committee that was criticized by Senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties for ignoring civil liberty concerns .   The bill , which removed most of the changes from the Senate version , passed Congress on March 2 , 2006 , and was signed into law by President George W. Bush on March 9 and 10 , 2006 .


Divergent (film) Divergent is a 2014 American science fiction action film directed by Neil Burger , based on the novel of the same name by Veronica Roth . The film is the first installment in The Divergent Series and was produced by Lucy Fisher , Pouya Shabazian , and Douglas Wick , with a screenplay by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor . It stars Shailene Woodley , Theo James , Ashley Judd , Jai Courtney , Ray Stevenson , Zoë Kravitz , Miles Teller , Tony Goldwyn , Ansel Elgort , Maggie Q and Kate Winslet . The story takes place in a dystopian and post-apocalyptic Chicago where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues . Beatrice Prior is warned that she is Divergent and thus will never fit into any one of the factions . She soon learns that a sinister plot is brewing in the seemingly perfect society .   Development of Divergent began in March 2011 when Summit Entertainment picked up the film rights to the novel with Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher 's production company Red Wagon Entertainment . Principal photography began April 16 , 2013 , and concluded on July 16 , 2013 , with reshoots taking place from January 24 -- 26 , 2014 . Production mostly took place in Chicago .   Divergent was released on March 21 , 2014 , in the United States . The film received mixed reviews from critics , with praise going towards its concepts and action , and criticism focused on its execution . Reviewers found the film to be generic and unoriginal , comparing it unfavorably to other young adult fiction adaptations . Despite this , the film was a financial success as it reached the # 1 spot at the box office during its opening weekend . After its release , the film earned over US$ 288 million worldwide against its budget of US$ 85 million . It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 5 , 2014 .   A sequel , Insurgent , was released on March 20 , 2015 in the United States .


Wolverine appeared in a comic book series.

The Incredible Hulk (comic book) The Incredible Hulk is an ongoing comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero the Hulk and his alter ego Dr. Bruce Banner . First published in May 1962 , the series ran for six issues before it was cancelled in March 1963 , and the Hulk character began appearing in Tales to Astonish . With issue # 102 , Tales to Astonish was renamed to The Incredible Hulk in April 1968 , becoming its second volume . The series continued to run until issue # 474 in March 1999 when it was replaced with the series Hulk which ran until February 2000 and was retitled to The Incredible Hulks third volume , running until March 2007 when it became The Incredible Hercules with a new title character . The Incredible Hulk returned in September 2009 beginning at issue # 600 , which became The Incredible Hulks in November 2010 and focused on the Hulk and the modern incarnation of his expanded family . The series returned to The Incredible Hulk in December 2011 and ran until January 2013 , when it was replaced with The Indestructible Hulk as part of Marvel 's Marvel NOW ! relaunch .


Alpha Flight Alpha Flight is a fictional team of Canadian superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The characters were created by comic book writer John Byrne . The characters premiered in the April 1979 issue of X-Men . Marvel published an Alpha Flight comic book series from 1983 to 1994 .


Wolverine (character) Wolverine ( born James Howlett commonly known as Logan and sometimes as Weapon X ) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics , mostly in association with the X-Men . He is a mutant who possesses animal-keen senses , enhanced physical capabilities , powerful regenerative ability known as a healing factor , and three retractable bone claws in each hand . Wolverine has been depicted variously as a member of the X-Men , Alpha Flight , and the Avengers .   The character appeared in the last panel of The Incredible Hulk # 180 before having a larger role in # 181 ( cover-dated Nov. 1974 ) . He was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita , Sr. , who designed the character , and was first drawn for publication by Herb Trimpe . Wolverine then joined a revamped version of the superhero team the X-Men , where eventually writer Chris Claremont and artist-writer John Byrne would play significant roles in the character 's development . Artist Frank Miller collaborated with Claremont and helped to revise the character with a four-part eponymous limited series from September to December 1982 which debuted Wolverine 's catchphrase , `` I 'm the best there is at what I do , but what I do best is n't very nice . ''   Wolverine is typical of the many tough antiheroes that emerged in American popular culture after the Vietnam War ; his willingness to use deadly force and his brooding nature became standard characteristics for comic book antiheroes by the end of the 1980s . As a result , the character became a fan favorite of the increasingly popular X-Men franchise , and has been featured in his own solo comic since 1988 .   He has appeared in most X-Men adaptations , including animated television series , video games , and the live-action 20th Century Fox X-Men film series , in which he is portrayed by Hugh Jackman in nine of the ten films . The character is highly rated in many comics best-of lists , ranked # 1 in Wizard magazine 's 2008 Top 200 Comic Book Characters ; 4th in Empires 2008 Greatest Comic Characters ; and 4th on IGN 's 2011 Top 100 Comic Book Heroes .


The Czech Republic's Prague is its largest city with 10.5 million inhabitants.

Czech Republic The Czech Republic ( -LSB- ˈtʃɛkiə -RSB- , ; Česko , -LSB- ˈt͡ʃɛsko -RSB- ) , is a nation state in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west , Austria to the south , Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast . The Czech Republic covers an area of 78866 km2 with a mostly temperate continental climate and oceanic climate . It is a unitary parliamentary republic , has 10.5 million inhabitants and the capital and largest city is Prague , with over 1.2 million residents . The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia , Moravia , and Czech Silesia .   The Czech state was formed in the late 9th century as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire . After the fall of the Empire in 907 , the centre of power transferred from Moravia to Bohemia under the Přemyslid dynasty . In 1002 , the duchy was formally recognized as part of the Holy Roman Empire , becoming the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1198 and reaching its greatest territorial extent in the 14th century . Besides Bohemia itself , the king of Bohemia ruled the lands of the Bohemian Crown , he had a vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor , and Prague was the imperial seat in periods between the 14th and 17th century . In the Hussite wars of the 15th century driven by the Protestant Bohemian Reformation , the kingdom faced economic embargoes and defeated five consecutive crusades proclaimed by the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church .   Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 , the whole Crown of Bohemia was gradually integrated into the Habsburg Monarchy alongside the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary . The Protestant Bohemian Revolt ( 1618 -- 20 ) against the Catholic Habsburgs led to the Thirty Years ' War . After the Battle of the White Mountain , the Habsburgs consolidated their rule , eradicated Protestantism and reimposed Roman Catholicism , and also adopted a policy of gradual Germanization . With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 , the Bohemian Kingdom became part of the Austrian Empire and the Czech language experienced a revival as a consequence of widespread romantic nationalism . In the 19th century , the Czech lands became the industrial powerhouse of the monarchy and were subsequently the core of the Republic of Czechoslovakia , which was formed in 1918 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I.   The Czech part of Czechoslovakia was occupied by Germany in World War II , and was liberated in 1945 by the armies of the Soviet Union and the United States . The Czech country lost the majority of its German-speaking inhabitants after they were expelled following the war . The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia won the 1946 elections . Following the 1948 coup d'état , Czechoslovakia became a one-party communist state under Soviet influence . In 1968 , increasing dissatisfaction with the regime culminated in a reform movement known as the Prague Spring , which ended in a Soviet-led invasion .   The first separate Czech republic was created on 1 January 1969 , under the name Czech Socialistic Republic within federalization of Czechoslovakia , however the federalization was implemented only incompletely . Czechoslovakia remained occupied until the 1989 Velvet Revolution , when the communist regime collapsed and a democracy and federalization was deepened . On 6 March 1990 , the Czech Socialistic Republic was renamed to the Czech Republic . On 1 January 1993 , Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved , with its constituent states becoming the independent states of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic .   The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union ( EU ) in 2004 ; it is a member of the United Nations , the OECD , the OSCE , and the Council of Europe . It is a developed country with an advanced , high income economy and high living standards . The UNDP ranks the country 14th in inequality-adjusted human development . In 2017 , Czech citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 168 countries and territories , ranking the Czech passport 9th in the world ( after 25 other countries ) . The Czech Republic also ranks as the 6th most peaceful country , while achieving strong performance in democratic governance . It has the lowest unemployment rate of EU members .


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


Michael Jackson's sexual abuse accusation was settled in criminal court.

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson ( August 29 , 1958 -- June 25 , 2009 ) was an American singer , songwriter , record producer , dancer , actor , and philanthropist . Called the `` King of Pop '' , his contributions to music , dance , and fashion along with his publicized personal life made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades .   The eighth child of the Jackson family , Michael made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie , Tito , Jermaine , and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 . He began his solo career in 1971 . In the early 1980s , Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music . His music videos , including those of `` Beat It '' , `` Billie Jean '' , and `` Thriller '' from his 1982 album Thriller , are credited with breaking racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool . The popularity of these videos helped bring the television channel MTV to fame . Jackson 's 1987 album Bad spawned the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles `` I Just Ca n't Stop Loving You '' , `` Bad '' , `` The Way You Make Me Feel '' , `` Man in the Mirror '' , and `` Dirty Diana '' , becoming the first album to have five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 . He continued to innovate with videos such as `` Black or White '' and `` Scream '' throughout the 1990s , and forged a reputation as a touring solo artist . Through stage and video performances , Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques , such as the robot and the moonwalk , to which he gave the name . His distinctive sound and style has influenced numerous artists of various music genres .   Thriller is the best-selling album of all time , with estimated sales of 65 million copies worldwide . Jackson 's other albums , including Off the Wall ( 1979 ) , Bad ( 1987 ) , Dangerous ( 1991 ) , and HIStory ( 1995 ) , also rank among the world 's best-selling albums . He is recognized as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time by Guinness World Records . Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice , and was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame as the only dancer from pop and rock music . His other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records , 13 Grammy Awards , the Grammy Legend Award , the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award , 26 American Music Awards -- more than any other artist -- including the `` Artist of the Century '' and `` Artist of the 1980s '' , 13 number-one singles in the United States during his solo career -- more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era -- and estimated sales of over 350 million records worldwide . Jackson won hundreds of awards , making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music . He became the first artist in history to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades when `` Love Never Felt So Good '' reached number nine on May 21 , 2014 . Jackson traveled the world attending events honoring his humanitarianism , and , in 2000 , the Guinness World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities , more than any other entertainer .   Aspects of Jackson 's personal life , including his changing appearance , personal relationships , and behavior , generated controversy . In 1993 , he was accused of child sexual abuse , but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought . In 2005 , he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts . While preparing for his comeback concert series , This Is It , Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25 , 2009 , after suffering from cardiac arrest . The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide , and his personal physician , Conrad Murray , was convicted of involuntary manslaughter . Jackson 's death triggered a global outpouring of grief , and a live broadcast of his public memorial service was viewed around the world . Forbes ranks Jackson the top-earning dead celebrity , with earnings of $ 825 million in 2016 , the highest yearly amount ever recorded by the publication .


Hugo Weaving Hugo Wallace Weaving ( born 4 April 1960 ) is a Nigerian-born English-Australian film and stage actor . He is best known for playing Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy ( 1999 -- 2003 ) , Elrond in The Lord of the Rings ( 2001 -- 2003 ) and The Hobbit ( 2012 -- 2014 ) film trilogies , V in V for Vendetta ( 2006 ) , Red Skull in Captain America : The First Avenger ( 2011 ) and Tom Doss in Hacksaw Ridge ( 2016 ) .   Weaving 's first television role was in the 1984 Australian television series Bodyline , where he portrayed English cricket captain Douglas Jardine . In film , he first rose to prominence for his performance as Martin in the Australian drama Proof ( 1991 ) . Weaving played Anthony `` Tick '' Belrose/Mitzi Del Bra in the comedy-drama The Adventures of Priscilla , Queen of the Desert ( 1994 ) ; and multiple roles in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas ( 2012 ) . His roles as a voice actor include Rex in Babe , Noah in Happy Feet and Happy Feet Two , and Megatron in the Transformers film series .   Weaving 's awards for acting include a Satellite Award , MTV Movie Award and six Australian Film Institute Awards .


Malcolm Young was the rhythm guitarist for AC/DC.

Malcolm Young Malcolm Mitchell Young ( born 6 January 1953 ) is an Australian retired musician and songwriter , best known as a co-founder , rhythm guitarist , backing vocalist and songwriter for the hard rock band AC/DC . Except for a brief absence in 1988 , he was with the band from its November 1973 beginning until retiring permanently in 2014 , due to health reasons . Young and the other members of AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 .   Though his younger brother Angus is the more visible of the brothers , Malcolm has been described as the driving force and the leader of the band . He also added that despite his retirement from the band , AC/DC was determined to continue making music with his blessing . As the rhythm guitarist , he was responsible for the broad sweep of the band 's sound , developing many of their guitar riffs and co-writing the band 's material with Angus . He is married to Linda Young and has two children , Cara and Ross .   Young took a leave of absence from AC/DC in April 2014 , to receive treatment for dementia . In September 2014 , the band 's management announced that he would be retiring permanently .


Olivia Munn Lisa Olivia Munn ( born July 3 , 1980 ) is an American actress and model . She was credited as Lisa Munn in her early career , but since 2006 , she has used the name Olivia Munn .   Munn began her professional career in television journalism before becoming an actress . In 2006 , Munn starred as Mily Acuna on the series Beyond the Break . She co-hosted Attack of the Show ! from 2006 to 2010 and was a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2010 to 2011 . Munn has also had supporting roles in various films and television series since 2004 . She played the character Sloan Sabbith on the television series The Newsroom from 2012 to 2014 and appeared in the film X-Men : Apocalypse ( 2016 ) as Psylocke .


There are Christian states in the world.

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


Gary Ridgway's second middle name is Leon.

Gary Ridgway Gary Leon Ridgway ( born February 18 , 1949 ) is an American serial killer known as the Green River Killer . He was initially convicted of 48 separate murders and later confessed to nearly twice that number . As part of his plea bargain , an additional conviction was added , bringing the total number of convictions to 49 , making him the most prolific American serial killer in history according to confirmed murders . He murdered numerous women and girls in Washington State during the 1980s and 1990s . Most of his victims were alleged to be sex workers and other women in vulnerable situations , including underage runaways . The press gave him his nickname after the first five victims were found in the Green River before his identity was known . He strangled the women , usually by hand but sometimes using ligatures . After strangling them , he would dump their bodies in forested and overgrown areas in King County , often returning to the dead bodies to have sexual intercourse with them .   On November 30 , 2001 , as he was leaving the Kenworth truck factory where he worked in Renton , Washington , he was arrested for the murders of four women whose cases were linked to him through DNA evidence . As part of a plea bargain wherein he agreed to disclose the locations of still-missing women , he was spared the death penalty and received a sentence of life imprisonment without parole .


Andrew Jackson was a United States statesman.

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson ( March 15 , 1767 -- June 8 , 1845 ) was an American soldier and statesman who served as the seventh President of the United States from 1829 to 1837 and was the founder of the Democratic Party . Before being elected to the presidency , Jackson served in Congress and gained fame as a general in the United States Army . As president , Jackson sought to advance the rights of the `` common man '' against a `` corrupt aristocracy '' and to preserve the Union .   He became a practicing lawyer in Tennessee and in 1791 he married Rachel Donelson Robards . Jackson served briefly in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate . Upon returning to Tennessee , he was appointed a justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court , serving from 1798 until 1804 . In 1801 , Jackson was appointed colonel in the Tennessee militia , and was elected its commander the following year . He led Tennessee militia and U.S. Army regulars during the Creek War of 1813 -- 1814 , winning a major victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend . The subsequent Treaty of Fort Jackson required the Creek surrender of vast lands in present-day Alabama and Georgia . Jackson won a decisive victory in the War of 1812 over the British army at the Battle of New Orleans , making him a national hero . Following the conclusion of the War of 1812 , Jackson led U.S. forces in the First Seminole War , which helped produce the Adams -- Onís Treaty of 1819 and the transfer of Florida from Spain to the United States . Following the ratification of the treaty , Jackson briefly served as Florida 's first territorial governor before winning election as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee .   Jackson was a candidate for president in 1824 but , lacking a majority of electoral votes , lost the election in the House of Representatives to John Quincy Adams . In reaction to a `` corrupt bargain '' between opponents Adams and Henry Clay , Jackson 's supporters founded the Democratic Party . He ran again for president in 1828 against Adams and won in a landslide . As president , Jackson faced a threat of secession by South Carolina over the `` Tariff of Abominations '' enacted under Adams . The Nullification Crisis was defused when the tariff was amended and Jackson threatened the use of military force if South Carolina attempted to secede . Congress , led by Clay , attempted to reauthorize the Second Bank of the United States ; Jackson regarded the Bank as a corrupt institution and vetoed the renewal of its charter . After a lengthy struggle , Jackson and the congressional Democrats thoroughly dismantled the Bank . In 1835 , Jackson became the only president to completely pay off the national debt , fulfilling a longtime goal .   In foreign affairs , Jackson 's administration concluded a `` most favored nation '' treaty with Great Britain , settled U.S. claims of damages by France from the Napoleonic Wars , and recognized the Republic of Texas . His presidency marked the beginning of the ascendancy of the `` spoils system '' in American politics . In 1830 , Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act , which relocated most members of the Native American tribes in the South to Indian Territory ( now Oklahoma ) . The relocation process dispossessed the Indians and resulted in widespread death and sickness . In his retirement , Jackson remained active in Democratic Party politics , supporting the presidencies of Martin Van Buren and James K. Polk .   Jackson was widely revered in the United States , but his reputation has declined since the mid-20th century , largely due to his role in Indian removal and support for slavery . Surveys of historians and scholars have ranked Jackson between 6th and 18th most successful among United States presidents .


Kiefer Sutherland was in a Canadian drama film.

Kiefer Sutherland Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland ( born 21 December 1966 ) is a British born Canadian actor , producer , director , and singer-songwriter . One of his better-known roles was Jack Bauer on the Fox drama series 24 ( 2001 -- 2010 ) , for which he earned an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe Award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Satellite Awards .   He has also starred as Martin Bohm in the Fox drama Touch , and provided the facial motion capture and English voices for Big Boss and Venom Snake in the video games Metal Gear Solid V : Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V : The Phantom Pain . He currently stars as President Tom Kirkman in the ABC political drama series Designated Survivor .   Sutherland got his first leading film role in the Canadian drama The Bay Boy ( 1984 ) , which earned him a Genie Award nomination . Since that time he has had a successful movie career , starring in films like Stand by Me ( 1986 ) , The Lost Boys ( 1987 ) , Young Guns ( 1988 ) , Flatliners ( 1990 ) , A Few Good Men ( 1992 ) , The Three Musketeers ( 1993 ) , A Time to Kill ( 1996 ) , Dark City ( 1998 ) , Phone Booth ( 2002 ) , Melancholia ( 2011 ) , Pompeii ( 2014 ) and Forsaken ( 2016 ) .   Sutherland has been inducted to Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada 's Walk of Fame , and further has been bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Zurich Film Festival .


The Bay Boy The Bay Boy is a 1984 Canadian drama film . It is a semi-autobiographical film based on director Daniel Petrie 's experiences of growing up in Glace Bay , a mining town on Cape Breton Island , during the Great Depression . It features the screen debut of Kiefer Sutherland as the film 's central character , alongside Liv Ullman as his character 's mother .


Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer `` Kris '' Kristofferson ( born June 22 , 1936 ) is an American singer-songwriter , musician , and actor . He wrote and recorded the songs `` Me and Bobby McGee '' , `` For the Good Times '' , `` Sunday Mornin ' Comin ' Down '' , and `` Help Me Make It Through the Night '' . Kristofferson composed his own songs and collaborated with Nashville songwriters such as Shel Silverstein . In 1985 , Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings , Willie Nelson , and Johnny Cash in forming the country music supergroup The Highwaymen .  In 2004 , Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame . He is also known for his starring roles in Alice Does n't Live Here Anymore and A Star Is Born , for the latter of which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor .


Reba McEntire has a career in the country music industry.

Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire ( born March 28 , 1955 ) is an American country singer , songwriter , actress , and record producer . She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings , and at rodeos . While a sophomore in college , she performed the National Anthem at the National Rodeo in Oklahoma City and caught the attention of country artist Red Steagall who brought her to Nashville , Tennessee . She signed a contract with Mercury Records a year later in 1975 . She released her first solo album in 1977 and released five additional studio albums under the label until 1983 .   Signing with MCA Nashville Records , McEntire took creative control over her second MCA album , My Kind of Country ( 1984 ) , which had a more traditional country sound and produced two number one singles : `` How Blue '' and `` Somebody Should Leave '' . The album brought her breakthrough success , bringing her a series of successful albums and number one singles in the 1980s and 1990s . McEntire has since released 29 studio albums , acquired 40 number one singles , 16 number one albums , and 28 albums have been certified gold , platinum or multi-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America . She has sometimes been referred to as `` The Queen of Country '' . and she is one of the best-selling artists of all time , having sold more than 85 million records worldwide .   In the early 1990s , McEntire branched into film starting with 1990 's Tremors . She has since starred in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun and in her television sitcom , Reba ( 2001 -- 07 ) for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Musical or Comedy .


U2 had an appearance as a band that was knowledgeable of politics and society.

U2 U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin formed in 1976 . The group consists of Bono ( lead vocals and rhythm guitar ) , the Edge ( lead guitar , keyboards , and backing vocals ) , Adam Clayton ( bass guitar ) , and Larry Mullen Jr. ( drums and percussion ) . Initially rooted in post-punk , U2 's sound grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music , yet has maintained an anthemic sound built on Bono 's expressive vocals and the Edge 's effects-based guitar textures . Their lyrics , often embellished with spiritual imagery , focus on personal themes and sociopolitical concerns . Popular for their live performances , the group have staged several ambitious and elaborate tours over their career .   The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency . Within four years , they signed with Island Records and released their debut album , Boy ( 1980 ) . Subsequent work such as their first UK number-one album , War ( 1983 ) , and the singles `` Sunday Bloody Sunday '' and `` Pride ( In the Name of Love ) '' helped establish U2 's reputation as a politically and socially conscious group . By the mid-1980s , they had become renowned globally for their live act , highlighted by their performance at Live Aid in 1985 . The group 's fifth album , The Joshua Tree ( 1987 ) , made them international superstars and was their greatest critical and commercial success . Topping music charts around the world , it produced their only number-one singles in the US , `` With or Without You '' and `` I Still Have n't Found What I 'm Looking For '' . Facing a backlash and creative stagnation , U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image . Beginning with their acclaimed seventh album , Achtung Baby ( 1991 ) , and the multimedia intensive Zoo TV Tour , the band integrated influences from alternative rock , electronic dance music , and industrial music into their sound , and embraced a more ironic , flippant image . This experimentation continued through their ninth album , Pop ( 1997 ) , and the PopMart Tour , which were mixed successes . U2 regained critical and commercial favour with the records All That You Ca n't Leave Behind ( 2000 ) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb ( 2004 ) , which established a more conventional , mainstream sound for the group . Their U2 360 ° Tour of 2009 -- 2011 is the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour in history . The group 's thirteenth album , Songs of Innocence ( 2014 ) , was released at no cost through the iTunes Store , but received criticism for its automatic placement in users ' music libraries .   U2 have released 13 studio albums and are one of the world 's best-selling music artists of all time , having sold more than 170 million records worldwide . They have won 22 Grammy Awards , more than any other band , and in 2005 , they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility . Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' . Throughout their career , as a band and as individuals , they have campaigned for human rights and philanthropic causes , including Amnesty International , Jubilee 2000 , the ONE/DATA campaigns , Product Red , War Child , and Music Rising .


The Hui people are concentrated in Northwestern China.

Hui people The Hui people ( , Xiao'erjing : خُوِذُو Dungan : Хуэйзў , Xuejzw ) are a Chinese ethnic group which is composed predominantly of adherents of the Muslim faith and found throughout China , though they are concentrated mainly in the Northwestern provinces of the country and the Zhongyuan . According to a 2011 census , China is home to approximately 10.5 million Hui people , the majority of whom are Chinese-speaking practitioners of Islam , though some may practice other religions .   Hui people are ethnically and linguistically similar to Han Chinese with the exception that most of them practice Islam , engendering distinctive cultural characteristics . For example , as Muslims , they follow Islamic dietary laws and reject the consumption of pork , the most common meat consumed in China , and have given rise to their variation of Chinese cuisine . Traditional Hui clothing differs from that of other Chinese groups as it incorporates elements primarily found in other Islamic cultures . However , since the rapid industrialization and modernization of China , younger generations have slowly been shifting towards Western dress code .   The Hui people are one of 56 ethnic groups recognized by China . The government defines the Hui people to include all historically Muslim communities not included in China 's other ethnic groups . The Hui predominantly speak Chinese , while maintaining some Persian and Arabic phrases . In fact , the Hui ethnic group is unique among Chinese ethnic minorities in that it associates with non-Sinitic languages .   The Hui people are more concentrated in Northwestern China ( Ningxia , Gansu , Qinghai , Xinjiang ) , but communities exist across the country , e.g. Beijing , Inner Mongolia , Hebei , Hainan , and Yunnan .