Rhode Island was the third state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( -LSB- roʊd_ˈaɪlənd -RSB- ) , officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States . Rhode Island is the smallest in area , the eighth least populous , and the second most densely populated of the 50 U.S. states , following New Jersey . Its official name is also the longest of any state in the Union . Rhode Island is bordered by Connecticut to the west , Massachusetts to the north and east , and the Atlantic Ocean to the south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound . The state also shares a short maritime border with New York .   On May 4 , 1776 , the Colony of Rhode Island became the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown , and was the fourth among the newly sovereign states to ratify the Articles of Confederation on February 9 , 1778 . It boycotted the 1787 convention that drew up the United States Constitution and initially refused to ratify it . On May 29 , 1790 , Rhode Island became the 13th and last state to ratify the Constitution .   Rhode Island 's official nickname is `` The Ocean State '' , a reference to the fact that the state has several large bays and inlets that amount to about 14 % of its total area . Rhode Island covers 1214 sqmi , of which 1045 sqmi are land .


Snoop Dogg released Malice 'n Wonderland in 1009.

Snoop Dogg Cordozar Calvin Broadus , Jr. ( born October 20 , 1971 ) , known professionally as Snoop Dogg ( sometimes shortened to Snoop and formerly called Snoop Doggy Dogg and Snoop Lion ) , is an American rapper and actor from Long Beach , California . His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre of N.W.A , and as a result was prominently featured throughout Dr. Dre 's solo debut album , The Chronic ( 1992 ) . He has since sold over twenty-three million albums in the United States and thirty-five million albums worldwide .   Snoop 's debut album , Doggystyle , was released in 1993 under Death Row Records , debuting at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top R&B / Hip-Hop Albums charts . Selling almost a million copies in the first week of its release , Doggystyle became certified 4 × platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles , including `` What 's My Name ? '' and `` Gin & Juice '' . In 1994 Snoop released a soundtrack on Death Row Records for the short film Murder Was The Case , starring himself . His second album Tha Doggfather ( 1996 ) , also debuted at number one on both charts with `` Snoop 's Upside Ya Head '' , as the lead single . The album was certified double platinum in 1997 .   After leaving Death Row Records , Snoop signed with No Limit Records , where he recorded his next three albums . Da Game Is to Be Sold , Not to Be Told ( 1998 ) , No Limit Top Dogg ( 1999 ) , and Tha Last Meal ( 2000 ) . Snoop then signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records in 2002 , where he released Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss . He then signed with Geffen Records in 2004 for his next three albums R&G ( Rhythm & Gangsta ) : The Masterpiece , Tha Blue Carpet Treatment , and Ego Trippin ' . Malice 'n Wonderland ( 2009 ) , and Doggumentary ( 2011 ) , were released on Priority . Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows , including Doggy Fizzle Televizzle , Snoop Dogg 's Father Hood , and Dogg After Dark . He also coaches a youth football league and high school football team . In September 2009 , Snoop was hired by EMI as the chairman of a reactivated Priority Records .   In 2012 , after a trip to Jamaica , Snoop announced a conversion to the Rastafari movement and a new alias , Snoop Lion . Under the new moniker , he released a reggae album , Reincarnated , and a documentary film of the same name , of his Jamaican experience , in early 2013 . His fourteenth solo studio album , Coolaid , was released in July 2016 .   Snoop Dogg holds the dubious distinction of having seventeen Grammy nominations without a win .   In March 2016 , the night before WrestleMania 32 in Arlington , Texas , Snoop was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame having made several appearances for the company , including as Master of Ceremonies during a match at Wrestlemania XXIV .


Randall Flagg has been featured in Dark Tower.

Randall Flagg Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by Stephen King . He has a variety of names , usually with the initial letters `` R. F. '' but with occasional exceptions , such as Walter o'Dim ( originally envisioned by King as a separate character ) in The Dark Tower series .   Flagg is described as `` an accomplished sorcerer and a devoted servant of the Outer Dark '' , with supernatural abilities involving necromancy , prophecy , and influence over animal and human behavior . His goals typically center on bringing down civilizations through destruction and conflict .   Flagg has appeared in at least nine of King 's novels , either as a major or very minor character . Flagg first appeared in The Stand as a demonic figure who wreaks havoc after a plague kills most of the population . He makes his second appearance in The Eyes of the Dragon as an evil wizard trying to plunge the fictional medieval city of Delain into chaos . Flagg was a primary antagonist in King 's epic series , The Dark Tower , who tries to keep protagonist Roland Deschain from reaching the Tower ( the linchpin of existence ) so he can claim it for himself and become a god . The Dark Tower expanded on Flagg 's background and motivation , linking his previous appearances . Aside from King 's novels , Flagg was featured in a television miniseries adaptation of The Stand ( played by Jamey Sheridan ) and the upcoming Dark Tower film adaptation ( played by Matthew McConaughey ) . He has also appeared in Marvel Comics ' adaptations of The Dark Tower and The Stand .   King initially cited Donald DeFreeze , primary kidnapper of Patty Hearst , as his inspiration for Flagg . Later , he attributed Flagg to an image of a man walking the roads in cowboy boots , denim jeans , and a jacket , a notion which `` came out of nowhere '' when he was in college . Flagg 's character and the nature of his evil have been the subject of considerable critical attention .


Unapologetic Unapologetic is the seventh studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna . It was released on November 19 , 2012 , by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records . It was recorded between June and November 2012 , during promotion of her sixth album , Talk That Talk ( 2011 ) . As executive producer , Rihanna enlisted previous collaborators The-Dream , David Guetta , Chase & Status , and StarGate to work alongside new collaborators such as Parker Ighile , Mike Will Made-It , and Labrinth . Unapologetic is mainly a pop , dubstep and R&B album that incorporates elements of hip hop , EDM and reggae in its production , similar to the sound of her previous albums Talk That Talk and Rated R ( 2009 ) .   Unapologetic received generally mixed reviews from critics , with some reviewers describing its music as interesting , while others criticized its lyrical content and rushed nature . The album won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2014 ceremony . It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 238,000 copies , becoming Rihanna 's first number one album on the chart and best-selling debut week of her career . The album also became the singer 's third , fourth , and fifth consecutive number one album in the United Kingdom , Norway , and Switzerland , respectively . As of December 2014 , Unapologetic has sold over four million copies worldwide .   The album produced seven singles including the international hits `` Diamonds '' and `` Stay '' . The former peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 where it became Rihanna 's twelfth number one song , tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for fourth most number one songs in the history of the chart . Prior to its release , Rihanna promoted the album with the 777 Tour which consisted of a seven-date promotional tour in which she performed seven concerts each in a different city in North America and Europe in seven days . To further promote Unapologetic , Rihanna embarked on her fourth worldwide tour entitled the Diamonds World Tour .


Mountains of the Moon (film) stars Iain Glen as Speke.

Mountains of the Moon (film) Mountains of the Moon is a 1990 Rankcolor theatrical film depicting the 1857 -- 58 journey of Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke in their expedition to Central Africa -- the project that culminated in Speke 's discovery of the source of the Nile River . The expedition led to a bitter rivalry between the two men . The film stars Patrick Bergin as Burton and Iain Glen as Speke . Delroy Lindo made an early film appearance as an African native the adventurers meet .   The film was directed by Bob Rafelson , for whom this was something of a dream project . It was based on the novel Burton and Speke by William Harrison . The narrative concentrates on the relationship between the two very different men . A first-time epic for Rafelson , it opened to positive reviews .


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


Back to the Future Part II is the third installment in the Back to the Future trilogy.

Back to the Future Part II Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American science-fiction adventure comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Bob Gale . It is the sequel to the 1985 film Back to the Future and the second installment in the Back to the Future trilogy . The film stars Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Thomas F. Wilson , and Lea Thompson and continues immediately following the original film . After repairing the damage to history done by his previous time travel adventures , Marty McFly ( Fox ) and his friend Dr. Emmett `` Doc '' Brown ( Lloyd ) travel to 2015 to prevent McFly 's future son from ending up imprisoned . However , their presence allows Biff Tannen ( Wilson ) to steal Doc 's DeLorean time machine and travel to 1955 , where he alters history by making his younger self wealthy .   The film was produced on a $ 40-million budget and was filmed back-to-back with its sequel , Part III . Filming began in February 1989 after two years were spent building the sets and writing the scripts . Two actors from the first film , Crispin Glover and Claudia Wells , did not return for the final two . While Elisabeth Shue was recast in the role of Wells ' character , Jennifer , Glover 's character , George McFly , was not only minimized in the plot , but also was obscured and recreated with another actor . Glover successfully sued both Zemeckis and Gale , changing how producers can deal with the departure and replacement of actors in a role . Back to the Future Part II was also a ground-breaking project for effects studio Industrial Light & Magic ( ILM ) : In addition to digital compositing , ILM used the VistaGlide motion control camera system , which allowed an actor to portray multiple characters simultaneously on-screen without sacrificing camera movement .   Back to the Future Part II was released by Universal Pictures on November 22 , 1989 . The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $ 331 million worldwide , making it the third-highest-grossing film of 1989 .


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


Ryan O'Neal Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal ( born April 20 , 1941 ) , known professionally as Ryan O'Neal , is an American actor and former boxer . O'Neal trained as an amateur boxer before beginning his career in acting in 1960 . In 1964 , he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place . The series was an instant hit and boosted O'Neal 's career . He later found success in films , most notably Love Story ( 1970 ) , for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Actor , What 's Up , Doc ? ( 1972 ) , Paper Moon ( 1973 ) , Stanley Kubrick 's Barry Lyndon ( 1975 ) , and A Bridge Too Far ( 1977 ) . Since 2007 , he has had a recurring role in the TV series Bones as Max , the father of the series ' protagonist .


Role Models Role Models is a 2008 American comedy film directed by David Wain and written by David Wain , Timothy Dowling , Paul Rudd and Ken Marino . It is about two energy drink salesmen who are ordered to perform 150 hours of community service as punishment for various offenses . For their service , the two men work at a program designed to pair kids with adult role models . The film stars Seann William Scott , Paul Rudd , Christopher Mintz-Plasse , Bobb ' e J. Thompson , Jane Lynch and Elizabeth Banks .


The Jackson family is a family that sings.

Jackson family The Jackson family is an American family of singers who originated in Gary , Indiana . Performing as members of The Jackson 5 and as solo artists , the children of Joseph Walter and Katherine Esther Jackson were very successful in the field of popular music from the late 1960s onwards . As a group , the eldest sons Jackie , Tito , Jermaine , Marlon , Randy and Michael , made the family 's reputation , facilitating the subsequent success of siblings Rebbie , La Toya , and Janet . The Jackson 5 became known as the `` First Family of Soul '' ( a title first held by the Five Stairsteps ) . The continued success of Michael and Janet 's careers as solo artists led the Jacksons to become known as the `` Royal Family of Pop '' . All nine of the Jackson siblings have gold records to their credits with La Toya holding the distinction of being the first Jackson sister to attain one ( awarded by France 's SNEP for `` Reggae Night '' , a song she co-wrote for Jimmy Cliff ) .   In recent years , certain members of the family have been honored for their work ; in 1997 The Jackson 5 was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Michael would follow the group to the hall in 2001 . The Jacksons , Michael and Janet all received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980 , 1984 and 1990 respectively . In 2009 a new series from A&E entitled The Jacksons : A Family Dynasty premiered documenting the Jackson brothers dealing with the sudden loss of Michael and preparing for a Jackson 5 Reunion tour .


Joey Graceffa was born in any year except 1991.

Joey Graceffa Joseph Michael `` Joey '' Graceffa ( -LSB- grəˈsɛfə -RSB- born May 16 , 1991 ) is an American YouTube personality , actor , author , producer , and singer . He has two active YouTube channels , both of which are named after him . One of them is for vlogging and the other is used for video gaming content . They both have a combined total of more than 1.6 billion views . His other YouTube channel , which he no longer uses , called WinterSpringPro , has 60 million views ( as of May 2017 ) . He was a contestant on 22nd and 24th seasons of The Amazing Race and has appeared in short films ( as web films ) and short web television series on YouTube and its subscription-only service YouTube Red .


Coldplay released a song called Yellow in 2000.

Coldplay Coldplay are a British rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist and keyboardist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London ( UCL ) . After they formed under the name Pectoralz , Guy Berryman joined the group as bassist and they changed their name to Starfish . Will Champion joined as drummer and backing vocalist , completing the lineup . Creative director Phil Harvey is often referred to as the fifth member by the band . The band renamed themselves `` Coldplay '' in 1998 , before recording and releasing three EPs : Safety in 1998 and Brothers & Sisters and The Blue Room in 1999 . The Blue Room was their first release on a major label , after signing to Parlophone .   Coldplay achieved worldwide fame with the release of the single `` Yellow '' in 2000 , followed in the same year by their debut album Parachutes , which was nominated for the Mercury Prize . The band 's second album , A Rush of Blood to the Head ( 2002 ) , was released to critical acclaim and won awards including NME 's Album of the Year . Their next release , X&Y , the bestselling album worldwide in 2005 , received mostly positive reviews , though some critics felt it was inferior to its predecessor . Their fourth studio album , Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends ( 2008 ) , was produced by Brian Eno and released to largely positive reviews , earning several Grammy Award nominations and wins at the 51st Grammy Awards . In October 2011 , Coldplay released their fifth studio album , Mylo Xyloto , which topped the charts in over 34 countries and was the UK 's best-selling rock album of 2011 , but received mixed reviews , In May 2014 , they released their sixth album , Ghost Stories , which also received mixed reviews and topped the iTunes Store albums charts in over 100 countries . In December 2015 , the band released their seventh album , A Head Full of Dreams , which reached the top two in most major markets , but received generally mixed reviews .   Coldplay have won 62 awards from 209 nominations throughout their career , including nine Brit Awards -- winning Best British Group four times -- five MTV Video Music Awards and seven Grammy Awards from 31 nominations . They have sold more than 80 million records worldwide , making them one of the world 's bestselling music artists . In December 2009 , Rolling Stone readers voted the group the fourth-best artist of the 2000s . Coldplay have supported various social and political causes , such as Oxfam 's Make Trade Fair campaign and Amnesty International . They have also performed at charity projects including Band Aid 20 , Live 8 , Sound Relief , Hope for Haiti Now : A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief , The Secret Policeman 's Ball , Sport Relief and the UK Teenage Cancer Trust .


Linda Schuyler was born in Manchester, England.

Linda Schuyler Linda Schuyler , ( née Bawcutt ; born in 1948 in London , England ) is a Canadian television producer involved in the creation and production of the Degrassi series and Instant Star series of teen programs .


Blue Velvet (film) Blue Velvet is a 1986 American neo-noir mystery film , written and directed by David Lynch . Blending psychological horror with film noir , the film stars Kyle MacLachlan , Isabella Rossellini , Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern . The title is taken from Bobby Vinton 's 1963 song of the same name .   The screenplay of Blue Velvet had been passed around multiple times in the late 1970s and early 1980s , with many major studios declining it because of its strong sexual and violent content . After the commercial and critical failure of Lynch 's Dune ( 1984 ) , the director made attempts at developing a more `` personal story '' , somewhat characteristic of the surrealist style displayed in his debut Eraserhead ( 1977 ) . The independent studio De Laurentiis Entertainment Group , owned at the time by Italian film producer Dino De Laurentiis , agreed to finance and produce the film .   Blue Velvet initially received a divided critical response , with many stating that its objectionable content served little artistic purpose . It nevertheless earned Lynch his second Academy Award nomination for Best Director and came to achieve cult status . As an example of a director casting against the norm , it was credited for re-launching Hopper 's career and for providing Rossellini with a dramatic outlet beyond her previous work as a fashion model and a cosmetics spokeswoman .   In the years since , the film has generated significant academic attention with regard to its thematic symbolism , and is now widely regarded as one of Lynch 's major works and one of the greatest films of the 1980s . Publications including Sight & Sound , Time , Entertainment Weekly and BBC Magazine have ranked it among the greatest American films of all time . In 2008 , Blue Velvet was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest American mystery films ever made .


Top Gun Top Gun is a 1986 American romantic military action drama film directed by Tony Scott , and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer , in association with Paramount Pictures . The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps , Jr. , and was inspired by an article titled `` Top Guns '' published in California magazine three years earlier . The film stars Tom Cruise , Kelly McGillis , Val Kilmer , Anthony Edwards , and Tom Skerritt . Cruise plays Lieutenant Pete `` Maverick '' Mitchell , a young Naval aviator aboard the aircraft carrier . He and his Radar Intercept Officer ( RIO ) Nick `` Goose '' Bradshaw ( Edwards ) are given the chance to train at the Navy 's Fighter Weapons School at Miramar in San Diego .   Top Gun was released on May 16 , 1986 . Upon its release , the film received generally mixed reviews from film critics but many particularly praised the action sequences , the effects , the aerial stunts , and the acting performances with Cruise and McGillis receiving the most praise . Four weeks after release , the number of theaters showing it increased by 45 % . Despite its initial mixed critical reaction , the film was a huge commercial hit grossing $ 356 million against a production budget of only $ 15 million . With its success , the film became a cult film over the years and earned an IMAX 3D re-release in 2013 . Additionally , the film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for `` Take My Breath Away '' performed by Berlin .   In 2015 , the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry , finding it `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' .


Joaquin Phoenix Joaquín Rafael Phoenix ( -LSB- ˌhwɑːˈkiːn -RSB- born Joaquín Rafael Bottom ; October 28 , 1974 ) , known formerly as Leaf Phoenix , is a Puerto Rican -- born American actor , producer , music video director , musician and activist . For his work as an artist , Phoenix has received a Grammy Award , a Golden Globe Award and three Academy Award nominations .   Phoenix started acting in television shows with his brother River Phoenix and sister Summer Phoenix . His first major film release was in the comedy-drama film Parenthood ( 1989 ) . During his period as a child actor he was credited as Leaf Phoenix , his self-given name . He later went back to his birth name , Joaquín , and received positive reviews for his supporting work in a wide range of films , most notably in the film adaptation of the novel To Die For ( 1995 ) and the period film Quills ( 2000 ) . He received international attention for his portrayal of Commodus in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator , which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor . He has subsequently earned Best Actor nominations for portraying musician Johnny Cash in the biopic Walk the Line ( 2005 ) and for his role as Freddie Quell , a sex-obsessed alcoholic World War II veteran in the drama film The Master ( 2012 ) , the latter winning him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor . To this date , he and River Phoenix hold the distinction of being the first and only brothers to be nominated for acting Academy Awards .   Some of his other notable films include the satire film Buffalo Soldiers ( 2001 ) , the science fiction thriller Signs ( 2002 ) , the animated film Brother Bear ( 2003 ) , the historical drama film Hotel Rwanda ( 2004 ) , the psychological thriller The Village ( 2004 ) , the documentary Earthlings ( 2005 ) , the romantic drama Two Lovers ( 2008 ) , the drama The Immigrant ( 2013 ) , the romantic science fiction drama Her ( 2013 ) , the crime comedy-drama film Inherent Vice ( 2014 ) , and the thriller You Were Never Really Here ( 2017 ) , for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor .   Aside from his acting career , he has also ventured into directing music videos , as well as producing films and television shows . He has recorded an album , the soundtrack to Walk The Line , for which he won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media . Phoenix is a social activist , lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations . He is also widely known for his animal rights advocacy . He has been a vegan since the age of three , and campaigns for PETA and In Defense of Animals .


Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer produced Beverly Hills Cop.

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


Game of Thrones is a fantasy football series.

Game of Thrones (season 1) The first season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on April 17 , 2011 , at 9.00 pm in the U.S. , and concluded on June 19 , 2011 . It consists of ten episodes , each of approximately 55 minutes . The series is based on A Game of Thrones , the first novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin , adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . HBO had ordered a television pilot in November 2008 ; filming began the following year . However , it was deemed unsatisfactory and later reshot with some roles being recast . In March 2010 , HBO ordered the first season , which began filming in July 2010 , primarily in Belfast , Northern Ireland , with additional filming in Malta .   The story takes place in a fictional world , primarily upon a continent called Westeros , with one storyline occurring on another continent to the east known as Essos . Like the novel , the season initially focuses on the family of nobleman Eddard Stark , who is asked to become chief advisor to his king and longtime friend , Robert Baratheon . Ned must find out who killed the previous Hand of the King , Jon Arryn , while trying to protect his family from their rivals the Lannisters . He uncovers the dark secrets about the Lannisters that his predecessor died trying to expose . Meanwhile , in Essos , the exiled Viserys Targaryen , son of the former king , believes he still has the rightful claim to the throne .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Bean , Addy , Peter Dinklage , Lena Headey , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Michelle Fairley and Iain Glen . Newer actors were cast as the younger generation of characters , such as Kit Harington , Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams .   Critics praised the show 's production values and cast , with specific accolades for Dinklage 's portrayal of Tyrion Lannister . The first season won two of the thirteen Emmy Awards for which it was nominated , for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ( Dinklage ) and Outstanding Main Title Design . It also received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series . Bean and Emilia Clarke also received individual accolades , as did Ramin Djawadi for music . U.S. viewership rose by approximately 33 % over the course of the season , from 2.2 million to over 3 million by the finale .


Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney ( born March 12 , 1947 ) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and the Republican Party 's nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election .   Raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan , by his parents George and Lenore Romney , he spent 2 1/2 years in France as a Mormon missionary , starting in 1966 . He married Ann Davies in 1969 , and they have five sons . By 1971 , he had participated in the political campaigns of both parents . He earned a BA at Brigham Young University in 1971 and a joint JD -- MBA at Harvard University in 1975 .   Romney entered the management consulting industry , and in 1977 secured a position at Bain & Company . Later serving as Bain 's chief executive officer ( CEO ) , he helped lead the company out of a financial crisis . In 1984 , he co-founded and led the spin-off company Bain Capital , a highly profitable private equity investment firm that became one of the largest of its kind in the nation . Active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) , he served during his business career as the bishop of his ward ( head of his local congregation ) and then stake president in his home area near Boston .   After stepping down from Bain Capital and his local leadership role in the LDS Church , Romney ran as the Republican candidate in the 1994 Massachusetts election for U.S. Senate . Upon losing to longtime incumbent Ted Kennedy , he resumed his position at Bain Capital . Years later , a successful stint as President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics led to a relaunch of his political career .   Elected Governor of Massachusetts in 2002 , Romney helped develop and enact into law the Massachusetts health care reform legislation , the first of its kind in the nation , which provided near-universal health insurance access through state-level subsidies and individual mandates to purchase insurance . He also presided over the elimination of a projected $ 1.2 -- 1.5 billion deficit through a combination of spending cuts , increased fees , and the closure of corporate tax loopholes . He did not seek re-election in 2006 , instead focusing on his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2008 U.S. presidential election . He won several primaries and caucuses ; however , he lost to the eventual nominee , Senator John McCain . His considerable net worth , estimated in 2012 at $ 190 -- 250 million , helped finance his political campaigns prior to 2012 .   Following his term as Governor of Massachusetts in 2007 , Romney was the Republican Party 's nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election . He won the 2012 Republican presidential nomination , becoming the first Mormon to be a major party presidential nominee . He was defeated by incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 2012 general election , losing by 332 -- 206 electoral college votes . The popular vote margin was 51 -- 47 percent in Obama 's favor . Following the election , he initially kept a low profile , and later became more visible politically .


Toy Story Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated buddy comedy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures . The directorial debut of John Lasseter , Toy Story was the first feature-length computer-animated film and the first theatrical film produced by Pixar .   Taking place in a world where anthropomorphic toys pretend to be lifeless whenever humans are present , the film 's plot focuses on the relationship between Woody , an old-fashioned pullstring cowboy doll ( voiced by Tom Hanks ) , and Buzz Lightyear , an astronaut action figure ( voiced by Tim Allen ) , as they evolve from rivals competing for the affections of Andy , their owner , to friends who work together to be reunited with Andy as his family prepares to move to a new home . The screenplay was written by Joss Whedon , Andrew Stanton , Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow , based on a story by Lasseter , Pete Docter , Stanton and Joe Ranft . The film features music by Randy Newman , and was executive-produced by Steve Jobs and Edwin Catmull .   Pixar , which produced short animated films to promote their computers , was approached by Disney to produce a computer-animated feature after the success of their short film Tin Toy ( 1988 ) , which is told from a small toy 's perspective . Lasseter , Stanton and Docter wrote early story treatments which were thrown out by Disney , as they wanted the film to be edgier . After disastrous story reels , production was halted and the script was re-written , better reflecting the tone and theme Pixar desired : that `` toys deeply want children to play with them , and that this desire drives their hopes , fears , and actions '' . The studio , then consisting of a relatively small number of employees , produced the film under minor financial constraints .   Released in theaters on November 22 , 1995 , Toy Story was the highest-grossing film on its opening weekend and earned over $ 373 million worldwide . The film was widely acclaimed by critics , who praised the animation 's technical innovation , the wit and thematic sophistication of the screenplay , and the performances of Hanks and Allen . It is now considered by many critics to be one of the best animated films ever made . The film received three Academy Award nominations , including Best Original Screenplay , Best Original Score , and Best Original Song for `` You 've Got a Friend in Me '' , as well as winning a Special Achievement Academy Award . It was inducted into the National Film Registry as being `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' in 2005 , its first year of eligibility .   In addition to home media releases and theatrical re-releases , Toy Story-inspired material has run the gamut from toys , video games , theme park attractions , spin-offs , merchandise , and two sequels -- Toy Story 2 ( 1999 ) and Toy Story 3 ( 2010 ) -- both of which also garnered massive commercial success and critical acclaim , with a third sequel , Toy Story 4 , slated for a 2019 release .


Jared Kushner is not the senior advisor to President Donald Trump.

Jared Kushner Jared Corey Kushner ( born January 10 , 1981 ) is an American real estate investor and developer , newspaper owner , and senior advisor to President Donald Trump .   Kushner is the elder son of real-estate developer Charles Kushner and is married to Trump 's daughter Ivanka . He was principal owner of the real-estate holding and development company Kushner Companies and of Observer Media , publisher of the New York Observer . He is the co-founder and part owner of Cadre , an online real-estate investment platform .   On January 9 , 2017 , Kushner was named as a senior White House advisor . He consequently resigned as CEO of Kushner Companies and as publisher of the Observer , but his private financial interests remain a subject of controversy . Kushner helped develop and run Trump 's digital media strategy .


Paul Feig directed the 2016 Ghostbusters film.

Paul Feig Paul Samuel Feig ( -LSB- ˈfiːɡ -RSB- born September 17 , 1962 ) is an American actor , film director , producer , and screenwriter . He is best known for directing the 2011 film Bridesmaids , featuring Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy and the 2016 film Ghostbusters also starring Wiig and McCarthy . Feig also directed the comedy films The Heat ( 2013 ) starring McCarthy and Sandra Bullock , and Spy ( 2015 ) which stars McCarthy , Jason Statham , and Jude Law .   On television he created the critically acclaimed show Freaks and Geeks and directed several episodes of The Office and Arrested Development , plus episodes of 30 Rock , Parks and Recreation , Mad Men , Other Space and other television series . Feig has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for writing on Freaks and Geeks and three for directing on The Office . As an actor , he is also known for playing Mr. Eugene Pool , Sabrina 's science teacher , on the first season of Sabrina , the Teenage Witch , as well as Tim , a camp counselor , in the film Heavyweights .


Jing Tian Jing Tian ( born July 21 , 1988 ) is a Chinese actress . She graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and Beijing Film Academy . She is known for her roles in The Warring States , Special ID , and Police Story 2013 . She is part of the cast for three Legendary Pictures films , 2016 's The Great Wall , 2017 's Kong : Skull Island , and the upcoming Pacific Rim : Uprising .


The Offspring's album Smash sold over eleven million copies worldwide.

The Offspring The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach , California , formed in 1984 . Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal , the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland , bassist Greg K. , lead guitarist Kevin `` Noodles '' Wasserman and drummer Pete Parada . The Offspring went through several lineup changes over the years , and Holland and Greg K. have been the only constant members . The band is often credited -- alongside fellow California punk bands Green Day , Bad Religion , NOFX , Pennywise and Rancid -- for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the 1990s . They have sold over 40 million records worldwide , being considered one of the best-selling punk rock bands of all time .   To date , the Offspring has released nine studio albums . Their first three albums for the independent record labels Nemesis and Epitaph earned them a cult following . The band 's third studio album , Smash ( 1994 ) , became their first commercial success , and has sold over eleven million copies worldwide , setting a record for most albums sold on an independent label and becoming the first album on Epitaph to obtain gold and platinum status . After signing to Columbia Records in 1996 , the Offspring continued their commercial success with its next four studio albums -- Ixnay on the Hombre ( 1997 ) , Americana ( 1998 ) , Conspiracy of One ( 2000 ) and Splinter ( 2003 ) -- reaching platinum , multi-platinum , platinum and gold status respectively . Splinter was followed five years later by Rise and Fall , Rage and Grace ( 2008 ) , and then four years later by Days Go By ( 2012 ) . The Offspring is currently in production of their tenth studio album , which is due for release in 2018 .


Smash (The Offspring album) Smash is the third studio album by American punk rock band The Offspring . After touring in support of their previous album , Ignition ( 1992 ) , The Offspring began recording Smash in January 1994 at Track Record in North Hollywood , California . Recording and production were finished a month later , and the album was released on April 8 , 1994 on Epitaph Records .   In the United States , Smash has sold over six million copies and has been certified 6 × Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA ) . Peaking at number four on the US Billboard 200 , it has sold over 11 million copies worldwide , making it the best-selling independent label album of all time . It was also the first album released on Epitaph Records to obtain gold and platinum status . Smash was The Offspring 's introduction into worldwide popularity and critical acclaim , and produced a number of hit singles including `` Come Out and Play '' , `` Self Esteem '' and `` Got ta Get Away '' . Along with Green Day 's Dookie , Smash was responsible for bringing punk rock into the mainstream , and helped pave the way for the emerging pop punk scene in the 1990s . As a fan-favorite , the album received generally positive reviews from critics and garnered attention from major labels , including Columbia Records , with whom The Offspring would sign in 1996 . Smash is the only release where the band was referred to as `` Offspring '' . It is the first album to have a title track .


Return to Paradise stars Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, and Joaquin Phoenix and was released in 1998.

Return to Paradise (1998 film) Return to Paradise is a 1998 American drama-thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben , written by Wesley Strick and Bruce Robinson , and starring Vince Vaughn , Anne Heche , and Joaquin Phoenix . Return to Paradise is a remake of the 1989 French film Force majeure . The film had its premiere on August 10 , 1998 , and was released to theaters on August 14 , 1998 .


There is a 2016 film called Deadpool (film).

Deadpool (film) Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film directed by Tim Miller and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick , based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name . It is the eighth installment and a spin-off in the X-Men film series , and stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular character , as well as Morena Baccarin , Ed Skrein , T. J. Miller , Gina Carano , Leslie Uggams , Brianna Hildebrand , and Stefan Kapičić . In the film , antihero Deadpool hunts the man who nearly destroyed his life while also trying to reunite with his lost love .   Development began in February 2004 with New Line Cinema , but moved in March 2005 to 20th Century Fox who bought the film rights . In May 2009 , after Reynolds portrayed the character in X-Men Origins : Wolverine , to the general disappointment of fans , Fox lent the film to writers , and Miller was hired for his directorial debut in April 2011 . Enthusiastic acclaim for leaked CGI test footage by Miller in July 2014 led to Fox greenlighting the film in September . Additional casting began in early 2015 , and principal photography commenced in Vancouver from March to May .   Deadpool premiered in Paris on February 8 , 2016 , and was released on February 12 in the United States in IMAX , DLP , D-Box , and premium large format . Critics praised Reynolds ' performance as well as the film 's style , faithful depiction of the titular character , and action sequences , but criticized its plot as formulaic . It received various awards and nominations , including two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy and Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy , and a Producers Guild of America Award nomination for Best Theatrical Motion Picture . It also won two Critics ' Choice Movie Awards for Best Comedy and Best Actor in a Comedy .   The film was also a significant commercial success , grossing over $ 783million worldwide and breaking numerous box-office records , becoming the ninth highest-grossing film of 2016 , the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time when unadjusted for inflation , and the highest-grossing X-Men film . Shortly after the film 's success , Fox ordered development of a sequel scheduled to be released on June 1 , 2018 .


200 million AK-47 was estimated to be around the world.

AK-47 The AK-47 ( -LSB- Автомат Калашникова , translit = Avtomat Kalashnikova , lit = Kalashnikov 's Automatic Rifle -RSB- ) is a selective-fire ( semi-automatic and automatic ) , gas-operated 7.62 × 39 mm assault rifle , developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov . It is the originating firearm of the Kalashnikov rifle ( or `` AK '' ) family .   Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year of World War II ( 1945 ) . In 1946 , the AK-47 was presented for official military trials , and in 1948 , the fixed-stock version was introduced into active service with selected units of the Soviet Army . An early development of the design was the AKS ( S -- Skladnoy or `` folding '' ) , which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock . In the spring of 1949 , the AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact .   Even after almost seven decades , the model and its variants remain the most popular and widely used assault rifles in the world because of their substantial reliability under harsh conditions , low production costs compared to contemporary Western weapons , availability in virtually every geographic region and ease of use . The AK-47 has been manufactured in many countries and has seen service with armed forces as well as irregular forces worldwide , and was the basis for developing many other types of individual and crew-served firearms . As of 2004 , `` Of the estimated 500 million firearms worldwide , approximately 100 million belong to the Kalashnikov family , three-quarters of which are AK-47s '' .


Tom Hooper Thomas George Hooper ( born 5 October 1972 ) is a British film and television director of English and Australian background . Hooper began making short films as a teenager , and had his first professional short , Painted Faces , broadcast on Channel 4 in 1992 . At Oxford University Hooper directed plays and television commercials . After graduating , he directed episodes of Quayside , Byker Grove , EastEnders and Cold Feet on British television .   In the 2000s , Hooper directed the major BBC costume dramas Love in a Cold Climate ( 2001 ) and Daniel Deronda ( 2002 ) , and was selected to helm the 2003 revival of ITV 's Prime Suspect series , starring Helen Mirren . Hooper made his feature film debut with Red Dust ( 2004 ) , a British drama starring Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor , before directing Helen Mirren again in the Company Pictures/HBO Films historical drama Elizabeth I ( 2005 ) . He continued working for HBO on the television film Longford ( 2006 ) and in John Adams ( 2008 ) , a seven-part serial on the life of the American president . Hooper returned to features with The Damned United ( 2009 ) , a fact-based film about the English football manager Brian Clough ( played by Michael Sheen ) . The following year saw the release of the historical drama The King 's Speech ( 2010 ) , starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush , which was met with critical acclaim . Hooper 's next film was Les Misérables ( 2012 ) , which featured an all-star cast led by Hugh Jackman . His 2015 film , The Danish Girl , was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Film .   Hooper 's work was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Prime Suspect and John Adams , won one for Elizabeth I , and was nominated for the British Academy ( BAFTA ) TV Craft Award for Best Director for Longford . The King 's Speech won multiple awards , including Best Director wins for Hooper from the Directors Guild of America and the Academy Awards , and a Best Director nomination from BAFTA .


The Danish Girl (film) The Danish Girl is a 2015 British-American romantic drama film directed by Tom Hooper , based on the 2000 fictional novel of the same name by David Ebershoff and loosely inspired by the lives of Danish painters Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener . The film stars Eddie Redmayne as Elbe , one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery , Alicia Vikander as Wegener , Ben Whishaw as Henrik , Sebastian Koch as Dr. Kurt Warnekros , Amber Heard as Ulla Paulson and Matthias Schoenaerts as Hans Axgil .   The film was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival , and it was shown in the Special Presentations section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival . The film was released in a limited release on 27 November 2015 by Focus Features in the United States . The film was released on 1 January 2016 , in the United Kingdom , with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution .   The film received some criticism for its inaccurate portrayal of historical events , but Redmayne and Vikander 's performances received widespread acclaim and nominations for all of the major acting awards . Vikander won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Redmayne was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor . It was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Film .


Stockard Channing acted in The West Wing.

Stockard Channing Stockard Channing ( born Susan Antonia Williams Stockard ; February 13 , 1944 ) is an American stage , film and television actress . She is known for playing Betty Rizzo in the film Grease ( 1978 ) and First Lady Abbey Bartlet on the NBC television series The West Wing ( 1999 -- 2006 ) . She is also known for originating the role of Ouisa Kittredge in the stage and film versions of Six Degrees of Separation , for which she was nominated for a Tony Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress .   A 13-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and seven-time Tony Award nominee , she won the 1985 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the Broadway revival of A Day in the Death of Joe Egg , and won Emmy Awards for The West Wing and The Matthew Shepard Story , both in 2002 . She won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2004 for her role in Jack . Her film appearances include The Fortune ( 1975 ) , The Big Bus ( 1976 ) , The Cheap Detective ( 1978 ) , Heartburn ( 1986 ) , Up Close & Personal ( 1996 ) , Practical Magic ( 1998 ) , and Woody Allen 's Anything Else ( 2003 ) . She also played the recurring role of Veronica Loy on the CBS drama The Good Wife ( 2012 -- 16 ) .


Lana Del Rey released the Paradise EP in November of 2012.

Lana Del Rey Elizabeth Woolridge Grant ( born June 21 , 1985 ) , better known by her stage name Lana Del Rey , is an American singer , songwriter , and model . Her music has been noted for its cinematic style , its preoccupation with themes of tragic romance and melancholia , and its references to pop culture , particularly 1950s and 1960s Americana .   Born and raised in New York , Del Rey embarked on a music career in 2005 and first received widespread attention in 2011 , when the music video for her single `` Video Games '' became a viral internet sensation . Del Rey received further recognition after her major-label debut Born to Die peaked at number two on the United States charts and was the fifth best-selling album of 2012 . A remix of its single `` Summertime Sadness '' , produced by Cedric Gervais , peaked at number six in the United States , and the Paradise EP followed that November , garnering Del Rey her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album . Three of the EP 's tracks were featured in her short film Tropico , which premiered in December 2013 .   In 2014 , Del Rey released her third studio album , Ultraviolence ; it became her first number-one album in the United States . In 2015 , following a North American tour with Courtney Love and Grimes , Del Rey released her fourth studio album , Honeymoon . Both albums received positive critical response .   Del Rey is set to release her fifth studio album , titled Lust for Life , on July 21 , 2017 .


Summertime Sadness `` Summertime Sadness '' is a song by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey from her second studio album , Born to Die . The trip hop ballad was released on June 22 , 2012 by Interscope Records as the fourth single of the album . Charting across Europe , the single reached the top ten in Austria , Bulgaria , Germany , Greece , Luxembourg , and Switzerland . In the spring of 2013 , `` Summertime Sadness '' reached number one in Poland and Ukraine . Trap and house remixes of `` Summertime Sadness '' helped Del Rey break into the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart . That chart is where Del Rey 's song became a modest hit and marked her first foray into the chart . On the accompanied Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart , the single gave Del Rey her first US number-one single in August 2013 . Earlier in 2012 , the song also managed to become a rock hit in the US .   In the summer of 2013 , a remixed version of the track by Cedric Gervais was released to American contemporary hit radio and helped the single become a sleeper hit , debuting it at 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the highest charting single of her career in that country with a peak of 6 . Switzerland and Austria gave `` Summertime Sadness '' a gold certification ; it reached platinum status in Germany and became a top forty year-end hit . The record also reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart . It joined BBC Radio 1 's and BBC Radio 2 's playlists . Gervais ' remixed version won a 2014 Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording , Non-Classical .   The song 's accompanying music video depicts Del Rey and actress Jaime King as a couple . As the storyline progresses , both characters commit suicide by jumping from perilous heights . Cinematography was handled primarily by King 's husband , Kyle Newman . The video gained success on video-hosting website YouTube , and circulated through social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter . In general , critics lauded the artistry of the single 's music video , comparing it to Instagram . The musical arrangement was composed by Del Rey 's long-time collaborators Emile Haynie and Rick Nowels , with Nowels and Del Rey writing the lyrics . The song is also referenced in The Chainsmokers ' hit single '' #Selfie '' .


Paradise (Lana Del Rey EP) Paradise is the third extended play ( EP ) and second major release by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey ; it was released on November 9 , 2012 by Universal Music . It is additionally packaged with the reissue of her second studio album Born to Die ( 2012 ) , titled Born to Die : The Paradise Edition . Del Rey enlisted collaborators including producers Rick Nowels , Justin Parker , and Rick Rubin .   Upon its release , Paradise received generally favorable reviews from music critics . The extended play debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 67,000 copies . It also debuted at number 10 on the Canadian Albums Chart and peaked within the top-five of various other Billboard charts . Charting across Europe , the extended play became a top-ten hit in Flanders and Poland , charting within the top twenty in Wallonia and the Netherlands .   The EP 's lead single was the ballad `` Ride '' which became a modest hit in the United States , Switzerland , Ireland , and France and reached the top ten in Russia . `` Blue Velvet '' , a cover of the popular 1950s track , and `` Burning Desire '' were released as promotional singles . Music videos for `` Ride '' , `` Blue Velvet '' , `` Bel Air '' , and `` Burning Desire '' were posted to Vevo and YouTube to help promote the EP .   In December 2013 , Del Rey released the Anthony Mandler-directed Tropico , a short film that includes the songs `` Body Electric '' , `` Gods & Monsters '' , and `` Bel Air '' . That same month , an EP of the same name was made available for purchase on iTunes , containing the film along with the three aforementioned songs . In 2014 , the EP was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards .


Justified won ten Primetime Emmy Awards.

Justified (TV series) Justified is an American crime drama television series that premiered on March 16 , 2010 , on the FX network . Developed by Graham Yost , it is based on Elmore Leonard 's short story `` Fire in the Hole '' . Timothy Olyphant portrays Raylan Givens , a tough deputy U.S. Marshal enforcing his own brand of justice in his hometown of Harlan , Kentucky . The series is set in Lexington and in the Appalachian mountains area of eastern Kentucky , specifically in and around Harlan . The series , comprising 78 episodes , aired over six seasons , and concluded on April 14 , 2015 .   Justified received critical acclaim throughout all six seasons , particularly for its acting , directing , art direction , writing , and Olyphant 's and Walton Goggins ' performances . Justified was nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards , with two wins , for Margo Martindale 's performance as Mags Bennett and Jeremy Davies ' performance as Dickie Bennett .


Stone Temple Pilots are an American rock band.

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 .


American Gods (TV series) has only one showrunner, named Aziz Ansari.

American Gods (TV series) American Gods is an American television series based on the novel of the same name , written by Neil Gaiman and originally published in 2001 . The television series was developed by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green for the premium cable network Starz . Fuller and Green are the showrunners for the series . Gaiman serves as an executive producer along with Fuller , Green , Craig Cegielski , Stefanie Berk , and Thom Beers . The first episode premiered on the Starz network and through their streaming application on April 30 , 2017 . In May 2017 , the series was renewed for a second season .


Bridesmaids (2011 film) Bridesmaids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Paul Feig , written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig , and produced by Judd Apatow , Barry Mendel and Clayton Townsend . The plot centers on Annie ( Wiig ) , who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend , Lillian , played by Maya Rudolph . Rose Byrne , Melissa McCarthy , Ellie Kemper , and Wendi McLendon-Covey co-star as Lillian 's bridesmaids , with Chris O'Dowd , Rebel Wilson , Matt Lucas , Michael Hitchcock , and Jill Clayburgh , in her final film appearance , in supporting roles .   Actresses Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig wrote the screenplay following Wiig 's casting in Apatow 's 2007 comedy film Knocked Up . Budgeted at $ 32.5 million , filming took place in Los Angeles , California . Upon its opening release in the United States and Canada on May 13 , 2011 , Bridesmaids was both critically and commercially successful . The film grossed $ 26 million in its opening weekend , eventually grossing over $ 288 million worldwide , and surpassed Knocked Up to become the top-grossing Apatow production to date , and served as a touchstone for discussion about women in comedy .   The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy . It received multiple other accolades . On January 24 , 2012 , the film was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Wiig and Mumolo . This made it the first Apatow-produced film to be nominated for an Academy Award .


Judd Apatow Judd Apatow ( -LSB- ˈæpətaʊ -RSB- born December 6 , 1967 ) is an American film producer , writer , director , actor , and comedian . He is the founder of Apatow Productions , through which he produced and developed the television series Freaks and Geeks , Undeclared , Girls , Love , Crashing and directed the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin ( 2005 ) , Knocked Up ( 2007 ) , Funny People ( 2009 ) , This Is 40 ( 2012 ) , and Trainwreck ( 2015 ) .   Apatow 's work has won numerous awards including a Primetime Emmy Award ( for The Ben Stiller Show ) , a Hollywood Comedy Award , and an AFI Award for Bridesmaids ( 2011 ) . His films have also been nominated for Grammy Awards , PGA Awards , Golden Globe Awards , and Academy Awards .   Also known for producing hit films such as The Cable Guy ( 1996 ) , Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy ( 2004 ) , Talladega Nights : The Ballad of Ricky Bobby ( 2006 ) , Superbad ( 2007 ) , Forgetting Sarah Marshall ( 2008 ) , Step Brothers ( 2008 ) , Pineapple Express ( 2008 ) , Get Him to the Greek ( 2010 ) , Bridesmaids ( 2011 ) , The Five-Year Engagement ( 2012 ) , and Anchorman 2 : The Legend Continues ( 2013 ) .


Freaks and Geeks Freaks and Geeks is an American teen comedy-drama television series , created by Paul Feig , with Judd Apatow as executive producer , that aired on NBC during the 1999 -- 2000 television season . Eighteen episodes were completed , but the series was canceled after only 12 had aired .   A fan-led campaign persuaded NBC to broadcast three more episodes in July 2000 ; the three remaining unaired episodes , for a total of 18 , aired that September on the cable network Fox Family Channel .   The series appeared on Time magazine 's 2007 `` 100 Greatest Shows of All Time '' list , and placed third on the magazine 's list of greatest television shows of the 2000s ( decade ) . In 2007 , Freaks and Geeks ranked # 21 on TV Guides Top Cult Shows Ever . In 2008 , Entertainment Weekly ranked it the 13th-best series of the past 25 years . The same year , AOL TV named it the Best School Show of All Time . In 2013 TV Guide included it in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time , and ranked it # 1 on their list of 60 shows that were `` Cancelled Too Soon '' . It launched several of its young actors into successful television and film careers .


Crashing (U.S. TV series) Crashing is an American television comedy series created by Pete Holmes , and executive produced by Holmes and occasional series director Judd Apatow . The first season aired on the HBO network in the United States from February 19 to April 9 , 2017 . The semi-autobiographical show revolves around Holmes ' character Pete , a young comedian who pursues a career in stand-up comedy after his wife cheats on him , leaving him homeless . Several comedians play themselves in recurring roles including Artie Lange and T. J. Miller , while others have guest appearances .   After Holmes successfully pitched the idea of the show to Apatow , he completed a script of its pilot episode which HBO picked up for filming in September 2015 , with Apatow as director . The success of the pilot led HBO to give the green-light to the first season in January 2016 . After four episodes had aired , HBO renewed the series for a second season .


Haiti Haiti ( -LSB- ˈheɪti -RSB- Haïti -LSB- a.iti -RSB- Ayiti -LSB- ajiti -RSB- ) , officially the Republic of Haiti and formerly called Hayti , is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea . It occupies the western three-eighths of the island , which it shares with the Dominican Republic . Haiti is 27750 km2 in size and has an estimated 10.6 million people , making it the most populous country in the Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) and the second-most populous country in the Caribbean as a whole .   The region was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taíno people . Spain discovered the island on 5 December 1492 during the first voyage of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic . When Columbus initially landed in Haiti , he had thought he had found India or Asia . On Christmas Day 1492 , Columbus ' flagship the Santa Maria ran aground north of what is now Limonade . As a consequence , Columbus ordered his men to salvage what they could from the ship , and he created the first European settlement in the Americas , naming it La Navidad after the day the ship was destroyed .   The island was named La Española and claimed by Spain , which ruled until the early 17th century . Competing claims and settlements by the French led to the western portion of the island being ceded to France , which named it Saint-Domingue . The development of sugarcane plantations , worked by slaves brought from Africa , led to the colony being among the most lucrative in the world .   In the midst of the French Revolution ( 1789 -- 1799 ) , slaves and free people of colour revolted in the Haitian Revolution ( 1791 -- 1804 ) , culminating in the abolition of slavery and the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte 's army at the Battle of Vertières . Afterward the sovereign nation of Haiti was established on 1 January 1804 the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean , the second republic in the Americas , the only nation in the western hemisphere to have defeated three European superpowers ( France , Spain , and the UK ) , and the only nation in the world established as a result of a successful slave revolt . The rebellion that began in 1791 was led by a former slave and the first black general of the French Army , Toussaint Louverture , whose military genius and political acumen transformed an entire society of slaves into an independent country . Upon his death in a prison in France , he was succeeded by his lieutenant , Jean-Jacques Dessalines , who declared Haiti 's sovereignty and later became the first Emperor of Haiti , Jacques I . The Haitian Revolution lasted just over a dozen years ; and apart from Alexandre Pétion , the first President of the Republic , all the first leaders of government were former slaves . The Citadelle Laferrière is the largest fortress in the Americas . Henri Christophe former slave and first king of Haiti , Henri I built it to withstand a possible foreign attack .   It is a founding member of the United Nations , Organization of American States ( OAS ) , Association of Caribbean States , and the International Francophonie Organisation . In addition to CARICOM , it is a member of the International Monetary Fund , World Trade Organization , and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States . It has the lowest Human Development Index in the Americas . Most recently , in February 2004 , a coup d'état originating in the north of the country forced the resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide . A provisional government took control with security provided by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti ( MINUSTAH ) .


Istanbul was founded on the Sarayburnu landform.

Istanbul Istanbul ( -LSB- ˌɪstænˈbʊl -RSB- , -LSB- - ˈbuːl -RSB- or -LSB- - stɑːn - -RSB- İstanbul -LSB- isˈtɑnbuɫ -RSB- ) , historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium , is the most populous city in Turkey and the country 's economic , cultural , and historic center . Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia , straddling the Bosphorus strait ( which separates Europe and Asia ) between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea . Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side .  The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality ( conterminous with Istanbul Province ) , both hosting a population of around 14.7 million residents . Istanbul is one of the world 's most populous cities and ranks as the world 's 7th-largest city proper and the largest European city .   Founded under the name of Byzantion on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BCE , the city developed to become one of the most significant in history . After its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 CE , it served as an imperial capital for almost 16 centuries , during the Roman and Byzantine ( 330 -- 1204 and 1261 -- 1453 ) , the Latin ( 1204 -- 1261 ) , and the Ottoman ( 1453 -- 1922 ) empires . It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times , before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate .   Istanbul 's strategic position on the historic Silk Road , rail networks to Europe and the Middle East , and the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean have produced a cosmopolitan populace , although less so since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923 . Overlooked for the new capital Ankara during the interwar period , the city has since regained much of its prominence . The population of the city has increased tenfold since the 1950s , as migrants from across Anatolia have moved in and city limits have expanded to accommodate them . Arts , music , film , and cultural festivals were established at the end of the 20th century and continue to be hosted by the city today . Infrastructure improvements have produced a complex transportation network .   Approximately foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2015 , five years after it was named a European Capital of Culture , making the city the world 's fifth most popular tourist destination . The city 's biggest attraction is its historic center , partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and its cultural and entertainment hub can be found across the city 's natural harbor , the Golden Horn , in the Beyoğlu district . Considered a global city , Istanbul has one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the world . It hosts the headquarters of many Turkish companies and media outlets and accounts for more than a quarter of the country 's gross domestic product . Hoping to capitalize on its revitalization and rapid expansion , Istanbul has bid for the Summer Olympics five times in twenty years .


Nepal fi     Nepal ( -LSB- Nepālhelp = no -RSB- -RCB- -RCB- -LSB- neˈpal -RSB- ) , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal , is a landlocked central Himalayan country in South Asia . Nepal is divided into 7 provinces and 75 districts and 744 local units including 4 metropolises , 13 sub-metropolises , 246 municipal councils and 481 villages . It has a population of 26.4 million and is the 93rd largest country by area . Bordering China in the north and India in the south , east , and west , it is the largest sovereign Himalayan state . Nepal does not border Bangladesh , which is located within only 27 km ( 17 mi ) of its southeastern tip . Neither does it border Bhutan due to the Indian state of Sikkim being located in between . Nepal has a diverse geography , including fertile plains , subalpine forested hills , and eight of the world 's ten tallest mountains , including Mount Everest , the highest point on Earth . Kathmandu is the nation 's capital and largest city . It is a multiethnic nation with Nepali as the official language .   The territory of Nepal has a recorded history since the Neolithic age . The name `` Nepal '' is first recorded in texts from the Vedic Age , the era which founded Hinduism , the predominant religion of the country . In the middle of the first millennium BCE , Gautama Buddha , the founder of Buddhism , was born in southern Nepal . Parts of northern Nepal were intertwined with the culture of Tibet . The Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal became known as Nepal proper because of its complex urban civilisation . It was the seat of the prosperous Newar confederacy known as Nepal Mandala . The Himalayan branch of the ancient Silk Road was dominated by the valley 's traders . The cosmopolitan region developed distinct traditional art and architecture . By the 18th century , the Gorkha Kingdom achieved the unification of Nepal . The Shah dynasty established the Kingdom of Nepal and later formed an alliance with the British Empire , under its Rana dynasty of premiers . The country was never colonised but served as a buffer state between Imperial China and Colonial India . In the 20th century , Nepal ended its isolation and forged strong ties with regional powers . Parliamentary democracy was introduced in 1951 , but was twice suspended by Nepalese monarchs in 1960 and 2005 . The Nepalese Civil War resulted in the proclamation of a republic in 2008 , ending the reign of the world 's last Hindu monarchy .   Modern Nepal is a federal secular parliamentary republic . It has seven states . Nepal is a developing nation , ranking 144th on the Human Development Index ( HDI ) in 2016 . The country struggles with the transition from a monarchy to a republic . It also suffers from high levels of hunger and poverty . Despite these challenges , Nepal is making steady progress , with the government declaring its commitment to elevate the nation from least developed country status by 2022 . Nepal also has a vast potential to generate hydropower for export .   Nepal 's foreign relations expanded after the Anglo-Nepal Treaty of 1923 , which was recognised by the League of Nations . After a Soviet veto in 1949 , Nepal was admitted to the United Nations in 1955 . Friendship treaties were signed with the Dominion of India in 1950 and the People 's Republic of China in 1960 . Nepal hosts the permanent secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ( SAARC ) , of which it is a founding member . Nepal is also a member of the Non Aligned Movement and the Bay of Bengal Initiative . The military of Nepal is the fifth largest in South Asia and is notable for its Gurkha history , particularly during the world wars , and has been a significant contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations .


Investment funds are also referred to as managed funds or  simply funds.

Investment fund An investment fund is a way of investing money alongside other investors in order to benefit from the inherent advantages of working as part of a group . These advantages include an ability to :  hire professional investment managers , which may potentially be able to offer better returns and more adequate risk management ;  benefit from economies of scale , i.e. , lower transaction costs ;  increase the asset diversification to reduce some unsystematic risk .   Terminology varies with country but investment funds are often referred to as investment pools , collective investment vehicles , collective investment schemes , managed funds , or simply funds . The regulatory term is undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities , or short collective investment undertaking ( cf. Law ) . An investment fund may be held by the public , such as a mutual fund , exchange-traded fund , special-purpose acquisition company or closed-end fund , or it may be sold only in a private placement , such as a hedge fund or private equity fund . The term also includes specialized vehicles such as collective and common trust funds , which are unique bank-managed funds structured primarily to commingle assets from qualifying pension plans or trusts .   Investment funds are promoted with a wide range of investment aims either targeting specific geographic regions ( e.g. , emerging markets or Europe ) or specified industry sectors ( e.g. , technology ) . Depending on the country there is normally a bias towards the domestic market due to familiarity , and the lack of currency risk . Funds are often selected on the basis of these specified investment aims , their past investment performance , and other factors such as fees .


Edward Norton Edward Harrison Norton ( born August 18 , 1969 ) is an American actor , filmmaker and activist . He has been nominated for three Academy Awards for his work in the films Primal Fear ( 1996 ) , American History X ( 1998 ) and Birdman ( 2014 ) . He also starred in other roles , such as Everyone Says I Love You ( 1996 ) , The People vs. Larry Flynt ( 1996 ) , Fight Club ( 1999 ) , Red Dragon ( 2002 ) , 25th Hour ( 2002 ) , Kingdom of Heaven ( 2005 ) , The Illusionist ( 2006 ) , Moonrise Kingdom ( 2012 ) , The Grand Budapest Hotel ( 2014 ) and Sausage Party ( 2016 ) . He has also directed and co-written films , including his directorial debut , Keeping the Faith ( 2000 ) . He has done uncredited work on the scripts for The Score ( 2001 ) , Frida ( 2002 ) , and The Incredible Hulk ( 2008 ) .   Alongside his work in cinema , Norton is an environmental and social activist , and is a member of the board of trustees of Enterprise Community Partners , a non-profit organization for developing affordable housing founded by his grandfather James Rouse . Norton is president of the American branch of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust . He ran in the 2009 New York City Marathon to raise money for the Trust . He also raises money for charity through Crowdrise , a social networking community for volunteers and a micro-donations fundraising platform . In July 2010 , Norton was designated as the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon . On July 2 , 2014 , Norton was elected chairman of the board of trustees to Signature Theatre , a not-for-profit theater company in New York . Norton has been on Signature 's board since 1996 and served as the co-chair of the Capital Campaign during the building of the Pershing Square Signature Center .


Furia is directed by a film director best known for his work in horror films.

Alexandre Aja Alexandre Aja ( born 7 August 1978 ) is a French film director best known for his work in various horror films . Aja rose to international stardom for his 2003 horror film Haute Tension ( known as High Tension in the US and Switchblade Romance in the UK ) . He has also directed the horror films The Hills Have Eyes ( 2006 ) , Mirrors ( 2008 ) , Piranha 3D ( 2010 ) and Horns ( 2013 ) .


Furia (film) Furia is a 1999 French romantic drama film directed by Alexandre Aja , who co-wrote screenplay with Grégory Levasseur , adapted from the science fiction short story `` Graffiti '' by Julio Cortázar . It stars Stanislas Merhar and Marion Cotillard .


Fred Savage Frederick Aaron `` Fred '' Savage ( born July 9 , 1976 ) is an American actor , director , and producer . He is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years , which ran from 1988 to 1993 . He has earned several awards and nominations , such as People 's Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards .


James Taylor never made a greatest hits album.

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor ( born March 12 , 1948 ) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist . A five-time Grammy Award winner , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 . He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time , having sold more than 100 million records worldwide .   Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the No. 3 single `` Fire and Rain '' and had his first No. 1 hit the following year with `` You 've Got a Friend '' , a recording of Carole King 's classic song . His 1976 Greatest Hits album was certified Diamond and has sold 12 million US copies . Following his 1977 album , JT , he has retained a large audience over the decades . Every album that he released from 1977 to 2007 sold over a million copies . His chart performance had a resurgence during the late 1990s and 2000s , when he recorded some of his most-awarded work ( including Hourglass , October Road , and Covers ) . He achieved his first number one album in the US in 2015 with his recording Before This World .   He is notable for his popular covers of other peoples ' songs , such as `` How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved By You ) '' and the aforementioned `` You 've Got A Friend '' , as well as originals such as `` Fire and Rain '' .


Steven Knight is a British screenwriter.

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 .


Sarah Michelle Gellar was only in the accounting industry her whole life.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Michelle Prinze ( née Gellar ; born April 14 , 1977 ) is an American actress , producer , and entrepreneur . After being spotted by an agent at the age of four in New York City , she made her acting debut in the made-for-TV movie An Invasion of Privacy ( 1983 ) . Gellar went on to appear in numerous television series and commercials . Her first leading part was in the 1992 miniseries Swans Crossing , for which she was nominated for two Young Artist Awards , and her television breakthrough came in 1993 , when she originated the role of Kendall Hart on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children , winning the 1995 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series .   Gellar received widespread recognition for her portrayal of Buffy Summers on the WB series Buffy the Vampire Slayer ( 1997 -- 2003 ) , which earned her five Teen Choice Awards , a Saturn Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination . The character was widely popular during the airing of the show and became recognized as one of the 100 greatest female characters in U.S. television . Gellar also gained significant attention for her appearances in the slasher movies I Know What You Did Last Summer ( 1997 ) and Scream 2 ( 1997 ) , and for her portrayal of Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions ( 1999 ) . She appeared as Daphne Blake in Scooby-Doo ( 2002 ) , her biggest live action commercial success .   In 2004 , Gellar reprised her role as Daphne in the sequel Scooby-Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed and portrayed Karen Davis in the horror remake The Grudge , both of which grossed more than US$ 180 million worldwide . She subsequently appeared in smaller scale movies such as The Return ( 2006 ) and Southland Tales ( 2007 ) , and provided her voice for TMNT ( 2007 ) . Her later film credits include The Air I Breathe ( 2008 ) , Possession ( 2009 ) and Veronika Decides to Die ( 2009 ) . She headlined the short lived television series Ringer ( 2011 -- 2012 ) and The Crazy Ones ( 2013 -- 2014 ) , which co-starred Robin Williams .   In October 2015 , Gellar co-founded Foodstirs , a food crafting brand and e-commerce startup selling baking kits for children .


License to Drive License to Drive is a 1988 teen adventure film written by Neil Tolkin and directed by Greg Beeman in his feature film directorial debut . It stars Corey Haim , Corey Feldman , Heather Graham , Carol Kane , Richard Masur , Michael Manasseri and Nina Siemaszko .   The film was in production in late 1987 . It was released on July 6 , 1988 in the United States and grossed over $ 20 million at the North American box office . It was distributed by 20th Century Fox .


Leslie Groves was the director of the Manhattan Project.

Leslie Groves Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves Jr. ( 17 August 1896 -- 13 July 1970 ) was a United States Army Corps of Engineers officer who oversaw the construction of the Pentagon and directed the Manhattan Project , a top secret research project that developed the atomic bomb during World War II .   As the son of a United States Army chaplain , Groves lived at a number of Army posts during his childhood . He graduated fourth in his class at the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1918 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . In 1929 , he went to Nicaragua as part of an expedition whose purpose was to conduct a survey for the Inter-Oceanic Nicaragua Canal . Following the 1931 Nicaragua earthquake , Groves took over responsibility for Managua 's water supply system , for which he was awarded the Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit . He attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas , in 1935 and 1936 , and the Army War College in 1938 and 1939 , after which he was posted to the War Department General Staff .   In 1940 Groves , who `` had a reputation as a doer , a driver , and a stickler for duty '' , became special assistant for construction to the Quartermaster General , tasked with inspecting construction sites and checking on their progress . In August 1941 , he was given responsibility for the gigantic office complex to house the War Department 's 40,000 staff which would ultimately become the Pentagon . In September 1942 , Groves took charge of the Manhattan Project . He was involved in most aspects of the atomic bomb 's development . He participated in the selection of sites for research and production at Oak Ridge , Tennessee ; Los Alamos , New Mexico ; and Hanford , Washington . He directed the enormous construction effort , made critical decisions on the various methods of isotope separation , acquired raw materials , directed the collection of military intelligence on the German nuclear energy project and helped select the cities in Japan that were chosen as targets . Groves wrapped the Manhattan Project in security but failed to prevent the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from conducting a successful espionage program that stole some of its most important secrets .   After the war , Groves remained in charge of the Manhattan Project until responsibility for nuclear weapons production was handed over to the United States Atomic Energy Commission in 1947 . He then headed the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project , which had been created to control the military aspects of nuclear weapons . He was given a dressing down by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army , General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower , and told that he would never be appointed Chief of Engineers . Three days later , Groves announced his intention to leave the Army . He was promoted to lieutenant general just before his retirement on 29 February 1948 in recognition of his leadership of the bomb program . By a special Act of Congress , his date of rank was backdated to 16 July 1945 , the date of the Trinity nuclear test . He went on to become a vice-president at Sperry Rand .


Connaught Tunnel's ventilation has improved.

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


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


Ron Swanson loves making items from wood.

Woodworking Woodworking is the activity or skill of making items from wood , and includes cabinet making ( Cabinetry and Furniture ) , wood carving , joinery , carpentry , and woodturning .


Ron Swanson Ronald Ulysses `` Ron '' Swanson is a fictional character  portrayed by Nick Offerman from the situation comedy television series Parks and Recreation on NBC , created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur . In the series , Ron is the director of the Parks and Recreation department of fictional Pawnee , Indiana , and the immediate superior of series protagonist Leslie Knope ( Amy Poehler ) until Knope 's election to the Pawnee City Council at the end of Season 4 . In demeanor , political philosophy and work ethic , Knope and Swanson are very nearly polar opposites : where Knope is sunny and outgoing , decidedly liberal and constantly working , Swanson is distant , and as a staunch libertarian , is a strong advocate for small government -- stating his belief that government should be privatized -- and therefore believes that the parks department should not even exist .   Ron , who has an extremely deadpan and masculine personality , actively works to make city hall less effective and despises interacting with the public . He loves meat , woodworking , hunting , whisky , and breakfast foods . He hates and fears his two ex-wives , both named Tammy , one of whom is played by Offerman 's real-life wife , Megan Mullally . Ron claims not to be interested in the personal lives of those around him but actually cares a great deal about his colleagues , and has a particularly strong respect for Leslie .   Conceived by series creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels , Ron has been a central character since the pilot episode of Parks and Recreation . Offerman had some input into the character 's creation , and some aspects of Ron 's personality were inspired by the actor , like his affinity for woodworking and 16-year-old Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch . The traits of the character were also partially inspired by a real-life Libertarian elected official in Burbank , California .   Offerman 's portrayal of Ron Swanson has received critical acclaim . The character developed a cult following and is widely considered the breakout character of the series . Schur called Ron `` our cast MVP . '' He was described by some critics as one of the best characters in a situation comedy in decades , and has been called the best comedic character on television since Cosmo Kramer of Seinfeld . Ron 's platonic relationship with Leslie has been compared to that of Mary Richards and Lou Grant in The Mary Tyler Moore Show . Offerman received several award nominations for the role , and won the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy , tying with Ty Burrell of Modern Family .


Amazon Web Services included application services.

Amazon Web Services Amazon Web Services ( AWS ) describes both a technology and a company . The company AWS is a subsidiary of Amazon.com and provides on-demand cloud computing platforms to both individuals , companies and governments , on a paid subscription basis with a free-tier option available for 12 months . The technology allows subscribers to have at their disposal full-fledged virtual cluster of computers , available 24/7/365 , through the internet . AWS ' version of virtual computers have most of the attributes of a real computer including hardware ( CPU ( s ) & GPU ( s ) for processing , local/RAM memory , hard-disk/SSD storage ) ; a choice of operating systems ; networking ; and pre-loaded application software such as web servers , databases , CRM ... nearly anything . Each AWS system also virtualizes its console I/O ( keyboard , display , and mouse ) , allowing AWS subscribers to connect to their AWS system using a modern browser . The browser acts as a window into the virtual computer , letting subscribers log-in , configure and use their virtual systems just as they would a real physical computer . They can choose to deploy their AWS systems to provide internet-based services for their own and their customers ' benefit .   The AWS technology is implemented at server farms throughout the world , and maintained by the Amazon subsidiary . Fees are based on a combination of usage , the hardware/OS/software / networking features chosen by the subscriber , required availability , redundancy , security , and service options . Based on what the subscriber needs and pays for , they can reserve a single virtual AWS computer , a cluster of virtual computers , a physical ( real ) computer dedicated for their exclusive use , or even a cluster of dedicated physical computers . As part of the subscription agreement , Amazon manages , upgrades , and provides industry-standard security to each subscriber 's system . AWS services operate from many global geographical regions including 6 in North America .   In 2016 , AWS comprised more than 70 services spanning a wide range including compute , storage , networking , database , analytics , application services , deployment , management , mobile , developer tools , and tools for the Internet of Things . The most popular include Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud ( aka `` EC2 '' ) and Amazon Simple Storage Service ( aka `` S3 '' ) . Most services are not exposed directly to end users , but instead offer functionality through APIs for developers to use in their applications . Amazon Web Services ' offerings are accessed over HTTP , using the REST architectural style and SOAP protocol .   Amazon markets AWS to subscribers as a way of obtaining large scale computing capacity more quickly and cheaply than building an actual physical server farm . All services are billed based on usage , but each service measures usage in varying ways .